"

Rather startled, and not a little amused, Pratt started slowly in the
direction of the car.

"Hey! Lift your feet there," called out the old man. "You act like you
had the hookworm. Git a move on!"

"What do you want?" demanded Pratt, coming under the window. He could
see into the lighted car now, and he observed Frances and her father
standing back of the stranger, the Captain broadly agrin.

The man reached down suddenly and grabbed Pratt by the lobe of his right
ear--pinching it between thumb and finger.

"Say! what are you about?" demanded Pratt. But for a very good reason he
did not seek to pull away.

"Let me look at you again," commanded the man who had taken this
liberty. "Turn your face up this way--you hear me? My soul! I knew I
couldn't be mistaken. What did you say this boy's name was, Dan?" he
shot at the Captain over his shoulder.

"That's Pratt Sanderson," chuckled Captain Rugley. "Something of a
tenderfoot, but a good lad, Lon, a good lad."

"You bet he is!" declared Jonas P. Lonergan, vigorously. "I knew his
name when you spoke it, and now I know his face. He's the image of his
mother--that's what he is."

Then he turned to Pratt again and roared: "Do you know who I am, boy?"

"I fancy you are the--the old partner of Captain Rugley whom he has
expected so long," Pratt said, puzzled but smiling. He had never chanced
to hear the expected guest called by any other name than "Lon."

"I'm Jonas P. Lonergan!" exclaimed the old man. "_Now_ do you know
me. I'm your mother's half-brother. I knew you folks lived out this way
somewhere, but I've not seen you since you were a little shaver.

"But I'll never forget how my little half-sister used to look, and you
are just like her when she was young," declared Mr. Lonergan. "Come in
here, you young rascal, and let me get a closer look at you."

"My Uncle Jonas?" gasped Pratt, in amazement.

"That's what I am!" declared Mr. Lonergan. "Your old uncle who never did
much of anything for you--or the rest of the fam'ly--all his life. But
he's goin' to be able to do something now.

"Listen here: Captain Dan Rugley says the treasure chest old Senor
Morales gave us so long ago is all right. It's chock-full of jewels and
gold and money---- Shucks! I'm as crazy as a child about it," laughed
the old man.

"After bein' through what I have, and livin' poor so many years, it's
enough to scatter the brains of an old man like me to come into a
fortune. Yes, sir