s
stories of its contents. He does not seem to desire wealth for
himself, however, for he well knows that he has but a few months
to live, nor does he seem ever to have cared greatly for money.

"His anxiety is for the condition of a sister of his who was
left a widow some years ago, and for her son. Mr. L. fears that
the nephew has not the chance of getting on in life that he
would like the boy to have. In his old age Mr. L. feels keenly
the fact that he was never able to do anything for his family,
and the fate of his widowed sister and her son is much on his
mind.

"A prompt reply, Captain Rugley, if you are the old-time partner
of my ancient friend, will be gratefully received by the
undersigned, and joyfully by Mr. Lonergan.

"Respectfully,
"(Rev.) Decimus Tooley."

"Why! what do you think of that?" gasped Frances, when she had read the
letter to the very last word.

Her father's face was shining and there were tears in his eyes. His joy
at hearing from his old companion-in-arms was unmistakable.

This turning up of Jonas Lonergan meant the parting with a portion of
the mysterious wealth that the old ranchman kept hidden in the Spanish
chest--wealth that he might easily keep if he would.

Frances was proud of him. Never for an instant did he seem to worry
about parting with the treasure to Lonergan. His fears for it had never
been the fears of a miser who worshiped wealth--no, indeed!

Now it was plain that the thought of seeing his old partner alive again,
and putting into his hands the part of the treasure rightfully belonging
to him, delighted Captain Dan Rugley in every fibre of his being.

"The poor old codger!" exclaimed the ranchman, affectionately. "And to
think of Lon being in need, and living poor--maybe actually
suffering--when I've been doing so well here, and have had this old
chest right under my thumb all these years.

"You see, Frances," said the Captain, making more of an explanation than
ever before, "Lon and I got possession of that chest in a funny way.

"We'd been sent after as mean a man as ever infested the Border--and
there were some mighty mean men along the Rio Grande in those days. He
had slipped across the Border to escape us; but in those times we didn't
pay much attention to the line between the States and Mexico.

"We went after him just the s