iggins, spitting upon the ground reflectively,
"folks here'bouts used to wonder why old Jed Barcolm didn't get busy and
find out if there was gold on thet property, but somehow th' old man
never seemed to get interested. Conservative old fellow, Jed Barcolm,
anyways--allus said he'd made enough raisin' cattle and didn't aim to do
no prospectin' at his time o' life."

"But you think there is a good possibility of there being gold on the
ranch?" insisted Allen, and the girls held their breath.

Dan Higgins gave him a shrewd look and spat once more.

"You thinkin' of doin' a little prospectin' on your own hook, Son?" he
inquired.

"Heavens, no!" answered Allen with convincing sincerity, adding with a
smile: "It is barely possible that my client might, though."

The old man started and stood upright, squaring his thin shoulders
belligerently.

"You don't mean to tell me you're one o' those ornery lawyer cusses,"
he said, with a disgusted emphasis that angered the girls but apparently
left Allen unmoved.

"A lawyer--but not ornery, I hope," he said pleasantly. "And my client
is Mrs. Nelson, the new owner of the ranch. Is there anything else you
would like to know about me?"

But the old man's anger had departed and he regarded Allen with a shrewd
twinkle in his kindly blue eyes.

"Sorry, Son," he said. "I reckon there are some honest lawyers, though I
never ain't met one yet--not round here leastways."

"Thanks for a rather doubtful compliment," laughed Allen. It was evident
that he was enjoying the old man extremely. "I assure you, though I am
not always honest, there are times when I try very hard to be." Then he
suddenly added: "By the way, do you happen to know a man around
here--one of those ornery lawyers--by the name of Peter Levine?"

Again Dan Higgins spat disgustedly.

"Know him!" he answered with a wealth of scorn in his voice. "I reckon
most everybody round here knows him--an' they's mighty few knows any
good o' him. Take my advice, Son, an' keep away from him."

"Thanks," said Allen dryly. "But the problem seems to be to keep him
away from us. He is representing a client who wants to buy Gold Run
Ranch."

The old man started and a gleam of excitement shot into his eyes while
Meggy, seeming to share his emotion, crept closer to him.

"Peter Levine wants you to sell," he repeated eagerly, then relaxed once
more into his drawl, though his eyes reflected a strange inward turmoil.
"Listen, Son," he