id also Werner, who, however, kept out of
reach of Jack and his cousins.

"We might as well be going, Nappy," said Slugger presently, and turned
and hurried up the narrow street, and Gabe Werner went after them. Then,
a moment later, the men returned to the restaurant to finish the meal
they had begun.

"I suppose we might as well return to the hotel," said Jack.

"Right you are!" declared Randy. "The best thing we can do is to let
Uncle Dick know about this."

They found Dick Rover sitting in a corner of the hotel porch talking to
an old oil man to whom he had brought a letter of introduction.

"This is Mr. Nick Ogilvie," said Jack's father after introducing the
boys. "He will take charge of any operations we may commence in this
territory. He is an old oil man, and knows this district thoroughly."

The boys sat down to listen to what the old oil man might have to say.
Mr. Ogilvie remained the best part of an hour, and then went off,
stating that he would be around again the next day. As soon as he had
departed the boys, making sure that no one else was within hearing, told
Jack's father of all they had learned concerning Carson Davenport and
the men associated with him. Dick Rover listened with intense interest,
his face clouding as they proceeded.

"This is certainly news, and I'll have to investigate it thoroughly," he
declared, when they had finished. "Evidently this Carson Davenport is a
worse sharper than I thought."

"He says he can explain everything to your satisfaction," said Jack.
"But I don't see how it can be done."

"Nor I, either," declared Randy. "My opinion is that they are a bunch of
crooks and nothing else."

"Evidently they think they have some sort of claim on the Spell land,"
answered Dick Rover. "And it is possible that such is a fact, because,
as I said before, the title to Spell's land seemed to be clouded. Of
course, I don't know what is in the documents in the safe-deposit vault
at Wichita Falls. Those documents may clear the matter up."

"Then I should think the best thing would be to get those papers," said
Jack.

"That's what I intend to do."

"Will you see Davenport in the morning?" questioned Fred curiously.

"Certainly, Fred. I am not afraid of that crowd, and the more they talk
the better I'll like it, for then I can get some sort of line on what
they are aiming at."

It was some time after breakfast the next morning when Carson Davenport
put in an appearance. Dick R