over was busy writing some letters when he
came in, and the boys were addressing post-cards to their folks and
friends. Davenport was alone.

"I want to clear up any misunderstanding that may have arisen," said the
oil well promoter smoothly, as he dropped into a chair beside Jack's
father.

There followed a conversation lasting over an hour. At first Davenport
did his best to smooth matters over, but gradually, as Dick Rover
managed to draw out one fact after another, the oil well promoter showed
more or less irritation. Dick's shrewdness bothered him, and finally he
hardly knew how to proceed.

"You take it from me, Rover, the only way for us to do is to work this
thing together," he remarked. "One claim is just as good as the other,
and what is the use of our getting into a dispute over it when we are
not real certain that there is oil on the land?"

"Then you mean to say that you think your claim on the land is just as
good as mine?" asked Jack's father.

"My claim is just as good, and maybe better. But I don't want to have
any trouble. I figure that it will cost about thirty thousand dollars to
sink a well on that land. Now why not go in together? We've got ten
thousand dollars, and if you'll put up the other twenty thousand we can
try our luck and see what comes of it."

"I'm not admitting that your claim is a good one," answered Dick Rover.
"I'll know more about it in a few days."

"Why, what are you going to do?"

"When Lorimer Spell died he left me everything he possessed, and that
included some things left in a safe deposit box at a bank in Wichita
Falls. I am going to get that box and see if there are any documents in
it relating to this claim. Then I'll know exactly how I stand in this
matter. Until that time I sha'n't make any sort of a deal."

This was Dick Rover's final decision so far as it concerned Davenport,
and the latter went off looking anything but pleased.

"He'll get the best of you if he can, Dad," remarked Jack, after the
interview was over.

"I don't doubt it in the least, Son."

"What's the next move, if I may ask?" questioned Fred. The oil well
proposition was beginning to interest him tremendously.

"I am going to take the first train for Wichita Falls to-day," answered
his uncle. "I guess you boys can get along here until I get back."

"How far is that Lorimer Spell tract of land from here?" asked Randy.

"About three miles or so."

"Then what's the matter with our wal