"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 Señor 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! And what's mine is yours, Pratt. They tell me you are a mighty good boy. Captain Dan speaks well of you----" "And I ought to," growled the old ranchman from the background. "I owe something to him, too, for what he did for Frances." "Heh?" exclaimed Lonergan. He turned short around and stared at the blushing Frances. "She's a mighty fine girl, I reckon?" "The best in the Panhandle," declared the old ranchman, nodding understandingly. "And this boy of my sister's is a pretty good fellow, Dan?" asked Lonergan. "Mighty fine--mighty fine," admitted Captain Dan Rugley. "I tell you what," whispered Jonas, in the Captain's ear, "this dividin' up the contents of that old treasure chest will only be temporary after all--just temporary, eh?" "We'll see--we'll see, Lon," said Captain Dan, carefully. "They're young yet, they're over-young. But 'twould certain sure be a romantic outcome of all our adventures together years ago, eh?" "Right you are, Captain, right you are!" agreed Lonergan.