"Yes. It doesn't look reasonable, I allow," admitted her father; but she could see he was not convinced of the honesty of Pratt Sanderson. There was a difference of opinion between Frances and Captain Rugley. CHAPTER VII THE STAMPEDE The remainder of the night passed in quietness. That there really had been a marauder about the Bar-T ranch-house could not be doubted; for a slate was found upon the ground in the morning, and the place in the roof where it had been broken out was plainly visible. Captain Rugley sent one of the men up with a ladder and new slates to repair the damage. He reported that the marks of the grappling-hook in the roof sheathing were unmistakable, too. Although her father had expressed himself as doubtful of the good intentions of Pratt Sanderson, Frances was glad to see at breakfast that he treated the young man no differently than before. Pratt slept late and the meal was held back for him. "The attentions of that old mountain lion bothered me so that I did not sleep much the fore part of the night," Pratt explained. "How about that bird you heard on the roof?" the Captain asked, calmly. "I don't know what it was. It sounded like big wings flapping," the young fellow explained. "But I really didn't see anything." Captain Rugley grunted, and said no more. He grunted a good deal this morning, in fact, for every movement gave him pain. "The rheumatism has got its fangs set in me right, this time," he told Frances. "That's for being out of your warm bed and chasing all over the house without a coat on in the night," she said, admonishingly. "Goodness!" said her father. "Must I be _that_ particular? If so, I _am_ getting old, I reckon." She made him promise to keep out of draughts when she mounted Molly to ride away on an errand to a distant part of the ranch. She rode off with Pratt Sanderson, for he was traveling in the same direction, toward Mr. Bill Edwards' place. Frances of the ranges was more silent than she had been when they rode together the night before. Pratt found it hard to get into conversation with her on any but the most ephemeral subjects. For instance, when he hinted about Captain Rugley's adventures on the Border: "Your father is a very interesting talker. He has seen and done so much." "Yes," said Frances. "And how adventurous his life must have been! I'd love to get him in a story-telling mood some day." "He doesn't talk much about old times." "But, of course, you know all about his adventures as a Ranger, and his trips into Mexico?" "No," said Frances. "Why! he spoke last night as though he often talked about it. About the looting of---- Who was the old Spanish grandee he mentioned?" "I know very little about it, Pratt," fluttered Frances. "That's just dad's talk." "But that gorgeous girdle and bracelet you wore!"