"We did this," concluded Captain Dan, with a sigh of reminiscence, and with his eyes shining, "and we got Simon into the jail at Elberad, too. "Lon and I kept on up into Arizona, into Dry Bone Cañon, and there we cached the stuff. Air and sand are so dry there that nothing ever decays, and so all these rugs and hangings and featherwork were uninjured when I brought them away to this ranch soon after you were born. "That's the story, my dear. I never talk much about it, for it isn't altogether my secret. You see, my old partner, Lon, was in on it. And now he's going to come for his share----" "Come for his share, Daddy?" asked Frances, in surprise. "Yes--sir-ree--sir!" chuckled the old ranchman. "Think I'm going to let old Lon stay in that soldiers' home? Not much!" "But will he be able to travel here to the Panhandle?" "Of course! What the matter is with Lon, he's been shut indoors. I know what it is. Why! he's younger than I am by a year or two." "But if he can't travel alone----" "I'll go after him! I'll hire a private car! My goodness! I'll hire a whole train if it's necessary to get him out of that Bylittle place! That's what I'll do! "And he shall live here with us--so he shall! He and I will divide this treasure just as I've been aching to do for years. You shall have jewels then, my girl!" "But, dear!" gasped Frances, "you are not well enough to go so far." "Now, don't bother, Frances. Your old dad isn't dead yet--not by any means! I'll be all right in a day or two." But Captain Rugley was not all right in so short a time. He actually grew worse. Frances sent a messenger for the doctor the very next morning. Whether it was from the exposure of the night the stranger tried to climb over the _hacienda_ roof or not, Captain Rugley took to his bed. The physician pronounced it rheumatic fever, and a very serious case indeed. CHAPTER X THE MAN FROM BYLITTLE Responsibility weighed heavily upon the young shoulders of Frances of the ranges in these circumstances. Old Captain Rugley insisted upon being out of doors, ill as he was, and they made him as comfortable as possible on a couch in the court where the fountain played. Ming was in attendance upon him all day long, for Frances had many duties to call her away from the ranch-house at this time. But at night she slept almost within touch of the sick man's bed. He did not get better. The physician declared that he was not in immediate danger, although the fever would have to run its course. The pain that racked his body was hard to bear; and although he was a stoic in such matters, Frances would see his jaws clench and the muscles knot in his cheeks; and she often wiped the drops of agony from his forehead while striving to hide the tears that came into her own eyes. He demanded to know how long he was "going to be laid by the heels"; and when he learned that the doctor could not promise him a swift return to health, Captain Rugley began to worry.