"Something must be done to ease his mind of this anxiety about his old chum, Frances," said the doctor, taking her aside. "That, I take it, was the burden of his trouble when he rambled last night in his speech?" "Yes, sir." "Try to get the fellow brought here, then," said the doctor, with decision. "That Mr. Lonergan?" "The old soldier--yes. Can't it be done?" "I--I don't know," said the troubled girl. "The chaplain writes that he is a sick man----" "And so is your father. I warn you. A very sick man. And he cannot be moved, while this Lonergan can probably travel if his fare is paid." "Oh, Doctor! If it is only a matter of money, father, I know, would hire a private car--a whole train, he said!--to get his old partner here," Frances declared. "Good! I advise you to go ahead and send for the man," said the physician. "It's the best prescription for Captain Rugley that I can give you. He has his mind set upon seeing his old friend, and these delirious spells will be repeated unless his longing is satisfied. And such attacks are weakening." "Oh, I see that, Doctor!" agreed Frances. She sat down that very hour and wrote to the Reverend Decimus Tooley, explaining why she, instead of Captain Rugley, wrote, and requesting that Jonas Lonergan be made ready for the trip from Bylittle to Jackleg, in the Panhandle, where a carriage from the Bar-T Ranch would meet him. She told the chaplain of the soldiers' home that a private car would be supplied for Captain Rugley's old partner to travel in, if it were necessary. She would make all arrangements for transportation immediately upon receiving word from Mr. Tooley that the old man could travel. Haste was important, as she explained. Likewise she asked the following question--giving no reason for her curiosity: "Did there recently leave the Bylittle Home an employee--an orderly--whose first name is Peter? And if so, what is his reputation, his full name, and why did he leave the Home?" "Maybe that will puzzle the Reverend Mr. Tooley some," thought Frances of the ranges. "But I am indeed curious about this friend of Ratty M'Gill's. And now I'll tell Silent Sam that there is a man lurking about the Bar-T who must be watched." She said nothing to Captain Rugley about sending for Lonergan until she had written. The doctor said it would be just as well not to discuss the matter much until it was accomplished. He also left soothing medicine to be given to the patient if he again became delirious. Frances was so much occupied with her father all that day that she could do nothing about Ratty M'Gill. She had noticed, however, that the Mexican boy, José Reposa, had driven the doctor to the ranch and that he took him back to the train again. The reckless cowpuncher had somehow bribed the Mexican boy to let him take his place on the buckboard that forenoon.