"Ratty is like a rotten apple in the middle of the barrel," thought Frances. "If I let him remain on the ranch he will contaminate the other boys. No, he's got to go! "But if I tell him why he is discharged it will warn him--and that Pete--that we suspect, or know, an attempt is being made to rob father's old chest. Now, what shall I do about this?" The conversation between Ratty and Pete at the ford which she had overheard gave Frances an idea. She saw that the contents of the treasure chest ought really to be put into a safety deposit vault in Amarillo. But the old ranchman considered it his bounden duty to keep the treasure in his own hands until his partner came to divide it; and he would be stubborn about any change in this plan. Lonergan could not get to the Bar-T for three weeks, or more. In the meantime suppose Pete made another attempt to steal the contents of the Spanish chest? Frances Rugley felt that she could depend upon nobody in this emergency for advice; and upon few for assistance in carrying out any plan she might make to thwart those bent upon robbing the _hacienda_. To see the sheriff would advertise the matter to the public at large. And that, she well knew, would make Captain Dan Rugley very angry. Whatever she did in this matter, as well as in the affair of Ratty M'Gill, must be done without advice. Her mind slanted toward Pratt Sanderson at this time. Had her father not seemed to suspect the young fellow from Amarillo, Frances would surely have taken Pratt into her confidence. Now that Captain Rugley had given a clear explanation of how he had come possessed of a part of the loot of Señor Milo Morales' _hacienda_, Frances was not afraid to take a friend into her confidence. There was no friend, however, that she cared to confide in save Pratt. And it would anger her father if she spoke to the young fellow about the treasure. She knew this to be a fact, for when Pratt Sanderson had ridden over from the Edwards Ranch to inquire after Captain Rugley's health, the old ranchman had sent out a courteously worded refusal to see Pratt. "I'm not so awfully fond of that young chap," the Captain said, reflectively, at the time. "And seems to me, Frances, he's mighty curious about my health." "But, Daddy!" Frances cried, "he was only asking out of good feeling." "I don't know that," growled the old ranchman. "I haven't forgotten that he was here in the house the night that other fellow tried to break in. Looks curious to me, Frances--sure does!" She might have told him right then about Ratty M'Gill and the man Pete; but Frances was not an impulsive girl. She studied about things, as the colloquialism has it. And she knew very well that the mere fact that Ratty and the stranger were friends would not disprove Pratt's connection with the midnight marauder. Pete might have had an aid inside, as well as outside, the _hacienda_.