[Illustration: NICK CARTER STORIES] _Issued Weekly. Entered as Second-class Matter at the New York Post Office, by_ STREET & SMITH, _79-89 Seventh Ave., New York. Copyright, 1912, by_ STREET & SMITH. _O. G. Smith and G. C. Smith, Proprietors._ Statement of ownership, management, circulation, etc., of NICK CARTER STORIES, published weekly, at New York City, required by the Act of August 24, 1912.... Editor, W. E. Blackwell, 32 W. 75th Street, New York City.... Managing editors, business managers, publishers and owners, Street & Smith, 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York City.... Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders, holding 1 per cent. or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: None.... Signed by George C. Smith, for Street & Smith.... Sworn to and subscribed before me this 30th day of September, 1912, Chas. W. Ostertag, Notary Public No. 31, New York County (my commission expires March 30th, 1913). TERMS TO NICK CARTER STORIES MAIL SUBSCRIBERS. (_Postage Free._) =Single Copies or Back Numbers, 5c. Each.= 3 months 65c. 4 months 85c. 6 months $1.25 One year 2.50 2 copies one year 4.00 1 copy two years 4.00 =How to Send Money=--By post-office or express money order, registered letter, bank check or draft, at our risk. At your own risk if sent by currency, coin, or postage stamps in ordinary letter. =Receipts=--Receipt of your remittance is acknowledged by proper change of number on your label. If not correct you have not been properly credited and should let us know at once. =No. 11.= NEW YORK, November 23, 1912. =Price Five Cents.= NICK CARTER STRIKES OIL; Or UNCOVERING MORE THAN A MURDER. Edited by CHICKERING CARTER. CHAPTER I. THE CLERGYMAN. “It ain’t right! It’s swindling, and you can’t make it anything else!” These words, uttered in a loud, angry voice, were followed by a fierce oath, and the man to whom they were addressed raised his hand, and there was a look of pain on his pale face. “I wish you wouldn’t swear,” he said gently. “Be calm, and tell me just what you mean.” The first speaker looked ashamed of himself, and probably would have answered in a quiet way if another man who was standing near had not put in: “Don’t pay any attention to him, Mr. Judson. Let him rave. If he’s such a fool that he can’t make money, it’s not your fault, and he has no business to complain to you.” “But,” said Mr. Judson, “he makes a serious charge against----” The first speaker did not hear this, for he was angry almost beyond his control, “mad clean through,” as the saying is in that part of the country, Colorado, where the scene took place.