But Uncle Henry was not going to see him get away with that. "Tell him why you want this ranch so bad!" he yelled. "I dare you!" Pell now stepped forward. Their predicament was bad enough as it was, without having this old imbecile make it worse. "Keep still, you fool! Do you want to get us into more trouble?" "I certainly do," cried Uncle Henry, "an', gol darn it, I'm a-goin' to! Rob me of ten thousand dollars, will you?" Lopez was listening with both ears; and a glint came into his eyes, "Zat is true?" he inquired, interested anew. "He has rob you of ten sousand dollars? Eh--heh--a good beeg sum!" "Ask him!" Uncle Henry said. "An' I only hope to thunder he tells a lie!" His voice went up on a high key. The bandit looked keenly at Morgan Pell. "Did you?" There was no reply. "You hear me--you will answer--at once!" "No." Morgan Pell shot out the word, and clenched his fists. The situation was becoming hot. This old fellow would have them all dead in a few moments if he didn't keep his mouth shut. A look of triumph came into Uncle Henry's eyes. "There's your big chance!" he shouted to Lopez. "Shoot him quick!" But Pell said calmly: "I paid twenty thousand dollars for an option on the place." "Yes, but you didn't give me the money!" Uncle Henry insisted. "I was going to," the other replied, not even casting a glance over his shoulder. Old man Smith turned to Lopez. "Oh! You didn't shoot quick enough! I got it now! Ask him why he wants the place! Maybe he'll tell another one!" And he tittered with glee. Lopez put the question to Pell. "I--I--" the latter stammered; but could get no farther. Uncle Henry was gleeful now. "Get ready!" he yelled to Lopez. "He's going to do it! Keep your hand on your gun!" "I thought," Pell brought out reluctantly, "I thought there might be--oil on it." Lopez was dumbfounded. This was far more interesting than even he had calculated. "Oil?" he said. Pell looked down. "But I think, under the circumstances, I shall not take up my option." The paper was in his hand, and Lopez, seeing it, reached as if to take it, when Pell handed the document to him. "In which case," Pell informed the bandit, "the place would belong to him," shrugging a shoulder toward Uncle Henry. "What's that?" the latter asked. "--making him a very rich man indeed," Pell added, significantly. Aghast at the turn affairs had taken, Uncle Henry could scarcely speak. "Well, for the love o' Mike!" he managed to say. The bandit now turned full upon Uncle Henry, who was still concealed in the shadow of the alcove. "Ah! so you would have all ze money!"