"The cattle will be here to-morrow, I think. Porter came up just as we were camping out near the small dried creek in the big swale," replied Roy, describing the place so that his father would know it. "But now tell me about this business. I am glad you are better." "Yes, I feel much improved. My indigestion is all gone, and I think I can eat breakfast. I'll tell you then." Roy could hardly wait for the meal to be finished. After his father had had his repast in bed, Mr. Bradner told his son to close the door, and sit down close beside him. "I'm going to take you into my confidence," said the ranch owner. "It's time you knew something of my business affairs, and I am going to entrust you with a commission. A good deal depends on the success of it." "I hope I can do it, father." "I am pretty sure you can, or I would not let you go. Now I'll tell you what it is. You do not know it, but I have an interest in some property, left by your mother's brother, your Uncle Henry Mayfield. This property was left to your mother, and when she died the property came to me, and to you. That is, I have a third interest in it, and you have two-thirds." "That hardly seems fair. You should have more than I." "Never mind, Roy. In fact I intend that, in time, you shall have the whole of the property." "Where is it located?" "In New York City." "New York? That is a long way off." "Yes, a good many miles. In fact I have never seen the property. It is in charge of an agent--a real estate man. Every month he sends me the money received for rent, and, for several years I have put your share away, at interest in a bank." "Then I have some money saved up, and did not know it." "That is right, and it is quite a sum. But, of late, the rents have been falling off, until they are only about half what they were when your mother owned the property." "Why is this?" "The agent says it is because the property has gone down in value, but I can not see how that is, as it is in a good part of New York, and that city is certainly not getting smaller." "How do you account for the rents being less, then?" "That is just the point. I can't account for it, and, to tell you the truth, I am suspicious of this real estate man." "Who is he?" "His name is Caleb Annister." "What do you propose doing, dad? Can't you get a lawyer to see him, and find out if he is cheating you?" "I suppose I could, but I have thought of a different plan. It came to me when I was lying sick here, and I decided to put it into operation, so as to straighten out my affairs as well as your own." "What's your plan, dad?" "I am going to send you to New York, to look up this property and the matter of rents, and see whether or not Caleb Annister is telling the truth, when he says that the value has gone down. Roy, I want you to act as my agent, and start for New York at once!" CHAPTER III A FAREWELL RIDE