Ralph Gurney's Oil Speculation

credulity, or congratulating each other on the success of that night's w

he's smarter than we give him credit of being. If we expect to shoot any more wells in t

de him very bold. "Wasn't it watched to-night, and d

en again, all our work would not be as convenient to the hut as this was, and if it had be

ry, did not want that his partners should come to belie

rs?" asked Jim, who looked upon their hut as so

ld another shanty somewhere, if

e than there is of our trying to fly!" said Dick. "I ai

out to do any work, he will have so many men around here that we can't show our

lph and I have had all the moonlighting that is good for us, wit

us what you thin

f the Hoxie well. I don't think that this place is safe for you any longer, and if I

arnett's advice on any subject, for as soon as he had spoken a

re could

miles up the valley, where by working a couple of day

thought, if they were obliged to move, the s

George and Gurney will hel

ge. "You believe in using your fri

e country to-day for those who shot Hoxie's well. Now, if Dick, Jim and I start out alone, and they see us driving about the country where we presumably have no business, they will follow us, and good-by to our chances of ge

for he knew that the two friends were fond of fishing, and the

end to, but it was easy to see that he wanted to go, and equally plain that Ralph

nestly be going out fishing. You need know nothing whatever about what Pete and I are doing, and since we h

d have attended or not, he evidently put all conside

o you think o

g but that which we have a perfect right to do, and if you

to the stable, where he ordered Pete to harness his horses into the double w

ffered him ten dollars if he would answer certain questions, and, understanding that he did not know anyth

quite as well informed as he was; but when Newcombe questioned him as to what the boys were a

diture of ten dollars, and the old darkey chuckled gr

aving their horses harnessed, since they had no idea but that they wer

if we hadn't George and Ralph with us. Besides, your horses must be fresh for to-night, for we will hitch them into the torpedo wagon, and

remaining at the hut while the others were enjoying themselve

ay of eatables to last the party twenty-four hours, and, just

eek, a fact which showed how necessary it was for Bob to have some one with h

of leaving the hut Bob turned his horse into what apparently was the thick woods, but in which a road, that was har

f the way, or to the comfort of himself and his companions, until a small hut, or, rat

es, this is a good place; but I fancy it will be quite a different matter when you try t

a stable. But just now fishing, not a roadway for torpedo wagons, is your aim, and, if you and Ralph will f

work, George and Ralph set out for a day's fishing, believing that

he previous night, for it had terminated so happily that it no longer worried them, an

Walton could have desired, and but little time was spent, after

or their noon-day lunch, they had nearly full baskets of speckled beau

hed, they started down with the idea that they would reach the path they had s

mpany; therefore, each went along as he chose, with the understandi

e forenoon's work. He only succeeded in catching four while returning, when he had captured fully thirty on the way up, and, owing to the absence of fi

y awaiting his arrival, and the moonlighter'

out sunset," replied Ralph. "I fancy he is meeting with better lu

move in to-night, and I want to be off. It won't do for me to show myself without at leas

Ralph, not by any means pleased

ome back here behind us, get him and drive home to Kenniston's. You w

George, for I promised him

right, for Pete will e

lph along, regardless alike of h

lay the two started, Ralph feeling decidedly uncomfortable, for it seemed to him that, in

to co