They are utterly unversed in business methods or
terms, and are the type of women who obediently sign any paper
without reading it. I intend to see that you grow up with a knowledge
of legal terms and forms that will at least protect you when you're
placed in the position the Saunders women are."

"Miss Hope said once her father attended to everything for them,"
mused Betty, "and I suppose when he died they just had to guess. Oh!"
a sudden light seemed to break over her. "Oh, Uncle Dick! do you
suppose those men may be there now trying to get them to sell the
farm?"

"Of course I don't know that they were on the place when you left,"
said her uncle. "But allowing them half an hour to reach there, I am
reasonably certain that they are sitting in the parlor this minute,
talking to the aunts. I only hope they haven't an agreement with
them, or, if they have, that the pen and ink is where Miss Hope can't
put her hands on it."

"Do you think there really is oil there?" asked Betty hurriedly, for
another turn would bring them in sight of the farm. "Can you tell for
sure, Uncle Dick?"

Mr. Gordon regarded her whimsically.

"Oil wells are seldom 'sure,'" he replied cautiously. "But if I had
my doubts, they'd be clinched by what you tell me of these men. No
Easterner with a delicate daughter was ever so anxious to buy a
run-down place--not with a whole county to chose from. Also, as far
as I can tell, judging from the location, which is all I've had to
go by, I should say we were safe in saying there is oil sand there.
In fact, I've already taken it up with the company, Betty, and
they're inclined to think this whole section may be a find."

Betty hardly waited for the automobile to stop before she was out and
up the front steps of the farmhouse, Mr. Gordon close behind her.

"I hear voices in the parlor," whispered Betty, "Oh, hurry!"

"All cash, you see," a voice that Betty recognized as Blosser's was
saying persuasively. "Nothing to wait for, absolutely no delay."

Mr. Gordon put a restraining hand on Betty's arm, and motioned to her
to keep still.

"But my sister and I should like to talk it over, for a day or so,"
quavered Miss Hope. "We're upset because our nephew is missing, as we
have explained, and I don't think we should decide hastily."

"I don't like to hurry you," struck in another voice, Fluss's, Betty
was sure, "but I tell you frankly, Madam, a cash offer doesn't
require consideration. All you have t