bat," as Sam Harding expressed it. The matter of Ratty M'Gill's
discharge must be one of these things, Frances saw plainly.

She waited now for the doctor's appearance with much anxiety of mind.
The Captain was quiet when the physician came; but the effect of his
delirium of the night before was plain to the medical eye.

"Something must be done to ease his mind of this anxiety about his old
chum, Frances," said the doctor, taking her aside. "That, I take it, was
the burden of his trouble when he rambled last night in his speech?"

"Yes, sir."

"Try to get the fellow brought here, then," said the doctor, with
decision.

"That Mr. Lonergan?"

"The old soldier--yes. Can't it be done?"

"I--I don't know," said the troubled girl. "The chaplain writes that he
is a sick man----"

"And so is your father. I warn you. A very sick man. And he cannot be
moved, while this Lonergan can probably travel if his fare is paid."

"Oh, Doctor! If it is only a matter of money, father, I know, would hire
a private car--a whole train, he said!--to get his old partner here,"
Frances declared.

"Good! I advise you to go ahead and send for the man," said the
physician. "It's the best prescription for Captain Rugley that I can
give you. He has his mind set upon seeing his old friend, and these
delirious spells will be repeated unless his longing is satisfied. And
such attacks are weakening."

"Oh, I see that, Doctor!" agreed Frances.

She sat down that very hour and wrote to the Reverend Decimus Tooley,
explaining why she, instead of Captain Rugley, wrote, and requesting
that Jonas Lonergan be made ready for the trip from Bylittle to Jackleg,
in the Panhandle, where a carriage from the Bar-T Ranch would meet him.

She told the chaplain of the soldiers' home that a private car would be
supplied for Captain Rugley's old partner to travel in, if it were
necessary. She would make all arrangements for transportation
immediately upon receiving word from Mr. Tooley that the old man could
travel.

Haste was important, as she explained. Likewise she asked the following
question--giving no reason for her curiosity:

"Did there recently leave the Bylittle Home an employee--an
orderly--whose first name is Peter? And if so, what is his reputation,
his full name, and why did he leave the Home?"

"Maybe that will puzzle the Reverend Mr. Tooley some," thought Frances
of the ranges. "But I am indeed curious about this friend of Ratty
M'Gill's