father's advice or that
of anybody else. She prepared for the adventure by begging the Captain
to have burlap wrapped about the chest and securely roped on.

"Then it won't be so noticeable," she told him, "when people come in to
call on you." For some of the other cattlemen of the Panhandle rode many
miles to call at the Bar-T Ranch; and, of course, they insisted upon
seeing Captain Rugley.

Ming and San Soo (the latter was very tall and enormously strong for a
coolie) corded the Spanish chest as directed, and under the Captain's
eye. Then Frances threw a Navajo blanket over it and it looked like a
couch or divan.

To Silent Sam she said; "I want a four-mule wagon to go to Amarillo for
supplies. When can I have it?"

"Can't you have the goods come by rail to Jackleg?" asked the foreman,
somewhat surprised by the request.

Now, Jackleg was not on the same railroad as Amarillo. Frances shook her
head.

"I'm sorry, Sam. There's something particular I must get at Amarillo."

"You going with the wagon, Miss Frances?"

"Yes. I want a good man to drive--Bender, or Mack Hinkman. None of the
Mexicans will do. We'll stop at Peckham's Ranch and at the hotel in
Calas on the way."

"Whatever ye say," said Sam. "When do ye want to go?"

"Day after to-morrow," responded Frances, briskly. "It will be all right
then?"

"Sure," agreed Silent Sam. "I'll fix ye up."

Frances had several important things to do before the time stated. And,
too, before that time, something quite unexpected happened.

CHAPTER XII

MOLLY

Frances' secret plans did not interfere with her usual tasks. She
started in the morning to make her rounds. Molly had been resting and
would now be in fine fettle, and the girl expected to call her to the
gate when she came down to the corral in which the spare riding stock
was usually kept.

Instead of seeing only Jose Reposa or one of the other Mexicans hanging
about, here was a row of punchers roosting along the top rail of the
corral fence, and evidently so much interested in what was going on in
the enclosure that they did not notice the approach of Captain Rugley's
daughter.

"Better keep off'n the leetle hawse, Ratty!" one fellow was advising the
unseen individual who was partly, at least, furnishing the entertainment
for the loiterers.

"She looks meek," put in another, "but believe me! when she was broke,
it was the best day's work Joe Magowan ever done on this here ranch.
Ain't th