"Texas Panhandle.

"Dear Sir:

"I am writing in behalf of an old soldier in this institution,
one Jonas P. Lonergan, who was at one time a member of Company
K, Texas Rangers, and who before that time served honorably in
Company P, Fifth Regiment, Mississippi Volunteers, during the
War between the States.

"Mr. Lonergan is a sadly broken man, having passed through much
evil after his experiences on the Border and in Mexico in your
company. Indeed, his whole life has been one of privation and
hardship. Now, bent with years, he has been obliged to seek
refuge with some of his ancient comrades at Bylittle.

"In several private talks with me, Captain Rugley, he has
mentioned the incidents relating to the looting and destruction
of Senor Morales' _hacienda_, over the Border in Mexico,
while you and he were on detail in that vicinity as Rangers.

"Perhaps the old man is rambling; but he always talks of a
treasure chest which he claims you and he rescued from the
bandits and removed into Arizona, hiding the same in a certain
valley at the mouth of a canyon which he calls Dry Bone Canyon.

"Mr. Lonergan always speaks of you as 'the whitest man who ever
lived.' 'If my old partner, Captain Dan, knew how I was fixed or
where I was, he'd have me rollin' in luxury in no time,' he has
said to me; 'providing he's this same Captain Dan Rugley that's
owner of the Bar-T Ranch in the Panhandle.'

"You know (if you know him at all) that Mr. Lonergan had no
educational advantages. Such men have difficulty in keeping up
communication with their friends.

"He claims to have lost track of you twenty-odd years ago. That
when you separated you both swore to divide equally the contents
of Senor Morales' treasure chest, the hiding place of which at
that time was in a hostile country, Geronimo and his braves
being on the warpath.

"If you are Jonas P. Lonergan's old-time partner you will
remember the particulars more clearly than I can state them.

"If this be the case, I am sure I need only state the above and
certify to the identity of Mr. Lonergan, to bring from you an
expression of your remembrance and the statement whether or no
any property to which Mr. Lonergan might make a claim is in your
possession.

"Mr. L. speaks much of the treasure chest and tells marvelou