alph and George were as glad as they were surprised to hear Bob
exclaim against having moonlighters open "The Harnett." They would have
opposed any such proposition had he made it; but since he himself
objected to it, the matter was simple enough.

"I will drive down to town to-night and arrange with Roberts Brothers to
send a man up here to-morrow," said Bob, "and before to-morrow night we
will know just what 'The Harnett' is worth."

"But, Bob," cried Dick, "you don't mean to say that after we have shot
the well that you're goin' to pay them more than it's worth for doin' it
no better than any of them can."

"That's just what I do mean to tell them, my son," replied Bob, with a
mingled air of authority and patronage.

"Why?"

"Well, in the first place, it will avoid any trouble. In the second
place, it don't look well to be sneakin' 'round as moonlighters have to
do, and in the third place, we want 'The Harnett' opened square."

"But you always said moonlighting was square, and that you wouldn't even
let the regular men come near a well of yours," urged Jim.

And from his tone it was easy to understand that this opening of "The
Harnett" was a matter upon which he and Dick had quite set their hearts.

"That was before I owned an interest in a well myself, boys," replied
Bob. "Mind you, I don't say now that moonlightin' isn't square, for I
believe it is; but when it's such a stunner of a well as this that's to
be shot, I say that it hain't best to give anybody a chance to raise a
question about it."

It was evident to all from that moment that Bob Hubbard, the oil
producer, was to be a very different sort of a party from Bob Hubbard,
the moonlighter, and all save his old partners were delighted at the
change.

"Then have you given up moonlightin' entirely, Bob?" asked Dick, with a
world of reproach in his voice.

"Indeed I have," was the emphatic reply. "I'm still ready to say that
it's all right and legitimate; but I'm through with it."

"Then, just for the sake of old times, Bob, an' seein's how we haven't
come into possession of quarter of an oil-well, let us open your well
for you," pleaded Jim.

And all present understood that he and Dick, having been interested in
the well from the time it was first discovered, were anxious to do
something toward opening it.

"I'll tell you how it can be done," said George, desirous of granting
Jim and Dick the very slight favor which they asked, and yet quite as