angrily when the names of Tate and Jackson were mentioned.

"Those are the swindlers who were trying to do me out of my property!"
he ejaculated. "And I'm of the opinion this Carson Davenport was in with
them. They are a bunch of crooks, and nothing else. They ought all to be
in prison."

"Well, they'll land there sooner or later if they don't look out,"
returned Fred.

"If I was your father I would have nothing to do with this Davenport or
the men acting with him," went on Mr. Franklin to Jack.

"Do you know anything at all about the Lorimer Spell claim?"

"I don't know anything about what has happened lately so far as that
claim is concerned," was John Franklin's reply. "But I do know when oil
was first discovered in this region some of the experts went over the
whole territory carefully and they did not consider the Spell claim as
being of any value. That's the reason no wells were located there. They
claimed that the geological formation was not good for oil."

"Oh! then you mean to say there is no oil on that claim?" questioned
Fred disappointedly.

"I don't know anything about it, lad. I am only telling you what the
experts said. Those fellows miss it once in a while, just the same as
other people. At the same time, if an expert doesn't think ground is
worth drilling for oil, you can make up your mind that the chances of
striking it rich there are very slim."

"But are you sure the experts went over it very carefully?" questioned
Andy.

"I am."

"And who were they?"

"They were from Wichita Falls--a firm by the name of Fitch and
Lunberry."

"Then probably if my father wanted it he could get a report from Fitch
and Lunberry," said Jack.

"I think he could--provided, of course, he was willing to pay for it.
These experts don't work for nothing!" and John Franklin grinned.

"If you stay down here any length of time I wish you'd come over to our
place and see us," said Phil Franklin.

"We'll be sure to do that," answered Randy.

"Maybe I can get your uncle interested in my land," suggested Mr.
Franklin. "I wish he'd look it over. It wouldn't cost him anything."

"I'll speak to dad about it," answered Jack quickly. There was something
about the Franklins which had pleased him ever since he had first known
them. They appeared to be perfectly honest and reliable.

Accompanied by the Franklins, the Rovers tramped around the various oil
wells located in and near Derrickville. Mr. Franklin understood