t it," and he shook his head
wonderingly as he went about his duties.

So far, there had been no indications of oil at the first well which the
Rovers were boring. But Mr. Fitch had told Jack's father not to expect
too much until a depth of at least twenty-five hundred feet was reached.

It made the boys feel a little blue to think that the Davenport crowd
had been the first to strike oil.

"Won't Nappy and Slugger crow over this--especially as their folks have
an interest in the well?" remarked Jack.

But the next day something happened which made Jack forget all his
troubles for the time being. A telegram came in from his sister Martha,
reading as follows:

"Ruth's eyes operated on yesterday. Very successful. Expert says
she will see perfectly."

"Isn't this grand!" cried Jack, his whole face beaming with pleasure. "I
declare, this is the best news yet!"

"I don't blame you for being pleased, Jack," answered Randy. "I'll wager
the Stevensons feel relieved."

The telegram was followed by a letter which gave many details. But the
main feature was that the operation had been entirely successful and
that the surgeon in charge had said positively that Ruth's eyes would
soon be as well and as strong as they had ever been.

"I am going to send her a telegram of congratulation," declared Jack.
"Even if she can't read it herself, they can read it to her," and he
hurried off to the telegraph station for that purpose.

After that the boys waited anxiously for some sort of development at the
Franklin farm. Tom Rover and his brother Sam had returned to New York,
and they had wanted the boys to go with them, but all had pleaded that
they be allowed to remain in Texas.

"We want to see the wells shot off and want to see the oil flow--that
is, provided it does flow," said Randy.

"We might as well put in our vacation here as anywhere," put in Fred.
And so the four lads were allowed to remain.

Of course, the Franklins were as anxious as any one to see how matters
would turn out. Father and son were working for the company and doing
their best to hurry matters along. Dick Rover was also on hand daily,
consulting with Ogilvie and his assistants to make sure that everything
was going right.

"These two wells are going to cost us about seventy thousand dollars,"
Jack's father confided to him. "It's a mint of money, isn't it?" and he
smiled slightly.

"It certainly is, Dad. Especially if the wells don't pan ou