"Not exactly worried, but I thought perhaps he was making light
of it. Do tell me what happened, Mary!"

Thereupon the girl related all the circumstances of the smash,
and Tom added his share of the story.

"Did father hear anything from Uncle Barton?" asked Mary, after
her mother's curiosity had been satisfied.

"Yes," was the answer, in rather despondent tones, "he did, but
the news was not encouraging. The papers cannot be found."

"It's mother's brother we're talking about," Mary explained to
Tom. "Barton Keith in his name. Perhaps you remember him?"

"I've heard you speak of him," Tom admitted.

"Well," resumed Mary, "Uncle Barton is in a. peck of trouble.
He was once very rich, and he invested heavily in oil lands, in
Oklahoma, I believe."

"No, in Texas," corrected Mrs. Nestor.

"Yes, it was Texas," agreed Mary. "Well he bought, or got,
somehow, shares in some valuable oil lands in Texas, and expected
to double his fortune. Now, instead, he's probably lost it all."

"That's too bad!" exclaimed Tom. "How did it happen?"

"In rather an odd way," went on Mary. "He really owns the