"Because he lost the papers showing that he had a right to half
the oil well," answered Mary. "At least my uncle thinks he lost
them, but he was so ill, directly after the well proved a
success, that he says he isn't sure what happened. At any rate,
his partner claims everything and my uncle can do nothing. He has
been hoping he might find the papers somewhere, or that something
would happen to prove the rights of his claim."

"And nothing has?" inquired Tom.

"Not yet. My father and mother have been trying to help him,
and dad engaged a lawyer, but he says nothing can be done unless
my uncle recovers the partnership and other papers. As it stands
now, it is my uncle's word against the word of his partner, and
both are equally good in a court of law. But if Uncle Barton
could find the documents everything would come out all right. He
could claim his half of the oil well then."

"Is it still producing?" Tom questioned.

"Yes, better than ever. But that's all the good it does my
uncle. He is ill, discouraged, and despondent. All his fortune
was eaten up in prospecting, and he depended on the gusher to
make him rich again. And now, because of a rascally partner, he
may be doomed to die a poor man. Of course we will always help
him, but you know what it is to be dependent on relatives."

"I can imagine," conceded Tom. "It is tough luck! I wish I
could help, and perhaps I can after I get back from this trip."