
    ,,*APT] ,,XI

    ,,B>TON ,,KEI?'S ,,/ORY
  8,:AT'S ? ,M>Y TELLS ME1 ,TOM80 ASK$
,MR4 ,NE/OR1 Z HE FOLL[$ 8 DAU<T] BACK
96! ROOM4
  8,Y M1N AB ,DIXWELL ,H>DLEY80
  8,YES4 ,D Y SUPPOSE HE C 2 ! SAME MAN
:O HAS S M1NLY TR1T$ MY BRO!R-IN-LAW80
  8,I WDN'T WANT 6SAY1 ,MR4 ,NE/OR1
UNTIL Y DESCRIBE 6ME ! ,MR4 ,H>DLEY Y
"K4 ,!N ,I C BETT] TELL4 ,B F :AT LL ,I
H SE5 (! MAN 6:OM ,I 0 9TRODUC$ 0MY FR
,MR4 ,DAMON1 ,I'D SAY1 (F H&1 T HE 0
CAPA# ( S* AC;N40
  8,DOES ,MR4 ,DAMON "K ? ,MR4 ,H>DLEY
WELL80 ASK$ ,MRS4 ,NE/OR1 :O A3OMPANI$
H] HUSB&4
  8,I WDN'T SAY T HE DID10 ,TOM REPLI$4
8,I DON'T "K J H[ ,MR4 ,DAMON MET ? *AP
--,I ?9K X 0 9 A F9ANCIAL WAY1 ?\<40
  8,WELL1 IF X'S ! SAME ,MR4 ,H>DLEY1
,I'LL SAY HE HAS "S QUE] F9ANCIAL WAYS10
SD ,MR4 ,NE/OR4 8,N[ LET'S SEE IF WE C
MAKE ! TWO JIBE4 ,DESCRIBE HM1 ,TOM40
  ,? ! "Y 9V5TOR DID1 & :5 ? DESCRIP;N
_H BE5 -P>$ ) "O GIV5 (! ,MR4 ,H>DLEY )
:OM ,MR4 ,KEI? ONCE 0 ASSOCIAT$1 ,MRS4
,NE/OR SD3
  8,X SURELY IS ! SAME MAN6 ,! ,MR4
,H>DLEY :O WANTS Y 6GET W1L? F ! BOTTOM
(! OC1N1 ,TOM1 IS ! SAME FELL[ :O IS
KEEP+ MY BRO!R \ (! OIL WELL PROP]TY6
,I'M SURE ( X60
  8,X DOES SEEM S10 ,TOM AGRE$4
8,DIXWELL ,H>DLEY IS N A USUAL "N2 B WE
M/ 2 C>E;L ,9 SPITE ( XS UNUSUAL;S "!
MAY 2 TWO V DI6]5T M5 :O H T "N4 ,I ?9K
! ONLY WAY 6F9D \ = C]TA9 IS 6SEE ,MR4
,KEI?4 ,HE'D "K A PICTURE (! ,DIXWELL
,H>DLEY :O1 HE CLAIMS1 *1T$ HM1 WDN'T
HE80
  8,9DE$ HE WD60 EXCLAIM$ ,MRS4 ,NE/OR4
8,B ": CD WE GET A PICTURE ( YR ,MR4
,H>DLEY8 ,I CALL HM T1 ?\< ,I DON'T
SUPPOSE Y [N HM1 ,TOM10 & %E SMIL$ AT H]
FUTURE SON-IN-LAW4
  8,NO1 ,I DON'T [N HM1 & ,I DON'T WANT
TO10 0 ,TOM'S ANSW]4 8,B ,I HAPP5 6H A
PICTURE ( HM4 ,I MADE HM FURNI% ME )
PRO(S T HE 0 ON ! ,P&ORA AT ! "T %E
F.D]$ 9 A GALE1 & AM;G ! DOCU;TS HE GAVE
0 8 PASSPORT4 ,X HAS 8 PICTURE ON4 ,I H
X "H40
  ,TOM DREW ! PAP] F 8 POCKET4 ,9 "O
CORN] 0 PA/$ A PHOTOGRAPH (! MAN :O _H
BE5 9TRODUC$ 6,TOM 0,MR4 ,DAMON4
  8,X LOOKS L ! SAME MAN MY BRO!R
DESCRIB$10 SD ,MRS4 ,NE/OR1 8B ( C\RSE
,I CDN'T 2 SURE40
  8,"! IS ONLY "O WAY 6BE10 ,TOM /AT$1
8& T IS 6%[ ? PICTURE 6,MR4 ,KEI?4 ,":
IS HE80
  8,ILL AT 8 HOME 9 ,B$=D10 ANSW]$ ,MRS4
,NE/OR4
  8,!N WE'LL G "! & SEE HM60 DCLD ,TOM4
  8,B X'S A HUNDR$ MILES F "H60 EXCLAIM$
,M>Y4 8,& Y >E L1V+ ON YR SUBM>9E TRIP !
F/ ?+ 9 ! MORN+1 ,TOM60
  8,NO1 ,I'M N L1V+ UNTIL ,I SETTLE ?
MATT]10 DCLD ! "Y 9V5TOR4 8,I'M N GO+ ON
AN "USEA VOYAGE )A MAN :O MAY 2 A *1T]4
,I WANT ? MATT] SETTL$4 ,I'LL PO/P"O ?
TRIP UNTIL ,I F9D \4 ,A "D'S DELAY WON'T
MATT]40
  8,B X W TAKE L;G] ?AN T10 SD ,MR4
,NE/OR4 8,B$=D IS A SMALL PLACE1 & "!'S
ONLY "O TRA9 A "D "!4 ,Y'LL LOSE AT L1/
?REE "DS ,TOM1 IF Y G "!40
  8,N NECESS>ILY10 0 ! QK ANSW]4 8,I C G
0AIR%IP1 & MAKE ! TRIP 9 A LL OV] AN
H\R4 ,I C 2 BACK ! SAME "D1 P]H N 9 "T
6/>T \R SUBM>9E TRIP1 Z ,MR4 ,KEI? MAY 2
TOO ILL 6SEE ME4 ,B ,I WON'T LOSE M* "T
9 MY ,AIR ,SC\T4
  8,M>Y1 W Y G ) ME 6SEE YR UNCLE8
,WE'LL />T ! F/ ?+ 9 ! MORN+ & ,I'LL %[
HM ? PICTURE4 ,W Y G80
  8,I W60 EXCLAIM$ ! GIRL4
  8,GD60 CRI$ ,TOM4 8,!N ,I'LL MAKE
PREP>,NS4 ,I DON'T WANT 6=M ANY RA%
JUDG;T1 S WE'LL MAKE C]TA92 B X WDN'T
SURPRISE ME A BIT 6H X TURN \ T !
,DIXWELL ,H>DLEY
:O WANTS ME 6HELP HM RECOV] ! ,P&ORA
TR1SURE IS ! SAME "O :O IS TRY+ 6*1T
,MR4 ,KEI?40
  ,E>LY ! NEXT MORN+1 :5 ,TOM >OSE 9 8
[N HOME1 HE MET ,MR4 ,DAMON & ,MR4
,H>DLEY1 BO? ( :OM 7 GUE/S AT ! ,SWIFT
H\SE1 P5D+ ! 2G9N+ (! "USEA TRIP4
  8,WELL1 ,TOM10 2GAN ! E35TRIC MAN1 8WE
H GD W1!R =! />T4 ,B.S MY RU2] BOOTS6 ,N
T X M* MATT]S1 ?\<1 :AT SORT ( W1!R WE H
:5 WE'RE 9 ! SUBM>9E4 ,B ,I ALW L 6/>T 9
! SUN%9E40
  8,S D ,I10 AGRE$ ,MR4 ,H>DLEY4 8,I
SUPPOSE WE'LL GET (F E>LY ? MORN+10 HE
A4$4
  8,WE'LL G 6! DOCK 9 ! AUTO1 Z USUAL1 %
WE N80 HE ASK$4
  8,WE >5'T GO+ 6/>T ? MORN+10 SD ,TOM1
Z HE SAT D[N 6BR1KFA/4
  8,N GO+ 6/>T ? MORN+60 EXCLAIM$ ,MR4
,H>DLEY4 8,:Y --:Y--0
  8,B.S MY AL>M CLOCK60 VOIC$ ,MR4
,DAMON1 8HAS ANY?+ HAPP5$1 ,TOM8 ,NO
A3ID5T 6! ,M4 ,N4 #A IS "!8 ,Y >5'T
BACK+ \ N[1 AT ! LA/ M9UTE1 >E Y80
  8,OH1 NO10 0 ! EASY ANSW]4 8,WE'LL G1
Z >RANG$1 B N TD4 ,I _H "S UNEXPECT$
NEWS LA/ NI<T : NECESSITATES MAK+ A TRIP
? MORN+4 ,I EXPECT 6BE BACK TN1 IF ALL
GOES WELL1 & WE'LL />T TM MORN+ 9/1D (
?4 ,X'S A MATT] ( IMPORTANT BUSI;S40
  8,WELL1 ,I DON'T "K T WE C F9D FAULT )
,MR4 ,SWIFT = ATT5D+ 6BUSI;S10 SD ,MR4
,H>DLEY1 )A %ORT LAU<4 8,BUSI;S IS :AT
KEEPS ! _W MOV+4 ,& WE >E A LL AH1D ( \R
S*$ULE1 Z A MATT] ( FACT4 ,MAY ,I ASK ":
Y >E GO+1 ,MR4 ,SWIFT80
  8,6,B$=D1 6CALL ON A ,MR4 ,B>TON
,KEI?10 ANSW]$ ,TOM QKLY1 LOOK+ !
ADV5TUR] /RAI<T 9 ! EYES4
  ,MR4 ,H>DLEY 0 A GD ACTOR1 OR ELSE HE
0 A P]FECTLY 9NOC5T MAN1 = HE %[$ N !
L1/ SIGN ( P]TURB,N4
  8,OH1 ,B$=D10 HE REM>K$4 8,DON'T "K T
,I "E HE>D (! PLACE40
  8,OR ,MR4 ,KEI?1 EI80 ASK$ ,TOM1 A BIT
%>PLY4
  8,NO1 C]TA9LY N4 ,:Y %D ,I80 HE ASK$1
BOLDLY4
  8,I DIDN'T "K10 ,TOM REPLI$4 8,I'M
SORRY 6PO/P"O \R TRIP1 B X'S NEC10 HE
A4$4 8,I'LL 2 BACK Z SOON Z ,I C4 ,"EY?+
IS 9 R1DI;S1 S "! W 2 NO DELAY40
  ,TOM MADE A HURRI$ M1L1 & !N1 GIV+ ,N$
A H9T ( :AT 0 9 ! W9D1 B CAU;N+ HM 6SAY
NO?+ AB X1 ,TOM _H ! SMALL ,AIR ,SC\T
BR"\ \1 & 9 T HE FLEW OV] 6,M>Y'S HOME4
  ,HE F.D H] WAIT+ = HM1 &1 AF 2+ DULY
CAU;N$ 0H] "M TO 8BE C>E;L10 ?\< :E!R T
0 ( ANY VALUE OR N IS POSSIBLY DEBATA#1
! SMALL1 SPE$Y CRAFT AG TOOK ! AIR4
  8,Y HAV5'T HE>D ANY?+ F YR UNCLE S9CE
LA/ NI<T1 H Y80 ASK$ ,TOM1 Z !Y FLEW
AL;G4
  8,YES10 ANSW]$ ,M>Y1 8"M _H A LR4 ,HE
IS WORSE1 IF ANY?+1 &! DOCTOR SAYS !
ONLY ?+ T W SAVE HM IS ! K T ! OIL-WELL
MATT] HAS TURN$ \ "R & T MY UNCLE W GET
8 %>E (! W1L?40
  8,T'S TOO BAD60 SYMPA?IZ$ ,TOM4 8,I
HOPE WE C MAKE X TURN \ T WAY4 ,IF ! TWO
,DIXWELL ,H>DLEY *APS >E ! SAME X MAY 2
T ,I C D "S?+ = YR UNCLE4 ,IF N--WE'LL H
6WAIT & SEE40
  ,X 0 N DI6ICULT = ,TOM & ,M>Y 6TALK
:ILE 9 ! AEROPLANE1 Z X 0 ALM NOISE.S4
,9 DUE "T1 ,B$=D 0 R1*$ )\T MISHAP1 &
,TOM & ,M>Y 7 SOON AT ! HOME ( H] UNCLE4
  ,AN EXPLAN,N 6! H\SEKEEP] & AN 9SPEC;N
ON ! "P (! NURSE1 BR"\ =? P]MIS.N = ,TOM
6SEE ! PATI5T4 ,?\< HE _H N"E "KN ,MR4
,KEI? HE CD SEE T ! MAN'S H1L? 0 9DE$
FA/ WAN+4
  ,WA/+ LL "T 9 PRELIM9>IES1 ! OBJECT (!
VISIT 0 TOLD & ,TOM %[$ ! PASSPORT
PHOTOGRAPH ( ,DIXWELL ,H>DLEY4
  8,IS T ! MAN :O *1T$ Y ON ! OIL-WELL
D1L80 ASK$ ! "Y 9V5TOR4
  8,I WON'T ADMIT HE HAS YET *1T$ ME1 B
HE IS TRY+ TO60 EXCLAIM$ ,MR4 ,KEI?1 )
"S?+ (A RETURN ( 8 =M] _S4 8,IF ,I "E
GET (F MY BACK ,I'M GO+ 6FI<T HM TOO?
& NAIL4 ,B T'S ! SAME SC.DREL6 ,HE GOT
ME 6LOCATE ! WELLS1 & :5 !Y PANN$ \ BIG
--BI7] ?AN EI ( U DR1M$--HE TURN$ ME \
COLD4 ,HE D5I$ HE _H "E (F]$ 6%>E ) ME1
& SD ,I 0 ONLY "W+ = MON?LY WAGES6 ,:Y1
"S"TS ,I DIDN'T GET EV5 T60
  8,H[ DID HE GET ! BE/ ( Y80 ASK$ ,TOM4
  8,0MAK+ AWAY ) OR HID+ ! PAP]S 0: ,I
CD PROVE \R "PN]%IP & MY "R 6HALF A %>E
9 ALL ! WELLS10 ANSW]$ ,M>Y'S UNCLE4
8,YES1 T'S ! SAME MAN ALL "R4 ,I'D "K 8
FACE ANY":1 & HE HA& ! SAME "N40
  8,HE ISN'T GO+ "U A FALSE "N1 T'S
SURE10 AGRE$ ,TOM4 8,HE M/ 2 A BOLD
*AP40
  8,HE IS--BOLD & UNSCRUPUL\S6 ,T'S :AT
MAKES HM S SU3ESS;L 9 8 [N WAY60 DCLD
,MR4 ,KEI?4 8,& S Y >E "W+ ) HM6 ,WELL1
,I'M SORRY = Y40
  8,I'M N EXACTLY "W+ ) HM10 REPLI$
,TOM4 8,Z A MATT] ( FACT1 ,I'M SORRY ,I
"E AGRE$ 6LOOK = ? WRECK40
  ,HE TOLD ! DETAILS (! P5D+ TR1SURE-
TROVE EXP$I;N1 & M5;N$ X Z 8 2LIEF T
,MR4 ,DAMON _H BE5 MISTAK5 9 8 E/IMATE (
,MR4 ,H>DLEY4
  8,B1 S F>1 ,MR4 ,DAMON IS Q TAK5 )
HM10 ,TOM W5T ON4 8,N[1 ,MR4 ,KEI?1 IF X
ISN'T TOO M* = Y1 ,I %D L 6HE> ALL !
"PICUL>S40
  ,"!^U ,M>Y'S UNCLE TOLD 8 /ORY4 ,X 0 A
L;G "O4 ,AF _M H>D%IPS 9 LIFE1 : ,MR4
,KEI? RELAT$ 9 "S DETAIL 6,TOM4 ! OIL-
WELL PROSPECTOR AT LA/ FELL 9 ) ,DIXWELL
,H>DLEY4 ,!N FOLL[$ ! -B9,N ( 9T]E/S4
  8,WE >E ACTU,Y "PN]S10 DCLD ,MR4
,KEI?4 8,I AGRE$ 6D ! "W1 & HE AGRE$
6FURNI% ! M"OY4 ,I M/ SAY ? = HM1 T HE
KEPT 6T 5D (! B>GA94 ,HE SUPPLI$ ! M"OY
6LOCATE & DRILL ! WELLS1 B ,I GOT V LL (
X P]SON,Y4 ,& ,I FULFILL$ MY 5D ( X4 ,I
4COV]$ ! WELLS4 ,!N1 :5 ! BR1K CAME1 &
,I WANT$ 6BE RID (! MAN--= ,I CAU<T HM 9
"S CROOK$ TRANSAC;NS--HE SURPRIS$ ME
0TELL+ ME 6GET \4 ,I ASK$ = MY %>E (!
OIL-WELL /OCK1 & 0 TOLD ,I 0 N 5TITL$
6ANY4
  8,I PUT UP A FI<T1 NATUR,Y1 & TOOK !
MATT] 6C\RT4 ,B :5 X CAME 6TRIAL
,DIXWELL ,H>DLEY DID N APPE>1 &1 ?\< ,I
WON A TE*NICAL VICTORY OV] HM1 ,I N"E
GOT ANY M"OY40
  8,": 0 HE DUR+ ! TRIAL80 ASK$ ,TOM4
  8,AT SEA1 ,I 2LIEVE40
  8,AT SEA80
  8,YES1 HE 0 MIX$ UP 9 "S ,S\? ,AM]ICAN
REVOLU;N1 ,I HE>D40
  8,A ,S\? ,AM]ICAN REVOLU;N60 EXCLAIM$
,TOM1 &A GRT LI<T CAME 6HM4
  8,YES10 W5T ON ,M>Y'S UNCLE4 8,HE 0
ALW T K9D--MIX+ UP 9 ANY?+ HE ?"\ WD
PRODUCE M"OY4 ,HE DIDN'T MAKE \ V WELL 9
! REVOLU;N BUSI;S1 S ,I "U/OOD4 ,!
REVOLU;N>Y "PY 0 B1T51 OR !Y LO/ _!
%IP;T ( >MS1 OR "S?+ L T4 ,AT ANY RATE1
,DIXWELL ,H>DLEY _H A N>R[ ESCAPE ) 8
LIFE :5 A %IP W5T D[N1 & F !N ON ,I'VE
BE5 TRY+ 6GET HM 6RE/ORE MY "RS 6ME40
  8,DID HE H ! PAP]S T WD PROVE Y 7
5TITL$ 6A HALF %>E 9 ! OIL WELLS80 ASK$
,TOM4
  8,HE C]TA9LY DID60 SD ! SICK MAN1 :O 0
OBVI\SLY 2+ W1K5$ 0? L;G & EXHAU/+ TALK4
8,AT F/ ,I 0 N SURE ( :AT HAPP5$1 B N[
,I AM POSITIVE HE /OLE ! PAP]S & TOOK !M
6SEA ) HM4 ,:AT HAPP5$ 6!M AF T ,I DON'T
"K4 ,B IF ,I _H ,DIXWELL ,H>DLEY "H--N[
--,I--,I'D--0
  ,MR4 ,KEI? FELL BACK 9 A FA9T ON ! B$1
&1 9 GRT AL>M1 ,TOM SUMMON$ ! NURSE4








