The expression that spread over Mr. Nichols* face as he heard this wish clearly showed surprise, for he had expected that, boy-like, Bob would have requested money, a rifle, or the like, and again he thrummed the table before saying:
"We will prove it, if we can, my boy. What was your father's name?"
"Horace Chester."
"Where was your letter written from—I mean the one telling you of the money?"
"Red Top, Oklahoma."
Swinging in his chair, the vice-president drew out a slide from his desk on which was a map and scanned it eagerly.
All at once, with an ejaculation of surprise, he murmured:
"This is remarkable—remarkable!"
Unable to restrain his curiosity, Bob rose from his chair and approached till he could see the map. But this afforded him no reason for his friend's observation, and he asked:
"What is remarkable, sir?"
"Why, that you should have chosen to go to Fairfax. Red Top is the next town, thirty miles west!"
"O—oh! Then I may find out something about father!" exclaimed Bob excitedly.
"Exactly. But you must be careful. If he really had the money, he may have possessed
