"Well, I'm going to try. You see I've done quite a lot of business for him, and I know something of the ins and outs of his affairs. I guess I'll have to go."
"And leave school?" asked Andy, dubiously.
"With the term only half over," added Frank, "and the best of the baseball games to come. Oh, that's too bad!"
"Can't help it," replied Billy, still looking over the letter. "I won't have to go for a few weeks, though, as I'll have to close matters up here as best I can. But I've got to go, and—Oh say! here's something else. I didn't read down that far before. Say, this is the best ever!"
"What?" asked Frank and Andy in a chorus.
"My uncle says he wants you two fellows to come out West with me. Out on the ranch."
"Wants us?" came in another chorus.
"Yes, I wrote and told him how you helped me, and how you've been a sort of bodyguard since that attack, and he thinks that's great. You've got to come; will you? Come out on the prairies and I'll show you a life worth living. Can't you come?"
He looked appealingly at Andy and Frank. They said nothing for a few seconds. Then Billy added:
"You can help me, fellows. I'd rather have you with me than anyone I know of. Besides, maybe we three can find the treasure of Golden Peak!"