COPYRIGHTED, 1923, BYHOWARD E. ALTEMUSPRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
COPYRIGHTED, 1923, BYHOWARD E. ALTEMUSPRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
COPYRIGHTED, 1923, BYHOWARD E. ALTEMUS
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
CONTENTSChapter I—Peace in the Coso ValleyStacy’s dream is interpreted. Jim-Sam proves to be a problem. A guide that could howl like a coyote. “Mules, like some fellers, is contrary critters.” Sam’s whiskers are expressive. A peace that was rudely broken.Chapter II—On the Road to TroubleThe Overlanders prepare for defense. Stacy’s weapon a tent stake. Emma Dean in the toils. The shot that stopped the roper. “Let ’em have it!” yells the guide. All because of the fat boy’s dream. The alarm.Chapter III—An Invitation to Move“Sit tight!” orders Hippy. A caller who threatened trouble. Sam Conifer passes the lie. “I reckon I’d kill ye whar ye stand!” Hands flash to weapons. The stranger is ordered out of camp. When brains were mixed.Chapter IV—At the “Circle O” RanchCamp made in the foothills of the Cosos. “The Old Man wants ter know what ye are doin’ heah!” The Overlanders are again ordered to get out. Emma explains the “imponderable something.” The dance in the bunk-house. A bullet parts Sam Conifer’s whiskers.Chapter V—Overlanders Suffer a Loss“Shoot, Sam! Shoot, I tell you!” A mysterious shot is fired. Jim finds a trail. A “lovely party” spoiled. The Overland Riders find their ponies missing. Distress at the Circle O. Jim-Sam blame each other.Chapter VI—Rustlers Are Hard PressedA question of mules. Emma Dean looks for dreams. Sam exchanges shots with a prowler. Stacy Brown believes in safety first. Ranchers engage the rustlers in a lively battle. Lieutenant Wingate wages an unequal fight and loses.Chapter VII—A Fight to a Finish“Give ’em the rifles!” yells Two-gun Pete. The end of the battle. An Overlander is found seriously wounded. Tom bears bad news to his companions. Elfreda gives first aid. Cowpunchers look on in open-mouthed wonder.Chapter VIII—The “Dude” Makes GoodHippy is complimented by Two-gun Pete. “What’s a hoss when it comes to a scrap?” What Hippy Wingate dreamed. Grace Harlowe’s pony is recovered. Ranchers help the Overlanders to move. Judy Hornby makes an exciting entrance.Chapter IX—Judy Speaks OutThe mountain girl wants to know what love is. Judy tries poulticing for a sick heart. “If I could talk like that I’d be a real lady.” Overland girls give helpful advice. A word that drove a mustang to desperation.Chapter X—The Round-up“Pap sure was a scream,” declares Judy. The Overland Riders witness a thrilling round-up. Stacy Brown gets into new difficulties. J. Elfreda is accused of frightening a wild steer to death. Bad news from up the valley.Chapter XI—Hippy Defends the RanchLieutenant Wingate’s suspicions aroused. Two ruffians are neatly trapped. The ranch-house under rifle fire. A ruse that succeeded. “I’ve got to take a chance.” Rifle bullets rip through the old house. Disaster again overtakes the Overland Rider.Chapter XII—At the Last MomentAn alarm scatters the mountain ruffians. “Hit the trail! Hit it hard!” Cowpunchers find the ranch-house on fire. A dramatic scene in Joe Bindloss’s home. Captives give sullen replies. “The herd’s stampeded an’ Pop’s been shot!” cries Idaho Jones.Chapter XIII—An Overlander Is MissingHippy at last regains consciousness. Lieutenant Wingate relates the story of the attack on the ranch-house. Cowboys howl when they hear the news. Stacy Brown mysteriously disappears. “The prisoners have got away!”Chapter XIV—The Lost TrailMalcolm Hornby refuses Joe Bindloss’s request. “Pap’s got an awful grouch today.” Jim fails to follow Chunky’s trail. The search is given up for the night. Judy acts strangely. “Something has happened to Jim!” Sam Conifer meets disaster.Chapter XV—Clews That Were LoadedThe old guide finds the trail and a bullet finds him. Stacy and Jim are among the missing. Two-gun Pete makes a strange discovery. The mystery of the carrier pigeons. Birds for a pie. “Wal, I’ll be shot!” exclaims Joe Bindloss.Chapter XVI—The Carrier Pigeons’ FlightChunky writes a letter for the Rustlers. “This suspense is killing me!” cries Emma. High ransom is demanded for the fat boy. How to follow the trail of a bird. The “dove of peace” is liberated. “I’ve got it!” shouts Sam Conifer.Chapter XVII—Stacy Decides to LeaveHow the Overland boy was captured. Mountain ruffians make desperate plans. Money that came down from the skies. “Put up yer hands, young feller!” The fat boy in the toils. Stacy Brown finds himself under arrest as a horse thief.Chapter XVIII—Trouble at Red GulchCarrier pigeons point the way. The guide smells smoke. Sam Conifer stalks the rustlers to their lair. “Brown’ll be a dead dude by mornin’!” A thunderbolt is hurled at the mountain ruffians. Plotters get a rude surprise.Chapter XIX—A Duel in the DarkThe magician’s wand. “Yer too yellow to draw!” Sam reveals his identity to Mexican Charley. Six to one. The outlaw takes a chance and loses. When the light was shot out. “That’s what I calls a low-down trick!”Chapter XX—Stacy Wields a ClubThe fat boy’s story is not believed. “All hoss thieves is liars!” A barn his prison cell. “Heah’s yer chuck. I hope it chokes ye!” Ordered to leave for prison. Chunky turns the tables on his jailer and compliments himself.Chapter XXI—Judy Brings TidingsA mysterious shot. Pete gets a bullet hole through his hat. No trace of the missing Jim. Judy takes her time in telling bad news. “Sam’s been killed and Tom and Hippy wounded!” announces the mountain girl.Chapter XXII— Riders of the NightOverland girls go in search of the missing ones. Judy Hornby leads the way. The mountain cabin found to be empty. Bindloss reads the trail. Startled by the sound of shots. The worst is feared. “Fire! They’ve set the grass on fire!”Chapter XXIII—Racing with DeathPonies become frantic with fear. Overland Riders feel the thrill of the moment. “Faster!” cries the mountain girl. Rifle shots sound nearer. A scene that startled the Riders. The duel. A bandit meets his reward.Chapter XXIV—Farewell to the CososJudy Hornby finds a new “Pap.” Stacy Brown still stalked by trouble. “This feller is a hoss thief!” When Judy’s dreams came true.
CONTENTS
Chapter I—Peace in the Coso Valley
Stacy’s dream is interpreted. Jim-Sam proves to be a problem. A guide that could howl like a coyote. “Mules, like some fellers, is contrary critters.” Sam’s whiskers are expressive. A peace that was rudely broken.
Chapter II—On the Road to Trouble
The Overlanders prepare for defense. Stacy’s weapon a tent stake. Emma Dean in the toils. The shot that stopped the roper. “Let ’em have it!” yells the guide. All because of the fat boy’s dream. The alarm.
Chapter III—An Invitation to Move
“Sit tight!” orders Hippy. A caller who threatened trouble. Sam Conifer passes the lie. “I reckon I’d kill ye whar ye stand!” Hands flash to weapons. The stranger is ordered out of camp. When brains were mixed.
Chapter IV—At the “Circle O” Ranch
Camp made in the foothills of the Cosos. “The Old Man wants ter know what ye are doin’ heah!” The Overlanders are again ordered to get out. Emma explains the “imponderable something.” The dance in the bunk-house. A bullet parts Sam Conifer’s whiskers.
Chapter V—Overlanders Suffer a Loss
“Shoot, Sam! Shoot, I tell you!” A mysterious shot is fired. Jim finds a trail. A “lovely party” spoiled. The Overland Riders find their ponies missing. Distress at the Circle O. Jim-Sam blame each other.
Chapter VI—Rustlers Are Hard Pressed
A question of mules. Emma Dean looks for dreams. Sam exchanges shots with a prowler. Stacy Brown believes in safety first. Ranchers engage the rustlers in a lively battle. Lieutenant Wingate wages an unequal fight and loses.
Chapter VII—A Fight to a Finish
“Give ’em the rifles!” yells Two-gun Pete. The end of the battle. An Overlander is found seriously wounded. Tom bears bad news to his companions. Elfreda gives first aid. Cowpunchers look on in open-mouthed wonder.
Chapter VIII—The “Dude” Makes Good
Hippy is complimented by Two-gun Pete. “What’s a hoss when it comes to a scrap?” What Hippy Wingate dreamed. Grace Harlowe’s pony is recovered. Ranchers help the Overlanders to move. Judy Hornby makes an exciting entrance.
Chapter IX—Judy Speaks Out
The mountain girl wants to know what love is. Judy tries poulticing for a sick heart. “If I could talk like that I’d be a real lady.” Overland girls give helpful advice. A word that drove a mustang to desperation.
Chapter X—The Round-up
“Pap sure was a scream,” declares Judy. The Overland Riders witness a thrilling round-up. Stacy Brown gets into new difficulties. J. Elfreda is accused of frightening a wild steer to death. Bad news from up the valley.
Chapter XI—Hippy Defends the Ranch
Lieutenant Wingate’s suspicions aroused. Two ruffians are neatly trapped. The ranch-house under rifle fire. A ruse that succeeded. “I’ve got to take a chance.” Rifle bullets rip through the old house. Disaster again overtakes the Overland Rider.
Chapter XII—At the Last Moment
An alarm scatters the mountain ruffians. “Hit the trail! Hit it hard!” Cowpunchers find the ranch-house on fire. A dramatic scene in Joe Bindloss’s home. Captives give sullen replies. “The herd’s stampeded an’ Pop’s been shot!” cries Idaho Jones.
Chapter XIII—An Overlander Is Missing
Hippy at last regains consciousness. Lieutenant Wingate relates the story of the attack on the ranch-house. Cowboys howl when they hear the news. Stacy Brown mysteriously disappears. “The prisoners have got away!”
Chapter XIV—The Lost Trail
Malcolm Hornby refuses Joe Bindloss’s request. “Pap’s got an awful grouch today.” Jim fails to follow Chunky’s trail. The search is given up for the night. Judy acts strangely. “Something has happened to Jim!” Sam Conifer meets disaster.
Chapter XV—Clews That Were Loaded
The old guide finds the trail and a bullet finds him. Stacy and Jim are among the missing. Two-gun Pete makes a strange discovery. The mystery of the carrier pigeons. Birds for a pie. “Wal, I’ll be shot!” exclaims Joe Bindloss.
Chapter XVI—The Carrier Pigeons’ Flight
Chunky writes a letter for the Rustlers. “This suspense is killing me!” cries Emma. High ransom is demanded for the fat boy. How to follow the trail of a bird. The “dove of peace” is liberated. “I’ve got it!” shouts Sam Conifer.
Chapter XVII—Stacy Decides to Leave
How the Overland boy was captured. Mountain ruffians make desperate plans. Money that came down from the skies. “Put up yer hands, young feller!” The fat boy in the toils. Stacy Brown finds himself under arrest as a horse thief.
Chapter XVIII—Trouble at Red Gulch
Carrier pigeons point the way. The guide smells smoke. Sam Conifer stalks the rustlers to their lair. “Brown’ll be a dead dude by mornin’!” A thunderbolt is hurled at the mountain ruffians. Plotters get a rude surprise.
Chapter XIX—A Duel in the Dark
The magician’s wand. “Yer too yellow to draw!” Sam reveals his identity to Mexican Charley. Six to one. The outlaw takes a chance and loses. When the light was shot out. “That’s what I calls a low-down trick!”
Chapter XX—Stacy Wields a Club
The fat boy’s story is not believed. “All hoss thieves is liars!” A barn his prison cell. “Heah’s yer chuck. I hope it chokes ye!” Ordered to leave for prison. Chunky turns the tables on his jailer and compliments himself.
Chapter XXI—Judy Brings Tidings
A mysterious shot. Pete gets a bullet hole through his hat. No trace of the missing Jim. Judy takes her time in telling bad news. “Sam’s been killed and Tom and Hippy wounded!” announces the mountain girl.
Chapter XXII— Riders of the Night
Overland girls go in search of the missing ones. Judy Hornby leads the way. The mountain cabin found to be empty. Bindloss reads the trail. Startled by the sound of shots. The worst is feared. “Fire! They’ve set the grass on fire!”
Chapter XXIII—Racing with Death
Ponies become frantic with fear. Overland Riders feel the thrill of the moment. “Faster!” cries the mountain girl. Rifle shots sound nearer. A scene that startled the Riders. The duel. A bandit meets his reward.
Chapter XXIV—Farewell to the Cosos
Judy Hornby finds a new “Pap.” Stacy Brown still stalked by trouble. “This feller is a hoss thief!” When Judy’s dreams came true.