Another bullet thudded into the door. The outlaws looked about uneasily.
“Why don’t you go out and meet your friends,” one of them demanded of Gale.
She regarded him with a shrewd glance. “Our friends?” she murmured. “Are you sure you weren’t expecting anybody?”
“Shore, the King of England,” the other man drawled loftily.
“Do you suppose it could be our friends?” Valerie asked.
“Too many,” Gale said immediately, but she was uncertain.
Were the outlaws as uneasy over these new arrivals as they seemed? Or was it pretense to trick the girls? Gale wished she knew. To her the terror of the outlaws seemed real enough. There was no mistaking the fear on the face of Pedro when a bullet entered through the window and pinged against the fireplace alarmingly close to him. They feared these men, but why? Were the new arrivals officers of the law or a band of rivaloutlaws? Were there such things as rival groups of bandits?
Gale pulled Val against the wall beside her. It was safest out of range of any gun that might shoot in the window. Suddenly from the rear of the cabin came a shout. Another voice took it up. A hasty glance out the window showed men running from cover and toward the door.
“Use your gun,” screamed one of the outlaws.
“No,” Gale said firmly. “We’ll see who they are--first!”
Walking to the door Gale threw it open and stepped into the arms of the two men who rushed forward. She recognized them with a great overwhelming joy.
“Tom! Jim! How on earth did you get here? Who----”
“We’ve brought the Sheriff and his men,” Tom said breathlessly. “Looks as though you had the situation well in hand,” he added after he had greeted Valerie and taken in the sight of Pedro and the other two.
The Sheriff with two of his deputies crowded into the room and took charge of the three bandits.
“Reckon you’ll do no more rustlin’ cattle or robbin’ banks,” the Sheriff said, as he snapped handcuffs on the bigger of the two, while one of his men did the same with Pedro.
“Ya can’t keep me in jail,” the man returned.“An’ when I get out--I’m goin’ after these two kids!”
“Threats won’t get you anywhere,” Tom said practically. “Well, girls, want to go back to camp? Your chums are pretty worried about you.”
Valerie and Gale mounted the latter’s horse and Tom took them back to camp. Jim remained with the Sheriff to see the prisoners started on their way to the K Bar O and from there to Coxton. Later he would join the Adventure Girls again.
“Who shot at us from the window?” Tom demanded as they jogged along.
Gale grinned. “I did. How did I know it was help? I thought it was some more bandits.”
“And you were taking no chances, eh?” Tom laughed.
“But how did you know we were in the cabin?” Valerie asked him next.
“Recognized Gale’s horse standing in back,” Tom replied. “How did you get there in the first place?”
“When the rain came on yesterday I was looking for shelter,” Gale explained. “I got in there and just had time to crawl out the back windowwhen I saw the men ride up. I decided to hang around and see if I could learn anything about the cattle that are being stolen from your Dad. I did. I heard them plotting to steal some more last night and drive them over the border into Mexico. Then all but the Mexican went away. Along about midnight two men came back and had Val with them. From then on things moved fast.”
“I saw the rustlers last night, Tom,” Valerie chimed in. “At least I think it was them. They were rounding up a herd of cattle and I turned to come back to camp and tell you when two men grabbed me and took me to that cabin. There the Mexican managed to scare me out of a year’s growth--until Gale came along.”
“I left the camp last night for the ranch and to get Dad and some men,” Tom added his bit. “I met the Sheriff and three of his deputies riding out to meet us and this morning we picked up the trail of the two men who had kidnapped you, Valerie. You know what happened after that. Oh, yes, Dad and some of the boys got the three who were after the cows last night.” He smiled. “I want to hear what happened all night and how you managed to trick those fellows, but I’ll bepatient until we get back to camp and you’ve had some breakfast. I suppose you are hungry?”
“Are we!” Gale and Valerie echoed together.
“And I’m so sleepy I could sleep standing up,” Gale declared.
“You and me both,” Valerie murmured.
The three of them soon after rode up to the camp. The girls pounced on the two adventurers and welcomed them with open arms. While they were waited on and served with breakfast they told their story and the other girls declared it thrilling. After the last bite of breakfast Gale and Val went to their tent so sleepy they could scarcely keep their eyes open. They slept the sleep of utter exhaustion for ten hours. When they awoke the sky was aglow with sunset colors and the other girls were waiting with their supper.
“We are going to ride tonight,” Virginia informed them as the two appeared. “While you were snoozing we had a nap, too, so we could ride by moonlight.”
“Grand,” Gale declared.
“We thought you would never wake up,” Janet complained. “How could you sleep so long?”
“A clear conscience is the secret, my dear,”Valerie declared with a laugh. “I’ll bet you never slept as soundly as we did.”
“And why shouldn’t I?” Janet demanded in a loud voice. “I’ve nothing on my conscience----”
“How about the time you spilt ink on the professor’s desk? And the time you rang the fire gong when there was no cause, and the time----” Carol was enumerating when Janet interrupted.
“They should keep you awake,” Madge added mischievously.
“You’ve committed just as many crimes,” Janet defended quickly.
“I’ll wager they have,” Virginia said with a sympathetic arm about Janet’s shoulders. “Well, Tom?” she said to her brother who was approaching from the horses. “All set to go?”
“As soon as we take down the other tent,” he agreed. “How’re you, girls?” the last was to Gale and Valerie.
“Fine as a fiddle!” Valerie declared.
Indeed she appeared to be. Gale had at first watched her friend with some trepidation, remembering the strenuous events of last night. Before, Valerie had always been worn out, utterly exhausted after any excitement or nerve strain. Now she was as calm and steady as any of them.It was borne home to them all that Valerie had surely won her long fight for health.
Val herself was the happiest as it was natural that she should be. She, too, had been anxious as to the results of last night’s adventure. This morning when she and Gale had gone to bed, tired as she had been, she had feared an undoing of all the good work these weeks in the sun and air had done. But now, to her own amazement as well as to the surprise of her friends, she felt more fit, more cheerful than she had done for many months. It was a continual joy to her to be able to ride and compete equally with her friends, to know that she was as capable of meeting an emergency as any of them.
“Oh, Val!” Phyllis said, hugging her exultantly. “You look marvelous this morning.”
“Indeed she does,” Gale agreed, as the three of them walked to their horses.
“I feel it too,” Val declared.
“All the credit goes to beautiful Arizona,” Phyllis said cheerily.
“No it doesn’t,” Val said sturdily. “You girls deserve a vote of thanks on my behalf. I hereby express it,” she said gayly.
“Who is getting thanked and for what?” Janetinterrupted, overtaking the three while Madge, Carol, and Virginia lagged behind.
“I’m offering all the Adventure Girls a vote of thanks for helping me back to health,” Valerie said.
“And we claim we didn’t have anything to do with it,” Gale said immediately. “It was sheer grit on Val’s part that she won out.”
“I’m inclined to agree with you,” Janet said to Gale. “She has been wonderful, hasn’t she?”
“My word!” Valerie laughed. “I’m getting a lot of bouquets. You will bring on a rainstorm with such compliments.”
“It’s the truth,” Phyllis asserted. “And our trip has served its purpose.”
“What do you mean?” Valerie demanded suspiciously. “Was this Arizona trip planned for my especial benefit?”
“Well, you see--we--ah----” Phyllis floundered.
“Phyllis Elton!” Janet sighed. “You never open your mouth but you put your foot in it!”
“Well, I couldn’t help it,” Phyllis grumbled. “Val shouldn’t be so suspicious.”
“Gale,” Valerie commanded, “tell me what this is all about. What does she mean by the trip hasserved its purpose? Tell me!” she insisted as Gale hesitated.
“Why--um--you see, Val, we--got together and sort of talked it over and we decided----”
“You all decided to spend your summer out here so I could get well,” Val said, a suspicion of tears in her voice. “Was there ever a girl had such friends?”
“Bosh!” Janet said crisply, immediately dispersing all sentiment. “We did it for ourselves. Aren’t we the Adventure Girls and didn’t we come, out for some more adventures? But so far,” she added humorously, “you and Gale have been doing all the adventuring. Getting kidnapped and----”
“And almost run through by a Mexican and his knife,” finished Valerie. “Well, from now on, Janet, I cheerfully resign all my adventures in your favor.”
“Can I count on that?” Janet asked when the other girls joined them.
“We are on our way home, girls,” sighed Carol, “and all our adventuring is over for another summer. Dear me, winter and school are dull times, don’t you think?”
“Yes!”
“No!” came simultaneously from Janet and Phyllis.
Carol had not spoken the whole truth. They were on their last long ride of the summer, but their adventures were not over, and this they were shortly to discover for themselves.
The moonlight turned the ground to silver dust and gave the girls the appearance of ghostly white riders as, single file, they started on their journey back to the K Bar O ranch house. They were feeling a trifle sad and regretful that it was almost time to leave these wide open spaces they had grown to love, when all thought of the approaching parting was jogged out of them.
Janet, who had been riding behind Gale, turned her horse from the line to come up beside Phyllis. At the same moment something, presumably a squirrel or jack rabbit, darted across from the side of the trail in front of her horse. She had been riding with loose reins, her horse’s head drooping forward, and now, when her horse reared in sudden fright, she was almost unseated. The horse stood for a moment balanced on his hind legs, pawing the air wildly with his forehoofs, then came down to earth and raced away, Janet trying frantically to retrieve her reins.
Jim had joined them again for the return to the ranch house, and now the minute he saw Janet’s horse was a runaway, urged his own mount after the girl’s. Tom was a close second, with Gale right behind him. The others strung out behind the first three, all bent on catching the runaway or saving Janet from an accident.
The wild dash of her horse, taking her utterly by surprise, had knocked all thought from Janet’s head and now she could do nothing but cling grimly to her seat. Darn the horse! she thought exasperatedly. He was supposed to be tame and used to the wild life of the plains and hills, yet a little jack rabbit could scare him out of his wits! She flung a hasty glance over her shoulder and saw her friends bearing down on her. But as if her own horse decided he didn’t want to be caught, he put on a sudden spurt and widened the distance.
Janet could see the reins dangling over the horse’s head, just out of her reach. Murmuring soothingly in his ear, Janet endeavored to catch the elusive reins but failed. One hand clinging desperately to the pommel on her saddle, Janet rose in her stirrups. For an instant she felt the reins in her fingers and then she had lost themagain. She was quite well aware what the consequences would be if her horse threw her. She might suddenly find herself with a broken shoulder or arm or a fractured skull. The thought wasn’t at all pleasant and she set her teeth grimly, determined to stop the fool horse before something did happen to both of them.
They were coming out onto a wide plain where her horse had the best chance of all to run himself out. But she didn’t propose to stick to him until he was tired. She wanted him stopped now before he jolted all her bones loose. Clinging to the saddle and rising in her stirrups she leaned as far forward as possible. The horse lurched suddenly and it was by the merest piece of luck that she wasn’t thrown off on her face. But she clung to her saddle and persisted in her attempt to reach the reins. Finally her fingers closed on the left rein and she hung onto it desperately. She pulled with all her strength but the horse didn’t slacken in speed, not a fraction. He seemed bent on reaching some invisible object ahead and nothing could swerve him from his purpose. Janet braced her feet squarely in the stirrups, put both hands on the rein and continued to pull.
Phyllis, who was behind Gale in the race toreach Janet, saw the runaway swerve suddenly, an act all of them had been unprepared for. Janet’s horse raced parallel to its pursuers and it was a moment of lost precious time before either Jim or Tom could change the course of their own mounts. Phyllis, by the time Jim was after Janet again, had sent her horse at an abrupt angle from the group. If Janet’s horse did not swerve again, and she herself kept on at the present line, the two were bound to come together. Perhaps if they collided it would bring Janet’s horse to a halt, she reflected with a bit of humor.
For all of Janet’s tugging at the rein her horse was adamant. He did not slacken his speed until he began to feel tired. He had swerved from his course, but he would not stop. Janet, her whole attention claimed by the horse under her, did not see Phyllis until horse and rider loomed up before her. She felt herself suddenly hurled over her horse’s head as he made a mad attempt to stop himself, and the next second she found herself on top of Phyllis on the ground.
Janet rolled off her friend and sat up. She felt herself all over to be sure she was still in one piece. It had been quite a jolt, that landing on the ground. Then she turned to Phyllis. Her chumhad not stirred and Janet feared the girl might be seriously hurt.
“I say, Phyll, are you all right?” Janet asked anxiously.
Phyllis opened her eyes and grinned through the dust and grime she had acquired when she pitched headlong to the ground.
“Yes,” she said thickly through a mouth full of dust. “I s’pose I’m all right, but you knocked all the wind out of me. I also saw several stars I never knew existed. But we stopped him, didn’t we?” she demanded, gazing at Janet’s horse which was standing meekly beside Phyllis’ own, all trace of rebellion gone.
“He ought to stop now, the crazy thing,” Janet said, getting stiffly to her feet. “You know, Phyll,” she said with a laugh, “you aren’t at all soft to land on. I’m all bumps and bruises.”
“You can be glad I was here to land on,” Phyllis said, “you might have picked a cactus, you know.”
“It isn’t everybody has a runaway,” Janet said with satisfaction. “I’ve certainly something to write home about now,” she declared, as the two turned to greet their friends.
“All right?” Gale asked anxiously as the othersflung themselves from their horses and gathered solicitously around.
“Yes, but I’m going to sue Janet for damages,” Phyllis declared, rubbing a bruised place tenderly. “She had no right to knock me off my horse.”
“You had no business running into me,” Janet laughed in turn.
“Our hearts were in our mouths when we saw Janet fly through the air over her horse’s head,” Val declared.
“She floats through the air with the greatest of ease----” Carol started to sing when Janet glared at her.
“Riding, especially runaways, gives me an appetite,” Virginia said. “Suppose we have a bite of lunch.”
“You are indeed my friend,” Janet declared to Virginia. “You always know just what I need.”
A half hour later the ride was resumed. Janet and Phyllis, to the amusement of their friends, both lowered themselves gingerly into their saddles. Their experience had left them jolted and bruised and before much riding they began to coax the others to camp for the rest of the night.
“We might as well,” Tom said. “It’s alreadynearing morning and this afternoon will see us at the K Bar O even if we take our time.”
They camped on the plains and decided not to put the tents up for the few hours that they meant to remain there. The girls rolled in blankets, feet toward the campfire, and in a few moments all but Gale and Virginia were dozing.
Lying flat on her back, the earth warm beneath her, staring up at the stars overhead, Gale felt suddenly tiny, so infinitesimal. The plain was so wide, the sky so near, the stars so bright----
“What are you thinking about?” Virginia asked from beside her.
“The stars,” Gale answered. “Didn’t somebody call them the windows of heaven?”
“Are you looking for the angels with their golden harps?” Virginia laughed.
“Yes,” Gale agreed with a smile. “Do you think I’ll see any?”
“Never can tell,” Virginia said, smothering a yawn. “Which one is your wagon hitched to?”
“Which angel?” queried Gale.
“No, silly, which star?”
“That one up there, see it? The little one, all sparkly. Oh!” Gale laughed, “It winked at me.”
“Not very big,” Virginia commented, squinting at the sky. “Whyn’t you pick a big one?”
“Wait until it grows up,” Gale murmured. “Just like me, wait until I grow up!”
“Won’t that be sompin’,” Virginia giggled. “What are you going to be? A female Lindbergh?”
“Never can tell,” Gale said. “Maybe I’ll be another Columbus.”
“I don’t know whether there are any lands left to discover, so you might have a little difficulty along that line,” was Virginia’s opinion. “Meanwhile--I’m getting sleepy.”
She fell silent and Gale, too, pulled her blanket closer for a cool wind had sprung up. The last thing she remembered before Tom brought them all wide awake with a loud banging on the frying pan was the wild, untamed howl of a coyote.
With the first dancing rays of the sun, the riders were up and about their business. Packs securely fastened on the pack horses and the girls mounted, they started on their way. As always when riding their spirits rose with the sun. Tom was playing his harmonica and Janet and Carol both insisted on giving voice to the tune Tom was playing until the other girls threatened dire punishment unless they stopped.
Noon found them riding into the valley with the K Bar O ranch house just ahead of them. To the girls it seemed as though there were a great many men gathered about the bunkhouse and the corral. The very air seemed tinged with suspense and mystery. Unconscious that they did so, all the riders spurred their horses on at an increased pace. Why should there be such activity where usually there were peace and orderliness unless something had happened? It was as if a cloud of trouble had descended on the K Bar O.
“I wonder what’s the matter?” Virginia murmured to Gale. “I hope nothing has happened----”
“We’ll soon find out,” Gale answered as the horses trotted up to the corral and the girls dismounted. “Look, isn’t that the Sheriff?”
“Hello, there, youngsters!” Gale’s uncle came forward and at his heels came Sheriff Colman.
“What’s up, Dad?” Tom asked anxiously.
The Sheriff looked a bit sheepish and Mr. Wilson frowned in annoyance.
“It’s the--rustlers,” the Sheriff said finally. “They’ve escaped--vamoosed!”
“Gone?” Valerie asked incredibly. “But how----”
“We locked ’em in the bunkhouse last night; when we came to the bunkhouse--they were gone.”
“The three of them?” Virginia asked.
Mr. Wilson nodded. “We think they are hiding somewhere around the ranch. They couldn’t have gone far.”
Carol cocked a speculative eye in the direction of Gale and Valerie. “I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes with the three of them loose.”
“You’re cheerful,” Gale told her.
“It does make me rather uncomfortable,” Valerie said, uneasily glancing over her shoulder as if she expected the Mexican to rise up behind her.
“Don’t let their threats frighten you,” the Sheriff said heartily. “There are enough of my deputies here on the ranch to subdue an army. You’ll be safe.”
“I hope so,” Valerie said, but her tone wasn’t very confident.
“How about some lunch?” Tom put in. “You can tell us about what’s happened then.”
“Where’s Mother?” Virginia asked.
“She’s gone into town to stay with the Johnsons a few days--until we find these bandits,” herfather replied. “I wish you girls hadn’t come back right now.”
“We thought we were coming to peace and quiet,” Phyllis laughed. “Instead we walk into a----”
“Riot,” supplied Janet.
Luncheon was a spasmodic affair, interrupted by deputies wanting a consultation with the Sheriff, and with discussions as to where the men might be hiding. The hours between luncheon and dinner passed and still the outlaws were not found. They eluded capture with the elusiveness of ghosts. The Sheriff was angry and chagrined. It didn’t speak well for his prowess as an officer of the law to have criminals escape him so constantly.
The girls were worried. Each believed that the bandits would try to seek revenge on the two who had been responsible for their capture. Valerie especially had unpleasant memories of Pedro and his knife.
Gale and Virginia alone held the opinion that the outlaws wouldn’t linger near the ranch when there were so many officers about. Why should they risk their freedom for revenge? It seemed silly to fear the angry threats made when theSheriff and his men captured the bandits. Those kind of men were notoriously brave talkers, but when it came to putting their deeds into words they were slow in action. Gale believed their bluster had been a mere attempt to cover up their fear of the law. She refused to be worried over their escape.
“I’ll wager they are in Mexico by now,” she said confidently to Valerie as the two stood at the window of their room preparatory to jumping into bed.
“The Sheriff doesn’t think so,” Valerie said bluntly. “Or if he does, why didn’t he follow them?”
“Because they didn’t leave a trail,” a jolly voice said behind them and Janet and Carol trailed into the room through the communicating door. Both were clad in flowing pajamas and robes and seated themselves cross-legged on the bed.
“I happen to know,” Carol said in a mysterious whisper, “that the Sheriff and his men trailed the outlaws to the creek and there the trail was lost.”
“Isn’t that always the way?” Janet said wearily. “I thought we were going to have some excitement but all the fun is over before we get here.”
In answer to her words a volley of shots rang out from the ranch yard.
Valerie frowned on her friend. “All the fun is over, eh? I wonder what that was?”
“I’m going to find out,” Gale said and ran from the room with Valerie at her heels.
Carol and Janet remained calmly on the bed. When Gale and Valerie returned Janet looked up in inquiry.
“Merely one of the patrolling sentries shooting at a shadow,” Gale said dryly.
“Hm,” Janet yawned. “Those fellows are so nervous if they suddenly looked in a mirror they would shoot themselves!”
“How come you didn’t run when you heard the shooting?” Valerie wanted to know. “For all you know it might have been a lot of excitement.”
Janet shook her head. “I’ve got a sixth sense that tells me when there is excitement in the air.”
“It doesn’t tell you when your horse is going to run away though, does it?” Carol asked teasingly.
“Please,” Janet begged, “that is a painful subject. Let’s not talk of it--I’ve still got a couple of bruises. I’m going to bed,” she announced suddenly.
“It’s about time,” Carol declared, jumping up.
“Why do you say that?” Janet demanded. “If you’re so sleepy why didn’t you go hours ago?”
“Because I can’t go without you, darling,” Carol said sweetly. “I can’t sleep even if I do, because when you come in you are sure to fall over something and scare all sleep out of me.”
“I do not,” Janet protested.
When the two, still arguing, had closed the door to their room Gale and Valerie prepared for bed.
“I shall probably dream of Pedro,” Valerie said as she jumped between the covers. “That fellow haunts me!”
“Nonsense,” Gale laughed. “Don’t let your mind dwell on it. Anyway,” she sighed, “we’ll be going home in three days and then you can get all the sleep you like.”
“Just the same,” Val murmured, “I won’t ever forget that knife.”
When the lights were out and sleep had come to the girls, Gale slept dreamlessly, peacefully. But Valerie tossed and fretted, pursued in her dreams by Pedro and his knife, which, with the fantasy of dreams, had grown to new and large proportions.
Their horses were fresh and eager and the girls had a hard time holding them into a leisurely walk on the way back from town. Gale and Valerie--the other girls had remained at the ranch house to pack some of their things, for they were to leave for the East day after tomorrow--were the only ones who had felt eager for an early morning ride. Tom had saddled their horses for them and the girls had ridden into Coxton to get a last look at the little western town. They made some trifling purchases in the general store and now were on their way back to the ranch.
The sun shone down, its brilliance sending little dust eddies up from the road. At the roadside a bird twittered.
“Funny,” Valerie said, “I never thought of them as having birds in Arizona.”
Gale laughed. “Why shouldn’t they?”
“I don’t know. It just never occurred to me. Did it you?”
“I read about them in an encyclopedia,” Gale confessed laughingly. “I’m afraid that is the way most of us become acquainted with places we’ve never seen. It’s a very unsatisfying way.”
“I suppose you have an idea in your head to go to see all the places in the world some day?”
“How did you guess?” Gale demanded gayly. “That is just what I’ve been keeping up my sleeve. Do you possess the same secret yen?”
“I do,” Val said smilingly. “But the places I want to see are a little far to walk and there’s not much hope of my going any other way.”
They turned off the trail into the ranch yard and Janet hailed them frantically.
“Hi there! Come and hear the news!” she called.
“What is it?” Gale asked as they dismounted and left their horses’ reins dangling.
“Hear ye, hear ye,” Carol chanted, “the Sheriff is about to capture the famous outlaws.”
“Just like he did several times,” Val said dryly.
“This time he is not going to let them out of his sight one minute until they are sentenced and on their way to a federal prison,” Janet said.
“How does he propose to catch them?” Gale asked, sitting astride the banister.
“A little while ago,” Janet said, her voice a confidential whisper, “a rider came from across the valley somewhere. He says one of the bandits was seen about five miles on the other side of Coxton.”
“Only seen!” Valerie echoed.
“Is that all?” Gale added. “I thought they at least had the three of them tied to a tree or something.”
“Let me finish!” Janet said. “He also said that they have Pedro--he fell off his horse and hurt himself--or something,” she added vaguely. “Anyway they’ve got him.”
“Let’s hope they keep him,” Val said heartily. “Why doesn’t the Sheriff go get him?”
“He is,” Carol interrupted. “He and his men are getting their horses ready now. We’re going, too,” she continued. “We coaxed and coaxed until Mr. Wilson said we might ride along if we didn’t get in the way. Everybody’s going,” she added.
“Well, I’m not!” Val said positively. “Everybody can go that wants to. I’m staying right here!”
“Oh, Val,” Janet began coaxingly.
“I’m staying with Val,” Gale agreed. “Ninechances out of ten it will be a wild goose chase anyway.”
“You’re going to miss all the fun,” Carol threatened.
“I don’t mind,” Val said. “Besides, I don’t want even one more glimpse of Pedro or I’ll dream about him again.”
“Oh, but everybody is going,” Janet said, “Virginia--Madge--Tom--us,” she enumerated.
“You’ll be quite alone,” added Carol.
“We don’t mind,” Gale assured them.
From the house came Virginia and Phyllis and Madge. Their voices were added to Janet’s and Carol’s, but Gale and Valerie remained firm in their decision to remain at the ranch. The girls trailed off to the corral to get their mounts. Valerie and Gale walked with them and joined Mr. Wilson, Tom, and the Sheriff where they were talking.
“Going along?” Tom asked.
“No,” Gale shook her head. “We’re of the opinion it is all a wild goose chase so we’re staying here.”
“I rather agree with you,” he said in a low tone, “but it is up to the Sheriff to follow every lead you know or the people will say he is shirkinghis duty. I don’t believe those fellows are even in the United States any more,” he continued. “Anyway, it won’t take long to make sure.”
“I hope it is true,” Valerie said. “I’ve had the jitters ever since those fellows got away again.”
“Well, Val, I’ll give Pedro your regards when I see him,” Carol said as the girls rode up.
“You don’t have to bother,” Val said hastily.
“You better come along,” Janet laughed. “My sixth sense tells me we are due for some excitement.”
“No,” Val said. “I’m going to stay here and make fudge.”
“Now why didn’t you tell me that sooner?” Tom said aggrievedly. “Fudge is my weakness.”
“We’ll save you some,” Gale promised. “Adios!”
The girls and the Sheriff, with his men and Mr. Wilson and Tom, rode away in a cloud of dust. Valerie and Gale leaned on the corral fence, watching them out of sight. Then they turned and proceeded leisurely up to the house.
“I wish them luck,” Valerie declared. “And now for the fudge!”
The K Bar O possessed a very fine Chinese cook who did the cooking for the ranch house, aswell as the bunkhouse, and he presided in solitary estate over the kitchen and its equipment. Loo Wong had very definite ideas about who was privileged to set foot in his domestic kingdom, and Mrs. Wilson was the only one whom he greeted with his wide smile. The “boss-lady” was welcome at any time, but woe to the others who tried to muss up his kitchen.
Now as the girls entered the ranch house and approached the kitchen they went on tiptoe. Together they peeped around the door. Everything was spick and span, but Loo Wong was nowhere in sight.
“It seems the coast is clear,” smiled Gale.
“Ah, but if Loo Wong returns there will be fireworks,” Val declared. “However, here goes.”
From the closet Valerie brought the pan and the necessary ingredients while Gale sat on the edge of the table and watched. The brown mixture was on the stove and a delicious odor filled the room. When Valerie took the pan from the fire to beat the fudge Gale stuck an experimental finger in it for a taste.
“Ouch!” she cried.
Valerie giggled. “You might have known it was hot,” she said unsympathetically.
“Just the same, it tastes good,” Gale declared. “When can I have a piece?”
“When it gets cold!” Valerie said. “Come along, young lady,” she said, leading Gale into the other room. “Let it alone for a while.”
The girls took magazines and settled themselves for the rest of the afternoon. The silence was undisturbed but for the occasional rustling of paper when a page was turned. Val got up and turned on the radio. Soft music filtered into the room.
“Imagine,” Gale smiled lazily from her comfortable position, “way out here we can dance to music from California or New York.”
“Hm,” Val answered, executing a few intricate steps from sheer joy and happiness.
“Val,” Gale continued teasingly, coaxingly, “how about that fudge? It is a shame to leave it all by itself in the kitchen.”
“It ought to be cold enough now,” was Val’s opinion and there was a concerted rush for the kitchen.
With appropriate ceremony Val cut the candy and each of them chose a piece.
“Ah,” Gale murmured. “It is delicious, delightful, de----” Her voice died slowly away.
Standing in the doorway was Loo Wong looking mightily unpleased and angry. He took in the two girls and then the dirty dishes piled on the sink. With difficulty Gale swallowed the last remaining bit of her fudge as Loo Wong took a further step toward them.
“We’ll wash the dishes,” Val said hastily, seeking to placate him.
Gale held out the fudge. “H-Have a piece,” she invited.
Loo Wong looked from one girl to the other. Slowly he reached out and took a piece of candy. Wonderingly he bit into it and a slow grin spread over his yellow face.
“Missy alle same fline cook,” he declared. “You teach Loo Wong?”
If the girls had looked at each other they would have laughed so neither glanced at the other. Both of them had expected dire results for mussing Wong’s kitchen, but instead he wanted them to teach him to make fudge.
Gale, inwardly shaking with mirth, sat on the table and watched while Val instructed the Chinaman. Loo Wong might be adept at making flapjacks and other western specialties, but when it came to candy he wasn’t so artful. He insistedon doing things wrong and Val was becoming exasperated. But finally it was done, and set out to cool. Loo Wong, the grin of a delighted child on his face, hands hidden in voluptuous sleeves, bowed low and went out to the bunkhouse to start supper.
“I wouldn’t have missed that for anything,” Gale declared with a hearty laugh. “When he first came in I expected no less than murder. Instead----”
“We better wash the dishes,” Val declared. “He might take it into his head to come back. It was funny, wasn’t it?” she murmured laughingly. “He looked so serious all the time, too. And you,” she said, “you wouldn’t help me explain it to him.”
Gale laughed. “He asked you. Besides, I was enjoying myself,” she added.
“There!” Val sighed when the dishes were clean and tucked away in their proper places. “Now everything is just as we found it.”
“I’m going back to my magazine,” Gale declared. “I wonder when the girls will get back?”
Above the music on the radio a knock sounded.
“Maybe Loo Wong has returned,” Val said with a laugh, jumping up and going to the kitchen.
At the same time another knock came on the front door.
“What is this?” she heard Gale murmur as she got up to see who was there.
Val pulled open the kitchen door and stumbled back in amazement. Terror gripped her heart and her hands were suddenly cold. She caught at the table for support.
“What do you want--here?” she asked through dry lips.
The man who stood on the threshold advanced slowly into the room and closed the door behind him. All too well she had recognized him. It was Pedro, the Mexican who had sworn revenge. He was here, the Sheriff hadn’t caught him. Slowly she began to back away toward the other room. Perhaps together she and Gale could do something. Possessed solely with an unreasoning terror she turned and fled into the living room where she flung herself on Gale.
“Gale--what’ll we do?” she demanded wildly.
“Keep your chin up,” Gale said into Val’s ear. “It seems we have two visitors.”
“Two?” Val said in surprise. “Who--oh!”
While Pedro entered from the kitchen, Val faced the other man whom Gale had been forcedto let in at the front door. It was the bank bandit, the same man who with his partner they had held up in the cabin when the Sheriff arrested the three. The man who had boasted that no jail could hold him. It seemed he had spoken the truth for here he was again, free.
Pedro looked across at his companion who was fingering a horsehair rope and smiled. That smile made the girls’ blood run cold. It was like an evil shadow of what was to come.
Gale felt Val’s hand tighten convulsively on hers. She looked at her friend. Poor Val, she looked scared to death. Gale hoped she didn’t show her own fright as plainly. Somehow, the knowledge that Valerie was frightened and was counting on her, Gale, for help, served to banish some of Gale’s own terror. When one was terror-stricken, one couldn’t think clearly and goodness knew, they were in need of some straight, clear thinking at this moment. How had these men eluded the police so long? Howhadthey managed to keep in the vicinity and remain hidden from their pursuers?
“How--how did you get here?” Gale said nervously. “We thought----”
“We were miles away, eh?” the outlaw saidwith a loud laugh. “We couldn’t leave without payin’ a final visit to you. It was easy to get your friends off the ranch.”
“But what if we had gone with them?” Gale demanded, wishing desperately that theyhadgone with the others.
“We’d have tried another way,” he said calmly. “You ride alone sometimes.”
“But it is nicer so,” Pedro put in. “No one will hear you--scream!”
Valerie, who had been listening in frightened and worried silence, now permitted herself a gleam of triumph. They supposed no one would hear, did they? Loo Wong was in the bunkhouse. In fact, he might at any moment come here to the big ranch house. And surely he would hear? Val smiled to herself. Both girls had pretty good lungs and once they let out a yell, Loo Wong would have to have bad ears indeed not to hear them!
“Loo Wong,” Val said in the barest of whispers to Gale.
Gale nudged her friend in understanding. It was well that they did have a faint hope of help, but it would not do to let these men know of Loo Wong. They had come here bloodthirsty and revengeful.What would happen before they left? Of that she scarcely dared to think. The outlaw was fingering his rope again, in a most unpleasant manner. What was he contemplating? She shivered at the malicious look on his face. They might try anything, they were utterly ruthless. She wished frantically that there was some way in which they might summon Loo Wong.
“No, as I said, we couldn’t leave without paying a visit to you,” the outlaw continued. “Did you ever see anybody horsewhipped?” he asked next.
Gale paled at the suggestion. “You can’t mean to--you must be mad!” she said.
“Oh, an’ I might as well tell you, there’s no use yellin’ for that crazy cook o’ the Wilsons. My pal is takin’ care of him.”
That took all the wind out of the girls’ sails. It was the final blow. Now they were certainly cornered. All their friends away and Loo Wong--incapacitated.
“Are you mad to come here like this?” Gale said stormily. She had decided it was better to put up a staunch front. “You know what will happen when you are caught, and you will be caught! The Sheriff will shoot you on sight!”
“We won’t be here,” the man said confidently. “Tonight we’re leavin’ the country for good, eh, Pedro?”
“Sí,” replied his companion with a wide grin. “We go ver’ fast.”
“Not fast enough to get away,” Gale said confidently. “And when they catch you----”
“That’s enough! They’re not goin’ to catch us,” he repeated, jerking his rope between his hands and taking a firm grip on the handle.
Gale wished suddenly that they had not come to Arizona at all this summer. But then when they had started out who had thought things might come to this? The West nowadays was supposed to be calm and orderly, with no traces of the old-time Billy the Kid and his confederates. They had wanted adventures and now they were certainly getting them.
“I wonder if Janet’s sixth sense told her of this,” Val murmured, with a dry attempt at humor.
“Ever since you landed here things have been poppin’,” the outlaw resumed, fixing a stern eye on Gale. “First you grab the bank money and land us in jail. Then you hand us over to the Sheriff again.”
“And we’ll do it a third time,” Gale said.
“Not when we get through,” the man assured her. “I reckon we’ve got a little score to settle and we’re goin’ to do it--now!”
The Adventure Girls, with their companions, rode along briskly through the bright sunshine. They were all anxious to reach the spot where the outlaws had been as soon as possible so they did not dawdle along the way.
“Gale and Val don’t know what they’re missing,” Janet declared as they jogged along. “It’s not every day you can join in a chase for bandits.”
“But just think of them lounging around eating big chunks of fudge,” Carol said mischievously.
Janet frowned on her. “Must you give voice to such disturbing thoughts? If they don’t save me a piece, I’ll never forgive them,” she added darkly.
“What’s the matter with you?” Virginia asked Phyllis as the latter rode along between Virginia and Tom.
“I?” Phyllis laughed, “I’ve got a funny feelingthat I’d like to run back to the ranch. Call it a premonition or----”
“A hunch,” supplied Tom. “Well, it’s about time we called a halt. I’m thirsty,” he declared, sliding from his saddle and approaching the little stream beside which the party had halted.
The afternoon was wearing fast away and long shadows were appearing under the trees.
“Say, Sheriff, when do you reckon we’ll find these fellows?” Tom wanted to know.
“’Bout two, three hours yet,” the Sheriff replied.
“That means we’ll be riding back to the ranch in the moonlight,” put in Madge.
“For which three cheers,” added Janet. “I like night riding.”
When they remounted, Phyllis declared her intention of returning to the ranch house. It took a bit of determination to persuade the others to leave her, but she was firm about it and finally watched them ride off without her. Then she turned her horse and headed back to the K Bar O. She was in no hurry now, so she let her pony proceed at a leisurely walk.
It was strange, this feeling she had, that she should go back to her friends. She could not tellwhy she should feel so. There was certainly nothing that could happen to them at the ranch. Yet she had that queer feeling that there was something doing, something in which she should have a part.
She looked up at the setting sun. It would be dark before she reached the ranch house and, she plotted mischievously, she would surprise Gale and Valerie. Pounce on them all unaware. Behind her sounded the beat of hoofs and Tom rode into sight.
“Hi, there!” he called. “Wait up for a pal.”
“Going home, too?” she demanded.
“Yep,” he nodded, reining his horse in beside hers. “I thought you might get lost, so I’ll be your guide.”
“Was it me or was it Val’s fudge,” Phyllis asked suspiciously, “that made you decide to come along?”
“Well now,” Tom drawled, a twinkle in his eye, “I reckon the fudge was an added inducement.”
“I thought so,” laughed Phyllis.
“That hunch of yours must have been strong to take you back to the ranch,” Tom declared after a while.
“It’s strange,” Phyllis frowned. “I can’t account for it.”
“Hunches are funny things,” Tom agreed. “Sometimes they’re right and sometimes--well, sometimes they’re not so good.”
“Do you get them?” Phyllis asked.
“Lots of times,” he agreed. “I remember once a couple years ago, I was out night riding with the herd. I made up my mind to return to the ranch in the middle of the night. I came to a fork in the trail and a hunch told me to take the trail to the right, so I did. Well, all of a sudden my horse balked and refused to budge another step. He was right stubborn about it too. I reckon I called him everything I could think of and used my whip a lot, too. But he just set back on his haunches and refused to go on.
“It was so dark I couldn’t see a thing of what was ahead an’ thought maybe Dusty was afraid of something. Usually he was the best-behaved horse on the K Bar O.”
“What did you do?” Phyllis asked interestedly.
“I got down and took out my flashlight. I got a habit of carryin’ a light with me, and turned it ahead of us. Did my hair stand on end! Here Ihad been trying to drive him off a sixty-foot cliff. All he would have had to take was one step to land us both in kingdom come.”
“He had good reason to be stubborn,” Phyllis murmured in awe. “I didn’t know horses had such sense!”
“Yep, you can trust a horse’s judgment in preference to a man’s sometimes,” Tom said. “Especially in the country out here.”
They rode along, chatting amiably, while the sun sank farther and farther out of sight.
“Boy, am I hungry!” Tom declared. “I hope Loo Wong has supper ready.”
“But he doesn’t know we’re coming,” Phyllis reminded him.
“Surely Gale and Val intend to eat,” Tom said. “There will be enough for us, too.”
When they rode into the ranch yard it was dark and the windows of the bunkhouse and the ranch house were gleaming yellow. Three horses stood saddled by the corral. When Phyllis and Tom rode up and dismounted, Tom went across and examined the horses curiously. He was back at Phyllis’ side in a moment.
“Something funny going on here,” he said in a low undertone. “The place is too quiet to be natural.”
“My hunch was right,” Phyllis murmured in return. “But what is it? Don’t you know those three horses?”
“No, never saw ’em before,” he answered. “Let’s go to the bunkhouse and see if we can find Loo Wong.”
Cautiously they crossed the ranch yard and peered in the bunkhouse window. Phyllis involuntarily caught her breath at what they saw.
Loo Wong was seated against the wall and directly in front of him, across the table, his back to the window and door, sat another man, a dirty, unkempt individual. The latter had his feet propped on the table and a rifle aimed squarely at Loo Wong’s head. Loo Wong was glaring fruitlessly at his enemy. The situation was highly injurious to his oriental pride and this disgusting individual was keeping him from his duties in the kitchen. Wong was properly angry, but he had no desire to resort to violence and perhaps end up with a bullet in him from the other’s gun, so he submitted impassively.
“What can we do?” Phyllis demanded of Tom.
Neither of the two was armed, but it was imperative that they rescue Loo Wong and determine what, if anything, had happened to Galeand Valerie. Tom pulled his hat, the usual ten gallon size, farther down on his forehead and grinned maliciously.
“You stay here,” he directed in a tone that brooked no argument.
Around by the door was piled firewood. Loo Wong was negligent in carrying his wood into the kitchen and usually commissioned one of the cowboys to do it, but today no one had bothered. Tom chose a piece that would be admirable as a club and approached the door.
Not by a glance or a sound did Loo Wong betray himself when he saw the door slowly open and the face of the young boss appear. He kept his almond eyes fixed on the man opposite him, hands hidden in his enveloping sleeves, face perfectly impassive. What was going on in his mind it was impossible to tell.
Phyllis, watching at the window, wondered how in the world he managed to sit so perfectly still. She, herself, was almost dancing in impatience. She expected to see the outlaw whirl about and shoot at Tom any minute. It was impossible that he could be wholly ignorant of Tom’s presence. She held her breath as Tom shut the door behind him and approached catlike to his prey.She saw the man suddenly straighten in his chair and stand up. He turned and at the same time Tom hurled himself forward. The man fired his rifle and Phyllis instinctively ducked. It was fortunate that she did, for the bullet crashed through the glass over her head. When she cautiously raised her eyes to the window again, the outlaw was on the floor and Loo Wong was grinning at Tom.
Phyllis left the window and ran to the door. She wanted to get up to the ranch house and see if Gale and Val were safe and sound, but she wanted company, for something told her she might run into trouble. Ever since she had seen that man guarding Loo Wong, she had a secret conviction that the girls were in trouble. If they were, it was up to her, Tom, and Loo Wong, to get them out of it. The Sheriff and the others wouldn’t be back for hours yet.
“That’ll hold him for a while,” Tom declared as she appeared. He dusted his hands and turned to the Chinese cook. “What happened, Wong?”
Laboriously and in his funny English, Loo Wong proceeded to acquaint the others with the details of how the man had surprised him at work and held him prisoner at the point of a gun. Ofthe two girls in the ranch house, he knew nothing. He had not known the man who accosted him had had companions.
“When did he come, Loo Wong?” Tom asked.
“Mebbe one, almost one hour,” the Chinaman said with a shrug of his shoulders. “Time flies.”
“Don’t you think we better go up to the house?” Phyllis asked Tom worriedly.
“Yes, come along, Wong!” Tom said turning to the door.
“One moment, please,” the Chinaman said and disappeared into the kitchen.
“What do you suppose he is after?” Phyllis asked impatiently.
“I don’t know,” Tom said with a half smile. “He has a funny idea in his head, I suppose.”
He was as anxious as Phyllis to get to the ranch house. He believed, now, that the hunt the Sheriff and the others had gone on was a hoax. For some reason the outlaws had come here to the ranch, of that he was certain, and he thanked his stars he had decided to return to the K Bar O with Phyllis. He knew the men, on the day the Sheriff had arrested them, had sworn to get even with the two girls who were responsible for their capture, but he had not dreamed that they wouldattempt anything--above all, here at the ranch. He tried not to seem worried in front of Phyllis, but he was.
Loo Wong appeared from the kitchen brandishing his meat cleaver. The wide, sharp blade gleamed dully in the lamplight.
“Don’t aim that thing at me,” Tom laughed. “What are you going to do with it?”
“Show blandits tlwo, thlee thing,” Loo Wong said gravely.
“You’ll show them two or three stars if you hit them with that,” Phyllis declared. “Let’s go, Tom.”
The three stepped from the bunkhouse and started across the yard. From the house ahead of them came a crash and the light in the front room went out. A shout arose, then another.
“Stay here, Phyllis,” Tom said, starting forward at a run. “Come along, Wong.”
“Velly fast!” responded the Chinaman, his cleaver clasped tightly in his hand, ready to smash the first thing that accosted him.