CHAPTER XVIIPURSUITSlowly the import of what Bug Eye had said was realized by every one in the Manleys’ living room. Teddy ran forward. Roy was not a moment behind him.“Sit down here, Bug Eye!â€� the younger boy cried, thrusting a chair toward the swaying man. With a gasp of relief, Bug Eye sank into it.“I’m sure some tired,â€� he declared slowly, “andthirsty! If I could have—â€�“Just a second!â€� Roy hurried to the pitcher of water which stood on a table in a corner. “Here! Take it easy now. There’s ice in it.â€�Bug Eye drank in great gulps, grunting with satisfaction. When he had finished he leaned back in his chair and looked at the ring of anxious faces. Even the orchestra had deserted its post and stood with the others, eagerly waiting for the story of the robbery.“Are you hurt at all, Bug Eye?â€� Mr. Manley asked. “Anything we can get you?â€�“No, I’m O. K. now, thanks,â€� the man answered. “I was just thirsty and winded. Why, those double-distilled, knock-kneed, ornery bunch of tin mule-stealers, drat their hides, made me walk all the way from Sanborn’s Point!â€�“He’s all right,â€� Teddy said to Roy, with a grin. “The same old Bug Eye! Listen to him rave!â€�Having gotten some of the accumulated feeling out of his system, the puncher ended with a vigorous “whoosh!â€� and started his story.“Well, when the boss got your message,â€� he said, nodding toward Nell and Ethel, “he told me to get set for a trip to the X Bar X. So I filled the ole puddle-jumper up with oil, gas, an’ water. Long about four o’clock the boss gives me two boxes an’ tells me to treat ’em careful. Roy, hand me that pitcher again, will you?â€� The young fellow complied, and after another drink Bug Eye went on:“So I throws ’em in the back. I means I puts ’em in the back. Then Mrs. Ball comes out an’ gives me another box, a small one, which she tells me to beverycareful of. Says it’s a present for Miss Belle here.â€� And Bug Eye nodded once more. “So I puts that with the dresses—Mrs. Ball tells me what was in the other boxes, so I wouldn’t sit on ’em by mistake,â€� he apologized.“Then I starts out. Got along fine till I reached Sanborn’s Point—you know where that is, hey Teddy? Well, I shoots her the gas, so’s I can make the hill on high. But nothin’ doin’. ’Bout half way up she stalls, an’ I shoves her in low gear. Just as I do that, I hear a yell, an’ three men with masks jumps from the bushes, guns out, business ends toward me, an’ tells me to stop!â€�There was a buzz of excited comment, and questions were shot at Bug Eye with machine-gun rapidity. He simply shook his head and went on.“Now, boys, give me time! I’m tellin’ it as fast as I know how. As I said, they tells me to stop. So I stops, not bein’ crazy. They pulls me from the front seat an’ pushes me into the bushes. Then they hop in, one of ’em behind the wheel, one of ’em keepin’ me covered. The other watches out the side.“An’ up they go—up the hill an’ down the other side, with flivver, dresses, present, an’ all!â€�“But, Bug Eye, you said something about knowing who did it!â€� Roy exclaimed. “Could you recognize the men?â€�Bug Eye looked up at his questioner. He leaned forward in his chair, his elbows resting on his knees.“One of them,â€� he said slowly and deliberately, “had a scar on the left side of his face!â€�“Gilly—â€� Teddy burst out, and then stopped. His father cast a warning glance at him.“Thought you said they had masks on?â€� Mr. Manley remarked.“They did; but they was only half-masks,â€� Bug Eye explained. “I could see the scar below.â€�“Do you know any one with a scar on the left side of his face?â€� the cattle owner questioned, looking sharply at the seated man.Before he replied, Bug Eye got to his feet. His fists were clenched.“I’ll say I do!â€� he roared. “An’ I got good reason, too! That’s the hombre that’s been rustlin’ our cattle, an’ you can’t tell me any different.â€�“Why do you say that?â€� Teddy asked, leaning forward.“Because I seen him!â€� Bug Eye exclaimed. “That’s why! I was on the range that day the bunch was cut from our herd. I saw ’em go, too, an’ made a dash for the rustlers. But they got away. There was one buckeroo who took a pot shot at me, an’ I saw him close! He was the one with the scar on his face, an’ he’s the one who stole that flivver, or I’m a Siamese twin!â€�“You don’t know his name, do you?â€� Roy demanded excitedly.“You mean what hecallshimself? No, I don’t! An’ I don’t want to either! I don’t need no introduction to a rattlesnake to shoot him!â€�In the excitement, Gus Tripp had arisen and was listening with the rest. Now he walked forward and held out his uninjured hand to the driver of the stolen flivver.“Shake, Bug Eye,â€� he said solemnly. “You an’ me are together on that. I’m lookin’ fer that very same rattlesnake!â€�“What happened to you?â€� Bug Eye asked, in surprise.“Little accident,â€� and Gus grinned sardonically. “Accident caused by that hombre with the scar on his face you tell about bein’ interested in. He shot me.â€�“Yea? You don’t say! Well, by golly, we’ll get him! Shake!â€�“Here, we’re in on this!â€� Pop Burns cried, stepping forward. “He stole three of our best horses, each one with the purtiest X Bar X brand on it you ever see, ’cause I branded ’em myself!â€�“What do you say, boys?â€� Mr. Manley cried, turning to the punchers. “Do we go after ’em? Hey?â€�“You bet!â€� came his answer in a roaring chorus. “Let’s go! Nick, throw that mouth-organ of yours out the window! We got business!â€�“All right, boys! On our way!â€�There was a rush for the door. Decorations were scattered ruthlessly. Chairs were tossed aside. And where, but a moment before, was a crowd of jostling, happy, overdressed cowpunchers, now stood only Mrs. Manley, Belle, Ethel, Nell and Norine, looks of anxiety on their faces. Even Gus Tripp had gone with the rest.“Our evening dresses!â€� Ethel exclaimed mournfully. “We can say good-bye to them, I guess!â€�“You may get them back!â€� Belle insisted. “When dad goes after some one he usually lands him; doesn’t he, Mother?â€�Mrs. Manley did not reply. She stood twisting her handkerchief into a tight knot. In her heart was a prayer that her two boys and her husband would come through safely.Outside, Teddy, Roy, and the others were running for the corral.“Hold on! Wait a minute!â€� Mr. Manley called. “We can’t all go! Gus, where in thunder do you think you’re bound for? Come back here! Want to be in bed two days more?â€�“Aw, please, boss!â€� Gus coaxed. “I’m all right, honest! I want to get a crack at the guy who laid me up! Can’t I come, boss?â€�“No!â€� Mr. Manley said with finality. “You’re too good a man to lose. You get back into the house. Anyway, we have to keep some men here. Teddy, Roy, Nick, Pop, Jim, Bug Eye an’ I will do the chasin’. The rest of you punchers hang around here. Can’t tell but that Fr—I mean the thieves who stole the flivver—may have done it to draw us away from the X Bar X. We have to keep our heads up. They’re not goin’ to pull off any more robberies if I can help it! Climb aboard your broncs, boys, an’ let’s go! Nick, get a mount for Bug Eye.â€�Without stopping to change their resplendent attire for something more serviceable, the X Bar X punchers whom Mr. Manley had named flung themselves on to their horses. White shirt fronts stuck out grotesquely from vivid-colored vests. Green ties flaunted free in the night wind. “City trousersâ€� tickled the horses’ sides. Yet from each belt hung a heavy revolver.“Step on it!â€� Mr. Manley yelled as they swept out of the yard. “All you’ve got, boys! Don’t waste any time! We’ll get those rustlers, or know the reason why! No slip-ups this time!â€�Across the moonlit range the riders galloped. Men and boys leaned forward in their saddles. On each face was a look of grim determination.
Slowly the import of what Bug Eye had said was realized by every one in the Manleys’ living room. Teddy ran forward. Roy was not a moment behind him.
“Sit down here, Bug Eye!� the younger boy cried, thrusting a chair toward the swaying man. With a gasp of relief, Bug Eye sank into it.
“I’m sure some tired,â€� he declared slowly, “andthirsty! If I could have—â€�
“Just a second!� Roy hurried to the pitcher of water which stood on a table in a corner. “Here! Take it easy now. There’s ice in it.�
Bug Eye drank in great gulps, grunting with satisfaction. When he had finished he leaned back in his chair and looked at the ring of anxious faces. Even the orchestra had deserted its post and stood with the others, eagerly waiting for the story of the robbery.
“Are you hurt at all, Bug Eye?� Mr. Manley asked. “Anything we can get you?�
“No, I’m O. K. now, thanks,� the man answered. “I was just thirsty and winded. Why, those double-distilled, knock-kneed, ornery bunch of tin mule-stealers, drat their hides, made me walk all the way from Sanborn’s Point!�
“He’s all right,� Teddy said to Roy, with a grin. “The same old Bug Eye! Listen to him rave!�
Having gotten some of the accumulated feeling out of his system, the puncher ended with a vigorous “whoosh!� and started his story.
“Well, when the boss got your message,� he said, nodding toward Nell and Ethel, “he told me to get set for a trip to the X Bar X. So I filled the ole puddle-jumper up with oil, gas, an’ water. Long about four o’clock the boss gives me two boxes an’ tells me to treat ’em careful. Roy, hand me that pitcher again, will you?� The young fellow complied, and after another drink Bug Eye went on:
“So I throws ’em in the back. I means I puts ’em in the back. Then Mrs. Ball comes out an’ gives me another box, a small one, which she tells me to beverycareful of. Says it’s a present for Miss Belle here.â€� And Bug Eye nodded once more. “So I puts that with the dresses—Mrs. Ball tells me what was in the other boxes, so I wouldn’t sit on ’em by mistake,â€� he apologized.
“Then I starts out. Got along fine till I reached Sanborn’s Point—you know where that is, hey Teddy? Well, I shoots her the gas, so’s I can make the hill on high. But nothin’ doin’. ’Bout half way up she stalls, an’ I shoves her in low gear. Just as I do that, I hear a yell, an’ three men with masks jumps from the bushes, guns out, business ends toward me, an’ tells me to stop!â€�
There was a buzz of excited comment, and questions were shot at Bug Eye with machine-gun rapidity. He simply shook his head and went on.
“Now, boys, give me time! I’m tellin’ it as fast as I know how. As I said, they tells me to stop. So I stops, not bein’ crazy. They pulls me from the front seat an’ pushes me into the bushes. Then they hop in, one of ’em behind the wheel, one of ’em keepin’ me covered. The other watches out the side.
“An’ up they go—up the hill an’ down the other side, with flivver, dresses, present, an’ all!â€�
“But, Bug Eye, you said something about knowing who did it!� Roy exclaimed. “Could you recognize the men?�
Bug Eye looked up at his questioner. He leaned forward in his chair, his elbows resting on his knees.
“One of them,� he said slowly and deliberately, “had a scar on the left side of his face!�
“Gilly—â€� Teddy burst out, and then stopped. His father cast a warning glance at him.
“Thought you said they had masks on?� Mr. Manley remarked.
“They did; but they was only half-masks,� Bug Eye explained. “I could see the scar below.�
“Do you know any one with a scar on the left side of his face?� the cattle owner questioned, looking sharply at the seated man.
Before he replied, Bug Eye got to his feet. His fists were clenched.
“I’ll say I do!� he roared. “An’ I got good reason, too! That’s the hombre that’s been rustlin’ our cattle, an’ you can’t tell me any different.�
“Why do you say that?� Teddy asked, leaning forward.
“Because I seen him!� Bug Eye exclaimed. “That’s why! I was on the range that day the bunch was cut from our herd. I saw ’em go, too, an’ made a dash for the rustlers. But they got away. There was one buckeroo who took a pot shot at me, an’ I saw him close! He was the one with the scar on his face, an’ he’s the one who stole that flivver, or I’m a Siamese twin!�
“You don’t know his name, do you?� Roy demanded excitedly.
“You mean what hecallshimself? No, I don’t! An’ I don’t want to either! I don’t need no introduction to a rattlesnake to shoot him!�
In the excitement, Gus Tripp had arisen and was listening with the rest. Now he walked forward and held out his uninjured hand to the driver of the stolen flivver.
“Shake, Bug Eye,� he said solemnly. “You an’ me are together on that. I’m lookin’ fer that very same rattlesnake!�
“What happened to you?� Bug Eye asked, in surprise.
“Little accident,� and Gus grinned sardonically. “Accident caused by that hombre with the scar on his face you tell about bein’ interested in. He shot me.�
“Yea? You don’t say! Well, by golly, we’ll get him! Shake!�
“Here, we’re in on this!� Pop Burns cried, stepping forward. “He stole three of our best horses, each one with the purtiest X Bar X brand on it you ever see, ’cause I branded ’em myself!�
“What do you say, boys?� Mr. Manley cried, turning to the punchers. “Do we go after ’em? Hey?�
“You bet!� came his answer in a roaring chorus. “Let’s go! Nick, throw that mouth-organ of yours out the window! We got business!�
“All right, boys! On our way!�
There was a rush for the door. Decorations were scattered ruthlessly. Chairs were tossed aside. And where, but a moment before, was a crowd of jostling, happy, overdressed cowpunchers, now stood only Mrs. Manley, Belle, Ethel, Nell and Norine, looks of anxiety on their faces. Even Gus Tripp had gone with the rest.
“Our evening dresses!� Ethel exclaimed mournfully. “We can say good-bye to them, I guess!�
“You may get them back!� Belle insisted. “When dad goes after some one he usually lands him; doesn’t he, Mother?�
Mrs. Manley did not reply. She stood twisting her handkerchief into a tight knot. In her heart was a prayer that her two boys and her husband would come through safely.
Outside, Teddy, Roy, and the others were running for the corral.
“Hold on! Wait a minute!� Mr. Manley called. “We can’t all go! Gus, where in thunder do you think you’re bound for? Come back here! Want to be in bed two days more?�
“Aw, please, boss!� Gus coaxed. “I’m all right, honest! I want to get a crack at the guy who laid me up! Can’t I come, boss?�
“No!â€� Mr. Manley said with finality. “You’re too good a man to lose. You get back into the house. Anyway, we have to keep some men here. Teddy, Roy, Nick, Pop, Jim, Bug Eye an’ I will do the chasin’. The rest of you punchers hang around here. Can’t tell but that Fr—I mean the thieves who stole the flivver—may have done it to draw us away from the X Bar X. We have to keep our heads up. They’re not goin’ to pull off any more robberies if I can help it! Climb aboard your broncs, boys, an’ let’s go! Nick, get a mount for Bug Eye.â€�
Without stopping to change their resplendent attire for something more serviceable, the X Bar X punchers whom Mr. Manley had named flung themselves on to their horses. White shirt fronts stuck out grotesquely from vivid-colored vests. Green ties flaunted free in the night wind. “City trousers� tickled the horses’ sides. Yet from each belt hung a heavy revolver.
“Step on it!� Mr. Manley yelled as they swept out of the yard. “All you’ve got, boys! Don’t waste any time! We’ll get those rustlers, or know the reason why! No slip-ups this time!�
Across the moonlit range the riders galloped. Men and boys leaned forward in their saddles. On each face was a look of grim determination.