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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/39433-8.txt b/39433-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9d18b2e --- /dev/null +++ b/39433-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10676 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Frank Merriwell's Backers, by Burt L. Standish + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Frank Merriwell's Backers + The Pride of His Friends + + +Author: Burt L. Standish + + + +Release Date: April 12, 2012 [eBook #39433] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK MERRIWELL'S BACKERS*** + + +E-text prepared by Roger Frank, Demian Katz, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +FRANK MERRIWELL'S BACKERS + + * * * * * + +EXCELLENT BOOKS OF GENEROUS LENGTH + + +THE NEW MEDAL LIBRARY + + _Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ + +This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence. There +is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published in +cloth-bound edition at $1.00. One of the best features about these books +is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that +could be objectionable to the most particular parents. Next in +importance, comes interest, with which every one of these books fairly +teems. No more vigorous or better literature for boys has ever been +published. New titles by high-priced authors are constantly being added, +making it more and more impossible for any publisher to imitate this +line. + + +ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT + + TO THE PUBLIC:--These books are sold by news dealers everywhere. If + your dealer does not keep them, and will not get them for you, send + direct to the publishers, in which case four cents must be added to + the price per copy to cover postage. + + 150--Frank Merriwell's School Days By Burt L. Standish + 167--Frank Merriwell's Chums By Burt L. Standish + 178--Frank Merriwell's Foes By Burt L. Standish + 184--Frank Merriwell's Trip West By Burt L. Standish + 189--Frank Merriwell Down South By Burt L. Standish + 193--Frank Merriwell's Bravery By Burt L. Standish + 197--Frank Merriwell's Hunting Tour By Burt L. Standish + 201--Frank Merriwell in Europe By Burt L. Standish + 205--Frank Merriwell at Yale By Burt L. Standish + 209--Frank Merriwell's Sports Afield By Burt L. Standish + 213--Frank Merriwell's Races By Burt L. Standish + 217--Frank Merriwell's Bicycle Tour By Burt L. Standish + 225--Frank Merriwell's Courage By Burt L. Standish + 229--Frank Merriwell's Daring By Burt L. Standish + 233--Frank Merriwell's Athletes By Burt L. Standish + 237--Frank Merriwell's Skill By Burt L. Standish + 240--Frank Merriwell's Champions By Burt L. Standish + 244--Frank Merriwell's Return to Yale By Burt L. Standish + 247--Frank Merriwell's Secret By Burt L. Standish + 251--Frank Merriwell's Danger By Burt L. Standish + 254--Frank Merriwell's Loyalty By Burt L. Standish + 258--Frank Merriwell in Camp By Burt L. Standish + 262--Frank Merriwell's Vacation By Burt L. Standish + 267--Frank Merriwell's Cruise By Burt L. Standish + 271--Frank Merriwell's Chase By Burt L. Standish + 276--Frank Merriwell in Maine By Burt L. Standish + 280--Frank Merriwell's Struggle By Burt L. Standish + 284--Frank Merriwell's First Job By Burt L. Standish + 288--Frank Merriwell's Opportunity By Burt L. Standish + 292--Frank Merriwell's Hard Luck By Burt L. Standish + 296--Frank Merriwell's Protégé By Burt L. Standish + 300--Frank Merriwell On the Road By Burt L. Standish + 304--Frank Merriwell's Own Company By Burt L. Standish + 308--Frank Merriwell's Fame By Burt L. Standish + 312--Frank Merriwell's College Chums By Burt L. Standish + 316--Frank Merriwell's Problem By Burt L. Standish + 320--Frank Merriwell's Fortune By Burt L. Standish + 324--Frank Merriwell's New Comedian By Burt L. Standish + 328--Frank Merriwell's Prosperity By Burt L. Standish + 332--Frank Merriwell's Stage Hit By Burt L. Standish + 336--Frank Merriwell's Great Scheme By Burt L. Standish + 340--Frank Merriwell in England By Burt L. Standish + 344--Frank Merriwell On the Boulevards By Burt L. Standish + 348--Frank Merriwell's Duel By Burt L. Standish + 352--Frank Merriwell's Double Shot By Burt L. Standish + 356--Frank Merriwell's Baseball Victories By Burt L. Standish + 359--Frank Merriwell's Confidence By Burt L. Standish + 362--Frank Merriwell's Auto By Burt L. Standish + 365--Frank Merriwell's Fun By Burt L. Standish + 368--Frank Merriwell's Generosity By Burt L. Standish + 371--Frank Merriwell's Tricks By Burt L. Standish + 374--Frank Merriwell's Temptations By Burt L. Standish + 376--The Rockspur Eleven By Burt L. Standish + 377--Frank Merriwell on Top By Burt L. Standish + 379--The Young Railroader's Wreck By Stanley Norris + 380--Frank Merriwell's Luck By Burt L. Standish + 381--Chums of the Prairie By St. George Rathborne + 382--The Yankee Middy By Oliver Optic + 383--Frank Merriwell's Mascot By Burt L. Standish + 384--Saved by the Enemy By Ensign Clark Fitch, U. S. N. + 385--The Young Railroader's Victory By Stanley Norris + 386--Frank Merriwell's Reward By Burt L. Standish + 387--Brave Old Salt By Oliver Optic + 388--Jack Harkaway's Struggles By Bracebridge Hemyng + 389--Frank Merriwell's Phantom By Burt L. Standish + 390--Frank's Campaign By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 391--The Rockspur Rivals By Burt L. Standish + 392--Frank Merriwell's Faith By Burt L. Standish + 393--The Starry Flag By Oliver Optic + 394--The Young Railroader's Long Run By Stanley Norris + 395--Frank Merriwell's Victories By Burt L. Standish + 396--Jack Brown, the Hero By Herbert Strang + 397--Breaking Away By Oliver Optic + 398--Frank Merriwell's Iron Nerve By Burt L. Standish + 399--Jack Lightfoot, the Athlete By Maxwell Stevens + 400--Tom Temple's Career By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 401--Frank Merriwell in Kentucky By Burt L. Standish + 402--The Young Railroader's Comrade By Stanley Norris + 403--Jack Harkaway Among the Brigands Bracebridge Hemyng + 404--Frank Merriwell's Power By Burt L. Standish + 405--Seek and Find By Oliver Optic + 406--Dan, the Newsboy By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 407--Frank Merriwell's Shrewdness By Burt L. Standish + 408--Young Tom Burnaby By Herbert Strang + 409--The Young Railroader's Promotion By Stanley Norris + 410--Frank Merriwell's Setback By Burt L. Standish + 411--Jack Lightfoot's Crack Nine By Maxwell Stevens + 412--Freaks of Fortune By Oliver Optic + 413--Frank Merriwell's Search By Burt L. Standish + 414--The Train-boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 415--Jack Harkaway's Return By Bracebridge Hemyng + 416--Frank Merriwell's Club By Burt L. Standish + 417--The Young Railroader's Chance By Stanley Norris + 418--Make or Break By Oliver Optic + 419--Frank Merriwell's Trust By Burt L. Standish + 420--Jack Lightfoot Trapped By Maxwell Stevens + 421--The Errand-boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 422--Frank Merriwell's False Friend By Burt L. Standish + 423--The Young Railroader's Luck By Stanley Norris + 424--Down the River By Oliver Optic + 425--Frank Merriwell's Strong Arm By Burt L. Standish + 426--Jack Lightfoot's Rival By Maxwell Stevens + 427--The Rockspur Nine By Burt L. Standish + 428--Frank Merriwell as Coach By Burt L. Standish + 429--Paul Prescott's Charge By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 430--Through by Daylight By Oliver Optic + 431--Frank Merriwell's Brother By Burt L. Standish + 432--The Young Railroader's Challenge By Stanley Norris + 433--The Young Inventor By G. Manville Fenn + 434--Frank Merriwell's Marvel By Burt L. Standish + 435--Lightning Express By Oliver Optic + 436--The Telegraph Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 437--Frank Merriwell's Support By Burt L. Standish + 438--Jack Lightfoot in Camp By Maxwell Stevens + 439--The Young Railroader's Hard Task By Stanley Norris + 440--Dick Merriwell at Fardale By Burt L. Standish + 441--On Time By Oliver Optic + 442--The Young Miner By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 443--Dick Merriwell's Glory By Burt L. Standish + 444--Jack Lightfoot's Canoe Trip By Maxwell Stevens + 445--The Young Railroader's Sealed Orders By Stanley Norris + 446--Dick Merriwell's Promise By Burt L. Standish + 447--Switch Off By Oliver Optic + 448--Tom Thatcher's Fortune By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 449--Dick Merriwell's Rescue By Burt L. Standish + 450--Jack Lightfoot's Iron Arm By Maxwell Stevens + 451--The Young Railroader's Ally By Stanley Norris + 452--Dick Merriwell's Narrow Escape By Burt L. Standish + 453--Brake Up By Oliver Optic + 454--Tom Turner's Legacy By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 455--Dick Merriwell's Racket By Burt L. Standish + 456--Jack Lightfoot's Hoodoo By Maxwell Stevens + 457--The Go-ahead Boys By Gale Richards + 458--Dick Merriwell's Revenge By Burt L. Standish + 459--The Young Railroader's Mascot By Stanley Norris + 460--Bear and Forbear By Oliver Optic + 461--Dick Merriwell's Ruse By Burt L. Standish + 462--Ben Bruce By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 463--Jack Lightfoot's Decision By Maxwell Stevens + 464--Dick Merriwell's Delivery By Burt L. Standish + 465--The Young Railroader's Contest By Stanley Norris + 466--The Go-ahead Boys' Legacy By Gale Richards + 467--Dick Merriwell's Wonders By Burt L. Standish + 468--Bernard Brook's Adventures By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 469--Jack Lightfoot's Gun Club By Maxwell Stevens + 470--Frank Merriwell's Honor By Burt L. Standish + 471--Gascoyne, the Sandal Wood Trader By R. M. Ballantyne + 472--Paul Hassard's Peril By Matt Royal + 473--Dick Merriwell's Diamond By Burt L. Standish + 474--Phil, the Showman By Stanley Norris + 475--A Debt of Honor By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 476--Frank Merriwell's Winners By Burt L. Standish + 477--Jack Lightfoot's Blind By Maxwell Stevens + 478--Marooned By W. Clark Russell + 479--Dick Merriwell's Dash By Burt L. Standish + 480--Phil's Rivals By Stanley Norris + 481--Mark Manning's Mission By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 482--Dick Merriwell's Ability By Burt L. Standish + 483--Jack Lightfoot's Capture By Maxwell Stevens + 484--A Captain at Fifteen By Jules Verne + 485--Dick Merriwell's Trap By Burt L. Standish + 486--Phil's Pluck By Stanley Norris + 487--The Wreck of the _Grosvenor_ By W. Clark Russell + 488--Dick Merriwell's Defense By Burt L. Standish + 489--Charlie Codman's Cruise By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 490--Jack Lightfoot's Head Work By Maxwell Stevens + 491--Dick Merriwell's Model By Burt L. Standish + 492--Phil's Triumph By Stanley Norris + 493--A Two Years' Vacation By Jules Verne + 494--Dick Merriwell's Mystery By Burt L. Standish + 495--The Young Explorer By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 496--Jack Lightfoot's Wisdom By Maxwell Stevens + 497--Frank Merriwell's Backers By Burt L. Standish + 498--Ted Strong, Cowboy By Edward C. Taylor + 499--From Circus to Fortune By Stanley Norris + 500--Dick Merriwell's Back-stop By Burt L. Standish + 501--Sink or Swim By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 502--For the Right By Roy Franklin + 503--Dick Merriwell's Western Mission By Burt L. Standish + 504--Among the Cattlemen By Edward C. Taylor + 505--A Legacy of Peril By William Murray Graydon + 506--Frank Merriwell's Rescue By Burt L. Standish + 507--The Young Musician By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 508--"A Gentleman Born" By Stanley Norris + 509--Frank Merriwell's Encounter By Burt L. Standish + 510--Black Mountain Ranch By Edward C. Taylor + 511--The Boy Conjurer By Victor St. Clair + 512--Dick Merriwell's Marked Money By Burt L. Standish + 513--Work and Win By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 514--Fighting for Fortune By Roy Franklin + 515--Frank Merriwell's Nomads By Burt L. Standish + 516--With Rifle and Lasso By Edward C. Taylor + 517--For His Friend's Honor By Stanley Norris + 518--Dick Merriwell on the Gridiron By Burt L. Standish + 519--The Backwoods Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 520--The Young Range Riders By St. George Rathborne + 521--Dick Merriwell's Disguise By Burt L. Standish + 522--Lost in the Desert By Edward C. Taylor + 523--Building Himself Up By Oliver Optic + 524--Dick Merriwell's Test By Burt L. Standish + 525--Adrift in Midair By Ensign Clarke Fitch + 526--True to His Trust By Stanley Norris + 527--Frank Merriwell's Trump Card By Burt L. Standish + 528--Lyon Hart's Heroism By Oliver Optic + 529--Fighting the Rustlers By Edward C. Taylor + 530--Frank Merriwell's Strategy By Burt L. Standish + 531--Digging for Gold By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 532--Wyoming By Edward S. Ellis + 533--Frank Merriwell's Triumph By Burt L. Standish + 534--Louis Chiswick's Mission By Oliver Optic + 535--Facing the Music By Stanley Norris + 536--Dick Merriwell's Grit By Burt L. Standish + 537--Stemming the Tide By Roy Franklin + 538--Adrift in the City By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 539--Dick Merriwell's Assurance By Burt L. Standish + 540--Royal Tarr's Pluck By Oliver Optic + 541--Holding the Fort By Ensign Clarke Fitch + 542--Dick Merriwell's Long Slide By Burt L. Standish + 543--Two Ways of Becoming a Hunter By Harry Castlemon + 544--The Rival Miners By Edward C. Taylor + 545--Frank Merriwell's Rough Deal By Burt L. Standish + 546--The Professor's Son By Oliver Optic + 547--Frank Hunter's Peril By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 548--Dick Merriwell's Threat By Burt L. Standish + 549--Fin and Feather By Wallace Kincaid + 550--Storm Mountain By Edward S. Ellis + 551--Dick Merriwell's Persistence By Burt L. Standish + 552--Striving for His Own By Oliver Optic + 553--Winning by Courage By Roy Franklin + 554--Dick Merriwell's Day By Burt L. Standish + 555--Robert Coverdale's Struggle By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 556--The West Point Boys By Col. J. Thomas Weldon + 557--Frank Merriwell's Peril By Burt L. Standish + 558--The Last of the Herd By Edward C. Taylor + 559--Making a Man of Himself By Oliver Optic + 560--Dick Merriwell's Downfall By Burt L. Standish + 561--Winning Against Odds By Roy Franklin + 562--The Camp in the Foothills By Harry Castlemon + 563--Frank Merriwell's Pursuit By Burt L. Standish + 564--The Naval Academy Boys Commander Luther G. Brownell + 565--Every Inch a Boy By Oliver Optic + 566--Dick Merriwell Abroad By Burt L. Standish + 567--On a Mountain Trail By Edward C. Taylor + 568--The Plebes' Challenge By Col. J. Thomas Weldon + 569--Frank Merriwell in the Rockies By Burt L. Standish + 570--Lester's Luck By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 571--His Own Helper By Oliver Optic + 572--Dick Merriwell's Pranks By Burt L. Standish + 573--Bound to Get There By Roy Franklin + 574--An Annapolis Tangle By Commander Luther G. Brownell + 575--Frank Merriwell's Pride By Burt L. Standish + 576--Across the Prairie By Edward C. Taylor + 577--Honest Kit Dunstable By Oliver Optic + 578--Frank Merriwell's Challengers By Burt L. Standish + 579--The Runaway Cadet By Col. J. Thomas Weldon + 580--Jack Harkaway Around the World Bracebridge Hemyng + 581--Frank Merriwell's Endurance By Burt L. Standish + 582--Out for Big Game By Edward C. Taylor + 583--The Young Pilot By Oliver Optic + 584--Dick Merriwell's Cleverness By Burt L. Standish + 585--Oscar in Africa By Harry Castlemon + 586--Rupert's Ambition By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 587--Frank Merriwell's Marriage By Burt L. Standish + 588--The Pride of Annapolis By Com. Luther G. Brownell + 589--The Cruise of the "Dandy" By Oliver Optic + 590--Dick Merriwell, the Wizard By Burt L. Standish + 591--Captain Nemo's Challenge By Edward C. Taylor + 592--The Cabin in the Clearing By Edward S. Ellis + 593--Dick Merriwell's Stroke By Burt L. Standish + 594--Frank and Fearless By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 595--Three Young Silver Kings By Oliver Optic + 596--Dick Merriwell's Return By Burt L. Standish + 597--His Own Master By Roy Franklin + 598--An Annapolis Adventure By Com. Luther G. Brownell + 599--Dick Merriwell's Resource By Burt L. Standish + 600--Ted Strong's Close Call By Edward C. Taylor + + * * * * * + +LOOK FOR THE S. & S. IMPRINT + + +For fifteen years the S. & S. Novel has held first place in the +estimation of readers who want, first of all, good, clean, interesting +fiction and _then_ a sufficient number of "_words_" to make them feel +that the book is worth what they paid for it--if not more. + +Mere "_words_" do not make a story, nor should a colored cover and heavy +paper deceive the reading public into thinking that an imitation of the +S. & S. Novel is as good as the original. + +Unscrupulous publishers are now trying to defraud the reading public. +Taking certain of the S. & S. Novels, which are not protected by +copyright, they change the titles and authors' names, and sell books at +fifteen cents, the authentic editions of which may be had in the S. & S. +Edition for ten cents! Hence, a word of caution to our readers: + + +_LOOK FOR THE S. & S. IMPRINT_ + + It is a guarantee of quality and protects you + + Send a 2c. stamp for our complete catalogue + + +STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS NEW YORK + + * * * * * + +"ALGER" + + +What a pleasant sound the name of Horatio Alger, Jr., has to boys who +read clean, wholesome stories of adventure! + +His name on a book means that it is a "good one"; that the money +invested in it is well invested. + +Street & Smith publish the most complete list of his works in their +famous S. & S. novels--it contains nearly all of them. + +If you want your boys to read helpful books, buy the "Algers" in the +Medal and New Medal Libraries. + + +PRICE, 10c. and 15c. PER COPY + +AT ALL NEWSDEALERS + + + If sent by mail, add four cents per copy to cover postage. Complete + catalogue upon request. + + +STREET & SMITH, Publishers, NEW YORK + + + * * * * * + + +FRANK MERRIWELL'S BACKERS + +Or + +The Pride of His Friends + +by + +BURT L. STANDISH + +Author of + +_The Celebrated "Merriwell Stories"_ + +Published Exclusively in the Medal Library, +in Paper-Covered Edition + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + +Street & Smith, Publishers +79-89 Seventh Ave., New York City + +Copyright, 1903 +By Street & Smith + +Frank Merriwell's Backers + +All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign +languages, including the Scandinavian. + + + + +CONTENTS + + I--IN THE TRAP + II--IN THE HANDS OF CIMARRON BILL + III--INTO THE NIGHT + IV--IN THE OLD HUT + V--PINTO PEDE RECEIVES HIS LESSON + VI--INJUN JOE TO THE RESCUE + VII--MERRIWELL AND BIG MONTE + VIII--THE DEATH-SHOT + IX--FRANK MAKES A DECISION + X--MERRIWELL'S METHOD + XI--SMOKE SIGNALS AND A DECOY + XII--LOST IN THE MOUNTAINS + XIII--FRANK'S ESCAPE + XIV--MYSTERIOUS PABLO + XV--MERRY'S DISCOVERY + XVI--FRANK DETECTS TREACHERY + XVII--THE WAR-WHOOP OF OLD ELI + XVIII--A STRANGE FUNERAL + XIX--NEW ARRIVALS IN HOLBROOK + XX--MRS. ARLINGTON HAS A VISITOR + XXI--SEEN FROM THE WINDOW + XXII--A SENSATION IN TOWN + XXIII--BOXER CREATES A STIR + XXIV--BOXER TO THE RESCUE + XXV--UNTO DEATH! + XXVI--THE COMING OF CROWFOOT + XXVII--ARRESTED IN HOLBROOK + XXVIII--BILL HIKES OUT + XXIX--OLD JOE TAKES A DRINK + XXX--FRANK IN SUNK HOLE + XXXI--THE DANCE IN SUNK HOLE + XXXII--DEAD OR LIVING + XXXIII--THE RETURN TO HOLBROOK + + + + +FRANK MERRIWELL'S BACKERS. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +IN THE TRAP. + + +Millions of bright stars shone serenely through the clear Arizona night, +shedding their soft white light on the great arid plains and the +mysterious mesas and mighty mountains. + +Throughout the night Frank Merriwell lay ensconced behind some +sheltering rocks in a deep ravine, where he had been trapped by the +ruffians in the employ of the mining trust, who were determined to wrest +from him the precious papers they believed to be in his possession. + +Old Joe Crowfoot, the aged Indian friend of Merriwell, who had been +snared with him, had, shortly after nightfall, taken the precious +oilskin package, containing the papers, and crept forth on his stomach, +like a snake, from amid the rocks. + +Joe had promised to take the papers to the nearest registry post-office, +in case he escaped, and send them, according to directions, to Richard +Merriwell, Frank's brother, at Fardale. + +Frank had written a letter to Dick, and had securely tied up and +directed the package. He trusted the aged redskin, who declared that he +might find a method of escaping from the trap, yet could not take the +white youth with him. He had made certain that Joe understood the matter +of registering the package, in case he should reach the post-office with +it in his possession. + +Merriwell had become satisfied that this was the best course to pursue. +It was plain that he was in a very bad trap, and he knew those ruffians +could soon starve him out. There was no water or food for himself or his +horse. A day of thirst behind those rocks must surely do for him. + +If Joe carried out the plan successfully, the papers would be placed +beyond the reach of the ruffians, even though Frank fell into their +hands. And it was the papers they had been engaged to secure. Were they +to kill him, Dick would have the precious papers and be able to continue +the battle for his rights. + +Merry watched old Joe wiggle silently away, wondering that the Indian +could slip along in that manner with so very little effort. The old +redskin lay flat on the ground and took advantage of every little cover +he could find, and soon he vanished amid the rocks and passed into the +shadows, after which Merry saw him no more. + +Down the ravine a great mass of rocks and earth had been blown down by a +mighty blast and blocked the passage. + +Up the ravine armed and murderous men were waiting and watching, ready +to shoot down the youth they had trapped. + +There were also armed ruffians on the barrier to the southeast. They had +trailed Merry with the persistence of bloodhounds. + +A full hour passed. The men above were making merry in a boisterous way. +One of them began to sing. He had a musical voice, which rang out +clearly on the soft night air. Strangely enough he sang "Nearer My God +to Thee." + +Could they be watching closely? It did not seem so. + +Frank rigged his coat on the barrel of his rifle. On the muzzle of the +weapon he placed his hat. Then, he lifted coat and hat above the rocks. + +Crack! Ping! + +The ringing report of a rifle and the singing of a bullet. The hat and +coat dropped. In the coat Merriwell found a bullet-hole. That settled +it. There was no longer a doubt but that the desperadoes were watching +like wolves. + +Yet old Joe had been able to slip forth from the protection of those +rocks and creep away. + +More than ever Merriwell admired the skill of the Indian. Thinking that +the old fellow had instructed Dick in the craft which he knew so well, +Frank believed such knowledge had not been acquired in vain. Some time +Dick might find it very valuable to him. + +There was a hoarse burst of laughter from the watching ruffians. + +"Oh, Merriwell!" called a voice. + +"Well," sang back Frank, "what do you want?" + +"Stick that thing up again. We'd like a leetle target practise." + +"You'll have to provide your own target," Merry retorted. + +"Oh, we reckons not! We'll stand you up fer one sooner or later," was +the assurance. + +Still they had not discovered old Joe. It seemed marvelous. + +The night passed on. Another hour was gone when there came a sudden +commotion far up the ravine, as if on the further outskirts of the +ruffians. There were hoarse shouts, angry oaths, the rattle of shots, +and then the clatter of iron-shod hoofs. + +The ring and echo of those clattering hoofs receded into the night, +coming back clear and distinct at first, but growing fainter and +fainter. + +Frank Merriwell laughed and lay still until the sound of the galloping +horse had died out in the distance. + +"Old Joe is on his way to the post-office," muttered Merry. "He took a +fancy to acquire one of their horses in order to make better time." + +The ruffians were filled with more or less consternation. They continued +to wrangle angrily. At last, one cried: + +"Oh, Merriwell!" + +Frank lay perfectly still and made no answer. + +"Oh, Merriwell!" + +Peering forth from amid his rocky barrier, yet crouching where the +shadows hid him, Frank cocked his rifle and pushed it forward for use. + +There was a time of silence, during which he fancied the men were +consulting in whispers. Finally his keen eyes saw something move into +the dim white light above some boulders. He laughed a little in a +suppressed way and sent a bullet through the moving object. + +"Put it up again!" he called cheerfully. "I don't mind a little target +practise myself." + +He knew the thing had been thrust up there to draw his fire and settle +the question if he still remained in the trap. But he had shown those +ruffians that he could shoot as accurately as the best of them. + +After this he heard the men talking. He knew they were bewildered by +what had happened. They could not believe it possible that a human being +had crept forth from the snare. It seemed to them that the person who +had seized their horse and ridden away had come upon them from the rear +and was in no way connected with Merriwell. + +After a time they were silent. + +They were satisfied that the trap held fast. + +Then Frank found a comfortable place where he was perfectly hidden and +coolly went to sleep, with his hand on his cocked rifle. + +Merriwell needed sleep, and he did not hesitate to take it. It spoke +well for his nerves that he could sleep under such circumstances. It may +seem that it did not speak so well for his judgment. Still he knew that +he would awaken at any sound of an alarming nature, and he believed +those men would rest content, satisfied that they had him caged where +there was no possibility that he could give them the slip. + +After an hour or more, he awoke and demonstrated the fact that he was +still behind the rocks by exchanging a challenge with the watching +ruffians. + +Then he slept again. + +And so the night passed on. + +Frank was wide-awake with the coming of dawn. He saw the stars pale and +die in the sky. He saw the gentle gray of morning and the flush of +sunrise. Far up the ravine rose the smoke of a camp-fire, telling where +the ruffians were preparing breakfast. + +"Oh, Merriwell!" + +"Hello, yourself!" + +"Are you hungry?" + +"No, thank you. I have plenty to eat." + +"Are you thirsty?" + +"Not in the least. I have my canteen." + +"That'll be empty right soon. How would you like some steamin' hot +coffee?" + +"It wouldn't go bad. Send some in." + +"We'll exchange a pot of coffee for sartin papers you has with yer." + +"You're very kind!" laughed Merry derisively. + +"It's a right good offer. We're goin' to have them papers anyhow, an' +you may not even git coffee fer them." + +"You're due for the greatest disappointment of your lives, gentlemen," +declared Frank. "If you're looking this way for papers, you're barking +up the wrong tree." + +"Oh, you can't fool us!" was the answer. "We know you've got 'em, and +we'll have 'em." + +"Ever gamble?" asked Frank. + +"Oh, we sometimes take a chance." + +"I'll go you my horse and outfit against that of any one in your party +that you don't get the papers." + +"Done! It's a sure thing as far as we're consarned. We has yer foul, an' +we'll stay right yere till we starves ye out." + +"Too bad to waste your valuable time so foolishly. But, say!" + +"Say it." + +"I see no particular reason why my horse here should go hungry and +thirsty." + +"Not the least. Bring the pore critter right out." + +"Beg pardon if I seem a trifle lazy, but it's too much bother. However, +I'll send him out, and I'll look to you to see that he's properly cared +for." + +Without exposing himself, Frank managed to get the horse out from the +niche in the wall where he had been placed, headed the animal through a +break in the rocky barrier and sent him off, with a sharp crack of the +hand. + +The horse galloped up the ravine, finally saw human beings, stopped, +snorted, seemed about to turn back, but finally kept on and +disappeared. + +Then Frank settled down to wait, being resolved to give old Joe plenty +of time. + +The day grew hot in the ravine, where there was little air. The sun beat +down with great fierceness from the unclouded sky. Those mountains +seemed bare and baked. Little wonder that their repelling fastnesses had +presented little attraction for the prospector. Little wonder it had +often been reported that they contained no gold. + +But Frank Merriwell's "Queen Mystery" Mine lay in that range, and it had +developed so richly that the great Consolidated Mining Association of +America was straining every nerve to get possession of it--to wrest it +from its rightful owner. + +So Frank baked in the sun, taking care to keep well hidden, for he knew +those men would gladly end the affair by filling him full of lead, if +they were given the opportunity. + +Once or twice he caught glimpses of them. Several times they challenged +him. He was prompt to answer every challenge, and he did not wish to +shoot any of them. + +He had fully decided on the course he would pursue; but he was +determined to give Joe Crowfoot plenty of time to perform his part of +the program. + +Frank smiled in grim irony over his position. He took it +philosophically, satisfied that that was the best he could do. He did +not worry, for worry would do him no good. + +He was given plenty of time to reflect on the course pursued by the +syndicate, and it made him wonder that such high-handed things could +take place in the United States. + +It seemed rather remarkable that the head of the mighty syndicate, D. +Roscoe Arlington, was the father of Chester Arlington, Dick Merriwell's +bitterest enemy at Fardale. + +Frank had encountered Mr. Arlington. He had found him blunt, grim, +obstinate, somewhat coarse, yet apparently not brutal. Being a clever +reader of human nature, which many are not who pride themselves that +they are, Frank had become satisfied that there were many men in the +world who were far worse than D. Roscoe Arlington, yet were considered +models of virtue and justice. Arlington was not a hypocrite. He was +bluntly and openly himself. He had set out as a poor boy to make a +fortune, and now it seemed possible that he might become the richest man +in America. Comfortable riches had first been the object for which he +strived; but when his scheming poured wealth upon him, he set the mark +higher. He determined to be one of the very rich men of the United +States. That goal he had now arrived at; but the mark had been lifted +again, and now he was determined to become the richest. + +Arlington had not ordered those ruffians to take the papers from Frank. +Still he was back of it all. He had turned the matter over into the +hands of unscrupulous lieutenants, instructing them to employ any means +within their power to obtain possession of the Queen Mystery and San +Pablo Mines. Those lieutenants were directing the operations of the +ruffians. + +It is quite probable that Arlington did not wish to know the method +employed by his lieutenants. All he desired was the result. + +Frank had also met Mrs. Arlington, and he had seen in her a haughty, +domineering, icy woman, ready to do anything to gain her ends. She was +proud and high-headed, although she had once been a poor girl. She +looked down in scorn and contempt on all poor people. + +But Merry had not forgotten June Arlington, who had a truly high-bred +face of great attractiveness, and who was vivacious yet reserved, proud +yet considerate, high-spirited yet kind. He had not forgotten the girl, +and ever he thought of her with feelings of kindness, for with her own +hands she had restored to him the precious papers when they had been +stolen from him, by agents of the trust, assisted by her mother. + +He knew Dick admired June, and he did not wonder at it, for about June +Arlington there was such fascination as few girls possess. + +Still Merry could not help wondering if June would one day develop into +a woman like her mother. Such a result did not seem possible. + +Midday passed, and the afternoon waned, yet without any diminishing of +the scorching heat in the ravine. + +Frank's water was gone, and he began to feel the torments of thirst. + +He had counted the time as it passed. Finally he was satisfied that +Crowfoot had accomplished the task he had set out to perform. The papers +were mailed. Probably they were already on their way to Dick Merriwell +at Fardale. + +"Well," muttered Frank, "I think I'll go out and look these ruffians +over now." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +IN THE HANDS OF CIMARRON BILL. + + +A shout quickly brought an answer. + +"Gentlemen," said Frank, "I'm for a parley. What say you?" + +"We're willing. Parley away." + +"If you were to get those papers I suppose you would feel yourselves +perfectly well satisfied?" + +"I reckon you've hit it good an' fair." + +"Such being the case, if I come forth with hands up and empty, I take it +you won't take the trouble to shoot me up any?" + +"None at all," was the assurance promptly given. "If you comes out like +that, you has our promise not to do any shooting whatever." + +"And how about the gentlemen below?" + +"They'll do no shootin' unless you goes that way." + +"Is this all on the square?" + +"You bet! Bring out that old redskin with ye, an' let him keep his hands +up, too." + +"I think you've made a mistake, gentlemen; there is no redskin with me. +I am quite alone." + +"We knows better! Ye can't play any tricks on us!" + +"I am willing to convince you. Just keep your fingers off your +triggers. Watch me as close as you like. I'm coming!" + +Having said this, he left his rifle lying on the ground and rose to his +feet with his hands held open above his head. + +It must be confessed that he did not do this without some doubt +concerning the result, for he knew those ruffians were very treacherous; +but somehow he was satisfied that they had been instructed to obtain the +papers, if possible, without killing him, and that belief led him to run +the risk that he now faced. + +He was ready to drop instantly if they fired as he arose into view. A +moment he stood quite still, and then, as no shot rang out, he stepped +through amid the boulders and walked boldly up the ravine. + +In this manner, Frank walked straight into the midst of a party of nine +thoroughbred frontier desperadoes, who were waiting for him, with their +weapons in their hands. + +The leader was a thin, dark-faced, fierce-looking man, who covered Merry +with a revolver. + +"I rather 'lowed you'd come to it," he said, in satisfaction. "But I +told ye to bring that old Injun along." + +"And I told you there was no Indian with me. I spoke the truth." + +"Say, youngster, did you ever hear of Cimarron Bill?" + +Frank looked the fellow over with his calm eyes. He saw a cruel, +straight slit of a mouth, a thin black mustache, with traces of gray, +and sharp, cruel eyes, set altogether too near together. He had heard +of Cimarron Bill as the most dangerous "man-killer" in all the +Southwest. + +"Yes," he said quietly, "I have heard of him." + +"Well, you're lookin' at him. I'm Cimarron Bill. The butts of my guns +have seventeen notches in 'em. You may make the eighteenth." + +Merriwell knew what the ruffian meant, yet he showed no signs of fear. + +"I have heard," he said, "that Cimarron Bill has never yet shot a man in +cold blood or one who was unarmed." + +"I opine that's right, young man; but this case is a leetle different. +It's not healthy to irk me up under any conditions, and so I advise you +to go slow." + +Frank smiled. + +"I have no desire or intention of irking you up, sir," he said. "I am +giving you straight goods. There is no Indian with me." + +"There was last night." + +"Yes." + +"Well, I don't opine he's melted into the air or sunk into the ground, +an' tharfore he has to be yander behind them rocks." + +"I give you my word, sir, that he is not there, and has not been there +since last night." + +The ruffians had gathered about and were listening to this talk. +Picturesque scoundrels they were, armed to the teeth and looking fit for +any job of bloodshed or murder. They glared at the cool youth standing +so quietly in their midst; but he seemed perfectly at his ease. + +"Sam," said the leader, turning to one of them, "go out yander to them +thar rocks an' look round for that redskin." + +Sam, a squat, red-headed desperado, seemed to hesitate. + +"What ef the Injun is waitin' thar to shoot me up some as I comes +amblin' along?" he asked. + +"Go!" said Cimarron Bill, in a tone cold as ice. "If the Injun shoots +you, we'll riddle this here young gent with bullets." + +"Which won't do me good none whatever," muttered Sam; but he knew better +than to disobey or hesitate longer, and so, dropping his rifle into the +hollow of his left arm, he stepped out and advanced toward the spot +where Merriwell had been ensconced behind the boulders. + +The brutal band watched and waited. Cimarron Bill surveyed the face of +Frank Merriwell, more than half-expecting the youth would call for Sam +to come back, knowing the fate that would befall him in case the Indian +began to shoot. + +But Sam walked straight up to the boulders, clambered onto them, and +looked over into the hiding-place that had served Frank so well. + +"Derned ef thar's ary livin' critter hyer!" he shouted back. + +"Make sure," called the leader, in that metallic voice of his, which +was so hard on the nerves. "Don't make no mistake." + +Sam sprang down behind the boulders. They saw his head moving about, +but, very soon, he clambered back over them and came walking rapidly +away. + +"The varmint is sartin gone," he averred. + +Immediately Cimarron Bill thrust his cocked revolver against Frank +Merriwell's temple. + +"Tell us where the Injun is!" he commanded. "Speak quick and straight, +or I'll blow the top of your head off!" + +"I am unable to tell you just where he is at present," said Frank, with +that perfect coolness that so astonished the desperadoes. "He left me +last night." + +"Left you?" + +"Yes." + +"How? We had this side guarded, an' ther boys below kept close watch." + +"All the same, I think Joe Crowfoot passed you. How he did it I do not +know. He told me he could." + +The leader of the ruffians looked as if he was not yet willing to +believe such a thing had happened; but there no longer seemed much +chance for doubt. + +"Then it must have been that red whelp who stole one of our hosses!" he +said. + +"I think it was," nodded Merry. "Something like two hours after he left +me I heard a commotion this way, followed by some shooting and the sound +of a galloping horse, which died out in the distance." + +Some of the men began to swear, but Bill silenced them with one swift +look from his evil eyes. + +"Well, that sure is the limit!" he observed, trying to hide some of his +disgust. "We didn't opine a kitten could sneak past us without being +seen an' shot up." + +"A kitten might not," said Frank. "But old Joe Crowfoot should be +compared with a serpent. He has all the wisdom and craft of one. I +depended on him, and he did not fail me." + +"Where has he gone? State it--state it almighty sudden!" + +"If he followed instructions, he has gone to Holbrook." + +"For what?" + +"To send a message for me to my brother." + +"A message? What sort of a message?" + +"A letter and some papers." + +"Papers?" said Cimarron Bill, in a low, threatening tone. "What papers?" + +"Certain papers referring to the Queen Mystery and San Pablo Mines, +which I own." + +A look of disappointed rage contorted the cruel face of the murderous +ruffian. The lips were pressed together until they appeared to make one +straight line no wider than the thin blade of a knife. The eyelids +closed to narrow slits, while that dark face turned to a bluish tinge. + +Many times had Frank Merriwell stood in deadly peril of his life; but, +looking at that man then, he well knew that never had his danger been +greater. Still, if he regretted his act in walking forth and +surrendering himself into the hands of such a creature he effectually +concealed it. He betrayed not a whit of trepidation or alarm, which was +a masterly display of nerve. + +The ruffians began to murmur fiercely, like the growling of so many +wolves. Perhaps it was to this outbreak that Merry owed his life, for +the leader suddenly bade them be silent, and the sounds ceased. + +"So you sent those papers off by that old redskin, did you?" asked Bill. + +"I did." + +"And you have the nerve to come out here and tell me that! If you had +known me better, you would have stayed, and choked and starved, or even +shot yourself behind those rocks, before doing such a thing!" + +Merriwell made no retort, for he felt that too many words would be +indiscreet. This man was capable of any atrocity, and another straw +might break the camel's back. + +"Mr. Merriwell," said the ruffian, "I came here for them papers, and I'm +goin' to have them!" + +"You may take my life," said Merry; "but that will not give you the +papers. In fact, it will utterly defeat the object of those men who have +employed you to obtain them." + +"How do you figger that out? With you out of the way, they'll have less +trouble in takin' your mines." + +"On the contrary, if I am murdered, the fact will react against them. I +have written a full account of the facts concerning my position and +fight with the syndicate to my brother, to be used in case anything +serious happens to me. With that, and with the papers I have sent him, I +fancy he can so arouse public indignation against the syndicate that the +men who are pushing this thing will be glad enough to pull in their +horns and quit the battle. So you can see that by killing me you will +defeat the object of the syndicate and disgust it with your method of +procedure." + +Frank spoke those words convincingly, and certain it is that he made an +impression on Cimarron Bill. The other ruffians, however, who failed to +reason clearly, were fierce enough to shoot the captive where he stood. + +Bill stood still and looked the young man over, beginning to realize +that he was dealing with a youth of more than ordinary courage, resource +and sagacity. His respect for Merriwell was beginning to develop +amazingly. + +Frank could read the man well enough to feel that the danger-point had +been successfully passed, and he breathed more freely, although there +was no outward change in his manner. + +"I'm not yet satisfied that you're not lying to me," said the chief of +the ruffians; whereupon he ordered his satellites to search the captive. + +The closest search, which was supervised by Bill, failed to bring to +light the package of coveted papers. + +Bill seemed to pass a few moments in thought. Then he said: + +"We'll all go over yander and have a look round among the boulders." + +With Frank in their midst, they proceeded to the spot where he had +successfully held them off. As they went forward, they called to the men +down the ravine, and soon those ruffians came hastening to join them. + +"Have ye got the papers?" demanded one called Big Monte, a strapping +ruffian, who was the leader of the party. + +When he learned what had happened the giant swore in angry +disappointment. + +"However did you all happen to let the Injun slip ye that way?" he +demanded scornfully. + +Bill looked him over. + +"I opines you're not castin' reflections any whatever?" he said, in a +deadly manner. + +Big Monte looked large enough to eat the thin, dark-faced chap, but he +hastened to disclaim any intention of "casting reflections," whereupon +Bill gave him no further heed. + +The chief set them to searching amid the boulders, overseeing it all and +taking care that no possible place of concealment was neglected. But all +this search came to nothing, and the baffled wretches were finally +forced to confess that they were outwitted. + +But Merriwell was a captive in their hands, and in their disappointment +they might be led to revenging themselves upon him. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +INTO THE NIGHT. + + +Cimarron Bill was a man who disliked being outwitted and outdone, +especially by a youth of Frank Merriwell's years, and he was one who was +not at all likely to let such a thing pass without seeking to recover +and accomplish his object by some method, failing in which, he was +almost certain to take summary and tragic vengeance on the one who had +baffled him. + +Merriwell knew well enough in what peril he stood, and yet he maintained +his manner of composure. + +Bill spoke to two of the ruffians, of whom Big Monte was one, and Sam, +the red-headed rascal, the other. + +"You two take charge of this here altogether too smarty young gent," +said the leader of the desperadoes, "and look out for him a heap close. +Don't let him come none of his slick tricks on you, for you will be held +responsible for him, and I opines you know what that means." + +"Oh, we'll take care of him!" said Sam significantly, as he fingered the +butt of a pistol. "All I wants is a right good chance to do that!" + +Bill fixed the red-head with a look of his narrow black eyes. + +"At the same time," said he, "permit me to suggest that you lets no +special harm come to him, as I reckons him valuable property just about +now, and I may need him a whole lot later. If anything unnecessary +happens to the young gent, you'll deal with me for it!" + +It must be confessed that Merry felt somewhat safer in the hands of +those ruffians after that, for he began to perceive that, for some +reason, Bill wished to preserve him for the time being without harm. + +Apparently the captive gave little heed to these words, but in truth he +missed nothing. + +As the others drew aside with Bill, Big Monte took a picket rope, +observing: + +"I allows, Sam, that we'd better be keerful, jest as the boss suggests, +fer it ain't a whole lot healthy to have anything happen contrarywise to +his wishes. Such bein' the case, I propose we tie up this here young +gent some, so he'll not bring trouble on hisself an' us by tryin' to +lope out." + +Sam looked disappointed. + +"I was a-thinkin'," he said, "that I'd like to see him try to lope; but +sense the boss has put it so plain, I kind of changes my mind, an' I +thinks your propersition is kirect. Go ahead, Monte, while I keeps him +kivered with my shootin'-iron." + +Frank made no objection as Big Monte tied his hands behind him. He knew +it was quite useless, and so he submitted with a meekness that was +rather deceptive, for it seemed to indicate that he was quite awed by +his situation and the men who had taken him captive. + +"I judges that will do," said the big man, having bound the rope about +Merry's wrists until it was uncomfortable in its tightness. "He's good +an' fast now." + +Merriwell sat down on a rock, while the two ruffians flung themselves on +the ground in the shadow of the wall and waited the end of the +consultation between the chief and the remainder of the band. + +Bill was talking to his ruffians in his low, quiet way, and they were +listening. Frank wondered what was passing, but they were too far away +for him to hear. + +At last, one of the men, who had but one arm, started off from the +others, hurrying toward the horses. Bill had thrust something into this +man's hand, seeming to give him a final admonition. Five minutes later +the one-armed man, mounted on the very best horse he could find, rode +away at good speed. + +Even then Merry did not conceive that it was the desperate purpose of +One-hand Hank to follow those papers all the way to Fardale, if +necessary, in the attempt to gain possession of them. He fancied that +Hank meant to try to find the Indian, with the hope that the papers +still remained in old Joe's possession. + +Bill came back and stood looking Merriwell over. Several of the men had +departed toward the spot where the horses were kept. + +"I reckons you thinks yerself some slick, kid!" he said, with cold +contempt. "You'll git all over that before you're through dealin' with +Cimarron Bill. I'm sartin to take the conceit out of ye a whole lot." + +To which Merry vouchsafed no retort. + +"Bring him along," said the chief, to Sam and Monte. "We're goin' to +pull up stakes and hike." + +So Frank was marched up to the horses, among which was his own animal, +which had been captured by the ruffians. + +"If you don't mind, gentlemen," said Merry, "it would give me +considerable satisfaction to imbibe a little water." + +"You'll choke plumb to death afore ye ever gits a drap from me," averred +Sam. + +Whereupon Bill looked at the red-head sharply, saying: + +"Sam, give him a drink from your canteen." + +And Sam did so. + +"Thanks," said Merry easily. "It was the desire for water that led me to +saunter out from my place among the rocks earlier than I intended. I +feel much better now." + +His saddle had been brought along, and, when it was strapped upon his +horse, he was tossed into it by Big Monte and another. The rest of the +band had prepared to move, with the exception of those who had come from +down the ravine and one fellow who seemed to have taken the place of the +departed fellow with one arm. These men had horses beyond the rocky +barrier that had been blown down to prevent Merriwell from escaping in +that direction, and it was necessary for them to return and pursue +another course, as the horses could not be brought over that barrier. + +There was little delay when everything was ready. Bill took the lead, +and those who were to follow did so, the captive in their midst; his +horse led by one of them. + +The others had turned back. + +The sun was descending peacefully behind the barren mountains, and night +was spreading her sable pinions over the land. There was gold in the +western sky. The heat yet seemed unabated, save in the valleys and +gorges; but later it would become unpleasantly cool. + +In silence those men rode onward, with their dark, cruel-faced leader at +their head. The hoofs of the horses clinked and rang, bestirring the +echoes; and, when the gloom of night had stolen upward from the gulches, +there came an occasional spark like a firefly when the iron of a hoof +struck a flinty rock. + +So night came on, and still they went forward. Frank wondered what their +destination could be; but he saw they were taking a course that must +bring them nearer the Queen Mystery Mine. + +He wasted no words in seeking to engage any of them in conversation. All +the while, however, his thoughts were busy. He wondered much if he +could come safely through this perilous mischance and how it was to be +accomplished. For Frank had not given up, and he had confidence that +somehow he would find a way, or one would be opened to him. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +IN THE OLD HUT. + + +In a valley amid the hills that lay at the base of the barren mountains +stood an old hut. Who had built it there? It seemed that it had, beyond +doubt, been erected by some prospector. What fate had befallen the +builder no man knew. The hut remained, weather-worn and falling to +pieces. + +The coming of another day found Frank Merriwell a captive in that hut, +closely guarded. The ruffians had stopped there, for in the vicinity +could be found wood and water, and feed for the horses. + +Some time during the night they had been joined by Big Monte and the +others who had turned back to secure the horses beyond the barrier in +the ravine. + +In the morning the men lay about in the vicinity of the hut. Two fires +had been built, and breakfast was preparing. + +Inside the hut an armed man kept guard over the captive. At intervals +the guard was changed, but always a man was near with a pistol ready to +shoot Merry down if he offered to make a break for freedom. + +But Frank seemed strangely contented. After the ride through the night, +he asked for a blanket to make himself comfortable, suggested in a +pleasant way that it would be agreeable to have the cords about his +wrists loosened a little, as they were chafing him and his wrists were +swollen, and, when the ropes were entirely removed, then lay down on the +blanket and went calmly to sleep. + +Merry slept until one of the men brought him some breakfast. This fellow +kicked him to awaken him, whereupon Frank looked up and observed: + +"Gently, partner--gently! You don't have to kick in a rib in order to +get my eyes open." + +"Ef it wasn't fer ther boss," said the fellow, "I'd take a heap o' +satisfaction in kickin' ev'ry dern rib outer ye!" + +"Then I am thankful for the boss." + +"Hush! Mebbe ye thinks so now; but wait till he gits round ter deal with +ye. I opines he'll disterb ye some." + +"Well, don't lead me into worriment before it is necessary," entreated +Frank, with a smile. "As long as I'm comfortable, I see no reason to +disturb myself over what may happen--for there is always a chance that +it may not happen." + +"Waal, not in this case. Ye've robbed us outer a clean two hundred +dollars apiece by sendin' off them papers." + +"Only that? Why, you seem to be cheap men! I should fancy it would take +at least five hundred each to hire men to go out to commit robbery and +murder." + +"Thar ain't no robbery about it." + +"Now, you don't tell me? Perhaps you are right, but the object was +robbery, all right enough." + +"Nary robbery! Ther papers belongs to ther gents what wants to git 'em +an' what engaged Bill to do the job." + +"Possibly I might convince you to the contrary if I had time; but just +now I will admit that I'm remarkably hungry. Put down the feed right +here on the floor, and I'll turn to directly." + +As the man stooped to put down the stuff, as directed, he brought his +head quite close to Frank's lips. In the fellow's ear Merry whispered: + +"I'll make it one thousand dollars in your fist if you find a way to +help me out of this scrape." + +The man started a little, gave Frank a look, then glanced toward the +armed guard, who had heard nothing. + +Merry touched a finger to his lips, thus enjoining silence. + +"Ha!" he exclaimed. "Thank Bill for me! This coffee smells most +satisfactory. It will serve finely to wash down the hard bread and beef. +To a healthy appetite, like mine, this will be a feast fit for an +epicurean." + +The ruffian looked at him in apparent wonderment. + +"Fer a cool galoot, you sure are the limit!" he exclaimed. + +Then he went out. + +Frank wondered if his proposal to the fellow would bear fruit. He knew +well enough that these men stood in great awe of Cimarron Bill; but +would the greed of this one overcome his fears of the chief and lead him +to attempt to set Frank at liberty? + +That was a serious question. + +Having eaten heartily, Merry once more made himself comfortable and +slept. + +When next he was awakened, Cimarron Bill himself was sitting near, +smoking a Spanish cigarette. + +"Good morning," said Frank. + +"It's a long distance past morning," said the leader of the ruffians. +"You've slept away the whole morning. You seem to be takin' it a heap +easy and comfortable like." + +"Just bottling up a little sleep in case of need," said Merry, sitting +up and placing his back against the wall. "There's no telling when I may +have to keep awake a whole lot, you know." + +"Instead of keeping awake," said Bill, in a sinister manner, "you're a +heap more likely to fall asleep some of these yere times an' never wake +up." + +"In that case, it will be of no consequence, so I am not losing anything +by sleeping while I may." + +The man surveyed Merry long and intently, as if trying to probe the +nature of this cool youth. At last, he turned to the sentinel and +dismissed him. + +The sentinel went out, closing the door. + +Bill lighted a fresh cigarette. + +"Young man," he said, "I want to inform you right yere and now that it +will do you no good whatever to try to bribe any of my men." + +"Possibly not," said Frank noncommittally. + +"You bet your life it won't!" said Bill emphatically. "Thar ain't one of +them but what knows me, an', knowin' me, thar ain't one what would dare +play me crooked. Savvy?" + +"It's quite plain." + +"It's straight goods, Merriwell. A while ago you offered one of 'em a +thousan' dollars if he would find a way to get you out of this." + +"Correct," admitted Merry immediately. "And had he accepted the offer +and accomplished the job, I should have congratulated myself on getting +off very cheap." + +He had seen at once that it was useless to try deception or denial with +Bill, and so he spoke frankly. + +"That's right," nodded Bill. "A thousan' would be small money fer such a +job; but it ain't no use, for none of them will take the job at that or +five times as much. 'Cause why? 'Cause they knows me, Cimarron Bill, +right well. They know I'd sure settle up with 'em if they done any +crooked work. They have seen the notches in my guns. Some of 'em has +seen me shoot." + +"Well, my dear sir," smiled Merry, "I don't presume you fancied I would +remain here like a man in a trance without trying to get away in some +fashion?" + +"I hardly opined that would be your style. But I has to warn ye that you +has about one chance in fourteen million of gettin' off with a hull +hide. I keep a guard inside and outside, besides another over the +hosses. I don't want to shoot ye--now--but it sure will be done if you +breaks an' runs fer it." + +"Of course I'd have to take chances on that." + +"Don't! But your offer to Jake has set me thinkin'. Somehow I kinder +take to your style." + +"Thanks!" laughed Merriwell. + +"You has a heap of nerve for a youngster." + +"Thanks again!" + +"And I opine we'd make a pretty strong team together. Such bein' the +case, I has a propersition to make to ye, whereby, in case you accepts, +you gits outer this scrape in a hurry an' none the worse for wear." + +"Let it drive," said Frank. "I'm listening." + +"Like 'most ev'rybody," said Bill, "I'm out fer the dust. That's what +brought me up against you. I opined you'd be easy meat. I've sorter +changed my mind. You look an' talk like a tenderfoot, but I take it that +you has your eye-teeth cut, an' this yere ain't the first time you've +seen Arizona." + +"I have been in Arizona before. I have likewise been in various parts of +the West." + +"I knowed it," nodded Bill. "I likewise opine you has a whole lot of +fight in ye." + +"Well, I rather enjoy the strenuous life." + +"But you're certain up against a right powerful combination in this yere +gang what means to have your mines." + +"Without doubt." + +"You needs assistance to hold them there mines. Such bein' the case, +suppose we strikes a partnership, you an' I, an' stan's by each other. +You'll find me a right handy partner when it comes to fightin', an' I +kin back ye up with a gang what will wade through gore fer me. Under +them circumstances, I reckons we kin give this yere minin' trust a run +fer its money." + +"Your offer is very interesting, not to say fascinating," confessed +Frank. "But there is something behind it. Come out with the whole +matter." + +"There's nothing to come out with, save that I'm to be taken in a +half-partner in your mines." + +"Only that?" smiled Merry scornfully. + +Bill did not like the manner in which the youth spoke those two words. + +"I 'lows," he said, "that you'll be gettin' off a heap cheap at that. If +you fails to accept, it's almost certain your friends never hears of you +no more. You'll be planted somewhere yereabouts. Arter that, the minin' +trust will have easy goin'." + +"Well," said Merry, "I presume you will give me time to think this +matter over?" + +"Certainly. I gives ye till to-morrer mornin'." + +"All right." + +Again Bill lighted a fresh cigarette. + +"But, without 'pearin' to press ye too hard, which might cause ye +onpleasant rememberances in the futer, I hints that I'll be a heap riled +up if you fails to accept my offer." + +Then Bill called the guard and sauntered out. + +Frank had no thought of permitting the desperado to force him into such +a partnership, but he believed that it would be well to appear to take +time to consider it. + +That afternoon, toward nightfall, he was permitted to go outside in the +open air, with two armed guards watching over him. + +Frank inhaled the open air with a sense of gratitude, for the hut had +become stuffy and oppressive. He looked around, noting the surroundings, +without betraying any great interest in the location. He saw that all +about the hills rose to enclose the valley, but conjectured that the +party had entered from the south or southeast. + +By this time the men were interested in him, and they looked him over +curiously. Four of them were playing cards, and Merry sat down on the +ground where he could watch the game. + +"You don't want to be makin' no remarks about what keerds ye sees in +anybody's hand, young man," growled one of them, whose cards Merry could +see. + +Frank smiled. + +"I'm not quite that fresh," he said. "I have played the game +occasionally myself. If I had a chance to sit in, I might give you some +points." + +They laughed derisively at that, for the idea that this smooth-faced +youth could give them points at poker seemed preposterous. + +"Why, ef you got inter this game we'd skin the eye-teeth outer ye!" +declared one. + +"You'd be easy pluckin'," said another. + +"It would be a shame to rob ye," sneered a third. "But seein's you +ain't got no dust we won't have that pleasure." + +"If it's dust that bars me," said Merry, "I might have enough to last a +hand or two. I see you're playing five dollars limit, with a two bits +edge." + +"Why, you're plumb skinned dry!" said Big Monte. "You ain't got no +stuff." + +Whereupon Frank displayed a little thin wad of bank-bills, amounting to +about twenty-five dollars in all. + +They were astounded, for no money had been found on him when he was +searched for the papers. + +"How is this?" growled Monte. "Whar did ye keep it hid?" + +"That's my business," said Merry. "If you're anxious to teach me this +game let me in." + +They made a place for him, assuring him that he would "last quick." + +Now Merry was a most adept poker-player, although he let the game +entirely alone, not believing in gambling. He was also a clever +magician, and he could do tricks with cards to astonish far more astute +men than these ruffians. + +It was Pinto Pede's deal, and the Mexican handled the cards in a slick +manner. Without pretending to watch him, Merry really kept a close eye +on the fellow's movements. + +Pede looked his cards over carelessly. Big Monte chipped a dollar, the +next man raised him a dollar, and it was up to Frank, who immediately +raised five. + +Monte laughed hoarsely. + +"Throwin' yer money away right off, eh?" he said. + +The man after Frank dropped out. + +Pinto Pede raised five dollars. + +The fellow whose edge it was dropped his cards, but Monte came in, as +did the next man and Frank. + +"How men' card?" asked the Mexican. + +"I'll take two," said Monte. + +"Better draw to the strength o' yer hand," advised the next man. "Gimme +three." + +Pede looked inquiringly at Merry. + +"One card," said Frank. + +Pede frowned and looked annoyed. He had stacked the cards, and +everything had worked perfectly up to Merriwell, who had been given +three jacks on the deal, and whom the Mexican had expected would draw +two. + +"You take da two card!" exclaimed Pede. "Yo' no fool anybod' with da +side card." + +"I'll take one!" said Frank grimly. "If I choose to hold a side card to +threes that is my business. Perhaps I have two pairs." + +The Mexican had betrayed his trick by his anger at Merry's style of +drawing. Writhing with anger, he tossed Frank one card. + +"I tak' two," he said. + +Merry leaned forward and watched the Mexican's fingers so closely that +Pede was given no chance to perform any crooked work, if he had +contemplated it. + +"Now we're off," said Frank. "Go ahead and do your betting." + +Then he glanced at his cards. He had held up a five spot with his three +jacks. To his satisfaction, he found Pede had given him another five +spot. + +Merry had conceived that it was the Mexican's plan to give him threes +and then to fill his hand with a small pair, but to take a pair himself, +having on the deal secured threes of a higher denomination than those in +Merry's hand. For that very reason, Frank had decided to draw one card, +instead of two, thinking to defeat Pede's object in securing a full. + +By a strange chance, Frank had held up a five spot, while all the time +Pede had been intending to give him a pair of fives. This being the +case, the youth secured his full hand just the same, but without the +knowledge of the dealer. At the same time, he spoiled Pede's draw, for +the pair the Mexican had counted on getting had been divided, he getting +instead one of the fives intended for Merriwell. This left Pede with +three queens, a five, and a nine. + +But the Mexican believed that Merriwell had secured only threes, as he +did not dream for an instant that the side card held up with the three +jacks could be a five spot. + +In case Frank had three jacks only, Pede's three queens were "good." + +The betting began. + +Monte started it with a dollar. + +The next man had failed to improve his hand, and he fell out. + +Frank raised five. + +Pede shoved in six dollars, and added another five. + +"I tak' dis pot," he said. + +Monte looked his cards over. Then he looked at Pede. He knew the +Mexican. + +"You oughter be shot!" he said. And he threw his cards down, turning to +Frank. + +"You ain't got a ghost of a show agin' that greaser, youngster," he +averred. + +"Well, as long as my money lasts I'll stay with him," smiled Merry. + +He did. Having thrust the last of his money into the pot, he finally +called. + +Pede spread out his three queens, smiling with crafty triumph. + +"You no fool me," he said. "My t'ree bigger dan your t'ree. I tak' da +mon'." + +"Wait a minute," said Merry. "I happen to have more than threes here." + +And he displayed his full hand, coolly raking the money over to his side +of the blanket. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +PINTO PEDE RECEIVES HIS LESSON. + + +Pinto Pede was the most disgusted Mexican in all Arizona. At the same +time he was thoroughly thunderstruck. That Merriwell had secured the +pair of fives with his three jacks for all of his style of drawing +seemed like legerdemain. + +Big Monte gave a shout of surprise, that was not entirely unmingled with +delight. + +"Waal, say!" he roared; "that's the furst time I ever seen Pede done up +on his own deal by a tenderfoot! Haw! haw! haw!" + +As the game continued Frank soon demonstrated that he was quite capable +of holding his own with those men. On his deal he simply played "hob" +with them. In less than thirty minutes he had won over a hundred and +fifty dollars. + +Cimarron Bill had sauntered up and was standing near, his arms folded, +silently watching the progress of the game. + +"Gentlemen," said Frank finally, "you're too easy for me. Just to show +you how easy you are, I'll deal a hand around and then tell you what you +have." + +"Not if you lets me cut," declared Monte. + +Merry had gathered the cards and was shuffling them. + +"You may cut," he said. + +He put the cards down on the blanket, and Monte divided them into two +parts, after which he watched Frank to see that he picked them up right. + +Merry picked them up with one hand, doing so swiftly. He picked them up +all right, but he cleverly made the pass, which restored the cards to +their original positions, as they were before Monte had cut. + +Then he dealt. + +When they picked up their cards, he began at the left and called off the +cards each man held, going around the entire circle. + +Monte threw his down, with a cry of amazement. + +"An' this yere is what we takes for an easy mark!" he exclaimed. + +"He cheat!" grated Pinto Pede. "Dat how he win all da mon'." + +"I don't want your money," said Merry. "I find it too easy to make money +off such chaps as you. You talk about tenderfeet, but the East is full +of tenderfeet who could skin you fellows to death. If you ran into a New +York bunco man he'd have your boots off your feet in less than thirty +minutes. In fact, gentlemen, you need to get your eye-teeth filed." + +He was laughing at them, as they plainly saw. This made Pinto Pede +furious, and, with a cry of rage, the Mexican snatched out a knife, +flung himself forward on his knees, clutched the captive's throat and +seemed about to finish him. + +Quick as a flash, Merriwell had seized Pede's wrist, which he gave a +twist that made the bones crack and brought a yell from the yellow-faced +fellow's lips. The knife dropped. Merry tossed it over his shoulder, and +then flung Pede backward, groaning over his wrenched arm. + +"The only safe way to play such tricks on me," said the undisturbed +captive, "is to catch me when I'm asleep." + +Then Cimarron Bill spoke, and they saw he had a pistol in his hand. + +"It sure is a good thing for Pede that the gent stopped his play just as +he did, for if Pede had done any cuttin' I'd sartin shot him up a whole +lot. I has told you boys that Mr. Merriwell is to be kept safe an' +unharmed until I gits ready to finish with him, an' when I says a thing +like that, I generally has a way o' meanin' it. If Pede had used his +knife, I'd a-let daylight through him instanter." + +Now they all knew Bill spoke the truth, and so Pede was doubly +humiliated. + +"He was a trifle hasty," said Merriwell coolly. "I was about to explain +that I never keep money won at cards, as I do not believe in gambling. I +sat in this game to illustrate to you fellows that it doesn't always pay +to get puffed up and look contemptuously on a tenderfoot. Having made +the lesson plain, I will withdraw my own money, which will leave the +amount I have won. You may divide it equally among you and go on with +your game." + +This Frank did exactly as he said, taking himself out of the game. + +There would have been a quarrel over the division of the money had not +Bill interfered. + +Possibly Frank was counting on that quarrel, for a fight among the men +might have given him an opportunity to escape. However, if such was his +plan, it miscarried, for Bill acted as judge and saw that the matter was +settled without further dispute or bloodshed. + +Merry turned away, his hands in his pockets, seeming to take no further +interest in the gambling ruffians. They looked after his fine, supple, +manly figure, and Big Monte said: + +"Gents, he shore is a hummer! I admits it now. He's put up a heap +different from any tenderfoot I ever struck afore. We knows he kin +shoot, fer didn't he perforate Sam's coat back yander in the raveen when +Sam h'isted it on his rifle. We know he kin play keerds, fer didn't he +jest demonstrate it to our complete satisfaction. We know he has a heap +of nerve, fer he sure has showed it all the way through. An' I'm bettin' +he's goin' ter make it a right hot fight afore the galoots what are +arter his mines gits what they wants." + +"You forgits he's dealin' with Bill," said one of the others; "an' Bill +shore has the keerds stacked on him." + +"That's all right," said Monte; "but you got ter do somethin' more than +stack the keerds on that young chap. Didn't Pede do that, an' didn't he +beat Pede a-plenty at his own game? That showed me that you never kin +tell when you has Frank Merriwell beat fer fair." + +Frank had known all the time that Bill was watching. He had played the +game more for the benefit of the chief of the rascals than any one else. +At the same time, it had served to pass away a little time and had been +a diversion for the moment. + +The guards also were near, watching every move closely. + +Frank had satisfied himself that there was no chance of making a break +to escape without throwing his life away, and so he seemed to return to +the hut with perfect content. Indeed, his nonchalance and apparent lack +of fretfulness and dissatisfaction over his misfortune was most amazing +to the rough men. + +Merry ate supper heartily. + +There was a clay fireplace in the hut, and, the night coming on cool, a +fire was built there. Merry lolled before the fire on the hard-packed +earth, which served as a floor to the hut. Bill came in, sat down on the +ground, and rolled a cigarette. + +"Well," he finally said, "how do you find yourself to-night?" + +"Oh, comfortable," carelessly answered Frank. + +"Smoke?" + +"Never do." + +"Drink?" + +"Out of my line." + +"Still you can shoot and play poker! I certain admits you're a queer +one!" + +After a little silence, Bill again dismissed the guard. Then he said: + +"I'm in a leetle hurry to know what your answer is to that there +propersition I made ye. I sw'ar, partner, I sure reckons we'd make a hot +pair. I takes to you!" + +"You're very complimentary!" + +"I'm givin' it to ye straight. You're my style. Now, I wants ye ter know +that I kin be of great service to ye, so I reckons it was well enough to +tell ye what has been done. You sent them papers to your brother in the +East. Well, I has sent one of my best men a-chasin' the papers, an' +he'll be sure to get 'em if it kin be did. If he succeeds, you'll be +plumb out in the cold. Howsomever, in case we rigs up a partnership, it +won't be nohow so bad, fer my man he brings me the papers, an' that +fixes it all right. Savvy?" + +"That is the way you look at it." + +"Sure. You may have thought you was a-givin' me too much to let me have +a half-share in your mines; but when you reckons that you gits your +liberty, my friendship, and you has your papers saved, which same +otherwise would go to the minin' trust, I opine you'll come to see that +you're not makin' such a powerful bad trade after all." + +"But it is not at all certain that you'll get possession of those +papers. In fact, everything is against such a thing happening." + +"Is that so?" + +"It is." + +"How do ye make it out?" + +"My brother knows his business, and he will take care of the papers." + +"How did you send them?" + +"Registered mail." + +"So I opined. Now you knows it takes things registered a heap sight +longer to travel than it takes other mail." + +"Well?" + +"Such bein' the case, One-hand Hank is powerful sartin to git thar ahead +o' the letter." + +"He may." + +"In which case he watches the post-office close. When he sees your kid +brother take out the package, he follers the boy, taps him on the +kebeza, knocks him stiff, takes the papers and ambles. See how easy it +is to be did?" + +"It is easy enough to talk about it; but my brother is pretty shrewd, +and One-hand Hank will have the time of his life getting those papers." + +"You don't know Hank. He's perfectly familiar with the East, an' that +was why he was sent. One time he escaped from Sing Sing. That was when +he had two good arms. He's a mighty bad man, an' he'll eat up that +brother of yours but he'll have the papers." + +"I give you my assurance that Dick will sit hard on Hank's stomach. I +am not greatly worried, for all of what you have told me." + +Bill frowned. + +"All right," he said. "I did have some intentions of usin' persuasive +measures on ye, such as puttin' your feet to the fire, or things like +that; but I holds them things off to the last finish, as I opine a +partnership brought about that there way would be onpleasant to us +both." + +"Rather," laughed Frank. + +"Still," said Bill; "I may have to be rather harsh, which certain would +grieve me up a lot with such a fine young fellow as you are. I hopes you +don't bring me none to that. Thar's no chance fer you to give me the +slip. I've taken mighty good keer of that p'int. It will save ye a great +amount of trouble if you decides to-night that we becomes pards. I'll +jest walk out with ye an' interduce ye to ther boys as equal with me, +an' ev'rything will be lovely. I don't reckon you'd be fool enough to go +back on any sech arrangement you made, fer Cimarron Bill ain't the man +to be throwed down in such a way." + +"There is no need of even suggesting a threat," said Merry. "If I enter +into such a partnership with you, you can be sure I'll stand by it." + +Bill urged him to make the agreement at once, but still Merry declined. + +"Time is right precious," said the leader of the ruffians. + +"Perhaps I'll give you an answer to-morrow." + +And that was all Bill could get out of him then. So the chief fell to +talking of other things, and they chatted agreeably for some time. + +When the ruffian was ready to retire, he called the guard. Then he bade +Frank good night and went out. + +Merry slept with the same amazing peacefulness. But some time in the +night he started wide-awake, seeming to feel near him the presence of +some one. + +The fire had died out, save for a few glowing coals on the hearth. The +sentinel sat rigid in his corner. Merry could not tell if he slept or +not. + +Outside the cabin something seemed to brush lightly against the wall. + +This gentle sound was not repeated. After listening a long time, Frank +fell asleep once more. + +In the morning he found a black feather where it had fallen to the +ground after being thrust through a crack in the wall. + +At sight of the feather he started. Then he hastened to pick it up and +conceal it. + +For that feather told him that old Joe Crowfoot was near. It promised +escape from the hands of the ruffians, and caused Merry to suddenly +cease planning himself and trust things wholly to Crowfoot. He knew old +Joe would find an opportunity to try to aid him to escape. + +That morning Frank was asked by Bill to come out and take breakfast with +the rest of the men, an invitation which he willingly accepted, as he +was beginning to thirst for the open air. + +It was a glorious morning, just as all mornings in that land of eternal +sunshine seem to be glorious. The elevation was sufficient to give the +air a pleasant coolness. The sun shone down brightly. The horses fed in +the valley. The men were lazing about, as usual. Never had Merry seemed +so perfectly at his ease as he was on this morning. He was in a jovial +mood. Some of the men attempted to chaff him. + +"You're right peert fer a tenderfoot," said Red Sam. "But the effeet +East is ruther slow as compared with the West, you knows." + +"I'm sure I don't know," smiled Frank, sipping his coffee. "In what way +is the East behind the West?" + +"Waal, when it comes to fast trains, we lays away over the East out +yere." + +"I have my doubts." + +"Waal, you see it's this a-way," said Sam, winking at some of his +companions, "the trains out yere don't hev to stop ev'ry few miles, an' +so, havin' once got started, they kin keep increasin' an' a-pilin' on +speed till they literally tears along. Now, thar's the Overland Express. +Why, I was a-ridin' on that train oncet when she was jest running at +comfortable speed, and the telygraft-poles beside the track seemed as +nigh together as teeth in a fine-tooth comb." + +"That's speedy," confessed Frank. + +"You bate. But it warn't northin' to what she did later. A hot box, or +somethin', kind o' delayed us, an' we hed to make up lost time. Sir, +it's a fact that arter she got on full head the telygraft-poles looked +presactly like a solid fence along beside the track!" + +"But you see," said Frank, "you confess that your trains out here have +to take time to get up such high speed. That is where they are behind +the trains in the East." + +"How?" demanded Sam contemptuously. + +"Why, having to stop often, the Eastern trains make it a practise to +start quick and at high speed. They don't have to pump away for fifteen +or twenty miles in order to get to going at a comfortable rate of speed. +Instead of that they start right off at full speed. Now there is a train +runs between New York and Washington. I got aboard at the station in +Jersey City. My girl had come along to see me off. I opened the car +window and leaned out to kiss her good-by, and, so help me, I kissed a +colored woman in Philadelphia!" + +There was a moment of silence, and then Big Monte gave a roar of +delighted laughter. This was the kind of humor he could appreciate, and +the fact that Red Sam had been doubly outdone by the tenderfoot gave him +great joy. + +The others laughed, also, and their respect for their captive rose +several notches. + +Cimarron Bill thoroughly appreciated Merry's cleverness in getting ahead +of Red Sam. + +"That youngster'd make the greatest pard a man could tie to!" thought +Bill. + +After breakfast Merry coolly sauntered about the hut. He was followed +everywhere by the two guards, but he gave them no heed whatever. He +looked for some further sign of old Joe, but saw nothing. + +Merry wondered how the redskin would go to work to accomplish what he +meant to attempt. + +Bill let Frank alone until after dinner. Then he sat down with Merry, +they being by themselves, and again broached the subject that seemed +uppermost in his mind. + +"See here," said Frank, "I offered one of your men a thousand dollars to +get me out of this. The same offer stands good with you." + +The dark face of Cimarron Bill flushed and he looked deadly. + +"Mebbe you don't know you're insultin' me a heap!" he said. "Such bein' +the probable case, I resents it none. The minin' trust has promised me +five thousan' when I turns them papers over." + +"Which you will never do." + +"Which I'll sure do if you gits foolish an' refuses to tie up with me." + +"Well," said Frank, "I'm not bidding against the mining trust. I have +refused to recognize that organization." + +"Then you refuses my proposal?" said Bill, in that cold, dangerous voice +of his. + +"Not that. I want until to-morrow morning to think it over. Just till +to-morrow." + +"You'll give me my answer to-morrer mornin'?" + +"Yes." + +"Then it's settled that you has that much more time. I won't ask ye no +more about it until to-morrer morning; an' then you must sure give an +answer. I knows what that answer will certain be if you has the level +head I thinks." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +INJUN JOE TO THE RESCUE. + + +Along in the middle of the night Frank awoke. Again he was overcome by +that strange feeling that some person was near him. Then he felt a +touch, light as a feather, and saw at his side a dark figure. + +The starlight came in at the small, square window. + +A hand grasped Frank's wrist and gave it a gentle pull. There was not +even a whisper. Merry knew what was wanted. + +Without making a sound, he crept across the ground to the wall, where a +timber had been removed from the lower portion, making an opening large +enough for a man to slip through. + +Some one passed noiselessly through this opening ahead of him. Frank +followed as silently as he could. + +Outside he found at his side the one who had entered the cabin in that +manner. This person lay flat on the ground and moved away with amazing +deftness and silence. + +Frank could not follow as easily, but he wormed along as best he could. +In that manner they finally passed to the shelter of some scrubby +bushes. + +There Frank found a dark form sitting on the ground. + +"Heap all right," whispered a voice. "You no make a row when Joe him +come. Joe he know you be ready if you find feather." + +It was Crowfoot, the faithful old redskin. + +"All right now. Make um no noise. Foller Joe," continued the Indian. + +The old fellow did not hurry. He took his time to crawl along on hands +and knees until they were far from the hut. At last he arose, and Frank +followed his example. They bent low and went on like two dark shadows. + +"Can we get out of the valley all right?" asked Merry. + +"One man him guard this way to go out," said Joe. + +"How do we pass him?" + +"Joe know. Leave it to him." + +The valley narrowed at last. They slipped along between rocky walls. +Joe's feet made absolutely no sound. + +"Stop here," advised the redskin. "Joe him come back in minute." + +So Frank stopped and waited. The minute was long. Indeed, it became ten +minutes at least. But the old fellow returned, saying: + +"All right. Coast clear." + +"What's that?" exclaimed Frank, as they nearly stumbled over a dark +figure, as they were hurrying on again. + +"Him guard," said Joe. + +"Guard? What's the matter with him?" + +"Him sleep." + +Merry shuddered a bit, for he fancied he knew the sort of sleep meant by +the old fellow. + +Cimarron Bill would receive his answer in the morning. It would be a +great surprise to him, and would please him not at all. + +More than two miles had been traversed when they came, in a deep gully, +upon old Joe's horse. + +"No keep him so near," said the Indian. "Bring him here to have him +ready to-night. You ride." + +Frank did not fancy the idea of riding, but the old fellow insisted, and +Merry finally mounted. So they passed through the silent night, Joe +leading for a time. + +"Did you get the package off all right?" Merry asked. + +"Him go," said Joe. "No worry." + +"Joe, I don't know how I can repay you; but anything I have in this +world is yours. You want to remember that. Take what you want that +belongs to me." + +"Joe him not need much. He soon go off to the long hunt." + +Frank thought of the time when this old redskin had been his bitter +enemy, when Joe had seemed treacherous and deadly as a rattlesnake, and +smiled somewhat over the transformation. He had won the confidence of +the Indian, who was now as faithful as he had once been dangerous. + +"Did you see anything of the one-armed man who was with my pursuers?" +asked Merry. + +"No see him after leave you." + +"He was sent away to follow you." + +"No see him. He no bother me." + +Frank was thoroughly well satisfied with the work of the faithful +redskin. + +They took turns at riding throughout the night. Three hours after dawn +they came into a large, wooded valley amid the mountains. As they +approached this valley they heard afar a rumbling, jarring sound that +brought a smile to the face of Frank Merriwell. + +"The stamps are in operation," he said. + +Riding up the valley, through which flowed a stream of water, they saw +reared against the bold face of a high mountain, looking like +ant-mounds, some buildings, four or five in number. In the side of the +mountain opened the black mouth of a shaft. + +"Hurrah!" Merry cried, waving his hat over his head. "There, Joe, is the +Queen Mystery, and it is in full blast!" + +The Queen Mystery mine was located a long distance from the nearest +railroad, but Merriwell had been to the expense and trouble of having +the very latest machinery brought there and set up. He had in his employ +Jim Tracy, as a foreman, said to be thoroughly capable and reliable. +Only about fifty men were employed in the mine at that time; but Merry +contemplated increasing the force extensively. + +There was talk of a branch railroad being constructed to pass within ten +or fifteen miles of the Queen Mystery. + +Were the mine to fall into the hands of the mining trust, without doubt +that railroad would be constructed, and it would run direct to Camp +Mystery and onward. The influence of the great railroad magnate would +easily bring about the running of the railroad to suit his fancy. + +The mining trust had been completely baffled in its first efforts to get +the best of Merriwell. + +Frank was welcomed at the mine, where he made himself comfortable. + +Old Joe disappeared within six hours after arriving there. He vanished +without saying a word to Merry about his intentions. + +Two days later he reappeared, Frank finding him sitting, in the morning, +with his back against one of the buildings, his red blanket pulled about +him, serenely smoking. + +"Hello, Joe!" cried Merry. "So you're back?" + +"Ugh!" grunted Joe, as he continued to smoke. + +"What's your report, Joe?" + +"Bad men heap gone." + +"Cimarron Bill and his gang?" + +"Joe mean um." + +"They have gone?" + +"Git out. They go heap quick after Strong Heart he git away." + +"Well, that looks as if Bill had given up the fight, but it seems hardly +possible." + +"No can tell," said the old fellow. "May come 'gain with great lot many +more bad men." + +Frank sat down and talked with the old redskin for some time. Then Joe +was given a square meal, and he ate heartily. + +Merry had some business to look after in the mine, and he departed, at +last, with the idea that he would find Joe and have another talk with +him after the business was done. + +But when Merry came to look again for the Indian, Joe had disappeared +once more in his usual mysterious fashion. + +Merry was not at all satisfied that Cimarron Bill had given up the +struggle. In any event, he was confident that the syndicate had not +given up, and experience had taught him that the organization would +resort to any desperate means to accomplish its purpose. + +So Merriwell, having seen that all things were going well at the mine, +set out the following day for Holbrook, in which place he mailed a +letter to Dick, informing him of his fortune in escaping from the +ruffians. + +In Holbrook Merry purchased a supply of rifles and cartridges, also +small arms. This stock he had boxed and contracted with a man to deliver +everything with the least possible delay at the Queen Mystery mine. + +Having attended to this matter, Merry rested over night and set out with +the first hint of coming day for the mine. + +Through the hottest part of the day he rested in a ravine where there +was some shade. Then he traveled again until after nightfall. + +The following forenoon found him in a part of the mountains that seemed +familiar. He had diverged somewhat from the regular trail between +Holbrook and the mine. + +Riding through a narrow pass, he came into a valley that was somewhat +wooded and had a decidedly familiar aspect. Five minutes later he drew +rein, uttering an exclamation of surprise. + +Before him, at a distance, stood an old hut. + +It required no second glance to show Merriwell that it was the very hut +where he had been held a captive by Cimarron Bill and his gang. + +Frank looked around keenly, but the valley seemed desolate, and +apparently he and his horse were the only living creatures within its +confines. + +"The very place!" said Merry. "I wonder how Bill liked my answer to his +proposition. He must have been decidedly surprised when he found me +missing in the morning." + +He rode forward toward the hut, having a fancy to look around the place. + +As he drew nearer, suddenly his horse plunged forward and fell, while a +shot rang out. + +Merry had seen a puff of smoke come from the window of the hut. He +managed to jerk his feet from the stirrups and drop to the ground behind +the body of the horse, where he lay quite still. + +The animal had been shot through the brain, and it did not even kick +after falling. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +MERRIWELL AND BIG MONTE. + + +As he lay behind his stricken horse, Merriwell pulled his rifle around +and got it ready for use. Peering over the body of the animal, he +watched the hut. + +The sun, which was dropping toward the west, was still decidedly +uncomfortable. It blazed upon him with a feeling like the heat from a +bake-oven. + +Frank knew his peril. He knew better than to lift his head high and give +his hidden foe another chance at him. He could not jump up and rush for +cover, as cover lay too far away. Only one thing could he do, and that +was to remain quietly there and watch and wait. + +After a time it is likely the man who had fired the shot began to +believe Merriwell seriously hurt. Frank caught a glimpse of him within +the hut. + +"He's coming out!" Merry decided. + +He was mistaken. Time dragged on and the sun dipped lower toward the +mountain-peaks; but still no person issued from the old hut. The +situation was anything but comfortable. + +"Confound him!" muttered Frank. "Who is he, and what does he mean?" + +Even as he asked the question, he again saw the man moving beyond the +window. + +Frank thrust the rifle across the horse, resting it on the animal's +body. Then he got into a position where he could take good aim, and then +waited again. + +The sun was touching the mountain-tops when beyond the window Merry saw +the head of a man. + +Then the clear report of his rifle rang through the valley. The puff of +smoke from the muzzle blotted out the window for a moment. When it +floated away the window was empty. + +"Did I reach him?" thought Frank anxiously. + +He felt that he had not missed, and still he could not be sure. He did +not venture to rise from behind the horse. In case he had missed, he +might fall before a second bullet from the hut. + +The sun went down behind the mountains, flinging a hundred golden and +crimson banners into the sky. Finally these began to fade, and a few +stars peeped forth palely. + +"If somebody's watching for me there," thought Merry, "it's going to be +dangerous to move, at best." + +But something told him his lead had not gone astray. + +As the light faded still more he arose quickly, rifle in hand, and +started on a run for the hut. As he ran he felt that it was far from +impossible that another shot might bring sudden death to him. Still he +did not hesitate, and, running steadily, he came up to the hut. + +The door swung open before his hand. He looked in. It was not so dark +as to hide a black figure that lay sprawled on the dirt floor. + +Frank shuddered a little, and felt like turning away at once. + +"He brought it on himself!" he whispered. "It was my life or his. But +I'm sorry I had to do it." + +Then he entered the hut. Striking a match, he bent over the prostrate +figure. The reflected light, coming from his hollowed hands, showed him +a familiar face. + +"Big Monte!" he cried, starting back and dropping the match. + +It was in truth the big man who had been one of Cimarron Bill's paid +satellites. + +He found the man's wrist and felt for his pulse. + +"Good Lord!" Merry cried. + +Big Monte's pulse flickered beneath his fingers. The ruffian still +lived. + +Frank knew where there was some wood, and this he soon had piled in a +little heap in the open fireplace. He applied a match, and soon a blaze +sprang up. + +By the growing light of the fire he examined Monte's wound. + +"Creased him as fine as can be!" he muttered. "Maybe there is a chance +for him, after all." + +It may be explained that by "creased" Frank meant that the bullet had +passed along the man's skull, cutting his scalp, yet had not penetrated +the bone. This had rendered Big Monte unconscious. + +Merry removed the fellow's revolvers and knife and stood his rifle in a +far corner. Then he brought some water in his drinking-cup and set about +the effort of restoring the wretch to consciousness, which did not prove +such a hard task as he had anticipated. + +After a little Monte's eyes opened and he lay staring at the youth. He +seemed bewildered, and it was plain he could not readily collect his +scattered wits. + +"Well, Monte," said Frank coolly, "that was a pretty close call for you. +I came near shooting off the top of your head, which I would have been +justified in doing. All the same, I'm glad I failed." + +The big man continued to stare at Frank. Already Merry had bound up the +ruffian's wound. + +"Ho!" came hoarsely from Monte's lips. "Back! Back to the depths! You +are dead!" + +"If I am dead," said Frank, "I'm just about the liveliest dead man you +ever saw." + +A strange smile came to the lips of the wounded man. + +"If you are not yet dead," he said, "I opines you soon will be a heap." + +"Never count chickens before they are hatched, Monte." + +"When you come back you'll find your mine in the hands of the syndicate. +Bill will have it." + +"That's interesting! How will Bill get it?" + +"He will take it while you are away. He has gathered a right good gang, +and he's a-goin' to jump the mine to-night." + +"Monte," said Frank, "you interest me extensively. How does it happen +you are not with the gang?" + +"I am one of the watchers. I watch to see that you do not get back. I +reckons I have done my part o' the job, for I shot you dead a while +ago." + +The big ruffian was not in his right mind, but already he had said +enough to stir Frank Merriwell's blood. So Cimarron Bill had been +watching his movements from some place of cover, and had hastened to +gather his ruffians the moment Frank left the mine. Without doubt Bill +had counted on Frank remaining away longer. However, this night he was +to strike, with his gang. The mine was to be seized. + +"I must be there!" muttered Merriwell. + +Fortunately Big Monte had a horse hidden not far from the cabin, and +Frank was able to find the animal. + +The wounded ruffian was raving at intervals. He seemed quite deranged. + +"I can't leave him like this," thought Merry. "He might wander off into +the mountains and perish." + +Still he disliked to be encumbered with the wretch. Some would have +deserted the wounded man without delay and ridden with all haste to +reach the mine. + +It must be confessed that such a thought passed through the head of +Frank Merriwell. + +"No!" murmured Frank. "He's a human being. It is my duty to do what I +can to save him." + +So it came about that two men rode Monte's big horse away from that +valley. One of them muttered, and laughed, and talked wildly. + +"Riding with the dead!" he said. "We're on the road to Purgatory! Ha! +Ha! Ha! Whip up the horse! Gallop on!" + +It was a strange ride through the starlight night. The clicking clatter +of the horse's hoofs aroused the big man at intervals, and he laughed +and shouted. + +"I'm dead!" he finally declared. "I am a dead man! Two dead men are +riding together! And we're on the road to the burnin' pit! But it's +getting a heap cold! I'm beginnin' to freeze. The fire will be good an' +hot!" + +"Shut up!" said Merry. "We're getting near the Queen Mystery. You may +get shot up some more if you keep your jaw wagging." + +As they came nearer to the valley, Merry slackened the pace of the +foam-flecked horse. Fortunately the animal had been big and strong, for +once Frank had seemed to have little mercy on the beast he bestrode. + +Monte continued to talk. He had grown so weak that Merry was compelled +to partly support him. + +"Look here," Frank said, in a commanding way, "you are not to say +another word until I give you permission. Do you understand that?" + +"Yes." + +"Then close up. Not another word from you." + +Monte closed up, obeying like a child. + +They were entering the valley. Suddenly there came a challenge. + +"Hold up, thar! Who goes yander?" + +Not a word from Merriwell's lips, but he drove the spurs to the horse, +clutched Big Monte tighter, and they shot forward into the valley. + +Instantly sounded a shot, followed by several more. Bullets whistled +past them. Frank felt Monte give a great start and lurch sideways, but +he held the man steady. + +There were cries of rage from the men who had fired the shots. + +Not a word did Frank speak, but he held straight on toward the head of +the valley and Camp Mystery. + +As he approached he saw lights gleaming ahead, seeming to indicate that +the sound of shooting had come up the valley and aroused the miners. + +He was challenged, but gave an answer that caused the men to welcome him +with a shout. It was Crowfoot who seized the lather-white horse by the +bit, but it was another who caught Big Monte as the ruffian plunged from +the saddle on being released from Frank's arms. + +"I 'lows he'd got it good an' plenty," said the man who caught Monte. +"Ef he ain't dead a'ready, he'll be so right soon." + +"Take him inside somewhere," directed Frank. "Every man who can find a +weapon wants to get ready to fight. We're going to have a gang of +ruffians down on us here, and we'll have to fight to hold this mine." + +"We're all ready, Mr. Merriwell," said Jim Tracy, the foreman. "Joe +Crowfoot came and warned us what was doin'. I opine them galoots must +'a' bin shootin' at you some down yander?" + +"That's right," said Frank. "I had to ride through them, and they banged +away at me to their satisfaction. I was lucky to come out with a whole +skin." + +"Which the other gent didn't. Who is he?" + +"Big Monte." + +"What? Not that galoot? Why, he's one o' the wust devils unhung in +Arizona!" + +The men began to murmur. + +"Big Monte!" cried another. "Why I has a score to settle with that thar +varmint! He shot my partner, Luke Brandt." + +"An' I has a score to settle with him, too!" declared another. "He stole +a hoss off me!" + +Many others claimed grievances against Monte, and suddenly there was a +rush toward the room into which the wounded man had been conveyed. + +Somehow Frank Merriwell was ahead of them all. + +As they came crowding in at the door, Merry stood beside the blanket on +which the wounded ruffian was stretched. + +"Hold on, men!" he called quietly. "Monte is dying!" + +"What do we keer fer that!" cried one. "All the more reason fer us to +hurry an' swing the varmint afore he crokes!" + +"Let him die in peace." + +"That's escapin' what's his due." + +Frank lifted one hand. + +"There is One above who will judge him," he said. "It is not for us to +do that." + +But those men did not fancy the idea of being robbed of their vengeance. +Big Monte was helpless in their hands, and they were for swinging him +before he could escape them by giving up the ghost. + +"Mr. Merriwell, sir," said one, "we respects you all right, an' we don't +like to run contrarywise to anything you says here; but in this yere +case we has to, most unfortunate. It is our sollum duty to hang this +onery hoss-thief, an' that is what we proposes to do. Arter that we'll +be ready ter fight fer you an' your mine as long as it's necessary." + +"That's right!" shouted others, as they again crowded forward. "Let us +have him! We'll make it right short work! Then we'll be ready fer his +pards!" + +Some of them flourished weapons. They were an ugly-looking crew. + +Quick as a flash Frank Merriwell whipped out a pair of revolvers and +leveled them at the crowd. + +"Gentlemen," he said, "I have just one thing to observe: If you don't, +one and all, get out of here instanter and leave Monte to shuffle off in +peace I shall open on you! If I open on you, I shall reduce you so that +Cimarron Bill and his crowd will have no trouble whatever in taking this +mine." + +They did not doubt but he meant it, remarkable though it seemed. If they +attempted to seize Monte, Merriwell would begin shooting. It was +astonishing that he should choose to defend this ruffian that had been +one of his worst enemies. + +As the men were hesitating, old Joe Crowfoot suddenly appeared. + +"Com'ron Bill he come!" said the Indian. "There be a heap fight in a +minute! Come quick!" + +"Come on!" cried Jim Tracy. + +And the men rushed forth to meet and repulse Cimarron Bill and his +gang. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE DEATH-SHOT. + + +Frank was about to follow, when Big Monte clutched weakly at his foot. + +"Pard," said the ruffian, "I may never git another chanct to say it. +You're the white stuff! They'd shore hanged me a whole lot but for you. +Now I has a chanct to die comfortable an' respectable like. Thankee, +Frank Merriwell." + +"Don't mention it!" said Frank. "Die as comfortably as you can. I have +to go out to help the boys shoot a few of your pards." + +"I ain't got northin' agin' them," said Monte; "but I wishes ye luck. +They're in the wrong, an' you're right." + +At this moment the sound of shooting outside startled Merry, and, +without another word, he rushed forth, leaving Monte lying there. + +Cimarron Bill had counted on capturing the mine by strategy and meeting +with very little resistance. When Frank had returned and ridden into the +valley Bill knew that it would not do to delay longer, and he had led +his men in swift pursuit. + +But old Joe Crowfoot, faithful as ever, had prepared the miners for the +attack; so it came about that the ruffians were met with a volley of +lead that dismayed and demoralized them. This was not the kind of work +they relished. + +Thus it happened that Frank Merriwell came hurrying forth, only to find +the enemy already repulsed and retreating in disorder. + +The starlight showed two men and a horse stretched on the ground, while +another horse was hobbling about. At a distance down the valley the +mine-seizers were fleeing. + +"They git heap hot time!" said old Joe, in Frank's ear. + +"What?" cried Merry. "Have they quit it as quick as this?" + +"It looks that way, sir," said Jim Tracy. + +"And I didn't get into the game." + +"You was too busy defending Big Monte. I hopes you pardons me, sir, but +I thinks that was a mistake." + +"You have a right to think whatever you like, but I object to your +freedom in expressing yourself." + +This was plain enough, and it told Tracy that Frank would not tolerate +any criticism from him. + +"It's your own game," muttered Tracy, turning away. + +"I see you have dropped two of those chaps." + +"Yes." + +Revolver in hand, Frank walked out toward the spot where the two figures +lay. He was followed by Crowfoot and several others. + +The first man was stone-dead. + +The next proved to be the Mexican, Pinto Pede, who was sorely wounded. + +"That cursed greaser!" growled one of the men. "Give me lief to finish +him, Mr. Merriwell!" + +He placed the muzzle of a pistol against Pede's head. + +Frank knew that a word from him would send the Mexican into eternity. + +"None of that!" he said sternly and commandingly. "Pick the fellow up +and take him in yonder. He may not be shot up too bad to recover." + +But they drew back. + +"Sir," said Tracy, "I don't opine thar is a man here but what thinks +hisself too good to be after handlin' the onery greaser." + +"And you would let him remain here to die?" + +"I reckons that's correct." + +In another moment Merry had stooped and lifted the slender body of Pinto +Pede in his arms. With long strides, he bore the Mexican toward the +building in which Big Monte lay. + +The miners looked on in amazement. + +"Waal, he's the limit!" said Jim Tracy, in disgust. + +Crowfoot followed Frank, who took Pede into the room and placed him +beside Big Monte. The redskin stopped at the door, where he stood on +guard. + +"Well, Pede," said Frank, "we'll examine and see just how hard you're +hit." + +The Mexican was shot in the side. At first it seemed that the wound +might be fatal, but, examining with the skill of an amateur surgeon, +Frank made a discovery. + +"She struck a rib, Pede," he said. "She followed around and came out +here. Why, you're not in such a bad way! You may pull through this thing +all right. You'd be almost sure to if you had the right sort of +treatment." + +The Mexican said nothing, but certain it is that he was bewildered when +he found Merry dressing the wound. This Frank did with such skill as he +possessed, making the fellow comfortable. + +Big Monte had watched all this, and he spoke for the first time when the +job was done. + +"I reckon," he said, "that they don't raise galoots like you ev'rywhere. +Why, it shore was up to you to finish the two o' us! Why you didn't do +it is something I don't understand none at all. An' you keeps them gents +from takin' me out an' swingin' me. You shore air plenty diffrunt from +any one I ever meets up with afore!" + +Old Joe Crowfoot had been watching everything. The Indian understood +Frank not at all, but whatever "Strong Heart" did Joe was ready to stand +by. + +"Don't worry over it," laughed Merry. "I owe you something, Monte." + +"I fail to see what." + +"Why, you warned me that Bill and the others meant to jump the mine +to-night." + +"Did I?" + +"Sure thing." + +"I don't remember. But I tried ter shoot ye. Bill said you was ter be +shot ef you comes a-hustlin' back afore he gits around to doin' his part +o' the job." + +"You got the worst of it in that little piece of shooting, so we'll call +that even." + +"If you says even, I'm more'n willin'." + +"Now," said Frank, "I'm going out with the men to watch for a second +attack from Bill. I have to leave you, and some of the boys may take a +fancy to hang you, after all. That bein' the case, I don't want to leave +you so you won't have a show. Here, take this gun. With it you may be +able to defend yourself until I can reach you. But don't shoot any one +if you can help it, for after that I don't believe even I could save +you." + +So he placed a revolver in the hand of Big Monte and went out, leaving +the wounded ruffians together. + +When Frank was gone the two wounded wretches lay quite still for some +time. Finally Pinto Pede stirred and looked at Big Monte. + +"How you get shot?" he asked. + +"The gent who jest went out done a part o' the job," said Monte, in +reply. + +"Heem--he shoot you?" + +"Yes." + +"Ha! You lik' da chance to shoot heem?" + +"Waal, I had it, but I missed him. He fooled me a whole lot, fer he jest +kept still behind his hoss, what I had salted, an' then he got in at me +with his own bit o' lead." + +"That mak' you hate heem! Now you want to keel heem?" + +"Oh, I don't know! I don't opine I'm so mighty eager." + +"Beel says he gif one thousan' dol' to man who shoot Frank Mer'well." + +"That's a good lot." + +"Beel he do it." + +"No doubt o' that, I reckons." + +"Mebbe you an' I haf the chance." + +"Waal, not fer me! I quits! When a chap keeps my neck from bein' +stretched arter all I has done ter him--waal, that settles it! I opines +I has a leetle humanity left in me. An' he thought I was dyin', too. I +kinder thought so then, but I'm managin' ter pull along. Mebbe I'll come +through." + +The face of Pinto Pede showed that he was thinking black thoughts. + +"Gif me da chance!" he finally said. "You no haf to do eet. Gif me da +chance. I do eet, an' we divvy da mon'. Ha?" + +"Don't count me into your deviltry." + +"No count you?" + +"No." + +"What matter? You no too good. I see you shoot man in back." + +"Mebbe you did; but he hadn't kept me from bein' lynched." + +"Bah! Why he do eet? You fool! He want to turn you ofer to law." + +"Mebbe you're right; I don't know." + +"You safe yourself if you help keel him." + +"Looker hyer, Pede, I'm a low-down onery skunk; but I reckon thar's a +limit even fer me. I've struck it. This hyer Frank Merriwell made me +ashamed a' myself fer the fust time in a right long time. I know I'm too +onery to reform an' ever be anything decent, even if I don't shuffle off +with these two wounds. All the same, I ain't the snake ter turn an' soak +pisen inter Merriwell, an' you hear me. Others may do it, but not Big +Monte." + +"Bah! All right! You not get half! Yes; you keep steel, you get eet." + +"What are you driving at?" + +"Wait. Mebbe you see. All you haf to do is keep steel." + +"Waal, I'm great at keepin' still," said Monte. + +It was not far from morning when Merriwell re-entered that room. + +Pinto Pede seemed to be sleeping, but Big Monte was wide-awake. + +"Hello!" exclaimed Frank. "So you're still on these shores. I didn't +know but you had sailed out." + +"Pard, I opine mebbe I may git well enough to be hanged, after all," +grinned the big ruffian. + +"Possibly you may," said Frank. "And the chances are you would be if I +were to leave you alone long enough. I heard some of the boys talking. +They contemplate taking you out and doing things to you after I'm +asleep. But they did not reckon that I would come here to sleep, where +they cannot get their hands on you without disturbing me." + +"That was right kind of you," said Monte. "How's Bill?" + +"I think that Bill has had his fill for the present. Indications are +that he has left the valley with his whole force, and we are not looking +for further trouble from him in some time to come." + +"Bill shore found hisself up against the real thing," said Monte. + +Frank placed a blanket near the door, wrapped himself in it, and was +soon sleeping soundly. + +Big Monte seemed to fall asleep after a time. + +Finally the Mexican lifted his head and listened. He looked at Monte, +and then at Frank. Seeming to satisfy himself, he gently dropped aside +his blanket and began creeping across the floor, making his way toward +Merriwell. He moved with the silence of a serpent. + +Now, it happened that Big Monte was not asleep, although he had seemed +to be. The Mexican had not crept half the distance to Frank when the big +man turned slightly, lifted his head, and watched. As the creeping +wretch drew nearer to the sleeping youth the hand of Big Monte was +gently thrust out from the folds of his blanket. + +Pede reached Frank, and then arose to his knees. Suddenly he lifted +above his head a deadly knife, which he meant to plunge into the breast +of the unconscious sleeper. + +At that instant a spout of fire leaped from something in the hand which +Big Monte had thrust from beneath the blanket, and with the crashing +report of the revolver Pede fell forward across the body of his intended +victim, shot through the brain! + +Frank was on his feet in an instant. + +"What does this mean?" he cried, astounded, stirring the body of the +Mexican with his foot. + +"You gave me a gun," said Big Monte, "so that I might defend myself. It +came in handy when I saw Pede gittin' keerless with his knife an' goin' +fer to cut you up." + +"Was that it?" exclaimed Frank. "Why, he was going to stab me! And you +saved my life by shooting him!" + +"Which mebbe makes us some nearer square than we was," said Monte, "as +you saved my life a leetle time ago." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +FRANK MAKES A DECISION. + + +Frank leaned against the door-jamb of his cabin and looked out into the +sunny valley. To his ears came the roar of the stamp-mills of the mine, +which was in full blast. Before him lay the mine-buildings about the +mouth of the tunnel, from which rich ore was being brought to be fed to +the greedy stamps. + +It was now something like ten days since the ruffians under Cimarron +Bill tried to carry the mine by assault. + +Frank had remained watchful and alert, well knowing the nature of +Cimarron Bill and believing he would not be content to abandon the +effort thus easily. Still the second attack, which he had so fully +expected, had not come. + +He was wondering now if the ruffians had given it up. Or had they been +instructed by the trust to turn their attention to the San Pablo Mine? + +If the latter was the case, Frank felt that they would find the San +Pablo prepared. He had taken pains before hastening to the Queen Mystery +to fortify his mine in Mexico, leaving it in charge of a man whom he +fully trusted. + +Nevertheless, Frank felt that it would be far better were he able to +personally watch both mines at the same time. Just now he was +meditating on the advisability of leaving the Queen Mystery and +journeying southward to the San Pablo. + +As he thought this matter over, something seemed to whisper in his ear +that such an action on his part was anticipated by the enemy, who were +waiting for him to make the move. Then, while he was away, they would +again descend on the Queen Mystery. + +Again the old Indian, Crowfoot, had disappeared, after his usual manner, +without telling Frank whither he was going. Merry knew he might be in +the vicinity, or he might be hundreds of miles away. Still, Joe had a +remarkable faculty of turning up just when he was most needed. + +Merry turned back into the little cabin, leaving the door open. He had +been feeling of his chin as he stood in the doorway, and now he thought: + +"A shave will clean me up. Great Scott! but I'm getting a beard! This +shaving is becoming a regular nuisance." + +Indeed, Frank was getting a beard. Every day it seemed to grow heavier +and thicker, and he found it necessary to shave frequently to maintain +that clean appearance in which he so greatly delighted. + +Frank could wear old clothes, he could rough it with joy, he minded +neither wind nor weather, but personal cleanliness he always maintained +when such a thing was in any manner possible. To him a slovenly person +was offensive. He pitied the man or boy who did not know the pleasure of +being clean, and he knew it was possible for any one to be clean, no +matter what his occupation, provided he could obtain a cake of soap and +sufficient water. + +So Frank was shaving every day when possible. He now turned back into +the cabin and brought out his shaving-set. On the wall directly opposite +the open door hung a small square mirror, with a narrow shelf below it. + +Here Merry made preparations for his shaving. Over a heater-lamp he +prepared his water, whistling the air of the Boola Song. This tune made +him think of his old friends of Yale, some of whom he had not heard from +for some time. + +A year had not yet passed since he had gathered them and taken his +baseball-team into the Mad River region to play baseball. In that brief +space of time many things had occurred which made it evident that never +again could they all be together for sport. The days of mere sport were +past and over; the days of serious business had come. + +Frank thought, with a sense of sadness, of Old Eli. Before him rose a +vision of the campus buildings, in his ears sounded the laughter and +songs, and he saw the line of fellows hanging on the fence, smoking +their pipes and chaffing good-naturedly. + +With some men it is a sad thing that they cannot look back with any +great degree of pleasure on their boyhood and youth. They remember that +other boys seemed to have fine times, while they did not. Later, other +youths chummed together and were hail-fellow-well-met, while they +seemed set aloof from these jolly associates. With Frank this was not +so. He remembered his boyhood with emotions of the greatest pleasure, +from the time of his early home life to his bidding farewell to Fardale. +Beyond that even unto this day the joy of life made him feel that it was +a million fold worth living. + +There are thousands who confess that they would not be willing to go +back and live their lives over. Had the question been put to Frank +Merriwell he would have said that nothing could give him greater +pleasure. + +When the water was hot, Frank carefully applied his razor to the strop +and made it sharp enough for his purpose. Then he arranged everything +needed on the little shelf beneath the mirror. + +Now, it is impossible to say what thing it was that led him to remove +his revolver from the holster and place it on the shelf with the other +things, but something caused him to do so. + +Then he applied the lather to his face, and was about to use the razor, +when he suddenly saw something in the mirror that led him to move with +amazing quickness. + +Behind him, at the open door, was a man with a rifle. This man, a +bearded ruffian, had crept up to the door with the weapon held ready for +use. + +But for the fact that the interior of the cabin seemed somewhat gloomy +to the eyes of the man, accustomed as they were to the bright glare of +the sun outside, he might have been too swift for Frank. + +Another thing added to Frank's fortune, and it was that he had drawn his +revolver and placed the weapon on the little shelf in front of him. For +this reason it was not necessary for him to reach toward the holster at +his hip, an action which must have hurried the ruffian to the attempted +accomplishment of his murderous design. For Merriwell had no doubt of +the fellow's intention. He saw murder in the man's eyes and pose. + +The rifle was half-lifted. In another moment Frank Merriwell would have +been shot in the back in a most dastardly manner. + +He snatched the revolver from the little shelf and fired over his +shoulder without turning his head, securing such aim as was possible by +the aid of the mirror into which he was looking. Frank had learned to +shoot in this manner, and he could do so as skilfully as many of the +expert marksmen who gave exhibitions of fancy shooting throughout the +country. + +His bullet struck the hand of the man, smashing some of the ruffian's +fingers and causing him to drop the rifle. + +Merry wheeled and strode to the door, his smoking revolver in his hand, +a terrible look in his eyes. + +The wretch was astounded by what had happened. Blood was streaming from +his wounded hand. He saw Merriwell confront him with the ready pistol. + +"You treacherous cur!" said Frank indignantly. "I think I'll finish +you!" + +He seemed about to shoot the man down, whereupon the ruffian dropped on +his knees, begging for mercy. + +"Don't--don't shoot!" he gasped, holding up his bleeding hand, "Don't +kill me!" + +"Why shouldn't I? You meant to kill me." + +"No, no--I swear----" + +"Don't lie! Your soul may start on its long trail in a moment! Don't lie +when you may be on the brink of eternity!" + +These stern words frightened the fellow more than ever. + +"Oh, I'm telling you the truth--I sw'ar I am!" he hastened to say. + +"You crept up to this door all ready to fill me full of lead." + +"No, no! Nothing of the sort! I was not looking for you! It--it was some +one else! I swear it by my honor!" + +A bitter smile curled the lips of the young man. + +"Honor!" he said--"your honor! Never mind. How much were you to receive +for killing me?" + +"It was not you; it was another man." + +"What other?" + +"Tracy." + +"My foreman?" + +"Yes." + +"You were looking for him?" + +"Yes." + +"Why?" + +"Him and me have had a fallin' out, and he cussed me. He threatened to +shoot me, too." + +"What was the matter?" + +"Oh, he didn't like the way I done my work. It's true; ask him. I swore +I'd fix him." + +"Well, what brought you here to my cabin to shoot the foreman?" + +"I thought I saw him coming this way." + +Frank pressed his lips together and looked the man over. Somehow he +believed the ruffian was lying, in spite of all these protests. + +"See here, Anson," he said, "you were hired by the mining trust, or by +some of its tools, to shoot me, and you tried to earn your money. Don't +deny it, for you can't fool me. Just own up to the truth and it will be +better for you. Tell me who made the deal with you and how much you were +to receive. If you come out honestly and confess all, I'll spare you. +Your hand is bleeding pretty bad, and it should be attended to at once. +I'll see to that, but upon condition that you confess." + +Still the ruffian continued to protest, insisting that it was Tracy he +was looking for. In the midst of this he suddenly stopped, seeming to be +badly frightened. + +"Oh, Lord!" he choked. "Here comes Tracy! Don't tell him! I can't defend +myself! Don't tell him, or he'll sure shoot me up and finish me!" + +Jim Tracy was coming with long strides. He saw Frank and the wretch with +the bleeding hand. + +"Whatever is this?" he demanded. "I heard the shooting. What has this +yaller dog been up to?" + +"I shot him," said Frank quietly. "He came walking into my door in a +careless manner with his rifle in his hand, and I shot him in a hurry. +He was foolish; he should have been more careful. It's dangerous to walk +in on me that way, even with the most peaceable intentions." + +There was a strange look on Tracy's face. + +"So that's how it happened?" he exclaimed, in a harsh voice. "Well, it's +pretty certain that Hop Anson needs to have his worthless neck +stretched, and all I ask is permission to attend to the job. I'll +dispose of him very quickly." + +"I told you, Mr. Merriwell!" muttered the wounded man. + +"You have had some trouble with him, have you, Tracy?" asked Frank. + +"Confound his hide! yes, I have. He has no business here at this time. +His place is discharging the rock as it comes out. The fact that he's +here counts against him. Turn him over to me." + +"Instead of that," said Frank, thrusting his revolver into his holster, +"I think I'll take care of him. Come in here, Anson." + +Tracy seemed astonished and disgusted. + +"What are you going to do?" he asked. + +"I'm going to see if I can't dress that hand and keep him from bleeding +to death," was Merriwell's answer. + +"Well, by thunder!" muttered the foreman. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +MERRIWELL'S METHOD. + + +It was not easy for such men to understand Frank Merriwell. Hop Anson +was as much astonished as was Jim Tracy. He entered the cabin at Frank's +command, and Merriwell proceeded to wash and examine the wound. + +"You'll have to lose two fingers and part of another one," said +Merriwell. "I can do the job for you right here, if you say so. Or I'll +patch them up, stop the bleeding, and let you get to a regular +saw-bones." + +"You go ahead," said Anson. + +So Frank opened a trunk which sat behind a curtain in one corner of the +room, bringing out a case, which, on being opened, revealed a complete +set of surgical instruments. These he spread out on the rough table, and +soon he was ready to operate on Hop Anson's mangled hand. + +Jim Tracy, his hands on his hips and his feet rather wide apart, stood +looking on in silence. + +Frank spent the greater part of an hour about his task, impressing Tracy +as an assistant, and when he had finished two of the ruffian's fingers +and a part of the third were gone, but the amputation and dressing had +been done in a manner that was anything but bungling. Frank had been as +careful as possible to preserve cleanliness about his work. + +"Well, you're certain a wonder!" exclaimed Tracy admiringly. "But you +makes a big mistake in wastin' so much trouble on a dog like this." + +Anson did not retort, save with a sullen flash of his treacherous eyes +in the direction of the foreman. + +"Permit me to know my business, Tracy," said Merry shortly. "You may go +now, Anson." + +"What? You're not going to let him go where he likes?" + +"Yes." + +So Hop Anson walked out of the cabin, picked up his rifle, and +disappeared. + +"I don't want to criticise you, Mr. Merriwell," said the foreman. "You +know I am devoted to your interests. But I feel confident that you will +be very sorry you treated that man in such a decent way and then let him +off. He's a snake. I still believe he crept up to the door to shoot you +in the back." + +"Perhaps he did," nodded Frank, cleansing his instruments with the +utmost coolness. "If so, he got the worst of it." + +"But would you let him off like that if you knew it was so?" + +"No. He swore it was not. I had no proof, so I let him go." + +"You're altogether too easy with your enemies," asserted Tracy. "Just +you turn them over to me. I'll take care of them, and they'll never +bother you again, be right sure of that." + +"I'll think about it," smiled Frank, returning the instruments to the +case. + +"You came mighty near being killed by that greaser because you were easy +with him." + +"And my life was saved by Big Monte because I had been easy with him. +That balances things, I fancy. In fact, for me, it more than balances +things. I'd rather let a dozen bad men escape punishment than strike one +who is innocent." + +"But neither Big Monte nor Pinto Pede was innocent." + +"And Pinto Pede provided a subject with which to start a graveyard here. +Big Monte seemed repentant. Pede would have knifed me, but Monte shot +him just as he was ready to strike." + +"Well, where's Big Monte now?" + +"I don't know," confessed Frank. + +"He skipped out." + +"Sure thing. He took a walk the first chance he got." + +"And it's certain he's gone back to his pals. When they strike at you +ag'in, if they do, Monte will be with 'em." + +"All right. Perhaps he has an idea he'll be fighting fair that way." + +"And he may kill you yet." + +"Possibly." + +"Well," said Tracy, "I must admit that I don't understand you none +whatever! Hop Anson left his work, got a rifle and came sneakin' up to +your door. You shoots him in the hand, then doctors him and lets him go. +That's right peculiar. But I have him to deal with somewhat, and I +propose to deal. If you hear before night that Hop has hopped the divide +don't be any surprised." + +Tracy seemed about to depart. + +"Look here," said Frank, "before you go, I have some things to say. +Unless Hop Anson gives you good and sufficient cause, you are not to +lift your hand against him. I don't want any shooting to get started +here at the mine. I want these men to dwell together peaceably. The +first shooting is likely to lead to other work in the same line." + +"You're too much against such things," said Tracy; "and still I notice +you don't hesitate any whatever to use a gun at times." + +"When forced to it; never at any other time. I am decidedly against it. +It would be dead easy to start an affair here that would lead to +disturbances that might get the men to quarreling. That would put the +men in condition to revolt, and an assault upon the mine would find us +weakened. I trust you, Tracy, to be careful about this matter. Much +depends on you. You have proved satisfactory in every way." + +"Thankee," said the foreman, somewhat awkwardly. "I've tried to do my +best, sir." + +"That is all I ask of any man. That is all any man can do. You should +understand why I wish no disturbance. But, at the same time, let me +warn you to watch Hop Anson closely--for your own benefit. If you have +to do any shooting, well and good." + +"I think I understand," said Tracy, as he walked out. At the door he +paused and half-turned, as if to say something more. Already Frank was +facing the little mirror on the wall, ready to resume his shaving. He +stood exactly as he had stood when he shot at Anson, and his revolver +lay on the shelf beneath the mirror. + +Tracy went on. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +SMOKE SIGNALS AND A DECOY. + + +Frank grew restless. On the day following the shooting of Anson he +called Tracy and said: + +"Tracy, I want you to keep your eyes open and be on your guard while I +am away." + +"Are you going away, sir?" asked the foreman. + +"Yes." + +"For a long time?" + +"That is uncertain. I may return by night, and I may not be back for +several days." + +The foreman looked as if he wished to ask where Frank thought of going, +but held himself in check. + +"I wish to satisfy myself if any of my enemies are in this vicinity," +said Merriwell. "I leave things in your hands here, and I believe I can +trust you." + +"You can, sir, fully." + +Merry attended to the saddling of his horse. When he rode forth from the +mine he was well armed and prepared for almost anything. Behind him the +roar of the ore-crushers died out, and he passed into the silence of the +mountains. + +Not an hour had passed when he was somewhat surprised to see before him +from an elevated point a big, ball-like cloud of dark smoke rising into +the sky. + +"That's odd," was his immediate decision. + +He stopped his horse and watched the smoke as it ascended and grew +thinner. It was followed by another ball of smoke as he watched, and +after this came still another. + +Then Frank turned in the saddle, looking in various directions. Some +miles behind him three distinct and separate clouds of smoke seemed to +be mounting into the sky from another high elevation. + +"If those are not smoke signals," said Frank, "I'm a chump! In that +case, it's likely I'll have Indians to deal with if I keep on. Perhaps +I'd better turn back." + +For something told him that he was the object of those signals, and this +was an Indian method of communication. He sat still for some time, +watching the smoke fade in the upper air, which it did slowly. At last, +however, it was gone, and the clear atmosphere held no black signal of +danger. + +Frank's curiosity was aroused. He longed to know the meaning of those +signals. Having looked to his weapons, he rode on slowly, keenly on the +alert. + +Coming through a narrow gorge into a valley that looked barren enough, +he suddenly snatched forth a revolver and cried: + +"Halt, there! Stop, or----Why, it's a woman!" + +For he had seen a figure hastily seeking concealment amid some boulders. +At sound of his voice the figure straightened up and turned toward him. + +Then he was more amazed than ever, for he saw a dark-faced Mexican girl, +wearing a short skirt and having about her neck a scarlet handkerchief. +Her head was bare, and her dark hair fell over her shoulders. She +looked like a frightened fawn. + +No wonder he was astonished to behold such a vision in that desolate +part of the mountains. She seemed trembling, yet eager, and she started +to advance toward him. + +"Oh, seńor!" she said, in a voice that was full of soft music, "eet mus' +be you are good man! Eet mus' be you are not bad an' weeked. You would +not hurt Gonchita?" + +"Not on your life!" exclaimed Merry, at once putting up his revolver. + +At which she came running and panting up to him, all in a flutter of +excitement. + +"Oh, _Madre de Dios_! I am so much happeeness! I have de great fear when +you I do see. Oh, you weel come to heem? You weel do for heem de +saveeng?" + +The girl was rather pretty, and she was not more than eighteen or +nineteen years of age. She was tanned to a dark brown, but had white +teeth, which were strangely pointed and sharp. + +"Who do you mean?" + +"My fadare. _Ay-de mi_! he ees hurt! De bad men shoot heem. They rob +heem! He find de gold. He breeng me with heem here to de mountain, all +alone. He theenk some time he be vera reech. He have de reech mine. Then +de bad men come. They shoot heem. They take hees gold. He come creep +back to me. What can I to do? _Ay-de mi_!" + +"Your father--some bad men have shot him?" said Merry. + +"_Si, si, seńor_!" + +"It must have been Cimarron Bill's gang," thought Merry. + +The girl was greatly excited, but he continued to question her, until he +understood her quite well. + +"Is he far from here?" he asked. + +"No, not de very far. You come to heem? Mebbe you do for heem some good. +Weel you come?" + +She had her brown hands clasped and was looking most beseechingly into +Frank's face. + +"Of course I'll come," he said. "You shall show me the way. My horse +will carry us both." + +He assisted her to mount behind him, and told her to cling about his +waist. + +Frank continued to question Gonchita, who sometimes became almost +unintelligible in her excitement and distress. They passed through the +valley and turned into a rocky gorge. Frank asked if it was much +farther. + +"We be almost to heem now," assured Gonchita. + +Almost as the words left her lips the heads of four or five men appeared +above some boulders just ahead, and as many rifles were leveled straight +at Frank's heart, while a well-known, triumphant voice shouted: + +"I've got you dead to rights, Merriwell! If you tries tricks you gits +soaked good and plenty!" + +At the same moment the girl threw her arms about Frank's body, pinning +his arms to his sides, so that he could make no move to draw a weapon. + +Merry knew on the instant that he had been trapped. He realized that he +had been decoyed into the snare by the Mexican girl. He might have +struggled and broken her hold, but he realized the folly of such an +attempt. + +"Be vera steel, seńor!" hissed the voice of Gonchita in his ear. "Eet be +bet-are." + +"You have betrayed me," said Frank reproachfully. "I did not think it of +you. And I was ready to do you a service." + +He said no more to her. + +Out from the rocks stepped Cimarron Bill. + +"So we meet again, my gay young galoot," said the chief of the ruffians. +"An' I reckon you'll not slip me so easy this time. That old Injun o' +yours is food fer buzzards, an' so he won't give ye no assistance +whatever." + +"Old Joe----" muttered Merry, in dismay. + +"Oh, we finished him!" declared Bill. "That's why you ain't seen him fer +some time. Set stiddy, now, an' don't make no ruction. + +"Gonchita, toss down his guns." + +The Mexican girl obeyed, slipping to the ground with a laugh when she +had disarmed Frank. + +The ruffians now came out from the shelter of the rocks and gathered +about the youth, grinning at him in a most provoking manner. He +recognized several of the same fellows who had once before acted as +guard over him. Red Sam was there, and nodded to him. + +"You're a right slick poker-player," said the sandy rascal; "but we +'lowed a girl'd fool ye easy. Goncheeter done it, too." + +Frank nodded. + +"She did," he confessed. "I was taken off my guard. But you want to look +out for Indians." + +"Why for?" + +Merry then told them of the smoke signals, whereupon they grinned at one +another knowingly. + +"That'll be all right," said Bill. "Them signals told us when you was +comin', an' which way." + +"Then you were doing the signaling?" + +"Some o' the boys." + +Frank was then ordered down and searched. He appeared utterly fearless. +He observed that Gonchita was watching him closely, a strange look in +her eyes, her lips slightly parted, showing her milky, pointed teeth. + +When the men were satisfied that no weapon remained in the possession of +their captive, two or three of them drew aside to consult, while the +others guarded Frank. + +Cimarron Bill patted Gonchita's cheek with his hand. + +"Well done, leetle gal!" he said. "You fooled him powerful slick." + +She smiled into Bill's eyes, but in another moment, the chief, having +turned away, she was watching Frank again. + +The result of the consultation led to the placing of Merry on his own +horse, and he was guarded by the armed men who escorted him along the +gorge until they came to a place where two men were watching a number of +waiting horses. + +Then there was mounting and riding away, with Frank in the midst of his +triumphant enemies. Gonchita rode with them, having a wiry little pony +that seemed able to cope with any of the other horses. + +Frank was not a little disgusted because he had been decoyed into the +trap, but he did his best to hide his feelings. + +It was some hours later that they halted to rest until the heat of the +day should pass. A fire was built, and a meal prepared, Gonchita taking +active part in this work. + +Frank sat near and watched all that was passing. He had not been bound, +and his manner was that of one free amid the scoundrels by whom he was +surrounded. It was Gonchita who found an opportunity to whisper in his +ear: + +"Be vera careful! Dey mean to shoot you eef you try de escape." + +He did not start or betray any emotion whatever. It hardly seemed that +he had heard her whispered words. Later, however, he gave her a look +which conveyed to her the assurance that he had not failed to +understand. + +As she worked about the fire she called upon him to replenish it with +more fuel, which he did. He was putting wood on the fire when she again +whispered to him: + +"I weel drop by you a peestol. Tak' eet; you may need eet." + +He made no retort, but watched for her to keep her promise, which she +afterward found opportunity to do. + +Merry was lying carelessly on the ground when the weapon, a tiny +revolver, was dropped at his side. Immediately he rolled over upon his +stomach, in a lazy fashion, hiding the weapon, and shortly after he +succeeded in slipping it into his pocket. + +Frank wondered how this strange girl happened to be with those ruffians. +It seemed a most remarkable and mysterious thing. He also wondered why +she had been led to give him the pistol. Having led him into the trap, +she had suddenly changed so that she now seemed to wish him to escape +without harm. + +The truth was that his coolness and nerve, together with his handsome, +manly appearance, had quite won Gonchita's heart. She was a changeable +creature, and had quickly come to regret leading this handsome youth +into such a snare. + +When the food was prepared all partook heartily. Two of the men, a big +fellow with an evil face, called Brazos Tom, and a thick-shouldered +brute hailed as Mike Redeye, had been drinking freely from a flask. +Brazos Tom was given to chaffing the others in a manner that some of +them did not appreciate, and this inclination grew upon him with the +working of the liquor. Redeye was a sullen, silent fellow, and Frank +regarded him as a very dangerous man. + +Once or twice Cimarron Bill gave Tom a look, and, at last, the big +fellow seemed to quiet down. + +After the meal, while the men were yet resting, Bill had his horse +saddled for some reason, and rode away, having left the men in charge of +Red Sam. + +As soon as the chief was gone, Brazos Tom brought forth his flask, which +was now nearly emptied. + +"Gents," he said, "while we is waitin' we'll finish this an' try a hand +at poker. Wot d'yer say?" + +"Oh, blazes!" growled one. "You an' Mike has purt' near finished that. +Thar ain't enough left fer a drap apiece if we pass it around." + +"Drink up your stuff," said Red Sam. "It's poor firewater, anyhow. I'm +fer the poker. Does you come inter this yere game, young gent, same as +ye did oncet before?" + +This question was addressed to Frank, but Merry already "smelled a +mouse," and so it did not need the warning look from Gonchita and the +slight shake of her head to deter him. + +"Excuse me," he said. "I have no money." + +"Waal, fish some out o' the linin' o' your clothes, same as you did +afore," advised Sam. + +"But I have none in the lining of my clothes." + +"I begs yer pardon, but we knows a heap sight better. Don't try no +monkey business with us, younker! You was good enough ter git inter a +game oncet before an' try ter show us up, so we gives ye another +chanct, an' ye'd better accept it in a hurry." + +"I hardly think I have a friend here who will be willing to lend me +money," smiled Merry. "Unless somebody does so, I cannot play. That +being the case, I reckon I'll keep out of it." + +Sam laid a hand on the butt of his revolver. + +"You can't play none of that with us!" he declared fiercely. "We knows +how you found the money afore, an' you'll find it ag'in. Come, be +lively." + +Frank looked the man over. + +"You could get blood from a turnip easier than money from me," he +declared. + +Then, as Red Sam seemed about to draw his weapon, Gonchita chipped in, +crying: + +"Don't do it, Sam! I have you cover' weez my peestol! I weel shoot!" + +The men were astonished, for Gonchita had drawn a pistol and had it +pointed at the head of Red Sam, while in her dark eyes there was a +deadly gleam. + +"What in blazes is the matter with you?" snarled Red Sam, looking at her +over his shoulder. + +"You hear what Gonchita say," she purred, a flush in her brown cheeks. +"She mena de busineeze." + +Frank could not help admiring her then, for she presented a very pretty +picture. + +Reluctantly Sam thrust back his weapon into his holster. + +"Oh, all right!" he laughed coarsely. "I see you're stuck up a heap on +the feller." + +"You not to shoot heem while I am around." + +"Whoop!" roared Brazos Tom, in apparent delight. "Thar's a gal fer ye! I +shore admires her style!" + +Then, being in a position to do so, he sprang on Gonchita, caught her in +his strong arms so she could not defend herself, and gave her a bearlike +hug and a kiss. + +The next instant something like a hard piece of iron struck Tom behind +the ear and he measured his length on the ground. Frank Merriwell had +reached his feet at a bound, and hit the giant a blow that knocked him +down in a twinkling. + +Through all this Gonchita had held fast to her drawn revolver, and now +she had it ready for use, so that, when those ruffians placed hands on +their weapons, she again warned them. + +At the same time she flung herself between them and Frank, so that he +was partly protected as he stood over Brazos Tom, who lay prone and +dazed. + +"Take hees peestols!" she palpitated. + +And Frank followed this piece of advice, relieving the fallen ruffian of +his revolvers, so that Tom's hand reached vainly for one of the weapons +as he began to recover. + +"Eef you make de fight," said the girl to the ruffians, "we now gif you +eet all you want." + +Never before had they seen her in such a mood, and they were astounded. +But they knew she could shoot, for they had seen her display her +marksmanship. + +"You little fool!" grated Sam. "Are you goin' to help that galoot try to +git erway?" + +"No, I do not dat; but I see he ees not hurt till Beel he come back." + +Then she commanded Frank to throw down the pistol he had taken from Tom, +which Merry did, knowing there was no chance for him to escape then +without a shooting affray, in which he was almost certain to be wounded. + +Immediately on this act of Frank's the ruffians seemed to abandon any +desire to draw and shoot at him. + +But Brazos Tom rose in a great rage, almost frothing at the mouth. + +"Ten thousan' tarantulas!" he howled. "Let me git my paws on him!" + +He made a rush for Frank, who seemed to stand still to meet him, but +stepped aside just as the ruffian tried to fold him in his arms. + +Then the big wretch was somehow caught about the body, lifted into the +air, and sent crashing to the ground, striking on his head and +shoulders. The young athlete from Yale handled Brazos Tom with such ease +that every witness was astounded. + +The big fellow lay where he fell, stunned and finished. + +Gonchita looked at Frank with a light of the most intense admiration in +her dark eyes. + +"How you do eet so easee?" she asked. + +"That's nothing, with a bungler like him to meet," said Merry quietly. + +The ruffians said nothing, but exchanged meaning glances. They had been +foiled for the time being by the girl and by the cleverness of their +captive. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +LOST IN THE MOUNTAINS. + + +Four persons were lost in the mountains. Three of them were young men +who were scarcely more than youths. All were mounted on broncos. + +One was a bright-eyed, apple-cheeked chap, who had an odd manner of +talking, and who emphasized his words with little gestures and flirts of +his hand that were very peculiar. Another was dark and silent, with a +face that was decidedly handsome, although it denoted a person given +more or less to brooding and morbid thoughts. The third youth was long +and lank and talked with a nasal drawl and a manner of speech that +proclaimed him a down-easter. + +These three were respectively Jack Ready, Bart Hodge, and Ephraim +Gallup, all friends and former companions of Frank Merriwell. + +The fourth one of the party was a red-nosed bummer, known as Whisky Jim, +whom they had picked up to guide them from the little railroad-town to +Frank Merriwell's mine. Jim had averred that he knew "every squar' foot +o' Arizony frum the Grand Cańon to the Mexican line," and they had +trusted in his promise to lead them, with the smallest possible delay, +to the Queen Mystery Mine. + +Jim would not acknowledge that he was lost. They had provided him with +the bronco he bestrode and promised him good pay when they should come +to the mine. He had collected enough in advance to "outfit" with a +liberal supply of whisky, and had managed to keep beautifully loaded +ever since they rode out to the Southwest. + +Their horses were wearied and reluctant, while they were sun-scorched +and covered with dust. + +"By gum!" groaned Gallup. "I'm purty near pegged! This is too much fer +me. I wish I was to hum on the farm!" + +"Prithee say not so!" cried Ready. "You give unto me that feeling of +sadness known to those who are homesick. Ah, me! to endure thus to have +my beautiful complexion destroyed by this horrid sun! And behold my +lily-white hands! Are they not spectacles to make the gods sigh with +regret! Permit me to squeeze out a few salt teardrops." + +Hodge was saying nothing. + +"'Sall ri', boysh," assured the useless guide thickly. "Jesht you wait +an' shee. Whazzer mazzer with you? I know m' bushiness. Who shays I +dunno m' bushiness?" + +He was able to sit perfectly straight in the saddle, although he was +disgustingly intoxicated. + +"I say you don't know your business, you old fool!" said Hodge, breaking +out at last. "It would serve you right if we were to leave you here in +the mountains. A great guide you are! You'd die if we left you! You'd +never find your way out." + +Jim looked astonished. This was the first time Bart had broken forth +thus plainly. + +"You don't mean it?" he gurgled. + +"You bet your life I meant it! I'm in for leaving you to get back to +town the best way you can." + +"Oh, don't do that!" exclaimed Jim, sobered somewhat by his alarm. +"Someshin' might happen t' you, boysh." + +"Let's leave him," nodded Jack Ready, amused by the consternation of the +old fellow. + +"Derned ef we don't!" cried Gallup. + +Upon which the "guide" became greatly alarmed, begging them for the love +of goodness not to leave him there in the mountains to die alone. + +"But you're a guide," said Hodge. "You would be able to get out all +right." + +"Boysh," said the old toper, "I got a 'fession to make." + +"What is it?" + +"I ain't been in the guidin' bushiness for shome time. I'm a leetle +rusty; jest a bit out o' practish. That's whazzer mazzer." + +"Why didn't you say so in the first place? What made you lie to us?" + +"Boysh, I needed the moneysh. Hones' Injun, I needed the moneysh bad. +Been a long time shince I've had all the whisky I could hold. Great +treat f' me." + +Bart was disgusted, but Jack Ready was inclined to look at the affair in +a humorous light. + +"I'd like to know the meaning of those smoke clouds we saw," said +Hodge. "They looked mighty queer to me." + +They consulted together, finally deciding to halt in a shadowy valley +and wait for the declining of the sun, which would bring cooler air. + +They confessed to one another that they were lost, and all felt that the +situation was serious. It was not at all strange that Hodge was very +angry with the worthless old toper who had led them into this +predicament. + +"We may never get out of these mountains," he said. "Or, if we do, we +may perish in the desert. I tell you, fellows, we're in a bad scrape!" + +"Dear me!" sighed Ready. "And I anticipated great pleasure in surprising +Merry to-day. Alas and alack! such is life. I know this dreadful +sunshine will spoil my complexion!" + +Gallup looked dolefully at the horses, which were feeding on the +buffalo-grass of the valley. + +"We're a pack of darn fools!" he observed. "We'd oughter sent word to +Frankie that we was comin', an' then he'd bin on hand to meet us." + +The "guide" had stretched himself in the shadow of some boulders and +fallen fast asleep. + +"I suppose I'm to blame for this thing, fellows," said Bart grimly. "It +was my scheme to take Merry by surprise." + +"Waal, I ruther guess all the rest of us was reddy enough ter agree to +it," put in Gallup. "We're jest ez much to blame as you be." + +They talked the situation over for a while. Finally Bart rose and +strolled off by himself, Gallup calling after him to look out and not go +so far that he could not find his way back. + +Hodge was gone almost an hour. His friends were growing alarmed, when he +came racing back to them, his face flushed with excitement and his eyes +flashing. + +"Come, fellows!" he cried, his voice thrilling them. "I've got something +to show you! We're wanted mighty bad by a friend of ours who is in +trouble!" + +They were on their feet. + +"Who in thutteration be you talkin' abaout?" asked Gallup. + +"Perchance you mean Frank?" said Ready. + +"You bet your life!" said Bart. "Make sure your rifles are in working +order! Leave the horses right where they're picketed. Leave Jim with +them. He'll look after them, if he awakes." + +For Whisky Jim continued to sleep soundly through all this. + +So they seized their weapons and prepared to follow Bart. + +As they ran, Bart made a brief explanation. He had climbed to a point +from whence he looked down into a grassy valley, and there he discovered +some horses and men. The horses were feeding, and the men were reclining +in the shade, with the exception of one or two. While Bart looked he +recognized one of the men, and also saw a girl. At first he thought he +must be deceived, but soon he was satisfied that the one he recognized +was the comrade he had traveled thousands of miles to join, bringing +with him Ready and Gallup. + +As he watched, he saw the encounter between Merry and Brazos Tom, and +that was enough to satisfy Hodge that his friend was in serious trouble. +Then he hastened back to get Jack and Ephraim. + +When Bart again reached the point where he could look into that valley +he was astonished to discover that another struggle was taking place +down there. + +Frank was engaged in a knife-duel with Red Sam, having been forced into +it. And Red Sam meant to kill him. + +The watching ruffians were gathered around, while Gonchita, a pistol in +her hand, was watching to see that the youth had fair play. + +Without doubt, the sandy ruffian had expected to find Merriwell easy, +and finish him quickly in an engagement of this sort. But Frank +Merriwell had been instructed in knife-play by a clever expert, and he +soon amazed Red Sam and the other ruffians by meeting the fellow's +assault, catching his blade, parrying thrust after thrust, leaping, +dodging, turning, charging, retreating, and making such a wonderful +contest of it that the spectators were electrified. + +It was Frank's knife that drew first blood. He slit the ruffian's sleeve +at the shoulder and cut the man slightly. + +Gonchita's dark eyes gleamed. More than ever she marveled at this +wonderful youth, who seemed more than a match for any single ruffian of +Bill's band. + +"He is a wonder!" she told herself. "Oh, he is grand! They meant to kill +him. If he beats Red Sam they shall not kill him." + +Sam swore when he felt the knife clip his shoulder. + +"I'll have your heart's blood!" he snarled. + +Frank smiled into his face in a manner that enraptured the watching +girl. + +"You are welcome to it--if you can get it! But look out for yourself!" + +Then he began a whirlwindlike assault upon Sam, whom he soon bewildered +by his movements. He played about the man like a leaping panther. Once +Sam struck hard at Frank's breast, and Merry leaped away barely in time, +for the keen knife slit the front of his shirt, exposing the clean white +skin beneath. + +But again and again Frank cut the big ruffian slightly, so that soon Sam +was bleeding from almost a dozen wounds and slowly growing weaker in +spite of his efforts to brace up. + +The knives sometimes flashed together. The men stood and stared into +each other's eyes. Then they leaped and dodged and struck and struck +again. + +Little did Frank dream of the friends who were watching him from above. + +Bart Hodge was thrilled into silence by the spectacle. He knelt, with +his rifle ready for instant use, panting as the battle for life +continued. + +"Great gosh all hemlock!" gurgled Ephraim Gallup, his eyes bulging. +"Did you ever see anything like that in all your natteral born days? +Dern my squash ef I ever did!" + +"It is beautiful!" said Jack Ready. "Frank is doing almost as well as I +could do myself! I'll have to compliment him on his clever work." + +Twice Bart Hodge had the butt of his rifle against his shoulder, but +lowered it without firing. + +"He's gittin' the best of the red-headed feller!" panted Gallup. + +"Of course!" nodded Ready. "Did you look for anything else to happen?" + +"Them men don't like it much of enny." + +"They do not seem greatly pleased." + +"I bet they all go fer him if he does the red-head up." + +"In which case," chirped Jack, "it will be our duty to insert a few lead +pills into them." + +Bart was not talking. He believed Frank in constant danger of a most +deadly sort, and he was watching every move of the ruffians, ready to +balk any attempt at treachery. + +As Sam weakened Frank pressed him harder. The fellow believed Merry +meant to kill him, if possible. + +At length Merriwell caught Sam's blade with his own, gave it a sudden +twist, and the fellow's knife was sent spinning through the air, to fall +to the ground at a distance. + +At that moment one of the ruffians suddenly flung up a hand that held a +revolver, meaning to shoot Frank through the head. + +Before he could fire, however, he pitched forward on his face. + +Down from the heights above came the clear report of the rifle in the +hands of Bartley Hodge. + +Bart had saved the life of his old friend. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +FRANK'S ESCAPE. + + +As the ruffian pitched forward on his face, Gonchita uttered a cry. The +attention of the men was turned toward the point from which the +unexpected shot had come. The Mexican girl caught hold of Merry, thrust +a pistol into his hand, and hissed: + +"Back--back there! Quick! It's your chance! You take eet!" + +Frank did not hesitate. With the pistol in his hand, he went leaping +toward the point of cover indicated. He was behind the rocks before the +desperadoes realized what had taken place. They turned, uttering +exclamations of anger and dismay. + +"Steady, you chaps!" rang out Frank's clear voice. "Keep your distance! +If you don't----" + +But now the three young fellows above began shooting into the valley, +and their whistling bullets sent the ruffians scudding to cover. + +Gonchita disdained to fly. She walked deliberately to the shelter of the +rocks near Frank. + +"I geet horse for you," she said. "You take eet an' ride. Eet ees your +chance. Mebbe them your friend?" + +Frank had caught barely a glimpse of the three fellows, and he was not +at all sure that his eyes had not deceived him. + +"Perhaps they are my friends," he said. "They must be." + +"You ready to go?" + +"Yes." + +She ran out and pulled the picket pin of one of the horses. This animal +she brought up close to the point where Frank crouched. + +"Take heem queek!" she panted. "You haf de chance! Down de vallee. Mebbe +you git 'way." + +Frank hesitated. He knew the danger of such an attempt. He no longer +doubted the friendliness of Gonchita, although the remarkable change in +her was most astonishing. + +But the firing from above continued, and the ruffians were forced to +again take to their heels and seek still safer shelter farther up the +valley. + +That was Merry's opportunity, and he seized it. In a twinkling, while +the rascals were in confusion, he leaped upon the bare back of the +horse, headed the animal down the valley, and was off. + +A yell came down from above; but Frank, bending low, did not answer it. + +Two or three bullets were sent after him. He was untouched, however. + +Gonchita had armed him with two pistols, neither of which he had used. +One he held gripped in his hand as the horse carried him tearing down +the valley, and thus he came full upon Cimarron Bill, who was returning +to his satellites. + +Bill was astounded. He had drawn a pistol, and he fired at the rider +who was stooping low along the neck of the horse. The animal tossed its +head and took the bullet in his brain. + +Even as the horse fell, Frank fired in return. He flung himself from the +animal, striking on his feet. + +Bill's horse reared high in the air, striking with its forward feet. The +rider leaned forward and fired from beneath the creature's neck as it +stood on its hind legs, but the movements of the animal prevented him +from accuracy. + +Merry's second shot struck the hind leg of Bill's horse, and the +creature came down in such a manner that its rider was pitched off, +striking upon his head and shoulders. + +Frank did not fire again, for Bill lay in a heap on the ground. The +horse struggled up, being caught by Merry. Frank looked to the beast's +wound, fearing to find its leg broken. This, however, was not the case, +although the bullet had made a rather ugly little wound. + +In another moment Frank was in Bill's saddle, and away he went on the +back of the chief's horse, leaving the stunned rascal where he had +fallen. + +"An exchange of horses," he half-laughed. "You may have my dead one in +place of your wounded one. If you do not like the bargain, Captain Bill, +blame yourself." + +He was in no great fear of pursuit, but he longed to know just what +friends had come to his rescue at such an opportune moment. How was he +to reach them? + +When he felt that he was safe, he drew up Bill's splendid horse, +dismounted and examined the bleeding wound. It was far less serious than +he had feared, and he proceeded to dress it, tearing his handkerchief +into strips to tie about the creature's leg. + +Having attended to his horse, Merry remounted and sought to find a means +of approaching the spot from which his unknown friends had fired into +the valley at such an opportune moment. + +He was thus employed when he came upon a most disreputable-looking old +bummer, who had in his possession four horses. This man was startled by +the appearance of Merriwell and acted very strangely. + +Frank rode slowly forward, ready for whatever might take place. However, +he was recognized by the man, who uttered a shout of astonishment. + +The man with the horses was Whisky Jim, who had awakened to find his +companions gone. + +He greeted Merriwell with protestations of delight. + +"I knew I wash a guide!" he said. "Who shed I washn't guide? I shed I'd +bring 'em to Frank Merriwell, an' I done it. But whazzer mazzer? Where +zey gone? I dunno." + +Barely had Merry started to question the old toper when Hodge, Ready, +and Gallup appeared, hurrying forward. When they saw Merriwell they gave +a cheer of delight, and, one minute later, they were shaking hands with +him. + +"What does this mean?" asked Frank, when he could recover enough to ask +anything. + +"It means," said Bart, "that we are here to back you up in your fight +against the mining trust. You can depend on us to stand by you. After +getting your letter, in which you wrote all about the hot time you were +having fighting the trust, I hastened to get hold of Ready and Gallup +and light out for this part of our great and glorious country. Here we +are, though we're dead in luck to find you, for this drunken duffer +managed to lose us here in the mountains." + +"And you were the ones who chipped in just at the right time after my +little encounter with Red Sam? Fellows, you have given me the surprise +of my life! It's great to see you again! I ran into those gents, or was +led into a trap by a very singular girl, and it looked as if I was in a +bad box. The girl, however, seemed to change her mind after getting me +into the scrape, and she wanted to get me out. I owe her a lot. But +there is no telling when Cimarron Bill and his gang may come hiking this +way after me, so I propose that we light out for the Queen Mystery, +where we can talk things over at our leisure." + +They were ready enough to follow his lead. + +Jim Tracy sat with his feet elevated upon Frank Merriwell's table, +smoking his pipe and talking to Hop Anson, who was on the opposite side +of the table when the door opened and Frank stepped in, followed by his +friends, with Whisky Jim staggering along in the rear. + +Tracy's boots came down from the table with a thud, and he jumped up, +uttering an exclamation and looking astounded. + +"Well, may I be derned!" he said, staring at Frank. + +Now Merriwell was not at all pleased to find the foreman making free in +his cabin in such a manner. + +"What's the matter, Tracy?" he asked sharply, glancing from Jim's face +to that of Anson, who seemed no less confounded. "You seem disturbed." + +"I allow I didn't expect ye back so soon," mumbled the foreman, who +could not recover his composure at once. + +"But I told you I might be back in a few hours, or I might not return +for many days." + +"I know, but----" + +"But what?" + +"Oh, nothing!" + +"It's plain you were making yourself quite at home here. What were you +doing with Anson?" + +"Jest givin' him a piece o' my mind," answered Tracy promptly. "I reckon +he knows now purty well what I think of him." + +Now to Merry, it had seemed on his appearance that these two men were +engaged in a confidential chat. + +"Well, couldn't you find some other place to talk to him?" Frank asked. + +"I brought him here so the rest of the boys wouldn't hear us," explained +Tracy. "I opined they might take a right strong dislike to him in case +they found out what happened this mornin'." + +"You have not told them?" + +"No." + +"Well, your consideration for Anson seems very strange, considering the +talk you made to-day at an earlier hour." + +"I'm jest follerin' your orders," protested the foreman, not at all +pleased by Merry's manner. + +"Very well. You may retire, Tracy. Boys, make yourselves at home." + +As Tracy and Anson were going out, the eyes of the latter encountered +those of Whisky Jim, who was surveying him closely in a drunken manner. + +"Who are you lookin' at?" muttered Anson. + +"Sheems to me," said Jim thickly, "I'm a-lookin' at a gent what had +shome deeficulty down Tucson way 'bout takin' a hoss what b'longed to +nozzer man." + +"You're a liar, you drunken dog!" grated Anson, as he hastened from the +cabin. + +"Do you know that man?" asked Merry, of Jim. + +"Sh!" hissed the toper, with a cautioning gesture. "I don't want 't +gener'lly know I ever shaw him before. He'sh a hosh-thief. He'd shteal +anything, he would. I never 'nowledge him ash 'quaintance of mine." + +"Do you know the other man, my foreman?" + +"Sheems to look ruzer nacheral," said Jim; "but can't 'zactly plashe +him. All shame, if he keeps comp'ny wish that hosh-thief, you look out +f' him." + +Frank celebrated his safe return to the mine in company with his friends +by preparing a rather elaborate spread, and all gathered about the +table to enjoy it and chat about old times and the present fight Merry +was making against the mining trust. + +"Waal, dinged if this ain't scrumpshus!" cried Ephraim Gallup. "I'm +feelin' a hanged sight better than I was when we was lost out in the +maountains this arternoon." + +"Fellows," said Merry, "you have given me the surprise of my life. I +never dreamed of seeing you at such a time. And Bart's shot saved my +life. I know it! I owe him everything!" + +There was a glow of satisfaction in the dark eyes of Hodge. + +"You owe me nothing," he said earnestly. "Whatever I am I owe it to you. +Do you think I am a fellow to forget? That is why I am here. I felt that +this was the time for me to prove my loyalty. When I explained it to +Ephraim and Jack they were eager to come with me to back you in your +fight. If you need them, you can have any of the old gang. They'll come +to a man." + +"Thus far," said Merry, "I have been able to balk every move of the +enemy. They have employed ruffians who hesitate at nothing. You saw the +fellow with the bandaged hand who was here with my foreman? Well, it was +this very morning, while I was shaving at that glass, that he crept up +to that open door and tried to shoot me in the back. I fired first, and +he has lost a few fingers." + +"Dear me!" said Ready. "I'm so frightened! What if somebody should take +a fancy to shoot me full of holes! It might damage me beyond repair!" + +"Gol ding it!" chuckled Gallup. "You must be havin' enough to keep you +alfired busy around here. But what is that chap a-doin' of stayin' +here?" + +Frank explained fully about Hop Anson, adding that he had partly +believed Anson's statement that it was the foreman for whom he was +looking. + +"But since coming back here unexpectedly," said Merry, "and finding them +together in such a friendly fashion, I am inclined to think differently. +Tracy pretended to have a powerful feeling against Anson. Something +leads me to believe now that Tracy will bear watching." + +They sat up until a late hour talking over old times and other matters +that interested them all. When they slept they took pains to make sure +that the door and windows were secured. + +Whisky Jim slept outside in another building. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +MYSTERIOUS PABLO. + + +The following morning, while Frank and his friends were at breakfast, +there came the sounds of a struggle outside the cabin, followed by a +knock on the door. + +Merry drew a revolver and laid it in his lap. + +"Come in," he called. + +The door was flung open, and Tracy entered, dragging by the collar a +small Mexican lad, who held back and betrayed every evidence of terror. + +"Found him skulking about, Mr. Merriwell," said the foreman. "Don't know +whar he come from. Just brought him yere fer you to deal with." + +The boy seemed badly frightened. + +"Let him go, Tracy," said Frank. + +The boy hesitated when released, seeming on the point of running, but +pausing to look appealingly at Merry. He was not a bad-looking little +chap, although he was rather dirty and unkempt. He had wondrous dark +eyes, big and full of interrogation. + +"Well, my boy, what do you want?" asked Merry, in a kindly way. + +The boy shook his head. + +"I want notheenk de seńor can gif," he answered, in a low tone. + +"How came you around here?" + +"I hunt for my seestar." + +"Your sister?" + +"_Si, seńor_." + +"Where is she?" + +"That I cannot tell, seńor. She be take away by de bad man. He haf fool +her, I t'ink." + +"What bad man do you mean?" + +"Seester call heem Beel." + +"Bill?" + +"Dat ees hees name." + +"Bill what?" + +The boy shook his head once more. + +"I know eet not," he said. "He half manee man like heem who do what he +say. He get my seester to go wif heem." + +"What is your sister's name?" + +"Eet ees Gonchita." + +Frank jumped. + +"Gonchita?" he cried. + +"Dat ees eet," nodded the boy. "Mebbe you do know her?" + +"I think I have seen her," said Merry. "By Jove! So this fellow Bill led +her to run away with him, did he, the scoundrel? And you are searching +for him. What will you do if you find him?" + +"I cannot tell, but I want my seestar to come 'way an' leaf heem. He ees +bad man." + +"That's right. What's your name?" + +"Pablo." + +"Well, Pablo, my boy, I hope you find your sister all right and get her +away from Bill, but you have a big job on your hands. Come here and have +some breakfast. Are you hungry?" + +"Oh, vera hungree, seńor!" + +"You shall have all you can eat. It's all right, Tracy. You may go. I'll +take care of the kid." + +"I wish to report, sir," said Tracy, "that Hop Anson is missing." + +"What's that? Anson--he's gone?" + +"Skipped out last night, sir. He was not to be found this morning. I +thought he'd do it, sir." + +"Well, let him go. I don't think he'll do much harm." + +"If you had listened to me, I'd fixed him so he'd never done any further +harm." + +"All right, Tracy--all right. I'll see you later." + +Tracy left the room. + +"Look out for that man, Frank," said Hodge, in an ominous manner. "He is +not to be trusted at all." + +"All right," said Merry. "We'll not discuss him--now." Which remark was +made with a meaning look toward the Mexican lad. + +Pablo was given a place at the table and a steaming cup of coffee placed +before him. Corn bread and bacon, with some canned stuff, made up the +breakfast, and the boy ate almost ravenously of everything given him. +But he kept his hat pulled low over his eyes all the while. + +After breakfast Frank sought to question Pablo further, succeeding in +drawing from the boy that both his father and mother were dead, and +that he had lived in Holbrook with his sister, where she had seen Bill, +who seemed to fascinate her. At least she had run away with the man, +and, arming himself with a knife and pistol, Pablo had followed to +rescue or avenge her. Chance had led him to the valley in which the +Queen Mystery Mine was located. + +It was rather a pathetic little story, and Merry was somewhat stirred by +it. + +"What could you do if you should find Bill?" he asked. + +A grim look came to Pablo's soiled yet attractive face. + +"I haf my peestol," he said. + +"But Bill is a very bad man, and he would have a pistol, too." + +"I do my best. I am not skeert of Beel." + +"Well, as I happen to know something of Bill, I tell you now, Pablo, +that it will be better for you if you never meet him." + +"But my seestar--my seestar! I mus' find her." + +Frank was tempted to tell the boy what he knew about Gonchita, but +decided not to do so, believing it would be to no purpose. + +So Pablo remained in the valley for the time, seeming in no hurry to +continue the search for his sister. He wandered about the mine and the +buildings, peering curiously at everything with his big eyes, listening +to the talk of the men, and seeming to have a great curiosity. + +All this was observed by Bart Hodge, who watched the lad as closely as +possible. That afternoon Bart said to Frank: + +"Merry, that greaser boy acts queer. Have you noticed it?" + +"How do you mean?" + +"Why, he told a story about being in a dreadful hurry to find his +sister, but he hangs around here." + +"I suppose the little chap doesn't know where to look for the girl." + +"But he's such an inquisitive little rascal. He goes slipping around +everywhere, looking at everything, and listening to the talk of the men. +He acts to me like a spy." + +"It's his way. Mexicans have a sneaking way about them, you know." + +"Well, it may be his way, but I wouldn't trust him." + +"I don't propose to trust him," said Frank, with a laugh. "I am not +given to trusting greasers. It is probable that he will go away +to-morrow and we'll never see anything more of him." + +"Perhaps so." + +"I expect to find him gone in the morning," said Merry. + +But in the morning Pablo was found sleeping just outside Frank's door +when Merry opened it. He lay there, his old hat pulled down over his +ears, curled up like a dog; but he started wide-awake and sat up, +staring at Merriwell with his big black eyes. + +"What the dickens you doing here?" asked Frank, annoyed. + +"I tak' de sleep," grinned Pablo faintly. + +"Well, couldn't you find any other place? Have you been there all +night?" + +"Oh, I haf no odar place. Thees good for Pablo." + +"Well, it may be all right for you; but it seems deuced uncomfortable to +me. When are you going to look for Bill and your sister?" + +"_Manana_." + +"To-morrow?" + +"_Si, seńor_." + +Frank could not refrain from smiling at this characteristic answer. With +the Spaniards everything is to be done to-morrow, and the lazy Mexican, +having adopted the language of the Spaniard, has also adopted his motto. + +When Frank turned back he found Hodge washing. + +"I told you," said Bart. "The fellow acts to me like a spy. It wouldn't +surprise me to find out that he had been sent here by Bill. This story +about his sister may be faked up." + +"But I know Gonchita is with the ruffians." + +"That's all right. That makes it all the easier to deceive you. That +made the boy's story seem all the more probable. Just you watch him +close and see if he doesn't act the spy." + +"All right," laughed Merry. "But let's have breakfast without worrying +about him." + +It was necessary to drag Ready out. + +"Oh, me! oh, my!" sighed Jack dolefully. "Methinks I have bestridden +something that hath galled me extensively. I am likewise weary and sore +in every limb and joint." + +Gallup had stood the riding much better, but even he was lame. + +After breakfast Frank went out and found Pablo curled in the sunshine +around the corner of the hut. And not more than four feet from the +Mexican lad was a rattlesnake. + +The crack of the pistol in Frank's hand caused Pablo to start up with a +jump. He stared in astonishment at Merry, who stood over him, holding +the smoking pistol. Then he looked and saw the headless snake stretched +on the ground. + +"Oh, _Madre de Dios_!" he cried. "You shoot de snake! Mebbe you save me +from de snake!" + +"Perhaps so," nodded Frank, with a slight smile. "You had better be +careful, for snakes are not all the dangerous things you will find on +the ground." + +Pablo made a spring and caught Frank's hand. + +"To me you are so veree goode!" he said, kissing Merry's hand in a +manner that surprised Frank somewhat. + +Then he saw the pistol with which the snake had been shot. + +"_Carrambo_!" he cried, in astonishment. "Where you geet eet? De +peestol. Eet do belong to my seestar." + +For Merry had shot the snake with the pistol given him by Gonchita. + +"How you haf eet?" asked Pablo, with great eagerness. "Where you geet +eet?" + +Frank was fairly cornered. As a result, he sat down there and told the +Mexican boy of his capture by Cimarron Bill's gang and of Gonchita. + +"Then she be steel alife?" exclaimed Pablo. "Beel haf not keeled her!" + +"He had not then." + +"But she help you to geet away?" + +"Yes." + +"Then mebbe Beel be veree angry weeth her--mebbe he keel her! Eef he do +that----" + +"If he does he ought to be hanged! Pablo, Bill is sure to be hanged or +shot before long, anyhow." + +"But he tell Gonchita he mak' veree much monee. He say big men what can +buy the law pay him much monee." + +"I know what he means, Pablo. A lot of men have banded together to rob +me of my mines, this one here and another in Mexico. They expected to do +so with ease at first, but made a fizzle of it. They thought to take the +mines from me by law; but now they know they cannot do that, and they +have hired Bill and his ruffians to seize it. Those men are the ones who +are paying Bill for his work. He expects they will protect him when it +is done. He is looking for a pardon for all past offenses." + +"But you weel not let him beat you?" + +"Not if I can help it. He has failed thus far. He attacked the mine with +his ruffians and was repulsed." + +"De nex' time he do eet deeferent. He come een when you do not expect. +Mebbe he geet somebody to gef de mine up to them." + +"Nobody here," said Merry, with a laugh. "I can trust my men." + +"You theenk so." + +"Oh, I'm sure of it." + +"One try to shoot you not long 'go." + +"Yes. How did you learn of that?" + +"Pablo have de ear. He hear something." + +"What did you hear?" + +"Dat man be paid to try de shoot." + +"Look here, how do you know?" + +"Oh, I hear some of de men talk. They all say they pritee sure of eet. +How you like my seestar?" + +The boy asked the question with such suddenness that Frank was a bit +startled. + +"I am sorry for her, Pablo. I'm sorry Bill has her in his hands." + +"Oh, Beel he say he marree her; but I know he lie. Mebbe she know eet +now. Beel want her to help heem. You theenk she veree bad girl?" + +This question was put almost pathetically, Pablo again grasping Frank's +hand and gazing wistfully into Merry's eyes. + +"No; I do not think she is very bad." + +"She do noteeng to make you theenk so?" + +"Well, she fooled me somewhat at first by telling me a story about her +wounded father. She had such an innocent way that I swallowed the yarn. +That was how I fell into Bill's hands. I accompanied her to go, as I +supposed, to her wounded father. She decoyed me into a trap." + +"But afterward--afterward?" eagerly asked the boy. + +"She seemed to change in a most remarkable manner, and helped me out of +it. But for her, I fancy I'd surely been disposed of by those ruffians." + +"Then you see she be not so veree bad. When she first see you mebbe she +never seen you before. Mebbe she haf promeesed to Beel that she take you +eento trap. Aftare she see you she be soree, and she want you to geet +away." + +"I think that was about the way things happened, Pablo." + +"I am glad you do not theenk she ees so veree bad girl. What you do eef +I breeng her here?" + +"What would I do?" + +"_Si seńor_; how you like eet?" + +Pablo was watching Frank's face closely. + +"Why, I would do my best for her," said Merry. "I should feel it my duty +after what she did for me." + +"You would not be veree angree?" + +"No." + +"Nor veree please'?" + +"Why, for your sake I would be pleased." + +"But you never care for your own sake at all? You never want to see my +seestar again?" + +"I should be glad to see her and thank her." + +"Dat ees all?" + +"And to do her any other favor in my power. I am not ungrateful enough +to forget what she did for me." + +"Dat ees all?" + +"What more do you want?" demanded Merry, in surprise. + +"Notheeng," murmured Pablo regretfully, as he turned and walked away. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +MERRY'S DISCOVERY. + + +The actions of Tracy seemed strangely suspicious to Merry, who undertook +to watch the man, only to find that Pablo seemed to be watching him +still more closely. Thus it happened that Merry followed the foreman up +the valley and saw him meet another man at a point removed beyond view +of the mine. + +The man Tracy met was none other than Hop Anson, readily recognized at a +distance by his bandaged hand. + +"Something doing!" muttered Frank, as he crouched behind the rocks and +watched the two. "Tracy wanted to lynch Anson. Now they meet like this, +apparently by appointment. My foreman is playing some sort of a double +game." + +This point was settled in Frank's mind. He longed to be near enough to +hear what was passing between the two, but could not reach such a +position without exposing himself. + +The men were suspicious that they might be watched. They did not remain +there long. But Frank distinctly saw Anson give Tracy something, which +the latter placed in his pocket. Then the foreman turned back, and Hop +Anson vanished in the opposite direction. + +Frank was tempted to step out and confront the foreman, demanding to +know what it meant, but he chose to remain quiet and seek the truth in +another manner. So he let Tracy pass. + +But when the foreman had disappeared Merry sprang up and went racing +after Hop Anson, hoping to run the rascal down. He came out where he +could see far along a broad gorge, and there, riding into the distance, +mounted on a good horse, was Anson. Frank knew the folly of trying +further pursuit, so he stood still and watched the vanishing figure. + +"I'd like to know just what it was that Hop Anson gave Tracy," he said, +aloud. + +Immediately, within less than twenty feet from him, Pablo, the Mexican +boy, arose into view. + +"I teel you what eet was," he said. "Eet was monee." + +Frank was startled by this sudden appearance of the boy. + +"What are you doing here?" he asked sharply. + +"Oh, I watch de Tracy man," returned the lad craftily. "I see +something." + +"Were you near enough to hear their talk?" + +"Just a leetle beet." + +"Ha! What was it? What did you hear?" + +"De man with hurt hand he geef oder man monee. Oder man take eet. Say +eet not enough. Must have two times more as much before he do something +man with hurt hand want heem to do. Man with hurt hand mad. Eet do no +goode. Oder man say breeng as much more twice over to heem at same +place same time to-morrow." + +It is needless to say that this revelation was intensely interesting to +Merriwell. + +"Why, Hop Anson has no money!" exclaimed Frank. "Where did he get it? It +must have come from Bill. In that case, an attempt is being made to +bribe my foreman. I have a traitor in the mine, and he means to deliver +me into the hands of the enemy." + +"Tracy man he say to man with hurt hand that Pablo, the brother of +Gonchita, ees here." + +"So Tracy told Anson that?" + +"_Si, seńor_." + +"Well, I think I need a new foreman--and need him bad! It is about time +for Mr. Tracy to get out!" + +"You wait and watch, you ketch heem." + +It was arranged that Pablo should return in advance to the mine, in +order that they might not be seen coming in together. So the Mexican boy +strolled back with assumed carelessness. + +But it happened that Jim Tracy was watching, and he saw Pablo, whereupon +he hastened to meet the boy. + +"Where have you been?" harshly demanded the foreman. + +Pablo looked surprised. + +"I go to tak' de walk," he said. + +"You little liar!" snarled Tracy. "You have been playing the spy! I know +what you have been doing!" + +"De spyee--how you mean?" + +The Mexican lad seemed very innocent. + +"I've seen you sneaking around. Why are you hanging around here, anyhow? +Why don't you get out?" + +"Dat none of your busineeze," returned the lad saucily. + +"You little runt!" growled Tracy, catching the boy by the shoulder. "Do +you dare talk to me that way?" + +"You beeg rufeen!" cried Pablo. "You hurt! Let of me a-go!" + +Then he kicked the foreman on the shins. Immediately, with a roar of +rage, Tracy struck Pablo with his fist, knocking the boy down. + +Pablo was armed with a pistol, and this weapon he snatched out when he +scrambled to his feet. But Tracy was on hand to clutch him and wrest the +weapon from his grasp. + +"You little devil!" grated the man. "I'll cut your throat on the spot!" + +There was a terrible look in his eyes as he whipped out a knife and +lifted it. + +"Drop that!" + +Crack!--the report of a revolver emphasized the command, and the bullet +struck the knife and tore it from the hand of the aroused ruffian. + +Frank Merriwell had arrived just in time to save Pablo, who was bent +helplessly backward over Tracy's knee, the hand of the wretch being at +his throat. + +Tracy shook his benumbed and quivering hand, releasing the boy and +looking at Frank resentfully. + +"Oh, you're not badly hurt!" said Merry, as he strode up. "My lead +struck the knife blade, not your hand. And I seemed to be barely in +time, too." + +"Oh, I wasn't going to hurt the kid!" declared Tracy harshly. "I was +going to teach him a lesson, that was all. I wanted to frighten him a +little." + +"Well, your behavior looked remarkably bloodthirsty. You seemed on the +point of drawing the knife across his throat. That was enough for me. +You may go, Tracy, but you are to let Pablo alone in the future." + +"If he insults me----" + +"Report to me; I'll make him apologize. Go." + +Tracy seemed to wish to linger to argue over the matter, but the look in +Merriwell's eyes forbade it, and he picked up the knife and slouched +sullenly away. + +"I hope he did not hurt you much," said Frank, lifting Pablo's hat to +see the bruise made by the ruffian's fist. + +With a cry, the boy grasped his hat and pulled it down upon his head. + +But Frank had made a most surprising discovery, and it was enough to +give Merry something to meditate over. + +He decided that the boy must be closely watched, and he longed for the +presence of old Joe Crowfoot, than whom no one was more fitted to such a +task. + +But the outlaws had averred that old Joe was "food for buzzards," and +the protracted absence of the redskin led Merry to fear that he had +looked into the Indian's beady eyes for the last time. + +Frank spoke to no one of his discovery. As far as possible, he kept his +eyes on Pablo, as if he believed the boy meditated treachery of some +sort. + +Frank's friends wandered about the place and investigated the mine, +watching operations. + +The calm of the valley was most deceptive, and both Ready and Gallup +declared they could not conceive any possible danger lurking near. +Hodge, however, professed to feel a warning in the very peacefulness, +which he declared was the calm before a storm. + +Jim Tracy sulked. His treatment by Frank was altogether displeasing to +him, and he felt that he had been humiliated, which caused him to +register a secret vow of vengeance. + +Pablo was generally found lingering about Frank's cabin or somewhere +near Merry. + +"He knows a good thing when he sees it," said Ready sagely, "and he +means to stick to it. He doesn't seem in any great hurry about rushing +to the rescue of his 'seestar.'" + +Frank smiled in a knowing manner, observing: + +"Perhaps he has reasons to know that his sister is in no great peril at +present, and he is satisfied to stay here." + +"He's a gol dern lazy little beggar!" said Gallup. "An' he oughter hev +to wash his face once in a while." + +The evening was cool and agreeable. The sun dropped peacefully behind +the mountains and the shadows gathered deeply in the gorges and cańons. +The roar of the stamps sank to silence, and peace lay like a prayer on +the valley. + +Frank and his friends sat about the cabin door and chatted of old times. +Sometimes they sang little snatches of the old songs. + +And as the darkness deepened a slender, boyish figure lay on his stomach +and wiggled cautiously nearer and nearer, taking the utmost pains not to +be seen. + +This eavesdropper was Pablo, and he evinced the greatest interest in all +they were saying; but it was when Frank spoke or sang that he listened +with the utmost attention, keeping perfectly still. Thus it was that the +boy heard Hodge say: + +"Merriwell, I'm half-inclined to believe that dirty little Mexican +rascal is a fakir. I suspect him." + +"Of what?" asked Frank. + +"Of being a spy. He told a slick tale, but I've had time to think it +over, and somehow it seems too thin. Why shouldn't Bill send him here to +play the spy?" + +"My dear Bart," said Merry, with a laugh, "what would be Bill's object? +What could the boy do?" + +"He might get a chance to put a knife in your back, old man." + +"I'll chance it. I do not believe Pablo that bad. I'll trust him." + +"Well, I wouldn't trust any greaser." + +"I hate you, Seńor Hodge!" whispered the listening boy, to himself. "I +hate you; but I lofe Frank Merriwell!" + +The miners gathered near their quarters. As far as possible, Frank had +secured miners who were not Mexicans, but there were a few Mexicans +among them. + +Among the men were some who were hard characters when they were +drinking, and Merry had taken particular pains to make rules and +regulations to keep liquor away from them. + +The morning after the encounter between Pablo and Jim, the foreman, +Frank arose and flung open the door of his cabin, but immediately made +the discovery that a sheet of paper was pinned to the door with a knife. + +"Hello!" he exclaimed. "Here's something interesting!" + +Gallup came slouching forward, followed by Ready. + +"What, ho!" cried Jack, as his eyes fell on the knife and the paper. +"Methinks I see something! Hist! That is what the tragic actor said when +he appeared upon the stage. He crept in and looked around, after which +he said, 'Hist!' And he was hissed." + +"By gum!" cried Ephraim. "There's writin' written on it! What does it +say?" + +This is what they read written sprawlingly on the sheet of paper that +was pinned to the door by the knife: + + "FRANK MERRIWELL: You are hearby giv notis that you are to send + away the boy Pablo instanter. He promised to come to his sister, + and he has not come. You are warned not to keep him. BILL." + +Frank looked at the notice and laughed. + +"Well," he said, "that is rather interesting. So Bill wants the boy? Why +doesn't he come and take him?" + +Hodge came and read the notice, a deep frown on his darkly handsome +face. + +"What do you make of it, Merry?" he asked. + +"Give us your opinion." + +"Nerve." + +"Shall we give up the boy?" + +Now Bart had not favored Pablo, but at this juncture he grimly declared: + +"I'm against it." + +"Good!" nodded Merry. "Let Bill come and take him! If the boy's story is +true, it would not be a healthy thing for him to fall into Bill's +hands." + +Just as he spoke these words Jim Tracy came around the corner and +appeared on the scene. He halted, appearing surprised, and stared at the +knife and the notice. + +"Whatever is it?" he asked. + +"Something left there during the night," said Merry. "Read it." + +Tracy looked it over. + +"Well, Bill sure wants the greaser kid," he said, "an' I reckon you'd +best give the youngster up." + +"Why do you reckon that?" + +"Cimarron Bill is a heap dangerous." + +"He may be," said Merry; "but he has failed thus far to get ahead of me. +I don't like his notice, if this came from him. But I thought you took +pains to have the place guarded at night, Tracy?" + +"So I does, sir." + +"Then how did Bill or any of his gang manage to creep up here and pin +this to my door?" + +"That I can't say, sir." + +"I think I'll look after things to-night," said Frank grimly. "If we're +getting careless around here Bill may walk in some night and seize the +mine before we know a thing of what's going to happen." + +He jerked the knife from the door, took the paper and placed it in his +pocket, after which he indicated that he was ready to speak with the +foreman, who had some matter of business to discuss. + +When Tracy departed Frank sat down and meditated, for he had noticed +something peculiar and remarkable. + +There were ink-stains upon the thumb and two of the fingers of Jim +Tracy's right hand. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +FRANK DETECTS TREACHERY. + + +Needless to say Frank did not send Pablo away. He did not tell the boy +of the warning found on the door. Instead, he called the Mexican lad and +said: + +"Pablo, I want you to watch Tracy closely for me. Will you?" + +"Seńor Frank can be sure I weel," said the boy. + +"If possible, I want you to get some of Tracy's handwriting and bring it +to me." + +"Eet I will do, seńor." + +"But look out for him. He's dangerous. Don't let him catch you playing +the spy." + +"I tak' de great care 'bout that." + +Before noon the Mexican boy came hurrying to Merry, his big dark eyes +glowing. He caught hold of Frank's hand and gave it an excited pressure. + +"I haf eet!" he said. + +"What is it you have?" + +"Some of hees writeeng. He do eet in de mine offeese when he think no +one watch heem. I see heem through window. He put eet in lettare, stick +eet up, put in pocket, then drop um. I know; I watch; I pick eet up. +Here eet ees!" + +He thrust into Merry's hand a soiled, sealed and undirected envelope. + +"Eet ees inside," said Pablo, all aquiver. + +"Come in here," said Frank, leading the way into the cabin. + +Bart and Jack were watching Ephraim Gallup at a distance from the cabin, +the Yankee youth being engaged in a brave attempt to ride a small, +bucking bronco. + +When they were inside the cabin, Frank closed and fastened the door. +Making a hasty examination of the envelope, he quickly lighted a small +alcohol-lamp beneath a tiny brass tea-kettle, which he partly filled +with water. + +In a very few moments steam was pouring from the nozle of the kettle. +Holding the envelope in this, Merry quickly steamed open the flap, +taking from it a sheet of paper. + +Pablo's eyes seemed to grow larger than ever as he watched. Frank +unfolded the paper and read: + + "I have decided to except terms, and to-night will be the time for + you to come down on the mine. The whisky will be yoused to get the + men drunk, jest as you perposed, and I'll hev them all filled up by + ten o'clock. Wate tell you hear three shots right togather, then + charge and you'll take the mine, havin' only Merywel and his + tenderfeet backers to fight, and them I will hav fastened into + their cabin. J." + +Merry whistled over this, showing no small amount of surprise. + +"Ees de writin' what you expec'?" asked Pablo anxiously. + +"It's somewhat more than I expected," said Frank. "By Jove! there will +be doings here to-night." + +He quickly decided on the course he would pursue. Carefully drying the +flap of the envelope, he placed some fresh mucilage on it, thrust the +message into it, and resealed it carefully. + +"See here, Pablo," he said quickly, "if you can do it, I want you to +take this and drop it just where you found it, so that Tracy will be +pretty sure to recover it. I do not wish him to know that it has been +picked up. Do your best. If you can't do it, come and tell me." + +"I do eet," assured Pablo, as he took the envelope, concealed it beneath +his jacket, and slipped from the cabin. + +Frank had been given something to think about. + +"So Tracy has turned traitor," he meditated. "He has decided to betray +the mine into the hands of Cimarron Bill's gang. It was his writing on +the notice pinned on the door, not Bill's. That notice was a fake, and +it made him angry because it didn't work out as he planned. Bill got at +him through Hop Anson, who must have been in Bill's employ all along. +Well, to-night is the time I give those ruffians their final setback. +Another repulse will discourage them. They would have descended on the +place while I was in their power if they had fancied there was any +chance that I might escape with my life." + +Pretty soon he walked out, with his hands in his pockets, and joined +his friends, laughing heartily over Gallup's trials, and seeming +undisturbed by any worry. + +Later he entered the mine and found that Tracy was not about. Nor could +he discover anything of Pablo. The afternoon was far spent when the +Mexican boy suddenly appeared before Frank. + +"Hello, Pablo!" said Merry. "What's the word?" + +"I followe heem," whispered Pablo excitedly. "I haf drop de letter +where he find eet when he look for eet. Then he find time to go 'way. +I followe. I see heem take letter to place in rocks long distance down +vallee. He hide eet there. Pablo let heem go; stay watch letter. He haf +hoss hid some piece off. He geet to hoss, geet on heem, ride off." + +"That's all?" + +"Dhat ees all." + +"Well, you have done well, Pablo," said Merry. "I'll not forget it." + +Pablo again grasped Frank's hand, which he kissed. + +"You freen' to Pablo," he said. "You goode to heem. He not forget." + +"Tell no one what you have seen and done." + +"You look out for Beel." + +"You may be sure I'll do that, Pablo. When Bill comes here, he'll +receive a warm reception." + +That night after supper, as the miners sat about the long table in the +low, open room, smoking their pipes and cigarettes and enjoying the +grateful coolness of the evening, Jim Tracy, the foreman, came into the +room and cried: + +"Well, boys, you've been working right hard to open up this yere old +mine, an' I appreciates it, if the young man what owns the property +don't. It's a long distance to town, an' ye can't all git off together +to have a leetle blow, so I has brought ye some good whisky, and I +perposes that you all takes a drink on me." + +Saying which, he produced two big quart bottles and held them above his +head, so the lamplight fell upon them. + +Instantly two shots sounded through the place, and the bottles were +smashed in the foreman's hands by a pair of bullets, the glass flying +and the liquor spattering over him. + +In through the doorway at the opposite end of the room stepped Frank +Merriwell, a pistol in each hand. + +"Keep your hands up and empty, Jim Tracy!" he said, in a commanding +tone. "It will be unhealthy for you if you lower them!" + +Behind Frank were Bart, Jack, and Ephraim, with Pablo hovering like a +shadow still farther in the rear. + +Tracy was astounded. + +"What in blazes does this mean!" he snarled, but he kept his hands up, +as Frank had ordered. + +"It means that I am onto your game to drug these boys and betray us all. +Steady! If you try to get a weapon I shall drop you! You know I can +shoot a little. Just tie him up, fellows." + +"With the greatest pleasure," chirped Jack Ready, as he waltzed lightly +forward, accompanied by Hodge and Gallup. + +In spite of the protests of Tracy, they bound him hand and foot, so that +he could barely wiggle. + +The miners had been amazed, but they believed Merry when he told them of +Tracy's plot to betray the mine. + +"He would have drugged you all," said Frank. "Then, when Bill's gang +charged on the mine, it's likely many of you would have been killed. But +what did he care about that. Now we'll fool Cimarron Bill and teach him +a lesson." + +He explained his plan to them, and they readily agreed. So it happened +that, a little later, the miners began to sing and shout and pretend to +be riotously merry. This they kept up until it seemed as if they were +engaged in a fearful carousal. Then the noises began to die out and grow +less. + +It was past ten o'clock when dead silence seemed to rest on the camp. +Frank Merriwell stepped to the door, lifted his hand and fired three +shots into the air. + +Five minutes later the sound of galloping horses coming up the valley +was distinctly heard. + +"Here they come!" breathed Frank. "All ready for them!" + +Right up to the mine-buildings charged the horsemen. They were +dismounting when Frank's challenge rang out sharp and clear: + +"Hold, Cimarron Bill! Stop where you are! Stop, or we fire!" + +The outlaws uttered a yell and charged, firing the first shots. + +Then Merry gave the command, and the armed and waiting miners fired on +the raiders. It was a withering volley, and must have astounded the +ruffians. + +Bill, however, had come this time determined to succeed, and he called +on his men to break down the doors. As they were hammering at the front +doors, Frank led some of the men out by the back way and charged round +the buildings. + +The encounter that took place was brief and sanguine. The miners were +encouraged by Hodge, Ready, and Gallup, who fought with savage fury, and +the raiders began to waver. + +Suddenly a tall figure came rushing into the thick of the fight and +confronted Frank. + +It was Tracy, who had been released from his bonds by a sympathetic +miner. + +"Yah!" he snarled, having heard Merry's voice and recognized him. "So +it's you! I've found you! Take that!" + +He pitched forward a revolver and fired pointblank at Frank. + +At that very instant, with a cry, Pablo, the Mexican boy, leaped in +front of Merry. + +Struck by the bullet intended for Frank, the little fellow tossed up his +arms and fell backward into Merriwell's clasp. At the same instant +somebody shot Jim Tracy through the brain. + +As Merriwell lowered the death-stricken boy, the raiders, completely +baffled, gave over the attack and took to flight, leaving half their +number behind, stretched upon the ground. + +"Are you hurt--badly?" asked Frank, as one of the boy's arms dropped +limply over his neck and seemed to cling there. + +For a moment there was no answer. Then came the faintly whispered words: + +"I--theenk--I--am--keeled--Seńor Merriwell." + +"Oh, no, Gonchita!" said Frank earnestly; "not as bad as that! It cannot +be!" + +"You know me," was the surprised whisper. "How you know I am Gonchita?" + +"Oh, I discovered it the other day--I found you had your hair tied up +beneath your hat. Here, men--somebody bring a light! Be lively about +it!" + +"All right, sir," said one of the men. "Have one directly." + +"No use, Seńor Merriwell," came weakly from the lips of the disguised +girl. "I shall be dead in a minute. _Ay-de mi_! Poor Gonchita! You +theenk she ees veree bad girl? Beel he say he weel marree her. He get me +to fool you, seńor. Then you are so veree brave! Seńor Frank, I theenk +you are de han'someest, de braveest man I evere know. I run away from +Beel. I wear de boyee's clothes an' come here. Dat ees all. Now I haf to +die." + +"Perhaps not, Gonchita," said Merry, with infinite pity for the +unfortunate girl. "We'll see what can be done for you." + +She managed to press one of his hands to her lips. + +"So goode--so han'some!" she whispered. "Good-by, seńor! Eet ees ovare." + +Then one of the men came out with a lighted lantern; but before the +light fell on the face of the wounded girl Frank knew he was holding a +corpse in his arms. + + * * * * * + +Among the dead was found Hop Anson. Jim Tracy lay where he had fallen +immediately after the shot which ended the life of poor Gonchita. + +Such of the ruffians who were wounded were cared for as well as +possible. The dead were buried there in the valley. + +Cimarron Bill's band was completely broken up. + +On his next visit to town Merry had a marble slab cut for the grave of +the Mexican girl, which was located at a distance from those of the +outlaws. + +On the slab were chiseled these words: "Poor Gonchita!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE WAR-WHOOP OF OLD ELI. + + +The afternoon sun lay scorching hot upon the arid plain. Heat waves +moved in the air like the billows of a phantom sea. To the west were +barren mountain-peaks and the nearer foot-hills; to the east the +unbroken plain lay level to the horizon. + +Behind the body of his dead horse lay a sorely wounded man, with his dog +crouching close at his side. The dog's dry tongue lolled from the +animal's mouth; at times the poor creature whined and sought to lick the +hand of its master; anon he growled fiercely, the hair bristling on his +neck, and started up in a savage manner. + +"Down, Boxer, down!" the man would order, in a voice ever growing +weaker. "You can't help. The red devils will get you with a bullet. +Down, sir!" + +At which the dog would sink back, whine again and draw his filelike +tongue along the hand or cheek of his master. + +"Heavens!" muttered the man. "For a swallow of water. I'd give the last +ounce in the saddle-bags if I could finish one or two more of those +murderous curs before I cash in!" + +His almost nerveless hands grasped the barrel of his rifle, and he +looked away toward the spot where six horsemen had drawn up in a little +cluster just beyond bullet-reach. + +They were Indians, mounted on tough ponies, and some of them armed with +modern weapons. Two or three carried lances, on which the glaring sun +glinted. + +They had hunted him down; they had killed the horse beneath him and +wounded him unto death. The bullet was through his body, and the sands +of life were ebbing fast. He had reached the end of his trail, and the +red fiends out there on the baking plain knew they had only to wait a +while and then ride forward unmolested and strip off his scalp. Yet, +being far from their reservation, the savages were impatient at the +delay. Their hearts were vengeful within them, for in the chase he had +slain two of their number. + +One of them, an impetuous young buck, was for making haste in finishing +the paleface. He motioned toward the declining sun and suggested that +the wounded man might try to crawl away with the coming of darkness. +Besides, they had far to go, and it was a waste of time to wait for the +paleface to die. Likely he was so far gone that he could not shoot to +defend himself, and there would be little trouble in getting near enough +to despatch him. + +The impetuous spirit of this savage prevailed, and soon the redskins +began riding around and around man and horse and dog, spreading out into +a circle with great gaps and slowly closing in, now and then uttering a +challenging yell. As they closed in they flung themselves over upon the +sides of their ponies opposite the wounded man, so that their horses +seemed riderless. Occasionally a shot was fired from beneath the neck of +a racing pony. + +The dying man gathered himself a little and watched them. A puff of +white smoke leaped out before a pony and was quickly left behind to +dissolve and fade in the heated air. A bullet threw up a bit of dust +within three feet of the white man. The dog bristled and growled. +Another bullet clipped a stalk from a cactus plant five feet away. + +"They're within shooting distance," whispered the doomed wretch. "Wonder +if I've got nerve enough to drop a pony." + +He rested his rifle on the body of the dead horse and waited. Out on the +plain the racing ponies began to swim in a haze. He could see them +indistinctly, and he brushed a hand across his eyes. + +"I'm going fast, Boxer," he muttered to the dog. "My sight is failing! +I'm burning inside! And I know you're choking yourself, poor dog! It's a +hard way to pipe out." + +The dog whined sympathetically and pressed closer. A bullet whistled +past the head of the man. He tightened his grip on his rifle, sought to +take aim, and finally fired. + +His bullet went wide of the target he sought, and a yell of derision +floated to his ears through the hot air. + +"No use!" he muttered huskily. "I'm done for! It's the finish! They can +close right in and wipe me out!" + +The savages seemed to know it, and they were drawing nearer. + +Of a sudden out from the depths of a long barranca, a mighty fissure in +the plain, produced in former ages by a convulsion of nature, or marking +the course of a river--out from one end that rose to the surface of the +plain not far from the circling savages, came a horse and rider. As the +rider rose into view he began shooting with a magazine rifle, and his +first bullet caused a redskin to lose his hold and tumble end over end +in the dirt, while the pony galloped on. + +The following Indian stooped and seemed to catch up his wounded comrade +as he swept past. + +The lone horseman rode straight at them in a reckless manner, working +his repeater. + +A pony was wounded, another plunged forward into the dirt. In another +moment the redskins wheeled and were in full flight, astounded and +demoralized by the attack, two of the horses carrying double, while +another left drops of blood upon the ground. + +The daring paleface uttered a strange war-whoop of triumph: "Brekekek +Co-ax, Co-ax, Yale!" + +Never before had those Indians heard such a singular cry from the lips +of a white man. It seemed to fill them with a mad desire to get away, to +flee at top speed. It struck terror into their hearts, as many a time +the same slogan has struck fear to the hearts of those battling against +Old Eli on some athletic field. They urged their ponies forward, and +away they went, scurrying into the distance, with bullets singing around +them. + +The man behind the dead horse lifted himself and strained his bedimmed +eyes, seeing the youthful rider shoot past in pursuit of the savages. +The dog rose, planting his forefeet on the horse's body, and barked +madly. + +When he was satisfied that the Indians were in full retreat, with little +thought of turning or offering resistance, Frank Merriwell, for it was +he who had dashed out of the barranca, drew up and turned about, +galloping back toward the man he had dared so much to save. + +But he had come too late. + +As Merry rode near the dying man had fallen back beside his dead horse. +Over him stood the dog, covered with dust, its eyes glaring redly, its +teeth disclosed, ready to defend the body of its master. As Frank drew +up the dog snarled fiercely. + +Merry saw at a glance that the situation of the dog's master was serious +in the extreme. He dismounted and stepped forward, leaving his horse, +knowing well the animal would stand. As he approached the dog grew +fiercer of aspect, and he saw the creature meant to leap straight at his +throat. + +"Good dog!" he said, stopping. "Fine dog! Come, sir--come! Ah-ha, fine +fellow!" + +But all his attempts to win the confidence of the dog were failures. + +"The man is dying," he muttered. "Perhaps I might save him if I could +get to him now. Must I shoot that dog? I hate to do it, for the creature +seems very intelligent." + +At this moment the man stirred a little and seemed to realize what was +happening. He lifted his head a little and saw the dismounted horseman +and the threatening dog. + +"Down, Boxer; down, sir!" he commanded. "Be quiet!" + +His voice rose scarcely above a whisper, but the dog reluctantly obeyed, +still keeping his eyes on Frank, who now stepped up at once. + +"You're badly wounded, sir," he said. "Let me see if I can do anything +for you." + +"Give me water--for the love of Heaven, water!" was the harshly +whispered imploration. + +In a twinkling Frank sprang to his horse and brought back a canteen that +was well filled. This he held to the lips of the wretched man, while the +crouching dog watched every move with his red eyes. + +That water, warm though it was, brought back a little life to the +sinking man. + +"God bless you!" he murmured gratefully. + +The dog whined. + +"Can't you give Boxer a little?" asked the dog's master. "He's suffering +as much as I am." + +Frank quickly removed from his saddle-bags a deep tin plate, on which +some of the water was poured, and this the dog greedily licked up, +wagging his tail in thankfulness. + +"Poor old Boxer!" sighed the doomed man. + +"Now, sir," said the youth, "let me examine your wound and find out what +I can do for you." + +"No use," was the declaration. "I'm done for. It's through the lung, and +I've bled enough to finish two men. The blood is all out of me." + +But the young man insisted on looking and did what he could to check the +flow of blood. + +The doomed man shook his head a little. + +"No use," he repeated. "I'm going now--I feel it. But you have done all +you could for Old Bens, and you won't lose nothing by it. What's your +name?" + +"Frank Merriwell." + +"Well, Pard Merriwell, you sure went for those red devils right hot. I +allowed at first that you must have four or five friends with ye." + +"I'm alone." + +"And it was great grit for you to charge the red skunks that way. +However did you happen to do it?" + +"I saw what was going on from the high land to the west with the aid of +a powerful glass. I knew they had a white man trapped here. I struck the +barranca and managed to get down into it, so I was able to ride close +without being seen and charge up from this end, where it rises to the +level of the plain. That is all." + +"It was nerve, young man, and plenty of it! My name is Benson Clark. I'm +a miner. Been over in the Mazatzals. Struck it rich, young pard--struck +it rich. There was no one but me and old Boxer, my dog. I took out a +heap of dust, and I opine I located a quartz claim that certainly is +worth a hundred thousand dollars, or I'm away off. Been a miner all my +life. Grub-staked it from the Canadian line to Mexico. Have managed to +live, but this is my first strike. No one staked me this time, so it's +all mine. But see, pard, what black luck and those red devils have done +for me! I'm finished, and I'll never live to enjoy a dollar of my +wealth. Pretty tough, eh?" + +"Pretty tough," admitted Frank Merriwell; "but brace up. Who can +tell----" + +"I can. Bens Clark is at the end of his trail. Young man, I want you to +see me properly planted. You'll find enough in the saddle-bags here and +in the belt around my waist to pay you for your trouble." + +"I want no pay, sir." + +"Well, I reckon you may as well have it, as I have neither kith nor kin +in the wide world, and most of my friends have cashed in ahead of me, so +I'm left all alone--me and Boxer." + +The dying man lifted his hand with a great effort and caressed the dog. +The animal whined and snuggled nearer, fixing his eyes on his master's +face with an expression of devotion and anxiety that was quite touching +to see. + +"Good old Boxer!" sighed the man, with deep feeling. "You'll miss me, +boy, and you're the only one in all the wide world. What will become of +you, Boxer?" + +Again the dog whined a little, touching the bloodless cheek of the man +with its tongue. + +"I'll do what I can for your dog, sir," said Frank Merriwell. + +"What do you mean? Will you take Boxer and care for him?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Do it! You'll never be sorry. You'll find him the most faithful, +devoted, and intelligent of dumb animals. Truly, he knows almost as much +as a man--more than lots of men. It's a shame he can't talk! He knows +what I say to him almost always. I've almost fancied he might be taught +to talk; but that's ridiculous, I know. Take him, Frank Merriwell, treat +him well, and you'll never regret it." + +The dog seemed listening. He looked from one to the other in a peculiar +manner, and then, as if realizing what had passed and that he was soon +to part with his master forever, he uttered a whining howl that was +doleful and pathetic. + +"Poor old Boxer--good boy!" said Benson Clark. "I've got to go, boy." + +The dog crept close, and the dying man weakly folded the animal in his +arms. + +Frank Merriwell turned away. The sunlight was so bright and strong on +the plain that it seemed to cause him to brush a hand over his eyes. He +stood looking far off for some moments, but was given a start by hearing +a weak call from the man. + +"I'm going!" breathed Clark huskily. "Here--in my pocket here you will +find a rude chart that may lead you to my rich mines in the Mazatzals. +Feel in my pocket for the leather case. That's it. Take it--keep it. +It's yours. The mines are yours--if you can find them. Boxer is yours. +Be good to him. Poor old Boxer!" + +He closed his eyes and lay so still that Frank fancied the end had come. +But it was not yet. After a little he slowly opened his eyes and looked +at Merry. Immediately Frank knelt beside him, with uncovered head. + +The dying man then looked at the dog. + +"Boxer," he said faintly, "I'm going off on my long trail, and we'll +never meet up again this side of the happy hunting-grounds. Good-by, old +dog! This is your new master. Stick to him like glue, old boy. Fight for +him--die for him, if you have to. I opine you understand what I mean." + +A strange sound came from the throat of the dog--a sound that was almost +like a human sob. If ever a dog sobbed that one did. Agony and sorrow +was depicted in his attitude and the look in its red eyes. + +The miner took the dog's paw and placed it in Frank Merriwell's hand, +his body lying between them. + +"I make you pards," said Benson Clark. + +Then he whispered to Frank: + +"Can't you pray? I've clean forgot all the prayers I ever knew. But I +feel that I need a prayer said for me now, for I'm going up before the +judgment bar. Pray, partner--pray to the Great Judge that He will be +easy with me." + +So Frank Merriwell prayed, and that prayer fell upon the heart of the +dying man with such soothing balm that all fear and dread left him, and +he passed into the great unknown with a peaceful smile on his +weather-worn face. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +A STRANGE FUNERAL. + + +Frank found the saddle-bags and the belt about the dead man's waist +heavy with gold. It took him some time to make preparations for +transporting the precious stuff, and it was no easy task for him to +quiet his horse and induce the animal to stand while he lifted the +corpse and placed it where it could be tied securely on the horse's +back. + +He had no thought of leaving the body of Benson Clark to be devoured by +wolves and vultures. + +The sun was resting close down to the blue tops of the western mountains +when everything was ready to start. + +The dog had watched every move with eyes full of singular intelligence, +but made no move or sound until Merry was ready to go. + +Then Frank turned more water from the canteen, after taking a few +swallows himself, placing it before Boxer in the tin plate. The dog +licked it up. + +"Good Boxer!" said Merry, patting the beast's head. "I'm your master +now, my boy. Your other master is dead. He has told you to stick to me. +Did you understand?" + +The dog made some strange swallowing and mumbling sounds in its throat, +as if trying to talk back in words. + +"By Jove!" said Merry, gazing at the creature with great interest. "You +are a knowing fellow, and you actually try to talk. Your master fancied +you might be taught to talk." + +Again those strange swallowings and mumblings issued from the dog's +throat, and the creature wagged its tail a little. + +"We'll go now," said Frank. "It's a good distance to the mine, and we +have something to do before we can set out in earnest." + +So they started off, Frank leading the horse bearing the ghastly burden, +while the dog walked behind with hanging head, the perfect picture of +sorrow. + +A strange funeral procession it was, making its way toward the setting +sun and the hazy mountains. The dead horse was left behind, while far in +the sky wheeled two black specks, buzzards waiting for the feast. + +The Indians had long vanished from the face of the plain, yet Frank knew +their nature, and he was not at all sure he had seen the last of them. + +The sun vanished behind the mountains and the blue night lay soft and +soothing on the hot plain when the funeral procession came into the +foot-hills. + +It was not Frank's intention to carry the dead man farther than was +needful, and, therefore, he kept his eyes about him for some place to +bestow the body where it might rest safe from prowling beasts. + +This place he found at last, and, with the aid of a flat stone, and with +his bare hands, he scooped a shallow grave. Into this the body was +fitted. Over the man's face Frank spread his own handkerchief. Then he +besprinkled the dry earth lightly over the body at first, afterward +using the flat rock to scrape and shovel more upon it, ending with +covering it heavily with such stones as he could find, knowing well with +what skill the ravening beasts of the desert could use their claw-armed +paws. + +For a time the dog sat and watched everything. When his late master was +placed in the grave he whined and cried softly; but when the body was +covered he lay down beside the grave in silence, and there was in his +posture something so heartbroken that Frank was moved to a great pity. + +"Poor old Boxer!" he murmured. "It is the end to which all living things +must come, each in its own time. But it is the law of nature, and it is +not so bad, after all. Blessed is he who goes to his last deep sleep +without fear, feeling that he has done his best and is willing to trust +everything in the hands of Him who sees and knows all. The fear of death +and what may follow is such as should trouble alone the coward or the +wicked wretch. Boxer, your master seemed to pass without fear, and +something tells me it is not so bad with him. His case is in the hands +of the Great Judge, and we may rest sure that he will be done no wrong." + +Was there ever such a strange funeral oration! A youth with bared head +and solemn face, speaking above a grave, and a silent, grief-stricken +dog as the only mourner and attendant! The still Arizona night all +around, with no sound of humming insect, no stir of foliage, no whisper +of moving breeze, the dome of heaven above, studded with millions of +clear stars! The dog did not move or lift its head, but Frank saw the +starshine glint upon his eyes, which were wide open and fastened upon +the speaker. + +When the work was completed Frank knelt for a moment beside that grave, +praying softly, yet with an earnestness that bespoke his faith that his +words were heard. + +It was over. His horse was at a little distance. He went and brought the +animal up and adjusted the saddle. The dead man's belt, stuffed to +bursting and wondrous heavy, he had fastened about his own waist. + +"Come, Boxer," he said, again stooping to pat the head of the dog. "We +must go. Bid farewell to your master's grave. It's not likely you may +ever again come beside it." + +The dog stirred. He sat up and lifted his muzzle toward the stars. From +his throat came a low note that rose and swelled to the most doleful +sound imaginable. + +With his blood chill in his body, Frank listened while the dog sang a +requiem above that grave. Tears started from Merry's eyes, and never +while life was his could he forget that sound and that sight. Never +chanted words of mass had more of sorrow! No human tongue could speak +greater grief. + +At last the sound died away into silence, and the dog stood on all +fours, with hanging head and tail, his muzzle kissing some of the rough +stones heaped on that grave. How long he might have remained in that +attitude cannot be said; but soon Frank spoke again and called him to +follow. At the word he turned, and his manner denoted he was ready. + +Merry swung into the saddle and started, looking over his shoulder. In +dead silence, the dog followed. + +And so they passed into the still night. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +NEW ARRIVALS IN HOLBROOK. + + +The town of Holbrook had been greatly stirred. It had not yet settled +into its accustomed grooves. The proprietor of the best hotel in town +had received a consignment of fine furniture, carpets, draperies, +wallpaper and pictures, and he had set about renovating and decorating +several of the largest rooms in his house, having for that purpose a +number of workmen imported from some Eastern point. It was said that the +rooms had been rearranged to connect with each other in a suite, and +that when they were completed, and furnished, and decorated they were +dazzlingly magnificent, nothing like them ever before having been seen +in the place. The good citizens of Holbrook wondered and were amazed at +all this; but they did not know that not one dollar had been expended by +the proprietor of the hotel. All this work had been done without expense +of his to accommodate some guests who came in due time and took +possession of those rooms. + +The California Special had dropped four persons in Holbrook, who +regretfully left the comfort of a palace car and looked about them with +some show of dismay on the cluttered streets and crude buildings of the +Southwestern town. Holbrook was even better in general appearance than +many Western towns, but, contrasted with clean, orderly, handsome +Eastern villages, it was offensive to the eyes of the proud lady who was +aided from the steps of the car and descended to the station platform +with the air of a queen. She turned up her aristocratic nose a little on +glancing around. + +This woman was dressed in the height of fashion, although somewhat too +heavily for the country she now found herself in; but there was about +her an air of display that betokened a lack of correct taste, which is +ever pronounced in those who seek to attract attention and produce +astonishment and awe. She had gray hair and a cold, unattractive face. +Still there was about her face something that plainly denoted she had +been in her girlhood very attractive. + +She was followed by a girl who was so pretty and so modest in appearance +that the rough men who beheld her gasped with astonishment. Never in the +history of the town had such a pretty girl placed her foot within its +limits. She had a graceful figure, fine complexion, Cupid-bow mouth, +flushed cheeks, large brown eyes and hair in which there was a hint of +red-gold, in spite of its darkness. + +A colored maid followed them. + +From another car descended a thin, wiry, nervous man, who had a great +blue beak of a nose, and who hastened to join the trio, speaking to +them. + +The hotel proprietor had at the station the finest carriage he could +find, and this whisked them away to the hotel as soon as they had +entered it, leaving the loungers about the station wondering, while the +train went diminishing into the distance, flinging its trail of black +smoke against the blue of the Arizona sky. + +At the hotel the lady and her daughter occupied two of the finest rooms, +the colored maid another, less expensively furnished, and the man with +the blue nose was given the fourth. + +Holbrook wondered what it meant. + +The lady ordered a meal to be served in her rooms. + +The report went forth at once, and again Holbrook stood agog. + +The hotel register was watched. Finally the man with the restless eyes +and blue beak entered the office and wrote nervously in the register. + +Barely was he gone when a dozen persons were packed about the desk, +seeking to look over one another's shoulders to see what had been +written. + +"Whatever is it, Hank?" asked one. "You sure kin read writin'. Whatever +do you make o' it?" + +"'Mrs. D. Roscoe Arlington,' the fust name," said the one called Hank. +"Then comes 'Miss Arlington,' arter which is 'Mr. Eliot Dodge,' an' +lastly I sees 'Hannah Jackson.'" + +"Which last must be the nigger woman," said one of the rough men. + +"I allows so," nodded Hank. "An' it 'pears to me that name o' Arlington +is some familiar. I somehow thinks I has heard it." + +"Why, to be course you has!" said another of the men. "D. Roscoe +Arlington, did you say? Who hasn't heerd that name? He's one o' them big +guns what has so much money he can't count it to save his gizzard. +Ev-rybody has heerd o' D. Roscoe Arlington. If he keeps on gittin' rich +the way he has the past three years or so, old Morgan won't be in the +game. Why, this Arlington may now be the richest man in this country, if +ev'rything were rightly known about him. He owns railroads, an' mines, +an' ships, an' manufacturin' plants, an' nobody knows what all." + +"That sartin explains a whole lot the fixin' up that has been a-doin' +around this ranch," said a little man with a thirsty-looking mouth. +"They was a-preparin' fer the wife o' this mighty rich gent." + +"But say!" exclaimed a young fellow with a wicked face, "ain't she got a +slick-lookin' gal with her, what?" + +Some of them laughed and slapped him on the back. + +"Go on, Pete!" cried one chap. "You're a gay one with greaser gals, but +you won't be able to make a wide trail with that yar young lady, so +don't be lookin' that way." + +"Wonder whatever could 'a' brought such people here," speculated a man +with tobacco juice on his chin. "They must mean to stay a while, else +they'd never had them rooms fixed up the way they are." + +A ruffianly-looking man with a full beard broke into a low laugh. + +"Why, ain't none o' you heard about the fight what's bein' made to git +holt o' a certain mine not so very fur from yere?" he asked. "I mean +the mine owned by a young chap what calls himself Frank Merriwell. You +oughter know somethin' about that." + +"Why, 'pears to me," observed the fellow with tobacco juice on his +chin--"'pears to me I did hear that thar was trouble over a mine +somewhar down in the Mogollons, an' that Cimarron Bill had been sent to +take it." + +"He was sent," said the full-bearded man. + +"Then I 'lows he took it, fer Bill's sure to do any job he tackles." + +"He ain't took it none. Frank Merriwell is still a-holdin' the mine, an' +Bill has had his troubles, leavin' a good part o' his backers stiff +arter the ruction." + +"Say you so? Waal, this Merriwell sure must be a hot fighter. But Bill +will down him in the end, an' you kin bet your last simoleon on that." + +To which the man with the full beard said nothing. + +"All this don't explain any to me jest why this lady an' her party is +hyer," said the one with the thirsty mouth. + +"It ain't noways likely she's lookin' arter Cimarron Bill none," said +another. + +"Whoever is a-takin' my name in vain?" demanded a voice that made them +all start and turn toward the door. + +"It's Cimarron Bill hisself!" gasped one, in a whisper. + +And the entire crowd seemed awe-stricken and afraid. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +MRS. ARLINGTON HAS A VISITOR. + + +The black maid stood over the little table at which mother and daughter +sat taking tea. + +"Sugar, Jackson," said the lady wearily. + +The maid lifted the sugar-bowl, but, finding no tongs, was compelled to +use a spoon. + +"Why don't you use the tongs, Jackson?" asked the woman. + +"Dar am no tongs, ma'am," answered the maid. + +"No tongs? no tongs?" exclaimed Mrs. Arlington, in astonished surprise. +"And I directed that everything should be prepared here--that we should +have every convenience of a first-class hotel. Dear me! Why, I've found +nothing right! The hardship of spending some days in such a place will +prostrate me. I know it will!" + +"But why have you come here, mother?" asked June Arlington, in a voice +that denoted culture and a refined nature. "I cannot understand it. You +told me in the first place that you were going to Mexico. Then I heard +you urging father to come here. When he said it was not possible, you +seemed to get angry, and you declared that you would come here yourself. +But why should you come because he could not? That I wonder at." + +"He would not!" exclaimed Mrs. Arlington, sipping her tea. "It was his +duty. Never mind the particulars, June; you may know some time, but not +now." + +"And I did not wish to come here, mother. You knew that." + +"My daughter, I have decided that it is necessary to keep you with me. I +determined on that after your surprising behavior the last time you went +to Fardale. You deceived me, June! I cannot forget that." + +The words were spoken with cold severity. June flushed a little. + +"It was for Chester's good, as I explained to you," she said somewhat +warmly. "He has never thanked me for it, yet it is I who have kept him +in Fardale Academy. Had I not entreated Dick Merriwell to be easy with +him, Chester must have been compelled to leave or be expelled before +this." + +"I cannot believe that, June. But, were it true, it is no excuse for +your action. I want no favors from either of the Merriwells. I will +accept nothing from them! Dick Merriwell is my boy's enemy, and he shall +know what it is to have an Arlington for a foe. I have determined on +that. I repeat that I'll accept nothing from him." + +"Once----" June stopped short. She had been on the verge of telling her +mother that once that lady had accepted something from Dick +Merriwell--her life! For, as Mrs. Arlington slipped on the icy platform +of the railway-station at Fardale and was falling beneath the wheels of +a moving train, Dick had grasped and held her till the cars passed and +she was safe. + +But June had seen her mother turn blue with anger at mention of this +affair, so she checked herself now, not wishing to arouse the lady. + +Tea was finished in silence, mother and daughter being occupied with +their thoughts. + +The maid moved softly about the table. + +They had just finished when there came a tap on the door. + +"See who it is, Jackson," directed Mrs. Arlington. + +The man with the blue beak was at the door. + +"I must speak with Mrs. Arlington," he said, and entered, hat in hand. + +"What is it, Mr. Dodge?" asked the lady, frowning coldly and plainly +annoyed. + +Eliot Dodge paused and looked at June significantly. + +"Oh, is it a private matter?" asked the lady. + +Flushing a bit, June arose at once and withdrew, from the room. + +"William Lamson has arrived in town, and demands to see you," said +Dodge, when June had disappeared, the maid having likewise withdrawn. + +"That man?" said Mrs. Arlington, with a little start and a slight +shiver. "I have brought you to do the business with him. You are a +regular attorney of the C. M. A. of A., and you have my instructions." + +"So I told him." + +"Well?" + +"He refused pointblank to do any business whatever with me." + +"He did." + +"Yes. I talked to him pretty straight until--ahem!--until I could say no +more." + +"You could say no more?" + +"No, madam; it was impossible." + +"Why impossible?" + +"He had drawn and cocked a revolver and pointed it at me. He told me to +shut up and take word from him to you at once or he would shoot me." + +"What a dreadful creature!" + +"He is, indeed, madam; he's a typical ruffian of the worst sort." + +"And, therefore, the very man to accomplish the work," said she, with +growing interest. "But I dislike very much to have dealings with such a +fellow." + +"I thoroughly understand that, madam." + +"You might attend to the matter fully as well." + +"That is true, Mrs. Arlington." + +"You told him so?" + +"I did." + +"And still----" + +"And still he drew a gun on me. He is bound to see you. He says he will, +and I am sure he is a man to make his word good. Really I don't know how +you are going to get out of it." + +"Then I shall not try," said the lady, composing herself. + +"You mean----" + +"I'll see him." + +"Here?" + +"Yes." + +"Now?" + +"Send him up at once. I may as well have it over." + +Eliot Dodge hesitated. + +"I shall be in my room," he said. "If you need me----" + +"I understand. Go bring this man to my door." + +Dodge departed, and Mrs. Arlington waited. When there came a knock on +the door she coldly said: + +"Come in!" + +Cimarron Bill entered the room! + +Mrs. Arlington had not called her servant to let this man in. She +glanced toward the door of the room into which her daughter had retired, +and the look on her face was one of apprehension. Cimarron Bill was a +wicked man, as his every aspect betokened, and this woman could not +think without shame that June should have any knowledge of her dealings +with such a creature. + +So she arose hastily, which was quite unlike her, and crossed the floor +to close the door, a strange thing, considering that she seldom did a +thing that another could do for her. + +When June was thus shut out, the woman recrossed the floor to likewise +close the door of the room into which the colored maid had retired. + +All the while Cimarron Bill, hat in hand, stood watching her closely +with his evil eyes. For him it must have been a most exceedingly +strange thing to come thus into the presence of a woman whose husband +was known far and wide as a money king, a woman whose every wish that +wealth could serve was sure to be granted almost as quickly as +expressed. + +When she had closed the doors she turned about and faced him, surveying +him from head to feet with her cold and penetrating eyes. He looked back +at her with a sort of boldness, for this man was not one to be in the +least downcast in the presence of a human being of whatever degree. + +Mrs. Arlington motioned toward a chair. + +"Will you sit down, sir?" she invited. + +"Thank you, madam," said Bill, casting aside the rough manner of speech +that he sometimes assumed and now using very decent English. "I don't +care if I do." + +Whereupon he placed his hat upon the table and sat upon a chair, with a +certain pantherish undulation of his body, as if his muscles flowed +beneath his skin. + +"Mr. Dodge saw you," said the woman, remaining standing. "I directed him +to inform you that he was my accredited agent and prepared to transact +any business with you. I thought it better for him to attend to this +affair." + +"And I, madam, if you will excuse me, thought it best that we should +come face to face and have our dealings thus. That is why I declined to +do any business whatever with the gent with the blue nose." + +"I did not suppose it would be necessary for me to go so far into this +matter until I was informed of your failure to take possession of the +property that rightfully belongs to the Consolidated Mining Association +of America. I must say, sir, that I am very much displeased over your +failure." + +"And you can be no more so than am I myself," returned Bill, civilly +enough, yet with a sort of boldness that did not please her, as she was +accustomed to much deference and respect. "But you must know it is +difficult, even in this country, to find men who are eager to put on +themselves the brand of outlaws, and I acknowledge that my force was not +sufficient. The young dog is a stiff fighter, and that I had not counted +on, him being a tenderfoot to a certain degree--though," he added, as if +on second thought, "he's not so very tender, after all." + +"You were told to collect an army, if necessary. Mr. Dodge informs me +that you were directed to get together a force sufficient to make +failure out of the question. Yet you were repulsed and beaten off when +you went to seize the mine." + +"Twice," said Bill grimly. "And the second time a full half of my men +were dropped cold or hurt so bad that they were put out of the fight. It +was not just my fault that I failed then, for the treachery of a Mexican +girl betrayed my plans to Merriwell, so he was ready with a trap when I +expected to take him by surprise. That is how it came about, madam. I +had his foreman bribed and should have walked into possession of the +mine with little or no trouble but for the girl I mention. It was a bad +piece of business." + +"Bad!" she exclaimed, nodding a little. "It was very unfortunate!" + +"A word that scarce expresses it, madam. The rest of my men, the curs, +with one or two exceptions, weakened and gave it up as a bad job. And +then, on top of that, I was informed that the syndicate had grown +disinclined to press the matter further in such a manner, fearing to get +itself into serious trouble." + +"That's it!" said the woman sharply. "But I have taken hold of this +matter. The syndicate seems willing to obtain the mine by some other and +slower method. I am not. I cannot brook delay! I have a reason why I +wish the taking of the mine with the smallest possible delay, and it +makes no difference to me how the work is accomplished. That is why I am +here on the scene of action. I shall remain here until I triumph! If you +are able to accomplish the work, well and good. If you are not, then +another man must be found for it." + +Cimarron Bill smiled in a most evil manner. + +"Madam," he said, "I think you will have trouble to find in all this +country another man so well prepared to accomplish the task." + +"Yet you confess that you have failed twice." + +He shrugged his shoulders. + +"For which reason," he averred, "I am all the more dangerous. There is +an old saying that the third time never fails. I am ready for the third +trial." + +"I am glad to hear you speak this way. What will you do?" + +"Gather a stronger force and lay my plans so there can be no failure." + +"It is well." + +"But that will take much money, madam. You have it at your command. It +is almost certain that all of us, to the last man, will bear the brand +of outlaws. We may be hunted. It may be necessary for me to hasten into +Mexico and lose myself there for a time. I must have money in abundance +for myself. As for the men who take part with me, they will all demand +high prices. When it is over and the mine is delivered into the +possession of the syndicate, I shall not trouble about any one save +myself. The men who are with me may look out for themselves." + +This was said in a most cold-blooded manner, speaking plainly the real +character of the wretch. + +"I care nothing about that," said the woman. "Fix that matter as you +choose. How much money will you require?" + +"Let me see," said Bill, as if meditating. "It will take, I am sure, at +least fifty men. They may be got at various prices, some more, some +less; but there will be the bringing of them together and other +expenses. I should say that they must cost at least two hundred dollars +each, which makes a pretty little sum of ten thousand dollars." + +"Then it will cost ten thousand dollars?" said Mrs. Arlington quickly. +"I'll draw the sum from my own private account." + +"Wait a bit, madam," said the chief of desperadoes. "I have reckoned for +the men, but that does not include myself. I have said that I must be +well paid. I value myself quite as much as fifty common men, and that is +another ten thousand, or twenty thousand dollars in all, for which sum I +am ready to undertake the job. I'll add, also, that I guarantee it shall +not fail this time." + +It seemed that such a sum must have staggered the woman. Indeed, her +face went a trifle pale, but her lips were pressed together, and she +coldly said: + +"It is a bargain! You shall have the money, but not until you have +accomplished the work. Understand that, not until the work is done!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +SEEN FROM THE WINDOW. + + +Never before had there been such a bargain between such a man and such a +woman. It was the strangest compact on record. And no wonder Mrs. +Arlington had closed the doors that her daughter and her maid should not +hear! Had June known all she must have turned with loathing and horror +from the woman. + +Had D. Roscoe Arlington known he must have been shocked and heart-torn +beyond measure. Had he known he must have wondered if this woman had +matured from the sweet country girl who once declared with blushes and +hanging head that love in a cottage with him was all the happiness she +asked. Had he known he might have remembered the soft moonlight night in +June when beneath the fragrant lilacs they plighted their troth, and +surely his gold-hardened heart would have melted with anguish over the +frightful change. + +In truth, Mrs. Arlington had become deranged, as it were, on one point. +Her son was her idol. She had petted, and flattered, and spoiled him. +She had sent him off to school at Fardale with the conviction that he +was certain to rise superior to all other boys there. And from him she +had come to learn that he had not risen, but had been imposed upon, +defeated, baffled, and held down by another lad who was the recognized +leader in the school. Into the ears of his astonished and angry mother +Chester Arlington had poured his tale of woe, and it had filled her soul +with intense hatred for this other boy by the name of Merriwell who had +dared think himself better than her Chester. She had gone to Fardale to +set things about as they should be, and had failed. That seemed to fill +her with such bitterness that she was quite robbed of sober judgment and +reason. + +When Mrs. Arlington learned that the mining syndicate had claims to the +mines belonging to Frank and Dick Merriwell, she was aroused. When she +came to understand that the taking of those mines by the syndicate would +leave the Merriwell brothers almost penniless and would be the signal +for Dick Merriwell to leave Fardale, she determined that the thing +should be brought about at any cost of money, or time, or trouble to +herself. + +And it was in pursuit of this determination that the wife of D. Roscoe +Arlington had come to Arizona and placed herself face to face with a +ruffian like Cimarron Bill, with whom she now struck a bargain that was +most astounding. + +Was the woman in her right mind? + +It made little difference to Bill if she were sane or not, as long as he +obtained possession of that money. But when he asked for it in advance +she smiled upon him coldly, almost scornfully. + +"You were paid money by the syndicate, and you pledged them to +accomplish a task at which you failed. This time there will be no money +forthcoming until the work is done." + +In return the man smiled back at her, and he said: + +"That settles it! I'm not a fool. When the work is done I may find +myself on the run for Mexico, with the law reaching for me. In such a +case I'll have no time to collect. Cash in advance is my motto. You'll +bargain with me, or you'll fail, in everything. You cannot get another +man to fill my boots in the whole country. And if you were to throw me +down and give the job over into the hands of another gent, I'd speak one +word to him that would be enough." + +"What do you mean?" she asked, wondering and angry. "What word?" + +"The word 'stop,'" said Bill. "When Cimarron Bill says 'stop,' you can +bet they stop. They know what it means if they don't. If you don't think +so, count the notches on my guns." + +"You mean that you would turn against me?" + +"Not exactly, madam; I mean that I have no idea of letting any other +gent get my job. I do this piece of work--or no one does it. I rather +admire the sand of this Merriwell, though I'd slit his throat, just the +same, for the price. If there was no object in being against him, I'd +surely be for him; and it seems that you ought to know better than to +put Cimarron Bill in the ranks of the enemy." + +"It's a threat!" cried the woman. + +"Not so; it's a business statement, begging your pardon, madam. I don't +propose that any gent shall jump my claim." + +"How can I be sure you'll not play me false? How can I know you'll not +take the money and do nothing?" + +"The syndicate paid me in advance, as you know. I did my best to earn +the money. It was not my fault that I failed. In this case, if you pay +the sum I have named, I swear to you I'll know no rest until I have +succeeded. If I cannot succeed in one way, I will in another." + +"What do you mean by that?" + +"I'll capture or kill Frank Merriwell himself." + +"If you could do that!" said the woman, with great eagerness. "He is the +great stumbling-block." + +"That's right. With him out of the way, taking the mine would be easy." + +"Is there no way this can be done before you try to seize the mine?" + +"He keeps pretty close to it. If he could be caught by himself. I have +had my hands upon him twice, and he has slipped me both times. Next time +he will not!" + +"Next time----" + +"An accident will happen to him," assured Bill, with deadly meaning. +"That will be the simplest method." + +"You are right!" she said, in a whisper. "If that could happen----" + +"Would you pay the money?" + +"I would. Understand, I make no bargain with you for such a thing, but +that mine must be torn from him somehow. I have with me some money." + +Cimarron Bill understood her well, and he nodded. + +"Madam," he said, "give me a little time and I'll find a way to see to +it." + +At this moment there was a commotion in the street, the sound of +fighting dogs, shouts of men, and the clatter of horses' hoofs. + +Bill rose quickly and strode to the window, looking down into the +street. A handsome Irish setter had been attacked by two mongrel dogs, +and he was giving those dogs the surprise of their lives. He had one by +the neck in a moment, and the mongrel was shaken like a rat. When the +setter let go the mongrel took to his heels, howling with pain and +terror. Then the setter turned on the other dog and a battle that was +fierce enough for a few moments ensued, which ended again in the +complete triumph of the setter. + +Two young men had ridden into town behind the setter, and they had drawn +up to witness the result of the fight. A crowd had quickly gathered, and +the triumphant setter was loudly applauded. + +At sight of one of the two horsemen Cimarron Bill burst forth with an +exclamation of excitement. + +"Look!" he said, pointing from the open window. "See--see that fellow on +the dark horse!" + +Mrs. Arlington was near the window. + +"The one with the small mustache?" she asked. + +"Yes, that's the one." + +"I see him." + +"Well, that's Frank Merriwell!" said Bill. + +Cimarron Bill was right. Frank Merriwell and Bart Hodge had ridden into +Holbrook, and with them had come Boxer, the dog. Boxer had been attacked +by the mongrel curs, and he showed his mettle by quickly putting them to +flight. + +As Bill gazed down from that window the evil light in his eyes deepened. + +"Remember our bargain!" he said in such a terrible voice that the woman +at his side shuddered. + +Then she saw him bring forth a revolver, and, knowing what he meant to +do, she uttered a little scream and ran back into another part of the +room, unwilling to witness the dark deed. + +Quickly kneeling, Bill rested his elbow on the window-ledge and took +aim, meaning to send a bullet through the heart of the rightful owner of +the Queen Mystery Mine. + +The commotion in the street and her mother's cry had brought June +Arlington into that room. June saw the man with the revolver, and her +eyes fell on the horseman below. She recognized Frank Merriwell, for all +that he was bronzed and changed, and had a small mustache. + +With a sudden scream, the girl flung herself on Bill and spoiled his +aim, so that when the revolver spouted smoke the bullet flew wide of the +mark intended. + +Bill uttered a savage snarl, wheeling about. + +"You wretch!" panted the girl, who was now pale as snow. "You +murderer!" + +The man was dazzled by her beauty. Immediately he moved back from the +window, bowing low. + +"Beg your pardon, miss," he said. "He sure is an enemy of mine, and out +here we shoots on sight. But mebbe he is your friend, in which case I +lets up and gives him another show." + +In that moment of excitement he had fallen into the frontier manner of +speaking. + +She looked at him with unspeakable horror in her eyes. + +"What are you doing here?" she panted. "You--you--murderer! Mother--this +man--why is he here?" + +But Mrs. Arlington, usually cold as ice and perfectly self-possessed, +had quite lost her nerve. She sank into a chair, seeming on the verge of +fainting, while she gave Bill a look that, ruffian though he was, he +understood as an appeal to be left alone with June. + +Nor was he loath about getting out of that room. His pistol had been +discharged from the window, and, though the bullet had found no human +target, men might come in haste to ask unpleasant questions. + +"I begs your pardon, madam," he said, hurriedly picking up his hat. "I +thinks I'll call again and finish this yere bit o' business. Just now I +has another matter to attend to." + +Then he hastened out. + +June had flown to her mother. + +"Tell me--tell me, mother, what it means!" she implored. + +"My smelling-salts," faintly breathed the woman. "My heart, June! I--I'm +afraid!" + +Now, June knew well that the one great fear of her mother's life was +sudden death from a heart trouble that came upon her at times, and so +the girl hastened to bring out the bottle of salts and hold it beneath +the pale lady's nose till she was somewhat recovered, though still +resting limp on her chair and breathing heavily. + +"What does it mean, mother?" asked the girl again. "I do not understand +these strange things. I do not understand why such a wicked-looking man +should be here in this room and about to shoot down in cold blood a +young man in the street. He would have shot him from this very window +had not I spoiled his aim." + +Mrs. Arlington turned her eyes toward her daughter's face, but looked +away quickly, still trembling. + +"Did you know him at whom the man was about to shoot?" she weakly asked. + +"Yes, I knew him, or I am much mistaken. It was Frank Merriwell. I saw +him at the hotel in Fardale the day I returned to him those papers. You +recollect, mother?" + +"Yes, I remember it all too well, and it was the giving back to him of +those papers that has made no end of trouble for us all. But for that +foolish act of yours, June, he would not still be holding the mines that +are rightfully the property of the C. M. A. of A." + +"If those mines do not belong to him, how is it that he can hold them?" + +"He has possession, and he holds it with armed men." + +"But the law----" + +"The law is slow, and, without those papers, it is not very sure. It is +your folly, girl," declared the woman reproachfully, "that has made no +end of trouble. It is your folly that brought Frank Merriwell near to +his end a few moments ago, though you it was who saved him then." + +"Mother, you speak in riddles! How can that be? I gave him back what was +his. And have you forgotten that it was his brother, Dick, who kept you +from slipping beneath the car-wheels, where you must have been maimed or +killed?" + +At this Mrs. Arlington sat up, and something like anger took from her +her great pallor. + +"No," said she, "nor have I forgotten that it was Dick Merriwell who +brought upon my son all his trouble at Fardale! Dick Merriwell has been +his blight there! Dick Merriwell is his enemy. He has tried to set +himself over my boy, and no one shall do that!" + +June knew how useless it was to talk of this matter with her mother, who +refused to listen to reason, and so she did not try to press it further; +but she again asked who was the man who had tried to shoot from the +window. + +"He was a miner," said Mrs. Arlington. + +"And what business had he here in this room?" + +"That is nothing to you, girl. Forget that you saw him here." + +"A thing easier said than done, mother. I saw his face and his eyes, and +I know he is a wicked man and one to be greatly feared. Why should you +have dealings with such a wretch?" + +"You ask too many needless questions, June. Look out and tell me if you +still see anything of--of--Frank Merriwell." + +But when June looked from the window Frank Merriwell was not to be seen +on the street, which had again resumed its usual aspect. + +"I must have a spell of quiet to restore my nerves, June," said Mrs. +Arlington, when the girl had told her. "Leave me. Call Jackson. I think +I will lie down." + +So the colored maid was called, and June lingered to make sure there was +nothing she could do for her mother, who coldly bade her go. + +In her own room June found herself filled with tempestuous thoughts and +vain speculations. She was bewildered by it all, and there was much that +she could not understand, for her mother had told her little or nothing +of what had brought them to that Arizona town. She was wise enough to +know full well that the lady had not come there in search of health, and +surely it could not be pleasure she expected in such a place, which left +but one thing to suppose--it was business. But what sort of business +could she have there? and why should she meet and do business with a +murderous wretch like the man who had tried to shoot Frank Merriwell +from the open window? + +Knowing there was little danger of interruption, June found pen, ink, +and paper and sat herself down to write a letter. She thought at first +that she would make it very brief, and she found it exceedingly hard to +begin; but when she had begun it, it ran on and on until she had written +many pages. Sometimes she laughed over it, and sometimes she blushed; +once her chin quivered and tears seemed to fill her splendid eyes. When +it was all finished she read it over, her cheeks glowing, and at the end +she kissed the paper, at which the blush swept down to her very neck, +and in great confusion she folded it all hastily and put it into an +envelope, which she hurriedly sealed. Although she was not aware of it, +she had spent nearly two hours over the letter. On the envelope she +wrote a name and address, and then, finding her hat, she slipped out to +mail it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +A SENSATION IN TOWN. + + +Frank's little "scout," as he called it, on which expedition he had +driven the redskins from the wounded miner, had convinced him that +Cimarron Bill and his gang had withdrawn from the vicinity of the Queen +Mystery Mine. + +So it came about that Merry and Bart Hodge started for Holbrook, +bringing with them the gold Frank had found in the saddle-bags and belt +of the dead miner. + +Boxer would not be left behind. Since the death of his former master the +dog kept close to Frank, for whom he seemed to have formed an affection +quite as deep as that he had entertained for Benson Clark. + +Frank and Bart came, dust covered and wearied, into Holbrook. + +Boxer's engagement with the mongrel curs, who set upon him, was an +incident to enliven their advent in town, and it demonstrated the mettle +of the setter. + +The shot that came from the window of the hotel was somewhat surprising; +but, as the bullet failed to pass anywhere near either Bart or Merry, +they did not fancy it was intended for them. Still Frank dropped a hand +toward the pistol swinging at his hip, thinking the lead might be +intended for Boxer. + +A puff of smoke was dissolving before the open window, but Cimarron +Bill had vanished, nor did he again appear there. Neither Frank nor Bart +had seen him. + +So they were not greatly alarmed, and they laughed over the manner in +which Boxer had put his assailants to flight, merriment which was joined +in by many of the spectators who had gathered to witness the fight. + +"Good boy, Boxer!" said Merry. "You did that up slickly." + +At which the setter turned toward Frank and showed his teeth in a grin, +and something followed that caused several of the bystanders to gasp and +stagger or stand dazed and astounded. + +When Frank and Bart rode on two or three of those men hurried into +Schlitzenheimer's saloon, where one of them banged the bar with his +clenched fist, and shouted: + +"By thunder! that's the first time I ever heard a dog talk! Was I +dreaming?" + +"None whatever, pard!" declared another, mopping sweat from his face. "I +heard it plain enough. For the love of goodness, Fritz, give me a +snifter of tanglefoot! I need something to brace my nerves after that!" + +"Vot id vos you peen sayin'?" asked the fat Dutchman behind the bar. +"Vot vos dot voolishness apoudt der talkings uf a tog?" + +"No foolishness," declared the sweating individual, as whisky and +glasses were placed on the bar. "I'll swear to it. The dog that came in +with those young gents an' whipped two other dogs in short order sartin +made an observation in good, clean United States, or I'm the biggest +liar on two legs." + +"Say, Benchy!" said the Dutchman scornfully, "I pelief you vos readiness +to haf anoder attack py dose delerium triangles, ain'd id! Uf you vill +undertook my advice, you vill off svear alretty soon und safe yourseluf +from der snakes some droubles." + +"This is my first drink to-day," asserted Benchy, as he poured with +shaking hand; "and I'd not take this if I didn't need it a whole lot to +steady my nerves arter hearin' a dog talk." + +"It's on the level, Fritz," assured the man who had banged the bar with +his fist. "I heard it myself. The young fellow with the mustache says to +the dog arter the dog had licked t'other dogs, says he, 'Good boy, +Boxer; you done that up slick.' Then the dog turns about and grins up at +him and winks, and he opens his mouth, and I hope I may be struck dead +where I stand this minute if he didn't answer and say, 'Oh, that was no +trick at all, Frank; those low-bred curs haven't any sand.' I heard it, +Fritz, and I'll swear to it with my last breath!" + +"You vos craziness!" said the Dutchman. "Oh, you vos drying some jokes +on me to play alretty." + +But now several of the others asserted that they also had heard the dog +speak, and that the animal had uttered the very words quoted by the man +called Spikes. + +"Id peen a put-up jobs!" shouted Schlitzenheimer angrily. "Uf vor a +greadt vool you tookit me, you vos not so much uf a jackass as I look +to peen! Id vos nod bossible a tog vor to speech, und I vill bate zwi +t'ousan' tollar it on!" + +"But I heard him!" declared Benchy. + +"I'm another!" averred Spikes. + +"We all heard him!" cried the others at the bar. + +"You got vrom my blace uf pusiness out britty queek!" ordered the +Dutchman, in a great rage. "I vill not had so many plame liars aroundt! +Und dond you back come some more alretty undil you vos readiness apology +to make vor me drying to vool!" + +"Look here, Fritz," said Benchy, leaning on the bar, "I'll bet you ten +dollars coin of the realm that the dog can talk! If I had been alone in +hearing the beast, I might have thought myself fooled; but all these +other gents heard him, and so there is no mistake. Do you take me?" + +"Den tollars haf nod seen you in a month," declared Schlitzenheimer +disdainfully. "Howeffer, uf you prings pack by you dot tog und he vill +speech my saloon in, I vill gif you den tollars my own moneys out uf, +and all der drink you can a whole veek vor. Now, you tookit my advice +und shut upness or make goot britty queek." + +"I'll do it!" cried Benchy, and he hastened forth. + +Frank and Bart had proceeded directly to the bank, where their dust was +weighed and taken on deposit. This done, they left and sought a square +meal in the very hotel where Mrs. Arlington and June were stopping. +Fortunately the presence of his guests, who paid extravagantly well, +had caused the proprietor to have on hand an unusual stock of cooked +food, and he was able to see that the young men from the mines were +provided for in a manner that surprised and pleased them not a little. + +Although he took good care to keep out of sight, Cimarron Bill knew +Frank Merriwell was in the hotel. At the bar of the place Bill found a +rough, bewhiskered fellow, whom he drew aside. + +"Bob," said Bill, in a whisper, "are you ready to tackle a tough +proposition?" + +"For the needful, Bill," was the quiet answer of the man, who, in spite +of his rough appearance, was known by his mild manner of speech as +Gentle Bob. "What is it?" + +"You know the young tenderfoot gent what I have been stacking up +against--the one what I spoke to you about?" + +"I reckon." + +"Well, he is now eatin' in the dinin'-room." + +"Sho!" said Bob, in placid surprise. + +"Fact," assured Bill. "Him an' one of his pards is thar. They came inter +town together a short time ago. Now, I could pick a quarrel with them, +and I allows I could shoot 'em both; but it would be knowed agin' me +that I had been tryin' to jump their claim, which sartin' would rouse +feelin's. In your case, as you were nohow consarned in the raid on the +mine, it would be different, an' I 'lows you might find a way o' doin' +the job easy an' slick. You kin plead self-defense, an' I promise you +there will be plenty o' money to defend ye." + +"It's the money fer the job I'm a-thinkin' of first, Bill," said Bob. + +"A good clean thousan' dollars if you shoots the young gent with the +mustache," whispered Bill. + +"Do you mean it?" asked Bob, looking at him hard. "Where does it come +from?" + +"That I allow is none of your business. You has my word that you gets +it. And I opine the word o' Cimarron Bill is knowed to be good." + +"As his bond," said Gentle Bob, taking out a brace of pistols and +looking them over. "I takes the job, Bill; and there sartin will be a +funeral in these parts to-morrer." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +BOXER CREATES A STIR. + + +When Frank and Bart came out of the hotel, with Boxer at their heels, +they found a group of men on the steps engaged in earnest discussion. +Immediately, on sight of the two young men and the dog, the babel of +voices fell to a hush and the men all squared about and stared. But +Merry immediately noticed that it was not at Bart or himself that they +were staring, but at Boxer. The dog seemed to observe this, likewise, +for he stopped short, with one paw uplifted, surveyed the men, and +Frank, who was a clever ventriloquist, made the animal apparently say: + +"Say, Frank, what do you suppose the ginnies are gawking at?" + +"Mother av Moses!" cried an Irishman in the group. "Oi swear be all the +saints the baste did spake!" + +"Yah! yah!" chattered a pig-tailed Chinaman by the name of Sing Lee, who +ran a laundry in town. "Dogee talkee allee samee likee Chinyman." + +"Go on, you rat-eater!" contemptuously exclaimed the dog. "If I couldn't +talk better than you I'd go drown myself!" + +Needless to say this brought the excitement of the crowd to a high +pitch. + +Benchy and Spikes were on hand, and now the former appealed to Frank. + +"Is that your dog?" he asked. + +"Well, I lay claim to him," smiled Merry. + +"He--he--can he talk?" + +"Didn't you hear him?" + +"Yes, but----" + +"Well, what better evidence do you want than your own ears?" + +"That's enough; but Schlitzenheimer called me names and said I was +trying to put up a joke on him because I told him I heard the dog talk." + +"Who's Schlitzenheimer?" + +"He runs the saloon down the street right in front of which your dog +whipped those other dogs what jumped on him. He's a black-headed +Dutchman. Come on down and show him the dog." + +"Come on!" cried others. + +Merry didn't mind the lark, but he now turned to the dog, with a very +serious expression on his face, saying: + +"How about it, Boxer? I believe you told me you hold an antipathy +against Dutchmen. Will you go down to Schlitzenheimer's with me?" + +The dog seemed to hesitate, and then he answered: + +"Oh, I don't care; go ahead. I'm not stuck on Dutchmen, but I'll teach +this one a lesson." + +"All right," said Merry. "Come on." + +Benchy triumphantly led the way, being followed by Frank and Bart and +the dog, with the crowd at the heels of them. The Irishman was +protesting his wonderment, while the Chinaman chattered excitedly. + +Within the hotel a man had been watching and listening. He was a +bewhiskered ruffian, and he strode forth and followed the crowd to the +Dutchman's saloon. Cimarron Bill watched his tool depart, smiling darkly +and muttering to himself: + +"Good-by, Bob! You're going up against a hard proposition in Frank +Merriwell, and it's not likely you'll call to collect that little sum of +money from me. All the same, I hope you get in a shot, for you shoot +straight, and you may make a round sum for my pocket, as I'll compel the +old lady to lay down the cash. I'll be able to scare her into it by +threatening to tell the whole story and bring her into the game as an +accomplice. That will yank her around to her feet in short order, I +opine." + +For all of Bill's reputation as a "killer," he was willing to let this +piece of work over to the attention of another. + +So Gentle Bob followed Merriwell, an evil purpose in his black heart, +nor knew that his employer believed and half-hoped he might be going to +his own end. + +Benchy burst into the saloon, uttering a cry of triumph. + +"Here comes the dog!" he said. "Now I have you, you old duffer! You'll +find out he can talk." + +Schlitzenheimer stared at the door, through which the crowd followed +Frank, and Bart, and the dog. + +"Vos dot der tog?" he said. + +"Do you take me for a monkey, you lobster-faced frankfurter?" saucily +demanded the dog. + +"Hey?" squawked the saloon-keeper, turning purple. "Vot id vos? Dit I +hear correctness?" + +"Be careful, Boxer," said Frank reprovingly. "Don't be so free with your +lip. You may offend the gentleman." + +"Gentleman!" exclaimed the setter, in a tone of profound contempt. "Do +you call that sourkraut-barrel a gentleman? I'm surprised at you, +Frank!" + +At this there was a burst of laughter, and Schlitzenheimer turned as red +as he had been pale a moment before. + +"Vot vor did dot tog vanted to insult me?" he exclaimed indignantly. "I +dit not someding to him do!" + +"Boxer, I'm surprised!" cried Frank. "You will get me into trouble with +your careless language. I insist that you apologize immediately to the +gentleman. I insist, sir!" + +"Oh, very well," said the dog; "if you insist, I'll apologize. I was +joking, anyway." + +"And I add my own apology, Mr. Schlitzenheimer," said Merry. "I hope +this will be sufficient?" + +"Oh, yah, dot peen all righdt," said the Dutchman at once. "But py +dunder! der tickens id does peat to heard a tog dalking!" + +"It's a good one on you, Fritz!" cried Benchy triumphantly. "Remember +your agreement! You're stuck!" + +"Vale, I will stood py dot agreements," said the saloon-keeper, rather +reluctantly, "efen if in pusiness id does preak me up. Und I vill sdant +treat der crowdt vor. Sdep up, eferpody, und your trink name." + +"That's the talk!" cried the dog. "You're not such a bad fellow, +Schlitzy." + +Schlitzenheimer leaned on the bar with both hands and looked over at +Boxer. + +"Vot will you haf yourseluf?" he asked. + +"Excuse me," said the setter; "I'm on the water-wagon. Go ahead, +gentlemen, and don't mind me." + +So they lined up in front of the bar, expressing their amazement over +the accomplishment of the dog and burdening Merriwell with questions, +all of which Frank cheerfully answered or skilfully evaded. + +Boxer had been lifted and placed on one end of the bar, where he +immediately sat, surveying the line of men with his clear, intelligent +eyes. + +"Hello, Mike!" he called to the Irishman. "When did you leave the Old +Dart?" + +"It's goin' on three year now," answered the son of the Old Sod civilly; +"and me name's not Moike--it's Pat." + +The dog seemed to wink shrewdly. + +"It's all the same," he declared; "Mike or Pat makes no difference, as +long as your last name is Murphy." + +"But me last name's not Murphy at all, at all--it's O'Grady, av yez +plaze." + +"Thanks," snickered the dog. "I have it down pat now. It's a way I have +of finding out a man's name when no one takes the trouble to introduce +him. Drink hearty, Pat; the whisky'll add to the beautiful tint of your +nose." + +"Begorra! it's a divvil the crayther is!" muttered Pat, nudging his +nearest neighbor. + +"Ah, there, Chink!" called the setter, seeming to get his eye on the +Chinaman, who was staring open-mouthed. "How's the washee-washee +business?" + +"Oh, velly good, velly good!" answered the Celestial hurriedly, backing +off a little, his face yellowish white. + +"Vele," said Schlitzenheimer, holding up a glass of beer; "here vos goot +health to der smardest tog vot effer vos." + +"Drink hearty," said Boxer; and, with the exception of Frank and Bart, +all swallowed their drinks. Not wishing anything to drink, and still +desiring to join in so that the saloon-keeper might not be offended, +Frank and Bart had taken cigars, which they slipped into their pockets. + +"Dot tog peen der vonder der vorld uf," said Schlitzenheimer, gazing +admiringly at Boxer. "Vot vill you soldt him vor?" + +"There's not enough money in Arizona to buy him from me," answered Frank +at once. + +"You know a good thing when you see it," chuckled the dog. + +"Vos there anything exception talk vot he can do?" asked Fritz. + +"Lots of things," answered Merry. "He can play cards." + +"Beenuckle?" asked the Dutchman. + +"You bet! He's a dabster at pinocle." + +"Easy, Merry!" cautioned the setter, in a whisper. "If you want to skin +the old bologna-sausage out of his shekels, don't puff me up. I can't +beat him at his own game." + +"Vale, I pet den tollars you can't dot do!" cried Schlitzenheimer. "I +nefer vould acknowledgment dot a tog could peat me!" + +Frank sternly turned on Boxer. + +"What do you mean by getting me into such a scrape?" he demanded, +shaking his finger at the setter. "You know I never gamble, and I will +not bet on a game of cards. If you make any more such foolish talk, I'll +not let you play at all." + +The dog hung his head and looked quite ashamed. + +"Beg pardon," he whined softly. "I was joking again!" + +"I'll blay der fun uf him vor," said Schlitzenheimer. "Id vill peen a +creat jokes to said I had a came uf beenuckle blayed mit a tog. Come +on." + +He hurried out from behind the bar. + +"Begorra! Oi'd loike to take a hand in this!" cried Pat O'Grady, as a +square table was drawn out and the cards produced. "It's a shlick game +av peenockle Oi play." + +"But three-handed----" said Frank. + +"Be afther makin' the fourth yesilf." + +"I have to hold the cards for Boxer, he having no hands of his own," +explained Merry. + +Then it was that Gentle Bob stepped forward, saying, in a very quiet +voice and polite manner, that he would be pleased to enter the game. + +Now, with the exception of Frank and Bart, all knew that Bob was a very +bad man to offend, and so they were willing enough that he should play, +and it was soon arranged. + +Frank was keen enough to see in what manner the ruffianly looking fellow +with the quiet voice was regarded, and, as he was not in Holbrook in +search of a quarrel, he raised no dissent. However, he gave Hodge a look +that Bart understood, and the silent youth nodded. From that moment Bart +watched Gentle Bob closely. + +The crowd drew about the table, eager to witness a game of cards in +which a dog took part. + +Merry sat on a short bench, with Boxer at his side. The cards were cut, +and the deal fell to Schlitzenheimer. + +"Be careful, Dutchy," advised Boxer. "We're watching you, and you'd +better not try any slick tricks." + +"Eferything on der lefel shall pe," assured the saloon-keeper, pulling +at his long pipe. + +O'Grady was likewise smoking, and his pipe contrasted ludicrously with +that of Schlitzenheimer. + +When the cards were dealt, it fell the dog's turn to meld first. Frank +spread out the cards and held them in front of Boxer's nose. + +"I will meld one hundred aces," said the dog. "Put 'em down, Frank." + +Merry did so. + +"Sixty queens," called Boxer, and Merry spread them out. + +"Lally ka lolly loka!" chattered Sing Lee, or something like that; +whereupon Boxer seemed to fix the Chinaman with a scornful stare, and +observed: + +"You ought to take something for that. It must be painful." + +"Gleatee Sklot!" gasped the Celestial. "Dogee hab a debbil!" And he +backed away. + +"That's right," said Boxer. "I like you a long distance off, the longer +the distance the better I like you." + +"Pay attention to the game," said Frank. "Are you going to meld anything +else?" + +"Forty trumps, twenty spades, and twenty hearts," said Boxer. + +"Dunder!" muttered Schlitzenheimer, and his hands trembled so that he +dropped some of the cards. + +"Get a basket," snickered the dog; and the crowd laughed loudly at the +saloon-keeper's expense. + +When all the melding was finished they prepared to play. + +"I'll lead the ace of trumps," said Boxer. + +Frank ran the cards over. + +"It's here," he said. "But I didn't see it." + +"What's the matter with your eyes?" snapped the dog. "Didn't I meld one +hundred aces? You ought to learn something about this game!" + +"I seldom play cards," said Merry apologetically. + +"Well, you want to keep your eyes open!" exclaimed Boxer sharply. "These +chaps may try to skin us." + +At this Gentle Bob looked up and said: + +"I do not mind a little faking none whatever, but I sure objects to +being called a skin, either by a dog or his master, so I opine it will +be best for somebody to apologize." + +And, as he made this remark, he suddenly whipped forth a pistol, with +which he covered both Frank and the dog, but held the weapon more in +Merry's direction. + +Cimarron Bill's tool had found the opportunity he sought, and he meant +to make the most of it. + +Merry saw in the fellow's eyes the full extent of his evil purpose. + +"If the apology is not forthcoming instanter," murmured the ruffian, "I +shall puncture the wonderful talking dog with a bullet!" + +Now, it seemed that Bob had Frank at a great disadvantage, but at this +point Bart Hodge shoved the muzzle of a pistol against the fellow's ear +and harshly commanded: + +"Put up that gun--instanter! If you don't I'll blow the whole top of +your head off!" + +But Bart had made a miscalculation, for Gentle Bob had not come alone to +the saloon, having noted well that Frank Merriwell had a friend. He had +picked up a chap of his own sort, and now this fellow had a gun at +Bart's head. + +"You're the one who'll lose the ruff o' his head!" he said. "You put up +your gun!" + +Gentle Bob still sat pistol in hand, but Boxer had taken advantage of an +opportunity to drop down from the bench to the floor. + +Of a sudden there came a wild yell from Bob, who kicked out with his +feet and flung himself backward, his pistol being discharged straight up +at the ceiling. + +Boxer had seized him by the leg beneath the table. + +Instantly there was a fearful uproar in the saloon. The action of the +dog had disconcerted the plans of every one. Hodge ducked and whirled, +catching the ruffian at his back a fearful blow on the solar plexus that +drove him slam against the bar, and he went down and "out." + +Merry went across the table in a leap at Gentle Bob, from whom he tore +the revolver that the fellow was trying to use on Boxer. + +"Let up, boy," said Frank to the dog. "I'll attend to his case." + +Boxer seemed reluctant to let go, but he did so at the second command. + +Merriwell pinned Bob down and deftly disarmed him, removing every +weapon, which he passed over to Schlitzenheimer. + +"Take care of these tools, sir," he said, "until I leave town. It will +save this fellow's life--perhaps." + +"Und dot vill peen a pity!" muttered the saloon-keeper, who had no love +for the ruffian, but held him in great awe. + +Having disarmed Bob, Merry rose and commanded him to get up. The fellow +rose immediately and sprang at Frank, trying to strike him. + +Boxer would have mingled in, but Bart held him in check, saying: + +"Keep out of it. Frank can attend to that case now without any of your +aid." + +Hodge was not mistaken, as Merriwell quickly demonstrated. He avoided +the blows of the ruffian and quickly knocked him down. Bob rose, only to +be struck in the eye and sent to the floor again. Four times this +happened, and then Merry picked the wretch up, carried him bodily to the +door, and kicked him into the street, observing: + +"If you come back here or bother me again, I'll send you to the hospital +for a month!" + +And the dog barked with great satisfaction. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +BOXER TO THE RESCUE. + + +The second ruffian was ejected, and Frank and the talking dog were +regarded with unbounded admiration by every one present. + +"I neffer haf seen Shentle Pob done upness pefore," remarked +Schlitzenheimer. "He vos a pad man." + +"You bettee!" put in Sing Lee, who crept forth from behind a barrel, +where he had taken refuge during the encounter. "Him velly bad. Him +shootee, stabbee, killee." + +"An' so he will," nodded Pat O'Grady, seeming quite concerned. "It's me +opinion he wur lookin' fer throuble whin he came here." + +"Well, he found it," smiled Merry. + +"That's what!" said Boxer, wagging his tail and looking up at Frank +knowingly. "But he tasted disagreeable. You don't suppose it will make +me sick, do you?" + +Frank stooped and patted the dog's head. + +"I hope not," he laughed. "You got hold of his leg just in time, old +boy." + +"Oh, I didn't dally when I saw him throw his gun out," said Boxer, +winking rapidly with both eyes. "I allowed he was going to begin +shooting directly." + +"Uf you vould tookit my device," said Schlitzenheimer, "you couldt out +uf dis town get a hurriness indo." + +"Thot's roight," nodded O'Grady. "It's moighty dangerous to remain after +this, Oi know." + +"Pob vill got vor heemseluf another gun, und he vill look vor you on der +sdreet," declared the saloon-keeper. + +"Well, he may find us, eh, Boxer?" smiled Frank. + +"Sure thing," said the dog. "And I reckon you can shoot as quick and as +straight as he can." + +Schlitzenheimer shook his head and averred that Bob was the greatest +pistol-shot known in those parts, which, however, did not seem to alarm +Frank Merriwell in the least. + +Suddenly there came a scream from the street, the voice being that of a +girl, and the sound indicating that she was in great fear and distress. + +Frank sprang to the open door, Boxer barking at his heels, and Hodge was +not slow in following. + +The cry had issued from the lips of June Arlington, who was then on her +way to the post-office to mail the letter she had written, not wishing +her mother to see it. + +June had arrived in the vicinity of the saloon as Gentle Bob was turning +away. She noted that the man's face was cut and bruised and one eye was +swollen. His appearance led her to look at him with something like +sympathy, when, of a sudden, he turned on her, smiling evilly, and +seized her arm. + +"Derned ef you ain't a right peert gal!" said the fellow insolently. +"Gimme a kiss, sweetness." + +Then June screamed and tried to break away, striking at him with her +clenched fist. She was frightened and angry. + +"Stop yer squarmin'!" snarled the fellow, who had thought to kiss her +quickly before she could make much resistance, and then hasten along, it +being his intention to boast of what he had done. + +But June would not stop. She saw a tall, athletic young man come +bounding through an open doorway into the street, followed closely by a +dog and another young man. Her eyes recognized the one in advance, and +she cried out: + +"Mr. Merriwell, help--help, quick!" + +With a growl of rage, Gentle Bob released her and turned. As he did so, +the dog, terrible in his fury, shot past Frank, and made a great spring +through the air straight at Bob's throat. + +Bob threw up his arm, and the teeth of the dog fastened on it. The force +of the creature's leap hurled the ruffian backward. + +The man went down in the dust, and Boxer was at him with all the fury of +a mad animal. He would have torn the wretch to pieces right before their +eyes, but Frank fearlessly grasped the dog and pulled him away, at the +same time crying commandingly to him. + +"Keep him off!" palpitated Bob, now filled with a great terror for the +fierce animal. "Don't let him touch me ag'in! He's near bit me to pieces +now!" + +"You got just what you deserved, and no more, you miserable creature!" +said Frank indignantly. + +Then he turned and asked June what Bob had been doing. + +"Oh, he grasped me, and he tried to kiss me!" + +"Did he!" grated Merry, very white. "Then I should have let Boxer finish +him!" + +"No, no!" gasped June. + +"No, no!" exclaimed Bob. + +"On your knees!" cried Frank, in ringing tones--"on your knees and +apologize to the young lady! If you don't do it, so help me, I'll let +Boxer get at you again!" + +Bob did not hesitate. Ruffian and desperado though he was reputed to be, +he cast himself on his knees before June and humbly begged her pardon, +all the while watching Boxer, who glared back at him and licked his +chops. + +"Get up and go, you pitiful coward!" said Frank. "Keep out of my sight +while I'm in town, and be careful not to try any dirty tricks. If you +hurt me, Boxer will eat you up; if you hurt Boxer, I'll have your life! +Go!" + +The wretch lost not a moment in getting away. + +Frank stooped and picked up the letter June had dropped. He was +restoring it to her when his eye caught the address upon it, and he +stared in astonishment. + + "MR. RICHARD MERRIWELL, + "Fardale." + +That was the name and address he read. Then he looked closely at June +and recognized her. + +"Miss Arlington?" he exclaimed, his hat in his hand; "is it possible?" + +The color was coming back into her cheeks. + +"Mr. Merriwell," she said, "let me thank you for coming so quickly to my +assistance." + +"It was Boxer who got there first. But I'm amazed to see you here--here +in Arizona." + +"I don't doubt it." + +"What brings you to this place?" + +"I came with my mother." + +"Your--your mother?" he said, still further astonished. "And your +father--he is here, also?" + +"No, sir." + +"He is coming?" + +"No, sir, I believe not." + +Merry had thought at once that there might be a very good reason why D. +Roscoe Arlington should come to Holbrook to learn just how well the +hired ruffians of the syndicate had performed their tasks, but the +presence there of Mrs. Arlington and June, without D. Roscoe, rather +bewildered him. + +June looked back toward the hotel windows, thinking it must be that her +mother had heard her cry and would be looking forth; but was relieved +to see nothing of the lady. + +"You were on your way to mail this letter?" said Frank, divining her +destination. + +"Yes." + +"May I accompany you, to make sure you are not molested further?" + +She accepted his escort. Bart had lingered near, and Frank presented +him. + +"An old school and college chum, Miss Arlington," he said, "and one of +my closest friends." + +Bart lifted his hat and bowed, smiling a bit on the pretty girl. In his +way, which was dark and silent, he was almost every bit as handsome as +Frank himself, and it is no cause of wonderment that June could not +wholly repress the flash of admiration that came into her splendid eyes. + +On his part, Bart was quite smitten with her, and he stood watching +Frank walk away at her side, Boxer following, smiling without envy, yet +thinking his friend fortunate to have the company of such a charming +girl for even a brief time in that part of the country. + +Frank found himself somewhat embarrassed, not a little to his surprise, +as he walked down the street with June. The girl was the daughter of the +man who was doing his best to bring upon Merriwell complete ruin--or +seemed to be doing his best to that end, for Frank could not know that +all his trouble at the Queen Mystery had not risen directly from D. +Roscoe Arlington. Much less did he suspect that any great part of it +came without Mr. Arlington's knowledge and through the vengeful malice +of Mrs. Arlington. + +It was not agreeable to speak of this matter with June, and still in his +heart Merry was more than eager to know what had brought the girl to +Holbrook. He had not forgotten that it was the hand of June that had +restored to him the precious papers relating to the mines when those +papers had been stolen from him in Fardale, a service for which he +remained grateful. + +Further than this, Frank had learned that Dick had a deep interest in +June--so deep, indeed, that the boy himself did not quite suspect its +measure. Merry had been able to read his brother, and his good sense +told him beyond question that never would Dick hold his hand from the +person of his most persistent enemy simply because that enemy's sister +thus entreated him, unless there was back of it all a feeling of +affection for the sister that was of no small magnitude. + +That June cared something for Dick, Merry more than half-suspected, and +the sight of the name on the letter she now carried in her hand seemed +very good evidence that this was not false fancy on his part, for did +she not care for the lad far away in Fardale, then why should she write +to him? + +It was June herself who relieved Frank's embarrassment by earnestly +turning to him and beginning speech. + +"Mr. Merriwell," she said, with such a sober face that he was greatly +surprised, "I have wanted to see you since you came into town." + +"Then you knew I had entered town?" + +"I saw you; and I have wanted to speak with you to warn you." + +"To warn me?" said Frank. "Of what?" + +"Of your great danger, for you are in danger here. You have in this town +a man who would kill you." + +"I think we lately parted from such a man," smiled Merry. + +"But he is not the one." + +"Is there another?" + +"Oh, yes! I saw him! Perhaps I saved your life." + +At this Frank gave a great start of surprise and asked her how that +could be, upon which she told him how Cimarron Bill had shot at him from +the window, and how she had spoiled the aim of the would-be murderer. +She held back the fact that the man had fired from one of the windows of +her mother's rooms, and that her mother had shortly before been in +consultation with him. Still Frank was keen enough to see that she was +hiding something, and he had the good discernment to come close to +guessing the truth. + +"Miss Arlington," he said, "it seems that I owe you my life. I heard the +shot, but I could not be sure it was fired at me. If I mistake not, the +man who fired it has a deadly aim, and I could not have escaped but for +your quickness in spoiling his sight. I owe you a great deal more than I +can ever repay." + +June knew something of the truth, and she was aware that her father was +concerned in a movement the accomplishment of which meant ruin to both +Frank and Dick; therefore this acknowledgment by Frank of his +indebtedness to her caused her to flush with shame. + +"It is I who owe you a great deal!" she exclaimed. "See what you have +just done--saved me from a ruffian! But your brother--Dick--he did more. +He saved me once from the fangs of furious dogs, at another time from +being killed in a runaway, and that is not all. It is I who owe you much +more than I can ever repay. My brother"--she choked a little--"my +brother is Dick's enemy, yet, for a promise to me, Dick has been easy +with him and has not forced him in disgrace from Fardale. Oh, Mr. +Merriwell!" she suddenly exclaimed, feeling her utter inability to +express herself, "it seems to me that never before was a girl placed in +such a position as I find myself in! What can I do?" + +"You can do nothing, Miss June," he said gently. "You are not to blame +for anything that may happen, and I shall not forget that. I am very +sorry for you, as I fancy you must be far from comfortable." + +At this her pride returned, and she straightened, thinking she could not +acknowledge to him that her people were in the wrong. + +"You know there is always two sides to any question," she said, "and +there may be as much of right on one side as the other. I presume my +father has every reason to think himself right." + +Now, June knew that it was her mother who hated Dick and Frank with +undying intensity, while her father cared very little about either of +the Merriwells, save that he had been led to wonder immoderately at the +success of Frank in fighting the syndicate; but she wished to avoid the +shame of confessing that her mother had such a vengeful nature and could +enter with vindictiveness into an affair that might well be left to men. + +Frank had no desire to hurt her feelings. He understood her pride and +sensitiveness, and he said: + +"It is very likely you are correct about that. At any rate, we will not +argue it. It is no matter for us to speak of, as what we might say would +not change the situation in the least. Still, if I should become +satisfied that your father had the right in this thing, even though it +stripped me of my last dollar and made me a beggar, I would surrender to +him immediately." + +She did not doubt him then, and she saw that the character of Frank +Merriwell was one to be admired, his one concern being for perfect and +complete justice, even though by justice he might be the sufferer. +Inwardly she was struck with the conviction that her father seldom made +inquiry into the justice of any project he wished to carry through, his +one concern being to accomplish his ends by any method whatever, so long +as it did not involve him in difficulties of a nature too serious. + +"Mr. Merriwell," she said quickly, "you must leave Holbrook just as soon +as you can!" + +"Why?" + +"The man who tried to shoot you is here--the man with the wicked face +and evil eyes." + +"I am not given to running away from one man." + +"It's not that. He is an assassin! See how he tried to kill you without +giving you a show! You don't know what moment he may try it again. If he +were to meet you face to face it would be different. You cannot defend +yourself from attacks in the dark. You have no show." + +"Well, there is some truth in that," smiled Merry. + +"He will attack you that way again. I know it! He will strike at you +from behind." + +"Possibly." + +"You must go! You must leave Holbrook before dark!" + +"I hardly fancy it," muttered Frank, frowning. "I do not like the +notion. It leaves an unpleasant taste in my mouth to think of running +away from Cimarron Bill." + +For, although June had not mentioned the ruffian by name, not knowing it +herself, her description of him had satisfied Frank that it could be no +other than the baffled scoundrel who had twice attempted to seize the +Queen Mystery Mine. + +"But you will go?" she urged. + +"I'll think of it." + +They had reached the post-office and were now standing in front of the +building. Bart Hodge was sauntering slowly in their direction on the +opposite side of the street, having kept within easy pistol-shot of +Frank all the while. + +Frank's words did not satisfy June. He saw she was in distress. + +"If you will not go for your own sake," she said, "please do for mine." + +He looked astonished. + +"For your sake?" he said. "Why, I had not an idea in the world that it +could be of so much concern to you. I'm afraid I do not understand why +it should be. Now, if Dick----" + +She stopped him with a gesture, her face flushing very warm. + +"Don't!" she entreated, in a low voice. "At least, you are his own +brother! But it is for my sake more than yours. I cannot explain. Do not +embarrass me! But promise me you will go--for my sake!" + +Having a quick perception, Frank suddenly fancied he caught an inkling +of the truth. In that moment he saw Mrs. Arlington dealing with Cimarron +Bill. It was a conjecture, but it struck him hard as the truth. + +This, then, was the reason why June wished him to flee from Holbrook. +She feared that her mother somehow would become involved in the murder +in case Cimarron Bill should carry into execution his dastardly purpose. + +Of course, it was not possible for him to be sure he had struck upon the +truth. + +"It is hard for me to refuse a girl when she corners me like this," he +smiled. + +"You'll go?" persisted June. + +"If you insist." + +"Oh, thank you--thank you! I shall not breathe easy until I know you are +well out of this dreadful place." + +"And I shall not breathe easy as long as I know you remain here, where +you may become subject to such insults as to-day happened. It is no +place for you at the present time. Holbrook is well enough in its way; +but you are too pretty to walk its streets without an escort. Western +gentlemen are gentlemen in every sense of the word, and no man can hold +the honor of a lady more sacred; but Western ruffians are dangerous, and +it seems there are several of the latter class in this place." + +"I must remain while mother stays here; I must stay with her." + +The letter was dropped in the post-office, and June urged Frank to +depart at once; but he insisted on escorting her back to the hotel. + +Boxer kept close to their heels, seeming to listen to their conversation +at times; but, strange though it may appear, he made no attempt to take +part in it, nor did he speak as much as one word during all the time +that he seemed neglected by his master. + +Frank made a sign to Bart, who crossed the street and joined them. + +"I have decided to leave town right away," said Merry. "Have the horses +saddled and prepared. We'll start as soon as I have escorted Miss +Arlington back to the hotel." + +Hodge looked surprised. + +"The horses are in no condition, Frank," he said. "You know they are in +sore need of a good rest." + +"I know it, Bart; but I have a reason for this. We'll go. Get them +ready, please." + +"All right," said Bart, as he turned away to carry out instructions. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +UNTO DEATH! + + +The sun was down in the west and night was gathering over the face of +the world when Frank and Bart rode forth from Holbrook, setting their +faces to the southwest. Boxer trotted behind them. + +They were not molested, although Frank remained in constant expectation +of an attack until they were fairly clear of the place and had it a long +rifle-shot at their backs. + +The blue night grew upon the distant plain, and the stars were coming +forth over their heads as they rode down into the distance, the beating +hoofs of the ponies making rhythm on the baked ground. The first cool +breath of night touched their heated cheeks with grateful kisses. + +"How did you happen to do it, Frank?" asked Bart. + +"I found out a thing or two," Merry answered. "Cimarron Bill is in town, +and he was watching his chance to get another shot at me." + +"Another?" exclaimed Bart; upon which Merry explained how Bill had fired +at him already. + +"It was rather dangerous to stay there, and I couldn't resist when a +pretty girl took enough interest in me to urge me to get away," Frank +laughed. "We had some sport with our talking dog, and now----" + +"You can't mean to ride far?" + +"Remember the hut we passed on the way into town? It's not very far. +We'll stop there to-night." + +"Good!" said Bart; and they rode on. + +Coming to the deserted hut, they stopped there. The horses were cared +for, and Frank and Bart entered the hut with their blankets, where they +prepared to sleep until toward morning, planning to rise before daybreak +and get an early start, so that some distance could be covered ere the +sun rose. + +Both of the young men were weary, and they lost little time in drawing +their blankets about them and rolling on the floor. Boxer curled in a +corner and went to sleep. The door of the hut was left open to admit the +cool night air. + +Frank fell asleep at once, and Bart was not slow in following his +example. + +They were awakened in the middle of the night by a snarl, a cry, a +struggle, and a fall. Both sat up, grasping their weapons. + +The moon was up, and by its light, which streamed in at the wide-open +door, a man and a dog were seen struggling on the floor. The dog was +Boxer, who had leaped at the throat of the man as he came slipping in at +the open door. + +"Great Scott!" exclaimed Hodge. "What's the meaning of this?" + +"One of my friends has arrived," said Frank. "Boxer has him." + +The struggle was fierce and terrible. The dog seemed to have the man by +the throat. Before either Merry or Hodge could interfere the moonlight +glinted on something bright in the hand of the man, who struck and +struck again. + +Not a sound came from the dog. But the bright thing in the man's hand +grew suddenly dark. + +"Heavens!" gasped Frank, leaping forward. "He has a knife!" + +Then a terrible sound came from the throat of the man, and he lifted his +arm no more. The thing in his hand, dark and dripping, fell to the floor +of the hut. + +A moment later the man rolled into the shadow, and then Boxer was seen +dragging himself away, while the man lay still. + +"Boxer! Boxer!" cried Frank, bending over the dog. "Are you hurt, boy? +Merciful goodness! he ripped your whole side open with that knife!" + +Hodge struck a light and bent over the man who lay in the shadow. When +the match burned out in his fingers he dropped it and stepped out to +join Merriwell, who had picked up the dog and carried the creature into +the open air. + +Bart found Merry sitting on the ground, with the dog in his arms. Boxer +had been cut in a terrible manner, and was bleeding in a way that +plainly told his end was near. + +"Oh, the wretch!" choked Merry, in a husky voice. "Oh, the wretch who +did this! He ought to be hanged!" + +"No need of hanging for him," said Hodge. "He'll be beyond that in less +than three minutes." + +"You mean----" + +"He's pretty near dead now. Boxer's teeth found his jugular vein." + +"Who was it, Bart?" + +"The fellow who made the row in Schlitzenheimer's saloon." + +"Gentle Bob?" + +"Yes." + +"One of Cimarron Bill's hired tools, or I am mistaken! He followed us +here and tried to creep in on us with that knife, meaning to finish the +job at which he failed in town. Boxer saved us. Good old Boxer! Poor old +Boxer!" + +The dog whined a little on hearing this name from Frank's lip's, and +feebly wagged his tail. The moonlight showed his eyes turned toward +Merry's face. + +"Is it so bad there's no show for him?" asked Hodge, in genuine +distress. + +"No show!" sobbed Frank. "He's finished, Bart! It's a shame! The most +knowing dog in the whole world! And he has to die like this, killed by a +human being that is more of a beast than he!" + +"It's a shame!" said Bart. + +The dog licked Frank's hand. Merry bowed his head, and tears started +from his eyes. + +"Poor Boxer!" he choked. "Boxer, we have to part here. You're going to +another country, where I must follow in time. It's all up with you. You +may find your first master over there; but he'll never love you more +than I have. Good-by, Boxer!" + +The dog uttered a whine. And so his life ended in Frank's arms, with the +moonlight falling on them and the stillness of the Arizona night all +around. + +Hodge entered the hut, only to come forth, bringing the blankets and +looking very sick. + +"For Heaven's sake, let's get away from here!" he exclaimed. + +"The man in there?" + +"Dead!" said Bart. "The place is gory! I'm faint from it!" + +Boxer's body was wrapped in a blanket, and they mounted and rode away, +Frank carrying the dead dog in his arms to find a burial place where +there could be no chance that his body should be exhumed by any prowling +thing of the desert. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +THE COMING OF CROWFOOT. + + +Rap! rap! rap! + +"Wait a minute!" called Frank. "No need to knock the door down!" + +He flung the door of his cabin wide open, standing on the threshold. + +It was early dawn in Mystery Valley. Sunrise was beginning to gild the +barren peaks of the Mogollons. The new day had come to its birth in a +splendid glow, and the world smiled refreshed after the cooling sleep of +the departed night. + +Frank was just risen and not yet fully dressed, but about his waist was +his cartridge-belt, and his pistol swung ready in the holster at his +hip. He had no use for the weapon, however. + +Outside the door stood old Joe Crowfoot, his blanket drawn about his +shoulders. Those keen eyes gazed on Merry with an expression of friendly +greeting. + +With a shout of surprise and joy, Frank clasped the old redskin in his +arms in the most affectionate manner. + +"Old Joe Crowfoot, as I live!" he cried, showing unusual excitement and +delight. "Why, you old reprobate, here you come popping back from the +grave after I've been mourning you as dead! What do you mean by it, you +villain?" + +"Ugh!" grunted old Joe, something like a merry twinkle in those beady +eyes. "Strong Heart him think Crowfoot dead, eh?" + +"Hang me if I didn't!" + +"Crowfoot him heap tough; no die easy," declared the Indian. + +"I should say not! Why, you tricky scoundrel, they told me you were done +for." + +"Who tell so?" + +"Some of Cimarron Bill's delectable gang. They averred they had disposed +of you for good and all." + +"Waugh! No let such cheap carrion kill me!" said Joe. "They mebbe think +some they do it. Joe he fool um heap lot." + +"But where have you been?" + +"Oh, all away round," was the answer, with a wide sweep of the arm. "Joe +him scout--him find out how land lay. Do a little biz." + +"Do business? What sort of business?" + +"Catch the sucker some." + +"Catch the sucker? What's that?" + +The redskin flung open his dirty red blanket and tapped a fat belt about +his waist, which gave back a musical clink. + +"Play the game of poke'," he exclaimed. "Make heap plenty mon'." + +"You've been gambling again?" + +"Strong Heart him guess," nodded Joe, with something like a sly smile. + +"You villain! And I'll wager you got away with your ill-gotten spoils." + +"Heap do so," said Joe. "Have some firewater. Find one, two, three, four +crooked paleface follow to kill and rob. Let firewater 'lone till fool +crooked palefaces so um no follow some more. Then go safe place drink +firewater a heap." + +"You've been drunk, too!" cried Merry. + +"Mebbe so," admitted the Indian. "White man firewater heap good while um +last; heap bad when um gone. Make um feel much glad at first, then much +sorry little time after." + +Frank laughed heartily at the queer manner of the old Indian as he said +this. + +"I suppose that's about right," he said. "I've never tried it to find +out." + +"Strong Heart him no try firewater?" exclaimed Joe, in surprise. +"Crowfoot him think all paleface drink the firewater." + +"Well, here is one who doesn't. I've seen too much trouble come from the +stuff." + +"Ugh! Strong Heart him got heap more sense than anybody Joe ever see," +asserted the Indian admiringly. "Once git taste of firewater, always be +heap fool and drink him some. Many times old Joe he say no drink some +more. Head all swell, middle all sick, mouth all dry, taste nasty a lot, +bone ache--then him say no more the firewater. Mebbe he go 'long some +time, but bimeby he take it some more. White man make firewater. Bad! +bad! bad! No firewater made, nobody drink it." + +From inside the cabin a voice called. + +"What, ho! Methinks thou hast found a philosopher, Merry! Bring the sage +in that I may survey him with my heavenly blue eyes." + +"Yes, dew!" drawled another voice. "I want to set my eyes onter him, by +gum!" + +Merry led the old Indian into the cabin. + +"Here he is," Merry laughed. "Crowfoot, these are some of my friends, +whom you met last summer. You remember them. They played ball with me in +the Mad River country." + +"Ugh!" grunted the redskin. "Heap remember!" + +Bart Hodge stepped forward, his hand outstretched to the Indian. + +"I am glad to see you again, Crowfoot," he said. + +"Me same," said Joe, shaking Bart's hand. "You heap good to ketch hard +ball when Strong Heart him make it go fast like a bullet and man with +stick he--whish!--strike at it so, no hit it at all." + +They all laughed at the Indian's manner of describing Bart's skill at +catching. + +"Consarned if it ain't a sight fer sore eyes to see ye, Mr. Crowfoot!" +said Ephraim Gallup, as he froze to the redskin's hand and shook it +warmly. "Yeou was the best mascot a baseball-team ever hed." + +"How! how!" said the old fellow. "Nose Talk him stand way out far, +ketch ball when it come there. How! how!" + +"Nose Talk!" laughed Frank. "Well, that's one on you, Gallup!" + +Jack Ready was smiling blandly. He gave his hand a little flirt in +salute, and stepped forward with an odd movement. + +"Gaze on my classic features, Joseph Crowfoot, Esquire," he invited. +"See if you can recollect what I did in the game." + +"Sure remember," nodded Crowfoot. "Talk-talk a heap, no do much else." + +Then the joke was on Jack, and even Bart Hodge was forced to smile, +while Gallup gave Ready a resounding smack on the shoulder with his open +hand. + +"Bless my punkins!" snickered the Vermonter. "That's a thunderin' good +one on you, Jack!" + +Ready looked sad. + +"Alas!" he sighed. "Is it thus I am to be defamed! And by a +copper-colored aborigine! The thought is gall to my sensitive soul! I +shall peek and pine over it! For days to come no sweet smile shall adorn +my beautiful features!" + +Joe looked puzzled. + +"No say something bad," he declared. "When Red Cheek him talk-talk a +heap lot other man that throw ball he got a lot mixed, no make good +pitch. Red Cheek him help win game a heap." + +Jack's face cleared at once. + +"Crowfoot, you have poured soothing balm on my wounded heart!" he +cried. "I'm glad to know that I do amount to something, for, so help me! +of late I have begun to wonder what I was made for!" + +"Sit down, Joe," invited Frank. "We're going to have breakfast in a +short time, and you are to eat with us." + +"Ugh!" said the Indian, disdaining a chair and sitting on the floor with +his back against the wall. "Joe him do so. Him a heap empty. Mebbe after +him eat him tell Strong Heart something much good to hear." + +When breakfast was over the old Indian lighted his rank pipe and smoked +contentedly, still sitting on the floor, with his back against the wall. + +Through the open door came the sounds of work at the mine. Frank was not +yet running the mine day and night, with shifts of men, but it was his +intention to do so later. Smoke was rising from the high pipe of the +stamp-mill, and soon the stamps began to rumble and roar, awaking the +echoes of the valley. The sound was a pleasant one in Merriwell's ears. + +"This running a mine in Arizona is a snap," said Jack Ready, as he +elevated his feet to the top of the table, in which the breakfast-dishes +and remnants of the meal remained. "The hardest part of it seems to be +washing the dishes. It's Gallup's turn this morning." + +"Not by a thuttering sight!" exclaimed Ephraim. "Yeou can't shoulder +that onter me! You've gotter wash the dishes to-day. I done it +yisterday." + +"Is it possible!" cried Jack. "Why, I thought it was day before +yesterday, or, perchance, the day before that. Alas, how time +flies--tempus fugit!" + +"Now, don't go to springin' any Latin on us!" growled Gallup. "You never +learned enough Latin to hurt ye, an' ye don't want to try to show off." + +"Behold how the green-eyed monster turneth a friend into a critic!" said +Jack. + +"You can attend to the dishes later," said Frank. "Just now I am anxious +to hear the good news Crowfoot said he might have to tell. What is it, +Joe?" + +"Some time little while 'go, few days, you be in Holbrook?" questioned +the Indian, pulling away at his pipe. + +"Yes, I was there--Hodge and myself." + +"Joe him been there since." + +"And you bring good news from that place?" + +"Heap good to Strong Heart. In Holbrook him find white woman who hate +him a lot, eh? White woman she is the squaw of man who make for Strong +Heart big trouble 'bout mine." + +"You mean Mrs. Arlington?" + +"Ugh! Mebbe that her name." + +"That is it. She is in Holbrook, or was a few days ago." + +"She hate Strong Heart a heap." + +"I reckon she does," nodded Frank, wondering how the old redskin found +out so much. + +"She come to get bad men to take mine." + +"Possibly that is right." + +"Joe him know it. She make much business with Cim'run Bill." + +"That I suspected, although I did not find it out for a certainty while +in Holbrook." + +"It so." + +"Go on." + +"She give Bill heap much mon' to buy bad men to take from Strong Heart +the mine." + +"Is that so?" + +"Waugh! Joe him find out. Joe he play sharp; he listen." + +"Crowfoot, you're as good as a detective." + +"No know 'bout that. Find out white squaw she hate Strong Heart, then +try to find out more. Now squaw she heap sorry she come to Holbrook." + +"She is sorry?" + +"Heap so." + +"Why?" + +"She have papoose girl with her--young squaw." + +"Her daughter June." + +"Ugh! Now she no have young squaw." + +"What's that? What do you mean by that. What has become of June?" + +"You tell," said Joe, with a strange gesture. "She gone. Old squaw tear +hair, tear run from her eye, she make a loud weep. Ha! Now you hear good +news, Strong Heart! Now you know your enemy have the great sorrow! That +make your heart much glad!" + +But Frank was on his feet now, his face rather pale and a look of +excitement in his eyes. + +"See here, Crowfoot," he said, "do you mean to tell me that June +Arlington has disappeared and that her mother does not know what has +become of her?" + +Joe nodded. + +"Laugh!" he said. "Laugh, Strong Heart!" + +But Frank did not laugh; instead, to the wonderment of the Indian, he +betrayed both consternation and dismay. + +"Are you sure of this, Joe?" he demanded. "How long had the girl been +missing when you left Holbrook?" + +"The sun had slept once." + +"By which you mean that one night had passed?" + +"Ugh!" + +"Then this is serious, indeed! Something most unfortunate has happened, +or June Arlington would not be missing overnight. Boys, prepare at once +to start for Holbrook! Get ready to mount and ride as fast as horseflesh +can carry us; We'll start at the earliest moment possible!" + +Crowfoot arose, a look of wonderment in his dark eyes. He reached out +and grasped Frank's arm. + +"What would Strong Heart do?" he asked. + +"I'm going to Holbrook hotfoot," was the answer. "I'm going to find out, +if possible, what has happened to June Arlington, and I shall do my best +to return her to her mother, if she has not already returned when I +reach there." + +The redskin's hand dropped from Merriwell's arm and the old fellow +stared at the white man in uncomprehending amazement. + +"Why so?" he asked. "Paleface squaw she hate you, she is your enemy. Now +she have something to think a heap of, and no time to make trouble for +Strong Heart. He should have a great happiness that it is so. Why does +he hurry to the bad white squaw? Is it to laugh at her? Is it to see her +weep and cry?" + +"No, Crowfoot; it is to find out, if possible, what has happened to the +girl, just as I said a moment ago, and to return her to her mother." + +The Indian shook his head. + +"Waugh! No understand!" he declared. "Strong Heart him much strange." + +"Joe, will you go with us? You shall have a good horse. I may need your +aid. Will you go?" + +"Joe him go. No understand; him go, all same." + +"Then hustle, fellows!" cried Frank. "We'll be off soon!" + +He rushed from the cabin. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +ARRESTED IN HOLBROOK. + + +Another morning was dawning when five weary horses bore five persons +into the town of Holbrook. The animals had been pushed to the utmost, +and the riders showed signs of deep fatigue. The dust of the desert lay +white upon men and beasts. + +At the head of the party rode Frank Merriwell, showing of them all the +least weariness, his lips pressed together with an expression of grim +determination. + +Bart, Jack, and Ephraim were behind, with old Joe bringing up the rear. + +Straight to the hotel they went, where Frank learned immediately that +Mrs. Arlington was still there, and he also found out that she was very +ill, having been completely prostrated by the vanishing of June, who was +still missing. + +When Frank asked to see the woman he was told that the doctor attending +her had said no one was to see her without his permission. + +"Then I must see that doctor in a hurry," Merry declared. "Where can I +find him?" + +He was directed and hastened to the home of the doctor, who proved to be +a red-faced, pompous little fellow. + +"Impossible to see the lady," declared the doctor. "She has heart +trouble, and it might prove fatal. I cannot permit it." + +"See here, doctor," said Frank, "I have ridden a right good distance to +see her, having heard of the disappearance of her daughter June. I have +come to see what I can do about tracing the missing girl and restoring +her to her mother. To start the work right, I should have an interview +with the lady." + +"Hum! hum!" coughed the doctor. "I don't know about it." He shook his +head, but Merriwell caught his eye and continued to talk earnestly until +the man gradually ceased his opposition. + +"I'm afraid it's not just the wisest thing," he said. "But still it is +anxiety over her daughter that has brought her to this pitiful +condition. If you can do anything to relieve that anxiety, it may be +better than medicine. But you must take care not to excite her more than +possible." + +This Frank readily promised, and they set out for the hotel. + +Having ascended to the rooms occupied by Mrs. Arlington and those she +had brought with her, the doctor entered first, being admitted by the +faithful colored maid. In a few moments he came out and said: + +"I forgot to ask your name, but Mrs. Arlington says she will see you. +Come in." + +Frank followed the doctor into the room. + +Mrs. Arlington, partly dressed, was reclining on a couch, propped up +amid cushions. She was very pale and showed signs of great worriment and +grief. + +The moment her eyes rested on Frank, who came forward, hat in hand, she +gave a great cry and started up. The doctor hurried to her side, +cautioning her against becoming excited, but she appeared to heed him +not in the least. + +"You?" she cried, pointing at Frank. "You have dared to come here?" + +Merry bowed. + +"I know of no reason why I should not come here," he said. "I have heard +of your misfortune, and----" + +"Wretch!" the woman panted, glaring at him. "How dare you! I'll have you +arrested at once!" + +Frank was surprised by this reception, but he kept his composure, +although he was struck by a thought that the woman must be mad. + +"Why should you have me arrested?" he asked. "For defending my property? +I scarcely think you will do that, madam!" + +"You--you scoundrel!" panted Mrs. Arlington, pointing at him. "Where is +my daughter? You shall never leave this place until you restore her to +me!" + +This did stagger Merry somewhat. + +"Mrs. Arlington," he said, "I have come to offer my services in +searching for your daughter. If I can be of any assistance----" + +"You--you lured her away!" declared the shaking woman. "You were seen +talking with her on the street. Is this the way you defend your +property? I know your game! You mean to make me promise to drop the +battle against you, on which condition you will restore June to me! I +have been told that you would try that trick! But I am ready for you, +and you shall be arrested immediately. You have walked into the trap!" + +"My dear woman," said Merry quietly, "you never were more mistaken in +all your life. I know absolutely nothing of the whereabouts of your +daughter; but I fancied you might be able to tell me something that +would serve as a clue in the search for her." + +"Don't tell me that! I have sense enough to know you would not offer to +help me find her!" + +Startled by the sound of Mrs. Arlington's excited voice, Eliot Dodge, +her agent, who was in an adjoining room, now entered quickly. When he +saw Merriwell he stopped short. + +Frank had met Dodge once in Denver, at which time the man with the blue +nose had made him an offer in behalf of the mining syndicate for the San +Pablo and Queen Mystery Mines, an offer that Merry had scornfully +declined. Now Frank recognized the crafty fox of a lawyer at once. + +"So you are here, Dodge?" he said. "And I fancy you are behind some of +the doings that have been going on in this region of late." + +Dodge puckered up his mouth and tried to look at the young man with +something like contempt, although the effort was a failure. + +"Yes, I am here," he said, in his raspy voice; "and I fancy it is a +pretty good thing for Mrs. Arlington that I am. I have been able to show +her the inwardness of this last move of yours." + +"Then you are the one who has filled her mind with the idea that I know +something of the whereabouts of Miss Arlington? Well, Dodge, I know you +are not a fool, and, therefore, I must conclude at once that you have +some rascally reason for giving her such an impression. Be careful, sir, +that you do not make a false step! In this part of the country it is +very dangerous. Down here men are sometimes lynched for rascality." + +"Don't you dare threaten me!" fumed Dodge, shaking his fist at Frank. +"There is a warrant out for your arrest, and you'll find that the end of +your career is pretty near." + +Frank smiled derisively. + +"You remind me of a snapping cur, Dodge," he observed; then he turned +from the man, as if not deigning to waste further words on him. "Mrs. +Arlington," he said earnestly, "I assure you on my honor that I have +come to you with the most friendly intentions. I assure you that I have +ridden more than one hundred miles for the purpose of offering my +services in the search for your daughter. You may not believe me, +but it is the simple truth. You have received me in a manner most +disheartening; but I understand that your nervous condition must be +the excuse. + +"I am not your enemy. I do not wish to fight you. I am fighting the +Consolidated Mining Association of America. I would not like to think +that I have a woman among my enemies, who have hired murderers and +ruffians to try to seize my property! Such a thought is most distasteful +to me. I have had the pleasure of meeting your daughter, and I found her +a most charming girl. I was interested in her. When I learned that she +had disappeared I lost not a moment in gathering a few friends and +starting for this place. We have covered the ground as fast as possible, +taking the heat into consideration. If any one has told you that I am +even remotely connected with the disappearance of Miss June that person +has lied to you and deceived you. If you will give me a little aid, I +shall exert myself to the utmost to restore June to your arms. That is +all I have to say." + +She heard him through with impatience. Frank saw before he had finished +that her mind was set and that he had wasted his breath. + +"Like your brother," said the woman passionately, "you are a scoundrel! +Like him, you assume the airs of a gentleman. I know your tricks, and I +am not deceived. You have been told that there is a warrant out for your +arrest. It is true--and here is the officer to serve it!" + +Behind Merry there was a heavy step. He turned and found himself face to +face with a plain, quiet-looking man, who promptly said: + +"Are you Frank Merriwell?" + +"I am." + +"Then let me tell you that I am Ben File, city marshal of Holbrook, and +you are my prisoner! If you try to pull a gun, I'll shoot you in your +tracks!" + +Frank showed his nerve then. He did not even change color, although the +arrest had fallen upon him so suddenly. + +"Your words are plain enough, sir," he said. "There is no reason why I +should provoke you into shooting me, as I have nothing to fear from +arrest." + +"I have been led to understand that you are a very dangerous character," +said File, looking Merry over in some surprise. "You do not seem so at +first glance." + +Frank smiled a bit. + +"I assure you I am not in the least dangerous," he said. "I surrender +without the least resistance." + +Eliot Dodge stood in the background, rubbing his hands together and +grinning. + +"Mr. Dodge," said the city marshal, "will you be good enough to relieve +this young man of his weapons." + +"Eh?" said Dodge nervously. "I--I--yes, sir." + +He came forward and took Frank's revolvers, handling them gingerly, as +if fearing they would explode in his hands. He passed them over to File, +who afterward searched Merry himself. + +In spite of Frank's coolness, he was indignant over the outrage. + +Mrs. Arlington astonished the doctor by seeming stronger and better +than she had been since it was known that June had disappeared. + +"Now I have you!" she said exultantly. "If you do not tell me at once +where my daughter may be found it will go still harder with you." + +Merry gave her a look of pity. + +"Madam," he said, "I fear that you are not in your right senses. Your +action in coming to this part of the country and bringing your daughter +here, where you have had dealings with ruffians, confirms me in this +belief. I cannot believe you would do such things if perfectly sane." + +"You insult me!" she exclaimed, tossing her head. "But you shall pay +dearly for your insults! The law will punish you!" + +"And are you to stand clear of the law--you, who have incited ruffians +to attack me and my property? I am well aware that law and justice may +frequently be two different things; but I fancy it will be to your +discomfort to have the whole truth come out. I know a ruffian called +Cimarron Bill fired at me from the window of this very room. How came he +here unless by your permission? And were you in partnership with a man +of his character in an attempted murder?" + +Frank's fearless words struck home, and the woman turned pale, in spite +of herself. + +"Oh, doctor!" she said, sinking back on the couch. + +The astonished physician, who had remained dumb and staring through the +most of this scene, now cried to Frank: + +"See what you have done! See what you have done!" + +"She brought it on herself," retorted Merry, turning away, his heart +hardened toward the woman. "I have ridden a hundred miles to do +everything in my power to find her daughter and restore her to her +mother, and I am--arrested!" + +There was deep bitterness in his tone and manner. + +"Mr. File," he said, "I am ready to go with you, sir." + +"Hold! Wait!" called Mrs. Arlington from the couch. "Tell me where you +have taken my daughter!" + +Frank gave her a look, shook his head a bit, and again turned away. + +"Oh, tell me!" pleaded the wretched mother. "I can't bear this suspense! +My poor June!" + +Then she sat bolt upright and almost screamed: + +"If you harm a hair of her head, I'll make you regret it until the day +of your death! You'll be conpelled to tell! I'm going to see that you +are sent to prison! I'll make a convict of you!" + +Frank did not retort. As he was walking out with File's hand on his +shoulder, the woman fell on her knees and begged him to restore her +daughter. + +"Too bad!" said Merry, when the door was closed. "I believe she really +thinks I know something about the girl." + +File said nothing until they had descended to the street. On the steps +of the hotel he paused and looked hard at Frank. + +"Young man," he said, "you don't act to me like a desperado. I'm +mightily disappointed in you. From what I heard, I supposed you a +ruffian. To tell you the truth, I'm rather inclined in your favor." + +"Thank you," said Frank, with a bit of bitterness. "Little good that +does me, although I am grateful to know that I have not become +villainous in appearance. I came here to do that woman a favor, knowing +all the while that she hated me, and this is the way I have been +received." + +"Why did you take so much pains to come?" + +"Because I know her daughter, a handsome, refined, noble-hearted girl. +It was not for the woman's sake, but for her daughter's that I put +myself to the trouble that has drawn me into this scrape, Mr. File. Tell +me, what has been done to find and rescue June Arlington?" + +"Everything possible," said the city marshal. "But the girl seems to +have disappeared off the face of the earth. She vanished in the very +heart of this town, too. It's a most mysterious affair. Mr. Merriwell, I +regret that my duty compelled me to place you under arrest and now +compels me to lock you up. I hope circumstances may give you your +freedom very soon." + +Frank was somewhat touched by these simple words. + +"Go ahead," he said. "But you had better get me under lock and key +before my friends find out what has happened. They might raise trouble, +and I don't want to see anybody hurt over this affair." + +So they started down the street, walking side by side, like two friends. +File did not even keep a hand on Merry. + +They had proceeded but a short distance when a man suddenly appeared in +the open doorway of a saloon. Frank saw the pistol in the man's hand, +and he recognized his mortal enemy, Cimarron Bill. + +As Bill appeared in that doorway, Merry knew the fellow's purpose was to +make a second attempt to kill him, and Frank was unarmed and +defenseless, under arrest at the time. + +As Bill's weapon came up Frank made a sidelong spring. He did this at +the very instant, it seemed, that the revolver spoke. The fact was that +he sprang a trifle before the shot was fired. His movement seemed much +like that of a man death-smitten by a bullet, and Cimarron Bill dodged +back at once, believing he had accomplished his dastardly purpose. + +Frank was not touched. + +But the bullet meant for him had found a human target. Ben File swayed +from side to side, his legs buckling beneath him, and fell into +Merriwell's arms. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +BILL HIKES OUT. + + +"Got it!" whispered File huskily. "He nailed me good and plenty that +time!" + +Without a word, fearing Cimarron Bill might discover he had shot the +wrong man and seek to rectify his bad work, Frank lifted File in his +muscular arms and ran into a store with him. + +The city marshal was stretched on a counter. + +"Send for a doctor!" commanded Merry. "And turn out a posse to take +Cimarron Bill. He fired the shot." + +At the mention of Cimarron Bill, however, consternation reigned. The +desperado was all too well known in Holbrook, and scarcely a man in all +the place cared to face him. + +"No use," said File faintly. "Nobody'll dare touch Bill. He'll get out +of town deliberately without being molested." + +"Impossible!" exclaimed Merry. "Why, you don't mean to say they will let +that murderous hound escape?" + +"He'll escape now that I'm flat. There's not a man in Holbrook that +dares face him." + +"You're mistaken!" said Merry. "There is one man!" + +"What one?" + +"This one!" + +"You?" + +"Yes." + +"Do you mean to say----" + +"That I dare face that man! Give me my weapons and I'll go out and get +him!" + +Ben File looked at the boyish young man incredulously. + +"You don't know what you're talking about," he said, as they were trying +to stop the bleeding of his wound, which was in his left side. "That man +has a record. He's the deadliest ruffian in Arizona. He would kill you." + +"I don't believe it," said Frank. "I've seen his like before. Give me my +revolvers, and I'll go take him. I'll bring him to you if you live!" + +File fumbled in his huge pockets and brought out Merry's long-barreled +revolvers. + +"Go ahead if you want to," he said. "Somehow I take stock in you, though +I'm afraid it's your funeral you're going to. Anyhow, if I'm booked to +cash in, I don't mind giving you a show to levant. Here comes the +doctor." + +The same red-faced little man came rushing into the store, brought there +by a messenger who had gone in search of him. + +Frank examined his weapons, and then walked out of the store. + +There was considerable excitement on the street, caused by the shooting. +Merry minded no one, yet kept his eyes wide open for every one. As fast +as he could step he proceeded straight to the open door from which +Cimarron Bill had fired the shot. He had a pistol in either hand when he +stepped through that doorway. + +As he had expected, it was a saloon. Three persons were in the room, but +Cimarron Bill was not there. + +"Gentlemen," said Merry, "I'll be obliged if you will tell me where I +can find the white-livered cur who just shot Ben File from this +doorway." + +They stared at him as if doubting their senses. + +"If it's Cimarron Bill you're looking for, young man," one of them +finally said, "take my advice and don't. It's the most onhealthy +occupation you can engage in, and I advise----" + +"Cut out the advice," said Merry sharply; "and tell me where the +cowardly dog has gone." + +"He ambled out o' yere directly arter doin' the shootin', and we last +sees him lopin' down the street that-a-way. But you wants to keep a heap +long distance----" + +Frank waited for no more. He was satisfied that Bill had departed just +as the man said, and he wheeled at once and started down the street. + +Merry knew full well what sort of mission he had undertaken, but he was +not daunted in the least by its magnitude. Cimarron Bill was his deadly +foe, but he now saw his opportunity to bring the ruffian to an +accounting for his crimes, and he did not propose to let the chance +slip. + +So he inquired as he passed down the street and found that Bill had +hurried to the saloon kept by Schlitzenheimer. + +Again Merry had his pistols ready when he entered the saloon. Early +though it was, he found four men there engaged in a game of draw poker, +and one of the four was old Joe Crowfoot. + +Schlitzenheimer gave a shout when he saw Frank. + +"My gootness!" he cried. "How you vos? Vere vos dot dalking tog alretty? +I vouldt like to blay dot tog anodder came beenuckle of." + +Frank was disappointed once more in failing to discover Cimarron Bill. +He asked if the man had been there. + +"He vos," nodded Schlitzenheimer. "Und avay he dit his saddle take." + +"He took his saddle?" + +"Yah." + +"Then his saddle was here?" + +"It he dit keep here, vor id vos very valueless," said the Dutchman. "He +vos avraid stolen id would pe. I know Pill. Ven he come und say, 'Vritz, +you tookit my saddles und keepit it a vile undil vor id I call,' I say, +'Yah, you pet.' I haf nod any anxiety him to make some drouble by." + +"If he came for his saddle it is likely he meant to use it. Was he in a +hurry?" + +"Der piggest hurry I ever knewn him to pe indo. Ven I invortationed him +to a drink take, he said he could not sdop vor id." + +"He's on the run!" exclaimed Frank. "Where does he keep his horse when +in town?" + +"Ad Dorvelt's shust down a liddle vays." + +Frank almost ran from the saloon and hurried down the street to +Dorfelt's stable. + +He was stared at in the same wondering amazement when he asked for +Cimarron Bill. + +"Mebbe you has urgent business with that gent?" said one man. + +"I have," answered Merry. "He shot Ben File about ten minutes ago, and I +am after him." + +"Waal, you'll have to hustle to ketch him, an' I 'lows it's jest as well +fer you. His hoss was saddled jest now, an' I opine he's well out o' +town by this time." + +Frank listened to hear no more. On the run, he set out to find his +friends. + +Singularly enough, not one of them knew anything of his arrest, although +they had heard of the shooting. He found them in short order, and what +he told them in a very few words stirred them from lassitude to the +greatest excitement. + +"Fellows," he said, "I'm going to run Cimarron Bill down if it takes a +year! I've given my word to Ben File that I would bring Bill back. I +mean to make good. Are you with me in this chase?" + +They were with him to a man. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +OLD JOE TAKES A DRINK. + + +Away on the horizon, riding to the southeast, was a black speck of a +horseman as Frank, Bart, Jack, and Ephraim galloped out of town on fresh +mounts secured by Merry. + +"There he is!" cried Frank. "We mustn't lose him! We must keep him in +view and run him down before nightfall. Can we do it?" + +"We can try!" said Bart grimly. + +These young fellows seemed made of iron. All their weariness had +vanished, and they sat in their saddles like young Centaurs, with the +exception of Gallup, who could not be graceful at anything. + +"This is what might well be called the strenuous life," observed Jack +Ready. "It's almost too much for my delicate constitution. I fear my +health will be undermined and my lovely complexion will be ruined." + +"He has seen us," declared Frank. "He knows we are after him! It's going +to be a hard chase." + +"How about June Arlington?" asked Bart. + +"When I gave Ben File my word to bring Cimarron Bill back I was under +arrest for kidnaping June Arlington. Had I not made that promise I might +still be under arrest. I must keep my word to File. I hope to do +something for June later." + +So they rode into the scorching desert, seeming to be gaining on the man +ahead for a time. + +The sun poured down mercilessly. Alkali dust rose and filled their +nostrils. Red lizards flashed before them on the ground at rare +intervals. And far ahead the black speck held into the distance. + +"He knows where he's going, fellows," said Frank. "He's not the man to +strike blindly into the desert. He'll come to water and feed before his +horse gives out, and so we must find the same." + +But fate seemed against them. Afar on the desert a haze arose and grew +and became a beautiful lake, its shores lined with waving trees. And in +this mirage the fugitive was swallowed up and lost. When the lake faded +and vanished the black speck could be seen nowhere on the plain. + +"Vanished into a gully of some sort," said Frank. "We must find just +what has become of him." + +So they kept on; but in time they came to feel that the search was +useless. Water they had brought for themselves, together with some +canned food; but the only relief they could give the horses was by +pouring a little water over a sponge and wiping out the dry mouths of +the poor animals. + +They were forced to turn aside and seek some hills, where Frank felt +certain there was a spring. + +Thus it was that nightfall found them at the spring, but Cimarron Bill +was gone, none of them knew where. There was feed for the horses in the +little valley, and they made the best of it. + +Frank was far from pleased. Everything had gone wrong since their +arrival in Holbrook, and the prospect was most discouraging. + +"By gum! it's too bad to hev to give it up," said Ephraim. + +Frank shot him a look. + +"I have no intention of giving it up," he said. "But I confess that I +made one bad mistake." + +"What was that?" + +"I left Crowfoot back there in Schlitzenheimer's saloon playing poker." + +"You think he'll be skinned, do you?" said Bart. + +"Oh, I'm not worrying about that. The old reprobate can take care of +himself. I knew it would be almost impossible to drag him away from that +game, and that was why I did not bother with him. Didn't want to lose +the time. But that redskin can follow a trail that would bother a +bloodhound. If we had taken him at the start, he'd never lost the +scent." + +They lay on the ground and watched the heavens fill with bright stars. +The heat of the day melted into coolness, and all knew it would be cold +before morning. + +Frank had anticipated that they might have to spend the night in this +manner, and blankets had been brought. + +They seemed alone in the wild waste, with no living thing save their +horses within miles and miles. So, with no fear of attack, they wrapped +their blankets about them and slept. + +The wind swept almost icy through the little valley before morning +dawned. As the eastern sky grew pale Frank opened his eyes and sat up. + +A moment later a shout from his lips aroused the others. + +Merry was staring at a familiar figure in a dirty red blanket. In their +very midst old Joe lay stretched, and apparently he had been sleeping as +soundly as any of them. Nor were his slumbers broken by Merry's shout, +which astounded Frank beyond measure, for never before had he known the +old fellow to sleep like that. Always when he had stirred he had found +the beady eyes of the redskin upon him. + +"Behold!" said Jack Ready. "Lo, the noble red man is again within our +midst. But how came it thus?" + +"Waal, may I be honswizzled!" grunted Gallup. + +Frank flung aside his blanket. + +"Something is the matter with him!" he said, in a tone that indicated +anxiety. "If there wasn't, he'd not sleep this way. I wonder what it is. +Is he dead?" + +But when the red blanket was pulled down it was found that Joe lay with +a quart bottle clasped to his heart in a loving embrace. The bottle was +fully two-thirds empty. + +"That explains it!" said Merry, in deep disgust. "The old dog is drunk +as a lord! That's how we happen to have the pleasure of finding him +asleep. I'll give any man fifty dollars who will catch him asleep when +he is perfectly sober." + +"What a picture he doth present!" said Ready. "Look upon it! And yet +there is something in it to bring sadness to the heart. Behold how +tenderly he doth hold the long-necker to his manly buzzum! 'Tis thus +that many a chap hugs a destroyer to his heart." + +"The old sinner!" said Hodge. "I don't see how he got here without +arousing any of us. There's his horse, picketed near the other animals." + +Frank stooped and tried to take the bottle from Joe's clasp, but the +sleeping Indian held it fast. + +"Go heap better five dol's," he muttered in his sleep. + +"He's still playing poker," said Frank. + +He gave Crowfoot a hard shake. + +"Wake up, you copper-colored sot!" he cried. "Wake up and see what +you've got in your hands." + +"Four king," mumbled Joe thickly. "Heap good!" + +At this the boys laughed heartily. + +"That's a pretty good hand!" said Frank. "It takes four aces or a +straight flush to beat it." + +Then he wrenched the bottle away, whereupon the redskin awoke at once. + +"Mine! mine!" he exclaimed, sitting up. + +"It's poison," said Frank, and smashed the bottle. + +With a snarl of fury, the Indian staggered to his feet and made for +Merry, drawing a wicked-looking knife. + +"Look out!" cried Gallup, in consternation. + +Frank leaped to meet old Joe, clutching his wrists and holding him +helpless, while he gazed sternly into the bloodshot eyes of the drunken +old man. + +"What's this, Crowfoot?" he demanded. "Would you strike Strong Heart +with a knife? Would you destroy the brother of Indian Heart? Has the +poison firewater of the white man robbed you of your senses?" + +"Firewater Joe's!" exclaimed the redskin. "No right to spill um! No +right! No right!" + +"I did it for your own good, Crowfoot," said Merry quietly. "You are in +bad shape now. I want you to come out of it. You may be able to help us. +What you need is a good drink of water." + +"Ugh! Water heap good. Joe he take some." + +Immediately Frank released the old man's wrists, and Joe slipped his +knife out of sight with something like a show of shame. + +In another moment Merry had his canteen, filled it at the spring, and +handed it to Crowfoot, who gravely took it and began to drink. The boys +stood around, and their eyes bulged as the old man held the canteen to +his mouth, tipping it more and more skyward, a deep gurgling coming from +his throat. He continued to drink until the canteen was quite emptied, +when he lowered it with perfect gravity, wiped his lips with the back of +his hand, and observed: + +"Joe him a little dry!" + +"Well, I should say so!" smiled Frank. "Your interior must have been as +parched as an alkali desert, Joe." + +"If he takes many drinks like that," said Ready, with a queer twist of +his mug, "there'll be a drought in this country that will make an +ordinary dry spell look like a back number." + +Crowfoot did not smile. Giving back the canteen, he sat down on the +ground, resting his elbows on his knees and taking his head in his +hands. He was the picture of misery and dejection. + +"Injun big fool!" he groaned. "Last night feel much good; to-day feel a +lot bad. Big pain in head." + +"We've all been there many's the time," sang Jack Ready softly. + +Then the eccentric chap sat down on the ground beside the redskin, about +whom he placed an arm. + +"Joseph," he said, "methinks I know how it is! I have felt that way heap +often. Ugh! Sick all over." + +Joe grunted. + +"Nothing worth living for." + +Another grunt. + +"Much rather be dead with the beautiful daisies growing on my grave than +living in such misery." + +Again a grunt. + +"Internal organs all out of gear, stomach on a strike, head bigger than +a barrel. Are those the symptoms, Joseph?" + +"Much so," confessed old Joe. + +"Joseph, you have my sympathy. You've never been to college, but you +have received part of a college education. I have taken my degree in +that branch. I'm a P. M. of J. C.--Past Master of Jag Carriers. But I +have reformed, and now 'lips that touch wine shall never touch mine.' +Joseph, I would reclaim you. I would woo you tenderly from the jag path +that leadeth to destruction. It is broad and inviting at first, but +toward the finish it is rough, and hubbly, and painful to travel. Pause +while there is yet time. My heart yearns to save you from destruction. +Listen to the pearly words of wisdom, that drop from my sweet lips. Shun +the jag juice and stick to the water-wagon. Heed this advice and your +days shall be long ere you pass to the happy hunting-grounds." + +"Heap talk a lot," said Joe; "no say anything. Make Injun lot sicker!" + +Gallup laughed heartily, slapping his knee. + +"That's right, by gum!" he cried. "The wind blows ev'ry time Jack opens +his maouth." + +"You are jealous," said Ready. "You are jealous of my wisdom and +eloquence. Get thee behind me, Nose Talk! Your face is painful to look +upon." + +"Don't you go to makin' that kind of gab!" snapped Gallup. "If yeou do, +dinged if I don't jolt ye one in the slats!" + +"Such language! Slats! I'm shocked! Never have you heard words of slang +ripple from my tuneful vocal chords. I disdain such frivolity! Slang +gives me a pain! Go lay down!" + +"Lay!" snorted Ephraim. "I'm no hen!" + +"Let's have breakfast," said Hodge. "We may as well get on the move +before it grows too hot." + +It did not take long to prepare breakfast, but old Joe seemed to grow +ill at the sight of food. All he wanted was water, and he threatened to +drink the weak little spring dry. After a time, he seemed more inclined +to talk. + +"No ketch Cim'r'n Bill?" he said. + +"So you found out we were after him?" said Frank. + +"Ugh!" nodded the Indian. "Joe no big fool only when firewater is to +get. He play poke', all time him keep ear open. Mebbe him learn a whole +lot." + +"It's quite likely. If you had been with us yesterday, we might have +stuck to Bill's trail. Now it is lost, and he may get away." + +"Crowfoot he know how find Bill." + +"What's that? You know how to find him?" + +"Ugh!" + +"Well, that is interesting, for I am bound to find him. I gave Ben File +my word to bring Bill back, and I'm going to keep that promise. If you +can help----" + +"You bet!" grunted Joe. + +"How did you find out so much?" + +"Joe him take drink in saloon. Keep much careful not git full. Make um +believe so. Go sleep. Hear men talk in whisper. Waugh! Find out a heap." + +"Well, you're a clever old rascal!" cried Merry; "and I'm in love with +you!" + +"Joe him play game pritty slick," said the Indian. "Same time him get +one, two, three drink. That bad. Make um want heap more. Make um take +firewater when um git out town." + +"So you really got drunk because you were trying to do me a good turn?" +said Merry. "Joe, I appreciate it! But what did you hear?" + +"Bill him go to Sunk Hole." + +"Sunk Hole?" cried Frank. "That place?" + +"Where's that?" asked Hodge, who was deeply interested. + +"Down in the White Mountain region, near the head of Coyote Creek." + +"Why did you exclaim, 'That place?'" + +"Because it is a camp made up of the worst characters to be found in the +Southwest. It is a place without law and order of any sort. Murderers, +gamblers, and knaves in general flee there when in danger. They are +banded together to defy the law. Travelers who happen into that wretched +place seldom come forth. At times the ruffians quarrel among themselves +and shoot and kill with impunity. The people of the Territory have more +than once asked that the place be invaded by troops and wiped off the +map. It is a standing disgrace." + +"An' Cimarron Bill has gone there?" asked Ephraim Gallup, his eyes +bulging. + +"So Joe says." + +"Waal, I ruther guess yeou'll take a couple of thinks afore ye foller +him any furder." + +"I shall follow him into Sunk Hole if I live!" declared Merry grimly; +"and I mean to bring him out of the place, dead or alive. I do not ask +the rest of you to risk your lives with me. You are at liberty to turn +back. Joe----" + +"Him stick by Strong Heart!" declared the old Indian quickly. "You bet!" + +"Thank you, Joe!" said Frank. "I shall need you to show me the road to +the place, for I have heard Sunk Hole is not easy to find." + +"I hope," said Bart Hodge quietly, "that you do not fancy for a moment +that I'm not going with you? I don't think you would insult me, Frank, +by entertaining such a thought. I shall be with you through thick and +thin." + +"Dear me!" said Ready. "How brave you are! Please stand in the glow of +the limelight where we can admire your heroic pose! La! la! You are a +sweet creature, and one to make the matinée girls rave with adoration." + +"Don't get so funny!" growled Hodge, who always took Ready's chaffing +with poor grace. + +"Softly! softly!" smiled Jack, with a flirt of his hand. "Let not your +angry passions rise. You can't play the bold and fearless hero any +better than can your humble servant. I'm in this, and you want to watch +me and note what a bold front I put on. I'll wager a lead nickle you +will begin to think me utterly fearless, and all the while, beyond a +doubt, I'll be shaking in my boots. Oh, I can make an excellent bluff +when I have to." + +"Bluff heap good sometime," said Crowfoot. "Mebbe bluff take pot." + +"But it's a mighty poor thing if the other fellow suspects and calls," +said Jack. + +"Waal," drawled Gallup, "darn my punkins! I s'pose I'm in fer it, but I +kinder wisht I was to hum on the farm." + +Frank knew the Vermonter well enough not to fancy by those words that +Ephraim was badly frightened. It was Gallup's way of expressing himself, +and, even though he might be afraid in advance, the tall, lank fellow +always showed up well "in a pinch." + +"Then it's settled," said Merry. "We all go." + +"Joe him not talk all he find out," put in the Indian. + +"Is there more? Well, give it to us quick. There are many miles of +alkali between here and Sunk Hole." + +"Joe him hear men whisper 'bout gal." + +"Eh? About a girl?" + +"Ugh!" + +"Then it must be about June Arlington? What did they say?" + +"Mebbe Bill him know where she is." + +"What?" cried Merry, clutching the redskin by the arm. "Is that +possible?" + +"Reckon um heap so." + +"Then there is a double reason why I should get my hands on Cimarron +Bill!" + +"Mebbe Joe he no hear right; no could ketch all men whisper. He think +gal she be took to Sunk Hole." + +Frank reeled, his face going white. + +"Merciful Heaven!" he gasped. "June Arlington, innocent little June! in +that dreadful place? Come, fellows, we must go! June Arlington there? +The thought is horrifying! If that is true, Cimarron Bill may go free +until I can do my best to get June out of that sink of wickedness! Come, +fellows--come!" + +"We are ready!" they cried, in response. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +FRANK IN SUNK HOLE. + + +The Great Dipper indicated by its position that the hour was not far +from midnight. Crowfoot halted and pointed downward, where, in the gloom +of a round valley, a few lights twinkled. + +"Sunk Hole!" he said. + +"At last!" breathed Frank. + +The others stood in silence, looking down at those lights. Suddenly they +started, for to their ears came the sound of music, dimly heard because +of the distance. + +"Perchance my ears deceive me," said Ready; "but I fancy I hear the +soothing strains of a fiddle." + +"Sure as fate!" exclaimed Bart Hodge. + +"Listen!" cautioned Merry. + +There were other sounds, a sing-song cry at intervals, and then hoarse +laughter and several wild whoops. + +"By gum!" exclaimed Gallup. "Saounds jest like one of them air country +dances they uster hev over to Billing's Corners, Varmount. The boys +called them 'hog wrastles.'" + +"See," said Merry, "there is one place that seems more brightly lighted +than the others. It's right in the center of the other lights. Fellows, +I believe there is a dance going on down there!" + +"Just what I'm beginning to think," said Bart. + +"My! my! How nice!" exclaimed Jack. "Let's go right down and get into +it! Balance your partners all! All hands around! Let her sizzle!" + +"That would be a splendid place for you to get into a dance!" said Frank +sarcastically. + +"But a dance there!" exclaimed Hodge. + +"It does seem mighty strange," agreed Frank. "Still something of the +kind is going on. Hear 'em yell!" + +And now they could faintly hear the sound of feet keeping time to the +music. + +"We've struck this place in a most excellent time to get into it," said +Merry. "I suppose one of us ought to go back and watch the horses." + +The horses had been left in a little pocket some distance behind and +they had climbed on foot to the point where they could look down into +the round valley. + +"No need watch um now," said Joe. "Um hosses all picket fast. We go down +there, better go quick." + +"Correct," agreed Frank. "Just show us how to get down." + +"Follow," said the redskin. "Take heap care." + +The path over which he led them, if path it may be called, was +precarious enough. At times they felt that they were on the edge of some +precipice, with a great fall lying beneath. But the aged redskin went +forward with surprising swiftness, causing them all to strain every +nerve to keep up with him, and in time he brought them down into the +valley. + +"Take lot care," cautioned Crowfoot. "Have guns reddy. No can tell. May +have to use um 'fore git out." + +"It's quite likely," said Merry grimly. + +So they all made sure that their pistols could be drawn quickly and +readily, and then they crept toward the dark huts, from the windows of +which lights gleamed. + +The sounds of fiddling and dancing grew plainer and plainer. Now and +then a shout would awake the echoes. + +"Where do they find their 'ladies' for a dance?" asked Hodge +wonderingly. + +"Oh, there are a few women in this hole," answered Merry. "Perhaps +others have come in." + +They reached the first hut and paused where they could peer along the +street, if such it could be called, for the huts had been built here and +there, so that the road between them zig-zagged like a drunken man. + +In the very center of the place was the building, somewhat larger than +its neighbors, from which came the sounds of revelry. Doors and windows +were wide open. The music having stopped, there might be heard a hum of +voices, and then the wild, reckless laugh of a woman floated out upon +the night air. + +Frank shuddered a little as he heard the sound, which, to his ears, was +more pitiful and appalling than any cry of distress that could fall from +female lips. + +"Poor creature!" he thought. "To what depths has she fallen!" + +They went forward again, slipping around a corner, and Merry stumbled +and fell over the body of a man that was lying prone on the ground. + +"Hold on!" he whispered. "Let's see what we have here. It's a man, but I +wonder if he is living or dead." + +He knelt and felt for the man's heart. + +"Living all right," he declared; "but dead in one sense--dead drunk! +Whew! what a vile smell of liquor!" + +"Let him lie," said Hodge. + +"I have a fancy to take a peep at him," said Frank. "Hold still. I want +a match. I have one." + +Bringing out a match, he struck it and shaded it with his hands, +throwing the light on the prostrate man. + +The light of the match showed them that the fellow was an unusually +large Mexican, dressed after the custom of his people in somewhat soiled +finery. + +"Dead to the world!" sighed Jack Ready softly. + +The match died out in Frank's fingers, but Merry did not rise. + +"What are you doing?" asked Jack. "Are you accumulating his valuables?" + +"Hardly," said Merry. "I'm thinking." + +"Can such a thing make you think! What is passing in your massive +brain?" + +"I have an idea." + +"That's more than Ready ever hed," muttered Gallup. + +"Fellows," said Frank, "this man's clothes ought to be a fairly good fit +for me." + +"Well, what of it?" + +"I'm going to wear them. Get hold here, and we'll carry him aside where +there'll be little chance that any one will stumble upon us. Let's move +lively." + +They did as directed, although wondering why Frank should wish to +exchange clothes with the drunken Mexican. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +THE DANCE IN SUNK HOLE. + + +A low-ceiled room with a bar at the end near the door. The odor of +smoke, liquor, and perspiration. The place lighted with oil-lamps having +dirty chimneys. The lights of the lamps dancing and flaring to the stamp +of many heavy-shod feet. A maze of human beings whirling, shifting, +prancing, and cutting figures on the floor. Rough-looking men, bearded +and armed; disheveled women, their faces glowing with excitement and +from the effects of drink. At the far end of the room an old man, +mounted on a square box and seated on a chair, sawing away for dear life +at his fiddle, while he called the figures in a sing-song tone. + +And this was the way the fiddler called: + + "First couple balance and swing, + Promenade the inside ring, + Promenade the outside ring, + Balance and swing and cast off six, + Ladies to the right and gents to the left. + Swing the one you swung before, + Down the center and cast off four, + Swing the one that comes to you, + Down the center and cast off two." + +The men were such as most women would avoid. With few exceptions, they +had wicked faces. They had been drinking, and at intervals some elated +and enthusiastic fellow would utter a blood-curdling yell. + +But the figures they cut were laughable at times. They "spanked 'er +down" furiously. They seized their partners and swung them until often +they were lifted off their feet. But those were not the sort of women to +mind. + +Three or four of the citizens of Sunk Hole were married. Two had +daughters old enough to be present at the dance. Other "ladies" had come +in from the surrounding country, brought there by their partners. + +There were a number of Mexicans in the crowd, and three or four Mexican +women. + +Into this smoky room came yet another Mexican, a young man, dressed in +soiled finery, his wide-brimmed high-peaked hat shading his face. He had +a little mustache that was pointed on the ends, and he walked with a +swagger. Immediately on entering he made for the bar and called for a +drink. + +Had any one been watching him closely that person must have noticed that +he did not drink the stuff put out to him, but slyly and deftly tossed +the contents of the glass into a corner under the bar. + +This newcomer was Frank Merriwell, who had disguised himself as well as +possible and boldly walked into this den of ruffians. + +Having pretended to drink, Frank stood back in a retired spot and looked +the dancers over. + +In a moment his eyes fell on Cimarron Bill, who had a Mexican girl for +a partner and was enjoying himself in his own peculiar way. + +Frank knew it would not be safe to come face to face with Bill, although +he saw at once that the desperado had been drinking heavily and could +barely "navigate" through the mazes of the dance. + + "Gents chassé and put on style, + Resash and a little more style-- + Little more style, gents, little more style," + +sang the fiddler; and the dancers strictly obeyed the admonition by +putting on all the style of which they were capable. + +Under different circumstances Merry would have been amused by the +spectacle; and even now, for all of his peril, he was greatly +interested. + +Cimarron Bill was not habitually a hard drinker, but on this occasion he +had surprised everybody present by the amount of whisky he had imbibed. +He seemed determined to get intoxicated, and it was plain that he was +making a success of it. + +Frank did not wish to dance if he could avoid it, knowing he might be +brought face to face with Bill in the course of some of the figures. + +All around the sides of the room men were leaning and looking on, some +of them laughing and calling to various dancers. + +"Go it, Seven Spot!" + +"Spank it down, Dandy!" + +"Steady, Pie Face! Your left hoof belongs to the church!" + +"See Honeydew! He's a holy terror!" + +"Watch Lanky Jim cut a pigeon wing!" + +"Say, Big Kate can dance some! You bet your boots!" + +"Hi! hi! There goes Sweet William, plumb off his pins!" + +Now the fiddler was calling: + + "First lady out to the right; + Swing the man that stole the sheep, + Now the one that packed it home, + Now the one that eat the meat, + Now the one that gnawed the bones." + +Frank found an opportunity to slip along the wall toward the back of the +room. No one seemed to pay any attention to him until he accidentally +stepped on a big fellow's foot. Instantly he was given a shove, and the +man growled: + +"What in thunder ails ye, you yaller-skinned greaser? Keep off my corns, +ur I'll make hash o' you with my toad-sticker!" + +"Pardon, seńor, pardon!" entreated Merry, in a soft voice, with an +accent that seemed perfectly natural. "I deed not mean to do eet, +seńor." + +"Ef I'd 'lowed ye did I'd sure slashed ye without no talk whatever!" was +the retort. + +Having no desire to get into trouble, Merry took great pains to avoid +stepping on another foot, and he finally reached the point he sought. In +the corner at the far end of the room there was not so much light. A +bench ran along there, and Frank found a seat on it, where he could +lean against the thin board partition, and he did not mind if some of +the men stood up before him so that he was partly screened. + +Merry knew full well that he had done a most reckless thing in entering +that place, where all around him were ruffians and murderers; but there +was something about the adventure that he relished, and the danger gave +it a spice that was far from disagreeable. + +He thanked his lucky stars that this dance had given him the opportunity +to get in there without attracting any more attention. + + "Meet your partner and all chaw hay, + You know where and I don't care, + Seat your partner in the old armchair." + +That particular dance ended with this call from the fiddler; but there +were no armchairs in which the ladies could be seated, and Merry crowded +up into the corner in order to be as inconspicuous as possible and to +escape being disturbed. + +There was a general rush for the bar, the fiddler getting down from his +box and hastening across the floor, wiping his mouth with the back of +his hand. Some of the women accompanied their partners to the bar and +drank with them. + +Such depravity was not pleasant to witness, and Merry felt pity for the +fallen creatures. Sentiment, however, he sought to put aside, thinking +only of the dangerous mission that had brought him into that nest of +gambolling tigers. + +Two men sat down near Merry. They had been dancing, and observed, with +some lurid embellishments, that it was hot. Then one of them said +something that interested Frank. + +"Bill's goin' it a whole lot stiff to-night." + +"That's whatever. Never saw him punish the razzle juice this way afore." + +"You know why, mebbe." + +"Waal, I opine he's some irked up over his mistake in Holbrook. First +time he ever shot the wrong gent. He warn't gunnin' fer File. It was +another galoot he was after." + +"I jedge that's the matter with him. Bandy tried to joke him some about +it, an' Bandy came mighty near gettin' his." + +"Bandy's a dern fool! He should 'a' knowed better than to shoot off his +mouth at Bill." + +"I say so. But Bill he's a-playin' a right steep game in that thar gal +business." + +"Bill kin play his keerds. You let him alone." + +"No danger o' me chippin' in. They say the gal's folks are a heap rich." + +"I opine so, else Bill he'd never taken so much trouble over her." + +"Oh, I dunno; she's the purtiest leetle thing I ever set my blinkers on. +I 'lowed mebbe Bill was lookin' some fer a wife." + +"Wife--northin'! He's lookin' fer the dust. Why, he sent word as how +he'd skin the galoot what dared hurt her or even say somethin' impolite +afore her." + +"Let me tell you somethin'." + +"Fire erway." + +"Han'some Charley has seen that gal, an' I 'low he's taken a likin' to +her a whole lot. Bill better look sharp, ur Charley will sure get away +with her." + +"I ain't the one to give Charley no advice, but if I were, I'd whisper +fer him to think twice afore tryin' it." + +"Charley's some clever. Look, thar he is a-drinkin' with Bill now. Say, +pard, I've got an idee that Charley's doin' his best to load Bill +to-night. If that's so, he's got somethin' up his sleeve, an' we want to +look right sharp fer a breeze afore this dance is over. I'm goin' to +stand ready to duck instanter when the shootin' begins." + +Frank could peer past a man in front of him without moving and see the +person referred to as Handsome Charley, who was drinking with Cimarron +Bill at the bar. This man was larger than Bill and heavier. He had a +flushed, reckless face that wore a smile nearly all the time. He had a +dark mustache and imperial, and there was about him the atmosphere of a +dashing desperado. + +Charley at this time seemed very friendly with Cimarron Bill, and it was +plain that he was urging Bill to drink again. + +"All right," thought Frank; "I'll watch you both." + +At this moment a man appeared in the open door and looked timidly into +the room. + +At sight of this man Frank gave a start in spite of his wonderful +nerve, and it was only with the greatest difficulty that he kept himself +from crying forth a name. + +Eliot Dodge, the crafty lawyer with the blue nose, stood there in the +door. No wonder Merry was astounded to see that man appear in such a +place and at such a time. + +Dodge was rather pale, but an expression of relief flashed over his face +when his eyes fell on Cimarron Bill. Then he stepped into the room. + +Bill seemed no less astonished, but he advanced to meet Dodge, holding +out his hand, which the lawyer accepted. + +"However is this, Mr. Dodge?" inquired Bill. "I sure am a whole lot +surprised to meet up with you here--that is, I'm surprised to have it +occur so soon. Will you wash the dust out of your throat?" + +"Don't care if I do," said Dodge, and they crowded nearer to the bar. + +"Bill, I thinks mebbe you might present yer friend," chipped in Handsome +Charley. + +"Waal, Charley," said Bill, "this yere is Mr.----" + +"Lewis," interposed Dodge quickly. + +"Mr. Lewis," said Bill queerly. "Mr. Lewis, permit me to make you +acquainted with Charley Sears, generally called Handsome Charley. Will +you take a little pisen with us, Charley?" + +Handsome Charley gave Dodge his hand, which the lawyer shook gingerly, +his coolness causing the fellow to frown. + +They all drank, and Bill lurched, catching at the edge of the bar. + +"'Scuse me," he said, with unusual politeness. "Always makes me dizzy to +dance. There is a right good lot of whirlin' around in it, you know." + +Charley smiled. + +"You had a fine partner that last dance, Bill; but you ought to bring +out that handsome gal an' take a spin with her, man. I 'low it ain't +right to keep her under kiver when every gent yere is yearnin' to set +eyes on her." + +"They'll have to keep right on yearnin'," averred Bill, frowning. + +"You're gettin' a whole lot selfish," declared Charley. "Are you afeared +some other gent will git her away from ye if you brings her out?" + +"None at all, Charley. But she ain't for this gang to hustle around any, +and that's level." + +At this the other seemed to take offense. + +"I opine, Bill," he said, "that you don't set yourself up as a heap +better than the rest of this gang?" + +The cruel face of Cimarron Bill took on an expression that was a +warning. + +"Charley," he said, in a low, smooth voice, with one hand on the bar to +steady himself, "I am willing to confess that you disturbs me some. I +has my reasons for not bringin' the gal out, an' you'll sure excuse me +if I don't recite them none at present. Some other time I may explain." + +But Charley persisted. + +"Some other time it will be too late," he said. "I'm certain looking to +dance one set with the little beauty myself, Bill." + +"Sorry to disappoint you," returned Bill; "but the young lady doesn't +dance none, if you want to know one good reason." + +"Well, at least, you can bring her forth and permit us to gaze upon her +a while," suggested Charley. + +"Not to-night," was the firm retort. + +"Then it certain will seem a heap like you thought her too good for us, +and the boys won't like that a great deal if I tell 'em so." + +Bill leaned on the bar, his back against it and his elbows resting so +that his hands were close to his hips. In that manner he stood perfectly +steady, and he was in a position to draw his pistols quickly. + +"Charley," he said, his voice like the purring of a cat, all the +thickness seeming gone from his tongue, while his wicked eyes narrowed +to two thin slits, "I don't think you'll go for to say anything whatever +to the boys on this point. You are my friend, I opine. Am I sure right +on that?" + +At this juncture Handsome Charley realized all at once that Bill was not +yet drunk enough not to be deadly. Charley's eyes noted in a flash how +the man had steadied himself and was ready for anything, and Charley +decided that the time was not yet ripe for bringing on a quarrel. + +"Of course I'm your friend, Bill!" he said, with pretended heartiness, +"and whatever you says goes with me. I was just speakin' because I has +heard some of the boys growlin' over this business. That's all." + +Bill smiled, but his smile was anything but pleasant. + +"If any o' the boys growl around in your hearin' some more," he said, +"refer 'em to me, please. I reckons I can certain stop their growlin' in +a hurry." + +"All right, all right!" nodded Charley. + +"And you, pard," Bill went on--"you, I judge, will say to them that I +know my business a-plenty, and that you backs me up. Eh?" + +"Sure, sure, Bill." + +"I thought you would," nodded the desperado with the deadly eyes. "I +opined I could depend on you." + +"You bet! Have another drink, you and Mr. Lewis?" + +"Excuse us, please," urged Bill. "I hates most mortally to decline; but +I has some business to transact with Mr. Lewis, an' I says business +first an' pleasure arterwards. Arter we has settled the business I'll +stand up here to this yere bar an' drink with you as long as the pisen +lasts. Is that all satisfactory like?" + +This question was put in a manner that indicated beyond question that it +would be best for Charley to acknowledge that it was satisfactory, and +the acknowledgment was made. + +"Thanks," bowed Bill. "You're a sure enough gent, Charley, an' I'll +shoot the galoot what says to the contrary! An' now I reckons you'll +excuse us a while. Come, Mr. Lewis, thar's a small back room, an' we'll +jest step in thar." + +Through this Dodge had stood there pale to the lips, with the exception +of his blue nose, for he realized that these men were on the verge of a +disagreement, and he understood that a disagreement between them meant +shooting in short order. Bill, however, had won out by a display of calm +assurance and nerve, which was remarkable, considering his condition. + +The ruffian slipped an arm through that of Dodge, and they crossed the +floor and passed through a narrow door just as the fiddler resumed his +seat and called for the men to select partners and form for the next +dance. + +Frank had watched every move, realizing full well that there was a +possibility of a "gun play" between those two desperadoes. He was unable +to hear what passed between them, but still he fancied he knew the bulk +of it, and, in spite of himself, in spite of the character of the man, +he could not help admitting Cimarron Bill's masterfulness. Frank +comprehended that Charley had thought at first of forcing a quarrel, but +had been cowed by Bill's manner. + +The agitation of Eliot Dodge was also quite apparent. Merry had already +marked Dodge down as a coward. + +When the two men passed into the back room Frank longed to follow them. +He sat there, wondering what course to pursue. + +That June Arlington was somewhere in Sunk Hole he now felt certain. The +talk of the two men who had been seated near him was assurance enough on +that point. + +But where was she? How was he to find and rescue her? This task he now +understood as the most important one before him and the one to which he +was to give his attention at once, regardless of the capture of Bill, +which could be accomplished later. + +As he sat there, thinking the affair over and seeking to decide on some +course to pursue, he was surprised and pleased to distinctly hear Bill +speaking in the room beyond the board partition. These boards were thin +and badly matched, so that there were large cracks at intervals. One of +these cracks happened to be just behind Frank's head. By shifting his +position slightly, he brought his ear close to the crack. + +The fiddler was tuning up, and the rough men and women were laughing as +they formed on the floor for the next dance. + +Frank was able to concentrate his mind on anything he chose, at the same +time becoming quite oblivious to everything else; and now he shut out +the sounds of the room in which he sat and listened with all his ability +to hear what passed beyond the partition. + +"Sure, partner," Bill's voice was saying, "it surprises me a whole lot +to see you come pokin' in here. However did you git here?" + +"Terry came with me all the way. You said he would bring word to you +from me, but I could not wait. I wanted to have a talk with you face to +face, without trusting to any middle man. I felt that I must do it, and +that's what brought me here for one thing." + +"Waal, here you are, and now open up. I'm ready to listen to anything +whatever you has to say." + +"In the first place," Frank distinctly heard Dodge say, "Ben File is +dead." + +"Say you so?" exclaimed Bill, and his voice indicated regret. "I allow +I'm a-plenty sorry." + +"It was bad work." + +"That's right. Don't know how I happened to do anything like that. Never +did afore. I saw Merriwell make a jump, and I thought from the way he +done it the bullet sure had gone clean through him." + +"And you never touched him!" + +"Don't rub it in harder than you kin help, Mr. Dodge!" + +"Hush! Don't speak that name here! It must not get out that I'm in this +game! It would ruin me!" + +"That's all right, pard; no danger. Hear the racket out yonder in that +room. Nobody would ever think o' tryin' to hear what we're sayin'." + +"Still it will be better to keep on calling me Lewis. It's a dangerous +game we've tackled, and I want to get it through in a hurry now. That's +why I'm here." + +"Waal, whatever do you say is the next move?" + +"Merriwell got out of Holbrook right after you." + +"I knows it. The gent sure chases me a distance, but he gits lost, +together with his pards, some time afore night." + +"Well, now is the time to make the demand on Mrs. Arlington for the +ransom money. It must be rushed along. She's in a state of mind so that +she'll be sure to give up easy now. I've waited for this, and I find she +will pay well to have June returned to her unharmed." + +"That's a heap soothin' and agreeable news. I has waited fer you to say +when it was best to make the demand on the old lady." + +"And I've waited until I felt sure she was so distressed and agitated +that she would yield. She did not wish her husband to know of her +presence here, and so she sent no word to him at first. Now she has +wired him the whole facts, and we can reckon that he'll be coming this +way as fast as steam can carry him. It's best to get the whole deal +through, if possible, before he shows up." + +"I'm for it." + +"You must write a demand on the woman for the boodle. She has diamonds +and jewels with her on which she can raise ten thousand dollars. Make +her raise it at once. Don't let her delay. Frighten her into it." + +"I opines I can do that. I'll give her a scorcher. I'll tell her the gal +is all safe an' onharmed, but she has to plunk down instanter or I'll +send her one o' Miss June's fingers to hurry her up a leetle." + +"That will go. I think that ought to start her." + +"If you says so, I'll make it stiffer. What if I adds that one o' the +gal's prittey hands will foller? or an ear--mebbe that's better?" + +"As you choose. Say that the money is to be placed in my hands to be +delivered to your agent, who will meet me on the open plain ten miles +from Holbrook in whatever direction you choose. Then I can ride out with +it and come back, and you can bring the girl into town under cover of +night." + +"I reckon that ought to work, partner. This yere game is your plannin', +an' I falls inter it because I reckons it was easier than gittin' ahead +o' Merriwell an' seizin' the mine. Had I shot up Merriwell, instead o' +File, I'd 'a' called on the lady hard fer the price, which, together +with the money I'll get out o' this strike, would have made me easy for +a right good while." + +"I'm against your idea of trying to saddle the kidnaping onto +Merriwell." + +"Why?" + +"I don't think it will go. Merriwell might return to Holbrook. If the +demand for money had his name attached, his arrest would seem to put him +where it would be necessary for him to produce the girl. Mrs. Arlington +was for forcing him to do so when File took him. Anything like that +would cause delay, and delay is something we do not want." + +"Mr.--ah--Mr. Lewis, you sure reasons correct. We'll jest hitch a +made-up name to the demand for money, which will be a whole lot better." + +"I think so. And now let's write this demand, so that I may turn about +and get out of this hole immediately. You must furnish me with a fresh +horse. I'm supposed now to be searching for Merriwell, several men in +town having set out upon the same task, for Mrs. Arlington offered a +reward for his recapture. I will be able to make a very satisfactory +explanation of my absence from Holbrook." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +DEAD OR LIVING. + + +Frank's feelings on listening to this talk, the greater part of which he +was able to hear very well, may be imagined far more easily than +described. At last he was in full possession of the facts relating to +the abduction of June Arlington, and a greater piece of villainy had +never come to his knowledge. From the first he had regarded Eliot Dodge +as a scoundrel of the worst type; but he had not gaged the man as one +who would enter into such a desperate scheme as this. + +Merry had also learned that Ben File was dead, and, therefore, he was +released from his promise to bring back Cimarron Bill. + +Immediately his one thought turned to June and to the devising of some +method of discovering her whereabouts and going to her rescue. Later he +could think of other things; but not until this great object had been +accomplished. + +The voices of the men ran on in the little room, though words grew +fewer, and Merry knew the demand for the ransom money was being written. + +For a moment he thought of the satisfaction it would give him to expose +the rascally lawyer and bring him to the end of his tether. Then he saw +Handsome Charley speaking quietly in the ear of a man, afterward +passing on to another and yet another. There was something in Charley's +manner that seemed very significant. + +"There's trouble brewing for Bill," Frank decided. "It's coming as sure +as fate." + +He felt for his own weapons, making sure they were where he could draw +them and use them without delay; but Frank did not propose to become +involved in the affair unless circumstances made it impossible to keep +out. + +Again he listened at the crack in the partition, hoping that some word +passed between Dodge and Bill would tell him where June was hidden. In +this Merry was disappointed. True, Dodge asked about the girl and Bill +assured him that she was perfectly safe and unharmed, but that was all. + +The dance was over and another was in progress when Bill and Eliot Dodge +came from that back room. Handsome Charley and his satellites were +watching these two men. But they were permitted to pass to the door, +where Bill shook hands with Dodge, who hurried forth into the night. + +"How is that, Bill?" demanded Charley, hastily approaching. "I opine you +agreed that you an' your friend would sure drink with me arter your +business was over. I notices that he has hiked." + +Bill turned. + +"Count me in, Charley," he said easily. "Mr.--ah--Lewis, he didn't hev +time. My neck is again a whole lot dry, and I'll be pleased to irrigate +with you." + +So they stood up to the bar, and Frank saw a number of men drawing near +from different directions, all coming forward quietly. + +Charley openly expressed his disapproval of the conduct of Eliot Dodge. + +"He certain was most onmannerly, Bill," he declared. + +"Forget it," advised Bill curtly. + +And this was not at all agreeable to the other. + +"Mebbe I can't do that none," said Charley; "but I'll tell ye, Bill, +what will help a whole lot." + +"Go ahead," said Bill. + +"You has right up-stairs in this same ranch a young lady what is +handsome enough to make any gent fergit a wrong, an' her I most mightily +wants to bring down yere." + +Frank heard the words distinctly, and they gave him a start. Handsome +Charley was speaking of June Arlington; there could be no doubt of that. +He said June was "up-stairs in that same ranch." At last Frank had +received the clue he was seeking. + +More than Merry saw trouble was brewing between Charley and Bill, and +now the attention of almost every person in the room was directed toward +them. + +Bill's face grew grim, and again his eyes narrowed and glittered. + +"See yere," he said harshly, "I allows we has settled the p'int in +regard to her, an' so you lets it drop, Charley." + +Frank knew that pistols would be out in a few seconds more. He did not +wait for the men to draw and begin to shoot. + +There was no flight of stairs in the room where the dance was taking +place, and, therefore, he immediately decided that the stairs might be +found in the back room, where the interview between Bill and Eliot Dodge +had taken place. The door leading into that room was closed, but Frank +slipped quickly to it, and it readily opened before his hand. + +He found himself in a bare room, having but little furniture, a table, a +bed, some chairs, and, as Frank had believed likely, a steep flight of +stairs ran railless up one side of the room, disappearing at a dark +landing above. + +In a twinkling Merry was bounding lightly up those stairs, the sounds of +loud and angry voices coming from the dance-room, where the music and +dancing had now stopped. + +Frank knew that whatever he did must be done in a hurry, for, allowing +that in the trouble in the dance-room, Handsome Charley should come +forth triumphant it was likely that June would be sought by some of +those ruffians. + +The thought of this spurred Merry on. He pictured to himself the terror +of the poor girl seized by those men and dragged into the presence of +the mob below. + +"They shall not touch her!" he muttered. "If I can reach her, they shall +not touch her!" + +Then he found himself, in the gloom of the landing, against a heavy +door. He sought to open it, but it was locked. + +From below came the sound of a shot. Then there were shouts and other +shots. + +"The devils have broken loose!" exclaimed Merry, and he wondered how it +fared with Bill. + +In vain he felt for the fastenings of the door. His heart smote him with +the fear that it would withstand any attack he might direct upon it. + +Then he found a match and struck it. The light showed him something that +made his heart leap with satisfaction. + +Across the face of the door, lying in iron slots, was an iron bar that +held it fast. + +The match was dropped in a twinkling, and Frank's fingers lifted the bar +from the slots and its socket. Then he easily opened the door. + +At that instant it seemed as if pandemonium broke loose below. There was +a perfect fusillade of shots, hoarse shouts from men and wild shrieks +from women. There was likewise a terrible crash, as if some part of the +building had been ripped down. + +"June!" called Frank. "June! June!" + +The room in which he found himself was dark and silent. + +"June! June! I am a friend! Answer me!" + +Still silence. + +Again he brought forth and struck a match. It flared up in his fingers, +and he lifted it above his head, looking all around. + +Stretched on the floor in a huddled heap in one corner was the body of a +girl. The glance he had obtained convinced him that it was June beyond +question. + +Frank sprang forward, again speaking her name and assuring her that he +was a friend. + +In the darkness he found her with his hands. She did not move when he +touched her, and his fingers ran to her face. It was cold as marble to +the touch, and a great horror filled his soul. + +"Merciful God!" he groaned, starting back a little. "They have killed +her. The devils!" + +The shock was so great that he remained quite still on his knees for a +few moments. + +He was aroused by the sound of heavy feet upon the stairs. + +Frank sprang up and dashed across the room to the door. + +The door leading into the dance-room had been left wide open below. He +saw that a number of men had entered the back room, and already two or +three were on the stairs. Handsome Charley was at their head. + +Frank was trapped! + +At once he realized that Cimarron Bill was, beyond a doubt, lying in a +pool of his own blood in the dance-room. At last the most desperate and +dangerous man-killer of the Southwest had met his master. + +Merry had little time, however, to think of anything like this. His own +life was in the utmost peril. He drew his revolver, and, with the utmost +coolness, put a bullet through Handsome Charley's right shoulder. + +With a cry, the man fell back into the arms of the one directly behind +him, and that fellow was upset, so that all were swept in a great crash +to the foot of the stairs. + +"Perhaps that will hold you for a while!" muttered Frank, as he picked +up the iron bar and promptly closed the door at the head of the stairs. + +He had seized the bar because he thought it might be a good weapon of +defense in case his revolvers should be emptied and he remained in +condition to fight. Now he thought of something else, and decided that +the bar might do for a prop at the door. + +"There ought to be some other way out of this room," he muttered. "Isn't +there even a window?" + +Again he struck a match, looking around with the aid of its light. + +At the end of the long room in which he found himself he fancied he must +find a window. Toward this end of the room he hurried, and another match +disclosed to him a window that was hidden by heavy planking. Plainly the +planks had been spiked over the window after it was decided to hold June +a prisoner in that room. + +Down dropped the match, and instantly Frank attacked the planks with the +iron bar. + +Fortune must have favored him, for had it been light he could not have +been more successful. Every stroke was effective, and he began ripping +off the planks. + +There was wild excitement below, and Merry prayed for a little time. His +heart was filled with a hope that Handsome Charley's fate would be a +warning to others, so they would not be eager to rush up the stairs to +the door. + +In just about one minute he had torn the planks from the window. + +Once more he heard men ascending the stairs. Instantly he dashed across +the floor, finding the door in the darkness. + +"Halt!" he cried savagely, from behind the closed door. "Halt, or I +fire!" + +Then he sought to prop the door with the iron bar, pressing it down in +such a position that it might hold for some moments against an ordinary +attack upon it. + +"I'll shoot the first man who tries to open this door!" he shouted. + +But he did not remain there to await an effort to open the door. Instead +he quickly found the girl in the corner, lifted her limp body, and +sought the window once more. + +Reaching the window, Frank promptly kicked out sash and glass with two +movements of his foot. + +Bang! bang! bang!--sounded heavy blows on the door behind him, but the +iron bar was holding well. + +Merry swung his leg over the window-ledge. Desperate as he was, he meant +to venture a leap from the window to the ground with the girl in his +arms. + +But just then, pausing to look down, he was amazed and delighted to see +below him his four friends, who were on the point of entering the +building, led by Bart Hodge. Instantly Frank hailed them. + +"Catch her!" he cried, swinging the girl out over the window-ledge, so +that they could see her below. + +Immediately Bart and Ephraim extended their arms and stood ready. + +"Let her come!" shouted Hodge. + +Frank dropped the girl, and the two young men clutched at her as she +fell directly into their arms. + +At that moment the door behind Merry flew open with a slam and the +ruffians came bursting into the room. + +One of them held a lighted lamp. + +The fellow in advance saw Frank in the window and flung up his hand. +There was a loud report and a burst of smoke. When the smoke cleared the +window was empty, Frank having disappeared. + +"Nailed him!" shouted the ruffian who had fired. "Nailed him for sure!" + +He rushed forward to the window and looked down, expecting to discover +the body of his victim stretched on the ground. But in this he was +disappointed, for neither Frank nor his friends were beneath the +window. Into the darkness of the crooked street some dusky figures were +vanishing. + +Frank had leaped from the window, being untouched by the bullet that +fanned his cheek in passing. He struck on his feet, but plunged forward +on his hands and knees. In a moment he was jerked erect by some one who +observed: + +"Methinks your parachute must be out of order. You descended with +exceeding great violence. What think you if we make haste to depart?" + +"Jack!" exclaimed Frank. + +"The same," was the assurance, as Ready clutched his arm and started him +on the run. "Dear me! I know this strenuous life will yet bring me to my +death!" + +Ahead of them Frank saw some figures moving hastily away. + +"The girl----" + +"They've got her," assured Jack. "Old Joe is with them. We'll talk it +over later." + +So they ran, well knowing the whole of Sunk Hole would be looking for +them within thirty minutes. It did not take them long to come up with +Bart, Ephraim, and old Joe. + +Behind them there sounded shouts and commands, and it was well the whole +of Sunk Hole had been at the dance, else the place must have been +aroused so that they would have run into some of its inhabitants. Here +and there amid the buildings they dodged until they arrived at the edge +of the collection and struck out for the side of the valley, Crowfoot +leading. + +It was necessary to trust everything to the old Indian. Without him they +could not have known with any certainty that they were taking the proper +course to enable them to get out of the valley. + +The girl was passed from one to another as they ran. They did not waste +their breath in words. + +The old Indian ran with an ease that was astonishing, considering his +years. + +Looking back, they could see torches moving swiftly here and there +through the town, telling that the search for them was being carried on. + +Soon they came to a steep gully that led upward, and the ascent was very +difficult, even at first. It grew more and more difficult as they +ascended, and it became necessary for them to work slowly in the +darkness, the girl being passed upward from time to time, as one after +another took turns at creeping ahead. + +Joe did not seem to have much trouble, but he did not bother with the +girl. Finally he said: + +"Here come bad palefaces! Make some big hurry!" + +It was true that a party of men were running toward the gully. Their +torches danced and flared, showing them with some distinctness. + +To the right and left in other parts of the valley were clusters of +torches. + +"Heap try to stop us," exclaimed Crowfoot. "One way to go up there, +'nother way down there, this be 'nother way. They know all. That how um +come here so fast." + +By the time the men with the torches reached the foot of the gully Frank +and his comrades were so far above that they were not betrayed by the +torchlight. But one of the ruffians bade the others listen, and at that +very moment Ephraim Gallup dislodged a stone that went clattering and +rattling downward with a great racket. + +Instantly a wild yell broke from the lips of the ruffians below. + +"Here they are!" they shouted. "They're up here!" + +Then one of them began to blaze away with his pistols, and the bullets +whistled and zipped unpleasantly close to the party above. + +Bart Hodge stooped and found some rocks as large as ducks' eggs in the +hollow of the gully. He knew it would expose their position if he should +answer the fire with his revolvers, and so he simply hurled those rocks +with all the accuracy and skill that had made him noted on the baseball +diamond as a wonderful thrower to second base. + +The first rock struck a fellow on the wrist and broke it. The third hit +another man on the shoulder, and not many of the six Bart threw failed +to take effect. + +Astonishing though it seemed, this method of retorting to the shooting +proved most effective, and the ruffians scattered to get out of the way, +swearing horribly. + +The fugitives continued till the top of the gully was reached and they +struck something like a natural path that soon took them where they +could no longer see the valley nor hear their enemies. + +Knowing they would be followed still farther, they halted not for a +moment until their horses were reached. Then they paused only to make +ready and swing into the saddle. + +Even as June was passed up to Frank she sighed and seemed to come a +little to herself. And as they rode into the dusk of the night she +recovered consciousness, the cool breeze fanning her face. She wondered +and shuddered until she heard the voice of Frank Merriwell reassuring +her, and then she was certain that it was all a dream. In her prison +room she had listened with shaking soul to the sounds from below, she +had crept to the barred door and heard Cimarron Bill and Eliot Dodge +talking below, and the horror of knowing the rascally lawyer was in the +plot that had brought about her abduction and detention in that den had +been a fearful shock to her. When the quarreling and the shooting began, +she was filled with mortal dread. She heard some one on the stairs and +fumbling at her door, and then, kneeling in a corner of the room, all +the world slipped away from her, and she remembered nothing more until +she awoke in the arms of her brave rescuer, Frank Merriwell. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +THE RETURN TO HOLBROOK. + + +Haggard from worriment and need of sleep, her face seeming drawn and +old, her eyes feeling like coals in her throbbing head, Mrs. Arlington +welcomed Eliot Dodge, who came into the room, looking dejected yet +seeming to appear hopeful. + +"June! June, my child?" cried the tortured mother. "Have you no news of +her?" + +"Nothing but--this," said Dodge, pulling out an unsealed letter. + +Then he briefly told of being held up by three ruffians, who had given +him the letter. + +Mrs. Arlington read it, and fell half-fainting on the couch, while Dodge +bent over her with protestations of sympathy. + +"My poor girl!" gasped the miserable woman. "And she is in the power of +such monsters! The ransom money must be paid! She must be saved at +once!" + +"Is there no way to avoid paying the money?" said Dodge. "Is it not +possible she may be saved in some other manner?" + +"I think it is," said a clear voice, as the door was thrust open and +Frank Merriwell, covered from head to heel with the dust of the desert, +escorted the rescued girl into the room. "Mrs. Arlington, I have +brought you your daughter." + +With a scream of joy, Mrs. Arlington leaped up and June ran into her +arms. + +Eliot Dodge seemed to turn green. He stood and stared at the girl in a +sort of blank stupor, failing to observe that just behind Frank +Merriwell, who still wore the clothes taken from the intoxicated +Mexican, there was the officer newly appointed to fill the place left +vacant by the death of Ben File. + +"June! June! June!" cried Mrs. Arlington, her face flushed with +gladness. "Is it you, my poor girl! I can scarcely believe it! How does +it happen? Tell me how you come to be here!" + +"I am here, mother, because I was rescued from those horrible ruffians +by that brave gentleman whom you have so greatly wronged, Frank +Merriwell. He risked his life for me. I will tell you all, but +first--first I must tell you that you have trusted a snake. I mean that +monster there!" + +She pointed her finger at Dodge, who started and looked startled, but +pretended the utmost amazement. + +"He is the villain who planned it all!" declared June. "I know, for I +heard them talk it over. But he shall not escape!" + +"I hardly think so," said Frank. "Officer, he is a desperate man. Be +careful of him." + +"This is an outrage!" declared Dodge, as the new city marshal grasped +him. "I'll not permit it! I----" + +Frank clutched him on the other side, and, a moment later, the officer +had ironed his prisoner. + +Mrs. Arlington would have interfered, but Merry declared he had sworn +out the warrant for Dodge's arrest, and she saw it was useless. + +"Madam," said Frank, "I will leave you alone with your daughter. When +she has told you all, you will be ready, I am confident, to prosecute +Eliot Dodge. I shall then withdraw my charge and permit you to have him +arrested. In the meantime I bid you good day. I shall be in this hotel +for the next day or so." + +He bowed gracefully to both Mrs. Arlington and June and left the room. + + * * * * * + +When there was plenty of time, Frank and his friends talked it over. He +told them of his experience in the dance-room, and they told him how +they had lingered near, ready to rush to his rescue. When they heard the +sounds of the quarrel between Cimarron Bill and Handsome Charley they +hurried to the door, but there they halted, for they looked in and saw +nothing of Frank. Thus it was that they beheld the shooting of Bill as +he tried to draw on Charley. He was shot down from behind by Charley's +tools, and they fired several bullets into his body as he lay weltering +on the floor. + +Frank shook his head as he heard this account of Bill's end. + +"He was a bad man, a very bad man," he said; "but somehow I'm sorry +that he met his end that way. They had to shoot him from the rear. Not +one of them dared pull on him face to face." + +Frank received a brief letter from Mrs. Arlington, thanking him for what +he had done for her daughter. Not one word did she say of her own +malevolence toward him, not one word of the manner in which she had +wronged him. And the doctor, who brought the letter, told Merry that she +was in such a precarious condition that she could not write more, nor +could she be seen by any one but June. + +Frank smiled grimly, disdainfully, over the letter, then deliberately +tore it into shreds. + +But he had proved his manhood, and June Arlington, for all of her +mother, found time to see him a few moments before he left town. After +that brief time with June he rode light-heartedly away, his friends +galloping at his side and listening to the cowboy song that came from +his lips. + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +This text file version is encoded in Latin-1 format to preserve +all original accents. + +Because of extensive use of dialect, all apparent errors within dialogue +have been assumed intentional and retained. + +Page 5, "Merriell's" changed to "Merriwell's" (Frank Merriwell's Rough +Deal) + +Page 24, changed erroneous period to comma ("I have no desire or +intention of irking you up, sir," he said.) + +Page 27, "referrring" changed to "referring" (Certain papers referring +to the Queen Mystery and San Pablo Mines, which I own.) + +Page 93, added missing opening quote ("I think I'll finish you!") + +Page 213, "Cimaroon" changed to "Cimarron" (Cimarron Bill watched his +tool depart, smiling darkly and muttering to himself) + +Page 216, removed extraneous quote after "hurriedly" ("Oh, velly good, +velly good!" answered the Celestial hurriedly, backing off a little, his +face yellowish white.) + +Page 217, "cant" changed to "can't" ("I can't beat him at his own +game.") + +Page 300, changed single quote to double quote at end of sentence ("In +the first place," Frank distinctly heard Dodge say, "Ben File is dead.") + +Page 318, "Merriwel" changed to "Merriwell" (He stood and stared at the +girl in a sort of blank stupor, failing to observe that just behind +Frank Merriwell, who still wore the clothes taken from the intoxicated +Mexican, there was the officer newly appointed to fill the place left +vacant by the death of Ben File.) + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK MERRIWELL'S BACKERS*** + + +******* This file should be named 39433-8.txt or 39433-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/9/4/3/39433 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Standish</title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + +hr.tb {width: 45%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%} + +.pagenum { + visibility: hidden; + display: none; +} /* page numbers */ + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Frank Merriwell's Backers, by Burt L. Standish</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Frank Merriwell's Backers</p> +<p> The Pride of His Friends</p> +<p>Author: Burt L. Standish</p> +<p>Release Date: April 12, 2012 [eBook #39433]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK MERRIWELL'S BACKERS***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Roger Frank, Demian Katz,<br /> + and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/illus-cvr-large.jpg"><img id="ilink01" width="357" height="525" src="images/illus-cvr.jpg" alt="Cover" /></a> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h3>EXCELLENT BOOKS OF GENEROUS LENGTH</h3> + +<h2>THE NEW MEDAL LIBRARY</h2> + +<p class="center"><i>Issued Every Week</i>. :: <i>Price, 15 Cents</i> +</p> + + +<p>This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence. +There is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published +in cloth-bound edition at $1.00. One of the best features about +these books is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing +nothing that could be objectionable to the most particular +parents. Next in importance, comes interest, with which every +one of these books fairly teems. No more vigorous or better +literature for boys has ever been published. New titles by high-priced +authors are constantly being added, making it more and +more impossible for any publisher to imitate this line.</p> + + +<p class="center">ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT</p> + +<blockquote><p>TO THE PUBLIC:—These books are sold by news dealers everywhere. +If your dealer does not keep them, and will not get them for +you, send direct to the publishers, in which case four cents must be +added to the price per copy to cover postage.</p></blockquote> + +<hr /> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'>150—Frank Merriwell's School Days</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>167—Frank Merriwell's Chums</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>178—Frank Merriwell's Foes</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>184—Frank Merriwell's Trip West</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>189—Frank Merriwell Down South</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>193—Frank Merriwell's Bravery</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>197—Frank Merriwell's Hunting Tour</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>201—Frank Merriwell in Europe</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>205—Frank Merriwell at Yale</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>209—Frank Merriwell's Sports Afield</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>213—Frank Merriwell's Races</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>217—Frank Merriwell's Bicycle Tour</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>225—Frank Merriwell's Courage</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>229—Frank Merriwell's Daring</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>233—Frank Merriwell's Athletes</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>237—Frank Merriwell's Skill</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>240—Frank Merriwell's Champions</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>244—Frank Merriwell's Return to Yale</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>247—Frank Merriwell's Secret</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>251—Frank Merriwell's Danger</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>254—Frank Merriwell's Loyalty</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>258—Frank Merriwell in Camp</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>262—Frank Merriwell's Vacation</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>267—Frank Merriwell's Cruise</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>271—Frank Merriwell's Chase</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>276—Frank Merriwell in Maine</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>280—Frank Merriwell's Struggle</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>284—Frank Merriwell's First Job</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>288—Frank Merriwell's Opportunity</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>292—Frank Merriwell's Hard Luck</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>296—Frank Merriwell's Protégé</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>300—Frank Merriwell On the Road</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>304—Frank Merriwell's Own Company</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>308—Frank Merriwell's Fame</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>312—Frank Merriwell's College Chums</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>316—Frank Merriwell's Problem</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>320—Frank Merriwell's Fortune</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>324—Frank Merriwell's New Comedian</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>328—Frank Merriwell's Prosperity</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>332—Frank Merriwell's Stage Hit</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>336—Frank Merriwell's Great Scheme</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>340—Frank Merriwell in England</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>344—Frank Merriwell On the Boulevards</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>348—Frank Merriwell's Duel</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>352—Frank Merriwell's Double Shot</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>356—Frank Merriwell's Baseball Victories</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>359—Frank Merriwell's Confidence</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>362—Frank Merriwell's Auto</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>365—Frank Merriwell's Fun</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>368—Frank Merriwell's Generosity</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>371—Frank Merriwell's Tricks</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>374—Frank Merriwell's Temptations</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>376—The Rockspur Eleven</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>377—Frank Merriwell on Top</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>379—The Young Railroader's Wreck</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>380—Frank Merriwell's Luck</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>381—Chums of the Prairie</td><td align='right'>By St. George Rathborne</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>382—The Yankee Middy</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>383—Frank Merriwell's Mascot</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>384—Saved by the Enemy</td><td align='right'>By Ensign Clark Fitch, U. S. N.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>385—The Young Railroader's Victory</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>386—Frank Merriwell's Reward</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>387—Brave Old Salt</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>388—Jack Harkaway's Struggles</td><td align='right'>By Bracebridge Hemyng</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>389—Frank Merriwell's Phantom</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>390—Frank's Campaign</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>391—The Rockspur Rivals</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>392—Frank Merriwell's Faith</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>393—The Starry Flag</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>394—The Young Railroader's Long Run</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>395—Frank Merriwell's Victories</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>396—Jack Brown, the Hero</td><td align='right'>By Herbert Strang</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>397—Breaking Away</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>398—Frank Merriwell's Iron Nerve</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>399—Jack Lightfoot, the Athlete</td><td align='right'>By Maxwell Stevens</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>400—Tom Temple's Career</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>401—Frank Merriwell in Kentucky</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>402—The Young Railroader's Comrade</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>403—Jack Harkaway Among the Brigands</td><td align='right'>Bracebridge Hemyng</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>404—Frank Merriwell's Power</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>405—Seek and Find</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>406—Dan, the Newsboy</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>407—Frank Merriwell's Shrewdness</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>408—Young Tom Burnaby</td><td align='right'>By Herbert Strang</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>409—The Young Railroader's Promotion</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>410—Frank Merriwell's Setback</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>411—Jack Lightfoot's Crack Nine</td><td align='right'>By Maxwell Stevens</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>412—Freaks of Fortune</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>413—Frank Merriwell's Search</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>414—The Train-boy</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>415—Jack Harkaway's Return</td><td align='right'>By Bracebridge Hemyng</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>416—Frank Merriwell's Club</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>417—The Young Railroader's Chance</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>418—Make or Break</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>419—Frank Merriwell's Trust</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>420—Jack Lightfoot Trapped</td><td align='right'>By Maxwell Stevens</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>421—The Errand-boy</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>422—Frank Merriwell's False Friend</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>423—The Young Railroader's Luck</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>424—Down the River</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>425—Frank Merriwell's Strong Arm</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>426—Jack Lightfoot's Rival</td><td align='right'>By Maxwell Stevens</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>427—The Rockspur Nine</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>428—Frank Merriwell as Coach</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>429—Paul Prescott's Charge</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>430—Through by Daylight</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>431—Frank Merriwell's Brother</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>432—The Young Railroader's Challenge</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>433—The Young Inventor</td><td align='right'>By G. Manville Fenn</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>434—Frank Merriwell's Marvel</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>435—Lightning Express</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>436—The Telegraph Boy</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>437—Frank Merriwell's Support</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>438—Jack Lightfoot in Camp</td><td align='right'>By Maxwell Stevens</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>439—The Young Railroader's Hard Task</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>440—Dick Merriwell at Fardale</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>441—On Time</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>442—The Young Miner</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>443—Dick Merriwell's Glory</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>444—Jack Lightfoot's Canoe Trip</td><td align='right'>By Maxwell Stevens</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>445—The Young Railroader's Sealed Orders</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>446—Dick Merriwell's Promise</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>447—Switch Off</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>448—Tom Thatcher's Fortune</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>449—Dick Merriwell's Rescue</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>450—Jack Lightfoot's Iron Arm</td><td align='right'>By Maxwell Stevens</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>451—The Young Railroader's Ally</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>452—Dick Merriwell's Narrow Escape</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>453—Brake Up</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>454—Tom Turner's Legacy</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>455—Dick Merriwell's Racket</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>456—Jack Lightfoot's Hoodoo</td><td align='right'>By Maxwell Stevens</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>457—The Go-ahead Boys</td><td align='right'>By Gale Richards</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>458—Dick Merriwell's Revenge</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>459—The Young Railroader's Mascot</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>460—Bear and Forbear</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>461—Dick Merriwell's Ruse</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>462—Ben Bruce</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>463—Jack Lightfoot's Decision</td><td align='right'>By Maxwell Stevens</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>464—Dick Merriwell's Delivery</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>465—The Young Railroader's Contest</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>466—The Go-ahead Boys' Legacy</td><td align='right'>By Gale Richards</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>467—Dick Merriwell's Wonders</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>468—Bernard Brook's Adventures</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>469—Jack Lightfoot's Gun Club</td><td align='right'>By Maxwell Stevens</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>470—Frank Merriwell's Honor</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>471—Gascoyne, the Sandal Wood Trader</td><td align='right'>By R. M. Ballantyne</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>472—Paul Hassard's Peril</td><td align='right'>By Matt Royal</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>473—Dick Merriwell's Diamond</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>474—Phil, the Showman</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>475—A Debt of Honor</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>476—Frank Merriwell's Winners</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>477—Jack Lightfoot's Blind</td><td align='right'>By Maxwell Stevens</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>478—Marooned</td><td align='right'>By W. Clark Russell</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>479—Dick Merriwell's Dash</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>480—Phil's Rivals</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>481—Mark Manning's Mission</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>482—Dick Merriwell's Ability</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>483—Jack Lightfoot's Capture</td><td align='right'>By Maxwell Stevens</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>484—A Captain at Fifteen</td><td align='right'>By Jules Verne</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>485—Dick Merriwell's Trap</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>486—Phil's Pluck</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>487—The Wreck of the <i>Grosvenor</i></td><td align='right'>By W. Clark Russell</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>488—Dick Merriwell's Defense</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>489—Charlie Codman's Cruise</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>490—Jack Lightfoot's Head Work</td><td align='right'>By Maxwell Stevens</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>491—Dick Merriwell's Model</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>492—Phil's Triumph</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>493—A Two Years' Vacation</td><td align='right'>By Jules Verne</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>494—Dick Merriwell's Mystery</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>495—The Young Explorer</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>496—Jack Lightfoot's Wisdom</td><td align='right'>By Maxwell Stevens</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>497—Frank Merriwell's Backers</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>498—Ted Strong, Cowboy</td><td align='right'>By Edward C. Taylor</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>499—From Circus to Fortune</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>500—Dick Merriwell's Back-stop</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>501—Sink or Swim</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>502—For the Right</td><td align='right'>By Roy Franklin</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>503—Dick Merriwell's Western Mission</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>504—Among the Cattlemen</td><td align='right'>By Edward C. Taylor</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>505—A Legacy of Peril</td><td align='right'>By William Murray Graydon</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>506—Frank Merriwell's Rescue</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>507—The Young Musician</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>508—"A Gentleman Born"</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>509—Frank Merriwell's Encounter</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>510—Black Mountain Ranch</td><td align='right'>By Edward C. Taylor</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>511—The Boy Conjurer</td><td align='right'>By Victor St. Clair</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>512—Dick Merriwell's Marked Money</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>513—Work and Win</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>514—Fighting for Fortune</td><td align='right'>By Roy Franklin</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>515—Frank Merriwell's Nomads</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>516—With Rifle and Lasso</td><td align='right'>By Edward C. Taylor</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>517—For His Friend's Honor</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>518—Dick Merriwell on the Gridiron</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>519—The Backwoods Boy</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>520—The Young Range Riders</td><td align='right'>By St. George Rathborne</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>521—Dick Merriwell's Disguise</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>522—Lost in the Desert</td><td align='right'>By Edward C. Taylor</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>523—Building Himself Up</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>524—Dick Merriwell's Test</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>525—Adrift in Midair</td><td align='right'>By Ensign Clarke Fitch</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>526—True to His Trust</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>527—Frank Merriwell's Trump Card</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>528—Lyon Hart's Heroism</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>529—Fighting the Rustlers</td><td align='right'>By Edward C. Taylor</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>530—Frank Merriwell's Strategy</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>531—Digging for Gold</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>532—Wyoming</td><td align='right'>By Edward S. Ellis</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>533—Frank Merriwell's Triumph</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>534—Louis Chiswick's Mission</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>535—Facing the Music</td><td align='right'>By Stanley Norris</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>536—Dick Merriwell's Grit</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>537—Stemming the Tide</td><td align='right'>By Roy Franklin</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>538—Adrift in the City</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>539—Dick Merriwell's Assurance</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>540—Royal Tarr's Pluck</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>541—Holding the Fort</td><td align='right'>By Ensign Clarke Fitch</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>542—Dick Merriwell's Long Slide</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>543—Two Ways of Becoming a Hunter</td><td align='right'>By Harry Castlemon</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>544—The Rival Miners</td><td align='right'>By Edward C. Taylor</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>545—Frank Merriwell's Rough Deal</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>546—The Professor's Son</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>547—Frank Hunter's Peril</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>548—Dick Merriwell's Threat</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>549—Fin and Feather</td><td align='right'>By Wallace Kincaid</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>550—Storm Mountain</td><td align='right'>By Edward S. Ellis</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>551—Dick Merriwell's Persistence</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>552—Striving for His Own</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>553—Winning by Courage</td><td align='right'>By Roy Franklin</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>554—Dick Merriwell's Day</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>555—Robert Coverdale's Struggle</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>556—The West Point Boys</td><td align='right'>By Col. J. Thomas Weldon</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>557—Frank Merriwell's Peril</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>558—The Last of the Herd</td><td align='right'>By Edward C. Taylor</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>559—Making a Man of Himself</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>560—Dick Merriwell's Downfall</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>561—Winning Against Odds</td><td align='right'>By Roy Franklin</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>562—The Camp in the Foothills</td><td align='right'>By Harry Castlemon</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>563—Frank Merriwell's Pursuit</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>564—The Naval Academy Boys</td><td align='right'>Commander Luther G. Brownell</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>565—Every Inch a Boy</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>566—Dick Merriwell Abroad</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>567—On a Mountain Trail</td><td align='right'>By Edward C. Taylor</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>568—The Plebes' Challenge</td><td align='right'>By Col. J. Thomas Weldon</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>569—Frank Merriwell in the Rockies</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>570—Lester's Luck</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>571—His Own Helper</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>572—Dick Merriwell's Pranks</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>573—Bound to Get There</td><td align='right'>By Roy Franklin</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>574—An Annapolis Tangle</td><td align='right'>By Commander Luther G. Brownell</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>575—Frank Merriwell's Pride</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>576—Across the Prairie</td><td align='right'>By Edward C. Taylor</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>577—Honest Kit Dunstable</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>578—Frank Merriwell's Challengers</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>579—The Runaway Cadet</td><td align='right'>By Col. J. Thomas Weldon</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>580—Jack Harkaway Around the World</td><td align='right'>Bracebridge Hemyng</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>581—Frank Merriwell's Endurance</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>582—Out for Big Game</td><td align='right'>By Edward C. Taylor</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>583—The Young Pilot</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>584—Dick Merriwell's Cleverness</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>585—Oscar in Africa</td><td align='right'>By Harry Castlemon</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>586—Rupert's Ambition</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>587—Frank Merriwell's Marriage</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>588—The Pride of Annapolis</td><td align='right'>By Com. Luther G. Brownell</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>589—The Cruise of the "Dandy"</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>590—Dick Merriwell, the Wizard</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>591—Captain Nemo's Challenge</td><td align='right'>By Edward C. Taylor</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>592—The Cabin in the Clearing</td><td align='right'>By Edward S. Ellis</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>593—Dick Merriwell's Stroke</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>594—Frank and Fearless</td><td align='right'>By Horatio Alger, Jr.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>595—Three Young Silver Kings</td><td align='right'>By Oliver Optic</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>596—Dick Merriwell's Return</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>597—His Own Master</td><td align='right'>By Roy Franklin</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>598—An Annapolis Adventure</td><td align='right'>By Com. Luther G. Brownell</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>599—Dick Merriwell's Resource</td><td align='right'>By Burt L. Standish</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>600—Ted Strong's Close Call</td><td align='right'>By Edward C. Taylor</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2><a name="LOOK_FOR_THE" id="LOOK_FOR_THE">LOOK FOR THE<br /> +S. & S. IMPRINT</a></h2> + +<blockquote> +<p>For fifteen years the S. & S. Novel has held +first place in the estimation of readers who +want, first of all, good, clean, interesting fiction +and <i>then</i> a sufficient number of "<i>words</i>" to +make them feel that the book is worth what +they paid for it—if not more.</p> + +<p>Mere "<i>words</i>" do not make a story, nor +should a colored cover and heavy paper deceive +the reading public into thinking that an imitation +of the S. & S. Novel is as good as the +original.</p> + +<p>Unscrupulous publishers are now trying to +defraud the reading public. Taking certain of +the S. & S. Novels, which are not protected by +copyright, they change the titles and authors' +names, and sell books at fifteen cents, the +authentic editions of which may be had in the +S. & S. Edition for ten cents! Hence, a word +of caution to our readers:</p> + + +<h3><i>LOOK FOR THE S. & S. IMPRINT</i></h3> + +<p class="center">It is a guarantee of quality and protects you<br /> + +Send a 2c. stamp for our complete catalogue</p></blockquote> + + +<h4>STREET & SMITH, <i>PUBLISHERS</i><br /> +<small>NEW YORK</small></h4><hr class="chap" /> + + + + +<h2><a name="ALGER" id="ALGER">"ALGER"</a></h2> + +<blockquote> +<p>What a pleasant sound the name of Horatio +Alger, Jr., has to boys who read clean, wholesome +stories of adventure!</p> + +<p>His name on a book means that it is a "good +one"; that the money invested in it is well +invested.</p> + +<p>Street & Smith publish the most complete list +of his works in their famous S. & S. novels—it +contains nearly all of them.</p> + +<p>If you want your boys to read helpful books, +buy the "Algers" in the Medal and New Medal +Libraries.</p> + + +<h3>PRICE, 10c. and 15c. PER COPY<br /> + +<small>AT ALL NEWSDEALERS</small></h3> + + +<p class="center">If sent by mail, add four cents per copy to cover<br /> +postage. Complete catalogue upon request.</p> +</blockquote> + +<h4>STREET & SMITH, Publishers, NEW YORK</h4> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h1>FRANK MERRIWELL'S +BACKERS</h1> + +<p class="center">OR</p> + +<h2>THE PRIDE OF HIS FRIENDS</h2> + +<p class="center">BY</p> + +<h2>BURT L. STANDISH</h2> + +<p class="center">AUTHOR OF</p> + +<h2><i>The Celebrated "Merriwell Stories"</i></h2> + +<p class="center">PUBLISHED EXCLUSIVELY IN THE MEDAL LIBRARY, +IN PAPER-COVERED EDITION</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a href="images/publisher_logo_large.png"><img width="143" height="150" src="images/publisher_logo.png" alt="Publisher Logo" /></a></div> + +<h2>STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS<br /> +79-89 SEVENTH AVE., NEW YORK CITY +</h2><hr class="chap" /> + + + + +<p class="center">Copyright, 1903<br /> +By STREET & SMITH</p> + +<p class="center">Frank Merriwell's Backers</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="center">All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign languages,<br /> +including the Scandinavian. +</p><hr class="chap" /> + + + + + +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</a></h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_I">I—IN THE TRAP</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">II—IN THE HANDS OF CIMARRON BILL</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">III—INTO THE NIGHT</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">IV—IN THE OLD HUT</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">V—PINTO PEDE RECEIVES HIS LESSON</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">VI—INJUN JOE TO THE RESCUE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">VII—MERRIWELL AND BIG MONTE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">VIII—THE DEATH-SHOT</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">IX—FRANK MAKES A DECISION</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">X—MERRIWELL'S METHOD</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">XI—SMOKE SIGNALS AND A DECOY</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">XII—LOST IN THE MOUNTAINS</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">XIII—FRANK'S ESCAPE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">XIV—MYSTERIOUS PABLO</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">XV—MERRY'S DISCOVERY</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">XVI—FRANK DETECTS TREACHERY</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">XVII—THE WAR-WHOOP OF OLD ELI</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">XVIII—A STRANGE FUNERAL</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">XIX—NEW ARRIVALS IN HOLBROOK</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">XX—MRS. ARLINGTON HAS A VISITOR</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">XXI—SEEN FROM THE WINDOW</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">XXII—A SENSATION IN TOWN</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">XXIII—BOXER CREATES A STIR</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">XXIV—BOXER TO THE RESCUE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">XXV—UNTO DEATH!</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">XXVI—THE COMING OF CROWFOOT</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">XXVII—ARRESTED IN HOLBROOK</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">XXVIII—BILL HIKES OUT</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">XXIX—OLD JOE TAKES A DRINK</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">XXX—FRANK IN SUNK HOLE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">XXXI—THE DANCE IN SUNK HOLE</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">XXXII—DEAD OR LIVING</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII">XXXIII—THE RETURN TO HOLBROOK</a> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h1><a name="FRANK_MERRIWELLS_BACKERS" id="FRANK_MERRIWELLS_BACKERS">FRANK MERRIWELL'S BACKERS.</a></h1> +<hr class="chap" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></h2> + +<h3>IN THE TRAP.</h3> + + +<p>Millions of bright stars shone serenely through the +clear Arizona night, shedding their soft white light +on the great arid plains and the mysterious mesas and +mighty mountains.</p> + +<p>Throughout the night Frank Merriwell lay ensconced +behind some sheltering rocks in a deep ravine, +where he had been trapped by the ruffians in the employ +of the mining trust, who were determined to +wrest from him the precious papers they believed to +be in his possession.</p> + +<p>Old Joe Crowfoot, the aged Indian friend of Merriwell, +who had been snared with him, had, shortly +after nightfall, taken the precious oilskin package, containing +the papers, and crept forth on his stomach, +like a snake, from amid the rocks.</p> + +<p>Joe had promised to take the papers to the nearest +registry post-office, in case he escaped, and send them, +according to directions, to Richard Merriwell, Frank's +brother, at Fardale.</p> + +<p>Frank had written a letter to Dick, and had securely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +tied up and directed the package. He trusted +the aged redskin, who declared that he might find a +method of escaping from the trap, yet could not take +the white youth with him. He had made certain that +Joe understood the matter of registering the package, +in case he should reach the post-office with it in his +possession.</p> + +<p>Merriwell had become satisfied that this was the +best course to pursue. It was plain that he was in a +very bad trap, and he knew those ruffians could soon +starve him out. There was no water or food for himself +or his horse. A day of thirst behind those rocks +must surely do for him.</p> + +<p>If Joe carried out the plan successfully, the papers +would be placed beyond the reach of the ruffians, even +though Frank fell into their hands. And it was the +papers they had been engaged to secure. Were they +to kill him, Dick would have the precious papers and +be able to continue the battle for his rights.</p> + +<p>Merry watched old Joe wiggle silently away, wondering +that the Indian could slip along in that manner +with so very little effort. The old redskin lay flat +on the ground and took advantage of every little cover +he could find, and soon he vanished amid the rocks +and passed into the shadows, after which Merry saw +him no more.</p> + +<p>Down the ravine a great mass of rocks and earth +had been blown down by a mighty blast and blocked +the passage.</p> + +<p>Up the ravine armed and murderous men were waiting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +and watching, ready to shoot down the youth they +had trapped.</p> + +<p>There were also armed ruffians on the barrier to +the southeast. They had trailed Merry with the persistence +of bloodhounds.</p> + +<p>A full hour passed. The men above were making +merry in a boisterous way. One of them began to +sing. He had a musical voice, which rang out clearly +on the soft night air. Strangely enough he sang +"Nearer My God to Thee."</p> + +<p>Could they be watching closely? It did not seem +so.</p> + +<p>Frank rigged his coat on the barrel of his rifle. +On the muzzle of the weapon he placed his hat. Then, +he lifted coat and hat above the rocks.</p> + +<p>Crack! Ping!</p> + +<p>The ringing report of a rifle and the singing of a +bullet. The hat and coat dropped. In the coat Merriwell +found a bullet-hole. That settled it. There was +no longer a doubt but that the desperadoes were watching +like wolves.</p> + +<p>Yet old Joe had been able to slip forth from the +protection of those rocks and creep away.</p> + +<p>More than ever Merriwell admired the skill of the +Indian. Thinking that the old fellow had instructed +Dick in the craft which he knew so well, Frank believed +such knowledge had not been acquired in vain. +Some time Dick might find it very valuable to him.</p> + +<p>There was a hoarse burst of laughter from the +watching ruffians.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, Merriwell!" called a voice.</p> + +<p>"Well," sang back Frank, "what do you want?"</p> + +<p>"Stick that thing up again. We'd like a leetle target +practise."</p> + +<p>"You'll have to provide your own target," Merry +retorted.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we reckons not! We'll stand you up fer one +sooner or later," was the assurance.</p> + +<p>Still they had not discovered old Joe. It seemed +marvelous.</p> + +<p>The night passed on. Another hour was gone when +there came a sudden commotion far up the ravine, as +if on the further outskirts of the ruffians. There were +hoarse shouts, angry oaths, the rattle of shots, and +then the clatter of iron-shod hoofs.</p> + +<p>The ring and echo of those clattering hoofs receded +into the night, coming back clear and distinct +at first, but growing fainter and fainter.</p> + +<p>Frank Merriwell laughed and lay still until the +sound of the galloping horse had died out in the distance.</p> + +<p>"Old Joe is on his way to the post-office," muttered +Merry. "He took a fancy to acquire one of their +horses in order to make better time."</p> + +<p>The ruffians were filled with more or less consternation. +They continued to wrangle angrily. At last, +one cried:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Merriwell!"</p> + +<p>Frank lay perfectly still and made no answer.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Merriwell!"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> + +<p>Peering forth from amid his rocky barrier, yet +crouching where the shadows hid him, Frank cocked +his rifle and pushed it forward for use.</p> + +<p>There was a time of silence, during which he fancied +the men were consulting in whispers. Finally his keen +eyes saw something move into the dim white light +above some boulders. He laughed a little in a suppressed +way and sent a bullet through the moving +object.</p> + +<p>"Put it up again!" he called cheerfully. "I don't +mind a little target practise myself."</p> + +<p>He knew the thing had been thrust up there to +draw his fire and settle the question if he still remained +in the trap. But he had shown those ruffians +that he could shoot as accurately as the best of them.</p> + +<p>After this he heard the men talking. He knew +they were bewildered by what had happened. They +could not believe it possible that a human being had +crept forth from the snare. It seemed to them that the +person who had seized their horse and ridden away +had come upon them from the rear and was in no way +connected with Merriwell.</p> + +<p>After a time they were silent.</p> + +<p>They were satisfied that the trap held fast.</p> + +<p>Then Frank found a comfortable place where he +was perfectly hidden and coolly went to sleep, with +his hand on his cocked rifle.</p> + +<p>Merriwell needed sleep, and he did not hesitate to +take it. It spoke well for his nerves that he could +sleep under such circumstances. It may seem that it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +did not speak so well for his judgment. Still he knew +that he would awaken at any sound of an alarming +nature, and he believed those men would rest content, +satisfied that they had him caged where there +was no possibility that he could give them the slip.</p> + +<p>After an hour or more, he awoke and demonstrated +the fact that he was still behind the rocks by exchanging +a challenge with the watching ruffians.</p> + +<p>Then he slept again.</p> + +<p>And so the night passed on.</p> + +<p>Frank was wide-awake with the coming of dawn. +He saw the stars pale and die in the sky. He saw +the gentle gray of morning and the flush of sunrise. +Far up the ravine rose the smoke of a camp-fire, telling +where the ruffians were preparing breakfast.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Merriwell!"</p> + +<p>"Hello, yourself!"</p> + +<p>"Are you hungry?"</p> + +<p>"No, thank you. I have plenty to eat."</p> + +<p>"Are you thirsty?"</p> + +<p>"Not in the least. I have my canteen."</p> + +<p>"That'll be empty right soon. How would you like +some steamin' hot coffee?"</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't go bad. Send some in."</p> + +<p>"We'll exchange a pot of coffee for sartin papers +you has with yer."</p> + +<p>"You're very kind!" laughed Merry derisively.</p> + +<p>"It's a right good offer. We're goin' to have them +papers anyhow, an' you may not even git coffee fer +them."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You're due for the greatest disappointment of your +lives, gentlemen," declared Frank. "If you're looking +this way for papers, you're barking up the wrong +tree."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you can't fool us!" was the answer. "We +know you've got 'em, and we'll have 'em."</p> + +<p>"Ever gamble?" asked Frank.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we sometimes take a chance."</p> + +<p>"I'll go you my horse and outfit against that of +any one in your party that you don't get the papers."</p> + +<p>"Done! It's a sure thing as far as we're consarned. +We has yer foul, an' we'll stay right yere till +we starves ye out."</p> + +<p>"Too bad to waste your valuable time so foolishly. +But, say!"</p> + +<p>"Say it."</p> + +<p>"I see no particular reason why my horse here +should go hungry and thirsty."</p> + +<p>"Not the least. Bring the pore critter right out."</p> + +<p>"Beg pardon if I seem a trifle lazy, but it's too +much bother. However, I'll send him out, and I'll +look to you to see that he's properly cared for."</p> + +<p>Without exposing himself, Frank managed to get +the horse out from the niche in the wall where he had +been placed, headed the animal through a break in +the rocky barrier and sent him off, with a sharp crack +of the hand.</p> + +<p>The horse galloped up the ravine, finally saw human +beings, stopped, snorted, seemed about to turn back, +but finally kept on and disappeared.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then Frank settled down to wait, being resolved +to give old Joe plenty of time.</p> + +<p>The day grew hot in the ravine, where there was +little air. The sun beat down with great fierceness +from the unclouded sky. Those mountains seemed +bare and baked. Little wonder that their repelling +fastnesses had presented little attraction for the prospector. +Little wonder it had often been reported that +they contained no gold.</p> + +<p>But Frank Merriwell's "Queen Mystery" Mine lay +in that range, and it had developed so richly that the +great Consolidated Mining Association of America +was straining every nerve to get possession of it—to +wrest it from its rightful owner.</p> + +<p>So Frank baked in the sun, taking care to keep +well hidden, for he knew those men would gladly end +the affair by filling him full of lead, if they were given +the opportunity.</p> + +<p>Once or twice he caught glimpses of them. Several +times they challenged him. He was prompt to answer +every challenge, and he did not wish to shoot +any of them.</p> + +<p>He had fully decided on the course he would pursue; +but he was determined to give Joe Crowfoot +plenty of time to perform his part of the program.</p> + +<p>Frank smiled in grim irony over his position. He +took it philosophically, satisfied that that was the best +he could do. He did not worry, for worry would do +him no good.</p> + +<p>He was given plenty of time to reflect on the course<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +pursued by the syndicate, and it made him wonder that +such high-handed things could take place in the United +States.</p> + +<p>It seemed rather remarkable that the head of the +mighty syndicate, D. Roscoe Arlington, was the father +of Chester Arlington, Dick Merriwell's bitterest enemy +at Fardale.</p> + +<p>Frank had encountered Mr. Arlington. He had +found him blunt, grim, obstinate, somewhat coarse, yet +apparently not brutal. Being a clever reader of human +nature, which many are not who pride themselves that +they are, Frank had become satisfied that there were +many men in the world who were far worse than D. +Roscoe Arlington, yet were considered models of virtue +and justice. Arlington was not a hypocrite. He +was bluntly and openly himself. He had set out as +a poor boy to make a fortune, and now it seemed possible +that he might become the richest man in America. +Comfortable riches had first been the object for which +he strived; but when his scheming poured wealth upon +him, he set the mark higher. He determined to be +one of the very rich men of the United States. That +goal he had now arrived at; but the mark had been +lifted again, and now he was determined to become the +richest.</p> + +<p>Arlington had not ordered those ruffians to take the +papers from Frank. Still he was back of it all. He +had turned the matter over into the hands of unscrupulous +lieutenants, instructing them to employ any +means within their power to obtain possession of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +Queen Mystery and San Pablo Mines. Those lieutenants +were directing the operations of the ruffians.</p> + +<p>It is quite probable that Arlington did not wish to +know the method employed by his lieutenants. All he +desired was the result.</p> + +<p>Frank had also met Mrs. Arlington, and he had seen +in her a haughty, domineering, icy woman, ready to do +anything to gain her ends. She was proud and high-headed, +although she had once been a poor girl. She +looked down in scorn and contempt on all poor people.</p> + +<p>But Merry had not forgotten June Arlington, who +had a truly high-bred face of great attractiveness, and +who was vivacious yet reserved, proud yet considerate, +high-spirited yet kind. He had not forgotten the girl, +and ever he thought of her with feelings of kindness, +for with her own hands she had restored to him the +precious papers when they had been stolen from him, +by agents of the trust, assisted by her mother.</p> + +<p>He knew Dick admired June, and he did not wonder +at it, for about June Arlington there was such +fascination as few girls possess.</p> + +<p>Still Merry could not help wondering if June would +one day develop into a woman like her mother. Such +a result did not seem possible.</p> + +<p>Midday passed, and the afternoon waned, yet without +any diminishing of the scorching heat in the ravine.</p> + +<p>Frank's water was gone, and he began to feel the +torments of thirst.</p> + +<p>He had counted the time as it passed. Finally he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +was satisfied that Crowfoot had accomplished the task +he had set out to perform. The papers were mailed. +Probably they were already on their way to Dick Merriwell +at Fardale.</p> + +<p>"Well," muttered Frank, "I think I'll go out and +look these ruffians over now."</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></h2> + +<h3>IN THE HANDS OF CIMARRON BILL.</h3> + + +<p>A shout quickly brought an answer.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," said Frank, "I'm for a parley. What +say you?"</p> + +<p>"We're willing. Parley away."</p> + +<p>"If you were to get those papers I suppose you +would feel yourselves perfectly well satisfied?"</p> + +<p>"I reckon you've hit it good an' fair."</p> + +<p>"Such being the case, if I come forth with hands +up and empty, I take it you won't take the trouble +to shoot me up any?"</p> + +<p>"None at all," was the assurance promptly given. +"If you comes out like that, you has our promise not +to do any shooting whatever."</p> + +<p>"And how about the gentlemen below?"</p> + +<p>"They'll do no shootin' unless you goes that way."</p> + +<p>"Is this all on the square?"</p> + +<p>"You bet! Bring out that old redskin with ye, an' +let him keep his hands up, too."</p> + +<p>"I think you've made a mistake, gentlemen; there +is no redskin with me. I am quite alone."</p> + +<p>"We knows better! Ye can't play any tricks on +us!"</p> + +<p>"I am willing to convince you. Just keep your fingers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +off your triggers. Watch me as close as you +like. I'm coming!"</p> + +<p>Having said this, he left his rifle lying on the +ground and rose to his feet with his hands held open +above his head.</p> + +<p>It must be confessed that he did not do this without +some doubt concerning the result, for he knew those +ruffians were very treacherous; but somehow he was +satisfied that they had been instructed to obtain the +papers, if possible, without killing him, and that belief +led him to run the risk that he now faced.</p> + +<p>He was ready to drop instantly if they fired as he +arose into view. A moment he stood quite still, and +then, as no shot rang out, he stepped through amid +the boulders and walked boldly up the ravine.</p> + +<p>In this manner, Frank walked straight into the +midst of a party of nine thoroughbred frontier desperadoes, +who were waiting for him, with their weapons +in their hands.</p> + +<p>The leader was a thin, dark-faced, fierce-looking +man, who covered Merry with a revolver.</p> + +<p>"I rather 'lowed you'd come to it," he said, in satisfaction. +"But I told ye to bring that old Injun along."</p> + +<p>"And I told you there was no Indian with me. I +spoke the truth."</p> + +<p>"Say, youngster, did you ever hear of Cimarron +Bill?"</p> + +<p>Frank looked the fellow over with his calm eyes. +He saw a cruel, straight slit of a mouth, a thin black +mustache, with traces of gray, and sharp, cruel eyes,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +set altogether too near together. He had heard of +Cimarron Bill as the most dangerous "man-killer" in +all the Southwest.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said quietly, "I have heard of him."</p> + +<p>"Well, you're lookin' at him. I'm Cimarron Bill. +The butts of my guns have seventeen notches in 'em. +You may make the eighteenth."</p> + +<p>Merriwell knew what the ruffian meant, yet he +showed no signs of fear.</p> + +<p>"I have heard," he said, "that Cimarron Bill has +never yet shot a man in cold blood or one who was +unarmed."</p> + +<p>"I opine that's right, young man; but this case is a +leetle different. It's not healthy to irk me up under +any conditions, and so I advise you to go slow."</p> + +<p>Frank smiled.</p> + +<p>"I have no desire or intention of irking you up, sir," +he said. "I am giving you straight goods. There is +no Indian with me."</p> + +<p>"There was last night."</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't opine he's melted into the air or +sunk into the ground, an' tharfore he has to be +yander behind them rocks."</p> + +<p>"I give you my word, sir, that he is not there, and +has not been there since last night."</p> + +<p>The ruffians had gathered about and were listening +to this talk. Picturesque scoundrels they were, armed +to the teeth and looking fit for any job of bloodshed or +murder. They glared at the cool youth standing so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +quietly in their midst; but he seemed perfectly at his +ease.</p> + +<p>"Sam," said the leader, turning to one of them, "go +out yander to them thar rocks an' look round for +that redskin."</p> + +<p>Sam, a squat, red-headed desperado, seemed to hesitate.</p> + +<p>"What ef the Injun is waitin' thar to shoot me up +some as I comes amblin' along?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Go!" said Cimarron Bill, in a tone cold as ice. "If +the Injun shoots you, we'll riddle this here young gent +with bullets."</p> + +<p>"Which won't do me good none whatever," muttered +Sam; but he knew better than to disobey or +hesitate longer, and so, dropping his rifle into the +hollow of his left arm, he stepped out and advanced +toward the spot where Merriwell had been ensconced +behind the boulders.</p> + +<p>The brutal band watched and waited. Cimarron +Bill surveyed the face of Frank Merriwell, more than +half-expecting the youth would call for Sam to come +back, knowing the fate that would befall him in case +the Indian began to shoot.</p> + +<p>But Sam walked straight up to the boulders, clambered +onto them, and looked over into the hiding-place +that had served Frank so well.</p> + +<p>"Derned ef thar's ary livin' critter hyer!" he shouted +back.</p> + +<p>"Make sure," called the leader, in that metallic<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +voice of his, which was so hard on the nerves. "Don't +make no mistake."</p> + +<p>Sam sprang down behind the boulders. They saw +his head moving about, but, very soon, he clambered +back over them and came walking rapidly away.</p> + +<p>"The varmint is sartin gone," he averred.</p> + +<p>Immediately Cimarron Bill thrust his cocked revolver +against Frank Merriwell's temple.</p> + +<p>"Tell us where the Injun is!" he commanded. +"Speak quick and straight, or I'll blow the top of +your head off!"</p> + +<p>"I am unable to tell you just where he is at present," +said Frank, with that perfect coolness that so astonished +the desperadoes. "He left me last night."</p> + +<p>"Left you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"How? We had this side guarded, an' ther boys +below kept close watch."</p> + +<p>"All the same, I think Joe Crowfoot passed you. +How he did it I do not know. He told me he could."</p> + +<p>The leader of the ruffians looked as if he was not +yet willing to believe such a thing had happened; but +there no longer seemed much chance for doubt.</p> + +<p>"Then it must have been that red whelp who stole +one of our hosses!" he said.</p> + +<p>"I think it was," nodded Merry. "Something like +two hours after he left me I heard a commotion this +way, followed by some shooting and the sound of a +galloping horse, which died out in the distance."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> + +<p>Some of the men began to swear, but Bill silenced +them with one swift look from his evil eyes.</p> + +<p>"Well, that sure is the limit!" he observed, trying +to hide some of his disgust. "We didn't opine a kitten +could sneak past us without being seen an' shot up."</p> + +<p>"A kitten might not," said Frank. "But old Joe +Crowfoot should be compared with a serpent. He has +all the wisdom and craft of one. I depended on him, +and he did not fail me."</p> + +<p>"Where has he gone? State it—state it almighty +sudden!"</p> + +<p>"If he followed instructions, he has gone to Holbrook."</p> + +<p>"For what?"</p> + +<p>"To send a message for me to my brother."</p> + +<p>"A message? What sort of a message?"</p> + +<p>"A letter and some papers."</p> + +<p>"Papers?" said Cimarron Bill, in a low, threatening +tone. "What papers?"</p> + +<p>"Certain papers referring to the Queen Mystery and +San Pablo Mines, which I own."</p> + +<p>A look of disappointed rage contorted the cruel +face of the murderous ruffian. The lips were pressed +together until they appeared to make one straight line +no wider than the thin blade of a knife. The eyelids +closed to narrow slits, while that dark face turned to +a bluish tinge.</p> + +<p>Many times had Frank Merriwell stood in deadly +peril of his life; but, looking at that man then, he well +knew that never had his danger been greater. Still, if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +he regretted his act in walking forth and surrendering +himself into the hands of such a creature he effectually +concealed it. He betrayed not a whit of trepidation or +alarm, which was a masterly display of nerve.</p> + +<p>The ruffians began to murmur fiercely, like the +growling of so many wolves. Perhaps it was to this +outbreak that Merry owed his life, for the leader suddenly +bade them be silent, and the sounds ceased.</p> + +<p>"So you sent those papers off by that old redskin, +did you?" asked Bill.</p> + +<p>"I did."</p> + +<p>"And you have the nerve to come out here and tell +me that! If you had known me better, you would +have stayed, and choked and starved, or even shot +yourself behind those rocks, before doing such a +thing!"</p> + +<p>Merriwell made no retort, for he felt that too many +words would be indiscreet. This man was capable of +any atrocity, and another straw might break the +camel's back.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Merriwell," said the ruffian, "I came here for +them papers, and I'm goin' to have them!"</p> + +<p>"You may take my life," said Merry; "but that will +not give you the papers. In fact, it will utterly defeat +the object of those men who have employed you to +obtain them."</p> + +<p>"How do you figger that out? With you out of +the way, they'll have less trouble in takin' your mines."</p> + +<p>"On the contrary, if I am murdered, the fact will +react against them. I have written a full account of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +the facts concerning my position and fight with the +syndicate to my brother, to be used in case anything +serious happens to me. With that, and with the papers +I have sent him, I fancy he can so arouse public indignation +against the syndicate that the men who are +pushing this thing will be glad enough to pull in their +horns and quit the battle. So you can see that by +killing me you will defeat the object of the syndicate +and disgust it with your method of procedure."</p> + +<p>Frank spoke those words convincingly, and certain +it is that he made an impression on Cimarron Bill. +The other ruffians, however, who failed to reason +clearly, were fierce enough to shoot the captive where +he stood.</p> + +<p>Bill stood still and looked the young man over, beginning +to realize that he was dealing with a youth +of more than ordinary courage, resource and sagacity. +His respect for Merriwell was beginning to develop +amazingly.</p> + +<p>Frank could read the man well enough to feel that +the danger-point had been successfully passed, and he +breathed more freely, although there was no outward +change in his manner.</p> + +<p>"I'm not yet satisfied that you're not lying to me," +said the chief of the ruffians; whereupon he ordered +his satellites to search the captive.</p> + +<p>The closest search, which was supervised by Bill, +failed to bring to light the package of coveted papers.</p> + +<p>Bill seemed to pass a few moments in thought. +Then he said:</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We'll all go over yander and have a look round +among the boulders."</p> + +<p>With Frank in their midst, they proceeded to the +spot where he had successfully held them off. As they +went forward, they called to the men down the ravine, +and soon those ruffians came hastening to join them.</p> + +<p>"Have ye got the papers?" demanded one called +Big Monte, a strapping ruffian, who was the leader +of the party.</p> + +<p>When he learned what had happened the giant swore +in angry disappointment.</p> + +<p>"However did you all happen to let the Injun slip +ye that way?" he demanded scornfully.</p> + +<p>Bill looked him over.</p> + +<p>"I opines you're not castin' reflections any whatever?" +he said, in a deadly manner.</p> + +<p>Big Monte looked large enough to eat the thin, +dark-faced chap, but he hastened to disclaim any intention +of "casting reflections," whereupon Bill gave +him no further heed.</p> + +<p>The chief set them to searching amid the boulders, +overseeing it all and taking care that no possible place +of concealment was neglected. But all this search came +to nothing, and the baffled wretches were finally forced +to confess that they were outwitted.</p> + +<p>But Merriwell was a captive in their hands, and in +their disappointment they might be led to revenging +themselves upon him.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></h2> + +<h3>INTO THE NIGHT.</h3> + + +<p>Cimarron Bill was a man who disliked being outwitted +and outdone, especially by a youth of Frank +Merriwell's years, and he was one who was not at all +likely to let such a thing pass without seeking to recover +and accomplish his object by some method, failing +in which, he was almost certain to take summary +and tragic vengeance on the one who had baffled him.</p> + +<p>Merriwell knew well enough in what peril he stood, +and yet he maintained his manner of composure.</p> + +<p>Bill spoke to two of the ruffians, of whom Big +Monte was one, and Sam, the red-headed rascal, the +other.</p> + +<p>"You two take charge of this here altogether too +smarty young gent," said the leader of the desperadoes, +"and look out for him a heap close. Don't let him +come none of his slick tricks on you, for you will be +held responsible for him, and I opines you know what +that means."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we'll take care of him!" said Sam significantly, +as he fingered the butt of a pistol. "All I wants is a +right good chance to do that!"</p> + +<p>Bill fixed the red-head with a look of his narrow +black eyes.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> + +<p>"At the same time," said he, "permit me to suggest +that you lets no special harm come to him, as I reckons +him valuable property just about now, and I may need +him a whole lot later. If anything unnecessary happens +to the young gent, you'll deal with me for it!"</p> + +<p>It must be confessed that Merry felt somewhat safer +in the hands of those ruffians after that, for he began +to perceive that, for some reason, Bill wished to preserve +him for the time being without harm.</p> + +<p>Apparently the captive gave little heed to these +words, but in truth he missed nothing.</p> + +<p>As the others drew aside with Bill, Big Monte took +a picket rope, observing:</p> + +<p>"I allows, Sam, that we'd better be keerful, jest as +the boss suggests, fer it ain't a whole lot healthy to +have anything happen contrarywise to his wishes. +Such bein' the case, I propose we tie up this here +young gent some, so he'll not bring trouble on hisself +an' us by tryin' to lope out."</p> + +<p>Sam looked disappointed.</p> + +<p>"I was a-thinkin'," he said, "that I'd like to see him +try to lope; but sense the boss has put it so plain, I +kind of changes my mind, an' I thinks your propersition +is kirect. Go ahead, Monte, while I keeps him +kivered with my shootin'-iron."</p> + +<p>Frank made no objection as Big Monte tied his +hands behind him. He knew it was quite useless, and +so he submitted with a meekness that was rather deceptive, +for it seemed to indicate that he was quite<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +awed by his situation and the men who had taken +him captive.</p> + +<p>"I judges that will do," said the big man, having +bound the rope about Merry's wrists until it was uncomfortable +in its tightness. "He's good an' fast +now."</p> + +<p>Merriwell sat down on a rock, while the two ruffians +flung themselves on the ground in the shadow of the +wall and waited the end of the consultation between +the chief and the remainder of the band.</p> + +<p>Bill was talking to his ruffians in his low, quiet way, +and they were listening. Frank wondered what was +passing, but they were too far away for him to hear.</p> + +<p>At last, one of the men, who had but one arm, +started off from the others, hurrying toward the +horses. Bill had thrust something into this man's +hand, seeming to give him a final admonition. Five +minutes later the one-armed man, mounted on the very +best horse he could find, rode away at good speed.</p> + +<p>Even then Merry did not conceive that it was the +desperate purpose of One-hand Hank to follow those +papers all the way to Fardale, if necessary, in the attempt +to gain possession of them. He fancied that +Hank meant to try to find the Indian, with the hope +that the papers still remained in old Joe's possession.</p> + +<p>Bill came back and stood looking Merriwell over. +Several of the men had departed toward the spot +where the horses were kept.</p> + +<p>"I reckons you thinks yerself some slick, kid!" he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +said, with cold contempt. "You'll git all over that +before you're through dealin' with Cimarron Bill. I'm +sartin to take the conceit out of ye a whole lot."</p> + +<p>To which Merry vouchsafed no retort.</p> + +<p>"Bring him along," said the chief, to Sam and +Monte. "We're goin' to pull up stakes and hike."</p> + +<p>So Frank was marched up to the horses, among +which was his own animal, which had been captured +by the ruffians.</p> + +<p>"If you don't mind, gentlemen," said Merry, "it +would give me considerable satisfaction to imbibe a +little water."</p> + +<p>"You'll choke plumb to death afore ye ever gits a +drap from me," averred Sam.</p> + +<p>Whereupon Bill looked at the red-head sharply, saying:</p> + +<p>"Sam, give him a drink from your canteen."</p> + +<p>And Sam did so.</p> + +<p>"Thanks," said Merry easily. "It was the desire +for water that led me to saunter out from my place +among the rocks earlier than I intended. I feel much +better now."</p> + +<p>His saddle had been brought along, and, when it +was strapped upon his horse, he was tossed into it by +Big Monte and another. The rest of the band had +prepared to move, with the exception of those who +had come from down the ravine and one fellow who +seemed to have taken the place of the departed fellow +with one arm. These men had horses beyond the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +rocky barrier that had been blown down to prevent +Merriwell from escaping in that direction, and it was +necessary for them to return and pursue another +course, as the horses could not be brought over that +barrier.</p> + +<p>There was little delay when everything was ready. +Bill took the lead, and those who were to follow did +so, the captive in their midst; his horse led by one +of them.</p> + +<p>The others had turned back.</p> + +<p>The sun was descending peacefully behind the barren +mountains, and night was spreading her sable +pinions over the land. There was gold in the western +sky. The heat yet seemed unabated, save in the valleys +and gorges; but later it would become unpleasantly +cool.</p> + +<p>In silence those men rode onward, with their dark, +cruel-faced leader at their head. The hoofs of the +horses clinked and rang, bestirring the echoes; and, +when the gloom of night had stolen upward from the +gulches, there came an occasional spark like a firefly +when the iron of a hoof struck a flinty rock.</p> + +<p>So night came on, and still they went forward. +Frank wondered what their destination could be; +but he saw they were taking a course that must bring +them nearer the Queen Mystery Mine.</p> + +<p>He wasted no words in seeking to engage any of +them in conversation. All the while, however, his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +thoughts were busy. He wondered much if he could +come safely through this perilous mischance and how +it was to be accomplished. For Frank had not given +up, and he had confidence that somehow he would find +a way, or one would be opened to him.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></h2> + +<h3>IN THE OLD HUT.</h3> + + +<p>In a valley amid the hills that lay at the base of +the barren mountains stood an old hut. Who had +built it there? It seemed that it had, beyond doubt, +been erected by some prospector. What fate had befallen +the builder no man knew. The hut remained, +weather-worn and falling to pieces.</p> + +<p>The coming of another day found Frank Merriwell +a captive in that hut, closely guarded. The ruffians +had stopped there, for in the vicinity could be found +wood and water, and feed for the horses.</p> + +<p>Some time during the night they had been joined +by Big Monte and the others who had turned back to +secure the horses beyond the barrier in the ravine.</p> + +<p>In the morning the men lay about in the vicinity of +the hut. Two fires had been built, and breakfast was +preparing.</p> + +<p>Inside the hut an armed man kept guard over the +captive. At intervals the guard was changed, but +always a man was near with a pistol ready to shoot +Merry down if he offered to make a break for freedom.</p> + +<p>But Frank seemed strangely contented. After the +ride through the night, he asked for a blanket to make +himself comfortable, suggested in a pleasant way that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +it would be agreeable to have the cords about his wrists +loosened a little, as they were chafing him and his +wrists were swollen, and, when the ropes were entirely +removed, then lay down on the blanket and went +calmly to sleep.</p> + +<p>Merry slept until one of the men brought him some +breakfast. This fellow kicked him to awaken him, +whereupon Frank looked up and observed:</p> + +<p>"Gently, partner—gently! You don't have to kick +in a rib in order to get my eyes open."</p> + +<p>"Ef it wasn't fer ther boss," said the fellow, "I'd +take a heap o' satisfaction in kickin' ev'ry dern rib +outer ye!"</p> + +<p>"Then I am thankful for the boss."</p> + +<p>"Hush! Mebbe ye thinks so now; but wait till he +gits round ter deal with ye. I opines he'll disterb ye +some."</p> + +<p>"Well, don't lead me into worriment before it is +necessary," entreated Frank, with a smile. "As long +as I'm comfortable, I see no reason to disturb myself +over what may happen—for there is always a chance +that it may not happen."</p> + +<p>"Waal, not in this case. Ye've robbed us outer a +clean two hundred dollars apiece by sendin' off them +papers."</p> + +<p>"Only that? Why, you seem to be cheap men! I +should fancy it would take at least five hundred each +to hire men to go out to commit robbery and murder."</p> + +<p>"Thar ain't no robbery about it."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, you don't tell me? Perhaps you are right, +but the object was robbery, all right enough."</p> + +<p>"Nary robbery! Ther papers belongs to ther gents +what wants to git 'em an' what engaged Bill to do the +job."</p> + +<p>"Possibly I might convince you to the contrary if I +had time; but just now I will admit that I'm remarkably +hungry. Put down the feed right here on the +floor, and I'll turn to directly."</p> + +<p>As the man stooped to put down the stuff, as directed, +he brought his head quite close to Frank's lips. +In the fellow's ear Merry whispered:</p> + +<p>"I'll make it one thousand dollars in your fist if you +find a way to help me out of this scrape."</p> + +<p>The man started a little, gave Frank a look, then +glanced toward the armed guard, who had heard nothing.</p> + +<p>Merry touched a finger to his lips, thus enjoining +silence.</p> + +<p>"Ha!" he exclaimed. "Thank Bill for me! This +coffee smells most satisfactory. It will serve finely to +wash down the hard bread and beef. To a healthy appetite, +like mine, this will be a feast fit for an epicurean."</p> + +<p>The ruffian looked at him in apparent wonderment.</p> + +<p>"Fer a cool galoot, you sure are the limit!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Then he went out.</p> + +<p>Frank wondered if his proposal to the fellow would +bear fruit. He knew well enough that these men stood<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +in great awe of Cimarron Bill; but would the greed +of this one overcome his fears of the chief and lead +him to attempt to set Frank at liberty?</p> + +<p>That was a serious question.</p> + +<p>Having eaten heartily, Merry once more made himself +comfortable and slept.</p> + +<p>When next he was awakened, Cimarron Bill himself +was sitting near, smoking a Spanish cigarette.</p> + +<p>"Good morning," said Frank.</p> + +<p>"It's a long distance past morning," said the leader +of the ruffians. "You've slept away the whole morning. +You seem to be takin' it a heap easy and comfortable +like."</p> + +<p>"Just bottling up a little sleep in case of need," said +Merry, sitting up and placing his back against the +wall. "There's no telling when I may have to keep +awake a whole lot, you know."</p> + +<p>"Instead of keeping awake," said Bill, in a sinister +manner, "you're a heap more likely to fall asleep some +of these yere times an' never wake up."</p> + +<p>"In that case, it will be of no consequence, so I am +not losing anything by sleeping while I may."</p> + +<p>The man surveyed Merry long and intently, as if +trying to probe the nature of this cool youth. At last, +he turned to the sentinel and dismissed him.</p> + +<p>The sentinel went out, closing the door.</p> + +<p>Bill lighted a fresh cigarette.</p> + +<p>"Young man," he said, "I want to inform you right +yere and now that it will do you no good whatever to +try to bribe any of my men."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Possibly not," said Frank noncommittally.</p> + +<p>"You bet your life it won't!" said Bill emphatically. +"Thar ain't one of them but what knows me, an', +knowin' me, thar ain't one what would dare play me +crooked. Savvy?"</p> + +<p>"It's quite plain."</p> + +<p>"It's straight goods, Merriwell. A while ago you +offered one of 'em a thousan' dollars if he would find +a way to get you out of this."</p> + +<p>"Correct," admitted Merry immediately. "And +had he accepted the offer and accomplished the job, I +should have congratulated myself on getting off very +cheap."</p> + +<p>He had seen at once that it was useless to try deception +or denial with Bill, and so he spoke frankly.</p> + +<p>"That's right," nodded Bill. "A thousan' would +be small money fer such a job; but it ain't no use, for +none of them will take the job at that or five times +as much. 'Cause why? 'Cause they knows me, +Cimarron Bill, right well. They know I'd sure settle +up with 'em if they done any crooked work. They +have seen the notches in my guns. Some of 'em has +seen me shoot."</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear sir," smiled Merry, "I don't presume +you fancied I would remain here like a man in a +trance without trying to get away in some fashion?"</p> + +<p>"I hardly opined that would be your style. But I +has to warn ye that you has about one chance in fourteen +million of gettin' off with a hull hide. I keep a +guard inside and outside, besides another over the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +hosses. I don't want to shoot ye—now—but it sure +will be done if you breaks an' runs fer it."</p> + +<p>"Of course I'd have to take chances on that."</p> + +<p>"Don't! But your offer to Jake has set me thinkin'. +Somehow I kinder take to your style."</p> + +<p>"Thanks!" laughed Merriwell.</p> + +<p>"You has a heap of nerve for a youngster."</p> + +<p>"Thanks again!"</p> + +<p>"And I opine we'd make a pretty strong team together. +Such bein' the case, I has a propersition to +make to ye, whereby, in case you accepts, you gits outer +this scrape in a hurry an' none the worse for wear."</p> + +<p>"Let it drive," said Frank. "I'm listening."</p> + +<p>"Like 'most ev'rybody," said Bill, "I'm out fer the +dust. That's what brought me up against you. I +opined you'd be easy meat. I've sorter changed my +mind. You look an' talk like a tenderfoot, but I take +it that you has your eye-teeth cut, an' this yere ain't the +first time you've seen Arizona."</p> + +<p>"I have been in Arizona before. I have likewise +been in various parts of the West."</p> + +<p>"I knowed it," nodded Bill. "I likewise opine you +has a whole lot of fight in ye."</p> + +<p>"Well, I rather enjoy the strenuous life."</p> + +<p>"But you're certain up against a right powerful combination +in this yere gang what means to have your +mines."</p> + +<p>"Without doubt."</p> + +<p>"You needs assistance to hold them there mines. +Such bein' the case, suppose we strikes a partnership,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +you an' I, an' stan's by each other. You'll find me a +right handy partner when it comes to fightin', an' I +kin back ye up with a gang what will wade through +gore fer me. Under them circumstances, I reckons we +kin give this yere minin' trust a run fer its money."</p> + +<p>"Your offer is very interesting, not to say fascinating," +confessed Frank. "But there is something behind +it. Come out with the whole matter."</p> + +<p>"There's nothing to come out with, save that I'm to +be taken in a half-partner in your mines."</p> + +<p>"Only that?" smiled Merry scornfully.</p> + +<p>Bill did not like the manner in which the youth spoke +those two words.</p> + +<p>"I 'lows," he said, "that you'll be gettin' off a heap +cheap at that. If you fails to accept, it's almost certain +your friends never hears of you no more. You'll be +planted somewhere yereabouts. Arter that, the minin' +trust will have easy goin'."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Merry, "I presume you will give me +time to think this matter over?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly. I gives ye till to-morrer mornin'."</p> + +<p>"All right."</p> + +<p>Again Bill lighted a fresh cigarette.</p> + +<p>"But, without 'pearin' to press ye too hard, which +might cause ye onpleasant rememberances in the futer, +I hints that I'll be a heap riled up if you fails to accept +my offer."</p> + +<p>Then Bill called the guard and sauntered out.</p> + +<p>Frank had no thought of permitting the desperado +to force him into such a partnership, but he believed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +that it would be well to appear to take time to consider +it.</p> + +<p>That afternoon, toward nightfall, he was permitted +to go outside in the open air, with two armed guards +watching over him.</p> + +<p>Frank inhaled the open air with a sense of gratitude, +for the hut had become stuffy and oppressive. +He looked around, noting the surroundings, without +betraying any great interest in the location. He saw +that all about the hills rose to enclose the valley, but +conjectured that the party had entered from the south +or southeast.</p> + +<p>By this time the men were interested in him, and +they looked him over curiously. Four of them were +playing cards, and Merry sat down on the ground +where he could watch the game.</p> + +<p>"You don't want to be makin' no remarks about +what keerds ye sees in anybody's hand, young man," +growled one of them, whose cards Merry could see.</p> + +<p>Frank smiled.</p> + +<p>"I'm not quite that fresh," he said. "I have played +the game occasionally myself. If I had a chance to +sit in, I might give you some points."</p> + +<p>They laughed derisively at that, for the idea that +this smooth-faced youth could give them points at +poker seemed preposterous.</p> + +<p>"Why, ef you got inter this game we'd skin the eye-teeth +outer ye!" declared one.</p> + +<p>"You'd be easy pluckin'," said another.</p> + +<p>"It would be a shame to rob ye," sneered a third.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +"But seein's you ain't got no dust we won't have that +pleasure."</p> + +<p>"If it's dust that bars me," said Merry, "I might +have enough to last a hand or two. I see you're playing +five dollars limit, with a two bits edge."</p> + +<p>"Why, you're plumb skinned dry!" said Big Monte. +"You ain't got no stuff."</p> + +<p>Whereupon Frank displayed a little thin wad of +bank-bills, amounting to about twenty-five dollars in +all.</p> + +<p>They were astounded, for no money had been found +on him when he was searched for the papers.</p> + +<p>"How is this?" growled Monte. "Whar did ye keep +it hid?"</p> + +<p>"That's my business," said Merry. "If you're anxious +to teach me this game let me in."</p> + +<p>They made a place for him, assuring him that he +would "last quick."</p> + +<p>Now Merry was a most adept poker-player, although +he let the game entirely alone, not believing in gambling. +He was also a clever magician, and he could do +tricks with cards to astonish far more astute men than +these ruffians.</p> + +<p>It was Pinto Pede's deal, and the Mexican handled +the cards in a slick manner. Without pretending to +watch him, Merry really kept a close eye on the fellow's +movements.</p> + +<p>Pede looked his cards over carelessly. Big Monte +chipped a dollar, the next man raised him a dollar, and +it was up to Frank, who immediately raised five.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> + +<p>Monte laughed hoarsely.</p> + +<p>"Throwin' yer money away right off, eh?" he said.</p> + +<p>The man after Frank dropped out.</p> + +<p>Pinto Pede raised five dollars.</p> + +<p>The fellow whose edge it was dropped his cards, but +Monte came in, as did the next man and Frank.</p> + +<p>"How men' card?" asked the Mexican.</p> + +<p>"I'll take two," said Monte.</p> + +<p>"Better draw to the strength o' yer hand," advised +the next man. "Gimme three."</p> + +<p>Pede looked inquiringly at Merry.</p> + +<p>"One card," said Frank.</p> + +<p>Pede frowned and looked annoyed. He had stacked +the cards, and everything had worked perfectly up to +Merriwell, who had been given three jacks on the +deal, and whom the Mexican had expected would draw +two.</p> + +<p>"You take da two card!" exclaimed Pede. "Yo' no +fool anybod' with da side card."</p> + +<p>"I'll take one!" said Frank grimly. "If I choose +to hold a side card to threes that is my business. Perhaps +I have two pairs."</p> + +<p>The Mexican had betrayed his trick by his anger at +Merry's style of drawing. Writhing with anger, he +tossed Frank one card.</p> + +<p>"I tak' two," he said.</p> + +<p>Merry leaned forward and watched the Mexican's +fingers so closely that Pede was given no chance to +perform any crooked work, if he had contemplated it.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now we're off," said Frank. "Go ahead and do +your betting."</p> + +<p>Then he glanced at his cards. He had held up a +five spot with his three jacks. To his satisfaction, he +found Pede had given him another five spot.</p> + +<p>Merry had conceived that it was the Mexican's plan +to give him threes and then to fill his hand with a small +pair, but to take a pair himself, having on the deal +secured threes of a higher denomination than those in +Merry's hand. For that very reason, Frank had decided +to draw one card, instead of two, thinking to +defeat Pede's object in securing a full.</p> + +<p>By a strange chance, Frank had held up a five spot, +while all the time Pede had been intending to give him +a pair of fives. This being the case, the youth secured +his full hand just the same, but without the knowledge +of the dealer. At the same time, he spoiled Pede's +draw, for the pair the Mexican had counted on getting +had been divided, he getting instead one of the fives +intended for Merriwell. This left Pede with three +queens, a five, and a nine.</p> + +<p>But the Mexican believed that Merriwell had secured +only threes, as he did not dream for an instant that +the side card held up with the three jacks could be a +five spot.</p> + +<p>In case Frank had three jacks only, Pede's three +queens were "good."</p> + +<p>The betting began.</p> + +<p>Monte started it with a dollar.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> + +<p>The next man had failed to improve his hand, and +he fell out.</p> + +<p>Frank raised five.</p> + +<p>Pede shoved in six dollars, and added another five.</p> + +<p>"I tak' dis pot," he said.</p> + +<p>Monte looked his cards over. Then he looked at +Pede. He knew the Mexican.</p> + +<p>"You oughter be shot!" he said. And he threw his +cards down, turning to Frank.</p> + +<p>"You ain't got a ghost of a show agin' that greaser, +youngster," he averred.</p> + +<p>"Well, as long as my money lasts I'll stay with +him," smiled Merry.</p> + +<p>He did. Having thrust the last of his money into +the pot, he finally called.</p> + +<p>Pede spread out his three queens, smiling with crafty +triumph.</p> + +<p>"You no fool me," he said. "My t'ree bigger dan +your t'ree. I tak' da mon'."</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute," said Merry. "I happen to have +more than threes here."</p> + +<p>And he displayed his full hand, coolly raking the +money over to his side of the blanket.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></h2> + +<h3>PINTO PEDE RECEIVES HIS LESSON.</h3> + + +<p>Pinto Pede was the most disgusted Mexican in all +Arizona. At the same time he was thoroughly thunderstruck. +That Merriwell had secured the pair of +fives with his three jacks for all of his style of drawing +seemed like legerdemain.</p> + +<p>Big Monte gave a shout of surprise, that was not +entirely unmingled with delight.</p> + +<p>"Waal, say!" he roared; "that's the furst time I +ever seen Pede done up on his own deal by a tenderfoot! +Haw! haw! haw!"</p> + +<p>As the game continued Frank soon demonstrated +that he was quite capable of holding his own with +those men. On his deal he simply played "hob" with +them. In less than thirty minutes he had won over +a hundred and fifty dollars.</p> + +<p>Cimarron Bill had sauntered up and was standing +near, his arms folded, silently watching the progress +of the game.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," said Frank finally, "you're too easy +for me. Just to show you how easy you are, I'll deal +a hand around and then tell you what you have."</p> + +<p>"Not if you lets me cut," declared Monte.</p> + +<p>Merry had gathered the cards and was shuffling +them.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You may cut," he said.</p> + +<p>He put the cards down on the blanket, and Monte +divided them into two parts, after which he watched +Frank to see that he picked them up right.</p> + +<p>Merry picked them up with one hand, doing so +swiftly. He picked them up all right, but he cleverly +made the pass, which restored the cards to their original +positions, as they were before Monte had cut.</p> + +<p>Then he dealt.</p> + +<p>When they picked up their cards, he began at the +left and called off the cards each man held, going +around the entire circle.</p> + +<p>Monte threw his down, with a cry of amazement.</p> + +<p>"An' this yere is what we takes for an easy mark!" +he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"He cheat!" grated Pinto Pede. "Dat how he win +all da mon'."</p> + +<p>"I don't want your money," said Merry. "I find it +too easy to make money off such chaps as you. You +talk about tenderfeet, but the East is full of tenderfeet +who could skin you fellows to death. If you ran +into a New York bunco man he'd have your boots off +your feet in less than thirty minutes. In fact, gentlemen, +you need to get your eye-teeth filed."</p> + +<p>He was laughing at them, as they plainly saw. This +made Pinto Pede furious, and, with a cry of rage, the +Mexican snatched out a knife, flung himself forward +on his knees, clutched the captive's throat and seemed +about to finish him.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> + +<p>Quick as a flash, Merriwell had seized Pede's wrist, +which he gave a twist that made the bones crack and +brought a yell from the yellow-faced fellow's lips. +The knife dropped. Merry tossed it over his shoulder, +and then flung Pede backward, groaning over his +wrenched arm.</p> + +<p>"The only safe way to play such tricks on me," said +the undisturbed captive, "is to catch me when I'm +asleep."</p> + +<p>Then Cimarron Bill spoke, and they saw he had a +pistol in his hand.</p> + +<p>"It sure is a good thing for Pede that the gent +stopped his play just as he did, for if Pede had done +any cuttin' I'd sartin shot him up a whole lot. I has +told you boys that Mr. Merriwell is to be kept safe +an' unharmed until I gits ready to finish with him, +an' when I says a thing like that, I generally has a way +o' meanin' it. If Pede had used his knife, I'd a-let +daylight through him instanter."</p> + +<p>Now they all knew Bill spoke the truth, and so +Pede was doubly humiliated.</p> + +<p>"He was a trifle hasty," said Merriwell coolly. "I +was about to explain that I never keep money won at +cards, as I do not believe in gambling. I sat in this +game to illustrate to you fellows that it doesn't always +pay to get puffed up and look contemptuously on +a tenderfoot. Having made the lesson plain, I will +withdraw my own money, which will leave the amount +I have won. You may divide it equally among you +and go on with your game."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p> + +<p>This Frank did exactly as he said, taking himself +out of the game.</p> + +<p>There would have been a quarrel over the division +of the money had not Bill interfered.</p> + +<p>Possibly Frank was counting on that quarrel, for a +fight among the men might have given him an opportunity to +escape. However, if such was his plan, it +miscarried, for Bill acted as judge and saw that the +matter was settled without further dispute or bloodshed.</p> + +<p>Merry turned away, his hands in his pockets, seeming +to take no further interest in the gambling ruffians. +They looked after his fine, supple, manly figure, +and Big Monte said:</p> + +<p>"Gents, he shore is a hummer! I admits it now. +He's put up a heap different from any tenderfoot I +ever struck afore. We knows he kin shoot, fer didn't +he perforate Sam's coat back yander in the raveen +when Sam h'isted it on his rifle. We know he kin +play keerds, fer didn't he jest demonstrate it to our +complete satisfaction. We know he has a heap of +nerve, fer he sure has showed it all the way through. +An' I'm bettin' he's goin' ter make it a right hot +fight afore the galoots what are arter his mines gits +what they wants."</p> + +<p>"You forgits he's dealin' with Bill," said one of the +others; "an' Bill shore has the keerds stacked on +him."</p> + +<p>"That's all right," said Monte; "but you got ter +do somethin' more than stack the keerds on that young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +chap. Didn't Pede do that, an' didn't he beat Pede a-plenty +at his own game? That showed me that you +never kin tell when you has Frank Merriwell beat fer +fair."</p> + +<p>Frank had known all the time that Bill was watching. +He had played the game more for the benefit +of the chief of the rascals than any one else. At the +same time, it had served to pass away a little time +and had been a diversion for the moment.</p> + +<p>The guards also were near, watching every move +closely.</p> + +<p>Frank had satisfied himself that there was no chance +of making a break to escape without throwing his life +away, and so he seemed to return to the hut with +perfect content. Indeed, his nonchalance and apparent +lack of fretfulness and dissatisfaction over his misfortune +was most amazing to the rough men.</p> + +<p>Merry ate supper heartily.</p> + +<p>There was a clay fireplace in the hut, and, the night +coming on cool, a fire was built there. Merry lolled +before the fire on the hard-packed earth, which served +as a floor to the hut. Bill came in, sat down on the +ground, and rolled a cigarette.</p> + +<p>"Well," he finally said, "how do you find yourself +to-night?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, comfortable," carelessly answered Frank.</p> + +<p>"Smoke?"</p> + +<p>"Never do."</p> + +<p>"Drink?"</p> + +<p>"Out of my line."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Still you can shoot and play poker! I certain admits +you're a queer one!"</p> + +<p>After a little silence, Bill again dismissed the guard. +Then he said:</p> + +<p>"I'm in a leetle hurry to know what your answer +is to that there propersition I made ye. I sw'ar, partner, +I sure reckons we'd make a hot pair. I takes to +you!"</p> + +<p>"You're very complimentary!"</p> + +<p>"I'm givin' it to ye straight. You're my style. +Now, I wants ye ter know that I kin be of great service +to ye, so I reckons it was well enough to tell ye +what has been done. You sent them papers to your +brother in the East. Well, I has sent one of my best +men a-chasin' the papers, an' he'll be sure to get 'em +if it kin be did. If he succeeds, you'll be plumb out in +the cold. Howsomever, in case we rigs up a partnership, +it won't be nohow so bad, fer my man he +brings me the papers, an' that fixes it all right. +Savvy?"</p> + +<p>"That is the way you look at it."</p> + +<p>"Sure. You may have thought you was a-givin' me +too much to let me have a half-share in your mines; +but when you reckons that you gits your liberty, my +friendship, and you has your papers saved, which same +otherwise would go to the minin' trust, I opine you'll +come to see that you're not makin' such a powerful +bad trade after all."</p> + +<p>"But it is not at all certain that you'll get possession<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +of those papers. In fact, everything is against such a +thing happening."</p> + +<p>"Is that so?"</p> + +<p>"It is."</p> + +<p>"How do ye make it out?"</p> + +<p>"My brother knows his business, and he will take +care of the papers."</p> + +<p>"How did you send them?"</p> + +<p>"Registered mail."</p> + +<p>"So I opined. Now you knows it takes things registered +a heap sight longer to travel than it takes other +mail."</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p> + +<p>"Such bein' the case, One-hand Hank is powerful +sartin to git thar ahead o' the letter."</p> + +<p>"He may."</p> + +<p>"In which case he watches the post-office close. +When he sees your kid brother take out the package, +he follers the boy, taps him on the kebeza, knocks him +stiff, takes the papers and ambles. See how easy it +is to be did?"</p> + +<p>"It is easy enough to talk about it; but my brother +is pretty shrewd, and One-hand Hank will have the +time of his life getting those papers."</p> + +<p>"You don't know Hank. He's perfectly familiar +with the East, an' that was why he was sent. One +time he escaped from Sing Sing. That was when he +had two good arms. He's a mighty bad man, an' he'll +eat up that brother of yours but he'll have the papers."</p> + +<p>"I give you my assurance that Dick will sit hard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +on Hank's stomach. I am not greatly worried, for +all of what you have told me."</p> + +<p>Bill frowned.</p> + +<p>"All right," he said. "I did have some intentions +of usin' persuasive measures on ye, such as puttin' your +feet to the fire, or things like that; but I holds them +things off to the last finish, as I opine a partnership +brought about that there way would be onpleasant to +us both."</p> + +<p>"Rather," laughed Frank.</p> + +<p>"Still," said Bill; "I may have to be rather harsh, +which certain would grieve me up a lot with such a +fine young fellow as you are. I hopes you don't +bring me none to that. Thar's no chance fer you to +give me the slip. I've taken mighty good keer of that +p'int. It will save ye a great amount of trouble if +you decides to-night that we becomes pards. I'll jest +walk out with ye an' interduce ye to ther boys as +equal with me, an' ev'rything will be lovely. I don't +reckon you'd be fool enough to go back on any sech +arrangement you made, fer Cimarron Bill ain't the +man to be throwed down in such a way."</p> + +<p>"There is no need of even suggesting a threat," said +Merry. "If I enter into such a partnership with you, +you can be sure I'll stand by it."</p> + +<p>Bill urged him to make the agreement at once, but +still Merry declined.</p> + +<p>"Time is right precious," said the leader of the +ruffians.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I'll give you an answer to-morrow."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> + +<p>And that was all Bill could get out of him then. So +the chief fell to talking of other things, and they +chatted agreeably for some time.</p> + +<p>When the ruffian was ready to retire, he called the +guard. Then he bade Frank good night and went out.</p> + +<p>Merry slept with the same amazing peacefulness. +But some time in the night he started wide-awake, +seeming to feel near him the presence of some one.</p> + +<p>The fire had died out, save for a few glowing coals +on the hearth. The sentinel sat rigid in his corner. +Merry could not tell if he slept or not.</p> + +<p>Outside the cabin something seemed to brush lightly +against the wall.</p> + +<p>This gentle sound was not repeated. After listening +a long time, Frank fell asleep once more.</p> + +<p>In the morning he found a black feather where it +had fallen to the ground after being thrust through +a crack in the wall.</p> + +<p>At sight of the feather he started. Then he hastened +to pick it up and conceal it.</p> + +<p>For that feather told him that old Joe Crowfoot +was near. It promised escape from the hands of the +ruffians, and caused Merry to suddenly cease planning +himself and trust things wholly to Crowfoot. He +knew old Joe would find an opportunity to try to aid +him to escape.</p> + +<p>That morning Frank was asked by Bill to come out +and take breakfast with the rest of the men, an invitation +which he willingly accepted, as he was beginning +to thirst for the open air.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was a glorious morning, just as all mornings in +that land of eternal sunshine seem to be glorious. +The elevation was sufficient to give the air a pleasant +coolness. The sun shone down brightly. The horses +fed in the valley. The men were lazing about, as usual. +Never had Merry seemed so perfectly at his ease as he +was on this morning. He was in a jovial mood. Some +of the men attempted to chaff him.</p> + +<p>"You're right peert fer a tenderfoot," said Red +Sam. "But the effeet East is ruther slow as compared +with the West, you knows."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't know," smiled Frank, sipping his +coffee. "In what way is the East behind the West?"</p> + +<p>"Waal, when it comes to fast trains, we lays away +over the East out yere."</p> + +<p>"I have my doubts."</p> + +<p>"Waal, you see it's this a-way," said Sam, winking +at some of his companions, "the trains out yere don't +hev to stop ev'ry few miles, an' so, havin' once got +started, they kin keep increasin' an' a-pilin' on speed +till they literally tears along. Now, thar's the Overland +Express. Why, I was a-ridin' on that train oncet +when she was jest running at comfortable speed, and +the telygraft-poles beside the track seemed as nigh +together as teeth in a fine-tooth comb."</p> + +<p>"That's speedy," confessed Frank.</p> + +<p>"You bate. But it warn't northin' to what she did +later. A hot box, or somethin', kind o' delayed us, an' +we hed to make up lost time. Sir, it's a fact that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +arter she got on full head the telygraft-poles looked +presactly like a solid fence along beside the track!"</p> + +<p>"But you see," said Frank, "you confess that your +trains out here have to take time to get up such high +speed. That is where they are behind the trains in +the East."</p> + +<p>"How?" demanded Sam contemptuously.</p> + +<p>"Why, having to stop often, the Eastern trains make +it a practise to start quick and at high speed. They +don't have to pump away for fifteen or twenty miles in +order to get to going at a comfortable rate of speed. +Instead of that they start right off at full speed. Now +there is a train runs between New York and Washington. +I got aboard at the station in Jersey City. +My girl had come along to see me off. I opened the +car window and leaned out to kiss her good-by, and, +so help me, I kissed a colored woman in Philadelphia!"</p> + +<p>There was a moment of silence, and then Big Monte +gave a roar of delighted laughter. This was the kind +of humor he could appreciate, and the fact that Red +Sam had been doubly outdone by the tenderfoot gave +him great joy.</p> + +<p>The others laughed, also, and their respect for their +captive rose several notches.</p> + +<p>Cimarron Bill thoroughly appreciated Merry's cleverness +in getting ahead of Red Sam.</p> + +<p>"That youngster'd make the greatest pard a man +could tie to!" thought Bill.</p> + +<p>After breakfast Merry coolly sauntered about the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +hut. He was followed everywhere by the two guards, +but he gave them no heed whatever. He looked for +some further sign of old Joe, but saw nothing.</p> + +<p>Merry wondered how the redskin would go to work +to accomplish what he meant to attempt.</p> + +<p>Bill let Frank alone until after dinner. Then he +sat down with Merry, they being by themselves, and +again broached the subject that seemed uppermost in +his mind.</p> + +<p>"See here," said Frank, "I offered one of your men +a thousand dollars to get me out of this. The same +offer stands good with you."</p> + +<p>The dark face of Cimarron Bill flushed and he +looked deadly.</p> + +<p>"Mebbe you don't know you're insultin' me a heap!" +he said. "Such bein' the probable case, I resents it +none. The minin' trust has promised me five thousan' +when I turns them papers over."</p> + +<p>"Which you will never do."</p> + +<p>"Which I'll sure do if you gits foolish an' refuses +to tie up with me."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Frank, "I'm not bidding against the +mining trust. I have refused to recognize that organization."</p> + +<p>"Then you refuses my proposal?" said Bill, in that +cold, dangerous voice of his.</p> + +<p>"Not that. I want until to-morrow morning to +think it over. Just till to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"You'll give me my answer to-morrer mornin'?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then it's settled that you has that much more time. +I won't ask ye no more about it until to-morrer morning; +an' then you must sure give an answer. I knows +what that answer will certain be if you has the level +head I thinks."</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></h2> + +<h3>INJUN JOE TO THE RESCUE.</h3> + + +<p>Along in the middle of the night Frank awoke. +Again he was overcome by that strange feeling that +some person was near him. Then he felt a touch, light +as a feather, and saw at his side a dark figure.</p> + +<p>The starlight came in at the small, square window.</p> + +<p>A hand grasped Frank's wrist and gave it a gentle +pull. There was not even a whisper. Merry knew +what was wanted.</p> + +<p>Without making a sound, he crept across the ground +to the wall, where a timber had been removed from +the lower portion, making an opening large enough +for a man to slip through.</p> + +<p>Some one passed noiselessly through this opening +ahead of him. Frank followed as silently as he could.</p> + +<p>Outside he found at his side the one who had entered +the cabin in that manner. This person lay flat +on the ground and moved away with amazing deftness +and silence.</p> + +<p>Frank could not follow as easily, but he wormed +along as best he could. In that manner they finally +passed to the shelter of some scrubby bushes.</p> + +<p>There Frank found a dark form sitting on the +ground.</p> + +<p>"Heap all right," whispered a voice. "You no make<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +a row when Joe him come. Joe he know you be ready +if you find feather."</p> + +<p>It was Crowfoot, the faithful old redskin.</p> + +<p>"All right now. Make um no noise. Foller Joe," +continued the Indian.</p> + +<p>The old fellow did not hurry. He took his time to +crawl along on hands and knees until they were far +from the hut. At last he arose, and Frank followed +his example. They bent low and went on like two +dark shadows.</p> + +<p>"Can we get out of the valley all right?" asked +Merry.</p> + +<p>"One man him guard this way to go out," said Joe.</p> + +<p>"How do we pass him?"</p> + +<p>"Joe know. Leave it to him."</p> + +<p>The valley narrowed at last. They slipped along +between rocky walls. Joe's feet made absolutely no +sound.</p> + +<p>"Stop here," advised the redskin. "Joe him come +back in minute."</p> + +<p>So Frank stopped and waited. The minute was +long. Indeed, it became ten minutes at least. But the +old fellow returned, saying:</p> + +<p>"All right. Coast clear."</p> + +<p>"What's that?" exclaimed Frank, as they nearly +stumbled over a dark figure, as they were hurrying on +again.</p> + +<p>"Him guard," said Joe.</p> + +<p>"Guard? What's the matter with him?"</p> + +<p>"Him sleep."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> + +<p>Merry shuddered a bit, for he fancied he knew the +sort of sleep meant by the old fellow.</p> + +<p>Cimarron Bill would receive his answer in the morning. +It would be a great surprise to him, and would +please him not at all.</p> + +<p>More than two miles had been traversed when they +came, in a deep gully, upon old Joe's horse.</p> + +<p>"No keep him so near," said the Indian. "Bring +him here to have him ready to-night. You ride."</p> + +<p>Frank did not fancy the idea of riding, but the old +fellow insisted, and Merry finally mounted. So they +passed through the silent night, Joe leading for a +time.</p> + +<p>"Did you get the package off all right?" Merry +asked.</p> + +<p>"Him go," said Joe. "No worry."</p> + +<p>"Joe, I don't know how I can repay you; but anything +I have in this world is yours. You want to +remember that. Take what you want that belongs to +me."</p> + +<p>"Joe him not need much. He soon go off to the +long hunt."</p> + +<p>Frank thought of the time when this old redskin had +been his bitter enemy, when Joe had seemed treacherous +and deadly as a rattlesnake, and smiled somewhat +over the transformation. He had won the confidence +of the Indian, who was now as faithful as he had +once been dangerous.</p> + +<p>"Did you see anything of the one-armed man who +was with my pursuers?" asked Merry.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No see him after leave you."</p> + +<p>"He was sent away to follow you."</p> + +<p>"No see him. He no bother me."</p> + +<p>Frank was thoroughly well satisfied with the work +of the faithful redskin.</p> + +<p>They took turns at riding throughout the night. +Three hours after dawn they came into a large, wooded +valley amid the mountains. As they approached this +valley they heard afar a rumbling, jarring sound that +brought a smile to the face of Frank Merriwell.</p> + +<p>"The stamps are in operation," he said.</p> + +<p>Riding up the valley, through which flowed a stream +of water, they saw reared against the bold face of a +high mountain, looking like ant-mounds, some buildings, +four or five in number. In the side of the mountain +opened the black mouth of a shaft.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" Merry cried, waving his hat over his +head. "There, Joe, is the Queen Mystery, and it is +in full blast!"</p> + +<p>The Queen Mystery mine was located a long distance +from the nearest railroad, but Merriwell had been +to the expense and trouble of having the very latest +machinery brought there and set up. He had in his +employ Jim Tracy, as a foreman, said to be thoroughly +capable and reliable. Only about fifty men were employed +in the mine at that time; but Merry contemplated +increasing the force extensively.</p> + +<p>There was talk of a branch railroad being constructed +to pass within ten or fifteen miles of the Queen +Mystery.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + +<p>Were the mine to fall into the hands of the mining +trust, without doubt that railroad would be constructed, +and it would run direct to Camp Mystery and +onward. The influence of the great railroad magnate +would easily bring about the running of the railroad +to suit his fancy.</p> + +<p>The mining trust had been completely baffled in its +first efforts to get the best of Merriwell.</p> + +<p>Frank was welcomed at the mine, where he made +himself comfortable.</p> + +<p>Old Joe disappeared within six hours after arriving +there. He vanished without saying a word to Merry +about his intentions.</p> + +<p>Two days later he reappeared, Frank finding him +sitting, in the morning, with his back against one of +the buildings, his red blanket pulled about him, serenely +smoking.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Joe!" cried Merry. "So you're back?"</p> + +<p>"Ugh!" grunted Joe, as he continued to smoke.</p> + +<p>"What's your report, Joe?"</p> + +<p>"Bad men heap gone."</p> + +<p>"Cimarron Bill and his gang?"</p> + +<p>"Joe mean um."</p> + +<p>"They have gone?"</p> + +<p>"Git out. They go heap quick after Strong Heart +he git away."</p> + +<p>"Well, that looks as if Bill had given up the fight, +but it seems hardly possible."</p> + +<p>"No can tell," said the old fellow. "May come +'gain with great lot many more bad men."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<p>Frank sat down and talked with the old redskin +for some time. Then Joe was given a square meal, +and he ate heartily.</p> + +<p>Merry had some business to look after in the mine, +and he departed, at last, with the idea that he would +find Joe and have another talk with him after the business +was done.</p> + +<p>But when Merry came to look again for the Indian, +Joe had disappeared once more in his usual mysterious +fashion.</p> + +<p>Merry was not at all satisfied that Cimarron Bill had +given up the struggle. In any event, he was confident +that the syndicate had not given up, and experience +had taught him that the organization would resort to +any desperate means to accomplish its purpose.</p> + +<p>So Merriwell, having seen that all things were going +well at the mine, set out the following day for +Holbrook, in which place he mailed a letter to Dick, informing +him of his fortune in escaping from the +ruffians.</p> + +<p>In Holbrook Merry purchased a supply of rifles and +cartridges, also small arms. This stock he had boxed +and contracted with a man to deliver everything with +the least possible delay at the Queen Mystery mine.</p> + +<p>Having attended to this matter, Merry rested over +night and set out with the first hint of coming day +for the mine.</p> + +<p>Through the hottest part of the day he rested in a +ravine where there was some shade. Then he traveled +again until after nightfall.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> + +<p>The following forenoon found him in a part of the +mountains that seemed familiar. He had diverged +somewhat from the regular trail between Holbrook +and the mine.</p> + +<p>Riding through a narrow pass, he came into a valley +that was somewhat wooded and had a decidedly familiar +aspect. Five minutes later he drew rein, uttering +an exclamation of surprise.</p> + +<p>Before him, at a distance, stood an old hut.</p> + +<p>It required no second glance to show Merriwell that +it was the very hut where he had been held a captive +by Cimarron Bill and his gang.</p> + +<p>Frank looked around keenly, but the valley seemed +desolate, and apparently he and his horse were the only +living creatures within its confines.</p> + +<p>"The very place!" said Merry. "I wonder how Bill +liked my answer to his proposition. He must have +been decidedly surprised when he found me missing in +the morning."</p> + +<p>He rode forward toward the hut, having a fancy to +look around the place.</p> + +<p>As he drew nearer, suddenly his horse plunged forward +and fell, while a shot rang out.</p> + +<p>Merry had seen a puff of smoke come from the +window of the hut. He managed to jerk his feet +from the stirrups and drop to the ground behind the +body of the horse, where he lay quite still.</p> + +<p>The animal had been shot through the brain, and it +did not even kick after falling.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></h2> + +<h3>MERRIWELL AND BIG MONTE.</h3> + + +<p>As he lay behind his stricken horse, Merriwell pulled +his rifle around and got it ready for use. Peering over +the body of the animal, he watched the hut.</p> + +<p>The sun, which was dropping toward the west, was +still decidedly uncomfortable. It blazed upon him +with a feeling like the heat from a bake-oven.</p> + +<p>Frank knew his peril. He knew better than to lift +his head high and give his hidden foe another chance +at him. He could not jump up and rush for cover, as +cover lay too far away. Only one thing could he do, +and that was to remain quietly there and watch and +wait.</p> + +<p>After a time it is likely the man who had fired the +shot began to believe Merriwell seriously hurt. Frank +caught a glimpse of him within the hut.</p> + +<p>"He's coming out!" Merry decided.</p> + +<p>He was mistaken. Time dragged on and the sun +dipped lower toward the mountain-peaks; but still no +person issued from the old hut. The situation was +anything but comfortable.</p> + +<p>"Confound him!" muttered Frank. "Who is he, +and what does he mean?"</p> + +<p>Even as he asked the question, he again saw the +man moving beyond the window.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> + +<p>Frank thrust the rifle across the horse, resting it on +the animal's body. Then he got into a position where +he could take good aim, and then waited again.</p> + +<p>The sun was touching the mountain-tops when beyond +the window Merry saw the head of a man.</p> + +<p>Then the clear report of his rifle rang through the +valley. The puff of smoke from the muzzle blotted +out the window for a moment. When it floated away +the window was empty.</p> + +<p>"Did I reach him?" thought Frank anxiously.</p> + +<p>He felt that he had not missed, and still he could +not be sure. He did not venture to rise from behind +the horse. In case he had missed, he might fall before +a second bullet from the hut.</p> + +<p>The sun went down behind the mountains, flinging +a hundred golden and crimson banners into the sky. +Finally these began to fade, and a few stars peeped +forth palely.</p> + +<p>"If somebody's watching for me there," thought +Merry, "it's going to be dangerous to move, at best."</p> + +<p>But something told him his lead had not gone +astray.</p> + +<p>As the light faded still more he arose quickly, rifle in +hand, and started on a run for the hut. As he ran +he felt that it was far from impossible that another +shot might bring sudden death to him. Still he did +not hesitate, and, running steadily, he came up to the +hut.</p> + +<p>The door swung open before his hand. He looked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +in. It was not so dark as to hide a black figure that +lay sprawled on the dirt floor.</p> + +<p>Frank shuddered a little, and felt like turning away +at once.</p> + +<p>"He brought it on himself!" he whispered. "It was +my life or his. But I'm sorry I had to do it."</p> + +<p>Then he entered the hut. Striking a match, he bent +over the prostrate figure. The reflected light, coming +from his hollowed hands, showed him a familiar face.</p> + +<p>"Big Monte!" he cried, starting back and dropping +the match.</p> + +<p>It was in truth the big man who had been one of +Cimarron Bill's paid satellites.</p> + +<p>He found the man's wrist and felt for his pulse.</p> + +<p>"Good Lord!" Merry cried.</p> + +<p>Big Monte's pulse flickered beneath his fingers. The +ruffian still lived.</p> + +<p>Frank knew where there was some wood, and this +he soon had piled in a little heap in the open fireplace. +He applied a match, and soon a blaze sprang +up.</p> + +<p>By the growing light of the fire he examined Monte's +wound.</p> + +<p>"Creased him as fine as can be!" he muttered. +"Maybe there is a chance for him, after all."</p> + +<p>It may be explained that by "creased" Frank meant +that the bullet had passed along the man's skull, cutting +his scalp, yet had not penetrated the bone. This +had rendered Big Monte unconscious.</p> + +<p>Merry removed the fellow's revolvers and knife and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +stood his rifle in a far corner. Then he brought some +water in his drinking-cup and set about the effort of +restoring the wretch to consciousness, which did not +prove such a hard task as he had anticipated.</p> + +<p>After a little Monte's eyes opened and he lay staring +at the youth. He seemed bewildered, and it was plain +he could not readily collect his scattered wits.</p> + +<p>"Well, Monte," said Frank coolly, "that was a pretty +close call for you. I came near shooting off the top +of your head, which I would have been justified in doing. +All the same, I'm glad I failed."</p> + +<p>The big man continued to stare at Frank. Already +Merry had bound up the ruffian's wound.</p> + +<p>"Ho!" came hoarsely from Monte's lips. "Back! +Back to the depths! You are dead!"</p> + +<p>"If I am dead," said Frank, "I'm just about the +liveliest dead man you ever saw."</p> + +<p>A strange smile came to the lips of the wounded +man.</p> + +<p>"If you are not yet dead," he said, "I opines you +soon will be a heap."</p> + +<p>"Never count chickens before they are hatched, +Monte."</p> + +<p>"When you come back you'll find your mine in the +hands of the syndicate. Bill will have it."</p> + +<p>"That's interesting! How will Bill get it?"</p> + +<p>"He will take it while you are away. He has gathered +a right good gang, and he's a-goin' to jump the +mine to-night."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Monte," said Frank, "you interest me extensively. +How does it happen you are not with the gang?"</p> + +<p>"I am one of the watchers. I watch to see that you +do not get back. I reckons I have done my part o' +the job, for I shot you dead a while ago."</p> + +<p>The big ruffian was not in his right mind, but already +he had said enough to stir Frank Merriwell's +blood. So Cimarron Bill had been watching his movements +from some place of cover, and had hastened to +gather his ruffians the moment Frank left the mine. +Without doubt Bill had counted on Frank remaining +away longer. However, this night he was to strike, +with his gang. The mine was to be seized.</p> + +<p>"I must be there!" muttered Merriwell.</p> + +<p>Fortunately Big Monte had a horse hidden not far +from the cabin, and Frank was able to find the animal.</p> + +<p>The wounded ruffian was raving at intervals. He +seemed quite deranged.</p> + +<p>"I can't leave him like this," thought Merry. "He +might wander off into the mountains and perish."</p> + +<p>Still he disliked to be encumbered with the wretch. +Some would have deserted the wounded man without +delay and ridden with all haste to reach the mine.</p> + +<p>It must be confessed that such a thought passed +through the head of Frank Merriwell.</p> + +<p>"No!" murmured Frank. "He's a human being. It +is my duty to do what I can to save him."</p> + +<p>So it came about that two men rode Monte's big +horse away from that valley. One of them muttered, +and laughed, and talked wildly.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Riding with the dead!" he said. "We're on the +road to Purgatory! Ha! Ha! Ha! Whip up the +horse! Gallop on!"</p> + +<p>It was a strange ride through the starlight night. +The clicking clatter of the horse's hoofs aroused the +big man at intervals, and he laughed and shouted.</p> + +<p>"I'm dead!" he finally declared. "I am a dead man! +Two dead men are riding together! And we're on +the road to the burnin' pit! But it's getting a heap +cold! I'm beginnin' to freeze. The fire will be good +an' hot!"</p> + +<p>"Shut up!" said Merry. "We're getting near the +Queen Mystery. You may get shot up some more if +you keep your jaw wagging."</p> + +<p>As they came nearer to the valley, Merry slackened +the pace of the foam-flecked horse. Fortunately the +animal had been big and strong, for once Frank had +seemed to have little mercy on the beast he bestrode.</p> + +<p>Monte continued to talk. He had grown so weak +that Merry was compelled to partly support him.</p> + +<p>"Look here," Frank said, in a commanding way, +"you are not to say another word until I give you permission. +Do you understand that?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then close up. Not another word from you."</p> + +<p>Monte closed up, obeying like a child.</p> + +<p>They were entering the valley. Suddenly there +came a challenge.</p> + +<p>"Hold up, thar! Who goes yander?"</p> + +<p>Not a word from Merriwell's lips, but he drove the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +spurs to the horse, clutched Big Monte tighter, and +they shot forward into the valley.</p> + +<p>Instantly sounded a shot, followed by several more. +Bullets whistled past them. Frank felt Monte give +a great start and lurch sideways, but he held the man +steady.</p> + +<p>There were cries of rage from the men who had +fired the shots.</p> + +<p>Not a word did Frank speak, but he held straight +on toward the head of the valley and Camp Mystery.</p> + +<p>As he approached he saw lights gleaming ahead, +seeming to indicate that the sound of shooting had +come up the valley and aroused the miners.</p> + +<p>He was challenged, but gave an answer that caused +the men to welcome him with a shout. It was Crowfoot +who seized the lather-white horse by the bit, but +it was another who caught Big Monte as the ruffian +plunged from the saddle on being released from +Frank's arms.</p> + +<p>"I 'lows he'd got it good an' plenty," said the man +who caught Monte. "Ef he ain't dead a'ready, he'll +be so right soon."</p> + +<p>"Take him inside somewhere," directed Frank. +"Every man who can find a weapon wants to get ready +to fight. We're going to have a gang of ruffians down +on us here, and we'll have to fight to hold this mine."</p> + +<p>"We're all ready, Mr. Merriwell," said Jim Tracy, +the foreman. "Joe Crowfoot came and warned us +what was doin'. I opine them galoots must 'a' bin +shootin' at you some down yander?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's right," said Frank. "I had to ride through +them, and they banged away at me to their satisfaction. +I was lucky to come out with a whole skin."</p> + +<p>"Which the other gent didn't. Who is he?"</p> + +<p>"Big Monte."</p> + +<p>"What? Not that galoot? Why, he's one o' the +wust devils unhung in Arizona!"</p> + +<p>The men began to murmur.</p> + +<p>"Big Monte!" cried another. "Why I has a score +to settle with that thar varmint! He shot my partner, +Luke Brandt."</p> + +<p>"An' I has a score to settle with him, too!" declared +another. "He stole a hoss off me!"</p> + +<p>Many others claimed grievances against Monte, and +suddenly there was a rush toward the room into which +the wounded man had been conveyed.</p> + +<p>Somehow Frank Merriwell was ahead of them all.</p> + +<p>As they came crowding in at the door, Merry stood +beside the blanket on which the wounded ruffian was +stretched.</p> + +<p>"Hold on, men!" he called quietly. "Monte is dying!"</p> + +<p>"What do we keer fer that!" cried one. "All the +more reason fer us to hurry an' swing the varmint +afore he crokes!"</p> + +<p>"Let him die in peace."</p> + +<p>"That's escapin' what's his due."</p> + +<p>Frank lifted one hand.</p> + +<p>"There is One above who will judge him," he said. +"It is not for us to do that."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> + +<p>But those men did not fancy the idea of being +robbed of their vengeance. Big Monte was helpless +in their hands, and they were for swinging him before +he could escape them by giving up the ghost.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Merriwell, sir," said one, "we respects you all +right, an' we don't like to run contrarywise to anything +you says here; but in this yere case we has to, +most unfortunate. It is our sollum duty to hang this +onery hoss-thief, an' that is what we proposes to do. +Arter that we'll be ready ter fight fer you an' your +mine as long as it's necessary."</p> + +<p>"That's right!" shouted others, as they again +crowded forward. "Let us have him! We'll make it +right short work! Then we'll be ready fer his pards!"</p> + +<p>Some of them flourished weapons. They were an +ugly-looking crew.</p> + +<p>Quick as a flash Frank Merriwell whipped out a +pair of revolvers and leveled them at the crowd.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," he said, "I have just one thing to observe: +If you don't, one and all, get out of here instanter +and leave Monte to shuffle off in peace I shall +open on you! If I open on you, I shall reduce you so +that Cimarron Bill and his crowd will have no trouble +whatever in taking this mine."</p> + +<p>They did not doubt but he meant it, remarkable +though it seemed. If they attempted to seize Monte, +Merriwell would begin shooting. It was astonishing +that he should choose to defend this ruffian that had +been one of his worst enemies.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> + +<p>As the men were hesitating, old Joe Crowfoot suddenly +appeared.</p> + +<p>"Com'ron Bill he come!" said the Indian. "There +be a heap fight in a minute! Come quick!"</p> + +<p>"Come on!" cried Jim Tracy.</p> + +<p>And the men rushed forth to meet and repulse Cimarron +Bill and his gang.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></h2> + +<h3>THE DEATH-SHOT.</h3> + + +<p>Frank was about to follow, when Big Monte +clutched weakly at his foot.</p> + +<p>"Pard," said the ruffian, "I may never git another +chanct to say it. You're the white stuff! They'd shore +hanged me a whole lot but for you. Now I has +a chanct to die comfortable an' respectable like. +Thankee, Frank Merriwell."</p> + +<p>"Don't mention it!" said Frank. "Die as comfortably +as you can. I have to go out to help the boys +shoot a few of your pards."</p> + +<p>"I ain't got northin' agin' them," said Monte; "but +I wishes ye luck. They're in the wrong, an' you're +right."</p> + +<p>At this moment the sound of shooting outside +startled Merry, and, without another word, he rushed +forth, leaving Monte lying there.</p> + +<p>Cimarron Bill had counted on capturing the mine +by strategy and meeting with very little resistance. +When Frank had returned and ridden into the valley +Bill knew that it would not do to delay longer, and he +had led his men in swift pursuit.</p> + +<p>But old Joe Crowfoot, faithful as ever, had prepared +the miners for the attack; so it came about that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +the ruffians were met with a volley of lead that dismayed +and demoralized them. This was not the kind +of work they relished.</p> + +<p>Thus it happened that Frank Merriwell came hurrying +forth, only to find the enemy already repulsed and +retreating in disorder.</p> + +<p>The starlight showed two men and a horse stretched +on the ground, while another horse was hobbling about. +At a distance down the valley the mine-seizers were +fleeing.</p> + +<p>"They git heap hot time!" said old Joe, in Frank's +ear.</p> + +<p>"What?" cried Merry. "Have they quit it as quick +as this?"</p> + +<p>"It looks that way, sir," said Jim Tracy.</p> + +<p>"And I didn't get into the game."</p> + +<p>"You was too busy defending Big Monte. I hopes +you pardons me, sir, but I thinks that was a mistake."</p> + +<p>"You have a right to think whatever you like, but +I object to your freedom in expressing yourself."</p> + +<p>This was plain enough, and it told Tracy that Frank +would not tolerate any criticism from him.</p> + +<p>"It's your own game," muttered Tracy, turning +away.</p> + +<p>"I see you have dropped two of those chaps."</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>Revolver in hand, Frank walked out toward the spot +where the two figures lay. He was followed by Crowfoot +and several others.</p> + +<p>The first man was stone-dead.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> + +<p>The next proved to be the Mexican, Pinto Pede, who +was sorely wounded.</p> + +<p>"That cursed greaser!" growled one of the men. +"Give me lief to finish him, Mr. Merriwell!"</p> + +<p>He placed the muzzle of a pistol against Pede's head.</p> + +<p>Frank knew that a word from him would send the +Mexican into eternity.</p> + +<p>"None of that!" he said sternly and commandingly. +"Pick the fellow up and take him in yonder. He may +not be shot up too bad to recover."</p> + +<p>But they drew back.</p> + +<p>"Sir," said Tracy, "I don't opine thar is a man here +but what thinks hisself too good to be after handlin' +the onery greaser."</p> + +<p>"And you would let him remain here to die?"</p> + +<p>"I reckons that's correct."</p> + +<p>In another moment Merry had stooped and lifted the +slender body of Pinto Pede in his arms. With long +strides, he bore the Mexican toward the building in +which Big Monte lay.</p> + +<p>The miners looked on in amazement.</p> + +<p>"Waal, he's the limit!" said Jim Tracy, in disgust.</p> + +<p>Crowfoot followed Frank, who took Pede into the +room and placed him beside Big Monte. The redskin +stopped at the door, where he stood on guard.</p> + +<p>"Well, Pede," said Frank, "we'll examine and see +just how hard you're hit."</p> + +<p>The Mexican was shot in the side. At first it +seemed that the wound might be fatal, but, examining<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +with the skill of an amateur surgeon, Frank made a +discovery.</p> + +<p>"She struck a rib, Pede," he said. "She followed +around and came out here. Why, you're not in such a +bad way! You may pull through this thing all right. +You'd be almost sure to if you had the right sort of +treatment."</p> + +<p>The Mexican said nothing, but certain it is that he +was bewildered when he found Merry dressing the +wound. This Frank did with such skill as he possessed, +making the fellow comfortable.</p> + +<p>Big Monte had watched all this, and he spoke for +the first time when the job was done.</p> + +<p>"I reckon," he said, "that they don't raise galoots +like you ev'rywhere. Why, it shore was up to you +to finish the two o' us! Why you didn't do it is +something I don't understand none at all. An' you +keeps them gents from takin' me out an' swingin' me. +You shore air plenty diffrunt from any one I ever +meets up with afore!"</p> + +<p>Old Joe Crowfoot had been watching everything. +The Indian understood Frank not at all, but whatever +"Strong Heart" did Joe was ready to stand by.</p> + +<p>"Don't worry over it," laughed Merry. "I owe you +something, Monte."</p> + +<p>"I fail to see what."</p> + +<p>"Why, you warned me that Bill and the others +meant to jump the mine to-night."</p> + +<p>"Did I?"</p> + +<p>"Sure thing."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't remember. But I tried ter shoot ye. Bill +said you was ter be shot ef you comes a-hustlin' back +afore he gits around to doin' his part o' the job."</p> + +<p>"You got the worst of it in that little piece of shooting, +so we'll call that even."</p> + +<p>"If you says even, I'm more'n willin'."</p> + +<p>"Now," said Frank, "I'm going out with the men +to watch for a second attack from Bill. I have to +leave you, and some of the boys may take a fancy to +hang you, after all. That bein' the case, I don't want +to leave you so you won't have a show. Here, take this +gun. With it you may be able to defend yourself until +I can reach you. But don't shoot any one if you +can help it, for after that I don't believe even I could +save you."</p> + +<p>So he placed a revolver in the hand of Big Monte +and went out, leaving the wounded ruffians together.</p> + +<p>When Frank was gone the two wounded wretches +lay quite still for some time. Finally Pinto Pede +stirred and looked at Big Monte.</p> + +<p>"How you get shot?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"The gent who jest went out done a part o' the +job," said Monte, in reply.</p> + +<p>"Heem—he shoot you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Ha! You lik' da chance to shoot heem?"</p> + +<p>"Waal, I had it, but I missed him. He fooled me +a whole lot, fer he jest kept still behind his hoss, what +I had salted, an' then he got in at me with his own +bit o' lead."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That mak' you hate heem! Now you want to keel +heem?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know! I don't opine I'm so mighty +eager."</p> + +<p>"Beel says he gif one thousan' dol' to man who shoot +Frank Mer'well."</p> + +<p>"That's a good lot."</p> + +<p>"Beel he do it."</p> + +<p>"No doubt o' that, I reckons."</p> + +<p>"Mebbe you an' I haf the chance."</p> + +<p>"Waal, not fer me! I quits! When a chap keeps +my neck from bein' stretched arter all I has done ter +him—waal, that settles it! I opines I has a leetle humanity +left in me. An' he thought I was dyin', too. I +kinder thought so then, but I'm managin' ter pull +along. Mebbe I'll come through."</p> + +<p>The face of Pinto Pede showed that he was thinking +black thoughts.</p> + +<p>"Gif me da chance!" he finally said. "You no haf +to do eet. Gif me da chance. I do eet, an' we divvy +da mon'. Ha?"</p> + +<p>"Don't count me into your deviltry."</p> + +<p>"No count you?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"What matter? You no too good. I see you shoot +man in back."</p> + +<p>"Mebbe you did; but he hadn't kept me from bein' +lynched."</p> + +<p>"Bah! Why he do eet? You fool! He want to +turn you ofer to law."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mebbe you're right; I don't know."</p> + +<p>"You safe yourself if you help keel him."</p> + +<p>"Looker hyer, Pede, I'm a low-down onery skunk; +but I reckon thar's a limit even fer me. I've struck it. +This hyer Frank Merriwell made me ashamed a' myself +fer the fust time in a right long time. I know +I'm too onery to reform an' ever be anything decent, +even if I don't shuffle off with these two wounds. All +the same, I ain't the snake ter turn an' soak pisen +inter Merriwell, an' you hear me. Others may do it, +but not Big Monte."</p> + +<p>"Bah! All right! You not get half! Yes; you +keep steel, you get eet."</p> + +<p>"What are you driving at?"</p> + +<p>"Wait. Mebbe you see. All you haf to do is keep +steel."</p> + +<p>"Waal, I'm great at keepin' still," said Monte.</p> + +<p>It was not far from morning when Merriwell re-entered +that room.</p> + +<p>Pinto Pede seemed to be sleeping, but Big Monte +was wide-awake.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" exclaimed Frank. "So you're still on +these shores. I didn't know but you had sailed out."</p> + +<p>"Pard, I opine mebbe I may git well enough to +be hanged, after all," grinned the big ruffian.</p> + +<p>"Possibly you may," said Frank. "And the chances +are you would be if I were to leave you alone long +enough. I heard some of the boys talking. They +contemplate taking you out and doing things to you +after I'm asleep. But they did not reckon that I would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +come here to sleep, where they cannot get their hands +on you without disturbing me."</p> + +<p>"That was right kind of you," said Monte. "How's +Bill?"</p> + +<p>"I think that Bill has had his fill for the present. +Indications are that he has left the valley with his +whole force, and we are not looking for further +trouble from him in some time to come."</p> + +<p>"Bill shore found hisself up against the real thing," +said Monte.</p> + +<p>Frank placed a blanket near the door, wrapped himself +in it, and was soon sleeping soundly.</p> + +<p>Big Monte seemed to fall asleep after a time.</p> + +<p>Finally the Mexican lifted his head and listened. +He looked at Monte, and then at Frank. Seeming to +satisfy himself, he gently dropped aside his blanket +and began creeping across the floor, making his way toward +Merriwell. He moved with the silence of a +serpent.</p> + +<p>Now, it happened that Big Monte was not asleep, +although he had seemed to be. The Mexican had not +crept half the distance to Frank when the big man +turned slightly, lifted his head, and watched. As the +creeping wretch drew nearer to the sleeping youth the +hand of Big Monte was gently thrust out from the +folds of his blanket.</p> + +<p>Pede reached Frank, and then arose to his knees. +Suddenly he lifted above his head a deadly knife, +which he meant to plunge into the breast of the unconscious +sleeper.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<p>At that instant a spout of fire leaped from something +in the hand which Big Monte had thrust from +beneath the blanket, and with the crashing report of +the revolver Pede fell forward across the body of his +intended victim, shot through the brain!</p> + +<p>Frank was on his feet in an instant.</p> + +<p>"What does this mean?" he cried, astounded, stirring +the body of the Mexican with his foot.</p> + +<p>"You gave me a gun," said Big Monte, "so that I +might defend myself. It came in handy when I saw +Pede gittin' keerless with his knife an' goin' fer to cut +you up."</p> + +<p>"Was that it?" exclaimed Frank. "Why, he was +going to stab me! And you saved my life by shooting +him!"</p> + +<p>"Which mebbe makes us some nearer square than +we was," said Monte, "as you saved my life a leetle +time ago."</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></h2> + +<h3>FRANK MAKES A DECISION.</h3> + + +<p>Frank leaned against the door-jamb of his cabin and +looked out into the sunny valley. To his ears came +the roar of the stamp-mills of the mine, which was in +full blast. Before him lay the mine-buildings about +the mouth of the tunnel, from which rich ore was being +brought to be fed to the greedy stamps.</p> + +<p>It was now something like ten days since the ruffians +under Cimarron Bill tried to carry the mine by assault.</p> + +<p>Frank had remained watchful and alert, well knowing +the nature of Cimarron Bill and believing he +would not be content to abandon the effort thus easily. +Still the second attack, which he had so fully expected, +had not come.</p> + +<p>He was wondering now if the ruffians had given it +up. Or had they been instructed by the trust to turn +their attention to the San Pablo Mine?</p> + +<p>If the latter was the case, Frank felt that they would +find the San Pablo prepared. He had taken pains before +hastening to the Queen Mystery to fortify his +mine in Mexico, leaving it in charge of a man whom +he fully trusted.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, Frank felt that it would be far better +were he able to personally watch both mines at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +same time. Just now he was meditating on the advisability +of leaving the Queen Mystery and journeying +southward to the San Pablo.</p> + +<p>As he thought this matter over, something seemed +to whisper in his ear that such an action on his part +was anticipated by the enemy, who were waiting for +him to make the move. Then, while he was away, +they would again descend on the Queen Mystery.</p> + +<p>Again the old Indian, Crowfoot, had disappeared, +after his usual manner, without telling Frank whither +he was going. Merry knew he might be in the vicinity, +or he might be hundreds of miles away. Still, +Joe had a remarkable faculty of turning up just when +he was most needed.</p> + +<p>Merry turned back into the little cabin, leaving the +door open. He had been feeling of his chin as he +stood in the doorway, and now he thought:</p> + +<p>"A shave will clean me up. Great Scott! but I'm +getting a beard! This shaving is becoming a regular +nuisance."</p> + +<p>Indeed, Frank was getting a beard. Every day it +seemed to grow heavier and thicker, and he found it +necessary to shave frequently to maintain that clean +appearance in which he so greatly delighted.</p> + +<p>Frank could wear old clothes, he could rough it with +joy, he minded neither wind nor weather, but personal +cleanliness he always maintained when such a thing +was in any manner possible. To him a slovenly person +was offensive. He pitied the man or boy who +did not know the pleasure of being clean, and he knew<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +it was possible for any one to be clean, no matter what +his occupation, provided he could obtain a cake of +soap and sufficient water.</p> + +<p>So Frank was shaving every day when possible. He +now turned back into the cabin and brought out his +shaving-set. On the wall directly opposite the open +door hung a small square mirror, with a narrow shelf +below it.</p> + +<p>Here Merry made preparations for his shaving. +Over a heater-lamp he prepared his water, whistling +the air of the Boola Song. This tune made him think +of his old friends of Yale, some of whom he had not +heard from for some time.</p> + +<p>A year had not yet passed since he had gathered +them and taken his baseball-team into the Mad River +region to play baseball. In that brief space of time +many things had occurred which made it evident that +never again could they all be together for sport. The +days of mere sport were past and over; the days of +serious business had come.</p> + +<p>Frank thought, with a sense of sadness, of Old Eli. +Before him rose a vision of the campus buildings, in +his ears sounded the laughter and songs, and he saw +the line of fellows hanging on the fence, smoking +their pipes and chaffing good-naturedly.</p> + +<p>With some men it is a sad thing that they cannot +look back with any great degree of pleasure on their +boyhood and youth. They remember that other boys +seemed to have fine times, while they did not. Later, +other youths chummed together and were hail-fellow-well-met,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +while they seemed set aloof from these jolly +associates. With Frank this was not so. He remembered +his boyhood with emotions of the greatest pleasure, +from the time of his early home life to his bidding +farewell to Fardale. Beyond that even unto this +day the joy of life made him feel that it was a million +fold worth living.</p> + +<p>There are thousands who confess that they would +not be willing to go back and live their lives over. +Had the question been put to Frank Merriwell he +would have said that nothing could give him greater +pleasure.</p> + +<p>When the water was hot, Frank carefully applied +his razor to the strop and made it sharp enough for +his purpose. Then he arranged everything needed +on the little shelf beneath the mirror.</p> + +<p>Now, it is impossible to say what thing it was that +led him to remove his revolver from the holster and +place it on the shelf with the other things, but something +caused him to do so.</p> + +<p>Then he applied the lather to his face, and was +about to use the razor, when he suddenly saw something +in the mirror that led him to move with amazing +quickness.</p> + +<p>Behind him, at the open door, was a man with a +rifle. This man, a bearded ruffian, had crept up to +the door with the weapon held ready for use.</p> + +<p>But for the fact that the interior of the cabin seemed +somewhat gloomy to the eyes of the man, accustomed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +as they were to the bright glare of the sun outside, he +might have been too swift for Frank.</p> + +<p>Another thing added to Frank's fortune, and it was +that he had drawn his revolver and placed the weapon +on the little shelf in front of him. For this reason it +was not necessary for him to reach toward the holster +at his hip, an action which must have hurried the ruffian +to the attempted accomplishment of his murderous +design. For Merriwell had no doubt of the fellow's +intention. He saw murder in the man's eyes and +pose.</p> + +<p>The rifle was half-lifted. In another moment +Frank Merriwell would have been shot in the back in +a most dastardly manner.</p> + +<p>He snatched the revolver from the little shelf and +fired over his shoulder without turning his head, securing +such aim as was possible by the aid of the +mirror into which he was looking. Frank had learned +to shoot in this manner, and he could do so as skilfully +as many of the expert marksmen who gave exhibitions +of fancy shooting throughout the country.</p> + +<p>His bullet struck the hand of the man, smashing +some of the ruffian's fingers and causing him to drop +the rifle.</p> + +<p>Merry wheeled and strode to the door, his smoking +revolver in his hand, a terrible look in his eyes.</p> + +<p>The wretch was astounded by what had happened. +Blood was streaming from his wounded hand. He +saw Merriwell confront him with the ready pistol.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You treacherous cur!" said Frank indignantly. +"I think I'll finish you!"</p> + +<p>He seemed about to shoot the man down, whereupon +the ruffian dropped on his knees, begging for +mercy.</p> + +<p>"Don't—don't shoot!" he gasped, holding up his +bleeding hand, "Don't kill me!"</p> + +<p>"Why shouldn't I? You meant to kill me."</p> + +<p>"No, no—I swear——"</p> + +<p>"Don't lie! Your soul may start on its long trail +in a moment! Don't lie when you may be on the brink +of eternity!"</p> + +<p>These stern words frightened the fellow more than +ever.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm telling you the truth—I sw'ar I am!" he +hastened to say.</p> + +<p>"You crept up to this door all ready to fill me full +of lead."</p> + +<p>"No, no! Nothing of the sort! I was not looking +for you! It—it was some one else! I swear it by my +honor!"</p> + +<p>A bitter smile curled the lips of the young man.</p> + +<p>"Honor!" he said—"your honor! Never mind. +How much were you to receive for killing me?"</p> + +<p>"It was not you; it was another man."</p> + +<p>"What other?"</p> + +<p>"Tracy."</p> + +<p>"My foreman?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You were looking for him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Him and me have had a fallin' out, and he cussed +me. He threatened to shoot me, too."</p> + +<p>"What was the matter?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, he didn't like the way I done my work. It's +true; ask him. I swore I'd fix him."</p> + +<p>"Well, what brought you here to my cabin to shoot +the foreman?"</p> + +<p>"I thought I saw him coming this way."</p> + +<p>Frank pressed his lips together and looked the man +over. Somehow he believed the ruffian was lying, in +spite of all these protests.</p> + +<p>"See here, Anson," he said, "you were hired by the +mining trust, or by some of its tools, to shoot me, +and you tried to earn your money. Don't deny it, for +you can't fool me. Just own up to the truth and it +will be better for you. Tell me who made the deal +with you and how much you were to receive. If you +come out honestly and confess all, I'll spare you. Your +hand is bleeding pretty bad, and it should be attended +to at once. I'll see to that, but upon condition that +you confess."</p> + +<p>Still the ruffian continued to protest, insisting that it +was Tracy he was looking for. In the midst of this he +suddenly stopped, seeming to be badly frightened.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Lord!" he choked. "Here comes Tracy! +Don't tell him! I can't defend myself! Don't tell +him, or he'll sure shoot me up and finish me!"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jim Tracy was coming with long strides. He saw +Frank and the wretch with the bleeding hand.</p> + +<p>"Whatever is this?" he demanded. "I heard the +shooting. What has this yaller dog been up to?"</p> + +<p>"I shot him," said Frank quietly. "He came walking +into my door in a careless manner with his rifle +in his hand, and I shot him in a hurry. He was foolish; +he should have been more careful. It's dangerous +to walk in on me that way, even with the most peaceable +intentions."</p> + +<p>There was a strange look on Tracy's face.</p> + +<p>"So that's how it happened?" he exclaimed, in a +harsh voice. "Well, it's pretty certain that Hop Anson +needs to have his worthless neck stretched, and all +I ask is permission to attend to the job. I'll dispose of +him very quickly."</p> + +<p>"I told you, Mr. Merriwell!" muttered the wounded +man.</p> + +<p>"You have had some trouble with him, have you, +Tracy?" asked Frank.</p> + +<p>"Confound his hide! yes, I have. He has no business +here at this time. His place is discharging the +rock as it comes out. The fact that he's here counts +against him. Turn him over to me."</p> + +<p>"Instead of that," said Frank, thrusting his revolver +into his holster, "I think I'll take care of him. +Come in here, Anson."</p> + +<p>Tracy seemed astonished and disgusted.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What are you going to do?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to see if I can't dress that hand and +keep him from bleeding to death," was Merriwell's +answer.</p> + +<p>"Well, by thunder!" muttered the foreman.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></h2> + +<h3>MERRIWELL'S METHOD.</h3> + + +<p>It was not easy for such men to understand Frank +Merriwell. Hop Anson was as much astonished as +was Jim Tracy. He entered the cabin at Frank's +command, and Merriwell proceeded to wash and examine the wound.</p> + +<p>"You'll have to lose two fingers and part of another +one," said Merriwell. "I can do the job for you right +here, if you say so. Or I'll patch them up, stop the +bleeding, and let you get to a regular saw-bones."</p> + +<p>"You go ahead," said Anson.</p> + +<p>So Frank opened a trunk which sat behind a curtain +in one corner of the room, bringing out a case, +which, on being opened, revealed a complete set of surgical +instruments. These he spread out on the rough +table, and soon he was ready to operate on Hop Anson's +mangled hand.</p> + +<p>Jim Tracy, his hands on his hips and his feet rather +wide apart, stood looking on in silence.</p> + +<p>Frank spent the greater part of an hour about his +task, impressing Tracy as an assistant, and when he +had finished two of the ruffian's fingers and a part of +the third were gone, but the amputation and dressing +had been done in a manner that was anything but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +bungling. Frank had been as careful as possible to +preserve cleanliness about his work.</p> + +<p>"Well, you're certain a wonder!" exclaimed Tracy +admiringly. "But you makes a big mistake in wastin' +so much trouble on a dog like this."</p> + +<p>Anson did not retort, save with a sullen flash of his +treacherous eyes in the direction of the foreman.</p> + +<p>"Permit me to know my business, Tracy," said +Merry shortly. "You may go now, Anson."</p> + +<p>"What? You're not going to let him go where he +likes?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>So Hop Anson walked out of the cabin, picked up +his rifle, and disappeared.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to criticise you, Mr. Merriwell," said +the foreman. "You know I am devoted to your interests. +But I feel confident that you will be very sorry +you treated that man in such a decent way and then +let him off. He's a snake. I still believe he crept up +to the door to shoot you in the back."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he did," nodded Frank, cleansing his instruments +with the utmost coolness. "If so, he got the +worst of it."</p> + +<p>"But would you let him off like that if you knew it +was so?"</p> + +<p>"No. He swore it was not. I had no proof, so I +let him go."</p> + +<p>"You're altogether too easy with your enemies," +asserted Tracy. "Just you turn them over to me. I'll<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +take care of them, and they'll never bother you again, +be right sure of that."</p> + +<p>"I'll think about it," smiled Frank, returning the instruments +to the case.</p> + +<p>"You came mighty near being killed by that greaser +because you were easy with him."</p> + +<p>"And my life was saved by Big Monte because I +had been easy with him. That balances things, I fancy. +In fact, for me, it more than balances things. I'd +rather let a dozen bad men escape punishment than +strike one who is innocent."</p> + +<p>"But neither Big Monte nor Pinto Pede was innocent."</p> + +<p>"And Pinto Pede provided a subject with which to +start a graveyard here. Big Monte seemed repentant. +Pede would have knifed me, but Monte shot him just +as he was ready to strike."</p> + +<p>"Well, where's Big Monte now?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," confessed Frank.</p> + +<p>"He skipped out."</p> + +<p>"Sure thing. He took a walk the first chance he +got."</p> + +<p>"And it's certain he's gone back to his pals. When +they strike at you ag'in, if they do, Monte will be +with 'em."</p> + +<p>"All right. Perhaps he has an idea he'll be fighting +fair that way."</p> + +<p>"And he may kill you yet."</p> + +<p>"Possibly."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Tracy, "I must admit that I don't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +understand you none whatever! Hop Anson left his +work, got a rifle and came sneakin' up to your door. +You shoots him in the hand, then doctors him and lets +him go. That's right peculiar. But I have him to deal +with somewhat, and I propose to deal. If you hear +before night that Hop has hopped the divide don't be +any surprised."</p> + +<p>Tracy seemed about to depart.</p> + +<p>"Look here," said Frank, "before you go, I have +some things to say. Unless Hop Anson gives you +good and sufficient cause, you are not to lift your hand +against him. I don't want any shooting to get started +here at the mine. I want these men to dwell together +peaceably. The first shooting is likely to lead to other +work in the same line."</p> + +<p>"You're too much against such things," said Tracy; +"and still I notice you don't hesitate any whatever to +use a gun at times."</p> + +<p>"When forced to it; never at any other time. I +am decidedly against it. It would be dead easy to start +an affair here that would lead to disturbances that +might get the men to quarreling. That would put the +men in condition to revolt, and an assault upon the +mine would find us weakened. I trust you, Tracy, to +be careful about this matter. Much depends on you. +You have proved satisfactory in every way."</p> + +<p>"Thankee," said the foreman, somewhat awkwardly. +"I've tried to do my best, sir."</p> + +<p>"That is all I ask of any man. That is all any man +can do. You should understand why I wish no disturbance.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +But, at the same time, let me warn you to +watch Hop Anson closely—for your own benefit. If +you have to do any shooting, well and good."</p> + +<p>"I think I understand," said Tracy, as he walked +out. At the door he paused and half-turned, as if to +say something more. Already Frank was facing the +little mirror on the wall, ready to resume his shaving. +He stood exactly as he had stood when he shot at +Anson, and his revolver lay on the shelf beneath the +mirror.</p> + +<p>Tracy went on.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></h2> + +<h3>SMOKE SIGNALS AND A DECOY.</h3> + + +<p>Frank grew restless. On the day following the +shooting of Anson he called Tracy and said:</p> + +<p>"Tracy, I want you to keep your eyes open and be +on your guard while I am away."</p> + +<p>"Are you going away, sir?" asked the foreman.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"For a long time?"</p> + +<p>"That is uncertain. I may return by night, and I +may not be back for several days."</p> + +<p>The foreman looked as if he wished to ask where +Frank thought of going, but held himself in check.</p> + +<p>"I wish to satisfy myself if any of my enemies are +in this vicinity," said Merriwell. "I leave things in +your hands here, and I believe I can trust you."</p> + +<p>"You can, sir, fully."</p> + +<p>Merry attended to the saddling of his horse. When +he rode forth from the mine he was well armed and +prepared for almost anything. Behind him the roar +of the ore-crushers died out, and he passed into the +silence of the mountains.</p> + +<p>Not an hour had passed when he was somewhat surprised +to see before him from an elevated point a big, +ball-like cloud of dark smoke rising into the sky.</p> + +<p>"That's odd," was his immediate decision.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> + +<p>He stopped his horse and watched the smoke as it +ascended and grew thinner. It was followed by another +ball of smoke as he watched, and after this came +still another.</p> + +<p>Then Frank turned in the saddle, looking in various +directions. Some miles behind him three distinct and +separate clouds of smoke seemed to be mounting into +the sky from another high elevation.</p> + +<p>"If those are not smoke signals," said Frank, "I'm +a chump! In that case, it's likely I'll have Indians to +deal with if I keep on. Perhaps I'd better turn back."</p> + +<p>For something told him that he was the object of +those signals, and this was an Indian method of communication. +He sat still for some time, watching the +smoke fade in the upper air, which it did slowly. At +last, however, it was gone, and the clear atmosphere +held no black signal of danger.</p> + +<p>Frank's curiosity was aroused. He longed to know +the meaning of those signals. Having looked to his +weapons, he rode on slowly, keenly on the alert.</p> + +<p>Coming through a narrow gorge into a valley that +looked barren enough, he suddenly snatched forth a +revolver and cried:</p> + +<p>"Halt, there! Stop, or——Why, it's a woman!"</p> + +<p>For he had seen a figure hastily seeking concealment +amid some boulders. At sound of his voice the figure +straightened up and turned toward him.</p> + +<p>Then he was more amazed than ever, for he saw a +dark-faced Mexican girl, wearing a short skirt and +having about her neck a scarlet handkerchief. Her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +head was bare, and her dark hair fell over her shoulders. +She looked like a frightened fawn.</p> + +<p>No wonder he was astonished to behold such a +vision in that desolate part of the mountains. She +seemed trembling, yet eager, and she started to advance +toward him.</p> + +<p>"Oh, seńor!" she said, in a voice that was full of +soft music, "eet mus' be you are good man! Eet mus' +be you are not bad an' weeked. You would not hurt +Gonchita?"</p> + +<p>"Not on your life!" exclaimed Merry, at once putting +up his revolver.</p> + +<p>At which she came running and panting up to him, +all in a flutter of excitement.</p> + +<p>"Oh, <i>Madre de Dios</i>! I am so much happeeness! +I have de great fear when you I do see. Oh, you weel +come to heem? You weel do for heem de saveeng?"</p> + +<p>The girl was rather pretty, and she was not more +than eighteen or nineteen years of age. She was +tanned to a dark brown, but had white teeth, which +were strangely pointed and sharp.</p> + +<p>"Who do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"My fadare. <i>Ay-de mi</i>! he ees hurt! De bad men +shoot heem. They rob heem! He find de gold. He +breeng me with heem here to de mountain, all alone. +He theenk some time he be vera reech. He have de +reech mine. Then de bad men come. They shoot +heem. They take hees gold. He come creep back to +me. What can I to do? <i>Ay-de mi</i>!"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Your father—some bad men have shot him?" said +Merry.</p> + +<p>"<i>Si, si, seńor</i>!"</p> + +<p>"It must have been Cimarron Bill's gang," thought +Merry.</p> + +<p>The girl was greatly excited, but he continued to +question her, until he understood her quite well.</p> + +<p>"Is he far from here?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"No, not de very far. You come to heem? Mebbe +you do for heem some good. Weel you come?"</p> + +<p>She had her brown hands clasped and was looking +most beseechingly into Frank's face.</p> + +<p>"Of course I'll come," he said. "You shall show +me the way. My horse will carry us both."</p> + +<p>He assisted her to mount behind him, and told her +to cling about his waist.</p> + +<p>Frank continued to question Gonchita, who sometimes +became almost unintelligible in her excitement +and distress. They passed through the valley and +turned into a rocky gorge. Frank asked if it was +much farther.</p> + +<p>"We be almost to heem now," assured Gonchita.</p> + +<p>Almost as the words left her lips the heads of four +or five men appeared above some boulders just ahead, +and as many rifles were leveled straight at Frank's +heart, while a well-known, triumphant voice shouted:</p> + +<p>"I've got you dead to rights, Merriwell! If you +tries tricks you gits soaked good and plenty!"</p> + +<p>At the same moment the girl threw her arms about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +Frank's body, pinning his arms to his sides, so that he +could make no move to draw a weapon.</p> + +<p>Merry knew on the instant that he had been trapped. +He realized that he had been decoyed into the snare +by the Mexican girl. He might have struggled and +broken her hold, but he realized the folly of such an +attempt.</p> + +<p>"Be vera steel, seńor!" hissed the voice of Gonchita +in his ear. "Eet be bet-are."</p> + +<p>"You have betrayed me," said Frank reproachfully. +"I did not think it of you. And I was ready to do +you a service."</p> + +<p>He said no more to her.</p> + +<p>Out from the rocks stepped Cimarron Bill.</p> + +<p>"So we meet again, my gay young galoot," said the +chief of the ruffians. "An' I reckon you'll not slip +me so easy this time. That old Injun o' yours is food +fer buzzards, an' so he won't give ye no assistance +whatever."</p> + +<p>"Old Joe——" muttered Merry, in dismay.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we finished him!" declared Bill. "That's why +you ain't seen him fer some time. Set stiddy, now, an' +don't make no ruction.</p> + +<p>"Gonchita, toss down his guns."</p> + +<p>The Mexican girl obeyed, slipping to the ground +with a laugh when she had disarmed Frank.</p> + +<p>The ruffians now came out from the shelter of the +rocks and gathered about the youth, grinning at him +in a most provoking manner. He recognized several +of the same fellows who had once before acted as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +guard over him. Red Sam was there, and nodded to +him.</p> + +<p>"You're a right slick poker-player," said the sandy +rascal; "but we 'lowed a girl'd fool ye easy. Goncheeter +done it, too."</p> + +<p>Frank nodded.</p> + +<p>"She did," he confessed. "I was taken off my +guard. But you want to look out for Indians."</p> + +<p>"Why for?"</p> + +<p>Merry then told them of the smoke signals, whereupon +they grinned at one another knowingly.</p> + +<p>"That'll be all right," said Bill. "Them signals told +us when you was comin', an' which way."</p> + +<p>"Then you were doing the signaling?"</p> + +<p>"Some o' the boys."</p> + +<p>Frank was then ordered down and searched. He +appeared utterly fearless. He observed that Gonchita +was watching him closely, a strange look in her eyes, +her lips slightly parted, showing her milky, pointed +teeth.</p> + +<p>When the men were satisfied that no weapon remained +in the possession of their captive, two or three +of them drew aside to consult, while the others guarded +Frank.</p> + +<p>Cimarron Bill patted Gonchita's cheek with his hand.</p> + +<p>"Well done, leetle gal!" he said. "You fooled him +powerful slick."</p> + +<p>She smiled into Bill's eyes, but in another moment, +the chief, having turned away, she was watching +Frank again.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> + +<p>The result of the consultation led to the placing of +Merry on his own horse, and he was guarded by the +armed men who escorted him along the gorge until +they came to a place where two men were watching a +number of waiting horses.</p> + +<p>Then there was mounting and riding away, with +Frank in the midst of his triumphant enemies. Gonchita +rode with them, having a wiry little pony that +seemed able to cope with any of the other horses.</p> + +<p>Frank was not a little disgusted because he had +been decoyed into the trap, but he did his best to hide +his feelings.</p> + +<p>It was some hours later that they halted to rest until +the heat of the day should pass. A fire was built, +and a meal prepared, Gonchita taking active part in +this work.</p> + +<p>Frank sat near and watched all that was passing. +He had not been bound, and his manner was that of +one free amid the scoundrels by whom he was surrounded. +It was Gonchita who found an opportunity +to whisper in his ear:</p> + +<p>"Be vera careful! Dey mean to shoot you eef you +try de escape."</p> + +<p>He did not start or betray any emotion whatever. +It hardly seemed that he had heard her whispered +words. Later, however, he gave her a look which +conveyed to her the assurance that he had not failed +to understand.</p> + +<p>As she worked about the fire she called upon him to +replenish it with more fuel, which he did. He was putting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +wood on the fire when she again whispered to +him:</p> + +<p>"I weel drop by you a peestol. Tak' eet; you may +need eet."</p> + +<p>He made no retort, but watched for her to keep +her promise, which she afterward found opportunity +to do.</p> + +<p>Merry was lying carelessly on the ground when the +weapon, a tiny revolver, was dropped at his side. Immediately +he rolled over upon his stomach, in a lazy +fashion, hiding the weapon, and shortly after he succeeded +in slipping it into his pocket.</p> + +<p>Frank wondered how this strange girl happened to +be with those ruffians. It seemed a most remarkable +and mysterious thing. He also wondered why she +had been led to give him the pistol. Having led him +into the trap, she had suddenly changed so that she +now seemed to wish him to escape without harm.</p> + +<p>The truth was that his coolness and nerve, together +with his handsome, manly appearance, had quite won +Gonchita's heart. She was a changeable creature, and +had quickly come to regret leading this handsome youth +into such a snare.</p> + +<p>When the food was prepared all partook heartily. +Two of the men, a big fellow with an evil face, called +Brazos Tom, and a thick-shouldered brute hailed as +Mike Redeye, had been drinking freely from a flask. +Brazos Tom was given to chaffing the others in a manner +that some of them did not appreciate, and this inclination +grew upon him with the working of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +liquor. Redeye was a sullen, silent fellow, and Frank +regarded him as a very dangerous man.</p> + +<p>Once or twice Cimarron Bill gave Tom a look, and, +at last, the big fellow seemed to quiet down.</p> + +<p>After the meal, while the men were yet resting, Bill +had his horse saddled for some reason, and rode away, +having left the men in charge of Red Sam.</p> + +<p>As soon as the chief was gone, Brazos Tom brought +forth his flask, which was now nearly emptied.</p> + +<p>"Gents," he said, "while we is waitin' we'll finish +this an' try a hand at poker. Wot d'yer say?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, blazes!" growled one. "You an' Mike has +purt' near finished that. Thar ain't enough left fer a +drap apiece if we pass it around."</p> + +<p>"Drink up your stuff," said Red Sam. "It's poor +firewater, anyhow. I'm fer the poker. Does you +come inter this yere game, young gent, same as ye did +oncet before?"</p> + +<p>This question was addressed to Frank, but Merry +already "smelled a mouse," and so it did not need the +warning look from Gonchita and the slight shake of +her head to deter him.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me," he said. "I have no money."</p> + +<p>"Waal, fish some out o' the linin' o' your clothes, +same as you did afore," advised Sam.</p> + +<p>"But I have none in the lining of my clothes."</p> + +<p>"I begs yer pardon, but we knows a heap sight better. +Don't try no monkey business with us, younker! +You was good enough ter git inter a game oncet before<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +an' try ter show us up, so we gives ye another +chanct, an' ye'd better accept it in a hurry."</p> + +<p>"I hardly think I have a friend here who will be +willing to lend me money," smiled Merry. "Unless +somebody does so, I cannot play. That being the +case, I reckon I'll keep out of it."</p> + +<p>Sam laid a hand on the butt of his revolver.</p> + +<p>"You can't play none of that with us!" he declared +fiercely. "We knows how you found the money afore, +an' you'll find it ag'in. Come, be lively."</p> + +<p>Frank looked the man over.</p> + +<p>"You could get blood from a turnip easier than +money from me," he declared.</p> + +<p>Then, as Red Sam seemed about to draw his weapon, +Gonchita chipped in, crying:</p> + +<p>"Don't do it, Sam! I have you cover' weez my +peestol! I weel shoot!"</p> + +<p>The men were astonished, for Gonchita had drawn +a pistol and had it pointed at the head of Red Sam, +while in her dark eyes there was a deadly gleam.</p> + +<p>"What in blazes is the matter with you?" snarled +Red Sam, looking at her over his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"You hear what Gonchita say," she purred, a flush +in her brown cheeks. "She mena de busineeze."</p> + +<p>Frank could not help admiring her then, for she +presented a very pretty picture.</p> + +<p>Reluctantly Sam thrust back his weapon into his +holster.</p> + +<p>"Oh, all right!" he laughed coarsely. "I see you're +stuck up a heap on the feller."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You not to shoot heem while I am around."</p> + +<p>"Whoop!" roared Brazos Tom, in apparent delight. +"Thar's a gal fer ye! I shore admires her style!"</p> + +<p>Then, being in a position to do so, he sprang on +Gonchita, caught her in his strong arms so she could +not defend herself, and gave her a bearlike hug and a +kiss.</p> + +<p>The next instant something like a hard piece of iron +struck Tom behind the ear and he measured his length +on the ground. Frank Merriwell had reached his feet +at a bound, and hit the giant a blow that knocked him +down in a twinkling.</p> + +<p>Through all this Gonchita had held fast to her +drawn revolver, and now she had it ready for use, so +that, when those ruffians placed hands on their weapons, +she again warned them.</p> + +<p>At the same time she flung herself between them +and Frank, so that he was partly protected as he stood +over Brazos Tom, who lay prone and dazed.</p> + +<p>"Take hees peestols!" she palpitated.</p> + +<p>And Frank followed this piece of advice, relieving +the fallen ruffian of his revolvers, so that Tom's hand +reached vainly for one of the weapons as he began +to recover.</p> + +<p>"Eef you make de fight," said the girl to the ruffians, +"we now gif you eet all you want."</p> + +<p>Never before had they seen her in such a mood, +and they were astounded. But they knew she could +shoot, for they had seen her display her marksmanship.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You little fool!" grated Sam. "Are you goin' to +help that galoot try to git erway?"</p> + +<p>"No, I do not dat; but I see he ees not hurt till +Beel he come back."</p> + +<p>Then she commanded Frank to throw down the +pistol he had taken from Tom, which Merry did, knowing +there was no chance for him to escape then without +a shooting affray, in which he was almost certain to +be wounded.</p> + +<p>Immediately on this act of Frank's the ruffians +seemed to abandon any desire to draw and shoot at +him.</p> + +<p>But Brazos Tom rose in a great rage, almost frothing +at the mouth.</p> + +<p>"Ten thousan' tarantulas!" he howled. "Let me git +my paws on him!"</p> + +<p>He made a rush for Frank, who seemed to stand +still to meet him, but stepped aside just as the ruffian +tried to fold him in his arms.</p> + +<p>Then the big wretch was somehow caught about the +body, lifted into the air, and sent crashing to the +ground, striking on his head and shoulders. The +young athlete from Yale handled Brazos Tom with +such ease that every witness was astounded.</p> + +<p>The big fellow lay where he fell, stunned and finished.</p> + +<p>Gonchita looked at Frank with a light of the most +intense admiration in her dark eyes.</p> + +<p>"How you do eet so easee?" she asked.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's nothing, with a bungler like him to meet," +said Merry quietly.</p> + +<p>The ruffians said nothing, but exchanged meaning +glances. They had been foiled for the time being by +the girl and by the cleverness of their captive.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a></h2> + +<h3>LOST IN THE MOUNTAINS.</h3> + + +<p>Four persons were lost in the mountains. Three of +them were young men who were scarcely more than +youths. All were mounted on broncos.</p> + +<p>One was a bright-eyed, apple-cheeked chap, who had +an odd manner of talking, and who emphasized his +words with little gestures and flirts of his hand that +were very peculiar. Another was dark and silent, with +a face that was decidedly handsome, although it denoted +a person given more or less to brooding and +morbid thoughts. The third youth was long and lank +and talked with a nasal drawl and a manner of speech +that proclaimed him a down-easter.</p> + +<p>These three were respectively Jack Ready, Bart +Hodge, and Ephraim Gallup, all friends and former +companions of Frank Merriwell.</p> + +<p>The fourth one of the party was a red-nosed bummer, +known as Whisky Jim, whom they had picked up +to guide them from the little railroad-town to Frank +Merriwell's mine. Jim had averred that he knew +"every squar' foot o' Arizony frum the Grand Cańon +to the Mexican line," and they had trusted in his promise +to lead them, with the smallest possible delay, to +the Queen Mystery Mine.</p> + +<p>Jim would not acknowledge that he was lost. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +had provided him with the bronco he bestrode and +promised him good pay when they should come to the +mine. He had collected enough in advance to "outfit" +with a liberal supply of whisky, and had managed to +keep beautifully loaded ever since they rode out to the +Southwest.</p> + +<p>Their horses were wearied and reluctant, while they +were sun-scorched and covered with dust.</p> + +<p>"By gum!" groaned Gallup. "I'm purty near +pegged! This is too much fer me. I wish I was to +hum on the farm!"</p> + +<p>"Prithee say not so!" cried Ready. "You give unto +me that feeling of sadness known to those who are +homesick. Ah, me! to endure thus to have my beautiful +complexion destroyed by this horrid sun! And +behold my lily-white hands! Are they not spectacles +to make the gods sigh with regret! Permit me to +squeeze out a few salt teardrops."</p> + +<p>Hodge was saying nothing.</p> + +<p>"'Sall ri', boysh," assured the useless guide thickly. +"Jesht you wait an' shee. Whazzer mazzer with you? +I know m' bushiness. Who shays I dunno m' bushiness?"</p> + +<p>He was able to sit perfectly straight in the saddle, +although he was disgustingly intoxicated.</p> + +<p>"I say you don't know your business, you old fool!" +said Hodge, breaking out at last. "It would serve you +right if we were to leave you here in the mountains. +A great guide you are! You'd die if we left you! +You'd never find your way out."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jim looked astonished. This was the first time +Bart had broken forth thus plainly.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean it?" he gurgled.</p> + +<p>"You bet your life I meant it! I'm in for leaving +you to get back to town the best way you can."</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't do that!" exclaimed Jim, sobered somewhat +by his alarm. "Someshin' might happen t' you, +boysh."</p> + +<p>"Let's leave him," nodded Jack Ready, amused by +the consternation of the old fellow.</p> + +<p>"Derned ef we don't!" cried Gallup.</p> + +<p>Upon which the "guide" became greatly alarmed, +begging them for the love of goodness not to leave +him there in the mountains to die alone.</p> + +<p>"But you're a guide," said Hodge. "You would be +able to get out all right."</p> + +<p>"Boysh," said the old toper, "I got a 'fession to +make."</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"I ain't been in the guidin' bushiness for shome +time. I'm a leetle rusty; jest a bit out o' practish. +That's whazzer mazzer."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you say so in the first place? What +made you lie to us?"</p> + +<p>"Boysh, I needed the moneysh. Hones' Injun, I +needed the moneysh bad. Been a long time shince I've +had all the whisky I could hold. Great treat f' me."</p> + +<p>Bart was disgusted, but Jack Ready was inclined +to look at the affair in a humorous light.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to know the meaning of those smoke clouds<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +we saw," said Hodge. "They looked mighty queer +to me."</p> + +<p>They consulted together, finally deciding to halt in +a shadowy valley and wait for the declining of the +sun, which would bring cooler air.</p> + +<p>They confessed to one another that they were lost, +and all felt that the situation was serious. It was not +at all strange that Hodge was very angry with the +worthless old toper who had led them into this predicament.</p> + +<p>"We may never get out of these mountains," he said. +"Or, if we do, we may perish in the desert. I tell you, +fellows, we're in a bad scrape!"</p> + +<p>"Dear me!" sighed Ready. "And I anticipated great +pleasure in surprising Merry to-day. Alas and alack! +such is life. I know this dreadful sunshine will spoil +my complexion!"</p> + +<p>Gallup looked dolefully at the horses, which were +feeding on the buffalo-grass of the valley.</p> + +<p>"We're a pack of darn fools!" he observed. "We'd +oughter sent word to Frankie that we was comin', an' +then he'd bin on hand to meet us."</p> + +<p>The "guide" had stretched himself in the shadow +of some boulders and fallen fast asleep.</p> + +<p>"I suppose I'm to blame for this thing, fellows," +said Bart grimly. "It was my scheme to take Merry +by surprise."</p> + +<p>"Waal, I ruther guess all the rest of us was reddy +enough ter agree to it," put in Gallup. "We're jest ez +much to blame as you be."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p> + +<p>They talked the situation over for a while. Finally +Bart rose and strolled off by himself, Gallup calling +after him to look out and not go so far that he could +not find his way back.</p> + +<p>Hodge was gone almost an hour. His friends were +growing alarmed, when he came racing back to them, +his face flushed with excitement and his eyes flashing.</p> + +<p>"Come, fellows!" he cried, his voice thrilling them. +"I've got something to show you! We're wanted +mighty bad by a friend of ours who is in trouble!"</p> + +<p>They were on their feet.</p> + +<p>"Who in thutteration be you talkin' abaout?" asked +Gallup.</p> + +<p>"Perchance you mean Frank?" said Ready.</p> + +<p>"You bet your life!" said Bart. "Make sure your +rifles are in working order! Leave the horses right +where they're picketed. Leave Jim with them. He'll +look after them, if he awakes."</p> + +<p>For Whisky Jim continued to sleep soundly through +all this.</p> + +<p>So they seized their weapons and prepared to follow +Bart.</p> + +<p>As they ran, Bart made a brief explanation. He had +climbed to a point from whence he looked down into +a grassy valley, and there he discovered some horses +and men. The horses were feeding, and the men were +reclining in the shade, with the exception of one or +two. While Bart looked he recognized one of the +men, and also saw a girl. At first he thought he must +be deceived, but soon he was satisfied that the one he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +recognized was the comrade he had traveled thousands +of miles to join, bringing with him Ready and +Gallup.</p> + +<p>As he watched, he saw the encounter between Merry +and Brazos Tom, and that was enough to satisfy +Hodge that his friend was in serious trouble. Then +he hastened back to get Jack and Ephraim.</p> + +<p>When Bart again reached the point where he could +look into that valley he was astonished to discover +that another struggle was taking place down there.</p> + +<p>Frank was engaged in a knife-duel with Red Sam, +having been forced into it. And Red Sam meant to +kill him.</p> + +<p>The watching ruffians were gathered around, while +Gonchita, a pistol in her hand, was watching to see +that the youth had fair play.</p> + +<p>Without doubt, the sandy ruffian had expected to +find Merriwell easy, and finish him quickly in an engagement +of this sort. But Frank Merriwell had +been instructed in knife-play by a clever expert, and +he soon amazed Red Sam and the other ruffians by +meeting the fellow's assault, catching his blade, parrying +thrust after thrust, leaping, dodging, turning, +charging, retreating, and making such a wonderful +contest of it that the spectators were electrified.</p> + +<p>It was Frank's knife that drew first blood. He slit +the ruffian's sleeve at the shoulder and cut the man +slightly.</p> + +<p>Gonchita's dark eyes gleamed. More than ever she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +marveled at this wonderful youth, who seemed more +than a match for any single ruffian of Bill's band.</p> + +<p>"He is a wonder!" she told herself. "Oh, he is +grand! They meant to kill him. If he beats Red Sam +they shall not kill him."</p> + +<p>Sam swore when he felt the knife clip his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"I'll have your heart's blood!" he snarled.</p> + +<p>Frank smiled into his face in a manner that enraptured +the watching girl.</p> + +<p>"You are welcome to it—if you can get it! But look +out for yourself!"</p> + +<p>Then he began a whirlwindlike assault upon Sam, +whom he soon bewildered by his movements. He +played about the man like a leaping panther. Once +Sam struck hard at Frank's breast, and Merry leaped +away barely in time, for the keen knife slit the front +of his shirt, exposing the clean white skin beneath.</p> + +<p>But again and again Frank cut the big ruffian +slightly, so that soon Sam was bleeding from almost a +dozen wounds and slowly growing weaker in spite of +his efforts to brace up.</p> + +<p>The knives sometimes flashed together. The men +stood and stared into each other's eyes. Then they +leaped and dodged and struck and struck again.</p> + +<p>Little did Frank dream of the friends who were +watching him from above.</p> + +<p>Bart Hodge was thrilled into silence by the spectacle. +He knelt, with his rifle ready for instant use, panting +as the battle for life continued.</p> + +<p>"Great gosh all hemlock!" gurgled Ephraim Gallup,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +his eyes bulging. "Did you ever see anything +like that in all your natteral born days? Dern my +squash ef I ever did!"</p> + +<p>"It is beautiful!" said Jack Ready. "Frank is doing +almost as well as I could do myself! I'll have to +compliment him on his clever work."</p> + +<p>Twice Bart Hodge had the butt of his rifle against +his shoulder, but lowered it without firing.</p> + +<p>"He's gittin' the best of the red-headed feller!" +panted Gallup.</p> + +<p>"Of course!" nodded Ready. "Did you look for +anything else to happen?"</p> + +<p>"Them men don't like it much of enny."</p> + +<p>"They do not seem greatly pleased."</p> + +<p>"I bet they all go fer him if he does the red-head +up."</p> + +<p>"In which case," chirped Jack, "it will be our duty +to insert a few lead pills into them."</p> + +<p>Bart was not talking. He believed Frank in constant +danger of a most deadly sort, and he was watching +every move of the ruffians, ready to balk any attempt +at treachery.</p> + +<p>As Sam weakened Frank pressed him harder. The +fellow believed Merry meant to kill him, if possible.</p> + +<p>At length Merriwell caught Sam's blade with his +own, gave it a sudden twist, and the fellow's knife +was sent spinning through the air, to fall to the ground +at a distance.</p> + +<p>At that moment one of the ruffians suddenly flung<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +up a hand that held a revolver, meaning to shoot Frank +through the head.</p> + +<p>Before he could fire, however, he pitched forward on +his face.</p> + +<p>Down from the heights above came the clear report +of the rifle in the hands of Bartley Hodge.</p> + +<p>Bart had saved the life of his old friend.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></h2> + +<h3>FRANK'S ESCAPE.</h3> + + +<p>As the ruffian pitched forward on his face, Gonchita +uttered a cry. The attention of the men was turned +toward the point from which the unexpected shot had +come. The Mexican girl caught hold of Merry, thrust +a pistol into his hand, and hissed:</p> + +<p>"Back—back there! Quick! It's your chance! +You take eet!"</p> + +<p>Frank did not hesitate. With the pistol in his hand, +he went leaping toward the point of cover indicated. +He was behind the rocks before the desperadoes realized +what had taken place. They turned, uttering +exclamations of anger and dismay.</p> + +<p>"Steady, you chaps!" rang out Frank's clear voice. +"Keep your distance! If you don't——"</p> + +<p>But now the three young fellows above began shooting +into the valley, and their whistling bullets sent the +ruffians scudding to cover.</p> + +<p>Gonchita disdained to fly. She walked deliberately +to the shelter of the rocks near Frank.</p> + +<p>"I geet horse for you," she said. "You take eet an' +ride. Eet ees your chance. Mebbe them your friend?"</p> + +<p>Frank had caught barely a glimpse of the three fellows, +and he was not at all sure that his eyes had not +deceived him.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Perhaps they are my friends," he said. "They +must be."</p> + +<p>"You ready to go?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>She ran out and pulled the picket pin of one of the +horses. This animal she brought up close to the point +where Frank crouched.</p> + +<p>"Take heem queek!" she panted. "You haf de +chance! Down de vallee. Mebbe you git 'way."</p> + +<p>Frank hesitated. He knew the danger of such an +attempt. He no longer doubted the friendliness of +Gonchita, although the remarkable change in her was +most astonishing.</p> + +<p>But the firing from above continued, and the ruffians +were forced to again take to their heels and seek still +safer shelter farther up the valley.</p> + +<p>That was Merry's opportunity, and he seized it. In +a twinkling, while the rascals were in confusion, he +leaped upon the bare back of the horse, headed the animal +down the valley, and was off.</p> + +<p>A yell came down from above; but Frank, bending +low, did not answer it.</p> + +<p>Two or three bullets were sent after him. He was +untouched, however.</p> + +<p>Gonchita had armed him with two pistols, neither +of which he had used. One he held gripped in his +hand as the horse carried him tearing down the valley, +and thus he came full upon Cimarron Bill, who +was returning to his satellites.</p> + +<p>Bill was astounded. He had drawn a pistol, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +he fired at the rider who was stooping low along the +neck of the horse. The animal tossed its head and +took the bullet in his brain.</p> + +<p>Even as the horse fell, Frank fired in return. He +flung himself from the animal, striking on his feet.</p> + +<p>Bill's horse reared high in the air, striking with +its forward feet. The rider leaned forward and fired +from beneath the creature's neck as it stood on its +hind legs, but the movements of the animal prevented +him from accuracy.</p> + +<p>Merry's second shot struck the hind leg of Bill's +horse, and the creature came down in such a manner +that its rider was pitched off, striking upon his head +and shoulders.</p> + +<p>Frank did not fire again, for Bill lay in a heap on +the ground. The horse struggled up, being caught by +Merry. Frank looked to the beast's wound, fearing +to find its leg broken. This, however, was not the +case, although the bullet had made a rather ugly little +wound.</p> + +<p>In another moment Frank was in Bill's saddle, and +away he went on the back of the chief's horse, leaving +the stunned rascal where he had fallen.</p> + +<p>"An exchange of horses," he half-laughed. "You +may have my dead one in place of your wounded one. +If you do not like the bargain, Captain Bill, blame +yourself."</p> + +<p>He was in no great fear of pursuit, but he longed +to know just what friends had come to his rescue at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +such an opportune moment. How was he to reach +them?</p> + +<p>When he felt that he was safe, he drew up Bill's +splendid horse, dismounted and examined the bleeding +wound. It was far less serious than he had feared, +and he proceeded to dress it, tearing his handkerchief +into strips to tie about the creature's leg.</p> + +<p>Having attended to his horse, Merry remounted and +sought to find a means of approaching the spot from +which his unknown friends had fired into the valley +at such an opportune moment.</p> + +<p>He was thus employed when he came upon a most +disreputable-looking old bummer, who had in his possession +four horses. This man was startled by the +appearance of Merriwell and acted very strangely.</p> + +<p>Frank rode slowly forward, ready for whatever +might take place. However, he was recognized by +the man, who uttered a shout of astonishment.</p> + +<p>The man with the horses was Whisky Jim, who had +awakened to find his companions gone.</p> + +<p>He greeted Merriwell with protestations of delight.</p> + +<p>"I knew I wash a guide!" he said. "Who shed I +washn't guide? I shed I'd bring 'em to Frank Merriwell, +an' I done it. But whazzer mazzer? Where zey +gone? I dunno."</p> + +<p>Barely had Merry started to question the old toper +when Hodge, Ready, and Gallup appeared, hurrying +forward. When they saw Merriwell they gave a cheer +of delight, and, one minute later, they were shaking +hands with him.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What does this mean?" asked Frank, when he +could recover enough to ask anything.</p> + +<p>"It means," said Bart, "that we are here to back +you up in your fight against the mining trust. You +can depend on us to stand by you. After getting +your letter, in which you wrote all about the hot time +you were having fighting the trust, I hastened to get +hold of Ready and Gallup and light out for this part +of our great and glorious country. Here we are, +though we're dead in luck to find you, for this drunken +duffer managed to lose us here in the mountains."</p> + +<p>"And you were the ones who chipped in just at the +right time after my little encounter with Red Sam? +Fellows, you have given me the surprise of my life! +It's great to see you again! I ran into those gents, or +was led into a trap by a very singular girl, and it +looked as if I was in a bad box. The girl, however, +seemed to change her mind after getting me into the +scrape, and she wanted to get me out. I owe her a +lot. But there is no telling when Cimarron Bill and +his gang may come hiking this way after me, so I +propose that we light out for the Queen Mystery, +where we can talk things over at our leisure."</p> + +<p>They were ready enough to follow his lead.</p> + +<p>Jim Tracy sat with his feet elevated upon Frank +Merriwell's table, smoking his pipe and talking to Hop +Anson, who was on the opposite side of the table when +the door opened and Frank stepped in, followed by +his friends, with Whisky Jim staggering along in the +rear.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> + +<p>Tracy's boots came down from the table with a +thud, and he jumped up, uttering an exclamation and +looking astounded.</p> + +<p>"Well, may I be derned!" he said, staring at Frank.</p> + +<p>Now Merriwell was not at all pleased to find the +foreman making free in his cabin in such a manner.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Tracy?" he asked sharply, glancing +from Jim's face to that of Anson, who seemed +no less confounded. "You seem disturbed."</p> + +<p>"I allow I didn't expect ye back so soon," mumbled +the foreman, who could not recover his composure at +once.</p> + +<p>"But I told you I might be back in a few hours, or +I might not return for many days."</p> + +<p>"I know, but——"</p> + +<p>"But what?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing!"</p> + +<p>"It's plain you were making yourself quite at home +here. What were you doing with Anson?"</p> + +<p>"Jest givin' him a piece o' my mind," answered +Tracy promptly. "I reckon he knows now purty well +what I think of him."</p> + +<p>Now to Merry, it had seemed on his appearance that +these two men were engaged in a confidential chat.</p> + +<p>"Well, couldn't you find some other place to talk to +him?" Frank asked.</p> + +<p>"I brought him here so the rest of the boys wouldn't +hear us," explained Tracy. "I opined they might take +a right strong dislike to him in case they found out +what happened this mornin'."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You have not told them?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Well, your consideration for Anson seems very +strange, considering the talk you made to-day at an +earlier hour."</p> + +<p>"I'm jest follerin' your orders," protested the foreman, +not at all pleased by Merry's manner.</p> + +<p>"Very well. You may retire, Tracy. Boys, make +yourselves at home."</p> + +<p>As Tracy and Anson were going out, the eyes of the +latter encountered those of Whisky Jim, who was +surveying him closely in a drunken manner.</p> + +<p>"Who are you lookin' at?" muttered Anson.</p> + +<p>"Sheems to me," said Jim thickly, "I'm a-lookin' at +a gent what had shome deeficulty down Tucson way +'bout takin' a hoss what b'longed to nozzer man."</p> + +<p>"You're a liar, you drunken dog!" grated Anson, as +he hastened from the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Do you know that man?" asked Merry, of Jim.</p> + +<p>"Sh!" hissed the toper, with a cautioning gesture. +"I don't want 't gener'lly know I ever shaw him before. +He'sh a hosh-thief. He'd shteal anything, he +would. I never 'nowledge him ash 'quaintance of +mine."</p> + +<p>"Do you know the other man, my foreman?"</p> + +<p>"Sheems to look ruzer nacheral," said Jim; "but +can't 'zactly plashe him. All shame, if he keeps +comp'ny wish that hosh-thief, you look out f' him."</p> + +<p>Frank celebrated his safe return to the mine in +company with his friends by preparing a rather elaborate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +spread, and all gathered about the table to enjoy +it and chat about old times and the present fight Merry +was making against the mining trust.</p> + +<p>"Waal, dinged if this ain't scrumpshus!" cried Ephraim +Gallup. "I'm feelin' a hanged sight better than +I was when we was lost out in the maountains this +arternoon."</p> + +<p>"Fellows," said Merry, "you have given me the surprise +of my life. I never dreamed of seeing you at +such a time. And Bart's shot saved my life. I know +it! I owe him everything!"</p> + +<p>There was a glow of satisfaction in the dark eyes +of Hodge.</p> + +<p>"You owe me nothing," he said earnestly. "Whatever +I am I owe it to you. Do you think I am a +fellow to forget? That is why I am here. I felt that +this was the time for me to prove my loyalty. When +I explained it to Ephraim and Jack they were eager +to come with me to back you in your fight. If you +need them, you can have any of the old gang. They'll +come to a man."</p> + +<p>"Thus far," said Merry, "I have been able to balk +every move of the enemy. They have employed ruffians +who hesitate at nothing. You saw the fellow +with the bandaged hand who was here with my foreman? +Well, it was this very morning, while I was +shaving at that glass, that he crept up to that open +door and tried to shoot me in the back. I fired first, +and he has lost a few fingers."</p> + +<p>"Dear me!" said Ready. "I'm so frightened!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +What if somebody should take a fancy to shoot me +full of holes! It might damage me beyond repair!"</p> + +<p>"Gol ding it!" chuckled Gallup. "You must be +havin' enough to keep you alfired busy around here. +But what is that chap a-doin' of stayin' here?"</p> + +<p>Frank explained fully about Hop Anson, adding that +he had partly believed Anson's statement that it was +the foreman for whom he was looking.</p> + +<p>"But since coming back here unexpectedly," said +Merry, "and finding them together in such a friendly +fashion, I am inclined to think differently. Tracy pretended +to have a powerful feeling against Anson. +Something leads me to believe now that Tracy will +bear watching."</p> + +<p>They sat up until a late hour talking over old times +and other matters that interested them all. When they +slept they took pains to make sure that the door and +windows were secured.</p> + +<p>Whisky Jim slept outside in another building.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a></h2> + +<h3>MYSTERIOUS PABLO.</h3> + + +<p>The following morning, while Frank and his friends +were at breakfast, there came the sounds of a struggle +outside the cabin, followed by a knock on the door.</p> + +<p>Merry drew a revolver and laid it in his lap.</p> + +<p>"Come in," he called.</p> + +<p>The door was flung open, and Tracy entered, dragging +by the collar a small Mexican lad, who held back +and betrayed every evidence of terror.</p> + +<p>"Found him skulking about, Mr. Merriwell," said +the foreman. "Don't know whar he come from. Just +brought him yere fer you to deal with."</p> + +<p>The boy seemed badly frightened.</p> + +<p>"Let him go, Tracy," said Frank.</p> + +<p>The boy hesitated when released, seeming on the +point of running, but pausing to look appealingly at +Merry. He was not a bad-looking little chap, although +he was rather dirty and unkempt. He had +wondrous dark eyes, big and full of interrogation.</p> + +<p>"Well, my boy, what do you want?" asked Merry, +in a kindly way.</p> + +<p>The boy shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I want notheenk de seńor can gif," he answered, in +a low tone.</p> + +<p>"How came you around here?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I hunt for my seestar."</p> + +<p>"Your sister?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Si, seńor</i>."</p> + +<p>"Where is she?"</p> + +<p>"That I cannot tell, seńor. She be take away by +de bad man. He haf fool her, I t'ink."</p> + +<p>"What bad man do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Seester call heem Beel."</p> + +<p>"Bill?"</p> + +<p>"Dat ees hees name."</p> + +<p>"Bill what?"</p> + +<p>The boy shook his head once more.</p> + +<p>"I know eet not," he said. "He half manee man +like heem who do what he say. He get my seester to +go wif heem."</p> + +<p>"What is your sister's name?"</p> + +<p>"Eet ees Gonchita."</p> + +<p>Frank jumped.</p> + +<p>"Gonchita?" he cried.</p> + +<p>"Dat ees eet," nodded the boy. "Mebbe you do +know her?"</p> + +<p>"I think I have seen her," said Merry. "By Jove! +So this fellow Bill led her to run away with him, did +he, the scoundrel? And you are searching for him. +What will you do if you find him?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell, but I want my seestar to come 'way +an' leaf heem. He ees bad man."</p> + +<p>"That's right. What's your name?"</p> + +<p>"Pablo."</p> + +<p>"Well, Pablo, my boy, I hope you find your sister all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +right and get her away from Bill, but you have a big +job on your hands. Come here and have some breakfast. +Are you hungry?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, vera hungree, seńor!"</p> + +<p>"You shall have all you can eat. It's all right, +Tracy. You may go. I'll take care of the kid."</p> + +<p>"I wish to report, sir," said Tracy, "that Hop Anson +is missing."</p> + +<p>"What's that? Anson—he's gone?"</p> + +<p>"Skipped out last night, sir. He was not to be +found this morning. I thought he'd do it, sir."</p> + +<p>"Well, let him go. I don't think he'll do much +harm."</p> + +<p>"If you had listened to me, I'd fixed him so he'd +never done any further harm."</p> + +<p>"All right, Tracy—all right. I'll see you later."</p> + +<p>Tracy left the room.</p> + +<p>"Look out for that man, Frank," said Hodge, in an +ominous manner. "He is not to be trusted at all."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Merry. "We'll not discuss him—now." +Which remark was made with a meaning +look toward the Mexican lad.</p> + +<p>Pablo was given a place at the table and a steaming +cup of coffee placed before him. Corn bread and +bacon, with some canned stuff, made up the breakfast, +and the boy ate almost ravenously of everything given +him. But he kept his hat pulled low over his eyes +all the while.</p> + +<p>After breakfast Frank sought to question Pablo +further, succeeding in drawing from the boy that both<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +his father and mother were dead, and that he had lived +in Holbrook with his sister, where she had seen Bill, +who seemed to fascinate her. At least she had run +away with the man, and, arming himself with a +knife and pistol, Pablo had followed to rescue or +avenge her. Chance had led him to the valley in +which the Queen Mystery Mine was located.</p> + +<p>It was rather a pathetic little story, and Merry was +somewhat stirred by it.</p> + +<p>"What could you do if you should find Bill?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>A grim look came to Pablo's soiled yet attractive +face.</p> + +<p>"I haf my peestol," he said.</p> + +<p>"But Bill is a very bad man, and he would have a +pistol, too."</p> + +<p>"I do my best. I am not skeert of Beel."</p> + +<p>"Well, as I happen to know something of Bill, I +tell you now, Pablo, that it will be better for you if +you never meet him."</p> + +<p>"But my seestar—my seestar! I mus' find her."</p> + +<p>Frank was tempted to tell the boy what he knew +about Gonchita, but decided not to do so, believing +it would be to no purpose.</p> + +<p>So Pablo remained in the valley for the time, seeming +in no hurry to continue the search for his sister. +He wandered about the mine and the buildings, peering +curiously at everything with his big eyes, listening +to the talk of the men, and seeming to have a great +curiosity.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p> + +<p>All this was observed by Bart Hodge, who watched +the lad as closely as possible. That afternoon Bart +said to Frank:</p> + +<p>"Merry, that greaser boy acts queer. Have you +noticed it?"</p> + +<p>"How do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Why, he told a story about being in a dreadful +hurry to find his sister, but he hangs around here."</p> + +<p>"I suppose the little chap doesn't know where to +look for the girl."</p> + +<p>"But he's such an inquisitive little rascal. He goes +slipping around everywhere, looking at everything, and +listening to the talk of the men. He acts to me like +a spy."</p> + +<p>"It's his way. Mexicans have a sneaking way about +them, you know."</p> + +<p>"Well, it may be his way, but I wouldn't trust +him."</p> + +<p>"I don't propose to trust him," said Frank, with a +laugh. "I am not given to trusting greasers. It is +probable that he will go away to-morrow and we'll +never see anything more of him."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so."</p> + +<p>"I expect to find him gone in the morning," said +Merry.</p> + +<p>But in the morning Pablo was found sleeping just +outside Frank's door when Merry opened it. He lay +there, his old hat pulled down over his ears, curled +up like a dog; but he started wide-awake and sat up, +staring at Merriwell with his big black eyes.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What the dickens you doing here?" asked Frank, +annoyed.</p> + +<p>"I tak' de sleep," grinned Pablo faintly.</p> + +<p>"Well, couldn't you find any other place? Have +you been there all night?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I haf no odar place. Thees good for Pablo."</p> + +<p>"Well, it may be all right for you; but it seems +deuced uncomfortable to me. When are you going to +look for Bill and your sister?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Manana</i>."</p> + +<p>"To-morrow?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Si, seńor</i>."</p> + +<p>Frank could not refrain from smiling at this characteristic +answer. With the Spaniards everything is +to be done to-morrow, and the lazy Mexican, having +adopted the language of the Spaniard, has also adopted +his motto.</p> + +<p>When Frank turned back he found Hodge washing.</p> + +<p>"I told you," said Bart. "The fellow acts to me +like a spy. It wouldn't surprise me to find out that +he had been sent here by Bill. This story about his +sister may be faked up."</p> + +<p>"But I know Gonchita is with the ruffians."</p> + +<p>"That's all right. That makes it all the easier to +deceive you. That made the boy's story seem all the +more probable. Just you watch him close and see if +he doesn't act the spy."</p> + +<p>"All right," laughed Merry. "But let's have breakfast +without worrying about him."</p> + +<p>It was necessary to drag Ready out.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, me! oh, my!" sighed Jack dolefully. "Methinks +I have bestridden something that hath galled +me extensively. I am likewise weary and sore in every +limb and joint."</p> + +<p>Gallup had stood the riding much better, but even he +was lame.</p> + +<p>After breakfast Frank went out and found Pablo +curled in the sunshine around the corner of the hut. +And not more than four feet from the Mexican lad +was a rattlesnake.</p> + +<p>The crack of the pistol in Frank's hand caused +Pablo to start up with a jump. He stared in astonishment +at Merry, who stood over him, holding the +smoking pistol. Then he looked and saw the headless +snake stretched on the ground.</p> + +<p>"Oh, <i>Madre de Dios</i>!" he cried. "You shoot de +snake! Mebbe you save me from de snake!"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so," nodded Frank, with a slight smile. +"You had better be careful, for snakes are not all the +dangerous things you will find on the ground."</p> + +<p>Pablo made a spring and caught Frank's hand.</p> + +<p>"To me you are so veree goode!" he said, kissing +Merry's hand in a manner that surprised Frank somewhat.</p> + +<p>Then he saw the pistol with which the snake had +been shot.</p> + +<p>"<i>Carrambo</i>!" he cried, in astonishment. "Where +you geet eet? De peestol. Eet do belong to my seestar."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> + +<p>For Merry had shot the snake with the pistol given +him by Gonchita.</p> + +<p>"How you haf eet?" asked Pablo, with great eagerness. +"Where you geet eet?"</p> + +<p>Frank was fairly cornered. As a result, he sat down +there and told the Mexican boy of his capture by +Cimarron Bill's gang and of Gonchita.</p> + +<p>"Then she be steel alife?" exclaimed Pablo. "Beel +haf not keeled her!"</p> + +<p>"He had not then."</p> + +<p>"But she help you to geet away?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then mebbe Beel be veree angry weeth her—mebbe +he keel her! Eef he do that——"</p> + +<p>"If he does he ought to be hanged! Pablo, Bill is +sure to be hanged or shot before long, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"But he tell Gonchita he mak' veree much monee. +He say big men what can buy the law pay him much +monee."</p> + +<p>"I know what he means, Pablo. A lot of men have +banded together to rob me of my mines, this one here +and another in Mexico. They expected to do so with +ease at first, but made a fizzle of it. They thought +to take the mines from me by law; but now they know +they cannot do that, and they have hired Bill and his +ruffians to seize it. Those men are the ones who are +paying Bill for his work. He expects they will protect +him when it is done. He is looking for a pardon +for all past offenses."</p> + +<p>"But you weel not let him beat you?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not if I can help it. He has failed thus far. He +attacked the mine with his ruffians and was repulsed."</p> + +<p>"De nex' time he do eet deeferent. He come een +when you do not expect. Mebbe he geet somebody to +gef de mine up to them."</p> + +<p>"Nobody here," said Merry, with a laugh. "I can +trust my men."</p> + +<p>"You theenk so."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm sure of it."</p> + +<p>"One try to shoot you not long 'go."</p> + +<p>"Yes. How did you learn of that?"</p> + +<p>"Pablo have de ear. He hear something."</p> + +<p>"What did you hear?"</p> + +<p>"Dat man be paid to try de shoot."</p> + +<p>"Look here, how do you know?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hear some of de men talk. They all say +they pritee sure of eet. How you like my seestar?"</p> + +<p>The boy asked the question with such suddenness +that Frank was a bit startled.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry for her, Pablo. I'm sorry Bill has her +in his hands."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Beel he say he marree her; but I know he lie. +Mebbe she know eet now. Beel want her to help heem. +You theenk she veree bad girl?"</p> + +<p>This question was put almost pathetically, Pablo +again grasping Frank's hand and gazing wistfully into +Merry's eyes.</p> + +<p>"No; I do not think she is very bad."</p> + +<p>"She do noteeng to make you theenk so?"</p> + +<p>"Well, she fooled me somewhat at first by telling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +me a story about her wounded father. She had such +an innocent way that I swallowed the yarn. That was +how I fell into Bill's hands. I accompanied her to go, +as I supposed, to her wounded father. She decoyed +me into a trap."</p> + +<p>"But afterward—afterward?" eagerly asked the boy.</p> + +<p>"She seemed to change in a most remarkable manner, +and helped me out of it. But for her, I fancy +I'd surely been disposed of by those ruffians."</p> + +<p>"Then you see she be not so veree bad. When she +first see you mebbe she never seen you before. Mebbe +she haf promeesed to Beel that she take you eento trap. +Aftare she see you she be soree, and she want you to +geet away."</p> + +<p>"I think that was about the way things happened, +Pablo."</p> + +<p>"I am glad you do not theenk she ees so veree bad +girl. What you do eef I breeng her here?"</p> + +<p>"What would I do?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Si seńor</i>; how you like eet?"</p> + +<p>Pablo was watching Frank's face closely.</p> + +<p>"Why, I would do my best for her," said Merry. +"I should feel it my duty after what she did for me."</p> + +<p>"You would not be veree angree?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Nor veree please'?"</p> + +<p>"Why, for your sake I would be pleased."</p> + +<p>"But you never care for your own sake at all? +You never want to see my seestar again?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I should be glad to see her and thank her."</p> + +<p>"Dat ees all?"</p> + +<p>"And to do her any other favor in my power. I +am not ungrateful enough to forget what she did for +me."</p> + +<p>"Dat ees all?"</p> + +<p>"What more do you want?" demanded Merry, in +surprise.</p> + +<p>"Notheeng," murmured Pablo regretfully, as he +turned and walked away.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></h2> + +<h3>MERRY'S DISCOVERY.</h3> + + +<p>The actions of Tracy seemed strangely suspicious to +Merry, who undertook to watch the man, only to find +that Pablo seemed to be watching him still more +closely. Thus it happened that Merry followed the +foreman up the valley and saw him meet another man +at a point removed beyond view of the mine.</p> + +<p>The man Tracy met was none other than Hop Anson, +readily recognized at a distance by his bandaged +hand.</p> + +<p>"Something doing!" muttered Frank, as he crouched +behind the rocks and watched the two. "Tracy wanted +to lynch Anson. Now they meet like this, apparently +by appointment. My foreman is playing some sort +of a double game."</p> + +<p>This point was settled in Frank's mind. He longed +to be near enough to hear what was passing between +the two, but could not reach such a position without +exposing himself.</p> + +<p>The men were suspicious that they might be +watched. They did not remain there long. But Frank +distinctly saw Anson give Tracy something, which the +latter placed in his pocket. Then the foreman turned +back, and Hop Anson vanished in the opposite direction.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> + +<p>Frank was tempted to step out and confront the +foreman, demanding to know what it meant, but he +chose to remain quiet and seek the truth in another +manner. So he let Tracy pass.</p> + +<p>But when the foreman had disappeared Merry +sprang up and went racing after Hop Anson, hoping +to run the rascal down. He came out where he could +see far along a broad gorge, and there, riding into the +distance, mounted on a good horse, was Anson. Frank +knew the folly of trying further pursuit, so he stood +still and watched the vanishing figure.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to know just what it was that Hop Anson +gave Tracy," he said, aloud.</p> + +<p>Immediately, within less than twenty feet from him, +Pablo, the Mexican boy, arose into view.</p> + +<p>"I teel you what eet was," he said. "Eet was +monee."</p> + +<p>Frank was startled by this sudden appearance of the +boy.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing here?" he asked sharply.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I watch de Tracy man," returned the lad +craftily. "I see something."</p> + +<p>"Were you near enough to hear their talk?"</p> + +<p>"Just a leetle beet."</p> + +<p>"Ha! What was it? What did you hear?"</p> + +<p>"De man with hurt hand he geef oder man monee. +Oder man take eet. Say eet not enough. Must have +two times more as much before he do something man +with hurt hand want heem to do. Man with hurt +hand mad. Eet do no goode. Oder man say breeng<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +as much more twice over to heem at same place same +time to-morrow."</p> + +<p>It is needless to say that this revelation was intensely +interesting to Merriwell.</p> + +<p>"Why, Hop Anson has no money!" exclaimed +Frank. "Where did he get it? It must have come +from Bill. In that case, an attempt is being made to +bribe my foreman. I have a traitor in the mine, and +he means to deliver me into the hands of the enemy."</p> + +<p>"Tracy man he say to man with hurt hand that +Pablo, the brother of Gonchita, ees here."</p> + +<p>"So Tracy told Anson that?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Si, seńor</i>."</p> + +<p>"Well, I think I need a new foreman—and need him +bad! It is about time for Mr. Tracy to get out!"</p> + +<p>"You wait and watch, you ketch heem."</p> + +<p>It was arranged that Pablo should return in advance +to the mine, in order that they might not be seen coming +in together. So the Mexican boy strolled back +with assumed carelessness.</p> + +<p>But it happened that Jim Tracy was watching, and +he saw Pablo, whereupon he hastened to meet the +boy.</p> + +<p>"Where have you been?" harshly demanded the +foreman.</p> + +<p>Pablo looked surprised.</p> + +<p>"I go to tak' de walk," he said.</p> + +<p>"You little liar!" snarled Tracy. "You have been +playing the spy! I know what you have been doing!"</p> + +<p>"De spyee—how you mean?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Mexican lad seemed very innocent.</p> + +<p>"I've seen you sneaking around. Why are you +hanging around here, anyhow? Why don't you get +out?"</p> + +<p>"Dat none of your busineeze," returned the lad +saucily.</p> + +<p>"You little runt!" growled Tracy, catching the boy +by the shoulder. "Do you dare talk to me that way?"</p> + +<p>"You beeg rufeen!" cried Pablo. "You hurt! Let +of me a-go!"</p> + +<p>Then he kicked the foreman on the shins. Immediately, +with a roar of rage, Tracy struck Pablo with +his fist, knocking the boy down.</p> + +<p>Pablo was armed with a pistol, and this weapon he +snatched out when he scrambled to his feet. But +Tracy was on hand to clutch him and wrest the +weapon from his grasp.</p> + +<p>"You little devil!" grated the man. "I'll cut your +throat on the spot!"</p> + +<p>There was a terrible look in his eyes as he whipped +out a knife and lifted it.</p> + +<p>"Drop that!"</p> + +<p>Crack!—the report of a revolver emphasized the +command, and the bullet struck the knife and tore it +from the hand of the aroused ruffian.</p> + +<p>Frank Merriwell had arrived just in time to save +Pablo, who was bent helplessly backward over Tracy's +knee, the hand of the wretch being at his throat.</p> + +<p>Tracy shook his benumbed and quivering hand, releasing +the boy and looking at Frank resentfully.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, you're not badly hurt!" said Merry, as he +strode up. "My lead struck the knife blade, not your +hand. And I seemed to be barely in time, too."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I wasn't going to hurt the kid!" declared +Tracy harshly. "I was going to teach him a lesson, +that was all. I wanted to frighten him a little."</p> + +<p>"Well, your behavior looked remarkably bloodthirsty. +You seemed on the point of drawing the knife +across his throat. That was enough for me. You +may go, Tracy, but you are to let Pablo alone in the +future."</p> + +<p>"If he insults me——"</p> + +<p>"Report to me; I'll make him apologize. Go."</p> + +<p>Tracy seemed to wish to linger to argue over the +matter, but the look in Merriwell's eyes forbade it, +and he picked up the knife and slouched sullenly away.</p> + +<p>"I hope he did not hurt you much," said Frank, lifting +Pablo's hat to see the bruise made by the ruffian's +fist.</p> + +<p>With a cry, the boy grasped his hat and pulled it +down upon his head.</p> + +<p>But Frank had made a most surprising discovery, +and it was enough to give Merry something to meditate +over.</p> + +<p>He decided that the boy must be closely watched, +and he longed for the presence of old Joe Crowfoot, +than whom no one was more fitted to such a task.</p> + +<p>But the outlaws had averred that old Joe was "food +for buzzards," and the protracted absence of the redskin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +led Merry to fear that he had looked into the +Indian's beady eyes for the last time.</p> + +<p>Frank spoke to no one of his discovery. As far +as possible, he kept his eyes on Pablo, as if he believed +the boy meditated treachery of some sort.</p> + +<p>Frank's friends wandered about the place and investigated +the mine, watching operations.</p> + +<p>The calm of the valley was most deceptive, and both +Ready and Gallup declared they could not conceive any +possible danger lurking near. Hodge, however, professed +to feel a warning in the very peacefulness, which +he declared was the calm before a storm.</p> + +<p>Jim Tracy sulked. His treatment by Frank was +altogether displeasing to him, and he felt that he +had been humiliated, which caused him to register a +secret vow of vengeance.</p> + +<p>Pablo was generally found lingering about Frank's +cabin or somewhere near Merry.</p> + +<p>"He knows a good thing when he sees it," said +Ready sagely, "and he means to stick to it. He doesn't +seem in any great hurry about rushing to the rescue +of his 'seestar.'"</p> + +<p>Frank smiled in a knowing manner, observing:</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he has reasons to know that his sister is +in no great peril at present, and he is satisfied to stay +here."</p> + +<p>"He's a gol dern lazy little beggar!" said Gallup. +"An' he oughter hev to wash his face once in a while."</p> + +<p>The evening was cool and agreeable. The sun +dropped peacefully behind the mountains and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +shadows gathered deeply in the gorges and cańons. +The roar of the stamps sank to silence, and peace lay +like a prayer on the valley.</p> + +<p>Frank and his friends sat about the cabin door and +chatted of old times. Sometimes they sang little +snatches of the old songs.</p> + +<p>And as the darkness deepened a slender, boyish +figure lay on his stomach and wiggled cautiously nearer +and nearer, taking the utmost pains not to be seen.</p> + +<p>This eavesdropper was Pablo, and he evinced the +greatest interest in all they were saying; but it was +when Frank spoke or sang that he listened with the +utmost attention, keeping perfectly still. Thus it was +that the boy heard Hodge say:</p> + +<p>"Merriwell, I'm half-inclined to believe that dirty +little Mexican rascal is a fakir. I suspect him."</p> + +<p>"Of what?" asked Frank.</p> + +<p>"Of being a spy. He told a slick tale, but I've had +time to think it over, and somehow it seems too thin. +Why shouldn't Bill send him here to play the spy?"</p> + +<p>"My dear Bart," said Merry, with a laugh, "what +would be Bill's object? What could the boy do?"</p> + +<p>"He might get a chance to put a knife in your back, +old man."</p> + +<p>"I'll chance it. I do not believe Pablo that bad. +I'll trust him."</p> + +<p>"Well, I wouldn't trust any greaser."</p> + +<p>"I hate you, Seńor Hodge!" whispered the listening +boy, to himself. "I hate you; but I lofe Frank +Merriwell!"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p> + +<p>The miners gathered near their quarters. As far +as possible, Frank had secured miners who were not +Mexicans, but there were a few Mexicans among +them.</p> + +<p>Among the men were some who were hard characters +when they were drinking, and Merry had taken +particular pains to make rules and regulations to keep +liquor away from them.</p> + +<p>The morning after the encounter between Pablo and +Jim, the foreman, Frank arose and flung open the +door of his cabin, but immediately made the discovery +that a sheet of paper was pinned to the door with a +knife.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" he exclaimed. "Here's something interesting!"</p> + +<p>Gallup came slouching forward, followed by Ready.</p> + +<p>"What, ho!" cried Jack, as his eyes fell on the +knife and the paper. "Methinks I see something! +Hist! That is what the tragic actor said when he +appeared upon the stage. He crept in and looked +around, after which he said, 'Hist!' And he was +hissed."</p> + +<p>"By gum!" cried Ephraim. "There's writin' written +on it! What does it say?"</p> + +<p>This is what they read written sprawlingly on the +sheet of paper that was pinned to the door by the +knife:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Frank Merriwell</span>: You are hearby giv notis +that you are to send away the boy Pablo instanter.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +He promised to come to his sister, and he has not +come. You are warned not to keep him. <span class="smcap">Bill</span>."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Frank looked at the notice and laughed.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, "that is rather interesting. So +Bill wants the boy? Why doesn't he come and take +him?"</p> + +<p>Hodge came and read the notice, a deep frown on +his darkly handsome face.</p> + +<p>"What do you make of it, Merry?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Give us your opinion."</p> + +<p>"Nerve."</p> + +<p>"Shall we give up the boy?"</p> + +<p>Now Bart had not favored Pablo, but at this juncture +he grimly declared:</p> + +<p>"I'm against it."</p> + +<p>"Good!" nodded Merry. "Let Bill come and take +him! If the boy's story is true, it would not be a +healthy thing for him to fall into Bill's hands."</p> + +<p>Just as he spoke these words Jim Tracy came around +the corner and appeared on the scene. He halted, appearing +surprised, and stared at the knife and the +notice.</p> + +<p>"Whatever is it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Something left there during the night," said +Merry. "Read it."</p> + +<p>Tracy looked it over.</p> + +<p>"Well, Bill sure wants the greaser kid," he said, "an' +I reckon you'd best give the youngster up."</p> + +<p>"Why do you reckon that?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Cimarron Bill is a heap dangerous."</p> + +<p>"He may be," said Merry; "but he has failed thus +far to get ahead of me. I don't like his notice, if this +came from him. But I thought you took pains to +have the place guarded at night, Tracy?"</p> + +<p>"So I does, sir."</p> + +<p>"Then how did Bill or any of his gang manage to +creep up here and pin this to my door?"</p> + +<p>"That I can't say, sir."</p> + +<p>"I think I'll look after things to-night," said Frank +grimly. "If we're getting careless around here Bill +may walk in some night and seize the mine before we +know a thing of what's going to happen."</p> + +<p>He jerked the knife from the door, took the paper +and placed it in his pocket, after which he indicated +that he was ready to speak with the foreman, who had +some matter of business to discuss.</p> + +<p>When Tracy departed Frank sat down and meditated, +for he had noticed something peculiar and remarkable.</p> + +<p>There were ink-stains upon the thumb and two of +the fingers of Jim Tracy's right hand.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></h2> + +<h3>FRANK DETECTS TREACHERY.</h3> + + +<p>Needless to say Frank did not send Pablo away. +He did not tell the boy of the warning found on the +door. Instead, he called the Mexican lad and said:</p> + +<p>"Pablo, I want you to watch Tracy closely for me. +Will you?"</p> + +<p>"Seńor Frank can be sure I weel," said the boy.</p> + +<p>"If possible, I want you to get some of Tracy's +handwriting and bring it to me."</p> + +<p>"Eet I will do, seńor."</p> + +<p>"But look out for him. He's dangerous. Don't let +him catch you playing the spy."</p> + +<p>"I tak' de great care 'bout that."</p> + +<p>Before noon the Mexican boy came hurrying to +Merry, his big dark eyes glowing. He caught hold of +Frank's hand and gave it an excited pressure.</p> + +<p>"I haf eet!" he said.</p> + +<p>"What is it you have?"</p> + +<p>"Some of hees writeeng. He do eet in de mine +offeese when he think no one watch heem. I see heem +through window. He put eet in lettare, stick eet up, +put in pocket, then drop um. I know; I watch; I pick +eet up. Here eet ees!"</p> + +<p>He thrust into Merry's hand a soiled, sealed and +undirected envelope.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Eet ees inside," said Pablo, all aquiver.</p> + +<p>"Come in here," said Frank, leading the way into +the cabin.</p> + +<p>Bart and Jack were watching Ephraim Gallup at a +distance from the cabin, the Yankee youth being engaged +in a brave attempt to ride a small, bucking +bronco.</p> + +<p>When they were inside the cabin, Frank closed and +fastened the door. Making a hasty examination of +the envelope, he quickly lighted a small alcohol-lamp +beneath a tiny brass tea-kettle, which he partly filled +with water.</p> + +<p>In a very few moments steam was pouring from the +nozle of the kettle. Holding the envelope in this, +Merry quickly steamed open the flap, taking from it +a sheet of paper.</p> + +<p>Pablo's eyes seemed to grow larger than ever as he +watched. Frank unfolded the paper and read:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"I have decided to except terms, and to-night will +be the time for you to come down on the mine. The +whisky will be yoused to get the men drunk, jest as +you perposed, and I'll hev them all filled up by ten +o'clock. Wate tell you hear three shots right togather, +then charge and you'll take the mine, havin' only +Merywel and his tenderfeet backers to fight, and them +I will hav fastened into their cabin. J."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Merry whistled over this, showing no small amount +of surprise.</p> + +<p>"Ees de writin' what you expec'?" asked Pablo anxiously.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's somewhat more than I expected," said Frank. +"By Jove! there will be doings here to-night."</p> + +<p>He quickly decided on the course he would pursue. +Carefully drying the flap of the envelope, he placed +some fresh mucilage on it, thrust the message into it, +and resealed it carefully.</p> + +<p>"See here, Pablo," he said quickly, "if you can do +it, I want you to take this and drop it just where you +found it, so that Tracy will be pretty sure to recover +it. I do not wish him to know that it has been picked +up. Do your best. If you can't do it, come and tell +me."</p> + +<p>"I do eet," assured Pablo, as he took the envelope, +concealed it beneath his jacket, and slipped from the +cabin.</p> + +<p>Frank had been given something to think about.</p> + +<p>"So Tracy has turned traitor," he meditated. "He +has decided to betray the mine into the hands of +Cimarron Bill's gang. It was his writing on the notice +pinned on the door, not Bill's. That notice was a fake, +and it made him angry because it didn't work out as +he planned. Bill got at him through Hop Anson, who +must have been in Bill's employ all along. Well, to-night +is the time I give those ruffians their final setback. +Another repulse will discourage them. They +would have descended on the place while I was in +their power if they had fancied there was any chance +that I might escape with my life."</p> + +<p>Pretty soon he walked out, with his hands in his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +pockets, and joined his friends, laughing heartily over +Gallup's trials, and seeming undisturbed by any worry.</p> + +<p>Later he entered the mine and found that Tracy +was not about. Nor could he discover anything of +Pablo. The afternoon was far spent when the Mexican +boy suddenly appeared before Frank.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Pablo!" said Merry. "What's the word?"</p> + +<p>"I followe heem," whispered Pablo excitedly. "I +haf drop de letter where he find eet when he look for +eet. Then he find time to go 'way. I followe. I see +heem take letter to place in rocks long distance down +vallee. He hide eet there. Pablo let heem go; stay +watch letter. He haf hoss hid some piece off. He +geet to hoss, geet on heem, ride off."</p> + +<p>"That's all?"</p> + +<p>"Dhat ees all."</p> + +<p>"Well, you have done well, Pablo," said Merry. +"I'll not forget it."</p> + +<p>Pablo again grasped Frank's hand, which he kissed.</p> + +<p>"You freen' to Pablo," he said. "You goode to +heem. He not forget."</p> + +<p>"Tell no one what you have seen and done."</p> + +<p>"You look out for Beel."</p> + +<p>"You may be sure I'll do that, Pablo. When Bill +comes here, he'll receive a warm reception."</p> + +<p>That night after supper, as the miners sat about the +long table in the low, open room, smoking their pipes +and cigarettes and enjoying the grateful coolness of +the evening, Jim Tracy, the foreman, came into the +room and cried:</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, boys, you've been working right hard to open +up this yere old mine, an' I appreciates it, if the young +man what owns the property don't. It's a long distance +to town, an' ye can't all git off together to have +a leetle blow, so I has brought ye some good whisky, +and I perposes that you all takes a drink on me."</p> + +<p>Saying which, he produced two big quart bottles and +held them above his head, so the lamplight fell upon +them.</p> + +<p>Instantly two shots sounded through the place, and +the bottles were smashed in the foreman's hands by a +pair of bullets, the glass flying and the liquor spattering +over him.</p> + +<p>In through the doorway at the opposite end of the +room stepped Frank Merriwell, a pistol in each hand.</p> + +<p>"Keep your hands up and empty, Jim Tracy!" he +said, in a commanding tone. "It will be unhealthy +for you if you lower them!"</p> + +<p>Behind Frank were Bart, Jack, and Ephraim, with +Pablo hovering like a shadow still farther in the rear.</p> + +<p>Tracy was astounded.</p> + +<p>"What in blazes does this mean!" he snarled, but +he kept his hands up, as Frank had ordered.</p> + +<p>"It means that I am onto your game to drug these +boys and betray us all. Steady! If you try to get +a weapon I shall drop you! You know I can shoot +a little. Just tie him up, fellows."</p> + +<p>"With the greatest pleasure," chirped Jack Ready, +as he waltzed lightly forward, accompanied by Hodge +and Gallup.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span></p> + +<p>In spite of the protests of Tracy, they bound him +hand and foot, so that he could barely wiggle.</p> + +<p>The miners had been amazed, but they believed +Merry when he told them of Tracy's plot to betray +the mine.</p> + +<p>"He would have drugged you all," said Frank. +"Then, when Bill's gang charged on the mine, it's +likely many of you would have been killed. But what +did he care about that. Now we'll fool Cimarron Bill +and teach him a lesson."</p> + +<p>He explained his plan to them, and they readily +agreed. So it happened that, a little later, the miners +began to sing and shout and pretend to be riotously +merry. This they kept up until it seemed as if they +were engaged in a fearful carousal. Then the noises +began to die out and grow less.</p> + +<p>It was past ten o'clock when dead silence seemed to +rest on the camp. Frank Merriwell stepped to the +door, lifted his hand and fired three shots into the +air.</p> + +<p>Five minutes later the sound of galloping horses +coming up the valley was distinctly heard.</p> + +<p>"Here they come!" breathed Frank. "All ready for +them!"</p> + +<p>Right up to the mine-buildings charged the horsemen. +They were dismounting when Frank's challenge +rang out sharp and clear:</p> + +<p>"Hold, Cimarron Bill! Stop where you are! Stop, +or we fire!"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span></p> + +<p>The outlaws uttered a yell and charged, firing the +first shots.</p> + +<p>Then Merry gave the command, and the armed and +waiting miners fired on the raiders. It was a withering +volley, and must have astounded the ruffians.</p> + +<p>Bill, however, had come this time determined to +succeed, and he called on his men to break down the +doors. As they were hammering at the front doors, +Frank led some of the men out by the back way and +charged round the buildings.</p> + +<p>The encounter that took place was brief and sanguine. +The miners were encouraged by Hodge, +Ready, and Gallup, who fought with savage fury, and +the raiders began to waver.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a tall figure came rushing into the thick of +the fight and confronted Frank.</p> + +<p>It was Tracy, who had been released from his bonds +by a sympathetic miner.</p> + +<p>"Yah!" he snarled, having heard Merry's voice and +recognized him. "So it's you! I've found you! Take +that!"</p> + +<p>He pitched forward a revolver and fired pointblank +at Frank.</p> + +<p>At that very instant, with a cry, Pablo, the Mexican +boy, leaped in front of Merry.</p> + +<p>Struck by the bullet intended for Frank, the little +fellow tossed up his arms and fell backward into Merriwell's +clasp. At the same instant somebody shot +Jim Tracy through the brain.</p> + +<p>As Merriwell lowered the death-stricken boy, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +raiders, completely baffled, gave over the attack and +took to flight, leaving half their number behind, +stretched upon the ground.</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt—badly?" asked Frank, as one of +the boy's arms dropped limply over his neck and +seemed to cling there.</p> + +<p>For a moment there was no answer. Then came +the faintly whispered words:</p> + +<p>"I—theenk—I—am—keeled—Seńor Merriwell."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, Gonchita!" said Frank earnestly; "not as +bad as that! It cannot be!"</p> + +<p>"You know me," was the surprised whisper. "How +you know I am Gonchita?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I discovered it the other day—I found you +had your hair tied up beneath your hat. Here, men—somebody +bring a light! Be lively about it!"</p> + +<p>"All right, sir," said one of the men. "Have one +directly."</p> + +<p>"No use, Seńor Merriwell," came weakly from the +lips of the disguised girl. "I shall be dead in a minute. +<i>Ay-de mi</i>! Poor Gonchita! You theenk she ees +veree bad girl? Beel he say he weel marree her. He +get me to fool you, seńor. Then you are so veree +brave! Seńor Frank, I theenk you are de han'someest, +de braveest man I evere know. I run away from Beel. +I wear de boyee's clothes an' come here. Dat ees all. +Now I haf to die."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not, Gonchita," said Merry, with infinite +pity for the unfortunate girl. "We'll see what can +be done for you."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span></p> + +<p>She managed to press one of his hands to her lips.</p> + +<p>"So goode—so han'some!" she whispered. "Good-by, +seńor! Eet ees ovare."</p> + +<p>Then one of the men came out with a lighted lantern; +but before the light fell on the face of the +wounded girl Frank knew he was holding a corpse in +his arms.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Among the dead was found Hop Anson. Jim +Tracy lay where he had fallen immediately after the +shot which ended the life of poor Gonchita.</p> + +<p>Such of the ruffians who were wounded were cared +for as well as possible. The dead were buried there +in the valley.</p> + +<p>Cimarron Bill's band was completely broken up.</p> + +<p>On his next visit to town Merry had a marble slab +cut for the grave of the Mexican girl, which was located +at a distance from those of the outlaws.</p> + +<p>On the slab were chiseled these words: "Poor Gonchita!"</p><hr class="chap" /> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a></h2> + +<h3>THE WAR-WHOOP OF OLD ELI.</h3> + + +<p>The afternoon sun lay scorching hot upon the arid +plain. Heat waves moved in the air like the billows +of a phantom sea. To the west were barren mountain-peaks +and the nearer foot-hills; to the east the +unbroken plain lay level to the horizon.</p> + +<p>Behind the body of his dead horse lay a sorely +wounded man, with his dog crouching close at his +side. The dog's dry tongue lolled from the animal's +mouth; at times the poor creature whined and sought +to lick the hand of its master; anon he growled fiercely, +the hair bristling on his neck, and started up in a savage +manner.</p> + +<p>"Down, Boxer, down!" the man would order, in a +voice ever growing weaker. "You can't help. The +red devils will get you with a bullet. Down, sir!"</p> + +<p>At which the dog would sink back, whine again and +draw his filelike tongue along the hand or cheek of +his master.</p> + +<p>"Heavens!" muttered the man. "For a swallow of +water. I'd give the last ounce in the saddle-bags if +I could finish one or two more of those murderous curs +before I cash in!"</p> + +<p>His almost nerveless hands grasped the barrel of +his rifle, and he looked away toward the spot where six<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> +horsemen had drawn up in a little cluster just beyond +bullet-reach.</p> + +<p>They were Indians, mounted on tough ponies, and +some of them armed with modern weapons. Two or +three carried lances, on which the glaring sun glinted.</p> + +<p>They had hunted him down; they had killed the +horse beneath him and wounded him unto death. The +bullet was through his body, and the sands of life +were ebbing fast. He had reached the end of his +trail, and the red fiends out there on the baking plain +knew they had only to wait a while and then ride forward +unmolested and strip off his scalp. Yet, being +far from their reservation, the savages were impatient +at the delay. Their hearts were vengeful within them, +for in the chase he had slain two of their number.</p> + +<p>One of them, an impetuous young buck, was for +making haste in finishing the paleface. He motioned +toward the declining sun and suggested that the +wounded man might try to crawl away with the coming +of darkness. Besides, they had far to go, and it +was a waste of time to wait for the paleface to die. +Likely he was so far gone that he could not shoot +to defend himself, and there would be little trouble in +getting near enough to despatch him.</p> + +<p>The impetuous spirit of this savage prevailed, and +soon the redskins began riding around and around +man and horse and dog, spreading out into a circle +with great gaps and slowly closing in, now and then +uttering a challenging yell. As they closed in they +flung themselves over upon the sides of their ponies<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +opposite the wounded man, so that their horses seemed +riderless. Occasionally a shot was fired from beneath +the neck of a racing pony.</p> + +<p>The dying man gathered himself a little and watched +them. A puff of white smoke leaped out before a +pony and was quickly left behind to dissolve and fade +in the heated air. A bullet threw up a bit of dust +within three feet of the white man. The dog bristled +and growled. Another bullet clipped a stalk from a +cactus plant five feet away.</p> + +<p>"They're within shooting distance," whispered the +doomed wretch. "Wonder if I've got nerve enough to +drop a pony."</p> + +<p>He rested his rifle on the body of the dead horse +and waited. Out on the plain the racing ponies began +to swim in a haze. He could see them indistinctly, +and he brushed a hand across his eyes.</p> + +<p>"I'm going fast, Boxer," he muttered to the dog. +"My sight is failing! I'm burning inside! And I +know you're choking yourself, poor dog! It's a hard +way to pipe out."</p> + +<p>The dog whined sympathetically and pressed closer. +A bullet whistled past the head of the man. He tightened +his grip on his rifle, sought to take aim, and +finally fired.</p> + +<p>His bullet went wide of the target he sought, and +a yell of derision floated to his ears through the hot +air.</p> + +<p>"No use!" he muttered huskily. "I'm done for!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +It's the finish! They can close right in and wipe me +out!"</p> + +<p>The savages seemed to know it, and they were drawing +nearer.</p> + +<p>Of a sudden out from the depths of a long barranca, +a mighty fissure in the plain, produced in former ages +by a convulsion of nature, or marking the course of a +river—out from one end that rose to the surface of +the plain not far from the circling savages, came a +horse and rider. As the rider rose into view he began +shooting with a magazine rifle, and his first bullet +caused a redskin to lose his hold and tumble end +over end in the dirt, while the pony galloped on.</p> + +<p>The following Indian stooped and seemed to catch +up his wounded comrade as he swept past.</p> + +<p>The lone horseman rode straight at them in a reckless +manner, working his repeater.</p> + +<p>A pony was wounded, another plunged forward into +the dirt. In another moment the redskins wheeled +and were in full flight, astounded and demoralized by +the attack, two of the horses carrying double, while +another left drops of blood upon the ground.</p> + +<p>The daring paleface uttered a strange war-whoop +of triumph: "Brekekek Co-ax, Co-ax, Yale!"</p> + +<p>Never before had those Indians heard such a singular +cry from the lips of a white man. It seemed to +fill them with a mad desire to get away, to flee at +top speed. It struck terror into their hearts, as many +a time the same slogan has struck fear to the hearts +of those battling against Old Eli on some athletic<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +field. They urged their ponies forward, and away +they went, scurrying into the distance, with bullets +singing around them.</p> + +<p>The man behind the dead horse lifted himself and +strained his bedimmed eyes, seeing the youthful rider +shoot past in pursuit of the savages. The dog rose, +planting his forefeet on the horse's body, and barked +madly.</p> + +<p>When he was satisfied that the Indians were in full +retreat, with little thought of turning or offering resistance, +Frank Merriwell, for it was he who had +dashed out of the barranca, drew up and turned about, +galloping back toward the man he had dared so much +to save.</p> + +<p>But he had come too late.</p> + +<p>As Merry rode near the dying man had fallen back +beside his dead horse. Over him stood the dog, covered +with dust, its eyes glaring redly, its teeth disclosed, +ready to defend the body of its master. As +Frank drew up the dog snarled fiercely.</p> + +<p>Merry saw at a glance that the situation of the +dog's master was serious in the extreme. He dismounted +and stepped forward, leaving his horse, +knowing well the animal would stand. As he approached +the dog grew fiercer of aspect, and he saw +the creature meant to leap straight at his throat.</p> + +<p>"Good dog!" he said, stopping. "Fine dog! Come, +sir—come! Ah-ha, fine fellow!"</p> + +<p>But all his attempts to win the confidence of the +dog were failures.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The man is dying," he muttered. "Perhaps I might +save him if I could get to him now. Must I shoot +that dog? I hate to do it, for the creature seems +very intelligent."</p> + +<p>At this moment the man stirred a little and seemed +to realize what was happening. He lifted his head +a little and saw the dismounted horseman and the +threatening dog.</p> + +<p>"Down, Boxer; down, sir!" he commanded. "Be +quiet!"</p> + +<p>His voice rose scarcely above a whisper, but the dog +reluctantly obeyed, still keeping his eyes on Frank, +who now stepped up at once.</p> + +<p>"You're badly wounded, sir," he said. "Let me +see if I can do anything for you."</p> + +<p>"Give me water—for the love of Heaven, water!" +was the harshly whispered imploration.</p> + +<p>In a twinkling Frank sprang to his horse and +brought back a canteen that was well filled. This he +held to the lips of the wretched man, while the crouching +dog watched every move with his red eyes.</p> + +<p>That water, warm though it was, brought back a +little life to the sinking man.</p> + +<p>"God bless you!" he murmured gratefully.</p> + +<p>The dog whined.</p> + +<p>"Can't you give Boxer a little?" asked the dog's +master. "He's suffering as much as I am."</p> + +<p>Frank quickly removed from his saddle-bags a deep +tin plate, on which some of the water was poured, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> +this the dog greedily licked up, wagging his tail in +thankfulness.</p> + +<p>"Poor old Boxer!" sighed the doomed man.</p> + +<p>"Now, sir," said the youth, "let me examine your +wound and find out what I can do for you."</p> + +<p>"No use," was the declaration. "I'm done for. It's +through the lung, and I've bled enough to finish two +men. The blood is all out of me."</p> + +<p>But the young man insisted on looking and did what +he could to check the flow of blood.</p> + +<p>The doomed man shook his head a little.</p> + +<p>"No use," he repeated. "I'm going now—I feel it. +But you have done all you could for Old Bens, and you +won't lose nothing by it. What's your name?"</p> + +<p>"Frank Merriwell."</p> + +<p>"Well, Pard Merriwell, you sure went for those +red devils right hot. I allowed at first that you must +have four or five friends with ye."</p> + +<p>"I'm alone."</p> + +<p>"And it was great grit for you to charge the red +skunks that way. However did you happen to do it?"</p> + +<p>"I saw what was going on from the high land to the +west with the aid of a powerful glass. I knew they +had a white man trapped here. I struck the barranca +and managed to get down into it, so I was able to ride +close without being seen and charge up from this end, +where it rises to the level of the plain. That is all."</p> + +<p>"It was nerve, young man, and plenty of it! My +name is Benson Clark. I'm a miner. Been over in the +Mazatzals. Struck it rich, young pard—struck it rich.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +There was no one but me and old Boxer, my dog. +I took out a heap of dust, and I opine I located a +quartz claim that certainly is worth a hundred thousand +dollars, or I'm away off. Been a miner all my +life. Grub-staked it from the Canadian line to Mexico. +Have managed to live, but this is my first strike. No +one staked me this time, so it's all mine. But see, pard, +what black luck and those red devils have done for +me! I'm finished, and I'll never live to enjoy a dollar +of my wealth. Pretty tough, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Pretty tough," admitted Frank Merriwell; "but +brace up. Who can tell——"</p> + +<p>"I can. Bens Clark is at the end of his trail. +Young man, I want you to see me properly planted. +You'll find enough in the saddle-bags here and in the +belt around my waist to pay you for your trouble."</p> + +<p>"I want no pay, sir."</p> + +<p>"Well, I reckon you may as well have it, as I have +neither kith nor kin in the wide world, and most of my +friends have cashed in ahead of me, so I'm left all +alone—me and Boxer."</p> + +<p>The dying man lifted his hand with a great effort +and caressed the dog. The animal whined and snuggled +nearer, fixing his eyes on his master's face with +an expression of devotion and anxiety that was quite +touching to see.</p> + +<p>"Good old Boxer!" sighed the man, with deep feeling. +"You'll miss me, boy, and you're the only one +in all the wide world. What will become of you, +Boxer?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p> + +<p>Again the dog whined a little, touching the bloodless +cheek of the man with its tongue.</p> + +<p>"I'll do what I can for your dog, sir," said Frank +Merriwell.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean? Will you take Boxer and +care for him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Do it! You'll never be sorry. You'll find him the +most faithful, devoted, and intelligent of dumb animals. +Truly, he knows almost as much as a man—more +than lots of men. It's a shame he can't talk! +He knows what I say to him almost always. I've almost +fancied he might be taught to talk; but that's +ridiculous, I know. Take him, Frank Merriwell, treat +him well, and you'll never regret it."</p> + +<p>The dog seemed listening. He looked from one to +the other in a peculiar manner, and then, as if realizing +what had passed and that he was soon to part +with his master forever, he uttered a whining howl +that was doleful and pathetic.</p> + +<p>"Poor old Boxer—good boy!" said Benson Clark. +"I've got to go, boy."</p> + +<p>The dog crept close, and the dying man weakly +folded the animal in his arms.</p> + +<p>Frank Merriwell turned away. The sunlight was +so bright and strong on the plain that it seemed to +cause him to brush a hand over his eyes. He stood +looking far off for some moments, but was given a +start by hearing a weak call from the man.</p> + +<p>"I'm going!" breathed Clark huskily. "Here—in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +my pocket here you will find a rude chart that may +lead you to my rich mines in the Mazatzals. Feel in +my pocket for the leather case. That's it. Take it—keep +it. It's yours. The mines are yours—if you can +find them. Boxer is yours. Be good to him. Poor +old Boxer!"</p> + +<p>He closed his eyes and lay so still that Frank fancied +the end had come. But it was not yet. After a +little he slowly opened his eyes and looked at Merry. +Immediately Frank knelt beside him, with uncovered +head.</p> + +<p>The dying man then looked at the dog.</p> + +<p>"Boxer," he said faintly, "I'm going off on my long +trail, and we'll never meet up again this side of the +happy hunting-grounds. Good-by, old dog! This is +your new master. Stick to him like glue, old boy. +Fight for him—die for him, if you have to. I opine +you understand what I mean."</p> + +<p>A strange sound came from the throat of the dog—a +sound that was almost like a human sob. If ever +a dog sobbed that one did. Agony and sorrow was +depicted in his attitude and the look in its red eyes.</p> + +<p>The miner took the dog's paw and placed it in +Frank Merriwell's hand, his body lying between them.</p> + +<p>"I make you pards," said Benson Clark.</p> + +<p>Then he whispered to Frank:</p> + +<p>"Can't you pray? I've clean forgot all the prayers +I ever knew. But I feel that I need a prayer said for +me now, for I'm going up before the judgment bar.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +Pray, partner—pray to the Great Judge that He will +be easy with me."</p> + +<p>So Frank Merriwell prayed, and that prayer fell +upon the heart of the dying man with such soothing +balm that all fear and dread left him, and he passed +into the great unknown with a peaceful smile on his +weather-worn face.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a></h2> + +<h3>A STRANGE FUNERAL.</h3> + + +<p>Frank found the saddle-bags and the belt about the +dead man's waist heavy with gold. It took him some +time to make preparations for transporting the precious +stuff, and it was no easy task for him to quiet +his horse and induce the animal to stand while he lifted +the corpse and placed it where it could be tied securely +on the horse's back.</p> + +<p>He had no thought of leaving the body of Benson +Clark to be devoured by wolves and vultures.</p> + +<p>The sun was resting close down to the blue tops of +the western mountains when everything was ready to +start.</p> + +<p>The dog had watched every move with eyes full of +singular intelligence, but made no move or sound until +Merry was ready to go.</p> + +<p>Then Frank turned more water from the canteen, +after taking a few swallows himself, placing it before +Boxer in the tin plate. The dog licked it up.</p> + +<p>"Good Boxer!" said Merry, patting the beast's head. +"I'm your master now, my boy. Your other master +is dead. He has told you to stick to me. Did you +understand?"</p> + +<p>The dog made some strange swallowing and mumbling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +sounds in its throat, as if trying to talk back +in words.</p> + +<p>"By Jove!" said Merry, gazing at the creature with +great interest. "You are a knowing fellow, and you +actually try to talk. Your master fancied you might +be taught to talk."</p> + +<p>Again those strange swallowings and mumblings issued +from the dog's throat, and the creature wagged +its tail a little.</p> + +<p>"We'll go now," said Frank. "It's a good distance +to the mine, and we have something to do before we +can set out in earnest."</p> + +<p>So they started off, Frank leading the horse bearing +the ghastly burden, while the dog walked behind +with hanging head, the perfect picture of sorrow.</p> + +<p>A strange funeral procession it was, making its way +toward the setting sun and the hazy mountains. The +dead horse was left behind, while far in the sky +wheeled two black specks, buzzards waiting for the +feast.</p> + +<p>The Indians had long vanished from the face of the +plain, yet Frank knew their nature, and he was not at +all sure he had seen the last of them.</p> + +<p>The sun vanished behind the mountains and the blue +night lay soft and soothing on the hot plain when the +funeral procession came into the foot-hills.</p> + +<p>It was not Frank's intention to carry the dead man +farther than was needful, and, therefore, he kept his +eyes about him for some place to bestow the body +where it might rest safe from prowling beasts.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p> + +<p>This place he found at last, and, with the aid of a +flat stone, and with his bare hands, he scooped a shallow +grave. Into this the body was fitted. Over the +man's face Frank spread his own handkerchief. Then +he besprinkled the dry earth lightly over the body at +first, afterward using the flat rock to scrape and shovel +more upon it, ending with covering it heavily with such +stones as he could find, knowing well with what skill +the ravening beasts of the desert could use their claw-armed +paws.</p> + +<p>For a time the dog sat and watched everything. +When his late master was placed in the grave he whined +and cried softly; but when the body was covered he +lay down beside the grave in silence, and there was in +his posture something so heartbroken that Frank was +moved to a great pity.</p> + +<p>"Poor old Boxer!" he murmured. "It is the end +to which all living things must come, each in its own +time. But it is the law of nature, and it is not so bad, +after all. Blessed is he who goes to his last deep sleep +without fear, feeling that he has done his best and is +willing to trust everything in the hands of Him who +sees and knows all. The fear of death and what may +follow is such as should trouble alone the coward or +the wicked wretch. Boxer, your master seemed to pass +without fear, and something tells me it is not so bad +with him. His case is in the hands of the Great +Judge, and we may rest sure that he will be done no +wrong."</p> + +<p>Was there ever such a strange funeral oration! A<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +youth with bared head and solemn face, speaking above +a grave, and a silent, grief-stricken dog as the only +mourner and attendant! The still Arizona night all +around, with no sound of humming insect, no stir of +foliage, no whisper of moving breeze, the dome of +heaven above, studded with millions of clear stars! +The dog did not move or lift its head, but Frank +saw the starshine glint upon his eyes, which were wide +open and fastened upon the speaker.</p> + +<p>When the work was completed Frank knelt for a +moment beside that grave, praying softly, yet with an +earnestness that bespoke his faith that his words were +heard.</p> + +<p>It was over. His horse was at a little distance. He +went and brought the animal up and adjusted the saddle. +The dead man's belt, stuffed to bursting and wondrous +heavy, he had fastened about his own waist.</p> + +<p>"Come, Boxer," he said, again stooping to pat the +head of the dog. "We must go. Bid farewell to your +master's grave. It's not likely you may ever again +come beside it."</p> + +<p>The dog stirred. He sat up and lifted his muzzle +toward the stars. From his throat came a low note +that rose and swelled to the most doleful sound imaginable.</p> + +<p>With his blood chill in his body, Frank listened +while the dog sang a requiem above that grave. Tears +started from Merry's eyes, and never while life was +his could he forget that sound and that sight. Never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +chanted words of mass had more of sorrow! No +human tongue could speak greater grief.</p> + +<p>At last the sound died away into silence, and the +dog stood on all fours, with hanging head and tail, +his muzzle kissing some of the rough stones heaped on +that grave. How long he might have remained in that +attitude cannot be said; but soon Frank spoke again +and called him to follow. At the word he turned, and +his manner denoted he was ready.</p> + +<p>Merry swung into the saddle and started, looking +over his shoulder. In dead silence, the dog followed.</p> + +<p>And so they passed into the still night.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</a></h2> + +<h3>NEW ARRIVALS IN HOLBROOK.</h3> + + +<p>The town of Holbrook had been greatly stirred. It +had not yet settled into its accustomed grooves. The +proprietor of the best hotel in town had received a +consignment of fine furniture, carpets, draperies, wallpaper +and pictures, and he had set about renovating +and decorating several of the largest rooms in his +house, having for that purpose a number of workmen +imported from some Eastern point. It was said that +the rooms had been rearranged to connect with each +other in a suite, and that when they were completed, +and furnished, and decorated they were dazzlingly +magnificent, nothing like them ever before having +been seen in the place. The good citizens of Holbrook +wondered and were amazed at all this; but they did +not know that not one dollar had been expended by +the proprietor of the hotel. All this work had been +done without expense of his to accommodate some +guests who came in due time and took possession of +those rooms.</p> + +<p>The California Special had dropped four persons in +Holbrook, who regretfully left the comfort of a palace +car and looked about them with some show of dismay +on the cluttered streets and crude buildings of the +Southwestern town. Holbrook was even better in general<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +appearance than many Western towns, but, contrasted +with clean, orderly, handsome Eastern villages, +it was offensive to the eyes of the proud lady who was +aided from the steps of the car and descended to the +station platform with the air of a queen. She turned +up her aristocratic nose a little on glancing around.</p> + +<p>This woman was dressed in the height of fashion, +although somewhat too heavily for the country she +now found herself in; but there was about her an air +of display that betokened a lack of correct taste, which +is ever pronounced in those who seek to attract attention +and produce astonishment and awe. She had gray +hair and a cold, unattractive face. Still there was +about her face something that plainly denoted she had +been in her girlhood very attractive.</p> + +<p>She was followed by a girl who was so pretty and +so modest in appearance that the rough men who beheld +her gasped with astonishment. Never in the history +of the town had such a pretty girl placed her +foot within its limits. She had a graceful figure, fine +complexion, Cupid-bow mouth, flushed cheeks, large +brown eyes and hair in which there was a hint of red-gold, +in spite of its darkness.</p> + +<p>A colored maid followed them.</p> + +<p>From another car descended a thin, wiry, nervous +man, who had a great blue beak of a nose, and who +hastened to join the trio, speaking to them.</p> + +<p>The hotel proprietor had at the station the finest +carriage he could find, and this whisked them away +to the hotel as soon as they had entered it, leaving<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +the loungers about the station wondering, while the +train went diminishing into the distance, flinging its +trail of black smoke against the blue of the Arizona +sky.</p> + +<p>At the hotel the lady and her daughter occupied two +of the finest rooms, the colored maid another, less expensively +furnished, and the man with the blue nose +was given the fourth.</p> + +<p>Holbrook wondered what it meant.</p> + +<p>The lady ordered a meal to be served in her rooms.</p> + +<p>The report went forth at once, and again Holbrook +stood agog.</p> + +<p>The hotel register was watched. Finally the man +with the restless eyes and blue beak entered the office +and wrote nervously in the register.</p> + +<p>Barely was he gone when a dozen persons were +packed about the desk, seeking to look over one another's +shoulders to see what had been written.</p> + +<p>"Whatever is it, Hank?" asked one. "You sure +kin read writin'. Whatever do you make o' it?"</p> + +<p>"'Mrs. D. Roscoe Arlington,' the fust name," said +the one called Hank. "Then comes 'Miss Arlington,' +arter which is 'Mr. Eliot Dodge,' an' lastly I sees 'Hannah +Jackson.'"</p> + +<p>"Which last must be the nigger woman," said one +of the rough men.</p> + +<p>"I allows so," nodded Hank. "An' it 'pears to me +that name o' Arlington is some familiar. I somehow +thinks I has heard it."</p> + +<p>"Why, to be course you has!" said another of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +men. "D. Roscoe Arlington, did you say? Who +hasn't heerd that name? He's one o' them big guns +what has so much money he can't count it to save his +gizzard. Ev-rybody has heerd o' D. Roscoe Arlington. +If he keeps on gittin' rich the way he has the past +three years or so, old Morgan won't be in the game. +Why, this Arlington may now be the richest man in +this country, if ev'rything were rightly known about +him. He owns railroads, an' mines, an' ships, an' +manufacturin' plants, an' nobody knows what all."</p> + +<p>"That sartin explains a whole lot the fixin' up that +has been a-doin' around this ranch," said a little man +with a thirsty-looking mouth. "They was a-preparin' +fer the wife o' this mighty rich gent."</p> + +<p>"But say!" exclaimed a young fellow with a wicked +face, "ain't she got a slick-lookin' gal with her, what?"</p> + +<p>Some of them laughed and slapped him on the +back.</p> + +<p>"Go on, Pete!" cried one chap. "You're a gay one +with greaser gals, but you won't be able to make a +wide trail with that yar young lady, so don't be lookin' +that way."</p> + +<p>"Wonder whatever could 'a' brought such people +here," speculated a man with tobacco juice on his chin. +"They must mean to stay a while, else they'd never +had them rooms fixed up the way they are."</p> + +<p>A ruffianly-looking man with a full beard broke into +a low laugh.</p> + +<p>"Why, ain't none o' you heard about the fight what's +bein' made to git holt o' a certain mine not so very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +fur from yere?" he asked. "I mean the mine owned +by a young chap what calls himself Frank Merriwell. +You oughter know somethin' about that."</p> + +<p>"Why, 'pears to me," observed the fellow with tobacco +juice on his chin—"'pears to me I did hear that +thar was trouble over a mine somewhar down in the +Mogollons, an' that Cimarron Bill had been sent to +take it."</p> + +<p>"He was sent," said the full-bearded man.</p> + +<p>"Then I 'lows he took it, fer Bill's sure to do any +job he tackles."</p> + +<p>"He ain't took it none. Frank Merriwell is still +a-holdin' the mine, an' Bill has had his troubles, leavin' +a good part o' his backers stiff arter the ruction."</p> + +<p>"Say you so? Waal, this Merriwell sure must be a +hot fighter. But Bill will down him in the end, an' +you kin bet your last simoleon on that."</p> + +<p>To which the man with the full beard said nothing.</p> + +<p>"All this don't explain any to me jest why this lady +an' her party is hyer," said the one with the thirsty +mouth.</p> + +<p>"It ain't noways likely she's lookin' arter Cimarron +Bill none," said another.</p> + +<p>"Whoever is a-takin' my name in vain?" demanded +a voice that made them all start and turn toward the +door.</p> + +<p>"It's Cimarron Bill hisself!" gasped one, in a whisper.</p> + +<p>And the entire crowd seemed awe-stricken and +afraid.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.</a></h2> + +<h3>MRS. ARLINGTON HAS A VISITOR.</h3> + + +<p>The black maid stood over the little table at which +mother and daughter sat taking tea.</p> + +<p>"Sugar, Jackson," said the lady wearily.</p> + +<p>The maid lifted the sugar-bowl, but, finding no +tongs, was compelled to use a spoon.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you use the tongs, Jackson?" asked the +woman.</p> + +<p>"Dar am no tongs, ma'am," answered the maid.</p> + +<p>"No tongs? no tongs?" exclaimed Mrs. Arlington, +in astonished surprise. "And I directed that everything +should be prepared here—that we should have +every convenience of a first-class hotel. Dear me! +Why, I've found nothing right! The hardship of +spending some days in such a place will prostrate me. +I know it will!"</p> + +<p>"But why have you come here, mother?" asked June +Arlington, in a voice that denoted culture and a refined +nature. "I cannot understand it. You told me +in the first place that you were going to Mexico. +Then I heard you urging father to come here. When +he said it was not possible, you seemed to get angry, +and you declared that you would come here yourself. +But why should you come because he could not? That +I wonder at."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He would not!" exclaimed Mrs. Arlington, sipping +her tea. "It was his duty. Never mind the particulars, +June; you may know some time, but not now."</p> + +<p>"And I did not wish to come here, mother. You +knew that."</p> + +<p>"My daughter, I have decided that it is necessary +to keep you with me. I determined on that after your +surprising behavior the last time you went to Fardale. +You deceived me, June! I cannot forget that."</p> + +<p>The words were spoken with cold severity. June +flushed a little.</p> + +<p>"It was for Chester's good, as I explained to you," +she said somewhat warmly. "He has never thanked +me for it, yet it is I who have kept him in Fardale +Academy. Had I not entreated Dick Merriwell to be +easy with him, Chester must have been compelled to +leave or be expelled before this."</p> + +<p>"I cannot believe that, June. But, were it true, it is +no excuse for your action. I want no favors from +either of the Merriwells. I will accept nothing from +them! Dick Merriwell is my boy's enemy, and he +shall know what it is to have an Arlington for a foe. +I have determined on that. I repeat that I'll accept +nothing from him."</p> + +<p>"Once——" June stopped short. She had been on +the verge of telling her mother that once that lady +had accepted something from Dick Merriwell—her +life! For, as Mrs. Arlington slipped on the icy platform +of the railway-station at Fardale and was falling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +beneath the wheels of a moving train, Dick had grasped +and held her till the cars passed and she was safe.</p> + +<p>But June had seen her mother turn blue with anger +at mention of this affair, so she checked herself now, +not wishing to arouse the lady.</p> + +<p>Tea was finished in silence, mother and daughter +being occupied with their thoughts.</p> + +<p>The maid moved softly about the table.</p> + +<p>They had just finished when there came a tap on +the door.</p> + +<p>"See who it is, Jackson," directed Mrs. Arlington.</p> + +<p>The man with the blue beak was at the door.</p> + +<p>"I must speak with Mrs. Arlington," he said, and +entered, hat in hand.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Mr. Dodge?" asked the lady, frowning +coldly and plainly annoyed.</p> + +<p>Eliot Dodge paused and looked at June significantly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, is it a private matter?" asked the lady.</p> + +<p>Flushing a bit, June arose at once and withdrew, +from the room.</p> + +<p>"William Lamson has arrived in town, and demands +to see you," said Dodge, when June had disappeared, +the maid having likewise withdrawn.</p> + +<p>"That man?" said Mrs. Arlington, with a little start +and a slight shiver. "I have brought you to do the +business with him. You are a regular attorney of the +C. M. A. of A., and you have my instructions."</p> + +<p>"So I told him."</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He refused pointblank to do any business whatever +with me."</p> + +<p>"He did."</p> + +<p>"Yes. I talked to him pretty straight until—ahem!—until +I could say no more."</p> + +<p>"You could say no more?"</p> + +<p>"No, madam; it was impossible."</p> + +<p>"Why impossible?"</p> + +<p>"He had drawn and cocked a revolver and pointed it +at me. He told me to shut up and take word from +him to you at once or he would shoot me."</p> + +<p>"What a dreadful creature!"</p> + +<p>"He is, indeed, madam; he's a typical ruffian of the +worst sort."</p> + +<p>"And, therefore, the very man to accomplish the +work," said she, with growing interest. "But I dislike +very much to have dealings with such a fellow."</p> + +<p>"I thoroughly understand that, madam."</p> + +<p>"You might attend to the matter fully as well."</p> + +<p>"That is true, Mrs. Arlington."</p> + +<p>"You told him so?"</p> + +<p>"I did."</p> + +<p>"And still——"</p> + +<p>"And still he drew a gun on me. He is bound to +see you. He says he will, and I am sure he is a man +to make his word good. Really I don't know how you +are going to get out of it."</p> + +<p>"Then I shall not try," said the lady, composing herself.</p> + +<p>"You mean——"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'll see him."</p> + +<p>"Here?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Now?"</p> + +<p>"Send him up at once. I may as well have it over."</p> + +<p>Eliot Dodge hesitated.</p> + +<p>"I shall be in my room," he said. "If you need +me——"</p> + +<p>"I understand. Go bring this man to my door."</p> + +<p>Dodge departed, and Mrs. Arlington waited. When +there came a knock on the door she coldly said:</p> + +<p>"Come in!"</p> + +<p>Cimarron Bill entered the room!</p> + +<p>Mrs. Arlington had not called her servant to let +this man in. She glanced toward the door of the room +into which her daughter had retired, and the look on +her face was one of apprehension. Cimarron Bill was +a wicked man, as his every aspect betokened, and this +woman could not think without shame that June should +have any knowledge of her dealings with such a creature.</p> + +<p>So she arose hastily, which was quite unlike her, and +crossed the floor to close the door, a strange thing, +considering that she seldom did a thing that another +could do for her.</p> + +<p>When June was thus shut out, the woman recrossed +the floor to likewise close the door of the room into +which the colored maid had retired.</p> + +<p>All the while Cimarron Bill, hat in hand, stood +watching her closely with his evil eyes. For him it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +must have been a most exceedingly strange thing to +come thus into the presence of a woman whose husband +was known far and wide as a money king, a +woman whose every wish that wealth could serve was +sure to be granted almost as quickly as expressed.</p> + +<p>When she had closed the doors she turned about and +faced him, surveying him from head to feet with her +cold and penetrating eyes. He looked back at her with +a sort of boldness, for this man was not one to be in +the least downcast in the presence of a human being +of whatever degree.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Arlington motioned toward a chair.</p> + +<p>"Will you sit down, sir?" she invited.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, madam," said Bill, casting aside the +rough manner of speech that he sometimes assumed +and now using very decent English. "I don't care if +I do."</p> + +<p>Whereupon he placed his hat upon the table and +sat upon a chair, with a certain pantherish undulation +of his body, as if his muscles flowed beneath his skin.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Dodge saw you," said the woman, remaining +standing. "I directed him to inform you that he was +my accredited agent and prepared to transact any business +with you. I thought it better for him to attend +to this affair."</p> + +<p>"And I, madam, if you will excuse me, thought it +best that we should come face to face and have our +dealings thus. That is why I declined to do any business +whatever with the gent with the blue nose."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I did not suppose it would be necessary for me to +go so far into this matter until I was informed of your +failure to take possession of the property that rightfully +belongs to the Consolidated Mining Association +of America. I must say, sir, that I am very much +displeased over your failure."</p> + +<p>"And you can be no more so than am I myself," +returned Bill, civilly enough, yet with a sort of boldness +that did not please her, as she was accustomed to +much deference and respect. "But you must know it +is difficult, even in this country, to find men who are +eager to put on themselves the brand of outlaws, and +I acknowledge that my force was not sufficient. The +young dog is a stiff fighter, and that I had not counted +on, him being a tenderfoot to a certain degree—though," +he added, as if on second thought, "he's not +so very tender, after all."</p> + +<p>"You were told to collect an army, if necessary. Mr. +Dodge informs me that you were directed to get together +a force sufficient to make failure out of the +question. Yet you were repulsed and beaten off when +you went to seize the mine."</p> + +<p>"Twice," said Bill grimly. "And the second time +a full half of my men were dropped cold or hurt so +bad that they were put out of the fight. It was not +just my fault that I failed then, for the treachery of +a Mexican girl betrayed my plans to Merriwell, so he +was ready with a trap when I expected to take him +by surprise. That is how it came about, madam. I +had his foreman bribed and should have walked into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +possession of the mine with little or no trouble but for +the girl I mention. It was a bad piece of business."</p> + +<p>"Bad!" she exclaimed, nodding a little. "It was +very unfortunate!"</p> + +<p>"A word that scarce expresses it, madam. The rest +of my men, the curs, with one or two exceptions, weakened +and gave it up as a bad job. And then, on top +of that, I was informed that the syndicate had grown +disinclined to press the matter further in such a manner, +fearing to get itself into serious trouble."</p> + +<p>"That's it!" said the woman sharply. "But I have +taken hold of this matter. The syndicate seems willing +to obtain the mine by some other and slower +method. I am not. I cannot brook delay! I have a +reason why I wish the taking of the mine with the +smallest possible delay, and it makes no difference to +me how the work is accomplished. That is why I am +here on the scene of action. I shall remain here until +I triumph! If you are able to accomplish the work, +well and good. If you are not, then another man +must be found for it."</p> + +<p>Cimarron Bill smiled in a most evil manner.</p> + +<p>"Madam," he said, "I think you will have trouble +to find in all this country another man so well prepared +to accomplish the task."</p> + +<p>"Yet you confess that you have failed twice."</p> + +<p>He shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"For which reason," he averred, "I am all the more +dangerous. There is an old saying that the third time +never fails. I am ready for the third trial."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am glad to hear you speak this way. What will +you do?"</p> + +<p>"Gather a stronger force and lay my plans so there +can be no failure."</p> + +<p>"It is well."</p> + +<p>"But that will take much money, madam. You have +it at your command. It is almost certain that all of +us, to the last man, will bear the brand of outlaws. We +may be hunted. It may be necessary for me to hasten +into Mexico and lose myself there for a time. I must +have money in abundance for myself. As for the men +who take part with me, they will all demand high +prices. When it is over and the mine is delivered into +the possession of the syndicate, I shall not trouble +about any one save myself. The men who are with +me may look out for themselves."</p> + +<p>This was said in a most cold-blooded manner, speaking +plainly the real character of the wretch.</p> + +<p>"I care nothing about that," said the woman. "Fix +that matter as you choose. How much money will +you require?"</p> + +<p>"Let me see," said Bill, as if meditating. "It will +take, I am sure, at least fifty men. They may be got +at various prices, some more, some less; but there will +be the bringing of them together and other expenses. +I should say that they must cost at least two hundred +dollars each, which makes a pretty little sum of +ten thousand dollars."</p> + +<p>"Then it will cost ten thousand dollars?" said Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +Arlington quickly. "I'll draw the sum from my own +private account."</p> + +<p>"Wait a bit, madam," said the chief of desperadoes. +"I have reckoned for the men, but that does not include +myself. I have said that I must be well paid. +I value myself quite as much as fifty common men, +and that is another ten thousand, or twenty thousand +dollars in all, for which sum I am ready to undertake +the job. I'll add, also, that I guarantee it shall not +fail this time."</p> + +<p>It seemed that such a sum must have staggered the +woman. Indeed, her face went a trifle pale, but her +lips were pressed together, and she coldly said:</p> + +<p>"It is a bargain! You shall have the money, but +not until you have accomplished the work. Understand +that, not until the work is done!"</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</a></h2> + +<h3>SEEN FROM THE WINDOW.</h3> + + +<p>Never before had there been such a bargain between +such a man and such a woman. It was the strangest +compact on record. And no wonder Mrs. Arlington +had closed the doors that her daughter and +her maid should not hear! Had June known all she +must have turned with loathing and horror from the +woman.</p> + +<p>Had D. Roscoe Arlington known he must have +been shocked and heart-torn beyond measure. Had he +known he must have wondered if this woman had +matured from the sweet country girl who once declared +with blushes and hanging head that love in a cottage +with him was all the happiness she asked. Had +he known he might have remembered the soft moonlight +night in June when beneath the fragrant lilacs +they plighted their troth, and surely his gold-hardened +heart would have melted with anguish over the frightful +change.</p> + +<p>In truth, Mrs. Arlington had become deranged, as +it were, on one point. Her son was her idol. She +had petted, and flattered, and spoiled him. She had +sent him off to school at Fardale with the conviction +that he was certain to rise superior to all other boys +there. And from him she had come to learn that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +had not risen, but had been imposed upon, defeated, +baffled, and held down by another lad who was the recognized +leader in the school. Into the ears of his astonished +and angry mother Chester Arlington had poured his tale +of woe, and it had filled her soul with intense hatred +for this other boy by the name of Merriwell who had +dared think himself better than her Chester. She had +gone to Fardale to set things about as they should be, +and had failed. That seemed to fill her with such +bitterness that she was quite robbed of sober +judgment and reason.</p> + +<p>When Mrs. Arlington learned that the mining syndicate +had claims to the mines belonging to Frank and +Dick Merriwell, she was aroused. When she came to +understand that the taking of those mines by the syndicate +would leave the Merriwell brothers almost penniless +and would be the signal for Dick Merriwell to +leave Fardale, she determined that the thing should be +brought about at any cost of money, or time, or +trouble to herself.</p> + +<p>And it was in pursuit of this determination that the +wife of D. Roscoe Arlington had come to Arizona and +placed herself face to face with a ruffian like Cimarron +Bill, with whom she now struck a bargain that was +most astounding.</p> + +<p>Was the woman in her right mind?</p> + +<p>It made little difference to Bill if she were sane or +not, as long as he obtained possession of that money. +But when he asked for it in advance she smiled upon +him coldly, almost scornfully.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You were paid money by the syndicate, and you +pledged them to accomplish a task at which you failed. +This time there will be no money forthcoming until the +work is done."</p> + +<p>In return the man smiled back at her, and he said:</p> + +<p>"That settles it! I'm not a fool. When the work +is done I may find myself on the run for Mexico, +with the law reaching for me. In such a case I'll have +no time to collect. Cash in advance is my motto. +You'll bargain with me, or you'll fail, in everything. +You cannot get another man to fill my boots in the +whole country. And if you were to throw me down +and give the job over into the hands of another gent, +I'd speak one word to him that would be enough."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" she asked, wondering and +angry. "What word?"</p> + +<p>"The word 'stop,'" said Bill. "When Cimarron +Bill says 'stop,' you can bet they stop. They know +what it means if they don't. If you don't think so, +count the notches on my guns."</p> + +<p>"You mean that you would turn against me?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly, madam; I mean that I have no idea +of letting any other gent get my job. I do this piece +of work—or no one does it. I rather admire the sand +of this Merriwell, though I'd slit his throat, just the +same, for the price. If there was no object in being +against him, I'd surely be for him; and it seems that +you ought to know better than to put Cimarron Bill +in the ranks of the enemy."</p> + +<p>"It's a threat!" cried the woman.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not so; it's a business statement, begging your +pardon, madam. I don't propose that any gent shall +jump my claim."</p> + +<p>"How can I be sure you'll not play me false? How +can I know you'll not take the money and do nothing?"</p> + +<p>"The syndicate paid me in advance, as you know. I +did my best to earn the money. It was not my fault +that I failed. In this case, if you pay the sum I have +named, I swear to you I'll know no rest until I have +succeeded. If I cannot succeed in one way, I will in +another."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by that?"</p> + +<p>"I'll capture or kill Frank Merriwell himself."</p> + +<p>"If you could do that!" said the woman, with great +eagerness. "He is the great stumbling-block."</p> + +<p>"That's right. With him out of the way, taking the +mine would be easy."</p> + +<p>"Is there no way this can be done before you try +to seize the mine?"</p> + +<p>"He keeps pretty close to it. If he could be caught +by himself. I have had my hands upon him twice, +and he has slipped me both times. Next time he will +not!"</p> + +<p>"Next time——"</p> + +<p>"An accident will happen to him," assured Bill, with +deadly meaning. "That will be the simplest method."</p> + +<p>"You are right!" she said, in a whisper. "If that +could happen——"</p> + +<p>"Would you pay the money?"</p> + +<p>"I would. Understand, I make no bargain with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +you for such a thing, but that mine must be torn from +him somehow. I have with me some money."</p> + +<p>Cimarron Bill understood her well, and he nodded.</p> + +<p>"Madam," he said, "give me a little time and I'll +find a way to see to it."</p> + +<p>At this moment there was a commotion in the street, +the sound of fighting dogs, shouts of men, and the +clatter of horses' hoofs.</p> + +<p>Bill rose quickly and strode to the window, looking +down into the street. A handsome Irish setter had +been attacked by two mongrel dogs, and he was giving +those dogs the surprise of their lives. He had +one by the neck in a moment, and the mongrel was +shaken like a rat. When the setter let go the mongrel +took to his heels, howling with pain and terror. Then +the setter turned on the other dog and a battle that +was fierce enough for a few moments ensued, which +ended again in the complete triumph of the setter.</p> + +<p>Two young men had ridden into town behind the +setter, and they had drawn up to witness the result of +the fight. A crowd had quickly gathered, and the triumphant +setter was loudly applauded.</p> + +<p>At sight of one of the two horsemen Cimarron Bill +burst forth with an exclamation of excitement.</p> + +<p>"Look!" he said, pointing from the open window. +"See—see that fellow on the dark horse!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Arlington was near the window.</p> + +<p>"The one with the small mustache?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's the one."</p> + +<p>"I see him."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, that's Frank Merriwell!" said Bill.</p> + +<p>Cimarron Bill was right. Frank Merriwell and +Bart Hodge had ridden into Holbrook, and with them +had come Boxer, the dog. Boxer had been attacked +by the mongrel curs, and he showed his mettle by +quickly putting them to flight.</p> + +<p>As Bill gazed down from that window the evil light +in his eyes deepened.</p> + +<p>"Remember our bargain!" he said in such a terrible +voice that the woman at his side shuddered.</p> + +<p>Then she saw him bring forth a revolver, and, +knowing what he meant to do, she uttered a little +scream and ran back into another part of the room, +unwilling to witness the dark deed.</p> + +<p>Quickly kneeling, Bill rested his elbow on the window-ledge +and took aim, meaning to send a bullet +through the heart of the rightful owner of the Queen +Mystery Mine.</p> + +<p>The commotion in the street and her mother's cry +had brought June Arlington into that room. June saw +the man with the revolver, and her eyes fell on the +horseman below. She recognized Frank Merriwell, for +all that he was bronzed and changed, and had a small +mustache.</p> + +<p>With a sudden scream, the girl flung herself on Bill +and spoiled his aim, so that when the revolver spouted +smoke the bullet flew wide of the mark intended.</p> + +<p>Bill uttered a savage snarl, wheeling about.</p> + +<p>"You wretch!" panted the girl, who was now pale +as snow. "You murderer!"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p> + +<p>The man was dazzled by her beauty. Immediately +he moved back from the window, bowing low.</p> + +<p>"Beg your pardon, miss," he said. "He sure is an +enemy of mine, and out here we shoots on sight. But +mebbe he is your friend, in which case I lets up and +gives him another show."</p> + +<p>In that moment of excitement he had fallen into the +frontier manner of speaking.</p> + +<p>She looked at him with unspeakable horror in her +eyes.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing here?" she panted. "You—you—murderer! +Mother—this man—why is he here?"</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Arlington, usually cold as ice and perfectly +self-possessed, had quite lost her nerve. She +sank into a chair, seeming on the verge of fainting, +while she gave Bill a look that, ruffian though he +was, he understood as an appeal to be left alone with +June.</p> + +<p>Nor was he loath about getting out of that room. +His pistol had been discharged from the window, and, +though the bullet had found no human target, men +might come in haste to ask unpleasant questions.</p> + +<p>"I begs your pardon, madam," he said, hurriedly +picking up his hat. "I thinks I'll call again and finish +this yere bit o' business. Just now I has another matter +to attend to."</p> + +<p>Then he hastened out.</p> + +<p>June had flown to her mother.</p> + +<p>"Tell me—tell me, mother, what it means!" she implored.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My smelling-salts," faintly breathed the woman. +"My heart, June! I—I'm afraid!"</p> + +<p>Now, June knew well that the one great fear of her +mother's life was sudden death from a heart trouble +that came upon her at times, and so the girl hastened +to bring out the bottle of salts and hold it beneath the +pale lady's nose till she was somewhat recovered, +though still resting limp on her chair and breathing +heavily.</p> + +<p>"What does it mean, mother?" asked the girl again. +"I do not understand these strange things. I do not +understand why such a wicked-looking man should +be here in this room and about to shoot down in cold +blood a young man in the street. He would have +shot him from this very window had not I spoiled his +aim."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Arlington turned her eyes toward her daughter's +face, but looked away quickly, still trembling.</p> + +<p>"Did you know him at whom the man was about to +shoot?" she weakly asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I knew him, or I am much mistaken. It was +Frank Merriwell. I saw him at the hotel in Fardale +the day I returned to him those papers. You recollect, +mother?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I remember it all too well, and it was the +giving back to him of those papers that has made no +end of trouble for us all. But for that foolish act of +yours, June, he would not still be holding the mines +that are rightfully the property of the C. M. A. of A."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If those mines do not belong to him, how is it that +he can hold them?"</p> + +<p>"He has possession, and he holds it with armed +men."</p> + +<p>"But the law——"</p> + +<p>"The law is slow, and, without those papers, it is not +very sure. It is your folly, girl," declared the woman +reproachfully, "that has made no end of trouble. It +is your folly that brought Frank Merriwell near to +his end a few moments ago, though you it was who +saved him then."</p> + +<p>"Mother, you speak in riddles! How can that be? +I gave him back what was his. And have you forgotten +that it was his brother, Dick, who kept you from +slipping beneath the car-wheels, where you must have +been maimed or killed?"</p> + +<p>At this Mrs. Arlington sat up, and something like +anger took from her her great pallor.</p> + +<p>"No," said she, "nor have I forgotten that it was +Dick Merriwell who brought upon my son all his +trouble at Fardale! Dick Merriwell has been his +blight there! Dick Merriwell is his enemy. He has +tried to set himself over my boy, and no one shall do +that!"</p> + +<p>June knew how useless it was to talk of this matter +with her mother, who refused to listen to reason, +and so she did not try to press it further; but she +again asked who was the man who had tried to shoot +from the window.</p> + +<p>"He was a miner," said Mrs. Arlington.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And what business had he here in this room?"</p> + +<p>"That is nothing to you, girl. Forget that you saw +him here."</p> + +<p>"A thing easier said than done, mother. I saw his +face and his eyes, and I know he is a wicked man and +one to be greatly feared. Why should you have dealings +with such a wretch?"</p> + +<p>"You ask too many needless questions, June. Look +out and tell me if you still see anything of—of—Frank +Merriwell."</p> + +<p>But when June looked from the window Frank Merriwell +was not to be seen on the street, which had again +resumed its usual aspect.</p> + +<p>"I must have a spell of quiet to restore my nerves, +June," said Mrs. Arlington, when the girl had told +her. "Leave me. Call Jackson. I think I will lie +down."</p> + +<p>So the colored maid was called, and June lingered to +make sure there was nothing she could do for her +mother, who coldly bade her go.</p> + +<p>In her own room June found herself filled with +tempestuous thoughts and vain speculations. She was +bewildered by it all, and there was much that she +could not understand, for her mother had told her little +or nothing of what had brought them to that Arizona +town. She was wise enough to know full well +that the lady had not come there in search of health, +and surely it could not be pleasure she expected in +such a place, which left but one thing to suppose—it +was business. But what sort of business could she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +have there? and why should she meet and do business +with a murderous wretch like the man who had tried +to shoot Frank Merriwell from the open window?</p> + +<p>Knowing there was little danger of interruption, +June found pen, ink, and paper and sat herself down +to write a letter. She thought at first that she would +make it very brief, and she found it exceedingly hard +to begin; but when she had begun it, it ran on and on +until she had written many pages. Sometimes she +laughed over it, and sometimes she blushed; once her +chin quivered and tears seemed to fill her splendid eyes. +When it was all finished she read it over, her cheeks +glowing, and at the end she kissed the paper, at which +the blush swept down to her very neck, and in great +confusion she folded it all hastily and put it into an +envelope, which she hurriedly sealed. Although she +was not aware of it, she had spent nearly two hours +over the letter. On the envelope she wrote a name +and address, and then, finding her hat, she slipped out +to mail it.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.</a></h2> + +<h3>A SENSATION IN TOWN.</h3> + + +<p>Frank's little "scout," as he called it, on which expedition +he had driven the redskins from the wounded +miner, had convinced him that Cimarron Bill and his +gang had withdrawn from the vicinity of the Queen +Mystery Mine.</p> + +<p>So it came about that Merry and Bart Hodge started +for Holbrook, bringing with them the gold Frank had +found in the saddle-bags and belt of the dead miner.</p> + +<p>Boxer would not be left behind. Since the death of +his former master the dog kept close to Frank, for +whom he seemed to have formed an affection quite as +deep as that he had entertained for Benson Clark.</p> + +<p>Frank and Bart came, dust covered and wearied, +into Holbrook.</p> + +<p>Boxer's engagement with the mongrel curs, who set +upon him, was an incident to enliven their advent in +town, and it demonstrated the mettle of the setter.</p> + +<p>The shot that came from the window of the hotel +was somewhat surprising; but, as the bullet failed to +pass anywhere near either Bart or Merry, they did not +fancy it was intended for them. Still Frank dropped +a hand toward the pistol swinging at his hip, thinking +the lead might be intended for Boxer.</p> + +<p>A puff of smoke was dissolving before the open window,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +but Cimarron Bill had vanished, nor did he again +appear there. Neither Frank nor Bart had seen him.</p> + +<p>So they were not greatly alarmed, and they laughed +over the manner in which Boxer had put his assailants +to flight, merriment which was joined in by many of +the spectators who had gathered to witness the fight.</p> + +<p>"Good boy, Boxer!" said Merry. "You did that +up slickly."</p> + +<p>At which the setter turned toward Frank and +showed his teeth in a grin, and something followed +that caused several of the bystanders to gasp and stagger +or stand dazed and astounded.</p> + +<p>When Frank and Bart rode on two or three of those +men hurried into Schlitzenheimer's saloon, where one +of them banged the bar with his clenched fist, and +shouted:</p> + +<p>"By thunder! that's the first time I ever heard a dog +talk! Was I dreaming?"</p> + +<p>"None whatever, pard!" declared another, mopping +sweat from his face. "I heard it plain enough. For +the love of goodness, Fritz, give me a snifter of tanglefoot! +I need something to brace my nerves after +that!"</p> + +<p>"Vot id vos you peen sayin'?" asked the fat Dutchman +behind the bar. "Vot vos dot voolishness apoudt +der talkings uf a tog?"</p> + +<p>"No foolishness," declared the sweating individual, +as whisky and glasses were placed on the bar. "I'll +swear to it. The dog that came in with those young +gents an' whipped two other dogs in short order sartin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +made an observation in good, clean United States, or +I'm the biggest liar on two legs."</p> + +<p>"Say, Benchy!" said the Dutchman scornfully, "I +pelief you vos readiness to haf anoder attack py dose +delerium triangles, ain'd id! Uf you vill undertook +my advice, you vill off svear alretty soon und safe +yourseluf from der snakes some droubles."</p> + +<p>"This is my first drink to-day," asserted Benchy, as +he poured with shaking hand; "and I'd not take this +if I didn't need it a whole lot to steady my nerves arter +hearin' a dog talk."</p> + +<p>"It's on the level, Fritz," assured the man who had +banged the bar with his fist. "I heard it myself. The +young fellow with the mustache says to the dog arter +the dog had licked t'other dogs, says he, 'Good boy, +Boxer; you done that up slick.' Then the dog turns +about and grins up at him and winks, and he opens his +mouth, and I hope I may be struck dead where I +stand this minute if he didn't answer and say, 'Oh, +that was no trick at all, Frank; those low-bred curs +haven't any sand.' I heard it, Fritz, and I'll swear +to it with my last breath!"</p> + +<p>"You vos craziness!" said the Dutchman. "Oh, you +vos drying some jokes on me to play alretty."</p> + +<p>But now several of the others asserted that they +also had heard the dog speak, and that the animal had +uttered the very words quoted by the man called +Spikes.</p> + +<p>"Id peen a put-up jobs!" shouted Schlitzenheimer +angrily. "Uf vor a greadt vool you tookit me, you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +vos not so much uf a jackass as I look to peen! Id +vos nod bossible a tog vor to speech, und I vill bate +zwi t'ousan' tollar it on!"</p> + +<p>"But I heard him!" declared Benchy.</p> + +<p>"I'm another!" averred Spikes.</p> + +<p>"We all heard him!" cried the others at the bar.</p> + +<p>"You got vrom my blace uf pusiness out britty +queek!" ordered the Dutchman, in a great rage. "I +vill not had so many plame liars aroundt! Und dond +you back come some more alretty undil you vos +readiness apology to make vor me drying to vool!"</p> + +<p>"Look here, Fritz," said Benchy, leaning on the +bar, "I'll bet you ten dollars coin of the realm that the +dog can talk! If I had been alone in hearing the +beast, I might have thought myself fooled; but all +these other gents heard him, and so there is no mistake. +Do you take me?"</p> + +<p>"Den tollars haf nod seen you in a month," declared +Schlitzenheimer disdainfully. "Howeffer, uf you +prings pack by you dot tog und he vill speech my +saloon in, I vill gif you den tollars my own moneys +out uf, and all der drink you can a whole veek vor. +Now, you tookit my advice und shut upness or make +goot britty queek."</p> + +<p>"I'll do it!" cried Benchy, and he hastened forth.</p> + +<p>Frank and Bart had proceeded directly to the bank, +where their dust was weighed and taken on deposit. +This done, they left and sought a square meal in the +very hotel where Mrs. Arlington and June were stopping. +Fortunately the presence of his guests, who paid<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> +extravagantly well, had caused the proprietor to have +on hand an unusual stock of cooked food, and he was +able to see that the young men from the mines were +provided for in a manner that surprised and pleased +them not a little.</p> + +<p>Although he took good care to keep out of sight, +Cimarron Bill knew Frank Merriwell was in the hotel. +At the bar of the place Bill found a rough, bewhiskered +fellow, whom he drew aside.</p> + +<p>"Bob," said Bill, in a whisper, "are you ready to +tackle a tough proposition?"</p> + +<p>"For the needful, Bill," was the quiet answer of the +man, who, in spite of his rough appearance, was known +by his mild manner of speech as Gentle Bob. "What +is it?"</p> + +<p>"You know the young tenderfoot gent what I have +been stacking up against—the one what I spoke to you +about?"</p> + +<p>"I reckon."</p> + +<p>"Well, he is now eatin' in the dinin'-room."</p> + +<p>"Sho!" said Bob, in placid surprise.</p> + +<p>"Fact," assured Bill. "Him an' one of his pards is +thar. They came inter town together a short time +ago. Now, I could pick a quarrel with them, and I +allows I could shoot 'em both; but it would be knowed +agin' me that I had been tryin' to jump their claim, +which sartin' would rouse feelin's. In your case, as +you were nohow consarned in the raid on the mine, +it would be different, an' I 'lows you might find a way +o' doin' the job easy an' slick. You kin plead self-defense,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> +an' I promise you there will be plenty o' +money to defend ye."</p> + +<p>"It's the money fer the job I'm a-thinkin' of first, +Bill," said Bob.</p> + +<p>"A good clean thousan' dollars if you shoots the +young gent with the mustache," whispered Bill.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean it?" asked Bob, looking at him hard. +"Where does it come from?"</p> + +<p>"That I allow is none of your business. You has +my word that you gets it. And I opine the word o' +Cimarron Bill is knowed to be good."</p> + +<p>"As his bond," said Gentle Bob, taking out a brace +of pistols and looking them over. "I takes the job, +Bill; and there sartin will be a funeral in these parts +to-morrer."</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.</a></h2> + +<h3>BOXER CREATES A STIR.</h3> + + +<p>When Frank and Bart came out of the hotel, with +Boxer at their heels, they found a group of men on the +steps engaged in earnest discussion. Immediately, on +sight of the two young men and the dog, the babel of +voices fell to a hush and the men all squared about and +stared. But Merry immediately noticed that it was +not at Bart or himself that they were staring, but at +Boxer. The dog seemed to observe this, likewise, for +he stopped short, with one paw uplifted, surveyed the +men, and Frank, who was a clever ventriloquist, made +the animal apparently say:</p> + +<p>"Say, Frank, what do you suppose the ginnies are +gawking at?"</p> + +<p>"Mother av Moses!" cried an Irishman in the group. +"Oi swear be all the saints the baste did spake!"</p> + +<p>"Yah! yah!" chattered a pig-tailed Chinaman by the +name of Sing Lee, who ran a laundry in town. "Dogee +talkee allee samee likee Chinyman."</p> + +<p>"Go on, you rat-eater!" contemptuously exclaimed +the dog. "If I couldn't talk better than you I'd go +drown myself!"</p> + +<p>Needless to say this brought the excitement of the +crowd to a high pitch.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span></p> + +<p>Benchy and Spikes were on hand, and now the former +appealed to Frank.</p> + +<p>"Is that your dog?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Well, I lay claim to him," smiled Merry.</p> + +<p>"He—he—can he talk?"</p> + +<p>"Didn't you hear him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but——"</p> + +<p>"Well, what better evidence do you want than your +own ears?"</p> + +<p>"That's enough; but Schlitzenheimer called me +names and said I was trying to put up a joke on him +because I told him I heard the dog talk."</p> + +<p>"Who's Schlitzenheimer?"</p> + +<p>"He runs the saloon down the street right in front +of which your dog whipped those other dogs what +jumped on him. He's a black-headed Dutchman. +Come on down and show him the dog."</p> + +<p>"Come on!" cried others.</p> + +<p>Merry didn't mind the lark, but he now turned to +the dog, with a very serious expression on his face, +saying:</p> + +<p>"How about it, Boxer? I believe you told me you +hold an antipathy against Dutchmen. Will you go +down to Schlitzenheimer's with me?"</p> + +<p>The dog seemed to hesitate, and then he answered:</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't care; go ahead. I'm not stuck on +Dutchmen, but I'll teach this one a lesson."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Merry. "Come on."</p> + +<p>Benchy triumphantly led the way, being followed +by Frank and Bart and the dog, with the crowd at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +heels of them. The Irishman was protesting his wonderment, +while the Chinaman chattered excitedly.</p> + +<p>Within the hotel a man had been watching and listening. +He was a bewhiskered ruffian, and he strode +forth and followed the crowd to the Dutchman's saloon. +Cimarron Bill watched his tool depart, smiling +darkly and muttering to himself:</p> + +<p>"Good-by, Bob! You're going up against a hard +proposition in Frank Merriwell, and it's not likely +you'll call to collect that little sum of money from me. +All the same, I hope you get in a shot, for you shoot +straight, and you may make a round sum for my +pocket, as I'll compel the old lady to lay down the cash. +I'll be able to scare her into it by threatening to tell +the whole story and bring her into the game as an accomplice. +That will yank her around to her feet in +short order, I opine."</p> + +<p>For all of Bill's reputation as a "killer," he was +willing to let this piece of work over to the attention +of another.</p> + +<p>So Gentle Bob followed Merriwell, an evil purpose +in his black heart, nor knew that his employer believed +and half-hoped he might be going to his own end.</p> + +<p>Benchy burst into the saloon, uttering a cry of triumph.</p> + +<p>"Here comes the dog!" he said. "Now I have you, +you old duffer! You'll find out he can talk."</p> + +<p>Schlitzenheimer stared at the door, through which +the crowd followed Frank, and Bart, and the dog.</p> + +<p>"Vos dot der tog?" he said.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you take me for a monkey, you lobster-faced +frankfurter?" saucily demanded the dog.</p> + +<p>"Hey?" squawked the saloon-keeper, turning purple. +"Vot id vos? Dit I hear correctness?"</p> + +<p>"Be careful, Boxer," said Frank reprovingly. +"Don't be so free with your lip. You may offend the +gentleman."</p> + +<p>"Gentleman!" exclaimed the setter, in a tone of profound +contempt. "Do you call that sourkraut-barrel a +gentleman? I'm surprised at you, Frank!"</p> + +<p>At this there was a burst of laughter, and Schlitzenheimer +turned as red as he had been pale a moment +before.</p> + +<p>"Vot vor did dot tog vanted to insult me?" he exclaimed +indignantly. "I dit not someding to him do!"</p> + +<p>"Boxer, I'm surprised!" cried Frank. "You will +get me into trouble with your careless language. I +insist that you apologize immediately to the gentleman. +I insist, sir!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, very well," said the dog; "if you insist, I'll +apologize. I was joking, anyway."</p> + +<p>"And I add my own apology, Mr. Schlitzenheimer," +said Merry. "I hope this will be sufficient?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yah, dot peen all righdt," said the Dutchman +at once. "But py dunder! der tickens id does peat to +heard a tog dalking!"</p> + +<p>"It's a good one on you, Fritz!" cried Benchy +triumphantly. "Remember your agreement! You're +stuck!"</p> + +<p>"Vale, I will stood py dot agreements," said the saloon-keeper,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +rather reluctantly, "efen if in pusiness id +does preak me up. Und I vill sdant treat der crowdt +vor. Sdep up, eferpody, und your trink name."</p> + +<p>"That's the talk!" cried the dog. "You're not such +a bad fellow, Schlitzy."</p> + +<p>Schlitzenheimer leaned on the bar with both hands +and looked over at Boxer.</p> + +<p>"Vot will you haf yourseluf?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me," said the setter; "I'm on the water-wagon. +Go ahead, gentlemen, and don't mind me."</p> + +<p>So they lined up in front of the bar, expressing their +amazement over the accomplishment of the dog and +burdening Merriwell with questions, all of which +Frank cheerfully answered or skilfully evaded.</p> + +<p>Boxer had been lifted and placed on one end of the +bar, where he immediately sat, surveying the line of +men with his clear, intelligent eyes.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Mike!" he called to the Irishman. "When +did you leave the Old Dart?"</p> + +<p>"It's goin' on three year now," answered the son of +the Old Sod civilly; "and me name's not Moike—it's +Pat."</p> + +<p>The dog seemed to wink shrewdly.</p> + +<p>"It's all the same," he declared; "Mike or Pat makes +no difference, as long as your last name is Murphy."</p> + +<p>"But me last name's not Murphy at all, at all—it's +O'Grady, av yez plaze."</p> + +<p>"Thanks," snickered the dog. "I have it down pat +now. It's a way I have of finding out a man's name +when no one takes the trouble to introduce him. Drink<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> +hearty, Pat; the whisky'll add to the beautiful tint +of your nose."</p> + +<p>"Begorra! it's a divvil the crayther is!" muttered +Pat, nudging his nearest neighbor.</p> + +<p>"Ah, there, Chink!" called the setter, seeming to get +his eye on the Chinaman, who was staring open-mouthed. +"How's the washee-washee business?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, velly good, velly good!" answered the Celestial +hurriedly, backing off a little, his face yellowish +white.</p> + +<p>"Vele," said Schlitzenheimer, holding up a glass of +beer; "here vos goot health to der smardest tog vot +effer vos."</p> + +<p>"Drink hearty," said Boxer; and, with the exception +of Frank and Bart, all swallowed their drinks. +Not wishing anything to drink, and still desiring to +join in so that the saloon-keeper might not be offended, +Frank and Bart had taken cigars, which they slipped +into their pockets.</p> + +<p>"Dot tog peen der vonder der vorld uf," said Schlitzenheimer, +gazing admiringly at Boxer. "Vot vill you +soldt him vor?"</p> + +<p>"There's not enough money in Arizona to buy him +from me," answered Frank at once.</p> + +<p>"You know a good thing when you see it," chuckled +the dog.</p> + +<p>"Vos there anything exception talk vot he can do?" +asked Fritz.</p> + +<p>"Lots of things," answered Merry. "He can play +cards."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Beenuckle?" asked the Dutchman.</p> + +<p>"You bet! He's a dabster at pinocle."</p> + +<p>"Easy, Merry!" cautioned the setter, in a whisper. +"If you want to skin the old bologna-sausage out of +his shekels, don't puff me up. I can't beat him at his +own game."</p> + +<p>"Vale, I pet den tollars you can't dot do!" cried +Schlitzenheimer. "I nefer vould acknowledgment dot +a tog could peat me!"</p> + +<p>Frank sternly turned on Boxer.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by getting me into such a +scrape?" he demanded, shaking his finger at the setter. +"You know I never gamble, and I will not bet +on a game of cards. If you make any more such +foolish talk, I'll not let you play at all."</p> + +<p>The dog hung his head and looked quite ashamed.</p> + +<p>"Beg pardon," he whined softly. "I was joking +again!"</p> + +<p>"I'll blay der fun uf him vor," said Schlitzenheimer. +"Id vill peen a creat jokes to said I had a came uf beenuckle +blayed mit a tog. Come on."</p> + +<p>He hurried out from behind the bar.</p> + +<p>"Begorra! Oi'd loike to take a hand in this!" cried +Pat O'Grady, as a square table was drawn out and +the cards produced. "It's a shlick game av peenockle +Oi play."</p> + +<p>"But three-handed——" said Frank.</p> + +<p>"Be afther makin' the fourth yesilf."</p> + +<p>"I have to hold the cards for Boxer, he having no +hands of his own," explained Merry.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then it was that Gentle Bob stepped forward, saying, +in a very quiet voice and polite manner, that he +would be pleased to enter the game.</p> + +<p>Now, with the exception of Frank and Bart, all +knew that Bob was a very bad man to offend, and so +they were willing enough that he should play, and it +was soon arranged.</p> + +<p>Frank was keen enough to see in what manner the +ruffianly looking fellow with the quiet voice was regarded, +and, as he was not in Holbrook in search of +a quarrel, he raised no dissent. However, he gave +Hodge a look that Bart understood, and the silent +youth nodded. From that moment Bart watched Gentle +Bob closely.</p> + +<p>The crowd drew about the table, eager to witness a +game of cards in which a dog took part.</p> + +<p>Merry sat on a short bench, with Boxer at his side. +The cards were cut, and the deal fell to Schlitzenheimer.</p> + +<p>"Be careful, Dutchy," advised Boxer. "We're +watching you, and you'd better not try any slick +tricks."</p> + +<p>"Eferything on der lefel shall pe," assured the saloon-keeper, +pulling at his long pipe.</p> + +<p>O'Grady was likewise smoking, and his pipe contrasted +ludicrously with that of Schlitzenheimer.</p> + +<p>When the cards were dealt, it fell the dog's turn to +meld first. Frank spread out the cards and held them +in front of Boxer's nose.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will meld one hundred aces," said the dog. "Put +'em down, Frank."</p> + +<p>Merry did so.</p> + +<p>"Sixty queens," called Boxer, and Merry spread +them out.</p> + +<p>"Lally ka lolly loka!" chattered Sing Lee, or something +like that; whereupon Boxer seemed to fix the +Chinaman with a scornful stare, and observed:</p> + +<p>"You ought to take something for that. It must +be painful."</p> + +<p>"Gleatee Sklot!" gasped the Celestial. "Dogee hab +a debbil!" And he backed away.</p> + +<p>"That's right," said Boxer. "I like you a long +distance off, the longer the distance the better I like +you."</p> + +<p>"Pay attention to the game," said Frank. "Are you +going to meld anything else?"</p> + +<p>"Forty trumps, twenty spades, and twenty hearts," +said Boxer.</p> + +<p>"Dunder!" muttered Schlitzenheimer, and his hands +trembled so that he dropped some of the cards.</p> + +<p>"Get a basket," snickered the dog; and the crowd +laughed loudly at the saloon-keeper's expense.</p> + +<p>When all the melding was finished they prepared to +play.</p> + +<p>"I'll lead the ace of trumps," said Boxer.</p> + +<p>Frank ran the cards over.</p> + +<p>"It's here," he said. "But I didn't see it."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with your eyes?" snapped the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> +dog. "Didn't I meld one hundred aces? You ought +to learn something about this game!"</p> + +<p>"I seldom play cards," said Merry apologetically.</p> + +<p>"Well, you want to keep your eyes open!" exclaimed +Boxer sharply. "These chaps may try to skin us."</p> + +<p>At this Gentle Bob looked up and said:</p> + +<p>"I do not mind a little faking none whatever, but I +sure objects to being called a skin, either by a dog +or his master, so I opine it will be best for somebody +to apologize."</p> + +<p>And, as he made this remark, he suddenly whipped +forth a pistol, with which he covered both Frank and +the dog, but held the weapon more in Merry's direction.</p> + +<p>Cimarron Bill's tool had found the opportunity he +sought, and he meant to make the most of it.</p> + +<p>Merry saw in the fellow's eyes the full extent of +his evil purpose.</p> + +<p>"If the apology is not forthcoming instanter," murmured +the ruffian, "I shall puncture the wonderful +talking dog with a bullet!"</p> + +<p>Now, it seemed that Bob had Frank at a great disadvantage, +but at this point Bart Hodge shoved the +muzzle of a pistol against the fellow's ear and harshly +commanded:</p> + +<p>"Put up that gun—instanter! If you don't I'll blow +the whole top of your head off!"</p> + +<p>But Bart had made a miscalculation, for Gentle Bob +had not come alone to the saloon, having noted well<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> +that Frank Merriwell had a friend. He had picked up +a chap of his own sort, and now this fellow had a +gun at Bart's head.</p> + +<p>"You're the one who'll lose the ruff o' his head!" +he said. "You put up your gun!"</p> + +<p>Gentle Bob still sat pistol in hand, but Boxer had +taken advantage of an opportunity to drop down from +the bench to the floor.</p> + +<p>Of a sudden there came a wild yell from Bob, who +kicked out with his feet and flung himself backward, +his pistol being discharged straight up at the ceiling.</p> + +<p>Boxer had seized him by the leg beneath the table.</p> + +<p>Instantly there was a fearful uproar in the saloon. +The action of the dog had disconcerted the plans of +every one. Hodge ducked and whirled, catching the +ruffian at his back a fearful blow on the solar plexus +that drove him slam against the bar, and he went down +and "out."</p> + +<p>Merry went across the table in a leap at Gentle Bob, +from whom he tore the revolver that the fellow was +trying to use on Boxer.</p> + +<p>"Let up, boy," said Frank to the dog. "I'll attend +to his case."</p> + +<p>Boxer seemed reluctant to let go, but he did so at +the second command.</p> + +<p>Merriwell pinned Bob down and deftly disarmed +him, removing every weapon, which he passed over to +Schlitzenheimer.</p> + +<p>"Take care of these tools, sir," he said, "until I +leave town. It will save this fellow's life—perhaps."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Und dot vill peen a pity!" muttered the saloon-keeper, +who had no love for the ruffian, but held him +in great awe.</p> + +<p>Having disarmed Bob, Merry rose and commanded +him to get up. The fellow rose immediately and +sprang at Frank, trying to strike him.</p> + +<p>Boxer would have mingled in, but Bart held him in +check, saying:</p> + +<p>"Keep out of it. Frank can attend to that case +now without any of your aid."</p> + +<p>Hodge was not mistaken, as Merriwell quickly demonstrated. +He avoided the blows of the ruffian and +quickly knocked him down. Bob rose, only to be +struck in the eye and sent to the floor again. Four +times this happened, and then Merry picked the wretch +up, carried him bodily to the door, and kicked him +into the street, observing:</p> + +<p>"If you come back here or bother me again, I'll +send you to the hospital for a month!"</p> + +<p>And the dog barked with great satisfaction.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV.</a></h2> + +<h3>BOXER TO THE RESCUE.</h3> + + +<p>The second ruffian was ejected, and Frank and the +talking dog were regarded with unbounded admiration +by every one present.</p> + +<p>"I neffer haf seen Shentle Pob done upness pefore," +remarked Schlitzenheimer. "He vos a pad man."</p> + +<p>"You bettee!" put in Sing Lee, who crept forth from +behind a barrel, where he had taken refuge during the +encounter. "Him velly bad. Him shootee, stabbee, +killee."</p> + +<p>"An' so he will," nodded Pat O'Grady, seeming +quite concerned. "It's me opinion he wur lookin' fer +throuble whin he came here."</p> + +<p>"Well, he found it," smiled Merry.</p> + +<p>"That's what!" said Boxer, wagging his tail and +looking up at Frank knowingly. "But he tasted disagreeable. +You don't suppose it will make me sick, do +you?"</p> + +<p>Frank stooped and patted the dog's head.</p> + +<p>"I hope not," he laughed. "You got hold of his +leg just in time, old boy."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I didn't dally when I saw him throw his gun +out," said Boxer, winking rapidly with both eyes. "I +allowed he was going to begin shooting directly."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Uf you vould tookit my device," said Schlitzenheimer, +"you couldt out uf dis town get a hurriness +indo."</p> + +<p>"Thot's roight," nodded O'Grady. "It's moighty +dangerous to remain after this, Oi know."</p> + +<p>"Pob vill got vor heemseluf another gun, und he +vill look vor you on der sdreet," declared the saloon-keeper.</p> + +<p>"Well, he may find us, eh, Boxer?" smiled Frank.</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," said the dog. "And I reckon you can +shoot as quick and as straight as he can."</p> + +<p>Schlitzenheimer shook his head and averred that +Bob was the greatest pistol-shot known in those parts, +which, however, did not seem to alarm Frank Merriwell +in the least.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there came a scream from the street, the +voice being that of a girl, and the sound indicating that +she was in great fear and distress.</p> + +<p>Frank sprang to the open door, Boxer barking at his +heels, and Hodge was not slow in following.</p> + +<p>The cry had issued from the lips of June Arlington, +who was then on her way to the post-office to mail +the letter she had written, not wishing her mother to +see it.</p> + +<p>June had arrived in the vicinity of the saloon as +Gentle Bob was turning away. She noted that the +man's face was cut and bruised and one eye was swollen. +His appearance led her to look at him with something<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> +like sympathy, when, of a sudden, he turned on +her, smiling evilly, and seized her arm.</p> + +<p>"Derned ef you ain't a right peert gal!" said the +fellow insolently. "Gimme a kiss, sweetness."</p> + +<p>Then June screamed and tried to break away, striking +at him with her clenched fist. She was frightened +and angry.</p> + +<p>"Stop yer squarmin'!" snarled the fellow, who had +thought to kiss her quickly before she could make +much resistance, and then hasten along, it being his +intention to boast of what he had done.</p> + +<p>But June would not stop. She saw a tall, athletic +young man come bounding through an open doorway +into the street, followed closely by a dog and another +young man. Her eyes recognized the one in advance, +and she cried out:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Merriwell, help—help, quick!"</p> + +<p>With a growl of rage, Gentle Bob released her and +turned. As he did so, the dog, terrible in his fury, +shot past Frank, and made a great spring through the +air straight at Bob's throat.</p> + +<p>Bob threw up his arm, and the teeth of the dog +fastened on it. The force of the creature's leap hurled +the ruffian backward.</p> + +<p>The man went down in the dust, and Boxer was at +him with all the fury of a mad animal. He would +have torn the wretch to pieces right before their eyes, +but Frank fearlessly grasped the dog and pulled him +away, at the same time crying commandingly to him.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Keep him off!" palpitated Bob, now filled with a +great terror for the fierce animal. "Don't let him +touch me ag'in! He's near bit me to pieces now!"</p> + +<p>"You got just what you deserved, and no more, you +miserable creature!" said Frank indignantly.</p> + +<p>Then he turned and asked June what Bob had been +doing.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he grasped me, and he tried to kiss me!"</p> + +<p>"Did he!" grated Merry, very white. "Then I +should have let Boxer finish him!"</p> + +<p>"No, no!" gasped June.</p> + +<p>"No, no!" exclaimed Bob.</p> + +<p>"On your knees!" cried Frank, in ringing tones—"on +your knees and apologize to the young lady! If +you don't do it, so help me, I'll let Boxer get at you +again!"</p> + +<p>Bob did not hesitate. Ruffian and desperado though +he was reputed to be, he cast himself on his knees before +June and humbly begged her pardon, all the +while watching Boxer, who glared back at him and +licked his chops.</p> + +<p>"Get up and go, you pitiful coward!" said Frank. +"Keep out of my sight while I'm in town, and be +careful not to try any dirty tricks. If you hurt me, +Boxer will eat you up; if you hurt Boxer, I'll have +your life! Go!"</p> + +<p>The wretch lost not a moment in getting away.</p> + +<p>Frank stooped and picked up the letter June had +dropped. He was restoring it to her when his eye<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +caught the address upon it, and he stared in astonishment.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Mr. Richard Merriwell</span>,<br /> + "Fardale."</p></blockquote> + +<p>That was the name and address he read. Then he +looked closely at June and recognized her.</p> + +<p>"Miss Arlington?" he exclaimed, his hat in his hand; +"is it possible?"</p> + +<p>The color was coming back into her cheeks.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Merriwell," she said, "let me thank you for +coming so quickly to my assistance."</p> + +<p>"It was Boxer who got there first. But I'm amazed +to see you here—here in Arizona."</p> + +<p>"I don't doubt it."</p> + +<p>"What brings you to this place?"</p> + +<p>"I came with my mother."</p> + +<p>"Your—your mother?" he said, still further astonished. +"And your father—he is here, also?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"He is coming?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir, I believe not."</p> + +<p>Merry had thought at once that there might be a +very good reason why D. Roscoe Arlington should +come to Holbrook to learn just how well the hired +ruffians of the syndicate had performed their tasks, +but the presence there of Mrs. Arlington and June, +without D. Roscoe, rather bewildered him.</p> + +<p>June looked back toward the hotel windows, thinking +it must be that her mother had heard her cry and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +would be looking forth; but was relieved to see nothing +of the lady.</p> + +<p>"You were on your way to mail this letter?" said +Frank, divining her destination.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"May I accompany you, to make sure you are not +molested further?"</p> + +<p>She accepted his escort. Bart had lingered near, +and Frank presented him.</p> + +<p>"An old school and college chum, Miss Arlington," +he said, "and one of my closest friends."</p> + +<p>Bart lifted his hat and bowed, smiling a bit on the +pretty girl. In his way, which was dark and silent, +he was almost every bit as handsome as Frank himself, +and it is no cause of wonderment that June could +not wholly repress the flash of admiration that came +into her splendid eyes.</p> + +<p>On his part, Bart was quite smitten with her, and +he stood watching Frank walk away at her side, Boxer +following, smiling without envy, yet thinking his +friend fortunate to have the company of such a charming +girl for even a brief time in that part of the +country.</p> + +<p>Frank found himself somewhat embarrassed, not a +little to his surprise, as he walked down the street with +June. The girl was the daughter of the man who was +doing his best to bring upon Merriwell complete ruin—or +seemed to be doing his best to that end, for +Frank could not know that all his trouble at the Queen +Mystery had not risen directly from D. Roscoe Arlington.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> +Much less did he suspect that any great part of +it came without Mr. Arlington's knowledge and +through the vengeful malice of Mrs. Arlington.</p> + +<p>It was not agreeable to speak of this matter with +June, and still in his heart Merry was more than eager +to know what had brought the girl to Holbrook. He +had not forgotten that it was the hand of June that +had restored to him the precious papers relating to +the mines when those papers had been stolen from +him in Fardale, a service for which he remained +grateful.</p> + +<p>Further than this, Frank had learned that Dick had +a deep interest in June—so deep, indeed, that the boy +himself did not quite suspect its measure. Merry had +been able to read his brother, and his good sense told +him beyond question that never would Dick hold his +hand from the person of his most persistent enemy +simply because that enemy's sister thus entreated him, +unless there was back of it all a feeling of affection for +the sister that was of no small magnitude.</p> + +<p>That June cared something for Dick, Merry more +than half-suspected, and the sight of the name on the +letter she now carried in her hand seemed very good +evidence that this was not false fancy on his part, for +did she not care for the lad far away in Fardale, +then why should she write to him?</p> + +<p>It was June herself who relieved Frank's embarrassment +by earnestly turning to him and beginning +speech.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Merriwell," she said, with such a sober face<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> +that he was greatly surprised, "I have wanted to see +you since you came into town."</p> + +<p>"Then you knew I had entered town?"</p> + +<p>"I saw you; and I have wanted to speak with you +to warn you."</p> + +<p>"To warn me?" said Frank. "Of what?"</p> + +<p>"Of your great danger, for you are in danger here. +You have in this town a man who would kill you."</p> + +<p>"I think we lately parted from such a man," smiled +Merry.</p> + +<p>"But he is not the one."</p> + +<p>"Is there another?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! I saw him! Perhaps I saved your life."</p> + +<p>At this Frank gave a great start of surprise and +asked her how that could be, upon which she told him +how Cimarron Bill had shot at him from the window, +and how she had spoiled the aim of the would-be murderer. +She held back the fact that the man had fired +from one of the windows of her mother's rooms, and +that her mother had shortly before been in consultation +with him. Still Frank was keen enough to see that +she was hiding something, and he had the good discernment +to come close to guessing the truth.</p> + +<p>"Miss Arlington," he said, "it seems that I owe you +my life. I heard the shot, but I could not be sure +it was fired at me. If I mistake not, the man who fired +it has a deadly aim, and I could not have escaped +but for your quickness in spoiling his sight. I owe you +a great deal more than I can ever repay."</p> + +<p>June knew something of the truth, and she was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> +aware that her father was concerned in a movement +the accomplishment of which meant ruin to both Frank +and Dick; therefore this acknowledgment by Frank of +his indebtedness to her caused her to flush with shame.</p> + +<p>"It is I who owe you a great deal!" she exclaimed. +"See what you have just done—saved me from a ruffian! +But your brother—Dick—he did more. He +saved me once from the fangs of furious dogs, at another +time from being killed in a runaway, and that +is not all. It is I who owe you much more than I can +ever repay. My brother"—she choked a little—"my +brother is Dick's enemy, yet, for a promise to me, Dick +has been easy with him and has not forced him in disgrace +from Fardale. Oh, Mr. Merriwell!" she suddenly +exclaimed, feeling her utter inability to express +herself, "it seems to me that never before was a girl +placed in such a position as I find myself in! What +can I do?"</p> + +<p>"You can do nothing, Miss June," he said gently. +"You are not to blame for anything that may happen, +and I shall not forget that. I am very sorry for you, +as I fancy you must be far from comfortable."</p> + +<p>At this her pride returned, and she straightened, +thinking she could not acknowledge to him that her +people were in the wrong.</p> + +<p>"You know there is always two sides to any question," +she said, "and there may be as much of right on +one side as the other. I presume my father has every +reason to think himself right."</p> + +<p>Now, June knew that it was her mother who hated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +Dick and Frank with undying intensity, while her +father cared very little about either of the Merriwells, +save that he had been led to wonder immoderately at +the success of Frank in fighting the syndicate; but she +wished to avoid the shame of confessing that her +mother had such a vengeful nature and could enter +with vindictiveness into an affair that might well be +left to men.</p> + +<p>Frank had no desire to hurt her feelings. He understood +her pride and sensitiveness, and he said:</p> + +<p>"It is very likely you are correct about that. At +any rate, we will not argue it. It is no matter for us +to speak of, as what we might say would not change +the situation in the least. Still, if I should become satisfied +that your father had the right in this thing, even +though it stripped me of my last dollar and made me +a beggar, I would surrender to him immediately."</p> + +<p>She did not doubt him then, and she saw that the +character of Frank Merriwell was one to be admired, +his one concern being for perfect and complete justice, +even though by justice he might be the sufferer. Inwardly +she was struck with the conviction that her +father seldom made inquiry into the justice of any +project he wished to carry through, his one concern +being to accomplish his ends by any method whatever, +so long as it did not involve him in difficulties of a +nature too serious.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Merriwell," she said quickly, "you must leave +Holbrook just as soon as you can!"</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The man who tried to shoot you is here—the man +with the wicked face and evil eyes."</p> + +<p>"I am not given to running away from one man."</p> + +<p>"It's not that. He is an assassin! See how he tried +to kill you without giving you a show! You don't +know what moment he may try it again. If he were +to meet you face to face it would be different. You +cannot defend yourself from attacks in the dark. You +have no show."</p> + +<p>"Well, there is some truth in that," smiled Merry.</p> + +<p>"He will attack you that way again. I know it! +He will strike at you from behind."</p> + +<p>"Possibly."</p> + +<p>"You must go! You must leave Holbrook before +dark!"</p> + +<p>"I hardly fancy it," muttered Frank, frowning. "I +do not like the notion. It leaves an unpleasant taste +in my mouth to think of running away from Cimarron +Bill."</p> + +<p>For, although June had not mentioned the ruffian +by name, not knowing it herself, her description of him +had satisfied Frank that it could be no other than the +baffled scoundrel who had twice attempted to seize the +Queen Mystery Mine.</p> + +<p>"But you will go?" she urged.</p> + +<p>"I'll think of it."</p> + +<p>They had reached the post-office and were now +standing in front of the building. Bart Hodge was +sauntering slowly in their direction on the opposite<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> +side of the street, having kept within easy pistol-shot +of Frank all the while.</p> + +<p>Frank's words did not satisfy June. He saw she was +in distress.</p> + +<p>"If you will not go for your own sake," she said, +"please do for mine."</p> + +<p>He looked astonished.</p> + +<p>"For your sake?" he said. "Why, I had not an +idea in the world that it could be of so much concern to you. +I'm afraid I do not understand why it +should be. Now, if Dick——"</p> + +<p>She stopped him with a gesture, her face flushing +very warm.</p> + +<p>"Don't!" she entreated, in a low voice. "At least, +you are his own brother! But it is for my sake more +than yours. I cannot explain. Do not embarrass me! +But promise me you will go—for my sake!"</p> + +<p>Having a quick perception, Frank suddenly fancied +he caught an inkling of the truth. In that moment +he saw Mrs. Arlington dealing with Cimarron Bill. +It was a conjecture, but it struck him hard as the +truth.</p> + +<p>This, then, was the reason why June wished him +to flee from Holbrook. She feared that her mother +somehow would become involved in the murder in case +Cimarron Bill should carry into execution his dastardly +purpose.</p> + +<p>Of course, it was not possible for him to be sure +he had struck upon the truth.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is hard for me to refuse a girl when she corners +me like this," he smiled.</p> + +<p>"You'll go?" persisted June.</p> + +<p>"If you insist."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you—thank you! I shall not breathe +easy until I know you are well out of this dreadful +place."</p> + +<p>"And I shall not breathe easy as long as I know +you remain here, where you may become subject to +such insults as to-day happened. It is no place for +you at the present time. Holbrook is well enough in +its way; but you are too pretty to walk its streets +without an escort. Western gentlemen are gentlemen +in every sense of the word, and no man can hold the +honor of a lady more sacred; but Western ruffians +are dangerous, and it seems there are several of the +latter class in this place."</p> + +<p>"I must remain while mother stays here; I must +stay with her."</p> + +<p>The letter was dropped in the post-office, and June +urged Frank to depart at once; but he insisted on +escorting her back to the hotel.</p> + +<p>Boxer kept close to their heels, seeming to listen +to their conversation at times; but, strange though it +may appear, he made no attempt to take part in it, nor +did he speak as much as one word during all the time +that he seemed neglected by his master.</p> + +<p>Frank made a sign to Bart, who crossed the street +and joined them.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I have decided to leave town right away," said +Merry. "Have the horses saddled and prepared. +We'll start as soon as I have escorted Miss Arlington +back to the hotel."</p> + +<p>Hodge looked surprised.</p> + +<p>"The horses are in no condition, Frank," he said. +"You know they are in sore need of a good rest."</p> + +<p>"I know it, Bart; but I have a reason for this. We'll +go. Get them ready, please."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Bart, as he turned away to carry +out instructions.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV.</a></h2> + +<h3>UNTO DEATH!</h3> + + +<p>The sun was down in the west and night was gathering +over the face of the world when Frank and +Bart rode forth from Holbrook, setting their faces +to the southwest. Boxer trotted behind them.</p> + +<p>They were not molested, although Frank remained +in constant expectation of an attack until they were +fairly clear of the place and had it a long rifle-shot at +their backs.</p> + +<p>The blue night grew upon the distant plain, and the +stars were coming forth over their heads as they rode +down into the distance, the beating hoofs of the ponies +making rhythm on the baked ground. The first cool +breath of night touched their heated cheeks with grateful +kisses.</p> + +<p>"How did you happen to do it, Frank?" asked Bart.</p> + +<p>"I found out a thing or two," Merry answered. +"Cimarron Bill is in town, and he was watching his +chance to get another shot at me."</p> + +<p>"Another?" exclaimed Bart; upon which Merry explained +how Bill had fired at him already.</p> + +<p>"It was rather dangerous to stay there, and I +couldn't resist when a pretty girl took enough interest +in me to urge me to get away," Frank laughed. "We +had some sport with our talking dog, and now——"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You can't mean to ride far?"</p> + +<p>"Remember the hut we passed on the way into town? +It's not very far. We'll stop there to-night."</p> + +<p>"Good!" said Bart; and they rode on.</p> + +<p>Coming to the deserted hut, they stopped there. +The horses were cared for, and Frank and Bart entered +the hut with their blankets, where they prepared +to sleep until toward morning, planning to rise before +daybreak and get an early start, so that some distance +could be covered ere the sun rose.</p> + +<p>Both of the young men were weary, and they lost +little time in drawing their blankets about them and +rolling on the floor. Boxer curled in a corner and went +to sleep. The door of the hut was left open to admit +the cool night air.</p> + +<p>Frank fell asleep at once, and Bart was not slow in +following his example.</p> + +<p>They were awakened in the middle of the night by +a snarl, a cry, a struggle, and a fall. Both sat up, +grasping their weapons.</p> + +<p>The moon was up, and by its light, which streamed +in at the wide-open door, a man and a dog were seen +struggling on the floor. The dog was Boxer, who +had leaped at the throat of the man as he came slipping +in at the open door.</p> + +<p>"Great Scott!" exclaimed Hodge. "What's the +meaning of this?"</p> + +<p>"One of my friends has arrived," said Frank. +"Boxer has him."</p> + +<p>The struggle was fierce and terrible. The dog<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> +seemed to have the man by the throat. Before either +Merry or Hodge could interfere the moonlight glinted +on something bright in the hand of the man, who +struck and struck again.</p> + +<p>Not a sound came from the dog. But the bright +thing in the man's hand grew suddenly dark.</p> + +<p>"Heavens!" gasped Frank, leaping forward. "He +has a knife!"</p> + +<p>Then a terrible sound came from the throat of the +man, and he lifted his arm no more. The thing in +his hand, dark and dripping, fell to the floor of the +hut.</p> + +<p>A moment later the man rolled into the shadow, and +then Boxer was seen dragging himself away, while +the man lay still.</p> + +<p>"Boxer! Boxer!" cried Frank, bending over the dog. +"Are you hurt, boy? Merciful goodness! he ripped +your whole side open with that knife!"</p> + +<p>Hodge struck a light and bent over the man who +lay in the shadow. When the match burned out in his +fingers he dropped it and stepped out to join Merriwell, +who had picked up the dog and carried the creature +into the open air.</p> + +<p>Bart found Merry sitting on the ground, with the +dog in his arms. Boxer had been cut in a terrible +manner, and was bleeding in a way that plainly told +his end was near.</p> + +<p>"Oh, the wretch!" choked Merry, in a husky voice. +"Oh, the wretch who did this! He ought to be +hanged!"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No need of hanging for him," said Hodge. "He'll +be beyond that in less than three minutes."</p> + +<p>"You mean——"</p> + +<p>"He's pretty near dead now. Boxer's teeth found +his jugular vein."</p> + +<p>"Who was it, Bart?"</p> + +<p>"The fellow who made the row in Schlitzenheimer's +saloon."</p> + +<p>"Gentle Bob?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"One of Cimarron Bill's hired tools, or I am mistaken! +He followed us here and tried to creep in on +us with that knife, meaning to finish the job at which +he failed in town. Boxer saved us. Good old Boxer! +Poor old Boxer!"</p> + +<p>The dog whined a little on hearing this name from +Frank's lip's, and feebly wagged his tail. The moonlight +showed his eyes turned toward Merry's face.</p> + +<p>"Is it so bad there's no show for him?" asked Hodge, +in genuine distress.</p> + +<p>"No show!" sobbed Frank. "He's finished, Bart! +It's a shame! The most knowing dog in the whole +world! And he has to die like this, killed by a human +being that is more of a beast than he!"</p> + +<p>"It's a shame!" said Bart.</p> + +<p>The dog licked Frank's hand. Merry bowed his +head, and tears started from his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Poor Boxer!" he choked. "Boxer, we have to +part here. You're going to another country, where I +must follow in time. It's all up with you. You may<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> +find your first master over there; but he'll never love +you more than I have. Good-by, Boxer!"</p> + +<p>The dog uttered a whine. And so his life ended in +Frank's arms, with the moonlight falling on them and +the stillness of the Arizona night all around.</p> + +<p>Hodge entered the hut, only to come forth, bringing +the blankets and looking very sick.</p> + +<p>"For Heaven's sake, let's get away from here!" he +exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"The man in there?"</p> + +<p>"Dead!" said Bart. "The place is gory! I'm faint +from it!"</p> + +<p>Boxer's body was wrapped in a blanket, and they +mounted and rode away, Frank carrying the dead dog +in his arms to find a burial place where there could be +no chance that his body should be exhumed by any +prowling thing of the desert.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI.</a></h2> + +<h3>THE COMING OF CROWFOOT.</h3> + + +<p>Rap! rap! rap!</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute!" called Frank. "No need to knock +the door down!"</p> + +<p>He flung the door of his cabin wide open, standing +on the threshold.</p> + +<p>It was early dawn in Mystery Valley. Sunrise was +beginning to gild the barren peaks of the Mogollons. +The new day had come to its birth in a splendid glow, +and the world smiled refreshed after the cooling sleep +of the departed night.</p> + +<p>Frank was just risen and not yet fully dressed, but +about his waist was his cartridge-belt, and his pistol +swung ready in the holster at his hip. He had no use +for the weapon, however.</p> + +<p>Outside the door stood old Joe Crowfoot, his blanket +drawn about his shoulders. Those keen eyes gazed +on Merry with an expression of friendly greeting.</p> + +<p>With a shout of surprise and joy, Frank clasped the +old redskin in his arms in the most affectionate manner.</p> + +<p>"Old Joe Crowfoot, as I live!" he cried, showing +unusual excitement and delight. "Why, you old reprobate, +here you come popping back from the grave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> +after I've been mourning you as dead! What do you +mean by it, you villain?"</p> + +<p>"Ugh!" grunted old Joe, something like a merry +twinkle in those beady eyes. "Strong Heart him think +Crowfoot dead, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Hang me if I didn't!"</p> + +<p>"Crowfoot him heap tough; no die easy," declared +the Indian.</p> + +<p>"I should say not! Why, you tricky scoundrel, they +told me you were done for."</p> + +<p>"Who tell so?"</p> + +<p>"Some of Cimarron Bill's delectable gang. They +averred they had disposed of you for good and all."</p> + +<p>"Waugh! No let such cheap carrion kill me!" said +Joe. "They mebbe think some they do it. Joe he +fool um heap lot."</p> + +<p>"But where have you been?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, all away round," was the answer, with a wide +sweep of the arm. "Joe him scout—him find out how +land lay. Do a little biz."</p> + +<p>"Do business? What sort of business?"</p> + +<p>"Catch the sucker some."</p> + +<p>"Catch the sucker? What's that?"</p> + +<p>The redskin flung open his dirty red blanket and +tapped a fat belt about his waist, which gave back a +musical clink.</p> + +<p>"Play the game of poke'," he exclaimed. "Make +heap plenty mon'."</p> + +<p>"You've been gambling again?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Strong Heart him guess," nodded Joe, with something +like a sly smile.</p> + +<p>"You villain! And I'll wager you got away with +your ill-gotten spoils."</p> + +<p>"Heap do so," said Joe. "Have some firewater. +Find one, two, three, four crooked paleface follow +to kill and rob. Let firewater 'lone till fool crooked +palefaces so um no follow some more. Then go safe +place drink firewater a heap."</p> + +<p>"You've been drunk, too!" cried Merry.</p> + +<p>"Mebbe so," admitted the Indian. "White man +firewater heap good while um last; heap bad when um +gone. Make um feel much glad at first, then much +sorry little time after."</p> + +<p>Frank laughed heartily at the queer manner of the +old Indian as he said this.</p> + +<p>"I suppose that's about right," he said. "I've never +tried it to find out."</p> + +<p>"Strong Heart him no try firewater?" exclaimed +Joe, in surprise. "Crowfoot him think all paleface +drink the firewater."</p> + +<p>"Well, here is one who doesn't. I've seen too much +trouble come from the stuff."</p> + +<p>"Ugh! Strong Heart him got heap more sense than +anybody Joe ever see," asserted the Indian admiringly. +"Once git taste of firewater, always be heap fool and +drink him some. Many times old Joe he say no drink +some more. Head all swell, middle all sick, mouth all +dry, taste nasty a lot, bone ache—then him say no more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> +the firewater. Mebbe he go 'long some time, but +bimeby he take it some more. White man make firewater. +Bad! bad! bad! No firewater made, nobody +drink it."</p> + +<p>From inside the cabin a voice called.</p> + +<p>"What, ho! Methinks thou hast found a philosopher, +Merry! Bring the sage in that I may survey him +with my heavenly blue eyes."</p> + +<p>"Yes, dew!" drawled another voice. "I want to +set my eyes onter him, by gum!"</p> + +<p>Merry led the old Indian into the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Here he is," Merry laughed. "Crowfoot, these are +some of my friends, whom you met last summer. You +remember them. They played ball with me in the Mad +River country."</p> + +<p>"Ugh!" grunted the redskin. "Heap remember!"</p> + +<p>Bart Hodge stepped forward, his hand outstretched +to the Indian.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to see you again, Crowfoot," he said.</p> + +<p>"Me same," said Joe, shaking Bart's hand. "You +heap good to ketch hard ball when Strong Heart him +make it go fast like a bullet and man with stick he—whish!—strike +at it so, no hit it at all."</p> + +<p>They all laughed at the Indian's manner of describing +Bart's skill at catching.</p> + +<p>"Consarned if it ain't a sight fer sore eyes to see ye, +Mr. Crowfoot!" said Ephraim Gallup, as he froze to +the redskin's hand and shook it warmly. "Yeou was +the best mascot a baseball-team ever hed."</p> + +<p>"How! how!" said the old fellow. "Nose Talk him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> +stand way out far, ketch ball when it come there. +How! how!"</p> + +<p>"Nose Talk!" laughed Frank. "Well, that's one on +you, Gallup!"</p> + +<p>Jack Ready was smiling blandly. He gave his hand +a little flirt in salute, and stepped forward with an odd +movement.</p> + +<p>"Gaze on my classic features, Joseph Crowfoot, Esquire," +he invited. "See if you can recollect what I +did in the game."</p> + +<p>"Sure remember," nodded Crowfoot. "Talk-talk a +heap, no do much else."</p> + +<p>Then the joke was on Jack, and even Bart Hodge +was forced to smile, while Gallup gave Ready a resounding +smack on the shoulder with his open hand.</p> + +<p>"Bless my punkins!" snickered the Vermonter. +"That's a thunderin' good one on you, Jack!"</p> + +<p>Ready looked sad.</p> + +<p>"Alas!" he sighed. "Is it thus I am to be defamed! +And by a copper-colored aborigine! The thought is +gall to my sensitive soul! I shall peek and pine over +it! For days to come no sweet smile shall adorn my +beautiful features!"</p> + +<p>Joe looked puzzled.</p> + +<p>"No say something bad," he declared. "When Red +Cheek him talk-talk a heap lot other man that throw +ball he got a lot mixed, no make good pitch. Red +Cheek him help win game a heap."</p> + +<p>Jack's face cleared at once.</p> + +<p>"Crowfoot, you have poured soothing balm on my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> +wounded heart!" he cried. "I'm glad to know that +I do amount to something, for, so help me! of late I +have begun to wonder what I was made for!"</p> + +<p>"Sit down, Joe," invited Frank. "We're going to +have breakfast in a short time, and you are to eat +with us."</p> + +<p>"Ugh!" said the Indian, disdaining a chair and sitting +on the floor with his back against the wall. "Joe +him do so. Him a heap empty. Mebbe after him eat +him tell Strong Heart something much good to hear."</p> + +<p>When breakfast was over the old Indian lighted his +rank pipe and smoked contentedly, still sitting on the +floor, with his back against the wall.</p> + +<p>Through the open door came the sounds of work +at the mine. Frank was not yet running the mine day +and night, with shifts of men, but it was his intention +to do so later. Smoke was rising from the high pipe +of the stamp-mill, and soon the stamps began to rumble +and roar, awaking the echoes of the valley. The +sound was a pleasant one in Merriwell's ears.</p> + +<p>"This running a mine in Arizona is a snap," said +Jack Ready, as he elevated his feet to the top of the +table, in which the breakfast-dishes and remnants of +the meal remained. "The hardest part of it seems to +be washing the dishes. It's Gallup's turn this morning."</p> + +<p>"Not by a thuttering sight!" exclaimed Ephraim. +"Yeou can't shoulder that onter me! You've gotter +wash the dishes to-day. I done it yisterday."</p> + +<p>"Is it possible!" cried Jack. "Why, I thought it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> +was day before yesterday, or, perchance, the day before +that. Alas, how time flies—tempus fugit!"</p> + +<p>"Now, don't go to springin' any Latin on us!" +growled Gallup. "You never learned enough Latin +to hurt ye, an' ye don't want to try to show off."</p> + +<p>"Behold how the green-eyed monster turneth a +friend into a critic!" said Jack.</p> + +<p>"You can attend to the dishes later," said Frank. +"Just now I am anxious to hear the good news Crowfoot +said he might have to tell. What is it, Joe?"</p> + +<p>"Some time little while 'go, few days, you be in +Holbrook?" questioned the Indian, pulling away at his +pipe.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I was there—Hodge and myself."</p> + +<p>"Joe him been there since."</p> + +<p>"And you bring good news from that place?"</p> + +<p>"Heap good to Strong Heart. In Holbrook him +find white woman who hate him a lot, eh? White +woman she is the squaw of man who make for Strong +Heart big trouble 'bout mine."</p> + +<p>"You mean Mrs. Arlington?"</p> + +<p>"Ugh! Mebbe that her name."</p> + +<p>"That is it. She is in Holbrook, or was a few days +ago."</p> + +<p>"She hate Strong Heart a heap."</p> + +<p>"I reckon she does," nodded Frank, wondering how +the old redskin found out so much.</p> + +<p>"She come to get bad men to take mine."</p> + +<p>"Possibly that is right."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Joe him know it. She make much business with +Cim'run Bill."</p> + +<p>"That I suspected, although I did not find it out for +a certainty while in Holbrook."</p> + +<p>"It so."</p> + +<p>"Go on."</p> + +<p>"She give Bill heap much mon' to buy bad men to +take from Strong Heart the mine."</p> + +<p>"Is that so?"</p> + +<p>"Waugh! Joe him find out. Joe he play sharp; he +listen."</p> + +<p>"Crowfoot, you're as good as a detective."</p> + +<p>"No know 'bout that. Find out white squaw she +hate Strong Heart, then try to find out more. Now +squaw she heap sorry she come to Holbrook."</p> + +<p>"She is sorry?"</p> + +<p>"Heap so."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"She have papoose girl with her—young squaw."</p> + +<p>"Her daughter June."</p> + +<p>"Ugh! Now she no have young squaw."</p> + +<p>"What's that? What do you mean by that. What +has become of June?"</p> + +<p>"You tell," said Joe, with a strange gesture. "She +gone. Old squaw tear hair, tear run from her eye, +she make a loud weep. Ha! Now you hear good +news, Strong Heart! Now you know your enemy +have the great sorrow! That make your heart much +glad!"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Frank was on his feet now, his face rather pale +and a look of excitement in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"See here, Crowfoot," he said, "do you mean to +tell me that June Arlington has disappeared and that +her mother does not know what has become of her?"</p> + +<p>Joe nodded.</p> + +<p>"Laugh!" he said. "Laugh, Strong Heart!"</p> + +<p>But Frank did not laugh; instead, to the wonderment +of the Indian, he betrayed both consternation +and dismay.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure of this, Joe?" he demanded. "How +long had the girl been missing when you left Holbrook?"</p> + +<p>"The sun had slept once."</p> + +<p>"By which you mean that one night had passed?"</p> + +<p>"Ugh!"</p> + +<p>"Then this is serious, indeed! Something most +unfortunate has happened, or June Arlington would +not be missing overnight. Boys, prepare at once to +start for Holbrook! Get ready to mount and ride +as fast as horseflesh can carry us; We'll start at the +earliest moment possible!"</p> + +<p>Crowfoot arose, a look of wonderment in his dark +eyes. He reached out and grasped Frank's arm.</p> + +<p>"What would Strong Heart do?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to Holbrook hotfoot," was the answer. +"I'm going to find out, if possible, what has happened +to June Arlington, and I shall do my best to return her +to her mother, if she has not already returned when I +reach there."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span></p> + +<p>The redskin's hand dropped from Merriwell's arm +and the old fellow stared at the white man in uncomprehending +amazement.</p> + +<p>"Why so?" he asked. "Paleface squaw she hate +you, she is your enemy. Now she have something to +think a heap of, and no time to make trouble for +Strong Heart. He should have a great happiness that +it is so. Why does he hurry to the bad white squaw? +Is it to laugh at her? Is it to see her weep and +cry?"</p> + +<p>"No, Crowfoot; it is to find out, if possible, what +has happened to the girl, just as I said a moment ago, +and to return her to her mother."</p> + +<p>The Indian shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Waugh! No understand!" he declared. "Strong +Heart him much strange."</p> + +<p>"Joe, will you go with us? You shall have a good +horse. I may need your aid. Will you go?"</p> + +<p>"Joe him go. No understand; him go, all same."</p> + +<p>"Then hustle, fellows!" cried Frank. "We'll be off +soon!"</p> + +<p>He rushed from the cabin.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII.</a></h2> + +<h3>ARRESTED IN HOLBROOK.</h3> + + +<p>Another morning was dawning when five weary +horses bore five persons into the town of Holbrook. +The animals had been pushed to the utmost, and the +riders showed signs of deep fatigue. The dust of the +desert lay white upon men and beasts.</p> + +<p>At the head of the party rode Frank Merriwell, +showing of them all the least weariness, his lips pressed +together with an expression of grim determination.</p> + +<p>Bart, Jack, and Ephraim were behind, with old Joe +bringing up the rear.</p> + +<p>Straight to the hotel they went, where Frank learned +immediately that Mrs. Arlington was still there, and +he also found out that she was very ill, having been +completely prostrated by the vanishing of June, who +was still missing.</p> + +<p>When Frank asked to see the woman he was told +that the doctor attending her had said no one was to +see her without his permission.</p> + +<p>"Then I must see that doctor in a hurry," Merry +declared. "Where can I find him?"</p> + +<p>He was directed and hastened to the home of the +doctor, who proved to be a red-faced, pompous little +fellow.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Impossible to see the lady," declared the doctor. +"She has heart trouble, and it might prove fatal. I +cannot permit it."</p> + +<p>"See here, doctor," said Frank, "I have ridden a +right good distance to see her, having heard of the disappearance +of her daughter June. I have come to see +what I can do about tracing the missing girl and +restoring her to her mother. To start the work right, +I should have an interview with the lady."</p> + +<p>"Hum! hum!" coughed the doctor. "I don't know +about it." He shook his head, but Merriwell caught +his eye and continued to talk earnestly until the man +gradually ceased his opposition.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid it's not just the wisest thing," he said. +"But still it is anxiety over her daughter that has +brought her to this pitiful condition. If you can do +anything to relieve that anxiety, it may be better than +medicine. But you must take care not to excite her +more than possible."</p> + +<p>This Frank readily promised, and they set out for +the hotel.</p> + +<p>Having ascended to the rooms occupied by Mrs. +Arlington and those she had brought with her, the +doctor entered first, being admitted by the faithful +colored maid. In a few moments he came out and +said:</p> + +<p>"I forgot to ask your name, but Mrs. Arlington +says she will see you. Come in."</p> + +<p>Frank followed the doctor into the room.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Arlington, partly dressed, was reclining on a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> +couch, propped up amid cushions. She was very pale +and showed signs of great worriment and grief.</p> + +<p>The moment her eyes rested on Frank, who came +forward, hat in hand, she gave a great cry and started +up. The doctor hurried to her side, cautioning her +against becoming excited, but she appeared to heed +him not in the least.</p> + +<p>"You?" she cried, pointing at Frank. "You have +dared to come here?"</p> + +<p>Merry bowed.</p> + +<p>"I know of no reason why I should not come here," +he said. "I have heard of your misfortune, and——"</p> + +<p>"Wretch!" the woman panted, glaring at him. "How +dare you! I'll have you arrested at once!"</p> + +<p>Frank was surprised by this reception, but he kept +his composure, although he was struck by a thought +that the woman must be mad.</p> + +<p>"Why should you have me arrested?" he asked. +"For defending my property? I scarcely think you +will do that, madam!"</p> + +<p>"You—you scoundrel!" panted Mrs. Arlington, +pointing at him. "Where is my daughter? You shall +never leave this place until you restore her to me!"</p> + +<p>This did stagger Merry somewhat.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Arlington," he said, "I have come to offer +my services in searching for your daughter. If I can +be of any assistance——"</p> + +<p>"You—you lured her away!" declared the shaking +woman. "You were seen talking with her on the +street. Is this the way you defend your property? I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> +know your game! You mean to make me promise to +drop the battle against you, on which condition you +will restore June to me! I have been told that you +would try that trick! But I am ready for you, and +you shall be arrested immediately. You have walked +into the trap!"</p> + +<p>"My dear woman," said Merry quietly, "you never +were more mistaken in all your life. I know absolutely +nothing of the whereabouts of your daughter; +but I fancied you might be able to tell me something +that would serve as a clue in the search for her."</p> + +<p>"Don't tell me that! I have sense enough to know +you would not offer to help me find her!"</p> + +<p>Startled by the sound of Mrs. Arlington's excited +voice, Eliot Dodge, her agent, who was in an adjoining +room, now entered quickly. When he saw Merriwell +he stopped short.</p> + +<p>Frank had met Dodge once in Denver, at which +time the man with the blue nose had made him an +offer in behalf of the mining syndicate for the San +Pablo and Queen Mystery Mines, an offer that Merry +had scornfully declined. Now Frank recognized the +crafty fox of a lawyer at once.</p> + +<p>"So you are here, Dodge?" he said. "And I fancy +you are behind some of the doings that have been +going on in this region of late."</p> + +<p>Dodge puckered up his mouth and tried to look at +the young man with something like contempt, although +the effort was a failure.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am here," he said, in his raspy voice; "and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> +I fancy it is a pretty good thing for Mrs. Arlington +that I am. I have been able to show her the inwardness +of this last move of yours."</p> + +<p>"Then you are the one who has filled her mind with +the idea that I know something of the whereabouts +of Miss Arlington? Well, Dodge, I know you are +not a fool, and, therefore, I must conclude at once +that you have some rascally reason for giving her such +an impression. Be careful, sir, that you do not make +a false step! In this part of the country it is very +dangerous. Down here men are sometimes lynched +for rascality."</p> + +<p>"Don't you dare threaten me!" fumed Dodge, shaking +his fist at Frank. "There is a warrant out for +your arrest, and you'll find that the end of your career +is pretty near."</p> + +<p>Frank smiled derisively.</p> + +<p>"You remind me of a snapping cur, Dodge," he +observed; then he turned from the man, as if not deigning +to waste further words on him. "Mrs. Arlington," +he said earnestly, "I assure you on my honor that I +have come to you with the most friendly intentions. +I assure you that I have ridden more than one hundred +miles for the purpose of offering my services +in the search for your daughter. You may not believe +me, but it is the simple truth. You have received +me in a manner most disheartening; but I understand +that your nervous condition must be the excuse.</p> + +<p>"I am not your enemy. I do not wish to fight you.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> +I am fighting the Consolidated Mining Association of +America. I would not like to think that I have a +woman among my enemies, who have hired murderers +and ruffians to try to seize my property! Such a +thought is most distasteful to me. I have had the +pleasure of meeting your daughter, and I found her +a most charming girl. I was interested in her. When +I learned that she had disappeared I lost not a moment +in gathering a few friends and starting for this +place. We have covered the ground as fast as possible, +taking the heat into consideration. If any one +has told you that I am even remotely connected with +the disappearance of Miss June that person has lied +to you and deceived you. If you will give me a little +aid, I shall exert myself to the utmost to restore June +to your arms. That is all I have to say."</p> + +<p>She heard him through with impatience. Frank +saw before he had finished that her mind was set and +that he had wasted his breath.</p> + +<p>"Like your brother," said the woman passionately, +"you are a scoundrel! Like him, you assume the airs +of a gentleman. I know your tricks, and I am not +deceived. You have been told that there is a warrant +out for your arrest. It is true—and here is the officer +to serve it!"</p> + +<p>Behind Merry there was a heavy step. He turned +and found himself face to face with a plain, quiet-looking +man, who promptly said:</p> + +<p>"Are you Frank Merriwell?"</p> + +<p>"I am."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then let me tell you that I am Ben File, city +marshal of Holbrook, and you are my prisoner! If +you try to pull a gun, I'll shoot you in your tracks!"</p> + +<p>Frank showed his nerve then. He did not even +change color, although the arrest had fallen upon him +so suddenly.</p> + +<p>"Your words are plain enough, sir," he said. "There +is no reason why I should provoke you into shooting +me, as I have nothing to fear from arrest."</p> + +<p>"I have been led to understand that you are a very +dangerous character," said File, looking Merry over +in some surprise. "You do not seem so at first +glance."</p> + +<p>Frank smiled a bit.</p> + +<p>"I assure you I am not in the least dangerous," he +said. "I surrender without the least resistance."</p> + +<p>Eliot Dodge stood in the background, rubbing his +hands together and grinning.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Dodge," said the city marshal, "will you be +good enough to relieve this young man of his weapons."</p> + +<p>"Eh?" said Dodge nervously. "I—I—yes, sir."</p> + +<p>He came forward and took Frank's revolvers, handling +them gingerly, as if fearing they would explode +in his hands. He passed them over to File, who afterward +searched Merry himself.</p> + +<p>In spite of Frank's coolness, he was indignant over +the outrage.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Arlington astonished the doctor by seeming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> +stronger and better than she had been since it was +known that June had disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Now I have you!" she said exultantly. "If you +do not tell me at once where my daughter may be +found it will go still harder with you."</p> + +<p>Merry gave her a look of pity.</p> + +<p>"Madam," he said, "I fear that you are not in your +right senses. Your action in coming to this part of +the country and bringing your daughter here, where +you have had dealings with ruffians, confirms me in +this belief. I cannot believe you would do such things +if perfectly sane."</p> + +<p>"You insult me!" she exclaimed, tossing her head. +"But you shall pay dearly for your insults! The law +will punish you!"</p> + +<p>"And are you to stand clear of the law—you, who +have incited ruffians to attack me and my property? I +am well aware that law and justice may frequently be +two different things; but I fancy it will be to your discomfort +to have the whole truth come out. I know +a ruffian called Cimarron Bill fired at me from the +window of this very room. How came he here unless +by your permission? And were you in partnership +with a man of his character in an attempted murder?"</p> + +<p>Frank's fearless words struck home, and the woman +turned pale, in spite of herself.</p> + +<p>"Oh, doctor!" she said, sinking back on the couch.</p> + +<p>The astonished physician, who had remained dumb +and staring through the most of this scene, now cried +to Frank:</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span></p> + +<p>"See what you have done! See what you have +done!"</p> + +<p>"She brought it on herself," retorted Merry, turning +away, his heart hardened toward the woman. "I +have ridden a hundred miles to do everything in my +power to find her daughter and restore her to her +mother, and I am—arrested!"</p> + +<p>There was deep bitterness in his tone and manner.</p> + +<p>"Mr. File," he said, "I am ready to go with you, +sir."</p> + +<p>"Hold! Wait!" called Mrs. Arlington from the +couch. "Tell me where you have taken my daughter!"</p> + +<p>Frank gave her a look, shook his head a bit, and +again turned away.</p> + +<p>"Oh, tell me!" pleaded the wretched mother. "I +can't bear this suspense! My poor June!"</p> + +<p>Then she sat bolt upright and almost screamed:</p> + +<p>"If you harm a hair of her head, I'll make you regret +it until the day of your death! You'll be conpelled +to tell! I'm going to see that you are sent to +prison! I'll make a convict of you!"</p> + +<p>Frank did not retort. As he was walking out with +File's hand on his shoulder, the woman fell on her +knees and begged him to restore her daughter.</p> + +<p>"Too bad!" said Merry, when the door was closed. +"I believe she really thinks I know something about +the girl."</p> + +<p>File said nothing until they had descended to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> +street. On the steps of the hotel he paused and looked +hard at Frank.</p> + +<p>"Young man," he said, "you don't act to me like +a desperado. I'm mightily disappointed in you. From +what I heard, I supposed you a ruffian. To tell you +the truth, I'm rather inclined in your favor."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Frank, with a bit of bitterness. +"Little good that does me, although I am grateful to +know that I have not become villainous in appearance. +I came here to do that woman a favor, knowing all +the while that she hated me, and this is the way I have +been received."</p> + +<p>"Why did you take so much pains to come?"</p> + +<p>"Because I know her daughter, a handsome, refined, +noble-hearted girl. It was not for the woman's +sake, but for her daughter's that I put myself to the +trouble that has drawn me into this scrape, Mr. File. +Tell me, what has been done to find and rescue June +Arlington?"</p> + +<p>"Everything possible," said the city marshal. "But +the girl seems to have disappeared off the face of the +earth. She vanished in the very heart of this town, +too. It's a most mysterious affair. Mr. Merriwell, I +regret that my duty compelled me to place you under +arrest and now compels me to lock you up. I hope +circumstances may give you your freedom very soon."</p> + +<p>Frank was somewhat touched by these simple words.</p> + +<p>"Go ahead," he said. "But you had better get me +under lock and key before my friends find out what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> +has happened. They might raise trouble, and I don't +want to see anybody hurt over this affair."</p> + +<p>So they started down the street, walking side by +side, like two friends. File did not even keep a hand +on Merry.</p> + +<p>They had proceeded but a short distance when a +man suddenly appeared in the open doorway of a +saloon. Frank saw the pistol in the man's hand, and +he recognized his mortal enemy, Cimarron Bill.</p> + +<p>As Bill appeared in that doorway, Merry knew +the fellow's purpose was to make a second attempt +to kill him, and Frank was unarmed and defenseless, +under arrest at the time.</p> + +<p>As Bill's weapon came up Frank made a sidelong +spring. He did this at the very instant, it seemed, +that the revolver spoke. The fact was that he sprang +a trifle before the shot was fired. His movement +seemed much like that of a man death-smitten by a +bullet, and Cimarron Bill dodged back at once, believing +he had accomplished his dastardly purpose.</p> + +<p>Frank was not touched.</p> + +<p>But the bullet meant for him had found a human +target. Ben File swayed from side to side, his legs +buckling beneath him, and fell into Merriwell's arms.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII.</a></h2> + +<h3>BILL HIKES OUT.</h3> + + +<p>"Got it!" whispered File huskily. "He nailed me +good and plenty that time!"</p> + +<p>Without a word, fearing Cimarron Bill might discover +he had shot the wrong man and seek to rectify +his bad work, Frank lifted File in his muscular arms +and ran into a store with him.</p> + +<p>The city marshal was stretched on a counter.</p> + +<p>"Send for a doctor!" commanded Merry. "And +turn out a posse to take Cimarron Bill. He fired the +shot."</p> + +<p>At the mention of Cimarron Bill, however, consternation +reigned. The desperado was all too well +known in Holbrook, and scarcely a man in all the +place cared to face him.</p> + +<p>"No use," said File faintly. "Nobody'll dare touch +Bill. He'll get out of town deliberately without being +molested."</p> + +<p>"Impossible!" exclaimed Merry. "Why, you don't +mean to say they will let that murderous hound escape?"</p> + +<p>"He'll escape now that I'm flat. There's not a man +in Holbrook that dares face him."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You're mistaken!" said Merry. "There is one +man!"</p> + +<p>"What one?"</p> + +<p>"This one!"</p> + +<p>"You?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say——"</p> + +<p>"That I dare face that man! Give me my weapons +and I'll go out and get him!"</p> + +<p>Ben File looked at the boyish young man incredulously.</p> + +<p>"You don't know what you're talking about," he +said, as they were trying to stop the bleeding of his +wound, which was in his left side. "That man has a +record. He's the deadliest ruffian in Arizona. He +would kill you."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it," said Frank. "I've seen his +like before. Give me my revolvers, and I'll go take +him. I'll bring him to you if you live!"</p> + +<p>File fumbled in his huge pockets and brought out +Merry's long-barreled revolvers.</p> + +<p>"Go ahead if you want to," he said. "Somehow I +take stock in you, though I'm afraid it's your funeral +you're going to. Anyhow, if I'm booked to cash in, +I don't mind giving you a show to levant. Here comes +the doctor."</p> + +<p>The same red-faced little man came rushing into the +store, brought there by a messenger who had gone in +search of him.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span></p> + +<p>Frank examined his weapons, and then walked out +of the store.</p> + +<p>There was considerable excitement on the street, +caused by the shooting. Merry minded no one, yet +kept his eyes wide open for every one. As fast as +he could step he proceeded straight to the open door +from which Cimarron Bill had fired the shot. He +had a pistol in either hand when he stepped through +that doorway.</p> + +<p>As he had expected, it was a saloon. Three persons +were in the room, but Cimarron Bill was not there.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," said Merry, "I'll be obliged if you +will tell me where I can find the white-livered cur who +just shot Ben File from this doorway."</p> + +<p>They stared at him as if doubting their senses.</p> + +<p>"If it's Cimarron Bill you're looking for, young +man," one of them finally said, "take my advice and +don't. It's the most onhealthy occupation you can engage +in, and I advise——"</p> + +<p>"Cut out the advice," said Merry sharply; "and tell +me where the cowardly dog has gone."</p> + +<p>"He ambled out o' yere directly arter doin' the +shootin', and we last sees him lopin' down the street +that-a-way. But you wants to keep a heap long distance——"</p> + +<p>Frank waited for no more. He was satisfied that +Bill had departed just as the man said, and he wheeled +at once and started down the street.</p> + +<p>Merry knew full well what sort of mission he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> +undertaken, but he was not daunted in the least by +its magnitude. Cimarron Bill was his deadly foe, but +he now saw his opportunity to bring the ruffian to an +accounting for his crimes, and he did not propose to +let the chance slip.</p> + +<p>So he inquired as he passed down the street and +found that Bill had hurried to the saloon kept by +Schlitzenheimer.</p> + +<p>Again Merry had his pistols ready when he entered +the saloon. Early though it was, he found four men +there engaged in a game of draw poker, and one of +the four was old Joe Crowfoot.</p> + +<p>Schlitzenheimer gave a shout when he saw Frank.</p> + +<p>"My gootness!" he cried. "How you vos? Vere +vos dot dalking tog alretty? I vouldt like to blay dot +tog anodder came beenuckle of."</p> + +<p>Frank was disappointed once more in failing to discover +Cimarron Bill. He asked if the man had been +there.</p> + +<p>"He vos," nodded Schlitzenheimer. "Und avay he +dit his saddle take."</p> + +<p>"He took his saddle?"</p> + +<p>"Yah."</p> + +<p>"Then his saddle was here?"</p> + +<p>"It he dit keep here, vor id vos very valueless," said +the Dutchman. "He vos avraid stolen id would pe. I +know Pill. Ven he come und say, 'Vritz, you tookit +my saddles und keepit it a vile undil vor id I call,' I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> +say, 'Yah, you pet.' I haf nod any anxiety him to +make some drouble by."</p> + +<p>"If he came for his saddle it is likely he meant to +use it. Was he in a hurry?"</p> + +<p>"Der piggest hurry I ever knewn him to pe indo. +Ven I invortationed him to a drink take, he said he +could not sdop vor id."</p> + +<p>"He's on the run!" exclaimed Frank. "Where does +he keep his horse when in town?"</p> + +<p>"Ad Dorvelt's shust down a liddle vays."</p> + +<p>Frank almost ran from the saloon and hurried down +the street to Dorfelt's stable.</p> + +<p>He was stared at in the same wondering amazement +when he asked for Cimarron Bill.</p> + +<p>"Mebbe you has urgent business with that gent?" +said one man.</p> + +<p>"I have," answered Merry. "He shot Ben File +about ten minutes ago, and I am after him."</p> + +<p>"Waal, you'll have to hustle to ketch him, an' I +'lows it's jest as well fer you. His hoss was saddled +jest now, an' I opine he's well out o' town by this +time."</p> + +<p>Frank listened to hear no more. On the run, he +set out to find his friends.</p> + +<p>Singularly enough, not one of them knew anything +of his arrest, although they had heard of the shooting. +He found them in short order, and what he told them +in a very few words stirred them from lassitude to the +greatest excitement.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Fellows," he said, "I'm going to run Cimarron +Bill down if it takes a year! I've given my word to +Ben File that I would bring Bill back. I mean to make +good. Are you with me in this chase?"</p> + +<p>They were with him to a man.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX.</a></h2> + +<h3>OLD JOE TAKES A DRINK.</h3> + + +<p>Away on the horizon, riding to the southeast, was a +black speck of a horseman as Frank, Bart, Jack, and +Ephraim galloped out of town on fresh mounts secured +by Merry.</p> + +<p>"There he is!" cried Frank. "We mustn't lose him! +We must keep him in view and run him down before +nightfall. Can we do it?"</p> + +<p>"We can try!" said Bart grimly.</p> + +<p>These young fellows seemed made of iron. All +their weariness had vanished, and they sat in their +saddles like young Centaurs, with the exception of +Gallup, who could not be graceful at anything.</p> + +<p>"This is what might well be called the strenuous +life," observed Jack Ready. "It's almost too much +for my delicate constitution. I fear my health will be +undermined and my lovely complexion will be ruined."</p> + +<p>"He has seen us," declared Frank. "He knows we +are after him! It's going to be a hard chase."</p> + +<p>"How about June Arlington?" asked Bart.</p> + +<p>"When I gave Ben File my word to bring Cimarron +Bill back I was under arrest for kidnaping June Arlington. +Had I not made that promise I might still +be under arrest. I must keep my word to File. I +hope to do something for June later."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span></p> + +<p>So they rode into the scorching desert, seeming to be +gaining on the man ahead for a time.</p> + +<p>The sun poured down mercilessly. Alkali dust rose +and filled their nostrils. Red lizards flashed before +them on the ground at rare intervals. And far ahead +the black speck held into the distance.</p> + +<p>"He knows where he's going, fellows," said Frank. +"He's not the man to strike blindly into the desert. +He'll come to water and feed before his horse gives +out, and so we must find the same."</p> + +<p>But fate seemed against them. Afar on the desert +a haze arose and grew and became a beautiful lake, its +shores lined with waving trees. And in this mirage +the fugitive was swallowed up and lost. When the lake +faded and vanished the black speck could be seen nowhere +on the plain.</p> + +<p>"Vanished into a gully of some sort," said Frank. +"We must find just what has become of him."</p> + +<p>So they kept on; but in time they came to feel that +the search was useless. Water they had brought for +themselves, together with some canned food; but the +only relief they could give the horses was by pouring +a little water over a sponge and wiping out the dry +mouths of the poor animals.</p> + +<p>They were forced to turn aside and seek some hills, +where Frank felt certain there was a spring.</p> + +<p>Thus it was that nightfall found them at the spring, +but Cimarron Bill was gone, none of them knew where. +There was feed for the horses in the little valley, and +they made the best of it.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span></p> + +<p>Frank was far from pleased. Everything had gone +wrong since their arrival in Holbrook, and the prospect +was most discouraging.</p> + +<p>"By gum! it's too bad to hev to give it up," said +Ephraim.</p> + +<p>Frank shot him a look.</p> + +<p>"I have no intention of giving it up," he said. "But +I confess that I made one bad mistake."</p> + +<p>"What was that?"</p> + +<p>"I left Crowfoot back there in Schlitzenheimer's saloon +playing poker."</p> + +<p>"You think he'll be skinned, do you?" said Bart.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm not worrying about that. The old reprobate +can take care of himself. I knew it would be +almost impossible to drag him away from that game, +and that was why I did not bother with him. Didn't +want to lose the time. But that redskin can follow a +trail that would bother a bloodhound. If we had taken +him at the start, he'd never lost the scent."</p> + +<p>They lay on the ground and watched the heavens +fill with bright stars. The heat of the day melted into +coolness, and all knew it would be cold before morning.</p> + +<p>Frank had anticipated that they might have to +spend the night in this manner, and blankets had been +brought.</p> + +<p>They seemed alone in the wild waste, with no living +thing save their horses within miles and miles. So, +with no fear of attack, they wrapped their blankets +about them and slept.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span></p> + +<p>The wind swept almost icy through the little valley +before morning dawned. As the eastern sky grew pale +Frank opened his eyes and sat up.</p> + +<p>A moment later a shout from his lips aroused the +others.</p> + +<p>Merry was staring at a familiar figure in a dirty +red blanket. In their very midst old Joe lay stretched, +and apparently he had been sleeping as soundly as any +of them. Nor were his slumbers broken by Merry's +shout, which astounded Frank beyond measure, for +never before had he known the old fellow to sleep like +that. Always when he had stirred he had found the +beady eyes of the redskin upon him.</p> + +<p>"Behold!" said Jack Ready. "Lo, the noble red +man is again within our midst. But how came it +thus?"</p> + +<p>"Waal, may I be honswizzled!" grunted Gallup.</p> + +<p>Frank flung aside his blanket.</p> + +<p>"Something is the matter with him!" he said, in a +tone that indicated anxiety. "If there wasn't, he'd +not sleep this way. I wonder what it is. Is he dead?"</p> + +<p>But when the red blanket was pulled down it was +found that Joe lay with a quart bottle clasped to his +heart in a loving embrace. The bottle was fully two-thirds +empty.</p> + +<p>"That explains it!" said Merry, in deep disgust. +"The old dog is drunk as a lord! That's how we happen +to have the pleasure of finding him asleep. I'll +give any man fifty dollars who will catch him asleep +when he is perfectly sober."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What a picture he doth present!" said Ready. +"Look upon it! And yet there is something in it to +bring sadness to the heart. Behold how tenderly he +doth hold the long-necker to his manly buzzum! 'Tis +thus that many a chap hugs a destroyer to his heart."</p> + +<p>"The old sinner!" said Hodge. "I don't see how +he got here without arousing any of us. There's his +horse, picketed near the other animals."</p> + +<p>Frank stooped and tried to take the bottle from +Joe's clasp, but the sleeping Indian held it fast.</p> + +<p>"Go heap better five dol's," he muttered in his sleep.</p> + +<p>"He's still playing poker," said Frank.</p> + +<p>He gave Crowfoot a hard shake.</p> + +<p>"Wake up, you copper-colored sot!" he cried. +"Wake up and see what you've got in your hands."</p> + +<p>"Four king," mumbled Joe thickly. "Heap good!"</p> + +<p>At this the boys laughed heartily.</p> + +<p>"That's a pretty good hand!" said Frank. "It takes +four aces or a straight flush to beat it."</p> + +<p>Then he wrenched the bottle away, whereupon the +redskin awoke at once.</p> + +<p>"Mine! mine!" he exclaimed, sitting up.</p> + +<p>"It's poison," said Frank, and smashed the bottle.</p> + +<p>With a snarl of fury, the Indian staggered to his +feet and made for Merry, drawing a wicked-looking +knife.</p> + +<p>"Look out!" cried Gallup, in consternation.</p> + +<p>Frank leaped to meet old Joe, clutching his wrists +and holding him helpless, while he gazed sternly into +the bloodshot eyes of the drunken old man.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What's this, Crowfoot?" he demanded. "Would +you strike Strong Heart with a knife? Would you +destroy the brother of Indian Heart? Has the poison +firewater of the white man robbed you of your +senses?"</p> + +<p>"Firewater Joe's!" exclaimed the redskin. "No +right to spill um! No right! No right!"</p> + +<p>"I did it for your own good, Crowfoot," said Merry +quietly. "You are in bad shape now. I want you to +come out of it. You may be able to help us. What +you need is a good drink of water."</p> + +<p>"Ugh! Water heap good. Joe he take some."</p> + +<p>Immediately Frank released the old man's wrists, +and Joe slipped his knife out of sight with something +like a show of shame.</p> + +<p>In another moment Merry had his canteen, filled it +at the spring, and handed it to Crowfoot, who gravely +took it and began to drink. The boys stood around, +and their eyes bulged as the old man held the canteen +to his mouth, tipping it more and more skyward, a deep +gurgling coming from his throat. He continued to +drink until the canteen was quite emptied, when he +lowered it with perfect gravity, wiped his lips with the +back of his hand, and observed:</p> + +<p>"Joe him a little dry!"</p> + +<p>"Well, I should say so!" smiled Frank. "Your interior +must have been as parched as an alkali desert, +Joe."</p> + +<p>"If he takes many drinks like that," said Ready, +with a queer twist of his mug, "there'll be a drought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> +in this country that will make an ordinary dry spell +look like a back number."</p> + +<p>Crowfoot did not smile. Giving back the canteen, +he sat down on the ground, resting his elbows on his +knees and taking his head in his hands. He was the +picture of misery and dejection.</p> + +<p>"Injun big fool!" he groaned. "Last night feel +much good; to-day feel a lot bad. Big pain in head."</p> + +<p>"We've all been there many's the time," sang Jack +Ready softly.</p> + +<p>Then the eccentric chap sat down on the ground beside +the redskin, about whom he placed an arm.</p> + +<p>"Joseph," he said, "methinks I know how it is! I +have felt that way heap often. Ugh! Sick all over."</p> + +<p>Joe grunted.</p> + +<p>"Nothing worth living for."</p> + +<p>Another grunt.</p> + +<p>"Much rather be dead with the beautiful daisies +growing on my grave than living in such misery."</p> + +<p>Again a grunt.</p> + +<p>"Internal organs all out of gear, stomach on a strike, +head bigger than a barrel. Are those the symptoms, +Joseph?"</p> + +<p>"Much so," confessed old Joe.</p> + +<p>"Joseph, you have my sympathy. You've never +been to college, but you have received part of a college +education. I have taken my degree in that branch. +I'm a P. M. of J. C.—Past Master of Jag Carriers. +But I have reformed, and now 'lips that touch wine +shall never touch mine.' Joseph, I would reclaim you.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> +I would woo you tenderly from the jag path that +leadeth to destruction. It is broad and inviting at first, +but toward the finish it is rough, and hubbly, and painful +to travel. Pause while there is yet time. My +heart yearns to save you from destruction. Listen to +the pearly words of wisdom, that drop from my sweet +lips. Shun the jag juice and stick to the water-wagon. +Heed this advice and your days shall be long +ere you pass to the happy hunting-grounds."</p> + +<p>"Heap talk a lot," said Joe; "no say anything. +Make Injun lot sicker!"</p> + +<p>Gallup laughed heartily, slapping his knee.</p> + +<p>"That's right, by gum!" he cried. "The wind blows +ev'ry time Jack opens his maouth."</p> + +<p>"You are jealous," said Ready. "You are jealous +of my wisdom and eloquence. Get thee behind me, +Nose Talk! Your face is painful to look upon."</p> + +<p>"Don't you go to makin' that kind of gab!" snapped +Gallup. "If yeou do, dinged if I don't jolt ye one in +the slats!"</p> + +<p>"Such language! Slats! I'm shocked! Never have +you heard words of slang ripple from my tuneful vocal +chords. I disdain such frivolity! Slang gives me a +pain! Go lay down!"</p> + +<p>"Lay!" snorted Ephraim. "I'm no hen!"</p> + +<p>"Let's have breakfast," said Hodge. "We may as +well get on the move before it grows too hot."</p> + +<p>It did not take long to prepare breakfast, but old +Joe seemed to grow ill at the sight of food. All he +wanted was water, and he threatened to drink the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> +weak little spring dry. After a time, he seemed more +inclined to talk.</p> + +<p>"No ketch Cim'r'n Bill?" he said.</p> + +<p>"So you found out we were after him?" said Frank.</p> + +<p>"Ugh!" nodded the Indian. "Joe no big fool only +when firewater is to get. He play poke', all time him +keep ear open. Mebbe him learn a whole lot."</p> + +<p>"It's quite likely. If you had been with us yesterday, +we might have stuck to Bill's trail. Now it is +lost, and he may get away."</p> + +<p>"Crowfoot he know how find Bill."</p> + +<p>"What's that? You know how to find him?"</p> + +<p>"Ugh!"</p> + +<p>"Well, that is interesting, for I am bound to find +him. I gave Ben File my word to bring Bill back, +and I'm going to keep that promise. If you can +help——"</p> + +<p>"You bet!" grunted Joe.</p> + +<p>"How did you find out so much?"</p> + +<p>"Joe him take drink in saloon. Keep much careful +not git full. Make um believe so. Go sleep. Hear +men talk in whisper. Waugh! Find out a heap."</p> + +<p>"Well, you're a clever old rascal!" cried Merry; +"and I'm in love with you!"</p> + +<p>"Joe him play game pritty slick," said the Indian. +"Same time him get one, two, three drink. That bad. +Make um want heap more. Make um take firewater +when um git out town."</p> + +<p>"So you really got drunk because you were trying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> +to do me a good turn?" said Merry. "Joe, I appreciate +it! But what did you hear?"</p> + +<p>"Bill him go to Sunk Hole."</p> + +<p>"Sunk Hole?" cried Frank. "That place?"</p> + +<p>"Where's that?" asked Hodge, who was deeply interested.</p> + +<p>"Down in the White Mountain region, near the head +of Coyote Creek."</p> + +<p>"Why did you exclaim, 'That place?'"</p> + +<p>"Because it is a camp made up of the worst characters +to be found in the Southwest. It is a place +without law and order of any sort. Murderers, gamblers, +and knaves in general flee there when in danger. +They are banded together to defy the law. Travelers +who happen into that wretched place seldom come +forth. At times the ruffians quarrel among themselves +and shoot and kill with impunity. The people of the +Territory have more than once asked that the place +be invaded by troops and wiped off the map. It is a +standing disgrace."</p> + +<p>"An' Cimarron Bill has gone there?" asked Ephraim +Gallup, his eyes bulging.</p> + +<p>"So Joe says."</p> + +<p>"Waal, I ruther guess yeou'll take a couple of +thinks afore ye foller him any furder."</p> + +<p>"I shall follow him into Sunk Hole if I live!" declared +Merry grimly; "and I mean to bring him out +of the place, dead or alive. I do not ask the rest of +you to risk your lives with me. You are at liberty to +turn back. Joe——"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Him stick by Strong Heart!" declared the old Indian +quickly. "You bet!"</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Joe!" said Frank. "I shall need you +to show me the road to the place, for I have heard +Sunk Hole is not easy to find."</p> + +<p>"I hope," said Bart Hodge quietly, "that you do +not fancy for a moment that I'm not going with you? +I don't think you would insult me, Frank, by entertaining +such a thought. I shall be with you through +thick and thin."</p> + +<p>"Dear me!" said Ready. "How brave you are! +Please stand in the glow of the limelight where we +can admire your heroic pose! La! la! You are a +sweet creature, and one to make the matinée girls rave +with adoration."</p> + +<p>"Don't get so funny!" growled Hodge, who always +took Ready's chaffing with poor grace.</p> + +<p>"Softly! softly!" smiled Jack, with a flirt of his +hand. "Let not your angry passions rise. You can't +play the bold and fearless hero any better than can +your humble servant. I'm in this, and you want to +watch me and note what a bold front I put on. I'll +wager a lead nickle you will begin to think me utterly +fearless, and all the while, beyond a doubt, I'll be +shaking in my boots. Oh, I can make an excellent +bluff when I have to."</p> + +<p>"Bluff heap good sometime," said Crowfoot. +"Mebbe bluff take pot."</p> + +<p>"But it's a mighty poor thing if the other fellow +suspects and calls," said Jack.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Waal," drawled Gallup, "darn my punkins! I +s'pose I'm in fer it, but I kinder wisht I was to hum +on the farm."</p> + +<p>Frank knew the Vermonter well enough not to fancy +by those words that Ephraim was badly frightened. +It was Gallup's way of expressing himself, and, even +though he might be afraid in advance, the tall, lank +fellow always showed up well "in a pinch."</p> + +<p>"Then it's settled," said Merry. "We all go."</p> + +<p>"Joe him not talk all he find out," put in the Indian.</p> + +<p>"Is there more? Well, give it to us quick. There +are many miles of alkali between here and Sunk Hole."</p> + +<p>"Joe him hear men whisper 'bout gal."</p> + +<p>"Eh? About a girl?"</p> + +<p>"Ugh!"</p> + +<p>"Then it must be about June Arlington? What +did they say?"</p> + +<p>"Mebbe Bill him know where she is."</p> + +<p>"What?" cried Merry, clutching the redskin by the +arm. "Is that possible?"</p> + +<p>"Reckon um heap so."</p> + +<p>"Then there is a double reason why I should get +my hands on Cimarron Bill!"</p> + +<p>"Mebbe Joe he no hear right; no could ketch all +men whisper. He think gal she be took to Sunk +Hole."</p> + +<p>Frank reeled, his face going white.</p> + +<p>"Merciful Heaven!" he gasped. "June Arlington, +innocent little June! in that dreadful place? Come,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> +fellows, we must go! June Arlington there? The +thought is horrifying! If that is true, Cimarron Bill +may go free until I can do my best to get June out +of that sink of wickedness! Come, fellows—come!"</p> + +<p>"We are ready!" they cried, in response.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX.</a></h2> + +<h3>FRANK IN SUNK HOLE.</h3> + + +<p>The Great Dipper indicated by its position that the +hour was not far from midnight. Crowfoot halted +and pointed downward, where, in the gloom of a +round valley, a few lights twinkled.</p> + +<p>"Sunk Hole!" he said.</p> + +<p>"At last!" breathed Frank.</p> + +<p>The others stood in silence, looking down at those +lights. Suddenly they started, for to their ears came +the sound of music, dimly heard because of the distance.</p> + +<p>"Perchance my ears deceive me," said Ready; "but +I fancy I hear the soothing strains of a fiddle."</p> + +<p>"Sure as fate!" exclaimed Bart Hodge.</p> + +<p>"Listen!" cautioned Merry.</p> + +<p>There were other sounds, a sing-song cry at intervals, +and then hoarse laughter and several wild +whoops.</p> + +<p>"By gum!" exclaimed Gallup. "Saounds jest like +one of them air country dances they uster hev over to +Billing's Corners, Varmount. The boys called them +'hog wrastles.'"</p> + +<p>"See," said Merry, "there is one place that seems +more brightly lighted than the others. It's right in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> +the center of the other lights. Fellows, I believe there +is a dance going on down there!"</p> + +<p>"Just what I'm beginning to think," said Bart.</p> + +<p>"My! my! How nice!" exclaimed Jack. "Let's go +right down and get into it! Balance your partners +all! All hands around! Let her sizzle!"</p> + +<p>"That would be a splendid place for you to get into +a dance!" said Frank sarcastically.</p> + +<p>"But a dance there!" exclaimed Hodge.</p> + +<p>"It does seem mighty strange," agreed Frank. "Still +something of the kind is going on. Hear 'em yell!"</p> + +<p>And now they could faintly hear the sound of feet +keeping time to the music.</p> + +<p>"We've struck this place in a most excellent time to +get into it," said Merry. "I suppose one of us ought +to go back and watch the horses."</p> + +<p>The horses had been left in a little pocket some distance +behind and they had climbed on foot to the +point where they could look down into the round valley.</p> + +<p>"No need watch um now," said Joe. "Um hosses all +picket fast. We go down there, better go quick."</p> + +<p>"Correct," agreed Frank. "Just show us how to +get down."</p> + +<p>"Follow," said the redskin. "Take heap care."</p> + +<p>The path over which he led them, if path it may be +called, was precarious enough. At times they felt that +they were on the edge of some precipice, with a great +fall lying beneath. But the aged redskin went forward +with surprising swiftness, causing them all to strain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> +every nerve to keep up with him, and in time he +brought them down into the valley.</p> + +<p>"Take lot care," cautioned Crowfoot. "Have guns +reddy. No can tell. May have to use um 'fore git +out."</p> + +<p>"It's quite likely," said Merry grimly.</p> + +<p>So they all made sure that their pistols could be +drawn quickly and readily, and then they crept toward +the dark huts, from the windows of which lights +gleamed.</p> + +<p>The sounds of fiddling and dancing grew plainer and +plainer. Now and then a shout would awake the +echoes.</p> + +<p>"Where do they find their 'ladies' for a dance?" +asked Hodge wonderingly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, there are a few women in this hole," answered +Merry. "Perhaps others have come in."</p> + +<p>They reached the first hut and paused where they +could peer along the street, if such it could be called, +for the huts had been built here and there, so that the +road between them zig-zagged like a drunken man.</p> + +<p>In the very center of the place was the building, +somewhat larger than its neighbors, from which came +the sounds of revelry. Doors and windows were wide +open. The music having stopped, there might be heard +a hum of voices, and then the wild, reckless laugh of a +woman floated out upon the night air.</p> + +<p>Frank shuddered a little as he heard the sound, +which, to his ears, was more pitiful and appalling than +any cry of distress that could fall from female lips.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Poor creature!" he thought. "To what depths has +she fallen!"</p> + +<p>They went forward again, slipping around a corner, +and Merry stumbled and fell over the body of a man +that was lying prone on the ground.</p> + +<p>"Hold on!" he whispered. "Let's see what we have +here. It's a man, but I wonder if he is living or +dead."</p> + +<p>He knelt and felt for the man's heart.</p> + +<p>"Living all right," he declared; "but dead in one +sense—dead drunk! Whew! what a vile smell of +liquor!"</p> + +<p>"Let him lie," said Hodge.</p> + +<p>"I have a fancy to take a peep at him," said Frank. +"Hold still. I want a match. I have one."</p> + +<p>Bringing out a match, he struck it and shaded it +with his hands, throwing the light on the prostrate +man.</p> + +<p>The light of the match showed them that the fellow +was an unusually large Mexican, dressed after the +custom of his people in somewhat soiled finery.</p> + +<p>"Dead to the world!" sighed Jack Ready softly.</p> + +<p>The match died out in Frank's fingers, but Merry +did not rise.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing?" asked Jack. "Are you accumulating +his valuables?"</p> + +<p>"Hardly," said Merry. "I'm thinking."</p> + +<p>"Can such a thing make you think! What is passing +in your massive brain?"</p> + +<p>"I have an idea."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's more than Ready ever hed," muttered Gallup.</p> + +<p>"Fellows," said Frank, "this man's clothes ought to +be a fairly good fit for me."</p> + +<p>"Well, what of it?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to wear them. Get hold here, and we'll +carry him aside where there'll be little chance that any +one will stumble upon us. Let's move lively."</p> + +<p>They did as directed, although wondering why +Frank should wish to exchange clothes with the +drunken Mexican.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI">CHAPTER XXXI.</a></h2> + +<h3>THE DANCE IN SUNK HOLE.</h3> + + +<p>A low-ceiled room with a bar at the end near the +door. The odor of smoke, liquor, and perspiration. +The place lighted with oil-lamps having dirty chimneys. +The lights of the lamps dancing and flaring to +the stamp of many heavy-shod feet. A maze of human +beings whirling, shifting, prancing, and cutting +figures on the floor. Rough-looking men, bearded and +armed; disheveled women, their faces glowing with +excitement and from the effects of drink. At the far +end of the room an old man, mounted on a square box +and seated on a chair, sawing away for dear life +at his fiddle, while he called the figures in a sing-song +tone.</p> + +<p>And this was the way the fiddler called:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"First couple balance and swing,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Promenade the inside ring,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Promenade the outside ring,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Balance and swing and cast off six,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ladies to the right and gents to the left.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Swing the one you swung before,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Down the center and cast off four,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Swing the one that comes to you,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Down the center and cast off two."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The men were such as most women would avoid. +With few exceptions, they had wicked faces. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> +had been drinking, and at intervals some elated and +enthusiastic fellow would utter a blood-curdling yell.</p> + +<p>But the figures they cut were laughable at times. +They "spanked 'er down" furiously. They seized their +partners and swung them until often they were lifted +off their feet. But those were not the sort of women +to mind.</p> + +<p>Three or four of the citizens of Sunk Hole were +married. Two had daughters old enough to be present +at the dance. Other "ladies" had come in from the +surrounding country, brought there by their partners.</p> + +<p>There were a number of Mexicans in the crowd, +and three or four Mexican women.</p> + +<p>Into this smoky room came yet another Mexican, a +young man, dressed in soiled finery, his wide-brimmed +high-peaked hat shading his face. He had a little +mustache that was pointed on the ends, and he walked +with a swagger. Immediately on entering he made +for the bar and called for a drink.</p> + +<p>Had any one been watching him closely that person +must have noticed that he did not drink the stuff +put out to him, but slyly and deftly tossed the contents +of the glass into a corner under the bar.</p> + +<p>This newcomer was Frank Merriwell, who had disguised +himself as well as possible and boldly walked +into this den of ruffians.</p> + +<p>Having pretended to drink, Frank stood back in a +retired spot and looked the dancers over.</p> + +<p>In a moment his eyes fell on Cimarron Bill, who had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> +a Mexican girl for a partner and was enjoying himself +in his own peculiar way.</p> + +<p>Frank knew it would not be safe to come face to +face with Bill, although he saw at once that the desperado +had been drinking heavily and could barely +"navigate" through the mazes of the dance.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Gents chassé and put on style,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Resash and a little more style—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Little more style, gents, little more style,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>sang the fiddler; and the dancers strictly obeyed the +admonition by putting on all the style of which they +were capable.</p> + +<p>Under different circumstances Merry would have +been amused by the spectacle; and even now, for all +of his peril, he was greatly interested.</p> + +<p>Cimarron Bill was not habitually a hard drinker, +but on this occasion he had surprised everybody present +by the amount of whisky he had imbibed. He +seemed determined to get intoxicated, and it was plain +that he was making a success of it.</p> + +<p>Frank did not wish to dance if he could avoid it, +knowing he might be brought face to face with Bill +in the course of some of the figures.</p> + +<p>All around the sides of the room men were leaning +and looking on, some of them laughing and calling +to various dancers.</p> + +<p>"Go it, Seven Spot!"</p> + +<p>"Spank it down, Dandy!"</p> + +<p>"Steady, Pie Face! Your left hoof belongs to the +church!"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span></p> + +<p>"See Honeydew! He's a holy terror!"</p> + +<p>"Watch Lanky Jim cut a pigeon wing!"</p> + +<p>"Say, Big Kate can dance some! You bet your +boots!"</p> + +<p>"Hi! hi! There goes Sweet William, plumb off his +pins!"</p> + +<p>Now the fiddler was calling:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"First lady out to the right;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Swing the man that stole the sheep,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now the one that packed it home,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now the one that eat the meat,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now the one that gnawed the bones."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Frank found an opportunity to slip along the wall +toward the back of the room. No one seemed to pay +any attention to him until he accidentally stepped on a +big fellow's foot. Instantly he was given a shove, and +the man growled:</p> + +<p>"What in thunder ails ye, you yaller-skinned +greaser? Keep off my corns, ur I'll make hash o' you +with my toad-sticker!"</p> + +<p>"Pardon, seńor, pardon!" entreated Merry, in a soft +voice, with an accent that seemed perfectly natural. +"I deed not mean to do eet, seńor."</p> + +<p>"Ef I'd 'lowed ye did I'd sure slashed ye without +no talk whatever!" was the retort.</p> + +<p>Having no desire to get into trouble, Merry took +great pains to avoid stepping on another foot, and he +finally reached the point he sought. In the corner at +the far end of the room there was not so much light. +A bench ran along there, and Frank found a seat on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> +it, where he could lean against the thin board partition, +and he did not mind if some of the men stood +up before him so that he was partly screened.</p> + +<p>Merry knew full well that he had done a most reckless +thing in entering that place, where all around him +were ruffians and murderers; but there was something +about the adventure that he relished, and the danger +gave it a spice that was far from disagreeable.</p> + +<p>He thanked his lucky stars that this dance had given +him the opportunity to get in there without attracting +any more attention.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Meet your partner and all chaw hay,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You know where and I don't care,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Seat your partner in the old armchair."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>That particular dance ended with this call from the +fiddler; but there were no armchairs in which the +ladies could be seated, and Merry crowded up into the +corner in order to be as inconspicuous as possible and +to escape being disturbed.</p> + +<p>There was a general rush for the bar, the fiddler +getting down from his box and hastening across the +floor, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. +Some of the women accompanied their partners to the +bar and drank with them.</p> + +<p>Such depravity was not pleasant to witness, and +Merry felt pity for the fallen creatures. Sentiment, +however, he sought to put aside, thinking only of the +dangerous mission that had brought him into that nest +of gambolling tigers.</p> + +<p>Two men sat down near Merry. They had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> +dancing, and observed, with some lurid embellishments, +that it was hot. Then one of them said something +that interested Frank.</p> + +<p>"Bill's goin' it a whole lot stiff to-night."</p> + +<p>"That's whatever. Never saw him punish the razzle +juice this way afore."</p> + +<p>"You know why, mebbe."</p> + +<p>"Waal, I opine he's some irked up over his mistake +in Holbrook. First time he ever shot the wrong +gent. He warn't gunnin' fer File. It was another +galoot he was after."</p> + +<p>"I jedge that's the matter with him. Bandy tried to +joke him some about it, an' Bandy came mighty near +gettin' his."</p> + +<p>"Bandy's a dern fool! He should 'a' knowed better +than to shoot off his mouth at Bill."</p> + +<p>"I say so. But Bill he's a-playin' a right steep game +in that thar gal business."</p> + +<p>"Bill kin play his keerds. You let him alone."</p> + +<p>"No danger o' me chippin' in. They say the gal's +folks are a heap rich."</p> + +<p>"I opine so, else Bill he'd never taken so much +trouble over her."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I dunno; she's the purtiest leetle thing I ever +set my blinkers on. I 'lowed mebbe Bill was lookin' +some fer a wife."</p> + +<p>"Wife—northin'! He's lookin' fer the dust. Why, +he sent word as how he'd skin the galoot what dared +hurt her or even say somethin' impolite afore her."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Let me tell you somethin'."</p> + +<p>"Fire erway."</p> + +<p>"Han'some Charley has seen that gal, an' I 'low he's +taken a likin' to her a whole lot. Bill better look sharp, +ur Charley will sure get away with her."</p> + +<p>"I ain't the one to give Charley no advice, but if +I were, I'd whisper fer him to think twice afore tryin' +it."</p> + +<p>"Charley's some clever. Look, thar he is a-drinkin' +with Bill now. Say, pard, I've got an idee that Charley's +doin' his best to load Bill to-night. If that's so, +he's got somethin' up his sleeve, an' we want to look +right sharp fer a breeze afore this dance is over. I'm +goin' to stand ready to duck instanter when the shootin' +begins."</p> + +<p>Frank could peer past a man in front of him without +moving and see the person referred to as Handsome +Charley, who was drinking with Cimarron Bill +at the bar. This man was larger than Bill and heavier. +He had a flushed, reckless face that wore a smile nearly +all the time. He had a dark mustache and imperial, +and there was about him the atmosphere of a dashing +desperado.</p> + +<p>Charley at this time seemed very friendly with +Cimarron Bill, and it was plain that he was urging +Bill to drink again.</p> + +<p>"All right," thought Frank; "I'll watch you both."</p> + +<p>At this moment a man appeared in the open door +and looked timidly into the room.</p> + +<p>At sight of this man Frank gave a start in spite<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> +of his wonderful nerve, and it was only with the greatest +difficulty that he kept himself from crying forth +a name.</p> + +<p>Eliot Dodge, the crafty lawyer with the blue nose, +stood there in the door. No wonder Merry was astounded +to see that man appear in such a place and +at such a time.</p> + +<p>Dodge was rather pale, but an expression of relief +flashed over his face when his eyes fell on Cimarron +Bill. Then he stepped into the room.</p> + +<p>Bill seemed no less astonished, but he advanced to +meet Dodge, holding out his hand, which the lawyer +accepted.</p> + +<p>"However is this, Mr. Dodge?" inquired Bill. "I +sure am a whole lot surprised to meet up with you +here—that is, I'm surprised to have it occur so soon. +Will you wash the dust out of your throat?"</p> + +<p>"Don't care if I do," said Dodge, and they crowded +nearer to the bar.</p> + +<p>"Bill, I thinks mebbe you might present yer friend," +chipped in Handsome Charley.</p> + +<p>"Waal, Charley," said Bill, "this yere is Mr.——"</p> + +<p>"Lewis," interposed Dodge quickly.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Lewis," said Bill queerly. "Mr. Lewis, permit +me to make you acquainted with Charley Sears, +generally called Handsome Charley. Will you take +a little pisen with us, Charley?"</p> + +<p>Handsome Charley gave Dodge his hand, which the +lawyer shook gingerly, his coolness causing the fellow +to frown.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span></p> + +<p>They all drank, and Bill lurched, catching at the +edge of the bar.</p> + +<p>"'Scuse me," he said, with unusual politeness. "Always +makes me dizzy to dance. There is a right good +lot of whirlin' around in it, you know."</p> + +<p>Charley smiled.</p> + +<p>"You had a fine partner that last dance, Bill; but +you ought to bring out that handsome gal an' take a +spin with her, man. I 'low it ain't right to keep her +under kiver when every gent yere is yearnin' to set +eyes on her."</p> + +<p>"They'll have to keep right on yearnin'," averred +Bill, frowning.</p> + +<p>"You're gettin' a whole lot selfish," declared Charley. +"Are you afeared some other gent will git her +away from ye if you brings her out?"</p> + +<p>"None at all, Charley. But she ain't for this gang +to hustle around any, and that's level."</p> + +<p>At this the other seemed to take offense.</p> + +<p>"I opine, Bill," he said, "that you don't set yourself +up as a heap better than the rest of this gang?"</p> + +<p>The cruel face of Cimarron Bill took on an expression +that was a warning.</p> + +<p>"Charley," he said, in a low, smooth voice, with one +hand on the bar to steady himself, "I am willing to +confess that you disturbs me some. I has my reasons +for not bringin' the gal out, an' you'll sure excuse +me if I don't recite them none at present. Some other +time I may explain."</p> + +<p>But Charley persisted.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Some other time it will be too late," he said. "I'm +certain looking to dance one set with the little beauty +myself, Bill."</p> + +<p>"Sorry to disappoint you," returned Bill; "but the +young lady doesn't dance none, if you want to know +one good reason."</p> + +<p>"Well, at least, you can bring her forth and permit +us to gaze upon her a while," suggested Charley.</p> + +<p>"Not to-night," was the firm retort.</p> + +<p>"Then it certain will seem a heap like you thought +her too good for us, and the boys won't like that a +great deal if I tell 'em so."</p> + +<p>Bill leaned on the bar, his back against it and his +elbows resting so that his hands were close to his +hips. In that manner he stood perfectly steady, and +he was in a position to draw his pistols quickly.</p> + +<p>"Charley," he said, his voice like the purring of a +cat, all the thickness seeming gone from his tongue, +while his wicked eyes narrowed to two thin slits, "I +don't think you'll go for to say anything whatever to +the boys on this point. You are my friend, I opine. +Am I sure right on that?"</p> + +<p>At this juncture Handsome Charley realized all at +once that Bill was not yet drunk enough not to be +deadly. Charley's eyes noted in a flash how the man +had steadied himself and was ready for anything, and +Charley decided that the time was not yet ripe for +bringing on a quarrel.</p> + +<p>"Of course I'm your friend, Bill!" he said, with +pretended heartiness, "and whatever you says goes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> +with me. I was just speakin' because I has heard some +of the boys growlin' over this business. That's all."</p> + +<p>Bill smiled, but his smile was anything but pleasant.</p> + +<p>"If any o' the boys growl around in your hearin' +some more," he said, "refer 'em to me, please. I reckons +I can certain stop their growlin' in a hurry."</p> + +<p>"All right, all right!" nodded Charley.</p> + +<p>"And you, pard," Bill went on—"you, I judge, will +say to them that I know my business a-plenty, and +that you backs me up. Eh?"</p> + +<p>"Sure, sure, Bill."</p> + +<p>"I thought you would," nodded the desperado with +the deadly eyes. "I opined I could depend on you."</p> + +<p>"You bet! Have another drink, you and Mr. +Lewis?"</p> + +<p>"Excuse us, please," urged Bill. "I hates most +mortally to decline; but I has some business to transact +with Mr. Lewis, an' I says business first an' pleasure +arterwards. Arter we has settled the business I'll +stand up here to this yere bar an' drink with you as +long as the pisen lasts. Is that all satisfactory like?"</p> + +<p>This question was put in a manner that indicated +beyond question that it would be best for Charley to +acknowledge that it was satisfactory, and the acknowledgment +was made.</p> + +<p>"Thanks," bowed Bill. "You're a sure enough gent, +Charley, an' I'll shoot the galoot what says to the +contrary! An' now I reckons you'll excuse us a while.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> +Come, Mr. Lewis, thar's a small back room, an' we'll +jest step in thar."</p> + +<p>Through this Dodge had stood there pale to the lips, +with the exception of his blue nose, for he realized +that these men were on the verge of a disagreement, +and he understood that a disagreement between them +meant shooting in short order. Bill, however, had +won out by a display of calm assurance and nerve, +which was remarkable, considering his condition.</p> + +<p>The ruffian slipped an arm through that of Dodge, +and they crossed the floor and passed through a narrow +door just as the fiddler resumed his seat and called +for the men to select partners and form for the next +dance.</p> + +<p>Frank had watched every move, realizing full well +that there was a possibility of a "gun play" between +those two desperadoes. He was unable to hear what +passed between them, but still he fancied he knew the +bulk of it, and, in spite of himself, in spite of the +character of the man, he could not help admitting +Cimarron Bill's masterfulness. Frank comprehended +that Charley had thought at first of forcing a quarrel, +but had been cowed by Bill's manner.</p> + +<p>The agitation of Eliot Dodge was also quite apparent. +Merry had already marked Dodge down as a +coward.</p> + +<p>When the two men passed into the back room Frank +longed to follow them. He sat there, wondering what +course to pursue.</p> + +<p>That June Arlington was somewhere in Sunk Hole<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> +he now felt certain. The talk of the two men who had +been seated near him was assurance enough on that +point.</p> + +<p>But where was she? How was he to find and rescue +her? This task he now understood as the most +important one before him and the one to which he was +to give his attention at once, regardless of the capture +of Bill, which could be accomplished later.</p> + +<p>As he sat there, thinking the affair over and seeking +to decide on some course to pursue, he was surprised +and pleased to distinctly hear Bill speaking in the room +beyond the board partition. These boards were thin +and badly matched, so that there were large cracks at +intervals. One of these cracks happened to be just behind +Frank's head. By shifting his position slightly, +he brought his ear close to the crack.</p> + +<p>The fiddler was tuning up, and the rough men and +women were laughing as they formed on the floor for +the next dance.</p> + +<p>Frank was able to concentrate his mind on anything +he chose, at the same time becoming quite oblivious +to everything else; and now he shut out the sounds +of the room in which he sat and listened with all his +ability to hear what passed beyond the partition.</p> + +<p>"Sure, partner," Bill's voice was saying, "it surprises +me a whole lot to see you come pokin' in here. +However did you git here?"</p> + +<p>"Terry came with me all the way. You said he +would bring word to you from me, but I could not +wait. I wanted to have a talk with you face to face,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> +without trusting to any middle man. I felt that I +must do it, and that's what brought me here for one +thing."</p> + +<p>"Waal, here you are, and now open up. I'm ready +to listen to anything whatever you has to say."</p> + +<p>"In the first place," Frank distinctly heard Dodge +say, "Ben File is dead."</p> + +<p>"Say you so?" exclaimed Bill, and his voice indicated +regret. "I allow I'm a-plenty sorry."</p> + +<p>"It was bad work."</p> + +<p>"That's right. Don't know how I happened to do +anything like that. Never did afore. I saw Merriwell +make a jump, and I thought from the way he done it +the bullet sure had gone clean through him."</p> + +<p>"And you never touched him!"</p> + +<p>"Don't rub it in harder than you kin help, Mr. +Dodge!"</p> + +<p>"Hush! Don't speak that name here! It must not +get out that I'm in this game! It would ruin me!"</p> + +<p>"That's all right, pard; no danger. Hear the racket +out yonder in that room. Nobody would ever think o' +tryin' to hear what we're sayin'."</p> + +<p>"Still it will be better to keep on calling me Lewis. +It's a dangerous game we've tackled, and I want to +get it through in a hurry now. That's why I'm here."</p> + +<p>"Waal, whatever do you say is the next move?"</p> + +<p>"Merriwell got out of Holbrook right after you."</p> + +<p>"I knows it. The gent sure chases me a distance, +but he gits lost, together with his pards, some time +afore night."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, now is the time to make the demand on Mrs. +Arlington for the ransom money. It must be rushed +along. She's in a state of mind so that she'll be sure +to give up easy now. I've waited for this, and I find +she will pay well to have June returned to her unharmed."</p> + +<p>"That's a heap soothin' and agreeable news. I has +waited fer you to say when it was best to make the +demand on the old lady."</p> + +<p>"And I've waited until I felt sure she was so distressed +and agitated that she would yield. She did +not wish her husband to know of her presence here, +and so she sent no word to him at first. Now she has +wired him the whole facts, and we can reckon that he'll +be coming this way as fast as steam can carry him. +It's best to get the whole deal through, if possible, +before he shows up."</p> + +<p>"I'm for it."</p> + +<p>"You must write a demand on the woman for the +boodle. She has diamonds and jewels with her on +which she can raise ten thousand dollars. Make her +raise it at once. Don't let her delay. Frighten her +into it."</p> + +<p>"I opines I can do that. I'll give her a scorcher. +I'll tell her the gal is all safe an' onharmed, but she +has to plunk down instanter or I'll send her one o' +Miss June's fingers to hurry her up a leetle."</p> + +<p>"That will go. I think that ought to start her."</p> + +<p>"If you says so, I'll make it stiffer. What if I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span> +adds that one o' the gal's prittey hands will foller? +or an ear—mebbe that's better?"</p> + +<p>"As you choose. Say that the money is to be placed +in my hands to be delivered to your agent, who will +meet me on the open plain ten miles from Holbrook +in whatever direction you choose. Then I can ride +out with it and come back, and you can bring the girl +into town under cover of night."</p> + +<p>"I reckon that ought to work, partner. This yere +game is your plannin', an' I falls inter it because I +reckons it was easier than gittin' ahead o' Merriwell +an' seizin' the mine. Had I shot up Merriwell, instead +o' File, I'd 'a' called on the lady hard fer the +price, which, together with the money I'll get out o' +this strike, would have made me easy for a right good +while."</p> + +<p>"I'm against your idea of trying to saddle the kidnaping +onto Merriwell."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think it will go. Merriwell might return to +Holbrook. If the demand for money had his name +attached, his arrest would seem to put him where it +would be necessary for him to produce the girl. Mrs. +Arlington was for forcing him to do so when File +took him. Anything like that would cause delay, and +delay is something we do not want."</p> + +<p>"Mr.—ah—Mr. Lewis, you sure reasons correct. +We'll jest hitch a made-up name to the demand for +money, which will be a whole lot better."</p> + +<p>"I think so. And now let's write this demand, so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span> +that I may turn about and get out of this hole immediately. +You must furnish me with a fresh horse. I'm +supposed now to be searching for Merriwell, several +men in town having set out upon the same task, for +Mrs. Arlington offered a reward for his recapture. I +will be able to make a very satisfactory explanation of +my absence from Holbrook."</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII">CHAPTER XXXII.</a></h2> + +<h3>DEAD OR LIVING.</h3> + + +<p>Frank's feelings on listening to this talk, the greater +part of which he was able to hear very well, may be +imagined far more easily than described. At last he +was in full possession of the facts relating to the abduction +of June Arlington, and a greater piece of villainy +had never come to his knowledge. From +the first he had regarded Eliot Dodge as a scoundrel +of the worst type; but he had not gaged the man as +one who would enter into such a desperate scheme as +this.</p> + +<p>Merry had also learned that Ben File was dead, and, +therefore, he was released from his promise to bring +back Cimarron Bill.</p> + +<p>Immediately his one thought turned to June and to +the devising of some method of discovering her whereabouts +and going to her rescue. Later he could think +of other things; but not until this great object had +been accomplished.</p> + +<p>The voices of the men ran on in the little room, +though words grew fewer, and Merry knew the demand +for the ransom money was being written.</p> + +<p>For a moment he thought of the satisfaction it would +give him to expose the rascally lawyer and bring him +to the end of his tether. Then he saw Handsome<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> +Charley speaking quietly in the ear of a man, afterward +passing on to another and yet another. There +was something in Charley's manner that seemed very +significant.</p> + +<p>"There's trouble brewing for Bill," Frank decided. +"It's coming as sure as fate."</p> + +<p>He felt for his own weapons, making sure they were +where he could draw them and use them without delay; +but Frank did not propose to become involved in +the affair unless circumstances made it impossible to +keep out.</p> + +<p>Again he listened at the crack in the partition, hoping +that some word passed between Dodge and Bill +would tell him where June was hidden. In this Merry +was disappointed. True, Dodge asked about the girl +and Bill assured him that she was perfectly safe and +unharmed, but that was all.</p> + +<p>The dance was over and another was in progress +when Bill and Eliot Dodge came from that back room. +Handsome Charley and his satellites were watching +these two men. But they were permitted to pass to +the door, where Bill shook hands with Dodge, who +hurried forth into the night.</p> + +<p>"How is that, Bill?" demanded Charley, hastily approaching. +"I opine you agreed that you an' your +friend would sure drink with me arter your business +was over. I notices that he has hiked."</p> + +<p>Bill turned.</p> + +<p>"Count me in, Charley," he said easily. "Mr.—ah—Lewis, +he didn't hev time. My neck is again a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> +whole lot dry, and I'll be pleased to irrigate with +you."</p> + +<p>So they stood up to the bar, and Frank saw a number +of men drawing near from different directions, +all coming forward quietly.</p> + +<p>Charley openly expressed his disapproval of the conduct +of Eliot Dodge.</p> + +<p>"He certain was most onmannerly, Bill," he declared.</p> + +<p>"Forget it," advised Bill curtly.</p> + +<p>And this was not at all agreeable to the other.</p> + +<p>"Mebbe I can't do that none," said Charley; "but +I'll tell ye, Bill, what will help a whole lot."</p> + +<p>"Go ahead," said Bill.</p> + +<p>"You has right up-stairs in this same ranch a +young lady what is handsome enough to make any +gent fergit a wrong, an' her I most mightily wants +to bring down yere."</p> + +<p>Frank heard the words distinctly, and they gave +him a start. Handsome Charley was speaking of June +Arlington; there could be no doubt of that. He said +June was "up-stairs in that same ranch." At last +Frank had received the clue he was seeking.</p> + +<p>More than Merry saw trouble was brewing between +Charley and Bill, and now the attention of almost +every person in the room was directed toward them.</p> + +<p>Bill's face grew grim, and again his eyes narrowed +and glittered.</p> + +<p>"See yere," he said harshly, "I allows we has settled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> +the p'int in regard to her, an' so you lets it drop, +Charley."</p> + +<p>Frank knew that pistols would be out in a few seconds +more. He did not wait for the men to draw and +begin to shoot.</p> + +<p>There was no flight of stairs in the room where the +dance was taking place, and, therefore, he immediately +decided that the stairs might be found in the +back room, where the interview between Bill and Eliot +Dodge had taken place. The door leading into that +room was closed, but Frank slipped quickly to it, and it +readily opened before his hand.</p> + +<p>He found himself in a bare room, having but little +furniture, a table, a bed, some chairs, and, as Frank +had believed likely, a steep flight of stairs ran railless +up one side of the room, disappearing at a dark landing +above.</p> + +<p>In a twinkling Merry was bounding lightly up those +stairs, the sounds of loud and angry voices coming +from the dance-room, where the music and dancing +had now stopped.</p> + +<p>Frank knew that whatever he did must be done in +a hurry, for, allowing that in the trouble in the dance-room, +Handsome Charley should come forth triumphant +it was likely that June would be sought by +some of those ruffians.</p> + +<p>The thought of this spurred Merry on. He pictured +to himself the terror of the poor girl seized by those +men and dragged into the presence of the mob below.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span></p> + +<p>"They shall not touch her!" he muttered. "If I can +reach her, they shall not touch her!"</p> + +<p>Then he found himself, in the gloom of the landing, +against a heavy door. He sought to open it, but +it was locked.</p> + +<p>From below came the sound of a shot. Then there +were shouts and other shots.</p> + +<p>"The devils have broken loose!" exclaimed Merry, +and he wondered how it fared with Bill.</p> + +<p>In vain he felt for the fastenings of the door. His +heart smote him with the fear that it would withstand +any attack he might direct upon it.</p> + +<p>Then he found a match and struck it. The light +showed him something that made his heart leap with +satisfaction.</p> + +<p>Across the face of the door, lying in iron slots, was +an iron bar that held it fast.</p> + +<p>The match was dropped in a twinkling, and Frank's +fingers lifted the bar from the slots and its socket. +Then he easily opened the door.</p> + +<p>At that instant it seemed as if pandemonium broke +loose below. There was a perfect fusillade of shots, +hoarse shouts from men and wild shrieks from women. +There was likewise a terrible crash, as if some part of +the building had been ripped down.</p> + +<p>"June!" called Frank. "June! June!"</p> + +<p>The room in which he found himself was dark and +silent.</p> + +<p>"June! June! I am a friend! Answer me!"</p> + +<p>Still silence.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span></p> + +<p>Again he brought forth and struck a match. It +flared up in his fingers, and he lifted it above his +head, looking all around.</p> + +<p>Stretched on the floor in a huddled heap in one corner +was the body of a girl. The glance he had obtained +convinced him that it was June beyond question.</p> + +<p>Frank sprang forward, again speaking her name +and assuring her that he was a friend.</p> + +<p>In the darkness he found her with his hands. She +did not move when he touched her, and his fingers ran +to her face. It was cold as marble to the touch, and a +great horror filled his soul.</p> + +<p>"Merciful God!" he groaned, starting back a little. +"They have killed her. The devils!"</p> + +<p>The shock was so great that he remained quite still +on his knees for a few moments.</p> + +<p>He was aroused by the sound of heavy feet upon the +stairs.</p> + +<p>Frank sprang up and dashed across the room to the +door.</p> + +<p>The door leading into the dance-room had been left +wide open below. He saw that a number of men +had entered the back room, and already two or three +were on the stairs. Handsome Charley was at their +head.</p> + +<p>Frank was trapped!</p> + +<p>At once he realized that Cimarron Bill was, beyond +a doubt, lying in a pool of his own blood in the dance-room.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span> +At last the most desperate and dangerous man-killer +of the Southwest had met his master.</p> + +<p>Merry had little time, however, to think of anything +like this. His own life was in the utmost peril. He +drew his revolver, and, with the utmost coolness, put +a bullet through Handsome Charley's right shoulder.</p> + +<p>With a cry, the man fell back into the arms of the +one directly behind him, and that fellow was upset, +so that all were swept in a great crash to the foot of +the stairs.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps that will hold you for a while!" muttered +Frank, as he picked up the iron bar and promptly closed +the door at the head of the stairs.</p> + +<p>He had seized the bar because he thought it might +be a good weapon of defense in case his revolvers +should be emptied and he remained in condition to +fight. Now he thought of something else, and decided +that the bar might do for a prop at the door.</p> + +<p>"There ought to be some other way out of this +room," he muttered. "Isn't there even a window?"</p> + +<p>Again he struck a match, looking around with the +aid of its light.</p> + +<p>At the end of the long room in which he found himself +he fancied he must find a window. Toward this +end of the room he hurried, and another match disclosed +to him a window that was hidden by heavy +planking. Plainly the planks had been spiked over +the window after it was decided to hold June a prisoner +in that room.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span></p> + +<p>Down dropped the match, and instantly Frank attacked +the planks with the iron bar.</p> + +<p>Fortune must have favored him, for had it been +light he could not have been more successful. Every +stroke was effective, and he began ripping off the +planks.</p> + +<p>There was wild excitement below, and Merry prayed +for a little time. His heart was filled with a hope +that Handsome Charley's fate would be a warning +to others, so they would not be eager to rush up the +stairs to the door.</p> + +<p>In just about one minute he had torn the planks +from the window.</p> + +<p>Once more he heard men ascending the stairs. Instantly +he dashed across the floor, finding the door +in the darkness.</p> + +<p>"Halt!" he cried savagely, from behind the closed +door. "Halt, or I fire!"</p> + +<p>Then he sought to prop the door with the iron bar, +pressing it down in such a position that it might hold +for some moments against an ordinary attack upon it.</p> + +<p>"I'll shoot the first man who tries to open this door!" +he shouted.</p> + +<p>But he did not remain there to await an effort to +open the door. Instead he quickly found the girl in +the corner, lifted her limp body, and sought the window +once more.</p> + +<p>Reaching the window, Frank promptly kicked out +sash and glass with two movements of his foot.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span></p> + +<p>Bang! bang! bang!—sounded heavy blows on the +door behind him, but the iron bar was holding well.</p> + +<p>Merry swung his leg over the window-ledge. Desperate +as he was, he meant to venture a leap from the +window to the ground with the girl in his arms.</p> + +<p>But just then, pausing to look down, he was amazed +and delighted to see below him his four friends, who +were on the point of entering the building, led by Bart +Hodge. Instantly Frank hailed them.</p> + +<p>"Catch her!" he cried, swinging the girl out over +the window-ledge, so that they could see her below.</p> + +<p>Immediately Bart and Ephraim extended their arms +and stood ready.</p> + +<p>"Let her come!" shouted Hodge.</p> + +<p>Frank dropped the girl, and the two young men +clutched at her as she fell directly into their arms.</p> + +<p>At that moment the door behind Merry flew open +with a slam and the ruffians came bursting into the +room.</p> + +<p>One of them held a lighted lamp.</p> + +<p>The fellow in advance saw Frank in the window and +flung up his hand. There was a loud report and a +burst of smoke. When the smoke cleared the window +was empty, Frank having disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Nailed him!" shouted the ruffian who had fired. +"Nailed him for sure!"</p> + +<p>He rushed forward to the window and looked down, +expecting to discover the body of his victim stretched +on the ground. But in this he was disappointed, for +neither Frank nor his friends were beneath the window.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span> +Into the darkness of the crooked street some +dusky figures were vanishing.</p> + +<p>Frank had leaped from the window, being untouched +by the bullet that fanned his cheek in passing. He +struck on his feet, but plunged forward on his hands +and knees. In a moment he was jerked erect by some +one who observed:</p> + +<p>"Methinks your parachute must be out of order. +You descended with exceeding great violence. What +think you if we make haste to depart?"</p> + +<p>"Jack!" exclaimed Frank.</p> + +<p>"The same," was the assurance, as Ready clutched +his arm and started him on the run. "Dear me! I +know this strenuous life will yet bring me to my +death!"</p> + +<p>Ahead of them Frank saw some figures moving hastily +away.</p> + +<p>"The girl——"</p> + +<p>"They've got her," assured Jack. "Old Joe is with +them. We'll talk it over later."</p> + +<p>So they ran, well knowing the whole of Sunk Hole +would be looking for them within thirty minutes. It +did not take them long to come up with Bart, Ephraim, +and old Joe.</p> + +<p>Behind them there sounded shouts and commands, +and it was well the whole of Sunk Hole had been at +the dance, else the place must have been aroused so +that they would have run into some of its inhabitants. +Here and there amid the buildings they dodged until<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span> +they arrived at the edge of the collection and struck +out for the side of the valley, Crowfoot leading.</p> + +<p>It was necessary to trust everything to the old Indian. +Without him they could not have known with +any certainty that they were taking the proper course to +enable them to get out of the valley.</p> + +<p>The girl was passed from one to another as they ran. +They did not waste their breath in words.</p> + +<p>The old Indian ran with an ease that was astonishing, +considering his years.</p> + +<p>Looking back, they could see torches moving swiftly +here and there through the town, telling that the +search for them was being carried on.</p> + +<p>Soon they came to a steep gully that led upward, +and the ascent was very difficult, even at first. It +grew more and more difficult as they ascended, and it +became necessary for them to work slowly in the darkness, +the girl being passed upward from time to time, +as one after another took turns at creeping ahead.</p> + +<p>Joe did not seem to have much trouble, but he did +not bother with the girl. Finally he said:</p> + +<p>"Here come bad palefaces! Make some big hurry!"</p> + +<p>It was true that a party of men were running toward +the gully. Their torches danced and flared, showing +them with some distinctness.</p> + +<p>To the right and left in other parts of the valley +were clusters of torches.</p> + +<p>"Heap try to stop us," exclaimed Crowfoot. "One +way to go up there, 'nother way down there, this be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span> +'nother way. They know all. That how um come +here so fast."</p> + +<p>By the time the men with the torches reached the +foot of the gully Frank and his comrades were so far +above that they were not betrayed by the torchlight. +But one of the ruffians bade the others listen, and at +that very moment Ephraim Gallup dislodged a stone +that went clattering and rattling downward with a +great racket.</p> + +<p>Instantly a wild yell broke from the lips of the +ruffians below.</p> + +<p>"Here they are!" they shouted. "They're up here!"</p> + +<p>Then one of them began to blaze away with his pistols, +and the bullets whistled and zipped unpleasantly +close to the party above.</p> + +<p>Bart Hodge stooped and found some rocks as large +as ducks' eggs in the hollow of the gully. He knew it +would expose their position if he should answer the +fire with his revolvers, and so he simply hurled those +rocks with all the accuracy and skill that had made him +noted on the baseball diamond as a wonderful thrower +to second base.</p> + +<p>The first rock struck a fellow on the wrist and broke +it. The third hit another man on the shoulder, and +not many of the six Bart threw failed to take effect.</p> + +<p>Astonishing though it seemed, this method of retorting +to the shooting proved most effective, and the +ruffians scattered to get out of the way, swearing horribly.</p> + +<p>The fugitives continued till the top of the gully was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span> +reached and they struck something like a natural path +that soon took them where they could no longer see +the valley nor hear their enemies.</p> + +<p>Knowing they would be followed still farther, they +halted not for a moment until their horses were +reached. Then they paused only to make ready and +swing into the saddle.</p> + +<p>Even as June was passed up to Frank she sighed and +seemed to come a little to herself. And as they rode +into the dusk of the night she recovered consciousness, +the cool breeze fanning her face. She wondered and +shuddered until she heard the voice of Frank Merriwell +reassuring her, and then she was certain that it +was all a dream. In her prison room she had listened +with shaking soul to the sounds from below, she had +crept to the barred door and heard Cimarron Bill and +Eliot Dodge talking below, and the horror of knowing +the rascally lawyer was in the plot that had brought +about her abduction and detention in that den had been +a fearful shock to her. When the quarreling and the +shooting began, she was filled with mortal dread. She +heard some one on the stairs and fumbling at her door, +and then, kneeling in a corner of the room, all the +world slipped away from her, and she remembered +nothing more until she awoke in the arms of her +brave rescuer, Frank Merriwell.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a href="#CONTENTS" name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII">CHAPTER XXXIII.</a></h2> + +<h3>THE RETURN TO HOLBROOK.</h3> + + +<p>Haggard from worriment and need of sleep, her face +seeming drawn and old, her eyes feeling like coals in +her throbbing head, Mrs. Arlington welcomed Eliot +Dodge, who came into the room, looking dejected yet +seeming to appear hopeful.</p> + +<p>"June! June, my child?" cried the tortured mother. +"Have you no news of her?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing but—this," said Dodge, pulling out an unsealed +letter.</p> + +<p>Then he briefly told of being held up by three ruffians, +who had given him the letter.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Arlington read it, and fell half-fainting on the +couch, while Dodge bent over her with protestations +of sympathy.</p> + +<p>"My poor girl!" gasped the miserable woman. "And +she is in the power of such monsters! The ransom +money must be paid! She must be saved at once!"</p> + +<p>"Is there no way to avoid paying the money?" said +Dodge. "Is it not possible she may be saved in some +other manner?"</p> + +<p>"I think it is," said a clear voice, as the door was +thrust open and Frank Merriwell, covered from head +to heel with the dust of the desert, escorted the rescued<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span> +girl into the room. "Mrs. Arlington, I have +brought you your daughter."</p> + +<p>With a scream of joy, Mrs. Arlington leaped up and +June ran into her arms.</p> + +<p>Eliot Dodge seemed to turn green. He stood and +stared at the girl in a sort of blank stupor, failing to +observe that just behind Frank Merriwell, who still +wore the clothes taken from the intoxicated Mexican, +there was the officer newly appointed to fill the place +left vacant by the death of Ben File.</p> + +<p>"June! June! June!" cried Mrs. Arlington, her face +flushed with gladness. "Is it you, my poor girl! I +can scarcely believe it! How does it happen? Tell me +how you come to be here!"</p> + +<p>"I am here, mother, because I was rescued from +those horrible ruffians by that brave gentleman whom +you have so greatly wronged, Frank Merriwell. He +risked his life for me. I will tell you all, but first—first +I must tell you that you have trusted a snake. I +mean that monster there!"</p> + +<p>She pointed her finger at Dodge, who started and +looked startled, but pretended the utmost amazement.</p> + +<p>"He is the villain who planned it all!" declared June. +"I know, for I heard them talk it over. But he shall +not escape!"</p> + +<p>"I hardly think so," said Frank. "Officer, he is a +desperate man. Be careful of him."</p> + +<p>"This is an outrage!" declared Dodge, as the new +city marshal grasped him. "I'll not permit it! +I——"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span></p> + +<p>Frank clutched him on the other side, and, a moment +later, the officer had ironed his prisoner.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Arlington would have interfered, but Merry +declared he had sworn out the warrant for Dodge's +arrest, and she saw it was useless.</p> + +<p>"Madam," said Frank, "I will leave you alone with +your daughter. When she has told you all, you will +be ready, I am confident, to prosecute Eliot Dodge. I +shall then withdraw my charge and permit you to have +him arrested. In the meantime I bid you good day. +I shall be in this hotel for the next day or so."</p> + +<p>He bowed gracefully to both Mrs. Arlington and +June and left the room.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>When there was plenty of time, Frank and his +friends talked it over. He told them of his experience +in the dance-room, and they told him how they +had lingered near, ready to rush to his rescue. When +they heard the sounds of the quarrel between Cimarron +Bill and Handsome Charley they hurried to the door, +but there they halted, for they looked in and saw +nothing of Frank. Thus it was that they beheld the +shooting of Bill as he tried to draw on Charley. He +was shot down from behind by Charley's tools, and +they fired several bullets into his body as he lay weltering +on the floor.</p> + +<p>Frank shook his head as he heard this account of +Bill's end.</p> + +<p>"He was a bad man, a very bad man," he said; "but +somehow I'm sorry that he met his end that way. +They had to shoot him from the rear. Not one of them +dared pull on him face to face."</p> + +<p>Frank received a brief letter from Mrs. Arlington, +thanking him for what he had done for her daughter. +Not one word did she say of her own malevolence +toward him, not one word of the manner in which +she had wronged him. And the doctor, who brought +the letter, told Merry that she was in such a precarious +condition that she could not write more, nor could +she be seen by any one but June.</p> + +<p>Frank smiled grimly, disdainfully, over the letter, +then deliberately tore it into shreds.</p> + +<p>But he had proved his manhood, and June Arlington, +for all of her mother, found time to see him a few +moments before he left town. After that brief time +with June he rode light-heartedly away, his friends +galloping at his side and listening to the cowboy song +that came from his lips.</p> + + +<p> </p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + + +<h3><a name="Transcribers_Notes" id="Transcribers_Notes">Transcriber's Notes:</a></h3> + +<blockquote> +<p>Because of extensive use of dialect, all apparent +errors within dialogue have been assumed intentional +and retained.</p> + +<p>Page 5, "Merriell's" changed to "Merriwell's" (Frank +Merriwell's Rough Deal)</p> + +<p>Page 24, changed erroneous period to comma ("I have +no desire or intention of irking you up, sir," he said.)</p> + +<p>Page 27, "referrring" changed to "referring" (Certain +papers referring to the Queen Mystery and San Pablo +Mines, which I own.)</p> + +<p>Page 93, added missing opening quote ("I think I'll finish +you!")</p> + +<p>Page 213, "Cimaroon" changed to "Cimarron" (Cimarron +Bill watched his tool depart, smiling darkly and muttering +to himself)</p> + +<p>Page 216, removed extraneous quote after "hurriedly" ("Oh, +velly good, velly good!" answered the Celestial hurriedly, +backing off a little, his face yellowish white.)</p> + +<p>Page 217, "cant" changed to "can't" ("I can't beat him at +his own game.")</p> + +<p>Page 300, changed single quote to double quote at end of +sentence ("In the first place," Frank distinctly heard +Dodge say, "Ben File is dead.")</p> + +<p>Page 318, "Merriwel" changed to "Merriwell" (He stood and +stared at the girl in a sort of blank stupor, failing to +observe that just behind Frank Merriwell, who still wore +the clothes taken from the intoxicated Mexican, there was +the officer newly appointed to fill the place left vacant +by the death of Ben File.)</p> +</blockquote> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK MERRIWELL'S BACKERS***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 39433-h.txt or 39433-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/9/4/3/39433">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/4/3/39433</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Standish + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Frank Merriwell's Backers + The Pride of His Friends + + +Author: Burt L. Standish + + + +Release Date: April 12, 2012 [eBook #39433] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK MERRIWELL'S BACKERS*** + + +E-text prepared by Roger Frank, Demian Katz, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +FRANK MERRIWELL'S BACKERS + + * * * * * + +EXCELLENT BOOKS OF GENEROUS LENGTH + + +THE NEW MEDAL LIBRARY + + _Issued Every Week._ :: _Price, 15 Cents_ + +This is a line of books for boys that is of peculiar excellence. There +is not a title in it that would not readily sell big if published in +cloth-bound edition at $1.00. One of the best features about these books +is that they are all of the highest moral tone, containing nothing that +could be objectionable to the most particular parents. Next in +importance, comes interest, with which every one of these books fairly +teems. No more vigorous or better literature for boys has ever been +published. New titles by high-priced authors are constantly being added, +making it more and more impossible for any publisher to imitate this +line. + + +ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT + + TO THE PUBLIC:--These books are sold by news dealers everywhere. If + your dealer does not keep them, and will not get them for you, send + direct to the publishers, in which case four cents must be added to + the price per copy to cover postage. + + 150--Frank Merriwell's School Days By Burt L. Standish + 167--Frank Merriwell's Chums By Burt L. Standish + 178--Frank Merriwell's Foes By Burt L. Standish + 184--Frank Merriwell's Trip West By Burt L. Standish + 189--Frank Merriwell Down South By Burt L. Standish + 193--Frank Merriwell's Bravery By Burt L. Standish + 197--Frank Merriwell's Hunting Tour By Burt L. Standish + 201--Frank Merriwell in Europe By Burt L. Standish + 205--Frank Merriwell at Yale By Burt L. Standish + 209--Frank Merriwell's Sports Afield By Burt L. Standish + 213--Frank Merriwell's Races By Burt L. Standish + 217--Frank Merriwell's Bicycle Tour By Burt L. Standish + 225--Frank Merriwell's Courage By Burt L. Standish + 229--Frank Merriwell's Daring By Burt L. Standish + 233--Frank Merriwell's Athletes By Burt L. Standish + 237--Frank Merriwell's Skill By Burt L. Standish + 240--Frank Merriwell's Champions By Burt L. Standish + 244--Frank Merriwell's Return to Yale By Burt L. Standish + 247--Frank Merriwell's Secret By Burt L. Standish + 251--Frank Merriwell's Danger By Burt L. Standish + 254--Frank Merriwell's Loyalty By Burt L. Standish + 258--Frank Merriwell in Camp By Burt L. Standish + 262--Frank Merriwell's Vacation By Burt L. Standish + 267--Frank Merriwell's Cruise By Burt L. Standish + 271--Frank Merriwell's Chase By Burt L. Standish + 276--Frank Merriwell in Maine By Burt L. Standish + 280--Frank Merriwell's Struggle By Burt L. Standish + 284--Frank Merriwell's First Job By Burt L. Standish + 288--Frank Merriwell's Opportunity By Burt L. Standish + 292--Frank Merriwell's Hard Luck By Burt L. Standish + 296--Frank Merriwell's Protege By Burt L. Standish + 300--Frank Merriwell On the Road By Burt L. Standish + 304--Frank Merriwell's Own Company By Burt L. Standish + 308--Frank Merriwell's Fame By Burt L. Standish + 312--Frank Merriwell's College Chums By Burt L. Standish + 316--Frank Merriwell's Problem By Burt L. Standish + 320--Frank Merriwell's Fortune By Burt L. Standish + 324--Frank Merriwell's New Comedian By Burt L. Standish + 328--Frank Merriwell's Prosperity By Burt L. Standish + 332--Frank Merriwell's Stage Hit By Burt L. Standish + 336--Frank Merriwell's Great Scheme By Burt L. Standish + 340--Frank Merriwell in England By Burt L. Standish + 344--Frank Merriwell On the Boulevards By Burt L. Standish + 348--Frank Merriwell's Duel By Burt L. Standish + 352--Frank Merriwell's Double Shot By Burt L. Standish + 356--Frank Merriwell's Baseball Victories By Burt L. Standish + 359--Frank Merriwell's Confidence By Burt L. Standish + 362--Frank Merriwell's Auto By Burt L. Standish + 365--Frank Merriwell's Fun By Burt L. Standish + 368--Frank Merriwell's Generosity By Burt L. Standish + 371--Frank Merriwell's Tricks By Burt L. Standish + 374--Frank Merriwell's Temptations By Burt L. Standish + 376--The Rockspur Eleven By Burt L. Standish + 377--Frank Merriwell on Top By Burt L. Standish + 379--The Young Railroader's Wreck By Stanley Norris + 380--Frank Merriwell's Luck By Burt L. Standish + 381--Chums of the Prairie By St. George Rathborne + 382--The Yankee Middy By Oliver Optic + 383--Frank Merriwell's Mascot By Burt L. Standish + 384--Saved by the Enemy By Ensign Clark Fitch, U. S. N. + 385--The Young Railroader's Victory By Stanley Norris + 386--Frank Merriwell's Reward By Burt L. Standish + 387--Brave Old Salt By Oliver Optic + 388--Jack Harkaway's Struggles By Bracebridge Hemyng + 389--Frank Merriwell's Phantom By Burt L. Standish + 390--Frank's Campaign By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 391--The Rockspur Rivals By Burt L. Standish + 392--Frank Merriwell's Faith By Burt L. Standish + 393--The Starry Flag By Oliver Optic + 394--The Young Railroader's Long Run By Stanley Norris + 395--Frank Merriwell's Victories By Burt L. Standish + 396--Jack Brown, the Hero By Herbert Strang + 397--Breaking Away By Oliver Optic + 398--Frank Merriwell's Iron Nerve By Burt L. Standish + 399--Jack Lightfoot, the Athlete By Maxwell Stevens + 400--Tom Temple's Career By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 401--Frank Merriwell in Kentucky By Burt L. Standish + 402--The Young Railroader's Comrade By Stanley Norris + 403--Jack Harkaway Among the Brigands Bracebridge Hemyng + 404--Frank Merriwell's Power By Burt L. Standish + 405--Seek and Find By Oliver Optic + 406--Dan, the Newsboy By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 407--Frank Merriwell's Shrewdness By Burt L. Standish + 408--Young Tom Burnaby By Herbert Strang + 409--The Young Railroader's Promotion By Stanley Norris + 410--Frank Merriwell's Setback By Burt L. Standish + 411--Jack Lightfoot's Crack Nine By Maxwell Stevens + 412--Freaks of Fortune By Oliver Optic + 413--Frank Merriwell's Search By Burt L. Standish + 414--The Train-boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 415--Jack Harkaway's Return By Bracebridge Hemyng + 416--Frank Merriwell's Club By Burt L. Standish + 417--The Young Railroader's Chance By Stanley Norris + 418--Make or Break By Oliver Optic + 419--Frank Merriwell's Trust By Burt L. Standish + 420--Jack Lightfoot Trapped By Maxwell Stevens + 421--The Errand-boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 422--Frank Merriwell's False Friend By Burt L. Standish + 423--The Young Railroader's Luck By Stanley Norris + 424--Down the River By Oliver Optic + 425--Frank Merriwell's Strong Arm By Burt L. Standish + 426--Jack Lightfoot's Rival By Maxwell Stevens + 427--The Rockspur Nine By Burt L. Standish + 428--Frank Merriwell as Coach By Burt L. Standish + 429--Paul Prescott's Charge By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 430--Through by Daylight By Oliver Optic + 431--Frank Merriwell's Brother By Burt L. Standish + 432--The Young Railroader's Challenge By Stanley Norris + 433--The Young Inventor By G. Manville Fenn + 434--Frank Merriwell's Marvel By Burt L. Standish + 435--Lightning Express By Oliver Optic + 436--The Telegraph Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 437--Frank Merriwell's Support By Burt L. Standish + 438--Jack Lightfoot in Camp By Maxwell Stevens + 439--The Young Railroader's Hard Task By Stanley Norris + 440--Dick Merriwell at Fardale By Burt L. Standish + 441--On Time By Oliver Optic + 442--The Young Miner By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 443--Dick Merriwell's Glory By Burt L. Standish + 444--Jack Lightfoot's Canoe Trip By Maxwell Stevens + 445--The Young Railroader's Sealed Orders By Stanley Norris + 446--Dick Merriwell's Promise By Burt L. Standish + 447--Switch Off By Oliver Optic + 448--Tom Thatcher's Fortune By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 449--Dick Merriwell's Rescue By Burt L. Standish + 450--Jack Lightfoot's Iron Arm By Maxwell Stevens + 451--The Young Railroader's Ally By Stanley Norris + 452--Dick Merriwell's Narrow Escape By Burt L. Standish + 453--Brake Up By Oliver Optic + 454--Tom Turner's Legacy By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 455--Dick Merriwell's Racket By Burt L. Standish + 456--Jack Lightfoot's Hoodoo By Maxwell Stevens + 457--The Go-ahead Boys By Gale Richards + 458--Dick Merriwell's Revenge By Burt L. Standish + 459--The Young Railroader's Mascot By Stanley Norris + 460--Bear and Forbear By Oliver Optic + 461--Dick Merriwell's Ruse By Burt L. Standish + 462--Ben Bruce By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 463--Jack Lightfoot's Decision By Maxwell Stevens + 464--Dick Merriwell's Delivery By Burt L. Standish + 465--The Young Railroader's Contest By Stanley Norris + 466--The Go-ahead Boys' Legacy By Gale Richards + 467--Dick Merriwell's Wonders By Burt L. Standish + 468--Bernard Brook's Adventures By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 469--Jack Lightfoot's Gun Club By Maxwell Stevens + 470--Frank Merriwell's Honor By Burt L. Standish + 471--Gascoyne, the Sandal Wood Trader By R. M. Ballantyne + 472--Paul Hassard's Peril By Matt Royal + 473--Dick Merriwell's Diamond By Burt L. Standish + 474--Phil, the Showman By Stanley Norris + 475--A Debt of Honor By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 476--Frank Merriwell's Winners By Burt L. Standish + 477--Jack Lightfoot's Blind By Maxwell Stevens + 478--Marooned By W. Clark Russell + 479--Dick Merriwell's Dash By Burt L. Standish + 480--Phil's Rivals By Stanley Norris + 481--Mark Manning's Mission By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 482--Dick Merriwell's Ability By Burt L. Standish + 483--Jack Lightfoot's Capture By Maxwell Stevens + 484--A Captain at Fifteen By Jules Verne + 485--Dick Merriwell's Trap By Burt L. Standish + 486--Phil's Pluck By Stanley Norris + 487--The Wreck of the _Grosvenor_ By W. Clark Russell + 488--Dick Merriwell's Defense By Burt L. Standish + 489--Charlie Codman's Cruise By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 490--Jack Lightfoot's Head Work By Maxwell Stevens + 491--Dick Merriwell's Model By Burt L. Standish + 492--Phil's Triumph By Stanley Norris + 493--A Two Years' Vacation By Jules Verne + 494--Dick Merriwell's Mystery By Burt L. Standish + 495--The Young Explorer By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 496--Jack Lightfoot's Wisdom By Maxwell Stevens + 497--Frank Merriwell's Backers By Burt L. Standish + 498--Ted Strong, Cowboy By Edward C. Taylor + 499--From Circus to Fortune By Stanley Norris + 500--Dick Merriwell's Back-stop By Burt L. Standish + 501--Sink or Swim By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 502--For the Right By Roy Franklin + 503--Dick Merriwell's Western Mission By Burt L. Standish + 504--Among the Cattlemen By Edward C. Taylor + 505--A Legacy of Peril By William Murray Graydon + 506--Frank Merriwell's Rescue By Burt L. Standish + 507--The Young Musician By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 508--"A Gentleman Born" By Stanley Norris + 509--Frank Merriwell's Encounter By Burt L. Standish + 510--Black Mountain Ranch By Edward C. Taylor + 511--The Boy Conjurer By Victor St. Clair + 512--Dick Merriwell's Marked Money By Burt L. Standish + 513--Work and Win By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 514--Fighting for Fortune By Roy Franklin + 515--Frank Merriwell's Nomads By Burt L. Standish + 516--With Rifle and Lasso By Edward C. Taylor + 517--For His Friend's Honor By Stanley Norris + 518--Dick Merriwell on the Gridiron By Burt L. Standish + 519--The Backwoods Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 520--The Young Range Riders By St. George Rathborne + 521--Dick Merriwell's Disguise By Burt L. Standish + 522--Lost in the Desert By Edward C. Taylor + 523--Building Himself Up By Oliver Optic + 524--Dick Merriwell's Test By Burt L. Standish + 525--Adrift in Midair By Ensign Clarke Fitch + 526--True to His Trust By Stanley Norris + 527--Frank Merriwell's Trump Card By Burt L. Standish + 528--Lyon Hart's Heroism By Oliver Optic + 529--Fighting the Rustlers By Edward C. Taylor + 530--Frank Merriwell's Strategy By Burt L. Standish + 531--Digging for Gold By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 532--Wyoming By Edward S. Ellis + 533--Frank Merriwell's Triumph By Burt L. Standish + 534--Louis Chiswick's Mission By Oliver Optic + 535--Facing the Music By Stanley Norris + 536--Dick Merriwell's Grit By Burt L. Standish + 537--Stemming the Tide By Roy Franklin + 538--Adrift in the City By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 539--Dick Merriwell's Assurance By Burt L. Standish + 540--Royal Tarr's Pluck By Oliver Optic + 541--Holding the Fort By Ensign Clarke Fitch + 542--Dick Merriwell's Long Slide By Burt L. Standish + 543--Two Ways of Becoming a Hunter By Harry Castlemon + 544--The Rival Miners By Edward C. Taylor + 545--Frank Merriwell's Rough Deal By Burt L. Standish + 546--The Professor's Son By Oliver Optic + 547--Frank Hunter's Peril By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 548--Dick Merriwell's Threat By Burt L. Standish + 549--Fin and Feather By Wallace Kincaid + 550--Storm Mountain By Edward S. Ellis + 551--Dick Merriwell's Persistence By Burt L. Standish + 552--Striving for His Own By Oliver Optic + 553--Winning by Courage By Roy Franklin + 554--Dick Merriwell's Day By Burt L. Standish + 555--Robert Coverdale's Struggle By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 556--The West Point Boys By Col. J. Thomas Weldon + 557--Frank Merriwell's Peril By Burt L. Standish + 558--The Last of the Herd By Edward C. Taylor + 559--Making a Man of Himself By Oliver Optic + 560--Dick Merriwell's Downfall By Burt L. Standish + 561--Winning Against Odds By Roy Franklin + 562--The Camp in the Foothills By Harry Castlemon + 563--Frank Merriwell's Pursuit By Burt L. Standish + 564--The Naval Academy Boys Commander Luther G. Brownell + 565--Every Inch a Boy By Oliver Optic + 566--Dick Merriwell Abroad By Burt L. Standish + 567--On a Mountain Trail By Edward C. Taylor + 568--The Plebes' Challenge By Col. J. Thomas Weldon + 569--Frank Merriwell in the Rockies By Burt L. Standish + 570--Lester's Luck By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 571--His Own Helper By Oliver Optic + 572--Dick Merriwell's Pranks By Burt L. Standish + 573--Bound to Get There By Roy Franklin + 574--An Annapolis Tangle By Commander Luther G. Brownell + 575--Frank Merriwell's Pride By Burt L. Standish + 576--Across the Prairie By Edward C. Taylor + 577--Honest Kit Dunstable By Oliver Optic + 578--Frank Merriwell's Challengers By Burt L. Standish + 579--The Runaway Cadet By Col. J. Thomas Weldon + 580--Jack Harkaway Around the World Bracebridge Hemyng + 581--Frank Merriwell's Endurance By Burt L. Standish + 582--Out for Big Game By Edward C. Taylor + 583--The Young Pilot By Oliver Optic + 584--Dick Merriwell's Cleverness By Burt L. Standish + 585--Oscar in Africa By Harry Castlemon + 586--Rupert's Ambition By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 587--Frank Merriwell's Marriage By Burt L. Standish + 588--The Pride of Annapolis By Com. Luther G. Brownell + 589--The Cruise of the "Dandy" By Oliver Optic + 590--Dick Merriwell, the Wizard By Burt L. Standish + 591--Captain Nemo's Challenge By Edward C. Taylor + 592--The Cabin in the Clearing By Edward S. Ellis + 593--Dick Merriwell's Stroke By Burt L. Standish + 594--Frank and Fearless By Horatio Alger, Jr. + 595--Three Young Silver Kings By Oliver Optic + 596--Dick Merriwell's Return By Burt L. Standish + 597--His Own Master By Roy Franklin + 598--An Annapolis Adventure By Com. Luther G. Brownell + 599--Dick Merriwell's Resource By Burt L. Standish + 600--Ted Strong's Close Call By Edward C. Taylor + + * * * * * + +LOOK FOR THE S. & S. IMPRINT + + +For fifteen years the S. & S. Novel has held first place in the +estimation of readers who want, first of all, good, clean, interesting +fiction and _then_ a sufficient number of "_words_" to make them feel +that the book is worth what they paid for it--if not more. + +Mere "_words_" do not make a story, nor should a colored cover and heavy +paper deceive the reading public into thinking that an imitation of the +S. & S. Novel is as good as the original. + +Unscrupulous publishers are now trying to defraud the reading public. +Taking certain of the S. & S. Novels, which are not protected by +copyright, they change the titles and authors' names, and sell books at +fifteen cents, the authentic editions of which may be had in the S. & S. +Edition for ten cents! Hence, a word of caution to our readers: + + +_LOOK FOR THE S. & S. IMPRINT_ + + It is a guarantee of quality and protects you + + Send a 2c. stamp for our complete catalogue + + +STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS NEW YORK + + * * * * * + +"ALGER" + + +What a pleasant sound the name of Horatio Alger, Jr., has to boys who +read clean, wholesome stories of adventure! + +His name on a book means that it is a "good one"; that the money +invested in it is well invested. + +Street & Smith publish the most complete list of his works in their +famous S. & S. novels--it contains nearly all of them. + +If you want your boys to read helpful books, buy the "Algers" in the +Medal and New Medal Libraries. + + +PRICE, 10c. and 15c. PER COPY + +AT ALL NEWSDEALERS + + + If sent by mail, add four cents per copy to cover postage. Complete + catalogue upon request. + + +STREET & SMITH, Publishers, NEW YORK + + + * * * * * + + +FRANK MERRIWELL'S BACKERS + +Or + +The Pride of His Friends + +by + +BURT L. STANDISH + +Author of + +_The Celebrated "Merriwell Stories"_ + +Published Exclusively in the Medal Library, +in Paper-Covered Edition + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + +Street & Smith, Publishers +79-89 Seventh Ave., New York City + +Copyright, 1903 +By Street & Smith + +Frank Merriwell's Backers + +All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign +languages, including the Scandinavian. + + + + +CONTENTS + + I--IN THE TRAP + II--IN THE HANDS OF CIMARRON BILL + III--INTO THE NIGHT + IV--IN THE OLD HUT + V--PINTO PEDE RECEIVES HIS LESSON + VI--INJUN JOE TO THE RESCUE + VII--MERRIWELL AND BIG MONTE + VIII--THE DEATH-SHOT + IX--FRANK MAKES A DECISION + X--MERRIWELL'S METHOD + XI--SMOKE SIGNALS AND A DECOY + XII--LOST IN THE MOUNTAINS + XIII--FRANK'S ESCAPE + XIV--MYSTERIOUS PABLO + XV--MERRY'S DISCOVERY + XVI--FRANK DETECTS TREACHERY + XVII--THE WAR-WHOOP OF OLD ELI + XVIII--A STRANGE FUNERAL + XIX--NEW ARRIVALS IN HOLBROOK + XX--MRS. ARLINGTON HAS A VISITOR + XXI--SEEN FROM THE WINDOW + XXII--A SENSATION IN TOWN + XXIII--BOXER CREATES A STIR + XXIV--BOXER TO THE RESCUE + XXV--UNTO DEATH! + XXVI--THE COMING OF CROWFOOT + XXVII--ARRESTED IN HOLBROOK + XXVIII--BILL HIKES OUT + XXIX--OLD JOE TAKES A DRINK + XXX--FRANK IN SUNK HOLE + XXXI--THE DANCE IN SUNK HOLE + XXXII--DEAD OR LIVING + XXXIII--THE RETURN TO HOLBROOK + + + + +FRANK MERRIWELL'S BACKERS. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +IN THE TRAP. + + +Millions of bright stars shone serenely through the clear Arizona night, +shedding their soft white light on the great arid plains and the +mysterious mesas and mighty mountains. + +Throughout the night Frank Merriwell lay ensconced behind some +sheltering rocks in a deep ravine, where he had been trapped by the +ruffians in the employ of the mining trust, who were determined to wrest +from him the precious papers they believed to be in his possession. + +Old Joe Crowfoot, the aged Indian friend of Merriwell, who had been +snared with him, had, shortly after nightfall, taken the precious +oilskin package, containing the papers, and crept forth on his stomach, +like a snake, from amid the rocks. + +Joe had promised to take the papers to the nearest registry post-office, +in case he escaped, and send them, according to directions, to Richard +Merriwell, Frank's brother, at Fardale. + +Frank had written a letter to Dick, and had securely tied up and +directed the package. He trusted the aged redskin, who declared that he +might find a method of escaping from the trap, yet could not take the +white youth with him. He had made certain that Joe understood the matter +of registering the package, in case he should reach the post-office with +it in his possession. + +Merriwell had become satisfied that this was the best course to pursue. +It was plain that he was in a very bad trap, and he knew those ruffians +could soon starve him out. There was no water or food for himself or his +horse. A day of thirst behind those rocks must surely do for him. + +If Joe carried out the plan successfully, the papers would be placed +beyond the reach of the ruffians, even though Frank fell into their +hands. And it was the papers they had been engaged to secure. Were they +to kill him, Dick would have the precious papers and be able to continue +the battle for his rights. + +Merry watched old Joe wiggle silently away, wondering that the Indian +could slip along in that manner with so very little effort. The old +redskin lay flat on the ground and took advantage of every little cover +he could find, and soon he vanished amid the rocks and passed into the +shadows, after which Merry saw him no more. + +Down the ravine a great mass of rocks and earth had been blown down by a +mighty blast and blocked the passage. + +Up the ravine armed and murderous men were waiting and watching, ready +to shoot down the youth they had trapped. + +There were also armed ruffians on the barrier to the southeast. They had +trailed Merry with the persistence of bloodhounds. + +A full hour passed. The men above were making merry in a boisterous way. +One of them began to sing. He had a musical voice, which rang out +clearly on the soft night air. Strangely enough he sang "Nearer My God +to Thee." + +Could they be watching closely? It did not seem so. + +Frank rigged his coat on the barrel of his rifle. On the muzzle of the +weapon he placed his hat. Then, he lifted coat and hat above the rocks. + +Crack! Ping! + +The ringing report of a rifle and the singing of a bullet. The hat and +coat dropped. In the coat Merriwell found a bullet-hole. That settled +it. There was no longer a doubt but that the desperadoes were watching +like wolves. + +Yet old Joe had been able to slip forth from the protection of those +rocks and creep away. + +More than ever Merriwell admired the skill of the Indian. Thinking that +the old fellow had instructed Dick in the craft which he knew so well, +Frank believed such knowledge had not been acquired in vain. Some time +Dick might find it very valuable to him. + +There was a hoarse burst of laughter from the watching ruffians. + +"Oh, Merriwell!" called a voice. + +"Well," sang back Frank, "what do you want?" + +"Stick that thing up again. We'd like a leetle target practise." + +"You'll have to provide your own target," Merry retorted. + +"Oh, we reckons not! We'll stand you up fer one sooner or later," was +the assurance. + +Still they had not discovered old Joe. It seemed marvelous. + +The night passed on. Another hour was gone when there came a sudden +commotion far up the ravine, as if on the further outskirts of the +ruffians. There were hoarse shouts, angry oaths, the rattle of shots, +and then the clatter of iron-shod hoofs. + +The ring and echo of those clattering hoofs receded into the night, +coming back clear and distinct at first, but growing fainter and +fainter. + +Frank Merriwell laughed and lay still until the sound of the galloping +horse had died out in the distance. + +"Old Joe is on his way to the post-office," muttered Merry. "He took a +fancy to acquire one of their horses in order to make better time." + +The ruffians were filled with more or less consternation. They continued +to wrangle angrily. At last, one cried: + +"Oh, Merriwell!" + +Frank lay perfectly still and made no answer. + +"Oh, Merriwell!" + +Peering forth from amid his rocky barrier, yet crouching where the +shadows hid him, Frank cocked his rifle and pushed it forward for use. + +There was a time of silence, during which he fancied the men were +consulting in whispers. Finally his keen eyes saw something move into +the dim white light above some boulders. He laughed a little in a +suppressed way and sent a bullet through the moving object. + +"Put it up again!" he called cheerfully. "I don't mind a little target +practise myself." + +He knew the thing had been thrust up there to draw his fire and settle +the question if he still remained in the trap. But he had shown those +ruffians that he could shoot as accurately as the best of them. + +After this he heard the men talking. He knew they were bewildered by +what had happened. They could not believe it possible that a human being +had crept forth from the snare. It seemed to them that the person who +had seized their horse and ridden away had come upon them from the rear +and was in no way connected with Merriwell. + +After a time they were silent. + +They were satisfied that the trap held fast. + +Then Frank found a comfortable place where he was perfectly hidden and +coolly went to sleep, with his hand on his cocked rifle. + +Merriwell needed sleep, and he did not hesitate to take it. It spoke +well for his nerves that he could sleep under such circumstances. It may +seem that it did not speak so well for his judgment. Still he knew that +he would awaken at any sound of an alarming nature, and he believed +those men would rest content, satisfied that they had him caged where +there was no possibility that he could give them the slip. + +After an hour or more, he awoke and demonstrated the fact that he was +still behind the rocks by exchanging a challenge with the watching +ruffians. + +Then he slept again. + +And so the night passed on. + +Frank was wide-awake with the coming of dawn. He saw the stars pale and +die in the sky. He saw the gentle gray of morning and the flush of +sunrise. Far up the ravine rose the smoke of a camp-fire, telling where +the ruffians were preparing breakfast. + +"Oh, Merriwell!" + +"Hello, yourself!" + +"Are you hungry?" + +"No, thank you. I have plenty to eat." + +"Are you thirsty?" + +"Not in the least. I have my canteen." + +"That'll be empty right soon. How would you like some steamin' hot +coffee?" + +"It wouldn't go bad. Send some in." + +"We'll exchange a pot of coffee for sartin papers you has with yer." + +"You're very kind!" laughed Merry derisively. + +"It's a right good offer. We're goin' to have them papers anyhow, an' +you may not even git coffee fer them." + +"You're due for the greatest disappointment of your lives, gentlemen," +declared Frank. "If you're looking this way for papers, you're barking +up the wrong tree." + +"Oh, you can't fool us!" was the answer. "We know you've got 'em, and +we'll have 'em." + +"Ever gamble?" asked Frank. + +"Oh, we sometimes take a chance." + +"I'll go you my horse and outfit against that of any one in your party +that you don't get the papers." + +"Done! It's a sure thing as far as we're consarned. We has yer foul, an' +we'll stay right yere till we starves ye out." + +"Too bad to waste your valuable time so foolishly. But, say!" + +"Say it." + +"I see no particular reason why my horse here should go hungry and +thirsty." + +"Not the least. Bring the pore critter right out." + +"Beg pardon if I seem a trifle lazy, but it's too much bother. However, +I'll send him out, and I'll look to you to see that he's properly cared +for." + +Without exposing himself, Frank managed to get the horse out from the +niche in the wall where he had been placed, headed the animal through a +break in the rocky barrier and sent him off, with a sharp crack of the +hand. + +The horse galloped up the ravine, finally saw human beings, stopped, +snorted, seemed about to turn back, but finally kept on and +disappeared. + +Then Frank settled down to wait, being resolved to give old Joe plenty +of time. + +The day grew hot in the ravine, where there was little air. The sun beat +down with great fierceness from the unclouded sky. Those mountains +seemed bare and baked. Little wonder that their repelling fastnesses had +presented little attraction for the prospector. Little wonder it had +often been reported that they contained no gold. + +But Frank Merriwell's "Queen Mystery" Mine lay in that range, and it had +developed so richly that the great Consolidated Mining Association of +America was straining every nerve to get possession of it--to wrest it +from its rightful owner. + +So Frank baked in the sun, taking care to keep well hidden, for he knew +those men would gladly end the affair by filling him full of lead, if +they were given the opportunity. + +Once or twice he caught glimpses of them. Several times they challenged +him. He was prompt to answer every challenge, and he did not wish to +shoot any of them. + +He had fully decided on the course he would pursue; but he was +determined to give Joe Crowfoot plenty of time to perform his part of +the program. + +Frank smiled in grim irony over his position. He took it +philosophically, satisfied that that was the best he could do. He did +not worry, for worry would do him no good. + +He was given plenty of time to reflect on the course pursued by the +syndicate, and it made him wonder that such high-handed things could +take place in the United States. + +It seemed rather remarkable that the head of the mighty syndicate, D. +Roscoe Arlington, was the father of Chester Arlington, Dick Merriwell's +bitterest enemy at Fardale. + +Frank had encountered Mr. Arlington. He had found him blunt, grim, +obstinate, somewhat coarse, yet apparently not brutal. Being a clever +reader of human nature, which many are not who pride themselves that +they are, Frank had become satisfied that there were many men in the +world who were far worse than D. Roscoe Arlington, yet were considered +models of virtue and justice. Arlington was not a hypocrite. He was +bluntly and openly himself. He had set out as a poor boy to make a +fortune, and now it seemed possible that he might become the richest man +in America. Comfortable riches had first been the object for which he +strived; but when his scheming poured wealth upon him, he set the mark +higher. He determined to be one of the very rich men of the United +States. That goal he had now arrived at; but the mark had been lifted +again, and now he was determined to become the richest. + +Arlington had not ordered those ruffians to take the papers from Frank. +Still he was back of it all. He had turned the matter over into the +hands of unscrupulous lieutenants, instructing them to employ any means +within their power to obtain possession of the Queen Mystery and San +Pablo Mines. Those lieutenants were directing the operations of the +ruffians. + +It is quite probable that Arlington did not wish to know the method +employed by his lieutenants. All he desired was the result. + +Frank had also met Mrs. Arlington, and he had seen in her a haughty, +domineering, icy woman, ready to do anything to gain her ends. She was +proud and high-headed, although she had once been a poor girl. She +looked down in scorn and contempt on all poor people. + +But Merry had not forgotten June Arlington, who had a truly high-bred +face of great attractiveness, and who was vivacious yet reserved, proud +yet considerate, high-spirited yet kind. He had not forgotten the girl, +and ever he thought of her with feelings of kindness, for with her own +hands she had restored to him the precious papers when they had been +stolen from him, by agents of the trust, assisted by her mother. + +He knew Dick admired June, and he did not wonder at it, for about June +Arlington there was such fascination as few girls possess. + +Still Merry could not help wondering if June would one day develop into +a woman like her mother. Such a result did not seem possible. + +Midday passed, and the afternoon waned, yet without any diminishing of +the scorching heat in the ravine. + +Frank's water was gone, and he began to feel the torments of thirst. + +He had counted the time as it passed. Finally he was satisfied that +Crowfoot had accomplished the task he had set out to perform. The papers +were mailed. Probably they were already on their way to Dick Merriwell +at Fardale. + +"Well," muttered Frank, "I think I'll go out and look these ruffians +over now." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +IN THE HANDS OF CIMARRON BILL. + + +A shout quickly brought an answer. + +"Gentlemen," said Frank, "I'm for a parley. What say you?" + +"We're willing. Parley away." + +"If you were to get those papers I suppose you would feel yourselves +perfectly well satisfied?" + +"I reckon you've hit it good an' fair." + +"Such being the case, if I come forth with hands up and empty, I take it +you won't take the trouble to shoot me up any?" + +"None at all," was the assurance promptly given. "If you comes out like +that, you has our promise not to do any shooting whatever." + +"And how about the gentlemen below?" + +"They'll do no shootin' unless you goes that way." + +"Is this all on the square?" + +"You bet! Bring out that old redskin with ye, an' let him keep his hands +up, too." + +"I think you've made a mistake, gentlemen; there is no redskin with me. +I am quite alone." + +"We knows better! Ye can't play any tricks on us!" + +"I am willing to convince you. Just keep your fingers off your +triggers. Watch me as close as you like. I'm coming!" + +Having said this, he left his rifle lying on the ground and rose to his +feet with his hands held open above his head. + +It must be confessed that he did not do this without some doubt +concerning the result, for he knew those ruffians were very treacherous; +but somehow he was satisfied that they had been instructed to obtain the +papers, if possible, without killing him, and that belief led him to run +the risk that he now faced. + +He was ready to drop instantly if they fired as he arose into view. A +moment he stood quite still, and then, as no shot rang out, he stepped +through amid the boulders and walked boldly up the ravine. + +In this manner, Frank walked straight into the midst of a party of nine +thoroughbred frontier desperadoes, who were waiting for him, with their +weapons in their hands. + +The leader was a thin, dark-faced, fierce-looking man, who covered Merry +with a revolver. + +"I rather 'lowed you'd come to it," he said, in satisfaction. "But I +told ye to bring that old Injun along." + +"And I told you there was no Indian with me. I spoke the truth." + +"Say, youngster, did you ever hear of Cimarron Bill?" + +Frank looked the fellow over with his calm eyes. He saw a cruel, +straight slit of a mouth, a thin black mustache, with traces of gray, +and sharp, cruel eyes, set altogether too near together. He had heard +of Cimarron Bill as the most dangerous "man-killer" in all the +Southwest. + +"Yes," he said quietly, "I have heard of him." + +"Well, you're lookin' at him. I'm Cimarron Bill. The butts of my guns +have seventeen notches in 'em. You may make the eighteenth." + +Merriwell knew what the ruffian meant, yet he showed no signs of fear. + +"I have heard," he said, "that Cimarron Bill has never yet shot a man in +cold blood or one who was unarmed." + +"I opine that's right, young man; but this case is a leetle different. +It's not healthy to irk me up under any conditions, and so I advise you +to go slow." + +Frank smiled. + +"I have no desire or intention of irking you up, sir," he said. "I am +giving you straight goods. There is no Indian with me." + +"There was last night." + +"Yes." + +"Well, I don't opine he's melted into the air or sunk into the ground, +an' tharfore he has to be yander behind them rocks." + +"I give you my word, sir, that he is not there, and has not been there +since last night." + +The ruffians had gathered about and were listening to this talk. +Picturesque scoundrels they were, armed to the teeth and looking fit for +any job of bloodshed or murder. They glared at the cool youth standing +so quietly in their midst; but he seemed perfectly at his ease. + +"Sam," said the leader, turning to one of them, "go out yander to them +thar rocks an' look round for that redskin." + +Sam, a squat, red-headed desperado, seemed to hesitate. + +"What ef the Injun is waitin' thar to shoot me up some as I comes +amblin' along?" he asked. + +"Go!" said Cimarron Bill, in a tone cold as ice. "If the Injun shoots +you, we'll riddle this here young gent with bullets." + +"Which won't do me good none whatever," muttered Sam; but he knew better +than to disobey or hesitate longer, and so, dropping his rifle into the +hollow of his left arm, he stepped out and advanced toward the spot +where Merriwell had been ensconced behind the boulders. + +The brutal band watched and waited. Cimarron Bill surveyed the face of +Frank Merriwell, more than half-expecting the youth would call for Sam +to come back, knowing the fate that would befall him in case the Indian +began to shoot. + +But Sam walked straight up to the boulders, clambered onto them, and +looked over into the hiding-place that had served Frank so well. + +"Derned ef thar's ary livin' critter hyer!" he shouted back. + +"Make sure," called the leader, in that metallic voice of his, which +was so hard on the nerves. "Don't make no mistake." + +Sam sprang down behind the boulders. They saw his head moving about, +but, very soon, he clambered back over them and came walking rapidly +away. + +"The varmint is sartin gone," he averred. + +Immediately Cimarron Bill thrust his cocked revolver against Frank +Merriwell's temple. + +"Tell us where the Injun is!" he commanded. "Speak quick and straight, +or I'll blow the top of your head off!" + +"I am unable to tell you just where he is at present," said Frank, with +that perfect coolness that so astonished the desperadoes. "He left me +last night." + +"Left you?" + +"Yes." + +"How? We had this side guarded, an' ther boys below kept close watch." + +"All the same, I think Joe Crowfoot passed you. How he did it I do not +know. He told me he could." + +The leader of the ruffians looked as if he was not yet willing to +believe such a thing had happened; but there no longer seemed much +chance for doubt. + +"Then it must have been that red whelp who stole one of our hosses!" he +said. + +"I think it was," nodded Merry. "Something like two hours after he left +me I heard a commotion this way, followed by some shooting and the sound +of a galloping horse, which died out in the distance." + +Some of the men began to swear, but Bill silenced them with one swift +look from his evil eyes. + +"Well, that sure is the limit!" he observed, trying to hide some of his +disgust. "We didn't opine a kitten could sneak past us without being +seen an' shot up." + +"A kitten might not," said Frank. "But old Joe Crowfoot should be +compared with a serpent. He has all the wisdom and craft of one. I +depended on him, and he did not fail me." + +"Where has he gone? State it--state it almighty sudden!" + +"If he followed instructions, he has gone to Holbrook." + +"For what?" + +"To send a message for me to my brother." + +"A message? What sort of a message?" + +"A letter and some papers." + +"Papers?" said Cimarron Bill, in a low, threatening tone. "What papers?" + +"Certain papers referring to the Queen Mystery and San Pablo Mines, +which I own." + +A look of disappointed rage contorted the cruel face of the murderous +ruffian. The lips were pressed together until they appeared to make one +straight line no wider than the thin blade of a knife. The eyelids +closed to narrow slits, while that dark face turned to a bluish tinge. + +Many times had Frank Merriwell stood in deadly peril of his life; but, +looking at that man then, he well knew that never had his danger been +greater. Still, if he regretted his act in walking forth and +surrendering himself into the hands of such a creature he effectually +concealed it. He betrayed not a whit of trepidation or alarm, which was +a masterly display of nerve. + +The ruffians began to murmur fiercely, like the growling of so many +wolves. Perhaps it was to this outbreak that Merry owed his life, for +the leader suddenly bade them be silent, and the sounds ceased. + +"So you sent those papers off by that old redskin, did you?" asked Bill. + +"I did." + +"And you have the nerve to come out here and tell me that! If you had +known me better, you would have stayed, and choked and starved, or even +shot yourself behind those rocks, before doing such a thing!" + +Merriwell made no retort, for he felt that too many words would be +indiscreet. This man was capable of any atrocity, and another straw +might break the camel's back. + +"Mr. Merriwell," said the ruffian, "I came here for them papers, and I'm +goin' to have them!" + +"You may take my life," said Merry; "but that will not give you the +papers. In fact, it will utterly defeat the object of those men who have +employed you to obtain them." + +"How do you figger that out? With you out of the way, they'll have less +trouble in takin' your mines." + +"On the contrary, if I am murdered, the fact will react against them. I +have written a full account of the facts concerning my position and +fight with the syndicate to my brother, to be used in case anything +serious happens to me. With that, and with the papers I have sent him, I +fancy he can so arouse public indignation against the syndicate that the +men who are pushing this thing will be glad enough to pull in their +horns and quit the battle. So you can see that by killing me you will +defeat the object of the syndicate and disgust it with your method of +procedure." + +Frank spoke those words convincingly, and certain it is that he made an +impression on Cimarron Bill. The other ruffians, however, who failed to +reason clearly, were fierce enough to shoot the captive where he stood. + +Bill stood still and looked the young man over, beginning to realize +that he was dealing with a youth of more than ordinary courage, resource +and sagacity. His respect for Merriwell was beginning to develop +amazingly. + +Frank could read the man well enough to feel that the danger-point had +been successfully passed, and he breathed more freely, although there +was no outward change in his manner. + +"I'm not yet satisfied that you're not lying to me," said the chief of +the ruffians; whereupon he ordered his satellites to search the captive. + +The closest search, which was supervised by Bill, failed to bring to +light the package of coveted papers. + +Bill seemed to pass a few moments in thought. Then he said: + +"We'll all go over yander and have a look round among the boulders." + +With Frank in their midst, they proceeded to the spot where he had +successfully held them off. As they went forward, they called to the men +down the ravine, and soon those ruffians came hastening to join them. + +"Have ye got the papers?" demanded one called Big Monte, a strapping +ruffian, who was the leader of the party. + +When he learned what had happened the giant swore in angry +disappointment. + +"However did you all happen to let the Injun slip ye that way?" he +demanded scornfully. + +Bill looked him over. + +"I opines you're not castin' reflections any whatever?" he said, in a +deadly manner. + +Big Monte looked large enough to eat the thin, dark-faced chap, but he +hastened to disclaim any intention of "casting reflections," whereupon +Bill gave him no further heed. + +The chief set them to searching amid the boulders, overseeing it all and +taking care that no possible place of concealment was neglected. But all +this search came to nothing, and the baffled wretches were finally +forced to confess that they were outwitted. + +But Merriwell was a captive in their hands, and in their disappointment +they might be led to revenging themselves upon him. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +INTO THE NIGHT. + + +Cimarron Bill was a man who disliked being outwitted and outdone, +especially by a youth of Frank Merriwell's years, and he was one who was +not at all likely to let such a thing pass without seeking to recover +and accomplish his object by some method, failing in which, he was +almost certain to take summary and tragic vengeance on the one who had +baffled him. + +Merriwell knew well enough in what peril he stood, and yet he maintained +his manner of composure. + +Bill spoke to two of the ruffians, of whom Big Monte was one, and Sam, +the red-headed rascal, the other. + +"You two take charge of this here altogether too smarty young gent," +said the leader of the desperadoes, "and look out for him a heap close. +Don't let him come none of his slick tricks on you, for you will be held +responsible for him, and I opines you know what that means." + +"Oh, we'll take care of him!" said Sam significantly, as he fingered the +butt of a pistol. "All I wants is a right good chance to do that!" + +Bill fixed the red-head with a look of his narrow black eyes. + +"At the same time," said he, "permit me to suggest that you lets no +special harm come to him, as I reckons him valuable property just about +now, and I may need him a whole lot later. If anything unnecessary +happens to the young gent, you'll deal with me for it!" + +It must be confessed that Merry felt somewhat safer in the hands of +those ruffians after that, for he began to perceive that, for some +reason, Bill wished to preserve him for the time being without harm. + +Apparently the captive gave little heed to these words, but in truth he +missed nothing. + +As the others drew aside with Bill, Big Monte took a picket rope, +observing: + +"I allows, Sam, that we'd better be keerful, jest as the boss suggests, +fer it ain't a whole lot healthy to have anything happen contrarywise to +his wishes. Such bein' the case, I propose we tie up this here young +gent some, so he'll not bring trouble on hisself an' us by tryin' to +lope out." + +Sam looked disappointed. + +"I was a-thinkin'," he said, "that I'd like to see him try to lope; but +sense the boss has put it so plain, I kind of changes my mind, an' I +thinks your propersition is kirect. Go ahead, Monte, while I keeps him +kivered with my shootin'-iron." + +Frank made no objection as Big Monte tied his hands behind him. He knew +it was quite useless, and so he submitted with a meekness that was +rather deceptive, for it seemed to indicate that he was quite awed by +his situation and the men who had taken him captive. + +"I judges that will do," said the big man, having bound the rope about +Merry's wrists until it was uncomfortable in its tightness. "He's good +an' fast now." + +Merriwell sat down on a rock, while the two ruffians flung themselves on +the ground in the shadow of the wall and waited the end of the +consultation between the chief and the remainder of the band. + +Bill was talking to his ruffians in his low, quiet way, and they were +listening. Frank wondered what was passing, but they were too far away +for him to hear. + +At last, one of the men, who had but one arm, started off from the +others, hurrying toward the horses. Bill had thrust something into this +man's hand, seeming to give him a final admonition. Five minutes later +the one-armed man, mounted on the very best horse he could find, rode +away at good speed. + +Even then Merry did not conceive that it was the desperate purpose of +One-hand Hank to follow those papers all the way to Fardale, if +necessary, in the attempt to gain possession of them. He fancied that +Hank meant to try to find the Indian, with the hope that the papers +still remained in old Joe's possession. + +Bill came back and stood looking Merriwell over. Several of the men had +departed toward the spot where the horses were kept. + +"I reckons you thinks yerself some slick, kid!" he said, with cold +contempt. "You'll git all over that before you're through dealin' with +Cimarron Bill. I'm sartin to take the conceit out of ye a whole lot." + +To which Merry vouchsafed no retort. + +"Bring him along," said the chief, to Sam and Monte. "We're goin' to +pull up stakes and hike." + +So Frank was marched up to the horses, among which was his own animal, +which had been captured by the ruffians. + +"If you don't mind, gentlemen," said Merry, "it would give me +considerable satisfaction to imbibe a little water." + +"You'll choke plumb to death afore ye ever gits a drap from me," averred +Sam. + +Whereupon Bill looked at the red-head sharply, saying: + +"Sam, give him a drink from your canteen." + +And Sam did so. + +"Thanks," said Merry easily. "It was the desire for water that led me to +saunter out from my place among the rocks earlier than I intended. I +feel much better now." + +His saddle had been brought along, and, when it was strapped upon his +horse, he was tossed into it by Big Monte and another. The rest of the +band had prepared to move, with the exception of those who had come from +down the ravine and one fellow who seemed to have taken the place of the +departed fellow with one arm. These men had horses beyond the rocky +barrier that had been blown down to prevent Merriwell from escaping in +that direction, and it was necessary for them to return and pursue +another course, as the horses could not be brought over that barrier. + +There was little delay when everything was ready. Bill took the lead, +and those who were to follow did so, the captive in their midst; his +horse led by one of them. + +The others had turned back. + +The sun was descending peacefully behind the barren mountains, and night +was spreading her sable pinions over the land. There was gold in the +western sky. The heat yet seemed unabated, save in the valleys and +gorges; but later it would become unpleasantly cool. + +In silence those men rode onward, with their dark, cruel-faced leader at +their head. The hoofs of the horses clinked and rang, bestirring the +echoes; and, when the gloom of night had stolen upward from the gulches, +there came an occasional spark like a firefly when the iron of a hoof +struck a flinty rock. + +So night came on, and still they went forward. Frank wondered what their +destination could be; but he saw they were taking a course that must +bring them nearer the Queen Mystery Mine. + +He wasted no words in seeking to engage any of them in conversation. All +the while, however, his thoughts were busy. He wondered much if he +could come safely through this perilous mischance and how it was to be +accomplished. For Frank had not given up, and he had confidence that +somehow he would find a way, or one would be opened to him. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +IN THE OLD HUT. + + +In a valley amid the hills that lay at the base of the barren mountains +stood an old hut. Who had built it there? It seemed that it had, beyond +doubt, been erected by some prospector. What fate had befallen the +builder no man knew. The hut remained, weather-worn and falling to +pieces. + +The coming of another day found Frank Merriwell a captive in that hut, +closely guarded. The ruffians had stopped there, for in the vicinity +could be found wood and water, and feed for the horses. + +Some time during the night they had been joined by Big Monte and the +others who had turned back to secure the horses beyond the barrier in +the ravine. + +In the morning the men lay about in the vicinity of the hut. Two fires +had been built, and breakfast was preparing. + +Inside the hut an armed man kept guard over the captive. At intervals +the guard was changed, but always a man was near with a pistol ready to +shoot Merry down if he offered to make a break for freedom. + +But Frank seemed strangely contented. After the ride through the night, +he asked for a blanket to make himself comfortable, suggested in a +pleasant way that it would be agreeable to have the cords about his +wrists loosened a little, as they were chafing him and his wrists were +swollen, and, when the ropes were entirely removed, then lay down on the +blanket and went calmly to sleep. + +Merry slept until one of the men brought him some breakfast. This fellow +kicked him to awaken him, whereupon Frank looked up and observed: + +"Gently, partner--gently! You don't have to kick in a rib in order to +get my eyes open." + +"Ef it wasn't fer ther boss," said the fellow, "I'd take a heap o' +satisfaction in kickin' ev'ry dern rib outer ye!" + +"Then I am thankful for the boss." + +"Hush! Mebbe ye thinks so now; but wait till he gits round ter deal with +ye. I opines he'll disterb ye some." + +"Well, don't lead me into worriment before it is necessary," entreated +Frank, with a smile. "As long as I'm comfortable, I see no reason to +disturb myself over what may happen--for there is always a chance that +it may not happen." + +"Waal, not in this case. Ye've robbed us outer a clean two hundred +dollars apiece by sendin' off them papers." + +"Only that? Why, you seem to be cheap men! I should fancy it would take +at least five hundred each to hire men to go out to commit robbery and +murder." + +"Thar ain't no robbery about it." + +"Now, you don't tell me? Perhaps you are right, but the object was +robbery, all right enough." + +"Nary robbery! Ther papers belongs to ther gents what wants to git 'em +an' what engaged Bill to do the job." + +"Possibly I might convince you to the contrary if I had time; but just +now I will admit that I'm remarkably hungry. Put down the feed right +here on the floor, and I'll turn to directly." + +As the man stooped to put down the stuff, as directed, he brought his +head quite close to Frank's lips. In the fellow's ear Merry whispered: + +"I'll make it one thousand dollars in your fist if you find a way to +help me out of this scrape." + +The man started a little, gave Frank a look, then glanced toward the +armed guard, who had heard nothing. + +Merry touched a finger to his lips, thus enjoining silence. + +"Ha!" he exclaimed. "Thank Bill for me! This coffee smells most +satisfactory. It will serve finely to wash down the hard bread and beef. +To a healthy appetite, like mine, this will be a feast fit for an +epicurean." + +The ruffian looked at him in apparent wonderment. + +"Fer a cool galoot, you sure are the limit!" he exclaimed. + +Then he went out. + +Frank wondered if his proposal to the fellow would bear fruit. He knew +well enough that these men stood in great awe of Cimarron Bill; but +would the greed of this one overcome his fears of the chief and lead him +to attempt to set Frank at liberty? + +That was a serious question. + +Having eaten heartily, Merry once more made himself comfortable and +slept. + +When next he was awakened, Cimarron Bill himself was sitting near, +smoking a Spanish cigarette. + +"Good morning," said Frank. + +"It's a long distance past morning," said the leader of the ruffians. +"You've slept away the whole morning. You seem to be takin' it a heap +easy and comfortable like." + +"Just bottling up a little sleep in case of need," said Merry, sitting +up and placing his back against the wall. "There's no telling when I may +have to keep awake a whole lot, you know." + +"Instead of keeping awake," said Bill, in a sinister manner, "you're a +heap more likely to fall asleep some of these yere times an' never wake +up." + +"In that case, it will be of no consequence, so I am not losing anything +by sleeping while I may." + +The man surveyed Merry long and intently, as if trying to probe the +nature of this cool youth. At last, he turned to the sentinel and +dismissed him. + +The sentinel went out, closing the door. + +Bill lighted a fresh cigarette. + +"Young man," he said, "I want to inform you right yere and now that it +will do you no good whatever to try to bribe any of my men." + +"Possibly not," said Frank noncommittally. + +"You bet your life it won't!" said Bill emphatically. "Thar ain't one of +them but what knows me, an', knowin' me, thar ain't one what would dare +play me crooked. Savvy?" + +"It's quite plain." + +"It's straight goods, Merriwell. A while ago you offered one of 'em a +thousan' dollars if he would find a way to get you out of this." + +"Correct," admitted Merry immediately. "And had he accepted the offer +and accomplished the job, I should have congratulated myself on getting +off very cheap." + +He had seen at once that it was useless to try deception or denial with +Bill, and so he spoke frankly. + +"That's right," nodded Bill. "A thousan' would be small money fer such a +job; but it ain't no use, for none of them will take the job at that or +five times as much. 'Cause why? 'Cause they knows me, Cimarron Bill, +right well. They know I'd sure settle up with 'em if they done any +crooked work. They have seen the notches in my guns. Some of 'em has +seen me shoot." + +"Well, my dear sir," smiled Merry, "I don't presume you fancied I would +remain here like a man in a trance without trying to get away in some +fashion?" + +"I hardly opined that would be your style. But I has to warn ye that you +has about one chance in fourteen million of gettin' off with a hull +hide. I keep a guard inside and outside, besides another over the +hosses. I don't want to shoot ye--now--but it sure will be done if you +breaks an' runs fer it." + +"Of course I'd have to take chances on that." + +"Don't! But your offer to Jake has set me thinkin'. Somehow I kinder +take to your style." + +"Thanks!" laughed Merriwell. + +"You has a heap of nerve for a youngster." + +"Thanks again!" + +"And I opine we'd make a pretty strong team together. Such bein' the +case, I has a propersition to make to ye, whereby, in case you accepts, +you gits outer this scrape in a hurry an' none the worse for wear." + +"Let it drive," said Frank. "I'm listening." + +"Like 'most ev'rybody," said Bill, "I'm out fer the dust. That's what +brought me up against you. I opined you'd be easy meat. I've sorter +changed my mind. You look an' talk like a tenderfoot, but I take it that +you has your eye-teeth cut, an' this yere ain't the first time you've +seen Arizona." + +"I have been in Arizona before. I have likewise been in various parts of +the West." + +"I knowed it," nodded Bill. "I likewise opine you has a whole lot of +fight in ye." + +"Well, I rather enjoy the strenuous life." + +"But you're certain up against a right powerful combination in this yere +gang what means to have your mines." + +"Without doubt." + +"You needs assistance to hold them there mines. Such bein' the case, +suppose we strikes a partnership, you an' I, an' stan's by each other. +You'll find me a right handy partner when it comes to fightin', an' I +kin back ye up with a gang what will wade through gore fer me. Under +them circumstances, I reckons we kin give this yere minin' trust a run +fer its money." + +"Your offer is very interesting, not to say fascinating," confessed +Frank. "But there is something behind it. Come out with the whole +matter." + +"There's nothing to come out with, save that I'm to be taken in a +half-partner in your mines." + +"Only that?" smiled Merry scornfully. + +Bill did not like the manner in which the youth spoke those two words. + +"I 'lows," he said, "that you'll be gettin' off a heap cheap at that. If +you fails to accept, it's almost certain your friends never hears of you +no more. You'll be planted somewhere yereabouts. Arter that, the minin' +trust will have easy goin'." + +"Well," said Merry, "I presume you will give me time to think this +matter over?" + +"Certainly. I gives ye till to-morrer mornin'." + +"All right." + +Again Bill lighted a fresh cigarette. + +"But, without 'pearin' to press ye too hard, which might cause ye +onpleasant rememberances in the futer, I hints that I'll be a heap riled +up if you fails to accept my offer." + +Then Bill called the guard and sauntered out. + +Frank had no thought of permitting the desperado to force him into such +a partnership, but he believed that it would be well to appear to take +time to consider it. + +That afternoon, toward nightfall, he was permitted to go outside in the +open air, with two armed guards watching over him. + +Frank inhaled the open air with a sense of gratitude, for the hut had +become stuffy and oppressive. He looked around, noting the surroundings, +without betraying any great interest in the location. He saw that all +about the hills rose to enclose the valley, but conjectured that the +party had entered from the south or southeast. + +By this time the men were interested in him, and they looked him over +curiously. Four of them were playing cards, and Merry sat down on the +ground where he could watch the game. + +"You don't want to be makin' no remarks about what keerds ye sees in +anybody's hand, young man," growled one of them, whose cards Merry could +see. + +Frank smiled. + +"I'm not quite that fresh," he said. "I have played the game +occasionally myself. If I had a chance to sit in, I might give you some +points." + +They laughed derisively at that, for the idea that this smooth-faced +youth could give them points at poker seemed preposterous. + +"Why, ef you got inter this game we'd skin the eye-teeth outer ye!" +declared one. + +"You'd be easy pluckin'," said another. + +"It would be a shame to rob ye," sneered a third. "But seein's you +ain't got no dust we won't have that pleasure." + +"If it's dust that bars me," said Merry, "I might have enough to last a +hand or two. I see you're playing five dollars limit, with a two bits +edge." + +"Why, you're plumb skinned dry!" said Big Monte. "You ain't got no +stuff." + +Whereupon Frank displayed a little thin wad of bank-bills, amounting to +about twenty-five dollars in all. + +They were astounded, for no money had been found on him when he was +searched for the papers. + +"How is this?" growled Monte. "Whar did ye keep it hid?" + +"That's my business," said Merry. "If you're anxious to teach me this +game let me in." + +They made a place for him, assuring him that he would "last quick." + +Now Merry was a most adept poker-player, although he let the game +entirely alone, not believing in gambling. He was also a clever +magician, and he could do tricks with cards to astonish far more astute +men than these ruffians. + +It was Pinto Pede's deal, and the Mexican handled the cards in a slick +manner. Without pretending to watch him, Merry really kept a close eye +on the fellow's movements. + +Pede looked his cards over carelessly. Big Monte chipped a dollar, the +next man raised him a dollar, and it was up to Frank, who immediately +raised five. + +Monte laughed hoarsely. + +"Throwin' yer money away right off, eh?" he said. + +The man after Frank dropped out. + +Pinto Pede raised five dollars. + +The fellow whose edge it was dropped his cards, but Monte came in, as +did the next man and Frank. + +"How men' card?" asked the Mexican. + +"I'll take two," said Monte. + +"Better draw to the strength o' yer hand," advised the next man. "Gimme +three." + +Pede looked inquiringly at Merry. + +"One card," said Frank. + +Pede frowned and looked annoyed. He had stacked the cards, and +everything had worked perfectly up to Merriwell, who had been given +three jacks on the deal, and whom the Mexican had expected would draw +two. + +"You take da two card!" exclaimed Pede. "Yo' no fool anybod' with da +side card." + +"I'll take one!" said Frank grimly. "If I choose to hold a side card to +threes that is my business. Perhaps I have two pairs." + +The Mexican had betrayed his trick by his anger at Merry's style of +drawing. Writhing with anger, he tossed Frank one card. + +"I tak' two," he said. + +Merry leaned forward and watched the Mexican's fingers so closely that +Pede was given no chance to perform any crooked work, if he had +contemplated it. + +"Now we're off," said Frank. "Go ahead and do your betting." + +Then he glanced at his cards. He had held up a five spot with his three +jacks. To his satisfaction, he found Pede had given him another five +spot. + +Merry had conceived that it was the Mexican's plan to give him threes +and then to fill his hand with a small pair, but to take a pair himself, +having on the deal secured threes of a higher denomination than those in +Merry's hand. For that very reason, Frank had decided to draw one card, +instead of two, thinking to defeat Pede's object in securing a full. + +By a strange chance, Frank had held up a five spot, while all the time +Pede had been intending to give him a pair of fives. This being the +case, the youth secured his full hand just the same, but without the +knowledge of the dealer. At the same time, he spoiled Pede's draw, for +the pair the Mexican had counted on getting had been divided, he getting +instead one of the fives intended for Merriwell. This left Pede with +three queens, a five, and a nine. + +But the Mexican believed that Merriwell had secured only threes, as he +did not dream for an instant that the side card held up with the three +jacks could be a five spot. + +In case Frank had three jacks only, Pede's three queens were "good." + +The betting began. + +Monte started it with a dollar. + +The next man had failed to improve his hand, and he fell out. + +Frank raised five. + +Pede shoved in six dollars, and added another five. + +"I tak' dis pot," he said. + +Monte looked his cards over. Then he looked at Pede. He knew the +Mexican. + +"You oughter be shot!" he said. And he threw his cards down, turning to +Frank. + +"You ain't got a ghost of a show agin' that greaser, youngster," he +averred. + +"Well, as long as my money lasts I'll stay with him," smiled Merry. + +He did. Having thrust the last of his money into the pot, he finally +called. + +Pede spread out his three queens, smiling with crafty triumph. + +"You no fool me," he said. "My t'ree bigger dan your t'ree. I tak' da +mon'." + +"Wait a minute," said Merry. "I happen to have more than threes here." + +And he displayed his full hand, coolly raking the money over to his side +of the blanket. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +PINTO PEDE RECEIVES HIS LESSON. + + +Pinto Pede was the most disgusted Mexican in all Arizona. At the same +time he was thoroughly thunderstruck. That Merriwell had secured the +pair of fives with his three jacks for all of his style of drawing +seemed like legerdemain. + +Big Monte gave a shout of surprise, that was not entirely unmingled with +delight. + +"Waal, say!" he roared; "that's the furst time I ever seen Pede done up +on his own deal by a tenderfoot! Haw! haw! haw!" + +As the game continued Frank soon demonstrated that he was quite capable +of holding his own with those men. On his deal he simply played "hob" +with them. In less than thirty minutes he had won over a hundred and +fifty dollars. + +Cimarron Bill had sauntered up and was standing near, his arms folded, +silently watching the progress of the game. + +"Gentlemen," said Frank finally, "you're too easy for me. Just to show +you how easy you are, I'll deal a hand around and then tell you what you +have." + +"Not if you lets me cut," declared Monte. + +Merry had gathered the cards and was shuffling them. + +"You may cut," he said. + +He put the cards down on the blanket, and Monte divided them into two +parts, after which he watched Frank to see that he picked them up right. + +Merry picked them up with one hand, doing so swiftly. He picked them up +all right, but he cleverly made the pass, which restored the cards to +their original positions, as they were before Monte had cut. + +Then he dealt. + +When they picked up their cards, he began at the left and called off the +cards each man held, going around the entire circle. + +Monte threw his down, with a cry of amazement. + +"An' this yere is what we takes for an easy mark!" he exclaimed. + +"He cheat!" grated Pinto Pede. "Dat how he win all da mon'." + +"I don't want your money," said Merry. "I find it too easy to make money +off such chaps as you. You talk about tenderfeet, but the East is full +of tenderfeet who could skin you fellows to death. If you ran into a New +York bunco man he'd have your boots off your feet in less than thirty +minutes. In fact, gentlemen, you need to get your eye-teeth filed." + +He was laughing at them, as they plainly saw. This made Pinto Pede +furious, and, with a cry of rage, the Mexican snatched out a knife, +flung himself forward on his knees, clutched the captive's throat and +seemed about to finish him. + +Quick as a flash, Merriwell had seized Pede's wrist, which he gave a +twist that made the bones crack and brought a yell from the yellow-faced +fellow's lips. The knife dropped. Merry tossed it over his shoulder, and +then flung Pede backward, groaning over his wrenched arm. + +"The only safe way to play such tricks on me," said the undisturbed +captive, "is to catch me when I'm asleep." + +Then Cimarron Bill spoke, and they saw he had a pistol in his hand. + +"It sure is a good thing for Pede that the gent stopped his play just as +he did, for if Pede had done any cuttin' I'd sartin shot him up a whole +lot. I has told you boys that Mr. Merriwell is to be kept safe an' +unharmed until I gits ready to finish with him, an' when I says a thing +like that, I generally has a way o' meanin' it. If Pede had used his +knife, I'd a-let daylight through him instanter." + +Now they all knew Bill spoke the truth, and so Pede was doubly +humiliated. + +"He was a trifle hasty," said Merriwell coolly. "I was about to explain +that I never keep money won at cards, as I do not believe in gambling. I +sat in this game to illustrate to you fellows that it doesn't always pay +to get puffed up and look contemptuously on a tenderfoot. Having made +the lesson plain, I will withdraw my own money, which will leave the +amount I have won. You may divide it equally among you and go on with +your game." + +This Frank did exactly as he said, taking himself out of the game. + +There would have been a quarrel over the division of the money had not +Bill interfered. + +Possibly Frank was counting on that quarrel, for a fight among the men +might have given him an opportunity to escape. However, if such was his +plan, it miscarried, for Bill acted as judge and saw that the matter was +settled without further dispute or bloodshed. + +Merry turned away, his hands in his pockets, seeming to take no further +interest in the gambling ruffians. They looked after his fine, supple, +manly figure, and Big Monte said: + +"Gents, he shore is a hummer! I admits it now. He's put up a heap +different from any tenderfoot I ever struck afore. We knows he kin +shoot, fer didn't he perforate Sam's coat back yander in the raveen when +Sam h'isted it on his rifle. We know he kin play keerds, fer didn't he +jest demonstrate it to our complete satisfaction. We know he has a heap +of nerve, fer he sure has showed it all the way through. An' I'm bettin' +he's goin' ter make it a right hot fight afore the galoots what are +arter his mines gits what they wants." + +"You forgits he's dealin' with Bill," said one of the others; "an' Bill +shore has the keerds stacked on him." + +"That's all right," said Monte; "but you got ter do somethin' more than +stack the keerds on that young chap. Didn't Pede do that, an' didn't he +beat Pede a-plenty at his own game? That showed me that you never kin +tell when you has Frank Merriwell beat fer fair." + +Frank had known all the time that Bill was watching. He had played the +game more for the benefit of the chief of the rascals than any one else. +At the same time, it had served to pass away a little time and had been +a diversion for the moment. + +The guards also were near, watching every move closely. + +Frank had satisfied himself that there was no chance of making a break +to escape without throwing his life away, and so he seemed to return to +the hut with perfect content. Indeed, his nonchalance and apparent lack +of fretfulness and dissatisfaction over his misfortune was most amazing +to the rough men. + +Merry ate supper heartily. + +There was a clay fireplace in the hut, and, the night coming on cool, a +fire was built there. Merry lolled before the fire on the hard-packed +earth, which served as a floor to the hut. Bill came in, sat down on the +ground, and rolled a cigarette. + +"Well," he finally said, "how do you find yourself to-night?" + +"Oh, comfortable," carelessly answered Frank. + +"Smoke?" + +"Never do." + +"Drink?" + +"Out of my line." + +"Still you can shoot and play poker! I certain admits you're a queer +one!" + +After a little silence, Bill again dismissed the guard. Then he said: + +"I'm in a leetle hurry to know what your answer is to that there +propersition I made ye. I sw'ar, partner, I sure reckons we'd make a hot +pair. I takes to you!" + +"You're very complimentary!" + +"I'm givin' it to ye straight. You're my style. Now, I wants ye ter know +that I kin be of great service to ye, so I reckons it was well enough to +tell ye what has been done. You sent them papers to your brother in the +East. Well, I has sent one of my best men a-chasin' the papers, an' +he'll be sure to get 'em if it kin be did. If he succeeds, you'll be +plumb out in the cold. Howsomever, in case we rigs up a partnership, it +won't be nohow so bad, fer my man he brings me the papers, an' that +fixes it all right. Savvy?" + +"That is the way you look at it." + +"Sure. You may have thought you was a-givin' me too much to let me have +a half-share in your mines; but when you reckons that you gits your +liberty, my friendship, and you has your papers saved, which same +otherwise would go to the minin' trust, I opine you'll come to see that +you're not makin' such a powerful bad trade after all." + +"But it is not at all certain that you'll get possession of those +papers. In fact, everything is against such a thing happening." + +"Is that so?" + +"It is." + +"How do ye make it out?" + +"My brother knows his business, and he will take care of the papers." + +"How did you send them?" + +"Registered mail." + +"So I opined. Now you knows it takes things registered a heap sight +longer to travel than it takes other mail." + +"Well?" + +"Such bein' the case, One-hand Hank is powerful sartin to git thar ahead +o' the letter." + +"He may." + +"In which case he watches the post-office close. When he sees your kid +brother take out the package, he follers the boy, taps him on the +kebeza, knocks him stiff, takes the papers and ambles. See how easy it +is to be did?" + +"It is easy enough to talk about it; but my brother is pretty shrewd, +and One-hand Hank will have the time of his life getting those papers." + +"You don't know Hank. He's perfectly familiar with the East, an' that +was why he was sent. One time he escaped from Sing Sing. That was when +he had two good arms. He's a mighty bad man, an' he'll eat up that +brother of yours but he'll have the papers." + +"I give you my assurance that Dick will sit hard on Hank's stomach. I +am not greatly worried, for all of what you have told me." + +Bill frowned. + +"All right," he said. "I did have some intentions of usin' persuasive +measures on ye, such as puttin' your feet to the fire, or things like +that; but I holds them things off to the last finish, as I opine a +partnership brought about that there way would be onpleasant to us +both." + +"Rather," laughed Frank. + +"Still," said Bill; "I may have to be rather harsh, which certain would +grieve me up a lot with such a fine young fellow as you are. I hopes you +don't bring me none to that. Thar's no chance fer you to give me the +slip. I've taken mighty good keer of that p'int. It will save ye a great +amount of trouble if you decides to-night that we becomes pards. I'll +jest walk out with ye an' interduce ye to ther boys as equal with me, +an' ev'rything will be lovely. I don't reckon you'd be fool enough to go +back on any sech arrangement you made, fer Cimarron Bill ain't the man +to be throwed down in such a way." + +"There is no need of even suggesting a threat," said Merry. "If I enter +into such a partnership with you, you can be sure I'll stand by it." + +Bill urged him to make the agreement at once, but still Merry declined. + +"Time is right precious," said the leader of the ruffians. + +"Perhaps I'll give you an answer to-morrow." + +And that was all Bill could get out of him then. So the chief fell to +talking of other things, and they chatted agreeably for some time. + +When the ruffian was ready to retire, he called the guard. Then he bade +Frank good night and went out. + +Merry slept with the same amazing peacefulness. But some time in the +night he started wide-awake, seeming to feel near him the presence of +some one. + +The fire had died out, save for a few glowing coals on the hearth. The +sentinel sat rigid in his corner. Merry could not tell if he slept or +not. + +Outside the cabin something seemed to brush lightly against the wall. + +This gentle sound was not repeated. After listening a long time, Frank +fell asleep once more. + +In the morning he found a black feather where it had fallen to the +ground after being thrust through a crack in the wall. + +At sight of the feather he started. Then he hastened to pick it up and +conceal it. + +For that feather told him that old Joe Crowfoot was near. It promised +escape from the hands of the ruffians, and caused Merry to suddenly +cease planning himself and trust things wholly to Crowfoot. He knew old +Joe would find an opportunity to try to aid him to escape. + +That morning Frank was asked by Bill to come out and take breakfast with +the rest of the men, an invitation which he willingly accepted, as he +was beginning to thirst for the open air. + +It was a glorious morning, just as all mornings in that land of eternal +sunshine seem to be glorious. The elevation was sufficient to give the +air a pleasant coolness. The sun shone down brightly. The horses fed in +the valley. The men were lazing about, as usual. Never had Merry seemed +so perfectly at his ease as he was on this morning. He was in a jovial +mood. Some of the men attempted to chaff him. + +"You're right peert fer a tenderfoot," said Red Sam. "But the effeet +East is ruther slow as compared with the West, you knows." + +"I'm sure I don't know," smiled Frank, sipping his coffee. "In what way +is the East behind the West?" + +"Waal, when it comes to fast trains, we lays away over the East out +yere." + +"I have my doubts." + +"Waal, you see it's this a-way," said Sam, winking at some of his +companions, "the trains out yere don't hev to stop ev'ry few miles, an' +so, havin' once got started, they kin keep increasin' an' a-pilin' on +speed till they literally tears along. Now, thar's the Overland Express. +Why, I was a-ridin' on that train oncet when she was jest running at +comfortable speed, and the telygraft-poles beside the track seemed as +nigh together as teeth in a fine-tooth comb." + +"That's speedy," confessed Frank. + +"You bate. But it warn't northin' to what she did later. A hot box, or +somethin', kind o' delayed us, an' we hed to make up lost time. Sir, +it's a fact that arter she got on full head the telygraft-poles looked +presactly like a solid fence along beside the track!" + +"But you see," said Frank, "you confess that your trains out here have +to take time to get up such high speed. That is where they are behind +the trains in the East." + +"How?" demanded Sam contemptuously. + +"Why, having to stop often, the Eastern trains make it a practise to +start quick and at high speed. They don't have to pump away for fifteen +or twenty miles in order to get to going at a comfortable rate of speed. +Instead of that they start right off at full speed. Now there is a train +runs between New York and Washington. I got aboard at the station in +Jersey City. My girl had come along to see me off. I opened the car +window and leaned out to kiss her good-by, and, so help me, I kissed a +colored woman in Philadelphia!" + +There was a moment of silence, and then Big Monte gave a roar of +delighted laughter. This was the kind of humor he could appreciate, and +the fact that Red Sam had been doubly outdone by the tenderfoot gave him +great joy. + +The others laughed, also, and their respect for their captive rose +several notches. + +Cimarron Bill thoroughly appreciated Merry's cleverness in getting ahead +of Red Sam. + +"That youngster'd make the greatest pard a man could tie to!" thought +Bill. + +After breakfast Merry coolly sauntered about the hut. He was followed +everywhere by the two guards, but he gave them no heed whatever. He +looked for some further sign of old Joe, but saw nothing. + +Merry wondered how the redskin would go to work to accomplish what he +meant to attempt. + +Bill let Frank alone until after dinner. Then he sat down with Merry, +they being by themselves, and again broached the subject that seemed +uppermost in his mind. + +"See here," said Frank, "I offered one of your men a thousand dollars to +get me out of this. The same offer stands good with you." + +The dark face of Cimarron Bill flushed and he looked deadly. + +"Mebbe you don't know you're insultin' me a heap!" he said. "Such bein' +the probable case, I resents it none. The minin' trust has promised me +five thousan' when I turns them papers over." + +"Which you will never do." + +"Which I'll sure do if you gits foolish an' refuses to tie up with me." + +"Well," said Frank, "I'm not bidding against the mining trust. I have +refused to recognize that organization." + +"Then you refuses my proposal?" said Bill, in that cold, dangerous voice +of his. + +"Not that. I want until to-morrow morning to think it over. Just till +to-morrow." + +"You'll give me my answer to-morrer mornin'?" + +"Yes." + +"Then it's settled that you has that much more time. I won't ask ye no +more about it until to-morrer morning; an' then you must sure give an +answer. I knows what that answer will certain be if you has the level +head I thinks." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +INJUN JOE TO THE RESCUE. + + +Along in the middle of the night Frank awoke. Again he was overcome by +that strange feeling that some person was near him. Then he felt a +touch, light as a feather, and saw at his side a dark figure. + +The starlight came in at the small, square window. + +A hand grasped Frank's wrist and gave it a gentle pull. There was not +even a whisper. Merry knew what was wanted. + +Without making a sound, he crept across the ground to the wall, where a +timber had been removed from the lower portion, making an opening large +enough for a man to slip through. + +Some one passed noiselessly through this opening ahead of him. Frank +followed as silently as he could. + +Outside he found at his side the one who had entered the cabin in that +manner. This person lay flat on the ground and moved away with amazing +deftness and silence. + +Frank could not follow as easily, but he wormed along as best he could. +In that manner they finally passed to the shelter of some scrubby +bushes. + +There Frank found a dark form sitting on the ground. + +"Heap all right," whispered a voice. "You no make a row when Joe him +come. Joe he know you be ready if you find feather." + +It was Crowfoot, the faithful old redskin. + +"All right now. Make um no noise. Foller Joe," continued the Indian. + +The old fellow did not hurry. He took his time to crawl along on hands +and knees until they were far from the hut. At last he arose, and Frank +followed his example. They bent low and went on like two dark shadows. + +"Can we get out of the valley all right?" asked Merry. + +"One man him guard this way to go out," said Joe. + +"How do we pass him?" + +"Joe know. Leave it to him." + +The valley narrowed at last. They slipped along between rocky walls. +Joe's feet made absolutely no sound. + +"Stop here," advised the redskin. "Joe him come back in minute." + +So Frank stopped and waited. The minute was long. Indeed, it became ten +minutes at least. But the old fellow returned, saying: + +"All right. Coast clear." + +"What's that?" exclaimed Frank, as they nearly stumbled over a dark +figure, as they were hurrying on again. + +"Him guard," said Joe. + +"Guard? What's the matter with him?" + +"Him sleep." + +Merry shuddered a bit, for he fancied he knew the sort of sleep meant by +the old fellow. + +Cimarron Bill would receive his answer in the morning. It would be a +great surprise to him, and would please him not at all. + +More than two miles had been traversed when they came, in a deep gully, +upon old Joe's horse. + +"No keep him so near," said the Indian. "Bring him here to have him +ready to-night. You ride." + +Frank did not fancy the idea of riding, but the old fellow insisted, and +Merry finally mounted. So they passed through the silent night, Joe +leading for a time. + +"Did you get the package off all right?" Merry asked. + +"Him go," said Joe. "No worry." + +"Joe, I don't know how I can repay you; but anything I have in this +world is yours. You want to remember that. Take what you want that +belongs to me." + +"Joe him not need much. He soon go off to the long hunt." + +Frank thought of the time when this old redskin had been his bitter +enemy, when Joe had seemed treacherous and deadly as a rattlesnake, and +smiled somewhat over the transformation. He had won the confidence of +the Indian, who was now as faithful as he had once been dangerous. + +"Did you see anything of the one-armed man who was with my pursuers?" +asked Merry. + +"No see him after leave you." + +"He was sent away to follow you." + +"No see him. He no bother me." + +Frank was thoroughly well satisfied with the work of the faithful +redskin. + +They took turns at riding throughout the night. Three hours after dawn +they came into a large, wooded valley amid the mountains. As they +approached this valley they heard afar a rumbling, jarring sound that +brought a smile to the face of Frank Merriwell. + +"The stamps are in operation," he said. + +Riding up the valley, through which flowed a stream of water, they saw +reared against the bold face of a high mountain, looking like +ant-mounds, some buildings, four or five in number. In the side of the +mountain opened the black mouth of a shaft. + +"Hurrah!" Merry cried, waving his hat over his head. "There, Joe, is the +Queen Mystery, and it is in full blast!" + +The Queen Mystery mine was located a long distance from the nearest +railroad, but Merriwell had been to the expense and trouble of having +the very latest machinery brought there and set up. He had in his employ +Jim Tracy, as a foreman, said to be thoroughly capable and reliable. +Only about fifty men were employed in the mine at that time; but Merry +contemplated increasing the force extensively. + +There was talk of a branch railroad being constructed to pass within ten +or fifteen miles of the Queen Mystery. + +Were the mine to fall into the hands of the mining trust, without doubt +that railroad would be constructed, and it would run direct to Camp +Mystery and onward. The influence of the great railroad magnate would +easily bring about the running of the railroad to suit his fancy. + +The mining trust had been completely baffled in its first efforts to get +the best of Merriwell. + +Frank was welcomed at the mine, where he made himself comfortable. + +Old Joe disappeared within six hours after arriving there. He vanished +without saying a word to Merry about his intentions. + +Two days later he reappeared, Frank finding him sitting, in the morning, +with his back against one of the buildings, his red blanket pulled about +him, serenely smoking. + +"Hello, Joe!" cried Merry. "So you're back?" + +"Ugh!" grunted Joe, as he continued to smoke. + +"What's your report, Joe?" + +"Bad men heap gone." + +"Cimarron Bill and his gang?" + +"Joe mean um." + +"They have gone?" + +"Git out. They go heap quick after Strong Heart he git away." + +"Well, that looks as if Bill had given up the fight, but it seems hardly +possible." + +"No can tell," said the old fellow. "May come 'gain with great lot many +more bad men." + +Frank sat down and talked with the old redskin for some time. Then Joe +was given a square meal, and he ate heartily. + +Merry had some business to look after in the mine, and he departed, at +last, with the idea that he would find Joe and have another talk with +him after the business was done. + +But when Merry came to look again for the Indian, Joe had disappeared +once more in his usual mysterious fashion. + +Merry was not at all satisfied that Cimarron Bill had given up the +struggle. In any event, he was confident that the syndicate had not +given up, and experience had taught him that the organization would +resort to any desperate means to accomplish its purpose. + +So Merriwell, having seen that all things were going well at the mine, +set out the following day for Holbrook, in which place he mailed a +letter to Dick, informing him of his fortune in escaping from the +ruffians. + +In Holbrook Merry purchased a supply of rifles and cartridges, also +small arms. This stock he had boxed and contracted with a man to deliver +everything with the least possible delay at the Queen Mystery mine. + +Having attended to this matter, Merry rested over night and set out with +the first hint of coming day for the mine. + +Through the hottest part of the day he rested in a ravine where there +was some shade. Then he traveled again until after nightfall. + +The following forenoon found him in a part of the mountains that seemed +familiar. He had diverged somewhat from the regular trail between +Holbrook and the mine. + +Riding through a narrow pass, he came into a valley that was somewhat +wooded and had a decidedly familiar aspect. Five minutes later he drew +rein, uttering an exclamation of surprise. + +Before him, at a distance, stood an old hut. + +It required no second glance to show Merriwell that it was the very hut +where he had been held a captive by Cimarron Bill and his gang. + +Frank looked around keenly, but the valley seemed desolate, and +apparently he and his horse were the only living creatures within its +confines. + +"The very place!" said Merry. "I wonder how Bill liked my answer to his +proposition. He must have been decidedly surprised when he found me +missing in the morning." + +He rode forward toward the hut, having a fancy to look around the place. + +As he drew nearer, suddenly his horse plunged forward and fell, while a +shot rang out. + +Merry had seen a puff of smoke come from the window of the hut. He +managed to jerk his feet from the stirrups and drop to the ground behind +the body of the horse, where he lay quite still. + +The animal had been shot through the brain, and it did not even kick +after falling. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +MERRIWELL AND BIG MONTE. + + +As he lay behind his stricken horse, Merriwell pulled his rifle around +and got it ready for use. Peering over the body of the animal, he +watched the hut. + +The sun, which was dropping toward the west, was still decidedly +uncomfortable. It blazed upon him with a feeling like the heat from a +bake-oven. + +Frank knew his peril. He knew better than to lift his head high and give +his hidden foe another chance at him. He could not jump up and rush for +cover, as cover lay too far away. Only one thing could he do, and that +was to remain quietly there and watch and wait. + +After a time it is likely the man who had fired the shot began to +believe Merriwell seriously hurt. Frank caught a glimpse of him within +the hut. + +"He's coming out!" Merry decided. + +He was mistaken. Time dragged on and the sun dipped lower toward the +mountain-peaks; but still no person issued from the old hut. The +situation was anything but comfortable. + +"Confound him!" muttered Frank. "Who is he, and what does he mean?" + +Even as he asked the question, he again saw the man moving beyond the +window. + +Frank thrust the rifle across the horse, resting it on the animal's +body. Then he got into a position where he could take good aim, and then +waited again. + +The sun was touching the mountain-tops when beyond the window Merry saw +the head of a man. + +Then the clear report of his rifle rang through the valley. The puff of +smoke from the muzzle blotted out the window for a moment. When it +floated away the window was empty. + +"Did I reach him?" thought Frank anxiously. + +He felt that he had not missed, and still he could not be sure. He did +not venture to rise from behind the horse. In case he had missed, he +might fall before a second bullet from the hut. + +The sun went down behind the mountains, flinging a hundred golden and +crimson banners into the sky. Finally these began to fade, and a few +stars peeped forth palely. + +"If somebody's watching for me there," thought Merry, "it's going to be +dangerous to move, at best." + +But something told him his lead had not gone astray. + +As the light faded still more he arose quickly, rifle in hand, and +started on a run for the hut. As he ran he felt that it was far from +impossible that another shot might bring sudden death to him. Still he +did not hesitate, and, running steadily, he came up to the hut. + +The door swung open before his hand. He looked in. It was not so dark +as to hide a black figure that lay sprawled on the dirt floor. + +Frank shuddered a little, and felt like turning away at once. + +"He brought it on himself!" he whispered. "It was my life or his. But +I'm sorry I had to do it." + +Then he entered the hut. Striking a match, he bent over the prostrate +figure. The reflected light, coming from his hollowed hands, showed him +a familiar face. + +"Big Monte!" he cried, starting back and dropping the match. + +It was in truth the big man who had been one of Cimarron Bill's paid +satellites. + +He found the man's wrist and felt for his pulse. + +"Good Lord!" Merry cried. + +Big Monte's pulse flickered beneath his fingers. The ruffian still +lived. + +Frank knew where there was some wood, and this he soon had piled in a +little heap in the open fireplace. He applied a match, and soon a blaze +sprang up. + +By the growing light of the fire he examined Monte's wound. + +"Creased him as fine as can be!" he muttered. "Maybe there is a chance +for him, after all." + +It may be explained that by "creased" Frank meant that the bullet had +passed along the man's skull, cutting his scalp, yet had not penetrated +the bone. This had rendered Big Monte unconscious. + +Merry removed the fellow's revolvers and knife and stood his rifle in a +far corner. Then he brought some water in his drinking-cup and set about +the effort of restoring the wretch to consciousness, which did not prove +such a hard task as he had anticipated. + +After a little Monte's eyes opened and he lay staring at the youth. He +seemed bewildered, and it was plain he could not readily collect his +scattered wits. + +"Well, Monte," said Frank coolly, "that was a pretty close call for you. +I came near shooting off the top of your head, which I would have been +justified in doing. All the same, I'm glad I failed." + +The big man continued to stare at Frank. Already Merry had bound up the +ruffian's wound. + +"Ho!" came hoarsely from Monte's lips. "Back! Back to the depths! You +are dead!" + +"If I am dead," said Frank, "I'm just about the liveliest dead man you +ever saw." + +A strange smile came to the lips of the wounded man. + +"If you are not yet dead," he said, "I opines you soon will be a heap." + +"Never count chickens before they are hatched, Monte." + +"When you come back you'll find your mine in the hands of the syndicate. +Bill will have it." + +"That's interesting! How will Bill get it?" + +"He will take it while you are away. He has gathered a right good gang, +and he's a-goin' to jump the mine to-night." + +"Monte," said Frank, "you interest me extensively. How does it happen +you are not with the gang?" + +"I am one of the watchers. I watch to see that you do not get back. I +reckons I have done my part o' the job, for I shot you dead a while +ago." + +The big ruffian was not in his right mind, but already he had said +enough to stir Frank Merriwell's blood. So Cimarron Bill had been +watching his movements from some place of cover, and had hastened to +gather his ruffians the moment Frank left the mine. Without doubt Bill +had counted on Frank remaining away longer. However, this night he was +to strike, with his gang. The mine was to be seized. + +"I must be there!" muttered Merriwell. + +Fortunately Big Monte had a horse hidden not far from the cabin, and +Frank was able to find the animal. + +The wounded ruffian was raving at intervals. He seemed quite deranged. + +"I can't leave him like this," thought Merry. "He might wander off into +the mountains and perish." + +Still he disliked to be encumbered with the wretch. Some would have +deserted the wounded man without delay and ridden with all haste to +reach the mine. + +It must be confessed that such a thought passed through the head of +Frank Merriwell. + +"No!" murmured Frank. "He's a human being. It is my duty to do what I +can to save him." + +So it came about that two men rode Monte's big horse away from that +valley. One of them muttered, and laughed, and talked wildly. + +"Riding with the dead!" he said. "We're on the road to Purgatory! Ha! +Ha! Ha! Whip up the horse! Gallop on!" + +It was a strange ride through the starlight night. The clicking clatter +of the horse's hoofs aroused the big man at intervals, and he laughed +and shouted. + +"I'm dead!" he finally declared. "I am a dead man! Two dead men are +riding together! And we're on the road to the burnin' pit! But it's +getting a heap cold! I'm beginnin' to freeze. The fire will be good an' +hot!" + +"Shut up!" said Merry. "We're getting near the Queen Mystery. You may +get shot up some more if you keep your jaw wagging." + +As they came nearer to the valley, Merry slackened the pace of the +foam-flecked horse. Fortunately the animal had been big and strong, for +once Frank had seemed to have little mercy on the beast he bestrode. + +Monte continued to talk. He had grown so weak that Merry was compelled +to partly support him. + +"Look here," Frank said, in a commanding way, "you are not to say +another word until I give you permission. Do you understand that?" + +"Yes." + +"Then close up. Not another word from you." + +Monte closed up, obeying like a child. + +They were entering the valley. Suddenly there came a challenge. + +"Hold up, thar! Who goes yander?" + +Not a word from Merriwell's lips, but he drove the spurs to the horse, +clutched Big Monte tighter, and they shot forward into the valley. + +Instantly sounded a shot, followed by several more. Bullets whistled +past them. Frank felt Monte give a great start and lurch sideways, but +he held the man steady. + +There were cries of rage from the men who had fired the shots. + +Not a word did Frank speak, but he held straight on toward the head of +the valley and Camp Mystery. + +As he approached he saw lights gleaming ahead, seeming to indicate that +the sound of shooting had come up the valley and aroused the miners. + +He was challenged, but gave an answer that caused the men to welcome him +with a shout. It was Crowfoot who seized the lather-white horse by the +bit, but it was another who caught Big Monte as the ruffian plunged from +the saddle on being released from Frank's arms. + +"I 'lows he'd got it good an' plenty," said the man who caught Monte. +"Ef he ain't dead a'ready, he'll be so right soon." + +"Take him inside somewhere," directed Frank. "Every man who can find a +weapon wants to get ready to fight. We're going to have a gang of +ruffians down on us here, and we'll have to fight to hold this mine." + +"We're all ready, Mr. Merriwell," said Jim Tracy, the foreman. "Joe +Crowfoot came and warned us what was doin'. I opine them galoots must +'a' bin shootin' at you some down yander?" + +"That's right," said Frank. "I had to ride through them, and they banged +away at me to their satisfaction. I was lucky to come out with a whole +skin." + +"Which the other gent didn't. Who is he?" + +"Big Monte." + +"What? Not that galoot? Why, he's one o' the wust devils unhung in +Arizona!" + +The men began to murmur. + +"Big Monte!" cried another. "Why I has a score to settle with that thar +varmint! He shot my partner, Luke Brandt." + +"An' I has a score to settle with him, too!" declared another. "He stole +a hoss off me!" + +Many others claimed grievances against Monte, and suddenly there was a +rush toward the room into which the wounded man had been conveyed. + +Somehow Frank Merriwell was ahead of them all. + +As they came crowding in at the door, Merry stood beside the blanket on +which the wounded ruffian was stretched. + +"Hold on, men!" he called quietly. "Monte is dying!" + +"What do we keer fer that!" cried one. "All the more reason fer us to +hurry an' swing the varmint afore he crokes!" + +"Let him die in peace." + +"That's escapin' what's his due." + +Frank lifted one hand. + +"There is One above who will judge him," he said. "It is not for us to +do that." + +But those men did not fancy the idea of being robbed of their vengeance. +Big Monte was helpless in their hands, and they were for swinging him +before he could escape them by giving up the ghost. + +"Mr. Merriwell, sir," said one, "we respects you all right, an' we don't +like to run contrarywise to anything you says here; but in this yere +case we has to, most unfortunate. It is our sollum duty to hang this +onery hoss-thief, an' that is what we proposes to do. Arter that we'll +be ready ter fight fer you an' your mine as long as it's necessary." + +"That's right!" shouted others, as they again crowded forward. "Let us +have him! We'll make it right short work! Then we'll be ready fer his +pards!" + +Some of them flourished weapons. They were an ugly-looking crew. + +Quick as a flash Frank Merriwell whipped out a pair of revolvers and +leveled them at the crowd. + +"Gentlemen," he said, "I have just one thing to observe: If you don't, +one and all, get out of here instanter and leave Monte to shuffle off in +peace I shall open on you! If I open on you, I shall reduce you so that +Cimarron Bill and his crowd will have no trouble whatever in taking this +mine." + +They did not doubt but he meant it, remarkable though it seemed. If they +attempted to seize Monte, Merriwell would begin shooting. It was +astonishing that he should choose to defend this ruffian that had been +one of his worst enemies. + +As the men were hesitating, old Joe Crowfoot suddenly appeared. + +"Com'ron Bill he come!" said the Indian. "There be a heap fight in a +minute! Come quick!" + +"Come on!" cried Jim Tracy. + +And the men rushed forth to meet and repulse Cimarron Bill and his +gang. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE DEATH-SHOT. + + +Frank was about to follow, when Big Monte clutched weakly at his foot. + +"Pard," said the ruffian, "I may never git another chanct to say it. +You're the white stuff! They'd shore hanged me a whole lot but for you. +Now I has a chanct to die comfortable an' respectable like. Thankee, +Frank Merriwell." + +"Don't mention it!" said Frank. "Die as comfortably as you can. I have +to go out to help the boys shoot a few of your pards." + +"I ain't got northin' agin' them," said Monte; "but I wishes ye luck. +They're in the wrong, an' you're right." + +At this moment the sound of shooting outside startled Merry, and, +without another word, he rushed forth, leaving Monte lying there. + +Cimarron Bill had counted on capturing the mine by strategy and meeting +with very little resistance. When Frank had returned and ridden into the +valley Bill knew that it would not do to delay longer, and he had led +his men in swift pursuit. + +But old Joe Crowfoot, faithful as ever, had prepared the miners for the +attack; so it came about that the ruffians were met with a volley of +lead that dismayed and demoralized them. This was not the kind of work +they relished. + +Thus it happened that Frank Merriwell came hurrying forth, only to find +the enemy already repulsed and retreating in disorder. + +The starlight showed two men and a horse stretched on the ground, while +another horse was hobbling about. At a distance down the valley the +mine-seizers were fleeing. + +"They git heap hot time!" said old Joe, in Frank's ear. + +"What?" cried Merry. "Have they quit it as quick as this?" + +"It looks that way, sir," said Jim Tracy. + +"And I didn't get into the game." + +"You was too busy defending Big Monte. I hopes you pardons me, sir, but +I thinks that was a mistake." + +"You have a right to think whatever you like, but I object to your +freedom in expressing yourself." + +This was plain enough, and it told Tracy that Frank would not tolerate +any criticism from him. + +"It's your own game," muttered Tracy, turning away. + +"I see you have dropped two of those chaps." + +"Yes." + +Revolver in hand, Frank walked out toward the spot where the two figures +lay. He was followed by Crowfoot and several others. + +The first man was stone-dead. + +The next proved to be the Mexican, Pinto Pede, who was sorely wounded. + +"That cursed greaser!" growled one of the men. "Give me lief to finish +him, Mr. Merriwell!" + +He placed the muzzle of a pistol against Pede's head. + +Frank knew that a word from him would send the Mexican into eternity. + +"None of that!" he said sternly and commandingly. "Pick the fellow up +and take him in yonder. He may not be shot up too bad to recover." + +But they drew back. + +"Sir," said Tracy, "I don't opine thar is a man here but what thinks +hisself too good to be after handlin' the onery greaser." + +"And you would let him remain here to die?" + +"I reckons that's correct." + +In another moment Merry had stooped and lifted the slender body of Pinto +Pede in his arms. With long strides, he bore the Mexican toward the +building in which Big Monte lay. + +The miners looked on in amazement. + +"Waal, he's the limit!" said Jim Tracy, in disgust. + +Crowfoot followed Frank, who took Pede into the room and placed him +beside Big Monte. The redskin stopped at the door, where he stood on +guard. + +"Well, Pede," said Frank, "we'll examine and see just how hard you're +hit." + +The Mexican was shot in the side. At first it seemed that the wound +might be fatal, but, examining with the skill of an amateur surgeon, +Frank made a discovery. + +"She struck a rib, Pede," he said. "She followed around and came out +here. Why, you're not in such a bad way! You may pull through this thing +all right. You'd be almost sure to if you had the right sort of +treatment." + +The Mexican said nothing, but certain it is that he was bewildered when +he found Merry dressing the wound. This Frank did with such skill as he +possessed, making the fellow comfortable. + +Big Monte had watched all this, and he spoke for the first time when the +job was done. + +"I reckon," he said, "that they don't raise galoots like you ev'rywhere. +Why, it shore was up to you to finish the two o' us! Why you didn't do +it is something I don't understand none at all. An' you keeps them gents +from takin' me out an' swingin' me. You shore air plenty diffrunt from +any one I ever meets up with afore!" + +Old Joe Crowfoot had been watching everything. The Indian understood +Frank not at all, but whatever "Strong Heart" did Joe was ready to stand +by. + +"Don't worry over it," laughed Merry. "I owe you something, Monte." + +"I fail to see what." + +"Why, you warned me that Bill and the others meant to jump the mine +to-night." + +"Did I?" + +"Sure thing." + +"I don't remember. But I tried ter shoot ye. Bill said you was ter be +shot ef you comes a-hustlin' back afore he gits around to doin' his part +o' the job." + +"You got the worst of it in that little piece of shooting, so we'll call +that even." + +"If you says even, I'm more'n willin'." + +"Now," said Frank, "I'm going out with the men to watch for a second +attack from Bill. I have to leave you, and some of the boys may take a +fancy to hang you, after all. That bein' the case, I don't want to leave +you so you won't have a show. Here, take this gun. With it you may be +able to defend yourself until I can reach you. But don't shoot any one +if you can help it, for after that I don't believe even I could save +you." + +So he placed a revolver in the hand of Big Monte and went out, leaving +the wounded ruffians together. + +When Frank was gone the two wounded wretches lay quite still for some +time. Finally Pinto Pede stirred and looked at Big Monte. + +"How you get shot?" he asked. + +"The gent who jest went out done a part o' the job," said Monte, in +reply. + +"Heem--he shoot you?" + +"Yes." + +"Ha! You lik' da chance to shoot heem?" + +"Waal, I had it, but I missed him. He fooled me a whole lot, fer he jest +kept still behind his hoss, what I had salted, an' then he got in at me +with his own bit o' lead." + +"That mak' you hate heem! Now you want to keel heem?" + +"Oh, I don't know! I don't opine I'm so mighty eager." + +"Beel says he gif one thousan' dol' to man who shoot Frank Mer'well." + +"That's a good lot." + +"Beel he do it." + +"No doubt o' that, I reckons." + +"Mebbe you an' I haf the chance." + +"Waal, not fer me! I quits! When a chap keeps my neck from bein' +stretched arter all I has done ter him--waal, that settles it! I opines +I has a leetle humanity left in me. An' he thought I was dyin', too. I +kinder thought so then, but I'm managin' ter pull along. Mebbe I'll come +through." + +The face of Pinto Pede showed that he was thinking black thoughts. + +"Gif me da chance!" he finally said. "You no haf to do eet. Gif me da +chance. I do eet, an' we divvy da mon'. Ha?" + +"Don't count me into your deviltry." + +"No count you?" + +"No." + +"What matter? You no too good. I see you shoot man in back." + +"Mebbe you did; but he hadn't kept me from bein' lynched." + +"Bah! Why he do eet? You fool! He want to turn you ofer to law." + +"Mebbe you're right; I don't know." + +"You safe yourself if you help keel him." + +"Looker hyer, Pede, I'm a low-down onery skunk; but I reckon thar's a +limit even fer me. I've struck it. This hyer Frank Merriwell made me +ashamed a' myself fer the fust time in a right long time. I know I'm too +onery to reform an' ever be anything decent, even if I don't shuffle off +with these two wounds. All the same, I ain't the snake ter turn an' soak +pisen inter Merriwell, an' you hear me. Others may do it, but not Big +Monte." + +"Bah! All right! You not get half! Yes; you keep steel, you get eet." + +"What are you driving at?" + +"Wait. Mebbe you see. All you haf to do is keep steel." + +"Waal, I'm great at keepin' still," said Monte. + +It was not far from morning when Merriwell re-entered that room. + +Pinto Pede seemed to be sleeping, but Big Monte was wide-awake. + +"Hello!" exclaimed Frank. "So you're still on these shores. I didn't +know but you had sailed out." + +"Pard, I opine mebbe I may git well enough to be hanged, after all," +grinned the big ruffian. + +"Possibly you may," said Frank. "And the chances are you would be if I +were to leave you alone long enough. I heard some of the boys talking. +They contemplate taking you out and doing things to you after I'm +asleep. But they did not reckon that I would come here to sleep, where +they cannot get their hands on you without disturbing me." + +"That was right kind of you," said Monte. "How's Bill?" + +"I think that Bill has had his fill for the present. Indications are +that he has left the valley with his whole force, and we are not looking +for further trouble from him in some time to come." + +"Bill shore found hisself up against the real thing," said Monte. + +Frank placed a blanket near the door, wrapped himself in it, and was +soon sleeping soundly. + +Big Monte seemed to fall asleep after a time. + +Finally the Mexican lifted his head and listened. He looked at Monte, +and then at Frank. Seeming to satisfy himself, he gently dropped aside +his blanket and began creeping across the floor, making his way toward +Merriwell. He moved with the silence of a serpent. + +Now, it happened that Big Monte was not asleep, although he had seemed +to be. The Mexican had not crept half the distance to Frank when the big +man turned slightly, lifted his head, and watched. As the creeping +wretch drew nearer to the sleeping youth the hand of Big Monte was +gently thrust out from the folds of his blanket. + +Pede reached Frank, and then arose to his knees. Suddenly he lifted +above his head a deadly knife, which he meant to plunge into the breast +of the unconscious sleeper. + +At that instant a spout of fire leaped from something in the hand which +Big Monte had thrust from beneath the blanket, and with the crashing +report of the revolver Pede fell forward across the body of his intended +victim, shot through the brain! + +Frank was on his feet in an instant. + +"What does this mean?" he cried, astounded, stirring the body of the +Mexican with his foot. + +"You gave me a gun," said Big Monte, "so that I might defend myself. It +came in handy when I saw Pede gittin' keerless with his knife an' goin' +fer to cut you up." + +"Was that it?" exclaimed Frank. "Why, he was going to stab me! And you +saved my life by shooting him!" + +"Which mebbe makes us some nearer square than we was," said Monte, "as +you saved my life a leetle time ago." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +FRANK MAKES A DECISION. + + +Frank leaned against the door-jamb of his cabin and looked out into the +sunny valley. To his ears came the roar of the stamp-mills of the mine, +which was in full blast. Before him lay the mine-buildings about the +mouth of the tunnel, from which rich ore was being brought to be fed to +the greedy stamps. + +It was now something like ten days since the ruffians under Cimarron +Bill tried to carry the mine by assault. + +Frank had remained watchful and alert, well knowing the nature of +Cimarron Bill and believing he would not be content to abandon the +effort thus easily. Still the second attack, which he had so fully +expected, had not come. + +He was wondering now if the ruffians had given it up. Or had they been +instructed by the trust to turn their attention to the San Pablo Mine? + +If the latter was the case, Frank felt that they would find the San +Pablo prepared. He had taken pains before hastening to the Queen Mystery +to fortify his mine in Mexico, leaving it in charge of a man whom he +fully trusted. + +Nevertheless, Frank felt that it would be far better were he able to +personally watch both mines at the same time. Just now he was +meditating on the advisability of leaving the Queen Mystery and +journeying southward to the San Pablo. + +As he thought this matter over, something seemed to whisper in his ear +that such an action on his part was anticipated by the enemy, who were +waiting for him to make the move. Then, while he was away, they would +again descend on the Queen Mystery. + +Again the old Indian, Crowfoot, had disappeared, after his usual manner, +without telling Frank whither he was going. Merry knew he might be in +the vicinity, or he might be hundreds of miles away. Still, Joe had a +remarkable faculty of turning up just when he was most needed. + +Merry turned back into the little cabin, leaving the door open. He had +been feeling of his chin as he stood in the doorway, and now he thought: + +"A shave will clean me up. Great Scott! but I'm getting a beard! This +shaving is becoming a regular nuisance." + +Indeed, Frank was getting a beard. Every day it seemed to grow heavier +and thicker, and he found it necessary to shave frequently to maintain +that clean appearance in which he so greatly delighted. + +Frank could wear old clothes, he could rough it with joy, he minded +neither wind nor weather, but personal cleanliness he always maintained +when such a thing was in any manner possible. To him a slovenly person +was offensive. He pitied the man or boy who did not know the pleasure of +being clean, and he knew it was possible for any one to be clean, no +matter what his occupation, provided he could obtain a cake of soap and +sufficient water. + +So Frank was shaving every day when possible. He now turned back into +the cabin and brought out his shaving-set. On the wall directly opposite +the open door hung a small square mirror, with a narrow shelf below it. + +Here Merry made preparations for his shaving. Over a heater-lamp he +prepared his water, whistling the air of the Boola Song. This tune made +him think of his old friends of Yale, some of whom he had not heard from +for some time. + +A year had not yet passed since he had gathered them and taken his +baseball-team into the Mad River region to play baseball. In that brief +space of time many things had occurred which made it evident that never +again could they all be together for sport. The days of mere sport were +past and over; the days of serious business had come. + +Frank thought, with a sense of sadness, of Old Eli. Before him rose a +vision of the campus buildings, in his ears sounded the laughter and +songs, and he saw the line of fellows hanging on the fence, smoking +their pipes and chaffing good-naturedly. + +With some men it is a sad thing that they cannot look back with any +great degree of pleasure on their boyhood and youth. They remember that +other boys seemed to have fine times, while they did not. Later, other +youths chummed together and were hail-fellow-well-met, while they +seemed set aloof from these jolly associates. With Frank this was not +so. He remembered his boyhood with emotions of the greatest pleasure, +from the time of his early home life to his bidding farewell to Fardale. +Beyond that even unto this day the joy of life made him feel that it was +a million fold worth living. + +There are thousands who confess that they would not be willing to go +back and live their lives over. Had the question been put to Frank +Merriwell he would have said that nothing could give him greater +pleasure. + +When the water was hot, Frank carefully applied his razor to the strop +and made it sharp enough for his purpose. Then he arranged everything +needed on the little shelf beneath the mirror. + +Now, it is impossible to say what thing it was that led him to remove +his revolver from the holster and place it on the shelf with the other +things, but something caused him to do so. + +Then he applied the lather to his face, and was about to use the razor, +when he suddenly saw something in the mirror that led him to move with +amazing quickness. + +Behind him, at the open door, was a man with a rifle. This man, a +bearded ruffian, had crept up to the door with the weapon held ready for +use. + +But for the fact that the interior of the cabin seemed somewhat gloomy +to the eyes of the man, accustomed as they were to the bright glare of +the sun outside, he might have been too swift for Frank. + +Another thing added to Frank's fortune, and it was that he had drawn his +revolver and placed the weapon on the little shelf in front of him. For +this reason it was not necessary for him to reach toward the holster at +his hip, an action which must have hurried the ruffian to the attempted +accomplishment of his murderous design. For Merriwell had no doubt of +the fellow's intention. He saw murder in the man's eyes and pose. + +The rifle was half-lifted. In another moment Frank Merriwell would have +been shot in the back in a most dastardly manner. + +He snatched the revolver from the little shelf and fired over his +shoulder without turning his head, securing such aim as was possible by +the aid of the mirror into which he was looking. Frank had learned to +shoot in this manner, and he could do so as skilfully as many of the +expert marksmen who gave exhibitions of fancy shooting throughout the +country. + +His bullet struck the hand of the man, smashing some of the ruffian's +fingers and causing him to drop the rifle. + +Merry wheeled and strode to the door, his smoking revolver in his hand, +a terrible look in his eyes. + +The wretch was astounded by what had happened. Blood was streaming from +his wounded hand. He saw Merriwell confront him with the ready pistol. + +"You treacherous cur!" said Frank indignantly. "I think I'll finish +you!" + +He seemed about to shoot the man down, whereupon the ruffian dropped on +his knees, begging for mercy. + +"Don't--don't shoot!" he gasped, holding up his bleeding hand, "Don't +kill me!" + +"Why shouldn't I? You meant to kill me." + +"No, no--I swear----" + +"Don't lie! Your soul may start on its long trail in a moment! Don't lie +when you may be on the brink of eternity!" + +These stern words frightened the fellow more than ever. + +"Oh, I'm telling you the truth--I sw'ar I am!" he hastened to say. + +"You crept up to this door all ready to fill me full of lead." + +"No, no! Nothing of the sort! I was not looking for you! It--it was some +one else! I swear it by my honor!" + +A bitter smile curled the lips of the young man. + +"Honor!" he said--"your honor! Never mind. How much were you to receive +for killing me?" + +"It was not you; it was another man." + +"What other?" + +"Tracy." + +"My foreman?" + +"Yes." + +"You were looking for him?" + +"Yes." + +"Why?" + +"Him and me have had a fallin' out, and he cussed me. He threatened to +shoot me, too." + +"What was the matter?" + +"Oh, he didn't like the way I done my work. It's true; ask him. I swore +I'd fix him." + +"Well, what brought you here to my cabin to shoot the foreman?" + +"I thought I saw him coming this way." + +Frank pressed his lips together and looked the man over. Somehow he +believed the ruffian was lying, in spite of all these protests. + +"See here, Anson," he said, "you were hired by the mining trust, or by +some of its tools, to shoot me, and you tried to earn your money. Don't +deny it, for you can't fool me. Just own up to the truth and it will be +better for you. Tell me who made the deal with you and how much you were +to receive. If you come out honestly and confess all, I'll spare you. +Your hand is bleeding pretty bad, and it should be attended to at once. +I'll see to that, but upon condition that you confess." + +Still the ruffian continued to protest, insisting that it was Tracy he +was looking for. In the midst of this he suddenly stopped, seeming to be +badly frightened. + +"Oh, Lord!" he choked. "Here comes Tracy! Don't tell him! I can't defend +myself! Don't tell him, or he'll sure shoot me up and finish me!" + +Jim Tracy was coming with long strides. He saw Frank and the wretch with +the bleeding hand. + +"Whatever is this?" he demanded. "I heard the shooting. What has this +yaller dog been up to?" + +"I shot him," said Frank quietly. "He came walking into my door in a +careless manner with his rifle in his hand, and I shot him in a hurry. +He was foolish; he should have been more careful. It's dangerous to walk +in on me that way, even with the most peaceable intentions." + +There was a strange look on Tracy's face. + +"So that's how it happened?" he exclaimed, in a harsh voice. "Well, it's +pretty certain that Hop Anson needs to have his worthless neck +stretched, and all I ask is permission to attend to the job. I'll +dispose of him very quickly." + +"I told you, Mr. Merriwell!" muttered the wounded man. + +"You have had some trouble with him, have you, Tracy?" asked Frank. + +"Confound his hide! yes, I have. He has no business here at this time. +His place is discharging the rock as it comes out. The fact that he's +here counts against him. Turn him over to me." + +"Instead of that," said Frank, thrusting his revolver into his holster, +"I think I'll take care of him. Come in here, Anson." + +Tracy seemed astonished and disgusted. + +"What are you going to do?" he asked. + +"I'm going to see if I can't dress that hand and keep him from bleeding +to death," was Merriwell's answer. + +"Well, by thunder!" muttered the foreman. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +MERRIWELL'S METHOD. + + +It was not easy for such men to understand Frank Merriwell. Hop Anson +was as much astonished as was Jim Tracy. He entered the cabin at Frank's +command, and Merriwell proceeded to wash and examine the wound. + +"You'll have to lose two fingers and part of another one," said +Merriwell. "I can do the job for you right here, if you say so. Or I'll +patch them up, stop the bleeding, and let you get to a regular +saw-bones." + +"You go ahead," said Anson. + +So Frank opened a trunk which sat behind a curtain in one corner of the +room, bringing out a case, which, on being opened, revealed a complete +set of surgical instruments. These he spread out on the rough table, and +soon he was ready to operate on Hop Anson's mangled hand. + +Jim Tracy, his hands on his hips and his feet rather wide apart, stood +looking on in silence. + +Frank spent the greater part of an hour about his task, impressing Tracy +as an assistant, and when he had finished two of the ruffian's fingers +and a part of the third were gone, but the amputation and dressing had +been done in a manner that was anything but bungling. Frank had been as +careful as possible to preserve cleanliness about his work. + +"Well, you're certain a wonder!" exclaimed Tracy admiringly. "But you +makes a big mistake in wastin' so much trouble on a dog like this." + +Anson did not retort, save with a sullen flash of his treacherous eyes +in the direction of the foreman. + +"Permit me to know my business, Tracy," said Merry shortly. "You may go +now, Anson." + +"What? You're not going to let him go where he likes?" + +"Yes." + +So Hop Anson walked out of the cabin, picked up his rifle, and +disappeared. + +"I don't want to criticise you, Mr. Merriwell," said the foreman. "You +know I am devoted to your interests. But I feel confident that you will +be very sorry you treated that man in such a decent way and then let him +off. He's a snake. I still believe he crept up to the door to shoot you +in the back." + +"Perhaps he did," nodded Frank, cleansing his instruments with the +utmost coolness. "If so, he got the worst of it." + +"But would you let him off like that if you knew it was so?" + +"No. He swore it was not. I had no proof, so I let him go." + +"You're altogether too easy with your enemies," asserted Tracy. "Just +you turn them over to me. I'll take care of them, and they'll never +bother you again, be right sure of that." + +"I'll think about it," smiled Frank, returning the instruments to the +case. + +"You came mighty near being killed by that greaser because you were easy +with him." + +"And my life was saved by Big Monte because I had been easy with him. +That balances things, I fancy. In fact, for me, it more than balances +things. I'd rather let a dozen bad men escape punishment than strike one +who is innocent." + +"But neither Big Monte nor Pinto Pede was innocent." + +"And Pinto Pede provided a subject with which to start a graveyard here. +Big Monte seemed repentant. Pede would have knifed me, but Monte shot +him just as he was ready to strike." + +"Well, where's Big Monte now?" + +"I don't know," confessed Frank. + +"He skipped out." + +"Sure thing. He took a walk the first chance he got." + +"And it's certain he's gone back to his pals. When they strike at you +ag'in, if they do, Monte will be with 'em." + +"All right. Perhaps he has an idea he'll be fighting fair that way." + +"And he may kill you yet." + +"Possibly." + +"Well," said Tracy, "I must admit that I don't understand you none +whatever! Hop Anson left his work, got a rifle and came sneakin' up to +your door. You shoots him in the hand, then doctors him and lets him go. +That's right peculiar. But I have him to deal with somewhat, and I +propose to deal. If you hear before night that Hop has hopped the divide +don't be any surprised." + +Tracy seemed about to depart. + +"Look here," said Frank, "before you go, I have some things to say. +Unless Hop Anson gives you good and sufficient cause, you are not to +lift your hand against him. I don't want any shooting to get started +here at the mine. I want these men to dwell together peaceably. The +first shooting is likely to lead to other work in the same line." + +"You're too much against such things," said Tracy; "and still I notice +you don't hesitate any whatever to use a gun at times." + +"When forced to it; never at any other time. I am decidedly against it. +It would be dead easy to start an affair here that would lead to +disturbances that might get the men to quarreling. That would put the +men in condition to revolt, and an assault upon the mine would find us +weakened. I trust you, Tracy, to be careful about this matter. Much +depends on you. You have proved satisfactory in every way." + +"Thankee," said the foreman, somewhat awkwardly. "I've tried to do my +best, sir." + +"That is all I ask of any man. That is all any man can do. You should +understand why I wish no disturbance. But, at the same time, let me +warn you to watch Hop Anson closely--for your own benefit. If you have +to do any shooting, well and good." + +"I think I understand," said Tracy, as he walked out. At the door he +paused and half-turned, as if to say something more. Already Frank was +facing the little mirror on the wall, ready to resume his shaving. He +stood exactly as he had stood when he shot at Anson, and his revolver +lay on the shelf beneath the mirror. + +Tracy went on. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +SMOKE SIGNALS AND A DECOY. + + +Frank grew restless. On the day following the shooting of Anson he +called Tracy and said: + +"Tracy, I want you to keep your eyes open and be on your guard while I +am away." + +"Are you going away, sir?" asked the foreman. + +"Yes." + +"For a long time?" + +"That is uncertain. I may return by night, and I may not be back for +several days." + +The foreman looked as if he wished to ask where Frank thought of going, +but held himself in check. + +"I wish to satisfy myself if any of my enemies are in this vicinity," +said Merriwell. "I leave things in your hands here, and I believe I can +trust you." + +"You can, sir, fully." + +Merry attended to the saddling of his horse. When he rode forth from the +mine he was well armed and prepared for almost anything. Behind him the +roar of the ore-crushers died out, and he passed into the silence of the +mountains. + +Not an hour had passed when he was somewhat surprised to see before him +from an elevated point a big, ball-like cloud of dark smoke rising into +the sky. + +"That's odd," was his immediate decision. + +He stopped his horse and watched the smoke as it ascended and grew +thinner. It was followed by another ball of smoke as he watched, and +after this came still another. + +Then Frank turned in the saddle, looking in various directions. Some +miles behind him three distinct and separate clouds of smoke seemed to +be mounting into the sky from another high elevation. + +"If those are not smoke signals," said Frank, "I'm a chump! In that +case, it's likely I'll have Indians to deal with if I keep on. Perhaps +I'd better turn back." + +For something told him that he was the object of those signals, and this +was an Indian method of communication. He sat still for some time, +watching the smoke fade in the upper air, which it did slowly. At last, +however, it was gone, and the clear atmosphere held no black signal of +danger. + +Frank's curiosity was aroused. He longed to know the meaning of those +signals. Having looked to his weapons, he rode on slowly, keenly on the +alert. + +Coming through a narrow gorge into a valley that looked barren enough, +he suddenly snatched forth a revolver and cried: + +"Halt, there! Stop, or----Why, it's a woman!" + +For he had seen a figure hastily seeking concealment amid some boulders. +At sound of his voice the figure straightened up and turned toward him. + +Then he was more amazed than ever, for he saw a dark-faced Mexican girl, +wearing a short skirt and having about her neck a scarlet handkerchief. +Her head was bare, and her dark hair fell over her shoulders. She +looked like a frightened fawn. + +No wonder he was astonished to behold such a vision in that desolate +part of the mountains. She seemed trembling, yet eager, and she started +to advance toward him. + +"Oh, senor!" she said, in a voice that was full of soft music, "eet mus' +be you are good man! Eet mus' be you are not bad an' weeked. You would +not hurt Gonchita?" + +"Not on your life!" exclaimed Merry, at once putting up his revolver. + +At which she came running and panting up to him, all in a flutter of +excitement. + +"Oh, _Madre de Dios_! I am so much happeeness! I have de great fear when +you I do see. Oh, you weel come to heem? You weel do for heem de +saveeng?" + +The girl was rather pretty, and she was not more than eighteen or +nineteen years of age. She was tanned to a dark brown, but had white +teeth, which were strangely pointed and sharp. + +"Who do you mean?" + +"My fadare. _Ay-de mi_! he ees hurt! De bad men shoot heem. They rob +heem! He find de gold. He breeng me with heem here to de mountain, all +alone. He theenk some time he be vera reech. He have de reech mine. Then +de bad men come. They shoot heem. They take hees gold. He come creep +back to me. What can I to do? _Ay-de mi_!" + +"Your father--some bad men have shot him?" said Merry. + +"_Si, si, senor_!" + +"It must have been Cimarron Bill's gang," thought Merry. + +The girl was greatly excited, but he continued to question her, until he +understood her quite well. + +"Is he far from here?" he asked. + +"No, not de very far. You come to heem? Mebbe you do for heem some good. +Weel you come?" + +She had her brown hands clasped and was looking most beseechingly into +Frank's face. + +"Of course I'll come," he said. "You shall show me the way. My horse +will carry us both." + +He assisted her to mount behind him, and told her to cling about his +waist. + +Frank continued to question Gonchita, who sometimes became almost +unintelligible in her excitement and distress. They passed through the +valley and turned into a rocky gorge. Frank asked if it was much +farther. + +"We be almost to heem now," assured Gonchita. + +Almost as the words left her lips the heads of four or five men appeared +above some boulders just ahead, and as many rifles were leveled straight +at Frank's heart, while a well-known, triumphant voice shouted: + +"I've got you dead to rights, Merriwell! If you tries tricks you gits +soaked good and plenty!" + +At the same moment the girl threw her arms about Frank's body, pinning +his arms to his sides, so that he could make no move to draw a weapon. + +Merry knew on the instant that he had been trapped. He realized that he +had been decoyed into the snare by the Mexican girl. He might have +struggled and broken her hold, but he realized the folly of such an +attempt. + +"Be vera steel, senor!" hissed the voice of Gonchita in his ear. "Eet be +bet-are." + +"You have betrayed me," said Frank reproachfully. "I did not think it of +you. And I was ready to do you a service." + +He said no more to her. + +Out from the rocks stepped Cimarron Bill. + +"So we meet again, my gay young galoot," said the chief of the ruffians. +"An' I reckon you'll not slip me so easy this time. That old Injun o' +yours is food fer buzzards, an' so he won't give ye no assistance +whatever." + +"Old Joe----" muttered Merry, in dismay. + +"Oh, we finished him!" declared Bill. "That's why you ain't seen him fer +some time. Set stiddy, now, an' don't make no ruction. + +"Gonchita, toss down his guns." + +The Mexican girl obeyed, slipping to the ground with a laugh when she +had disarmed Frank. + +The ruffians now came out from the shelter of the rocks and gathered +about the youth, grinning at him in a most provoking manner. He +recognized several of the same fellows who had once before acted as +guard over him. Red Sam was there, and nodded to him. + +"You're a right slick poker-player," said the sandy rascal; "but we +'lowed a girl'd fool ye easy. Goncheeter done it, too." + +Frank nodded. + +"She did," he confessed. "I was taken off my guard. But you want to look +out for Indians." + +"Why for?" + +Merry then told them of the smoke signals, whereupon they grinned at one +another knowingly. + +"That'll be all right," said Bill. "Them signals told us when you was +comin', an' which way." + +"Then you were doing the signaling?" + +"Some o' the boys." + +Frank was then ordered down and searched. He appeared utterly fearless. +He observed that Gonchita was watching him closely, a strange look in +her eyes, her lips slightly parted, showing her milky, pointed teeth. + +When the men were satisfied that no weapon remained in the possession of +their captive, two or three of them drew aside to consult, while the +others guarded Frank. + +Cimarron Bill patted Gonchita's cheek with his hand. + +"Well done, leetle gal!" he said. "You fooled him powerful slick." + +She smiled into Bill's eyes, but in another moment, the chief, having +turned away, she was watching Frank again. + +The result of the consultation led to the placing of Merry on his own +horse, and he was guarded by the armed men who escorted him along the +gorge until they came to a place where two men were watching a number of +waiting horses. + +Then there was mounting and riding away, with Frank in the midst of his +triumphant enemies. Gonchita rode with them, having a wiry little pony +that seemed able to cope with any of the other horses. + +Frank was not a little disgusted because he had been decoyed into the +trap, but he did his best to hide his feelings. + +It was some hours later that they halted to rest until the heat of the +day should pass. A fire was built, and a meal prepared, Gonchita taking +active part in this work. + +Frank sat near and watched all that was passing. He had not been bound, +and his manner was that of one free amid the scoundrels by whom he was +surrounded. It was Gonchita who found an opportunity to whisper in his +ear: + +"Be vera careful! Dey mean to shoot you eef you try de escape." + +He did not start or betray any emotion whatever. It hardly seemed that +he had heard her whispered words. Later, however, he gave her a look +which conveyed to her the assurance that he had not failed to +understand. + +As she worked about the fire she called upon him to replenish it with +more fuel, which he did. He was putting wood on the fire when she again +whispered to him: + +"I weel drop by you a peestol. Tak' eet; you may need eet." + +He made no retort, but watched for her to keep her promise, which she +afterward found opportunity to do. + +Merry was lying carelessly on the ground when the weapon, a tiny +revolver, was dropped at his side. Immediately he rolled over upon his +stomach, in a lazy fashion, hiding the weapon, and shortly after he +succeeded in slipping it into his pocket. + +Frank wondered how this strange girl happened to be with those ruffians. +It seemed a most remarkable and mysterious thing. He also wondered why +she had been led to give him the pistol. Having led him into the trap, +she had suddenly changed so that she now seemed to wish him to escape +without harm. + +The truth was that his coolness and nerve, together with his handsome, +manly appearance, had quite won Gonchita's heart. She was a changeable +creature, and had quickly come to regret leading this handsome youth +into such a snare. + +When the food was prepared all partook heartily. Two of the men, a big +fellow with an evil face, called Brazos Tom, and a thick-shouldered +brute hailed as Mike Redeye, had been drinking freely from a flask. +Brazos Tom was given to chaffing the others in a manner that some of +them did not appreciate, and this inclination grew upon him with the +working of the liquor. Redeye was a sullen, silent fellow, and Frank +regarded him as a very dangerous man. + +Once or twice Cimarron Bill gave Tom a look, and, at last, the big +fellow seemed to quiet down. + +After the meal, while the men were yet resting, Bill had his horse +saddled for some reason, and rode away, having left the men in charge of +Red Sam. + +As soon as the chief was gone, Brazos Tom brought forth his flask, which +was now nearly emptied. + +"Gents," he said, "while we is waitin' we'll finish this an' try a hand +at poker. Wot d'yer say?" + +"Oh, blazes!" growled one. "You an' Mike has purt' near finished that. +Thar ain't enough left fer a drap apiece if we pass it around." + +"Drink up your stuff," said Red Sam. "It's poor firewater, anyhow. I'm +fer the poker. Does you come inter this yere game, young gent, same as +ye did oncet before?" + +This question was addressed to Frank, but Merry already "smelled a +mouse," and so it did not need the warning look from Gonchita and the +slight shake of her head to deter him. + +"Excuse me," he said. "I have no money." + +"Waal, fish some out o' the linin' o' your clothes, same as you did +afore," advised Sam. + +"But I have none in the lining of my clothes." + +"I begs yer pardon, but we knows a heap sight better. Don't try no +monkey business with us, younker! You was good enough ter git inter a +game oncet before an' try ter show us up, so we gives ye another +chanct, an' ye'd better accept it in a hurry." + +"I hardly think I have a friend here who will be willing to lend me +money," smiled Merry. "Unless somebody does so, I cannot play. That +being the case, I reckon I'll keep out of it." + +Sam laid a hand on the butt of his revolver. + +"You can't play none of that with us!" he declared fiercely. "We knows +how you found the money afore, an' you'll find it ag'in. Come, be +lively." + +Frank looked the man over. + +"You could get blood from a turnip easier than money from me," he +declared. + +Then, as Red Sam seemed about to draw his weapon, Gonchita chipped in, +crying: + +"Don't do it, Sam! I have you cover' weez my peestol! I weel shoot!" + +The men were astonished, for Gonchita had drawn a pistol and had it +pointed at the head of Red Sam, while in her dark eyes there was a +deadly gleam. + +"What in blazes is the matter with you?" snarled Red Sam, looking at her +over his shoulder. + +"You hear what Gonchita say," she purred, a flush in her brown cheeks. +"She mena de busineeze." + +Frank could not help admiring her then, for she presented a very pretty +picture. + +Reluctantly Sam thrust back his weapon into his holster. + +"Oh, all right!" he laughed coarsely. "I see you're stuck up a heap on +the feller." + +"You not to shoot heem while I am around." + +"Whoop!" roared Brazos Tom, in apparent delight. "Thar's a gal fer ye! I +shore admires her style!" + +Then, being in a position to do so, he sprang on Gonchita, caught her in +his strong arms so she could not defend herself, and gave her a bearlike +hug and a kiss. + +The next instant something like a hard piece of iron struck Tom behind +the ear and he measured his length on the ground. Frank Merriwell had +reached his feet at a bound, and hit the giant a blow that knocked him +down in a twinkling. + +Through all this Gonchita had held fast to her drawn revolver, and now +she had it ready for use, so that, when those ruffians placed hands on +their weapons, she again warned them. + +At the same time she flung herself between them and Frank, so that he +was partly protected as he stood over Brazos Tom, who lay prone and +dazed. + +"Take hees peestols!" she palpitated. + +And Frank followed this piece of advice, relieving the fallen ruffian of +his revolvers, so that Tom's hand reached vainly for one of the weapons +as he began to recover. + +"Eef you make de fight," said the girl to the ruffians, "we now gif you +eet all you want." + +Never before had they seen her in such a mood, and they were astounded. +But they knew she could shoot, for they had seen her display her +marksmanship. + +"You little fool!" grated Sam. "Are you goin' to help that galoot try to +git erway?" + +"No, I do not dat; but I see he ees not hurt till Beel he come back." + +Then she commanded Frank to throw down the pistol he had taken from Tom, +which Merry did, knowing there was no chance for him to escape then +without a shooting affray, in which he was almost certain to be wounded. + +Immediately on this act of Frank's the ruffians seemed to abandon any +desire to draw and shoot at him. + +But Brazos Tom rose in a great rage, almost frothing at the mouth. + +"Ten thousan' tarantulas!" he howled. "Let me git my paws on him!" + +He made a rush for Frank, who seemed to stand still to meet him, but +stepped aside just as the ruffian tried to fold him in his arms. + +Then the big wretch was somehow caught about the body, lifted into the +air, and sent crashing to the ground, striking on his head and +shoulders. The young athlete from Yale handled Brazos Tom with such ease +that every witness was astounded. + +The big fellow lay where he fell, stunned and finished. + +Gonchita looked at Frank with a light of the most intense admiration in +her dark eyes. + +"How you do eet so easee?" she asked. + +"That's nothing, with a bungler like him to meet," said Merry quietly. + +The ruffians said nothing, but exchanged meaning glances. They had been +foiled for the time being by the girl and by the cleverness of their +captive. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +LOST IN THE MOUNTAINS. + + +Four persons were lost in the mountains. Three of them were young men +who were scarcely more than youths. All were mounted on broncos. + +One was a bright-eyed, apple-cheeked chap, who had an odd manner of +talking, and who emphasized his words with little gestures and flirts of +his hand that were very peculiar. Another was dark and silent, with a +face that was decidedly handsome, although it denoted a person given +more or less to brooding and morbid thoughts. The third youth was long +and lank and talked with a nasal drawl and a manner of speech that +proclaimed him a down-easter. + +These three were respectively Jack Ready, Bart Hodge, and Ephraim +Gallup, all friends and former companions of Frank Merriwell. + +The fourth one of the party was a red-nosed bummer, known as Whisky Jim, +whom they had picked up to guide them from the little railroad-town to +Frank Merriwell's mine. Jim had averred that he knew "every squar' foot +o' Arizony frum the Grand Canon to the Mexican line," and they had +trusted in his promise to lead them, with the smallest possible delay, +to the Queen Mystery Mine. + +Jim would not acknowledge that he was lost. They had provided him with +the bronco he bestrode and promised him good pay when they should come +to the mine. He had collected enough in advance to "outfit" with a +liberal supply of whisky, and had managed to keep beautifully loaded +ever since they rode out to the Southwest. + +Their horses were wearied and reluctant, while they were sun-scorched +and covered with dust. + +"By gum!" groaned Gallup. "I'm purty near pegged! This is too much fer +me. I wish I was to hum on the farm!" + +"Prithee say not so!" cried Ready. "You give unto me that feeling of +sadness known to those who are homesick. Ah, me! to endure thus to have +my beautiful complexion destroyed by this horrid sun! And behold my +lily-white hands! Are they not spectacles to make the gods sigh with +regret! Permit me to squeeze out a few salt teardrops." + +Hodge was saying nothing. + +"'Sall ri', boysh," assured the useless guide thickly. "Jesht you wait +an' shee. Whazzer mazzer with you? I know m' bushiness. Who shays I +dunno m' bushiness?" + +He was able to sit perfectly straight in the saddle, although he was +disgustingly intoxicated. + +"I say you don't know your business, you old fool!" said Hodge, breaking +out at last. "It would serve you right if we were to leave you here in +the mountains. A great guide you are! You'd die if we left you! You'd +never find your way out." + +Jim looked astonished. This was the first time Bart had broken forth +thus plainly. + +"You don't mean it?" he gurgled. + +"You bet your life I meant it! I'm in for leaving you to get back to +town the best way you can." + +"Oh, don't do that!" exclaimed Jim, sobered somewhat by his alarm. +"Someshin' might happen t' you, boysh." + +"Let's leave him," nodded Jack Ready, amused by the consternation of the +old fellow. + +"Derned ef we don't!" cried Gallup. + +Upon which the "guide" became greatly alarmed, begging them for the love +of goodness not to leave him there in the mountains to die alone. + +"But you're a guide," said Hodge. "You would be able to get out all +right." + +"Boysh," said the old toper, "I got a 'fession to make." + +"What is it?" + +"I ain't been in the guidin' bushiness for shome time. I'm a leetle +rusty; jest a bit out o' practish. That's whazzer mazzer." + +"Why didn't you say so in the first place? What made you lie to us?" + +"Boysh, I needed the moneysh. Hones' Injun, I needed the moneysh bad. +Been a long time shince I've had all the whisky I could hold. Great +treat f' me." + +Bart was disgusted, but Jack Ready was inclined to look at the affair in +a humorous light. + +"I'd like to know the meaning of those smoke clouds we saw," said +Hodge. "They looked mighty queer to me." + +They consulted together, finally deciding to halt in a shadowy valley +and wait for the declining of the sun, which would bring cooler air. + +They confessed to one another that they were lost, and all felt that the +situation was serious. It was not at all strange that Hodge was very +angry with the worthless old toper who had led them into this +predicament. + +"We may never get out of these mountains," he said. "Or, if we do, we +may perish in the desert. I tell you, fellows, we're in a bad scrape!" + +"Dear me!" sighed Ready. "And I anticipated great pleasure in surprising +Merry to-day. Alas and alack! such is life. I know this dreadful +sunshine will spoil my complexion!" + +Gallup looked dolefully at the horses, which were feeding on the +buffalo-grass of the valley. + +"We're a pack of darn fools!" he observed. "We'd oughter sent word to +Frankie that we was comin', an' then he'd bin on hand to meet us." + +The "guide" had stretched himself in the shadow of some boulders and +fallen fast asleep. + +"I suppose I'm to blame for this thing, fellows," said Bart grimly. "It +was my scheme to take Merry by surprise." + +"Waal, I ruther guess all the rest of us was reddy enough ter agree to +it," put in Gallup. "We're jest ez much to blame as you be." + +They talked the situation over for a while. Finally Bart rose and +strolled off by himself, Gallup calling after him to look out and not go +so far that he could not find his way back. + +Hodge was gone almost an hour. His friends were growing alarmed, when he +came racing back to them, his face flushed with excitement and his eyes +flashing. + +"Come, fellows!" he cried, his voice thrilling them. "I've got something +to show you! We're wanted mighty bad by a friend of ours who is in +trouble!" + +They were on their feet. + +"Who in thutteration be you talkin' abaout?" asked Gallup. + +"Perchance you mean Frank?" said Ready. + +"You bet your life!" said Bart. "Make sure your rifles are in working +order! Leave the horses right where they're picketed. Leave Jim with +them. He'll look after them, if he awakes." + +For Whisky Jim continued to sleep soundly through all this. + +So they seized their weapons and prepared to follow Bart. + +As they ran, Bart made a brief explanation. He had climbed to a point +from whence he looked down into a grassy valley, and there he discovered +some horses and men. The horses were feeding, and the men were reclining +in the shade, with the exception of one or two. While Bart looked he +recognized one of the men, and also saw a girl. At first he thought he +must be deceived, but soon he was satisfied that the one he recognized +was the comrade he had traveled thousands of miles to join, bringing +with him Ready and Gallup. + +As he watched, he saw the encounter between Merry and Brazos Tom, and +that was enough to satisfy Hodge that his friend was in serious trouble. +Then he hastened back to get Jack and Ephraim. + +When Bart again reached the point where he could look into that valley +he was astonished to discover that another struggle was taking place +down there. + +Frank was engaged in a knife-duel with Red Sam, having been forced into +it. And Red Sam meant to kill him. + +The watching ruffians were gathered around, while Gonchita, a pistol in +her hand, was watching to see that the youth had fair play. + +Without doubt, the sandy ruffian had expected to find Merriwell easy, +and finish him quickly in an engagement of this sort. But Frank +Merriwell had been instructed in knife-play by a clever expert, and he +soon amazed Red Sam and the other ruffians by meeting the fellow's +assault, catching his blade, parrying thrust after thrust, leaping, +dodging, turning, charging, retreating, and making such a wonderful +contest of it that the spectators were electrified. + +It was Frank's knife that drew first blood. He slit the ruffian's sleeve +at the shoulder and cut the man slightly. + +Gonchita's dark eyes gleamed. More than ever she marveled at this +wonderful youth, who seemed more than a match for any single ruffian of +Bill's band. + +"He is a wonder!" she told herself. "Oh, he is grand! They meant to kill +him. If he beats Red Sam they shall not kill him." + +Sam swore when he felt the knife clip his shoulder. + +"I'll have your heart's blood!" he snarled. + +Frank smiled into his face in a manner that enraptured the watching +girl. + +"You are welcome to it--if you can get it! But look out for yourself!" + +Then he began a whirlwindlike assault upon Sam, whom he soon bewildered +by his movements. He played about the man like a leaping panther. Once +Sam struck hard at Frank's breast, and Merry leaped away barely in time, +for the keen knife slit the front of his shirt, exposing the clean white +skin beneath. + +But again and again Frank cut the big ruffian slightly, so that soon Sam +was bleeding from almost a dozen wounds and slowly growing weaker in +spite of his efforts to brace up. + +The knives sometimes flashed together. The men stood and stared into +each other's eyes. Then they leaped and dodged and struck and struck +again. + +Little did Frank dream of the friends who were watching him from above. + +Bart Hodge was thrilled into silence by the spectacle. He knelt, with +his rifle ready for instant use, panting as the battle for life +continued. + +"Great gosh all hemlock!" gurgled Ephraim Gallup, his eyes bulging. +"Did you ever see anything like that in all your natteral born days? +Dern my squash ef I ever did!" + +"It is beautiful!" said Jack Ready. "Frank is doing almost as well as I +could do myself! I'll have to compliment him on his clever work." + +Twice Bart Hodge had the butt of his rifle against his shoulder, but +lowered it without firing. + +"He's gittin' the best of the red-headed feller!" panted Gallup. + +"Of course!" nodded Ready. "Did you look for anything else to happen?" + +"Them men don't like it much of enny." + +"They do not seem greatly pleased." + +"I bet they all go fer him if he does the red-head up." + +"In which case," chirped Jack, "it will be our duty to insert a few lead +pills into them." + +Bart was not talking. He believed Frank in constant danger of a most +deadly sort, and he was watching every move of the ruffians, ready to +balk any attempt at treachery. + +As Sam weakened Frank pressed him harder. The fellow believed Merry +meant to kill him, if possible. + +At length Merriwell caught Sam's blade with his own, gave it a sudden +twist, and the fellow's knife was sent spinning through the air, to fall +to the ground at a distance. + +At that moment one of the ruffians suddenly flung up a hand that held a +revolver, meaning to shoot Frank through the head. + +Before he could fire, however, he pitched forward on his face. + +Down from the heights above came the clear report of the rifle in the +hands of Bartley Hodge. + +Bart had saved the life of his old friend. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +FRANK'S ESCAPE. + + +As the ruffian pitched forward on his face, Gonchita uttered a cry. The +attention of the men was turned toward the point from which the +unexpected shot had come. The Mexican girl caught hold of Merry, thrust +a pistol into his hand, and hissed: + +"Back--back there! Quick! It's your chance! You take eet!" + +Frank did not hesitate. With the pistol in his hand, he went leaping +toward the point of cover indicated. He was behind the rocks before the +desperadoes realized what had taken place. They turned, uttering +exclamations of anger and dismay. + +"Steady, you chaps!" rang out Frank's clear voice. "Keep your distance! +If you don't----" + +But now the three young fellows above began shooting into the valley, +and their whistling bullets sent the ruffians scudding to cover. + +Gonchita disdained to fly. She walked deliberately to the shelter of the +rocks near Frank. + +"I geet horse for you," she said. "You take eet an' ride. Eet ees your +chance. Mebbe them your friend?" + +Frank had caught barely a glimpse of the three fellows, and he was not +at all sure that his eyes had not deceived him. + +"Perhaps they are my friends," he said. "They must be." + +"You ready to go?" + +"Yes." + +She ran out and pulled the picket pin of one of the horses. This animal +she brought up close to the point where Frank crouched. + +"Take heem queek!" she panted. "You haf de chance! Down de vallee. Mebbe +you git 'way." + +Frank hesitated. He knew the danger of such an attempt. He no longer +doubted the friendliness of Gonchita, although the remarkable change in +her was most astonishing. + +But the firing from above continued, and the ruffians were forced to +again take to their heels and seek still safer shelter farther up the +valley. + +That was Merry's opportunity, and he seized it. In a twinkling, while +the rascals were in confusion, he leaped upon the bare back of the +horse, headed the animal down the valley, and was off. + +A yell came down from above; but Frank, bending low, did not answer it. + +Two or three bullets were sent after him. He was untouched, however. + +Gonchita had armed him with two pistols, neither of which he had used. +One he held gripped in his hand as the horse carried him tearing down +the valley, and thus he came full upon Cimarron Bill, who was returning +to his satellites. + +Bill was astounded. He had drawn a pistol, and he fired at the rider +who was stooping low along the neck of the horse. The animal tossed its +head and took the bullet in his brain. + +Even as the horse fell, Frank fired in return. He flung himself from the +animal, striking on his feet. + +Bill's horse reared high in the air, striking with its forward feet. The +rider leaned forward and fired from beneath the creature's neck as it +stood on its hind legs, but the movements of the animal prevented him +from accuracy. + +Merry's second shot struck the hind leg of Bill's horse, and the +creature came down in such a manner that its rider was pitched off, +striking upon his head and shoulders. + +Frank did not fire again, for Bill lay in a heap on the ground. The +horse struggled up, being caught by Merry. Frank looked to the beast's +wound, fearing to find its leg broken. This, however, was not the case, +although the bullet had made a rather ugly little wound. + +In another moment Frank was in Bill's saddle, and away he went on the +back of the chief's horse, leaving the stunned rascal where he had +fallen. + +"An exchange of horses," he half-laughed. "You may have my dead one in +place of your wounded one. If you do not like the bargain, Captain Bill, +blame yourself." + +He was in no great fear of pursuit, but he longed to know just what +friends had come to his rescue at such an opportune moment. How was he +to reach them? + +When he felt that he was safe, he drew up Bill's splendid horse, +dismounted and examined the bleeding wound. It was far less serious than +he had feared, and he proceeded to dress it, tearing his handkerchief +into strips to tie about the creature's leg. + +Having attended to his horse, Merry remounted and sought to find a means +of approaching the spot from which his unknown friends had fired into +the valley at such an opportune moment. + +He was thus employed when he came upon a most disreputable-looking old +bummer, who had in his possession four horses. This man was startled by +the appearance of Merriwell and acted very strangely. + +Frank rode slowly forward, ready for whatever might take place. However, +he was recognized by the man, who uttered a shout of astonishment. + +The man with the horses was Whisky Jim, who had awakened to find his +companions gone. + +He greeted Merriwell with protestations of delight. + +"I knew I wash a guide!" he said. "Who shed I washn't guide? I shed I'd +bring 'em to Frank Merriwell, an' I done it. But whazzer mazzer? Where +zey gone? I dunno." + +Barely had Merry started to question the old toper when Hodge, Ready, +and Gallup appeared, hurrying forward. When they saw Merriwell they gave +a cheer of delight, and, one minute later, they were shaking hands with +him. + +"What does this mean?" asked Frank, when he could recover enough to ask +anything. + +"It means," said Bart, "that we are here to back you up in your fight +against the mining trust. You can depend on us to stand by you. After +getting your letter, in which you wrote all about the hot time you were +having fighting the trust, I hastened to get hold of Ready and Gallup +and light out for this part of our great and glorious country. Here we +are, though we're dead in luck to find you, for this drunken duffer +managed to lose us here in the mountains." + +"And you were the ones who chipped in just at the right time after my +little encounter with Red Sam? Fellows, you have given me the surprise +of my life! It's great to see you again! I ran into those gents, or was +led into a trap by a very singular girl, and it looked as if I was in a +bad box. The girl, however, seemed to change her mind after getting me +into the scrape, and she wanted to get me out. I owe her a lot. But +there is no telling when Cimarron Bill and his gang may come hiking this +way after me, so I propose that we light out for the Queen Mystery, +where we can talk things over at our leisure." + +They were ready enough to follow his lead. + +Jim Tracy sat with his feet elevated upon Frank Merriwell's table, +smoking his pipe and talking to Hop Anson, who was on the opposite side +of the table when the door opened and Frank stepped in, followed by his +friends, with Whisky Jim staggering along in the rear. + +Tracy's boots came down from the table with a thud, and he jumped up, +uttering an exclamation and looking astounded. + +"Well, may I be derned!" he said, staring at Frank. + +Now Merriwell was not at all pleased to find the foreman making free in +his cabin in such a manner. + +"What's the matter, Tracy?" he asked sharply, glancing from Jim's face +to that of Anson, who seemed no less confounded. "You seem disturbed." + +"I allow I didn't expect ye back so soon," mumbled the foreman, who +could not recover his composure at once. + +"But I told you I might be back in a few hours, or I might not return +for many days." + +"I know, but----" + +"But what?" + +"Oh, nothing!" + +"It's plain you were making yourself quite at home here. What were you +doing with Anson?" + +"Jest givin' him a piece o' my mind," answered Tracy promptly. "I reckon +he knows now purty well what I think of him." + +Now to Merry, it had seemed on his appearance that these two men were +engaged in a confidential chat. + +"Well, couldn't you find some other place to talk to him?" Frank asked. + +"I brought him here so the rest of the boys wouldn't hear us," explained +Tracy. "I opined they might take a right strong dislike to him in case +they found out what happened this mornin'." + +"You have not told them?" + +"No." + +"Well, your consideration for Anson seems very strange, considering the +talk you made to-day at an earlier hour." + +"I'm jest follerin' your orders," protested the foreman, not at all +pleased by Merry's manner. + +"Very well. You may retire, Tracy. Boys, make yourselves at home." + +As Tracy and Anson were going out, the eyes of the latter encountered +those of Whisky Jim, who was surveying him closely in a drunken manner. + +"Who are you lookin' at?" muttered Anson. + +"Sheems to me," said Jim thickly, "I'm a-lookin' at a gent what had +shome deeficulty down Tucson way 'bout takin' a hoss what b'longed to +nozzer man." + +"You're a liar, you drunken dog!" grated Anson, as he hastened from the +cabin. + +"Do you know that man?" asked Merry, of Jim. + +"Sh!" hissed the toper, with a cautioning gesture. "I don't want 't +gener'lly know I ever shaw him before. He'sh a hosh-thief. He'd shteal +anything, he would. I never 'nowledge him ash 'quaintance of mine." + +"Do you know the other man, my foreman?" + +"Sheems to look ruzer nacheral," said Jim; "but can't 'zactly plashe +him. All shame, if he keeps comp'ny wish that hosh-thief, you look out +f' him." + +Frank celebrated his safe return to the mine in company with his friends +by preparing a rather elaborate spread, and all gathered about the +table to enjoy it and chat about old times and the present fight Merry +was making against the mining trust. + +"Waal, dinged if this ain't scrumpshus!" cried Ephraim Gallup. "I'm +feelin' a hanged sight better than I was when we was lost out in the +maountains this arternoon." + +"Fellows," said Merry, "you have given me the surprise of my life. I +never dreamed of seeing you at such a time. And Bart's shot saved my +life. I know it! I owe him everything!" + +There was a glow of satisfaction in the dark eyes of Hodge. + +"You owe me nothing," he said earnestly. "Whatever I am I owe it to you. +Do you think I am a fellow to forget? That is why I am here. I felt that +this was the time for me to prove my loyalty. When I explained it to +Ephraim and Jack they were eager to come with me to back you in your +fight. If you need them, you can have any of the old gang. They'll come +to a man." + +"Thus far," said Merry, "I have been able to balk every move of the +enemy. They have employed ruffians who hesitate at nothing. You saw the +fellow with the bandaged hand who was here with my foreman? Well, it was +this very morning, while I was shaving at that glass, that he crept up +to that open door and tried to shoot me in the back. I fired first, and +he has lost a few fingers." + +"Dear me!" said Ready. "I'm so frightened! What if somebody should take +a fancy to shoot me full of holes! It might damage me beyond repair!" + +"Gol ding it!" chuckled Gallup. "You must be havin' enough to keep you +alfired busy around here. But what is that chap a-doin' of stayin' +here?" + +Frank explained fully about Hop Anson, adding that he had partly +believed Anson's statement that it was the foreman for whom he was +looking. + +"But since coming back here unexpectedly," said Merry, "and finding them +together in such a friendly fashion, I am inclined to think differently. +Tracy pretended to have a powerful feeling against Anson. Something +leads me to believe now that Tracy will bear watching." + +They sat up until a late hour talking over old times and other matters +that interested them all. When they slept they took pains to make sure +that the door and windows were secured. + +Whisky Jim slept outside in another building. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +MYSTERIOUS PABLO. + + +The following morning, while Frank and his friends were at breakfast, +there came the sounds of a struggle outside the cabin, followed by a +knock on the door. + +Merry drew a revolver and laid it in his lap. + +"Come in," he called. + +The door was flung open, and Tracy entered, dragging by the collar a +small Mexican lad, who held back and betrayed every evidence of terror. + +"Found him skulking about, Mr. Merriwell," said the foreman. "Don't know +whar he come from. Just brought him yere fer you to deal with." + +The boy seemed badly frightened. + +"Let him go, Tracy," said Frank. + +The boy hesitated when released, seeming on the point of running, but +pausing to look appealingly at Merry. He was not a bad-looking little +chap, although he was rather dirty and unkempt. He had wondrous dark +eyes, big and full of interrogation. + +"Well, my boy, what do you want?" asked Merry, in a kindly way. + +The boy shook his head. + +"I want notheenk de senor can gif," he answered, in a low tone. + +"How came you around here?" + +"I hunt for my seestar." + +"Your sister?" + +"_Si, senor_." + +"Where is she?" + +"That I cannot tell, senor. She be take away by de bad man. He haf fool +her, I t'ink." + +"What bad man do you mean?" + +"Seester call heem Beel." + +"Bill?" + +"Dat ees hees name." + +"Bill what?" + +The boy shook his head once more. + +"I know eet not," he said. "He half manee man like heem who do what he +say. He get my seester to go wif heem." + +"What is your sister's name?" + +"Eet ees Gonchita." + +Frank jumped. + +"Gonchita?" he cried. + +"Dat ees eet," nodded the boy. "Mebbe you do know her?" + +"I think I have seen her," said Merry. "By Jove! So this fellow Bill led +her to run away with him, did he, the scoundrel? And you are searching +for him. What will you do if you find him?" + +"I cannot tell, but I want my seestar to come 'way an' leaf heem. He ees +bad man." + +"That's right. What's your name?" + +"Pablo." + +"Well, Pablo, my boy, I hope you find your sister all right and get her +away from Bill, but you have a big job on your hands. Come here and have +some breakfast. Are you hungry?" + +"Oh, vera hungree, senor!" + +"You shall have all you can eat. It's all right, Tracy. You may go. I'll +take care of the kid." + +"I wish to report, sir," said Tracy, "that Hop Anson is missing." + +"What's that? Anson--he's gone?" + +"Skipped out last night, sir. He was not to be found this morning. I +thought he'd do it, sir." + +"Well, let him go. I don't think he'll do much harm." + +"If you had listened to me, I'd fixed him so he'd never done any further +harm." + +"All right, Tracy--all right. I'll see you later." + +Tracy left the room. + +"Look out for that man, Frank," said Hodge, in an ominous manner. "He is +not to be trusted at all." + +"All right," said Merry. "We'll not discuss him--now." Which remark was +made with a meaning look toward the Mexican lad. + +Pablo was given a place at the table and a steaming cup of coffee placed +before him. Corn bread and bacon, with some canned stuff, made up the +breakfast, and the boy ate almost ravenously of everything given him. +But he kept his hat pulled low over his eyes all the while. + +After breakfast Frank sought to question Pablo further, succeeding in +drawing from the boy that both his father and mother were dead, and +that he had lived in Holbrook with his sister, where she had seen Bill, +who seemed to fascinate her. At least she had run away with the man, +and, arming himself with a knife and pistol, Pablo had followed to +rescue or avenge her. Chance had led him to the valley in which the +Queen Mystery Mine was located. + +It was rather a pathetic little story, and Merry was somewhat stirred by +it. + +"What could you do if you should find Bill?" he asked. + +A grim look came to Pablo's soiled yet attractive face. + +"I haf my peestol," he said. + +"But Bill is a very bad man, and he would have a pistol, too." + +"I do my best. I am not skeert of Beel." + +"Well, as I happen to know something of Bill, I tell you now, Pablo, +that it will be better for you if you never meet him." + +"But my seestar--my seestar! I mus' find her." + +Frank was tempted to tell the boy what he knew about Gonchita, but +decided not to do so, believing it would be to no purpose. + +So Pablo remained in the valley for the time, seeming in no hurry to +continue the search for his sister. He wandered about the mine and the +buildings, peering curiously at everything with his big eyes, listening +to the talk of the men, and seeming to have a great curiosity. + +All this was observed by Bart Hodge, who watched the lad as closely as +possible. That afternoon Bart said to Frank: + +"Merry, that greaser boy acts queer. Have you noticed it?" + +"How do you mean?" + +"Why, he told a story about being in a dreadful hurry to find his +sister, but he hangs around here." + +"I suppose the little chap doesn't know where to look for the girl." + +"But he's such an inquisitive little rascal. He goes slipping around +everywhere, looking at everything, and listening to the talk of the men. +He acts to me like a spy." + +"It's his way. Mexicans have a sneaking way about them, you know." + +"Well, it may be his way, but I wouldn't trust him." + +"I don't propose to trust him," said Frank, with a laugh. "I am not +given to trusting greasers. It is probable that he will go away +to-morrow and we'll never see anything more of him." + +"Perhaps so." + +"I expect to find him gone in the morning," said Merry. + +But in the morning Pablo was found sleeping just outside Frank's door +when Merry opened it. He lay there, his old hat pulled down over his +ears, curled up like a dog; but he started wide-awake and sat up, +staring at Merriwell with his big black eyes. + +"What the dickens you doing here?" asked Frank, annoyed. + +"I tak' de sleep," grinned Pablo faintly. + +"Well, couldn't you find any other place? Have you been there all +night?" + +"Oh, I haf no odar place. Thees good for Pablo." + +"Well, it may be all right for you; but it seems deuced uncomfortable to +me. When are you going to look for Bill and your sister?" + +"_Manana_." + +"To-morrow?" + +"_Si, senor_." + +Frank could not refrain from smiling at this characteristic answer. With +the Spaniards everything is to be done to-morrow, and the lazy Mexican, +having adopted the language of the Spaniard, has also adopted his motto. + +When Frank turned back he found Hodge washing. + +"I told you," said Bart. "The fellow acts to me like a spy. It wouldn't +surprise me to find out that he had been sent here by Bill. This story +about his sister may be faked up." + +"But I know Gonchita is with the ruffians." + +"That's all right. That makes it all the easier to deceive you. That +made the boy's story seem all the more probable. Just you watch him +close and see if he doesn't act the spy." + +"All right," laughed Merry. "But let's have breakfast without worrying +about him." + +It was necessary to drag Ready out. + +"Oh, me! oh, my!" sighed Jack dolefully. "Methinks I have bestridden +something that hath galled me extensively. I am likewise weary and sore +in every limb and joint." + +Gallup had stood the riding much better, but even he was lame. + +After breakfast Frank went out and found Pablo curled in the sunshine +around the corner of the hut. And not more than four feet from the +Mexican lad was a rattlesnake. + +The crack of the pistol in Frank's hand caused Pablo to start up with a +jump. He stared in astonishment at Merry, who stood over him, holding +the smoking pistol. Then he looked and saw the headless snake stretched +on the ground. + +"Oh, _Madre de Dios_!" he cried. "You shoot de snake! Mebbe you save me +from de snake!" + +"Perhaps so," nodded Frank, with a slight smile. "You had better be +careful, for snakes are not all the dangerous things you will find on +the ground." + +Pablo made a spring and caught Frank's hand. + +"To me you are so veree goode!" he said, kissing Merry's hand in a +manner that surprised Frank somewhat. + +Then he saw the pistol with which the snake had been shot. + +"_Carrambo_!" he cried, in astonishment. "Where you geet eet? De +peestol. Eet do belong to my seestar." + +For Merry had shot the snake with the pistol given him by Gonchita. + +"How you haf eet?" asked Pablo, with great eagerness. "Where you geet +eet?" + +Frank was fairly cornered. As a result, he sat down there and told the +Mexican boy of his capture by Cimarron Bill's gang and of Gonchita. + +"Then she be steel alife?" exclaimed Pablo. "Beel haf not keeled her!" + +"He had not then." + +"But she help you to geet away?" + +"Yes." + +"Then mebbe Beel be veree angry weeth her--mebbe he keel her! Eef he do +that----" + +"If he does he ought to be hanged! Pablo, Bill is sure to be hanged or +shot before long, anyhow." + +"But he tell Gonchita he mak' veree much monee. He say big men what can +buy the law pay him much monee." + +"I know what he means, Pablo. A lot of men have banded together to rob +me of my mines, this one here and another in Mexico. They expected to do +so with ease at first, but made a fizzle of it. They thought to take the +mines from me by law; but now they know they cannot do that, and they +have hired Bill and his ruffians to seize it. Those men are the ones who +are paying Bill for his work. He expects they will protect him when it +is done. He is looking for a pardon for all past offenses." + +"But you weel not let him beat you?" + +"Not if I can help it. He has failed thus far. He attacked the mine with +his ruffians and was repulsed." + +"De nex' time he do eet deeferent. He come een when you do not expect. +Mebbe he geet somebody to gef de mine up to them." + +"Nobody here," said Merry, with a laugh. "I can trust my men." + +"You theenk so." + +"Oh, I'm sure of it." + +"One try to shoot you not long 'go." + +"Yes. How did you learn of that?" + +"Pablo have de ear. He hear something." + +"What did you hear?" + +"Dat man be paid to try de shoot." + +"Look here, how do you know?" + +"Oh, I hear some of de men talk. They all say they pritee sure of eet. +How you like my seestar?" + +The boy asked the question with such suddenness that Frank was a bit +startled. + +"I am sorry for her, Pablo. I'm sorry Bill has her in his hands." + +"Oh, Beel he say he marree her; but I know he lie. Mebbe she know eet +now. Beel want her to help heem. You theenk she veree bad girl?" + +This question was put almost pathetically, Pablo again grasping Frank's +hand and gazing wistfully into Merry's eyes. + +"No; I do not think she is very bad." + +"She do noteeng to make you theenk so?" + +"Well, she fooled me somewhat at first by telling me a story about her +wounded father. She had such an innocent way that I swallowed the yarn. +That was how I fell into Bill's hands. I accompanied her to go, as I +supposed, to her wounded father. She decoyed me into a trap." + +"But afterward--afterward?" eagerly asked the boy. + +"She seemed to change in a most remarkable manner, and helped me out of +it. But for her, I fancy I'd surely been disposed of by those ruffians." + +"Then you see she be not so veree bad. When she first see you mebbe she +never seen you before. Mebbe she haf promeesed to Beel that she take you +eento trap. Aftare she see you she be soree, and she want you to geet +away." + +"I think that was about the way things happened, Pablo." + +"I am glad you do not theenk she ees so veree bad girl. What you do eef +I breeng her here?" + +"What would I do?" + +"_Si senor_; how you like eet?" + +Pablo was watching Frank's face closely. + +"Why, I would do my best for her," said Merry. "I should feel it my duty +after what she did for me." + +"You would not be veree angree?" + +"No." + +"Nor veree please'?" + +"Why, for your sake I would be pleased." + +"But you never care for your own sake at all? You never want to see my +seestar again?" + +"I should be glad to see her and thank her." + +"Dat ees all?" + +"And to do her any other favor in my power. I am not ungrateful enough +to forget what she did for me." + +"Dat ees all?" + +"What more do you want?" demanded Merry, in surprise. + +"Notheeng," murmured Pablo regretfully, as he turned and walked away. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +MERRY'S DISCOVERY. + + +The actions of Tracy seemed strangely suspicious to Merry, who undertook +to watch the man, only to find that Pablo seemed to be watching him +still more closely. Thus it happened that Merry followed the foreman up +the valley and saw him meet another man at a point removed beyond view +of the mine. + +The man Tracy met was none other than Hop Anson, readily recognized at a +distance by his bandaged hand. + +"Something doing!" muttered Frank, as he crouched behind the rocks and +watched the two. "Tracy wanted to lynch Anson. Now they meet like this, +apparently by appointment. My foreman is playing some sort of a double +game." + +This point was settled in Frank's mind. He longed to be near enough to +hear what was passing between the two, but could not reach such a +position without exposing himself. + +The men were suspicious that they might be watched. They did not remain +there long. But Frank distinctly saw Anson give Tracy something, which +the latter placed in his pocket. Then the foreman turned back, and Hop +Anson vanished in the opposite direction. + +Frank was tempted to step out and confront the foreman, demanding to +know what it meant, but he chose to remain quiet and seek the truth in +another manner. So he let Tracy pass. + +But when the foreman had disappeared Merry sprang up and went racing +after Hop Anson, hoping to run the rascal down. He came out where he +could see far along a broad gorge, and there, riding into the distance, +mounted on a good horse, was Anson. Frank knew the folly of trying +further pursuit, so he stood still and watched the vanishing figure. + +"I'd like to know just what it was that Hop Anson gave Tracy," he said, +aloud. + +Immediately, within less than twenty feet from him, Pablo, the Mexican +boy, arose into view. + +"I teel you what eet was," he said. "Eet was monee." + +Frank was startled by this sudden appearance of the boy. + +"What are you doing here?" he asked sharply. + +"Oh, I watch de Tracy man," returned the lad craftily. "I see +something." + +"Were you near enough to hear their talk?" + +"Just a leetle beet." + +"Ha! What was it? What did you hear?" + +"De man with hurt hand he geef oder man monee. Oder man take eet. Say +eet not enough. Must have two times more as much before he do something +man with hurt hand want heem to do. Man with hurt hand mad. Eet do no +goode. Oder man say breeng as much more twice over to heem at same +place same time to-morrow." + +It is needless to say that this revelation was intensely interesting to +Merriwell. + +"Why, Hop Anson has no money!" exclaimed Frank. "Where did he get it? It +must have come from Bill. In that case, an attempt is being made to +bribe my foreman. I have a traitor in the mine, and he means to deliver +me into the hands of the enemy." + +"Tracy man he say to man with hurt hand that Pablo, the brother of +Gonchita, ees here." + +"So Tracy told Anson that?" + +"_Si, senor_." + +"Well, I think I need a new foreman--and need him bad! It is about time +for Mr. Tracy to get out!" + +"You wait and watch, you ketch heem." + +It was arranged that Pablo should return in advance to the mine, in +order that they might not be seen coming in together. So the Mexican boy +strolled back with assumed carelessness. + +But it happened that Jim Tracy was watching, and he saw Pablo, whereupon +he hastened to meet the boy. + +"Where have you been?" harshly demanded the foreman. + +Pablo looked surprised. + +"I go to tak' de walk," he said. + +"You little liar!" snarled Tracy. "You have been playing the spy! I know +what you have been doing!" + +"De spyee--how you mean?" + +The Mexican lad seemed very innocent. + +"I've seen you sneaking around. Why are you hanging around here, anyhow? +Why don't you get out?" + +"Dat none of your busineeze," returned the lad saucily. + +"You little runt!" growled Tracy, catching the boy by the shoulder. "Do +you dare talk to me that way?" + +"You beeg rufeen!" cried Pablo. "You hurt! Let of me a-go!" + +Then he kicked the foreman on the shins. Immediately, with a roar of +rage, Tracy struck Pablo with his fist, knocking the boy down. + +Pablo was armed with a pistol, and this weapon he snatched out when he +scrambled to his feet. But Tracy was on hand to clutch him and wrest the +weapon from his grasp. + +"You little devil!" grated the man. "I'll cut your throat on the spot!" + +There was a terrible look in his eyes as he whipped out a knife and +lifted it. + +"Drop that!" + +Crack!--the report of a revolver emphasized the command, and the bullet +struck the knife and tore it from the hand of the aroused ruffian. + +Frank Merriwell had arrived just in time to save Pablo, who was bent +helplessly backward over Tracy's knee, the hand of the wretch being at +his throat. + +Tracy shook his benumbed and quivering hand, releasing the boy and +looking at Frank resentfully. + +"Oh, you're not badly hurt!" said Merry, as he strode up. "My lead +struck the knife blade, not your hand. And I seemed to be barely in +time, too." + +"Oh, I wasn't going to hurt the kid!" declared Tracy harshly. "I was +going to teach him a lesson, that was all. I wanted to frighten him a +little." + +"Well, your behavior looked remarkably bloodthirsty. You seemed on the +point of drawing the knife across his throat. That was enough for me. +You may go, Tracy, but you are to let Pablo alone in the future." + +"If he insults me----" + +"Report to me; I'll make him apologize. Go." + +Tracy seemed to wish to linger to argue over the matter, but the look in +Merriwell's eyes forbade it, and he picked up the knife and slouched +sullenly away. + +"I hope he did not hurt you much," said Frank, lifting Pablo's hat to +see the bruise made by the ruffian's fist. + +With a cry, the boy grasped his hat and pulled it down upon his head. + +But Frank had made a most surprising discovery, and it was enough to +give Merry something to meditate over. + +He decided that the boy must be closely watched, and he longed for the +presence of old Joe Crowfoot, than whom no one was more fitted to such a +task. + +But the outlaws had averred that old Joe was "food for buzzards," and +the protracted absence of the redskin led Merry to fear that he had +looked into the Indian's beady eyes for the last time. + +Frank spoke to no one of his discovery. As far as possible, he kept his +eyes on Pablo, as if he believed the boy meditated treachery of some +sort. + +Frank's friends wandered about the place and investigated the mine, +watching operations. + +The calm of the valley was most deceptive, and both Ready and Gallup +declared they could not conceive any possible danger lurking near. +Hodge, however, professed to feel a warning in the very peacefulness, +which he declared was the calm before a storm. + +Jim Tracy sulked. His treatment by Frank was altogether displeasing to +him, and he felt that he had been humiliated, which caused him to +register a secret vow of vengeance. + +Pablo was generally found lingering about Frank's cabin or somewhere +near Merry. + +"He knows a good thing when he sees it," said Ready sagely, "and he +means to stick to it. He doesn't seem in any great hurry about rushing +to the rescue of his 'seestar.'" + +Frank smiled in a knowing manner, observing: + +"Perhaps he has reasons to know that his sister is in no great peril at +present, and he is satisfied to stay here." + +"He's a gol dern lazy little beggar!" said Gallup. "An' he oughter hev +to wash his face once in a while." + +The evening was cool and agreeable. The sun dropped peacefully behind +the mountains and the shadows gathered deeply in the gorges and canons. +The roar of the stamps sank to silence, and peace lay like a prayer on +the valley. + +Frank and his friends sat about the cabin door and chatted of old times. +Sometimes they sang little snatches of the old songs. + +And as the darkness deepened a slender, boyish figure lay on his stomach +and wiggled cautiously nearer and nearer, taking the utmost pains not to +be seen. + +This eavesdropper was Pablo, and he evinced the greatest interest in all +they were saying; but it was when Frank spoke or sang that he listened +with the utmost attention, keeping perfectly still. Thus it was that the +boy heard Hodge say: + +"Merriwell, I'm half-inclined to believe that dirty little Mexican +rascal is a fakir. I suspect him." + +"Of what?" asked Frank. + +"Of being a spy. He told a slick tale, but I've had time to think it +over, and somehow it seems too thin. Why shouldn't Bill send him here to +play the spy?" + +"My dear Bart," said Merry, with a laugh, "what would be Bill's object? +What could the boy do?" + +"He might get a chance to put a knife in your back, old man." + +"I'll chance it. I do not believe Pablo that bad. I'll trust him." + +"Well, I wouldn't trust any greaser." + +"I hate you, Senor Hodge!" whispered the listening boy, to himself. "I +hate you; but I lofe Frank Merriwell!" + +The miners gathered near their quarters. As far as possible, Frank had +secured miners who were not Mexicans, but there were a few Mexicans +among them. + +Among the men were some who were hard characters when they were +drinking, and Merry had taken particular pains to make rules and +regulations to keep liquor away from them. + +The morning after the encounter between Pablo and Jim, the foreman, +Frank arose and flung open the door of his cabin, but immediately made +the discovery that a sheet of paper was pinned to the door with a knife. + +"Hello!" he exclaimed. "Here's something interesting!" + +Gallup came slouching forward, followed by Ready. + +"What, ho!" cried Jack, as his eyes fell on the knife and the paper. +"Methinks I see something! Hist! That is what the tragic actor said when +he appeared upon the stage. He crept in and looked around, after which +he said, 'Hist!' And he was hissed." + +"By gum!" cried Ephraim. "There's writin' written on it! What does it +say?" + +This is what they read written sprawlingly on the sheet of paper that +was pinned to the door by the knife: + + "FRANK MERRIWELL: You are hearby giv notis that you are to send + away the boy Pablo instanter. He promised to come to his sister, + and he has not come. You are warned not to keep him. BILL." + +Frank looked at the notice and laughed. + +"Well," he said, "that is rather interesting. So Bill wants the boy? Why +doesn't he come and take him?" + +Hodge came and read the notice, a deep frown on his darkly handsome +face. + +"What do you make of it, Merry?" he asked. + +"Give us your opinion." + +"Nerve." + +"Shall we give up the boy?" + +Now Bart had not favored Pablo, but at this juncture he grimly declared: + +"I'm against it." + +"Good!" nodded Merry. "Let Bill come and take him! If the boy's story is +true, it would not be a healthy thing for him to fall into Bill's +hands." + +Just as he spoke these words Jim Tracy came around the corner and +appeared on the scene. He halted, appearing surprised, and stared at the +knife and the notice. + +"Whatever is it?" he asked. + +"Something left there during the night," said Merry. "Read it." + +Tracy looked it over. + +"Well, Bill sure wants the greaser kid," he said, "an' I reckon you'd +best give the youngster up." + +"Why do you reckon that?" + +"Cimarron Bill is a heap dangerous." + +"He may be," said Merry; "but he has failed thus far to get ahead of me. +I don't like his notice, if this came from him. But I thought you took +pains to have the place guarded at night, Tracy?" + +"So I does, sir." + +"Then how did Bill or any of his gang manage to creep up here and pin +this to my door?" + +"That I can't say, sir." + +"I think I'll look after things to-night," said Frank grimly. "If we're +getting careless around here Bill may walk in some night and seize the +mine before we know a thing of what's going to happen." + +He jerked the knife from the door, took the paper and placed it in his +pocket, after which he indicated that he was ready to speak with the +foreman, who had some matter of business to discuss. + +When Tracy departed Frank sat down and meditated, for he had noticed +something peculiar and remarkable. + +There were ink-stains upon the thumb and two of the fingers of Jim +Tracy's right hand. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +FRANK DETECTS TREACHERY. + + +Needless to say Frank did not send Pablo away. He did not tell the boy +of the warning found on the door. Instead, he called the Mexican lad and +said: + +"Pablo, I want you to watch Tracy closely for me. Will you?" + +"Senor Frank can be sure I weel," said the boy. + +"If possible, I want you to get some of Tracy's handwriting and bring it +to me." + +"Eet I will do, senor." + +"But look out for him. He's dangerous. Don't let him catch you playing +the spy." + +"I tak' de great care 'bout that." + +Before noon the Mexican boy came hurrying to Merry, his big dark eyes +glowing. He caught hold of Frank's hand and gave it an excited pressure. + +"I haf eet!" he said. + +"What is it you have?" + +"Some of hees writeeng. He do eet in de mine offeese when he think no +one watch heem. I see heem through window. He put eet in lettare, stick +eet up, put in pocket, then drop um. I know; I watch; I pick eet up. +Here eet ees!" + +He thrust into Merry's hand a soiled, sealed and undirected envelope. + +"Eet ees inside," said Pablo, all aquiver. + +"Come in here," said Frank, leading the way into the cabin. + +Bart and Jack were watching Ephraim Gallup at a distance from the cabin, +the Yankee youth being engaged in a brave attempt to ride a small, +bucking bronco. + +When they were inside the cabin, Frank closed and fastened the door. +Making a hasty examination of the envelope, he quickly lighted a small +alcohol-lamp beneath a tiny brass tea-kettle, which he partly filled +with water. + +In a very few moments steam was pouring from the nozle of the kettle. +Holding the envelope in this, Merry quickly steamed open the flap, +taking from it a sheet of paper. + +Pablo's eyes seemed to grow larger than ever as he watched. Frank +unfolded the paper and read: + + "I have decided to except terms, and to-night will be the time for + you to come down on the mine. The whisky will be yoused to get the + men drunk, jest as you perposed, and I'll hev them all filled up by + ten o'clock. Wate tell you hear three shots right togather, then + charge and you'll take the mine, havin' only Merywel and his + tenderfeet backers to fight, and them I will hav fastened into + their cabin. J." + +Merry whistled over this, showing no small amount of surprise. + +"Ees de writin' what you expec'?" asked Pablo anxiously. + +"It's somewhat more than I expected," said Frank. "By Jove! there will +be doings here to-night." + +He quickly decided on the course he would pursue. Carefully drying the +flap of the envelope, he placed some fresh mucilage on it, thrust the +message into it, and resealed it carefully. + +"See here, Pablo," he said quickly, "if you can do it, I want you to +take this and drop it just where you found it, so that Tracy will be +pretty sure to recover it. I do not wish him to know that it has been +picked up. Do your best. If you can't do it, come and tell me." + +"I do eet," assured Pablo, as he took the envelope, concealed it beneath +his jacket, and slipped from the cabin. + +Frank had been given something to think about. + +"So Tracy has turned traitor," he meditated. "He has decided to betray +the mine into the hands of Cimarron Bill's gang. It was his writing on +the notice pinned on the door, not Bill's. That notice was a fake, and +it made him angry because it didn't work out as he planned. Bill got at +him through Hop Anson, who must have been in Bill's employ all along. +Well, to-night is the time I give those ruffians their final setback. +Another repulse will discourage them. They would have descended on the +place while I was in their power if they had fancied there was any +chance that I might escape with my life." + +Pretty soon he walked out, with his hands in his pockets, and joined +his friends, laughing heartily over Gallup's trials, and seeming +undisturbed by any worry. + +Later he entered the mine and found that Tracy was not about. Nor could +he discover anything of Pablo. The afternoon was far spent when the +Mexican boy suddenly appeared before Frank. + +"Hello, Pablo!" said Merry. "What's the word?" + +"I followe heem," whispered Pablo excitedly. "I haf drop de letter +where he find eet when he look for eet. Then he find time to go 'way. +I followe. I see heem take letter to place in rocks long distance down +vallee. He hide eet there. Pablo let heem go; stay watch letter. He haf +hoss hid some piece off. He geet to hoss, geet on heem, ride off." + +"That's all?" + +"Dhat ees all." + +"Well, you have done well, Pablo," said Merry. "I'll not forget it." + +Pablo again grasped Frank's hand, which he kissed. + +"You freen' to Pablo," he said. "You goode to heem. He not forget." + +"Tell no one what you have seen and done." + +"You look out for Beel." + +"You may be sure I'll do that, Pablo. When Bill comes here, he'll +receive a warm reception." + +That night after supper, as the miners sat about the long table in the +low, open room, smoking their pipes and cigarettes and enjoying the +grateful coolness of the evening, Jim Tracy, the foreman, came into the +room and cried: + +"Well, boys, you've been working right hard to open up this yere old +mine, an' I appreciates it, if the young man what owns the property +don't. It's a long distance to town, an' ye can't all git off together +to have a leetle blow, so I has brought ye some good whisky, and I +perposes that you all takes a drink on me." + +Saying which, he produced two big quart bottles and held them above his +head, so the lamplight fell upon them. + +Instantly two shots sounded through the place, and the bottles were +smashed in the foreman's hands by a pair of bullets, the glass flying +and the liquor spattering over him. + +In through the doorway at the opposite end of the room stepped Frank +Merriwell, a pistol in each hand. + +"Keep your hands up and empty, Jim Tracy!" he said, in a commanding +tone. "It will be unhealthy for you if you lower them!" + +Behind Frank were Bart, Jack, and Ephraim, with Pablo hovering like a +shadow still farther in the rear. + +Tracy was astounded. + +"What in blazes does this mean!" he snarled, but he kept his hands up, +as Frank had ordered. + +"It means that I am onto your game to drug these boys and betray us all. +Steady! If you try to get a weapon I shall drop you! You know I can +shoot a little. Just tie him up, fellows." + +"With the greatest pleasure," chirped Jack Ready, as he waltzed lightly +forward, accompanied by Hodge and Gallup. + +In spite of the protests of Tracy, they bound him hand and foot, so that +he could barely wiggle. + +The miners had been amazed, but they believed Merry when he told them of +Tracy's plot to betray the mine. + +"He would have drugged you all," said Frank. "Then, when Bill's gang +charged on the mine, it's likely many of you would have been killed. But +what did he care about that. Now we'll fool Cimarron Bill and teach him +a lesson." + +He explained his plan to them, and they readily agreed. So it happened +that, a little later, the miners began to sing and shout and pretend to +be riotously merry. This they kept up until it seemed as if they were +engaged in a fearful carousal. Then the noises began to die out and grow +less. + +It was past ten o'clock when dead silence seemed to rest on the camp. +Frank Merriwell stepped to the door, lifted his hand and fired three +shots into the air. + +Five minutes later the sound of galloping horses coming up the valley +was distinctly heard. + +"Here they come!" breathed Frank. "All ready for them!" + +Right up to the mine-buildings charged the horsemen. They were +dismounting when Frank's challenge rang out sharp and clear: + +"Hold, Cimarron Bill! Stop where you are! Stop, or we fire!" + +The outlaws uttered a yell and charged, firing the first shots. + +Then Merry gave the command, and the armed and waiting miners fired on +the raiders. It was a withering volley, and must have astounded the +ruffians. + +Bill, however, had come this time determined to succeed, and he called +on his men to break down the doors. As they were hammering at the front +doors, Frank led some of the men out by the back way and charged round +the buildings. + +The encounter that took place was brief and sanguine. The miners were +encouraged by Hodge, Ready, and Gallup, who fought with savage fury, and +the raiders began to waver. + +Suddenly a tall figure came rushing into the thick of the fight and +confronted Frank. + +It was Tracy, who had been released from his bonds by a sympathetic +miner. + +"Yah!" he snarled, having heard Merry's voice and recognized him. "So +it's you! I've found you! Take that!" + +He pitched forward a revolver and fired pointblank at Frank. + +At that very instant, with a cry, Pablo, the Mexican boy, leaped in +front of Merry. + +Struck by the bullet intended for Frank, the little fellow tossed up his +arms and fell backward into Merriwell's clasp. At the same instant +somebody shot Jim Tracy through the brain. + +As Merriwell lowered the death-stricken boy, the raiders, completely +baffled, gave over the attack and took to flight, leaving half their +number behind, stretched upon the ground. + +"Are you hurt--badly?" asked Frank, as one of the boy's arms dropped +limply over his neck and seemed to cling there. + +For a moment there was no answer. Then came the faintly whispered words: + +"I--theenk--I--am--keeled--Senor Merriwell." + +"Oh, no, Gonchita!" said Frank earnestly; "not as bad as that! It cannot +be!" + +"You know me," was the surprised whisper. "How you know I am Gonchita?" + +"Oh, I discovered it the other day--I found you had your hair tied up +beneath your hat. Here, men--somebody bring a light! Be lively about +it!" + +"All right, sir," said one of the men. "Have one directly." + +"No use, Senor Merriwell," came weakly from the lips of the disguised +girl. "I shall be dead in a minute. _Ay-de mi_! Poor Gonchita! You +theenk she ees veree bad girl? Beel he say he weel marree her. He get me +to fool you, senor. Then you are so veree brave! Senor Frank, I theenk +you are de han'someest, de braveest man I evere know. I run away from +Beel. I wear de boyee's clothes an' come here. Dat ees all. Now I haf to +die." + +"Perhaps not, Gonchita," said Merry, with infinite pity for the +unfortunate girl. "We'll see what can be done for you." + +She managed to press one of his hands to her lips. + +"So goode--so han'some!" she whispered. "Good-by, senor! Eet ees ovare." + +Then one of the men came out with a lighted lantern; but before the +light fell on the face of the wounded girl Frank knew he was holding a +corpse in his arms. + + * * * * * + +Among the dead was found Hop Anson. Jim Tracy lay where he had fallen +immediately after the shot which ended the life of poor Gonchita. + +Such of the ruffians who were wounded were cared for as well as +possible. The dead were buried there in the valley. + +Cimarron Bill's band was completely broken up. + +On his next visit to town Merry had a marble slab cut for the grave of +the Mexican girl, which was located at a distance from those of the +outlaws. + +On the slab were chiseled these words: "Poor Gonchita!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE WAR-WHOOP OF OLD ELI. + + +The afternoon sun lay scorching hot upon the arid plain. Heat waves +moved in the air like the billows of a phantom sea. To the west were +barren mountain-peaks and the nearer foot-hills; to the east the +unbroken plain lay level to the horizon. + +Behind the body of his dead horse lay a sorely wounded man, with his dog +crouching close at his side. The dog's dry tongue lolled from the +animal's mouth; at times the poor creature whined and sought to lick the +hand of its master; anon he growled fiercely, the hair bristling on his +neck, and started up in a savage manner. + +"Down, Boxer, down!" the man would order, in a voice ever growing +weaker. "You can't help. The red devils will get you with a bullet. +Down, sir!" + +At which the dog would sink back, whine again and draw his filelike +tongue along the hand or cheek of his master. + +"Heavens!" muttered the man. "For a swallow of water. I'd give the last +ounce in the saddle-bags if I could finish one or two more of those +murderous curs before I cash in!" + +His almost nerveless hands grasped the barrel of his rifle, and he +looked away toward the spot where six horsemen had drawn up in a little +cluster just beyond bullet-reach. + +They were Indians, mounted on tough ponies, and some of them armed with +modern weapons. Two or three carried lances, on which the glaring sun +glinted. + +They had hunted him down; they had killed the horse beneath him and +wounded him unto death. The bullet was through his body, and the sands +of life were ebbing fast. He had reached the end of his trail, and the +red fiends out there on the baking plain knew they had only to wait a +while and then ride forward unmolested and strip off his scalp. Yet, +being far from their reservation, the savages were impatient at the +delay. Their hearts were vengeful within them, for in the chase he had +slain two of their number. + +One of them, an impetuous young buck, was for making haste in finishing +the paleface. He motioned toward the declining sun and suggested that +the wounded man might try to crawl away with the coming of darkness. +Besides, they had far to go, and it was a waste of time to wait for the +paleface to die. Likely he was so far gone that he could not shoot to +defend himself, and there would be little trouble in getting near enough +to despatch him. + +The impetuous spirit of this savage prevailed, and soon the redskins +began riding around and around man and horse and dog, spreading out into +a circle with great gaps and slowly closing in, now and then uttering a +challenging yell. As they closed in they flung themselves over upon the +sides of their ponies opposite the wounded man, so that their horses +seemed riderless. Occasionally a shot was fired from beneath the neck of +a racing pony. + +The dying man gathered himself a little and watched them. A puff of +white smoke leaped out before a pony and was quickly left behind to +dissolve and fade in the heated air. A bullet threw up a bit of dust +within three feet of the white man. The dog bristled and growled. +Another bullet clipped a stalk from a cactus plant five feet away. + +"They're within shooting distance," whispered the doomed wretch. "Wonder +if I've got nerve enough to drop a pony." + +He rested his rifle on the body of the dead horse and waited. Out on the +plain the racing ponies began to swim in a haze. He could see them +indistinctly, and he brushed a hand across his eyes. + +"I'm going fast, Boxer," he muttered to the dog. "My sight is failing! +I'm burning inside! And I know you're choking yourself, poor dog! It's a +hard way to pipe out." + +The dog whined sympathetically and pressed closer. A bullet whistled +past the head of the man. He tightened his grip on his rifle, sought to +take aim, and finally fired. + +His bullet went wide of the target he sought, and a yell of derision +floated to his ears through the hot air. + +"No use!" he muttered huskily. "I'm done for! It's the finish! They can +close right in and wipe me out!" + +The savages seemed to know it, and they were drawing nearer. + +Of a sudden out from the depths of a long barranca, a mighty fissure in +the plain, produced in former ages by a convulsion of nature, or marking +the course of a river--out from one end that rose to the surface of the +plain not far from the circling savages, came a horse and rider. As the +rider rose into view he began shooting with a magazine rifle, and his +first bullet caused a redskin to lose his hold and tumble end over end +in the dirt, while the pony galloped on. + +The following Indian stooped and seemed to catch up his wounded comrade +as he swept past. + +The lone horseman rode straight at them in a reckless manner, working +his repeater. + +A pony was wounded, another plunged forward into the dirt. In another +moment the redskins wheeled and were in full flight, astounded and +demoralized by the attack, two of the horses carrying double, while +another left drops of blood upon the ground. + +The daring paleface uttered a strange war-whoop of triumph: "Brekekek +Co-ax, Co-ax, Yale!" + +Never before had those Indians heard such a singular cry from the lips +of a white man. It seemed to fill them with a mad desire to get away, to +flee at top speed. It struck terror into their hearts, as many a time +the same slogan has struck fear to the hearts of those battling against +Old Eli on some athletic field. They urged their ponies forward, and +away they went, scurrying into the distance, with bullets singing around +them. + +The man behind the dead horse lifted himself and strained his bedimmed +eyes, seeing the youthful rider shoot past in pursuit of the savages. +The dog rose, planting his forefeet on the horse's body, and barked +madly. + +When he was satisfied that the Indians were in full retreat, with little +thought of turning or offering resistance, Frank Merriwell, for it was +he who had dashed out of the barranca, drew up and turned about, +galloping back toward the man he had dared so much to save. + +But he had come too late. + +As Merry rode near the dying man had fallen back beside his dead horse. +Over him stood the dog, covered with dust, its eyes glaring redly, its +teeth disclosed, ready to defend the body of its master. As Frank drew +up the dog snarled fiercely. + +Merry saw at a glance that the situation of the dog's master was serious +in the extreme. He dismounted and stepped forward, leaving his horse, +knowing well the animal would stand. As he approached the dog grew +fiercer of aspect, and he saw the creature meant to leap straight at his +throat. + +"Good dog!" he said, stopping. "Fine dog! Come, sir--come! Ah-ha, fine +fellow!" + +But all his attempts to win the confidence of the dog were failures. + +"The man is dying," he muttered. "Perhaps I might save him if I could +get to him now. Must I shoot that dog? I hate to do it, for the creature +seems very intelligent." + +At this moment the man stirred a little and seemed to realize what was +happening. He lifted his head a little and saw the dismounted horseman +and the threatening dog. + +"Down, Boxer; down, sir!" he commanded. "Be quiet!" + +His voice rose scarcely above a whisper, but the dog reluctantly obeyed, +still keeping his eyes on Frank, who now stepped up at once. + +"You're badly wounded, sir," he said. "Let me see if I can do anything +for you." + +"Give me water--for the love of Heaven, water!" was the harshly +whispered imploration. + +In a twinkling Frank sprang to his horse and brought back a canteen that +was well filled. This he held to the lips of the wretched man, while the +crouching dog watched every move with his red eyes. + +That water, warm though it was, brought back a little life to the +sinking man. + +"God bless you!" he murmured gratefully. + +The dog whined. + +"Can't you give Boxer a little?" asked the dog's master. "He's suffering +as much as I am." + +Frank quickly removed from his saddle-bags a deep tin plate, on which +some of the water was poured, and this the dog greedily licked up, +wagging his tail in thankfulness. + +"Poor old Boxer!" sighed the doomed man. + +"Now, sir," said the youth, "let me examine your wound and find out what +I can do for you." + +"No use," was the declaration. "I'm done for. It's through the lung, and +I've bled enough to finish two men. The blood is all out of me." + +But the young man insisted on looking and did what he could to check the +flow of blood. + +The doomed man shook his head a little. + +"No use," he repeated. "I'm going now--I feel it. But you have done all +you could for Old Bens, and you won't lose nothing by it. What's your +name?" + +"Frank Merriwell." + +"Well, Pard Merriwell, you sure went for those red devils right hot. I +allowed at first that you must have four or five friends with ye." + +"I'm alone." + +"And it was great grit for you to charge the red skunks that way. +However did you happen to do it?" + +"I saw what was going on from the high land to the west with the aid of +a powerful glass. I knew they had a white man trapped here. I struck the +barranca and managed to get down into it, so I was able to ride close +without being seen and charge up from this end, where it rises to the +level of the plain. That is all." + +"It was nerve, young man, and plenty of it! My name is Benson Clark. I'm +a miner. Been over in the Mazatzals. Struck it rich, young pard--struck +it rich. There was no one but me and old Boxer, my dog. I took out a +heap of dust, and I opine I located a quartz claim that certainly is +worth a hundred thousand dollars, or I'm away off. Been a miner all my +life. Grub-staked it from the Canadian line to Mexico. Have managed to +live, but this is my first strike. No one staked me this time, so it's +all mine. But see, pard, what black luck and those red devils have done +for me! I'm finished, and I'll never live to enjoy a dollar of my +wealth. Pretty tough, eh?" + +"Pretty tough," admitted Frank Merriwell; "but brace up. Who can +tell----" + +"I can. Bens Clark is at the end of his trail. Young man, I want you to +see me properly planted. You'll find enough in the saddle-bags here and +in the belt around my waist to pay you for your trouble." + +"I want no pay, sir." + +"Well, I reckon you may as well have it, as I have neither kith nor kin +in the wide world, and most of my friends have cashed in ahead of me, so +I'm left all alone--me and Boxer." + +The dying man lifted his hand with a great effort and caressed the dog. +The animal whined and snuggled nearer, fixing his eyes on his master's +face with an expression of devotion and anxiety that was quite touching +to see. + +"Good old Boxer!" sighed the man, with deep feeling. "You'll miss me, +boy, and you're the only one in all the wide world. What will become of +you, Boxer?" + +Again the dog whined a little, touching the bloodless cheek of the man +with its tongue. + +"I'll do what I can for your dog, sir," said Frank Merriwell. + +"What do you mean? Will you take Boxer and care for him?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Do it! You'll never be sorry. You'll find him the most faithful, +devoted, and intelligent of dumb animals. Truly, he knows almost as much +as a man--more than lots of men. It's a shame he can't talk! He knows +what I say to him almost always. I've almost fancied he might be taught +to talk; but that's ridiculous, I know. Take him, Frank Merriwell, treat +him well, and you'll never regret it." + +The dog seemed listening. He looked from one to the other in a peculiar +manner, and then, as if realizing what had passed and that he was soon +to part with his master forever, he uttered a whining howl that was +doleful and pathetic. + +"Poor old Boxer--good boy!" said Benson Clark. "I've got to go, boy." + +The dog crept close, and the dying man weakly folded the animal in his +arms. + +Frank Merriwell turned away. The sunlight was so bright and strong on +the plain that it seemed to cause him to brush a hand over his eyes. He +stood looking far off for some moments, but was given a start by hearing +a weak call from the man. + +"I'm going!" breathed Clark huskily. "Here--in my pocket here you will +find a rude chart that may lead you to my rich mines in the Mazatzals. +Feel in my pocket for the leather case. That's it. Take it--keep it. +It's yours. The mines are yours--if you can find them. Boxer is yours. +Be good to him. Poor old Boxer!" + +He closed his eyes and lay so still that Frank fancied the end had come. +But it was not yet. After a little he slowly opened his eyes and looked +at Merry. Immediately Frank knelt beside him, with uncovered head. + +The dying man then looked at the dog. + +"Boxer," he said faintly, "I'm going off on my long trail, and we'll +never meet up again this side of the happy hunting-grounds. Good-by, old +dog! This is your new master. Stick to him like glue, old boy. Fight for +him--die for him, if you have to. I opine you understand what I mean." + +A strange sound came from the throat of the dog--a sound that was almost +like a human sob. If ever a dog sobbed that one did. Agony and sorrow +was depicted in his attitude and the look in its red eyes. + +The miner took the dog's paw and placed it in Frank Merriwell's hand, +his body lying between them. + +"I make you pards," said Benson Clark. + +Then he whispered to Frank: + +"Can't you pray? I've clean forgot all the prayers I ever knew. But I +feel that I need a prayer said for me now, for I'm going up before the +judgment bar. Pray, partner--pray to the Great Judge that He will be +easy with me." + +So Frank Merriwell prayed, and that prayer fell upon the heart of the +dying man with such soothing balm that all fear and dread left him, and +he passed into the great unknown with a peaceful smile on his +weather-worn face. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +A STRANGE FUNERAL. + + +Frank found the saddle-bags and the belt about the dead man's waist +heavy with gold. It took him some time to make preparations for +transporting the precious stuff, and it was no easy task for him to +quiet his horse and induce the animal to stand while he lifted the +corpse and placed it where it could be tied securely on the horse's +back. + +He had no thought of leaving the body of Benson Clark to be devoured by +wolves and vultures. + +The sun was resting close down to the blue tops of the western mountains +when everything was ready to start. + +The dog had watched every move with eyes full of singular intelligence, +but made no move or sound until Merry was ready to go. + +Then Frank turned more water from the canteen, after taking a few +swallows himself, placing it before Boxer in the tin plate. The dog +licked it up. + +"Good Boxer!" said Merry, patting the beast's head. "I'm your master +now, my boy. Your other master is dead. He has told you to stick to me. +Did you understand?" + +The dog made some strange swallowing and mumbling sounds in its throat, +as if trying to talk back in words. + +"By Jove!" said Merry, gazing at the creature with great interest. "You +are a knowing fellow, and you actually try to talk. Your master fancied +you might be taught to talk." + +Again those strange swallowings and mumblings issued from the dog's +throat, and the creature wagged its tail a little. + +"We'll go now," said Frank. "It's a good distance to the mine, and we +have something to do before we can set out in earnest." + +So they started off, Frank leading the horse bearing the ghastly burden, +while the dog walked behind with hanging head, the perfect picture of +sorrow. + +A strange funeral procession it was, making its way toward the setting +sun and the hazy mountains. The dead horse was left behind, while far in +the sky wheeled two black specks, buzzards waiting for the feast. + +The Indians had long vanished from the face of the plain, yet Frank knew +their nature, and he was not at all sure he had seen the last of them. + +The sun vanished behind the mountains and the blue night lay soft and +soothing on the hot plain when the funeral procession came into the +foot-hills. + +It was not Frank's intention to carry the dead man farther than was +needful, and, therefore, he kept his eyes about him for some place to +bestow the body where it might rest safe from prowling beasts. + +This place he found at last, and, with the aid of a flat stone, and with +his bare hands, he scooped a shallow grave. Into this the body was +fitted. Over the man's face Frank spread his own handkerchief. Then he +besprinkled the dry earth lightly over the body at first, afterward +using the flat rock to scrape and shovel more upon it, ending with +covering it heavily with such stones as he could find, knowing well with +what skill the ravening beasts of the desert could use their claw-armed +paws. + +For a time the dog sat and watched everything. When his late master was +placed in the grave he whined and cried softly; but when the body was +covered he lay down beside the grave in silence, and there was in his +posture something so heartbroken that Frank was moved to a great pity. + +"Poor old Boxer!" he murmured. "It is the end to which all living things +must come, each in its own time. But it is the law of nature, and it is +not so bad, after all. Blessed is he who goes to his last deep sleep +without fear, feeling that he has done his best and is willing to trust +everything in the hands of Him who sees and knows all. The fear of death +and what may follow is such as should trouble alone the coward or the +wicked wretch. Boxer, your master seemed to pass without fear, and +something tells me it is not so bad with him. His case is in the hands +of the Great Judge, and we may rest sure that he will be done no wrong." + +Was there ever such a strange funeral oration! A youth with bared head +and solemn face, speaking above a grave, and a silent, grief-stricken +dog as the only mourner and attendant! The still Arizona night all +around, with no sound of humming insect, no stir of foliage, no whisper +of moving breeze, the dome of heaven above, studded with millions of +clear stars! The dog did not move or lift its head, but Frank saw the +starshine glint upon his eyes, which were wide open and fastened upon +the speaker. + +When the work was completed Frank knelt for a moment beside that grave, +praying softly, yet with an earnestness that bespoke his faith that his +words were heard. + +It was over. His horse was at a little distance. He went and brought the +animal up and adjusted the saddle. The dead man's belt, stuffed to +bursting and wondrous heavy, he had fastened about his own waist. + +"Come, Boxer," he said, again stooping to pat the head of the dog. "We +must go. Bid farewell to your master's grave. It's not likely you may +ever again come beside it." + +The dog stirred. He sat up and lifted his muzzle toward the stars. From +his throat came a low note that rose and swelled to the most doleful +sound imaginable. + +With his blood chill in his body, Frank listened while the dog sang a +requiem above that grave. Tears started from Merry's eyes, and never +while life was his could he forget that sound and that sight. Never +chanted words of mass had more of sorrow! No human tongue could speak +greater grief. + +At last the sound died away into silence, and the dog stood on all +fours, with hanging head and tail, his muzzle kissing some of the rough +stones heaped on that grave. How long he might have remained in that +attitude cannot be said; but soon Frank spoke again and called him to +follow. At the word he turned, and his manner denoted he was ready. + +Merry swung into the saddle and started, looking over his shoulder. In +dead silence, the dog followed. + +And so they passed into the still night. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +NEW ARRIVALS IN HOLBROOK. + + +The town of Holbrook had been greatly stirred. It had not yet settled +into its accustomed grooves. The proprietor of the best hotel in town +had received a consignment of fine furniture, carpets, draperies, +wallpaper and pictures, and he had set about renovating and decorating +several of the largest rooms in his house, having for that purpose a +number of workmen imported from some Eastern point. It was said that the +rooms had been rearranged to connect with each other in a suite, and +that when they were completed, and furnished, and decorated they were +dazzlingly magnificent, nothing like them ever before having been seen +in the place. The good citizens of Holbrook wondered and were amazed at +all this; but they did not know that not one dollar had been expended by +the proprietor of the hotel. All this work had been done without expense +of his to accommodate some guests who came in due time and took +possession of those rooms. + +The California Special had dropped four persons in Holbrook, who +regretfully left the comfort of a palace car and looked about them with +some show of dismay on the cluttered streets and crude buildings of the +Southwestern town. Holbrook was even better in general appearance than +many Western towns, but, contrasted with clean, orderly, handsome +Eastern villages, it was offensive to the eyes of the proud lady who was +aided from the steps of the car and descended to the station platform +with the air of a queen. She turned up her aristocratic nose a little on +glancing around. + +This woman was dressed in the height of fashion, although somewhat too +heavily for the country she now found herself in; but there was about +her an air of display that betokened a lack of correct taste, which is +ever pronounced in those who seek to attract attention and produce +astonishment and awe. She had gray hair and a cold, unattractive face. +Still there was about her face something that plainly denoted she had +been in her girlhood very attractive. + +She was followed by a girl who was so pretty and so modest in appearance +that the rough men who beheld her gasped with astonishment. Never in the +history of the town had such a pretty girl placed her foot within its +limits. She had a graceful figure, fine complexion, Cupid-bow mouth, +flushed cheeks, large brown eyes and hair in which there was a hint of +red-gold, in spite of its darkness. + +A colored maid followed them. + +From another car descended a thin, wiry, nervous man, who had a great +blue beak of a nose, and who hastened to join the trio, speaking to +them. + +The hotel proprietor had at the station the finest carriage he could +find, and this whisked them away to the hotel as soon as they had +entered it, leaving the loungers about the station wondering, while the +train went diminishing into the distance, flinging its trail of black +smoke against the blue of the Arizona sky. + +At the hotel the lady and her daughter occupied two of the finest rooms, +the colored maid another, less expensively furnished, and the man with +the blue nose was given the fourth. + +Holbrook wondered what it meant. + +The lady ordered a meal to be served in her rooms. + +The report went forth at once, and again Holbrook stood agog. + +The hotel register was watched. Finally the man with the restless eyes +and blue beak entered the office and wrote nervously in the register. + +Barely was he gone when a dozen persons were packed about the desk, +seeking to look over one another's shoulders to see what had been +written. + +"Whatever is it, Hank?" asked one. "You sure kin read writin'. Whatever +do you make o' it?" + +"'Mrs. D. Roscoe Arlington,' the fust name," said the one called Hank. +"Then comes 'Miss Arlington,' arter which is 'Mr. Eliot Dodge,' an' +lastly I sees 'Hannah Jackson.'" + +"Which last must be the nigger woman," said one of the rough men. + +"I allows so," nodded Hank. "An' it 'pears to me that name o' Arlington +is some familiar. I somehow thinks I has heard it." + +"Why, to be course you has!" said another of the men. "D. Roscoe +Arlington, did you say? Who hasn't heerd that name? He's one o' them big +guns what has so much money he can't count it to save his gizzard. +Ev-rybody has heerd o' D. Roscoe Arlington. If he keeps on gittin' rich +the way he has the past three years or so, old Morgan won't be in the +game. Why, this Arlington may now be the richest man in this country, if +ev'rything were rightly known about him. He owns railroads, an' mines, +an' ships, an' manufacturin' plants, an' nobody knows what all." + +"That sartin explains a whole lot the fixin' up that has been a-doin' +around this ranch," said a little man with a thirsty-looking mouth. +"They was a-preparin' fer the wife o' this mighty rich gent." + +"But say!" exclaimed a young fellow with a wicked face, "ain't she got a +slick-lookin' gal with her, what?" + +Some of them laughed and slapped him on the back. + +"Go on, Pete!" cried one chap. "You're a gay one with greaser gals, but +you won't be able to make a wide trail with that yar young lady, so +don't be lookin' that way." + +"Wonder whatever could 'a' brought such people here," speculated a man +with tobacco juice on his chin. "They must mean to stay a while, else +they'd never had them rooms fixed up the way they are." + +A ruffianly-looking man with a full beard broke into a low laugh. + +"Why, ain't none o' you heard about the fight what's bein' made to git +holt o' a certain mine not so very fur from yere?" he asked. "I mean +the mine owned by a young chap what calls himself Frank Merriwell. You +oughter know somethin' about that." + +"Why, 'pears to me," observed the fellow with tobacco juice on his +chin--"'pears to me I did hear that thar was trouble over a mine +somewhar down in the Mogollons, an' that Cimarron Bill had been sent to +take it." + +"He was sent," said the full-bearded man. + +"Then I 'lows he took it, fer Bill's sure to do any job he tackles." + +"He ain't took it none. Frank Merriwell is still a-holdin' the mine, an' +Bill has had his troubles, leavin' a good part o' his backers stiff +arter the ruction." + +"Say you so? Waal, this Merriwell sure must be a hot fighter. But Bill +will down him in the end, an' you kin bet your last simoleon on that." + +To which the man with the full beard said nothing. + +"All this don't explain any to me jest why this lady an' her party is +hyer," said the one with the thirsty mouth. + +"It ain't noways likely she's lookin' arter Cimarron Bill none," said +another. + +"Whoever is a-takin' my name in vain?" demanded a voice that made them +all start and turn toward the door. + +"It's Cimarron Bill hisself!" gasped one, in a whisper. + +And the entire crowd seemed awe-stricken and afraid. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +MRS. ARLINGTON HAS A VISITOR. + + +The black maid stood over the little table at which mother and daughter +sat taking tea. + +"Sugar, Jackson," said the lady wearily. + +The maid lifted the sugar-bowl, but, finding no tongs, was compelled to +use a spoon. + +"Why don't you use the tongs, Jackson?" asked the woman. + +"Dar am no tongs, ma'am," answered the maid. + +"No tongs? no tongs?" exclaimed Mrs. Arlington, in astonished surprise. +"And I directed that everything should be prepared here--that we should +have every convenience of a first-class hotel. Dear me! Why, I've found +nothing right! The hardship of spending some days in such a place will +prostrate me. I know it will!" + +"But why have you come here, mother?" asked June Arlington, in a voice +that denoted culture and a refined nature. "I cannot understand it. You +told me in the first place that you were going to Mexico. Then I heard +you urging father to come here. When he said it was not possible, you +seemed to get angry, and you declared that you would come here yourself. +But why should you come because he could not? That I wonder at." + +"He would not!" exclaimed Mrs. Arlington, sipping her tea. "It was his +duty. Never mind the particulars, June; you may know some time, but not +now." + +"And I did not wish to come here, mother. You knew that." + +"My daughter, I have decided that it is necessary to keep you with me. I +determined on that after your surprising behavior the last time you went +to Fardale. You deceived me, June! I cannot forget that." + +The words were spoken with cold severity. June flushed a little. + +"It was for Chester's good, as I explained to you," she said somewhat +warmly. "He has never thanked me for it, yet it is I who have kept him +in Fardale Academy. Had I not entreated Dick Merriwell to be easy with +him, Chester must have been compelled to leave or be expelled before +this." + +"I cannot believe that, June. But, were it true, it is no excuse for +your action. I want no favors from either of the Merriwells. I will +accept nothing from them! Dick Merriwell is my boy's enemy, and he shall +know what it is to have an Arlington for a foe. I have determined on +that. I repeat that I'll accept nothing from him." + +"Once----" June stopped short. She had been on the verge of telling her +mother that once that lady had accepted something from Dick +Merriwell--her life! For, as Mrs. Arlington slipped on the icy platform +of the railway-station at Fardale and was falling beneath the wheels of +a moving train, Dick had grasped and held her till the cars passed and +she was safe. + +But June had seen her mother turn blue with anger at mention of this +affair, so she checked herself now, not wishing to arouse the lady. + +Tea was finished in silence, mother and daughter being occupied with +their thoughts. + +The maid moved softly about the table. + +They had just finished when there came a tap on the door. + +"See who it is, Jackson," directed Mrs. Arlington. + +The man with the blue beak was at the door. + +"I must speak with Mrs. Arlington," he said, and entered, hat in hand. + +"What is it, Mr. Dodge?" asked the lady, frowning coldly and plainly +annoyed. + +Eliot Dodge paused and looked at June significantly. + +"Oh, is it a private matter?" asked the lady. + +Flushing a bit, June arose at once and withdrew, from the room. + +"William Lamson has arrived in town, and demands to see you," said +Dodge, when June had disappeared, the maid having likewise withdrawn. + +"That man?" said Mrs. Arlington, with a little start and a slight +shiver. "I have brought you to do the business with him. You are a +regular attorney of the C. M. A. of A., and you have my instructions." + +"So I told him." + +"Well?" + +"He refused pointblank to do any business whatever with me." + +"He did." + +"Yes. I talked to him pretty straight until--ahem!--until I could say no +more." + +"You could say no more?" + +"No, madam; it was impossible." + +"Why impossible?" + +"He had drawn and cocked a revolver and pointed it at me. He told me to +shut up and take word from him to you at once or he would shoot me." + +"What a dreadful creature!" + +"He is, indeed, madam; he's a typical ruffian of the worst sort." + +"And, therefore, the very man to accomplish the work," said she, with +growing interest. "But I dislike very much to have dealings with such a +fellow." + +"I thoroughly understand that, madam." + +"You might attend to the matter fully as well." + +"That is true, Mrs. Arlington." + +"You told him so?" + +"I did." + +"And still----" + +"And still he drew a gun on me. He is bound to see you. He says he will, +and I am sure he is a man to make his word good. Really I don't know how +you are going to get out of it." + +"Then I shall not try," said the lady, composing herself. + +"You mean----" + +"I'll see him." + +"Here?" + +"Yes." + +"Now?" + +"Send him up at once. I may as well have it over." + +Eliot Dodge hesitated. + +"I shall be in my room," he said. "If you need me----" + +"I understand. Go bring this man to my door." + +Dodge departed, and Mrs. Arlington waited. When there came a knock on +the door she coldly said: + +"Come in!" + +Cimarron Bill entered the room! + +Mrs. Arlington had not called her servant to let this man in. She +glanced toward the door of the room into which her daughter had retired, +and the look on her face was one of apprehension. Cimarron Bill was a +wicked man, as his every aspect betokened, and this woman could not +think without shame that June should have any knowledge of her dealings +with such a creature. + +So she arose hastily, which was quite unlike her, and crossed the floor +to close the door, a strange thing, considering that she seldom did a +thing that another could do for her. + +When June was thus shut out, the woman recrossed the floor to likewise +close the door of the room into which the colored maid had retired. + +All the while Cimarron Bill, hat in hand, stood watching her closely +with his evil eyes. For him it must have been a most exceedingly +strange thing to come thus into the presence of a woman whose husband +was known far and wide as a money king, a woman whose every wish that +wealth could serve was sure to be granted almost as quickly as +expressed. + +When she had closed the doors she turned about and faced him, surveying +him from head to feet with her cold and penetrating eyes. He looked back +at her with a sort of boldness, for this man was not one to be in the +least downcast in the presence of a human being of whatever degree. + +Mrs. Arlington motioned toward a chair. + +"Will you sit down, sir?" she invited. + +"Thank you, madam," said Bill, casting aside the rough manner of speech +that he sometimes assumed and now using very decent English. "I don't +care if I do." + +Whereupon he placed his hat upon the table and sat upon a chair, with a +certain pantherish undulation of his body, as if his muscles flowed +beneath his skin. + +"Mr. Dodge saw you," said the woman, remaining standing. "I directed him +to inform you that he was my accredited agent and prepared to transact +any business with you. I thought it better for him to attend to this +affair." + +"And I, madam, if you will excuse me, thought it best that we should +come face to face and have our dealings thus. That is why I declined to +do any business whatever with the gent with the blue nose." + +"I did not suppose it would be necessary for me to go so far into this +matter until I was informed of your failure to take possession of the +property that rightfully belongs to the Consolidated Mining Association +of America. I must say, sir, that I am very much displeased over your +failure." + +"And you can be no more so than am I myself," returned Bill, civilly +enough, yet with a sort of boldness that did not please her, as she was +accustomed to much deference and respect. "But you must know it is +difficult, even in this country, to find men who are eager to put on +themselves the brand of outlaws, and I acknowledge that my force was not +sufficient. The young dog is a stiff fighter, and that I had not counted +on, him being a tenderfoot to a certain degree--though," he added, as if +on second thought, "he's not so very tender, after all." + +"You were told to collect an army, if necessary. Mr. Dodge informs me +that you were directed to get together a force sufficient to make +failure out of the question. Yet you were repulsed and beaten off when +you went to seize the mine." + +"Twice," said Bill grimly. "And the second time a full half of my men +were dropped cold or hurt so bad that they were put out of the fight. It +was not just my fault that I failed then, for the treachery of a Mexican +girl betrayed my plans to Merriwell, so he was ready with a trap when I +expected to take him by surprise. That is how it came about, madam. I +had his foreman bribed and should have walked into possession of the +mine with little or no trouble but for the girl I mention. It was a bad +piece of business." + +"Bad!" she exclaimed, nodding a little. "It was very unfortunate!" + +"A word that scarce expresses it, madam. The rest of my men, the curs, +with one or two exceptions, weakened and gave it up as a bad job. And +then, on top of that, I was informed that the syndicate had grown +disinclined to press the matter further in such a manner, fearing to get +itself into serious trouble." + +"That's it!" said the woman sharply. "But I have taken hold of this +matter. The syndicate seems willing to obtain the mine by some other and +slower method. I am not. I cannot brook delay! I have a reason why I +wish the taking of the mine with the smallest possible delay, and it +makes no difference to me how the work is accomplished. That is why I am +here on the scene of action. I shall remain here until I triumph! If you +are able to accomplish the work, well and good. If you are not, then +another man must be found for it." + +Cimarron Bill smiled in a most evil manner. + +"Madam," he said, "I think you will have trouble to find in all this +country another man so well prepared to accomplish the task." + +"Yet you confess that you have failed twice." + +He shrugged his shoulders. + +"For which reason," he averred, "I am all the more dangerous. There is +an old saying that the third time never fails. I am ready for the third +trial." + +"I am glad to hear you speak this way. What will you do?" + +"Gather a stronger force and lay my plans so there can be no failure." + +"It is well." + +"But that will take much money, madam. You have it at your command. It +is almost certain that all of us, to the last man, will bear the brand +of outlaws. We may be hunted. It may be necessary for me to hasten into +Mexico and lose myself there for a time. I must have money in abundance +for myself. As for the men who take part with me, they will all demand +high prices. When it is over and the mine is delivered into the +possession of the syndicate, I shall not trouble about any one save +myself. The men who are with me may look out for themselves." + +This was said in a most cold-blooded manner, speaking plainly the real +character of the wretch. + +"I care nothing about that," said the woman. "Fix that matter as you +choose. How much money will you require?" + +"Let me see," said Bill, as if meditating. "It will take, I am sure, at +least fifty men. They may be got at various prices, some more, some +less; but there will be the bringing of them together and other +expenses. I should say that they must cost at least two hundred dollars +each, which makes a pretty little sum of ten thousand dollars." + +"Then it will cost ten thousand dollars?" said Mrs. Arlington quickly. +"I'll draw the sum from my own private account." + +"Wait a bit, madam," said the chief of desperadoes. "I have reckoned for +the men, but that does not include myself. I have said that I must be +well paid. I value myself quite as much as fifty common men, and that is +another ten thousand, or twenty thousand dollars in all, for which sum I +am ready to undertake the job. I'll add, also, that I guarantee it shall +not fail this time." + +It seemed that such a sum must have staggered the woman. Indeed, her +face went a trifle pale, but her lips were pressed together, and she +coldly said: + +"It is a bargain! You shall have the money, but not until you have +accomplished the work. Understand that, not until the work is done!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +SEEN FROM THE WINDOW. + + +Never before had there been such a bargain between such a man and such a +woman. It was the strangest compact on record. And no wonder Mrs. +Arlington had closed the doors that her daughter and her maid should not +hear! Had June known all she must have turned with loathing and horror +from the woman. + +Had D. Roscoe Arlington known he must have been shocked and heart-torn +beyond measure. Had he known he must have wondered if this woman had +matured from the sweet country girl who once declared with blushes and +hanging head that love in a cottage with him was all the happiness she +asked. Had he known he might have remembered the soft moonlight night in +June when beneath the fragrant lilacs they plighted their troth, and +surely his gold-hardened heart would have melted with anguish over the +frightful change. + +In truth, Mrs. Arlington had become deranged, as it were, on one point. +Her son was her idol. She had petted, and flattered, and spoiled him. +She had sent him off to school at Fardale with the conviction that he +was certain to rise superior to all other boys there. And from him she +had come to learn that he had not risen, but had been imposed upon, +defeated, baffled, and held down by another lad who was the recognized +leader in the school. Into the ears of his astonished and angry mother +Chester Arlington had poured his tale of woe, and it had filled her soul +with intense hatred for this other boy by the name of Merriwell who had +dared think himself better than her Chester. She had gone to Fardale to +set things about as they should be, and had failed. That seemed to fill +her with such bitterness that she was quite robbed of sober judgment and +reason. + +When Mrs. Arlington learned that the mining syndicate had claims to the +mines belonging to Frank and Dick Merriwell, she was aroused. When she +came to understand that the taking of those mines by the syndicate would +leave the Merriwell brothers almost penniless and would be the signal +for Dick Merriwell to leave Fardale, she determined that the thing +should be brought about at any cost of money, or time, or trouble to +herself. + +And it was in pursuit of this determination that the wife of D. Roscoe +Arlington had come to Arizona and placed herself face to face with a +ruffian like Cimarron Bill, with whom she now struck a bargain that was +most astounding. + +Was the woman in her right mind? + +It made little difference to Bill if she were sane or not, as long as he +obtained possession of that money. But when he asked for it in advance +she smiled upon him coldly, almost scornfully. + +"You were paid money by the syndicate, and you pledged them to +accomplish a task at which you failed. This time there will be no money +forthcoming until the work is done." + +In return the man smiled back at her, and he said: + +"That settles it! I'm not a fool. When the work is done I may find +myself on the run for Mexico, with the law reaching for me. In such a +case I'll have no time to collect. Cash in advance is my motto. You'll +bargain with me, or you'll fail, in everything. You cannot get another +man to fill my boots in the whole country. And if you were to throw me +down and give the job over into the hands of another gent, I'd speak one +word to him that would be enough." + +"What do you mean?" she asked, wondering and angry. "What word?" + +"The word 'stop,'" said Bill. "When Cimarron Bill says 'stop,' you can +bet they stop. They know what it means if they don't. If you don't think +so, count the notches on my guns." + +"You mean that you would turn against me?" + +"Not exactly, madam; I mean that I have no idea of letting any other +gent get my job. I do this piece of work--or no one does it. I rather +admire the sand of this Merriwell, though I'd slit his throat, just the +same, for the price. If there was no object in being against him, I'd +surely be for him; and it seems that you ought to know better than to +put Cimarron Bill in the ranks of the enemy." + +"It's a threat!" cried the woman. + +"Not so; it's a business statement, begging your pardon, madam. I don't +propose that any gent shall jump my claim." + +"How can I be sure you'll not play me false? How can I know you'll not +take the money and do nothing?" + +"The syndicate paid me in advance, as you know. I did my best to earn +the money. It was not my fault that I failed. In this case, if you pay +the sum I have named, I swear to you I'll know no rest until I have +succeeded. If I cannot succeed in one way, I will in another." + +"What do you mean by that?" + +"I'll capture or kill Frank Merriwell himself." + +"If you could do that!" said the woman, with great eagerness. "He is the +great stumbling-block." + +"That's right. With him out of the way, taking the mine would be easy." + +"Is there no way this can be done before you try to seize the mine?" + +"He keeps pretty close to it. If he could be caught by himself. I have +had my hands upon him twice, and he has slipped me both times. Next time +he will not!" + +"Next time----" + +"An accident will happen to him," assured Bill, with deadly meaning. +"That will be the simplest method." + +"You are right!" she said, in a whisper. "If that could happen----" + +"Would you pay the money?" + +"I would. Understand, I make no bargain with you for such a thing, but +that mine must be torn from him somehow. I have with me some money." + +Cimarron Bill understood her well, and he nodded. + +"Madam," he said, "give me a little time and I'll find a way to see to +it." + +At this moment there was a commotion in the street, the sound of +fighting dogs, shouts of men, and the clatter of horses' hoofs. + +Bill rose quickly and strode to the window, looking down into the +street. A handsome Irish setter had been attacked by two mongrel dogs, +and he was giving those dogs the surprise of their lives. He had one by +the neck in a moment, and the mongrel was shaken like a rat. When the +setter let go the mongrel took to his heels, howling with pain and +terror. Then the setter turned on the other dog and a battle that was +fierce enough for a few moments ensued, which ended again in the +complete triumph of the setter. + +Two young men had ridden into town behind the setter, and they had drawn +up to witness the result of the fight. A crowd had quickly gathered, and +the triumphant setter was loudly applauded. + +At sight of one of the two horsemen Cimarron Bill burst forth with an +exclamation of excitement. + +"Look!" he said, pointing from the open window. "See--see that fellow on +the dark horse!" + +Mrs. Arlington was near the window. + +"The one with the small mustache?" she asked. + +"Yes, that's the one." + +"I see him." + +"Well, that's Frank Merriwell!" said Bill. + +Cimarron Bill was right. Frank Merriwell and Bart Hodge had ridden into +Holbrook, and with them had come Boxer, the dog. Boxer had been attacked +by the mongrel curs, and he showed his mettle by quickly putting them to +flight. + +As Bill gazed down from that window the evil light in his eyes deepened. + +"Remember our bargain!" he said in such a terrible voice that the woman +at his side shuddered. + +Then she saw him bring forth a revolver, and, knowing what he meant to +do, she uttered a little scream and ran back into another part of the +room, unwilling to witness the dark deed. + +Quickly kneeling, Bill rested his elbow on the window-ledge and took +aim, meaning to send a bullet through the heart of the rightful owner of +the Queen Mystery Mine. + +The commotion in the street and her mother's cry had brought June +Arlington into that room. June saw the man with the revolver, and her +eyes fell on the horseman below. She recognized Frank Merriwell, for all +that he was bronzed and changed, and had a small mustache. + +With a sudden scream, the girl flung herself on Bill and spoiled his +aim, so that when the revolver spouted smoke the bullet flew wide of the +mark intended. + +Bill uttered a savage snarl, wheeling about. + +"You wretch!" panted the girl, who was now pale as snow. "You +murderer!" + +The man was dazzled by her beauty. Immediately he moved back from the +window, bowing low. + +"Beg your pardon, miss," he said. "He sure is an enemy of mine, and out +here we shoots on sight. But mebbe he is your friend, in which case I +lets up and gives him another show." + +In that moment of excitement he had fallen into the frontier manner of +speaking. + +She looked at him with unspeakable horror in her eyes. + +"What are you doing here?" she panted. "You--you--murderer! Mother--this +man--why is he here?" + +But Mrs. Arlington, usually cold as ice and perfectly self-possessed, +had quite lost her nerve. She sank into a chair, seeming on the verge of +fainting, while she gave Bill a look that, ruffian though he was, he +understood as an appeal to be left alone with June. + +Nor was he loath about getting out of that room. His pistol had been +discharged from the window, and, though the bullet had found no human +target, men might come in haste to ask unpleasant questions. + +"I begs your pardon, madam," he said, hurriedly picking up his hat. "I +thinks I'll call again and finish this yere bit o' business. Just now I +has another matter to attend to." + +Then he hastened out. + +June had flown to her mother. + +"Tell me--tell me, mother, what it means!" she implored. + +"My smelling-salts," faintly breathed the woman. "My heart, June! I--I'm +afraid!" + +Now, June knew well that the one great fear of her mother's life was +sudden death from a heart trouble that came upon her at times, and so +the girl hastened to bring out the bottle of salts and hold it beneath +the pale lady's nose till she was somewhat recovered, though still +resting limp on her chair and breathing heavily. + +"What does it mean, mother?" asked the girl again. "I do not understand +these strange things. I do not understand why such a wicked-looking man +should be here in this room and about to shoot down in cold blood a +young man in the street. He would have shot him from this very window +had not I spoiled his aim." + +Mrs. Arlington turned her eyes toward her daughter's face, but looked +away quickly, still trembling. + +"Did you know him at whom the man was about to shoot?" she weakly asked. + +"Yes, I knew him, or I am much mistaken. It was Frank Merriwell. I saw +him at the hotel in Fardale the day I returned to him those papers. You +recollect, mother?" + +"Yes, I remember it all too well, and it was the giving back to him of +those papers that has made no end of trouble for us all. But for that +foolish act of yours, June, he would not still be holding the mines that +are rightfully the property of the C. M. A. of A." + +"If those mines do not belong to him, how is it that he can hold them?" + +"He has possession, and he holds it with armed men." + +"But the law----" + +"The law is slow, and, without those papers, it is not very sure. It is +your folly, girl," declared the woman reproachfully, "that has made no +end of trouble. It is your folly that brought Frank Merriwell near to +his end a few moments ago, though you it was who saved him then." + +"Mother, you speak in riddles! How can that be? I gave him back what was +his. And have you forgotten that it was his brother, Dick, who kept you +from slipping beneath the car-wheels, where you must have been maimed or +killed?" + +At this Mrs. Arlington sat up, and something like anger took from her +her great pallor. + +"No," said she, "nor have I forgotten that it was Dick Merriwell who +brought upon my son all his trouble at Fardale! Dick Merriwell has been +his blight there! Dick Merriwell is his enemy. He has tried to set +himself over my boy, and no one shall do that!" + +June knew how useless it was to talk of this matter with her mother, who +refused to listen to reason, and so she did not try to press it further; +but she again asked who was the man who had tried to shoot from the +window. + +"He was a miner," said Mrs. Arlington. + +"And what business had he here in this room?" + +"That is nothing to you, girl. Forget that you saw him here." + +"A thing easier said than done, mother. I saw his face and his eyes, and +I know he is a wicked man and one to be greatly feared. Why should you +have dealings with such a wretch?" + +"You ask too many needless questions, June. Look out and tell me if you +still see anything of--of--Frank Merriwell." + +But when June looked from the window Frank Merriwell was not to be seen +on the street, which had again resumed its usual aspect. + +"I must have a spell of quiet to restore my nerves, June," said Mrs. +Arlington, when the girl had told her. "Leave me. Call Jackson. I think +I will lie down." + +So the colored maid was called, and June lingered to make sure there was +nothing she could do for her mother, who coldly bade her go. + +In her own room June found herself filled with tempestuous thoughts and +vain speculations. She was bewildered by it all, and there was much that +she could not understand, for her mother had told her little or nothing +of what had brought them to that Arizona town. She was wise enough to +know full well that the lady had not come there in search of health, and +surely it could not be pleasure she expected in such a place, which left +but one thing to suppose--it was business. But what sort of business +could she have there? and why should she meet and do business with a +murderous wretch like the man who had tried to shoot Frank Merriwell +from the open window? + +Knowing there was little danger of interruption, June found pen, ink, +and paper and sat herself down to write a letter. She thought at first +that she would make it very brief, and she found it exceedingly hard to +begin; but when she had begun it, it ran on and on until she had written +many pages. Sometimes she laughed over it, and sometimes she blushed; +once her chin quivered and tears seemed to fill her splendid eyes. When +it was all finished she read it over, her cheeks glowing, and at the end +she kissed the paper, at which the blush swept down to her very neck, +and in great confusion she folded it all hastily and put it into an +envelope, which she hurriedly sealed. Although she was not aware of it, +she had spent nearly two hours over the letter. On the envelope she +wrote a name and address, and then, finding her hat, she slipped out to +mail it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +A SENSATION IN TOWN. + + +Frank's little "scout," as he called it, on which expedition he had +driven the redskins from the wounded miner, had convinced him that +Cimarron Bill and his gang had withdrawn from the vicinity of the Queen +Mystery Mine. + +So it came about that Merry and Bart Hodge started for Holbrook, +bringing with them the gold Frank had found in the saddle-bags and belt +of the dead miner. + +Boxer would not be left behind. Since the death of his former master the +dog kept close to Frank, for whom he seemed to have formed an affection +quite as deep as that he had entertained for Benson Clark. + +Frank and Bart came, dust covered and wearied, into Holbrook. + +Boxer's engagement with the mongrel curs, who set upon him, was an +incident to enliven their advent in town, and it demonstrated the mettle +of the setter. + +The shot that came from the window of the hotel was somewhat surprising; +but, as the bullet failed to pass anywhere near either Bart or Merry, +they did not fancy it was intended for them. Still Frank dropped a hand +toward the pistol swinging at his hip, thinking the lead might be +intended for Boxer. + +A puff of smoke was dissolving before the open window, but Cimarron +Bill had vanished, nor did he again appear there. Neither Frank nor Bart +had seen him. + +So they were not greatly alarmed, and they laughed over the manner in +which Boxer had put his assailants to flight, merriment which was joined +in by many of the spectators who had gathered to witness the fight. + +"Good boy, Boxer!" said Merry. "You did that up slickly." + +At which the setter turned toward Frank and showed his teeth in a grin, +and something followed that caused several of the bystanders to gasp and +stagger or stand dazed and astounded. + +When Frank and Bart rode on two or three of those men hurried into +Schlitzenheimer's saloon, where one of them banged the bar with his +clenched fist, and shouted: + +"By thunder! that's the first time I ever heard a dog talk! Was I +dreaming?" + +"None whatever, pard!" declared another, mopping sweat from his face. "I +heard it plain enough. For the love of goodness, Fritz, give me a +snifter of tanglefoot! I need something to brace my nerves after that!" + +"Vot id vos you peen sayin'?" asked the fat Dutchman behind the bar. +"Vot vos dot voolishness apoudt der talkings uf a tog?" + +"No foolishness," declared the sweating individual, as whisky and +glasses were placed on the bar. "I'll swear to it. The dog that came in +with those young gents an' whipped two other dogs in short order sartin +made an observation in good, clean United States, or I'm the biggest +liar on two legs." + +"Say, Benchy!" said the Dutchman scornfully, "I pelief you vos readiness +to haf anoder attack py dose delerium triangles, ain'd id! Uf you vill +undertook my advice, you vill off svear alretty soon und safe yourseluf +from der snakes some droubles." + +"This is my first drink to-day," asserted Benchy, as he poured with +shaking hand; "and I'd not take this if I didn't need it a whole lot to +steady my nerves arter hearin' a dog talk." + +"It's on the level, Fritz," assured the man who had banged the bar with +his fist. "I heard it myself. The young fellow with the mustache says to +the dog arter the dog had licked t'other dogs, says he, 'Good boy, +Boxer; you done that up slick.' Then the dog turns about and grins up at +him and winks, and he opens his mouth, and I hope I may be struck dead +where I stand this minute if he didn't answer and say, 'Oh, that was no +trick at all, Frank; those low-bred curs haven't any sand.' I heard it, +Fritz, and I'll swear to it with my last breath!" + +"You vos craziness!" said the Dutchman. "Oh, you vos drying some jokes +on me to play alretty." + +But now several of the others asserted that they also had heard the dog +speak, and that the animal had uttered the very words quoted by the man +called Spikes. + +"Id peen a put-up jobs!" shouted Schlitzenheimer angrily. "Uf vor a +greadt vool you tookit me, you vos not so much uf a jackass as I look +to peen! Id vos nod bossible a tog vor to speech, und I vill bate zwi +t'ousan' tollar it on!" + +"But I heard him!" declared Benchy. + +"I'm another!" averred Spikes. + +"We all heard him!" cried the others at the bar. + +"You got vrom my blace uf pusiness out britty queek!" ordered the +Dutchman, in a great rage. "I vill not had so many plame liars aroundt! +Und dond you back come some more alretty undil you vos readiness apology +to make vor me drying to vool!" + +"Look here, Fritz," said Benchy, leaning on the bar, "I'll bet you ten +dollars coin of the realm that the dog can talk! If I had been alone in +hearing the beast, I might have thought myself fooled; but all these +other gents heard him, and so there is no mistake. Do you take me?" + +"Den tollars haf nod seen you in a month," declared Schlitzenheimer +disdainfully. "Howeffer, uf you prings pack by you dot tog und he vill +speech my saloon in, I vill gif you den tollars my own moneys out uf, +and all der drink you can a whole veek vor. Now, you tookit my advice +und shut upness or make goot britty queek." + +"I'll do it!" cried Benchy, and he hastened forth. + +Frank and Bart had proceeded directly to the bank, where their dust was +weighed and taken on deposit. This done, they left and sought a square +meal in the very hotel where Mrs. Arlington and June were stopping. +Fortunately the presence of his guests, who paid extravagantly well, +had caused the proprietor to have on hand an unusual stock of cooked +food, and he was able to see that the young men from the mines were +provided for in a manner that surprised and pleased them not a little. + +Although he took good care to keep out of sight, Cimarron Bill knew +Frank Merriwell was in the hotel. At the bar of the place Bill found a +rough, bewhiskered fellow, whom he drew aside. + +"Bob," said Bill, in a whisper, "are you ready to tackle a tough +proposition?" + +"For the needful, Bill," was the quiet answer of the man, who, in spite +of his rough appearance, was known by his mild manner of speech as +Gentle Bob. "What is it?" + +"You know the young tenderfoot gent what I have been stacking up +against--the one what I spoke to you about?" + +"I reckon." + +"Well, he is now eatin' in the dinin'-room." + +"Sho!" said Bob, in placid surprise. + +"Fact," assured Bill. "Him an' one of his pards is thar. They came inter +town together a short time ago. Now, I could pick a quarrel with them, +and I allows I could shoot 'em both; but it would be knowed agin' me +that I had been tryin' to jump their claim, which sartin' would rouse +feelin's. In your case, as you were nohow consarned in the raid on the +mine, it would be different, an' I 'lows you might find a way o' doin' +the job easy an' slick. You kin plead self-defense, an' I promise you +there will be plenty o' money to defend ye." + +"It's the money fer the job I'm a-thinkin' of first, Bill," said Bob. + +"A good clean thousan' dollars if you shoots the young gent with the +mustache," whispered Bill. + +"Do you mean it?" asked Bob, looking at him hard. "Where does it come +from?" + +"That I allow is none of your business. You has my word that you gets +it. And I opine the word o' Cimarron Bill is knowed to be good." + +"As his bond," said Gentle Bob, taking out a brace of pistols and +looking them over. "I takes the job, Bill; and there sartin will be a +funeral in these parts to-morrer." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +BOXER CREATES A STIR. + + +When Frank and Bart came out of the hotel, with Boxer at their heels, +they found a group of men on the steps engaged in earnest discussion. +Immediately, on sight of the two young men and the dog, the babel of +voices fell to a hush and the men all squared about and stared. But +Merry immediately noticed that it was not at Bart or himself that they +were staring, but at Boxer. The dog seemed to observe this, likewise, +for he stopped short, with one paw uplifted, surveyed the men, and +Frank, who was a clever ventriloquist, made the animal apparently say: + +"Say, Frank, what do you suppose the ginnies are gawking at?" + +"Mother av Moses!" cried an Irishman in the group. "Oi swear be all the +saints the baste did spake!" + +"Yah! yah!" chattered a pig-tailed Chinaman by the name of Sing Lee, who +ran a laundry in town. "Dogee talkee allee samee likee Chinyman." + +"Go on, you rat-eater!" contemptuously exclaimed the dog. "If I couldn't +talk better than you I'd go drown myself!" + +Needless to say this brought the excitement of the crowd to a high +pitch. + +Benchy and Spikes were on hand, and now the former appealed to Frank. + +"Is that your dog?" he asked. + +"Well, I lay claim to him," smiled Merry. + +"He--he--can he talk?" + +"Didn't you hear him?" + +"Yes, but----" + +"Well, what better evidence do you want than your own ears?" + +"That's enough; but Schlitzenheimer called me names and said I was +trying to put up a joke on him because I told him I heard the dog talk." + +"Who's Schlitzenheimer?" + +"He runs the saloon down the street right in front of which your dog +whipped those other dogs what jumped on him. He's a black-headed +Dutchman. Come on down and show him the dog." + +"Come on!" cried others. + +Merry didn't mind the lark, but he now turned to the dog, with a very +serious expression on his face, saying: + +"How about it, Boxer? I believe you told me you hold an antipathy +against Dutchmen. Will you go down to Schlitzenheimer's with me?" + +The dog seemed to hesitate, and then he answered: + +"Oh, I don't care; go ahead. I'm not stuck on Dutchmen, but I'll teach +this one a lesson." + +"All right," said Merry. "Come on." + +Benchy triumphantly led the way, being followed by Frank and Bart and +the dog, with the crowd at the heels of them. The Irishman was +protesting his wonderment, while the Chinaman chattered excitedly. + +Within the hotel a man had been watching and listening. He was a +bewhiskered ruffian, and he strode forth and followed the crowd to the +Dutchman's saloon. Cimarron Bill watched his tool depart, smiling darkly +and muttering to himself: + +"Good-by, Bob! You're going up against a hard proposition in Frank +Merriwell, and it's not likely you'll call to collect that little sum of +money from me. All the same, I hope you get in a shot, for you shoot +straight, and you may make a round sum for my pocket, as I'll compel the +old lady to lay down the cash. I'll be able to scare her into it by +threatening to tell the whole story and bring her into the game as an +accomplice. That will yank her around to her feet in short order, I +opine." + +For all of Bill's reputation as a "killer," he was willing to let this +piece of work over to the attention of another. + +So Gentle Bob followed Merriwell, an evil purpose in his black heart, +nor knew that his employer believed and half-hoped he might be going to +his own end. + +Benchy burst into the saloon, uttering a cry of triumph. + +"Here comes the dog!" he said. "Now I have you, you old duffer! You'll +find out he can talk." + +Schlitzenheimer stared at the door, through which the crowd followed +Frank, and Bart, and the dog. + +"Vos dot der tog?" he said. + +"Do you take me for a monkey, you lobster-faced frankfurter?" saucily +demanded the dog. + +"Hey?" squawked the saloon-keeper, turning purple. "Vot id vos? Dit I +hear correctness?" + +"Be careful, Boxer," said Frank reprovingly. "Don't be so free with your +lip. You may offend the gentleman." + +"Gentleman!" exclaimed the setter, in a tone of profound contempt. "Do +you call that sourkraut-barrel a gentleman? I'm surprised at you, +Frank!" + +At this there was a burst of laughter, and Schlitzenheimer turned as red +as he had been pale a moment before. + +"Vot vor did dot tog vanted to insult me?" he exclaimed indignantly. "I +dit not someding to him do!" + +"Boxer, I'm surprised!" cried Frank. "You will get me into trouble with +your careless language. I insist that you apologize immediately to the +gentleman. I insist, sir!" + +"Oh, very well," said the dog; "if you insist, I'll apologize. I was +joking, anyway." + +"And I add my own apology, Mr. Schlitzenheimer," said Merry. "I hope +this will be sufficient?" + +"Oh, yah, dot peen all righdt," said the Dutchman at once. "But py +dunder! der tickens id does peat to heard a tog dalking!" + +"It's a good one on you, Fritz!" cried Benchy triumphantly. "Remember +your agreement! You're stuck!" + +"Vale, I will stood py dot agreements," said the saloon-keeper, rather +reluctantly, "efen if in pusiness id does preak me up. Und I vill sdant +treat der crowdt vor. Sdep up, eferpody, und your trink name." + +"That's the talk!" cried the dog. "You're not such a bad fellow, +Schlitzy." + +Schlitzenheimer leaned on the bar with both hands and looked over at +Boxer. + +"Vot will you haf yourseluf?" he asked. + +"Excuse me," said the setter; "I'm on the water-wagon. Go ahead, +gentlemen, and don't mind me." + +So they lined up in front of the bar, expressing their amazement over +the accomplishment of the dog and burdening Merriwell with questions, +all of which Frank cheerfully answered or skilfully evaded. + +Boxer had been lifted and placed on one end of the bar, where he +immediately sat, surveying the line of men with his clear, intelligent +eyes. + +"Hello, Mike!" he called to the Irishman. "When did you leave the Old +Dart?" + +"It's goin' on three year now," answered the son of the Old Sod civilly; +"and me name's not Moike--it's Pat." + +The dog seemed to wink shrewdly. + +"It's all the same," he declared; "Mike or Pat makes no difference, as +long as your last name is Murphy." + +"But me last name's not Murphy at all, at all--it's O'Grady, av yez +plaze." + +"Thanks," snickered the dog. "I have it down pat now. It's a way I have +of finding out a man's name when no one takes the trouble to introduce +him. Drink hearty, Pat; the whisky'll add to the beautiful tint of your +nose." + +"Begorra! it's a divvil the crayther is!" muttered Pat, nudging his +nearest neighbor. + +"Ah, there, Chink!" called the setter, seeming to get his eye on the +Chinaman, who was staring open-mouthed. "How's the washee-washee +business?" + +"Oh, velly good, velly good!" answered the Celestial hurriedly, backing +off a little, his face yellowish white. + +"Vele," said Schlitzenheimer, holding up a glass of beer; "here vos goot +health to der smardest tog vot effer vos." + +"Drink hearty," said Boxer; and, with the exception of Frank and Bart, +all swallowed their drinks. Not wishing anything to drink, and still +desiring to join in so that the saloon-keeper might not be offended, +Frank and Bart had taken cigars, which they slipped into their pockets. + +"Dot tog peen der vonder der vorld uf," said Schlitzenheimer, gazing +admiringly at Boxer. "Vot vill you soldt him vor?" + +"There's not enough money in Arizona to buy him from me," answered Frank +at once. + +"You know a good thing when you see it," chuckled the dog. + +"Vos there anything exception talk vot he can do?" asked Fritz. + +"Lots of things," answered Merry. "He can play cards." + +"Beenuckle?" asked the Dutchman. + +"You bet! He's a dabster at pinocle." + +"Easy, Merry!" cautioned the setter, in a whisper. "If you want to skin +the old bologna-sausage out of his shekels, don't puff me up. I can't +beat him at his own game." + +"Vale, I pet den tollars you can't dot do!" cried Schlitzenheimer. "I +nefer vould acknowledgment dot a tog could peat me!" + +Frank sternly turned on Boxer. + +"What do you mean by getting me into such a scrape?" he demanded, +shaking his finger at the setter. "You know I never gamble, and I will +not bet on a game of cards. If you make any more such foolish talk, I'll +not let you play at all." + +The dog hung his head and looked quite ashamed. + +"Beg pardon," he whined softly. "I was joking again!" + +"I'll blay der fun uf him vor," said Schlitzenheimer. "Id vill peen a +creat jokes to said I had a came uf beenuckle blayed mit a tog. Come +on." + +He hurried out from behind the bar. + +"Begorra! Oi'd loike to take a hand in this!" cried Pat O'Grady, as a +square table was drawn out and the cards produced. "It's a shlick game +av peenockle Oi play." + +"But three-handed----" said Frank. + +"Be afther makin' the fourth yesilf." + +"I have to hold the cards for Boxer, he having no hands of his own," +explained Merry. + +Then it was that Gentle Bob stepped forward, saying, in a very quiet +voice and polite manner, that he would be pleased to enter the game. + +Now, with the exception of Frank and Bart, all knew that Bob was a very +bad man to offend, and so they were willing enough that he should play, +and it was soon arranged. + +Frank was keen enough to see in what manner the ruffianly looking fellow +with the quiet voice was regarded, and, as he was not in Holbrook in +search of a quarrel, he raised no dissent. However, he gave Hodge a look +that Bart understood, and the silent youth nodded. From that moment Bart +watched Gentle Bob closely. + +The crowd drew about the table, eager to witness a game of cards in +which a dog took part. + +Merry sat on a short bench, with Boxer at his side. The cards were cut, +and the deal fell to Schlitzenheimer. + +"Be careful, Dutchy," advised Boxer. "We're watching you, and you'd +better not try any slick tricks." + +"Eferything on der lefel shall pe," assured the saloon-keeper, pulling +at his long pipe. + +O'Grady was likewise smoking, and his pipe contrasted ludicrously with +that of Schlitzenheimer. + +When the cards were dealt, it fell the dog's turn to meld first. Frank +spread out the cards and held them in front of Boxer's nose. + +"I will meld one hundred aces," said the dog. "Put 'em down, Frank." + +Merry did so. + +"Sixty queens," called Boxer, and Merry spread them out. + +"Lally ka lolly loka!" chattered Sing Lee, or something like that; +whereupon Boxer seemed to fix the Chinaman with a scornful stare, and +observed: + +"You ought to take something for that. It must be painful." + +"Gleatee Sklot!" gasped the Celestial. "Dogee hab a debbil!" And he +backed away. + +"That's right," said Boxer. "I like you a long distance off, the longer +the distance the better I like you." + +"Pay attention to the game," said Frank. "Are you going to meld anything +else?" + +"Forty trumps, twenty spades, and twenty hearts," said Boxer. + +"Dunder!" muttered Schlitzenheimer, and his hands trembled so that he +dropped some of the cards. + +"Get a basket," snickered the dog; and the crowd laughed loudly at the +saloon-keeper's expense. + +When all the melding was finished they prepared to play. + +"I'll lead the ace of trumps," said Boxer. + +Frank ran the cards over. + +"It's here," he said. "But I didn't see it." + +"What's the matter with your eyes?" snapped the dog. "Didn't I meld one +hundred aces? You ought to learn something about this game!" + +"I seldom play cards," said Merry apologetically. + +"Well, you want to keep your eyes open!" exclaimed Boxer sharply. "These +chaps may try to skin us." + +At this Gentle Bob looked up and said: + +"I do not mind a little faking none whatever, but I sure objects to +being called a skin, either by a dog or his master, so I opine it will +be best for somebody to apologize." + +And, as he made this remark, he suddenly whipped forth a pistol, with +which he covered both Frank and the dog, but held the weapon more in +Merry's direction. + +Cimarron Bill's tool had found the opportunity he sought, and he meant +to make the most of it. + +Merry saw in the fellow's eyes the full extent of his evil purpose. + +"If the apology is not forthcoming instanter," murmured the ruffian, "I +shall puncture the wonderful talking dog with a bullet!" + +Now, it seemed that Bob had Frank at a great disadvantage, but at this +point Bart Hodge shoved the muzzle of a pistol against the fellow's ear +and harshly commanded: + +"Put up that gun--instanter! If you don't I'll blow the whole top of +your head off!" + +But Bart had made a miscalculation, for Gentle Bob had not come alone to +the saloon, having noted well that Frank Merriwell had a friend. He had +picked up a chap of his own sort, and now this fellow had a gun at +Bart's head. + +"You're the one who'll lose the ruff o' his head!" he said. "You put up +your gun!" + +Gentle Bob still sat pistol in hand, but Boxer had taken advantage of an +opportunity to drop down from the bench to the floor. + +Of a sudden there came a wild yell from Bob, who kicked out with his +feet and flung himself backward, his pistol being discharged straight up +at the ceiling. + +Boxer had seized him by the leg beneath the table. + +Instantly there was a fearful uproar in the saloon. The action of the +dog had disconcerted the plans of every one. Hodge ducked and whirled, +catching the ruffian at his back a fearful blow on the solar plexus that +drove him slam against the bar, and he went down and "out." + +Merry went across the table in a leap at Gentle Bob, from whom he tore +the revolver that the fellow was trying to use on Boxer. + +"Let up, boy," said Frank to the dog. "I'll attend to his case." + +Boxer seemed reluctant to let go, but he did so at the second command. + +Merriwell pinned Bob down and deftly disarmed him, removing every +weapon, which he passed over to Schlitzenheimer. + +"Take care of these tools, sir," he said, "until I leave town. It will +save this fellow's life--perhaps." + +"Und dot vill peen a pity!" muttered the saloon-keeper, who had no love +for the ruffian, but held him in great awe. + +Having disarmed Bob, Merry rose and commanded him to get up. The fellow +rose immediately and sprang at Frank, trying to strike him. + +Boxer would have mingled in, but Bart held him in check, saying: + +"Keep out of it. Frank can attend to that case now without any of your +aid." + +Hodge was not mistaken, as Merriwell quickly demonstrated. He avoided +the blows of the ruffian and quickly knocked him down. Bob rose, only to +be struck in the eye and sent to the floor again. Four times this +happened, and then Merry picked the wretch up, carried him bodily to the +door, and kicked him into the street, observing: + +"If you come back here or bother me again, I'll send you to the hospital +for a month!" + +And the dog barked with great satisfaction. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +BOXER TO THE RESCUE. + + +The second ruffian was ejected, and Frank and the talking dog were +regarded with unbounded admiration by every one present. + +"I neffer haf seen Shentle Pob done upness pefore," remarked +Schlitzenheimer. "He vos a pad man." + +"You bettee!" put in Sing Lee, who crept forth from behind a barrel, +where he had taken refuge during the encounter. "Him velly bad. Him +shootee, stabbee, killee." + +"An' so he will," nodded Pat O'Grady, seeming quite concerned. "It's me +opinion he wur lookin' fer throuble whin he came here." + +"Well, he found it," smiled Merry. + +"That's what!" said Boxer, wagging his tail and looking up at Frank +knowingly. "But he tasted disagreeable. You don't suppose it will make +me sick, do you?" + +Frank stooped and patted the dog's head. + +"I hope not," he laughed. "You got hold of his leg just in time, old +boy." + +"Oh, I didn't dally when I saw him throw his gun out," said Boxer, +winking rapidly with both eyes. "I allowed he was going to begin +shooting directly." + +"Uf you vould tookit my device," said Schlitzenheimer, "you couldt out +uf dis town get a hurriness indo." + +"Thot's roight," nodded O'Grady. "It's moighty dangerous to remain after +this, Oi know." + +"Pob vill got vor heemseluf another gun, und he vill look vor you on der +sdreet," declared the saloon-keeper. + +"Well, he may find us, eh, Boxer?" smiled Frank. + +"Sure thing," said the dog. "And I reckon you can shoot as quick and as +straight as he can." + +Schlitzenheimer shook his head and averred that Bob was the greatest +pistol-shot known in those parts, which, however, did not seem to alarm +Frank Merriwell in the least. + +Suddenly there came a scream from the street, the voice being that of a +girl, and the sound indicating that she was in great fear and distress. + +Frank sprang to the open door, Boxer barking at his heels, and Hodge was +not slow in following. + +The cry had issued from the lips of June Arlington, who was then on her +way to the post-office to mail the letter she had written, not wishing +her mother to see it. + +June had arrived in the vicinity of the saloon as Gentle Bob was turning +away. She noted that the man's face was cut and bruised and one eye was +swollen. His appearance led her to look at him with something like +sympathy, when, of a sudden, he turned on her, smiling evilly, and +seized her arm. + +"Derned ef you ain't a right peert gal!" said the fellow insolently. +"Gimme a kiss, sweetness." + +Then June screamed and tried to break away, striking at him with her +clenched fist. She was frightened and angry. + +"Stop yer squarmin'!" snarled the fellow, who had thought to kiss her +quickly before she could make much resistance, and then hasten along, it +being his intention to boast of what he had done. + +But June would not stop. She saw a tall, athletic young man come +bounding through an open doorway into the street, followed closely by a +dog and another young man. Her eyes recognized the one in advance, and +she cried out: + +"Mr. Merriwell, help--help, quick!" + +With a growl of rage, Gentle Bob released her and turned. As he did so, +the dog, terrible in his fury, shot past Frank, and made a great spring +through the air straight at Bob's throat. + +Bob threw up his arm, and the teeth of the dog fastened on it. The force +of the creature's leap hurled the ruffian backward. + +The man went down in the dust, and Boxer was at him with all the fury of +a mad animal. He would have torn the wretch to pieces right before their +eyes, but Frank fearlessly grasped the dog and pulled him away, at the +same time crying commandingly to him. + +"Keep him off!" palpitated Bob, now filled with a great terror for the +fierce animal. "Don't let him touch me ag'in! He's near bit me to pieces +now!" + +"You got just what you deserved, and no more, you miserable creature!" +said Frank indignantly. + +Then he turned and asked June what Bob had been doing. + +"Oh, he grasped me, and he tried to kiss me!" + +"Did he!" grated Merry, very white. "Then I should have let Boxer finish +him!" + +"No, no!" gasped June. + +"No, no!" exclaimed Bob. + +"On your knees!" cried Frank, in ringing tones--"on your knees and +apologize to the young lady! If you don't do it, so help me, I'll let +Boxer get at you again!" + +Bob did not hesitate. Ruffian and desperado though he was reputed to be, +he cast himself on his knees before June and humbly begged her pardon, +all the while watching Boxer, who glared back at him and licked his +chops. + +"Get up and go, you pitiful coward!" said Frank. "Keep out of my sight +while I'm in town, and be careful not to try any dirty tricks. If you +hurt me, Boxer will eat you up; if you hurt Boxer, I'll have your life! +Go!" + +The wretch lost not a moment in getting away. + +Frank stooped and picked up the letter June had dropped. He was +restoring it to her when his eye caught the address upon it, and he +stared in astonishment. + + "MR. RICHARD MERRIWELL, + "Fardale." + +That was the name and address he read. Then he looked closely at June +and recognized her. + +"Miss Arlington?" he exclaimed, his hat in his hand; "is it possible?" + +The color was coming back into her cheeks. + +"Mr. Merriwell," she said, "let me thank you for coming so quickly to my +assistance." + +"It was Boxer who got there first. But I'm amazed to see you here--here +in Arizona." + +"I don't doubt it." + +"What brings you to this place?" + +"I came with my mother." + +"Your--your mother?" he said, still further astonished. "And your +father--he is here, also?" + +"No, sir." + +"He is coming?" + +"No, sir, I believe not." + +Merry had thought at once that there might be a very good reason why D. +Roscoe Arlington should come to Holbrook to learn just how well the +hired ruffians of the syndicate had performed their tasks, but the +presence there of Mrs. Arlington and June, without D. Roscoe, rather +bewildered him. + +June looked back toward the hotel windows, thinking it must be that her +mother had heard her cry and would be looking forth; but was relieved +to see nothing of the lady. + +"You were on your way to mail this letter?" said Frank, divining her +destination. + +"Yes." + +"May I accompany you, to make sure you are not molested further?" + +She accepted his escort. Bart had lingered near, and Frank presented +him. + +"An old school and college chum, Miss Arlington," he said, "and one of +my closest friends." + +Bart lifted his hat and bowed, smiling a bit on the pretty girl. In his +way, which was dark and silent, he was almost every bit as handsome as +Frank himself, and it is no cause of wonderment that June could not +wholly repress the flash of admiration that came into her splendid eyes. + +On his part, Bart was quite smitten with her, and he stood watching +Frank walk away at her side, Boxer following, smiling without envy, yet +thinking his friend fortunate to have the company of such a charming +girl for even a brief time in that part of the country. + +Frank found himself somewhat embarrassed, not a little to his surprise, +as he walked down the street with June. The girl was the daughter of the +man who was doing his best to bring upon Merriwell complete ruin--or +seemed to be doing his best to that end, for Frank could not know that +all his trouble at the Queen Mystery had not risen directly from D. +Roscoe Arlington. Much less did he suspect that any great part of it +came without Mr. Arlington's knowledge and through the vengeful malice +of Mrs. Arlington. + +It was not agreeable to speak of this matter with June, and still in his +heart Merry was more than eager to know what had brought the girl to +Holbrook. He had not forgotten that it was the hand of June that had +restored to him the precious papers relating to the mines when those +papers had been stolen from him in Fardale, a service for which he +remained grateful. + +Further than this, Frank had learned that Dick had a deep interest in +June--so deep, indeed, that the boy himself did not quite suspect its +measure. Merry had been able to read his brother, and his good sense +told him beyond question that never would Dick hold his hand from the +person of his most persistent enemy simply because that enemy's sister +thus entreated him, unless there was back of it all a feeling of +affection for the sister that was of no small magnitude. + +That June cared something for Dick, Merry more than half-suspected, and +the sight of the name on the letter she now carried in her hand seemed +very good evidence that this was not false fancy on his part, for did +she not care for the lad far away in Fardale, then why should she write +to him? + +It was June herself who relieved Frank's embarrassment by earnestly +turning to him and beginning speech. + +"Mr. Merriwell," she said, with such a sober face that he was greatly +surprised, "I have wanted to see you since you came into town." + +"Then you knew I had entered town?" + +"I saw you; and I have wanted to speak with you to warn you." + +"To warn me?" said Frank. "Of what?" + +"Of your great danger, for you are in danger here. You have in this town +a man who would kill you." + +"I think we lately parted from such a man," smiled Merry. + +"But he is not the one." + +"Is there another?" + +"Oh, yes! I saw him! Perhaps I saved your life." + +At this Frank gave a great start of surprise and asked her how that +could be, upon which she told him how Cimarron Bill had shot at him from +the window, and how she had spoiled the aim of the would-be murderer. +She held back the fact that the man had fired from one of the windows of +her mother's rooms, and that her mother had shortly before been in +consultation with him. Still Frank was keen enough to see that she was +hiding something, and he had the good discernment to come close to +guessing the truth. + +"Miss Arlington," he said, "it seems that I owe you my life. I heard the +shot, but I could not be sure it was fired at me. If I mistake not, the +man who fired it has a deadly aim, and I could not have escaped but for +your quickness in spoiling his sight. I owe you a great deal more than I +can ever repay." + +June knew something of the truth, and she was aware that her father was +concerned in a movement the accomplishment of which meant ruin to both +Frank and Dick; therefore this acknowledgment by Frank of his +indebtedness to her caused her to flush with shame. + +"It is I who owe you a great deal!" she exclaimed. "See what you have +just done--saved me from a ruffian! But your brother--Dick--he did more. +He saved me once from the fangs of furious dogs, at another time from +being killed in a runaway, and that is not all. It is I who owe you much +more than I can ever repay. My brother"--she choked a little--"my +brother is Dick's enemy, yet, for a promise to me, Dick has been easy +with him and has not forced him in disgrace from Fardale. Oh, Mr. +Merriwell!" she suddenly exclaimed, feeling her utter inability to +express herself, "it seems to me that never before was a girl placed in +such a position as I find myself in! What can I do?" + +"You can do nothing, Miss June," he said gently. "You are not to blame +for anything that may happen, and I shall not forget that. I am very +sorry for you, as I fancy you must be far from comfortable." + +At this her pride returned, and she straightened, thinking she could not +acknowledge to him that her people were in the wrong. + +"You know there is always two sides to any question," she said, "and +there may be as much of right on one side as the other. I presume my +father has every reason to think himself right." + +Now, June knew that it was her mother who hated Dick and Frank with +undying intensity, while her father cared very little about either of +the Merriwells, save that he had been led to wonder immoderately at the +success of Frank in fighting the syndicate; but she wished to avoid the +shame of confessing that her mother had such a vengeful nature and could +enter with vindictiveness into an affair that might well be left to men. + +Frank had no desire to hurt her feelings. He understood her pride and +sensitiveness, and he said: + +"It is very likely you are correct about that. At any rate, we will not +argue it. It is no matter for us to speak of, as what we might say would +not change the situation in the least. Still, if I should become +satisfied that your father had the right in this thing, even though it +stripped me of my last dollar and made me a beggar, I would surrender to +him immediately." + +She did not doubt him then, and she saw that the character of Frank +Merriwell was one to be admired, his one concern being for perfect and +complete justice, even though by justice he might be the sufferer. +Inwardly she was struck with the conviction that her father seldom made +inquiry into the justice of any project he wished to carry through, his +one concern being to accomplish his ends by any method whatever, so long +as it did not involve him in difficulties of a nature too serious. + +"Mr. Merriwell," she said quickly, "you must leave Holbrook just as soon +as you can!" + +"Why?" + +"The man who tried to shoot you is here--the man with the wicked face +and evil eyes." + +"I am not given to running away from one man." + +"It's not that. He is an assassin! See how he tried to kill you without +giving you a show! You don't know what moment he may try it again. If he +were to meet you face to face it would be different. You cannot defend +yourself from attacks in the dark. You have no show." + +"Well, there is some truth in that," smiled Merry. + +"He will attack you that way again. I know it! He will strike at you +from behind." + +"Possibly." + +"You must go! You must leave Holbrook before dark!" + +"I hardly fancy it," muttered Frank, frowning. "I do not like the +notion. It leaves an unpleasant taste in my mouth to think of running +away from Cimarron Bill." + +For, although June had not mentioned the ruffian by name, not knowing it +herself, her description of him had satisfied Frank that it could be no +other than the baffled scoundrel who had twice attempted to seize the +Queen Mystery Mine. + +"But you will go?" she urged. + +"I'll think of it." + +They had reached the post-office and were now standing in front of the +building. Bart Hodge was sauntering slowly in their direction on the +opposite side of the street, having kept within easy pistol-shot of +Frank all the while. + +Frank's words did not satisfy June. He saw she was in distress. + +"If you will not go for your own sake," she said, "please do for mine." + +He looked astonished. + +"For your sake?" he said. "Why, I had not an idea in the world that it +could be of so much concern to you. I'm afraid I do not understand why +it should be. Now, if Dick----" + +She stopped him with a gesture, her face flushing very warm. + +"Don't!" she entreated, in a low voice. "At least, you are his own +brother! But it is for my sake more than yours. I cannot explain. Do not +embarrass me! But promise me you will go--for my sake!" + +Having a quick perception, Frank suddenly fancied he caught an inkling +of the truth. In that moment he saw Mrs. Arlington dealing with Cimarron +Bill. It was a conjecture, but it struck him hard as the truth. + +This, then, was the reason why June wished him to flee from Holbrook. +She feared that her mother somehow would become involved in the murder +in case Cimarron Bill should carry into execution his dastardly purpose. + +Of course, it was not possible for him to be sure he had struck upon the +truth. + +"It is hard for me to refuse a girl when she corners me like this," he +smiled. + +"You'll go?" persisted June. + +"If you insist." + +"Oh, thank you--thank you! I shall not breathe easy until I know you are +well out of this dreadful place." + +"And I shall not breathe easy as long as I know you remain here, where +you may become subject to such insults as to-day happened. It is no +place for you at the present time. Holbrook is well enough in its way; +but you are too pretty to walk its streets without an escort. Western +gentlemen are gentlemen in every sense of the word, and no man can hold +the honor of a lady more sacred; but Western ruffians are dangerous, and +it seems there are several of the latter class in this place." + +"I must remain while mother stays here; I must stay with her." + +The letter was dropped in the post-office, and June urged Frank to +depart at once; but he insisted on escorting her back to the hotel. + +Boxer kept close to their heels, seeming to listen to their conversation +at times; but, strange though it may appear, he made no attempt to take +part in it, nor did he speak as much as one word during all the time +that he seemed neglected by his master. + +Frank made a sign to Bart, who crossed the street and joined them. + +"I have decided to leave town right away," said Merry. "Have the horses +saddled and prepared. We'll start as soon as I have escorted Miss +Arlington back to the hotel." + +Hodge looked surprised. + +"The horses are in no condition, Frank," he said. "You know they are in +sore need of a good rest." + +"I know it, Bart; but I have a reason for this. We'll go. Get them +ready, please." + +"All right," said Bart, as he turned away to carry out instructions. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +UNTO DEATH! + + +The sun was down in the west and night was gathering over the face of +the world when Frank and Bart rode forth from Holbrook, setting their +faces to the southwest. Boxer trotted behind them. + +They were not molested, although Frank remained in constant expectation +of an attack until they were fairly clear of the place and had it a long +rifle-shot at their backs. + +The blue night grew upon the distant plain, and the stars were coming +forth over their heads as they rode down into the distance, the beating +hoofs of the ponies making rhythm on the baked ground. The first cool +breath of night touched their heated cheeks with grateful kisses. + +"How did you happen to do it, Frank?" asked Bart. + +"I found out a thing or two," Merry answered. "Cimarron Bill is in town, +and he was watching his chance to get another shot at me." + +"Another?" exclaimed Bart; upon which Merry explained how Bill had fired +at him already. + +"It was rather dangerous to stay there, and I couldn't resist when a +pretty girl took enough interest in me to urge me to get away," Frank +laughed. "We had some sport with our talking dog, and now----" + +"You can't mean to ride far?" + +"Remember the hut we passed on the way into town? It's not very far. +We'll stop there to-night." + +"Good!" said Bart; and they rode on. + +Coming to the deserted hut, they stopped there. The horses were cared +for, and Frank and Bart entered the hut with their blankets, where they +prepared to sleep until toward morning, planning to rise before daybreak +and get an early start, so that some distance could be covered ere the +sun rose. + +Both of the young men were weary, and they lost little time in drawing +their blankets about them and rolling on the floor. Boxer curled in a +corner and went to sleep. The door of the hut was left open to admit the +cool night air. + +Frank fell asleep at once, and Bart was not slow in following his +example. + +They were awakened in the middle of the night by a snarl, a cry, a +struggle, and a fall. Both sat up, grasping their weapons. + +The moon was up, and by its light, which streamed in at the wide-open +door, a man and a dog were seen struggling on the floor. The dog was +Boxer, who had leaped at the throat of the man as he came slipping in at +the open door. + +"Great Scott!" exclaimed Hodge. "What's the meaning of this?" + +"One of my friends has arrived," said Frank. "Boxer has him." + +The struggle was fierce and terrible. The dog seemed to have the man by +the throat. Before either Merry or Hodge could interfere the moonlight +glinted on something bright in the hand of the man, who struck and +struck again. + +Not a sound came from the dog. But the bright thing in the man's hand +grew suddenly dark. + +"Heavens!" gasped Frank, leaping forward. "He has a knife!" + +Then a terrible sound came from the throat of the man, and he lifted his +arm no more. The thing in his hand, dark and dripping, fell to the floor +of the hut. + +A moment later the man rolled into the shadow, and then Boxer was seen +dragging himself away, while the man lay still. + +"Boxer! Boxer!" cried Frank, bending over the dog. "Are you hurt, boy? +Merciful goodness! he ripped your whole side open with that knife!" + +Hodge struck a light and bent over the man who lay in the shadow. When +the match burned out in his fingers he dropped it and stepped out to +join Merriwell, who had picked up the dog and carried the creature into +the open air. + +Bart found Merry sitting on the ground, with the dog in his arms. Boxer +had been cut in a terrible manner, and was bleeding in a way that +plainly told his end was near. + +"Oh, the wretch!" choked Merry, in a husky voice. "Oh, the wretch who +did this! He ought to be hanged!" + +"No need of hanging for him," said Hodge. "He'll be beyond that in less +than three minutes." + +"You mean----" + +"He's pretty near dead now. Boxer's teeth found his jugular vein." + +"Who was it, Bart?" + +"The fellow who made the row in Schlitzenheimer's saloon." + +"Gentle Bob?" + +"Yes." + +"One of Cimarron Bill's hired tools, or I am mistaken! He followed us +here and tried to creep in on us with that knife, meaning to finish the +job at which he failed in town. Boxer saved us. Good old Boxer! Poor old +Boxer!" + +The dog whined a little on hearing this name from Frank's lip's, and +feebly wagged his tail. The moonlight showed his eyes turned toward +Merry's face. + +"Is it so bad there's no show for him?" asked Hodge, in genuine +distress. + +"No show!" sobbed Frank. "He's finished, Bart! It's a shame! The most +knowing dog in the whole world! And he has to die like this, killed by a +human being that is more of a beast than he!" + +"It's a shame!" said Bart. + +The dog licked Frank's hand. Merry bowed his head, and tears started +from his eyes. + +"Poor Boxer!" he choked. "Boxer, we have to part here. You're going to +another country, where I must follow in time. It's all up with you. You +may find your first master over there; but he'll never love you more +than I have. Good-by, Boxer!" + +The dog uttered a whine. And so his life ended in Frank's arms, with the +moonlight falling on them and the stillness of the Arizona night all +around. + +Hodge entered the hut, only to come forth, bringing the blankets and +looking very sick. + +"For Heaven's sake, let's get away from here!" he exclaimed. + +"The man in there?" + +"Dead!" said Bart. "The place is gory! I'm faint from it!" + +Boxer's body was wrapped in a blanket, and they mounted and rode away, +Frank carrying the dead dog in his arms to find a burial place where +there could be no chance that his body should be exhumed by any prowling +thing of the desert. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +THE COMING OF CROWFOOT. + + +Rap! rap! rap! + +"Wait a minute!" called Frank. "No need to knock the door down!" + +He flung the door of his cabin wide open, standing on the threshold. + +It was early dawn in Mystery Valley. Sunrise was beginning to gild the +barren peaks of the Mogollons. The new day had come to its birth in a +splendid glow, and the world smiled refreshed after the cooling sleep of +the departed night. + +Frank was just risen and not yet fully dressed, but about his waist was +his cartridge-belt, and his pistol swung ready in the holster at his +hip. He had no use for the weapon, however. + +Outside the door stood old Joe Crowfoot, his blanket drawn about his +shoulders. Those keen eyes gazed on Merry with an expression of friendly +greeting. + +With a shout of surprise and joy, Frank clasped the old redskin in his +arms in the most affectionate manner. + +"Old Joe Crowfoot, as I live!" he cried, showing unusual excitement and +delight. "Why, you old reprobate, here you come popping back from the +grave after I've been mourning you as dead! What do you mean by it, you +villain?" + +"Ugh!" grunted old Joe, something like a merry twinkle in those beady +eyes. "Strong Heart him think Crowfoot dead, eh?" + +"Hang me if I didn't!" + +"Crowfoot him heap tough; no die easy," declared the Indian. + +"I should say not! Why, you tricky scoundrel, they told me you were done +for." + +"Who tell so?" + +"Some of Cimarron Bill's delectable gang. They averred they had disposed +of you for good and all." + +"Waugh! No let such cheap carrion kill me!" said Joe. "They mebbe think +some they do it. Joe he fool um heap lot." + +"But where have you been?" + +"Oh, all away round," was the answer, with a wide sweep of the arm. "Joe +him scout--him find out how land lay. Do a little biz." + +"Do business? What sort of business?" + +"Catch the sucker some." + +"Catch the sucker? What's that?" + +The redskin flung open his dirty red blanket and tapped a fat belt about +his waist, which gave back a musical clink. + +"Play the game of poke'," he exclaimed. "Make heap plenty mon'." + +"You've been gambling again?" + +"Strong Heart him guess," nodded Joe, with something like a sly smile. + +"You villain! And I'll wager you got away with your ill-gotten spoils." + +"Heap do so," said Joe. "Have some firewater. Find one, two, three, four +crooked paleface follow to kill and rob. Let firewater 'lone till fool +crooked palefaces so um no follow some more. Then go safe place drink +firewater a heap." + +"You've been drunk, too!" cried Merry. + +"Mebbe so," admitted the Indian. "White man firewater heap good while um +last; heap bad when um gone. Make um feel much glad at first, then much +sorry little time after." + +Frank laughed heartily at the queer manner of the old Indian as he said +this. + +"I suppose that's about right," he said. "I've never tried it to find +out." + +"Strong Heart him no try firewater?" exclaimed Joe, in surprise. +"Crowfoot him think all paleface drink the firewater." + +"Well, here is one who doesn't. I've seen too much trouble come from the +stuff." + +"Ugh! Strong Heart him got heap more sense than anybody Joe ever see," +asserted the Indian admiringly. "Once git taste of firewater, always be +heap fool and drink him some. Many times old Joe he say no drink some +more. Head all swell, middle all sick, mouth all dry, taste nasty a lot, +bone ache--then him say no more the firewater. Mebbe he go 'long some +time, but bimeby he take it some more. White man make firewater. Bad! +bad! bad! No firewater made, nobody drink it." + +From inside the cabin a voice called. + +"What, ho! Methinks thou hast found a philosopher, Merry! Bring the sage +in that I may survey him with my heavenly blue eyes." + +"Yes, dew!" drawled another voice. "I want to set my eyes onter him, by +gum!" + +Merry led the old Indian into the cabin. + +"Here he is," Merry laughed. "Crowfoot, these are some of my friends, +whom you met last summer. You remember them. They played ball with me in +the Mad River country." + +"Ugh!" grunted the redskin. "Heap remember!" + +Bart Hodge stepped forward, his hand outstretched to the Indian. + +"I am glad to see you again, Crowfoot," he said. + +"Me same," said Joe, shaking Bart's hand. "You heap good to ketch hard +ball when Strong Heart him make it go fast like a bullet and man with +stick he--whish!--strike at it so, no hit it at all." + +They all laughed at the Indian's manner of describing Bart's skill at +catching. + +"Consarned if it ain't a sight fer sore eyes to see ye, Mr. Crowfoot!" +said Ephraim Gallup, as he froze to the redskin's hand and shook it +warmly. "Yeou was the best mascot a baseball-team ever hed." + +"How! how!" said the old fellow. "Nose Talk him stand way out far, +ketch ball when it come there. How! how!" + +"Nose Talk!" laughed Frank. "Well, that's one on you, Gallup!" + +Jack Ready was smiling blandly. He gave his hand a little flirt in +salute, and stepped forward with an odd movement. + +"Gaze on my classic features, Joseph Crowfoot, Esquire," he invited. +"See if you can recollect what I did in the game." + +"Sure remember," nodded Crowfoot. "Talk-talk a heap, no do much else." + +Then the joke was on Jack, and even Bart Hodge was forced to smile, +while Gallup gave Ready a resounding smack on the shoulder with his open +hand. + +"Bless my punkins!" snickered the Vermonter. "That's a thunderin' good +one on you, Jack!" + +Ready looked sad. + +"Alas!" he sighed. "Is it thus I am to be defamed! And by a +copper-colored aborigine! The thought is gall to my sensitive soul! I +shall peek and pine over it! For days to come no sweet smile shall adorn +my beautiful features!" + +Joe looked puzzled. + +"No say something bad," he declared. "When Red Cheek him talk-talk a +heap lot other man that throw ball he got a lot mixed, no make good +pitch. Red Cheek him help win game a heap." + +Jack's face cleared at once. + +"Crowfoot, you have poured soothing balm on my wounded heart!" he +cried. "I'm glad to know that I do amount to something, for, so help me! +of late I have begun to wonder what I was made for!" + +"Sit down, Joe," invited Frank. "We're going to have breakfast in a +short time, and you are to eat with us." + +"Ugh!" said the Indian, disdaining a chair and sitting on the floor with +his back against the wall. "Joe him do so. Him a heap empty. Mebbe after +him eat him tell Strong Heart something much good to hear." + +When breakfast was over the old Indian lighted his rank pipe and smoked +contentedly, still sitting on the floor, with his back against the wall. + +Through the open door came the sounds of work at the mine. Frank was not +yet running the mine day and night, with shifts of men, but it was his +intention to do so later. Smoke was rising from the high pipe of the +stamp-mill, and soon the stamps began to rumble and roar, awaking the +echoes of the valley. The sound was a pleasant one in Merriwell's ears. + +"This running a mine in Arizona is a snap," said Jack Ready, as he +elevated his feet to the top of the table, in which the breakfast-dishes +and remnants of the meal remained. "The hardest part of it seems to be +washing the dishes. It's Gallup's turn this morning." + +"Not by a thuttering sight!" exclaimed Ephraim. "Yeou can't shoulder +that onter me! You've gotter wash the dishes to-day. I done it +yisterday." + +"Is it possible!" cried Jack. "Why, I thought it was day before +yesterday, or, perchance, the day before that. Alas, how time +flies--tempus fugit!" + +"Now, don't go to springin' any Latin on us!" growled Gallup. "You never +learned enough Latin to hurt ye, an' ye don't want to try to show off." + +"Behold how the green-eyed monster turneth a friend into a critic!" said +Jack. + +"You can attend to the dishes later," said Frank. "Just now I am anxious +to hear the good news Crowfoot said he might have to tell. What is it, +Joe?" + +"Some time little while 'go, few days, you be in Holbrook?" questioned +the Indian, pulling away at his pipe. + +"Yes, I was there--Hodge and myself." + +"Joe him been there since." + +"And you bring good news from that place?" + +"Heap good to Strong Heart. In Holbrook him find white woman who hate +him a lot, eh? White woman she is the squaw of man who make for Strong +Heart big trouble 'bout mine." + +"You mean Mrs. Arlington?" + +"Ugh! Mebbe that her name." + +"That is it. She is in Holbrook, or was a few days ago." + +"She hate Strong Heart a heap." + +"I reckon she does," nodded Frank, wondering how the old redskin found +out so much. + +"She come to get bad men to take mine." + +"Possibly that is right." + +"Joe him know it. She make much business with Cim'run Bill." + +"That I suspected, although I did not find it out for a certainty while +in Holbrook." + +"It so." + +"Go on." + +"She give Bill heap much mon' to buy bad men to take from Strong Heart +the mine." + +"Is that so?" + +"Waugh! Joe him find out. Joe he play sharp; he listen." + +"Crowfoot, you're as good as a detective." + +"No know 'bout that. Find out white squaw she hate Strong Heart, then +try to find out more. Now squaw she heap sorry she come to Holbrook." + +"She is sorry?" + +"Heap so." + +"Why?" + +"She have papoose girl with her--young squaw." + +"Her daughter June." + +"Ugh! Now she no have young squaw." + +"What's that? What do you mean by that. What has become of June?" + +"You tell," said Joe, with a strange gesture. "She gone. Old squaw tear +hair, tear run from her eye, she make a loud weep. Ha! Now you hear good +news, Strong Heart! Now you know your enemy have the great sorrow! That +make your heart much glad!" + +But Frank was on his feet now, his face rather pale and a look of +excitement in his eyes. + +"See here, Crowfoot," he said, "do you mean to tell me that June +Arlington has disappeared and that her mother does not know what has +become of her?" + +Joe nodded. + +"Laugh!" he said. "Laugh, Strong Heart!" + +But Frank did not laugh; instead, to the wonderment of the Indian, he +betrayed both consternation and dismay. + +"Are you sure of this, Joe?" he demanded. "How long had the girl been +missing when you left Holbrook?" + +"The sun had slept once." + +"By which you mean that one night had passed?" + +"Ugh!" + +"Then this is serious, indeed! Something most unfortunate has happened, +or June Arlington would not be missing overnight. Boys, prepare at once +to start for Holbrook! Get ready to mount and ride as fast as horseflesh +can carry us; We'll start at the earliest moment possible!" + +Crowfoot arose, a look of wonderment in his dark eyes. He reached out +and grasped Frank's arm. + +"What would Strong Heart do?" he asked. + +"I'm going to Holbrook hotfoot," was the answer. "I'm going to find out, +if possible, what has happened to June Arlington, and I shall do my best +to return her to her mother, if she has not already returned when I +reach there." + +The redskin's hand dropped from Merriwell's arm and the old fellow +stared at the white man in uncomprehending amazement. + +"Why so?" he asked. "Paleface squaw she hate you, she is your enemy. Now +she have something to think a heap of, and no time to make trouble for +Strong Heart. He should have a great happiness that it is so. Why does +he hurry to the bad white squaw? Is it to laugh at her? Is it to see her +weep and cry?" + +"No, Crowfoot; it is to find out, if possible, what has happened to the +girl, just as I said a moment ago, and to return her to her mother." + +The Indian shook his head. + +"Waugh! No understand!" he declared. "Strong Heart him much strange." + +"Joe, will you go with us? You shall have a good horse. I may need your +aid. Will you go?" + +"Joe him go. No understand; him go, all same." + +"Then hustle, fellows!" cried Frank. "We'll be off soon!" + +He rushed from the cabin. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +ARRESTED IN HOLBROOK. + + +Another morning was dawning when five weary horses bore five persons +into the town of Holbrook. The animals had been pushed to the utmost, +and the riders showed signs of deep fatigue. The dust of the desert lay +white upon men and beasts. + +At the head of the party rode Frank Merriwell, showing of them all the +least weariness, his lips pressed together with an expression of grim +determination. + +Bart, Jack, and Ephraim were behind, with old Joe bringing up the rear. + +Straight to the hotel they went, where Frank learned immediately that +Mrs. Arlington was still there, and he also found out that she was very +ill, having been completely prostrated by the vanishing of June, who was +still missing. + +When Frank asked to see the woman he was told that the doctor attending +her had said no one was to see her without his permission. + +"Then I must see that doctor in a hurry," Merry declared. "Where can I +find him?" + +He was directed and hastened to the home of the doctor, who proved to be +a red-faced, pompous little fellow. + +"Impossible to see the lady," declared the doctor. "She has heart +trouble, and it might prove fatal. I cannot permit it." + +"See here, doctor," said Frank, "I have ridden a right good distance to +see her, having heard of the disappearance of her daughter June. I have +come to see what I can do about tracing the missing girl and restoring +her to her mother. To start the work right, I should have an interview +with the lady." + +"Hum! hum!" coughed the doctor. "I don't know about it." He shook his +head, but Merriwell caught his eye and continued to talk earnestly until +the man gradually ceased his opposition. + +"I'm afraid it's not just the wisest thing," he said. "But still it is +anxiety over her daughter that has brought her to this pitiful +condition. If you can do anything to relieve that anxiety, it may be +better than medicine. But you must take care not to excite her more than +possible." + +This Frank readily promised, and they set out for the hotel. + +Having ascended to the rooms occupied by Mrs. Arlington and those she +had brought with her, the doctor entered first, being admitted by the +faithful colored maid. In a few moments he came out and said: + +"I forgot to ask your name, but Mrs. Arlington says she will see you. +Come in." + +Frank followed the doctor into the room. + +Mrs. Arlington, partly dressed, was reclining on a couch, propped up +amid cushions. She was very pale and showed signs of great worriment and +grief. + +The moment her eyes rested on Frank, who came forward, hat in hand, she +gave a great cry and started up. The doctor hurried to her side, +cautioning her against becoming excited, but she appeared to heed him +not in the least. + +"You?" she cried, pointing at Frank. "You have dared to come here?" + +Merry bowed. + +"I know of no reason why I should not come here," he said. "I have heard +of your misfortune, and----" + +"Wretch!" the woman panted, glaring at him. "How dare you! I'll have you +arrested at once!" + +Frank was surprised by this reception, but he kept his composure, +although he was struck by a thought that the woman must be mad. + +"Why should you have me arrested?" he asked. "For defending my property? +I scarcely think you will do that, madam!" + +"You--you scoundrel!" panted Mrs. Arlington, pointing at him. "Where is +my daughter? You shall never leave this place until you restore her to +me!" + +This did stagger Merry somewhat. + +"Mrs. Arlington," he said, "I have come to offer my services in +searching for your daughter. If I can be of any assistance----" + +"You--you lured her away!" declared the shaking woman. "You were seen +talking with her on the street. Is this the way you defend your +property? I know your game! You mean to make me promise to drop the +battle against you, on which condition you will restore June to me! I +have been told that you would try that trick! But I am ready for you, +and you shall be arrested immediately. You have walked into the trap!" + +"My dear woman," said Merry quietly, "you never were more mistaken in +all your life. I know absolutely nothing of the whereabouts of your +daughter; but I fancied you might be able to tell me something that +would serve as a clue in the search for her." + +"Don't tell me that! I have sense enough to know you would not offer to +help me find her!" + +Startled by the sound of Mrs. Arlington's excited voice, Eliot Dodge, +her agent, who was in an adjoining room, now entered quickly. When he +saw Merriwell he stopped short. + +Frank had met Dodge once in Denver, at which time the man with the blue +nose had made him an offer in behalf of the mining syndicate for the San +Pablo and Queen Mystery Mines, an offer that Merry had scornfully +declined. Now Frank recognized the crafty fox of a lawyer at once. + +"So you are here, Dodge?" he said. "And I fancy you are behind some of +the doings that have been going on in this region of late." + +Dodge puckered up his mouth and tried to look at the young man with +something like contempt, although the effort was a failure. + +"Yes, I am here," he said, in his raspy voice; "and I fancy it is a +pretty good thing for Mrs. Arlington that I am. I have been able to show +her the inwardness of this last move of yours." + +"Then you are the one who has filled her mind with the idea that I know +something of the whereabouts of Miss Arlington? Well, Dodge, I know you +are not a fool, and, therefore, I must conclude at once that you have +some rascally reason for giving her such an impression. Be careful, sir, +that you do not make a false step! In this part of the country it is +very dangerous. Down here men are sometimes lynched for rascality." + +"Don't you dare threaten me!" fumed Dodge, shaking his fist at Frank. +"There is a warrant out for your arrest, and you'll find that the end of +your career is pretty near." + +Frank smiled derisively. + +"You remind me of a snapping cur, Dodge," he observed; then he turned +from the man, as if not deigning to waste further words on him. "Mrs. +Arlington," he said earnestly, "I assure you on my honor that I have +come to you with the most friendly intentions. I assure you that I have +ridden more than one hundred miles for the purpose of offering my +services in the search for your daughter. You may not believe me, +but it is the simple truth. You have received me in a manner most +disheartening; but I understand that your nervous condition must be +the excuse. + +"I am not your enemy. I do not wish to fight you. I am fighting the +Consolidated Mining Association of America. I would not like to think +that I have a woman among my enemies, who have hired murderers and +ruffians to try to seize my property! Such a thought is most distasteful +to me. I have had the pleasure of meeting your daughter, and I found her +a most charming girl. I was interested in her. When I learned that she +had disappeared I lost not a moment in gathering a few friends and +starting for this place. We have covered the ground as fast as possible, +taking the heat into consideration. If any one has told you that I am +even remotely connected with the disappearance of Miss June that person +has lied to you and deceived you. If you will give me a little aid, I +shall exert myself to the utmost to restore June to your arms. That is +all I have to say." + +She heard him through with impatience. Frank saw before he had finished +that her mind was set and that he had wasted his breath. + +"Like your brother," said the woman passionately, "you are a scoundrel! +Like him, you assume the airs of a gentleman. I know your tricks, and I +am not deceived. You have been told that there is a warrant out for your +arrest. It is true--and here is the officer to serve it!" + +Behind Merry there was a heavy step. He turned and found himself face to +face with a plain, quiet-looking man, who promptly said: + +"Are you Frank Merriwell?" + +"I am." + +"Then let me tell you that I am Ben File, city marshal of Holbrook, and +you are my prisoner! If you try to pull a gun, I'll shoot you in your +tracks!" + +Frank showed his nerve then. He did not even change color, although the +arrest had fallen upon him so suddenly. + +"Your words are plain enough, sir," he said. "There is no reason why I +should provoke you into shooting me, as I have nothing to fear from +arrest." + +"I have been led to understand that you are a very dangerous character," +said File, looking Merry over in some surprise. "You do not seem so at +first glance." + +Frank smiled a bit. + +"I assure you I am not in the least dangerous," he said. "I surrender +without the least resistance." + +Eliot Dodge stood in the background, rubbing his hands together and +grinning. + +"Mr. Dodge," said the city marshal, "will you be good enough to relieve +this young man of his weapons." + +"Eh?" said Dodge nervously. "I--I--yes, sir." + +He came forward and took Frank's revolvers, handling them gingerly, as +if fearing they would explode in his hands. He passed them over to File, +who afterward searched Merry himself. + +In spite of Frank's coolness, he was indignant over the outrage. + +Mrs. Arlington astonished the doctor by seeming stronger and better +than she had been since it was known that June had disappeared. + +"Now I have you!" she said exultantly. "If you do not tell me at once +where my daughter may be found it will go still harder with you." + +Merry gave her a look of pity. + +"Madam," he said, "I fear that you are not in your right senses. Your +action in coming to this part of the country and bringing your daughter +here, where you have had dealings with ruffians, confirms me in this +belief. I cannot believe you would do such things if perfectly sane." + +"You insult me!" she exclaimed, tossing her head. "But you shall pay +dearly for your insults! The law will punish you!" + +"And are you to stand clear of the law--you, who have incited ruffians +to attack me and my property? I am well aware that law and justice may +frequently be two different things; but I fancy it will be to your +discomfort to have the whole truth come out. I know a ruffian called +Cimarron Bill fired at me from the window of this very room. How came he +here unless by your permission? And were you in partnership with a man +of his character in an attempted murder?" + +Frank's fearless words struck home, and the woman turned pale, in spite +of herself. + +"Oh, doctor!" she said, sinking back on the couch. + +The astonished physician, who had remained dumb and staring through the +most of this scene, now cried to Frank: + +"See what you have done! See what you have done!" + +"She brought it on herself," retorted Merry, turning away, his heart +hardened toward the woman. "I have ridden a hundred miles to do +everything in my power to find her daughter and restore her to her +mother, and I am--arrested!" + +There was deep bitterness in his tone and manner. + +"Mr. File," he said, "I am ready to go with you, sir." + +"Hold! Wait!" called Mrs. Arlington from the couch. "Tell me where you +have taken my daughter!" + +Frank gave her a look, shook his head a bit, and again turned away. + +"Oh, tell me!" pleaded the wretched mother. "I can't bear this suspense! +My poor June!" + +Then she sat bolt upright and almost screamed: + +"If you harm a hair of her head, I'll make you regret it until the day +of your death! You'll be conpelled to tell! I'm going to see that you +are sent to prison! I'll make a convict of you!" + +Frank did not retort. As he was walking out with File's hand on his +shoulder, the woman fell on her knees and begged him to restore her +daughter. + +"Too bad!" said Merry, when the door was closed. "I believe she really +thinks I know something about the girl." + +File said nothing until they had descended to the street. On the steps +of the hotel he paused and looked hard at Frank. + +"Young man," he said, "you don't act to me like a desperado. I'm +mightily disappointed in you. From what I heard, I supposed you a +ruffian. To tell you the truth, I'm rather inclined in your favor." + +"Thank you," said Frank, with a bit of bitterness. "Little good that +does me, although I am grateful to know that I have not become +villainous in appearance. I came here to do that woman a favor, knowing +all the while that she hated me, and this is the way I have been +received." + +"Why did you take so much pains to come?" + +"Because I know her daughter, a handsome, refined, noble-hearted girl. +It was not for the woman's sake, but for her daughter's that I put +myself to the trouble that has drawn me into this scrape, Mr. File. Tell +me, what has been done to find and rescue June Arlington?" + +"Everything possible," said the city marshal. "But the girl seems to +have disappeared off the face of the earth. She vanished in the very +heart of this town, too. It's a most mysterious affair. Mr. Merriwell, I +regret that my duty compelled me to place you under arrest and now +compels me to lock you up. I hope circumstances may give you your +freedom very soon." + +Frank was somewhat touched by these simple words. + +"Go ahead," he said. "But you had better get me under lock and key +before my friends find out what has happened. They might raise trouble, +and I don't want to see anybody hurt over this affair." + +So they started down the street, walking side by side, like two friends. +File did not even keep a hand on Merry. + +They had proceeded but a short distance when a man suddenly appeared in +the open doorway of a saloon. Frank saw the pistol in the man's hand, +and he recognized his mortal enemy, Cimarron Bill. + +As Bill appeared in that doorway, Merry knew the fellow's purpose was to +make a second attempt to kill him, and Frank was unarmed and +defenseless, under arrest at the time. + +As Bill's weapon came up Frank made a sidelong spring. He did this at +the very instant, it seemed, that the revolver spoke. The fact was that +he sprang a trifle before the shot was fired. His movement seemed much +like that of a man death-smitten by a bullet, and Cimarron Bill dodged +back at once, believing he had accomplished his dastardly purpose. + +Frank was not touched. + +But the bullet meant for him had found a human target. Ben File swayed +from side to side, his legs buckling beneath him, and fell into +Merriwell's arms. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +BILL HIKES OUT. + + +"Got it!" whispered File huskily. "He nailed me good and plenty that +time!" + +Without a word, fearing Cimarron Bill might discover he had shot the +wrong man and seek to rectify his bad work, Frank lifted File in his +muscular arms and ran into a store with him. + +The city marshal was stretched on a counter. + +"Send for a doctor!" commanded Merry. "And turn out a posse to take +Cimarron Bill. He fired the shot." + +At the mention of Cimarron Bill, however, consternation reigned. The +desperado was all too well known in Holbrook, and scarcely a man in all +the place cared to face him. + +"No use," said File faintly. "Nobody'll dare touch Bill. He'll get out +of town deliberately without being molested." + +"Impossible!" exclaimed Merry. "Why, you don't mean to say they will let +that murderous hound escape?" + +"He'll escape now that I'm flat. There's not a man in Holbrook that +dares face him." + +"You're mistaken!" said Merry. "There is one man!" + +"What one?" + +"This one!" + +"You?" + +"Yes." + +"Do you mean to say----" + +"That I dare face that man! Give me my weapons and I'll go out and get +him!" + +Ben File looked at the boyish young man incredulously. + +"You don't know what you're talking about," he said, as they were trying +to stop the bleeding of his wound, which was in his left side. "That man +has a record. He's the deadliest ruffian in Arizona. He would kill you." + +"I don't believe it," said Frank. "I've seen his like before. Give me my +revolvers, and I'll go take him. I'll bring him to you if you live!" + +File fumbled in his huge pockets and brought out Merry's long-barreled +revolvers. + +"Go ahead if you want to," he said. "Somehow I take stock in you, though +I'm afraid it's your funeral you're going to. Anyhow, if I'm booked to +cash in, I don't mind giving you a show to levant. Here comes the +doctor." + +The same red-faced little man came rushing into the store, brought there +by a messenger who had gone in search of him. + +Frank examined his weapons, and then walked out of the store. + +There was considerable excitement on the street, caused by the shooting. +Merry minded no one, yet kept his eyes wide open for every one. As fast +as he could step he proceeded straight to the open door from which +Cimarron Bill had fired the shot. He had a pistol in either hand when he +stepped through that doorway. + +As he had expected, it was a saloon. Three persons were in the room, but +Cimarron Bill was not there. + +"Gentlemen," said Merry, "I'll be obliged if you will tell me where I +can find the white-livered cur who just shot Ben File from this +doorway." + +They stared at him as if doubting their senses. + +"If it's Cimarron Bill you're looking for, young man," one of them +finally said, "take my advice and don't. It's the most onhealthy +occupation you can engage in, and I advise----" + +"Cut out the advice," said Merry sharply; "and tell me where the +cowardly dog has gone." + +"He ambled out o' yere directly arter doin' the shootin', and we last +sees him lopin' down the street that-a-way. But you wants to keep a heap +long distance----" + +Frank waited for no more. He was satisfied that Bill had departed just +as the man said, and he wheeled at once and started down the street. + +Merry knew full well what sort of mission he had undertaken, but he was +not daunted in the least by its magnitude. Cimarron Bill was his deadly +foe, but he now saw his opportunity to bring the ruffian to an +accounting for his crimes, and he did not propose to let the chance +slip. + +So he inquired as he passed down the street and found that Bill had +hurried to the saloon kept by Schlitzenheimer. + +Again Merry had his pistols ready when he entered the saloon. Early +though it was, he found four men there engaged in a game of draw poker, +and one of the four was old Joe Crowfoot. + +Schlitzenheimer gave a shout when he saw Frank. + +"My gootness!" he cried. "How you vos? Vere vos dot dalking tog alretty? +I vouldt like to blay dot tog anodder came beenuckle of." + +Frank was disappointed once more in failing to discover Cimarron Bill. +He asked if the man had been there. + +"He vos," nodded Schlitzenheimer. "Und avay he dit his saddle take." + +"He took his saddle?" + +"Yah." + +"Then his saddle was here?" + +"It he dit keep here, vor id vos very valueless," said the Dutchman. "He +vos avraid stolen id would pe. I know Pill. Ven he come und say, 'Vritz, +you tookit my saddles und keepit it a vile undil vor id I call,' I say, +'Yah, you pet.' I haf nod any anxiety him to make some drouble by." + +"If he came for his saddle it is likely he meant to use it. Was he in a +hurry?" + +"Der piggest hurry I ever knewn him to pe indo. Ven I invortationed him +to a drink take, he said he could not sdop vor id." + +"He's on the run!" exclaimed Frank. "Where does he keep his horse when +in town?" + +"Ad Dorvelt's shust down a liddle vays." + +Frank almost ran from the saloon and hurried down the street to +Dorfelt's stable. + +He was stared at in the same wondering amazement when he asked for +Cimarron Bill. + +"Mebbe you has urgent business with that gent?" said one man. + +"I have," answered Merry. "He shot Ben File about ten minutes ago, and I +am after him." + +"Waal, you'll have to hustle to ketch him, an' I 'lows it's jest as well +fer you. His hoss was saddled jest now, an' I opine he's well out o' +town by this time." + +Frank listened to hear no more. On the run, he set out to find his +friends. + +Singularly enough, not one of them knew anything of his arrest, although +they had heard of the shooting. He found them in short order, and what +he told them in a very few words stirred them from lassitude to the +greatest excitement. + +"Fellows," he said, "I'm going to run Cimarron Bill down if it takes a +year! I've given my word to Ben File that I would bring Bill back. I +mean to make good. Are you with me in this chase?" + +They were with him to a man. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +OLD JOE TAKES A DRINK. + + +Away on the horizon, riding to the southeast, was a black speck of a +horseman as Frank, Bart, Jack, and Ephraim galloped out of town on fresh +mounts secured by Merry. + +"There he is!" cried Frank. "We mustn't lose him! We must keep him in +view and run him down before nightfall. Can we do it?" + +"We can try!" said Bart grimly. + +These young fellows seemed made of iron. All their weariness had +vanished, and they sat in their saddles like young Centaurs, with the +exception of Gallup, who could not be graceful at anything. + +"This is what might well be called the strenuous life," observed Jack +Ready. "It's almost too much for my delicate constitution. I fear my +health will be undermined and my lovely complexion will be ruined." + +"He has seen us," declared Frank. "He knows we are after him! It's going +to be a hard chase." + +"How about June Arlington?" asked Bart. + +"When I gave Ben File my word to bring Cimarron Bill back I was under +arrest for kidnaping June Arlington. Had I not made that promise I might +still be under arrest. I must keep my word to File. I hope to do +something for June later." + +So they rode into the scorching desert, seeming to be gaining on the man +ahead for a time. + +The sun poured down mercilessly. Alkali dust rose and filled their +nostrils. Red lizards flashed before them on the ground at rare +intervals. And far ahead the black speck held into the distance. + +"He knows where he's going, fellows," said Frank. "He's not the man to +strike blindly into the desert. He'll come to water and feed before his +horse gives out, and so we must find the same." + +But fate seemed against them. Afar on the desert a haze arose and grew +and became a beautiful lake, its shores lined with waving trees. And in +this mirage the fugitive was swallowed up and lost. When the lake faded +and vanished the black speck could be seen nowhere on the plain. + +"Vanished into a gully of some sort," said Frank. "We must find just +what has become of him." + +So they kept on; but in time they came to feel that the search was +useless. Water they had brought for themselves, together with some +canned food; but the only relief they could give the horses was by +pouring a little water over a sponge and wiping out the dry mouths of +the poor animals. + +They were forced to turn aside and seek some hills, where Frank felt +certain there was a spring. + +Thus it was that nightfall found them at the spring, but Cimarron Bill +was gone, none of them knew where. There was feed for the horses in the +little valley, and they made the best of it. + +Frank was far from pleased. Everything had gone wrong since their +arrival in Holbrook, and the prospect was most discouraging. + +"By gum! it's too bad to hev to give it up," said Ephraim. + +Frank shot him a look. + +"I have no intention of giving it up," he said. "But I confess that I +made one bad mistake." + +"What was that?" + +"I left Crowfoot back there in Schlitzenheimer's saloon playing poker." + +"You think he'll be skinned, do you?" said Bart. + +"Oh, I'm not worrying about that. The old reprobate can take care of +himself. I knew it would be almost impossible to drag him away from that +game, and that was why I did not bother with him. Didn't want to lose +the time. But that redskin can follow a trail that would bother a +bloodhound. If we had taken him at the start, he'd never lost the +scent." + +They lay on the ground and watched the heavens fill with bright stars. +The heat of the day melted into coolness, and all knew it would be cold +before morning. + +Frank had anticipated that they might have to spend the night in this +manner, and blankets had been brought. + +They seemed alone in the wild waste, with no living thing save their +horses within miles and miles. So, with no fear of attack, they wrapped +their blankets about them and slept. + +The wind swept almost icy through the little valley before morning +dawned. As the eastern sky grew pale Frank opened his eyes and sat up. + +A moment later a shout from his lips aroused the others. + +Merry was staring at a familiar figure in a dirty red blanket. In their +very midst old Joe lay stretched, and apparently he had been sleeping as +soundly as any of them. Nor were his slumbers broken by Merry's shout, +which astounded Frank beyond measure, for never before had he known the +old fellow to sleep like that. Always when he had stirred he had found +the beady eyes of the redskin upon him. + +"Behold!" said Jack Ready. "Lo, the noble red man is again within our +midst. But how came it thus?" + +"Waal, may I be honswizzled!" grunted Gallup. + +Frank flung aside his blanket. + +"Something is the matter with him!" he said, in a tone that indicated +anxiety. "If there wasn't, he'd not sleep this way. I wonder what it is. +Is he dead?" + +But when the red blanket was pulled down it was found that Joe lay with +a quart bottle clasped to his heart in a loving embrace. The bottle was +fully two-thirds empty. + +"That explains it!" said Merry, in deep disgust. "The old dog is drunk +as a lord! That's how we happen to have the pleasure of finding him +asleep. I'll give any man fifty dollars who will catch him asleep when +he is perfectly sober." + +"What a picture he doth present!" said Ready. "Look upon it! And yet +there is something in it to bring sadness to the heart. Behold how +tenderly he doth hold the long-necker to his manly buzzum! 'Tis thus +that many a chap hugs a destroyer to his heart." + +"The old sinner!" said Hodge. "I don't see how he got here without +arousing any of us. There's his horse, picketed near the other animals." + +Frank stooped and tried to take the bottle from Joe's clasp, but the +sleeping Indian held it fast. + +"Go heap better five dol's," he muttered in his sleep. + +"He's still playing poker," said Frank. + +He gave Crowfoot a hard shake. + +"Wake up, you copper-colored sot!" he cried. "Wake up and see what +you've got in your hands." + +"Four king," mumbled Joe thickly. "Heap good!" + +At this the boys laughed heartily. + +"That's a pretty good hand!" said Frank. "It takes four aces or a +straight flush to beat it." + +Then he wrenched the bottle away, whereupon the redskin awoke at once. + +"Mine! mine!" he exclaimed, sitting up. + +"It's poison," said Frank, and smashed the bottle. + +With a snarl of fury, the Indian staggered to his feet and made for +Merry, drawing a wicked-looking knife. + +"Look out!" cried Gallup, in consternation. + +Frank leaped to meet old Joe, clutching his wrists and holding him +helpless, while he gazed sternly into the bloodshot eyes of the drunken +old man. + +"What's this, Crowfoot?" he demanded. "Would you strike Strong Heart +with a knife? Would you destroy the brother of Indian Heart? Has the +poison firewater of the white man robbed you of your senses?" + +"Firewater Joe's!" exclaimed the redskin. "No right to spill um! No +right! No right!" + +"I did it for your own good, Crowfoot," said Merry quietly. "You are in +bad shape now. I want you to come out of it. You may be able to help us. +What you need is a good drink of water." + +"Ugh! Water heap good. Joe he take some." + +Immediately Frank released the old man's wrists, and Joe slipped his +knife out of sight with something like a show of shame. + +In another moment Merry had his canteen, filled it at the spring, and +handed it to Crowfoot, who gravely took it and began to drink. The boys +stood around, and their eyes bulged as the old man held the canteen to +his mouth, tipping it more and more skyward, a deep gurgling coming from +his throat. He continued to drink until the canteen was quite emptied, +when he lowered it with perfect gravity, wiped his lips with the back of +his hand, and observed: + +"Joe him a little dry!" + +"Well, I should say so!" smiled Frank. "Your interior must have been as +parched as an alkali desert, Joe." + +"If he takes many drinks like that," said Ready, with a queer twist of +his mug, "there'll be a drought in this country that will make an +ordinary dry spell look like a back number." + +Crowfoot did not smile. Giving back the canteen, he sat down on the +ground, resting his elbows on his knees and taking his head in his +hands. He was the picture of misery and dejection. + +"Injun big fool!" he groaned. "Last night feel much good; to-day feel a +lot bad. Big pain in head." + +"We've all been there many's the time," sang Jack Ready softly. + +Then the eccentric chap sat down on the ground beside the redskin, about +whom he placed an arm. + +"Joseph," he said, "methinks I know how it is! I have felt that way heap +often. Ugh! Sick all over." + +Joe grunted. + +"Nothing worth living for." + +Another grunt. + +"Much rather be dead with the beautiful daisies growing on my grave than +living in such misery." + +Again a grunt. + +"Internal organs all out of gear, stomach on a strike, head bigger than +a barrel. Are those the symptoms, Joseph?" + +"Much so," confessed old Joe. + +"Joseph, you have my sympathy. You've never been to college, but you +have received part of a college education. I have taken my degree in +that branch. I'm a P. M. of J. C.--Past Master of Jag Carriers. But I +have reformed, and now 'lips that touch wine shall never touch mine.' +Joseph, I would reclaim you. I would woo you tenderly from the jag path +that leadeth to destruction. It is broad and inviting at first, but +toward the finish it is rough, and hubbly, and painful to travel. Pause +while there is yet time. My heart yearns to save you from destruction. +Listen to the pearly words of wisdom, that drop from my sweet lips. Shun +the jag juice and stick to the water-wagon. Heed this advice and your +days shall be long ere you pass to the happy hunting-grounds." + +"Heap talk a lot," said Joe; "no say anything. Make Injun lot sicker!" + +Gallup laughed heartily, slapping his knee. + +"That's right, by gum!" he cried. "The wind blows ev'ry time Jack opens +his maouth." + +"You are jealous," said Ready. "You are jealous of my wisdom and +eloquence. Get thee behind me, Nose Talk! Your face is painful to look +upon." + +"Don't you go to makin' that kind of gab!" snapped Gallup. "If yeou do, +dinged if I don't jolt ye one in the slats!" + +"Such language! Slats! I'm shocked! Never have you heard words of slang +ripple from my tuneful vocal chords. I disdain such frivolity! Slang +gives me a pain! Go lay down!" + +"Lay!" snorted Ephraim. "I'm no hen!" + +"Let's have breakfast," said Hodge. "We may as well get on the move +before it grows too hot." + +It did not take long to prepare breakfast, but old Joe seemed to grow +ill at the sight of food. All he wanted was water, and he threatened to +drink the weak little spring dry. After a time, he seemed more inclined +to talk. + +"No ketch Cim'r'n Bill?" he said. + +"So you found out we were after him?" said Frank. + +"Ugh!" nodded the Indian. "Joe no big fool only when firewater is to +get. He play poke', all time him keep ear open. Mebbe him learn a whole +lot." + +"It's quite likely. If you had been with us yesterday, we might have +stuck to Bill's trail. Now it is lost, and he may get away." + +"Crowfoot he know how find Bill." + +"What's that? You know how to find him?" + +"Ugh!" + +"Well, that is interesting, for I am bound to find him. I gave Ben File +my word to bring Bill back, and I'm going to keep that promise. If you +can help----" + +"You bet!" grunted Joe. + +"How did you find out so much?" + +"Joe him take drink in saloon. Keep much careful not git full. Make um +believe so. Go sleep. Hear men talk in whisper. Waugh! Find out a heap." + +"Well, you're a clever old rascal!" cried Merry; "and I'm in love with +you!" + +"Joe him play game pritty slick," said the Indian. "Same time him get +one, two, three drink. That bad. Make um want heap more. Make um take +firewater when um git out town." + +"So you really got drunk because you were trying to do me a good turn?" +said Merry. "Joe, I appreciate it! But what did you hear?" + +"Bill him go to Sunk Hole." + +"Sunk Hole?" cried Frank. "That place?" + +"Where's that?" asked Hodge, who was deeply interested. + +"Down in the White Mountain region, near the head of Coyote Creek." + +"Why did you exclaim, 'That place?'" + +"Because it is a camp made up of the worst characters to be found in the +Southwest. It is a place without law and order of any sort. Murderers, +gamblers, and knaves in general flee there when in danger. They are +banded together to defy the law. Travelers who happen into that wretched +place seldom come forth. At times the ruffians quarrel among themselves +and shoot and kill with impunity. The people of the Territory have more +than once asked that the place be invaded by troops and wiped off the +map. It is a standing disgrace." + +"An' Cimarron Bill has gone there?" asked Ephraim Gallup, his eyes +bulging. + +"So Joe says." + +"Waal, I ruther guess yeou'll take a couple of thinks afore ye foller +him any furder." + +"I shall follow him into Sunk Hole if I live!" declared Merry grimly; +"and I mean to bring him out of the place, dead or alive. I do not ask +the rest of you to risk your lives with me. You are at liberty to turn +back. Joe----" + +"Him stick by Strong Heart!" declared the old Indian quickly. "You bet!" + +"Thank you, Joe!" said Frank. "I shall need you to show me the road to +the place, for I have heard Sunk Hole is not easy to find." + +"I hope," said Bart Hodge quietly, "that you do not fancy for a moment +that I'm not going with you? I don't think you would insult me, Frank, +by entertaining such a thought. I shall be with you through thick and +thin." + +"Dear me!" said Ready. "How brave you are! Please stand in the glow of +the limelight where we can admire your heroic pose! La! la! You are a +sweet creature, and one to make the matinee girls rave with adoration." + +"Don't get so funny!" growled Hodge, who always took Ready's chaffing +with poor grace. + +"Softly! softly!" smiled Jack, with a flirt of his hand. "Let not your +angry passions rise. You can't play the bold and fearless hero any +better than can your humble servant. I'm in this, and you want to watch +me and note what a bold front I put on. I'll wager a lead nickle you +will begin to think me utterly fearless, and all the while, beyond a +doubt, I'll be shaking in my boots. Oh, I can make an excellent bluff +when I have to." + +"Bluff heap good sometime," said Crowfoot. "Mebbe bluff take pot." + +"But it's a mighty poor thing if the other fellow suspects and calls," +said Jack. + +"Waal," drawled Gallup, "darn my punkins! I s'pose I'm in fer it, but I +kinder wisht I was to hum on the farm." + +Frank knew the Vermonter well enough not to fancy by those words that +Ephraim was badly frightened. It was Gallup's way of expressing himself, +and, even though he might be afraid in advance, the tall, lank fellow +always showed up well "in a pinch." + +"Then it's settled," said Merry. "We all go." + +"Joe him not talk all he find out," put in the Indian. + +"Is there more? Well, give it to us quick. There are many miles of +alkali between here and Sunk Hole." + +"Joe him hear men whisper 'bout gal." + +"Eh? About a girl?" + +"Ugh!" + +"Then it must be about June Arlington? What did they say?" + +"Mebbe Bill him know where she is." + +"What?" cried Merry, clutching the redskin by the arm. "Is that +possible?" + +"Reckon um heap so." + +"Then there is a double reason why I should get my hands on Cimarron +Bill!" + +"Mebbe Joe he no hear right; no could ketch all men whisper. He think +gal she be took to Sunk Hole." + +Frank reeled, his face going white. + +"Merciful Heaven!" he gasped. "June Arlington, innocent little June! in +that dreadful place? Come, fellows, we must go! June Arlington there? +The thought is horrifying! If that is true, Cimarron Bill may go free +until I can do my best to get June out of that sink of wickedness! Come, +fellows--come!" + +"We are ready!" they cried, in response. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +FRANK IN SUNK HOLE. + + +The Great Dipper indicated by its position that the hour was not far +from midnight. Crowfoot halted and pointed downward, where, in the gloom +of a round valley, a few lights twinkled. + +"Sunk Hole!" he said. + +"At last!" breathed Frank. + +The others stood in silence, looking down at those lights. Suddenly they +started, for to their ears came the sound of music, dimly heard because +of the distance. + +"Perchance my ears deceive me," said Ready; "but I fancy I hear the +soothing strains of a fiddle." + +"Sure as fate!" exclaimed Bart Hodge. + +"Listen!" cautioned Merry. + +There were other sounds, a sing-song cry at intervals, and then hoarse +laughter and several wild whoops. + +"By gum!" exclaimed Gallup. "Saounds jest like one of them air country +dances they uster hev over to Billing's Corners, Varmount. The boys +called them 'hog wrastles.'" + +"See," said Merry, "there is one place that seems more brightly lighted +than the others. It's right in the center of the other lights. Fellows, +I believe there is a dance going on down there!" + +"Just what I'm beginning to think," said Bart. + +"My! my! How nice!" exclaimed Jack. "Let's go right down and get into +it! Balance your partners all! All hands around! Let her sizzle!" + +"That would be a splendid place for you to get into a dance!" said Frank +sarcastically. + +"But a dance there!" exclaimed Hodge. + +"It does seem mighty strange," agreed Frank. "Still something of the +kind is going on. Hear 'em yell!" + +And now they could faintly hear the sound of feet keeping time to the +music. + +"We've struck this place in a most excellent time to get into it," said +Merry. "I suppose one of us ought to go back and watch the horses." + +The horses had been left in a little pocket some distance behind and +they had climbed on foot to the point where they could look down into +the round valley. + +"No need watch um now," said Joe. "Um hosses all picket fast. We go down +there, better go quick." + +"Correct," agreed Frank. "Just show us how to get down." + +"Follow," said the redskin. "Take heap care." + +The path over which he led them, if path it may be called, was +precarious enough. At times they felt that they were on the edge of some +precipice, with a great fall lying beneath. But the aged redskin went +forward with surprising swiftness, causing them all to strain every +nerve to keep up with him, and in time he brought them down into the +valley. + +"Take lot care," cautioned Crowfoot. "Have guns reddy. No can tell. May +have to use um 'fore git out." + +"It's quite likely," said Merry grimly. + +So they all made sure that their pistols could be drawn quickly and +readily, and then they crept toward the dark huts, from the windows of +which lights gleamed. + +The sounds of fiddling and dancing grew plainer and plainer. Now and +then a shout would awake the echoes. + +"Where do they find their 'ladies' for a dance?" asked Hodge +wonderingly. + +"Oh, there are a few women in this hole," answered Merry. "Perhaps +others have come in." + +They reached the first hut and paused where they could peer along the +street, if such it could be called, for the huts had been built here and +there, so that the road between them zig-zagged like a drunken man. + +In the very center of the place was the building, somewhat larger than +its neighbors, from which came the sounds of revelry. Doors and windows +were wide open. The music having stopped, there might be heard a hum of +voices, and then the wild, reckless laugh of a woman floated out upon +the night air. + +Frank shuddered a little as he heard the sound, which, to his ears, was +more pitiful and appalling than any cry of distress that could fall from +female lips. + +"Poor creature!" he thought. "To what depths has she fallen!" + +They went forward again, slipping around a corner, and Merry stumbled +and fell over the body of a man that was lying prone on the ground. + +"Hold on!" he whispered. "Let's see what we have here. It's a man, but I +wonder if he is living or dead." + +He knelt and felt for the man's heart. + +"Living all right," he declared; "but dead in one sense--dead drunk! +Whew! what a vile smell of liquor!" + +"Let him lie," said Hodge. + +"I have a fancy to take a peep at him," said Frank. "Hold still. I want +a match. I have one." + +Bringing out a match, he struck it and shaded it with his hands, +throwing the light on the prostrate man. + +The light of the match showed them that the fellow was an unusually +large Mexican, dressed after the custom of his people in somewhat soiled +finery. + +"Dead to the world!" sighed Jack Ready softly. + +The match died out in Frank's fingers, but Merry did not rise. + +"What are you doing?" asked Jack. "Are you accumulating his valuables?" + +"Hardly," said Merry. "I'm thinking." + +"Can such a thing make you think! What is passing in your massive +brain?" + +"I have an idea." + +"That's more than Ready ever hed," muttered Gallup. + +"Fellows," said Frank, "this man's clothes ought to be a fairly good fit +for me." + +"Well, what of it?" + +"I'm going to wear them. Get hold here, and we'll carry him aside where +there'll be little chance that any one will stumble upon us. Let's move +lively." + +They did as directed, although wondering why Frank should wish to +exchange clothes with the drunken Mexican. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +THE DANCE IN SUNK HOLE. + + +A low-ceiled room with a bar at the end near the door. The odor of +smoke, liquor, and perspiration. The place lighted with oil-lamps having +dirty chimneys. The lights of the lamps dancing and flaring to the stamp +of many heavy-shod feet. A maze of human beings whirling, shifting, +prancing, and cutting figures on the floor. Rough-looking men, bearded +and armed; disheveled women, their faces glowing with excitement and +from the effects of drink. At the far end of the room an old man, +mounted on a square box and seated on a chair, sawing away for dear life +at his fiddle, while he called the figures in a sing-song tone. + +And this was the way the fiddler called: + + "First couple balance and swing, + Promenade the inside ring, + Promenade the outside ring, + Balance and swing and cast off six, + Ladies to the right and gents to the left. + Swing the one you swung before, + Down the center and cast off four, + Swing the one that comes to you, + Down the center and cast off two." + +The men were such as most women would avoid. With few exceptions, they +had wicked faces. They had been drinking, and at intervals some elated +and enthusiastic fellow would utter a blood-curdling yell. + +But the figures they cut were laughable at times. They "spanked 'er +down" furiously. They seized their partners and swung them until often +they were lifted off their feet. But those were not the sort of women to +mind. + +Three or four of the citizens of Sunk Hole were married. Two had +daughters old enough to be present at the dance. Other "ladies" had come +in from the surrounding country, brought there by their partners. + +There were a number of Mexicans in the crowd, and three or four Mexican +women. + +Into this smoky room came yet another Mexican, a young man, dressed in +soiled finery, his wide-brimmed high-peaked hat shading his face. He had +a little mustache that was pointed on the ends, and he walked with a +swagger. Immediately on entering he made for the bar and called for a +drink. + +Had any one been watching him closely that person must have noticed that +he did not drink the stuff put out to him, but slyly and deftly tossed +the contents of the glass into a corner under the bar. + +This newcomer was Frank Merriwell, who had disguised himself as well as +possible and boldly walked into this den of ruffians. + +Having pretended to drink, Frank stood back in a retired spot and looked +the dancers over. + +In a moment his eyes fell on Cimarron Bill, who had a Mexican girl for +a partner and was enjoying himself in his own peculiar way. + +Frank knew it would not be safe to come face to face with Bill, although +he saw at once that the desperado had been drinking heavily and could +barely "navigate" through the mazes of the dance. + + "Gents chasse and put on style, + Resash and a little more style-- + Little more style, gents, little more style," + +sang the fiddler; and the dancers strictly obeyed the admonition by +putting on all the style of which they were capable. + +Under different circumstances Merry would have been amused by the +spectacle; and even now, for all of his peril, he was greatly +interested. + +Cimarron Bill was not habitually a hard drinker, but on this occasion he +had surprised everybody present by the amount of whisky he had imbibed. +He seemed determined to get intoxicated, and it was plain that he was +making a success of it. + +Frank did not wish to dance if he could avoid it, knowing he might be +brought face to face with Bill in the course of some of the figures. + +All around the sides of the room men were leaning and looking on, some +of them laughing and calling to various dancers. + +"Go it, Seven Spot!" + +"Spank it down, Dandy!" + +"Steady, Pie Face! Your left hoof belongs to the church!" + +"See Honeydew! He's a holy terror!" + +"Watch Lanky Jim cut a pigeon wing!" + +"Say, Big Kate can dance some! You bet your boots!" + +"Hi! hi! There goes Sweet William, plumb off his pins!" + +Now the fiddler was calling: + + "First lady out to the right; + Swing the man that stole the sheep, + Now the one that packed it home, + Now the one that eat the meat, + Now the one that gnawed the bones." + +Frank found an opportunity to slip along the wall toward the back of the +room. No one seemed to pay any attention to him until he accidentally +stepped on a big fellow's foot. Instantly he was given a shove, and the +man growled: + +"What in thunder ails ye, you yaller-skinned greaser? Keep off my corns, +ur I'll make hash o' you with my toad-sticker!" + +"Pardon, senor, pardon!" entreated Merry, in a soft voice, with an +accent that seemed perfectly natural. "I deed not mean to do eet, +senor." + +"Ef I'd 'lowed ye did I'd sure slashed ye without no talk whatever!" was +the retort. + +Having no desire to get into trouble, Merry took great pains to avoid +stepping on another foot, and he finally reached the point he sought. In +the corner at the far end of the room there was not so much light. A +bench ran along there, and Frank found a seat on it, where he could +lean against the thin board partition, and he did not mind if some of +the men stood up before him so that he was partly screened. + +Merry knew full well that he had done a most reckless thing in entering +that place, where all around him were ruffians and murderers; but there +was something about the adventure that he relished, and the danger gave +it a spice that was far from disagreeable. + +He thanked his lucky stars that this dance had given him the opportunity +to get in there without attracting any more attention. + + "Meet your partner and all chaw hay, + You know where and I don't care, + Seat your partner in the old armchair." + +That particular dance ended with this call from the fiddler; but there +were no armchairs in which the ladies could be seated, and Merry crowded +up into the corner in order to be as inconspicuous as possible and to +escape being disturbed. + +There was a general rush for the bar, the fiddler getting down from his +box and hastening across the floor, wiping his mouth with the back of +his hand. Some of the women accompanied their partners to the bar and +drank with them. + +Such depravity was not pleasant to witness, and Merry felt pity for the +fallen creatures. Sentiment, however, he sought to put aside, thinking +only of the dangerous mission that had brought him into that nest of +gambolling tigers. + +Two men sat down near Merry. They had been dancing, and observed, with +some lurid embellishments, that it was hot. Then one of them said +something that interested Frank. + +"Bill's goin' it a whole lot stiff to-night." + +"That's whatever. Never saw him punish the razzle juice this way afore." + +"You know why, mebbe." + +"Waal, I opine he's some irked up over his mistake in Holbrook. First +time he ever shot the wrong gent. He warn't gunnin' fer File. It was +another galoot he was after." + +"I jedge that's the matter with him. Bandy tried to joke him some about +it, an' Bandy came mighty near gettin' his." + +"Bandy's a dern fool! He should 'a' knowed better than to shoot off his +mouth at Bill." + +"I say so. But Bill he's a-playin' a right steep game in that thar gal +business." + +"Bill kin play his keerds. You let him alone." + +"No danger o' me chippin' in. They say the gal's folks are a heap rich." + +"I opine so, else Bill he'd never taken so much trouble over her." + +"Oh, I dunno; she's the purtiest leetle thing I ever set my blinkers on. +I 'lowed mebbe Bill was lookin' some fer a wife." + +"Wife--northin'! He's lookin' fer the dust. Why, he sent word as how +he'd skin the galoot what dared hurt her or even say somethin' impolite +afore her." + +"Let me tell you somethin'." + +"Fire erway." + +"Han'some Charley has seen that gal, an' I 'low he's taken a likin' to +her a whole lot. Bill better look sharp, ur Charley will sure get away +with her." + +"I ain't the one to give Charley no advice, but if I were, I'd whisper +fer him to think twice afore tryin' it." + +"Charley's some clever. Look, thar he is a-drinkin' with Bill now. Say, +pard, I've got an idee that Charley's doin' his best to load Bill +to-night. If that's so, he's got somethin' up his sleeve, an' we want to +look right sharp fer a breeze afore this dance is over. I'm goin' to +stand ready to duck instanter when the shootin' begins." + +Frank could peer past a man in front of him without moving and see the +person referred to as Handsome Charley, who was drinking with Cimarron +Bill at the bar. This man was larger than Bill and heavier. He had a +flushed, reckless face that wore a smile nearly all the time. He had a +dark mustache and imperial, and there was about him the atmosphere of a +dashing desperado. + +Charley at this time seemed very friendly with Cimarron Bill, and it was +plain that he was urging Bill to drink again. + +"All right," thought Frank; "I'll watch you both." + +At this moment a man appeared in the open door and looked timidly into +the room. + +At sight of this man Frank gave a start in spite of his wonderful +nerve, and it was only with the greatest difficulty that he kept himself +from crying forth a name. + +Eliot Dodge, the crafty lawyer with the blue nose, stood there in the +door. No wonder Merry was astounded to see that man appear in such a +place and at such a time. + +Dodge was rather pale, but an expression of relief flashed over his face +when his eyes fell on Cimarron Bill. Then he stepped into the room. + +Bill seemed no less astonished, but he advanced to meet Dodge, holding +out his hand, which the lawyer accepted. + +"However is this, Mr. Dodge?" inquired Bill. "I sure am a whole lot +surprised to meet up with you here--that is, I'm surprised to have it +occur so soon. Will you wash the dust out of your throat?" + +"Don't care if I do," said Dodge, and they crowded nearer to the bar. + +"Bill, I thinks mebbe you might present yer friend," chipped in Handsome +Charley. + +"Waal, Charley," said Bill, "this yere is Mr.----" + +"Lewis," interposed Dodge quickly. + +"Mr. Lewis," said Bill queerly. "Mr. Lewis, permit me to make you +acquainted with Charley Sears, generally called Handsome Charley. Will +you take a little pisen with us, Charley?" + +Handsome Charley gave Dodge his hand, which the lawyer shook gingerly, +his coolness causing the fellow to frown. + +They all drank, and Bill lurched, catching at the edge of the bar. + +"'Scuse me," he said, with unusual politeness. "Always makes me dizzy to +dance. There is a right good lot of whirlin' around in it, you know." + +Charley smiled. + +"You had a fine partner that last dance, Bill; but you ought to bring +out that handsome gal an' take a spin with her, man. I 'low it ain't +right to keep her under kiver when every gent yere is yearnin' to set +eyes on her." + +"They'll have to keep right on yearnin'," averred Bill, frowning. + +"You're gettin' a whole lot selfish," declared Charley. "Are you afeared +some other gent will git her away from ye if you brings her out?" + +"None at all, Charley. But she ain't for this gang to hustle around any, +and that's level." + +At this the other seemed to take offense. + +"I opine, Bill," he said, "that you don't set yourself up as a heap +better than the rest of this gang?" + +The cruel face of Cimarron Bill took on an expression that was a +warning. + +"Charley," he said, in a low, smooth voice, with one hand on the bar to +steady himself, "I am willing to confess that you disturbs me some. I +has my reasons for not bringin' the gal out, an' you'll sure excuse me +if I don't recite them none at present. Some other time I may explain." + +But Charley persisted. + +"Some other time it will be too late," he said. "I'm certain looking to +dance one set with the little beauty myself, Bill." + +"Sorry to disappoint you," returned Bill; "but the young lady doesn't +dance none, if you want to know one good reason." + +"Well, at least, you can bring her forth and permit us to gaze upon her +a while," suggested Charley. + +"Not to-night," was the firm retort. + +"Then it certain will seem a heap like you thought her too good for us, +and the boys won't like that a great deal if I tell 'em so." + +Bill leaned on the bar, his back against it and his elbows resting so +that his hands were close to his hips. In that manner he stood perfectly +steady, and he was in a position to draw his pistols quickly. + +"Charley," he said, his voice like the purring of a cat, all the +thickness seeming gone from his tongue, while his wicked eyes narrowed +to two thin slits, "I don't think you'll go for to say anything whatever +to the boys on this point. You are my friend, I opine. Am I sure right +on that?" + +At this juncture Handsome Charley realized all at once that Bill was not +yet drunk enough not to be deadly. Charley's eyes noted in a flash how +the man had steadied himself and was ready for anything, and Charley +decided that the time was not yet ripe for bringing on a quarrel. + +"Of course I'm your friend, Bill!" he said, with pretended heartiness, +"and whatever you says goes with me. I was just speakin' because I has +heard some of the boys growlin' over this business. That's all." + +Bill smiled, but his smile was anything but pleasant. + +"If any o' the boys growl around in your hearin' some more," he said, +"refer 'em to me, please. I reckons I can certain stop their growlin' in +a hurry." + +"All right, all right!" nodded Charley. + +"And you, pard," Bill went on--"you, I judge, will say to them that I +know my business a-plenty, and that you backs me up. Eh?" + +"Sure, sure, Bill." + +"I thought you would," nodded the desperado with the deadly eyes. "I +opined I could depend on you." + +"You bet! Have another drink, you and Mr. Lewis?" + +"Excuse us, please," urged Bill. "I hates most mortally to decline; but +I has some business to transact with Mr. Lewis, an' I says business +first an' pleasure arterwards. Arter we has settled the business I'll +stand up here to this yere bar an' drink with you as long as the pisen +lasts. Is that all satisfactory like?" + +This question was put in a manner that indicated beyond question that it +would be best for Charley to acknowledge that it was satisfactory, and +the acknowledgment was made. + +"Thanks," bowed Bill. "You're a sure enough gent, Charley, an' I'll +shoot the galoot what says to the contrary! An' now I reckons you'll +excuse us a while. Come, Mr. Lewis, thar's a small back room, an' we'll +jest step in thar." + +Through this Dodge had stood there pale to the lips, with the exception +of his blue nose, for he realized that these men were on the verge of a +disagreement, and he understood that a disagreement between them meant +shooting in short order. Bill, however, had won out by a display of calm +assurance and nerve, which was remarkable, considering his condition. + +The ruffian slipped an arm through that of Dodge, and they crossed the +floor and passed through a narrow door just as the fiddler resumed his +seat and called for the men to select partners and form for the next +dance. + +Frank had watched every move, realizing full well that there was a +possibility of a "gun play" between those two desperadoes. He was unable +to hear what passed between them, but still he fancied he knew the bulk +of it, and, in spite of himself, in spite of the character of the man, +he could not help admitting Cimarron Bill's masterfulness. Frank +comprehended that Charley had thought at first of forcing a quarrel, but +had been cowed by Bill's manner. + +The agitation of Eliot Dodge was also quite apparent. Merry had already +marked Dodge down as a coward. + +When the two men passed into the back room Frank longed to follow them. +He sat there, wondering what course to pursue. + +That June Arlington was somewhere in Sunk Hole he now felt certain. The +talk of the two men who had been seated near him was assurance enough on +that point. + +But where was she? How was he to find and rescue her? This task he now +understood as the most important one before him and the one to which he +was to give his attention at once, regardless of the capture of Bill, +which could be accomplished later. + +As he sat there, thinking the affair over and seeking to decide on some +course to pursue, he was surprised and pleased to distinctly hear Bill +speaking in the room beyond the board partition. These boards were thin +and badly matched, so that there were large cracks at intervals. One of +these cracks happened to be just behind Frank's head. By shifting his +position slightly, he brought his ear close to the crack. + +The fiddler was tuning up, and the rough men and women were laughing as +they formed on the floor for the next dance. + +Frank was able to concentrate his mind on anything he chose, at the same +time becoming quite oblivious to everything else; and now he shut out +the sounds of the room in which he sat and listened with all his ability +to hear what passed beyond the partition. + +"Sure, partner," Bill's voice was saying, "it surprises me a whole lot +to see you come pokin' in here. However did you git here?" + +"Terry came with me all the way. You said he would bring word to you +from me, but I could not wait. I wanted to have a talk with you face to +face, without trusting to any middle man. I felt that I must do it, and +that's what brought me here for one thing." + +"Waal, here you are, and now open up. I'm ready to listen to anything +whatever you has to say." + +"In the first place," Frank distinctly heard Dodge say, "Ben File is +dead." + +"Say you so?" exclaimed Bill, and his voice indicated regret. "I allow +I'm a-plenty sorry." + +"It was bad work." + +"That's right. Don't know how I happened to do anything like that. Never +did afore. I saw Merriwell make a jump, and I thought from the way he +done it the bullet sure had gone clean through him." + +"And you never touched him!" + +"Don't rub it in harder than you kin help, Mr. Dodge!" + +"Hush! Don't speak that name here! It must not get out that I'm in this +game! It would ruin me!" + +"That's all right, pard; no danger. Hear the racket out yonder in that +room. Nobody would ever think o' tryin' to hear what we're sayin'." + +"Still it will be better to keep on calling me Lewis. It's a dangerous +game we've tackled, and I want to get it through in a hurry now. That's +why I'm here." + +"Waal, whatever do you say is the next move?" + +"Merriwell got out of Holbrook right after you." + +"I knows it. The gent sure chases me a distance, but he gits lost, +together with his pards, some time afore night." + +"Well, now is the time to make the demand on Mrs. Arlington for the +ransom money. It must be rushed along. She's in a state of mind so that +she'll be sure to give up easy now. I've waited for this, and I find she +will pay well to have June returned to her unharmed." + +"That's a heap soothin' and agreeable news. I has waited fer you to say +when it was best to make the demand on the old lady." + +"And I've waited until I felt sure she was so distressed and agitated +that she would yield. She did not wish her husband to know of her +presence here, and so she sent no word to him at first. Now she has +wired him the whole facts, and we can reckon that he'll be coming this +way as fast as steam can carry him. It's best to get the whole deal +through, if possible, before he shows up." + +"I'm for it." + +"You must write a demand on the woman for the boodle. She has diamonds +and jewels with her on which she can raise ten thousand dollars. Make +her raise it at once. Don't let her delay. Frighten her into it." + +"I opines I can do that. I'll give her a scorcher. I'll tell her the gal +is all safe an' onharmed, but she has to plunk down instanter or I'll +send her one o' Miss June's fingers to hurry her up a leetle." + +"That will go. I think that ought to start her." + +"If you says so, I'll make it stiffer. What if I adds that one o' the +gal's prittey hands will foller? or an ear--mebbe that's better?" + +"As you choose. Say that the money is to be placed in my hands to be +delivered to your agent, who will meet me on the open plain ten miles +from Holbrook in whatever direction you choose. Then I can ride out with +it and come back, and you can bring the girl into town under cover of +night." + +"I reckon that ought to work, partner. This yere game is your plannin', +an' I falls inter it because I reckons it was easier than gittin' ahead +o' Merriwell an' seizin' the mine. Had I shot up Merriwell, instead o' +File, I'd 'a' called on the lady hard fer the price, which, together +with the money I'll get out o' this strike, would have made me easy for +a right good while." + +"I'm against your idea of trying to saddle the kidnaping onto +Merriwell." + +"Why?" + +"I don't think it will go. Merriwell might return to Holbrook. If the +demand for money had his name attached, his arrest would seem to put him +where it would be necessary for him to produce the girl. Mrs. Arlington +was for forcing him to do so when File took him. Anything like that +would cause delay, and delay is something we do not want." + +"Mr.--ah--Mr. Lewis, you sure reasons correct. We'll jest hitch a +made-up name to the demand for money, which will be a whole lot better." + +"I think so. And now let's write this demand, so that I may turn about +and get out of this hole immediately. You must furnish me with a fresh +horse. I'm supposed now to be searching for Merriwell, several men in +town having set out upon the same task, for Mrs. Arlington offered a +reward for his recapture. I will be able to make a very satisfactory +explanation of my absence from Holbrook." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +DEAD OR LIVING. + + +Frank's feelings on listening to this talk, the greater part of which he +was able to hear very well, may be imagined far more easily than +described. At last he was in full possession of the facts relating to +the abduction of June Arlington, and a greater piece of villainy had +never come to his knowledge. From the first he had regarded Eliot Dodge +as a scoundrel of the worst type; but he had not gaged the man as one +who would enter into such a desperate scheme as this. + +Merry had also learned that Ben File was dead, and, therefore, he was +released from his promise to bring back Cimarron Bill. + +Immediately his one thought turned to June and to the devising of some +method of discovering her whereabouts and going to her rescue. Later he +could think of other things; but not until this great object had been +accomplished. + +The voices of the men ran on in the little room, though words grew +fewer, and Merry knew the demand for the ransom money was being written. + +For a moment he thought of the satisfaction it would give him to expose +the rascally lawyer and bring him to the end of his tether. Then he saw +Handsome Charley speaking quietly in the ear of a man, afterward +passing on to another and yet another. There was something in Charley's +manner that seemed very significant. + +"There's trouble brewing for Bill," Frank decided. "It's coming as sure +as fate." + +He felt for his own weapons, making sure they were where he could draw +them and use them without delay; but Frank did not propose to become +involved in the affair unless circumstances made it impossible to keep +out. + +Again he listened at the crack in the partition, hoping that some word +passed between Dodge and Bill would tell him where June was hidden. In +this Merry was disappointed. True, Dodge asked about the girl and Bill +assured him that she was perfectly safe and unharmed, but that was all. + +The dance was over and another was in progress when Bill and Eliot Dodge +came from that back room. Handsome Charley and his satellites were +watching these two men. But they were permitted to pass to the door, +where Bill shook hands with Dodge, who hurried forth into the night. + +"How is that, Bill?" demanded Charley, hastily approaching. "I opine you +agreed that you an' your friend would sure drink with me arter your +business was over. I notices that he has hiked." + +Bill turned. + +"Count me in, Charley," he said easily. "Mr.--ah--Lewis, he didn't hev +time. My neck is again a whole lot dry, and I'll be pleased to irrigate +with you." + +So they stood up to the bar, and Frank saw a number of men drawing near +from different directions, all coming forward quietly. + +Charley openly expressed his disapproval of the conduct of Eliot Dodge. + +"He certain was most onmannerly, Bill," he declared. + +"Forget it," advised Bill curtly. + +And this was not at all agreeable to the other. + +"Mebbe I can't do that none," said Charley; "but I'll tell ye, Bill, +what will help a whole lot." + +"Go ahead," said Bill. + +"You has right up-stairs in this same ranch a young lady what is +handsome enough to make any gent fergit a wrong, an' her I most mightily +wants to bring down yere." + +Frank heard the words distinctly, and they gave him a start. Handsome +Charley was speaking of June Arlington; there could be no doubt of that. +He said June was "up-stairs in that same ranch." At last Frank had +received the clue he was seeking. + +More than Merry saw trouble was brewing between Charley and Bill, and +now the attention of almost every person in the room was directed toward +them. + +Bill's face grew grim, and again his eyes narrowed and glittered. + +"See yere," he said harshly, "I allows we has settled the p'int in +regard to her, an' so you lets it drop, Charley." + +Frank knew that pistols would be out in a few seconds more. He did not +wait for the men to draw and begin to shoot. + +There was no flight of stairs in the room where the dance was taking +place, and, therefore, he immediately decided that the stairs might be +found in the back room, where the interview between Bill and Eliot Dodge +had taken place. The door leading into that room was closed, but Frank +slipped quickly to it, and it readily opened before his hand. + +He found himself in a bare room, having but little furniture, a table, a +bed, some chairs, and, as Frank had believed likely, a steep flight of +stairs ran railless up one side of the room, disappearing at a dark +landing above. + +In a twinkling Merry was bounding lightly up those stairs, the sounds of +loud and angry voices coming from the dance-room, where the music and +dancing had now stopped. + +Frank knew that whatever he did must be done in a hurry, for, allowing +that in the trouble in the dance-room, Handsome Charley should come +forth triumphant it was likely that June would be sought by some of +those ruffians. + +The thought of this spurred Merry on. He pictured to himself the terror +of the poor girl seized by those men and dragged into the presence of +the mob below. + +"They shall not touch her!" he muttered. "If I can reach her, they shall +not touch her!" + +Then he found himself, in the gloom of the landing, against a heavy +door. He sought to open it, but it was locked. + +From below came the sound of a shot. Then there were shouts and other +shots. + +"The devils have broken loose!" exclaimed Merry, and he wondered how it +fared with Bill. + +In vain he felt for the fastenings of the door. His heart smote him with +the fear that it would withstand any attack he might direct upon it. + +Then he found a match and struck it. The light showed him something that +made his heart leap with satisfaction. + +Across the face of the door, lying in iron slots, was an iron bar that +held it fast. + +The match was dropped in a twinkling, and Frank's fingers lifted the bar +from the slots and its socket. Then he easily opened the door. + +At that instant it seemed as if pandemonium broke loose below. There was +a perfect fusillade of shots, hoarse shouts from men and wild shrieks +from women. There was likewise a terrible crash, as if some part of the +building had been ripped down. + +"June!" called Frank. "June! June!" + +The room in which he found himself was dark and silent. + +"June! June! I am a friend! Answer me!" + +Still silence. + +Again he brought forth and struck a match. It flared up in his fingers, +and he lifted it above his head, looking all around. + +Stretched on the floor in a huddled heap in one corner was the body of a +girl. The glance he had obtained convinced him that it was June beyond +question. + +Frank sprang forward, again speaking her name and assuring her that he +was a friend. + +In the darkness he found her with his hands. She did not move when he +touched her, and his fingers ran to her face. It was cold as marble to +the touch, and a great horror filled his soul. + +"Merciful God!" he groaned, starting back a little. "They have killed +her. The devils!" + +The shock was so great that he remained quite still on his knees for a +few moments. + +He was aroused by the sound of heavy feet upon the stairs. + +Frank sprang up and dashed across the room to the door. + +The door leading into the dance-room had been left wide open below. He +saw that a number of men had entered the back room, and already two or +three were on the stairs. Handsome Charley was at their head. + +Frank was trapped! + +At once he realized that Cimarron Bill was, beyond a doubt, lying in a +pool of his own blood in the dance-room. At last the most desperate and +dangerous man-killer of the Southwest had met his master. + +Merry had little time, however, to think of anything like this. His own +life was in the utmost peril. He drew his revolver, and, with the utmost +coolness, put a bullet through Handsome Charley's right shoulder. + +With a cry, the man fell back into the arms of the one directly behind +him, and that fellow was upset, so that all were swept in a great crash +to the foot of the stairs. + +"Perhaps that will hold you for a while!" muttered Frank, as he picked +up the iron bar and promptly closed the door at the head of the stairs. + +He had seized the bar because he thought it might be a good weapon of +defense in case his revolvers should be emptied and he remained in +condition to fight. Now he thought of something else, and decided that +the bar might do for a prop at the door. + +"There ought to be some other way out of this room," he muttered. "Isn't +there even a window?" + +Again he struck a match, looking around with the aid of its light. + +At the end of the long room in which he found himself he fancied he must +find a window. Toward this end of the room he hurried, and another match +disclosed to him a window that was hidden by heavy planking. Plainly the +planks had been spiked over the window after it was decided to hold June +a prisoner in that room. + +Down dropped the match, and instantly Frank attacked the planks with the +iron bar. + +Fortune must have favored him, for had it been light he could not have +been more successful. Every stroke was effective, and he began ripping +off the planks. + +There was wild excitement below, and Merry prayed for a little time. His +heart was filled with a hope that Handsome Charley's fate would be a +warning to others, so they would not be eager to rush up the stairs to +the door. + +In just about one minute he had torn the planks from the window. + +Once more he heard men ascending the stairs. Instantly he dashed across +the floor, finding the door in the darkness. + +"Halt!" he cried savagely, from behind the closed door. "Halt, or I +fire!" + +Then he sought to prop the door with the iron bar, pressing it down in +such a position that it might hold for some moments against an ordinary +attack upon it. + +"I'll shoot the first man who tries to open this door!" he shouted. + +But he did not remain there to await an effort to open the door. Instead +he quickly found the girl in the corner, lifted her limp body, and +sought the window once more. + +Reaching the window, Frank promptly kicked out sash and glass with two +movements of his foot. + +Bang! bang! bang!--sounded heavy blows on the door behind him, but the +iron bar was holding well. + +Merry swung his leg over the window-ledge. Desperate as he was, he meant +to venture a leap from the window to the ground with the girl in his +arms. + +But just then, pausing to look down, he was amazed and delighted to see +below him his four friends, who were on the point of entering the +building, led by Bart Hodge. Instantly Frank hailed them. + +"Catch her!" he cried, swinging the girl out over the window-ledge, so +that they could see her below. + +Immediately Bart and Ephraim extended their arms and stood ready. + +"Let her come!" shouted Hodge. + +Frank dropped the girl, and the two young men clutched at her as she +fell directly into their arms. + +At that moment the door behind Merry flew open with a slam and the +ruffians came bursting into the room. + +One of them held a lighted lamp. + +The fellow in advance saw Frank in the window and flung up his hand. +There was a loud report and a burst of smoke. When the smoke cleared the +window was empty, Frank having disappeared. + +"Nailed him!" shouted the ruffian who had fired. "Nailed him for sure!" + +He rushed forward to the window and looked down, expecting to discover +the body of his victim stretched on the ground. But in this he was +disappointed, for neither Frank nor his friends were beneath the +window. Into the darkness of the crooked street some dusky figures were +vanishing. + +Frank had leaped from the window, being untouched by the bullet that +fanned his cheek in passing. He struck on his feet, but plunged forward +on his hands and knees. In a moment he was jerked erect by some one who +observed: + +"Methinks your parachute must be out of order. You descended with +exceeding great violence. What think you if we make haste to depart?" + +"Jack!" exclaimed Frank. + +"The same," was the assurance, as Ready clutched his arm and started him +on the run. "Dear me! I know this strenuous life will yet bring me to my +death!" + +Ahead of them Frank saw some figures moving hastily away. + +"The girl----" + +"They've got her," assured Jack. "Old Joe is with them. We'll talk it +over later." + +So they ran, well knowing the whole of Sunk Hole would be looking for +them within thirty minutes. It did not take them long to come up with +Bart, Ephraim, and old Joe. + +Behind them there sounded shouts and commands, and it was well the whole +of Sunk Hole had been at the dance, else the place must have been +aroused so that they would have run into some of its inhabitants. Here +and there amid the buildings they dodged until they arrived at the edge +of the collection and struck out for the side of the valley, Crowfoot +leading. + +It was necessary to trust everything to the old Indian. Without him they +could not have known with any certainty that they were taking the proper +course to enable them to get out of the valley. + +The girl was passed from one to another as they ran. They did not waste +their breath in words. + +The old Indian ran with an ease that was astonishing, considering his +years. + +Looking back, they could see torches moving swiftly here and there +through the town, telling that the search for them was being carried on. + +Soon they came to a steep gully that led upward, and the ascent was very +difficult, even at first. It grew more and more difficult as they +ascended, and it became necessary for them to work slowly in the +darkness, the girl being passed upward from time to time, as one after +another took turns at creeping ahead. + +Joe did not seem to have much trouble, but he did not bother with the +girl. Finally he said: + +"Here come bad palefaces! Make some big hurry!" + +It was true that a party of men were running toward the gully. Their +torches danced and flared, showing them with some distinctness. + +To the right and left in other parts of the valley were clusters of +torches. + +"Heap try to stop us," exclaimed Crowfoot. "One way to go up there, +'nother way down there, this be 'nother way. They know all. That how um +come here so fast." + +By the time the men with the torches reached the foot of the gully Frank +and his comrades were so far above that they were not betrayed by the +torchlight. But one of the ruffians bade the others listen, and at that +very moment Ephraim Gallup dislodged a stone that went clattering and +rattling downward with a great racket. + +Instantly a wild yell broke from the lips of the ruffians below. + +"Here they are!" they shouted. "They're up here!" + +Then one of them began to blaze away with his pistols, and the bullets +whistled and zipped unpleasantly close to the party above. + +Bart Hodge stooped and found some rocks as large as ducks' eggs in the +hollow of the gully. He knew it would expose their position if he should +answer the fire with his revolvers, and so he simply hurled those rocks +with all the accuracy and skill that had made him noted on the baseball +diamond as a wonderful thrower to second base. + +The first rock struck a fellow on the wrist and broke it. The third hit +another man on the shoulder, and not many of the six Bart threw failed +to take effect. + +Astonishing though it seemed, this method of retorting to the shooting +proved most effective, and the ruffians scattered to get out of the way, +swearing horribly. + +The fugitives continued till the top of the gully was reached and they +struck something like a natural path that soon took them where they +could no longer see the valley nor hear their enemies. + +Knowing they would be followed still farther, they halted not for a +moment until their horses were reached. Then they paused only to make +ready and swing into the saddle. + +Even as June was passed up to Frank she sighed and seemed to come a +little to herself. And as they rode into the dusk of the night she +recovered consciousness, the cool breeze fanning her face. She wondered +and shuddered until she heard the voice of Frank Merriwell reassuring +her, and then she was certain that it was all a dream. In her prison +room she had listened with shaking soul to the sounds from below, she +had crept to the barred door and heard Cimarron Bill and Eliot Dodge +talking below, and the horror of knowing the rascally lawyer was in the +plot that had brought about her abduction and detention in that den had +been a fearful shock to her. When the quarreling and the shooting began, +she was filled with mortal dread. She heard some one on the stairs and +fumbling at her door, and then, kneeling in a corner of the room, all +the world slipped away from her, and she remembered nothing more until +she awoke in the arms of her brave rescuer, Frank Merriwell. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +THE RETURN TO HOLBROOK. + + +Haggard from worriment and need of sleep, her face seeming drawn and +old, her eyes feeling like coals in her throbbing head, Mrs. Arlington +welcomed Eliot Dodge, who came into the room, looking dejected yet +seeming to appear hopeful. + +"June! June, my child?" cried the tortured mother. "Have you no news of +her?" + +"Nothing but--this," said Dodge, pulling out an unsealed letter. + +Then he briefly told of being held up by three ruffians, who had given +him the letter. + +Mrs. Arlington read it, and fell half-fainting on the couch, while Dodge +bent over her with protestations of sympathy. + +"My poor girl!" gasped the miserable woman. "And she is in the power of +such monsters! The ransom money must be paid! She must be saved at +once!" + +"Is there no way to avoid paying the money?" said Dodge. "Is it not +possible she may be saved in some other manner?" + +"I think it is," said a clear voice, as the door was thrust open and +Frank Merriwell, covered from head to heel with the dust of the desert, +escorted the rescued girl into the room. "Mrs. Arlington, I have +brought you your daughter." + +With a scream of joy, Mrs. Arlington leaped up and June ran into her +arms. + +Eliot Dodge seemed to turn green. He stood and stared at the girl in a +sort of blank stupor, failing to observe that just behind Frank +Merriwell, who still wore the clothes taken from the intoxicated +Mexican, there was the officer newly appointed to fill the place left +vacant by the death of Ben File. + +"June! June! June!" cried Mrs. Arlington, her face flushed with +gladness. "Is it you, my poor girl! I can scarcely believe it! How does +it happen? Tell me how you come to be here!" + +"I am here, mother, because I was rescued from those horrible ruffians +by that brave gentleman whom you have so greatly wronged, Frank +Merriwell. He risked his life for me. I will tell you all, but +first--first I must tell you that you have trusted a snake. I mean that +monster there!" + +She pointed her finger at Dodge, who started and looked startled, but +pretended the utmost amazement. + +"He is the villain who planned it all!" declared June. "I know, for I +heard them talk it over. But he shall not escape!" + +"I hardly think so," said Frank. "Officer, he is a desperate man. Be +careful of him." + +"This is an outrage!" declared Dodge, as the new city marshal grasped +him. "I'll not permit it! I----" + +Frank clutched him on the other side, and, a moment later, the officer +had ironed his prisoner. + +Mrs. Arlington would have interfered, but Merry declared he had sworn +out the warrant for Dodge's arrest, and she saw it was useless. + +"Madam," said Frank, "I will leave you alone with your daughter. When +she has told you all, you will be ready, I am confident, to prosecute +Eliot Dodge. I shall then withdraw my charge and permit you to have him +arrested. In the meantime I bid you good day. I shall be in this hotel +for the next day or so." + +He bowed gracefully to both Mrs. Arlington and June and left the room. + + * * * * * + +When there was plenty of time, Frank and his friends talked it over. He +told them of his experience in the dance-room, and they told him how +they had lingered near, ready to rush to his rescue. When they heard the +sounds of the quarrel between Cimarron Bill and Handsome Charley they +hurried to the door, but there they halted, for they looked in and saw +nothing of Frank. Thus it was that they beheld the shooting of Bill as +he tried to draw on Charley. He was shot down from behind by Charley's +tools, and they fired several bullets into his body as he lay weltering +on the floor. + +Frank shook his head as he heard this account of Bill's end. + +"He was a bad man, a very bad man," he said; "but somehow I'm sorry +that he met his end that way. They had to shoot him from the rear. Not +one of them dared pull on him face to face." + +Frank received a brief letter from Mrs. Arlington, thanking him for what +he had done for her daughter. Not one word did she say of her own +malevolence toward him, not one word of the manner in which she had +wronged him. And the doctor, who brought the letter, told Merry that she +was in such a precarious condition that she could not write more, nor +could she be seen by any one but June. + +Frank smiled grimly, disdainfully, over the letter, then deliberately +tore it into shreds. + +But he had proved his manhood, and June Arlington, for all of her +mother, found time to see him a few moments before he left town. After +that brief time with June he rode light-heartedly away, his friends +galloping at his side and listening to the cowboy song that came from +his lips. + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +Because of extensive use of dialect, all apparent errors within dialogue +have been assumed intentional and retained. + +Page 5, "Merriell's" changed to "Merriwell's" (Frank Merriwell's Rough +Deal) + +Page 24, changed erroneous period to comma ("I have no desire or +intention of irking you up, sir," he said.) + +Page 27, "referrring" changed to "referring" (Certain papers referring +to the Queen Mystery and San Pablo Mines, which I own.) + +Page 93, added missing opening quote ("I think I'll finish you!") + +Page 213, "Cimaroon" changed to "Cimarron" (Cimarron Bill watched his +tool depart, smiling darkly and muttering to himself) + +Page 216, removed extraneous quote after "hurriedly" ("Oh, velly good, +velly good!" answered the Celestial hurriedly, backing off a little, his +face yellowish white.) + +Page 217, "cant" changed to "can't" ("I can't beat him at his own +game.") + +Page 300, changed single quote to double quote at end of sentence ("In +the first place," Frank distinctly heard Dodge say, "Ben File is dead.") + +Page 318, "Merriwel" changed to "Merriwell" (He stood and stared at the +girl in a sort of blank stupor, failing to observe that just behind +Frank Merriwell, who still wore the clothes taken from the intoxicated +Mexican, there was the officer newly appointed to fill the place left +vacant by the death of Ben File.) + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK MERRIWELL'S BACKERS*** + + +******* This file should be named 39433.txt or 39433.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/9/4/3/39433 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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