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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:12:45 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:12:45 -0700 |
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diff --git a/39433-h/39433-h.htm b/39433-h/39433-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..10fc9a0 --- /dev/null +++ b/39433-h/39433-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,12619 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Frank Merriwell's Backers, by Burt L. 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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