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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/10124-0.txt b/10124-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..893dfeb --- /dev/null +++ b/10124-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5528 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10124 *** + +AUNT JANE'S NIECES AND UNCLE JOHN + +BY + +EDITH VAN DYNE + +AUTHOR OF "AUNT JANE'S NIECES," "AUNT JANE'S NIECES ABROAD," "AUNT +JANE'S NIECES AT MILLVILLE," "AUNT JANE'S NIECES AT WORK." "AUNT +JANE'S NIECES IN SOCIETY," ETC. + +1911 + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + + I INTRODUCING "MUMBLES" + II UNCLE JOHN'S IDEA + III MYRTLE DEAN + IV AN INTERESTING PROTÉGÉ + V A WONDER ON WHEELS + VI WAMPUS SPEEDS + VII THE CHAUFFEUR IMPROVES + VIII AMONG THE INDIANS + IX NATURE'S MASTERPIECE + X A COYOTE SERENADE + XI A REAL ADVENTURE AT LAST + XII CAPTURED + XIII THE FIDDLER + XIV THE ESCAPE + XV THE ROMANCE OF DAN'L + XVI THE LODGING AT SPOTVILLE + XVII YELLOW POPPIES + XVIII THE SILENT MAN + XIX "THREE TIMES" + XX ON POINT LOMA + XXI A TALE OF WOE + XXII THE CONFESSION + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +INTRODUCING "MUMBLES" + + +Major Gregory Doyle paced nervously up and down the floor of the cosy +sitting room. + +"Something's surely happened to our Patsy!" he exclaimed. + +A little man with a calm face and a bald head, who was seated near the +fire, continued to read his newspaper and paid no attention to the +outburst. + +"Something has happened to Patsy!" repeated the Major, "Patsy" meaning +his own and only daughter Patricia. + +"Something is always happening to everyone," said the little man, +turning his paper indifferently. "Something is happening to me, for I +can't find the rest of this article. Something is happening to you, +for you're losing your temper." + +"I'm not, sir! I deny it." + +"As for Patsy," continued the other, "she is sixteen years old and +knows New York like a book. The girl is safe enough." + +"Then where is she? Tell me that, sir. Here it is, seven o'clock, dark +as pitch and raining hard, and Patsy is never out after six. Can you, +John Merrick, sit there like a lump o' putty and do nothing, when your +niece and my own darlin' Patsy is lost--or strayed or stolen?" + +"What would you propose doing?" asked Uncle John, looking up with a +smile. + +"We ought to get out the police department. It's raining and cold, +and--" + +"Then we ought to get out the fire department. Call Mary to put on +more coal and let's have it warm and cheerful when Patsy comes in." + +"But, sir--" + +"The trouble with you, Major, is that dinner is half an hour late. One +can imagine all sorts of horrible things on an empty stomach. Now, +then--" + +He paused, for a pass-key rattled in the hall door and a moment later +Patsy Doyle, rosy and animated, fresh from the cold and wet outside, +smilingly greeted them. + +She had an umbrella, but her cloak was dripping with moisture and in +its ample folds was something huddled and bundled up like a baby, +which she carefully protected. + +"So, then," exclaimed the Major, coming forward for a kiss, "you're +back at last, safe and sound. Whatever kept ye out 'til this time o' +night, Patsy darlin'?" he added, letting the brogue creep into his +tone, as he did when stirred by any emotion. + +Uncle John started to take off her wet cloak. + +"Look out!" cried Patsy; "you'll disturb Mumbles." + +The two men looked at her bundle curiously. + +"Who's Mumbles?" asked one. + +"What on earth is Mumbles?" inquired the other. + +The bundle squirmed and wriggled. Patsy sat down on the floor and +carefully unwound the folds of the cloak. A tiny dog, black and +shaggy, put his head out, blinked sleepily at the lights, pulled his +fat, shapeless body away from the bandages and trotted solemnly over +to the fireplace. He didn't travel straight ahead, as dogs ought to +walk, but "cornerwise," as Patsy described it; and when he got to the +hearth he rolled himself into a ball, lay down and went to sleep. + +During this performance a tense silence had pervaded the room. The +Major looked at the dog rather gloomily; Uncle John with critical eyes +that held a smile in them; Patsy with ecstatic delight. + +"Isn't he a dear!" she exclaimed. + +"It occurs to me," said the Major stiffly, "that this needs an +explanation. Do you mean to say, Patsy Doyle, that you've worried the +hearts out of us this past hour, and kept the dinner waiting, all +because of a scurvy bit of an animal?" + +"Pshaw!" said Uncle John. "Speak for yourself, Major. I wasn't worried +a bit." + +"You see," explained Patsy, rising to take off her things and put them +away, "I was coming home early when I first met Mumbles. A little boy +had him, with a string tied around his neck, and when Mumbles tried +to run up to me the boy jerked him back cruelly--and afterward kicked +him. That made me mad." + +"Of course," said Uncle John, nodding wisely. + +"I cuffed the boy, and he said he'd take it out on Mumbles, as soon as +I'd gone away. I didn't like that. I offered to buy the dog, but the +boy didn't dare sell him. He said it belonged to his father, who'd +kill him and kick up a row besides if he didn't bring Mumbles home. +So I found out where they lived and as it wasn't far away I went home +with him." + +"Crazy Patsy!" smiled Uncle John. + +"And the dinner waiting!" groaned the Major, reproachfully. + +"Well, I had a time, you can believe!" continued Patsy, with +animation. "The man was a big brute, and half drunk. He grabbed up the +little doggie and threw it into a box, and then told me to go home and +mind my business." + +"Which of course you refused to do." + +"Of course. I'd made up my mind to have that dog." + +"Dogs," said the Major, "invariably are nuisances." + +"Not invariably," declared Patsy. "Mumbles is different. Mumbles is a +good doggie, and wise and knowing, although he's only a baby dog yet. +And I just couldn't leave him to be cuffed and kicked and thrown +around by those brutes. When the man found I was determined to have +Mumbles he demanded twenty-five dollars." + +"Twenty-five dollars!" It startled Uncle John. + +"For that bit of rags and meat?" asked the Major, looking at the puppy +with disfavor. "Twenty-five cents would be exorbitant." + +"The man misjudged me," observed Patsy, with a merry laugh that +matched her twinkling blue eyes. "In the end he got just two +dollars for Mumbles, and when I came away he bade me good-bye very +respectfully. The boy howled. He hasn't any dog to kick and is +broken-hearted. As for Mumbles, he's going to lead a respectable life +and be treated like a dog." + +"Do you mean to keep him?" inquired the Major. + +"Why not?" said Patsy. "Don't you like him, Daddy?" + +Her father turned Mumbles over with his toe. The puppy lay upon its +back, lazily, with all four paws in the air, and cast a comical glance +from one beady bright eye at the man who had disturbed him. + +The Major sighed. + +"He can't hunt, Patsy; he's not even a mouser." + +"We haven't a mouse in the house." + +"He's neither useful nor ornamental. From the looks o' the beast he's +only good to sleep and eat." + +"What's the odds?" laughed Patsy, coddling Mumbles up in her arms. +"We don't expect use or ornamentation from Mumbles. All we ask is his +companionship." + +Mary called them to dinner just then, and the girl hurried to her room +to make a hasty toilet while the men sat down at the table and eyed +their soup reflectively. + +"This addition to the family," remarked Uncle John, "need not make +you at all unhappy, my dear Major. Don't get jealous of Mumbles, for +heaven's sake, for the little brute may add a bit to Patsy's bliss." + +"It's the first time I've ever allowed a dog in the house." + +"You are not running this present establishment. It belongs +exclusively to Patsy." + +"I've always hated the sight of a woman coddling a dog," added the +Major, frowning. + +"I know. I feel the same way myself. But it isn't the dog's fault. +It's the woman's. And Patsy won't make a fool of herself over that +frowsy puppy, I assure you. On the contrary, she's likely to get a lot +of joy out of her new plaything, and if you really want to make her +happy, Major, don't discourage this new whim, absurd as it seems. Let +Patsy alone. And let Mumbles alone." + +The girl came in just then, bringing sunshine with her. Patsy Doyle +was not very big for her years, and some people unkindly described her +form as "chubby." She had glorious red hair--really-truly red--and her +blue eyes were the merriest, sweetest eyes any girl could possess. You +seldom noticed her freckles, her saucy chin or her turned-up nose; you +only saw the laughing eyes and crown of golden red, and seeing them +you liked Patsy Doyle at once and imagined she was very good to look +at, if not strictly beautiful. No one had friends more loyal, +and these two old men--the stately Major and round little Uncle +John--fairly worshiped Patsy. + +No one might suspect, from the simple life of this household, which +occupied the second corner flat at 3708 Willing Square, that Miss +Doyle was an heiress. Not only that, but perhaps one of the very +richest girls in New York. And the reason is readily explained when +I state the fact that Patsy's Uncle John Merrick, the round little +bald-headed man who sat contentedly eating his soup, was a man of many +millions, and this girl his favorite niece. An old bachelor who had +acquired an immense fortune in the far Northwest, Mr. Merrick had +lately retired from active business and come East to seek any +relatives that might remain to him after forty years' absence. His +sister Jane had gathered around her three nieces--Louise Merrick, +Elizabeth De Graf and Patricia Doyle--and when Aunt Jane died Uncle +John adopted these three girls and made their happiness the one care +of his jolly, unselfish life. At that time Major Doyle, Patsy's only +surviving parent, was a poor bookkeeper; but Uncle John gave him +charge of his vast property interests, and loving Patsy almost as +devotedly as did her father, made his home with the Doyles and began +to enjoy himself for the first time in his life. + +At the period when this story opens the eldest niece, Louise Merrick, +had just been married to Arthur Weldon, a prosperous young business +man, and the remaining two nieces, as well as Uncle John, were feeling +rather lonely and depressed. The bride had been gone on her honeymoon +three days, and during the last two days it had rained persistently; +so, until Patsy came home from a visit to Beth and brought the tiny +dog with her, the two old gentlemen had been feeling dreary enough. + +Patsy always livened things up. Nothing could really depress this +spirited girl for long, and she was always doing some interesting +thing to create a little excitement. + +"If she hadn't bought a twenty-five cent pup for two dollars," +remarked the Major, "she might have brought home an orphan from the +gutters, or a litter of tomcats, or one of the goats that eat the +tin cans at Harlem. Perhaps, after all, we should be thankful it's +only--what's his name?" + +"Mumbles," said Patsy, merrily. "The boy said they called him that +because he mumbled in his sleep. Listen!" + +Indeed, the small waif by the fire was emitting a series of noises +that seemed a queer mixture of low growls and whines--evidence +unimpeachable that he had been correctly named. + +At Patsy's shout of laughter, supplemented by Uncle John's chuckles +and a reproachful cough from the Major, Mumbles awakened and lifted +his head. It may be an eye discovered the dining-table in the next +room, or an intuitive sense of smell directed him, for presently the +small animal came trotting in--still traveling "cornerwise"--and sat +up on his hind legs just beside Patsy's chair. + +"That settles it," said the Major, as his daughter began feeding the +dog. "Our happy home is broken up." + +"Perhaps not," suggested Uncle John, reaching out to pat the soft head +of Mumbles. "It may be the little beggar will liven us all up a bit." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +UNCLE JOHN'S IDEA + + +Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by +the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked +around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision. + +"I have an idea," he announced. + +"Did you find it in your dreams, then?" asked the Major, sharply. + +"Why, Daddy, how cross you are!" cried Patsy. "Can't Uncle John have +an idea if he wants to?" + +"I'm afraid of his ideas," admitted the Major, suspiciously. "Every +time he goes to sleep and catches a thought, it means trouble." + +Patsy laughed, looking at her uncle curiously, and the little man +smiled at her genially in return. + +"It takes me a long time to figure a thing out," he said; "and when +I've a problem to solve a bit of a snooze helps wonderfully. Patsy, +dear, it occurs to me we're lonely." + +"We surely are, Uncle!" she exclaimed. + +"And in the dumps." + +"Our spirits are at the bottom of the bottomless pit." + +"So what we need is--a change." + +"There it goes!" said the Major ruefully. "I knew very well any idea +of John Merrick's would cause us misery. But understand this, you +miserable home-wrecker, sir, my daughter Patsy steps not one foot out +of New York this winter." + +"Why not?" mildly inquired Uncle John. + +"Because you've spirited her away from me times enough, and deprived +her only parent of her society. First you gallivanted off to Europe, +and then to Millville, and next to Elmhurst; so now, egad, I'm going +to keep the girl with me if I have to throttle every idea in your +wicked old head!" + +"But I'm planning to take you along, this time. Major," observed Uncle +John reflectively. + +"Oh. Hum! Well, I can't go. There's too much business to be attended +to--looking after your horrible money." + +"Take a vacation. You know I don't care anything about the business. +It can't go very wrong, anyhow. What does it matter if my income isn't +invested properly, or the bond coupons cut when they're due? Drat the +money!" + +"That's what I say," added Patsy eagerly. "Be a man, Major Doyle, and +put the business out of your mind. Let's go somewhere and have a good +romp. It will cheer us up." + +The Major stared first at one and then at the other. + +"What's the programme, John?" he asked stiffly. + +"It's going to be a cold winter," remarked the little man, bobbing his +head up and down slowly. + +"It is!" cried Patsy, clasping her hands fervently. "I can feel it in +my bones." + +"So we're going," said Uncle John, impressively, "to California--where +they grow sunshine and roses to offset our blizzards and icicles." + +"Hurray!" shouted Patsy. "I've always wanted to go to California." + +"California!" said the Major, amazed; "why, it's farther away than +Europe. It takes a month to get there." + +"Nonsense." retorted Uncle John. "It's only four days from coast to +coast. I have a time-table, somewhere," and he began searching in his +pockets. + +There was a silence, oppressive on the Major's part, ecstatic as far +as Patsy was concerned. Uncle John found the railway folder, put on +his spectacles, and began to examine it. + +"At my time of life," remarked Major Doyle, who was hale and hearty as +a boy, "such a trip is a great undertaking." + +"Twenty-four hours to Chicago," muttered Uncle John; "and then three +days to Los Angeles or San Francisco. That's all there is to it." + +"Four days and four nights of dreary riding. We'd be dead by that +time," prophesied the Major. + +Uncle John looked thoughtful. Then he lay back in his chair and spread +his handkerchief over his face again. + +"No, no!" cried the Major, in alarm. "For mercy's sake, John, don't +go to sleep and catch any more of those terrible ideas. No one knows +where the next one might carry us--to Timbuktu or Yucatan, probably. +Let's stick to California and settle the question before your hothouse +brain grows any more weeds." + +"Yucatan," remarked Mr. Merrick, composedly, his voice muffled by the +handkerchief, "isn't a bad suggestion." + +"I knew it!" wailed the Major. "How would Ethiopia or Hindustan strike +you?" + +Patsy laughed at him. She knew something good was in store for her +and like all girls was enraptured at the thought of visiting new and +interesting scenes. + +"Don't bother Uncle John, Daddy," she said. "You know very well he +will carry out any whim that seizes him; especially if you oppose the +plan, which you usually do." + +"He's the most erratic and irresponsible man that ever lived," +announced her father, staring moodily at the spread handkerchief which +covered Uncle John's cherub-like features. "New York is good enough +for anybody, even in winter; and now that you're in society, Patsy--" + +"Oh, bother society! I hate it." + +"True," he agreed; "it's a regular treadmill when it has enslaved one, +and keeps you going on and on without progressing a bit. The object of +society is to tire you out and keep you from indulging in any other +occupation." + +"You know nothing about it," observed Patsy, demurely, "and that is +why you love to rail at society. The things you know, Daddy dear, are +the things you never remark upon." + +"Huh!" grunted the Major, and relapsed into silence. + +Mumbles had finished his after-dinner nap and was now awakening to +activity. This dog's size, according to the Major, was "about 4x6; but +you can't tell which is the 4 and which the 6." He was distressingly +shaggy. Patsy could find the stump of his tail only by careful search. +Seldom were both eyes uncovered by hair at the same time. But, as his +new mistress had said, he was a wise little dog for one who had only +known the world for a few months, and his brain was exceedingly alert. +After yawning at the fire he rubbed his back against the Major's legs, +sat up beside Patsy and looked at her from one eye pleadingly. Next he +trotted over to Uncle John. The big white handkerchief attracted him +and one corner hung down from the edge of the reclining chair. Mumbles +sat up and reached for it, but could not quite get it in his teeth. +So he sat down and thought it over, and presently made a leap so +unexpectedly agile that Patsy roared with merriment and even the Major +grinned. Uncle John, aroused, sat up and found the puppy rolling on +the floor and fighting the handkerchief as if it had been some deadly +foe. + +"Thank goodness," sighed the Major. "The little black rascal has +providently prevented you from evolving another idea." + +"Not so," responded Mr. Merrick amiably. "I've thought the thing all +out, and completed our programme." + +"Is it still to be California?" anxiously inquired Patsy. + +"Of course. I can't give up the sunshine and roses, you know. But we +won't bore the Major by four solid days of railway travel. We'll break +the journey, and take two or three weeks to it--perhaps a month." + +"Conquering Caesar! A month!" ejaculated the old soldier, a desperate +look on his face. + +"Yes. Listen, both of you. We'll get to Chicago in a night and a day. +We will stop off there and visit the stockyards, and collect a few +squeals for souvenirs." + +"No, we won't!" declared Patsy, positively. + +"We might sell Mumbles to some Chicago sausage factory," remarked the +Major, "but not for two whole dollars. He wouldn't make more than half +a pound at twenty cents the pound." + +"There are other sights to be seen in Chicago," continued Uncle John. +"Anyhow, we'll stop off long enough to get rested. Then on to Denver +and Pike's Peak." + +"That sounds good," said Patsy. + +"At Denver," said Uncle John, "we will take a touring car and cross +the mountains in it. There are good roads all the way from there to +California." + +"Who told you so?" demanded the Major. + +"No one. It's a logical conclusion, for I've lived in the West and +know the prairie roads are smoother than boulevards. However, Haggerty +told me the other day that he has made the trip from Denver to Los +Angeles by automobile, and what others can do, we can do." + +"It will be glorious!" prophesied Patsy, delightedly. + +The Major looked grave, but could find no plausible objection to +offer. He really knew nothing about the West and had never had +occasion to consider such a proposition before. + +"We'll talk to Haggerty," he said. "But you must remember he's a +desperate liar, John, and can't be trusted as a guidepost. When do you +intend to start?" + +"Why not to-morrow?" asked Uncle John mildly. + +Even Patsy demurred at this. + +"Why, we've got to get ready, Uncle," she said. "And who's going? Just +we three?" + +"We will take Beth along, of course." Beth was Elizabeth De Graf, +another niece. "But Beth is fortunately the sort of girl who can pull +up stakes and move on at an hour's notice." + +"Beth is always ready for anything," agreed Patsy. "But if we are +going to a warm climate we will need summer clothes." + +"You can't lug many clothes in a motor car," observed the Major. + +"No; but we can ship them on ahead." + +"Haggerty says," remarked Uncle John, "that you won't need thin +clothes until you get out to California. In fact, the mountain trip is +rather cool. But it's perpetual sunshine, you know, even there, with +brisk, keen air; and the whole journey, Haggerty says, is one of +absolute delight." + +"Who is Haggerty?" asked Patsy. + +"A liar," answered the Major, positively. + +"He's a very good fellow whom we sometimes meet in the city," said +Uncle John. "Haggerty is on the Board, and director in a bank or two, +and quite respectable. But the Major--" + +"The Major's going to California just to prove that Haggerty can't +speak the truth," observed that gentleman, tersely heading off any +threatened criticism. "I see there is no opposing your preposterous +scheme, John, so we will go with you and make the best of it. But I'm +sure it's all a sad mistake. What else did Haggerty tell you?" + +"He says it's best to pick up a motor car and a chauffeur in Denver, +rather than ship them on from here. There are plenty of cars to be +had, and men who know every inch of the road." + +"That seems sensible," declared Patsy, "and we won't lose time waiting +for our own car to follow by freight. I think, Uncle John, I can be +ready by next Tuesday." + +"Why, to-morrow's Saturday!" gasped the Major. "The business--" + +"Cut the business off short," suggested his brother-in-law. "You've to +cut it somewhere, you know, or you'll never get away; and, as it's my +business, I hereby authorize you to neglect it from this moment until +the day of our return. When we get back you can pick up the details +again and worry over it as much as you please." + +"Will we ever get back?" asked the Major, doubtingly. + +"If we don't, the business won't matter." + +"That's the idea," cried Patsy, approvingly. "Daddy has worked hard +all summer, Uncle John, looking after that annoying money of yours, +and a vacation will do him oodles of good." + +Major Doyle sighed. + +"I misdoubt the wisdom of the trip," said he, "but I'll go, of course, +if you all insist. Over the Rocky Mountains and across the Great +American Desert in an automobile doesn't sound very enticing, but--" + +"Haggerty says--" + +"Never mind Haggerty. We'll find out for ourselves." + +"And, after all," said Patsy, "there are the sunshine and roses at the +end of the journey, and they ought to make up for any amount of bother +in getting there." + +"Girl, you're attempting to deceive me--to deceive your old Daddy," +said the Major, shaking his head at her. "You wouldn't have any fun +riding to California in a palace car; even the sunshine and roses +couldn't excite you under such circumstances; but if there's a chance +for adventure--a chance to slide into trouble and make a mighty +struggle to get out again--both you and that wicked old uncle of yours +will jump at it. I know ye both. And that's the real reason we're +going to travel in an automobile instead of progressing comfortably as +all respectable people do." + +"You're a humbug," retorted Mr. Merrick. "You wouldn't go by train if +I'd let you." + +"No," admitted the Major; "I must be on hand to rescue you when you +and Patsy go fighting windmills." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +MYRTLE DEAN + + +"We were due in Denver three hours ago, and it's an hour's run or more +yet," remarked Beth De Graf, walking briskly up and down the platform +of a way station where the train had stopped for orders. + +"And it's beginning to snow," observed Patricia Doyle, beside her. +"I'm afraid this weather isn't very propitious for an automobile +trip." + +"Uncle John doesn't worry," said Beth. "He believes there is perpetual +sunshine west of Denver." + +"Yes; a man named Haggerty told him. But you'll notice that Daddy +doesn't seem to believe the tale. Anyhow, we shall soon know the +truth, Beth, and the trip is somewhat on the order of a voyage of +discovery, which renders it fascinating to look forward to. There is +such fun in not knowing just what is going to happen next." + +"When one travels with Uncle John," returned Beth, smiling, "she +knows exactly--nothing. That is why I am always eager to accept if he +invites me to go anywhere with him." + +The passengers thronging the platform--"stretching their legs" after +the confinement of the tedious railway journey--eyed these two girls +admiringly. Beth was admitted a beauty, and one of the society +journals had lately announced that she had few peers in all the great +metropolis. Chestnut brown hair; dark, serious and steady eyes; an +exquisite complexion and rarely regular features all conspired to +render the young girl wonderfully attractive. Her stride was athletic, +free and graceful; her slender form well poised and dignified. Patsy, +the "plug-ugly," as she called herself, was so bright and animated and +her blue eyes sparkled so constantly with fun and good humor, that +she attracted fully as much attention as her more sedate and more +beautiful cousin, and wherever she went was sure to make a host of +friends. + +"See!" she cried, clasping Beth's arm; "there is that lovely girl at +the window again. I've noticed her ever since the train left Chicago, +and she is always in the same seat in that tourist coach. I wonder why +she doesn't get out for a bit of fresh air now and then." + +Beth looked up at the fair, girlish face that gazed wistfully from +the window. The unknown seemed very young--not more than fourteen or +fifteen years of age. She wore a blue serge suit of rather coarse +weave, but it was neat and becoming. Around the modest, sweet eyes +were deep circles, denoting physical suffering or prolonged worry; yet +the lips smiled, wanly but persistently. She had evidently noticed +Uncle John's two nieces, for her eyes followed them as they marched +up and down the platform and when Patsy looked up and nodded, a soft +flush suffused her features and she bowed her head in return. + +At the cry of "all aboard!" a scramble was made for the coaches and +Beth and Patsy, re-entering their staterooms, found their Uncle and +the Major still intent upon their interminable game of cribbage. + +"Let's go back and talk to the girl," suggested Patsy. "Somehow, +the poor thing seems lonely, and her smile was more pathetic than +cheerful." + +So they made their way through the long train to the tourist coach, +and there found the girl they were seeking. The surrounding seats were +occupied by groups of passengers of rather coarse caliber, many being +foreign laborers accompanied by their wives and children. The air in +the car was close and "stuffy" and the passengers seemed none too neat +in their habits and appearance. So the solitary girl appeared like a +rose blooming in a barnyard and her two visitors were instantly sorry +for her. She sat in her corner, leaning wearily against the back of +the cane seat, with a blanket spread over her lap. Strangely +enough the consideration of her fellow passengers left the girl in +undisturbed possession of a double seat. + +"Perhaps she is ill," thought Patsy, as she and Beth sat down opposite +and entered into conversation with the child. She was frankly +communicative and they soon learned that her name was Myrtle Dean, and +that she was an orphan. Although scarcely fifteen years of age she +had for more than two years gained a livelihood by working in a skirt +factory in Chicago, paying her board regularly to a cross old aunt who +was her only relative in the big city. Three months ago, however, she +had met with an accident, having been knocked down by an automobile +while going to her work and seriously injured. + +"The doctors say," she confided to her new friends, "that I shall +always be lame, although not quite helpless. Indeed, I can creep +around a little now, when I am obliged to move, and I shall get better +every day. One of my hips was so badly injured that it will never be +quite right again, and my Aunt Martha was dreadfully worried for fear +I would become a tax upon her. I cannot blame her, for she has really +but little money to pay for her own support. So, when the man who ran +over me paid us a hundred dollars for damages--" + +"Only a hundred dollars!" cried Beth, amazed. + +"Wasn't that enough?" inquired Myrtle innocently. + +"By no means," said Patsy, with prompt indignation. "He should have +given you five thousand, at least. Don't you realize, my dear, that +this accident has probably deprived you of the means of earning a +livelihood?" + +"I can still sew," returned the girl, courageously, "although of +course I cannot get about easily to search for employment." + +"But why did you leave Chicago?" asked Beth. + +"I was coming to that part of my story. When I got the hundred dollars +Aunt Martha decided I must use it to go to Leadville, to my Uncle +Anson, who is my mother's only brother. He is a miner out there, and +Aunt Martha says he is quite able to take care of me. So she bought my +ticket and put me on the train and I'm now on my way to Leadville to +find Uncle Anson." + +"To _find_ him!" exclaimed Patsy. "Don't you know his address?" + +"No; we haven't had a letter from him for two years. But Aunt Martha +says he must be a prominent man, and everybody in Leadville will know +him, as it's a small place." + +"Does he know you are coming?" asked Beth, thoughtfully. + +"My aunt wrote him a letter two days before I started, so he ought +to receive it two days before I get there," replied Myrtle, a little +uneasily. "Of course I can't help worrying some, because if I failed +to find Uncle Anson I don't know what might happen to me." + +"Have you money?" asked Beth. + +"A little. About three dollars. Aunt gave me a basket of food to last +until I get to Leadville, and after paying for my ticket and taking +what I owed her for board there wasn't much left from the hundred +dollars." + +"What a cruel old woman!" cried Patsy, wrathfully. "She ought to be +horsewhipped!" + +"I am sure it was wrong for her to cast you off in this heartless +way," added Beth, more conservatively. + +"She is not really bad," returned Myrtle, the tears starting to her +eyes. "But Aunt Martha has grown selfish, and does not care for me +very much. I hope Uncle Anson will be different. He is my mother's +brother, you know, while Aunt Martha is only my father's sister, and +an old maid who has had rather a hard life. Perhaps," she added, +wistfully, "Uncle Anson will love me--although I'm not strong or +well." + +Both Patsy and Beth felt desperately sorry for the girl. + +"What is Uncle Anson's other name?" asked the latter, for Beth was +the more practical of Uncle John's nieces and noted for her clear +thinking. + +"Jones. Mr. Anson Jones." + +"Rather a common name, if you have to hunt for him," observed the +questioner, musingly. "Has he been in Leadville long?" + +"I do not know," replied Myrtle. "His last letter proved that he was +in Leadville two years ago, and he said he had been very successful +and made money; but he has been in other mining camps, I know, and has +wandered for years all over the West." + +"Suppose he should be wandering now?" suggested Patsy; but at the look +of alarm on Myrtle's face she quickly changed the subject, saying: +"You must come in to dinner with us, my dear, for you have had nothing +but cold truck to eat since you left Chicago. They say we shall be in +Denver in another hour, but I'm afraid to believe it. Anyhow, there is +plenty of time for dinner." + +"Oh, I can't go, really!" cried the girl. "It's--it's so hard for me +to walk when the train is moving; and--and--I wouldn't feel happy in +that gay, luxurious dining car." + +"Well, we must go, anyway, or the Major will be very disagreeable," +said Patsy. "Good-bye, Myrtle; we shall see you again before we leave +the train." + +As the two girls went forward to their coach Beth said to Patsy: + +"I'm afraid that poor thing will be greatly disappointed when she gets +to Leadville. Imagine anyone sending a child on such a wild goose +chase--and an injured and almost helpless child, at that!" + +"I shudder to think what would become of her, with no uncle to care +for her and only three dollars to her name," added Patsy. "I have +never heard of such an inhuman creature as that Aunt Martha, Beth. I +hope there are not many like her in the world." + +At dinner they arranged with the head waiter of the dining car to send +in a substantial meal, smoking hot, to Myrtle Dean, and Patsy herself +inspected the tray before it went to make sure everything was there +that was ordered. They had to satisfy Uncle John's curiosity at this +proceeding by relating to him Myrtle Dean's story, and the kindly +little man became very thoughtful and agreed with them that it was a +cruel act to send the poor girl into a strange country in search of an +uncle who had not been heard of in two years. + +When the train pulled into the station at Denver the first care of +John Merrick's party was to look after the welfare of the lame girl. +They got a porter to assist her into the depot waiting room and then +Uncle John inquired about the next train for Leadville, and found it +would not start until the following morning, the late overland train +having missed that day's connections. This was a serious discovery for +poor Myrtle, but she smiled bravely and said: + +"I can pass the night in this seat very comfortably, so please don't +worry about me. It is warm here, you know, and I won't mind a bit the +sitting up. Thank you all very much for your kindness, and good-bye. +I'll be all right, never fear." + +Uncle John stood looking down at her thoughtfully. + +"Did you engage a carriage, Major?" he asked. + +"Yes; there's one now waiting," was the reply. + +"All right. Now, then, my dear, let's wrap this blanket around you +tight and snug." + +"What are you going to do?" asked Myrtle with a startled look. + +"Carry you outside. It's pretty cold and snowy, so we must wrap you up. +Now, Major, take hold on the other side. Here we go!" + +Patsy smiled--rather pitifully--at the expression of bewilderment on +Myrtle's face. Uncle John and the Major carried her tenderly to a +carriage and put her in the back seat. Patsy sprang in next, with +Mumbles clasped tightly in her arms, the small dog having been forced +to make the journey thus far in the baggage car. Beth and the Major +entered the carriage next, while Uncle John mounted beside the driver +and directed him to the Crown Palace Hotel. + +It was growing dark when they reached the dingy hostelry, which might +have been palatial when it was named but was now sadly faded and +tawdry. It proved to be fairly comfortable, however, and the first +care of the party was to see Myrtle Dean safely established in a cosy +room, with a grate fire to cheer her. Patsy and Beth had adjoining +rooms and kept running in for a word with their protégé, who was +so astonished and confused by her sudden good fortune that she was +incapable of speech and more inclined to cry than to laugh. + +During the evening Uncle John was busy at the telegraph booth. He sent +several messages to Leadville, to Anson Jones, to the Chief of Police +and to the various hotels; but long before midnight, when the last +replies were received, he knew that Anson Jones had left Leadville +five months ago, and his present whereabouts were unknown. Having +learned these facts the little man went to bed and slept peacefully +until morning. + +Myrtle had begged them to see that she was called at five o'clock, +that she might have ample time to get to the depot for her train, but +no one called her and the poor child was so weary and worn with her +trip that the soft bed enthralled her for many hours after daybreak. + +Patsy finally aroused her, opening the blinds to let in the sunshine +and then sitting beside Myrtle's bed to stroke her fair hair and tell +her it was nearly noon. + +"But my train!" wailed the girl, greatly distressed. + +"Oh, the train has gone hours ago. But never mind that, dear. Uncle +John has telegraphed to Leadville and found that Anson Jones is +not there. He left months ago, and is now wandering; in fields and +pastures unknown." + +Myrtle sat up in bed and glared at Patsy wild-eyed. + +"Gone!" she said. "Gone! Then what am I to do?" + +"I can't imagine, dear," said Patsy, soothingly. "What do you think +you will do?" + +The girl seemed dazed and for a time could not reply. + +"You must have thought of this thing," suggested her new friend, "for +it was quite possible Anson Jones would not be in Leadville when you +arrived there." + +"I did not dare think of it," returned Myrtle in a low, frightened +tone. "I once asked Aunt Martha what I could do in case Uncle Anson +wasn't to be found, and she said he _must_ be found, for otherwise I +would be obliged to earn my own living." + +"And she knew you to be so helpless!" + +"She knows I can sew, if only I can get work to do," said the girl, +simply. "I'm not really a cripple, and I'm getting better of my hurt +every day. Aunt Martha said I would be just as well off in Denver or +Leadville as in Chicago, and made me promise, if the worst came, not +to let any charitable organization send me back to her." + +"In other words," exclaimed Patsy, indignantly, "she wanted to get rid +of you, and did not care what became of you." + +"She was afraid I would cost her money," admitted the poor child, with +shamed, downcast eyes. + +Patsy went to the window and stood looking out for a time. Myrtle +began to dress herself. As she said, she was not utterly helpless, +moving the upper part of her body freely and being able to walk slowly +about a room by holding on to chairs or other furniture. + +"I'm afraid I'm causing you a lot of worry over me," said she, smiling +sadly as Patsy turned toward her; "and that is ungrateful when I +remember how kind you have all been. Why, these hours since I met you +have seemed like fairyland. I shall treasure them as long as I live. +There must be another train to Leadville soon, and I'll take that. As +soon as I am ready I will go to the depot and wait there." + +Patsy looked at her reflectively. The poor child was called upon to +solve a queer problem--one which might well have bewildered the brain +of a more experienced person. + +"Tell me," she said; "why should you go to Leadville at all, now that +you have no friend or relative there to care for you?" + +"My ticket is to Leadville, you know," replied Myrtle. "If I did not +go I would waste the money it cost." + +Patsy laughed at this. + +"You're a wonderfully impractical child," she said, deftly assisting +Myrtle to finish dressing. "What you really need is some one to order +you around and tell you what to do. So you must stop thinking about +yourself, for a time, and let _us_ do the thinking. Here--sit in this +chair by the window. Do you want Mumbles in your lap? All right. Now +gaze upon the scenery until I come back. There's a man washing windows +across the street; watch and see if he does his work properly." + +Then she went away to join a conference in Uncle John's sitting room. +Major Doyle was speaking when she entered and his voice was coldly +ironical. + +"The temperature outside is six degrees above freezing," he observed. +"The clerk downstairs says the snow is nine feet deep over the +mountain trails and the wind would cut an iron beam in two. If you +take an automobile to California, John, you must put it on snowshoes +and connect it with a steam heating-plant." + +Uncle John, his hands thrust deep in his pockets, paced thoughtfully +up and down the room. + +"Haggerty said--" + +"Didn't I give you Haggerty's record, then?" asked the Major. "If +you want the exact truth it's safe to go directly opposite to what +Haggerty says." + +"He's a very decent fellow," protested Mr. Merrick, "and is considered +in the city to be strictly honest." + +"But after this?" + +"You can't blame him for the weather conditions here. I've been +talking with Denver people myself, this morning, and they all say +it's unusual to have such cold weather at this time of year. The +thermometer hasn't been so low in the past twenty-six years, the +natives say." + +"Are they all named Haggerty?" asked the Major, scornfully. + +"If you will kindly allow me to speak, and tell you what Haggerty +said," remarked Uncle John tersely, "I shall be able to add to your +information." + +"Go ahead, then." + +"Haggerty said that in case we ran into cold weather in Denver, which +was possible--" + +"Quite possible!" + +"Then we had best go south to Santa Fe and take the route of the old +Santa Fe Trail as far as Albuquerque, or even to El Paso. Either way +we will be sure to find fine weather, and good roads into California." + +"So Haggerty says." + +"It stands to reason," continued Mr. Merrick, "that on the Southern +route we will escape the severe weather. So I have decided to adopt +that plan." + +"I think you are quite wise in that," broke in Patsy, before her +father could object. + +"All those queer Spanish names sound interesting," said Beth. "When do +we start, Uncle?" + +"In a day or two. I have some things here to attend to that may delay +us that long. But when once we are started southward we shall bowl +along right merrily." + +"Unless we run into more snowstorms." Of course it was the Major who +said that, and pointedly ignoring the remark Uncle John turned to +Patsy and said: + +"How did you find Myrtle Dean this morning?" + +"She is rested, and seems very bright and cheerful, Uncle; but of +course she is much distressed by the news that her Uncle Anson has +vanished from Leadville. Yet she thinks she will continue her journey +by the next train, as she has paid for her ticket and can't afford to +waste the money." + +"It would be absurd for the child to go to Leadville on that account. +A mining camp is no place for such a frail thing," returned Mr. +Merrick. "What would you suggest, Patsy?" + +"Really, Uncle John, I don't know what to suggest." + +"She can never earn her living by sewing," declared Beth. "What she +ought to have is a trained nurse and careful attention." + +"I'll have a doctor up to look her over," said Uncle John, in his +decisive way. He was a mild little man generally, but when he made up +his mind to do a thing it was useless to argue with him. Even Major +Doyle knew that; but the old soldier was so fond of arguing for +the sake of argument, and so accustomed to oppose his wealthy +brother-in-law--whom he loved dearly just the same--that he was +willing to accept defeat rather than permit Mr. Merrick to act without +protest. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +AN INTERESTING PROTÉGÉ + + +A young physician was appointed by the management to attend any guest +who might require his services, and Uncle John had a talk with him and +sent him to Myrtle's room to give her a thorough examination. This he +did, and reported that the girl's present condition was due largely to +mismanagement of her case at the time she was injured. With care she +would get better and stronger rapidly, but the hip joint was out of +its socket and only a skillful operation would serve to permanently +relieve her of lameness. + +"What she needs just now," continued the doctor, "is a pair of +crutches, so she can get around better and be in the fresh air and +sunshine as much as possible. She is a very frail little woman at +present and must build up her health and strength before submitting +to the operation I have mentioned. Then, if it is properly done, she +ought to recover completely and be as good as new." + +"I must inform you," said Uncle John, "that Myrtle Dean is just a +little waif whom my nieces picked up on the train. I believe she is +without friends or money. Such being the circumstances, what would you +advise?" + +The doctor shook his head gravely. + +"Poor thing!" he said. "She ought to be rich, at this juncture, +instead of poor, for the conditions facing her are serious. The +operation I speak of is always an expensive one, and meantime the +child must go to some charitable institution or wear out her feeble +strength in trying to earn enough to keep the soul in her body. She +seems to have a brave and beautiful nature, sir, and were she educated +and cared for would some day make a splendid woman. But the world is +full of these sad cases. I'm poor myself, Mr. Merrick, but this child +interests me, and after you have gone I shall do all in my power to +assist her." + +"Thank you," said Uncle John, thoughtfully nodding his bald head. +"I'll think it over and see you again, doctor, before I leave." + +An hour later Myrtle was fitted with crutches of the best sort +obtainable, and was overjoyed to find how greatly they assisted her. +The Major, a kindly man, decided to take Myrtle out for a drive, and +while they were gone Uncle John had a long conversation with Beth and +Patsy. + +"Here is a case," said he, "where my dreadful money can do some good. +I am anxious to help Myrtle Dean, for I believe she is deserving of +my best offices. But I don't exactly know what to do. She is really +_your_ protégé, my dears, and I am going to put the affair in your +hands for settlement. Just tell me what to do, and I'll do it. Spend +my money as freely upon Myrtle as you please." + +The girls faced the problem with enthusiasm. + +"She's a dear little thing," remarked Patsy, "and seems very grateful +for the least kindness shown her. I am sure she has never been treated +very nicely by that stony-hearted old aunt of hers." + +"In all my experience," said Beth, speaking as if her years were +doubled, "I have never known anyone so utterly helpless. She is very +young and inexperienced, with no friends, no money, and scarcely +recovered from an accident. It is clearly our duty to do something for +Myrtle, and aside from the humane obligation I feel that already I +love the child, having known her only a day." + +"Admitting all this, Beth," returned her uncle, "you are not answering +my question. What shall we do for Myrtle? How can we best assist her?" + +"Why not take her to California with us?" inquired Patsy, with sudden +inspiration. "The sunshine and roses would make a new girl of her in a +few weeks." + +"Could she ride so far in an automobile?" asked Beth, doubtfully. + +"Why not? The fresh air would be just the thing for her. You'll get a +big touring car, won't you, Uncle John?" + +"I've bought one already--a seven-seated 'Autocrat'--and there will be +plenty of room in it for Myrtle," he said. + +"Good gracious! Where did you find the thing so suddenly?" cried +Patsy. + +"I made the purchase this morning, bright and early, before you were +up," replied Mr. Merrick, smilingly. "It is a fine new car, and as +soon as I saw it I knew it was what I wanted. It is now being fitted +up for our use." + +"Fitted up?" + +"Yes. I've an idea in my head to make it a movable hotel. If we're +going to cross the plains and the mountains and the deserts, and all +that sort of thing, we must be prepared for any emergencies. I've also +sent for a chauffeur who is highly recommended. He knows the route +we're going to take; can make all repairs necessary in case of +accident, and is an experienced driver. I expect him here any minute. +His name is Wampus." + +"But about Myrtle,"' said Beth. "Can we make her comfortable on a long +ride?" + +"Certainly," asserted Uncle John. "We are not going to travel day and +night, my dear, for as soon as we get away from this frozen country we +can take our time and journey by short stages. My notion is that we +will have more fun on the way than we will in California." + +"Myrtle hasn't any proper clothes," observed Patsy, reflectively. +"We'll have to shop for her, Beth, while Uncle is getting the car +ready." + +"Are you sure to leave to-morrow, Uncle John?" inquired Beth. + +"To-morrow or the next day. There's no use leaving before the +'Autocrat' is ready to ship." + +"Oh; we're not going to ride in it, then?" + +"Not just yet. We shall take the train south to Santa Fe, and perhaps +to Albuquerque. I'll talk to Wampus about that. When we reach a good +climate we'll begin the journey overland--and not before." + +"Then," said Patsy, "I'm sure we shall have time to fit out Myrtle +very nicely." + +Mr. Wampus was announced just then, and while Uncle John conferred +with the chauffeur his two nieces went to their room to talk over +Myrtle Dean's outfit and await the return of the girl from her ride. + +"They tell me," said Mr. Merrick, "that you are an experienced +chauffeur." + +"I am celebrate," replied Wampus. "Not as chauffeur, but as expert +automobilist." + +He was a little man and quite thin. His legs were short and his arms +long. He had expressionless light gray eyes and sandy hair cropped +close to his scalp. His mouth was wide and good-humored, his chin long +and broad, his ears enormous in size and set at right angles with +his head. His cheek bones were as high and prominent as those of an +Indian, and after a critical examination of the man Uncle John was +impelled to ask his nationality. + +"I am born in Canada, at Quebec Province," he answered. "My father +he trapper; my mother squaw. For me, I American, sir, and my name +celebrate over all the world for knowing automobile like father knows +his son." He paused, and added impressively: "I am Wampus!" + +"Have you ever driven an 'Autocrat' car?" asked Mr. Merrick. + +"'Autocrat?' I can take him apart blindfold, an' put him together +again." + +"Have you ever been overland to California?" + +"Three time." + +"Then you know the country?" + +"In the dark. I am Wampus." + +"Very good, Wampus. You seem to be the man I want, for I am going +to California in an 'Autocrat' car, by way of the Santa Fe Trail +and--and--" + +"No matter. We find way. I am--" + +"I know. Now tell me, Wampus: if I employ you will you be faithful and +careful? I have two girls in my party--three girls, in fact--and from +the moment you enter my service I shall expect you to watch over our +welfare and guide us with skill and intelligence. Will you do this?" + +The man seemed somewhat offended by the question. + +"When you have Wampus, what more you want?" he inquired. "Maybe you +not know Wampus. You come from far East. All right. You go out and ask +automobile man about Wampus. Ask ever'body. When you have inquire you +feel more happy. I come again." + +He started to go, but Mr. Merrick restrained him. + +"You have been highly recommended already," said he. "But you cannot +expect me to have as high an opinion of you as you have of yourself; +at least, until I know you better. Would you like to undertake this +engagement?" + +"Yes. Just now I free. My business is expert automobilist. I am +Wampus. But perhaps you want cheap man. My price high." + +"What is your price?" + +"Fifty dollar week. You eat me an' sleep me." + +"I do not object to your price. Come out with me to the garage and I +will show you my car and explain what is being done to it." + +Although all the automobile men seemed to defer most respectfully to +Wampus, Mr. Merrick did not neglect to make proper inquiries in regard +to the man. Locally he really was "celebrate" and Uncle John was +assured on all sides that he was fortunate to get so intelligent and +experienced a chauffeur as this same Wampus. + +"He seems to have instinctive knowledge of all machinery," said one +informant, "and can handle perfectly any car that is made. The only +trouble with the fellow is that he is conceited." + +"I've noticed that," returned Mr. Merrick. + +"Another thing," said the gentleman; "don't believe implicitly all +that Wampus tells you. He has a habit of imagining things. But he is a +faithful, honest fellow, for all that, and will handle your car better +than any other man you could get in Denver--or anywhere in the West, I +imagine." + +So Wampus was engaged, and putting the man's references and +indorsements all together Mr. Merrick felt that he had gained a prize. + +When the big Major, returning from his drive, escorted Myrtle Dean to +the elevator, the girl was joyously using her new crutches. Patsy and +Beth met her and said they had important news to communicate. Not +until she was in her own room, seated in a comfortable chair and +gazing at them anxiously, did they tell the poor waif of the good +fortune in store for her. + +"Uncle John," announced Patsy, "has invited you to join our party and +go to California with us." + +Myrtle stared a moment, as if trying to realize what that meant. The +tiny Mumbles, sitting beside the chair with his head cocked to one +side, suddenly made a prodigious leap and landed in Myrtle's lap, +where he began licking her chin and wagging his stumpy tail as if +seconding the invitation. As the girl stroked his soft hair her eyes +filled with tears. + +"Oh, you are all so kind to me!" she sobbed, losing her composure. +"But I can't go! Of course I can't go." + +"Why not?" asked Beth, smiling. + +"It would be an--impersition!" Poor Myrtle sometimes stumbled over big +words. "I know that. I can't let you burden your happy party with a +poor cripple, just because your hearts are kind and you pity me!" + +"Nonsense!" said Beth. "You're not a cripple, dear; you're just an +invalid, and will soon be as strong as any of us. We have invited you, +Myrtle, because we all like you, and shall soon learn to love you. We +are selfish enough to want your companionship. It isn't pity, at all, +you see." + +"I'm mighty glad," added Patsy, "your Uncle Anson ran away from +Leadville. If he hadn't done that we should have had to give you +up; but now we may keep you as long as we wish, for you haven't any +particular engagement to interfere with our plans." + +All this was said so frankly and unaffectedly that little Myrtle was +led to abandon her suspicion and grew radiant with delight. Indeed, +she hugged and squeezed the squirming Mumbles until he resented such +strenuous fondling and escaped to Patsy's more moderate embraces. +Myrtle had never yet ridden in an automobile, and the prospect of +a long journey across the country in a big touring car, with +California's roses and sunshine at the end of it, was certainly +alluring enough to intoxicate one far more accustomed to pleasure than +this friendless, impoverished girl. + +After the cousins had explained all their plans to Myrtle and assured +her she was to be their cherished guest for a long time--until she was +well and strong again, at the least--they broached the subject of +her outfit. The poor child flushed painfully while admitting the +meagerness of her wardrobe. All her possessions were contained in one +small canvas "hold-all," and she lacked many necessities which her +callous aunt had suggested that Uncle Anson might be induced to buy +for her once she had joined him in Leadville. Uncle John's nieces grew +more and more indignant as they discovered the details of this selfish +woman's crime--for Patsy declared it was nothing less than a crime to +send a helpless child far into the West to search for an unknown uncle +whose whereabouts were only conjectural. + +That very afternoon Beth and Patsy began shopping for Myrtle, and +presently all sorts of parcels, big and little, began to arrive for +their new protégé. Myrtle was amazed and awed by the splendor of her +new apparel, and could scarcely believe her good fortune. It seemed +like a fairy tale to her, and she imagined herself a Cinderella with +two fairy godmothers who were young and pretty girls possessing the +purse of Fortunatus and the generosity of Glinda the Good. At night, +when she was supposed to be asleep, Myrtle crept from her bed, turned +on the electric light and gloated over her treasures, which she had +almost feared might vanish into thin air and leave her as desolate as +before. + +Next morning, as soon as breakfast was over, the girls took Myrtle out +with them to some of the shops, fitting her to shoes and gloves and +having her try on some ready-made gowns so that they might be quickly +altered for her use. Patsy also bought her a set of soft and pretty +furs, thinking she might need them on the journey if the weather +continued cool, and this seemed to cap the climax of Myrtle's +happiness. + +"What 'stonishes me most," gasped the child, trying to get her breath +between the surprises she experienced, "is how you can think of so +many things to do for me. Of course I know you are rich; but I've +never before heard of rich people being so very generous to poor +ones." + +"Once," said Beth, gravely, "we were poor ourselves, Patsy and I, and +had to work hard for our living. That was before our Uncle John came +and gave us a share of his money, together with his love and sympathy. +Isn't it natural, my dear, that we should now be eager to share our +good fortune with you, since we have more money than we can use +otherwise, and you are to be our little friend and companion?" + +"Perhaps so," replied Myrtle, smiling gaily and much comforted by the +explanation. "But, oh dear! I'm so glad you found me!" + +"We are glad, too," said Patsy. "But here it is, time for luncheon, +and we've wasted the whole morning in shopping. I'm sure the Major +will be cross if we do not hurry back to the hotel." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A WONDER ON WHEELS + + +But the Major was not cross when they met him in Uncle John's sitting +room. He beamed upon the three girls most genially, for he liked +Myrtle and fully approved all that was being done for her. + +"Of course it's like Patsy," he had said to Mr. Merrick that morning. +"She couldn't help being a sweet ministering angel if she tried; and +Beth is growing more and more like her. It will do those girls good, +John, to have some human being to coddle and care for. If Patsy could +have a fault, it would be wasting so much affection on that bunch o' +rags Mumbles, who audaciously chewed up one of my pet slippers while I +was at dinner last evening. No dog is a fit thing to occupy a girl's +time, and this imp o' mischief Mumbles must take a back seat from now +on." + +Uncle John laughed, for he knew his brother-in-law had never conquered +his antipathy for poor Mumbles, and realized why. + +"Take care that you do not get jealous of Myrtle," he replied. +"You're a selfish old beast, and don't wish Patsy to love anyone but +yourself." + +"And why should she?" was the inquiry. "Any dutiful daughter ought to +be satisfied with loving such a father as I am." + +"And in that," remarked Uncle John, whimsically, "you remind me of +Wampus. You should strut around and say: 'Behold me! I am Patsy's +father!'" + +The Major was full of news at luncheon time. + +"What do you think, my dears?" he said, addressing the girls. "Your +crazy uncle must have had another snooze, unbeknown to us, for he's +got the wildest idea into his head that human brains--or lack of +them--ever conceived." + +"You are not very respectful, sir," retorted Mr. Merrick stiffly, +as he ate his salad. "But we must not expect too much of a disabled +soldier--and an Irishman to boot--who has not been accustomed to good +society." + +Major Doyle looked at his brother-in-law with an approving smile. + +"Very well put, John," he said. "You're improving in repartee. +Presently you'll add that I'm unlettered and uncivilized, and no fit +associate for a person who has made an egregious fortune out of tin +cans in the wilds of Oregon." + +"But what's the news?" asked Patsy impatiently. "What new idea has +Uncle John conceived?" + +"First," replied the Major, "he has bought an automobile as big as a +baggage car. Next he has engaged a chauffeur who is a wild Canadian +Indian with a trace of erratic French blood in his veins--a +combination liable to result in anything. Mr. Wampus, the half-breed +calls himself, and from the looks of him he's murdered many a one in +his day." + +"Oh, Major!" + +"Show me an automobile driver that hasn't. Myrtle knows. It's no trick +to knock over a peaceful pedestrian or so, to say nothing of chickens, +cats and dogs mangled by the roadside. I confidently expect he'll make +a pancake of dear little Mumbles before he's five miles on the road. +Eh, Patsy?" + +"Be sensible, Daddy." + +"It's my strong point. If I'm any judge of character this Wampus is a +speed fiend." + +"He is recommended as a very careful driver," said Mr. Merrick; "and +moreover he has signed a contract to obey my orders." + +"Very good," said Beth. "I'm not afraid of Mr. Wampus. What next, +Major?" + +"Next," continued Patsy's father, with a solemn wink at the row of +curious faces, "your inventive relative has ordered the automobile +rebuilt, thinking he's wiser than the makers. He's having a furnace +put in it, for one thing--it's a limousine, you know, and all enclosed +in glass. Also it's as big as a barn, as I said." + +"You said a freight car," observed Patsy. + +"True. A small barn or a big freight car. The seats are to be made +convertible into sleeping berths, so if we get caught out overnight we +have all the comforts of a hotel except the bell boys." + +"I'll be the bell boy," promised Patsy. + +"Also we're to take a portable kitchen along, like they use in the +army, with a gasoline stove all complete. The thing fits under the +back seat, I believe." + +"All this," said Beth, "strikes me as being very sensible and a credit +to Uncle John's genius. I'm a good cook, as you know, and the kitchen +outfit appeals to me. But how about provisions?" + +"Provisions are being provided," replied her uncle, genially +smiling at her praise. However scornfully the Major might view his +preparations he was himself mightily proud of them. + +"Tinned stuff, I presume," remarked his brother-in-law. "John Merrick +has a weakness for tin cans, having got his money out of them." + +"You're wrong," protested Uncle John. "I merely made my money from the +tin the cans were made of. But we won't get money out of these cans +when they're opened; it will be something better, such as sardines and +hominy, preserved cream and caviar, beans and boned chicken." + +"Sounds fine!" cried Patsy with enthusiasm. "But how can you arrange +to carry so much, Uncle?" + +"The limousine body is pretty big, as the Major says, and high enough +to allow me to put in a false bottom. In the space beneath it I shall +stow all the bedding, the eatables and kitchen utensils, and a small +tent. Then we shall be prepared for whatever happens." + +"I doubt it," objected the Major. "There's gasoline to be reckoned +with. It's well enough to feed ourselves, but what if we ran short of +the precious feed for the engines?" + +"The two tanks will hold sixty gallons. That ought to carry us any +reasonable distance," replied Mr. Merrick. + +"You see, Daddy, our Uncle John is an experienced traveler, while you +are not," declared Patsy. "In all our journeys together I've found him +full of resources and very farsighted. This trip doesn't worry me at +all." + +"Nor me," added Beth. "We are sure to have a delightful time under +Uncle's auspices." + +"Wampus," said Uncle John, "is so pleased with my preparations that he +wants us to start in the car from here." + +"Can you put it on runners, like a sledge?" asked the Major. "That's +the only way it could travel through this snow. Or perhaps you'll hire +a snowplow to go ahead of it." + +"No; I told Wampus it was impracticable," was the reply. "We shall +load our machine on a flat car and ship it to Albuquerque, which is in +New Mexico and almost directly south of Denver. We shall then be over +the worst grades of the Rocky Mountains." + +"And which way do we go then?" inquired Beth. + +"I have not yet decided. We can go still farther south, into Texas, +or make our way down into Phoenix and across the prairies to Imperial +Valley, or follow the Santa Fe route by way of the Grand Canyon." + +"Oh, let's go that way!" exclaimed Patsy. + +"And freeze to death?" asked the Major. "It's the northernmost route." + +"When we get to Albuquerque we will be below the line of frosts and +snow," explained Mr. Merrick. "The climate is genial all through that +section during winter. Haggerty says--" + +"I guessed it!" groaned the Major. "If Haggerty recommends this trip +we'll surely be in trouble." + +"Aside from Haggerty, Wampus knows that country thoroughly," said +Uncle John stoutly. + +"Tell me: did Haggerty recommend Wampus?" + +"No." + +"Then there's hopes of the fellow. As you say, John, there is no need +to decide until we get to Albuquerque. When do we make the start?" + +"Day after to-morrow. The car will be shipped to-morrow night, but our +party will follow by daylight, so as to see Colorado Springs, Pike's +Peak and Pueblo as we pass by them." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +WAMPUS SPEEDS + + +"So this is Albuquerque," observed Patsy Doyle, as they alighted from +the train. "Is it a big town playing peek-a-boo among those hills, +Uncle John, or is this really all there is to the place?" + +"It's a pretty big town, my dear. Most of the houses are back on the +prairie, but fortunately our hold is just here at the depot." + +It was a quaint, attractive building, made of adobe cement, in the +ancient mission style; but it proved roomy and extremely comfortable. + +"Seems to me," whispered Myrtle to Beth, "we're high up on the +mountains, even yet." + +"So we are," was the reply. "We're just between Glorietta Pass and the +Great Continental Divide. But the steepest of the Rockies are behind +us, and now the slopes are more gradual all the way to California. How +do you like it, dear?" + +"Oh, the mountains are grand!" exclaimed Myrtle. "I had never imagined +anything so big and stately and beautiful." The other girls had seen +mountains before, but this was their friend's first experience, and +they took much pleasure in Myrtle's enthusiastic delight over all she +saw. + +Adjoining the hotel was a bazaar, in front of which sat squatted upon +the ground two rows of Mojave Indians, mostly squaws, with their +curious wares spread out for sale upon blankets. There must have +been a score of them, and they exhibited odd pottery ornaments of +indistinguishable shapes, strings of glass beads and beadwork bags, +and a few really fine jardinieres and baskets. After the girls had +been to their rooms and established themselves in the hotel they +hurried out to interview the Indians, Myrtle Dean supporting herself +by her crutches while Patsy and Beth walked beside her. The lame girl +seemed to attract the squaws at once, and one gave her a bead necklace +while another pressed upon her a small brown earthenware fowl with +white spots all over it. This latter might have been meant to +represent a goose, an ostrich or a guinea hen; but Myrtle was +delighted with it and thanked the generous squaw, who responded merely +with a grunt, not understanding English. A man in a wide sombrero who +stood lazily by observed the incident and said: + +"Don't thank the hag. She's selfish. The Mojaven think it brings luck +to have a gift accepted by a cripple." + +Myrtle flushed painfully. + +"I suppose my crutches make me look more helpless than I really am," +she whispered to her friends as they moved away. "But they're such a +help in getting around that I'm very grateful to have them, and as I +get stronger I can lay them aside and not be taken for a cripple any +more." + +The air was delightfully invigorating here in the mountains, yet it +was not at all cold. The snow, as Uncle John had predicted, had all +been left behind them. After dinner they took a walk through the +pretty town and were caught in the dark before they could get back. +The twilights are very brief in Albuquerque. + +"This is a very old town," remarked Uncle John. "It was founded by a +Spanish adventurer named Cabrillo in the seventeenth century, long +before the United States came into existence. But of course it never +amounted to anything until the railroad was built." + +Next day they were sitting in a group before the hotel when a man was +seen approaching them with shuffling steps. Uncle John looked at him +closely and Mumbles leaped from Patsy's lap and rushed at the stranger +with excited barks. + +"Why, it's Wampus," said Mr. Merrick. "The car must have arrived." + +Wampus caught up the baby dog and held it under his arm while he took +his cap off and bowed respectfully to his employer. + +"He an' me, we here," he announced. + +"Who is 'he,' Wampus?" + +"Aut'mob'l'." + +"When did you arrive?" + +"Half hour ago. He on side track." + +"Very good. You have made capital time, for a freight train. Let us go +at once and get the car unloaded." + +Wampus hesitated, looking sheepish. + +"I been arrest," he said. + +"Arrested! For what?" + +"I make speed. They not like it. They arrest me--_Me_--Wampus!" He +straightened his slim little form with an assumption of dignity. + +"I knew it," sighed the Major. "I decided he was a speed fiend the +first time I saw him." + +"But--dear me!" said Uncle John; "how could you be arrested for +speeding when the automobile was on a fiat car?" + +Wampus glanced over his shoulder. Two railroad men had followed him +and were now lounging against the porch railing. One had his right eye +bandaged while the other carried one arm in a sling. Both scowled as +they eyed the Canadian fixedly. + +"Freight train make pretty slow time," began the chauffeur. "I know +you in hurry, so freight train he make me nervous. I say polite to +conductor I like to go faster. He laugh. I say polite to brakeman we +must go faster. He make abusing speech. I climb into engine an' say +polite to engineer to turn on steam. He insult me. So I put my foot +on him an' run engine myself. I am Wampus. I understan' engine--all +kinds. Brakeman he swear; he swear so bad I put him off train. +Conductor must have lump of coal in eye to keep quiet. Fireman he jus' +smile an' whistle soft an' say nothing; so we friends. When I say +'shovel in coal,' he shovel. When we pass stations quick like, he +whistle with engine loud. So now we here an' I been arrest." + +Patsy tittered and stuffed her handkerchief into her mouth. Uncle John +first chuckled and then looked grave. The Major advanced to Wampus and +soberly shook his hand. + +"You're a brave man, sir, for a chauffeur," he said. "I congratulate +you," + +Wampus still looked uneasy. + +"I been arrest," he repeated. + +Uncle John beckoned the railroad men to come forward. + +"Is this story true?" he asked. + +"Most of it, sir," answered the conductor. "It's only by the mercy of +Providence we're here alive. This scoundrel held up the whole crew +and ran away with the engine. We might have had a dozen collisions or +smash-ups, for he went around curves at sixty miles an hour. We'd cut +our train in two, so as to pull half of it at a time up the grade at +Lamy, and so there were only six cars on this end of it. The other +half is seventy miles back, and part of what we have here ought to +have been left at the way stations. I can't make out, sir, whether +it's burglary, or highway robbery or arson an' murder he's guilty of, +or all of 'em; but I've telegraphed for instructions and I'll hold him +a prisoner until the superintendent tells me what to do with him." + +Mr. Merrick was very sober now. + +"The matter is serious," he said. "This man is in my employ, but I did +not hire him to steal a railway train or fight its crew. Not badly +hurt, I hope, sir?" + +"My eye's pretty bad," growled the conductor. "Tom, here, thought his +arm was broken, at first; but I guess it's only sprained." + +"How about the brakeman he threw off the train?" + +"Why, we were not going fast, just then, and it didn't hurt him. We +saw him get up and shake his fist at the robber. If he ever meets Mr. +Wampus again he'll murder him." + +"Come with me to the telegraph office and I'll see what I can do to +straighten this out," said Mr. Merrick briskly. On the way he remarked +to the conductor: "I'm sorry I let Wampus travel alone. He's just +a little bit affected in his mind, you know, and at times isn't +responsible for what he does." + +The conductor scratched his head doubtfully. + +"I suspected he was crazy," he replied, "and that's why I didn't hurt +him. But if he's crazy he's the most deliberate loonatic I ever run +acrost." + +The superintendent had just wired instructions to put the outlaw in +jail when Mr. Merrick reached the telegraph office, but after an hour +spent in sending messages back and forth a compromise was affected and +the little millionaire had agreed to pay a goodly sum to the company +by way of damages and to satisfy the crew of the freight train--which +he succeeded in doing by a further outlay of money. + +"You're not worth all this bother," said Mr. Merrick to the humbled +Wampus, when the final settlement had been made, "but chauffeurs are +scarce in Albuquerque and I can't be delayed. Never, sir, while you +are in my employ, must you allow yourself to be guilty of such an act +again!" + +Wampus sighed. + +"Never," he promised, "will I ride by freight train again. Send car by +express. I am Wampus. Freight train he make me nervous." + +The automobile was quickly unloaded and at once Wampus set to work to +get it in running order. He drove it to the hotel at about sundown +and Mr. Merrick told the girls to be ready to start after an early +breakfast the next morning. + +"Which way do we go?" asked the Major. + +"We'll have a talk with Wampus this evening and decide," said Uncle +John. + +"Don't leave out the Grand Canyon!" begged Patsy. + +"Nor the Petrified Forests." added Beth. "And couldn't we visit the +Moki Indian reservation?" + +"Those things may be well enough in their way," observed the Major, +"but is their way our way? That's the question. The one thing we must +take into consideration is the matter of roads. We must discover which +road is the best and then take it. We're not out of the mountains yet, +and we shall have left the railroad, the last vestige of civilization, +behind us." + +But the conference evolved the fact, according to Wampus, that the +best and safest roads were for a time along the line of the Santa Fe, +directly west; and this would enable them to visit most of the scenes +the girls were eager to see. + +"No boulevard in mountain anywhere," remarked Wampus; "but road he +good enough to ride on. Go slow an' go safe. I drive 'Autocrat' from +here to Los Angeles blindfold." + +With this assurance they were obliged to be content, and an eager +and joyful party assembled next morning to begin the journey so long +looked forward to. The landlord of the hotel, a man with a careworn +face, shook his head dismally and predicted their return to +Albuquerque within twenty-four hours. + +"Of course people _do_ make the trip from here to the coast," he said; +"but it's mighty seldom, and they all swear they'll never do it again. +It's uncomfortable, and it's dangerous." + +"Why?" asked Uncle John. + +"You're headed through a wild country, settled only by Mexicans, +Indians, and gangs of cowboys still worse. The roads are something +awful. That man Wampus is an optimist, and will tackle anything and +then be sorry for it afterward. The towns are scattered from here on, +and you won't strike a decent meal except at the railway stations. +Taking all these things into consideration, I advise you to make your +headquarters here for the winter." + +"Thank you," returned Mr. Merrick pleasantly. "It's too late for us to +back out now, even if we felt nervous and afraid, which I assure you +we do not." + +"We are not looking for excessive comfort on this journey, you know," +remarked Patsy. "But thank you for your warning, sir. It has given us +great pleasure; for if there were no chance of adventure before us we +should all be greatly disappointed." + +Again the landlord shook his head. + +"Right?" asked Wampus, at the wheel. + +"Go ahead," said Mr. Merrick, and slowly the big car started upon its +journey into the Golden West. + +The air was keen and bracing, but not chilly. The sunshine flooded the +landscape on every side. All the windows of the limousine had been +lowered. + +Myrtle Dean had been established in one corner of the broad back seat, +where she nestled comfortably among the cushions. Uncle John sat +beside her, with Beth and the Major on the seat on front. There were +two folding chairs that could be used on occasion, and the back seat +easily accommodated three, the "Autocrat" being a seven passenger car; +but Patsy was perched in front beside Wampus, which was really the +choicest seat of all, so there was ample room inside to "swing a cat," +as the Major stated--if anyone had cared to attempt such a feat. Of +course the wee Mumbles was in Patsy's lap, and he seemed to have +overcome his first aversion of Wampus and accepted the little +chauffeur into the circle of his favored acquaintances. Indeed, they +soon became fast friends. + +On leaving the town Wampus turned into a smooth, hard wagon road that +ran in zigzag fashion near the railroad grade. The car bowled along +right merrily for some twenty miles, when the driver turned to the +right and skimmed along a high plateau. It was green and seemed +fertile, but scarcely a farmhouse could they see, although the clear +air permitted a broad view. + +"He up hill now all way to Continental Divide," said Wampus to Patsy; +"then he go down hill long time." + +"It doesn't seem to be much uphill," returned the girl, "and the road +is very good." + +"We make time here," observed the driver. "By'm-by we find rock an' +bad road. Then we go slow." + +The Major was watching the new chauffeur carefully, and despite his +dismal forebodings the man seemed not at all reckless but handled his +car with rare skill. So the critic turned to his brother-in-law and +asked: + +"Is it fully decided which way we shall go?" + +"I've left it to Wampus and the girls," was the reply. "On account +of our little invalid here we shall take the most direct route to +California. It isn't a short route, at that. On Beth's account we +shall visit the Moki and Navajo reservations, and on Patsy's account +we're going by way of the Grand Canyon of Arizona. Wampus says he +knows every inch of the road, so for my part I'm content to be just a +passenger." + +"Which remark," said the Major, "indicates that I'm to be just a +passenger also. Very well, John; I'm willing. There may be trouble +ahead of us, but to-day is so magnificent that it's wise to forget +everything but the present." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE CHAUFFEUR IMPROVES + + +They all enjoyed that first day's ride. Wampus did not drive fast, +for there were places where he couldn't; yet by one o'clock they had +reached Laguna, sixty miles from their starting point. There was an +excellent railway hotel here, so they decided to spend the rest of the +day and the night at Laguna and proceed early the next morning. + +The big car was an object of much curiosity to the natives, and during +the afternoon Wampus was the center of attraction. Myrtle had stood +the ride remarkably well, and Uncle John noticed that her eyes were +brighter and a shade of color had already crept into her pale cheeks. +Having risen early all three of the girls took a nap during the +afternoon, as did Mr. Merrick. The Major gossiped with the station +agent, the most important individual in town, and gleaned sundry +information that made him look rather glum. + +"I don't say the road's exactly dangerous, mind you," added the man, +"but these greasers and Injuns get mischievous, at times, harmless +as they look. All I'm advisin' is that you keep a sharp eye on 'em." +Finding Wampus cleaning his car, while a circle of silent, attentive +inhabitants looked on, the Major said to him in a low voice: "Have you +a revolver?" + +Wampus shook his head. + +"Never carry him," he replied. "All gun he make trouble. Sometime he +shoot wrong man. Don't like gun. Why should I? I am Wampus!" + +The Major entered the hotel frowning. + +"That fellow," he muttered, "is a natural-born coward, and we needn't +expect help from him if trouble comes." + +No trouble came that night, however, and in the early morning, while +the sky was still reddened by the rising sun, they were off again, +following more closely now the railroad, as rocky defiles began to +loom up before them. + +By the zigzag course they were obliged to take it was ninety miles to +Gallup, and this they easily made, despite the growing steepness of +the mountain road. Here was the famous Continental Divide, and the +State of Arizona lay just beyond. The Continental Divide is the ridge +that separates the streams tributary to the Atlantic ocean from those +tributary to the Pacific, so that after crossing it one might well +feel that at last the East was left behind and the great West with its +romance now faced him. + +They came to the little town in time to see the gorgeous sunset from +this, the highest point of the Rockies, and especially to Myrtle, who +had traveled so little, was the sight impressive and awe inspiring. +There was a small but fairly good hotel in the place, and after supper +Patsy and Beth went out for a stroll, being much interested in the +dark-skinned Mexicans and still darker Indians who constituted far +the larger part of the population. The party had everywhere met with +respect from these people, who, although curious, were silent and +well-behaved; so Uncle John and the Major, deep in a political +argument on the hotel porch, had no thought of danger when they saw +the two girls start away arm in arm. + +The sky was still aglow, although the sun had set, and in the subdued +light the coarse adobe huts and rickety frame dwellings were endowed +with a picturesque appearance they did not really possess. Beth and +Patsy came to the end of the main street rather suddenly, and stood a +moment looking at the shadows cast by the rocky cliffs near by. Some +of the peaks had snow upon them, and there was a chill in the air, now +that the sun had withdrawn its warmth. The girls turned presently and +took another route that might bring them quicker to the hotel, but had +only proceeded a short way when in passing a rather solitary adobe +structure a man stepped from the shadow of the wall and confronted +them. He wore a red flannel shirt and a broad sombrero, the latter +scarcely covering his dark, evil features. + +The cousins stopped short. Then Beth whispered: "Let's go the other +way." But as they were about to turn the Mexican drew a revolver and +said in harsh, uneven English: "You halt. Keep a-still, or I shoot." + +"What do you want?" asked Beth, quietly. + +"Money. All you got. Jew'lry--all you got. Give 'm quick, or I shoot!" + +As they stood hesitating a sound of footsteps was heard and someone +approached quickly from behind them. Patsy looked hurriedly around +and saw Wampus. He was walking with his thin little form bent and his +hands deep in his trousers pockets. Incidentally Wampus was smoking +the stub of a cigar, as was his custom when off duty. + +The Mexican saw him, but marking his small size and mild manner did +not flinch from his position. With one revolver still leveled at the +girls he drew another from a hip pocket and turned it upon Wampus. + +"You stop--halt!" he exclaimed fiercely. + +Wampus did not halt. His eyes fixed upon the bandit's ugly features, +still puffing his cigar and with hands in his pockets he walked +deliberately past Patsy and Beth and straight up to the muzzles of the +revolvers. + +"Stop!" cried the Mexican; and again: "Stop!" + +Wampus stopped when one revolver nearly touched his nose and another +covered his body. Slowly he drew one hand from his pocket and grasped +the barrel of the nearest weapon. + +"Let him go," he said, not raising his voice. The man stared into the +little chauffeur's eyes and released his hold of the revolver. Wampus +looked at it, grunted, and put it in his pocket. + +"Now the other gun," he said. + +The fellow drew back and half turned, as if to escape. + +"No, no!" said Wampus, as if annoyed. "You give me gun. See--I am +Wampus!" + +Sheepishly enough the Mexican surrendered the other weapon. + +"Now turn aroun' an' go to hotel," commanded the chauffeur. + +The man obeyed. Wampus turned to the girls, who were now not only +relieved but on the verge of laughter and said deprecatingly: + +"Do not be scare, for poor man he make no harm. He jus' try a +goozle--no dare shoot here in town. Then come; I go back with you." + +Silently they accompanied him along the lane, the Mexican keeping in +front and looking around from time to time to see if they followed. +A short distance from the hotel Wampus gave a queer whistle which +brought the bandit cringing to his side. Without ado he handed the +fellow his two revolvers and said calmly: "Go 'long." + +The Mexican "went along" briskly and the dusk soon swallowed him up. + +"Thank you, Wampus," said Patsy, gratefully; "you've saved us from a +dreadful experience." + +"Oh, that!" snapping his fingers scornfully. "He not a good bad-man, +for he too much afraid. I have no gun, for I do not like gun. Still, +if I not come, he make you give him money an' trinkets." + +"You were very kind," replied Beth, "and I thank you as much as Patsy +does. If you had not arrived just when you did I might have killed the +man." + +"You?" inquired Wampus, doubtingly. + +"Yes." She showed him a small pearl-handled revolver which she carried +in the pocket of her jacket. "I can shoot, Wampus." + +The little chauffeur grinned; then looked grave and shook his head. + +"It make funny world, these day," said he. "One time girl from city +would scream to see a gun; now she carry him in pocket an' can shoot! +Ver' fine; ver' fine. But I like me old style girl who make scream. +Then a man not feel foolish when he try protect her." + +Patsy laughed merrily; but Beth saw he was offended and hastened to +say: + +"I am very grateful to you, Wampus, and I know you are a brave and +true man. I shall expect you to protect me at all times, for I really +don't wish to shoot anyone, although I think it best to carry a +revolver. Always after this, before I am tempted to fire, I shall look +to see if you are not near me." + +"All right," he said more cheerfully. "I am Wampus. I will be there, +Miss 'Lizbeth." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +AMONG THE INDIANS + + +Little Myrtle grew brighter day by day. She even grew merry and +developed a fine sense of humor, showing new traits in her hitherto +undeveloped character. The girl never mentioned her injury nor +admitted that she suffered any pain, even when directly questioned. +Indeed she was not uncomfortable during that splendid automobile ride +over mountain and plain into the paradise of the glowing West. Never +before in her life had Myrtle enjoyed an outing, except for an hour or +two in a city park; never before had she known a friend to care for +her and sympathize honestly with her griefs. Therefore this experience +was so exquisitely delightful that her responsive heart nearly burst +with gratitude. Pretty thoughts came to her that she had never had +before; her luxurious surroundings led her to acquire dainty ways and +a composed and self-poised demeanor. + +"Our rosebud is unfolding, petal by petal, and beginning to bloom +gloriously," said Patsy to sympathetic Uncle John. "Could anyone be +more sweet or lovely?" + +Perhaps almost any girl, situated as Myrtle Dean was, would have +blossomed under similar influences. Certain it was that Uncle John +came to have a tender affection for the poor child, while the Major's +big heart had warmed from the first toward the injured girl. Beth and +Patsy were devoted to their new friend and even Mumbles was never so +happy as when Myrtle would hold and caress him. Naturally the former +waif responded freely to all this wealth of affection and strove to be +companionable and cheery, that they might forget as much as possible +her physical helplessness. + +Mumbles was not the least important member of the party, but proved +a constant source of amusement to all. In the novel domains they now +traversed the small dog's excitable nature led him to investigate +everything that seemed suspicious, but he was so cowardly, in spite of +this, that once when Patsy let him down to chase a gopher or prairie +dog--they were not sure which--the animal turned at bay and sent +Mumbles retreating with his stubby tail between his legs. His +comradeship for Wampus surprised them all. The Canadian would talk +seriously to the dog and tell it long stories as if the creature could +understand every word--which perhaps he did. Mumbles would sit up +between the driver and Patsy and listen attentively, which encouraged +Wampus to talk until Patsy in self-defense turned and tossed the fuzzy +animal in to Myrtle, who was always glad to receive him. + +But Patsy did not always sit on the front seat. That honor was divided +among them all, by turns, except the Major, who did not care for the +place. Yet I think Patsy rode there oftener than anyone else, and it +came to be considered her special privilege because she had first +claimed it. + +The Major, after the incident at Gallup, did not scorn Wampus so +openly as before; but he still reserved a suspicion that the fellow +was at heart a coward and a blusterer. The chauffeur's sole demerit in +the eyes of the others was his tremendous egotism. The proud remark: +"I am Wampus!" was constantly on his lips and he had wonderful tales +to tell to all who would listen of his past experiences, in every one +of which he unblushingly figured as the hero. But he really handled +the big touring car in an admirable manner, and when one afternoon +a tire was punctured by a cactus spine by the roadside--their first +accident--they could not fail to admire the dexterous manner in which +he changed the tube for a new one. + +From Gallup they took a wagon road to Fort Defiance, in the Navajo +Indian reservation; but the Navajos proved uninteresting people, not +even occupying themselves in weaving the famous Navajo blankets, which +are now mostly made in Philadelphia. Even Patsy, who had longed to +"see the Indians in their native haunts," was disgusted by their filth +and laziness, and the party expected no better results when they came +to the adjoining Moki reservation. Here, however, they were happily +disappointed, for they arrived at the pueblo of Oraibi, one of +the prettiest villages on the mesa, on the eve of one of their +characteristic snake dances, and decided to remain over night and +see the performance. Now I am not sure but the "Snake Dance" was so +opportune because Uncle John had a private interview with the native +chieftain, at which the head Snake Priest and the head Antelope Priest +of the tribe were present. These Indians spoke excellent English and +the chief loved the white man's money, so a ceremony that has been +held during the month of August for many centuries--long before the +Spanish conquistadors found this interesting tribe--was found to be on +tap for that very evening. The girls were tremendously excited at the +prospect and Wampus was ordered to prepare camp for the night--the +first they had spent in their automobile and away from a hotel. Not +only was the interior of the roomy limousine converted into sleeping +quarters for the three girls, but a tent was spread, one side fastened +to the car while the other was staked to the ground. Three wire +folding cots came from some hidden place beneath the false bottom of +the car, with bedding enough to supply them, and these were for the +use of the men in the tent. The two "bedrooms" having been thus +prepared, Wampus lighted the tiny gasoline stove, over which Patsy and +Beth enthusiastically cooked the supper. Beth wanted to "Newburg" the +tinned lobster, and succeeded in creaming it very nicely. They had +potato chips, coffee and toasted Holland rusks, as well, and all +thoroughly enjoyed the improvised meal. + +Their camp had been pitched just at the outskirts of the Indian +village, but the snake dance was to take place in a rocky glen some +distance away from the pueblo and so Uncle John instructed Wampus to +remain and guard their outfit, as the Moki are notorious thieves. They +left the lean little chauffeur perched upon the driver's seat, smoking +one of his "stogie" cigars and with Mumbles sitting gravely beside +him. + +Myrtle hobbled on her crutches between Beth and Patsy, who carried +little tin lanterns made with lamp chimneys that had candles inside +them. They first visited the chief, who announced that the ceremonies +were about to begin. At a word from this imposing leader a big Indian +caught up Myrtle and easily carried her on his shoulder, as if she +were light as a feather, leading the way to the rocky amphitheatre. +Here were assembled all the inhabitants of the village, forming a wide +circle around the performers. The snakes were in a pit dug in the +center of the space, over which a few branches had been placed. This +is called the "kisi." + +These unique and horrifying snake dances of the Moki have been +described so often that I need not speak of this performance in +detail. Before it was half over the girls wished they were back in +their automobile; but the Major whispered that for them to leave would +cause great offense to the Indians and might result in trouble. The +dance is supposedly a religious one, in honor of the Rain God, and at +first the snakes were not used, but as the dancers became wrought up +and excited by their antics one by one they reached within the kisi +and drew out a snake, allowing the reptiles to coil around their +almost naked bodies and handling them with seeming impunity. A few +were harmless species, as bull snakes and arrow snakes; but mostly the +Moki used rattlesnakes, which are native to the mesa and its rocky +cliffs. Some travelers have claimed that the fangs of the rattlers are +secretly withdrawn before the creatures are handled, but this has been +proved to be untrue. The most accepted theory is that the snakes are +never permitted to coil, and cannot strike unless coiled, while the +weird chanting and graceful undulating motions of the dancers in some +manner "charms" or intoxicates the serpents, which are not aroused to +antagonism. Occasionally, however, one of the Moki priests is bitten, +in which case nothing is done to aid him and he is permitted to die, +it being considered a judgment of the Rain God for some sin he has +committed. + +The barbaric rites seemed more picturesque, as well as more revolting, +in that they took place by the flickering light of torches and +bonfires in a rock strewn plain usually claimed by nature. When the +dancers were more frenzied they held the squirming serpents in their +mouths by the middle and allowed them to coil around their necks, +dancing wildly the while. The whole affair was so nauseating and +offensive that as soon as it was possible the visitors withdrew and +retired to their "camp." It was now almost midnight, but the path was +lighted by the little lanterns they carried. + +As they approached the automobile Uncle John was disturbed not to see +Wampus at his post. A light showed from the front of the car, but the +chauffeur seemed to be missing. Coming nearer, however, they soon +were greeted by a joyous barking from Mumbles and discovered Wampus +squatting upon the ground, puffing at the small end of the cigar and +seeming quite composed and tranquil. + +"What are you doing there?" demanded the Major, raising his lantern +the better to light the scene. + +"I play jailer," grunted Wampus, without moving. "Him want to steal; +Mumble he make bark noise; for me, I steal too--I steal Injun." + +A dusky form, prone upon the ground, began to squirm under Wampus, who +was then discovered to be sitting upon a big Indian and holding him +prisoner. The chauffeur, partly an Indian himself, knew well how to +manage his captive and quieted the fellow by squeezing his throat with +his broad stubby fingers. + +"How long have you had him there?" inquired Uncle John, looking at the +discomfited "brave" curiously. + +"About an hour," was the reply. + +"Let him go, then. We have no prison handy, and the man has perhaps +been punished enough." + +"I have wait to ask permission to kill him," said Wampus solemnly. "He +know English talk, an' I have told him he is to die. I have describe, +sir, several torture we make on Injun who steal, which make him think +he die several time. So he is now prepare for the worst." + +The Indiam squirmed again, and with a sigh Wampus arose and set him +free. + +"See," he said; "you are save only by mercy of Great White Chief. You +ver' lucky Injun. But Great White Chief will leave only one eye here +when he go away. If you try to steal again the eye will see, an' then +the torture I have describe will be yours. I am Wampus. I have spoke." + +The Indian listened intently and then slunk away into the darkness +without reply. The night had no further event and in spite of their +unusual experiences all slept excellently and awoke in the morning +refreshed and ready for new adventures. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +NATURE'S MASTERPIECE + + +From the reservation to the Grand Canyon of the Colorado was not far, +but there was no "crosscut" and so they were obliged to make a wide +detour nearly to Williams before striking the road that wound upward +to the world's greatest wonder. + +Slowly and tediously the big car climbed the miserable trail to the +rim of the Grand Canyon. It was night when they arrived, for they had +timed it that way, having been told of the marvelous beauty of the +canyon by moonlight. But unfortunately the sky filled with clouds +toward evening, and they came to Bright Angel, their destination, in a +drizzling rain and total darkness. The Major was fearful Wampus might +run them into the canyon, but the machine's powerful searchlights +showed the way clearly and by sticking to the road they finally drew +up before an imposing hotel such as you might wonder to find in so +remote a spot. + +Eagerly enough they escaped from the automobile where they had been +shut in and entered the spacious lobby of the hotel, where a merry +throng of tourists had gathered. + +"Dinner and bed," said Patsy, decidedly. "I'm all tired out, and poor +Myrtle is worn to a frazzle. There's no chance of seeing the canyon +to-night, and as for the dancing, card playing and promiscuous gaiety, +it doesn't appeal much to a weary traveler." + +The girls were shown to a big room at the front of the hotel, having +two beds in it. A smaller connecting-room was given to Myrtle, while +Patsy and Beth shared the larger apartment. It seems the hotel, big +as it was, was fairly filled with guests, the railway running three +trains a day to the wonderful canyon; but Uncle John's nieces did +not mind occupying the same room, which was comfortably and even +luxuriously furnished. + +A noise of footsteps along the corridor disturbed Patsy at an early +hour. She opened her eyes to find the room dimly lighted, as by the +first streaks of dawn, and sleepily arose to raise the window shade +and see if day was breaking. Her hand still upraised to guide the +shade the girl stood as motionless as if turned to stone. With a long +drawn, gasping breath she cried: "Oh, Beth!" and then stood staring at +what is undoubtedly the most entrancing, the most awe inspiring and at +the same time the most magnificent spectacle that mortal eye has ever +beheld--sunrise above the Grand Canyon of Arizona. + +The master painters of the world have gathered in this spot in a vain +attempt to transfer the wondrous coloring of the canyon to canvas. +Authors famed for their eloquent command of language have striven as +vainly to tell to others what their own eyes have seen; how their +senses have been thrilled and their souls uplifted by the marvel that +God's hand has wrought. It can never be pictured. It can never be +described. Only those who have stood as Patricia Doyle stood that +morning and viewed the sublime masterpiece of Nature can realize what +those homely words, "The Grand Canyon" mean. Grand? It is well named. +Since no other adjective can better describe it, that much abused one +may well be accepted to incompletely serve its purpose. + +Beth joined her cousin at the window and was instantly as awed +and absorbed as Patsy. Neither remembered Myrtle just then, but +fortunately their friend had left the connecting door of their +rooms ajar and hearing them stirring came in to see if anything had +happened. She found the two cousins staring intently from the window +and went to the second window herself, thus witnessing the spectacle +in all its glory. + +Even after the magnificent coloring of sunrise had faded the sight was +one to rivet the attention. The hotel seemed built at the very edge of +the canyon, and at their feet the ground appeared to fall away and a +great gulf yawned that was tinted on all its diverse sides with hues +that rivaled those of the rainbow. Across the chasm they could clearly +see the trees and hills; yet these were fully thirteen miles distant, +for here is one of the widest portions of the great abyss. + +"I'm going to dress," said Beth, breaking the silence at last. "It +seems a sin to stay cooped up in here when such a glorious panorama is +at one's feet." + +The others did not reply in words, but they all began to dress +together with nervous haste, and then made their way down to the +canyon's brink. Others were before them, standing upon the ample +porches in interested groups; but such idleness would not content our +girls, who trooped away for a more intimate acquaintance with the +wonderful gorge. + +"Oh, how small--how terribly small--I am!" cried Patsy, lost in +the immensity of the canyon's extent; but this is a common cry of +travelers visiting Bright Angel. You might place a baker's dozen of +the huge Falls of Niagara in the Grand Canyon and scarcely notice they +were there. All the vast cathedrals of Europe set upon its plateau +would seem like pebbles when viewed from the brink. The thing is +simply incomprehensible to those who have not seen it. + +Presently Uncle John and the Major came out to join them and they all +wandered along the edge until they came to a huge rock that jutted +out far over the monster gulf. On the furthermost point of this rock, +standing with his feet at the very brink, was a tall, thin man, his +back toward them. It seemed a fearful thing to do--to stand where the +slightest slip would send him reeling into the abyss. + +"It's like tempting fate," whispered Patsy, a safe distance away. "I +wish he would step back a little." + +As if he had overheard her the man half turned and calmly examined the +group. His eyes were an almost colorless blue, his features destitute +of any expression. By his dress he seemed well-to-do, if not +prosperous, yet there was a hint of melancholy in his poise and about +him a definite atmosphere of loneliness. + +After that one deliberate look he turned again and faced the canyon, +paying no attention to the interested little party that hovered far +enough from the edge to avoid any possible danger. + +"Oh, dear!" whispered Myrtle, clinging to Beth's arm with trembling +fingers, "I'm afraid he's going to--to commit suicide!" + +"Nonsense!" answered Beth, turning pale nevertheless. + +The figure was motionless as before. Uncle John and the Major started +along the path but as Beth attempted to follow them Myrtle broke away +from her and hobbled eagerly on her crutches toward the stranger. She +did not go quite to the end of the jutting rock, but stopped some feet +away and called in a low, intense voice: + +"Don't!" + +The man turned again, with no more expression in his eyes or face than +before. He looked at Myrtle steadily a moment, then turned and slowly +left the edge, walking to firm ground and back toward the hotel +without another glance at the girl. + +"I'm so ashamed," said Myrtle, tears of vexation in her eyes as she +rejoined her friends. "But somehow I felt I must warn him--it was an +impulse I just couldn't resist." + +"Why, no harm resulted, in any event, my dear," returned Beth. "I +wouldn't think of it again." + +They took so long a walk that all were nearly famished when they +returned to the hotel for breakfast. + +Of course Patsy and Beth wanted to go down Bright Angel Trail into the +depths of the canyon, for that is the thing all adventurous spirits +love to do. + +"I'm too fat for such foolishness," said Uncle John, "so I'll stay up +here and amuse Myrtle." + +The Major decided to go, to "look after our Patsy;" so the three +joined the long line of daring tourists and being mounted on docile, +sure-footed burros, followed the guide down the trail. + +Myrtle and Uncle John spent the morning on the porch of the hotel. At +breakfast the girl had noticed the tall man they had encountered at +the canyon's edge quietly engaged in eating at a small table in a far +corner of the great dining room. During the forenoon he came from the +hotel to the porch and for a time stood looking far away over the +canyon. + +Aroused to sympathy by the loneliness of this silent person, Uncle +John left his chair and stood beside him at the railing. + +"It's a wonderful sight, sir," he remarked in his brisk, sociable way; +"wonderful indeed!" + +For a moment there was no reply. + +"It seems to call one," said the man at length, as if to himself. "It +calls one." + +"It's a wonder to me it doesn't call more people to see it," observed +Mr. Merrick, cheerfully. "Think of this magnificent thing--greater and +grander than anything the Old World can show, being here right in the +heart of America, almost--and so few rush to see it! Why, in time to +come, sir," he added enthusiastically, "not to have seen the Grand +Canyon of Arizona will be an admission of inferiority. It's--it's the +biggest thing in all the world!" + +The stranger made no reply. He had not even glanced at Uncle John. Now +he slowly turned and stared fixedly at Myrtle for a moment, till she +cast down her eyes, blushing. Then he re-entered the hotel; nor was he +again seen by them. + +The little man was indignant at the snub. Rejoining Myrtle he said to +her: + +"That fellow wasn't worth saving--if you really saved him, my dear. He +says the canyon calls one, and for all I care he may go to the bottom +by any route he pleases." + +Which speech showed that gentle, kindly Mr. Merrick was really +annoyed. But a moment later he was all smiles again and Myrtle found +him a delightful companion because he knew so well how to read +people's thoughts, and if they were sad had a tactful way of cheering +them. + +The girls and the Major returned from their trip to the plateau full +of rapture at their unique experiences. + +"I wouldn't have missed it for a million dollars!" cried the Major; +but he added: "and you couldn't hire me to go again for two million!" + +"It was great," said Patsy; "but I'm tuckered out." + +"I had nineteen narrow escapes from sudden death," began Beth, but her +cousin interrupted her by saying: "So had everyone in the party; +and if the canyon had caved in we'd all be dead long ago. Stop your +chattering now and get ready for dinner. I'm nearly starved." + +Next morning they took a farewell view of the beautiful scene and then +climbed into their automobile to continue their journey. Many of the +tourists had wondered at their temerity in making such a long trip +through a poorly settled country in a motor car and had plied them +with questions and warnings. But they were thoroughly enjoying this +outing and nothing very disagreeable had happened to them so far. I am +sure that on this bright, glorious morning you could not have hired +any one of the party to abandon the automobile and finish the trip by +train. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A COYOTE SERENADE + + +The roads were bad enough. They were especially bad west of Williams. +Just now an association of automobile tourists has been formed to +create a boulevard route through from the Atlantic to the Pacific +coast, but at the time of this story no attention had been given the +roads of the far West and only the paths of the rancheros from town to +town served as guides. On leaving Williams they turned south so as to +avoid the more severe mountain roads, and a fine run through a rather +uninteresting country brought them to Prescott on the eve of the +second day after leaving the Canyon. Here they decided to take a day's +rest, as it was Sunday and the hotel was comfortable; but Monday +morning they renewed their journey and headed southwesterly across the +alkali plains--called "mesa"--for Parker, on the boundary line between +Arizona and California. + +Towns of any sort were very scarce in this section and the country was +wild and often barren of vegetation for long stretches. There were +some extensive ranches, however, as this is the section favored for +settlement by a class of Englishmen called "remittance men." These are +mostly the "black sheep" or outcasts of titled families, who having +got into trouble of some sort at home, are sent to America to isolate +themselves on western ranches, where they receive monthly or quarterly +remittances of money to support them. The remittance men are poor +farmers, as a rule. They are idle and lazy except when it comes to +riding, hunting and similar sports. Their greatest industry is cattle +raising, yet these foreign born "cowboys" constitute an entirely +different class from those of American extraction, found in Texas and +on the plains of the Central West. They are educated and to an extent +cultured, being "gentlemen born" but sad backsliders in the practise +of the profession. Because other ranchers hesitate to associate with +them they congregate in settlements of their own, and here in Arizona, +on the banks of the Bill Williams Branch of the Colorado River, they +form almost the total population. + +Our friends had hoped to make the little town of Gerton for the night, +but the road was so bad that Wampus was obliged to drive slowly and +carefully, and so could not make very good time. Accidents began +to happen, too, doubtless clue to the hard usage the machine had +received. First a spring broke, and Wampus was obliged to halt long +enough to clamp it together with stout steel braces. An hour later the +front tire was punctured by cactus spines, which were thick upon the +road. Such delays seriously interfered with their day's mileage. + +Toward sunset Uncle John figured, from the information he had received +at Prescott, that they were yet thirty miles from Gerton, and so he +decided to halt and make camp while there was yet sufficient daylight +remaining to do so conveniently. + +"We might hunt for a ranch house and beg for shelter," said he, "but +from the stories I've heard of the remittance men I am sure we will +enjoy ourselves better if we rely entirely upon our own resources." + +The girls were, of course, delighted at the prospect of such an +experience, for the silent, solitary mesa made them feel they were +indeed "in the wilds of the Great American Desert." The afternoon had +been hot and the ride dusty, but there was now a cooler feeling in the +air since the sun had fallen low in the horizon. + +They carried their own drinking water, kept ice-cold in thermos +bottles, and Uncle John also had a thermos tub filled with small +squares of ice. This luxury, in connection with their ample supply +of provisions, enabled the young women to prepare a supper not to be +surpassed in any modern hotel. The soup came from one can, the curried +chicken from another, while artichokes, peas, asparagus and plum +pudding shed their tin coverings to complete the meal. Fruits, cheese +and biscuits they had in abundance, so there was no hardship in +camping out on a deserted Arizona table-land, as far as food was +concerned. The Interior of the limousine, when made into berths for +the three girls, was as safe and cosy as a Pullman sleeping coach. +Only the men's quarters, the "lean-to" tent, was in any way open to +invasion. + +After the meal was ended and the things washed and put away they all +sat on folding camp chairs outside the little tent and enjoyed the +intense silence surrounding them. The twilight gradually deepened into +darkness. Wampus kept one of the searchlights lit to add an element of +cheerfulness to the scene, and Myrtle was prevailed upon to sing one +or two of her simple songs. She had a clear, sweet voice, although not +a strong one, and they all--especially Uncle John--loved to hear her +sing. + +Afterward they talked over their trip and the anticipated change from +this arid region to the verdure of California, until suddenly a long, +bloodcurdling howl broke the stillness and caused them one and all +to start from their seats. That is, all but Wampus. The chauffeur, +sitting apart with his black cigar in his mouth, merely nodded and +said: "Coyote." + +The Major coughed and resumed his seat. Uncle John stood looking into +the darkness as if trying to discern the creature. + +"Are coyotes considered dangerous?" he asked the Canadian. + +"Not to us," replied Wampus. "Sometime, if one man be out on mesa +alone, an' plenty coyote come, he have hard fight for life. Coyote is +wild dog. He is big coward unless pretty hungry. If I leave light burn +he never come near us." + +"Then let it burn--all night," said Mr. Merrick. "There he goes +again--and another with him! What a horrible wail it is." + +"I rather like it," said Patsy, with her accustomed calmness. "It is +certainly an added experience to be surrounded by coyotes. Probably +our trip wouldn't have been complete without it." + +"A little of that serenade will suffice me," admitted Beth, as the +howls grew nearer and redoubled in volume. + +Myrtle's eyes were big and earnest. She was not afraid, but there was +something uncanny in being surrounded by such savage creatures. + +Nearer and nearer sounded the howls, until it was easy to see a dozen +fierce eyes gleaming in the darkness, not a stone's throw away from +the camp. + +"I guess you girls had better go to bed," remarked Uncle John, a bit +nervously. "There's no danger, you know--none at all. Let the brutes +howl, if they want to--especially as we can't stop them. But you are +tired, my dears, and I'd like to see you settled for the night." + +Somewhat reluctantly they entered the limousine, drew the curtains and +prepared for bed. Certainly they were having a novel experience, and +if Uncle John would feel easier to have them listen to the howling +coyotes from inside the limousine instead of outside, they could not +well object to his request. + +Presently Wampus asked the Major for his revolver, and on obtaining +the weapon he walked a few paces toward the coyotes and fired a shot +into their group. They instantly scattered and made off, only to +return in a few moments to their former position. + +"Will they continue this Grand Opera chorus all night?" asked Uncle +John. + +"Perhap," said Wampus. "They hungry, an' smell food. Coyote can no +reason. If he could, he know ver' well we never feed him." + +"The next time we come this way let us fetch along a ton or so of +coyote feed," suggested the Major. "I wonder what the poor brutes +would think if they were stuffed full for once in their lives?" + +"It have never happen, sir," observed Wampus, shaking his head +gravely. "Coyote all born hungry; he live hungry; he die hungry. If +ever coyote was not hungry he would not be coyote." + +"In that case, Major," said Uncle John, "let us go to bed and try to +sleep. Perhaps in slumber we may forget these howling fiends." + +"Very well," agreed Major Doyle, rising to enter the little tent. + +Wampus unexpectedly interposed. "Wait," called the little chauffeur. +"Jus' a minute, if you please." + +While the Major and Mr. Merrick stood wondering at the request, the +Canadian, who was still holding the revolver in one hand, picked a +steel rod from the rumble of the automobile and pushing aside the flap +of the little tent entered. The tail-lamp of the car burned inside, +dimly lighting the place. + +The Major was about to follow Wampus when a revolver shot arrested +him. This sound was followed by a quick thumping against the ground of +the steel bar, and then Wampus emerged from the tent holding a dark, +squirming object on the end of the rod extended before him. + +"What is it?" asked Mr. Merrick, somewhat startled. + +"Rattlesnake," said Wampus, tossing the thing into the sagebrush. "I +see him crawl in tent while you eat supper." + +"Why did you not tell us?" cried the Major excitedly. + +"I thought him perhaps crawl out again. Him sometime do that. But no. +Mister snake he go sleep in tent which is reserve for his superior. I +say nothing, for I do not wish to alarm the young ladies. That is why +I hold the dog Mumble so tight, for he small eye see snake too, an' +fool dog wish to go fight him. Rattlesnake soon eat Mumble up--eh? But +never mind; there is no worry. I am Wampus, an' I am here. You go to +bed now, an' sleep an' be safe." + +He said this rather ostentatiously, and for that reason neither of the +others praised his watchful care or his really brave act. That Wampus +was proving himself a capable and faithful servant even the Major was +forced to admit, yet the man's bombast and self-praise robbed him of +any word of commendation he justly earned. + +"I think," said Uncle John, "I'll bunk on the front seat to-night. I'm +short, you see, and will just about curl up in the space. I believe +snakes do not climb up wheels. Make my bed on the front seat, Wampus." + +The man grinned but readily obeyed. The Major watched him +thoughtfully. + +"For my part," he said, "I'll have a bed made on top the roof." + +"Pshaw!" said Uncle John; "you'll scratch the paint." + +"That is a matter of indifference to me," returned the Major. + +"You'll roll off, in your sleep, and hurt yourself." + +"I'll risk that, sir." + +"Are you afraid, Major?" + +"Afraid! Me? Not when I'm awake, John. But what's to prevent more of +those vermin from crawling into the tent during the night?" + +"Such thing very unusual." remarked Wampus, placing the last blanket +on Mr. Merrick's improvised bed. "Perhaps you sleep in tent a week an' +never see another rattler." + +"Just the same," concluded the Major, "I'll have my bed on top the +limousine." + +He did, Wampus placing blankets and a pillow for him without a word of +protest. The Major climbed over Uncle John and mounted to the roof of +the car, which sloped to either side but was broad and long enough +to accommodate more than one sleeper. Being an old campaigner and a +shrewd tactician, Major Doyle made two blankets into rolls, which he +placed on either side of him, to "anchor" his body in position. Then +he settled himself to rest beneath the brilliant stars while the +coyotes maintained their dismal howling. But a tired man soon becomes +insensible to even such annoyances. + +The girls, having entered the limousine from the door opposite the +tent, were all unaware of the rattlesnake episode and supposed the +shot had been directed against the coyotes. They heard the Major +climbing upon the roof, but did not demand any explanation, being deep +in those bedtime confidences so dear to all girls. Even they came +to disregard the persistent howls of the coyotes, and in time fell +asleep. + +Wampus did not seem afraid of snakes. The little chauffeur went to bed +in the tent and slept soundly upon his cot until daybreak, when the +coyotes withdrew and the Canadian got up to make the coffee. + +The Major peered over the edge of the roof to watch him. He had a +sleepy look about his eyes, as if he had not rested well. Uncle John +was snoring with gentle regularity and the girls were still asleep. + +"Wampus," said the Major, "do you know the proper definition of a +fool?" + +Wampus reflected, stirring the coffee carefully. + +"I am not--what you call him?--a dictionairre; no. But I am Wampus. I +have live much in very few year. I would say a fool is man who think +he is wise. For what is wise? Nothing!" + +The Major felt comforted. + +"It occurred to me," he said, beginning to climb down from the roof, +"that a fool was a man who left a good home for this uncomfortable +life on a barren desert. This country wasn't made for humans; it +belongs to the coyotes and the rattlesnakes. What right have we to +intrude upon them, then?" + +Wampus did not reply. It was not his business to criticise his +employers. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A REAL ADVENTURE AT LAST + + +Uncle John woke up when the Major inadvertently placed a heel upon his +round stomach on the way to the ground. The chubby little millionaire +had slept excellently and was in a genial humor this morning. He +helped Wampus fry the bacon and scramble the eggs, while the Major +called the girls. + +It proved a glorious sunrise and the air was full of pure ozone. They +had suffered little from cold during the trip, although it was in +the dead of winter and the altitude considerable. Just now they were +getting closer to California every hour, and when they descended from +the mesa it would gradually grow warmer. + +They were all becoming expert at "breaking camp," and preparing for +the road. Beth and Patsy put away the bedding and "made up" the +interior of the limousine for traveling. The Major and Uncle John +folded the tent and packed it away, while Wampus attended to the +dishes and tinware and then looked over his car. In a surprisingly +short time they were all aboard and the big machine was gliding over +the faint trail. + +The mesa was not a flat or level country, for they were still near to +the mountain ranges. The way was up hill and down, in gentle slopes, +and soon after starting they breasted the brow of a hill and were +confronted by half a dozen mounted men, who seemed as much astonished +at the encounter as they were. + +It being an event to meet anyone in this desolate place Wampus +involuntarily brought the car to a halt, while the riders lined up +beside it and stared rather rudely at the party. They were dressed as +cowboys usually are, with flannel shirts, chapelets and sombrero hats; +but their faces were not rugged nor healthy, as is the case with most +Western cowboys, but bore marks of dissipation and hard living. + +"Remittance men," whispered Wampus. + +Uncle John nodded. He had heard of this curious class. Especially were +the men staring at the three pretty, feminine faces that peered from +the interior of the limousine. They had remained silent thus far, but +now one of them, a fellow with dark eyes and a sallow complexion, +reined his horse nearer the car and removed his hat with a sweeping +gesture that was not ungraceful. + +"A merry morning to you, fair ladies--or angels--I much misdoubt which +we have chanced upon. Anyhow, welcome to Hades!" + +Uncle John frowned. He did not like the bantering, impudent tone. Beth +flushed and turned aside her head; Myrtle shrank back in her corner +out of sight; but Patsy glared fixedly at the speaker with an +expression that was far from gracious. The remittance man did not seem +daunted by this decided aversion. A sneering laugh broke from his +companions, and one of them cried: + +"Back up, Algy, and give your betters a chance. You're out of it, old +man." + +"I have no betters," he retorted. Then, turning to the girls again and +ignoring the presence of the men accompanying them, he continued: + +"Beauteous visions, since you have wilfully invaded the territory of +Hades Ranch, of which diabolical domain I, Algernon Tobey, am by grace +of his Satanic majesty the master, I invite you to become my guests +and participate in a grand ball which I shall give this evening in +your honor." + +His comrades laughed again, and one of them shouted: + +"Good for you, Algy. A dance--that's the thing!" + +"Why, we haven't had the chance of a dance for ages," said another +approvingly. + +"Because we have had no ladies to dance with," explained Algy. "But +here are three come to our rescue--perhaps more, if I could see inside +that barricade--and they cannot refuse us the pleasure of their +society." + +"Sir," said Major Doyle, stiffly, "you are pleased to be impertinent. +Ride on, you rascals, and spare us further sight of you." + +The man turned upon him a scowling face. + +"Don't interfere," he said warningly. "This isn't your party, you old +duffer!" + +"Drive ahead, Wampus," commanded Uncle John. + +Wampus had to get out and crank the engines, which he calmly proceeded +to do. The man who had called himself Algernon Tobey perceived his +intention and urged his pony to the front of the car. + +"Let that thing alone. Keep your hands off!" he said. + +Wampus paid no attention. The fellow brought his riding whip down +sharply on the chauffeur's shoulders, inflicting a stinging blow. +Instantly little Wampus straightened up, grasped Tobey by the leg +and with a swift, skillful motion jerked him from his horse. The man +started to draw his revolver, but in an instant he and Wampus were +rolling together upon the ground and the Canadian presently came +uppermost and held his antagonist firmly between his knees. Then +with deliberation he raised his clinched fist and thrust it forcibly +against Mr. Tobey's eye, repeating the impact upon his nose, his chin +and his cheek in a succession of jarring thumps that were delivered +with scientific precision. Algy fairly howled, kicking and struggling +to be free. None of his comrades offered to interfere and it seemed +they were grimly enjoying the punishment that was being; inflicted +upon their leader. + +When Wampus had quite finished his work he arose, adjusted his +disarranged collar and tie and proceeded to crank the engines. Then he +climbed into his seat and started the car with a sudden bound. As he +did so a revolver shot rang out and one of the front tires, pierced by +the bullet, ripped itself nearly in two as it crumpled up. A shout of +derisive laughter came from the cowboys. Algy was astride his pony +again, and as Wampus brought the damaged car to a stop the remittance +men dashed by and along the path, taking the same direction Uncle +John's party was following". Tobey held back a little, calling out: + +"Au revoir! I shall expect you all at my party. I'm going now to get +the fiddler." + +He rejoined his comrades then, and they all clattered away until a +roll of the mesa hid them from sight. + +Uncle John got down from his seat to assist his chauffeur. + +"Thank you, Wampus," he said. "Perhaps you should have killed him +while you had the opportunity; but you did very well." + +Wampus was wrestling with the tire. + +"I have never start a private graveyard," he replied, "for reason I +am afraid to hurt anyone. But I am Wampus. If Mister Algy he dance +to-night, somebody mus' lead him, for he will be blind." + +"I never met such a lawless brood in my life," prowled the Major, +indignantly. "If they were in New York they'd be put behind the bars +in two minutes." + +"But they are in Arizona--in the wilderness," said Uncle John gravely. +"If there are laws here such people do not respect them." + +It took a long time to set the new tire and inflate it, for the outer +tube was torn so badly that an extra one had to be substituted. But +finally the task was accomplished and once more they renewed their +journey. + +Now that they were alone with their friends the girls were excitedly +gossiping over the encounter. + +"Do you really suppose we are on that man's ground--his ranch, as he +calls it?" asked Myrtle, half fearfully. + +"Why, I suppose someone owns all this ground, barren as it is," +replied Patsy. "But we are following a regular road--not a very good +one, nor much traveled; but a road, nevertheless--and any road is +public property and open for the use of travelers." + +"Perhaps we shall pass by their ranch house," suggested Beth. + +"If we do," Uncle John answered, "I'll have Wampus put on full speed. +Even their wild ponies can't follow us then, and if they try shooting +up the tires again they are quite likely to miss as we spin by." + +"Isn't there any other road?" the Major asked. + +Wampus shook his head. + +"I have never come jus' this same route before," he admitted; "but I +make good friend in Prescott, who know all Arizona blindfold. Him say +this is nice, easy road and we cannot get lost for a good reason--the +reason there is no other road at all--only this one." + +"Did your friend say anything about Hades Ranch?" continued the +questioner. + +"He say remittance man make much mischief if he can; but he one +foreign coward, drunk most time an' when sober weak like my aunt's +tea. He say don't let remittance man make bluff. No matter how many +come, if you hit one they all run." + +"H-m," murmured Uncle John, "I'm not so sure of that, Wampus. There +seems to be a good many of those insolent rascals, and I hope we shall +not meet them again. They may give us trouble yet." + +"Never be afraid," advised the chauffeur. "I am Wampus, an' I am +here!" + +Admitting that evident truth, our tourists were not greatly reassured. +Wampus could not tell where the road might lead them, for he did not +know, save that it led by devious winds to Parker, on the border +between Arizona and California; but what lay between them and that +destination was a sealed book to them all. + +The car was heavy and the road soft; so in spite of their powerful +engines the car was not making more than fifteen miles an hour. A +short ride brought them to a ridge, from the top of which they saw a +huddle of buildings not far distant, with a near-by paddock containing +a number of ponies and cattle. The buildings were not palatial, being +composed mostly of adobe and slab wood; but the central one, probably +the dwelling or ranch house, was a low, rambling pile covering +considerable ground. + +The road led directly toward this group of buildings, which our +travelers at once guessed to be "Hades Ranch." Wampus slowed down and +cast a sharp glance around, but the land on either side of the trail +was thick with cactus and sagebrush and to leave the beaten path meant +a puncture almost instantly. There was but one thing to be done. + +"Pretty good road here," said Wampus. "Hold tight an' don't get scare. +We make a race of it." + +"Go ahead," returned Uncle John, grimly. "If any of those scoundrels +get in your way, run them down." + +"I never like to hurt peoples; but if that is your command, sir, I +will obey," said Wampus, setting his jaws tightly together. + +The car gathered speed and shot over the road at the rate of twenty +miles an hour; then twenty-five--then thirty--and finally forty. The +girls sat straight and looked eagerly ahead. Forms were darting here +and there among the buildings of the ranch, quickly congregating in +groups on either side of the roadway. A red flag fluttered in the +center of the road, some four feet from the ground. + +"Look out!" shouted Uncle John. "Stop, Wampus; stop her, I say!" + +Wampus saw why, and applied his brakes. The big car trembled, slowed +down, and came to a stop less than a foot away from three ugly bars of +barbed wire which had been placed across the road. They were now just +beside the buildings, and a triumphant shout greeted them from their +captors, the remittance men. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +CAPTURED + + +"Welcome to Hades!" cried a stout little man in a red blouse, sticking +his leering countenance through the door of the limousine. + +"Shut up, Stubby," commanded a hoarse voice from the group. "Haven't +you any manners? You haven't been introduced yet." + +"I've engaged the dark eyed one for the first dance," persisted +Stubby, as a dozen hands dragged him away from the door. + +The Major sprang out and confronted the band. + +"What are we to understand by this outrage?" he demanded fiercely. + +"It means you are all invited to a party, and we won't accept any +regrets," replied a laughing voice. + +Patsy put her head out of the window and looked at the speaker. It was +Mr. Algernon Tobey. He had two strips of sticking plaster over his +nose. One of his eyes was swollen shut and the other was almost +closed. Yet he spoke in a voice more cheerful than it was when they +first met him. + +"Don't be afraid," he added. "No one has the slightest intention of +injuring any of you in any way, I assure you." + +"We have not the same intention in regard to you, sir," replied Major +Doyle, fuming with rage, for his "Irish was up," as he afterward +admitted. "Unless you at once remove that barricade and allow us to +proceed we will not be responsible for what happens. You are warned, +sir!" + +Uncle John, by this time standing beside the Major upon the ground, +had been quietly "sizing up the situation," as he would have expressed +it. He found they had been captured by a party of fourteen men, most +of whom were young, although three or four, including Tobey, were +of middle age. The atmosphere of the place, with its disorderly +surroundings and ill kept buildings, indicated that Hades Ranch was +bachelor quarters exclusively. Half a dozen Mexicans and one or two +Chinamen were in the background, curious onlookers. + +Mr. Merrick noted the fact that the remittance men were an unkempt, +dissipated looking crew, but that their faces betokened reckless good +humor rather than desperate evil. There was no doubt but most of +them were considering this episode in the light of a joke, and were +determined to enjoy the experience at the expense of their enforced +guests. + +Uncle John had lived many years in the West and knew something of +these peculiar English exiles. Therefore he was neither frightened +nor unduly angry, but rather annoyed by the provoking audacity of the +fellows. He had three young girls to protect and knew these men could +not be fit acquaintances for them. But he adopted a tone different +from the Major's and addressed himself to Tobey as the apparent leader +of the band. + +"Sir," he said calmly but with pointed emphasis, "I believe you were +born a gentleman, as were your comrades here." + +"You are right," answered Tobey. "And each and every one you see +before you has fallen from his former high estate--through no fault +of his own." This may have been a sarcasm, for the others laughed in +boisterous approval. "In some respects we are still gentlemen," Tobey +went on, "but in others we are not to be trusted. Be reasonable, +sir--I haven't the faintest idea who you are or what your name is--and +consider calmly our proposition. Here we are, a number of young +fellows who have seen better and happier days, living alone in the +midst of an alkali desert. Most of us haven't seen a female for +months, nor a lady for years. Why, last fall Stubby there rode eighty +miles to Buxton, just to stand on a corner and see a lot of greasy +Mexican women go by. We tire of exclusive male society, you see. We +get to bore one another terribly. So here, like a visitation from +heaven, three attractive young ladies descend upon us, traveling +through our domain, and having discovered their presence we instantly +decided to take advantage of the opportunity and invite them to an +impromptu ball. There's no use refusing us, for we insist on carrying +out our plan. If you men, perhaps the fathers of the young ladies, +behave reasonably, we will entertain you royally and send you on your +way rejoicing. Won't we, boys?" + +They shouted approval. + +"But if you oppose us and act ugly about this fête, gentlemen, we +shall be obliged to put a few bullets into you, and decide afterward +what disposition to make of the girls. About the best stunt we do is +shooting. We can't work; we're too poor to gamble much; but we hunt +a good bit and we can shoot straight. I assure you we wouldn't mind +losing and taking a few lives if a scrimmage is necessary. Eh, boys?" + +"That's right, Algy," said one, answering for the others; "we'll have +that dance if we die for it--ev'ry man Jack of us." + +Myrtle was trembling in her corner of the limousine. Beth sat still +with a curl on her lips. But Patsy was much interested in the +proceedings and had listened attentively to the above conversation. +Now the girl suddenly swung open the door and sprang out beside her +father, facing the group of cowboys. + +"I am Patricia Doyle," she said in a clear voice, "and these +gentlemen," indicating the Major and Mr. Merrick, "are my father and +my uncle. You understand perfectly why they object to the arrangement +you suggest, as any one of you would object, had you a daughter in +a like position. But you are arbitrary and not inclined to respect +womanhood. Therefore but one course is open to us--to submit under +protest to the unwelcome attentions you desire to thrust upon us." + +They listened silently to this frank speech, and some of their faces +wore crestfallen expressions by the time she had finished. Indeed, +one of the older men turned on his heel and walked away, disappearing +among the buildings. After a brief hesitation a delicate young +fellow--almost a boy--followed this man, his face flaming red with +shame. But the others stood their ground. + +"Very good, Miss Doyle," remarked Tobey, with forced cheerfulness. +"You are quite sensible to submit to the inevitable. Bring out your +friends and introduce them, and then we'll all go in to luncheon and +prepare for the dance." + +"I won't submit to this!" cried the Major, stamping his foot angrily. + +"Yes, you will," said Uncle John, with a motion preventing his irate +brother-in-law from drawing a revolver, "Patsy is quite right, and we +will submit with as much dignity as we can muster, being overpowered +by numbers." + +He beckoned to Beth, who stepped out of the car and assisted Myrtle +to follow her. A little cheer of bravado had arisen from the group, +inspired by their apparent victory; but when Myrtle's crutches +appeared and they saw the fair, innocent face of the young girl who +rested upon them, the shout died away in a hush of surprise. + +"This is my cousin, Elizabeth De Graf," announced Patsy, with cold +deliberation, determined that the proprieties should be observed in +all intercourse with these people. "And I present our friend, Myrtle +Dean. Under ordinary circumstances I believe Myrtle would be excused +from dancing, but I suppose no brute in the form of a man would have +consideration for her infirmity." + +This time even Tobey flushed. + +"You've a sharp tongue, Miss Doyle, and it's liable to lead you into +trouble," he retorted, losing for the moment his suave demeanor. "We +may be brutes--and I imagine we are--but we're not dangerous unless +provoked." + +It was savagely said, and Uncle John took warning and motioned Patsy +to be silent. + +"Lead the way, sir," he said. "Our chauffeur will of course remain +with the car." + +Wampus had kept his seat, motionless and silent. He only nodded in +answer to Mr. Merrick's instructions and was entirely disregarded by +the remittance men. + +The man called "Stubby," who had a round, good-humored face, stepped +eagerly to Myrtle's side and exclaimed: "Let me assist you, please." + +"No," she said, shaking her head with a wan smile; "I am quite able to +walk alone." + +He followed her, though, full of interest and with an air of deep +respect that belied his former actions. Tobey, content with his +present success, walked beside Mr. Merrick and led the procession +toward the ranch house. The Major followed, his tall form upright, his +manner bellicose and resentful, with Beth and Patsy on either side of +him. The remittance men followed in a straggling crowd, laughing and +boisterously talking among themselves. Just as they reached the house +a horseman came clattering down the road and all paused involuntarily +to mark the new arrival. The rider was a handsome, slim young fellow, +dressed as were the other cowboys present, and he came on at a +breakneck speed that seemed only warranted by an errand of life and +death. + +In front of him, tied to the saddle, appeared a huge bundle, and as +the horse dashed up to the group standing by the ranch house the rider +gracefully threw himself off and removed his hat with a sweeping +gesture as he observed the young ladies. + +"I've got him, Algy!" he cried merrily. + +"Dan'l?" asked Tobey. + +"Dan'l himself." He pointed to the bundle, which heaved and wriggled +to show it was alive. "He refused to come willingly, of course; so +I brought him anyhow. Never yet was there a fiddler willing to be +accommodating." + +"Good for you, Tim!" shouted a dozen voices. And Stubby added in his +earnest way; "Dan'l was never more needed in his life." + +Tobey was busy unwinding a long lariat that bent the captive nearly +double and secured him firmly to the panting horse. When the bonds +were removed Dan'l would have tumbled prone to the ground had not +willing hands caught him and supported him upon his feet. Our friends +then observed that he was an aged man with a face thickly furrowed +with wrinkles. He had but one eye, small and gray and very shrewd in +expression, which he turned contemptuously upon the crowd surrounding +him. Numb and trembling from his cramped position upon the horse and +the terrible jouncing he had endured, the fiddler could scarcely stand +at first and shook as with a palsy; but he made a brave effort to +control his weakness and turned smilingly at the murmur of pity and +indignation that came from the lips of the girls. + +"Where's the fiddle?" demanded Tobey, and Tim unhooked a calico bag +from the saddlebow and held it out. A laugh greeted the gesture. + +"Dan'l said he be hanged if he'd come," announced Tim, with a grim +appreciation of the humorous side of the situation; "so I hung him and +brought him along--and his fiddle to boot. But don't boot it until +after the dance." + +"What do you mean, sir, by this rebellious attitude?" questioned +Tobey, sticking his damaged face close to that of the fiddler. + +Dan'l blinked with his one eye but refused to answer. + +"I've a good mind to skin you alive," continued the leader, in a +savage tone. "You'll either obey my orders or I'll throw you into the +snake pit." + +"Let him alone, Algy," said Tim, carelessly. "The old scoundrel has +been tortured enough already. But I see we have partners for the +dance," looking critically at the girls, "and I claim first choice +because I've brought the fiddler." + +At this a roar of protest arose and Tobey turned and said sullenly: + +"Come in, all of you. We'll settle the order of dancing later on." + +The interior of the ranch house was certainly picturesque. A great +living room ran all across the front, with an immense fireplace +built of irregular adobe bricks. The floor was strewn with skins of +animals--mostly coyotes, a few deer and one or two mountain lions--and +the walls were thickly hung with weapons and trophies of the chase. +A big table in one corner was loaded with bottles and glasses, +indicating the intemperate habits of the inmates, while on the chimney +shelf were rows of pipes and jars of tobacco. An odor similar to that +of a barroom hung over the place which the air from the open windows +seemed unable to dissipate. + +There were plenty of benches and chairs, with a long mess table +occupying the center of the room. In a corner was an old square piano, +which a Mexican was trying to dust as the party entered. + +"Welcome to Hades!" exclaimed Tobey, with an absurd gesture. "Be good +enough to make yourselves at home and I'll see if those devils of +Chinamen are getting luncheon ready." + +Silently the prisoners sat down. The crowd poured in after them and +disposed themselves in various attitudes about the big room, all +staring with more or less boldness at the three girls. Dan'l the +fiddler was pushed in with the others and given a seat, while two or +three of the imitation cowboys kept guard over him to prevent any +possible escape. So far the old man had not addressed a word to +anyone. + +With the absence of the leader the feeling of restraint seemed to +relax. The cowboys began whispering among themselves and chuckling +with glee, as if they were enjoying some huge joke. Stubby had placed +himself near the three young ladies, whom he eyed with adoring +glances, and somehow none of the prisoners regarded this childish +young fellow in exactly the same light as they did his comrades. Tim, +his attitude full of grace as he lounged against a settle, was also +near the group. He seemed a bit thoughtful since his dramatic arrival +and had little to say to anyone. + +Mr. Merrick engaged Stubby in conversation. + +"Does Mr. Tobey own this place?" he asked. + +"By proxy, yes," was the reply. "It isn't in his name, you know, +although that doesn't matter, for he couldn't sell his desert ranch if +he had a title to it. I suppose that is what his folks were afraid +of. Algy is the fourth son of old Lord Featherbone, and got into a +disgraceful mess in London some years ago. So Featherbone shipped +him over here, in charge of a family solicitor who hunted out this +sequestered spot, bought a couple of thousand acres and built this +hut. Then he went home and left Algy here to keep up the place on a +paltry ten pounds--fifty dollars--a month." + +"Can he manage to do that?" asked Uncle John. + +"Why, he has to, you see. He's got together a few cattle, mostly +stolen I imagine; but he doesn't try to work the land. Moreover he's +established this community, composed of his suffering fellow exiles, +the secret of which lies in the fact that we work the cooperative +plan, and all chip in our remittances to boil the common pot. We can +keep more servants and buy more food and drink, that way, than if each +one of us lived separately." + +"Up in Oregon," said Mr. Merrick, "I've known of some very successful +and prosperous ranchmen among the remittance men." + +"Oh, we're all kinds, I suppose, good and bad," admitted Stubby. "This +crew's mostly bad, and they're moderately proud of it. It's a devil +of a life, sir, and Hades Ranch is well named. I've only been here a +month. Had a little property up North; but the sheriff took it for +debt, and that forced me to Algy, whom I detest. I think I'll move on, +before long. But you see I'm limited. Can't leave Arizona or I'll get +my remittance cut off." + +"Why were you sent here into exile?" asked Myrtle artlessly. + +He turned red and refused to meet her eyes. + +"Went wrong, Miss," he said, "and my folks wouldn't stand for +it. We're all in the same boat," sweeping his arm around, "doing +punishment for our misdeeds." + +"Do none of you ever reform?" inquired Patsy. + +"What's the use? We're so far away from home no one there would ever +believe in our reformation. Once we become outcasts, that's the end +of our careers. We're buried in these Western wilds and allowed just +enough to keep alive." + +"I would think," said Uncle John musingly, "that the manly way would +be to cut yourself off entirely from your people at home and go to +some city in the United States where honesty and industry would win a +new name for you. Then you could be respected and happy and become of +use to the world." + +Stubby laughed. + +"That has been tried," he replied; "but few ever made a success of it. +We're generally the kind that prefers idleness to work. My family is +wealthy, and I don't mind taking from them what little they give me +willingly and all that I can screw out of them besides. I'm in for +life, as the saying is, and I've no especial ambition except to drink +myself to death as soon as possible." + +Patsy shuddered. It seemed a horrible thing to be so utterly hopeless. +Could this young fellow have really merited his fate? + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE FIDDLER + + +Tim had listened carelessly to the conversation until now, when he +said listlessly: + +"Don't think us all criminals, for we're not. In my own case I did +nothing to deserve exile except that I annoyed my elder brother by +becoming more popular with our social set than he was. He had all the +property and I was penniless, so he got rid of me by threatening to +cut off my allowance unless I went to America and stayed there." + +"And you accepted such a condition?" cried Patsy, scornfully. "Why +were you not independent enough to earn your own living?" + +He shrugged his shoulders, yet seemed amused. + +"I simply couldn't," said he. "I was not educated to work, you know, +and to do so at home would be to disgrace my noble family. I've too +much respect for my lineage to labor with my hands or head." + +"But here in America no one would know you," suggested Beth. + +"I would only humiliate myself by undertaking such a task. And why +should I do so? While I am in America my affectionate brother, the +head of the family, supports me, as is his duty. Your philosophy is +pretty enough, but it is not practical. The whole fault lies in our +old-fashioned system of inheritance, the elder male of a family +getting all the estate and the younger ones nothing at all. Here, in +this crude and plebeian country, I believe it is the custom to provide +for all one's children, and a father is at liberty to do so because +his estate is not entailed." + +"And he earns it himself and can do what he likes with it," added +Uncle John, impatiently. "Your system of inheritance and entail may +be somewhat to blame, but your worst fault is in rearing a class of +mollycoddles and social drones who are never of benefit to themselves +or the world at large. You, sir, I consider something less than a +man." + +"I agree with you," replied Tim, readily. "I'm only good to cumber the +earth, and if I get little pleasure out of life I must admit that it's +all I'm entitled to." + +"And you can't break your bonds and escape?" asked Patsy. + +"I don't care to. People who are ambitious to do things merely bore +me. I don't admire them or care to imitate them." + +From that moment they took no further interest in the handsome +outcast. His world was not their world. + +And now Tobey came in, driving before him a lot of Mexicans bearing +trays of food. The long table was laid in a moment, for everything +was dumped upon it without any attempt at order. Each of the cowboys +seized a plate from a pile at one end and helped himself to whatever +he wanted. + +Two or three of the men, however, were courteous enough to attend to +their unwilling guests and see they were served as well as conditions +would permit The food was plentiful and of good quality, but although +none of Uncle John's party was squeamish or a stickler for form, all +more or less revolted from the utter disregard of all the proprieties. + +"I'm sorry we have no wine; but there's plenty of whiskey, if you like +it," remarked Tobey. + +The girls were silent and ate little, although they could not help +being interested in observing the bohemianism of these gently reared +but decadent sons of respectable English families. As soon as they +could they left the table, and Tobey, observing their uneasiness in +spite of his damaged and nearly useless optics, decided to send them +to another room where they could pass the afternoon without further +annoyance. Stubby escorted the party and ushered them into a good +sized room which he said was "Algy's study," although no one ever +studied there. + +"Algy's afraid you'll balk at the dance; so he wants to please you +however he can," remarked the round faced youth. "You won't mind being +left alone, will you?" + +"We prefer it, sir," answered the Major, stiffly. + +"You see, we're going to have a rare lark this afternoon," continued +Stubby, confidentially. "Usually it's pretty dull here, and all we +can do is ride and hunt--play cards and quarrel. But your coming has +created no end of excitement and this dance will be our red-letter day +for a long time to come. The deuce of if is, however, that there are +only two girls to dance with thirteen men. We limit our community to +fifteen, you know; but little Ford and old Rutledge have backed down +and won't have anything to do with this enterprise. I don't know why," +he continued, thoughtfully. + +"Perhaps they still have some gentlemanly instincts," suggested Patsy. + +"That must be it," he replied in a relieved tone. "Well, anyhow, +to avoid quarrels and bloodshed we've agreed to throw dice for the +dances. Every one is to have an equal chance, you see, and when you +young ladies open the dance the entire programme will be arranged for +you." + +"Are we to have no choice in the matter of partners?" inquired Beth +curiously. + +"None whatever. There would surely be a row, in that case, and we +intend to have everything; pass off pleasantly if we have to kill a +few to keep the peace." + +With this Stubby bowed low and retreated toward the door, which +suddenly opened to admit old Dan'l the fiddler, who was thrust in +so violently that his body collided with that of Stubby and nearly +knocked him over. + +"That's all right," laughed the remittance man, recovering from the +shock. "You mustn't escape, you know, Dan'l, for we depend on you for +the music." + +He closed the door as he went out and they all heard a bolt shoot into +place. Yet the broad window, scarcely six feet from the ground, stood +wide open to admit the air. + +Dan'l stood in the middle of the room, motionless for a moment. Then +he raised his wrinkled face and clinched his fists, shaking them in +the direction of the living-room. + +"Me!" he muttered; "me play for dese monkeys to dance--me! a +maestro--a composer--a artiste! No; I vill nod! I vill die before I +condescention to such badness, such mockery!" + +They were the first words he had spoken since his arrival, and they +seemed to hold all his pentup indignation. The girls pitied the old +man and, recognizing in him a fellow prisoner, sought to comfort him. + +"If the dance depends upon us, there will be no dance," said Patsy, +firmly. + +"I thought you advised submitting to the whim of these ruffians," said +Uncle John in surprise. + +"Only to gain time, Uncle. And the scheme has succeeded. Now is our +time to plot and plan how to outwit our enemies." + +"Goot!" cried Dan'l approvingly. "I help you. Dey are vermin--pah! I +vould kill dem all mitout mercifulness, unt be glad!" + +"It won't be necessary to kill them, I hope," said Beth, smiling. "All +we wish is to secure our escape." + +"Vot a time dey make me!" said Dan'l, more calmly. "You see, I am +living peacefulness in mine bungalow by der river--ten mile away. Dot +brute Tim, he come unt ask me to fiddle for a dance. I--fiddle! Ven I +refuse me to do it, he tie me up unt by forcibleness elope mit me. Iss +id nod a crime--a vickedness--eh?" + +"It certainly is, sir," said Uncle John. "But do not worry. These +girls have some plan in their heads, I'm sure, and if we manage to +escape we will carry you home in safety. Now, my dears, what is it?" + +"Oh, we've only begun to think yet," said Patsy, and walked to the +window. All but Myrtle and Dan'l followed her. + +Below the window was a jungle of cactus, with hundreds of spines as +slender and sharp as stilettos sticking in every direction. + +"H-m; this room is burglar proof," muttered Uncle John, with marked +disappointment. + +"It also makes an excellent prison," added Patsy. "But I suspected +something of this sort when I saw they had left the window open. We +can't figure on getting out that way, you see." + +"Id vould be suiciding," Dan'l said, mournfully shaking his head. "If +dese fiends were as goot as dey are clefer, dey vould be angels." + +"No argument seems to prevail with them," remarked Beth. "They are +lawless and merciless, and in this far-away country believe they may +do as they please." + +"They're as bad as the bandits of Taormina," observed Patsy, smiling +at the recollection of an adventure they had abroad; "but we must find +some way to evade them." + +Dan'l had gone over to Myrtle's corner and stood staring at her with +his one shrewd eye. Uncle John looked thoughtfully out of the window +and saw Wampus busy in the road before the house. He had his coat off +and was cutting the bars of barbed wire and rolling them out of the +way, while Mumbles, who had been left with him, ran here and there at +his heels as if desiring to assist him. + +From the big hall, or living room, at the right came a dull roar of +voices, subdued shouts and laughter, mingled with the clinking of +glasses. All the remittance men were gathered there deep in the game +of dice which was to determine the order in which they were to dance +with Beth and Patsy. The servants were out of sight. Wampus had the +field to himself. + +"Come here," said Uncle John to the girls, and when they stood beside +him pointed to the car. "Wampus is making ready for the escape," he +continued. "He has cleared the road and the way is now open if we can +manage to get to the machine. Has your plan matured yet?" + +Patsy shook her head. + +"Not yet, Uncle," she replied. + +"Couldn't Wampus throw us a rope?" inquired the Major. + +"He could," said Uncle John; "but we would be unable to use it. Those +terrible cactus spines are near enough to spear anyone who dared try +to slide down a rope. Think of something else." + +They all tried to do that, but no practical idea seemed forthcoming. + +"Oh, no," Dan'l was saying to Myrtle; "dey are nod afraid to shoot; +bud dey vill nod shoot ladies, belief me. Always dey carry refolfers +in deir belts--or deir holsterses. Dey eat mit refolfers; dey schleep +mit refolfers; dey hunt, dey quarrel, unt sometimes dey shoot each +odder--de best enactionment vot dey do. Bud dey do nod shoot at +ladies--nefer." + +"Will they wear their revolvers at the dance?" asked Beth, overhearing +this speech. + +"I belief id," said Dan'l, wagging his ancient head. "Dey like to be +ready to draw quick like, if anybody shteps on anybody's toes. Yes; of +course." + +"What a horrible idea!" exclaimed Patsy. + +"They're quite liable to dance and murder in the same breath," the +Major observed, gloomily. + +"I don't like it," said Beth. "It's something awful just to think of. +Haven't they any gallantry?" + +"No," answered Patsy. "But I wouldn't dance with a lot of half drunken +men wearing revolvers, if they burned me at the stake for refusing." + +"Ah! shtick to dat fine expressionment," cried Dan'l, eagerly. "Shtick +to id! Say you won't dance if dey wear de refolfers--unt den we win de +schweepstakes!" + +Patsy looked at him critically, in the instant catching a part of his +idea. + +"What do you mean?" she asked. + +Dan'l explained, while they all listened carefully, absorbed in +following in thought his unique suggestions. + +"Let's do it!" exclaimed Beth. "I'm sure the plan will succeed." + +"It's leaving a good deal to chance," objected Uncle John, with a +touch of nervousness. + +"There is an element of chance in everything," declared Patsy. "But +I'm sure we shall escape, Uncle. Why it's a regular coup!" + +"We take them by surprise, you know," explained the Major, who +heartily favored the idea. + +They talked it over for a time, perfecting the details, and then +became as calm and composed as a group of prisoners might. Uncle John +waved his handkerchief to attract the attention of Wampus, who stole +softly around the corner of the house and approached the window, +taking care to keep at a respectful distance from the dangerous +cactus. + +"Is everything ready?" inquired Uncle John in a subdued voice. + +"To be sure all is ready. Why not? I am Wampus!" was the reply, in +cautious tones. + +"Go back to the machine and guard it carefully, Wampus," commanded Mr. +Merrick. "We expect to escape soon after dark, so have the headlights +going, for we shall make a rush for it and there mustn't be a moment's +delay." + +"All right," said the chauffeur. "You may depend on me. I am Wampus, +an' not 'fraid of a hundred coward like these. Is not Mister Algy his +eye mos' beautiful blacked?" + +"It is," agreed Uncle John. "Go back to the car now, and wait for us. +Don't get impatient. We don't know just when we will join you, but it +will be as soon as we can manage it. What is Mumbles doing?" + +"Mumble he learn to be good automobilist. Jus' now he sit on seat an' +watch wheel to see nobody touch. If anybody touch, Mumble he eat him +up." + +They all laughed at this whimsical notion and it served to relieve the +strain of waiting. Wampus, grinning at the success of his joke, went +back to the limousine to inspect it carefully and adjust it in every +part until it was in perfect order. + +Now that a definite plan of action had been decided upon their spirits +rose considerably, and they passed the afternoon in eager anticipation +of the crisis. + +Rather earlier than expected Stubby and Tim came to say "they had been +appointed a committee to escort their guests to the banquet hall, +where dinner would at once be served." + +"We shall have to clear away for the dance," added Stubby, "so we want +to get the feast over with as quickly as possible. I hope you are all +hungry, for Algy has spread himself on this dinner and we are to +have every delicacy the ranch affords, regardless of expense. We can +economize afterward to make up for it." + +Elaborate preparations were not greatly in evidence, however. The +Mexican servants had washed themselves and the floor of the big room +had been swept and cleared of some of its rubbish; but that was all. +The remittance men were in their usual rough costumes and the air was +redolent with the fumes of liquor. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE ESCAPE + + +As the prisoners quietly took their places at the table Tobey, who +had been drinking hard, decided to make a speech. His face was badly +swollen and he could only see through a slit in one eye, so severe had +been the beating administered by Wampus earlier in the day; but the +fellow had grit, in spite of his other unmanly qualities, and his +imperturbable good humor had scarcely been disturbed by the punishment +the Canadian had inflicted upon him. + +"Ladies," said he, "and gentlemen--which of course includes our +respected male guests--I am happy to inform you that the programme for +the First Annual Hades Ranch Ball has finally been arranged, and the +dances apportioned in a fair and impartial manner. The Grand March +will take place promptly at seven o'clock, led by Miss Doyle and +Knuckles, who has won the privilege by throwing four sixes. I am to +follow with Miss De Graf, and the rest will troop on behind with the +privilege of looking at the ladies. If anyone dares to create disorder +his dances with the young ladies will be forfeited. Dan'l will play +the latest dance music on his fiddle, and if it isn't spirited +and up-to-date we'll shoot his toes off. We insist upon plenty of +two-steps and waltzes and will wind up with a monney-musk in the +gray light of dawn. This being fully understood, I beg you, my good +friends, to fall to and eat and be merry; but don't linger unduly over +the dainties, for we are all anxious, like good soldiers, to get into +action." + +The remittance men applauded this oratory, and incidentally attacked +the eatables with evident determination to obey their leader's +injunction. + +"We can eat any time," remarked Stubby, with his mouth full; "but +his Satanic majesty only knows when Hades Ranch will see another +dance--with real ladies for partners." + +The Chinese cooks and the Mexican servants had a lively time during +this meal, for the demands made upon them were incessant. Uncle John, +whose even disposition was seldom ruffled, ate with a good appetite, +while even the Major, glum and scowling, did not disdain the numerous +well-prepared dishes. As for Dan'l, he took full advantage of the +occasion and was the last one to leave the table. Our girls, however, +were too excited to eat much and little Myrtle, especially, was pallid +and uneasy and had a startled look in her eyes whenever anyone made a +sudden motion. + +As soon as the repast was concluded the servants cleared the long +table in a twinkling and pushed it back against the wall at one end of +the long room. A chair was placed for Dan'l on top of this expansive +board, which thus became a stage from whence he could overlook the +room and the dancers, and then two of the remittance men tossed the +old fiddler to his elevated place and commanded him to make ready. + +Dan'l said nothing and offered no resistance. He sat plaintively +sawing upon his ancient but rich-toned violin while the floor was +brushed, the chairs and benches pushed against the wall and the room +prepared for action. Behind the violinist was a low, broad window +facing a grass plot that was free from the terrifying cactus, and the +old man noted with satisfaction that it stood wide open. + +Uncle John's party had pressed close to the table and stood watching +the proceedings. + +"Ready now!" called Tobey; "the Grand March is about to begin. Take +your partners, boys. Look sharp, there, Dan'l, and give us a martial +tune that will lift our feet." + +Dan'l meekly set the violin underneath his chin and raised the bow as +if in readiness. "Knuckles," a brawny fellow with a florid face and a +peculiar squint, approached Patsy and bowed. + +"You're to lead with me, Miss," he said. "Are you ready?" + +"Not quite," she returned with dignified composure; "for I perceive +you are not quite ready yourself." + +"Eh? Why not?" he inquired, surprised. + +"You are still wearing your firearms," she replied. "I cannot and will +not dance with a man who carries a revolver." + +"That's nothing," he retorted. "We always do." + +"Always?" + +"Of course. And if I shed my gun what's to prevent some one else +getting the drop on me?" + +"That's it," said Patsy, firmly. "The weapons must all be surrendered +before we begin. We positively refuse to dance if rioting and shooting +are likely to occur." + +A murmur of protest arose at this speech, for all the remittance men +had gathered around to listen to the argument. + +"That's all tommy-rot," observed Handsome Tim, in a sulky tone. "We're +not spoiling for a row; it's the dance we're after." + +"Then give up the revolvers," said Beth, coming to her cousin's +assistance. "If this is to be a peaceful entertainment you will not +need to be armed, and it is absurd to suppose a lady will dance with a +gentleman who is a walking arsenal." + +They looked into one another's faces uncertainly. Dan'l sat softly +tuning his violin, as if uninterested in the controversy. Uncle John +and the Major looked on with seeming indifference. + +"You must decide which you prefer--the revolvers or the dance," +remarked Patsy, staring coolly into the ring of faces. + +"Would your English ladies at home consent to dance with armed men?" +asked Beth. + +"They're quite right, boys," said Stubby, nodding his bullethead. +"Let's agree to deposit all the shooting irons 'til the dance is +over." + +"I won't!" cried Knuckles, his scowl deepening. + +"By Jove, you will!" shouted Tobey, with unexpected vehemence. "You're +delaying the programme, old man, and it's a nuisance to dance in this +armor, anyway. Here--pile all your guns in this corner; every one of +you, mind. Then we shall all stand on an equal footing." + +"Put them on the table there, by the old fiddler," said Patsy; "then +we will know we are perfectly safe." + +Rather unwillingly they complied, each man walking up to the table and +placing his revolver at Dan'l's feet. The girls watched them intently. + +"That man over there is still armed," called Beth, pointing to a +swarthy Mexican who squatted near the door. + +"That's all right," said Tobey, easily. "He's our guard, Pedro. I've +stationed him there so you won't attempt to escape till we get ready +to let you go." + +Patsy laughed. + +"There's little danger of that," she said. + +"All ready, now!" exclaimed Knuckles, impatiently. "We're all as +harmless as doves. Let 'er go, Dan'l!" + +The old man was just then assisting Uncle John to lift Myrtle to the +top of the table, where the Major had placed a chair for her. Knuckles +growled, but waited until the girl was seated near the window. Then +Dan'l drew his bow and struck up a spirited march. Patsy took the arm +of Knuckles and paraded down the long room. Beth followed with Tobey, +and behind them tramped the remittance men in files of two. At the far +end were grouped the servants, looking curiously upon the scene, which +was lighted by lamps swung from the ceiling and a row of candles upon +the edge of the mantelshelf. + +To carry out the idea of a grand march Patsy drew her escort here and +there by sharp turns and half circles, the others trailing behind like +a huge snake until she had passed down the length of the room and +started to return up the other side to the starting point. So +engrossed had been the cowboys that they did not observe the Major and +Uncle John clamber upon the table and stand beside Myrtle. + +The procession was half way up the hall on its return when Patsy said +abruptly: "Now, Beth!" and darted away from her partner's side and +toward the table. Beth followed like a streak, being an excellent +runner, and for a moment Knuckles and Tobey, thus deserted by their +partners, stopped to watch them in amazement. Then their comrades +bumped into them and recalled them to their senses. + +By that time the two girls had reached the table and leaped upon it. +Uncle John was waving his handkerchief from the window as a signal +to Wampus; Dan'l had laid aside his fiddle and seized a revolver in +either hand, and the Major had caught up two more of the discarded +weapons. + +As Beth and Patsy turned, panting, and from their elevation looked up +the room, the cowboys gave a bellow of rage and rushed forward. + +"Keep back!" shouted the Major, in stentorian tones, "I'll shoot the +first man that interferes." + +Noting the grim determination in the old soldier's eye, they hesitated +and came to a halt. + +"What do you mean by this infernal nonsense?" cried Tobey, in disgust. + +"Why, it's just checkmate, and the game is up," replied Uncle John +amiably. "We've decided not to hold the proposed dance, but to take +our departure at once." + +He turned and passed Myrtle out of the window where Wampus took her +in his arms, crutches and all, and carried her to the automobile. The +remittance men, unarmed and confronted by their own revolvers, stood +gaping open-mouthed and seemingly dazed. + +"Let's rush 'em, boys!" shouted Handsome Tim, defiantly. + +"Rush 'em alone, if you like," growled Knuckles. "I'm not ready for +the graveyard yet." + +"You are vot iss called cowardices," said Dan'l, flourishing the +revolvers he held. "Come on mit der courage, somebotty, so I can shoot +holes in you." + +"You're building your own coffin just now, Dan'l," retorted Tobey, +in baffled rage. "We know where to get you, old boy, and we'll have +revenge for this night's work." + +"I vill take some popguns home mit me," was the composed reply. "Den, +ven you come, I vill make a receptioning for you. Eh?" + +Uncle John, Patsy and Beth had followed Myrtle through the window and +disappeared. + +"Now, sir," said the Major to the old fiddler, "make your escape while +I hold them at bay." + +"Nod yet," replied Dan'l. "Ve must gif ourselves de most +protectionment ve can." + +With this he gathered up the firearms, one by one, and tossed them +through the window. Then he straightened up and a shot flashed down +the hall and tumbled the big Mexican guard to the floor just as he was +about to glide through the doorway. + +"Dit ve say shtand still, or dit ve nod say shtand still?" asked +Dan'l, sternly. "If somebody gets hurt, it iss because he don'd obey +de orderations." + +"Go, sir!" commanded the Major. + +"I vill; bud I go last," declared the old man. "I follow you--see? Bud +you take my violin, please--unt be very tender of id, like id vas your +sveetheardt." + +The Major took the violin and climbed through the window, proceeding +to join the others, who were by now seated in the car. When he had +gone Dan'l prepared to follow, first backing toward the window and +then turning to make an agile leap to the ground below. And now with a +shout the cowboys made their rush, only to halt as Dan'l reappeared at +the window, covering them again with his revolvers. + +"So, you defils--make a listen to me," he called. "I am experiencing +a goot-bye to you, who are jackals unt imitation men unt haf no goot +right to be alive. Also if I see any of you de next time, I vill shoot +first unt apologise at der funeral. I haf no more monkey business mit +you voteffer; so keep vere you are until I am gone, unt you vill be +safeness." + +He slowly backed away from the window, and so thoroughly cowed was the +group of ruffians that the old fiddler had been lifted hastily into +the automobile before the cowboys mustered courage to leap through +the window and search in the darkness for their revolvers, which lay +scattered widely upon the ground. + +Wampus, chuckling gleefully, jerked the hoods off his glaring +searchlights, sprang to his seat and started the machine down the road +before the crack of a single revolver was heard in protest. The shots +came thicker after that, but now the automobile was bowling merrily +along the road and soon was out of range. + +"De road iss exceptionalment goot," remarked Dan'l. "Dere iss no +dangerousness from here to der rifer." + +"Danger?" said the chauffeur, scornfully. "Who cares for danger? I am +Wampus, an' I am here!" + +"We are all here," said Patsy, contentedly nestling against the +cushions; "and I'm free to confess that I'm mighty glad of it!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE ROMANCE OF DAN'L + + +It did not take them very long to reach the river, a muddy little +stream set below high banks. By Dan'l's direction they turned to +the left and followed the wind of the river for a mile or so until +suddenly out of the darkness loomed a quaint little bungalow which the +old German claimed to be his home. + +"I haf architectured it mineself, unt make it built as I like it. You +vill come in unt shtop der night mit me," he said, as Wampus halted +the machine before the door. + +There was a little murmur of protest at this, for the house appeared +to be scarcely bigger than the automobile. But Uncle John pointed out, +sensibly enough, that they ought not to undertake an unknown road at +nighttime, and that Spotville, the town for which they were +headed, was still a long way off. The Major, moreover, had a vivid +recollection of his last night's bed upon the roof of the limousine, +where he had crept to escape rattlesnakes, and was in no mood to again +camp out in the open while they traveled in Arizona. So he advocated +accepting Dan'l's invitation. The girls, curious to know how so many +could be accommodated in the bungalow, withdrew all further objections +and stood upon the low, pergola-roofed porch while their host went +inside to light the lamps. + +They were really surprised at the cosy aspect of the place. Half the +one-story dwelling was devoted to a living room, furnished simply but +with modest taste. A big square table was littered with music, much +being in manuscript--thus proving Dan'l's assertion that he was +a composer. Benches were as numerous as chairs, and all were +well-cushioned with tanned skins as coverings. A few good prints were +on the walls and the aspect of the place was entirely agreeable to the +old man's guests. + +As the room was somewhat chilly he made a fire in the ample fireplace +and then with an air of pride exhibited to his visitors his tiny +kitchen, his own bedroom and a storeroom, which occupied the remainder +of the space in the bungalow. He told them he would prepare beds in +the living room for the girls, give his own room to Mr. Merrick and +Major Doyle, while he and Wampus would bunk in the storeroom. + +"I haf much blankets," he said; "dere vill be no troubles to keep +varm." + +Afterward they sat before the fire and by the dim lights of the +kerosene lamps chatted together of the day's adventures. + +Uncle John asked Dan'l what had brought him to this deserted, +out-of-the-way spot, and the old man told his story in a manner that +amused them all greatly. + +"I haf been," said he, "much famous in my time, unt had a +individualness pointed out whereeffer I went. I vas orchestra leader +at the Theater Royal in Stuttgart, unt our king haf complimented me +many times. But I vas foolish. I vas foolish enough to think that ven +a man iss great he can stay great. I married me to a clefer prima +donna, unt composed a great opera, which vas finer as anything +Herr Wagner has efer done. Eh? But dere vas jealousness at work to +opposition me. Von day ven my fine opera vas all complete I vent +to the theater to lead mine orchestra. To my surprisement der Herr +Director tells me I can retire on a pension; I am too old unt he has +hired a younger man, who iss Herr Gabert. I go home bewildered unt +mishappy, to find that Herr Gabert has stole the score of mine opera +unt run avay mit mine vife. Vot I can do? Nothing. Herr Gabert he lead +my orchestra tint all der people applauds him. I am forgot. One day I +see our king compliment Herr Gabert. He produces my opera unt say he +compositioned it. Eferybody iss crazy aboud id, unt crown Herr Gabert +mit flowers. My vife sings in der opera. The people cheer her unt she +rides avay mit Herr Gabert in his carriage to a grand supper mit der +nobility unt der Herr Director. + +"I go home unt say: 'Who am I?' I answer: 'Nobody!' Am I now great? +No; I am a speck. Vot can I do? Veil, I go avay. I haf some money--a +leedle. I come to America. I do not like crowds any more. I like to be +alone mit my violin. I find dis place; I build dis house; I lif here +unt make happiness. My only neighbors are de remittance men, who iss +more mischiefing as wicked. Dey vill nod bother me much. So after a +time I die here. Vy nod? I am forgot in Stuttgart." + +There was pathos in the tale and his way of telling it. The old man +spoke cheerfully, but they could see before them the tragedy depicted +by his simple words. His hearers were all silent when he had +concluded, feeling they could say nothing to console him or lighten +his burden. Only Wampus, sitting in the background, looked scornfully +upon the man who had once been the idol of his townspeople. + +Dan'l took a violin from a shelf and began to play, softly but with +masterly execution. He caught their mood instantly. The harmony was +restful and contented. Patsy turned down the lamps, to let the flicker +of the firelight dominate the room, and Dan'l understood and blended +the flickering light into his melody. + +For a long time he continued to improvise, in a way that fairly +captivated his hearers, despite their varied temperaments, and made +them wonder at his skill. Then without warning he changed to a +stirring, martial air that filled the room with its rich, resonant +tones. There was a fugue, a wonderful finale, and while the concluding +notes rang in their ears the old man laid his violin in his lap, +leaned back against his cushions and heaved a deep sigh. + +They forebore disturbing him for a while. How strange it seemed that +this really talented musician should be banished to a wilderness while +still possessing power to stir the souls of men with his marvelous +execution. Truly he was a "maestro," as he had said; a genius whose +star had risen, flashed across the sky and suddenly faded, leaving his +future a blank. + +Wampus moved uneasily in his chair. + +"I like to know something," he remarked. + +Dan'l roused himself and turned to look at the speaker. + +"You have one bad eye," continued Wampus, reflectively. "What make him +so? You stick violin bow in eye some day?" + +"No," grunted Dan'l. + +"Bad eye he no make himself," persisted the little chauffeur. "What +make him, then?" + +For a moment there was an awkward silence. The girls considered this +personal inquiry offensive and regretted admitting Wampus to the room. +But after a time the old German answered the question, quietly and in +a half amused tone. + +"Can you nod guess?" he said. "Herr Gabert hurt mine eye." + +"Oh!" exclaimed Wampus, nodding approvingly "You fight duel with him? +Of course. It mus' be." + +"I haf one goot eye left, howefer," continued Dan'l. "It vill do me +fery well. Dere iss nod much to see out here." + +"I know," said Wampus. "But Herr Gabert. What happen to him?" + +Again there was a pause. Then the German said slowly: + +"I am nod rich; but efery year I send a leetle money to Stuttgart to +put some flowers on Herr Gabert's grave." + +The chauffeur's face brightened. He got up from his chair and solemnly +shook Dan'l's hand. + +"You are great musician," he announced. "You can believe it, for it is +true. An' you have shake the hand of great chauffeur. I am Wampus." + +Dan'l did not answer. He had covered his good eye with his hand. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE LODGING AT SPOTVILLE + + +"Wake up, Patsy: I smell coffee!" called Beth, and soon the two girls +were dressed and assisting Myrtle to complete her toilet. Through the +open windows came the cool, fragrant breath of morning; the sky was +beginning to blush at the coming of the sun. + +"To think of our getting up at such unearthly hours!" cried Patsy +cheerfully. "But I don't mind it in the least, Beth; do you?" + +"I love the daybreak," returned Beth, softly. "We've wasted the best +hours of morning abed, Patsy, these many years." + +"But there's a difference," said Myrtle, earnestly. "I know the +daybreak in the city very well, for nearly all my life I have had to +rise in the dark in order to get my breakfast and be at work on time. +It is different from this, I assure you; especially in winter, when +the chill strikes through to your bones. Even in summer time the air +of the city is overheated and close, and the early mornings cheerless +and uncomfortable. Then I think it is best to stay in bed as long as +you can--if you have nothing else to do. But here, out in the open, it +seems a shame not to be up with the birds to breathe the scent of the +fields and watch the sun send his heralds ahead of him to proclaim his +coming and then climb from the bottomless pit into the sky and take +possession of it." + +"Why, Myrtle!" exclaimed Patsy, wonderingly; "what a poetic notion. +How did it get into your head, little one?" + +Myrtle's sweet face rivaled the sunrise for a moment. She made no +reply but only smiled pathetically. + +Uncle John's knock upon the door found them ready for breakfast, which +old Dan'l had skilfully prepared in the tiny kitchen and now placed +upon a round table set out upon the porch. By the time they had +finished the simple meal Wampus had had his coffee and prepared the +automobile for the day's journey. A few minutes later they said +good-bye to the aged musician and took the trail that led through +Spotville. + +The day's trip was without event. They encountered one or two Indians +on the way, jogging slowly along on their shaggy ponies; but the +creatures were mild and inoffensive. The road was fairly good and +they made excellent time, so that long before twilight Spotville +was reached and the party had taken possession of the one small and +primitive "hotel" the place afforded. It was a two-story, clapboarded +building, the lower floor being devoted to the bar and dining room, +while the second story was divided into box-like bedrooms none too +clean and very cheaply furnished. + +"I imagine we shall find this place 'the limit'," remarked Uncle John +ruefully. "But surely we shall be able to stand it for one night," he +added, with a philosophic sigh. + +"Want meat fer supper?" asked the landlord, a tall, gaunt man who +considered himself dressed when he was in his shirt sleeves. + +"What kind of meat?" inquired Uncle John, cautiously. + +"Kin give yeh fried pork er jerked beef. Ham 'a all out an' the +chickens is beginnin' to lay." + +"Eggs?" + +"Of course, stranger. Thet's the on'y thing Spotville chickens lay, +nowadays. I s'pose whar yeh come from they lay biscuits 'n' pork +chops." + +"No. Door knobs, sometimes," said Mr. Merrick, "but seldom pork chops. +Let's have eggs, and perhaps a little fried pork to go with them. Any +milk?" + +"Canned er fresh?" + +"Fresh preferred." + +The landlord looked at him steadily. + +"Yeh've come a long-way, stranger," he said, "an' yeh must 'a' spent a +lot of money, here 'n' there. Air yeh prepared to pay fer thet order +in solid cash?" + +Uncle John seemed startled, and looked at the Major, who smiled +delightedly. + +"Are such things expensive, sir?" the latter asked the landlord. + +"Why, we don't eat 'em ourselves, 'n' thet's a cold fact. Eggs is +eggs, an' brings forty cents a dozen to ship. There's seven cows +in town, 'n' forty-one babies, so yeh kin figger what fresh milk's +worth." + +"Perhaps," said Uncle John mildly, "we can stand the expense--if we +won't rob the babies." + +"Don't worry 'bout thet. The last autymobble folks as come this way +got hot because I charged 'em market prices fer the truck they et. So +I'm jest inquirin' beforehand, to save hard feelin's. I've found out +one thing 'bout autymobble folks sense I've ben runnin' this hoe-tel, +an' thet is thet a good many is ownin' machines thet oughter be payin' +their bills instid o' buyin' gasoline." + +The Major took him aside. He did not tell the cautious landlord that +Mr. Merrick was one of the wealthiest men in America, but he exhibited +a roll of bills that satisfied the man his demands would be paid in +full. + +The touring; party feasted upon eggs and fresh milk, both very +delicious but accompanied by odds and ends of food not so palatable. +The landlord's two daughters, sallow, sunken cheeked girls, waited on +the guests and the landlord's wife did the cooking. + +Beth, Patsy and Myrtle retired early, as did Uncle John. The Major, +smoking his "bedtime cigar," as he called it, strolled out into the +yard and saw Wampus seated in the automobile, also smoking. + +"We get an early start to-morrow, Wampus," said the Major. "Better get +to bed." + +"Here is my bed," returned the chauffeur, quietly. + +"But there's a room reserved for you in the hotel." + +"I know. Don't want him. I sleep me here." + +The Major looked at him reflectively. + +"Ever been in this town before, Wampus?" he asked. + +"No, sir. But I been in other towns like him, an' know this kind of +hotel. Then why do I sleep in front seat of motor car?" + +"Because you are foolish, I suppose, being born that way and unable +to escape your heritage. For my part, I shall sleep in a bed; like a +Christian," said the Major rather testily. + +"Even Christian cannot sleep sometime," returned Wampus, leaning back +in his seat and puffing a cloud of smoke into the clear night air. +"For me, I am good Christian; but I am not martyr." + +"What do you mean by that?" demanded the Major. + +"Do you sometime gamble?" inquired Wampus softly. + +"Not often, sir." + +"But sometime? Ah! Then I make you a bet. I bet you ten dollar to one +cent you not sleep in your bed to-night." + +The Major coughed. Then he frowned. + +"Is it so bad as that?" he asked. + +"I think he is." + +"I'll not believe it!" exclaimed Major Doyle. "This hotel isn't what +you might call first-class, and can't rank with the Waldorf-Astoria; +but I imagine the beds will be very comfortable." + +"Once," said Wampus, "I have imagination, too. Now I have experience; +so I sleep in automobile." + +The Major walked away with an exclamation of impatience. He had never +possessed much confidence in the Canadian's judgment and on this +occasion he considered the fellow little wiser than a fool. + +Wampus rolled himself in a rug and was about to stretch his moderate +length upon the broad double seat when a pattering of footsteps was +heard and Beth came up to the car. She was wrapped in a dark cloak +and carried a bundle of clothing under one arm and her satchel in the +unoccupied hand. There was a new moon which dimly lighted the scene, +but as all the townspeople were now in bed and the hotel yard deserted +there was no one to remark upon the girl's appearance. + +"Wampus," she said, "let me into the limousine, please. The night is +so perfect I've decided to sleep here in the car." + +The chauffeur jumped down and opened the door. + +"One moment an' I make up the beds for all," he said. + +"Never mind that," Beth answered. "The others are all asleep, I'm +sure." + +Wampus shook his head. + +"They all be here pretty soon," he predicted, and proceeded to deftly +prepare the interior of the limousine for the expected party. When +Beth had entered the car Wampus pitched the lean-to tent and arranged +the cots as he was accustomed to do when they "camped out." + +Scarcely had he completed this task when Patsy and Myrtle appeared. +They began to explain their presence, but Wampus interrupted them, +saying: + +"All right, Miss Patsy an' Miss Myrtle. Your beds he made up an' Miss +'Lizbeth already asleep in him." + +So they crept inside with sighs of relief, and Wampus had just mounted +to the front seat again and disposed himself to rest when Uncle John +trotted up, clad in his trousers and shirt, with the balance of his +apparel clasped in his arms. He looked at the tent with pleased +approval. + +"Good boy, Wampus!" he exclaimed. "That room they gave me is an +inferno. I'm afraid our young ladies won't sleep a wink." + +"Oh, yes," returned Wampus with a nod; "all three now inside car, safe +an' happy." + +"I'm glad of it. How was your own room, Wampus?" + +"I have not seen him, sir. But I have suspect him; so I sleep here." + +"You are a wise chauffeur--a rare genus, in other words. Good night, +Wampus. Where's the Major?" + +Wampus chuckled. + +"In hotel. Sir, do the Major swear sometime?" + +Uncle John crept under the tent. + +"If he does," he responded, "he's swearing this blessed minute. +Anyhow, I'll guarantee he's not asleep." + +Wampus again mounted to his perch. + +"No use my try to sleep 'til Major he come," he muttered, and settled +himself to wait. + +It was not long. + +Presently some one approached on a run, and a broad grin overspread +the chauffeur's features. The Major had not delayed his escape long +enough to don his trousers even; he had grabbed his belongings in both +arms and fled in his blue and white striped undergarments. + +Wampus leaped down and lifted the flap of the tent. The Major paused +long enough in the moonlight to stare at the chauffeur and say +sternly: + +"If you utter one syllable, you rascal, I'll punch your head!" + +Wampus was discreet. He said not a word. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +YELLOW POPPIES + + +"So this is California!" exclaimed Patsy gleefully, as the automobile +left Parker and crossed the Arizona line. + +"But it doesn't look any different," said Myrtle, peering out of the +window. + +"Of course not," observed Uncle John. "A State boundary is a man-made +thing, and doesn't affect the country a bit. We've just climbed a +miniature mountain back in Arizona, and now we must climb a mate to +it in California. But the fact is, we've entered at last the Land of +Enchantment, and every mile now will bring us nearer and nearer to the +roses and sunshine." + +"There's sunshine here now," declared the Major. "We've had it right +along. But I haven't seen the roses yet, and a pair of ear muffs +wouldn't be uncomfortable in this cutting breeze." + +"The air _is_ rather crisp," admitted Uncle John. "But we're still in +the mountainous district, and Haggerty says--" + +The Major coughed derisively and Mumbles barked and looked at Uncle +John sagaciously. + +"Haggerty says--" + +"Is that a rabbit or a squirrel? Something has caught the eye of our +Mumbles," interrupted the Major, pointing vaguely across the mesa. + +"Haggerty says--" + +"I wonder if Mumbles could catch 'em," remarked the Major, with +complacence. + +"He says that every mile we travel brings us nearer the scent of the +orange blossoms and the glare of the yellow poppies," persisted Uncle +John. "You see, we've taken the Southern route, after all, for soon we +shall be on the Imperial road, which leads to San Diego--in the heart +of the gorgeous Southland." + +"What is the Imperial road?" inquired Beth. + +"The turnpike through Imperial Valley, said to be the richest bit of +land in all the world, not excepting the famous Nile banks of Egypt. +There is no railway there yet, but the Valley is settling very fast, +and Haggerty says--" + +"How remarkable!" exclaimed the Major, gazing straight ahead. And +again Mumbles, curled in Patsy's lap, lifted his shaggy head and gave +a wailing bark. + +Uncle John frowned, but was loyal to Haggerty. + +"He says that if America was now unknown to all the countries of the +world, Imperial would soon make it famous. They grow wonderful crops +there--strawberries and melons the year around, as well as all the +tropical and semi-tropical fruits and grains, flowers and vines known +to any country yet discovered." + +"Do we go to Imperial?" asked Myrtle, eagerly. + +"I think not, my dear; we just skirt the edge of the Valley. It's +rather wild and primitive there yet; for although many settlers are +flocking to that favored district Imperial is large enough to be an +empire by itself. However, we shall find an ideal climate at Coronado, +by the edge of the blue Pacific, and there and at Los Angeles we shall +rest from our journey and get acquainted with the wonders of the +Golden State. Has the trip tired you, girls?" + +"Not me," answered Beth, promptly. "I've enjoyed every mile of the +way." + +"And so have I," added Patsy; "except perhaps the adventure with the +remittance men. But I wouldn't care to have missed even that, for it +led to our acquaintance with old Dan'l." + +"For my part," said Myrtle softly, "I've been in a real fairyland. It +has seemed like a dream to me, all this glorious journey, and I shall +hate to wake up, as I must in time." + +"Don't worry just yet about the awakening, dear," returned Patsy, +leaning over to kiss her little friend. "Just enjoy it while you can. +If fairylands exist, they were made for just such as you, Myrtle." + +"One of the greatest marvels of our trip," said the Major, with a +smile, "is the improvement in our dear little invalid. It isn't the +same Myrtle who started out with us, believe me. Can't you all see the +change?" + +"I can _feel_ it," returned Myrtle, happily. "And don't you notice how +well I walk, and how little use I have now for the crutches?" + +"And can you feel the rosy cheeks and bright eyes, too?" asked Uncle +John, regarding her with much satisfaction. + +"The trip was just the thing for Myrtle," added Patsy. "She has grown +stronger every day; but she is not quite well yet, you know, and I +depend a good deal upon the genial climate of California to insure her +complete recovery." + +Uncle John did not reply. He remembered the doctor's assertion that a +painful operation would be necessary to finally restore Myrtle to a +normal condition, and his kindly heart disliked to reflect upon the +ordeal before the poor girl. + +Haggerty proved a prophet, after all. Each mile they covered opened +new vistas of delight to the eager travelers. The air grew more balmy +as they left the high altitudes and came upon the level country to +the north, of the San Bernardino range of mountains, nor was it +long before they sighted Imperial and sped through miles of country +carpeted with the splendid yellow poppies which the State has adopted +as the emblems of California. And behind this golden robe loomed the +cotton fields of Imperial, one of the most fascinating sights the +traveler may encounter. They made a curve to the right here, and +headed northerly until they came to Salton. Skirting the edge of the +curious Salton Sea they now headed directly west toward Escondido, +finding the roads remarkably good and for long stretches as smooth and +hard as an asphalt boulevard. The three days it took them to cross the +State were days of wonder and delight. + +It was not long before they encountered the roses and carnations +growing on every side, which the Major had persistently declared to be +mythical. + +"It seems all wrong," asserted Patsy's father, moodily, "for such +delicate flowers to be growing out of doors in midwinter. And look at +the grass! Why, the seasons are changed about. It's Springtime just +now in California." + +"The man at the last stop we made told me his roses bloomed the year +round," said Patsy, "And just smell the orange blossoms, will you! +Aren't they sweet, and don't they remind you of brides?" + +From Escondido it was a short run to the sea and their first glimpse +of the majestic Pacific was from a high bluff overhanging the water. +From this point the road ran south to San Diego, skirting the coast +along a mountain trail that is admitted to be one of the most +picturesque rides in America. + +Descending the hills as they neared San Diego they passed through +fields of splendid wild flowers so extensive and beautiful that +our girls fairly gasped in wonder. The yellow and orange poppies +predominated, but there were acres of wild mustard throwing countless +numbers of gorgeous saffron spikes skyward, and vistas of blue +carconnes, white daisies and blood-red delandres. The yucca was in +bloom, too, and added its mammoth flower to the display. + +They did not halt at San Diego, the southernmost city of California, +from whence the Mexican line is in plain sight, but drove to the bay, +where Wampus guided the limousine on to the big ferryboat bound for +Coronado. They all left the car during the brief voyage and watched +the porpoises sporting in the clear water of the bay and gazed +abstractedly at the waving palms on the opposite shore, where lies +nestled "the Crown of the Pacific"--Coronado. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE SILENT MAN + + +Even the Major smiled benignantly when he reached his appointed room +in the magnificent Hotel del Coronado, which is famed throughout the +world. + +"This," said he, "reminds me of New York; and it's the first thing +that has, since I left home." + +"Why, Daddy, it isn't like New York at all," protested Patsy, standing +beside him at the broad window overlooking the ocean. "Did you ever +see a palm tree waving in New York; or daisy bushes as tall as a man; +or such masses of roses and flowering vines? And then just notice the +mountains over there--they're in Mexico, I'm told--and this great +headland in the other direction; it's called Point Loma. Oh, I never +imagined any place could be so beautiful!" + +The others were equally excited, and Uncle John said, smiling broadly: + +"Well, we're here at last, my dears, and I'm sure we are already well +paid for our trip across the continent. What pleasant rooms these are. +If the hotel table is at all to be compared with the house itself we +shall have a happy time here, which means we will stay as long as +possible." + +But the table was another surprise, for the meals were equal to any +served in the great Eastern metropolis. Uncle John complimented the +landlord, a cheery faced, fat little man who had at one time managed +a famous New York hotel and had brought his talents and experience to +far California. + +"I'm sorry," said this gentle boniface, "that I could not reserve +better rooms for you--for there are some choice views from some +locations. I had a corner suite saved for your party, a suite I +consider the most desirable in the hotel; but an eccentric individual +arrived yesterday who demanded the entire suite, and I had to let him +have it. He will not stay long, and as soon as he goes you shall have +the rooms." + +"Who is he?" asked Uncle John. + +"A rich miner; a most melancholy and peculiar person, by the way," +replied landlord Ross. "I believe his name is Jones." + +Mr. Merrick started. + +"Jones, and a miner?" he said. "What's his other name--Anson?" + +"We'll look and see," replied Mr. Ross, turning to the hotel register. +"No; not Anson. He is registered as C.B. Jones, of Boston." + +"Oh; that's not the Jones at all," said Uncle John, disappointed. + +"It's the Jones who is our guest," replied the landlord, smiling. + +Meantime the three girls had gone for a walk along the coast. The +beach is beautiful at Coronado. There is a high sea wall of rock, and +the path runs along its edge almost the length of the promontory. The +rocks are sloping, however, and it is not very difficult to climb down +them to where the waves break against the wall. + +Near the hotel they met straggling groups, strolling in either +direction, but half a mile away the promenade was practically +deserted. It was beginning to grow dark, and Beth said, regretfully: + +"We must get back, girls, and dress for dinner--an unusual luxury, +isn't it? Our trunks arrived at the hotel two weeks ago, and are now +in our rooms, doubtless, awaiting us to unpack them." + +"Don't let's return just yet," begged Myrtle. "I want to see the sun +set." + +"It will be gorgeous," said Patsy, glancing at the sky; "but we can +see it from our windows, and as we're a long way from the hotel now I +believe Beth's suggestion is wise." + +So they began to retrace their steps. Myrtle still walked with some +difficulty, and they had not proceeded far when Beth exclaimed: + +"Look at that man down there!" + +Her companions followed her direction and saw standing upon a huge +pile of rocks at the water's edge a slight, solitary figure. Something +in the poise, as he leaned forward staring at the darkened waves--for +the sun was low and cast shadows aslant the water--struck Myrtle as +familiar. + +"Oh, girls!" she exclaimed; "it's the Grand Canyon man." + +"Why, I believe it is," agreed Patsy. "What is he doing?" + +"Nothing," said Beth, briefly. "But he is going to do something, I +think." + +While they stared at him from their elevation the man straightened an +instant and cast a hasty glance to either side. The place seemed to +him deserted, for he failed to observe the group of three intently +watching his motions from the high bank overhead. Next moment he +turned back to the water and leaned over the edge of rock again. + +"Don't!" cried Myrtle, her clear voice ringing over the lap of the +waves; "please don't!" + +He swung around and turned his gaunt features upward to where the +young girl leaned upon her crutches, with clasped hands and a look of +distress upon her sweet face. + +"Don't!" she repeated, pleadingly. + +He passed his hand over his eyes with a very weary gesture and looked +at Myrtle again--this time quite steadily. She was trembling in every +limb and her cheeks were white with fear. + +Slowly--very slowly--the man turned and began to climb the rocks; not +directly upward to where the girls stood, but diagonally, so as to +reach the walk some distance ahead of them. They did not move until he +had gained the path and turned toward the hotel. Then they followed +and kept him in sight until he reached the entrance to the court and +disappeared within. + +"I wonder," said Patsy, as they made their way to their rooms, +"whether he really was thinking of plunging into the ocean; or whether +that time at the Grand Canyon he had a notion of jumping into the +chasm." + +"If so," added Beth, "Myrtle has saved his life twice. But she can't +be always near to watch the man, and if he has suicidal intentions, +he'll make an end of himself, sooner or later, without a doubt." + +"Perhaps," said Myrtle, hesitatingly, "I am quite wrong, and the +strange man had no intention of doing himself an injury. But each time +I obeyed an impulse that compelled me to cry out; and afterward I have +been much ashamed of my forwardness." + +They did not see the melancholy man at dinner; but afterward, in the +spacious lobby, they discovered him sitting in a far corner reading a +magazine. He seemed intent on this occupation and paid no attention to +the life around him. The girls called Uncle John's attention to him, +and Mr. Merrick at once recognized him as the same individual they had +met at the Grand Canyon. + +"But I am not especially pleased to encounter him again," he said with +a slight frown; "for, if I remember aright, he acted very rudely to +Myrtle and proved unsociable when I made overtures and spoke to him." + +"I wonder who he is?" mused Patsy, watching the weary, haggard +features as his eyes slowly followed the lines of his magazine. + +"I'll inquire and find out," replied her uncle. + +The cherubic landlord was just then pacing up and down the lobby, +pausing here and there to interchange a word with his guests. Uncle +John approached him and said: + +"Can you tell me, Mr. Ross, who the gentleman is in the corner?" + +The landlord looked around at the corner and smiled. + +"That," said he, "is the gentleman we spoke of this afternoon--Mr. +C.B. Jones--the man who usurped the rooms intended for you." + +"Rooms?" repeated Uncle John. "Has he a large party, then?" + +"He is alone; that is the queer part of it," returned the landlord. +"Nor has he much baggage. But he liked the suite--a parlor with five +rooms opening out of it--and insisted upon having them all, despite +the fact that it is one of the most expensive suites in the hotel. I +said he was eccentric, did I not?" + +"You were justified," said Mr. Merrick, thought fully. "Thank you, +sir, for the information." + +Even as he rejoined the girls, who were seated together upon a broad +divan, the man arose, laid down his magazine and came slowly down +the room, evidently headed for the elevator. But with a start he +recognized the girl who had accosted him on the beach, and the others +with her, and for an instant came to a full stop before the group, his +sad eyes fixed intently upon Myrtle's face. + +The situation was a bit awkward, and to relieve it Uncle John remarked +in his cheery voice: + +"Well, Mr. Jones, we meet again, you see." + +The man turned slowly and faced him; then bowed in a mechanical way +and proceeded to the elevator, into which he disappeared. + +Naturally Uncle John was indignant. + +"Confound the fellow!" he exclaimed. "He's worse than a boor. But +perhaps his early education was neglected." + +"Did you call him Mr. Jones, sir?" asked Myrtle in a voice that +trembled with excitement. + +"Yes, my dear; but it is not your Uncle Anson. I've inquired about +him. The Joneses are pretty thick, wherever you go; but I hope not +many are like this fellow." + +"Something's wrong with him," declared Patsy. "He's had some sad +bereavement--a great blow of some sort--and it has made him somber and +melancholy. He doesn't seem to know he acts rudely. You can tell by +the man's eyes that he is unhappy." + +"His eyes have neither color nor expression," remarked Beth. "At his +best, this Mr. Jones must have been an undesirable acquaintance." + +"You can't be sure of that," returned Patsy; "and I'm positive my +theory is correct. More and more am I inclined to agree with Myrtle +that he is disgusted with life, and longs to end it." + +"Let him, then," retorted Uncle John. "I'm sure such a person is of no +use to the world, and if he doesn't like himself he's better out of +it." + +That kindly Mr. Merrick should give vent to such a heartless speech +proved how much annoyed he had been by Mr. Jones' discourtesy. + +"He might be reclaimed, and--and comforted," said Myrtle, softly. +"When I think of the happiness you have brought into my life, sir, I +long to express my gratitude by making some one else happy." + +"You're doing it, little one," he answered, pinching her cheek. "If +we've brought a bit of sunshine into your life we've reaped an ample +reward in your companionship. But if you can find a way to comfort +that man Jones, and fetch him out of his dumps, you are certainly a +more wonderful fairy than I've given you credit for." + +Myrtle did not reply to this, although it pleased her. She presently +pleaded weariness and asked permission to return to her room. Beth +and Patsy wanted to go into the great domed ballroom and watch the +dancing; so Myrtle bade them good night and ascended by the elevator +to her floor. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +"THREE TIMES" + + +Softly stepping over the thick carpets, which deadened the sound of +the crutches--now becoming scarcely necessary to her--the young girl +passed along the corridor, passing angles and turns innumerable on her +way to her room. Some erratic architect certainly concocted the +plan of the Hotel del Coronado. It is a very labyrinth of passages +connecting; its nine hundred rooms, and one has to have a good bump of +location to avoid getting lost in its mazes. + +Near one of the abrupt turns a door stood ajar, and in passing Myrtle +glanced in, and then paused involuntarily. It was a small parlor, +prettily furnished, and in a big chair reclined a man whose hands were +both pressed tight against his face, thus covering it completely. But +Myrtle knew him. The thin frame, as well as the despairing attitude, +marked him as the man who had come so strangely into her life and +whose personality affected her so strangely. She now stood in the +dimly lighted corridor looking in upon him with infinite pity, and as +she looked her glance fell upon the table beside him, where something +bright glittered beneath the electric lamps. + +Her heart gave a sudden thump of mingled fear and dismay. She knew +intuitively what that "something" was. "Let him," Uncle John had said; +but Myrtle instantly determined _not_ to let him. + +She hesitated a moment; but seeing that the man remained motionless, +his eyes still covered, as if lost to all his surroundings, she softly +crept forward and entered the room. She held the crutches under her +arms, but dared not use them for fear of making a noise. Step by step +she stole forward until the table was within reach. Then she stretched +out her hand, seized the revolver, and hid it in the folds of her +blouse. + +Turning for a final glance at the man she was startled to find he had +removed his hands and was steadfastly regarding her. + +Myrtle leaned heavily on her crutches. She felt faint and miserable, +like a criminal caught in the act. As her eyes fell before the intent +gaze her face turned scarlet with humiliation and chagrin. Still, she +did not attempt to escape, the idea not occurring to her; so for a +time the tableau was picturesque--the lame girl standing motionless +with downcast eyes and the man fixedly staring at her. + +"Three times!" he slowly said, in a voice finally stirred by a trace +of emotion. "Three times. My child, why are you so persistent?" + +Myrtle tried to be brave and meet his gaze. It was not quite so +difficult now the silent man had spoken. + +"Why do you force me to be persistent?" she asked, a tremor in her +voice. "Why are you determined to--to--" + +Words failed her, but he nodded to show he understood. + +"Because," said he, "I am tired; very tired, my child. It's a big +world; too big, in fact; but there's nothing in it for me any more." + +There was expression enough in his voice now; expression of utter +despondency. + +"Why?" asked Myrtle, somewhat frightened to find herself so bold. + +He did not answer for a long time, but sat reading her mobile face +until a gentler look came into his hard blue eyes. + +"It is a story too sad for young ears," he finally replied. "Perhaps, +too, you would not understand it, not knowing or understanding me. I'm +an odd sort of man, well along in years, and I've lived an odd sort +of life. But my story, such as it is, has ended, and I'm too weary to +begin another volume." + +"Oh, no!" exclaimed Myrtle, earnestly. "Surely this cannot be the +fulfillment and end of your life. If it were, why should _I_ come into +your life just now?" + +He stared at her with a surprised--an even startled--look. + +"Have you come into my life?" he inquired, in a low, curious tone. + +"Haven't I?" she returned. "At the Grand Canyon--" + +"I know," he interrupted hastily. "That was your mistake; and mine. +You should not have interfered. I should not have let you interfere." + +"But I did," said Myrtle. + +"Yes. Somehow your voice sounded like a command, and I obeyed it; +perhaps because no living person has a right to command me. You--you +took me by surprise." + +He passed his hand over his eyes with that weary gesture peculiar to +him, and then fell silent. + +Myrtle had remained standing. She did not know what to do in this +emergency, or what more to say. The conversation could not be ended in +this summary fashion. The hopeless man needed her in some way; how, +she did not know. Feeling weak and very incompetent to meet the +important crisis properly, the girl crept to a chair opposite the man +and sank into it. Then she leaned her chin upon her hand and looked +pleadingly at her strange acquaintance. He met her eyes frankly. +The hard look in his own seemed to have disappeared, dispelled by a +sympathy that was new to him. + +And so they sat, regarding one another silently yet musingly, for a +long time. + +"I wish," said Myrtle once, in her softest, sweetest tones, "I could +help you. Some one helped me when I was in great trouble, so I want to +help you." + +He did not reply, and another period of silence ensued. But his next +speech showed he had been considering her words. + +"Because you have suffered," he said, "you have compassion for others +who suffer. But your trouble is over now?" + +"Almost," she said, smiling brightly. + +He sighed, but questioned her no farther. + +"A while ago," she volunteered, "I had neither friends nor relatives." +He gave her a queer look, then. "I had no money. I had been hurt in an +accident and was almost helpless. But I did not despair, sir--and I am +only an inexperienced girl. + +"In my darkest hour I found friends--kind, loving friends--who showed +me a new world that I had not suspected was in existence. I think +the world is like a great mirror," she continued, meditatively, "and +reflects our lives just as we ourselves look upon it. Those who turn +sad faces toward the world find only sadness reflected. But a smile is +reflected in the same way, and cheers and brightens our hearts. You +think there is no pleasure to be had in life. That is because you are +heartsick and--and tired, as you say. With one sad story ended you are +afraid to begin another--a sequel--feeling it would be equally sad. +But why should it be? Isn't the joy or sorrow equally divided in +life?" + +"No," he replied. + +"A few days ago," she continued earnestly, "we were crossing the +Arizona deserts. It was not pleasant, but we did not despair, for +we knew the world is not all desert and that the land of roses and +sunshine lay just beyond. Now that we're in California we've forgotten +the dreary desert. But you--Why, sir, you've just crossed your desert, +and you believe all the world is bitter and cruel and holds no joy for +you! Why don't you step out bravely into the roses and sunshine of +life, and find the joy that has been denied you?" + +He looked into her eyes almost fearfully, but it seemed to her that +his own held a first glimmer of hope. + +"Do you believe there can be joy for me anywhere in the world?" he +asked. + +"Of course. I tell you there's just as much sweet as there is bitter +in life. Don't I know it? Haven't I proved it? But happiness doesn't +chase people who try to hide from it. It will meet you halfway, but +you've got to do your share to deserve it. I'm not preaching; I've +lived this all out, in my own experience, and know what I'm talking +about. Now as for you, sir, I can see very plainly you haven't been +doing your duty. You've met sorrow and let it conquer you. You've +taken melancholy by the hand and won't let go of it. You haven't tried +to fight for your rights--the rights God gave to every man and expects +him to hold fast to and take advantage of. No, indeed!" + +"But what is the use?" he asked, timidly, yet with an eager look in +his face. "You are young, my child; I am nearly old enough to have +been your father. There are things you have not yet learned; things I +hope you will never learn. An oak may stand alone in a field, and be +lonely because it cannot touch boughs with another. A flower may bloom +alone in a garden, and wither and die for want of companionship. God's +wisdom grouped every living thing. He gave Adam a comrade. He created +no solitary thing. But see, my child: although this world contains +countless thousands, there is not one among them I may call my +friend." + +"Oh, yes; just one!" said Myrtle quickly. "I am your friend. Not +because you want me, but because you need me. And that's a beginning, +isn't it? I can find other friends for you, among _my_ friends, and +you will be sure to like them because I like them." + +This naive suggestion did not affect him as much as the fact that this +fair young girl had confessed herself his friend. He did not look at +Myrtle now; he stared straight ahead, at the wall paper, and his brow +was furrowed as if he was thinking deeply. + +Perhaps any other man would have thanked the girl for her sympathy and +her proffered friendship, or at the least have acknowledged it. But +not so this queer Mr. Jones; eccentric, indeed, as the shrewd landlord +had described him. Nor did Myrtle seem to expect an acknowledgment. +It was enough for her that her speech had set him thinking along new +lines. + +He sat musing for so long that she finally remembered it was growing +late, and began to fear Patsy and Beth would seek their rooms, which +connected with her own, and find her absent. That would worry them. So +at last she rose softly, took her crutches and turned to go. + +"Good night, my--friend," she said. + +"Good night, my child," he answered in a mechanical tone, without +rousing from his abstraction. + +Myrtle went to her room and found it was not so late as she had +feared. She opened a drawer and placed the revolver in it, not without +a little shudder. + +"At any rate," she murmured, with satisfaction, "he will not use this +to-night." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +ON POINT LOMA + + +Next morning a beautiful bunch of roses was brought to Myrtle's +room--roses so magnificent that it seemed impossible they could be +grown out of doors. But there are few hothouses in California, and the +boy who brought the flowers confided to her the information that they +were selected from more than five hundred blooms. She ran to show them +to Patsy and Beth, who were amazed not only by the roses but by the +fact that the queer Mr. Jones had sent them to Myrtle. There was no +card or note accompanying the gift, but after the younger girl had +related her conversation with Mr. Jones the previous evening, they +could not doubt but he had sent the flowers. + +"Perhaps," reflected Patsy, "we've been misjudging him. I never beheld +such a stolid, unimpressive countenance in my life; but the man must +have a soul of some sort, or he would not think of sending flowers to +his new friend." + +"It's a pretty idea," said Beth. "He wanted to assure Myrtle that he +appreciated her kindness." + +"I'm sure he likes me," declared Myrtle, simply. "He wasn't a bit +cross when I ran in and took away his pistol, or when I preached to +him. I really gave him a good talking to, and he didn't object a bit." + +"What he needs," commented Beth, "is to get away from himself, and +mingle with people more. I wonder if we could coax him to join us in +our ride to Point Loma." + +"Would we care to ask him?" said Patsy. "He's as sour and crabbed in +looks as he is in disposition, and has treated Uncle John's advances +shamefully. I'd like to help Myrtle bring the old fellow back to life; +but perhaps we can find an easier way than to shut him up with us in +an automobile." + +"He wouldn't go, I'm sure," declared Myrtle. "He has mellowed a +little--a very little--as these roses prove. But he treated me last +night just as he does Mr. Merrick, even after our conversation. When +I said 'Good night' I had to wait a long time for his answer. But I'd +like you to meet him and help cheer him up; so please let me introduce +him, if there's a chance, and do be nice to him." + +"I declare," cried Patsy, laughing, "Myrtle has assumed an air of +proprietorship over the Sad One already." + +"She has a right to, for she saved his life," said Beth. + +"Three times," Myrtle added proudly. "He told me so himself." + +Uncle John heard the story of Myrtle's adventure with considerable +surprise, and he too expressed a wish to aid her in winning Mr. Jones +from his melancholy mood. + +"Every man is queer in one way or another," said he, "and I'd say the +women were, too, if you females were not listening. I also imagine a +very rich man has the right to be eccentric, if it pleases him." + +"Is Mr. Jones rich, then?" inquired Beth. + +"According to the landlord he's rich as Croesus. Made his money in +mining--manipulating stocks, I suppose. But evidently his wealth +hasn't been a comfort to him, or he wouldn't want to shuffle off his +mortal coil and leave it behind" + +They did not see the object of this conversation before leaving for +the trip to Point Loma--a promontory that juts out far into the +Pacific. It is reached by a superb macadamized boulevard, which passes +down the north edge of the promontory, rounds the corner where stands +the lighthouse, and comes back along the southern edge, all the time a +hundred feet or more in elevation above the ocean. + +The view from the Point is unsurpassed. Wampus stopped his car beside +a handsomely appointed automobile that was just then deserted. + +"Some one is here before us," remarked Patsy. "But that is not +strange. The wonder is that crowds are not here perpetually." + +"It is said," related the Major, who had really begun to enjoy +California, "that the view from this Point includes more varied +scenery than any other that is known in the world. Here we see the +grand San Bernardino range of mountains; the Spanish Bight on the +Mexican shore; the pretty city of San Diego climbing its hills, with +the placid bay in front, where float the warships of the Pacific +Squadron; the broad stretch of orange and lemon groves, hedged with +towering palm trees; Santa Catalina and the Coronado Islands; the blue +Pacific rolling in front and rugged Loma with its rocky cliffs behind. +What more could we ask to see from any one viewpoint?" + +"Don't forget the monster hotel, with its hundred towers and gables, +dominating the strip of land between the bay and the ocean," added +Beth. "How near it seems, and yet it is many miles away." + +Some one had told them that moonstones were to be found on the beach +at the base of the cliff; so they all climbed down the steep path, +followed by Mumbles, who had not perceptibly grown in size during the +trip but had acquired an adventurous disposition which, coupled with +his native inquisitiveness, frequently led him into trouble. + +Now, when they had reached the narrow beach, Mumbles ran ahead, passed +around the corner of a cliff that almost touched the water, and was +presently heard barking furiously. + +"Sounds as if he scented game," said Patsy. + +"A turtle, perhaps, or a big fish washed ashore," suggested the Major. + +But now the small dog's voice changed suddenly and became a succession +of yelps expressing mingled pain and terror. + +"Oh, he's hurt!" cried Myrtle; and they all hurried forward, Uncle +John leading them on a run, and passed around the big rock to rescue +their pet. + +Some one was before them, however. The foolish dog had found a huge +crab in the sand and, barking loudly, had pushed his muzzle against +the creature, with the result that the crab seized his black nose in +a gripping claw and pinched as hard as it was able. Mumbles tried to +back away, madly howling the while; but the crab, although the smaller +antagonist, gripped a rock with its other claw and held on, anchoring +the terrified dog to the spot. + +But help was at hand. A tall, thin man hurried to the rescue, and just +as Uncle John came in sight, leading his procession, a knife severed +the crab's claw and Mumbles was free. Seeing his mistress, the puppy, +still whining with pain, hurried to her for comfort, while Uncle John +turned to the man and said: + +"Thank you, Mr. Jones, for assisting our poor beast. Mumbles is an +Eastern dog, you know, and inexperienced in dealing with crabs." + +Mr. Jones was examining the claw, the despoiled owner of which had +quickly slid into the water. + +"It is a species of crawfish," he observed, meditatively. Then, seeing +the girls approach, he straightened up and rather awkwardly lifted his +hat. + +The gesture surprised them all. Heretofore, when they had met, the man +had merely stared and turned away, now his attempt at courtesy was +startling because unexpected. + +Myrtle came close to his side. + +"How nice to find you here, Mr. Jones," she said brightly. "And oh, I +must thank you for my lovely roses." + +He watched her face with evident interest and it seemed that his own +countenance had become less haggard and sad than formerly. + +"Let me introduce my friends," said the girl, with sudden recollection +of her duty. "This is Mr. Merrick, my good friend and benefactor; and +this is Major Doyle and his daughter Miss Patricia Doyle, both of whom +have the kindest hearts in the world; Miss Beth De Graf, Mr. Merrick's +niece, has watched over and cared for me like a sister, and--oh, I +forgot; Miss Patsy is Mr. Merrick's niece, too. So now you know them +all." + +The man nodded briefly his acknowledgment. + +"You--you are Mr. Jones, I believe, of--of Boston?" + +"Once of Boston," he repeated mechanically. Then he looked at her and +added: "Go on." + +"Why--what--I don't understand," she faltered. "Have I overlooked +anyone?" + +"Only yourself," he said. + +"Oh; but I--I met you last night." + +"You did not tell me your name," he reminded her. + +"I'm Myrtle," she replied, smiling in her relief. "Myrtle Dean." + +"Myrtle Dean!" His voice was harsh; almost a shout. + +"Myrtle Dean. And I--I'm from Chicago; but I don't live there any +more." + +He stood motionless, looking at the girl with a fixed expression that +embarrassed her and caused her to glance appealingly at Patsy. Her +friend understood and came to her rescue with some inconsequent remark +about poor Mumbles, who was still moaning and rubbing; his pinched +nose against Patsy's chin to ease the pain. + +Mr. Jones paid little heed to Miss Doyle's observation, but as Myrtle +tried to hide behind Beth Mr. Merrick took the situation in hand by +drawing the man's attention to the scenery, and afterward inquiring if +he was searching for moonstones. + +The conversation now became general, except that Mr. Jones remained +practically silent He seemed to try to interest himself in the chatter +around him, but always his eyes would stray to Myrtle's face and hold +her until she found an opportunity to turn away. + +"We've luncheon in the car," announced Uncle John, after a time. +"Won't you join us, Mr. Jones?" + +"Yes," was the unconventional reply. The man was undoubtedly +abstracted and did not know he was rude. He quietly followed them up +the rocks and when they reached the automobile remained by Myrtle's +side while Wampus brought out the lunch basket and Beth and Patsy +spread the cloth upon the grass and unpacked the hamper. + +Mr. Jones ate merely a mouthful, but he evidently endeavored to follow +the conversation and take an interest in what was said. He finally +became conscious that his continuous gaze distressed Myrtle, and +thereafter strove to keep his eyes from her face. They would creep +back to it, from time to time; but Beth, who was watching him +curiously, concluded he was making a serious effort to deport himself +agreeably and credited him with a decided improvement in manners as +their acquaintance with him progressed. + +After luncheon, when their return by way of Old Town and the Spanish +Mission was proposed, Mr. Jones said, pointing to the car that stood +beside their own: + +"This is my automobile. I drive it myself. I would like Myrtle Dean to +ride back with me." + +The girl hesitated, but quickly deciding she must not retreat, now she +had practically begun the misanthrope's reformation, she replied: + +"I will be very glad to. But won't you take one of my friends, also? +That will divide the party more evenly." + +He looked down at his feet, thoughtfully considering the proposition. + +"I'll go with you," said Beth, promptly. "Get into the front seat with +Mr. Jones, Myrtle, and I'll ride behind." + +The man made no protest. He merely lifted Myrtle in his arms and +gently placed her in the front seat. Beth, much amused, took the seat +behind, unassisted save that the Major opened the door for her. Mr. +Jones evidently understood his car. Starting the engines without +effort he took his place at the wheel and with a nod to Mr. Merrick +said: + +"Lead on, sir; I will follow." + +Wampus started away. He was displeased with the other car. It did +not suit him at all. And aside from the fact that the sour-faced +individual who owned it had taken away two of Wampus' own passengers, +the small shaggy Mumbles, who had been the established companion of +Uncle John's chauffeur throughout all the long journey, suddenly +deserted him. He whined to go with the other car, and when Patsy +lifted him aboard he curled down beside the stranger as if thoroughly +satisfied. Patsy knew why, and was amused that Mumbles showed his +gratitude to Mr. Jones for rescuing him from the crab; but Wampus +scowled and was distinctly unhappy all the way to Old Town. + +"Him mebbe fine gentleman," muttered the Canadian to the Major; "but +if so he make a disguise of it. Once I knew a dog thief who resemble +him; but perhaps Mumble he safe as long as Miss Myrtle an' Miss Beth +they with him." + +"Don't worry," said the Major, consolingly. "I'll keep my eye on the +rascal. But he's a fine driver, isn't he?" + +"Oh, _that_!" retorted Wampus, scornfully. "Such little cheap car like +that he drive himself." + +At Old Town Mr. Jones left them, saying he had been to the Mission and +did not care for it. But as he drove his car away there was a gentler +and more kindly expression upon his features than any of them had ever +seen there before, and Myrtle suspected her charm was working and the +regeneration really begun. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A TALE OF WOE + + +That evening after dinner, as Mr. Merrick sat alone in the hotel +lobby, the girls having gone to watch the Major bowl tenpins, Mr. +Jones approached and sat down in the chair beside him. + +Uncle John greeted the man with an attempt at cordiality. He could not +yet bring himself to like his personality, but on Myrtle's account and +because he was himself generous enough to wish to be of service to +anyone so forlorn and unhappy, he treated Mr. Jones with more respect +than he really thought he deserved. + +"Tell me, Mr. Merrick," was the abrupt request, "where you found +Myrtle Dean." + +Uncle John told him willingly. There was no doubt but Myrtle had +interested the man. + +"My girls found her on the train between Chicago and Denver," he +began. "She was on her way to join her uncle in Leadville." + +"What is her uncle's name?" + +"Anson Jones. But the child was almost helpless, ill and without +friends or money. She was not at all sure her uncle was still in +Leadville, in which case she would be at the mercy of a cold world. So +I telegraphed and found that Anson Jones had been gone from the mining +camp for several months. Do you know, sir, I at first suspected you +might be the missing uncle? For I heard you were a miner and found +that your name is Jones. But I soon discovered you are not Anson +Jones, but C.B. Jones--which alters the case considerably." + +Mr. Jones nodded absently. + +"Tell me the rest," he said. + +Uncle John complied. He related the manner in which Beth and Patsy +had adopted Myrtle, the physician's examination and report upon her +condition, and then told the main points of their long but delightful +journey from Albuquerque to San Diego in the limousine. + +"It was one of the most fortunate experiments we have ever tried," he +concluded; "for the child has been the sweetest and most agreeable +companion imaginable, and her affection and gratitude have amply +repaid us for anything we have done for her. I am determined she shall +not leave us, sir. When we return to New York I shall consult the best +specialist to be had, and I am confident she can be fully cured and +made as good as new." + +The other man had listened intently, and when the story was finished +he sat silent for a time, as if considering and pondering over what he +had heard. Then, without warning, he announced quietly: + +"I am Anson Jones." + +Uncle John fairly gasped for breath. + +"_You_ Anson Jones!" he exclaimed. Then, with plausible suspicion he +added: "I myself saw that you are registered as C.B. Jones." + +"It is the same thing," was the reply. "My name is Collanson--but my +family always called me 'Anson', when I had a family--and by that name +I was best known in the mining camps. That is what deceived you." + +"But--dear me!--I don't believe Myrtle knows her uncle's name is +Collanson." + +"Probably not. Her mother, sir, my sister, was my only remaining +relative, the only person on earth who cared for me--although I +foolishly believed another did. I worked for success as much on +Kitty's account--Kitty was Myrtle's mother--as for my own sake. I +intended some day to make her comfortable and happy, for I knew her +husband's death had left her poor and friendless. I did not see her +for years, nor write to her often; it was not my way. But Kitty always +knew I loved her." + +He paused and sat silent a moment. Then he resumed, in his quiet, even +tones: + +"There is another part of my story that you must know to understand +me fully; to know why I am now a hopeless, desperate man; or was +until--until last night, perhaps. Some years ago, when in Boston, I +fell in love with a beautiful girl. I am nearly fifty, and she was not +quite thirty, but it never occurred to me that I was too old to win +her love, and she frankly confessed she cared for me. But she said she +could not marry a poor man and would therefore wait for me to make a +fortune. Then I might be sure she would marry me. I believed her. I do +not know why men believe women. It is an absurd thing to do. I did it; +but other men have been guilty of a like folly. Ah, how I worked and +planned! One cannot always make a fortune in a short time. It took me +years, and all the time she renewed her promises and kept my hopes and +my ambitions alive. + +"At last I won the game, as I knew I should do in time. It was a big +strike. I discovered the 'Blue Bonnet' mine, and sold a half interest +in it for a million. Then I hurried to Boston to claim my bride.... +She had been married just three months, after waiting, or pretending +to wait, for me for nearly ten years! She married a poor lawyer, too, +after persistently refusing me because _I_ was poor. She laughed at +my despair and coldly advised me to find some one else to share my +fortune." + +He paused again and wearily passed his hand over his eyes--a familiar +gesture, as Myrtle knew. His voice had grown more and more dismal as +he proceeded, and just now he seemed as desolate and unhappy as when +first they saw him at the Grand Canyon. + +"I lived through it somehow," he continued; "but the blow stunned me. +It stuns me yet. Like a wounded beast I slunk away to find my sister, +knowing she would try to comfort me. She was dead. Her daughter +Myrtle, whom I had never seen, had been killed in an automobile +accident. That is what her aunt, a terrible woman named Martha Dean, +told me, although now I know it was a lie, told to cover her own +baseness in sending an unprotected child to the far West to seek an +unknown uncle. I paid Martha Dean back the money she claimed she had +spent for Myrtle's funeral; that was mere robbery, I suppose, but not +to be compared with the crime of her false report. I found myself +bereft of sweetheart, sister--even an unknown niece. Despair claimed +me. I took the first train for the West, dazed and utterly despondent. +Some impulse led me to stop off at the Grand Canyon, and there I saw +the means of ending all my misery. But Myrtle interfered." + +Uncle John, now thoroughly interested and sympathetic, leaned over and +said solemnly: + +"The hand of God was in that!" + +Mr. Jones nodded. + +"I am beginning to believe it," he replied. "The girl's face won me +even in that despairing mood. She has Kitty's eyes." + +"They are beautiful eyes," said Uncle John, earnestly. "Sir, you have +found in your niece one of the sweetest and most lovely girls that +ever lived. I congratulate you!" + +Mr. Jones nodded again. His mood had changed again since they began +to speak of Myrtle. His eyes now glowed with pleasure and pride. He +clasped Mr. Merrick's hand in his own as he said with feeling: + +"She has saved me, sir. Even before I knew she was my niece I began to +wonder if it would not pay me to live for her sake. And now--" + +"And now you are sure of it," cried Uncle John, emphatically. "But who +is to break the news to Myrtle?" + +"No one, just yet," was the reply. "Allow me, sir, if you please, to +keep her in ignorance of the truth a little longer. I only made the +discovery myself today, you see, and I need time to think it all out +and determine how best to take advantage of my good fortune." + +"I shall respect your wish, sir," said Mr. Merrick. + +The girls came trooping back then, and instead of running away Anson +Jones remained to talk with them. + +Beth and Patsy were really surprised to find the "Sad One" chatting +pleasantly with Uncle John. The Major looked at the man curiously, not +understanding the change in him. But Myrtle was quite proud of the +progress he was making and his improved spirits rendered the girl very +happy indeed. Why she should take such an interest in this man she +could not have explained, except that he had been discouraged and +hopeless and she had succeeded in preventing him from destroying his +life and given him courage to face the world anew. But surely that was +enough, quite sufficient to give her a feeling of "proprietorship," as +Patsy had expressed it, in this queer personage. Aside from all this, +she was growing to like the man who owed so much to her. Neither Patsy +nor Beth could yet see much to interest them or to admire in his +gloomy character; but Myrtle's intuition led her to see beneath the +surface, and she knew there were lovable traits in Mr. Jones' nature +if he could only be induced to display them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE CONFESSION + + +After that evening the man attached himself to the party on every +possible occasion. Sometimes in their trips around Coronado he rode +in their automobile, at other times he took Myrtle, and perhaps one +other, in his own car. Every day he seemed brighter and more cheerful, +until even Major Doyle admitted he was not a bad companion. + +Three weeks later they moved up to Los Angeles, taking two days for +the trip and stopping at Riverside and Redlands on the way. They +established their headquarters at one of the handsome Los Angeles +hotels and from there made little journeys through the surrounding +country, the garden spot of Southern California. One day they went to +Pasadena, which boasts more splendid residences than any city of its +size in the world; at another time they visited Hollywood, famed as +"the Paradise of Flowers." Both mountains and sea were within easy +reach, and there was so much to do that the time passed all too +swiftly. + +It was on their return from such a day's outing that Myrtle met with +her life's greatest surprise. Indeed, the surprise was shared by all +but Uncle John, who had religiously kept the secret of Mr. Jones' +identity. + +As they reached the hotel this eventful evening Mr. Merrick said to +the girls: + +"After you have dressed for dinner meet us on the parlor floor. We +dine privately to-night." + +They were mildly astonished at the request, but as Uncle John was +always doing some unusual thing they gave the matter little thought. +However, on reaching the parlor floor an hour later they found Mr. +Merrick, the Major and Mr. Jones in a group awaiting them, and +all were garbed in their dress suits, with rare flowers in their +buttonholes. + +"What is it, then?" asked Patsy. "A treat?" + +"I think so," said Uncle John, smiling. "Your arm, please, Miss +Doyle." + +The Major escorted Beth and Mr. Jones walked solemnly beside Myrtle, +who still used crutches, but more as a matter of convenience than +because they were necessary. At the end of a corridor a waiter threw +open the door of a small but beautiful banquet room, where a round +table, glistening with cut glass and silver, was set for six. In the +center of the table was a handsome centerpiece decorated with vines +of myrtle, while the entire room was filled with sprays of the dainty +vines, alive with their pretty blue flowers. + +"Goodness me!" exclaimed Patsy, laughing gleefully. "This seems to be +our little Myrtle's especial spread. Who is the host, Uncle John?" + +"Mr. Jones, of course," announced Beth, promptly. + +Myrtle blushed and glanced shyly at Mr. Jones. His face was fairly +illumined with pleasure. He placed her in the seat of honor and said +gravely: + +"This is indeed Myrtle's entertainment, for she has found something. +It is also partly my own thanksgiving banquet, my friends; for I, too, +have found something." + +His tone was so serious that all remained silent as they took their +seats, and during the many courses served the conversation was less +lively than on former occasions when there had been no ceremony. +Myrtle tried hard to eat, but there was a question in her eyes--a +question that occupied her all through the meal. When, finally, the +dessert was served and the servants had withdrawn and left them to +themselves, the girl could restrain her curiosity no longer. + +"Tell me, Mr. Jones," she said, turning to him as he sat beside her; +"what have you found?" + +He was deliberate as ever in answering. + +"You must not call me 'Mr. Jones,' hereafter," said he. + +"Why not? Then, what _shall_ I call you?" she returned, greatly +perplexed. + +"I think it would be more appropriate for you to call me 'Uncle +Anson.'" + +"Uncle Anson! Why, Uncle Anson is--is--" + +She paused, utterly bewildered, but with a sudden suspicion that made +her head whirl. + +"It strikes me, Myrtle," said Uncle John, cheerfully, "that you have +never been properly introduced to Mr. Jones. If I remember aright you +scraped acquaintance with him and had no regular introduction. So I +will now perform that agreeable office. Miss Myrtle Dean, allow me to +present your uncle, Mr. Collanson B. Jones." + +"Collanson!" repeated all the girls, in an astonished chorus. + +"That is my name," said Mr. Jones, the first smile they had seen +radiating his grim countenance. "All the folks at home, among them my +sister Kitty--your mother, my dear--called me 'Anson'; and that is +why, I suppose, old Martha Dean knew me only as your 'Uncle Anson.' +Had she told you my name was Collanson you might have suspected +earlier that 'C.B. Jones' was your lost uncle. Lost only because he +was unable to find you, Myrtle. While you were journeying West in +search of him he was journeying East. But I'm glad, for many reasons, +that you did not know me. It gave me an opportunity to learn the +sweetness of your character. Now I sincerely thank God that He led you +to me, to reclaim me and give me something to live for. If you will +permit me, my dear niece, I will hereafter devote my whole life to +you, and earnestly try to promote your happiness." + +During this long speech Myrtle had sat wide eyed and white, watching +his face and marveling at the strangeness of her fate. But she was +very, very glad, and young enough to quickly recover from the shock. + +There was a round of applause from Patsy, Beth, the Major and +Uncle John, which served admirably to cover their little friend's +embarrassment and give her time to partially collect herself. Then she +turned to Mr. Jones and with eyes swimming with tears tenderly kissed +his furrowed cheek. + +"Oh, Uncle Anson; I'm _so_ happy!" she said. + +Of course Myrtle's story is told, now. But it may be well to add that +Uncle Anson did for her all that Uncle John had intended doing, and +even more. The consultation with a famous New York specialist, on +their return a month later, assured the girl that no painful operation +was necessary. The splendid outing she had enjoyed, with the fine air +of the far West, had built up her health to such an extent that nature +remedied the ill she had suffered. Myrtle took no crutches back to New +York--a city now visited for the first time in her life--nor did she +ever need them again. The slight limp she now has will disappear +in time, the doctors say, and the child is so radiantly happy that +neither she nor her friends notice the limp at all. + +Patsy Doyle, as owner of the pretty flat building on Willing Square, +has rented to Uncle Anson the apartment just opposite that of the +Doyles, and Mr. Jones has furnished it cosily to make a home for his +niece, to whom he is so devoted that Patsy declares her own doting and +adoring father is fairly outclassed. + +The Major asserts this is absurd; but he has acquired a genuine +friendship for Anson Jones, who is no longer sad but has grown lovable +under Myrtle's beneficent influence. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10124 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6331415 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #10124 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10124) diff --git a/old/10124-8.txt b/old/10124-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b07461a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10124-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5955 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Aunt Jane's Nieces and Uncle John, by Edith +Van Dyne + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Aunt Jane's Nieces and Uncle John + +Author: Edith Van Dyne + +Release Date: November 18, 2003 [eBook #10124] + +Language: English + +Chatacter set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT JANE'S NIECES AND UNCLE +JOHN*** + + +E-text prepared by Afra Ullah, Josephine Paolucci, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +AUNT JANE'S NIECES AND UNCLE JOHN + +BY + +EDITH VAN DYNE + +AUTHOR OF "AUNT JANE'S NIECES," "AUNT JANE'S NIECES ABROAD," "AUNT +JANE'S NIECES AT MILLVILLE," "AUNT JANE'S NIECES AT WORK." "AUNT +JANE'S NIECES IN SOCIETY," ETC. + +1911 + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + + I INTRODUCING "MUMBLES" + II UNCLE JOHN'S IDEA + III MYRTLE DEAN + IV AN INTERESTING PROTÉGÉ + V A WONDER ON WHEELS + VI WAMPUS SPEEDS + VII THE CHAUFFEUR IMPROVES + VIII AMONG THE INDIANS + IX NATURE'S MASTERPIECE + X A COYOTE SERENADE + XI A REAL ADVENTURE AT LAST + XII CAPTURED + XIII THE FIDDLER + XIV THE ESCAPE + XV THE ROMANCE OF DAN'L + XVI THE LODGING AT SPOTVILLE + XVII YELLOW POPPIES + XVIII THE SILENT MAN + XIX "THREE TIMES" + XX ON POINT LOMA + XXI A TALE OF WOE + XXII THE CONFESSION + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +INTRODUCING "MUMBLES" + + +Major Gregory Doyle paced nervously up and down the floor of the cosy +sitting room. + +"Something's surely happened to our Patsy!" he exclaimed. + +A little man with a calm face and a bald head, who was seated near the +fire, continued to read his newspaper and paid no attention to the +outburst. + +"Something has happened to Patsy!" repeated the Major, "Patsy" meaning +his own and only daughter Patricia. + +"Something is always happening to everyone," said the little man, +turning his paper indifferently. "Something is happening to me, for I +can't find the rest of this article. Something is happening to you, +for you're losing your temper." + +"I'm not, sir! I deny it." + +"As for Patsy," continued the other, "she is sixteen years old and +knows New York like a book. The girl is safe enough." + +"Then where is she? Tell me that, sir. Here it is, seven o'clock, dark +as pitch and raining hard, and Patsy is never out after six. Can you, +John Merrick, sit there like a lump o' putty and do nothing, when your +niece and my own darlin' Patsy is lost--or strayed or stolen?" + +"What would you propose doing?" asked Uncle John, looking up with a +smile. + +"We ought to get out the police department. It's raining and cold, +and--" + +"Then we ought to get out the fire department. Call Mary to put on +more coal and let's have it warm and cheerful when Patsy comes in." + +"But, sir--" + +"The trouble with you, Major, is that dinner is half an hour late. One +can imagine all sorts of horrible things on an empty stomach. Now, +then--" + +He paused, for a pass-key rattled in the hall door and a moment later +Patsy Doyle, rosy and animated, fresh from the cold and wet outside, +smilingly greeted them. + +She had an umbrella, but her cloak was dripping with moisture and in +its ample folds was something huddled and bundled up like a baby, +which she carefully protected. + +"So, then," exclaimed the Major, coming forward for a kiss, "you're +back at last, safe and sound. Whatever kept ye out 'til this time o' +night, Patsy darlin'?" he added, letting the brogue creep into his +tone, as he did when stirred by any emotion. + +Uncle John started to take off her wet cloak. + +"Look out!" cried Patsy; "you'll disturb Mumbles." + +The two men looked at her bundle curiously. + +"Who's Mumbles?" asked one. + +"What on earth is Mumbles?" inquired the other. + +The bundle squirmed and wriggled. Patsy sat down on the floor and +carefully unwound the folds of the cloak. A tiny dog, black and +shaggy, put his head out, blinked sleepily at the lights, pulled his +fat, shapeless body away from the bandages and trotted solemnly over +to the fireplace. He didn't travel straight ahead, as dogs ought to +walk, but "cornerwise," as Patsy described it; and when he got to the +hearth he rolled himself into a ball, lay down and went to sleep. + +During this performance a tense silence had pervaded the room. The +Major looked at the dog rather gloomily; Uncle John with critical eyes +that held a smile in them; Patsy with ecstatic delight. + +"Isn't he a dear!" she exclaimed. + +"It occurs to me," said the Major stiffly, "that this needs an +explanation. Do you mean to say, Patsy Doyle, that you've worried the +hearts out of us this past hour, and kept the dinner waiting, all +because of a scurvy bit of an animal?" + +"Pshaw!" said Uncle John. "Speak for yourself, Major. I wasn't worried +a bit." + +"You see," explained Patsy, rising to take off her things and put them +away, "I was coming home early when I first met Mumbles. A little boy +had him, with a string tied around his neck, and when Mumbles tried +to run up to me the boy jerked him back cruelly--and afterward kicked +him. That made me mad." + +"Of course," said Uncle John, nodding wisely. + +"I cuffed the boy, and he said he'd take it out on Mumbles, as soon as +I'd gone away. I didn't like that. I offered to buy the dog, but the +boy didn't dare sell him. He said it belonged to his father, who'd +kill him and kick up a row besides if he didn't bring Mumbles home. +So I found out where they lived and as it wasn't far away I went home +with him." + +"Crazy Patsy!" smiled Uncle John. + +"And the dinner waiting!" groaned the Major, reproachfully. + +"Well, I had a time, you can believe!" continued Patsy, with +animation. "The man was a big brute, and half drunk. He grabbed up the +little doggie and threw it into a box, and then told me to go home and +mind my business." + +"Which of course you refused to do." + +"Of course. I'd made up my mind to have that dog." + +"Dogs," said the Major, "invariably are nuisances." + +"Not invariably," declared Patsy. "Mumbles is different. Mumbles is a +good doggie, and wise and knowing, although he's only a baby dog yet. +And I just couldn't leave him to be cuffed and kicked and thrown +around by those brutes. When the man found I was determined to have +Mumbles he demanded twenty-five dollars." + +"Twenty-five dollars!" It startled Uncle John. + +"For that bit of rags and meat?" asked the Major, looking at the puppy +with disfavor. "Twenty-five cents would be exorbitant." + +"The man misjudged me," observed Patsy, with a merry laugh that +matched her twinkling blue eyes. "In the end he got just two +dollars for Mumbles, and when I came away he bade me good-bye very +respectfully. The boy howled. He hasn't any dog to kick and is +broken-hearted. As for Mumbles, he's going to lead a respectable life +and be treated like a dog." + +"Do you mean to keep him?" inquired the Major. + +"Why not?" said Patsy. "Don't you like him, Daddy?" + +Her father turned Mumbles over with his toe. The puppy lay upon its +back, lazily, with all four paws in the air, and cast a comical glance +from one beady bright eye at the man who had disturbed him. + +The Major sighed. + +"He can't hunt, Patsy; he's not even a mouser." + +"We haven't a mouse in the house." + +"He's neither useful nor ornamental. From the looks o' the beast he's +only good to sleep and eat." + +"What's the odds?" laughed Patsy, coddling Mumbles up in her arms. +"We don't expect use or ornamentation from Mumbles. All we ask is his +companionship." + +Mary called them to dinner just then, and the girl hurried to her room +to make a hasty toilet while the men sat down at the table and eyed +their soup reflectively. + +"This addition to the family," remarked Uncle John, "need not make +you at all unhappy, my dear Major. Don't get jealous of Mumbles, for +heaven's sake, for the little brute may add a bit to Patsy's bliss." + +"It's the first time I've ever allowed a dog in the house." + +"You are not running this present establishment. It belongs +exclusively to Patsy." + +"I've always hated the sight of a woman coddling a dog," added the +Major, frowning. + +"I know. I feel the same way myself. But it isn't the dog's fault. +It's the woman's. And Patsy won't make a fool of herself over that +frowsy puppy, I assure you. On the contrary, she's likely to get a lot +of joy out of her new plaything, and if you really want to make her +happy, Major, don't discourage this new whim, absurd as it seems. Let +Patsy alone. And let Mumbles alone." + +The girl came in just then, bringing sunshine with her. Patsy Doyle +was not very big for her years, and some people unkindly described her +form as "chubby." She had glorious red hair--really-truly red--and her +blue eyes were the merriest, sweetest eyes any girl could possess. You +seldom noticed her freckles, her saucy chin or her turned-up nose; you +only saw the laughing eyes and crown of golden red, and seeing them +you liked Patsy Doyle at once and imagined she was very good to look +at, if not strictly beautiful. No one had friends more loyal, +and these two old men--the stately Major and round little Uncle +John--fairly worshiped Patsy. + +No one might suspect, from the simple life of this household, which +occupied the second corner flat at 3708 Willing Square, that Miss +Doyle was an heiress. Not only that, but perhaps one of the very +richest girls in New York. And the reason is readily explained when +I state the fact that Patsy's Uncle John Merrick, the round little +bald-headed man who sat contentedly eating his soup, was a man of many +millions, and this girl his favorite niece. An old bachelor who had +acquired an immense fortune in the far Northwest, Mr. Merrick had +lately retired from active business and come East to seek any +relatives that might remain to him after forty years' absence. His +sister Jane had gathered around her three nieces--Louise Merrick, +Elizabeth De Graf and Patricia Doyle--and when Aunt Jane died Uncle +John adopted these three girls and made their happiness the one care +of his jolly, unselfish life. At that time Major Doyle, Patsy's only +surviving parent, was a poor bookkeeper; but Uncle John gave him +charge of his vast property interests, and loving Patsy almost as +devotedly as did her father, made his home with the Doyles and began +to enjoy himself for the first time in his life. + +At the period when this story opens the eldest niece, Louise Merrick, +had just been married to Arthur Weldon, a prosperous young business +man, and the remaining two nieces, as well as Uncle John, were feeling +rather lonely and depressed. The bride had been gone on her honeymoon +three days, and during the last two days it had rained persistently; +so, until Patsy came home from a visit to Beth and brought the tiny +dog with her, the two old gentlemen had been feeling dreary enough. + +Patsy always livened things up. Nothing could really depress this +spirited girl for long, and she was always doing some interesting +thing to create a little excitement. + +"If she hadn't bought a twenty-five cent pup for two dollars," +remarked the Major, "she might have brought home an orphan from the +gutters, or a litter of tomcats, or one of the goats that eat the +tin cans at Harlem. Perhaps, after all, we should be thankful it's +only--what's his name?" + +"Mumbles," said Patsy, merrily. "The boy said they called him that +because he mumbled in his sleep. Listen!" + +Indeed, the small waif by the fire was emitting a series of noises +that seemed a queer mixture of low growls and whines--evidence +unimpeachable that he had been correctly named. + +At Patsy's shout of laughter, supplemented by Uncle John's chuckles +and a reproachful cough from the Major, Mumbles awakened and lifted +his head. It may be an eye discovered the dining-table in the next +room, or an intuitive sense of smell directed him, for presently the +small animal came trotting in--still traveling "cornerwise"--and sat +up on his hind legs just beside Patsy's chair. + +"That settles it," said the Major, as his daughter began feeding the +dog. "Our happy home is broken up." + +"Perhaps not," suggested Uncle John, reaching out to pat the soft head +of Mumbles. "It may be the little beggar will liven us all up a bit." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +UNCLE JOHN'S IDEA + + +Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by +the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked +around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision. + +"I have an idea," he announced. + +"Did you find it in your dreams, then?" asked the Major, sharply. + +"Why, Daddy, how cross you are!" cried Patsy. "Can't Uncle John have +an idea if he wants to?" + +"I'm afraid of his ideas," admitted the Major, suspiciously. "Every +time he goes to sleep and catches a thought, it means trouble." + +Patsy laughed, looking at her uncle curiously, and the little man +smiled at her genially in return. + +"It takes me a long time to figure a thing out," he said; "and when +I've a problem to solve a bit of a snooze helps wonderfully. Patsy, +dear, it occurs to me we're lonely." + +"We surely are, Uncle!" she exclaimed. + +"And in the dumps." + +"Our spirits are at the bottom of the bottomless pit." + +"So what we need is--a change." + +"There it goes!" said the Major ruefully. "I knew very well any idea +of John Merrick's would cause us misery. But understand this, you +miserable home-wrecker, sir, my daughter Patsy steps not one foot out +of New York this winter." + +"Why not?" mildly inquired Uncle John. + +"Because you've spirited her away from me times enough, and deprived +her only parent of her society. First you gallivanted off to Europe, +and then to Millville, and next to Elmhurst; so now, egad, I'm going +to keep the girl with me if I have to throttle every idea in your +wicked old head!" + +"But I'm planning to take you along, this time. Major," observed Uncle +John reflectively. + +"Oh. Hum! Well, I can't go. There's too much business to be attended +to--looking after your horrible money." + +"Take a vacation. You know I don't care anything about the business. +It can't go very wrong, anyhow. What does it matter if my income isn't +invested properly, or the bond coupons cut when they're due? Drat the +money!" + +"That's what I say," added Patsy eagerly. "Be a man, Major Doyle, and +put the business out of your mind. Let's go somewhere and have a good +romp. It will cheer us up." + +The Major stared first at one and then at the other. + +"What's the programme, John?" he asked stiffly. + +"It's going to be a cold winter," remarked the little man, bobbing his +head up and down slowly. + +"It is!" cried Patsy, clasping her hands fervently. "I can feel it in +my bones." + +"So we're going," said Uncle John, impressively, "to California--where +they grow sunshine and roses to offset our blizzards and icicles." + +"Hurray!" shouted Patsy. "I've always wanted to go to California." + +"California!" said the Major, amazed; "why, it's farther away than +Europe. It takes a month to get there." + +"Nonsense." retorted Uncle John. "It's only four days from coast to +coast. I have a time-table, somewhere," and he began searching in his +pockets. + +There was a silence, oppressive on the Major's part, ecstatic as far +as Patsy was concerned. Uncle John found the railway folder, put on +his spectacles, and began to examine it. + +"At my time of life," remarked Major Doyle, who was hale and hearty as +a boy, "such a trip is a great undertaking." + +"Twenty-four hours to Chicago," muttered Uncle John; "and then three +days to Los Angeles or San Francisco. That's all there is to it." + +"Four days and four nights of dreary riding. We'd be dead by that +time," prophesied the Major. + +Uncle John looked thoughtful. Then he lay back in his chair and spread +his handkerchief over his face again. + +"No, no!" cried the Major, in alarm. "For mercy's sake, John, don't +go to sleep and catch any more of those terrible ideas. No one knows +where the next one might carry us--to Timbuktu or Yucatan, probably. +Let's stick to California and settle the question before your hothouse +brain grows any more weeds." + +"Yucatan," remarked Mr. Merrick, composedly, his voice muffled by the +handkerchief, "isn't a bad suggestion." + +"I knew it!" wailed the Major. "How would Ethiopia or Hindustan strike +you?" + +Patsy laughed at him. She knew something good was in store for her +and like all girls was enraptured at the thought of visiting new and +interesting scenes. + +"Don't bother Uncle John, Daddy," she said. "You know very well he +will carry out any whim that seizes him; especially if you oppose the +plan, which you usually do." + +"He's the most erratic and irresponsible man that ever lived," +announced her father, staring moodily at the spread handkerchief which +covered Uncle John's cherub-like features. "New York is good enough +for anybody, even in winter; and now that you're in society, Patsy--" + +"Oh, bother society! I hate it." + +"True," he agreed; "it's a regular treadmill when it has enslaved one, +and keeps you going on and on without progressing a bit. The object of +society is to tire you out and keep you from indulging in any other +occupation." + +"You know nothing about it," observed Patsy, demurely, "and that is +why you love to rail at society. The things you know, Daddy dear, are +the things you never remark upon." + +"Huh!" grunted the Major, and relapsed into silence. + +Mumbles had finished his after-dinner nap and was now awakening to +activity. This dog's size, according to the Major, was "about 4x6; but +you can't tell which is the 4 and which the 6." He was distressingly +shaggy. Patsy could find the stump of his tail only by careful search. +Seldom were both eyes uncovered by hair at the same time. But, as his +new mistress had said, he was a wise little dog for one who had only +known the world for a few months, and his brain was exceedingly alert. +After yawning at the fire he rubbed his back against the Major's legs, +sat up beside Patsy and looked at her from one eye pleadingly. Next he +trotted over to Uncle John. The big white handkerchief attracted him +and one corner hung down from the edge of the reclining chair. Mumbles +sat up and reached for it, but could not quite get it in his teeth. +So he sat down and thought it over, and presently made a leap so +unexpectedly agile that Patsy roared with merriment and even the Major +grinned. Uncle John, aroused, sat up and found the puppy rolling on +the floor and fighting the handkerchief as if it had been some deadly +foe. + +"Thank goodness," sighed the Major. "The little black rascal has +providently prevented you from evolving another idea." + +"Not so," responded Mr. Merrick amiably. "I've thought the thing all +out, and completed our programme." + +"Is it still to be California?" anxiously inquired Patsy. + +"Of course. I can't give up the sunshine and roses, you know. But we +won't bore the Major by four solid days of railway travel. We'll break +the journey, and take two or three weeks to it--perhaps a month." + +"Conquering Caesar! A month!" ejaculated the old soldier, a desperate +look on his face. + +"Yes. Listen, both of you. We'll get to Chicago in a night and a day. +We will stop off there and visit the stockyards, and collect a few +squeals for souvenirs." + +"No, we won't!" declared Patsy, positively. + +"We might sell Mumbles to some Chicago sausage factory," remarked the +Major, "but not for two whole dollars. He wouldn't make more than half +a pound at twenty cents the pound." + +"There are other sights to be seen in Chicago," continued Uncle John. +"Anyhow, we'll stop off long enough to get rested. Then on to Denver +and Pike's Peak." + +"That sounds good," said Patsy. + +"At Denver," said Uncle John, "we will take a touring car and cross +the mountains in it. There are good roads all the way from there to +California." + +"Who told you so?" demanded the Major. + +"No one. It's a logical conclusion, for I've lived in the West and +know the prairie roads are smoother than boulevards. However, Haggerty +told me the other day that he has made the trip from Denver to Los +Angeles by automobile, and what others can do, we can do." + +"It will be glorious!" prophesied Patsy, delightedly. + +The Major looked grave, but could find no plausible objection to +offer. He really knew nothing about the West and had never had +occasion to consider such a proposition before. + +"We'll talk to Haggerty," he said. "But you must remember he's a +desperate liar, John, and can't be trusted as a guidepost. When do you +intend to start?" + +"Why not to-morrow?" asked Uncle John mildly. + +Even Patsy demurred at this. + +"Why, we've got to get ready, Uncle," she said. "And who's going? Just +we three?" + +"We will take Beth along, of course." Beth was Elizabeth De Graf, +another niece. "But Beth is fortunately the sort of girl who can pull +up stakes and move on at an hour's notice." + +"Beth is always ready for anything," agreed Patsy. "But if we are +going to a warm climate we will need summer clothes." + +"You can't lug many clothes in a motor car," observed the Major. + +"No; but we can ship them on ahead." + +"Haggerty says," remarked Uncle John, "that you won't need thin +clothes until you get out to California. In fact, the mountain trip is +rather cool. But it's perpetual sunshine, you know, even there, with +brisk, keen air; and the whole journey, Haggerty says, is one of +absolute delight." + +"Who is Haggerty?" asked Patsy. + +"A liar," answered the Major, positively. + +"He's a very good fellow whom we sometimes meet in the city," said +Uncle John. "Haggerty is on the Board, and director in a bank or two, +and quite respectable. But the Major--" + +"The Major's going to California just to prove that Haggerty can't +speak the truth," observed that gentleman, tersely heading off any +threatened criticism. "I see there is no opposing your preposterous +scheme, John, so we will go with you and make the best of it. But I'm +sure it's all a sad mistake. What else did Haggerty tell you?" + +"He says it's best to pick up a motor car and a chauffeur in Denver, +rather than ship them on from here. There are plenty of cars to be +had, and men who know every inch of the road." + +"That seems sensible," declared Patsy, "and we won't lose time waiting +for our own car to follow by freight. I think, Uncle John, I can be +ready by next Tuesday." + +"Why, to-morrow's Saturday!" gasped the Major. "The business--" + +"Cut the business off short," suggested his brother-in-law. "You've to +cut it somewhere, you know, or you'll never get away; and, as it's my +business, I hereby authorize you to neglect it from this moment until +the day of our return. When we get back you can pick up the details +again and worry over it as much as you please." + +"Will we ever get back?" asked the Major, doubtingly. + +"If we don't, the business won't matter." + +"That's the idea," cried Patsy, approvingly. "Daddy has worked hard +all summer, Uncle John, looking after that annoying money of yours, +and a vacation will do him oodles of good." + +Major Doyle sighed. + +"I misdoubt the wisdom of the trip," said he, "but I'll go, of course, +if you all insist. Over the Rocky Mountains and across the Great +American Desert in an automobile doesn't sound very enticing, but--" + +"Haggerty says--" + +"Never mind Haggerty. We'll find out for ourselves." + +"And, after all," said Patsy, "there are the sunshine and roses at the +end of the journey, and they ought to make up for any amount of bother +in getting there." + +"Girl, you're attempting to deceive me--to deceive your old Daddy," +said the Major, shaking his head at her. "You wouldn't have any fun +riding to California in a palace car; even the sunshine and roses +couldn't excite you under such circumstances; but if there's a chance +for adventure--a chance to slide into trouble and make a mighty +struggle to get out again--both you and that wicked old uncle of yours +will jump at it. I know ye both. And that's the real reason we're +going to travel in an automobile instead of progressing comfortably as +all respectable people do." + +"You're a humbug," retorted Mr. Merrick. "You wouldn't go by train if +I'd let you." + +"No," admitted the Major; "I must be on hand to rescue you when you +and Patsy go fighting windmills." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +MYRTLE DEAN + + +"We were due in Denver three hours ago, and it's an hour's run or more +yet," remarked Beth De Graf, walking briskly up and down the platform +of a way station where the train had stopped for orders. + +"And it's beginning to snow," observed Patricia Doyle, beside her. +"I'm afraid this weather isn't very propitious for an automobile +trip." + +"Uncle John doesn't worry," said Beth. "He believes there is perpetual +sunshine west of Denver." + +"Yes; a man named Haggerty told him. But you'll notice that Daddy +doesn't seem to believe the tale. Anyhow, we shall soon know the +truth, Beth, and the trip is somewhat on the order of a voyage of +discovery, which renders it fascinating to look forward to. There is +such fun in not knowing just what is going to happen next." + +"When one travels with Uncle John," returned Beth, smiling, "she +knows exactly--nothing. That is why I am always eager to accept if he +invites me to go anywhere with him." + +The passengers thronging the platform--"stretching their legs" after +the confinement of the tedious railway journey--eyed these two girls +admiringly. Beth was admitted a beauty, and one of the society +journals had lately announced that she had few peers in all the great +metropolis. Chestnut brown hair; dark, serious and steady eyes; an +exquisite complexion and rarely regular features all conspired to +render the young girl wonderfully attractive. Her stride was athletic, +free and graceful; her slender form well poised and dignified. Patsy, +the "plug-ugly," as she called herself, was so bright and animated and +her blue eyes sparkled so constantly with fun and good humor, that +she attracted fully as much attention as her more sedate and more +beautiful cousin, and wherever she went was sure to make a host of +friends. + +"See!" she cried, clasping Beth's arm; "there is that lovely girl at +the window again. I've noticed her ever since the train left Chicago, +and she is always in the same seat in that tourist coach. I wonder why +she doesn't get out for a bit of fresh air now and then." + +Beth looked up at the fair, girlish face that gazed wistfully from +the window. The unknown seemed very young--not more than fourteen or +fifteen years of age. She wore a blue serge suit of rather coarse +weave, but it was neat and becoming. Around the modest, sweet eyes +were deep circles, denoting physical suffering or prolonged worry; yet +the lips smiled, wanly but persistently. She had evidently noticed +Uncle John's two nieces, for her eyes followed them as they marched +up and down the platform and when Patsy looked up and nodded, a soft +flush suffused her features and she bowed her head in return. + +At the cry of "all aboard!" a scramble was made for the coaches and +Beth and Patsy, re-entering their staterooms, found their Uncle and +the Major still intent upon their interminable game of cribbage. + +"Let's go back and talk to the girl," suggested Patsy. "Somehow, +the poor thing seems lonely, and her smile was more pathetic than +cheerful." + +So they made their way through the long train to the tourist coach, +and there found the girl they were seeking. The surrounding seats were +occupied by groups of passengers of rather coarse caliber, many being +foreign laborers accompanied by their wives and children. The air in +the car was close and "stuffy" and the passengers seemed none too neat +in their habits and appearance. So the solitary girl appeared like a +rose blooming in a barnyard and her two visitors were instantly sorry +for her. She sat in her corner, leaning wearily against the back of +the cane seat, with a blanket spread over her lap. Strangely +enough the consideration of her fellow passengers left the girl in +undisturbed possession of a double seat. + +"Perhaps she is ill," thought Patsy, as she and Beth sat down opposite +and entered into conversation with the child. She was frankly +communicative and they soon learned that her name was Myrtle Dean, and +that she was an orphan. Although scarcely fifteen years of age she +had for more than two years gained a livelihood by working in a skirt +factory in Chicago, paying her board regularly to a cross old aunt who +was her only relative in the big city. Three months ago, however, she +had met with an accident, having been knocked down by an automobile +while going to her work and seriously injured. + +"The doctors say," she confided to her new friends, "that I shall +always be lame, although not quite helpless. Indeed, I can creep +around a little now, when I am obliged to move, and I shall get better +every day. One of my hips was so badly injured that it will never be +quite right again, and my Aunt Martha was dreadfully worried for fear +I would become a tax upon her. I cannot blame her, for she has really +but little money to pay for her own support. So, when the man who ran +over me paid us a hundred dollars for damages--" + +"Only a hundred dollars!" cried Beth, amazed. + +"Wasn't that enough?" inquired Myrtle innocently. + +"By no means," said Patsy, with prompt indignation. "He should have +given you five thousand, at least. Don't you realize, my dear, that +this accident has probably deprived you of the means of earning a +livelihood?" + +"I can still sew," returned the girl, courageously, "although of +course I cannot get about easily to search for employment." + +"But why did you leave Chicago?" asked Beth. + +"I was coming to that part of my story. When I got the hundred dollars +Aunt Martha decided I must use it to go to Leadville, to my Uncle +Anson, who is my mother's only brother. He is a miner out there, and +Aunt Martha says he is quite able to take care of me. So she bought my +ticket and put me on the train and I'm now on my way to Leadville to +find Uncle Anson." + +"To _find_ him!" exclaimed Patsy. "Don't you know his address?" + +"No; we haven't had a letter from him for two years. But Aunt Martha +says he must be a prominent man, and everybody in Leadville will know +him, as it's a small place." + +"Does he know you are coming?" asked Beth, thoughtfully. + +"My aunt wrote him a letter two days before I started, so he ought +to receive it two days before I get there," replied Myrtle, a little +uneasily. "Of course I can't help worrying some, because if I failed +to find Uncle Anson I don't know what might happen to me." + +"Have you money?" asked Beth. + +"A little. About three dollars. Aunt gave me a basket of food to last +until I get to Leadville, and after paying for my ticket and taking +what I owed her for board there wasn't much left from the hundred +dollars." + +"What a cruel old woman!" cried Patsy, wrathfully. "She ought to be +horsewhipped!" + +"I am sure it was wrong for her to cast you off in this heartless +way," added Beth, more conservatively. + +"She is not really bad," returned Myrtle, the tears starting to her +eyes. "But Aunt Martha has grown selfish, and does not care for me +very much. I hope Uncle Anson will be different. He is my mother's +brother, you know, while Aunt Martha is only my father's sister, and +an old maid who has had rather a hard life. Perhaps," she added, +wistfully, "Uncle Anson will love me--although I'm not strong or +well." + +Both Patsy and Beth felt desperately sorry for the girl. + +"What is Uncle Anson's other name?" asked the latter, for Beth was +the more practical of Uncle John's nieces and noted for her clear +thinking. + +"Jones. Mr. Anson Jones." + +"Rather a common name, if you have to hunt for him," observed the +questioner, musingly. "Has he been in Leadville long?" + +"I do not know," replied Myrtle. "His last letter proved that he was +in Leadville two years ago, and he said he had been very successful +and made money; but he has been in other mining camps, I know, and has +wandered for years all over the West." + +"Suppose he should be wandering now?" suggested Patsy; but at the look +of alarm on Myrtle's face she quickly changed the subject, saying: +"You must come in to dinner with us, my dear, for you have had nothing +but cold truck to eat since you left Chicago. They say we shall be in +Denver in another hour, but I'm afraid to believe it. Anyhow, there is +plenty of time for dinner." + +"Oh, I can't go, really!" cried the girl. "It's--it's so hard for me +to walk when the train is moving; and--and--I wouldn't feel happy in +that gay, luxurious dining car." + +"Well, we must go, anyway, or the Major will be very disagreeable," +said Patsy. "Good-bye, Myrtle; we shall see you again before we leave +the train." + +As the two girls went forward to their coach Beth said to Patsy: + +"I'm afraid that poor thing will be greatly disappointed when she gets +to Leadville. Imagine anyone sending a child on such a wild goose +chase--and an injured and almost helpless child, at that!" + +"I shudder to think what would become of her, with no uncle to care +for her and only three dollars to her name," added Patsy. "I have +never heard of such an inhuman creature as that Aunt Martha, Beth. I +hope there are not many like her in the world." + +At dinner they arranged with the head waiter of the dining car to send +in a substantial meal, smoking hot, to Myrtle Dean, and Patsy herself +inspected the tray before it went to make sure everything was there +that was ordered. They had to satisfy Uncle John's curiosity at this +proceeding by relating to him Myrtle Dean's story, and the kindly +little man became very thoughtful and agreed with them that it was a +cruel act to send the poor girl into a strange country in search of an +uncle who had not been heard of in two years. + +When the train pulled into the station at Denver the first care of +John Merrick's party was to look after the welfare of the lame girl. +They got a porter to assist her into the depot waiting room and then +Uncle John inquired about the next train for Leadville, and found it +would not start until the following morning, the late overland train +having missed that day's connections. This was a serious discovery for +poor Myrtle, but she smiled bravely and said: + +"I can pass the night in this seat very comfortably, so please don't +worry about me. It is warm here, you know, and I won't mind a bit the +sitting up. Thank you all very much for your kindness, and good-bye. +I'll be all right, never fear." + +Uncle John stood looking down at her thoughtfully. + +"Did you engage a carriage, Major?" he asked. + +"Yes; there's one now waiting," was the reply. + +"All right. Now, then, my dear, let's wrap this blanket around you +tight and snug." + +"What are you going to do?" asked Myrtle with a startled look. + +"Carry you outside. It's pretty cold and snowy, so we must wrap you up. +Now, Major, take hold on the other side. Here we go!" + +Patsy smiled--rather pitifully--at the expression of bewilderment on +Myrtle's face. Uncle John and the Major carried her tenderly to a +carriage and put her in the back seat. Patsy sprang in next, with +Mumbles clasped tightly in her arms, the small dog having been forced +to make the journey thus far in the baggage car. Beth and the Major +entered the carriage next, while Uncle John mounted beside the driver +and directed him to the Crown Palace Hotel. + +It was growing dark when they reached the dingy hostelry, which might +have been palatial when it was named but was now sadly faded and +tawdry. It proved to be fairly comfortable, however, and the first +care of the party was to see Myrtle Dean safely established in a cosy +room, with a grate fire to cheer her. Patsy and Beth had adjoining +rooms and kept running in for a word with their protégé, who was +so astonished and confused by her sudden good fortune that she was +incapable of speech and more inclined to cry than to laugh. + +During the evening Uncle John was busy at the telegraph booth. He sent +several messages to Leadville, to Anson Jones, to the Chief of Police +and to the various hotels; but long before midnight, when the last +replies were received, he knew that Anson Jones had left Leadville +five months ago, and his present whereabouts were unknown. Having +learned these facts the little man went to bed and slept peacefully +until morning. + +Myrtle had begged them to see that she was called at five o'clock, +that she might have ample time to get to the depot for her train, but +no one called her and the poor child was so weary and worn with her +trip that the soft bed enthralled her for many hours after daybreak. + +Patsy finally aroused her, opening the blinds to let in the sunshine +and then sitting beside Myrtle's bed to stroke her fair hair and tell +her it was nearly noon. + +"But my train!" wailed the girl, greatly distressed. + +"Oh, the train has gone hours ago. But never mind that, dear. Uncle +John has telegraphed to Leadville and found that Anson Jones is +not there. He left months ago, and is now wandering; in fields and +pastures unknown." + +Myrtle sat up in bed and glared at Patsy wild-eyed. + +"Gone!" she said. "Gone! Then what am I to do?" + +"I can't imagine, dear," said Patsy, soothingly. "What do you think +you will do?" + +The girl seemed dazed and for a time could not reply. + +"You must have thought of this thing," suggested her new friend, "for +it was quite possible Anson Jones would not be in Leadville when you +arrived there." + +"I did not dare think of it," returned Myrtle in a low, frightened +tone. "I once asked Aunt Martha what I could do in case Uncle Anson +wasn't to be found, and she said he _must_ be found, for otherwise I +would be obliged to earn my own living." + +"And she knew you to be so helpless!" + +"She knows I can sew, if only I can get work to do," said the girl, +simply. "I'm not really a cripple, and I'm getting better of my hurt +every day. Aunt Martha said I would be just as well off in Denver or +Leadville as in Chicago, and made me promise, if the worst came, not +to let any charitable organization send me back to her." + +"In other words," exclaimed Patsy, indignantly, "she wanted to get rid +of you, and did not care what became of you." + +"She was afraid I would cost her money," admitted the poor child, with +shamed, downcast eyes. + +Patsy went to the window and stood looking out for a time. Myrtle +began to dress herself. As she said, she was not utterly helpless, +moving the upper part of her body freely and being able to walk slowly +about a room by holding on to chairs or other furniture. + +"I'm afraid I'm causing you a lot of worry over me," said she, smiling +sadly as Patsy turned toward her; "and that is ungrateful when I +remember how kind you have all been. Why, these hours since I met you +have seemed like fairyland. I shall treasure them as long as I live. +There must be another train to Leadville soon, and I'll take that. As +soon as I am ready I will go to the depot and wait there." + +Patsy looked at her reflectively. The poor child was called upon to +solve a queer problem--one which might well have bewildered the brain +of a more experienced person. + +"Tell me," she said; "why should you go to Leadville at all, now that +you have no friend or relative there to care for you?" + +"My ticket is to Leadville, you know," replied Myrtle. "If I did not +go I would waste the money it cost." + +Patsy laughed at this. + +"You're a wonderfully impractical child," she said, deftly assisting +Myrtle to finish dressing. "What you really need is some one to order +you around and tell you what to do. So you must stop thinking about +yourself, for a time, and let _us_ do the thinking. Here--sit in this +chair by the window. Do you want Mumbles in your lap? All right. Now +gaze upon the scenery until I come back. There's a man washing windows +across the street; watch and see if he does his work properly." + +Then she went away to join a conference in Uncle John's sitting room. +Major Doyle was speaking when she entered and his voice was coldly +ironical. + +"The temperature outside is six degrees above freezing," he observed. +"The clerk downstairs says the snow is nine feet deep over the +mountain trails and the wind would cut an iron beam in two. If you +take an automobile to California, John, you must put it on snowshoes +and connect it with a steam heating-plant." + +Uncle John, his hands thrust deep in his pockets, paced thoughtfully +up and down the room. + +"Haggerty said--" + +"Didn't I give you Haggerty's record, then?" asked the Major. "If +you want the exact truth it's safe to go directly opposite to what +Haggerty says." + +"He's a very decent fellow," protested Mr. Merrick, "and is considered +in the city to be strictly honest." + +"But after this?" + +"You can't blame him for the weather conditions here. I've been +talking with Denver people myself, this morning, and they all say +it's unusual to have such cold weather at this time of year. The +thermometer hasn't been so low in the past twenty-six years, the +natives say." + +"Are they all named Haggerty?" asked the Major, scornfully. + +"If you will kindly allow me to speak, and tell you what Haggerty +said," remarked Uncle John tersely, "I shall be able to add to your +information." + +"Go ahead, then." + +"Haggerty said that in case we ran into cold weather in Denver, which +was possible--" + +"Quite possible!" + +"Then we had best go south to Santa Fe and take the route of the old +Santa Fe Trail as far as Albuquerque, or even to El Paso. Either way +we will be sure to find fine weather, and good roads into California." + +"So Haggerty says." + +"It stands to reason," continued Mr. Merrick, "that on the Southern +route we will escape the severe weather. So I have decided to adopt +that plan." + +"I think you are quite wise in that," broke in Patsy, before her +father could object. + +"All those queer Spanish names sound interesting," said Beth. "When do +we start, Uncle?" + +"In a day or two. I have some things here to attend to that may delay +us that long. But when once we are started southward we shall bowl +along right merrily." + +"Unless we run into more snowstorms." Of course it was the Major who +said that, and pointedly ignoring the remark Uncle John turned to +Patsy and said: + +"How did you find Myrtle Dean this morning?" + +"She is rested, and seems very bright and cheerful, Uncle; but of +course she is much distressed by the news that her Uncle Anson has +vanished from Leadville. Yet she thinks she will continue her journey +by the next train, as she has paid for her ticket and can't afford to +waste the money." + +"It would be absurd for the child to go to Leadville on that account. +A mining camp is no place for such a frail thing," returned Mr. +Merrick. "What would you suggest, Patsy?" + +"Really, Uncle John, I don't know what to suggest." + +"She can never earn her living by sewing," declared Beth. "What she +ought to have is a trained nurse and careful attention." + +"I'll have a doctor up to look her over," said Uncle John, in his +decisive way. He was a mild little man generally, but when he made up +his mind to do a thing it was useless to argue with him. Even Major +Doyle knew that; but the old soldier was so fond of arguing for +the sake of argument, and so accustomed to oppose his wealthy +brother-in-law--whom he loved dearly just the same--that he was +willing to accept defeat rather than permit Mr. Merrick to act without +protest. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +AN INTERESTING PROTÉGÉ + + +A young physician was appointed by the management to attend any guest +who might require his services, and Uncle John had a talk with him and +sent him to Myrtle's room to give her a thorough examination. This he +did, and reported that the girl's present condition was due largely to +mismanagement of her case at the time she was injured. With care she +would get better and stronger rapidly, but the hip joint was out of +its socket and only a skillful operation would serve to permanently +relieve her of lameness. + +"What she needs just now," continued the doctor, "is a pair of +crutches, so she can get around better and be in the fresh air and +sunshine as much as possible. She is a very frail little woman at +present and must build up her health and strength before submitting +to the operation I have mentioned. Then, if it is properly done, she +ought to recover completely and be as good as new." + +"I must inform you," said Uncle John, "that Myrtle Dean is just a +little waif whom my nieces picked up on the train. I believe she is +without friends or money. Such being the circumstances, what would you +advise?" + +The doctor shook his head gravely. + +"Poor thing!" he said. "She ought to be rich, at this juncture, +instead of poor, for the conditions facing her are serious. The +operation I speak of is always an expensive one, and meantime the +child must go to some charitable institution or wear out her feeble +strength in trying to earn enough to keep the soul in her body. She +seems to have a brave and beautiful nature, sir, and were she educated +and cared for would some day make a splendid woman. But the world is +full of these sad cases. I'm poor myself, Mr. Merrick, but this child +interests me, and after you have gone I shall do all in my power to +assist her." + +"Thank you," said Uncle John, thoughtfully nodding his bald head. +"I'll think it over and see you again, doctor, before I leave." + +An hour later Myrtle was fitted with crutches of the best sort +obtainable, and was overjoyed to find how greatly they assisted her. +The Major, a kindly man, decided to take Myrtle out for a drive, and +while they were gone Uncle John had a long conversation with Beth and +Patsy. + +"Here is a case," said he, "where my dreadful money can do some good. +I am anxious to help Myrtle Dean, for I believe she is deserving of +my best offices. But I don't exactly know what to do. She is really +_your_ protégé, my dears, and I am going to put the affair in your +hands for settlement. Just tell me what to do, and I'll do it. Spend +my money as freely upon Myrtle as you please." + +The girls faced the problem with enthusiasm. + +"She's a dear little thing," remarked Patsy, "and seems very grateful +for the least kindness shown her. I am sure she has never been treated +very nicely by that stony-hearted old aunt of hers." + +"In all my experience," said Beth, speaking as if her years were +doubled, "I have never known anyone so utterly helpless. She is very +young and inexperienced, with no friends, no money, and scarcely +recovered from an accident. It is clearly our duty to do something for +Myrtle, and aside from the humane obligation I feel that already I +love the child, having known her only a day." + +"Admitting all this, Beth," returned her uncle, "you are not answering +my question. What shall we do for Myrtle? How can we best assist her?" + +"Why not take her to California with us?" inquired Patsy, with sudden +inspiration. "The sunshine and roses would make a new girl of her in a +few weeks." + +"Could she ride so far in an automobile?" asked Beth, doubtfully. + +"Why not? The fresh air would be just the thing for her. You'll get a +big touring car, won't you, Uncle John?" + +"I've bought one already--a seven-seated 'Autocrat'--and there will be +plenty of room in it for Myrtle," he said. + +"Good gracious! Where did you find the thing so suddenly?" cried +Patsy. + +"I made the purchase this morning, bright and early, before you were +up," replied Mr. Merrick, smilingly. "It is a fine new car, and as +soon as I saw it I knew it was what I wanted. It is now being fitted +up for our use." + +"Fitted up?" + +"Yes. I've an idea in my head to make it a movable hotel. If we're +going to cross the plains and the mountains and the deserts, and all +that sort of thing, we must be prepared for any emergencies. I've also +sent for a chauffeur who is highly recommended. He knows the route +we're going to take; can make all repairs necessary in case of +accident, and is an experienced driver. I expect him here any minute. +His name is Wampus." + +"But about Myrtle,"' said Beth. "Can we make her comfortable on a long +ride?" + +"Certainly," asserted Uncle John. "We are not going to travel day and +night, my dear, for as soon as we get away from this frozen country we +can take our time and journey by short stages. My notion is that we +will have more fun on the way than we will in California." + +"Myrtle hasn't any proper clothes," observed Patsy, reflectively. +"We'll have to shop for her, Beth, while Uncle is getting the car +ready." + +"Are you sure to leave to-morrow, Uncle John?" inquired Beth. + +"To-morrow or the next day. There's no use leaving before the +'Autocrat' is ready to ship." + +"Oh; we're not going to ride in it, then?" + +"Not just yet. We shall take the train south to Santa Fe, and perhaps +to Albuquerque. I'll talk to Wampus about that. When we reach a good +climate we'll begin the journey overland--and not before." + +"Then," said Patsy, "I'm sure we shall have time to fit out Myrtle +very nicely." + +Mr. Wampus was announced just then, and while Uncle John conferred +with the chauffeur his two nieces went to their room to talk over +Myrtle Dean's outfit and await the return of the girl from her ride. + +"They tell me," said Mr. Merrick, "that you are an experienced +chauffeur." + +"I am celebrate," replied Wampus. "Not as chauffeur, but as expert +automobilist." + +He was a little man and quite thin. His legs were short and his arms +long. He had expressionless light gray eyes and sandy hair cropped +close to his scalp. His mouth was wide and good-humored, his chin long +and broad, his ears enormous in size and set at right angles with +his head. His cheek bones were as high and prominent as those of an +Indian, and after a critical examination of the man Uncle John was +impelled to ask his nationality. + +"I am born in Canada, at Quebec Province," he answered. "My father +he trapper; my mother squaw. For me, I American, sir, and my name +celebrate over all the world for knowing automobile like father knows +his son." He paused, and added impressively: "I am Wampus!" + +"Have you ever driven an 'Autocrat' car?" asked Mr. Merrick. + +"'Autocrat?' I can take him apart blindfold, an' put him together +again." + +"Have you ever been overland to California?" + +"Three time." + +"Then you know the country?" + +"In the dark. I am Wampus." + +"Very good, Wampus. You seem to be the man I want, for I am going +to California in an 'Autocrat' car, by way of the Santa Fe Trail +and--and--" + +"No matter. We find way. I am--" + +"I know. Now tell me, Wampus: if I employ you will you be faithful and +careful? I have two girls in my party--three girls, in fact--and from +the moment you enter my service I shall expect you to watch over our +welfare and guide us with skill and intelligence. Will you do this?" + +The man seemed somewhat offended by the question. + +"When you have Wampus, what more you want?" he inquired. "Maybe you +not know Wampus. You come from far East. All right. You go out and ask +automobile man about Wampus. Ask ever'body. When you have inquire you +feel more happy. I come again." + +He started to go, but Mr. Merrick restrained him. + +"You have been highly recommended already," said he. "But you cannot +expect me to have as high an opinion of you as you have of yourself; +at least, until I know you better. Would you like to undertake this +engagement?" + +"Yes. Just now I free. My business is expert automobilist. I am +Wampus. But perhaps you want cheap man. My price high." + +"What is your price?" + +"Fifty dollar week. You eat me an' sleep me." + +"I do not object to your price. Come out with me to the garage and I +will show you my car and explain what is being done to it." + +Although all the automobile men seemed to defer most respectfully to +Wampus, Mr. Merrick did not neglect to make proper inquiries in regard +to the man. Locally he really was "celebrate" and Uncle John was +assured on all sides that he was fortunate to get so intelligent and +experienced a chauffeur as this same Wampus. + +"He seems to have instinctive knowledge of all machinery," said one +informant, "and can handle perfectly any car that is made. The only +trouble with the fellow is that he is conceited." + +"I've noticed that," returned Mr. Merrick. + +"Another thing," said the gentleman; "don't believe implicitly all +that Wampus tells you. He has a habit of imagining things. But he is a +faithful, honest fellow, for all that, and will handle your car better +than any other man you could get in Denver--or anywhere in the West, I +imagine." + +So Wampus was engaged, and putting the man's references and +indorsements all together Mr. Merrick felt that he had gained a prize. + +When the big Major, returning from his drive, escorted Myrtle Dean to +the elevator, the girl was joyously using her new crutches. Patsy and +Beth met her and said they had important news to communicate. Not +until she was in her own room, seated in a comfortable chair and +gazing at them anxiously, did they tell the poor waif of the good +fortune in store for her. + +"Uncle John," announced Patsy, "has invited you to join our party and +go to California with us." + +Myrtle stared a moment, as if trying to realize what that meant. The +tiny Mumbles, sitting beside the chair with his head cocked to one +side, suddenly made a prodigious leap and landed in Myrtle's lap, +where he began licking her chin and wagging his stumpy tail as if +seconding the invitation. As the girl stroked his soft hair her eyes +filled with tears. + +"Oh, you are all so kind to me!" she sobbed, losing her composure. +"But I can't go! Of course I can't go." + +"Why not?" asked Beth, smiling. + +"It would be an--impersition!" Poor Myrtle sometimes stumbled over big +words. "I know that. I can't let you burden your happy party with a +poor cripple, just because your hearts are kind and you pity me!" + +"Nonsense!" said Beth. "You're not a cripple, dear; you're just an +invalid, and will soon be as strong as any of us. We have invited you, +Myrtle, because we all like you, and shall soon learn to love you. We +are selfish enough to want your companionship. It isn't pity, at all, +you see." + +"I'm mighty glad," added Patsy, "your Uncle Anson ran away from +Leadville. If he hadn't done that we should have had to give you +up; but now we may keep you as long as we wish, for you haven't any +particular engagement to interfere with our plans." + +All this was said so frankly and unaffectedly that little Myrtle was +led to abandon her suspicion and grew radiant with delight. Indeed, +she hugged and squeezed the squirming Mumbles until he resented such +strenuous fondling and escaped to Patsy's more moderate embraces. +Myrtle had never yet ridden in an automobile, and the prospect of +a long journey across the country in a big touring car, with +California's roses and sunshine at the end of it, was certainly +alluring enough to intoxicate one far more accustomed to pleasure than +this friendless, impoverished girl. + +After the cousins had explained all their plans to Myrtle and assured +her she was to be their cherished guest for a long time--until she was +well and strong again, at the least--they broached the subject of +her outfit. The poor child flushed painfully while admitting the +meagerness of her wardrobe. All her possessions were contained in one +small canvas "hold-all," and she lacked many necessities which her +callous aunt had suggested that Uncle Anson might be induced to buy +for her once she had joined him in Leadville. Uncle John's nieces grew +more and more indignant as they discovered the details of this selfish +woman's crime--for Patsy declared it was nothing less than a crime to +send a helpless child far into the West to search for an unknown uncle +whose whereabouts were only conjectural. + +That very afternoon Beth and Patsy began shopping for Myrtle, and +presently all sorts of parcels, big and little, began to arrive for +their new protégé. Myrtle was amazed and awed by the splendor of her +new apparel, and could scarcely believe her good fortune. It seemed +like a fairy tale to her, and she imagined herself a Cinderella with +two fairy godmothers who were young and pretty girls possessing the +purse of Fortunatus and the generosity of Glinda the Good. At night, +when she was supposed to be asleep, Myrtle crept from her bed, turned +on the electric light and gloated over her treasures, which she had +almost feared might vanish into thin air and leave her as desolate as +before. + +Next morning, as soon as breakfast was over, the girls took Myrtle out +with them to some of the shops, fitting her to shoes and gloves and +having her try on some ready-made gowns so that they might be quickly +altered for her use. Patsy also bought her a set of soft and pretty +furs, thinking she might need them on the journey if the weather +continued cool, and this seemed to cap the climax of Myrtle's +happiness. + +"What 'stonishes me most," gasped the child, trying to get her breath +between the surprises she experienced, "is how you can think of so +many things to do for me. Of course I know you are rich; but I've +never before heard of rich people being so very generous to poor +ones." + +"Once," said Beth, gravely, "we were poor ourselves, Patsy and I, and +had to work hard for our living. That was before our Uncle John came +and gave us a share of his money, together with his love and sympathy. +Isn't it natural, my dear, that we should now be eager to share our +good fortune with you, since we have more money than we can use +otherwise, and you are to be our little friend and companion?" + +"Perhaps so," replied Myrtle, smiling gaily and much comforted by the +explanation. "But, oh dear! I'm so glad you found me!" + +"We are glad, too," said Patsy. "But here it is, time for luncheon, +and we've wasted the whole morning in shopping. I'm sure the Major +will be cross if we do not hurry back to the hotel." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A WONDER ON WHEELS + + +But the Major was not cross when they met him in Uncle John's sitting +room. He beamed upon the three girls most genially, for he liked +Myrtle and fully approved all that was being done for her. + +"Of course it's like Patsy," he had said to Mr. Merrick that morning. +"She couldn't help being a sweet ministering angel if she tried; and +Beth is growing more and more like her. It will do those girls good, +John, to have some human being to coddle and care for. If Patsy could +have a fault, it would be wasting so much affection on that bunch o' +rags Mumbles, who audaciously chewed up one of my pet slippers while I +was at dinner last evening. No dog is a fit thing to occupy a girl's +time, and this imp o' mischief Mumbles must take a back seat from now +on." + +Uncle John laughed, for he knew his brother-in-law had never conquered +his antipathy for poor Mumbles, and realized why. + +"Take care that you do not get jealous of Myrtle," he replied. +"You're a selfish old beast, and don't wish Patsy to love anyone but +yourself." + +"And why should she?" was the inquiry. "Any dutiful daughter ought to +be satisfied with loving such a father as I am." + +"And in that," remarked Uncle John, whimsically, "you remind me of +Wampus. You should strut around and say: 'Behold me! I am Patsy's +father!'" + +The Major was full of news at luncheon time. + +"What do you think, my dears?" he said, addressing the girls. "Your +crazy uncle must have had another snooze, unbeknown to us, for he's +got the wildest idea into his head that human brains--or lack of +them--ever conceived." + +"You are not very respectful, sir," retorted Mr. Merrick stiffly, +as he ate his salad. "But we must not expect too much of a disabled +soldier--and an Irishman to boot--who has not been accustomed to good +society." + +Major Doyle looked at his brother-in-law with an approving smile. + +"Very well put, John," he said. "You're improving in repartee. +Presently you'll add that I'm unlettered and uncivilized, and no fit +associate for a person who has made an egregious fortune out of tin +cans in the wilds of Oregon." + +"But what's the news?" asked Patsy impatiently. "What new idea has +Uncle John conceived?" + +"First," replied the Major, "he has bought an automobile as big as a +baggage car. Next he has engaged a chauffeur who is a wild Canadian +Indian with a trace of erratic French blood in his veins--a +combination liable to result in anything. Mr. Wampus, the half-breed +calls himself, and from the looks of him he's murdered many a one in +his day." + +"Oh, Major!" + +"Show me an automobile driver that hasn't. Myrtle knows. It's no trick +to knock over a peaceful pedestrian or so, to say nothing of chickens, +cats and dogs mangled by the roadside. I confidently expect he'll make +a pancake of dear little Mumbles before he's five miles on the road. +Eh, Patsy?" + +"Be sensible, Daddy." + +"It's my strong point. If I'm any judge of character this Wampus is a +speed fiend." + +"He is recommended as a very careful driver," said Mr. Merrick; "and +moreover he has signed a contract to obey my orders." + +"Very good," said Beth. "I'm not afraid of Mr. Wampus. What next, +Major?" + +"Next," continued Patsy's father, with a solemn wink at the row of +curious faces, "your inventive relative has ordered the automobile +rebuilt, thinking he's wiser than the makers. He's having a furnace +put in it, for one thing--it's a limousine, you know, and all enclosed +in glass. Also it's as big as a barn, as I said." + +"You said a freight car," observed Patsy. + +"True. A small barn or a big freight car. The seats are to be made +convertible into sleeping berths, so if we get caught out overnight we +have all the comforts of a hotel except the bell boys." + +"I'll be the bell boy," promised Patsy. + +"Also we're to take a portable kitchen along, like they use in the +army, with a gasoline stove all complete. The thing fits under the +back seat, I believe." + +"All this," said Beth, "strikes me as being very sensible and a credit +to Uncle John's genius. I'm a good cook, as you know, and the kitchen +outfit appeals to me. But how about provisions?" + +"Provisions are being provided," replied her uncle, genially +smiling at her praise. However scornfully the Major might view his +preparations he was himself mightily proud of them. + +"Tinned stuff, I presume," remarked his brother-in-law. "John Merrick +has a weakness for tin cans, having got his money out of them." + +"You're wrong," protested Uncle John. "I merely made my money from the +tin the cans were made of. But we won't get money out of these cans +when they're opened; it will be something better, such as sardines and +hominy, preserved cream and caviar, beans and boned chicken." + +"Sounds fine!" cried Patsy with enthusiasm. "But how can you arrange +to carry so much, Uncle?" + +"The limousine body is pretty big, as the Major says, and high enough +to allow me to put in a false bottom. In the space beneath it I shall +stow all the bedding, the eatables and kitchen utensils, and a small +tent. Then we shall be prepared for whatever happens." + +"I doubt it," objected the Major. "There's gasoline to be reckoned +with. It's well enough to feed ourselves, but what if we ran short of +the precious feed for the engines?" + +"The two tanks will hold sixty gallons. That ought to carry us any +reasonable distance," replied Mr. Merrick. + +"You see, Daddy, our Uncle John is an experienced traveler, while you +are not," declared Patsy. "In all our journeys together I've found him +full of resources and very farsighted. This trip doesn't worry me at +all." + +"Nor me," added Beth. "We are sure to have a delightful time under +Uncle's auspices." + +"Wampus," said Uncle John, "is so pleased with my preparations that he +wants us to start in the car from here." + +"Can you put it on runners, like a sledge?" asked the Major. "That's +the only way it could travel through this snow. Or perhaps you'll hire +a snowplow to go ahead of it." + +"No; I told Wampus it was impracticable," was the reply. "We shall +load our machine on a flat car and ship it to Albuquerque, which is in +New Mexico and almost directly south of Denver. We shall then be over +the worst grades of the Rocky Mountains." + +"And which way do we go then?" inquired Beth. + +"I have not yet decided. We can go still farther south, into Texas, +or make our way down into Phoenix and across the prairies to Imperial +Valley, or follow the Santa Fe route by way of the Grand Canyon." + +"Oh, let's go that way!" exclaimed Patsy. + +"And freeze to death?" asked the Major. "It's the northernmost route." + +"When we get to Albuquerque we will be below the line of frosts and +snow," explained Mr. Merrick. "The climate is genial all through that +section during winter. Haggerty says--" + +"I guessed it!" groaned the Major. "If Haggerty recommends this trip +we'll surely be in trouble." + +"Aside from Haggerty, Wampus knows that country thoroughly," said +Uncle John stoutly. + +"Tell me: did Haggerty recommend Wampus?" + +"No." + +"Then there's hopes of the fellow. As you say, John, there is no need +to decide until we get to Albuquerque. When do we make the start?" + +"Day after to-morrow. The car will be shipped to-morrow night, but our +party will follow by daylight, so as to see Colorado Springs, Pike's +Peak and Pueblo as we pass by them." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +WAMPUS SPEEDS + + +"So this is Albuquerque," observed Patsy Doyle, as they alighted from +the train. "Is it a big town playing peek-a-boo among those hills, +Uncle John, or is this really all there is to the place?" + +"It's a pretty big town, my dear. Most of the houses are back on the +prairie, but fortunately our hold is just here at the depot." + +It was a quaint, attractive building, made of adobe cement, in the +ancient mission style; but it proved roomy and extremely comfortable. + +"Seems to me," whispered Myrtle to Beth, "we're high up on the +mountains, even yet." + +"So we are," was the reply. "We're just between Glorietta Pass and the +Great Continental Divide. But the steepest of the Rockies are behind +us, and now the slopes are more gradual all the way to California. How +do you like it, dear?" + +"Oh, the mountains are grand!" exclaimed Myrtle. "I had never imagined +anything so big and stately and beautiful." The other girls had seen +mountains before, but this was their friend's first experience, and +they took much pleasure in Myrtle's enthusiastic delight over all she +saw. + +Adjoining the hotel was a bazaar, in front of which sat squatted upon +the ground two rows of Mojave Indians, mostly squaws, with their +curious wares spread out for sale upon blankets. There must have +been a score of them, and they exhibited odd pottery ornaments of +indistinguishable shapes, strings of glass beads and beadwork bags, +and a few really fine jardinieres and baskets. After the girls had +been to their rooms and established themselves in the hotel they +hurried out to interview the Indians, Myrtle Dean supporting herself +by her crutches while Patsy and Beth walked beside her. The lame girl +seemed to attract the squaws at once, and one gave her a bead necklace +while another pressed upon her a small brown earthenware fowl with +white spots all over it. This latter might have been meant to +represent a goose, an ostrich or a guinea hen; but Myrtle was +delighted with it and thanked the generous squaw, who responded merely +with a grunt, not understanding English. A man in a wide sombrero who +stood lazily by observed the incident and said: + +"Don't thank the hag. She's selfish. The Mojaven think it brings luck +to have a gift accepted by a cripple." + +Myrtle flushed painfully. + +"I suppose my crutches make me look more helpless than I really am," +she whispered to her friends as they moved away. "But they're such a +help in getting around that I'm very grateful to have them, and as I +get stronger I can lay them aside and not be taken for a cripple any +more." + +The air was delightfully invigorating here in the mountains, yet it +was not at all cold. The snow, as Uncle John had predicted, had all +been left behind them. After dinner they took a walk through the +pretty town and were caught in the dark before they could get back. +The twilights are very brief in Albuquerque. + +"This is a very old town," remarked Uncle John. "It was founded by a +Spanish adventurer named Cabrillo in the seventeenth century, long +before the United States came into existence. But of course it never +amounted to anything until the railroad was built." + +Next day they were sitting in a group before the hotel when a man was +seen approaching them with shuffling steps. Uncle John looked at him +closely and Mumbles leaped from Patsy's lap and rushed at the stranger +with excited barks. + +"Why, it's Wampus," said Mr. Merrick. "The car must have arrived." + +Wampus caught up the baby dog and held it under his arm while he took +his cap off and bowed respectfully to his employer. + +"He an' me, we here," he announced. + +"Who is 'he,' Wampus?" + +"Aut'mob'l'." + +"When did you arrive?" + +"Half hour ago. He on side track." + +"Very good. You have made capital time, for a freight train. Let us go +at once and get the car unloaded." + +Wampus hesitated, looking sheepish. + +"I been arrest," he said. + +"Arrested! For what?" + +"I make speed. They not like it. They arrest me--_Me_--Wampus!" He +straightened his slim little form with an assumption of dignity. + +"I knew it," sighed the Major. "I decided he was a speed fiend the +first time I saw him." + +"But--dear me!" said Uncle John; "how could you be arrested for +speeding when the automobile was on a fiat car?" + +Wampus glanced over his shoulder. Two railroad men had followed him +and were now lounging against the porch railing. One had his right eye +bandaged while the other carried one arm in a sling. Both scowled as +they eyed the Canadian fixedly. + +"Freight train make pretty slow time," began the chauffeur. "I know +you in hurry, so freight train he make me nervous. I say polite to +conductor I like to go faster. He laugh. I say polite to brakeman we +must go faster. He make abusing speech. I climb into engine an' say +polite to engineer to turn on steam. He insult me. So I put my foot +on him an' run engine myself. I am Wampus. I understan' engine--all +kinds. Brakeman he swear; he swear so bad I put him off train. +Conductor must have lump of coal in eye to keep quiet. Fireman he jus' +smile an' whistle soft an' say nothing; so we friends. When I say +'shovel in coal,' he shovel. When we pass stations quick like, he +whistle with engine loud. So now we here an' I been arrest." + +Patsy tittered and stuffed her handkerchief into her mouth. Uncle John +first chuckled and then looked grave. The Major advanced to Wampus and +soberly shook his hand. + +"You're a brave man, sir, for a chauffeur," he said. "I congratulate +you," + +Wampus still looked uneasy. + +"I been arrest," he repeated. + +Uncle John beckoned the railroad men to come forward. + +"Is this story true?" he asked. + +"Most of it, sir," answered the conductor. "It's only by the mercy of +Providence we're here alive. This scoundrel held up the whole crew +and ran away with the engine. We might have had a dozen collisions or +smash-ups, for he went around curves at sixty miles an hour. We'd cut +our train in two, so as to pull half of it at a time up the grade at +Lamy, and so there were only six cars on this end of it. The other +half is seventy miles back, and part of what we have here ought to +have been left at the way stations. I can't make out, sir, whether +it's burglary, or highway robbery or arson an' murder he's guilty of, +or all of 'em; but I've telegraphed for instructions and I'll hold him +a prisoner until the superintendent tells me what to do with him." + +Mr. Merrick was very sober now. + +"The matter is serious," he said. "This man is in my employ, but I did +not hire him to steal a railway train or fight its crew. Not badly +hurt, I hope, sir?" + +"My eye's pretty bad," growled the conductor. "Tom, here, thought his +arm was broken, at first; but I guess it's only sprained." + +"How about the brakeman he threw off the train?" + +"Why, we were not going fast, just then, and it didn't hurt him. We +saw him get up and shake his fist at the robber. If he ever meets Mr. +Wampus again he'll murder him." + +"Come with me to the telegraph office and I'll see what I can do to +straighten this out," said Mr. Merrick briskly. On the way he remarked +to the conductor: "I'm sorry I let Wampus travel alone. He's just +a little bit affected in his mind, you know, and at times isn't +responsible for what he does." + +The conductor scratched his head doubtfully. + +"I suspected he was crazy," he replied, "and that's why I didn't hurt +him. But if he's crazy he's the most deliberate loonatic I ever run +acrost." + +The superintendent had just wired instructions to put the outlaw in +jail when Mr. Merrick reached the telegraph office, but after an hour +spent in sending messages back and forth a compromise was affected and +the little millionaire had agreed to pay a goodly sum to the company +by way of damages and to satisfy the crew of the freight train--which +he succeeded in doing by a further outlay of money. + +"You're not worth all this bother," said Mr. Merrick to the humbled +Wampus, when the final settlement had been made, "but chauffeurs are +scarce in Albuquerque and I can't be delayed. Never, sir, while you +are in my employ, must you allow yourself to be guilty of such an act +again!" + +Wampus sighed. + +"Never," he promised, "will I ride by freight train again. Send car by +express. I am Wampus. Freight train he make me nervous." + +The automobile was quickly unloaded and at once Wampus set to work to +get it in running order. He drove it to the hotel at about sundown +and Mr. Merrick told the girls to be ready to start after an early +breakfast the next morning. + +"Which way do we go?" asked the Major. + +"We'll have a talk with Wampus this evening and decide," said Uncle +John. + +"Don't leave out the Grand Canyon!" begged Patsy. + +"Nor the Petrified Forests." added Beth. "And couldn't we visit the +Moki Indian reservation?" + +"Those things may be well enough in their way," observed the Major, +"but is their way our way? That's the question. The one thing we must +take into consideration is the matter of roads. We must discover which +road is the best and then take it. We're not out of the mountains yet, +and we shall have left the railroad, the last vestige of civilization, +behind us." + +But the conference evolved the fact, according to Wampus, that the +best and safest roads were for a time along the line of the Santa Fe, +directly west; and this would enable them to visit most of the scenes +the girls were eager to see. + +"No boulevard in mountain anywhere," remarked Wampus; "but road he +good enough to ride on. Go slow an' go safe. I drive 'Autocrat' from +here to Los Angeles blindfold." + +With this assurance they were obliged to be content, and an eager +and joyful party assembled next morning to begin the journey so long +looked forward to. The landlord of the hotel, a man with a careworn +face, shook his head dismally and predicted their return to +Albuquerque within twenty-four hours. + +"Of course people _do_ make the trip from here to the coast," he said; +"but it's mighty seldom, and they all swear they'll never do it again. +It's uncomfortable, and it's dangerous." + +"Why?" asked Uncle John. + +"You're headed through a wild country, settled only by Mexicans, +Indians, and gangs of cowboys still worse. The roads are something +awful. That man Wampus is an optimist, and will tackle anything and +then be sorry for it afterward. The towns are scattered from here on, +and you won't strike a decent meal except at the railway stations. +Taking all these things into consideration, I advise you to make your +headquarters here for the winter." + +"Thank you," returned Mr. Merrick pleasantly. "It's too late for us to +back out now, even if we felt nervous and afraid, which I assure you +we do not." + +"We are not looking for excessive comfort on this journey, you know," +remarked Patsy. "But thank you for your warning, sir. It has given us +great pleasure; for if there were no chance of adventure before us we +should all be greatly disappointed." + +Again the landlord shook his head. + +"Right?" asked Wampus, at the wheel. + +"Go ahead," said Mr. Merrick, and slowly the big car started upon its +journey into the Golden West. + +The air was keen and bracing, but not chilly. The sunshine flooded the +landscape on every side. All the windows of the limousine had been +lowered. + +Myrtle Dean had been established in one corner of the broad back seat, +where she nestled comfortably among the cushions. Uncle John sat +beside her, with Beth and the Major on the seat on front. There were +two folding chairs that could be used on occasion, and the back seat +easily accommodated three, the "Autocrat" being a seven passenger car; +but Patsy was perched in front beside Wampus, which was really the +choicest seat of all, so there was ample room inside to "swing a cat," +as the Major stated--if anyone had cared to attempt such a feat. Of +course the wee Mumbles was in Patsy's lap, and he seemed to have +overcome his first aversion of Wampus and accepted the little +chauffeur into the circle of his favored acquaintances. Indeed, they +soon became fast friends. + +On leaving the town Wampus turned into a smooth, hard wagon road that +ran in zigzag fashion near the railroad grade. The car bowled along +right merrily for some twenty miles, when the driver turned to the +right and skimmed along a high plateau. It was green and seemed +fertile, but scarcely a farmhouse could they see, although the clear +air permitted a broad view. + +"He up hill now all way to Continental Divide," said Wampus to Patsy; +"then he go down hill long time." + +"It doesn't seem to be much uphill," returned the girl, "and the road +is very good." + +"We make time here," observed the driver. "By'm-by we find rock an' +bad road. Then we go slow." + +The Major was watching the new chauffeur carefully, and despite his +dismal forebodings the man seemed not at all reckless but handled his +car with rare skill. So the critic turned to his brother-in-law and +asked: + +"Is it fully decided which way we shall go?" + +"I've left it to Wampus and the girls," was the reply. "On account +of our little invalid here we shall take the most direct route to +California. It isn't a short route, at that. On Beth's account we +shall visit the Moki and Navajo reservations, and on Patsy's account +we're going by way of the Grand Canyon of Arizona. Wampus says he +knows every inch of the road, so for my part I'm content to be just a +passenger." + +"Which remark," said the Major, "indicates that I'm to be just a +passenger also. Very well, John; I'm willing. There may be trouble +ahead of us, but to-day is so magnificent that it's wise to forget +everything but the present." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE CHAUFFEUR IMPROVES + + +They all enjoyed that first day's ride. Wampus did not drive fast, +for there were places where he couldn't; yet by one o'clock they had +reached Laguna, sixty miles from their starting point. There was an +excellent railway hotel here, so they decided to spend the rest of the +day and the night at Laguna and proceed early the next morning. + +The big car was an object of much curiosity to the natives, and during +the afternoon Wampus was the center of attraction. Myrtle had stood +the ride remarkably well, and Uncle John noticed that her eyes were +brighter and a shade of color had already crept into her pale cheeks. +Having risen early all three of the girls took a nap during the +afternoon, as did Mr. Merrick. The Major gossiped with the station +agent, the most important individual in town, and gleaned sundry +information that made him look rather glum. + +"I don't say the road's exactly dangerous, mind you," added the man, +"but these greasers and Injuns get mischievous, at times, harmless +as they look. All I'm advisin' is that you keep a sharp eye on 'em." +Finding Wampus cleaning his car, while a circle of silent, attentive +inhabitants looked on, the Major said to him in a low voice: "Have you +a revolver?" + +Wampus shook his head. + +"Never carry him," he replied. "All gun he make trouble. Sometime he +shoot wrong man. Don't like gun. Why should I? I am Wampus!" + +The Major entered the hotel frowning. + +"That fellow," he muttered, "is a natural-born coward, and we needn't +expect help from him if trouble comes." + +No trouble came that night, however, and in the early morning, while +the sky was still reddened by the rising sun, they were off again, +following more closely now the railroad, as rocky defiles began to +loom up before them. + +By the zigzag course they were obliged to take it was ninety miles to +Gallup, and this they easily made, despite the growing steepness of +the mountain road. Here was the famous Continental Divide, and the +State of Arizona lay just beyond. The Continental Divide is the ridge +that separates the streams tributary to the Atlantic ocean from those +tributary to the Pacific, so that after crossing it one might well +feel that at last the East was left behind and the great West with its +romance now faced him. + +They came to the little town in time to see the gorgeous sunset from +this, the highest point of the Rockies, and especially to Myrtle, who +had traveled so little, was the sight impressive and awe inspiring. +There was a small but fairly good hotel in the place, and after supper +Patsy and Beth went out for a stroll, being much interested in the +dark-skinned Mexicans and still darker Indians who constituted far +the larger part of the population. The party had everywhere met with +respect from these people, who, although curious, were silent and +well-behaved; so Uncle John and the Major, deep in a political +argument on the hotel porch, had no thought of danger when they saw +the two girls start away arm in arm. + +The sky was still aglow, although the sun had set, and in the subdued +light the coarse adobe huts and rickety frame dwellings were endowed +with a picturesque appearance they did not really possess. Beth and +Patsy came to the end of the main street rather suddenly, and stood a +moment looking at the shadows cast by the rocky cliffs near by. Some +of the peaks had snow upon them, and there was a chill in the air, now +that the sun had withdrawn its warmth. The girls turned presently and +took another route that might bring them quicker to the hotel, but had +only proceeded a short way when in passing a rather solitary adobe +structure a man stepped from the shadow of the wall and confronted +them. He wore a red flannel shirt and a broad sombrero, the latter +scarcely covering his dark, evil features. + +The cousins stopped short. Then Beth whispered: "Let's go the other +way." But as they were about to turn the Mexican drew a revolver and +said in harsh, uneven English: "You halt. Keep a-still, or I shoot." + +"What do you want?" asked Beth, quietly. + +"Money. All you got. Jew'lry--all you got. Give 'm quick, or I shoot!" + +As they stood hesitating a sound of footsteps was heard and someone +approached quickly from behind them. Patsy looked hurriedly around +and saw Wampus. He was walking with his thin little form bent and his +hands deep in his trousers pockets. Incidentally Wampus was smoking +the stub of a cigar, as was his custom when off duty. + +The Mexican saw him, but marking his small size and mild manner did +not flinch from his position. With one revolver still leveled at the +girls he drew another from a hip pocket and turned it upon Wampus. + +"You stop--halt!" he exclaimed fiercely. + +Wampus did not halt. His eyes fixed upon the bandit's ugly features, +still puffing his cigar and with hands in his pockets he walked +deliberately past Patsy and Beth and straight up to the muzzles of the +revolvers. + +"Stop!" cried the Mexican; and again: "Stop!" + +Wampus stopped when one revolver nearly touched his nose and another +covered his body. Slowly he drew one hand from his pocket and grasped +the barrel of the nearest weapon. + +"Let him go," he said, not raising his voice. The man stared into the +little chauffeur's eyes and released his hold of the revolver. Wampus +looked at it, grunted, and put it in his pocket. + +"Now the other gun," he said. + +The fellow drew back and half turned, as if to escape. + +"No, no!" said Wampus, as if annoyed. "You give me gun. See--I am +Wampus!" + +Sheepishly enough the Mexican surrendered the other weapon. + +"Now turn aroun' an' go to hotel," commanded the chauffeur. + +The man obeyed. Wampus turned to the girls, who were now not only +relieved but on the verge of laughter and said deprecatingly: + +"Do not be scare, for poor man he make no harm. He jus' try a +goozle--no dare shoot here in town. Then come; I go back with you." + +Silently they accompanied him along the lane, the Mexican keeping in +front and looking around from time to time to see if they followed. +A short distance from the hotel Wampus gave a queer whistle which +brought the bandit cringing to his side. Without ado he handed the +fellow his two revolvers and said calmly: "Go 'long." + +The Mexican "went along" briskly and the dusk soon swallowed him up. + +"Thank you, Wampus," said Patsy, gratefully; "you've saved us from a +dreadful experience." + +"Oh, that!" snapping his fingers scornfully. "He not a good bad-man, +for he too much afraid. I have no gun, for I do not like gun. Still, +if I not come, he make you give him money an' trinkets." + +"You were very kind," replied Beth, "and I thank you as much as Patsy +does. If you had not arrived just when you did I might have killed the +man." + +"You?" inquired Wampus, doubtingly. + +"Yes." She showed him a small pearl-handled revolver which she carried +in the pocket of her jacket. "I can shoot, Wampus." + +The little chauffeur grinned; then looked grave and shook his head. + +"It make funny world, these day," said he. "One time girl from city +would scream to see a gun; now she carry him in pocket an' can shoot! +Ver' fine; ver' fine. But I like me old style girl who make scream. +Then a man not feel foolish when he try protect her." + +Patsy laughed merrily; but Beth saw he was offended and hastened to +say: + +"I am very grateful to you, Wampus, and I know you are a brave and +true man. I shall expect you to protect me at all times, for I really +don't wish to shoot anyone, although I think it best to carry a +revolver. Always after this, before I am tempted to fire, I shall look +to see if you are not near me." + +"All right," he said more cheerfully. "I am Wampus. I will be there, +Miss 'Lizbeth." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +AMONG THE INDIANS + + +Little Myrtle grew brighter day by day. She even grew merry and +developed a fine sense of humor, showing new traits in her hitherto +undeveloped character. The girl never mentioned her injury nor +admitted that she suffered any pain, even when directly questioned. +Indeed she was not uncomfortable during that splendid automobile ride +over mountain and plain into the paradise of the glowing West. Never +before in her life had Myrtle enjoyed an outing, except for an hour or +two in a city park; never before had she known a friend to care for +her and sympathize honestly with her griefs. Therefore this experience +was so exquisitely delightful that her responsive heart nearly burst +with gratitude. Pretty thoughts came to her that she had never had +before; her luxurious surroundings led her to acquire dainty ways and +a composed and self-poised demeanor. + +"Our rosebud is unfolding, petal by petal, and beginning to bloom +gloriously," said Patsy to sympathetic Uncle John. "Could anyone be +more sweet or lovely?" + +Perhaps almost any girl, situated as Myrtle Dean was, would have +blossomed under similar influences. Certain it was that Uncle John +came to have a tender affection for the poor child, while the Major's +big heart had warmed from the first toward the injured girl. Beth and +Patsy were devoted to their new friend and even Mumbles was never so +happy as when Myrtle would hold and caress him. Naturally the former +waif responded freely to all this wealth of affection and strove to be +companionable and cheery, that they might forget as much as possible +her physical helplessness. + +Mumbles was not the least important member of the party, but proved +a constant source of amusement to all. In the novel domains they now +traversed the small dog's excitable nature led him to investigate +everything that seemed suspicious, but he was so cowardly, in spite of +this, that once when Patsy let him down to chase a gopher or prairie +dog--they were not sure which--the animal turned at bay and sent +Mumbles retreating with his stubby tail between his legs. His +comradeship for Wampus surprised them all. The Canadian would talk +seriously to the dog and tell it long stories as if the creature could +understand every word--which perhaps he did. Mumbles would sit up +between the driver and Patsy and listen attentively, which encouraged +Wampus to talk until Patsy in self-defense turned and tossed the fuzzy +animal in to Myrtle, who was always glad to receive him. + +But Patsy did not always sit on the front seat. That honor was divided +among them all, by turns, except the Major, who did not care for the +place. Yet I think Patsy rode there oftener than anyone else, and it +came to be considered her special privilege because she had first +claimed it. + +The Major, after the incident at Gallup, did not scorn Wampus so +openly as before; but he still reserved a suspicion that the fellow +was at heart a coward and a blusterer. The chauffeur's sole demerit in +the eyes of the others was his tremendous egotism. The proud remark: +"I am Wampus!" was constantly on his lips and he had wonderful tales +to tell to all who would listen of his past experiences, in every one +of which he unblushingly figured as the hero. But he really handled +the big touring car in an admirable manner, and when one afternoon +a tire was punctured by a cactus spine by the roadside--their first +accident--they could not fail to admire the dexterous manner in which +he changed the tube for a new one. + +From Gallup they took a wagon road to Fort Defiance, in the Navajo +Indian reservation; but the Navajos proved uninteresting people, not +even occupying themselves in weaving the famous Navajo blankets, which +are now mostly made in Philadelphia. Even Patsy, who had longed to +"see the Indians in their native haunts," was disgusted by their filth +and laziness, and the party expected no better results when they came +to the adjoining Moki reservation. Here, however, they were happily +disappointed, for they arrived at the pueblo of Oraibi, one of +the prettiest villages on the mesa, on the eve of one of their +characteristic snake dances, and decided to remain over night and +see the performance. Now I am not sure but the "Snake Dance" was so +opportune because Uncle John had a private interview with the native +chieftain, at which the head Snake Priest and the head Antelope Priest +of the tribe were present. These Indians spoke excellent English and +the chief loved the white man's money, so a ceremony that has been +held during the month of August for many centuries--long before the +Spanish conquistadors found this interesting tribe--was found to be on +tap for that very evening. The girls were tremendously excited at the +prospect and Wampus was ordered to prepare camp for the night--the +first they had spent in their automobile and away from a hotel. Not +only was the interior of the roomy limousine converted into sleeping +quarters for the three girls, but a tent was spread, one side fastened +to the car while the other was staked to the ground. Three wire +folding cots came from some hidden place beneath the false bottom of +the car, with bedding enough to supply them, and these were for the +use of the men in the tent. The two "bedrooms" having been thus +prepared, Wampus lighted the tiny gasoline stove, over which Patsy and +Beth enthusiastically cooked the supper. Beth wanted to "Newburg" the +tinned lobster, and succeeded in creaming it very nicely. They had +potato chips, coffee and toasted Holland rusks, as well, and all +thoroughly enjoyed the improvised meal. + +Their camp had been pitched just at the outskirts of the Indian +village, but the snake dance was to take place in a rocky glen some +distance away from the pueblo and so Uncle John instructed Wampus to +remain and guard their outfit, as the Moki are notorious thieves. They +left the lean little chauffeur perched upon the driver's seat, smoking +one of his "stogie" cigars and with Mumbles sitting gravely beside +him. + +Myrtle hobbled on her crutches between Beth and Patsy, who carried +little tin lanterns made with lamp chimneys that had candles inside +them. They first visited the chief, who announced that the ceremonies +were about to begin. At a word from this imposing leader a big Indian +caught up Myrtle and easily carried her on his shoulder, as if she +were light as a feather, leading the way to the rocky amphitheatre. +Here were assembled all the inhabitants of the village, forming a wide +circle around the performers. The snakes were in a pit dug in the +center of the space, over which a few branches had been placed. This +is called the "kisi." + +These unique and horrifying snake dances of the Moki have been +described so often that I need not speak of this performance in +detail. Before it was half over the girls wished they were back in +their automobile; but the Major whispered that for them to leave would +cause great offense to the Indians and might result in trouble. The +dance is supposedly a religious one, in honor of the Rain God, and at +first the snakes were not used, but as the dancers became wrought up +and excited by their antics one by one they reached within the kisi +and drew out a snake, allowing the reptiles to coil around their +almost naked bodies and handling them with seeming impunity. A few +were harmless species, as bull snakes and arrow snakes; but mostly the +Moki used rattlesnakes, which are native to the mesa and its rocky +cliffs. Some travelers have claimed that the fangs of the rattlers are +secretly withdrawn before the creatures are handled, but this has been +proved to be untrue. The most accepted theory is that the snakes are +never permitted to coil, and cannot strike unless coiled, while the +weird chanting and graceful undulating motions of the dancers in some +manner "charms" or intoxicates the serpents, which are not aroused to +antagonism. Occasionally, however, one of the Moki priests is bitten, +in which case nothing is done to aid him and he is permitted to die, +it being considered a judgment of the Rain God for some sin he has +committed. + +The barbaric rites seemed more picturesque, as well as more revolting, +in that they took place by the flickering light of torches and +bonfires in a rock strewn plain usually claimed by nature. When the +dancers were more frenzied they held the squirming serpents in their +mouths by the middle and allowed them to coil around their necks, +dancing wildly the while. The whole affair was so nauseating and +offensive that as soon as it was possible the visitors withdrew and +retired to their "camp." It was now almost midnight, but the path was +lighted by the little lanterns they carried. + +As they approached the automobile Uncle John was disturbed not to see +Wampus at his post. A light showed from the front of the car, but the +chauffeur seemed to be missing. Coming nearer, however, they soon +were greeted by a joyous barking from Mumbles and discovered Wampus +squatting upon the ground, puffing at the small end of the cigar and +seeming quite composed and tranquil. + +"What are you doing there?" demanded the Major, raising his lantern +the better to light the scene. + +"I play jailer," grunted Wampus, without moving. "Him want to steal; +Mumble he make bark noise; for me, I steal too--I steal Injun." + +A dusky form, prone upon the ground, began to squirm under Wampus, who +was then discovered to be sitting upon a big Indian and holding him +prisoner. The chauffeur, partly an Indian himself, knew well how to +manage his captive and quieted the fellow by squeezing his throat with +his broad stubby fingers. + +"How long have you had him there?" inquired Uncle John, looking at the +discomfited "brave" curiously. + +"About an hour," was the reply. + +"Let him go, then. We have no prison handy, and the man has perhaps +been punished enough." + +"I have wait to ask permission to kill him," said Wampus solemnly. "He +know English talk, an' I have told him he is to die. I have describe, +sir, several torture we make on Injun who steal, which make him think +he die several time. So he is now prepare for the worst." + +The Indiam squirmed again, and with a sigh Wampus arose and set him +free. + +"See," he said; "you are save only by mercy of Great White Chief. You +ver' lucky Injun. But Great White Chief will leave only one eye here +when he go away. If you try to steal again the eye will see, an' then +the torture I have describe will be yours. I am Wampus. I have spoke." + +The Indian listened intently and then slunk away into the darkness +without reply. The night had no further event and in spite of their +unusual experiences all slept excellently and awoke in the morning +refreshed and ready for new adventures. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +NATURE'S MASTERPIECE + + +From the reservation to the Grand Canyon of the Colorado was not far, +but there was no "crosscut" and so they were obliged to make a wide +detour nearly to Williams before striking the road that wound upward +to the world's greatest wonder. + +Slowly and tediously the big car climbed the miserable trail to the +rim of the Grand Canyon. It was night when they arrived, for they had +timed it that way, having been told of the marvelous beauty of the +canyon by moonlight. But unfortunately the sky filled with clouds +toward evening, and they came to Bright Angel, their destination, in a +drizzling rain and total darkness. The Major was fearful Wampus might +run them into the canyon, but the machine's powerful searchlights +showed the way clearly and by sticking to the road they finally drew +up before an imposing hotel such as you might wonder to find in so +remote a spot. + +Eagerly enough they escaped from the automobile where they had been +shut in and entered the spacious lobby of the hotel, where a merry +throng of tourists had gathered. + +"Dinner and bed," said Patsy, decidedly. "I'm all tired out, and poor +Myrtle is worn to a frazzle. There's no chance of seeing the canyon +to-night, and as for the dancing, card playing and promiscuous gaiety, +it doesn't appeal much to a weary traveler." + +The girls were shown to a big room at the front of the hotel, having +two beds in it. A smaller connecting-room was given to Myrtle, while +Patsy and Beth shared the larger apartment. It seems the hotel, big +as it was, was fairly filled with guests, the railway running three +trains a day to the wonderful canyon; but Uncle John's nieces did +not mind occupying the same room, which was comfortably and even +luxuriously furnished. + +A noise of footsteps along the corridor disturbed Patsy at an early +hour. She opened her eyes to find the room dimly lighted, as by the +first streaks of dawn, and sleepily arose to raise the window shade +and see if day was breaking. Her hand still upraised to guide the +shade the girl stood as motionless as if turned to stone. With a long +drawn, gasping breath she cried: "Oh, Beth!" and then stood staring at +what is undoubtedly the most entrancing, the most awe inspiring and at +the same time the most magnificent spectacle that mortal eye has ever +beheld--sunrise above the Grand Canyon of Arizona. + +The master painters of the world have gathered in this spot in a vain +attempt to transfer the wondrous coloring of the canyon to canvas. +Authors famed for their eloquent command of language have striven as +vainly to tell to others what their own eyes have seen; how their +senses have been thrilled and their souls uplifted by the marvel that +God's hand has wrought. It can never be pictured. It can never be +described. Only those who have stood as Patricia Doyle stood that +morning and viewed the sublime masterpiece of Nature can realize what +those homely words, "The Grand Canyon" mean. Grand? It is well named. +Since no other adjective can better describe it, that much abused one +may well be accepted to incompletely serve its purpose. + +Beth joined her cousin at the window and was instantly as awed +and absorbed as Patsy. Neither remembered Myrtle just then, but +fortunately their friend had left the connecting door of their +rooms ajar and hearing them stirring came in to see if anything had +happened. She found the two cousins staring intently from the window +and went to the second window herself, thus witnessing the spectacle +in all its glory. + +Even after the magnificent coloring of sunrise had faded the sight was +one to rivet the attention. The hotel seemed built at the very edge of +the canyon, and at their feet the ground appeared to fall away and a +great gulf yawned that was tinted on all its diverse sides with hues +that rivaled those of the rainbow. Across the chasm they could clearly +see the trees and hills; yet these were fully thirteen miles distant, +for here is one of the widest portions of the great abyss. + +"I'm going to dress," said Beth, breaking the silence at last. "It +seems a sin to stay cooped up in here when such a glorious panorama is +at one's feet." + +The others did not reply in words, but they all began to dress +together with nervous haste, and then made their way down to the +canyon's brink. Others were before them, standing upon the ample +porches in interested groups; but such idleness would not content our +girls, who trooped away for a more intimate acquaintance with the +wonderful gorge. + +"Oh, how small--how terribly small--I am!" cried Patsy, lost in +the immensity of the canyon's extent; but this is a common cry of +travelers visiting Bright Angel. You might place a baker's dozen of +the huge Falls of Niagara in the Grand Canyon and scarcely notice they +were there. All the vast cathedrals of Europe set upon its plateau +would seem like pebbles when viewed from the brink. The thing is +simply incomprehensible to those who have not seen it. + +Presently Uncle John and the Major came out to join them and they all +wandered along the edge until they came to a huge rock that jutted +out far over the monster gulf. On the furthermost point of this rock, +standing with his feet at the very brink, was a tall, thin man, his +back toward them. It seemed a fearful thing to do--to stand where the +slightest slip would send him reeling into the abyss. + +"It's like tempting fate," whispered Patsy, a safe distance away. "I +wish he would step back a little." + +As if he had overheard her the man half turned and calmly examined the +group. His eyes were an almost colorless blue, his features destitute +of any expression. By his dress he seemed well-to-do, if not +prosperous, yet there was a hint of melancholy in his poise and about +him a definite atmosphere of loneliness. + +After that one deliberate look he turned again and faced the canyon, +paying no attention to the interested little party that hovered far +enough from the edge to avoid any possible danger. + +"Oh, dear!" whispered Myrtle, clinging to Beth's arm with trembling +fingers, "I'm afraid he's going to--to commit suicide!" + +"Nonsense!" answered Beth, turning pale nevertheless. + +The figure was motionless as before. Uncle John and the Major started +along the path but as Beth attempted to follow them Myrtle broke away +from her and hobbled eagerly on her crutches toward the stranger. She +did not go quite to the end of the jutting rock, but stopped some feet +away and called in a low, intense voice: + +"Don't!" + +The man turned again, with no more expression in his eyes or face than +before. He looked at Myrtle steadily a moment, then turned and slowly +left the edge, walking to firm ground and back toward the hotel +without another glance at the girl. + +"I'm so ashamed," said Myrtle, tears of vexation in her eyes as she +rejoined her friends. "But somehow I felt I must warn him--it was an +impulse I just couldn't resist." + +"Why, no harm resulted, in any event, my dear," returned Beth. "I +wouldn't think of it again." + +They took so long a walk that all were nearly famished when they +returned to the hotel for breakfast. + +Of course Patsy and Beth wanted to go down Bright Angel Trail into the +depths of the canyon, for that is the thing all adventurous spirits +love to do. + +"I'm too fat for such foolishness," said Uncle John, "so I'll stay up +here and amuse Myrtle." + +The Major decided to go, to "look after our Patsy;" so the three +joined the long line of daring tourists and being mounted on docile, +sure-footed burros, followed the guide down the trail. + +Myrtle and Uncle John spent the morning on the porch of the hotel. At +breakfast the girl had noticed the tall man they had encountered at +the canyon's edge quietly engaged in eating at a small table in a far +corner of the great dining room. During the forenoon he came from the +hotel to the porch and for a time stood looking far away over the +canyon. + +Aroused to sympathy by the loneliness of this silent person, Uncle +John left his chair and stood beside him at the railing. + +"It's a wonderful sight, sir," he remarked in his brisk, sociable way; +"wonderful indeed!" + +For a moment there was no reply. + +"It seems to call one," said the man at length, as if to himself. "It +calls one." + +"It's a wonder to me it doesn't call more people to see it," observed +Mr. Merrick, cheerfully. "Think of this magnificent thing--greater and +grander than anything the Old World can show, being here right in the +heart of America, almost--and so few rush to see it! Why, in time to +come, sir," he added enthusiastically, "not to have seen the Grand +Canyon of Arizona will be an admission of inferiority. It's--it's the +biggest thing in all the world!" + +The stranger made no reply. He had not even glanced at Uncle John. Now +he slowly turned and stared fixedly at Myrtle for a moment, till she +cast down her eyes, blushing. Then he re-entered the hotel; nor was he +again seen by them. + +The little man was indignant at the snub. Rejoining Myrtle he said to +her: + +"That fellow wasn't worth saving--if you really saved him, my dear. He +says the canyon calls one, and for all I care he may go to the bottom +by any route he pleases." + +Which speech showed that gentle, kindly Mr. Merrick was really +annoyed. But a moment later he was all smiles again and Myrtle found +him a delightful companion because he knew so well how to read +people's thoughts, and if they were sad had a tactful way of cheering +them. + +The girls and the Major returned from their trip to the plateau full +of rapture at their unique experiences. + +"I wouldn't have missed it for a million dollars!" cried the Major; +but he added: "and you couldn't hire me to go again for two million!" + +"It was great," said Patsy; "but I'm tuckered out." + +"I had nineteen narrow escapes from sudden death," began Beth, but her +cousin interrupted her by saying: "So had everyone in the party; +and if the canyon had caved in we'd all be dead long ago. Stop your +chattering now and get ready for dinner. I'm nearly starved." + +Next morning they took a farewell view of the beautiful scene and then +climbed into their automobile to continue their journey. Many of the +tourists had wondered at their temerity in making such a long trip +through a poorly settled country in a motor car and had plied them +with questions and warnings. But they were thoroughly enjoying this +outing and nothing very disagreeable had happened to them so far. I am +sure that on this bright, glorious morning you could not have hired +any one of the party to abandon the automobile and finish the trip by +train. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A COYOTE SERENADE + + +The roads were bad enough. They were especially bad west of Williams. +Just now an association of automobile tourists has been formed to +create a boulevard route through from the Atlantic to the Pacific +coast, but at the time of this story no attention had been given the +roads of the far West and only the paths of the rancheros from town to +town served as guides. On leaving Williams they turned south so as to +avoid the more severe mountain roads, and a fine run through a rather +uninteresting country brought them to Prescott on the eve of the +second day after leaving the Canyon. Here they decided to take a day's +rest, as it was Sunday and the hotel was comfortable; but Monday +morning they renewed their journey and headed southwesterly across the +alkali plains--called "mesa"--for Parker, on the boundary line between +Arizona and California. + +Towns of any sort were very scarce in this section and the country was +wild and often barren of vegetation for long stretches. There were +some extensive ranches, however, as this is the section favored for +settlement by a class of Englishmen called "remittance men." These are +mostly the "black sheep" or outcasts of titled families, who having +got into trouble of some sort at home, are sent to America to isolate +themselves on western ranches, where they receive monthly or quarterly +remittances of money to support them. The remittance men are poor +farmers, as a rule. They are idle and lazy except when it comes to +riding, hunting and similar sports. Their greatest industry is cattle +raising, yet these foreign born "cowboys" constitute an entirely +different class from those of American extraction, found in Texas and +on the plains of the Central West. They are educated and to an extent +cultured, being "gentlemen born" but sad backsliders in the practise +of the profession. Because other ranchers hesitate to associate with +them they congregate in settlements of their own, and here in Arizona, +on the banks of the Bill Williams Branch of the Colorado River, they +form almost the total population. + +Our friends had hoped to make the little town of Gerton for the night, +but the road was so bad that Wampus was obliged to drive slowly and +carefully, and so could not make very good time. Accidents began +to happen, too, doubtless clue to the hard usage the machine had +received. First a spring broke, and Wampus was obliged to halt long +enough to clamp it together with stout steel braces. An hour later the +front tire was punctured by cactus spines, which were thick upon the +road. Such delays seriously interfered with their day's mileage. + +Toward sunset Uncle John figured, from the information he had received +at Prescott, that they were yet thirty miles from Gerton, and so he +decided to halt and make camp while there was yet sufficient daylight +remaining to do so conveniently. + +"We might hunt for a ranch house and beg for shelter," said he, "but +from the stories I've heard of the remittance men I am sure we will +enjoy ourselves better if we rely entirely upon our own resources." + +The girls were, of course, delighted at the prospect of such an +experience, for the silent, solitary mesa made them feel they were +indeed "in the wilds of the Great American Desert." The afternoon had +been hot and the ride dusty, but there was now a cooler feeling in the +air since the sun had fallen low in the horizon. + +They carried their own drinking water, kept ice-cold in thermos +bottles, and Uncle John also had a thermos tub filled with small +squares of ice. This luxury, in connection with their ample supply +of provisions, enabled the young women to prepare a supper not to be +surpassed in any modern hotel. The soup came from one can, the curried +chicken from another, while artichokes, peas, asparagus and plum +pudding shed their tin coverings to complete the meal. Fruits, cheese +and biscuits they had in abundance, so there was no hardship in +camping out on a deserted Arizona table-land, as far as food was +concerned. The Interior of the limousine, when made into berths for +the three girls, was as safe and cosy as a Pullman sleeping coach. +Only the men's quarters, the "lean-to" tent, was in any way open to +invasion. + +After the meal was ended and the things washed and put away they all +sat on folding camp chairs outside the little tent and enjoyed the +intense silence surrounding them. The twilight gradually deepened into +darkness. Wampus kept one of the searchlights lit to add an element of +cheerfulness to the scene, and Myrtle was prevailed upon to sing one +or two of her simple songs. She had a clear, sweet voice, although not +a strong one, and they all--especially Uncle John--loved to hear her +sing. + +Afterward they talked over their trip and the anticipated change from +this arid region to the verdure of California, until suddenly a long, +bloodcurdling howl broke the stillness and caused them one and all +to start from their seats. That is, all but Wampus. The chauffeur, +sitting apart with his black cigar in his mouth, merely nodded and +said: "Coyote." + +The Major coughed and resumed his seat. Uncle John stood looking into +the darkness as if trying to discern the creature. + +"Are coyotes considered dangerous?" he asked the Canadian. + +"Not to us," replied Wampus. "Sometime, if one man be out on mesa +alone, an' plenty coyote come, he have hard fight for life. Coyote is +wild dog. He is big coward unless pretty hungry. If I leave light burn +he never come near us." + +"Then let it burn--all night," said Mr. Merrick. "There he goes +again--and another with him! What a horrible wail it is." + +"I rather like it," said Patsy, with her accustomed calmness. "It is +certainly an added experience to be surrounded by coyotes. Probably +our trip wouldn't have been complete without it." + +"A little of that serenade will suffice me," admitted Beth, as the +howls grew nearer and redoubled in volume. + +Myrtle's eyes were big and earnest. She was not afraid, but there was +something uncanny in being surrounded by such savage creatures. + +Nearer and nearer sounded the howls, until it was easy to see a dozen +fierce eyes gleaming in the darkness, not a stone's throw away from +the camp. + +"I guess you girls had better go to bed," remarked Uncle John, a bit +nervously. "There's no danger, you know--none at all. Let the brutes +howl, if they want to--especially as we can't stop them. But you are +tired, my dears, and I'd like to see you settled for the night." + +Somewhat reluctantly they entered the limousine, drew the curtains and +prepared for bed. Certainly they were having a novel experience, and +if Uncle John would feel easier to have them listen to the howling +coyotes from inside the limousine instead of outside, they could not +well object to his request. + +Presently Wampus asked the Major for his revolver, and on obtaining +the weapon he walked a few paces toward the coyotes and fired a shot +into their group. They instantly scattered and made off, only to +return in a few moments to their former position. + +"Will they continue this Grand Opera chorus all night?" asked Uncle +John. + +"Perhap," said Wampus. "They hungry, an' smell food. Coyote can no +reason. If he could, he know ver' well we never feed him." + +"The next time we come this way let us fetch along a ton or so of +coyote feed," suggested the Major. "I wonder what the poor brutes +would think if they were stuffed full for once in their lives?" + +"It have never happen, sir," observed Wampus, shaking his head +gravely. "Coyote all born hungry; he live hungry; he die hungry. If +ever coyote was not hungry he would not be coyote." + +"In that case, Major," said Uncle John, "let us go to bed and try to +sleep. Perhaps in slumber we may forget these howling fiends." + +"Very well," agreed Major Doyle, rising to enter the little tent. + +Wampus unexpectedly interposed. "Wait," called the little chauffeur. +"Jus' a minute, if you please." + +While the Major and Mr. Merrick stood wondering at the request, the +Canadian, who was still holding the revolver in one hand, picked a +steel rod from the rumble of the automobile and pushing aside the flap +of the little tent entered. The tail-lamp of the car burned inside, +dimly lighting the place. + +The Major was about to follow Wampus when a revolver shot arrested +him. This sound was followed by a quick thumping against the ground of +the steel bar, and then Wampus emerged from the tent holding a dark, +squirming object on the end of the rod extended before him. + +"What is it?" asked Mr. Merrick, somewhat startled. + +"Rattlesnake," said Wampus, tossing the thing into the sagebrush. "I +see him crawl in tent while you eat supper." + +"Why did you not tell us?" cried the Major excitedly. + +"I thought him perhaps crawl out again. Him sometime do that. But no. +Mister snake he go sleep in tent which is reserve for his superior. I +say nothing, for I do not wish to alarm the young ladies. That is why +I hold the dog Mumble so tight, for he small eye see snake too, an' +fool dog wish to go fight him. Rattlesnake soon eat Mumble up--eh? But +never mind; there is no worry. I am Wampus, an' I am here. You go to +bed now, an' sleep an' be safe." + +He said this rather ostentatiously, and for that reason neither of the +others praised his watchful care or his really brave act. That Wampus +was proving himself a capable and faithful servant even the Major was +forced to admit, yet the man's bombast and self-praise robbed him of +any word of commendation he justly earned. + +"I think," said Uncle John, "I'll bunk on the front seat to-night. I'm +short, you see, and will just about curl up in the space. I believe +snakes do not climb up wheels. Make my bed on the front seat, Wampus." + +The man grinned but readily obeyed. The Major watched him +thoughtfully. + +"For my part," he said, "I'll have a bed made on top the roof." + +"Pshaw!" said Uncle John; "you'll scratch the paint." + +"That is a matter of indifference to me," returned the Major. + +"You'll roll off, in your sleep, and hurt yourself." + +"I'll risk that, sir." + +"Are you afraid, Major?" + +"Afraid! Me? Not when I'm awake, John. But what's to prevent more of +those vermin from crawling into the tent during the night?" + +"Such thing very unusual." remarked Wampus, placing the last blanket +on Mr. Merrick's improvised bed. "Perhaps you sleep in tent a week an' +never see another rattler." + +"Just the same," concluded the Major, "I'll have my bed on top the +limousine." + +He did, Wampus placing blankets and a pillow for him without a word of +protest. The Major climbed over Uncle John and mounted to the roof of +the car, which sloped to either side but was broad and long enough +to accommodate more than one sleeper. Being an old campaigner and a +shrewd tactician, Major Doyle made two blankets into rolls, which he +placed on either side of him, to "anchor" his body in position. Then +he settled himself to rest beneath the brilliant stars while the +coyotes maintained their dismal howling. But a tired man soon becomes +insensible to even such annoyances. + +The girls, having entered the limousine from the door opposite the +tent, were all unaware of the rattlesnake episode and supposed the +shot had been directed against the coyotes. They heard the Major +climbing upon the roof, but did not demand any explanation, being deep +in those bedtime confidences so dear to all girls. Even they came +to disregard the persistent howls of the coyotes, and in time fell +asleep. + +Wampus did not seem afraid of snakes. The little chauffeur went to bed +in the tent and slept soundly upon his cot until daybreak, when the +coyotes withdrew and the Canadian got up to make the coffee. + +The Major peered over the edge of the roof to watch him. He had a +sleepy look about his eyes, as if he had not rested well. Uncle John +was snoring with gentle regularity and the girls were still asleep. + +"Wampus," said the Major, "do you know the proper definition of a +fool?" + +Wampus reflected, stirring the coffee carefully. + +"I am not--what you call him?--a dictionairre; no. But I am Wampus. I +have live much in very few year. I would say a fool is man who think +he is wise. For what is wise? Nothing!" + +The Major felt comforted. + +"It occurred to me," he said, beginning to climb down from the roof, +"that a fool was a man who left a good home for this uncomfortable +life on a barren desert. This country wasn't made for humans; it +belongs to the coyotes and the rattlesnakes. What right have we to +intrude upon them, then?" + +Wampus did not reply. It was not his business to criticise his +employers. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A REAL ADVENTURE AT LAST + + +Uncle John woke up when the Major inadvertently placed a heel upon his +round stomach on the way to the ground. The chubby little millionaire +had slept excellently and was in a genial humor this morning. He +helped Wampus fry the bacon and scramble the eggs, while the Major +called the girls. + +It proved a glorious sunrise and the air was full of pure ozone. They +had suffered little from cold during the trip, although it was in +the dead of winter and the altitude considerable. Just now they were +getting closer to California every hour, and when they descended from +the mesa it would gradually grow warmer. + +They were all becoming expert at "breaking camp," and preparing for +the road. Beth and Patsy put away the bedding and "made up" the +interior of the limousine for traveling. The Major and Uncle John +folded the tent and packed it away, while Wampus attended to the +dishes and tinware and then looked over his car. In a surprisingly +short time they were all aboard and the big machine was gliding over +the faint trail. + +The mesa was not a flat or level country, for they were still near to +the mountain ranges. The way was up hill and down, in gentle slopes, +and soon after starting they breasted the brow of a hill and were +confronted by half a dozen mounted men, who seemed as much astonished +at the encounter as they were. + +It being an event to meet anyone in this desolate place Wampus +involuntarily brought the car to a halt, while the riders lined up +beside it and stared rather rudely at the party. They were dressed as +cowboys usually are, with flannel shirts, chapelets and sombrero hats; +but their faces were not rugged nor healthy, as is the case with most +Western cowboys, but bore marks of dissipation and hard living. + +"Remittance men," whispered Wampus. + +Uncle John nodded. He had heard of this curious class. Especially were +the men staring at the three pretty, feminine faces that peered from +the interior of the limousine. They had remained silent thus far, but +now one of them, a fellow with dark eyes and a sallow complexion, +reined his horse nearer the car and removed his hat with a sweeping +gesture that was not ungraceful. + +"A merry morning to you, fair ladies--or angels--I much misdoubt which +we have chanced upon. Anyhow, welcome to Hades!" + +Uncle John frowned. He did not like the bantering, impudent tone. Beth +flushed and turned aside her head; Myrtle shrank back in her corner +out of sight; but Patsy glared fixedly at the speaker with an +expression that was far from gracious. The remittance man did not seem +daunted by this decided aversion. A sneering laugh broke from his +companions, and one of them cried: + +"Back up, Algy, and give your betters a chance. You're out of it, old +man." + +"I have no betters," he retorted. Then, turning to the girls again and +ignoring the presence of the men accompanying them, he continued: + +"Beauteous visions, since you have wilfully invaded the territory of +Hades Ranch, of which diabolical domain I, Algernon Tobey, am by grace +of his Satanic majesty the master, I invite you to become my guests +and participate in a grand ball which I shall give this evening in +your honor." + +His comrades laughed again, and one of them shouted: + +"Good for you, Algy. A dance--that's the thing!" + +"Why, we haven't had the chance of a dance for ages," said another +approvingly. + +"Because we have had no ladies to dance with," explained Algy. "But +here are three come to our rescue--perhaps more, if I could see inside +that barricade--and they cannot refuse us the pleasure of their +society." + +"Sir," said Major Doyle, stiffly, "you are pleased to be impertinent. +Ride on, you rascals, and spare us further sight of you." + +The man turned upon him a scowling face. + +"Don't interfere," he said warningly. "This isn't your party, you old +duffer!" + +"Drive ahead, Wampus," commanded Uncle John. + +Wampus had to get out and crank the engines, which he calmly proceeded +to do. The man who had called himself Algernon Tobey perceived his +intention and urged his pony to the front of the car. + +"Let that thing alone. Keep your hands off!" he said. + +Wampus paid no attention. The fellow brought his riding whip down +sharply on the chauffeur's shoulders, inflicting a stinging blow. +Instantly little Wampus straightened up, grasped Tobey by the leg +and with a swift, skillful motion jerked him from his horse. The man +started to draw his revolver, but in an instant he and Wampus were +rolling together upon the ground and the Canadian presently came +uppermost and held his antagonist firmly between his knees. Then +with deliberation he raised his clinched fist and thrust it forcibly +against Mr. Tobey's eye, repeating the impact upon his nose, his chin +and his cheek in a succession of jarring thumps that were delivered +with scientific precision. Algy fairly howled, kicking and struggling +to be free. None of his comrades offered to interfere and it seemed +they were grimly enjoying the punishment that was being; inflicted +upon their leader. + +When Wampus had quite finished his work he arose, adjusted his +disarranged collar and tie and proceeded to crank the engines. Then he +climbed into his seat and started the car with a sudden bound. As he +did so a revolver shot rang out and one of the front tires, pierced by +the bullet, ripped itself nearly in two as it crumpled up. A shout of +derisive laughter came from the cowboys. Algy was astride his pony +again, and as Wampus brought the damaged car to a stop the remittance +men dashed by and along the path, taking the same direction Uncle +John's party was following". Tobey held back a little, calling out: + +"Au revoir! I shall expect you all at my party. I'm going now to get +the fiddler." + +He rejoined his comrades then, and they all clattered away until a +roll of the mesa hid them from sight. + +Uncle John got down from his seat to assist his chauffeur. + +"Thank you, Wampus," he said. "Perhaps you should have killed him +while you had the opportunity; but you did very well." + +Wampus was wrestling with the tire. + +"I have never start a private graveyard," he replied, "for reason I +am afraid to hurt anyone. But I am Wampus. If Mister Algy he dance +to-night, somebody mus' lead him, for he will be blind." + +"I never met such a lawless brood in my life," prowled the Major, +indignantly. "If they were in New York they'd be put behind the bars +in two minutes." + +"But they are in Arizona--in the wilderness," said Uncle John gravely. +"If there are laws here such people do not respect them." + +It took a long time to set the new tire and inflate it, for the outer +tube was torn so badly that an extra one had to be substituted. But +finally the task was accomplished and once more they renewed their +journey. + +Now that they were alone with their friends the girls were excitedly +gossiping over the encounter. + +"Do you really suppose we are on that man's ground--his ranch, as he +calls it?" asked Myrtle, half fearfully. + +"Why, I suppose someone owns all this ground, barren as it is," +replied Patsy. "But we are following a regular road--not a very good +one, nor much traveled; but a road, nevertheless--and any road is +public property and open for the use of travelers." + +"Perhaps we shall pass by their ranch house," suggested Beth. + +"If we do," Uncle John answered, "I'll have Wampus put on full speed. +Even their wild ponies can't follow us then, and if they try shooting +up the tires again they are quite likely to miss as we spin by." + +"Isn't there any other road?" the Major asked. + +Wampus shook his head. + +"I have never come jus' this same route before," he admitted; "but I +make good friend in Prescott, who know all Arizona blindfold. Him say +this is nice, easy road and we cannot get lost for a good reason--the +reason there is no other road at all--only this one." + +"Did your friend say anything about Hades Ranch?" continued the +questioner. + +"He say remittance man make much mischief if he can; but he one +foreign coward, drunk most time an' when sober weak like my aunt's +tea. He say don't let remittance man make bluff. No matter how many +come, if you hit one they all run." + +"H-m," murmured Uncle John, "I'm not so sure of that, Wampus. There +seems to be a good many of those insolent rascals, and I hope we shall +not meet them again. They may give us trouble yet." + +"Never be afraid," advised the chauffeur. "I am Wampus, an' I am +here!" + +Admitting that evident truth, our tourists were not greatly reassured. +Wampus could not tell where the road might lead them, for he did not +know, save that it led by devious winds to Parker, on the border +between Arizona and California; but what lay between them and that +destination was a sealed book to them all. + +The car was heavy and the road soft; so in spite of their powerful +engines the car was not making more than fifteen miles an hour. A +short ride brought them to a ridge, from the top of which they saw a +huddle of buildings not far distant, with a near-by paddock containing +a number of ponies and cattle. The buildings were not palatial, being +composed mostly of adobe and slab wood; but the central one, probably +the dwelling or ranch house, was a low, rambling pile covering +considerable ground. + +The road led directly toward this group of buildings, which our +travelers at once guessed to be "Hades Ranch." Wampus slowed down and +cast a sharp glance around, but the land on either side of the trail +was thick with cactus and sagebrush and to leave the beaten path meant +a puncture almost instantly. There was but one thing to be done. + +"Pretty good road here," said Wampus. "Hold tight an' don't get scare. +We make a race of it." + +"Go ahead," returned Uncle John, grimly. "If any of those scoundrels +get in your way, run them down." + +"I never like to hurt peoples; but if that is your command, sir, I +will obey," said Wampus, setting his jaws tightly together. + +The car gathered speed and shot over the road at the rate of twenty +miles an hour; then twenty-five--then thirty--and finally forty. The +girls sat straight and looked eagerly ahead. Forms were darting here +and there among the buildings of the ranch, quickly congregating in +groups on either side of the roadway. A red flag fluttered in the +center of the road, some four feet from the ground. + +"Look out!" shouted Uncle John. "Stop, Wampus; stop her, I say!" + +Wampus saw why, and applied his brakes. The big car trembled, slowed +down, and came to a stop less than a foot away from three ugly bars of +barbed wire which had been placed across the road. They were now just +beside the buildings, and a triumphant shout greeted them from their +captors, the remittance men. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +CAPTURED + + +"Welcome to Hades!" cried a stout little man in a red blouse, sticking +his leering countenance through the door of the limousine. + +"Shut up, Stubby," commanded a hoarse voice from the group. "Haven't +you any manners? You haven't been introduced yet." + +"I've engaged the dark eyed one for the first dance," persisted +Stubby, as a dozen hands dragged him away from the door. + +The Major sprang out and confronted the band. + +"What are we to understand by this outrage?" he demanded fiercely. + +"It means you are all invited to a party, and we won't accept any +regrets," replied a laughing voice. + +Patsy put her head out of the window and looked at the speaker. It was +Mr. Algernon Tobey. He had two strips of sticking plaster over his +nose. One of his eyes was swollen shut and the other was almost +closed. Yet he spoke in a voice more cheerful than it was when they +first met him. + +"Don't be afraid," he added. "No one has the slightest intention of +injuring any of you in any way, I assure you." + +"We have not the same intention in regard to you, sir," replied Major +Doyle, fuming with rage, for his "Irish was up," as he afterward +admitted. "Unless you at once remove that barricade and allow us to +proceed we will not be responsible for what happens. You are warned, +sir!" + +Uncle John, by this time standing beside the Major upon the ground, +had been quietly "sizing up the situation," as he would have expressed +it. He found they had been captured by a party of fourteen men, most +of whom were young, although three or four, including Tobey, were +of middle age. The atmosphere of the place, with its disorderly +surroundings and ill kept buildings, indicated that Hades Ranch was +bachelor quarters exclusively. Half a dozen Mexicans and one or two +Chinamen were in the background, curious onlookers. + +Mr. Merrick noted the fact that the remittance men were an unkempt, +dissipated looking crew, but that their faces betokened reckless good +humor rather than desperate evil. There was no doubt but most of +them were considering this episode in the light of a joke, and were +determined to enjoy the experience at the expense of their enforced +guests. + +Uncle John had lived many years in the West and knew something of +these peculiar English exiles. Therefore he was neither frightened +nor unduly angry, but rather annoyed by the provoking audacity of the +fellows. He had three young girls to protect and knew these men could +not be fit acquaintances for them. But he adopted a tone different +from the Major's and addressed himself to Tobey as the apparent leader +of the band. + +"Sir," he said calmly but with pointed emphasis, "I believe you were +born a gentleman, as were your comrades here." + +"You are right," answered Tobey. "And each and every one you see +before you has fallen from his former high estate--through no fault +of his own." This may have been a sarcasm, for the others laughed in +boisterous approval. "In some respects we are still gentlemen," Tobey +went on, "but in others we are not to be trusted. Be reasonable, +sir--I haven't the faintest idea who you are or what your name is--and +consider calmly our proposition. Here we are, a number of young +fellows who have seen better and happier days, living alone in the +midst of an alkali desert. Most of us haven't seen a female for +months, nor a lady for years. Why, last fall Stubby there rode eighty +miles to Buxton, just to stand on a corner and see a lot of greasy +Mexican women go by. We tire of exclusive male society, you see. We +get to bore one another terribly. So here, like a visitation from +heaven, three attractive young ladies descend upon us, traveling +through our domain, and having discovered their presence we instantly +decided to take advantage of the opportunity and invite them to an +impromptu ball. There's no use refusing us, for we insist on carrying +out our plan. If you men, perhaps the fathers of the young ladies, +behave reasonably, we will entertain you royally and send you on your +way rejoicing. Won't we, boys?" + +They shouted approval. + +"But if you oppose us and act ugly about this fête, gentlemen, we +shall be obliged to put a few bullets into you, and decide afterward +what disposition to make of the girls. About the best stunt we do is +shooting. We can't work; we're too poor to gamble much; but we hunt +a good bit and we can shoot straight. I assure you we wouldn't mind +losing and taking a few lives if a scrimmage is necessary. Eh, boys?" + +"That's right, Algy," said one, answering for the others; "we'll have +that dance if we die for it--ev'ry man Jack of us." + +Myrtle was trembling in her corner of the limousine. Beth sat still +with a curl on her lips. But Patsy was much interested in the +proceedings and had listened attentively to the above conversation. +Now the girl suddenly swung open the door and sprang out beside her +father, facing the group of cowboys. + +"I am Patricia Doyle," she said in a clear voice, "and these +gentlemen," indicating the Major and Mr. Merrick, "are my father and +my uncle. You understand perfectly why they object to the arrangement +you suggest, as any one of you would object, had you a daughter in +a like position. But you are arbitrary and not inclined to respect +womanhood. Therefore but one course is open to us--to submit under +protest to the unwelcome attentions you desire to thrust upon us." + +They listened silently to this frank speech, and some of their faces +wore crestfallen expressions by the time she had finished. Indeed, +one of the older men turned on his heel and walked away, disappearing +among the buildings. After a brief hesitation a delicate young +fellow--almost a boy--followed this man, his face flaming red with +shame. But the others stood their ground. + +"Very good, Miss Doyle," remarked Tobey, with forced cheerfulness. +"You are quite sensible to submit to the inevitable. Bring out your +friends and introduce them, and then we'll all go in to luncheon and +prepare for the dance." + +"I won't submit to this!" cried the Major, stamping his foot angrily. + +"Yes, you will," said Uncle John, with a motion preventing his irate +brother-in-law from drawing a revolver, "Patsy is quite right, and we +will submit with as much dignity as we can muster, being overpowered +by numbers." + +He beckoned to Beth, who stepped out of the car and assisted Myrtle +to follow her. A little cheer of bravado had arisen from the group, +inspired by their apparent victory; but when Myrtle's crutches +appeared and they saw the fair, innocent face of the young girl who +rested upon them, the shout died away in a hush of surprise. + +"This is my cousin, Elizabeth De Graf," announced Patsy, with cold +deliberation, determined that the proprieties should be observed in +all intercourse with these people. "And I present our friend, Myrtle +Dean. Under ordinary circumstances I believe Myrtle would be excused +from dancing, but I suppose no brute in the form of a man would have +consideration for her infirmity." + +This time even Tobey flushed. + +"You've a sharp tongue, Miss Doyle, and it's liable to lead you into +trouble," he retorted, losing for the moment his suave demeanor. "We +may be brutes--and I imagine we are--but we're not dangerous unless +provoked." + +It was savagely said, and Uncle John took warning and motioned Patsy +to be silent. + +"Lead the way, sir," he said. "Our chauffeur will of course remain +with the car." + +Wampus had kept his seat, motionless and silent. He only nodded in +answer to Mr. Merrick's instructions and was entirely disregarded by +the remittance men. + +The man called "Stubby," who had a round, good-humored face, stepped +eagerly to Myrtle's side and exclaimed: "Let me assist you, please." + +"No," she said, shaking her head with a wan smile; "I am quite able to +walk alone." + +He followed her, though, full of interest and with an air of deep +respect that belied his former actions. Tobey, content with his +present success, walked beside Mr. Merrick and led the procession +toward the ranch house. The Major followed, his tall form upright, his +manner bellicose and resentful, with Beth and Patsy on either side of +him. The remittance men followed in a straggling crowd, laughing and +boisterously talking among themselves. Just as they reached the house +a horseman came clattering down the road and all paused involuntarily +to mark the new arrival. The rider was a handsome, slim young fellow, +dressed as were the other cowboys present, and he came on at a +breakneck speed that seemed only warranted by an errand of life and +death. + +In front of him, tied to the saddle, appeared a huge bundle, and as +the horse dashed up to the group standing by the ranch house the rider +gracefully threw himself off and removed his hat with a sweeping +gesture as he observed the young ladies. + +"I've got him, Algy!" he cried merrily. + +"Dan'l?" asked Tobey. + +"Dan'l himself." He pointed to the bundle, which heaved and wriggled +to show it was alive. "He refused to come willingly, of course; so +I brought him anyhow. Never yet was there a fiddler willing to be +accommodating." + +"Good for you, Tim!" shouted a dozen voices. And Stubby added in his +earnest way; "Dan'l was never more needed in his life." + +Tobey was busy unwinding a long lariat that bent the captive nearly +double and secured him firmly to the panting horse. When the bonds +were removed Dan'l would have tumbled prone to the ground had not +willing hands caught him and supported him upon his feet. Our friends +then observed that he was an aged man with a face thickly furrowed +with wrinkles. He had but one eye, small and gray and very shrewd in +expression, which he turned contemptuously upon the crowd surrounding +him. Numb and trembling from his cramped position upon the horse and +the terrible jouncing he had endured, the fiddler could scarcely stand +at first and shook as with a palsy; but he made a brave effort to +control his weakness and turned smilingly at the murmur of pity and +indignation that came from the lips of the girls. + +"Where's the fiddle?" demanded Tobey, and Tim unhooked a calico bag +from the saddlebow and held it out. A laugh greeted the gesture. + +"Dan'l said he be hanged if he'd come," announced Tim, with a grim +appreciation of the humorous side of the situation; "so I hung him and +brought him along--and his fiddle to boot. But don't boot it until +after the dance." + +"What do you mean, sir, by this rebellious attitude?" questioned +Tobey, sticking his damaged face close to that of the fiddler. + +Dan'l blinked with his one eye but refused to answer. + +"I've a good mind to skin you alive," continued the leader, in a +savage tone. "You'll either obey my orders or I'll throw you into the +snake pit." + +"Let him alone, Algy," said Tim, carelessly. "The old scoundrel has +been tortured enough already. But I see we have partners for the +dance," looking critically at the girls, "and I claim first choice +because I've brought the fiddler." + +At this a roar of protest arose and Tobey turned and said sullenly: + +"Come in, all of you. We'll settle the order of dancing later on." + +The interior of the ranch house was certainly picturesque. A great +living room ran all across the front, with an immense fireplace +built of irregular adobe bricks. The floor was strewn with skins of +animals--mostly coyotes, a few deer and one or two mountain lions--and +the walls were thickly hung with weapons and trophies of the chase. +A big table in one corner was loaded with bottles and glasses, +indicating the intemperate habits of the inmates, while on the chimney +shelf were rows of pipes and jars of tobacco. An odor similar to that +of a barroom hung over the place which the air from the open windows +seemed unable to dissipate. + +There were plenty of benches and chairs, with a long mess table +occupying the center of the room. In a corner was an old square piano, +which a Mexican was trying to dust as the party entered. + +"Welcome to Hades!" exclaimed Tobey, with an absurd gesture. "Be good +enough to make yourselves at home and I'll see if those devils of +Chinamen are getting luncheon ready." + +Silently the prisoners sat down. The crowd poured in after them and +disposed themselves in various attitudes about the big room, all +staring with more or less boldness at the three girls. Dan'l the +fiddler was pushed in with the others and given a seat, while two or +three of the imitation cowboys kept guard over him to prevent any +possible escape. So far the old man had not addressed a word to +anyone. + +With the absence of the leader the feeling of restraint seemed to +relax. The cowboys began whispering among themselves and chuckling +with glee, as if they were enjoying some huge joke. Stubby had placed +himself near the three young ladies, whom he eyed with adoring +glances, and somehow none of the prisoners regarded this childish +young fellow in exactly the same light as they did his comrades. Tim, +his attitude full of grace as he lounged against a settle, was also +near the group. He seemed a bit thoughtful since his dramatic arrival +and had little to say to anyone. + +Mr. Merrick engaged Stubby in conversation. + +"Does Mr. Tobey own this place?" he asked. + +"By proxy, yes," was the reply. "It isn't in his name, you know, +although that doesn't matter, for he couldn't sell his desert ranch if +he had a title to it. I suppose that is what his folks were afraid +of. Algy is the fourth son of old Lord Featherbone, and got into a +disgraceful mess in London some years ago. So Featherbone shipped +him over here, in charge of a family solicitor who hunted out this +sequestered spot, bought a couple of thousand acres and built this +hut. Then he went home and left Algy here to keep up the place on a +paltry ten pounds--fifty dollars--a month." + +"Can he manage to do that?" asked Uncle John. + +"Why, he has to, you see. He's got together a few cattle, mostly +stolen I imagine; but he doesn't try to work the land. Moreover he's +established this community, composed of his suffering fellow exiles, +the secret of which lies in the fact that we work the cooperative +plan, and all chip in our remittances to boil the common pot. We can +keep more servants and buy more food and drink, that way, than if each +one of us lived separately." + +"Up in Oregon," said Mr. Merrick, "I've known of some very successful +and prosperous ranchmen among the remittance men." + +"Oh, we're all kinds, I suppose, good and bad," admitted Stubby. "This +crew's mostly bad, and they're moderately proud of it. It's a devil +of a life, sir, and Hades Ranch is well named. I've only been here a +month. Had a little property up North; but the sheriff took it for +debt, and that forced me to Algy, whom I detest. I think I'll move on, +before long. But you see I'm limited. Can't leave Arizona or I'll get +my remittance cut off." + +"Why were you sent here into exile?" asked Myrtle artlessly. + +He turned red and refused to meet her eyes. + +"Went wrong, Miss," he said, "and my folks wouldn't stand for +it. We're all in the same boat," sweeping his arm around, "doing +punishment for our misdeeds." + +"Do none of you ever reform?" inquired Patsy. + +"What's the use? We're so far away from home no one there would ever +believe in our reformation. Once we become outcasts, that's the end +of our careers. We're buried in these Western wilds and allowed just +enough to keep alive." + +"I would think," said Uncle John musingly, "that the manly way would +be to cut yourself off entirely from your people at home and go to +some city in the United States where honesty and industry would win a +new name for you. Then you could be respected and happy and become of +use to the world." + +Stubby laughed. + +"That has been tried," he replied; "but few ever made a success of it. +We're generally the kind that prefers idleness to work. My family is +wealthy, and I don't mind taking from them what little they give me +willingly and all that I can screw out of them besides. I'm in for +life, as the saying is, and I've no especial ambition except to drink +myself to death as soon as possible." + +Patsy shuddered. It seemed a horrible thing to be so utterly hopeless. +Could this young fellow have really merited his fate? + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE FIDDLER + + +Tim had listened carelessly to the conversation until now, when he +said listlessly: + +"Don't think us all criminals, for we're not. In my own case I did +nothing to deserve exile except that I annoyed my elder brother by +becoming more popular with our social set than he was. He had all the +property and I was penniless, so he got rid of me by threatening to +cut off my allowance unless I went to America and stayed there." + +"And you accepted such a condition?" cried Patsy, scornfully. "Why +were you not independent enough to earn your own living?" + +He shrugged his shoulders, yet seemed amused. + +"I simply couldn't," said he. "I was not educated to work, you know, +and to do so at home would be to disgrace my noble family. I've too +much respect for my lineage to labor with my hands or head." + +"But here in America no one would know you," suggested Beth. + +"I would only humiliate myself by undertaking such a task. And why +should I do so? While I am in America my affectionate brother, the +head of the family, supports me, as is his duty. Your philosophy is +pretty enough, but it is not practical. The whole fault lies in our +old-fashioned system of inheritance, the elder male of a family +getting all the estate and the younger ones nothing at all. Here, in +this crude and plebeian country, I believe it is the custom to provide +for all one's children, and a father is at liberty to do so because +his estate is not entailed." + +"And he earns it himself and can do what he likes with it," added +Uncle John, impatiently. "Your system of inheritance and entail may +be somewhat to blame, but your worst fault is in rearing a class of +mollycoddles and social drones who are never of benefit to themselves +or the world at large. You, sir, I consider something less than a +man." + +"I agree with you," replied Tim, readily. "I'm only good to cumber the +earth, and if I get little pleasure out of life I must admit that it's +all I'm entitled to." + +"And you can't break your bonds and escape?" asked Patsy. + +"I don't care to. People who are ambitious to do things merely bore +me. I don't admire them or care to imitate them." + +From that moment they took no further interest in the handsome +outcast. His world was not their world. + +And now Tobey came in, driving before him a lot of Mexicans bearing +trays of food. The long table was laid in a moment, for everything +was dumped upon it without any attempt at order. Each of the cowboys +seized a plate from a pile at one end and helped himself to whatever +he wanted. + +Two or three of the men, however, were courteous enough to attend to +their unwilling guests and see they were served as well as conditions +would permit The food was plentiful and of good quality, but although +none of Uncle John's party was squeamish or a stickler for form, all +more or less revolted from the utter disregard of all the proprieties. + +"I'm sorry we have no wine; but there's plenty of whiskey, if you like +it," remarked Tobey. + +The girls were silent and ate little, although they could not help +being interested in observing the bohemianism of these gently reared +but decadent sons of respectable English families. As soon as they +could they left the table, and Tobey, observing their uneasiness in +spite of his damaged and nearly useless optics, decided to send them +to another room where they could pass the afternoon without further +annoyance. Stubby escorted the party and ushered them into a good +sized room which he said was "Algy's study," although no one ever +studied there. + +"Algy's afraid you'll balk at the dance; so he wants to please you +however he can," remarked the round faced youth. "You won't mind being +left alone, will you?" + +"We prefer it, sir," answered the Major, stiffly. + +"You see, we're going to have a rare lark this afternoon," continued +Stubby, confidentially. "Usually it's pretty dull here, and all we +can do is ride and hunt--play cards and quarrel. But your coming has +created no end of excitement and this dance will be our red-letter day +for a long time to come. The deuce of if is, however, that there are +only two girls to dance with thirteen men. We limit our community to +fifteen, you know; but little Ford and old Rutledge have backed down +and won't have anything to do with this enterprise. I don't know why," +he continued, thoughtfully. + +"Perhaps they still have some gentlemanly instincts," suggested Patsy. + +"That must be it," he replied in a relieved tone. "Well, anyhow, +to avoid quarrels and bloodshed we've agreed to throw dice for the +dances. Every one is to have an equal chance, you see, and when you +young ladies open the dance the entire programme will be arranged for +you." + +"Are we to have no choice in the matter of partners?" inquired Beth +curiously. + +"None whatever. There would surely be a row, in that case, and we +intend to have everything; pass off pleasantly if we have to kill a +few to keep the peace." + +With this Stubby bowed low and retreated toward the door, which +suddenly opened to admit old Dan'l the fiddler, who was thrust in +so violently that his body collided with that of Stubby and nearly +knocked him over. + +"That's all right," laughed the remittance man, recovering from the +shock. "You mustn't escape, you know, Dan'l, for we depend on you for +the music." + +He closed the door as he went out and they all heard a bolt shoot into +place. Yet the broad window, scarcely six feet from the ground, stood +wide open to admit the air. + +Dan'l stood in the middle of the room, motionless for a moment. Then +he raised his wrinkled face and clinched his fists, shaking them in +the direction of the living-room. + +"Me!" he muttered; "me play for dese monkeys to dance--me! a +maestro--a composer--a artiste! No; I vill nod! I vill die before I +condescention to such badness, such mockery!" + +They were the first words he had spoken since his arrival, and they +seemed to hold all his pentup indignation. The girls pitied the old +man and, recognizing in him a fellow prisoner, sought to comfort him. + +"If the dance depends upon us, there will be no dance," said Patsy, +firmly. + +"I thought you advised submitting to the whim of these ruffians," said +Uncle John in surprise. + +"Only to gain time, Uncle. And the scheme has succeeded. Now is our +time to plot and plan how to outwit our enemies." + +"Goot!" cried Dan'l approvingly. "I help you. Dey are vermin--pah! I +vould kill dem all mitout mercifulness, unt be glad!" + +"It won't be necessary to kill them, I hope," said Beth, smiling. "All +we wish is to secure our escape." + +"Vot a time dey make me!" said Dan'l, more calmly. "You see, I am +living peacefulness in mine bungalow by der river--ten mile away. Dot +brute Tim, he come unt ask me to fiddle for a dance. I--fiddle! Ven I +refuse me to do it, he tie me up unt by forcibleness elope mit me. Iss +id nod a crime--a vickedness--eh?" + +"It certainly is, sir," said Uncle John. "But do not worry. These +girls have some plan in their heads, I'm sure, and if we manage to +escape we will carry you home in safety. Now, my dears, what is it?" + +"Oh, we've only begun to think yet," said Patsy, and walked to the +window. All but Myrtle and Dan'l followed her. + +Below the window was a jungle of cactus, with hundreds of spines as +slender and sharp as stilettos sticking in every direction. + +"H-m; this room is burglar proof," muttered Uncle John, with marked +disappointment. + +"It also makes an excellent prison," added Patsy. "But I suspected +something of this sort when I saw they had left the window open. We +can't figure on getting out that way, you see." + +"Id vould be suiciding," Dan'l said, mournfully shaking his head. "If +dese fiends were as goot as dey are clefer, dey vould be angels." + +"No argument seems to prevail with them," remarked Beth. "They are +lawless and merciless, and in this far-away country believe they may +do as they please." + +"They're as bad as the bandits of Taormina," observed Patsy, smiling +at the recollection of an adventure they had abroad; "but we must find +some way to evade them." + +Dan'l had gone over to Myrtle's corner and stood staring at her with +his one shrewd eye. Uncle John looked thoughtfully out of the window +and saw Wampus busy in the road before the house. He had his coat off +and was cutting the bars of barbed wire and rolling them out of the +way, while Mumbles, who had been left with him, ran here and there at +his heels as if desiring to assist him. + +From the big hall, or living room, at the right came a dull roar of +voices, subdued shouts and laughter, mingled with the clinking of +glasses. All the remittance men were gathered there deep in the game +of dice which was to determine the order in which they were to dance +with Beth and Patsy. The servants were out of sight. Wampus had the +field to himself. + +"Come here," said Uncle John to the girls, and when they stood beside +him pointed to the car. "Wampus is making ready for the escape," he +continued. "He has cleared the road and the way is now open if we can +manage to get to the machine. Has your plan matured yet?" + +Patsy shook her head. + +"Not yet, Uncle," she replied. + +"Couldn't Wampus throw us a rope?" inquired the Major. + +"He could," said Uncle John; "but we would be unable to use it. Those +terrible cactus spines are near enough to spear anyone who dared try +to slide down a rope. Think of something else." + +They all tried to do that, but no practical idea seemed forthcoming. + +"Oh, no," Dan'l was saying to Myrtle; "dey are nod afraid to shoot; +bud dey vill nod shoot ladies, belief me. Always dey carry refolfers +in deir belts--or deir holsterses. Dey eat mit refolfers; dey schleep +mit refolfers; dey hunt, dey quarrel, unt sometimes dey shoot each +odder--de best enactionment vot dey do. Bud dey do nod shoot at +ladies--nefer." + +"Will they wear their revolvers at the dance?" asked Beth, overhearing +this speech. + +"I belief id," said Dan'l, wagging his ancient head. "Dey like to be +ready to draw quick like, if anybody shteps on anybody's toes. Yes; of +course." + +"What a horrible idea!" exclaimed Patsy. + +"They're quite liable to dance and murder in the same breath," the +Major observed, gloomily. + +"I don't like it," said Beth. "It's something awful just to think of. +Haven't they any gallantry?" + +"No," answered Patsy. "But I wouldn't dance with a lot of half drunken +men wearing revolvers, if they burned me at the stake for refusing." + +"Ah! shtick to dat fine expressionment," cried Dan'l, eagerly. "Shtick +to id! Say you won't dance if dey wear de refolfers--unt den we win de +schweepstakes!" + +Patsy looked at him critically, in the instant catching a part of his +idea. + +"What do you mean?" she asked. + +Dan'l explained, while they all listened carefully, absorbed in +following in thought his unique suggestions. + +"Let's do it!" exclaimed Beth. "I'm sure the plan will succeed." + +"It's leaving a good deal to chance," objected Uncle John, with a +touch of nervousness. + +"There is an element of chance in everything," declared Patsy. "But +I'm sure we shall escape, Uncle. Why it's a regular coup!" + +"We take them by surprise, you know," explained the Major, who +heartily favored the idea. + +They talked it over for a time, perfecting the details, and then +became as calm and composed as a group of prisoners might. Uncle John +waved his handkerchief to attract the attention of Wampus, who stole +softly around the corner of the house and approached the window, +taking care to keep at a respectful distance from the dangerous +cactus. + +"Is everything ready?" inquired Uncle John in a subdued voice. + +"To be sure all is ready. Why not? I am Wampus!" was the reply, in +cautious tones. + +"Go back to the machine and guard it carefully, Wampus," commanded Mr. +Merrick. "We expect to escape soon after dark, so have the headlights +going, for we shall make a rush for it and there mustn't be a moment's +delay." + +"All right," said the chauffeur. "You may depend on me. I am Wampus, +an' not 'fraid of a hundred coward like these. Is not Mister Algy his +eye mos' beautiful blacked?" + +"It is," agreed Uncle John. "Go back to the car now, and wait for us. +Don't get impatient. We don't know just when we will join you, but it +will be as soon as we can manage it. What is Mumbles doing?" + +"Mumble he learn to be good automobilist. Jus' now he sit on seat an' +watch wheel to see nobody touch. If anybody touch, Mumble he eat him +up." + +They all laughed at this whimsical notion and it served to relieve the +strain of waiting. Wampus, grinning at the success of his joke, went +back to the limousine to inspect it carefully and adjust it in every +part until it was in perfect order. + +Now that a definite plan of action had been decided upon their spirits +rose considerably, and they passed the afternoon in eager anticipation +of the crisis. + +Rather earlier than expected Stubby and Tim came to say "they had been +appointed a committee to escort their guests to the banquet hall, +where dinner would at once be served." + +"We shall have to clear away for the dance," added Stubby, "so we want +to get the feast over with as quickly as possible. I hope you are all +hungry, for Algy has spread himself on this dinner and we are to +have every delicacy the ranch affords, regardless of expense. We can +economize afterward to make up for it." + +Elaborate preparations were not greatly in evidence, however. The +Mexican servants had washed themselves and the floor of the big room +had been swept and cleared of some of its rubbish; but that was all. +The remittance men were in their usual rough costumes and the air was +redolent with the fumes of liquor. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE ESCAPE + + +As the prisoners quietly took their places at the table Tobey, who +had been drinking hard, decided to make a speech. His face was badly +swollen and he could only see through a slit in one eye, so severe had +been the beating administered by Wampus earlier in the day; but the +fellow had grit, in spite of his other unmanly qualities, and his +imperturbable good humor had scarcely been disturbed by the punishment +the Canadian had inflicted upon him. + +"Ladies," said he, "and gentlemen--which of course includes our +respected male guests--I am happy to inform you that the programme for +the First Annual Hades Ranch Ball has finally been arranged, and the +dances apportioned in a fair and impartial manner. The Grand March +will take place promptly at seven o'clock, led by Miss Doyle and +Knuckles, who has won the privilege by throwing four sixes. I am to +follow with Miss De Graf, and the rest will troop on behind with the +privilege of looking at the ladies. If anyone dares to create disorder +his dances with the young ladies will be forfeited. Dan'l will play +the latest dance music on his fiddle, and if it isn't spirited +and up-to-date we'll shoot his toes off. We insist upon plenty of +two-steps and waltzes and will wind up with a monney-musk in the +gray light of dawn. This being fully understood, I beg you, my good +friends, to fall to and eat and be merry; but don't linger unduly over +the dainties, for we are all anxious, like good soldiers, to get into +action." + +The remittance men applauded this oratory, and incidentally attacked +the eatables with evident determination to obey their leader's +injunction. + +"We can eat any time," remarked Stubby, with his mouth full; "but +his Satanic majesty only knows when Hades Ranch will see another +dance--with real ladies for partners." + +The Chinese cooks and the Mexican servants had a lively time during +this meal, for the demands made upon them were incessant. Uncle John, +whose even disposition was seldom ruffled, ate with a good appetite, +while even the Major, glum and scowling, did not disdain the numerous +well-prepared dishes. As for Dan'l, he took full advantage of the +occasion and was the last one to leave the table. Our girls, however, +were too excited to eat much and little Myrtle, especially, was pallid +and uneasy and had a startled look in her eyes whenever anyone made a +sudden motion. + +As soon as the repast was concluded the servants cleared the long +table in a twinkling and pushed it back against the wall at one end of +the long room. A chair was placed for Dan'l on top of this expansive +board, which thus became a stage from whence he could overlook the +room and the dancers, and then two of the remittance men tossed the +old fiddler to his elevated place and commanded him to make ready. + +Dan'l said nothing and offered no resistance. He sat plaintively +sawing upon his ancient but rich-toned violin while the floor was +brushed, the chairs and benches pushed against the wall and the room +prepared for action. Behind the violinist was a low, broad window +facing a grass plot that was free from the terrifying cactus, and the +old man noted with satisfaction that it stood wide open. + +Uncle John's party had pressed close to the table and stood watching +the proceedings. + +"Ready now!" called Tobey; "the Grand March is about to begin. Take +your partners, boys. Look sharp, there, Dan'l, and give us a martial +tune that will lift our feet." + +Dan'l meekly set the violin underneath his chin and raised the bow as +if in readiness. "Knuckles," a brawny fellow with a florid face and a +peculiar squint, approached Patsy and bowed. + +"You're to lead with me, Miss," he said. "Are you ready?" + +"Not quite," she returned with dignified composure; "for I perceive +you are not quite ready yourself." + +"Eh? Why not?" he inquired, surprised. + +"You are still wearing your firearms," she replied. "I cannot and will +not dance with a man who carries a revolver." + +"That's nothing," he retorted. "We always do." + +"Always?" + +"Of course. And if I shed my gun what's to prevent some one else +getting the drop on me?" + +"That's it," said Patsy, firmly. "The weapons must all be surrendered +before we begin. We positively refuse to dance if rioting and shooting +are likely to occur." + +A murmur of protest arose at this speech, for all the remittance men +had gathered around to listen to the argument. + +"That's all tommy-rot," observed Handsome Tim, in a sulky tone. "We're +not spoiling for a row; it's the dance we're after." + +"Then give up the revolvers," said Beth, coming to her cousin's +assistance. "If this is to be a peaceful entertainment you will not +need to be armed, and it is absurd to suppose a lady will dance with a +gentleman who is a walking arsenal." + +They looked into one another's faces uncertainly. Dan'l sat softly +tuning his violin, as if uninterested in the controversy. Uncle John +and the Major looked on with seeming indifference. + +"You must decide which you prefer--the revolvers or the dance," +remarked Patsy, staring coolly into the ring of faces. + +"Would your English ladies at home consent to dance with armed men?" +asked Beth. + +"They're quite right, boys," said Stubby, nodding his bullethead. +"Let's agree to deposit all the shooting irons 'til the dance is +over." + +"I won't!" cried Knuckles, his scowl deepening. + +"By Jove, you will!" shouted Tobey, with unexpected vehemence. "You're +delaying the programme, old man, and it's a nuisance to dance in this +armor, anyway. Here--pile all your guns in this corner; every one of +you, mind. Then we shall all stand on an equal footing." + +"Put them on the table there, by the old fiddler," said Patsy; "then +we will know we are perfectly safe." + +Rather unwillingly they complied, each man walking up to the table and +placing his revolver at Dan'l's feet. The girls watched them intently. + +"That man over there is still armed," called Beth, pointing to a +swarthy Mexican who squatted near the door. + +"That's all right," said Tobey, easily. "He's our guard, Pedro. I've +stationed him there so you won't attempt to escape till we get ready +to let you go." + +Patsy laughed. + +"There's little danger of that," she said. + +"All ready, now!" exclaimed Knuckles, impatiently. "We're all as +harmless as doves. Let 'er go, Dan'l!" + +The old man was just then assisting Uncle John to lift Myrtle to the +top of the table, where the Major had placed a chair for her. Knuckles +growled, but waited until the girl was seated near the window. Then +Dan'l drew his bow and struck up a spirited march. Patsy took the arm +of Knuckles and paraded down the long room. Beth followed with Tobey, +and behind them tramped the remittance men in files of two. At the far +end were grouped the servants, looking curiously upon the scene, which +was lighted by lamps swung from the ceiling and a row of candles upon +the edge of the mantelshelf. + +To carry out the idea of a grand march Patsy drew her escort here and +there by sharp turns and half circles, the others trailing behind like +a huge snake until she had passed down the length of the room and +started to return up the other side to the starting point. So +engrossed had been the cowboys that they did not observe the Major and +Uncle John clamber upon the table and stand beside Myrtle. + +The procession was half way up the hall on its return when Patsy said +abruptly: "Now, Beth!" and darted away from her partner's side and +toward the table. Beth followed like a streak, being an excellent +runner, and for a moment Knuckles and Tobey, thus deserted by their +partners, stopped to watch them in amazement. Then their comrades +bumped into them and recalled them to their senses. + +By that time the two girls had reached the table and leaped upon it. +Uncle John was waving his handkerchief from the window as a signal +to Wampus; Dan'l had laid aside his fiddle and seized a revolver in +either hand, and the Major had caught up two more of the discarded +weapons. + +As Beth and Patsy turned, panting, and from their elevation looked up +the room, the cowboys gave a bellow of rage and rushed forward. + +"Keep back!" shouted the Major, in stentorian tones, "I'll shoot the +first man that interferes." + +Noting the grim determination in the old soldier's eye, they hesitated +and came to a halt. + +"What do you mean by this infernal nonsense?" cried Tobey, in disgust. + +"Why, it's just checkmate, and the game is up," replied Uncle John +amiably. "We've decided not to hold the proposed dance, but to take +our departure at once." + +He turned and passed Myrtle out of the window where Wampus took her +in his arms, crutches and all, and carried her to the automobile. The +remittance men, unarmed and confronted by their own revolvers, stood +gaping open-mouthed and seemingly dazed. + +"Let's rush 'em, boys!" shouted Handsome Tim, defiantly. + +"Rush 'em alone, if you like," growled Knuckles. "I'm not ready for +the graveyard yet." + +"You are vot iss called cowardices," said Dan'l, flourishing the +revolvers he held. "Come on mit der courage, somebotty, so I can shoot +holes in you." + +"You're building your own coffin just now, Dan'l," retorted Tobey, +in baffled rage. "We know where to get you, old boy, and we'll have +revenge for this night's work." + +"I vill take some popguns home mit me," was the composed reply. "Den, +ven you come, I vill make a receptioning for you. Eh?" + +Uncle John, Patsy and Beth had followed Myrtle through the window and +disappeared. + +"Now, sir," said the Major to the old fiddler, "make your escape while +I hold them at bay." + +"Nod yet," replied Dan'l. "Ve must gif ourselves de most +protectionment ve can." + +With this he gathered up the firearms, one by one, and tossed them +through the window. Then he straightened up and a shot flashed down +the hall and tumbled the big Mexican guard to the floor just as he was +about to glide through the doorway. + +"Dit ve say shtand still, or dit ve nod say shtand still?" asked +Dan'l, sternly. "If somebody gets hurt, it iss because he don'd obey +de orderations." + +"Go, sir!" commanded the Major. + +"I vill; bud I go last," declared the old man. "I follow you--see? Bud +you take my violin, please--unt be very tender of id, like id vas your +sveetheardt." + +The Major took the violin and climbed through the window, proceeding +to join the others, who were by now seated in the car. When he had +gone Dan'l prepared to follow, first backing toward the window and +then turning to make an agile leap to the ground below. And now with a +shout the cowboys made their rush, only to halt as Dan'l reappeared at +the window, covering them again with his revolvers. + +"So, you defils--make a listen to me," he called. "I am experiencing +a goot-bye to you, who are jackals unt imitation men unt haf no goot +right to be alive. Also if I see any of you de next time, I vill shoot +first unt apologise at der funeral. I haf no more monkey business mit +you voteffer; so keep vere you are until I am gone, unt you vill be +safeness." + +He slowly backed away from the window, and so thoroughly cowed was the +group of ruffians that the old fiddler had been lifted hastily into +the automobile before the cowboys mustered courage to leap through +the window and search in the darkness for their revolvers, which lay +scattered widely upon the ground. + +Wampus, chuckling gleefully, jerked the hoods off his glaring +searchlights, sprang to his seat and started the machine down the road +before the crack of a single revolver was heard in protest. The shots +came thicker after that, but now the automobile was bowling merrily +along the road and soon was out of range. + +"De road iss exceptionalment goot," remarked Dan'l. "Dere iss no +dangerousness from here to der rifer." + +"Danger?" said the chauffeur, scornfully. "Who cares for danger? I am +Wampus, an' I am here!" + +"We are all here," said Patsy, contentedly nestling against the +cushions; "and I'm free to confess that I'm mighty glad of it!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE ROMANCE OF DAN'L + + +It did not take them very long to reach the river, a muddy little +stream set below high banks. By Dan'l's direction they turned to +the left and followed the wind of the river for a mile or so until +suddenly out of the darkness loomed a quaint little bungalow which the +old German claimed to be his home. + +"I haf architectured it mineself, unt make it built as I like it. You +vill come in unt shtop der night mit me," he said, as Wampus halted +the machine before the door. + +There was a little murmur of protest at this, for the house appeared +to be scarcely bigger than the automobile. But Uncle John pointed out, +sensibly enough, that they ought not to undertake an unknown road at +nighttime, and that Spotville, the town for which they were +headed, was still a long way off. The Major, moreover, had a vivid +recollection of his last night's bed upon the roof of the limousine, +where he had crept to escape rattlesnakes, and was in no mood to again +camp out in the open while they traveled in Arizona. So he advocated +accepting Dan'l's invitation. The girls, curious to know how so many +could be accommodated in the bungalow, withdrew all further objections +and stood upon the low, pergola-roofed porch while their host went +inside to light the lamps. + +They were really surprised at the cosy aspect of the place. Half the +one-story dwelling was devoted to a living room, furnished simply but +with modest taste. A big square table was littered with music, much +being in manuscript--thus proving Dan'l's assertion that he was +a composer. Benches were as numerous as chairs, and all were +well-cushioned with tanned skins as coverings. A few good prints were +on the walls and the aspect of the place was entirely agreeable to the +old man's guests. + +As the room was somewhat chilly he made a fire in the ample fireplace +and then with an air of pride exhibited to his visitors his tiny +kitchen, his own bedroom and a storeroom, which occupied the remainder +of the space in the bungalow. He told them he would prepare beds in +the living room for the girls, give his own room to Mr. Merrick and +Major Doyle, while he and Wampus would bunk in the storeroom. + +"I haf much blankets," he said; "dere vill be no troubles to keep +varm." + +Afterward they sat before the fire and by the dim lights of the +kerosene lamps chatted together of the day's adventures. + +Uncle John asked Dan'l what had brought him to this deserted, +out-of-the-way spot, and the old man told his story in a manner that +amused them all greatly. + +"I haf been," said he, "much famous in my time, unt had a +individualness pointed out whereeffer I went. I vas orchestra leader +at the Theater Royal in Stuttgart, unt our king haf complimented me +many times. But I vas foolish. I vas foolish enough to think that ven +a man iss great he can stay great. I married me to a clefer prima +donna, unt composed a great opera, which vas finer as anything +Herr Wagner has efer done. Eh? But dere vas jealousness at work to +opposition me. Von day ven my fine opera vas all complete I vent +to the theater to lead mine orchestra. To my surprisement der Herr +Director tells me I can retire on a pension; I am too old unt he has +hired a younger man, who iss Herr Gabert. I go home bewildered unt +mishappy, to find that Herr Gabert has stole the score of mine opera +unt run avay mit mine vife. Vot I can do? Nothing. Herr Gabert he lead +my orchestra tint all der people applauds him. I am forgot. One day I +see our king compliment Herr Gabert. He produces my opera unt say he +compositioned it. Eferybody iss crazy aboud id, unt crown Herr Gabert +mit flowers. My vife sings in der opera. The people cheer her unt she +rides avay mit Herr Gabert in his carriage to a grand supper mit der +nobility unt der Herr Director. + +"I go home unt say: 'Who am I?' I answer: 'Nobody!' Am I now great? +No; I am a speck. Vot can I do? Veil, I go avay. I haf some money--a +leedle. I come to America. I do not like crowds any more. I like to be +alone mit my violin. I find dis place; I build dis house; I lif here +unt make happiness. My only neighbors are de remittance men, who iss +more mischiefing as wicked. Dey vill nod bother me much. So after a +time I die here. Vy nod? I am forgot in Stuttgart." + +There was pathos in the tale and his way of telling it. The old man +spoke cheerfully, but they could see before them the tragedy depicted +by his simple words. His hearers were all silent when he had +concluded, feeling they could say nothing to console him or lighten +his burden. Only Wampus, sitting in the background, looked scornfully +upon the man who had once been the idol of his townspeople. + +Dan'l took a violin from a shelf and began to play, softly but with +masterly execution. He caught their mood instantly. The harmony was +restful and contented. Patsy turned down the lamps, to let the flicker +of the firelight dominate the room, and Dan'l understood and blended +the flickering light into his melody. + +For a long time he continued to improvise, in a way that fairly +captivated his hearers, despite their varied temperaments, and made +them wonder at his skill. Then without warning he changed to a +stirring, martial air that filled the room with its rich, resonant +tones. There was a fugue, a wonderful finale, and while the concluding +notes rang in their ears the old man laid his violin in his lap, +leaned back against his cushions and heaved a deep sigh. + +They forebore disturbing him for a while. How strange it seemed that +this really talented musician should be banished to a wilderness while +still possessing power to stir the souls of men with his marvelous +execution. Truly he was a "maestro," as he had said; a genius whose +star had risen, flashed across the sky and suddenly faded, leaving his +future a blank. + +Wampus moved uneasily in his chair. + +"I like to know something," he remarked. + +Dan'l roused himself and turned to look at the speaker. + +"You have one bad eye," continued Wampus, reflectively. "What make him +so? You stick violin bow in eye some day?" + +"No," grunted Dan'l. + +"Bad eye he no make himself," persisted the little chauffeur. "What +make him, then?" + +For a moment there was an awkward silence. The girls considered this +personal inquiry offensive and regretted admitting Wampus to the room. +But after a time the old German answered the question, quietly and in +a half amused tone. + +"Can you nod guess?" he said. "Herr Gabert hurt mine eye." + +"Oh!" exclaimed Wampus, nodding approvingly "You fight duel with him? +Of course. It mus' be." + +"I haf one goot eye left, howefer," continued Dan'l. "It vill do me +fery well. Dere iss nod much to see out here." + +"I know," said Wampus. "But Herr Gabert. What happen to him?" + +Again there was a pause. Then the German said slowly: + +"I am nod rich; but efery year I send a leetle money to Stuttgart to +put some flowers on Herr Gabert's grave." + +The chauffeur's face brightened. He got up from his chair and solemnly +shook Dan'l's hand. + +"You are great musician," he announced. "You can believe it, for it is +true. An' you have shake the hand of great chauffeur. I am Wampus." + +Dan'l did not answer. He had covered his good eye with his hand. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE LODGING AT SPOTVILLE + + +"Wake up, Patsy: I smell coffee!" called Beth, and soon the two girls +were dressed and assisting Myrtle to complete her toilet. Through the +open windows came the cool, fragrant breath of morning; the sky was +beginning to blush at the coming of the sun. + +"To think of our getting up at such unearthly hours!" cried Patsy +cheerfully. "But I don't mind it in the least, Beth; do you?" + +"I love the daybreak," returned Beth, softly. "We've wasted the best +hours of morning abed, Patsy, these many years." + +"But there's a difference," said Myrtle, earnestly. "I know the +daybreak in the city very well, for nearly all my life I have had to +rise in the dark in order to get my breakfast and be at work on time. +It is different from this, I assure you; especially in winter, when +the chill strikes through to your bones. Even in summer time the air +of the city is overheated and close, and the early mornings cheerless +and uncomfortable. Then I think it is best to stay in bed as long as +you can--if you have nothing else to do. But here, out in the open, it +seems a shame not to be up with the birds to breathe the scent of the +fields and watch the sun send his heralds ahead of him to proclaim his +coming and then climb from the bottomless pit into the sky and take +possession of it." + +"Why, Myrtle!" exclaimed Patsy, wonderingly; "what a poetic notion. +How did it get into your head, little one?" + +Myrtle's sweet face rivaled the sunrise for a moment. She made no +reply but only smiled pathetically. + +Uncle John's knock upon the door found them ready for breakfast, which +old Dan'l had skilfully prepared in the tiny kitchen and now placed +upon a round table set out upon the porch. By the time they had +finished the simple meal Wampus had had his coffee and prepared the +automobile for the day's journey. A few minutes later they said +good-bye to the aged musician and took the trail that led through +Spotville. + +The day's trip was without event. They encountered one or two Indians +on the way, jogging slowly along on their shaggy ponies; but the +creatures were mild and inoffensive. The road was fairly good and +they made excellent time, so that long before twilight Spotville +was reached and the party had taken possession of the one small and +primitive "hotel" the place afforded. It was a two-story, clapboarded +building, the lower floor being devoted to the bar and dining room, +while the second story was divided into box-like bedrooms none too +clean and very cheaply furnished. + +"I imagine we shall find this place 'the limit'," remarked Uncle John +ruefully. "But surely we shall be able to stand it for one night," he +added, with a philosophic sigh. + +"Want meat fer supper?" asked the landlord, a tall, gaunt man who +considered himself dressed when he was in his shirt sleeves. + +"What kind of meat?" inquired Uncle John, cautiously. + +"Kin give yeh fried pork er jerked beef. Ham 'a all out an' the +chickens is beginnin' to lay." + +"Eggs?" + +"Of course, stranger. Thet's the on'y thing Spotville chickens lay, +nowadays. I s'pose whar yeh come from they lay biscuits 'n' pork +chops." + +"No. Door knobs, sometimes," said Mr. Merrick, "but seldom pork chops. +Let's have eggs, and perhaps a little fried pork to go with them. Any +milk?" + +"Canned er fresh?" + +"Fresh preferred." + +The landlord looked at him steadily. + +"Yeh've come a long-way, stranger," he said, "an' yeh must 'a' spent a +lot of money, here 'n' there. Air yeh prepared to pay fer thet order +in solid cash?" + +Uncle John seemed startled, and looked at the Major, who smiled +delightedly. + +"Are such things expensive, sir?" the latter asked the landlord. + +"Why, we don't eat 'em ourselves, 'n' thet's a cold fact. Eggs is +eggs, an' brings forty cents a dozen to ship. There's seven cows +in town, 'n' forty-one babies, so yeh kin figger what fresh milk's +worth." + +"Perhaps," said Uncle John mildly, "we can stand the expense--if we +won't rob the babies." + +"Don't worry 'bout thet. The last autymobble folks as come this way +got hot because I charged 'em market prices fer the truck they et. So +I'm jest inquirin' beforehand, to save hard feelin's. I've found out +one thing 'bout autymobble folks sense I've ben runnin' this hoe-tel, +an' thet is thet a good many is ownin' machines thet oughter be payin' +their bills instid o' buyin' gasoline." + +The Major took him aside. He did not tell the cautious landlord that +Mr. Merrick was one of the wealthiest men in America, but he exhibited +a roll of bills that satisfied the man his demands would be paid in +full. + +The touring; party feasted upon eggs and fresh milk, both very +delicious but accompanied by odds and ends of food not so palatable. +The landlord's two daughters, sallow, sunken cheeked girls, waited on +the guests and the landlord's wife did the cooking. + +Beth, Patsy and Myrtle retired early, as did Uncle John. The Major, +smoking his "bedtime cigar," as he called it, strolled out into the +yard and saw Wampus seated in the automobile, also smoking. + +"We get an early start to-morrow, Wampus," said the Major. "Better get +to bed." + +"Here is my bed," returned the chauffeur, quietly. + +"But there's a room reserved for you in the hotel." + +"I know. Don't want him. I sleep me here." + +The Major looked at him reflectively. + +"Ever been in this town before, Wampus?" he asked. + +"No, sir. But I been in other towns like him, an' know this kind of +hotel. Then why do I sleep in front seat of motor car?" + +"Because you are foolish, I suppose, being born that way and unable +to escape your heritage. For my part, I shall sleep in a bed; like a +Christian," said the Major rather testily. + +"Even Christian cannot sleep sometime," returned Wampus, leaning back +in his seat and puffing a cloud of smoke into the clear night air. +"For me, I am good Christian; but I am not martyr." + +"What do you mean by that?" demanded the Major. + +"Do you sometime gamble?" inquired Wampus softly. + +"Not often, sir." + +"But sometime? Ah! Then I make you a bet. I bet you ten dollar to one +cent you not sleep in your bed to-night." + +The Major coughed. Then he frowned. + +"Is it so bad as that?" he asked. + +"I think he is." + +"I'll not believe it!" exclaimed Major Doyle. "This hotel isn't what +you might call first-class, and can't rank with the Waldorf-Astoria; +but I imagine the beds will be very comfortable." + +"Once," said Wampus, "I have imagination, too. Now I have experience; +so I sleep in automobile." + +The Major walked away with an exclamation of impatience. He had never +possessed much confidence in the Canadian's judgment and on this +occasion he considered the fellow little wiser than a fool. + +Wampus rolled himself in a rug and was about to stretch his moderate +length upon the broad double seat when a pattering of footsteps was +heard and Beth came up to the car. She was wrapped in a dark cloak +and carried a bundle of clothing under one arm and her satchel in the +unoccupied hand. There was a new moon which dimly lighted the scene, +but as all the townspeople were now in bed and the hotel yard deserted +there was no one to remark upon the girl's appearance. + +"Wampus," she said, "let me into the limousine, please. The night is +so perfect I've decided to sleep here in the car." + +The chauffeur jumped down and opened the door. + +"One moment an' I make up the beds for all," he said. + +"Never mind that," Beth answered. "The others are all asleep, I'm +sure." + +Wampus shook his head. + +"They all be here pretty soon," he predicted, and proceeded to deftly +prepare the interior of the limousine for the expected party. When +Beth had entered the car Wampus pitched the lean-to tent and arranged +the cots as he was accustomed to do when they "camped out." + +Scarcely had he completed this task when Patsy and Myrtle appeared. +They began to explain their presence, but Wampus interrupted them, +saying: + +"All right, Miss Patsy an' Miss Myrtle. Your beds he made up an' Miss +'Lizbeth already asleep in him." + +So they crept inside with sighs of relief, and Wampus had just mounted +to the front seat again and disposed himself to rest when Uncle John +trotted up, clad in his trousers and shirt, with the balance of his +apparel clasped in his arms. He looked at the tent with pleased +approval. + +"Good boy, Wampus!" he exclaimed. "That room they gave me is an +inferno. I'm afraid our young ladies won't sleep a wink." + +"Oh, yes," returned Wampus with a nod; "all three now inside car, safe +an' happy." + +"I'm glad of it. How was your own room, Wampus?" + +"I have not seen him, sir. But I have suspect him; so I sleep here." + +"You are a wise chauffeur--a rare genus, in other words. Good night, +Wampus. Where's the Major?" + +Wampus chuckled. + +"In hotel. Sir, do the Major swear sometime?" + +Uncle John crept under the tent. + +"If he does," he responded, "he's swearing this blessed minute. +Anyhow, I'll guarantee he's not asleep." + +Wampus again mounted to his perch. + +"No use my try to sleep 'til Major he come," he muttered, and settled +himself to wait. + +It was not long. + +Presently some one approached on a run, and a broad grin overspread +the chauffeur's features. The Major had not delayed his escape long +enough to don his trousers even; he had grabbed his belongings in both +arms and fled in his blue and white striped undergarments. + +Wampus leaped down and lifted the flap of the tent. The Major paused +long enough in the moonlight to stare at the chauffeur and say +sternly: + +"If you utter one syllable, you rascal, I'll punch your head!" + +Wampus was discreet. He said not a word. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +YELLOW POPPIES + + +"So this is California!" exclaimed Patsy gleefully, as the automobile +left Parker and crossed the Arizona line. + +"But it doesn't look any different," said Myrtle, peering out of the +window. + +"Of course not," observed Uncle John. "A State boundary is a man-made +thing, and doesn't affect the country a bit. We've just climbed a +miniature mountain back in Arizona, and now we must climb a mate to +it in California. But the fact is, we've entered at last the Land of +Enchantment, and every mile now will bring us nearer and nearer to the +roses and sunshine." + +"There's sunshine here now," declared the Major. "We've had it right +along. But I haven't seen the roses yet, and a pair of ear muffs +wouldn't be uncomfortable in this cutting breeze." + +"The air _is_ rather crisp," admitted Uncle John. "But we're still in +the mountainous district, and Haggerty says--" + +The Major coughed derisively and Mumbles barked and looked at Uncle +John sagaciously. + +"Haggerty says--" + +"Is that a rabbit or a squirrel? Something has caught the eye of our +Mumbles," interrupted the Major, pointing vaguely across the mesa. + +"Haggerty says--" + +"I wonder if Mumbles could catch 'em," remarked the Major, with +complacence. + +"He says that every mile we travel brings us nearer the scent of the +orange blossoms and the glare of the yellow poppies," persisted Uncle +John. "You see, we've taken the Southern route, after all, for soon we +shall be on the Imperial road, which leads to San Diego--in the heart +of the gorgeous Southland." + +"What is the Imperial road?" inquired Beth. + +"The turnpike through Imperial Valley, said to be the richest bit of +land in all the world, not excepting the famous Nile banks of Egypt. +There is no railway there yet, but the Valley is settling very fast, +and Haggerty says--" + +"How remarkable!" exclaimed the Major, gazing straight ahead. And +again Mumbles, curled in Patsy's lap, lifted his shaggy head and gave +a wailing bark. + +Uncle John frowned, but was loyal to Haggerty. + +"He says that if America was now unknown to all the countries of the +world, Imperial would soon make it famous. They grow wonderful crops +there--strawberries and melons the year around, as well as all the +tropical and semi-tropical fruits and grains, flowers and vines known +to any country yet discovered." + +"Do we go to Imperial?" asked Myrtle, eagerly. + +"I think not, my dear; we just skirt the edge of the Valley. It's +rather wild and primitive there yet; for although many settlers are +flocking to that favored district Imperial is large enough to be an +empire by itself. However, we shall find an ideal climate at Coronado, +by the edge of the blue Pacific, and there and at Los Angeles we shall +rest from our journey and get acquainted with the wonders of the +Golden State. Has the trip tired you, girls?" + +"Not me," answered Beth, promptly. "I've enjoyed every mile of the +way." + +"And so have I," added Patsy; "except perhaps the adventure with the +remittance men. But I wouldn't care to have missed even that, for it +led to our acquaintance with old Dan'l." + +"For my part," said Myrtle softly, "I've been in a real fairyland. It +has seemed like a dream to me, all this glorious journey, and I shall +hate to wake up, as I must in time." + +"Don't worry just yet about the awakening, dear," returned Patsy, +leaning over to kiss her little friend. "Just enjoy it while you can. +If fairylands exist, they were made for just such as you, Myrtle." + +"One of the greatest marvels of our trip," said the Major, with a +smile, "is the improvement in our dear little invalid. It isn't the +same Myrtle who started out with us, believe me. Can't you all see the +change?" + +"I can _feel_ it," returned Myrtle, happily. "And don't you notice how +well I walk, and how little use I have now for the crutches?" + +"And can you feel the rosy cheeks and bright eyes, too?" asked Uncle +John, regarding her with much satisfaction. + +"The trip was just the thing for Myrtle," added Patsy. "She has grown +stronger every day; but she is not quite well yet, you know, and I +depend a good deal upon the genial climate of California to insure her +complete recovery." + +Uncle John did not reply. He remembered the doctor's assertion that a +painful operation would be necessary to finally restore Myrtle to a +normal condition, and his kindly heart disliked to reflect upon the +ordeal before the poor girl. + +Haggerty proved a prophet, after all. Each mile they covered opened +new vistas of delight to the eager travelers. The air grew more balmy +as they left the high altitudes and came upon the level country to +the north, of the San Bernardino range of mountains, nor was it +long before they sighted Imperial and sped through miles of country +carpeted with the splendid yellow poppies which the State has adopted +as the emblems of California. And behind this golden robe loomed the +cotton fields of Imperial, one of the most fascinating sights the +traveler may encounter. They made a curve to the right here, and +headed northerly until they came to Salton. Skirting the edge of the +curious Salton Sea they now headed directly west toward Escondido, +finding the roads remarkably good and for long stretches as smooth and +hard as an asphalt boulevard. The three days it took them to cross the +State were days of wonder and delight. + +It was not long before they encountered the roses and carnations +growing on every side, which the Major had persistently declared to be +mythical. + +"It seems all wrong," asserted Patsy's father, moodily, "for such +delicate flowers to be growing out of doors in midwinter. And look at +the grass! Why, the seasons are changed about. It's Springtime just +now in California." + +"The man at the last stop we made told me his roses bloomed the year +round," said Patsy, "And just smell the orange blossoms, will you! +Aren't they sweet, and don't they remind you of brides?" + +From Escondido it was a short run to the sea and their first glimpse +of the majestic Pacific was from a high bluff overhanging the water. +From this point the road ran south to San Diego, skirting the coast +along a mountain trail that is admitted to be one of the most +picturesque rides in America. + +Descending the hills as they neared San Diego they passed through +fields of splendid wild flowers so extensive and beautiful that +our girls fairly gasped in wonder. The yellow and orange poppies +predominated, but there were acres of wild mustard throwing countless +numbers of gorgeous saffron spikes skyward, and vistas of blue +carconnes, white daisies and blood-red delandres. The yucca was in +bloom, too, and added its mammoth flower to the display. + +They did not halt at San Diego, the southernmost city of California, +from whence the Mexican line is in plain sight, but drove to the bay, +where Wampus guided the limousine on to the big ferryboat bound for +Coronado. They all left the car during the brief voyage and watched +the porpoises sporting in the clear water of the bay and gazed +abstractedly at the waving palms on the opposite shore, where lies +nestled "the Crown of the Pacific"--Coronado. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE SILENT MAN + + +Even the Major smiled benignantly when he reached his appointed room +in the magnificent Hotel del Coronado, which is famed throughout the +world. + +"This," said he, "reminds me of New York; and it's the first thing +that has, since I left home." + +"Why, Daddy, it isn't like New York at all," protested Patsy, standing +beside him at the broad window overlooking the ocean. "Did you ever +see a palm tree waving in New York; or daisy bushes as tall as a man; +or such masses of roses and flowering vines? And then just notice the +mountains over there--they're in Mexico, I'm told--and this great +headland in the other direction; it's called Point Loma. Oh, I never +imagined any place could be so beautiful!" + +The others were equally excited, and Uncle John said, smiling broadly: + +"Well, we're here at last, my dears, and I'm sure we are already well +paid for our trip across the continent. What pleasant rooms these are. +If the hotel table is at all to be compared with the house itself we +shall have a happy time here, which means we will stay as long as +possible." + +But the table was another surprise, for the meals were equal to any +served in the great Eastern metropolis. Uncle John complimented the +landlord, a cheery faced, fat little man who had at one time managed +a famous New York hotel and had brought his talents and experience to +far California. + +"I'm sorry," said this gentle boniface, "that I could not reserve +better rooms for you--for there are some choice views from some +locations. I had a corner suite saved for your party, a suite I +consider the most desirable in the hotel; but an eccentric individual +arrived yesterday who demanded the entire suite, and I had to let him +have it. He will not stay long, and as soon as he goes you shall have +the rooms." + +"Who is he?" asked Uncle John. + +"A rich miner; a most melancholy and peculiar person, by the way," +replied landlord Ross. "I believe his name is Jones." + +Mr. Merrick started. + +"Jones, and a miner?" he said. "What's his other name--Anson?" + +"We'll look and see," replied Mr. Ross, turning to the hotel register. +"No; not Anson. He is registered as C.B. Jones, of Boston." + +"Oh; that's not the Jones at all," said Uncle John, disappointed. + +"It's the Jones who is our guest," replied the landlord, smiling. + +Meantime the three girls had gone for a walk along the coast. The +beach is beautiful at Coronado. There is a high sea wall of rock, and +the path runs along its edge almost the length of the promontory. The +rocks are sloping, however, and it is not very difficult to climb down +them to where the waves break against the wall. + +Near the hotel they met straggling groups, strolling in either +direction, but half a mile away the promenade was practically +deserted. It was beginning to grow dark, and Beth said, regretfully: + +"We must get back, girls, and dress for dinner--an unusual luxury, +isn't it? Our trunks arrived at the hotel two weeks ago, and are now +in our rooms, doubtless, awaiting us to unpack them." + +"Don't let's return just yet," begged Myrtle. "I want to see the sun +set." + +"It will be gorgeous," said Patsy, glancing at the sky; "but we can +see it from our windows, and as we're a long way from the hotel now I +believe Beth's suggestion is wise." + +So they began to retrace their steps. Myrtle still walked with some +difficulty, and they had not proceeded far when Beth exclaimed: + +"Look at that man down there!" + +Her companions followed her direction and saw standing upon a huge +pile of rocks at the water's edge a slight, solitary figure. Something +in the poise, as he leaned forward staring at the darkened waves--for +the sun was low and cast shadows aslant the water--struck Myrtle as +familiar. + +"Oh, girls!" she exclaimed; "it's the Grand Canyon man." + +"Why, I believe it is," agreed Patsy. "What is he doing?" + +"Nothing," said Beth, briefly. "But he is going to do something, I +think." + +While they stared at him from their elevation the man straightened an +instant and cast a hasty glance to either side. The place seemed to +him deserted, for he failed to observe the group of three intently +watching his motions from the high bank overhead. Next moment he +turned back to the water and leaned over the edge of rock again. + +"Don't!" cried Myrtle, her clear voice ringing over the lap of the +waves; "please don't!" + +He swung around and turned his gaunt features upward to where the +young girl leaned upon her crutches, with clasped hands and a look of +distress upon her sweet face. + +"Don't!" she repeated, pleadingly. + +He passed his hand over his eyes with a very weary gesture and looked +at Myrtle again--this time quite steadily. She was trembling in every +limb and her cheeks were white with fear. + +Slowly--very slowly--the man turned and began to climb the rocks; not +directly upward to where the girls stood, but diagonally, so as to +reach the walk some distance ahead of them. They did not move until he +had gained the path and turned toward the hotel. Then they followed +and kept him in sight until he reached the entrance to the court and +disappeared within. + +"I wonder," said Patsy, as they made their way to their rooms, +"whether he really was thinking of plunging into the ocean; or whether +that time at the Grand Canyon he had a notion of jumping into the +chasm." + +"If so," added Beth, "Myrtle has saved his life twice. But she can't +be always near to watch the man, and if he has suicidal intentions, +he'll make an end of himself, sooner or later, without a doubt." + +"Perhaps," said Myrtle, hesitatingly, "I am quite wrong, and the +strange man had no intention of doing himself an injury. But each time +I obeyed an impulse that compelled me to cry out; and afterward I have +been much ashamed of my forwardness." + +They did not see the melancholy man at dinner; but afterward, in the +spacious lobby, they discovered him sitting in a far corner reading a +magazine. He seemed intent on this occupation and paid no attention to +the life around him. The girls called Uncle John's attention to him, +and Mr. Merrick at once recognized him as the same individual they had +met at the Grand Canyon. + +"But I am not especially pleased to encounter him again," he said with +a slight frown; "for, if I remember aright, he acted very rudely to +Myrtle and proved unsociable when I made overtures and spoke to him." + +"I wonder who he is?" mused Patsy, watching the weary, haggard +features as his eyes slowly followed the lines of his magazine. + +"I'll inquire and find out," replied her uncle. + +The cherubic landlord was just then pacing up and down the lobby, +pausing here and there to interchange a word with his guests. Uncle +John approached him and said: + +"Can you tell me, Mr. Ross, who the gentleman is in the corner?" + +The landlord looked around at the corner and smiled. + +"That," said he, "is the gentleman we spoke of this afternoon--Mr. +C.B. Jones--the man who usurped the rooms intended for you." + +"Rooms?" repeated Uncle John. "Has he a large party, then?" + +"He is alone; that is the queer part of it," returned the landlord. +"Nor has he much baggage. But he liked the suite--a parlor with five +rooms opening out of it--and insisted upon having them all, despite +the fact that it is one of the most expensive suites in the hotel. I +said he was eccentric, did I not?" + +"You were justified," said Mr. Merrick, thought fully. "Thank you, +sir, for the information." + +Even as he rejoined the girls, who were seated together upon a broad +divan, the man arose, laid down his magazine and came slowly down +the room, evidently headed for the elevator. But with a start he +recognized the girl who had accosted him on the beach, and the others +with her, and for an instant came to a full stop before the group, his +sad eyes fixed intently upon Myrtle's face. + +The situation was a bit awkward, and to relieve it Uncle John remarked +in his cheery voice: + +"Well, Mr. Jones, we meet again, you see." + +The man turned slowly and faced him; then bowed in a mechanical way +and proceeded to the elevator, into which he disappeared. + +Naturally Uncle John was indignant. + +"Confound the fellow!" he exclaimed. "He's worse than a boor. But +perhaps his early education was neglected." + +"Did you call him Mr. Jones, sir?" asked Myrtle in a voice that +trembled with excitement. + +"Yes, my dear; but it is not your Uncle Anson. I've inquired about +him. The Joneses are pretty thick, wherever you go; but I hope not +many are like this fellow." + +"Something's wrong with him," declared Patsy. "He's had some sad +bereavement--a great blow of some sort--and it has made him somber and +melancholy. He doesn't seem to know he acts rudely. You can tell by +the man's eyes that he is unhappy." + +"His eyes have neither color nor expression," remarked Beth. "At his +best, this Mr. Jones must have been an undesirable acquaintance." + +"You can't be sure of that," returned Patsy; "and I'm positive my +theory is correct. More and more am I inclined to agree with Myrtle +that he is disgusted with life, and longs to end it." + +"Let him, then," retorted Uncle John. "I'm sure such a person is of no +use to the world, and if he doesn't like himself he's better out of +it." + +That kindly Mr. Merrick should give vent to such a heartless speech +proved how much annoyed he had been by Mr. Jones' discourtesy. + +"He might be reclaimed, and--and comforted," said Myrtle, softly. +"When I think of the happiness you have brought into my life, sir, I +long to express my gratitude by making some one else happy." + +"You're doing it, little one," he answered, pinching her cheek. "If +we've brought a bit of sunshine into your life we've reaped an ample +reward in your companionship. But if you can find a way to comfort +that man Jones, and fetch him out of his dumps, you are certainly a +more wonderful fairy than I've given you credit for." + +Myrtle did not reply to this, although it pleased her. She presently +pleaded weariness and asked permission to return to her room. Beth +and Patsy wanted to go into the great domed ballroom and watch the +dancing; so Myrtle bade them good night and ascended by the elevator +to her floor. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +"THREE TIMES" + + +Softly stepping over the thick carpets, which deadened the sound of +the crutches--now becoming scarcely necessary to her--the young girl +passed along the corridor, passing angles and turns innumerable on her +way to her room. Some erratic architect certainly concocted the +plan of the Hotel del Coronado. It is a very labyrinth of passages +connecting; its nine hundred rooms, and one has to have a good bump of +location to avoid getting lost in its mazes. + +Near one of the abrupt turns a door stood ajar, and in passing Myrtle +glanced in, and then paused involuntarily. It was a small parlor, +prettily furnished, and in a big chair reclined a man whose hands were +both pressed tight against his face, thus covering it completely. But +Myrtle knew him. The thin frame, as well as the despairing attitude, +marked him as the man who had come so strangely into her life and +whose personality affected her so strangely. She now stood in the +dimly lighted corridor looking in upon him with infinite pity, and as +she looked her glance fell upon the table beside him, where something +bright glittered beneath the electric lamps. + +Her heart gave a sudden thump of mingled fear and dismay. She knew +intuitively what that "something" was. "Let him," Uncle John had said; +but Myrtle instantly determined _not_ to let him. + +She hesitated a moment; but seeing that the man remained motionless, +his eyes still covered, as if lost to all his surroundings, she softly +crept forward and entered the room. She held the crutches under her +arms, but dared not use them for fear of making a noise. Step by step +she stole forward until the table was within reach. Then she stretched +out her hand, seized the revolver, and hid it in the folds of her +blouse. + +Turning for a final glance at the man she was startled to find he had +removed his hands and was steadfastly regarding her. + +Myrtle leaned heavily on her crutches. She felt faint and miserable, +like a criminal caught in the act. As her eyes fell before the intent +gaze her face turned scarlet with humiliation and chagrin. Still, she +did not attempt to escape, the idea not occurring to her; so for a +time the tableau was picturesque--the lame girl standing motionless +with downcast eyes and the man fixedly staring at her. + +"Three times!" he slowly said, in a voice finally stirred by a trace +of emotion. "Three times. My child, why are you so persistent?" + +Myrtle tried to be brave and meet his gaze. It was not quite so +difficult now the silent man had spoken. + +"Why do you force me to be persistent?" she asked, a tremor in her +voice. "Why are you determined to--to--" + +Words failed her, but he nodded to show he understood. + +"Because," said he, "I am tired; very tired, my child. It's a big +world; too big, in fact; but there's nothing in it for me any more." + +There was expression enough in his voice now; expression of utter +despondency. + +"Why?" asked Myrtle, somewhat frightened to find herself so bold. + +He did not answer for a long time, but sat reading her mobile face +until a gentler look came into his hard blue eyes. + +"It is a story too sad for young ears," he finally replied. "Perhaps, +too, you would not understand it, not knowing or understanding me. I'm +an odd sort of man, well along in years, and I've lived an odd sort +of life. But my story, such as it is, has ended, and I'm too weary to +begin another volume." + +"Oh, no!" exclaimed Myrtle, earnestly. "Surely this cannot be the +fulfillment and end of your life. If it were, why should _I_ come into +your life just now?" + +He stared at her with a surprised--an even startled--look. + +"Have you come into my life?" he inquired, in a low, curious tone. + +"Haven't I?" she returned. "At the Grand Canyon--" + +"I know," he interrupted hastily. "That was your mistake; and mine. +You should not have interfered. I should not have let you interfere." + +"But I did," said Myrtle. + +"Yes. Somehow your voice sounded like a command, and I obeyed it; +perhaps because no living person has a right to command me. You--you +took me by surprise." + +He passed his hand over his eyes with that weary gesture peculiar to +him, and then fell silent. + +Myrtle had remained standing. She did not know what to do in this +emergency, or what more to say. The conversation could not be ended in +this summary fashion. The hopeless man needed her in some way; how, +she did not know. Feeling weak and very incompetent to meet the +important crisis properly, the girl crept to a chair opposite the man +and sank into it. Then she leaned her chin upon her hand and looked +pleadingly at her strange acquaintance. He met her eyes frankly. +The hard look in his own seemed to have disappeared, dispelled by a +sympathy that was new to him. + +And so they sat, regarding one another silently yet musingly, for a +long time. + +"I wish," said Myrtle once, in her softest, sweetest tones, "I could +help you. Some one helped me when I was in great trouble, so I want to +help you." + +He did not reply, and another period of silence ensued. But his next +speech showed he had been considering her words. + +"Because you have suffered," he said, "you have compassion for others +who suffer. But your trouble is over now?" + +"Almost," she said, smiling brightly. + +He sighed, but questioned her no farther. + +"A while ago," she volunteered, "I had neither friends nor relatives." +He gave her a queer look, then. "I had no money. I had been hurt in an +accident and was almost helpless. But I did not despair, sir--and I am +only an inexperienced girl. + +"In my darkest hour I found friends--kind, loving friends--who showed +me a new world that I had not suspected was in existence. I think +the world is like a great mirror," she continued, meditatively, "and +reflects our lives just as we ourselves look upon it. Those who turn +sad faces toward the world find only sadness reflected. But a smile is +reflected in the same way, and cheers and brightens our hearts. You +think there is no pleasure to be had in life. That is because you are +heartsick and--and tired, as you say. With one sad story ended you are +afraid to begin another--a sequel--feeling it would be equally sad. +But why should it be? Isn't the joy or sorrow equally divided in +life?" + +"No," he replied. + +"A few days ago," she continued earnestly, "we were crossing the +Arizona deserts. It was not pleasant, but we did not despair, for +we knew the world is not all desert and that the land of roses and +sunshine lay just beyond. Now that we're in California we've forgotten +the dreary desert. But you--Why, sir, you've just crossed your desert, +and you believe all the world is bitter and cruel and holds no joy for +you! Why don't you step out bravely into the roses and sunshine of +life, and find the joy that has been denied you?" + +He looked into her eyes almost fearfully, but it seemed to her that +his own held a first glimmer of hope. + +"Do you believe there can be joy for me anywhere in the world?" he +asked. + +"Of course. I tell you there's just as much sweet as there is bitter +in life. Don't I know it? Haven't I proved it? But happiness doesn't +chase people who try to hide from it. It will meet you halfway, but +you've got to do your share to deserve it. I'm not preaching; I've +lived this all out, in my own experience, and know what I'm talking +about. Now as for you, sir, I can see very plainly you haven't been +doing your duty. You've met sorrow and let it conquer you. You've +taken melancholy by the hand and won't let go of it. You haven't tried +to fight for your rights--the rights God gave to every man and expects +him to hold fast to and take advantage of. No, indeed!" + +"But what is the use?" he asked, timidly, yet with an eager look in +his face. "You are young, my child; I am nearly old enough to have +been your father. There are things you have not yet learned; things I +hope you will never learn. An oak may stand alone in a field, and be +lonely because it cannot touch boughs with another. A flower may bloom +alone in a garden, and wither and die for want of companionship. God's +wisdom grouped every living thing. He gave Adam a comrade. He created +no solitary thing. But see, my child: although this world contains +countless thousands, there is not one among them I may call my +friend." + +"Oh, yes; just one!" said Myrtle quickly. "I am your friend. Not +because you want me, but because you need me. And that's a beginning, +isn't it? I can find other friends for you, among _my_ friends, and +you will be sure to like them because I like them." + +This naive suggestion did not affect him as much as the fact that this +fair young girl had confessed herself his friend. He did not look at +Myrtle now; he stared straight ahead, at the wall paper, and his brow +was furrowed as if he was thinking deeply. + +Perhaps any other man would have thanked the girl for her sympathy and +her proffered friendship, or at the least have acknowledged it. But +not so this queer Mr. Jones; eccentric, indeed, as the shrewd landlord +had described him. Nor did Myrtle seem to expect an acknowledgment. +It was enough for her that her speech had set him thinking along new +lines. + +He sat musing for so long that she finally remembered it was growing +late, and began to fear Patsy and Beth would seek their rooms, which +connected with her own, and find her absent. That would worry them. So +at last she rose softly, took her crutches and turned to go. + +"Good night, my--friend," she said. + +"Good night, my child," he answered in a mechanical tone, without +rousing from his abstraction. + +Myrtle went to her room and found it was not so late as she had +feared. She opened a drawer and placed the revolver in it, not without +a little shudder. + +"At any rate," she murmured, with satisfaction, "he will not use this +to-night." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +ON POINT LOMA + + +Next morning a beautiful bunch of roses was brought to Myrtle's +room--roses so magnificent that it seemed impossible they could be +grown out of doors. But there are few hothouses in California, and the +boy who brought the flowers confided to her the information that they +were selected from more than five hundred blooms. She ran to show them +to Patsy and Beth, who were amazed not only by the roses but by the +fact that the queer Mr. Jones had sent them to Myrtle. There was no +card or note accompanying the gift, but after the younger girl had +related her conversation with Mr. Jones the previous evening, they +could not doubt but he had sent the flowers. + +"Perhaps," reflected Patsy, "we've been misjudging him. I never beheld +such a stolid, unimpressive countenance in my life; but the man must +have a soul of some sort, or he would not think of sending flowers to +his new friend." + +"It's a pretty idea," said Beth. "He wanted to assure Myrtle that he +appreciated her kindness." + +"I'm sure he likes me," declared Myrtle, simply. "He wasn't a bit +cross when I ran in and took away his pistol, or when I preached to +him. I really gave him a good talking to, and he didn't object a bit." + +"What he needs," commented Beth, "is to get away from himself, and +mingle with people more. I wonder if we could coax him to join us in +our ride to Point Loma." + +"Would we care to ask him?" said Patsy. "He's as sour and crabbed in +looks as he is in disposition, and has treated Uncle John's advances +shamefully. I'd like to help Myrtle bring the old fellow back to life; +but perhaps we can find an easier way than to shut him up with us in +an automobile." + +"He wouldn't go, I'm sure," declared Myrtle. "He has mellowed a +little--a very little--as these roses prove. But he treated me last +night just as he does Mr. Merrick, even after our conversation. When +I said 'Good night' I had to wait a long time for his answer. But I'd +like you to meet him and help cheer him up; so please let me introduce +him, if there's a chance, and do be nice to him." + +"I declare," cried Patsy, laughing, "Myrtle has assumed an air of +proprietorship over the Sad One already." + +"She has a right to, for she saved his life," said Beth. + +"Three times," Myrtle added proudly. "He told me so himself." + +Uncle John heard the story of Myrtle's adventure with considerable +surprise, and he too expressed a wish to aid her in winning Mr. Jones +from his melancholy mood. + +"Every man is queer in one way or another," said he, "and I'd say the +women were, too, if you females were not listening. I also imagine a +very rich man has the right to be eccentric, if it pleases him." + +"Is Mr. Jones rich, then?" inquired Beth. + +"According to the landlord he's rich as Croesus. Made his money in +mining--manipulating stocks, I suppose. But evidently his wealth +hasn't been a comfort to him, or he wouldn't want to shuffle off his +mortal coil and leave it behind" + +They did not see the object of this conversation before leaving for +the trip to Point Loma--a promontory that juts out far into the +Pacific. It is reached by a superb macadamized boulevard, which passes +down the north edge of the promontory, rounds the corner where stands +the lighthouse, and comes back along the southern edge, all the time a +hundred feet or more in elevation above the ocean. + +The view from the Point is unsurpassed. Wampus stopped his car beside +a handsomely appointed automobile that was just then deserted. + +"Some one is here before us," remarked Patsy. "But that is not +strange. The wonder is that crowds are not here perpetually." + +"It is said," related the Major, who had really begun to enjoy +California, "that the view from this Point includes more varied +scenery than any other that is known in the world. Here we see the +grand San Bernardino range of mountains; the Spanish Bight on the +Mexican shore; the pretty city of San Diego climbing its hills, with +the placid bay in front, where float the warships of the Pacific +Squadron; the broad stretch of orange and lemon groves, hedged with +towering palm trees; Santa Catalina and the Coronado Islands; the blue +Pacific rolling in front and rugged Loma with its rocky cliffs behind. +What more could we ask to see from any one viewpoint?" + +"Don't forget the monster hotel, with its hundred towers and gables, +dominating the strip of land between the bay and the ocean," added +Beth. "How near it seems, and yet it is many miles away." + +Some one had told them that moonstones were to be found on the beach +at the base of the cliff; so they all climbed down the steep path, +followed by Mumbles, who had not perceptibly grown in size during the +trip but had acquired an adventurous disposition which, coupled with +his native inquisitiveness, frequently led him into trouble. + +Now, when they had reached the narrow beach, Mumbles ran ahead, passed +around the corner of a cliff that almost touched the water, and was +presently heard barking furiously. + +"Sounds as if he scented game," said Patsy. + +"A turtle, perhaps, or a big fish washed ashore," suggested the Major. + +But now the small dog's voice changed suddenly and became a succession +of yelps expressing mingled pain and terror. + +"Oh, he's hurt!" cried Myrtle; and they all hurried forward, Uncle +John leading them on a run, and passed around the big rock to rescue +their pet. + +Some one was before them, however. The foolish dog had found a huge +crab in the sand and, barking loudly, had pushed his muzzle against +the creature, with the result that the crab seized his black nose in +a gripping claw and pinched as hard as it was able. Mumbles tried to +back away, madly howling the while; but the crab, although the smaller +antagonist, gripped a rock with its other claw and held on, anchoring +the terrified dog to the spot. + +But help was at hand. A tall, thin man hurried to the rescue, and just +as Uncle John came in sight, leading his procession, a knife severed +the crab's claw and Mumbles was free. Seeing his mistress, the puppy, +still whining with pain, hurried to her for comfort, while Uncle John +turned to the man and said: + +"Thank you, Mr. Jones, for assisting our poor beast. Mumbles is an +Eastern dog, you know, and inexperienced in dealing with crabs." + +Mr. Jones was examining the claw, the despoiled owner of which had +quickly slid into the water. + +"It is a species of crawfish," he observed, meditatively. Then, seeing +the girls approach, he straightened up and rather awkwardly lifted his +hat. + +The gesture surprised them all. Heretofore, when they had met, the man +had merely stared and turned away, now his attempt at courtesy was +startling because unexpected. + +Myrtle came close to his side. + +"How nice to find you here, Mr. Jones," she said brightly. "And oh, I +must thank you for my lovely roses." + +He watched her face with evident interest and it seemed that his own +countenance had become less haggard and sad than formerly. + +"Let me introduce my friends," said the girl, with sudden recollection +of her duty. "This is Mr. Merrick, my good friend and benefactor; and +this is Major Doyle and his daughter Miss Patricia Doyle, both of whom +have the kindest hearts in the world; Miss Beth De Graf, Mr. Merrick's +niece, has watched over and cared for me like a sister, and--oh, I +forgot; Miss Patsy is Mr. Merrick's niece, too. So now you know them +all." + +The man nodded briefly his acknowledgment. + +"You--you are Mr. Jones, I believe, of--of Boston?" + +"Once of Boston," he repeated mechanically. Then he looked at her and +added: "Go on." + +"Why--what--I don't understand," she faltered. "Have I overlooked +anyone?" + +"Only yourself," he said. + +"Oh; but I--I met you last night." + +"You did not tell me your name," he reminded her. + +"I'm Myrtle," she replied, smiling in her relief. "Myrtle Dean." + +"Myrtle Dean!" His voice was harsh; almost a shout. + +"Myrtle Dean. And I--I'm from Chicago; but I don't live there any +more." + +He stood motionless, looking at the girl with a fixed expression that +embarrassed her and caused her to glance appealingly at Patsy. Her +friend understood and came to her rescue with some inconsequent remark +about poor Mumbles, who was still moaning and rubbing; his pinched +nose against Patsy's chin to ease the pain. + +Mr. Jones paid little heed to Miss Doyle's observation, but as Myrtle +tried to hide behind Beth Mr. Merrick took the situation in hand by +drawing the man's attention to the scenery, and afterward inquiring if +he was searching for moonstones. + +The conversation now became general, except that Mr. Jones remained +practically silent He seemed to try to interest himself in the chatter +around him, but always his eyes would stray to Myrtle's face and hold +her until she found an opportunity to turn away. + +"We've luncheon in the car," announced Uncle John, after a time. +"Won't you join us, Mr. Jones?" + +"Yes," was the unconventional reply. The man was undoubtedly +abstracted and did not know he was rude. He quietly followed them up +the rocks and when they reached the automobile remained by Myrtle's +side while Wampus brought out the lunch basket and Beth and Patsy +spread the cloth upon the grass and unpacked the hamper. + +Mr. Jones ate merely a mouthful, but he evidently endeavored to follow +the conversation and take an interest in what was said. He finally +became conscious that his continuous gaze distressed Myrtle, and +thereafter strove to keep his eyes from her face. They would creep +back to it, from time to time; but Beth, who was watching him +curiously, concluded he was making a serious effort to deport himself +agreeably and credited him with a decided improvement in manners as +their acquaintance with him progressed. + +After luncheon, when their return by way of Old Town and the Spanish +Mission was proposed, Mr. Jones said, pointing to the car that stood +beside their own: + +"This is my automobile. I drive it myself. I would like Myrtle Dean to +ride back with me." + +The girl hesitated, but quickly deciding she must not retreat, now she +had practically begun the misanthrope's reformation, she replied: + +"I will be very glad to. But won't you take one of my friends, also? +That will divide the party more evenly." + +He looked down at his feet, thoughtfully considering the proposition. + +"I'll go with you," said Beth, promptly. "Get into the front seat with +Mr. Jones, Myrtle, and I'll ride behind." + +The man made no protest. He merely lifted Myrtle in his arms and +gently placed her in the front seat. Beth, much amused, took the seat +behind, unassisted save that the Major opened the door for her. Mr. +Jones evidently understood his car. Starting the engines without +effort he took his place at the wheel and with a nod to Mr. Merrick +said: + +"Lead on, sir; I will follow." + +Wampus started away. He was displeased with the other car. It did +not suit him at all. And aside from the fact that the sour-faced +individual who owned it had taken away two of Wampus' own passengers, +the small shaggy Mumbles, who had been the established companion of +Uncle John's chauffeur throughout all the long journey, suddenly +deserted him. He whined to go with the other car, and when Patsy +lifted him aboard he curled down beside the stranger as if thoroughly +satisfied. Patsy knew why, and was amused that Mumbles showed his +gratitude to Mr. Jones for rescuing him from the crab; but Wampus +scowled and was distinctly unhappy all the way to Old Town. + +"Him mebbe fine gentleman," muttered the Canadian to the Major; "but +if so he make a disguise of it. Once I knew a dog thief who resemble +him; but perhaps Mumble he safe as long as Miss Myrtle an' Miss Beth +they with him." + +"Don't worry," said the Major, consolingly. "I'll keep my eye on the +rascal. But he's a fine driver, isn't he?" + +"Oh, _that_!" retorted Wampus, scornfully. "Such little cheap car like +that he drive himself." + +At Old Town Mr. Jones left them, saying he had been to the Mission and +did not care for it. But as he drove his car away there was a gentler +and more kindly expression upon his features than any of them had ever +seen there before, and Myrtle suspected her charm was working and the +regeneration really begun. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A TALE OF WOE + + +That evening after dinner, as Mr. Merrick sat alone in the hotel +lobby, the girls having gone to watch the Major bowl tenpins, Mr. +Jones approached and sat down in the chair beside him. + +Uncle John greeted the man with an attempt at cordiality. He could not +yet bring himself to like his personality, but on Myrtle's account and +because he was himself generous enough to wish to be of service to +anyone so forlorn and unhappy, he treated Mr. Jones with more respect +than he really thought he deserved. + +"Tell me, Mr. Merrick," was the abrupt request, "where you found +Myrtle Dean." + +Uncle John told him willingly. There was no doubt but Myrtle had +interested the man. + +"My girls found her on the train between Chicago and Denver," he +began. "She was on her way to join her uncle in Leadville." + +"What is her uncle's name?" + +"Anson Jones. But the child was almost helpless, ill and without +friends or money. She was not at all sure her uncle was still in +Leadville, in which case she would be at the mercy of a cold world. So +I telegraphed and found that Anson Jones had been gone from the mining +camp for several months. Do you know, sir, I at first suspected you +might be the missing uncle? For I heard you were a miner and found +that your name is Jones. But I soon discovered you are not Anson +Jones, but C.B. Jones--which alters the case considerably." + +Mr. Jones nodded absently. + +"Tell me the rest," he said. + +Uncle John complied. He related the manner in which Beth and Patsy +had adopted Myrtle, the physician's examination and report upon her +condition, and then told the main points of their long but delightful +journey from Albuquerque to San Diego in the limousine. + +"It was one of the most fortunate experiments we have ever tried," he +concluded; "for the child has been the sweetest and most agreeable +companion imaginable, and her affection and gratitude have amply +repaid us for anything we have done for her. I am determined she shall +not leave us, sir. When we return to New York I shall consult the best +specialist to be had, and I am confident she can be fully cured and +made as good as new." + +The other man had listened intently, and when the story was finished +he sat silent for a time, as if considering and pondering over what he +had heard. Then, without warning, he announced quietly: + +"I am Anson Jones." + +Uncle John fairly gasped for breath. + +"_You_ Anson Jones!" he exclaimed. Then, with plausible suspicion he +added: "I myself saw that you are registered as C.B. Jones." + +"It is the same thing," was the reply. "My name is Collanson--but my +family always called me 'Anson', when I had a family--and by that name +I was best known in the mining camps. That is what deceived you." + +"But--dear me!--I don't believe Myrtle knows her uncle's name is +Collanson." + +"Probably not. Her mother, sir, my sister, was my only remaining +relative, the only person on earth who cared for me--although I +foolishly believed another did. I worked for success as much on +Kitty's account--Kitty was Myrtle's mother--as for my own sake. I +intended some day to make her comfortable and happy, for I knew her +husband's death had left her poor and friendless. I did not see her +for years, nor write to her often; it was not my way. But Kitty always +knew I loved her." + +He paused and sat silent a moment. Then he resumed, in his quiet, even +tones: + +"There is another part of my story that you must know to understand +me fully; to know why I am now a hopeless, desperate man; or was +until--until last night, perhaps. Some years ago, when in Boston, I +fell in love with a beautiful girl. I am nearly fifty, and she was not +quite thirty, but it never occurred to me that I was too old to win +her love, and she frankly confessed she cared for me. But she said she +could not marry a poor man and would therefore wait for me to make a +fortune. Then I might be sure she would marry me. I believed her. I do +not know why men believe women. It is an absurd thing to do. I did it; +but other men have been guilty of a like folly. Ah, how I worked and +planned! One cannot always make a fortune in a short time. It took me +years, and all the time she renewed her promises and kept my hopes and +my ambitions alive. + +"At last I won the game, as I knew I should do in time. It was a big +strike. I discovered the 'Blue Bonnet' mine, and sold a half interest +in it for a million. Then I hurried to Boston to claim my bride.... +She had been married just three months, after waiting, or pretending +to wait, for me for nearly ten years! She married a poor lawyer, too, +after persistently refusing me because _I_ was poor. She laughed at +my despair and coldly advised me to find some one else to share my +fortune." + +He paused again and wearily passed his hand over his eyes--a familiar +gesture, as Myrtle knew. His voice had grown more and more dismal as +he proceeded, and just now he seemed as desolate and unhappy as when +first they saw him at the Grand Canyon. + +"I lived through it somehow," he continued; "but the blow stunned me. +It stuns me yet. Like a wounded beast I slunk away to find my sister, +knowing she would try to comfort me. She was dead. Her daughter +Myrtle, whom I had never seen, had been killed in an automobile +accident. That is what her aunt, a terrible woman named Martha Dean, +told me, although now I know it was a lie, told to cover her own +baseness in sending an unprotected child to the far West to seek an +unknown uncle. I paid Martha Dean back the money she claimed she had +spent for Myrtle's funeral; that was mere robbery, I suppose, but not +to be compared with the crime of her false report. I found myself +bereft of sweetheart, sister--even an unknown niece. Despair claimed +me. I took the first train for the West, dazed and utterly despondent. +Some impulse led me to stop off at the Grand Canyon, and there I saw +the means of ending all my misery. But Myrtle interfered." + +Uncle John, now thoroughly interested and sympathetic, leaned over and +said solemnly: + +"The hand of God was in that!" + +Mr. Jones nodded. + +"I am beginning to believe it," he replied. "The girl's face won me +even in that despairing mood. She has Kitty's eyes." + +"They are beautiful eyes," said Uncle John, earnestly. "Sir, you have +found in your niece one of the sweetest and most lovely girls that +ever lived. I congratulate you!" + +Mr. Jones nodded again. His mood had changed again since they began +to speak of Myrtle. His eyes now glowed with pleasure and pride. He +clasped Mr. Merrick's hand in his own as he said with feeling: + +"She has saved me, sir. Even before I knew she was my niece I began to +wonder if it would not pay me to live for her sake. And now--" + +"And now you are sure of it," cried Uncle John, emphatically. "But who +is to break the news to Myrtle?" + +"No one, just yet," was the reply. "Allow me, sir, if you please, to +keep her in ignorance of the truth a little longer. I only made the +discovery myself today, you see, and I need time to think it all out +and determine how best to take advantage of my good fortune." + +"I shall respect your wish, sir," said Mr. Merrick. + +The girls came trooping back then, and instead of running away Anson +Jones remained to talk with them. + +Beth and Patsy were really surprised to find the "Sad One" chatting +pleasantly with Uncle John. The Major looked at the man curiously, not +understanding the change in him. But Myrtle was quite proud of the +progress he was making and his improved spirits rendered the girl very +happy indeed. Why she should take such an interest in this man she +could not have explained, except that he had been discouraged and +hopeless and she had succeeded in preventing him from destroying his +life and given him courage to face the world anew. But surely that was +enough, quite sufficient to give her a feeling of "proprietorship," as +Patsy had expressed it, in this queer personage. Aside from all this, +she was growing to like the man who owed so much to her. Neither Patsy +nor Beth could yet see much to interest them or to admire in his +gloomy character; but Myrtle's intuition led her to see beneath the +surface, and she knew there were lovable traits in Mr. Jones' nature +if he could only be induced to display them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE CONFESSION + + +After that evening the man attached himself to the party on every +possible occasion. Sometimes in their trips around Coronado he rode +in their automobile, at other times he took Myrtle, and perhaps one +other, in his own car. Every day he seemed brighter and more cheerful, +until even Major Doyle admitted he was not a bad companion. + +Three weeks later they moved up to Los Angeles, taking two days for +the trip and stopping at Riverside and Redlands on the way. They +established their headquarters at one of the handsome Los Angeles +hotels and from there made little journeys through the surrounding +country, the garden spot of Southern California. One day they went to +Pasadena, which boasts more splendid residences than any city of its +size in the world; at another time they visited Hollywood, famed as +"the Paradise of Flowers." Both mountains and sea were within easy +reach, and there was so much to do that the time passed all too +swiftly. + +It was on their return from such a day's outing that Myrtle met with +her life's greatest surprise. Indeed, the surprise was shared by all +but Uncle John, who had religiously kept the secret of Mr. Jones' +identity. + +As they reached the hotel this eventful evening Mr. Merrick said to +the girls: + +"After you have dressed for dinner meet us on the parlor floor. We +dine privately to-night." + +They were mildly astonished at the request, but as Uncle John was +always doing some unusual thing they gave the matter little thought. +However, on reaching the parlor floor an hour later they found Mr. +Merrick, the Major and Mr. Jones in a group awaiting them, and +all were garbed in their dress suits, with rare flowers in their +buttonholes. + +"What is it, then?" asked Patsy. "A treat?" + +"I think so," said Uncle John, smiling. "Your arm, please, Miss +Doyle." + +The Major escorted Beth and Mr. Jones walked solemnly beside Myrtle, +who still used crutches, but more as a matter of convenience than +because they were necessary. At the end of a corridor a waiter threw +open the door of a small but beautiful banquet room, where a round +table, glistening with cut glass and silver, was set for six. In the +center of the table was a handsome centerpiece decorated with vines +of myrtle, while the entire room was filled with sprays of the dainty +vines, alive with their pretty blue flowers. + +"Goodness me!" exclaimed Patsy, laughing gleefully. "This seems to be +our little Myrtle's especial spread. Who is the host, Uncle John?" + +"Mr. Jones, of course," announced Beth, promptly. + +Myrtle blushed and glanced shyly at Mr. Jones. His face was fairly +illumined with pleasure. He placed her in the seat of honor and said +gravely: + +"This is indeed Myrtle's entertainment, for she has found something. +It is also partly my own thanksgiving banquet, my friends; for I, too, +have found something." + +His tone was so serious that all remained silent as they took their +seats, and during the many courses served the conversation was less +lively than on former occasions when there had been no ceremony. +Myrtle tried hard to eat, but there was a question in her eyes--a +question that occupied her all through the meal. When, finally, the +dessert was served and the servants had withdrawn and left them to +themselves, the girl could restrain her curiosity no longer. + +"Tell me, Mr. Jones," she said, turning to him as he sat beside her; +"what have you found?" + +He was deliberate as ever in answering. + +"You must not call me 'Mr. Jones,' hereafter," said he. + +"Why not? Then, what _shall_ I call you?" she returned, greatly +perplexed. + +"I think it would be more appropriate for you to call me 'Uncle +Anson.'" + +"Uncle Anson! Why, Uncle Anson is--is--" + +She paused, utterly bewildered, but with a sudden suspicion that made +her head whirl. + +"It strikes me, Myrtle," said Uncle John, cheerfully, "that you have +never been properly introduced to Mr. Jones. If I remember aright you +scraped acquaintance with him and had no regular introduction. So I +will now perform that agreeable office. Miss Myrtle Dean, allow me to +present your uncle, Mr. Collanson B. Jones." + +"Collanson!" repeated all the girls, in an astonished chorus. + +"That is my name," said Mr. Jones, the first smile they had seen +radiating his grim countenance. "All the folks at home, among them my +sister Kitty--your mother, my dear--called me 'Anson'; and that is +why, I suppose, old Martha Dean knew me only as your 'Uncle Anson.' +Had she told you my name was Collanson you might have suspected +earlier that 'C.B. Jones' was your lost uncle. Lost only because he +was unable to find you, Myrtle. While you were journeying West in +search of him he was journeying East. But I'm glad, for many reasons, +that you did not know me. It gave me an opportunity to learn the +sweetness of your character. Now I sincerely thank God that He led you +to me, to reclaim me and give me something to live for. If you will +permit me, my dear niece, I will hereafter devote my whole life to +you, and earnestly try to promote your happiness." + +During this long speech Myrtle had sat wide eyed and white, watching +his face and marveling at the strangeness of her fate. But she was +very, very glad, and young enough to quickly recover from the shock. + +There was a round of applause from Patsy, Beth, the Major and +Uncle John, which served admirably to cover their little friend's +embarrassment and give her time to partially collect herself. Then she +turned to Mr. Jones and with eyes swimming with tears tenderly kissed +his furrowed cheek. + +"Oh, Uncle Anson; I'm _so_ happy!" she said. + +Of course Myrtle's story is told, now. But it may be well to add that +Uncle Anson did for her all that Uncle John had intended doing, and +even more. The consultation with a famous New York specialist, on +their return a month later, assured the girl that no painful operation +was necessary. The splendid outing she had enjoyed, with the fine air +of the far West, had built up her health to such an extent that nature +remedied the ill she had suffered. Myrtle took no crutches back to New +York--a city now visited for the first time in her life--nor did she +ever need them again. The slight limp she now has will disappear +in time, the doctors say, and the child is so radiantly happy that +neither she nor her friends notice the limp at all. + +Patsy Doyle, as owner of the pretty flat building on Willing Square, +has rented to Uncle Anson the apartment just opposite that of the +Doyles, and Mr. Jones has furnished it cosily to make a home for his +niece, to whom he is so devoted that Patsy declares her own doting and +adoring father is fairly outclassed. + +The Major asserts this is absurd; but he has acquired a genuine +friendship for Anson Jones, who is no longer sad but has grown lovable +under Myrtle's beneficent influence. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT JANE'S NIECES AND UNCLE JOHN*** + + +******* This file should be named 10124-8.txt or 10124-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/1/2/10124 + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** diff --git a/old/10124-8.zip b/old/10124-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7c989f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10124-8.zip diff --git a/old/10124.txt b/old/10124.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e718d20 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10124.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5955 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Aunt Jane's Nieces and Uncle John, by Edith +Van Dyne + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Aunt Jane's Nieces and Uncle John + +Author: Edith Van Dyne + +Release Date: November 18, 2003 [eBook #10124] + +Language: English + +Chatacter set encoding: US-ASCII + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT JANE'S NIECES AND UNCLE +JOHN*** + + +E-text prepared by Afra Ullah, Josephine Paolucci, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +AUNT JANE'S NIECES AND UNCLE JOHN + +BY + +EDITH VAN DYNE + +AUTHOR OF "AUNT JANE'S NIECES," "AUNT JANE'S NIECES ABROAD," "AUNT +JANE'S NIECES AT MILLVILLE," "AUNT JANE'S NIECES AT WORK." "AUNT +JANE'S NIECES IN SOCIETY," ETC. + +1911 + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + + I INTRODUCING "MUMBLES" + II UNCLE JOHN'S IDEA + III MYRTLE DEAN + IV AN INTERESTING PROTEGE + V A WONDER ON WHEELS + VI WAMPUS SPEEDS + VII THE CHAUFFEUR IMPROVES + VIII AMONG THE INDIANS + IX NATURE'S MASTERPIECE + X A COYOTE SERENADE + XI A REAL ADVENTURE AT LAST + XII CAPTURED + XIII THE FIDDLER + XIV THE ESCAPE + XV THE ROMANCE OF DAN'L + XVI THE LODGING AT SPOTVILLE + XVII YELLOW POPPIES + XVIII THE SILENT MAN + XIX "THREE TIMES" + XX ON POINT LOMA + XXI A TALE OF WOE + XXII THE CONFESSION + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +INTRODUCING "MUMBLES" + + +Major Gregory Doyle paced nervously up and down the floor of the cosy +sitting room. + +"Something's surely happened to our Patsy!" he exclaimed. + +A little man with a calm face and a bald head, who was seated near the +fire, continued to read his newspaper and paid no attention to the +outburst. + +"Something has happened to Patsy!" repeated the Major, "Patsy" meaning +his own and only daughter Patricia. + +"Something is always happening to everyone," said the little man, +turning his paper indifferently. "Something is happening to me, for I +can't find the rest of this article. Something is happening to you, +for you're losing your temper." + +"I'm not, sir! I deny it." + +"As for Patsy," continued the other, "she is sixteen years old and +knows New York like a book. The girl is safe enough." + +"Then where is she? Tell me that, sir. Here it is, seven o'clock, dark +as pitch and raining hard, and Patsy is never out after six. Can you, +John Merrick, sit there like a lump o' putty and do nothing, when your +niece and my own darlin' Patsy is lost--or strayed or stolen?" + +"What would you propose doing?" asked Uncle John, looking up with a +smile. + +"We ought to get out the police department. It's raining and cold, +and--" + +"Then we ought to get out the fire department. Call Mary to put on +more coal and let's have it warm and cheerful when Patsy comes in." + +"But, sir--" + +"The trouble with you, Major, is that dinner is half an hour late. One +can imagine all sorts of horrible things on an empty stomach. Now, +then--" + +He paused, for a pass-key rattled in the hall door and a moment later +Patsy Doyle, rosy and animated, fresh from the cold and wet outside, +smilingly greeted them. + +She had an umbrella, but her cloak was dripping with moisture and in +its ample folds was something huddled and bundled up like a baby, +which she carefully protected. + +"So, then," exclaimed the Major, coming forward for a kiss, "you're +back at last, safe and sound. Whatever kept ye out 'til this time o' +night, Patsy darlin'?" he added, letting the brogue creep into his +tone, as he did when stirred by any emotion. + +Uncle John started to take off her wet cloak. + +"Look out!" cried Patsy; "you'll disturb Mumbles." + +The two men looked at her bundle curiously. + +"Who's Mumbles?" asked one. + +"What on earth is Mumbles?" inquired the other. + +The bundle squirmed and wriggled. Patsy sat down on the floor and +carefully unwound the folds of the cloak. A tiny dog, black and +shaggy, put his head out, blinked sleepily at the lights, pulled his +fat, shapeless body away from the bandages and trotted solemnly over +to the fireplace. He didn't travel straight ahead, as dogs ought to +walk, but "cornerwise," as Patsy described it; and when he got to the +hearth he rolled himself into a ball, lay down and went to sleep. + +During this performance a tense silence had pervaded the room. The +Major looked at the dog rather gloomily; Uncle John with critical eyes +that held a smile in them; Patsy with ecstatic delight. + +"Isn't he a dear!" she exclaimed. + +"It occurs to me," said the Major stiffly, "that this needs an +explanation. Do you mean to say, Patsy Doyle, that you've worried the +hearts out of us this past hour, and kept the dinner waiting, all +because of a scurvy bit of an animal?" + +"Pshaw!" said Uncle John. "Speak for yourself, Major. I wasn't worried +a bit." + +"You see," explained Patsy, rising to take off her things and put them +away, "I was coming home early when I first met Mumbles. A little boy +had him, with a string tied around his neck, and when Mumbles tried +to run up to me the boy jerked him back cruelly--and afterward kicked +him. That made me mad." + +"Of course," said Uncle John, nodding wisely. + +"I cuffed the boy, and he said he'd take it out on Mumbles, as soon as +I'd gone away. I didn't like that. I offered to buy the dog, but the +boy didn't dare sell him. He said it belonged to his father, who'd +kill him and kick up a row besides if he didn't bring Mumbles home. +So I found out where they lived and as it wasn't far away I went home +with him." + +"Crazy Patsy!" smiled Uncle John. + +"And the dinner waiting!" groaned the Major, reproachfully. + +"Well, I had a time, you can believe!" continued Patsy, with +animation. "The man was a big brute, and half drunk. He grabbed up the +little doggie and threw it into a box, and then told me to go home and +mind my business." + +"Which of course you refused to do." + +"Of course. I'd made up my mind to have that dog." + +"Dogs," said the Major, "invariably are nuisances." + +"Not invariably," declared Patsy. "Mumbles is different. Mumbles is a +good doggie, and wise and knowing, although he's only a baby dog yet. +And I just couldn't leave him to be cuffed and kicked and thrown +around by those brutes. When the man found I was determined to have +Mumbles he demanded twenty-five dollars." + +"Twenty-five dollars!" It startled Uncle John. + +"For that bit of rags and meat?" asked the Major, looking at the puppy +with disfavor. "Twenty-five cents would be exorbitant." + +"The man misjudged me," observed Patsy, with a merry laugh that +matched her twinkling blue eyes. "In the end he got just two +dollars for Mumbles, and when I came away he bade me good-bye very +respectfully. The boy howled. He hasn't any dog to kick and is +broken-hearted. As for Mumbles, he's going to lead a respectable life +and be treated like a dog." + +"Do you mean to keep him?" inquired the Major. + +"Why not?" said Patsy. "Don't you like him, Daddy?" + +Her father turned Mumbles over with his toe. The puppy lay upon its +back, lazily, with all four paws in the air, and cast a comical glance +from one beady bright eye at the man who had disturbed him. + +The Major sighed. + +"He can't hunt, Patsy; he's not even a mouser." + +"We haven't a mouse in the house." + +"He's neither useful nor ornamental. From the looks o' the beast he's +only good to sleep and eat." + +"What's the odds?" laughed Patsy, coddling Mumbles up in her arms. +"We don't expect use or ornamentation from Mumbles. All we ask is his +companionship." + +Mary called them to dinner just then, and the girl hurried to her room +to make a hasty toilet while the men sat down at the table and eyed +their soup reflectively. + +"This addition to the family," remarked Uncle John, "need not make +you at all unhappy, my dear Major. Don't get jealous of Mumbles, for +heaven's sake, for the little brute may add a bit to Patsy's bliss." + +"It's the first time I've ever allowed a dog in the house." + +"You are not running this present establishment. It belongs +exclusively to Patsy." + +"I've always hated the sight of a woman coddling a dog," added the +Major, frowning. + +"I know. I feel the same way myself. But it isn't the dog's fault. +It's the woman's. And Patsy won't make a fool of herself over that +frowsy puppy, I assure you. On the contrary, she's likely to get a lot +of joy out of her new plaything, and if you really want to make her +happy, Major, don't discourage this new whim, absurd as it seems. Let +Patsy alone. And let Mumbles alone." + +The girl came in just then, bringing sunshine with her. Patsy Doyle +was not very big for her years, and some people unkindly described her +form as "chubby." She had glorious red hair--really-truly red--and her +blue eyes were the merriest, sweetest eyes any girl could possess. You +seldom noticed her freckles, her saucy chin or her turned-up nose; you +only saw the laughing eyes and crown of golden red, and seeing them +you liked Patsy Doyle at once and imagined she was very good to look +at, if not strictly beautiful. No one had friends more loyal, +and these two old men--the stately Major and round little Uncle +John--fairly worshiped Patsy. + +No one might suspect, from the simple life of this household, which +occupied the second corner flat at 3708 Willing Square, that Miss +Doyle was an heiress. Not only that, but perhaps one of the very +richest girls in New York. And the reason is readily explained when +I state the fact that Patsy's Uncle John Merrick, the round little +bald-headed man who sat contentedly eating his soup, was a man of many +millions, and this girl his favorite niece. An old bachelor who had +acquired an immense fortune in the far Northwest, Mr. Merrick had +lately retired from active business and come East to seek any +relatives that might remain to him after forty years' absence. His +sister Jane had gathered around her three nieces--Louise Merrick, +Elizabeth De Graf and Patricia Doyle--and when Aunt Jane died Uncle +John adopted these three girls and made their happiness the one care +of his jolly, unselfish life. At that time Major Doyle, Patsy's only +surviving parent, was a poor bookkeeper; but Uncle John gave him +charge of his vast property interests, and loving Patsy almost as +devotedly as did her father, made his home with the Doyles and began +to enjoy himself for the first time in his life. + +At the period when this story opens the eldest niece, Louise Merrick, +had just been married to Arthur Weldon, a prosperous young business +man, and the remaining two nieces, as well as Uncle John, were feeling +rather lonely and depressed. The bride had been gone on her honeymoon +three days, and during the last two days it had rained persistently; +so, until Patsy came home from a visit to Beth and brought the tiny +dog with her, the two old gentlemen had been feeling dreary enough. + +Patsy always livened things up. Nothing could really depress this +spirited girl for long, and she was always doing some interesting +thing to create a little excitement. + +"If she hadn't bought a twenty-five cent pup for two dollars," +remarked the Major, "she might have brought home an orphan from the +gutters, or a litter of tomcats, or one of the goats that eat the +tin cans at Harlem. Perhaps, after all, we should be thankful it's +only--what's his name?" + +"Mumbles," said Patsy, merrily. "The boy said they called him that +because he mumbled in his sleep. Listen!" + +Indeed, the small waif by the fire was emitting a series of noises +that seemed a queer mixture of low growls and whines--evidence +unimpeachable that he had been correctly named. + +At Patsy's shout of laughter, supplemented by Uncle John's chuckles +and a reproachful cough from the Major, Mumbles awakened and lifted +his head. It may be an eye discovered the dining-table in the next +room, or an intuitive sense of smell directed him, for presently the +small animal came trotting in--still traveling "cornerwise"--and sat +up on his hind legs just beside Patsy's chair. + +"That settles it," said the Major, as his daughter began feeding the +dog. "Our happy home is broken up." + +"Perhaps not," suggested Uncle John, reaching out to pat the soft head +of Mumbles. "It may be the little beggar will liven us all up a bit." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +UNCLE JOHN'S IDEA + + +Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by +the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked +around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision. + +"I have an idea," he announced. + +"Did you find it in your dreams, then?" asked the Major, sharply. + +"Why, Daddy, how cross you are!" cried Patsy. "Can't Uncle John have +an idea if he wants to?" + +"I'm afraid of his ideas," admitted the Major, suspiciously. "Every +time he goes to sleep and catches a thought, it means trouble." + +Patsy laughed, looking at her uncle curiously, and the little man +smiled at her genially in return. + +"It takes me a long time to figure a thing out," he said; "and when +I've a problem to solve a bit of a snooze helps wonderfully. Patsy, +dear, it occurs to me we're lonely." + +"We surely are, Uncle!" she exclaimed. + +"And in the dumps." + +"Our spirits are at the bottom of the bottomless pit." + +"So what we need is--a change." + +"There it goes!" said the Major ruefully. "I knew very well any idea +of John Merrick's would cause us misery. But understand this, you +miserable home-wrecker, sir, my daughter Patsy steps not one foot out +of New York this winter." + +"Why not?" mildly inquired Uncle John. + +"Because you've spirited her away from me times enough, and deprived +her only parent of her society. First you gallivanted off to Europe, +and then to Millville, and next to Elmhurst; so now, egad, I'm going +to keep the girl with me if I have to throttle every idea in your +wicked old head!" + +"But I'm planning to take you along, this time. Major," observed Uncle +John reflectively. + +"Oh. Hum! Well, I can't go. There's too much business to be attended +to--looking after your horrible money." + +"Take a vacation. You know I don't care anything about the business. +It can't go very wrong, anyhow. What does it matter if my income isn't +invested properly, or the bond coupons cut when they're due? Drat the +money!" + +"That's what I say," added Patsy eagerly. "Be a man, Major Doyle, and +put the business out of your mind. Let's go somewhere and have a good +romp. It will cheer us up." + +The Major stared first at one and then at the other. + +"What's the programme, John?" he asked stiffly. + +"It's going to be a cold winter," remarked the little man, bobbing his +head up and down slowly. + +"It is!" cried Patsy, clasping her hands fervently. "I can feel it in +my bones." + +"So we're going," said Uncle John, impressively, "to California--where +they grow sunshine and roses to offset our blizzards and icicles." + +"Hurray!" shouted Patsy. "I've always wanted to go to California." + +"California!" said the Major, amazed; "why, it's farther away than +Europe. It takes a month to get there." + +"Nonsense." retorted Uncle John. "It's only four days from coast to +coast. I have a time-table, somewhere," and he began searching in his +pockets. + +There was a silence, oppressive on the Major's part, ecstatic as far +as Patsy was concerned. Uncle John found the railway folder, put on +his spectacles, and began to examine it. + +"At my time of life," remarked Major Doyle, who was hale and hearty as +a boy, "such a trip is a great undertaking." + +"Twenty-four hours to Chicago," muttered Uncle John; "and then three +days to Los Angeles or San Francisco. That's all there is to it." + +"Four days and four nights of dreary riding. We'd be dead by that +time," prophesied the Major. + +Uncle John looked thoughtful. Then he lay back in his chair and spread +his handkerchief over his face again. + +"No, no!" cried the Major, in alarm. "For mercy's sake, John, don't +go to sleep and catch any more of those terrible ideas. No one knows +where the next one might carry us--to Timbuktu or Yucatan, probably. +Let's stick to California and settle the question before your hothouse +brain grows any more weeds." + +"Yucatan," remarked Mr. Merrick, composedly, his voice muffled by the +handkerchief, "isn't a bad suggestion." + +"I knew it!" wailed the Major. "How would Ethiopia or Hindustan strike +you?" + +Patsy laughed at him. She knew something good was in store for her +and like all girls was enraptured at the thought of visiting new and +interesting scenes. + +"Don't bother Uncle John, Daddy," she said. "You know very well he +will carry out any whim that seizes him; especially if you oppose the +plan, which you usually do." + +"He's the most erratic and irresponsible man that ever lived," +announced her father, staring moodily at the spread handkerchief which +covered Uncle John's cherub-like features. "New York is good enough +for anybody, even in winter; and now that you're in society, Patsy--" + +"Oh, bother society! I hate it." + +"True," he agreed; "it's a regular treadmill when it has enslaved one, +and keeps you going on and on without progressing a bit. The object of +society is to tire you out and keep you from indulging in any other +occupation." + +"You know nothing about it," observed Patsy, demurely, "and that is +why you love to rail at society. The things you know, Daddy dear, are +the things you never remark upon." + +"Huh!" grunted the Major, and relapsed into silence. + +Mumbles had finished his after-dinner nap and was now awakening to +activity. This dog's size, according to the Major, was "about 4x6; but +you can't tell which is the 4 and which the 6." He was distressingly +shaggy. Patsy could find the stump of his tail only by careful search. +Seldom were both eyes uncovered by hair at the same time. But, as his +new mistress had said, he was a wise little dog for one who had only +known the world for a few months, and his brain was exceedingly alert. +After yawning at the fire he rubbed his back against the Major's legs, +sat up beside Patsy and looked at her from one eye pleadingly. Next he +trotted over to Uncle John. The big white handkerchief attracted him +and one corner hung down from the edge of the reclining chair. Mumbles +sat up and reached for it, but could not quite get it in his teeth. +So he sat down and thought it over, and presently made a leap so +unexpectedly agile that Patsy roared with merriment and even the Major +grinned. Uncle John, aroused, sat up and found the puppy rolling on +the floor and fighting the handkerchief as if it had been some deadly +foe. + +"Thank goodness," sighed the Major. "The little black rascal has +providently prevented you from evolving another idea." + +"Not so," responded Mr. Merrick amiably. "I've thought the thing all +out, and completed our programme." + +"Is it still to be California?" anxiously inquired Patsy. + +"Of course. I can't give up the sunshine and roses, you know. But we +won't bore the Major by four solid days of railway travel. We'll break +the journey, and take two or three weeks to it--perhaps a month." + +"Conquering Caesar! A month!" ejaculated the old soldier, a desperate +look on his face. + +"Yes. Listen, both of you. We'll get to Chicago in a night and a day. +We will stop off there and visit the stockyards, and collect a few +squeals for souvenirs." + +"No, we won't!" declared Patsy, positively. + +"We might sell Mumbles to some Chicago sausage factory," remarked the +Major, "but not for two whole dollars. He wouldn't make more than half +a pound at twenty cents the pound." + +"There are other sights to be seen in Chicago," continued Uncle John. +"Anyhow, we'll stop off long enough to get rested. Then on to Denver +and Pike's Peak." + +"That sounds good," said Patsy. + +"At Denver," said Uncle John, "we will take a touring car and cross +the mountains in it. There are good roads all the way from there to +California." + +"Who told you so?" demanded the Major. + +"No one. It's a logical conclusion, for I've lived in the West and +know the prairie roads are smoother than boulevards. However, Haggerty +told me the other day that he has made the trip from Denver to Los +Angeles by automobile, and what others can do, we can do." + +"It will be glorious!" prophesied Patsy, delightedly. + +The Major looked grave, but could find no plausible objection to +offer. He really knew nothing about the West and had never had +occasion to consider such a proposition before. + +"We'll talk to Haggerty," he said. "But you must remember he's a +desperate liar, John, and can't be trusted as a guidepost. When do you +intend to start?" + +"Why not to-morrow?" asked Uncle John mildly. + +Even Patsy demurred at this. + +"Why, we've got to get ready, Uncle," she said. "And who's going? Just +we three?" + +"We will take Beth along, of course." Beth was Elizabeth De Graf, +another niece. "But Beth is fortunately the sort of girl who can pull +up stakes and move on at an hour's notice." + +"Beth is always ready for anything," agreed Patsy. "But if we are +going to a warm climate we will need summer clothes." + +"You can't lug many clothes in a motor car," observed the Major. + +"No; but we can ship them on ahead." + +"Haggerty says," remarked Uncle John, "that you won't need thin +clothes until you get out to California. In fact, the mountain trip is +rather cool. But it's perpetual sunshine, you know, even there, with +brisk, keen air; and the whole journey, Haggerty says, is one of +absolute delight." + +"Who is Haggerty?" asked Patsy. + +"A liar," answered the Major, positively. + +"He's a very good fellow whom we sometimes meet in the city," said +Uncle John. "Haggerty is on the Board, and director in a bank or two, +and quite respectable. But the Major--" + +"The Major's going to California just to prove that Haggerty can't +speak the truth," observed that gentleman, tersely heading off any +threatened criticism. "I see there is no opposing your preposterous +scheme, John, so we will go with you and make the best of it. But I'm +sure it's all a sad mistake. What else did Haggerty tell you?" + +"He says it's best to pick up a motor car and a chauffeur in Denver, +rather than ship them on from here. There are plenty of cars to be +had, and men who know every inch of the road." + +"That seems sensible," declared Patsy, "and we won't lose time waiting +for our own car to follow by freight. I think, Uncle John, I can be +ready by next Tuesday." + +"Why, to-morrow's Saturday!" gasped the Major. "The business--" + +"Cut the business off short," suggested his brother-in-law. "You've to +cut it somewhere, you know, or you'll never get away; and, as it's my +business, I hereby authorize you to neglect it from this moment until +the day of our return. When we get back you can pick up the details +again and worry over it as much as you please." + +"Will we ever get back?" asked the Major, doubtingly. + +"If we don't, the business won't matter." + +"That's the idea," cried Patsy, approvingly. "Daddy has worked hard +all summer, Uncle John, looking after that annoying money of yours, +and a vacation will do him oodles of good." + +Major Doyle sighed. + +"I misdoubt the wisdom of the trip," said he, "but I'll go, of course, +if you all insist. Over the Rocky Mountains and across the Great +American Desert in an automobile doesn't sound very enticing, but--" + +"Haggerty says--" + +"Never mind Haggerty. We'll find out for ourselves." + +"And, after all," said Patsy, "there are the sunshine and roses at the +end of the journey, and they ought to make up for any amount of bother +in getting there." + +"Girl, you're attempting to deceive me--to deceive your old Daddy," +said the Major, shaking his head at her. "You wouldn't have any fun +riding to California in a palace car; even the sunshine and roses +couldn't excite you under such circumstances; but if there's a chance +for adventure--a chance to slide into trouble and make a mighty +struggle to get out again--both you and that wicked old uncle of yours +will jump at it. I know ye both. And that's the real reason we're +going to travel in an automobile instead of progressing comfortably as +all respectable people do." + +"You're a humbug," retorted Mr. Merrick. "You wouldn't go by train if +I'd let you." + +"No," admitted the Major; "I must be on hand to rescue you when you +and Patsy go fighting windmills." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +MYRTLE DEAN + + +"We were due in Denver three hours ago, and it's an hour's run or more +yet," remarked Beth De Graf, walking briskly up and down the platform +of a way station where the train had stopped for orders. + +"And it's beginning to snow," observed Patricia Doyle, beside her. +"I'm afraid this weather isn't very propitious for an automobile +trip." + +"Uncle John doesn't worry," said Beth. "He believes there is perpetual +sunshine west of Denver." + +"Yes; a man named Haggerty told him. But you'll notice that Daddy +doesn't seem to believe the tale. Anyhow, we shall soon know the +truth, Beth, and the trip is somewhat on the order of a voyage of +discovery, which renders it fascinating to look forward to. There is +such fun in not knowing just what is going to happen next." + +"When one travels with Uncle John," returned Beth, smiling, "she +knows exactly--nothing. That is why I am always eager to accept if he +invites me to go anywhere with him." + +The passengers thronging the platform--"stretching their legs" after +the confinement of the tedious railway journey--eyed these two girls +admiringly. Beth was admitted a beauty, and one of the society +journals had lately announced that she had few peers in all the great +metropolis. Chestnut brown hair; dark, serious and steady eyes; an +exquisite complexion and rarely regular features all conspired to +render the young girl wonderfully attractive. Her stride was athletic, +free and graceful; her slender form well poised and dignified. Patsy, +the "plug-ugly," as she called herself, was so bright and animated and +her blue eyes sparkled so constantly with fun and good humor, that +she attracted fully as much attention as her more sedate and more +beautiful cousin, and wherever she went was sure to make a host of +friends. + +"See!" she cried, clasping Beth's arm; "there is that lovely girl at +the window again. I've noticed her ever since the train left Chicago, +and she is always in the same seat in that tourist coach. I wonder why +she doesn't get out for a bit of fresh air now and then." + +Beth looked up at the fair, girlish face that gazed wistfully from +the window. The unknown seemed very young--not more than fourteen or +fifteen years of age. She wore a blue serge suit of rather coarse +weave, but it was neat and becoming. Around the modest, sweet eyes +were deep circles, denoting physical suffering or prolonged worry; yet +the lips smiled, wanly but persistently. She had evidently noticed +Uncle John's two nieces, for her eyes followed them as they marched +up and down the platform and when Patsy looked up and nodded, a soft +flush suffused her features and she bowed her head in return. + +At the cry of "all aboard!" a scramble was made for the coaches and +Beth and Patsy, re-entering their staterooms, found their Uncle and +the Major still intent upon their interminable game of cribbage. + +"Let's go back and talk to the girl," suggested Patsy. "Somehow, +the poor thing seems lonely, and her smile was more pathetic than +cheerful." + +So they made their way through the long train to the tourist coach, +and there found the girl they were seeking. The surrounding seats were +occupied by groups of passengers of rather coarse caliber, many being +foreign laborers accompanied by their wives and children. The air in +the car was close and "stuffy" and the passengers seemed none too neat +in their habits and appearance. So the solitary girl appeared like a +rose blooming in a barnyard and her two visitors were instantly sorry +for her. She sat in her corner, leaning wearily against the back of +the cane seat, with a blanket spread over her lap. Strangely +enough the consideration of her fellow passengers left the girl in +undisturbed possession of a double seat. + +"Perhaps she is ill," thought Patsy, as she and Beth sat down opposite +and entered into conversation with the child. She was frankly +communicative and they soon learned that her name was Myrtle Dean, and +that she was an orphan. Although scarcely fifteen years of age she +had for more than two years gained a livelihood by working in a skirt +factory in Chicago, paying her board regularly to a cross old aunt who +was her only relative in the big city. Three months ago, however, she +had met with an accident, having been knocked down by an automobile +while going to her work and seriously injured. + +"The doctors say," she confided to her new friends, "that I shall +always be lame, although not quite helpless. Indeed, I can creep +around a little now, when I am obliged to move, and I shall get better +every day. One of my hips was so badly injured that it will never be +quite right again, and my Aunt Martha was dreadfully worried for fear +I would become a tax upon her. I cannot blame her, for she has really +but little money to pay for her own support. So, when the man who ran +over me paid us a hundred dollars for damages--" + +"Only a hundred dollars!" cried Beth, amazed. + +"Wasn't that enough?" inquired Myrtle innocently. + +"By no means," said Patsy, with prompt indignation. "He should have +given you five thousand, at least. Don't you realize, my dear, that +this accident has probably deprived you of the means of earning a +livelihood?" + +"I can still sew," returned the girl, courageously, "although of +course I cannot get about easily to search for employment." + +"But why did you leave Chicago?" asked Beth. + +"I was coming to that part of my story. When I got the hundred dollars +Aunt Martha decided I must use it to go to Leadville, to my Uncle +Anson, who is my mother's only brother. He is a miner out there, and +Aunt Martha says he is quite able to take care of me. So she bought my +ticket and put me on the train and I'm now on my way to Leadville to +find Uncle Anson." + +"To _find_ him!" exclaimed Patsy. "Don't you know his address?" + +"No; we haven't had a letter from him for two years. But Aunt Martha +says he must be a prominent man, and everybody in Leadville will know +him, as it's a small place." + +"Does he know you are coming?" asked Beth, thoughtfully. + +"My aunt wrote him a letter two days before I started, so he ought +to receive it two days before I get there," replied Myrtle, a little +uneasily. "Of course I can't help worrying some, because if I failed +to find Uncle Anson I don't know what might happen to me." + +"Have you money?" asked Beth. + +"A little. About three dollars. Aunt gave me a basket of food to last +until I get to Leadville, and after paying for my ticket and taking +what I owed her for board there wasn't much left from the hundred +dollars." + +"What a cruel old woman!" cried Patsy, wrathfully. "She ought to be +horsewhipped!" + +"I am sure it was wrong for her to cast you off in this heartless +way," added Beth, more conservatively. + +"She is not really bad," returned Myrtle, the tears starting to her +eyes. "But Aunt Martha has grown selfish, and does not care for me +very much. I hope Uncle Anson will be different. He is my mother's +brother, you know, while Aunt Martha is only my father's sister, and +an old maid who has had rather a hard life. Perhaps," she added, +wistfully, "Uncle Anson will love me--although I'm not strong or +well." + +Both Patsy and Beth felt desperately sorry for the girl. + +"What is Uncle Anson's other name?" asked the latter, for Beth was +the more practical of Uncle John's nieces and noted for her clear +thinking. + +"Jones. Mr. Anson Jones." + +"Rather a common name, if you have to hunt for him," observed the +questioner, musingly. "Has he been in Leadville long?" + +"I do not know," replied Myrtle. "His last letter proved that he was +in Leadville two years ago, and he said he had been very successful +and made money; but he has been in other mining camps, I know, and has +wandered for years all over the West." + +"Suppose he should be wandering now?" suggested Patsy; but at the look +of alarm on Myrtle's face she quickly changed the subject, saying: +"You must come in to dinner with us, my dear, for you have had nothing +but cold truck to eat since you left Chicago. They say we shall be in +Denver in another hour, but I'm afraid to believe it. Anyhow, there is +plenty of time for dinner." + +"Oh, I can't go, really!" cried the girl. "It's--it's so hard for me +to walk when the train is moving; and--and--I wouldn't feel happy in +that gay, luxurious dining car." + +"Well, we must go, anyway, or the Major will be very disagreeable," +said Patsy. "Good-bye, Myrtle; we shall see you again before we leave +the train." + +As the two girls went forward to their coach Beth said to Patsy: + +"I'm afraid that poor thing will be greatly disappointed when she gets +to Leadville. Imagine anyone sending a child on such a wild goose +chase--and an injured and almost helpless child, at that!" + +"I shudder to think what would become of her, with no uncle to care +for her and only three dollars to her name," added Patsy. "I have +never heard of such an inhuman creature as that Aunt Martha, Beth. I +hope there are not many like her in the world." + +At dinner they arranged with the head waiter of the dining car to send +in a substantial meal, smoking hot, to Myrtle Dean, and Patsy herself +inspected the tray before it went to make sure everything was there +that was ordered. They had to satisfy Uncle John's curiosity at this +proceeding by relating to him Myrtle Dean's story, and the kindly +little man became very thoughtful and agreed with them that it was a +cruel act to send the poor girl into a strange country in search of an +uncle who had not been heard of in two years. + +When the train pulled into the station at Denver the first care of +John Merrick's party was to look after the welfare of the lame girl. +They got a porter to assist her into the depot waiting room and then +Uncle John inquired about the next train for Leadville, and found it +would not start until the following morning, the late overland train +having missed that day's connections. This was a serious discovery for +poor Myrtle, but she smiled bravely and said: + +"I can pass the night in this seat very comfortably, so please don't +worry about me. It is warm here, you know, and I won't mind a bit the +sitting up. Thank you all very much for your kindness, and good-bye. +I'll be all right, never fear." + +Uncle John stood looking down at her thoughtfully. + +"Did you engage a carriage, Major?" he asked. + +"Yes; there's one now waiting," was the reply. + +"All right. Now, then, my dear, let's wrap this blanket around you +tight and snug." + +"What are you going to do?" asked Myrtle with a startled look. + +"Carry you outside. It's pretty cold and snowy, so we must wrap you up. +Now, Major, take hold on the other side. Here we go!" + +Patsy smiled--rather pitifully--at the expression of bewilderment on +Myrtle's face. Uncle John and the Major carried her tenderly to a +carriage and put her in the back seat. Patsy sprang in next, with +Mumbles clasped tightly in her arms, the small dog having been forced +to make the journey thus far in the baggage car. Beth and the Major +entered the carriage next, while Uncle John mounted beside the driver +and directed him to the Crown Palace Hotel. + +It was growing dark when they reached the dingy hostelry, which might +have been palatial when it was named but was now sadly faded and +tawdry. It proved to be fairly comfortable, however, and the first +care of the party was to see Myrtle Dean safely established in a cosy +room, with a grate fire to cheer her. Patsy and Beth had adjoining +rooms and kept running in for a word with their protege, who was +so astonished and confused by her sudden good fortune that she was +incapable of speech and more inclined to cry than to laugh. + +During the evening Uncle John was busy at the telegraph booth. He sent +several messages to Leadville, to Anson Jones, to the Chief of Police +and to the various hotels; but long before midnight, when the last +replies were received, he knew that Anson Jones had left Leadville +five months ago, and his present whereabouts were unknown. Having +learned these facts the little man went to bed and slept peacefully +until morning. + +Myrtle had begged them to see that she was called at five o'clock, +that she might have ample time to get to the depot for her train, but +no one called her and the poor child was so weary and worn with her +trip that the soft bed enthralled her for many hours after daybreak. + +Patsy finally aroused her, opening the blinds to let in the sunshine +and then sitting beside Myrtle's bed to stroke her fair hair and tell +her it was nearly noon. + +"But my train!" wailed the girl, greatly distressed. + +"Oh, the train has gone hours ago. But never mind that, dear. Uncle +John has telegraphed to Leadville and found that Anson Jones is +not there. He left months ago, and is now wandering; in fields and +pastures unknown." + +Myrtle sat up in bed and glared at Patsy wild-eyed. + +"Gone!" she said. "Gone! Then what am I to do?" + +"I can't imagine, dear," said Patsy, soothingly. "What do you think +you will do?" + +The girl seemed dazed and for a time could not reply. + +"You must have thought of this thing," suggested her new friend, "for +it was quite possible Anson Jones would not be in Leadville when you +arrived there." + +"I did not dare think of it," returned Myrtle in a low, frightened +tone. "I once asked Aunt Martha what I could do in case Uncle Anson +wasn't to be found, and she said he _must_ be found, for otherwise I +would be obliged to earn my own living." + +"And she knew you to be so helpless!" + +"She knows I can sew, if only I can get work to do," said the girl, +simply. "I'm not really a cripple, and I'm getting better of my hurt +every day. Aunt Martha said I would be just as well off in Denver or +Leadville as in Chicago, and made me promise, if the worst came, not +to let any charitable organization send me back to her." + +"In other words," exclaimed Patsy, indignantly, "she wanted to get rid +of you, and did not care what became of you." + +"She was afraid I would cost her money," admitted the poor child, with +shamed, downcast eyes. + +Patsy went to the window and stood looking out for a time. Myrtle +began to dress herself. As she said, she was not utterly helpless, +moving the upper part of her body freely and being able to walk slowly +about a room by holding on to chairs or other furniture. + +"I'm afraid I'm causing you a lot of worry over me," said she, smiling +sadly as Patsy turned toward her; "and that is ungrateful when I +remember how kind you have all been. Why, these hours since I met you +have seemed like fairyland. I shall treasure them as long as I live. +There must be another train to Leadville soon, and I'll take that. As +soon as I am ready I will go to the depot and wait there." + +Patsy looked at her reflectively. The poor child was called upon to +solve a queer problem--one which might well have bewildered the brain +of a more experienced person. + +"Tell me," she said; "why should you go to Leadville at all, now that +you have no friend or relative there to care for you?" + +"My ticket is to Leadville, you know," replied Myrtle. "If I did not +go I would waste the money it cost." + +Patsy laughed at this. + +"You're a wonderfully impractical child," she said, deftly assisting +Myrtle to finish dressing. "What you really need is some one to order +you around and tell you what to do. So you must stop thinking about +yourself, for a time, and let _us_ do the thinking. Here--sit in this +chair by the window. Do you want Mumbles in your lap? All right. Now +gaze upon the scenery until I come back. There's a man washing windows +across the street; watch and see if he does his work properly." + +Then she went away to join a conference in Uncle John's sitting room. +Major Doyle was speaking when she entered and his voice was coldly +ironical. + +"The temperature outside is six degrees above freezing," he observed. +"The clerk downstairs says the snow is nine feet deep over the +mountain trails and the wind would cut an iron beam in two. If you +take an automobile to California, John, you must put it on snowshoes +and connect it with a steam heating-plant." + +Uncle John, his hands thrust deep in his pockets, paced thoughtfully +up and down the room. + +"Haggerty said--" + +"Didn't I give you Haggerty's record, then?" asked the Major. "If +you want the exact truth it's safe to go directly opposite to what +Haggerty says." + +"He's a very decent fellow," protested Mr. Merrick, "and is considered +in the city to be strictly honest." + +"But after this?" + +"You can't blame him for the weather conditions here. I've been +talking with Denver people myself, this morning, and they all say +it's unusual to have such cold weather at this time of year. The +thermometer hasn't been so low in the past twenty-six years, the +natives say." + +"Are they all named Haggerty?" asked the Major, scornfully. + +"If you will kindly allow me to speak, and tell you what Haggerty +said," remarked Uncle John tersely, "I shall be able to add to your +information." + +"Go ahead, then." + +"Haggerty said that in case we ran into cold weather in Denver, which +was possible--" + +"Quite possible!" + +"Then we had best go south to Santa Fe and take the route of the old +Santa Fe Trail as far as Albuquerque, or even to El Paso. Either way +we will be sure to find fine weather, and good roads into California." + +"So Haggerty says." + +"It stands to reason," continued Mr. Merrick, "that on the Southern +route we will escape the severe weather. So I have decided to adopt +that plan." + +"I think you are quite wise in that," broke in Patsy, before her +father could object. + +"All those queer Spanish names sound interesting," said Beth. "When do +we start, Uncle?" + +"In a day or two. I have some things here to attend to that may delay +us that long. But when once we are started southward we shall bowl +along right merrily." + +"Unless we run into more snowstorms." Of course it was the Major who +said that, and pointedly ignoring the remark Uncle John turned to +Patsy and said: + +"How did you find Myrtle Dean this morning?" + +"She is rested, and seems very bright and cheerful, Uncle; but of +course she is much distressed by the news that her Uncle Anson has +vanished from Leadville. Yet she thinks she will continue her journey +by the next train, as she has paid for her ticket and can't afford to +waste the money." + +"It would be absurd for the child to go to Leadville on that account. +A mining camp is no place for such a frail thing," returned Mr. +Merrick. "What would you suggest, Patsy?" + +"Really, Uncle John, I don't know what to suggest." + +"She can never earn her living by sewing," declared Beth. "What she +ought to have is a trained nurse and careful attention." + +"I'll have a doctor up to look her over," said Uncle John, in his +decisive way. He was a mild little man generally, but when he made up +his mind to do a thing it was useless to argue with him. Even Major +Doyle knew that; but the old soldier was so fond of arguing for +the sake of argument, and so accustomed to oppose his wealthy +brother-in-law--whom he loved dearly just the same--that he was +willing to accept defeat rather than permit Mr. Merrick to act without +protest. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +AN INTERESTING PROTEGE + + +A young physician was appointed by the management to attend any guest +who might require his services, and Uncle John had a talk with him and +sent him to Myrtle's room to give her a thorough examination. This he +did, and reported that the girl's present condition was due largely to +mismanagement of her case at the time she was injured. With care she +would get better and stronger rapidly, but the hip joint was out of +its socket and only a skillful operation would serve to permanently +relieve her of lameness. + +"What she needs just now," continued the doctor, "is a pair of +crutches, so she can get around better and be in the fresh air and +sunshine as much as possible. She is a very frail little woman at +present and must build up her health and strength before submitting +to the operation I have mentioned. Then, if it is properly done, she +ought to recover completely and be as good as new." + +"I must inform you," said Uncle John, "that Myrtle Dean is just a +little waif whom my nieces picked up on the train. I believe she is +without friends or money. Such being the circumstances, what would you +advise?" + +The doctor shook his head gravely. + +"Poor thing!" he said. "She ought to be rich, at this juncture, +instead of poor, for the conditions facing her are serious. The +operation I speak of is always an expensive one, and meantime the +child must go to some charitable institution or wear out her feeble +strength in trying to earn enough to keep the soul in her body. She +seems to have a brave and beautiful nature, sir, and were she educated +and cared for would some day make a splendid woman. But the world is +full of these sad cases. I'm poor myself, Mr. Merrick, but this child +interests me, and after you have gone I shall do all in my power to +assist her." + +"Thank you," said Uncle John, thoughtfully nodding his bald head. +"I'll think it over and see you again, doctor, before I leave." + +An hour later Myrtle was fitted with crutches of the best sort +obtainable, and was overjoyed to find how greatly they assisted her. +The Major, a kindly man, decided to take Myrtle out for a drive, and +while they were gone Uncle John had a long conversation with Beth and +Patsy. + +"Here is a case," said he, "where my dreadful money can do some good. +I am anxious to help Myrtle Dean, for I believe she is deserving of +my best offices. But I don't exactly know what to do. She is really +_your_ protege, my dears, and I am going to put the affair in your +hands for settlement. Just tell me what to do, and I'll do it. Spend +my money as freely upon Myrtle as you please." + +The girls faced the problem with enthusiasm. + +"She's a dear little thing," remarked Patsy, "and seems very grateful +for the least kindness shown her. I am sure she has never been treated +very nicely by that stony-hearted old aunt of hers." + +"In all my experience," said Beth, speaking as if her years were +doubled, "I have never known anyone so utterly helpless. She is very +young and inexperienced, with no friends, no money, and scarcely +recovered from an accident. It is clearly our duty to do something for +Myrtle, and aside from the humane obligation I feel that already I +love the child, having known her only a day." + +"Admitting all this, Beth," returned her uncle, "you are not answering +my question. What shall we do for Myrtle? How can we best assist her?" + +"Why not take her to California with us?" inquired Patsy, with sudden +inspiration. "The sunshine and roses would make a new girl of her in a +few weeks." + +"Could she ride so far in an automobile?" asked Beth, doubtfully. + +"Why not? The fresh air would be just the thing for her. You'll get a +big touring car, won't you, Uncle John?" + +"I've bought one already--a seven-seated 'Autocrat'--and there will be +plenty of room in it for Myrtle," he said. + +"Good gracious! Where did you find the thing so suddenly?" cried +Patsy. + +"I made the purchase this morning, bright and early, before you were +up," replied Mr. Merrick, smilingly. "It is a fine new car, and as +soon as I saw it I knew it was what I wanted. It is now being fitted +up for our use." + +"Fitted up?" + +"Yes. I've an idea in my head to make it a movable hotel. If we're +going to cross the plains and the mountains and the deserts, and all +that sort of thing, we must be prepared for any emergencies. I've also +sent for a chauffeur who is highly recommended. He knows the route +we're going to take; can make all repairs necessary in case of +accident, and is an experienced driver. I expect him here any minute. +His name is Wampus." + +"But about Myrtle,"' said Beth. "Can we make her comfortable on a long +ride?" + +"Certainly," asserted Uncle John. "We are not going to travel day and +night, my dear, for as soon as we get away from this frozen country we +can take our time and journey by short stages. My notion is that we +will have more fun on the way than we will in California." + +"Myrtle hasn't any proper clothes," observed Patsy, reflectively. +"We'll have to shop for her, Beth, while Uncle is getting the car +ready." + +"Are you sure to leave to-morrow, Uncle John?" inquired Beth. + +"To-morrow or the next day. There's no use leaving before the +'Autocrat' is ready to ship." + +"Oh; we're not going to ride in it, then?" + +"Not just yet. We shall take the train south to Santa Fe, and perhaps +to Albuquerque. I'll talk to Wampus about that. When we reach a good +climate we'll begin the journey overland--and not before." + +"Then," said Patsy, "I'm sure we shall have time to fit out Myrtle +very nicely." + +Mr. Wampus was announced just then, and while Uncle John conferred +with the chauffeur his two nieces went to their room to talk over +Myrtle Dean's outfit and await the return of the girl from her ride. + +"They tell me," said Mr. Merrick, "that you are an experienced +chauffeur." + +"I am celebrate," replied Wampus. "Not as chauffeur, but as expert +automobilist." + +He was a little man and quite thin. His legs were short and his arms +long. He had expressionless light gray eyes and sandy hair cropped +close to his scalp. His mouth was wide and good-humored, his chin long +and broad, his ears enormous in size and set at right angles with +his head. His cheek bones were as high and prominent as those of an +Indian, and after a critical examination of the man Uncle John was +impelled to ask his nationality. + +"I am born in Canada, at Quebec Province," he answered. "My father +he trapper; my mother squaw. For me, I American, sir, and my name +celebrate over all the world for knowing automobile like father knows +his son." He paused, and added impressively: "I am Wampus!" + +"Have you ever driven an 'Autocrat' car?" asked Mr. Merrick. + +"'Autocrat?' I can take him apart blindfold, an' put him together +again." + +"Have you ever been overland to California?" + +"Three time." + +"Then you know the country?" + +"In the dark. I am Wampus." + +"Very good, Wampus. You seem to be the man I want, for I am going +to California in an 'Autocrat' car, by way of the Santa Fe Trail +and--and--" + +"No matter. We find way. I am--" + +"I know. Now tell me, Wampus: if I employ you will you be faithful and +careful? I have two girls in my party--three girls, in fact--and from +the moment you enter my service I shall expect you to watch over our +welfare and guide us with skill and intelligence. Will you do this?" + +The man seemed somewhat offended by the question. + +"When you have Wampus, what more you want?" he inquired. "Maybe you +not know Wampus. You come from far East. All right. You go out and ask +automobile man about Wampus. Ask ever'body. When you have inquire you +feel more happy. I come again." + +He started to go, but Mr. Merrick restrained him. + +"You have been highly recommended already," said he. "But you cannot +expect me to have as high an opinion of you as you have of yourself; +at least, until I know you better. Would you like to undertake this +engagement?" + +"Yes. Just now I free. My business is expert automobilist. I am +Wampus. But perhaps you want cheap man. My price high." + +"What is your price?" + +"Fifty dollar week. You eat me an' sleep me." + +"I do not object to your price. Come out with me to the garage and I +will show you my car and explain what is being done to it." + +Although all the automobile men seemed to defer most respectfully to +Wampus, Mr. Merrick did not neglect to make proper inquiries in regard +to the man. Locally he really was "celebrate" and Uncle John was +assured on all sides that he was fortunate to get so intelligent and +experienced a chauffeur as this same Wampus. + +"He seems to have instinctive knowledge of all machinery," said one +informant, "and can handle perfectly any car that is made. The only +trouble with the fellow is that he is conceited." + +"I've noticed that," returned Mr. Merrick. + +"Another thing," said the gentleman; "don't believe implicitly all +that Wampus tells you. He has a habit of imagining things. But he is a +faithful, honest fellow, for all that, and will handle your car better +than any other man you could get in Denver--or anywhere in the West, I +imagine." + +So Wampus was engaged, and putting the man's references and +indorsements all together Mr. Merrick felt that he had gained a prize. + +When the big Major, returning from his drive, escorted Myrtle Dean to +the elevator, the girl was joyously using her new crutches. Patsy and +Beth met her and said they had important news to communicate. Not +until she was in her own room, seated in a comfortable chair and +gazing at them anxiously, did they tell the poor waif of the good +fortune in store for her. + +"Uncle John," announced Patsy, "has invited you to join our party and +go to California with us." + +Myrtle stared a moment, as if trying to realize what that meant. The +tiny Mumbles, sitting beside the chair with his head cocked to one +side, suddenly made a prodigious leap and landed in Myrtle's lap, +where he began licking her chin and wagging his stumpy tail as if +seconding the invitation. As the girl stroked his soft hair her eyes +filled with tears. + +"Oh, you are all so kind to me!" she sobbed, losing her composure. +"But I can't go! Of course I can't go." + +"Why not?" asked Beth, smiling. + +"It would be an--impersition!" Poor Myrtle sometimes stumbled over big +words. "I know that. I can't let you burden your happy party with a +poor cripple, just because your hearts are kind and you pity me!" + +"Nonsense!" said Beth. "You're not a cripple, dear; you're just an +invalid, and will soon be as strong as any of us. We have invited you, +Myrtle, because we all like you, and shall soon learn to love you. We +are selfish enough to want your companionship. It isn't pity, at all, +you see." + +"I'm mighty glad," added Patsy, "your Uncle Anson ran away from +Leadville. If he hadn't done that we should have had to give you +up; but now we may keep you as long as we wish, for you haven't any +particular engagement to interfere with our plans." + +All this was said so frankly and unaffectedly that little Myrtle was +led to abandon her suspicion and grew radiant with delight. Indeed, +she hugged and squeezed the squirming Mumbles until he resented such +strenuous fondling and escaped to Patsy's more moderate embraces. +Myrtle had never yet ridden in an automobile, and the prospect of +a long journey across the country in a big touring car, with +California's roses and sunshine at the end of it, was certainly +alluring enough to intoxicate one far more accustomed to pleasure than +this friendless, impoverished girl. + +After the cousins had explained all their plans to Myrtle and assured +her she was to be their cherished guest for a long time--until she was +well and strong again, at the least--they broached the subject of +her outfit. The poor child flushed painfully while admitting the +meagerness of her wardrobe. All her possessions were contained in one +small canvas "hold-all," and she lacked many necessities which her +callous aunt had suggested that Uncle Anson might be induced to buy +for her once she had joined him in Leadville. Uncle John's nieces grew +more and more indignant as they discovered the details of this selfish +woman's crime--for Patsy declared it was nothing less than a crime to +send a helpless child far into the West to search for an unknown uncle +whose whereabouts were only conjectural. + +That very afternoon Beth and Patsy began shopping for Myrtle, and +presently all sorts of parcels, big and little, began to arrive for +their new protege. Myrtle was amazed and awed by the splendor of her +new apparel, and could scarcely believe her good fortune. It seemed +like a fairy tale to her, and she imagined herself a Cinderella with +two fairy godmothers who were young and pretty girls possessing the +purse of Fortunatus and the generosity of Glinda the Good. At night, +when she was supposed to be asleep, Myrtle crept from her bed, turned +on the electric light and gloated over her treasures, which she had +almost feared might vanish into thin air and leave her as desolate as +before. + +Next morning, as soon as breakfast was over, the girls took Myrtle out +with them to some of the shops, fitting her to shoes and gloves and +having her try on some ready-made gowns so that they might be quickly +altered for her use. Patsy also bought her a set of soft and pretty +furs, thinking she might need them on the journey if the weather +continued cool, and this seemed to cap the climax of Myrtle's +happiness. + +"What 'stonishes me most," gasped the child, trying to get her breath +between the surprises she experienced, "is how you can think of so +many things to do for me. Of course I know you are rich; but I've +never before heard of rich people being so very generous to poor +ones." + +"Once," said Beth, gravely, "we were poor ourselves, Patsy and I, and +had to work hard for our living. That was before our Uncle John came +and gave us a share of his money, together with his love and sympathy. +Isn't it natural, my dear, that we should now be eager to share our +good fortune with you, since we have more money than we can use +otherwise, and you are to be our little friend and companion?" + +"Perhaps so," replied Myrtle, smiling gaily and much comforted by the +explanation. "But, oh dear! I'm so glad you found me!" + +"We are glad, too," said Patsy. "But here it is, time for luncheon, +and we've wasted the whole morning in shopping. I'm sure the Major +will be cross if we do not hurry back to the hotel." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A WONDER ON WHEELS + + +But the Major was not cross when they met him in Uncle John's sitting +room. He beamed upon the three girls most genially, for he liked +Myrtle and fully approved all that was being done for her. + +"Of course it's like Patsy," he had said to Mr. Merrick that morning. +"She couldn't help being a sweet ministering angel if she tried; and +Beth is growing more and more like her. It will do those girls good, +John, to have some human being to coddle and care for. If Patsy could +have a fault, it would be wasting so much affection on that bunch o' +rags Mumbles, who audaciously chewed up one of my pet slippers while I +was at dinner last evening. No dog is a fit thing to occupy a girl's +time, and this imp o' mischief Mumbles must take a back seat from now +on." + +Uncle John laughed, for he knew his brother-in-law had never conquered +his antipathy for poor Mumbles, and realized why. + +"Take care that you do not get jealous of Myrtle," he replied. +"You're a selfish old beast, and don't wish Patsy to love anyone but +yourself." + +"And why should she?" was the inquiry. "Any dutiful daughter ought to +be satisfied with loving such a father as I am." + +"And in that," remarked Uncle John, whimsically, "you remind me of +Wampus. You should strut around and say: 'Behold me! I am Patsy's +father!'" + +The Major was full of news at luncheon time. + +"What do you think, my dears?" he said, addressing the girls. "Your +crazy uncle must have had another snooze, unbeknown to us, for he's +got the wildest idea into his head that human brains--or lack of +them--ever conceived." + +"You are not very respectful, sir," retorted Mr. Merrick stiffly, +as he ate his salad. "But we must not expect too much of a disabled +soldier--and an Irishman to boot--who has not been accustomed to good +society." + +Major Doyle looked at his brother-in-law with an approving smile. + +"Very well put, John," he said. "You're improving in repartee. +Presently you'll add that I'm unlettered and uncivilized, and no fit +associate for a person who has made an egregious fortune out of tin +cans in the wilds of Oregon." + +"But what's the news?" asked Patsy impatiently. "What new idea has +Uncle John conceived?" + +"First," replied the Major, "he has bought an automobile as big as a +baggage car. Next he has engaged a chauffeur who is a wild Canadian +Indian with a trace of erratic French blood in his veins--a +combination liable to result in anything. Mr. Wampus, the half-breed +calls himself, and from the looks of him he's murdered many a one in +his day." + +"Oh, Major!" + +"Show me an automobile driver that hasn't. Myrtle knows. It's no trick +to knock over a peaceful pedestrian or so, to say nothing of chickens, +cats and dogs mangled by the roadside. I confidently expect he'll make +a pancake of dear little Mumbles before he's five miles on the road. +Eh, Patsy?" + +"Be sensible, Daddy." + +"It's my strong point. If I'm any judge of character this Wampus is a +speed fiend." + +"He is recommended as a very careful driver," said Mr. Merrick; "and +moreover he has signed a contract to obey my orders." + +"Very good," said Beth. "I'm not afraid of Mr. Wampus. What next, +Major?" + +"Next," continued Patsy's father, with a solemn wink at the row of +curious faces, "your inventive relative has ordered the automobile +rebuilt, thinking he's wiser than the makers. He's having a furnace +put in it, for one thing--it's a limousine, you know, and all enclosed +in glass. Also it's as big as a barn, as I said." + +"You said a freight car," observed Patsy. + +"True. A small barn or a big freight car. The seats are to be made +convertible into sleeping berths, so if we get caught out overnight we +have all the comforts of a hotel except the bell boys." + +"I'll be the bell boy," promised Patsy. + +"Also we're to take a portable kitchen along, like they use in the +army, with a gasoline stove all complete. The thing fits under the +back seat, I believe." + +"All this," said Beth, "strikes me as being very sensible and a credit +to Uncle John's genius. I'm a good cook, as you know, and the kitchen +outfit appeals to me. But how about provisions?" + +"Provisions are being provided," replied her uncle, genially +smiling at her praise. However scornfully the Major might view his +preparations he was himself mightily proud of them. + +"Tinned stuff, I presume," remarked his brother-in-law. "John Merrick +has a weakness for tin cans, having got his money out of them." + +"You're wrong," protested Uncle John. "I merely made my money from the +tin the cans were made of. But we won't get money out of these cans +when they're opened; it will be something better, such as sardines and +hominy, preserved cream and caviar, beans and boned chicken." + +"Sounds fine!" cried Patsy with enthusiasm. "But how can you arrange +to carry so much, Uncle?" + +"The limousine body is pretty big, as the Major says, and high enough +to allow me to put in a false bottom. In the space beneath it I shall +stow all the bedding, the eatables and kitchen utensils, and a small +tent. Then we shall be prepared for whatever happens." + +"I doubt it," objected the Major. "There's gasoline to be reckoned +with. It's well enough to feed ourselves, but what if we ran short of +the precious feed for the engines?" + +"The two tanks will hold sixty gallons. That ought to carry us any +reasonable distance," replied Mr. Merrick. + +"You see, Daddy, our Uncle John is an experienced traveler, while you +are not," declared Patsy. "In all our journeys together I've found him +full of resources and very farsighted. This trip doesn't worry me at +all." + +"Nor me," added Beth. "We are sure to have a delightful time under +Uncle's auspices." + +"Wampus," said Uncle John, "is so pleased with my preparations that he +wants us to start in the car from here." + +"Can you put it on runners, like a sledge?" asked the Major. "That's +the only way it could travel through this snow. Or perhaps you'll hire +a snowplow to go ahead of it." + +"No; I told Wampus it was impracticable," was the reply. "We shall +load our machine on a flat car and ship it to Albuquerque, which is in +New Mexico and almost directly south of Denver. We shall then be over +the worst grades of the Rocky Mountains." + +"And which way do we go then?" inquired Beth. + +"I have not yet decided. We can go still farther south, into Texas, +or make our way down into Phoenix and across the prairies to Imperial +Valley, or follow the Santa Fe route by way of the Grand Canyon." + +"Oh, let's go that way!" exclaimed Patsy. + +"And freeze to death?" asked the Major. "It's the northernmost route." + +"When we get to Albuquerque we will be below the line of frosts and +snow," explained Mr. Merrick. "The climate is genial all through that +section during winter. Haggerty says--" + +"I guessed it!" groaned the Major. "If Haggerty recommends this trip +we'll surely be in trouble." + +"Aside from Haggerty, Wampus knows that country thoroughly," said +Uncle John stoutly. + +"Tell me: did Haggerty recommend Wampus?" + +"No." + +"Then there's hopes of the fellow. As you say, John, there is no need +to decide until we get to Albuquerque. When do we make the start?" + +"Day after to-morrow. The car will be shipped to-morrow night, but our +party will follow by daylight, so as to see Colorado Springs, Pike's +Peak and Pueblo as we pass by them." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +WAMPUS SPEEDS + + +"So this is Albuquerque," observed Patsy Doyle, as they alighted from +the train. "Is it a big town playing peek-a-boo among those hills, +Uncle John, or is this really all there is to the place?" + +"It's a pretty big town, my dear. Most of the houses are back on the +prairie, but fortunately our hold is just here at the depot." + +It was a quaint, attractive building, made of adobe cement, in the +ancient mission style; but it proved roomy and extremely comfortable. + +"Seems to me," whispered Myrtle to Beth, "we're high up on the +mountains, even yet." + +"So we are," was the reply. "We're just between Glorietta Pass and the +Great Continental Divide. But the steepest of the Rockies are behind +us, and now the slopes are more gradual all the way to California. How +do you like it, dear?" + +"Oh, the mountains are grand!" exclaimed Myrtle. "I had never imagined +anything so big and stately and beautiful." The other girls had seen +mountains before, but this was their friend's first experience, and +they took much pleasure in Myrtle's enthusiastic delight over all she +saw. + +Adjoining the hotel was a bazaar, in front of which sat squatted upon +the ground two rows of Mojave Indians, mostly squaws, with their +curious wares spread out for sale upon blankets. There must have +been a score of them, and they exhibited odd pottery ornaments of +indistinguishable shapes, strings of glass beads and beadwork bags, +and a few really fine jardinieres and baskets. After the girls had +been to their rooms and established themselves in the hotel they +hurried out to interview the Indians, Myrtle Dean supporting herself +by her crutches while Patsy and Beth walked beside her. The lame girl +seemed to attract the squaws at once, and one gave her a bead necklace +while another pressed upon her a small brown earthenware fowl with +white spots all over it. This latter might have been meant to +represent a goose, an ostrich or a guinea hen; but Myrtle was +delighted with it and thanked the generous squaw, who responded merely +with a grunt, not understanding English. A man in a wide sombrero who +stood lazily by observed the incident and said: + +"Don't thank the hag. She's selfish. The Mojaven think it brings luck +to have a gift accepted by a cripple." + +Myrtle flushed painfully. + +"I suppose my crutches make me look more helpless than I really am," +she whispered to her friends as they moved away. "But they're such a +help in getting around that I'm very grateful to have them, and as I +get stronger I can lay them aside and not be taken for a cripple any +more." + +The air was delightfully invigorating here in the mountains, yet it +was not at all cold. The snow, as Uncle John had predicted, had all +been left behind them. After dinner they took a walk through the +pretty town and were caught in the dark before they could get back. +The twilights are very brief in Albuquerque. + +"This is a very old town," remarked Uncle John. "It was founded by a +Spanish adventurer named Cabrillo in the seventeenth century, long +before the United States came into existence. But of course it never +amounted to anything until the railroad was built." + +Next day they were sitting in a group before the hotel when a man was +seen approaching them with shuffling steps. Uncle John looked at him +closely and Mumbles leaped from Patsy's lap and rushed at the stranger +with excited barks. + +"Why, it's Wampus," said Mr. Merrick. "The car must have arrived." + +Wampus caught up the baby dog and held it under his arm while he took +his cap off and bowed respectfully to his employer. + +"He an' me, we here," he announced. + +"Who is 'he,' Wampus?" + +"Aut'mob'l'." + +"When did you arrive?" + +"Half hour ago. He on side track." + +"Very good. You have made capital time, for a freight train. Let us go +at once and get the car unloaded." + +Wampus hesitated, looking sheepish. + +"I been arrest," he said. + +"Arrested! For what?" + +"I make speed. They not like it. They arrest me--_Me_--Wampus!" He +straightened his slim little form with an assumption of dignity. + +"I knew it," sighed the Major. "I decided he was a speed fiend the +first time I saw him." + +"But--dear me!" said Uncle John; "how could you be arrested for +speeding when the automobile was on a fiat car?" + +Wampus glanced over his shoulder. Two railroad men had followed him +and were now lounging against the porch railing. One had his right eye +bandaged while the other carried one arm in a sling. Both scowled as +they eyed the Canadian fixedly. + +"Freight train make pretty slow time," began the chauffeur. "I know +you in hurry, so freight train he make me nervous. I say polite to +conductor I like to go faster. He laugh. I say polite to brakeman we +must go faster. He make abusing speech. I climb into engine an' say +polite to engineer to turn on steam. He insult me. So I put my foot +on him an' run engine myself. I am Wampus. I understan' engine--all +kinds. Brakeman he swear; he swear so bad I put him off train. +Conductor must have lump of coal in eye to keep quiet. Fireman he jus' +smile an' whistle soft an' say nothing; so we friends. When I say +'shovel in coal,' he shovel. When we pass stations quick like, he +whistle with engine loud. So now we here an' I been arrest." + +Patsy tittered and stuffed her handkerchief into her mouth. Uncle John +first chuckled and then looked grave. The Major advanced to Wampus and +soberly shook his hand. + +"You're a brave man, sir, for a chauffeur," he said. "I congratulate +you," + +Wampus still looked uneasy. + +"I been arrest," he repeated. + +Uncle John beckoned the railroad men to come forward. + +"Is this story true?" he asked. + +"Most of it, sir," answered the conductor. "It's only by the mercy of +Providence we're here alive. This scoundrel held up the whole crew +and ran away with the engine. We might have had a dozen collisions or +smash-ups, for he went around curves at sixty miles an hour. We'd cut +our train in two, so as to pull half of it at a time up the grade at +Lamy, and so there were only six cars on this end of it. The other +half is seventy miles back, and part of what we have here ought to +have been left at the way stations. I can't make out, sir, whether +it's burglary, or highway robbery or arson an' murder he's guilty of, +or all of 'em; but I've telegraphed for instructions and I'll hold him +a prisoner until the superintendent tells me what to do with him." + +Mr. Merrick was very sober now. + +"The matter is serious," he said. "This man is in my employ, but I did +not hire him to steal a railway train or fight its crew. Not badly +hurt, I hope, sir?" + +"My eye's pretty bad," growled the conductor. "Tom, here, thought his +arm was broken, at first; but I guess it's only sprained." + +"How about the brakeman he threw off the train?" + +"Why, we were not going fast, just then, and it didn't hurt him. We +saw him get up and shake his fist at the robber. If he ever meets Mr. +Wampus again he'll murder him." + +"Come with me to the telegraph office and I'll see what I can do to +straighten this out," said Mr. Merrick briskly. On the way he remarked +to the conductor: "I'm sorry I let Wampus travel alone. He's just +a little bit affected in his mind, you know, and at times isn't +responsible for what he does." + +The conductor scratched his head doubtfully. + +"I suspected he was crazy," he replied, "and that's why I didn't hurt +him. But if he's crazy he's the most deliberate loonatic I ever run +acrost." + +The superintendent had just wired instructions to put the outlaw in +jail when Mr. Merrick reached the telegraph office, but after an hour +spent in sending messages back and forth a compromise was affected and +the little millionaire had agreed to pay a goodly sum to the company +by way of damages and to satisfy the crew of the freight train--which +he succeeded in doing by a further outlay of money. + +"You're not worth all this bother," said Mr. Merrick to the humbled +Wampus, when the final settlement had been made, "but chauffeurs are +scarce in Albuquerque and I can't be delayed. Never, sir, while you +are in my employ, must you allow yourself to be guilty of such an act +again!" + +Wampus sighed. + +"Never," he promised, "will I ride by freight train again. Send car by +express. I am Wampus. Freight train he make me nervous." + +The automobile was quickly unloaded and at once Wampus set to work to +get it in running order. He drove it to the hotel at about sundown +and Mr. Merrick told the girls to be ready to start after an early +breakfast the next morning. + +"Which way do we go?" asked the Major. + +"We'll have a talk with Wampus this evening and decide," said Uncle +John. + +"Don't leave out the Grand Canyon!" begged Patsy. + +"Nor the Petrified Forests." added Beth. "And couldn't we visit the +Moki Indian reservation?" + +"Those things may be well enough in their way," observed the Major, +"but is their way our way? That's the question. The one thing we must +take into consideration is the matter of roads. We must discover which +road is the best and then take it. We're not out of the mountains yet, +and we shall have left the railroad, the last vestige of civilization, +behind us." + +But the conference evolved the fact, according to Wampus, that the +best and safest roads were for a time along the line of the Santa Fe, +directly west; and this would enable them to visit most of the scenes +the girls were eager to see. + +"No boulevard in mountain anywhere," remarked Wampus; "but road he +good enough to ride on. Go slow an' go safe. I drive 'Autocrat' from +here to Los Angeles blindfold." + +With this assurance they were obliged to be content, and an eager +and joyful party assembled next morning to begin the journey so long +looked forward to. The landlord of the hotel, a man with a careworn +face, shook his head dismally and predicted their return to +Albuquerque within twenty-four hours. + +"Of course people _do_ make the trip from here to the coast," he said; +"but it's mighty seldom, and they all swear they'll never do it again. +It's uncomfortable, and it's dangerous." + +"Why?" asked Uncle John. + +"You're headed through a wild country, settled only by Mexicans, +Indians, and gangs of cowboys still worse. The roads are something +awful. That man Wampus is an optimist, and will tackle anything and +then be sorry for it afterward. The towns are scattered from here on, +and you won't strike a decent meal except at the railway stations. +Taking all these things into consideration, I advise you to make your +headquarters here for the winter." + +"Thank you," returned Mr. Merrick pleasantly. "It's too late for us to +back out now, even if we felt nervous and afraid, which I assure you +we do not." + +"We are not looking for excessive comfort on this journey, you know," +remarked Patsy. "But thank you for your warning, sir. It has given us +great pleasure; for if there were no chance of adventure before us we +should all be greatly disappointed." + +Again the landlord shook his head. + +"Right?" asked Wampus, at the wheel. + +"Go ahead," said Mr. Merrick, and slowly the big car started upon its +journey into the Golden West. + +The air was keen and bracing, but not chilly. The sunshine flooded the +landscape on every side. All the windows of the limousine had been +lowered. + +Myrtle Dean had been established in one corner of the broad back seat, +where she nestled comfortably among the cushions. Uncle John sat +beside her, with Beth and the Major on the seat on front. There were +two folding chairs that could be used on occasion, and the back seat +easily accommodated three, the "Autocrat" being a seven passenger car; +but Patsy was perched in front beside Wampus, which was really the +choicest seat of all, so there was ample room inside to "swing a cat," +as the Major stated--if anyone had cared to attempt such a feat. Of +course the wee Mumbles was in Patsy's lap, and he seemed to have +overcome his first aversion of Wampus and accepted the little +chauffeur into the circle of his favored acquaintances. Indeed, they +soon became fast friends. + +On leaving the town Wampus turned into a smooth, hard wagon road that +ran in zigzag fashion near the railroad grade. The car bowled along +right merrily for some twenty miles, when the driver turned to the +right and skimmed along a high plateau. It was green and seemed +fertile, but scarcely a farmhouse could they see, although the clear +air permitted a broad view. + +"He up hill now all way to Continental Divide," said Wampus to Patsy; +"then he go down hill long time." + +"It doesn't seem to be much uphill," returned the girl, "and the road +is very good." + +"We make time here," observed the driver. "By'm-by we find rock an' +bad road. Then we go slow." + +The Major was watching the new chauffeur carefully, and despite his +dismal forebodings the man seemed not at all reckless but handled his +car with rare skill. So the critic turned to his brother-in-law and +asked: + +"Is it fully decided which way we shall go?" + +"I've left it to Wampus and the girls," was the reply. "On account +of our little invalid here we shall take the most direct route to +California. It isn't a short route, at that. On Beth's account we +shall visit the Moki and Navajo reservations, and on Patsy's account +we're going by way of the Grand Canyon of Arizona. Wampus says he +knows every inch of the road, so for my part I'm content to be just a +passenger." + +"Which remark," said the Major, "indicates that I'm to be just a +passenger also. Very well, John; I'm willing. There may be trouble +ahead of us, but to-day is so magnificent that it's wise to forget +everything but the present." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE CHAUFFEUR IMPROVES + + +They all enjoyed that first day's ride. Wampus did not drive fast, +for there were places where he couldn't; yet by one o'clock they had +reached Laguna, sixty miles from their starting point. There was an +excellent railway hotel here, so they decided to spend the rest of the +day and the night at Laguna and proceed early the next morning. + +The big car was an object of much curiosity to the natives, and during +the afternoon Wampus was the center of attraction. Myrtle had stood +the ride remarkably well, and Uncle John noticed that her eyes were +brighter and a shade of color had already crept into her pale cheeks. +Having risen early all three of the girls took a nap during the +afternoon, as did Mr. Merrick. The Major gossiped with the station +agent, the most important individual in town, and gleaned sundry +information that made him look rather glum. + +"I don't say the road's exactly dangerous, mind you," added the man, +"but these greasers and Injuns get mischievous, at times, harmless +as they look. All I'm advisin' is that you keep a sharp eye on 'em." +Finding Wampus cleaning his car, while a circle of silent, attentive +inhabitants looked on, the Major said to him in a low voice: "Have you +a revolver?" + +Wampus shook his head. + +"Never carry him," he replied. "All gun he make trouble. Sometime he +shoot wrong man. Don't like gun. Why should I? I am Wampus!" + +The Major entered the hotel frowning. + +"That fellow," he muttered, "is a natural-born coward, and we needn't +expect help from him if trouble comes." + +No trouble came that night, however, and in the early morning, while +the sky was still reddened by the rising sun, they were off again, +following more closely now the railroad, as rocky defiles began to +loom up before them. + +By the zigzag course they were obliged to take it was ninety miles to +Gallup, and this they easily made, despite the growing steepness of +the mountain road. Here was the famous Continental Divide, and the +State of Arizona lay just beyond. The Continental Divide is the ridge +that separates the streams tributary to the Atlantic ocean from those +tributary to the Pacific, so that after crossing it one might well +feel that at last the East was left behind and the great West with its +romance now faced him. + +They came to the little town in time to see the gorgeous sunset from +this, the highest point of the Rockies, and especially to Myrtle, who +had traveled so little, was the sight impressive and awe inspiring. +There was a small but fairly good hotel in the place, and after supper +Patsy and Beth went out for a stroll, being much interested in the +dark-skinned Mexicans and still darker Indians who constituted far +the larger part of the population. The party had everywhere met with +respect from these people, who, although curious, were silent and +well-behaved; so Uncle John and the Major, deep in a political +argument on the hotel porch, had no thought of danger when they saw +the two girls start away arm in arm. + +The sky was still aglow, although the sun had set, and in the subdued +light the coarse adobe huts and rickety frame dwellings were endowed +with a picturesque appearance they did not really possess. Beth and +Patsy came to the end of the main street rather suddenly, and stood a +moment looking at the shadows cast by the rocky cliffs near by. Some +of the peaks had snow upon them, and there was a chill in the air, now +that the sun had withdrawn its warmth. The girls turned presently and +took another route that might bring them quicker to the hotel, but had +only proceeded a short way when in passing a rather solitary adobe +structure a man stepped from the shadow of the wall and confronted +them. He wore a red flannel shirt and a broad sombrero, the latter +scarcely covering his dark, evil features. + +The cousins stopped short. Then Beth whispered: "Let's go the other +way." But as they were about to turn the Mexican drew a revolver and +said in harsh, uneven English: "You halt. Keep a-still, or I shoot." + +"What do you want?" asked Beth, quietly. + +"Money. All you got. Jew'lry--all you got. Give 'm quick, or I shoot!" + +As they stood hesitating a sound of footsteps was heard and someone +approached quickly from behind them. Patsy looked hurriedly around +and saw Wampus. He was walking with his thin little form bent and his +hands deep in his trousers pockets. Incidentally Wampus was smoking +the stub of a cigar, as was his custom when off duty. + +The Mexican saw him, but marking his small size and mild manner did +not flinch from his position. With one revolver still leveled at the +girls he drew another from a hip pocket and turned it upon Wampus. + +"You stop--halt!" he exclaimed fiercely. + +Wampus did not halt. His eyes fixed upon the bandit's ugly features, +still puffing his cigar and with hands in his pockets he walked +deliberately past Patsy and Beth and straight up to the muzzles of the +revolvers. + +"Stop!" cried the Mexican; and again: "Stop!" + +Wampus stopped when one revolver nearly touched his nose and another +covered his body. Slowly he drew one hand from his pocket and grasped +the barrel of the nearest weapon. + +"Let him go," he said, not raising his voice. The man stared into the +little chauffeur's eyes and released his hold of the revolver. Wampus +looked at it, grunted, and put it in his pocket. + +"Now the other gun," he said. + +The fellow drew back and half turned, as if to escape. + +"No, no!" said Wampus, as if annoyed. "You give me gun. See--I am +Wampus!" + +Sheepishly enough the Mexican surrendered the other weapon. + +"Now turn aroun' an' go to hotel," commanded the chauffeur. + +The man obeyed. Wampus turned to the girls, who were now not only +relieved but on the verge of laughter and said deprecatingly: + +"Do not be scare, for poor man he make no harm. He jus' try a +goozle--no dare shoot here in town. Then come; I go back with you." + +Silently they accompanied him along the lane, the Mexican keeping in +front and looking around from time to time to see if they followed. +A short distance from the hotel Wampus gave a queer whistle which +brought the bandit cringing to his side. Without ado he handed the +fellow his two revolvers and said calmly: "Go 'long." + +The Mexican "went along" briskly and the dusk soon swallowed him up. + +"Thank you, Wampus," said Patsy, gratefully; "you've saved us from a +dreadful experience." + +"Oh, that!" snapping his fingers scornfully. "He not a good bad-man, +for he too much afraid. I have no gun, for I do not like gun. Still, +if I not come, he make you give him money an' trinkets." + +"You were very kind," replied Beth, "and I thank you as much as Patsy +does. If you had not arrived just when you did I might have killed the +man." + +"You?" inquired Wampus, doubtingly. + +"Yes." She showed him a small pearl-handled revolver which she carried +in the pocket of her jacket. "I can shoot, Wampus." + +The little chauffeur grinned; then looked grave and shook his head. + +"It make funny world, these day," said he. "One time girl from city +would scream to see a gun; now she carry him in pocket an' can shoot! +Ver' fine; ver' fine. But I like me old style girl who make scream. +Then a man not feel foolish when he try protect her." + +Patsy laughed merrily; but Beth saw he was offended and hastened to +say: + +"I am very grateful to you, Wampus, and I know you are a brave and +true man. I shall expect you to protect me at all times, for I really +don't wish to shoot anyone, although I think it best to carry a +revolver. Always after this, before I am tempted to fire, I shall look +to see if you are not near me." + +"All right," he said more cheerfully. "I am Wampus. I will be there, +Miss 'Lizbeth." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +AMONG THE INDIANS + + +Little Myrtle grew brighter day by day. She even grew merry and +developed a fine sense of humor, showing new traits in her hitherto +undeveloped character. The girl never mentioned her injury nor +admitted that she suffered any pain, even when directly questioned. +Indeed she was not uncomfortable during that splendid automobile ride +over mountain and plain into the paradise of the glowing West. Never +before in her life had Myrtle enjoyed an outing, except for an hour or +two in a city park; never before had she known a friend to care for +her and sympathize honestly with her griefs. Therefore this experience +was so exquisitely delightful that her responsive heart nearly burst +with gratitude. Pretty thoughts came to her that she had never had +before; her luxurious surroundings led her to acquire dainty ways and +a composed and self-poised demeanor. + +"Our rosebud is unfolding, petal by petal, and beginning to bloom +gloriously," said Patsy to sympathetic Uncle John. "Could anyone be +more sweet or lovely?" + +Perhaps almost any girl, situated as Myrtle Dean was, would have +blossomed under similar influences. Certain it was that Uncle John +came to have a tender affection for the poor child, while the Major's +big heart had warmed from the first toward the injured girl. Beth and +Patsy were devoted to their new friend and even Mumbles was never so +happy as when Myrtle would hold and caress him. Naturally the former +waif responded freely to all this wealth of affection and strove to be +companionable and cheery, that they might forget as much as possible +her physical helplessness. + +Mumbles was not the least important member of the party, but proved +a constant source of amusement to all. In the novel domains they now +traversed the small dog's excitable nature led him to investigate +everything that seemed suspicious, but he was so cowardly, in spite of +this, that once when Patsy let him down to chase a gopher or prairie +dog--they were not sure which--the animal turned at bay and sent +Mumbles retreating with his stubby tail between his legs. His +comradeship for Wampus surprised them all. The Canadian would talk +seriously to the dog and tell it long stories as if the creature could +understand every word--which perhaps he did. Mumbles would sit up +between the driver and Patsy and listen attentively, which encouraged +Wampus to talk until Patsy in self-defense turned and tossed the fuzzy +animal in to Myrtle, who was always glad to receive him. + +But Patsy did not always sit on the front seat. That honor was divided +among them all, by turns, except the Major, who did not care for the +place. Yet I think Patsy rode there oftener than anyone else, and it +came to be considered her special privilege because she had first +claimed it. + +The Major, after the incident at Gallup, did not scorn Wampus so +openly as before; but he still reserved a suspicion that the fellow +was at heart a coward and a blusterer. The chauffeur's sole demerit in +the eyes of the others was his tremendous egotism. The proud remark: +"I am Wampus!" was constantly on his lips and he had wonderful tales +to tell to all who would listen of his past experiences, in every one +of which he unblushingly figured as the hero. But he really handled +the big touring car in an admirable manner, and when one afternoon +a tire was punctured by a cactus spine by the roadside--their first +accident--they could not fail to admire the dexterous manner in which +he changed the tube for a new one. + +From Gallup they took a wagon road to Fort Defiance, in the Navajo +Indian reservation; but the Navajos proved uninteresting people, not +even occupying themselves in weaving the famous Navajo blankets, which +are now mostly made in Philadelphia. Even Patsy, who had longed to +"see the Indians in their native haunts," was disgusted by their filth +and laziness, and the party expected no better results when they came +to the adjoining Moki reservation. Here, however, they were happily +disappointed, for they arrived at the pueblo of Oraibi, one of +the prettiest villages on the mesa, on the eve of one of their +characteristic snake dances, and decided to remain over night and +see the performance. Now I am not sure but the "Snake Dance" was so +opportune because Uncle John had a private interview with the native +chieftain, at which the head Snake Priest and the head Antelope Priest +of the tribe were present. These Indians spoke excellent English and +the chief loved the white man's money, so a ceremony that has been +held during the month of August for many centuries--long before the +Spanish conquistadors found this interesting tribe--was found to be on +tap for that very evening. The girls were tremendously excited at the +prospect and Wampus was ordered to prepare camp for the night--the +first they had spent in their automobile and away from a hotel. Not +only was the interior of the roomy limousine converted into sleeping +quarters for the three girls, but a tent was spread, one side fastened +to the car while the other was staked to the ground. Three wire +folding cots came from some hidden place beneath the false bottom of +the car, with bedding enough to supply them, and these were for the +use of the men in the tent. The two "bedrooms" having been thus +prepared, Wampus lighted the tiny gasoline stove, over which Patsy and +Beth enthusiastically cooked the supper. Beth wanted to "Newburg" the +tinned lobster, and succeeded in creaming it very nicely. They had +potato chips, coffee and toasted Holland rusks, as well, and all +thoroughly enjoyed the improvised meal. + +Their camp had been pitched just at the outskirts of the Indian +village, but the snake dance was to take place in a rocky glen some +distance away from the pueblo and so Uncle John instructed Wampus to +remain and guard their outfit, as the Moki are notorious thieves. They +left the lean little chauffeur perched upon the driver's seat, smoking +one of his "stogie" cigars and with Mumbles sitting gravely beside +him. + +Myrtle hobbled on her crutches between Beth and Patsy, who carried +little tin lanterns made with lamp chimneys that had candles inside +them. They first visited the chief, who announced that the ceremonies +were about to begin. At a word from this imposing leader a big Indian +caught up Myrtle and easily carried her on his shoulder, as if she +were light as a feather, leading the way to the rocky amphitheatre. +Here were assembled all the inhabitants of the village, forming a wide +circle around the performers. The snakes were in a pit dug in the +center of the space, over which a few branches had been placed. This +is called the "kisi." + +These unique and horrifying snake dances of the Moki have been +described so often that I need not speak of this performance in +detail. Before it was half over the girls wished they were back in +their automobile; but the Major whispered that for them to leave would +cause great offense to the Indians and might result in trouble. The +dance is supposedly a religious one, in honor of the Rain God, and at +first the snakes were not used, but as the dancers became wrought up +and excited by their antics one by one they reached within the kisi +and drew out a snake, allowing the reptiles to coil around their +almost naked bodies and handling them with seeming impunity. A few +were harmless species, as bull snakes and arrow snakes; but mostly the +Moki used rattlesnakes, which are native to the mesa and its rocky +cliffs. Some travelers have claimed that the fangs of the rattlers are +secretly withdrawn before the creatures are handled, but this has been +proved to be untrue. The most accepted theory is that the snakes are +never permitted to coil, and cannot strike unless coiled, while the +weird chanting and graceful undulating motions of the dancers in some +manner "charms" or intoxicates the serpents, which are not aroused to +antagonism. Occasionally, however, one of the Moki priests is bitten, +in which case nothing is done to aid him and he is permitted to die, +it being considered a judgment of the Rain God for some sin he has +committed. + +The barbaric rites seemed more picturesque, as well as more revolting, +in that they took place by the flickering light of torches and +bonfires in a rock strewn plain usually claimed by nature. When the +dancers were more frenzied they held the squirming serpents in their +mouths by the middle and allowed them to coil around their necks, +dancing wildly the while. The whole affair was so nauseating and +offensive that as soon as it was possible the visitors withdrew and +retired to their "camp." It was now almost midnight, but the path was +lighted by the little lanterns they carried. + +As they approached the automobile Uncle John was disturbed not to see +Wampus at his post. A light showed from the front of the car, but the +chauffeur seemed to be missing. Coming nearer, however, they soon +were greeted by a joyous barking from Mumbles and discovered Wampus +squatting upon the ground, puffing at the small end of the cigar and +seeming quite composed and tranquil. + +"What are you doing there?" demanded the Major, raising his lantern +the better to light the scene. + +"I play jailer," grunted Wampus, without moving. "Him want to steal; +Mumble he make bark noise; for me, I steal too--I steal Injun." + +A dusky form, prone upon the ground, began to squirm under Wampus, who +was then discovered to be sitting upon a big Indian and holding him +prisoner. The chauffeur, partly an Indian himself, knew well how to +manage his captive and quieted the fellow by squeezing his throat with +his broad stubby fingers. + +"How long have you had him there?" inquired Uncle John, looking at the +discomfited "brave" curiously. + +"About an hour," was the reply. + +"Let him go, then. We have no prison handy, and the man has perhaps +been punished enough." + +"I have wait to ask permission to kill him," said Wampus solemnly. "He +know English talk, an' I have told him he is to die. I have describe, +sir, several torture we make on Injun who steal, which make him think +he die several time. So he is now prepare for the worst." + +The Indiam squirmed again, and with a sigh Wampus arose and set him +free. + +"See," he said; "you are save only by mercy of Great White Chief. You +ver' lucky Injun. But Great White Chief will leave only one eye here +when he go away. If you try to steal again the eye will see, an' then +the torture I have describe will be yours. I am Wampus. I have spoke." + +The Indian listened intently and then slunk away into the darkness +without reply. The night had no further event and in spite of their +unusual experiences all slept excellently and awoke in the morning +refreshed and ready for new adventures. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +NATURE'S MASTERPIECE + + +From the reservation to the Grand Canyon of the Colorado was not far, +but there was no "crosscut" and so they were obliged to make a wide +detour nearly to Williams before striking the road that wound upward +to the world's greatest wonder. + +Slowly and tediously the big car climbed the miserable trail to the +rim of the Grand Canyon. It was night when they arrived, for they had +timed it that way, having been told of the marvelous beauty of the +canyon by moonlight. But unfortunately the sky filled with clouds +toward evening, and they came to Bright Angel, their destination, in a +drizzling rain and total darkness. The Major was fearful Wampus might +run them into the canyon, but the machine's powerful searchlights +showed the way clearly and by sticking to the road they finally drew +up before an imposing hotel such as you might wonder to find in so +remote a spot. + +Eagerly enough they escaped from the automobile where they had been +shut in and entered the spacious lobby of the hotel, where a merry +throng of tourists had gathered. + +"Dinner and bed," said Patsy, decidedly. "I'm all tired out, and poor +Myrtle is worn to a frazzle. There's no chance of seeing the canyon +to-night, and as for the dancing, card playing and promiscuous gaiety, +it doesn't appeal much to a weary traveler." + +The girls were shown to a big room at the front of the hotel, having +two beds in it. A smaller connecting-room was given to Myrtle, while +Patsy and Beth shared the larger apartment. It seems the hotel, big +as it was, was fairly filled with guests, the railway running three +trains a day to the wonderful canyon; but Uncle John's nieces did +not mind occupying the same room, which was comfortably and even +luxuriously furnished. + +A noise of footsteps along the corridor disturbed Patsy at an early +hour. She opened her eyes to find the room dimly lighted, as by the +first streaks of dawn, and sleepily arose to raise the window shade +and see if day was breaking. Her hand still upraised to guide the +shade the girl stood as motionless as if turned to stone. With a long +drawn, gasping breath she cried: "Oh, Beth!" and then stood staring at +what is undoubtedly the most entrancing, the most awe inspiring and at +the same time the most magnificent spectacle that mortal eye has ever +beheld--sunrise above the Grand Canyon of Arizona. + +The master painters of the world have gathered in this spot in a vain +attempt to transfer the wondrous coloring of the canyon to canvas. +Authors famed for their eloquent command of language have striven as +vainly to tell to others what their own eyes have seen; how their +senses have been thrilled and their souls uplifted by the marvel that +God's hand has wrought. It can never be pictured. It can never be +described. Only those who have stood as Patricia Doyle stood that +morning and viewed the sublime masterpiece of Nature can realize what +those homely words, "The Grand Canyon" mean. Grand? It is well named. +Since no other adjective can better describe it, that much abused one +may well be accepted to incompletely serve its purpose. + +Beth joined her cousin at the window and was instantly as awed +and absorbed as Patsy. Neither remembered Myrtle just then, but +fortunately their friend had left the connecting door of their +rooms ajar and hearing them stirring came in to see if anything had +happened. She found the two cousins staring intently from the window +and went to the second window herself, thus witnessing the spectacle +in all its glory. + +Even after the magnificent coloring of sunrise had faded the sight was +one to rivet the attention. The hotel seemed built at the very edge of +the canyon, and at their feet the ground appeared to fall away and a +great gulf yawned that was tinted on all its diverse sides with hues +that rivaled those of the rainbow. Across the chasm they could clearly +see the trees and hills; yet these were fully thirteen miles distant, +for here is one of the widest portions of the great abyss. + +"I'm going to dress," said Beth, breaking the silence at last. "It +seems a sin to stay cooped up in here when such a glorious panorama is +at one's feet." + +The others did not reply in words, but they all began to dress +together with nervous haste, and then made their way down to the +canyon's brink. Others were before them, standing upon the ample +porches in interested groups; but such idleness would not content our +girls, who trooped away for a more intimate acquaintance with the +wonderful gorge. + +"Oh, how small--how terribly small--I am!" cried Patsy, lost in +the immensity of the canyon's extent; but this is a common cry of +travelers visiting Bright Angel. You might place a baker's dozen of +the huge Falls of Niagara in the Grand Canyon and scarcely notice they +were there. All the vast cathedrals of Europe set upon its plateau +would seem like pebbles when viewed from the brink. The thing is +simply incomprehensible to those who have not seen it. + +Presently Uncle John and the Major came out to join them and they all +wandered along the edge until they came to a huge rock that jutted +out far over the monster gulf. On the furthermost point of this rock, +standing with his feet at the very brink, was a tall, thin man, his +back toward them. It seemed a fearful thing to do--to stand where the +slightest slip would send him reeling into the abyss. + +"It's like tempting fate," whispered Patsy, a safe distance away. "I +wish he would step back a little." + +As if he had overheard her the man half turned and calmly examined the +group. His eyes were an almost colorless blue, his features destitute +of any expression. By his dress he seemed well-to-do, if not +prosperous, yet there was a hint of melancholy in his poise and about +him a definite atmosphere of loneliness. + +After that one deliberate look he turned again and faced the canyon, +paying no attention to the interested little party that hovered far +enough from the edge to avoid any possible danger. + +"Oh, dear!" whispered Myrtle, clinging to Beth's arm with trembling +fingers, "I'm afraid he's going to--to commit suicide!" + +"Nonsense!" answered Beth, turning pale nevertheless. + +The figure was motionless as before. Uncle John and the Major started +along the path but as Beth attempted to follow them Myrtle broke away +from her and hobbled eagerly on her crutches toward the stranger. She +did not go quite to the end of the jutting rock, but stopped some feet +away and called in a low, intense voice: + +"Don't!" + +The man turned again, with no more expression in his eyes or face than +before. He looked at Myrtle steadily a moment, then turned and slowly +left the edge, walking to firm ground and back toward the hotel +without another glance at the girl. + +"I'm so ashamed," said Myrtle, tears of vexation in her eyes as she +rejoined her friends. "But somehow I felt I must warn him--it was an +impulse I just couldn't resist." + +"Why, no harm resulted, in any event, my dear," returned Beth. "I +wouldn't think of it again." + +They took so long a walk that all were nearly famished when they +returned to the hotel for breakfast. + +Of course Patsy and Beth wanted to go down Bright Angel Trail into the +depths of the canyon, for that is the thing all adventurous spirits +love to do. + +"I'm too fat for such foolishness," said Uncle John, "so I'll stay up +here and amuse Myrtle." + +The Major decided to go, to "look after our Patsy;" so the three +joined the long line of daring tourists and being mounted on docile, +sure-footed burros, followed the guide down the trail. + +Myrtle and Uncle John spent the morning on the porch of the hotel. At +breakfast the girl had noticed the tall man they had encountered at +the canyon's edge quietly engaged in eating at a small table in a far +corner of the great dining room. During the forenoon he came from the +hotel to the porch and for a time stood looking far away over the +canyon. + +Aroused to sympathy by the loneliness of this silent person, Uncle +John left his chair and stood beside him at the railing. + +"It's a wonderful sight, sir," he remarked in his brisk, sociable way; +"wonderful indeed!" + +For a moment there was no reply. + +"It seems to call one," said the man at length, as if to himself. "It +calls one." + +"It's a wonder to me it doesn't call more people to see it," observed +Mr. Merrick, cheerfully. "Think of this magnificent thing--greater and +grander than anything the Old World can show, being here right in the +heart of America, almost--and so few rush to see it! Why, in time to +come, sir," he added enthusiastically, "not to have seen the Grand +Canyon of Arizona will be an admission of inferiority. It's--it's the +biggest thing in all the world!" + +The stranger made no reply. He had not even glanced at Uncle John. Now +he slowly turned and stared fixedly at Myrtle for a moment, till she +cast down her eyes, blushing. Then he re-entered the hotel; nor was he +again seen by them. + +The little man was indignant at the snub. Rejoining Myrtle he said to +her: + +"That fellow wasn't worth saving--if you really saved him, my dear. He +says the canyon calls one, and for all I care he may go to the bottom +by any route he pleases." + +Which speech showed that gentle, kindly Mr. Merrick was really +annoyed. But a moment later he was all smiles again and Myrtle found +him a delightful companion because he knew so well how to read +people's thoughts, and if they were sad had a tactful way of cheering +them. + +The girls and the Major returned from their trip to the plateau full +of rapture at their unique experiences. + +"I wouldn't have missed it for a million dollars!" cried the Major; +but he added: "and you couldn't hire me to go again for two million!" + +"It was great," said Patsy; "but I'm tuckered out." + +"I had nineteen narrow escapes from sudden death," began Beth, but her +cousin interrupted her by saying: "So had everyone in the party; +and if the canyon had caved in we'd all be dead long ago. Stop your +chattering now and get ready for dinner. I'm nearly starved." + +Next morning they took a farewell view of the beautiful scene and then +climbed into their automobile to continue their journey. Many of the +tourists had wondered at their temerity in making such a long trip +through a poorly settled country in a motor car and had plied them +with questions and warnings. But they were thoroughly enjoying this +outing and nothing very disagreeable had happened to them so far. I am +sure that on this bright, glorious morning you could not have hired +any one of the party to abandon the automobile and finish the trip by +train. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A COYOTE SERENADE + + +The roads were bad enough. They were especially bad west of Williams. +Just now an association of automobile tourists has been formed to +create a boulevard route through from the Atlantic to the Pacific +coast, but at the time of this story no attention had been given the +roads of the far West and only the paths of the rancheros from town to +town served as guides. On leaving Williams they turned south so as to +avoid the more severe mountain roads, and a fine run through a rather +uninteresting country brought them to Prescott on the eve of the +second day after leaving the Canyon. Here they decided to take a day's +rest, as it was Sunday and the hotel was comfortable; but Monday +morning they renewed their journey and headed southwesterly across the +alkali plains--called "mesa"--for Parker, on the boundary line between +Arizona and California. + +Towns of any sort were very scarce in this section and the country was +wild and often barren of vegetation for long stretches. There were +some extensive ranches, however, as this is the section favored for +settlement by a class of Englishmen called "remittance men." These are +mostly the "black sheep" or outcasts of titled families, who having +got into trouble of some sort at home, are sent to America to isolate +themselves on western ranches, where they receive monthly or quarterly +remittances of money to support them. The remittance men are poor +farmers, as a rule. They are idle and lazy except when it comes to +riding, hunting and similar sports. Their greatest industry is cattle +raising, yet these foreign born "cowboys" constitute an entirely +different class from those of American extraction, found in Texas and +on the plains of the Central West. They are educated and to an extent +cultured, being "gentlemen born" but sad backsliders in the practise +of the profession. Because other ranchers hesitate to associate with +them they congregate in settlements of their own, and here in Arizona, +on the banks of the Bill Williams Branch of the Colorado River, they +form almost the total population. + +Our friends had hoped to make the little town of Gerton for the night, +but the road was so bad that Wampus was obliged to drive slowly and +carefully, and so could not make very good time. Accidents began +to happen, too, doubtless clue to the hard usage the machine had +received. First a spring broke, and Wampus was obliged to halt long +enough to clamp it together with stout steel braces. An hour later the +front tire was punctured by cactus spines, which were thick upon the +road. Such delays seriously interfered with their day's mileage. + +Toward sunset Uncle John figured, from the information he had received +at Prescott, that they were yet thirty miles from Gerton, and so he +decided to halt and make camp while there was yet sufficient daylight +remaining to do so conveniently. + +"We might hunt for a ranch house and beg for shelter," said he, "but +from the stories I've heard of the remittance men I am sure we will +enjoy ourselves better if we rely entirely upon our own resources." + +The girls were, of course, delighted at the prospect of such an +experience, for the silent, solitary mesa made them feel they were +indeed "in the wilds of the Great American Desert." The afternoon had +been hot and the ride dusty, but there was now a cooler feeling in the +air since the sun had fallen low in the horizon. + +They carried their own drinking water, kept ice-cold in thermos +bottles, and Uncle John also had a thermos tub filled with small +squares of ice. This luxury, in connection with their ample supply +of provisions, enabled the young women to prepare a supper not to be +surpassed in any modern hotel. The soup came from one can, the curried +chicken from another, while artichokes, peas, asparagus and plum +pudding shed their tin coverings to complete the meal. Fruits, cheese +and biscuits they had in abundance, so there was no hardship in +camping out on a deserted Arizona table-land, as far as food was +concerned. The Interior of the limousine, when made into berths for +the three girls, was as safe and cosy as a Pullman sleeping coach. +Only the men's quarters, the "lean-to" tent, was in any way open to +invasion. + +After the meal was ended and the things washed and put away they all +sat on folding camp chairs outside the little tent and enjoyed the +intense silence surrounding them. The twilight gradually deepened into +darkness. Wampus kept one of the searchlights lit to add an element of +cheerfulness to the scene, and Myrtle was prevailed upon to sing one +or two of her simple songs. She had a clear, sweet voice, although not +a strong one, and they all--especially Uncle John--loved to hear her +sing. + +Afterward they talked over their trip and the anticipated change from +this arid region to the verdure of California, until suddenly a long, +bloodcurdling howl broke the stillness and caused them one and all +to start from their seats. That is, all but Wampus. The chauffeur, +sitting apart with his black cigar in his mouth, merely nodded and +said: "Coyote." + +The Major coughed and resumed his seat. Uncle John stood looking into +the darkness as if trying to discern the creature. + +"Are coyotes considered dangerous?" he asked the Canadian. + +"Not to us," replied Wampus. "Sometime, if one man be out on mesa +alone, an' plenty coyote come, he have hard fight for life. Coyote is +wild dog. He is big coward unless pretty hungry. If I leave light burn +he never come near us." + +"Then let it burn--all night," said Mr. Merrick. "There he goes +again--and another with him! What a horrible wail it is." + +"I rather like it," said Patsy, with her accustomed calmness. "It is +certainly an added experience to be surrounded by coyotes. Probably +our trip wouldn't have been complete without it." + +"A little of that serenade will suffice me," admitted Beth, as the +howls grew nearer and redoubled in volume. + +Myrtle's eyes were big and earnest. She was not afraid, but there was +something uncanny in being surrounded by such savage creatures. + +Nearer and nearer sounded the howls, until it was easy to see a dozen +fierce eyes gleaming in the darkness, not a stone's throw away from +the camp. + +"I guess you girls had better go to bed," remarked Uncle John, a bit +nervously. "There's no danger, you know--none at all. Let the brutes +howl, if they want to--especially as we can't stop them. But you are +tired, my dears, and I'd like to see you settled for the night." + +Somewhat reluctantly they entered the limousine, drew the curtains and +prepared for bed. Certainly they were having a novel experience, and +if Uncle John would feel easier to have them listen to the howling +coyotes from inside the limousine instead of outside, they could not +well object to his request. + +Presently Wampus asked the Major for his revolver, and on obtaining +the weapon he walked a few paces toward the coyotes and fired a shot +into their group. They instantly scattered and made off, only to +return in a few moments to their former position. + +"Will they continue this Grand Opera chorus all night?" asked Uncle +John. + +"Perhap," said Wampus. "They hungry, an' smell food. Coyote can no +reason. If he could, he know ver' well we never feed him." + +"The next time we come this way let us fetch along a ton or so of +coyote feed," suggested the Major. "I wonder what the poor brutes +would think if they were stuffed full for once in their lives?" + +"It have never happen, sir," observed Wampus, shaking his head +gravely. "Coyote all born hungry; he live hungry; he die hungry. If +ever coyote was not hungry he would not be coyote." + +"In that case, Major," said Uncle John, "let us go to bed and try to +sleep. Perhaps in slumber we may forget these howling fiends." + +"Very well," agreed Major Doyle, rising to enter the little tent. + +Wampus unexpectedly interposed. "Wait," called the little chauffeur. +"Jus' a minute, if you please." + +While the Major and Mr. Merrick stood wondering at the request, the +Canadian, who was still holding the revolver in one hand, picked a +steel rod from the rumble of the automobile and pushing aside the flap +of the little tent entered. The tail-lamp of the car burned inside, +dimly lighting the place. + +The Major was about to follow Wampus when a revolver shot arrested +him. This sound was followed by a quick thumping against the ground of +the steel bar, and then Wampus emerged from the tent holding a dark, +squirming object on the end of the rod extended before him. + +"What is it?" asked Mr. Merrick, somewhat startled. + +"Rattlesnake," said Wampus, tossing the thing into the sagebrush. "I +see him crawl in tent while you eat supper." + +"Why did you not tell us?" cried the Major excitedly. + +"I thought him perhaps crawl out again. Him sometime do that. But no. +Mister snake he go sleep in tent which is reserve for his superior. I +say nothing, for I do not wish to alarm the young ladies. That is why +I hold the dog Mumble so tight, for he small eye see snake too, an' +fool dog wish to go fight him. Rattlesnake soon eat Mumble up--eh? But +never mind; there is no worry. I am Wampus, an' I am here. You go to +bed now, an' sleep an' be safe." + +He said this rather ostentatiously, and for that reason neither of the +others praised his watchful care or his really brave act. That Wampus +was proving himself a capable and faithful servant even the Major was +forced to admit, yet the man's bombast and self-praise robbed him of +any word of commendation he justly earned. + +"I think," said Uncle John, "I'll bunk on the front seat to-night. I'm +short, you see, and will just about curl up in the space. I believe +snakes do not climb up wheels. Make my bed on the front seat, Wampus." + +The man grinned but readily obeyed. The Major watched him +thoughtfully. + +"For my part," he said, "I'll have a bed made on top the roof." + +"Pshaw!" said Uncle John; "you'll scratch the paint." + +"That is a matter of indifference to me," returned the Major. + +"You'll roll off, in your sleep, and hurt yourself." + +"I'll risk that, sir." + +"Are you afraid, Major?" + +"Afraid! Me? Not when I'm awake, John. But what's to prevent more of +those vermin from crawling into the tent during the night?" + +"Such thing very unusual." remarked Wampus, placing the last blanket +on Mr. Merrick's improvised bed. "Perhaps you sleep in tent a week an' +never see another rattler." + +"Just the same," concluded the Major, "I'll have my bed on top the +limousine." + +He did, Wampus placing blankets and a pillow for him without a word of +protest. The Major climbed over Uncle John and mounted to the roof of +the car, which sloped to either side but was broad and long enough +to accommodate more than one sleeper. Being an old campaigner and a +shrewd tactician, Major Doyle made two blankets into rolls, which he +placed on either side of him, to "anchor" his body in position. Then +he settled himself to rest beneath the brilliant stars while the +coyotes maintained their dismal howling. But a tired man soon becomes +insensible to even such annoyances. + +The girls, having entered the limousine from the door opposite the +tent, were all unaware of the rattlesnake episode and supposed the +shot had been directed against the coyotes. They heard the Major +climbing upon the roof, but did not demand any explanation, being deep +in those bedtime confidences so dear to all girls. Even they came +to disregard the persistent howls of the coyotes, and in time fell +asleep. + +Wampus did not seem afraid of snakes. The little chauffeur went to bed +in the tent and slept soundly upon his cot until daybreak, when the +coyotes withdrew and the Canadian got up to make the coffee. + +The Major peered over the edge of the roof to watch him. He had a +sleepy look about his eyes, as if he had not rested well. Uncle John +was snoring with gentle regularity and the girls were still asleep. + +"Wampus," said the Major, "do you know the proper definition of a +fool?" + +Wampus reflected, stirring the coffee carefully. + +"I am not--what you call him?--a dictionairre; no. But I am Wampus. I +have live much in very few year. I would say a fool is man who think +he is wise. For what is wise? Nothing!" + +The Major felt comforted. + +"It occurred to me," he said, beginning to climb down from the roof, +"that a fool was a man who left a good home for this uncomfortable +life on a barren desert. This country wasn't made for humans; it +belongs to the coyotes and the rattlesnakes. What right have we to +intrude upon them, then?" + +Wampus did not reply. It was not his business to criticise his +employers. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A REAL ADVENTURE AT LAST + + +Uncle John woke up when the Major inadvertently placed a heel upon his +round stomach on the way to the ground. The chubby little millionaire +had slept excellently and was in a genial humor this morning. He +helped Wampus fry the bacon and scramble the eggs, while the Major +called the girls. + +It proved a glorious sunrise and the air was full of pure ozone. They +had suffered little from cold during the trip, although it was in +the dead of winter and the altitude considerable. Just now they were +getting closer to California every hour, and when they descended from +the mesa it would gradually grow warmer. + +They were all becoming expert at "breaking camp," and preparing for +the road. Beth and Patsy put away the bedding and "made up" the +interior of the limousine for traveling. The Major and Uncle John +folded the tent and packed it away, while Wampus attended to the +dishes and tinware and then looked over his car. In a surprisingly +short time they were all aboard and the big machine was gliding over +the faint trail. + +The mesa was not a flat or level country, for they were still near to +the mountain ranges. The way was up hill and down, in gentle slopes, +and soon after starting they breasted the brow of a hill and were +confronted by half a dozen mounted men, who seemed as much astonished +at the encounter as they were. + +It being an event to meet anyone in this desolate place Wampus +involuntarily brought the car to a halt, while the riders lined up +beside it and stared rather rudely at the party. They were dressed as +cowboys usually are, with flannel shirts, chapelets and sombrero hats; +but their faces were not rugged nor healthy, as is the case with most +Western cowboys, but bore marks of dissipation and hard living. + +"Remittance men," whispered Wampus. + +Uncle John nodded. He had heard of this curious class. Especially were +the men staring at the three pretty, feminine faces that peered from +the interior of the limousine. They had remained silent thus far, but +now one of them, a fellow with dark eyes and a sallow complexion, +reined his horse nearer the car and removed his hat with a sweeping +gesture that was not ungraceful. + +"A merry morning to you, fair ladies--or angels--I much misdoubt which +we have chanced upon. Anyhow, welcome to Hades!" + +Uncle John frowned. He did not like the bantering, impudent tone. Beth +flushed and turned aside her head; Myrtle shrank back in her corner +out of sight; but Patsy glared fixedly at the speaker with an +expression that was far from gracious. The remittance man did not seem +daunted by this decided aversion. A sneering laugh broke from his +companions, and one of them cried: + +"Back up, Algy, and give your betters a chance. You're out of it, old +man." + +"I have no betters," he retorted. Then, turning to the girls again and +ignoring the presence of the men accompanying them, he continued: + +"Beauteous visions, since you have wilfully invaded the territory of +Hades Ranch, of which diabolical domain I, Algernon Tobey, am by grace +of his Satanic majesty the master, I invite you to become my guests +and participate in a grand ball which I shall give this evening in +your honor." + +His comrades laughed again, and one of them shouted: + +"Good for you, Algy. A dance--that's the thing!" + +"Why, we haven't had the chance of a dance for ages," said another +approvingly. + +"Because we have had no ladies to dance with," explained Algy. "But +here are three come to our rescue--perhaps more, if I could see inside +that barricade--and they cannot refuse us the pleasure of their +society." + +"Sir," said Major Doyle, stiffly, "you are pleased to be impertinent. +Ride on, you rascals, and spare us further sight of you." + +The man turned upon him a scowling face. + +"Don't interfere," he said warningly. "This isn't your party, you old +duffer!" + +"Drive ahead, Wampus," commanded Uncle John. + +Wampus had to get out and crank the engines, which he calmly proceeded +to do. The man who had called himself Algernon Tobey perceived his +intention and urged his pony to the front of the car. + +"Let that thing alone. Keep your hands off!" he said. + +Wampus paid no attention. The fellow brought his riding whip down +sharply on the chauffeur's shoulders, inflicting a stinging blow. +Instantly little Wampus straightened up, grasped Tobey by the leg +and with a swift, skillful motion jerked him from his horse. The man +started to draw his revolver, but in an instant he and Wampus were +rolling together upon the ground and the Canadian presently came +uppermost and held his antagonist firmly between his knees. Then +with deliberation he raised his clinched fist and thrust it forcibly +against Mr. Tobey's eye, repeating the impact upon his nose, his chin +and his cheek in a succession of jarring thumps that were delivered +with scientific precision. Algy fairly howled, kicking and struggling +to be free. None of his comrades offered to interfere and it seemed +they were grimly enjoying the punishment that was being; inflicted +upon their leader. + +When Wampus had quite finished his work he arose, adjusted his +disarranged collar and tie and proceeded to crank the engines. Then he +climbed into his seat and started the car with a sudden bound. As he +did so a revolver shot rang out and one of the front tires, pierced by +the bullet, ripped itself nearly in two as it crumpled up. A shout of +derisive laughter came from the cowboys. Algy was astride his pony +again, and as Wampus brought the damaged car to a stop the remittance +men dashed by and along the path, taking the same direction Uncle +John's party was following". Tobey held back a little, calling out: + +"Au revoir! I shall expect you all at my party. I'm going now to get +the fiddler." + +He rejoined his comrades then, and they all clattered away until a +roll of the mesa hid them from sight. + +Uncle John got down from his seat to assist his chauffeur. + +"Thank you, Wampus," he said. "Perhaps you should have killed him +while you had the opportunity; but you did very well." + +Wampus was wrestling with the tire. + +"I have never start a private graveyard," he replied, "for reason I +am afraid to hurt anyone. But I am Wampus. If Mister Algy he dance +to-night, somebody mus' lead him, for he will be blind." + +"I never met such a lawless brood in my life," prowled the Major, +indignantly. "If they were in New York they'd be put behind the bars +in two minutes." + +"But they are in Arizona--in the wilderness," said Uncle John gravely. +"If there are laws here such people do not respect them." + +It took a long time to set the new tire and inflate it, for the outer +tube was torn so badly that an extra one had to be substituted. But +finally the task was accomplished and once more they renewed their +journey. + +Now that they were alone with their friends the girls were excitedly +gossiping over the encounter. + +"Do you really suppose we are on that man's ground--his ranch, as he +calls it?" asked Myrtle, half fearfully. + +"Why, I suppose someone owns all this ground, barren as it is," +replied Patsy. "But we are following a regular road--not a very good +one, nor much traveled; but a road, nevertheless--and any road is +public property and open for the use of travelers." + +"Perhaps we shall pass by their ranch house," suggested Beth. + +"If we do," Uncle John answered, "I'll have Wampus put on full speed. +Even their wild ponies can't follow us then, and if they try shooting +up the tires again they are quite likely to miss as we spin by." + +"Isn't there any other road?" the Major asked. + +Wampus shook his head. + +"I have never come jus' this same route before," he admitted; "but I +make good friend in Prescott, who know all Arizona blindfold. Him say +this is nice, easy road and we cannot get lost for a good reason--the +reason there is no other road at all--only this one." + +"Did your friend say anything about Hades Ranch?" continued the +questioner. + +"He say remittance man make much mischief if he can; but he one +foreign coward, drunk most time an' when sober weak like my aunt's +tea. He say don't let remittance man make bluff. No matter how many +come, if you hit one they all run." + +"H-m," murmured Uncle John, "I'm not so sure of that, Wampus. There +seems to be a good many of those insolent rascals, and I hope we shall +not meet them again. They may give us trouble yet." + +"Never be afraid," advised the chauffeur. "I am Wampus, an' I am +here!" + +Admitting that evident truth, our tourists were not greatly reassured. +Wampus could not tell where the road might lead them, for he did not +know, save that it led by devious winds to Parker, on the border +between Arizona and California; but what lay between them and that +destination was a sealed book to them all. + +The car was heavy and the road soft; so in spite of their powerful +engines the car was not making more than fifteen miles an hour. A +short ride brought them to a ridge, from the top of which they saw a +huddle of buildings not far distant, with a near-by paddock containing +a number of ponies and cattle. The buildings were not palatial, being +composed mostly of adobe and slab wood; but the central one, probably +the dwelling or ranch house, was a low, rambling pile covering +considerable ground. + +The road led directly toward this group of buildings, which our +travelers at once guessed to be "Hades Ranch." Wampus slowed down and +cast a sharp glance around, but the land on either side of the trail +was thick with cactus and sagebrush and to leave the beaten path meant +a puncture almost instantly. There was but one thing to be done. + +"Pretty good road here," said Wampus. "Hold tight an' don't get scare. +We make a race of it." + +"Go ahead," returned Uncle John, grimly. "If any of those scoundrels +get in your way, run them down." + +"I never like to hurt peoples; but if that is your command, sir, I +will obey," said Wampus, setting his jaws tightly together. + +The car gathered speed and shot over the road at the rate of twenty +miles an hour; then twenty-five--then thirty--and finally forty. The +girls sat straight and looked eagerly ahead. Forms were darting here +and there among the buildings of the ranch, quickly congregating in +groups on either side of the roadway. A red flag fluttered in the +center of the road, some four feet from the ground. + +"Look out!" shouted Uncle John. "Stop, Wampus; stop her, I say!" + +Wampus saw why, and applied his brakes. The big car trembled, slowed +down, and came to a stop less than a foot away from three ugly bars of +barbed wire which had been placed across the road. They were now just +beside the buildings, and a triumphant shout greeted them from their +captors, the remittance men. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +CAPTURED + + +"Welcome to Hades!" cried a stout little man in a red blouse, sticking +his leering countenance through the door of the limousine. + +"Shut up, Stubby," commanded a hoarse voice from the group. "Haven't +you any manners? You haven't been introduced yet." + +"I've engaged the dark eyed one for the first dance," persisted +Stubby, as a dozen hands dragged him away from the door. + +The Major sprang out and confronted the band. + +"What are we to understand by this outrage?" he demanded fiercely. + +"It means you are all invited to a party, and we won't accept any +regrets," replied a laughing voice. + +Patsy put her head out of the window and looked at the speaker. It was +Mr. Algernon Tobey. He had two strips of sticking plaster over his +nose. One of his eyes was swollen shut and the other was almost +closed. Yet he spoke in a voice more cheerful than it was when they +first met him. + +"Don't be afraid," he added. "No one has the slightest intention of +injuring any of you in any way, I assure you." + +"We have not the same intention in regard to you, sir," replied Major +Doyle, fuming with rage, for his "Irish was up," as he afterward +admitted. "Unless you at once remove that barricade and allow us to +proceed we will not be responsible for what happens. You are warned, +sir!" + +Uncle John, by this time standing beside the Major upon the ground, +had been quietly "sizing up the situation," as he would have expressed +it. He found they had been captured by a party of fourteen men, most +of whom were young, although three or four, including Tobey, were +of middle age. The atmosphere of the place, with its disorderly +surroundings and ill kept buildings, indicated that Hades Ranch was +bachelor quarters exclusively. Half a dozen Mexicans and one or two +Chinamen were in the background, curious onlookers. + +Mr. Merrick noted the fact that the remittance men were an unkempt, +dissipated looking crew, but that their faces betokened reckless good +humor rather than desperate evil. There was no doubt but most of +them were considering this episode in the light of a joke, and were +determined to enjoy the experience at the expense of their enforced +guests. + +Uncle John had lived many years in the West and knew something of +these peculiar English exiles. Therefore he was neither frightened +nor unduly angry, but rather annoyed by the provoking audacity of the +fellows. He had three young girls to protect and knew these men could +not be fit acquaintances for them. But he adopted a tone different +from the Major's and addressed himself to Tobey as the apparent leader +of the band. + +"Sir," he said calmly but with pointed emphasis, "I believe you were +born a gentleman, as were your comrades here." + +"You are right," answered Tobey. "And each and every one you see +before you has fallen from his former high estate--through no fault +of his own." This may have been a sarcasm, for the others laughed in +boisterous approval. "In some respects we are still gentlemen," Tobey +went on, "but in others we are not to be trusted. Be reasonable, +sir--I haven't the faintest idea who you are or what your name is--and +consider calmly our proposition. Here we are, a number of young +fellows who have seen better and happier days, living alone in the +midst of an alkali desert. Most of us haven't seen a female for +months, nor a lady for years. Why, last fall Stubby there rode eighty +miles to Buxton, just to stand on a corner and see a lot of greasy +Mexican women go by. We tire of exclusive male society, you see. We +get to bore one another terribly. So here, like a visitation from +heaven, three attractive young ladies descend upon us, traveling +through our domain, and having discovered their presence we instantly +decided to take advantage of the opportunity and invite them to an +impromptu ball. There's no use refusing us, for we insist on carrying +out our plan. If you men, perhaps the fathers of the young ladies, +behave reasonably, we will entertain you royally and send you on your +way rejoicing. Won't we, boys?" + +They shouted approval. + +"But if you oppose us and act ugly about this fete, gentlemen, we +shall be obliged to put a few bullets into you, and decide afterward +what disposition to make of the girls. About the best stunt we do is +shooting. We can't work; we're too poor to gamble much; but we hunt +a good bit and we can shoot straight. I assure you we wouldn't mind +losing and taking a few lives if a scrimmage is necessary. Eh, boys?" + +"That's right, Algy," said one, answering for the others; "we'll have +that dance if we die for it--ev'ry man Jack of us." + +Myrtle was trembling in her corner of the limousine. Beth sat still +with a curl on her lips. But Patsy was much interested in the +proceedings and had listened attentively to the above conversation. +Now the girl suddenly swung open the door and sprang out beside her +father, facing the group of cowboys. + +"I am Patricia Doyle," she said in a clear voice, "and these +gentlemen," indicating the Major and Mr. Merrick, "are my father and +my uncle. You understand perfectly why they object to the arrangement +you suggest, as any one of you would object, had you a daughter in +a like position. But you are arbitrary and not inclined to respect +womanhood. Therefore but one course is open to us--to submit under +protest to the unwelcome attentions you desire to thrust upon us." + +They listened silently to this frank speech, and some of their faces +wore crestfallen expressions by the time she had finished. Indeed, +one of the older men turned on his heel and walked away, disappearing +among the buildings. After a brief hesitation a delicate young +fellow--almost a boy--followed this man, his face flaming red with +shame. But the others stood their ground. + +"Very good, Miss Doyle," remarked Tobey, with forced cheerfulness. +"You are quite sensible to submit to the inevitable. Bring out your +friends and introduce them, and then we'll all go in to luncheon and +prepare for the dance." + +"I won't submit to this!" cried the Major, stamping his foot angrily. + +"Yes, you will," said Uncle John, with a motion preventing his irate +brother-in-law from drawing a revolver, "Patsy is quite right, and we +will submit with as much dignity as we can muster, being overpowered +by numbers." + +He beckoned to Beth, who stepped out of the car and assisted Myrtle +to follow her. A little cheer of bravado had arisen from the group, +inspired by their apparent victory; but when Myrtle's crutches +appeared and they saw the fair, innocent face of the young girl who +rested upon them, the shout died away in a hush of surprise. + +"This is my cousin, Elizabeth De Graf," announced Patsy, with cold +deliberation, determined that the proprieties should be observed in +all intercourse with these people. "And I present our friend, Myrtle +Dean. Under ordinary circumstances I believe Myrtle would be excused +from dancing, but I suppose no brute in the form of a man would have +consideration for her infirmity." + +This time even Tobey flushed. + +"You've a sharp tongue, Miss Doyle, and it's liable to lead you into +trouble," he retorted, losing for the moment his suave demeanor. "We +may be brutes--and I imagine we are--but we're not dangerous unless +provoked." + +It was savagely said, and Uncle John took warning and motioned Patsy +to be silent. + +"Lead the way, sir," he said. "Our chauffeur will of course remain +with the car." + +Wampus had kept his seat, motionless and silent. He only nodded in +answer to Mr. Merrick's instructions and was entirely disregarded by +the remittance men. + +The man called "Stubby," who had a round, good-humored face, stepped +eagerly to Myrtle's side and exclaimed: "Let me assist you, please." + +"No," she said, shaking her head with a wan smile; "I am quite able to +walk alone." + +He followed her, though, full of interest and with an air of deep +respect that belied his former actions. Tobey, content with his +present success, walked beside Mr. Merrick and led the procession +toward the ranch house. The Major followed, his tall form upright, his +manner bellicose and resentful, with Beth and Patsy on either side of +him. The remittance men followed in a straggling crowd, laughing and +boisterously talking among themselves. Just as they reached the house +a horseman came clattering down the road and all paused involuntarily +to mark the new arrival. The rider was a handsome, slim young fellow, +dressed as were the other cowboys present, and he came on at a +breakneck speed that seemed only warranted by an errand of life and +death. + +In front of him, tied to the saddle, appeared a huge bundle, and as +the horse dashed up to the group standing by the ranch house the rider +gracefully threw himself off and removed his hat with a sweeping +gesture as he observed the young ladies. + +"I've got him, Algy!" he cried merrily. + +"Dan'l?" asked Tobey. + +"Dan'l himself." He pointed to the bundle, which heaved and wriggled +to show it was alive. "He refused to come willingly, of course; so +I brought him anyhow. Never yet was there a fiddler willing to be +accommodating." + +"Good for you, Tim!" shouted a dozen voices. And Stubby added in his +earnest way; "Dan'l was never more needed in his life." + +Tobey was busy unwinding a long lariat that bent the captive nearly +double and secured him firmly to the panting horse. When the bonds +were removed Dan'l would have tumbled prone to the ground had not +willing hands caught him and supported him upon his feet. Our friends +then observed that he was an aged man with a face thickly furrowed +with wrinkles. He had but one eye, small and gray and very shrewd in +expression, which he turned contemptuously upon the crowd surrounding +him. Numb and trembling from his cramped position upon the horse and +the terrible jouncing he had endured, the fiddler could scarcely stand +at first and shook as with a palsy; but he made a brave effort to +control his weakness and turned smilingly at the murmur of pity and +indignation that came from the lips of the girls. + +"Where's the fiddle?" demanded Tobey, and Tim unhooked a calico bag +from the saddlebow and held it out. A laugh greeted the gesture. + +"Dan'l said he be hanged if he'd come," announced Tim, with a grim +appreciation of the humorous side of the situation; "so I hung him and +brought him along--and his fiddle to boot. But don't boot it until +after the dance." + +"What do you mean, sir, by this rebellious attitude?" questioned +Tobey, sticking his damaged face close to that of the fiddler. + +Dan'l blinked with his one eye but refused to answer. + +"I've a good mind to skin you alive," continued the leader, in a +savage tone. "You'll either obey my orders or I'll throw you into the +snake pit." + +"Let him alone, Algy," said Tim, carelessly. "The old scoundrel has +been tortured enough already. But I see we have partners for the +dance," looking critically at the girls, "and I claim first choice +because I've brought the fiddler." + +At this a roar of protest arose and Tobey turned and said sullenly: + +"Come in, all of you. We'll settle the order of dancing later on." + +The interior of the ranch house was certainly picturesque. A great +living room ran all across the front, with an immense fireplace +built of irregular adobe bricks. The floor was strewn with skins of +animals--mostly coyotes, a few deer and one or two mountain lions--and +the walls were thickly hung with weapons and trophies of the chase. +A big table in one corner was loaded with bottles and glasses, +indicating the intemperate habits of the inmates, while on the chimney +shelf were rows of pipes and jars of tobacco. An odor similar to that +of a barroom hung over the place which the air from the open windows +seemed unable to dissipate. + +There were plenty of benches and chairs, with a long mess table +occupying the center of the room. In a corner was an old square piano, +which a Mexican was trying to dust as the party entered. + +"Welcome to Hades!" exclaimed Tobey, with an absurd gesture. "Be good +enough to make yourselves at home and I'll see if those devils of +Chinamen are getting luncheon ready." + +Silently the prisoners sat down. The crowd poured in after them and +disposed themselves in various attitudes about the big room, all +staring with more or less boldness at the three girls. Dan'l the +fiddler was pushed in with the others and given a seat, while two or +three of the imitation cowboys kept guard over him to prevent any +possible escape. So far the old man had not addressed a word to +anyone. + +With the absence of the leader the feeling of restraint seemed to +relax. The cowboys began whispering among themselves and chuckling +with glee, as if they were enjoying some huge joke. Stubby had placed +himself near the three young ladies, whom he eyed with adoring +glances, and somehow none of the prisoners regarded this childish +young fellow in exactly the same light as they did his comrades. Tim, +his attitude full of grace as he lounged against a settle, was also +near the group. He seemed a bit thoughtful since his dramatic arrival +and had little to say to anyone. + +Mr. Merrick engaged Stubby in conversation. + +"Does Mr. Tobey own this place?" he asked. + +"By proxy, yes," was the reply. "It isn't in his name, you know, +although that doesn't matter, for he couldn't sell his desert ranch if +he had a title to it. I suppose that is what his folks were afraid +of. Algy is the fourth son of old Lord Featherbone, and got into a +disgraceful mess in London some years ago. So Featherbone shipped +him over here, in charge of a family solicitor who hunted out this +sequestered spot, bought a couple of thousand acres and built this +hut. Then he went home and left Algy here to keep up the place on a +paltry ten pounds--fifty dollars--a month." + +"Can he manage to do that?" asked Uncle John. + +"Why, he has to, you see. He's got together a few cattle, mostly +stolen I imagine; but he doesn't try to work the land. Moreover he's +established this community, composed of his suffering fellow exiles, +the secret of which lies in the fact that we work the cooperative +plan, and all chip in our remittances to boil the common pot. We can +keep more servants and buy more food and drink, that way, than if each +one of us lived separately." + +"Up in Oregon," said Mr. Merrick, "I've known of some very successful +and prosperous ranchmen among the remittance men." + +"Oh, we're all kinds, I suppose, good and bad," admitted Stubby. "This +crew's mostly bad, and they're moderately proud of it. It's a devil +of a life, sir, and Hades Ranch is well named. I've only been here a +month. Had a little property up North; but the sheriff took it for +debt, and that forced me to Algy, whom I detest. I think I'll move on, +before long. But you see I'm limited. Can't leave Arizona or I'll get +my remittance cut off." + +"Why were you sent here into exile?" asked Myrtle artlessly. + +He turned red and refused to meet her eyes. + +"Went wrong, Miss," he said, "and my folks wouldn't stand for +it. We're all in the same boat," sweeping his arm around, "doing +punishment for our misdeeds." + +"Do none of you ever reform?" inquired Patsy. + +"What's the use? We're so far away from home no one there would ever +believe in our reformation. Once we become outcasts, that's the end +of our careers. We're buried in these Western wilds and allowed just +enough to keep alive." + +"I would think," said Uncle John musingly, "that the manly way would +be to cut yourself off entirely from your people at home and go to +some city in the United States where honesty and industry would win a +new name for you. Then you could be respected and happy and become of +use to the world." + +Stubby laughed. + +"That has been tried," he replied; "but few ever made a success of it. +We're generally the kind that prefers idleness to work. My family is +wealthy, and I don't mind taking from them what little they give me +willingly and all that I can screw out of them besides. I'm in for +life, as the saying is, and I've no especial ambition except to drink +myself to death as soon as possible." + +Patsy shuddered. It seemed a horrible thing to be so utterly hopeless. +Could this young fellow have really merited his fate? + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE FIDDLER + + +Tim had listened carelessly to the conversation until now, when he +said listlessly: + +"Don't think us all criminals, for we're not. In my own case I did +nothing to deserve exile except that I annoyed my elder brother by +becoming more popular with our social set than he was. He had all the +property and I was penniless, so he got rid of me by threatening to +cut off my allowance unless I went to America and stayed there." + +"And you accepted such a condition?" cried Patsy, scornfully. "Why +were you not independent enough to earn your own living?" + +He shrugged his shoulders, yet seemed amused. + +"I simply couldn't," said he. "I was not educated to work, you know, +and to do so at home would be to disgrace my noble family. I've too +much respect for my lineage to labor with my hands or head." + +"But here in America no one would know you," suggested Beth. + +"I would only humiliate myself by undertaking such a task. And why +should I do so? While I am in America my affectionate brother, the +head of the family, supports me, as is his duty. Your philosophy is +pretty enough, but it is not practical. The whole fault lies in our +old-fashioned system of inheritance, the elder male of a family +getting all the estate and the younger ones nothing at all. Here, in +this crude and plebeian country, I believe it is the custom to provide +for all one's children, and a father is at liberty to do so because +his estate is not entailed." + +"And he earns it himself and can do what he likes with it," added +Uncle John, impatiently. "Your system of inheritance and entail may +be somewhat to blame, but your worst fault is in rearing a class of +mollycoddles and social drones who are never of benefit to themselves +or the world at large. You, sir, I consider something less than a +man." + +"I agree with you," replied Tim, readily. "I'm only good to cumber the +earth, and if I get little pleasure out of life I must admit that it's +all I'm entitled to." + +"And you can't break your bonds and escape?" asked Patsy. + +"I don't care to. People who are ambitious to do things merely bore +me. I don't admire them or care to imitate them." + +From that moment they took no further interest in the handsome +outcast. His world was not their world. + +And now Tobey came in, driving before him a lot of Mexicans bearing +trays of food. The long table was laid in a moment, for everything +was dumped upon it without any attempt at order. Each of the cowboys +seized a plate from a pile at one end and helped himself to whatever +he wanted. + +Two or three of the men, however, were courteous enough to attend to +their unwilling guests and see they were served as well as conditions +would permit The food was plentiful and of good quality, but although +none of Uncle John's party was squeamish or a stickler for form, all +more or less revolted from the utter disregard of all the proprieties. + +"I'm sorry we have no wine; but there's plenty of whiskey, if you like +it," remarked Tobey. + +The girls were silent and ate little, although they could not help +being interested in observing the bohemianism of these gently reared +but decadent sons of respectable English families. As soon as they +could they left the table, and Tobey, observing their uneasiness in +spite of his damaged and nearly useless optics, decided to send them +to another room where they could pass the afternoon without further +annoyance. Stubby escorted the party and ushered them into a good +sized room which he said was "Algy's study," although no one ever +studied there. + +"Algy's afraid you'll balk at the dance; so he wants to please you +however he can," remarked the round faced youth. "You won't mind being +left alone, will you?" + +"We prefer it, sir," answered the Major, stiffly. + +"You see, we're going to have a rare lark this afternoon," continued +Stubby, confidentially. "Usually it's pretty dull here, and all we +can do is ride and hunt--play cards and quarrel. But your coming has +created no end of excitement and this dance will be our red-letter day +for a long time to come. The deuce of if is, however, that there are +only two girls to dance with thirteen men. We limit our community to +fifteen, you know; but little Ford and old Rutledge have backed down +and won't have anything to do with this enterprise. I don't know why," +he continued, thoughtfully. + +"Perhaps they still have some gentlemanly instincts," suggested Patsy. + +"That must be it," he replied in a relieved tone. "Well, anyhow, +to avoid quarrels and bloodshed we've agreed to throw dice for the +dances. Every one is to have an equal chance, you see, and when you +young ladies open the dance the entire programme will be arranged for +you." + +"Are we to have no choice in the matter of partners?" inquired Beth +curiously. + +"None whatever. There would surely be a row, in that case, and we +intend to have everything; pass off pleasantly if we have to kill a +few to keep the peace." + +With this Stubby bowed low and retreated toward the door, which +suddenly opened to admit old Dan'l the fiddler, who was thrust in +so violently that his body collided with that of Stubby and nearly +knocked him over. + +"That's all right," laughed the remittance man, recovering from the +shock. "You mustn't escape, you know, Dan'l, for we depend on you for +the music." + +He closed the door as he went out and they all heard a bolt shoot into +place. Yet the broad window, scarcely six feet from the ground, stood +wide open to admit the air. + +Dan'l stood in the middle of the room, motionless for a moment. Then +he raised his wrinkled face and clinched his fists, shaking them in +the direction of the living-room. + +"Me!" he muttered; "me play for dese monkeys to dance--me! a +maestro--a composer--a artiste! No; I vill nod! I vill die before I +condescention to such badness, such mockery!" + +They were the first words he had spoken since his arrival, and they +seemed to hold all his pentup indignation. The girls pitied the old +man and, recognizing in him a fellow prisoner, sought to comfort him. + +"If the dance depends upon us, there will be no dance," said Patsy, +firmly. + +"I thought you advised submitting to the whim of these ruffians," said +Uncle John in surprise. + +"Only to gain time, Uncle. And the scheme has succeeded. Now is our +time to plot and plan how to outwit our enemies." + +"Goot!" cried Dan'l approvingly. "I help you. Dey are vermin--pah! I +vould kill dem all mitout mercifulness, unt be glad!" + +"It won't be necessary to kill them, I hope," said Beth, smiling. "All +we wish is to secure our escape." + +"Vot a time dey make me!" said Dan'l, more calmly. "You see, I am +living peacefulness in mine bungalow by der river--ten mile away. Dot +brute Tim, he come unt ask me to fiddle for a dance. I--fiddle! Ven I +refuse me to do it, he tie me up unt by forcibleness elope mit me. Iss +id nod a crime--a vickedness--eh?" + +"It certainly is, sir," said Uncle John. "But do not worry. These +girls have some plan in their heads, I'm sure, and if we manage to +escape we will carry you home in safety. Now, my dears, what is it?" + +"Oh, we've only begun to think yet," said Patsy, and walked to the +window. All but Myrtle and Dan'l followed her. + +Below the window was a jungle of cactus, with hundreds of spines as +slender and sharp as stilettos sticking in every direction. + +"H-m; this room is burglar proof," muttered Uncle John, with marked +disappointment. + +"It also makes an excellent prison," added Patsy. "But I suspected +something of this sort when I saw they had left the window open. We +can't figure on getting out that way, you see." + +"Id vould be suiciding," Dan'l said, mournfully shaking his head. "If +dese fiends were as goot as dey are clefer, dey vould be angels." + +"No argument seems to prevail with them," remarked Beth. "They are +lawless and merciless, and in this far-away country believe they may +do as they please." + +"They're as bad as the bandits of Taormina," observed Patsy, smiling +at the recollection of an adventure they had abroad; "but we must find +some way to evade them." + +Dan'l had gone over to Myrtle's corner and stood staring at her with +his one shrewd eye. Uncle John looked thoughtfully out of the window +and saw Wampus busy in the road before the house. He had his coat off +and was cutting the bars of barbed wire and rolling them out of the +way, while Mumbles, who had been left with him, ran here and there at +his heels as if desiring to assist him. + +From the big hall, or living room, at the right came a dull roar of +voices, subdued shouts and laughter, mingled with the clinking of +glasses. All the remittance men were gathered there deep in the game +of dice which was to determine the order in which they were to dance +with Beth and Patsy. The servants were out of sight. Wampus had the +field to himself. + +"Come here," said Uncle John to the girls, and when they stood beside +him pointed to the car. "Wampus is making ready for the escape," he +continued. "He has cleared the road and the way is now open if we can +manage to get to the machine. Has your plan matured yet?" + +Patsy shook her head. + +"Not yet, Uncle," she replied. + +"Couldn't Wampus throw us a rope?" inquired the Major. + +"He could," said Uncle John; "but we would be unable to use it. Those +terrible cactus spines are near enough to spear anyone who dared try +to slide down a rope. Think of something else." + +They all tried to do that, but no practical idea seemed forthcoming. + +"Oh, no," Dan'l was saying to Myrtle; "dey are nod afraid to shoot; +bud dey vill nod shoot ladies, belief me. Always dey carry refolfers +in deir belts--or deir holsterses. Dey eat mit refolfers; dey schleep +mit refolfers; dey hunt, dey quarrel, unt sometimes dey shoot each +odder--de best enactionment vot dey do. Bud dey do nod shoot at +ladies--nefer." + +"Will they wear their revolvers at the dance?" asked Beth, overhearing +this speech. + +"I belief id," said Dan'l, wagging his ancient head. "Dey like to be +ready to draw quick like, if anybody shteps on anybody's toes. Yes; of +course." + +"What a horrible idea!" exclaimed Patsy. + +"They're quite liable to dance and murder in the same breath," the +Major observed, gloomily. + +"I don't like it," said Beth. "It's something awful just to think of. +Haven't they any gallantry?" + +"No," answered Patsy. "But I wouldn't dance with a lot of half drunken +men wearing revolvers, if they burned me at the stake for refusing." + +"Ah! shtick to dat fine expressionment," cried Dan'l, eagerly. "Shtick +to id! Say you won't dance if dey wear de refolfers--unt den we win de +schweepstakes!" + +Patsy looked at him critically, in the instant catching a part of his +idea. + +"What do you mean?" she asked. + +Dan'l explained, while they all listened carefully, absorbed in +following in thought his unique suggestions. + +"Let's do it!" exclaimed Beth. "I'm sure the plan will succeed." + +"It's leaving a good deal to chance," objected Uncle John, with a +touch of nervousness. + +"There is an element of chance in everything," declared Patsy. "But +I'm sure we shall escape, Uncle. Why it's a regular coup!" + +"We take them by surprise, you know," explained the Major, who +heartily favored the idea. + +They talked it over for a time, perfecting the details, and then +became as calm and composed as a group of prisoners might. Uncle John +waved his handkerchief to attract the attention of Wampus, who stole +softly around the corner of the house and approached the window, +taking care to keep at a respectful distance from the dangerous +cactus. + +"Is everything ready?" inquired Uncle John in a subdued voice. + +"To be sure all is ready. Why not? I am Wampus!" was the reply, in +cautious tones. + +"Go back to the machine and guard it carefully, Wampus," commanded Mr. +Merrick. "We expect to escape soon after dark, so have the headlights +going, for we shall make a rush for it and there mustn't be a moment's +delay." + +"All right," said the chauffeur. "You may depend on me. I am Wampus, +an' not 'fraid of a hundred coward like these. Is not Mister Algy his +eye mos' beautiful blacked?" + +"It is," agreed Uncle John. "Go back to the car now, and wait for us. +Don't get impatient. We don't know just when we will join you, but it +will be as soon as we can manage it. What is Mumbles doing?" + +"Mumble he learn to be good automobilist. Jus' now he sit on seat an' +watch wheel to see nobody touch. If anybody touch, Mumble he eat him +up." + +They all laughed at this whimsical notion and it served to relieve the +strain of waiting. Wampus, grinning at the success of his joke, went +back to the limousine to inspect it carefully and adjust it in every +part until it was in perfect order. + +Now that a definite plan of action had been decided upon their spirits +rose considerably, and they passed the afternoon in eager anticipation +of the crisis. + +Rather earlier than expected Stubby and Tim came to say "they had been +appointed a committee to escort their guests to the banquet hall, +where dinner would at once be served." + +"We shall have to clear away for the dance," added Stubby, "so we want +to get the feast over with as quickly as possible. I hope you are all +hungry, for Algy has spread himself on this dinner and we are to +have every delicacy the ranch affords, regardless of expense. We can +economize afterward to make up for it." + +Elaborate preparations were not greatly in evidence, however. The +Mexican servants had washed themselves and the floor of the big room +had been swept and cleared of some of its rubbish; but that was all. +The remittance men were in their usual rough costumes and the air was +redolent with the fumes of liquor. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE ESCAPE + + +As the prisoners quietly took their places at the table Tobey, who +had been drinking hard, decided to make a speech. His face was badly +swollen and he could only see through a slit in one eye, so severe had +been the beating administered by Wampus earlier in the day; but the +fellow had grit, in spite of his other unmanly qualities, and his +imperturbable good humor had scarcely been disturbed by the punishment +the Canadian had inflicted upon him. + +"Ladies," said he, "and gentlemen--which of course includes our +respected male guests--I am happy to inform you that the programme for +the First Annual Hades Ranch Ball has finally been arranged, and the +dances apportioned in a fair and impartial manner. The Grand March +will take place promptly at seven o'clock, led by Miss Doyle and +Knuckles, who has won the privilege by throwing four sixes. I am to +follow with Miss De Graf, and the rest will troop on behind with the +privilege of looking at the ladies. If anyone dares to create disorder +his dances with the young ladies will be forfeited. Dan'l will play +the latest dance music on his fiddle, and if it isn't spirited +and up-to-date we'll shoot his toes off. We insist upon plenty of +two-steps and waltzes and will wind up with a monney-musk in the +gray light of dawn. This being fully understood, I beg you, my good +friends, to fall to and eat and be merry; but don't linger unduly over +the dainties, for we are all anxious, like good soldiers, to get into +action." + +The remittance men applauded this oratory, and incidentally attacked +the eatables with evident determination to obey their leader's +injunction. + +"We can eat any time," remarked Stubby, with his mouth full; "but +his Satanic majesty only knows when Hades Ranch will see another +dance--with real ladies for partners." + +The Chinese cooks and the Mexican servants had a lively time during +this meal, for the demands made upon them were incessant. Uncle John, +whose even disposition was seldom ruffled, ate with a good appetite, +while even the Major, glum and scowling, did not disdain the numerous +well-prepared dishes. As for Dan'l, he took full advantage of the +occasion and was the last one to leave the table. Our girls, however, +were too excited to eat much and little Myrtle, especially, was pallid +and uneasy and had a startled look in her eyes whenever anyone made a +sudden motion. + +As soon as the repast was concluded the servants cleared the long +table in a twinkling and pushed it back against the wall at one end of +the long room. A chair was placed for Dan'l on top of this expansive +board, which thus became a stage from whence he could overlook the +room and the dancers, and then two of the remittance men tossed the +old fiddler to his elevated place and commanded him to make ready. + +Dan'l said nothing and offered no resistance. He sat plaintively +sawing upon his ancient but rich-toned violin while the floor was +brushed, the chairs and benches pushed against the wall and the room +prepared for action. Behind the violinist was a low, broad window +facing a grass plot that was free from the terrifying cactus, and the +old man noted with satisfaction that it stood wide open. + +Uncle John's party had pressed close to the table and stood watching +the proceedings. + +"Ready now!" called Tobey; "the Grand March is about to begin. Take +your partners, boys. Look sharp, there, Dan'l, and give us a martial +tune that will lift our feet." + +Dan'l meekly set the violin underneath his chin and raised the bow as +if in readiness. "Knuckles," a brawny fellow with a florid face and a +peculiar squint, approached Patsy and bowed. + +"You're to lead with me, Miss," he said. "Are you ready?" + +"Not quite," she returned with dignified composure; "for I perceive +you are not quite ready yourself." + +"Eh? Why not?" he inquired, surprised. + +"You are still wearing your firearms," she replied. "I cannot and will +not dance with a man who carries a revolver." + +"That's nothing," he retorted. "We always do." + +"Always?" + +"Of course. And if I shed my gun what's to prevent some one else +getting the drop on me?" + +"That's it," said Patsy, firmly. "The weapons must all be surrendered +before we begin. We positively refuse to dance if rioting and shooting +are likely to occur." + +A murmur of protest arose at this speech, for all the remittance men +had gathered around to listen to the argument. + +"That's all tommy-rot," observed Handsome Tim, in a sulky tone. "We're +not spoiling for a row; it's the dance we're after." + +"Then give up the revolvers," said Beth, coming to her cousin's +assistance. "If this is to be a peaceful entertainment you will not +need to be armed, and it is absurd to suppose a lady will dance with a +gentleman who is a walking arsenal." + +They looked into one another's faces uncertainly. Dan'l sat softly +tuning his violin, as if uninterested in the controversy. Uncle John +and the Major looked on with seeming indifference. + +"You must decide which you prefer--the revolvers or the dance," +remarked Patsy, staring coolly into the ring of faces. + +"Would your English ladies at home consent to dance with armed men?" +asked Beth. + +"They're quite right, boys," said Stubby, nodding his bullethead. +"Let's agree to deposit all the shooting irons 'til the dance is +over." + +"I won't!" cried Knuckles, his scowl deepening. + +"By Jove, you will!" shouted Tobey, with unexpected vehemence. "You're +delaying the programme, old man, and it's a nuisance to dance in this +armor, anyway. Here--pile all your guns in this corner; every one of +you, mind. Then we shall all stand on an equal footing." + +"Put them on the table there, by the old fiddler," said Patsy; "then +we will know we are perfectly safe." + +Rather unwillingly they complied, each man walking up to the table and +placing his revolver at Dan'l's feet. The girls watched them intently. + +"That man over there is still armed," called Beth, pointing to a +swarthy Mexican who squatted near the door. + +"That's all right," said Tobey, easily. "He's our guard, Pedro. I've +stationed him there so you won't attempt to escape till we get ready +to let you go." + +Patsy laughed. + +"There's little danger of that," she said. + +"All ready, now!" exclaimed Knuckles, impatiently. "We're all as +harmless as doves. Let 'er go, Dan'l!" + +The old man was just then assisting Uncle John to lift Myrtle to the +top of the table, where the Major had placed a chair for her. Knuckles +growled, but waited until the girl was seated near the window. Then +Dan'l drew his bow and struck up a spirited march. Patsy took the arm +of Knuckles and paraded down the long room. Beth followed with Tobey, +and behind them tramped the remittance men in files of two. At the far +end were grouped the servants, looking curiously upon the scene, which +was lighted by lamps swung from the ceiling and a row of candles upon +the edge of the mantelshelf. + +To carry out the idea of a grand march Patsy drew her escort here and +there by sharp turns and half circles, the others trailing behind like +a huge snake until she had passed down the length of the room and +started to return up the other side to the starting point. So +engrossed had been the cowboys that they did not observe the Major and +Uncle John clamber upon the table and stand beside Myrtle. + +The procession was half way up the hall on its return when Patsy said +abruptly: "Now, Beth!" and darted away from her partner's side and +toward the table. Beth followed like a streak, being an excellent +runner, and for a moment Knuckles and Tobey, thus deserted by their +partners, stopped to watch them in amazement. Then their comrades +bumped into them and recalled them to their senses. + +By that time the two girls had reached the table and leaped upon it. +Uncle John was waving his handkerchief from the window as a signal +to Wampus; Dan'l had laid aside his fiddle and seized a revolver in +either hand, and the Major had caught up two more of the discarded +weapons. + +As Beth and Patsy turned, panting, and from their elevation looked up +the room, the cowboys gave a bellow of rage and rushed forward. + +"Keep back!" shouted the Major, in stentorian tones, "I'll shoot the +first man that interferes." + +Noting the grim determination in the old soldier's eye, they hesitated +and came to a halt. + +"What do you mean by this infernal nonsense?" cried Tobey, in disgust. + +"Why, it's just checkmate, and the game is up," replied Uncle John +amiably. "We've decided not to hold the proposed dance, but to take +our departure at once." + +He turned and passed Myrtle out of the window where Wampus took her +in his arms, crutches and all, and carried her to the automobile. The +remittance men, unarmed and confronted by their own revolvers, stood +gaping open-mouthed and seemingly dazed. + +"Let's rush 'em, boys!" shouted Handsome Tim, defiantly. + +"Rush 'em alone, if you like," growled Knuckles. "I'm not ready for +the graveyard yet." + +"You are vot iss called cowardices," said Dan'l, flourishing the +revolvers he held. "Come on mit der courage, somebotty, so I can shoot +holes in you." + +"You're building your own coffin just now, Dan'l," retorted Tobey, +in baffled rage. "We know where to get you, old boy, and we'll have +revenge for this night's work." + +"I vill take some popguns home mit me," was the composed reply. "Den, +ven you come, I vill make a receptioning for you. Eh?" + +Uncle John, Patsy and Beth had followed Myrtle through the window and +disappeared. + +"Now, sir," said the Major to the old fiddler, "make your escape while +I hold them at bay." + +"Nod yet," replied Dan'l. "Ve must gif ourselves de most +protectionment ve can." + +With this he gathered up the firearms, one by one, and tossed them +through the window. Then he straightened up and a shot flashed down +the hall and tumbled the big Mexican guard to the floor just as he was +about to glide through the doorway. + +"Dit ve say shtand still, or dit ve nod say shtand still?" asked +Dan'l, sternly. "If somebody gets hurt, it iss because he don'd obey +de orderations." + +"Go, sir!" commanded the Major. + +"I vill; bud I go last," declared the old man. "I follow you--see? Bud +you take my violin, please--unt be very tender of id, like id vas your +sveetheardt." + +The Major took the violin and climbed through the window, proceeding +to join the others, who were by now seated in the car. When he had +gone Dan'l prepared to follow, first backing toward the window and +then turning to make an agile leap to the ground below. And now with a +shout the cowboys made their rush, only to halt as Dan'l reappeared at +the window, covering them again with his revolvers. + +"So, you defils--make a listen to me," he called. "I am experiencing +a goot-bye to you, who are jackals unt imitation men unt haf no goot +right to be alive. Also if I see any of you de next time, I vill shoot +first unt apologise at der funeral. I haf no more monkey business mit +you voteffer; so keep vere you are until I am gone, unt you vill be +safeness." + +He slowly backed away from the window, and so thoroughly cowed was the +group of ruffians that the old fiddler had been lifted hastily into +the automobile before the cowboys mustered courage to leap through +the window and search in the darkness for their revolvers, which lay +scattered widely upon the ground. + +Wampus, chuckling gleefully, jerked the hoods off his glaring +searchlights, sprang to his seat and started the machine down the road +before the crack of a single revolver was heard in protest. The shots +came thicker after that, but now the automobile was bowling merrily +along the road and soon was out of range. + +"De road iss exceptionalment goot," remarked Dan'l. "Dere iss no +dangerousness from here to der rifer." + +"Danger?" said the chauffeur, scornfully. "Who cares for danger? I am +Wampus, an' I am here!" + +"We are all here," said Patsy, contentedly nestling against the +cushions; "and I'm free to confess that I'm mighty glad of it!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE ROMANCE OF DAN'L + + +It did not take them very long to reach the river, a muddy little +stream set below high banks. By Dan'l's direction they turned to +the left and followed the wind of the river for a mile or so until +suddenly out of the darkness loomed a quaint little bungalow which the +old German claimed to be his home. + +"I haf architectured it mineself, unt make it built as I like it. You +vill come in unt shtop der night mit me," he said, as Wampus halted +the machine before the door. + +There was a little murmur of protest at this, for the house appeared +to be scarcely bigger than the automobile. But Uncle John pointed out, +sensibly enough, that they ought not to undertake an unknown road at +nighttime, and that Spotville, the town for which they were +headed, was still a long way off. The Major, moreover, had a vivid +recollection of his last night's bed upon the roof of the limousine, +where he had crept to escape rattlesnakes, and was in no mood to again +camp out in the open while they traveled in Arizona. So he advocated +accepting Dan'l's invitation. The girls, curious to know how so many +could be accommodated in the bungalow, withdrew all further objections +and stood upon the low, pergola-roofed porch while their host went +inside to light the lamps. + +They were really surprised at the cosy aspect of the place. Half the +one-story dwelling was devoted to a living room, furnished simply but +with modest taste. A big square table was littered with music, much +being in manuscript--thus proving Dan'l's assertion that he was +a composer. Benches were as numerous as chairs, and all were +well-cushioned with tanned skins as coverings. A few good prints were +on the walls and the aspect of the place was entirely agreeable to the +old man's guests. + +As the room was somewhat chilly he made a fire in the ample fireplace +and then with an air of pride exhibited to his visitors his tiny +kitchen, his own bedroom and a storeroom, which occupied the remainder +of the space in the bungalow. He told them he would prepare beds in +the living room for the girls, give his own room to Mr. Merrick and +Major Doyle, while he and Wampus would bunk in the storeroom. + +"I haf much blankets," he said; "dere vill be no troubles to keep +varm." + +Afterward they sat before the fire and by the dim lights of the +kerosene lamps chatted together of the day's adventures. + +Uncle John asked Dan'l what had brought him to this deserted, +out-of-the-way spot, and the old man told his story in a manner that +amused them all greatly. + +"I haf been," said he, "much famous in my time, unt had a +individualness pointed out whereeffer I went. I vas orchestra leader +at the Theater Royal in Stuttgart, unt our king haf complimented me +many times. But I vas foolish. I vas foolish enough to think that ven +a man iss great he can stay great. I married me to a clefer prima +donna, unt composed a great opera, which vas finer as anything +Herr Wagner has efer done. Eh? But dere vas jealousness at work to +opposition me. Von day ven my fine opera vas all complete I vent +to the theater to lead mine orchestra. To my surprisement der Herr +Director tells me I can retire on a pension; I am too old unt he has +hired a younger man, who iss Herr Gabert. I go home bewildered unt +mishappy, to find that Herr Gabert has stole the score of mine opera +unt run avay mit mine vife. Vot I can do? Nothing. Herr Gabert he lead +my orchestra tint all der people applauds him. I am forgot. One day I +see our king compliment Herr Gabert. He produces my opera unt say he +compositioned it. Eferybody iss crazy aboud id, unt crown Herr Gabert +mit flowers. My vife sings in der opera. The people cheer her unt she +rides avay mit Herr Gabert in his carriage to a grand supper mit der +nobility unt der Herr Director. + +"I go home unt say: 'Who am I?' I answer: 'Nobody!' Am I now great? +No; I am a speck. Vot can I do? Veil, I go avay. I haf some money--a +leedle. I come to America. I do not like crowds any more. I like to be +alone mit my violin. I find dis place; I build dis house; I lif here +unt make happiness. My only neighbors are de remittance men, who iss +more mischiefing as wicked. Dey vill nod bother me much. So after a +time I die here. Vy nod? I am forgot in Stuttgart." + +There was pathos in the tale and his way of telling it. The old man +spoke cheerfully, but they could see before them the tragedy depicted +by his simple words. His hearers were all silent when he had +concluded, feeling they could say nothing to console him or lighten +his burden. Only Wampus, sitting in the background, looked scornfully +upon the man who had once been the idol of his townspeople. + +Dan'l took a violin from a shelf and began to play, softly but with +masterly execution. He caught their mood instantly. The harmony was +restful and contented. Patsy turned down the lamps, to let the flicker +of the firelight dominate the room, and Dan'l understood and blended +the flickering light into his melody. + +For a long time he continued to improvise, in a way that fairly +captivated his hearers, despite their varied temperaments, and made +them wonder at his skill. Then without warning he changed to a +stirring, martial air that filled the room with its rich, resonant +tones. There was a fugue, a wonderful finale, and while the concluding +notes rang in their ears the old man laid his violin in his lap, +leaned back against his cushions and heaved a deep sigh. + +They forebore disturbing him for a while. How strange it seemed that +this really talented musician should be banished to a wilderness while +still possessing power to stir the souls of men with his marvelous +execution. Truly he was a "maestro," as he had said; a genius whose +star had risen, flashed across the sky and suddenly faded, leaving his +future a blank. + +Wampus moved uneasily in his chair. + +"I like to know something," he remarked. + +Dan'l roused himself and turned to look at the speaker. + +"You have one bad eye," continued Wampus, reflectively. "What make him +so? You stick violin bow in eye some day?" + +"No," grunted Dan'l. + +"Bad eye he no make himself," persisted the little chauffeur. "What +make him, then?" + +For a moment there was an awkward silence. The girls considered this +personal inquiry offensive and regretted admitting Wampus to the room. +But after a time the old German answered the question, quietly and in +a half amused tone. + +"Can you nod guess?" he said. "Herr Gabert hurt mine eye." + +"Oh!" exclaimed Wampus, nodding approvingly "You fight duel with him? +Of course. It mus' be." + +"I haf one goot eye left, howefer," continued Dan'l. "It vill do me +fery well. Dere iss nod much to see out here." + +"I know," said Wampus. "But Herr Gabert. What happen to him?" + +Again there was a pause. Then the German said slowly: + +"I am nod rich; but efery year I send a leetle money to Stuttgart to +put some flowers on Herr Gabert's grave." + +The chauffeur's face brightened. He got up from his chair and solemnly +shook Dan'l's hand. + +"You are great musician," he announced. "You can believe it, for it is +true. An' you have shake the hand of great chauffeur. I am Wampus." + +Dan'l did not answer. He had covered his good eye with his hand. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE LODGING AT SPOTVILLE + + +"Wake up, Patsy: I smell coffee!" called Beth, and soon the two girls +were dressed and assisting Myrtle to complete her toilet. Through the +open windows came the cool, fragrant breath of morning; the sky was +beginning to blush at the coming of the sun. + +"To think of our getting up at such unearthly hours!" cried Patsy +cheerfully. "But I don't mind it in the least, Beth; do you?" + +"I love the daybreak," returned Beth, softly. "We've wasted the best +hours of morning abed, Patsy, these many years." + +"But there's a difference," said Myrtle, earnestly. "I know the +daybreak in the city very well, for nearly all my life I have had to +rise in the dark in order to get my breakfast and be at work on time. +It is different from this, I assure you; especially in winter, when +the chill strikes through to your bones. Even in summer time the air +of the city is overheated and close, and the early mornings cheerless +and uncomfortable. Then I think it is best to stay in bed as long as +you can--if you have nothing else to do. But here, out in the open, it +seems a shame not to be up with the birds to breathe the scent of the +fields and watch the sun send his heralds ahead of him to proclaim his +coming and then climb from the bottomless pit into the sky and take +possession of it." + +"Why, Myrtle!" exclaimed Patsy, wonderingly; "what a poetic notion. +How did it get into your head, little one?" + +Myrtle's sweet face rivaled the sunrise for a moment. She made no +reply but only smiled pathetically. + +Uncle John's knock upon the door found them ready for breakfast, which +old Dan'l had skilfully prepared in the tiny kitchen and now placed +upon a round table set out upon the porch. By the time they had +finished the simple meal Wampus had had his coffee and prepared the +automobile for the day's journey. A few minutes later they said +good-bye to the aged musician and took the trail that led through +Spotville. + +The day's trip was without event. They encountered one or two Indians +on the way, jogging slowly along on their shaggy ponies; but the +creatures were mild and inoffensive. The road was fairly good and +they made excellent time, so that long before twilight Spotville +was reached and the party had taken possession of the one small and +primitive "hotel" the place afforded. It was a two-story, clapboarded +building, the lower floor being devoted to the bar and dining room, +while the second story was divided into box-like bedrooms none too +clean and very cheaply furnished. + +"I imagine we shall find this place 'the limit'," remarked Uncle John +ruefully. "But surely we shall be able to stand it for one night," he +added, with a philosophic sigh. + +"Want meat fer supper?" asked the landlord, a tall, gaunt man who +considered himself dressed when he was in his shirt sleeves. + +"What kind of meat?" inquired Uncle John, cautiously. + +"Kin give yeh fried pork er jerked beef. Ham 'a all out an' the +chickens is beginnin' to lay." + +"Eggs?" + +"Of course, stranger. Thet's the on'y thing Spotville chickens lay, +nowadays. I s'pose whar yeh come from they lay biscuits 'n' pork +chops." + +"No. Door knobs, sometimes," said Mr. Merrick, "but seldom pork chops. +Let's have eggs, and perhaps a little fried pork to go with them. Any +milk?" + +"Canned er fresh?" + +"Fresh preferred." + +The landlord looked at him steadily. + +"Yeh've come a long-way, stranger," he said, "an' yeh must 'a' spent a +lot of money, here 'n' there. Air yeh prepared to pay fer thet order +in solid cash?" + +Uncle John seemed startled, and looked at the Major, who smiled +delightedly. + +"Are such things expensive, sir?" the latter asked the landlord. + +"Why, we don't eat 'em ourselves, 'n' thet's a cold fact. Eggs is +eggs, an' brings forty cents a dozen to ship. There's seven cows +in town, 'n' forty-one babies, so yeh kin figger what fresh milk's +worth." + +"Perhaps," said Uncle John mildly, "we can stand the expense--if we +won't rob the babies." + +"Don't worry 'bout thet. The last autymobble folks as come this way +got hot because I charged 'em market prices fer the truck they et. So +I'm jest inquirin' beforehand, to save hard feelin's. I've found out +one thing 'bout autymobble folks sense I've ben runnin' this hoe-tel, +an' thet is thet a good many is ownin' machines thet oughter be payin' +their bills instid o' buyin' gasoline." + +The Major took him aside. He did not tell the cautious landlord that +Mr. Merrick was one of the wealthiest men in America, but he exhibited +a roll of bills that satisfied the man his demands would be paid in +full. + +The touring; party feasted upon eggs and fresh milk, both very +delicious but accompanied by odds and ends of food not so palatable. +The landlord's two daughters, sallow, sunken cheeked girls, waited on +the guests and the landlord's wife did the cooking. + +Beth, Patsy and Myrtle retired early, as did Uncle John. The Major, +smoking his "bedtime cigar," as he called it, strolled out into the +yard and saw Wampus seated in the automobile, also smoking. + +"We get an early start to-morrow, Wampus," said the Major. "Better get +to bed." + +"Here is my bed," returned the chauffeur, quietly. + +"But there's a room reserved for you in the hotel." + +"I know. Don't want him. I sleep me here." + +The Major looked at him reflectively. + +"Ever been in this town before, Wampus?" he asked. + +"No, sir. But I been in other towns like him, an' know this kind of +hotel. Then why do I sleep in front seat of motor car?" + +"Because you are foolish, I suppose, being born that way and unable +to escape your heritage. For my part, I shall sleep in a bed; like a +Christian," said the Major rather testily. + +"Even Christian cannot sleep sometime," returned Wampus, leaning back +in his seat and puffing a cloud of smoke into the clear night air. +"For me, I am good Christian; but I am not martyr." + +"What do you mean by that?" demanded the Major. + +"Do you sometime gamble?" inquired Wampus softly. + +"Not often, sir." + +"But sometime? Ah! Then I make you a bet. I bet you ten dollar to one +cent you not sleep in your bed to-night." + +The Major coughed. Then he frowned. + +"Is it so bad as that?" he asked. + +"I think he is." + +"I'll not believe it!" exclaimed Major Doyle. "This hotel isn't what +you might call first-class, and can't rank with the Waldorf-Astoria; +but I imagine the beds will be very comfortable." + +"Once," said Wampus, "I have imagination, too. Now I have experience; +so I sleep in automobile." + +The Major walked away with an exclamation of impatience. He had never +possessed much confidence in the Canadian's judgment and on this +occasion he considered the fellow little wiser than a fool. + +Wampus rolled himself in a rug and was about to stretch his moderate +length upon the broad double seat when a pattering of footsteps was +heard and Beth came up to the car. She was wrapped in a dark cloak +and carried a bundle of clothing under one arm and her satchel in the +unoccupied hand. There was a new moon which dimly lighted the scene, +but as all the townspeople were now in bed and the hotel yard deserted +there was no one to remark upon the girl's appearance. + +"Wampus," she said, "let me into the limousine, please. The night is +so perfect I've decided to sleep here in the car." + +The chauffeur jumped down and opened the door. + +"One moment an' I make up the beds for all," he said. + +"Never mind that," Beth answered. "The others are all asleep, I'm +sure." + +Wampus shook his head. + +"They all be here pretty soon," he predicted, and proceeded to deftly +prepare the interior of the limousine for the expected party. When +Beth had entered the car Wampus pitched the lean-to tent and arranged +the cots as he was accustomed to do when they "camped out." + +Scarcely had he completed this task when Patsy and Myrtle appeared. +They began to explain their presence, but Wampus interrupted them, +saying: + +"All right, Miss Patsy an' Miss Myrtle. Your beds he made up an' Miss +'Lizbeth already asleep in him." + +So they crept inside with sighs of relief, and Wampus had just mounted +to the front seat again and disposed himself to rest when Uncle John +trotted up, clad in his trousers and shirt, with the balance of his +apparel clasped in his arms. He looked at the tent with pleased +approval. + +"Good boy, Wampus!" he exclaimed. "That room they gave me is an +inferno. I'm afraid our young ladies won't sleep a wink." + +"Oh, yes," returned Wampus with a nod; "all three now inside car, safe +an' happy." + +"I'm glad of it. How was your own room, Wampus?" + +"I have not seen him, sir. But I have suspect him; so I sleep here." + +"You are a wise chauffeur--a rare genus, in other words. Good night, +Wampus. Where's the Major?" + +Wampus chuckled. + +"In hotel. Sir, do the Major swear sometime?" + +Uncle John crept under the tent. + +"If he does," he responded, "he's swearing this blessed minute. +Anyhow, I'll guarantee he's not asleep." + +Wampus again mounted to his perch. + +"No use my try to sleep 'til Major he come," he muttered, and settled +himself to wait. + +It was not long. + +Presently some one approached on a run, and a broad grin overspread +the chauffeur's features. The Major had not delayed his escape long +enough to don his trousers even; he had grabbed his belongings in both +arms and fled in his blue and white striped undergarments. + +Wampus leaped down and lifted the flap of the tent. The Major paused +long enough in the moonlight to stare at the chauffeur and say +sternly: + +"If you utter one syllable, you rascal, I'll punch your head!" + +Wampus was discreet. He said not a word. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +YELLOW POPPIES + + +"So this is California!" exclaimed Patsy gleefully, as the automobile +left Parker and crossed the Arizona line. + +"But it doesn't look any different," said Myrtle, peering out of the +window. + +"Of course not," observed Uncle John. "A State boundary is a man-made +thing, and doesn't affect the country a bit. We've just climbed a +miniature mountain back in Arizona, and now we must climb a mate to +it in California. But the fact is, we've entered at last the Land of +Enchantment, and every mile now will bring us nearer and nearer to the +roses and sunshine." + +"There's sunshine here now," declared the Major. "We've had it right +along. But I haven't seen the roses yet, and a pair of ear muffs +wouldn't be uncomfortable in this cutting breeze." + +"The air _is_ rather crisp," admitted Uncle John. "But we're still in +the mountainous district, and Haggerty says--" + +The Major coughed derisively and Mumbles barked and looked at Uncle +John sagaciously. + +"Haggerty says--" + +"Is that a rabbit or a squirrel? Something has caught the eye of our +Mumbles," interrupted the Major, pointing vaguely across the mesa. + +"Haggerty says--" + +"I wonder if Mumbles could catch 'em," remarked the Major, with +complacence. + +"He says that every mile we travel brings us nearer the scent of the +orange blossoms and the glare of the yellow poppies," persisted Uncle +John. "You see, we've taken the Southern route, after all, for soon we +shall be on the Imperial road, which leads to San Diego--in the heart +of the gorgeous Southland." + +"What is the Imperial road?" inquired Beth. + +"The turnpike through Imperial Valley, said to be the richest bit of +land in all the world, not excepting the famous Nile banks of Egypt. +There is no railway there yet, but the Valley is settling very fast, +and Haggerty says--" + +"How remarkable!" exclaimed the Major, gazing straight ahead. And +again Mumbles, curled in Patsy's lap, lifted his shaggy head and gave +a wailing bark. + +Uncle John frowned, but was loyal to Haggerty. + +"He says that if America was now unknown to all the countries of the +world, Imperial would soon make it famous. They grow wonderful crops +there--strawberries and melons the year around, as well as all the +tropical and semi-tropical fruits and grains, flowers and vines known +to any country yet discovered." + +"Do we go to Imperial?" asked Myrtle, eagerly. + +"I think not, my dear; we just skirt the edge of the Valley. It's +rather wild and primitive there yet; for although many settlers are +flocking to that favored district Imperial is large enough to be an +empire by itself. However, we shall find an ideal climate at Coronado, +by the edge of the blue Pacific, and there and at Los Angeles we shall +rest from our journey and get acquainted with the wonders of the +Golden State. Has the trip tired you, girls?" + +"Not me," answered Beth, promptly. "I've enjoyed every mile of the +way." + +"And so have I," added Patsy; "except perhaps the adventure with the +remittance men. But I wouldn't care to have missed even that, for it +led to our acquaintance with old Dan'l." + +"For my part," said Myrtle softly, "I've been in a real fairyland. It +has seemed like a dream to me, all this glorious journey, and I shall +hate to wake up, as I must in time." + +"Don't worry just yet about the awakening, dear," returned Patsy, +leaning over to kiss her little friend. "Just enjoy it while you can. +If fairylands exist, they were made for just such as you, Myrtle." + +"One of the greatest marvels of our trip," said the Major, with a +smile, "is the improvement in our dear little invalid. It isn't the +same Myrtle who started out with us, believe me. Can't you all see the +change?" + +"I can _feel_ it," returned Myrtle, happily. "And don't you notice how +well I walk, and how little use I have now for the crutches?" + +"And can you feel the rosy cheeks and bright eyes, too?" asked Uncle +John, regarding her with much satisfaction. + +"The trip was just the thing for Myrtle," added Patsy. "She has grown +stronger every day; but she is not quite well yet, you know, and I +depend a good deal upon the genial climate of California to insure her +complete recovery." + +Uncle John did not reply. He remembered the doctor's assertion that a +painful operation would be necessary to finally restore Myrtle to a +normal condition, and his kindly heart disliked to reflect upon the +ordeal before the poor girl. + +Haggerty proved a prophet, after all. Each mile they covered opened +new vistas of delight to the eager travelers. The air grew more balmy +as they left the high altitudes and came upon the level country to +the north, of the San Bernardino range of mountains, nor was it +long before they sighted Imperial and sped through miles of country +carpeted with the splendid yellow poppies which the State has adopted +as the emblems of California. And behind this golden robe loomed the +cotton fields of Imperial, one of the most fascinating sights the +traveler may encounter. They made a curve to the right here, and +headed northerly until they came to Salton. Skirting the edge of the +curious Salton Sea they now headed directly west toward Escondido, +finding the roads remarkably good and for long stretches as smooth and +hard as an asphalt boulevard. The three days it took them to cross the +State were days of wonder and delight. + +It was not long before they encountered the roses and carnations +growing on every side, which the Major had persistently declared to be +mythical. + +"It seems all wrong," asserted Patsy's father, moodily, "for such +delicate flowers to be growing out of doors in midwinter. And look at +the grass! Why, the seasons are changed about. It's Springtime just +now in California." + +"The man at the last stop we made told me his roses bloomed the year +round," said Patsy, "And just smell the orange blossoms, will you! +Aren't they sweet, and don't they remind you of brides?" + +From Escondido it was a short run to the sea and their first glimpse +of the majestic Pacific was from a high bluff overhanging the water. +From this point the road ran south to San Diego, skirting the coast +along a mountain trail that is admitted to be one of the most +picturesque rides in America. + +Descending the hills as they neared San Diego they passed through +fields of splendid wild flowers so extensive and beautiful that +our girls fairly gasped in wonder. The yellow and orange poppies +predominated, but there were acres of wild mustard throwing countless +numbers of gorgeous saffron spikes skyward, and vistas of blue +carconnes, white daisies and blood-red delandres. The yucca was in +bloom, too, and added its mammoth flower to the display. + +They did not halt at San Diego, the southernmost city of California, +from whence the Mexican line is in plain sight, but drove to the bay, +where Wampus guided the limousine on to the big ferryboat bound for +Coronado. They all left the car during the brief voyage and watched +the porpoises sporting in the clear water of the bay and gazed +abstractedly at the waving palms on the opposite shore, where lies +nestled "the Crown of the Pacific"--Coronado. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE SILENT MAN + + +Even the Major smiled benignantly when he reached his appointed room +in the magnificent Hotel del Coronado, which is famed throughout the +world. + +"This," said he, "reminds me of New York; and it's the first thing +that has, since I left home." + +"Why, Daddy, it isn't like New York at all," protested Patsy, standing +beside him at the broad window overlooking the ocean. "Did you ever +see a palm tree waving in New York; or daisy bushes as tall as a man; +or such masses of roses and flowering vines? And then just notice the +mountains over there--they're in Mexico, I'm told--and this great +headland in the other direction; it's called Point Loma. Oh, I never +imagined any place could be so beautiful!" + +The others were equally excited, and Uncle John said, smiling broadly: + +"Well, we're here at last, my dears, and I'm sure we are already well +paid for our trip across the continent. What pleasant rooms these are. +If the hotel table is at all to be compared with the house itself we +shall have a happy time here, which means we will stay as long as +possible." + +But the table was another surprise, for the meals were equal to any +served in the great Eastern metropolis. Uncle John complimented the +landlord, a cheery faced, fat little man who had at one time managed +a famous New York hotel and had brought his talents and experience to +far California. + +"I'm sorry," said this gentle boniface, "that I could not reserve +better rooms for you--for there are some choice views from some +locations. I had a corner suite saved for your party, a suite I +consider the most desirable in the hotel; but an eccentric individual +arrived yesterday who demanded the entire suite, and I had to let him +have it. He will not stay long, and as soon as he goes you shall have +the rooms." + +"Who is he?" asked Uncle John. + +"A rich miner; a most melancholy and peculiar person, by the way," +replied landlord Ross. "I believe his name is Jones." + +Mr. Merrick started. + +"Jones, and a miner?" he said. "What's his other name--Anson?" + +"We'll look and see," replied Mr. Ross, turning to the hotel register. +"No; not Anson. He is registered as C.B. Jones, of Boston." + +"Oh; that's not the Jones at all," said Uncle John, disappointed. + +"It's the Jones who is our guest," replied the landlord, smiling. + +Meantime the three girls had gone for a walk along the coast. The +beach is beautiful at Coronado. There is a high sea wall of rock, and +the path runs along its edge almost the length of the promontory. The +rocks are sloping, however, and it is not very difficult to climb down +them to where the waves break against the wall. + +Near the hotel they met straggling groups, strolling in either +direction, but half a mile away the promenade was practically +deserted. It was beginning to grow dark, and Beth said, regretfully: + +"We must get back, girls, and dress for dinner--an unusual luxury, +isn't it? Our trunks arrived at the hotel two weeks ago, and are now +in our rooms, doubtless, awaiting us to unpack them." + +"Don't let's return just yet," begged Myrtle. "I want to see the sun +set." + +"It will be gorgeous," said Patsy, glancing at the sky; "but we can +see it from our windows, and as we're a long way from the hotel now I +believe Beth's suggestion is wise." + +So they began to retrace their steps. Myrtle still walked with some +difficulty, and they had not proceeded far when Beth exclaimed: + +"Look at that man down there!" + +Her companions followed her direction and saw standing upon a huge +pile of rocks at the water's edge a slight, solitary figure. Something +in the poise, as he leaned forward staring at the darkened waves--for +the sun was low and cast shadows aslant the water--struck Myrtle as +familiar. + +"Oh, girls!" she exclaimed; "it's the Grand Canyon man." + +"Why, I believe it is," agreed Patsy. "What is he doing?" + +"Nothing," said Beth, briefly. "But he is going to do something, I +think." + +While they stared at him from their elevation the man straightened an +instant and cast a hasty glance to either side. The place seemed to +him deserted, for he failed to observe the group of three intently +watching his motions from the high bank overhead. Next moment he +turned back to the water and leaned over the edge of rock again. + +"Don't!" cried Myrtle, her clear voice ringing over the lap of the +waves; "please don't!" + +He swung around and turned his gaunt features upward to where the +young girl leaned upon her crutches, with clasped hands and a look of +distress upon her sweet face. + +"Don't!" she repeated, pleadingly. + +He passed his hand over his eyes with a very weary gesture and looked +at Myrtle again--this time quite steadily. She was trembling in every +limb and her cheeks were white with fear. + +Slowly--very slowly--the man turned and began to climb the rocks; not +directly upward to where the girls stood, but diagonally, so as to +reach the walk some distance ahead of them. They did not move until he +had gained the path and turned toward the hotel. Then they followed +and kept him in sight until he reached the entrance to the court and +disappeared within. + +"I wonder," said Patsy, as they made their way to their rooms, +"whether he really was thinking of plunging into the ocean; or whether +that time at the Grand Canyon he had a notion of jumping into the +chasm." + +"If so," added Beth, "Myrtle has saved his life twice. But she can't +be always near to watch the man, and if he has suicidal intentions, +he'll make an end of himself, sooner or later, without a doubt." + +"Perhaps," said Myrtle, hesitatingly, "I am quite wrong, and the +strange man had no intention of doing himself an injury. But each time +I obeyed an impulse that compelled me to cry out; and afterward I have +been much ashamed of my forwardness." + +They did not see the melancholy man at dinner; but afterward, in the +spacious lobby, they discovered him sitting in a far corner reading a +magazine. He seemed intent on this occupation and paid no attention to +the life around him. The girls called Uncle John's attention to him, +and Mr. Merrick at once recognized him as the same individual they had +met at the Grand Canyon. + +"But I am not especially pleased to encounter him again," he said with +a slight frown; "for, if I remember aright, he acted very rudely to +Myrtle and proved unsociable when I made overtures and spoke to him." + +"I wonder who he is?" mused Patsy, watching the weary, haggard +features as his eyes slowly followed the lines of his magazine. + +"I'll inquire and find out," replied her uncle. + +The cherubic landlord was just then pacing up and down the lobby, +pausing here and there to interchange a word with his guests. Uncle +John approached him and said: + +"Can you tell me, Mr. Ross, who the gentleman is in the corner?" + +The landlord looked around at the corner and smiled. + +"That," said he, "is the gentleman we spoke of this afternoon--Mr. +C.B. Jones--the man who usurped the rooms intended for you." + +"Rooms?" repeated Uncle John. "Has he a large party, then?" + +"He is alone; that is the queer part of it," returned the landlord. +"Nor has he much baggage. But he liked the suite--a parlor with five +rooms opening out of it--and insisted upon having them all, despite +the fact that it is one of the most expensive suites in the hotel. I +said he was eccentric, did I not?" + +"You were justified," said Mr. Merrick, thought fully. "Thank you, +sir, for the information." + +Even as he rejoined the girls, who were seated together upon a broad +divan, the man arose, laid down his magazine and came slowly down +the room, evidently headed for the elevator. But with a start he +recognized the girl who had accosted him on the beach, and the others +with her, and for an instant came to a full stop before the group, his +sad eyes fixed intently upon Myrtle's face. + +The situation was a bit awkward, and to relieve it Uncle John remarked +in his cheery voice: + +"Well, Mr. Jones, we meet again, you see." + +The man turned slowly and faced him; then bowed in a mechanical way +and proceeded to the elevator, into which he disappeared. + +Naturally Uncle John was indignant. + +"Confound the fellow!" he exclaimed. "He's worse than a boor. But +perhaps his early education was neglected." + +"Did you call him Mr. Jones, sir?" asked Myrtle in a voice that +trembled with excitement. + +"Yes, my dear; but it is not your Uncle Anson. I've inquired about +him. The Joneses are pretty thick, wherever you go; but I hope not +many are like this fellow." + +"Something's wrong with him," declared Patsy. "He's had some sad +bereavement--a great blow of some sort--and it has made him somber and +melancholy. He doesn't seem to know he acts rudely. You can tell by +the man's eyes that he is unhappy." + +"His eyes have neither color nor expression," remarked Beth. "At his +best, this Mr. Jones must have been an undesirable acquaintance." + +"You can't be sure of that," returned Patsy; "and I'm positive my +theory is correct. More and more am I inclined to agree with Myrtle +that he is disgusted with life, and longs to end it." + +"Let him, then," retorted Uncle John. "I'm sure such a person is of no +use to the world, and if he doesn't like himself he's better out of +it." + +That kindly Mr. Merrick should give vent to such a heartless speech +proved how much annoyed he had been by Mr. Jones' discourtesy. + +"He might be reclaimed, and--and comforted," said Myrtle, softly. +"When I think of the happiness you have brought into my life, sir, I +long to express my gratitude by making some one else happy." + +"You're doing it, little one," he answered, pinching her cheek. "If +we've brought a bit of sunshine into your life we've reaped an ample +reward in your companionship. But if you can find a way to comfort +that man Jones, and fetch him out of his dumps, you are certainly a +more wonderful fairy than I've given you credit for." + +Myrtle did not reply to this, although it pleased her. She presently +pleaded weariness and asked permission to return to her room. Beth +and Patsy wanted to go into the great domed ballroom and watch the +dancing; so Myrtle bade them good night and ascended by the elevator +to her floor. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +"THREE TIMES" + + +Softly stepping over the thick carpets, which deadened the sound of +the crutches--now becoming scarcely necessary to her--the young girl +passed along the corridor, passing angles and turns innumerable on her +way to her room. Some erratic architect certainly concocted the +plan of the Hotel del Coronado. It is a very labyrinth of passages +connecting; its nine hundred rooms, and one has to have a good bump of +location to avoid getting lost in its mazes. + +Near one of the abrupt turns a door stood ajar, and in passing Myrtle +glanced in, and then paused involuntarily. It was a small parlor, +prettily furnished, and in a big chair reclined a man whose hands were +both pressed tight against his face, thus covering it completely. But +Myrtle knew him. The thin frame, as well as the despairing attitude, +marked him as the man who had come so strangely into her life and +whose personality affected her so strangely. She now stood in the +dimly lighted corridor looking in upon him with infinite pity, and as +she looked her glance fell upon the table beside him, where something +bright glittered beneath the electric lamps. + +Her heart gave a sudden thump of mingled fear and dismay. She knew +intuitively what that "something" was. "Let him," Uncle John had said; +but Myrtle instantly determined _not_ to let him. + +She hesitated a moment; but seeing that the man remained motionless, +his eyes still covered, as if lost to all his surroundings, she softly +crept forward and entered the room. She held the crutches under her +arms, but dared not use them for fear of making a noise. Step by step +she stole forward until the table was within reach. Then she stretched +out her hand, seized the revolver, and hid it in the folds of her +blouse. + +Turning for a final glance at the man she was startled to find he had +removed his hands and was steadfastly regarding her. + +Myrtle leaned heavily on her crutches. She felt faint and miserable, +like a criminal caught in the act. As her eyes fell before the intent +gaze her face turned scarlet with humiliation and chagrin. Still, she +did not attempt to escape, the idea not occurring to her; so for a +time the tableau was picturesque--the lame girl standing motionless +with downcast eyes and the man fixedly staring at her. + +"Three times!" he slowly said, in a voice finally stirred by a trace +of emotion. "Three times. My child, why are you so persistent?" + +Myrtle tried to be brave and meet his gaze. It was not quite so +difficult now the silent man had spoken. + +"Why do you force me to be persistent?" she asked, a tremor in her +voice. "Why are you determined to--to--" + +Words failed her, but he nodded to show he understood. + +"Because," said he, "I am tired; very tired, my child. It's a big +world; too big, in fact; but there's nothing in it for me any more." + +There was expression enough in his voice now; expression of utter +despondency. + +"Why?" asked Myrtle, somewhat frightened to find herself so bold. + +He did not answer for a long time, but sat reading her mobile face +until a gentler look came into his hard blue eyes. + +"It is a story too sad for young ears," he finally replied. "Perhaps, +too, you would not understand it, not knowing or understanding me. I'm +an odd sort of man, well along in years, and I've lived an odd sort +of life. But my story, such as it is, has ended, and I'm too weary to +begin another volume." + +"Oh, no!" exclaimed Myrtle, earnestly. "Surely this cannot be the +fulfillment and end of your life. If it were, why should _I_ come into +your life just now?" + +He stared at her with a surprised--an even startled--look. + +"Have you come into my life?" he inquired, in a low, curious tone. + +"Haven't I?" she returned. "At the Grand Canyon--" + +"I know," he interrupted hastily. "That was your mistake; and mine. +You should not have interfered. I should not have let you interfere." + +"But I did," said Myrtle. + +"Yes. Somehow your voice sounded like a command, and I obeyed it; +perhaps because no living person has a right to command me. You--you +took me by surprise." + +He passed his hand over his eyes with that weary gesture peculiar to +him, and then fell silent. + +Myrtle had remained standing. She did not know what to do in this +emergency, or what more to say. The conversation could not be ended in +this summary fashion. The hopeless man needed her in some way; how, +she did not know. Feeling weak and very incompetent to meet the +important crisis properly, the girl crept to a chair opposite the man +and sank into it. Then she leaned her chin upon her hand and looked +pleadingly at her strange acquaintance. He met her eyes frankly. +The hard look in his own seemed to have disappeared, dispelled by a +sympathy that was new to him. + +And so they sat, regarding one another silently yet musingly, for a +long time. + +"I wish," said Myrtle once, in her softest, sweetest tones, "I could +help you. Some one helped me when I was in great trouble, so I want to +help you." + +He did not reply, and another period of silence ensued. But his next +speech showed he had been considering her words. + +"Because you have suffered," he said, "you have compassion for others +who suffer. But your trouble is over now?" + +"Almost," she said, smiling brightly. + +He sighed, but questioned her no farther. + +"A while ago," she volunteered, "I had neither friends nor relatives." +He gave her a queer look, then. "I had no money. I had been hurt in an +accident and was almost helpless. But I did not despair, sir--and I am +only an inexperienced girl. + +"In my darkest hour I found friends--kind, loving friends--who showed +me a new world that I had not suspected was in existence. I think +the world is like a great mirror," she continued, meditatively, "and +reflects our lives just as we ourselves look upon it. Those who turn +sad faces toward the world find only sadness reflected. But a smile is +reflected in the same way, and cheers and brightens our hearts. You +think there is no pleasure to be had in life. That is because you are +heartsick and--and tired, as you say. With one sad story ended you are +afraid to begin another--a sequel--feeling it would be equally sad. +But why should it be? Isn't the joy or sorrow equally divided in +life?" + +"No," he replied. + +"A few days ago," she continued earnestly, "we were crossing the +Arizona deserts. It was not pleasant, but we did not despair, for +we knew the world is not all desert and that the land of roses and +sunshine lay just beyond. Now that we're in California we've forgotten +the dreary desert. But you--Why, sir, you've just crossed your desert, +and you believe all the world is bitter and cruel and holds no joy for +you! Why don't you step out bravely into the roses and sunshine of +life, and find the joy that has been denied you?" + +He looked into her eyes almost fearfully, but it seemed to her that +his own held a first glimmer of hope. + +"Do you believe there can be joy for me anywhere in the world?" he +asked. + +"Of course. I tell you there's just as much sweet as there is bitter +in life. Don't I know it? Haven't I proved it? But happiness doesn't +chase people who try to hide from it. It will meet you halfway, but +you've got to do your share to deserve it. I'm not preaching; I've +lived this all out, in my own experience, and know what I'm talking +about. Now as for you, sir, I can see very plainly you haven't been +doing your duty. You've met sorrow and let it conquer you. You've +taken melancholy by the hand and won't let go of it. You haven't tried +to fight for your rights--the rights God gave to every man and expects +him to hold fast to and take advantage of. No, indeed!" + +"But what is the use?" he asked, timidly, yet with an eager look in +his face. "You are young, my child; I am nearly old enough to have +been your father. There are things you have not yet learned; things I +hope you will never learn. An oak may stand alone in a field, and be +lonely because it cannot touch boughs with another. A flower may bloom +alone in a garden, and wither and die for want of companionship. God's +wisdom grouped every living thing. He gave Adam a comrade. He created +no solitary thing. But see, my child: although this world contains +countless thousands, there is not one among them I may call my +friend." + +"Oh, yes; just one!" said Myrtle quickly. "I am your friend. Not +because you want me, but because you need me. And that's a beginning, +isn't it? I can find other friends for you, among _my_ friends, and +you will be sure to like them because I like them." + +This naive suggestion did not affect him as much as the fact that this +fair young girl had confessed herself his friend. He did not look at +Myrtle now; he stared straight ahead, at the wall paper, and his brow +was furrowed as if he was thinking deeply. + +Perhaps any other man would have thanked the girl for her sympathy and +her proffered friendship, or at the least have acknowledged it. But +not so this queer Mr. Jones; eccentric, indeed, as the shrewd landlord +had described him. Nor did Myrtle seem to expect an acknowledgment. +It was enough for her that her speech had set him thinking along new +lines. + +He sat musing for so long that she finally remembered it was growing +late, and began to fear Patsy and Beth would seek their rooms, which +connected with her own, and find her absent. That would worry them. So +at last she rose softly, took her crutches and turned to go. + +"Good night, my--friend," she said. + +"Good night, my child," he answered in a mechanical tone, without +rousing from his abstraction. + +Myrtle went to her room and found it was not so late as she had +feared. She opened a drawer and placed the revolver in it, not without +a little shudder. + +"At any rate," she murmured, with satisfaction, "he will not use this +to-night." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +ON POINT LOMA + + +Next morning a beautiful bunch of roses was brought to Myrtle's +room--roses so magnificent that it seemed impossible they could be +grown out of doors. But there are few hothouses in California, and the +boy who brought the flowers confided to her the information that they +were selected from more than five hundred blooms. She ran to show them +to Patsy and Beth, who were amazed not only by the roses but by the +fact that the queer Mr. Jones had sent them to Myrtle. There was no +card or note accompanying the gift, but after the younger girl had +related her conversation with Mr. Jones the previous evening, they +could not doubt but he had sent the flowers. + +"Perhaps," reflected Patsy, "we've been misjudging him. I never beheld +such a stolid, unimpressive countenance in my life; but the man must +have a soul of some sort, or he would not think of sending flowers to +his new friend." + +"It's a pretty idea," said Beth. "He wanted to assure Myrtle that he +appreciated her kindness." + +"I'm sure he likes me," declared Myrtle, simply. "He wasn't a bit +cross when I ran in and took away his pistol, or when I preached to +him. I really gave him a good talking to, and he didn't object a bit." + +"What he needs," commented Beth, "is to get away from himself, and +mingle with people more. I wonder if we could coax him to join us in +our ride to Point Loma." + +"Would we care to ask him?" said Patsy. "He's as sour and crabbed in +looks as he is in disposition, and has treated Uncle John's advances +shamefully. I'd like to help Myrtle bring the old fellow back to life; +but perhaps we can find an easier way than to shut him up with us in +an automobile." + +"He wouldn't go, I'm sure," declared Myrtle. "He has mellowed a +little--a very little--as these roses prove. But he treated me last +night just as he does Mr. Merrick, even after our conversation. When +I said 'Good night' I had to wait a long time for his answer. But I'd +like you to meet him and help cheer him up; so please let me introduce +him, if there's a chance, and do be nice to him." + +"I declare," cried Patsy, laughing, "Myrtle has assumed an air of +proprietorship over the Sad One already." + +"She has a right to, for she saved his life," said Beth. + +"Three times," Myrtle added proudly. "He told me so himself." + +Uncle John heard the story of Myrtle's adventure with considerable +surprise, and he too expressed a wish to aid her in winning Mr. Jones +from his melancholy mood. + +"Every man is queer in one way or another," said he, "and I'd say the +women were, too, if you females were not listening. I also imagine a +very rich man has the right to be eccentric, if it pleases him." + +"Is Mr. Jones rich, then?" inquired Beth. + +"According to the landlord he's rich as Croesus. Made his money in +mining--manipulating stocks, I suppose. But evidently his wealth +hasn't been a comfort to him, or he wouldn't want to shuffle off his +mortal coil and leave it behind" + +They did not see the object of this conversation before leaving for +the trip to Point Loma--a promontory that juts out far into the +Pacific. It is reached by a superb macadamized boulevard, which passes +down the north edge of the promontory, rounds the corner where stands +the lighthouse, and comes back along the southern edge, all the time a +hundred feet or more in elevation above the ocean. + +The view from the Point is unsurpassed. Wampus stopped his car beside +a handsomely appointed automobile that was just then deserted. + +"Some one is here before us," remarked Patsy. "But that is not +strange. The wonder is that crowds are not here perpetually." + +"It is said," related the Major, who had really begun to enjoy +California, "that the view from this Point includes more varied +scenery than any other that is known in the world. Here we see the +grand San Bernardino range of mountains; the Spanish Bight on the +Mexican shore; the pretty city of San Diego climbing its hills, with +the placid bay in front, where float the warships of the Pacific +Squadron; the broad stretch of orange and lemon groves, hedged with +towering palm trees; Santa Catalina and the Coronado Islands; the blue +Pacific rolling in front and rugged Loma with its rocky cliffs behind. +What more could we ask to see from any one viewpoint?" + +"Don't forget the monster hotel, with its hundred towers and gables, +dominating the strip of land between the bay and the ocean," added +Beth. "How near it seems, and yet it is many miles away." + +Some one had told them that moonstones were to be found on the beach +at the base of the cliff; so they all climbed down the steep path, +followed by Mumbles, who had not perceptibly grown in size during the +trip but had acquired an adventurous disposition which, coupled with +his native inquisitiveness, frequently led him into trouble. + +Now, when they had reached the narrow beach, Mumbles ran ahead, passed +around the corner of a cliff that almost touched the water, and was +presently heard barking furiously. + +"Sounds as if he scented game," said Patsy. + +"A turtle, perhaps, or a big fish washed ashore," suggested the Major. + +But now the small dog's voice changed suddenly and became a succession +of yelps expressing mingled pain and terror. + +"Oh, he's hurt!" cried Myrtle; and they all hurried forward, Uncle +John leading them on a run, and passed around the big rock to rescue +their pet. + +Some one was before them, however. The foolish dog had found a huge +crab in the sand and, barking loudly, had pushed his muzzle against +the creature, with the result that the crab seized his black nose in +a gripping claw and pinched as hard as it was able. Mumbles tried to +back away, madly howling the while; but the crab, although the smaller +antagonist, gripped a rock with its other claw and held on, anchoring +the terrified dog to the spot. + +But help was at hand. A tall, thin man hurried to the rescue, and just +as Uncle John came in sight, leading his procession, a knife severed +the crab's claw and Mumbles was free. Seeing his mistress, the puppy, +still whining with pain, hurried to her for comfort, while Uncle John +turned to the man and said: + +"Thank you, Mr. Jones, for assisting our poor beast. Mumbles is an +Eastern dog, you know, and inexperienced in dealing with crabs." + +Mr. Jones was examining the claw, the despoiled owner of which had +quickly slid into the water. + +"It is a species of crawfish," he observed, meditatively. Then, seeing +the girls approach, he straightened up and rather awkwardly lifted his +hat. + +The gesture surprised them all. Heretofore, when they had met, the man +had merely stared and turned away, now his attempt at courtesy was +startling because unexpected. + +Myrtle came close to his side. + +"How nice to find you here, Mr. Jones," she said brightly. "And oh, I +must thank you for my lovely roses." + +He watched her face with evident interest and it seemed that his own +countenance had become less haggard and sad than formerly. + +"Let me introduce my friends," said the girl, with sudden recollection +of her duty. "This is Mr. Merrick, my good friend and benefactor; and +this is Major Doyle and his daughter Miss Patricia Doyle, both of whom +have the kindest hearts in the world; Miss Beth De Graf, Mr. Merrick's +niece, has watched over and cared for me like a sister, and--oh, I +forgot; Miss Patsy is Mr. Merrick's niece, too. So now you know them +all." + +The man nodded briefly his acknowledgment. + +"You--you are Mr. Jones, I believe, of--of Boston?" + +"Once of Boston," he repeated mechanically. Then he looked at her and +added: "Go on." + +"Why--what--I don't understand," she faltered. "Have I overlooked +anyone?" + +"Only yourself," he said. + +"Oh; but I--I met you last night." + +"You did not tell me your name," he reminded her. + +"I'm Myrtle," she replied, smiling in her relief. "Myrtle Dean." + +"Myrtle Dean!" His voice was harsh; almost a shout. + +"Myrtle Dean. And I--I'm from Chicago; but I don't live there any +more." + +He stood motionless, looking at the girl with a fixed expression that +embarrassed her and caused her to glance appealingly at Patsy. Her +friend understood and came to her rescue with some inconsequent remark +about poor Mumbles, who was still moaning and rubbing; his pinched +nose against Patsy's chin to ease the pain. + +Mr. Jones paid little heed to Miss Doyle's observation, but as Myrtle +tried to hide behind Beth Mr. Merrick took the situation in hand by +drawing the man's attention to the scenery, and afterward inquiring if +he was searching for moonstones. + +The conversation now became general, except that Mr. Jones remained +practically silent He seemed to try to interest himself in the chatter +around him, but always his eyes would stray to Myrtle's face and hold +her until she found an opportunity to turn away. + +"We've luncheon in the car," announced Uncle John, after a time. +"Won't you join us, Mr. Jones?" + +"Yes," was the unconventional reply. The man was undoubtedly +abstracted and did not know he was rude. He quietly followed them up +the rocks and when they reached the automobile remained by Myrtle's +side while Wampus brought out the lunch basket and Beth and Patsy +spread the cloth upon the grass and unpacked the hamper. + +Mr. Jones ate merely a mouthful, but he evidently endeavored to follow +the conversation and take an interest in what was said. He finally +became conscious that his continuous gaze distressed Myrtle, and +thereafter strove to keep his eyes from her face. They would creep +back to it, from time to time; but Beth, who was watching him +curiously, concluded he was making a serious effort to deport himself +agreeably and credited him with a decided improvement in manners as +their acquaintance with him progressed. + +After luncheon, when their return by way of Old Town and the Spanish +Mission was proposed, Mr. Jones said, pointing to the car that stood +beside their own: + +"This is my automobile. I drive it myself. I would like Myrtle Dean to +ride back with me." + +The girl hesitated, but quickly deciding she must not retreat, now she +had practically begun the misanthrope's reformation, she replied: + +"I will be very glad to. But won't you take one of my friends, also? +That will divide the party more evenly." + +He looked down at his feet, thoughtfully considering the proposition. + +"I'll go with you," said Beth, promptly. "Get into the front seat with +Mr. Jones, Myrtle, and I'll ride behind." + +The man made no protest. He merely lifted Myrtle in his arms and +gently placed her in the front seat. Beth, much amused, took the seat +behind, unassisted save that the Major opened the door for her. Mr. +Jones evidently understood his car. Starting the engines without +effort he took his place at the wheel and with a nod to Mr. Merrick +said: + +"Lead on, sir; I will follow." + +Wampus started away. He was displeased with the other car. It did +not suit him at all. And aside from the fact that the sour-faced +individual who owned it had taken away two of Wampus' own passengers, +the small shaggy Mumbles, who had been the established companion of +Uncle John's chauffeur throughout all the long journey, suddenly +deserted him. He whined to go with the other car, and when Patsy +lifted him aboard he curled down beside the stranger as if thoroughly +satisfied. Patsy knew why, and was amused that Mumbles showed his +gratitude to Mr. Jones for rescuing him from the crab; but Wampus +scowled and was distinctly unhappy all the way to Old Town. + +"Him mebbe fine gentleman," muttered the Canadian to the Major; "but +if so he make a disguise of it. Once I knew a dog thief who resemble +him; but perhaps Mumble he safe as long as Miss Myrtle an' Miss Beth +they with him." + +"Don't worry," said the Major, consolingly. "I'll keep my eye on the +rascal. But he's a fine driver, isn't he?" + +"Oh, _that_!" retorted Wampus, scornfully. "Such little cheap car like +that he drive himself." + +At Old Town Mr. Jones left them, saying he had been to the Mission and +did not care for it. But as he drove his car away there was a gentler +and more kindly expression upon his features than any of them had ever +seen there before, and Myrtle suspected her charm was working and the +regeneration really begun. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A TALE OF WOE + + +That evening after dinner, as Mr. Merrick sat alone in the hotel +lobby, the girls having gone to watch the Major bowl tenpins, Mr. +Jones approached and sat down in the chair beside him. + +Uncle John greeted the man with an attempt at cordiality. He could not +yet bring himself to like his personality, but on Myrtle's account and +because he was himself generous enough to wish to be of service to +anyone so forlorn and unhappy, he treated Mr. Jones with more respect +than he really thought he deserved. + +"Tell me, Mr. Merrick," was the abrupt request, "where you found +Myrtle Dean." + +Uncle John told him willingly. There was no doubt but Myrtle had +interested the man. + +"My girls found her on the train between Chicago and Denver," he +began. "She was on her way to join her uncle in Leadville." + +"What is her uncle's name?" + +"Anson Jones. But the child was almost helpless, ill and without +friends or money. She was not at all sure her uncle was still in +Leadville, in which case she would be at the mercy of a cold world. So +I telegraphed and found that Anson Jones had been gone from the mining +camp for several months. Do you know, sir, I at first suspected you +might be the missing uncle? For I heard you were a miner and found +that your name is Jones. But I soon discovered you are not Anson +Jones, but C.B. Jones--which alters the case considerably." + +Mr. Jones nodded absently. + +"Tell me the rest," he said. + +Uncle John complied. He related the manner in which Beth and Patsy +had adopted Myrtle, the physician's examination and report upon her +condition, and then told the main points of their long but delightful +journey from Albuquerque to San Diego in the limousine. + +"It was one of the most fortunate experiments we have ever tried," he +concluded; "for the child has been the sweetest and most agreeable +companion imaginable, and her affection and gratitude have amply +repaid us for anything we have done for her. I am determined she shall +not leave us, sir. When we return to New York I shall consult the best +specialist to be had, and I am confident she can be fully cured and +made as good as new." + +The other man had listened intently, and when the story was finished +he sat silent for a time, as if considering and pondering over what he +had heard. Then, without warning, he announced quietly: + +"I am Anson Jones." + +Uncle John fairly gasped for breath. + +"_You_ Anson Jones!" he exclaimed. Then, with plausible suspicion he +added: "I myself saw that you are registered as C.B. Jones." + +"It is the same thing," was the reply. "My name is Collanson--but my +family always called me 'Anson', when I had a family--and by that name +I was best known in the mining camps. That is what deceived you." + +"But--dear me!--I don't believe Myrtle knows her uncle's name is +Collanson." + +"Probably not. Her mother, sir, my sister, was my only remaining +relative, the only person on earth who cared for me--although I +foolishly believed another did. I worked for success as much on +Kitty's account--Kitty was Myrtle's mother--as for my own sake. I +intended some day to make her comfortable and happy, for I knew her +husband's death had left her poor and friendless. I did not see her +for years, nor write to her often; it was not my way. But Kitty always +knew I loved her." + +He paused and sat silent a moment. Then he resumed, in his quiet, even +tones: + +"There is another part of my story that you must know to understand +me fully; to know why I am now a hopeless, desperate man; or was +until--until last night, perhaps. Some years ago, when in Boston, I +fell in love with a beautiful girl. I am nearly fifty, and she was not +quite thirty, but it never occurred to me that I was too old to win +her love, and she frankly confessed she cared for me. But she said she +could not marry a poor man and would therefore wait for me to make a +fortune. Then I might be sure she would marry me. I believed her. I do +not know why men believe women. It is an absurd thing to do. I did it; +but other men have been guilty of a like folly. Ah, how I worked and +planned! One cannot always make a fortune in a short time. It took me +years, and all the time she renewed her promises and kept my hopes and +my ambitions alive. + +"At last I won the game, as I knew I should do in time. It was a big +strike. I discovered the 'Blue Bonnet' mine, and sold a half interest +in it for a million. Then I hurried to Boston to claim my bride.... +She had been married just three months, after waiting, or pretending +to wait, for me for nearly ten years! She married a poor lawyer, too, +after persistently refusing me because _I_ was poor. She laughed at +my despair and coldly advised me to find some one else to share my +fortune." + +He paused again and wearily passed his hand over his eyes--a familiar +gesture, as Myrtle knew. His voice had grown more and more dismal as +he proceeded, and just now he seemed as desolate and unhappy as when +first they saw him at the Grand Canyon. + +"I lived through it somehow," he continued; "but the blow stunned me. +It stuns me yet. Like a wounded beast I slunk away to find my sister, +knowing she would try to comfort me. She was dead. Her daughter +Myrtle, whom I had never seen, had been killed in an automobile +accident. That is what her aunt, a terrible woman named Martha Dean, +told me, although now I know it was a lie, told to cover her own +baseness in sending an unprotected child to the far West to seek an +unknown uncle. I paid Martha Dean back the money she claimed she had +spent for Myrtle's funeral; that was mere robbery, I suppose, but not +to be compared with the crime of her false report. I found myself +bereft of sweetheart, sister--even an unknown niece. Despair claimed +me. I took the first train for the West, dazed and utterly despondent. +Some impulse led me to stop off at the Grand Canyon, and there I saw +the means of ending all my misery. But Myrtle interfered." + +Uncle John, now thoroughly interested and sympathetic, leaned over and +said solemnly: + +"The hand of God was in that!" + +Mr. Jones nodded. + +"I am beginning to believe it," he replied. "The girl's face won me +even in that despairing mood. She has Kitty's eyes." + +"They are beautiful eyes," said Uncle John, earnestly. "Sir, you have +found in your niece one of the sweetest and most lovely girls that +ever lived. I congratulate you!" + +Mr. Jones nodded again. His mood had changed again since they began +to speak of Myrtle. His eyes now glowed with pleasure and pride. He +clasped Mr. Merrick's hand in his own as he said with feeling: + +"She has saved me, sir. Even before I knew she was my niece I began to +wonder if it would not pay me to live for her sake. And now--" + +"And now you are sure of it," cried Uncle John, emphatically. "But who +is to break the news to Myrtle?" + +"No one, just yet," was the reply. "Allow me, sir, if you please, to +keep her in ignorance of the truth a little longer. I only made the +discovery myself today, you see, and I need time to think it all out +and determine how best to take advantage of my good fortune." + +"I shall respect your wish, sir," said Mr. Merrick. + +The girls came trooping back then, and instead of running away Anson +Jones remained to talk with them. + +Beth and Patsy were really surprised to find the "Sad One" chatting +pleasantly with Uncle John. The Major looked at the man curiously, not +understanding the change in him. But Myrtle was quite proud of the +progress he was making and his improved spirits rendered the girl very +happy indeed. Why she should take such an interest in this man she +could not have explained, except that he had been discouraged and +hopeless and she had succeeded in preventing him from destroying his +life and given him courage to face the world anew. But surely that was +enough, quite sufficient to give her a feeling of "proprietorship," as +Patsy had expressed it, in this queer personage. Aside from all this, +she was growing to like the man who owed so much to her. Neither Patsy +nor Beth could yet see much to interest them or to admire in his +gloomy character; but Myrtle's intuition led her to see beneath the +surface, and she knew there were lovable traits in Mr. Jones' nature +if he could only be induced to display them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE CONFESSION + + +After that evening the man attached himself to the party on every +possible occasion. Sometimes in their trips around Coronado he rode +in their automobile, at other times he took Myrtle, and perhaps one +other, in his own car. Every day he seemed brighter and more cheerful, +until even Major Doyle admitted he was not a bad companion. + +Three weeks later they moved up to Los Angeles, taking two days for +the trip and stopping at Riverside and Redlands on the way. They +established their headquarters at one of the handsome Los Angeles +hotels and from there made little journeys through the surrounding +country, the garden spot of Southern California. One day they went to +Pasadena, which boasts more splendid residences than any city of its +size in the world; at another time they visited Hollywood, famed as +"the Paradise of Flowers." Both mountains and sea were within easy +reach, and there was so much to do that the time passed all too +swiftly. + +It was on their return from such a day's outing that Myrtle met with +her life's greatest surprise. Indeed, the surprise was shared by all +but Uncle John, who had religiously kept the secret of Mr. Jones' +identity. + +As they reached the hotel this eventful evening Mr. Merrick said to +the girls: + +"After you have dressed for dinner meet us on the parlor floor. We +dine privately to-night." + +They were mildly astonished at the request, but as Uncle John was +always doing some unusual thing they gave the matter little thought. +However, on reaching the parlor floor an hour later they found Mr. +Merrick, the Major and Mr. Jones in a group awaiting them, and +all were garbed in their dress suits, with rare flowers in their +buttonholes. + +"What is it, then?" asked Patsy. "A treat?" + +"I think so," said Uncle John, smiling. "Your arm, please, Miss +Doyle." + +The Major escorted Beth and Mr. Jones walked solemnly beside Myrtle, +who still used crutches, but more as a matter of convenience than +because they were necessary. At the end of a corridor a waiter threw +open the door of a small but beautiful banquet room, where a round +table, glistening with cut glass and silver, was set for six. In the +center of the table was a handsome centerpiece decorated with vines +of myrtle, while the entire room was filled with sprays of the dainty +vines, alive with their pretty blue flowers. + +"Goodness me!" exclaimed Patsy, laughing gleefully. "This seems to be +our little Myrtle's especial spread. Who is the host, Uncle John?" + +"Mr. Jones, of course," announced Beth, promptly. + +Myrtle blushed and glanced shyly at Mr. Jones. His face was fairly +illumined with pleasure. He placed her in the seat of honor and said +gravely: + +"This is indeed Myrtle's entertainment, for she has found something. +It is also partly my own thanksgiving banquet, my friends; for I, too, +have found something." + +His tone was so serious that all remained silent as they took their +seats, and during the many courses served the conversation was less +lively than on former occasions when there had been no ceremony. +Myrtle tried hard to eat, but there was a question in her eyes--a +question that occupied her all through the meal. When, finally, the +dessert was served and the servants had withdrawn and left them to +themselves, the girl could restrain her curiosity no longer. + +"Tell me, Mr. Jones," she said, turning to him as he sat beside her; +"what have you found?" + +He was deliberate as ever in answering. + +"You must not call me 'Mr. Jones,' hereafter," said he. + +"Why not? Then, what _shall_ I call you?" she returned, greatly +perplexed. + +"I think it would be more appropriate for you to call me 'Uncle +Anson.'" + +"Uncle Anson! Why, Uncle Anson is--is--" + +She paused, utterly bewildered, but with a sudden suspicion that made +her head whirl. + +"It strikes me, Myrtle," said Uncle John, cheerfully, "that you have +never been properly introduced to Mr. Jones. If I remember aright you +scraped acquaintance with him and had no regular introduction. So I +will now perform that agreeable office. Miss Myrtle Dean, allow me to +present your uncle, Mr. Collanson B. Jones." + +"Collanson!" repeated all the girls, in an astonished chorus. + +"That is my name," said Mr. Jones, the first smile they had seen +radiating his grim countenance. "All the folks at home, among them my +sister Kitty--your mother, my dear--called me 'Anson'; and that is +why, I suppose, old Martha Dean knew me only as your 'Uncle Anson.' +Had she told you my name was Collanson you might have suspected +earlier that 'C.B. Jones' was your lost uncle. Lost only because he +was unable to find you, Myrtle. While you were journeying West in +search of him he was journeying East. But I'm glad, for many reasons, +that you did not know me. It gave me an opportunity to learn the +sweetness of your character. Now I sincerely thank God that He led you +to me, to reclaim me and give me something to live for. If you will +permit me, my dear niece, I will hereafter devote my whole life to +you, and earnestly try to promote your happiness." + +During this long speech Myrtle had sat wide eyed and white, watching +his face and marveling at the strangeness of her fate. But she was +very, very glad, and young enough to quickly recover from the shock. + +There was a round of applause from Patsy, Beth, the Major and +Uncle John, which served admirably to cover their little friend's +embarrassment and give her time to partially collect herself. Then she +turned to Mr. Jones and with eyes swimming with tears tenderly kissed +his furrowed cheek. + +"Oh, Uncle Anson; I'm _so_ happy!" she said. + +Of course Myrtle's story is told, now. But it may be well to add that +Uncle Anson did for her all that Uncle John had intended doing, and +even more. The consultation with a famous New York specialist, on +their return a month later, assured the girl that no painful operation +was necessary. The splendid outing she had enjoyed, with the fine air +of the far West, had built up her health to such an extent that nature +remedied the ill she had suffered. Myrtle took no crutches back to New +York--a city now visited for the first time in her life--nor did she +ever need them again. The slight limp she now has will disappear +in time, the doctors say, and the child is so radiantly happy that +neither she nor her friends notice the limp at all. + +Patsy Doyle, as owner of the pretty flat building on Willing Square, +has rented to Uncle Anson the apartment just opposite that of the +Doyles, and Mr. Jones has furnished it cosily to make a home for his +niece, to whom he is so devoted that Patsy declares her own doting and +adoring father is fairly outclassed. + +The Major asserts this is absurd; but he has acquired a genuine +friendship for Anson Jones, who is no longer sad but has grown lovable +under Myrtle's beneficent influence. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT JANE'S NIECES AND UNCLE JOHN*** + + +******* This file should be named 10124.txt or 10124.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/1/2/10124 + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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