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diff --git a/19318-h/19318-h.htm b/19318-h/19318-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6731337 --- /dev/null +++ b/19318-h/19318-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7875 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle, by Laura Lee Hope</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + .right {text-align: right;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 1px; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%;padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + .bboxtitle {border: double; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%;padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + hr.full { width: 100%; } + pre {font-size: 75%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle, by Laura Lee +Hope</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle</p> +<p> Or, The Girl Miner of Gold Run</p> +<p>Author: Laura Lee Hope</p> +<p>Release Date: September 18, 2006 [eBook #19318]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN THE SADDLE***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Emmy,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 254px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="254" height="400" alt="Cover: The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle" title="Cover: The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle" /> +<br /></div> +<p> <br /></p> +<div class="bboxtitle"> +<h1>The Outdoor Girls<br /> +in the Saddle</h1> + +<h3>or</h3> + +<h2>The Girl Miner of Gold Run</h2> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>LAURA LEE HOPE</h2> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Author of</span> "<span class="smcap">The Outdoor Girls of Deepdale</span>," "<span class="smcap">The<br /> +Outdoor Girls at Wild Rose Lodge</span>," "<span class="smcap">The Moving<br /> +Picture Girls</span>," "<span class="smcap">The Bobbsey Twins</span>,"<br /> +"<span class="smcap">Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue</span>,"<br /> +"<span class="smcap">Six Little Bunkers at Grandma<br /> +Bell's</span>," <span class="smcap">Etc.</span><br /> +<br /><br /><br /> +<i>ILLUSTRATED</i><br /> +<br /> +NEW YORK<br /> +<big>GROSSET & DUNLAP</big><br /> +PUBLISHERS<br /></div></div> + +<div class='center'><br />Made in the United States of America</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='bbox'> +<h2>BOOKS FOR GIRLS</h2> + +<h3>BY LAURA LEE HOPE</h3> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated.</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES</h3> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Outdoor Girls Seriese"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAR</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMP</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT OCEAN VIEW</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON PINE ISLAND</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN ARMY SERVICE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT THE HOSTESS HOUSE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINT</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT WILD ROSE LODGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN THE SADDLE</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS SERIES</h3> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Moving Picture Girls Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT OAK FARM</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS SNOWBOUND</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS UNDER THE PALMS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT ROCKY RANCH</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT SEA</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS IN WAR PLAYS</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3>THE BOBBSEY TWINS SERIES</h3> + +<div class='center'>(Fifteen Titles)</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3>THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES</h3> + +<div class='center'>(Twelve Titles)</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<h3>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES</h3> + +<div class='center'>(Eight Titles)</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></div> +</div> +<div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1922, by</span><br /> +GROSSET & DUNLAP</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle</span></div> +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 259px;"> +<img src="images/p001.jpg" width="259" height="400" alt="A LANDSLIDE—AND THEY WERE DIRECTLY IN ITS PATH!" title="A LANDSLIDE—AND THEY WERE DIRECTLY IN ITS PATH!" /> +<span class="caption">A LANDSLIDE—AND THEY WERE DIRECTLY IN ITS PATH!</span> +</div> + +<div class='center'><i>The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle.</i> <i>Frontispiece</i>—(<i>Page</i> 96)</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">chapter</span></td><td align='left'></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">page</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Summer in the Saddle</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_1'>1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Great Hopes</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_9'>9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Enter Peter Levine</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_22'>22</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">An Imitation Hold-Up</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_33'>33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Handsome Cowboy</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_43'>43</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">At the Ranch</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_52'>52</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Sudden Storm</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_62'>62</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Along the Trail</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_72'>72</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Danger Ahead</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_81'>81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Landslide</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_88'>88</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In the Cave</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_97'>97</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In the Darkness</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_106'>106</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Lure of Gold</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_112'>112</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Discovery</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_120'>120</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Allen Arrives</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_129'>129</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Tip</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_137'>137</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Net Tightens</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_145'>145</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In the Shadows</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_154'>154</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The New Mine</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_165'>165</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Violinist Again</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_173'>173</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Startling Tale</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_180'>180</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Plan</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_188'>188</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Great Days</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_198'>198</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The End of Peter Levine</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_202'>202</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Innocent</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#Page_210'>210</a></td></tr> +</table></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN<br /> +THE SADDLE</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>A SUMMER IN THE SADDLE</h3> + + +<p>"Hello, hello! Oh, what is the matter with +central!"</p> + +<p>The dark-haired, pink-cheeked girl at the telephone +jiggled the receiver impatiently while a +straight line of impatience marred her pretty +mouth.</p> + +<p>"Oh dear, oh dear!"</p> + +<p>"At last! Is that you, Mollie Billette? I've +been trying to get you for the last half hour. +What's that? You've been home all morning +twiddling your thumbs and wondering what to +do with yourself? Of course! I knew it was +central's fault all the time! Now listen! Goodness, +what are you having over at your house? +A jazz dance or something? I can hardly hear +you speak for the noise."</p> + +<p>"No, it isn't a dance," came back Mollie's voice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +wearily from the other end of the wire. "It's +just the twins. They want to talk to you. Hold +the wire a minute while I shut them in the other +room."</p> + +<p>Followed a silence during which Betty Nelson +could distinctly hear the wails of Mollie's little +brother and sister as they were ushered forcibly +into an adjoining room. Then Mollie's voice +again at the phone.</p> + +<p>"Hello," she said. "Still there, Betty? Guess +I can hear you a little better now. Mother's out, +and I've been taking care of the twins. Just +rescued the cat from being dumped head down +in the flour barrel."</p> + +<p>"Sounds natural," laughed the dark-haired, +pink-cheeked one, as she visualized Mollie's little +brother and sister, Dodo and Paul. They were +twins, and always in trouble.</p> + +<p>"Anything special you called up about?" asked +Mollie's voice from the other end of the wire. +"Want to go for a ride or something?"</p> + +<p>"Not the kind of ride you mean," said the +brown-eyed, pink-cheeked one, with a knowing +little smile on her lips.</p> + +<p>At the lilt in her voice Mollie, at her end of +the wire, sat up and stared inquiringly into the +black mouth of the telephone.</p> + +<p>"Betty," she said hopefully, "you are hiding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +something from me. You have something up +your sleeve."</p> + +<p>"You're right and wrong," giggled Betty. +"I'm hiding something from you, but I can't get +it up my sleeve, it's too big!"</p> + +<p>"Hurry up!" commanded Mollie in terrific accents. +"Are you going to tell me what's on your +mind, Betty Nelson?"</p> + +<p>"When will you be around?" countered Betty.</p> + +<p>"In five minutes."</p> + +<p>"Good!"</p> + +<p>"Betty, wait! Is it good news?"</p> + +<p>"The best ever," and Betty rang off.</p> + +<p>She twinkled at the telephone for a minute, +then called another number.</p> + +<p>"That you, Gracie?"</p> + +<p>The fair-haired, tall, and very graceful girl at +the other end of the wire acknowledged that it +was.</p> + +<p>"Please suggest something interesting, Betty," +she added plaintively, as she took a chocolate +from the ever-present candy box and nibbled on +it discontentedly. "I woke up with the most awful +attack of the blues this morning."</p> + +<p>"What, with a whole summer full of blessed +idleness before you?" mocked Betty.</p> + +<p>"Too much idleness," grumbled Grace. +"That's the trouble."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Enter," said Betty drolly, "Doctor Elizabeth +Nelson."</p> + +<p>Grace digested this remark for a moment, staring +at the telephone in much the same manner +as Mollie had done a few minutes before. Then +she swallowed the last of her chocolate in such +haste that it almost choked her.</p> + +<p>"Betty," she said, "I have heard you use that +tone before. Is there really something in the +wind?"</p> + +<p>"Come and see," said Betty and a click at the +other end of the wire told Grace that the conversation +was over.</p> + +<p>"Oh bother!" she cried, her pretty forehead +drawn into a frown. "Now I suppose I've got +to get dressed and go over there before I can +find out what she meant."</p> + +<p>In the hall she nearly ran into her mother, +who was dressed to go out. Mrs. Ford was a +handsome woman, prominent in the social circles +of Deepdale. She was kindly and sympathetic, +and all who knew her loved her.</p> + +<p>So now, as she regarded her mother, a loving +smile erased the frown from Grace's forehead.</p> + +<p>"I declare, Mother, you look younger than I +do," she said fondly. "Whither away so early?"</p> + +<p>"The art club, this morning," replied Mrs. +Ford, her eyes approving the fair prettiness of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +her daughter. "Are you going out? I thought +you were deep in that new book."</p> + +<p>"I was," said Grace, with a sigh for what might +have been. "But Betty called up and said she +wanted me to come over. There's something in +the wind, that's sure, but she wouldn't give me +even the teeniest little hint of what it was. I +wasn't going at first, but I——"</p> + +<p>"Thought better of it," finished Mrs. Ford, +with a smile. "Better go," she added, as she +opened the door. "My experience with Betty +Nelson is that she usually has something interesting +to say. Good-by, dear. If any one should +'phone while you are here, will you tell them that +I shan't be back till late afternoon?"</p> + +<p>Grace promised that she would and moved +slowly up the stairs.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Amy Blackford, the last of the trio +to whom the dark-haired, pink-cheeked little person +who was Betty Nelson had telephoned, had +stopped merely to remove the apron from in front +of her pink-checked gingham dress and was now +flying along the two short blocks that separated +her house from the Nelsons'.</p> + +<p>As for poor Mollie Billette, she was nearly distracted. +Torn with curiosity, as that young person +very often was, to know the facts that had +prompted Betty's early call, she yet could not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +satisfy that curiosity. When she had told Betty +that she would be around in five minutes she had +fully meant to make that promise good. But—she +had forgotten the twins!</p> + +<p>Upon entering the room where she had locked +them while she talked to Betty, she found a sight +that fairly took her breath away.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, some one had left an open bottle +of ink on the table. One of the twins, deciding +to play "savages," had pounced upon the ink bottle +as a means of making the play more realistic!</p> + +<p>"Oh, Dodo! Oh, Paul! How could you be so +naughty?" moaned Mollie, sinking to the floor, +while the tears of exasperation rolled down her +face.</p> + +<p>"Paul did it," accused Dodo, waving a pudgy, +ink-stained little fist in the direction of her +brother. "He said, 'let's use this ink and play +we're savagers——'"</p> + +<p>It was upon this scene that Mollie's little +French-American mother, Mrs. Billette, came a +moment later.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh!" she cried, raising her hands in the +French gesture all French people know so well. +"What is this? Mollie, have you gone quite +mad?"</p> + +<p>Whereupon Mollie shook the tears of woe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +from her eyes and explained to her mother just +what had happened.</p> + +<p>"And I was in such a hurry to get to Betty's," +she finished dismally. "I just know she has +something exciting to tell us. And now I don't +suppose I will get there for hours."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, you will," said Mrs. Billette, with the +delicious, almost imperceptible, accent she had. +"The ink has not yet dried, and luckily there is +not much about the room. Run along, dear. I +fully realize," she added, with the smile that +made Mollie adore her, "that this, with you, is a +very important occasion."</p> + +<p>"And you are the most precious mother in the +world!" cried Mollie, flinging young arms about +her mother and giving her a joyful hug. "I +might have known you would understand." And +before the words were fairly out of her mouth +she was flying up the stairs.</p> + +<p>When she reached Betty's house at last, out of +breath but happy, she found that Grace and Amy +were there before her. She found them all, including +Betty, up in Betty's room, a pretty place +done in ivory and blue, awaiting her coming as +patiently as they could.</p> + +<p>"Betty wouldn't tell us a thing until you came," +was the greeting Grace flung at her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> + +<p>"So don't be surprised if you aren't very popular +around here," laughed Betty, sitting very +straight in her wicker chair, feet stretched out +and crossed in front of her, hands tightly clasped +in her lap. Her face was a pretty picture of +animation.</p> + +<p>"Who cares for popularity?" cried Mollie, as +she flung her sport hat on the bed and turned to +face Betty. "Betty Nelson, bring out that surprise."</p> + +<p>"Who said it was a surprise?" asked Betty +tantalizingly, but the next minute her face sobered +and she regarded the girls gravely.</p> + +<p>"Girls," she said, "I think I see a chance for +the most glorious outing we have had yet. How +would you like——" she paused and regarded +the expectant girls thoughtfully. "How would +you like a summer <i>in the saddle?</i>"</p> + +<p>"In the saddle?" repeated Grace wonderingly, +but Mollie broke in with a quick:</p> + +<p>"Betty, do you mean on horseback?"</p> + +<p>"Real horses?" breathed Amy Blackford.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Betty, nodding. "That's just +exactly what I mean."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>GREAT HOPES</h3> + + +<p>"But where are we to do all this?" asked Grace +skeptically. "Is somebody giving away steeds +for the asking? Wake me up, somebody, when +Betty gets through dreaming."</p> + +<p>"Keep still, you old wet blanket," cried Mollie. +"Can't you see Betty is really in earnest?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind them," said Amy, leaning a little +breathlessly toward Betty. "Let them fight it +out between themselves. What is the great news, +Betty?"</p> + +<p>"It <i>is</i> great news," said Betty radiantly. "Listen, +my children. Mother has received a legacy +from a great uncle that she had almost forgotten +she had."</p> + +<p>"Money?" queried Grace, interested.</p> + +<p>"No, that's the best part of it," said Betty. +"Oh, girls, it's a ranch, a great big beautiful +ranch in the really, truly west!"</p> + +<p>"Honest-to-goodness, wild and woolly?" queried +Mollie, beaming.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Better than that," answered Betty with the +same lilt to her voice that the girls had heard +over the telephone. "I shouldn't wonder if we +should find the real old-fashioned, movie kind of +cowboys there—sombreros, fur leggings, bandannas, +and all."</p> + +<p>"But where," interrupted Mollie, who had been +waiting with more or less patience for Betty to +come to the point, "do we come in, in all this? I +fail to see——"</p> + +<p>"Oh hush," cried Betty, her eyes dancing. +"You interrupt entirely too much. Where do we +come in, she wants to know," she paused to bestow +a beaming glance on Grace and Amy. +"That's the biggest joke of all. Where do we +come in? Why, honey dear, we're the whole +show!"</p> + +<p>"The whole show," they murmured, beginning +to see the light.</p> + +<p>"You bet," said the brown-haired, rosy-checked +one slangily. "Now listen. I think I've about +argued mother and dad around to the point where +they'll agree to let us have the use of this wild +and woolly rancho for a real outdoor adventure. +How does that idea strike you?"</p> + +<p>"Listen to the child," cried Mollie pityingly. +"Such a question!"</p> + +<p>"It would be heavenly!" raved Grace. "Think<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +of riding around all day in fur leggings and a +sombrero. Wide hats are always becoming to +me," she added musingly.</p> + +<p>The girls laughed and Betty threw a pillow at +her, missing her by a hair's breadth.</p> + +<p>"You needn't worry about your hat," laughed +Betty. "Reckon there won't be anybody around +there to admire you but Indians and broncho +busters."</p> + +<p>"Oh, aren't the boys coming?" Grace asked, +her disappointment in her voice.</p> + +<p>"They haven't been asked, silly," Mollie interrupted +impatiently. "Tell me, Betty," she cried, +turning to the Little Captain. "Is it really certain +that we'll have this chance?"</p> + +<p>"No, it isn't," admitted Betty, her bright face +sobering. "That's why I don't want you to get +too excited about it. You see," her voice lowered +confidentially, "dad might decide to sell it."</p> + +<p>"Sell it!" they cried in dismay, and Grace +added, with a decision that made the girls laugh:</p> + +<p>"Oh, he mustn't do that until the fall, anyway."</p> + +<p>"All right, Gracie," said Betty, with a chuckle. +"I'll give dad his orders."</p> + +<p>"But why does he want to sell it, Betty?" Amy +questioned.</p> + +<p>"We-el," said the Little Captain slowly. "You<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +see mother has already received an offer of fifteen +thousand dollars for it. There's a ranchman +out there, I think his name is John Josephs, +or some such name, who seems to want to get +hold of our ranch. So his lawyers have offered +mother fifteen thousand for it."</p> + +<p>"That's a pretty good lot of money," said Amy +thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is," agreed Betty. "And dad seems to +think that the best thing mother could do would +be to take the money and get rid of the ranch. +He says it will be a sort of white elephant on our +hands, since there isn't very much chance of our +going out there to live," she ended, with a +chuckle.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Grace, with an injured air, "I +don't see why you called us all over here just to +disappoint us. If your father is going to sell the +place, then we certainly sha'n't be able to make +ourselves beautiful with bandannas and picturesque +hats——"</p> + +<p>"Ah, but you did not let me finish," hissed +Betty, melodramatically. "We have one ally—my +mother."</p> + +<p>"Your mother!" cried Mollie, eagerly. "Then +she doesn't want to sell the ranch?"</p> + +<p>"Right, the first time," cried Betty hilariously. +"I think mother has a sneaking notion that she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +might look pretty good in a cowboy make-up herself. +You see," she added, with a twinkle, +"mother has never had a chance to own a real +honest-to-goodness ranch before."</p> + +<p>"Oh, isn't she sweet!" cried Mollie fervently, +adding, as one to whom inspiration had come: +"I tell you what, Betty, we'll take her with us!"</p> + +<p>"How sweet of you," drawled Grace. "Especially +since the ranch belongs to her!"</p> + +<p>The other girls chuckled and Mollie looked +rather sheepish.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," she admitted, "I guess it would be a +case of her taking us along."</p> + +<p>"And I don't envy her the job," said gentle +Amy unexpectedly, while the girls gazed their reproach.</p> + +<p>"Betty," said Mollie, "there is one very important +thing that I would like to know."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm the original little information +bureau," Betty assured her. "What will you +have?"</p> + +<p>"Does your dad really want to sell the ranch? +Or is your mother likely to win out?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, mother always gets her way," said Betty +confidently, adding: "Besides, the ranch was left +to mother, you know, and not to dad. So really +she has the say about it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but she might change her mind," said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +Grace pessimistically. "Fifteen thousand dollars +is a lot of money, you know. She might decide +to sell the ranch, after all."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Betty, with an air of importance +that the girls were quick to notice, "there is another +reason why mother will probably hold on to +the property, for a little while at least."</p> + +<p>"Yes?" they queried eagerly.</p> + +<p>"You see," Betty continued thoughtfully, +"mother has an idea that this John Josephs is a +little too anxious to buy the ranch. It's right up +in the gold region, you know——"</p> + +<p>"Gold!" shrieked Mollie. "You never said a +word about gold, Betty Nelson! Do you mean +there may be gold——"</p> + +<p>"Now she <i>is</i> getting interesting," admitted +Grace, shaken out of her usual calm.</p> + +<p>"How romantic," murmured Amy, breathing +fast.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Betty ruefully. "That's what dad +says mother is—romantic! He says there isn't a +chance in a thousand that there is real gold anywhere +near that ranch——"</p> + +<p>"Stop, woman, stop!" cried Mollie, with her +most tragic scowl. "Wouldst put an end to all +our dreams in one fell swoop——"</p> + +<p>"Probably that is all we shall do—just dream," +said Betty, insisting upon being practical. "It's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +an idea of mother's, that's all. But she is really +determined to see the ranch, at least, before she +makes up her mind whether to sell or not. In +fact," she hesitated, colored a little, then went on +bravely, "dad has decided to send Allen out there +to look up the title. There is some trouble +about that, I think——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, now we know why she is so anxious to +be a little cow girl," teased Grace, while the others +regarded Betty's pretty color gleefully.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Betty, Betty!" cried Mollie, shaking her +head dolefully, "you are altogether hopeless!"</p> + +<p>For Allen Washburn, of whom Betty had +spoken in connection with the ranch, was a very +promising young lawyer. Also this promising +young lawyer was very fond of Betty Nelson. +And while the girls are shaking their heads over +this fact a little time will be taken to describe the +Outdoor Girls to those readers who have not already +met them and to review briefly the many +and varied adventures they had had up to this +time.</p> + +<p>Betty Nelson, dark-haired, dark-eyed, and +rosy-cheeked, was the natural leader of the four +Outdoor Girls, a fact which had led to her being +dubbed "Little Captain" by the adoring girls. +Betty's father, Charles Nelson, had made a good +deal of money in his manufacture of carpets, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +Betty's mother was a very sweet lady whom the +name of Rose fitted exactly.</p> + +<p>Next came Mollie Billette, dark-haired and +with snapping black eyes, who was almost as +French in her manner as her very French mother.</p> + +<p>Readers of the present volume must already +feel very well acquainted with Grace Ford. +Grace was the Gibson type, tall and slender and +fair-haired and very pretty, with a decided liking +for looking in mirrors.</p> + +<p>Last of the quartette came Amy Blackford. +Amy was the ward of John and Sarah Stonington, +and for a long time she had thought her own +name was Stonington. The mystery of her past +had been cleared up, however, and Amy had come +into her own. Shy, gentle, sweet, she was beloved +and protected by the more hardy and active +Betty and Mollie. And Amy, as shy girls +sometimes will, had begun to think very much of +Grace Ford's attractive brother, Will—which is +a reminder that it is time to introduce "the boys."</p> + +<p>Allen Washburn and his open fondness for +Betty have already been spoken of. Allen was +tall, nearly six feet. Sunburned and handsome +of face and quick of action, Allen attracted every +one wherever he went. And, truly, Betty was +no exception to this rule! Allen had been one +of the first to volunteer his services to the good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +old army of the U. S. A., and while he had gone +over only a buck private, he had come back a +lieutenant.</p> + +<p>There was Will Ford, Grace's brother, whom +Grace and Amy both adored. Will had been in +the secret service when our country entered the +war, and because of this he had been the victim +of considerable misunderstanding. Afterward +he had joined the army with the other boys. +This was after some skillful secret service work +that won the praise of the government, as well +as the fervent admiration of the boys and girls.</p> + +<p>The other two boys were Frank Haley and +Roy Anderson who had come into the little group +because of their friendship for Will and Allen. +They were fine, clean-cut, likable boys, who had +come through the war with colors flying.</p> + +<p>The young folks had lived all their lives in +Deepdale, a thriving little city with a population +of about fifteen thousand people and situated in +the heart of New York State. Deepdale was +situated on the Argono River, a beautiful and +romantic stream where pleasure craft of all sorts +disported themselves. A branch line of the railroad +connected with the main line directly to +what the four Outdoor Girls believed to be the +most wonderful of all cities, New York.</p> + +<p>The name of "Outdoor Girls" had come to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +quartette from the fact that they invariably spent +their summer vacations, and winter holidays also, +in some sort of outdoor sport. They could ride, +swim, play tennis, drive, and, in fact, do everything +that is expected of the athletic young girl +of to-day.</p> + +<p>They would never forget that first tramping +tour when they had tramped for miles over the +country, meeting with a great many unusual adventures +on the way, as related in the first volume +of this series, entitled, "The Outdoor Girls +of Deepdale." Nor those other times at Rainbow +Lake, in Florida, at Ocean View, and later +at Pine Island, where they had come across that +marvelous, mysterious gypsy cave.</p> + +<p>Then had come the war with the boys on the +other side, and the girls doing their "bit" at a +Hostess House. And a little later what black +distress overwhelmed them, when Will Ford was +reported wounded and Allen's name was among +the missing! This all happened while they were +at Bluff Point taking a much-needed vacation +from their work at the Hostess House.</p> + +<p>In the volume directly preceding this, entitled +"The Outdoor Girls at Wild Rose Lodge," the +girls had had same very exciting experiences. +An old man, Professor Dempsey, by name, who +had retired to a little log cabin in the woods to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +recover his health, had chanced to do the girls +a very great favor. Of course the girls were +grateful to him and were very much interested +when he told them of his two sons who were in +the war. Later, when the girls read of the death +of his two sons in the paper, they went to the +old man's lonely cabin in the woods, but found +themselves too late. According to a friendly +neighbor, the old man had become temporarily +insane at the terrible news, had wrecked his cabin +in an insane frenzy, and disappeared.</p> + +<p>Later, at Wild Rose Lodge, the girls were +frightened several times by a strange apparition +lurking in the woods around the lodge and Moonlight +Falls, a beautiful fall of water not far from +the cottage where the girls were staying. Later +the boys came home from France and helped the +girls solve the mystery.</p> + +<p>And now here was Betty proposing another +outing that promised to be more fun than any +the Outdoor Girls had had yet. No wonder that +in the clamor of their excited questions and answers +no one heard the telephone ringing noisily +in the hall.</p> + +<p>Finally the Nelsons' maid came trudging up the +stairs to answer it herself.</p> + +<p>"If I can hear myself think," she grumbled, as +she took the receiver from the hook. "With all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +them girls a-gabberin' an' a-talkin' at the top o' +their lungs. Hello—I can't hear you—you'll +have to talk louder—you don't know the noise +they is in this house. Miss Betty?—jus' a +minute——"</p> + +<p>"A gen'leman to speak to you, Miss Betty," +she announced a moment later, looking in on the +hilarious girls. "An' le's hope you can hear him +better'n I could, that's all," she grumbled, as +Betty pushed by her in the doorway and gave her +a friendly pat on the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Oh, they'll keep quiet now, all right," she +said, with a laughing glance over her shoulder at +her chums. "They'll want to hear what I have +to say."</p> + +<p>At which taunt the girls started such a dreadful +clamor that she really had all she could do to +hear Allen at the other end of the wire. Oh, yes, +it was Allen!</p> + +<p>"Sech a noise," grumbled the maid, as she +trudged down the steps again. "I never did see +sech wild uns!"</p> + +<p>"Hello, hello, Allen," called Betty into the telephone. +"The girls are here and—what's that? +At Walnut Street? All right, that will be fine. +I can't talk now. Tell you why later. Yes, +we'll be there. Don't be silly. Good-by!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> + +<p>Her face was flushed when she confronted the +girls again.</p> + +<p>"The boys have a half holiday—it's Saturday, +you know," she told them, while they regarded +her mischievously. "And they want us to pick +them up in the car, get some lunch somewhere, +and make a day of it. I told him we would."</p> + +<p>"By 'him' I suppose you mean Allen," said +Mollie, to which Betty ducked her a bow and the +other girls giggled. "I like their nerve wanting +us to pick them up. Why doesn't Frank come +for us in his big car?"</p> + +<p>"Allen figured it would take too long for them +to come home and get it."</p> + +<p>"My, they must be in a hurry to see us," said +Grace, with a simper that sent the girls off into +gales of laughter.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Betty finally, "are you coming, +or are you not?"</p> + +<p>For answer Mollie jumped up, pressed a hat +upon Grace's indignant head, handed Amy her +coat, and crushed her own sport hat down on her +dark hair.</p> + +<p>"Be this our answer," she said dramatically.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>ENTER PETER LEVINE</h3> + + +<p>It is to be feared that the boys did not have +as pleasant a time on that Saturday afternoon +motor drive as they had hoped to have. For, +whereas the girls should have showered their attentions +upon them, the boys, they insisted upon +talking about nothing but Gold Run Ranch, which +was the name of the property left to Mrs. Nelson +by her great uncle.</p> + +<p>"You aren't very complimentary to us," Frank +grumbled, as he hunched himself over the wheel +of Mollie's car. "You seem mighty glad to go +out to this forsaken old ranch where you won't +see us for the whole summer."</p> + +<p>"I guess we can stand it if you can," Mollie +responded lightly, which only caused him to +glower the more.</p> + +<p>"Now I'll say Allen knew what he was doing +when he studied law," remarked Roy Anderson +gloomily, as he glanced over his shoulder at +young Allen Washburn, who was driving Betty's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +neat little roadster with Betty herself beside him. +"He sure falls in soft on this job."</p> + +<p>"Meaning, I suppose," drawled Grace, "that he +will have the pleasure of our company at Gold +Run Ranch. Never mind, old boy, you needn't +look so dreadfully gloomy. Have a chocolate +and brace up."</p> + +<p>"You give it to me," said Roy, laughing. +Grace obediently popped a large juicy one into his +mouth. It may be remarked that after this performance +he really did look more cheerful.</p> + +<p>"Anyway, we'll be back sometime, I suppose," +said Mollie, continuing on the subject that was +uppermost in her mind.</p> + +<p>"Yes, if we don't run away with some of those +handsome cowboys," put in Amy, with a chuckle. +"Betty says they abound around Gold Run +Ranch."</p> + +<p>The girls giggled, but Will looked fierce.</p> + +<p>"You had better not," he said, and though his +look was for all the girls, Amy knew that the +words were for her. She colored prettily and +promised with her eyes that she wouldn't.</p> + +<p>Grace caught this by-play as she munched a +chocolate grumpily. Adoring her brother Will +as she did, she had always been a little jealous of +his fancy for Amy.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p><p>"Anyway, they don't have to be so silly in public," +she told herself resentfully. As she roused +herself from her musing, she heard Mollie say, +with a laugh:</p> + +<p>"Don't be surprised if we come home with our +pockets full of gold. Mrs. Nelson thinks there +is some of it about there."</p> + +<p>"Oh, are you still talking about that silly old +ranch?" Grace broke in petulantly. "I don't +know why you are getting so excited about it +when there is more than a chance that we sha'n't +go at all."</p> + +<p>"Hooray!" cried Frank, and stepped on the +accelerator.</p> + +<p>Mollie, beside him, turned to look at him +coldly.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you feel that way about it, Frank +Haley," she said primly. "But I'm very sorry +to say we don't."</p> + +<p>"Now, I have put my foot in it," cried Frank +ruefully, turning his irresistible smile full upon +her. "What shall I do to make up, Mollie? +Hold your hand or something?"</p> + +<p>His free hand closed over hers, but she +snatched her own away with indignation that +ended in a chuckle.</p> + +<p>"Tend to your knitting," she warned him. +"Didn't you see that we almost ran over that +dog?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> + +<p>But however much they might joke about the +possibility of their not realizing their dreams for +the summer, the Outdoor Girls were really worried +about it, and the next few days were anxious +ones for them.</p> + +<p>Suppose Mrs. Nelson should yield to her husband's +arguments and resolve to sell the ranch +after all? For awhile it almost seemed as though +she were about to do this very thing, and the suspense +nearly drove the girls frantic.</p> + +<p>Then something happened to turn the tide +in their direction. And how the girls afterwards +blessed that loud-necktied, check-suited +man!</p> + +<p>It was Betty who came to the door to admit +this angel in disguise, it being the hired girl's +day out. Her first glance at the stranger served +to stamp him as one of those loud-voiced, +flashily dressed persons commonly referred to as +"sports," and at this first glance Betty took a +violent dislike to him.</p> + +<p>However, being accustomed to treat every one +with kindliness, she asked him gravely whom he +wished to see.</p> + +<p>"Is Mrs. Nelson at home?" he asked ingratiatingly.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," hesitated Betty, then her natural +courtesy getting the better of the dislike she felt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +for this person, she added politely: "Won't you +come in? I will call mother."</p> + +<p>With blandly murmured thanks the owner of +the checked suit stepped over the threshold, his +eyes still on Betty to such an extent that she was +glad to be able to slip upstairs out of his sight.</p> + +<p>"Mother," she explained hurriedly, finding +that lady in her pretty dressing room, "there's a +horrid person downstairs who wants to see you. +I don't like his looks, and if you don't want to +see him I can tell him you aren't at home——"</p> + +<p>"Heavens, Betty, is he as bad as all that?" +asked Mrs. Nelson, as she rose hastily and gave +an automatic pat to her hair. "I hope he doesn't +steal the silver. You shouldn't have left him +alone, dear——" and with these words she swept +out of the room and down the stairs.</p> + +<p>Betty heard her greet the man, and then slipped +off to her own room and picked up some half-finished +embroidery.</p> + +<p>"I hope he doesn't bother mother too much," +she mused aloud. "I never saw a more unpleasant +looking person in my life. I wonder what +he can want, anyway."</p> + +<p>It was fully half an hour later that she heard +the closing door downstairs that told her their +unwelcome visitor had left. A minute later her +mother herself opened the door of Betty's room,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +looking so troubled and unsettled that Betty +jumped to her feet in quick alarm.</p> + +<p>"Mother, did that man say anything to make +you feel bad?" she cried. "Because, if he +did——"</p> + +<p>"No, no, dear," said Mrs. Nelson, sinking into +a chair, while her eyes sought the window +thoughtfully. "I am worried, that's all."</p> + +<p>Betty drew a low chair over beside her mother, +and, sitting down, took Mrs. Nelson's hand in +both her own.</p> + +<p>"Tell me, dear," she urged.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Nelson drew her troubled gaze away from +the window and looked at the Little Captain intently.</p> + +<p>"Betty," she said, "there is something strange +about this Gold Run Ranch of ours. This +man——"</p> + +<p>"Yes?" prompted Betty, as her mother paused.</p> + +<p>"This man who called this morning wanted to +buy the ranch for a western client of his. It +seems this client is willing to pay me my own +price—within reasonable limits of course. He +seemed so strangely eager to make a deal with +me——"</p> + +<p>"Yes?" prompted Betty again, beginning to +look worried herself.</p> + +<p>"Well," continued Mrs. Nelson, "I decided<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +then and there that I wouldn't sell to anybody."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mother!" Betty was all eagerness now, +"do you really mean it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do," said Mrs. Nelson, determination +replacing uncertainty. "There must be something +unusual about Gold Run or John Josephs +and this man, too, wouldn't be so anxious to get +it away from me. I am certainly not going to +let them drive me into selling, until I see my +property at least."</p> + +<p>"Good for you, Mother!" cried Betty enthusiastically. +"I've been fearfully worried for fear +you wouldn't see it that way. Did you tell the +man in the check suit that?"</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't," said Mrs. Nelson, smiling as +she pressed Betty's hand. "Now you will see +what a schemer your mother is, my dear. I told +him I hadn't definitely decided yet on any course, +that I had already had a very good offer for my +ranch, and that he would have to see Allen Washburn, +our attorney. I wanted Allen to have a +chance to size this man up and see if he has the +same impression of him that I had."</p> + +<p>"Mother," breathed Betty admiringly, "I think +you are wonderful." Then after a little pause, +she added shyly: "You really think a great deal +of—of Allen's ability, don't you, Mother?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I do, dear," said Mrs. Nelson, stroking the +brown head gently. Then she added with a hint +of mischief in her voice: "Your father and I +have come to feel toward him almost as if he +were our son."</p> + +<p>"Oh—" murmured Betty, very faintly.</p> + +<p>Two days went by—anxious ones for the girls. +In the Nelson home, this time in the pretty living +room, Allen Washburn was now a guest.</p> + +<p>"Well," Mrs. Nelson said, with more than a +hint of eagerness in her voice, "what did you +think of our loudly-dressed friend, Allen?"</p> + +<p>"Was he as bad as Mrs. Nelson's description +makes him out to be?" asked Mr. Nelson, smiling +genially through a cloud of cigar smoke.</p> + +<p>Betty, in a corner of the lounge, was trying her +best to be calm while she waited eagerly for +Allen's reply.</p> + +<p>"I don't know just how Mrs. Nelson described +this fellow to you, I'm sure," he answered, with +a smiling glance toward Betty's mother. "But +I'm quite sure that she didn't say anything bad +enough."</p> + +<p>"Then you didn't like him either?" asked Mrs. +Nelson quickly.</p> + +<p>"I neither liked him nor trusted him," Allen +replied decidedly, adding with a wry smile: "He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +calls himself Peter Levine, but I'm willing to +wager about anything I have that that isn't his +real name."</p> + +<p>"You think he's a sharper then?" Mr. Nelson +interjected.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," responded Allen, his young face +earnestly intent. "He looks to me like one of +these confidence men who abound in the western +boom towns—men who can talk the other fellow +into putting his last cent into some 'sure thing.' +'Sure thing,'" he repeated disgustedly. "The +only sure thing about most of those schemes is +the certainty of 'going bust' and losing every +penny you have in the world."</p> + +<p>"And yet," Mr. Nelson commented, "these +sharpers, 'confidence men,' as you call them, often +manage to keep just within the law."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes," said Allen, "they manage to keep +the letter of the law—sometimes. But that is +just a caution to save their own necks. It's the +spirit of the law that they violate. But we are +getting away from the point," he added, pulling +himself up short with an apologetic smile toward +Mrs. Nelson. "We were speaking of this Peter +Levine. My summing up of him is that he is +entirely untrustworthy."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Nelson shot a triumphant glance at her +husband.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You see?" she said. "I was sure Allen would +agree with me."</p> + +<p>"Of course I may be mistaken," Allen continued, +rather hesitantly. "But I have a very distinct +impression, a sort of seventh sense we fellows +in the law game call it, that this Levine is +in league with John Josephs, the man that offered +you fifteen thousand for the ranch."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Mrs. Nelson, startled. "How can +you know that?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know it," Allen told her. "I only +suspect."</p> + +<p>"Then what would you advise us to do?"</p> + +<p>"Hold tight and not sell till you have had a +chance to look matters over on the ground—not +from a distance."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Nelson rising resignedly and +knocking the ashes from his cigar, "I suppose +that settles it. I shall have to leave my business +to go to smash," he added, with a chuckle, "while +I take my family into a barbarous land where +every second man you meet has designs on a well-filled +pocketbook——"</p> + +<p>But he got no further, for Betty had run over +to him and turned him imperiously around till +his smiling eyes looked down into her gleeful +ones.</p> + +<p>"Daddy," she cried, "do you really mean it?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +We can all go to Gold Run—you and mother and +the girls? We'll have to have the girls, you +know!" she ended on a pleading note.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, of course," said Mr. Nelson resignedly. +"We will have to have the girls."</p> + +<p>It was a very radiant Betty who, a few minutes +later, saw Allen Washburn to the door.</p> + +<p>"And to think," she murmured, while Allen +smiled down at her, "that I didn't like that perfect +angel, Peter Levine, at first. Why, I should +have welcomed him with open arms!"</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Allen, taken by surprise.</p> + +<p>"Don't you know?" asked Betty, mischievously +wide-eyed. "If he hadn't happened along just +when he did our glorious adventure would have +dwindled into a might-have-been. Why, I could +love him for it."</p> + +<p>"Good-night, I'm going!" ejaculated Allen, and +before Betty could gasp he had flung out of the +door.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going?" she called, laughter in +her voice.</p> + +<p>"To kill Peter Levine," growled a voice out of +the darkness, and Betty, closing the door very +softly, chuckled to herself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>AN IMITATION HOLD-UP</h3> + + +<p>It was all over. The bustling days of preparation +for the long trip, during which the girls had +hardly had time to give vent to their excitement, +had passed, and here they were actually finding +their places in the puffing, western bound train.</p> + +<p>"Here's number five," Grace said, as she slid +into a velvet-covered seat with a sigh of thankfulness. +"Who is coming in here with me?"</p> + +<p>"Guess I'm elected," laughed Betty. "And +here's number seven for Mollie and Amy, and +mother and dad are in six right across the way. +That completes the family party."</p> + +<p>They were hardly settled when there was a last +warning cry of "All aboard" and the train began +to move ever so slowly from the station.</p> + +<p>The girls peered out to wave good-by to the +boys and some of their other friends who had +come to see them off. The young fellows looked +rather gloomy—all except Allen. The latter +shouted something that they took to be "See you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +later!" and then the train swept around a curve, +hiding the station from view.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Grace, with a sigh, as she opened +her grip to fish for the inevitable candy box, "the +boys seemed to take our flitting pretty hard. +They looked as if we were already dead and +buried."</p> + +<p>"Far from it," murmured Betty happily, her +eyes on the ever changing view from the window. +"I feel as if we were just beginning to live."</p> + +<p>The hours of the morning passed like minutes +to the girls, and they were surprised when the +porter came through with his "Foist call fo' +dinnah!"</p> + +<p>The afternoon passed uneventfully, and they +amused themselves by making up stories about +their fellow passengers. There was the quaint +little man in number four who reminded them +of Professor Arnold Dempsey and who might +very easily have been a professor, judging from +the number of books he carried.</p> + +<p>Then there was the freckled-faced small boy +in number three whose antics kept his mother in +a continual state of "nerves." Once when he +bounced one of those implements commonly +known as "spit balls" off of the bookish little +man's bald head, the girls thought they would die +trying to stifle their merriment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then there was the very pretty, but much be-powdered +and rouged girl behind them in number +nine. Grace embarrassed Betty very much by +turning around to look at her every five minutes +or so.</p> + +<p>"She's a moving picture actress or something, +I'm sure of it," Grace confided in Betty's unsympathetic +ear. "I wonder if I could fix my hair +the way she does. She fascinates me."</p> + +<p>"She seems to," Betty retorted dryly, adding +with a twinkle. "You may be able to fix your +hair like hers—though I doubt it—but please +remember that your mother doesn't want you +to use rouge."</p> + +<p>"Well, you know I wouldn't do that," said +Grace in a huff, adding maliciously, "I guess you +are just jealous, that's all."</p> + +<p>"Uh-huh, that must be it," said Betty, with +an unruffled good-nature that made Grace secretly +ashamed of herself.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, Betty," she said after a rather +long pause, adding generously: "You don't need +to be jealous of anybody."</p> + +<p>"Thanks," Betty answered, with a smile. "I +knew you didn't mean it, dear."</p> + +<p>And so the long hours of the afternoon wore +away, dusk came, shrouding the swiftly moving +landscape in a veil of mystery. So engrossed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +were the girls in contemplation of the changing +beauty of nature that it seemed almost sacrilege +when the blatant lights of the train flashed forth, +bringing them violently back to a realization of +time and place.</p> + +<p>"Don't you want any supper?" Mr. Nelson +was asking, in his pleasant voice. "It isn't like +the Outdoor Girls to overlook meal time."</p> + +<p>"Far be it from us to spoil our good reputation," +cried Mollie buoyantly, and away they +rushed to the dressing room to wash for supper. +Though dining on a train was no novelty to the +girls, they never lost the keenness of their first +delight in the experience.</p> + +<p>"It's fascinating," Mollie remarked once, spearing +desperately at an elusive potato as the train +jerked and jolted over the rails at sixty miles +an hour, "to see how often you can raise your +coffee cup without spilling the coffee all over +your food!"</p> + +<p>On this night at supper Mollie was so screamingly +funny that the girls had all they could do +to keep their hilarity from making them conspicuous.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Nelson at a table for two across +the aisle smiled indulgently at their charges, and +once Mrs. Nelson met her husband's glance and +chuckled fondly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Pretty nice set of girls?" she said softly.</p> + +<p>"Pretty nice!" Mr. Nelson agreed.</p> + +<p>"I'm beginning to wish we were at Gold Run +now," confided Mollie, after dining. She and +Amy had slipped into the seat opposite Betty and +Grace.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I think it's all fun," cried Betty, for she +was always the last of the Outdoor Girls to feel +tired. "We change at Chicago to-morrow afternoon," +she added. "And then two more nights +on the train, and then Gold Run!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that sounds good," cried Mollie, adding +eagerly: "Tell me, Betty, shall we be able to +choose any horse we want for our own particular +mount?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," said Betty, adding with a smile: +"It will be interesting to see the kind of horse +each one of you will choose. Amy will like the +gentle one, Grace will choose hers for its looks +and yours will be the most vicious one in the +pack, Mollie."</p> + +<p>"Well, I like that!" said Mollie unperturbed. +"She wants to kill me off even before I get there."</p> + +<p>"Pack?" murmured Amy. "Is a 'pack' of +horses right?" But no one answered her.</p> + +<p>"I wonder," mused Grace dreamily, "if there +will be a tan one—all tan, you know, without +even a spot of any other color——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, of course," laughed Betty. "If we +haven't an all tan one in the corrals at Gold +Run, we'll send to the nearest ranch and have +one imported for you. Don't worry your little +head about that."</p> + +<p>A little while after that they stopped at a +water station, and most of the passengers got off +to stretch their cramped limbs. And, as the conductor +informed them that they would be there +for fifteen minutes at least, the girls followed +the general example.</p> + +<p>However, in their enthusiasm at finding the +good old solid earth under their feet once more, +they wandered too far, and the warning toot of +the starting train found them quite a distance +from the platform.</p> + +<p>They had not earned the title of Outdoor Girls +for nothing, however, and by sprinting for all +they were worth they were able to make the last +car just in the nick of time.</p> + +<p>"Whew, that was a close call," said Betty as +they made their way, panting, through to their +own car, where Mr. and Mrs. Nelson were looking +frantically for them. "No more water stations +for us."</p> + +<p>Darkness fell, and the porters moved about, +making up berths and answering the hundred and +one insistent calls of the passengers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<p>The girls went to bed with no protest whatever +and were soon sleeping the sleep of healthy youth. +It was toward midnight that they were rather +rudely jerked out of this beautiful sleep by a sudden +and almost violent stopping of the train.</p> + +<p>Betty, who was sleeping in a lower berth, she +and Grace having decided to take turns, sat up and +peered out of the grimed window into the gloom. +No station lights greeted her, as she expected +confidently they would. Nothing but inky, startling +blackness.</p> + +<p>That she was not the only one roused was +proved by the subdued sound of voices raised in +sleepy protest.</p> + +<p>"They ought to put that engineer in prison for +stopping like that," said a man's voice.</p> + +<p>"Gee! I thought it was a wreck, sure," came +another surly voice.</p> + +<p>At this moment a couple of legs dangled themselves +over the side of Betty's berth and in another +minute the owner of them slid down beside +Betty. Betty giggled nervously, but Grace +clutched her arm and shook it.</p> + +<p>"Listen!" she said. "There's nothing to laugh +about. This is a hold-up, that's what it is! You +know what your father said about there being a +lot of them around this place."</p> + +<p>That this conclusion had been reached by some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +one else in the car was proved by a woman's voice +that rose shrilly above the rest.</p> + +<p>"It's a hold-up, that's what it is!" she cried, +adding, with what seemed to Betty ridiculous +panic: "Oh, what shall I do, what shall I do?"</p> + +<p>"Better stop making a fuss, first off," growled +another masculine voice, and again Betty giggled +nervously.</p> + +<p>"Goodness, I hope I don't have to get out in +my nightie," she said, and poked her head out +through the curtains.</p> + +<p>"Look out," warned Grace, pulling her back. +"You may get shot or something."</p> + +<p>"Don't be silly," retorted Betty, not altogether +decided whether to be frightened or amused by +the situation. "There isn't anything out there but +a lot of funny looking heads sticking through +the curtains."</p> + +<p>"I don't see how you can laugh about it," said +Grace, through chattering teeth. "I don't think +it would be any j-joke to have all our m-money +taken from us——"</p> + +<p>"Sh-h—be quiet," warned Betty, peeping again +through the slit in the curtain. "Somebody's +coming. Listen!"</p> + +<p>Grace listened, and so, evidently, did every one +else in the car. No wonder that, scared though +she undoubtedly was, Betty found humor in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +situation. Heads of every kind and description +stuck through the curtains, women's, some in +boudoir caps, some without, men's heads, either +bald or with hair grotesquely ruffled by sleep, and +on every face depicted every one of the varied +emotions which have disturbed the human race +since time began. And there they were, all frozen +to immobility by the sound of two men's voices +raised in heated discussion.</p> + +<p>Then the owners of the voices came into view, +and the expression on all the faces changed to +bewildered amazement. Instead of the masked +bandit which they had half expected to see there +was a very portly and very excited gentleman and +with him was a conductor, not so portly but just +as excited.</p> + +<p>"I tell you," the conductor was saying, his +face red with wrath, "you are violating the rules +of the company by flagging this train for a personal +matter——"</p> + +<p>"You have told me that before," roared the +portly gentleman, waxing almost apoplectic. +"And I've told you I don't care a hang for the +rules of the company. What I want to find is my +daughter and that young scamp she ran away +with. And if you don't help me, I'll wring your +neck!"</p> + +<p>"I tell you there is no couple answering your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +description on this train," rasped the conductor, +as the two made their way, shouting and gesticulating, +through the two rows of amazed heads and +so on into the next car.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll be blowed," commented the voice belonging +to one of the heads; and as if that were +a signal, all the other heads promptly withdrew +to the accompaniment of exclamations and +laughter.</p> + +<p>In the darkness of the berth Betty chuckled.</p> + +<p>"Oh, they did look so funny, Gracie," she said. +"All those people with their heads stuck out into +the aisle. You should have taken a peek."</p> + +<p>"Humph," grunted Grace, unsympathetically, +as she prepared to climb into her berth again. +Then she said: "I hope if that man's daughter +takes a notion to run away again, she won't do it +on our train, that's all!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>THE HANDSOME COWBOY</h3> + + +<p>Next morning the girls were hilarious over the +mirthful episode in the train the night before. +Betty and Mollie "took off" the expressions on +the faces of their fellow passengers till Amy and +Grace shouted with glee.</p> + +<p>"Oh, stop it, you two," gasped Grace, finally. +"I'm sore from laughing. I think you would +make a hit as clowns in a circus."</p> + +<p>"My, isn't she complimentary?" lisped Mollie, +and the girls went off in fresh gales of merriment.</p> + +<p>"I wish," said Grace, after a pause, "that we +were going to reach Gold Run this afternoon, instead +of Chicago. I'm half afraid to spend another +night in the sleeper after the scare we got +last night. It might be a <i>real</i> bandit this +time."</p> + +<p>"Oh, what would we care?" said Betty carelessly. +"I'd rather like to meet a train robber, +myself."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + +<p>"About all a bandit could do would be to take +our money," added Mollie.</p> + +<p>"All!" cried Grace indignantly. "Yes, that's +all. And what would we do without any money, +I'd like to know!"</p> + +<p>"Goodness, we could always sell the ranch," +said Betty, so matter-of-factly that the girls +chuckled. "We have Peter Levine to fall back +on, you know."</p> + +<p>"'Peter Levine,'" repeated Amy, then added +quickly: "Oh yes, he was the man who wanted +your mother to sell the ranch."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and it was too bad of you to keep him +all to yourself, Betty," said Grace reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"You might at least have shown him to the +rest of us."</p> + +<p>"He wasn't anything to show," said Betty, experiencing +again the feeling of distaste she had +had for the man. "He was one of the most unpleasant +looking men I ever saw. Just the same," +she added lightly, "we owe him a lot. If it +hadn't been for him we probably wouldn't be sitting +in this beautiful train, speeding to our great +adventure. I told Allen I could almost love Peter +Levine for it."</p> + +<p>"You did?" queried Mollie, her eyes dancing. +"What did he say?"</p> + +<p>"He left me rather suddenly," said Betty, with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +a chuckle at the memory. "He said he was on +his way to kill Peter."</p> + +<p>"Poor Allen," laughed Grace. "It must be +awful to be that way. When is he coming out to +Gold Run, Betty?"</p> + +<p>"As soon as he finishes this case he is on now," +answered Betty, flushing in spite of herself as she +thought of Allen. "There is really no great +hurry about it, you know. Dad has made up his +mind to take a regular vacation while he's about +it, and I imagine mother won't care if she never +gets home."</p> + +<p>That afternoon they changed trains at Chicago, +bemoaning the fact that they had not time +to see something of the great city before they +traveled farther west. There was only half an +hour between trains and, as every one knows, +there can be little sightseeing done in that limited +space of time. As it was, for some reason they +could not ascertain, the outgoing train was over +an hour late in starting. If they had known this +fact in advance they might have managed to +spend their time more profitably than in cooling +their heels in the station waiting room.</p> + +<p>As it was, it was a rather disgruntled set of +girls who boarded the train for Gold Run and +allowed Mr. Nelson and the porter to find their +seats for them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't see why trains can't be on time," +grumbled Mollie, as she peered at the rather distorted +image of herself in the narrow mirror +between the windows. "Here it is nearly seven +o'clock and I'm as hungry as a bear."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Betty, cheerfully, "something tells +me they have a diner on this train. Come on, +girls, let's wash our hands and get something to +eat."</p> + +<p>The girls hardly knew which they enjoyed the +most, their dinner or the novel scenery that +slipped past them so swiftly. It was their first +venture into this part of the world, and they +found the initiation fascinating.</p> + +<p>"The trouble is," complained Amy, "it will be +dark before long and we'll have to miss all this," +with an expressive sweep of her hand toward the +car window.</p> + +<p>"It is too bad," said Betty, regretfully adding, +with a light laugh: "If we were only like the +princess in the story, the members of whose royal +house never slept, we would probably see more of +the scenery."</p> + +<p>That night the girls proved that Grace was not +alone in her fondness for sleep. There being no +more interruptions in the shape of fuming gentlemen +on the trail of runaway daughters, they +slept soundly through the long hours while the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +train plunged onward through the inky blackness +of the night. They did not stir until the sun, +shining on their faces, roused them to the realization +that another beautiful day had dawned.</p> + +<p>That is, it was beautiful up to noon. Then it +clouded down, and they ate lunch while the rain +dashed furiously on the windows of the dining +car.</p> + +<p>"I am thankful we are under cover," said +Betty.</p> + +<p>"Fancy riding on the ranch in this rain," put +in Amy.</p> + +<p>"No life in the saddle for me when it rains," +broke in Grace.</p> + +<p>During the afternoon the girls napped and +read. When the time came to get supper they +were glad to see that they had run away from +the storm and the sun was setting clearly.</p> + +<p>"Funny, how sleepy one gets," drawled Grace, +about nine o'clock. "I'll not stay up late."</p> + +<p>No one wanted to do that, and in less than an +hour all were sleeping soundly while the long +train rumbled along on its trip westward.</p> + +<p>"And this is the day," breathed Mollie the next +noon, as they made their way from the dining +car through some half dozen other cars to their +own. "Betty, I feel as if I couldn't wait to see +your beautiful ranch."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I wonder," said Grace as they dropped into +their seats once more, "if those cowboys are +really as good-looking as you say, Betty. I must +admit," she added, as she viewed the rather monotonous +landscape petulantly, "I haven't seen +anything that looks like a cowboy yet."</p> + +<p>"Goodness, hear the child!" cried Betty airily. +"She hasn't been near a ranch, yet she expects to +see whole droves of cow-punchers——"</p> + +<p>"Look," Mollie interrupted, grasping her arm. +They were slowing down at a station and there +were no less than three picturesque looking young +fellows loitering about the place. One was +astride an extremely nervous horse that shied as +the train puffed to a standstill and rose on his +hind legs as though trying his best to shake his +rider off. "There's a real show for you," Mollie +cried joyfully. "How does that look to you, +Gracie? True to life?"</p> + +<p>"Um, that's better," admitted Grace, while the +girls craned their necks for a better view of the +horseman. "Now if they only have that sort of +thing at Gold Run——"</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll have a chance to find out pretty +soon whether they do or not," broke in Betty, the +thrill of suppressed excitement in her voice. +"Dad says we ought to get there in an hour."</p> + +<p>"An hour!" wailed Amy, as the train jolted on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +its way once more and the romantic group on +the station were lost to view. "And I thought +we were almost there!"</p> + +<p>But the hour passed more quickly than the +girls had anticipated, for the view from the car +windows, becoming more and more interesting, +absorbed their attention. As a general rule the +country was flat, but now and then in the background +could be caught glimpses of heavily +wooded mountain ranges that would offer chances +for all sorts of adventures to the four eager +Outdoor Girls.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if there are wild animals in those +woods," said Amy, her eyes widening at the +thought. "Real ones."</p> + +<p>"You don't suppose they import stuffed ones, +do you?" asked Grace dryly.</p> + +<p>"Of course there are wild animals—lots of +'em," said Betty, feeling more and more gloriously +excited as they neared their destination. +"Maybe we can borrow a gun or two from the +cow-punchers and have a shot at 'em—animals, +I mean, not cow-punchers," she explained, with +a giggle.</p> + +<p>On top of these rather wild imaginings came +Mr. Nelson, telling them it was time to get their +things together, for they were within a few minutes +of Gold Run.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I know how long it takes you girls to put a +hat on," he laughed. "So I think you had better +start right away."</p> + +<p>Then—Gold Run! with the dash for the door +and Grace running back to rescue a half-empty +but still precious candy box and Mollie wanting +to know if Amy would please stop pressing her +suitcase in the middle of her back——</p> + +<p>Someway, Mr. Nelson managed to get them +all safely to the station platform, whereupon he +breathed a sigh of relief.</p> + +<p>"Whew! that's the hardest job you ever gave +me, Rose," he remarked to his wife, with a +chuckle.</p> + +<p>Here, as at most of the other stations, was a +handful of cowboys who had come to meet the +train. One of these, a handsome young fellow, +detached himself from the rest and approached +Mrs. Nelson, sweeping off his sombrero as he +did so.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Nelson, ma'am?" he asked in a soft +drawl that captivated the girls immediately.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Nelson smiled assent and the young fellow +indicated a buckboard drawn up to the station.</p> + +<p>"I brought the wagon," he said, with a grin +that showed a beautiful set of white teeth. "An'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +some saddle hosses, thinkin' you might like to +ride——"</p> + +<p>However, the ladies decided on the buckboard, +which was driven by a shy-eyed, sandy-haired +young fellow who gave the girls one frightened +glance and looked swiftly away again, for all +the world, Mollie said afterwards, as if he expected +them to bite him.</p> + +<p>Mr. Nelson elected to ride horseback with +Andy Rawlinson, which was the name of the +good-looking cowboy.</p> + +<p>As the driver chirruped to the horses and they +clattered over the bumpy road, Grace turned to +Betty with a smile.</p> + +<p>"I have realized the ambition of a life time!" +she said dramatically. "I have seen one handsome +cowboy!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>AT THE RANCH</h3> + + +<p>To the girls, that jolting ride was like an adventure +straight from the Arabian Nights. The +fact that they were squeezed four in a seat which +was meant to accommodate only three, served to +dampen their enthusiasm not a trifle. Mrs. Nelson, +riding in front with the bashful driver, +vainly sought to engage him in conversation. +After repeated failures she settled down to enjoy +the ride in silence.</p> + +<p>A dozen yards or so ahead of them Andy Rawlinson +and Mr. Nelson cantered up the dusty +road, their horses' hoofs making the dust fly +in a white cloud.</p> + +<p>"Goodness!" sneezed Betty, extracting a small +handkerchief from her pocket and applying it to +her nose, "I do hope those two keep their distance. +We'll be simply choked with dust."</p> + +<p>"I wonder," said Grace, as she rubbed her +dust-filled eyes, "if they don't have any rain in +this part of the world."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Of course they do; only this happens to be +the dry season," said Mollie, instructively, from +the heights of her superior intelligence. At least, +that is what she called it.</p> + +<p>"I'll say it's dry," grumbled Grace.</p> + +<p>"Ooh, look," Amy interrupted ecstatically. +"Isn't that a cactus over there? Oh, I've wanted +all my life to see some real cacti. Now I know +we're in the West."</p> + +<p>The girls were silent for a moment, gazing out +over the rolling plain—a plain studded with +stunted trees and sickly-looking bushes with here +and there a cactus plant for variety's sake—out +to the hazy mountains beyond, serene, calm, majestic, +jutting jaggedly into the dazzling blue of +a cloudless sky.</p> + +<p>"The mountains!" murmured Betty, half to +herself. "How I love them. The plains are fascinating +in a cruelly romantic way, but somehow +the mountains make one think of hidden springs +rushing swiftly into noisy foolish little brooks, +of bird songs, and the smell of cool damp earth, +of the crackling of dry twigs under one's feet, +and the pungent woodsy smell of camp fires—but +there," she broke off confusedly, as she realized +the girls were regarding her with fond amusement. +"I didn't mean to wax so poetic."</p> + +<p>"It's all right, honey," said Mollie, giving her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +hand a warm little squeeze. "You rave right +along. I know just how you feel, for I get that +way myself sometimes."</p> + +<p>"There <i>is</i> something mighty wonderful about +the mountains," added Grace softly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I love them, too," broke in Amy, adding +with such earnestness that the girls looked at her +wonderingly. "They are everything that Betty +has said. And yet when Betty spoke of the plains +as being cruel I couldn't help wondering if the +mountains weren't sometimes like that, too."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" they queried, with quick +interest.</p> + +<p>"I was thinking," Amy continued slowly, "that +the mountains might not seem so kind to one +who was lost in them—without a gun perhaps. I +have heard Will say that a person who had no +knowledge of woodcraft would find it almost +impossible to recover his path, once he had lost +it. And," she added, with a shudder, her eyes +fixed steadily on the distant mountain range, +"there are wild animals in those forests."</p> + +<p>"Of course there are," agreed Betty lightly, as +she saw how serious the girls' faces had become. +"Oodles of foxes and bears and raccoons and +things. Why, how would you expect to get pretty +furs when you wanted them if those things didn't +exist? Cheer up, Amy dear. We're a long way<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +from being lost in the woods without a gun!"</p> + +<p>A minute later the girls lost interest in everything +but the immediate present. For, in the distance, +but distinctly visible, loomed a long low +ranch house which the silent driver beside Mrs. +Nelson deigned to admit was on Gold Run Ranch.</p> + +<p>"You see it, girls?" cried the lady, turning a +beaming face to the girls. "You know, I feel +just like a little girl with a beautiful new toy."</p> + +<p>"And we're awfully glad you've got the toy, +Mrs. Nelson," said Grace, fervently.</p> + +<p>"Look," cried Mollie suddenly. "Your father +and that cowboy are turning off from the main +road. That must be where the ranch begins. Oh, +girls, oh, girls, I'm glad I came!"</p> + +<p>A few minutes later their jolting buckboard +turned in after the two horsemen, and since the +new road proved to be nothing but two deep ruts +worn in the grass and as the ponies attached to +the buckboard showed considerable excitement at +coming near home, the girls found themselves +holding on to each other convulsively to keep +from being thrown out on the stubbly grass at +the side of the road.</p> + +<p>"Whew, I'm glad that's over!" exclaimed Mollie, +as the driver drew in the rearing horses and +spoke to them soothingly. "Come on, girls," she +added, making ready to jump out. "I'm going<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +to remove myself from this buckboard before one +of those horses decides to sit in my lap."</p> + +<p>The girls laughed and followed her with alacrity.</p> + +<p>"Oh," cried Betty, hugging Amy ecstatically, +simply because she happened to be the nearest +one to hug. "There are the horse corrals over +there! And, oh, girls! look at the cows, dozens +and dozens and dozens of 'em. Mother," she +cried, turning wide-eyed to the latter, "do all +those 'anymiles' really belong to you?"</p> + +<p>"I presume they do, dear," said Mrs. Nelson, +her own face flushed with excitement. "I can't +quite take in the amazing truth of it yet."</p> + +<p>They were standing beside the first of a long +line of low buildings that seemed little more than +glorified sheds and which the girls decided must +be the "bunk houses" for the ranch hands.</p> + +<p>And while they were wondering if it would +be possible to slip over to the corrals for a closer +look at the horses, Mr. Nelson sauntered up to +them, with handsome Andy Rawlinson keeping +diffidently a little in the rear.</p> + +<p>"It's nearly supper time," he informed them +smiling. "And Andy here," he indicated young +Rawlinson, who grinned an acknowledgment, +"says that everybody has supper sharp on the +minute of six. So what do you say if we go up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +to the house and have a little refreshment?"</p> + +<p>The girls were not altogether reluctant to obey, +much as they desired a closer look at the bronchos, +for they realized that they were pretty hungry.</p> + +<p>The ranch house was one of those quaint old +structures which had begun as a tiny, one-story +frame cottage and had gradually been added to +until now it seemed, Betty said, to "spread all +over the landscape." It had porches and doors +in the most unexpected places, but the whole +house was painted such an immaculate white and +the shutters were such a friendly green that the +effect of the place was indescribably charming.</p> + +<p>"If the house is as clean inside as it looks outside," +whispered Grace to Betty as Andy Rawlinson +led them up on to one of the many porches, +"I'll never dare go in. I never felt so mussy and +dirty in all my life."</p> + +<p>"Never mind, we're all in the same boat," said +Betty encouragingly, and then they stepped into +one of the pleasantest rooms they had ever seen.</p> + +<p>It was big and cool and airy, in spite of the +fact that supper preparations were going on at +one end of it. Rough picturesque looking chairs +were scattered about, and over near the windows +a long table was invitingly set for six. And oh, +the delicious odor of cooking things that was +wafted on the air!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>At sight of them a stout but immaculately neat +and rosy-faced woman left whatever she was doing +with a frying pan on the stove and came over +to them, wiping her hands on her apron, her face +wreathed in smiles.</p> + +<p>"Go long with you, Andy Rawlinson," she +cried as the youth lingered rather awkwardly +in the doorway. "There's no need for you to +tell me who these folks are, for I already know +them for the new master and his lady and the +young ladies, bless their pretty sweet faces. +Come right in, all of you, and Lizzie here," turning +to a wholesome-looking, mouse-haired girl +who had come in from the other room, "Lizzie +will take you to see the rooms and you can have +your pick. But don't be long," she cautioned, as +they started to follow Lizzie and she turned back +to her frying pan on the stove, "for supper is all +ready and you must be nearly famished."</p> + +<p>If the girls had been impressed by the quaintness +of this quaint old house from the outside, +they were even more delighted by its interior.</p> + +<p>They passed down a rather dark and narrow +hall at the end of which were three low steps +leading to such a series of rooms as the girls had +never seen before, each furnished neatly but +plainly, the only touch of color being the gay +cretonne curtains at the windows. The rooms<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +all seemed to be connected by doors and to reach +these doors one was obliged to go up two steps +or down three or up one, as the case might be.</p> + +<p>"Goodness," cried Betty, when Lizzie had led +the way through three of these quaint little rooms +and the open doors seemed to reveal several others, +"I wonder if all these rooms were really +occupied."</p> + +<p>"Yes, miss," said Lizzie, halting and speaking +unexpectedly. "They was a time when these +rooms wuz all filled. Old Mr. Barcolm"—this +being the name of Mrs. Nelson's great uncle—"had +a many children and grandchildren an' +seemed like he was sot on 'em all livin' with him. +But they got to quarrelin' and all left th' old +man an' he was so mad he cut 'em all out o' his +will. At least," she finished, as though warned +by the intent look of her listeners that she had +said more than she had intended to, "that's what +they says. But mebbe it ain't the truth, fer all +I knows."</p> + +<p>Then she led them on again through the maze +of rooms while the girls thought amazedly of +what she had told them. Finally she came to a +stop in a room, larger than the rest, and turned +her rather stolid gaze upon Mr. and Mrs. Nelson.</p> + +<p>"Miz Cummins," she announced, dully—the +girls were afterward to find out that Cummins<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +was the name of the rosy-faced woman who had +met them so cordially at the door and who seemed +to be general housekeeper for the place—"Miz +Cummins thought as how this would be a good +room fer the mister and missus. They is some +nice rooms back of these fer the young ladies. +She sed, if you liked any of the other rooms better, +to take your pick. They's fresh water in the +pitchers," indicating a washstand with a bowl +and two pitchers of gleaming water upon it, +"an' if you want anythin' else, you wuz please to +tell me." And with these words, uttered so precisely +that it sounded like a rehearsed speech, +which, in fact, it was, Lizzie disappeared, leaving +the travelers to themselves.</p> + +<p>"Come on, girls," cried Betty, pushing them +before her into the next room. "Let's see what +kind of rooms 'Miz Cummins' has picked out for +us."</p> + +<p>They were not at all unusual rooms, being +both about the same size and nearly square and +furnished about as simply as they could possibly +be.</p> + +<p>"If it weren't for the different colored cretonne +at the windows," said Mollie, with a chuckle, +"these rooms might be twins. You and Grace can +have the lavender cretonne, Amy, and Betty and +I will take the blue."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't those beds look heavenly?" sighed +Grace, as she pulled off her hat and threw herself +upon the big, snowy-sheeted bed.</p> + +<p>"Goodness!" cried Amy, in dismay. "She's +flopped. Get her up, somebody, before she gets +the bed so dirty I can't sleep in it to-night."</p> + +<p>For answer Betty made a dash for Grace, +pulled her to her feet, and pushed her over to +the washstand.</p> + +<p>"See that water, Grace Ford?" she cried +sternly. "Now use it!"</p> + +<p>"And make it snappy," added Mollie slangily, +as she and Betty disappeared into the adjoining +room. "I can smell 'Miz Cummins'' cooking +clear in here!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>A SUDDEN STORM</h3> + + +<p>The girls spent the rest of that day getting acquainted, +at which agreeable task Andy Rawlinson, +the head cowboy, assisted pleasantly. The +latter introduced them to several others of the +ranch hands, all of whom were as picturesque and +good-natured as Andy himself.</p> + +<p>Escorted by Rawlinson and followed by the +admiring glances of the other cowboys, the girls +were introduced to the interior of the bunk houses +which, with their rude wooden cots built into the +side of the walls, their scanty and rather severe +furniture, and the romantic looking trophies fastened +to the bare boards of the walls, filled the girls +with curiosity and interest.</p> + +<p>Then on to the corrals, where some spectacular +broncho busting was staged for the sole benefit of +the visitors. In this dangerous business Andy +himself took a part, and the girls gasped with dismay +and later with admiration as the boy ran +alongside a vicious looking animal for a few<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +paces, then flung himself recklessly upon the +beast's back and clung there, seemingly defying +all the laws of gravitation.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he surely will be killed!" cried Amy, +clutching Betty in terror. "That horse will throw +him——"</p> + +<p>"Keep quiet, can't you, Amy?" cried Mollie impatiently, +beside herself with excitement. "Don't +you suppose he has ever done this sort of thing +before?"</p> + +<p>Then followed such an exhibition of sheer grit +and skill and dauntless courage as none of the +girls would ever forget.</p> + +<p>The vicious brute raced madly around and +around the corrals, cruel head upflung, nostrils +dilated, but still the man upon his back clung with +maddening persistence. Then he stopped so suddenly +that the man was almost flung over his lowered +head and the girls held their breath, but +Andy recovered himself and touching the spurs +to the beast's belly, sent it flying round the corral +once more. There was sweat on its body and the +flaring nostrils were blood red with the effort, but +the spirit of the beast was still unbroken.</p> + +<p>Around and around the ring he plunged, the +other horses galloping wildly from his path, then +suddenly as though the thing on his back had +maddened him past bearing, he began to buck<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +and to plunge and to rear himself on his hind +legs in a desperate effort to throw himself backward, +until it seemed to the fascinated, terrified +girls that Andy Rawlinson surely must be killed.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 261px;"> +<img src="images/p070.jpg" width="261" height="400" alt="HE CLUNG TO THE HORSE'S BACK AS THOUGH HE HAD BEEN A PART OF HIM." title="HE CLUNG TO THE HORSE'S BACK AS THOUGH HE HAD BEEN A PART OF HIM." /> +<span class="caption">HE CLUNG TO THE HORSE'S BACK AS THOUGH HE HAD BEEN A PART OF HIM.</span> +</div> + +<div class='center'><i>The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle.</i> <i>Page 64</i></div> + +<p>But Andy Rawlinson had not spent his twenty-eight +years in the saddle for nothing. He clung +to that horse's back as though he had been a part +of him, and when the outraged beast tried to +throw himself over backward for the second time, +Andy evidently decided that he had played +enough.</p> + +<p>A cruel blow of his spurred heel brought the +beast almost to its knees with a whinny of pain. +Then it jumped high in the air, and once more +began its furious race with this mysterious and +horrible being that clung so tenaciously to his +back.</p> + +<p>Andy rode him hard, cruelly hard, and when +the beast, panting, sweating, beaten, would have +stopped he dug the spurs in and drove him on, +on, until the broncho's breath came in sobbing +gasps and his legs trembled under him.</p> + +<p>Betty, who could never bear to see anything +hurt, shouted to Andy Rawlinson as man and +beast came abreast of her:</p> + +<p>"Isn't that enough?" she cried. "You've +beaten him. Stop! Please stop!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + +<p>And Andy Rawlinson, flashing his pleasant +smile, flung himself from his mount, while the +beautiful horse stood there, quivering, head hung +in shame——</p> + +<p>"Game hoss, that," said Andy, as he vaulted +the low railing and approached the girls. +"Fought like a thoroughbred."</p> + +<p>"And you were wonderful," cried Betty, with +her warm impulsiveness. "I never saw finer riding. +We were all afraid you were going to be +killed."</p> + +<p>Andy was pleased, but he looked at Betty rather +quizzically.</p> + +<p>"Strange," he drawled, with a smile on his +face, "strange what impressions you get sometimes. +Now I kind o' thought you was mad at +me, the way you called out to stop. Anyways, +you looked mad."</p> + +<p>"I was only sorry for the horse," Betty explained +gravely. "He was game, as you say, and +I hated to see his spirit entirely broken."</p> + +<p>Andy Rawlinson looked at her with admiring +approval in his nice eyes.</p> + +<p>"There speaks the real lover of animals," he +cried enthusiastically. "I hate to break a good +hoss myself, but you see it has to be done—for +the sake of the hoss. A hoss that's a bad actor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +is mighty like a mad dog. It has to be killed—or +broke. So we break 'em. But now," he said, +glancing toward the corrals, "I reckon you young +ladies would like to pick out some nice gentle +hosses to ride while you're here."</p> + +<p>The girls nodded and crowded forward eagerly +while Andy called to some of the cowboys +who had been lingering enviously near.</p> + +<p>"Bring out the sorrel and Nigger, will you, +Jake?" he said to one of them. "I'll corral Lady +and Nabob."</p> + +<p>The girls watched with interest while the boys +corraled the four horses Andy had selected and +led them forth for the visitors' inspection.</p> + +<p>They were splendid specimens of horse flesh, +and for a moment the girls were simply lost in +admiration. Nigger, as his name implied, was a +magnificent coal-black animal without a speck of +white upon him anywhere. He and Betty seemed +to form a mutual admiration society on the instant, +for with a gentle whinny he cantered up to +the girl and began nosing inquisitively in her +pocket in search of sugar. Luckily Betty had +brought some with her, and she fed a couple of +lumps to the beautiful animal, thereby definitely +sealing their pact of friendship.</p> + +<p>"Oh you, Nigger!" crooned Betty joyfully, as +she rubbed the velvet muzzle. "You and I are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +going to be great little pals, aren't we? You perfect +old darling!" And Nigger whinnied again +and nosed about for more sugar.</p> + +<p>"Well, I like that," cried Grace, breaking the +silence in which they had all been enjoyably regarding +the little scene. "Betty doesn't have to +choose her horse—it chooses her."</p> + +<p>"Oh well, Betty always did have a way with +her," laughed Mollie, and promptly turned her +attention to the remaining three horses.</p> + +<p>"Lady" was a lovely white filly with whom +Amy fell in love immediately.</p> + +<p>"This one's mine," she cried, putting a possessive +hand on Lady's flank while the latter +turned her dainty head and regarded the girl out +of softly-wistful brown eyes. "I wanted her as +soon as I saw her."</p> + +<p>Her claim was not disputed, for Grace was +raving over the horse called Nabob, who was, by +a strange coincidence, that very light tan color +which she most adored.</p> + +<p>"How did you know I always wanted a horse +just like this?" she cried, turning joyfully to +Andy Rawlinson who, with the other "boys" had +been looking on amusedly.</p> + +<p>"Well," drawled Andy, with a grin, "seems like +you are all suited pretty well."</p> + +<p>For Mollie, whose adventurous spirit craved a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +spice of the dangerous in everything, had taken +immediately to the sorrel, who had apparently +been given no name. He was a skittish horse, +gentle, as Andy explained, but "pow'ful nervous—had +to be sort o' coaxed along."</p> + +<p>"You're my horse, all right," Mollie declared, +stroking the animal's muzzle fearlessly, unmindful +of rolling eyes and nervously twitching ears. +"I don't like 'em too tame, old boy. And by the +way," she added, struck by a sudden inspiration, +"I've thought of just the name for you. I'm +going to call you 'Old Nick.'"</p> + +<p>And so, when the selection had been made, to +everybody's satisfaction, nothing would do but +the girls must try their mounts that very evening. +They had brought their riding tags in preparation +for their summer in the saddle, and when they +had slipped into the tight breeches, and leather +leggings, tailored coat, and snug fitting hat, +they looked like what they were—four thoroughly +modern and very pretty Outdoor Girls.</p> + +<p>Later, when they rode proudly about the +ranch on their splendid mounts, the ranch hands +were lost in admiration of them.</p> + +<p>"Gosh," said one, removing his hat and fanning +himself with it, for the evening was warm, +"when Andy said they was four girls comin' from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +the city to visit us I was plumb skeered. But +these here girls, they ain't no ordinary kind, no +siree. An' they sho' does know how to ride."</p> + +<p>However, the girls were satisfied with a rather +short ride that evening for they were out of practice +and they knew that sore muscles would be +the price of over-exertion.</p> + +<p>In the days that followed they took longer and +longer rides, even venturing along the rough forest +trails when Andy Rawlinson was with them +as guide and protector. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson +rode, too, but, not being as strenuous as the girls, +they were glad to have any one as capable as +Andy Rawlinson to look out for their charges.</p> + +<p>But one day, much as they liked him, the girls +got a little tired of Andy's chaperonage, and at +Mollie's suggestion they decided to "give him +the slip."</p> + +<p>"Anybody would think he was our granny, the +way he dictates to us," she complained, as she +flicked a fly from Old Nick's side, thereby causing +him to shy wildly. "We know our way about +all right now, and I'm sure we Outdoor Girls +never needed anybody to look out for us, anyway."</p> + +<p>"Hear, hear," laughed Betty, half way between +conviction and protest. "I don't like to have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +Andy around all the time, any more than you +do, Mollie, but I'm not sure that we know our +way about as well as we might. If we should get +lost——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't be an old wet blanket," cried Mollie +impatiently, and as Amy and Grace seemed for +once to be of her mind, Betty had nothing to do +but to surrender as gracefully as she could.</p> + +<p>It was after lunch that the girls managed to +slip away without being observed to where their +mounts were tethered at the edge of the woodland. +And oh, what a glorious sense of freedom +when they were mounted and cantering down a +cool forest trail—alone!</p> + +<p>They had been this way with Andy before, so +they had no fear of losing their path and they +urged their horses to more and more speed, intoxicated +by the sense of freedom.</p> + +<p>What they did not notice was that the sun had +disappeared behind an ominous bank of clouds +and the wind was rising threateningly. And so +they were caught fairly and squarely by the deluge +that swept upon them with a bewildering +suddenness.</p> + +<p>Where to go? Where to turn for shelter from +the driving rain and moaning wind? They +checked their horses while they gazed at each +other wildly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<p>Suddenly Betty's straining eyes made out what +seemed to be the outline of a little shed or cabin, +half hidden by surrounding foliage.</p> + +<p>"There's a house over there," she cried, hastily +dismounting and tying Nigger to a tree a little +off the path. "Maybe whoever lives there will +let us in till the rain stops."</p> + +<p>The girls followed her example and hurriedly +made their way on foot toward their one hope +of refuge. When they reached the house Betty +started to knock, then paused uncertainly, her +hand uplifted. For above the beat of the rain +and the shrill whine of the wind came a strain of +music, mournful, yet exquisitely beautiful. +Amazed, forgetful of their discomfort, the girls +listened while the throbbing, haunting melody +wailed itself to a close.</p> + +<p>"I—I've heard that music before," Betty murmured, +then rapped gently, almost timidly, on the +door.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>ALONG THE TRAIL</h3> + + +<p>Betty's knock had to be repeated twice before +the occupant of the cabin responded.</p> + +<p>"Knock harder, Betty, if——" Mollie was +beginning when the door opened at last and a +very strange person stood upon the threshold. +Tall, with stooped shoulders and a head bent a +little as though he had spent countless hours over +his violin, with long, curly hair, and with the +visioned eyes of the musician, the man was a +figure that would have made people turn to stare +at him anywhere.</p> + +<p>"I—we—we are very sorry to trouble you," +said Betty hesitatingly, as the musician made +no effort to break the silence. "But it is raining +hard, as you see, and we thought——"</p> + +<p>The man started and frowned.</p> + +<p>"Ah yes, of course," he said, moving aside and +motioning them into the room. "You will find +shelter here, but very little else, I fear."</p> + +<p>As the girls entered rather hesitantly the man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +turned from them abruptly and, lifting the violin +that lay upon the rough board table, he began +with the utmost gentleness to put it in its case. +The girls had the rather uncomfortable impression +that the man was forcing himself to be polite +to them—that if he had been any other than +a gentleman he would have refused them admittance.</p> + +<p>They looked uneasily at each other and then +toward the one window in the room, and one +thought was in the minds of all of them—to escape +from the enforced hospitality of this man.</p> + +<p>"I think the rain is letting up a little," said +Grace softly.</p> + +<p>"I reckon we won't have to stay more than a +few minutes," agreed Betty, then, as their long-haired +host put down his case and turned toward +them, she ventured a shy compliment.</p> + +<p>"We heard you playing as we came along," she +said. "It was very wonderful."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said the man gruffly, and turned +away so abruptly that Betty felt as if some one +had struck her.</p> + +<p>Mollie looked indignant and Amy put an arm +about Betty as she whispered:</p> + +<p>"The rain has nearly stopped, honey. Don't +you think we had better go?"</p> + +<p>So, with half-hearted expressions of thanks<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +from the girls and no expression of regret at all +from the man, the new acquaintances parted, the +girls hurrying down the dripping path to where +their horses were tethered.</p> + +<p>Once Mollie looked back toward the cabin, and +her indignation burst forth.</p> + +<p>"Look, he could hardly wait for us to get outside +to shut the door," she said. "Of all the ill-mannered——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't think he meant to be ill-mannered," +interposed Betty mildly, as she reached +Nigger and he whinnied a welcome. "He was +just distantly polite, that's all. He didn't want +to be bothered, probably, and he had a hard time +to keep from showing it."</p> + +<p>"Huh," grunted Mollie, as she flung herself +upon Old Nick's back and patted him soothingly. +"I'm sure he has some real reason for not wanting +folks around. He acted mighty funny to +me," she said.</p> + +<p>"Goodness, hear the child!" cried Grace, as +they rode swiftly back the way they had come +through the fine drizzle. "She never can resist +making a thief or something out of a perfectly +ordinary person."</p> + +<p>"Seems to me he is anything but ordinary," interposed +Amy thoughtfully. "No ordinary person +could play the violin the way he was playing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +it when we came up to the house. That sounded +like the work of a master."</p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed Betty, a faraway look in her +eyes. "He plays exquisitely, if he does live in a +little house away up in the woods. And I can't +shake off the impression that I have heard that +same selection played in just that same way somewhere +before."</p> + +<p>Though this first excursion had been somewhat +of a failure, the girls were by no means discouraged +and in the days that followed they rode +almost constantly. Finally they began to know +their way about like the natives.</p> + +<p>Their rides were taken mostly in the open +country, however, for in the woods they knew +lurked very real dangers. But these they avoided +more to save Mrs. Nelson worry than from any +personal fears.</p> + +<p>But one day, feeling more than usually adventurous +and growing more and more confident of +their ability to find their way around alone, they +dared venture along a rocky trail that offered +wonderful romantic opportunities.</p> + +<p>"Oh, this is the life!" cried Grace, as Nabob +stepped daintily over the rocks and underbrush +that almost completely overgrew the narrow path. +"A peach of a horse under you, the whole day +before you, and nothing to do but enjoy your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span>self. +Whoa-up there, Nabob. What's the matter +with you?" for the horse had whinnied softly +and shied almost imperceptibly to the side of the +trail.</p> + +<p>At the same time the other horses seemed to +catch some of Nabob's uneasiness, and the girls +were kept busy for the next few minutes soothing +them and coaxing them back into a normal mode +of progress.</p> + +<p>"Something scared them," said Amy nervously. +"Don't you think we had better go back, girls? +This trail seems to be getting narrower and narrower. +I don't believe anybody comes along here +very often."</p> + +<p>"Well, what of it?" cried Mollie sharply. +"That's what we are here for, isn't it? If we +wanted people, we could have plenty of them +right back on the ranch."</p> + +<p>"Stop quarreling, girls," said Betty, matter-of-factly. +"We'll eat pretty soon and that will +make everybody feel better." Kindly Mrs. +Cummins had put up an appetizing lunch for the +girls.</p> + +<p>"Look!" she cried a moment later, as the trail +broadened out and they reached a rather open +space in the woods through which they could look +straight down—for they were on a considerable +elevation—into the thriving little mining town of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +Gold Run. "I didn't know you could see Gold +Run from here."</p> + +<p>"Doesn't it look funny and tiny?" cried Mollie, +reining in beside her. "It must be an awfully +long way off."</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't this be a good place to eat?" queried +Amy hopefully, and the girls laughed at her.</p> + +<p>"We aren't hungry enough yet," said Betty, as +she turned her horse to continue down the trail.</p> + +<p>They rode on, following the trail as it wound +deeper and deeper into the woodland, catching +glimpses now and then of the mining camp down +in the hollow.</p> + +<p>It seemed as if they were really getting closer +to Gold Run and, fascinated by the new game +they were playing, forgetting their fears in the +new sights and sounds all about them, the girls +rode farther and farther into the heart of a forest, +whose smiling face often served to hide some +hideous danger.</p> + +<p>But to the girls all was beauty and sunshine +and they conversed merrily as they cantered +along.</p> + +<p>"When is Allen coming, Betty?" asked Grace. +"I had an idea he would be here before this."</p> + +<p>"Why, dad has written, asking him to come +as soon as he can," answered Betty, striving to +look unconscious. "You know what that girl<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +Lizzie said about mother's relatives—she never +knew she had them till she came here—and dad +thinks some of these people may make up their +minds to contest the will. They haven't made +trouble yet—but you never can tell. Listen, +girls," she added suddenly. "Will you promise +not to breathe a word of it if I tell you a big +secret?"</p> + +<p>"Hope to die," they chorused piously.</p> + +<p>"Well, our old friend Peter Levine has been +around pestering mother again."</p> + +<p>At this news, Grace, who was riding ahead, +checked her mount so suddenly that Betty had +all she could do to keep Nigger from swallowing +Nabob's tail.</p> + +<p>"For goodness' sake, put out your hand when +you do that next time," laughed Betty.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Grace as she gave Nabob a gentle +slap that started him on again, "Peter Levine +must want that ranch very badly, to be following +us all over the continent this way."</p> + +<p>"He seems to be rather anxious," said Betty +dryly. "He has offered mother twenty thousand +for it this time."</p> + +<p>"Going up," cried Mollie, with a chuckle. "If +your mother holds on much longer, Betty, she +will be a millionaire."</p> + +<p>"Well, mother is more certain than ever that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +there is something unusual about Gold Run +Ranch," went on Betty, as she urged Nigger up +a gentle slope. "She confidently expects to discover +a gold mine, and so that's another reason +why she thinks Allen ought to be here."</p> + +<p>"Goodness, let's all get out and dig," cried Mollie.</p> + +<p>"Can we have all we find, Betty?" called Amy, +with a laugh.</p> + +<p>"Every last gold brick," answered Betty happily, +and then they came upon another open space, +and there, lying not more than half a mile below +them, was the mining town of Gold Run.</p> + +<p>"Now here's the place to have some lunch," said +Betty, slipping to the ground and leading Nigger +off a little way into the woods where she tethered +him securely. "We can look right down into the +town and eat our lunch at the same time."</p> + +<p>The girls followed suit, and it did not take +them long afterward to discover that they were +very hungry. So out came the lunch basket, and +never did biscuits and cheese and fried chicken +taste more delicious than they did to the girls +right there in that romantic little spot in the +woods.</p> + +<p>"I hope it doesn't rain the way it did the other +day," said Mollie, as she lazily surveyed a cloudless +sky.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We haven't even a cabin in the woods to go +to this time," said Grace, adding, as the thought +brought up a picture of the long-haired musician +who had been so painfully polite: "I wonder +what our friend, Long Hair, lives on, anyway. +Maybe he goes out and kills bears and things. +They say bear meat is very good eating," she +added reflectively.</p> + +<p>"Maybe we can catch one ourselves and take +it home for dinner," suggested Mollie, and the +girls looked as if they did not like her suggestion +at all.</p> + +<p>"Methinks the bear would be more likely to +catch us," Betty was saying when a chorus of low +whinnyings and stampings coming from where +the horses were tethered caused them to jump to +their feet in alarm. Suddenly the nervousness +of the animals changed to panic and they began +to rear and plunge, straining madly at the tethering +straps, snorting and screaming with terror.</p> + +<p>"Look!" cried Mollie, her voice shrilling above +the noise. "There! In the woods! Oh, run for +your lives, girls! Run!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>DANGER AHEAD</h3> + + +<p>Coming toward the girls through the trees, +crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were +two great timber wolves. The girls, terrified as +they were, saw at a glance that it would be of +no use to run, the movement would only infuriate +the beasts and precipitate their attack.</p> + +<p>"The trees!" gasped Betty, feeling herself in +the grip of the deadly inertia that one experiences +sometimes in a nightmare. "Make for the trees, +girls; they are our only chance."</p> + +<p>Luckily, the branches of the trees swung low +to the ground, or the girls could never have saved +themselves. As it was, they had barely time +to swing themselves free of the ground when the +great beasts darted into the open, fangs bared, +snarling hideously. Then——</p> + +<p>Bang! Bang! Two sharp reports from the +direction of the woodland and one of the wolves +sprang clear of the ground, then slunk into the +underbrush, while the other staggered, fell, strug<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span>gled +to its feet, fell again, and after one convulsive +movement, lay still.</p> + +<p>While the girls stared, unable to follow this +swift turn of events, there was the sound of +running feet coming in their direction and the +next moment two figures broke through into the +cleared space.</p> + +<p>One was a little wizened man who seemed, for +all his apparent age, extremely agile. The other +was a girl, a splendid, big creature, who stood +as tall as the man, and who, like him, carried a +rifle.</p> + +<p>The two ran to the fallen animal, talking excitedly, +and turned it over to be sure it was dead. +They were so absorbed that they did not notice +the girls, who dropped down quietly from their +perches in the trees. The sight of the guns carried +by the newcomers had had a tremendously +reassuring effect upon them. The wonderful +sensation of relief that swept over them as they +realized their almost miraculous escape, was so +keen as to be almost pain.</p> + +<p>Still, they were not quite free from fear as +they approached the prostrate body of the big +beast, over which their rescuers were still bending. +It was the girl who first discovered them.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" she cried, straightening up and turning +upon the girls a frank regard. "You was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +the ones this old boy was after, eh? Look, Dad," +she added, pointing to where the four horses were +still bucking and snorting in fright. "There's +the hosses we heard, but I reckon 'twas these gals +the wolves was after."</p> + +<p>"I guess you're right," said Betty, trying to +smile through a shiver. "It wasn't very much +fun while it lasted, either."</p> + +<p>At this the old man, who had very kindly, keen +blue eyes in his seamed and wrinkled face, turned +and spat upon the ground meditatively.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to tell me," he said, looking +from one to the other of the girls, "that you +purty young girls was out hyar all alone, without +even a gun to protect yourselves with?"</p> + +<p>"I guess we were." It was Mollie who spoke +this time, and her tone was rueful. "We aren't +used to this part of the world, you see, and so +we didn't know what a risky thing we were +doing."</p> + +<p>"They are most as bad as the Hermit of Gold +Run, aren't they, Dad?" asked the big girl, her +eyes twinkling. "He goes about everywhere +through the woods without a gun and only his +violin for company; and, somehow or other, the +beasts never molest him. Some says he charms +'em with his violin, but I think it's just luck," +she added, with a wise shake of her head.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> + +<p>The girls, whose curiosity had revived as their +fears subsided, listened with interest to this +rather long speech of the mountain girl.</p> + +<p>"Has this—er—hermit, as you call him——" +Betty interrogated eagerly, "has he long curly +hair and is he tall——"</p> + +<p>"With stooped shoulders?" finished Amy.</p> + +<p>The mountain girl looked amazed.</p> + +<p>"Why yes. Do you know him?" she asked, +adding, as though to explain her surprise: "He +doesn't like to see people, you know, and folks +round here don't know much about him 'cept that +he plays the violin. That's why they calls him +the hermit, 'cause he lives alone an' hates everybody."</p> + +<p>"All except Meggy, here," interposed the old +man, a look of pride in his eyes as he gazed at +his daughter. "He likes her fust rate. She says +it's 'cause she takes him grub an' good things to +eat. But I know better."</p> + +<p>"Pshaw, Dad," cried the girl, flushing with +embarrassment. "It's jest one of your idees that +people like me better'n most when they don't at +all." As though to change the subject, she +touched the stiff animal at her feet with the toe of +her stout boot.</p> + +<p>"What you aim to do with this one, Dad?" +she asked. "It was your bullet got him. Mine<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +went wild, an' I jest injured the other feller."</p> + +<p>"Waal," said the old man, his gaze fixed speculatively +on the big beast, "he's not wuth the +trouble o' skinning an' his meat ain't much good, +so I reckon we'd better leave him, daughter. +Time I was gettin' back to the mine."</p> + +<p>He turned to go, but Betty was before him, +hand outstretched impulsively.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but you must let us thank you," she +cried. "If you and your daughter hadn't happened +along just then I don't know what we +should have done."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thet's all right, thet's all right," said the +old miner, too embarrassed to meet her eye. +"Glad we could be some use to you, ma'am. But +ef you'll take an old man's advice," he added, as +he and his daughter started through the woods +in the direction of Gold Run, "you won't go +roaming around in these parts without a gun +onto you. 'Tain't safe, noways."</p> + +<p>"We won't," they promised.</p> + +<p>Once their protectors were gone they were wild +with impatience to get out of this place of dangers. +Their fingers trembled as they untied the +horses, and it was as much as they could do to +get the animals to stand still long enough to +mount them.</p> + +<p>However, once in the saddle, they galloped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +along that narrow trail at full speed, regardless +of rocks and old stumps of trees and treacherous +holes, their one thought to reach the open road—and +safety.</p> + +<p>When at last the plain stretched before them, +level and red hot in the blazing afternoon sun, +they all uttered a silent prayer of thankfulness.</p> + +<p>"You were right, Amy," said Betty suddenly, +as Amy came up abreast of her, "when you said +the mountains could be cruel too."</p> + +<p>"We'll not ever dare tell the folks," said Grace, +shuddering at the memory of their close escape. +"They would never let us out of their sight +again."</p> + +<p>"It was mighty lucky for us that Meggy and +her father happened along just as they did," said +Mollie. "I know I couldn't have held on very +long where I was, and once on the ground I'd +have made a lovely tender morsel for the little +wolves."</p> + +<p>"You flatter yourself," retorted Grace, and +Amy shivered.</p> + +<p>"I don't know how you girls can joke about +such a thing," she said. "I was about frightened +to death."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you think the rest of us enjoyed it," +said Mollie, and at this point Betty thought it +was about time to interfere.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Wasn't it odd—Meggy's speaking of our +friend the musician and calling him the Hermit +of Gold Run?" she said. "I'm glad the poor +lonely fellow has a nice girl like Meggy to befriend +him."</p> + +<p>"Huh, he didn't seem to want befriending very +much when we saw him," said Mollie. "We +couldn't have been frozen more completely if we +had dropped on an iceberg."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, he has 'ze temperament,'" said +Grace, with an elaborate gesture.</p> + +<p>"Seems kind of strange, his living up there all +alone," said Amy thoughtfully. "You would +think any one who could play the way he can +would hate to bury himself in the wilderness. +Unless——" she paused, and Mollie jumped joyfully +into the opening.</p> + +<p>"Unless there is some reason why he has to," +said the latter, adding with an I-told-you-so air, +"I thought there was some mystery about that +man, and now you are beginning to think so +yourselves. You just keep your eyes open and +watch for a surprise!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>THE LANDSLIDE</h3> + + +<p>After their perilous adventure, the Outdoor +Girls shunned the forest unless they were accompanied +by one or more of the cowboys at the +ranch. Andy Rawlinson escorted them whenever +he could, but his duties as foreman of the +ranch kept him very busy and he sometimes appointed +one of the ranch hands to take his place.</p> + +<p>However, these excursions became less and less +frequent as the girls became more interested in +the booming mining town of Gold Run.</p> + +<p>This they had visited with Mr. and Mrs. Nelson +and Andy, and the whole thing made them +feel more than ever as if they were living some +motion picture drama.</p> + +<p>There was the regulation general store and the +inevitable dance hall where the lucky miners came +to spend their golden nuggets and the unlucky +tried to drown their misery in the companionship +of others.</p> + +<p>Their eyes wide with interest and pleasure and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +their tongues busy with questions, the girls cantered +down the narrow, crooked wagon road +called "Main Street." They read the names over +the doors of the dingy little shops, commenting +gayly upon their queerness.</p> + +<p>"Peter Levine, Attorney," read Betty aloud +from a sign just a little dingier than the rest. +Then she drew rein and waited for her mother, +who was riding more slowly with Mr. Nelson. +The other girls, who had ridden on ahead, suddenly +missed her, saw that she had stopped, and +came back curiously.</p> + +<p>"Look, Mother," Betty was saying as they +came up. "This is where dear Peter Levine hails +from. His checked suit and loud tie must look +funny in that dingy little shop," she added, with +a chuckle.</p> + +<p>"Well, let's ride along," suggested Mrs. Nelson +nervously. "He might see us and take it into +his head to come out. And I don't want to have +anything more to do with him until Allen comes."</p> + +<p>"Allen," thought Betty, as they turned and +cantered on again. "I wish he would hurry a +little. He seems an awfully long time coming."</p> + +<p>After they had seen all that there was to see +of the town itself, Andy led them to some of the +important mines on the outskirts. They listened +with lively interest while the young fellow ex<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span>plained +to them how the ore was extracted from +the mountain side where it had lain unmolested +for thousands of years.</p> + +<p>"It almost seems a shame to disturb it," said +Amy at this point, and the girls laughed at her.</p> + +<p>"Just give me a chance at it, that's all," said +Mollie longingly.</p> + +<p>At one of these mines they met the old man +and his daughter, Meggy, whose timely arrival +a few days before had saved their lives. The two +were in the midst of their work, the girl lifting +and hauling with all the strength of a man, and +they scarcely looked up as the party passed them, +although the old man responded with a wave of +his hand when Andy Rawlinson called to him.</p> + +<p>"How's it goin', Dan?" asked the former.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well enough, well enough," responded the +man, with what seemed to the girls enforced +cheerfulness. "We'll strike gold afore to-morrow, +sure."</p> + +<p>"Poor old Dan Higgins," said Andy, with a +sobering of his good-natured face. "He's always +goin' to strike gold 'to-morrow.' Sure, +there's no one I'd rather see strike it rich than +Dan an' that girl of his. But I'm 'fraid they're +jest plumb unlucky. Funny thing, luck—and +gold," he went on to soliloquize. "Some young +fellers they come out here, thinkin' they can get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +back to the girl at home in a couple o' years with +their pockets plumb full o' nuggets, an' instead, +they toil their lives away till their hair grows +white an' their skin gets crackly like parchment, +an' never even a glimpse o' yellow. An' mebbe +the feller next to him drills a hole three feet deep +and he strikes a vein. Yes siree, if ever there +was a real thing in this world, that thing is +luck."</p> + +<p>The girls were impressed and their hearts +ached for Dan Higgins, his years of hope and +work and his profitless mine. As for the girl, his +daughter, Meggy——</p> + +<p>"Are you sure Dan Higgins hasn't any chance +of striking gold?" asked Betty, gravely.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it," returned Andy Rawlinson +quickly. "There's gold all around here—everybody +thought Dan was mighty lucky when he +staked out his claim. He may find gold yet. +But," he added, and there was a fatalistic quality +in his tone that chilled the girls, "you always have +to reckon on luck."</p> + +<p>In the days that followed it became quite the +usual thing to see the Outdoor Girls, mounted +on their splendid horses, galloping along the open +road or cantering through the town of Gold Run. +It was not long before they became general favorites +in this country where girls of their type<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +were scarce, and the girls knew most of the +rough but good-hearted miners by name. But +perhaps of them all, their best and staunchest +friends were old Dan Higgins and his daughter, +Meggy.</p> + +<p>The girls often visited the mine and were always +greeted with the utmost heartiness by its +owners. Once Betty had caught Meggy looking +longingly at Nigger as he was trying his best to +get some nourishment from the stubbly grass, +and with the quick impulsiveness that was hers, +she asked the girl if she would like a ride.</p> + +<p>At the sudden radiance that flooded Meggy's +face, Betty turned away abashed. She felt as +though she had been given a glimpse of the +girl's soul.</p> + +<p>Meggy had her ride, and in the days that followed +she had many others and the girl's fondness +for Betty became almost worship. She +liked the other girls, for they were always kind +to her, but Betty was her idol.</p> + +<p>"I have wanted all my life to own a horse," +she confided to the Little Captain one day, as she +stroked Nigger's shining coat with almost reverent +fingers. "It would be the first thing I +would buy for myself if dad should strike it +rich." Her tone was brave, but the eyes that +sought her father's toiling figure were sad. "Poor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +old dad," she said softly, "I don't think he would +keep on any longer, if it wasn't for me."</p> + +<p>On one of their visits to the mine the girls +were astonished to find their mysterious musician +there ahead of them. He seemed to be trying to +help, but from where the girls watched unobserved, +it looked as though he were more in the +way than anything else.</p> + +<p>Meggy was the first to discover them, and as +she called out a greeting, the Hermit of Gold Run +rose quickly to his feet and disappeared into the +woods.</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow," said Meggy, looking pityingly +after him. "We let him try to help us because +it seems to amuse him, but he really doesn't know +how to work with his hands. His fingers were +made for the fiddle."</p> + +<p>"I certainly would like to find out more about +that man," said Mollie, her forehead puckered +into a puzzled frown. "He sure does act pretty +funny."</p> + +<p>"We'll have to visit him again some day," said +Betty lightly, and then turned to question Meggy +on the progress of the mine.</p> + +<p>On their way home they took up the subject +of the strange musician whose queer comings and +goings had begun to be of more than usual interest +to them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He acts—in a—a stealthy way," said Grace, +striving for the exact words to express her meaning. +"He positively sneaked away from us this +morning. It seems to me people don't act like +that unless they are afraid of something."</p> + +<p>"He might just be afraid of people," Betty reminded +her. "Or he may dislike people and want +to be left alone. That would account for the +name of 'hermit' that the natives around here +have given him."</p> + +<p>"But an ordinary hermit wouldn't be able to +play like a virtuoso," objected Amy.</p> + +<p>"Well, nobody said he was an ordinary hermit," +retorted Mollie.</p> + +<p>"To change the subject before you girls get +to the hair-pulling stage," laughed Betty, as she +turned Nigger's head toward the ranch, "I wish +we could do something for Dan Higgins and +Meggy. It's a shame for that splendid, loyal girl +to have to spend all her youth, when she might be +having good times like other girls, in doing the +kind of work that's only fit for a man to do."</p> + +<p>"And she's so brave about it, too," added Grace +admiringly. "She keeps her head up like a thoroughbred."</p> + +<p>"I've asked her to come over to the ranch," +Betty went on thoughtfully. "She has a passion +for horses, you know, and I told her we'd have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +Andy Rawlinson pick her out a beauty from the +corrals. I could see that she was awfully tempted, +but she said no, she couldn't leave her father."</p> + +<p>"Probably the real reason she refused was because +she hadn't decent clothes to wear," said +Mollie sagaciously. "The poor girl is almost in +rags."</p> + +<p>"I wish we could help," sighed Betty. "But +she and her father are proud, like most of the +other people around here. They just have to +stand on their own feet."</p> + +<p>"I wonder if they have enough to eat," mused +Amy. "It would be dreadful to think of them +actually hungry."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess there's no danger of that," said +Mollie. "As long as there are wild animals in +the woods and Dan Higgins and Meggy have +guns they won't starve to death."</p> + +<p>"And maybe they really will find gold, anyway," +said Grace hopefully.</p> + +<p>They rode along silently for a while. In their +abstraction they had taken the long way home, +instead of cutting directly across the ranch in the +direction of the house. They were on a rather +narrow trail, so narrow, that they could not ride +two abreast but were strung out in single file, +Indian fashion. On one side of them rose the +mountain, huge and majestic, and on the other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +was a sheer drop of a hundred feet or so into a +rocky canyon.</p> + +<p>The girls had always loved this ride because +of the wonderful view it afforded them of the +surrounding country. But that very morning +Dan Higgins had warned them not to go that +way.</p> + +<p>"The mountain is pow'ful oncertain," the old +man had told them. "Part of it is apt to fall on +you any time if you get too close to it."</p> + +<p>Betty thought of this warning, but too late. +An ominous rumbling jerked her eyes upward +and she saw a sight that almost froze the blood in +her veins. It seemed indeed to her terrified fancy +as if the whole mountain were falling upon them. +A great mass of dirt and brush and rock was +hurtling down upon them with sickening velocity. +A landslide—and they were directly in its path!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>IN THE CAVE</h3> + + +<p>Luck was with the Outdoor Girls that day—or +fate—call it what you will. In the side of the +mountain close to where they were, had been +drilled a hole forming a large, artificial cave—probably +the work of some miner who had abandoned +operations almost at the beginning either +from lack of funds or ambition.</p> + +<p>Into this hole the girls dashed, driven on by +their frightful peril. Amy was the last to enter, +and she had barely urged her nervous little filly +into the opening when, with a terrific rumbling +and rattling, the mass of earth and stones fell, +covering the mouth of the cave and leaving them +in such absolute darkness that it seemed as if +they must suddenly have been stricken blind.</p> + +<p>"Oh! oh!" moaned Amy, her trembling hand +striving vainly to quiet the frightened animal +under her. "We're buried alive, girls, we're +buried alive! We'll never get out of this—never!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Please stop that, Amy," Betty's voice came +out of the darkness, harsh, unnatural, like the +crack of a whip. "The only danger we're in +is the danger of losing our heads. Whoa, there, +Nigger, old boy. Take it easy, beauty—there's +nothing to be frightened about—there—there——" +and she crooned to the big beast soothingly.</p> + +<p>Someway, the other girls managed to follow +her example, enough at least to quiet their restless +mounts. Grace was sobbing, more from nervousness +than fright, but she managed to say with +a catch in her breath, "Stand still, Nabob—don't +be such a s-silly. Isn't your Auntie Grace here +with you?"</p> + +<p>But it was Mollie who had the real problem. +For while "Old Nick's" skittishness was more +amusing than dangerous in the open, here, in +this small place, with the other horses already +difficult to manage, any real panic on his part +would be more than likely to precipitate a real +tragedy.</p> + +<p>In the dark, unable to see a foot before their +faces, only the power of their wills to prevent a +stampede of their panicky horses which would +mean death to them all and, worst of all, the +possibility of smothering or starving to death in +this walled-in cave! This was the appalling situation +which confronted the four Outdoor Girls.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mollie, her teeth grimly set, her knees dug into +Old Nick's sides, was doing her best to keep him +from trying to climb on the back of one of the +other horses.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mollie, make him stop it," cried Amy +frantically. "He'll kill poor Lady. Make him +stop!"</p> + +<p>"What do you suppose I'm trying to do," +gritted Mollie between clenched teeth. "Do you +think I like riding the side of a wall? Get down +there, Old Nick, you wicked beast. Just wait till +I get you outside."</p> + +<p>Although this threat was uttered sternly, Mollie +had never been nearer to crying in her life. +Luckily, a cruel dig of her spurs in the horse's +side brought the big beast to his senses. He +dropped to the ground and stood there, quivering +in every muscle and nickering plaintively.</p> + +<p>"Good work, Mollie, old girl," cried Betty's +voice encouragingly, and Mollie, wiping a tell-tale +drop from the corner of her nose, answered +in a voice that held never a quiver: "I couldn't +fail you, Little Captain. Not at a time like this," +and then she felt very brave and heroic.</p> + +<p>The horses were quiet, huddled together at the +farther end of the cave as though they found comfort +in company, and thus one great danger was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +passed. But the girls had still the other and +greater one to face.</p> + +<p>"We'd better dismount," said Betty's voice, surprisingly +calm and matter-of-fact. It was this +ability of Betty Nelson's to keep her nerve and +her head in any difficulty, to see almost at a +glance the best thing to do and the best way to do +it, that had led the girls to call her their Little +Captain. And now as they listened to her cool +voice, directing them as always in an emergency, +some of her self-control communicated itself to +them and they followed her leadership without +question.</p> + +<p>"The horses will stand quietly now, I think," +she said, and swung herself cautiously from Nigger's +tall back and felt her way slowly past the +horses, out to the small open space between them +and what had once been the mouth of the cave.</p> + +<p>The girls followed her example, the horses +making no protest, save to whinny anxiously and +crowd a little closer together.</p> + +<p>"Where are you, Betty?" cried Grace plaintively, +stubbing her toe on a stone and emitting +an injured "ouch."</p> + +<p>"I'm over here," responded Betty reassuringly. +"Stretch out your hand and I'll grab it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, for a match, my kingdom for a match!" +said Mollie, brushing her hand across her eyes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +as though to relieve them of the weight of that +terrific darkness. "Why aren't we men so we +could carry 'em in our pockets—the matches I +mean, not the men," she added with a chuckle that +ended in a sob.</p> + +<p>"Well, here we are," said Grace, when they had +found each other in the inky blackness. "Now +you've got us, Betty, what are you going to do +with us?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know—yet," responded Betty honestly. +"I guess we've got to talk it over and decide what +it is best to do."</p> + +<p>Amy groaned.</p> + +<p>"Meanwhile we smother," she said.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," retorted Betty briskly. "There's +enough air in this place to keep us alive for +twenty-four hours at least."</p> + +<p>"Twenty-four hours," protested Amy, the panic +she had felt at the first threatening to overwhelm +her again. "But, Betty, there isn't a chance in the +world that anybody will come along here in the +next twenty-four hours."</p> + +<p>"That's right, too," agreed Mollie, a prickly +sensation of pure fright tickling the roots of her +hair. "Dan Higgins said this trail was practically +never used because of the danger from the mountain. +This is a pretty pickle, this is!"</p> + +<p>"And even if anybody should come along,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +Grace pointed out gloomily, "they couldn't be +expected to guess that there are four girls and +four horses buried in this hole in the wall."</p> + +<p>"And I don't believe we could ever in the world +make ourselves heard through that mass of rocks +and dirt," added Mollie. "Looks as though we +had just about come to the end of our rope, I +should say."</p> + +<p>Amy began to cry again softly, and Betty, who +had been listening with increasing irritation to +this conversation, burst forth indignantly:</p> + +<p>"Of all the silly things I ever heard!" she denounced +them hotly, "I think you girls are the +worst. You seem to forget that you are Outdoor +Girls and that we have been in a good many tight +places that were almost as bad as this. Why, we +can't expect to have good times and adventures +without once in a while getting the worst of it. +If this is the way you are going to take a little +bad luck," she finished her tirade in a fury that +whipped the girls like a lash, "then I'm through, +that's all. I refuse to be one of four Outdoor +Girls that don't deserve the name."</p> + +<p>She paused, and the girls were silent for a moment, +feeling a little dazed. The tongue-lashing +had been just what they needed, as Betty very +well knew. It made them angry.</p> + +<p>"Oh well," said Mollie sullenly, "if you are so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +much better than the rest of us, Betty, perhaps +you can tell us what to do. I'm sure we would be +just as glad to get out of this as you."</p> + +<p>"Then help me think of some way to do it," +Betty retorted, more quietly. "Surely we can't +accomplish it by making up our minds ahead of +time that we are doomed."</p> + +<p>"Suppose you suggest something, yourself," +said Grace resentfully.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Betty, whose quick mind had +been working busily. "I am as sure as you girls +are that the possibility of rescue from anybody +outside is slight. Of course," she added breathlessly, +"when we don't come home dad and mother +would become worried and start a search party."</p> + +<p>"They wouldn't miss us before night though," +said Grace.</p> + +<p>"Exactly," Betty caught her up. "And at night +they wouldn't be as apt to discover the landslide +as they would in the daylight. They would +naturally think of the woods first. But the next +day, anybody familiar with the trail would be +sure to notice that there had been a landslide and +they would be almost sure to connect it with +us——"</p> + +<p>"But Betty," wailed Grace, forgetting that a +moment before she had been angry with the Little +Captain, "all that is just supposition, and you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +know as well as we do that we are likely not to +be discovered until—until——"</p> + +<p>"It's too late," finished Mollie. "Why don't +you say it? It's the truth."</p> + +<p>"And since it is the truth," Betty took her up +briskly, "there is all the more reason why we +should take things in our own hands and work +out our own salvation."</p> + +<p>Betty impatiently cut short Amy's discouraged +"How?"</p> + +<p>"Now listen," she said. "There are plenty of +stones in this cave——"</p> + +<p>"My toes cry aloud that they know it," interjected +Grace, but no one laughed—they were too +intent upon Betty. They were beginning to realize +what she had in mind, and the realization +brought a thrill of hope.</p> + +<p>"If we could find any sharp enough—stones +I mean," Betty went on, "we might use them as a +sort of shovel and try to dig our way out. Of +course," she added, as the girls began to grope +eagerly among the dirt and débris at their feet +for stones sharp enough to answer the purpose, +"the mouth of the cave may be choked up too +solidly with dirt and underbrush and things for +us to get through. But in that case we'd just +have to think up some other way, that's all."</p> + +<p>"I've got a peach," cried Mollie slangily, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +her hand struck a big stone sharp enough to serve +her purpose. "I ought to be able to dig my way +through the side of a house with this fellow."</p> + +<p>"And here's the very one that got too familiar +with my toe," said Grace, as she picked up another +serviceable stone. "I'm going to get even +with it now. I shall make it work as it never +worked before."</p> + +<p>After much groping and knocking of heads +together, Betty and Amy also armed themselves +with imitation shovels, and so the work began.</p> + +<p>And it was work indeed. For what seemed +hours to the anxious girls they toiled, digging +sometimes with the stones, sometimes in desperation +with their hands until it seemed to them they +must have dug their way half through the mountainside. +And still that blank wall of dirt, that +impenetrable darkness, that stubborn barrier between +them and the blessed sunshine. Amy was +the first to give way.</p> + +<p>She sank back on the dank floor of the cave and +buried her face in her dirt-stained hands.</p> + +<p>"We'll never get out of here!" she sobbed. +"And I'm st-starving to d-death!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>IN THE DARKNESS</h3> + + +<p>Now the girls had been hungry before the +accident occurred and, it being several hours +since then, they were, by this time, as any one +could readily see, in a rather bad state. Therefore, +Amy's complaint was very unfortunate and, +had it not been for Betty, it might have ruined +the morale of the girls completely.</p> + +<p>"Good gracious, Amy, don't talk about starving +to death," cried Mollie, dismayed. "That's coming +too near the truth for comfort. Oh, this +miserable stone. It's cutting clear through my +hand!"</p> + +<p>"And my back is nearly broken," said Grace, +adding, as she turned ferociously upon the still-sobbing +Amy: "Stop that crying, Amy Blackford. +Don't you know it is catching?" and a suspicious +break at the end of her sentence, proved +the truth of the assertion.</p> + +<p>"Girls, please don't," begged Betty, still digging +automatically at the stubborn wall of stones<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +and dirt. "If you all begin to cry, then we might +just as well throw up our hands and say we are +beaten."</p> + +<p>It was not long after that that the girls found +what they called their "second wind." They forgot +that they were ravenous, that their backs +ached and that their hands were scratched and +torn. They worked furiously in the darkness, +their goal the out-of-doors they loved so well.</p> + +<p>For a long time they did not notice that the air +was becoming very close and oppressive and that +the perspiration that bothered them so was caused +not alone by their exertion. And when the realization +did come it had the effect of goading them +on to more furious effort.</p> + +<p>That the horses also felt the change in the atmosphere, +was attested to by their increased nervousness. +The trampling of their hoofs sounded +ominous to the girls—they made queer little puffing +noises as if they were getting their breath +with greater and greater difficulty.</p> + +<p>In one terrible instant the girls realized what +might happen when what was discomfort to the +animals now, should become torture. Maddened +by pain and fright, it would be no longer possible +to quiet them. And then—and then——</p> + +<p>"Don't you think we'd better stop and try to +quiet the horses?" asked Mollie once, as the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +champing and snorting in the blackness behind +them became more marked.</p> + +<p>"I don't think it would do any good," Betty +answered between clenched teeth as she scooped +and dug, scooped and dug. "Better keep on working, +girls. It's the one chance we have."</p> + +<p>Oh, the horror of it, the nightmare of it! The +heavy air, the hideous dark, the nervous trampling +of those death-bearing hoofs—— The +girls spoke no longer. They were beyond speech. +Almost maddened by terror themselves, they +scooped and dug, scooped and dug——</p> + +<p>Once they thought they heard voices outside, +and shrilly they cried to their imaginary rescuers. +No answering "hallo" reached them, and the only +effect of their cries seemed to be to add to the +fright of their horses and so endanger themselves +still more.</p> + +<p>On, on, on—while their aching muscles seemed +to grow numb with the strain and their lungs +nearly burst with the pressure upon them.</p> + +<p>At last they gave in—it seemed that they had +to give in. All except Betty, who kept on desperately, +doggedly, her muscles barely able to respond +to the last call she was making upon them.</p> + +<p>"I can't go on any more. I'm all in," said +Mollie, a desperate quiet in her voice. "My arms +are like lead and my hands are so numb I can't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +feel the stone. I guess this is the last adventure +of the Outdoor Girls. We have just had one too +many, that's all."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mollie!" Betty drew in a labored breath +that caught on a sob. "Please don't give up—please! +I've counted on you——" she paused, +jerked her head up, her attention turned on the +spot where her hand still automatically dug at +the earth.</p> + +<p>She sniffed, experimentally, sniffed again, stilling +the wild throb of hope that was almost a pain +at her heart.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Betty, what is it?" cried Mollie, +sensing something strange. Amy and Grace +fought off the dizziness that was stealing over +them and leaned forward.</p> + +<p>But Betty had jumped to her feet, had dropped +the stone and was tearing with her bare hands +at that thin place—that thin place—— It gave +under her mad onslaught, and suddenly her hand +slipped through into the air—the air—— A +breath of it swept into her tortured lungs, and +she leaned there, laughing, crying, the tears of +sheer weakness running down her dirt-stained +face.</p> + +<p>"Girls!" she babbled, "out there is the air—the +good old air—enough of it for all of us! +We're saved, do you hear? We're saved!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<p>Exhausted as they were, the girls tore at the +tiny hole that Betty had made until there was an +opening big enough for them to crawl through.</p> + +<p>And oh! the indescribable ecstasy of it, the joy +of it, just to lie there, trembling with weakness, +and drink in great drafts of that life-giving air, +thinking of nothing, caring for nothing but that +they were alive there in their great out-of-doors. +One never comes really to appreciate life until +one has been close to death.</p> + +<p>It was a long time before they ventured to go +on. They had not realized how near exhaustion +they had been until the tension had relaxed. +When at last they did start for home, on foot, +they were still trembling and they dared not +glance down the canyon at their right for fear +of becoming dizzy.</p> + +<p>They had been long hours in the cave, and +when they finally left the trail and cut across +the plain toward the ranch it was nearly dark. +They did not realize the startling sight they must +present to any one who might not know of their +plight until they met Andy Rawlinson and some +other boys from the ranch starting out to search +for them.</p> + +<p>At sight of the mud-stained, blood-stained Outdoor +Girls, Andy Rawlinson fairly tumbled from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +his pony and came running toward them while +the other boys stood agape.</p> + +<p>"What in the world——" began Andy, but +Betty stopped him with a weary gesture. As +briefly as she could she told him what had happened +and asked him to go back and get their +horses.</p> + +<p>"It's getting pretty dark now, you know," she +reminded him, when he seemed inclined to linger +and ask questions. "Soon you won't be able to +see what you're doing. Won't you please hurry?"</p> + +<p>"Surest thing you know," responded the boy +quickly, his nice eyes full of sympathy for them. +"Some of the boys will see you home—your folks +are getting awfully worried about you, you know—and +the rest of us will go on and dig out the +poor bronchos. So long. We'll be back pronto."</p> + +<p>"And now home," sighed Betty, as she looked +at the ranch house just visible in the distance. +"And a bath—and something to eat. What does +that sound like, girls?"</p> + +<p>"Heaven!" they answered.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>THE LURE OF GOLD</h3> + + +<p>The task of releasing the imprisoned horses +was not such an easy task as the girls and even +Andy Rawlinson had thought it would be.</p> + +<p>In the first place, it took Andy and his company +some time to discover the place along the trail +where the landslide had occurred, for Betty's account +had been hasty and excited and she had +overlooked several details that might have helped +them in their work.</p> + +<p>And when they did reach the scene of what +might have been a tragedy the ranch hands were +appalled by the immensity of the landslide. +There had been several small ones in that vicinity, +but this was what Andy termed a "humdinger."</p> + +<p>There was a stamping and snorting from inside +that dirt-choked cavern that, there in that lonely +spot on the very edge of night, seemed positively +uncanny to the men who stood and listened.</p> + +<p>"Better get busy, boys," said Andy suddenly. +"Those hosses ain't goin' to get any easier in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +they minds an' it's about time we dug 'em out of +there. Back to Gold Run as fast as we can get +there for the right kind of tools from the miners. +We may need some more men, too. Gosh, but I +didn't know it was as bad as that," he added with +a glance over his shoulder as he turned his pony +and dashed back down the trail in the direction of +Gold Run. "Reckon 'twas just plain grit that +got those girls out."</p> + +<p>Back in Gold Run they found several miners +who were willing to offer both themselves and +their tools toward the work of liberation, and +soon the cowboys returned, accompanied by men +with lanterns, and fell to work with a will.</p> + +<p>Two hours later, Andy Rawlinson ventured +into the blackness of the cave, swinging his lantern +before him, and led forth the first of the +frightened horses.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the girls had bathed away the stains +of their adventure, and after a hearty meal cooked +by an over solicitous "Miz Cummins" and served +by a frankly envious and inquisitive Lizzie, they +felt considerably more like their old self-confident +selves.</p> + +<p>However, they begged not to have to go to bed, +as Mrs. Nelson anxiously suggested, until the +boys had returned with their horses.</p> + +<p>"I'm beginning to get dreadfully worried,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +Betty confessed after an interval of staring out +into the darkness. They were on the biggest of +the many porches boasted by the quaint old ranch +house, waiting eagerly for the first sound that +would announce the return of Andy and the others +with their horses.</p> + +<p>"I'd never get over it if anything happened to +Old Nick," said Mollie, taking up Betty's theme. +"Maybe we'd better borrow some other horses +from the corral and follow them."</p> + +<p>"You'll do nothing of the kind," said Mr. Nelson, +his voice sounding unusually stern there in +the darkness. "I am going to keep my eye on you +for the rest of to-day, at least!"</p> + +<p>And so they contented themselves as well as +they could with waiting and finally were rewarded +by the regular beat of galloping horses in +the distance.</p> + +<p>"They're coming!" cried Betty, springing to +her feet, then turned to her father pleadingly: +"You won't mind if we go down to meet them, +will you, Dad?" she asked. "They are our +chums, you know—the horses, I mean."</p> + +<p>Mr. Nelson nodded, and down the steps the +girls sprang, racing out to meet that sound of +galloping hoofs which was coming ever nearer. +A few minutes later they were caressing the nervous +animals that had gone with them into the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +very shadow of death, rubbing their noses, laughing +and crying over them and calling them endearing +names till it's a wonder the cowboys, who +stood by, grinning sympathetically, did not turn +green with envy.</p> + +<p>"Some anymiles do have all the luck," said +one of them.</p> + +<p>After that the girls and their horses were almost +inseparable. If left to themselves, the latter +would follow the girls around like dogs. Even +"Old Nick," who had been the most difficult to +understand and win, now was devoted to Mollie. +She was the only one who could quiet him, and +though there were some who did not care to ride +him because of his skittishness, he was never +anything but gentle and docile with her.</p> + +<p>As the days passed the girls became more and +more interested in Meggy Higgins until the longing +to give her one good time, in spite of her +pride, became almost an obsession with them.</p> + +<p>One day Betty begged so hard that the girl +finally consented to take a holiday and go out +with them for a day's fun. But Meggy surrendered +reluctantly, in spite of the fact that this invitation +of the girls had been like a glimpse of +wonderland to her.</p> + +<p>"I reckon dad can get along one day without +me, specially as the hermit can do part of my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +work. Pa's broke him in so he can be real helpful +now——"</p> + +<p>But she got no farther, for Betty threw her +arms around the surprised girl and hugged her +happily.</p> + +<p>"I'm awfully glad!" she cried, adding with +eyes that sparkled: "I tell you what I'll do. I'll +let you ride Nigger. There's a darling little +brown colt over at the ranch that I've been just +dying to try out."</p> + +<p>Sudden tears sprang to Meggy's eyes, and with +the disgust of all mountain folk for the expression +of sentiment, she turned away impatiently to hide +this tell-tale sign of weakness. But Betty had +glimpsed the tears and she was satisfied.</p> + +<p>The day was all that even Meggy Higgins' +starved imagination could have expected of it. +The miner's daughter was so beatifically happy +that the girls found a new and most satisfying +thrill in her enjoyment.</p> + +<p>All her short, work-driven life Meggy Higgins +had wanted a horse, a beautiful, sleek animal +with supple limbs and shining coat like the one +that she was riding now—Betty's Nigger. Many +have desired a fortune, some political fame, others +social position, but Meggy merely desired a +horse. And even this had been denied her because +her father had been dazzled by the lure of gold,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +a fortune always just before his eyes, but never to +be grasped.</p> + +<p>The girls were sorry for old Dan Higgins and +his thwarted hopes. But they were infinitely +more sorry for this girl of his to whom hardship +was a daily reality and pleasure a golden vision +to be indulged in only by girls whose fathers did +not own a worthless claim.</p> + +<p>"Sometimes," spoke up Mollie, as she reined +Old Nick into a walk, "I wish I had the courage +to rob somebody else's mine, Meggy, and plant +the gold in yours. It doesn't seem fair for you to +work all the time and get nothing for it."</p> + +<p>The girl smiled sadly.</p> + +<p>"I'm used to that," she said, with a grim philosophy +far beyond her years. Then she added, +with a quick loyalty that made the girls' hearts +warm to her: "I don't mind. I'd do anything +for dad an' I guess if he thought I was gettin' +discouraged he'd jest plum up an' quit. He's gittin' +old, he is, an' he ain't that spry like he used +to be. All he has is his hope in that mine—an' +me. Ef you killed that you might as well kill +him."</p> + +<p>After a while they stopped in the shade of +some stunted trees and had lunch. The girls +could tell from Meggy's popping eyes that the +delicacies they drew forth from Miz Cummins'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +lunch basket had never been dreamed of in all her +hum-drum, joyless life.</p> + +<p>Tongue sandwiches, buttered corn-bread, fried +chicken that you were at perfect liberty to take +up in your fingers and nibble to your heart's content, +jelly and olives and hot cocoa in the thermos +bottle with rich cream already in it—truly a feast +even worthy of the Outdoor Girls!</p> + +<p>After lunch the girls strolled around a bit, +leaving their mounts to graze lazily. They talked +of many things, the adventures they had had, +the curious people they had met in their adventuring, +while Meggy listened to it all, drinking +it in thirstily.</p> + +<p>"To think of all the things you've seen," she +breathed at last. "An' I've spent all my time +sence I was able to toddle, I reckon, betwixt our +cabin an' the mine—back an' forth, back an' +forth——"</p> + +<p>After that they rode on again and it was quite +late in the day when they decided it was time to +be going back.</p> + +<p>"I don't see," said Grace, as they neared the +ranch, "why we don't lay out some claims and +start digging ourselves, girls. The north end of +this ranch is quite near the other mines. We +might strike gold."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> + +<p>The words were spoken laughingly, but Meggy +took them seriously.</p> + +<p>"Mebbe there's some truth in that," she said +soberly. "Dad allus reckoned they might be gold +on Gold Run Ranch."</p> + +<p>A short time later they left her at the mine and +Betty mounted Nigger, leading the brown colt by +the reins. Meggy had tried to stammer some +words of thanks, but the girls would have none +of it. They waved to her gayly and started for +home.</p> + +<p>After an unusually long and thoughtful silence, +Amy spoke up softly.</p> + +<p>"Betty," she said, "if Meggy is right about the +ranch, there being gold here, I mean, then what +your mother had thought all along may turn out +to be the truth."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Betty, a joyous lilt to her voice +that the girls knew well, "Allen will be here in a +few days and then we'll start our gold hunt. +Gold!" she repeated softly. "There is something +romantic in the very sound of it!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>A DISCOVERY</h3> + + +<p>Up to this time the weather had been remarkably +fine, but on this particular morning the +Outdoor Girls woke to find that the sky was +overcast and there was every indication of a +stormy day.</p> + +<p>"Oh bother," grumbled Mollie, as after their +breakfast she gloomily surveyed the landscape +from the cretonne-curtained window. "Just as +I was about to suggest a real adventure, too!"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean—'real adventure?'" +queried Grace, lazily. The day before she had +bought a new box of candy and a magazine, and +so it happened that she was the only one of the +four of them who really did not care whether it +rained or not.</p> + +<p>Mollie turned from the window and regarded +them resentfully. Then she looked more hopeful +as her eyes rested on Betty, who was sorting the +contents of a too-crowded dresser drawer.</p> + +<p>"You are with me, anyway, aren't you, Betty?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +she asked, almost wistfully. "We'll leave these +other two at home, and you and I will go on our +adventure."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Betty, with a lack of enthusiasm +that fell with a dampening effect upon Mollie's +ears. The disastrous quality of their last adventure +had had a dampening effect on the girls' +enthusiasm for this form of entertainment, and +for the present they preferred the safety of the +ranch to the lure of the great unknown, as it +were. However, this condition of mind was only +temporary. They would soon be as eager as ever +for new experiences. "I'm game for anything, +Mollie dear, as long as you keep away from land-slides +and wild animals."</p> + +<p>"Just hear the child!" said Mollie disgustedly. +"As if an adventure would be an adventure without +a little danger mixed in!"</p> + +<p>"Just what is your great idea, Mollie?" asked +Betty mildly. Mollie was beginning to glower. +And if somebody did not stop her at the beginning, +there was sure to be a fracas. Betty knew +this from experience. "Suppose you tell us about +it and get it out of your system. As I said before, +I'm willing to do anything if it isn't hunting +lions and tigers."</p> + +<p>Mollie grunted disgustedly.</p> + +<p>"Well, there isn't a thing really exciting about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +it, if that's what you mean," she said. "I just +thought that since we had nothing special to do +to-day we might visit the Hermit of Gold Run +again. We might be able to solve the mystery +about him in some way," she added as a special +inducement, since the girls still seemed unenthusiastic.</p> + +<p>Grace laughed indulgently.</p> + +<p>"Just how do you expect to solve this mystery?" +she asked, with a giggle. "You certainly +can't do it by looking at him."</p> + +<p>"Oh well, if that's the way you feel," retorted +Mollie, feeling very much abused, "I'm sorry I +spoke about it. Only I thought we had already +decided to pay him a visit."</p> + +<p>"And so we had," said Betty, closing the +dresser <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'draw'">drawer</ins> with a bang and coming unexpectedly +to her aid. "And I, for one, am with you +in that, Mollie. I have felt from the first," she +went on earnestly, while Mollie regarded her with +growing hope, "that I had not only heard the +selection that that man played but that I had +seen him somewhere before—quite a long time +ago."</p> + +<p>Impressed by Betty's earnestness, Grace had +laid down her magazine and Amy was becoming +interested.</p> + +<p>"I know it's ridiculous," Betty continued, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +though to justify herself, "but I can't help feeling +that way, just the same."</p> + +<p>"That thing he played sounded familiar to me, +too," Grace admitted, now entirely abandoning +her magazine and sitting up. "It has been haunting +me ever since we heard him playing that day, +and yet I can't think of the name of it."</p> + +<p>Softly Amy began to hum a popular song, but +Mollie interrupted her impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Well then, since you all feel that way about +it," she said eagerly, "I don't see why it wouldn't +be fun to scout around his cabin a little bit and +see if we can't pick up some information. I'm +really curious about him."</p> + +<p>"All right, let's," said Betty, with the decision +for which she was famed. "Get your riding +togs on, girls, and we'll play detective."</p> + +<p>This time it was Mollie who held back.</p> + +<p>"How about the weather?" she demurred. +"Looks as if we were likely to get wet."</p> + +<p>"Who cares?" said Betty airily, adding, as she +stopped at the door to make them a little bow: +"It would give us an excuse to see His Highness +again."</p> + +<p>Half an hour later they had saddled their ponies +and were cantering off briskly to visit the Hermit +of Gold Run.</p> + +<p>"Aren't you a little bit afraid to go in there?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +asked Amy, reining in as they reached the narrow +trail through the woods that led near the +musician's cabin. "We might run into some +wolves, as we did that other time."</p> + +<p>"We were much further in the woods than the +Hermit's cabin," said Mollie impatiently. "And +it was in an entirely different direction, too. Go +ahead, silly, or I'll ride right over you," and as +she was urging Old Nick forward until he +crowded uncomfortably against the little white +filly, Amy had no other course but to do as she +was bid.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, she was not the only one who +was uneasy, and it might have been observed that +the girls glanced often into the shadows of the +underbrush on either side of the narrow trail.</p> + +<p>There were wild animals in that forest, as they +had good reason to know, and though they seldom +ventured this close to civilization, still there was +no use in tempting fate!</p> + +<p>"I didn't know it was as far in as this," said +Grace, after they had ridden some distance in +silence. "Are you sure we haven't passed the +cabin, Betty?"</p> + +<p>"Why, we aren't nearly there yet," was Betty's +discomforting reply. "It's quite a way beyond +that next turn in the trail."</p> + +<p>Grace said nothing, but she gripped the reins<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +harder in her hands. She had made up her +mind that at the first sign of danger she would +turn Nabob and make a dash back down the +trail for safety.</p> + +<p>After that the silence became so pronounced +that Mollie noticed it and laughed nervously.</p> + +<p>"Why all the noise?" she asked jocosely. "It +nearly breaks my ear drums."</p> + +<p>"Hush," cried Amy warningly. "I thought I +heard something."</p> + +<p>"That was your own heart hammering against +the tree trunks," retorted Mollie dryly, at which +the girls giggled and the tension relaxed.</p> + +<p>"Let's talk about something nice," Betty suggested. +"Gold, for instance."</p> + +<p>"Or Allen," teased Grace. "I reckon you won't +be glad or anything when he gets here."</p> + +<p>"I guess mother will be gladder than any of +us," replied Betty promptly, trying to shift the +spotlight from herself. "She was so excited +when I told her what Dan Higgins said about the +possibility of there being gold on the ranch that +she hardly closed her eyes all night. I told her +she was getting to be a regular adventuress."</p> + +<p>"Like her daughter," said Mollie, with a +chuckle.</p> + +<p>"Just think of the story we can tell the boys +when we get home," said Amy rapturously, add<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span>ing +apologetically as the girls glanced at her: +"If we find the gold, I mean."</p> + +<p>"Listen to the child!" cried Betty gayly, while +the other girls laughed. "And we haven't begun +to dig yet. Hold your horses, Amy dear, hold +your horses."</p> + +<p>They did this very thing literally the next moment, +for they came in sight of the queer little +cabin of the man whom the natives called the +Hermit of Gold Run.</p> + +<p>Quickly they jumped down, tethered the horses +as they had done before on the day when they had +first made the acquaintance of this remarkable +man, and started rather hesitantly down the path +toward the house.</p> + +<p>As they came nearer the haunting strains of +the music that had puzzled them before once +more floated out through the open windows and +they paused, lost once again in the spell of it.</p> + +<p>The music stopped, and they went on, hardly +knowing what their next move was to be, yet +drawn irresistibly by their curiosity. Then once +more they heard the violin, but evidently the +mood of the player had changed. The melody +fraught with pathos, wailing, pleading, no longer +reached them. The theme had changed—light, +airy, sparkling, it reminded the girls of fairies +dancing on the grass in the moonlight.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mollie grasped Betty's arm.</p> + +<p>"I know that!" she cried excitedly. "It's something +of Chopin's, a nocturne, I think. Girls, I +know where I heard that selection played just +that way before."</p> + +<p>They gazed at her, their eyes asking the question +before their lips could form it.</p> + +<p>"At the Hostess House!" cried Mollie. "Don't +you remember that concert we gave with some +of the great artists?"</p> + +<p>"That big benefit!" cried Betty excitedly. +"You've got it, Mollie! That's what I was trying +to think of!"</p> + +<p>"Sh-h," said Grace, a finger to her lips. "He +has stopped playing. He may hear us."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Betty. "Let's get back to the +trail where we can talk this thing over."</p> + +<p>They did not stop at the trail, however, for +some memory of the danger lurking in the woods +drove them out on to the main road where they +might talk in peace.</p> + +<p>"Now then," said Betty eagerly, as they +reached the road, crowding their horses close together +and reining them in to a walk. "What do +you make of this, girls? If this man is really one +of those artists that played at that big concert, +then he is famous and there is something more +than strange in his hiding up here in the woods."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Goodness, we don't need anybody to tell us +that," said Grace. "He certainly must be in hiding +for something he's done—unless he has been +disappointed in love," she added sentimentally.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe he was ever in love with anything +but his violin," said Mollie.</p> + +<p>"Can't somebody think of the name of the +violinist that played at the benefit?" asked Betty, +who had been trying for some minutes past to +accomplish that very thing.</p> + +<p>"It was something like Croup, I think," said +Mollie, wrinkling her forehead.</p> + +<p>"Goodness, how romantic," said Grace, with a +laugh.</p> + +<p>"I tell you how we can find out the name," +said Amy suddenly.</p> + +<p>"How?" they questioned.</p> + +<p>"I think I have a program, and I can send +home for it," said Amy.</p> + +<p>"Good girl!" cried Mollie, slapping her on the +back with a violence that nearly threw her from +Lady's back and caused that gentle little animal +to turn her head inquiringly. "We little thought +we had a genius in our midst!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>ALLEN ARRIVES</h3> + + +<p>Amy was delighted with the praise she received +from the girls and the first thing she did +after they returned to the ranch was to write +home to her guardian for the concert program +she had so luckily saved.</p> + +<p>Naturally the girls were more curious than ever +after this second trip to his little cabin in the +woods and longed to find out about this strange +musician who hid himself so persistently from +the world.</p> + +<p>"Of course," Grace said, during one of the +many times when they talked the matter over, +"we're not at all sure that the Hermit is the same +man who played at our benefit."</p> + +<p>"Of course we're not," Mollie agreed with her. +"There must be a great many musicians who can +play those same selections that we heard him +play."</p> + +<p>"That's all very true," said Betty argumentatively. +"But if he is really this same musician<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +that played at our benefit, then that explains the +queer hunch I've had of having seen him somewhere +before."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mollie resignedly, "I guess all +we can do for the present is to wait until Amy +gets her program. When we find out the name +of the violinist that played for us then we can +decide what to do next about the Hermit."</p> + +<p>Reluctantly they admitted that what she said +was true, and for the time being let the discussion +rest there.</p> + +<p>Then came the day when Betty received a letter +from Allen announcing that he would reach Gold +Run the following afternoon on the four-thirty-five +train. The letter ended by begging her to +meet the train herself and please not to send any +one else, for no one else would do!</p> + +<p>Betty's pretty face flushed a deeper pink and +her eyes shone brighter as she read this passage—and +two or three others—several times over. +Then she went to find the girls and tell them the +good news.</p> + +<p>They also had received mail from the other +boys and some of the folks at home, and she +found them all together on the eastern porch +having the time of their lives. Mollie and Amy +were perched on the railing while Grace and a +box of candy reposed in a hammock.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, have you finished reading yours already?" +Mollie greeted the Little Captain as she +swung up the steps. "It was such a fat one I +thought it would take you till lunch time at least +to get through with it."</p> + +<p>"Speak for yourself," retorted Betty, too happy +to mind being teased. "Guess what, girls!" she +added, unable to keep the news to herself for +another minute, "Allen arrives via the Western +Limited at four-thirty or thereabouts to-morrow +afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Hooray!" cried the girls, and momentarily +forgot their own letters in very real delight. Allen +Washburn was a favorite with all of them.</p> + +<p>"Will you let us all go to meet him, Betty +dear?" asked Grace, with a twinkling smile. +"Or does he insist on seeing you alone?"</p> + +<p>"Don't be silly," retorted Betty good-naturedly. +"I know he would take it as a personal +slight if you weren't all there to welcome him."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know," Mollie commented ruefully. +"Something tells me he would manage to +live through it even if we weren't there. But go +on, Betty," she added. "Tell us what else he has +to say."</p> + +<p>"That's pretty nearly all," said Betty truthfully. +"He said he would save all the news until +he saw me—us. One thing he did say," she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +added, dimpling: "The boys are simply wild with +jealousy. They say it is all a deep dark scheme +on Allen's part to get out here with us."</p> + +<p>"Us!" repeated Grace, with a giggle. "Much +he cares about the rest of us."</p> + +<p>Be that as it may, they certainly all turned out +that following afternoon to meet the Western +Limited which was bearing Allen swiftly toward +them.</p> + +<p>There was the usual gathering of picturesquely +garbed miners and cow-punchers on the platform, +and for most of these the girls had a smile and a +nod.</p> + +<p>"Seems funny to think how strange everything +looked to us when we first came," remarked +Grace, as they waited for the train. "Now we +feel as much at home as if we had lived here +all our lives."</p> + +<p>"The people are all so nice and friendly, too," +said Amy. "It's wonderful how soon you come +to know them."</p> + +<p>"It is a nice atmosphere," Betty agreed. "At +home in the East we want to know pretty much +all there is to know about people we make our +friends. But out here they take you for granted. +Nobody seems to care where you came from or +who your relatives are——"</p> + +<p>"Huh," grunted Mollie. "I guess in a good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +many cases it wouldn't do to be too curious," +she said cynically. "If you believe the stories +you read and the movies you see everybody who +has committed a crime anywhere from petty larceny +to murder skips out West to escape just punishment."</p> + +<p>"Then at this moment," drawled Grace, glancing +around at the rather harmless looking crowd +on the station platform, "we are surrounded by +thieves and murderers. Though I must say they +are a pretty nice looking set," she added, and the +girls giggled.</p> + +<p>"Grace could forgive a man anything, if he +was only good-looking enough," remarked Amy.</p> + +<p>"Here comes the train!" cried Betty suddenly, +as the Western Limited thundered around a curve +in the distance and steamed toward them. Immediately +she forgot everything but that Allen +was on that train and that in a moment more +she would see him——</p> + +<p>Then Allen himself, handsome as ever, eagerly +scanning the faces on the platform as he jumped +from the train the instant the porter opened the +door.</p> + +<p>It took him barely a moment to discover the +group of girls, and he came toward them, hand +outstretched, eyes alight with greeting.</p> + +<p>"Well, if this isn't great!" he cried in his hearty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +voice, shaking hands with all of them but looking +mostly at Betty. "Knew I could trust the +Outdoor Girls to turn out for a rousing welcome. +How's everything?"</p> + +<p>"Just fine," they assured him, and then Betty +took him in hand.</p> + +<p>"We've brought a wagon along from the ranch +to carry your luggage," she said, dragging him +over to the wagon beside which two of the boys +from the ranch were waiting bashfully. "Come +over and meet a couple of our cow-punchers, and +they will help you load your trunk on board."</p> + +<p>All this accomplished, the cowboys and Allen +having formed an immediate and staunch friendship, +Betty introduced the latter to the horse she +had brought for him to ride. The pony was a +magnificent animal, dark brown in color with +a curve to his graceful neck and a flash to his +eye that proclaimed his thoroughbred ancestry.</p> + +<p>"Say, you old peach of a horse," said Allen, +fondly stroking the soft muzzle, "you're just +about the most perfect thing of your kind I've +ever seen. It seems almost a sacrilege to ride +you."</p> + +<p>"His name is Lightning," Amy volunteered. +"The boys call him that because he can outrun +almost any other horse on the ranch. Though," +she added loyally, "I shouldn't wonder if Lady<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +could beat him if they should give her a head +start."</p> + +<p>This characteristic speech brought a laugh, and +Allen regarded the four other beautiful horses +in the group.</p> + +<p>"You girls seemed to have picked winners yourselves," +he said admiringly. He studied them +a moment, then his eyes narrowed quizzically as +he turned to Betty.</p> + +<p>"I'll bet you a box of candy against a pair of +gloves," he said, "that I can tell which horse belongs +to which. Do you take me?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," said Betty. "Go ahead."</p> + +<p>He guessed them nearly right, except that he +gave Nigger to Mollie and Old Nick to Betty.</p> + +<p>"Almost does not avail," sang Betty gayly. +"You owe me a box of candy, Allen Washburn."</p> + +<p>He looked at her for a moment laughing, and +suddenly her gaze faltered. There had been +something new and forceful about Allen ever +since he had come back from the war that had +made Betty a little afraid of him. But she did +not think any the less of him—oh, no indeed!</p> + +<p>"I'll give you a dozen of them if you'll take +them," he was saying ardently—evidently in reference +to the candies.</p> + +<p>"And if she won't take 'em, I will," said Grace, +with a gusto that made them all laugh.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> + +<p>On the way home the girls, with what they +thought was great consideration, cantered along +in front, leaving Allen and Betty to bring up the +rear. Allen blessed them for it, but Betty was +furious and kept up such a running fire of comment +and laughing narrative that Allen had no +chance to say the things he had wanted to say.</p> + +<p>Only once as they neared the ranch she paused +a moment, pointing out over the dazzling plains +to the purple tipped mountains in the distance.</p> + +<p>"Isn't the country beautiful, Allen?" she asked +breathlessly. "I've fallen dead in love with it."</p> + +<p>"It looks too good to be true," Allen agreed +seriously, then added boyishly, with a glance that +took her in, as well as the scenery: "Just now, +I don't care if I never go home!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>A TIP</h3> + + +<p>For the next few days the girls took possession +of Allen, showing him the sights with a will +and showering him with details of their adventures +till the poor fellow's head was in a whirl +and he could hardly tell whether it was the wolves +or the landslide that had frightened the girls into +the cave on that memorable afternoon.</p> + +<p>"Seems to me," he said, as the girls showed him +the cave—at a safe distance from the mountain, +one may be sure—"that you young ladies need a +chaperone pretty badly."</p> + +<p>"Do you think you're it?" teased Mollie.</p> + +<p>"Great guns! I should hope not," said Allen, +with a flash of his white teeth. "I would rather +face a dugout full of Boches than try to keep +tabs on you girls. See here," he added, suddenly +serious. "Do you mean to tell me that you were +really caught in that cave with your horses and +nothing to dig your way out with but your +hands?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And a few sharp stones that we found," +Betty nodded soberly.</p> + +<p>Allen whistled softly.</p> + +<p>"No, I should think not," he said slowly. "It's +a wonder that with you and your horses, too, in +that small space, you didn't smother before aid +could reach you."</p> + +<p>"We should have," spoke up Amy quickly, "if +it hadn't been for Betty. She was the one who +kept us at it when we were ready to give up."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and she was the one that kept at it when +the rest of us <i>had</i> given up," Mollie reminded +her. "She was the one who kept digging until +she forced the hole through. If it hadn't been +for her we would have all given up and just died +there, I guess."</p> + +<p>Betty, who had been getting redder and redder +through this recital of her heroism, found it hard +to meet Allen's eyes as he turned to her with all +his heart in his own.</p> + +<p>"The girls give me altogether too much credit," +she protested. "Anybody will fight when he has +his back against the wall. And now let's take Allen +to see Dan Higgins' mine," she added lightly. +"Dan Higgins and his daughter Meggy are great +friends of ours, Allen, and I know you will love +them as much as we do."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Your friends will always be mine," Allen assured +her gallantly, and they rode off gayly toward +Gold Run.</p> + +<p>On the way they told him a good deal of Dan +Higgins and Meggy, and Allen listened with sympathetic +interest.</p> + +<p>"That surely is tough," he said boyishly. "But +of course his case is no different from that of +hundreds of others who have come out here to +'God's Country' in the hope of beating the daily +grind and jumping to fortune at one fell swoop. +That sounds rather Irish, doesn't it?" he added, +with his contagious grin.</p> + +<p>"You're right about that, I suppose," said Betty +gravely. "As you say, Dan Higgins is just one +of a hundred others in the same pitiful fix. But +at least he has had his dreams and the excitement +of gambling. He chose this sort of life, and so +we don't feel so awfully sorry for him. But it +is his daughter Meggy that we pity. She is +really a wonderful girl, Allen, and to condemn +her to a life of work and poverty is really a +crime."</p> + +<p>"Well, I didn't do it," said Allen plaintively, +adding quickly as Betty's face clouded: "I beg +your pardon, little girl, I didn't mean to be flippant. +But, like her father, there are many others<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +in the position of this girl. A man can't choose +to live a life like that without dragging his family +into it too."</p> + +<p>"Then he shouldn't have a family," said Mollie +hotly. "He should make up his mind to be +an old bachelor—though I don't think there is +anything worse under the sun," she added, with +such emphasis that the girls giggled.</p> + +<p>"I agree with you there," said Allen, adding +whimsically: "But what a man should do and +what he does do are often very different things."</p> + +<p>"But you speak of Dan Higgins and Meggy as +if they were just ordinary people," Grace objected, +as she flicked the reins gently on Nabob's +arching neck. "You seem to forget that they +saved our lives—probably."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't forget that," said Allen gravely. +"And I respect your wish to do something in +return. I also owe them a debt of gratitude." +His eyes unconsciously sought Betty's, and a +quick glance passed between them that was more +eloquent than words.</p> + +<p>"Then you will help us to help him?" said +Betty quickly.</p> + +<p>"I'll do anything I can," Allen answered, adding, +rather dubiously: "But I don't see what any +one can do for them. If the old man hasn't +struck gold yet and is short of funds to finance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +further search, I don't see what any one can do +for him. Do you?" he added, looking at her.</p> + +<p>"No-o," admitted Betty reluctantly. "I +haven't thought of a way yet. But I'm sure I +shall," she added so bravely that the girls wanted +to hug her.</p> + +<p>They reached the Higgins' mine soon after +this, and at the sound of their approach Meggy +ran eagerly out to them, as she always did. But +when she saw Allen, looking to her unsophisticated +eyes like some hero out of a story book, +handsome and city-bred, she halted and turned +red with embarrassment.</p> + +<p>However, Allen, by his own gracious and +friendly manner, soon set her at ease, but her eyes +continued to follow every movement of his as +though in amazement that such a perfect creature +could live.</p> + +<p>"Better look out, Betty," Grace whispered to +the Little Captain when nobody was looking. +"Meggy thinks Allen is pretty nice. Just watch +her, she's hypnotized."</p> + +<p>But Betty only smiled. Somehow, she felt +pretty sure of Allen.</p> + +<p>The latter struck up a great friendship with old +Dan Higgins right away—wonderful how everybody +took to Allen, thought Betty proudly—and +soon they were talking like old friends. In five<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +minutes Allen had found out more about Dan +Higgins' mine and his prospects than the girls +would have learned in a year.</p> + +<p>Toward the end Allen managed to put a few +adroit questions concerning Gold Run Ranch and +the possibility of there being gold upon it.</p> + +<p>"Waal now," drawled Higgins, spitting upon +the ground reflectively, "folks here'bouts used to +wonder why old Jed Barcolm didn't get busy +and find out if there was gold on thet property, +but somehow th' old man never seemed to get +interested. Conservative old fellow, Jed Barcolm, +anyways—allus said he'd made enough +raisin' cattle and didn't aim to do no prospectin' +at his time o' life."</p> + +<p>"But you think there is a good possibility of +there being gold on the ranch?" insisted Allen, +and the girls held their breath.</p> + +<p>Dan Higgins gave him a shrewd look and spat +once more.</p> + +<p>"You thinkin' of doin' a little prospectin' on +your own hook, Son?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"Heavens, no!" answered Allen with convincing +sincerity, adding with a smile: "It is barely +possible that my client might, though."</p> + +<p>The old man started and stood upright, squaring +his thin shoulders belligerently.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to tell me you're one o' those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +ornery lawyer cusses," he said, with a disgusted +emphasis that angered the girls but apparently +left Allen unmoved.</p> + +<p>"A lawyer—but not ornery, I hope," he said +pleasantly. "And my client is Mrs. Nelson, the +new owner of the ranch. Is there anything else +you would like to know about me?"</p> + +<p>But the old man's anger had departed and he +regarded Allen with a shrewd twinkle in his +kindly blue eyes.</p> + +<p>"Sorry, Son," he said. "I reckon there are +some honest lawyers, though I never ain't met +one yet—not round here leastways."</p> + +<p>"Thanks for a rather doubtful compliment," +laughed Allen. It was evident that he was enjoying +the old man extremely. "I assure you, +though I am not always honest, there are times +when I try very hard to be." Then he suddenly +added: "By the way, do you happen to know a +man around here—one of those ornery lawyers—by +the name of Peter Levine?"</p> + +<p>Again Dan Higgins spat disgustedly.</p> + +<p>"Know him!" he answered with a wealth of +scorn in his voice. "I reckon most everybody +round here knows him—an' they's mighty few +knows any good o' him. Take my advice, Son, +an' keep away from him."</p> + +<p>"Thanks," said Allen dryly. "But the problem<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +seems to be to keep him away from us. He is +representing a client who wants to buy Gold Run +Ranch."</p> + +<p>The old man started and a gleam of excitement +shot into his eyes while Meggy, seeming to share +his emotion, crept closer to him.</p> + +<p>"Peter Levine wants you to sell," he repeated +eagerly, then relaxed once more into his drawl, +though his eyes reflected a strange inward turmoil. +"Listen, Son," he said. "Ef you let that +snake in the grass argy you into sellin', you're +a bigger fool 'n I take you to be. An' what's +more," his voice lowered and the girls leaned +forward eagerly, "if Peter wants that there property +of yourn there's gold on it, you can bet +your last dollar onto it. Pete ain't no angel, an' +he don't work for nothing."</p> + +<p>Burning with excitement themselves, the girls +marveled that Allen could take this statement so +calmly.</p> + +<p>"Thanks for the tip," he said, in his ordinary +voice. "I had some such idea myself, but it certainly +helps to have my judgment backed by somebody +who knows the people in the case."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>THE NET TIGHTENS</h3> + + +<p>Allen learned much about Peter Levine and +his associates and about Gold Run itself in the +following conversation, and when he and the +girls finally said good-by to the old man and +his daughter and started off down the trail again, +he was more than satisfied.</p> + +<p>As for the girls, they could hardly wait to get +out of earshot of the mine before letting loose +a flood of excited comment.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't see anything to get so excited +about," said Allen, after they had rattled on for +several minutes. "Dan Higgins didn't tell us +anything we didn't already know—or suspect, +anyway. He simply confirmed our suspicions, +that's all."</p> + +<p>"Seems to me that's enough," retorted Mollie. +"It's one thing to think a thing yourself and an +entirely different thing to find out somebody else +thinks it too."</p> + +<p>"Don't be an old granddaddy, Allen," Betty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +said, adding threateningly: "If you don't look out +we won't let you have any of that wonderful gold +we are going to find—not one little tiny nugget."</p> + +<p>"That's gratitude for you," said Allen reproachfully. +"Not one little nugget for a fellow who +finds her a fortune."</p> + +<p>"You haven't found it yet," Amy reminded +him.</p> + +<p>"No," said Allen suddenly animated, "I haven't +found it—not yet—but I'm pretty sure I'm on +the right track. Look here," he appealed to +them: "It seems reasonable to me to suppose +that if Peter Levine and the people above him +are so anxious to get the property they know +pretty well where they stand. They don't want +the ranch simply because they <i>think</i> there is gold +on it."</p> + +<p>"Then you think——" Betty was beginning +breathlessly, when Allen interrupted her with a +rush of words.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's just what I think," he said. "I've +been pretty well over the whole of this ranch +since I came, and I've noticed that this extreme +northwest portion of it, the only part where there +would be any possibility of finding gold, is pretty +well deserted most of the time—absolutely so at +night——"</p> + +<p>"Then you think," Betty burst forth, "that these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +people, whoever they are, may have made actual +tests? That they are sure there is gold here?"</p> + +<p>Allen nodded.</p> + +<p>"That is my theory," he said gravely. "But +of course the only way to prove the truth of it +is to keep my eyes open and catch them, if that +is possible, in the act."</p> + +<p>"But how could one conceal such a thing?" +Grace objected. "A big thing like a mine can't +be hidden away in the daytime like a rag doll. +There must be some signs about the place to show +that people have been here——"</p> + +<p>"Exactly," said Allen. "There probably are +signs—only nobody has had the incentive—or the +interest, maybe—to hunt for those signs up to this +time. Although," he added thoughtfully, "there +are many ways of camouflaging the entrance to +a mine so that a casual observer, even an interested +one, possibly, would be fooled—branches, +leaves, a rock or two."</p> + +<p>"But wouldn't there be noise?" It was Amy +who put the objection this time. "I should +think they would make enough disturbance to +rouse suspicion at least."</p> + +<p>"They might not," Allen contended. "Remember, +they are right in the mining territory, +so that if any of the miners heard an unusual +noise they would think it was one of their neigh<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span>bors +working late. Anyway," he finished, "their +operations would necessarily have to be small, and +they might be so small as not even to arouse suspicion. +Sometimes," he added, and the girls hung +on his words as though they were prophetic, +"there need be no actual digging to ascertain +that there is gold in a certain region. Sometimes +the bed of a spring if sifted to get rid of pebbles +and other débris will reveal gold enough to make +the finder certain that there is a rich gold vein +close by."</p> + +<p>"Goodness, let's go and hunt up some springs!" +cried Mollie irrepressibly. "What's the use of +leaving all this gold finding to Mr. Peter Levine?"</p> + +<p>"I remember seeing an old broken sieve around +the ranch house somewhere," Grace suggested +helpfully. "Don't you suppose we can go back +and get it?"</p> + +<p>"But, Allen," Betty asked anxiously, "how do +you expect to find out about these men? I suppose +you intend to show them up?"</p> + +<p>"I most certainly do," responded Allen cheerfully. +"It would give me the greatest delight to +land Mr. Peter Levine and his associates in jail."</p> + +<p>"Well, you'd better look out you don't get +landed yourself," said Mollie sagely. "I imagine +these particular gentlemen are pretty handy with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +their guns—like most of the other people around +here—and I reckon they wouldn't be very backward +about using them."</p> + +<p>"It would be fifty-fifty, at that," said Allen, +adding grimly: "I'm not so very unhandy with +a gun myself. But the war's over and I haven't +any idea of staging a tragedy," he added lightly, +anxious to banish the cloud that had come over +Betty's bright face. "I shall keep out of sight till +I have them just where I want them, and when +they find themselves caught I don't think they'll +do much fighting. All crooks are more or less +cowards, you know."</p> + +<p>"But what are you going to do in the meantime—while +you are waiting for a chance to +show them up?" Betty persisted. She did not +half like the way things were going—even if +there was a chance of finding a fortune on the +ranch. It seemed to her that Allen was putting +himself into too great danger. And if anything +happened to him, what would all the gold in the +world be worth?</p> + +<p>"'In the meantime?'" Allen was answering her +question lightly. "Why, in the meantime I intend +to keep my eyes and ears wide open and do +a little scouting around Gold Run until I get a +line on the doings of Peter Levine and his crowd—if +he has a crowd. He may just be in part<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span>nership +with one other rascal like himself, for +all I know. That's one of the first things I want +to find out. After the information of our friend, +back there at the mine," he added, "there is no +longer any doubt in my mind that this Levine is +a crook."</p> + +<p>"Humph," said Betty, "I was sure of that the +first time I laid eyes on him."</p> + +<p>"And yet you said you could almost love him +for making your mother decide to come out here," +Allen reminded her quizzically.</p> + +<p>"And you said you were on your way to kill +him," said Betty, adding with a chuckle: "What +made you change your mind?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't change my mind," retorted Allen, +with a grin. "I just didn't happen to meet him, +that's all."</p> + +<p>They had nearly reached the ranch house before +Betty thought to ask Allen if he had talked +his plans over with her mother.</p> + +<p>"No, I haven't," he admitted. "As a matter +of fact, I hadn't made any definite plans until I +had this confab with Dan Higgins. He made +me see the whole thing straight, so to speak. I'll +have a talk with your mother and father to-night," +he promised.</p> + +<p>He kept his promise and had the satisfaction of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +knowing that both his clients were backing him +heartily.</p> + +<p>"Go to it, Allen," Mr. Nelson said at the end of +the conference. "Seems to me that you have +gotten the correct angle on this thing, and if +you need any help from me just call on me. +Only," he warned, "don't run yourself into unnecessary +trouble."</p> + +<p>"I've found, sir," said Allen, with that straight-forward +look that made every one like and admire +him, "that it's usually the fellow who runs away +from trouble who gets the most of it. I'm not +worrying about that end of the business."</p> + +<p>But if he did not worry, Betty certainly did in +the days that followed. She had dreams at +night in which she saw Allen riding about in the +shadows. There would be a report, two reports, +and he would topple over backwards to lie +crumpled up and motionless. No wonder that +she became pale and lost her appetite and made +her mother worry even in the midst of the excitement +over this double hunt—the hunt for men and +gold.</p> + +<p>One night after dinner Allen asked her to ride +with him a little way, said it would do him a +lot of good just to talk to her. Betty agreed, +and they cantered off in the twilight, their bodies<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +swaying to the rhythm of the beautiful animals +under them.</p> + +<p>For a long time they were silent, just enjoying +the rapid motion, the sweet scented air that +fanned their faces, the beauty of the hazy mountains +in the distance. Then, suddenly Allen +spoke.</p> + +<p>"Betty," he said, swinging round toward her, +"you aren't letting this thing get on your nerves, +are you?"</p> + +<p>"Wh-what do you mean?" she asked faintly. +"What thing?"</p> + +<p>"This gold business—the excitement of it all," +he said, waving his hand largely as though to take +in the whole landscape. "I've noticed you +looked tired lately," he went on gently, "and I've +worried about it, little Betty. I—I have almost +dared to hope," he leaned toward her, but Betty +was looking the other way, "that you were a +little anxious about me. Were you?"</p> + +<p>"Why—I—yes—no—why—I don't know," +cried Betty wildly, then, meeting his eye, she +laughed, a twinkling little laugh. "You shouldn't +ask questions like that, not so suddenly, anyway," +she said primly. "It isn't fair."</p> + +<p>"Never mind, I got my answer," said Allen +jubilantly, and again Betty found it a little hard +to look at him. "You mustn't worry though,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +little girl," he went on gently. "There isn't any +danger—really. I'm just playing a delightful +little game—and I'm going to win. Went to see +Levine to-day, representing your mother," he +added, and his tone suddenly became grim. "He +made me feel, or at least he tried to make me +feel, that he had as much respect for my ability +as he would for a little speck of dirt."</p> + +<p>"The very idea!" cried Betty indignantly. "I'd +just like to tell him what I think of—your ability——" +she faltered on these last words, for +Allen was gazing at her with a most disconcerting +light in his eyes.</p> + +<p>Suddenly she whirled Nigger's head about and +urged him to a gallop.</p> + +<p>"Race you home, Allen!" she challenged. +"Winner <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'get's'">gets</ins> the other fellow's piece of cake."</p> + +<p>"Who cares for cake!" cried Allen, but it +might have been noticed that he followed her +just the same.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>IN THE SHADOWS</h3> + + +<p>Allen was acting in two capacities at this +time—that of lawyer and that of private detective. +He probably would not have taken this +rôle for anybody but Betty and her family, but +in order to serve them he was willing to do +pretty nearly anything.</p> + +<p>So he had taken to scouting around the northern +end of the ranch after dark, in the hope that +he might possibly discover something that would +help him in his theory that there was really gold +on the ranch and, also, that Peter Levine and +his cronies, whoever they were, knew of it.</p> + +<p>However, as the days passed, bringing no new +developments, the young fellow began to think +that he had let his imagination run away with +him. He even began to formulate plans by which +he could lure the unsuspecting Peter Levine into +telling what he knew.</p> + +<p>And then—just when he was beginning to +despair of being any help at all to Betty and her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +family—fate or luck, or whatever one wishes to +call it, chose to smile upon him once more.</p> + +<p>He was prowling around when quite unexpectedly +he found himself confronted by Andy +Rawlinson. He had struck up quite a liking for +the head cowboy, and the two walked along together.</p> + +<p>Gradually they neared a patch of timber near +the northern boundary of the ranch. The cowboy +said he was looking for two calves that had +strayed away.</p> + +<p>"And it ain't no use to follow 'em into the +woods on hossback," he explained.</p> + +<p>"I have an object in coming here," declared +Allen, at last. "I am watching out for Peter +Levine." He felt he could trust Rawlinson.</p> + +<p>"I thought as much," replied the head cowboy, +with a chuckle. "Believe me, I wouldn't trust +Levine out o' my sight, if I was the boss. I've +seen him prowlin' around here several times."</p> + +<p>"Then you think he has some secret motive in +getting hold of the ranch?"</p> + +<p>"Sure as shootin'. That feller is a bad one—take +it from me."</p> + +<p>"Please don't make too much noise around +here," went on Allen. "I was thinking he might +come again in the dark some night—to do a little +prospecting, or something like that."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I get you. It would be just like him. Quiet +it is." And after that the pair spoke only in +whispers.</p> + +<p>Nothing was seen of the calves, and presently +Rawlinson was on the point of going back, when, +all at once, something occurred to make him remain.</p> + +<p>The night was intensely dark; not a star +twinkled through the storm clouds that scudded +across the sky. Allen had just stubbed his toe +on a projecting root and had muttered something +uncomplimentary to the darkness of the night +when an unusual sound caught the ears of the +two young men and stopped them dead in their +tracks.</p> + +<p>Some one was coming through the brush. +Some one, like Allen, had stumbled and was muttering +under his breath.</p> + +<p>"Shut up, can't you?" a second voice growled, +and Allen's hand instinctively went to Rawlinson's +arm to quiet him.</p> + +<p>"Two of them," he thought exultantly, as he +held himself and the cowboy against the trunk +of a tree. "There may be some action after +all."</p> + +<p>The two strangers passed close enough to Allen +and Rawlinson to have touched them. But +they did not notice the young men.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> + +<p>Allen and the cowboy, their blood tingling with +excitement, followed the pair, and when, some +hundred yards on, the strangers stopped, they +stopped too, keeping within the shadow of the +trees.</p> + +<p>The strangers were bending over some sort of +paper which they were examining by the light +of an electric torch.</p> + +<p>"Here's the place, Jim," one of the men said, +pointing first to the paper and then into the +shadow of the woods. "There's gold running +wild around here, man. I've tested the bed of +the creek that runs down there, and it's chock +full of yellow men. Why, if we can get hold +of this ranch we're rich men—rich over night, I +tell you!"</p> + +<p>"Huh!" grunted the other, noncommittally. +"How are you goin' to get hold of this ranch? +Ain't done it yet, so's any one could notice it."</p> + +<p>"No, that's where you come in, Jim," replied +the other, and as he turned eagerly to his companion +Allen and Rawlinson recognized the features +of Peter Levine. "This woman, this Mrs. +Nelson who owns the place, won't sell. I'm +afraid she may have an idea that there's gold +here. And she suspects me, for some reason."</p> + +<p>The other man laughed unpleasantly.</p> + +<p>"'Tain't hard for most of us to guess the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +reason for that, Pete." And at the sneer Levine +gave a grunt.</p> + +<p>"You must have your little joke, Jim," he said. +"But now let's get down to business. The woman +distrusts me and she has sent for this insolent +cub lawyer—Washburn, his name is. He's +been to see me already, the unwhipped pup," he +went on, while in the shadows Allen's hands gripped +themselves into fists, "trying to find out more +about my client and John Josephs. Say, that's +a good joke, Jim. Here they are after that +imaginary ranchman, John Josephs, and my client +who they think are crooks, when all the time +little Peter Levine is their meat and they don't +know it."</p> + +<p>"You didn't let on you wuz the one that wanted +the place?" questioned Jim, who was evidently +able to appreciate this joke. "You wuz just the +lawyer, and so nowise interested except jest in +the fee?"</p> + +<p>"Righto!" chuckled the other. "And a good-sized +fee it will be if once I can get my hands +on it."</p> + +<p>"Which you ain't—yet," the other reminded +him. "Get busy, Pete, and tell us your scheme. +I don't want to be standin' around here all night." +He gave an uneasy glance over his shoulder, and +Allen and Rawlinson shrank still further into the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +shadows. They were not yet ready to make their +presence known.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Peter Levine, speaking hurriedly. +"If you'll agree to my suggestion, you're +in for easy money, Jim. All you have to do is +to approach this Mrs. Nelson and make her an +offer for the ranch—for yourself, you understand. +She doesn't know you, and she may have +become tired of mooning around here by now, +and there's just a chance that she'll take you—that +is, if you handle the cards right. No eagerness, +you understand—just sort of offhand and +careless, as if you didn't care much whether she +took you or not."</p> + +<p>"Huh!" said the other, with his noncommittal +grunt. "Sounds easy, don't it? But what do I +get out of it, ef I pull this deal off, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Half of all the gold we find, Jim," said the +other, waving his hand largely. "You'll never regret +it if you put this thing through. You'll be +a rich man."</p> + +<p>"All right, I'm on," said Jim.</p> + +<p>"Then I guess it's about time we got back," +returned Peter Levine, and the two men moved +as if to leave that vicinity.</p> + +<p>"We don't want them to get away," Allen whispered +excitedly to Rawlinson. "I want to get +hold of that paper if possible."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I reckon that will be easy, Washburn," returned +the head cowboy. "I'm armed, you know, +and I'll take my chances against those two rascals +any time. Just follow me."</p> + +<p>Without waiting for Allen to reply to this, +Andy Rawlinson ran forward swiftly and silently, +and in a few seconds had confronted the +rascally pair. He had drawn his pistol, but he +did not raise the weapon.</p> + +<p>"Halt, both of you!" he cried, sharply. "Hands +up there!"</p> + +<p>"Hi! what's the meaning of this?" cried Levine, +in astonishment. "Who are you?"</p> + +<p>"It's Rawlinson, the head man here," muttered +the man called Jim.</p> + +<p>"Right!" answered the cowboy. "And here +is a particular friend of yours, Levine," he added, +as Allen stepped closer.</p> + +<p>"Washburn!" muttered the rascally lawyer +from Gold Run. And then he added quickly: +"Have you been spying on us?"</p> + +<p>"If we have, that's our affair," answered Allen +coolly. "You'd better keep those hands up," he +went on quickly, as he saw the two rascals making +a move as if to start something.</p> + +<p>"They'll keep 'em up all right enough," broke +in Rawlinson. "I reckon you know me," he went +on sternly. "And I'll stand for no foolin'."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We haven't been doing anything wrong," +came from Levine, lamely.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no! Of course not!" said Allen sarcastically. +"Only trying to get hold of a bonanza for +next to nothing!"</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute, Washburn," came from the +head cowboy. "Just relieve 'em of their weapons +first. Then maybe we'll be able to talk with +more satisfaction."</p> + +<p>With Rawlinson confronting them, Levine and +his companion did not dare offer any resistance, +and quickly Allen took their weapons from them +and handed the firearms to Rawlinson.</p> + +<p>"Now I'll thank you, Levine, for that paper +you were examining so carefully just a few minutes +ago," went on the young lawyer.</p> + +<p>"This is robbery!" fumed Peter Levine. "I'll +have you before the courts for this."</p> + +<p>Allen eyed him steadily.</p> + +<p>"Do you represent the law in this place?" he +asked. "If so, I am sorry for the inhabitants. +But there is no use in prolonging this discussion, +Levine. I want that paper. Hand it over at +once."</p> + +<p>The rascally lawyer from Gold Run attempted +to argue, but the sight of Rawlinson's weapon +subdued him, and presently he handed over the +crumpled sheet, which Allen seized with much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +satisfaction. During this transaction Jim remained +sullenly silent.</p> + +<p>"Now I guess that's about all," said Allen to +the cowboy.</p> + +<p>"If that's the case I guess we can bid you +skunks good-evening," came quickly from Rawlinson. +"Both of you beat it. And don't ever +let me ketch you around here again."</p> + +<p>"What about my gun?" came feebly from +Jim.</p> + +<p>"I'll send the guns over to Levine's office to-morrow," +answered the head cowboy. "Now +clear out, and be quick about it." And a moment +later the two rascals stumbled away through +the darkness.</p> + +<p>"This is certainly what I call luck," cried Allen +excitedly, as he gazed at the scrap of paper +Levine had passed over. "Rawlinson, you have +certainly helped me do a good night's work. +If what that scoundrel said is true, this will +mean a fortune for Betty and her mother."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad I chanced along, Washburn," answered +the head cowboy. "After this I think +I'll set a guard. If it leaks out that there is +gold on this ranch there will be all sorts of fellows +beside those skunks trying to locate claims +around here."</p> + +<p>"Will you go up to the house with me?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No. I'll stick around here a while and see +if those fellows come back. Besides, I want to +see if I can get any trace of those strayed-away +calves. You go ahead. You can tell me about +it later. You can take their guns with you if +you will."</p> + +<p>Half running, half stumbling, in his eagerness, +Allen reached the house, took the steps of the +porch three at a time, and burst into the big +homelike kitchen, where he found the family +assembled.</p> + +<p>"We've got 'em, folks!" he cried, waving the +scrap of paper over his head, while they stared +at him as though they thought he had gone mad. +"I've been out hunting and brought home a prize. +Come look at it."</p> + +<p>He went over to the table beside which Mr. +and Mrs. Nelson were sitting and laid the two +captured pistols upon the table. Infected by his +excitement, the girls crowded around, demanding +an explanation.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 261px;"> +<img src="images/p172.jpg" width="261" height="400" alt="THE GIRLS CROWDED AROUND, DEMANDING AN EXPLANATION." title="THE GIRLS CROWDED AROUND, DEMANDING AN EXPLANATION." /> +<span class="caption">THE GIRLS CROWDED AROUND, DEMANDING AN EXPLANATION.</span> +</div> + +<div class='center'><i>The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle.</i> <i>Page 163</i></div> + +<p>"Pistols!" cried Betty, her eyes wide with dislike +of the things. "Where did you get them, +Allen?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, just picked them off the trees by the +roadside," said Allen airily. Then, suddenly becoming +serious, he laid the scrap of paper beside +the weapons on the table. "There," he said,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +dramatically, "is the key that may open your door +to a fortune."</p> + +<p>"A map," said Mrs. Nelson, her eyes glistening. +"Oh, Allen, you've found out something +wonderful. Tell us about it, please."</p> + +<p>And so Allen recounted what had taken place +during that fruitful half hour in the shadows of +the trees. His audience listened breathlessly.</p> + +<p>"Then this thing," said Mr. Nelson, taking the +bit of paper which was crossed and criss-crossed +with a number of lines and dotted with numbers +until it seemed more like a jig-saw puzzle than +a map, "is supposedly a map which will point +out the probable location of gold."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Allen.</p> + +<p>"Then," said Mr. Nelson, feeling the thrill of +adventure in his own blood, "we'll begin to look +for this gold to-morrow. That is—" He paused +and looked quizzically about at the group of tense +young faces. "If everybody is willing."</p> + +<p>"Oh-h," was all that they could say—just then.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>THE NEW MINE</h3> + + +<p>The next day much excitement filled the +ranch house. Betty declared that she had not +slept a wink the night before, worrying for fear +her father had not meant what he said.</p> + +<p>But Mr. Nelson had meant what he had said, +and there was Mrs. Nelson as eager as the girls +to keep him to his word.</p> + +<p>"The ranch is mine, you know," she laughingly +reminded the girls. "And if there are gold +mines on it I certainly intend to find them."</p> + +<p>It was settled, and Mr. Nelson and Allen set +out for town to make arrangements for the enterprise. +The girls wanted to go too, but Mr. +Nelson pointed out that he and Allen could probably +do the work more quickly if they were alone, +and it was upon this point and this point only that +the girls consented to let them go.</p> + +<p>"But that needn't keep us from the saddle," +Mollie decided, as they watched the two men +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span>canter swiftly away. "I don't know about +the rest of you, but I'm just longing for +action."</p> + +<p>"Ditto," cried Betty, then added with bright +eagerness: "Girls, I know what we can do! Let's +go down to the place where Allen found those +two men last night. That's where the mines are, +you know, and we might stake out claims or +something."</p> + +<p>"Your mother might have something to say +to that," said Grace, making a funny face. +"It isn't quite the thing to stake out claims on +somebody else's property."</p> + +<p>"Oh well, you needn't be so particular," cried +Betty airily. "Come on, girls, who's with me?"</p> + +<p>It seemed they all were, and, fairly dancing +with excitement, they made their way to the corrals +where Andy Rawlinson saddled their horses +for them.</p> + +<p>The horses seemed to catch some of the girls' +excitement, and it was all that the latter could do +to hold the animals in.</p> + +<p>"It must be in the air," laughed Grace, as she +pulled in Nabob sharply. "We've all got the +gold fever."</p> + +<p>"Let's give them their heads," said Mollie suddenly. +"I'd like a regular gallop this morning."</p> + +<p>"All right, let's go," sang out Betty, and in another +minute they were off, the horses galloping<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +like mad and the girls laughing and shouting in +utter abandonment to their high spirits.</p> + +<p>At this rate it took them only a few minutes +to reach the spot where Allen had had his adventure +the night before.</p> + +<p>They reined in sharply, and Betty jumped +down, throwing the reins over Nigger's neck and +giving him a fond little pat on the flank.</p> + +<p>"There, old boy," she said. "Go and eat some +grass for yourself while we do a little prospecting. +Girls," she added as they in turn dismounted +and ran up to her, "from Allen's description, +it must have been just about here that he +stood." She indicated the bent tree with the +great bowlder behind it that Allen had described +to them. "And the two men must have stood +in there among that heavy shrubbery somewhere."</p> + +<p>"Then this is where they will begin work," +cried Amy, a faint flush warming her face. "Oh, +Betty, it all seems like a fairy story."</p> + +<p>"Fairy story, nothing!" exclaimed Mollie. +"This is a real, honest-to-goodness adventure +story. My, it's a wonder Allen didn't get shot +up last night," she added thoughtfully. "It must +have taken nerve to stand here, listening to those +old scoundrels and not knowing what minute +they might find him out and fire upon him."</p> + +<p>"I think Allen is perfectly wonderful, anyway,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +said Grace, and Betty thrilled at the tribute. "He +never seems to know what it is to be afraid. And +he always gets what he wants, too."</p> + +<p>"And to think that 'John Josephs' never existed!" +chuckled Betty. "Peter Levine must have +quite a good deal of imagination."</p> + +<p>"Well, what's the use of standing here?" said +Amy, after a moment of silent musing. "Let's +look around a little bit and see what we can see."</p> + +<p>So for a while they thrashed around in the +bush, accomplishing very little besides scaring +some rabbits and woodchucks into their holes. +They found the tiny creek Peter Levine had +spoken of, and they gazed with interest at its +muddy, sluggish water.</p> + +<p>"Who would ever think there was gold in the +bottom of that?" whispered Mollie.</p> + +<p>When they finally became convinced that there +was nothing more to be seen they started reluctantly +home again.</p> + +<p>"Let's go around by the mine and see how +Meggy and her dad are coming on," suggested +Betty, and so they changed their course a little +to include the mine.</p> + +<p>Meggy was glad to see them as usual but they +could tell by the weariness of her bearing that +there was no good news as far as she was con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span>cerned +and they had not the heart to tell her their +own.</p> + +<p>"Can't you come over to the ranch for a little +while?" asked Betty, eager to do some little thing +toward cheering the girl. But Meggy shook her +head.</p> + +<p>"I can't leave father—even for a little while," +she said sadly. "He ain't feeling well, and I'm +afraid if his luck doesn't change pretty soon I—I—won't +have any dad——" she choked and +turned away. Betty was beside her in a moment, +her arm about the girl's shoulders.</p> + +<p>"We're awfully sorry, honey," she said compassionately. +"We didn't know that your father +was feeling bad. Is he—is he really sick?"</p> + +<p>"Sick of life, I guess," said Meggy, conquering +her emotion and instantly ashamed of it. +"I've heered of people dyin' of a broken heart, +an' that's what dad's doin', I guess. Bad luck +can kill you if it keeps up long enough."</p> + +<p>The girls rode home saddened by this brief +encounter. It seemed almost wrong for them to +be happy when Dan Higgins was "dyin' of a +broken heart" and Meggy, brave, splendid girl +that she was, had almost lost hope.</p> + +<p>"If only everybody in the world could be +happy," said Grace plaintively. "It just spoils<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +all your fun when you know that other people +are miserable."</p> + +<p>"The worst of it is," said Betty soberly, "that +with all this luck coming our way we can't pass +on a single little bit of it to that poor girl and her +dad. If only they weren't so proud——" The +sentence trailed off into a sigh, and she gazed +pensively out over the plain.</p> + +<p>"Well, there's no use of crying over it," said +Mollie briskly. "We may find a way of being +useful to Meggy yet, and until then, as my mother +says, 'let's be canty with thinking about it.' Oh, +look, girls, here comes Allen. I wonder what +kind of news he has."</p> + +<p>They galloped gayly to meet him, and Allen +thought they made a very pretty picture as they +swept up to him.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said as they surrounded him, "everything +is settled and they are to begin work to-morrow +morning. Our news has aroused great +excitement in town, and there's a rush to establish +claims near that end of our ranch. Better +give your friend, Dan Higgins, a hint, so that he +can get in first. So long. I'm on to the house +for the map, and then I'm going to join Mr. Nelson +again in town."</p> + +<p>So he dashed off in the direction of the ranch +and the girls wheeled and galloped back in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +direction they had come—back toward Dan Higgins' +mine to warn him to stake a new claim +before others reached the spot.</p> + +<p>They were so excited that it was hard to make +their purpose clear at first, but when the old man +and Meggy comprehended what they were trying +to tell them, they were immediately galvanized +to action.</p> + +<p>"I'll show you the best place," Betty eagerly +volunteered.</p> + +<p>Mollie offered to stay behind and give the +old man her horse, and in a minute Betty and +Dan Higgins were galloping over the plain to that +part of the ranch where the new gold mines were +to be. They had not far to go, and they saw +with relief that they were the first on the spot.</p> + +<p>Betty pointed out the place where Peter Levine +had said there was gold running wild, and old +Dan Higgins staked his claim as near to the place +as he could without actually encroaching upon +the ranch itself.</p> + +<p>With trembling fingers he printed on two big +placards the exact dimensions of his claim, and, +with Betty's help, nailed them to two trees at the +two extreme ends of his new property, and began +to dig.</p> + +<p>"Thar," he sighed, after a few moments, taking +off his hat to mop the perspiration from his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +forehead, "I've made another bargain with luck, +an' mebbe this time I'll win."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure you will," cried Betty, with conviction. +"If there is gold on our ranch, and we are +sure there is, then there is almost certain to be +some on your property also. Oh, Mr. Dan Higgins, +I so dearly hope that there is!" This was so +evidently a cry straight from her earnest young +heart that the keen eyes of the hardened old miner +filled with tears and he patted Betty's head with +an unsteady hand.</p> + +<p>"You're a mighty fine little gal," he said finally. +"Ef an old man's gratitude means anything to +you, you sure have got it. I've a sort of sure +feelin' you've changed the luck for Meggy and +me."</p> + +<p>They were silent on the ride back to the mine, +but as they reached the last stretch of the trail +that led down to it the old man shifted in his +saddle and looked at Betty earnestly.</p> + +<p>"An' ef Meggy's mother was alive," he said +simply, "she would thank you, too."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>THE VIOLINIST AGAIN</h3> + + +<p>As Allen had predicted, there was a general +rush on the part of the miners to establish claims +on the property adjoining the ranch, and the girls +congratulated themselves over and over again +that they had reached Dan Higgins with the glad +tidings in time for him to secure the best location.</p> + +<p>All day long the girls were in the saddle, hovering +about the new gold diggings, fascinated at +the way new mines seemed to spring up over +night.</p> + +<p>Next to those on their own property, they were +most interested in Dan Higgins' mine and in their +hearts they would really rather have had him find +gold than to find it themselves.</p> + +<p>"They need it so much more than we do," +Betty said anxiously. "If Dan Higgins and +Meggy have drawn another blank I don't know +what they will do."</p> + +<p>In the midst of all this confusion and excite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span>ment, +Amy received the program of the benefit +concert given at the Hostess House for which +she had sent home some time before. They had +almost forgotten the hermit and it was with a +shock of surprise that they remembered they had +not seen him since the new mining operations. +Before that they had run across him quite often +attempting to help Meggy and Dan in his rather +eccentric way.</p> + +<p>"Guess he must have been scared off by the +crowd," said Mollie. "Too much excitement for +the old boy."</p> + +<p>The four of them were sitting on the large +front porch of the house, still in their riding +habits, while their horses, at the foot of the +steps, stamped their impatience to be off again. +Nothing but the arrival of the mail could have +drawn the girls from the fascination of the new +gold diggings. They hardly took time to eat; +and as for sleep, well, they took that in between +times!</p> + +<p>Now Grace called to Amy, making room on +the step beside her.</p> + +<p>"Come over here and show us your program," +she said, extracting a bit of candy from some +hidden recess somewhere about her person and +popping it into her mouth. "I'm anxious to see +what that violinist's name was."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> + +<p>Amy obeyed, and as Grace opened the program +Mollie and Betty drew closer and peeped over +her shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Concerto—Liszt," read Grace, her finger pointing +down the page. "No, that isn't it. That's +for the piano. Hold on, here we are. Chopin—Nocturne—Paul +Loup, violinist. There he is. +Now will you please tell me how that helps us +to find out anything about the hermit?" She +paused with her finger still pointing to the name +and looked up at them inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"We-el," said Betty thoughtfully, "it doesn't +help very much, I must admit. It doesn't prove +that Paul Loup is our Hermit of Gold Run. Only +that funny feeling I have of having seen him +before and heard him play——"</p> + +<p>"I tell you what we'll do!" Mollie snapped her +fingers decisively. "It's a long chance and it +may not work at all but—are you game to try +it?" She paused and regarded the expectant girls +eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Maybe," said Betty, noncommittally. "You +might tell us the idea first."</p> + +<p>"Listen," cried Mollie. "My idea is that if +we take the hermit by surprise, call him by his +name of Paul Loup. Why—" She paused, and +the light of inspiration filled her eyes. "I could +even speak to him in French——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> + +<p>As the girls caught her full meaning they looked +at her admiringly.</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't wonder if that plan would work," +said Betty swiftly. "Why can't we go now? +Dinner won't be ready for a couple of hours."</p> + +<p>"Right you are," cried Mollie, taking the four +steps at one jump and springing upon her astonished +horse. "Come on, girls, are you with us?"</p> + +<p>"We'll have to lead 'em a merry pace," said +Betty to Mollie a moment later as they galloped +abreast up the road. "If we don't get them there +in a hurry they're apt to get cold feet and think +we're crazy."</p> + +<p>"Maybe we are," chuckled Mollie, urging Old +Nick on to even greater speed. "I've had a suspicion +that way several times before."</p> + +<p>It was Betty's turn to chuckle.</p> + +<p>"So have I!" she said, adding with a sigh of +resignation: "But oh, it is so much fun. Look +behind, Mollie. Are they still coming?"</p> + +<p>"Strong," reported Mollie, with a glance over +her shoulder. Then, as they reached the trail +that led through the woods, she reined in a little, +motioning for Betty to take the lead. "You +know the trail better," she said.</p> + +<p>Over the rough woodland trail their progress +necessarily became slower, a fact which the girls +did not relish at all. It gave them time to reflect<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +on what a really rash adventure they had embarked, +and any but the Outdoor Girls might have +turned back even at this last minute.</p> + +<p>However, curiosity, together with some vague +hope that they might become of service to this +strange sad fellow, urged them on. If Paul +Loup and the Hermit of Gold Run were really +one and the same person, then surely there was +a real mystery which they might in some way +help to unravel.</p> + +<p>They did not linger any longer on the way +than was absolutely necessary, for the terrible +experience they had had with the timber wolves +soon after their arrival had made them suspicious +of the forest, and try as they would they could +not suppress an uncomfortable desire to search +every shadow for some sinister, lurking presence.</p> + +<p>In vain had the cowboys on the ranch assured +them that wolves were very scarce in this part of +the forest, especially in the summer, and that they +had had an unusual and unique experience. As +Amy had said, one experience like that was +enough to last a lifetime.</p> + +<p>They came in sight of the cabin without mishap, +however, and they tethered their horses a little +farther from the house than usual, so that +their stamping and neighing might not frighten +the hermit away.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then they made their way with as little noise +as possible along the narrow path.</p> + +<p>"Suppose he isn't at home?" whispered Mollie +to Betty.</p> + +<p>"Then we're out of luck, that's all," returned +Betty cheerfully.</p> + +<p>But the hermit was at home. They could see +him moving about, and as they came nearer they +smelled an appetizing odor of frying bacon, as +though he were cooking his dinner.</p> + +<p>"Hope he asks us to stay to lunch," said Grace, +and the girls giggled nervously.</p> + +<p>"We'll be lucky if he doesn't slam the door in +our faces," said Amy pessimistically.</p> + +<p>It was Mollie who knocked this time—and it +was no timid little rap either, but a good, hearty +rat-at-tat, that brought the occupant of the cabin +to the door in a hurry. He had the frying pan +still clutched in his hand and on his long narrow +face was such a look of dread that the girls felt +sorry for him.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, the emotion within him making +his voice sound stern and forbidding, "what is it +you wish? It is not raining to-day as it was that +other time." He gazed significantly up at the +cloudless sky seen in little blue patches through +the trees, and the girls flushed, partly from embarrassment +and partly from anger. Somehow,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +they had not been prepared to have him take this +attitude, and they resented it.</p> + +<p>For a moment they stood miserably tongue-tied. +Even their usually quick-witted Little Captain +seemed suddenly to have been stricken speechless. +They were just about to turn and run when +Mollie saved the day for them.</p> + +<p>Pushing forward through the group she confronted +the man on the door step.</p> + +<p>"<i>Vous êtes Paul Loup, n'est-ce pas, monsieur?</i>" +she said in a clear voice, gazing up at +him fearlessly.</p> + +<p>While the girls gasped at her temerity a most +astounding thing happened. The man dropped +the frying pan and it clattered to the floor, its +contents spilling out greasily. While they looked +he seemed to crumple, shrivel, and his eyes stared +at them glassily out of his white mask of a face.</p> + +<p>"<i>Mon Dieu!</i>" he cried hoarsely, staggering +back into the shack. "You have found me! +But I swear to you I did not kill him. <i>Mon Dieu</i>, +I could not kill my brother!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>A STARTLING TALE</h3> + + +<p>Hardly able to believe that they were actually +living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the +shack after the stricken man and found that he +had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with +his hands.</p> + +<p>Strangely enough, though it had been Mollie +who had precipitated this thing, it was Betty who +now took the lead. Softly she went over to the +shrinking man and put a gentle hand on his +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"You say you did not kill your brother?" she +questioned in so calm a voice that the girls marveled +at her. "You are sure you did not?"</p> + +<p>"No! no!" cried the man again raising his +haggard face, deep-lined with the marks of suffering, +"No—I am not sure. Can you not see? +It is that that is killing me. Yet in my sane +moments I know that he was dead. He lay there, +so white, so still, with only that red, red stream +of blood to mar his whiteness. I leaned down,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +I listened to his heart——" The man had evidently +forgotten the presence of the girls, engulfed +as he was in the horror of the incident he related. +Once more he was living the tragedy, and the +girls, tense, strained, horrified, lived it with him.</p> + +<p>"I listened to his heart," the man repeated, his +arms stretched out before him, his long, delicate +hands gripped with a fierceness that made the +knuckles go white. "There was no beating. I +put my face close to his mouth to see if there was +breath. But he had stopped breathing—forever!</p> + +<p>"My heart went cold. I seized him by the +shoulders. I called him by his name—that +brother that I had loved! Oh, how I had loved +him. I begged him to come back to me, to open +those gray lips that a moment before had been +beautiful with life—to speak to me—and all the +time——" his hand relaxed and pointed to the +floor and the girls followed the movement fascinated—"there +kept spreading and spreading on +the rug a deep red stain—my brother's blood! +<i>Mon Dieu!</i> And when I staggered to my feet +I found that the horrible stuff had clung to my +fingers—they were dark and sticky—the fingers +of a murderer! I went mad then, I think. I +rushed from the house, from the place. One +thing only was in my mind. To get away—to get +away from Paris, that accursed city——" He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +paused, staring at the floor, and the girls waited, +hardly daring to move for fear they would break +the spell.</p> + +<p>"The rest is like a bad dream to me," the man +continued in a weary voice. "Ghost-ridden, +haunted, I came to this country incognito—under +what you call an assumed name. For a short +time I stayed in New Orleans——"</p> + +<p>"But your violin!" Betty interrupted in a voice +that amazed her, it seemed so little and weak. +"Surely you were under contract."</p> + +<p>The man turned on her what was almost a +pitying look from his sunken eyes.</p> + +<p>"I could not play," he said, with a shrug of +his shoulders. "To have gone to my manager +would have been like going to the hangman—the +electric chair, what you have in this country. No, +mademoiselle, I was a murderer, a man hunted +by his fellowmen. There was but one thing +for me to do—to hide, to dodge about like a rabbit +from a pack of baying dogs. Hide!" he +added bitterly. "I could not hide from myself.</p> + +<p>"Always when the night grows dark and the +wind it makes to howl around this place I can +hear my brother's voice uplifted in anger. We +quarreled over something my uncle had said—a +foolish quarrel. He called me liar, and I—something +snapped in my brain, I think, and for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +a moment everything went red. There was a +wine bottle on the table—we had been drinking—blindly +I struck out with it—— Now, when +the darkness comes and the wildcat calls into the +night with a scream like a soul in torment, I hear +again the tinkling of that bottle as it shattered, +the short groan, the falling of a heavy body.</p> + +<p>"It is a wonder that I have not gone mad," he +said. "Many a time I have prayed that I might +or that I might find courage to end this miserable +life and go to join my brother. But I am a +coward, a coward——" His voice lowered till +it was almost inaudible and tears trickled through +the long white fingers. "I have not the courage +even to die. There is a tribunal above that I +should have to face, more just, more awful, than +any man-made law. There you have what Paul +Loup has become."</p> + +<p>"But you must not speak that way," said Betty, +whose quick mind had been forging ahead while +the man had been speaking. "It is one thing to +kill a man deliberately, and quite another to kill +in hot blood, blindly. Besides," she added eagerly, +"you are not even sure that you did kill +your brother. Did you—have you seen the papers +since—since you ran away?"</p> + +<p>"No," said the man. His tone was dead, hopeless. +"I was afraid of what I might find there.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +He was dead, Mademoiselle," he added wearily. +"When I say that there is a doubt of that it is +simply to give myself one little excuse for continuing +to live. He did not move, he did not +breathe. Ah, yes, he was dead, quite dead."</p> + +<p>There was silence for a moment while Betty +thought rapidly. Amy and Mollie and Grace +stared wide-eyed with the feeling that they +were witnessing some tremendous, swift-moving +drama.</p> + +<p>"Of course," said the man, breaking the silence +abruptly, his somber eyes upon Betty, "there +is but one thing left for me now to do. I shall +surrender to the authorities—a thing which I +should have done long ago. Or," he added +grimly, "you might rather go with me now. If +you left me I might attempt to escape—so you +will think, Mademoiselle?"</p> + +<p>There was a lift at the end of the sentence that +made it a question and, startled, the girls looked +at Betty to see what she would say.</p> + +<p>The Little Captain herself was startled. Evidently +the man thought they had been tracking +him, had used their knowledge to trap him.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it isn't as you think!" she cried impulsively. +"We never had the slightest little wish +to harm you. And please, please," she added +earnestly, "don't give yourself up to the authori<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span>ties, +or do anything rash until you hear from me +again. You may not believe me—I wouldn't +blame you if you didn't——" she went on shyly, +for the man had risen and was staring at her, +"but all we want to do is to help you if we +can——" she broke off confusedly for the look +in the man's eyes silenced her.</p> + +<p>"You know I am Paul Loup," he cried hoarsely. +"You have heard my story, my confession from +my own lips, and still you say that you wish me +no harm! Who are you? what are you? what +do you want of me?" He had advanced toward +them, and in a panic the girls moved back toward +the open door. Only Betty stood fearlessly +in his path.</p> + +<p>"We are the Outdoor Girls, and we are living +just at present on Gold Run Ranch," she said +quietly. "We found out who you were because +you were good enough to play for us at a benefit +we gave at the Hostess House at Camp Liberty +some time ago. And we came up here because +we thought that you were in trouble and that +we might help you. If we can't help you, I'm +sorry." And with head bravely uplifted Betty +turned toward the door.</p> + +<p>She had almost reached it when he called to +her.</p> + +<p>"You are a brave girl," said Paul Loup slowly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +his eyes intent on Betty's pretty face, "How do +you know that I—the murderer—will not kill you +also for this knowledge you have of me?"</p> + +<p>Betty heard the frightened gasp of the girls behind +her, but, strangely enough, she herself felt +no fear.</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't do that," she said, her clear +gaze holding his burning one. "You could not +wish harm to a friend."</p> + +<p>"Is that what you wish me to consider you—a friend?" +asked the strange man, feeling suddenly +as though something warm and vital had +closed about his heart.</p> + +<p>"If you will," replied Betty, reaching out her +hand. "I would like very much to be."</p> + +<p>But Paul Loup, for all he was a murderer and +an outcast, was also a Frenchman. With a quick +gesture, ignoring her outstretched hand he caught +her in his arms, held her there for a minute, +then, releasing her, kissed her gently, first on +one cheek, then on the other.</p> + +<p>"I had forgotten there were kind hearts in +the world," he murmured brokenly, turning from +her. "You have restored my faith. <i>Au revoir</i>, +my friend."</p> + +<p>Someway, somehow, the girls found themselves +outside that little cabin, making their way blindly +down the path to where their horses were tethered.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +In a daze they mounted and rode off down the +trail.</p> + +<p>When they came to the open trail they found +that Betty was crying, openly, unashamed. Mollie +pushed a handkerchief into her hand, but the +Little Captain did not seem to notice it. She +stared straight ahead, her cheeks burning, the +tears rolling unchecked down her face.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, honey," said Mollie, trying to +steady her voice. "It was hard for you, I know; +but I would give anything I own to have made +him feel that way about me. I don't care if he +did commit murder. I'm for him—strong."</p> + +<p>"To be all alone," said Betty as though Mollie +had not spoken, "and so heart-hungry that a little +sympathy from a stranger——" A sob choked +the rest of her sentence. But a moment later +she faced the girls with a light of resolve shining +in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Girls," she said, "I don't believe Paul Loup +is a murderer, and some way or other I'm going +to prove it. A man like that just couldn't commit +murder. I know it!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>THE PLAN</h3> + + +<p>Certainly the girls had never expected such +startling developments from Mollie's simple little +ruse to find out who the mysterious Hermit of +Gold Run was. In the beginning it had been +something of a lark, and they never dreamed that +their interest and curiosity would uncover such +a tragedy.</p> + +<p>However, they were not at all in sympathy with +Betty's conviction that Paul Loup had not really +killed his brother.</p> + +<p>"I don't see how you get that way, Betty," +Grace argued hotly. "We all feel as sorry for the +hermit as you do, but we have his own word for +it that he really killed his brother."</p> + +<p>"He did seem to be pretty sure of it," said +Amy, with a quaver in her voice. "When the +wind rose last night and wailed around the house, +I got all creepy thinking of him alone up in that +dreary little shack, living that whole horrible thing +over again."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was the next day, and the girls were in the +saddle, as usual. They had visited the new gold +diggings and found everybody excited and optimistic, +though no gold had been uncovered as +yet. And now they were trotting slowly along +the open road, their thoughts busy with the startling +happenings of the day before.</p> + +<p>"It's a wonder he doesn't go crazy," shuddered +Mollie, taking up the thread where Amy had +dropped it. "I know I would. What was it +he said about being 'ghost-ridden?'"</p> + +<p>"I don't believe he is ghost-ridden at all, except +by his imagination," said Betty positively. +"I think if he had taken the trouble to look at +the newspapers before he decided that he was a +hunted man he might have saved himself a lot +of trouble and unhappiness."</p> + +<p>"Goodness, how do you get that way, Betty?" +Grace said irritably. "The man ought to be the +best judge of whether he killed anybody or +not."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the Little Captain stubbornly, "it +seems to me it would have had to be a pretty +heavy bottle with a pretty strong arm behind it +to kill a man with one blow. And a scalp wound +bleeds horribly, you know."</p> + +<p>The girls looked a little thoughtful, and for +the first time since Betty had advanced her theory<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +they began to think that there might possibly be +something in it after all.</p> + +<p>"That's right," said Amy, and then went on to +relate an experience she had had when skylarking +with Sarah Stonington.</p> + +<p>"She had hold of that heavy rocking chair we +have in the library," Amy said. "She was trying +to pull it away from me, and I was hanging +on to it for dear life.</p> + +<p>"Then suddenly I let go, and Aunt Sarah—she's +pretty heavy, you know—lost her balance as +the chair swung forward, and fell over backward, +striking her head on the sharp edge of the +piano."</p> + +<p>"Goodness, you must have been scared," commented +Mollie.</p> + +<p>"'Scared!'" echoed Amy. "Why, I was +struck dumb with terror. I thought I had killed +her. She lay there all white and funny, and her +head was bleeding dreadfully——"</p> + +<p>"There's your scalp wound for you," Betty +pointed out. "Just a little scratch will make the +whole place look like a shambles."</p> + +<p>"But what happened to your aunt Sarah, Amy," +pursued Mollie interestedly. "We know she +didn't die."</p> + +<p>"Well, I should say she didn't!" said Amy +roundly. "She was as good as ever in ten min<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span>utes +and laughing at me for being so frightened. +But we had to have the rug sent away to get +the stain out," she added significantly.</p> + +<p>"Huh," said the girls, and once more became +thoughtful.</p> + +<p>"But suppose you were right, Betty?" said +Mollie, after a while. "Suppose our poor musician +is torturing himself by thinking he has committed +a crime that he hasn't? What could you +possibly do about it?"</p> + +<p>"I don't just know," Betty admitted truthfully.</p> + +<p>"We might ask your father," Grace hazarded, +but Betty turned on her, startled.</p> + +<p>"That's just the thing I don't want to do!" +she said hurriedly. "Dad is just the best and +most easy-going father in the world, but he has +a terribly stern sense of justice. I'm not sure he +wouldn't think we were making ourselves—oh, +what do you call it——"</p> + +<p>"<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Accessaries'">Accessories</ins> after the fact?" suggested Mollie, +helpfully.</p> + +<p>"That's it," said Betty. "He might argue that +we were committing a crime ourselves by helping +to hide a criminal——"</p> + +<p>"Well, maybe we are, at that," said Grace, uncomfortably.</p> + +<p>"They can put you in jail for that sort of thing,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +can't they?" added Amy, a suggestion which certainly +did not add to the cheerfulness of the atmosphere.</p> + +<p>"I don't care," said Betty stoutly. "I'd rather +go to jail than deliver a man to a doubtful justice—especially +when he may really be innocent. +Anyway," she added, reasonably: "who is there +to know that we went to Paul Loup's cabin the +other day? I'm very sure no one saw us go in +or come out, and if we keep quiet no one will +have to know. That's why I didn't even want +to take dad into our confidence."</p> + +<p>"But if our musician is, as you think, innocent," +Grace insisted, "then your father could do +more for him than we."</p> + +<p>"But we don't know that he is innocent. That's +only my idea," said Betty. "And dad would +probably think it was a very foolish one. Maybe +it is, for all I know," she added dubiously.</p> + +<p>"How about Allen?" said Grace suddenly after +another rather long silence. "He would certainly +sympathize with our poor hermit and, being a +lawyer, he would probably be able to think up +some way that we might establish the man's innocence +or guilt without giving away his whereabouts. +There, how's that for a brilliant idea?" +she finished proudly.</p> + +<p>"I had already thought of that," admitted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +Betty, while the girls turned amused eyes upon +her. "But I was almost afraid to suggest +it."</p> + +<p>"Maybe Allen would agree with your father +that we, ought to turn him over to justice," said +Mollie, but Betty shook her head vigorously.</p> + +<p>"Never! Not Allen!" she declared fervently. +"He believes the other fellow innocent until he +is proved guilty."</p> + +<p>"So does the law," said Amy wisely.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but the law has sent many an innocent +man to prison nevertheless," retorted Mollie. +"We don't always find justice in the courts."</p> + +<p>"Hear, hear," cried Grace. "Get a soap box, +Mollie."</p> + +<p>"Then it is settled that we are to tell Allen, +is it?" said Betty eagerly. "I'm sure he will +find some way to help us."</p> + +<p>"If we can pry him loose from the mining outfit," +laughed Mollie. "He seems to have gold +fever worse than any of them."</p> + +<p>But Allen had been busy, during the intervals +when he could tear himself away from the +fascination of the mining operations, on some +legal matters.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Nelson, and her husband also, had feared +that these numerous relatives of her great uncle, +of whose existence she herself had scarcely been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +aware, might see fit to contest the old man's will +especially when it became apparent that his property +at this time was far more valuable than it +had been at the time of his death.</p> + +<p>Allen, after considerable investigation, was able +to set their fears at rest upon this point, however, +by asserting that the old gentleman had made +only one will and that he thought it very doubtful +under the circumstances that the relatives would +take the case into the courts. They were not +Mr. Barcolm's children and grandchildren, as +Lizzie had supposed, but distant relatives whom +at one time and another the old man had befriended +and gathered about him, but who had +later quarreled with their benefactor.</p> + +<p>"Anyway," Mrs. Nelson decided happily, "if +we really do find some gold I will give each one +of them a share of it, even to the littlest."</p> + +<p>On this particular afternoon the girls found +Allen, not at the mines as they supposed they +would, but at the ranch house busy with some +papers.</p> + +<p>When they besought him to come out for a ride, +he hesitated at first, saying that he ought to get +his work done before night. But they finally +persuaded him not to let duty interfere with +pleasure.</p> + +<p>"All right," he surrendered at last. "If you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +will get one of the boys to saddle Lightning for +me I will be with you in ten minutes."</p> + +<p>He kept his promise, and in a short time was +listening to the strangest tale he had ever heard. +As he listened his face became more and more +serious.</p> + +<p>"But, girls, this thing sounds impossible!" he +burst forth, finally. "Are you telling me that +you, alone and unprotected, managed to inveigle +this murderer into confessing his crime to you? +Gee, it's—it's unbelievable! The four of you +would be a great help to me in my profession," +he added, with a chuckle.</p> + +<p>"I didn't think you would take it as a joke," +said Betty, reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"It isn't a joke," returned Allen, his face grave +again. "It's a mighty serious business, if you +will excuse my saying so. It makes me sick +when I think of the chance you took." He was +speaking to all the girls, but his look of concern +was for Betty.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we don't want to think about ourselves," +said the latter, impatiently. "We've done a good +deal more dangerous things than that in our lives. +We thought—we hoped—you might help us to +prove his innocence——"</p> + +<p>"But the man's guilty," said Allen, surprised. +"We have that by his own confession——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> + +<p>With a glance of despair at the others, Betty +interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"Listen to me, Allen," she said. "This is +what I think——" And she went on to tell him +her idea while he listened, at first with a smile of +faint amusement on his lips which gradually +changed to grave admiration as he realized Betty's +unfailing faith in the basic goodness of human +nature.</p> + +<p>"I hope you are right, little girl," he said at +last, when she had finished and was looking at +him earnestly. "I'd like to believe you were +right——"</p> + +<p>"But you can't?" she finished for him, trying +to stifle the disappointment in her heart.</p> + +<p>"No, I can't," he answered truthfully. "When +a man is so sure of his crime that he flees his +own country, gives up money and fame to escape +the law, you may be pretty sure that his crime +was a real one."</p> + +<p>"But, Allen, you don't know the man," Betty +pleaded, pretty close to tears in the bitterness of +her disappointment. "No one could make the +kind of music he does and be truly wicked. I +wish you could have met him. I think you would +have tried a little harder to help him."</p> + +<p>"I'm willing to help him, if I can," Allen answered +gently, feeling that he would be almost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +willing to step into this poor musician's place if +he might have Betty plead for him as she had +just done for the other. "What is it you would +like me to do?"</p> + +<p>Then suddenly the great idea popped full grown +into Betty's head.</p> + +<p>"I have it!" she cried. "Why not write to Paul +Loup's manager in New York and ask him for +particulars?"</p> + +<p>"Capital!" replied Allen approvingly, while the +girls looked at their Little Captain admiringly. +"If anybody ought to be able to give us information, +he surely is the one."</p> + +<p>"And, Allen," begged Betty, reining her horse +close to Allen and laying a timid hand on his +arm, "you won't even whisper a word of what +we've told you—not for your foolish old law, +or anything else?"</p> + +<p>"Of course not," said Allen, smiling at her. +"We have to give the poor fellow his chance."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>GREAT DAYS</h3> + + +<p>That very afternoon Allen composed a letter +to Paul Loup's concert manager—advised and +censored by the girls, of course—and they all +rode off to town to mail it in time to catch the +four o'clock outgoing mail.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Mollie, as, this duty well performed, +they started back to the ranch, "I feel better. +We've started something, anyway."</p> + +<p>"Let's hope that we can finish it," added Grace, +dubiously.</p> + +<p>They did not expect an answer to this epistle +within ten days, and in the meantime they found +plenty to keep them busy around the ranch.</p> + +<p>Progress at the mines was swift, and almost +any minute now they might expect to hear the +glorious tidings that some one had "struck it +rich."</p> + +<p>Nothing had been seen of Peter Levine since +that memorable night when the map had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +taken from him, and it was rumored that the rascally +lawyer had left town.</p> + +<p>"And the longer he keeps away the healthier +it will be for him, I reckon," Allen said, adding +with a laugh: "Gee, but it makes me happy +every time I think of how sore that chap may +be."</p> + +<p>Betty had dimpled sympathetically.</p> + +<p>"You have an awfully mean disposition, Allen," +she chided him.</p> + +<p>Meggy and Dan Higgins were working furiously +at their mine, but after a few days Betty +was quick to see that they were not progressing +as well as some of the others. After all Meggy, +though unusually strong and robust for her age, +was only a girl and her father was an old man +who had just about worn out his energies in a +fruitless search for fortune.</p> + +<p>Betty had besought her father to send help to +these good friends of hers, and Mr. Nelson had +immediately complied.</p> + +<p>There had been some trouble with Dan at first—with +Meggy too, for that matter.</p> + +<p>"We can't take nothin' thet we can't pay fer, +sir," the old fellow assured Mr. Nelson positively. +But the latter reminded him that he and Meggy +had saved his daughter's life, as well as those of +the other girls, and that this put him, Mr. Nel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span>son, +deeply in the others' debt. In view of this +the old fellow finally surrendered. In his heart +he was deeply, fervently thankful for the help +of the young, able-bodied man whom Mr. Nelson +provided and for whose services he paid.</p> + +<p>"But ef I strike thet thar gold vein, sir," Dan +assured Mr. Nelson earnestly, "I'm goin' to make +it up to you, sir, every cent of it."</p> + +<p>"All right, we can talk about that later," Mr. +Nelson said, and laughed and walked on to view +his own operations, feeling that he had done a +very good day's work.</p> + +<p>One morning, as the girls mounted their horses +and turned their heads in the direction of the +gold diggings, they heard what seemed to be wild +cheering and shouting in the distance and with +one impulse they urged their horses to a gallop.</p> + +<p>"Somebody's found something!" shouted Mollie, +as the cheering and shouting became more +distinct. "Oh, girls, I wonder who it is."</p> + +<p>"Maybe a mine has caved in, or something," +Grace called back, pessimistically. "You'd better +not get too happy, all at once."</p> + +<p>"You old wet-blanket!" cried Betty, as she +leaned forward and whispered in Nigger's ear, +urging him to greater speed. "That kind of mine +doesn't cave in very often. Oh, Nigger, hurry,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +old boy! Don't you know we've got to get there +quickly?"</p> + +<p>As they approached the noise became tumultuous, +and as they topped a small hill that brought +them in full view of the new diggings they saw +a sight that they would never forget as long as +they lived.</p> + +<p>They gazed on what seemed to be a mob gone +wild. Men grasped each other around the waists, +performing some kind of crazy dance that looked +like an Indian cakewalk. Others tossed their +hats in the air and shot holes through them as +they fell to the ground. And all were laughing, +crying, shouting, waving arms and head gear +in a sort of wild, feverish, primal jubilation.</p> + +<p>The girls caught the thrill of it and they tingled +to their finger tips. Putting spurs to their horses, +they galloped down into the thick of it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>THE END OF PETER LEVINE</h3> + + +<p>The crowd scattered as the Outdoor Girls +came whirling down into its midst, but in an instant +it had closed about them again. They dismounted, +leaving their excited horses to go where +they would, and pushed their way through to the +group that seemed to be the center of all this +wild demonstration.</p> + +<p>And when they saw Meggy, fairly weeping with +joy, and old Dan Higgins, holding a handful of +precious golden nuggets, they nearly went mad +themselves.</p> + +<p>They kissed and hugged Meggy till she cried +aloud for mercy. They kissed and hugged old +Dan, and he took it as though he had been used +to being made much of by pretty girls all his +life.</p> + +<p>Twenty years had fallen from the old man's +age. No matter that he had wasted the best part +of his life in a vain hunt for gold. His dream +had been realized at last. There was a fortune<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +in his grasp, and he felt again the thrill that +had coursed through his veins when, as a young +man, heart high with aspirations, he had started +on his quest.</p> + +<p>He was young again! Young! It seemed as +though the sight of those golden nuggets—his +own—had renewed the fires of youth.</p> + +<p>Nimbly he sprang upon an empty powder +keg and addressed his frenzied audience.</p> + +<p>"Friends and fellow gold hunters," he yelled, +and there was a roar of appreciation. "They is a +few words I'd like to say afore we go back to +wrestlin' some more gold outen them rocks. An' +these is them. Ef I'm a happy man to-day an' a +rich one, then it's all due to these four young +gals here. They set me on the trail o' this new +thing when I was purty near tuckered out. You +all knows 'em an' loves 'em. Now give 'em a +cheer. Hearty, now, hearty——"</p> + +<p>Then arose such a roar that the Outdoor Girls' +hearts swelled near to bursting and they felt +the tears sting their eyes. That moment would +be something to remember all their lives.</p> + +<p>The roar gradually subsided and the miners +wandered back to their own operations again, +followed by scattered groups of curious onlookers. +They worked with redoubled energy, with +redoubled hope. Gold had been found. More<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +gold would be found. It was a thrilling, glorious +race to see who would be the next to announce +good fortune.</p> + +<p>Left to themselves, the girls crowded around +Meggy, questioning her, congratulating her, demanding +to know how it had all happened and +when.</p> + +<p>"My—my mouth is so dry I can hardly speak," +said Meggy, quivering with nervous reaction. +"I—I can't jest make up my mind that it has +happened yet."</p> + +<p>"We know," said Betty, soothingly. "You +needn't tell us about it if you don't want to."</p> + +<p>"But I do—I've got <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'too'">to</ins>!" cried Meggy tensely. +"Why, it seems like a dream. But I'm so happy, +so wildly happy——" A sob caught in her throat +and she paused for a moment, then went on +swiftly, the words tumbling over each other in +her eagerness: "It was jest this morning that +it happened, jest a little while ago. You know we +have been workin' awful hard the last few days, +an' I was getting worried over dad again. He +was gittin' that thin an' weak an' kind o' discouraged, +too. Seemed like he'd jest made up +his mind that there wasn't no luck fer him nowhere's.</p> + +<p>"Then——" she leaned forward, her eyes +black as coals, her fingers clasped convulsively in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +front of her. "Then we uncovered it, that first +little narrow vein o' gold runnin' through the +rocks. I thought dad would go plumb crazy +when he seen it. Honest, I was skeered for a +minute, till I recollected thet joy never killed nobody.</p> + +<p>"Then I began to be skeered fer myself. I +felt so kind o' queer an' wobbly inside o' me. +Then dad came runnin' out to show the other +fellers what he'd found, an' seemed like they went +crazy too.</p> + +<p>"Then you come an'—an'—I guess thet's 'bout +all."</p> + +<p>The girls drew a long breath.</p> + +<p>"All," repeated Grace, softly. "I should think +it was about enough for one day!"</p> + +<p>"An' now," said Meggy, in a small little voice, +"poor old dad an' me, we're rich—rich! Think +of it—Meggy an' her dad! Now I can buy a hoss +like—like—Nigger, mebbe——"</p> + +<p>"You funny girl," cried Betty, hugging her +fondly. "Of course you can buy a horse—a +dozen of them if you want to. But wouldn't you +like anything else? Pretty clothes, a beautiful +house to live in——"</p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed Meggy, but without any special +enthusiasm. "I used to think when you gals +come around lookin' all pretty an' stylish in your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +nice clothes thet I would like to dress thet way +myself ef I wasn't as poor as dirt. An' I would +like to live in somethin' besides a shack an' have +sheets enough to your beds so's you could change +'em every day ef you wanted to. Sure, I'd like +them things.</p> + +<p>"But a hoss——" Her voice lowered almost +to a reverential pitch. "Ever sence I grew to be +a long-legged gal, seems like all I've really wanted +was a hoss. I s'pose," she turned dark, rather +wistful eyes on the girls, "it's purty hard for you +gals to understand what I'm talkin' about. You +never longed fer a thing so's your heart ached +till it seemed like it was dead inside of you. So +you might think I was foolish to take on so 'bout +only a hoss."</p> + +<p>"We don't think you're foolish, Meggy," said +Betty, gently. "We think you're wonderful, and +you deserve every bit of the splendid luck that +has come to you. And I expect," she finished +gayly, "that you will have the most beautiful horse +in all Gold Run."</p> + +<p>Meggy's eyes lighted with joy. Then they +misted suddenly as she looked at the girls.</p> + +<p>"It's jest like dad said," she murmured. "We +wouldn't 'a' had nothin' ef it hadn't been fer you +girls. You don't know how we feel about you, +'cause we jest never could tell you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> + +<p>The days that followed seemed like a beautiful +fairy tale to the happy girls. Peter Levine had +known what he was talking about when he had +asserted that "gold was running wild" about the +northern end of the ranch and its environs.</p> + +<p>It was as though the finding of gold in the +new Higgins' mine had been the key that unlocked +the door to a steady stream of it.</p> + +<p>Every day brought glad tidings of a new find, +and, as some of these were on the ranch, Betty +began to realize that the Nelson family was becoming +very wealthy. They had always been +well-to-do, for her father had prospered in his +business, that of carpet manufacturer in Deepdale. +But now it seemed that they were to know what +it felt like to be really rich.</p> + +<p>The girls realized this, and once Mollie put the +new idea into words.</p> + +<p>"This is a wonderful thing for you, Betty +dear," she said soberly. "You can have about +anything in the world that you want now. I—I—hope +you won't forget your old friends." She +said the last laughingly, but Betty was deeply +hurt and showed that she was.</p> + +<p>"If—if you ever dare say such a horrid thing +to me again, Mollie Billette," she cried, half way +between tears and anger, "I'll never, never forgive +you! You—you—ought to know me better."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p> + +<p>And Mollie, heartily ashamed of herself, succeeded +in placating the Little Captain only after +having apologized most abjectly.</p> + +<p>Then one day something happened that amused +them all mightily. They had all turned out to the +gold diggings, Mrs. Nelson, Mr. Nelson, the four +girls, and Allen. Mrs. Nelson and Allen were +engaged in the joyful pursuit of trying to figure +out how much her profits would be, when Betty +edged up to Allen and, pulling his sleeve, pointed +out a man some distance from them. The latter +was standing alone, and he seemed to be regarding +the operations rather morosely.</p> + +<p>"Peter Levine, by all that's holy!" murmured +Allen. "Just hold tight for a minute, folks, and +watch me chase him."</p> + +<p>With an elaborately casual air, Allen sauntered +over to the morose individual. The man looked +up as he approached, and the scowl on his face +deepened.</p> + +<p>"Howdy," said Allen, loud enough to cause +those near by to turn to look at him. "How's +my old friend Levine this morning?"</p> + +<p>"None of your business," snarled the other, +with a black look. "Lay off me, do you hear?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I hear," said Allen, loudly and cheerfully. +"I'm quite exceptionally good at hearing. +Shall I tell these friends of ours what Andy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +Rawlinson and I happened to hear the other +night, beneath these very trees? Why, Levine, +where are you going?" he asked with feigned +surprise, as the other started to take his leave. +"Don't you want to hear——"</p> + +<p>"Shut your mouth!" snarled Peter Levine, furiously, +then turned and slunk off, followed by +the jeers and catcalls of the crowd.</p> + +<p>"You shore hev got his number, boy," said +one old timer, admiringly. "He loves you like +the fox loves a trap."</p> + +<p>Allen grinned boyishly. "Suits me!" he said +cheerfully.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3>INNOCENT</h3> + + +<p>"That was good, Allen," said Mr. Nelson appreciatively, +as the young fellow rejoined the +group. "You've licked him in fine shape."</p> + +<p>"And we want to thank you for the way you +have handled things for us, Allen," added Mrs. +Nelson, warmly. "We might have got into all +sorts of trouble if it hadn't been for you."</p> + +<p>The young lawyer was tremendously embarrassed +by this praise, though Betty was aglow +with it. It was splendid to have her family so +fond of Allen.</p> + +<p>The latter noticed her silence, and under cover +of the general conversation commented upon it.</p> + +<p>"How feels the millionairess this morning?" he +asked lightly, though Betty felt that there was a +deeper meaning hidden behind the words.</p> + +<p>"I'm feeling splendid," she answered, her voice +vibrating with the joy of living. "Who wouldn't +be—with all this?" and she waved her hand over +the bustling scene.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> + +<p>In spite of the excitement of all these wonderful +happenings, the girls, especially Betty, had +thought almost constantly of the poor musician +whom his neighbors called the Hermit of Gold +Run.</p> + +<p>He never came down to help Dan Higgins and +Meggy any more, probably, Grace said, scared +off by the bustle and confusion of the new +gold boom. Meggy had mentioned casually +once or twice that she still took food to the desperate +man.</p> + +<p>"If he only doesn't give himself up to the +authorities before we get news from the East!" +Betty, worried, exclaimed over and over again.</p> + +<p>Then one day, along with the other letters in +the mail, there arrived an important looking document +from New York addressed to Allen.</p> + +<p>The latter was out at the gold diggings at the +time, and the girls fairly lassoed him, bringing +him home protesting but helpless.</p> + +<p>"I say, what's the row?" he demanded, and +for answer Mollie thrust the important missive +into his hand.</p> + +<p>"Read!" she commanded dramatically. "And +tell us what lies within."</p> + +<p>Allen tore the envelope open and read the letter +hastily through while the girls crowded around +him and tried to read over his shoulder.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then he jumped to his feet and waved the paper +at them excitedly.</p> + +<p>"By Jove!" he cried, "this proves that Betty +was right. The man didn't kill his brother—simply +injured him. He was taken to the hospital +and he recovered long since. The manager +says he has been trying to locate Paul Loup for +weeks. He is losing a fortune every day——"</p> + +<p>But Betty could wait no longer. She snatched +the letter from him and read it through aloud +while the girls gaped at her.</p> + +<p>"Come on," she cried, reaching for her sailor +hat and pushing it down on her shapely little +head. "Don't stand there like wooden Indians. +We've got to take this news to Paul Loup."</p> + +<p>Bent on their joyful mission, the girls approached +the lonely little cabin in the woods +swiftly. As they came near they heard again +that same hauntingly sweet melody that had so +moved them the first time they had heard it.</p> + +<p>Yet now that they understood the pain that +prompted the rendering of that exquisite harmony, +it seemed too bitterly sad to be beautiful, +and their hearts ached dully in sympathy with +Paul Loup's despair.</p> + +<p>Tears were in Betty's eyes, but there was a +smile on her lips, as she pushed open the door<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +of the little shack and stood waiting on the threshold.</p> + +<p>The musician saw her, ended the throbbing +melody with a crash of discord, and gazed at her +mutely. In all his tall, gaunt body only his glowing +eyes seemed really alive, but in those eyes +there was a welcome that gave Betty courage.</p> + +<p>"Look!" she cried, holding out the paper to +him. "This is from your manager. Read it—and +see that you are innocent."</p> + +<p>Slowly the man laid down his violin and bow, +slowly he took the paper from Betty's trembling +fingers. Like a man in a daze he read it through—then +read it through again.</p> + +<p>"I did not kill him—my brother," he murmured +aloud. "My brother—that I love—I did not kill +him. He is alive—he is well. <i>Mon Dieu</i>, then +I am free! Paul Loup—he is not a murderer—a +hunted thing. He is again the artist—free—<i>free</i>——" +His voice, which had been gradually +rising as the truth bore in upon him, rose to a +jubilant shout and he threw out his arms passionately +as though to encompass them all in his +newly found love of life. "The world——" he +said brokenly, "the world is very beautiful!"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Silently the girls rode through the sunshine and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +shadow-filled forest, their hearts filled with a happiness +so poignant it seemed almost pain.</p> + +<p>"What a wonderful, wonderful summer!" +breathed Mollie. "I don't believe we have ever +had one like it, girls."</p> + +<p>"I wish we didn't have to go home," sighed +Amy. "I shall miss my beautiful Lady so," and +she laid a loving hand on the little animal's +arching neck.</p> + +<p>"What about me?" wailed Grace. "I know I +shall cry myself to sleep, longing for Nabob. +He's one of the best chums I ever had."</p> + +<p>But the Little Captain did not hear them. +Over and over again, like an echo, her mind was +repeating those words of Paul Loup: "The +world is very beautiful."</p> + +<p>"Girls," she murmured dreamily, "everybody +is so happy—and I'm so happy—oh, please, don't +wake me up—anybody!"</p> + +<p>And so, at the end of a wonderful outing, with +life stretching gloriously before them, we will +once more sadly, reluctantly, wave farewell to the +Outdoor Girls.</p> + + +<h2>THE END</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By LAURA LEE HOPE</h3> + +<div class='center'>Author of the "Bobbsey Twin Books" and "Bunny Brown" +Series.</div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'> +<b>12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING.</b><br /> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>These tales take in the various adventures participated in +by several bright, up-to-date girls who love outdoor life. +They are clean and wholesome, free from sensationalism, +absorbing from the first chapter to the last.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALE<br /> +Or Camping and Tramping for Fun and Health.<br /> +</div> + +<p>Telling how the girls organized their Camping and Tramping Club, +how they went on a tour, and of various adventures which befell them.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKE<br /> +Or Stirring Cruise of the Motor Boat Gem.<br /> +</div> + +<p>One of the girls becomes the proud possessor of a motor boat and +invites her club members to take a trip down the river to Rainbow +Lake, a beautiful sheet of water lying between the mountains.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAR<br /> +Or The Haunted Mansion of Shadow Valley.<br /> +</div> + +<p>One of the girls has learned to run a big motor car, and she invites +the club to go on a tour to visit some distant relatives. On the way +they stop at a deserted mansion and make a surprising discovery.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMP<br /> +Or Glorious Days on Skates and Ice Boats.<br /> +</div> + +<p>In this story, the scene is shifted to a winter season. The girls +have some jolly times skating and ice boating, and visit a hunters' +camp in the big woods.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA<br /> +Or Wintering in the Sunny South.<br /> +</div> + +<p>The parents of one of the girls have bought an orange grove in +Florida, and her companions are invited to visit the place. They take +a trip into the interior, where several unusual things happen.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT OCEAN VIEW<br /> +Or The Box that Was Found in the Sand.<br /> +</div> + +<p>The girls have great fun and solve a mystery while on an outing +along the New England coast.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON PINE ISLAND<br /> +Or A Cave and What it Contained.<br /> +</div> + +<p>A bright, healthful story, full of good times at a bungalow camp +on Pine Island.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'> +<span class="smcap">Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL<br /> +HIGH SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By GERTRUDE W. MORRISON</h3> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'> +<b>12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING.</b><br /> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Here is a series full of the spirit of high school life of to-day. +The girls are real flesh-and-blood characters, and we follow +them with interest in school and out. There are many +contested matches on track and field, and on the water, as well +as doings in the classroom and on the school stage. There is +plenty of fun and excitement, all clean, pure and wholesome.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH<br /> +Or Rivals for all Honors.<br /> +</div> + +<p>A stirring tale of high school life, full of fun, with a touch +of mystery and a strange initiation.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON LAKE LUNA<br /> +Or The Crew That Won.<br /> +</div> + +<p>Telling of water sports and fun galore, and of fine times in camp.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH AT BASKETBALL<br /> +Or The Great Gymnasium Mystery.<br /> +</div> + +<p>Here we have a number of thrilling contests at basketball and in +addition, the solving of a mystery which had bothered the high +school authorities for a long while.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON THE STAGE<br /> +Or The Play That Took the Prize.<br /> +</div> + +<p>How the girls went in for theatricals and how one of them wrote +a play which afterward was made over for the professional stage +and brought in some much-needed money.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON TRACK AND FIELD<br /> +Or The Girl Champions of the School League<br /> +</div> + +<p>This story takes in high school athletics in their most approved +and up-to-date fashion. Full of fun and excitement.</p> + + +<div class='unindent'><br /> +THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH IN CAMP<br /> +Or The Old Professor's Secret.<br /> +</div> + +<p>The girls went camping on Acorn Island and had a delightful +time at boating, swimming and picnic parties.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'><b><span class="smcap">Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></b></div> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. +Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN THE SADDLE***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 19318-h.txt or 19318-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/3/1/19318">http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/3/1/19318</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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