CHAPTER XXIII
IN DISGUISE
All eyes were turned on the lad, but he did not seem abashed.
"What's the idea?" asked Dick, who thought perhaps his brother was"joshing."
"It just occurred to me, after I saw Del Pinzo at the professor'scamp," Nort said. "It may sound foolish, but it's worth trying, Ithink."
And when, a little later, he had explained to Mr. Merkel and Sheriff,they clapped the lad on the back heartily and said:
"Go ahead! It's worth trying!"
Nort needed several days to perfect his plans for a daring excursioninto the enemy's country, so to speak. But before he had completed hisarrangements Del Pinzo, through some rascally lawyers, had gotten inthe first blow of the legal battle.
As Mr. Merkel had said, he was summoned to court to defend his claim tothe rich grazing lands of Spur Creek. If he had had his documents thiswould have been comparatively easy, but with the stealing of the deedsand other papers, the task was harder.
Of course Mr. Merkel engaged a lawyer, but the first skirmish resultedin victory for the sheep men. As had been surmised, Del Pinzo did notdirectly appear in the matter, though he was in court consulting withthe lawyers engaged by the herders. And, as might have been expected,some of the claimants to rights under the new open range law were legalcitizens of the United States and, as such, entitled to take up acertain amount of land.
"But they have no right to take Mr. Merkel's land!" said the ranchman'slawyer. "We grant that they have a right to pasture sheep, or evenelephants, for that matter, on land they can rightfully claim. Butthey can't claim land already taken up and given over to the pasture ofcattle. We recognize, Your Honor, that to the Court there is nodifference between a sheep and a cow."
"You are right there," admitted the Judge, "and I suppose you areprepared, Mr. Bonnett, to substantiate your client's legal claim tothis land by deeds and other papers."
"Unfortunately my client's deeds are missing," Mr. Bonnett had toadmit, at which admission there was a grin from Del Pinzo, so Budthought, at least. "But if we have time we can bring the necessarypapers into court. Therefore we ask for delay."
"And we oppose delay, for the reason that our sheep are suffering fromlack of fodder and we have a right to pasture them on the Spur Creeklands!" cried the opposing lawyer.
"I'll grant a week's postponement," decided the Judge. "If in thattime, Mr. Bonnett, you can not file proof, I'm afraid----"
He did not finish, but they all knew what he meant. He would beobliged, in strict law, though perhaps not justice, to let the sheepmen come in on land that Mr. Merkel claimed under rights of formerlaws, when he had taken them up after a government opening.
As has been said, legal matters in this sparsely settled part of theUnited States were not as strictly enforced as in large cities. Therethe loss of deeds could be made up by other evidence. But in the westthe papers were needed and without them, even though in possession,there would be trouble to prove a claim.
"But if the sheep come, even though the court says they may, there'llbe another fight!" declared the ranchman, in spite of his lawyer'sefforts to keep him quiet.
It was two days after that when Nort started out of the ranch house oneearly evening. There had been a consultation before he left, and whenhe was ready to go he almost collided with Yellin' Kid, who entered.
"What's the matter with you, Greaser?" cried the Kid angrily. "Whatyou doin' in here, anyhow?"
"Well, Kid, if you don't recognize me I guess I'm safe!" chuckled Nort.
"Nort!" shouted the Yellin' Kid. "What the----"
"Not so loud!" cautioned Nort, laughing. "How do you like mydisguise?" he asked. And then, changing his voice to a whine, hebegged in slangy Spanish for a cigaret (which, of course, he did notsmoke) though he muttered his "thanks, _Senor_," in a manner thatcaused Yellin' Kid to exclaim:
"They'll never find you out! Good luck to you!"
"_Adios_," laughed Nort.