CHAPTER XV
THE DANCE AT THE GAYLOR RANCH
Six weeks had passed and business was running smoothly again at theBar X ranch. Mason had fully recovered from his wound and Tex was alsoable to be about, although his complete recovery was still a matter oftime. No word had been heard from Trent Burton, the Marshal, since hehad taken his prisoners away. His services were in great demand by theGovernment, and the opinion prevailed at the ranch that he was workingon a hard criminal case somewhere in the East. The Marshal had seemedanxious to dispose of the Ricker case in a hurry, saying that he hadmatters of great importance awaiting him at headquarters.
One fine morning, Mason feeling the need of exercise, found himselflonging for a spin in his racing car. He had not been out in it sincethe time he drove to the station with Josephine to meet his mother andsister. The idea getting a firm hold on him, he made his way to theshed that did duty as a garage, with the intention of giving the car acareful overhauling. He paused as he was about to open the door, andlooked down the trail leading to Trader's Post.
It was a magnificent morning with a gentle breeze sweeping up thevalley. He smiled as he made out the figures of Waneda and Tex justcoming out of the bunk-house and headed his way. The Spanish girlcalled regularly on Tex every morning, and insisted that he take awalk in the warm sunshine. It was due to this fact that the cowboy wasrecovering so rapidly. The lanky cowboy had taken a great liking tohis Spanish nurse with the large dreamy eyes, and it didn't take veryhard coaxing on her part to get him to take a walk when the weatherwas fine.
Mason was working industriously on his racer when the pair came up andlooked in on him.
"Good morning, Tex," he called cheerfully, bowing to Waneda. "Want totake a ride in my racer? I can take both of you to Trader's Post andback again before breakfast is ready."
Tex was eyeing the machine distrustfully.
"Nope," he answered laconically. "A hoss is plenty good enough for me.What if the blamed thing got to frisking balky like? I reckon I ain'tafraid of no hoss that walks, but if this here critter got to actingup peevish like, why I know I sure would jump out. I ain't got noobjections to the gal here a-going with you if she likes."
Before Waneda could answer two riders rode past them on their way tothe ranch. Tex looked after them in surprise.
"Bruce and Lem Gaylor from the Gaylor ranch across the valley fromus," he said in a puzzled tone. "Wonder what they want this early inthe morning?"
"Probably nothing serious," Mason answered, briskly, turning hisattention to getting his car in running order.
"People can begin to enjoy life again in this part of the country, nowthat the Ricker gang has been cleaned out," he resumed. "Tex, doesn'tit seem good to know you can ride this range without bumping into someof Ricker's cut-throats?"
Tex frowned darkly.
"Huh," he snorted, "he's got plenty of friends scattered around theseparts, and I have been tipped off that Nick Cover's cousin is going toget me on sight; his cousin works on a small ranch that joins Gaylor'sboundary line, and they say he is dead sore because Nick was jailed onmy account."
Tex was fingering his gun as he talked, and Mason could see the hotblood mount into his cheeks and his voice grew hard and stern. The rawdeal he had received at the hands of one of Ricker's men had left abitter hatred in his soul. As he slowly recovered from his wound hevowed revenge for the cowardly shot that laid him low.
"I'm telling you, Jack," the lanky cowboy continued impressively,"that you ain't seen the last of Ricker's gang of cut-throats, and youwant to pack a gun when you're riding this range. I've got it straightthat you are a marked man since the raid, and the friends of Rickerwill get you if they have to shoot from ambush."
Mason was a bit startled at Tex's vehement manner.
Waneda had kept silent up to this point, but Tex's words had seemed tocause her great agitation.
"Tex is right, Signor," she said earnestly, her great eyes full ofentreaty, "you must be very careful, for while I was at Ricker's hehad many people call on him. His place is a sort of rendezvous, and Ihave seen all sorts of people gather there from all parts of thecountry."
Mason was about to answer her when Tex announced that the Gaylorbrothers were coming back from the ranch. He waited for them to passby, but to his surprise they dismounted and asked Tex where they couldfind Jack Mason.
"Jack's inside there working on his machine," the lanky cowboyanswered, as he proceeded in his quaint way to introduce Waneda andMason to the Gaylor boys.
They were well set-up men and about Mason's own age. He took to themat once and liked their straightforward manner and jovial dispositions.Bruce, the elder, did most of the talking, his brother being a littlemore reticent.
"We rode over here this morning to invite the Bar X boys to a dance atour ranch the last of this week," Bruce explained to Mason, "and asto-day is Wednesday you have until Saturday to make up your mind. Iknow what your outfit has been through with in cleaning out some ofthe Ricker gang, and my sister insisted on this party to liven up theboys of the Bar X. It is all her own arrangement, and you know howwoman folks are when they get set on an idea. I think it is a goodplan to get the boys together once in a while.
"Miss Josephine seemed to be taken up with the idea, and told me toget you to promise to visit us Saturday. I guess she is pretty nearthe boss of this ranch, and as I have her on my side I have hopes thatshe will be able to persuade you to come to our party, Jack."
"I'll be glad to come and you can depend on me for one," Masonanswered, turning to look at Tex who was in earnest conversation withLem and Waneda. "I'll go among the boys and get them all to turn outfor this occasion, and we will make the party such a success that yoursister won't have any kick coming."
"Another reason why we came over here this morning was to warn you towatch out for the friends of Ricker," Bruce continued, lowering hisvoice. Tex had started on a slow walk to the ranch with Lem andWaneda. "You know the town of Smoky Point below Trader's Post at therailroad junction?"
Mason nodded his head, becoming deeply interested.
"Well," Bruce resumed, "Lem and I happened to have some business totransact in that town yesterday, and we dropped into the Duke hotel:it is a saloon and dance hall run by Duke Williams, a notoriousgambler. He got his nickname, Duke, from his highly polished mannersand cool indifference to danger. He is said to be a man who never getsrattled or shows any signs of nervousness, no matter what theprovocation. We were seated at a table and had just ordered a round ofdrinks when two cowboys came in and took seats near us. They were fromthe ranch that joins our boundary line, and from their talk they hadbeen drinking heavily and were in an ugly mood. One of the men wasNick Cover's cousin and goes by the name of Spot Wells. They didn'tappear to realize they were talking loud, and during theirconversation I caught Tex's name mentioned, followed by an oath, andthen they began to plan how they could get Tex and then finish youoff. For some reason or other they seemed to think that you weredirectly responsible for the Ricker raid. We took our leave shortlyafter that, and I made it my business to let you know the kind of dealyou are up against. Lem will put Tex wise, and you can bank on me tokeep you posted if I hear anything else. What I am most concernedabout just now, is to make sure that you will come to our dance."
Mason grasped his hand and shook it heartily.
"You can depend on me, Bruce, I wouldn't miss it for the world, and Iwant to thank you for going to all this trouble on my account," hesaid sincerely. "Why, you almost made me forget about your party whileI was listening to your description of these men."
His eyes lighted up with a curious gleam and he looked hard at Bruce.
"Say, I've got an idea," he burst out suddenly; "get your brother tostay here and have breakfast with us, and then you and I will quietlyget this old machine out and take a spin down to Smoky Point. There isa bare chance that we will find those cowboys there, and I want to geta good look at them. We won't say a word to anybody about going, andyou can patch i
t up with your brother afterwards. Are you game?"
"It's a go," Bruce answered readily, "I always did want to ride in oneof those blaze wagons, and now is my chance. I see Tex has vanishedwith the girl and my brother and I suppose they are at the ranch bythis time. That makes me think, while I was telling the ranch ownerabout that deal at Smoky Point, Josephine cut in on my conversationand urged me to stay for breakfast. I refused her invitation, so whenshe sees me again I will have to lay the blame on you."
When they arrived at the ranch, breakfast was ready, and Josephinetook Mason to task for keeping her waiting.
He looked at Bruce and laughed.
"You see, Bruce," he said gaily, "if there are any scoldings to be hadI get 'em."
"What have you two been hatching up?" the girl questionedsuspiciously, smiling at Mason's good humor. "Do you know, Mr. Gaylor,since Sir Jack has gotten well from his wound, he is getting to be anawful tease?"
After breakfast the owner of Bar X insisted on showing the Gaylorbrothers around the ranch, and had them look over some new stock hehad received a large shipment of. To the vexation of Mason and Bruceit was a matter of over four hours before they managed to break awayfrom the enthusiastic ranch owner and got started down the trailtowards Smoky Point.
Bruce had to tell his brother he would be gone for nearly the rest ofthe day, and just as Mason got his car in motion one of the men in thecorral yelled after him that Josephine and his sister had taken theirhorses right after breakfast, and said they were going to do someshopping at Trader's Post. Mason wondered at this, for the girlsusually let him know when they intended taking a long trip.
"Maybe we will meet or pass them somewhere on the trail," Brucesuggested, noticing Mason's anxiety.
Mason brightened up at the thought.
"That would be fine," he agreed, and he let the car out until theywere doing a good fifty miles per hour.
"They are fine girls, but just a little too daring to suit me at thesetimes. How does this speed suit you, Bruce? Shall I let her out alittle more?"
Bruce had his hat jammed well down over his ears.
"No," he managed to gasp, "I ain't no hog for speed. This is plentyfast enough for me."
Mason laughed as he slowed the racer down to a more moderate roadspeed. Then he began to try to figure out about how far ahead thegirls were.
As they had over four hours the start of him, he had to give it up indisgust. Knowing Josephine's daring, he reasoned that she might evenswing off after reaching Trader's Post and head towards Devil's Gap.He had heard the girls repeatedly express a desire to be able totravel when and where they pleased, but he had always cautioned themthat it was unsafe for them to be without an escort, as there wasalways the danger of running into some of the lawless gunmen of thevalley. He wished most heartily that they had not started off alone,and he was worried more than he cared to admit even to Bruce Gaylor.
The motor was running in perfect order this day, and later when thebuildings of Trader's Post came in sight, Bruce opened his eyes insurprise.
"This sure is a quick way of traveling, and beats a horse forty ways,"he remarked in admiration.
"You're a little different from Tex," Mason answered, as he rememberedhow the lanky cowboy had refused to ride. "Why, I couldn't get him anycloser than four feet to the car."
They had made good time from the ranch, and as they drove into thetown, Mason's first move was to dash into the leading store andinquire if the girls had done any trading there this day. They werewell known at Trader's Post, as it was the nearest place to Bar Xranch and the girls did quite a bit of shopping there. Mason wasastonished to receive the answer that the girls had not been seen toenter the town, or at least they had done no trading in any of thestores which he visited.
He was thoroughly aroused by this time, and something seemed to tellhim that the girls were in danger. He was inclined to follow his firstidea that the girls had swung off the trail before reaching Trader'sPost and had headed for Devil's Gap. He told Bruce of his thought andwaited impatiently for his opinion.
"It won't make any difference to me if you want to go towards Devil'sGap," Bruce said grimly; "if you think the girls are in danger weought to get busy right quick. This trip to Smoky Point can wait forsome other time."
Mason did some hard thinking and kept looking anxiously down the trailtowards Smoky Point. Suddenly he jumped for the driver's seat andstarted the racer off at a furious speed.
"Hang on hard, Bruce," he grated, "something tells me the girls took anotion to visit Smoky Point, and it's to Smoky Point we go."
There was a whirl of dust as the car shot out of the town, and some ofthe natives of Trader's Post who happened to be in the street staredafter them in amazement. That Bruce was scared, Mason well knew, forhe could feel his body quiver. With set lips he drove the fast machineahead, and he confided to Bruce afterwards that he never had drivenfaster on the race track. Soon they struck a bad part of the trail andhe had to slow the car down. Bruce seized the opportunity to ask a fewquestions.
"What got the idea into your head that the girls might visit SmokyPoint?" he queried curiously.
"When you told the folks at the ranch about Spot Wells and DukeWilliams' place at Smoky Point, the girls heard you, didn't they?"Mason questioned him.
"Why, yes, they were in the room," Bruce admitted, wonderingly.
"Well," Mason resumed, "it would be just like my sister to coaxJosephine to show her this town, and as you know, she is from the Eastand nothing would suit her fancy better than a little adventure ofthis kind, so she could tell the people back East what a real Westerntown is like. It would appeal to her about the same as it does to someof our society people in New York when they go on a slumming trip toChinatown. Now, do you get the drift of my reasoning?"
Bruce nodded understandingly.
"God grant that they haven't fallen into evil hands," Mason added, ashe pulled the plunging car out of a bad ditch.
A little later they were entering the outskirts of Smoky Point and heslowed the car down in order not to attract any undue attention. Asthey drove into the main street, he joyously discovered the girls'horses hitched close to a large department store.
Mason stopped the car in front of the store, and turning to Brucesaid:
"You go into this store and make inquiries and if you don't hear anynews of them there, visit the other stores. In the meantime I willlook over Duke Williams' place and you can come there as soon as youfind out anything."
"But you don't know Duke Williams or the run of the place as well as Ido," Bruce protested.
"That's just the reason I want to go alone," Mason replied hurriedly,"this Williams don't know me, and if there is any deviltry afoot theywon't suspect me half as quick as they would you."
This plan was agreed to, and Mason sauntered slowly over to the placerun by Duke Williams. He entered the bar-room and called for a cigar.There was the usual bunch one would find in a place of this kind,lined up against the bar talking with the barkeeper. After a sharpglance at this man Mason decided he was not the proprietor. There wasa small booth, or reading-room, just outside the barroom. Mason,taking a paper out of his pocket, entered this room and seatinghimself comfortably made an attempt at reading. Seated directlyopposite him were two cowboys engaged in earnest conversation.
Mason assumed a drunken attitude, allowing his head to sink slowlyinto his paper. Listening closely, he watched them over the top ofthat paper. They were talking in subdued tones, but he caught the nameof Tex mentioned and he was instantly on the alert. If one of thesemen should turn out to be Spot Wells, he could thank his lucky starsthat the cowboy did not know him by sight. He listened eagerly and aminute later he was electrified to hear one of them say it was abouttime to visit the girls!
They laughed hoarsely and rose to their feet. There was a flight ofstairs leading out of the room and as they started to ascend them,Mason came under their direct gaze. His head had fallen on a levelwith the table and he appeared to be fas
t asleep. He was watching themout of the corner of his eye, however, and he saw one of the menhesitate and regard him suspiciously.
This one appeared to be the leader and had a spot just under his righteye.
Mason's heart jumped as he realized that this cowboy might be SpotWells, the man Bruce had told him about. He determined to stick closeto these men until he found out what they meant when they spoke aboutvisiting the girls. His blood boiled as the thought struck him thatthey might mean Josephine and Ethel.
The cowboy with the spot came over and shook him roughly, but Masonmade only a feeble attempt to raise his head.
"Seems to be dead drunk," he said to his companion with an oath.
"You had better stay here and watch him while I visit our fairprisoners," he continued, "even the Duke don't know we got the girlsfrom Bar X, and I know he won't stand for this kind of play if he getswise, so it is up to us to get them out of here right quick. I'll goand look them over and fix it up with the old Mexican woman. You knowthe danger signal; if anybody comes, one short blast on that whistleof yours, and we will get them out of here in a hurry."
This was enough for Mason, and he quickly made up his mind to attackthe two cowboys. He heard the man with the spot mounting the stairswhile the other took up a position at the foot.
Mason waited until he was sure the cowboy had reached the next floor,then he carefully measured the distance to the foot of the stairs, andwith a bound was upon his guard. The fellow was so startled he forgotto cry out, and Mason tried for a strangle hold. The man seemedpossessed with unusual strength, and breaking away from him darted upthe stairs. The next instant a shrill whistle sounded and Mason,following his opponent closely, hurled himself upon him in time tograsp the muzzle of a revolver he had drawn. Mason worked free from adeadly hold his enemy had secured and getting his feet set firm, hesent a crashing blow to his jaw, knocking him the length of thestairs. A door back of him was flung open and he turned just in timeto avoid a vicious blow aimed at him with the revolver butt of thecowboy with the spot under his eye.
A cry of rage escaped Mason's lips and he saw red as he beheld theterror-stricken faces of his sister and Josephine in the doorway.
Before the cowboy with the spot could recover his balance Mason swunga powerful blow, knocking him sprawling on top of his comrade.Sweeping Josephine up in his arms and calling sternly for his sisterto follow him, he went down the stairs with a rush kicking one of thecowboys over as he vainly tried to draw his gun. In the street he satJosephine on her feet just as Bruce came running up to them.
"Don't ask any questions, Bruce," he said rapidly, "I found the girlsall right, and I want to ask a favor of you. I am going to take themback to the ranch in my car and I would like you to take their horsesback with you. If you will do me this favor I will never forget it,and you stay at the ranch to-night and I will tell you how I found thegirls, but don't say anything to the folks at the ranch about thisstunt the cowboys tried to pull on us. I will take the matter up withBud as I don't want the old folks at the ranch to get alarmed. Willyou do this for me?"
"Sure thing," Bruce agreed readily; "I am glad to be of some help, butit is just my luck to miss all the fun, and I can see that you havebeen in a right smart mix-up."
Mason hastily bundled the girls into the car and when the town wasleft well in their rear he looked reproachfully at Josephine. Her lipswere quivering and his heart softened.
"I know what you are going to say," she said demurely, "you are goingto scold Ethel and me for getting into this scrape."
"No, I'm not," he answered soberly, "but I want you to tell me allthat happened while you were in that hotel and how you came to beprisoners of those men."
"We didn't come to any harm, thanks to your timely rescue," she saidearnestly, "and I will tell you the whole story on just onecondition.".
"And what is that?" he asked, painfully surprised.
"That you don't tell our parents of our narrow escape."
"I can promise you that right off the reel," he said, greatlyrelieved. "Now just fire away, truants."
"And also, that you explain in some way to their satisfaction how wecome to return in your car instead of on our horses."
"All right, all right, my fair Princess; I'm great at explainingthings."
"Well, I will start from the beginning and then you will understandthe whole story, won't he, Ethel?" Josephine began.
"Ethel and I wanted to take a nice long ride this morning, so wefinally decided just before we reached Trader's Post to branch off thetrail and go on to Smoky Point. I knew of a short cut we could take,so we didn't go through Trader's Post--"
"No wonder we couldn't get any news of you there," Mason cut in,looking at her in surprise. "Bruce and I came through that town andinquired for you there."
"Well," Josephine resumed, "when we arrived at Smoky Point we made afew simple purchases at one of the stores, after which we walked aboutthe place as Ethel wished to see all there was to be seen of the town.You know she had never been there before, but I went there once beforewith Dad and knew all about the famous resort run by Duke Williams. Ina spirit of mischief I led Ethel to this place and we were standingnear one of the windows of the dance hall innocently listening to themusic when we were suddenly attacked by two men. They had thrownblankets over our heads to stifle our cries. We both fainted fromfright and when we came to our senses we found we had been locked in aroom and were prisoners. We were guarded by an old Mexican woman. Shewarned us not to make an outcry and held a glittering dagger beforeour eyes. I tried to buy her off and was making some impression on herwith the promise of gold, when one of our captors unlocked the doorand strode into the room. He snarled some orders to the Mexican womanas he covertly watched us frightened girls. Then a whistle soundedsomewhere in the building and the man's face seemed to blanch white.He ran to the door and flung it violently open; then came the sound ofblows, and we rushed out into the hall just in time to see you knockhim downstairs. Believe me, you looked good to us just then. I don'tknow what became of the old Mexican woman; anyway she disappearedduring the excitement."
"I have a score to settle with that spotface cowboy," Mason saidgrimly. "What do you suppose his object was in making you girlsprisoners?"
"I heard the old Mexican woman say we were to be held as prisoners outof revenge for Ricker's arrest, and they were going to demand moneyfrom Josephine's father for our safe return to the ranch," Ethel spokeup; "the two cowboys had been drinking heavily and were in arevengeful mood."
The rest of the ride was made in silence, all three being busy withtheir own thoughts.
"I would advise you girls to go to your room and rest up," Mason saidas he drove the car in front of the house. "Just act as if nothing hadhappened, and when Bruce arrives we will figure out some means ofrounding up this spotface cowboy and his pal. I'll tell the folks thatI kidnapped you girls at Trader's Post and brought you home in my car.Remember, we have to get in shape for the dance at Bruce's ranch, andI am going to demand some extra dances from you girls by way ofpunishment."
"Do you dance so badly as all that, Sir Jack?" Josephine flung backsaucily at him as she took Ethel's arm and disappeared into the house.
In the two remaining days before the dance, Bruce, Bud Anderson andMason scoured the country for the spotface cowboy and his pal, butthose worthies had disappeared. Inquiry at the ranch where they hadworked revealed the fact that they had quit their jobs and departedfor parts unknown.
Mason had almost forgotten the affair at Smoky Point, and the eveningof the dance found him waiting patiently at the ranch door with hisracer. He had planned to take the girls over to the Gaylor ranch inhis car, the cowboys having left long before on their horses. Soon,two visions of beauty greeted his eyes, and with a satisfied smile hetucked the girls comfortably in their seats for the ride.
"This is the night that Percy Vanderpool will shine," he said with alaugh. "I saw him leave this afternoon with the cowboys, and he wasdolled up like a Christmas
tree."
"I hope you will treat the poor fellow with a little more respect whenwe get to the dance," his sister said, with a severe look at him.
"Well, Percy is a lucky cuss at that," he answered whimsically. "Ionly wish I had two such fair champions as he has in you girls."
Their cries of protest were drowned in the roar of the motor as he seta fast pace for the Gaylor ranch.