Mr. Ferris

“ Ferris," he courteously remarked, "I perhaps should have explained to you at the time, that I recognized this person and knew him to be an honest man; but the habits of secrecy in our profession are so fostered by the lives we lead, that we sometimes hold our tongue when it would be better for us to speak. The humpback who talked with us on the court-house steps the morning Mrs. Clemmens was murdered, was not what he seemed, sir. He was a detective; a detective in disguise; a man with whom I never presume to meddle—in other words, our famous Mr. Gryce." ”

“ He referred to two New York girls with whom the brothers had become acquainted some time before.
“You don’t say!” his brother returned, in a bantering tone. “I suppose the news just trickled out! You didn’t ask mother to ’phone over to Mrs. Ball and find out, did you? Oh, no! Well, let’s have it all. Why are they going to stay all winter, Mr. Bones?”
“Aw, dry up,” Roy said, laughing, albeit his face was a trifle red. “Trying to kid me, aren’t you? How’s Curly, Ted? Have you heard from her lately?”
“No, I haven’t!” and Teddy in his turn became flustered. ”

“ Ferris to draw up to the curb while he told his story. It created quite a sensation.
“Then that’s the headquarters of the marine bandits,” declared Don, with conviction.
“Well, you can’t be sure of that,” said Mr. Ferris. “It is possible that the man might have simply bought stolen goods. But we’ll report this to the police at once. It is well worth knowing, and we may be on the right track, or have a very valuable clue.” ”

“ Ferris was patent to everybody. A murmur of surprise and interest swept through the court-room, while Mr. Orcutt, who in spite of his vague fears was any thing but prepared for a thrust of this vital nature, started and cast short demanding looks from Imogene to Mansell, as if he would ask them what fact this was which through ignorance or presumption they had conspired to keep from him. ”

“ The boy looked at the unconscious man with open admiration. Then, bending swiftly down, he seized the puncher’s shoulders. “Where’ll we take him?” he asked of his father. “In here?” motioning toward the cook-house.
“No, better take him to the house,” Mr. Manley suggested, looking at Gus closely. “He’s out, cold! No wonder! Ridin’ twelve miles under that sun with a hole ripped in his arm! He sure is a nervy boy!”
“I’ll tell a maverick!” Roy exploded. “Come on, Teddy, we’ll lift him over to the house. Sing Lung, you run ahead and tell mother to get a bed ready. And talk English, not Chinese.” ”

“ Mr. Manley observed the horse with interest.
“What makes him do that, Nat?” he asked. “You pullin’ him up?”
“Not any, boss.” Nat answered sincerely. “He’s doin’ it himself. Like Pop said, I guess, he don’t like lowlands.”
“Seems to me as though he sensed a stranger around,” Teddy said to Roy in a low tone. “I’ve seen Nat’s bronco do that before, when a new man came into the yard of the X Bar X. It’s got nothing to do with the place we’re in now.”
“Well, there’s enough men with us he never saw before,” Roy countered. He motioned toward Jake Trummer and his followers. ”

“ Gryce and his subordinates arose.
"I think you will find them satisfactory," drawled Hickory.
"If you do not," said Mr. Gryce, "then give a look at this telegram. It is from Swanson, and notifies us that a record of a marriage between Benjamin Orcutt—Mr. Orcutt's middle name was Benjamin—and Mary Mansell can be found in the old town books."
Mr. Ferris took the telegram, the shade of sorrow settling heavier and heavier on his brow.
"I see," said he, "I have got to accept your conclusions. Well, there are those among the living who will be greatly relieved by these discoveries. ”

“ Viciously he pressed the accelerator to the floor and the car shot ahead.
“Not wastin’ any time,” Mr. Ball declared, leaning forward from his seat in the rear. Teddy shook his head, but did not trust himself to reply. He was not sure his voice would be quite steady.
Roy turned to Mr. Ball.
“Will your wife be all right alone? She won’t—”
“She’s a thoroughbred,” Mr. Ball answered shortly. “After she’s had her little cry she’ll be as cool and collected as any man. Your folks will know about it before we get there, Roy, an’ Mrs. Ball will get our bunch together an’ send ’em on over. ”

“ If that man don't answer up I'll shore mess him around; I shore will!"
"Don't forget that peace bond, Mr..Clinchell," Ferris remarked gravely. "It holds, you know—it holds, all excepting in self-defense."
"It 'll be self-defense! I'd shoot him down like a dog! That man's impident!" Sheriff Ferris watched the old man tearing up and down the veranda, swearing and growling, waving his hands and shaking his shaggy head. The sheriff had watched a good many men in his time, good men, bad men, mean men, men who were in earnest and men who put on. ”

“ Mrs. Manley asked.
“We sure are!” came from Teddy. “How about it, Roy? Wouldn’t you bet your bottom dollar that The Pup did this?”
Both his mother and Teddy waited for the reply. They had confidence that Roy would not go off “half cocked,” a trait which Teddy had in full measure. Besides this, with Mr. Manley gone, the mother and younger brother leaned toward Roy as the natural head of the family.
“Marino,” Roy said slowly, “is the thief, or I’m a ring-tailed doodle bird.”
“And there’s no two ways about it!” Teddy added. “Come on, Roy—we’ll go get him! He’s got a payroll and a horse of ours!” ”

“ Byrd—and with difficulty restrained his emotion.
"I sympathize with your horror and surprise," exclaimed the detective, respectfully. Then, with a strange mixture of embarrassment and agitation, added: "It is considered absolutely necessary that you come to the house. He may yet speak—and—and—you will find Miss Dare there," he concluded, with a peculiarly [503] hesitating glance and a rapid movement toward the door.
Mr. Ferris, who, as we know, cherished a strong feeling of friendship for Mr. Orcutt, stared uneasily at the departing form of the detective. ”

“ Teddy declared. “I saw him at the bunk-house talkin’ to Pop Burns a little while ago. Pop didn’t seem to care much about listening. He said something sharp and turned away. Guess The Pup must have been beefing about you throwing him out.”
“He won’t get far with Pop,” Mr. Manley chuckled. “Imagine Pop hearin’ anything against the X Bar X! Not him. Well, I guess that’s all, boys. I was hopin’ I could catch Gus and explain to him. The poor geezer must have been worried about something, or he never would have done a thing like he did.”
“You’re right, Dad,” Teddy declared. ”

“ Teddy answered in a low voice. He turned to his father, who was staring up the road. “Dad, we’ve got to get back and get some more broncs. How are you figuring on going?”
“Can’t you come with us?” Ethel asked. “Uncle Peter said he would send a car. It must have been delayed, but I’m sure it will come.”
“Yes, if Bug Eye brings a car for you, we can all pile in. Bug Eye usually drives for old man—pardon me, I mean Mr. Ball.”
“That’ll be fine!” Nell said enthusiastically.
“Here comes something now,” Mr. Manley stated, peering up the road. “Lots of dust, anyhow. Sounds like a flivver. ”

“ I’d rather die myself than have anything happen to you. But now—” her voice rose, and took on a vibrant tone—“Pete, bring back those girls! They were our guests. They were under our very roof, under our protection, and I love every one of them like a daughter. If you have to give your own life to do it, Pete, bring—back—those—girls!”
CHAPTER XIV Off on the Chase Quite simply and unaffectedly, Mr. Ball kissed his wife on the forehead. He said not a word, but stood for a moment looking down at her. Then, motioning to Roy and Teddy, he made for the door. ”

“ Nick observed, “now, I don’t like to say nothin’ against a man when he ain’t here fer a come-back; but—well, boss, The Pup sure likes his liquor. I don’t mind a man takin’ a nip now and then, if he’s built that-away. But not during workin’ hours.”
“Do you mean to say Joe Marino has been drunk while he’s on the job?” Teddy asked quickly.
“Now, maybe we’d better wait till The Pup shows up,” Nick countered, shifting his shoulders uneasily. “He’ll be around soon. Maybe he’s rode to town with Gus Tripp. Most likely that’s it.”
Mr. Manley puffed thoughtfully at his pipe. ”

“ Teddy asserted. “He must have been on his way to town when he got shot up and robbed.” He stopped, and looked over at Mr. Ball. “Do you think there’s a chance—” he began.
“We’ll try it,” the rancher interrupted quickly, sensing what Teddy meant. “They’re probably out of this vicinity now, but we owe it to that poor old geezer to have a look, anyhow. Bug Eye, get my bronc. You’re comin’, too.”
“Sure, boss!” the puncher answered eagerly. “Right away?”
“Right away. I’ll tell my wife.” He walked swiftly toward the house.
“Looks like business,” Teddy declared. “How’d you find Star?” ”

“ They saw no sign of the thieves, however, and when the six riders swung into Eagles, Mr. Manley had a determined look on his face. He had been talking to Roy and Teddy about the puncher in the checkered shirt. Deciding to locate the man if he could and to find out just how much the puncher knew of the taking of the horses, Mr. Manley stopped in front of Rimor’s.
“Goin’ in, boss?” Nick asked, a surprised look on his face. The boss was not the type of man to frequent a place like Rimor’s. All the men on the X Bar X knew he never took a drop of liquor. ”

“ Teddy remarked in a low voice, watching his father’s form pass through the door. “Dad does take it seriously. He’s all het up. I wonder what— Oh, fishcakes! What’s the use of wondering? I’m going in.”
The next morning when Mr. Manley came toward the bunk-house to speak to one of the punchers, Nick, who was standing in the doorway, noticed with surprise that the boss had a six-gun fastened to his belt.
“Goin’ huntin’, boss?” the puncher asked.
“Mebbe,” Mr. Manley answered laconically. “Want to be ready in case any two-legged rattlesnakes are wanderin’ around. Where’s Jim Casey?” ”

“ Teddy said slowly. “One of our own men got the fever!”
“And he’s a man we can’t spare, either,” Roy remarked. “There’s plenty of work to be done around the ranch just now. Hope he’s the only one. A strike at Nugget Camp!”
“That’s where Mr. Decker found his nuggets!” Belle exclaimed. “There must be some truth in it, Roy.”
“Oh, I suppose there is.” He was frowning intently at the ground. “But I sure hope the other boys don’t get bitten by the gold bug. We need every man we have.{61}”
“Oh, there’s always one or two who want to make money easily,” Teddy replied. “Jim will come back soon enough. ”

“ Huh! Rustler, hey? Guess he’s had enough action for a while, anyhow. He can think up new names fer himself while he’s sittin’ in jail—an’ if you take my advice, that won’t be at Hawley, boss!”
With a laugh, Mr. Manley agreed. Then he glanced fondly at his two sons, who had, together with their friends, brought this Reltsur to justice and had rescued Belle and the others from his clutches.
But the ranch boys were to have other happenings, and the further adventures of Roy and Teddy will be told in the next volume, to be called: “The X Bar X Boys on Whirlpool River.” ”

“ But I was sent for in a hurry to join what I thought was a bunch jest takin’ after rustlers, and it wasn’t until I heard the young ladies mentioned jest now that I remembered about that crowd in the auto. The driver, a mean-lookin’ sort of cuss, seemed in a pronto rush, an’ the old crone was hoverin’ over the girls like a hen with three chicks.”
“Then they must be goin’ to hold Belle and the others for ransom. Boys, if we have to, we’ll pay it—but we’ll give them a fight first! At any rate, I believe the girls are safe for a while. Go on, man, which way did the car head?” asked Mr. Manley. ”

“ Pop countered. “An’ he’ll not hang his tail between his laigs an’ run without one more nip at somebody. You mark my words! I knew them kind of waddies. Long ago, when yore grandpop was alive—an’ yore dad was only a shaver then, like you are—we had a cuss by the name of—” He broke off suddenly. “All right, boss! Comin’!” Pop called out, and he hurried off in response to Mr. Manley’s call.
Teddy watched him disappear in the direction of the ranch house, then reflectively continued packing the can with flour. ”

“ Ferris, "for considering you a party as much open to suspicion as Mr. Hildreth, are several. First, we have evidence to prove your great desire for a sum of money equal to your aunt's savings, in order to introduce an invention which you have just patented.
"Secondly, we can show that you left your home in Buffalo the day before the assault, came to Monteith, the next town to this, alighted at the remote station assigned to the use of the quarrymen, crossed the hills and threaded the woods till you came to a small hut back of your aunt's house, where you put up for the night. ”

“ It’s true—all you’ve said. What can we do? If the boys want to go, we can’t stop ’em. This is a free country. We’ll have to do the best we can, that’s all.”
“I was thinking,” Roy went on slowly, as though Teddy had not spoken, “that I’d like to join that rush myself.{80}”
CHAPTER X
Silent Packs a Gun
During the next few days there was much to be done on the X Bar X. Three more men left for the promised land, and Mr. Manley had to recruit some help from other ranches, where the fever seemed to hit more lightly. Mr. Ball sent him three, among them Bug Eye. ”