Читать книгу: «The Boy Ranchers in Death Valley: or, Diamond X and the Poison Mystery», страница 4

CHAPTER VIII
THE ROUND-UP

Sam Tarbell suddenly arose from the bench where he had been sitting.But if he had any intention of starting after the old man on thedistant horse his resolution was better than his performance. For hehad to sink weakly back to his seat, and his face, that had assumed itsnatural color after the ammonia, now went white again.

"Take it easy!" advised Old Billee in soothing tones.

"Guess I'll have to," and Sam gratefully accepted a dipper of waterthat Nort handed him, getting the fluid from a pail that sat on a shelfoutside the bunkhouse.

"Do you want one of us to chase after that old man?" asked Bud, while

Dick inquired:

"Did he have anything to do with knocking you out?"

"No, to both questions, boys," responded Sam. "You can chase that oldman for all of me, but I don't think you'll catch him. He's asslippery as an eel. As for his having anything to do with me beingknocked out in such a queer way, I can't honestly say he had anythingto do with it. I just happened to see him 'fore my horse crumpledunder me, and he was riding away when I started to stagger back here asbest I could. I hollered at him to give me a lift, but either hedidn't hear me or didn't want to. It was just a coincidence that hehappened along while I was telling you my story."

Wonderingly the outfit from Diamond X watched the old man slowly ridinginto the foothills, amid the woods of which he was soon lost to view.And the same thought came to all of them – the memory of the old man whohad aroused Dick that night, when, next morning, the mysterious warningwas found.

"Do you know that old man's name?" asked Bud.

Sam Tarbell shook his head.

"He's a stranger to me," he answered. "But I've seen him around offand on what little time I been here. I'm beginning to wish I'd nevertaken the job of puncher or foreman here at Dot and Dash. I've hadnothing but bad luck from the start."

"You mean being knocked out like you was dead?" asked Yellin' Kid who, now that there was no mourning to be done, had switched back to hisloud tones.

"Lots of things besides that," answered Sam. "I lost one good gun, lamed a good pony and got shook up bad when my other horse, the onethat died under me, stepped into a prairie dog's hole and throwed me.Nothing but bad luck. I'm through!"

"Don't blame you for wanting to quit," remarked Bud. "But I hopeyou'll stay a little longer. As I said you're not fit to traveland – "

"You're right there!" interrupted Sam. "I'm as weak as a new-borncalf. But after I get my strength I'm going to vamoose. This ranch isno place for a healthy man – or a sick one either, if you come to that.But I'll tell you what I started to, and give you all the help I can inrounding things up here. Then you can decide for yourselves whetherit's worth your while."

"This is Death Valley all right; ain't it?" asked Billee Dobb.

"You said it, stranger! There's been a lot of deaths here, so I beentold. I never would have come if I had known what I know now."

"Just what do you know?" asked Dick.

"Do you know what caused the deaths?" Bud inquired.

"No, I can't say I do," was the somewhat hesitant answer. "And that'sthe mysterious part of it. Only I know I came mighty near passing outand I don't want to do it again."

"Suppose you finish telling us all about it," suggested Bud, the whilehe looked in the direction taken by the old man who had disappeared.But the picturesque figure was out of sight.

"Well, as I was mentioning, I've been knocking around the country quitea bit," resumed Sam. "I'd have a job first on one ranch and then onanother. You fellows know how it is," he said, looking at Snake andYellin' Kid.

"Sure!" they murmured.

"Well, finally I ended up here and I must say Mr. Barter treated me allright, as he did his other hands. But when cattle began to be founddead all over the place, and when some men and their horses began topass out, I began to get worried. So did a lot of others and they leftso fast it was hard work to run the place with the few hands left.

"I was just getting ready to light out and look for another job when aman came to look the Dot and Dash over with a view, so Mr. Barter said,to buying it. Right after that Dolan, who had agreed to stay, quitsudden like, so I promised to stick and help the boss out and I did.The place was sold, and you say your dad bought it?" he asked, lookingat Bud.

"Yes, this is now part of the Merkel holdings," was the answer."Though my father didn't know anything about the queer deaths on theplace when he agreed to buy it. He didn't even know that this wascalled Death Valley."

"Not until he got back to Diamond X and I told him," put in Billee."Then he said he wasn't going to back out, 'specially after these boysbegged for a chance to chase the jinx."

"Well, they'll get all the chance they want," remarked Sam. "No, Idon't reckon Mr. Barter would tell the bad name his place had when hewas trying to sell it. I don't say it was right of him to hold backthe news, but lots of men would have done what he did. For myself, Inever had a chance to talk to your father, so I couldn't have put himwise if I wanted to. Dolan might have, but he didn't. And I guesseven Mr. Barter thought the thing would pass over."

"What thing?" asked Dick. "You mean the series of deaths?"

"That's it. They were mighty queer."

"I told 'em that," said Billee. "I used to work here myself yearsago," he added. "I thought maybe, after all these years, the bad luckmight have passed. But after what happened to you – "

"Just what did happen?" asked Bud. "We want to get down to brass tackson this thing if we can."

"'Twon't take long to tell you," said Sam. "As I mentioned, I agreedwith Mr. Barter to stay on here and look after what few cattle remaineduntil the new owner – that's your dad," and he looked at Bud – "couldcome along and take possession.

"Well, I was left pretty much alone here, but I didn't mind that, forI'm used to rustling for myself. Mr. Barter left when he got hismoney, I s'pose, and the cattle wasn't much trouble. There's only asmall herd left, and I didn't bother much with 'em – just rode out nowand then to see they wasn't being run off. Which they wasn't. Butthis morning I thought I'd ride to the far end of the range to see ifthere was any fences needed fixing, so's I could tell the new owner.

"I was riding along when, all of a sudden, my horse began acting queer.Then, 'fore I knew it, he just sort of crumpled up and I just had timeto jump or he'd have fallen with me under him. And as I went down Ibegan to feel sort of queer myself. One of the last things I rememberseeing in the distance was that old man riding along. Then I went downand out.

"That's all I remember, but I must have had sense enough to starteither to walk or crawl back here, and evidently I arrived, for youfound me. That's all I know."

"But what knocked you out?" excitedly cried Bud. "And what killed yourhorse?"

"You can search me!" was the frank answer. "I didn't look the horseover after he died, to see what bit him. As for me, I don't know whatailed me."

"Maybe the old man shot you and the horse," suggested Nort.

"I wouldn't swear the horse hasn't a bullet in him, for I didn'texamine him," stated Sam. "But I didn't hear any gun, and I know I gotno holes in me."

"Then it was bad water!" said Snake.

"What's that?" Sam inquired, not comprehending.

"You and your horse must 'a' drunk from some poisoned spring," went onSnake, explaining how this theory had been advanced among hiscompanions to account for the mysterious deaths at Dot and Dash.

"Bad water; eh?" murmured Sam. "Well, I certainly did take a drink ata spring, and so did the horse. But it's a spring I always havepatronized, so to speak, and it's mighty queer if it would be all rightyesterday and poison to-day. Mighty queer!"

"The old man – " began Nort.

"He wasn't nowhere near the spring," interrupted Sam. "I don't believeyou got the right dope."

"Well, there's something queer around here, that's sure," declared Bud

Merkel, "and we're here to find out what it is! We'll be glad to have you stay and help us solve the mystery. We need some ranch hands and

I'd be glad to take you on."

"Thanks. I've got to stay, anyhow, a few days until I get to feelingmore like myself. After that we'll talk business. But I warn you it'sdangerous here."

"We knew that before we came," said Bud, quietly.

Much puzzled, and not a little alarmed over the strange story, themembers of the outfit from Diamond X now began putting things to rightsabout the ranch house in preparation to taking over Dot and Dash.While Snake and Yellin' Kid began to repair the corral fence, Bud, hiscousins and Old Billee brought their food and supplies into the ranchhouse and began to arrange for supper, since it was now late afternoon.A look in the bunkhouse showed it to be clean and in good shape.

"I'll take charge out there, with Kid, Snake and this new hand," saidOld Billee, referring to Sam Tarbell who had been put in a bunk thebetter to regain his strength. "You boys'll stay here," and heindicated the ranch house.

"It might be a good idea to divide our force up that way," agreed Bud.

"Then, in case the jinx comes it won't get all of us at once."

"According to the stories," said Billee, "nothing ever occurs inside.

It's all out of doors. Well, we'll see what happens."

In spite of the sinister cloud of fear that hung over the place, theadventurers managed to make a good meal, and when the horses had beenturned into the repaired corral preparations were made for the night.Both parties – the one in the bunkhouse and the boys in the mainbuilding – decided to keep watch all night.

But their precautions were not needed. Nothing happened. The sun rosebright and warm over Dot and Dash next morning and Sam Tarbell said hefelt like a new man after his sleep.

"The first thing to do," decided Bud after matters had been talked overat the breakfast table, "is to have a sort of round-up. I want to seejust how many head of cattle are left, and what the chances are forgetting more. Also we want to give the whole ranch the once-over."

"That's right," agreed the veteran Billee.

"Shall we all go on the round-up?" asked Dick.

"No," said Bud after a moment of thought, "we'll have to leave some onehere in charge. But in time each one of us must know all there is toknow about Dot and Dash – I mean just how it's laid out, where thewater-holes are, what shape the fences are in and all that. It willtake a little time, but this first round-up will tell us some things weought to know."

"The boy's right!" fairly shouted Yellin' Kid.

Accordingly, when it was decided to leave Snake, Nort and the stillsomewhat invalid Sam at the ranch house, the others started out.

Nort made the best of being obliged to stay. The choice had fallen tohim by lot, as it was decided this was the fairest way of making adivision of forces, since other things were equal.

"But you got to tell me everything that happens when you get back!"

Nort stipulated to his brother and Bud as they rode away.

"Sure!" they promised.

The three who were left in charge of the ranch buildings watched theothers ride off over the hills and then, as there was plenty to do incleaning up the place, and getting it ready for a number of new handsthat must be hired, the two from Diamond X got busy. Sam was able tohelp with light work.

It was while Nort was busy making a checkup of the household articleson hand that he heard the sound of a horse out near the corral, and, going to the door, saw dismounting, the same old man to whom Sam hadcalled attention the night before.

"Howdy, stranger!" the ancient one greeted Nort, cheerfully.

"How are you?" responded the boy, courteously. "Are you looking forsome one?"

"Yes," was the answer. "I'm looking for the boss. I want to warn himand all with him to get away from here as quick as they can! You don'tknow the danger you are in. You had better leave quick!" And then, though it seemed to take from the force of his words, the old manstrode over to the water pail and took a long drink.

CHAPTER IX
THE QUEER OLD MAN

Nort was doing some quick thinking. And the burden of his thoughts wasto this effect:

"Bud and Dick have ridden off to see if they can solve the mystery, butalong comes this queer old man to me, and maybe he holds the key toopen the lock. It would be just my good luck!"

So it was with a feeling of elation, rather than otherwise, that Nortwatched the aged stranger finish his drink and then come back to wherethe boy stood near the ranch house. Snake and Sam were in the bunkhouse.

"Why should we go away from here?" asked Nort, trying to speak easilyand naturally. "And what is the danger?"

"Are you the boss?" was the quick retort.

"No, but the boss is my cousin, and he and I, with my brother, aregoing to run this ranch."

"You'd better run away before you try to run it!" chuckled the old manwith what seemed to be sinister humor. "But you can't say I didn'twarn you."

"Warn us of what?" asked Nort, a bit sharply. "What do you mean bycoming here trying to scare me?"

"I'm not trying to scare you, my boy, I'm just trying to warn you.

Those here before you wouldn't listen to me, and what happened to them?

They died, that's what happened. Now I'm offering you a chance for your life and it seems to rile you."

"Oh, no, I'm not mad," and Nort smiled a little. "But I would like toknow what you are driving at. Before we came here we heard storiesabout the danger of Dot and Dash, but no one knew just what the dangerwas. Now you seem to – "

"Oh, no, I don't, young man!" interrupted the stranger, running hisskinny hands through his straggly, white hair. "I don't know whatcaused all those deaths any more than you do. But I do know if thosewho are gone – I mean the humans now and not the cattle – I mean if theyhad taken my Elixer they'd be alive to-day. There she is – Elixer ofLife!" and from what seemed to be one of many pockets in his loose coathe pulled out a bottle of dark liquid. Before Nort had a chance tomake reply the stranger, holding up the bottle and affectionatelypatting it from time to time, went on with:

"There she is! Elixer of Life! Made from roots, berries and herbs Igathered myself. Compounded in a secret manner after a recipe given meby an old Indian. It soothes the nerves, strengthens the muscles, clears the brain and prolongs life. Only a dollar a bottle and I canlet you have as many as you like. Guaranteed to act as specified andharmless enough so you can give it to babies! There you are – theElixer of Life!" It was so labeled – spelled with an e instead of i, and as the old man insisted this was right the boys let it go at that.So the stuff remained "elixer" to the end of the chapter.

He produced another bottle from somewhere in the recesses of his longcoat and, holding the two phials aloft, advanced upon Nort with astrange light shining in his eyes.

From a distance it must have looked to an observer as if the old manwas approaching the boy to hurl the bottles at him with evil intent, for they were high in the air, and over Nort's head. And Snake Purdeemust have taken this view of it, for, a moment later, standing in thedoor of the bunkhouse, the cowboy drew his gun, aimed it at the agedstranger and cried:

"Stand still or I'll bore you!"

The command was so threatening and Snake was in such a good position toshoot that, for a moment, Nort feared a bullet would end the matter.But the old man wheeled about, took in the situation at a glance andmildly said, as he lowered the bottles:

"No harm intended at all. I'm only trying to save this young man'slife. You've got no call to shoot me."

"Oh," exclaimed Snake rather lamely, seeing how the matter stood.

"Well, I don't just like your attitude, and – "

"He's only selling a patent medicine," broke in Nort with a smile.

"It's the Elixer of Life."

"I make it myself, from roots, berries and herbs," eagerly went on theold man. "Only a dollar a bottle or six for five dollars. If them aswere here before you had taken it they'd be alive to-day. But theywere scoffers. They spurned me and look what happened to them."

"I've seen you before, old man!" said Sam and there was somethingmenacing in his tone. "I've seen you around this ranch a lot, and I'veheard some say you was always around when something happened – I meanwhen men and cattle were found dead. I saw you just before my ownhorse died and I passed out and now I want you to explain. I've gotyou now!"

He made a grab for the old man, who did not seek to elude Sam, butstood quietly while the cowboy held one arm and took out a gun withwhich he covered the inventor of the Elixer.

"Now, son," said the old man, soothingly, "don't get excited. Ihaven't done any harm and I don't intend to. It's true you've seen mearound this ranch a lot – I live a few miles from here back in thewoods. And I've been around when there's been deaths. But I wastrying to stop death – not bring it about. Only I was always too late.They never would listen to me – them cowboys. And I was around when Isaw your horse go down. I rode back, later, thinking I could sell youa bottle of my Life Elixer before you passed away, but I got there toolate. I saw that you had expired so I went on."

"I'm a pretty live man for a dead one!" chuckled Sam. "But what's yourgame, anyhow?"

He had released his hold of the aged one and had put his gun back inthe holster as Snake had done. And then Nort made, unseen by thestranger, a motion to his two companions which served to explainmatters. Nort made a circular motion with one finger up near his headas though to indicate wheels going around.

"Oh!" softly murmured Snake, understandingly, and he was echoed by Samwith:

"I'm wise!"

While, as the aged one again raised his Elixer bottles on high Nortwith his lips only said the words:

"The poor old man's a bit cracked!"

And so it seemed. He was one of the many harmless but well-meaning"herb doctors" to be found in every community. He had a firm faith inhis own concoction.

"Be warned in time, gentlemen," he went on, still offering the Elixerto Nort. "You are alive now, but you may be dead to-morrow. This willsave you. One dollar a bottle or six for five."

He now held the two bottles in one hand while, with the other, he wentsearching through his coat for more. But Nort stopped him with agesture.

"Two are enough for now," he said, soothingly, handing over a twodollar bill. "But can you tell us anything about the causes for thedeaths that have taken place on Dot and Dash ranch?"

"Yes, young man, I can," was the firm answer as the bill was tuckedaway inside the hat band, "I know all about those deaths. They werecaused by a failure to heed my warnings and take this Elixer of Life!

"Be warned in time, gentlemen," went on the old man as he moved over tohis horse. "There are three of you, and you have only bought twobottles. At least each one should have his own. I may not be backhere and – "

"Oh, shucks! Gimme a bottle!" ejaculated Snake. "And see if you can'ttell us what killed these folks and the cattle."

"I can tell you – yes – certainly!" was the quick retort as anotherbottle of the dark liquid was produced and another dollar added to thehat band bank.

"What was it then?" asked Snake, eagerly, while Nort and Sam waited forthe answer.

"The hand of fate!" was the solemn answer. "But now you are safe. Youhave the Elixer of Life and so death cannot harm you. I bid you goodday!"

Before they could stop him, even had they been so inclined, which theywere not, the old man left Nort and his chums holding their bottles ofElixer and rode away on his sorry looking nag, crooning something intohis ample beard.

"Well, what do you make of that?" asked Snake when the stranger – theyhad not thought to ask his name – was beyond hearing.

"He's just a harmless crank," said Nort. "An old herb doctor."

"That's what I think," chimed in Sam. "Though at first I was a bitsuspicious of him. But I guess he doesn't mean anything. And he don'tknow anything about the deaths here."

"If he does he isn't telling," decided Nort.

"Well," said Snake slowly, "I'm not superstitious, but as long as Ibought this stuff I might as well sample it."

He pulled the cork from the bottle, and was about to take a drink whenNort, with a quick motion, knocked the flask down, almost sending it tothe ground.