AUNT JANE'S NIECES AND UNCLE JOHN

BY

EDITH VAN DYNE

AUTHOR OF "AUNT JANE'S NIECES, " "AUNT JANE'S NIECES ABROAD, " "AUNTJANE'S NIECES AT MILLVILLE, " "AUNT JANE'S NIECES AT WORK. " "AUNTJANE'S NIECES IN SOCIETY, " ETC. 

1911

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

 I INTRODUCING "MUMBLES" II UNCLE JOHN'S IDEA III MYRTLE DEAN IV AN INTERESTING PROTÉGÉ V A WONDER ON WHEELS VI WAMPUS SPEEDS VII THE CHAUFFEUR IMPROVES VIII AMONG THE INDIANS IX NATURE'S MASTERPIECE X A COYOTE SERENADE XI A REAL ADVENTURE AT LAST XII CAPTURED XIII THE FIDDLER XIV THE ESCAPE XV THE ROMANCE OF DAN'L XVI THE LODGING AT SPOTVILLE XVII YELLOW POPPIES XVIII THE SILENT MAN XIX "THREE TIMES" XX ON POINT LOMA XXI A TALE OF WOE XXII THE CONFESSION

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCING "MUMBLES"

Major Gregory Doyle paced nervously up and down the floor of the cosysitting room. 

"Something's surely happened to our Patsy!" he exclaimed. 

A little man with a calm face and a bald head, who was seated near thefire, continued to read his newspaper and paid no attention to theoutburst. 

"Something has happened to Patsy!" repeated the Major, "Patsy" meaninghis own and only daughter Patricia. 

"Something is always happening to everyone, " said the little man, turning his paper indifferently. "Something is happening to me, for Ican't find the rest of this article. Something is happening to you, for you're losing your temper. "

"I'm not, sir! I deny it. "

"As for Patsy, " continued the other, "she is sixteen years old andknows New York like a book. The girl is safe enough. "

"Then where is she? Tell me that, sir. Here it is, seven o'clock, darkas pitch and raining hard, and Patsy is never out after six. Can you, John Merrick, sit there like a lump o' putty and do nothing, when yourniece and my own darlin' Patsy is lost--or strayed or stolen?"

"What would you propose doing?" asked Uncle John, looking up with asmile. 

"We ought to get out the police department. It's raining and cold, and--"

"Then we ought to get out the fire department. Call Mary to put onmore coal and let's have it warm and cheerful when Patsy comes in. "

"But, sir--"

"The trouble with you, Major, is that dinner is half an hour late. Onecan imagine all sorts of horrible things on an empty stomach. Now, then--"

He paused, for a pass-key rattled in the hall door and a moment laterPatsy Doyle, rosy and animated, fresh from the cold and wet outside, smilingly greeted them. 

She had an umbrella, but her cloak was dripping with moisture and inits ample folds was something huddled and bundled up like a baby, which she carefully protected. 

"So, then, " exclaimed the Major, coming forward for a kiss, "you'reback at last, safe and sound. Whatever kept ye out 'til this time o'night, Patsy darlin'?" he added, letting the brogue creep into histone, as he did when stirred by any emotion. 

Uncle John started to take off her wet cloak. 

"Look out!" cried Patsy; "you'll disturb Mumbles. "

The two men looked at her bundle curiously. 

"Who's Mumbles?" asked one. 

"What on earth is Mumbles?" inquired the other. 

The bundle squirmed and wriggled. Patsy sat down on the floor andcarefully unwound the folds of the cloak. A tiny dog, black andshaggy, put his head out, blinked sleepily at the lights, pulled hisfat, shapeless body away from the bandages and trotted solemnly overto the fireplace. He didn't travel straight ahead, as dogs ought towalk, but "cornerwise, " as Patsy described it; and when he got to thehearth he rolled himself into a ball, lay down and went to sleep. 

During this performance a tense silence had pervaded the room. TheMajor looked at the dog rather gloomily; Uncle John with critical eyesthat held a smile in them; Patsy with ecstatic delight. 

"Isn't he a dear!" she exclaimed. 

"It occurs to me, " said the Major stiffly, "that this needs anexplanation. Do you mean to say, Patsy Doyle, that you've worried thehearts out of us this past hour, and kept the dinner waiting, allbecause of a scurvy bit of an animal?"

"Pshaw!" said Uncle John. "Speak for yourself, Major. I wasn't worrieda bit. "

"You see, " explained Patsy, rising to take off her things and put themaway, "I was coming home early when I first met Mumbles. A little boyhad him, with a string tied around his neck, and when Mumbles triedto run up to me the boy jerked him back cruelly--and afterward kickedhim. That made me mad. "

"Of course, " said Uncle John, nodding wisely. 

"I cuffed the boy, and he said he'd take it out on Mumbles, as soon asI'd gone away. I didn't like that. I offered to buy the dog, but theboy didn't dare sell him. He said it belonged to his father, who'dkill him and kick up a row besides if he didn't bring Mumbles home. So I found out where they lived and as it wasn't far away I went homewith him. "

"Crazy Patsy!" smiled Uncle John. 

"And the dinner waiting!" groaned the Major, reproachfully. 

"Well, I had a time, you can believe!" continued Patsy, withanimation. "The man was a big brute, and half drunk. He grabbed up thelittle doggie and threw it into a box, and then told me to go home andmind my business. "

"Which of course you refused to do. "

"Of course. I'd made up my mind to have that dog. "

"Dogs, " said the Major, "invariably are nuisances. "

"Not invariably, " declared Patsy. "Mumbles is different. Mumbles is agood doggie, and wise and knowing, although he's only a baby dog yet. And I just couldn't leave him to be cuffed and kicked and thrownaround by those brutes. When the man found I was determined to haveMumbles he demanded twenty-five dollars. "

"Twenty-five dollars!" It startled Uncle John. 

"For that bit of rags and meat?" asked the Major, looking at the puppywith disfavor. "Twenty-five cents would be exorbitant. "

"The man misjudged me, " observed Patsy, with a merry laugh thatmatched her twinkling blue eyes. "In the end he got just twodollars for Mumbles, and when I came away he bade me good-bye veryrespectfully. The boy howled. He hasn't any dog to kick and isbroken-hearted. As for Mumbles, he's going to lead a respectable lifeand be treated like a dog. "

"Do you mean to keep him?" inquired the Major. 

"Why not?" said Patsy. "Don't you like him, Daddy?"

Her father turned Mumbles over with his toe. The puppy lay upon itsback, lazily, with all four paws in the air, and cast a comical glancefrom one beady bright eye at the man who had disturbed him. 

The Major sighed. 

"He can't hunt, Patsy; he's not even a mouser. "

"We haven't a mouse in the house. "

"He's neither useful nor ornamental. From the looks o' the beast he'sonly good to sleep and eat. "

"What's the odds?" laughed Patsy, coddling Mumbles up in her arms. "We don't expect use or ornamentation from Mumbles. All we ask is hiscompanionship. "

Mary called them to dinner just then, and the girl hurried to her roomto make a hasty toilet while the men sat down at the table and eyedtheir soup reflectively. 

"This addition to the family, " remarked Uncle John, "need not makeyou at all unhappy, my dear Major. Don't get jealous of Mumbles, forheaven's sake, for the little brute may add a bit to Patsy's bliss. "

"It's the first time I've ever allowed a dog in the house. "

"You are not running this present establishment. It belongsexclusively to Patsy. "

"I've always hated the sight of a woman coddling a dog, " added theMajor, frowning. 

"I know. I feel the same way myself. But it isn't the dog's fault. It's the woman's. And Patsy won't make a fool of herself over thatfrowsy puppy, I assure you. On the contrary, she's likely to get a lotof joy out of her new plaything, and if you really want to make herhappy, Major, don't discourage this new whim, absurd as it seems. LetPatsy alone. And let Mumbles alone. "

The girl came in just then, bringing sunshine with her. Patsy Doylewas not very big for her years, and some people unkindly described herform as "chubby. " She had glorious red hair--really-truly red--and herblue eyes were the merriest, sweetest eyes any girl could possess. Youseldom noticed her freckles, her saucy chin or her turned-up nose; youonly saw the laughing eyes and crown of golden red, and seeing themyou liked Patsy Doyle at once and imagined she was very good to lookat, if not strictly beautiful. No one had friends more loyal, and these two old men--the stately Major and round little UncleJohn--fairly worshiped Patsy. 

No one might suspect, from the simple life of this household, whichoccupied the second corner flat at 3708 Willing Square, that MissDoyle was an heiress. Not only that, but perhaps one of the veryrichest girls in New York. And the reason is readily explained whenI state the fact that Patsy's Uncle John Merrick, the round littlebald-headed man who sat contentedly eating his soup, was a man of manymillions, and this girl his favorite niece. An old bachelor who hadacquired an immense fortune in the far Northwest, Mr. Merrick hadlately retired from active business and come East to seek anyrelatives that might remain to him after forty years' absence. Hissister Jane had gathered around her three nieces--Louise Merrick, Elizabeth De Graf and Patricia Doyle--and when Aunt Jane died UncleJohn adopted these three girls and made their happiness the one careof his jolly, unselfish life. At that time Major Doyle, Patsy's onlysurviving parent, was a poor bookkeeper; but Uncle John gave himcharge of his vast property interests, and loving Patsy almost asdevotedly as did her father, made his home with the Doyles and beganto enjoy himself for the first time in his life. 

At the period when this story opens the eldest niece, Louise Merrick, had just been married to Arthur Weldon, a prosperous young businessman, and the remaining two nieces, as well as Uncle John, were feelingrather lonely and depressed. The bride had been gone on her honeymoonthree days, and during the last two days it had rained persistently;so, until Patsy came home from a visit to Beth and brought the tinydog with her, the two old gentlemen had been feeling dreary enough. 

Patsy always livened things up. Nothing could really depress thisspirited girl for long, and she was always doing some interestingthing to create a little excitement. 

"If she hadn't bought a twenty-five cent pup for two dollars, "remarked the Major, "she might have brought home an orphan from thegutters, or a litter of tomcats, or one of the goats that eat thetin cans at Harlem. Perhaps, after all, we should be thankful it'sonly--what's his name?"

"Mumbles, " said Patsy, merrily. "The boy said they called him thatbecause he mumbled in his sleep. Listen!"

Indeed, the small waif by the fire was emitting a series of noisesthat seemed a queer mixture of low growls and whines--evidenceunimpeachable that he had been correctly named. 

At Patsy's shout of laughter, supplemented by Uncle John's chucklesand a reproachful cough from the Major, Mumbles awakened and liftedhis head. It may be an eye discovered the dining-table in the nextroom, or an intuitive sense of smell directed him, for presently thesmall animal came trotting in--still traveling "cornerwise"--and satup on his hind legs just beside Patsy's chair. 

"That settles it, " said the Major, as his daughter began feeding thedog. "Our happy home is broken up. "

"Perhaps not, " suggested Uncle John, reaching out to pat the soft headof Mumbles. "It may be the little beggar will liven us all up a bit. "

CHAPTER II

UNCLE JOHN'S IDEA

Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair bythe fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and lookedaround him with a suddenly acquired air of decision. 

"I have an idea, " he announced. 

"Did you find it in your dreams, then?" asked the Major, sharply. 

"Why, Daddy, how cross you are!" cried Patsy. "Can't Uncle John havean idea if he wants to?"

"I'm afraid of his ideas, " admitted the Major, suspiciously. "Everytime he goes to sleep and catches a thought, it means trouble. "

Patsy laughed, looking at her uncle curiously, and the little mansmiled at her genially in return. 

"It takes me a long time to figure a thing out, " he said; "and whenI've a problem to solve a bit of a snooze helps wonderfully. Patsy, dear, it occurs to me we're lonely. "

"We surely are, Uncle!" she exclaimed. 

"And in the dumps. "

"Our spirits are at the bottom of the bottomless pit. "

"So what we need is--a change. "

"There it goes!" said the Major ruefully. "I knew very well any ideaof John Merrick's would cause us misery. But understand this, youmiserable home-wrecker, sir, my daughter Patsy steps not one foot outof New York this winter. "

"Why not?" mildly inquired Uncle John. 

"Because you've spirited her away from me times enough, and deprivedher only parent of her society. First you gallivanted off to Europe, and then to Millville, and next to Elmhurst; so now, egad, I'm goingto keep the girl with me if I have to throttle every idea in yourwicked old head!"

"But I'm planning to take you along, this time. Major, " observed UncleJohn reflectively. 

"Oh. Hum! Well, I can't go. There's too much business to be attendedto--looking after your horrible money. "

"Take a vacation. You know I don't care anything about the business. It can't go very wrong, anyhow. What does it matter if my income isn'tinvested properly, or the bond coupons cut when they're due? Drat themoney!"

"That's what I say, " added Patsy eagerly. "Be a man, Major Doyle, andput the business out of your mind. Let's go somewhere and have a goodromp. It will cheer us up. "

The Major stared first at one and then at the other. 

"What's the programme, John?" he asked stiffly. 

"It's going to be a cold winter, " remarked the little man, bobbing hishead up and down slowly. 

"It is!" cried Patsy, clasping her hands fervently. "I can feel it inmy bones. "

"So we're going, " said Uncle John, impressively, "to California--wherethey grow sunshine and roses to offset our blizzards and icicles. "

"Hurray!" shouted Patsy. "I've always wanted to go to California. "

"California!" said the Major, amazed; "why, it's farther away thanEurope. It takes a month to get there. "

"Nonsense. " retorted Uncle John. "It's only four days from coast tocoast. I have a time-table, somewhere, " and he began searching in hispockets. 

There was a silence, oppressive on the Major's part, ecstatic as faras Patsy was concerned. Uncle John found the railway folder, put onhis spectacles, and began to examine it. 

"At my time of life, " remarked Major Doyle, who was hale and hearty asa boy, "such a trip is a great undertaking. "

"Twenty-four hours to Chicago, " muttered Uncle John; "and then threedays to Los Angeles or San Francisco. That's all there is to it. "

"Four days and four nights of dreary riding. We'd be dead by thattime, " prophesied the Major. 

Uncle John looked thoughtful. Then he lay back in his chair and spreadhis handkerchief over his face again. 

"No, no!" cried the Major, in alarm. "For mercy's sake, John, don'tgo to sleep and catch any more of those terrible ideas. No one knowswhere the next one might carry us--to Timbuktu or Yucatan, probably. Let's stick to California and settle the question before your hothousebrain grows any more weeds. "

"Yucatan, " remarked Mr. Merrick, composedly, his voice muffled by thehandkerchief, "isn't a bad suggestion. "

"I knew it!" wailed the Major. "How would Ethiopia or Hindustan strikeyou?"

Patsy laughed at him. She knew something good was in store for herand like all girls was enraptured at the thought of visiting new andinteresting scenes. 

"Don't bother Uncle John, Daddy, " she said. "You know very well hewill carry out any whim that seizes him; especially if you oppose theplan, which you usually do. "

"He's the most erratic and irresponsible man that ever lived, "announced her father, staring moodily at the spread handkerchief whichcovered Uncle John's cherub-like features. "New York is good enoughfor anybody, even in winter; and now that you're in society, Patsy--"

"Oh, bother society! I hate it. "

"True, " he agreed; "it's a regular treadmill when it has enslaved one, and keeps you going on and on without progressing a bit. The object ofsociety is to tire you out and keep you from indulging in any otheroccupation. "

"You know nothing about it, " observed Patsy, demurely, "and that iswhy you love to rail at society. The things you know, Daddy dear, arethe things you never remark upon. "

"Huh!" grunted the Major, and relapsed into silence. 

Mumbles had finished his after-dinner nap and was now awakening toactivity. This dog's size, according to the Major, was "about 4x6; butyou can't tell which is the 4 and which the 6. " He was distressinglyshaggy. Patsy could find the stump of his tail only by careful search. Seldom were both eyes uncovered by hair at the same time. But, as hisnew mistress had said, he was a wise little dog for one who had onlyknown the world for a few months, and his brain was exceedingly alert. After yawning at the fire he rubbed his back against the Major's legs, sat up beside Patsy and looked at her from one eye pleadingly. Next hetrotted over to Uncle John. The big white handkerchief attracted himand one corner hung down from the edge of the reclining chair. Mumblessat up and reached for it, but could not quite get it in his teeth. So he sat down and thought it over, and presently made a leap sounexpectedly agile that Patsy roared with merriment and even the Majorgrinned. Uncle John, aroused, sat up and found the puppy rolling onthe floor and fighting the handkerchief as if it had been some deadlyfoe. 

"Thank goodness, " sighed the Major. "The little black rascal hasprovidently prevented you from evolving another idea. "

"Not so, " responded Mr. Merrick amiably. "I've thought the thing allout, and completed our programme. "

"Is it still to be California?" anxiously inquired Patsy. 

"Of course. I can't give up the sunshine and roses, you know. But wewon't bore the Major by four solid days of railway travel. We'll breakthe journey, and take two or three weeks to it--perhaps a month. "

"Conquering Caesar! A month!" ejaculated the old soldier, a desperatelook on his face. 

"Yes. Listen, both of you. We'll get to Chicago in a night and a day. We will stop off there and visit the stockyards, and collect a fewsqueals for souvenirs. "

"No, we won't!" declared Patsy, positively. 

"We might sell Mumbles to some Chicago sausage factory, " remarked theMajor, "but not for two whole dollars. He wouldn't make more than halfa pound at twenty cents the pound. "

"There are other sights to be seen in Chicago, " continued Uncle John. "Anyhow, we'll stop off long enough to get rested. Then on to Denverand Pike's Peak. "

"That sounds good, " said Patsy. 

"At Denver, " said Uncle John, "we will take a touring car and crossthe mountains in it. There are good roads all the way from there toCalifornia. "

"Who told you so?" demanded the Major. 

"No one. It's a logical conclusion, for I've lived in the West andknow the prairie roads are smoother than boulevards. However, Haggertytold me the other day that he has made the trip from Denver to LosAngeles by automobile, and what others can do, we can do. "

"It will be glorious!" prophesied Patsy, delightedly. 

The Major looked grave, but could find no plausible objection tooffer. He really knew nothing about the West and had never hadoccasion to consider such a proposition before. 

"We'll talk to Haggerty, " he said. "But you must remember he's adesperate liar, John, and can't be trusted as a guidepost. When do youintend to start?"

"Why not to-morrow?" asked Uncle John mildly. 

Even Patsy demurred at this. 

"Why, we've got to get ready, Uncle, " she said. "And who's going? Justwe three?"

"We will take Beth along, of course. " Beth was Elizabeth De Graf, another niece. "But Beth is fortunately the sort of girl who can pullup stakes and move on at an hour's notice. "

"Beth is always ready for anything, " agreed Patsy. "But if we aregoing to a warm climate we will need summer clothes. "

"You can't lug many clothes in a motor car, " observed the Major. 

"No; but we can ship them on ahead. "

"Haggerty says, " remarked Uncle John, "that you won't need thinclothes until you get out to California. In fact, the mountain trip israther cool. But it's perpetual sunshine, you know, even there, withbrisk, keen air; and the whole journey, Haggerty says, is one ofabsolute delight. "

"Who is Haggerty?" asked Patsy. 

"A liar, " answered the Major, positively. 

"He's a very good fellow whom we sometimes meet in the city, " saidUncle John. "Haggerty is on the Board, and director in a bank or two, and quite respectable. But the Major--"

"The Major's going to California just to prove that Haggerty can'tspeak the truth, " observed that gentleman, tersely heading off anythreatened criticism. "I see there is no opposing your preposterousscheme, John, so we will go with you and make the best of it. But I'msure it's all a sad mistake. What else did Haggerty tell you?"

"He says it's best to pick up a motor car and a chauffeur in Denver, rather than ship them on from here. There are plenty of cars to behad, and men who know every inch of the road. "

"That seems sensible, " declared Patsy, "and we won't lose time waitingfor our own car to follow by freight. I think, Uncle John, I can beready by next Tuesday. "

"Why, to-morrow's Saturday!" gasped the Major. "The business--"

"Cut the business off short, " suggested his brother-in-law. "You've tocut it somewhere, you know, or you'll never get away; and, as it's mybusiness, I hereby authorize you to neglect it from this moment untilthe day of our return. When we get back you can pick up the detailsagain and worry over it as much as you please. "

"Will we ever get back?" asked the Major, doubtingly. 

"If we don't, the business won't matter. "

"That's the idea, " cried Patsy, approvingly. "Daddy has worked hardall summer, Uncle John, looking after that annoying money of yours, and a vacation will do him oodles of good. "

Major Doyle sighed. 

"I misdoubt the wisdom of the trip, " said he, "but I'll go, of course, if you all insist. Over the Rocky Mountains and across the GreatAmerican Desert in an automobile doesn't sound very enticing, but--"

"Haggerty says--"

"Never mind Haggerty. We'll find out for ourselves. "

"And, after all, " said Patsy, "there are the sunshine and roses at theend of the journey, and they ought to make up for any amount of botherin getting there. "

"Girl, you're attempting to deceive me--to deceive your old Daddy, "said the Major, shaking his head at her. "You wouldn't have any funriding to California in a palace car; even the sunshine and rosescouldn't excite you under such circumstances; but if there's a chancefor adventure--a chance to slide into trouble and make a mightystruggle to get out again--both you and that wicked old uncle of yourswill jump at it. I know ye both. And that's the real reason we'regoing to travel in an automobile instead of progressing comfortably asall respectable people do. "

"You're a humbug, " retorted Mr. Merrick. "You wouldn't go by train ifI'd let you. "

"No, " admitted the Major; "I must be on hand to rescue you when youand Patsy go fighting windmills. "

CHAPTER III

MYRTLE DEAN

"We were due in Denver three hours ago, and it's an hour's run or moreyet, " remarked Beth De Graf, walking briskly up and down the platformof a way station where the train had stopped for orders. 

"And it's beginning to snow, " observed Patricia Doyle, beside her. "I'm afraid this weather isn't very propitious for an automobiletrip. "

"Uncle John doesn't worry, " said Beth. "He believes there is perpetualsunshine west of Denver. "

"Yes; a man named Haggerty told him. But you'll notice that Daddydoesn't seem to believe the tale. Anyhow, we shall soon know thetruth, Beth, and the trip is somewhat on the order of a voyage ofdiscovery, which renders it fascinating to look forward to. There issuch fun in not knowing just what is going to happen next. "

"When one travels with Uncle John, " returned Beth, smiling, "sheknows exactly--nothing. That is why I am always eager to accept if heinvites me to go anywhere with him. "

The passengers thronging the platform--"stretching their legs" afterthe confinement of the tedious railway journey--eyed these two girlsadmiringly. Beth was admitted a beauty, and one of the societyjournals had lately announced that she had few peers in all the greatmetropolis. Chestnut brown hair; dark, serious and steady eyes; anexquisite complexion and rarely regular features all conspired torender the young girl wonderfully attractive. Her stride was athletic, free and graceful; her slender form well poised and dignified. Patsy, the "plug-ugly, " as she called herself, was so bright and animated andher blue eyes sparkled so constantly with fun and good humor, thatshe attracted fully as much attention as her more sedate and morebeautiful cousin, and wherever she went was sure to make a host offriends. 

"See!" she cried, clasping Beth's arm; "there is that lovely girl atthe window again. I've noticed her ever since the train left Chicago, and she is always in the same seat in that tourist coach. I wonder whyshe doesn't get out for a bit of fresh air now and then. "

Beth looked up at the fair, girlish face that gazed wistfully fromthe window. The unknown seemed very young--not more than fourteen orfifteen years of age. She wore a blue serge suit of rather coarseweave, but it was neat and becoming. Around the modest, sweet eyeswere deep circles, denoting physical suffering or prolonged worry; yetthe lips smiled, wanly but persistently. She had evidently noticedUncle John's two nieces, for her eyes followed them as they marchedup and down the platform and when Patsy looked up and nodded, a softflush suffused her features and she bowed her head in return. 

At the cry of "all aboard!" a scramble was made for the coaches andBeth and Patsy, re-entering their staterooms, found their Uncle andthe Major still intent upon their interminable game of cribbage. 

"Let's go back and talk to the girl, " suggested Patsy. "Somehow, the poor thing seems lonely, and her smile was more pathetic thancheerful. "

So they made their way through the long train to the tourist coach, and there found the girl they were seeking. The surrounding seats wereoccupied by groups of passengers of rather coarse caliber, many beingforeign laborers accompanied by their wives and children. The air inthe car was close and "stuffy" and the passengers seemed none too neatin their habits and appearance. So the solitary girl appeared like arose blooming in a barnyard and her two visitors were instantly sorryfor her. She sat in her corner, leaning wearily against the back ofthe cane seat, with a blanket spread over her lap. Strangelyenough the consideration of her fellow passengers left the girl inundisturbed possession of a double seat. 

"Perhaps she is ill, " thought Patsy, as she and Beth sat down oppositeand entered into conversation with the child. She was franklycommunicative and they soon learned that her name was Myrtle Dean, andthat she was an orphan. Although scarcely fifteen years of age shehad for more than two years gained a livelihood by working in a skirtfactory in Chicago, paying her board regularly to a cross old aunt whowas her only relative in the big city. Three months ago, however, shehad met with an accident, having been knocked down by an automobilewhile going to her work and seriously injured. 

"The doctors say, " she confided to her new friends, "that I shallalways be lame, although not quite helpless. Indeed, I can creeparound a little now, when I am obliged to move, and I shall get betterevery day. One of my hips was so badly injured that it will never bequite right again, and my Aunt Martha was dreadfully worried for fearI would become a tax upon her. I cannot blame her, for she has reallybut little money to pay for her own support. So, when the man who ranover me paid us a hundred dollars for damages--"

"Only a hundred dollars!" cried Beth, amazed. 

"Wasn't that enough?" inquired Myrtle innocently. 

"By no means, " said Patsy, with prompt indignation. "He should havegiven you five thousand, at least. Don't you realize, my dear, thatthis accident has probably deprived you of the means of earning alivelihood?"

"I can still sew, " returned the girl, courageously, "although ofcourse I cannot get about easily to search for employment. "

"But why did you leave Chicago?" asked Beth. 

"I was coming to that part of my story. When I got the hundred dollarsAunt Martha decided I must use it to go to Leadville, to my UncleAnson, who is my mother's only brother. He is a miner out there, andAunt Martha says he is quite able to take care of me. So she bought myticket and put me on the train and I'm now on my way to Leadville tofind Uncle Anson. "

"To _find_ him!" exclaimed Patsy. "Don't you know his address?"

"No; we haven't had a letter from him for two years. But Aunt Marthasays he must be a prominent man, and everybody in Leadville will knowhim, as it's a small place. "

"Does he know you are coming?" asked Beth, thoughtfully. 

"My aunt wrote him a letter two days before I started, so he oughtto receive it two days before I get there, " replied Myrtle, a littleuneasily. "Of course I can't help worrying some, because if I failedto find Uncle Anson I don't know what might happen to me. "

"Have you money?" asked Beth. 

"A little. About three dollars. Aunt gave me a basket of food to lastuntil I get to Leadville, and after paying for my ticket and takingwhat I owed her for board there wasn't much left from the hundreddollars. "

"What a cruel old woman!" cried Patsy, wrathfully. "She ought to behorsewhipped!"

"I am sure it was wrong for her to cast you off in this heartlessway, " added Beth, more conservatively. 

"She is not really bad, " returned Myrtle, the tears starting to hereyes. "But Aunt Martha has grown selfish, and does not care for mevery much. I hope Uncle Anson will be different. He is my mother'sbrother, you know, while Aunt Martha is only my father's sister, andan old maid who has had rather a hard life. Perhaps, " she added, wistfully, "Uncle Anson will love me--although I'm not strong orwell. "

Both Patsy and Beth felt desperately sorry for the girl. 

"What is Uncle Anson's other name?" asked the latter, for Beth wasthe more practical of Uncle John's nieces and noted for her clearthinking. 

"Jones. Mr. Anson Jones. "

"Rather a common name, if you have to hunt for him, " observed thequestioner, musingly. "Has he been in Leadville long?"

"I do not know, " replied Myrtle. "His last letter proved that he wasin Leadville two years ago, and he said he had been very successfuland made money; but he has been in other mining camps, I know, and haswandered for years all over the West. "

"Suppose he should be wandering now?" suggested Patsy; but at the lookof alarm on Myrtle's face she quickly changed the subject, saying:"You must come in to dinner with us, my dear, for you have had nothingbut cold truck to eat since you left Chicago. They say we shall be inDenver in another hour, but I'm afraid to believe it. Anyhow, there isplenty of time for dinner. "

"Oh, I can't go, really!" cried the girl. "It's--it's so hard for meto walk when the train is moving; and--and--I wouldn't feel happy inthat gay, luxurious dining car. "

"Well, we must go, anyway, or the Major will be very disagreeable, "said Patsy. "Good-bye, Myrtle; we shall see you again before we leavethe train. "

As the two girls went forward to their coach Beth said to Patsy:

"I'm afraid that poor thing will be greatly disappointed when she getsto Leadville. Imagine anyone sending a child on such a wild goosechase--and an injured and almost helpless child, at that!"

"I shudder to think what would become of her, with no uncle to carefor her and only three dollars to her name, " added Patsy. "I havenever heard of such an inhuman creature as that Aunt Martha, Beth. Ihope there are not many like her in the world. "

At dinner they arranged with the head waiter of the dining car to sendin a substantial meal, smoking hot, to Myrtle Dean, and Patsy herselfinspected the tray before it went to make sure everything was therethat was ordered. They had to satisfy Uncle John's curiosity at thisproceeding by relating to him Myrtle Dean's story, and the kindlylittle man became very thoughtful and agreed with them that it was acruel act to send the poor girl into a strange country in search of anuncle who had not been heard of in two years. 

When the train pulled into the station at Denver the first care ofJohn Merrick's party was to look after the welfare of the lame girl. They got a porter to assist her into the depot waiting room and thenUncle John inquired about the next train for Leadville, and found itwould not start until the following morning, the late overland trainhaving missed that day's connections. This was a serious discovery forpoor Myrtle, but she smiled bravely and said:

"I can pass the night in this seat very comfortably, so please don'tworry about me. It is warm here, you know, and I won't mind a bit thesitting up. Thank you all very much for your kindness, and good-bye. I'll be all right, never fear. "

Uncle John stood looking down at her thoughtfully. 

"Did you engage a carriage, Major?" he asked. 

"Yes; there's one now waiting, " was the reply. 

"All right. Now, then, my dear, let's wrap this blanket around youtight and snug. "

"What are you going to do?" asked Myrtle with a startled look. 

"Carry you outside. It's pretty cold and snowy, so we must wrap you up. Now, Major, take hold on the other side. Here we go!"

Patsy smiled--rather pitifully--at the expression of bewilderment onMyrtle's face. Uncle John and the Major carried her tenderly to acarriage and put her in the back seat. Patsy sprang in next, withMumbles clasped tightly in her arms, the small dog having been forcedto make the journey thus far in the baggage car. Beth and the Majorentered the carriage next, while Uncle John mounted beside the driverand directed him to the Crown Palace Hotel. 

It was growing dark when they reached the dingy hostelry, which mighthave been palatial when it was named but was now sadly faded andtawdry. It proved to be fairly comfortable, however, and the firstcare of the party was to see Myrtle Dean safely established in a cosyroom, with a grate fire to cheer her. Patsy and Beth had adjoiningrooms and kept running in for a word with their protégé, who wasso astonished and confused by her sudden good fortune that she wasincapable of speech and more inclined to cry than to laugh. 

During the evening Uncle John was busy at the telegraph booth. He sentseveral messages to Leadville, to Anson Jones, to the Chief of Policeand to the various hotels; but long before midnight, when the lastreplies were received, he knew that Anson Jones had left Leadvillefive months ago, and his present whereabouts were unknown. Havinglearned these facts the little man went to bed and slept peacefullyuntil morning. 

Myrtle had begged them to see that she was called at five o'clock, that she might have ample time to get to the depot for her train, butno one called her and the poor child was so weary and worn with hertrip that the soft bed enthralled her for many hours after daybreak. 

Patsy finally aroused her, opening the blinds to let in the sunshineand then sitting beside Myrtle's bed to stroke her fair hair and tellher it was nearly noon. 

"But my train!" wailed the girl, greatly distressed. 

"Oh, the train has gone hours ago. But never mind that, dear. UncleJohn has telegraphed to Leadville and found that Anson Jones isnot there. He left months ago, and is now wandering; in fields andpastures unknown. "

Myrtle sat up in bed and glared at Patsy wild-eyed. 

"Gone!" she said. "Gone! Then what am I to do?"

"I can't imagine, dear, " said Patsy, soothingly. "What do you thinkyou will do?"

The girl seemed dazed and for a time could not reply. 

"You must have thought of this thing, " suggested her new friend, "forit was quite possible Anson Jones would not be in Leadville when youarrived there. "

"I did not dare think of it, " returned Myrtle in a low, frightenedtone. "I once asked Aunt Martha what I could do in case Uncle Ansonwasn't to be found, and she said he _must_ be found, for otherwise Iwould be obliged to earn my own living. "

"And she knew you to be so helpless!"

"She knows I can sew, if only I can get work to do, " said the girl, simply. "I'm not really a cripple, and I'm getting better of my hurtevery day. Aunt Martha said I would be just as well off in Denver orLeadville as in Chicago, and made me promise, if the worst came, notto let any charitable organization send me back to her. "

"In other words, " exclaimed Patsy, indignantly, "she wanted to get ridof you, and did not care what became of you. "

"She was afraid I would cost her money, " admitted the poor child, withshamed, downcast eyes. 

Patsy went to the window and stood looking out for a time. Myrtlebegan to dress herself. As she said, she was not utterly helpless, moving the upper part of her body freely and being able to walk slowlyabout a room by holding on to chairs or other furniture. 

"I'm afraid I'm causing you a lot of worry over me, " said she, smilingsadly as Patsy turned toward her; "and that is ungrateful when Iremember how kind you have all been. Why, these hours since I met youhave seemed like fairyland. I shall treasure them as long as I live. There must be another train to Leadville soon, and I'll take that. Assoon as I am ready I will go to the depot and wait there. "

Patsy looked at her reflectively. The poor child was called upon tosolve a queer problem--one which might well have bewildered the brainof a more experienced person. 

"Tell me, " she said; "why should you go to Leadville at all, now thatyou have no friend or relative there to care for you?"

"My ticket is to Leadville, you know, " replied Myrtle. "If I did notgo I would waste the money it cost. "

Patsy laughed at this. 

"You're a wonderfully impractical child, " she said, deftly assistingMyrtle to finish dressing. "What you really need is some one to orderyou around and tell you what to do. So you must stop thinking aboutyourself, for a time, and let _us_ do the thinking. Here--sit in thischair by the window. Do you want Mumbles in your lap? All right. Nowgaze upon the scenery until I come back. There's a man washing windowsacross the street; watch and see if he does his work properly. "

Then she went away to join a conference in Uncle John's sitting room. Major Doyle was speaking when she entered and his voice was coldlyironical. 

"The temperature outside is six degrees above freezing, " he observed. "The clerk downstairs says the snow is nine feet deep over themountain trails and the wind would cut an iron beam in two. If youtake an automobile to California, John, you must put it on snowshoesand connect it with a steam heating-plant. "

Uncle John, his hands thrust deep in his pockets, paced thoughtfullyup and down the room. 

"Haggerty said--"

"Didn't I give you Haggerty's record, then?" asked the Major. "Ifyou want the exact truth it's safe to go directly opposite to whatHaggerty says. "

"He's a very decent fellow, " protested Mr. Merrick, "and is consideredin the city to be strictly honest. "

"But after this?"

"You can't blame him for the weather conditions here. I've beentalking with Denver people myself, this morning, and they all sayit's unusual to have such cold weather at this time of year. Thethermometer hasn't been so low in the past twenty-six years, thenatives say. "

"Are they all named Haggerty?" asked the Major, scornfully. 

"If you will kindly allow me to speak, and tell you what Haggertysaid, " remarked Uncle John tersely, "I shall be able to add to yourinformation. "

"Go ahead, then. "

"Haggerty said that in case we ran into cold weather in Denver, whichwas possible--"

"Quite possible!"

"Then we had best go south to Santa Fe and take the route of the oldSanta Fe Trail as far as Albuquerque, or even to El Paso. Either waywe will be sure to find fine weather, and good roads into California. "

"So Haggerty says. "

"It stands to reason, " continued Mr. Merrick, "that on the Southernroute we will escape the severe weather. So I have decided to adoptthat plan. "

"I think you are quite wise in that, " broke in Patsy, before herfather could object. 

"All those queer Spanish names sound interesting, " said Beth. "When dowe start, Uncle?"

"In a day or two. I have some things here to attend to that may delayus that long. But when once we are started southward we shall bowlalong right merrily. "

"Unless we run into more snowstorms. " Of course it was the Major whosaid that, and pointedly ignoring the remark Uncle John turned toPatsy and said:

"How did you find Myrtle Dean this morning?"

"She is rested, and seems very bright and cheerful, Uncle; but ofcourse she is much distressed by the news that her Uncle Anson hasvanished from Leadville. Yet she thinks she will continue her journeyby the next train, as she has paid for her ticket and can't afford towaste the money. "

"It would be absurd for the child to go to Leadville on that account. A mining camp is no place for such a frail thing, " returned Mr. Merrick. "What would you suggest, Patsy?"

"Really, Uncle John, I don't know what to suggest. "

"She can never earn her living by sewing, " declared Beth. "What sheought to have is a trained nurse and careful attention. "

"I'll have a doctor up to look her over, " said Uncle John, in hisdecisive way. He was a mild little man generally, but when he made uphis mind to do a thing it was useless to argue with him. Even MajorDoyle knew that; but the old soldier was so fond of arguing forthe sake of argument, and so accustomed to oppose his wealthybrother-in-law--whom he loved dearly just the same--that he waswilling to accept defeat rather than permit Mr. Merrick to act withoutprotest. 

CHAPTER IV

AN INTERESTING PROTÉGÉ

A young physician was appointed by the management to attend any guestwho might require his services, and Uncle John had a talk with him andsent him to Myrtle's room to give her a thorough examination. This hedid, and reported that the girl's present condition was due largely tomismanagement of her case at the time she was injured. With care shewould get better and stronger rapidly, but the hip joint was out ofits socket and only a skillful operation would serve to permanentlyrelieve her of lameness. 

"What she needs just now, " continued the doctor, "is a pair ofcrutches, so she can get around better and be in the fresh air andsunshine as much as possible. She is a very frail little woman atpresent and must build up her health and strength before submittingto the operation I have mentioned. Then, if it is properly done, sheought to recover completely and be as good as new. "

"I must inform you, " said Uncle John, "that Myrtle Dean is just alittle waif whom my nieces picked up on the train. I believe she iswithout friends or money. Such being the circumstances, what would youadvise?"

The doctor shook his head gravely. 

"Poor thing!" he said. "She ought to be rich, at this juncture, instead of poor, for the conditions facing her are serious. Theoperation I speak of is always an expensive one, and meantime thechild must go to some charitable institution or wear out her feeblestrength in trying to earn enough to keep the soul in her body. Sheseems to have a brave and beautiful nature, sir, and were she educatedand cared for would some day make a splendid woman. But the world isfull of these sad cases. I'm poor myself, Mr. Merrick, but this childinterests me, and after you have gone I shall do all in my power toassist her. "

"Thank you, " said Uncle John, thoughtfully nodding his bald head. "I'll think it over and see you again, doctor, before I leave. "

An hour later Myrtle was fitted with crutches of the best sortobtainable, and was overjoyed to find how greatly they assisted her. The Major, a kindly man, decided to take Myrtle out for a drive, andwhile they were gone Uncle John had a long conversation with Beth andPatsy. 

"Here is a case, " said he, "where my dreadful money can do some good. I am anxious to help Myrtle Dean, for I believe she is deserving ofmy best offices. But I don't exactly know what to do. She is really_your_ protégé, my dears, and I am going to put the affair in yourhands for settlement. Just tell me what to do, and I'll do it. Spendmy money as freely upon Myrtle as you please. "

The girls faced the problem with enthusiasm. 

"She's a dear little thing, " remarked Patsy, "and seems very gratefulfor the least kindness shown her. I am sure she has never been treatedvery nicely by that stony-hearted old aunt of hers. "

"In all my experience, " said Beth, speaking as if her years weredoubled, "I have never known anyone so utterly helpless. She is veryyoung and inexperienced, with no friends, no money, and scarcelyrecovered from an accident. It is clearly our duty to do something forMyrtle, and aside from the humane obligation I feel that already Ilove the child, having known her only a day. "

"Admitting all this, Beth, " returned her uncle, "you are not answeringmy question. What shall we do for Myrtle? How can we best assist her?"

"Why not take her to California with us?" inquired Patsy, with suddeninspiration. "The sunshine and roses would make a new girl of her in afew weeks. "

"Could she ride so far in an automobile?" asked Beth, doubtfully. 

"Why not? The fresh air would be just the thing for her. You'll get abig touring car, won't you, Uncle John?"

"I've bought one already--a seven-seated 'Autocrat'--and there will beplenty of room in it for Myrtle, " he said. 

"Good gracious! Where did you find the thing so suddenly?" criedPatsy. 

"I made the purchase this morning, bright and early, before you wereup, " replied Mr. Merrick, smilingly. "It is a fine new car, and assoon as I saw it I knew it was what I wanted. It is now being fittedup for our use. "

"Fitted up?"

"Yes. I've an idea in my head to make it a movable hotel. If we'regoing to cross the plains and the mountains and the deserts, and allthat sort of thing, we must be prepared for any emergencies. I've alsosent for a chauffeur who is highly recommended. He knows the routewe're going to take; can make all repairs necessary in case ofaccident, and is an experienced driver. I expect him here any minute. His name is Wampus. "

"But about Myrtle, "' said Beth. "Can we make her comfortable on a longride?"

"Certainly, " asserted Uncle John. "We are not going to travel day andnight, my dear, for as soon as we get away from this frozen country wecan take our time and journey by short stages. My notion is that wewill have more fun on the way than we will in California. "

"Myrtle hasn't any proper clothes, " observed Patsy, reflectively. "We'll have to shop for her, Beth, while Uncle is getting the carready. "

"Are you sure to leave to-morrow, Uncle John?" inquired Beth. 

"To-morrow or the next day. There's no use leaving before the'Autocrat' is ready to ship. "

"Oh; we're not going to ride in it, then?"

"Not just yet. We shall take the train south to Santa Fe, and perhapsto Albuquerque. I'll talk to Wampus about that. When we reach a goodclimate we'll begin the journey overland--and not before. "

"Then, " said Patsy, "I'm sure we shall have time to fit out Myrtlevery nicely. "

Mr. Wampus was announced just then, and while Uncle John conferredwith the chauffeur his two nieces went to their room to talk overMyrtle Dean's outfit and await the return of the girl from her ride. 

"They tell me, " said Mr. Merrick, "that you are an experiencedchauffeur. "

"I am celebrate, " replied Wampus. "Not as chauffeur, but as expertautomobilist. "

He was a little man and quite thin. His legs were short and his armslong. He had expressionless light gray eyes and sandy hair croppedclose to his scalp. His mouth was wide and good-humored, his chin longand broad, his ears enormous in size and set at right angles withhis head. His cheek bones were as high and prominent as those of anIndian, and after a critical examination of the man Uncle John wasimpelled to ask his nationality. 

"I am born in Canada, at Quebec Province, " he answered. "My fatherhe trapper; my mother squaw. For me, I American, sir, and my namecelebrate over all the world for knowing automobile like father knowshis son. " He paused, and added impressively: "I am Wampus!"

"Have you ever driven an 'Autocrat' car?" asked Mr. Merrick. 

"'Autocrat?' I can take him apart blindfold, an' put him togetheragain. "

"Have you ever been overland to California?"

"Three time. "

"Then you know the country?"

"In the dark. I am Wampus. "

"Very good, Wampus. You seem to be the man I want, for I am goingto California in an 'Autocrat' car, by way of the Santa Fe Trailand--and--"

"No matter. We find way. I am--"

"I know. Now tell me, Wampus: if I employ you will you be faithful andcareful? I have two girls in my party--three girls, in fact--and fromthe moment you enter my service I shall expect you to watch over ourwelfare and guide us with skill and intelligence. Will you do this?"

The man seemed somewhat offended by the question. 

"When you have Wampus, what more you want?" he inquired. "Maybe younot know Wampus. You come from far East. All right. You go out and askautomobile man about Wampus. Ask ever'body. When you have inquire youfeel more happy. I come again. "

He started to go, but Mr. Merrick restrained him. 

"You have been highly recommended already, " said he. "But you cannotexpect me to have as high an opinion of you as you have of yourself;at least, until I know you better. Would you like to undertake thisengagement?"

"Yes. Just now I free. My business is expert automobilist. I amWampus. But perhaps you want cheap man. My price high. "

"What is your price?"

"Fifty dollar week. You eat me an' sleep me. "

"I do not object to your price. Come out with me to the garage and Iwill show you my car and explain what is being done to it. "

Although all the automobile men seemed to defer most respectfully toWampus, Mr. Merrick did not neglect to make proper inquiries in regardto the man. Locally he really was "celebrate" and Uncle John wasassured on all sides that he was fortunate to get so intelligent andexperienced a chauffeur as this same Wampus. 

"He seems to have instinctive knowledge of all machinery, " said oneinformant, "and can handle perfectly any car that is made. The onlytrouble with the fellow is that he is conceited. "

"I've noticed that, " returned Mr. Merrick. 

"Another thing, " said the gentleman; "don't believe implicitly allthat Wampus tells you. He has a habit of imagining things. But he is afaithful, honest fellow, for all that, and will handle your car betterthan any other man you could get in Denver--or anywhere in the West, Iimagine. "

So Wampus was engaged, and putting the man's references andindorsements all together Mr. Merrick felt that he had gained a prize. 

When the big Major, returning from his drive, escorted Myrtle Dean tothe elevator, the girl was joyously using her new crutches. Patsy andBeth met her and said they had important news to communicate. Notuntil she was in her own room, seated in a comfortable chair andgazing at them anxiously, did they tell the poor waif of the goodfortune in store for her. 

"Uncle John, " announced Patsy, "has invited you to join our party andgo to California with us. "

Myrtle stared a moment, as if trying to realize what that meant. Thetiny Mumbles, sitting beside the chair with his head cocked to oneside, suddenly made a prodigious leap and landed in Myrtle's lap, where he began licking her chin and wagging his stumpy tail as ifseconding the invitation. As the girl stroked his soft hair her eyesfilled with tears. 

"Oh, you are all so kind to me!" she sobbed, losing her composure. "But I can't go! Of course I can't go. "

"Why not?" asked Beth, smiling. 

"It would be an--impersition!" Poor Myrtle sometimes stumbled over bigwords. "I know that. I can't let you burden your happy party with apoor cripple, just because your hearts are kind and you pity me!"

"Nonsense!" said Beth. "You're not a cripple, dear; you're just aninvalid, and will soon be as strong as any of us. We have invited you, Myrtle, because we all like you, and shall soon learn to love you. Weare selfish enough to want your companionship. It isn't pity, at all, you see. "

"I'm mighty glad, " added Patsy, "your Uncle Anson ran away fromLeadville. If he hadn't done that we should have had to give youup; but now we may keep you as long as we wish, for you haven't anyparticular engagement to interfere with our plans. "

All this was said so frankly and unaffectedly that little Myrtle wasled to abandon her suspicion and grew radiant with delight. Indeed, she hugged and squeezed the squirming Mumbles until he resented suchstrenuous fondling and escaped to Patsy's more moderate embraces. Myrtle had never yet ridden in an automobile, and the prospect ofa long journey across the country in a big touring car, withCalifornia's roses and sunshine at the end of it, was certainlyalluring enough to intoxicate one far more accustomed to pleasure thanthis friendless, impoverished girl. 

After the cousins had explained all their plans to Myrtle and assuredher she was to be their cherished guest for a long time--until she waswell and strong again, at the least--they broached the subject ofher outfit. The poor child flushed painfully while admitting themeagerness of her wardrobe. All her possessions were contained in onesmall canvas "hold-all, " and she lacked many necessities which hercallous aunt had suggested that Uncle Anson might be induced to buyfor her once she had joined him in Leadville. Uncle John's nieces grewmore and more indignant as they discovered the details of this selfishwoman's crime--for Patsy declared it was nothing less than a crime tosend a helpless child far into the West to search for an unknown unclewhose whereabouts were only conjectural. 

That very afternoon Beth and Patsy began shopping for Myrtle, andpresently all sorts of parcels, big and little, began to arrive fortheir new protégé. Myrtle was amazed and awed by the splendor of hernew apparel, and could scarcely believe her good fortune. It seemedlike a fairy tale to her, and she imagined herself a Cinderella withtwo fairy godmothers who were young and pretty girls possessing thepurse of Fortunatus and the generosity of Glinda the Good. At night, when she was supposed to be asleep, Myrtle crept from her bed, turnedon the electric light and gloated over her treasures, which she hadalmost feared might vanish into thin air and leave her as desolate asbefore. 

Next morning, as soon as breakfast was over, the girls took Myrtle outwith them to some of the shops, fitting her to shoes and gloves andhaving her try on some ready-made gowns so that they might be quicklyaltered for her use. Patsy also bought her a set of soft and prettyfurs, thinking she might need them on the journey if the weathercontinued cool, and this seemed to cap the climax of Myrtle'shappiness. 

"What 'stonishes me most, " gasped the child, trying to get her breathbetween the surprises she experienced, "is how you can think of somany things to do for me. Of course I know you are rich; but I'venever before heard of rich people being so very generous to poorones. "

"Once, " said Beth, gravely, "we were poor ourselves, Patsy and I, andhad to work hard for our living. That was before our Uncle John cameand gave us a share of his money, together with his love and sympathy. Isn't it natural, my dear, that we should now be eager to share ourgood fortune with you, since we have more money than we can useotherwise, and you are to be our little friend and companion?"

"Perhaps so, " replied Myrtle, smiling gaily and much comforted by theexplanation. "But, oh dear! I'm so glad you found me!"

"We are glad, too, " said Patsy. "But here it is, time for luncheon, and we've wasted the whole morning in shopping. I'm sure the Majorwill be cross if we do not hurry back to the hotel. "

CHAPTER V

A WONDER ON WHEELS

But the Major was not cross when they met him in Uncle John's sittingroom. He beamed upon the three girls most genially, for he likedMyrtle and fully approved all that was being done for her. 

"Of course it's like Patsy, " he had said to Mr. Merrick that morning. "She couldn't help being a sweet ministering angel if she tried; andBeth is growing more and more like her. It will do those girls good, John, to have some human being to coddle and care for. If Patsy couldhave a fault, it would be wasting so much affection on that bunch o'rags Mumbles, who audaciously chewed up one of my pet slippers while Iwas at dinner last evening. No dog is a fit thing to occupy a girl'stime, and this imp o' mischief Mumbles must take a back seat from nowon. "

Uncle John laughed, for he knew his brother-in-law had never conqueredhis antipathy for poor Mumbles, and realized why. 

"Take care that you do not get jealous of Myrtle, " he replied. "You're a selfish old beast, and don't wish Patsy to love anyone butyourself. "

"And why should she?" was the inquiry. "Any dutiful daughter ought tobe satisfied with loving such a father as I am. "

"And in that, " remarked Uncle John, whimsically, "you remind me ofWampus. You should strut around and say: 'Behold me! I am Patsy'sfather!'"

The Major was full of news at luncheon time. 

"What do you think, my dears?" he said, addressing the girls. "Yourcrazy uncle must have had another snooze, unbeknown to us, for he'sgot the wildest idea into his head that human brains--or lack ofthem--ever conceived. "

"You are not very respectful, sir, " retorted Mr. Merrick stiffly, as he ate his salad. "But we must not expect too much of a disabledsoldier--and an Irishman to boot--who has not been accustomed to goodsociety. "

Major Doyle looked at his brother-in-law with an approving smile. 

"Very well put, John, " he said. "You're improving in repartee. Presently you'll add that I'm unlettered and uncivilized, and no fitassociate for a person who has made an egregious fortune out of tincans in the wilds of Oregon. "

"But what's the news?" asked Patsy impatiently. "What new idea hasUncle John conceived?"

"First, " replied the Major, "he has bought an automobile as big as abaggage car. Next he has engaged a chauffeur who is a wild CanadianIndian with a trace of erratic French blood in his veins--acombination liable to result in anything. Mr. Wampus, the half-breedcalls himself, and from the looks of him he's murdered many a one inhis day. "

"Oh, Major!"

"Show me an automobile driver that hasn't. Myrtle knows. It's no trickto knock over a peaceful pedestrian or so, to say nothing of chickens, cats and dogs mangled by the roadside. I confidently expect he'll makea pancake of dear little Mumbles before he's five miles on the road. Eh, Patsy?"

"Be sensible, Daddy. "

"It's my strong point. If I'm any judge of character this Wampus is aspeed fiend. "

"He is recommended as a very careful driver, " said Mr. Merrick; "andmoreover he has signed a contract to obey my orders. "

"Very good, " said Beth. "I'm not afraid of Mr. Wampus. What next, Major?"

"Next, " continued Patsy's father, with a solemn wink at the row ofcurious faces, "your inventive relative has ordered the automobilerebuilt, thinking he's wiser than the makers. He's having a furnaceput in it, for one thing--it's a limousine, you know, and all enclosedin glass. Also it's as big as a barn, as I said. "

"You said a freight car, " observed Patsy. 

"True. A small barn or a big freight car. The seats are to be madeconvertible into sleeping berths, so if we get caught out overnight wehave all the comforts of a hotel except the bell boys. "

"I'll be the bell boy, " promised Patsy. 

"Also we're to take a portable kitchen along, like they use in thearmy, with a gasoline stove all complete. The thing fits under theback seat, I believe. "

"All this, " said Beth, "strikes me as being very sensible and a creditto Uncle John's genius. I'm a good cook, as you know, and the kitchenoutfit appeals to me. But how about provisions?"

"Provisions are being provided, " replied her uncle, geniallysmiling at her praise. However scornfully the Major might view hispreparations he was himself mightily proud of them. 

"Tinned stuff, I presume, " remarked his brother-in-law. "John Merrickhas a weakness for tin cans, having got his money out of them. "

"You're wrong, " protested Uncle John. "I merely made my money from thetin the cans were made of. But we won't get money out of these canswhen they're opened; it will be something better, such as sardines andhominy, preserved cream and caviar, beans and boned chicken. "

"Sounds fine!" cried Patsy with enthusiasm. "But how can you arrangeto carry so much, Uncle?"

"The limousine body is pretty big, as the Major says, and high enoughto allow me to put in a false bottom. In the space beneath it I shallstow all the bedding, the eatables and kitchen utensils, and a smalltent. Then we shall be prepared for whatever happens. "

"I doubt it, " objected the Major. "There's gasoline to be reckonedwith. It's well enough to feed ourselves, but what if we ran short ofthe precious feed for the engines?"

"The two tanks will hold sixty gallons. That ought to carry us anyreasonable distance, " replied Mr. Merrick. 

"You see, Daddy, our Uncle John is an experienced traveler, while youare not, " declared Patsy. "In all our journeys together I've found himfull of resources and very farsighted. This trip doesn't worry me atall. "

"Nor me, " added Beth. "We are sure to have a delightful time underUncle's auspices. "

"Wampus, " said Uncle John, "is so pleased with my preparations that hewants us to start in the car from here. "

"Can you put it on runners, like a sledge?" asked the Major. "That'sthe only way it could travel through this snow. Or perhaps you'll hirea snowplow to go ahead of it. "

"No; I told Wampus it was impracticable, " was the reply. "We shallload our machine on a flat car and ship it to Albuquerque, which is inNew Mexico and almost directly south of Denver. We shall then be overthe worst grades of the Rocky Mountains. "

"And which way do we go then?" inquired Beth. 

"I have not yet decided. We can go still farther south, into Texas, or make our way down into Phoenix and across the prairies to ImperialValley, or follow the Santa Fe route by way of the Grand Canyon. "

"Oh, let's go that way!" exclaimed Patsy. 

"And freeze to death?" asked the Major. "It's the northernmost route. "

"When we get to Albuquerque we will be below the line of frosts andsnow, " explained Mr. Merrick. "The climate is genial all through thatsection during winter. Haggerty says--"

"I guessed it!" groaned the Major. "If Haggerty recommends this tripwe'll surely be in trouble. "

"Aside from Haggerty, Wampus knows that country thoroughly, " saidUncle John stoutly. 

"Tell me: did Haggerty recommend Wampus?"

"No. "

"Then there's hopes of the fellow. As you say, John, there is no needto decide until we get to Albuquerque. When do we make the start?"

"Day after to-morrow. The car will be shipped to-morrow night, but ourparty will follow by daylight, so as to see Colorado Springs, Pike'sPeak and Pueblo as we pass by them. "

CHAPTER VI

WAMPUS SPEEDS

"So this is Albuquerque, " observed Patsy Doyle, as they alighted fromthe train. "Is it a big town playing peek-a-boo among those hills, Uncle John, or is this really all there is to the place?"

"It's a pretty big town, my dear. Most of the houses are back on theprairie, but fortunately our hold is just here at the depot. "

It was a quaint, attractive building, made of adobe cement, in theancient mission style; but it proved roomy and extremely comfortable. 

"Seems to me, " whispered Myrtle to Beth, "we're high up on themountains, even yet. "

"So we are, " was the reply. "We're just between Glorietta Pass and theGreat Continental Divide. But the steepest of the Rockies are behindus, and now the slopes are more gradual all the way to California. Howdo you like it, dear?"

"Oh, the mountains are grand!" exclaimed Myrtle. "I had never imaginedanything so big and stately and beautiful. " The other girls had seenmountains before, but this was their friend's first experience, andthey took much pleasure in Myrtle's enthusiastic delight over all shesaw. 

Adjoining the hotel was a bazaar, in front of which sat squatted uponthe ground two rows of Mojave Indians, mostly squaws, with theircurious wares spread out for sale upon blankets. There must havebeen a score of them, and they exhibited odd pottery ornaments ofindistinguishable shapes, strings of glass beads and beadwork bags, and a few really fine jardinieres and baskets. After the girls hadbeen to their rooms and established themselves in the hotel theyhurried out to interview the Indians, Myrtle Dean supporting herselfby her crutches while Patsy and Beth walked beside her. The lame girlseemed to attract the squaws at once, and one gave her a bead necklacewhile another pressed upon her a small brown earthenware fowl withwhite spots all over it. This latter might have been meant torepresent a goose, an ostrich or a guinea hen; but Myrtle wasdelighted with it and thanked the generous squaw, who responded merelywith a grunt, not understanding English. A man in a wide sombrero whostood lazily by observed the incident and said:

"Don't thank the hag. She's selfish. The Mojaven think it brings luckto have a gift accepted by a cripple. "

Myrtle flushed painfully. 

"I suppose my crutches make me look more helpless than I really am, "she whispered to her friends as they moved away. "But they're such ahelp in getting around that I'm very grateful to have them, and as Iget stronger I can lay them aside and not be taken for a cripple anymore. "

The air was delightfully invigorating here in the mountains, yet itwas not at all cold. The snow, as Uncle John had predicted, had allbeen left behind them. After dinner they took a walk through thepretty town and were caught in the dark before they could get back. The twilights are very brief in Albuquerque. 

"This is a very old town, " remarked Uncle John. "It was founded by aSpanish adventurer named Cabrillo in the seventeenth century, longbefore the United States came into existence. But of course it neveramounted to anything until the railroad was built. "

Next day they were sitting in a group before the hotel when a man wasseen approaching them with shuffling steps. Uncle John looked at himclosely and Mumbles leaped from Patsy's lap and rushed at the strangerwith excited barks. 

"Why, it's Wampus, " said Mr. Merrick. "The car must have arrived. "

Wampus caught up the baby dog and held it under his arm while he tookhis cap off and bowed respectfully to his employer. 

"He an' me, we here, " he announced. 

"Who is 'he, ' Wampus?"

"Aut'mob'l'. "

"When did you arrive?"

"Half hour ago. He on side track. "

"Very good. You have made capital time, for a freight train. Let us goat once and get the car unloaded. "

Wampus hesitated, looking sheepish. 

"I been arrest, " he said. 

"Arrested! For what?"

"I make speed. They not like it. They arrest me--_Me_--Wampus!" Hestraightened his slim little form with an assumption of dignity. 

"I knew it, " sighed the Major. "I decided he was a speed fiend thefirst time I saw him. "

"But--dear me!" said Uncle John; "how could you be arrested forspeeding when the automobile was on a fiat car?"

Wampus glanced over his shoulder. Two railroad men had followed himand were now lounging against the porch railing. One had his right eyebandaged while the other carried one arm in a sling. Both scowled asthey eyed the Canadian fixedly. 

"Freight train make pretty slow time, " began the chauffeur. "I knowyou in hurry, so freight train he make me nervous. I say polite toconductor I like to go faster. He laugh. I say polite to brakeman wemust go faster. He make abusing speech. I climb into engine an' saypolite to engineer to turn on steam. He insult me. So I put my footon him an' run engine myself. I am Wampus. I understan' engine--allkinds. Brakeman he swear; he swear so bad I put him off train. Conductor must have lump of coal in eye to keep quiet. Fireman he jus'smile an' whistle soft an' say nothing; so we friends. When I say'shovel in coal, ' he shovel. When we pass stations quick like, hewhistle with engine loud. So now we here an' I been arrest. "

Patsy tittered and stuffed her handkerchief into her mouth. Uncle Johnfirst chuckled and then looked grave. The Major advanced to Wampus andsoberly shook his hand. 

"You're a brave man, sir, for a chauffeur, " he said. "I congratulateyou, "

Wampus still looked uneasy. 

"I been arrest, " he repeated. 

Uncle John beckoned the railroad men to come forward. 

"Is this story true?" he asked. 

"Most of it, sir, " answered the conductor. "It's only by the mercy ofProvidence we're here alive. This scoundrel held up the whole crewand ran away with the engine. We might have had a dozen collisions orsmash-ups, for he went around curves at sixty miles an hour. We'd cutour train in two, so as to pull half of it at a time up the grade atLamy, and so there were only six cars on this end of it. The otherhalf is seventy miles back, and part of what we have here ought tohave been left at the way stations. I can't make out, sir, whetherit's burglary, or highway robbery or arson an' murder he's guilty of, or all of 'em; but I've telegraphed for instructions and I'll hold hima prisoner until the superintendent tells me what to do with him. "

Mr. Merrick was very sober now. 

"The matter is serious, " he said. "This man is in my employ, but I didnot hire him to steal a railway train or fight its crew. Not badlyhurt, I hope, sir?"

"My eye's pretty bad, " growled the conductor. "Tom, here, thought hisarm was broken, at first; but I guess it's only sprained. "

"How about the brakeman he threw off the train?"

"Why, we were not going fast, just then, and it didn't hurt him. Wesaw him get up and shake his fist at the robber. If he ever meets Mr. Wampus again he'll murder him. "

"Come with me to the telegraph office and I'll see what I can do tostraighten this out, " said Mr. Merrick briskly. On the way he remarkedto the conductor: "I'm sorry I let Wampus travel alone. He's justa little bit affected in his mind, you know, and at times isn'tresponsible for what he does. "

The conductor scratched his head doubtfully. 

"I suspected he was crazy, " he replied, "and that's why I didn't hurthim. But if he's crazy he's the most deliberate loonatic I ever runacrost. "

The superintendent had just wired instructions to put the outlaw injail when Mr. Merrick reached the telegraph office, but after an hourspent in sending messages back and forth a compromise was affected andthe little millionaire had agreed to pay a goodly sum to the companyby way of damages and to satisfy the crew of the freight train--whichhe succeeded in doing by a further outlay of money. 

"You're not worth all this bother, " said Mr. Merrick to the humbledWampus, when the final settlement had been made, "but chauffeurs arescarce in Albuquerque and I can't be delayed. Never, sir, while youare in my employ, must you allow yourself to be guilty of such an actagain!"

Wampus sighed. 

"Never, " he promised, "will I ride by freight train again. Send car byexpress. I am Wampus. Freight train he make me nervous. "

The automobile was quickly unloaded and at once Wampus set to work toget it in running order. He drove it to the hotel at about sundownand Mr. Merrick told the girls to be ready to start after an earlybreakfast the next morning. 

"Which way do we go?" asked the Major. 

"We'll have a talk with Wampus this evening and decide, " said UncleJohn. 

"Don't leave out the Grand Canyon!" begged Patsy. 

"Nor the Petrified Forests. " added Beth. "And couldn't we visit theMoki Indian reservation?"

"Those things may be well enough in their way, " observed the Major, "but is their way our way? That's the question. The one thing we musttake into consideration is the matter of roads. We must discover whichroad is the best and then take it. We're not out of the mountains yet, and we shall have left the railroad, the last vestige of civilization, behind us. "

But the conference evolved the fact, according to Wampus, that thebest and safest roads were for a time along the line of the Santa Fe, directly west; and this would enable them to visit most of the scenesthe girls were eager to see. 

"No boulevard in mountain anywhere, " remarked Wampus; "but road hegood enough to ride on. Go slow an' go safe. I drive 'Autocrat' fromhere to Los Angeles blindfold. "

With this assurance they were obliged to be content, and an eagerand joyful party assembled next morning to begin the journey so longlooked forward to. The landlord of the hotel, a man with a carewornface, shook his head dismally and predicted their return toAlbuquerque within twenty-four hours. 

"Of course people _do_ make the trip from here to the coast, " he said;"but it's mighty seldom, and they all swear they'll never do it again. It's uncomfortable, and it's dangerous. "

"Why?" asked Uncle John. 

"You're headed through a wild country, settled only by Mexicans, Indians, and gangs of cowboys still worse. The roads are somethingawful. That man Wampus is an optimist, and will tackle anything andthen be sorry for it afterward. The towns are scattered from here on, and you won't strike a decent meal except at the railway stations. Taking all these things into consideration, I advise you to make yourheadquarters here for the winter. "

"Thank you, " returned Mr. Merrick pleasantly. "It's too late for us toback out now, even if we felt nervous and afraid, which I assure youwe do not. "

"We are not looking for excessive comfort on this journey, you know, "remarked Patsy. "But thank you for your warning, sir. It has given usgreat pleasure; for if there were no chance of adventure before us weshould all be greatly disappointed. "

Again the landlord shook his head. 

"Right?" asked Wampus, at the wheel. 

"Go ahead, " said Mr. Merrick, and slowly the big car started upon itsjourney into the Golden West. 

The air was keen and bracing, but not chilly. The sunshine flooded thelandscape on every side. All the windows of the limousine had beenlowered. 

Myrtle Dean had been established in one corner of the broad back seat, where she nestled comfortably among the cushions. Uncle John satbeside her, with Beth and the Major on the seat on front. There weretwo folding chairs that could be used on occasion, and the back seateasily accommodated three, the "Autocrat" being a seven passenger car;but Patsy was perched in front beside Wampus, which was really thechoicest seat of all, so there was ample room inside to "swing a cat, "as the Major stated--if anyone had cared to attempt such a feat. Ofcourse the wee Mumbles was in Patsy's lap, and he seemed to haveovercome his first aversion of Wampus and accepted the littlechauffeur into the circle of his favored acquaintances. Indeed, theysoon became fast friends. 

On leaving the town Wampus turned into a smooth, hard wagon road thatran in zigzag fashion near the railroad grade. The car bowled alongright merrily for some twenty miles, when the driver turned to theright and skimmed along a high plateau. It was green and seemedfertile, but scarcely a farmhouse could they see, although the clearair permitted a broad view. 

"He up hill now all way to Continental Divide, " said Wampus to Patsy;"then he go down hill long time. "

"It doesn't seem to be much uphill, " returned the girl, "and the roadis very good. "

"We make time here, " observed the driver. "By'm-by we find rock an'bad road. Then we go slow. "

The Major was watching the new chauffeur carefully, and despite hisdismal forebodings the man seemed not at all reckless but handled hiscar with rare skill. So the critic turned to his brother-in-law andasked:

"Is it fully decided which way we shall go?"

"I've left it to Wampus and the girls, " was the reply. "On accountof our little invalid here we shall take the most direct route toCalifornia. It isn't a short route, at that. On Beth's account weshall visit the Moki and Navajo reservations, and on Patsy's accountwe're going by way of the Grand Canyon of Arizona. Wampus says heknows every inch of the road, so for my part I'm content to be just apassenger. "

"Which remark, " said the Major, "indicates that I'm to be just apassenger also. Very well, John; I'm willing. There may be troubleahead of us, but to-day is so magnificent that it's wise to forgeteverything but the present. "

CHAPTER VII

THE CHAUFFEUR IMPROVES

They all enjoyed that first day's ride. Wampus did not drive fast, for there were places where he couldn't; yet by one o'clock they hadreached Laguna, sixty miles from their starting point. There was anexcellent railway hotel here, so they decided to spend the rest of theday and the night at Laguna and proceed early the next morning. 

The big car was an object of much curiosity to the natives, and duringthe afternoon Wampus was the center of attraction. Myrtle had stoodthe ride remarkably well, and Uncle John noticed that her eyes werebrighter and a shade of color had already crept into her pale cheeks. Having risen early all three of the girls took a nap during theafternoon, as did Mr. Merrick. The Major gossiped with the stationagent, the most important individual in town, and gleaned sundryinformation that made him look rather glum. 

"I don't say the road's exactly dangerous, mind you, " added the man, "but these greasers and Injuns get mischievous, at times, harmlessas they look. All I'm advisin' is that you keep a sharp eye on 'em. "Finding Wampus cleaning his car, while a circle of silent, attentiveinhabitants looked on, the Major said to him in a low voice: "Have youa revolver?"

Wampus shook his head. 

"Never carry him, " he replied. "All gun he make trouble. Sometime heshoot wrong man. Don't like gun. Why should I? I am Wampus!"

The Major entered the hotel frowning. 

"That fellow, " he muttered, "is a natural-born coward, and we needn'texpect help from him if trouble comes. "

No trouble came that night, however, and in the early morning, whilethe sky was still reddened by the rising sun, they were off again, following more closely now the railroad, as rocky defiles began toloom up before them. 

By the zigzag course they were obliged to take it was ninety miles toGallup, and this they easily made, despite the growing steepness ofthe mountain road. Here was the famous Continental Divide, and theState of Arizona lay just beyond. The Continental Divide is the ridgethat separates the streams tributary to the Atlantic ocean from thosetributary to the Pacific, so that after crossing it one might wellfeel that at last the East was left behind and the great West with itsromance now faced him. 

They came to the little town in time to see the gorgeous sunset fromthis, the highest point of the Rockies, and especially to Myrtle, whohad traveled so little, was the sight impressive and awe inspiring. There was a small but fairly good hotel in the place, and after supperPatsy and Beth went out for a stroll, being much interested in thedark-skinned Mexicans and still darker Indians who constituted farthe larger part of the population. The party had everywhere met withrespect from these people, who, although curious, were silent andwell-behaved; so Uncle John and the Major, deep in a politicalargument on the hotel porch, had no thought of danger when they sawthe two girls start away arm in arm. 

The sky was still aglow, although the sun had set, and in the subduedlight the coarse adobe huts and rickety frame dwellings were endowedwith a picturesque appearance they did not really possess. Beth andPatsy came to the end of the main street rather suddenly, and stood amoment looking at the shadows cast by the rocky cliffs near by. Someof the peaks had snow upon them, and there was a chill in the air, nowthat the sun had withdrawn its warmth. The girls turned presently andtook another route that might bring them quicker to the hotel, but hadonly proceeded a short way when in passing a rather solitary adobestructure a man stepped from the shadow of the wall and confrontedthem. He wore a red flannel shirt and a broad sombrero, the latterscarcely covering his dark, evil features. 

The cousins stopped short. Then Beth whispered: "Let's go the otherway. " But as they were about to turn the Mexican drew a revolver andsaid in harsh, uneven English: "You halt. Keep a-still, or I shoot. "

"What do you want?" asked Beth, quietly. 

"Money. All you got. Jew'lry--all you got. Give 'm quick, or I shoot!"

As they stood hesitating a sound of footsteps was heard and someoneapproached quickly from behind them. Patsy looked hurriedly aroundand saw Wampus. He was walking with his thin little form bent and hishands deep in his trousers pockets. Incidentally Wampus was smokingthe stub of a cigar, as was his custom when off duty. 

The Mexican saw him, but marking his small size and mild manner didnot flinch from his position. With one revolver still leveled at thegirls he drew another from a hip pocket and turned it upon Wampus. 

"You stop--halt!" he exclaimed fiercely. 

Wampus did not halt. His eyes fixed upon the bandit's ugly features, still puffing his cigar and with hands in his pockets he walkeddeliberately past Patsy and Beth and straight up to the muzzles of therevolvers. 

"Stop!" cried the Mexican; and again: "Stop!"

Wampus stopped when one revolver nearly touched his nose and anothercovered his body. Slowly he drew one hand from his pocket and graspedthe barrel of the nearest weapon. 

"Let him go, " he said, not raising his voice. The man stared into thelittle chauffeur's eyes and released his hold of the revolver. Wampuslooked at it, grunted, and put it in his pocket. 

"Now the other gun, " he said. 

The fellow drew back and half turned, as if to escape. 

"No, no!" said Wampus, as if annoyed. "You give me gun. See--I amWampus!"

Sheepishly enough the Mexican surrendered the other weapon. 

"Now turn aroun' an' go to hotel, " commanded the chauffeur. 

The man obeyed. Wampus turned to the girls, who were now not onlyrelieved but on the verge of laughter and said deprecatingly:

"Do not be scare, for poor man he make no harm. He jus' try agoozle--no dare shoot here in town. Then come; I go back with you. "

Silently they accompanied him along the lane, the Mexican keeping infront and looking around from time to time to see if they followed. A short distance from the hotel Wampus gave a queer whistle whichbrought the bandit cringing to his side. Without ado he handed thefellow his two revolvers and said calmly: "Go 'long. "

The Mexican "went along" briskly and the dusk soon swallowed him up. 

"Thank you, Wampus, " said Patsy, gratefully; "you've saved us from adreadful experience. "

"Oh, that!" snapping his fingers scornfully. "He not a good bad-man, for he too much afraid. I have no gun, for I do not like gun. Still, if I not come, he make you give him money an' trinkets. "

"You were very kind, " replied Beth, "and I thank you as much as Patsydoes. If you had not arrived just when you did I might have killed theman. "

"You?" inquired Wampus, doubtingly. 

"Yes. " She showed him a small pearl-handled revolver which she carriedin the pocket of her jacket. "I can shoot, Wampus. "

The little chauffeur grinned; then looked grave and shook his head. 

"It make funny world, these day, " said he. "One time girl from citywould scream to see a gun; now she carry him in pocket an' can shoot!Ver' fine; ver' fine. But I like me old style girl who make scream. Then a man not feel foolish when he try protect her. "

Patsy laughed merrily; but Beth saw he was offended and hastened tosay:

"I am very grateful to you, Wampus, and I know you are a brave andtrue man. I shall expect you to protect me at all times, for I reallydon't wish to shoot anyone, although I think it best to carry arevolver. Always after this, before I am tempted to fire, I shall lookto see if you are not near me. "

"All right, " he said more cheerfully. "I am Wampus. I will be there, Miss 'Lizbeth. "

CHAPTER VIII

AMONG THE INDIANS

Little Myrtle grew brighter day by day. She even grew merry anddeveloped a fine sense of humor, showing new traits in her hithertoundeveloped character. The girl never mentioned her injury noradmitted that she suffered any pain, even when directly questioned. Indeed she was not uncomfortable during that splendid automobile rideover mountain and plain into the paradise of the glowing West. Neverbefore in her life had Myrtle enjoyed an outing, except for an hour ortwo in a city park; never before had she known a friend to care forher and sympathize honestly with her griefs. Therefore this experiencewas so exquisitely delightful that her responsive heart nearly burstwith gratitude. Pretty thoughts came to her that she had never hadbefore; her luxurious surroundings led her to acquire dainty ways anda composed and self-poised demeanor. 

"Our rosebud is unfolding, petal by petal, and beginning to bloomgloriously, " said Patsy to sympathetic Uncle John. "Could anyone bemore sweet or lovely?"

Perhaps almost any girl, situated as Myrtle Dean was, would haveblossomed under similar influences. Certain it was that Uncle Johncame to have a tender affection for the poor child, while the Major'sbig heart had warmed from the first toward the injured girl. Beth andPatsy were devoted to their new friend and even Mumbles was never sohappy as when Myrtle would hold and caress him. Naturally the formerwaif responded freely to all this wealth of affection and strove to becompanionable and cheery, that they might forget as much as possibleher physical helplessness. 

Mumbles was not the least important member of the party, but proveda constant source of amusement to all. In the novel domains they nowtraversed the small dog's excitable nature led him to investigateeverything that seemed suspicious, but he was so cowardly, in spite ofthis, that once when Patsy let him down to chase a gopher or prairiedog--they were not sure which--the animal turned at bay and sentMumbles retreating with his stubby tail between his legs. Hiscomradeship for Wampus surprised them all. The Canadian would talkseriously to the dog and tell it long stories as if the creature couldunderstand every word--which perhaps he did. Mumbles would sit upbetween the driver and Patsy and listen attentively, which encouragedWampus to talk until Patsy in self-defense turned and tossed the fuzzyanimal in to Myrtle, who was always glad to receive him. 

But Patsy did not always sit on the front seat. That honor was dividedamong them all, by turns, except the Major, who did not care for theplace. Yet I think Patsy rode there oftener than anyone else, and itcame to be considered her special privilege because she had firstclaimed it. 

The Major, after the incident at Gallup, did not scorn Wampus soopenly as before; but he still reserved a suspicion that the fellowwas at heart a coward and a blusterer. The chauffeur's sole demerit inthe eyes of the others was his tremendous egotism. The proud remark:"I am Wampus!" was constantly on his lips and he had wonderful talesto tell to all who would listen of his past experiences, in every oneof which he unblushingly figured as the hero. But he really handledthe big touring car in an admirable manner, and when one afternoona tire was punctured by a cactus spine by the roadside--their firstaccident--they could not fail to admire the dexterous manner in whichhe changed the tube for a new one. 

From Gallup they took a wagon road to Fort Defiance, in the NavajoIndian reservation; but the Navajos proved uninteresting people, noteven occupying themselves in weaving the famous Navajo blankets, whichare now mostly made in Philadelphia. Even Patsy, who had longed to"see the Indians in their native haunts, " was disgusted by their filthand laziness, and the party expected no better results when they cameto the adjoining Moki reservation. Here, however, they were happilydisappointed, for they arrived at the pueblo of Oraibi, one ofthe prettiest villages on the mesa, on the eve of one of theircharacteristic snake dances, and decided to remain over night andsee the performance. Now I am not sure but the "Snake Dance" was soopportune because Uncle John had a private interview with the nativechieftain, at which the head Snake Priest and the head Antelope Priestof the tribe were present. These Indians spoke excellent English andthe chief loved the white man's money, so a ceremony that has beenheld during the month of August for many centuries--long before theSpanish conquistadors found this interesting tribe--was found to be ontap for that very evening. The girls were tremendously excited at theprospect and Wampus was ordered to prepare camp for the night--thefirst they had spent in their automobile and away from a hotel. Notonly was the interior of the roomy limousine converted into sleepingquarters for the three girls, but a tent was spread, one side fastenedto the car while the other was staked to the ground. Three wirefolding cots came from some hidden place beneath the false bottom ofthe car, with bedding enough to supply them, and these were for theuse of the men in the tent. The two "bedrooms" having been thusprepared, Wampus lighted the tiny gasoline stove, over which Patsy andBeth enthusiastically cooked the supper. Beth wanted to "Newburg" thetinned lobster, and succeeded in creaming it very nicely. They hadpotato chips, coffee and toasted Holland rusks, as well, and allthoroughly enjoyed the improvised meal. 

Their camp had been pitched just at the outskirts of the Indianvillage, but the snake dance was to take place in a rocky glen somedistance away from the pueblo and so Uncle John instructed Wampus toremain and guard their outfit, as the Moki are notorious thieves. Theyleft the lean little chauffeur perched upon the driver's seat, smokingone of his "stogie" cigars and with Mumbles sitting gravely besidehim. 

Myrtle hobbled on her crutches between Beth and Patsy, who carriedlittle tin lanterns made with lamp chimneys that had candles insidethem. They first visited the chief, who announced that the ceremonieswere about to begin. At a word from this imposing leader a big Indiancaught up Myrtle and easily carried her on his shoulder, as if shewere light as a feather, leading the way to the rocky amphitheatre. Here were assembled all the inhabitants of the village, forming a widecircle around the performers. The snakes were in a pit dug in thecenter of the space, over which a few branches had been placed. Thisis called the "kisi. "

These unique and horrifying snake dances of the Moki have beendescribed so often that I need not speak of this performance indetail. Before it was half over the girls wished they were back intheir automobile; but the Major whispered that for them to leave wouldcause great offense to the Indians and might result in trouble. Thedance is supposedly a religious one, in honor of the Rain God, and atfirst the snakes were not used, but as the dancers became wrought upand excited by their antics one by one they reached within the kisiand drew out a snake, allowing the reptiles to coil around theiralmost naked bodies and handling them with seeming impunity. A fewwere harmless species, as bull snakes and arrow snakes; but mostly theMoki used rattlesnakes, which are native to the mesa and its rockycliffs. Some travelers have claimed that the fangs of the rattlers aresecretly withdrawn before the creatures are handled, but this has beenproved to be untrue. The most accepted theory is that the snakes arenever permitted to coil, and cannot strike unless coiled, while theweird chanting and graceful undulating motions of the dancers in somemanner "charms" or intoxicates the serpents, which are not aroused toantagonism. Occasionally, however, one of the Moki priests is bitten, in which case nothing is done to aid him and he is permitted to die, it being considered a judgment of the Rain God for some sin he hascommitted. 

The barbaric rites seemed more picturesque, as well as more revolting, in that they took place by the flickering light of torches andbonfires in a rock strewn plain usually claimed by nature. When thedancers were more frenzied they held the squirming serpents in theirmouths by the middle and allowed them to coil around their necks, dancing wildly the while. The whole affair was so nauseating andoffensive that as soon as it was possible the visitors withdrew andretired to their "camp. " It was now almost midnight, but the path waslighted by the little lanterns they carried. 

As they approached the automobile Uncle John was disturbed not to seeWampus at his post. A light showed from the front of the car, but thechauffeur seemed to be missing. Coming nearer, however, they soonwere greeted by a joyous barking from Mumbles and discovered Wampussquatting upon the ground, puffing at the small end of the cigar andseeming quite composed and tranquil. 

"What are you doing there?" demanded the Major, raising his lanternthe better to light the scene. 

"I play jailer, " grunted Wampus, without moving. "Him want to steal;Mumble he make bark noise; for me, I steal too--I steal Injun. "

A dusky form, prone upon the ground, began to squirm under Wampus, whowas then discovered to be sitting upon a big Indian and holding himprisoner. The chauffeur, partly an Indian himself, knew well how tomanage his captive and quieted the fellow by squeezing his throat withhis broad stubby fingers. 

"How long have you had him there?" inquired Uncle John, looking at thediscomfited "brave" curiously. 

"About an hour, " was the reply. 

"Let him go, then. We have no prison handy, and the man has perhapsbeen punished enough. "

"I have wait to ask permission to kill him, " said Wampus solemnly. "Heknow English talk, an' I have told him he is to die. I have describe, sir, several torture we make on Injun who steal, which make him thinkhe die several time. So he is now prepare for the worst. "

The Indiam squirmed again, and with a sigh Wampus arose and set himfree. 

"See, " he said; "you are save only by mercy of Great White Chief. Youver' lucky Injun. But Great White Chief will leave only one eye herewhen he go away. If you try to steal again the eye will see, an' thenthe torture I have describe will be yours. I am Wampus. I have spoke. "

The Indian listened intently and then slunk away into the darknesswithout reply. The night had no further event and in spite of theirunusual experiences all slept excellently and awoke in the morningrefreshed and ready for new adventures. 

CHAPTER IX

NATURE'S MASTERPIECE

From the reservation to the Grand Canyon of the Colorado was not far, but there was no "crosscut" and so they were obliged to make a widedetour nearly to Williams before striking the road that wound upwardto the world's greatest wonder. 

Slowly and tediously the big car climbed the miserable trail to therim of the Grand Canyon. It was night when they arrived, for they hadtimed it that way, having been told of the marvelous beauty of thecanyon by moonlight. But unfortunately the sky filled with cloudstoward evening, and they came to Bright Angel, their destination, in adrizzling rain and total darkness. The Major was fearful Wampus mightrun them into the canyon, but the machine's powerful searchlightsshowed the way clearly and by sticking to the road they finally drewup before an imposing hotel such as you might wonder to find in soremote a spot. 

Eagerly enough they escaped from the automobile where they had beenshut in and entered the spacious lobby of the hotel, where a merrythrong of tourists had gathered. 

"Dinner and bed, " said Patsy, decidedly. "I'm all tired out, and poorMyrtle is worn to a frazzle. There's no chance of seeing the canyonto-night, and as for the dancing, card playing and promiscuous gaiety, it doesn't appeal much to a weary traveler. "

The girls were shown to a big room at the front of the hotel, havingtwo beds in it. A smaller connecting-room was given to Myrtle, whilePatsy and Beth shared the larger apartment. It seems the hotel, bigas it was, was fairly filled with guests, the railway running threetrains a day to the wonderful canyon; but Uncle John's nieces didnot mind occupying the same room, which was comfortably and evenluxuriously furnished. 

A noise of footsteps along the corridor disturbed Patsy at an earlyhour. She opened her eyes to find the room dimly lighted, as by thefirst streaks of dawn, and sleepily arose to raise the window shadeand see if day was breaking. Her hand still upraised to guide theshade the girl stood as motionless as if turned to stone. With a longdrawn, gasping breath she cried: "Oh, Beth!" and then stood staring atwhat is undoubtedly the most entrancing, the most awe inspiring and atthe same time the most magnificent spectacle that mortal eye has everbeheld--sunrise above the Grand Canyon of Arizona. 

The master painters of the world have gathered in this spot in a vainattempt to transfer the wondrous coloring of the canyon to canvas. Authors famed for their eloquent command of language have striven asvainly to tell to others what their own eyes have seen; how theirsenses have been thrilled and their souls uplifted by the marvel thatGod's hand has wrought. It can never be pictured. It can never bedescribed. Only those who have stood as Patricia Doyle stood thatmorning and viewed the sublime masterpiece of Nature can realize whatthose homely words, "The Grand Canyon" mean. Grand? It is well named. Since no other adjective can better describe it, that much abused onemay well be accepted to incompletely serve its purpose. 

Beth joined her cousin at the window and was instantly as awedand absorbed as Patsy. Neither remembered Myrtle just then, butfortunately their friend had left the connecting door of theirrooms ajar and hearing them stirring came in to see if anything hadhappened. She found the two cousins staring intently from the windowand went to the second window herself, thus witnessing the spectaclein all its glory. 

Even after the magnificent coloring of sunrise had faded the sight wasone to rivet the attention. The hotel seemed built at the very edge ofthe canyon, and at their feet the ground appeared to fall away and agreat gulf yawned that was tinted on all its diverse sides with huesthat rivaled those of the rainbow. Across the chasm they could clearlysee the trees and hills; yet these were fully thirteen miles distant, for here is one of the widest portions of the great abyss. 

"I'm going to dress, " said Beth, breaking the silence at last. "Itseems a sin to stay cooped up in here when such a glorious panorama isat one's feet. "

The others did not reply in words, but they all began to dresstogether with nervous haste, and then made their way down to thecanyon's brink. Others were before them, standing upon the ampleporches in interested groups; but such idleness would not content ourgirls, who trooped away for a more intimate acquaintance with thewonderful gorge. 

"Oh, how small--how terribly small--I am!" cried Patsy, lost inthe immensity of the canyon's extent; but this is a common cry oftravelers visiting Bright Angel. You might place a baker's dozen ofthe huge Falls of Niagara in the Grand Canyon and scarcely notice theywere there. All the vast cathedrals of Europe set upon its plateauwould seem like pebbles when viewed from the brink. The thing issimply incomprehensible to those who have not seen it. 

Presently Uncle John and the Major came out to join them and they allwandered along the edge until they came to a huge rock that juttedout far over the monster gulf. On the furthermost point of this rock, standing with his feet at the very brink, was a tall, thin man, hisback toward them. It seemed a fearful thing to do--to stand where theslightest slip would send him reeling into the abyss. 

"It's like tempting fate, " whispered Patsy, a safe distance away. "Iwish he would step back a little. "

As if he had overheard her the man half turned and calmly examined thegroup. His eyes were an almost colorless blue, his features destituteof any expression. By his dress he seemed well-to-do, if notprosperous, yet there was a hint of melancholy in his poise and abouthim a definite atmosphere of loneliness. 

After that one deliberate look he turned again and faced the canyon, paying no attention to the interested little party that hovered farenough from the edge to avoid any possible danger. 

"Oh, dear!" whispered Myrtle, clinging to Beth's arm with tremblingfingers, "I'm afraid he's going to--to commit suicide!"

"Nonsense!" answered Beth, turning pale nevertheless. 

The figure was motionless as before. Uncle John and the Major startedalong the path but as Beth attempted to follow them Myrtle broke awayfrom her and hobbled eagerly on her crutches toward the stranger. Shedid not go quite to the end of the jutting rock, but stopped some feetaway and called in a low, intense voice:

"Don't!"

The man turned again, with no more expression in his eyes or face thanbefore. He looked at Myrtle steadily a moment, then turned and slowlyleft the edge, walking to firm ground and back toward the hotelwithout another glance at the girl. 

"I'm so ashamed, " said Myrtle, tears of vexation in her eyes as sherejoined her friends. "But somehow I felt I must warn him--it was animpulse I just couldn't resist. "

"Why, no harm resulted, in any event, my dear, " returned Beth. "Iwouldn't think of it again. "

They took so long a walk that all were nearly famished when theyreturned to the hotel for breakfast. 

Of course Patsy and Beth wanted to go down Bright Angel Trail into thedepths of the canyon, for that is the thing all adventurous spiritslove to do. 

"I'm too fat for such foolishness, " said Uncle John, "so I'll stay uphere and amuse Myrtle. "

The Major decided to go, to "look after our Patsy;" so the threejoined the long line of daring tourists and being mounted on docile, sure-footed burros, followed the guide down the trail. 

Myrtle and Uncle John spent the morning on the porch of the hotel. Atbreakfast the girl had noticed the tall man they had encountered atthe canyon's edge quietly engaged in eating at a small table in a farcorner of the great dining room. During the forenoon he came from thehotel to the porch and for a time stood looking far away over thecanyon. 

Aroused to sympathy by the loneliness of this silent person, UncleJohn left his chair and stood beside him at the railing. 

"It's a wonderful sight, sir, " he remarked in his brisk, sociable way;"wonderful indeed!"

For a moment there was no reply. 

"It seems to call one, " said the man at length, as if to himself. "Itcalls one. "

"It's a wonder to me it doesn't call more people to see it, " observedMr. Merrick, cheerfully. "Think of this magnificent thing--greater andgrander than anything the Old World can show, being here right in theheart of America, almost--and so few rush to see it! Why, in time tocome, sir, " he added enthusiastically, "not to have seen the GrandCanyon of Arizona will be an admission of inferiority. It's--it's thebiggest thing in all the world!"

The stranger made no reply. He had not even glanced at Uncle John. Nowhe slowly turned and stared fixedly at Myrtle for a moment, till shecast down her eyes, blushing. Then he re-entered the hotel; nor was heagain seen by them. 

The little man was indignant at the snub. Rejoining Myrtle he said toher:

"That fellow wasn't worth saving--if you really saved him, my dear. Hesays the canyon calls one, and for all I care he may go to the bottomby any route he pleases. "

Which speech showed that gentle, kindly Mr. Merrick was reallyannoyed. But a moment later he was all smiles again and Myrtle foundhim a delightful companion because he knew so well how to readpeople's thoughts, and if they were sad had a tactful way of cheeringthem. 

The girls and the Major returned from their trip to the plateau fullof rapture at their unique experiences. 

"I wouldn't have missed it for a million dollars!" cried the Major;but he added: "and you couldn't hire me to go again for two million!"

"It was great, " said Patsy; "but I'm tuckered out. "

"I had nineteen narrow escapes from sudden death, " began Beth, but hercousin interrupted her by saying: "So had everyone in the party;and if the canyon had caved in we'd all be dead long ago. Stop yourchattering now and get ready for dinner. I'm nearly starved. "

Next morning they took a farewell view of the beautiful scene and thenclimbed into their automobile to continue their journey. Many of thetourists had wondered at their temerity in making such a long tripthrough a poorly settled country in a motor car and had plied themwith questions and warnings. But they were thoroughly enjoying thisouting and nothing very disagreeable had happened to them so far. I amsure that on this bright, glorious morning you could not have hiredany one of the party to abandon the automobile and finish the trip bytrain. 

CHAPTER X

A COYOTE SERENADE

The roads were bad enough. They were especially bad west of Williams. Just now an association of automobile tourists has been formed tocreate a boulevard route through from the Atlantic to the Pacificcoast, but at the time of this story no attention had been given theroads of the far West and only the paths of the rancheros from town totown served as guides. On leaving Williams they turned south so as toavoid the more severe mountain roads, and a fine run through a ratheruninteresting country brought them to Prescott on the eve of thesecond day after leaving the Canyon. Here they decided to take a day'srest, as it was Sunday and the hotel was comfortable; but Mondaymorning they renewed their journey and headed southwesterly across thealkali plains--called "mesa"--for Parker, on the boundary line betweenArizona and California. 

Towns of any sort were very scarce in this section and the country waswild and often barren of vegetation for long stretches. There weresome extensive ranches, however, as this is the section favored forsettlement by a class of Englishmen called "remittance men. " These aremostly the "black sheep" or outcasts of titled families, who havinggot into trouble of some sort at home, are sent to America to isolatethemselves on western ranches, where they receive monthly or quarterlyremittances of money to support them. The remittance men are poorfarmers, as a rule. They are idle and lazy except when it comes toriding, hunting and similar sports. Their greatest industry is cattleraising, yet these foreign born "cowboys" constitute an entirelydifferent class from those of American extraction, found in Texas andon the plains of the Central West. They are educated and to an extentcultured, being "gentlemen born" but sad backsliders in the practiseof the profession. Because other ranchers hesitate to associate withthem they congregate in settlements of their own, and here in Arizona, on the banks of the Bill Williams Branch of the Colorado River, theyform almost the total population. 

Our friends had hoped to make the little town of Gerton for the night, but the road was so bad that Wampus was obliged to drive slowly andcarefully, and so could not make very good time. Accidents beganto happen, too, doubtless clue to the hard usage the machine hadreceived. First a spring broke, and Wampus was obliged to halt longenough to clamp it together with stout steel braces. An hour later thefront tire was punctured by cactus spines, which were thick upon theroad. Such delays seriously interfered with their day's mileage. 

Toward sunset Uncle John figured, from the information he had receivedat Prescott, that they were yet thirty miles from Gerton, and so hedecided to halt and make camp while there was yet sufficient daylightremaining to do so conveniently. 

"We might hunt for a ranch house and beg for shelter, " said he, "butfrom the stories I've heard of the remittance men I am sure we willenjoy ourselves better if we rely entirely upon our own resources. "

The girls were, of course, delighted at the prospect of such anexperience, for the silent, solitary mesa made them feel they wereindeed "in the wilds of the Great American Desert. " The afternoon hadbeen hot and the ride dusty, but there was now a cooler feeling in theair since the sun had fallen low in the horizon. 

They carried their own drinking water, kept ice-cold in thermosbottles, and Uncle John also had a thermos tub filled with smallsquares of ice. This luxury, in connection with their ample supplyof provisions, enabled the young women to prepare a supper not to besurpassed in any modern hotel. The soup came from one can, the curriedchicken from another, while artichokes, peas, asparagus and plumpudding shed their tin coverings to complete the meal. Fruits, cheeseand biscuits they had in abundance, so there was no hardship incamping out on a deserted Arizona table-land, as far as food wasconcerned. The Interior of the limousine, when made into berths forthe three girls, was as safe and cosy as a Pullman sleeping coach. Only the men's quarters, the "lean-to" tent, was in any way open toinvasion. 

After the meal was ended and the things washed and put away they allsat on folding camp chairs outside the little tent and enjoyed theintense silence surrounding them. The twilight gradually deepened intodarkness. Wampus kept one of the searchlights lit to add an element ofcheerfulness to the scene, and Myrtle was prevailed upon to sing oneor two of her simple songs. She had a clear, sweet voice, although nota strong one, and they all--especially Uncle John--loved to hear hersing. 

Afterward they talked over their trip and the anticipated change fromthis arid region to the verdure of California, until suddenly a long, bloodcurdling howl broke the stillness and caused them one and allto start from their seats. That is, all but Wampus. The chauffeur, sitting apart with his black cigar in his mouth, merely nodded andsaid: "Coyote. "

The Major coughed and resumed his seat. Uncle John stood looking intothe darkness as if trying to discern the creature. 

"Are coyotes considered dangerous?" he asked the Canadian. 

"Not to us, " replied Wampus. "Sometime, if one man be out on mesaalone, an' plenty coyote come, he have hard fight for life. Coyote iswild dog. He is big coward unless pretty hungry. If I leave light burnhe never come near us. "

"Then let it burn--all night, " said Mr. Merrick. "There he goesagain--and another with him! What a horrible wail it is. "

"I rather like it, " said Patsy, with her accustomed calmness. "It iscertainly an added experience to be surrounded by coyotes. Probablyour trip wouldn't have been complete without it. "

"A little of that serenade will suffice me, " admitted Beth, as thehowls grew nearer and redoubled in volume. 

Myrtle's eyes were big and earnest. She was not afraid, but there wassomething uncanny in being surrounded by such savage creatures. 

Nearer and nearer sounded the howls, until it was easy to see a dozenfierce eyes gleaming in the darkness, not a stone's throw away fromthe camp. 

"I guess you girls had better go to bed, " remarked Uncle John, a bitnervously. "There's no danger, you know--none at all. Let the bruteshowl, if they want to--especially as we can't stop them. But you aretired, my dears, and I'd like to see you settled for the night. "

Somewhat reluctantly they entered the limousine, drew the curtains andprepared for bed. Certainly they were having a novel experience, andif Uncle John would feel easier to have them listen to the howlingcoyotes from inside the limousine instead of outside, they could notwell object to his request. 

Presently Wampus asked the Major for his revolver, and on obtainingthe weapon he walked a few paces toward the coyotes and fired a shotinto their group. They instantly scattered and made off, only toreturn in a few moments to their former position. 

"Will they continue this Grand Opera chorus all night?" asked UncleJohn. 

"Perhap, " said Wampus. "They hungry, an' smell food. Coyote can noreason. If he could, he know ver' well we never feed him. "

"The next time we come this way let us fetch along a ton or so ofcoyote feed, " suggested the Major. "I wonder what the poor bruteswould think if they were stuffed full for once in their lives?"

"It have never happen, sir, " observed Wampus, shaking his headgravely. "Coyote all born hungry; he live hungry; he die hungry. Ifever coyote was not hungry he would not be coyote. "

"In that case, Major, " said Uncle John, "let us go to bed and try tosleep. Perhaps in slumber we may forget these howling fiends. "

"Very well, " agreed Major Doyle, rising to enter the little tent. 

Wampus unexpectedly interposed. "Wait, " called the little chauffeur. "Jus' a minute, if you please. "

While the Major and Mr. Merrick stood wondering at the request, theCanadian, who was still holding the revolver in one hand, picked asteel rod from the rumble of the automobile and pushing aside the flapof the little tent entered. The tail-lamp of the car burned inside, dimly lighting the place. 

The Major was about to follow Wampus when a revolver shot arrestedhim. This sound was followed by a quick thumping against the ground ofthe steel bar, and then Wampus emerged from the tent holding a dark, squirming object on the end of the rod extended before him. 

"What is it?" asked Mr. Merrick, somewhat startled. 

"Rattlesnake, " said Wampus, tossing the thing into the sagebrush. "Isee him crawl in tent while you eat supper. "

"Why did you not tell us?" cried the Major excitedly. 

"I thought him perhaps crawl out again. Him sometime do that. But no. Mister snake he go sleep in tent which is reserve for his superior. Isay nothing, for I do not wish to alarm the young ladies. That is whyI hold the dog Mumble so tight, for he small eye see snake too, an'fool dog wish to go fight him. Rattlesnake soon eat Mumble up--eh? Butnever mind; there is no worry. I am Wampus, an' I am here. You go tobed now, an' sleep an' be safe. "

He said this rather ostentatiously, and for that reason neither of theothers praised his watchful care or his really brave act. That Wampuswas proving himself a capable and faithful servant even the Major wasforced to admit, yet the man's bombast and self-praise robbed him ofany word of commendation he justly earned. 

"I think, " said Uncle John, "I'll bunk on the front seat to-night. I'mshort, you see, and will just about curl up in the space. I believesnakes do not climb up wheels. Make my bed on the front seat, Wampus. "

The man grinned but readily obeyed. The Major watched himthoughtfully. 

"For my part, " he said, "I'll have a bed made on top the roof. "

"Pshaw!" said Uncle John; "you'll scratch the paint. "

"That is a matter of indifference to me, " returned the Major. 

"You'll roll off, in your sleep, and hurt yourself. "

"I'll risk that, sir. "

"Are you afraid, Major?"

"Afraid! Me? Not when I'm awake, John. But what's to prevent more ofthose vermin from crawling into the tent during the night?"

"Such thing very unusual. " remarked Wampus, placing the last blanketon Mr. Merrick's improvised bed. "Perhaps you sleep in tent a week an'never see another rattler. "

"Just the same, " concluded the Major, "I'll have my bed on top thelimousine. "

He did, Wampus placing blankets and a pillow for him without a word ofprotest. The Major climbed over Uncle John and mounted to the roof ofthe car, which sloped to either side but was broad and long enoughto accommodate more than one sleeper. Being an old campaigner and ashrewd tactician, Major Doyle made two blankets into rolls, which heplaced on either side of him, to "anchor" his body in position. Thenhe settled himself to rest beneath the brilliant stars while thecoyotes maintained their dismal howling. But a tired man soon becomesinsensible to even such annoyances. 

The girls, having entered the limousine from the door opposite thetent, were all unaware of the rattlesnake episode and supposed theshot had been directed against the coyotes. They heard the Majorclimbing upon the roof, but did not demand any explanation, being deepin those bedtime confidences so dear to all girls. Even they cameto disregard the persistent howls of the coyotes, and in time fellasleep. 

Wampus did not seem afraid of snakes. The little chauffeur went to bedin the tent and slept soundly upon his cot until daybreak, when thecoyotes withdrew and the Canadian got up to make the coffee. 

The Major peered over the edge of the roof to watch him. He had asleepy look about his eyes, as if he had not rested well. Uncle Johnwas snoring with gentle regularity and the girls were still asleep. 

"Wampus, " said the Major, "do you know the proper definition of afool?"

Wampus reflected, stirring the coffee carefully. 

"I am not--what you call him?--a dictionairre; no. But I am Wampus. Ihave live much in very few year. I would say a fool is man who thinkhe is wise. For what is wise? Nothing!"

The Major felt comforted. 

"It occurred to me, " he said, beginning to climb down from the roof, "that a fool was a man who left a good home for this uncomfortablelife on a barren desert. This country wasn't made for humans; itbelongs to the coyotes and the rattlesnakes. What right have we tointrude upon them, then?"

Wampus did not reply. It was not his business to criticise hisemployers. 

CHAPTER XI

A REAL ADVENTURE AT LAST

Uncle John woke up when the Major inadvertently placed a heel upon hisround stomach on the way to the ground. The chubby little millionairehad slept excellently and was in a genial humor this morning. Hehelped Wampus fry the bacon and scramble the eggs, while the Majorcalled the girls. 

It proved a glorious sunrise and the air was full of pure ozone. Theyhad suffered little from cold during the trip, although it was inthe dead of winter and the altitude considerable. Just now they weregetting closer to California every hour, and when they descended fromthe mesa it would gradually grow warmer. 

They were all becoming expert at "breaking camp, " and preparing forthe road. Beth and Patsy put away the bedding and "made up" theinterior of the limousine for traveling. The Major and Uncle Johnfolded the tent and packed it away, while Wampus attended to thedishes and tinware and then looked over his car. In a surprisinglyshort time they were all aboard and the big machine was gliding overthe faint trail. 

The mesa was not a flat or level country, for they were still near tothe mountain ranges. The way was up hill and down, in gentle slopes, and soon after starting they breasted the brow of a hill and wereconfronted by half a dozen mounted men, who seemed as much astonishedat the encounter as they were. 

It being an event to meet anyone in this desolate place Wampusinvoluntarily brought the car to a halt, while the riders lined upbeside it and stared rather rudely at the party. They were dressed ascowboys usually are, with flannel shirts, chapelets and sombrero hats;but their faces were not rugged nor healthy, as is the case with mostWestern cowboys, but bore marks of dissipation and hard living. 

"Remittance men, " whispered Wampus. 

Uncle John nodded. He had heard of this curious class. Especially werethe men staring at the three pretty, feminine faces that peered fromthe interior of the limousine. They had remained silent thus far, butnow one of them, a fellow with dark eyes and a sallow complexion, reined his horse nearer the car and removed his hat with a sweepinggesture that was not ungraceful. 

"A merry morning to you, fair ladies--or angels--I much misdoubt whichwe have chanced upon. Anyhow, welcome to Hades!"

Uncle John frowned. He did not like the bantering, impudent tone. Bethflushed and turned aside her head; Myrtle shrank back in her cornerout of sight; but Patsy glared fixedly at the speaker with anexpression that was far from gracious. The remittance man did not seemdaunted by this decided aversion. A sneering laugh broke from hiscompanions, and one of them cried:

"Back up, Algy, and give your betters a chance. You're out of it, oldman. "

"I have no betters, " he retorted. Then, turning to the girls again andignoring the presence of the men accompanying them, he continued:

"Beauteous visions, since you have wilfully invaded the territory ofHades Ranch, of which diabolical domain I, Algernon Tobey, am by graceof his Satanic majesty the master, I invite you to become my guestsand participate in a grand ball which I shall give this evening inyour honor. "

His comrades laughed again, and one of them shouted:

"Good for you, Algy. A dance--that's the thing!"

"Why, we haven't had the chance of a dance for ages, " said anotherapprovingly. 

"Because we have had no ladies to dance with, " explained Algy. "Buthere are three come to our rescue--perhaps more, if I could see insidethat barricade--and they cannot refuse us the pleasure of theirsociety. "

"Sir, " said Major Doyle, stiffly, "you are pleased to be impertinent. Ride on, you rascals, and spare us further sight of you. "

The man turned upon him a scowling face. 

"Don't interfere, " he said warningly. "This isn't your party, you oldduffer!"

"Drive ahead, Wampus, " commanded Uncle John. 

Wampus had to get out and crank the engines, which he calmly proceededto do. The man who had called himself Algernon Tobey perceived hisintention and urged his pony to the front of the car. 

"Let that thing alone. Keep your hands off!" he said. 

Wampus paid no attention. The fellow brought his riding whip downsharply on the chauffeur's shoulders, inflicting a stinging blow. Instantly little Wampus straightened up, grasped Tobey by the legand with a swift, skillful motion jerked him from his horse. The manstarted to draw his revolver, but in an instant he and Wampus wererolling together upon the ground and the Canadian presently cameuppermost and held his antagonist firmly between his knees. Thenwith deliberation he raised his clinched fist and thrust it forciblyagainst Mr. Tobey's eye, repeating the impact upon his nose, his chinand his cheek in a succession of jarring thumps that were deliveredwith scientific precision. Algy fairly howled, kicking and strugglingto be free. None of his comrades offered to interfere and it seemedthey were grimly enjoying the punishment that was being; inflictedupon their leader. 

When Wampus had quite finished his work he arose, adjusted hisdisarranged collar and tie and proceeded to crank the engines. Then heclimbed into his seat and started the car with a sudden bound. As hedid so a revolver shot rang out and one of the front tires, pierced bythe bullet, ripped itself nearly in two as it crumpled up. A shout ofderisive laughter came from the cowboys. Algy was astride his ponyagain, and as Wampus brought the damaged car to a stop the remittancemen dashed by and along the path, taking the same direction UncleJohn's party was following". Tobey held back a little, calling out:

"Au revoir! I shall expect you all at my party. I'm going now to getthe fiddler. "

He rejoined his comrades then, and they all clattered away until aroll of the mesa hid them from sight. 

Uncle John got down from his seat to assist his chauffeur. 

"Thank you, Wampus, " he said. "Perhaps you should have killed himwhile you had the opportunity; but you did very well. "

Wampus was wrestling with the tire. 

"I have never start a private graveyard, " he replied, "for reason Iam afraid to hurt anyone. But I am Wampus. If Mister Algy he danceto-night, somebody mus' lead him, for he will be blind. "

"I never met such a lawless brood in my life, " prowled the Major, indignantly. "If they were in New York they'd be put behind the barsin two minutes. "

"But they are in Arizona--in the wilderness, " said Uncle John gravely. "If there are laws here such people do not respect them. "

It took a long time to set the new tire and inflate it, for the outertube was torn so badly that an extra one had to be substituted. Butfinally the task was accomplished and once more they renewed theirjourney. 

Now that they were alone with their friends the girls were excitedlygossiping over the encounter. 

"Do you really suppose we are on that man's ground--his ranch, as hecalls it?" asked Myrtle, half fearfully. 

"Why, I suppose someone owns all this ground, barren as it is, "replied Patsy. "But we are following a regular road--not a very goodone, nor much traveled; but a road, nevertheless--and any road ispublic property and open for the use of travelers. "

"Perhaps we shall pass by their ranch house, " suggested Beth. 

"If we do, " Uncle John answered, "I'll have Wampus put on full speed. Even their wild ponies can't follow us then, and if they try shootingup the tires again they are quite likely to miss as we spin by. "

"Isn't there any other road?" the Major asked. 

Wampus shook his head. 

"I have never come jus' this same route before, " he admitted; "but Imake good friend in Prescott, who know all Arizona blindfold. Him saythis is nice, easy road and we cannot get lost for a good reason--thereason there is no other road at all--only this one. "

"Did your friend say anything about Hades Ranch?" continued thequestioner. 

"He say remittance man make much mischief if he can; but he oneforeign coward, drunk most time an' when sober weak like my aunt'stea. He say don't let remittance man make bluff. No matter how manycome, if you hit one they all run. "

"H-m, " murmured Uncle John, "I'm not so sure of that, Wampus. Thereseems to be a good many of those insolent rascals, and I hope we shallnot meet them again. They may give us trouble yet. "

"Never be afraid, " advised the chauffeur. "I am Wampus, an' I amhere!"

Admitting that evident truth, our tourists were not greatly reassured. Wampus could not tell where the road might lead them, for he did notknow, save that it led by devious winds to Parker, on the borderbetween Arizona and California; but what lay between them and thatdestination was a sealed book to them all. 

The car was heavy and the road soft; so in spite of their powerfulengines the car was not making more than fifteen miles an hour. Ashort ride brought them to a ridge, from the top of which they saw ahuddle of buildings not far distant, with a near-by paddock containinga number of ponies and cattle. The buildings were not palatial, beingcomposed mostly of adobe and slab wood; but the central one, probablythe dwelling or ranch house, was a low, rambling pile coveringconsiderable ground. 

The road led directly toward this group of buildings, which ourtravelers at once guessed to be "Hades Ranch. " Wampus slowed down andcast a sharp glance around, but the land on either side of the trailwas thick with cactus and sagebrush and to leave the beaten path meanta puncture almost instantly. There was but one thing to be done. 

"Pretty good road here, " said Wampus. "Hold tight an' don't get scare. We make a race of it. "

"Go ahead, " returned Uncle John, grimly. "If any of those scoundrelsget in your way, run them down. "

"I never like to hurt peoples; but if that is your command, sir, Iwill obey, " said Wampus, setting his jaws tightly together. 

The car gathered speed and shot over the road at the rate of twentymiles an hour; then twenty-five--then thirty--and finally forty. Thegirls sat straight and looked eagerly ahead. Forms were darting hereand there among the buildings of the ranch, quickly congregating ingroups on either side of the roadway. A red flag fluttered in thecenter of the road, some four feet from the ground. 

"Look out!" shouted Uncle John. "Stop, Wampus; stop her, I say!"

Wampus saw why, and applied his brakes. The big car trembled, sloweddown, and came to a stop less than a foot away from three ugly bars ofbarbed wire which had been placed across the road. They were now justbeside the buildings, and a triumphant shout greeted them from theircaptors, the remittance men. 

CHAPTER XII

CAPTURED

"Welcome to Hades!" cried a stout little man in a red blouse, stickinghis leering countenance through the door of the limousine. 

"Shut up, Stubby, " commanded a hoarse voice from the group. "Haven'tyou any manners? You haven't been introduced yet. "

"I've engaged the dark eyed one for the first dance, " persistedStubby, as a dozen hands dragged him away from the door. 

The Major sprang out and confronted the band. 

"What are we to understand by this outrage?" he demanded fiercely. 

"It means you are all invited to a party, and we won't accept anyregrets, " replied a laughing voice. 

Patsy put her head out of the window and looked at the speaker. It wasMr. Algernon Tobey. He had two strips of sticking plaster over hisnose. One of his eyes was swollen shut and the other was almostclosed. Yet he spoke in a voice more cheerful than it was when theyfirst met him. 

"Don't be afraid, " he added. "No one has the slightest intention ofinjuring any of you in any way, I assure you. "

"We have not the same intention in regard to you, sir, " replied MajorDoyle, fuming with rage, for his "Irish was up, " as he afterwardadmitted. "Unless you at once remove that barricade and allow us toproceed we will not be responsible for what happens. You are warned, sir!"

Uncle John, by this time standing beside the Major upon the ground, had been quietly "sizing up the situation, " as he would have expressedit. He found they had been captured by a party of fourteen men, mostof whom were young, although three or four, including Tobey, wereof middle age. The atmosphere of the place, with its disorderlysurroundings and ill kept buildings, indicated that Hades Ranch wasbachelor quarters exclusively. Half a dozen Mexicans and one or twoChinamen were in the background, curious onlookers. 

Mr. Merrick noted the fact that the remittance men were an unkempt, dissipated looking crew, but that their faces betokened reckless goodhumor rather than desperate evil. There was no doubt but most ofthem were considering this episode in the light of a joke, and weredetermined to enjoy the experience at the expense of their enforcedguests. 

Uncle John had lived many years in the West and knew something ofthese peculiar English exiles. Therefore he was neither frightenednor unduly angry, but rather annoyed by the provoking audacity of thefellows. He had three young girls to protect and knew these men couldnot be fit acquaintances for them. But he adopted a tone differentfrom the Major's and addressed himself to Tobey as the apparent leaderof the band. 

"Sir, " he said calmly but with pointed emphasis, "I believe you wereborn a gentleman, as were your comrades here. "

"You are right, " answered Tobey. "And each and every one you seebefore you has fallen from his former high estate--through no faultof his own. " This may have been a sarcasm, for the others laughed inboisterous approval. "In some respects we are still gentlemen, " Tobeywent on, "but in others we are not to be trusted. Be reasonable, sir--I haven't the faintest idea who you are or what your name is--andconsider calmly our proposition. Here we are, a number of youngfellows who have seen better and happier days, living alone in themidst of an alkali desert. Most of us haven't seen a female formonths, nor a lady for years. Why, last fall Stubby there rode eightymiles to Buxton, just to stand on a corner and see a lot of greasyMexican women go by. We tire of exclusive male society, you see. Weget to bore one another terribly. So here, like a visitation fromheaven, three attractive young ladies descend upon us, travelingthrough our domain, and having discovered their presence we instantlydecided to take advantage of the opportunity and invite them to animpromptu ball. There's no use refusing us, for we insist on carryingout our plan. If you men, perhaps the fathers of the young ladies, behave reasonably, we will entertain you royally and send you on yourway rejoicing. Won't we, boys?"

They shouted approval. 

"But if you oppose us and act ugly about this fęte, gentlemen, weshall be obliged to put a few bullets into you, and decide afterwardwhat disposition to make of the girls. About the best stunt we do isshooting. We can't work; we're too poor to gamble much; but we hunta good bit and we can shoot straight. I assure you we wouldn't mindlosing and taking a few lives if a scrimmage is necessary. Eh, boys?"

"That's right, Algy, " said one, answering for the others; "we'll havethat dance if we die for it--ev'ry man Jack of us. "

Myrtle was trembling in her corner of the limousine. Beth sat stillwith a curl on her lips. But Patsy was much interested in theproceedings and had listened attentively to the above conversation. Now the girl suddenly swung open the door and sprang out beside herfather, facing the group of cowboys. 

"I am Patricia Doyle, " she said in a clear voice, "and thesegentlemen, " indicating the Major and Mr. Merrick, "are my father andmy uncle. You understand perfectly why they object to the arrangementyou suggest, as any one of you would object, had you a daughter ina like position. But you are arbitrary and not inclined to respectwomanhood. Therefore but one course is open to us--to submit underprotest to the unwelcome attentions you desire to thrust upon us. "

They listened silently to this frank speech, and some of their faceswore crestfallen expressions by the time she had finished. Indeed, one of the older men turned on his heel and walked away, disappearingamong the buildings. After a brief hesitation a delicate youngfellow--almost a boy--followed this man, his face flaming red withshame. But the others stood their ground. 

"Very good, Miss Doyle, " remarked Tobey, with forced cheerfulness. "You are quite sensible to submit to the inevitable. Bring out yourfriends and introduce them, and then we'll all go in to luncheon andprepare for the dance. "

"I won't submit to this!" cried the Major, stamping his foot angrily. 

"Yes, you will, " said Uncle John, with a motion preventing his iratebrother-in-law from drawing a revolver, "Patsy is quite right, and wewill submit with as much dignity as we can muster, being overpoweredby numbers. "

He beckoned to Beth, who stepped out of the car and assisted Myrtleto follow her. A little cheer of bravado had arisen from the group, inspired by their apparent victory; but when Myrtle's crutchesappeared and they saw the fair, innocent face of the young girl whorested upon them, the shout died away in a hush of surprise. 

"This is my cousin, Elizabeth De Graf, " announced Patsy, with colddeliberation, determined that the proprieties should be observed inall intercourse with these people. "And I present our friend, MyrtleDean. Under ordinary circumstances I believe Myrtle would be excusedfrom dancing, but I suppose no brute in the form of a man would haveconsideration for her infirmity. "

This time even Tobey flushed. 

"You've a sharp tongue, Miss Doyle, and it's liable to lead you intotrouble, " he retorted, losing for the moment his suave demeanor. "Wemay be brutes--and I imagine we are--but we're not dangerous unlessprovoked. "

It was savagely said, and Uncle John took warning and motioned Patsyto be silent. 

"Lead the way, sir, " he said. "Our chauffeur will of course remainwith the car. "

Wampus had kept his seat, motionless and silent. He only nodded inanswer to Mr. Merrick's instructions and was entirely disregarded bythe remittance men. 

The man called "Stubby, " who had a round, good-humored face, steppedeagerly to Myrtle's side and exclaimed: "Let me assist you, please. "

"No, " she said, shaking her head with a wan smile; "I am quite able towalk alone. "

He followed her, though, full of interest and with an air of deeprespect that belied his former actions. Tobey, content with hispresent success, walked beside Mr. Merrick and led the processiontoward the ranch house. The Major followed, his tall form upright, hismanner bellicose and resentful, with Beth and Patsy on either side ofhim. The remittance men followed in a straggling crowd, laughing andboisterously talking among themselves. Just as they reached the housea horseman came clattering down the road and all paused involuntarilyto mark the new arrival. The rider was a handsome, slim young fellow, dressed as were the other cowboys present, and he came on at abreakneck speed that seemed only warranted by an errand of life anddeath. 

In front of him, tied to the saddle, appeared a huge bundle, and asthe horse dashed up to the group standing by the ranch house the ridergracefully threw himself off and removed his hat with a sweepinggesture as he observed the young ladies. 

"I've got him, Algy!" he cried merrily. 

"Dan'l?" asked Tobey. 

"Dan'l himself. " He pointed to the bundle, which heaved and wriggledto show it was alive. "He refused to come willingly, of course; soI brought him anyhow. Never yet was there a fiddler willing to beaccommodating. "

"Good for you, Tim!" shouted a dozen voices. And Stubby added in hisearnest way; "Dan'l was never more needed in his life. "

Tobey was busy unwinding a long lariat that bent the captive nearlydouble and secured him firmly to the panting horse. When the bondswere removed Dan'l would have tumbled prone to the ground had notwilling hands caught him and supported him upon his feet. Our friendsthen observed that he was an aged man with a face thickly furrowedwith wrinkles. He had but one eye, small and gray and very shrewd inexpression, which he turned contemptuously upon the crowd surroundinghim. Numb and trembling from his cramped position upon the horse andthe terrible jouncing he had endured, the fiddler could scarcely standat first and shook as with a palsy; but he made a brave effort tocontrol his weakness and turned smilingly at the murmur of pity andindignation that came from the lips of the girls. 

"Where's the fiddle?" demanded Tobey, and Tim unhooked a calico bagfrom the saddlebow and held it out. A laugh greeted the gesture. 

"Dan'l said he be hanged if he'd come, " announced Tim, with a grimappreciation of the humorous side of the situation; "so I hung him andbrought him along--and his fiddle to boot. But don't boot it untilafter the dance. "

"What do you mean, sir, by this rebellious attitude?" questionedTobey, sticking his damaged face close to that of the fiddler. 

Dan'l blinked with his one eye but refused to answer. 

"I've a good mind to skin you alive, " continued the leader, in asavage tone. "You'll either obey my orders or I'll throw you into thesnake pit. "

"Let him alone, Algy, " said Tim, carelessly. "The old scoundrel hasbeen tortured enough already. But I see we have partners for thedance, " looking critically at the girls, "and I claim first choicebecause I've brought the fiddler. "

At this a roar of protest arose and Tobey turned and said sullenly:

"Come in, all of you. We'll settle the order of dancing later on. "

The interior of the ranch house was certainly picturesque. A greatliving room ran all across the front, with an immense fireplacebuilt of irregular adobe bricks. The floor was strewn with skins ofanimals--mostly coyotes, a few deer and one or two mountain lions--andthe walls were thickly hung with weapons and trophies of the chase. A big table in one corner was loaded with bottles and glasses, indicating the intemperate habits of the inmates, while on the chimneyshelf were rows of pipes and jars of tobacco. An odor similar to thatof a barroom hung over the place which the air from the open windowsseemed unable to dissipate. 

There were plenty of benches and chairs, with a long mess tableoccupying the center of the room. In a corner was an old square piano, which a Mexican was trying to dust as the party entered. 

"Welcome to Hades!" exclaimed Tobey, with an absurd gesture. "Be goodenough to make yourselves at home and I'll see if those devils ofChinamen are getting luncheon ready. "

Silently the prisoners sat down. The crowd poured in after them anddisposed themselves in various attitudes about the big room, allstaring with more or less boldness at the three girls. Dan'l thefiddler was pushed in with the others and given a seat, while two orthree of the imitation cowboys kept guard over him to prevent anypossible escape. So far the old man had not addressed a word toanyone. 

With the absence of the leader the feeling of restraint seemed torelax. The cowboys began whispering among themselves and chucklingwith glee, as if they were enjoying some huge joke. Stubby had placedhimself near the three young ladies, whom he eyed with adoringglances, and somehow none of the prisoners regarded this childishyoung fellow in exactly the same light as they did his comrades. Tim, his attitude full of grace as he lounged against a settle, was alsonear the group. He seemed a bit thoughtful since his dramatic arrivaland had little to say to anyone. 

Mr. Merrick engaged Stubby in conversation. 

"Does Mr. Tobey own this place?" he asked. 

"By proxy, yes, " was the reply. "It isn't in his name, you know, although that doesn't matter, for he couldn't sell his desert ranch ifhe had a title to it. I suppose that is what his folks were afraidof. Algy is the fourth son of old Lord Featherbone, and got into adisgraceful mess in London some years ago. So Featherbone shippedhim over here, in charge of a family solicitor who hunted out thissequestered spot, bought a couple of thousand acres and built thishut. Then he went home and left Algy here to keep up the place on apaltry ten pounds--fifty dollars--a month. "

"Can he manage to do that?" asked Uncle John. 

"Why, he has to, you see. He's got together a few cattle, mostlystolen I imagine; but he doesn't try to work the land. Moreover he'sestablished this community, composed of his suffering fellow exiles, the secret of which lies in the fact that we work the cooperativeplan, and all chip in our remittances to boil the common pot. We cankeep more servants and buy more food and drink, that way, than if eachone of us lived separately. "

"Up in Oregon, " said Mr. Merrick, "I've known of some very successfuland prosperous ranchmen among the remittance men. "

"Oh, we're all kinds, I suppose, good and bad, " admitted Stubby. "Thiscrew's mostly bad, and they're moderately proud of it. It's a devilof a life, sir, and Hades Ranch is well named. I've only been here amonth. Had a little property up North; but the sheriff took it fordebt, and that forced me to Algy, whom I detest. I think I'll move on, before long. But you see I'm limited. Can't leave Arizona or I'll getmy remittance cut off. "

"Why were you sent here into exile?" asked Myrtle artlessly. 

He turned red and refused to meet her eyes. 

"Went wrong, Miss, " he said, "and my folks wouldn't stand forit. We're all in the same boat, " sweeping his arm around, "doingpunishment for our misdeeds. "

"Do none of you ever reform?" inquired Patsy. 

"What's the use? We're so far away from home no one there would everbelieve in our reformation. Once we become outcasts, that's the endof our careers. We're buried in these Western wilds and allowed justenough to keep alive. "

"I would think, " said Uncle John musingly, "that the manly way wouldbe to cut yourself off entirely from your people at home and go tosome city in the United States where honesty and industry would win anew name for you. Then you could be respected and happy and become ofuse to the world. "

Stubby laughed. 

"That has been tried, " he replied; "but few ever made a success of it. We're generally the kind that prefers idleness to work. My family iswealthy, and I don't mind taking from them what little they give mewillingly and all that I can screw out of them besides. I'm in forlife, as the saying is, and I've no especial ambition except to drinkmyself to death as soon as possible. "

Patsy shuddered. It seemed a horrible thing to be so utterly hopeless. Could this young fellow have really merited his fate?

CHAPTER XIII

THE FIDDLER

Tim had listened carelessly to the conversation until now, when hesaid listlessly:

"Don't think us all criminals, for we're not. In my own case I didnothing to deserve exile except that I annoyed my elder brother bybecoming more popular with our social set than he was. He had all theproperty and I was penniless, so he got rid of me by threatening tocut off my allowance unless I went to America and stayed there. "

"And you accepted such a condition?" cried Patsy, scornfully. "Whywere you not independent enough to earn your own living?"

He shrugged his shoulders, yet seemed amused. 

"I simply couldn't, " said he. "I was not educated to work, you know, and to do so at home would be to disgrace my noble family. I've toomuch respect for my lineage to labor with my hands or head. "

"But here in America no one would know you, " suggested Beth. 

"I would only humiliate myself by undertaking such a task. And whyshould I do so? While I am in America my affectionate brother, thehead of the family, supports me, as is his duty. Your philosophy ispretty enough, but it is not practical. The whole fault lies in ourold-fashioned system of inheritance, the elder male of a familygetting all the estate and the younger ones nothing at all. Here, inthis crude and plebeian country, I believe it is the custom to providefor all one's children, and a father is at liberty to do so becausehis estate is not entailed. "

"And he earns it himself and can do what he likes with it, " addedUncle John, impatiently. "Your system of inheritance and entail maybe somewhat to blame, but your worst fault is in rearing a class ofmollycoddles and social drones who are never of benefit to themselvesor the world at large. You, sir, I consider something less than aman. "

"I agree with you, " replied Tim, readily. "I'm only good to cumber theearth, and if I get little pleasure out of life I must admit that it'sall I'm entitled to. "

"And you can't break your bonds and escape?" asked Patsy. 

"I don't care to. People who are ambitious to do things merely boreme. I don't admire them or care to imitate them. "

From that moment they took no further interest in the handsomeoutcast. His world was not their world. 

And now Tobey came in, driving before him a lot of Mexicans bearingtrays of food. The long table was laid in a moment, for everythingwas dumped upon it without any attempt at order. Each of the cowboysseized a plate from a pile at one end and helped himself to whateverhe wanted. 

Two or three of the men, however, were courteous enough to attend totheir unwilling guests and see they were served as well as conditionswould permit The food was plentiful and of good quality, but althoughnone of Uncle John's party was squeamish or a stickler for form, allmore or less revolted from the utter disregard of all the proprieties. 

"I'm sorry we have no wine; but there's plenty of whiskey, if you likeit, " remarked Tobey. 

The girls were silent and ate little, although they could not helpbeing interested in observing the bohemianism of these gently rearedbut decadent sons of respectable English families. As soon as theycould they left the table, and Tobey, observing their uneasiness inspite of his damaged and nearly useless optics, decided to send themto another room where they could pass the afternoon without furtherannoyance. Stubby escorted the party and ushered them into a goodsized room which he said was "Algy's study, " although no one everstudied there. 

"Algy's afraid you'll balk at the dance; so he wants to please youhowever he can, " remarked the round faced youth. "You won't mind beingleft alone, will you?"

"We prefer it, sir, " answered the Major, stiffly. 

"You see, we're going to have a rare lark this afternoon, " continuedStubby, confidentially. "Usually it's pretty dull here, and all wecan do is ride and hunt--play cards and quarrel. But your coming hascreated no end of excitement and this dance will be our red-letter dayfor a long time to come. The deuce of if is, however, that there areonly two girls to dance with thirteen men. We limit our community tofifteen, you know; but little Ford and old Rutledge have backed downand won't have anything to do with this enterprise. I don't know why, "he continued, thoughtfully. 

"Perhaps they still have some gentlemanly instincts, " suggested Patsy. 

"That must be it, " he replied in a relieved tone. "Well, anyhow, to avoid quarrels and bloodshed we've agreed to throw dice for thedances. Every one is to have an equal chance, you see, and when youyoung ladies open the dance the entire programme will be arranged foryou. "

"Are we to have no choice in the matter of partners?" inquired Bethcuriously. 

"None whatever. There would surely be a row, in that case, and weintend to have everything; pass off pleasantly if we have to kill afew to keep the peace. "

With this Stubby bowed low and retreated toward the door, whichsuddenly opened to admit old Dan'l the fiddler, who was thrust inso violently that his body collided with that of Stubby and nearlyknocked him over. 

"That's all right, " laughed the remittance man, recovering from theshock. "You mustn't escape, you know, Dan'l, for we depend on you forthe music. "

He closed the door as he went out and they all heard a bolt shoot intoplace. Yet the broad window, scarcely six feet from the ground, stoodwide open to admit the air. 

Dan'l stood in the middle of the room, motionless for a moment. Thenhe raised his wrinkled face and clinched his fists, shaking them inthe direction of the living-room. 

"Me!" he muttered; "me play for dese monkeys to dance--me! amaestro--a composer--a artiste! No; I vill nod! I vill die before Icondescention to such badness, such mockery!"

They were the first words he had spoken since his arrival, and theyseemed to hold all his pentup indignation. The girls pitied the oldman and, recognizing in him a fellow prisoner, sought to comfort him. 

"If the dance depends upon us, there will be no dance, " said Patsy, firmly. 

"I thought you advised submitting to the whim of these ruffians, " saidUncle John in surprise. 

"Only to gain time, Uncle. And the scheme has succeeded. Now is ourtime to plot and plan how to outwit our enemies. "

"Goot!" cried Dan'l approvingly. "I help you. Dey are vermin--pah! Ivould kill dem all mitout mercifulness, unt be glad!"

"It won't be necessary to kill them, I hope, " said Beth, smiling. "Allwe wish is to secure our escape. "

"Vot a time dey make me!" said Dan'l, more calmly. "You see, I amliving peacefulness in mine bungalow by der river--ten mile away. Dotbrute Tim, he come unt ask me to fiddle for a dance. I--fiddle! Ven Irefuse me to do it, he tie me up unt by forcibleness elope mit me. Issid nod a crime--a vickedness--eh?"

"It certainly is, sir, " said Uncle John. "But do not worry. Thesegirls have some plan in their heads, I'm sure, and if we manage toescape we will carry you home in safety. Now, my dears, what is it?"

"Oh, we've only begun to think yet, " said Patsy, and walked to thewindow. All but Myrtle and Dan'l followed her. 

Below the window was a jungle of cactus, with hundreds of spines asslender and sharp as stilettos sticking in every direction. 

"H-m; this room is burglar proof, " muttered Uncle John, with markeddisappointment. 

"It also makes an excellent prison, " added Patsy. "But I suspectedsomething of this sort when I saw they had left the window open. Wecan't figure on getting out that way, you see. "

"Id vould be suiciding, " Dan'l said, mournfully shaking his head. "Ifdese fiends were as goot as dey are clefer, dey vould be angels. "

"No argument seems to prevail with them, " remarked Beth. "They arelawless and merciless, and in this far-away country believe they maydo as they please. "

"They're as bad as the bandits of Taormina, " observed Patsy, smilingat the recollection of an adventure they had abroad; "but we must findsome way to evade them. "

Dan'l had gone over to Myrtle's corner and stood staring at her withhis one shrewd eye. Uncle John looked thoughtfully out of the windowand saw Wampus busy in the road before the house. He had his coat offand was cutting the bars of barbed wire and rolling them out of theway, while Mumbles, who had been left with him, ran here and there athis heels as if desiring to assist him. 

From the big hall, or living room, at the right came a dull roar ofvoices, subdued shouts and laughter, mingled with the clinking ofglasses. All the remittance men were gathered there deep in the gameof dice which was to determine the order in which they were to dancewith Beth and Patsy. The servants were out of sight. Wampus had thefield to himself. 

"Come here, " said Uncle John to the girls, and when they stood besidehim pointed to the car. "Wampus is making ready for the escape, " hecontinued. "He has cleared the road and the way is now open if we canmanage to get to the machine. Has your plan matured yet?"

Patsy shook her head. 

"Not yet, Uncle, " she replied. 

"Couldn't Wampus throw us a rope?" inquired the Major. 

"He could, " said Uncle John; "but we would be unable to use it. Thoseterrible cactus spines are near enough to spear anyone who dared tryto slide down a rope. Think of something else. "

They all tried to do that, but no practical idea seemed forthcoming. 

"Oh, no, " Dan'l was saying to Myrtle; "dey are nod afraid to shoot;bud dey vill nod shoot ladies, belief me. Always dey carry refolfersin deir belts--or deir holsterses. Dey eat mit refolfers; dey schleepmit refolfers; dey hunt, dey quarrel, unt sometimes dey shoot eachodder--de best enactionment vot dey do. Bud dey do nod shoot atladies--nefer. "

"Will they wear their revolvers at the dance?" asked Beth, overhearingthis speech. 

"I belief id, " said Dan'l, wagging his ancient head. "Dey like to beready to draw quick like, if anybody shteps on anybody's toes. Yes; ofcourse. "

"What a horrible idea!" exclaimed Patsy. 

"They're quite liable to dance and murder in the same breath, " theMajor observed, gloomily. 

"I don't like it, " said Beth. "It's something awful just to think of. Haven't they any gallantry?"

"No, " answered Patsy. "But I wouldn't dance with a lot of half drunkenmen wearing revolvers, if they burned me at the stake for refusing. "

"Ah! shtick to dat fine expressionment, " cried Dan'l, eagerly. "Shtickto id! Say you won't dance if dey wear de refolfers--unt den we win deschweepstakes!"

Patsy looked at him critically, in the instant catching a part of hisidea. 

"What do you mean?" she asked. 

Dan'l explained, while they all listened carefully, absorbed infollowing in thought his unique suggestions. 

"Let's do it!" exclaimed Beth. "I'm sure the plan will succeed. "

"It's leaving a good deal to chance, " objected Uncle John, with atouch of nervousness. 

"There is an element of chance in everything, " declared Patsy. "ButI'm sure we shall escape, Uncle. Why it's a regular coup!"

"We take them by surprise, you know, " explained the Major, whoheartily favored the idea. 

They talked it over for a time, perfecting the details, and thenbecame as calm and composed as a group of prisoners might. Uncle Johnwaved his handkerchief to attract the attention of Wampus, who stolesoftly around the corner of the house and approached the window, taking care to keep at a respectful distance from the dangerouscactus. 

"Is everything ready?" inquired Uncle John in a subdued voice. 

"To be sure all is ready. Why not? I am Wampus!" was the reply, incautious tones. 

"Go back to the machine and guard it carefully, Wampus, " commanded Mr. Merrick. "We expect to escape soon after dark, so have the headlightsgoing, for we shall make a rush for it and there mustn't be a moment'sdelay. "

"All right, " said the chauffeur. "You may depend on me. I am Wampus, an' not 'fraid of a hundred coward like these. Is not Mister Algy hiseye mos' beautiful blacked?"

"It is, " agreed Uncle John. "Go back to the car now, and wait for us. Don't get impatient. We don't know just when we will join you, but itwill be as soon as we can manage it. What is Mumbles doing?"

"Mumble he learn to be good automobilist. Jus' now he sit on seat an'watch wheel to see nobody touch. If anybody touch, Mumble he eat himup. "

They all laughed at this whimsical notion and it served to relieve thestrain of waiting. Wampus, grinning at the success of his joke, wentback to the limousine to inspect it carefully and adjust it in everypart until it was in perfect order. 

Now that a definite plan of action had been decided upon their spiritsrose considerably, and they passed the afternoon in eager anticipationof the crisis. 

Rather earlier than expected Stubby and Tim came to say "they had beenappointed a committee to escort their guests to the banquet hall, where dinner would at once be served. "

"We shall have to clear away for the dance, " added Stubby, "so we wantto get the feast over with as quickly as possible. I hope you are allhungry, for Algy has spread himself on this dinner and we are tohave every delicacy the ranch affords, regardless of expense. We caneconomize afterward to make up for it. "

Elaborate preparations were not greatly in evidence, however. TheMexican servants had washed themselves and the floor of the big roomhad been swept and cleared of some of its rubbish; but that was all. The remittance men were in their usual rough costumes and the air wasredolent with the fumes of liquor. 

CHAPTER XIV

THE ESCAPE

As the prisoners quietly took their places at the table Tobey, whohad been drinking hard, decided to make a speech. His face was badlyswollen and he could only see through a slit in one eye, so severe hadbeen the beating administered by Wampus earlier in the day; but thefellow had grit, in spite of his other unmanly qualities, and hisimperturbable good humor had scarcely been disturbed by the punishmentthe Canadian had inflicted upon him. 

"Ladies, " said he, "and gentlemen--which of course includes ourrespected male guests--I am happy to inform you that the programme forthe First Annual Hades Ranch Ball has finally been arranged, and thedances apportioned in a fair and impartial manner. The Grand Marchwill take place promptly at seven o'clock, led by Miss Doyle andKnuckles, who has won the privilege by throwing four sixes. I am tofollow with Miss De Graf, and the rest will troop on behind with theprivilege of looking at the ladies. If anyone dares to create disorderhis dances with the young ladies will be forfeited. Dan'l will playthe latest dance music on his fiddle, and if it isn't spiritedand up-to-date we'll shoot his toes off. We insist upon plenty oftwo-steps and waltzes and will wind up with a monney-musk in thegray light of dawn. This being fully understood, I beg you, my goodfriends, to fall to and eat and be merry; but don't linger unduly overthe dainties, for we are all anxious, like good soldiers, to get intoaction. "

The remittance men applauded this oratory, and incidentally attackedthe eatables with evident determination to obey their leader'sinjunction. 

"We can eat any time, " remarked Stubby, with his mouth full; "buthis Satanic majesty only knows when Hades Ranch will see anotherdance--with real ladies for partners. "

The Chinese cooks and the Mexican servants had a lively time duringthis meal, for the demands made upon them were incessant. Uncle John, whose even disposition was seldom ruffled, ate with a good appetite, while even the Major, glum and scowling, did not disdain the numerouswell-prepared dishes. As for Dan'l, he took full advantage of theoccasion and was the last one to leave the table. Our girls, however, were too excited to eat much and little Myrtle, especially, was pallidand uneasy and had a startled look in her eyes whenever anyone made asudden motion. 

As soon as the repast was concluded the servants cleared the longtable in a twinkling and pushed it back against the wall at one end ofthe long room. A chair was placed for Dan'l on top of this expansiveboard, which thus became a stage from whence he could overlook theroom and the dancers, and then two of the remittance men tossed theold fiddler to his elevated place and commanded him to make ready. 

Dan'l said nothing and offered no resistance. He sat plaintivelysawing upon his ancient but rich-toned violin while the floor wasbrushed, the chairs and benches pushed against the wall and the roomprepared for action. Behind the violinist was a low, broad windowfacing a grass plot that was free from the terrifying cactus, and theold man noted with satisfaction that it stood wide open. 

Uncle John's party had pressed close to the table and stood watchingthe proceedings. 

"Ready now!" called Tobey; "the Grand March is about to begin. Takeyour partners, boys. Look sharp, there, Dan'l, and give us a martialtune that will lift our feet. "

Dan'l meekly set the violin underneath his chin and raised the bow asif in readiness. "Knuckles, " a brawny fellow with a florid face and apeculiar squint, approached Patsy and bowed. 

"You're to lead with me, Miss, " he said. "Are you ready?"

"Not quite, " she returned with dignified composure; "for I perceiveyou are not quite ready yourself. "

"Eh? Why not?" he inquired, surprised. 

"You are still wearing your firearms, " she replied. "I cannot and willnot dance with a man who carries a revolver. "

"That's nothing, " he retorted. "We always do. "

"Always?"

"Of course. And if I shed my gun what's to prevent some one elsegetting the drop on me?"

"That's it, " said Patsy, firmly. "The weapons must all be surrenderedbefore we begin. We positively refuse to dance if rioting and shootingare likely to occur. "

A murmur of protest arose at this speech, for all the remittance menhad gathered around to listen to the argument. 

"That's all tommy-rot, " observed Handsome Tim, in a sulky tone. "We'renot spoiling for a row; it's the dance we're after. "

"Then give up the revolvers, " said Beth, coming to her cousin'sassistance. "If this is to be a peaceful entertainment you will notneed to be armed, and it is absurd to suppose a lady will dance with agentleman who is a walking arsenal. "

They looked into one another's faces uncertainly. Dan'l sat softlytuning his violin, as if uninterested in the controversy. Uncle Johnand the Major looked on with seeming indifference. 

"You must decide which you prefer--the revolvers or the dance, "remarked Patsy, staring coolly into the ring of faces. 

"Would your English ladies at home consent to dance with armed men?"asked Beth. 

"They're quite right, boys, " said Stubby, nodding his bullethead. "Let's agree to deposit all the shooting irons 'til the dance isover. "

"I won't!" cried Knuckles, his scowl deepening. 

"By Jove, you will!" shouted Tobey, with unexpected vehemence. "You'redelaying the programme, old man, and it's a nuisance to dance in thisarmor, anyway. Here--pile all your guns in this corner; every one ofyou, mind. Then we shall all stand on an equal footing. "

"Put them on the table there, by the old fiddler, " said Patsy; "thenwe will know we are perfectly safe. "

Rather unwillingly they complied, each man walking up to the table andplacing his revolver at Dan'l's feet. The girls watched them intently. 

"That man over there is still armed, " called Beth, pointing to aswarthy Mexican who squatted near the door. 

"That's all right, " said Tobey, easily. "He's our guard, Pedro. I'vestationed him there so you won't attempt to escape till we get readyto let you go. "

Patsy laughed. 

"There's little danger of that, " she said. 

"All ready, now!" exclaimed Knuckles, impatiently. "We're all asharmless as doves. Let 'er go, Dan'l!"

The old man was just then assisting Uncle John to lift Myrtle to thetop of the table, where the Major had placed a chair for her. Knucklesgrowled, but waited until the girl was seated near the window. ThenDan'l drew his bow and struck up a spirited march. Patsy took the armof Knuckles and paraded down the long room. Beth followed with Tobey, and behind them tramped the remittance men in files of two. At the farend were grouped the servants, looking curiously upon the scene, whichwas lighted by lamps swung from the ceiling and a row of candles uponthe edge of the mantelshelf. 

To carry out the idea of a grand march Patsy drew her escort here andthere by sharp turns and half circles, the others trailing behind likea huge snake until she had passed down the length of the room andstarted to return up the other side to the starting point. Soengrossed had been the cowboys that they did not observe the Major andUncle John clamber upon the table and stand beside Myrtle. 

The procession was half way up the hall on its return when Patsy saidabruptly: "Now, Beth!" and darted away from her partner's side andtoward the table. Beth followed like a streak, being an excellentrunner, and for a moment Knuckles and Tobey, thus deserted by theirpartners, stopped to watch them in amazement. Then their comradesbumped into them and recalled them to their senses. 

By that time the two girls had reached the table and leaped upon it. Uncle John was waving his handkerchief from the window as a signalto Wampus; Dan'l had laid aside his fiddle and seized a revolver ineither hand, and the Major had caught up two more of the discardedweapons. 

As Beth and Patsy turned, panting, and from their elevation looked upthe room, the cowboys gave a bellow of rage and rushed forward. 

"Keep back!" shouted the Major, in stentorian tones, "I'll shoot thefirst man that interferes. "

Noting the grim determination in the old soldier's eye, they hesitatedand came to a halt. 

"What do you mean by this infernal nonsense?" cried Tobey, in disgust. 

"Why, it's just checkmate, and the game is up, " replied Uncle Johnamiably. "We've decided not to hold the proposed dance, but to takeour departure at once. "

He turned and passed Myrtle out of the window where Wampus took herin his arms, crutches and all, and carried her to the automobile. Theremittance men, unarmed and confronted by their own revolvers, stoodgaping open-mouthed and seemingly dazed. 

"Let's rush 'em, boys!" shouted Handsome Tim, defiantly. 

"Rush 'em alone, if you like, " growled Knuckles. "I'm not ready forthe graveyard yet. "

"You are vot iss called cowardices, " said Dan'l, flourishing therevolvers he held. "Come on mit der courage, somebotty, so I can shootholes in you. "

"You're building your own coffin just now, Dan'l, " retorted Tobey, in baffled rage. "We know where to get you, old boy, and we'll haverevenge for this night's work. "

"I vill take some popguns home mit me, " was the composed reply. "Den, ven you come, I vill make a receptioning for you. Eh?"

Uncle John, Patsy and Beth had followed Myrtle through the window anddisappeared. 

"Now, sir, " said the Major to the old fiddler, "make your escape whileI hold them at bay. "

"Nod yet, " replied Dan'l. "Ve must gif ourselves de mostprotectionment ve can. "

With this he gathered up the firearms, one by one, and tossed themthrough the window. Then he straightened up and a shot flashed downthe hall and tumbled the big Mexican guard to the floor just as he wasabout to glide through the doorway. 

"Dit ve say shtand still, or dit ve nod say shtand still?" askedDan'l, sternly. "If somebody gets hurt, it iss because he don'd obeyde orderations. "

"Go, sir!" commanded the Major. 

"I vill; bud I go last, " declared the old man. "I follow you--see? Budyou take my violin, please--unt be very tender of id, like id vas yoursveetheardt. "

The Major took the violin and climbed through the window, proceedingto join the others, who were by now seated in the car. When he hadgone Dan'l prepared to follow, first backing toward the window andthen turning to make an agile leap to the ground below. And now with ashout the cowboys made their rush, only to halt as Dan'l reappeared atthe window, covering them again with his revolvers. 

"So, you defils--make a listen to me, " he called. "I am experiencinga goot-bye to you, who are jackals unt imitation men unt haf no gootright to be alive. Also if I see any of you de next time, I vill shootfirst unt apologise at der funeral. I haf no more monkey business mityou voteffer; so keep vere you are until I am gone, unt you vill besafeness. "

He slowly backed away from the window, and so thoroughly cowed was thegroup of ruffians that the old fiddler had been lifted hastily intothe automobile before the cowboys mustered courage to leap throughthe window and search in the darkness for their revolvers, which layscattered widely upon the ground. 

Wampus, chuckling gleefully, jerked the hoods off his glaringsearchlights, sprang to his seat and started the machine down the roadbefore the crack of a single revolver was heard in protest. The shotscame thicker after that, but now the automobile was bowling merrilyalong the road and soon was out of range. 

"De road iss exceptionalment goot, " remarked Dan'l. "Dere iss nodangerousness from here to der rifer. "

"Danger?" said the chauffeur, scornfully. "Who cares for danger? I amWampus, an' I am here!"

"We are all here, " said Patsy, contentedly nestling against thecushions; "and I'm free to confess that I'm mighty glad of it!"

CHAPTER XV

THE ROMANCE OF DAN'L

It did not take them very long to reach the river, a muddy littlestream set below high banks. By Dan'l's direction they turned tothe left and followed the wind of the river for a mile or so untilsuddenly out of the darkness loomed a quaint little bungalow which theold German claimed to be his home. 

"I haf architectured it mineself, unt make it built as I like it. Youvill come in unt shtop der night mit me, " he said, as Wampus haltedthe machine before the door. 

There was a little murmur of protest at this, for the house appearedto be scarcely bigger than the automobile. But Uncle John pointed out, sensibly enough, that they ought not to undertake an unknown road atnighttime, and that Spotville, the town for which they wereheaded, was still a long way off. The Major, moreover, had a vividrecollection of his last night's bed upon the roof of the limousine, where he had crept to escape rattlesnakes, and was in no mood to againcamp out in the open while they traveled in Arizona. So he advocatedaccepting Dan'l's invitation. The girls, curious to know how so manycould be accommodated in the bungalow, withdrew all further objectionsand stood upon the low, pergola-roofed porch while their host wentinside to light the lamps. 

They were really surprised at the cosy aspect of the place. Half theone-story dwelling was devoted to a living room, furnished simply butwith modest taste. A big square table was littered with music, muchbeing in manuscript--thus proving Dan'l's assertion that he wasa composer. Benches were as numerous as chairs, and all werewell-cushioned with tanned skins as coverings. A few good prints wereon the walls and the aspect of the place was entirely agreeable to theold man's guests. 

As the room was somewhat chilly he made a fire in the ample fireplaceand then with an air of pride exhibited to his visitors his tinykitchen, his own bedroom and a storeroom, which occupied the remainderof the space in the bungalow. He told them he would prepare beds inthe living room for the girls, give his own room to Mr. Merrick andMajor Doyle, while he and Wampus would bunk in the storeroom. 

"I haf much blankets, " he said; "dere vill be no troubles to keepvarm. "

Afterward they sat before the fire and by the dim lights of thekerosene lamps chatted together of the day's adventures. 

Uncle John asked Dan'l what had brought him to this deserted, out-of-the-way spot, and the old man told his story in a manner thatamused them all greatly. 

"I haf been, " said he, "much famous in my time, unt had aindividualness pointed out whereeffer I went. I vas orchestra leaderat the Theater Royal in Stuttgart, unt our king haf complimented memany times. But I vas foolish. I vas foolish enough to think that vena man iss great he can stay great. I married me to a clefer primadonna, unt composed a great opera, which vas finer as anythingHerr Wagner has efer done. Eh? But dere vas jealousness at work toopposition me. Von day ven my fine opera vas all complete I ventto the theater to lead mine orchestra. To my surprisement der HerrDirector tells me I can retire on a pension; I am too old unt he hashired a younger man, who iss Herr Gabert. I go home bewildered untmishappy, to find that Herr Gabert has stole the score of mine operaunt run avay mit mine vife. Vot I can do? Nothing. Herr Gabert he leadmy orchestra tint all der people applauds him. I am forgot. One day Isee our king compliment Herr Gabert. He produces my opera unt say hecompositioned it. Eferybody iss crazy aboud id, unt crown Herr Gabertmit flowers. My vife sings in der opera. The people cheer her unt sherides avay mit Herr Gabert in his carriage to a grand supper mit dernobility unt der Herr Director. 

"I go home unt say: 'Who am I?' I answer: 'Nobody!' Am I now great?No; I am a speck. Vot can I do? Veil, I go avay. I haf some money--aleedle. I come to America. I do not like crowds any more. I like to bealone mit my violin. I find dis place; I build dis house; I lif hereunt make happiness. My only neighbors are de remittance men, who issmore mischiefing as wicked. Dey vill nod bother me much. So after atime I die here. Vy nod? I am forgot in Stuttgart. "

There was pathos in the tale and his way of telling it. The old manspoke cheerfully, but they could see before them the tragedy depictedby his simple words. His hearers were all silent when he hadconcluded, feeling they could say nothing to console him or lightenhis burden. Only Wampus, sitting in the background, looked scornfullyupon the man who had once been the idol of his townspeople. 

Dan'l took a violin from a shelf and began to play, softly but withmasterly execution. He caught their mood instantly. The harmony wasrestful and contented. Patsy turned down the lamps, to let the flickerof the firelight dominate the room, and Dan'l understood and blendedthe flickering light into his melody. 

For a long time he continued to improvise, in a way that fairlycaptivated his hearers, despite their varied temperaments, and madethem wonder at his skill. Then without warning he changed to astirring, martial air that filled the room with its rich, resonanttones. There was a fugue, a wonderful finale, and while the concludingnotes rang in their ears the old man laid his violin in his lap, leaned back against his cushions and heaved a deep sigh. 

They forebore disturbing him for a while. How strange it seemed thatthis really talented musician should be banished to a wilderness whilestill possessing power to stir the souls of men with his marvelousexecution. Truly he was a "maestro, " as he had said; a genius whosestar had risen, flashed across the sky and suddenly faded, leaving hisfuture a blank. 

Wampus moved uneasily in his chair. 

"I like to know something, " he remarked. 

Dan'l roused himself and turned to look at the speaker. 

"You have one bad eye, " continued Wampus, reflectively. "What make himso? You stick violin bow in eye some day?"

"No, " grunted Dan'l. 

"Bad eye he no make himself, " persisted the little chauffeur. "Whatmake him, then?"

For a moment there was an awkward silence. The girls considered thispersonal inquiry offensive and regretted admitting Wampus to the room. But after a time the old German answered the question, quietly and ina half amused tone. 

"Can you nod guess?" he said. "Herr Gabert hurt mine eye. "

"Oh!" exclaimed Wampus, nodding approvingly "You fight duel with him?Of course. It mus' be. "

"I haf one goot eye left, howefer, " continued Dan'l. "It vill do mefery well. Dere iss nod much to see out here. "

"I know, " said Wampus. "But Herr Gabert. What happen to him?"

Again there was a pause. Then the German said slowly:

"I am nod rich; but efery year I send a leetle money to Stuttgart toput some flowers on Herr Gabert's grave. "

The chauffeur's face brightened. He got up from his chair and solemnlyshook Dan'l's hand. 

"You are great musician, " he announced. "You can believe it, for it istrue. An' you have shake the hand of great chauffeur. I am Wampus. "

Dan'l did not answer. He had covered his good eye with his hand. 

CHAPTER XVI

THE LODGING AT SPOTVILLE

"Wake up, Patsy: I smell coffee!" called Beth, and soon the two girlswere dressed and assisting Myrtle to complete her toilet. Through theopen windows came the cool, fragrant breath of morning; the sky wasbeginning to blush at the coming of the sun. 

"To think of our getting up at such unearthly hours!" cried Patsycheerfully. "But I don't mind it in the least, Beth; do you?"

"I love the daybreak, " returned Beth, softly. "We've wasted the besthours of morning abed, Patsy, these many years. "

"But there's a difference, " said Myrtle, earnestly. "I know thedaybreak in the city very well, for nearly all my life I have had torise in the dark in order to get my breakfast and be at work on time. It is different from this, I assure you; especially in winter, whenthe chill strikes through to your bones. Even in summer time the airof the city is overheated and close, and the early mornings cheerlessand uncomfortable. Then I think it is best to stay in bed as long asyou can--if you have nothing else to do. But here, out in the open, itseems a shame not to be up with the birds to breathe the scent of thefields and watch the sun send his heralds ahead of him to proclaim hiscoming and then climb from the bottomless pit into the sky and takepossession of it. "

"Why, Myrtle!" exclaimed Patsy, wonderingly; "what a poetic notion. How did it get into your head, little one?"

Myrtle's sweet face rivaled the sunrise for a moment. She made noreply but only smiled pathetically. 

Uncle John's knock upon the door found them ready for breakfast, whichold Dan'l had skilfully prepared in the tiny kitchen and now placedupon a round table set out upon the porch. By the time they hadfinished the simple meal Wampus had had his coffee and prepared theautomobile for the day's journey. A few minutes later they saidgood-bye to the aged musician and took the trail that led throughSpotville. 

The day's trip was without event. They encountered one or two Indianson the way, jogging slowly along on their shaggy ponies; but thecreatures were mild and inoffensive. The road was fairly good andthey made excellent time, so that long before twilight Spotvillewas reached and the party had taken possession of the one small andprimitive "hotel" the place afforded. It was a two-story, clapboardedbuilding, the lower floor being devoted to the bar and dining room, while the second story was divided into box-like bedrooms none tooclean and very cheaply furnished. 

"I imagine we shall find this place 'the limit', " remarked Uncle Johnruefully. "But surely we shall be able to stand it for one night, " headded, with a philosophic sigh. 

"Want meat fer supper?" asked the landlord, a tall, gaunt man whoconsidered himself dressed when he was in his shirt sleeves. 

"What kind of meat?" inquired Uncle John, cautiously. 

"Kin give yeh fried pork er jerked beef. Ham 'a all out an' thechickens is beginnin' to lay. "

"Eggs?"

"Of course, stranger. Thet's the on'y thing Spotville chickens lay, nowadays. I s'pose whar yeh come from they lay biscuits 'n' porkchops. "

"No. Door knobs, sometimes, " said Mr. Merrick, "but seldom pork chops. Let's have eggs, and perhaps a little fried pork to go with them. Anymilk?"

"Canned er fresh?"

"Fresh preferred. "

The landlord looked at him steadily. 

"Yeh've come a long-way, stranger, " he said, "an' yeh must 'a' spent alot of money, here 'n' there. Air yeh prepared to pay fer thet orderin solid cash?"

Uncle John seemed startled, and looked at the Major, who smileddelightedly. 

"Are such things expensive, sir?" the latter asked the landlord. 

"Why, we don't eat 'em ourselves, 'n' thet's a cold fact. Eggs iseggs, an' brings forty cents a dozen to ship. There's seven cowsin town, 'n' forty-one babies, so yeh kin figger what fresh milk'sworth. "

"Perhaps, " said Uncle John mildly, "we can stand the expense--if wewon't rob the babies. "

"Don't worry 'bout thet. The last autymobble folks as come this waygot hot because I charged 'em market prices fer the truck they et. SoI'm jest inquirin' beforehand, to save hard feelin's. I've found outone thing 'bout autymobble folks sense I've ben runnin' this hoe-tel, an' thet is thet a good many is ownin' machines thet oughter be payin'their bills instid o' buyin' gasoline. "

The Major took him aside. He did not tell the cautious landlord thatMr. Merrick was one of the wealthiest men in America, but he exhibiteda roll of bills that satisfied the man his demands would be paid infull. 

The touring; party feasted upon eggs and fresh milk, both verydelicious but accompanied by odds and ends of food not so palatable. The landlord's two daughters, sallow, sunken cheeked girls, waited onthe guests and the landlord's wife did the cooking. 

Beth, Patsy and Myrtle retired early, as did Uncle John. The Major, smoking his "bedtime cigar, " as he called it, strolled out into theyard and saw Wampus seated in the automobile, also smoking. 

"We get an early start to-morrow, Wampus, " said the Major. "Better getto bed. "

"Here is my bed, " returned the chauffeur, quietly. 

"But there's a room reserved for you in the hotel. "

"I know. Don't want him. I sleep me here. "

The Major looked at him reflectively. 

"Ever been in this town before, Wampus?" he asked. 

"No, sir. But I been in other towns like him, an' know this kind ofhotel. Then why do I sleep in front seat of motor car?"

"Because you are foolish, I suppose, being born that way and unableto escape your heritage. For my part, I shall sleep in a bed; like aChristian, " said the Major rather testily. 

"Even Christian cannot sleep sometime, " returned Wampus, leaning backin his seat and puffing a cloud of smoke into the clear night air. "For me, I am good Christian; but I am not martyr. "

"What do you mean by that?" demanded the Major. 

"Do you sometime gamble?" inquired Wampus softly. 

"Not often, sir. "

"But sometime? Ah! Then I make you a bet. I bet you ten dollar to onecent you not sleep in your bed to-night. "

The Major coughed. Then he frowned. 

"Is it so bad as that?" he asked. 

"I think he is. "

"I'll not believe it!" exclaimed Major Doyle. "This hotel isn't whatyou might call first-class, and can't rank with the Waldorf-Astoria;but I imagine the beds will be very comfortable. "

"Once, " said Wampus, "I have imagination, too. Now I have experience;so I sleep in automobile. "

The Major walked away with an exclamation of impatience. He had neverpossessed much confidence in the Canadian's judgment and on thisoccasion he considered the fellow little wiser than a fool. 

Wampus rolled himself in a rug and was about to stretch his moderatelength upon the broad double seat when a pattering of footsteps washeard and Beth came up to the car. She was wrapped in a dark cloakand carried a bundle of clothing under one arm and her satchel in theunoccupied hand. There was a new moon which dimly lighted the scene, but as all the townspeople were now in bed and the hotel yard desertedthere was no one to remark upon the girl's appearance. 

"Wampus, " she said, "let me into the limousine, please. The night isso perfect I've decided to sleep here in the car. "

The chauffeur jumped down and opened the door. 

"One moment an' I make up the beds for all, " he said. 

"Never mind that, " Beth answered. "The others are all asleep, I'msure. "

Wampus shook his head. 

"They all be here pretty soon, " he predicted, and proceeded to deftlyprepare the interior of the limousine for the expected party. WhenBeth had entered the car Wampus pitched the lean-to tent and arrangedthe cots as he was accustomed to do when they "camped out. "

Scarcely had he completed this task when Patsy and Myrtle appeared. They began to explain their presence, but Wampus interrupted them, saying:

"All right, Miss Patsy an' Miss Myrtle. Your beds he made up an' Miss'Lizbeth already asleep in him. "

So they crept inside with sighs of relief, and Wampus had just mountedto the front seat again and disposed himself to rest when Uncle Johntrotted up, clad in his trousers and shirt, with the balance of hisapparel clasped in his arms. He looked at the tent with pleasedapproval. 

"Good boy, Wampus!" he exclaimed. "That room they gave me is aninferno. I'm afraid our young ladies won't sleep a wink. "

"Oh, yes, " returned Wampus with a nod; "all three now inside car, safean' happy. "

"I'm glad of it. How was your own room, Wampus?"

"I have not seen him, sir. But I have suspect him; so I sleep here. "

"You are a wise chauffeur--a rare genus, in other words. Good night, Wampus. Where's the Major?"

Wampus chuckled. 

"In hotel. Sir, do the Major swear sometime?"

Uncle John crept under the tent. 

"If he does, " he responded, "he's swearing this blessed minute. Anyhow, I'll guarantee he's not asleep. "

Wampus again mounted to his perch. 

"No use my try to sleep 'til Major he come, " he muttered, and settledhimself to wait. 

It was not long. 

Presently some one approached on a run, and a broad grin overspreadthe chauffeur's features. The Major had not delayed his escape longenough to don his trousers even; he had grabbed his belongings in botharms and fled in his blue and white striped undergarments. 

Wampus leaped down and lifted the flap of the tent. The Major pausedlong enough in the moonlight to stare at the chauffeur and saysternly:

"If you utter one syllable, you rascal, I'll punch your head!"

Wampus was discreet. He said not a word. 

CHAPTER XVII

YELLOW POPPIES

"So this is California!" exclaimed Patsy gleefully, as the automobileleft Parker and crossed the Arizona line. 

"But it doesn't look any different, " said Myrtle, peering out of thewindow. 

"Of course not, " observed Uncle John. "A State boundary is a man-madething, and doesn't affect the country a bit. We've just climbed aminiature mountain back in Arizona, and now we must climb a mate toit in California. But the fact is, we've entered at last the Land ofEnchantment, and every mile now will bring us nearer and nearer to theroses and sunshine. "

"There's sunshine here now, " declared the Major. "We've had it rightalong. But I haven't seen the roses yet, and a pair of ear muffswouldn't be uncomfortable in this cutting breeze. "

"The air _is_ rather crisp, " admitted Uncle John. "But we're still inthe mountainous district, and Haggerty says--"

The Major coughed derisively and Mumbles barked and looked at UncleJohn sagaciously. 

"Haggerty says--"

"Is that a rabbit or a squirrel? Something has caught the eye of ourMumbles, " interrupted the Major, pointing vaguely across the mesa. 

"Haggerty says--"

"I wonder if Mumbles could catch 'em, " remarked the Major, withcomplacence. 

"He says that every mile we travel brings us nearer the scent of theorange blossoms and the glare of the yellow poppies, " persisted UncleJohn. "You see, we've taken the Southern route, after all, for soon weshall be on the Imperial road, which leads to San Diego--in the heartof the gorgeous Southland. "

"What is the Imperial road?" inquired Beth. 

"The turnpike through Imperial Valley, said to be the richest bit ofland in all the world, not excepting the famous Nile banks of Egypt. There is no railway there yet, but the Valley is settling very fast, and Haggerty says--"

"How remarkable!" exclaimed the Major, gazing straight ahead. Andagain Mumbles, curled in Patsy's lap, lifted his shaggy head and gavea wailing bark. 

Uncle John frowned, but was loyal to Haggerty. 

"He says that if America was now unknown to all the countries of theworld, Imperial would soon make it famous. They grow wonderful cropsthere--strawberries and melons the year around, as well as all thetropical and semi-tropical fruits and grains, flowers and vines knownto any country yet discovered. "

"Do we go to Imperial?" asked Myrtle, eagerly. 

"I think not, my dear; we just skirt the edge of the Valley. It'srather wild and primitive there yet; for although many settlers areflocking to that favored district Imperial is large enough to be anempire by itself. However, we shall find an ideal climate at Coronado, by the edge of the blue Pacific, and there and at Los Angeles we shallrest from our journey and get acquainted with the wonders of theGolden State. Has the trip tired you, girls?"

"Not me, " answered Beth, promptly. "I've enjoyed every mile of theway. "

"And so have I, " added Patsy; "except perhaps the adventure with theremittance men. But I wouldn't care to have missed even that, for itled to our acquaintance with old Dan'l. "

"For my part, " said Myrtle softly, "I've been in a real fairyland. Ithas seemed like a dream to me, all this glorious journey, and I shallhate to wake up, as I must in time. "

"Don't worry just yet about the awakening, dear, " returned Patsy, leaning over to kiss her little friend. "Just enjoy it while you can. If fairylands exist, they were made for just such as you, Myrtle. "

"One of the greatest marvels of our trip, " said the Major, with asmile, "is the improvement in our dear little invalid. It isn't thesame Myrtle who started out with us, believe me. Can't you all see thechange?"

"I can _feel_ it, " returned Myrtle, happily. "And don't you notice howwell I walk, and how little use I have now for the crutches?"

"And can you feel the rosy cheeks and bright eyes, too?" asked UncleJohn, regarding her with much satisfaction. 

"The trip was just the thing for Myrtle, " added Patsy. "She has grownstronger every day; but she is not quite well yet, you know, and Idepend a good deal upon the genial climate of California to insure hercomplete recovery. "

Uncle John did not reply. He remembered the doctor's assertion that apainful operation would be necessary to finally restore Myrtle to anormal condition, and his kindly heart disliked to reflect upon theordeal before the poor girl. 

Haggerty proved a prophet, after all. Each mile they covered openednew vistas of delight to the eager travelers. The air grew more balmyas they left the high altitudes and came upon the level country tothe north, of the San Bernardino range of mountains, nor was itlong before they sighted Imperial and sped through miles of countrycarpeted with the splendid yellow poppies which the State has adoptedas the emblems of California. And behind this golden robe loomed thecotton fields of Imperial, one of the most fascinating sights thetraveler may encounter. They made a curve to the right here, andheaded northerly until they came to Salton. Skirting the edge of thecurious Salton Sea they now headed directly west toward Escondido, finding the roads remarkably good and for long stretches as smooth andhard as an asphalt boulevard. The three days it took them to cross theState were days of wonder and delight. 

It was not long before they encountered the roses and carnationsgrowing on every side, which the Major had persistently declared to bemythical. 

"It seems all wrong, " asserted Patsy's father, moodily, "for suchdelicate flowers to be growing out of doors in midwinter. And look atthe grass! Why, the seasons are changed about. It's Springtime justnow in California. "

"The man at the last stop we made told me his roses bloomed the yearround, " said Patsy, "And just smell the orange blossoms, will you!Aren't they sweet, and don't they remind you of brides?"

From Escondido it was a short run to the sea and their first glimpseof the majestic Pacific was from a high bluff overhanging the water. From this point the road ran south to San Diego, skirting the coastalong a mountain trail that is admitted to be one of the mostpicturesque rides in America. 

Descending the hills as they neared San Diego they passed throughfields of splendid wild flowers so extensive and beautiful thatour girls fairly gasped in wonder. The yellow and orange poppiespredominated, but there were acres of wild mustard throwing countlessnumbers of gorgeous saffron spikes skyward, and vistas of bluecarconnes, white daisies and blood-red delandres. The yucca was inbloom, too, and added its mammoth flower to the display. 

They did not halt at San Diego, the southernmost city of California, from whence the Mexican line is in plain sight, but drove to the bay, where Wampus guided the limousine on to the big ferryboat bound forCoronado. They all left the car during the brief voyage and watchedthe porpoises sporting in the clear water of the bay and gazedabstractedly at the waving palms on the opposite shore, where liesnestled "the Crown of the Pacific"--Coronado. 

CHAPTER XVIII

THE SILENT MAN

Even the Major smiled benignantly when he reached his appointed roomin the magnificent Hotel del Coronado, which is famed throughout theworld. 

"This, " said he, "reminds me of New York; and it's the first thingthat has, since I left home. "

"Why, Daddy, it isn't like New York at all, " protested Patsy, standingbeside him at the broad window overlooking the ocean. "Did you eversee a palm tree waving in New York; or daisy bushes as tall as a man;or such masses of roses and flowering vines? And then just notice themountains over there--they're in Mexico, I'm told--and this greatheadland in the other direction; it's called Point Loma. Oh, I neverimagined any place could be so beautiful!"

The others were equally excited, and Uncle John said, smiling broadly:

"Well, we're here at last, my dears, and I'm sure we are already wellpaid for our trip across the continent. What pleasant rooms these are. If the hotel table is at all to be compared with the house itself weshall have a happy time here, which means we will stay as long aspossible. "

But the table was another surprise, for the meals were equal to anyserved in the great Eastern metropolis. Uncle John complimented thelandlord, a cheery faced, fat little man who had at one time manageda famous New York hotel and had brought his talents and experience tofar California. 

"I'm sorry, " said this gentle boniface, "that I could not reservebetter rooms for you--for there are some choice views from somelocations. I had a corner suite saved for your party, a suite Iconsider the most desirable in the hotel; but an eccentric individualarrived yesterday who demanded the entire suite, and I had to let himhave it. He will not stay long, and as soon as he goes you shall havethe rooms. "

"Who is he?" asked Uncle John. 

"A rich miner; a most melancholy and peculiar person, by the way, "replied landlord Ross. "I believe his name is Jones. "

Mr. Merrick started. 

"Jones, and a miner?" he said. "What's his other name--Anson?"

"We'll look and see, " replied Mr. Ross, turning to the hotel register. "No; not Anson. He is registered as C. B. Jones, of Boston. "

"Oh; that's not the Jones at all, " said Uncle John, disappointed. 

"It's the Jones who is our guest, " replied the landlord, smiling. 

Meantime the three girls had gone for a walk along the coast. Thebeach is beautiful at Coronado. There is a high sea wall of rock, andthe path runs along its edge almost the length of the promontory. Therocks are sloping, however, and it is not very difficult to climb downthem to where the waves break against the wall. 

Near the hotel they met straggling groups, strolling in eitherdirection, but half a mile away the promenade was practicallydeserted. It was beginning to grow dark, and Beth said, regretfully:

"We must get back, girls, and dress for dinner--an unusual luxury, isn't it? Our trunks arrived at the hotel two weeks ago, and are nowin our rooms, doubtless, awaiting us to unpack them. "

"Don't let's return just yet, " begged Myrtle. "I want to see the sunset. "

"It will be gorgeous, " said Patsy, glancing at the sky; "but we cansee it from our windows, and as we're a long way from the hotel now Ibelieve Beth's suggestion is wise. "

So they began to retrace their steps. Myrtle still walked with somedifficulty, and they had not proceeded far when Beth exclaimed:

"Look at that man down there!"

Her companions followed her direction and saw standing upon a hugepile of rocks at the water's edge a slight, solitary figure. Somethingin the poise, as he leaned forward staring at the darkened waves--forthe sun was low and cast shadows aslant the water--struck Myrtle asfamiliar. 

"Oh, girls!" she exclaimed; "it's the Grand Canyon man. "

"Why, I believe it is, " agreed Patsy. "What is he doing?"

"Nothing, " said Beth, briefly. "But he is going to do something, Ithink. "

While they stared at him from their elevation the man straightened aninstant and cast a hasty glance to either side. The place seemed tohim deserted, for he failed to observe the group of three intentlywatching his motions from the high bank overhead. Next moment heturned back to the water and leaned over the edge of rock again. 

"Don't!" cried Myrtle, her clear voice ringing over the lap of thewaves; "please don't!"

He swung around and turned his gaunt features upward to where theyoung girl leaned upon her crutches, with clasped hands and a look ofdistress upon her sweet face. 

"Don't!" she repeated, pleadingly. 

He passed his hand over his eyes with a very weary gesture and lookedat Myrtle again--this time quite steadily. She was trembling in everylimb and her cheeks were white with fear. 

Slowly--very slowly--the man turned and began to climb the rocks; notdirectly upward to where the girls stood, but diagonally, so as toreach the walk some distance ahead of them. They did not move until hehad gained the path and turned toward the hotel. Then they followedand kept him in sight until he reached the entrance to the court anddisappeared within. 

"I wonder, " said Patsy, as they made their way to their rooms, "whether he really was thinking of plunging into the ocean; or whetherthat time at the Grand Canyon he had a notion of jumping into thechasm. "

"If so, " added Beth, "Myrtle has saved his life twice. But she can'tbe always near to watch the man, and if he has suicidal intentions, he'll make an end of himself, sooner or later, without a doubt. "

"Perhaps, " said Myrtle, hesitatingly, "I am quite wrong, and thestrange man had no intention of doing himself an injury. But each timeI obeyed an impulse that compelled me to cry out; and afterward I havebeen much ashamed of my forwardness. "

They did not see the melancholy man at dinner; but afterward, in thespacious lobby, they discovered him sitting in a far corner reading amagazine. He seemed intent on this occupation and paid no attention tothe life around him. The girls called Uncle John's attention to him, and Mr. Merrick at once recognized him as the same individual they hadmet at the Grand Canyon. 

"But I am not especially pleased to encounter him again, " he said witha slight frown; "for, if I remember aright, he acted very rudely toMyrtle and proved unsociable when I made overtures and spoke to him. "

"I wonder who he is?" mused Patsy, watching the weary, haggardfeatures as his eyes slowly followed the lines of his magazine. 

"I'll inquire and find out, " replied her uncle. 

The cherubic landlord was just then pacing up and down the lobby, pausing here and there to interchange a word with his guests. UncleJohn approached him and said:

"Can you tell me, Mr. Ross, who the gentleman is in the corner?"

The landlord looked around at the corner and smiled. 

"That, " said he, "is the gentleman we spoke of this afternoon--Mr. C. B. Jones--the man who usurped the rooms intended for you. "

"Rooms?" repeated Uncle John. "Has he a large party, then?"

"He is alone; that is the queer part of it, " returned the landlord. "Nor has he much baggage. But he liked the suite--a parlor with fiverooms opening out of it--and insisted upon having them all, despitethe fact that it is one of the most expensive suites in the hotel. Isaid he was eccentric, did I not?"

"You were justified, " said Mr. Merrick, thought fully. "Thank you, sir, for the information. "

Even as he rejoined the girls, who were seated together upon a broaddivan, the man arose, laid down his magazine and came slowly downthe room, evidently headed for the elevator. But with a start herecognized the girl who had accosted him on the beach, and the otherswith her, and for an instant came to a full stop before the group, hissad eyes fixed intently upon Myrtle's face. 

The situation was a bit awkward, and to relieve it Uncle John remarkedin his cheery voice:

"Well, Mr. Jones, we meet again, you see. "

The man turned slowly and faced him; then bowed in a mechanical wayand proceeded to the elevator, into which he disappeared. 

Naturally Uncle John was indignant. 

"Confound the fellow!" he exclaimed. "He's worse than a boor. Butperhaps his early education was neglected. "

"Did you call him Mr. Jones, sir?" asked Myrtle in a voice thattrembled with excitement. 

"Yes, my dear; but it is not your Uncle Anson. I've inquired abouthim. The Joneses are pretty thick, wherever you go; but I hope notmany are like this fellow. "

"Something's wrong with him, " declared Patsy. "He's had some sadbereavement--a great blow of some sort--and it has made him somber andmelancholy. He doesn't seem to know he acts rudely. You can tell bythe man's eyes that he is unhappy. "

"His eyes have neither color nor expression, " remarked Beth. "At hisbest, this Mr. Jones must have been an undesirable acquaintance. "

"You can't be sure of that, " returned Patsy; "and I'm positive mytheory is correct. More and more am I inclined to agree with Myrtlethat he is disgusted with life, and longs to end it. "

"Let him, then, " retorted Uncle John. "I'm sure such a person is of nouse to the world, and if he doesn't like himself he's better out ofit. "

That kindly Mr. Merrick should give vent to such a heartless speechproved how much annoyed he had been by Mr. Jones' discourtesy. 

"He might be reclaimed, and--and comforted, " said Myrtle, softly. "When I think of the happiness you have brought into my life, sir, Ilong to express my gratitude by making some one else happy. "

"You're doing it, little one, " he answered, pinching her cheek. "Ifwe've brought a bit of sunshine into your life we've reaped an amplereward in your companionship. But if you can find a way to comfortthat man Jones, and fetch him out of his dumps, you are certainly amore wonderful fairy than I've given you credit for. "

Myrtle did not reply to this, although it pleased her. She presentlypleaded weariness and asked permission to return to her room. Bethand Patsy wanted to go into the great domed ballroom and watch thedancing; so Myrtle bade them good night and ascended by the elevatorto her floor. 

CHAPTER XIX

"THREE TIMES"

Softly stepping over the thick carpets, which deadened the sound ofthe crutches--now becoming scarcely necessary to her--the young girlpassed along the corridor, passing angles and turns innumerable on herway to her room. Some erratic architect certainly concocted theplan of the Hotel del Coronado. It is a very labyrinth of passagesconnecting; its nine hundred rooms, and one has to have a good bump oflocation to avoid getting lost in its mazes. 

Near one of the abrupt turns a door stood ajar, and in passing Myrtleglanced in, and then paused involuntarily. It was a small parlor, prettily furnished, and in a big chair reclined a man whose hands wereboth pressed tight against his face, thus covering it completely. ButMyrtle knew him. The thin frame, as well as the despairing attitude, marked him as the man who had come so strangely into her life andwhose personality affected her so strangely. She now stood in thedimly lighted corridor looking in upon him with infinite pity, and asshe looked her glance fell upon the table beside him, where somethingbright glittered beneath the electric lamps. 

Her heart gave a sudden thump of mingled fear and dismay. She knewintuitively what that "something" was. "Let him, " Uncle John had said;but Myrtle instantly determined _not_ to let him. 

She hesitated a moment; but seeing that the man remained motionless, his eyes still covered, as if lost to all his surroundings, she softlycrept forward and entered the room. She held the crutches under herarms, but dared not use them for fear of making a noise. Step by stepshe stole forward until the table was within reach. Then she stretchedout her hand, seized the revolver, and hid it in the folds of herblouse. 

Turning for a final glance at the man she was startled to find he hadremoved his hands and was steadfastly regarding her. 

Myrtle leaned heavily on her crutches. She felt faint and miserable, like a criminal caught in the act. As her eyes fell before the intentgaze her face turned scarlet with humiliation and chagrin. Still, shedid not attempt to escape, the idea not occurring to her; so for atime the tableau was picturesque--the lame girl standing motionlesswith downcast eyes and the man fixedly staring at her. 

"Three times!" he slowly said, in a voice finally stirred by a traceof emotion. "Three times. My child, why are you so persistent?"

Myrtle tried to be brave and meet his gaze. It was not quite sodifficult now the silent man had spoken. 

"Why do you force me to be persistent?" she asked, a tremor in hervoice. "Why are you determined to--to--"

Words failed her, but he nodded to show he understood. 

"Because, " said he, "I am tired; very tired, my child. It's a bigworld; too big, in fact; but there's nothing in it for me any more. "

There was expression enough in his voice now; expression of utterdespondency. 

"Why?" asked Myrtle, somewhat frightened to find herself so bold. 

He did not answer for a long time, but sat reading her mobile faceuntil a gentler look came into his hard blue eyes. 

"It is a story too sad for young ears, " he finally replied. "Perhaps, too, you would not understand it, not knowing or understanding me. I'man odd sort of man, well along in years, and I've lived an odd sortof life. But my story, such as it is, has ended, and I'm too weary tobegin another volume. "

"Oh, no!" exclaimed Myrtle, earnestly. "Surely this cannot be thefulfillment and end of your life. If it were, why should _I_ come intoyour life just now?"

He stared at her with a surprised--an even startled--look. 

"Have you come into my life?" he inquired, in a low, curious tone. 

"Haven't I?" she returned. "At the Grand Canyon--"

"I know, " he interrupted hastily. "That was your mistake; and mine. You should not have interfered. I should not have let you interfere. "

"But I did, " said Myrtle. 

"Yes. Somehow your voice sounded like a command, and I obeyed it;perhaps because no living person has a right to command me. You--youtook me by surprise. "

He passed his hand over his eyes with that weary gesture peculiar tohim, and then fell silent. 

Myrtle had remained standing. She did not know what to do in thisemergency, or what more to say. The conversation could not be ended inthis summary fashion. The hopeless man needed her in some way; how, she did not know. Feeling weak and very incompetent to meet theimportant crisis properly, the girl crept to a chair opposite the manand sank into it. Then she leaned her chin upon her hand and lookedpleadingly at her strange acquaintance. He met her eyes frankly. The hard look in his own seemed to have disappeared, dispelled by asympathy that was new to him. 

And so they sat, regarding one another silently yet musingly, for along time. 

"I wish, " said Myrtle once, in her softest, sweetest tones, "I couldhelp you. Some one helped me when I was in great trouble, so I want tohelp you. "

He did not reply, and another period of silence ensued. But his nextspeech showed he had been considering her words. 

"Because you have suffered, " he said, "you have compassion for otherswho suffer. But your trouble is over now?"

"Almost, " she said, smiling brightly. 

He sighed, but questioned her no farther. 

"A while ago, " she volunteered, "I had neither friends nor relatives. "He gave her a queer look, then. "I had no money. I had been hurt in anaccident and was almost helpless. But I did not despair, sir--and I amonly an inexperienced girl. 

"In my darkest hour I found friends--kind, loving friends--who showedme a new world that I had not suspected was in existence. I thinkthe world is like a great mirror, " she continued, meditatively, "andreflects our lives just as we ourselves look upon it. Those who turnsad faces toward the world find only sadness reflected. But a smile isreflected in the same way, and cheers and brightens our hearts. Youthink there is no pleasure to be had in life. That is because you areheartsick and--and tired, as you say. With one sad story ended you areafraid to begin another--a sequel--feeling it would be equally sad. But why should it be? Isn't the joy or sorrow equally divided inlife?"

"No, " he replied. 

"A few days ago, " she continued earnestly, "we were crossing theArizona deserts. It was not pleasant, but we did not despair, forwe knew the world is not all desert and that the land of roses andsunshine lay just beyond. Now that we're in California we've forgottenthe dreary desert. But you--Why, sir, you've just crossed your desert, and you believe all the world is bitter and cruel and holds no joy foryou! Why don't you step out bravely into the roses and sunshine oflife, and find the joy that has been denied you?"

He looked into her eyes almost fearfully, but it seemed to her thathis own held a first glimmer of hope. 

"Do you believe there can be joy for me anywhere in the world?" heasked. 

"Of course. I tell you there's just as much sweet as there is bitterin life. Don't I know it? Haven't I proved it? But happiness doesn'tchase people who try to hide from it. It will meet you halfway, butyou've got to do your share to deserve it. I'm not preaching; I'velived this all out, in my own experience, and know what I'm talkingabout. Now as for you, sir, I can see very plainly you haven't beendoing your duty. You've met sorrow and let it conquer you. You'vetaken melancholy by the hand and won't let go of it. You haven't triedto fight for your rights--the rights God gave to every man and expectshim to hold fast to and take advantage of. No, indeed!"

"But what is the use?" he asked, timidly, yet with an eager look inhis face. "You are young, my child; I am nearly old enough to havebeen your father. There are things you have not yet learned; things Ihope you will never learn. An oak may stand alone in a field, and belonely because it cannot touch boughs with another. A flower may bloomalone in a garden, and wither and die for want of companionship. God'swisdom grouped every living thing. He gave Adam a comrade. He createdno solitary thing. But see, my child: although this world containscountless thousands, there is not one among them I may call myfriend. "

"Oh, yes; just one!" said Myrtle quickly. "I am your friend. Notbecause you want me, but because you need me. And that's a beginning, isn't it? I can find other friends for you, among _my_ friends, andyou will be sure to like them because I like them. "

This naive suggestion did not affect him as much as the fact that thisfair young girl had confessed herself his friend. He did not look atMyrtle now; he stared straight ahead, at the wall paper, and his browwas furrowed as if he was thinking deeply. 

Perhaps any other man would have thanked the girl for her sympathy andher proffered friendship, or at the least have acknowledged it. Butnot so this queer Mr. Jones; eccentric, indeed, as the shrewd landlordhad described him. Nor did Myrtle seem to expect an acknowledgment. It was enough for her that her speech had set him thinking along newlines. 

He sat musing for so long that she finally remembered it was growinglate, and began to fear Patsy and Beth would seek their rooms, whichconnected with her own, and find her absent. That would worry them. Soat last she rose softly, took her crutches and turned to go. 

"Good night, my--friend, " she said. 

"Good night, my child, " he answered in a mechanical tone, withoutrousing from his abstraction. 

Myrtle went to her room and found it was not so late as she hadfeared. She opened a drawer and placed the revolver in it, not withouta little shudder. 

"At any rate, " she murmured, with satisfaction, "he will not use thisto-night. "

CHAPTER XX

ON POINT LOMA

Next morning a beautiful bunch of roses was brought to Myrtle'sroom--roses so magnificent that it seemed impossible they could begrown out of doors. But there are few hothouses in California, and theboy who brought the flowers confided to her the information that theywere selected from more than five hundred blooms. She ran to show themto Patsy and Beth, who were amazed not only by the roses but by thefact that the queer Mr. Jones had sent them to Myrtle. There was nocard or note accompanying the gift, but after the younger girl hadrelated her conversation with Mr. Jones the previous evening, theycould not doubt but he had sent the flowers. 

"Perhaps, " reflected Patsy, "we've been misjudging him. I never beheldsuch a stolid, unimpressive countenance in my life; but the man musthave a soul of some sort, or he would not think of sending flowers tohis new friend. "

"It's a pretty idea, " said Beth. "He wanted to assure Myrtle that heappreciated her kindness. "

"I'm sure he likes me, " declared Myrtle, simply. "He wasn't a bitcross when I ran in and took away his pistol, or when I preached tohim. I really gave him a good talking to, and he didn't object a bit. "

"What he needs, " commented Beth, "is to get away from himself, andmingle with people more. I wonder if we could coax him to join us inour ride to Point Loma. "

"Would we care to ask him?" said Patsy. "He's as sour and crabbed inlooks as he is in disposition, and has treated Uncle John's advancesshamefully. I'd like to help Myrtle bring the old fellow back to life;but perhaps we can find an easier way than to shut him up with us inan automobile. "

"He wouldn't go, I'm sure, " declared Myrtle. "He has mellowed alittle--a very little--as these roses prove. But he treated me lastnight just as he does Mr. Merrick, even after our conversation. WhenI said 'Good night' I had to wait a long time for his answer. But I'dlike you to meet him and help cheer him up; so please let me introducehim, if there's a chance, and do be nice to him. "

"I declare, " cried Patsy, laughing, "Myrtle has assumed an air ofproprietorship over the Sad One already. "

"She has a right to, for she saved his life, " said Beth. 

"Three times, " Myrtle added proudly. "He told me so himself. "

Uncle John heard the story of Myrtle's adventure with considerablesurprise, and he too expressed a wish to aid her in winning Mr. Jonesfrom his melancholy mood. 

"Every man is queer in one way or another, " said he, "and I'd say thewomen were, too, if you females were not listening. I also imagine avery rich man has the right to be eccentric, if it pleases him. "

"Is Mr. Jones rich, then?" inquired Beth. 

"According to the landlord he's rich as Croesus. Made his money inmining--manipulating stocks, I suppose. But evidently his wealthhasn't been a comfort to him, or he wouldn't want to shuffle off hismortal coil and leave it behind"

They did not see the object of this conversation before leaving forthe trip to Point Loma--a promontory that juts out far into thePacific. It is reached by a superb macadamized boulevard, which passesdown the north edge of the promontory, rounds the corner where standsthe lighthouse, and comes back along the southern edge, all the time ahundred feet or more in elevation above the ocean. 

The view from the Point is unsurpassed. Wampus stopped his car besidea handsomely appointed automobile that was just then deserted. 

"Some one is here before us, " remarked Patsy. "But that is notstrange. The wonder is that crowds are not here perpetually. "

"It is said, " related the Major, who had really begun to enjoyCalifornia, "that the view from this Point includes more variedscenery than any other that is known in the world. Here we see thegrand San Bernardino range of mountains; the Spanish Bight on theMexican shore; the pretty city of San Diego climbing its hills, withthe placid bay in front, where float the warships of the PacificSquadron; the broad stretch of orange and lemon groves, hedged withtowering palm trees; Santa Catalina and the Coronado Islands; the bluePacific rolling in front and rugged Loma with its rocky cliffs behind. What more could we ask to see from any one viewpoint?"

"Don't forget the monster hotel, with its hundred towers and gables, dominating the strip of land between the bay and the ocean, " addedBeth. "How near it seems, and yet it is many miles away. "

Some one had told them that moonstones were to be found on the beachat the base of the cliff; so they all climbed down the steep path, followed by Mumbles, who had not perceptibly grown in size during thetrip but had acquired an adventurous disposition which, coupled withhis native inquisitiveness, frequently led him into trouble. 

Now, when they had reached the narrow beach, Mumbles ran ahead, passedaround the corner of a cliff that almost touched the water, and waspresently heard barking furiously. 

"Sounds as if he scented game, " said Patsy. 

"A turtle, perhaps, or a big fish washed ashore, " suggested the Major. 

But now the small dog's voice changed suddenly and became a successionof yelps expressing mingled pain and terror. 

"Oh, he's hurt!" cried Myrtle; and they all hurried forward, UncleJohn leading them on a run, and passed around the big rock to rescuetheir pet. 

Some one was before them, however. The foolish dog had found a hugecrab in the sand and, barking loudly, had pushed his muzzle againstthe creature, with the result that the crab seized his black nose ina gripping claw and pinched as hard as it was able. Mumbles tried toback away, madly howling the while; but the crab, although the smallerantagonist, gripped a rock with its other claw and held on, anchoringthe terrified dog to the spot. 

But help was at hand. A tall, thin man hurried to the rescue, and justas Uncle John came in sight, leading his procession, a knife severedthe crab's claw and Mumbles was free. Seeing his mistress, the puppy, still whining with pain, hurried to her for comfort, while Uncle Johnturned to the man and said:

"Thank you, Mr. Jones, for assisting our poor beast. Mumbles is anEastern dog, you know, and inexperienced in dealing with crabs. "

Mr. Jones was examining the claw, the despoiled owner of which hadquickly slid into the water. 

"It is a species of crawfish, " he observed, meditatively. Then, seeingthe girls approach, he straightened up and rather awkwardly lifted hishat. 

The gesture surprised them all. Heretofore, when they had met, the manhad merely stared and turned away, now his attempt at courtesy wasstartling because unexpected. 

Myrtle came close to his side. 

"How nice to find you here, Mr. Jones, " she said brightly. "And oh, Imust thank you for my lovely roses. "

He watched her face with evident interest and it seemed that his owncountenance had become less haggard and sad than formerly. 

"Let me introduce my friends, " said the girl, with sudden recollectionof her duty. "This is Mr. Merrick, my good friend and benefactor; andthis is Major Doyle and his daughter Miss Patricia Doyle, both of whomhave the kindest hearts in the world; Miss Beth De Graf, Mr. Merrick'sniece, has watched over and cared for me like a sister, and--oh, Iforgot; Miss Patsy is Mr. Merrick's niece, too. So now you know themall. "

The man nodded briefly his acknowledgment. 

"You--you are Mr. Jones, I believe, of--of Boston?"

"Once of Boston, " he repeated mechanically. Then he looked at her andadded: "Go on. "

"Why--what--I don't understand, " she faltered. "Have I overlookedanyone?"

"Only yourself, " he said. 

"Oh; but I--I met you last night. "

"You did not tell me your name, " he reminded her. 

"I'm Myrtle, " she replied, smiling in her relief. "Myrtle Dean. "

"Myrtle Dean!" His voice was harsh; almost a shout. 

"Myrtle Dean. And I--I'm from Chicago; but I don't live there anymore. "

He stood motionless, looking at the girl with a fixed expression thatembarrassed her and caused her to glance appealingly at Patsy. Herfriend understood and came to her rescue with some inconsequent remarkabout poor Mumbles, who was still moaning and rubbing; his pinchednose against Patsy's chin to ease the pain. 

Mr. Jones paid little heed to Miss Doyle's observation, but as Myrtletried to hide behind Beth Mr. Merrick took the situation in hand bydrawing the man's attention to the scenery, and afterward inquiring ifhe was searching for moonstones. 

The conversation now became general, except that Mr. Jones remainedpractically silent He seemed to try to interest himself in the chatteraround him, but always his eyes would stray to Myrtle's face and holdher until she found an opportunity to turn away. 

"We've luncheon in the car, " announced Uncle John, after a time. "Won't you join us, Mr. Jones?"

"Yes, " was the unconventional reply. The man was undoubtedlyabstracted and did not know he was rude. He quietly followed them upthe rocks and when they reached the automobile remained by Myrtle'sside while Wampus brought out the lunch basket and Beth and Patsyspread the cloth upon the grass and unpacked the hamper. 

Mr. Jones ate merely a mouthful, but he evidently endeavored to followthe conversation and take an interest in what was said. He finallybecame conscious that his continuous gaze distressed Myrtle, andthereafter strove to keep his eyes from her face. They would creepback to it, from time to time; but Beth, who was watching himcuriously, concluded he was making a serious effort to deport himselfagreeably and credited him with a decided improvement in manners astheir acquaintance with him progressed. 

After luncheon, when their return by way of Old Town and the SpanishMission was proposed, Mr. Jones said, pointing to the car that stoodbeside their own:

"This is my automobile. I drive it myself. I would like Myrtle Dean toride back with me. "

The girl hesitated, but quickly deciding she must not retreat, now shehad practically begun the misanthrope's reformation, she replied:

"I will be very glad to. But won't you take one of my friends, also?That will divide the party more evenly. "

He looked down at his feet, thoughtfully considering the proposition. 

"I'll go with you, " said Beth, promptly. "Get into the front seat withMr. Jones, Myrtle, and I'll ride behind. "

The man made no protest. He merely lifted Myrtle in his arms andgently placed her in the front seat. Beth, much amused, took the seatbehind, unassisted save that the Major opened the door for her. Mr. Jones evidently understood his car. Starting the engines withouteffort he took his place at the wheel and with a nod to Mr. Merricksaid:

"Lead on, sir; I will follow. "

Wampus started away. He was displeased with the other car. It didnot suit him at all. And aside from the fact that the sour-facedindividual who owned it had taken away two of Wampus' own passengers, the small shaggy Mumbles, who had been the established companion ofUncle John's chauffeur throughout all the long journey, suddenlydeserted him. He whined to go with the other car, and when Patsylifted him aboard he curled down beside the stranger as if thoroughlysatisfied. Patsy knew why, and was amused that Mumbles showed hisgratitude to Mr. Jones for rescuing him from the crab; but Wampusscowled and was distinctly unhappy all the way to Old Town. 

"Him mebbe fine gentleman, " muttered the Canadian to the Major; "butif so he make a disguise of it. Once I knew a dog thief who resemblehim; but perhaps Mumble he safe as long as Miss Myrtle an' Miss Beththey with him. "

"Don't worry, " said the Major, consolingly. "I'll keep my eye on therascal. But he's a fine driver, isn't he?"

"Oh, _that_!" retorted Wampus, scornfully. "Such little cheap car likethat he drive himself. "

At Old Town Mr. Jones left them, saying he had been to the Mission anddid not care for it. But as he drove his car away there was a gentlerand more kindly expression upon his features than any of them had everseen there before, and Myrtle suspected her charm was working and theregeneration really begun. 

CHAPTER XXI

A TALE OF WOE

That evening after dinner, as Mr. Merrick sat alone in the hotellobby, the girls having gone to watch the Major bowl tenpins, Mr. Jones approached and sat down in the chair beside him. 

Uncle John greeted the man with an attempt at cordiality. He could notyet bring himself to like his personality, but on Myrtle's account andbecause he was himself generous enough to wish to be of service toanyone so forlorn and unhappy, he treated Mr. Jones with more respectthan he really thought he deserved. 

"Tell me, Mr. Merrick, " was the abrupt request, "where you foundMyrtle Dean. "

Uncle John told him willingly. There was no doubt but Myrtle hadinterested the man. 

"My girls found her on the train between Chicago and Denver, " hebegan. "She was on her way to join her uncle in Leadville. "

"What is her uncle's name?"

"Anson Jones. But the child was almost helpless, ill and withoutfriends or money. She was not at all sure her uncle was still inLeadville, in which case she would be at the mercy of a cold world. SoI telegraphed and found that Anson Jones had been gone from the miningcamp for several months. Do you know, sir, I at first suspected youmight be the missing uncle? For I heard you were a miner and foundthat your name is Jones. But I soon discovered you are not AnsonJones, but C. B. Jones--which alters the case considerably. "

Mr. Jones nodded absently. 

"Tell me the rest, " he said. 

Uncle John complied. He related the manner in which Beth and Patsyhad adopted Myrtle, the physician's examination and report upon hercondition, and then told the main points of their long but delightfuljourney from Albuquerque to San Diego in the limousine. 

"It was one of the most fortunate experiments we have ever tried, " heconcluded; "for the child has been the sweetest and most agreeablecompanion imaginable, and her affection and gratitude have amplyrepaid us for anything we have done for her. I am determined she shallnot leave us, sir. When we return to New York I shall consult the bestspecialist to be had, and I am confident she can be fully cured andmade as good as new. "

The other man had listened intently, and when the story was finishedhe sat silent for a time, as if considering and pondering over what hehad heard. Then, without warning, he announced quietly:

"I am Anson Jones. "

Uncle John fairly gasped for breath. 

"_You_ Anson Jones!" he exclaimed. Then, with plausible suspicion headded: "I myself saw that you are registered as C. B. Jones. "

"It is the same thing, " was the reply. "My name is Collanson--but myfamily always called me 'Anson', when I had a family--and by that nameI was best known in the mining camps. That is what deceived you. "

"But--dear me!--I don't believe Myrtle knows her uncle's name isCollanson. "

"Probably not. Her mother, sir, my sister, was my only remainingrelative, the only person on earth who cared for me--although Ifoolishly believed another did. I worked for success as much onKitty's account--Kitty was Myrtle's mother--as for my own sake. Iintended some day to make her comfortable and happy, for I knew herhusband's death had left her poor and friendless. I did not see herfor years, nor write to her often; it was not my way. But Kitty alwaysknew I loved her. "

He paused and sat silent a moment. Then he resumed, in his quiet, eventones:

"There is another part of my story that you must know to understandme fully; to know why I am now a hopeless, desperate man; or wasuntil--until last night, perhaps. Some years ago, when in Boston, Ifell in love with a beautiful girl. I am nearly fifty, and she was notquite thirty, but it never occurred to me that I was too old to winher love, and she frankly confessed she cared for me. But she said shecould not marry a poor man and would therefore wait for me to make afortune. Then I might be sure she would marry me. I believed her. I donot know why men believe women. It is an absurd thing to do. I did it;but other men have been guilty of a like folly. Ah, how I worked andplanned! One cannot always make a fortune in a short time. It took meyears, and all the time she renewed her promises and kept my hopes andmy ambitions alive. 

"At last I won the game, as I knew I should do in time. It was a bigstrike. I discovered the 'Blue Bonnet' mine, and sold a half interestin it for a million. Then I hurried to Boston to claim my bride. .. . She had been married just three months, after waiting, or pretendingto wait, for me for nearly ten years! She married a poor lawyer, too, after persistently refusing me because _I_ was poor. She laughed atmy despair and coldly advised me to find some one else to share myfortune. "

He paused again and wearily passed his hand over his eyes--a familiargesture, as Myrtle knew. His voice had grown more and more dismal ashe proceeded, and just now he seemed as desolate and unhappy as whenfirst they saw him at the Grand Canyon. 

"I lived through it somehow, " he continued; "but the blow stunned me. It stuns me yet. Like a wounded beast I slunk away to find my sister, knowing she would try to comfort me. She was dead. Her daughterMyrtle, whom I had never seen, had been killed in an automobileaccident. That is what her aunt, a terrible woman named Martha Dean, told me, although now I know it was a lie, told to cover her ownbaseness in sending an unprotected child to the far West to seek anunknown uncle. I paid Martha Dean back the money she claimed she hadspent for Myrtle's funeral; that was mere robbery, I suppose, but notto be compared with the crime of her false report. I found myselfbereft of sweetheart, sister--even an unknown niece. Despair claimedme. I took the first train for the West, dazed and utterly despondent. Some impulse led me to stop off at the Grand Canyon, and there I sawthe means of ending all my misery. But Myrtle interfered. "

Uncle John, now thoroughly interested and sympathetic, leaned over andsaid solemnly:

"The hand of God was in that!"

Mr. Jones nodded. 

"I am beginning to believe it, " he replied. "The girl's face won meeven in that despairing mood. She has Kitty's eyes. "

"They are beautiful eyes, " said Uncle John, earnestly. "Sir, you havefound in your niece one of the sweetest and most lovely girls thatever lived. I congratulate you!"

Mr. Jones nodded again. His mood had changed again since they beganto speak of Myrtle. His eyes now glowed with pleasure and pride. Heclasped Mr. Merrick's hand in his own as he said with feeling:

"She has saved me, sir. Even before I knew she was my niece I began towonder if it would not pay me to live for her sake. And now--"

"And now you are sure of it, " cried Uncle John, emphatically. "But whois to break the news to Myrtle?"

"No one, just yet, " was the reply. "Allow me, sir, if you please, tokeep her in ignorance of the truth a little longer. I only made thediscovery myself today, you see, and I need time to think it all outand determine how best to take advantage of my good fortune. "

"I shall respect your wish, sir, " said Mr. Merrick. 

The girls came trooping back then, and instead of running away AnsonJones remained to talk with them. 

Beth and Patsy were really surprised to find the "Sad One" chattingpleasantly with Uncle John. The Major looked at the man curiously, notunderstanding the change in him. But Myrtle was quite proud of theprogress he was making and his improved spirits rendered the girl veryhappy indeed. Why she should take such an interest in this man shecould not have explained, except that he had been discouraged andhopeless and she had succeeded in preventing him from destroying hislife and given him courage to face the world anew. But surely that wasenough, quite sufficient to give her a feeling of "proprietorship, " asPatsy had expressed it, in this queer personage. Aside from all this, she was growing to like the man who owed so much to her. Neither Patsynor Beth could yet see much to interest them or to admire in hisgloomy character; but Myrtle's intuition led her to see beneath thesurface, and she knew there were lovable traits in Mr. Jones' natureif he could only be induced to display them. 

CHAPTER XXII

THE CONFESSION

After that evening the man attached himself to the party on everypossible occasion. Sometimes in their trips around Coronado he rodein their automobile, at other times he took Myrtle, and perhaps oneother, in his own car. Every day he seemed brighter and more cheerful, until even Major Doyle admitted he was not a bad companion. 

Three weeks later they moved up to Los Angeles, taking two days forthe trip and stopping at Riverside and Redlands on the way. Theyestablished their headquarters at one of the handsome Los Angeleshotels and from there made little journeys through the surroundingcountry, the garden spot of Southern California. One day they went toPasadena, which boasts more splendid residences than any city of itssize in the world; at another time they visited Hollywood, famed as"the Paradise of Flowers. " Both mountains and sea were within easyreach, and there was so much to do that the time passed all tooswiftly. 

It was on their return from such a day's outing that Myrtle met withher life's greatest surprise. Indeed, the surprise was shared by allbut Uncle John, who had religiously kept the secret of Mr. Jones'identity. 

As they reached the hotel this eventful evening Mr. Merrick said tothe girls:

"After you have dressed for dinner meet us on the parlor floor. Wedine privately to-night. "

They were mildly astonished at the request, but as Uncle John wasalways doing some unusual thing they gave the matter little thought. However, on reaching the parlor floor an hour later they found Mr. Merrick, the Major and Mr. Jones in a group awaiting them, andall were garbed in their dress suits, with rare flowers in theirbuttonholes. 

"What is it, then?" asked Patsy. "A treat?"

"I think so, " said Uncle John, smiling. "Your arm, please, MissDoyle. "

The Major escorted Beth and Mr. Jones walked solemnly beside Myrtle, who still used crutches, but more as a matter of convenience thanbecause they were necessary. At the end of a corridor a waiter threwopen the door of a small but beautiful banquet room, where a roundtable, glistening with cut glass and silver, was set for six. In thecenter of the table was a handsome centerpiece decorated with vinesof myrtle, while the entire room was filled with sprays of the daintyvines, alive with their pretty blue flowers. 

"Goodness me!" exclaimed Patsy, laughing gleefully. "This seems to beour little Myrtle's especial spread. Who is the host, Uncle John?"

"Mr. Jones, of course, " announced Beth, promptly. 

Myrtle blushed and glanced shyly at Mr. Jones. His face was fairlyillumined with pleasure. He placed her in the seat of honor and saidgravely:

"This is indeed Myrtle's entertainment, for she has found something. It is also partly my own thanksgiving banquet, my friends; for I, too, have found something. "

His tone was so serious that all remained silent as they took theirseats, and during the many courses served the conversation was lesslively than on former occasions when there had been no ceremony. Myrtle tried hard to eat, but there was a question in her eyes--aquestion that occupied her all through the meal. When, finally, thedessert was served and the servants had withdrawn and left them tothemselves, the girl could restrain her curiosity no longer. 

"Tell me, Mr. Jones, " she said, turning to him as he sat beside her;"what have you found?"

He was deliberate as ever in answering. 

"You must not call me 'Mr. Jones, ' hereafter, " said he. 

"Why not? Then, what _shall_ I call you?" she returned, greatlyperplexed. 

"I think it would be more appropriate for you to call me 'UncleAnson. '"

"Uncle Anson! Why, Uncle Anson is--is--"

She paused, utterly bewildered, but with a sudden suspicion that madeher head whirl. 

"It strikes me, Myrtle, " said Uncle John, cheerfully, "that you havenever been properly introduced to Mr. Jones. If I remember aright youscraped acquaintance with him and had no regular introduction. So Iwill now perform that agreeable office. Miss Myrtle Dean, allow me topresent your uncle, Mr. Collanson B. Jones. "

"Collanson!" repeated all the girls, in an astonished chorus. 

"That is my name, " said Mr. Jones, the first smile they had seenradiating his grim countenance. "All the folks at home, among them mysister Kitty--your mother, my dear--called me 'Anson'; and that iswhy, I suppose, old Martha Dean knew me only as your 'Uncle Anson. 'Had she told you my name was Collanson you might have suspectedearlier that 'C. B. Jones' was your lost uncle. Lost only because hewas unable to find you, Myrtle. While you were journeying West insearch of him he was journeying East. But I'm glad, for many reasons, that you did not know me. It gave me an opportunity to learn thesweetness of your character. Now I sincerely thank God that He led youto me, to reclaim me and give me something to live for. If you willpermit me, my dear niece, I will hereafter devote my whole life toyou, and earnestly try to promote your happiness. "

During this long speech Myrtle had sat wide eyed and white, watchinghis face and marveling at the strangeness of her fate. But she wasvery, very glad, and young enough to quickly recover from the shock. 

There was a round of applause from Patsy, Beth, the Major andUncle John, which served admirably to cover their little friend'sembarrassment and give her time to partially collect herself. Then sheturned to Mr. Jones and with eyes swimming with tears tenderly kissedhis furrowed cheek. 

"Oh, Uncle Anson; I'm _so_ happy!" she said. 

Of course Myrtle's story is told, now. But it may be well to add thatUncle Anson did for her all that Uncle John had intended doing, andeven more. The consultation with a famous New York specialist, ontheir return a month later, assured the girl that no painful operationwas necessary. The splendid outing she had enjoyed, with the fine airof the far West, had built up her health to such an extent that natureremedied the ill she had suffered. Myrtle took no crutches back to NewYork--a city now visited for the first time in her life--nor did sheever need them again. The slight limp she now has will disappearin time, the doctors say, and the child is so radiantly happy thatneither she nor her friends notice the limp at all. 

Patsy Doyle, as owner of the pretty flat building on Willing Square, has rented to Uncle Anson the apartment just opposite that of theDoyles, and Mr. Jones has furnished it cosily to make a home for hisniece, to whom he is so devoted that Patsy declares her own doting andadoring father is fairly outclassed. 

The Major asserts this is absurd; but he has acquired a genuinefriendship for Anson Jones, who is no longer sad but has grown lovableunder Myrtle's beneficent influence.