Ralphson George Harvey - Boy Scouts on the Open Plains; The Round-Up Not Ordered стр 6.

It was only a short time later that Jack, Harry and Jimmy, still devouring the long letters they had received, in which all the news of the home circles was retailed, saw Ned walking briskly toward them.

Hes struck something or other thats given him reason to chirk up, announced the observant Jimmy, as he took a shrewd look at Neds face on the scout master drawing near. Ten to one hes had word from the head of the Secret Service in Washington. Itd sure be pretty punk now if after comin so far over deserts and the like to visit your uncle, we had to drop off here and take the train back to Los Angeles, so Ned could help gather in some gang of counterfeiters or look up a bunch of smugglers bringing the Heathen Chinese across the Mexican border while all that fighting is goin on down there between Villa and Huerta.

Ned quickly joined them. They could see from the alert look on his face that something must have happened since he left them shortly before to arouse Ned. His eyes shone with resolution and he had the look that appears on a hunters face when he discovers the track of the animal he had long wanted to bag.

Did you find a message waiting for you here, Ned? asked Harry.

Just what I did, came the reply.

Then it must have been from Washington? suggested Jack, anxiously. But lets hope for Harrys sake it wont call you off from this scheme weve got started.

Thats the strangest thing of it all, replied Ned; because, you see, this message was meant to send me from Los Angeles straight down into this very section of the Colorado River country.

CHAPTER III. THE HELPING HAND

Tell me about that, now, muttered Jimmy; was there ever anything like the luck that chases after us all the while? Here we start out to visit Harrys uncle, so he might carry out a mission that his folks sent him on, and of course the Government must a guessed all about it, since they went and laid a game to be hatched out right in the same part of the Wild and Wooly West. Can you beat it?

Let Ned tell us what the game is, cant you, Jimmy? demanded Harry.

Yes, and please dont break in again with your remarks until hes all through, added Jack. It bothers a fellow to make

connections when you get started. If you must talk, why, well throw in and hire a hall for the occasion. Now, Ned, tell us what the Secret Service folks want you to do.

Ive had a message in cipher from my people in Washington, telling me that while Im out in this section theyd like me to look up one Clem Parsons, whos been wanted for a long time on the charge of counterfeiting Government notes. When last heard from he was running a stage line somewhere in the country of the Colorado and doing a little in the way of fleecing unsuspecting travelers who come out here to see the wonders of the Canyon. So from now on well begin to ask questions and see whether we can get on the trail of this gentleman whos given some of the smartest agents in the Secret Service the call-down.

And then they have to depend on Ned Nestor and his able assistant, Jimmy McGraw, remarked the last mentioned scout; excuse me, fellers, but if you dont blow your own horn, who dye reckonll be fool enough to do it for you? But Ned, if our luck holds as good as it generally does, chances are ten to one this same Clem Parsons will come tumbling right up against us. It seems like you might be a magnet and they all have to come our way sooner or later.

Any description of what he looks like? asked Jack, who had known Ned to get similar orders on previous occasions and could guess that it was not all left to his imagination.

Yes, they tell me he is tall and thin and has a scar on his left cheek. He used to be a cow puncher at one time and might be working at his old trade now. Thats a point to remember when we get to the Double Cross Ranch. Every puncher will have to run the gantlet of our eyes and if one of them happens to be marked with a scar on his left cheek, itll be a bad day for him.

Now, wouldnt it be queer if we did run across the mutt there at your uncles place, Harry? remarked Jimmy. But here we are again, Ned, uniting business with pleasure like weve done heaps of times before now. Mr. Clem Parsons, Im sure sorry for you when this combination gets started to work, because youve got to come in out of the wet and thats all there is to it!

It might appear that Jimmy was much given to boasting; but as a rule he made good, so that this failing might be forgiven by those who knew him and his propensity for joking.

They moved out of town after getting a pretty poor apology for a lunch at the tavern. Jimmy declared that he would starve on such fare and announced his intention of immediately opening a box of crackers he had purchased at a local store so as to keep himself from suffering.

Ned, as was his habit, had interviewed about everybody that crossed his path, so as to improve upon the rude map he carried and which he had found to be faulty on several occasions, which fact caused him to distrust it as a guide.