Ryan Marah Ellis - The Treasure Trail: A Romance of the Land of Gold and Sunshine стр 17.

Singleton walked silent beside her back to where his horse was grazing by the roadside.

Huh! grunted the girl with frank scorn. So you got out of the saddle to spy? Havent you some black-and-tan around the ranch to do your dirty work?

Its just as well to be civil till you know what you are talking about, he reminded her with a sort of trained patience. I came out without my breakfast just to keep the ranchmen from thinking what Tia Luz thinks. She told me Id find that fellow waiting for you. I didnt believe it, but I see she is not so far wrong.

He spoke without heat or feeling, and his tone was that of quiet discussion with a man or boy, not at all that of a guardian to a girl. His charge was evidently akin to the horse ranch of Granados as described by the old ranger: Singleton had acquired them, but never understood them.

Look here, said his protégée with boyish roughness, that Dutchman sees everything crooked, especially if theres an American in range, and he prejudices you. Why dont you wake up long enough to notice that hes framing some excuse to run off every decent chap who comes on the place? I knew Rhodes was too white to be let stay. I saw that as soon as he landed, and I told him so! What I cant understand is that you wont see it.

A manager has to have a free hand, Billie, or else be let go, explained Singleton. Conrad knows horses, he knows the market, and is at home with the Mexicans. Also he costs less than we used to pay, and that is an item in a bad year.

Ill bet we lose enough cattle to his friends to make up the difference, she persisted. Rhodes was right when he called them a rotten bunch.

Let us hope that when you return from school you will have lost the major portion of your unsavory vocabulary, he suggested. That will be worth a herd of cattle.

It would be worth another herd to see you wake up and show you had one good fight in you! she retorted. Conrad has all of the ranch outfit locoed but me; thats why he passes on this school notion to you. He wants me out of sight.

I should have been more decided, and insisted that you go last year. Heaven knows you need it badly enough, sighed Singleton, ignoring her disparaging comment on his own shortcomings. And then as they rode under the swaying fronds of the palm drive leading to the ranch house he added, Those words of your bronco busting friend concerning the life insurance risk sounded like a threat. I wonder what he meant by it?

The telephone bell on the Granados Junction line was ringing when they entered the patio. Singleton glanced at the clock.

A night letter probably, he remarked. Go get your coffee, child, its a late hour for breakfast.

Billie obeyed, sulkily seating herself opposite Tia Luzwho was bolt upright behind the coffee urn, with a mien expressing dignified disapproval. She inhaled a deep breath for forceful speech, but Billie was ahead of her.

So it was you! You were the spy, and sent him after me!

Madre de Dios! and why not? demanded the competent Luz. You stealing your own horse at the dawn to go with the old Captain Pike. I ask of you what kind of a girl is that? Also Mercedes was here last night tearing her hair because of the girls, her sisters daughters, stolen away over there in Sonora. Well! is that not enough? That Señor Kit is also too handsome. I was a fool to send the medicine with you to Pedros house. He looked a fine caballero but even a fine caballero will take a girl when she follows after. I know! And once in Sonora all trails of a girl are lost. I know that too!

You are all crazy, and I never saw him at Pedros house, never! said the girl reaching for her coffee, and then suddenly she began to laugh. Did you think, did you make Papa Philip think, that I was eloping like this? and she glanced down at her denim riding dress.

And why not? Did I myself not steal out in a shift and petticoat the first time I tried to run away with my Andreas? And beyond that not a thing under God had I on but my coral beads, and the red satin slippers of my sister Dorotea! She pulled my hair wickedly for those slippers, and I got a reata on my back from my grandmother for that running away. I was thirteen years old then! But when I was nearly sixteen we did get away, Andreas and I, and after that it was as well for the grandmother to pay a priest for us, and let us alone. Ai-ji! señorita, I am not forgetting what I know! And while I am here in Granados there must be nothing less than a grand marriage, and may the saints send the right man, for a wrong one makes hell in any house!

Billie forgot her sulkiness in her joy at the elopements of Tia Luz. No wonder she distrusted an American girl who was allowed to ride alone!

But in the midst of her laughter she was reminded that Singleton was still detained at the telephone in the adjoining room, and that his rather high-pitched tones betrayed irritation.

Well, why cant you give the telegram to me? Addressed to Conrad? Of course if its a personal message I dont want it, but you say it is a ranch matterand important. Horses? What about them?

Billie, listening, sped from the table to his side, and putting her hand over the telephone, whispered:

If Brehman, the secretary, was here, theyd give it to him. They always do.

Singleton nodded to her, and grew decided.

See here, Webster, one of our men was hurt, and Brehman took his place and went East with that horse shipment. Mr. Conrad had to go down in Sonora on business, and I am the only one here to take his place. Just give me the message as you would give it to the secretary. But youd better type a copy and send by mail that I can put it on file. All right? Yes, go ahead.

Billie had quickly secured paper and pencil, but instead of taking them, Singleton motioned for her to write the message.

Adolf Conrad, Granados Ranch, Granados Junction, Arizona. Regret to report September shipment horses developed ailment aboard vessel, fifty per cent dead, balance probably of no military use,

Word by word Singleton took the message and word by word Billie wrote it down, while they stared at each other.

Developed ailment aboard vessel! repeated Singleton. Then there was something wrong on shipboard, for there certainly is not here. We have no sick horses on the ranch, never do have!

But these people? and Billie pointed to the signature.

Oh, they are the men who buy stock for the Allies, agents for the French. They paid for the horses on delivery. They are safe, substantial people. I cant understand

But Billie caught his arm with a gasp of horror and enlightenment.

Papa Phil! Thinkthink what Kit Rhodes said! Ground glass in the feed at the other end of the road! Conrads gameHerrara knows! Papa Phil,Miguel Herrara was killedkilled! And Conrad tried to kill Kit! Oh he did, he did! None of the Mexicans thought he would get well, but Tia Luz cured him. And Cap Pike never went out of sight of that adobe until Conrad had left the ranch, and I know Kit was right. I know it, I know it! Oh, my horses, my beautiful horses!

There, there! Why, child youre hysterical over this, which isis too preposterous for belief!

Nothing is too preposterous for belief. You know that. Everybody knows it in these days! Is Belgium too preposterous? Is that record of poison and powdered glass in hospital supplies too preposterous? In hospital supplies! If they do that to wounded men, why not to cavalry horses? Why Papa Phil