The Second Girl Detective Megapack: 23 Classic Mystery Novels for Girls

by Julia K. Duncan

  There were two horses but it looked as though one horse was carrying a double load. Gale’s interest was aroused. Who was it? The horses were pulled up short in front of the cabin and Gale flattened herself against the wall. She did not have as good a view of the new arrivals as she might have wished for, but she could catch glimpses of them and she could hear their voices. Right now they seemed anything but pleased. They were having trouble with something—or someone.

  “Let me go!”

  Out of the thin air, it seemed to Gale, she heard Valerie’s voice. Valerie here! How did she get here? Was she on the horse with one of the outlaws? That must be the explanation of the double burden one of the horses was carrying. In some way, the men had kidnapped Valerie and brought her here. Gale rejoiced inwardly now that she had stayed, but her heart leapt and her hands clenched the next second when she heard what sounded like a slap and a half smothered scream from Valerie.

  “Maybe that’ll keep you quiet for a while,” one of the men said.

  Gale longed to rush out and interfere on Valerie’s behalf but she knew how foolish that would be. She could only wait for an opportunity and pray that they did not seriously harm Val. That it should be Valerie made it all the more tragic in Gale’s estimation. If it had been Phyllis or Madge or Virginia, one more able to stand rough handling and hardship, Gale would have been more optimistic about her chances. But with Val she was worried. She, Gale, had to help her friend, but how?

  Carefully she approached her post by the window and looked in. Valerie was seated in a chair by the fireplace and the Mexican was approaching with two straps from the saddle lying in the corner. He proceeded to strap Val’s hands to the chair posts. The other two riders watched him for a moment and then came toward the door. Gale hastily retreated and did not appear again until their horses were lost in the black trees. Back at the window she watched, while the Mexican walked slowly around his captive, deliberately appraising her. The door was closed and she could not hear what was being said, but it was evident that Valerie was saying uncomplimentary things for the breed’s face was growing blacker and blacker with rage.

  It was Gale’s intention to call the Mexican from the cabin on some ruse and while he was out slip in and cut Val free. But for that purpose she would need a knife. She ran back to her horse. In her saddle bag she carried a knife and, while she was here, it would be just as well to move her horse up closer to the cabin. If she and Val had to make a dash for it, it would be well not to have to run too far. Leaving her horse standing at the rim of the open space where the cabin was, she approached the window again. Now she had to think of a ruse to get the Mexican out of the cabin.

  The light in the cabin was from the fire in the fireplace and from two lanterns which cast a sickly yellow glow over the occupants of the building and the meager furnishings. Gale could see the Mexican bending over Val, leering at her. She could see Val’s bright eyes and flushed cheeks. Whatever the Mexican was saying to taunt her, it had thoroughly aroused Val’s temper. She saw Val’s lips move and wished desperately that she might hear what the girl said. But the walls of the cabin were thick and the windows and doors closed, effectively smothering all sound. The Mexican’s hand shot out and struck Val a heavy blow across the cheek, bringing a dark red stain to the white skin.

  Gale saw Val’s head droop until her chin rested on her chest. What was wrong? Was she going to cry now, of all times? It was just what the Mexican wanted, to make her grovel. Evidently the Mexican thought he had subdued all signs of rebellion in his fair prisoner for he bent closer with a sneering smile. But it was a trick! When the Mexican bent over, Val’s foot shot up and kicked him hard in the pit of the stomach. He stumbled backward, doubled over in pain.

  Gale could have danced in delight. Three cheers for Val! Her fighting blood was up. Gale found herself a little surprised at Val’s daring. Val had more courage than the girls had given her credit for. But now would come a reckoning. The Mexican was straightening up, his face still contorted with pain, and drawing a knife from his belt. He took two steps toward Val, caressing the knife with loving fingers. If Val was afraid, she gave no sign of it and for that Gale admired her all the more. She was quite well aware that had she been in Val’s place she would have been scared green. The Mexican looked awfully intent on doing a bit of carving.

  As for Val, she was frightened. The light in the half-breed’s eyes and the way he held the knife sent little shivers up her back. She twisted vainly at the bonds about her hands. Must she sit here while he stuck his knife into her? But for all her terror, she gave no sign of it. Her head was high and her gaze steady.

  “Ah! You are brave my leetle one!” the Mexican said with his slurring accent. “But you weel not be so brave w’en I have—what eez that?”

  To Val’s ears it sounded like hoofbeats. She prayed earnestly that it was. Even if it was but the other two bandits coming back, it would delay the Mexican’s knife a little longer.

  Gale, recognizing that the Mexican sought revenge for that kick and was intent upon securing that revenge with his knife, cast about quickly for some means of getting him from the cabin. Her eyes came round from the window to the Mexican’s horse standing meekly a few paces away. She crossed to him, pulled the reins up over his head and gave him a sharp slap on the flank. The horse started forward with a jerk and Gale disappeared around the side of the cabin. With the sound of the hoofbeats the door of the cabin was pulled open and the Mexican stepped to the ground. Gale could see him staring after his horse, but he made no effort to chase the animal as she had hoped he would. He stood there for several minutes until the horse had disappeared and then with a smothered exclamation of disgust or wrath stalked back into the cabin. Her ruse had failed. He didn’t apparently care what happened to his horse. Now what was she going to do? Val needed help and she, Gale, must do something. She didn’t have time to go for Jim or Tom. She would have to handle the Mexican herself, and hope that she and Val would have a fighting chance. If he should foil her attempt at rescue, then they would both be his helpless prisoners and anything might happen! She laughed nervously at her own lack of confidence. She wasn’t very optimistic at any rate. However, they would see—what they would see.

  She peeped in the window again. The Mexican was wiping the blade of his knife carefully on his shirt sleeve. She knew he was so deliberately cool and slow just to keep Valerie in suspense and to undermine her courage. She looked at her friend. Valerie’s color had faded a bit and her eyes were a little more luminous, but not with fear. She saw Val’s lips move again but she didn’t know that Val had said:

  “Well, why don’t you get it over with?”

  “In time, my leetle one, in time,” Pedro laughed.

  “If you don’t hurry my friends might arrive and spoil your little party,” Valerie continued imperturbably.

  He laughed again. “They weel not come here, my friend.”

  “Yes they will,” Valerie said coolly, “and when they do, you will look very handsome—at the end of a rope.”

  “Rope?” he pretended not to understand her.

  “Yes, a rope,” Valerie said bluntly, “for they will hang you to the highest limb of the nearest tree and your friends with you!”

  He laughed, albeit a tiny gleam of fear had flickered for a moment in his eyes.

  “But I weel not be here,” he said smoothly. “And you, my preety flower, will not be able to tell them w’ere I have gone.”

  Valerie swallowed with difficulty. The fellow was getting on her nerves. He knew her story about her friends coming had been a bluff and he was gloating over the fact. If something didn’t happen soon, her nerve would go to pieces.

  CHAPTER XIV

  Trapped

  Gale, her revolver clasped firmly in her right hand, and the knife with which she was to free Valerie secure in her left, crept forward to the door. What if the door was bolted on the inside? That would spoil everything! With her foot she pushed on the heavy panels and, creaking
protestingly, the door swung inward.

  The Mexican had wheeled sharply when the door first moved, and now he stared in amazement at the slender girl on the threshold and then at the business-like revolver in her hand.

  “Oh, Gale!” was all that Valerie could manage to utter, so great was her joy and relief.

  “Hands up, Señor,” Gale commanded.

  The knife clattered to the floor as the Mexican obediently raised his arms above his head. Gale walked forward to Valerie.

  “O. K., Val?”

  “Yes—now,” Val said, with answering smile.

  The Mexican, thinking to catch Gale off guard, slowly lowered his arms, but she was watching him.

  “Reach for the sky, you!” she said savagely. “I’m not afraid to shoot, so be careful.”

  But the Mexican, his pride outraged that such a slip of a girl should dare oppose him, lunged forward and caught Gale’s wrist in his hand. Gale’s finger pressed the trigger, but the bullet sped harmlessly past him. His fingers were like steel talons about her wrist, hurting so she had to drop the revolver. It fell to the floor by her foot and a kick sent it spinning into the corner. At the same time she pulled herself free of the man and darted to the other side of the rickety table. He retrieved his knife from the floor and took a few catlike steps toward her.

  Gale retreated until she stumbled against a stool. She gripped it firmly and watched her enemy.

  “Don’t come near me!” she warned.

  Forgotten was the knife she still had. Now she had another plan of defense and, desperate as it was, she meant to use it. The Mexican came nearer and she swung the stool up with a crashing blow against his head. It was an effective means of subduing him, for he crumpled to the floor without a sound.

  “That was the one I owed him,” Val muttered.

  Gale shivered, and turning away, secured her gun and went across to Val, her back deliberately upon her fallen enemy. It took but a moment to slash Valerie’s bonds.

  “Oh, Gale!” Valerie said, almost sobbing, her head on Gale’s shoulder. Now that there was no longer any reason for her to be brave, reaction had set in. “It was—horrible!”

  “You were marvelous!” Gale said soothingly.

  “I was scared!” Val contradicted with a nervous laugh. “And now I’m acting like a silly goose. Oh, Gale, how did you get here? Where did you come from?”

  “I was here all the time,” Gale said, “ever since this afternoon. But we’ll have explanations later. Come along, we have to get out of here.”

  “Slowly my young friends!” an oily voice spoke behind Gale.

  The latter could see Val’s face whiten with sudden terror. She heard her catch her breath and felt her tremble.

  “Gale—he was shamming—it was a trick. He’s got a gun!” Val whispered brokenly.

  Gale put Valerie from her and turned about. The Mexican was peering along the barrel of a rifle leveled at them. Her gaze went beyond him to the corner where lay the saddle and where, this afternoon, she had found the same rifle he now held. Her hand went into her breeches pocket and she smiled broadly.

  The more the Mexican glowered over the gun at them, the more Gale smiled. Valerie watched her friend with amazement. Had the evening’s events mentally unbalanced Gale? It was no situation at which to laugh. At least she didn’t see the funny side.

  “Gale! What’s the matter?” Val asked, shaking Gale’s arm vigorously. “Are you crazy? He’ll shoot!”

  “No, he won’t,” Gale said, shaking her head. “He can’t. The gun isn’t loaded.” For an instant the rifle wavered. “Look for yourself,” she invited, hoping desperately that it hadn’t been reloaded.

  Pedro did so and with a muttered exclamation of disgust flung the gun aside.

  “And now we’ll let you take Val’s place,” Gale said, leveling her revolver at him. “Come on, sit down there!”

  It took but a moment to fasten him as securely as Valerie had been. He glared at them all the while.

  “W’en I am free I will keel you!” he promised balefully.

  “Ah, but you won’t be free,” Gale assured him happily. “The Sheriff will take care of that.”

  “You t’ink so, eh?” he laughed. “The gringo jail cannot hol’ me!”

  “Sure of yourself, aren’t you?” was Gale’s opinion.

  He nodded. “I know. An’ I weel fin’ you and wit’ my knife I weel slash so—”

  “Never mind the details,” Valerie interrupted. “Come on, Gale, let’s leave him.”

  “Right you are,” Gale said cheerily. “Well, Pedro, the next time we see you I hope you are behind bars.”

  “I weel not be,” he said confidently.

  Outside was the sound of voices. Valerie turned startled eyes to Gale. The Mexican laughed and then Gale understood why he had talked so loud and confidently. He had talked to cover the sound of approaching horses and he had succeeded. His friends had returned and they were trapped.

  Gale’s mind worked with lightning rapidity. If their plans had worked only two outlaws were to return here. The other three would be busy taking cattle across the border into Mexico. But even two—

  “What will we do, Gale?” Valerie’s voice was steady. The emergency had brought back her courage.

  Gale thrust her revolver into Val’s hand and snatched up the rifle. She brought the shells from her pocket and loaded it.

  “Get on the other side of the door,” she directed her friend. “We have to take ’em by surprise or else—”

  Valerie shivered. “Yes,” she agreed, “or else!”

  “Steady,” Gale warned, “here they come.”

  There was a ring of a bootheel as the two men approached the cabin unsuspectingly. Gale was on one side of the doorway and Val on the other. As the men stepped into the room and stopped aghast at the sight of the Mexican, the girls stepped forward. The two, taken utterly unaware by the pressure of the gun muzzles in their backs, raised their hands obediently.

  “Face the wall,” Gale ordered, and the two turned meekly. She knew if she gave them time to overcome their surprise they would not be so docile. Cautiously she reached forward and secured first one man’s gun and then the other. While Valerie watched the two, Gale emptied the guns, put the shells into her pocket and tossed the revolvers onto the table.

  “What shall we do with them?” Valerie asked nervously, indicating the two men standing, faces to the wall, at the rear of the cabin.

  “That’s what I’m wondering,” Gale murmured with a frown. “I suppose one should watch them while one goes back to camp for Tom and Jim.”

  “Well,” Val said firmly, “I’m sure I couldn’t find the way back to the camp, and I refuse to stay here alone! So what?”

  “Indeed, so what?” Gale returned. “We have to do one or the other. Stand still there!” she warned, as one of the outlaws made as though to turn around. “Don’t forget I’ve got a gun and I know how to use it.”

  “It’s almost morning,” Val said.

  Through the window they could see the sky growing lighter as night faded into dawn. One of the bandits turned about.

  “See here you—”

  “Keep quiet,” Gale commanded, “and turn around.”

  “No kid is gonna tell me what to do,” the man returned. “I’ll—”

  Deliberately Gale raised her gun and fired a bullet into the wall over his head. “I might hit you next time,” she said sweetly.

  The man turned then with a muttered exclamation that only his companion heard. The two of them stood with their faces to the wall while the girls held a conference.

  “We have to do something,” Valerie said. “And in a hurry too,” she added.

  “What’s that?” Gale asked.

  Val went to the window and looked out. Coming into view between the trees were riders, about six of them and all of them carried rifles across their saddles.

  “Horses,” Val answered in a low, worried tone. “I wonder if their pals are to co
me back this morning?”

  “Maybe some of them,” Gale replied uneasily. “Now what will we do? I wish we had never got mixed up in this.”

  “No more than I do,” Val agreed. “Well?” she asked.

  “Can you recognize any of the riders?” Gale wanted to know.

  “No,” Val answered, gazing out the window. “They are not coming toward the cabin now. They seem to be having a conference about what to do.”

  “If they come on here we are lost,” Gale declared. “We’ll have to stop them.”

  Val turned to watch the outlaws while Gale took a look out the window. There were men in the distance, but they were indistinguishable in the gray light of dawn and because of the thickness of the trees. While she watched, they started forward toward the cabin. She raised her rifle and fired a bullet that raised a spurt of dust in front of the advancing horses. That had the desired effect. The men retreated to the trees again. There they seemed to spread out fanlike.

  “Going to surround the place,” she said to Val. “We’re trapped all right. We might as well invite them in now.”

  “We won’t give up without a fight,” Val said staunchly.

  At the moment she spoke a well-planted bullet shook the center panel of the door. The girls exchanged looks.

  “I don’t think it will be much of a fight,” Gale said. “We have only one rifle bullet left. That won’t be much help.”

  “I’d like to know who it is,” Valerie said with a frown. “If it is these fellows’ friends why did they stop before they got to the cabin in the first place?”

  Another bullet thudded into the door. The outlaws looked about uneasily.

  “Why don’t you go out and meet your friends,” one of them demanded of Gale.

  She regarded him with a shrewd glance. “Our friends?” she murmured. “Are you sure you weren’t expecting anybody?”

  “Shore, the King of England,” the other man drawled loftily.

  “Do you suppose it could be our friends?” Valerie asked.

  “Too many,” Gale said immediately, but she was uncertain.