The Phantom Town Mystery

by Carol Norton

  CHAPTER XXII AN INTERESTING ARRIVAL

  The road to Tombstone was narrow, rutty and lonesome. Every now and thenit dipped down into a gravelly wash, arroyos in the making, that were,year after year, being deepened by the torrents that rushed down thenot-distant mountain sides after a cloudburst. Along the banks of thesedry creek-beds grew low cottonwood trees, making shelters behind whichbandits _might_ lurk if they were so inclined. But the girls, having beenassured by Jerry that the train robbers had long since crossed theMexican border, were not really fearful. For once, even Mary was notusing her imagination to a frightening extent.

  "Big Brother," she said, "I was just thinking about that aviator friendof Patsy's. Don't you think it must be wonderful to be flying at night upunder those lovely white stars? They look so close to the earth here inArizona as though Harry Hulbert might almost have to weave his way amongthem."

  Jerry, evidently more desirous of talking of stars than of the aviator ofthe "Seagull," stated matter-of-factly, "It's the clear air here thatmakes the stars look so large and close--sort of like lanterns hung in ablue-black roof over our heads."

  Just then a huge star shot across the heavens leaving a trail of fire.Mary whirled to call back, "Oh, Dora, did you wish on that shootingstar?"

  "Nope! Didn't see it!" was the laconic reply.

  "Did you?" Jerry asked in a low voice. How he hoped Mary had echoed _his_wish, but what she said was, "Yes, I hoped the Seagull would make a safelanding. It must be terribly dangerous landing among so many mountainpeaks, or, one might even be forced down in the middle of a barrenstretch of desert, oh, miles from water or anyone!"

  If Jerry were disappointed, he made no comment. Dora leaned forward tocall, "From the top of the next little hill we'd ought to be able to seethe lights of Tombstone, hadn't we, Jerry?"

  "I reckon we will, lest be the power plant's out of commission."

  The rather feeble lights of the rattly old car did little to illumine thewell of darkness in which they were riding. The wash they were crossingwas wide and deep and the girls were both glad when they climbed thatlast little hill and were nearer the stars again. From the top, theycould see the black wall of mountains to the distant right of them, whichJerry had called "The Dragoons." A desert valley at its foot stretchedaway for many miles shimmering in the starlight. Not far ahead of themwas a cluster of sand hills--"the silver hills"--on which stood the smallmining-town of Tombstone. The power plant was in order, as was evidencedby the twinkling of lights. A friendly group of them marked the mainstreet, and scattered lights, farther and farther apart, were shiningfrom the windows of homes. Down the little hill the car dropped, thenbegan the last long climb up to the town.

  On the main street there were unshaven, roughly dressed men, some fromthe range, others from the mines, loitering about in front of a lightedpool hall. They were talking, some of them excitedly, about the recenttrain robbery. Jerry drew his car to the curb and leaped out. Three youngcowboys called a greeting to him. He replied in a friendly way, butturned at once to assist Mary. Dick and Dora followed the other two intoa low adobe building labeled "Post Office." A light was burning in asmall back room. Jerry opened the door and entered. A middle-aged man,whose gauntness suggested that he had come there to be cured of the"white plague," smiled affably. "Evening, Jerry-boy," he said. "Wait tillI get this message. The wires are keeping hot tonight along of that trainrobbery."

  The uneven clicking of the instrument ended; the man scribbled a fewwords, called a lounging boy from a dark corner and dispatched him toSheriff Goode. Jerry introduced his companions to Mr. Hale, thenexplained the object of their visit.

  Mr. Hale shook his head. "Well, that's just too bad," he said. "I happento know that Gray Bluffs country well. Stopped off when I first cameWest, health-hunting, but it didn't agree with me there; nothing likethis Tombstone shine and air to make sick lungs well."

  His tanned face and bright eyes told his enthusiasm, but he addedquickly, "_That_ won't interest you any. What I started to say is thatGray Bluffs isn't a real town, that is not _now_. It was, of course, whenthey first found gold in the bluffs, but it petered out, the post officemoved to another place and so did the folks who'd lived there."

  "Did you ever hear of a woman named Burger over there?" Jerry asked.

  "Sure! That was the name of the postmistress, Miss Kate Burger. She died,though, along about five years ago."

  Just then the instrument began an excited clicking. The operator turnedhis attention to it. "Say, that's great!" he ejaculated as thoughaddressing whoever was sending the message.

  "Oh, Mr. Hale, _have_ they caught the robbers?" Mary asked eagerly.

  "No, not that." The man was scribbling rapidly. "Say, hasn't thatkid--oh, here you are, Trombone. Take this back to the Deputy Sheriff'soffice. Dep's been loco all day." Then to the interested listeners, heexplained, "He'd been promised the help of an air scout from the East;thought maybe he'd had a smashup; was due this morning early. Well, thatlast message was from the head office of the border patrol. The air scoutwill be along any time now."

  "Oh, Mr. Hale, is his name Harry Hulbert?" Mary, her pretty cheeksflushed, listened eagerly for the answer.

  "Don't know! Haven't heard! Say, Jerry." The man looked up quickly, andDora thought she'd never seen such keen, eagle-like eyes. "You boys hadbetter drop out the back way if you can. Dep Goode is rounding up all theable-bodied fellows he can find for the next posse that's to start assoon as this air pilot does a little scouting."

  Mary, suddenly panicky at the idea, caught the cowboy's arm. "Oh, BigBrother," she cried, forgetting that the name would sound strange to aman who knew that Jerry had no sisters, "can't we get away somehow beforewe're seen?"

  Jerry looked at her tenderly, but shook his head. "No, I cain't dodge myduty. I _must_ volunteer!" Then, to the other boy, "Dick, you drive thegirls back to Gleeson, will you? I reckon the Deputy Sheriff'll let youoff. He isn't after tenderfoot help, meaning no harm, they'd be more of ahindrance."

  Dick flushed, but knowing that Jerry always meant whatever he said in thekindest way, he expressed his disappointment. "Oh, I say, Jerry, can't Icome back after I've taken the girls home? I'd like awfully well to hangaround and watch what happens. I'll promise not to get underfoot or be inthe way."

  Before Jerry could reply, Mary caught his coat sleeve and exclaimed, hereyes like stars, "Hark, don't you hear an airplane?"

  They all listened and heard distinctly from above the hum of a motor.Dick sprang toward the door. "Come on, everyone, let's be among thosepresent on the reception committee," he said. Then, remembering hismanners, he stepped back and held the door open for the girls to passout.

  "Good night, Mr. Hale, and thanks a lot," Mary called with her sweetestsmile.

  "Hope you'll all drop in again." The man had only time to nod before hisattention was again called to the busy little instrument.

  Out in the street, there were many more men. As the news of the robberyhad spread by horseback riders and remote ranch telephones, men hadgalloped into town eager to offer their services. Now they all stood orsat their horses, silent, for the most part, as they watched the greatsilver bird which was slowly circling round and round over their heads.

  The moon had risen above distant peaks and was high enough to make thestreet dimly lighted.

  "Oh, it _must_ be Harry!" Mary whispered excitedly as she clutchedJerry's arm not knowing that she did so. "That plane _is_ as silvery as aseagull, just as Patsy and Polly wrote us."

  "Wonder why he doesn't land," Dick commented.

  "I reckon there isn't but one safe landing place in this town, and that'sright here where the crowd is standing. This square, out front of thepost office, has been landed on before now."

  "See! Something's falling from the plane." Dora pointed upward. "It's asmall something! What _can_ it be?"

  The object fell like a plummet and landed at their feet. "It's analuminum bottle. Oh, loo
k! There's a note attached to it." Dora picked itup.

  "Here comes Deputy Sheriff Goode," Jerry told the others. "Give it to me!I'll hand it to him."

  The Deputy Sheriff's restless horse did not stop prancing while the manopened and read the note. Then he flung it to the ground, pocketing thesmall bottle.

  Dick, feeling sure that the message had not been of a private nature,picked it up and with the aid of his flash he read: "Whirl a lantern,will you, where I'm supposed to land. A. S. H. H."

  "A. S. means air scout, of course," Dick said.

  "And H. H. is Harry Hulbert. Oh, Dora, think of our meeting Patsy'saviator." Mary's eyes were shining with excitement.

  Jerry could not help hearing Dora's reply. "_Not_ Patsy's!" was saidteasingly. "Remember _this_ young hero was chosen for _you_."

  "Oh, silly!" Mary retorted, but her rebuke did not seem to be voicingdispleasure.

  "Move back! Move back everyone! Scuttle! Five seconds to clear thissquare!" Cowmen on horseback were acting as mounted police and were soeffective that in short order the big square was vacant and ready for thelanding.