by Joan Clark
CHAPTER XVII
A Night Prowler
"Who was that fellow?" Cecil asked in a frightened whisper. "Why did herun when you called?"
"I don't know," the girl answered. "We'll find out."
She urged Silvertail down the steep trail.
"Wait," protested Cecil in alarm. "We're unarmed, and there's no tellingwho that man may be. Maybe we ought to call off this trip."
"You and Helena ride back to the ranch," Connie urged. "I'm going overthere."
"Then we'll stay with you," declared Helena with surprising courage."After all, this was our idea."
The horses picked their way slowly and cautiously down the steep path.Soon they reached the bottom of the canyon and began the ascent. Conniekept her eyes on the trail above them which circled the cliff. She hadseen no sign of anyone moving about.
"Let your horse have his head," she warned as the way became moretreacherous.
Presently Connie called a halt. They tied their steeds to a pine treeand continued afoot. The trail became dangerously narrow, so that aslight misstep would mean a plunge over the sheer precipice.
"Let's not go any farther," Helena gasped. "I'm afraid."
"You and Cecil wait for me here," Connie commanded.
Leaving the pair huddling with their backs to the cliff, she hurried ondown the trail. Connie knew every inch of it and had no fear of falling.But she glanced sharply at the overhanging bushes. Everything was still.Yet the girl had a feeling that her movements were being observed.
Using the crude steps which had been cut in the cliff by the ancientdwellers, Connie descended between two faulted rocks. As she picked upthe trail again at the bottom, she saw something bright and shiny lyingon the ground. It was a tiny silver knife.
With a murmur of astonishment she reached down for it.
"Why, that looks like Jim Barrows' knife," she thought as she examinedit.
Connie remembered that the man had worn an ornamental silver knifefastened to his watch chain. Her reflection was a brief one for as shefingered the article, Helena gave a piercing scream.
Fearing that harm had befallen the girl, Connie thrust the knife intoher pocket and scrambled up the cliff by means of toe holds cut there bythe ancient dwellers. She ran along the trail until she caught sight ofCecil and Helena standing where she had left them.
"Oh, you're all right, thank goodness," she gasped. "When I heard thatscream I was frightened nearly out of my wits."
"I saw someone moving in the bushes!" Helena reported.
"Where?"
Helena pointed to a group of shrubs some distance above them. Connieknew that it would be impossible to reach the spot without a dangerousclimb. Unarmed, she had no desire to investigate.
"Let's get away from here," Cecil urged. "You can't hope to learn theidentity of that prowler."
Connie did not mention that already she had gained an important clue.She felt certain the knife belonged to Jim Barrows. But why would he beinvestigating the cliff dwellings? Was it possible that he was living inone of the kivas, hiding there in fear that the law would overtake him?
She hesitated, wondering if she ought not to go back and make a thoroughsearch. Helena read her thought and grasped her by the hand.
"Do let's go away from here," she pleaded. "Cecil and I were wrong aboutwishing to come in the first place. Please don't go back into that darkhole under the cliff. Something dreadful might happen."
"All right, we'll return to the ranch," Connie said. "I doubt that wecould learn anything to-night anyway."
"Who do you think was hiding in those bushes?" Cecil asked nervously asthey mounted their horses.
"Oh, perhaps a cowboy from Slocer's Ranch," Connie replied carelessly."One of the boys might have come over here just to see the cliffdwellings by moonlight. Nearly every cowboy has a sentimental streak,you know."
"I hadn't observed it," Helena responded dryly. "It doesn't seem to methe man would have run away unless he were afraid of being recognized."
Connie did not trust herself to offer any comment as they began thedescent into the valley. The discovery that Jim Barrows was lurking inthe vicinity disturbed her more than she cared to have Cecil and Helenaknow.
For the most part the three rode in silence. The incident of the nighthad served to sober Helena and her brother and they had lost theirsuperior airs.
Ascending the trail on the far side of the canyon, they turned theirhorses toward Rainbow Ranch. Connie was dead tired but a great manythings remained to be done before she could feel free to turn in.
"Don't forget that the roundup starts tomorrow at daybreak," she calledto Cecil and Helena as the couple dismounted and walked toward thehouse.
"We'll be up," Helena promised.
During Connie's absence Cookie had nearly finished loading the chuckwagon. The girl helped him complete the task and then went to talk withLefty regarding details of the next day's work.
"Has Blakeman returned yet?" she questioned.
"No, he hasn't," Lefty admitted. "This is a fine night for him to streakoff somewhere. Leavin' all the work. Connie, I reckon you know your ownbusiness, but if you ask me, Blakeman ain't never had your bestinterests to heart."
"I know he's opposed to this roundup."
"He sure is, Connie. That's why he's layin' down on the job."
"I owe Blakeman money," Connie said slowly. "If it weren't for that I'dlet him go now, but as it is my hands are tied."
"Sure, I can see how it is," Lefty admitted.
Connie started to turn away, and then abruptly halted.
"Oh, Lefty," she said, "I wish you'd be particularly alert during theroundup. I happen to know that Jim Barrows is keeping close to theranch, and I'm afraid he may try to make trouble."
"Jim Barrows?" the cowboy asked in surprise.
"I saw him tonight, or at least I think I did," Connie replied, and wenton to tell how she had picked up the silver knife on the trail near thecliff dwellings.
Lefty examined the knife carefully.
"That's his all right," he said. "Wonder what Jim was doing aroundthere?"
"I mean to find out as soon as we get this roundup off our hands, Lefty.But remember, keep a sharp watch tomorrow. We can't afford to haveanything go wrong."
"I'll be on my guard," the cowboy promised. "And I'll tip Alkali offtoo."
Despite her great weariness, Connie awoke the next morning feelingcompletely refreshed. At the first sign of dawn she was down at thecorrals helping rope horses. Besides those required for the guests, eachrider would need two extras.
At four-thirty the cowboys from the Slocer Ranch galloped into thecourtyard, announcing themselves ready for the big drive. The foremanassigned them to their duties and with Lefty and Alkali they rode offagain.
By five o'clock the chuck wagon was on its way. Mr. Grimes, Mr. Postiland the little girl went with Cookie. Helena and Cecil chose to followon horseback.
Connie knew that the dudes would prove more of a handicap than an aid inthe roundup, but she was pleased to see how much interest everyone wastaking. Most amazing to her was the change of attitude shown by Helenaand Cecil. The pair actually seemed eager to win her approval.
With the chuck wagon established in a temporary camp, Connie rode awayto cover the eastern portion of the range. For several hours she kept tothe saddle, rounding up every stray steer. Far to the southward shecould see a great cloud of dust which meant that Alkali and Lefty, whocovered that section, had their herd on the move. The Slocer boys wouldbe slower for they were searching the canyons.
Irrespective of brand Connie rounded up every steer she could find.Nearly all bore the mark of the Rainbow outfit, but there were a fewstrays belonging to the Slocers and Pop Bradshaw.
It was nearly sundown before Connie could drive her steers to the knollwhere the other cattle grazed. Alkali and the Slocer boys were ridingthrough the herd cutting out those which did not bear the Rainbow bra
nd.
Connie went to the chuck wagon for a cup of hot coffee and a dish ofsteaming stew. It was the first food she had tasted since morning.
"You look all done in," observed Lefty who had thrown himself on theground for a few minutes' rest.
"Oh, I'm all right," Connie declared. "It's been a wonderful drive! Ihad no idea I owned so many steers. If I get anything like a fair price,I'll be able to pay my debts and have a tidy sum left."
"You ought to go back to the ranch and get some sleep tonight," Leftyadvised. "We can hold the herd without you."
"Perhaps I will after supper," Connie agreed. "Are the dudes having agood time?"
"Old man Grimes said he enjoyed every minute of it," Lefty reported,pouring himself another cup of coffee. "He and Mr. Postil took the kidand went back to the ranch a few minutes ago."
Connie could see Helena and Cecil riding with Forest Blakeman, evidentlyunder the impression that they were helping him keep the herd undercontrol. While she was eating they came up to the chuck wagon, flushedand excited.
"Oh, it's been wonderful!" declared Helena excitedly. "I'd not havemissed it for anything in the world. Cecil and I are staying tonight tohelp hold the herd."
"That's fine," replied Connie--"we need riders."
She avoided looking at Lefty who had a pained expression on his face.Presently the cowboy arose, and saddling a fresh pony, rode out torelieve Alkali.
Cookie soon had a hearty supper ready and both Cecil and Helena didjustice to it, making no complaint at the rough fare. They did notnotice that both Connie and Alkali kept glancing at the slowly darkeningsky.
"Looks like a storm blowin' up," the cowboy presently remarked.
"Yes," agreed Connie. "And the cattle seem to be growing more restless.We may need more riders before morning. I'm staying, of course."
"Is there any danger of a stampede?" Cecil asked eagerly.
"Reckon it would give you a real thrill to see one," Alkali commenteddryly. "Well, maybe you'll get your chance."
After supper while Helena and Cecil sat around the campfire, Connie rodeslowly around the herd. The cattle seemed fairly quiet. A few animalswere on their feet but most of them were lying down. Lefty's discordantvoice could be heard singing an old cowboy song.
Connie rode over to talk with him.
"How does the weather look to you, Lefty?"
"Not so good," he admitted, squinting up at the moving clouds overhead."We'll have rain before morning. I wish we had a few extra men."
"The cattle seem to be quiet."
"Sure, they are now, but there's something in the air, Connie. You canfeel it. When the storm breaks, I'll be plumb surprised if they don'tstart rattlin' their hocks."
Connie went back to the campfire knowing that it was wise to get as muchrest as possible. She warned Cecil and his sister that a storm wascoming, but both elected to remain. They spread out their bed tarps nearthe chuck wagon.
Connie fell asleep almost at once, but in a short while she was awakeagain. The air had grown cold. It was pitch dark.
Connie arose and tossed a log on the fire. She could not see the herd tothe southward but she heard the rumble of hoofs. The steers were on themove again.
"I ought to be getting out there," Connie thought. "There's going to betrouble a-plenty."
Cookie had left the coffee pot on the bed of coals. She poured herself acup of the strong brew, trying to get the sleep out of her eyes.
As she sipped the coffee she heard a horse pounding across the hardground. Enid Bradshaw rode into the firelight, springing from thesaddle.
"Connie," she said breathlessly, "there's going to be a bad storm, andyour cows are sure to run. I came over to help if you need me."
"Thank you," replied Connie coldly, after a moment of silence. "We don'tneed any help."
"I know how you feel toward me," Enid said earnestly. "You think Pop andI have plotted to ruin you."
"You did take two of my guests away," Connie returned. "But in businessand love they say all is fair."
"Connie, you must believe me--I didn't have anything to do with it. Inever wanted my father to start the dude ranch in competition with you."
"I believe you, Enid," Connie said slowly. "I'm sure you wouldn't lie tome. After all, why should I be offended? Your father has a perfect rightto go into the dude business if he likes."
"He never wanted to do it either," Enid went on desperately. "But we'vebeen so hard pressed for money. The part I can't forgive is that hebetrayed you."
"What do you mean, Enid?"
"Oh, Pop isn't running the ranch at all now--another party has gainedcontrol--a man who means to ruin you."
"The bank?"
"No, Connie--someone you've trusted. Pop will never forgive me fortelling, but I must! I can't stand by and see you cheated out ofeverything you own."
"Who is it?" Connie demanded.
But Enid did not answer for just at that moment the very heavens seemedto open. A vivid streak of lightning zigzagged across the inky sky, anda torrent of rain descended. Then the earth trembled, and the soundstruck fear to Connie's heart. The herd had stampeded!
