Part 17 (1/2)
”Is that true?” Joy's voice was trembling. ”If it is, I won't ever go into this canyon again.”
”Don't worry, Joy. If you are good you'll never see the ghost. Only those who are planning to do wrong see her.”
The girls laughed at the timid Joy. ”Don't worry, dear,” Bet patted her hand lovingly. ”I'll take care of you.”
”Some say,” went on Kit, ”that the ruin of the village must be left untouched, and that any one disturbing it will see the ghost.”
”And that's why Old Mapia won't talk,” said the professor. ”He's afraid of the curse. It would hasten matters very much if I could get some reliable information as to the location of the village.”
”And are you really going to hunt for the village after that?” Bet's eyes were glowing.
”Yes, I'm not afraid of the curse. I'll find that village. Alicia is expecting me to. I must make good.”
”That's the way to talk, Professor Gillette! And remember this, The Merriweather Girls will help you in any way we can. We're not afraid of any curse. We're with you, every one of us.”
Joy started to speak. She turned pale then suddenly gave up. ”All right. If Bet leads, I follow!”
But there was no wild enthusiasm in her promise.
CHAPTER XI
_STAKING A CLAIM_
But it was rarely ever that the professor wanted company in his search.
Bet was inclined to feel offended, for she had hoped that he would accept her offer of help and consider The Merriweather Girls as partners.
”All right, Kit, let's do something by ourselves. What's the use of just looking at the glorious scenery? If an old man like Professor Gillette can go out and hunt for a lost village, we should be able to find some copper claims or other interesting things. Let's do it.”
The girls were in the saddle while Bet discussed the possibility of discovering something. It was really adventure that Bet was seeking.
The horses stepped gingerly over the slippery rocks of the creek bed as the girls chatted and laughed on their way to Table Mountain, a great flat-topped summit in the high hills.
Joy Evans suddenly laughed outright. ”Bet Baxter, it would take you to think of a thing like this. What under the sun will we do with a copper mine if we do locate one? I'm very sure I have no use for one.”
”Don't be a spoil-sport, Joy! Think of the romance and the fun. Why, we'll be mine owners!”
”What I want to know is, who will do the actual work?” It was s.h.i.+rley Williams, the practical girl of affairs who put the question.
”We'll hire the work done, of course. It would be foolish for us to waste our valuable time digging holes in the ground,” returned Bet.
”Certainly,” giggled Kit. ”We'll do the brain work and let the _greasers_ do the digging.”
”Please don't call the Mexicans that horrid word again. It doesn't sound nice. I think the Mexican boys have such wonderful dreamy eyes.”
”We've heard that before. Go on, Joy, rave some more!” Bet treated Joy's outbursts of enthusiasm over boys with contempt. ”I'm going to do something useful in life.”
”Like finding copper mines! Hm! What use are they?” snapped Joy.
”I'd rather think about boys any time.”