Part 30 (1/2)

Judge Breckenridge's word was law. Bet turned her horse's head down the canyon toward the home trail, her eyes flas.h.i.+ng dangerously. She muttered:

”To think of being sent home when the excitement gets good! Oh, I wish I were a boy!”

”Well, since we have to go, let's hurry and have the fun of telling it all to Joy.”

But Joy and Mrs. Breckenridge were a disappointment. They did not thrill to the danger, as Bet did. They were decidedly angry and afraid.

”You must never go into that canyon again while you are here!”

exclaimed Mrs. Breckenridge.

”Please don't put that down as an order! That would be a tragedy. I don't believe that even the Judge would be willing to deprive us of that joy.” Bet's voice was pleading.

”All right, dear, I'll take back the order and will leave it entirely to the Judge. But you must abide by his decision, that I insist upon.”

”We will,” said Bet. ”I hope he'll be a good sport about it. I want to know what's going on.”

Mrs. Breckenridge walked up and down the corridor in an anxious manner.

She had been gaining strength so rapidly in the mountains that she had even threatened to try horseback riding. But the Judge had put her off. He wanted to be certain that the trial would be a success.

”I'm glad I wasn't with you, today, I'd have screamed,” said Joy. ”I know I would.”

”That's probably what those bandits wanted. To scare us so we wouldn't go back. I hate to have them get away with it.”

At noon when the men returned to lunch, they had no good report.

Although they had hunted the hills for miles, not a trace of the professor had been found. He had disappeared.

Before lunch was over Kie Wicks appeared at the ranch house. ”I just heard of the old man being lost, so Maude wanted me to come right over and join the search party. I think a lot of the professor and want to do my bit.”

Bet looked at the man in astonishment.

”I would never have believed it,” she whispered to Kit. ”It just shows how we misjudge a person. I thought he would be the last man in the world to appeal to for help, and here he comes of his own free will and offers it.”

”People always have _some_ good in them.”

Joy shook her head. ”From the first I hated that man and feared him.”

”And now you see, Joy Evans, how mistaken you were. He's a good man at heart,” exclaimed Bet.

But Kit was skeptical. ”I wish I could believe it. I feel as if I were playing with a rattlesnake. He's treacherous! I think we'd better watch our step.”

”Of course, I know that Kie Wicks is unscrupulous in the matter of jumping claims, but you see he has a human side after all. He seems quite cut up about the professor being lost,” Bet interrupted.

”And did you notice how indignant he was over the ruffians at the claim? I believe he'll help us to get rid of them,” said Enid confidently.

”But those men didn't do a thing worse than Kie Wicks! Not half as bad, for they were open and above board. They pointed guns on us and Kie sneaked up after dark and stole our papers. No, girls, his change of heart is altogether too sudden to be sincere. Keep an eye on him!”

advised Kit.

Whether the men at the ranch believed in Kie's innocence or not, they accepted his offer of help and let him organize the searchers.