Part 21 (2/2)

”No I'll stick around here a while and see if those fellows coet any trace of those strayed-away calves You go ahead You can tell uns with you if you will”

Half running, half stuerness, Allen reached the house, took the steps of the porch three at a ti homelike kitchen, where he found the faot 'e the scrap of paper over his head, while they stared at hione ht home a prize Come look at it”

He went over to the table beside which Mr and Mrs Nelson were sitting and laid the two captured pistols upon the table Infected by his excite an explanation

[Illustration: THE GIRLS CROWDED AROUND, DEMANDING AN EXPLANATION

_The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle_ _Page 163_]

”Pistols!” cried Betty, her eyes ith dislike of the things ”Where did you get them, Allen?”

”Oh, just picked them off the trees by the roadside,” said Allen airily

Then, suddenly beco serious, he laid the scrap of paper beside the weapons on the table ”There,” he said, dramatically, ”is the key that may open your door to a fortune”

”A”Oh, Allen, you've found out so wonderful Tell us about it, please”

And so Allen recounted what had taken place during that fruitful half hour in the shadows of the trees His audience listened breathlessly

”Then this thing,” said Mr Nelson, taking the bit of paper which was crossed and criss-crossed with a number of lines and dotted with nu-saw puzzle than a map, ”is supposedly a old”

”Yes, sir,” said Allen

”Then,” said Mr Nelson, feeling the thrill of adventure in his own blood, ”we'll begin to look for this gold to-morrow That is--” He paused and looked quizzically about at the group of tense young faces

”If everybody is willing”

”Oh-h,” was all that they could say--just then

CHAPTER XIX

THE NEW MINE

The next day much excitement filled the ranch house Betty declared that she had not slept a wink the night before, worrying for fear her father had not meant what he said