Part 16 (1/2)
”Here's the dope, boys,” and the deputy leaned closer. ”This Delton may or may not have been doin' business here at the ranch. If he has been, an' I'm goin' to figger that way, his friends still expect him to be here. He left in too much of a hurry to send out word. An' here's where you-all come in.
”I want you to pretend the ranch hasn't changed hands. Just lay low for a while, not travelin' 'round much, an' we'll see what happens. I don't mind tellin' you we got another tip, that some c.h.i.n.ks were goin'
to be rushed across within the next few days. Can't say just when, but soon now. It's a big load this time, an' if things work the way I think they will, they'll try to land them at this ranch.”
”You mean they'll think Delton is still here?” Nort inquired excitedly.
”Yes. Of course I may be wrong--that may not be the plans at all. But I've got pretty good reasons for thinkin' I'm right. We sort of suspected that the Shootin' Star was bein' used for illegal purposes, but we never had a chance to prove it. The place was too well guarded, and without a warrant you can't go on another's property. I knew we'd not find anything if we did search the place, for the c.h.i.n.ks are only landed at night, and s.h.i.+pped away the next morning; scattered all over the country. They all look so much alike it's hard to tell 'em apart.”
”So you never really saw Delton?” asked Nort.
”Nope--never have. He never came to town--whatever stuff he wanted he sent his men in for.”
”Told you!” Billee Dobb cried. ”I knew he never saw the geezer! Just like I said--n.o.body was allowed in here with a badge on.”
”Right again,” the Kid said with a grin. ”Billee's the only one of this gang that seems to know his stuff.”
”Well, that's the plan, boys,” stated Mr. Hawkins. ”Are you with me?”
”You bet!”
”Bring on the smugglers!”
”Kid, here's your chance to find out what became of your s.h.i.+rt!”
”Wait!” the deputy held up his hand. ”We can't go into this thing like that, boys! It's too dangerous. Enough men have been killed now by the smugglers, and I don't want to add to the list. I thought a long time before I came over this morning, and I finally decided I'd take a chance on you. When I met you first I knew you were dependable men.
Remember--this is no joke! We've got to be ready to take what comes!”
The faces of the boys sobered in an instant.
”I guess you'll find you weren't far wrong,” Bud said quietly. ”We've been in a few tight squeezes before--I suppose you heard of Del Pinzo?”
”Certainly. He was captured and jailed a while ago. Don't know whether he got out since or not.”
”Well, we are the ones who put him there,” Bud went on in a quiet tone.
”No! Why say,--I remember you now! I saw you bring him in! Well, well! So that's the way of things! Boys, I'm sure glad I met you!
Between us we ought to make a go of this. So you captured Del Pinzo!
Now here's another job for you. What do you think of this idea?”
The boys leaned close as they prepared to hear the deputy's plan.
CHAPTER XIII
TRAPPED
For some minutes the boys listened to the details of the deputy's scheme. It involved danger, there was no doubt of that, but it also gave a chance for success. If luck held in their favor--and Kid said after the run of misfortune they had met with it was time for a change of weather--they might hope for a rich prize--possibly Delton himself--though this last did not seem likely. The whole success of the plan depended on fooling the smugglers into thinking the ranch was still held by Delton.
”And there we are,” finished Hawkins. ”Any questions, boys? You-all know what to do?”