Part 20 (1/2)
”The ill.u.s.trious Hawkes family,” said Billie to herself. ”Well-known in the West. I think the most dangerous member of that family had better be locked up.”
The first stars were just coming into view when Billie drew up in front of Steptoe Lodge, but in all that big ranch house only two human beings were there to greet her-Miss Helen Campbell and the Chinese cook.
Seizing a trumpet made of a cow's horn the Chinaman rushed to the top of the house and blew half a dozen blasts that resounded over the prairie like the call of the wild huntsman, and in fifteen minutes from every direction horses and ponies bearing cowboy riders were das.h.i.+ng across the plains toward the Lodge. But far more amazing to Billie was the sight of her own red Comet hastening eagerly toward her, and at the wheel sat Mary, clever little pupil that she was, and in the back seat were Elinor and Nancy crying and calling and waving their handkerchiefs all at once.
Miss Campbell had been completely prostrated. She was in bed with a wet towel around her head and her eyes were red with weeping. Billie also was put to bed and fed by her devoted friends with hot soup and dry toast. She was more exhausted than she cared to admit, and it was Hot Air Sue, with her talent for inexhaustible conversation, who made explanations to the household of Steptoe Lodge.
The next morning two men arrived at the Lodge. They bore a warrant for the arrest of one, Buckthorne Hawkes, automobile thief. But Buckthorne Hawkes was not to be found. However, they confiscated the gray racing car, and the girls knew that Peter Van Vechten was once more in possession of his property.
CHAPTER XIV.-ON THE ROAD AGAIN.
The Comet had now a guide. No more excursions into the wilderness of the unknown for him. Timidly and cautiously he crept along as close to the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad as the highway permitted, for they were about to go through the wild rugged country where rise the snow-capped ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
With a sigh of relief they said good-by to Steptoe Lodge.
”It was interesting, but uncomfortable,” Miss Campbell had said. For a whole day Billie's experience had quite shaken Miss Campbell's enthusiasm in the journey. It was not a permanent distaste, however.
Having remained quietly in West Haven for a quarter of a century, the little woman was now possessed with a thirst for travel. She had developed into a high-toned Gypsy with a disposition to perpetual wandering.
The partings at Steptoe Lodge had some of them been quite moving; but not Rosina's, who had bade them a chilly farewell. Her nature was a stormy one, a strange mixture of hot and cold, anger and humility, courage and fear.
”I don't know whom she's angriest with,” Billie had observed, ”our ex-teacher, Maria, for putting her brother up to such lawless tricks or us because we were the victims.”
”I hope they catch him,” said Miss Campbell firmly. ”I do, indeed, and shut him up in prison for a long, long time. Such dangerous characters ought not to be allowed to run at large.”
”They'll catch him if Brek Steptoe has any influence,” put in Nancy.
”Barney told me his cousin was never going to put up with Hawkeseye again. He had stood all he intended. Rosina was now to choose between them.”
”What is that you're looking at, Nancy?” demanded Elinor, changing the subject.
Nancy blushed and laughed.
”A parting gift from Jim,” she replied.
Poor Jim had ridden for some miles beside the Comet and they had gone slowly in order to enjoy his company. Then, with a last hand-shake all around and a heart-breaking sigh, he stopped in the middle of the road, his sombrero in one hand and his horse's reins in the other. And there he stood as still as a statue until the motor car was reduced to a small scarlet dot on the horizon. When he had shaken hands with Nancy, he thrust a small package into her lap. There were tears in Nancy's eyes when she looked at the contents of the package, although her laugh rang out as merrily as her friends' as she drew forth the hind foot of a jack rabbit mounted on a plaited loop of horsehair.
”Does he expect me to wear this thing around my neck,” she cried dangling the clumsy paw between her small thumb and forefinger.
”There's a note,” said Mary, leaning over Nancy's shoulder.
Nancy smiled again as she read the note, first to herself and then out loud:
”Dear Miss Nancy:
”I killed the rabbit in an Indian burying ground in the dark of the moon. The hair came from my horse's tail. He's a fine little animal, my horse. I love him best in the world next to-something else I like better. I wish it were a gold rabbit's foot set in diamonds, but it's a long ways here from a jewelry store, and this is the best I can do. I've had it a long time, and it's brought me good luck at last, because I've met you. I hope it will bring you luck. Good-by.
It's the hardest good-by I ever had to say. If I ever strike a gold mine I'm coming East. Good-by again.
”Jim.”
”P. S.-Don't forget me.”