Part 22 (1/2)

”Mr. Moore,” said Miss Campbell, as she clutched his arm, ”we are in a nest of robbers. Do you think we shall ever get out alive? Tell me the worst before they come back.”

”Don't let them know you are frightened. These men admire courage more than anything else in the world. I will keep with you every moment. The man named Bowles owes his life to me, and even with all their lawlessness, these poor souls are not ungrateful. Don't protest about anything, and don't make any demands. Try to be perfectly calm and, above all, pretend to be pleased. I believe they'll do the best they can for you tonight. They may even show us out of the gulch, although I doubt it.”

Miss Campbell lapsed into silence. She considered that Daniel Moore had a very optimistic turn of mind, considering the circ.u.mstances.

”You can't git out of the gulch to-night, Miss,” said Jim Bowles, returning to the side of the car. ”It's too dark, and the roads ain't good enough for night travel in that there machine. You'll have to stay here tonight, but before we admit you into our happy homes you've got to take an oath, an' if you break it it'll be the worse for you. We don't take no half measures.”

”What do you want us to promise, Jim?” asked Mr. Moore.

”You've got to promise before we let you leave this place that you never will tell to n.o.body what you know about it, and that the one that shows you the trail to-morrow morning won't git pinched through you.”

Jim Bowles was not satisfied until he made each occupant of the motor car say solemnly: ”I promise,” from Mary, with her high, sweet voice, to Daniel Moore in his deeper tones.

And now there came that crucial moment when the Motor Maids and Miss Helen Campbell were obliged to leave the protecting interior of the Comet and mingle with a band of mountain brigands.

”I can't do it, Mr. Moore. I tell you, I shall simply die of fright,”

Miss Campbell whimpered into the ear of Daniel Moore, who seemed like an old and intimate friend in this dangerous situation.

”You must,” he said, giving her his arm. ”Keep up and don't show you are frightened. If you trust them, they'll do their best for you, as they have promised.”

Then followed Jim Bowles into the first cabin, where the woman had been waiting. She was not in sight now.

”Minnie!” called Jim, but there was no answer, and he left the house with an exclamation of annoyance.

The girls looked about them timidly. The strangeness and danger of their dilemma had made them silent. Mary clung to Elinor and Elinor pressed closely to Miss Campbell's side, while Billie and Nancy kept their hands clasped together with that intimate grasp of two friends who need no words in which to express their feelings.

There were two rooms in the cabin. The first, a bedroom, and the back room a kitchen; and they were astonis.h.i.+ngly clean and neat, considering the wildness of their occupants. No doubt this was due to Minnie, who now appeared, dark-eyed, handsome and defiant. She stood in the doorway, looking at them, half boldly and half timidly.

Then Miss Helen Campbell made what she considered afterward the effort of her life.

She walked straight up to Minnie and held out her hand.

”How do you do, my dear?” she said. ”It's very kind of you to take us into your nice little home. Shall we not be friends? I must introduce you to my four girls.”

She raised her heavenly blue eyes and gazed blandly into the girl's fierce dark ones, taking Minnie's limp hand into hers. Perhaps it had been many a day since a lady had spoken kindly to Minnie and treated her as an equal. At any rate, she melted completely.

”I'm glad you come,” she said, smiling broadly and showing two rows of even white teeth. ”It's awful lonely here sometimes when Jim's away.”

She looked across at Jim tenderly, and they all of them understood at once what it was that kept Minnie on this lonely mountain side.

It was not long before they were comfortably installed in Jim's cabin.

On the little stove in the back room bacon was sending out a pleasing aroma. Nancy was engaged in making an omelette. Elinor had charge of the tea, while Mary and Billie brought from the store of provisions in the Comet the best that it afforded in the way of jam, cheese and mixed pickles.

Minnie helped them when she could, but she was very shy and afraid of being in the way. Daniel Moore and Miss Campbell sat near the stove talking in low voices. Miss Campbell had related to him the story of their chance meeting with Evelyn Stone. Occasionally Jim Bowles came and stood in the doorway. There was an expression in his eyes half wistful and half amused as he regarded these unusual activities in his home.

”Invite Jim and Minnie to supper,” whispered Daniel Moore, ”if you want to bind them to you with hoops of steel.”

It was never very difficult for the little lady to be charming, and having won over Minnie she had somewhat overcome her fears.