Part 11 (1/2)
Chet and Paul looked at each other. They had expected and dreaded this request.
”Supposing we don't care to show them to you?” said Paul cautiously.
”What's the reason you don't care?” retorted the captain, angrily.
”We are not called on to explain all our actions to you,” said Chet.
”See here, I don't want to quarrel, but I'm a-goin' to see them ere papers,” bl.u.s.tered Captain Grady, with a decided shake of his head. ”I came all the way from Deadwood to see 'em.”
”Well, you won't see them,” returned Paul, boldly. It would never do in the wide world to acknowledge that they had been burned up.
”Well, then, I reckon I'm free to speak what's on my mind,” roared the captain, ”an' that is, that you never had no papers at all.”
”You can say what you please,” said Chet, as calmly as he could.
”An' that ain't all I've got to say,” went on the captain. ”I've got more to say to you. This ere claim o' land originally belonged to Sam Slater, o' Deadwood----”
”We know that.”
”Slater died, an' left no will----”
”That may all be true, too.”
”An' he left this land----”
”No, he didn't. It was sold to my father before that!” cried Paul.
”No such thing. Old Slater left it as part o' his estate----”
”He did not.”
”He did, an' I can take my affidavy to it, if it's necessary,” exclaimed Captain Grady. ”But that ain't all yet wot I hev got to tell. Slater left it to his heirs, an' I bought it from them only last week.”
”It can't be true!” gasped Chet, faintly.
”It is true, an' I hev the papers to prove it. This here ranch belongs to me, an' the sooner you boys pack up your duds an' git out the better it will please me,” and Captain Grady smiled maliciously at the blow his news had brought to the boys.
Both Paul and Chet were much dismayed by the unexpected announcement Captain Grady had made.
For the moment they stared at the speaker as if they had not heard aright.
It was Paul who spoke first.
”You bought the ranch, and have the papers to prove it?” he gasped.
”That's just wot I said, boy.”
”Your claim will not hold water,” put in Chet, faintly.
”Well, I reckon it will,” retorted Captain Grady. ”I allow as how I know wot I'm a-doin'.”