Part 14 (2/2)
”Gone? Why, Allen, what do you mean?”
”I am going to leave home this afternoon, Chet.”
”You are fooling,” remarked the younger brother.
”Never more serious in my life, Chet.”
”And you are going----” Chet hesitated.
”Direct to San Francisco to hunt up tidings of Uncle Barnaby.”
Of course, Chet was taken completely back by Allen's announcement.
”To San Francisco!” he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed.
”Yes, Chet. I feel that it is my duty to discover what has become of uncle, if possible, at once.”
”I know, but it's such a journey----”
”I am not afraid to take it. I will ride to the nearest station on the railroad, which is not over a hundred and forty miles, and then take the train. The journey on the cars will not take over a couple of days, all told.”
”And the cost----”
”I will have to take what we have saved from the thieves. But surely, Chet, you do not regret taking that for such a purpose?”
”No! no! take it all! I was thinking if it would be enough.”
”I will make it do. I will buy a cut-rate ticket from Ogden, if I can.”
”And what shall Paul and I do in the meantime?” questioned Chet in some dismay.
”Do nothing but guard the cattle and the place generally. I will be back, or let you hear from me just as soon as I can.”
Paul was equally astonished at Allen's sudden determination. It was, however, what Noel Urner had expected.
”Yes, I would go if I were you,” said the latter. ”And if you want me to, I will go with you,” he added. ”I must confess I am deeply interested in this strange case.”
”I would like you to go with me first rate,” returned Allen. ”And whether uncle is found or not, I will promise that you shall be well paid for all the trouble you will be put to.”
”I want no pay for helping you. I will enjoy the bit of detective work, as one might call it. But how am I to get to the railroad station without a horse?”
”You can take both horses, if necessary,” suggested Chet.
”That's so; although we ought to have at least one animal on the ranch,”
added Paul.
”We can both ride one animal as far as Dottery's ranch,” said Allen, ”and there we can either borrow or hire another animal.”
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