THE SHERIFF’S VISIT
A letter from Babs was the first one that tumbled out on the big
library table when Virginia held the pouch upside down. Other papers
and letters rattled out, but both girls were eager to hear the news
from Margaret’s former room-mate in the far-away boarding school.
“Dearest Megsy and Virg,” Margaret read aloud.
“I’m so happy today that I could sing like a lark, but since it is
silence period, I would better just pen my joy to you two dear
girls, who will, I know, rejoice with me. I am just absolutely
convinced now that I know where my dear brother Peyton is. Of course
his messages to me continue to be mysterious; that is, he doesn’t
sign his full name, only his initials. I’m sure that they must be
his, for I do not know anyone else in the world whose name begins
with P. and W.
“It is just as I supposed in the very beginning. He did run away to
sea, for I have now received five picture postcards signed P. W.,
and they were mailed at different ports in China, Japan and the East
Indies. I know he is sending them to me because he realizes how
unhappy I would be if I had no knowledge of his whereabouts.
“I do wish that I could write to him and tell him how happy I am
just to be assured that he is well and alive, but since he wishes to
be so mysterious, I will have to be content.
“And now I will tell you something else. I am saving every penny of
my allowance, and before I start for the West I am going to buy a
whole khaki outfit like the girls wear in the moving pictures. Oh,
Megsy, how you would have laughed the other day if you could have
seen our French riding master’s expression when I asked him if he
would try to get a horse that bucks, upon which I might practice
riding.
“‘Mees Wente,’ he said, ‘how is it that you mean? A horse that
bucks? In Paris we do not have heem.’
“Every girl in the riding class wanted to shout, but of course, you
know Professor La Fleur is so prim and proper we couldn’t even
smile.
“However, as soon as we came back from the canter, we all met in my
room and made fudge and we laughed so loud and so long that Miss
Pickle put her head in at the door and asked if we thought it was
quite ladylike to laugh in so boisterous a manner.
“Girls, when I get out on the desert, I am going way up om the trail
Virginia calls her Inspiration Peak, and I’m going to shout just as
loud and long as ever I wish. I’m so tired of always having to be
proper and ladylike.
“Good-bye for now.
“Your pal,
“Babs.
“P. S.—Megsy, aren’t you glad that I have located my dear brother,
Peyton? B. B. W.”
Before Margaret could comment about the letter, there came a sharp
rap on the front door, and Virginia, springing to open it, wondered
who might be there.
It was Mr. Rizor but his men were not with him. Luckily Virginia had
expected that the sheriff would stop at V. M. on his way back to
town and so she did not express surprise, although Margaret did.
Luckily Mr. Rizor did not glance at the eastern girl, who wisely
busied herself in another part of the room. “Miss Virginia,” he
said, “may I come in? There’s a matter I wish to be speakin’ about.”
“Why, of course you may come in Mr. Rizor,” the girl said, opening
the door welcomingly wide, “and I hope that you will remain with us
for the midday meal which is about to be served.”
Evidently he had not accompanied his men to the Mexican border, and
Virginia was wondering about his reason for not having done so.
“Thanks, I’ll not be stopping but a minute,” he said. “My men are
following what they think is a pretty sure trail, but my presence is
more needed back in town today and so I’m headin’ that way, but,
bein’ as I had something very important to say to you, I thought I’d
stop even though it is a mile farther.”
Virginia’s heart beat rapidly. Had the sheriff real knowledge about
Tom, and had he come to arrest him? If so, she must try to save
their new cow-boy, but, how could she do it? The girl had been so
busy with her own anxious thoughts that she had failed to note the
expression of pleased pride that appeared in the face of the
sheriff.
“Well, to come to the point, Miss Virginia,” he was saying, “we’ve
got company down to our house, so to speak. Little Virginia Rizor
arrived yesterday and she weighs eight pounds. My wife told me
whether I caught the mail thief or not, I was to be sure and stop
and tell you that she wants you to come as soon as you can to see
your little namesake.” Then he added, “we’re hoping that she’ll grow
up to be as fine a girl as you are.”
Virginia’s relief was so great that she almost shouted for joy. “I
am indeed glad, Mr. Rizor!” she said. “Margaret, did you hear that
splendid news? Please tell Mrs. Rizor that my friend and I will ride
into town in a very few days to see her and the darling little
baby.”
When the sheriff was gone Virginia almost cried, her relief was so
great.
“The queer part of it is,” she told Margaret, “I just know that Mr.
Rizor believes our Tom was the lad who was with the men who robbed
the mail train, but for my sake he isn’t going to say a word about
it.”
“I’m not so sure,” the other girl replied as she pointed out of the
window. Virginia looked and saw that the sheriff, instead of taking
the trail toward town, was slowly and thoughtfully riding toward the
bunkhouse.