SOMETHING QUEER
“Take it easy, boys,” Teddy chuckled. “Pop, go on with your story. You
were saying--”
“Talk to these bow-legged skillet-curlers? Not me! I wouldn’t waste
breath on ’em. Maybe when round-up time comes they won’t be quite so
chipper. I’ve known buckets to welch before this.”
“Here’s one that won’t,” Nick declared. “Go ahead, rave on, old
man! Now, Teddy, I think we were talkin’ business when so rudely
interrupted. About those cattle--”
“What we came over here for was to get some dope on the rodeo,” Roy
broke in. “While we’ve seen ’em, of course, we’ve never been in any.
Teddy and I are going to have a try for some of the prizes.”
“Rodeo? Listen, brother!” Pop exclaimed. “I’ll give you the low down
on them events. There’s one thing you want to be careful of--steer
bulldoggin’. There’s nothin’ in it, an’ it’s too dangerous. It ain’t
worth the trouble. Now wild cow milkin’--there’s somethin’ for your
money! I used to be a great little milker myself. One time, down San
Antonio way, I milked a--”
“Dad told us about it,” Teddy laughed. “He said you--”
“If he told you, there’s no use repeatin’ it,” Pop said hurriedly. He
appeared somewhat taken aback. Roy wondered what his interpretation of
the occasion would have been. “But anyway,” he continued, “that’s great
sport.”
“We were thinking of entering that,” Roy explained. “That, and trick
riding and bronco busting. Maybe pony express. Dad says he’s coming to
watch us.”
“Try an’ keep the boss away,” Gus chuckled. “Especially with his sons
ridin’. When you boys gonna practice?”
“Every day, from now on,” Teddy declared. “Any suggestions will be
appreciated. Pop, we’re counting on you to help us out.”
“Any time, boys, any time. ’Bout three years since I went to a cowboy
reunion, but I guess I ain’t forgotten.”
“How many years?” Nick inquired, with a grin.
“Three, I said! Well, maybe a little longer. But, anyway, I’d like to
see a prize or two come to the X Bar X. Ain’t had any since yore dad
was in the ring. He was the one who could nab ’em! Don’t suppose he
said much about how many he won. Most likely told about the ones he
missed up on. Right?”
“That’s right,” Teddy laughed. “No wonder he was anxious to have Roy
and me cash in for a prize. Well, we’ll do the best we can. Now there’s
something else I--that is, Roy and I--want to talk about. Nick, what do
you know about the Lefton brothers?”
“Nothin’ more than I told you, Teddy, except that I didn’t take to ’em
much. When you told me they was pallin’ with Mob Jamisson I wasn’t much
surprised.”
“Uh-huh.” Teddy nodded understandingly. “Roy, here, heard some funny
remarks they made when they didn’t think he was listening. Did he tell
you?”
“Told him most of it,” Roy said. “You know--about the cars and the
eight mile grade, and the rest of it. You couldn’t make much out of it,
could you, Nick?”
“Nothin’ at all. But--”
“Eight miles from where?” Pop interrupted.
“Maybe from the Jarmey place. That mean anything?”
“Well, not exactly,” Pop said slowly. “That Jarmey place is an old
station that used to be a shipping point. Only thing it’s good for now
is to keep rats in. An’ there’s plenty of them. Say, who was this
geezer what wants the six hundred head, Teddy?”
“Peterson, his name is. Peter Peterson, I think. Ever hear of him?”
“Never did. He must be new on the job. Like as not he’s an agent for a
Chi. firm. They have men in this section nearly all the time now. Hope
the boss makes a good deal with him.”
“Dad says he offered two dollars a head more than any of the other
buyers,” Roy declared. “Didn’t even try to get a lower rate. But
that may be his way of doing business--knows what he wants and goes
after it. We won’t kick about that. Still, that forfeit idea is a new
wrinkle--at least, for our ranch. Gus, and the rest of you, see if you
can get any dope on him, will you? Ask Jules and Nat Raymond. If you
hear anything, let us know.”
Teddy and Roy had thought to inquire more about the Lefton brothers and
to ask Nick’s opinion of them. But with the introduction of an added
topic--concerning Peterson--the new interest overtopped the old one, so
far as cattle buying went. It was now important that Peterson be given
consideration.
Gus, who was to go to town to-morrow, promised to make inquiries about
Peterson.
“Chances are I won’t hear anything, though. He must be representing an
Eastern firm. Two dollars more a head than the others, hey? Must be
made of money.”
“But we ought to find out _something_ of his qualifications,” Roy
objected. “Certainly, they’ll know about him at the freight office.
He said he’s been in this business a number of years. Tried to give
dad advice.” Roy smiled. “Dad took him for a little ride, but Peterson
didn’t know it.”
Teddy and Roy were to make a trip to Red Rock the next day, to look
over the territory where the six hundred head were to be driven. So
after a little more talk with Nick and the other hands they sought
their beds.
They started for Red Rock early. Flash had entirely recovered from the
slight sprain he had received in the flight from the wolves, and he
whinnied with the joy of living when Teddy headed him toward the open
range.
“Running well, isn’t he?” Roy remarked, as, riding close to his
brother, he watched Flash’s feet tap the ground.
“Sure is! I’m depending on him to help us cop a prize at the rodeo.
And, believe me, Star is no slouch either!” He motioned with his elbow
toward Roy’s pony. “With these two, we ought to get something.”
Roy grinned, and the two rode on. The chill of the fall morning had
given way to the warmth of Indian summer. Ahead of them a jack-rabbit
scurried across the path. The mountains gleamed green and white
beneath the early sun. In the distance a river threaded its way between
banks of quakermasts and evergreens.
Roy breathed deep of the tonic air.
“It’s good,” he said simply, “just to be here.”
Teddy did not laugh. He, too, was beginning to realize more of life.
There had been a time, not long ago, when this remark would have
brought a smile to his face. But now he thought seriously that it _was_
good to be here. Thus, quickly, youth comes into its heritage. But
humor is not diminished. Rather, it is increased.
The two brothers had been long together. They had been through many
trials and dangers. Between two such a bond, firm, unbreakable, is
established. There was no selfishness in either one. If occasion came,
one would cheerfully, willing, offer his life for the other.
Both seemed to feel something of this sentiment as they rode the range
toward Red Rock. They had, of course, been vividly reminded of it that
day they had been menaced by the wolves. Perhaps they were thinking
of this, for it was some moments before either spoke. But youth is
buoyant, not introspective. The mood passed. And when Teddy, apropos of
nothing, declared that Bug Eye would see many a day go by before Mrs.
Ball let him try his inventions near her flower bed again, Roy laughed.
“Poor Bug Eye! He always manages to get in wrong. Remember his
Fishmobile? Wonder what happened to that? And the time he got
interested in hypnotism, and Pop let him think he had him hypnotized.
I’ll never forget that.”
“Me, either. Bug Eye thought sure he had him under his spell. Then Pop
showed him up. Say, how far is it to Red Rock?”
“Plenty far. Lucky there are no steep hills on the way. Reckon we might
as well choose this route to drive those cattle over. Peterson wants
to give us all the trouble he can, I reckon. Be much simpler to take
’em to Eagles, as we’ve always done. We’ll earn that two bucks a head
extra, I’m thinking. He must have had this journey in mind when he made
the offer.”
“Uh-huh. Maybe, and maybe not. He was a fish, that man. I hate to talk
about another behind his back, and especially when I’ve only seen him
once, but--well, I just don’t like him!”
“You and me both. But, as dad said, you can’t afford to let your liking
interfere with business.”
“Dad didn’t say that. I did. It’s true. So we’ll forget Peterson till
we learn something about him. Perhaps Gus will have found out from the
boys in town what kind of a man he is.”
“I doubt it. But we’ll let the matter rest, anyhow. What we want to
do is to select the best way to take the cattle to Red Rock, and this
looks like it. Let’s get a wiggle on.”
They urged their horses forward, and finally came into sight of Red
Rock. The town itself was much like Eagles, but smaller. The railroad
station was the center, and as they rode in the boys saw that a large
corral opened out at the rear of the depot. They looked over this well,
and decided that, after all, they might not have much more trouble in
bringing the cattle here than they would in bringing them to Eagles.
“Not as many people to bother us, at any rate,” Teddy declared, and he
halted his pony in the center of the dusty main street. “Three stores
and a row of houses back there. Looks like a deserted village.”
“Not quite deserted,” Roy said in a low voice. “Look there.”
Teddy swung around. Three men had just stepped from behind the corner
of the station. They were talking earnestly, and did not see either
Teddy or Roy.
As they came closer Teddy uttered an exclamation.
“The Lefton brothers--and look who’s with them!”
It was Peter Peterson, the man with whom their father had, only
yesterday, closed a contract.
“Let ’em see us,” Roy suggested quietly. “There’s something queer about
this.”
Snatches of the talk drifted toward the waiting boys.
“--plenty of cars”--“easy to get”--“only an eight mile run--”
“What the mischief--” Teddy began, when he was interrupted by the roar
of a train pulling in at the station. As the three men heard it they
turned hurriedly and ran for the platform. Another moment, and they had
entered one of the cars, leaving Teddy and Roy staring after them. With
a shrill whistle the train puffed away from the station.