The End of the Trail
The foreman slowly raised his hands above his head. Jim Barrows frisked
him of his revolver and took possession of the roll of bills which he
tossed over to Connie. She quickly counted the sum.
"There's exactly seven hundred dollars here," she reported. "Just fifty
less than I lost."
"I reckon Kerrigan spent the fifty," said Jim.
"What did you call me?" demanded the foreman savagely.
"Jack Kerrigan--wanted in Texas for cattle stealing and on a few other
charges. You've eluded the authorities very cleverly, Jack, but the law
has caught up with you at last."
"Are you a government man?" Connie gasped.
"Reckon I am, Miss," the man agreed, without taking his gaze from the
foreman. "Keep your hands up, Jack, and don't try any monkey business."
"I don't understand at all," murmured Connie in bewilderment. "I
thought----"
"Just what I hoped you would," finished the detective. "If you had
suspected who I was my entire purpose would have been defeated. I'll
explain everything after I've taken this hombre to jail. March on down
the trail, Jack!"
Connie and Enid, still somewhat dazed by what had happened, followed the
two men. Barrows compelled the foreman to ride ahead of him down the
trail while he kept him covered. The girls had a dozen questions which
they wished to ask, but the detective seemed in no mood for
explanations. He promised them he would return to Rainbow Ranch just as
soon as he had delivered his prisoner to the sheriff at Red Gulch.
"I'm hopelessly mixed now," Connie confided to Enid after they had
parted company with the detective. "To think that I believed Jim Barrows
might have been the one who robbed me of my money!"
"I don't wonder you arrived at such a conclusion," Enid replied after
she had heard of the various evidence which had come into her friend's
possession. "So many things aren't explained even now."
But the girls did not have long to wait until all of their questions
were answered. By the time they had changed into dry clothing and
refreshed themselves with breakfast, Jim Barrows returned to the ranch.
"I'll start at the beginning," he declared. "First of all my name isn't
Jim Barrows. Instead it is Jim Ragon."
"So that accounts for the initialed handkerchief which I picked up,"
Connie commented.
"Yes, and I suppose you've guessed that I came here for the deliberate
purpose of getting a job. I had been tipped off that Blakeman might be
the man I was after."
"You weren't sick at all that day I found you on the trail?"
"I'm afraid I was playing possum. I thought I might appeal to your
sympathy if you thought I was down and out. So I waited for you on the
trail. It was a mean advantage to take, but it did serve my purpose. You
were kind enough to give me a job."
"Blakeman was suspicious of you from the very first."
"He didn't like me," the detective admitted, "but until today I am sure
he did not suspect who I was. You understand now why I was trying to
break into his chest?"
"You were after evidence."
"Yes, and I did succeed in getting a paper which definitely links your
foreman with a crime committed in Texas. I could have arrested him
yesterday but by waiting I hoped to learn more."
"Did you think that he was the person who robbed me at Eagle Pass?"
Connie questioned.
"Yes, I felt certain of it. I thought that by keeping watch of him I
might learn where he had cached the money."
Connie took a silver knife from her pocket, offering it to the
detective.
"Here is something which belongs to you, I believe."
"Where did you find it?" he asked quickly.
"I picked it up last night on the trail to the cliff dwellings."
"I must have dropped it when I followed your foreman there," the
detective responded. "I've been watching him ever since I started
working here at the ranch. Finally I figured out that his secret trips
to the cliffs must have some significance. Last night I searched the
kivas without success. Today I lay in wait for Blakeman, as you know,
with better luck."
"What will happen to him?" Connie asked.
The detective shrugged.
"Oh, he'll probably get twenty years if he pleads guilty. I have him
locked up at the jail now. Late this afternoon I'm starting back to
Texas with him."
"Then I may not see you again," Connie said regretfully. "You must
forgive me for discharging you."
"You did me a service," the man smiled. "The only thing I worried about
was that you might tell Blakeman I had been prying into his chest."
"I'll always be grateful to you," Connie said earnestly. "And you'll be
remembered as the finest hand I ever had!"
"Maybe you'll see me again next summer," the man promised as he prepared
to ride away. "I've taken a liking to this ranch. I'd enjoy spending my
vacation here."
"We'll be looking for you back next year," Connie declared.
Later in the morning the girls rode to Red Gulch themselves. By that
time the cowboys had driven the cattle to the stockyards, and the
loading was nearly completed.
"Did we lose many animals in the stampede?" Connie asked Lefty
anxiously.
"Only two," he answered. "You're a-sittin' pretty now, Connie. This
shipment ought to net you a nice amount."
"I'll not need very much of the money to pay off my bank debt," she told
him gaily. "With the seven hundred dollars I already have, I'll make a
first payment on the note. Then as soon as my check comes back for this
stock, I'll settle it."
"Looks like you'll get a good market for your cattle too," Lefty
declared. "You ought to have quite a bit left over."
"I can use it," laughed Connie. "Oh, I have wonderful plans! I'll
remodel, and I'll buy thoroughbred stock. Perhaps I'll build a new wing
on the ranch house and advertise for dudes!"
"Going into the business strong?"
"That's right," Connie agreed. "This morning Mr. Grimes said he intends
to come back next year bringing Cecil and Helena. And he knows several
other people he expects to interest in our place."
"I could do without Cecil myself," Lefty muttered.
"Oh, he's improving every day," Connie laughed. "In another year perhaps
you'll make a real cowboy of him."
"Wranglin' dudes ain't my favorite pastime."
"Oh, that reminds me. Lefty, you're to have a new job--and if we do
well, a new salary to go with it."
"What doin'?" the cowboy asked cautiously.
"You're to be the new foreman."
Lefty stared at Connie as if he could not believe his ears. His mouth
widened in a grin.
"That's sure swell of you, Connie. I--I don't know what to say."
His horny hand reached out and grasped hers.
After leaving the stockyards, Connie went directly to the First National
Bank. Mr. Haynes received her with a cordiality which was amusing to the
girl. He gave her a receipt for the seven hundred dollars, assuring her
that she need not worry about the remaining amount.
"Thank you," said Connie, "but I'll pay off the rest of my debt in three
days."
And she was able to keep her word. The sale of the cattle netted far
more than the girl had expected. Upon receiving the check in payment,
her first act was to settle the note with the bank.
"Rainbow Ranch is really mine again," Connie thought with satisfaction
as she rode slowly home.
Her gaze wandered toward the vermilion cliffs. She had never seen them
quite so beautiful as they were at this moment, tinted by the last rays
of the afternoon sun.
Behind her sloped the golden plain. Ahead in majestic splendor rose the
painted mountains. Connie drew rein to gaze for a moment at the familiar
scene. Then with a gay laugh she spurred Silvertail into a brisk canter
and they raced home to Rainbow Ranch.
THE END
End of Project Gutenberg's Connie Carl at Rainbow Ranch, by Joan Clark