THE MORNING JOY
“What a night _that_ was!”
Teddy, turning on his pillow, observed his brother. The early afternoon
sun was streaming through the windows of their bedroom at the ranch
house of the X Bar X. From the yard came sounds of a missing motor,
interrupted by:
“Now yore hittin’ along, you ole puddle jumper. Hear that engine, Nick?
Sweet, ain’t she, since I put that new carburetor on? Baby, this here
lead mule—Stall on me, will yuh! Consarn yore brake-bands, I’ll blow
yore piston rings clear to—”
“Bug Eye,” Teddy said, grinning. “He’s got his flivver out there. Reckon
some one drove it over for him.” The boy yawned, and stretched high.
Roy observed the ceiling complacently. He seemed perfectly content to
lie there, and think—think of the many things that had happened not
twenty hours ago. Last night they were in Thunder Canyon, at Sholo
Caves. Now they were at home, in their own room, listening to Bug Eye’s
“Address to a Flivver.”
Lazily, Roy recalled that ride out of the canyon with the three girls
and the two prisoners on horses they had found picketed near the cave.
Clovita had gone with them, and it was lucky she had, for she showed
them a short cut to the other side of the canyon, where they had met Mr.
Manley and his party. His joy at having Belle back safe and sound was
tremendous, as well it might be, and on that long ride home his corncob
pipe was never unlit for a second. His humor kept the party in constant
gales of laughter, not even excepting the two captured rustlers, who
seemed a bit relieved that the whole business was over. Nick promised to
visit them in jail and try to win some of his money back.
They had found Reltsur where they had left him, leaning against a tree,
muttering to himself. The wound Teddy had inflicted was severe, but not
fatal, and Mr. Manley, at all times considerate, even to an enemy,
insisted that he take his bronco, while he rode double with Teddy. Gus
shook his head at this display of “misplaced sympathy,” but,
nevertheless, his admiration for his boss increased tenfold. In his own
words, as he later described it to Rad Snell, “Mr. Manley is sure one
white guy.”
On their way out of the canyon they had passed the hut of the old woman,
Clovita’s sister. Here Clovita left them, Mr. Manley feeling that it
would do no good to detain her. After all, she was but a tool in the
hands of the outlaws. The last the boys saw of her she was beating on
the door of the cabin with her bare fist, while within all was dark. Roy
wondered vaguely if her sister had finally admitted her or whether she
had to climb in a window.
The homecoming of the girls had been momentous. Mrs. Manley was waiting
up, and with tears of joy in her eyes she embraced her daughter, and
also Nell and Ethel.
“I knew you’d come to-night!” she exclaimed. “I just knew it! Belle, I
prayed so hard for you all that you couldn’t help being safe! And now I
have a suggestion. Mrs. Moore and Norine want to make some tea and
toast. What about it?”
The yell that had gone up was answer enough. And after the rustlers had
been put in the bunk-house, with Sing Lung guarding them with a huge
knife and a ferocious frown on his face that would have deceived any one
who did not know him, the rescue party sat down to a late midnight
supper.
Mr. Manley had bound Reltsur’s arm up and quartered him with his
companions, with Sing Lung as guard. As Roy, in bed, thought about this
man a puzzled look came over his face.
“Say, Teddy,” he remarked, sitting up and gazing out the window at Bug
Eye and his precious flivver, “that’s a funny name for any one to have.”
“What?” Teddy opened his eyes stupidly. “You talkin’ to me?”
“I say Reltsur is a mighty queer name.”
“Yea?”
Silence, unbroken save for the slow breathing of the boys. Then,
“I got it!” Teddy yelled suddenly.
“You got what?”
“I know what Reltsur means! Jimminy, I just thought of it! Came to me
like a flash. I was always quick like that. Fast on my feet, too. I
remember one time—”
“Well, for the love of Pete, spill it! What does Reltsur mean?”
Teddy gazed at his brother, a grin on his face.
“Spell it backwards!”
“Spell it—” Roy stopped and looked thoughtful. “Let’s see.
R-u-s-t-l-e-r. Rustler! By jinks, Teddy, you’re right! Rustler! Who’d
have thought it? The crazy guy. Using a thing like that for a name!
Golly, he must be cookoo. Must think he’s a villain out of the middle
ages. In those days a man would take for his name anything that—”
“You don’t say!” Teddy interrupted, laughing. “Well, that’s what Reltsur
means, all right. Let’s get up and tell dad. Baby, that was some sleep!
We got in about twelve, didn’t we? From twelve until—let’s see,
one-thirty. Wow! I’m hungry! Let’s go down and see Ethel and Nell, and
then we eat.”
As the boys descended the stairs, Teddy thought with a smile that but a
few hours ago they weren’t sure whether they would ever see the old
ranch again. They had expected a fierce fight, and were ready for it.
They knew those rustlers could shoot, and Teddy and Roy had resigned
themselves to whatever might occur. Yet they had met no one but an old
woman and two punchers who played cards with Nick Looker! Teddy laughed
aloud as he recalled Nick’s plaintive cry from the trail of Thunder
Canyon:
“Hey, Roy, these two geezers won all my money playin’ seven-up!”
Outside, in the yard, Bug Eye was surrounded by a crowd to whom he was
explaining the mysteries of his new carburetor. Belle and Ethel were
standing arm in arm, and Mr. Manley was chuckling gleefully at Bug Eye’s
attempt to show that a four-cylinder motor ran better when two of the
cylinders refused to fire.
“She’s supposed to do that!” he was insisting. “That’s what this here
doohickey is for—to con-serve gas! You see, yay, look who comes! Boys,
you’re just in time! Make way! Make way, you vassels—or something like
that. What’s the good word, boys?”
“Listen, and I’ll give you the low-down,” Roy laughed. “Dad, Teddy made
a discovery—a stu-pen-dous discovery. He found out what Reltsur means!”
“He did, son? What is it?”
“Spell it backwards and you’ll soon see!”
For a moment there was silence. Nick’s head bobbed up and down, his
tongue on his lower lip as he figured it to himself. Gus and Bug Eye
struggled manfully, but had to wait until Mr. Manley shouted:
“Rustler! That’s it, sure as shootin’! Teddy, you’re a genius! It’s
rustler turned around!”
“I always thought that bozo was a little balmy,” Pop Burns declared,
when the matter was explained to him. “Now I know it! Snakes, it’s a
wonder he doesn’t walk backwards! Huh! Rustler, hey? Guess he’s had
enough action for a while, anyhow. He can think up new names fer himself
while he’s sittin’ in jail—an’ if you take my advice, that won’t be at
Hawley, boss!”
With a laugh, Mr. Manley agreed. Then he glanced fondly at his two sons,
who had, together with their friends, brought this Reltsur to justice
and had rescued Belle and the others from his clutches.
But the ranch boys were to have other happenings, and the further
adventures of Roy and Teddy will be told in the next volume, to be
called: “The X Bar X Boys on Whirlpool River.”
Teddy, leaning forward, whispered to Ethel. She nudged Belle and Nell,
and, casually, the three girls walked away from the little group
surrounding Bug Eye, who had continued his demonstration.
In a few moments the boys followed and met the girls near the corral. It
was the work of but a few moments to saddle Flash and Star and three
other ponies.
Softly they rode out of the yard. If any one saw them, they gave no
sign. Once behind the corral Teddy leaped Flash forward.
“Let’s go!” he yelled. “To that stump out there! See it? Come on!”
Over the prairie the riders swept. And as they left the ranch houses,
there came to them a faint, far-off voice:
“Now this carburetor, she works on a funny system. First the gas
condenses in here, ya see, an’ the air is let in by this here
doofunny——”
THE END
========================================================================
WESTERN STORIES FOR BOYS
By JAMES CODY FERRIS
========================================================================
Each Volume Complete in Itself.
========================================================================
Thrilling tales of the great west, told primarily for boys but which
will be read by all who love mystery, rapid action, and adventures in
the great open spaces.
The Manley boys, Roy and Teddy, are the sons of an old ranchman, the
owner of many thousands of heads of cattle. The lads know how to ride,
how to shoot, and how to take care of themselves under any and all
circumstances.
The cowboys of the X Bar X Ranch are real cowboys, on the job when
required, but full of fun and daring—a bunch any reader will be
delighted to know.
THE X BAR X BOYS ON THE RANCH
THE X BAR X BOYS IN THUNDER CANYON
THE X BAR X BOYS ON WHIRLPOOL RIVER
THE X BAR X BOYS ON BIG BISON TRAIL
THE X BAR X BOYS AT THE ROUND-UP
THE X BAR X BOYS AT NUGGET CAMP
THE X BAR X BOYS AT RUSTLER’S GAP
THE X BAR X BOYS AT GRIZZLY PASS
THE X BAR X BOYS LOST IN THE ROCKIES
THE X BAR X BOYS RIDING FOR LIFE
THE X BAR X BOYS IN SMOKY VALLEY
========================================================================
GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK
========================================================================
========================================================================
THE HARDY BOYS SERIES
By FRANKLIN W. DIXON
========================================================================
Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself
========================================================================
The Hardy Boys are sons of a celebrated American detective, and during
vacations and their off time from school they help their father by
hunting down clues themselves.
THE TOWER TREASURE—A dying criminal confessed that his loot had
been secreted “in the tower.” It remained for the Hardy Boys to
clear up the mystery.
THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF—Mr. Hardy started to investigate—and
disappeared! An odd tale, with plenty of excitement.
THE SECRET OF THE OLD MILL—Counterfeit money was in
circulation, and the limit was reached when Mrs. Hardy took some
from a stranger. A tale full of thrills.
THE MISSING CHUMS—Two of the Hardy Boys’ chums disappear and
are almost rescued by their friends when all are captured. A
thrilling story of adventure.
HUNTING FOR HIDDEN GOLD—In tracing some stolen gold the trail
leads the boys to an abandoned mine, and there things start to
happen.
THE SHORE ROAD MYSTERY—Automobiles were disappearing most
mysteriously from the Shore Road. It remained for the Hardy Boys
to solve the mystery.
THE SECRET OF THE CAVES—when the boys reached the caves they
came unexpectedly upon a queer old hermit.
THE MYSTERY OF CABIN ISLAND—A story of queer adventures on a
rockbound island.
THE GREAT AIRPORT MYSTERY—The Hardy Boys solve the mystery of
the disappearance of some valuable mail.
WHAT HAPPENED AT MIDNIGHT—The boys follow a trail that ends in
a strange and exciting situation.
WHILE THE CLOCK TICKED—The Hardy Boys aid in vindicating a man
who has been wrongly accused of a crime.
FOOTPRINTS UNDER THE WINDOW—The Smuggling of Chinese into this
country is the basis of this story in which the boys find
thrills and excitement aplenty.
========================================================================
GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK
========================================================================
========================================================================
TED SCOTT FLYING STORIES
By FRANKLIN W. DIXON
========================================================================
Illustrated. Each Volume Complete in Itself.
========================================================================
No subject has so thoroughly caught the imagination of young America as
aviation. This series has been inspired by recent daring feats of the
air, and is dedicated to Lindbergh, Byrd, Chamberlin and other heroes of
the skies.
OVER THE OCEAN TO PARIS;
_or, Ted Scott’s Daring Long Distance Flight_.
RESCUED IN THE CLOUDS;
_or, Ted Scott, Hero of the Air_.
OVER THE ROCKIES WITH THE AIR MAIL;
_or, Ted Scott Lost in the Wilderness_.
FIRST STOP HONOLULU;
_or, Ted Scott Over the Pacific_.
THE SEARCH FOR THE LOST FLYERS;
_or, Ted Scott Over the West Indies_.
SOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE;
_or, Ted Scott On a Secret Mission_.
ACROSS THE PACIFIC;
_or, Ted Scott’s Hop to Australia_.
THE LONE EAGLE OF THE BORDER;
_or, Ted Scott and the Diamond Smugglers_.
FLYING AGAINST TIME;
_or, Breaking the Ocean to Ocean Record_.
OVER THE JUNGLE TRAILS;
_or, Ted Scott and the Missing Explorers_.
LOST AT THE SOUTH POLE;
_or, Ted Scott in Blizzard Land_.
THROUGH THE AIR TO ALASKA;
_or, Ted Scott’s Search in Nugget Valley_.
FLYING TO THE RESCUE;
_or, Ted Scott and the Big Dirigible_.
DANGER TRAILS OF THE SKY;
_or, Ted Scott’s Great Mountain Climb_.
FOLLOWING THE SUN SHADOW;
_or, Ted Scott and the Great Eclipse_.
BATTLING THE WIND;
_or, Ted Scott Flying Around Cape Horn_.
========================================================================
GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK
========================================================================
========================================================================
HAL KEEN MYSTERY STORIES
By HUGH LLOYD
========================================================================
Boys! Meet Hal Keen, that lanky, nonchalant, red-headed youth whose
guiding star is the star that points to adventure, excitement and
mystery. Follow him in his hunts for clues and criminals. There are
plenty of thrills and shivers in these stories to keep you on your toes.
THE SMUGGLER’S SECRET
Hal Keen sets out to get to the bottom of a mystery that threatens the
safety of a whole community.
THE MYSTERIOUS ARAB
Mystery, excitement, murder in a scientist’s camp in the jungles of
Africa, where hate, revenge, and suspicion lead to tragedy.
THE HERMIT OF GORDON’S CREEK
The disappearance of two airmail pilots leads to a mystery that centers
about an abandoned mine and a strange old man.
KIDNAPPED IN THE JUNGLE
A hint of buried treasure in the ruins of an old French mission leads
Hal deep into the Central American jungle.
THE COPPERHEAD TRAIL MYSTERY
Baffling and blood-curdling events center about the ranch where Hal Keen
and his friends had gone in search of gold.
THE LONESOME SWAMP MYSTERY
The lonely and mysterious swamp gave up its secret only after a series
of terrifying events taxed Hal’s courage and ability.
THE CLUE AT SKELETON ROCKS
In this new thriller Hal Keen finds mystery and adventure in and about a
lonely lighthouse on Skeleton Rocks, off the Maine coast.
THE DOOM OF STARK HOUSE
Mystery and terror in an old house in the wilderness above Quebec where
Hal Keen is the guest of a strange family.
========================================================================
GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK
========================================================================
Transcriber's Notes
Minor changes have been made silently to spelling and punctuation to
achieve consistency.