CHAPTER V
A NEW KIND OF DRAMA
"And so you really got what you went for; eh, boys?" asked Mr. Alden,proprietor of Big B ranch, as the trio rode in. "Well, you had luck."
"Both kinds--good and bad," remarked Hank, as he told how, after gettingthe rare films, they had nearly been lost again.
"And you rescued your enemies, too? What became of Munson?"
"Oh, he and his crowd went off by themselves," explained Blake. "Theyfelt badly about us beating them."
"I've got a surprise for you, Joe," went on the proprietor.
"What sort?" asked the lad, eagerly; "is my father----?"
"No, not that; but Sam Reed is back here again, and he can tell you whatyou want to know. He came the day after you left."
"But I did better than that!" exclaimed Joe. "I met my uncle, and I'msoon going to find my father, I hope," and he related his meeting withthe trooper.
"Good!" cried Mr. Alden. "Here comes Sam now. I told him you might bealong soon," and he turned to introduce a rather shiftless-lookingcowboy who sauntered up.
"Pleased to meet you," said Sam Reed. "I never cal'lated when I writthat there letter that I'd ever see you in flesh and blood. I've gotyour pictures, though," and he showed those that had appeared in amagazine, giving an account of the work of Joe and Blake.
As might have been expected, Sam knew nothing of Joe's father. The bestthe cowboy had hoped to do was to put the boy on the track of Mr.William Duncan, and, considering that Joe's uncle, as I shall callhim--though he was really only a half-uncle--had enlisted in the army,Mr. Reed would probably have had hard work to carry out his plans.
"Well, I'm glad you met your relative, anyhow," said Sam to Joe; "and Iwish you luck in looking for your father. So he's somewhere on thesouthern California coast?"
"Yes, in one of the lighthouses," explained Joe. "My uncle didn't knowexactly where, but I can easily find out from the government office whenI get on the coast."
The boys were made welcome again at Big B ranch, and talked over oncemore the exciting time that had happened to them there when the Indiansstampeded the cattle.
"Here are the films you left with me," said Mr. Alden, giving the boysthose they had made of the cattle stampede and of the cowboys doingtheir stunts. "And so you got other good ones?"
"Yes, fine ones," replied Blake. "And we must soon be getting back toFlagstaff. We have stayed away longer than we meant to, and Mr. Hadleyand Mr. Ringold may need our services."
But the boys at the ranch would not hear of their starting for a fewdays, and so Joe and Blake stayed on, being royally entertained. Theywitnessed a round-up and the branding of cattle, but could get nopictures, as their films were all used up. However, the subjects hadoften been filmed before, so there was no great regret.
Then came a time when they had to say farewell, and they turned theirhorses' heads toward Flagstaff. The cowboys gave them a parting saluteof cheers and blank cartridges, riding madly around meanwhile.
"It reminds me of the Indian attack," said Blake.
"Yes," assented Joe. "I wonder if we'll go through another scare likethat?"
"I hope not," spoke his chum; but, though they did not know it, theywere destined to face many more perils in the pursuit of their chosencalling.
The ride to Flagstaff from Big B ranch was without incident. It wasthrough a fairly well settled part of the country, as settlements go inArizona, and they made it in good time. Joe often talked about thestrange fate that had put him on the track of his father.
"I wonder what kind of a man he'll be?" he often said to his chum.
"The best ever!" Blake would answer; "that is, if he's anything likeyou--and I think he must be."
"That's very nice of you, and I hope he does turn out to be what I wishhim to be. I can't even picture him in my mind, though."
"Well, I should think he'd be something like your uncle--even if theywere only half-brothers."
"If he is, I suppose it will be all right, though Uncle Bill is a littletoo wild to suit me. I'd want my father to be more settled in life."
"Well, it won't be a great while before you know," consoled Blake.
The boys received a royal welcome from Mr. Hadley and the members of thetheatrical troupe.
"Oh, but it's good to see you back!" exclaimed Birdie Lee to Blake, asshe shook hands with him, and if he held her fingers a little longerthan was necessary I'm sure it's none of our affair.
"So you didn't get scalped, after all?" remarked C. C., gloomily, as hesurveyed the boys. "Well, you will next time, or else they will hold youas captives."
"Oh, stop it, Gloomy!" called Miss Shay. "What do you want to spoiltheir welcome for, just as we have a little spread arranged for them?"for she had gotten one up on the spur of the moment, on sighting theboys.
"A spread, eh? Humph, I know I'll get indigestion if I eat any of it.Oh, life isn't worth living, anyhow!" and he sighed heavily andproceeded to practice making new comical faces at himself in alooking-glass.
"Well, I'm glad you boys are back," said Mr. Ringold a little later atthe impromptu feast, at which C. C. ate as much as anyone and withseemingly as good an appetite. "Yes," went on the theatrical manager, "Ishall need you and Mr. Hadley right along, now. I am going to produce anew kind of drama."
"I--er--I'm afraid I can't be with you," said Joe, hesitatingly. "I amat last on the track of my father, and I must find him."
"Where is he?" asked Mr. Ringold, when the lad had told his story.
"Somewhere on the Southern California coast. In a lighthouse--justwhere I can't say. But I am going there, and so you will have to getsome one else, Mr. Ringold, to take my place. Blake can stay here, ofcourse, and make moving pictures, but I----"
"I'm going with you," said his chum, simply.
There was a moment's silence, and then the theatrical manager exclaimed:
"Well, say, this just fits in all right. There's no need for any of usto be separated, for I intend taking my whole company to the coast toget a new series of sea dramas. The Southern California coast will suitme as well as any.
"Joe, you can't shake me that way. We'll all go together, and you'llhave plenty of chance to locate your father!"