CHAPTER VIII
CYCLONE
Following the deputy into the house, Bud looked about. The place_felt_ vacant. It had an atmosphere of emptiness. The furniture inthe rooms had a tossed-about appearance, as though the occupants hadmade a hurried exit. A cheap vase lay on the floor by the mantel,broken. Rugs were kicked up.
"Well, what do you think of that?" Bud said slowly. "They're gone!Vamoosed! And quick, too. Must have done some tall hustlin' to getout in that short time. Wonder what the idea was? Do you think Deltonmight be around back, or somewhere outside?"
"Better look, anyway." Hawkins stepped to the doorway and suddenly letout a yell.
"Yo-o-o-o, Kid! Over here!"
"Yo-o!" came the answer. "Right there!" and Yellin' Kid, together withBillee Dobb, rode to the ranch house.
"What'll you have!" the Kid called as he came up.
"Take a ride around the place and see if you can locate someone; willyou? The house is empty."
"Right! Billee, you ride to the left and I'll go this way. Back intwo shakes."
"Mighty queer where everyone has disappeared to," Hawkins commented."When you were here before, Bud, did they look as though they weregetting ready to light out?"
"Nope--just the opposite. As I told you, Delton insisted that he wasgoing to stay. I can't imagine what scared them off. Unless Deltondecided discretion was the better part of valor. It certainly doesn'tseem logical that they'd make tracks like this, after what Delton said."
"Here comes the Kid. Got someone with him; hasn't he?" asked Bud.
"He sure has--a Mex, I'd say."
"The lone survivor!" the Kid yelled as he rode toward them. "Bud,recognize him?" and he pushed the Mexican, whom he held by the collar,forward.
"Why, he's the fellow we saw in the restaurant! Remember, Mr. Hawkins?The one you pointed out; isn't he?"
"You mean Pete Alvido? Come 'ere, son--let's have a look at you." Thedeputy peered closely. "Nope! Sure looks like Pete, but it isn't.'Nough like him to be his brother, though. Hey, Mex, what's your name?What are you doin' around here?"
The Mexican didn't answer. He simply shrugged his shoulders, and stoodsilent, his face expressionless.
"Speak up, boy! What's your name?"
Still no reply.
"Lost your tongue, Mex?" the Kid broke in. "Take my advice, and answerwhen you're spoken to." The Kid touched his gun suggestively. Notthat he would have thought of enforcing his half-uttered threat, but hesimply wanted to show the Mexican they meant business.
At this the man gesticulated toward his throat, and a guttural soundcame from his lips.
"Why the pore cuss means he's dumb!" exclaimed Billee Dobb, who hadridden in. "Can't speak! Hey you! No spik? No _habla_?"
The Mexican shook his head forcibly.
"A dumb Greaser!" cried the Kid. "Well, he's not much of a find. He'sthe only one left of this outfit, though. Hey, Mex! Where's the boss?Gone?"
With a widespread gesture of his arms the man indicated his lack ofknowledge of the subject. At least he seemed to understand a littleEnglish.
"Can't get much out of him," Hawkins commented. "Well, boys, seemslike you'll have no more trouble takin' possession of the Shootin'Star. It's yours. Say--" and he turned to their captive. "What'syour job? Vaquero? Herder? Cook?" At the last word the Mexicannodded vigorously. "You're in luck, boys. Here's a cook all ready foryou. Got any food inside? Eats?" the deputy asked the Mexican. Hewas answered with another affirmative shake of the head.
"Now you're all fixed up for the night. Might as well call in theother two. What's their name again? Shannon, isn't it? Kid, you give'em a yell. You seem to be able to do that particularly well."
Nort and Dick came riding over in response to the Kid's summons.
"Who's this you got, Kid?" asked Nort. "Some friend of yours? Why,he's the Mexican we saw in Herb's!"
"No he isn't--that's what I thought too," Bud said. "Mr. Hawkins saysit's another--though it sure looks like him. This one's dumb."
"What do you mean--stupid?"
"No--can't talk. At least he says he can't--I mean he wants us tounderstand that he can't." Bud corrected himself.
"I've got to be getting back," interrupted the deputy. "I suppose youmen will settle here, now that you've got a cook and food. That is, ifhe'll cook for you and you want to take a chance that he won't poisonyou. Hey, you--cook for _hombres_?"
Again that vigorous nod.
"Seems agreeable enough. Now if you want anything, you know where toreach me. If it's at night, you'll find me down the street 'bout halfa mile from the office, on the same side. Anyone will tell you whereJoe Hawkins's place is. So long, boys. Again, good luck."
"Good-bye, Mr. Hawkins. We're much obliged to you for riding over withus."
"Glad to do it, Bud. Any time at all. Git along there, bronc._Adios_!"
"So-long!"
"'Bye!"
"At last we're here," Nort declared. "No trace of anyone around; heyBud? Wonder what became of them. I wouldn't mind seeing our littlefriend with the sawed-off shot-gun again."
"Let's not look for trouble," Dick suggested. "I think what happenedwas that this fellow you call 'J. D.' decided to take the opportunityto get out without trouble. I don't believe we'll see him again."
"Maybe not. We've got enough to worry about without him. Kid, supposeyou take charge of getting things ready for the night. Those sheepwon't be here for a week or so, and in the meantime we can fix thingsup a bit. To-morrow I'll go scouting around for a good sheepman.There ought to be plenty in town. All right, Kid, we're under yourorders."
"Check! Nort, you take the horses to the corral and see that they getfed. I guess you'll find some feed around somewhere--there's a barndown there a piece--look there. Dick, you go see what sort of sleepin'quarters they got here. It might be well for us to stay here in thehouse for the night. We can settle on a bunk house later. The rest ofyou can make yourselves generally useful. I'll go 'tend to the eats.Mex, we need food! Where's the kitchen?"
Apparently understanding, the Mexican led the way toward the rear,followed by the Kid. The lay-out of the place was a great deal likethat of the ordinary cattle ranch. Indeed, if one were not whollyfamiliar with the types of dwellings which dot the Texas border, hewould be hard put to show the difference between a cattle and a sheepranch. The corral of the cattle ranch would be built of strongerboards, and on the sheep ranch, or "farm," there would be huge vats for"dipping" the sheep, to cure them of any disease they might havecontracted.
But except for these minor differences the two ranches are much thesame. Of course the personnel of the sheep ranch would not be asextensive as that of the cattle ranch--one herder being able toadequately care for two thousand head of sheep. In shearing time theranch hands are increased, to take care of this added labor.
So it is not strange to find five hands prepared to take over themanagement of a whole sheep ranch. Naturally it would be necessary tohire some "sheep man" to handle the technical part of the venture, forsheep are delicate creatures, and a green manager could easily lose hiswhole herd in short order.
It was now five o'clock. With a fire roaring in the kitchen and theranchers hurrying here and there about the place, it seemed home-likeand cheerful.
"Be all set in half an hour," the Kid called to Bud as he stepped outin the yard for a moment. "Found plenty of bacon and beans, and enoughother stuff to make a pretty fair meal. Reckon you-all can eat, ifyou're anything like me. What do you think of the place, Bud?"
"Pretty fair, Kid, pretty fair. Looks as though we may be able to makesomething of it. I've been thinking of buying a radio outfit to keepus company on long winter evenings. You know we bring in the sheepthen, and we'll have to stick close to home to take care of them."
"A wireless! A sparkin' outfit! What are you goin' to do, Bud, putthem woolies to sleep with music?"
"Hardly
that," Bud laughed. "You'll be glad we got it when you hearsome of the big fights being reported, just as though you were at theringside. But apart from that, what do you make of this situation,Kid?"
"You mean comin' back here an' not findin' anybody? Gee, I don't know,Bud! Might be any one of several reasons why this 'J. D.' bird skippedout. 'Course I didn't actually see him, but something tells me hecouldn't stand a close look-in to his ways and means of business.
"'Course I shouldn't run down a guy that I never saw. But there's beena lot of funny work goin' on in these parts, and if anyone wanted to becrooked, this is the best place in the world for it. You know thisranch property is right on the border line between Mexico and U. S."
"Say, Kid, look how dark it's getting all of a sudden," Bud interruptedas he looked up into the sky and tested with his hand the direction ofthe slight breeze blowing. "Wind's in the east. Rain, I guess.Getting hotter, too. Why yes, Kid, I guess you're right about thisranch being a good place to pull shady work. But I don't believe we'llhave any trouble."
The Kid whirled around. The next moment he was on his way inside.
"Get the others together!" he yelled. "There's a cyclone comin'!"
Bud scarcely heard him. He stood still, fascinated by the tremendousspectacle.