The Boy Ranchers in Death Valley; Or, Diamond X and the Poison Mystery

r of Diamond X

arked Mr. Merkel with a smile as he surveyed the lad

would be doing if the

e ominously from t

spered Bud to his cousi

on't reckon, if we hit

I don't reckon you'

wled the last few words

i

a thinks he'll let you? Is that what you

first time!" chuck

ou an' you know it!" s

think I a

sed from Death Valley becaus

I'm tellin' you, to start out in the mornin' an' not know whether you'd come acros

u be willing to go

end you out to Dot and Dash. An' you heard me, too, the first time!" snap

uestion," said Mr. Merkel. "After what you told me, Billee, I can't see

for the new ranc

after all. It strikes me now that Barter was pretty anxious and quick to sell. I ought to have smelled a rat

to lose, Uncle H

ing to say about it!"

to count on m

always have the loude

rd

ellin' Kid. "There ain't a yaller s

ddin'! Me, I aim to go 'long with 'em an' see what

led Billee. "If you al

be goin' to

reman. "I run Diamond X 'fore any of you fell

me!" chime

' Kid. "You must 'a' been

Mr. Merkel, knowing how easily tempers of even the best

is true, and I know he is telling the truth as he sees it, or as

eseechingly, while Nort

y, we just

ll news to me, Billee, and surprising news, too. I don't know what to d

d man, thoughtfully scratching his head near where a bald spot w

ive anywhere else than at Diamond X-my wife wouldn't move. But I just

n the neighborhood of Los Pompan," interposed Billee. "And if

ually, did hap

we could 'a' found out what caused the deaths it would have been easy to stop it-whether it was Indians, rustlers or some

will!"

what?" aske

h Valley. Come on, Dad," he plea

would say, and there was a more serious ai

d them, and the bad news blurted out by Billee Dobb. While Mr. Merkel went in the house, where he talked to his wife and daughter, speaking only sketchily of the result of his t

eason, before, for spe

t, generally, was the

his employer was on a

imself for not havi

his cousins listened eagerly, "that there wasn't any

eply. "They'd be all right one d

g struck 'em,"

have many storms, though lightning did kill some cows and I remember one puncher who cashed in his chips that way. He was a

acked him up so forcefully that, in the end, Mr. Merkel at last consented

ade. "I'm not going to palm off a death-dealing place on somebody the way Barter, so it appears, loaded me up with it

Bud in a low voice, but

l you d

ghost and lay him, or her or

the hat until the last gun is fired," cr

I do hope nothing happens," he added anxiously, when the boys

made. "But maybe these boys'll be able to beat the game. They cleaned up the Chinese s

office, had spoken rather loudly. "I don't want my wife and Nell to h

Billee said, as if that mea

and Snake Purdee, too

e has died out, but I'm afraid not-I'm afraid not," he added with an ominous shake of his

derable in the way of supplies must be taken, and, after all, an auto is not of much use, even the ever-dependable flivver, in riding herd, a round-up or cutting out a bu

lans over with him a few days before the start. This was after they had decided to ride their ponies to Death Valley rather than t

s mysterious death-dealing force that B

Dot and Dash. Mrs. Merkel and Nell said their good-byes, happily unaware of the dangerous phase of

y've seen some of the things I've seen," remarked

when their ponies had been saddled and extra mounts

trail!" e

lp!" added Dick, referring, thoug

ake care of yourselves," he added as he clasped firmly t

. But Mr. Merkel took th

t, setting out with high hopes a

rom Circle T ranch, the nearest to Diamond X, and a place ow

at bunch is going to Los Pompan to take over a new ranch the boss bought." It was no secret-half the people

cloud of dust which hovered over the cavalcade of the boy

ng about it?

nd, putting spurs to his

e as he watched the puncher disappear in a

ers were on the trail.

t even Billee D