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

or he had his mouth set for a drink, a

ut what's in the bottle befor

-Elixer of Life? Some sort of tonic, I reckon, a

me boat. I'm getting my appetite back," he added with

give me an appetite for

ak

icine, and, again, it may be deadly poison. I want it analyzed by a chemist before I take any

mused Snake. "

lace at Dot and Dash," interrupted Nort, guessing at Snake's implied question. "But a crank is a dangerous man to have m

greed Snake, ruefully, "I'm glad y

s there a chemist in Los Pompan," and he nodded in th

he can tell whether this stuff is safe or not," and he gazed at one of t

on the boy. "I only bought it to lead the ol

ess we'll have to wait until Billee and the others come

hen," suggested S

back?" asked Nort with a sudd

ing won't happen to any of 'em," which was sufficiently clear and hopeful if not very grammatical. "But, even if they all come b

greed Nort. "Well, we'

nd the others. Sam had agreed to stay for a while to aid in the check-over and as soon as possible, as Nor

e and more about him before we let him vamoo

uch was happening, and he was so

en we need him-if we ever do," chuckled Snake. "I me

rm in it that's the mo

r finding th

at is some time ago, 'fore I was knocked out. But when I tried to come up to him he'd va

me hiding place,

don't like that hombre and y

might take place later. Then more work was done about the place, and as the afternoon wa

size it up-to ascertain the number of head of cattle on the ranch, to find out the location o

said Nort to whom had fallen the task of washing the dishes. "

think so. If you c

now. And then he remembered and added: "

anything like that. But maybe we can get one fresh smu

Nort as he recalled h

be smuggled into

y might be called, had not returned. Nort was going to suggest that perhaps it might be well to ride out and see if his broth

ng, and it was with a relieved hea

happen?" a

d out Yellin' Kid. "I

c. But this is sure

ent on to those who had been left behind. "But we saw enough to convince us

e any signs of him

inquire

n the

calf, and, as we know, they're common e

there need mending. But there's plenty of water and what cattle there are seem to be in good s

to do so much worry

ms n

s this?" and he picked up one of the bottles of Elixer, for by this time th

to save lives!" chuckled Sn

mused Billee as he listened. "

lly," stated Nort. "But I thought we

e three bottles he locked them in a wal

g of the vender of Life's Elixer, and on their part Bud and Dick told of the scenes about

any signs of sudden

ame to call this Death

cluding Sam Tarbell who, when he found that there was no sudden passing away of any

it, and where his horse had died. Nothing suspicious was discovered, however, and there was

heart disease, and when he fell I was throwed off and hit

possible,"

chmen in the adjoining county, and several more cowboys had been e

, to inspect the present herd, with a view to shifting it, when Nort poin

se?" he asked

er, he exclaimed, "Those are dead cattl