CHAPTER XXV
THE END OF THE SHEEP
Court had convened. It was the day set for the decision in the SpurCreek open range matter--a decision which would say whether or notsheep could be pastured on land that the owner of Diamond X had longclaimed as his own.
In the open West--where there is much hard work and little play--unlessa man makes the latter for himself--the opening of court, even forsmall matters, was an occasion for the "gathering of the clans." Fromfar and near, those who could get away to attend the sitting of thejudge, and sometimes the trial of cases, were always on hand. It wasthe same sort of an occasion as in the East is the circus, the cattleshow or the county fair.
At court, as at the circus and fair, friends who had long beenseparated met again, and, not infrequently, relatives found those ofwhom they had long lost trace.
And so, as there was a gathering of lawyers, a judge or two, somewitnesses and any number of mere hangers-on in the city where court hadbeen convened, there were heard on all sides such greetings as:
"Well, ef thar ain't ole Bill! Put here there, Bill!"
"Horn-swoggle me ef 'tain't Nate! Well, gumsozzle me!"
Two hard and calloused hand would meet in a crack like that from asmall gun and two bearded faces, seamed and wrinkled, would light upwith pleasure.
Near them--all around them--similar scenes were being enacted, and, notinfrequently, ancient enemies would thus come together, with none ofthe kindly greetings that I have indicated. Often as not there wouldbe the drawing of guns and an exchange of shots, more or less dangerousunder any circumstances, and particularly so where there was a throngas at the opening of court.
But on this occasion all grudges seemed to have been forgotten orburied, for there was no shooting. The feeling was of the friendliest,save that an important issue was to be fought out between the sheep menon one side and the cattle men on the other.
To both sides the issue meant much, for it meant success or failure inwhat they elected to gain their livings by means of. So it cannot bewondered at that there were more or less serious faces as men met andinquired one of the other:
"How do you think it's going?"
"Well, you can't tell much about it," the answer might be. "Theselawyers and judges----"
"That's right. They don't seem to use common sense--some of 'em."
"But what sort of a case do you s'pose Diamond X has got, anyhow?"
"Pretty good, I hear."
"Well, I hope they have. Gosh! If we're goin' t' be overrun with themonery sheep jest as we've got things runnin' nicely fer cattle--wa'al,I don't want t' live around here--that's all I got to say!" exclaimedone grizzled cowman.
"Same here!" commented some of his hearers. "Sheep's no good; neverwere any good; an' what's more, never will be any good!"
"That's right!" came a deep-voiced chorus.
To hear them tell it one would think that a sheep had no rights at alland that a sheep man was the worst being on earth, and yet, as a matterof fact, many a cowman, sick of the eternal beef that he had to eat,welcomes a tender bit of roast lamb.
But such is the world!
To the cattlemen the sheep owners and herders were despised and hatedof men--not fit to live within the same thousand-mile area of cattleand horses.
Of course sheep was not the direct issue. As was said, the pointturned on whether the Spur Creek land came under the provisions of theopen range, as defined by Congress, and once this was settled a mancould pasture elephants on the land he staked out, provided he couldget elephants to stay there.
But the coming of the sheep meant the going of the cattle. And that iswhy the courtroom was so filled with spectators. Dick was there, hisbullet-wounded hand almost better. Bud was there, as was his fatherand many cowboys from Diamond X.
Del Pinzo, with a grin on his evil, bearded face, was there also.
"We will take up first the matter of the open range land," said theJudge. "The matter was laid over until to-day to enable the defendantto produce certain papers in court substantiating his claim topasturage along Spur Creek. Are you ready to proceed, Mr. Bonnett?"and he looked at Mr. Merkel's lawyer.
"Your Honor," began the attorney, "we hoped to be able to settle thematter definitely to-day. I expected to show the deeds proving ourclaim. But, unless a certain witness whom I depended on soon arrives,we shall have to proceed to trial. If this witness were here, and ifhe could prove what I hoped----"
"You will never be able to prove anything!" broke in the sneering voiceof Del Pinzo.
"Silence in the court!" cried Sheriff Hank Fowler, but almost as hespoke the decorum was again broken by a voice which cried in ringingtones:
"Oh, yes, we can prove everything, Del Pinzo! Here are the deeds thatprove Mr. Merkel's claim to the land, and I can prove that you stolethem the night of the shooting!"
"_San Diabalo!_" muttered Del Pinzo, turning quickly. "It is thebrother of Feliece!"
"Not exactly," laughed the voice of the newcomer. He snatched off awig of black, wiry hair and stood revealed as--Nort Shannon!
He tossed a bundle of papers to Mr. Merkel's lawyer, and then all eyesturned on Del Pinzo, who feverishly was examining a bundle of documentshe tore from an oiled-silk bag.
"_San Diabalo!_" he cried again. "They are gone!"
"No, they are here!" mocked Nort. "I found where you had hidden thereal papers, and I just took them out and substituted some of my own."
Del Pinzo glared about the court for a moment, and then made a movement.
"Catch that scoundrel!" cried the Judge. But it was too late. DelPinzo slipped out, leaped to the back of his fleet horse and though thepursuit was soon organized, he got away.
"Where did you come from, Nort?" asked Dick, as he shook hands with hisbrother.
"Direct from the professor's camp. Didn't get here any too soon,either, as it happens. My horse went lame and then there was a lot ofexcitement when they found the Brontotherium."
"Oh, did they find another of those monsters?" asked Bud.
"Yep! The Grandfather of 'em all, I reckon!" laughed Nort. "Andduring the ruction I managed to get to the place where Del Pinzo hadhidden the deeds he stole. I took them out and put in some worthlessdocuments so he wouldn't suspect. Then I came on here. Now I guessthey won't pasture any sheep at Spur Creek."
And they did not. With the finding of Mr. Merkel's deeds, which hadbeen stolen, his ownership was clearly established. No one now daredclaim his lands. Of course there were parts of the open range wherethe sheep herders could go in, but none were as choice or as muchdesired as the pastures of Spur Creek. And they were far enough awaynot to menace Diamond X.
"The application of the plaintiff for permission to take over the SpurCreek range is hereby denied," announced the Judge. And thus ended thecase of the men whose cause Del Pinzo had taken up. Some of them wereinnocent parties to his treachery, and he had engineered the wholescheme to enrich himself eventually. For these innocent victims sorrowwas expressed. But even sorrow would not induce a cattleman to allowsheep on his ranch.
And so, a few days later the sheep which had been held in readinesssouth of Spur Creek were driven back into Mexico.
"Well, Nort, suppose you tell us how it all happened," suggested Bud,when matters at Diamond X were about normal again. "How did you cometo disguise yourself like a Greaser, go off to the professor's camp andget the deeds where Del Pinzo had hidden them? Tell us."
"It isn't much of a story," began Nort, modestly enough. "In the firstplace, you know about as much of the beginning of it as I do. DelPinzo heard about the government opening the range lands, and he knewthe deeds to Spur Creek must be here. So he organized a robbery andcarried it out, drawing us away from the place by a lot of shooting.Professor Wright, as of course you know, had nothing to do with it.His coming was just a coincidence.
"Those mysterious lone riders were sent by Del Pinzo to see how thingswere going, and that rocket signalin
g was, as we guessed, communicationfrom one of Del Pinzo's gang to another. Then, when that Greaser hadthe deeds safely hidden, as he thought, he gave the signal for thesheep to start for Spur Creek."
"But how in the name of Zip Foster did you know where he had the deedshidden?" cried Bud.
"I didn't," answered Nort. "I simply guessed that he had taken them,or had some one take them for him, and I reasoned he would keep themnear him, in the professor's camp. So, with your dad's permission,Bud, I disguised like a Greaser and went to work in the fossil camp. Ihad to kidnap one of the regular Greasers, and pass myself off as hisbrother, which I did. By the way," he remarked to Slim, "we can letFeliece go now."
"All right," chuckled Slim, who was one of the few in the secret. "Hedidn't mind being a prisoner here, for he got well paid and had plentyof grub."
"After I established myself at the camp," went on Nort, "and even theprofessor didn't recognize me, I made it my business secretly to keepon Del Pinzo's trail until I located where he had hidden the deeds, inone of the many excavations made in searching for fossil bones.
"Then, when the Brontotherium was really found there was enoughexcitement so that I could sneak over to the hiding place, take out theright papers and stick in some dummies I had all ready. Then I sentword to Mr. Bonnett, and came on as soon as I could with the deeds.Zeb Tauth, the janitor whom the professor brought with him as a sort ofpersonal aid, helped me out in that. He was a good scout, Zeb was,though he doesn't care much about fossils. He says he's anxious to getback to his furnace and ash cans."
"Shades of Zip Foster!" chuckled Bud, as the explanation was concluded."It couldn't have been slicker if you'd practiced it for a year! I'llnever forget Del Pinzo's face as he opened his oiled-silk package andrealized that he had been fooled. Oh, Zip Foster!"
"So it's all over now," commented Dick.
"Well, it was a mighty good ending," said Mr. Merkel, "and I'm muchobliged to you boy ranchers. You helped a lot. I'd like to catch DelPinzo, however."
But the wily half-breed Greaser disappeared, though it might be fearedhe would bob up again in the lives of the boy ranchers. For they weredestined to have other adventures.
"But we're through for a time," said Bud, as, with his cousins, he rodethe trail that led to home.
Nell met them near the horse corral.
"You're just in time," she said.
"For what?" asked Dick.
"Pie!" answered Nell with a laugh. "Mother and I have baked some foryou."
"Whoopee!" yelled the boy ranchers, and as they race for the kitchen wewill take leave of them for a time.
THE END
THE BOY RANCHERS SERIES
BY WILLARD F. BAKER
_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colors._
_Stories of the great west, with cattle ranches as a setting, relatedin such a style as to captivate the hearts of all boys._
1. THE BOY RANCHERS _or Solving the Mystery at Diamond X_
Two eastern boys visit their cousin. They become involved in anexciting mystery.
2. THE BOY RANCHERS IN CAMP _or The Water Fight at Diamond X_
Returning for a visit, the two eastern lads learn with delight, thatthey are to become boy ranchers.
3. THE BOY RANCHERS ON THE TRAIL _or The Diamond X After Cattle Rustlers_
Our boy heroes take the trail after Del Pinzo and his outlaws.
4. THE BOY RANCHERS AMONG THE INDIANS _or Trailing the Yaquis_
Rosemary and Floyd are captured by the Yaqui Indians.
5. THE BOY RANCHERS AT SPUR CREEK _or Fighting the Sheep Herders_
Dangerous struggle against desperadoes for land rights.
6. THE BOY RANCHERS IN THE DESERT _or Diamond X and the Lost Mine_
One night a strange old miner almost dead from hunger and hardshiparrived at the bunk house. The boys cared for him and he told them ofthe lost desert mine.
7. THE BOY RANCHERS ON ROARING RIVER _or Diamond X and the Chinese Smugglers_
The boy ranchers help capture Delton's gang who were engaged insmuggling Chinese across the border.
8. THE BOY RANCHERS IN DEATH VALLEY _or Diamond X and the Poison Mystery_
The boy ranchers track mysterious Death into his cave.
CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers. New York.
THE BASEBALL JOE SERIES
BY LESTER CHADWICK
_12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, $.65, postpaid_
1. BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS _or The Rivals of Riverside_
2. BASEBALL JOE ON THE SCHOOL NINE _or Pitching for the Blue Banner_
3. BASEBALL JOE AT YALE _or Pitching for the College Championship_
4. BASEBALL JOE IN THE CENTRAL LEAGUE _or Making Good as a Professional Pitcher_
5. BASEBALL JOE IN THE BIG LEAGUE _or A Young Pitcher's Hardest Struggles_
6. BASEBALL JOE ON THE GIANTS _or Making Good as a Twirler in the Metropolis_
7. BASEBALL JOE IN THE WORLD SERIES _or Pitching for the Championship_
8. BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD _or Pitching on a Grand Tour_
9. BASEBALL JOE HOME RUN KING _or The Greatest Pitcher and Batter on Record_
10. BASEBALL JOE SAVING THE LEAGUE _or Breaking Up a Great Conspiracy_
11. BASEBALL JOE CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM _or Bitter Struggles on the Diamond_
12. BASEBALL JOE CHAMPION OF THE LEAGUE _or The Record that was Worth While_
13. BASEBALL JOE CLUB OWNER _or Putting the Home Town on the Map_
14. BASEBALL JOE PITCHING WIZARD _or Triumphs Off and On the Diamond_
CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers. New York.
THE JEWEL SERIES
BY AMES THOMPSON
_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in colors._
_A series of stories brimming with hardy adventure, vivid and accuratein detail, and with a good foundation of probability. They take thereader realistically to the scene of action. Besides being lively andfull of real situations, they are written in a straight-forward wayvery attractive to boy readers._
1. THE ADVENTURE BOYS AND THE VALLEY OF DIAMONDS
Malcolm Edwards and his son Ralph are adventurers with ample means forfollowing up their interest in jewel clues. In this book they form aparty of five, including Jimmy Stone and Bret Hartson, boys of Ralph'sage, and a shrewd level-headed sailor named Stanley Greene. They finda valley of diamonds in the heart of Africa.
2. THE ADVENTURE BOYS AND THE RIVER OF EMERALDS
The five adventurers, staying at a hotel in San Francisco, find thatPedro the elevator man has an interesting story of a hidden "river ofemeralds" in Peru, to tell. With him as guide, they set out to findit, escape various traps set for them by jealous Peruvians, and aremuch amused by Pedro all through the experience.
3. THE ADVENTURE BOYS AND THE LAGOON OF PEARLS
This time the group starts out on a cruise simply for pleasure, buttheir adventuresome spirits lead them into the thick of things on aSouth Sea cannibal island.
CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, PUBLISHERS. New York.
THE BOMBA BOOKS
BY ROY ROCKWOOD
_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. With colored jacket._
_Bomba lived far back in the jungles of the Amazon with a half-dementednaturalist who told the lad nothing of his past. The jungle boy was alover of birds, and hunted animals with a bow and arrow and his trustymachete. He had a primitive education in some things, and his daringadventures will be followed with breathless interest by thousands._
1. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY _or The Old Naturalist's Secret_
In the depth of the jungle Bomba lives a life replete with thrillingsituations. Once he saves the lives of two American rubber hunters whoask him who he is, and how he had come into the jungle.
2. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY AT THE MOVING MOUNTAIN _or The Mystery of theCaves of Fire_
Bomba travels through the jungle, enco
untering wild beasts and hostilenatives. At last he trails the old man of the burning mountain to hiscave and learns more concerning himself.
3. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY AT THE GIANT CATARACT _or Chief Nasconora andHis Captives_
Among the Pilati Indians he finds some white captives, and an agedopera singer, first to give Bomba real news of his forebears.
4. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY ON JAGUAR ISLAND _or Adrift on the River ofMystery_
Jaguar Island was a spot as dangerous as it was mysterious and Bombawas warned to keep away. But the plucky boy sallied forth.
5. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY IN THE ABANDONED CITY _or A Treasure TenThousand Years Old_
Years ago this great city had sunk out of sight beneath the trees ofthe jungle. A wily half-breed thought to carry away its treasure.
6. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY ON TERROR TRAIL _or The Mysterious Men fromthe Sky_
Bomba strikes out through the vast Amazonian jungles and soon findshimself on the dreaded Terror Trail.
CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers. New York.
Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek; Or, Fighting the Sheep Herders Page 26