Ted Strong in Montana

by Taylor, Edward C

  There were many expressions of mother love in the letter, which was signed and dated from The Towers, Huntingdon, several years before.

  After reading the letter Ted passed it to the major without comment, and walked to the window, that he might not be a witness to his emotion.

  He was now very sure that by the strangest of circumstances Major Caruthers had come across a bit of personal history, and that it was giving him a heart-tearing experience.

  In a moment he heard the sound of a sob behind him, followed by others, which, however, subsided gradually, and he heard his name called.

  Ted came to where the major sat on the side of the bed, holding the photograph in his hand.

  "It is the picture of my sister," he said quietly, for he was now the master of his emotions.

  "Then Farnsworth is your brother," said Ted.

  "Yes, my brother, poor chap," answered the major, gulping down a sob.

  "It is strange, very strange," muttered Ted, almost to himself. "I felt sure you were related, there was such a strong resemblance between you."

  "I didn't notice it. Why didn't you speak of it?"

  "Farnsworth knew that you were his brother, and I have no doubt he would have made himself known to you had he not been compelled to flee before the deputy marshals. I know that he was deeply affected at meeting you, and saw that he hesitated to make himself known."

  "I didn't know him. I had not seen Fred since he was a little boy, when I went into the service. Then he went away to school, and I to India. I am much older than he, so we did not meet. When I returned to England from India he had disappeared on account of a foolish row with our father. Our only sister, Helen, had married a scamp against the wishes of the family, and had left England also. Shortly after that both our parents died, and I came to America with the intention of finding both my sister and brother, and this is how it has turned out."

  Tears were coursing down the major's pale cheeks.

  "Don't you see how it is?" he asked, holding out the photograph to Ted.

  Suddenly it dawned upon Ted, and he took the photograph and gazed at it eagerly.

  It was Helen Mowbray, the sister of the major and of Farnsworth, or Fred Caruthers, to give him his real name—the woman who had been strangled to death in her house at Rodeo.

  This was a shock indeed.

  The complications which had arisen in these few hours were sufficient to shatter the strongest nerves, and Ted himself trembled a little at the possibilities unfolded by this unforeseen and unexpected knowledge, while it entirely unnerved the major, and left him as weak as a child.

  What was to be done? It was not likely that Fred Caruthers could be found at once. That he knew that it was his sister who had been murdered, and that he was charged with the crime, would be sufficient to spur him on and on, his brain and heart filled with horror. And that he had just found his brother, who might have given him all the moral support he needed at such a time, only to be driven from him by the fear of mob law, which he knew would give him no chance whatever for his life, was an additional sting.

  The major sat on the edge of the bed with drooping head, holding in one hand the letter from his dead mother, and in the other the photograph of his murdered sister.

  He was too dazed with the suddenness of the shock with which the revelation had come to him to stir.

  Ted saw that he must be roused from this immediately.

  "Come," he said, placing his hand gently, on the major's shoulder, "we must do something at once."

  "What can we do?" asked the major, in a stifled voice.

  "In the first place, we must ride to Rodeo with all speed. Do not forget that your sister lies there dead, and that it is your duty to care for her."

  "Of course. I had forgotten. All the ghosts of the past crowded in upon me until I forgot my duty to the dead. We will go at once. Will you take charge of things? I am not able yet to do so."

  "Certainly. Leave it all to me."

  Ted left the major with his relics of the dead and the revelations of the present to compose himself, while he went out to make arrangements for the ride to Rodeo.

  Ted knew the difficulties and prejudices they would meet when they got to Rodeo, and feared that before the unpleasant details attending the burial of the dead woman were finished they might clash with the authorities or the townspeople.

  Therefore, he decided that they should go well able to defend their rights, and, calling the boys together, he told them as briefly as possible the story of the major and his newly found brother and sister, as the reader knows it.

  "Now, fellows, we must help the major straighten out this tangle, bury the dead, defend the innocent, and punish the guilty," he said gravely. "Arm yourselves and saddle, ready to take the road to Rodeo as quickly as you can."

  * * *

  CHAPTER XVII.

  BESIEGED.

  The broncho boys galloped into the town of Rodeo early in the afternoon, having put their horses to full speed, only stopping now and then to give them a blow.

  Ted had done his best to restore the major to whatever cheerfulness was possible under the circumstances, and the sturdy Englishman had regained his courage and forcefulness.

  As they were riding up the main street, Ted in the lead, flanked by Stella and Major Caruthers, they saw one of the deputy marshals who had so unceremoniously entered the ranch house at Bubbly Well to arrest Farnsworth look hard at them, then set off on a run down a side street.

  "That fellow has gone to give warning of our approach," said Ted.

  "Well, let him. What difference does it make to us?" asked the major.

  "It may mean something to us before we get through here," said Ted.

  "I imagine they will be suspicious of us," said Stella. "At least, they know that we are not their friends, since we went to such trouble to defend their favorite victim."

  "True," said the major. "But we are strong enough to meet them, and we feel that we have the right on our side."

  "What shall we do first?" said Ted, deferring to the major's wishes in the matter.

  "Who has charge of the body of my sister, do you suppose?" he asked.

  "Probably the coroner."

  "Very well, let's look him up at once. That, of course, will be my first care."

  It did not take them long to find the coroner, who told them that the deputy marshals had taken possession of the house, the property, and the remains of the dead woman, to be held for the appearance of some friend of hers, who had notified them to do so.

  "Who is this friend?" asked the major stiffly.

  "I'm sure I don't know. You'll have to see the deputy marshals. The inquest has been held, and I have nothing more to do with the affair."

  "Now for the deputy marshals," said the major, who had recovered possession of himself, and was now all decision.

  They went immediately to the chief deputy, who was also deputy coroner, and whose name, they learned, was Jack Burk.

  But they could not find him, neither were any of his men to be found, although Ted was convinced that he was in town.

  "There is only one thing to do," said Ted.

  "What is that?" asked the major.

  "Go to the house, and take possession of it yourself."

  "But suppose we find it in the hands of the authorities?"

  "That makes no difference to me. The remains of your sister belong to you, and you have the first right to her and her possessions."

  "But her husband? I do not know where he is, or whether he is dead or alive."

  "As long as he is not here, it is up to you, major, to assume whatever authority is necessary."

  "Perhaps you are right. But we cannot gain our point without some show of force."

  "I know it, and have come prepared for it. The broncho boys will back you to the limit. Do whatever you think best, major, and you will find the boys and myself right behind you."

  "Then we will go to the house," said the major firmly.
/>   In a few minutes Ted and the major dismounted before a handsome house on the outskirts of the town. It was surrounded by a high stone wall, and the gate, which was of iron, was locked.

  Ted shook the gate vigorously, and called out for admittance.

  Presently the door of the house was opened a crack, and a voice demanded to know what was wanted.

  "Come and unlock the gate," demanded Ted.

  After a moment's hesitation the door slammed, and there was silence.

  "Evidently whoever is in charge of the house does not intend to open to us," said Ted, "and I suppose this will have to be the first act of aggression on our part. Shall I smash our way in?"

  "By all means," responded the major. "I don't propose to stay out here and cool my heels in front of my sister's house at the behest of a stranger."

  "That's enough for me."

  Ted picked up a big stone from the road, and with a vigorous blow or two shattered the massive iron lock, and the gate swung open.

  Ted and the major entered the garden in front of the house and walked up the path.

  As they were about to ascend the steps to the veranda they were stopped by a voice.

  "Halt! What do you want?"

  "We want entrance to the house," said the major.

  "You can't get in without an order from Deputy Marshal Burk," said the voice behind the door.

  "The deuce I can't!" growled the major, whose fighting blood was coming up at this opposition. "Do you know who I am?"

  "No, and it don't make no difference who you are. Them's my orders from the chief."

  "I am the brother of Miss Mowbray."

  A silence followed this.

  "Can't help it," said the voice again. "I can't let you in."

  "Open that door instantly, or we'll break it in."

  "If you try that you'll be sorry. I warn you, I am armed, and have orders to shoot."

  "Shoot, and be jiggered!" shouted the major, who was thoroughly angry by this time, for he was not used to having his orders disobeyed.

  "I will if you attempt to break into this house. If you get an order I'll let you in. Without an order you get in only after I am down and out."

  "Stay here, major. I'll be back in a few minutes."

  Ted Strong was angry also at the delay, and at once suspected that Burk, the deputy marshal, had some sinister reason for putting the house in charge of one of his men, but he could not imagine what it was unless his purpose was not honest.

  Ted's experience had taught him that all men in authority as deputy United States marshals were not honest, and that they often used their office to graft.

  He had no faith in Burk, whose looks and actions he had distrusted at their first meeting. If Burk knew that the broncho boys were in town it would be sufficient excuse for him to annoy and impede their movements all he could.

  No doubt Burk knew that they would come to Rodeo in the interests of Farnsworth, but he did not believe that the deputy marshal knew anything of the newly discovered relationship between Major Caruthers, the dead woman, and the so-called Farnsworth.

  What, then, was his reason for holding the house and the remains of the murdered woman against all comers?

  There were two inferences: Loot of the woman's house, unprotected by friends and relatives, and the awaiting of the woman's husband.

  Ted had thought out these two possibilities thoroughly. He had no doubt that there were many valuables in the house, for the woman was reputed rich, secretive, and probably kept her personal property about her. From what the major had said the husband, Mowbray, evidently had been cast off by Helen Mowbray on account of his rascalities, and, being a bird of prey, would swoop down upon her property as soon as he learned of her death.

  Could it be that Burk was holding the house awaiting Mowbray's arrival?

  With these thoughts running through his mind Ted had gone around to the back of the house to find, if possible, something with which to smash in the door.

  In a shed he found a sledge, and returned to where the major was still arguing with the guard inside.

  "Open or we'll break in the door," called Ted, in a stern voice.

  "Take the advice of a fool, and leave the door alone," answered the guard.

  "Then, for the last time, will you open?"

  "No."

  Ted swung the sledge and brought it down with all his strength on the lock of the door.

  There followed a crash, and the door flew open suddenly.

  Then came another crash; this time from a revolver, and a ball whistled past Ted, penetrating the brim of his hat and burying itself in the door casing.

  But it was not repeated, for before the guard could wink twice a tan-colored figure shot through the opening, and he fell to the floor with a smash that shook the house, and looked up to find a stalwart youth astride of him, slowly shutting off his wind with strong and inexorable fingers.

  Then he was relieved of his revolver, and before he could indicate that he was willing to surrender he found himself trussed like a fowl, with his arms behind his back, and the hall full of young fellows.

  "Why didn't you let me know that you had brought a regiment with you?" he said sullenly. "Maybe I'd have let you in."

  "You had your chance to open, and was a fool not to take it," said Ted.

  "I believe you."

  The major had left the party and walked into a room on the left, and in a moment they heard sobs issuing from it. He had found the remains of his sister, and, at a signal from Ted, the boys hustled the deputy marshal into the back part of the house and retired, leaving the major alone with his dead sister.

  In a few minutes Ted heard his name called, and went into the room where the major was standing beside a bed, on which was a form covered with a sheet.

  "We must get ready to remove her to my house," said the major, in a hushed voice.

  "Leave it to me," said Ted. "I will take charge of everything."

  "And I want you to help me search the house, for I intend to remove all the valuables she left to Bubbly Well until such time as the courts can handle her property. I don't propose that it shall fall into alien hands."

  In the room at the foot of the bed was a small steel safe, which Ted found was fastened with a combination lock. He knelt before it with his ear to the lock, turning the handle of the combination, listening to the click of the tumblers, while the major searched the drawers of the handsome dressing case and other articles of furniture in the room.

  Everywhere were evidences that Helen Mowbray had been very wealthy.

  On top of the dressing case were sets of gold and silver toilet articles, and ornaments, boxes, and bottles handsomely chased in silver and gold, and set with jewels.

  In one of the drawers the major found a bunch of keys, probably to open other drawers in the console and other articles of furniture.

  "I have it, major," said Ted quietly, as he flung open the door of the safe.

  "See what is in it, Ted," said the major.

  In the bottom of the safe lay a pile of gold ingots representing a value of many thousands of dollars. A drawer was filled with bank notes of large denomination. Other drawers were crowded full of the stocks of mines and other enterprises.

  "Whew!" said Ted, as he revealed the dead woman's possessions. "Did you know she was so rich?"

  "I had no idea of it," answered the major. "Helen was always a capable woman, and when she left England my father gave her her patrimony outright, that he might never be compelled to see or communicate with her husband again, and this looks as if she had increased it many times."

  "This would have made fine plunder for the thieving fellows who had taken possession of the place if fate, in the hands of your younger brother, had not turned up to put you in command."

  "What else do you find?"

  "Here is a package addressed 'To be sent to The Towers, Huntingdon, England, to Robert Caruthers, Esquire, or Major John Stairs Caruthers, upon my death, unopened.'"

/>   "Give it to me," said the major huskily, thrusting the package into his pocket.

  "And here's a bank book," said Ted. "It bears the name of the Bank of London."

  He handed it to the major, who put it also into his pocket.

  "Anything else?" he asked.

  "That is all."

  "Then take this bunch of keys and examine the contents of the drawers."

  The first drawer of the console which Ted unlocked and opened was full of jewels, rich and beautiful, a fortune in themselves.

  "Poor girl," said the major, in a low voice. "Why did she risk murder by keeping such a fortune about her?"

  "Probably she didn't want some particular person to know that she was so rich," suggested Ted.

  Drawer after drawer revealed other valuables, such as priceless laces and articles of gold and silver.

  "We must get all this away as soon as possible, and guard it carefully," said the major.

  "Yes, it is a great temptation, I sup——"

  As Ted was speaking he chanced to look up.

  Framed in the window was a face.

  But as Ted met the blazing eyes in the face it vanished, and he ran into the hall and out onto the veranda, but could see no one in the garden.

  At that moment, however, he was brought back into the house with a jump by the sudden slamming of the back door of the house and a cry of warning from Bud, followed by shouts from the other boys. Then a shot outside, and a crash of glass.

  The house was being besieged.

  He heard a rush in the garden, and turned to see several men race around the corner of the house toward the front door.

  They had almost reached it when he slammed it in their faces, putting his shoulder to it, and calling for help.