"Will you return my horses and wagon?"
"Either that, or pay for the turnout."
"Then maybe I"d better go to town. I can say I stopped off at a tavern an" sumbuddy drove off with my rig."
"Very well," returned the detective. "But, mind you, if you dare to play me foul--"
"I won"t! I won"t!"
"Then you can go. But wait. Boys, let him stay here an hour. Then he can go."
So it was arranged, and a few minutes later James Monday was on the seat of the wagon and driving off in the style of the old man.
"He is certainly a good actor," murmured Tom, gazing after the government official. "I declare, the two look like two peas!"
"That"s a mighty risky thing to do," observed Songbird. "If Sack Todd and his cronies discover the trick they"ll stop at nothing to get square."
"Trust Mr. Monday to take care of himself," responded Tom. "I am only hoping he will be able to aid Sam and d.i.c.k."
"Oh, we all hope that, Tom."
The boys sat down on some partly dried rocks and began to ask the old man about himself. But Bill Cashaw was too much disturbed mentally to give them much satisfaction.
"Well, by hemlock!" he burst out presently.
"What"s up now?" queried Tom, and all of the others looked equally interested.
"If I didn"t go an" forgit all about it."
"Forget what?"
"This letter I had fer Sack. An" that was o" prime importance, too, so the trainman said."
As the old man spoke, he brought forth a letter which he had had stowed away in a pocket of his shirt.
"What"s in the letter?" asked Fred.
"I don"t know. It"s sealed up."
"I think we"d be justified in breaking it open," put in Songbird.
"Those rascals are outlaws!"
"No! no! don"t break it open!" burst out Tom, and s.n.a.t.c.hed the communication from the old man"s hand. "I"ve got a better plan."
"What plan?" came from his friends.
"Didn"t you say that I looked like your son Bud?" asked Tom of Bill Cashaw.
"I did."
"Has Bud ever been to Red Rock ranch?"
"Three or four times, but not lately."
"Does Sack Todd know him?"
"Yes, but not very well."
"Then that settles it," announced the fun-loving Rover. "I, as Bud Cashaw, am going to deliver the letter at the ranch."
"Tom, that"s too risky!" cried Fred.
"I don"t think so. I can tell them that the letter was left for father"--pointing to Bill Cashaw--"after he started for the ranch.
I don"t see how they can help but swallow the story."
"Yes, but see here--" interrupted the old man. "This ain"t fair. I want you to understand--"
"I know what I am doing, Mr. Cashaw, and you had better keep quiet.
Watch him, fellows."
Without loss of time, Tom made his preparations for visiting the mysterious ranch. He rubbed some dirt on his face and hands, disheveled his hair and turned up one leg of his trousers. Then he borrowed the rather large headgear that Hans wore and pulled it far down over his head.
"How will that do?" he drawled. "Say, is my pap anywhere around this yere ranch?"
"Mine cracious! of dot ton"t beat der Irish!" gasped Hans. "Tom, you vos make a first-cla.s.s detector alretty!"
"He certainly looks like an Alabama country boy," was Fred"s comment.
A few touches more to his disguise and Tom was ready to depart for the ranch. He called Songbird aside.
"Watch that old man," he whispered. "He may not be as innocent as he looks. Don"t let him get to the ranch. If he does, our cake will be dough."
"Of course you don"t expect to catch up to the wagon," said Songbird.
"No, but if I do, I"ll go ahead anyway--if Mr. Monday will let me."
It was not long after this that Tom left the others. He struck out boldly along the poorly defined wagon trail, which led over some rough rocks and down into hollows now filled with water. The marks of the wagon ahead were plainly to be seen, but, though the youth walked fast, he did not catch sight of the turnout.
It was dark by the time he came to the fence that surrounded the ranch buildings. He saw Bill Cashaw"s wagon standing under a shed.
Two men were unloading the contents. They were both strangers to Tom.
It must be admitted that Tom"s heart beat rapidly as he stepped into view and slouched toward the wagon shed. The men started in surprise when they beheld him.
"Say, whar"s my pap?" he called out. "Didn"t he come in on the wagon?"
"It"s Bud Cashaw," murmured one of the men. He raised his voice.
"Your old man is in the house with Sack Todd."