The Boy Ranchers in Death Valley: or, Diamond X and the Poison Mystery

"We knew that before we came," said Bud, quietly.

Much puzzled, and not a little alarmed over the strange story, themembers of the outfit from Diamond X now began putting things to rightsabout the ranch house in preparation to taking over Dot and Dash.While Snake and Yellin' Kid began to repair the corral fence, Bud, hiscousins and Old Billee brought their food and supplies into the ranchhouse and began to arrange for supper, since it was now late afternoon.A look in the bunkhouse showed it to be clean and in good shape.

"I'll take charge out there, with Kid, Snake and this new hand," saidOld Billee, referring to Sam Tarbell who had been put in a bunk thebetter to regain his strength. "You boys'll stay here," and heindicated the ranch house.

"It might be a good idea to divide our force up that way," agreed Bud.

"Then, in case the jinx comes it won't get all of us at once."

"According to the stories," said Billee, "nothing ever occurs inside.

It's all out of doors. Well, we'll see what happens."

In spite of the sinister cloud of fear that hung over the place, theadventurers managed to make a good meal, and when the horses had beenturned into the repaired corral preparations were made for the night.Both parties – the one in the bunkhouse and the boys in the mainbuilding – decided to keep watch all night.

But their precautions were not needed. Nothing happened. The sun rosebright and warm over Dot and Dash next morning and Sam Tarbell said hefelt like a new man after his sleep.

"The first thing to do," decided Bud after matters had been talked overat the breakfast table, "is to have a sort of round-up. I want to seejust how many head of cattle are left, and what the chances are forgetting more. Also we want to give the whole ranch the once-over."

"That's right," agreed the veteran Billee.

"Shall we all go on the round-up?" asked Dick.

"No," said Bud after a moment of thought, "we'll have to leave some onehere in charge. But in time each one of us must know all there is toknow about Dot and Dash – I mean just how it's laid out, where thewater-holes are, what shape the fences are in and all that. It willtake a little time, but this first round-up will tell us some things weought to know."

"The boy's right!" fairly shouted Yellin' Kid.

Accordingly, when it was decided to leave Snake, Nort and the stillsomewhat invalid Sam at the ranch house, the others started out.

Nort made the best of being obliged to stay. The choice had fallen tohim by lot, as it was decided this was the fairest way of making adivision of forces, since other things were equal.

"But you got to tell me everything that happens when you get back!"

Nort stipulated to his brother and Bud as they rode away.

"Sure!" they promised.

The three who were left in charge of the ranch buildings watched theothers ride off over the hills and then, as there was plenty to do incleaning up the place, and getting it ready for a number of new handsthat must be hired, the two from Diamond X got busy. Sam was able tohelp with light work.

It was while Nort was busy making a checkup of the household articleson hand that he heard the sound of a horse out near the corral, and, going to the door, saw dismounting, the same old man to whom Sam hadcalled attention the night before.

"Howdy, stranger!" the ancient one greeted Nort, cheerfully.

"How are you?" responded the boy, courteously. "Are you looking forsome one?"

"Yes," was the answer. "I'm looking for the boss. I want to warn himand all with him to get away from here as quick as they can! You don'tknow the danger you are in. You had better leave quick!" And then, though it seemed to take from the force of his words, the old manstrode over to the water pail and took a long drink.

CHAPTER IX

THE QUEER OLD MAN

Nort was doing some quick thinking. And the burden of his thoughts wasto this effect:

"Bud and Dick have ridden off to see if they can solve the mystery, butalong comes this queer old man to me, and maybe he holds the key toopen the lock. It would be just my good luck!"

So it was with a feeling of elation, rather than otherwise, that Nortwatched the aged stranger finish his drink and then come back to wherethe boy stood near the ranch house. Snake and Sam were in the bunkhouse.

"Why should we go away from here?" asked Nort, trying to speak easilyand naturally. "And what is the danger?"

"Are you the boss?" was the quick retort.

"No, but the boss is my cousin, and he and I, with my brother, aregoing to run this ranch."

"You'd better run away before you try to run it!" chuckled the old manwith what seemed to be sinister humor. "But you can't say I didn'twarn you."

"Warn us of what?" asked Nort, a bit sharply. "What do you mean bycoming here trying to scare me?"

"I'm not trying to scare you, my boy, I'm just trying to warn you.

Those here before you wouldn't listen to me, and what happened to them?

They died, that's what happened. Now I'm offering you a chance for your life and it seems to rile you."

"Oh, no, I'm not mad," and Nort smiled a little. "But I would like toknow what you are driving at. Before we came here we heard storiesabout the danger of Dot and Dash, but no one knew just what the dangerwas. Now you seem to – "

"Oh, no, I don't, young man!" interrupted the stranger, running hisskinny hands through his straggly, white hair. "I don't know whatcaused all those deaths any more than you do. But I do know if thosewho are gone – I mean the humans now and not the cattle – I mean if theyhad taken my Elixer they'd be alive to-day. There she is – Elixer ofLife!" and from what seemed to be one of many pockets in his loose coathe pulled out a bottle of dark liquid. Before Nort had a chance tomake reply the stranger, holding up the bottle and affectionatelypatting it from time to time, went on with:

"There she is! Elixer of Life! Made from roots, berries and herbs Igathered myself. Compounded in a secret manner after a recipe given meby an old Indian. It soothes the nerves, strengthens the muscles, clears the brain and prolongs life. Only a dollar a bottle and I canlet you have as many as you like. Guaranteed to act as specified andharmless enough so you can give it to babies! There you are – theElixer of Life!" It was so labeled – spelled with an e instead of i, and as the old man insisted this was right the boys let it go at that.So the stuff remained "elixer" to the end of the chapter.

He produced another bottle from somewhere in the recesses of his longcoat and, holding the two phials aloft, advanced upon Nort with astrange light shining in his eyes.

From a distance it must have looked to an observer as if the old manwas approaching the boy to hurl the bottles at him with evil intent, for they were high in the air, and over Nort's head. And Snake Purdeemust have taken this view of it, for, a moment later, standing in thedoor of the bunkhouse, the cowboy drew his gun, aimed it at the agedstranger and cried:

"Stand still or I'll bore you!"

The command was so threatening and Snake was in such a good position toshoot that, for a moment, Nort feared a bullet would end the matter.But the old man wheeled about, took in the situation at a glance andmildly said, as he lowered the bottles:

"No harm intended at all. I'm only trying to save this young man'slife. You've got no call to shoot me."

"Oh," exclaimed Snake rather lamely, seeing how the matter stood.

"Well, I don't just like your attitude, and – "

"He's only selling a patent medicine," broke in Nort with a smile.

"It's the Elixer of Life."

"I make it myself, from roots, berries and herbs," eagerly went on theold man. "Only a dollar a bottle or six for five dollars. If them aswere here before you had taken it they'd be alive to-day. But theywere scoffers. They spurned me and look what happened to them."