CHAPTER XXV
THE RECKONING
Ruth stared at the crumpled bit of paper for a moment of quick thought.
It was evident that Tom and Chess had stumbled into a trap of some sort. It might be a trap deliberately set by Bloomberg and his tools. Or it might have been—and here Ruth’s breath caught in a gasp of hope—that the boys had struck a real trail at last and stumbled upon the hiding place of the films.
At any rate, there was no time to be lost. Tom and Chess were probably both in deadly peril. She must get help to them at once!
She turned swiftly to the man who had brought the message.
He was one of Boardman’s friends and admirers—a miner who had been a cowboy in the same territory in the actor’s ranching days. Now he had quieted his horse and stood at a little distance from Ruth, eager to serve, but respectful.
“Can you get together a few men,” she asked him breathlessly. “Perhaps the same that ran Max Lieberstein out of town? It seemed to me,” she added, by way of hurried explanation, “that they were brave resolute men, and that’s the kind we’ll need just now.”
“Reckon I can get all you want, ma’am,” the lad replied eagerly. Then, hesitating: “It’s about Mr. Cameron, ain’t it, ma’am?”
“He and his friend are prisoners,” answered Ruth. “Here!” and she thrust the crumpled paper into his hands. “Read this!”
The young fellow read the brief message, frowning. A grim smile touched the corners of his mouth as he handed the paper back to Ruth.