“‘Good-bye. I am not going any farther with you. Wait, and your friends may overtake you.’ Just that,” said Ann, with disgust. “Can you beat it?”
“What has that wild girl done, do you suppose?” murmured Miss Cullam.
“Oh, she isn’t wild—not so’s you’d notice it,” said Ann. “Believe me, she knows her way about. And she shipped that guide.”
“Discharged Mr. Peters, do you mean?” Ruth asked. Min was not in the room while this conversation was going on.
“H’m. Yes. Mister Peters. He’s some sour dough, I should say! He was paid off and set down with money in his fist between two saloons. They’re across the street from each other, and they tell me he’s been swinging from one bar to the other like a pendulum ever since he was paid off.”
“Poor Min!” sighed Ruth Fielding.
“Huh?” said Ann Hicks. “If he’s got any folks, I’m sorry for ’em, too.”
CHAPTER XII—MIN SHOWS HER METTLE
There were means to be obtained at the Handy Gulch Hotel for the baths that the tourists so much desired, even if tiled bathrooms and hot and cold water faucets were not in evidence.
The party lunched after making fresh toilets, and then set forth to view the “sights.” Ruth inquired of Tom for Min; but their guide had disappeared the moment the party reached the hotel.