While they were eating, the curious girls begged to hear all that had happened, but Dick said, “Why drag it out? Harry saw and we all conquered. Not a gun was fired, not a drop of blood was spilled. The bags of ore were discovered and are now locked up in the cellar of the jail.”
“Oh, Jerry,” Mary exclaimed instinctively turning to her older acquaintance, “how can you be sure that the bandits were all captured? Couldn’t one or two of them have been away scouting or something?”
“That we can’t tell for sure, of course, but I reckon we got them all.” Then turning to Dick, he added, “We’d better be getting back to Bar N soon as we can.”
Mary, flushed and shining-eyed, leaned toward the young aviator. “You’re going to fly over to Gleeson, aren’t you, so that we may get really acquainted?”
“I’d like to, awfully well, but Jerry tells me that there isn’t a safe landing anywhere for miles around.”
“Aha,” Dora thought, “Jerry scores there.” But she was wrong, for the cowboy was saying generously, “I’m sure Deputy Sheriff Goode will loan you a car. He has two little ones besides the town ambulance. I’d ask you to ride with us but my rattletrap will only hold four.”
Jerry’s suggestion was carried out. Deputy Sheriff Goode had a small car he was glad to loan to Harry. The proprietor of the pool hall agreed to watch the “Seagull” and warn all curious boys to stay away from it.
“I won’t be able to stay long,” Harry told them. “I’ll have to fly back to headquarters in Tucson this afternoon to report.” Then, glancing at Mary, invitation in his eyes, he asked, “Must I ride all alone in this borrowed flivver?”
“Of course not! I’ll ride with you if the others are willing. I mean,” Mary actually blushed in her confusion, “if you would like to have me.”
For answer Harry took her arm and led her across to the small car which stood waiting in front of the hotel. “We’ll follow where you lead, Jerry,” he called to the cowboy.