He was as anxious as Phyllis to get to the ranch house. He believed, now, that the hunt the Sheriff and the others had gone on was a hoax. For some reason the outlaws had come here to the ranch, of that he was certain, and he thanked his stars he had decided to return to the K Bar O with Phyllis. He knew the men, on the day the Sheriff had arrested them, had sworn to get even with the two girls who were responsible for their capture, but he had not dreamed that they would attempt anything--above all, here at the ranch. He tried not to seem worried in front of Phyllis, but he was.
Loo Wong appeared from the kitchen brandishing his meat cleaver. The wide, sharp blade gleamed dully in the lamplight.
“Don’t aim that thing at me,” Tom laughed. “What are you going to do with it?”
“Show blandits tlwo, thlee thing,” Loo Wong said gravely.
“You’ll show them two or three stars if you hit them with that,” Phyllis declared. “Let’s go, Tom.”
The three stepped from the bunkhouse and started across the yard. From the house ahead of them came a crash and the light in the front room went out. A shout arose, then another.
“Stay here, Phyllis,” Tom said, starting forward at a run. “Come along, Wong.”
“Velly fast!” responded the Chinaman, his cleaver clasped tightly in his hand, ready to smash the first thing that accosted him.
Chapter XIX
HELP
The horsehair whip was heavy and long. It cracked ominously as the outlaw swung it once around his head and brought it down on the floor.