“Dearest Mary Louise:
“If you only knew how happy and glad and generally rejoicey I am to think that you and Grandpa Jim and Irene will be with me in two days! I’ve been hot and homesick ever since I came, but now I do believe it’s going to be worth while to have stayed.
“There’s a small ranch out about forty miles from here. It’s the mystery of the countryside, though there’s nothing ever seemed wrong with it, and O’Callahan, the little Irish detective, swears there’s nothing wrong. You see, they have two men besides the ‘Boss’—one, a huge, criminal-looking creature, and the other, a little Jap. The other evening I motored out that way and when the boss and his wife were out in front I saw through my field glasses that three men entered the kitchen!
“Now that looks strange to me. O’Callahan has always scoffed at our going there as nonsense, but to-morrow, willy-nilly, Josie O’Gorman is going out to that place and ferret out that man. Who knows when you come on the next day my work may be done, and oh, won’t I jump at the chance of going on with you on your perfectly grand trip? Devotedly,
“Josie.”
Mary Louise silently handed the letter to Danny who sat on the veranda steps at her feet. Danny Dexter glanced over the letter and then up at Mary Louise. Their thoughts were evidently alike for both exclaimed in unison: “We’ll have to travel to-night.”
“And start immediately,” added Mary Louise.
Then without further pause, Danny leaped down the steps and out to the automobile to prepare it for the long and sudden trip before them.
“It’s seven now,” thought Danny, glancing at the auto clock. “With luck we’ll get there by two to-morrow morning. It won’t really be so bad, and the moon is full.”
In the meantime Mary Louise had hastened to her grandfather. “Grandpa Jim, don’t put on those comfortable old slippers. I’ve received a letter from Josie. She expects to catch her forger to-morrow, and,” she truthfully added, “I feel sure we will be needed.”
The Colonel was instantly solicitous for Josie, of whom he was especially fond and whose activity he admired immensely.
“But,” he objected, “can we possibly make it through the night; and what about Irene?” Mary Louise flung her arms about her grandfather’s neck. “I knew just how game you would be!” she declared. “I’ve been thinking about Irene. The wife of the proprietor seems very kind, and I’m sure she’ll start her safely on the train to Albuquerque in the morning.”
Her surmise proved to be correct, and half an hour later the automobile started off.
So it happened that next morning as she entered the dining room of the hotel, Josie’s joy quite flew away with her, as she beheld the tired but victorious faces of her three friends beaming up at her.