"That's an idea, Bet," replied Enid, suddenly growing excited. "I never thought of Kie."
"But what good would it do him to get rid of the professor?" asked the sensible Shirley. "Kie Wicks knows we are all backing the old man, so what would be the use of making away with him?"
"That's true," agreed Bet with a puzzled frown. "If I thought that Kie
Wicks had a hand in this I'd… I'd…."
"What would you do, Bet?" asked Shirley.
"I'd tell him right to his face what I think of him."
"Heaps of good that would do," Kit shrugged. "Kie has heard about himself from lots of people."
But Kie Wicks' scheme worked out just as he planned. In their anxiety over the professor's disappearance, the treasure was left unguarded and when the girls returned to the camp, they were confronted with guns held in the hands of two burly ruffians, swarthy, heavy giants who terrified them by their looks.
The four girls wasted no time in that neighborhood. They raced their horses into the canyon and were heading toward the ranch.
"Say, what's the matter with The Merriweather Girls?" cried Bet, bringing her horse up sharply. "We're letting two cowardly ruffians frighten us away. I'm going back this minute."
"You are not, Bet Baxter! Father would be frightfully angry if you do.
He trusts us not to take any big risks. I know he wouldn't want us to
go back where those men are." Enid put her hand on Bet's shoulder.
"Come on, Bet, be good!"