Bad News fairly exploded with relief when they came in. Jane went to her father, and he took her in his arms thankfully, while the crowd hurled questions at Cultus. But he didn’t need to tell it, because Jane was breathlessly explaining everything while the cowboys stood around, open-mouthed.
“Do you mean to tell me that you found the Lost Trail?” asked her father.
“I reckon it is,” grinned Cultus. “But I’ll bet it’ll never be any good to anybody now. That dynamite must have ruined a lot of it, and that trail won’t stand much ruinin’.”
“Look at my elbows,” said Jane. “My toes are all worn off, too.”
Bad News came around beside Cultus, his eyes serious.
“What do yuh know about that note Blaze Nolan sent yuh?”
“Do you think he sent me that note, Bad News?”
“That’s what I’d like to know.”
“Do you know of any reason why Blaze Nolan would try to kill me and Miss Kelton? And Blaze Nolan ain’t twins. Yuh must remember that two men were shootin’ at us.”
“That’s right. We’ll investigate Padre Canyon to-morrow.”