“I certainly met a big surprise, eh, Jimmy?” he said.
“The more said about that the worse!” declared the pianist, soberly. “Now, boys, you’ve got the whole story. Have we seen the other bunch since they left us? No, but you can just bet they are all right.”
“You’re correct there, old chap, I’m sure!” assented Bob.
A general discussion, in which the highly interested Rangers joined, was interrupted by Captain Braddock.
“Come here, Jimmy, I have your uncle on the ’phone at last,” he cried. “And by the way, Tom, I wish to speak to you a minute.”
While the Texas lad held a long distance conversation with Colonel Brookes Sylvester at the “Eagle Pass” Ranch, Tom conferred with the Ranger chief.
A few minutes later he rejoined the group, regarding them with quite a stern and dignified air.
“The captain wants me to skip right off so that I can pilot Sergeant Howell and a detail of Rangers over to the exact place where I came across that fallen steer!” he explained. “Maybe there’s some more fun ahead of us, eh, Cranny! We’ll chip in and hire a horse for you, old chap!”
“Thanks, Tom,” said Cranny. “But even if I had ‘Starlight’ right here,” he smiled, the old joyous smile the crowd knew so well, “I wouldn’t go along!”
Tom looked at him in absolute amazement.