N the back room at Simms & Norcross, Eph Springer had told his story of treachery and vengeance to Ethel and Simms. “I’d like to get a grubstake out o’ this,” finished Springer, noting with satisfaction the sensation his story had caused. “I’m gettin’ in wrong with Chombo, and he’s a hard case. What I’ve told y’u ort to be worth a good grubstake, hadn’t it now?”
The girl’s face was white; she had clenched her hands convulsively and was staring into space with fear-filled eyes.
“I wouldn’t take it so hard, Ethel,” said Simms; “this man may be lying just to wheedle us out of some supplies.”
“Is it true, Eph Springer?” the girl demanded.
“S’ help me, ma’am, every word is gospel!” declared Springer. “D’y’u reckon,” he went on, appealing to Simms, “that I’d come here with a lie like that ag’inst Chombo? All the grubstakes in the world wouldn’t be worth the risk. I’m tryin’ to help Seward.”
Ethel was apparently convinced that the information was reliable. “We’ve got to do something for Mr. Seward, Mr. Simms,” she declared, “and without loss of time. If he hadn’t been trying to help you and father by taking that gold to Los Cerillos he wouldn't have fallen into this trap. We must get a car and hurry over the Hermosito Trail to the pass east of Sunrise Cañon. Can’t you see,” she cried wildly, “that it’s the only thing to be done?”
“It would be dark before we could make the trip,” said Simms, “and we couldn’t find Seward after sundown. It will probably be hard enough to find him in broad day. He’ll be prospecting through the hills as he works his way south.”
“At any rate,” insisted the girl, “we can go to this pass. We must get there as soon as we can and wait for him and warn him. I’ll go alone, if that’s the only way.”
“You are excited, Ethel,” Simms told her gently, “and this is a case where we must remain calm and do some cool thinking. A wrong move, just now, would be worse than making no move at all. Go over to the jail and ask Jerry Blake to come here.”
“No!” broke in Springer apprehensively. “If y’u’re goin’ to get Blake in on this, right here’s where I duck.”
He jumped from his chair and would have bolted for the door had not Simms caught up a rifle leaning in one corner of the room.
“You sit down!” he ordered. “If you’re giving us a square deal you can’t object to talking with the sheriff and telling him exactly what you have told us. Get back in that chair.”
Springer dropped into his seat. “I’d never ’a’ come here,” he complained, “if I’d knowed I was to be jumped on like this. Only tryin’ to do somethin’ fer Seward—and mebby clear up a grubstake.”
“You’ll get one of the biggest grubstakes you ever had, Springer, if we find we can depend on what you’ve told us,” said Simms; “but if we find you’re lying there’ll be something else coming to you.”
Fortunately the sheriff was in his office, and Ethel brought him at once. He tossed a grim look at Springer as he came into the back room and pulled up a chair.
“Now then, grubber,” he remarked, “you use a straight tongue in talking with me. I know more than you think about the operations you and Red Galloway have been putting across, and I won’t stand side-stepping from you. What’s this about Chombo and Lola Sanger and Walt Seward?”
“If I give y’u facts, Blake, y’u won’t make me any trouble?” faltered Springer.
“No; but I’ll make you a lot if you don’t. Go ahead with it.”
Springer repeated the story he had already told Ethel and Simms—how Lola Sanger and Chombo had started on two fast horses for the pass east of Sunrise Cañon to lay an ambush for Seward, and how La Joya, from Forty-mile, was to delay Seward on his way until the ambush was in readiness.
Blake sat back in his chair, lowered his brows, and tossed a glance at the girl. “I thought you were keeping Seward’s work with that money a close secret,” he remarked.
“We are, Jerry,” put in Simms; “Norcross, Ethel, and I haven’t told a soul.”
“Then how did Lola Sanger get hold of it?”
“Wait!” spoke up Ethel. “I have a suspicion about that, and we’ll see how close it is to the truth.”
She left the room and could be heard climbing up the outside stairs. Presently she returned, bringing with her Francisca, a Maricopa girl, who helped her with the housework. Francisca was a stolid person and did not seem in the least awed by the sheriff or by any business that might be afoot.