Erskine Academy - Pinnacle Yearbook (South China, ME)

THE PINNACLE 7 ON THE DOUBLE X. "Oh, dear, I wish I knew what to do about it," sighed Margaret Linchelle. "Dad is away and won't return until Fri- day and it is only Tuesday now. Bill Jackson, the foreman, is in with the rust- lers, I'm sure. Five of the best horses are gone and probably more will be gone unless something is done soon." "You know, Peggy, that I will do any- thing I can to help you," replied her friend, Connie Evan, of the Big U. "I should think you would tell Dick Jordan and he can find out if Bill is really one of the rustlers. He would do anything for you," she added with a laugh. "Nonsense," replied Peggy, "But I guess I'd better tell him." Shortly afterwards Connie left, and Peg- gy walked out to the corral where she saw Dick saddling his horse. Lo Peggy," he said, pulling his big hat off, "What 'can I do for you?" After returning his greeting, Peggy glanced around to make sure no one else was in ear shot. Then she said, "Dick, you know live of our best horses have been rustled, and I have a feeling that Bill knows more about them than he will admit. Last night there was a good moon and I saw Bill ride over toward Still Creek, at about nine o'clock, alone, so I thought I'd better watch him. I saddled 'Lightfoot' and followed him but he had disappeared completely." "Peggy, promise me you won't do any- thing as foolish again," begged Dick, "You never can tell what rough men, like rust- lers, would do if they caught you." "I suppose I'll have to promise, but you'll try to find out more about it won't you?" "I was just going to follow those tracks," replied Dick, "that were found leading out toward Creggs Pass, when you came out. Bill told me to trace them today and find out where they go, so if you don't want anything more I'd better be going. So- long." "Bye," called Peggy after him as he started to the further side of the corral. IS! He found the tracks and followed them closely although his thoughts were on Peggy. He had followed the trail about four miles when he stopped short with an exclamation, and leaping down from his horse examined the tracks, then mounted and whirling his horse, set out at full gal- lop for the Double X ranch. Meanwhile Peggy had returned to the ranch house and had just got settled in the living room with a book to read, when she heard a harsh voice in the kitchen. "Peggy, come here," Bill was calling in a commanding tone. When she stepped into the kitchen rough hands reached out from behind the door, and she was quickly bound by two ugly looking men. Bill, standing over her, said sneeringly: "So miss, you think you are pretty wise, eh? Well, we're one ahead of you this time. Dick is following a trail that will lead him right into my men's hands, and you, my pretty miss, are here helpless. Now, Jack and 'Sharpy' and I are going to clean up the horses and we will be too far away to be caught before anyone comes. Now for a nice kiss-" "Hands up every one," said a voice from the doorway. ' "Oh, Dick!" cried Peggy. Dick walked over to Peggy and cut her bond, keeping his revolver pointed at the three men all the time. Taking 'all their weapons, he said, "Now you clear out and if I ever hear of any of your gang this side of Cutley Mountains, I'll fill you full of holes and hang you up for crow food, scoot!" And scoot they did, and in a hurry too. "Oh, tell me how you got away from Bill's gang?" cried Peggy. "Well," replied Dick, "About four miles out on the trail I began to suspect that it was a put up job and when I examined the tracks I saw that they had been made by the same horse from the shape of the right fore shoe, so I turned and came back, and you know the rest." "Oh, Dick!" was all that Peggy could say as Dick drew her closely. MYRTIS SANBORN, '23.