the Rustlers Of West Fork (1951) by Louis - Hopalong 03 L'amour Read Free Book Online

suspiciously, his crafty mind studying the situation. He had allowed the girl to write from time to time, not wishing suspicion aroused until he had the ranch in his possession, for his own plans were deep and well laid. In his mind he reviewed the letters she had written, for he had read every one of them. There had been nothing suspicious. Yet he was no fool, and realized that Cassidy's visit might be more than mere chance. "Don't put any hopes on his gettin' here," he warned them. "And don't make any fool moves. Nobody even approaches this here ranch without me knowin'. Why"-there was pride in the statement "when a man gits within seventy mile of here in any direction, I know it. We'll know as soon as Hopalong shows up." "Then he isn't here yet?" Pamela asked. At the first question she had decided at once that Hopalong was in the vicinity.
    "Him?" Sparr shook his head, dropping into a chair. "No, he ain't around. That fool Bizco an' a couple of the boys saw him gettin' fifteen thousand dollars from the banker back there in his hometown. They figured to make an easy touch, not knowin' Cassidy."
    "Bizco's dead?" Jordan said, grinning widely.
    Sparr stared at him irritably. Jordan retained altogether too much spunk for a man in his position, a man crippled and helpless in the hands of outlaws who would strip him of everything. "No, he ain't dead," he replied carelessly, "but he's got him a sore jaw.
    Only gettin' now so he can eat proper. The other two didn't make out so good."
    Dick Jordan chuckled. "I'd like to see Cassidy an' that old crowd ride in here about now!
    Or just Hoppy an' Johnny Nelson! Why, the two of them alone would make this bunch eat dirt, an' mighty quick!" Sparr snorted his contempt.
    "Don't be a fool! Cassidy never bucked a setup like this in his life. He does all right against two-bit horse thieves an rustlers."
    He got to his feet. "Jordan, I'll have some papers for you to sign come noon tomorrow. Better get your mind made up."
    "I won't sign "em!" Jordan said, but his tone lacked conviction. Sparr shrugged.
    He had heard these protests before and knew how to handle them. "You'll sign 'em," he said confidently; "you'll sign anything away rather than have something happen to your girl."
    "How do I know you'll play straight when everythin's gone?" Jordan protested. "I should stop now."
    "You don't know." Sparr was casual. "You don't know at all. You do know that if you don't do as I say, I take Pamela myself or turn her over to the Gleasons. The longer you delay that happenin" the better chance you got." He went out and closed the door behind him, and Pamela listened until she heard his footsteps cross the other room and the door close. Then she went swiftly to her father. "Daddy, I sent for Hoppy!"
    Jordan stared. "You what? But how?"
    "In that last letter. Remember how he used to teach me to read trail sign, and how we played games with codes? I used one of them!" "But how do you know he even thought of readin' it thataway?" Jordan said doubtfully. Hope was rising within him. One man against all of Sparr's outfit was not much, but Hopalong- Well, he had done many things that seemed impossible for one man.
    "It was a chance, and I took it. But even if he didn't know, when he brings that money here he will guess something is wrong."
    "If he gets here."
    Dick Jordan was worried now. Secretly, it had been Cassidy who remained in his mind all through his struggle to stay alive and to delay as much as possible the seizure of his ranch by Sparr.
    Hopalong Cassidy had a penchant for wandering,.
    Jordan knew. Also, the time was approaching when the money Buck owed him was due, and who more likely to bring it West than Hopalong himself? There was every chance that he would come, and he was shrewd. He saw much that other men missed. He would, Jordan was sure, immediately realize that all was not well on the Circle J.
    Yet, why hope for the impossible? Hopalong was only a man, even if trail-wise and Indian-crafty.