Adventure With A Vengeance T A Romance in Marin County, Prolific of the Unexpected. By Dorothy Gardner HERE is no fairer land in all the West than that which lies along the north shore of San Francisco Bay. Here is found that majestical mountain, Tamalpais, and all about are wooded hills, ever semblant of humble subjects bowed before a mighty sovereign. Tiny bays, upon which ride craft of every variety, from the millionaire's palatial yacht to the fisherman's weather-scarred smack blue lagoons threading the lowlandspicturesque marshes grown high with marsh grasses-all tend to make a country of versatile charm. It was through this portion of Marin County that Perry McBride, in search of adventure, roamed one sunny day in late April. One might think it a poor policy to search for adventure in that peaceful place, but Perry was an optimistic young man, who believed that adventure awaited around every corner, even though it be a corner set among tranquil hills. cisco paper. Perry was cub reporter on a San FranOn this particular Sunday he was en route to San Rafael to spend the afternoon with friends, when his gaze fell upon the fascinating scenery. Suddenly he decided to postpone his San A gray-coated squirrel chattered angrily down at him from the branches above. Perry grinned lazily, yawned mightily, and folded his arms in back of his head. Then he closed his eyes. It was at dusk he awoke, and uttering an ejaculation of dismay, sprang to his feet. Jove! To be lost there in the quiet hills was an unsolicited adventure. He rushed madly along in the twilight, but before he had gone far darkness closed about him like a pall. "Well!" he muttered in disguist. "This is a nice go! Here's where I travel in circles, I suppose!" With hands groping ahead, he proceeded cautiously. It was his hope that he would chance upon a ranch house, where he might gain shelter for the night. Several times he stumbled and fell, giving voice to impatient exclamations each time. he did so. At length the moon arose to reveal a sky flaked with threatening clouds, and Perry, taking advantage of the moonlight, broke into a gallop, but was soon forced to reduce this pace when an unfriendly black cloud cut off the welcome Rafael visit, and accordingly alighted light. Suddenly the noise of washing from the train at the first stop. To the left lay Mt. Tamalpais in all its purple glory; to the right, green-carpeted hills and valleys. In this latter direction Perry turned his face. He skirted a small bay, cut across a marsh, proceeded cautiously over a plank that bridged a diminutive channel, and came out upon a meadow-land flanked on either side by low-rolling hills. Squat ranch houses were scattered in out-of-the-way places; cattle grazed on sun-kissed hills. A Sabbath-like stillness that was almost reverent prevailed. Along toward the middle of the afternoon Perry ceased his rambling to throw himself in the shade of a giant oak tree. waves sounded in his ears, and he surmised that he had arrived at a small bay. The ghostly moans of sirens proclaimed the fact that a dense fog was sweeping San Francisco Bay. "Maybe I can find the railroad," thought Perry hopefully as he scrambled on. "Then I can easily—" "Halt!" The hoarse command was given in such a manner as to make young Perry McBride give prompt obedience. It was at this moment that the moon peeped through a mass of clouds, and the startled Perry saw before him the figure of a man of gigantic proportions-and what was more, an antagonistic-looking shotgun, held in an extremely business like manner, was plainly depicted in the moonlight. Certainly here was adventure with a vengeance! "Well, I knew I'd get you!" There was such a degree of vengeful satisfaction in the big fellow's voice that Perry shivered. " "You are at liberty to search me," invited Perry solemnly. "And if you find-' "Young fellow, don't get funny!" came the sour admonition. "I might make up my mind to act—and who'll be the wiser if this gun goes off, eh?" Perry shivered; then proclaimed almost sullenly, "Well, I'm not a rustler. Good "My dear sir, you've made a mistake," Lord! What use would I have for cattle? expostulated Perry. I live in a boarding-house, and as my landlady is most particular, I—” "Mistake-nothing!" The giant gave utterance to a mad roar of derisive laughter. "I've been watching for you for a long time, and now—' He did not finish the sentence, but chose instead to snap his teeth viciously. "You shut up!" advised the giant fiercely. "Denials won't do any good. What was you prowling around my place for, if you wasn't up to mischief?" "I was lost," the young man responded "I say you've made a mistake," reiter- hotly. ated Perry firmly. "No!" At this juncture the shotgun was given a diabolical wave. "Now, sir, you turn about and march!” And Perry marched, being painfully aware at intervals that something cold and hard was being pressed against the back of his neck. Suddenly Perry observed a dim light ahead, and in that direction he was steered by his captor. "Keep moving!" came the sharp advice. "Straight ahead and into that cabin." The cabin proved to be a one-room shack. There was a rusty stove in one corner, a rude bunk in another, a shaky table pushed up against one wall and a couple of dilapidated chairs. "Sit down!" the big fellow commanded curtly, and Perry slumped dejectedly into a chair, the while his eyes took in the features of the giant, who proved to be a much be-whiskered individual of uncertain years. The captor sat on the edge of the bunk, still keeping Perry covered with the threatening weapon. "Now," he demanded, "what have you done with my cattle?" Perry stared in amazement. Good heavens! Was he taken for a cattle thief? "My dear sir," he protested, "I assure you that I have never laid eyes on—' "Lost!" sneered the big fellow. "No, siree! You came back to see if there wasn't some more cattle to steal. Oh, you can't fool me! You're one of that bunch of pirates that came into the little bay out yonder, and rustled my cattle on board your boat. I always swore I'd get you-and I did!" he ended triumphantly. "Do I look like a pirate?" burst out the captive angrily. "Why, you're crazy-" The giant vented his wrath in a mighty bellow. "You whippersnapper! Crazyam I? I'll break you in two in half a minute!" He cast the weapon from him, and lunged forward, and Perry, with a cat-like movement, sprang from his chair to meet him. It was a royal combat while it lasted. Perry danced here and ducked there; at intervals his hard young fist shot out. The giant made no effort at self-defense; just hit out with sledge-hammer hands, which would have soon settled young Perry McBride if he had not been endowed with a lightning-like animation. At length a telling blow on the chin brought down the big fellow, and Perry, breathing heavily, seized the shotgun and sat down on the bunk. "Easy there!" he cautioned, as the giant groaned heavily and endeavored to sit up. "Just stay where you are-I'm boss of this shack for the present!" "Oh, Lordy!" The fallen one caressed his chin tenderly; all the anger seemed to have been cast from him, as he whined, "Didn't mean any harm, boy! I was just naturally peeved because I thought you was one of that bunch of sea pirates come in for another haul." Perry considered the big fellow for a moment, then said abruptly, "Get up! I'm going to keep this gun in my possession, and the first time you get obstreperous-well, look out! Get me?" "Sure!" replied the giant meekly, scrambling to his feet. "Got anything to eat?" demanded Perry. "Im about starved." "You bet!" answered the other cordially. "Now, just you wait a few seconds, boy, and I'll have a meal fit for a king." In ten minutes Perry sat down to the meal that was fit for a king-dry bread, warmed-over mulligan and murky coffee. After he had eaten his fill, he felt more kindly towards his vis-a-vis. In fact, he felt grateful. For was he not on the scent of a corking good story for his paper? Pirates rustling cattle in peaceful Marin County would most assuredly prove an innovation in the way of a write-up. "Now, about these pirates?" suggested Perry eagerly. "When did you see them?" "Never saw 'em!" barked the big man fiercely. "How could I? They sneaked in the little bay out yonder in the dead of night, when I least expected, and herded the cattle down to the boat. Next moining there was only the tracks in the soft ground to show where the animals had gone the finest herd of cattle, boy, that ever grazed these hills." "It must have been a pretty large boat," reflected Perry. "Guess it was," the other nodded. "Yes, and what's more, they came three times. Oh, I watched for 'em-but the devils slipped by somehow!" next time," suggested young McBride, grimly. Perry did not secure much sleep that night; however, he dozed once in a while in his chair, while Len Morton snored peacefully in his bunk. In his wakeful moments young McBride grinned happily as he thought of the neat little story his adventure of the day had brought forth. And at dawn, without waking the slumbering man, he slipped from the cabin. A tule fog had spread itself ove, the land during the night, and the fog horns still whined plaintively on the bay. It was a most dismal morning, but the heart of young Perry McBride was light, and he whistled as he went his way. At last he came to a road, into which he immediately turned, and had only gone a short distance before he heard the sound of a horse and wagon coming behind him. "Hey, there! Want a lift, stranger?" sang out a voice. Perry accepted the invitation with alacrity, and climbed up into the wagon beside the driver, a freckled-faced youth, who eyed him curiously. They rode in silence for a short distance; then Perry inquired quite casually, "Ever hear of any cattle being stolen hereabouts?" The youth gave a whoop of delighted laughter. "You've been talkin' to old Len Morton!" he accused gleefully. "Gee, mister, don't pay no 'tention to him—he's batty!” "Batty?" repeated Perry vaguely. "Yep!" returned the boy cheerfully. "He used to own all this land around here an' had a big cattle ranch, but he traded it all away for fake minin' stock. "Why didn't you notify the authorj- Made him kind o' queer. Imagines that ties?" asked Perry. "Bah!" snorted the giant. "I aim to catch the rascals myself single-handed just like I caught you. They'd better look out for Len Morton!" "Well, you'd better be more cautious pirates came up in the little bay off his place an' swiped his cattle-an' he ain't had as much as an old molly-cow these past ten years. He figures out that everybody that goes near his shack is a pirate. Funny, ain't it, mister?" |