Читать книгу The Mystery at Dark Star Ranch - Percy Keese Fitzhugh - Страница 6

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The Dark Star Ranch was the last word in modernism, Hal soon found. Convenience seemed to be its keynote. It was a ranch to be desired by any cattleman even in this day of progress. Nothing was lacking, yet from Sen’s great store of information it soon developed that this vast stretch of property and its modern buildings was shadowed by something far more sinister than Crosley’s Range.

“She been velly had off since boss died five year back,” Sen confided, hovering solicitously about his guest.

Refreshed by a cooling shower bath and with a nicely laid out luncheon before him, Hal pulled the chair across the smooth terrace and sat down at the wicker table. He felt at peace with the world and was ready for anything.

“How do you mean the ranch has been badly off, Sen?” he asked, sipping some consomme.

“Droughts and cheap cattle prices take velly much money, Mister Kleen. Mister Clark and Missy Aida no want to live cheap like Mister Richard and Mister Elly tell them to. Money goes velly quick. Now Mister Richard he worried because expense is allee same and bank wants him to pay money.”

“Oh,” said Hal sympathetically, “he’s got notes to meet—is that it?”

Sen nodded his shining bald head. “Mister Richard no money to pay. I tell you, Mister Kleen, because maybe you help him think how to make money to pay. He no can keep money when Mister Clark and Missy Aida entertain rich friends and buy big cars and lots race horse. They no care allee same. They want Mister Richard to sellee Dark Star to Mister Tuck Liggett of Mellow Moon. Mister Liggett he got what ’Melicans call the evil eye on Dark Star—he want it bad. He got no good water on his land for cattle. Dark Star has Pine Creek—plenty water with nice springs.”

“And Mister Tuck Liggett wants Dark Star because of that, huh?” Hal asked, pausing a moment. “I suppose he wants to pay a handsome price for it, huh?”

Sen shook his head emphatically. “Mister Liggett he no want to pay for Dark Star allee same it is worth. Mister Richard he say he no sellee Dark Star for allee money in world. He love it like his father.”

“I see,” Hal said musingly; “that changes the color of things entirely. Richard’s Merrivale blood is stronger than the money urge. Native ties—love of one’s forefather’s land ... well, that’s something to be idealistic about. Richard’s just about become aces high in my estimation now that I know that. Man, he must have spirit and courage galore to stand up and face things with such opposition.”

“Mister Richard fine young gentleman, Mister Kleen. He love his father and promise him he would keep Dark Star in the Merrivale familee. It was in the will too.”

“Yes, it seems to me I heard about that will,” Hal murmured, thinking of what Buck Perry had started to tell him. “Tell me about it, Sen!”

“Mister Richard and Mister Elly were good to boss. Mister Clark and Missy Aida never like ranch and they stay allee time east where they spend boss’ money and don’t care how venerable father is. So he remember it when he make will—he try ’em out like you say. He tell in will that Mister Clark and Missy Aida must come home when he die and stay five year. Mister Richard and Mister Elly must stay too.”

“But they wanted to anyway, didn’t they?”

Sen nodded and went on: “It break their heart to go way, they say. But poor Mister Elly he had to go way for good allee same. You heard ’bout him?” he asked, seeing Hal’s understanding look. “I tell you about him later. But boss tell in will, that in five year next Christmas, Dark Star must be prosperous like he left it when he die. If not, it must be sold and money divided among children.”

“And that way they wouldn’t get as much as if they sold it while it was fairly prosperous.”

“Velly true, Mister Kleen. That is why Missy Aida and Mister Clark want Mister Richard to sell it to Mister Liggett before next Christmas come and they get not much money. They say what Mister Liggett pay now would be velly much more.”

“And if the Dark Star should suddenly take a good turn and get back on its feet—what then?” Hal asked, intensely interested.

“Velly much money goes to who puts Dark Star on feet. The rest get only little of boss’ money in big Butte bank. That private money like, Mister Kleen. That has not to do with ranch money. No ranch money now anyway.”

“I see. The money in the Butte bank will be paid to the most willing son or daughter as a reward for their efforts in saving the ranch, huh? Well, that was a darn wise stunt for old Mr. Merrivale to pull. I guess he had in mind which of his children would work to keep the ranch if they could. But what if the ranch can’t be saved? What then? Where does that money go to then?”

“That’s what makes hate between Mister Clark and Missy Aida. Velly much hate. They hate each other; they hate Mister Richard. And they will hate you because you his friend. But about the bank money, Mister Kleen, boss say it go to son or daughter who sell ranch and make best business deal.”

“And that’s what Clark and Aida Merrivale are trying their darndest to do, huh? Richard ought to beat them to it and make the deal first if he thinks the ranch can’t be saved.”

“Mister Richard say he save Dark Star if it velly last thing he does. And if he not save it, then he know he did his best.”

“It’s not usual for one fellow to say it about another, but believe me, I love Richard Merrivale for saying a thing like that,” Hal said, rising from his chair.

“I think allee same too, Mister Kleen,” Sen said, his almond eyes aglow with loyalty.

Hal looked at the Chinaman, understanding. Somehow it was easy to understand that loyalty, for instinctively he felt loyal to Richard Merrivale himself.