CHAPTER I – A HARD PROPOSITION
Jack Mason, a young man of twenty-one years, was intently watching a billiard game in progress at a fashionable club in New York City. It was a hot sultry day in June and he was wondering how people could enjoy knocking a bunch of balls around a table and getting all heated up. He had about decided to take a run in his motor when a messenger boy handed him a message. It was from his father bidding him to come at once to his office. His father was president of a bank in New York and independently rich. Mason thrust the message in his pocket, musing as he did so.
“I’m in for a call from Dad, he’s probably read about the scrape the bunch and I got into last week.”
Calling one of the club members aside he demanded: “Say, Smithy, how did the story of my automobile accident leak out in the papers?”
“Don’t know, Jack,” his friend replied; “you know as much about that as I do.”
“Thought I had that automobile affair hushed up,” grumbled Mason. “What gets me,” he continued, “is how my part in the club boxing match got in the papers. I just received a message from the old man and expect he has heard all about it.”
“This won’t be the first time you have been bawled out by the old man,” replied Smithy with a broad grin.
“No, but I expect something serious this time,” declared Mason gravely. “Damn those meddlesome reporters!” he burst out savagely. “You know, Smithy, I have been in worse scrapes before, but always managed to patch them up some way. Now, this story gets in the papers, and that prize fight – well, I suppose the quicker I get this matter settled with Dad, the sooner I will know my fate.” He finished, starting for his car.
“Wish you luck, old man,” called Smithy as Mason started his motor, “give my best regards to your father.” This his parting shot, but Mason was out of hearing and speeding to his father’s office in his favorite racing car.
Arriving at the bank he went immediately to the private office. His father was busy reading a paper on his desk, and Mason sank indolently into a chair and waited for him to speak. After a period of waiting he got impatient and remarked:
“Well, Dad, let’s hear the fireworks.”
“Huh,” snorted his father, “you took your time getting here.”
“I started for the bank shortly after receiving your message, Dad,” he answered quietly.
“What deviltry have you got into now?” the elder man demanded sternly, pointing to a newspaper on his desk. “Here’s an account of you in the paper of going into the ring at your club and fighting six rounds, a choice bit of scandal for the society column. Not being satisfied with that you had to take a party of chorus girls out joy-riding and have a smash-up.”
“There’s no use getting excited about it, Dad. I know how you and mother feel about this affair.”
“You’re a disgrace to the family,” thundered his father. “I was going to disinherit you, Sir, but I talked the matter over with your mother, and I am going to make you a proposition.”
Mason was all attention now, he remembered once before when his father threatened to cut him off.
“Well, let me hear the proposition, Dad,” he said, his face showing grave concern.
“You know, Jack,” his father continued, “I have done better by you than you deserve. You won’t work in the bank or try to make a man of yourself. I’m through paying out good money on you for gambling debts and to spend for drink. I’ll give you one more chance and if you fail to make good I wash my hands of you. Early this morning I got in touch with a friend of mine who owns a ranch in Nevada. You go out there and after one year come to me and show me you have made a man of yourself. Then I’ll start you in business.”
“I can’t see for the life of me, Dad, how my going out there will benefit me,” he declared soberly.
“Son, I know it is a rough life, but if you come through as you should it will make a man of you. You have a good college education, and you can come back East fitted to tackle any business enterprise.”
“Well, Dad, I’m game to try it,” agreed Mason after calm deliberation.
“Here’s your letter of introduction,” said his father, handing him a letter.
The younger man, glancing at the envelope, read:
Noting his son’s look of surprise he explained:
“The nearest town is called Trader’s Post, and it is about four hours’ ride on horseback. I got in touch with Tom at Trader’s Post by wire.”
“Whew,” whistled Mason, “I suppose I will have to make that trip on horseback. You know, Dad, I’m soft for that sort of thing, having had all my joy rides in a high powered car.”
“Very true,” admitted his father, “you have been living a life of ease and luxury, and your health is none too good. Now, I want you to get out of this rut. You will have a lot of hard work to do on the ranch, and the quicker you get used to it the better.”
“You’re right, Dad, but tell me more about this man Walters.”
“I knew him years ago,” his father began. “Tom made a deal in stocks here, married and took his wife to Nevada. He invested his money in land and a few cattle, and now owns one of the finest ranches in Nevada. I remember that they have a girl, but I can’t recall just how old she is; I should judge about sixteen or eighteen.”
“This promises to be interesting,” commented Mason. “Do they know I’m coming?”
The elder man smiled. “You don’t need to worry about that. I received a wire from Tom.
“I am sending two men with a shipment of cattle to the Post, and with orders to remain until your son arrives.’”
“Tom certainly showed speed,” said Mason, looking at his watch. “Great Scott!” he exclaimed, rising to his feet. “Four P. M. I must be going if I start in the morning as I have a lot of things to see to. Good-bye, Dad; see you at dinner.”
Hurrying from the office he started his car and drove rapidly home. Going at once to his mother’s room he told her how he had come to an agreement with his father.
“Yes, I know, Jack,” she said, “your father and I talked it over this morning. Perhaps it will be best for you, but it is hard to have our only boy leave us. Do be careful for my sake. Your sister has been in tears since I told her you are going away.”
“Don’t worry, mother. I’ll see Ethel and explain matters to her.”
In the summer garden he found his sister reading in a hammock.
“Oh, Jack,” she cried, “is it true you are going away?”
“Yes, sis, I leave in the morning.”
Ethel was two years younger than Jack and very fond of him.
“Listen, sis,” he said earnestly, “I want you to comfort mother while I am away, and I’ll make you a promise. After I have been on this ranch long enough to get the run of things I’ll see that you and mother pay me a visit. Won’t that be great?”
“Yes, I want to visit you,” she agreed, “but I will be so lonesome until you send for us.”
“Why, sis, you have your girl friends, and let’s see, who is that young fellow you have been going with quite steadily?” he asked, smiling down at her.
“Now, you are trying to tease me,” she answered, “that young fellow you speak of, his name is George Burk, and you know I don’t care for him.”
“Sis, you’re hard to suit, maybe you can find some one in the West to marry.”
“I don’t know, Jack, just now I’m not worrying about getting married. I hope you like it out there and make good. Mother told me that father wrote to the man who owns the ranch about your coming, and also wired him. Wish I were going with you now,” she added wistfully.
“Never mind, sis, it won’t be long before I’ll send for you and mother. Be a good girl now,