Henry Holcomb Bennett
Mason of Bar X Ranch
Published by Good Press, 2021
EAN 4057664608024
Table of Contents
CHAPTER III—MASON MEETS THE SHERIFF
CHAPTER V—THE ABDUCTION OF JOSEPHINE
CHAPTER VIII—THE MEXICAN ESCAPES
CHAPTER XIII—THE COUNTERFEITERS
CHAPTER XIV—THE FIGHT IN THE SECRET PASSAGE
CHAPTER XV—THE DANCE AT THE GAYLOR RANCH
CHAPTER XVI—THE SHOT IN THE NIGHT
CHAPTER XVII—TRENT BURTON WIRES ALARMING NEWS
CHAPTER XVIII—THE LOST AIRPLANE
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