Dorothy Dale to the Rescue by Margaret Penrose

Then Dorothy did an astonishing thing-for her. She leaned over and kissed Garry with such an air of faith and trust that Tavia turned away. She had a horrible suspicion that she was going to cry.

But the sudden appearance of Hank Ledger and others of the ranch hands saved Tavia from that fate.

After one long look at Dorothy, in which she could read many things, Garry turned to the newcomers. He rapidly went over the details of Joe's disappearance and enlisted their aid in carrying out a more thorough search than had yet been made.

Dorothy thrilled when she saw how ready they all were to back him up. But Garry knew that it was not only for him or for Dorothy or for Joe that they so readily promised their help, although he had reason to believe that they were all friends of his, but because they one and all hated Larrimer and his gang with a deadly hatred and welcomed the chance to even up some old scores.

There was one young "broncho buster," a strapping lad in his early twenties, who testified to having seen a boy and two men riding toward the mountains.

Garry whirled on him swiftly.

"Who were these two men? " he demanded.

The young fellow shook his head sadly.

"I sure would give a barrel of money to be able to honestly tell you that, boss," he answered. "I tried to get up to them, but they was goin' all-fired fast and when they saw me they continued on the way they was goin', only about three times as fast."

"Why didn't you all try a bullet on him, Steve? " drawled one of his mates as he slouched in the saddle, hat drawn low over a pair of fiery blue eyes. "That there might have added an element of persuasion, so to speak."

"Yes, that there's just what I did," the youngster responded sadly. "And wasted a good bullet on a couple o' rattlesnakes. Even at that distance I was middlin' sure I recognized 'em."

"Well, speak out, man," commanded Garry sharply. "We're in a hurry. Who were they, to your thinking?"

"Near's I could make out they was Philo Marsh and Stiffbold, boss," returned the lad, and a muttering like the rumble of thunder in the distance came from the little knot of men. "Philo tries to ride his horse's head and bounces in the saddle like a tenderfoot. I couldn't be so sure about Stiffbold, but I was sure enough to waste a good bullet on him."

"Well, let's go! " cried Garry, wheeling his horse so suddenly that it reared and bucked alarmingly. "With the information you have been able to give us, Steve, we ought to be able to find these fellows without much difficulty. We will be back before long, Dorothy, and the next time you see us we will have Joe along. Promise not to worry!"

Dorothy looked at him in swift alarm.

"You don't mean that you intend to go without me and Tavia! " she cried, still incredulous, though he nodded decisively in answer. "Why, Garry, you can't! We can't stay here alone, thinking, wondering!"

"But this is a man's job, Dorothy," Garry explained gently. "You would only hamper us and hold us back in the search for Joe. You don't want to do that, do you?"

Dorothy turned away, her lip quivering. Garry took her hand and gripped it fiercely for a moment. Then turned to his men and nodded.

"Let's go! " he called again, and there was an answering shout, triumphant and fierce, as the others closed in after him and galloped down the road in a cloud of dust.

The two girls remained quiet until the clatter of hoofs had died away in the distance, Dorothy, trying to fight the bitter disappointment that burned within her, Tavia staring thoughtfully after the cavalcade.