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Updated: June 28, 2025
"There ain't much doubt which is now our leadin' city Butte or Rockvale," he remarked as he swung to his saddle and set off with two deputies. He found something more than overdone home town pride in Rockvale, however. The narrow streets were filled with men, women and curious, wide-mouthed children.
Hicks looked covetously at the bills, but he demurred: "You mean we're after them two again!" "Hicks, we must be after them because one of them will soon be after us." "Where they goin' now?" "Rockvale, Montana. That is, the girl's going. What I haven't found out yet is whether Harry goes, too. If he stays here, I'll stay, and you'll go West." "After Pauline?" "Ahead of her!" "And then what?"
"Business is bothersome, and I ought to be here; but if you insist . . . " "Oh, you're not coming with me," stated Pauline, cheerily. "In the first place you are not invited, and in the second place you are not needed in the least. Now get me a telegraph blank." He came back with the desired paper and a fountain pen and she scribbled: Mrs. Mary Haines, Rockvale, Montana. Care Double Cross Ranch.
"Here comes the train!" exclaimed Nancy, after a rather long wait, and a moment later, with ringing bell, the locomotive rounded the curve below, and the cars rolled into the depot. "All aboard for Rockvale, Beverly, and New York! Way train for Hurley, Allendale, Hobb's Dam, and all stations south of Bakersville Junction!" shouted the conductor. "Lively, please."
Haines burst into a ringing laugh. "Honest, my dear, I promised that young lady if she ever came to Rockvale she'd see all the Wild West I told her about. I gave her my word. You don't want to make me out a liar, do you?" "You can say that conditions have changed greatly in the last two years." "Oh, come, just one little hold-up the day she gets here. She'll think it's great.
His boyish joy in the prank brought laughter to her eyes, and he knew that his sins would be condoned. Four days later Hicks, who looked as far from home in his excellent clothes as the clothes looked far from home in Rockvale, alighted, from a lumbering local train. He made an inquiry of a man on the platform, and, carrying a heavy suitcase, slouched up the main street of the town.
He did not move. She stepped nearer and, stooping, gently touched his shoulder. At the touch he trembled like a leaf, but raised his head and looked at her with terror and awe and adoration in his eyes. "Won't you help me? I have ben a prisoner in the cave. I must find Mr. Haines Haines, do you hear? Or go to Rockvale Rockvale," she repeated, hoping that the names at least he might understand.
A minute later, all that was left of Rockvale was the buildings and the women, children and old men who stood watching a cloud of dust blotting the sunset glow and listening to the retreating clatter of a flying cavalcade. Sikes kept the office open late. At 7 o'clock he telephoned to Mrs. Haines at the Double Cross: "What does he say?" she cried.
His shout was heard not only at the little hotel across the street from the station, but at the city limits of Rockvale a good mile away. Rockvale answered the shout as a clan answering the beacozes flare. When Curt Sikes shouted it meant news. His messages along the line had little effect.
"Yes, ma'am; and I'll get your message right on the wire. They'll put it ahead all along the line." If Curt's speed in getting the telegram away was inspired partly by burning need of telling the news to Rockvale that did not reflect on Curt. He flashed after the New York message a terse call up and down the line to "Find the Sheriff," and then bolted out to the platform.
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