Frank Allen at Gold Fork: Locating the Lost Claim

There he is again Frank! The same queer chap we saw before! Thats a dead certainty Lanky. But lower your voice a bit or he might take the alarm and vamoose. I sure wonder what hes prowling around Rockspur ranch-house for and on a moonlight night at that. But Frank it isnt our old enemy Nash Yesson is it? cried Lanky Wallace explosively. No. And Im just as sure it isnt Lef Seller came from Frank Allen referring to the bully of Columbia Franks home town. The scene was the living room of Rockspur Ranch in the far West where so many exciting things had already happened to Frank Allen and his chums Lanky Wallace—whose folks owned the ranch—and Paul Bird. Paul was slumbering peacefully totally unaware of what was taking place outside. There! You can see him plainer now Frank! went on Lanky. He seems to be a runt of a man with a big head and bushy hair. An ugly customer Id say. Do you reckon hes mixed up with the Yesson crowd? Looks that way to me. See him wriggling along now like a snake in the grass. Hes up to some mischief all right. Hes wearing a cowboy hat you can see now Frank; must belong over with that tough gang at the Double Z Ranch. Whatever his game is hed better watch his eye or hell find Lige Smith and his punchers hustling after him. Right now theyre all radio hounds and bunched inside the bunk-house listening to jazz dance music. Say I wonder Frank! Whats struck you now Lanky? Dont move for that fellows staring straight at this window! Gee Im glad our fires died down! There! hes moving off again. What were you wondering about? Lanky Wallace snickered as though amused by his thoughts. Why dont you see Frank? hes trying to find some way of getting hold of the map we grabbed along with the gold nuggets when we watched Nash Yesson and Lef Seller dig up that rusty iron chest in the underground cellar. Frank Allen considered the suggestion seriously waiting a full minute before replying. Sounds reasonable I must admit he finally agreed. We know that it was the crude map Josh Kinney left hidden there that pair was so anxious to lay their hands on. Sure! It contains valuable clues that would help a prospector locate the long-lost gold claim Josh worked years ago. Now hes moving off for some reason or other went on Frank Allen. It might pay us to slip outside and see if we cant get a line on his scheme. Bully! I was just wishing youd say something that meant action whispered Lanky Wallace. But I hope youre not thinking of rousing a hornets nest around his ears by poking a stick in the bunk-house and stirring up the Rockspur punchers? Nope. Well play this game by ourselves Lanky. Sorry Paul happens to be asleep and nursing his lame ankle. Hes going to miss all the excitement. Lucky for us we chanced to take a squint out of this window in the big living room before hitting the hay in our cubbyhole bedrooms. This being followed by a series of boyish chuckles told plainer than any words could have done how pleased Lanky felt over the situation.