Jack Rangers Western Trip | Page 4

in Denton. Jack was much puzzled at this, and more, when
it developed that John had been kidnapped by some mysterious men. At
last the semi-Indian lad was saved by Jack and Nat.
John Smith told Jack as much of the secret as he knew. It appeared that
his father had given him the ring just before his death, and told him if
he was ever poor or in trouble to take it to a man named Orion Tevis,
and state who the bearer was.
Some time before that, the elder Smith had been in Oregon and Tevis
came to him to get him to be a guide to a wild forest country in the far
north. There he had bought five thousand acres of valuable land. Some
schemers had stolen the papers connected with it and were making for

the place, to take possession first, as that would give them a sort of
title.
Tevis was too sick to make the journey himself, and got Smith to go
with some of his own companions. John's father took a man named
Clark and one called Roberts with him. Mr. Roberts, or Robert Ranger,
which was his real name, was Jack's father. Because of some strange
circumstances he had not seen his son in many years.
Roberts, for so he was known many years, Clark, and Smith succeeded
in claiming the land for Tevis. He gave them each ten thousand dollars
for their work and had three rings made as mementoes. They were like
the one stolen from the jewelry store.
In addition Tevis said that at any time the men or their relatives needed
his help they could have it.
Clark, later, was killed, John Smith's father retired on his little fortune
and Jack's father got into trouble. It seemed that the land schemers
offered him a large sum to help them contest Tevis's title. He refused,
but learned that, if they could get him into court, they could throw the
timber claim into litigation, and force Tevis to pay a large sum to
compromise. Rather than do this Roberts told Smith he would become
a wanderer over the earth.
Mr. Ranger sent his money to his sisters, Jack's aunts, for the use of his
son, and then disappeared. He knew that if he could evade legal service
for eleven years he would be free, and that was why he never sought to
see his boy or sisters.
The Indian student believed that the man who stole Jack's aunts' ring,
and those men who made an unsuccessful attempt to get his, thought
they could, by use of the emblems send two boys, pretending to be Jack
and John to Tevis, and get a lot of money from him.
John Smith's only knowledge of Tevis was that his address could be
secured from the Capital Bank, at Denver, Colorado, and that he was
somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, in retirement. Jack having heard

this story, resolved that he and John Smith, would, some day, go in
search of Mr. Ranger. However, Jack's aunts said he must finish his
term at the academy, and this time was nearly up.
The students returning from their adventure were now approaching
Washington Hall, and walking quietly along. Jack and John Smith were
in the lead, and the others were strung out behind them.
Suddenly around a bend in the road there swung a big touring
automobile. No lights were on it, and only for the subdued roar of the
motor the car's approach would not have been noticed. As it was, Jack
did not see it until it was almost upon him.
"Look out!" cried John Smith suddenly.
At the same time he sprang forward and pushed Jack to one side. To do
this he had to get almost in the path of the car, and was struck by one of
the projecting springs. He was knocked to one side, but not before he
had pushed Jack out of harm's way, the latter being hit only a glancing
blow.
"Why don't you look where you're going?" called an angry voice, as the
car sped on.
"Are you hurt, John?" cried Jack, springing to pick up his friend.
"No, only bruised. They have nerve to go running without lights and
then ask us where we're going. I wonder who they were."
"I have an idea." said Jack. "That voice sounded like Adrian Bagot's."
"What, that sporty new student?"
"That's who."
"Well, he'd better go a bit slow, I'm thinking."
CHAPTER II

JACK IN TROUBLE
The boys crowded around Jack and John, anxious to know if they were
hurt. All were loud in their indignation when they learned what had
happened.
"Let's pay that snob back!" suggested Dick Balmore.
"Make him sleep with you one night," suggested Fred, for Dick