Free Bad Grrlz' Guide to Reality: The Complete Novels Wild Angel and Adventures in Time and Space with Max Merriwell by Pat Murphy Page A

miners were careful, not wanting to encourage him to stake a claim nearby. Nothing to complain about.
    Then Johnny allowed as how he’d read Max’s article in the Nevada City Gazette . “You had half these boys weeping and the other half looking out for wolves and little girls,” Johnny said. “Was a sight to behold. You’ve got a way with words, partner.”
    Max smiled, acknowledging the compliment.
    “You reckon that little girl could really be living with wolves?” Johnny asked.
    Max shrugged. “It could happen. It’s a strange world.”
    “That it is. Hey, when you get to Selby Flat, you’d best go to Selby’s Hotel, first thing. Mrs. Selby has a letter for you. I reckon she’s burning with curiosity about what’s in it. She asks about you all the time.”
    “Maybe she just misses my charming smile,” Max said. Johnny laughed.
    The miners invited Max to stay to dinner, but he continued down the trail, curious to see what was in the letter. It was late in the afternoon when he reached Selby’s Hotel. He noticed that a wanted poster with his portrait of Arno was tacked to the outside wall of the hotel. It had already started to tatter and fade. Max put Wordsworth in the corral and stepped into Selby’s.
    The sweet smell of warm apples and cinnamon filled the room, which was crowded with miners. Max spotted Jasper Davis on the far side of the room. Jasper waved Max over to the table where he sat alone. “Rallo, Max,” Jasper called. “I reckon you came all the way from Downieville for a piece of Mrs. Selby’s apple pie.”
    Max sat down at Jasper’s table. Socks had told Max of how concerned Jasper had been for the little lost girl, leading Max to think he must have misjudged the man. “That Pinkerton fellow’s been here,” Max said. “Saw the wanted poster outside.”
    Jasper nodded. “No one’s seen hide nor hair of Arno since the robbery. I figure he headed to Mexico.”
    Max nodded. “Maybe that Pinkerton fellow will go after him.” Jasper laughed and shook his head. “No, that fellow plans to stick around. Told me he was thinking Nevada City might be a nice place to settle down. They’re looking to appoint a town marshal, and he figures on applying for the job.” Jasper leaned toward Max. “You know, I saw that piece you wrote for the newspaper. Real nice what you had to say about that little girl. Do you really reckon she could have been taken in by a pack of wolves?”
    Max shrugged. “Could be.” He had been asked many times about Romulus and Remus; he was used to the question.
    “So when she ran away, she ran off with the wolves,” Jasper continued.
    “I suppose so.”
    Jasper nodded thoughtfully. “So if a man tracked the wolves, he might find the little girl.”
    “Why yes, that could be.” Max studied Jasper’s face. Surely the man’s interest in rescuing Sarah was admirable. But there was still something about Jasper that struck Max wrong. Something about him reminded Max of acquaintances back in Chicago who were on the shady side of the law, individuals who were humbugs and frauds and always on the dodge.
    Max did not have an opportunity to analyze Jasper’s interest in Sarah any further just then. Mrs. Selby had emerged from the kitchen and spotted him. “Max!” she called, bustling across the room while drying her hands on her apron. “Oh, Max, I’m so glad you’re back. I have a letter for you.” She pulled a battered envelope from where she had tucked it behind the mirror and brought it across the room to him. “It’s from Audrey North, the sister of that poor murdered woman.”
    Max tore open the envelope and read the enclosed letter, written in a bold hand.
I am grateful to you and to the men of Selby Flat for all your efforts on behalf of my sister and her husband. I thank you for writing to tell me of my sister’s fate. Were it not for your kind letter, I would never have known what happened to her. I would wait for news of her, always hoping,