The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle | Page 7

at
young Allen Washburn, who was driving Betty's neat little roadster
with Betty herself beside him. "He sure falls in soft on this job."
"Meaning, I suppose," drawled Grace, "that he will have the pleasure of
our company at Gold Run Ranch. Never mind, old boy, you needn't
look so dreadfully gloomy. Have a chocolate and brace up."
"You give it to me," said Roy, laughing. Grace obediently popped a
large juicy one into his mouth. It may be remarked that after this
performance he really did look more cheerful.
"Anyway, we'll be back sometime, I suppose," said Mollie, continuing
on the subject that was uppermost in her mind.
"Yes, if we don't run away with some of those handsome cowboys," put
in Amy, with a chuckle. "Betty says they abound around Gold Run
Ranch."

The girls giggled, but Will looked fierce.
"You had better not," he said, and though his look was for all the girls,
Amy knew that the words were for her. She colored prettily and
promised with her eyes that she wouldn't.
Grace caught this by-play as she munched a chocolate grumpily.
Adoring her brother Will as she did, she had always been a little jealous
of his fancy for Amy.
"Anyway, they don't have to be so silly in public," she told herself
resentfully. As she roused herself from her musing, she heard Mollie
say, with a laugh:
"Don't be surprised if we come home with our pockets full of gold. Mrs.
Nelson thinks there is some of it about there."
"Oh, are you still talking about that silly old ranch?" Grace broke in
petulantly. "I don't know why you are getting so excited about it when
there is more than a chance that we sha'n't go at all."
"Hooray!" cried Frank, and stepped on the accelerator.
Mollie, beside him, turned to look at him coldly.
"I'm glad you feel that way about it, Frank Haley," she said primly.
"But I'm very sorry to say we don't."
"Now, I have put my foot in it," cried Frank ruefully, turning his
irresistible smile full upon her. "What shall I do to make up, Mollie?
Hold your hand or something?"
His free hand closed over hers, but she snatched her own away with
indignation that ended in a chuckle.
"Tend to your knitting," she warned him. "Didn't you see that we
almost ran over that dog?"
But however much they might joke about the possibility of their not

realizing their dreams for the summer, the Outdoor Girls were really
worried about it, and the next few days were anxious ones for them.
Suppose Mrs. Nelson should yield to her husband's arguments and
resolve to sell the ranch after all? For awhile it almost seemed as
though she were about to do this very thing, and the suspense nearly
drove the girls frantic.
Then something happened to turn the tide in their direction. And how
the girls afterwards blessed that loud-necktied, check-suited man!
It was Betty who came to the door to admit this angel in disguise, it
being the hired girl's day out. Her first glance at the stranger served to
stamp him as one of those loud-voiced, flashily dressed persons
commonly referred to as "sports," and at this first glance Betty took a
violent dislike to him.
However, being accustomed to treat every one with kindliness, she
asked him gravely whom he wished to see.
"Is Mrs. Nelson at home?" he asked ingratiatingly.
"Why, yes," hesitated Betty, then her natural courtesy getting the better
of the dislike she felt for this person, she added politely: "Won't you
come in? I will call mother."
With blandly murmured thanks the owner of the checked suit stepped
over the threshold, his eyes still on Betty to such an extent that she was
glad to be able to slip upstairs out of his sight.
"Mother," she explained hurriedly, finding that lady in her pretty
dressing room, "there's a horrid person downstairs who wants to see
you. I don't like his looks, and if you don't want to see him I can tell
him you aren't at home----"
"Heavens, Betty, is he as bad as all that?" asked Mrs. Nelson, as she
rose hastily and gave an automatic pat to her hair. "I hope he doesn't
steal the silver. You shouldn't have left him alone, dear----" and with

these words she swept out of the room and down the stairs.
Betty heard her greet the man, and then slipped off to her own room
and picked up some half-finished embroidery.
"I hope he doesn't bother mother too much," she mused aloud. "I never
saw a more unpleasant looking person in my life. I wonder what he can
want, anyway."
It was fully half an hour later that she heard the closing door downstairs
that