The Pony Rider Boys in the Grand Canyon | Page 4

Tad should go."
"Oh, but I haven't said so," laughed Mrs. Butler.
"Of course she hasn't. You see how little one can depend upon what
Ned Rector says," interjected Stacy.
Ned gave him a warning look.
"I should say that you approve of his going. Of course we couldn't
think of taking this trip without Tad. I don't believe Mr. Perkins would
let Walt go if Tad weren't along. You see, Tad's a handy man to have
around. I know Chunky's people never would trust him to go without

Tad to look after him. You see, Chunky's such an irresponsible
mortal-----"
"Oh, I don't know," interrupted the fat boy.
"One never knows what he's going to do next. He needs some one to
watch him constantly. We think it is the fault of his bringing up."
"Or the company I've been keeping," finished Chunky.
"At any rate, we need Tad with us."
"Then I shall have to say 'yes,'" replied Mrs. Butler, nodding and
smiling. "Of course Tad may go. I am glad, indeed, that he has such
splendid opportunities."
"But, mother, I ought to be at work," protested Tad. "It is time I were
doing something. Besides, I think you need me at home."
"Never mind, Tad. When you have finished with these trips you will be
all the better for them. You will have erected a foundation of health that
will last you all your life. Furthermore, you will have gained many
things by the experience, When you get at the real serious purpose of
your life, you will accomplish what you set yourself to do, with better
results."
"That---that's what I say," began Chunky. "Haven't I always told
you-----"
"Stacy is wise beyond his years," smiled Mrs. Butler. "When he is
grown up I look for him to be a very clever young man."
The eyes of the boys still twinkled merrily, for Chunky, unable to guess
whether he were being teased, was still scowling somewhat. However,
he kept still for the time being.
"Yes, Tad may go with you," continued Mrs. Butler. "You
start---when?"

"In about two weeks," Walter replied. "Father said he would call to
discuss the matter with you."
"I shall be glad of that," nodded Mrs. Butler. "I shall want to talk over
the business part of the trip."
Then the youngsters fell to discussing the articles of outfit they would
need. On this head their past experience stood them in good stead.
"Now, I presume, I have said all that I can say," added Mrs. Butler,
rising. "I will leave you, for I would be of very little use to you in
choosing clothing and equipment."
Before she could escape from the room, however, Tad had risen and
reached her. Without exhibiting a twinge of embarrassment before the
other young men, Tad held and kissed her, then escorted her to the door.
Walter and Ned smiled their approval. Chunky said nothing, but sat
blinking solemnly---the best possible proof of his approbation.
All of the readers of this series know these young men well. They were
first introduced to Tad and his chums in the opening volume, "The
Pony Rider Boys In The Rockies." Then were told all the details of how
the boys became Pony Riders, and of the way they put their plans
through successfully. Readers of that volume well recall the exciting
experiences and hair-breadth escapes of the youngsters, their hunts for
big game and all the joys of living close to Nature. Their battle with the
claim jumpers is still fresh in the minds of all readers.
We next met our young friends in the second volume, "The Pony Rider
Boys In Texas." It was on these south-western grazing plains that the
lads took part in a big cattle drive across the state. This new taste of
cowboy life furnished the boys with more excitement than they had
ever dreamed could be crowded into so few weeks. It proved to be one
long round of joyous life in the saddle, yet it was the sort of joy that is
bound up in hard work. Tad's great work in saving a large part of the
herd will still be fresh in the mind of the reader. How the lads won the
liking of even the roughest cowboys was also stirringly told.

From Texas, as our readers know, the Pony Riders went north, and
their next doings are interestingly chronicled in "The Pony Rider Boys
In Montana." Here the boys had the great experience of going over the
old Custer trail, and here it was that Tad and his companions became
involved in a "war" between the sheep and the cattle men. How Tad
and his chums soon found themselves almost in the position of the grist
between the millstones will be instantly recalled.