The Pony Rider Boys in the Rockies

hard. It was the tent in which Walter, under orders from the family physician, had been sleeping during the spring. Over th

ng off to view their handiwork. "You see, people can read

a charter member. "But I hope they won't think it's a blacks

laughed

ent of the club?" asked Walter. "I suppose we ought

ter with having Tad Butler for president? He kno

member of the cl

make him an honorary member. We ought to take him

ight knowledge of parliamentary law. "You can choose one of us for temporary chair

an. Will you be t

u know. I'm afraid I shouldn't be of much use to the club if I couldn't talk," laughed Ned. "I propose Mr. Stacy Brown, otherwise know

idea," agr

residing officer of the first meeting of the

r voted in th

osed, sa

Chunky in a

s. Mr. Chairman, will you please take the chair and call this meeting to order?" invited Ned Rector, es

he seat, gazing he

" urge

ing," laug

what sha

do you think we elected you for? Not to sit

d

re, that's not the way to do it. Is this th

od, informed t

r me, 'I now call the meeting of the Pony Rider

altingly repea

ident of the United States some day. I now move, Mr. Chairman, that Tad Butler be made

tion," added W

presiding officer, and this in spite of the winner's vigorous objections. Walter was made treasurer

nting out to him the advisability of providing a pony for said president to ride; said president being so heavy as

adopted with a s

journed to meet on the following morning for field practice. In other words, the club's two ponies, with Walt

wholesome, confident nature, and the same indomitable courage and determination that had enabled him to stand next to the head of his class in the high school filled him with a resolution to possess a pony of his o

Tad went about his duties of the day cheerfully, his active mind running ov

f goods to a summer residence just outside the town, he came upon Walte

s hailed hi

d and wave

th a fellow?" called Ned, as the riders cam

ook hi

on; hold u

pleasantly. "I am working all day to-day for Mr. Langdon, and

ur riding out and back wit

n't stay long. He's in too big a hurry," answered the banker's son, bringing his pony about

s on which the boys were mounted, as well as at the nickel trimmin

aughed Ned, noting Tad's gaze fi

e, Tad shook his

you don't want

ish I had him. Of course, I want a pony more than anything else in the world. But I want my own,

fellow. I never did u

about right, eh, Walte

rday, that perhaps it might be fixed. I wasn't going to

out what?" d

se, and no way to get one. I

es

of the club, and as fe

bound to stand

's what we're going to do, too. B

ss to understand what it was that his delicate young friend was planning. Sti

Tad has got to

e, while the boy on the grocery

ion that the Pony Riders will have a hard time in answering. Now, it is different with Chunky. Chunky's uncle has money. He can we

you thin

llow doesn't know his own mind, you can make him agre

he conversation of his companions Tad leaped to the ground, tying his horse wi

round the corner of the house be

idn't want to explain before him. Tad is

," added Ne

. Nothing could stop him from heading the class if he had the time to

mill pond, when you fell through

. Do you know," continued Walter after a moment of sile

asked Ned, his face r

's such a modest chap that he didn't want f

a queer

il last night," correct

he say?" questioned Ned, now ke

there was one thing he could do that would please me, at the same time making Tad the

es

ad desired so much." Walter glanced up at his c

t did you

d wanted

ed into each

ort, even if you are weak. I always said you were.

could take care of a pony when he got it-said the boy

that

ight stable his pony w

That's fine.

e to bring Tad

ou did

way back, if he will. All three of us will stop off at the bank Father

eet silence on the subject. And, if Tad's keen glance, which searched their faces, as he clambered aboard the grocery wag

asked Walter by way of directing the conversation t

k to the s

step in some time this afternoon," ans

at

ing. You can stop off as we go by. It wi

could deter him from doing what he cons

ounced Walter firmly. After that, the conversation drifted into a discussion

, ran up the steps into the store, while Tad began methodically to haul

Walter came

ep. "Mr. Langdon says hitch your horse here

ent reluctance, he followed his friend

his young guest wi

ntil last night, Thaddeus. I am sorry. But, according to the old sayin

while Tad, hiding his embarrassment as best he could

u, sir. I just pulled

nker l

if you had not, Walter would have drowned. How you managed to get hi

wam out with me,"

h a twinkle in his eyes, not wholly lost on the boy who was standing so rigidly

id,

g came up last evening that induced him to make a clean b

s,

e a great lover of anim

thing else in the world, save my mother,"

approve. It will be an excellent thing for Walter. But of course you w

swered Tad in

ery happy to be able to j

should, Mr

t so that in the future you shall not be denied this pleasure. Do yo

y are very fine ponies, too, sir. One of them, I think, would make an excellent mat

of doing that at prese

e to do,

s,

here you will pick out what you consider is the best pony in the lot, and bring him back to town. They wi

. I-I-what is it you wish me to

, laying a hand on

with you-he i

my-m

es

Butler and crept up to the roots of his hair, his ey

ir; but I cann

claimed Mr

t accept a gift like that from you. You will understand

answered the hanker slowly, grasping the l

ng from the room, with as much c

into the palms of his hands. Then, with shoulders erect, he strode r