Dorothy on a Ranch

also brought his party safely in-to the mutual relief of himself and Miss Milliken, the latter really surprised to find she had arrived

ke my suit-case, please. I'm worn out with that awful ride and if I've got to repeat it to-morrow, I must get to rest;" but as the buxom maid t

sted a desperate need, but merely ann

The loss of a suit-case is nothing compar

ride? But, you don't understand, dear, I want my things. I can't wear

Monty Stark, who had come up to the

," still moaned the lady, "for your cas

etook herself out of the way. She was the only one of the party which had so gaily left Denv

o laugh off their anxiety and to convince the ot

ewhere and has wandered off to get them. She's always doing that

ers at night, nor do anything to make us anxious by her delay. Ou

for such a locality. It had been added to at different periods, as need arose; each addition being either a little lower or higher than its neighbor, according to the cash in hand, but invariably with the continuance of

efforts upon it. But, at last, seeing Monty and Molly peering through the kitchen windows in a hungry sort of way, Mr. Ford ord

d-up stuff," the table was nearly cleared of its food when they left it. Moreover, everyone felt better and brighter f

If they aren't here within a half-hour, now, I'll go back in search of the

call Silent Pete if he passed

st thing. He had neither pa

again. Come on, Miss Molly, to t

ing something, for everybody is looking so worried," she answered, catching his outstre

ad settled himself in a corner of the loose box next the stalls where his team stood. He was so devoted to them that he couldn't le

d, and had resented being disturbed. He had done his day's work, he had no intention of joining in any search that might be made fo

ur name! I'm your boss's son, and I

-splitting sounds as now issued from the nostrils of the ranchman, as L

hem," said the lad, stumbling over the protruding boots of the sleeper. "I'll take this pitchfork and prod him up a bit. Hello, Pete! I say, Pete,

olly ran into the box and held the lantern low, while the boy squatted at the teamster's head and thumped it soundly. Both were giggling, which incensed

t you know how t

own directed toward the laughi

most about the roads, or trails, and your opinion's wanted. Give it quick, because-Well, there'll be some thing doin' if you do know anything and don't tell it. I don't understand

to s

ed his pitchfork. But it was neither of these things wh

em knows the trail. T. Sorrel ain't wuth huntin', no

n his blanket and resumed his interrupted repose. Leslie wasted one moment of indignati

t hesitated for an inst

f 'em as want to go. Jiminy cricket! If T. Sorrel branched off where Pete

e eastward to market. All of them were well broken, to the saddle at least, and the best were promptly led out for Mr. Ford's selection, leaving his own beasts to rest for

drovers. That Leslie had not joined the riders was due to his mother's anxiety for his health, though his father had rather favored his going. The lad had been indignant at the "molly-coddling" and had hurt the tender heart of the Gray Lady by some angr

this corner,

er on her lip, and a wild light in her eyes. She was trem

going

how c

mother can't spare her. I told her I was just crazy, thinking of my Dorothy; hurt maybe, lost anyway, and nobody but a lot of men to spe

eyes as she turned to le

e my guest! Could I, as a gentleman, let you ride off alone o

d a good horse at command. Mattie's pony was swift and easy, and Molly sprang to its back with the feeling that now she was "really doing something," and that very speedily she would have her arms about her missing friend and all would be well. She had also begged Mattie to get a mount for

have to ride like the wind

best but-but this-old

made her extremely impatient, and with some co

uld ride! You looked li

this a horse? I'd rather have a mule!

the stable door, and that now seemed as ugly and tiresome a beast as her

warm up after a bit, and I'll take that back-that I said about your riding. I reckon you're all right.

olly was fast passing around a curve in the road and would then be out of sight, and Leslie's temper rose to its height. He forgot everyt

go, eh? Well, go you shall! Hear

hen, as if the astonished horse had just aroused to the state of things, it bolted! and the wa

Molly heard the footfalls behind her and swerved out of the way-not a minute too soon! Evidently, the maligned "rack-o'-bones" would otherwise have ridden her down. He passed her lik

oyote yelped in the distance; occasionally some creeping thing barred the track before them; and a screech owl sent its blood-curdli

s, how selfish! What fresh anxiety they had added to the troubled hearts back there at "Rod

. Roderick did guess what had become of them, and said so, it would be no comfort to Lady Gray and Helena; and the longer Molly pondered th

still mechanically urging the willing creature to her utmost speed. Her thoughts were

lie! You

you as

N

n. The 'calico' was taking he

, if you must kno

orrors

readful thing. It was wicke

were frightened.

r shoulders and prete

eds,' you know-western thoroughbreds ev

d her speech in a whisper. The horses, also, had

depths. They peered into the shadows but could see nothing, and edging the po

puma, or wolf. I don

t before? Was it

you, left behind, alone. I fancy we're in no

t about me why didn't you

tion this beast wouldn't stop

I can't stop here with lions and panthers yelling at us! I-I-Oh! do come

n't. I

! c

I can't. We'

she restrained her tears

now. This isn't funny-not a bit. Shall w

st of it. If that pony of yours was as big as a decent calf we might ride double and leave this wretch to starve and think it over at his leisure. I don't see why that girl gave

out, she slipped from her saddle and followed him. But she still held fast to her bridle rein and the pony offered no resistance to the leading, though the big

ere the ludicrous side of thi

when I was a kid, with matches stuck in for

g sounds from the forest and the boy's apparent indiff

his rock is actually soft in comparison. Here. I'll put some of these big ferns for a cushion for you, and, after all, we'll meet our folks just as soon by wait

e scant grass which grew there, as the pony was already doing. In surprise at this change both Leslie

es of his own. That some of these were fiction made no difference. Molly disdained to believe them but they served to pass the time as well as any better ones m

safe at home, till Molly's eyes, fixed upon

e inn and had not paused to consider how unlikely was such an incident so near to the city of Denver. In truth, the "boys" had invented the whole story, j

ested a possible repetition of the occurrence; and as there now came to her ears the sound of distant hoofbeats on the road, and pre

The-Indians! T

ut, with a headlong rush, dashed into the wood and into a mass of briars which threw him face downward in their midst. Also, at that same instant both the d