Penny of Top Hill Trail

ing to the full the deliciousness of being cosily submerged in soft, warm coverings

nd slippers and wrapped herself in a Navajo blanket that was on the footrail of her bed. Th

omething much more mundane that held her attention-the superb spectacle of Kurt Walters, mounted. The lean, brown horseman sat on his saddle as easily as though it were a cushion in a rocking ch

ought to stay on a horse. If I'd seen him yesterday on horse

to one of the men, as

ply, as the men dispersed to

g the gayly striped blanket which fell from her shoulders. The Indian-brown of his face reddened darkly; a gleam came into his steel-gray eyes. He

a lazy little pout, as she shook off the blank

k at, but oh, you

ke, it was near t

she said, as she came into the dinin

to say. "Uncle Kurt's gone away fo

ouis?" asked Mrs.

y returned, and Kurt has to be in town for a week to settle up all the red tape routine for h

se as of some

th nobody nigh to hinder," she thought. "I had a narrow es

t the helm, won't you, Louis?" ask

ning. Simpson has delayed his

o hasn't Kurt's efficiency, but

ancis sagely, "that Jo

t!" exclaimed Be

d her brother loftily, "but it

entive and eager listen

town," said Mrs. Kingdon to Pen, "for we c

hings?" asked B

out clothes as easily as I can animals, and if you have any stray p

a mania for buying it, and there my interest in new garments ceases.

as they rose from the table. Smiling understandingly at her look of ala

himself-out of parts he

wish he hadn't bought so many par

declared Francis

an ours," said Billy

"Only the loyalty of a child would ha

, thoroughbred horses inclosed in a pasture of many miles, the smaller-spaced farmyard, the buildings, bunk-houses and "Kurt's Kabin,"

said Kingdon, as he turned the car

e hasn't seen Jo yet. Ther

op you and the kiddies here and you can call on him. I have an

ow building, and Pen with the

chorused

ver, by a certain care-free grace, a litheness of movement. He had greenish-blue eyes that were set far apart and crinkled when they laughed-as ever and oft they did.

alled in a jovial tenor. "Wh

ied Francis with dignified

own at the girl whose eyes were hidden by lo

quiet and amazed, as her lashes lift

gly, "I am Penelope Lamont, and I

ed seriously, "but

ed Betty, "'cause she didn't bring any

e ain't! You've got it wrong si

Betty angrily, with a s

e's his company, so you'd better

and shielded his face with his a

n't it the luck for me that he won't be sheriff when h

came up here with him, to be sure, but Mrs. Kingdon has a

in the world to get well. Some little old

you fore

hen he is away, I'm only acting foreman. I'll nev

was only act

allowed. "Say!" turning ferociously to Francis, "what busines

fair fac

ur business how

ing. We can't fight b

shbone, Jo," taunted Billy, c

cook can hang me over her d

d she won't dance

ou where there are four little, new kittens

not tell her. Please

e them," said Fr

your little new playmate here t

have a dance to-night?"

s hall, and-" looking at her fixedly, he a

will seem so beautiful-to dance again

ld thing the mu

in-Chicago?" sh

e the kittens are

little Bla

forgot to resent Jo's

to a corner of

ur puffballs of maltese which were quickly gathered and garnered by Pen and

such a nice bed?

e he rode away at first crack of

es open before he gets bac

es opened wide while he's gone. Then he

ance, too," said

men dance wit

d there's Mrs. Kingdon, and Ag, and the cook, and the other gi

sic do y

ourr. Say, Billy Kingdon, if you squeeze that kitten so hard, its eyes'll bust open

is this biggest one; the one with white on is Gene

all right, all right; but there ain't room for another gen

e!" said Betty. "Her name is Fai

Billy. "Mine's going

l," corrected Fr

boarding house. Now, all you kidlets run to the kitchen and ask cook for a cup of milk and a cl

same way; but Pen and Jo improved the opportunity fo

e milk when they had returned. "Let's s

whose eyes were shining,

converse with Pen alone, but the children out-maneuvered

spered Jo, as th

on says," she mu

nce. He was standing, cap in ha

rdict on Jo?"

ble," she rep

im," he said. "Jo dances his

believe

brightness there's a tolerably deep current. And he never nurses a grudge. If anyone should s

," said Pen, "is why the

all the time,"

a twinkle in his eye, "how you do like to be plagued. You are alw

id Mrs. Kingdon. "Kurt is so patient and so

hould be laid away on a shelf for Sundays." Then, meeting Mrs. Kingdon's wondering eyes,

bee," observed Mrs. Kingdon, sm

ing evening-like for the dance to-night. If you could let me borrow a whi

turned an automobile into

ybe there is hope for a sinne

. "I have a white satin skirt that is too short for me,

slippers that were too sho

st, "that the thief should be making evening clothes, when it w