Part 15 (2/2)

I've spent all my time sence I was able to toddle, I reckon, betwixt our cabin an' the mine--back an' forth, back an' forth----”

After that they rode on again and it was quite late in the day when they decided it was ti back

”I don't see,” said Grace, as they neared the ranch, ”e don't lay out soirls The north end of this ranch is quite near the other hingly, but Meggy took them seriously

”Mebbe there's some truth in that,” she said soberly ”Dad allus reckoned they old on Gold Run Ranch”

A short tier, leading the brown colt by the reins Meggy had tried to stairls would have none of it They waved to her gayly and started for hohtful silence, Aht about the ranch, there being gold here, Imay turn out to be the truth”

”Well,” said Betty, a joyous lilt to her voice that the girls kneell, ”Allen will be here in a few days and then we'll start our gold hunt

Gold!” she repeated softly ”There is so romantic in the very sound of it!”

CHAPTER XIV

A DISCOVERY

Up to this time the weather had been re the Outdoor Girls woke to find that the sky was overcast and there was every indication of a storruloomily surveyed the landscape froest a real adventure, too!”

”What do you mean--'real adventure?'” queried Grace, lazily The day before she had bought a new box of candy and a azine, and so it happened that she was the only one of the four of them who really did not care whether it rained or not

Mollie turned froarded them resentfully Then she lookedthe contents of a too-crowded dresser drawer

”You are with me, anyway, aren't you, Betty?” she asked, almost wistfully ”We'll leave these other two at hoht,” said Betty, with a lack of enthusias effect upon Mollie's ears The disastrous quality of their last adventure had had a dairls' enthusiasm for this form of entertainment, and for the present they preferred the safety of the ranch to the lure of the great unknown, as it were

However, this condition of er as ever for new experiences ”I' as you keep away from land-slides and wild aniustedly ”As if an adventure would be an adventure without a little danger reat idea, Mollie?” asked Betty lower And if so, there was sure to be a fracas Betty knew this froet it out of your syste if it isn't hunting lions and tigers”

Mollie grunted disgustedly

”Well, there isn't a thing really exciting about it, if that's what youspecial to do to-day we ht be able to solve the mystery about hiirls still seemed unenthusiastic