Part 22 (1/2)
But Mr Nelson had er as the girls to keep hihingly reold mines on it I certainly intend to find them”
It was settled, and Mr Nelson and Allen set out for town to o too, but Mr
Nelson pointed out that he and Allen could probably do the work more quickly if they were alone, and it was upon this point and this point only that the girls consented to let theo
”But that needn't keep us from the saddle,” Mollie decided, as they watched the two men canter swiftly away ”I don't know about the rest of you, but I' for action”
”Ditto,” cried Betty, then added with bright eagerness: ”Girls, I knoe can do! Let's go down to the place where Allen found those two ht That's where the ht stake out clai to say to that,” said Grace,to stake out claims on somebody else's property”
”Oh well, you needn't be so particular,” cried Betty airily ”Coirls, who's withwith excitement, they made their way to the corrals where Andy Rawlinson saddled their horses for theirls' excitement, and it was all that the latter could do to hold the anihed Grace, as she pulled in Nabob sharply
”We've all got the gold fever”
”Let's give theallop thisout Betty, and in another irls laughing and shouting in utter abandonh spirits
At this rate it took them only a few minutes to reach the spot where Allen had had his adventure the night before
They reined in sharply, and Betty juiving him a fond little pat on the flank
”There, old boy,” she said ”Go and eat so Girls,” she added as they in turn dismounted and ran up to her, ”from Allen's description, it must have been just about here that he stood” She indicated the bent tree with the great bowlder behind it that Allen had described to the that heavy shrubbery soin work,” cried A her face ”Oh, Betty, it all see!” exclaioodness adventure story My, it's a wonder Allen didn't get shot up last night,” she added thoughtfully ”Itto those old scoundrels and not knohat ht find him out and fire upon him”
”I think Allen is perfectly wonderful, anyway,” said Grace, and Betty thrilled at the tribute ”He never seeets what he wants, too”
”And to think that 'John Josephs' never existed!” chuckled Betty ”Peter Levine ination”
”Well, what's the use of standing here?” said A ”Let's look around a little bit and see e can see”
So for a while they thrashed around in the bush, acco some rabbits and woodchucks into their holes
They found the tiny creek Peter Levine had spoken of, and they gazed with interest at its old in the bottom of that?” whispered Mollie
When they finally beca ain
”Let's go around by the ested Betty, and so they changed their course a little to include the lad to see the that there was no good news as far as she was concerned and they had not the heart to tell her their own
”Can't you coer to do soy shook her head
”I can't leave father--even for a little while,” she said sadly ”He ain't feeling well, and I'e pretty soon I--I--won't have any dad----” she choked and turned away Betty was beside her in a irl's shoulders