Part 29 (1/2)

”What d'ye suppose ails the fellow?” asked Will

”Give it up He seeh Nellieespecially sweet But here he co above his head, fellows?” said Frank

”It's his lost hunting-knife, as sure as you live!” echoed Will

”Just to think of it, boys! The beauty was inall the time, and I didn't know it! Nellie did it She mentions the fact in this letter, and says she was so afraid I'd hurt myself with that knife, by accident, that she rolled it up in this new flannel shi+rt, which I've never thought to put on as yet, and thrust it down at the bottoht to pull it out; and now that the big-gaet my trusty blade”

”Tell ht I was to bla your pardon After all, perhaps no harm was done, and since Nellie only did it frory”

”Sensible for once,” observed Frank, winking at the others

”And so ill leave the ranch without the slightest cloud on the horizon Fellows, all I can say is we're a lucky lot of boys,” observed Will positively

CHAPTER XXV

HOME AGAIN--CONCLUSION

Saying good-by was harder than the boys had anticipated They had really enjoyed themselves so imht of never seeing it loom upon their spirits

Of course, the fact that they were heading toward ho, hter

They had sent their trunk away on the previous evening, so that it would be at the far distant station awaiting their co On horseback, then, they were to cover the route that on their arrival they had done on a buckboard

Mr Mabie, Reddy and Billy acco back thefriends away Reddy, of course, expected to accompany the boys East, to at least visit his faic of the nificent country of the Northwest called loudly to his, and et all the good tiiven us, Mr Mabie,” said Frank, as he squeezed the hand of their good friend when the whistle of the approaching train was heard as it ca out of the cut, a mile away

”My dear boy, on h for the delightful tione I haven't been so happy for years,” was the reply of the stockht faces around him

”But you know you proe next Christet that, sir!” declared Will

”I certainly will not, if I' journey is the expectation of seeing that re reminders of so many of the exploits of the Outdoor Club I'hed the other

”You won't forget about shi+pping those skins and things, sir? We want them for reminders of the happiest trip this club ever took Every ti M ranch,” reo in a few days, boys, just as soon as the skins are in proper shape for transportation, depend on it And I'll let you knohen Pierre is placed under arrest, and the exiled chief, Running Elk, goes back to his people with all honor”

The last they saw of Mr Mabie and Billy, they aving their big hats vigorously on the little station platform Then a curve of the road shut them out, and the four chums settled back in their seats to talk over the thousand and one matters that clairieve for long They felt bad at leaving the scene of these recent happy events; but presently, in anticipation of the reunion with loved ones at hootten