The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle; Or, The Girl Miner of Gold Run

ally. "Is somebody giving away steeds for the asking?

et," cried Mollie. "Can't you

athlessly toward Betty. "Let them fight it out be

my children. Mother has received a legacy from a

eried Grace

ty. "Oh, girls, it's a ranch, a great big

wild and woolly?" que

had heard over the telephone. "I shouldn't wonder if we should find the real old-f

g with more or less patience for Betty to come to th

come in, she wants to know," she paused to bestow a beaming glance on Grace and Amy. "Th

ey murmured, beginni

ut argued mother and dad around to the point where they'll agree to let us have the use of

" cried Mollie pityin

g around all day in fur leggings and a sombrero. Wid

threw a pillow at her, mis

ty. "Reckon there won't be anybody around there

ng?" Grace asked, her dis

ently. "Tell me, Betty," she cried, turning to the Little C

's why I don't want you to get too excited about it. You see,"

y, and Grace added, with a dec

do that until th

Betty, with a chuckle. "

nt to sell it, Bett

and dollars for it. There's a ranchman out there, I think his name is John Josephs, or some such name,

od lot of money," s

to take the money and get rid of the ranch. He says it will be a sort of white elephant on our ha

e just to disappoint us. If your father is going to sell the place, then we certainl

sh," hissed Betty, melodramatica

e, eagerly. "Then she does

that she might look pretty good in a cowboy make-up herself. You see," she added, with a

adding, as one to whom inspiration had come: "I

d Grace. "Especially since

ckled and Mollie lo

"I guess it would be a cas

aid gentle Amy unexpectedly, whil

is one very important thing

information bureau," Betty as

to sell the ranch? Or is yo

, adding: "Besides, the ranch was left to mother, you kn

stically. "Fifteen thousand dollars is a lot of money, y

ere quick to notice, "there is another reason why mother will

ey querie

dea that this John Josephs is a little too anxious to buy

said a word about gold, Betty Nels

sting," admitted Grace, sh

murmured Amy,

er is-romantic! He says there isn't a chance in a thou

her most tragic scowl. "Wouldst put an e

is really determined to see the ranch, at least, before she makes up her mind whether to sell or not. In fact," she hesitated, colored a

a little cow girl," teased Grace, while the o

ie, shaking her head dolefully

er was very fond of Betty Nelson. And while the girls are shaking their heads over this fact a little time will be taken to describe the Out

had led to her being dubbed "Little Captain" by the adoring girls. Betty's father, Charles Nelson, had made a good deal

ith snapping black eyes, who was almost as F

with Grace Ford. Grace was the Gibson type, tall and slender and fair

her past had been cleared up, however, and Amy had come into her own. Shy, gentle, sweet, she was beloved and protected by the more hardy and active Betty and Mollie.

d quick of action, Allen attracted every one wherever he went. And, truly, Betty was no exception to this rule! Allen had been one of the firs

, and because of this he had been the victim of considerable misunderstanding. Afterward he had joined the army with the other boys. This

little group because of their friendship for Will and Allen. They were fine

of New York State. Deepdale was situated on the Argono River, a beautiful and romantic stream where pleasure craft of all sorts disported themselves. A b

summer vacations, and winter holidays also, in some sort of outdoor sport. They could ride, swim, p

dventures on the way, as related in the first volume of this series, entitled, "The Outdoor Girls of Deepdale." Nor those other times

e later what black distress overwhelmed them, when Will Ford was reported wounded and Allen's name was among the missi

alth, had chanced to do the girls a very great favor. Of course the girls were grateful to him and were very much interested when he told them of his two sons who were in the war. Later, when the girls read of the death of his two sons in the pap

the woods around the lodge and Moonlight Falls, a beautiful fall of water not far from the cottage whe

n any the Outdoor Girls had had yet. No wonder that in the clamor of their excit

came trudging up the sta

them girls a-gabberin' an' a-talkin' at the top o' their lungs. Hello-I can't hear you-you'll

e hilarious girls. "An' le's hope you can hear him better'n I could, that's all," she gru

, with a laughing glance over her shoulder at her

or that she really had all she could do to hear Allen

as she trudged down the steps aga

and-what's that? At Walnut Street? All right, that will be fine. I can't t

d when she confront

e they regarded her mischievously. "And they want us to pick them up in the

ked her a bow and the other girls giggled. "I like their nerve wanti

take too long for them t

," said Grace, with a simper that sent

inally, "are you com

Grace's indignant head, handed Amy her coat, and

nswer," she sa