Blue Bonnet's Ranch Party

ow for the hundredth time that hour, and dre

"if The Wanderer doesn't move a little fa

slow, soothing way. "The Wanderer is doing her best. Might

mighty good of Mr. Maldon to let us take his very own car. I can just see the We are Sevens' eyes pop right out when they see this style of travelling." Blue Bonnet's own eyes roamed over the luxurious interior of The Wanderer, dwell

g months in school. Now, in a private car belonging to one of Uncle Cliff's friends, they were on their way back to Woodford, there to g

o travelling?" suggested Uncle Cliff, more to draw out B

r head emphatically-"not one of the other We are Sevens has

onnet's own introduction to a Pullman car had occurred just ni

net's uncle, "they've some experi

ear,-"do you suppose they will all be ready to go?

ls don't need much of a wardrobe for the ranch. Besides, I wired them explicit directions-to meet T

elvet reclining chair and shut her ey

the joke

aughed. "Won't she be just-petrified, when she sees seve

I've wired Uncle Joe to get extra help while the ranch party is in session. If they can get old Gertrudis fro

es, but they must be downright tame compared with this kind of a party. And it's not to last just over a week-e

eh?" Mr. Ashe looked pleased a

e they're fairly out of my mouth. And I seem to have plenty of wishes. J

iff, "you wished to go

iculous, now I'm over that silliness? But oh, how I did wish I could get over

n't forget that. Maybe I could have help

" Blue Bonnet's face clouded, "you don't think, do you, that the fear will come

Alec's horse, Victor. A good canter on Firefly over the Blue Bonn

me feel almost-breathless. I no sooner got through wishing I could leave the ranch and go East and be with Grandmot

change artist," mu

nted. I wanted to know a lot of gi

hanged names again?" U

Everybody thinks Blue Bonnet suits me be

wish? They'r

ol. I wanted Alec Trent to win it-and he did. An

s achieved!" said Uncle C

eave Grandmother and Alec and the girls. That might seem a contrary pair of wishes, but it does

upplied Mr. Ashe, with a re

e?" asked Blue Bo

g out our way, and we've been friends ever since. The priv

don't tell Aunt Lucinda,-I fancy

nnet's prim New England aunt had not suffered him to remain

knitted her pretty brows. "And that is what was in Uncle Jo

the ranch Monday evening without fail," a

ou mean well, Uncle, but I just hate secrets." B

fed Uncle Cliff, avoi

ely. "You look just the way my dog Solomon does when he's pr

cle Cliff with well-

hink-" Blue Bonnet went on sagely, "I think there is some trouble at the ranch,-because I saw the big b

the inquisitive member of your Clu

e for cutting us out of two whole days in New Y

da-?" echoe

I chose the things I'd rather see and left the-the educational things for the last. You see the shops, the Hippodrome, Coney Island, Peter Pan and the Goddess of Liberty were

y stunned. Then he said craftily, "Ke

n bluff Aunt Lucinda-I ought to know!

Bonnet had been busily chattering, The Wan

ides holding on by main force to a leash at which Solomon was straining frantically. Beside him were Katie and Delia, on hand for a final farewell to Blue Bonnet and Mrs. Clyde. Then came Kitty and Doctor Clark; Amanda and the Parkers; Sarah and the whole crowd

away of so many of its most prominent citizens to far-off Texas, had aroused quiet Woodford to a

as a full five minutes before she emerged, flushed and minus her hat, to as

ust pull out in ten minutes in order to r

e, The Wanderer

e Bonnet in a panic, "th

ck so as to hook on to the train for Boston. That's due in five minutes. Get

tall, prim aunt. Somehow Aunt Lucinda had never seemed so dear as in this moment of parting. Perhaps it was the look as of unshed tears in her eyes, or the flush on her usually pale face that made her seem more approachable. Blue Bonnet could not tell exactly what it

et of you to want me. But not this time, for I have promised friends to go abr

ite every week without fail. "And you'll write too, Aunt Lucinda? It'll be so exciting getting lette

nt question. "No, dear. Only this: be considerate o

d Blue Bonnet, and wit

ir eyes at parting; a word with General Trent, a chorus of good-byes to a score of

aboard and get her settled. Here, Bennie Blake-you hold Solomo

from her shoulder. "Stop, everybody, till I get a picture-I nearly forgot! And I want pictures of eve

ow and another when we get back, and we

all boys, obediently took their places as designated by the young art

he called. "Why

r. Blue Bonnet looked inquiringly at the telltale

tter?" she cri

his throat queerly. "Fact is, Miss Blue

started incredulously

. Why didn't some one help him out, the doctor fumed inwardly,

n from the car step and w

med the startl

exposed and Father didn't t

to Blue Bonnet's eyes-she fo

might have been worse. It's only because we've been too busy to go out there, t

d Blue Bonnet's tears. "I'm mighty glad you four could come. But it

still have me!" cried Alec,

e everybody was laughing over this sally, Blue Bonnet took a sn

n the car and met Mrs. Clyde's amused eye. "How do you l

he hen that hatched duck's

hich Sarah Blake was heard to remark solemnl

ly had it subsided when from outside came

really going!"

rchiefs out of the window. Suddenly a wail

In the excitement of the last mome

lomon last," cried Blue Bonn

Alec, swinging down the steps just as the fi

cried Blue Bonnet. "Th

edge of the crowd was Benn

e Cliff?" wailed Blue Bonnet. "A

. Ashe, for suddenly he straightened up and held out both arms. A second later a brown furry object came hurtling through the air and was caught ignominiously by the tail. Quick as a flash Uncle Cliff tossed the indignant

think you deserve a Carnegie medal!" Blue Bonnet cried fer

-lost, exactly," retur

Where did you find him

wful news, returned: "I found him just where that