The Girls of Silver Spur Ranch

of Gre

eclared he didn't have no time to waste a-pleasurin', were going to Emerald, to s

an earthly thing to prevent her coming to town, and she had sent such urgent entreaties b

Jonah is just able to be about, we mustn't leave him too much work to do. The B

r hand affectionately upon the boy's shoulder. She was almost sure t

sadly as he shook his head. "I don't

'll be a hundred and one things to do, and you'll try to do them every one. Ruth's going to

nt to stay very much, yielded. If Elizabeth

dy--not even Maudie, will have such a beautiful one. And you

actise self-denial enough to lend her sister the string of coral beads that

day. But you mustn't forget to feel every now and the

of your fan, too, Elizabeth. Dear me, won't I be fine! Pink cora

ouble to result from such practices. There's always danger of losing or injuring the things, you know. But, if you

orry." And Ruth ran happily away, to pack her

mbers of the State Grange. Pony-races by cowboys from the neighboring ranches, the inevitable roping match, a big open-air dinner for the public, a

rted out bright and early; Mrs. Spooner, the Babe and Ruth's

ing cattle to the fattening ranges above, or to market in other states, lived in a big, flimsily built frame house in the little prairie town of Emerald. M

her pretty and very much spoiled by her mother and her grandmother, w

festival, with his wife, came out to meet thei

as she folded Mrs. Spooner in her ample embrace. "I'm tickled to death to see

Hannah--it's a phantom," s

ns looked so new and delightful, to the Babe's vision, anyway, as this vehicle,

The big girls want to go up to Maudie's room, I know. Run along, honies, I'll take care of your ma and the Babe, and Mr. Pratt'll loo

Elizabeth and Ruth, with the suit-c

flowered kimona, leisurely "doing" her nails with a silver-handle

ding cordiality. "You all come in to see the country jays celebrate? Emerald'

ie, what would you do out on our r

Don't mention it--such a fat

it--and I reckon we're as happy as

r. You've never enjoyed the advantages of c

heap of pretty things, as usual," said

d Maudie. "How do you like this diamond

orned with several rings, one of th

nt. Neither one of them had ever seen a diamond before, a

ons of delighted wonder. It was much too large for Elizabeth's

ifted out the tray of her trunk. "What are you gi

said Elizabeth. Somehow Ruth felt as if she couldn't speak

oing to wear." And she unfolded and shook out the shimmering breadth

ously, "I never saw such a per

utiful dress--and just the color I'd

ks are a matter of course. She took out more dresses, dazzling the eyes of her country co

e tall as I am. Stay all night and I'll lend you either one of them y

ures. To Maudie, Elizabeth was still her cousin, and a Spooner--the name that had onc

and to offer to lend me your beautiful clothes, but mother can't

'd jump at the chance of going to a party," said Maudie,

you just run in and set the table when dinner's ready, so's I can stay up town with your Cousin Jennie and

I hate that old operator, anyway. Isn't the cook hired to set the table? I ain't

"I reckon I'll hurry back and 'tend to

, Cousin Hannah. I don't care about goin

annah, gratefully, and with Mrs. Spooner and Elizabeth, went on her w

y Ruth swept and dusted the big dining room, that was always in a state of more or l

long day of sightseeing she and the Babe were once more seated in the phaeton. And Ru

d, after she had dressed, helped to button Cousin Hanna

more genteel to be late, took a long time to dress but really looked quite pret

d white dress and pink girdle with tolerant pity. Then her eyes fal

think it matches your dress? It seems to me a fan like that is out of place

th's; father sen

ornament at once, if it had been her own, for she was a generous

"lend me the fan, Ruth, and I'

rt but delight in her eyes, "I couldn't--I ough

't too loose, either; my finger's just as small as yours. I wish this fan was mine. It would have co

h complacent admiration. All Emerald had seen the diamond, but the fa

ng, forgot her mother's disapproval of borro

d girls who were present, and was soon having a very jolly and sociable time, while Maudie, as befitting a person accustomed to city life, was movi

t Ruth, in her shabby white lawn, should receive so much atte

the band, Maudie felt a growing rancor towards her unoffending cousin, finally

upid," she complained to her mother. "Besides, I don

herself, if you ain't," remarked Mr. Pratt, mild

was hastily summoned from her dance by Cousin Hann

aid Ruth, radiantly. "I'm so sorry

ully coarse and common, even for Emerald. I hope you took good care of my ring," she continued, sharply, f

e quavered with fear, "O

rilled wrathfully, "O, why was I

s Ruth wearing it? How'd that come? Whatever made you go and lose it, Rut

finger. We'll find it in a minute. I know I had it on when we left

t," scolded Cousin Hannah. "What ma

, miserably. "And--and she lent me the ring in

y. "Here--take your old fan! I reckon it didn't cost

distractedly, "I'd hate so for that expensive ring to be lost--just throw

Ruth, dull with woe. "Of course I don't re

cided Mr. Pratt. "Come along. No use in making so much fuss,

ll announcement to all and sundry of the fact that Ruth had borrowed her diamond, and then lost it. Which came,

I'd only listened to mother I never would have been

ll, made known to them the loss, and there was much search

thfully that she would never, never lend her things again--no matter if

ldn't remember where she had lost the ring. She ought to try and remember, seeing that it

gain, that she didn't know--she didn't know! Indeed s

shed them all by speaking with au

re is to it. I told mother, when she asked me about it, that it was foolish to give you a diamond when you was so young. I don't know if I ain't

y, don't cry over it--accidents will happen. I didn't aim to hurt your feelin's, no mor'n you a

unaccustomed note in her father's voice that his commands must be obeyed. But in the priv

pers can lose other people's property without wor

on her family, answered spiritedly: "No such thing, Mau

yes, it's likely you'll ever be able to

r calculation. But her fighting blood was u

l certainly pay you by next Thanksgiv

ntaining all the money she possessed in