VIRGINIA’S RANCH NEIGHBORS
They were entering the door-yard where a cowboy advanced to take their ponies.
“Virginia’s Adventure Club,” “Virginia’s Romance.”
VIRGINIA DAVIS SERIES
TO SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE
By GRACE MAY NORTH
By A. L. BURT COMPANY
VIRGINIA’S RANCH NEIGHBORS
VIRGINIA’S RANCH NEIGHBORS
CHAPTER I
HOME ONCE MORE
“Oh Virg, are we really to arrive at your deserthome this morning?” Betsy Clossen exclaimed thefirst moment that she opened her eyes on the fifthday after their departure from the Vine HavenBoarding School.
“Not until nearly noon,” Virginia, who wasdressing in the lower berth, smiled up at the eagerface that peered down from the upper.
“And will your nice brother Malcolm be thereto meet us, do you suppose?”
“I certainly hope so. I wired him from Chicagothat we were to be on this train. If he can’t comehimself, for any reason, he will surely send Luckyover with the car.”
“That’s one disillusioning thing about thedesert,” Betsy continued. “I’m powerfully sorrythat you have an automobile. It’s heaps too modern.I wish we were to be met with a—well aprairie schooner or something like that.”
Virg laughed. “I’m afraid you are going to bedisappointed in us, Betsy. You’ll find V. M. reallyquite tame if you have been reading Wild Weststories.” Then Margaret said quietly to her berthcompanion, “I do wish something exciting wouldhappen the moment we arrive, don’t you, Virg?”
The older girl smiled but shook her sunny head.“No need to wish for that these days, dear. Lifein Arizona is not nearly as thrilling as it is in thecity of New York, if one can believe the newspapers.”
“Don’t tell Betsy, for if she thinks it is to be toocommonplace, it will take all the thrill of expectancyout of it for her. You know she is never reallyenjoying herself unless there is a mystery to unravelor some adventure awaiting her.”
Fifteen minutes later the four girls were in thedining car.
Betsy beamed on her companions. The earlymorning sun falling on her red-brown hair made itshine like burnished gold.
“Even your freckles look gilded this morning,”Barbara teased.
The pug nose of the youngest wrinkled at hertormentor, then with an excited little squeal she exclaimed,“Oh, isn’t the desert