"Well, maybe not ALWAYS," conceded Rand; "but almost always. What
was the matter this morning--breakfast late?"

"Now, you know I didn't wait for breakfast," protested Pepper,
adding rather reluctantly, "though I did stop for a bite. But even
if I am late I'm not last. Jack isn't here yet, and he left home
first."

"Oh, he's out on the trail somewhere, I suppose," surmised Donald.
"He's always chasing for news. He'll be coming along presently
with a whole budget. I believe he thinks the paper couldn't go on
if it weren't for him."

"'That reminds me,' as Dick Wilson says," interrupted Rand, taking
a pamphlet from his pocket and holding it out to his companions,
"speaking of trails, what do you think of that?"

"What is it?" asked Pepper, eying it suspiciously. "Looks as if
the cat had been walking on it." goodness, I hope not. I thought
you were always hungry, but if you are only beginning I foresee a
famine ahead of us. And to think of all the good food that is wasted
on you, Pepper," went on Donald reflectively. "Why, to look at you
any one might think that you never had had enough to eat."

"That shows how deceiving looks are," replied Pepper. "Though I
never did have enough," he added plaintively.

"Of course not," returned Donald, "there isn't as much as that
anywhere."