cattle?"

"Oh, no, my dear. Several ranchers ship from Osaka," explained
Rhoda. "And as we all ship at about the same season, there must be
plenty of pens and cattle-chutes. Hurry, now. Get your things
together."

Bess scrabbled her baggage together, as usual leaving a good deal
of it for somebody else to bring. This time it was Walter who
gathered up her belongings rather than Nan.

"I never do know what I do with things," sighed Bess. "When I start
on a journey I have so few; and when I arrive at my destination it
does seem as though I am always in possession of much more than my
share. Thank you, Walter," she concluded demurely. "I think boys
are awfully nice to have around."

"In that case," said Rhoda, leading the way out of the car as the
train slowed down, "you are going to have plenty of boys to wait on
you when you get to Rose Ranch. Those punchers are just dying for
feminine 'scenery.' I know Ike Bemis once said that he often felt
like draping a blanket on an old cow and asking her for a dance."

"The idea!" gasped Mrs. Janeway, who was likewise making her first
visit to the ranges.

At that moment Rhoda cried:

"There he is! There's Hess with the ponies."