"Hum, I see," said Ted's father slowly. "Our boy is getting older, I
guess. He needs rougher play. Well, I think I've just the very thing
to suit him, and perhaps Janet and all of us."

"What is it?" asked Mrs. Martin, as her husband drew a letter from
his pocket.

"This is an invitation from Uncle Frank for all of us to come out to
his ranch in Montana for the summer," was the answer. "We have been
talking of going, you know, and now is a good chance. I can leave the
store for a while, and I think it would do us all good--the children
especially--to go West. So if you'd like it, well pack up and go."

"Go where?" asked Ted, driving around near the veranda in time to
hear his father's last words.

"Out to Uncle Frank's ranch," said Mr. Martin.

"How would you like that?" added his mother.

"Could we have ponies to ride?" asked Ted.

"Yes, I think so."

"Oh, what fun!" cried Janet. "I love a pony!"

"You'd be afraid of them!" exclaimed Ted.

"I would not! If they didn't jump up and down the way you did with
Trouble on your back I wouldn't be afraid."