hoped to have. For, whereas the girls should have showered their attentions upon them, the boys, they insisted upon

mself over the wheel of Mollie's car. "You seem mighty glad to go out t

," Mollie responded lightly, which

loomily, as he glanced over his shoulder at young Allen Washburn, who was driving Betty'

sure of our company at Gold Run Ranch. Never mind, old boy, you

opped a large juicy one into his mouth. It may be remarked

pose," said Mollie, continuing on the

handsome cowboys," put in Amy, with a chuckle.

led, but Will

all the girls, Amy knew that the words were for her. She co

grumpily. Adoring her brother Will as she did, she

she told herself resentfully. As she roused herself

h our pockets full of gold. Mrs. Nelson

ke in petulantly. "I don't know why you are getting so excited ab

ank, and stepped o

im, turned to lo

t, Frank Haley," she said primly. "

turning his irresistible smile full upon her. "What sha

t she snatched her own away with i

arned him. "Didn't you see tha

realizing their dreams for the summer, the Outdoor Girls were really

sell the ranch after all? For awhile it almost seemed as though she were ab

heir direction. And how the girls afterwards

Her first glance at the stranger served to stamp him as one of those loud-voiced, flashily dressed p

every one with kindliness, she aske

at home?" he ask

ting the better of the dislike she felt for this person, s

ed over the threshold, his eyes still on Betty to such an extent

oom, "there's a horrid person downstairs who wants to see you. I don't like h

ve an automatic pat to her hair. "I hope he doesn't steal the silver. You shouldn't have

en slipped off to her own room and pi

ed aloud. "I never saw a more unpleasant looking pe

their unwelcome visitor had left. A minute later her mother herself opened the door of Be

hing to make you feel bad?" sh

nto a chair, while her eyes sought the wind

her mother, and, sitting down, took

dear," s

ze away from the window and look

mething strange about this Gold

d Betty, as he

t of his. It seems this client is willing to pay me my own price-within reaso

again, beginning to

"I decided then and there tha

s all eagerness now, "

ual about Gold Run or John Josephs and this man, too, wouldn't be so anxious to get it away from

I've been fearfully worried for fear you wouldn't see i

im I hadn't definitely decided yet on any course, that I had already had a very good offer for my ranch, and that he would have to see Al

ul." Then after a little pause, she added shyly: "You really

hen she added with a hint of mischief in her voice: "Your father

red Betty,

In the Nelson home, this time in the pretty

int of eagerness in her voice, "what did you

makes him out to be?" asked Mr. Nelson, smil

s trying her best to be calm while s

I'm sure," he answered, with a smiling glance toward Betty's moth

e him either?" asked

ding with a wry smile: "He calls himself Peter Levine, but I'm wil

sharper then?" Mr.

ern boom towns-men who can talk the other fellow into putting his last cent into some 'sure thing.' 'Sure thing,'" he repeated disgus

arpers, 'confidence men,' as you call them

s the spirit of the law that they violate. But we are getting away from the point," he added, pulling himself up short with an apol

a triumphant glan

"I was sure Allen w

nct impression, a sort of seventh sense we fellows in the law game call it, that this Levin

son, startled. "How

" Allen told her.

ould you adv

ve had a chance to look matters over

es it. I shall have to leave my business to go to smash," he added, with a chuckle, "while I take my f

o him and turned him imperiously around till hi

o to Gold Run-you and mother and the girls? We'll have t

r. Nelson resignedly. "We w

who, a few minutes later, sa

er, "that I didn't like that perfect angel, Peter Levine,

Allen, take

n't happened along just when he did our glorious adventure would h

ed Allen, and before Betty could

g?" she called, lau

out of the darkness, and Betty, closing