eated twice before the occu

. Tall, with stooped shoulders and a head bent a little as though he had spent countless hours over his violin, with long, curly

atingly, as the musician made no effort to break the sile

tarted an

d motioning them into the room. "You will fin

table, he began with the utmost gentleness to put it in its case. The girls had the rather uncomfortable impression that the ma

window in the room, and one thought was in the minds of all

letting up a little

agreed Betty, then, as their long-haired host put down his

we came along," she said.

nd turned away so abruptly that Bett

and Amy put an arm about

opped, honey. Don't you

sion of regret at all from the man, the new acquaintances parted, the gi

toward the cabin, and he

to get outside to shut the door," s

hed Nigger and he whinnied a welcome. "He was just distantly polite, that's all. He d

and patted him soothingly. "I'm sure he has some real reason for

the way they had come through the fine drizzle. "She never can resi

. "No ordinary person could play the violin the way he was playing it

live in a little house away up in the woods. And I can't shake off the impression t

re by no means discouraged and in the days that followed they rode almos

n the woods they knew lurked very real dangers. But these they av

ore confident of their ability to find their way around alone, they dared

he narrow path. "A peach of a horse under you, the whole day before you, and nothing to do but enjoy yourself. Whoa-up there,

uneasiness, and the girls were kept busy for the next few minutes

ad better go back, girls? This trail seems to be getting narrower

at we are here for, isn't it? If we wanted people, w

eat pretty soon and that will make everybody feel better." Ki

in the woods through which they could look straight down-for they were on a considerable elevation

ied Mollie, reining in beside her. "

to eat?" queried Amy hopefull

said Betty, as she turned her h

er and deeper into the woodland, catching glimpses

e playing, forgetting their fears in the new sights and sounds all about them, the girls rode farthe

and sunshine and they converse

" asked Grace. "I had an idea

her's relatives-she never knew she had them till she came here-and dad thinks some of these people may make up their minds to contest the will. They haven

," they chor

er Levine has been around

d her mount so suddenly that Betty had all she co

t your hand when you do tha

rted him on again, "Peter Levine must want that ranch very

d Betty dryly. "He has offered mothe

le. "If your mother holds on much long

nch," went on Betty, as she urged Nigger up a gentle slope. "She confidently expects to d

all get out and d

find, Betty?" call

ey came upon another open space, and there, lying not more t

and leading Nigger off a little way into the woods where she tethered him secu

hungry. So out came the lunch basket, and never did biscuits and cheese and fried chicken taste

did the other day," said Mollie, as

of the long-haired musician who had been so painfully polite: "I wonder what our friend, Long Hair, lives on, any

e for dinner," suggested Mollie, and the girls lo

from where the horses were tethered caused them to jump to their feet in alarm. Suddenly the nervousness of the animals chan

ng above the noise. "There! In the wood