“To-morrow at the latest. If I can have a talk with Cousin Ned this evening and get it settled I’ll call you up.”
“Good! Come on, Hal. We’ve had a charming time, ladies.” And the two started off.
“Don’t count too much upon Pablo,” called Joanne after them.
Chet wagged a hand as if in derision and went on.
The boys did not let the grass grow under their feet, neither did the girls for that matter. They were anxious that the entertainment should take place before the leaves should fall, for they wanted the brilliant setting of the fine old oaks, upon the Price place, whose scarlet foliage made a gorgeous background. While the girls were busy baking cakes and making sandwiches the boys were arranging seats for the audience. The Wild West show was to come first, and would begin at two o’clock. It would be followed by the tea, the whole thing to end up with a dance.
The boys had ransacked the town for some sort of vehicle approaching a prairie schooner in appearance, and had managed to hire an old Conestoga wagon. The hunt for a stage-coach was less successful, but finally an antiquated omnibus was made to do. It was a ramshackle affair, and might collapse if overloaded, but the boys viewed it with great pride. They had also hired two horses, had borrowed a cow and a crate of chickens. Dogs were easily available, so at last the outfit was complete.
Of course two o’clock came before they were ready. Such scurrying around as there was! such mad rushings back and forth from house to grounds! Pablo and Chico had arrived upon the scene the day before and had been put through their paces. Hal Fosdick had taken them in tow and promised that they would show up at the proper time.
It was nearing two o’clock. The girls had finished the last of the sandwiches, had stacked them up and covered them with damp napkins, had arranged the plates of cakes and had set the teacups in order.
“There!” exclaimed Claudia, “that’s the last. You girls that are in the show had better hurry off and get into your costumes. The rest of us will cut the lemons and see to anything else.”
Off went Joanne, Betty Streeter, Minerva Lacey and Virgie Ambler. Joanne had stipulated that if they would drag her around by her apron strings instead of by the hair she would not be averse to taking part.