There was a resemblance, too, in the shape of the head and the turn of the jaw, but there it ended; and Ted surmised that the major must be at least fifteen or twenty years older than the stranger.
During the rest of the day there was much mystery about the house that always precedes Christmas.
Stella was particularly busy, and flew here and there, whispering with Bud, who seemed to be in some secret with her.
Behind the big ranch living room was a bedroom which had been used for casual guests.
Stella had possession of it, and had taken the bed down and banished it until after the holidays.
Within this room certain mysterious things were going on, and whenever Stella or Bud left it, the door was always locked behind them.
Not all the teasing of Ben and Kit, nor their efforts to get past the door, were successful in finding out what was going on.
Along toward evening, Bud, who had not met Farnsworth, or Dickson, as he was known to Bubbly Well, came across that young man pacing up and down the veranda alone.
When Bud saw him he stopped as if shot, took a long look, and then passed on.
But he set out to find Ted, which he did at last at the corral.