"Well, I'm sure glad to see yuh, boys! Hullo, new member? Windham? Glad to meet yuh! Hang up on the veranda, boys, till I get these chaps off. Right back."
He disappeared inside the house, and the boys "hung up" on the wide veranda which was littered with canvas, reed and other easy-chairs. Indeed, the veranda of the ranch-house served largely as an office and living room combined. Both Mr. Phipps and the boys spent a large share of their time there.
In a few moments the rancher returned minus his chaps, followed by a Chinaman, the ranch-house cook, who greeted the boys with a cheerful grin of recognition.
"What'll it be?" inquired Mr. Phipps, as he sank into a big chair and glanced around.
"Lemonade!" arose the shout, and the "Chink" vanished.
"Carl hinted last night that you had something special on, Herb," began Dunk to the rancher's son. Herb grinned and looked at his father.
"Not me," he said. "I reckon dad has somethin' under his hat, though."
At this moment the Celestial returned with a gigantic olla or Mexican jar full of lemonade, together with glasses.
"Well, John, didn't take you long," said Mr. Phipps, as he tossed off a glass with a sigh of satisfaction.
"Him all leddy," grinned the Chinaman.