Uncle Tex and the supposed housekeeper alighted. Virginia, glancing at the poor old man, realized that he would probably be tongue-tied when the moment to speak arrived and so she said impulsively: “Uncle Tex, you needn’t say those lines of welcome that I taught you, if you’d rather not. I’ll play the part of a garrulous housekeeper and talk so much and so fast that you won’t have a chance to get a word in edgeways.”
There was a deep sigh of relief from the old man who said gratefully: “Thanks, Miss Virginia dearie. I wan’t cut out for play-actin’, seems like.”
“Here comes the train!” Rusty Pete sang out from the auto. Virginia and the old man turned toward the mountain tunnel through which appeared two great black engines puffing noisily. Then the long train slowly came into sight and to a standstill.
Virginia’s heart was pounding like a trip hammer. She was wondering what their ward would look like, cross and homely and disagreeable, one might judge from her letters.
There were only two people to alight and at first the western girl thought them to be a father and daughter and believed that her brother had not come. When she did recognize his walk and bearing, she could hardly keep from laughing at his disguise. Surely, he made a most good-looking middle-aged rancher, but the trim, really pretty young girl, who was walking toward them at his side, surely she could not be the ward who had written such defiant letters. There must be a mistake somewhere.
For a moment, Virginia herself almost forgot the role that she was to play, but recalling it, just in time, she hurried forward with hands outstretched. “Good day, Mr. Wallace,” she said; then to Margaret, “Are you Miss Selover?” Without waiting for a reply she hurried on.
“I am your guardian’s housekeeper. We hope that you’ll be happy here. I assure you that Mr. Davis deeply regretted the circumstances which compelled him to send for you and he hopes to be able to permit you to return to school next year if you are not happy here.” Then, the introductory remarks having been finished, as planned, Virginia concluded, “Come with me, Miss Margaret, and I will introduce you to your guardian.”
They advanced a few steps toward the station house, where Uncle Tex had been standing when Virginia had hurried forward to greet the newcomers, but the old man was not to be seen.
“Excuse me one moment,” the astonished Virginia exclaimed. Then she went over to the waiting auto. Rusty Pete’s grin was wider than ever, if such a feat were possible. “Rusty, where is Uncle Tex?” the girl asked him.
The cow-boy pointed to a cloud of dust which was rapidly disappearing in the direction of V. M. Ranch. “He got panicky, I guess, for all of a sudden he ran over here like a mad man, jumped up on Slick Cy’s horse and away he went. He didn’t stop to explanate anything, but rode as though the wild wolves were after him.”