“‘Mees Wente,’ he said, ‘how is it that you mean? A horse that bucks? In Paris we do not have heem.’
“Every girl in the riding class wanted to shout, but of course, you know Professor La Fleur is so prim and proper we couldn’t even smile.
“However, as soon as we came back from the canter, we all met in my room and made fudge and we laughed so loud and so long that Miss Pickle put her head in at the door and asked if we thought it was quite ladylike to laugh in so boisterous a manner.
“Girls, when I get out on the desert, I am going way up om the trail Virginia calls her Inspiration Peak, and I’m going to shout just as loud and long as ever I wish. I’m so tired of always having to be proper and ladylike.
“Good-bye for now.
“Your pal,
“Babs.
“P. S.—Megsy, aren’t you glad that I have located my dear brother, Peyton? B. B. W.”
Before Margaret could comment about the letter, there came a sharp rap on the front door, and Virginia, springing to open it, wondered who might be there.
It was Mr. Rizor but his men were not with him. Luckily Virginia had expected that the sheriff would stop at V. M. on his way back to town and so she did not express surprise, although Margaret did. Luckily Mr. Rizor did not glance at the eastern girl, who wisely busied herself in another part of the room. “Miss Virginia,” he said, “may I come in? There’s a matter I wish to be speakin’ about.”