Then, fearing that the tender-hearted old man would regret not having thought to make such a summer house in the long ago, she exclaimed merrily, “This very day at four, we will serve afternoon tea, and you, Uncle Tex, shall be the guest of honor.” Then, giving the again smiling old man a sudden bear hug, she whispered in his ear, “You dear, I’m going to think up the nicest kind of a surprise and spring it on you—some day.”
“When’s your birthday, Uncle Tex?” It was Margaret who asked. The old man looked truly startled. “Me? Why, Ah’s plumb forgot. Sorto seems like it comes in the summer, though.” He had removed his sombrero and was scratching one ear meditatively. He seemed actually to be trying to recall a forgotten date.
“I’ll tell you what,” Babs sang out, “let’s pick out a day before Betsy goes home and give Uncle Tex a surprise party.”
“It won’t be much of a surprise, since you are telling him about it,” Margaret began, but Barbara declared that it would be, since he wouldn’t know, until he received the invitation, which day had been chosen.
They were walking toward the house as they chatted. Virginia and the old man lingered back of the others. Margaret had made this possible, for she felt sure that her adopted sister was anxious about Malcolm’s prolonged absence, and, for that matter, she was herself, and surely she had a right to be, since she was his ward.
Virg had often glanced at the trails that led one of them toward the sand hills, another toward Seven Peak Range, and a third toward Puffed Snake Water Hole, but on none of them did horsemen appear.
“Uncle Tex,” she said softly as she slipped a detaining arm in that of her companion, “can’t you tell me why Malcolm is away at this time? It must be something of a very serious nature to keep him from home when he knew that I would be arriving this week.”
There was a shade of anxiety on the face of the old man. “’Tis, Miss Virginia dearie. Leastwise, Ah reckon ’tis. It all happened hurried like. Lucky came ridin’ in ’long ’bout sundown two nights ago. ‘Ah’ve hit the trail sure sartin,’ was all Ah heard him say. Then Malcolm buckled on his gun belt. ‘Keep it dark which way we ride,’ he says to me, then they was gone. Ah was plumb puzzled and Ah sure am still, but on certain thought Malcolm’d be comin’ back by now or sendin’ word, knowin’ as yo-all was ’spected.”
“Well, I’ll not worry,” the girl said wisely. “Malcolm never runs into trouble needlessly.” Then, as they had overtaken the others, Virginia called as gaily as she could, that her guests need not know of her anxiety. “Who wants to be helper in the kitchen this noon? I’m going thither to be chief cook.”
“Oh, can’t we all help?” Margaret hurried to inquire. Then she nudged Virg and nodded toward the old man who (trying to keep behind them) was making frantic motions towards a kitchen window. When Virginia turned, he attempted to assume such an innocent expression that the girls were even more puzzled.