“About Nugget Camp? No, Bardwell, as you say, it will probably be good for them—only I do hope they’ll be careful.”
“Now, Mother, you know they will! Never failed to come through anything they started, did they? You watch ’em carry home a hat full of gold!” He strode down the steps and went toward Teddy and Silent. They heard him coming and turned.
“Where’s Roy?” Mr. Manley asked.
“Helping Pop do something or other,” Teddy replied. Silent stood a bit to one side, his face expressionless.
“I’ve got something to tell him—to tell you, too, for that matter. Things pretty well cleaned up around here?”
“Yes, sir.” Teddy realized that his father knew exactly the condition of the ranch and recognized in the question an implication of his responsibility. Teddy and Roy were the real bosses of the X Bar X. Mr. Manley had put the affairs of the ranch into their hands.
“Well, then, I reckon it’s about time you an’ Roy took a trip, hey?” And Mr. Manley grinned.
“A trip?” Understanding came quickly. “You mean Nugget Camp?”
“I guess you know how much Roy and I would like to try it,” Teddy said eagerly. “But we haven’t said anything—we were needed here.”