“Never did—yet,â€� Roy answered. “We—Teddy and I—saw them being ridden, and we chased after them, but they got away.â€�
“And that fresh man in the checkered shirt!� Ethel exclaimed. “Have you ever seen him again, Roy?�
“Once,� was the grim answer. Hurriedly the boy opened the door and stood aside to let the girls pass in. “Oh, Mother!� he called. “Visitors!�
The sound of light footsteps descending the stairs was heard immediately, and in a moment Mrs. Manley appeared. She greeted the girls warmly and said that Belle Ada would be ready in a moment.
“Roy, turn on the lights, please, won’t you?â€� his mother asked. He pushed a wall-button, and a soft glow immediately illuminated the room. Then, as Mrs. Manley saw the girls glance up in apparent surprise, she said, smiling a little: “Yes, we have electric lights—and everything. Mr. Ball has them, also, as you must have noticed. You see most of the ranchers around here have their own gasoline motors which generate the current. But take off your things, won’t you? You are tired and dusty, so come upstairs. Belle is eager to see you.â€�
Roy was hurrying to his own room to “slick up,� as he called it, when Teddy burst into the house.
“I just wanted to—â€� he began. Then, seeing his brother was alone, he stopped in confusion.
“Go on, tell me,� Roy jeered. “I make a fine audience. What was it now?�
“Nothing!â€� answered Teddy, his face a trifle red. “I—I forget what I was going to say. Where you bound for in such a rush?â€�
“Oh, I was just going to put on a clean shirt,� Roy responded carelessly. “Have to dog-up a bit for supper.�