“Uh-huh,� Teddy grunted, with a grin. “For supper! Sure! Have to get dogged-up for supper. Guess I will, too.� Then his face took on a more serious expression. “Say, Roy, you don’t think we’ll have to stop looking for those thieves while the girls are here, do you?�
“I’ll tell a maverick we won’t!� Roy exploded. “Not if dad has anything to say about it, and I guess he has! He wants General back, and he wants him bad. If any clue turns up, we’ll go right after the rustlers!�
The evening meal, with the two girls as guests, was a jolly one. Mr. Manley was at his best, and his chuckling remarks kept the company in a gale of laughter, though often he directed a sly remark toward Roy or Teddy, which caused them to change the subject hurriedly. Belle, following her father’s leads, contributed not a little to the general hilarity.
When the meal ended they all strolled into the living room of the ranch, a large, well-lighted apartment with a huge oak table in the center, on which were piled books and magazines. A stone hearth was built into the wall, and a log fire was crackling away merrily, lighted, Mr. Manley hastened to explain, with a sly grin at his wife, “not for warmth but for effect.� Above the fireplace, was the mounted head of a bison, set on a wooden panel.
“Oh, I think this is simply gorgeous!� Ethel murmured as she looked about her. “Belle, you don’t know how lucky you are to be able to live in such a wonderful place!�
“Maybe she wishes she could live in New York,â€� Teddy remarked, with a glance at his sister. “Then she could go to parties and dances every night—if she had any one to take her.â€�
“I wouldn’t want to go to dances every night, Teddy Manley, and you know it!� Belle answered. “Even if I did have some one to take me,� and she pouted in mock anger.
“There wouldn’t be much difficulty about that,� Nell declared, with a look at Belle’s raven hair and lustrous, dark eyes.
“So you think my girl would be the Belle-Ada of the town, hey?� Mr. Manley laughed, as he ruffled his daughter’s hair with an affectionate hand. “Well, maybe next year you can go to school in New York if you want to, daughter.�
“And leave you and mother?� Belle asked with wide eyes. “No! Not me, Daddy!�