“Come here, you folks,” called Hippy. “We are about to hold a family council. The question is, what would you advise that we do with Stacy? If he continues to mix things up the Overland Riders will, sooner or later, be involved in serious difficulties.”
“I should say that a warning now, to be followed by sending him home if he causes any further worry for us, would be the wise course,” spoke up Tom.
“No, no,” protested Emma. “Think what a lot of entertainment we should miss. We intellectual persons need a foil—some brainless person to furnish light entertainment for us. My suggestion is that we appoint a guardian for Stacy—a guardian who will be responsible for him and whom he must obey.”
“You win,” cried Hippy amid laughter.
“I move that we appoint Emma Dean guardian ad lib., with full power to control all his activities,” said J. Elfreda in her most severe legal tone.
“Ad who?” frowned Stacy.
“Ad libitum, a Latin term, meaning ‘at pleasure’” answered Elfreda.
“I thank you, but fear that the task is too great,” murmured Emma.
“You can’t refuse. Remember, we agreed long ago that the majority should rule in the Overland outfit. Are we all in favor of Emma Dean as Stacy Brown’s guardian?” cried Grace.
“Yes!” shouted the Overland Riders.