“Boys, I’m just sure,” insisted Louise. “I’ve often read of their caves in the mountains and how they store things away in them. Boys’ books are packed full of that sort of thing.”
“But real robbers have mountain caves also.” Julia was determined to make a good story out of the plot. “How would you like to run into a genuine bandit, with a black handkerchief over his face and two hideous pistols in his hand?”
“One in each hand, Jule,” corrected Cleo. “That’s the regular way,” and she stalked forward in the “regulation way,” with two pretty innocent Jack-in-pulpits doing service in lieu of the dangerous bandit weapons.
“Come along, desperadoes, there’s our horses calling us,” Julia proposed.
“I’d just like to kick over that sign,” Cleo whispered to Louise.
“Let’s get that long stick over there and turn it over,” suggested Louise.
“Suppose we blow up the hills,” laughed Cleo. But Louise had already obtained the stick, and although Julia was headed for the waiting horses her two companions were still fascinated by that danger signal.
“Look out!” warned Louise, going a little closer.
“Let me do it, Weasy, if there’s a blow I can run faster than you.”
Both giggled and chuckled, becoming more reckless as they joked. Finally both held the stick and attempted to poke.