“Do you suppose that is so?” asked Tavia of Dorothy.
“Mrs. Ledger says Hank doesn’t know. She’s a real jolly woman, and declares that Hank can’t see anything but worry and trouble ahead of him. She says he’d prophesy another Deluge if there was a summer shower, and a seven-year drouth if the sun shone two days in succession!”
“But we’re going to know something about Lost River to-day—hooray!” cried Tavia.
It had been decided that the party would explore the wilder part of the estate—some of it, at least—on this day. Hank was to be their leader, and the young folk and Mrs. White were to mount ponies and see all that there was to be seen between an early breakfast and suppertime.
The boys were already—early as was the hour—down in the corral picking out the ponies they were to ride. Neither Nat nor Ned wanted “hobby horses”; but as big Hank let them have their own choice in the matter, the boys got several falls before they selected ponies that were both spirited and well trained. Naturally the foreman selected the mounts for the girls and Mrs. White, himself.
Mrs. Ledger had undertaken the cooking for the party at the big house, for it was hard to get even Mexican women at short notice. The girls dusted and ridded up the house every morning, early.
As for old John Dempsey, he came out strong! He proved to be just the person needed about the Hardin ranch. He was general handy man, indoors and out, and was on this morning engaged in cleaning up the rooms that Colonel Hardin had used as his office. In the corner was a great heap of papers and rubbish that had been cleared out of the old Colonel’s desk after his death, and which the lawyers had examined.
As Dorothy came through the hall she peered in and saw the old man sorting this rubbish. He turned with a shining face and held out a yellowed paper towards her.
“Miss Dorothy! Miss Dorothy! see here, will ye? Be my eyes deceivin’ me? Shure, I feel like a fairy had led me by the hand into this place.”
Dorothy was both amazed and anxious at his earnestness. She ran forward and took the paper which he put reverently into her hand.