Mr. Ogden, soon appearing, verified this statement.
“Yes, boys,” he said; “some of our stuff has to be hauled over to Border City.”
So, on the following morning, a vehicle which had belonged to the former occupants of Lone Pine was loaded with tools and various parts of motors. Willie clambered aboard; then Mr. Ogden took his place behind a spirited pair of piebald ponies.
It was a blazing hot day, with only a few clouds floating in the blue above. Scarcely a breath of air seemed stirring to relieve the oppressive atmosphere.
The crowd found the cool interior of the ranch-house inviting, and soon gathered in the big room down-stairs.
“I’ll bet when that little duffer gets back he’ll have an awful grouch,” said Cranny.
“The worst ever, I s’pose,” came from Tom.
“He strings you a lot, eh, lad?”
Tom’s face darkened.
“But for you, Cranny, I’d have taught him a lesson before this,” he exclaimed, grimly.