Indians," Jean replied, unmoved, "just you mark my
words, Miss Ralston. For instance, Miss Drew is going to announce that
it is a perfect shame for any one to shoot a poor dear wildcat. Uncle
ought to have reasoned with that cat when it jumped at him. She is going
to hate us and all our ways forever and want to go back to her blessed
New England in a week."

Jack sighed, "you are a Job's comforter, Jean. But you don't have to
worry, I know Cousin Ruth will hold me responsible for our wicked ways.
You see I wrote her that we did not want her to come out to us when she
first said she would. Then I had to eat humble pie and say we did. But
even if she does not like you or me, Jean, she can't help caring for
Olive and Frieda. Olive is the prettiest, shyest girl in the world."

Jean nodded. "Jack," she asked more sympathetically, "is Cousin Ruth
horribly old?"

"She is twenty-eight and a dreadful old maid," Jack confessed sadly.
"Jean, you have simply got to ride over to the station with Jim to meet
her this afternoon."

Jean shook her head and dropped languidly into a large reclining chair.
"I am not at all well, Jack," she answered, "I forgot to tell you this
morning, but I feel a bad cold coming on. If I should take a long ride I
am sure I should be quite ill."

Jack stared at her cousin searchingly. "You don't show the least sign of
a cold, Jean," she argued.

"That is because appearances are deceiving, sweet coz," Jean murmured.
"How is our dear lady cousin going to get over to the ranch?"

"Oh, Jim is going to lead a horse over for her to ride back on," Jack
announced quite unconscious of breakers ahead. "You see the train gets
in so late that we couldn't get home until after dark, if we drove over,
and I thought it would be kind of nice to have Cousin Ruth arrive at
Rainbow Lodge just at twilight. You didn't think to look among father's
books for a stray paper, did you, Jean?" Jack asked, trying to appear
indifferent.

"Yes, I did, Jack," Jean returned quickly. "There wasn't anything. Let's
don't talk about it. I promise to have everything at the Lodge to-night
in ship-shape order, when you arrive. We have cleaned up the whole house
and we will put on our best clothes and stand out on the veranda to meet
you; we might even sing, 'Hail, the conquering hero comes,' if you think
it would be appreciated."

"Do you suppose Jim could meet Cousin Ruth without me?" Jack queried, as
a forlorn hope.

Jean shook he