r head decidedly. "Most certainly not, Jack; never in the
world! The lady would think Jim was trying to kidnap her and he would be
scared to death." Jean kissed Jack apologetically. "I know I am horrid,
Jack, to put all the hard things off on you because you are a little bit
the oldest, but really, if I had to meet Cousin Ruth at the station, I'd
shiver and shake until I fell off my horse. I will do the next hard
thing that has to be done on this place, I will honestly, cross my heart
and body," Jean argued penitently.

Three weeks had passed since Jim Colter's and Jack's eventful ride
across the ranch. It was late October, but unusually mild and warm.
Cousin Ruth had been written to on the very evening of the decision, so
that there could be no chance for a change of purpose on the part of
the ranch girls, for they felt that they were in for it and were
determined to do their best.

Miss Ruth Drew was entirely alone in the world except for one
good-for-nothing brother and had just enough money to eke out a bare
existence in a dull little Vermont town. She wanted an object in life
and believed that the ranch girls needed her. So soon as Jack's letter
arrived, she had telegraphed that she would come to them at once. Since
then, the days at Rainbow Lodge had slipped by like magic until the
fated day arrived. Jim Colter and Jack, with many inward misgivings,
mounted their ponies and leading an extra one for Miss Drew, rode to the
station.

The express from the East would be due in an hour.

Jack and Jim paced restlessly up and down the station platform, with
their arms locked. Jim looking even more wretched and unhappy than Jack.
He wondered how in the world he was to treat the old lady cousin when
she came out to them, and whether she would shut off from caring for his
adored ranch girls.

Jim had not the remotest idea of Miss Ruth Drew's age. The name had an
elderly sound to it and Jack had described her as an old maid;
consequently Jim's mental picture showed a small, grey-haired woman with
corkscrew curls, somewhere in the neighborhood of fifty, with thin lips
and a penetrating eye. She would probably reduce him to powder with a
single glance, but he meant to be as polite to her as he humanly could
and to speak to her only when it was absolutely necessary.

"Jim," Jack suggested finally, "you have sighed like a human bellows
three times in the past five minutes. If you meet Cousin Ruth with that
expression, she'