Myra, Glory. Please! I'd
feel so much better, knowing that you were having a good time."

The red head shook a vigorous denial. "I shall stay with you,"
Gloriana declared. "I knew you wouldn't leave here as long as you were
needed, and you needn't think I'll let you stay alone. I shouldn't
have a good time at all if I did such a thing as that, Tabitha."

"But it may mean all summer," Tabitha protested. "And it does get so
hot here. Besides, there will be little fun in such a vacation."

"Then it is up to us to _make_ some fun," said Gloriana firmly.

"That's so," Tabitha replied, startled at the thought. "Maybe the boys
wouldn't be such trials then. Let's try it!"

"All right," agreed Gloriana.

And straightway the two girls put their heads together to devise some
method of breaking the deadly monotony of the desert days, and bringing
added enjoyment to their troublesome charges.

CHAPTER VI

GLORIANA'S BURGLARS

There was a glorious moon that night, and as the girls were washing the
supper dishes, Tabitha proposed, "Let's go up to the peak when we are
through here and watch the moon rise."

There was a moment of dead silence in the room. Usually the two
inexperienced young housekeepers sought to hustle their restless,
boisterous brood into bed as soon as the evening meal had ended and the
night's chores were done. What had come over her to suggest such a
thing as an evening stroll, or climb, as it would be if they went up to
the peak? Susie looked at Tabitha with incredulous eyes, then glanced
questioningly at Mercedes, but the older sister was as much mystified
as were the rest.

"Do you mean that, or are you joking?" demanded Irene bluntly.

"I mean it," replied Tabitha calmly, though her face flushed
uncomfortably under the surprised stare of eight pair of eyes.

"You usually chase us off to bed, you know," said Susie, still
wondering what the unexpected proposal meant.

"Well, it is such a lovely night, I thought it would be fun to follow
the trail to the top of the mountain, and watch the moon come up."

"And tell stories?" breathed Irene, clasping her hands ecstatically.

"Yes, if you wish," laughed the senior housekeeper.

"And speak pieces!" cried Mercedes, who was never tired of hearing
Tabitha recite.

"Perhaps."

"And sing songs," suggested Rosslyn, who loved to listen to Gloriana's
rich, sweet voice carolling joyous lays or softly crooning lullabyes.

"Maybe."

"