the Pony Riders. "I have an
invitation for you fellows. I had forgotten it in the excitement of
getting the new ponies to camp."

"Where to!" asked Ned Rector indifferently.

"To take dinner at the home of Colonel McClure."

"That will be fine," glowed Walter.

"But the question is, what are we going to wear?" laughed Tad. "We don't
look very beautiful for a drawing room."

"Drawing room?" inquired Ned Rector, with interest. "Did I hear you say
drawing room?"

"Yes."

"Huh! There isn't one within a thousand miles of us."

"You will think differently when you see the one at the ranch house."

"Did--did the colonel say what we were going to have to eat?" asked
Stacy Brown, in all seriousness.

His question provoked a loud laugh from cowboys and Pony Riders.

"No. Naturally, I didn't ask him. There are some very nice girls at the
ranch, too."

"You don't say!" exclaimed Ned. "Will wonders never cease? I'll believe
I am not dreaming when I see all this with my own two eyes."

"Yes, Colonel McClure has two daughters, and besides these, there is a
niece from the East visiting them. She is considerably older than the
daughters, but a very beautiful woman." Tad paused thoughtfully for a
moment. "Professor, I presume you will have no objection to our
accepting Colonel McClure's invitation? You are invited to join us."

"Not at all, young gentlemen. But perhaps I had better not intrude----"

"Please go," urged Tad.

"Sure. He'll go. You will, won't you, Professor?" demanded Ned.

"Of course, if you really wish me to----" smiled Professor Zepplin
good-naturedly.

"Of course we do," chorused the boys.

"Very well, I will think it over. I'm afraid, however, that I do not
look altogether presentable."

"No more do we," answered Walter Perkins. "Tad probably told them we did
not."

Tad nodded.

"They refused to accept that excuse. So I told them we would come."

The boys were full of anticipation for this promised break in the
monotony of their living; and, besides, they looked forward keenly to
meeting the young women about whom their companion had told them.

After the meal had been finished Tad asked when they were to begin
breaking the new stock.

Stallings looked over the ponies critically.

"I guess we'll let them stay where they are, for an hour or so yet. It
will help to break their spirit. Still think you can break one of them
in?"

"I am sure of it," answered Tad Butler confidently.

"Yo