Dorothy on a Ranch

These stories of an American girl by an American author have made "Dorothy" a household synonym for all that is fascinating. Truth and realism are stamped on every page. The interest never flags, and is ofttimes intense. No more happy choice can be made for gift books, so sure are they to win approval and please not only the young in years, but also "grown-ups" who are young in heart and spirit.

Dorothy Dorothy at Skyrie Dorothy's Schooling Dorothy's Travels Dorothy's House Party Dorothy in California Dorothy on a Ranch Dorothy's House Boat Dorothy at Oak Knowe Dorothy's Triumph Dorothy's Tour

COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY THE PLATT & PECK CO.

[Illustration: The great animal had now dropped from its upright position at Dolly's window and was crawling on all fours back along the wide porch. (Frontis) (Dorothy on a Ranch)]

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. THE TRIP IN THE ERMINIE 9

II. A SPILL BY THE WAY 25

III. THE MIDNIGHT SEARCHING PARTY 45

IV. THE WATCHERS AT RODERICK'S 62

V. THE CALL OF THE MOUNTAINS 75

VI. A MARTINET OF THE ROCKIES 93

VII. A RIFLE PRACTICE 110

VIII. A CONCERT IN THE MOONLIGHT 127

IX. A MODERN HORSE FAIR 142

X. AN UNEXPECTED DEPARTURE 157

XI. THE SHEEP HERDER'S CABIN 172

XII. PLAY THAT WAS WORK AND WORK THAT WAS PLAY 187

XIII. THE HEN OF WUN SING 205

XIV. THE GRIZZLY AND THE INDIANS 220

XV. A TRIP TO BALD EAGLE ROCK 235

XVI. PROSPERITY AND PARTING 250

DOROTHY ON A RANCH

CHAPTER I

THE TRIP IN THE ERMINIE

The "Erminie," private car of "Railway Boss, Dan Ford," stood side-tracked at Denver, and his guests within it were the happy people whom, some readers may remember, we left keeping a belated Christmas in the old adobe on the mesa, in southern California.

To Dorothy, the trip thus far had been like a wonderful dream.

"Just think, Alfy Babcock, of owning a real car, going and stopping just as you please, same's riding in a carriage with horses! Even darling Aunt Betty, who's been 'most everywhere and seen 'most everything, in her long life, never travelled 'private coaching' this way before. I hate to think it's over, that I'll have to say good-by to her so soon. Seems if I ought not. Seems if she'll be dreadful lonesome without me all summer. I'm her own folks and I--I believe I shall go home with her after all, 'stead of into the mountains to that ranch with the Gray Lady."

Alfaretta gave a vigorous tug to the shawl-strap she was fastening about a curious assortment of her personal belongings and answered:

"That's enough of your 'seems-if-ing,' Dolly Doodles! It's all settled, isn't it? And when a thing's fixed--it ought to stay fixed. Mrs. Calvert don't want either of us. She said so, more 'n once, too. She's tickled to death to think there's such a good time comin' for us. She's got all that prop'ty that got itself into trouble to look after, and she's got them ladies, her old friends, that's been in San Diego all winter, to go home to New York with her. You better stop frettin' and lookin' out o' winder, and pick up your things. You've lots more 'n I have and that's sayin' consid'able. The way that Mr. Ford moves makes other folks hustle, too! Hurry up, do! He said we was all to go to a big hotel for our dinners and I'm real ready for mine. I am so! Car-cookin's well enough, but for me--give me a table that won't go wobblety-wobble all the time."

Dorothy roused from her idleness and began to collect her own "treasures." They had accumulated to a surprising degree during this journey from San Diego to Denver; for their genial host had indulged his young guests in all their whims and, at the various stops along the way, they had purchased all sorts of things, from baskets to blankets, horned toads on cards, centipedes in vials of alcohol, Indian dolls and pottery, and other "trash," as Aunt Betty considered it. In the roomy private car these had given but little trouble; now Alfaretta expressed the thought of both girls as well as of the lad, Leslie, when after a vain effort to pack an especially ugly red-clay "image," she exclaimed: