had become fast friends, and when Bob learned enough of his
mother's family to make him want to know all and in pursuit of that
knowledge had fled to Washington, it seemed providential that Betty's
uncle should also be in the capital so that she, too, might journey
there.

That had been her first "real traveling," mused Betty, recalling her
eagerness to discover new worlds. Bob had been the first to leave the
farm, and Betty had made the trip to Washington alone. This morning
she vividly remembered every detail of the day-long journey and
especially of the warm reception that awaited her at the Union
Station. This has been described in the second book of this series,
entitled "Betty Gordon in Washington; or, Strange Adventures in a
Great City." If Betty should live to be an old lady she would
probably never cease to recall the peculiar circumstances under which
she made friends with the three Littell girls and their cousin from
Vermont and came to spend several delightful weeks at the hospitable
mansion of Fairfields. The Littell family had grown to be very fond
of Betty and of Bob, whose fortunes seemed to be inextricably mixed
up with hers, and when the time came for them to leave for Oklahoma,
fairly showered them with gifts.

No sooner did word reach Betty that her uncle awaited her in the
oil regions than Bob announced that he was going West, too. He
had succeeded in getting trace of two sisters of his mother, and
presumably they lived somewhere in the section where Betty's uncle
was stationed.

"I'll never forget how lovely the Littells were to us," thought
Betty, a mist in her eyes blurring the sage brush. "Wasn't Bob
surprised when Mr. Littell gave him that camera? And Mrs. Littell
must have known he didn't have a nice bag, because she gave him that
beauty all fitted with ebony toilet articles. And the girls clubbed
together and gave each of us a signet ring--that was dear of them.
I thought they had done everything for me friends could, keeping me
there so long and entertaining me as though they had invited me as
a special guest; so when Mr. and Mrs. Littell gave me that string
of gold beads I was just about speechless. There never were such
people! Heigho! Four months ago I was living in a little village,
discontented because Uncle Dick wouldn't take me with him. And now
I've made lots of new friends, seen Washington, and am speeding
toward the wild and woolly West. I guess it never pays to complain."