followed it became quite the usual thing to see the
Outdoor Girls, mounted on their splendid horses, galloping along the
open road or cantering through the town of Gold Run. It was not long
before they became general favorites in this country where girls of
their type were scarce, and the girls knew most of the rough but
good-hearted miners by name. But perhaps of them all, their best and
staunchest friends were old Dan Higgins and his daughter, Meggy.

The girls often visited the mine and were always greeted with the utmost
heartiness by its owners. Once Betty had caught Meggy looking longingly
at Nigger as he was trying his best to get some nourishment from the
stubbly grass, and with the quick impulsiveness that was hers, she asked
the girl if she would like a ride.

At the sudden radiance that flooded Meggy's face, Betty turned away
abashed. She felt as though she had been given a glimpse of the girl's
soul.

Meggy had her ride, and in the days that followed she had many others
and the girl's fondness for Betty became almost worship. She liked the
other girls, for they were always kind to her, but Betty was her idol.

"I have wanted all my life to own a horse," she confided to the Little
Captain one day, as she stroked Nigger's shining coat with almost
reverent fingers. "It would be the first thing I would buy for myself if
dad should strike it rich." Her tone was brave, but the eyes that sought
her father's toiling figure were sad. "Poor old dad," she said softly,
"I don't think he would keep on any longer, if it wasn't for me."

On one of their visits to the mine the girls were astonished to find
their mysterious musician there ahead of them. He seemed to be trying to
help, but from where the girls watched unobserved, it looked as though
he were more in the way than anything else.

Meggy was the first to discover them, and as she called out a greeting,
the Hermit of Gold Run rose quickly to his feet and disappeared into the
woods.

"Poor fellow," said Meggy, looking pityingly after him. "We let him try
to help us because it seems to amuse him, but he really doesn't know how
to work with his hands. His fingers were made for the fiddle."

"I certainly would like to find out more about that man," said Mollie,
her forehead puckered into a puzzled frown. "He sure does act pretty
funny."

"We'll have to visit him again some day," said Betty lightly, and then
turned to question Meggy on the progress of the mine