or let
her imagination run wild. She was a practical, well-balanced girl, a
clear thinker and not given to romantic flights of fancy.

"The bubble's burst!" sang Joy tantalizingly.

"It has not!" Bet swung easily into the saddle. "The bubble isn't
blown yet. Just wait and see!"

In single file they rode down into the canyon below them and let their
horses pick a way through the rocks of the creek bed.

Just as they passed through the Iron Gate, the narrow pass that led to
Lost Canyon, they met Kie Wicks.

"Nice weather for a picnic!" he called to them gaily with a wave of his
dusty sombrero. "That's an interesting canyon!"

"Yes," the judge replied with his most courteous air. "We find it very
interesting. The girls located a claim up that way, and have started
work on it."

"You don't say so! Well, everybody to his liking. I'm through with
locating claims. It's a slave's life, forever digging, digging,
digging! I don't care if I never see another copper claim as long as I
live," Kie Wicks returned with decision. "I run a store, that's a
good, clean business."

"You're right, Mr. Wicks. Stick to storekeeping," advised the Judge as
he took the trail toward the ranch.

The girls smiled back at Kie Wicks and waved him good-bye. They had
decided to play a part with this man. And not for worlds would they
let him know that they suspected that he had anything to do with the
claim jumping. Later, much later, they might get strong evidence
against him. They would deal with him then. Just now they could not
afford to antagonize the man. Open enmity might be worse than the
present situation. Kie and Maude, as long as they were making a
pretense of friendliness, might let drop some of their plans without
meaning to. People who talked so freely often did that.

"We'll string 'em along," said Joy slangily. "Maude Wicks can't keep a
secret, if _I_ know anything."

"Which is doubtful!" laughed Bet.

"Say, who are you talking about? Maude Wicks or yours truly?" retorted
Joy, at the same time making a face at her friend.

"Both!" cried Bet and gave her horse a tap on the neck, getting out of
the way of Joy's quirt.

Everybody liked to tease Joy, perhaps because she flushed so prettily
as her slight anger rose. But whatever the reason she was always the
butt for their good natured teasing. And no matter how much she
resented it, she turned it off with a joke. Yet it could be seen that
she alw