so much as dashing over
the prairie on horseback, chasing coyotes and jack-rabbits, or else
feeding the pigs, chickens, and the milch-cows, all of which we had in
abundance around us there. We have some fine milch-cows on the ranch
now, and I expect to see her out every morning with her sleeves rolled
up and a big apron on, milking them and looking after the pigs and
chickens. She pets every animal on the place."

Whereupon Evelyn invited several of the ladies to come down and visit
her on the ranch and help her feed the pigs and chickens and milk the
cows.

"But I'll have to ask you to wait until I see what sort of quarters
brother and Mr. Fearnot have for me."

"We have nothing but a plain ranch house, but there are plenty of them,
for we haven't put in the improvements we intend to. Men, you know, can
rough it; but sister will have a neat room fixed up for her. We will get
the best furniture that can be found in this place, carpets and
everything necessary for a lady's comfort."

"No, brother," said Evelyn, "I want to rough it, and you promised that I
could do so."

"Oh, yes; but I know you girls, and you get tired of roughing it very
quickly."

"Well, let me rough it until I do get tired, and when I feel that I have
had enough I'll let you know."

"All right; that's a bargain."

CHAPTER IV.

HOW FRED AND TERRY FIXED UP EVELYN'S HOME ON THE RANCH

The next morning, after their arrival at Crabtree, Fred, Terry and
Evelyn were kept busy shaking hands with their friends. As the news
spread through the city fully a score of young ladies called at the
hotel to see Evelyn, for she had the happy faculty of making and
retaining friends wherever she went.

Fred and Terry, though, at noon, took leave of her and told her to enjoy
herself until they came back, as they were going down to the ranch and
begin at once to fix up things so that she could he comfortable.

Jack happened to be at the water tank when the engine of the freight
train stopped there to take a drink, and he gave a regular Indian
war-whoop when he saw the boys alight. He hugged both of them as they
climbed down from the engine, and fairly danced a jig in his delight at
seeing them.

Terry looked around for the big house that Jack had been building for
his mother and sweetheart. When he saw it, he exclaimed:

"Great Scott, Jack! What is that you are building out there? A hotel?"

"Well, I call it my bachelor quarters, for the present," he