Dorothy on a Ranch

by Evelyn Raymond

  Produced by D Alexander and the Online DistributedProofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

  DOROTHY ON A RANCH

  By EVELYN RAYMOND

  AUTHOR OF

  "Dorothy," "Dorothy at Skyrie," "Dorothy's Schooling," "Dorothy's Travels," "Dorothy's House Boat," "Dorothy at Oak Knowe," "Dorothy's Triumph," "Dorothy's Tour."

  A. L. BURT COMPANY Publishers New York Printed in U.S.A.

  THE DOROTHY BOOKS By EVELYN RAYMOND

  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.

  The great animal had now dropped from its uprightposition at Dolly's window and was crawling on all fours back alongthe 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," stoodside-tracked at Denver, and his guests within it were the happy peoplewhom, some readers may remember, we left keeping a belated Christmas inthe 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 stoppingjust as you please, same's riding in a carriage with horses! Evendarling Aunt Betty, who's been 'most everywhere and seen 'mosteverything, in her long life, never travelled 'private coaching' thisway before. I hate to think it's over, that I'll have to say good-byto her so soon. Seems if I ought not. Seems if she'll be dreadfullonesome without me all summer. I'm her own folks and I--I believe Ishall go home with her after all, 'stead of into the mountains to thatranch with the Gray Lady."

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

  "That's enough of your 'seems-if-ing,' Dolly Doodles! It's allsettled, 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' forus. She's got all that prop'ty that got itself into trouble to lookafter, and she's got them ladies, her old friends, that's been in SanDiego all winter, to go home to New York with her. You better stopfrettin' and lookin' out o' winder, and pick up your things. You'velots 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 wewas all to go to a big hotel for our dinners and I'm real ready formine. I am so! Car-cookin's well enough, but for me--give me a tablethat 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 thisjourney from San Diego to Denver; for their genial host had indulgedhis young guests in all their whims and, at the various stops alongthe way, they had purchased all sorts of things, from baskets toblankets, horned toads on cards, centipedes in vials of alcohol,Indian dolls and pottery, and other "trash," as Aunt Betty consideredit. In the roomy private car these had given but little trouble; nowAlfaretta 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:

  "A fool and his money! That's what I was. Felt as rich as a queen,startin' out with all them earnin's and presents in my pocket-book. NowI haven't got a cent, hardly, and I'd ha' been better off if I hadn't ahad them! There! that paper's busted again! Does beat the Dutch the waythings act! Just plain _things_! If they was folks you could box theirears, but you can't do a thing to things, not a thing! Only--"

  "Throw them away! That's what I'm going to do with my stuff!" criedLeslie, from a far corner, standing up and wiping his face, after hisown bit of packing. "This old musket that that man in uniform assuredme had belonged to General Custer--Dad says never saw a soldier'shands, let alone Custer's. Says he knew that all the time, even whenI was dickering for it. Says--"

  Dorothy looked up from her own task to ask:

  "Why should he let you buy it then?"

  "For experience, likely. That's the way he likes to have us learn, heclaims."

  "Humph! But Aunt Betty says it's wicked to waste money. One ought onlyto use it for some good purpose."

  A shout of derision came from both Alfy and Leslie, at this remark, andthey pointed in high glee at a basketful of things Dorothy was vainlytrying to make look a tidy bundle. She had to join in the laughteragainst herself and Mr. Ford came forward to lend a hand or offeradvice, as need be.

  "So you're up against a tough proposition, are you, youngsters? Howmuch of all that stuff do you really want?"

  "Not a scrap!" said Alfaretta, frankly.

  "Good enough! Well, let me tell you. There's a poor old fellow hangsout just beyond this station who makes his scanty living selling justsuch 'trash.' I'll give you just five minutes to select whatever youreally wish to keep, five minutes more to stow them compactly for ourlong buckboard-drive, and about as much longer to make the acquaintanceof my lame peddler and give him your leavings. Five seconds wastedalready, taring at me! Begin, begin!"

  The gentleman's face was aglow with happiness and mischief, but therewas a tone in his voice which compelled instant obedience; and longbefore the first five minutes had passed all three young folks hadheaped the most of their "things" in a pile in the center of the car.The rest was quickly strapped in the beautiful Navajo blankets whichMrs. Ford, or the "Gray Lady"--as they best loved to call her, hadpurchased and given them as souvenirs of this wonderful trip. Blanketsthat were almost priceless, as only Dorothy knew from Aunt Betty'sexplanation, but that Alfaretta considered far less attractive than aplain white wool one.

  A porter, laden with baskets, appeared at that moment, as if byprevious instruction; and into the baskets were tossed or tumbled theodd collection, everybody working swiftly yet already half-regretfullythat they hadn't kept more.

  "That
horned toad'll get a rush of blood to his head!" cried Leslie, asAlfaretta threw her recent "treasure" into the mess.

  "Take care, boy! Don't break that alcohol bottle. That centipede mayn'tbe as dead as he looks! The horrid leg-gy thing! How in the world did Iever fancy it? Take care!" warned Dorothy, as Leslie dropped an uncouthIndian "image" upon the vial.

  "Hi, dere! Massa Leslie! Jed'll do de res'!" cried Mr. Ford's ownespecial servant, coolly pushing the lad aside and rapidly making abetter arrangement of the articles. Then he shouldered his baskets andleft the car, Mr. Ford following, with the three young people trailingafter him. At the door Alfaretta turned and rapidly surveyed theluxurious coach in which she had spent the past few days. To her ithad been a veritable fairyland, and quick tears sprang to her eyesas she exclaimed:

  "I never had such a good time in all my life as I've had in this'Erminie,' and I never expect to again! It 'most breaks my heart to saygood-by to it!"

  "Don't say it then! I shan't, though I feel as bad as you do. But ourworst good-by is to come when Aunt Betty starts east and we west. Ican't--how can I?--let her go alone?"

  This was sufficient to arouse all Alfy's sympathy. She promptly forgother own regret in soothing her friend, for Dorothy's grief was mostsincere. Ever since that day when she had learned that Mrs. Calvert washer own kin she had loved the lady with all her heart and had, duringthe past winter of Aunt Betty's lameness, felt that she must now takecare of her. She did not realize that the one-time invalid was now quitewell and as independent of aid as ever. Indeed, the Gray Lady hadlaughingly declared:

  "Dear Mrs. Betty is the youngest-hearted of us all!"

  After that happy day when Dorothy had helped to bring about the reunionof the long parted Fords, the "Railroad Boss" had taken his wife andson away for a little time; but they had soon returned to _El Paraiso_,that charming home in the southwestern city and had remained as membersof Mrs. Calvert's household till the spring days came. Then Mr. Ford hadannounced his summer plans:

  "I'm going to give myself a long vacation. I own a ranch in the Coloradomountains and I'm going to take you all, each and everyone, to enjoy itwith me. My wife, Erminie, claims it her turn to play hostess, so we'llall become cowboys and cowgirls, and have a wild-west show of our own,with a continuous performance for three jolly months. All in favor, sayAye!"

  "Aye! Aye! Aye!" the youngsters had it, so heartily that, for a moment,nobody noticed that Aunt Betty was silent. Then, when Dorothy observedthis, with a down-sinking of her own spirits, the lady made haste toexplain:

  "Nothing could please me better for Dorothy, and for myself if I wereable to accept. But I can't. As you know, my business affairs havebecome tangled in some way and I must go home to really understand whatis amiss. Indeed, I don't know yet where I may have to be during thewarm weather and I'm delighted for my little girl, and for Alfaretta, tohave such a fine chance. I fancy you'll all come east in the autumn, asbrown as the Indians who'll be your neighbors, and in fine health. Howsoon do you leave, Mr. Ford? That I may make some arrangement about thisdear old house, for I shan't want to stay in it after you're gone."

  Then it was his turn to explain:

  "I have felt all along, ever since I found Erminie here with our boy,that the place should never become again just 'a house to rent.' So I'vebought it. I've found Padre Nicolas, the old priest whom the Indianslove and trust, and deeded it to him in trust for them as a Home. HereLazaro Gomez and the other ancients of his race shall dwell in comfortfor the rest of their days. The only proviso is that Father Nicholasshall admit none who hasn't reached the age of discretion--say,eighty-odd years, or so! Nor shall any of his charges be compelled totame wild beasts and sell them for a livelihood. The good old priest isready to take possession as soon as we vacate and will put everythinginto what Alfy calls 'apple-pie order,' according to a red man's fancy.So, when everybody is ready--Don't hurry, please!--we'll board my car,the 'Erminie,' and take our leisurely way northward. It isn't as if wehad to say good-by, you see, for we'll be all together still. As forMrs. Calvert's plan--maybe we can persuade her to postpone businessawhile for a taste of real ranch life. Eh?"

  But Mistress Elisabeth Cecil-Somerset-Calvert was a matron who neversaid "No" when she meant "Yes;" and she smilingly kept to her ownpurpose, yet took good care that no shadow of a coming separation shoulddarken her beloved Dorothy's wonderful trip in a private car. Just herewe may recall to the readers' attention that this young girl's earlierexperiences have been told in "Dorothy's Schooling," her "Travels" and"House Party" and best of all "In California."

  Now those happy days of travel and sightseeing had ended in the city ofDenver. The "Erminie" was to be stripped and renovated and put aside toawait its owner's further orders. From this point the ranchers were toproceed by a coaching tour over the long and delightful road to thedistant Rockies: while Mrs. Calvert, her black "boy," Ephraim, and somewomen friends were to speed eastward by the fleetest "limited" express.One more short hour together, in a hotel dining-room, and the partingwas due. Aunt Betty and Mrs. Ford had already been driven away to thishotel as Leslie and his girl guests followed his father from the"Erminie," and seeing the downward droop of Dorothy's lip he tried todivert her by exclaiming:

  "There was never such a man as Dad! He never forgets. Never. I believehe knows every cripple between New York and San Francisco. I do, indeed.This fellow we're going to give that 'trash' to is one of his pets. Iremember him now. Got hurt in a railway smash but is as independent asthey make 'em. Wouldn't sue the company and wouldn't take money from itwhen offered. Claimed he was stealing a ride and only got what he callshis 'come-uppance' when he got hurt. Dad was so astonished when he heardabout that, he said the man ought to be 'framed and put on exhibition,as the only case of his kind on record.' Then he suggested this way ofearning his living. He has the 'boys' keep him fixed up in a little sortof stand just yonder and they see to it that his stock never fails. Thecripple's as proud as Punch. Boasts that any honest man can do well inAmerica if he tries. He hasn't any legs left and his arms aren't worthmuch but his spirit is the bravest ever. It would break his heart if heguessed that most of the stuff he sells is bought for my father by someof his employees, all on the sly. But he'll never know it. That's thebest of Dad! His 'boys' love him. They think he's just rippin'! And heis. Look now. See how that man's face lights up when he hears that'Halloo'!"

  Dorothy stopped short to exclaim:

  "Bought the stuff and gave us most of it, and now will buy it over againjust to throw away! I never heard anything like that!"

  "Reckon you didn't, for there is only one Dan Ford! But he doesn't haveit thrown away. He has it burned. He says, 'Burned toads tell no tales,'and the worst trouble the boys have is to get folks enough to buy thethings for them. When they see a likely lookin' tourist edging aroundthe stand they use him, if they can. If they can't it's a 'short day'for Cripple Andy, but that doesn't worry him. 'The fat and the lean,' hecalls it. Oh! I say, he's almost as rippin' as Dad himself, he's soplucky!"

  The cripple's face did indeed light up as Mr. Ford appeared before himand shouted that gay "Halloo!"

  "Well, well, well! If you ain't the best sight I've had since I saw youlast. Halloo, yourself and see how you like it!" With this attempt atfacetiousness, the seller of notions leaned forward over his stand andextended his best hand toward his benefactor.

  "How's business, Andy?"

  "Tollable, sir, fairly tollable. Been sellin' a lot o' truck, lately, tosome Cookies, and there was a reduction-school-ma'am-racket that nighcleaned me out. See that your man Jed here has got a heap more things.How'd he come by them? Must ha' cleared the country of rep_tiles_,judgin' by them samples."

  "Oh, he came by them fairly enough, Andy. These youngsters couldn't livewithout the things when they first saw them, but now they'll be gratefulif you'll take them off their hands. Maybe you can make something fromthem, maybe not. In any case they're not going to _San Leon_ on abuckboard with me! Take them off our hands, lad, and d
o a good deed oncein your life!"

  By this time Mr. Ford had placed his own two strong hands over theshrivelled one of the peddler and was pressing it warmly, while the twolooked into one another's eyes with mutual respect and liking. Then whenthe hands unclasped there was left on Andy's palm a glittering doubleeagle.

  Dorothy, watching, wondered at this, after hearing Leslie's boast of thecripple's independence; and there did a flush rise in his face for amoment, till Mr. Ford said:

  "For Laddie, you know. If you can't use it--pass it on!"

  The flush died out of the vender's cheek and a soft look came over it."So I will, man, so I will. Thank God there's always somebody poorerthan me! Good-by, and good luck, Boss! By that token I never seen youlook that happy as you do this day, man alive, never!"

  "I never had such reason to be glad, Andy boy! Good-by, good-by!"

  Mr. Ford started off at a brisk pace, the young folks trying to equalhis long strides, and Alfaretta asking:

  "Is that cripple crazy? What'd he mean by sellin' things to 'Cookies'and what's a 'school-ma'am-racket'?"

  Leslie laughed and answered:

  "A 'racket' of that sort has nothing to do with tennis, Miss Babcock, atyour service; and 'Cookies' are just Cook's tourists. All railroaderscall them that; and I suppose the 'racket' was a cheap excursion theschool-ma'ams were taking. Odd, isn't it? That though all Andy's troublecame from the railroad he claims to belong to it as one of its 'boys.'He's rippin', Andy is. He told father 't he 'teached school' himself,once! But he got so tired of it that the sight of a spelling-book madehim sick."

  "It does me, too," said Alfy, with sympathy.

  "So he 'cut and run,' and rode on trains in every direction as long ashis money held out. Then he stole the ride that ended his travels righthere in Denver. Hello! where's Dad?"

  They had loitered along the way and he had simply outstripped them. Sowithout even a quarter in his purse but in his most lordly air, Lesliehailed a cab to carry them to the hotel he knew was that habituallypatronized by his father; and a few minutes later they rode up to theentrance in state.

  An attendant hastened to the curb to assist the "young ladies" out ofthe cab, but the hackman laid a detaining hand upon Leslie's shoulderwith the remark:

  "Fares, please."

  "Eh? Just settle that with Mr. Daniel Ford, inside. Here, Buttons, youfind Mr. Ford and ask him to step here. It'll be all right, Jehu, andlet's hurry, girls, else we'll be late for dinner."

  He started to enter the building but the cabman retained his hold on thelad's shoulder and remarked:

  "No, you don't! You may be all right and so may your Mr. Ford but, asfor me, I never heard tell of him and money talks. Fares, please."

  Dorothy and Alfaretta clung together, really afraid of the cabman whowas now growing decidedly angry. He was a stranger to that city and hadjust embarked in a rather losing business, his outfit of horse and cabbeing a second-hand one and too shabby for most patrons.

  Also, "Buttons," as Leslie had called the bell-boy, now returned to saythat "no name of Ford was on the register and the clerk wouldn'tbother."

  Here was a dilemma. The trio who had ridden in state now felt verysmall, indeed, and glanced at one another in dismay. Then Lesliesurveyed the name over the hotel entrance and exclaimed:

  "Pshaw! This isn't the place at all. That donkey of a driver has broughtus to the Metropole and not the Metropolitan. I might have known Dadwouldn't put up at such a third-rate tavern as this! Now, you idiot,we'll get in again and you take us where you were bid! and there, it'slikely, you'll make the acquaintance of Mr. Daniel Ford in a way youdon't like! Get in, Dorothy--Alfy! We can't stand foolin' here!"

  But the cabman closed the door of his vehicle with a bang and calmlyfolded his arms to wait. Dolly pulled out her little purse. It containedone nickel and two cents. She had carefully cherished these becausecoins smaller than a nickel are not plentiful in California; but shetendered them to Leslie who smiled and shook his head. Alfarettadiscovered a dime, but it was her "luck piece," wrapped in pink tissuepaper and carried thus in order that she "might always have money in herpocket," and she hated to give it up. Both she and Dolly thoughtregretfully of the little pocket-hoard they had begged the Gray Lady tokeep for them, lest they spend it on the trip. However, neither thecabman nor Leslie accepted their offering, and the latter exclaimed:

  "Ain't this rippin'? Lost in a strange city, in the middle of the day,and not a soul willing to help us out! What in the world will Dad say!"

  "What, indeed! But look here, Leslie Ford, we've got enough to pay fortelephoning that other hotel, if the man in here will let us use his'phone! Then your father will send somebody after us or do something.Please try. I feel so queer with so many folks staring at us as if we'ddone something bad!"

  By this time the hotel clerk had become more amiable. The name of Fordhad impressed him if it hadn't the hackman, and though he, too, was newto the town he bade Leslie:

  "Go ahead! Call him up, if there is such a man."

  With a glance of angry contempt Leslie put the receiver to his ear andrang up "Dad;" only to hang it up again in disgust, as the answer cameback: "Line's busy!"