"Oh, I don't want to go to Scotland!" sighed Tom. "I want to go to
the ranch."
"Well, we've got to take what comes," answered his brother.
The boys went down to town and said good-by to their school chums.
All were sorry they were going away and said they would be missed
from the baseball team.
Returning to the farm, their mother met them with a peculiar smile
on her face.
"Any news?" they asked eagerly.
"Yes, word came over the telephone a while ago."
"And what Is it, ma?"
"The Wilders say to come and----"
"Hooray!"
"And not to bring a trunk," finished the mother. "The idea of two
boys going away all summer without a trunk!"
"Of course we won't need a trunk!" declared Tom. "From the time we
reach the ranch till we start for home I don't intend to wear a
white shirt or collar."
"When we get out there we can buy some cowboy outfits," said Larry.
"Hooray for Tolopah!"
The receipt of the message, which had been telephoned by the agent
at Bramley while the boys were on their way back from the town, was
more of a relief than either Larry or Tom was willing to
acknowledge. And they ate their food with greater relish in the
certainty that their dream of going to live on a ranch was to come
true.
Each was absorbed in his own thoughts when the voice of their
father roused them.
"Now that it's decided you are going West," he was saying, "I
reckon I'll go over to Olmsted and make sure about our steamer
tickets.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25