Ted Strongs Motor Car | Page 9

I should like to do my
share toward helping the poor fellow."
"It's done already. I bought ten tickets. Thet's as much ez they expect
from ther Moon Valley Ranch, an' it goes inter ther running expenses o'
ther ranch, anyhow, in ther charity account."
"I don't care, I want to go."
"I move we go," said Ben. "It will add some tone to the proceedings."
"Ben wants to air his spike-tailed coat and low-neck vest," said Kit.
"Not for me," said Ben, laughing. "I wonder what those cow-punchers
and miners and gamblers would do with a chap who sauntered in there
in evening dress."
"He shore would come up ter Stella's conception of a rent rag, which is
a torn rag," said Kit.
"Ted, won't we go?" pleaded Stella.
"Sure, if you want to; you are our guest, and whatever you want, all
you have to do is to ask for it," answered Ted.
It was agreed that they should wear their everyday uniforms, and Stella
was for going in her distinctive cowgirl costume, but this Mrs. Graham
would not permit, and insisted that she should wear a frock which she
had had made in Denver.
When, the next night, Stella walked into the living room, where the
boys were waiting to escort her and Mrs. Graham to the ball, there was
a general exclamation of wonder and admiration, at which Stella
hesitated with a blush, then came forward with smiling assurance.
Instead of the bold and dashing Stella in her bifurcated riding skirt and
bolero jacket, the boys saw a beautiful young woman in a pale-blue
gown of silk and chiffon, with her pretty hair piled on top of her head,
instead of flowing over her shoulders.
For a moment they were awed. They had never seen her so, and
perhaps had never thought of her as being a young lady. Most of them
were content to regard her just as Stella, their girl pard, and to-night she
had given them a surprise.
At her throat was a superb sapphire set in a brooch, which had come
out of the broncho boys' sapphire mines on Yogo Creek, and in her hair
was an ornament of diamonds and rubies which the boys had made
from jewels which had come as their share of the treasures of the

Montezumas, which they had discovered beneath the castle of
Chepultapec, near the city of Mexico.
Altogether Stella was very stunning, and in their admiration of her in
this new rôle of society girl the boys were between two preferences, as
she was now, and as they knew her in the saddle, throwing her lariat or
handling her revolver.
Most of them, however, came to the conclusion that she was still Stella,
no matter what she wore.
"Say, Stella, that's not fair," drawled Ben, "to dress up like that and
make us wear our working togs. I've got a good mind to go and get into
my spike."
"If you do, I won't go," said Stella. "Unless the other boys wear theirs
also. You and I would look fine going in there dressed up, and the other
boys as they are now. No, I wouldn't have worn this dress if aunt hadn't
insisted upon it, and this time I couldn't shake her determination. I hate
it, and would much rather have my working clothes on. But, never
mind, it won't be for long. How do you like me in this?" She revolved
slowly before them.
"Scrumptious!" said Ben appreciatively.
"Prettier than a basket of peaches," ejaculated Kit.
"Thar ain't nothin' in art er nature what kin show up more gaudy," said
Bud. "Except, mebbe, it might be a pink rose in er garden at airly
mornin' with ther dew on it."
"Say, hasn't Bud got us all faded?" said Ben. "I didn't know the old
sandpiper had so much poetry in his soul."
"So perfectionately lofely a younk lady nefer did I saw," exclaimed
Carl, clasping his hands and holding them before him, while he rolled
his eyes toward the ceiling.
"She's all thet," said Bud. "But come down ter airth. Stella ain't up
among ther rafters."
Ted had said nothing, and Stella looked at him. He was regarding her
attentively.
Her look said: "What do you think?"
He answered it with a look of admiration that satisfied her that he
thought her perfect.
"I think I like you best in the everyday clothes," he said quietly. "But
that gown is as if you were made for it and it was made for you."

The thought had come into Ted's mind that some day, in the far future,
they would lose their girl pard, and society or duties elsewhere would
claim her.
Stella understood him and agreed with him.
Soon they were ready to start