Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.fadedpage.com [Illustration: FRANCES PULLED BACK ON MOLLY'S BRIDLE REINS. Frontispiece (Page 125).] FRANCES OF THE RANGES OR THE OLD RANCHMAN'S TREASURE BY AMY BELL MARLOWE AUTHOR OF THE OLDEST OF FOUR, THE GIRLS OF HILLCREST FARM, WYN'S CAMPING DAYS, ETC. NEW YORK GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS Made in the United States of America Copyright, 1915, by GROSSET & DUNLAP Frances of the Ranges CONTENTS Chapter Page I. THE ADVENTURE IN THE COULIE 1 II. "FRANCES OF THE RANGES" 11 III. THE OLD SPANISH CHEST 19 IV. WHAT HAPPENED IN THE NIGHT 34 V. THE SHADOW IN THE COURT 41 VI. A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION 49 VII. THE STAMPEDE 57 VIII. IN PERIL AND OUT 65 IX. SURPRISING NEWS 75 X. THE MAN FROM BYLITTLE 87 XI. FRANCES ACTS 98 XII. MOLLY 109 XIII. THE GIRL FROM BOSTON 115 XIV. THE CONTRAST 125 XV. IN THE FACE OF DANGER 131 XVI. A FRIEND INSISTENT 140 XVII. AN ACCIDENT 151 XVIII. THE WAVE OF FLAME 160 XIX. MOST ASTONISHING! 171 XX. THE BOSTON GIRL AGAIN 182 XXI. IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY 192 XXII. WHAT PRATT THOUGHT 204 XXIII. A GAME OF PUSS IN THE CORNER 212 XXIV. A GOOD DEAL OF EXCITEMENT 223 XXV. A PLOT THAT FAILED 229 XXVI. FRANCES IN SOFTER MOOD 242 XXVII. A DINNER DANCE IN PROSPECT 253 XXVIII. THE BURSTING OF THE CHRYSALIS 271 XXIX. "THE PANHANDLE--PAST AND PRESENT" 283 XXX. A REUNION 295 FRANCES OF THE RANGES CHAPTER I THE ADVENTURE IN THE COULIE The report of a bird gun made the single rider in sight upon the short-grassed plain pull in her pinto and gaze westerly toward the setting sun, now going down in a field of golden glory.