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 replied; "but when mother comes it will be our home." "Well, what in thunder do you want with such a big house? It's big enough for all the cowboys on both ranches to live in." "Well, there is no hotel down here, you know, and there is not likely to be one for several years to come; so, when any friends come down to visit us, we'll have a place to take care of them." "Jack," said Terry, "Evelyn came down with us." "Great Scott! Ain't I glad! But why didn't you bring your girl with you?" "She wouldn't come, Jack; but sister came down with us, as she wanted to help us build up a home out here. So, until your mother and Katy comedown, we'll let her be boss." "Yes, and what a boss she will be. I've been telling these fellows around here that she is the most beautiful young lady in the whole country. But when is she coming down?" "Just as soon as we can fix up one of the four-room houses for her, for we will live there until we can build a larger house."