"I say, sis," Bob exclaimed, "why not get that telegram written and let me take it down to the village. You can put heaps more into a night letter." "Why, Bobby, it must be after nine. The innkeeper's family will be asleep by the time you could get there." Jean Willoughby explained: "They have two sons, and one of them is always on duty as night clerk. Strangers motoring through put up there at all hours." Then the young overseer added: "I wish now that I had ridden over and you could have used my horse." "We sent the two we had back to the Heger cabin," Bob said, but added, as he took a handspring to prove to his sister that he was not at all tired, "I'd just as soon walk." Then, as another thought occurred to him, he turned to the younger lad, asking, "If you're game, Gerry, come along with me. We'll put up at the inn for the night and bring back the answer from father as soon as it comes." Since there was no particular reason why they should not do this, Merry and Jane made no further remonstrances. Going indoors, a carefully planned night letter was prepared and in great glee the two boys started out, each carrying a gun, as Jean told them that they _might_ meet a wildcat. "Huh! I hoped you were going to say a grizzly bear." Gerry's tone seemed to imply that they were quite fearless. Soon after the boys had departed, Dan returned. Glancing at Jean, he questioned: "Ought we to follow them?" But the other lad replied: "They're safe enough! Moreover, I told Bob to swing a red lantern three times when they reach the inn. The night is so clear, we surely can see it." And so they waited, and an hour later the expected signal was plainly seen by all of them. "Now to bed, everybody!" Dan sprang up and held both hands toward his sister Jane. Julie had been prevailed upon to retire soon after the lads started out and was sound asleep. The girls had decided to be up at an early hour, but because they had gone to bed much later than usual they overslept. It was after noon before Meg appeared. "Ma Heger" had needed her help, was all that she said. Jane and Merry decided not to tell her about the night letter, for the suspense would be far harder for her to bear than it was for them. But after a time Meg began to wonder why, at frequent intervals, one or another of the young people went to the top of the stone stairs, and through field glasses, gazed down the mountain road. It was two o'clock when the old stage was seen slowly ascending. "I entirely forgot that the stage passes us on Saturday afternoon," Dan exclaimed. "Of course, Bob and Gerry waited to ride up." But as the lumbering vehicle neared, the passengers were seen to be all adults--a west valley rancher, his wife and grown daughters. Then, just as the watchers had given up hope, the two laughing boys dropped from the back of the stage and ran up the stone stairs.