They drove up to the hotel, and Mr. Hilton gathered the party about him for directions. He and most of the boys were to sleep in tents, but Mrs. Hilton and the girls, he decided, had better occupy rooms in the hotel. “Leave your things as soon as possible,” he said, “and come down to the dining-room. We don’t want to miss any of the fun.” “What sort of fun?” asked Doris, apprehensively. But, as if for an answer, before Mr. Hilton had time to reply, three loud shots were heard. “Oh, shooting and riding, and lots of excitement,” replied the man, carelessly. “Now do hurry, girls. Be back inside of five minutes.” The girls ran off as he directed. They were to have two large rooms, each equipped with two double beds, and with a communicating door between. “Well, some people may like it,” said Doris, nervously, as she took off her hat and arranged her hair-net, “but I wouldn’t want to live in the West!” “Then you had better not fall in love with any man out here,” admonished Mae. “Yes,” added Alice, “you must not allow yourself to be so crazy about Kirk, Doris. He--” “I--crazy about _Kirk Smith!_” repeated Doris, in a puzzled tone. Then, catching sight of the gleam in Alice’s eye, she joined in the general laughter at the absurdity of the idea. “He is hopeless,” said Lily. “Funny what Irene sees in him!” “Yes, none of us feel much love for him,” put in Florence. “Girls, I don’t think he’s so awful,” said Daisy. “At least, if you leave him alone. He’s always been very courteous to me.” “Oh, you like everybody!” remarked Doris, putting her arm through Daisy’s. “Come, girls, that’s enough prinking. Let’s go down before they fire off any more pistols.” But hardly were they seated at their tables with the rest of the party, when they received a greater surprise than before. Right through the hall doorway, and down the center aisle of the dining-room, a cowboy came riding on his horse, past their very table! And no sooner had he gone than another, and then a third, followed. Doris said that she never had time to draw her breath between. “Oh!” she gasped, when there was quiet again, “are we to expect this at all our meals--just like we have orchestras in the East?” “No, they probably won’t do it again,” replied Bob. “It would be tame the second time. But I must admit that you are getting a good initiation into our life.” Although the boys wanted to go out and see the town that night, the girls all felt it would be nicer to stay at the hotel. But they were warned that it would be no use to go to bed early; they might expect pistol shots any time until midnight. And when they did finally turn in, a little before twelve, they soon heard a cowboy ride about the lower floor, firing off blanks at each door.