"There's just as much difference in ranches, of course, Miss Cordelia, as there is in folks; and all the ranches are changing fast, anyway, nowadays. Lots of the owners are quitting living on them at all. They've gone into the towns to live. On the Six Star the boys take their meals with the family; and in many places they don't do that, I know, even where the owner lives on the ranch. Our boys are very loyal to us, and very much interested in all that concerns us. They fairly worship Genevieve, and have, all the way up." "I'm so glad," murmured Cordelia, again; and this time there was a look very much like admiration in the eyes that rested on Long John just ahead. It was some time later that Mr. Hartley said, half turning around: "Look straight ahead, a little to the right, young ladies, and you'll get a very good view of the Six Star Ranch." "Oh, and you've got a windmill," cried Tilly. "I can see it against the sky; I know I can!" "Yes, we've got a windmill," nodded Mr. Hartley. "I love windmills," exulted Cordelia. "So does Genevieve," observed Mr. Hartley, raising his eyebrows a little. Only Cordelia noticed the odd smile he gave as he spoke, and she did not know what it meant. Later, however, she remembered it. She was too much excited now to think of anything but the fact that the Six Star Ranch was so near. Bertha craned her neck to look ahead. "Only think, we haven't passed a house, not a house since we left Bolo," she cried. Mr. Hartley smiled. "You see, Miss Bertha, Bolo, eighteen miles away, is our nearest neighbor; and you'll have to go even farther than that in any other direction to strike another neighbor." "My stars!" gasped Bertha. "How awful lonesome it must be, Mr. Hartley." "Anyhow, you can't be much bothered with neighbors running in to borrow two eggs and a little soda, can you?" giggled Tilly. "No; that isn't one of the difficulties we have to deal with," smiled Mr. Hartley; but Bertha bridled visibly. "Well, really, Tilly Mack," she exclaimed in pretended anger, "I should like to know if you mean anything special! You see," she added laughingly to Mr. Hartley, "I happen to live next to Tilly, myself!" From both carriage and wagon, now, came a babel of eager chatter. There was so much to be seen on the one hand, so much to be explained on the other. The buildings and corrals were plainly visible by this time, and each minute they became more clearly defined. "Do you mean that all that belongs to just one ranch?" demanded Tilly. "Sure!" twinkled Mr. Hartley. "You see, if folks can't borrow of us, we can't borrow of them, either; so it's rather necessary that we have all the comforts of home ourselves." "Well, I guess you've got them," laughed Tilly, looking wonderingly about her. "I reckon we have," nodded Mr. Hartley, as he began to point out one and another of the buildings.