Mrs. Manley was anxious to learn if any one was injured, but her husband, with a wink at the boys, asked her if she ever heard of any one getting hurt at a picnic. “Of course, sometimes they fall into the brook an’ get wet,” he added, with a grin, “so Teddy an’ Roy had to do that, too. But we’re all home now, an’ hungry. Think we can stop this gab-fest long enough to eat?” It was then three o’clock in the afternoon, so Mrs. Manley decided to have an early supper. She went to help Mrs. Moore, the housekeeper, and her daughter Norine prepare the meal, while Teddy and Roy continued the tale of their adventures at the urgent request of Nell and of Curly. By five o’clock all was in readiness for the adventurers’ first meal since their arrival home. When they entered the long dining room, they saw that the table had been enlarged by the addition of many leaves and that there were places set for every one of the punchers. “Celebration,” Mrs. Manley said, as she smiled. “Teddy, go and tell the boys to come in. And don’t forget Sing Lung. We want everybody! Tell every man on the place to come!” “You bet I will, Mom!” Teddy shouted, and made for the door. In a few minutes he was back, followed by a crowd of grinning, jostling cowboys. Jules Kolto had recovered sufficiently to return with them, and he, of course, was included in the invitation, although he protested that “he wasn’t fit to eat with honest folks.” Pop Burns was there, with his shoulder conspicuously bandaged. He was accorded the place of honor--next to the boss. Sing Lung, chatting like a parrot, was placed near Jules. Teddy and Roy sat on either side of their mother, while Belle, Ethel, and Nell were distributed about “to keep the boys from scrappin’ over the chicken,” Mr. Manley laughingly insisted. The punchers were a bit bashful at first to be eating in “the big house,” but this soon wore off. There are few punchers who stay bashful in the presence of roast chicken and cranberry sauce. There was but one fly in the ointment. Gus Tripp was not there. Holding in his hand a glass of water, Mr. Manley arose. “Boys,” he said, “I want to propose a toast--that right, Mother?--I want to propose a toast to an absent member. Fellers, here’s to Gus Tripp--may he some day come back to us!” Nick Looker, who was sitting next to Teddy, jumped to his feet. “Wait, boss!” he exclaimed. “Don’t drink it yet! I been waitin’ fer this! Hang on to yore seats a minute!” and he ran out of the door toward the yard. Roy and Teddy looked at each other with surprised faces. What was Nick up to, for Pete’s sake? They saw in a moment. The door flew open, and on the threshold stood Gus, not alone, but holding by the hand a blushing girl! “Boss,” he said, “meet the wife!” Jules Kolto started. He staggered to his feet, trembling. “Sister!” he cried, and opened his arms to the girl.