“No he didn’t, Slim,” Virginia said. “I think you would better use your own judgment. You know my brother always wishes you to do that when he is not at home. Just now he is away, and I do not know when he will return. Is everything all right here at the ranch?” “Yes, Miss Virginia, and if it’s what you think Malcolm would be wishin’ me to do I’ll join Rusty up the north way, and help him drive in the yearlings. Dick Dartly told me as there’d be a stampede up that way and that Rusty is havin’ a hard time roundin’ up the scattered yearlings. He’d be glad of my help if you think as it would be right for me to go.” “I’m sure it’s all right, Slim. Goodbye and good luck.” The two girls waved to the departing cow-boy and then turned back into the big, cheerful living-room as the clock chimed the quarter hour. “Oh, dear, how time flies!” Virginia declared. Then she pressed both hands upon her forehead saying that she was going to think and think until she could recall where she had put the key to the code. “And while you are thinking, I will make my bed.” Margaret said as she skipped to the adjoining room, into which the sun was flooding. She began to hum a little tune, but, in the middle of it she stopped suddenly, for she had heard a squeal of delight. “What is it?” she asked peering out of the door. “Inspiration!” Virginia laughingly responded. “Come along with me. I do believe I recall where I put the key to the code when I supposed Buddie and I were through with it forever. Are you a climber?” “I don’t know. What will I have to climb?” asked the mystified Margaret. “I did climb a tree once and a ladder also. Which do you wish me to ascend now?” Virginia was leading the way to the kitchen which was deserted at that hour. There she opened a door into a long, dark storeroom at one end of which was a straight up and down ladder made by the nailing of boards across uncovered uprights. Margaret looked up and saw a trap door in the ceiling. “Does that lead to your attic?” she inquired. Virginia was half way up the ladder, and, looking over her shoulder, she replied merrily. “Follow me and you shall see.” CHAPTER XX THE MESSAGE DECIPHERED It was indeed an old fashioned attic into which the two girls emerged. It was high in the middle and the sloping roof formed the sides. “Where is your inspiration leading you?” Margaret inquired as she bent to follow Virginia into a dark cobwebby corner. “It’s my old play trunk,” the western girl replied, “where I put all of my old castaway toys as I outgrew them, and so, what is more natural than that I should also have placed there the key to the code when I had outgrown it.” As she spoke Virginia was dragging a small dust-covered trunk, over near the window, which was the only opening through which light was coming. The cover was lifted, revealing all sorts of play-things, dolls, books and mechanical toys.