RANCH***


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THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT ROCKY RANCH

Or

Great Days Among the Cowboys

by

LAURA LEE HOPE

Author of "The Moving Picture Girls," "The Moving Picture
Girls Under the Palms," "The Outdoor Girls
Series," "The Bobbsey Twins Series," Etc.

Illustrated







The Goldsmith Publishing Co.
Cleveland
Made in U. S. A.

Copyright, 1914, by
Grosset & Dunlap

Press of
The Commercial Bookbinding Co.
Cleveland



[Illustration: "WE ARE HEMMED IN BY THE PRAIRIE FIRE!" _Moving Picture
Girls at Rocky Ranch._--_Page 192._]




CONTENTS


          CHAPTER                     PAGE

              I THE SPY                 1

             II WESTERN PLANS          13

            III A DARING FEAT          23

             IV A CLOUD OF SMOKE       32

              V A MIX-UP               42

             VI THE AUTO SMASH         49

            VII OFF FOR THE WEST       56

           VIII THE OIL WELL           66

             IX THE RIVALS             72

              X THE CYCLONE            78

             XI AT ROCKY RANCH         90

            XII SUSPICIONS             96

           XIII AT THE BRANDING       109

            XIV A WARNING             117

             XV THE INDIAN RITES      125

            XVI PRISONERS             134

           XVII THE RESCUE            143

          XVIII A RUSH OF STEERS      156

            XIX TOO MUCH REALISM      163

             XX IN THE OPEN           168

            XXI THE BURNING GRASS     178

           XXII HEMMED IN             186

          XXIII THE ESCAPE            193

           XXIV A DISCLOSURE          201

            XXV THE ROUND-UP          208




THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS
AT ROCKY RANCH




CHAPTER I

THE SPY


"Well, Ruth, aren't you almost ready?"

"Just a moment, Alice. I can't seem to get my collar fastened in the
back. I wish I'd used the old-fashioned hooks and eyes instead of those
new snaps."

"Oh, I think those snaps are just adorable!"

"Oh, Alice DeVere! Using such an extreme expression!"

"What expression, Ruth?"

"'Adorable!' You sometimes accuse me of using slang, and there you
go----"

"'Adorable' isn't slang," retorted Alice.

"Oh, isn't it though? Since when?"

"There you go yourself! You're as bad as I am."

"Well, it must be associating with you, then," sighed Ruth.

"No, Ruth, it's this moving picture business. It just makes you use
words that _mean_ something, and not those that are merely sign-posts.
I'm glad to see that you are getting--sensible. But never mind about
that. Are you ready to go to the studio? I'm sure we'll be late."

"Oh, please help me with this collar. I wish I'd made this waist with
the new low-cut effect. Not too low, of course," Ruth added hastily, as
she caught a surprised glance from her sister.

Two girls were in a room about which were strewn many articles of
feminine adornment. Yet it was not an untidy apartment. True, dresser
drawers did yawn and disclose their contents, and closet doors gaped at
one, showing a collection of shoes and skirts. But then the occupants of
the room might have been forgiven, for they were in haste to keep an
appointment.

"There, Ruth," finally exclaimed the younger of the two girls--yet she
was not so much younger--not more than two years. "I think your collar
is perfectly sweet."

"It's good of you to say so. You know I got it at that little French
shop around the corner, but sewed some of that Mexican drawn lace on to
make it a bit higher. Now I'm sorry