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 TWO WYOMING GIRLS
 And Their Homestead Claim

 A Story for Girls

 BY

 MRS. CARRIE L. MARSHALL

 Author of "The Girl Ranchers," Etc.

 ILLUSTRATED BY IDA WAUGH

 THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY
 PHILADELPHIA MDCCCXCIX




 COPYRIGHT 1899 BY THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY




 [Illustration: THE FLAMES REACHED TOWARD ME GREEDILY
 (Page 63)]




CONTENTS


 CHAP.                                       PAGE

 I     I GO ON AN ERRAND                       7

 II    THE WILL OF THE WATERS                 23

 III   AT THE MOUTH OF THE SHAFT              37

 IV    A PLOT FOILED                          44

 V     AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE                 57

 VI    A VISIT FROM MRS. HORTON               68

 VII   SURMISES                               77

 VIII  "BEST LAID PLANS"                      92

 IX    AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT             108

 X     RALPH AND I GO BLACKBERRYING          118

 XI    THE CATTLE BRAND                      130

 XII   ON THE TRAIL OF A WILDCAT             145

 XIII  JOE DISAPPEARS                        158

 XIV   AT THE STORAGE RESERVOIR              172

 XV    CHASED BY WOLVES                      183

 XVI   A SLEEPLESS NIGHT                     194

 XVII  A QUEER BANK                          207

 XVIII A VITAL POINT                         227

 XIX   MR. HORTON MAKES US A VISIT           240

 XX    GUARD MAKES A MISTAKE                 253

 XXI   A FRIEND IN NEED                      261

 XXII  AN OPEN WINDOW                        273

 XXIII ALONE ON THE CLAIM                    284

 XXIV  HUNTING FOR GUARD                     294

 XXV   GUARD'S PRISONER                      304

 XXVI  MR. HORTON CAPITULATES                316




TWO WYOMING GIRLS




CHAPTER I

I GO ON AN ERRAND


A fierce gust of wind and rain struck the windows, and Jessie, on her
way to the breakfast table, dish in hand, paused to listen.

"Raining again!" she exclaimed, setting the dish down emphatically.
"It seems to me that it has rained every day this spring. When it
hasn't poured here in the valley, it has more than made up for it in
the mountains."

"You are more than half right," father said, drawing his chair up to
the table. "Is breakfast ready, dear? I am going to work in the mines
to-day, and I'm in something of a hurry."

"Going to work in the mines!" Jessie echoed the words, as, I am sure,
I did also. I was sitting in the corner dressing little Ralph, or, to
be strictly accurate, trying to dress him. No three year-old that ever
lived could be more exasperating than he sometimes was during that
ordeal or could show a more pronounced distaste for the bondage of
civilized garments.

Jessie made haste to dish up the breakfast, but she inquired: "Do you
remember, papa, what that old miner who was here the other day told us
about mines in the wet season? About what was liable to happen
sometimes, and did happen here once, a good many years ago?"

"I don't know that I do," father answered, glancing toward Ralph and
me, to see if we were ready. As we were anything but that, he
continued; "I guess I won't wait for you children."

"Don't, please!" I exclaimed, "Ralph is a perfect little buzz-saw this
morning. Keep still, Ralph!"

"Me want to do barefoot! Me want to wade in 'e puddle!" cried the
child, pulling one soft little foot out of the stocking that I had
just succeeded in getting upon it.

"Ralph!" I cried, angrily: "I've a good notion to spank you!"

"Don't, Leslie!" father interposed, mildly; "I remember so well how I
liked to wade in the mud-puddles when I was a little shaver; but it's
too early in the season, and too cold for that sort of sport now. So,
Ralph, my boy, let sister dress you, and don't hinder."

Ralph always obeyed father's slightest word, no matter how gently the
word was spoken; so now he sat demurely silent while I completed his
toilet.

"What was it that your friend, the miner, said, Jessie?" father asked,
as Jessie took her seat and poured out his coffee.

"He said that there had been so