Chapter I: Front Matter

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The Ranch Girls Series

THE RANCH GIRLS' POT OF GOLD

* * * * * *

BOOKS BY MARGARET VANDERCOOK

THE RANCH GIRLS SERIES

THE RANCH GIRLS AT RAINBOW LODGE
THE RANCH GIRLS' POT OF GOLD
THE RANCH GIRLS AT BOARDING SCHOOL
THE RANCH GIRLS IN EUROPE
THE RANCH GIRLS AT HOME AGAIN
THE RANCH GIRLS AND THEIR GREAT ADVENTURE

THE RED CROSS GIRLS SERIES

THE RED CROSS GIRLS IN THE BRITISH TRENCHES
THE RED CROSS GIRLS ON THE FRENCH FIRING LINE
THE RED CROSS GIRLS IN BELGIUM
THE RED CROSS GIRLS WITH THE RUSSIAN ARMY
THE RED CROSS GIRLS WITH THE ITALIAN ARMY
THE RED CROSS GIRLS UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES

STORIES ABOUT CAMP FIRE GIRLS

THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT SUNRISE HILL
THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AMID THE SNOWS
THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD
THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ACROSS THE SEA
THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS' CAREERS
THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN AFTER YEARS
THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE DESERT
THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT THE END OF THE TRAIL

* * * * * *

The Ranch Girls Series

THE RANCH GIRLS' POT OF GOLD

by

MARGARET VANDERCOOK

Illustrated by Hugh A. Bodine

The John C. Winston Company Philadelphia

Copyright, 1912, by The John C. Winston Company

Printed in U. S. A.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. THE GYPSY CARAVAN 9

II. THE SPELL OF THE MOON 26

III. CAUGHT IN THE TRAP 37

IV. THE WAY TO ARCADY 46

V. MEETING WITH NEW PEOPLE 61

VI. A CURIOUS RESEMBLANCE 76

VII. "A LITTLE HOUSE ON WHEELS" 87

VIII. ALONG THE ROAD 102

IX. "MINER'S FOLLY" 115

X. BY THE WAYSIDE TENT 130

XI. "WHERE'S JACK?" 141

XII. CARLOS MAKES GOOD 152

XIII. ENTERING WONDERLAND 163

XIV. MR. DRUMMOND AND RALPH CHANGE PLACES 174

XV. ELIZABETH'S STRANGE CONFESSION 182

XVI. "OLD FAITHFUL" 196

XVII. THE LANGUAGE OF THE FLOWERS 205

XVIII. "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN" 216

XIX. THE SUSPENSE AND WHAT HAPPENED AFTERWARDS 229

XX. FRANK AND JACK 242

XXI. "MY WAY'S FOR LOVE" 258

XXII. A PARTY AT THE RANCHO 268

XXIII. "THEIR LAST RIDE TOGETHER" 277

XXIV. FAREWELL TO THE RAINBOW RANCH 287

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

THE OLD WOMAN MUMBLED A VERSE OF POETRY _Frontispiece_

PAGE

"I DECLARE, I FEEL LIKE I HADN'T SEEN YOU IN A
HUNDRED YEARS!" 53

"HOW COULD YOU, MISS BRUCE?" RALPH DEMANDED
INDIGNANTLY 144

"THERE IS GOLD IN RAINBOW CREEK, JACK!" 253

The Ranch Girls' Pot of Gold