“He shore would come up ter Stella’s conception of a rent rag, which is a torn rag,” said Kit.

“Ted, won’t we go?” pleaded Stella.

“Sure, if you want to; you are our guest, and whatever you want, all you have to do is to ask for it,” answered Ted.

It was agreed that they should wear their everyday uniforms, and Stella was for going in her distinctive cowgirl costume, but this Mrs. Graham would not permit, and insisted that she should wear a frock which she had had made in Denver.

When, the next night, Stella walked into the living room, where the boys were waiting to escort her and Mrs. Graham to the ball, there was a general exclamation of wonder and admiration, at which Stella hesitated with a blush, then came forward with smiling assurance.

Instead of the bold and dashing Stella in her bifurcated riding skirt and bolero jacket, the boys saw a beautiful young woman in a pale-blue gown of silk and chiffon, with her pretty hair piled on top of her head, instead of flowing over her shoulders.

For a moment they were awed.  They had never seen her so, and perhaps had never thought of her as being a young lady.  Most of them were content to regard her just as Stella, their girl pard, and to-night she had given them a surprise.

At her throat was a superb sapphire set in a brooch, which had come out of the broncho boys’ sapphire mines on Yogo Creek, and in her hair was an ornament of diamonds and rubies which the boys had made from jewels which had come as their share of the treasures of the Montezumas, which they had discovered beneath the castle of Chepultapec, near the city of Mexico.

Altogether Stella was very stunning, and in their admiration of her in this new role of society girl the boys were between two preferences, as she was now, and as they knew her in the saddle, throwing her lariat or handling her revolver.

Most of them, however, came to the conclusion that she was still Stella, no matter what she wore.

“Say, Stella, that’s not fair,” drawled Ben, “to dress up like that and make us wear our working togs.  I’ve got a good mind to go and get into my spike.”

“If you do, I won’t go,” said Stella.  “Unless the other boys wear theirs also.  You and I would look fine going in there dressed up, and the other boys as they are now.  No, I wouldn’t have worn this dress if aunt hadn’t insisted upon it, and this time I couldn’t shake her determination.  I hate it, and would much rather have my working clothes on.  But, never mind, it won’t be for long.  How do you like me in this?” She revolved slowly before them.

“Scrumptious!” said Ben appreciatively.

“Prettier than a basket of peaches,” ejaculated Kit.

“Thar ain’t nothin’ in art er nature what kin show up more gaudy,” said Bud.  “Except, mebbe, it might be a pink rose in er garden at airly mornin’ with ther dew on it.”

“Say, hasn’t Bud got us all faded?” said Ben.  “I didn’t know the old sandpiper had so much poetry in his soul.”