"A horse every time," came back the quick reply. "I love to ride horseback."

"Grand!" approved Jo Ann.

"I'll feel safer--more comfortable, too--on a good horse than in this car." Miss Prudence added whimsically, "I beg your pardon for knocking Jitters that way."

Jo Ann smiled broadly. Miss Prudence was a good scout after all. She could ride horseback and condescended now and then to a bit of slang, such as the word "knocking" just then.

When they neared San Geronimo where they were to meet Dr. Blackwell and Mr. Eldridge, the faces of all five began to glow with anticipation. Florence could hardly wait to see her father, and Carlitos his uncle Mr. Eldridge, who was Miss Prudence's only brother.

As soon as she caught sight of the flat-roofed adobe houses of the village Florence began exulting, "I'll soon see Dad now! He'll be waiting at old Pedro's store."

"We'll hate to give you up," put in Peggy. "We'll miss you so much!"

"It won't be long till I'll be coming over to see you, and then you can come over and visit with me and see our city again."

"So we'll end up in spending the summer together after all," laughed Jo Ann.

Florence nodded so emphatically that Peggy's face brightened again.

In a few more minutes Florence stopped the car in front of the little store, then leaped out and into the arms of a tall, distinguished, gray-haired man, crying, "Daddy! Oh, Daddy! I'm so glad to see you."

Just then a tall thin man and a small black-eyed Mexican boy rode up on horses and leaped off. 

At sight of them Carlitos shouted joyfully, "My uncle and Pepito! My Pepito!" He sprang out of the car, ran over and greeted his uncle hastily, then flew over to the grinning little Mexican and threw his arms affectionately about him.

"Who is that child?" Miss Prudence demanded of Jo Ann after they had all exchanged greetings with Mr. Eldridge.

"That's Pepito, his foster brother--the son of the nurse who took care of Carlitos so many years. They love each other like real brothers."

"We-ell, I suppose they should feel that way," Miss Prudence said slowly. "After all, all the peoples of the earth are 'of one 

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