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diff --git a/25419-8.txt b/25419-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c123b23 --- /dev/null +++ b/25419-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8137 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Polly and Eleanor, by Lillian Elizabeth Roy + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Polly and Eleanor + +Author: Lillian Elizabeth Roy + +Illustrator: H. S. Barbour + +Release Date: May 11, 2008 [EBook #25419] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLLY AND ELEANOR *** + + + + +Produced by David Garcia, Josephine Paolucci and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. + + + + + + + +[Illustration: POLLY AND ANNE FOLLOWED THE GUIDE. + +_Polly and Eleanor._ _Frontispiece--(Page 21)_] + + + + +POLLY AND ELEANOR + +BY + +LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY + +_Author of_ + +POLLY OF PEBBLY PIT, POLLY IN NEW YORK, POLLY AND HER FRIENDS ABROAD, +POLLY'S BUSINESS VENTURE. + +ILLUSTRATED BY +H. S. BARBOUR + + NEW YORK + GROSSET & DUNLAP + PUBLISHERS + +Made in the United States of America + + COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY + GROSSET & DUNLAP + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER PAGE + +I ANOTHER TRIP TO TOP NOTCH 1 + +II THE CLAIM-JUMPERS 22 + +III AT CHOKO'S FIND 38 + +IV JOHN AND HIS FRIEND ARRIVE 55 + +V POLLY AND ELEANOR VISIT THE BEAVERS 81 + +VI THE GIRLS ENTERTAIN GUESTS 99 + +VII SEVERAL MOMENTOUS LETTERS 122 + +VIII POLLY-ELEANOR COMPANY, INC. 143 + +IX JEB'S SUNDAY NIGHT OFF 162 + +X A TRIP TO BUFFALO PARK 181 + +XI A WILD-WEST COUNTY FAIR 195 + +XII NOLLA'S PLANS DEVELOP 208 + +XIII RIGGLEY & RATZGER OF NEW YORK 226 + +XIV THE VICTORY 247 + +XV COMINGS AND GOINGS 262 + +XVI POLLY AND ELEANOR START OUT 275 + + + + +POLLY AND ELEANOR + + + + +CHAPTER I + +ANOTHER TRIP TO TOP NOTCH + + +Six intensely interested individuals sat about the supper-table in the +living room at Pebbly Pit Ranch-house, the evening of the day they rode +to Oak Creek to file the claim on the gold mine. Sary, the +maid-of-all-work, had the supper ready for the weary riders when they +returned from their trip. + +Having served the dessert, Sary went out to the barn to help Jeb, the +foreman on the ranch, with the horses which had just come in from the +long day's work. So the group about the table felt free to talk as they +liked. But Polly Brewster and her friend Eleanor Maynard were almost +talked out by the time they finished the last bit of Sary's delicious +dessert; and Barbara Maynard tried her best to hide a yawn behind her +hand, while Anne Stewart, the pretty teacher who was the fourth member +in the party that spent a night in the cave, was eager to continue +planning for the future of the mine, but Nature demanded rest after the +three days' excitement. + +Finally, Polly turned to her father and said: "I wish we could see +John's face when he reads that telegram!" + +"If we had only dared word it plainly, there sure would be something +queer to laugh at when John read it. But we had to cipher it, you know," +chuckled Sam Brewster. + +"I can't see why such foolish fear of talking about it is entertained by +all you folks," declared Barbara, loftily. + +"Can't you? Well, then, Bob, Ah'll tell you plainly that that message +had to be camouflaged, as we are not taking any risks on having your +claim jumped over night. If we sent a wire to John telling him plainly +that you girls discovered a vein of gold on Top Notch Trail, every last +rascal in Oak Creek would hit the trail before that message was +delivered," replied Mr. Brewster. + +"Even as it is, I suppose every one who can read the records at Oak +Creek will start out at once, so as to stake new claims as near to +Montresor's Mine as possible; perhaps they'll try to pick up some +nuggets from your claim, as well," added Mrs. Brewster. + +"Then, when word spreads around the country--and such news always +travels like lightning--every gambler and bunco man in Wyoming and +Colorado will be seen camping on Top Notch Trail, each trying in his own +way to wheedle money or gold-dust from the unwary ones," laughed Mr. +Brewster. + +"There now, Daddy! You've laughed, so I know your spell of worry is over +with. Won't you tell us what made you so serious?" exclaimed Polly. + +"Ah was trying to plan for the best way to avoid trouble over this +claim; and at the same time protect our own rights, and any rights Old +Montresor's family might have in this rediscovery. That is why Ah +insisted upon Simms being one of our party, to-morrow; and the sheriff +with his stalwart son, too. They are both strong, trusty men, and with +Simms, Jeb and myself, we ought to be able to hold our own in case of an +argument up there." + +"Oh, Mr. Brewster! Do you mean there is likely to be a fight, and +_shooting_?" cried Barbara, horrified at the very idea. + +"Not so that you-all can notice it--if we get there first. But let those +claim-jumpers camp on our grounds first, and we-all may have to use +gun-persuasion to move them on to safer ground." + +"Dear me, I think it is going to be more fun than a movie-picture play +in the filming!" exclaimed Eleanor, her eyes shining with excitement. + +"I hope we won't have the same kind of gun-play that we see in the +wild-west films," hinted Anne Stewart, hitherto a listener. + +"Would you rather remain here, Anne?" asked Barbara, with an eager +expression as if to say: "'I hope you do--then I will stay with you.'" + +"I should say _no_! I wouldn't miss the picnic we are going to have, +to-morrow, for anything in Colorado!" declared Anne, emphatically. + +Mrs. Brewster laughed at the young teacher's vehement tones, and then +turned to her husband with a suggestion. + +"Sam, what do you think of sending Jeb on before, in the morning, to +tell Rattle-Snake Mike he must act as guide and cook for us while we are +on the mountain? He is the cleverest Indian anywhere about, you know." + +"Just the thing, Mary! Ah'm mighty glad you-all thought of it. Jeb can +ride on whiles we-all branch off at Bear Forks for the Old Indian Trail. +Then Mike and Jeb can catch up with us." + +"I don't know about that, Sam," returned Mrs. Brewster, thoughtfully. +"I'd rather see Jeb start from here about four o'clock, so Mike and he +can meet us at five-thirty at the school-house." + +"You must have some good reason for that," ventured Polly. + +"Yes, Mike may hear about this claim and leave his cabin early, so as to +act as guide to strangers who will be glad to pay him any price just to +get him and his wonderful scouting experience." + +"Right as usual, Mary! Ah'll run out, right now, and tell Jeb he'd +better get to bed if he has to be up before four," exclaimed Mr. +Brewster, starting for the bedroom over the barn where he knew Jeb would +be. + +"And we had better go to bed, too, so we can be up and have breakfast +out of the way before the horses are brought to the door," suggested +Mrs. Brewster, leading the way to the front door to look at the night +sky. + +"Why, it isn't eight o'clock," complained Barbara. + +"No, but even that leaves us less than eight hours' sleep. After such +exciting days as we have been through, we need a good full night's +rest," replied Anne. + +"Chances are Nolla and I won't close an eye! What, with gold mines, and +John, and the Latimer boys, and Ken Evans coming to town--and +claim-jumpers, and everything!" laughed Polly. + +"You mean that young stranger we met at Oak Creek?" asked Barbara, +frigidly. + +"Yes,--the one who looked so pleasant but forlorn," said Eleanor, +sympathetically. + +"His name was Kenneth Evans, you know, Bob," explained Polly, +innocently. + +Eleanor and Anne exchanged glances and smiled, for they understood that +Barbara meant to be condemnatory in her manner; but Polly, in her very +guilelessness, countered the city girl's disparagement. + +"It's too bad we couldn't have had him come home with us," added +Eleanor, teasingly, to Barbara. + +"Dear me, Nolla! By the time I get you back to Chicago you will need a +complete training in social behavior again!" declared Barbara, frowning +at her younger sister. + +But her remark merely called forth a merry laugh from the light-hearted +girl. Mrs. Brewster then started the usual preparations for bed, and the +group followed her example. + +For the benefit of any one who has not been fortunate enough to become +acquainted with our western friends, in the first book of this series, +we will introduce you while the girls are soundly sleeping. + +Polly Brewster, a girl just past fourteen, was a true type of the +honest, ambitious ranchers of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Her home, +the extensive farm in the crater of an extinct volcano, was called +Pebbly Pit because of the giant cliffs of colored stones guarding the +entrance trail. This ranch was about eleven miles from Oak Creek, the +mining settlement and railroad station for about a thousand inhabitants, +where all shopping had to be done. The town was much like other rough, +half-civilized western settlements, consisting of a post office, a bank, +the sheriff's office, and several saloons. A general store was +maintained in connection with the post office, and here one must buy +anything needed for house or farm. The Brewsters, being affluent +ranchers, ordered their clothing, house-furnishings, and many tools or +luxuries by mail, from illustrated catalogues. But the rough road from +the ranch to the town post office, being hard going in a heavy +ranch-wagon, often caused the Brewsters to forego a mail order on +cosmopolitan stores rather than drive in and cart the goods home from +Oak Creek. + +Polly had just completed her grammar course at the little Bear Forks' +school-house where Anne Stewart had taught two years previous to this +summer. Polly had never been elsewhere than at Oak Creek and now she +yearned to attend High School in Denver. + +Anne Stewart lived in Denver, and for the past year had been tutoring +Eleanor Maynard, while the girl and her older sister Barbara boarded +with Mrs. Stewart. The Maynard girls were from Chicago, but Eleanor, who +was fourteen, was very delicate, so the doctor had recommended a high +altitude for her. + +Anne Stewart was helping her brother Paul through a college in Chicago, +and during her visit to him, at the end of his first year, she met his +friends--John Brewster who was Polly's older brother; Tom Latimer a +promising young engineer from New York; and Pete Maynard who was a +brother to Eleanor and Barbara. It was through this means that the +Maynards heard of the Stewarts' home in Denver, and anxiously begged +Anne to take the two girls into her home circle. As the salary offered +for this privilege was so munificent, the young teacher eagerly +accepted, and then found her youngest charge a lovable and merry girl. + +The two Chicago girls had returned home for a few months, but Eleanor +could not stand the high winds and stubborn climate of Chicago, so the +doctor again ordered her to spend a summer in the mountains of Colorado. +In distraction, Mr. Maynard begged Anne Stewart to arrange everything, +and thus it was that these two society girls came, with Anne, to board +with Polly's family at Pebbly Pit ranch. + +The Brewsters were considered very wealthy in land and cattle, to say +nothing of the Rainbow Cliffs, for which a New York financier had +offered them half a million dollars for part interest in mining them. +But Sam Brewster could afford to refuse such destruction to his +beautiful estate. Polly had never had city-made clothing, nor had she +the slightest idea of city-ways, until the Maynard girls' advent to +Pebbly Pit. But she had had years of thrilling experiences to her +credit--experiences with wild-life of all kinds, of mountain-climbing, +of adventures of other sorts, to say nothing about knowledge of farming +and domestic animals. This outdoor life gave her abundant health, +strength, and the beauty of a fine complexion, clear eyes, luxuriant +glossy hair, and a graceful well-formed figure that was all the more +attractive because of the charms her adolescence promised. + +That very day had been spent in Oak Creek in filing the claim to +Montresor's Mine, and just as the party started for home, they had met +the young stranger, Kenneth Evans, who sought Carew's Surveying Camp, +which was known to be located near Yellow Jacket Pass. The youth was +directed how to find Jake, the driver of Carew's wagon, and then he was +invited to visit Pebbly Pit, on Sunday. + +As Polly and Eleanor had predicted, they were so excited over the events +that promised such thrills on the morrow, that they slept little that +night, but tossed and talked most of the time. However, when the call +sounded for them all to awake and dress for the mountain trip, it found +that these two girls were fast asleep and loath to get up. + +"Good gracious, Anne! My wrist watch says it's four o'clock! You don't +suppose we have to get up at this awful hour?" complained Barbara, +rubbing her eyes. + +Anne was already up and hurriedly dressing. "Any one who is not ready to +start when the man brings the horses around to the door, remains +behind, you know." + +That brought Polly and Eleanor out of bed with a hop, as there was only +a wooden partition between the two rooms, and Anne's words were plainly +heard by them. + +"If there was the least thing to do if I stayed here, I'd not go again +for anything. But I should die of ennui if I had to be entertained by +Sary for three whole days," grumbled Barbara. + +The very idea of Sary, the "house helper," entertaining Barbara, for +whom she felt such scorn, caused mirth in the adjoining room. + +Eleanor called out: "More than likely Sary feels as glad to know that +you're going, as we would be to have you stay behind." + +"Come, come, Bob! You _must_ get up and dress!" now urged Anne, as she +finished her dressing and turned to leave the room. + +The purple gleams of the western dawn shot the heavens of blue and gold, +as Jeb brought the sturdy horses from the barn. He had given careful +attention to the trappings and shoes of the various mounts, and finding +each one in splendid condition, started for the house. + +An unusual hubbub came from the living-room where baskets of food and +outfits were waiting. The moment Jeb was hailed, however, the noisy +girls ran out to look over their horses. + +"Why, Jeb! Isn't Noddy going this time?" asked Polly. + +"Not ef you-all want her to keep any breath in her skin. Ain't she +eena-most done up from that other trip?" retorted Jeb, who was the +"general-man" on the ranch. Having been with the Brewsters since he was +a boy of twelve, he felt that he was one of the family and he treated +Polly as if she were a younger sister. + +"Never mind Noddy, this time, Polly, but let Jeb jump into the saddle +and start off. He'll never reach Mike's cabin if you keep on arguing +about the burros," said Mrs. Brewster, coming out to call them to +breakfast. + +Jeb had gone on to secure the company of Rattle-Snake Mike, and Mr. +Brewster sat impatiently on his horse, waiting to guide the party of +women, when all but Barbara were ready; then she came out while still +munching her tardy breakfast. + +As the riders passed the Rainbow Cliffs, the rays of the rising sun +gilded their peaks, and the girls exclaimed at the beauty of the stones +as they reflected the myriad colors of a rainbow. Then on down through +the Devil's Causeway and out on the Sand Trail, rode the adventurers, +until they saw Jeb and Mike riding to meet them. + +"Mike says we-all ain't the fust ones to start up Grizzly Slide, this +mornin'," said Jeb, the moment he was within hearing. + +"U-um! Plenty fool go by!" grunted Mike. + +Mike was an entirely new type to the city girls, and they studied him +with interest. He was a swarthy-looking Indian; perhaps, as Mr. Brewster +said, because he smoked himself brown. He always rode his famous Indian +pony and carried an evil-looking gun, besides the revolvers in his belt. +Another weapon he had, as evil but not quite so fatal to others as the +gun--and that was his old pipe, as black as the Asiatic plague. + +Mike was a descendant of a famous Chieftain, so he seldom noticed the +miners or common natives about Oak Creek, but he considered himself an +equal of educated people like the Brewsters. Hence his willingness to +act as guide for this party, after he had refused tempting offers from +the "scorned" early that morning. + +"Now we'll turn off at the Forks and ride fast to meet Simms and his +party," advised Mr. Brewster, when they reached the place where the +trails forked. + +"Mike says there's the old Indian Trail up the mountain, that cuts off +half the distance to the Slide," called Jeb, from the front. + +"Him bad trail--no like Top Notch," warned the Indian. + +"Whereabouts will we hit it, Mike?" asked Mr. Brewster. + +"Onny Mike say--him secret Indian Trail," explained the red-man, ever +faithful to his ancestors. + +"Well, will we pass Pine Tree where we are to meet Simms and the +sheriff?" added Mrs. Brewster. + +"Na! him run away from Pine Tree. But him save half-day riding." + +Mr. Brewster silently considered this possibility for a few moments, +then turned to his wife, and said: "Mary, it seems most important just +now for us to get to the cave before others reach it, as we must stake +out additional claims adjoining the mine, in order to protect the rights +of the girls. Of course, we must have Mike show us his secret trail, and +I will go to escort the girls, but you and Jeb might ride on to Pine +Tree to meet Simms' party. Then ride with them up along Top Notch Trail. +We will all meet at Four Mile Blaze." + +"I was about to suggest the same plan, Sam; but I won't need Jeb with +me. I'm so used to this road that I am perfectly safe. It is the Trail +that will be hazardous to a lone rider, when once the outlaws hear of +this strike. But I will have Mr. Simms and the other men with me, so +everything will be safe and all right," replied Mrs. Brewster. + +After a hasty good-by, Mrs. Brewster rode away, and the others in the +party followed after Mike who led up a hitherto unknown trail to Grizzly +Slide. It was so over-grown that no one but an Indian could ever find a +way through; however, Mike was an adept in this line. + +"I have been wondering if this could have been the trail Mr. Montresor +discovered the day he approached his gold mine from the valley," said +Polly, as she followed close at Mike's heels. + +"You may have hit the nail on the head, Poll. It always has been a +question whether Montresor was quite sane, because he insisted that he +rode up a strange trail that was over-grown with jungle before he came +upon the ravine that held his gold mine," added Mr. Brewster. + +"Humph! Him good old scout," came from Mike. + +"I'm glad to hear you say so, Mike, because I liked him so much!" sighed +Polly, and tears filled her eyes at the memory of her old friend. + +"Patsy good scout, too. Solly dem dead," Mike added. + +Conversation now became impossible, as Mike rode far in advance for some +reason best known to himself, and the trail was so steep and rough that +it took each rider all his attention to keep in the saddle. However, the +flora and fauna were so interesting that the girls endured many a jar +and jolt for the sake of seeing them. + +Reaching Four Mile Blaze they found they had saved over half the +distance it would have been to ride up over Top Notch Trail; and this +pleased Mr. Brewster tremendously. He had just turned in his saddle to +call out to the girls behind him when Mike held up a warning hand. + +Every one looked at him to see what he had discovered. He grunted +unpleasantly, and slid from his horse. He sprawled out on the ground and +placed his ear close to the earth. Every one sat still, waiting to hear +the report, or cause, of this unusual behavior. + +The Indian listened attentively for a time, then got up and examined the +trail along Top Notch, as far back as the blazed tree. There he placed +his ear to the ground again, and listened for a longer time than at +first. Then he got up slowly and crept about examining the bushes, the +broken twigs, rocks, and even the grass. + +The girls watched him with intense interest, as Polly had told them of +the wonderful scouting instinct Mike possessed, and now they were going +to have it demonstrated to them. Having satisfied himself, Mike came +over to Mr. Brewster and announced, abruptly: + +"Tree miner gone aleddy--two tenderfut comin'." + +"Three up there already! By the Great Horned Spoon! how did they do it?" +cried Sam Brewster, aghast at the idea that perhaps they would have +trouble when they reached Polly's mine. + +"Maybe the three gone on ahead have no idea that we found gold up there. +Maybe they are after pelts, or some other thing," said Anne Stewart. + +Mike grinned complacently, for he had spoken. + +"How do you know those three are miners, Mike?" asked Polly. + +The Indian pointed to the ground where an imprint of a miner's boot was +plainly seen. Only the miners at Oak Creek wore such spiked heels, the +ranchers and other citizens being satisfied with heavy leather soles. +The foot-print pointed towards the Slide--not away from it. + +"That's only one, Mike, and you said there were three!" exclaimed Anne, +triumphantly. + +"Tree hoss go by--see." Mike pointed out three different kinds of +horse-shoe imprints. + +"One hoss carry pack an' go lame. Two hoss all light." + +"How do you know he is lame--and maybe he isn't packed," Eleanor said. + +Mike sniffed derisively, and pointed at the lighter impression of one +hind foot. Then he showed his admiring audience how a slight rip in a +flour-sack allowed the contents to trickle down upon the ground at each +limp the lame horse gave. + +Mike now said to Mr. Brewster: "Dem go slow--lame hoss no go fas', mebbe +jus' ahead." + +"If we ride on we can catch up with them!" eagerly exclaimed Anne. + +Mike shook his head and lifted a finger for silence. Then the girls +heard a faint clip-clop of hoof-beats on the rocky trail leading along +Top Notch. + +"Two tenderfut 'mos' catch up. We-all wait an' talkee," suggested Mike, +settling himself in his saddle to await the riders. + +"Mike's right, because they will only follow us and find out where our +claim is located, if we start on now," added Polly. + +Mr. Brewster shook his head. "Ah reckon you-all talk sense but Ah would +offer an amendment to your plan: to have Polly and Anne take Jeb for an +escort and ride on at once. Let the horses have their head and get to +the cave as soon as you can. Hold the fort until we-all join you. We-all +will see these two men and find out what they are after." + +"Daddy, you must remember a grizzly bear lives in that cave. He may have +been injured but he may not have died, the other night. I have my small +rifle but Anne hasn't any weapon at all. As for Jeb--he's great on the +farm, but for this work, huh! Then there are those three miners who are +up ahead: they wouldn't hesitate to put two mere girls out of their way, +if we interfered with their staking our mine or jumping our claims," +said Polly. + +Mike smiled and expressed his opinion. "Miss'r Brooser wait wid two +ten'erfut, an' Mike go wid leedle leddies. Ef cabe hab trouble of +grizzle er miner, Mike shoot." + +"Good! And Ah'll wait for Simms and the others, and then come after +you-all," agreed Mr. Brewster. + +"I won't go with Mike if there is any danger at the cave. I didn't come +to the Rockies to be killed!" declared Barbara. + +"Daddy, you must keep Eleanor and Barbara here with you and Jeb, and +wait for mother and the sheriff's men. Anne and I will go with Mike and +see that our rights are protected," now said Polly. + +"I have as much right to go with you, Polly, as Anne has. Why must I +remain here with Bob?" demanded Eleanor. + +"I know that, Nolla, but three of us will be too many--especially as +Anne and you have no firearms. I may need Anne to help me load but you +can't even do that. So it will be far better for us all if you remain +here. Mike will not have to bother over so many of us, then," explained +Polly. + +"But everything may be safe at the cave, and all this worry about +fighting may be a farce," argued Eleanor. + +"In that case Mike will leave us safely there and come back to guide +you-all to us. Once we are safe on that ledge with a pile of dry wood in +front of the entrance to the cave, we can defy the whole country." + +"All right! Hurry away and get on to that ledge before any more rascals +steal a march on you. But be sure to send Mike back for us, the moment +Anne and you arrive there and find everything is all right," replied +Eleanor. + +So Mike spurred his broncho along the trail, while Polly and Anne rode +after him. Soon they disappeared around the bend where giant pines +formed a wall on either side of the narrow going. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE CLAIM-JUMPERS + + +The moment the three had passed out of sight, Sam Brewster jumped from +his horse and led him over to the great tree that caused the trail to +turn aside and run around it. He looped the reins over his arm and +placed his hands in his coat pockets. As he leaned against the +tree-trunk nibbling nonchalantly at a sprig of grass, a tenderfoot would +never have dreamed that his fingers were tensely held against the +triggers of the revolvers hidden in his pockets. + +Soon after Mr. Brewster had taken his stand where he could see the first +appearance of any one coming up the trail, two riders approached eagerly +scanning the large trees, in evident search of something. As they came +to the giant tree where the rancher waited, both men started in +surprise. + +"How-dy, friends? Out early this morning, eh?" was the greeting the two +amazed men received from the alert man at the tree. + +"Oh--oh, yes!" stammered one, plainly uneasy. + +"Hoh, it's Sam Brewster of Pebbly Pit, ain't it?" said the other, also +confused in his manner. + +"Right you are, Hank. You see, when a man has to attend to the girls' +gold mine, he has to be up right early to forestall the plans of any +claim-jumpers who read the records at Oak Creek, yesterday, after we +left there. That's why I got a possé to guard the place. I reckon, now, +Hank, that your boss sent you-all on to help we-all up yonder, eh?" +laughed Mr. Brewster, tantalizingly, as he recognized Hank to be the +clerk at the filing office in Oak Creek. + +The man Hank laughed also, but a discordant note rang through his forced +merriment. "We-all ain't claim-jumpers, Mr. Brewster, but it seemed so +quare to find Old Montresor's Mine hed ben found again, that Ah sez to +my pal, here, 'How'd you-all like to run up to the Slide and have a +squint at that cave?' An' havin' a day off, he reckoned he'd enjy the +trip. So here we-all are." + +"Yes--so Ah see! Here you-all are. And Ah says to my girls and the +possé, says Ah: 'There'll be a lot of fools start off at night-fall, to +hit this trail to the Slide just out of dern-fool curiosity to have a +squint at Old Montresor's Mine. But human nature is human nature, +girls,' says Ah, so when they get that squint, they may forget one of +the Ten Commandments and want to covet their neighbor's property. And +seeing how they have lost a good night's sleep through climbing the Top +Notch Trail just to arrive early to have that squint, they will sort of +feel justified in stealing an acre, or so, of gold-land. That would make +them break another Commandment; so Ah felt it a duty, Hank, to send on a +regiment in advance, to save the souls of such curious sightseers." Sam +Brewster never changed a muscle of his serious face nor did his voice +have the slightest sign of any other feeling than a reverent desire to +help his fellow-man. But the two men knew Sam Brewster by experience as +well as from hearsay. + +"Right-o! Hank told me what a good man you war," said the miner who +accompanied Hank. But his shifty eyes belied the tone. + +Mr. Brewster smiled. "Yes. Ah did hate to see any one lose a good +night's sleep and then get thus far only to be mistaken for +claim-jumpers by the Sheriff's men up yonder. Of course, Hank and +you-all aren't going to take such chances with the law." + +The miner glanced about uneasily but only saw two girls sitting on their +horses a short distance away. Hank's face lowered, however, and he +growled forth: "Ah don't see whose business it is whether we break the +Sheriff's law or not." + +"Perhaps _you_ don't see--but Ah do, Hank. And when the Sheriff says, +'Keep the trail free from all trespassers till my possé can take +charge,' you know me--Ah'll see that his orders are carried out," +returned Mr. Brewster sternly, his pockets moving suspiciously. + +"You-all hain't got no orders, and thar hain't no possé up yander, +neither, 'cause they hain't a-comin' till after Simms leaves," exclaimed +Hank, unguardedly. + +"Ah! So you and your man thought you'd get a lead on the Sheriff, eh?" +laughed Mr. Brewster. "Oh, but you are an easy tenderfoot to stuff, +Hank! Did you-all really believe such a story would have been told at +Oak Creek if the possé planned to wait for morning? Why, man, that is +just what they wanted to do--to catch a lot of rascals red-handed and +clean Oak Creek out, once for all! How do you know that there is a real +claim staked out up there--or whether it is the Sheriff's joke to land +a ring of crooks?" + +Eleanor and Barbara were so interested in the way Mr. Brewster handled +the two rascals without telling a direct falsehood that they sighed when +the claim-jumpers backed their horses and withdrew to confer anxiously +on what they had heard. But Sam Brewster interpolated with: + +"If it is curiosity that brought you-all to lose a night's rest, pass +right along and tell the Sheriff and Bill your yarn. They will not only +let you take a squint at what you think is a mine, but they will pay you +to remain and help arrest all the claim-jumpers who are already on the +way." + +Even as he spoke, Mr. Brewster saw the sly move of Hank as he tried to +pull his gun from the holster; instantly a hand came from the rancher's +pocket and brought to light a cocked revolver. The other man suddenly +changed his mind when the bore of Brewster's gun was leveled so that the +clerk could look right down into his grave if he made the slightest +mistake in this outing of his. + +But the miner became ugly; then he saw the other hand of Sam Brewster +come from his pocket and he knew that he was a dead rascal too, if he +made one false step. So his expression changed to a wily smile, and he +said: + +"What you-all ha'r fur ef th' Sheriff's up thar guardin' th' precious +mine?" + +"Told to warn away any foolish town-clerks who might be heading straight +to Kingdom Come! You know Bill likes to give every chump a loop-hole to +save himself, if possible," retorted Mr. Brewster. + +"We ain't lookin' fer no argyment with Bill ner the Shuriff, so +we-all'll mosey back an' tell others we meet. Howsomever, you-all won't +find it so easy to git rid of curious folks when that miner-gang gits +ha'r. Ah happen to know who and how many are plannin' to come." + +With that farewell, Hank turned his horse's head and led the way down +the trail, slowly followed by the unwilling miner. + +"Oh, Mr. Brewster! hadn't we better ride after Mike and the girls before +the miners' gang gets here?" cried Barbara, fearfully. + +Mr. Brewster laughed. "That was only a bluff of Hank's to make me ride +along so he and his pal might follow us. I haven't the least doubt but +that both of those cowardly rascals are hiding just out of sight where +they can watch my every movement. Should we start to ride along towards +the cave, they would follow and shoot us from the rear as sure as +anything." + +In spite of his making light of Hank, however, Mr. Brewster kept a wary +eye open for an ambuscade. Nothing of moment happened, however, and Jeb +was just saying: "Maybe we-all had best ride for the cave," when a shot +rang out. + +"Well!" gasped he, while the two girls trembled with fear. + +"That sounded from Top Notch. It's either Simms and his party, or those +rascals. In either case, it won't be cowardly in us to hide behind a +clump of pines and await developments," suggested the rancher. + +Mr. Brewster stationed Eleanor behind a close growth of young pine and +handed her a small rifle. Barbara was hidden deeper in the forest, and +then he and Jeb took their places behind a bowlder whence they could +watch the up-trail. With a revolver ready in each hand, they waited +anxiously. + +But his wise precautions were unnecessary this time, for Bill soon rode +up, calling loudly as he came. Sam Brewster sighed with relief to find a +group of Oak Creek's leading citizens with the Sheriff. + +"Bill, did you-all shoot, a time back?" queried Mr. Brewster the moment +the possé came up. + +Bill laughed. "Ah'll explain in a minute. You-all see it wa'r this way: +After you-all left for home, yesterday, it wa'r found how some low-down +sneaks got wind of this claim and planned to ride up at once. It looked +a lot like claim-jumpin', so we-all got together mighty quick and rode +after them to spare the Lord any trouble in judgin' 'em. Also, we-all +reckoned to save your party any nonsense over the gold, 'specially as +thar wa'r four gals in it." + +"But three rascals got a lead on you," interrupted Sam. + +"Yeh, three are at large somewhere, Ah reckon; but two of the worst ones +out of that five are back yonder. Hank Johnson and his jail-bird pal are +down on Four Mile Blaze. When we get the other three, we'll rid Oak +Crick of five of its worst citizens." + +"Rattle-Snake Mike came up with us, Bill. We rode up the Indian +Trail--that's how we got here so soon. But Mike went on to the cave with +Polly and her friend. They'll guard their claim, all right, unless those +three interfere," said Mr. Brewster, with an anxious note in his voice. + +"Ah reckon we'd better make for that cave, then! Thar may be some work +cut out fer us thar," whispered Bill, seeing the two city girls now +ride out from cover and come over to join the group. + +"Where's Mrs. Brewster?" asked Eleanor, anxiously. + +"This is Bill's party--they left Oak Creek last night," explained Mr. +Brewster. + +"Then where is Simms and your wife?" asked Barbara. + +"You see it will take the others much longer to ride up from Lone Pine +than it took us to climb the trappers' trail, so they can't possibly +arrive for some time yet. We-all just got here, and we left Oak Creek at +midnight," explained one of the men, encouraging the two girls. + +"But we-all stopped on the way and cooked breakfast and fed our hosses. +Simms and his party will ride right up and ought to be ha'r pritty soon, +now," said Bill. + +"How about leavin' some one here at Four Mile Blaze to direct the Simms' +party, while we-all ride on with Sam to hunt those three claim-jumpers," +suggested one of the possé. + +"Barbara and I will wait here with Jeb if you leave us each with a gun," +offered Eleanor, eagerly. + +Barbara gasped at the very idea, but Eleanor added: + +"We don't want to be mixed up in a fight with rascals, and we are safer +here than up there." + +"The gal's right, Sam. They'd onny be in the road if we-all have to +chase them men," said Bill. + +"But they can't shoot! Why give them any guns?" asked Mr. Brewster, +anxiously. + +"I just bet I could kill you at forty paces, if you were a claim-jumper +and looked at me the way Hank looked at you!" declared Eleanor, +emphatically. + +The men laughed, and Bill wagged his head approvingly. "Ah say, Sam, let +the gals take a crack at the Four Mile tree--and see." + +"Well, even the sight of guns will make the villains respect us, even if +we can't shoot!" added Barbara, who felt that the lesser of the two +dangers would be to remain with Eleanor and Jeb where they now were. + +After many instructions and warnings had been given to Jeb and the two +city girls, Mr. Brewster spurred his horse on to ride after his +companions who were already up the trail. But he had not far to go. + +At the bend of the trail, where there was a small clearing, he saw the +men standing up in their stirrups, intent on something ahead. He urged +his horse up to join them, and just before reaching the group, he +called out: "What's wrong?" + +The horses were tossing their heads, pawing the ground, and acting +restive. Bill turned half-way around in the saddle and replied: +"D'you-all smell anything, Sam?" + +Mr. Brewster noticed then, that the men held faces up and were sniffing +in different directions. He then sniffed carefully himself and +exclaimed: "Smells like smoke." + +But even as he spoke, the thought reached him: "A forest fire!" His face +went white and he murmured a prayer to himself for Polly and Anne. + +"Yeh, Sam. Comin' down from the Slide," was all Bill said. + +"My Gawd, men! what shall we do?" cried one of the possé. + +"We-all must ship them two gals an' Jeb down trail, right away, and then +the rest of us'll ride up to see if anything kin be done to stop it. +Mebbe it hain't got a headway yet," replied Bill. + +But the two girls were now seen riding up the trail as fast as their +horses could travel. Barbara rode first and Eleanor after her, shouting +aloud in a frantic voice. The men waited fearfully to hear what new +trouble assailed them. + +Barbara almost ran down Mr. Brewster's horse in her blind fear, and +when questioned, could not speak. Eleanor then rode up and looked so +angry that she could scarcely explain. + +"Bob declared she heard noises behind us and on one side, and then, +without giving me or Jeb any warning, she started her horse at a run, to +come and meet you men. She cried that it would be safer with a crowd +than alone with only Jeb and me and the rifles we knew nothing about. I +had to ride after her to see that she reached you safely. Now I'll go +back and keep guard again." + +"Stop, Nolla! Although you are a brave little girl, it will be of no use +to keep guard now. Jeb and you will have to ride down Top Notch Trail as +fast as you can, and meet Simms who is coming up with Mrs. Brewster. +Send Simms and the men on to help us, but you three women take Jeb and +go right on down. There's a forest fire." Mr. Brewster added the last +portentous words in an awed voice. + +"Oh, my goodness! Will we be hurt?" cried Barbara. + +But Eleanor thought not of herself. She immediately cried: "Are Polly +and Anne safe?" + +"Polly--whar's she?" demanded Bill, suddenly realizing that the girl was +not one of the party. + +"She went to the cave with Mike to watch there, in case any +claim-jumpers tried to stake their ground," groaned Sam Brewster. + +"Is the cave far from here?" added Bill, quickly. + +"Not as far as Top Notch Trail," replied Eleanor, seeing a possible way +for her to get to Polly and Anne. + +"But some one ought to send Simms on to us and then ride on down trail +to signal the forest-rangers' lookout so's they could come and help +fight the fire," said another man. + +"Can't Bob and I join Polly and Anne in the cave where we will be safe +from any fire, and you send Jeb down to signal Simms and the +forest-rangers?" asked Eleanor excitedly, seeing how urgent was the need +for instant action. + +"All right; take this young man for protection, and get to the cave as +quick as you can. You gals wait in the cave till you-all hear from us +again. Send Mike down trail to Jeb to hurry Simms and then escort Mrs. +Brewster home. We're ridin' up yander to work," ordered Bill, +authoritatively. + +Eleanor turned her horse's head to a faint trail that she was sure would +bring them to the cave. Barbara and the cow-boy followed, while Bill +and his men urged the horses to their utmost up the steep Slide. + +"Thar's one good thing about this fire--it seems to be comin' down, and +it don't travel near so quick that way, like-as-how it do when it goes +upward. Mebbe we-all kin choke it in its first stages," explained Bill. + +Eleanor and her two followers now reached the end of the little erosion +made by a storm. Then the city girl found it really was no trail at all. +They sat their horses looking helplessly about while Barbara began to +whimper with fear. + +Even courageous Eleanor began to quail at what would befall them if they +were lost, when Mike suddenly appeared in the distance, climbing the +steep slope before them. His broncho came on recklessly through the +bushes and wild undergrowth until he was within speaking distance then +he shouted: + +"Mike hear shoots! Gals in cabe alle-right. Mike smell fire. He go see +who burn. Fin' tree bad miner--One gone happy hunting-groun',--two sleep +f'm much fire-water. Tree hosses hobble on down trail." As he spoke he +acted his words so that it was plain that he had found the three +claim-jumpers who were dead drunk, and their mounts which were trying +to break away in sheer fear of the fire. + +"Mike, Bill and Mr. Brewster said you were to leave us in the cave, if +it is safe there, and then ride down trail to meet Jeb and go on to stop +Simms' party. Warn the lookout on the forest-ranger's post and then come +back to us, but Jeb is to ride home with the Missus!" exclaimed Eleanor, +excitedly. + +Mike frowned. "Indian no like squaw job!" + +"That's just what I was going to say, Mike. Now if you will put us on +the right trail, we three can find the way to the cave. We will stay +there with the other girls, and let you do as you think best, _after_ +you send Jeb away to meet Simms," said Eleanor. + +"Mike mus' tell Boss and Bill 'bout fire. Him eat down-hill, udder side +Slide. No burn dis side." + +Meantime, the Indian was leading the way to the trail that would bring +the girls out at the ravine where the cave was. Once on the right trail, +the youth whom Bill had sent with the girls, said he could keep to it +without going astray. + +Mike waited but a moment to assure himself that they would be safe along +the trail, then he started his horse up the steep side. His keen Indian +scout habits now stood him in good stead. He soon had the Sheriff's +party tracked and was riding after them. His young broncho galloped +along until the group of men bound for the Slide, were hailed by a +war-whoop. + +Bill turned and saw the Indian close behind. He called a halt, and when +the party stopped, the messenger was already in their midst. + +"Fire up lodge-pole pine side. Eatin' down--dat way!" cried Mike, waving +a hand at the side of the mountain away from them and the cave. + +"Mike go see an' fin' tree miner. Dey hab big fight--two shoot one. Him +dead. Udders drunk--gone 'sleep. Hosses tie up." + +"Mike, you lead! Men fall in--we-all fight the fire first, then find the +drunken miners and arrest them for manslaughter," ordered Bill, and thus +the possé rode away. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +AT CHOKO'S FIND + + +After losing the trail many times only to stumble into it again and +again, and then slipping, sliding, or jolting down the steep side of the +mountain where the timber-line ended near the cliff, Eleanor finally +recognized the ravine where the cave was located. + +"Oh, thank heavens! We're almost there," she cried, trying to find the +easiest way down to the ledge. + +Polly and Anne were sitting before the entrance to the cave, when they +heard shouts and saw three weary riders coming along the rocky ledge +that led to their refuge. + +"Why--it's Nolla and Bob and a man!" exclaimed Polly, jumping up to run +and meet the girls. + +"What's wrong--any one hurt?" cried Anne, the moment she saw the faces +of the girls. + +Eleanor then told about the forest-fire, and where the men were. The +more recent excitement had quite driven the story of Hank and his +claim-jumpers from her mind. But Polly anxiously asked for her mother. + +"Oh, yes--Simms and the party hadn't arrived when we left Four Mile +Blaze. But they will be all right, as Mike is gone to meet them. Then +your mother and Jeb will ride back to warn the forest-rangers about the +fire," explained Barbara. + +"Why, no, Bob. Don't you remember, Mike said he would have to tell +Polly's father about the drunken men and the fire, first," Eleanor +corrected her sister. + +"Well, I'm not worrying about mother because she knows too much to run +into unnecessary danger; but father always wants to save everybody and +everything from disaster, and so takes his life in his hands, over and +over again," Polly worried. + +"Mr. Brewster'll be all right with Bill around, Miss Polly," said the +young man who had accompanied the city girls. "No one is allowed to run +any risks for nuthin', when the Sheriff is there to stop 'em." + +"I just hope Bill _will_ keep father in bounds!" declared Polly. + +Very little smoke reached the ravine, which was on the opposite side of +the mountain from that where the fire raged, so the girls knew not how +matters fared until late in the afternoon. Then, to their great relief, +Mr. Brewster shouted a signal from the lodge-pole pine forest. + +Polly gave an answering call, and then ran along the dangerous ledge +until she reached the place where the pine trees had been blown down the +day of the blizzard. Here she could see the dim outlines of several +riders as they waited for some evidence that they were on the right +trail. + +Before Polly could climb the slope to wave her hat, she saw Mike riding +up behind the party and then go on before them down the trail leading to +the cave. + +Polly was kept busy with answering the girls who stood at the cave +entrance, and in calling to her parents and friends who were approaching +as fast as the down-trail would permit. When they rode near enough for +Polly to see their faces, she recognized her mother and Jeb in the +party; she thought they expressed great concern over something that must +have happened to the party--or perhaps something that might happen. + +"Well, Polly, you've had all day to dig the gold out of your mine; got +it tied in bags for us to lug home?" called Mr. Simms, jocularly. + +"Mr. Simms, you needn't worry over that gold as long as there is +something worse to trouble you. What is it?" answered Polly. + +"Ha, ha, ha! Poll must be feeling lonesome; when she talks like this, +it's a sure sign she needs jolly company," replied the lawyer. + +"Maybe she thought we were chewed up by the grizzlies," added Mr. +Brewster, forcing a gayety similar to that of Mr. Simms. + +"What's the matter with you men? Is there any danger from the fire?" +demanded Polly. + +"No, the fire's burning over the down-slope on the other side. You know +it won't come this way," returned Mrs. Brewster. + +"Well, then--where are the other men? Did those drunken miners shoot any +one?" persisted the girl. + +"Don't bother with questions, Polly. Let us get some supper before we +think of anything else," advised her mother. + +Mike was soon busy unpacking the outfit for cooking, and Mrs. Brewster +joined him to give any assistance he might need. Polly went over to her +father to try and get more satisfactory information from him, regarding +that day's experiences. + +"Did you say the miners who came up ahead of us to-day were in Bill's +custody, Daddy?" + +"Ah didn't say anything; but now Ah'll _tell_ you-all that they are +shipped safely to a place where they can do no harm." + +"Oh! Did Bill go down the Trail with them?" continued Polly. + +"No, Bill's man went down-trail to watch in case of any new trouble." + +"See here, father! Out with your secret! What are you-all keeping from +me?" asked Polly, anxiously. + +"Good gracious, Poll! Can't a man feel riled after such a wearing day +and with nothing to eat, without his women-folks asking plaguey +questions?" cried Mr. Brewster, testily. + +Polly was silenced for the moment, but she went out to the ledge where +her mother was helping Mike, and there she began again. + +"Mother, I know something unusual concerns you-all, so you may as well +confide in me." + +"I reckon the men are vexed because we lost all this day hunting up +those wretched miners who must have accidentally set the fire going on +the other side," was all the reply Polly received. + +Mike glanced up to look covertly at Mrs. Brewster and the inquisitive +girl caught his expression. + +"Even Mike is laughing at the poor way in which you are fencing with me. +Now treat me as if I were sensible--not like a baby, or like Bob!" +demanded Polly. + +"Well, to tell the truth, Polly, I'm afraid to tell you everything. If +those girls know they will go clean daffy," sighed Mrs. Brewster, +passing her hand over a troubled brow. + +"Mother! Did I go daffy when that blizzard carried Choko over the +ledge--and what did I do up on Grizzly when the snow and ice covered the +trail? Did I lose my nerve?" + +At that moment Mr. Simms called out to Mike: "'Most done cookin', Mike? +Ah want you-all to go with me to ketch a grizzly afore it is too dark to +see him. Ah promised mah wife she should have a bear-skin rug this +trip." + +Mike looked at Mrs. Brewster who nodded for him to go. She calmly took +the ladle and continued stirring the soup that the Indian had been +attending to, then Mike hurried after Simms. + +"There now--I know it is something serious and it is much better for me +to _know_ what may happen than to have it come upon me like a +thunder-bolt," said Polly. + +"Well, then, keep on stirring this broth while I busy myself over the +rest of the supper, and I'll tell you. Don't exclaim, or show any shock. +It is important for us to keep cool," advised Mrs. Brewster, as she +toasted some dry bread over the embers. + +"I wasn't present when this occurred but father told me. The men found +the miner who had been shot, and down the slope further on, they saw the +forms of the other two. But the panic-stricken horses that had been +hobbled and left to graze, were so frightened at the clouds of smoke and +crackling fire, that a few of the men had to lead them back to a clear +place. There they were tied securely to some trees. + +"Your father, Bill, and one of his men, jumped down the steep sides +where the fire was raging, and began to beat out the flames. They could +see the two drunken miners just beyond the fire-line down the trail, but +they seemed so overcome with whisky and smoke that they failed to +respond to any shouts from the men, or to the fear of the on-driving +fire. + +"Our men had beaten out the ground-fire half-way to the miners, when a +terrific rumbling sounded, as from a distance behind them. Bill's man +was far in advance of the other two rescuers, and perhaps, the +crackling on the ground and the raging fire in the trees overhead, +deafened him to this other portentous sound. + +"Father, however, felt that it meant something more terrible than a +fire, so he shouted to Bill and tried to warn the man. But a fit of +coughing from inhaling the smoke, cut his call short. Bill then cried, +'Go on back, Sam--I'll get my man!' + +"So your father managed to force his way back towards the Top Trail. +There he saw a great white cloud swooping down from the peak of Grizzly +Slide. He turned, screamed at Bill and waved his arms to warn them out +of the track of the avalanche, if possible. Bill and his man saw this +new danger and turned to climb back to safety. + +"Father was leading, Bill a short distance behind him, and the man not +far in the rear, when the first two heard a scream. They turned and saw +the horse had stumbled and fallen. He tried to scramble to his feet +before the onrush of the half-frozen earth and rock and snow could reach +him, but it caught and whirled him away on its crest. + +"Father and Bill were thrown down with the shaking of the ground caused +by the terrific slide, and several times they were almost sucked into +the vortex caused by the overwhelming ever-growing stream. Had it not +been for Mike who had heard the rumble and knew what it meant, both Bill +and father would have been lost. But Mike threw out a rope that father +caught and quickly wound about himself, while Bill clutched on to +father's legs. Thus Mike dragged them up to the tree where he had bound +himself. The horses are gone!" + +Mrs. Brewster seemed overcome at the recital of the awful ordeal the men +had passed through, but Polly said encouragingly: + +"Don't take on so, mother! 'All's well that ends well' and father and +Bill are safe, you know." + +"Oh, but this isn't all, Polly! Mike says when Grizzly starts an +avalanche like that first one, the very force of its tearing away keeps +on breaking away the ice-fields all around the peak. Another slide may +come at any moment and pour down this side, you see. The men who had +taken care of the horses when the others were fighting the fire were +left stationed at the timber-line to watch. If they notice the faintest +sign of another serious break on the peak, they are to signal a lookout +left on the crest of this slope. And they in turn must warn Bill's son +who was left sitting on top of this ledge. That is where Simms and Mike +have gone now. There must have been a signal from Bill's boy to Simms." + +Mrs. Brewster looked at her daughter to see if she could bear the rest +of the story. Finding Polly as calm as she herself was, she continued: + +"Father said the experience Simms and he went through was mere child's +play to what it might be should Grizzly loosen up and send down a slide +on this side of the peak. Of course, the fire and smoke added to the +horror on the other side, but the actual avalanche was not as tremendous +because the slope was partly protected by the abrupt drop of thousands +of feet from the peak to the valley, down which the greater flood must +have rushed. + +"This side is on the direct down-slope from the peak, with nothing to +break a snow-slide, or to carry off the bulk of the débris. + +"This morning, when I rode up with Simms' party, we met two old trappers +who were coming down. They had passed Old Grizzly Slide yesterday, and +they said there must have been an awful thaw going on under the +surface-ice of the Slide, as the yawning chasm where you discovered the +crevice the other day was frightful. It made even their courageous +spirits tremble at sight of it. But they turned again and rode up with +us, as they said they could be useful to Bill. They are up on Top Notch +now, scouting for the first symptoms of a slide." + +Polly turned white as she heard the story, but she still had control of +her voice, so she whispered: "Why don't we-all start down-trail +to-night? Why lose time cooking supper, and have the men up there +watching for the trouble?" + +"Mike says we are safer in this cave than on the trail. It is impossible +to go down the Indian trail at night, and Top Notch Trail is bad enough +in the daytime, so that in the dark it is forbidding. He says this cave +is high enough up on the ledge and near enough to the crest to escape +most of the drift. The trash will be swept clear over the entrance and +down into the ravine, while any snow or ice that might lodge up on the +ledge before the cave will soon melt again. Then we can get away, when +all is over." + +Polly said nothing, but she was thinking seriously. Mrs. Brewster was +grateful that her daughter could bear such awesome news without a +tremor. So the two completed the supper, and were ready to serve it, +when Sam Brewster rode down the ledge. + +"Come on, Daddy! Just in time for a bowl of hot soup!" called Polly, +gayly waving a ladle. + +Her mother admired the self-control the girl showed over any fear or +danger, and followed the brave example set her. "Yes, Sam, if Simms +wants to chase a bear in the twilight, let him! You will do far better +to enjoy the supper." + +So they sat down to eat toasted bread and soup, while Polly talked +vivaciously and caused many a laugh from the unsuspecting girls. As the +meager supper was almost finished, however, Mr. Brewster mentioned in a +casual tone: "Girls, Ah expect John and his friends early to-morrow, you +know. Mike is going down to meet them." + +"Oh, yes! And won't we have exciting adventures to tell him!" exclaimed +Anne, thinking only of John and his coming. + +"Mrs. Brewster is going down with Mike, to meet the boys. So we-all +thought you gals would like to ride down, too, instead of sitting up in +front of this cave all day and night," continued Mr. Brewster. + +"Why, how foolish! to kill the horses with all that climbing! Up to-day, +down to-morrow, and up again the next day! No horse could stand that!" +declared Anne, amazed at her host's suggestion. + +"Well, Ah've been thinking you-all had best stay down, once you get +there. This is no sort of life for women-folk, anyway. When John and Tom +Latimer get here they can look after your mining interests better than +you can yourselves." + +"But, Mr. Brewster, you haven't even seen the hole inside of that cave, +where I followed after Polly the day we discovered the gold!" exclaimed +Eleanor, greatly disappointed in Polly's father. + +"Ah haven't had time, Nolla. What with the doings of the claim-jumpers +and everything, Ah've had a full day. Besides, it looks as if we-all are +going to have _some_ time up here, and Ah'd feel a heap easier if you +women were safe at home." + +"Are there signs of other claim-jumpers coming up, Mr. Brewster?" asked +Eleanor, anxiously. + +"From what our scouts report, up on the Trail, we're going to have such +a time, if we remain here, that we may not have another good opportunity +to escape with our lives," returned the distracted man. + +"Oh dear me! Can't we start now? I never want to see any claim-jumpers +again!" cried Barbara, wringing her hands. + +"Keep quiet, Bob! We'll do just as Mr. Brewster says, but your +whimpering won't help any," said Anne. + +"Well, girls, I'm so eager to see John again, that I'm willing to ride +down with Mike and mother," said Polly, acting her part perfectly. + +"Oh, Polly! I don't want to go and leave the gold mine, but I want you +to stay with me," cried Eleanor. + +"Goodness me, Nolla! Don't you s'pose we can ride up again when the +danger blows over? A lot of good the mine would do either one of us if a +dozen claim-jumpers put lead through us all at one time!" laughed Polly, +but feeling far from humorous. + +"I suppose I'll just _have_ to go, if all the rest of you do!" cried +Eleanor, stamping her foot angrily. + +So, after much arguing and explaining, it was decided that every one +should be ready to start down-trail at the earliest streak of daylight. + +That night the girls and Mrs. Brewster slept on the pine-beds--or at +least the city girls slept, while Polly and her mother rested even as +they waited for the first warning call from the guard, who sat by the +fire that was started to keep away the wild beasts. + +The hours passed without any new signals, and at three o'clock Mike +called out that he was ready to start. The girls demurred about getting +up at that hour, but Polly was too energetic to give them any peace. So, +shortly after three, the entire party started down Indian Trail, +traveling as swiftly as possible. + +"Now see here! why do all you men come down, too? I thought it was only +the womenfolk who had to get out of the way!" exclaimed Eleanor, +wonderingly. + +"If, any claim-jumpers are about to stake out our land up there who is +there left to stop them?" added Anne, suspiciously, when she saw the +deep concern on every man's face as he rode single file down the path. + +"Wall, now, seem' as we-all are well along the way down, Ah may as well +tell you-all: thar hain't goin' to be no danger of any claim-jumpers +staking your land if Old Grizzly knows anything about it. Thar war a +turrible avalanche yesterday and a leetle one at suppertime; it looks +like-es-how anuther powerful one will hit the trail any moment. That's +why we-all air runnin' away as fast as our hosses kin go," explained +Bill. + +"Oh! Tell Mike to hurry!" cried Barbara. + +"No fear but what we-all are as crazy to git down as you kin be, young +leddy," said Bill, soothingly. + +After four hours' hard traveling, the riders came to a small park where +Mike said they could rest and cook their breakfast, and feed the horses. +From a certain spot on the clearing on this mountain-side, the peak of +Old Grizzly Slide could be seen opposite them, dazzling in the sunshine. + +"Well, the old rascal is still up there," declared Anne. + +"But you-all can't say how soon its skirts will whisk and send down the +trash that always ruins a forest," added Bill. + +Even as he spoke, a strange sight was presented to the group who were +admiring the sparkling peak. A great mist seemed to rise suddenly from +its pinnacle, spreading out and obscuring the sun for a time. Then an +ominous rumble echoed along the crest, and rolled down the slopes. The +mist was suddenly sucked down by some tremendous force, and then a +mighty tremor shook the ground where the escaped riders stood. + +The horses seemed to know instinctively that there was some upheaval of +nature taking place, for they quivered along their sensitive nerves and +nosed the air questioningly. Several of the highbred animals pulled at +their halters and, with drawn-back lips, snapped viciously at the air +as if to warn away the destruction. + +"Oh, oh! Will it hit us?" wailed Barbara. + +"No, we are safe on this opposite up-trail now. But a few hours delay in +getting away this morning and we would have been caught in the drift," +said Sam Brewster, wiping beads of cold perspiration from his brow. + +"Daddy, you don't think that avalanche was on the side of our gold mine, +do you?" asked Polly, plaintively. + +"Pretty close to Choko's Find, Polly dear," said her father. + +"Humph! Gol' all gone dis time!" added Mike, dramatically. + +"Oh no! don't say that, Mike!" wailed Polly. + +"Not _our gold mine_!" added Eleanor, with gasping breath. + +"Mebbe no! Mike t'ink yes." + +There fell a silence at that, and each one looked at the other, while +the same thought passed through their minds: "If that slide buried +Choko's Find again, where would they all have been had they remained in +the cave?" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +JOHN AND HIS FRIEND ARRIVE + + +Nothing could have been done to avert the catastrophe on Grizzly Slide, +so the adventurers finished their breakfast in silence. Mrs. Brewster +seemed the only one who appeared grateful for their safety. Doubtless, +the others felt a certain _sense_ of thanks but they were so disturbed +over the evident loss of the mine again, that it was paramount with +them. + +Having packed the camp dishes, Mike started on the trail again, silently +followed by the rest. Not until they reached Bear Forks where the roads +separated, was anything more said about the mine. + +"Jeb can accompany the ladies to Pebbly Pit, while Ah ride on to Oak +Creek to meet the train that will bring John and his friends. It doesn't +look as if we-all can use their knowledge now, but we may as well talk +things over seeing that like-as-how they will have had the long trip +here," ventured Mr. Brewster, thoughtfully. + +"We-all ought to make up a crowd to go up and try to find Haywuth's +body. Mebbe it will show when the snow's melted from the slope," added +Bill. + +"Sam, why don't you-all plan while on your ride to Oak Creek, to take +Top Notch Trail the same time John and Tom take the expert up? The +larger the party the less danger of accident, you know," suggested Mrs. +Brewster. + +"Are we going with them, mother?" Polly said, in a pleading tone. + +"No, indeed, child! Aren't you cured with what happened this time?" + +"'Lightning never strikes in the same place twice,' Mrs. Brewster," said +Eleanor, hopefully. + +"And you know, Maw, such a terrible slide has not occurred here-abouts +in twenty years," quickly added Polly, dropping back into her ranch +vernacular in her anxiety. "It may be another twenty years before such +another slide happens." + +"And we can get all the gold out of the cave that we need in a short +time," Barbara reminded them. + +This made the men laugh, as the girl's words showed how little she +really understood the situation up on the peak. + +"Well, we can talk things over better when the boys are present to +advise us. Meantime, you-all ride home and rest up. Ah'll bring the boys +along about night-fall," said Mr. Brewster. + +The inhabitants of Oak Creek had felt the trembling of the ground caused +by the huge land-slide on Grizzly, and knowing that so many of their +prominent citizens were there at the time, they were grouped about the +public house anxiously talking over the chances for escape that might be +had on the mountain-top. + +At first sight of the returned men, a wild welcome rang out, not only +from the families who feared their men-folks might never return, but +also from the citizens who were genuinely glad to see Bill and his +possé, and Simms and his boy, safely back. + +After having had his hand shaken as if it were a pump-handle, Sam +Brewster continued on to the station to await the train from Denver. As +he sat on the edge of the horse-trough thinking over the recent +thrilling experiences, he suddenly realized that if Polly had lost her +mine again, she might also lose her desire to go away to school in the +Fall. This seemed a happy thought, for he sat beaming at the old box-car +until the whistle announced the over-due local. + +Two handsome young men jumped from the rear platform the moment the +train slowed down, and soon Mr. Brewster had one of them by both hands +giving him a hearty welcome. + +"Now, Dad, try your muscle on Tom's arm. Mine has had enough for one +day," laughed John, placing an arm affectionately over his father's +shoulder. + +With a young man on either side explaining why the expert was not with +them, Sam Brewster walked down the street towards Simms' office. Both +young men were eagerly talking so the older man had not told them about +the avalanche. + +"I was saying to John, what a different town this will be the moment we +begin operations on Polly's claim," said Tom Latimer. + +"As the train pulled in I tried to look at the station and streets +through future glasses--seeing the rows of fine store-buildings and the +thrift that always follows on the heels of a rich find," added John. + +"We'll drop in Simms' office, boys, as I have to borrow his horses. I +came on to meet you without bringing any mounts," said Mr. Brewster. + +Both young men laughed heartily at this admission, and Tom said +teasingly: "I suppose you were so excited over Polly's discovery of gold +that you clean forgot we were city chaps who are not overfond of hiking +over these trails." + +Simms was talking to the coroner about the witnesses to the death of +Bill's man, and the newly arrived young engineers heard him say: "Sam +Brewster was the other one who escaped that death." + +"What's he talking about, Dad?" whispered John, anxiously, as he watched +the officer take notes. + +Then in as few words as possible, the boys were told all about the +land-slide on Grizzly that had, most likely, buried Choko's Find under +tons and tons of débris--maybe, hid it completely again for all time. + +They sat in Simms' office talking over the plans for the morrow when a +large party was to go up Top Notch. As they sat arranging who would be +the best men to take, John interrupted the conversation: + +"Isn't that Jeb riding along the road with two led horses?" + +"Sure enough! Your mother must have remembered I had but one mount, and +so Jeb was hurried here with extra horses for you," replied Mr. +Brewster, running to the door and hailing his man. + +On the way to Pebbly Pit, Tom rode alongside Mr. Brewster while John +rode beside Jeb. The two latter riders had much to say to each other, +for John had been Jeb's particular charge when the hired man first went +to work at Pebbly Pit. Now John was a head taller than his erstwhile +guardian, even if he was much the younger. + +Jeb acted very morose and absentminded; instead of giving sensible +replies to John's questions about the avalanche, he would mutter and say +inconsequent things. Finally John said: + +"Well, it must have been a narrow escape, anyway." + +"That's just it, John. Ef Ah don't run away from Pebbly Pit she'll git +me!" returned Jeb, greatly troubled. + +"I'm talking about that land-slide--what do _you_ mean?" laughed John, +beginning to understand that Jeb was worried over something other than +the Grizzly experience. + +"Wh--y--Ah'm meanin' that widder! It's leap-year, you know." + +John had never heard about Sary, so he was unprepared to offer any +advice, but he thought best to agree in everything with Jeb, concerning +this particular one, and all "widders" in general. + +"Ye-es--siree! That Sary kin ketch any man she starts out to trap. Ef +she laid eyes on enny of them farm-hands at Pebbly Pit, like-as-how she +has on _me_, they'd roll right over and eat from her han's. But, you +see, John, Ah ain't a marryin' man, so Ah wants to escape." + +"Jeb, I have a plan! Suppose we get Tom to flirt with Sary and then let +her understand she is fickle, so that you won't consider her for a +mate," whispered John, thinking of the fun he could have by playing this +joke on his friend. + +Jeb gave John a scornful look that meant volumes. "D'ye think Sary would +fall fer it? Ah tells you-all she ain't no fule. She kin see straight, +an' she knows Tom Latimer ain't in her class." + +Thus trying to plan for Jeb's peace and happiness, the two found they +had reached the Rainbow Cliffs. Tom and Mr. Brewster were looking over +the beautiful shining walls, and Tom sighed: + +"You wouldn't have to waste one regret on Polly's loss of the gold mine, +if you would but consent to let us sell a bit of these walls." + +"_Ah'm_ not worryin' over her loss of gold, Tom; it's glad Ah am that it +turned out so. Now she won't coax to go away to some big school where Ah +can't see her for six months." + +Tom Latimer turned about in the saddle and sent Sam Brewster a keen +look and thought: "_So that_ is why he won't consent to these stones +being mined and sold!" + +Then the four men rode up the wide trail that ran from the Cliffs to the +house where they found a group of girls and women eagerly awaiting them. +Polly ran down the road and caught hold of her brother's stirrup in her +impatience to welcome him. John laughed and jumped from his horse, then +gave his sister the kiss and hug she expected. + +Anne Stewart stood on the porch watching this little by-play, and when +the brother and sister slowly walked along, arm linked in arm, she +smiled and sighed, then turned to greet Tom Latimer. But she did not see +Mrs. Brewster's watchful eye quickly turn away from her when _she_ +turned from watching John. + +As Tom Latimer was known to the Maynard girls and Anne, having met them +at the College Prom the past year, he was warmly welcomed by them as +well as by the Brewsters. Barbara felt an especial interest in him, as +he was "one of her set" in society, and he had been invited to her home +when her brother entertained a few of his college friends. + +Polly now brought her brother up and introduced him to Eleanor and +Barbara, but Anne was not there. + +"Wh-y--where did Anne go? She was here this minute?" cried Polly, +looking around in amazement. + +Mrs. Brewster had seen Anne steal away and she understood the reason. +Now she quickly diverted attention by saying: "Of course you boys have +heard about the awful land-slide?" + +As it was so recent an event, it instantly absorbed all. Then Mr. +Brewster told about the plans to ride up the Trail on the morrow and +ascertain just how much damage had been done. John seemed to be as +excited a talker as any one, but his mother saw him send many a +searching glance around for some one he had not found. + +She managed to reach his side without attracting the attention of the +others, and slyly whispered: "Anne Stewart went out towards the Cliffs a +moment ago. I saw her leave by the back pathway." + +Then while every one was trying to make out the cloud-draped peak of +Grizzly Slide, having had their attention directed to it by an +exclamation from Mrs. Brewster, John backed away and ran behind the +kitchen to the path that led to the Cliffs and Anne. + +Jeb found it necessary to fill the wood-box in the kitchen, and it was +just after John had passed there that he stumbled up the stone walk. +Sary stood in the doorway grinning sympathetically as she watched John +dash away after Anne Stewart, when Jeb said: + +"Lem'me get by wid this load of wood." + +She smirked and said: "Ah, Jeb! Thar's nuthin' in the wurruld like young +love, ain't it?" + +Now Sary's would-be bewitching leer and her dangerous proximity to him, +frightened Jeb worse than any Rocky Mountain avalanche ever, so that he +forgot he held an armful of wood. He suddenly went lax in the muscles, +dropped the wood, and turned to flee to his hay-loft where no Sary dared +follow without a chaperone. + +One stick of the wood fell upon Sary's toe, and not having "feet of +brass or clay," she uttered a yelp of pain. Jeb never stopped to inquire +what had caused that cry--whether of baffled love or shooting pains in a +toe. + +Sary limped over to a wooden chair and sitting there with her foot held +tenderly in both hands, she rocked back and forth, threatening, in an +undertone, all males but Jeb in particular. + +"You-all jes' wait! Don't think Sary Dodd's a fule--cuz she hain't! +Ah'll git you yit, so run away an' make-out like-es-how you are free +and not lookin' to any female in pertickler!" + +Having thus unburdened her soul of its wrath against Jeb, the cook +limped over to the stove to hang the kettle over the fire. + +Supper was late that night, but no one noticed it. Sary had perfected a +scheme she was going to try on Jeb, some day, soon, so she was all +smiles and patience when the family gathered about the table. + +"I see you set the table in the living-room, mother," remarked John, +approvingly. + +"Oh, we have wrought many changes this summer, John, but the best of all +is the one whereby we eat out-of-doors when it is good weather. To-night +we will eat here as it is too dark under the old oak," explained Mrs. +Brewster, smiling. + +Plans were now discussed for the trip to Top Notch the following +morning, and it was decided that Jeb should go for Mike early, and +secure his services as before. + +"If such a crowd of men are going, I don't see why the owners of the +mine can't go, too. We are as safe there, as here," grumbled Polly. + +"Because we are going to make a three days' trip of this, Poll, and +women-folk would not feel comfortable with such a lot of mixed men," +explained John, pulling his sister's hair, lovingly. + +"Well, Polly and I are as good riders as any one of you, and seeing it +is _our_ mine, we ought to have _some_thing to say about it," added +Eleanor, poutingly. + +"I suppose you-all have forgotten that we invited that nice young +stranger and his friend, Jim Latimer, over to spend this Sunday with +us," now ventured Mrs. Brewster. + +"Oh, that's so! The boy Kenneth who looks like Montresor!" Anne now +added, understanding Mrs. Brewster's idea and abetting it. + +"Kenneth Evans! Is it _this_ Sunday he is coming?" asked Eleanor +eagerly. + +"We might be back on time for that; this is only Friday night, you +know," persisted Polly, clinging to the hope of riding to Top Notch. + +"No girl or woman is going--let that end the argument!" now said Mr. +Brewster, with finality. + +There was silence for a moment, then Polly laughingly said to Eleanor: +"Nolla, you and I will ride over to visit some old friends of mine +to-morrow. We will take our lunch and spend the day with them. As it is +half-way on the Bear Forks road we might as well ride with our boys when +they go." + +"Polly, we plan to leave here before dawn so we can be on the climb +when day breaks. Nolla and you will please remember to be fast asleep at +that time. Good-night!" + +With these words, Sam Brewster got up and started to go to his room, but +Polly would not allow her daddy to leave her in that frame of mind. So +she ran over and jumped up to throw her arms about his neck in her usual +fashion. What she whispered in his ear no one knew but he smiled and +nodded his head in meek acquiescence. + +"Poll--did he say we might go?" whispered Eleanor. + +"No--he won't give in that far, but he said we could ride with them as +far as Bear Forks, if we were up in time. I'm bound to wake up, so now +I'm going right to bed," said Polly. + +But Polly and Eleanor did not wake up in the morning until seven +o'clock. The riders were far up along the trail by that time, so the +girls had to make the best of the day. + +When the men riders were well along the trail, Jeb motioned to Mr. +Brewster that he wished to speak with him, so they permitted their +horses to slow up and drop behind for a time. + +"Ah'm thinkin', Mis'r Brewster, thet Ah'll have to give notice that Ah'm +quittin' your ranch. Not what Ah've got any kick comin' about the +fam'ly--thar never w'ar a nicer one. But Ah've got ta save mahself." + +"Jeb!" gasped Sam Brewster in unbelief. "You _couldn't_ leave us! Why, +man, you're one of the family." + +"Yeh, Ah knows all that, Mis'r Brewster, but Ah jus' dasent stay where a +female badgers my peace o' mind." + +"Tell me what is wrong, Jeb, and Ah'll fix it if Ah can," anxiously +promised Sam Brewster. + +Jeb gazed wildly about for some one to explain for him, and in gazing, +his eye rested on John. Big splendid John who had only been a little +shaver when he went to Pebbly Pit to work. + +"Oh John! Cain't you-all drop back and tell your Paw what ails me?" +shouted Jeb, certain that John, who had been to college, could do +anything. + +John dropped behind his companions, and Sam Brewster hurriedly explained +that Jeb seemed to have a queer belief that he would be done for if he +remained at Pebbly Pit. + +"Oh, did Jeb bother you about that story, Dad? Here, you ride on in my +place, and let me get this thing straightened out." + +Alone with Jeb, John said persuasively: "Now tell me all about it, +Jeb--begin from the beginning." + +"Wall, seein' es how you-all is in love, mebbe you-all kin understand +about this love-stuff. + +"Now, yuh see, John, when that Sary Dodd come to Pebbly Pit es a widder, +to help housework, she never cast an eye around fer a likely 'second' +until that derned old dance at the school-house. It wuz that time when +she perked up in all that borrered finery that she landed a rich ole +bachelor-rancher on her ticket to dinner. But he gave one look and run. +He never showed up again that night. + +"Seein' like-es-how her partner vamoosed, she grabbed me to do the Grand +March with her. Mebbe it w'ar the way Ah danced, that took her fancy. +But whatever it w'ar, she's ben locooed after me sence that night. + +"Now, John, yuh know Sary ain't no prize-winner fer looks, en Ah knows a +good looker when Ah seez one, cuz Ah hev sat and seen lots of pritty +gals on the movie sheet in Oak Crick. Gosh! Some of them peaches Ah +see'd would make yuh leave a stiddy job like Pebbly Pit. So Ah saved and +_saved_ till now Ah've got a tidy bit laid by fer some pritty gal, like +them in the Movies. + +"Ef Sary Dodd knew Ah had money saved! Phew! She'd get at it whar Ah hid +it in a hole under the barn-rafters, then she'd hold it out to tempt me, +like-es-how yuh lead a balky cow to be milked. But that is one thing +Sary _don't_ know!" + +John laughed loud and long at the picture Jeb graphically sketched of +Sary and himself, but the orator cared nothing for John's laughing. He +was too concerned over his freedom. + +"Sary's got some good points--yuh've got to hand it to her, even ef she +hain't got a figger like Miss Anne's, and hair like Miss Polly's. But +she can cook! Gosh, _cain't_ she cook and clean. So ef it w'ar a +housekeeper er a business partner Ah wanted, Ah coulden pick a better +one than Sary Dodd. + +"But yuh unnerstand me, John, don't yuh, when Ah says Ah wants something +pritty sittin' afore the pianner to sing to me, or dressin' up in finery +like Miss Bob's and playin' a lady? Ah've ben a hired man and worked on +a ranch all mah life, but now Ah've got a bit saved up Ah kin go to the +city and pick th' gal Ah wants. + +"And lem'me tell yuh, John! In the Movies them gals what looks so pritty +make _fine_ farm-wives. Gosh, but one city gal with yaller curls hadn't +a cent to live on when she met a feller what owned a little ranch in +Arizony. They hooked up and she was that happy on the farm! She churned +the butter and fed chickens and did all the chores. And he looked after +the stock. Evenin's she played and sang fer him and he sat in a big +arm-chair and smiled at her. + +"That's the kind of wife Ah wants, John--and how kin Ah sit and listen +to Sary sing? Mebbe she kin _churn_ better'n that one I saw in the +Movies, but Ah bet a plugged penny that she cain't play a pianner!" + +Jeb's tone was so emphatic at the last accusation of Sary's +short-comings, that John almost rolled from his horse with laughter. + +Now Jeb had said all that he had to say, so he waited patiently for John +to get over his spasm of laughter. Then he looked at him as if to ask +what had he to say about such positive evidence as he had brought forth, +regarding the Movie girl making the best kind of a rancher's wife? + +"Oh, Jeb! How I love your innocence!" gasped John, wiping his eyes on +the back of his hand. "I shall certainly sue the Movies for betraying +your trust and faith in womankind. For they sure did more than amuse you +for your dime. You took for a solid fact, all the silly mush you saw on +the screen as real life. But, it was _reel_ life, Jeb, spelled with two +'e's' instead of the genuine r-e-a-l way. + +"Jeb, how'd you like to spend every nickel you've saved, on a girl with +dyed hair, belladonna eyes, painted lips you could never kiss, blackened +eye-lashes and eye-brows, and goodness only knows what else she puts on +and takes off to look pretty in the pictures?" + +Jeb listened with loose jaw and wide-opened eyes to this strange +description of all the lady-loves he knew on the screen. + +"Why, Jeb, these blonde Movie beauties have a different husband every +few months. The ones who play star-leads make the biggest splash in the +puddles, but the little ones try to mimic the big stars and get into all +sorts of trouble. I haven't heard of but two or three who could treat a +good husband decently. As for sitting at home playing and singing for +you--ha, ha, ha! It costs about five hundred dollars each evening to +entertain one of them. + +"Churn? Did you say she looked so cute in a big bungalow apron churning +the butter on a vine-clad porch? Didn't the porch open right out on a +little pasture and tidy barnyard, where her devoted husband could stand +admiring her? Was it a dear little one-and-a-half story vine-clad house +painted white, with green wooden shutters?" + +"Uh, huh! Just so! Did you see that gal, John?" eagerly asked Jeb. + +"Jeb, the Movies use that same little house and painted scenery for +every farm-picture they make. Sometimes a deserted wife hangs to the +post of the porch and plans to kill herself. Or sometimes it is the +husband who hears how his head man ran away with his foolish little +wife. But, Jeb, never believe anything you see in the Movies, for they +have turned more heads than you can count, by their subtle ways. +Everything always ends right in the Movies, but it is seldom so in real +life. + +"Now do you want my best advice, Jeb?" + +"Ah shore do, John, cuz you-all knows what's what!" + +"Then listen, Jeb, and think things over well before you leave Pebbly +Pit and take your money away to spend on a pretty Movie gal. + +"You say that Sary is a right smart cook and houseworker. You admit that +she is thrifty, and will save that money you've got hidden away in the +barn. + +"Now look at that good-fer-nothing Bill Dodd she married! In less than +a year she had him working on a ranch that she saved up for. Didn't she +keep him at it until it was most paid up? If he hadn't gone with the +flu, that ranch'd been paid for in another year. + +"Sary isn't so feeble, neither. She can save twenty more ranches before +she cripples up. Any man who has ambition would make no mistake in +choosing Sary. Now I believe Sary would make a big man of you, Jeb. + +"She may not dye her hair or paint her face, but she's got a square +look, and we-all know what sound stock she comes of. There isn't a +better family in all Colorado than the Morson's. And Sary Morson is all +there! She has sterling qualities that will last after beauty and +singing is worn thread-bare. + +"Of course she isn't anything like Anne Stewart--there never was any +girl like her! But you make a big mistake if you go away to find a +pretty girl, all dolled up like the Movie Queens, for your wife. She'd +take all your money and laugh at you the next moment. + +"I've lived in big cities, Jeb, and seen a lot of the ways of pretty +girls who dress up and pose for the boys, but not one of that kind is +worth a shake. Take it from me, Jeb, you'd be happy and contented if +you had a ranch of your own, and a sensible wife to make you toe the +mark. You're too easy for any other sort, Jeb, although you figure that +you need an ideal. Not so, my man!" + +Jeb heaved a mighty sigh as if he was passing on his rainbow dreams +forever. Then he turned sorrowful eyes on John. + +"Wall, Ah cain't fergit that pooty gal in a hurry, even when Sary heaves +in sight wid a heaped plate of puddin' fer me. Ah s'pose Ah'll hev to +let _her_ marry me, er git out to onct. Sence yuh've ben talkin', Ah +have a sort of weakenin' fer her capable ways, and shore ez shootin', +she'll grab the first chanst Ah gives her to know the wust, because this +is leap-year." + +John shouted with laughter again, and Tom Latimer turned back his horse +to ask what the joke was about. + +"Nothing that concerns little boys like you, Tom," laughed John, as he +winked at his friend. + +"But I feel sure I can be of help to Jeb as well as to you, John," +insisted Tom. + +"No, Mis'r Tom. It's all over," sighed Jeb, in a funereal tone. "Ah've +made up mah mind to take the med'cine, er beat it!" + +With that, Jeb spurred his horse on and joined his master, leaving John +to merely hint at the great trouble that almost disrupted the household +at Pebbly Pit. "Now, thank Heavens, I have saved the ranch from ruin, +and united two hearts that ought to beat as one, hereafter!" + +Tom laughed. "I'm glad you confessed to your profession. I'll be wary of +your match-making, in the future." + +"But you have to find matches before you can make them," laughed John. + +"You are so blind that you only see one pretty girl at Pebbly Pit, +whereas there are four!" exclaimed Tom, smilingly. + +"Four! Anne Stewart is one, and Miss Maynard may _consider_ herself +lovely enough for a match--I don't. But mother and Sary will never +consent to your including them in your match-making." + +"Hah! I thought so! You are so blind over Anne Stewart, that you fail to +see how your own little sister is growing up to be a stunning miss. Why, +she will be a beauty at twenty, for she is on the high-way there +already." + +"Tom!" gasped John. "Wh-y--Polly is only a child!" + +"That's what all brothers think of their pretty sisters. Some day, a +fine young fellow will think differently, and you'll want to club him. +But the trouble is, that Polly will think exactly as the handsome man +thinks, and she will not listen to her big brother's advice to remain a +little girl. + +"Besides Polly, there is Eleanor Maynard. She, too, is a fine girl and +will grow to wonderful womanhood. Now, John, take more notice of your +'little' sister, for she is what we boys call a 'peach.'" + +"Ha, ha, ha! I've never heard you say so much about a girl in my life! +If I didn't _know_ better, I'd say you were half-way in love with Polly, +yourself. But I know what a quitter you are whenever there is a girl in +the party," laughed John. + +Tom flushed slightly but made no reply. Before John could tease him any +further, the party reached Four Mile Blaze. Mike tolled off the riders, +and warned each one to give strictest attention to the going as one +misstep meant a crippled horse or a serious accident. + +From there on, the men rode through the lodge-pole forest to avoid the +great mass of débris formed of rocks, earth, and torn-up trees that +obstructed the old trail. Simms felt sure his man had escaped in some +miraculous manner, after the avalanche swept him from his feet. But +seeing the mountains of wood-trash that were washed down from the peak +and piled up everywhere, he lost faith. + +Still he and his men were bound to make the most of the least hope, so +they sought thoroughly over the side where the two miners had been +discovered, that day. Nothing but trees, rocks, and earth piled in +toppling heaps on the steep slope of the mountain were seen, however. + +While Simms and Bill sought over every foot of ground for their missing +friend, Mike led Sam Brewster and his two engineers, down the opposite +slope, to a blaze that told them they were going towards the cave. But +the nearer they came to the claim, the greater was the destruction of +the forest. Finally they could see where the ledge had been, but so +massed up was the trash that had been swept down and over the side, that +it was impossible to reach the ravine. + +Mike chuckled: "Him unner alla trees on Grizzly Sly--him yaller insides +safe nuff!" + +"You're right, Mike," laughed John. "If the gold is in that spot it is +safe enough for a long time to come." + +"I think this slide was the luckiest thing that ever happened to the +girls," ventured Tom Latimer, thoughtfully. + +"Why?" anxiously demanded Mr. Brewster, visions of his darling being +carried away to school uppermost in his mind. + +"When we are ready to bore for the gold, this trash will be an easy +thing to burn and clear away. Meantime, it keeps off all claim-jumpers +or thieves who need a little hard yellow metal." + +"But you must admit that it is a tough proposition to mine here," said +Mr. Brewster. "A land-slide is apt to happen any moment and bury all the +apparatus. All previous efforts will be wiped out and you must begin all +over again. Then consider the difficulty of transportation, from this +peak down the long trail, and over miles of rough country to the Oak +Creek railway." + +"Hoh! a mere bagatelle, Mr. Brewster, when gold weighs in the other +scale. Why, men will dig through the earth for gold! See what happened +in Alaska. Once men found gold to be had for the pain and privation they +would be forced to endure, they gladly gave up home, loved +ones,--all--for the lust of gold. + +"And see what that drive did for Alaska. Railroads opened, cities +founded, people settled there, and all because men fought with odds +against finding buried gold!" + +"We wouldn't have to worry over this out-of-the-way mine if father +would consent to have his cliffs utilized," hinted John. + +"Not with my consent!" retorted Sam Brewster. + +"Well, come on, Mike. Let's pitch camp and get something to eat," said +John, resignedly. + +"It's not that I have any silly sentiment over the cliffs, my +boys--don't mistake me there. But I have a serious reason for refusing +to coin money out of that beauty--at least for a few years to come." + +"If I guess the truth about it, will you admit it to me some day?" +quizzed Tom Latimer, his eyes twinkling. + +"No, sir! Not even to my wife--it's _my_ secret!" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +POLLY AND ELEANOR VISIT THE BEAVERS + + +After breakfast the four girls asked each other what there was to do. +They had had so much excitement all week, that the simple life palled on +them. + +"It's exactly like drinking milk after you have been kept on spice-beer +for a long time," laughed Eleanor. + +"Well, Nolla and I have an invitation to spend the day with friends of +mine. We can ride over there any time," said Polly. + +"Then for goodness' sake, come on! I'll be asleep again if we don't do +something," exclaimed Eleanor. + +"All right, I'll saddle Noddy and you can have Choko. We will have to +harness them ourselves now that Jeb is away, and the other hands are +working on the ranch." + +"You're not going far, are you?" asked Anne, suspiciously. + +Polly laughed. "Not as far as we went yesterday." + +Mrs. Brewster had been told where Polly planned to take Eleanor, and she +smiled approvingly. A nice luncheon was packed up and placed in the +panniers of the burros, and the three grownups stood and watched the two +girls ride down the trail to Rainbow Cliff. + +As they went, Eleanor said: "Did you mention the name of your friends? I +forgot, if you have." + +Polly laughed. "Maybe I told you, but I don't remember now. Anyway, you +wouldn't know them if I did tell you their names." + +"But what do you call them when you address them?" + +"I always call the old one 'Grandfather,' but he has a large family that +I never bother with. _He_ is our friend. + +"This family lives and does queer things that no city folks ever dream +of," added Polly. + +"Something like that Halsey woman, eh?" laughed Eleanor, who had heard +from Sary about the disobedient children. + +"The Beavers are too polite to force their company on us. And as we may +not care to eat as they do, I decided to bring lunch, which we can +enjoy by ourselves," explained Polly. + +Noddy and Choko now reached the trail leading up the pine-tipped crest +of the mountain back of Pebbly Pit, and were soon climbing through a +veritable wilderness of sage-brush and aspens. + +"My, what a place to live in!" said Eleanor, surprised. + +"It's not far, now," returned Polly. + +Shortly after this, Polly turned Noddy from the old trail and plunged +into a thicket of aspens. + +"Good gracious! How can they ever find their own home?" wondered +Eleanor, gazing at the closely growing aspen trees. + +"They know everything! And Noddy knows the way by this time, too, as I +like to come here and spend the day. Besides there are blazes on the +large trees to guide one." + +Noddy came out of the aspen grove after a time and then followed a +mountain-stream up-trail for half a mile or so, before turning to look +at her rider. + +"Oh, you wise little Noddy. How did you know I wanted to stop here?" +laughed Polly, patting the burro affectionately. + +Noddy flicked back her long ears in approval of such words and petting, +but Eleanor's cry made the burro listen intently. + +"Polly! What a dreadful place to live in! Surely no one exists in this +lonesome wilderness, do they?" + +"Mr. Beaver is clearing away the aspens just as fast as he can, but as +soon as they are all cut down, he will move the whole family to some +other dense grove, as they live on aspens, you know." + +"What--what! I didn't understand you!" cried Eleanor. + +Polly laughed as she pointed to a pond made by a dam crudely built +across the stream. It was rough and queer looking, but it answered its +purpose very well. + +Eleanor saw half a dozen conical shaped huts built of mud in a row +across the dam, then she stared at both sides of the stream, up and +down, but no other habitation could she see. On the opposite bank +several large trees had been felled and a quantity of aspens had been +cut down and piled in confusion on the edge of the water. + +"Do your ranchers live near here?" asked she. + +"I didn't say they were ranchers, Nolla." + +"Well, woodcutters, or what you call them!" + +"Yes," laughed Polly, "they are woodcutters and live in those mud huts." + +"What?" cried Eleanor again. + +"S-sh! Not so loud or you will frighten them away!" + +"Polly--impossible! What _do_ you mean anyway?" + +"The beavers live there until the family grows too large, then they +either build another story to the house, or start a new colony where +aspens can be had in plenty. As there are so many young aspens here in +perfect security, for the beavers, Grandfather Beaver remains here." + +"Oh, Polly! You mean they are _real beavers_!" gasped Eleanor. + +"Yes, and I knew you would love to see them at work, but we have to keep +very quiet if we want them to come out." + +"Tell me about them--quick--before we have to go away," begged Eleanor, +eagerly. + +"We won't have to go, but we have to keep quiet. You see they must have +been cutting aspens over there, when they heard us coming and so they +made a dive for safety. They are now hiding in the huts." + +"What can we do to coax them out again?" + +"We'll lead the burros to the park to graze, and we'll come back and +sit quietly on this rock to watch for them." + +So the two burros were taken to a small nearby clearing where buffalo +grass offered a juicy repast for them. Having hobbled them to keep them +from straying, Polly led the way back to the beaver-dam. + +"If you were over there to examine those cut aspens you would find each +one about eighteen inches long and about one and a half inches thick. +The beavers always build near an aspen grove, as it is their food, but +not finding a grove near the water, they have to swim up or down until +they reach what they need. That is why you find their huts on water," +explained Polly. + +"But I've heard they are water animals." + +Before Polly could reply, a sleek head bobbed up from the water near one +of the huts and Eleanor gasped with surprise. The beaver swam to the +opposite bank where the trees had been cut down. He climbed quickly out +of the stream and started to roll a heavy log over the ground until it +splashed down into the pond. He then jumped after it and continued +rolling and pushing it along till he reached the dam. Instantly, more +beavers came out from the huts and assisted in towing the log to their +dam of aspens. + +"Oh, oh, Polly!" whispered Eleanor in excited astonishment, but Polly +held her finger over her lips in warning. + +"I do believe they plan to build a new dam further up-stream, Nolla. If +that is so, we will have something worth while to watch for during the +next few days. Just now they are repairing the old houses for the +Winter, and that log is to be a bulwark about which green cuttings of +willow and young aspens can be woven as a partial strainer for the +water. The débris that thus collects in the chinks between the cuttings, +makes the dam firmer and yet more flexible than a solid structure +would." + +Just then, the sound of a falling tree made Eleanor jump and look across +the stream. + +"Other industrious beavers cutting down another tree," explained Polly. + +"How do they ever do it, Poll?" + +"If you watch, you will see that beaver go to work." + +Not one beaver appeared, but four that hurried to the bank and moved the +newly cut tree into the water. One of the four dragged the tree with its +branches still on, into the mid-stream where, catching a heavy branch +between his teeth, he steered it to the row of huts. + +Directly back of the first one, swam the other three, each dragging a +section of tree to deposit on the dam, where an old beaver was hard at +work. As soon as the first beaver reached the huts, the old fellow gave +a peculiar call that brought out a score or more of workers. They all +went to their tasks as if drilled by a master. + +"My old Grandfather is not there this morning, or that other boss would +not be taking his place," whispered Polly. + +Eleanor had been using her eyes to good advantage and now called to +Polly anxiously. "Look a'there, Polly! Those beavers are eating the +tree!" + +"They're not eating it but are cutting it down. Now you watch and you +will see how they do it." + +The tree in question, stood on the shore and was about six inches in +diameter and about sixteen feet in height. The boss of another group of +beavers tested the tree by placing his fore-paws against the trunk and +spreading out his hind legs as a bracer. He sat upon his tail and took a +deliberate bite from the bark. No wonder Eleanor thought he was eating +the tree! + +After gnawing at one side, he thumped the ground with his extended tail +and ran away. Other beavers took his place and began cutting in much +the same manner. Then the boss beaver, who was superintending the work, +pushed the workers away and showed them how to work in a better way. +This done, the boss thumped the ground with his tail--just as a +policeman strikes the walk with his night-club--and the cutters went +back to work. + +Suddenly the boss thumped the ground repeatedly and the cutters ran to a +safe distance. A moment later, the tree began swaying and crashed down +into the pond. It had been so cut and planned that labor and time would +be saved by throwing it directly into the stream. + +It was towed down into the general harvest-pile and left for other +colonists to saw into required shape and length for the additions to +their huts. + +Soon after this, a number of beavers came forth and swam to the extreme +upper end of the pond. Here they climbed up on the bank and disappeared +from sight in the aspen-covered forest. + +"Where are they going?" asked Eleanor, anxiously. + +"We'll soon find out!" declared Polly. + +As Polly spoke, a beaver swam along the bank and scrambled out quite +near the spot where the two girls sat quietly watching. He sniffed and +then plunged back to hurry to the huts where he must have reported the +result of his trip. Immediately after, the boss commanded him to lead +the way, and both returned to the place for a thorough investigation. + +The scout brought his boss up the bank and sniffed. Polly and Eleanor +were quivering with excitement, as they saw the beavers making for the +trail. + +"Let's see what is wrong?" whispered Polly, cocking her rifle in case of +emergency. + +"Oh, don't do that!" cried Eleanor, catching hold of Polly's arm. + +"Stop! Let go--that is how accidents happen. You drag on one's arm and +the trigger, all ready to fire, is pulled accidentally. I know what I am +about, so you need have no concern." + +Eleanor felt chagrined and meekly followed Polly after this. They crept +through the woods without making a sound. + +The two beavers reached the clearing where Noddy and Choko were grazing, +and the moment the boss saw the burros, he turned and snapped at the +foolish scout that had brought him this journey for naught! But the +subdued laughter from the girls made the beavers rush pell-mell into +the pond to wonder whether burros could laugh like that! + +On the way back to their rock of observation, Polly said, "Beavers are +slow and awkward on land so that the agile panther, the alert wildcat, +or wolves and bears, form a constant menace to them. Because of their +unwieldy and short legs, they cannot escape quickly, but in water they +are wonderful swimmers, so, water being necessary to their safety, they +build their huts on the dams that will not bear up other wild animals. +If their dams were constructed solidly, the beavers would soon be +extinct, as forest savages would crawl over and glut on the helpless +prey." + +"Didn't you say we could follow those other ones that went up-stream?" +asked Eleanor. + +"Yes, come on," replied Polly, leading the way for some distance before +seeing a sign of a beaver again. Then suddenly, she clutched hold of +Eleanor's arm. + +"Ah, there's Grandfather, hard at work!" + +"Where--which?" cried Eleanor, eagerly. + +"The one with a limp and a twisted back!" + +The girls had reached a place where the stream widened and here they +found a great number of beavers at work. Some cutting, some dragging, +others swimming with aspens, willows and alders, and all ordered about +by an old crippled beaver. + +But despite his twisted back and decided halt in gait, he moved about +quicker than the others, showing them where to place, how to saw, when +to cut the aspens, and other important details of construction. + +"There are a lot of pines, Polly--why doesn't he use them?" + +"A beaver doesn't like the smelly, pitchy wood, so they never cut them +unless they have to clear a roadway from an aspen grove to the stream of +water." + +"Then they ought to use all those trees already down. There are lots +that have been felled by forest fires, I guess." + +"There again they show their wisdom," explained Polly. "A beaver never +cuts dead wood as it dulls and injures his teeth. And dead wood does not +last like live trees, either." + +At this moment, Grandfather Beaver seemed to sniff a familiar as well as +a doubtful presence. He lifted his nose high and thumped his tail for an +assistant. Leaving commands with this beaver, the Grandfather went into +the stream and swam away. + +Eleanor was sorry to lose sight of him, but almost before she could +speak, the old fellow rose laboriously from the water just in front of +her. He waited, sniffing anxiously, but found a stranger with his +friend, so he half-slid back into the stream. + +Polly made strange sounds and ran down towards him. To Eleanor's +amazement the old fellow actually expressed joy at seeing a friend. He +emitted peculiar sounds and Polly stood a few feet away uttering queer +sounds, too. Then he sent her a look of love--if there ever was one--and +after this welcome he slid back into the water to continue the work as +overseer. + +"Polly Brewster--I never in all my life!" gasped Eleanor. + +Polly laughed as she watched her beaver join the workers and scold them +for laziness while he was absent visiting a friend. + +"Let's get the burros, now, and I'll show you a place where we can lunch +while I tell you how Grandfather and I got to know each other so well," +suggested Polly. + +As the girls rode along the up-trail, Polly told the story. + +[A]"A few years ago, while out adventuring, I found this colony of +beavers. I wanted father to come with me and see them, but he was too +busy that year. + +[Footnote A: A true story.] + +"The following Summer, however, he came and we sat on the same rock +where you and I sat to-day. + +"We had to wait for ten minutes or more, before a beaver came out of his +hut in the dam. It was not as large or strong a dam, then, as now. The +beaver was anxious to reach a spot in the aspen grove where we could +hear the other beavers at work. + +"To reach the grove, he had to come up out of the stream and cross some +land to the other pond. Just as he climbed up from the water, he sniffed +danger. He was directly opposite us and we could see everything very +plainly. + +"Father lifted his rifle slowly and very carefully, and I looked +intently to see what it was that he saw. + +"On a bough of a tree almost directly over the beaver, I saw a lithe +serpentine thing twitching as if a snake was trying to curl up. But I +knew it wasn't a snake. It must be the long tail of a panther who was +crouching for a leap, but I could not distinguish a body back of the +foliage of the tree. + +"The beaver stood uncertain of action for a moment, and as he turned to +dive again to safety, the mountain-lion sprang. At the same instant, +father pulled the trigger. But the panther landed almost on top of the +beaver's back, while the shot must have grazed his head, making him rage +furiously. + +"The beaver, who was on the verge of the stream, fought valiantly with +teeth and his powerful strength, but the lion had the upper hold on him. +Slowly the two squirmed and rolled, the beaver trying to drag his enemy +into the stream, and the panther fighting to keep his prey on land. + +"'Father--shoot--shoot! Even if you kill the beaver!' I yelled, as I +closed my eyes from the awful sight. + +"But daddy already had taken aim and even as I spoke, he pulled the +trigger. This time his shot took effect for we saw the beast loose his +hold on the beaver and roll over writhing in agony. + +"Father rushed along the bank and crept over the beaver-dam to the other +side. Then he put the lion out of pain with a third shot, and stooped to +examine the beaver. + +"We always take a doctor's pocket-case when going on a trip, and father +now took it out, so I knew the beaver was not dead. + +"'Poll, try to come over here and bring a pan, sheath-knife, and some +hartshorn from the pack.' + +"I did as I was told, and stood helping father when the beaver came +too--after getting a big whiff of hartshorn. We washed the torn flesh +with water, and father poured on something from a bottle that made the +old fellow squirm, but he sensed that we were helping him and he offered +no resistance. + +"Well, Nolla, when we were done with our surgical work, you just ought +to have seen that beaver's gratitude shining from his round eyes. + +"When he had recovered sufficiently to start for home, father swam +beside him. And it was well he did for the poor fellow could not have +made it alone. Father towed him across the pond and left him on the dam. +There, the boss (for he was the boss of the colony) made a strange sound +and instantly, a score of beavers came out. + +"Meantime, father had left him alone while I stood a distance away and +watched the scene eagerly. As many beavers as could get near him, +managed to roll and push him up on the dam where he lay stretched out. + +"Father did not think the poor thing would recover, but I thought he +would, so we went back the next day, but he had disappeared. + +"We wished we could find out in some way, whether our friend was +recovering or whether he had died and was buried by his family. So +father decided to creep out on the dam and investigate. I went, too, and +no sooner had we tried to make the same queer sound the Grandfather had +made that day, than a beaver poked his nose out of a hut and sniffed. +Quickly he disappeared again, but in a few moments, he came out and +stood quite close to us making queer sounds at us. He was not afraid, so +we took it that he was reporting on the health of our friend. + +"We did not see Grandfather again that Summer, so early last Spring I +went to visit my colony, and there was my friend, bossing things as +usual. But his back was crooked and he had to walk with a lame twist, so +I suppose that lion injured his backbone. + +"I made a queer sound and he listened. He recognized me and swam over to +thump his tail on the ground in front of my rock. I was so delighted +that I rushed home and brought father over. Then you should have seen +that beaver! He squirmed, and barked, and thumped his tail. It was like +the meeting of a long-lost friend. Father was so impressed by the +incident that he went to Denver and secured permission from the +Government Land Survey Office to establish a permanent reserve here for +the beavers. Now they have law protection and may rest unmolested by +hunters or trappers." + +"Oh, Polly! It's just like a fairy tale, but much more interesting. What +became of the nasty panther?" cried Eleanor. + +"He's stretched on our living-room floor--that skin by the fire-place. +We had an awful time lugging the beast home, but I was determined to +walk on his head every chance I got, so we swung him on a pole and +managed to induce the horses to be reasonable about the dead creature." + +By the time Polly had concluded her story, the burros reached the bluff +where the girls camped and prepared luncheon. This day of closer +intimacy for the two girls, sealed a life-long friendship between them. +Neither girl had ever had a chum of her own age, and now they found so +much to admire and respect in each other that their companionship +continued without the usual envy, quarrels or jealousies so common in +school life between school-mates. + +[Illustration: THE PANTHER WAS ABOUT TO LEAP UPON THE BEAVER. + +_Polly and Eleanor._ _Page 94._] + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE GIRLS ENTERTAIN GUESTS + + +During the absence of Polly and Eleanor from Pebbly Pit, that Saturday, +Mrs. Brewster made preparations for the entertainment of the young +visitors who were expected on the morrow. So many days that week had +been wasted in riding about the country that the pantry was almost bare. +Chickens were killed and dressed, pies baked, and other delectable +viands made ready for Sunday's dinner and tea. + +No word had come from the scouting party on Grizzly Slide, but Mrs. +Brewster said she had no idea of hearing from them until they had +completed their investigations and returned home. Polly and Eleanor were +well tired out when they reached the house, after their visit to the +beavers, and made no demur when early bed was suggested to them. + +Sunday was a glorious day and the girls bustled around rearranging the +living-room, and seeing that the hammock with its cushions and the +wicker porch chairs, were invitingly placed. Their own appearance had +been seriously discussed so that both girls felt suitably dressed when +the time came for the young surveyors to arrive. + +Eleanor had loaned Polly one of her prettiest organdies, and had +arranged her really beautiful hair becomingly. Silk stockings now +encased Polly's shapely limbs, and her new low shoes looked twice as +well with the sheen of silk above them. + +Eleanor wore a dress similar to the one Polly had on, and tried to +appear as like her as possible, so that no unfair advantage should arise +from appearances. Barbara smiled scornfully at what she considered +"childishness" in Eleanor. "Why should she want to have Polly look as +well as she could? And why bother, anyway, to dress up for a nobody like +Kenneth Evans? Of course, it would be all right for Jim Latimer--if he +were at home--but not in the wilderness. Chances were that the boys +would wear everyday working clothes." But all her "cold water" failed to +dampen the spirits of the girls. + +The hour for the boys' expected appearance came and went but no sound +of horse-hoof was heard echoing from the rocky trail that led past the +Cliffs. + +"Why! It is now eleven, and they were to be here at ten-thirty," +remarked Eleanor, hearing the old clock strike the hour. + +"Are you sure that that foolish-looking boy understood he was to tell +Jim about coming here Sunday?" asked Barbara, feeling rather pleased +that the girls felt fidgety over the nonappearance of their company. + +"He wasn't foolish-looking at all! In fact I never saw such a fine head +with such intelligence as he had," retorted Eleanor. + +"Come on, Nolla, let's walk down to the Cliffs and sit up on the +'Guards' where we can see the trail all the way to Bear Forks," +suggested Polly, jumping up from the chair. + +"All right! we may meet them before we get there," added Eleanor. + +"You two certainly are acting silly over a mere boy you know nothing +about!" snapped Barbara, who felt peeved at losing the targets for her +sarcasm. + +The only reply given this parting shot was a merry laugh. Both girls +skipped blithely along the path and were soon out of sight where the +roadway ran behind the steep banks of the terrace. + +"Now that we are out of the way of Bob's eyes and tongue, let's go +slower or we'll spoil our shoes," said Eleanor, stopping to see if any +dust showed on her shiny toes. + +"And we won't climb the high Guards, but just sit on the ledge nearest +the trail," added Polly. + +The Sunday dinner hour at Pebbly Pit was usually at one o'clock, so +everything was ready and waiting just before that time. But no visitors +appeared, and Mrs. Brewster sent Anne down the road to see if the girls +and boys were visiting the Causeway and other unusual features of +Rainbow Cliffs. + +"Oh, Anne! Are you alone?" called Eleanor, when she saw the messenger +coming from the house. + +"Yes--are you?" returned Anne, shading her eyes from the sun, as she +looked up at the ledge. + +"Come on up," Polly called, leaning over the rocks. + +Anne soon joined them and looked around. "Where do you suppose those +boys can be?" + +"That's just what we want to know. I'm sure we were plain enough in +telling that boy that he was to come over with Jim Latimer for +Sunday--weren't we?" demanded Eleanor. + +"I thought it was plain enough, but Bob declares that the boy was too +stupid to understand a simple invitation. She is in her glory because +every one is disappointed," said Anne. + +"I wouldn't let her see me feeling bad for anything!" exclaimed Polly, +stiffly. "But I do wish they would come, because I wanted to find out if +he ever knew _any one_ like our Old Man Montresor." + +"Look! See way over there--out on the Bear Forks road?" now exclaimed +Eleanor, pointing away towards the distant trail. + +"Sure enough!" breathed Anne, with relief. + +"But there are three, and we only expected two. Who can the other one +be?" added Polly. + +"Maybe they are not our company, at all, but some ranchers riding that +way," suggested Eleanor, fearfully. + +"Ranchers seldom ride that trail, and never on Sundays. Now look!" said +Polly. + +The three horses had stopped and soon, one rider was seen going along +the trail to Oak Creek, while the other two turned in at the gulch trail +and disappeared under the giant over-hanging rocks. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Eleanor, waving her sun-hat wildly about her head. + +"I reckon our company is coming, after all," said Polly, smiling with +satisfaction. + +"I'll run back and tell your mother, Polly, as it will be at least half +an hour before they can reach the house," said Anne, happy also that +Barbara was to be silently contradicted. + +"Don't dally around here, girls, when your company joins you," advised +Anne, turning around, after she had started down the cliff-side. + +"I reckon we'd better go back with you--mother can be the first to say +how-dy to them," ventured Polly, looking like a stage-struck amateur at +her first appearance before the public. + +"See here, Polly Brewster! Don't you go back on _me_! I wouldn't have +Bob watching us meet those boys and then laughing at us afterwards, for +anything in the world! We'll stay right _here_ and get acquainted before +we go to the house to be teased and made to feel uncomfortable," +declared Eleanor, who knew her sister only too well. + +"I guess Eleanor's right, Polly; it struck me that that nice young boy +was rather shy with strangers, so you will be doing him a great favor if +you get acquainted here and then bring him to the house to meet the +rest of us," admitted Anne, then she ran down the steep sides of the +rocks. + +Now and then the waiting girls had glimpses of the two riders as they +rode along the winding trail past the Cliffs. And Jim Latimer also +caught a glimpse of the girls as he happened to pause, to point out the +Rainbow rocks to his friend. Instantly he pulled off his wide sombrero +and waved it gayly at his young hostesses. Then both boys spurred their +horses eagerly onward. + +Eleanor and Jim felt perfectly at ease as they met and shook hands, but +it was evident that Polly and Kenneth Evans were not accustomed to +social ways or behavior, for both acted rather awkward at this meeting. +However, Eleanor generally fitted into any breach, and now she +unconsciously steered the would-be friendly craft of the four past the +reefs of self-consciousness into the haven of youthful reciprocity. + +"We thought you were _never_ coming--it's past one o'clock you know, and +we looked for you at eleven," said she, catching Jim by the sleeve and +leading the way to the road where the two horses were waiting. + +"We expected to be here at half-past ten, or eleven at the latest, but +it is a long story to tell, and we ought to explain to your mother at +the same time," replied Jim, throwing the bridle over his arm and +starting to walk beside Eleanor. + +Naturally, Kenneth and Polly followed, but Eleanor turned around every +other moment to include them in her vivacious conversation about the +land-slide and the fears that Choko's Find was lost. + +"Oh, but say! What a ripping chance we missed, Ken, by not being one of +the party on the Slide, eh?" cried Jim, enviously. + +"I'd like to be one of the party up there now. Just fancy the +opportunities one would have for seeing how much he knows about +engineering," replied Kenneth. + +"Maybe we can fix it so mother'll allow us to show you the way up. I'd +love to go again," ventured Polly, enthusiastically, as she forgot +herself in the absorbing subject of the gold mine. + +"Ken and I have to be back at camp to-night! That's the worst of being +hired!" grumbled Jim. + +"It's that, or being fired!" retorted Kenneth, laughingly. + +Youth needs little to laugh at, so the four took this little speech as a +cue to laugh loud and long. It attracted Barbara's attention. She had +been trying to read, but now she got up to frown at the gay young people +she saw climbing the road to the house. Anne also heard the laughter +and hurriedly called to Mrs. Brewster: "They're almost here--come right +out." + +So the visitors found a pleasant welcome awaiting them as they reached +the porch. Immediately after greeting the ladies, the boys apologized +for their lateness. Jim then acted as spokesman. + +"We feared we would not be able to be here, at all, as the Boss of our +Crew forbid any one taking out a horse to-day. Jake has charge of the +horses, you know, and he was instructed not to pass one mount. + +"Maybe the boys weren't furious! as we always take Sundays to ride to +Oak Creek. It's the only off day we get. But Carew said we had a long +move to make to-morrow, and his horses had to be fresh for the trip. + +"Gee! I felt like thundering about camp, as I had looked forward to this +visit ever since Ken told me about how he met you folks, and all. Now we +both were all fixed ready to make an early start in the morning, and +there would be no horses! + +"Ken and I stole out late last night and tried to bribe Jake with +goodies, then with money, and lastly I remembered tobacco! I agreed to +hand over a big bag of Cut Plug and a tin box of cigarettes if he would +loan us his two wagon-horses. These he could use as they were not +included in the ban on the crew horses. + +"But Jake is a wily fellow and wanted to see our tobacco first. He knew +that neither of us used it and he doubted our having any!" + +Jim chuckled at this, and Ken smiled sympathetically. The ladies also +smiled as an interested audience will. Then the narrator continued: + +"Ken and I knew where Jake kept the store of tobacco that he always sold +to the other surveyors, so we fixed up a little scheme. We left more +than enough money to pay for what we took and then hurried back to Jake +with the gift of tobacco. + +"I wish you could have seen him scratch his head in bewilderment when he +saw us hand over the star brand of tobacco he kept in stock! Still he +refused to say whether we could start early in the morning, and then I +got good and mad. If it wasn't for Ken, here, kicking me in the ribs, +I'd have spilled the beans!" + +Every one laughed at Jim's slangy way of describing his interview with +Jake, but he was full of his subject and would not be laughed out of +countenance. + +"Ken and I were getting ready to go to sleep, when Jake crept under our +tent flap and pulled my foot to attract attention. + +"There were three other surveyors in our tent, and Jake did not wish +them to hear what was going on. The lights were out, so we were not seen +as we slid under the canvas and joined the driver over by the trees +where no one could hear us whisper. + +"'You fresh boys!' was the first thing Jake said. + +"Then he laughed deep down in his throat, and said; 'Ah kin bet on you +boys, ef Ah lets you-all have mah team to-morrer,--you-all shore will +come back in time?' + +"I eagerly promised everything, and he added: 'Ah sold a lot of tobakker +to some one Ah don't know, but it doesn't matter who the smoker is, 'cuz +now Ah got mah money and tobakker, too! It's 'cuz that feller is so +smart that Ah feels shore the Boss won't get wind of mah hosses bein' +lent. 'Course Ah hez a right to use mah waggin-team ef Ah likes, but +Carew is strick and might get on his high-boss ef he learned Ah sent two +of his men on an errent.' + +"I was so sure no one would ever know we rode the horses if he would +_only_ loan them to us, that I agreed to anything. + +"Then he said: 'Wall, now, Ah left one of the crew's tripods over at +Bear Forks line to-day when Ford took an observation. Ah've got'ta go +fer it to-morrer--er find some good-natured feller who will go fer me. +Ah've got'ta get a heap of work done, to-morrer, and it looks well-nigh +impossible fer me to get that tripod!' + +"I caught on at once, and turned to Ken and said: 'Why, Jake, I will get +that tripod for you. But I'd hate to walk so far as Bear Forks line, all +alone, you know.' + +"That made Jake laugh softly and he said: 'Ef you-all will find that +tripod fer me, Ah'll lend you-all the hosses fer the day.' + +"So that is how we got away from camp, but we have been hunting +everywhere for that old tripod and haven't seen a shadow of it. While +looking for it along the line that Ford surveyed this week, we lost our +way and had to have that rancher show us the way back to Bear Forks +trail. That's why we are so late." + +"Well, now that you are here, suppose you brush up and get ready for +dinner. I've had it waiting this hour and a half," said Mrs. Brewster, +leading the way over to the pump. + +"And maybe we aren't ready to do justice to your cooking! We haven't had +a crumb since supper last night, because we dared not ask the cook for +sandwiches, and we left camp before breakfast-time. Jake said we might +not be permitted to hunt up his tripod for him if any one learned he was +giving us his horses for the trip," explained Kenneth. + +"Oh, you poor boys! Do hurry, then, and join us at table over under the +oak, yonder!" exclaimed Mrs. Brewster, hasting to bring out towels and +brushes for her young visitors. + +The dinner was a great success, both from a culinary and also from the +social points of view. While thoroughly enjoying the home-cooking, the +boys talked of their work and adventures in the mountains. Jim had been +with the survey crew all summer, but Kenneth had but just arrived. So +Jim had a store-house filled with recent thrilling experiences and +escapes. + +Close-up encounters with bears, rattle-snakes, and land-slides, were +passed off as mere trifles by him. But the problems of getting enough +good things to eat, now and then a dance at some school-house, or +finding a pretty girl one could talk to--these were awful! + +When dinner was out of the way, the four young people started to walk to +Rainbow Cliffs, as that was the show-spot of all the countryside. Having +so many unique features and winding walks made it a delightful place +for quiet little chats or tête-à-têtes. + +"I never saw anything like those great masses of color," said Kenneth, +as they drew near the sparkling walls. + +"I told Ken when we rode past here to-day, that Tom wanted your father +to sell out the cliffs on a royalty basis, but he refused to. Now that +Tom is here again with John, and the gold mine is caved in with that +land-slide, maybe he will listen, eh?" asked Jim, eagerly. + +Polly shook her head. "I don't believe he will, but we can't find out +why he is so stubborn about it." + +"Jim, I don't believe our gold mine has caved in, at all. It's only +temporarily buried, up there. If there is any way it can be located +again, I'm going to insist upon having it worked!" declared Eleanor. + +"Why? You don't need the money," laughed Jim. + +"How do you know what I need!" retorted Eleanor. "Polly and I need money +this Fall, as we are going to go away to school together--somewhere. And +she can't go unless she has her own money, 'cause her father won't +consent to her leaving home, but her mother will--so she will have to +have her own money to get away with, see?" + +"No, I don't see that that will work," Kenneth interpolated. + +"Why not? If Mr. Brewster finds Polly is going, anyway, he will soon +enough give his consent," argued Eleanor. + +"I never said I would go away to school with you, Nolla, although I +should like it better than going alone. And I'm sure I couldn't _think_ +of leaving home if Daddy objected to it," said Polly seriously. + +"Oh, well, I know you won't, but a lot of money of your very own will +help coax him to our way of thinking," explained Eleanor. + +"You seem to think your mine will turn out money in time for you to +spend it this Fall," ventured Kenneth, amusedly. + +"Why, of course it will, if we can get at it through that land-slide," +returned she. + +"Other mines take from one to ten years to prepare for and operate. If +you do the thing right, and have engineers plan for the apparatus to +work the ore, you won't be spending that gold this year," added Jim. + +"No! Then what good will it do Polly or me? I have a fine idea that I +want to perfect right away, and it needs money. I haven't even told +Polly a word of it, as I must see how much money we get from the mine +before I mention it." + +"But once your mine begins to pay it will keep on paying for ever so +long. You can plan to spend all the money you can possibly use, if the +mine has any kind of vein in it," said Kenneth, soothingly. + +"I believe in taking a 'bird in the hand instead of the one in the +bush,' and here is a fortune right on this wall!" said Jim, pointing at +the jeweled cliffs. + +He picked up a handful of the colored lava-stones and showed them to +Kenneth. "Do you know, Ken, that I wouldn't be one bit surprised but +what that new patent your father got out for cutting rare gems would +work on these to some good." + +"I never thought of that! Maybe it would. If only he could come here to +investigate and try his machine on the jewels." + +"Why not send him a small box-full of the stones and let him experiment +on them with the model he has in father's office?" asked Jim, eagerly. + +"If Polly will give us some--I will send them on with a letter of +explanation," returned Kenneth. + +"Of course! Take all you want. Every one is welcome to them," said +Polly, breaking off a cluster of fresh stones from the wall. + +"What are you talking about, Jim? I heard Bob say something about a new +patented machine that would make millions out of these Cliffs, but what +do _you_ mean?" asked Eleanor. + +"I guess we were both speaking of the same idea," replied Jim. "You see, +my father is financing the wonderful patent Ken's father invented. Dr. +Evans is a great inventor, and every once in a while he has a big idea. +That was how he planned the vacuum sweepers, and the self-stop on the +victrolas. He has lots of unusual patents granted him, and now he has +this idea patented. + +"He can cut a stone so that it surpasses any hand-cut jewel for facets +and beauty, by merely dropping the material into the feeder on the +machine and letting it cut out the jewel in a few moments. The size of +stone wanted can be regulated by a screw. And the small bits of refuse +left after making large jewels, can be cut into sparkling chips. + +"My father and Uncle George incorporated the company that is financing +this cutting machine. Now they can try out this lava and see if it is +hard enough to cut brilliantly." + +"Wouldn't it be lovely to have Ken's father use these lava jewels in his +company, and let Nolla and me have the royalty to send us to school?" +ventured Polly, wistfully, looking at the distant peak where her gold +mine seemed lost for the present. + +Jim and his friend were selecting the finest specimen of the lava as +Polly spoke, so they made no reply. Her eyes traveled along the Top +Notch Trail and finally came back to the Cliffs at home. She watched the +boys gather the stones and suddenly remembered Kenneth's likeness to +Montresor. + +"Oh, Kenneth! I 'most forgot to ask you something!" cried she. + +Ken stood up and looked at her with a broad smile. As he waited thus, +she was struck by the singular look that was so like her old friend's. + +"That gold mine we told you boys about, was first found and staked by a +white-haired man who called himself Montresor. He lost it again in just +the same way as we did--a land-slide buried it and his stakes, and no +one could locate it again. + +"Then he died and left his claim to me. I always believed he had one, +but every one else laughed at him and said he was crazy. Father was +good to him after the mine was lost, and took his part when folks +jeered. When he died, Daddy paid for the funeral and has the certificate +where he is buried. But we never learned who he was, except the fact +that he came from the East, although we advertised a lot. + +"Just the day you arrived in Oak Creek, Mr. Simms, our lawyer, read a +letter which Old Man Montresor left. It was written to a wife and child, +but there was no name or address on it. Then I heard how father spent +lots of money trying to identify the dear old man and trace his +relatives but to no account. + +"When we first saw you, we-all were impressed with your resemblance to +our old friend. So now I want to ask you if there ever was any one in +your family who went to the Klondike and was reported lost there?" + +"Wh-y, ye-es, there is some such story in our family, but I do not know +the exact truth about it. And we seldom discussed it as mother always +felt badly afterwards. + +"As far as I can understand it, my mother's only brother Peter was a +clever mining engineer in the East, but he was too ambitious to be +contented with his income. Mother says it was his wife who wanted to +spend money like water, who finally urged him to try his luck in +Alaska--and he left home to seek wealth in the Klondike. + +"He placed all the money he had in the bank for his family, and left +Aunt Ada and my Cousin Gail with sufficient to live on if they were +economical. But my Aunt was not content with a simple home and a meager +income, and thought to add to her comfort and wealth by starting a fine +boarding-house. + +"She knew nothing about the business, however, and soon lost all the +money she had been left with and then she ran in debt. When her +investment was sold out, she came to us for help. She and Cousin Gail +lived with us for two years; then Aunt Ada had pneumonia and died. She +begged us to adopt Gail as she had never heard from Uncle after he wrote +to her to send him money to get out of Nome. But she had none, so she +never told mother about this letter; we would have helped poor Uncle. + +"As it was a year since he wrote that letter, and he was in wretched +health while in the far North, mother felt sure that he had succumbed to +the cold and his discouragement. Aunt Ada left a note in which she said +that Gail and I were to share like brother and sister in anything Uncle +Peter left us. + +"But mother always laughed at the idea that there would be any wealth +coming to us from the Klondike. She said the only precious legacy we +could claim in the gold-fields of Alaska was the untiring energy and +earnestness Uncle was sure to use wherever he went or whatever he did. +But she wrote to the postmaster at Nome and received word that her +brother was dead. + +"Gail was always delicate, and a year after her mother died, she, too, +took sick and was gone in a week's time. So mother tried to forget her +dear brother after these sad experiences, and it is only at rare +intervals that any one mentions his name to her." + +When Kenneth finished telling his story, Polly asked eagerly: "But you +haven't told us your uncle's name--nor your mother's maiden name. Was it +Montresor?" + +"Oh no! Just a plain New England name--mother is called Priscilla +Amesbury, and my uncle was Peter Amesbury. I never heard of a Montresor +in our family, either. But that doesn't say the old gentleman couldn't +have chosen an assumed name, you know." + +Eleanor and Polly were plainly disappointed that the names of the +Klondike uncle and the hero of Polly's life, were not the same. Jim +laughed when he saw the girls' evident regret. + +"Any one would think you two girls were anxious to share your gold-mine +with the heir of old Montresor. Now what is there to hinder me from +claiming the old man as _my_ uncle and telling you he is a twin-brother +of my father's? That will make me the heir to that mine." + +"We wouldn't believe you, because you haven't one bit of resemblance to +this friend Polly knew, but Kenneth has. That is why it may turn out +that Montresor really was his uncle," said Eleanor. + +As the sun went down back of Rainbow Cliffs, the two boys regretfully +said good-by. Mrs. Brewster planned for them to come and spend the +following Sunday at Pebbly Pit with John and Tom there, provided the +crew was not too far removed for the trip. + +The boys promised to send word by mail, as Jake rode to Oak Creek two or +three times a week, and could mail a note from them if they were to be +within riding distance. + +"We might even find a way to lose the valuable transit and then have to +come and hunt for it," laughed Kenneth, as they got into their saddles +for the return ride. + +"But you didn't find the tripod! What will Jake say?" asked Polly, +anxiously. + +"We'll let you know next Sunday," laughed both the boys. + +That night when Jake smuggled his two horses back to the corral with the +crew's mounts, he turned to the boys and said: + +"Whar did you-all leave it?" + +"Leave what?" asked Jim, wonderingly. + +"Why, mah tripod, yuh coyote!" grinned Jake, winking at Kenneth. + +"Oh, yes! Well, Jake, I had to leave it at Pebbly Pit because it was so +heavy, but I'll go back for it next Sunday!" + +"Nah, yuh won't, eider--some one else brought in th' tripod and ha'r it +'tis!" With that Jake displayed the article wanted. + +"Who found it? No one could take a horse," exclaimed Jim, perplexed. + +Then Jake leaned over and whispered in his ear: "The Boss hisself! He +rode to Yaller Jacket to spend Sunda' with his wife, yuh know, an' what +shoul' he do but come acrost the tripod whar Ah left it fer you boys to +pick up! Mebbe Ah didn't get hail on Pagoda!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SEVERAL MOMENTOUS LETTERS + + +Monday and Tuesday passed very slowly to the anxious girls, and on +Wednesday they began looking for the return of their scouting party. +Polly figured that three days would prove ample time in which to +investigate the conditions and determine whether or not the mine could +be worked--providing it was found again. But in such a dreadful +wilderness of torn-up trees, and washed out earth, where mile after mile +of mountain-land had changed its appearance, who could hope to locate a +tiny square of ground that had been staked as the wonderful mine? And +with giant trees uprooted and tossed along the current of the +land-slide, how could any one expect the insignificant wooden stakes to +remain to mark the place? + +Then Wednesday also passed without a sign of the returning engineers; so +on Thursday, Mrs. Brewster told the girls they would have to drive into +Oak Creek for supplies and the weekly mail. + +This would be a break in the dull routine of waiting impatiently for +news from the Peak, and all four of the girls willingly complied with +the order. Two strong horses were hitched to the ranch-wagon, and the +gay party drove away, leaving Mrs. Brewster waving her hand as they +rumbled down the road past the Cliffs. + +The colored stones reminded Polly of Kenneth's story, and she turned to +Eleanor and said: "I wonder if he wrote home to ask his mother about her +brother?" + +"Even if he did it will be fully a fortnight before he can have an +answer. But we ought to get a letter to-day, telling us whether the boys +are coming over Sunday, or not," replied Eleanor. + +"Yes, I know; I thought we'd stop at the post office first of all," +answered Polly. + +The girls enjoyed the wonderful drive along the trail that ran to Oak +Creek, and having reached their destination, left the team tied to the +post in front of Mr. Simms' office, for they purposed having a good +time. + +Anne and Barbara went to the store where they could buy candy, while +Polly and Eleanor ran to the post office. To their surprised delight, +they found Kenneth Evans there. He was reading a telegram and did not +see the girls until he had finished. + +"Oh--hullo! I never expected to see you here," exclaimed he, seemingly +too excited to remember that he had not met them since Sunday. + +"I wired mother last Monday--sent it in by Jake, you know. And told her +to reply so I could get her answer to-day. The Boss let me off because I +finished my work on the old line yesterday. So I came to town myself for +the message." + +Kenneth acted so elated that Polly and Eleanor wondered what news he had +received to make his eyes sparkle like stars and his face to flush in a +way that made him positively handsome. + +"Isn't it great, though? And just think, if it hadn't been for you +girls, I never would have known it!" + +"Known what? What have we done that is so great?" asked Eleanor, +laughingly. + +"Why, the mine, don't you know!" + +"What about it?" cried both girls at once, thinking that news of some +moment from the engineers had reached Oak Creek before they arrived +there. + +"Why, the mine--you know, my uncle's mine!" + +"Your uncle's!" again the girls gasped in astonishment. + +"Of course--didn't Polly tell me all about her old friend Montresor? +Here, read my mother's night letter to me." And Kenneth placed the +yellow sheet in Eleanor's hand. + +She read aloud to anxious Polly: "One branch of family has a +Montresor--two generations back the name was used as surname. Brother +was christened Peter Miles Montresor Amesbury. Disliked name Montresor, +dropped it when young. Every one forgot about it. Am sending letter with +photograph of Peter. Show Polly. Wire results. Father may come west. +Love, Mother." + +"Oh, oh! how wonderful!" cried Polly, catching Kenneth's hands +delightedly. + +"I'm glad, too, Ken, but I shall have to contest any of your claims to +my mine," laughed Eleanor. + +"Your father ought to be told about the land-slide. Maybe he is coming +west to look over the claim, but he won't be able to see anything," +remarked Polly. + +"No, I think Dad plans to come west to look at your Cliffs. I told him +in my telegram just what they were, and sent on the box of jewels. When +he gets them he will try out his invention and if it cuts them properly, +then he may come here to see your family." + +"Oh! You didn't waste any time attending to things, did you?" said +Eleanor, with keen amusement at Kenneth's business methods. + +"No, I never waste time on _anything_ that's worth while. And, by the +way, Jim and I are coming over to Pebbly Pit again on Sunday--your +mother invited us, you know." + +Both girls laughed, and they caught the youth up. "Ah, you must think +Pebbly Pit is worth while, then?" + +"Why, I do! You don't suppose I'd ride 'way over there if I was bored, +do you?" replied Kenneth, earnestly. + +Eleanor laughed this time, but Polly felt he was in too serious a mood +for laughter. So she said: "I'm glad you liked us. We'll tell mother you +are coming again. That is one reason we drove to Oak Creek--to get the +letter." + +"I'm afraid it will be our only chance to see you-all again, as our crew +moves from Brushy Creek to Silver Creek, and after that we go to Buffalo +Park. The Boss says we will have about three weeks' work there, and then +go across the desert to work along the Lincoln Highway, until we reach +the other lines, completed last year by Carew's men. + +"He doesn't know whether we shall be dismissed then, or sent on to tie +up a few other little jobs before the summer ends. However, it looks as +if Jim and I will be too far away to ride over for the day then. It will +take us a day and night to cross the desert and over several mountain +peaks to reach you." + +Eleanor listened delightedly to this innocent youth, and as he concluded +she squealed with amusement: "Oh, don't you love it!" + +"Love what?" asked Kenneth, never having heard this extravagant +expression so favored by city misses. + +"Love _you_, of course!" retorted Eleanor, laughing. + +Polly frowned at this admission, and Kenneth blushed, for he had never +before been told so publicly that a pretty girl loved him! Eleanor +doubled over laughing, and gasped: "Oh, you two adorable babes!" + +Further conversation was made impossible now, by Barbara and Anne coming +in. They immediately joined the three young people, and Anne asked: "Did +you get the mail, Nolla?" + +"No, we never thought of it. Ken has such an exciting telegram that we +forgot everything else." + +Anne waited to hear no more, but went to the window and inquired for her +mail and for that of the family at Pebbly Pit. A bulky package was +handed out, and caused Polly to exclaim at its size. + +"Why, I never knew so many letters to come at one time." + +"That's because no one's been here to get it for more than a week," +returned Anne. + +Barbara had not forgotten the yellow sheet in Kenneth's hand, however, +and now asked what the news was that had so thrilled the girls. + +She was given the telegram to read, and having mastered the contents she +looked daggers at poor Kenneth; "I suppose you will expect my sister to +share her mine with you, now." + +Eleanor instantly interpolated: "Your sister wouldn't think of keeping a +mine that belongs to some one else. I'm thankful we had the use of it +that night when the panther and bear wanted to get at us. And again the +day of the avalanche! I'm much obliged to Ken for his cave hotel!" + +Barbara sneered unpleasantly and walked away. Kenneth said nothing, but +when she had gone he turned to the girls and said: "We were thinking +more of knowing for a certainty whether Uncle Peter was still alive, or +whether your Montresor is my mother's brother. I almost forgot there was +gold in that mine." + +The girls assured him that that was exactly what they believed he was +anxious to know, and that the gold was the least of all things to be +considered. + +Having spent two hours in the Moving Picture Hall, and completing all +the shopping, the girls started back to Pebbly Pit. Kenneth Evans had +said good-by and gone on his way, so there was now no side interest for +Polly and Eleanor as they drove the obedient horses homeward. + +Barbara and Anne were reading their letters, and the two younger girls +on the front seat whispered confidences to each other. Anne suddenly +exclaimed, as she finished reading a type-written letter: + +"Well, of all things! How did they hear of _me_?" + +Eleanor half turned around and asked: "What's the matter?" + +"Mother inclosed a letter that came from New York. She thought it might +be important, so she slipped it inside the one she was just going to +mail to me," murmured Anne, vaguely, studying the dense forest as they +drove past. + +"Well, that's nothing to wonder about," said Eleanor. + +Anne glanced at the letter again: "No, but the contents is." + +"Maybe it's one of those proposals of marriage--you know; the kind where +a lonely bachelor, rich, well-bred, perfect in every respect (except his +bald head, glass eye, toothless gums, and palsy) wishes acquaintance +with sweet young miss--object matrimony!" Eleanor said, jokingly. + +"Eleanor Maynard! How very unladylike of you!" cried her sister, shocked +at her levity. + +"I'm only saying what you can read in the paper any day," argued +Eleanor, still laughing at her joke. + +"This _is_ a proposal, but not that kind. It comes from a well-known +gentleman in New York City," said Anne. + +Polly was so astonished that she pulled in the horses and suddenly +halted them without being aware of it. Eleanor and she turned square +about and gazed at Anne questioningly. Barbara couldn't say anything as +she was at sea for words. + +"For goodness' sake!" exclaimed Eleanor, at last. + +"Wh-y--I wanted to live with you in Denver this winter!" complained +Polly. Then remembering John and his evident preference for Anne, she +added severely: "Does John know about this man?" + +Anne laughed gayly. "No, and that is the only thing that makes me feel +unhappy. I'd accept at once, if New York wasn't so far away, or if I had +never met John." + +Although Anne spoke in a jocular tone when mentioning John, she blushed +most bewitchingly at her acknowledgment. + +Eleanor had been keenly studying Anne's face, and now she exclaimed: +"Ha! you didn't tell us what _sort_ of a proposal! It may be a mason who +wants to hire you to carry a hod up the ladders." + +As the very idea was so ridiculous, every one laughed, and that broke +the tension. Then Anne admitted: "I felt like squaring myself with you, +Nolla, for your hint that I was answering ads. in the _Matrimonial +Mirror_." + +"Well, then, is it for a hod-carrier?" insisted the irrepressible +Eleanor. + +"Almost as good; it is for a teacher to carry learning up into young +ladies' brains at a fashionable seminary in New York." + +"What? never!" declared Barbara. + +"Of course--why not?" replied Anne. + +Eleanor and Polly were silent, but they thought a lot. But Barbara said: +"Because you can never fill a position in a fashionable young ladies' +school in New York. You know nothing of social life." + +"Bob, I'll have Polly dump you from the wagon if you can't be half-way +decent to us. Ever since Polly and I discovered Old Man Montresor's gold +mine, you've been as mean as a bear with a sore head. Now stop it, or +I'll--I'll do something _awful_ to you!" + +Eleanor was angry! And she looked daggers at her sister as she spoke, +but she knew there was nothing she could do but patiently allow Barbara +to say unkind words to others, as was her habit. + +Polly now spoke. "Anne, is there anything that you'd _rather_ do than go +East to teach school?" + +Anne caught her meaning and mentally thanked her, but audibly she said: +"Not just yet, Polly. You see, my brother Paul has two years still to +put in at college, and little mother has to be cared for, as well. This +offer is so tempting that I could not refuse it without considering +everything that concerns me. In two years' time, I could not only +rejoice that Paul is through, but that because of my increased income, +mother will have something laid by for her use in the future." + +"Well, then," sighed Polly, resignedly, "I'll give up my hopes of +paradise! I did so want to go to school in a big city this year." As she +urged the horses on their way, the young driver felt the tears well up +in her eyes, but she refused to brush them away. + +Eleanor saw and understood. She quietly took her own handkerchief and +dabbed her friend's wet eyes. Then placed her hand on her shoulder. Not +a word was spoken. + +"Polly, dear, I'm not going to do a thing until after I have pondered +this step well. I shall have to write the principal for added +information, and before I hear again, I will know whether it is wise for +me to accept the offer or not," exclaimed Anne. + +The rest of the drive was concluded in silence, each girl having much to +think over. When the horses were turned over to the man who took Jeb's +place in his absence, and the girls were on the porch, Mrs. Brewster +noticed their unusual quiet. + +"Anything wrong, girls?" asked she. + +"No--only Kenneth's uncle is our Montresor, he thinks," said Eleanor, +rocking violently back and forth in the wicker chair. + +This so surprised Mrs. Brewster that she began a rapid cross-examination +until she had all the facts. However the very telling about Kenneth's +story enabled Polly to change her thoughts of future trouble, so that +she felt much better over the school question before very long. + +Anne's momentous letter was the next important topic of conversation, +and Mrs. Brewster listened to the news with an enigmatical expression on +her face. When Anne finished telling about it, the elder woman spoke. + +"I thought perhaps you would be planning to take a course in Domestic +Science. But going to New York to continue your school teaching would +lead me to believe that you propose making that the principal object of +your life." + +"But you must remember, Mrs. Brewster, I am not alone in the world. I +have my mother and younger brother to consider. If I fail Paul now, he +will have to stop his college education half-way. I simply _have_ to +keep on supplying him and mother with means, until he is through. Then +he can help me in caring for mother," explained Anne, diffidently. + +"You might marry a young man who had ample means to take care of both +your mother and brother," suggested Barbara. + +"Oh, Bob! you know Paul would never take money that way, when I had such +a dreadful time in even persuading him to let me loan him his +educational expenses from my own salary!" exclaimed Anne, flushing +uncomfortably when the subject of her marrying a wealthy man was +mentioned. + +"If your brother knows you plan to go to New York just to earn more +money for him, he may refuse to take any aid from you," ventured Mrs. +Brewster. + +"That is my only concern just now. Of course, I shall take mother with +me to keep house for us both, but Paul must complete his studies in +Chicago, so he must believe there was another reason for my choosing New +York other than the mere increased salary offered me." + +"It seems a difficult thing for you to do--to find a plausible reason +for going so far East," added Mrs. Brewster. + +"Now _I_ know a good one;" spoke up Eleanor, suddenly. "I am crazy to +spend a winter in New York, but Bob won't give up her social season at +home, and mother wouldn't think of spending the time in New York just to +oblige me. As Anne has always been found to be so helpful to me, in +everyway, I shall insist upon going to New York this Fall and choosing +her as my companion while there. Naturally her mother wants to go, too, +and so we will decide to keep house in one of those cute little +three-room-and-kitchenette apartments. Then Anne has so much time on her +hands that she decides to fill in by going to this seminary for certain +hours. How's that for a plot!" + +"Oh, it's lovely--all but your being able to go East," replied Barbara, +sarcastically. + +The others laughed at both plotter and objector, for it sounded so +visionary. But once Eleanor had the idea in her mind she mulled it over +and over until it really appeared feasible to her. + +The others talked of the mine, of Kenneth's father and the invention for +cutting jewels, of everything that concerned any interest in their +lives, while Eleanor sat and planned her new idea. + +"Now listen to me, folks--I've got everything ironed out smooth for +Anne's going. I am expected to remain in Denver all this winter and +attend school there. Live with Anne and her mother. These are Mother's +orders to the doctor--and he ordered them on to Daddy. I know all about +it, because Barbara and Mother planned a big campaign to try and marry +Bob off sure pop this year!--" + +"Nolla! I _will_ not sit here quietly and listen to you tell such +dreadful stories. You know very well that you are too delicate to live +in Chicago where the climate does not agree with you," Barbara cried. + +"Tut, tut! We are all old friends here, Bob, and no one will squeal on +you about family skeletons. Anne knows as much about this arrangement as +you or I do; and Polly, or her mother, are not interested enough to +repeat what I say," giggled Eleanor; then she continued her outlines: +"Hence, it matters little whether the eager student (that's me) lives in +Denver, New York, or Timbuctoo, as long as she is in 'safe hands' and +out of society's way. + +"Now Anne Stewart and her mother have absolutely 'safe hands' for such +as me; so there will be little argument and no difficulties in +convincing mother or Bob to have the doctor say that I must go East with +Anne. Convincing Dad of this need, will be the only obstacle. But I +shall play upon the fact that he can visit me quite often in New York, +whereas he never comes West on business. He can fly across country from +Chicago on the Twentieth Century and be in New York in the morning. + +"Yes, Anne, considering all things, I believe it will be New York for my +schooling this Winter, instead of Denver." + +Eleanor wagged her head wisely as she finished speaking, and her hearers +began to wonder if she really meant what she said. Anne rather liked the +suggestion of having Eleanor go East with her, and Polly sat mute, +wishing some one would persuade her mother that it was the only thing to +do for her, too. + +Sary came in at this point to say that supper had been waiting so long, +that it was all sizzled up in the pan. + +"My goodness! I forgot we hadn't had supper!" laughed Eleanor, jumping +up and catching Polly by the arm to whirl her away. + +Once out of hearing, she whispered quickly: "Don't say a word to any one +about this New York plan of mine--if I go, you go, too; for we are a +second 'Ruth and Naomi' you know!" + +Polly smiled, but she knew her friend's suggestion for her going, too, +would have no backing from any one at _her_ home. + +Saturday dawned and every one at Pebbly Pit was on the lookout for the +adventurers, as they surely would not remain on the mountain over +another Sunday! But it was late in the afternoon when the clip-clop of +horses' hoofs rang out over the crater of the ranch. Then the riders +were seen passing the Cliffs, and soon they were at the door. + +Such a babble of voices and questions asked, would have deafened any one +not concerned in the meeting. But every one, even Sary, had a heart +interest in the returned scouts, and no one took the trouble to bottle +up their rejoicing. + +Several farm-hands were present, so the horses were sent off to the barn +and Jeb was allowed a rest period. Of course, the men were hungry, and +every one turned to the well-laden table. + +While eating an early supper, John and Tom were called upon to give +expert opinions about "Choko's Find" Mine. + +"As you must know, Tom and I did the job up well while we were up there. +That is why we remained so long. We've got the plan worked out and we +also took photographs of the entire surroundings so that investors can +see exactly what the difficulties will be," explained John. + +"Oh, then we haven't lost it!" cried Polly and Eleanor together. + +"You couldn't lose it unless Old Grizzly split the whole side of the +mountain open and washed the gold down into the bottom. But the +land-slide makes the mining more difficult in the beginning; once +things are going, it will make no difference, excepting that there is +always the danger of fresh avalanches wreaking the same havoc this one +has done," said Tom Latimer. + +"Well, I always had a theory that I believe will prove to divert a great +deal of slide that does the damage, in a case like this one. And since +looking around up on Top Notch, I'm sure my idea will work," ventured +John. + +"All I can say to that is, if you have such a theory it will prove more +valuable than Kenneth Evans' father's patent device for cutting lava +jewels from Rainbow Cliffs!" laughed Eleanor. + +"What's that?" demanded John, while Tom Latimer wondered how this +Chicago girl ever had heard of Dr. Evans' machine that his father was +financially interested in. + +Then Polly and Eleanor had the "speaker's chair" and they told all about +Kenneth, his father's patents, and Old Man Montresor's relationship to +him. + +"Why then, if this lad is the direct heir to Montresor, he must inherit +the mine!" declared John. + +"Not according to law, because Polly was left the claim, but we had to +discover it all over again under a new claim, you see," explained +Eleanor, anxiously. + +"That will make a fine little problem in law, I'm thinking," laughed +Tom, shaking his head. + +"It would if all concerned could not agree, but _we_ all intend to +agree--Ken said so!" exclaimed Polly, emphatically. + +"Oh--you-all know this 'Ken' so well, eh?" teased John. + +"Of course! And he is the nicest boy--as nice as Jim Latimer, anyway," +retorted Eleanor. + +Every one laughed, and Tom said: "Well, after paying my kid brother such +a left-handed compliment, I feel I must continue my work on that mine +problem." + +"Give us a chance to finish our reports, won't you, before you tell us +you gave away your interests, or launched us all in a will-contest," +added John, laughingly. Then he continued: + +"Now this is what we have to say about Choko's Find: The pyramids of +trash now covering that area of Top Notch can be readily cleared away. +We set fire to certain parts and opened a way to the ravine. There we +found the old gulch literally filled in with rocks, earth and roots, so +that we could not get through to find the cave. But we brought home bits +of gold ore, just the same." + +John rolled the nuggets across the table, and the girls gazed with bated +breath at what they believed had been buried forever under the +land-slide. + +"We have much to tell you about this, so let's go to the living-room to +talk," suggested Mr. Brewster, rising. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +"POLLY-ELEANOR COMPANY, INC." + + +The girls were impatient to hear about the plans Mr. Brewster and the +two engineers had decided upon, but Mrs. Brewster smiled knowingly, as +if she had already been told the secret. Mr. Brewster was morose and +silent, looking more as if he was compelled to consent to something as a +just and fair man, rather than from preference and desire. + +"Now don't you girls ask too many questions if you are displeased or +delighted at what we tell you," began John, nodding to Tom to proceed +with his story. + +Having promised not to interrupt the important conference, the girls sat +expectantly smiling at the chair-man of the meeting. + +"I have to preface our report on Choko's Find, by telling you-all about +a little company that was incorporated in New York several months ago. +Father wrote me all about it. + +"Dr. Evans is a very clever inventor, as you now know, and having this +unusual device for cutting stones by machine, he called on father's law +firm to secure a patent on it for him. Latimer Brothers make a specialty +of patents, you know. + +"Well, the doctor had but little money for the costs, and father saw a +great fortune in the invention if it was properly financed. So articles +of agreement were drawn up, that Latimer Brothers were to pay all costs +of getting the machine on the market, and for this they were to share in +the stock of the company. + +"This was done and when the papers were ready and the shares of stock +divided between the principals, an injunction was served on Dad by a +tricky company in New York which claimed prior rights to the patent. +This has held up everything so that Dr. Evans is not sure whether he +will ever realize anything out of his invention or not. Of course, we +are fighting the legality of Ratzger & Wriggley's injunction and claims. + +"Having risked all his little bank account on the outcome of this idea +of his, the doctor now hasn't a cent to bless himself with. That is why +Kenneth Evans was sent to work this summer, to earn his own keep. + +"Fortunately, Dad had a letter from Jim, who was out in the mountains +with a government survey crew, in which it said that they were short a +few good men and two young apprentices such as he himself was. Kenneth +and Jim attended the same school at home, so Dad telephoned Dr. Evans +about the opening. That is how Ken happened to come West. + +"Now I hear that the Courts uphold Dr. Evans in his right to the patent, +and the company can go on with their plans. If they can find suitable +material to mine and without too much expense for apparatus, they will +start in at once with a close corporation. But should they find it will +take great capital to mine the right kind of stones, the original +members of the company may have to sell half of their rights, to get +sufficient money to launch the work. Do you girls follow me as far as I +have explained?" + +"Oh, yes, it's clear as day," replied Eleanor, impatiently. + +"Do you grasp the thing, Polly?" asked John. + +"I don't understand anything about stocks and corporations but I do +understand what Tom has said, so far," returned Polly. + +"Well, then, all right; I'll proceed," said Tom. + +"When I first visited at Pebbly Pit with John, I saw the wonderful +colored stones of Rainbow Cliffs and begged Mr. Brewster to allow me to +send on samples of them to father, as I was sure they were just what Dr. +Evans sought for his machine to cut. But I could not make my friend, +here, see any advantage in adding more money to his bank account. So I +had to leave without having won my plea. + +"But I wrote father and told him all about the great store of unmined +stones located in plain view at the Cliffs. Later, when the injunction +stopped all progress in the work, I almost forgot Rainbow Cliffs again. + +"But now that the 'Evans Jewel Cutter' is protected, and the owners are +looking for material to manufacture, the Rainbow Cliffs are in the +foreground again for negotiation. + +"Then came the surprising telegram from Oak Creek, informing John about +the gold mine claimed by Polly. As we were told to reach Oak Creek +without delay, we started without sending word to the folks at home +about our leaving our summer work. And now this is what we have planned +regarding Choko's Find. + +"If father's firm, Mr. Brewster, and all the friends everywhere, could +scrape together all the money they had, it would not be sufficient to +carry out the work at Choko's Find. The conditions are such that every +precaution must be taken to avoid, in the future, any danger from new +land-slides. The lay of the land where the gold is hidden, is such that +the vein may not run deep into the mountain--it may be merely a surface +deposit in the cave. In this case, the real vein may be hidden so deep +that it would need the boring down into great depths to find the metal. +All this will take time and money. + +"That means that Polly and Eleanor will have to sacrifice the greater +interest in their mine to secure capital with which to work it. Or they +can sell the claim for cash--or they can arrange to be paid a royalty on +all the ore metal mined. Where it is possible, it is always best to +retain a controlling share of stock in the company formed. + +"John and I have pictures on hand and plans and engineering reports of +Top Notch and the claim. We also secured the specimen of gold that you +have there. I will tell you the thrilling experiences we had in getting +at the deposit, when I finish this plan. + +"To transport the ore from the mine to some station on the railroad, +will necessitate a spur being built from Oak Creek, or a new line being +run from the mainline at Denver over to Bear Forks. In either case, it +will cost a mint to build and run such a railway because of the long +tunnels that will have to be cut through the mountains, and the lack of +other traffic over a new road. + +"Even a sort of switch-back railway running from the mine to the valley +will cost us more money than we can get together. So we would have to +take in outside capital to supply the needs. OR----" + +Here Tom Latimer paused to impress his hearers with what he was about to +say. Mr. Brewster moved uneasily in his arm-chair, but every one else +was intensely interested. + +"The Polly-Eleanor Company can sell certain stock in their mining +company to Sam Brewster. He, or his company that owns and works Rainbow +Cliffs, can furnish capital to build and work things in connection with +the mines. + +"The Evans' Jewel Cutting Company will be harvesting such rich returns +from Rainbow Cliffs, that it will be able to supply all the capital +needed to carry out the vast projects on Top Notch. And the voting stock +in _both_ companies will be held by interested parties who can +appreciate the fact that neither company can take advantage of the other +without both failing. It will be to the good of all concerned to see +that everything connected with both mines, is done on the level and to +the best of every one's ability. + +"Of course it will take a year or two before we can be ready to drill +down through that cave for the ore, but we can start in on Rainbow +Cliffs without any delay and begin to reap the rewards of investment at +once. In the case of Mr. Brewster agreeing to have his Cliffs mined for +the stones, and the Polly-Eleanor Company agreeing to combine with +Evans' Jewel Company for mining their gold, both can erect plants on the +same land, and use the same railroad for carrying their products to the +outside world. That will save a great expense because the cost of +building and maintaining railroads and buildings, will be divided by +two." + +Tom finished and John eagerly asked: "What do you-all think of our great +idea? Of course, Montresor's heirs ought to hold an interest, but should +they be Kenneth and his mother, it will simplify matters for all." + +That started such a babel of voices that Sam Brewster got up and left +the room. But no one noticed his absence, as all were too interested in +planning for the fabulous wealth they conjured up in their thoughts. + +After more than an hour of animated discussion and explanation, it was +decided to await the decision of the mechanics in the East who would +experiment on the stones from Rainbow Cliffs. A box of the stones would +be expressed at once, and a letter from John to Mr. Latimer would +explain everything. + +"What does father say to this, mother?" asked Polly. + +"He says that, as the ranch is legally mine, he has no vote in the +matter." + +"Oh nonsense! Even if he did deed Pebbly Pit to you for a wedding gift, +you always do everything to please him," declared John. + +"Yes, but he refuses to say what he thinks is best in this matter," +added Mrs. Brewster. + +"Well, seeing that so much hinges on his willingness to coöperate with +us," announced John, impatiently, "I am going to say exactly what I have +felt to be the real cause of his disapproval of turning the Cliffs into +money." + +Mrs. Brewster glanced anxiously from the window to see if her husband +could hear what was said, but Sam Brewster had evidently wandered away +from the porch as he was not to be seen. + +"Father told Tom and me, while on Top Notch, that he really had no +personal objections to having the stones mined from Rainbow Cliffs, but +all unsightly machinery and the riff-raff of miners that would be +necessary in such work, must be kept out of sight of the house. He +explained that most of the working ends of the project could be +stationed back of the cliffs down in the Devil's Causeway, and the road +that would have to run to Bear Forks trail for the conveyance of the +stone, could be cut through in back of the 'Guards' and 'The Imps' of +the cliffs. + +"He then said that there was but one condition he exacted from any one +who was interested in the plan, and that was that no undue influence +would be brought to bear upon Polly to increase her desire to leave home +for a higher education. His consent will be willingly given, and he will +aid us in every way to a successful issue if Polly agrees to remain at +home and give up her plan to go away to school." + +As this unexpected ultimatum was given, every one gasped, and Polly +cried: "Oh, no! Father didn't say that, did he?" + +John remained silent, and Polly began to cry pathetically, as her chief +delight in having found Choko's Find, was the fact that she would have +enough money of her own to not only go to High School, but also to go +through one of the large women's colleges. Even if her father refused +to finance such an educational ideal, she would have had her own income +to draw upon. + +"Now wait a moment, Poll, before you lose all hope!" exclaimed John, +quickly glancing from Anne to his mother, and then back to his sister. + +"I asked father if he would agree to your having a private teacher live +at Pebbly Pit to educate you, as you craved to be. He is more than +willing to consent to this, as it is not the education or money he +begrudges you, but the need of your going away from home to get it. Now +isn't that fine?" + +"Where can we find a teacher who will bury herself in this crater just +to teach one girl?" demanded Polly, wiping her eyes. + +"W-h-y--I thought perhaps----" John stammered uncomfortably, then +gathered courage to add: "Miss Stewart liked it at Bear Forks one year, +and she has been teaching Eleanor for two years. She may agree to teach +_you_ this year for a tempting salary." + +"Anne has had an unusual offer to teach a seminary class in New York," +said Mrs. Brewster, without any sign of partiality for any one or any +plan. + +"Oh!" remarked John. + +But Tom Latimer eagerly added: "We can offer Miss Stewart a better +salary for her time than any New York school can, if she will agree to +stay here and help us win our way to Rainbow Cliffs." + +Before Anne could reply, Polly cried: "But I don't _want_ any teacher to +live here and educate me! Can't you see that I want to go out, +OUT--somewhere, anywhere, away from this volcanic pit where I have been +buried for fourteen years!" + +Once Polly freed herself of the reticence of speaking of her own ideals +and longings for experience, she almost volleyed forth her words, so +that every one sat astonished at her eloquence. + +"When John went away to school I was awfully lonesome for he used to +take me everywhere he went, and we had good times. + +"Father and mother were good--but they don't know what the girl of +to-day craves! It isn't that we girls are brought up so differently from +our parents, or that they get modern ideas into their heads from mixing +with society girls or from reading of them. _It is in the air we +breathe_--the desire to come out of swaddling clothes and take a stand +for our individual rights! Every girl has the germ of self-expression in +her somewhere, and if it is starved and choked by conventionalities and +parental bonds, she is bound to find an outlet for her energy in some +unprofitable way. If folks would only SEE that girls, to-day, are +capable of accomplishing what the _boys_ of to-day are doing, and then +give us a chance, there won't be so many slatterns and silly women-folk +in the future. + +"I learned all I could get out of Bear Forks' school-books, but it +wasn't half enough for me. Now I am going to go to High, or leave home +to work somewhere. I will not stay here to eat my heart out over the +outside world and what it is doing. I may be awfully disappointed when I +get acquainted with folks, outside, but at least I want the opportunity +NOW, just as my brother John has it. + +"Mother and father took it as a matter of course, that their boy must go +to college and carve a career for himself. But their girl ought never to +dream of such foibles--she must remain at home and learn to sew and cook +and do all the household chores! If any sort of a decent rancher comes +along who wants to marry, then I must thank him and tie myself down to +take care of his socks and buttons, and rear a fine family! + +"No, _no_, NO! I tell you I just won't _do it_!" Polly fairly screamed +out the last words and stamped her foot vehemently, as she stood +declaring what she thought of such a life. + +Mrs. Brewster hid her face in a handkerchief--whether she was weeping or +trying to hide her gratification at hearing her daughter assert her +rights in such a positive manner, no one knew. + +"W-h-y--Polly Brewster! You are positively unladylike in your manner of +speaking of marriage and a future husband!" objected Barbara, shocked. + +Polly turned on her, as the proverbial worm turned: + +"Pooh! What do _you_ know about real life! You--a silly selfish moth! +All you can think of is money, clothes, beaus! + +"You can't see a spider without fainting, and you mince about the moment +you hear John or Tom are near. You're not a woman of _to-day_! You're a +manufactured specimen of the past generation. Thank goodness, such as +_you_ are on the wane; and even modern men who are looking for +mates--not helpless weights upon their backs--select them from the +business world where girls are climbing to the top of the ladder as fast +as conditions will permit them to. + +"Don't _you_ sit there with your powdered face and crimped-up hair and +tell me I am unladylike! You never thought of being the lady your +sister is, and certainly I wouldn't say that you can hold a candle to +_me_! I was brought up by a lady, and I call myself as thorough a one as +any of your society friends!" + +"Oh, Polly--dearest!" Eleanor squealed, running over and squeezing her +friend in her arms so that she gasped. Then releasing her, said: "I +never heard anything so glorious in my life! Not even the suffrage +leader in Chicago, when she was stumping for 'Votes for Women,' was ever +as thrilling as you!" + +"Polly, you are right! A girl has as good a right to her individual +expression in life as any man has. I will champion your cause, +henceforth, and even try to convince your father that he is +narrow-minded in his selfishness about tying you to his heels," declared +Anne Stewart, bravely throwing down the "glove" to every one. + +Eleanor now transferred her hugs and admiration to Anne, and Mrs. +Brewster lifted her face from the screen of a handkerchief to look at +John. + +Tom Latimer and John exchanged looks, then turned to Mrs. Brewster. John +was the first to speak. + +"Mother, it looks as if 'Polly-Eleanor Company' are going to incorporate +themselves in spite of all we can do to claim their shares of stock." + +"I haven't a doubt but that the 'Polly-Eleanor Company,' is bound to +succeed in any venture of life," replied Mrs. Brewster. + +"Mother, you don't blame me for wanting to get away from you?" cried +Polly, running over to her mother. + +"Dearest, I would be a poor mother if I expected to have my children +hang about my neck to remind me that I ought to be petted and worked +for, just because I claimed the right of being their parent! Every noble +parent is only too willing to judiciously assist a child in finding his +or her own niche in life. + +"I have known for a long time that you would realize how stunting this +ranch-life is to your unfolding aspirations. For me, it embraces all +that I love and have, but for you two ambitious children of my younger +days, it would be a veritable grave. + +"I feel exactly as Anne does about this step--try your own wings, dear +child, and wisely select your own walk in life. No father or mother can +live your life for you, but they can guide and warn you away from snares +and pitfalls. When a child has cast aside its 'swaddling clothes,' as +you said, it must stand alone. + +"I have argued this out with your father, many times this past year, but +he clings fondly to the belief that you are too young to leave home; and +he has persisted in holding you in the material concept, instead of +realizing that you are purely mental and must feed your mental hunger +with proper nourishment. + +"I had another argument with him this evening, after his return from the +Slide. He expected to convince me that everything would go to ruin if +the Cliffs were worked and you were allowed to go away to school. But I +turned the tables: I convinced _him_ that he was standing in your light +of a future glory by keeping you limited in your realization of an +ideal. That only a family disaster and your unhappiness, must result +from such old-fashioned views. + +"He finally agreed that if you and the others, here, said that a higher +education was what his girl craved and needed, he would withdraw all +objections--once for all. That is why he left us--to discuss and settle +this momentous question. Polly, you have won!" + +Polly flung her arms about her mother's neck and wept softly: "But poor +father! At what costs have I won?" + +"S-sh! Don't let any one hear you weaken now. This is the moment of +your triumph, and you must not look back lest you be turned to a 'pillar +of salt,'" whispered her mother. + +"Then father _did_ agree to have Polly go to school?" asked John, +curiously. + +"Yes, if you-all agreed that it was for the best." + +"And are we to have the Cliffs if the stone proves valuable?" eagerly +added Tom Latimer. + +"Having waived his right to keep Polly at home, he says we can turn the +whole crater upside-down if we like," said Mrs. Brewster, smilingly. +"But I wouldn't goad him, too far, just now. We have won such a mighty +victory, that you haven't the faintest idea of what it means to the +vanquished. It is doubtful if we can know anything definite about the +Cliffs for the next two or three weeks, so let us not speak of it until +then." + +"But, Mrs. Brewster, if Anne goes to New York to teach, and takes her +mother, where will Polly stay? I've been thinking how fine it will be to +have her live with me in Chicago," said Eleanor, eagerly. + +"Why--Eleanor Maynard! You can't invite strangers to your mother's home! +It may not be convenient to have any one there this winter," objected +Barbara. + +"Well, don't borrow trouble, Bob! It's father's home as well as +mother's, and I can ask a friend to stay with me if I like." + +"I wouldn't think of ever going to your home, Nolla dear. I'd love to +know your father from all you tell me, but I never would stay in that +house," declared Polly, quickly. + +"We have several weeks to discuss a school for Polly," remarked Mrs. +Brewster, rising to go out and seek her husband. + +"I'd love to be with Anne," ventured Polly, wistfully. + +"Maybe you will, dear. Don't say any more about it, now, but trust to +your dear mother's wisdom and ways. Whatever is best for you, she will +see that it is brought about," replied Anne, thus winning a grateful +smile from John. + +Barbara now went to her room, as she felt the company was not +appreciative of her presence, and was too attentive on Polly. Polly and +Eleanor went over to incidentally ask Tom Latimer about certain details +in Evans' patent, and more especially what did he know about Kenneth +Evans. As both girls were acquainted with Jim Latimer, they had not the +same curiosity to hear any one talk about him. + +But John took advantage of this trio tête-à-tête to hurry Anne out of +the room. Quite naturally, they took the path that ran about the side of +the house, where the rose-climbers cast heavy shadows in the moonlight. +Thence they walked, arm in arm, along the crater-trail where it led to +the Cliffs. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +JEB'S SUNDAY NIGHT OFF + + +Jim Latimer and Kenneth Evans made their appearance much earlier on +Sunday morning, than they had on the previous one. When greetings with +his brother, and the family at Pebbly Pit were over, Jim explained: "The +Boss lifted his ban on using the horses, when he found his men grumbling +all week over their wretched Sunday." + +Of course, the two new arrivals were interested in hearing all about the +gold mine and its present condition, not only because there might be a +possibility that Kenneth's uncle was the Montresor who first discovered +the vein of ore, but also because Polly and Eleanor were such good pals, +and they deserved something big like a gold mine! Which goes to show +that youth needs no time or preparation to discover and appreciate any +desirable qualities of mind and soul. + +Barbara was in her element that Sunday, as John escorted Anne wherever +they went, and the two younger girls had Jim and Kenneth for +companions. So, quite naturally, Tom Latimer fell to her lot. As she had +been carefully trained to make the most of any opportunity offered, +especially with a rich and desirable young man for the prize, she used +every art to captivate Tom. But the young man was sensibly educated and +wondered why really good-looking girls should act as silly as Barbara +did on this occasion. + +He felt embarrassed at having to look at her from time to time, as she +was powdered and rouged as she would have been for a ballroom in the +city, and poor Tom thought that, perhaps, she had some loathsome +irruption on her face that necessitated this covering of the natural +skin. Consequently he managed to keep his eyes turned away that the girl +might not feel too unhappy over her trouble. + +But Barbara thought her cavalier was so effected that he could not look +at her without feeling her powers of beauty and attraction; so she posed +and minced her way as she fondly believed into Tom's plastic heart. Had +she but known the truth! + +A merry family group sat down, at noon, to the delicious dinner served +under the giant oak-tree. And Mr. Brewster, as affable as if he had not +been tried by a family-court the night previous, asked the younger boys +how their survey-work was progressing. + +"Oh fine! We have lots of fun in camp, and when we go out on a section +the work is so interesting!" exclaimed Kenneth. + +"With such a large crowd of men, I suppose you two boys are considered +more as kids who are to be teased and imposed upon, eh?" asked Tom +Latimer, having read his brother's letters about the crew. + +"That's the best part of the crowd--they seem to forget that we both are +tenderfeet and years younger than they are. Ken and I are treated +exactly like any of the older men in the crew," replied Jim. + +"Yes, we are paired off with certain groups to rain-proof the canvas +tents, to act as commissary agents, and to share in all the chores the +others do. Just because Jim has a rich father and because I have to work +for a living, makes no difference to them. Caste and wealth counts as +nothing out in these wilds. It is what a fellow stands for and can prove +that is his introduction and guarantee of manliness," added Kenneth. + +"Did your crew move to a new line, as you thought they would?" asked +Eleanor. + +"Yes, we are now at Silver Creek, but we only have another week's work +to do there. Then we move on to the next section which will be near +Buffalo Park. Isn't that the place where you said Old Montresor had a +cabin?" said Jim. + +"Yes, and it is a lovely spot. I've been there, and I promised Nolla I'd +ride there with her some day," returned Polly. + +"Oh, I say, girls! Wouldn't it be great to have you-all ride up while we +camped there? You could make up a party of it, couldn't you?" asked +Kenneth, eagerly. + +"And we'd get Old Carew to give you a _regular_ party! The men in our +crowd are gentlemen from different parts of the States, and they would +help us entertain," added Jim. + +"I think it would be a treat, Mrs. Brewster, for all of us. John and I +would join the picnickers," now said Tom Latimer. + +"Say, would you really, Tom?" cried Jim, delightedly. + +"Sure thing. If Mr. and Mrs. Brewster approve." + +John looked at his mother. "It will be dandy, Mother, if you and Dad +will go, too." + +"Father and I wouldn't go, John, if Tom and you will escort the girls," +returned Mrs. Brewster. + +"Oh, but we couldn't think of going, Mrs. Brewster, unless you +chaperoned us among so many men!" exclaimed Barbara. Then when she saw +Tom Latimer looking at her she modestly drooped her head. + +Tom was thinking: "Of all the empty-headed vain creatures it ever was my +misfortune to meet, she takes the cake!" + +"That needn't trouble you, girls. If you will come on a Saturday and +spend Sunday at camp with us, we will have the Boss's wife there to act +as hostess. Mrs. Carew always spends Sundays at camp--unless the Boss +rides down to town to visit her. Sometimes she brings the school teacher +from Oak Creek, or other ladies who enjoy the novel life in a survey +camp," explained Jim, enthusiastically. + +"Do let's go, Anne! Can't we say yes?" said Eleanor, eagerly. + +"How long will both of you boys be here?" Anne asked of John. + +"We planned to wait until we hear, one way or the other, regarding the +stones we sent to New York, and about the financing of Choko's Find. +Perhaps Dad and Dr. Evans might even come out and look the ground over +for themselves, before answering my letter," said John. + +"Then we could safely arrange to go next Sunday, or the Sunday after?" + +"Oh, yes, we will be home for a month, most likely." + +John's voice betrayed his satisfaction that such was to be the case, and +Anne smiled faintly, because she could not control her own pleasure in +hearing him say so. Mrs. Brewster and Tom Latimer exchanged glances of +understanding but no one else saw them. + +So it was decided that if Mrs. Carew was to visit her husband over the +following week-end, and the weather permitted, the young folks would +form a party to ride up to Buffalo Park on Saturday. With this pleasure +in view, the two boys went back to camp in the early afternoon, the +distance being so far from Pebbly Pit, that it would be quite dark +before they reached camp. + +After they had gone, Polly and Eleanor wandered around at a loss for +something to do. Being Sunday, their sports were limited to a quiet +time. So they decided to visit the corrals and see Noddy and Choko, as +the burros had been neglected by their riders during the past few days +of the excitement over gold. + +They were passing the wagon-house, when Polly caught hold of Eleanor's +arm for silence. Both girls listened and distinctly heard a man +speaking in dramatic tones. The voice was not recognizable, although +Polly had not heard of any new hand having been hired. + +"Ef Ah wasn't shore we-all'd be happy, Ah never would be h'ar askin' fur +yor hand an' heart." Then there was a pause. + +A low mumbling followed, and then the voice again cried: + +"Ef you-all w'arn't my match, Ah'd go away and nary trouble this ranch +agin. But folkses kin see we-all w'ar made fer each other. Even John +says so!" Then sounded another jumble of incoherent words. + +"Who under the sun is it? A couple who are in love with each other?" +wondered Eleanor, aloud, as she turned to Polly. + +"Whoever it is, they are behind the wagon-shed. Let's creep up to the +harness loft and see who it is. There isn't another woman on the farm +beside Sary, and I'm sure I saw her in the house, when we left there." + +Polly led the way up the ladder to the loft, and then they crept +carefully across the floor until she reached the wide loft-window. This +she opened quietly and tilted the slats so they could look down in the +yard behind the barn. + +There sat Jeb with a few loose pages from a pamphlet in his hands. He +was memorizing the words, and as he did so he mumbled them. + +Every time he had mastered a certain paragraph, he would stand up, +strike a pose, and declaim in an unnatural voice, to the pig-sty that +was not more than twenty feet away from the sheds. + +Suddenly Polly clapped a hand over her mouth and rocked back and forth. +Instantly Eleanor wanted to know what the joke was. + +"Oh, oh! I know now where Jeb got that paper book. It was advertised in +our Farm Journal as being the most complete education on how to propose +gracefully to a woman that man ever could find. I just bet Jeb sent for +it, one day, when he asked me to address an envelope for him. He must be +practicing to ask some Oak Creek girl to marry him." + +Both girls now smothered their laughter, for the idea of simple little +Jeb in love with some one was too funny for words. He seemed terribly in +earnest, however, as he stood up again and declared his love, and beat +his breast and pretended to tear at his hair: + +"'Ef you-all refuse me Ah shall end mah wretched existence! What is life +widdout love? Oh, beuchus maiden--' no, no, Ah musen't call her +'_maiden_' er she'll knock me down," murmured Jeb, scratching his head +in perplexity. + +His audience almost choked with laughter, but he suddenly brightened up +again and said to himself: "Yeh, that's it! She'll like thet." Then he +began again with one hand over his heart and the other tearing at the +thin covering of hair on his head, "'Ef you-all refuse me Ah shall end +this wretched life--' no, _no_! Ah shall end this wretched EXISTENCE! +What is life widdout love? Oh, beau-chus _widder_, will you-all be +mine?" + +As Jeb spoke his last lines, he smirked to himself and said: "Thar now, +Jeb! That'll fetch her, er John's all wrong." + +Polly and Eleanor looked at each other in consternation. Who was the +widow--and what had John to do with this proposal? + +Jeb was placing the little paper book in his breast pocket when the +girls looked out again. Then he picked up the bucket of swill and ran +over to feed the pigs. His audience, up in the loft, heard him still +reciting various love-thrilling lines to himself, as the pigs grunted +and snorted and ate their supper. But Eleanor said they'd better get +away before Jeb found them. + +[Illustration: JEB WAS PRACTICING LOVE-MAKING FROM A BOOK. + +_Polly and Eleanor._ _Page 169_] + +Polly studied her brother's face keenly, during supper, but John seemed +as free from guile as any babe. So after the table was cleared, she went +up to him and whispered: "Did you tell Jeb to propose to any widow you +know?" + +"Why?" John's eyes twinkled with fun. + +"Because he was behind the shed all afternoon, reciting impassioned +lines he had learned in a paper book. We heard him say that that would +fetch the widow or you wasn't as wise as you seemed to be." + +John laughed loudly, and merely murmured: "We ought to be on guard +to-night, lest Jeb commit some folly. Better watch him, Polly, and see +where he goes, eh?" + +"He never goes anywhere on Sunday nights. He sits on the terrace by the +crater and smokes his pipe." + +"Well, he is safe there, but if you see him come by, all togged out in +his church clothes, let me know and I'll see that he comes to no harm. +He may be a bit off, you know," John lightly tapped his head as he +spoke. + +"Oh, I hope not. Jeb is such a _good_ hand. Father would never know what +to do without him. Perhaps we'd best tell father of your suspicions," +cried Polly, deeply concerned. + +"No, no! Don't bother father. I'll take care of Jeb. You just see that +he keeps quiet, to-night, wherever he goes to smoke his pipe." + +Innocent Polly then sought for Eleanor, who had been called to the +kitchen by Sary. Polly found her giving a plaid ribbon and a corsage +nosegay to Sary. But it developed that the maid had higher aspirations +than ribbon and flowers. + +"Miss Nolla, Ah see'd a figgered dress a-hangin' from the hook in yur +room, one day. No one never wears it, an' Ah wuz wonderin' ef it was +yur's, er Miss Bob's, er Miss Anne's?" + +"Oh, that is a striped dimity that mother must have packed by mistake. +It happens to be one of _hers_, so we hung it back in the corner till we +go home again." + +"Ah s'pose yur Maw woulden mind much ef she lent it to me fer +to-night--eh?" hinted Sary. + +"I don't suppose mother will ever think of it again, as it is last +year's style, anyway. I'll take the risk of _giving_ it to you, Sary, if +you promise never to let Bob know where it went." + +"Oh, Ah shore will promise, Miss Nolla! And Ah kin tell you-all Ah'll be +the happiest gal in the West, to-night!" Sary said, giggling like a +veritable school-girl. + +Polly watched her depart with the coveted dress over her arm, then she +turned to Eleanor. "All the help are going crazy, it seems to me!" + +About half an hour later, Sary was seen stealing from the kitchen door, +and tip-toeing over the brick pathway towards the "Second-best" hammock +that always swung behind the lilac bushes. It was a nice little retreat +for any one wishing to take a nap on a sultry afternoon, but Polly had +never known Sary to have a weakness for swinging. + +"Do you know, Nolla, if I didn't have to watch for Jeb, I'd just love to +follow after Sary and see what she is up to," said Polly to Eleanor, as +both girls sat alone on the porch steps. + +"Jeb! Why, I saw him come from the barn all dressed up in his church +clothes. He turned down the Shrubbery Walk," replied Eleanor. + +"Did he have his pipe?" asked Polly, anxiously. + +"No, he looked around at every step as if to make sure no one was +following him." + +"Dear me! I promised John I'd keep my eye on him!" cried Polly, +distressed beyond words. + +"What's the matter? I can show you where he went," said Eleanor, +comfortingly. + +So she led Polly to the place where Jeb had left the road and turned +down to the shrubbery walk. The two girls walked over the soft sod that +gave forth no sound, and quite suddenly came upon a scene that caused +Eleanor to crush her handkerchief into her mouth to choke her laughter, +while Polly stood speechless. + +Sary sat in the hammock, one foot used to propel herself gently back and +forth. The newly-acquired striped dress was such a tight fit for her +rubicund form, that it cracked ominously every time the wearer took a +deep breath. But the short-coming of the two fronts over her ample bosom +was camouflaged with the plaid ribbon and many pins. The corsage bouquet +was tucked high under her chin where it would show most. + +It was not very dark as yet, so the girls could see how dreadfully white +Sary seemed to be, and her lips were startlingly crimson. Suddenly +Eleanor guessed the truth. + +"She's gone and used Bob's powder and rouge! Oh, how funny!" + +Then, before either one of the accidental eaves-droppers could say +another word, Sary perked her head sideways, like a hen does when it +hears a strange sound. She quickly frizzed up her hair by ruffing it +backwards, and patted the ribbon on her waist-front, then gently used +her foot again to propel the hammock back and forth. + +Gradually it dawned upon Polly and Eleanor what all this meant! They +could see Jeb coming from behind the lilac bushes, some ten feet away +from the swinger. He seemed ill at ease, and loosened his stiff collar, +pulled down his vest, and cleared his throat several times. + +"Oh, Poll! He's going to propose to the 'widder'!" whispered Eleanor, +burying her face in Polly's back to stop the spasm of laughter. + +Polly was too hypnotized to reply, or move, and Jeb soon was heard to +say: "Sary, Ah cum 'cuz you-all invited me to be compny t'night." + +"So Ah did, Jeb. Won't you-all sit in th' hammick beside me?" came from +Sary, coyly. + +"It broke thru, last season, Sary, an Ah mended it. But Ah ain't shore +it'll hol' enny more'n you." However, Jeb moved two or three feet nearer +the hammock. + +"It's a fine evenin', Jeb," suggested Sary, as seriously as if the +weather was the subject uppermost in her mind, just then. + +Jeb gazed up and around as if to verify Sary's statement, then admitted, +slowly: "Yeh, it 'pears to be fine." + +Silence reigned for several moments, then Sary said very sweetly +(Eleanor whispered to Polly that she must have had a mouthful of +honey), "Ah shore am glad to see you, Jeb. Won't you-all sit down on +this stool?" + +The girls then saw that Sary had provided the three-legged milk-stool +for her visitor. But it was too close to Sary for Jeb's peace of mind. +He reached out very warily and caught hold of one leg of the stool, and +pulled it towards him. Then he sat gingerly on the edge of it. + +But Sary was determined to carry off a captive that night, or waste all +of her ammunition in the attempt. + +"Ah jes' loves to swing, but Ah cain't tech the ground easy when Ah'm +sittin' back. Would you-all mind swingin' me, Jeb?" + +Jeb got up slowly from his stool and took hold of the upper end strands +of the hammock. He pulled it back and forth a few times, while Sary +smiled alluringly up at him. Then he cleared his throat and began to +speak. + +"This world was made fur love. Oh, what woul' arth be widdout de flowers +of love to parfume our way?" Jeb coughed. + +Now this was just the sort of romance Sary had always _dreamed_ of but +never heard before, and she sighed heavily as her visitor coughed. If +Jeb needed encouragement, she was not the one to disappoint him! + +He gave the hammock a strong tug as he began another line. Sary had to +catch hold of the edges to prevent herself from being thrown backward. + +"Man wuz not made to live alone. Th' Good Book says so. What so glorious +ez a sweet bride waitin' t' welcome a man after a hard day's labor? What +man is thar what woulden give his wealth of all Crows-see-us fer love?" + +Jeb pronounced the unfamiliar word very carefully, but Sary had never +heard of Croesus, so it mattered not how Jeb said it. But Polly and +Eleanor were clasping each other tightly now, to keep from making a +sound that would ruin the entertainment. + +Again Jeb cleared his throat with difficulty and pulled at the hammock +as if he was trying to drag a whale from the deep sea. Sary uttered no +complaint, however, even though her neck almost snapped at each sudden +jerk. She was wise enough to realize that the momentous time had come +for Jeb. He might never again summon courage, if he failed to-night! + +Without further warning, then, Jeb began his memorized lines, and as he +progressed with the "love sonnet" he unconsciously swung the hammock +higher and higher. + +"Ef Ah wuzn't shore we-all w'ar made fur each other Ah wooden be ha'r +beggin' fur yur heart an' hand." + +A long and mighty pull on the hammock almost landed Sary out in the +grass, but she clung like a vise to the hempen ropes. + +"Enny one kin see we-all w'ar made fur each other, oh darlin' of mah +heart! Soul of mah soul!" Jeb coughed violently as he remembered he was +two paragraphs ahead in his speech. Now he couldn't remember what went +just before that "soul of my soul!" but he knew the tragic part to +perfection, so he skipped all that went before and ended with: + +"Ef you-all refuse me, Ah shall end this wretched existence in life +widdout love! Oh, beauchus maiden" (strangling as he realized he should +have said "widder" and now utterly confounded, he said): "Oh, Sary! be +mah widder widdout mah love--NO, Sary, be mah wife widdout my widder. +Oh, Sary, Ah don't know what Ah----" + +In his frenzy, Jeb yanked on the hammock so manfully that the mended +strands suddenly sundered and Sary was unexpectedly thrown into her +suitor's arms. + +Such an unforeseen accident, however, found Sary ready with presence of +mind to meet the emergency. She flung her powerful arms about Jeb's +slender form and smacked him heartily on the lips. The dramatic lover +then trembled and gasped for breath. How to get away safely was all he +could think of. But Sary, as tenacious in her hold as "ivy on the sturdy +oak," managed to calm her lover's fears. + +"Oh, Jeb! _What_ a wooer you-all do make! Ah never dreamed a man could +talk so wonderful!" Sary sighed and placed her head down upon Jeb's +shoulder. + +Now had Jeb accepted this sweet praise and been satisfied therewith, his +wooing need not have ended so abruptly, but manlike, he wanted to hear +added words of flattery about himself, so he sat down on the +three-legged stool, and drew the over-willing Sary upon his knee. + +"Ah forgot to say half what is in mah soul, Sary," he began, as his +lines came back to him. "Oh, Ah must tell you-all what joy you fill me +wid, when you consent to listen to mah cause----" + +In leaning back to emphasize his speech with an out-flung arm, Jeb lost +his balance, and the stool being treacherous on its three legs, promptly +turned over and sent both lovers from ecstasy down to earth. As Sary and +Jeb managed to get upon their feet, they thought they heard sounds of +smothered laughter and scampering feet over the brick walk, but when +they got from behind the lilac bushes to reconnoiter, everything between +the kitchen and the Shrubbery Walk was silent as the tomb. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A TRIP TO BUFFALO PARK + + +Word was received through Jeb, who met Jake at Oak Creek, that Mrs. +Carew would spend the week-end at Camp to welcome the party from the +ranch; so the young folks at Pebbly Pit eagerly prepared for the trip to +Buffalo Park. The panniers were packed with luncheon for the riders, +besides the cakes and home-made pies which Mrs. Brewster sent to the +boys in camp. + +At dawn on Saturday morning, the party started, Mrs. Brewster watching +them ride down the trail until they disappeared back of Rainbow Cliffs. +Then she went back to attend to her household duties. + +Polly rode Noddy as usual, and Eleanor had Choko. The other four members +of the party rode horses, but one extra burro, Nigger, was taken to +carry the luggage. The trail from Bear Forks across the mountain-side +was very rough, being seldom used; most riders, going to Buffalo Park, +took the old worn trail that ran from Silver Creek. + +Finally, the going was found to be so steep that it was deemed best to +attach the pack-burro to John's horse, by means of a rope. This would +necessitate the burro following after John's horse instead of wandering +away in the maze of forest trees. + +But sometimes, these little burros get stubborn when they are made to +follow in the rear of a horse, and it was so with Nigger. He acted like +a sulky child, and made the girls laugh at his contrary behavior. He +seemed to have lost all individual ambition, and made John's horse drag +him at the unusually hard places in the trail. + +They had been climbing steadily for two hours and hoped soon to reach +the clearer trail that ran direct to Buffalo Park. But the trees grew so +closely together, now, that they offered obstructions in every direction +the horses went. Sometimes it was even necessary for the riders to +dismount and follow after the horses to eliminate the extra width caused +by stirrups and legs. + +Nigger's panniers were packed with food, cooking utensils to use while +on the trail, and rifles. This bulky roll projected over a foot on +either side of him, often creating a "blockade" in the narrow going +between trees. + +John's horse, being unable to read blazes as easily as his rider could, +would choose the wrong turn now and then, sulkily followed by Nigger. +Then the horse would come to a spot impossible to pass through and would +decide to back out. Nigger, with his clumsy pack and grouchy manner, +stood and fairly laughed at such times. Polly and Eleanor enjoyed these +funny experiences thoroughly; but John felt annoyed, as he wished to +appear his best before Anne, and how can a young gallant impress his +lady-love favorably when his horse is making a fool of itself? + +While Nigger and Snowball (John's horse was white) were engaged in +disentangling themselves from one of these snarls, the other riders went +ahead. Finding John was not immediately behind, they halted and turned +to watch him get his two steeds straightened out and going again. + +All was serene once more and Snowball started briskly up the trail, but +unfortunately, she went about a tree on one side of the trail while +Nigger insisted upon choosing the other side. Both were suddenly yanked +up when the tie-rope tautened about the tree, so that John was almost +thrown out of the saddle. Neither beast would give in but tugged +stubbornly to make the other waive his right of way, until finally, John +had to jump down again, and compel Snowball to walk back and around the +tree on the right side, where the burro waited. + +Nigger stood with neck stretched and his mouth half-open, while his eyes +gleamed impishly. John roared at the expression on the burro's face, as +true to a malicious grin as ever a human could produce it. Then they +resumed the climb. + +But Nigger had found a new way to tantalize Snowball. He would step upon +a stone and allow it to trip him. This would make his pack strike the +tree on the side he rolled. Then the tree, resisting the impact, would +slew him back again. Naturally, every time he performed this way, +Snowball was unceremoniously yanked up too, and this sudden stopping +interfered with John's conversation with Anne. + +After Polly had laughed herself weak over Nigger's clever performances, +she called to John. "No use! You'll have to give Nig his freedom! He'll +land Snowball in kingdom come if you keep him tied." + +So wise little Nigger was freed once more, and thereafter he walked as +circumspectly as any good burro should. But the going was better, too, +with the trail running through miles and miles of dark green forests, +patterned here and there with golden stretches of mesa and parks. + +"Are you sure you know the trail, Polly?" asked John, as he gazed about +at the unfamiliar path. + +"Oh, yes, I've gone this way lots of times when Mr. Montresor lived in +the cabin where Carew's men are now camping." + +"Well, if it is much farther, then I say we'd best halt for something to +eat." + +"I will second that motion whether it is far or near. We had best have a +bite, as we will have to wait for the crew's dinner-time when we arrive +in camp," added Tom Latimer. + +So the riders dismounted and hastily prepared a luncheon. When they were +ready to proceed on the way, Nigger found his pack much lighter than +before, so he, too, was delighted to have had the humans stop for lunch. + +It was past noon before the visitors reached Carew's Camp, but once +there, they were given a hearty welcome by every one. Cookee had been +mixing and stirring viands ever since the breakfast had been cleared +away, and now he was ready to smile satisfactorily at results, for he +was going to give these guests a rare meal that day. + +Mrs. Carew was a Chicago lady and, for once, Barbara was happy, as she +found her hostess knew several people that the Maynards felt were +exalted enough to be classed "in their set." + +As soon as their section master gave them the afternoon's vacation, Jim +Latimer and Kenneth appropriated Polly and Eleanor, and the four started +off on fresh horses from the corral, for an excursion. + +Jim wanted to ride to one of the peaks where they had surveyed that +week, and show the girls the far-off desert that stretched for miles and +miles between Buffalo Park and the Lincoln Memorial Highway. + +The trail was well defined, as the crew had traveled it twice a day that +week, and had worn down cactus and sage-brush. + +The four finally reached the pinnacle where the gray expanse of sand +could be seen stretching out to meet the blue sky on the horizon, and +Jim laughingly remarked: "Ken and I came near finding a sandy grave +there the other day." + +"How?" eagerly asked the girls. + +"Why, we were sent with our superior, to tie up a line at the edge of +the desert down there, and having done so, one of the crew saw a fine +little bit of water and a few trees growing about it, not more than +half-a-mile from where we were working. + +"We concluded it would make an admirable place to rest and have lunch, +and give the horses a good drink, too, at the same time. So we all +started over the sand to enjoy the unusual oasis. + +"Well, we kept on going and going, but the darn old oasis seemed as far +away as ever. Suddenly, I thought I was going queer in my head, because +it slowly vanished like mist. I rubbed my eyes and called on Ken to +verify the fact. Then you should have heard the men swear! Phew!" + +Both boys laughed as they recalled the irritation of the men who found +they had been riding for a mirage--And lunch farther off than ever. + +"However, we saw a gigantic bowlder of lava and sand rear its head from +the desert a short distance off, so we decided to make for that and see +if there was a crevice in its side where we might find shelter from the +baking sun. + +"We left the horses hobbled while we scrambled up its sides to look for +any projection that would cast a shadow for us. + +"The men separated when we started to climb, but we all met at the top +without having found any shade. The wind that blew across the desert, +was comparatively cool, however, so we sat on the uncomfortable spikes +of lava and planned where we might have something to eat. + +"Ken turned to speak to me, and a great mass of shale broke away from +his feet and rolled down the steep sides of the crag. But he managed to +catch himself from slipping. Then we began breaking off fragments of +shale and tried to see who could throw it the farthest out on the +desert. We laid wagers, and one of the party said he would go down, +after a bit, and mark the ones that were prize-winners. That made us +laugh as no one would ever be able to find any individual chunk of shale +out on that wild place. + +"The breeze that had been blowing rather too strong, now became +stronger, and then Prang, who was in charge of us, that day, shaded his +eyes with a hand and stared off at the horizon. We all gazed in the same +direction, but we were not experienced enough to know what it was he +saw. + +"'My God, boys! slide down this crag as fast as you can--that's a storm +blowing across the sands. It will hit us in a few moments. Grab the +horses or they'll bolt and we'll all be lost on the desert!'" + +"Gee! didn't we get down those awful sides. Ken slid more than half-way +down, then he lost his grasp on the side. His back and arms are all +scraped now, from the way he rolled the rest of the way." + +The girls sympathized with Ken, but he laughed away the thought that he +had been too tender to stand such a test. + +"Well, most of us got down and had caught our horses before the +sand-storm struck us, but two of our crowd had to stumble through the +terrific storm that blinded them. Had we not kept on calling and +shouting to direct them, they would have wandered away and been buried. + +"It was an awful experience, but now that it is over, I'm glad we had +it. I will have _something_ to brag about when I'm at college, this +Fall." + +Ken laughed. "I'd rather not brag than to go through such a hair-raising +time again." + +"Do both of you boys intend going to college?" asked Eleanor. + +"Yes; we've gone through school together since we were little shavers. +And that's quite a record for boys in New York, where folks are always +moving from one district to another," replied Jim. + +"I believe your brother Tom said you were going to Yale?" continued +Eleanor. + +"We will, if we pass the tests. I'm sure Ken will, but I'm not so sure +of myself." + +"Now--don't belittle yourself. You know you will pass," added Kenneth. + +"I'm sorry you both will be away from home, because Polly and I expect +to attend school in New York this Winter," remarked Eleanor. + +"Me? School in New York?" cried Polly, astonished. + +"Why, yes, of course! Didn't you know what was in my mind when I decided +I would like to go to New York with Anne Stewart?" + +"But that doesn't mean _I'm_ going there!" exclaimed Polly. + +"Of course you are. I don't want to go without you, so I shall scheme to +win your folks over to my way of thinking." + +"Well, all I can say, is this: If you win them over to see how important +it is for me to go to school in New York, you are a wizard--that's all!" +declared Polly, laughingly. + +"Your laugh sounds dubious, but I'll show you, pretty soon." + +"Now, if you two girls should find yourselves in New York, we will have +our folks meet you and pilot you through the wilderness. It's worse +than out here on the mountains, you know," laughed Jim. + +"In case I don't pass for college, I won't mind so much, as long as you +girls will be in the city to console me," added Kenneth, gallantly. + +They laughed. "We won't waste much time consoling any one, I can tell +you," added Polly. + +"No; Polly and I are going to study some profession, you know, and begin +business as soon as we complete our education." + +"What?" exclaimed Jim, surprised to hear such young girls plan for a +business life. + +"Yep! Polly is just daffy over interior decorating, and since she showed +me all her magazines and other books on it, I am crazy about it, too." + +"But you don't have to study _that_!" declared Kenneth. + +"That shows how little a man knows about it. Why, not only must a +decorator--a real one, we mean--know all about periods in architecture +and furnishings of all kinds, but she must know at a glance, whether an +object is genuine antique or a counterfeit," explained Eleanor, glad to +impress her male friends with her understanding of what is essentially a +woman's profession. + +"Besides that," added Polly, "a good interior decorator must know the +name of a painter of pictures,--whether an old master or a modern +artist. Not an engraving or etching shown but the good decorator ought +to be able to say who did it, and name its date. + +"There are lots of counterfeit antique china sold to-day, but a good +decorator can tell instantly whether it is real antique or not. + +"Besides china and pictures, one must be able to name a rug--its +qualities and value, at a glance. As for draperies and wall-hangings, +well! It all has to be thoroughly learned," said Polly. + +"I always thought a man took up interior decorating just because he +happened to have been an upholsterer or fresco painter. I never knew +there was any studying to be done, first," said Jim. + +"You didn't, eh! Well then, let me tell you this much; Polly and I +intend to use our money from the mine, to put us both through school in +New York. Any other city would do, I suppose, only Anne Stewart will be +there, and I never can study under any one else! So I have to attend +class in New York," Eleanor spoke with the greatest assurance that all +she said had already been agreed to by Polly's family. + +"Then when Polly and I have had a year or two with Anne, we will take a +special course in some one of the best schools on the subject. This +course finished, we propose going to Europe to study Italian, French, +Spanish, and English periods and styles. If we have an extra year or so, +to spare, we might go to Japan and Egypt, as I just adore those two +lands." + +"W-h-y! Eleanor! You never mentioned a word of this to me before! Who +told you we could go?" gasped Polly. + +Eleanor laughed merrily. "You big innocent! Why, _I_ just told you +_myself_--that we were going abroad." + +"If I ever manage to break away from Pebbly Pit after the awful speech I +made recently, I'll be lucky, and let New York or Europe alone!" laughed +Polly. + +"You never would have had gumption to speak as you did, Polly, if it +hadn't been for my training you. This is what I have done to you--you +are growing to be more independent of others." + +Eleanor smiled self-complacently at Polly, but the latter retorted: "I +owe you nothing on an exchange, Nolla, because you must admit that I +have filled you up with ideas you never dreamed of before you came to +the ranch!" + +"Shake, old girl!" laughed Eleanor, holding out her hand. + +"But about New York--girls. It would be great if you can fix it. Ken and +I will be home every holiday, and perhaps we can run down from New +Haven, now and then, over Sundays," remarked Jim, eagerly. + +Eleanor held up an assuring hand, as she nodded her wise little head +knowingly and said: "Leave it to Nolla, boys!" + +They laughed and agreed that there was no one else that could arrange +affairs any better! + +Polly sat mute, for she wondered if it ever would come true--what +Eleanor had planned about Europe. In her wildest fancies she had never +dared allow her thought to outline _such_ possibilities. But here was a +harum-scarum friend who seemed to get everything she wanted by merely +saying, "We must have it, you know!" + +"I guess we'd better be starting back to camp," suggested Kenneth, +looking up at the sun. + +"Yes, it will take us fully an hour, riding down," agreed Jim. + +So they helped the girls into their saddles, and soon all four were +having a good time going back to Buffalo Park. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A WILD-WEST COUNTY FAIR + + +That same night while at supper, Mrs. Carew asked her guests if they had +ever visited one of the western celebrations. + +"Polly says she has, but we have never seen one," replied Anne, eagerly. + +"Well, Oak Creek is going to have its annual fair, or celebration, two +weeks from Monday. It generally lasts for three days, and they have all +sorts of stunts there. You-all must be _sure_ to go." + +"The Boss says we can have a day off and go, too!" declared Jim. + +"I wish it would happen to come on the day you girls go," added Kenneth, +anxiously. + +"We'll try and plan it that way. Maybe we will go to each day's show," +quickly said Eleanor. + +"Maybe you can find out from Mrs. Carew what day her husband thinks we +can have," ventured Jim, in a whisper. + +Eleanor nodded; then she turned to John and told him what they wanted +to know from Mrs. Carew. + +Thus it was learned that the survey Crew was to be given Tuesday _and_ +Wednesday--as it would take almost half a day to travel to Oak Creek, +and another half day to get back to camp. The boys gave a wild hurrah +when they heard this good news, and immediately planned to start from +camp directly after midnight Monday so as to enjoy a full day at the +fair. + +After good-bys were said, and the Pebbly Pit party were ready to start +on the homeward trail, Jim whispered to Polly and Eleanor, "Now don't +forget! Ken and I have a date with you two at the Fair, Tuesday and +Wednesday." + +And the girls laughingly promised to make a note in their social +calendar book. + +The two weeks intervening between the visit to Buffalo Park, and the +celebration at Oak Creek, passed rapidly, for John and Tom had a new +excursion planned for each day. Of course, Polly and Eleanor were +members of these picnics, so they almost forgot about the fair until a +day, or so, before the time. + +"We-all attend the fair, you know, and take our camp outfit with us," +said Mr. Brewster, at supper on Sunday evening. + +"Aren't there any restaurants where we can dine?" asked Barbara. + +"Well, there is Snake-Bill's place where you get hash piled up with your +pie and odds or ends, all on an inch-thick dish. Then there is the Rocky +Mountain Cafie--as every one calls it,--but ladies are not welcome, +there. Neither of these places will appeal to you girls, Ah'm sure," +explained Sam Brewster. + +"Oh, no! They have no idea of what it is like, Sam," declared Mrs. +Brewster, holding up both hands in horror at the very idea. + +"Will we start early in the morning?" now asked Eleanor, wondering if +they would be on time to keep their engagements. + +"Oh, we will leave here about one or two o'clock," replied Mr. Brewster, +nonchalantly. + +"One or two!" cried Barbara, aghast, thinking he meant A. M. + +"Yes, then we will arrive about four or five. By the time we have the +tents pitched and everything in tip-top working order, it will be +suppertime. There won't be so much going on the first night, you know, +but we will be there for Tuesday's early games." + +"Oh, my goodness! You don't mean we shall camp over night?" exclaimed +Barbara. + +"Of course! We could never travel back and forth each day, as it is a +long ride and tough roads for the horses to pull a heavy ranch-wagon," +returned Mr. Brewster. + +"I don't see why you won't have automobiles out here! It would not cost +much to have a Ford, or some other cheap affair, but the convenience and +time you'd save--my!" said Barbara. + +"An auto! Can you see us driving a car over such awful roads as there +are for miles around Oak Creek? To say nothing of the wild trails that +go to Pebbly Pit and other far-off ranches," said John. + +"Whenever there is a rain, or in winter, the roads are impassable, you +know, Bob," added Mrs. Brewster. "I'd love to have a car just for fun, +but there is no pleasure in riding it around the farm where I know every +foot of ground. And excepting on our own land, there are no decent +roads." + +"I never thought of that!" admitted Barbara. + +"So we make the best of things, and ride to the fair in a wagon that +will hold a village of people," concluded Polly. + +"I think it will be heaps of fun to camp right in town where crowds of +other folks are camping," said Eleanor, giggling. + +"It is. You never know who your next-door neighbor is going to be," +laughed Polly. "Once, we camped right next to a horse-thief who was +wanted by the sheriff. My, but we had an exciting time when he crawled +into mother's bed and hid!" + +"Polly! You forgot to say that this happened while we were at the fair +and he was driven from his own tent," hastily added Mrs. Brewster, while +the others laughed heartily at Polly's omission. + +At these yearly events, every workhand on a ranch went to the fair, +whether the cattle starved or not. But with Mr. Brewster's help, it was +so planned that half of them went from Monday morning until Tuesday +noon, and then the other half went from Tuesday noon until Wednesday +night. In this way each side had plenty of time to spend their +hoardings, and to drink all the "Sure Death" whisky that could be had in +Oak Creek. + +The great ranch-wagon rumbled away Monday noon, and a gay party it +carried, too. The tents were tightly rolled and tied to the sides, while +rolls of bedding and hampers of food were stacked under the high front +seat. Hard wooden seats were clamped to each side for the travelers to +sit upon. + +Tom Latimer and John kept every one laughing, so that no one complained +of the uncomfortable seats that seemed to grow harder the nearer the +travelers came to Oak Creek. + +Then the party drew near their objective. But such a different Oak Creek +from its usual sleepy appearance! The entire countryside, outside of the +settlement proper, was dotted with canvas tents, and campers were +running back and forth. Just to the right of the town stood a vast tent, +like a circus canvas; and in line with it were several smaller ones. + +"That larger one is where all the exhibits are shown and where the +contests take place, such as eating pan-cakes, shoveling coal, testing +mining tools, and other tame games," explained John. + +"Do they bust the bronchos there, too?" asked Eleanor. + +"No, that, and the trick riding, is done out in the ring," replied Mr. +Brewster. + +While the men pitched the tents and carried the folding cots from the +wagon, Sary unpacked her meager cooking outfit, and Mrs. Brewster +arranged the hampers in a safe place in her tent. Eleanor and Polly +stood watching the crowds of incoming ranchers drive by, all on the +lookout for a good camping-site. + +"I do hope the boys from Buffalo Park will be in time to find a place +near us," whispered Polly. + +"Yes, but it looks now, as if there wouldn't be an inch of room left +after to-night," returned Eleanor. + +Mr. Brewster then joined them. "Well, girls, want to go with me to have +a look over the fair-grounds? To-morrow you will be escorted by younger +chaps, I suppose; but they won't be able to explain things any better +than I can." + +"Oh yes, Daddy! Let's go," cried Polly, eagerly. + +As it was all new to Eleanor, she also wanted to go, so the three found +a way between the tents that had sprung up, since they drove in from the +trail and had selected their own site. + +Every one was merry and good-natured, and many a joke was exchanged +between people who might be master and servant at home, but at the +Celebration, they all were equals. + +Mr. Brewster pointed out where the races would take place, and where the +wild horse-breaking generally was held. He told Eleanor that a purse of +five hundred dollars was always made up by collections, and given to the +man who was able to tame the worst outlaw horse of the year. + +Then the girls were taken to the booths where refreshments were served. +Sam Brewster ordered three ice-cream cones and three sodas. He also +bought two boxes of candy for the girls. + +"Let's have ice-cream sodas instead of soda and cones," suggested +Eleanor. + +"They can't mix ice-cream sodas, out here," explained Polly. "So we buy +cones and mix our own when we want a New York drink." + +Eleanor laughed. "Isn't that funny! It's just as easy!" + +So they emptied their cones into their soda water and stirred the drink +with a spoon. But Eleanor learned that the western people would do +certain things their way, and no one could convince them that it was +much easier to accomplish the task a different way. + +The cots were hard as rocks but every one fell asleep without complaints +that night, and in the morning the mad babel of sounds roused the +campers without alarm clocks. As Tuesday was a great day at the fair, no +time was lost by stealing an extra wink. Breakfast out of the way, the +entire party started for the Fair Grounds. + +"I wonder where the boys are?" whispered Polly. + +"We'll never find them in this mob," returned Eleanor. + +"They said we were to meet at the Bridal Contest--but where is that?" +wondered Polly. + +"Let's ask Tom Latimer; we'll tell him Jim is going to be there at ten +o'clock." + +Tom heard the girls and laughed: "But why at the Bridal Contest tent? +Why not at the coal-heaving contest?" + +"Perhaps the boys thought there wouldn't be such a crowd at the Bridal," +ventured Polly, guilelessly. + +Tom and Eleanor laughed, and the former said: "Well, I'll see that you +two get there in ample time for the Bridal." + +Long before ten o'clock, John and Anne had disappeared, and that left +Tom to the sweet mercy of Barbara. He clung desperately to Polly and +Eleanor until it was time to take them to the Bridal Contest, and then +he begged Mrs. Brewster to take care of Barbara while he was absent with +the girls. + +Mrs. Brewster understood that Tom did not care for the young lady's +company, and she said in a low tone: "I would feel easier if I thought +those four young people had a sensible head to look after them in this +great multitude, Tom." + +Tom looked at her, but she seemed innocent of any hidden meaning; so he +replied fervently: "If you will tell Polly this, I will be only too +happy to be the 'head' they need." + +So Tom really acted as "Official Guide" that day and, incidentally, paid +all the bills for the young celebrators. This suited Jim and Kenneth, +all right, as they were puzzling how to make a big splash in the puddle +before these two girls, and yet escape bankruptcy. + +The Bridal Contest was a strange sight. Any couple who wanted to marry +in haste, could secure a special license at this booth and be married +forthwith. And to every pair so married, the managers of the fair +presented a twenty-dollar gold piece, that more than defrayed the costs +of the ceremony. To say the Bridal Booth was a failure, would be rank +envy and jealousy on the part of any single cow-boy or woman that +attended the fair--and failed in securing a mate. + +The girls watched while three pairs were married, and in each case, the +bride was a stranger in Oak Creek, while the groom was a newly-fledged +rancher who needed a housekeeper worse than he needed his freedom. + +As the other contests were scheduled for eleven, the four young people, +following after their Official Guide, went the rounds. Not one sight +missed them that day, and they turned weary bodies towards the camp that +night, thinking of but one thing--the cot-beds that awaited them. + +Wednesday was the day when the races took place. Not only the broncho +busting, but horse-racing and other events of the kind. A novelty was +offered this year, by having several Nebraska cow-boys race on steers. +The people for twenty miles around Oak Creek, had seen bull fights, wild +steer breaking, and all sorts of horse-racing, but never had they +witnessed a steer race. + +It proved very exciting, as the men who rode the animals were gayly +trapped out and made a great noise when the race started. Their shouting +and wildly waving hats, added no little to the frenzy of the steers. One +animal tripped and threw his rider, and another balked outright and +began to stampede. Finding he could not dislodge the encumbrance that +clung to his back, he suddenly threw himself and rolled. + +Every one screamed, but the rider was alert and the moment the steer +touched the earth, he was up on his feet, bowing and smiling. A wild +cheering greeted him, but he had no claim to the prize, as that went to +the rider who won the race. + +Polly and Eleanor became well-acquainted with Jim and Kenneth during +those two days at the fair, and when it was time to say good-by, the +boys felt as if they were losing two old chums. + +"We have to ride across the desert to-morrow, you know," explained Jim, +regretfully. + +"That's so! where will you work next?" asked Tom. + +"From Rabbitt's Ear Inn to the Highway," said Kenneth. + +"And when will you be back again? When can you come to Pebbly Pit again +to visit us?" asked Eleanor. + +"We may not be there again this summer, as our work now leads away from +this section. In fact, the Boss says, if the cold does not come too +early to interfere, he wants to finish his survey all along the other +side of the desert, this year," explained Kenneth. + +"Oh pshaw! then we won't have any more good times," said Eleanor, +poutingly. + +"But we will when we all meet in New York," reminded Jim. + +Tom looked from one to the other, for here was news! + +"Never mind that, Tom--it's a secret with us!" laughed Eleanor. + +"I'm sure it must be, for John never said a word about it to me. And if +you girls were going with Anne Stewart, he would have told me," replied +Tom. + +"You know the old adage, 'Plans of mice and men go astray,' but it did +not say 'Plans of girls and mice.' So my plan will come out fine, +you-all wait and see!" + +"Yes, I reckon we _will_ wait!" laughed Polly, incredulously. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +NOLLA'S PLANS DEVELOP + + +The days passed joyously at Pebbly Pit, until John and Tom declared they +must return to their work beyond Denver. They had been postponing their +departure, because John had confided to his chum, that Anne was waiting +to hear definitely about the school in New York City, and upon her going +there depended many other important things. + +Tom smiled knowingly to himself, as he was sure one of the "many things" +to John was his proposal to Anne. Every one felt more or less interested +in the expectant letter, and when it finally arrived, Anne had a circle +of anxious friends waiting to hear the verdict. + +"Well, I've been accepted and I am to report at the address in New York +on September twenty-fifth," said Anne, hastily scanning the short note. + +"Hurrah! That means we go with you!" shouted Eleanor, catching hold of +Anne and dancing her about. + +Polly looked very glum. "Anne, how does your going effect my school +plans?" + +"You can talk about school some other time, Poll, but Tom and I have to +start back to camp to-morrow, and _I_ want to know from Anne just how +her going effects _me_?" demanded John, looking her in the eyes. + +Anne smiled bravely back at him and said: "Just what I told you. I must +help Paul complete his college course, then I will be free to sign other +agreements." + +"Meanwhile, I am to go on plodding through classes and camp without +knowing whether or not I am ever going to be rewarded!" grumbled John, +so discouraged that every one felt sorry for him. + +"One doesn't plod through studies or work, for mere reward. Polly says +she wants to study for the love of it, and Eleanor wants to go into +business for the love of _that_! It is the only way one can succeed," +ventured Mrs. Brewster, more to fill up an embarrassing gap in the +conversation than for anything else. + +John turned sullenly and stamped away. He continued down the trail to +the Cliffs and was soon lost to sight. The girls then coaxed Anne to +come away with them as they had a plan to ask her about. + +Mrs. Brewster waited until every one was gone his or her way, then she +ran after her son. No one knows what was said or done, then or during +the day but that night, as they all sat at supper, John stood up and +smiled. + +Jeb was just passing with a basket of newly laid eggs, and Sary was +leaning over Mr. Brewster's back with a deep dish of milk-toast that she +expected to place before him. John coughed significantly, and Sary +stopped to listen. + +"I'm going to announce good news to you-all, to-night. I finally +persuaded Anne to promise to be my wife, someday. So she goes to New +York City as my fiancée, and I will study hard and do everything +possible to be worthy of her, for she is a brave girl!" + +Sam Brewster half arose to congratulate the two young people, but Sary's +dish was in the way. He bumped his head and the dish slid from her +hands. + +Sary threw up both hands in dismay--there was the milk-toast spattered +all over the ground! But a laugh from her mistress caused her to look in +the direction the family-group were gazing. She saw Jeb standing as if +rooted to the grass, his lower jaw sagging as he frowned at a basket of +broken eggs upon the ground. + +Sary threw her inspiration into the double breach caused by maid and +man. "Thar goes th' supper an' them eggs, but tush! Trifles don't count +none when a man hez sech fine news ez John an' Jeb hes. Come right over +here, Jeb, an' spring _yur_ secret now that John hes split his'n to the +fam'ly!" + +Jeb scuffled his feet and sheepishly hung his head. One foot +unconsciously stirred the yolks of the broken eggs. But Sary was not a +woman to stand for such shyness when it cast reflections on her ardent +manner in which she described how Jeb rose to the bait temptingly hung +before his very nose. + +She forgot milk-toast and all else in this final bout with her unwilling +lover. She hurried over and nudged him sharply in the ribs, then +whispered in a stage tone: + +"G'wan now, Jeb! Spruce up an' tell 'em like-ez-how this air goin' to be +a double trick! John an' Miss Anne, me an' you--see!" + +Polly and Eleanor laughed appreciatively, and Mrs. Brewster smiled for +she had had suspicions. But Sam Brewster was so amazed, that he leaned +back in his chair and puffed for breath. To think that Jeb could ever +have summoned enough courage to propose to a woman--but let that woman +be an Amazon like Sary, was past his comprehension! + +He could not get over it, and later, his wife confided: "I actually +believe that Sary made this match for herself. Jeb could never have +stood the strain of making love, had not Sary met him _more_ than +half-way." + +That evening when John and Anne were talking confidentially about the +future, John said: "Mother, I haven't a ring for Anne and I want her to +have it before she goes to New York, so I propose going to Denver and +buy it for her before I go back to work." + +"And I thought, Mrs. Brewster, that it would be a good plan to see an +agent about renting our house for a year or two. If mother and I live in +New York, there is no sense in closing the place when we can rent it for +enough to pay taxes and upkeep." + +"I think you are perfectly right there, Anne, and the sooner you place +it in good hands, the better. When did you think of running up to town?" +said Mrs. Brewster. + +"Well, you see, mother, Tom and I should have joined our men long ago, +but one thing or another kept us on here. Now that all is settled for +two years at least, I want to get away and plunge into work so I will +be ready for Anne when she comes back," said John. + +Mrs. Brewster smiled. "Will you go to Denver to-day?" + +"To-night! Why, it is eight o'clock! But I could take the noon train +when it goes back from Oak Creek, and Anne might go with me." + +"That's what I thought you could do, but your evident impatience made me +wonder if you had an air-route you could travel by." + +John laughed, and Anne placed her arm about her future mother-in-law. +Then the talk veered to Polly and her future education. John and his +fiancée had a hard task in convincing Mrs. Brewster that it was best for +Polly to accompany the Stewarts to New York, to school; but finally, +when all three returned to the house, a resigned look was upon Mrs. +Brewster's face. But not a word was said at that time. + +The next morning, every member of the family accompanied John and Anne +to Oak Creek, and gave them a merry send-off to Denver. + +"It's only for a few days, you big sillies!" laughed Anne, as she leaned +from the little car-window to answer many questions from her friends on +the platform. + +"True, but think of all that can happen in a few days! Jeb may jilt +Sary and elope with Barbara--I've seen her casting jealous eyes at Sary, +lately! Then Tom Latimer may suddenly find he is in love with----" but +Barbara choked further words from Eleanor at this point, by shaking her +viciously from the rear. + +The others had to laugh at Eleanor's teasing, but her sister was +furious. "I simply will not stand this treatment, so now! You can act +like fools and farmers, but I am a _lady_!" + +So saying, Barbara wheeled and marched defiantly over to the box-car +station. She entered and remained there until the train had disappeared +around the bend. Then she came forth with a victorious look upon her +face. No one asked her what caused the change of expression, and soon +the incident was forgotten for the day. + +Tom Latimer was unusually quiet on the homeward drive, and when he had +assisted Eleanor to alight from the great wagon, he whispered for her +ears alone: "Who were you going to have me propose to, Nolla?" + +She sent him a mischievous look and whispered back "Polly." + +He laughed softly and pinched her arm, but she noted that the rich red +color flushed his face suddenly, and she wondered, precociously, +whether she had accidentally touched upon a secret spot hidden in his +heart? The very fact of such a discovery made her defy, silently, the +possibility of any one ever daring to confess love to _her_ Polly. "No +indeed! Polly and she were cut out for business only." + +But the disquieting thought that a fine chap like Tom Latimer might be +in love with simple wonderful little Polly, made Eleanor zealous in her +plans for carrying her friend off to a New York school. No one knew that +she had already started the machinery going for her own benefit, but +they were soon to find out that this fun-loving girl was as persistent +and persevering as one could find anywhere, when she had a pet problem +to work out. + +The evening after John and Anne had gone to Mrs. Stewarts, in Denver, +Barbara asked a favor of her host. The very manner in which she asked +it, surprised every one at table. "Mr. Brewster, I have an important +errand to do at Oak Creek, to-morrow, and I want you to allow Jeb to +drive me in." + +"To-morrow! Why, we just got back from there." + +"Yes, I know, but it could not have been done to-day, so I have to go in +to-morrow." + +"Jeb has to superintend the mowing of our first crops to-morrow, if it +is clear. Maybe Tom will drive you in if it is so urgent." + +Barbara turned imploring eyes on Tom Latimer. Then Eleanor spoke up: "I, +too, must go in as I expect a telegram from Chicago." + +Her sister scowled at her, but she seemed surprised as well. She +stammered: "What have _you_ to wire for?" + +"Ah! Is that what you did? Let's see--you managed it this noon, while we +were watching the train depart, didn't you? You were in that station +just long enough!" exulted Eleanor, grinning at Barbara daringly. + +But her sister would not be drawn into an argument this time, and +Eleanor decided that it must be something important, indeed, when Bob +would not snap back at her. There _had_ been times at home when Barbara +had secrets that she feared others to share, then she would keep her +peace with Eleanor. + +"Unless it is a personal matter that needs your presence in Oak Creek, +Alec Hewitt will look after it. He goes to and from the post office +every day, and often brings our mail or messages for us," said Mrs. +Brewster, hoping to spare the horses another hard day's work. + +"I have to be there myself, as I may have to decide on a very important +personal matter," returned Barbara, slightly embarrassed. + +So it was settled that Tom Latimer would ride with the three girls to +Oak Creek on the following morning. This would spare the wagon team the +trip and at the same time take the place of any other pleasure ride that +might have been planned. + +Polly was at a loss to understand why such secrecy should exist between +these two sisters--Bob refusing to confide in Eleanor, and Nolla +smilingly keeping her own counsel, about the important errands. + +As Eleanor had suspected, Barbara went directly to the box-car where the +telegrams were received. But to the latter's disappointment, there was +one only--and that one was for Eleanor Maynard! + +"Are you sure you did not get the name wrong--I am to hear surely, +to-day, about something very urgent!" complained Barbara. + +"This is mine, all right, Bob, for I expected it. If you like, you can +read it now that I know what it says," and Eleanor tendered the yellow +sheet to her sister. + +Barbara snatched it and read in angry surprise: + + "Your wire received. Expect me Saturday. Will visit there for a + week. + + Love to you both, + FATHER" + + +"How dare you ask father to come here? How do you know the Brewsters +want him? And besides, there is no place for him to use as a +sleeping-room!" she managed to say in her fury. + +Polly and Tom had been sitting outside on a truck but they could not +help hearing Barbara's words. Polly smiled up at her companion. Then +Eleanor was heard saying: + +"No need to rear up like a mad rattler, Bob. I have a nice little plan +under way, but it now needs Daddy's persuasive powers to perfect it. I +wired him twice this past week, but no one knew of it. If you wired for +money or something else, he likely will bring it with him on Saturday." + +The very coolness of Eleanor's reply caused Barbara to lose her +self-control and she retorted: "Pooh! I wouldn't think of asking father +for anything. You can't patronize me this time, Eleanor Maynard. _I_ am +waiting for word from mother! There!" + +"From mother! why she is in Newport for the Season." + +"You mean she _was_ there. _Now_ she is one of a very select party of +the best New York society that is camping at Mrs. Van Alstynes' +wonderful bungalow in the Muskoka Woods. And I trust _I_, too, will soon +be a member of that circle!" + +"Oh, ho! So that is your little game, eh! Well, Bob, I heartily wish you +luck. You haven't any idea how quiet and enjoyable Pebbly Pit will be +with you away from it!" retorted Eleanor. + +With this parting shaft, the younger sister walked out, and found Tom +with Polly over by the watering trough where the seven wardrobe trunks +had offered such a fine table surface for the gamblers on the day the +Chicago girls came to Oak Creek. As she felt sure these two friends had +not over-heard the conversation between Barbara and herself, there was +no need in explaining, as yet. + +Barbara failed to appear, however, and finally Eleanor went to the door +to call her. Her impatient words were arrested by hearing the operator +at the telegraph instrument, read a message aloud. + + "Wire with news received. Have arranged for you. Plenty of + marriageable men in party. Do not oppose anything father wants. + Win his consent and money for visit. Nolla will be all right + there with Anne. Father now back at bank. Write him + immediately. Do not waive your rights on mine. We will fight if + necessary. It means a fortune for you. Wire me minute you have + news. Big affair on next week. MOTHER." + +Eleanor managed to slip away without Barbara's seeing her. And so elated +was the elder sister over her mother's message, that she failed to find +any omission in the telegram. But Eleanor realized that her mother did +not mention her love for her daughter--it was all about society, money, +and graft! + +But her mother's message could not throw cold water over Eleanor; +because of the fact that her father would be with her the end of that +very week! This was good news enough for any one, so she ran over to +Polly, waving her message. + +"Just think! Daddy is coming to visit us at Pebbly Pit. Won't it be fun +for him to sleep in the barn with John and Tom?" + +"Oh, he never could, Nolla!" gasped Polly. + +"Why not? He is no better than the boys, here!" + +"But--well, I'm sure father won't like him to. We must plan somewhere +else for him," replied Polly. + +"I'll tell you-all a secret, if you won't tell any one. I got Daddy to +hurry here on purpose to _meet_ John and Tom. I believe he will do +something about the mine and the Cliffs if he hears the plans from the +boys. You know, his bank makes big investments at times. But don't let +Bob know this, for anything in the world!" + +Tom looked pleasantly surprised at the suggestion. He had forgotten all +about Mr. Maynard's connection with a flourishing bank. + +"Won't it be nice to have your father meet my father," remarked Polly, +thinking not so much of finances as of hospitality. + +"Yes, and I hope he won't interfere with Bob's plans to join mother in +the North Woods. If only we could get _rid_ of her right off, what a +fine time we could have with Dad here!" Eleanor sighed. + +Polly never could understand the lack of love and family pride between +these two sisters, but then she had never seen how many families there +are, where husband and wife have opposite tendencies and ideals; it +inevitably followed that the children showed these antagonistic +qualities in their behavior to each other. + +Having replied to their telegrams, both sisters were ready to ride back +to the ranch. But Tom suggested that they visit the Movies where a great +society drama was being shown. This pleased the girls, and soon they +were following the hair-breadth escapes of an unscrupulous society +impostor, and the wreck he had made of a young damsel's faith. + +As they filed from the low-ceiled, ill-smelling theater, Eleanor laughed +and said: "That's the kind of life Bob wants! If she ever had a fortune +of her own, she would have to fend off just such rascals. Watch me +wasting my life trying to catch a husband--Pouf!" + +Tom laughed merrily for he liked the bluntness of this girl, but he was +surprised at the flush Barbara manifested as she wondered if this astute +sister of hers could have heard that message read: "Mother mentioned 'a +fortune' and 'marriageable men.'" But Eleanor's expression was as +innocent as a babe's just then. + +That evening after supper, Eleanor drew Polly out to the terrace, which +was isolated at that time, and shared her plans with her. + +"I was afraid to let you, or any one, know what I was doing, so I just +went ahead and did it!" + +Polly manifested no surprise at these words, as she expected to hear +much more, so she patiently waited. Eleanor seemed at a loss, for once +in her lifetime, to know how to tell her story without having it +condemned by this upright conscientious friend. + +"I wrote mother just after we discovered the mine, and told her how +unhappy Barbara was in this forgotten corner of the earth. You see, I +wanted mother to send for her at once, and I was anxious to help Bob +relieve us of her company. But I never dreamed that Bob was as anxious +to get away, as we were to have her go!" + +"Oh, Nolla! we are not anxious to have her go--don't say that!" +remonstrated Polly. + +"Well, you know what I mean--everything will be so nice with no one to +be forever finding fault and nagging at one!" + +"Maybe she wouldn't nag so much if you did not tease her so! Nolla, you +_know_ you are so clever that you have no patience with Bob's slowness +in getting things," replied Polly, unconscious of the fact that she had +found the very root of the trouble between the sisters. + +"Anyway, Bob is on the high road to a society camp in the East, and we +will be able to go our own sweet way without her. But I brought you out +here to confess what I did! I wired father all about the mine, and the +Cliffs, and the Latimers and all--and also told him that the doctor +thinks a winter in New York will harden me splendidly. I wired the +doctor to tell him that this was true, and he _must_ tell father so. + +"Well, I heard from Daddy; he balked at first--said it was rank +foolishness for any doctor to recommend the beastly climate of New York +City in preference to the West with its dryness. I had to calm him on +that point, and then I told him that Anne and her mother were going to +New York and I wanted to go with them. He knows how I hate the teas, and +bridge, and parties mother is always giving Bob, so I told him how +wretched I always was in winter, without friends or any one to talk +to--as mother and Bob were always too busy with social duties. + +"Father hates these duties as much as I do, and he says mother has no +right to give all her time to Bob and never see me from one week's end +to another. So he was vulnerable in that spot. When I told him how he +could visit me in New York once a month, and spend several days going +around with me, he just caved in. And, Polly, I am sure he will agree to +my going with Anne. + +"To-day, after I got his wire, I waited till Bob was out of the way, +then I sent a message to Anne, to tell her to be on the lookout for Dad +who was coming here on Saturday. I said it would be so nice for him to +ride down from Denver with John and her. And maybe John could explain +the financing of the two companies to him. + +"I sent the second wire to Dad telling him to be sure and meet Anne at +the Denver Terminal at noon, on Saturday, as she would be expecting him. +So now I have all my irons in the fire and they're getting red-hot, +too!" + +As Eleanor concluded, Polly laughed at her funny expression but +remarked, "It would be terrible if your irons got so hot that they +melted before you could use any one of them, wouldn't it?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +RIGGLEY & RATZGER OF NEW YORK + + +Every day that week was crowded with events for the people at Pebbly +Pit, and never had so many telegrams passed through the hands of the +amazed agent at Oak Creek. First there were those sent by Barbara and +Eleanor, and the replies to them. Next day the two girls telegraphed +anew from Oak Creek, and these had replies which were forwarded by Alec +Hewitt who passed Brewster's ranch. Following these, came a telegram +from Anne, saying she had heard from Mr. Maynard and would meet him as +planned. Then there came one from Mr. Latimer's office in New York to +Tom, saying that Dr. Evans and Mr. Latimer had started for the West on +Thursday, on the Limited. Probably they would reach Pebbly Pit on Sunday +or Monday. Closely following that message, came one to Mr. Brewster from +New York, signed Riggley & Ratzger, Lawyers, to the effect that "they +had been appointed the representatives for the company that was formed +to make jewels from lava-stone, and they would take great pleasure in +visiting Pebbly Pit on Saturday or Sunday, in order to inspect the +Rainbow Cliffs. They might be induced to make an offer for the ranch." + +The latter suggestion caused Sam Brewster to laugh as he had not done +since he heard his Polly was determined to go to school. "What do you +think of such sublime fools, Maw?" chuckled he, handing the telegram +across the table as they sat on the porch. + +"Why, I don't understand. If Evans and Latimer are on their way here, +why do they need representatives? Isn't Tom's father a real good lawyer +in New York?" said she. + +"Sure, but the names alone give me an idea that they are crooks--listen: +Riggley and Ratzger. Doesn't it make you think of all queer kinds of +fish that one finds in big cities?" laughed her husband. + +Tom came from the barns about this time, and Mrs. Brewster turned to +tell him the latest news about the seekers of lava-stones. In +corroboration of his wife's words, Sam Brewster held out the telegram. + +Tom took it in trembling hands, for he had heard of the men whose names +were signed to the message. Then he glanced at the signatures and that +broke his amazed spell of silence. + +"Why! Mr. Brewster, how dare they plan to visit here?" he shouted, his +face as red as a poppy. + +"Oh, do you know them?" wondered Mr. Brewster. + +"Know them? Why, man alive, _they_ are the same two rascals who served +the injunction on father and Dr. Evans, and then they tried to steal the +patent. They fought in Court, but lost their case. When they appealed, +the Court sustained the first verdict, so they had no choice but to give +up. I wonder what game they are coming here for?" + +Mr. Brewster considered. "Tom, I wouldn't be surprised if they came +here, not knowing your folks are, also, coming. Maybe they hope to get +first shot at this proposition of Rainbow Cliffs and in this way, make +your father pay a fabulous price for the stone." + +"Some crooked deal like that, you may be assured. But I can't understand +how they ever heard of Rainbow Cliffs and this ranch? There has been a +leak, somewhere, in Dad's organization," said Tom, emphatically. + +"Well, let's decide now, before they come, what is best for us to do. If +they get here before your father and Evans, we must not give them any +idea that we expect other guests, nor must we say that we suspect them +of foul play. We must give them rope enough with which to hang +themselves." + +Here Mrs. Brewster interpolated: "We may serve all of our friends a good +turn by receiving these strangers with the same western welcome that we +extend to every one. But let us not give any one else here a hint of +what we now know." + +Tom agreed that this was a wise plan, so no one suspected there was an +under-current of excitement running in the elder Brewsters' and Tom's +thoughts, during the time that must elapse before the New York +"representatives" could arrive at Pebbly Pit. + +Meanwhile, Mr. Maynard met Anne and John in Denver, and the three took +the noon local for Oak Creek. Polly and Eleanor were busy helping +Barbara pack her five trunks to have them ready for the ranch-wagon to +take to the station on Saturday, when Tom offered to drive in and meet +the train from Denver. This done, and Tom on his way, the two girls +wondered what next they could do until the return of the party from Oak +Creek. + +"I say! Let's run to the Cliffs and watch for the first glimpse of +Daddy," suggested Eleanor. + +"And I'll take some doughnuts to eat in case we get hungry," added +Polly. + +Fortified with a bag of these delectable balls, the two girls hastened +away. Barbara was all sweetness and generosity, now that she was sure of +going to join her mother in a fashionable camp. And many fine bits of +underwear, or dresses fell Sary's way, when Barbara went through her +wardrobe, and discarded the things she felt would be too +ordinary-looking in such an exclusive "set" as she was about to join. + +Sary refused nothing, carrying everything thrown to her, in her arms as +carefully as if she were holding a new-born babe. On the first trip she +made through the kitchen in order to reach her private domain, she +stopped before Mrs. Brewster and held out the lace-trimmed underwear. + +"Mis Brewster, Ah never did think Ah would have sech fine troosos fer my +marritch. When Ah married Bill Ah diden have nawthin' but a new cambric +dress and a sun-bunnet. But this marritch will be the reel thing, what +with all the stuff I'm k'lectin, already." + +"You are fortunate, Sary, to be on hand just as Miss Bob's trunks are +cleared out," remarked her mistress. + +"Yeh, and d'ye know what?" Sary leaned over to whisper confidentially. +"Yeh see Ah'm not lettin' anythin' she gives me lay around one minute, +'cause she may change her mind. And ef she once saw _what_ a heap she is +throwin' away, she might think Ah was gettin' too much!" + +Mrs. Brewster laughed at Sary's wily ways, and replied: "Well, I'll +spare you from all the work as long as you are gathering plums from +Bob's orchard. I hope you can fill a whole trunk, Sary." + +But an unforeseen outgrowth of all these donations was sure to happen. +Once Sary had watched the trunks hoisted up in the ranch wagon, and +realized that there would be no more "pickin's" for her, she ran to her +room and began sorting and gloating over the mass of cast-off clothing. +And so mesmerized was she with pictures of herself adorned in the +dresses that were made for the form half her girth that Mrs. Brewster +found it impossible to coax her back to the kitchen. + +Having the Saturday's baking to do, as well as to prepare the dinner for +extra ones that night, she went to the door to ask Polly and Eleanor to +come in and help her. But the two girls were not in sight. + +There was but one hope left! She must do as clever generals did in +battle, when the fight seems to go against them--strategy. + +She hurried to Sary's door which was closed and locked. + +"Oh Sary! I remembered something that I wished to ask you about several +times this past week. Did Jeb give you the engagement ring yet?" + +Not a sound came from within for a few moments, then the key turned and +Sary's amazed face appeared in the doorway. The floor and bed were +covered with finery, each piece spread out full length. + +"Ah clean fergot all about it. Is Miss Anne got her'n?" + +"Oh, yes! John went to Denver with her to choose the stone." + +"Kin Jeb git a ring in Oak Crick, d'ye s'pose?" + +"Mercy no! Oak Creek hasn't any jewelry shop, you know." + +Sary was lost in thought for a time, and this was Mrs. Brewster's +opportunity. "I've been wondering how it would do to hint to Jeb that it +would make a lovely trip if he were to accompany you to Denver for a +day, and let you select your own ring." + +"Oh!" + +The one word breathed in a scarcely audible sound plainly expressed +Sary's ecstasy. Her great hands were loosely clasped before her as her +eyes turned ceiling-ward. + +"Of course with the house full of company for a few days it will be +impossible to think of such a thing, but Bob is going away the first of +the week, and then John and Tom leave; next Miss Anne goes back to +Denver to see about sending her stuff to New York, or selling what she +really won't need, and then you will have time to take such a trip. I +will see that Jeb realizes that it is his privilege to do this for you." + +"Oh, Mis Brewster, what kin Ah ever do fer you?" + +"Well, you can begin to repay me for my kindness by coming out to help +me with Saturday's work. And while we are doing that I will plan with +you what had best be said and done." + +Sary felt that there was a cunning here that she was not able to cope +with, but she could not resist the temptation to talk and plan about an +engagement ring for herself, so she bravely turned her back on the array +of finery, and stoically followed her mistress. + +Meantime Polly and Eleanor climbed the cliffs and sat where they could +see the Bear Fork's trail in the distance. Polly was sure they would +see the great ranch-wagon the moment it came around the bend. + +They had not been seated there more than twenty minutes before Eleanor +craned her neck and gazed earnestly at two dots that seemed to be +crawling along the trail. Polly turned and gazed also. + +"Why, it's two horsemen! I wonder if Jim and Ken can be thinking of +visiting us over Sunday,--because Mr. Latimer is coming, you know," +exclaimed Eleanor, joyfully surprised. + +"They wouldn't be arriving Saturday afternoon, as they wouldn't be able +to leave camp until Sunday," added Polly. + +Both girls shaded their eyes with their hands but neither could make out +the forms of the riders. They were mere specks on the white trail. But +the girls held their breath when the horsemen turned from Bear Forks +trail and rode in under the precipice that overhung the entrance to +Pebbly Pit. + +"Whoever it is, they are coming here," said Polly. + +"I wonder if it could be Mr. Latimer and Dr. Evans--they may have +arrived in Oak Creek sooner than they expected," ventured Eleanor. + +"We can watch better from this point than anywhere else, and when they +pass the Rainbow Cliffs, we can see who they are," now said Polly. + +So they watched impatiently until the riders came from under the hanging +walls of rock, and rode again along the top of the shale that covered a +wide area between the ravines and the Cliffs. + +This great stretch of shale was very treacherous going, as on the both +sides were deep gulches, or erosions, made by floods from thaws and +storms. An abandoned trail ran quite close to one of these ravines but +the land-slides of shale had compelled the people at Pebbly Pit to break +out a new and safer trail through the middle of the field. To strange +eyes, the old trail on the edge of the gulch, was the harder and easier +going, but every one coming to the ranch knew the center-trail to be the +one always used. Strangers seldom visited Pebbly Pit, and never without +a member of the ranch family, or a neighbor to escort them. + +When the two horsemen reached the branching of the trails, they halted, +and the girls saw them ponder. One man motioned with a hand at the rough +trail running over the top of the shale in the middle of the area, but +the other seemed to argue that the edge-trail was the best one to take. + +"Oh dear! I hope they won't take that slippery one!" cried Polly, in +tense nervousness. + +"I wish we could yell and warn them!" exclaimed Eleanor, half-rising +from her seat. + +"They'll never hear us at this distance, but we might run along the +top-trail and beckon them to climb up there." + +"But, Polly, by the time we reach the shale they will be almost at the +Rainbow Cliffs," objected Eleanor. + +"Yes, I know, but it seems awful to sit here and watch them ride over +that dangerous road." + +"To relieve our minds, we can go down as far as possible and meet them +when they ride out at Rainbow Cliffs," suggested Eleanor. + +So the two girls scrambled down from their high point of observation, +and started along the rock-ribbed road that led past the Cliffs. They +had not gone far along this trail, however, before Polly saw Jeb riding +down from the corrals. + +"If I could only get Jeb's attention, he could ride fast and warn those +men of their danger," Polly said, thinking aloud. + +"Let's both scream at the top of our lungs and see if he can hear us." + +So the two girls stood out on the edge of a huge bowlder and, making +megaphones of their hands, shouted again and again. The depression made +by the crater that lay between the Cliffs and the corral, acted as a +hollow tube, so Jeb finally wheeled around and tried to locate the call. +When he saw the girls, he immediately started to meet them as no one on +the ranch would shout that way for fun. + +It took ten minutes for Jeb to cover the circuitous path and join the +girls, and when they had hastily explained the cause of their concern, +he replied: "Gosh! Ah was told to hang a sign on that flat cliff to warn +folks offen the bad trail!" + +"Well, you didn't, so now race down the good trail and try to make the +men hear you," demanded Polly. + +Jeb spurred his horse at that, and was soon out of sight, but Polly and +Eleanor continued in the same direction, to see if all turned out well +for the riders. + +Having reached and passed the last spur of the Rainbow Cliffs, and then +climbing the steep ascent to the top-trail, they finally came to a rise +whence the whole shale-field could be seen. But not a sign of horsemen +could be seen. Jeb, riding like mad, right across the loose shale in +reckless risk of breaking his broncho's legs, was the only man visible. + +Eleanor turned and looked in wonderment at Polly, but when she saw the +look of horror on her friend's face, she caught at her arm. + +"Polly! What do you think has happened?" + +"Oh, Nolla! I fear they are down in that gulch! Most likely the shale +started sliding under their horses' hoofs, and before they realized +their danger, they were swept along over the top!" + +"Oh, mercy! Polly--never that! Why they will be killed!" + +Polly never said a word but watched Jeb as he reined in his horse. +Jumping from the saddle and hobbling the animal, he very carefully +crawled over the apparently safe surface between himself and the ravine. + +"Now I'm sure that's what happened, Nolla, or Jeb wouldn't try to get +over there. He's going to see just how bad things are." + +"Poll, we'd better run as fast as we can, and get things ready at the +ranch. Your father ought to know this, so he can hitch a cart to two +strong horses and drive there to help carry the men to the house." + +"Nolla, I fear there will be nothing left to carry away. Once the shale +starts to slide down that gulch, it goes like the wind and buries +everything under its weight and bulk." + +"All the same, I will feel that I am doing something to help--let's go!" + +So Polly and her companion turned and ran back along the Rainbow Cliffs +trail, until they reached the spot whence they had called to Jeb. They +stopped for a moment to catch their breath, and while straining their +eyes towards the house, saw Mr. Brewster just leaving it. + +His horse was waiting at the block, so both girls instantly began +shouting to attract his attention. He had keen hearing, and turned to +see what might be wrong in the direction of the Cliffs. When he saw the +two girls wildly beckoning him to come, he sprang into the saddle and +galloped the horse over the intervening space to meet them. + +Their story was told in a few words, and Sam Brewster immediately +surmised who the riders were. He told the girls to go on to the house +and tell Mrs. Brewster to be ready with emergencies, in case either of +the travelers were found. Then he turned his horse and galloped to the +barns where he called several of the men to help in the rescue work. + +Polly and Eleanor would have preferred to go back to the shale-fields +and watch the men, but they had to go where they could be of most +service in the case. + +"Where shall we put them, mother, if father brings both back to the +house?" asked Polly. + +"There is only one thing we can do, and that is to prepare the cots in +the harness-room for them. It is in times of need, like this, that I +wish we had a large house." + +Down on the shale-fields, Jeb had crept to the edge of the gully and +peered over. Far, far below, where the stream roared over the rocks and +down waterfalls like a miniature Niagara, he saw one horse doubled up in +an unnatural heap. He surmised at once, that it was dead. But half-way +up he spied hoofs protruding from the shale, and to this spot he tried +to make his way. + +As he thought, the rider was still entangled with the stirrups of the +horse and could not jump free when the accident had occurred. + +By dint of working down, clinging like lichen to the shale surface, Jeb +reached the animal whose hoofs stuck pathetically upward. He carefully +scraped away the shale and exposed the head of a man. He could not say +whether the victim was alive or dead, and he dared not dig away more +shale, just then, or the whole side would begin to move again. Having +cleared the head so the man could breathe, if possible, he looked +anxiously around for the second rider. Not a sign of him was seen from +the place where Jeb clung. + +Believing that one live man was worth two dead ones, Jeb returned to the +task of unearthing the one he had found. Every slab of shale was slowly +removed, meanwhile Jeb watched the loose sides above him for the least +intimation that it might slide again. But so careful was he, that the +body was uncovered without the surrounding shale being disturbed. Jeb +felt of the man's heart and found a very slight pulsation there. He was +alive! + +But how to get his feet free from the leather on the horse, and how to +carry the big heavy fellow up that treacherous side? Jeb never lost his +presence of mind, nor did he ever feel unduly excited over what he +thought could not be helped; had he known what a fatalist was, he would +have told you that that is what _he_ was. + +He sat perfectly still, because the unwary movement of a single muscle +might move that mountain-side down upon him, but he could _think_ and +what could hinder him from doing it? As if the very discovery that he +was superior in that way, to the senseless shale all about him, made him +master of the situation, so he smiled and patiently waited. + +"'Cuz Ah knows Polly and Miss Nolla'll get word to Mis'r Brews'er an' +he'll know what to do fer us." So he sat and waited. + +It's all well enough to say, "Oh, he wouldn't do anything else. Any one +could have waited!" But how many would have waited in that same +situation, without a qualm of fear, or without doubting the simple +assurance that the master of the ranch would know best what to do to +help? + +As if to reward this faith, Jeb soon heard voices shouting back and +forth above his head, and after a time, he saw the noose of a stout rope +falling down in his direction. + +He grinned. "Ah never thought of _that_!" murmured he. + +"Jeb," came the deep tones of Mr. Brewster from above, "try to fix this +safely around you, and then see if there is anything down there that you +can do. Shout up if you want help, and we will try to let another man +down to work with you." + +Jeb soon had the rope about his body, and feeling free to dig, went to +work to pull the unconscious man out of the saddle. The side that the +dead horse had fallen upon pinned the man's one leg down so securely +that Jeb could not manage to extricate it without help. So he held on +to the body he had thus far brought out from the shale, and then called +up to his master. + +"Ah cain't git his left laig out from the sturrup! This dead hoss is too +heavy fer me to shove over. Ef some one'll come down an' use a crow-bar +Ah reckon we-all kin manage it all right." + +With all the tension and doubt of being of any use in this accident, Mr. +Brewster could not help thinking of Jeb's way of asking assistance--as +if he was in the kitchen of the house and told Sary to come downstairs +to entertain him. + +Another man was lowered by means of a second rope, and as he came +opposite the dead horse, he called a halt on the pulley above. With his +crow-bar, he worked just as carefully as Jeb had done in loosening the +shale about the body. But the moment Jeb found he could extract the +crushed foot from the side that had been buried in the stone, the other +man ceased prodding, as one little prod too many might turn the whole +loose lava upon them again. + +"Lower another rope fer the stranger!" shouted the hired man. And soon +the limp body was drawn slowly up to safety. + +"What about the other one, Jeb?" shouted Mr. Brewster. + +"Reckon he went on down, 'cuz his hoss is down thar. Shall Ah go on down +and see?" + +"No! we-all can get down from the Devil's Causeway, without taking any +risks on this loose wall. Better see if you-all can find any papers or +wallet in the panniers of that horse." + +Jeb then felt and brought forth a fine leather bag shaped like a +knap-sack. But he was not aware that most lawyers and professional men +in cities use similar bags. Then the word was given to hoist, and both +men were soon up beside the unconscious stranger. + +While Mr. Brewster used first-aid on the stranger, several men of the +party started for the cleft back of the Cliffs from which one could get +down in to the gulch. In fact, it was the great flood of water that ran +from the back of the Cliffs that caused this deep washout, or gully. + +Having taken hold of the unknown man and suddenly turned him so that he +hung limply over the back and shoulders of his carrier, Mr. Brewster +started his horse across the shale, and then turned in on the Cliff +trail. The sooner the unconscious man was treated the better, thought +the ranch-man. + +Jeb and his men were left to help the others who, after having carefully +picked a way over the shale, would search in the gulch for any signs of +the second man. + +By the time the would-be rescuers reached the place where the dead horse +was seen doubled up, moans attracted their attention to a clump of +buffalo grass that had forced its way up beside the stream. + +There, almost hidden by great bowlders that had caught the drift of +shale as it swept down from the top of the ravine, they found the second +rider. As the horse was more than forty feet above this spot, they +figured that the man must have shot from the saddle when all were +precipitated over the top, and landed as if by a miracle in this +comparatively safe niche made by the rocks. + +The moment the man heard human voices he tried to attract their +attention, but they had already heard and planned how best to reach him. +He could not move, as those limbs which had not suffered fractures, were +rendered helpless by the weight of shale pinning them down. His chest +was free, however, and in spite of the gashes and bruises all over his +face and neck, he could breathe easily. + +"Ah reckon we-all had better carry him up the gulch to the Devil's +Causeway, and git out by that route," suggested one of the men. + +"Yeh! Let's call to Jeb to go back and meet we-all at the Cliffs so's we +kin put him acrost one of the hosses." + +In half an hour, therefore, Mr. Ratzger, the senior member of the law +firm of Riggley and Ratzger, of New York, was carried in front of the +Rainbow Cliffs and placed in Jeb's arms, while another man led Jeb's +horse carefully towards the ranch-house. + +"Ah, so these are Rainbow Cliffs, are they! Shall I ever forget them? +Had Riggley listened to my advice we both would now be sitting in our +comfortable office-chairs in New York. But no! he must needs try to +force gold from a stone-wall!" As Ratzger sighed, Jeb remarked +philosophically: "Ef _you_-all'd rather be sittin' at home than a +galavantin' round places where money kin be found, Ah b'lieves it's the +onny reason you-all is spared whiles your friend is locooed." + +Ratzger had never heard the term "locooed" so he was not quite sure what +Jeb meant. But he was thankful that he had life enough left even to +suffer with the broken arms and legs; for a trifle like that was not to +be scorned when he might have been done for completely even as he feared +old Riggley was. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE VICTORY + + +Serenely oblivious of all the excitement that had been caused at Pebbly +Pit by the accident, Tom Latimer drove Mr. Maynard and the happy +betrothed pair back to the ranch. John and Anne sat on the back seat +while Mr. Maynard sat beside Tom. Finding that John and his fiancée +needed no assistance from him in entertaining themselves, Tom gave his +full attention to the banker from Chicago. + +Hence, by the time they reached Rainbow Cliffs, Mr. Maynard was like the +blood-hound when he scents a new trail--he was more than anxious to join +these energetic men in financing the vast projects so well described by +young Latimer. + +At the Cliffs Mr. Maynard placed a hand on the lines in order to stop +the horses. He gazed and gazed, as if he saw the great walls covered +with gold dollars instead of colored stones. Then he sighed and smiled +at Tom. + +"This promises to be the luckiest thing I ever did--sending Nolla to +Pebbly Pit for her health!" + +"And wait until you see Nolla! My, but she is rosy and roly now. And +besides, Mr. Maynard, she is a born financier. I _love_ to listen to her +plan and then see her work out her own schemes. She has one on the +carpet at present, and I verily believe she will pull it off!" exclaimed +Tom, very much interested in his subject. + +"Yes, that girl of mine is worth more to me than any gold-mine or other +treasure in the world." + +"Oh, really! Well, this time 'listening fools heard some good of +themselves'," laughed a merry voice from a crevice in the wall, and +immediately afterwards, Eleanor sprang out, with Polly close upon her +heels. + +The horses were stopped until Eleanor and her father had done with their +hugging, and then she remembered to introduce him to Polly. + +"The very best chum in the world, Daddy, and so we have sworn never to +be separated--not even for money, business, or love!" cried the happy +girl, maternally patting Polly on the head as she spoke. + +Eleanor sat upon her father's knee and Polly sat upon the floor of the +wagon, as they proceeded on their way, but when John called to his +sister and asked what had been doing in his absence, she jumped up +suddenly and exclaimed. + +"Oh! we forgot all about the two men who came this morning and fell over +the edge of the gulch!" + +Then followed an excited and graphic description of the two New York +lawyers who came to Pebbly Pit to buy the Cliffs. When John heard the +names, he whistled and looked at Tom. + +"Well, even providence is on your side, Polly, for those two men are the +rascals who tried to steal Evans' patent rights in the little machine +that cuts the jewels. So this is the way they were received at Pebbly +Pit, eh?" Tom mused silently after that, but John and Mr. Maynard asked +all sorts of questions until they reached the house. + +In these isolated mountain ranches, almost every intelligent man can set +broken bones, and take care of minor troubles; a doctor living in a town +ten to twenty miles away, needs plenty of time to reach a ranch, in +cases of illness, and during that time a patient must suffer agonies or +be helped by home-aid. Thus, Mr. Ratzger had his bones set by Mr. +Brewster and his assistants, and was left neatly bandaged upon a cot in +the harness-room. But the other patient seemed past the simple aid from +the ranchers, so Jeb had to ride to Oak Creek for a doctor to come and +try to save this life. + +With all the sudden advent of excitement and work, the thought of Anne's +engagement ring had not entered into any one's mind, but once the +household had quieted down again, and Mr. Brewster could sit on the +porch and mop his weary brow, John smiled knowingly at his fiancée. + +Mrs. Brewster caught the look and interpreted it instantly: "Oh, Anne, +dear! We never asked you to show us the symbol!" + +"Yes, yes, Anne! Let me look!" cried Eleanor, jumping up from the grass +where Polly and she had thrown themselves. + +Anne, with an embarrassed laugh, held forth her left hand and displayed +a beautiful solitaire. "Ahhs!" and "Ohs" and other exclamations of +admiration pleased John and Anne mightly, and both felt that this +mundane life was really a Paradise. + +With one accord it had been agreed to postpone the talk of Rainbow +Cliffs and Choko's Find until after supper that evening. By that time +the doctor would have arrived and expressed an opinion about the injured +Riggley, and see if Ratzger was doing nicely under the home-treatment +given him. + +"Because it makes me feel rather guilty to talk over our future plans +about this big combination, when we know that not far off are two men so +fearfully injured on account of this very fortune," added Mrs. +Brewster, when she heard the business talk would not take place at once. + +"As long as I am here and having such a wonderful rest, I would just as +soon wait for Latimer and Evans to put in an appearance, before we +discuss finances," said Mr. Maynard. + +"We'll have enough talk left over to warm up for them," remarked Tom, +whimsically. + +"And we want to get you first, Dad, and see how much money you will put +in. When there are too many men about to talk to at once, the force of +our arguments will be scattered," declared Eleanor, nodding her head +wisely. + +Every one laughed--the first hearty laugh since the accident on the +shale-fields. And every one felt much better for that laugh. + +"I tell you what, boys, isn't this girl of mine a born business-brain?" +added Mr. Maynard fondly patting Eleanor on the head. + +"Sure! That's why I am going to run the business end of Polly's and my +company, while she supplies all the ideals and plans for the work," +asserted Eleanor. + +"What's this? Something new on your old Dad?" asked her father. + +"Not _very_ new; only since I came here and met Polly." Eleanor +squirmed away from Polly's warning nip on the arm, and added: "You see, +Dad, I am bound to go with Anne when she starts for New York to +school--that has all been settled between us, hasn't it?" + +Mr. Maynard smiled indulgently as if to concede any proposition to this +child, and Eleanor continued with more assurance: + +"And Polly, having all her hopes of attending school in Denver blasted +by Anne and her mother going on to New York, now has decided that the +only thing for her to do is to go with us to New York. It is a wonderful +opportunity for her, too, as she is as determined to take up Interior +Decorating for a profession, as I am. And where on earth can one find +such store-houses of valuable lore on the subject, as right in New +York!" + +Mr. Brewster cleared his throat preparatory to an objection but Eleanor +kept right on talking fast and loud in order to down him. + +"After figuring the whole plan out, Polly and I find that we need a few +years more of regular school under Anne's tuition; then a few years of a +special course of decorating in a first-rate school in New York--then, +if we are not _too_ old, we will go abroad for a visit to the art +galleries in Europe. But we may have to give that delightful trip up +and turn right into work, as we must not wait until old age cripples our +abilities. So you see----" + +"Nolla, let me say a word, won't you?" began Polly, seeing her father's +expression. + +"No, Poll, not now! I have said all I want to tell Dad about our future +business connections, and it may influence him somewhat in going into +our mine company. But now that he knows just what I shall do from now +on, we can leave them to discuss matters while we go in and look over +your wardrobe and see what you will need before going to New York." + +So saying, Eleanor dragged Polly up from her seat on the grass and, by +dint of winks and tugs, made her understand that it was best for all +concerned if they were well out of hearing. + +Tom, John, and Mr. Maynard laughed heartily at Eleanor's speech and +manner of getting Polly away from an evident discussion. Mrs. Brewster +and Anne exchanged concerned glances, but Sam Brewster moodily stared +for a few minutes away at Rainbow Cliffs. Then quite suddenly, and to +the great amazement of every one present, he laughed and said, "To think +the new woman has acquired such power that centuries of accepted habit +is set aside and the male has to fall in line _in the rear_. Look at me! +I have been the Great Mogul in this family and in all Oak Creek, too, +until my baby girl begins to talk plainly and then she quietly pushes me +out of my place and steps into it. + +"And look at Eleanor Maynard! Talks like an experienced business +potentate of forty--yet she is only fourteen. Oh, I tell you what, +friends, we are living in a strange time!" And Sam Brewster laughed +again, a queer-sounding laugh this. Every one sat still and dreaded to +say a word. In a few moments, he continued: + +"Here's a wonderful freak of nature, been standing over there for ages +untold; and I settle down beside those Cliffs because I can see there +will be something in them for my children in days to come. But then, +without warning, my baby grows suddenly up and rears her head, and +declares 'Those Cliffs must furnish me with money to go away from here. +I am of the new order of things, and I must be well prepared to meet my +fate!' So she packs her kit and scampers off to New York to imbibe the +higher education for women. + +"Meantime, her poor lonesome father remains behind in Pebbly Pit and +takes charge of the complete blasting of his precious Rainbow Hopes. Ah +well! Ah trust Polly will never regret going to New York with you-all!" + +As Sam Brewster sighed and got up to walk away, his wife remarked +quietly: "Any one would think, Sam, that Polly was your very own +personal property. If you could but remember that she has a mother who +loves her devotedly and is silently breaking her heart right now, so +that the child may follow her own life-line without foolish barriers +placed in her pathway!" + +Mr. Brewster sent a startled glance at his wife and then hurried away to +the barns. But Mr. Maynard said fervently: "There spoke the true mother, +Mrs. Brewster. That is what we are parents for, I firmly believe--that +we may help the next generation to a higher and firmer foot-hold on +progress. If only there were more mothers like you!" + +Then John crept over and flung his arm over his mother's shoulders. +"Yes, Mr. Maynard--she is great. And we shall live to call her +'blessed,' for this temporary parting from Polly will soon be a dream of +the past, and both father and mother will laugh at this talk!" + +Drawing Polly into the house, Eleanor whispered: "I know just what you +are going to say, Goody-good! You were ready to explode because you had +not told me any such things as I pretended you had. But, don't you see, +I had to take lots of things for granted to put the plan over in a few +seconds? Suppose I had started out with turning to you every few moments +for approval, where would we have ended." + +"That's what _you_ think, Nolla, but let me tell you this much right +here"--and Polly planted her feet firmly and lifted her head upon her +proud neck, until Eleanor stood admiring her independence--"I can talk +for myself, every time! Don't ever quote me again in any thing that I +ever said or did. You may think it is all right because you win out on +those grounds, and simply because you never have been taught properly by +your mother. But _I_ know better and I won't accept any victory won on +any other basis than a clear conscience. Ask Anne Stewart whether she +does not agree with me on this point. Now let me tell you, that much as +I had yearned to go to New York with you-all I cannot go because you +took my personal rights from me. I love you and I was crazy to leave +home to go to school, but I will never consent to have any one say or +act for me, in any way, when I am perfectly able to do so for myself." + +"Oh, Poll! I don't mean it that way--don't you know I only did it to +help you out?" cried Eleanor aghast at the turn in events. + +"Who asked you to help me out?" demanded Polly, her blue eyes emitting +sparks of fire. + +"Why--wh--y--you see I had to win your father over!" + +"But _who_ told you so? You know very well that it was your own pride in +your ability to _talk_ that made you take the bit between your teeth. +But you will learn now, that I intend driving my own steed, and will not +allow others to whip my mount!" + +Eleanor was silenced as she began to review the very recent talk she had +given out on the terrace. Polly was right! + +"It hurts me to tell you this, Nolla, but it is best that we have a +clean slate from this night on. You are awfully clever and witty, too, +but you do exaggerate something terrible! I cannot sit tamely by and +accept all the things you say of me and our plans. Why, we scarcely said +a dozen words about college and Europe!" + +"But I did it all for your sake," was all Eleanor could offer in +self-defense. + +"That's just it! I _will not_ have any one say they had to tell lies to +help me along. If I can't paddle my own canoe through the rapids, I can +go ashore. But I will balk every time another tries to turn me from the +course I know to be my true one. So there!" + +"Polly dearest! Do you mean that after all I have done to get Dad here +and win your father's consent to your going, that you refuse to leave +home--just because I colored my words a bit too vividly?" + +"You can color your words as rashly and with as vivid colors as you +choose, Nolla, but I say that when you begin to infer that the coloring +is of _my_ choosing and that I am in hearty sympathy with the way you +win out in matters, then I will balk and if necessary, deny it in the +future. I _hate_ color when it is daubed on falsely!" + +Eleanor stood self-conscious of her mistakes, and Polly sent her one +sorry look and then walked into her room. Eleanor did not dare follow as +she was too awed by her friend's honest speech. And she admired Polly +all the more for daring to tell her the unvarnished truth about her +proclivity to prevaricate. + +"It always was my weak spot," grumbled Eleanor to herself, as she walked +slowly to the kitchen to see if Sary was there to keep her company. But +the big cool kitchen was empty, so the girl sat down in the wooden chair +and thought. + +[Illustration: "WHO ASKED YOU TO HELP ME OUT?" DEMANDED POLLY. + +_Polly and Eleanor_ _Page 257_] + +"If I had had a different training maybe I wouldn't be so ready to lie," +murmured Eleanor. Then, suddenly sneering at herself she added: "Poor +fish! Can't even accept what you know is a fact without trying to blame +it on some one else. You've scorned Bob for being such a fool, but here +you are, ten times worse, because you have wits enough yet you pervert +the use of them. Eleanor Maynard, I just feel as if I wanted to give you +the biggest hiding you ever heard of!" + +As she knew of no way in which to inflict this punishment upon herself, +she cried instead. From a prolonged sniffle that caused her to wipe her +eyes on her dimity sleeves, she began to weep freely. And finally, +heart-broken sobs shook her slender frame. By this time her eyes and +nose were rivers of salt-water and the poor girl had no handkerchief. +Just when she felt compelled to turn up her skirt to use the ruffle of +her white petticoat, Anne came in. + +"Why, Nolla! What has happened?" + +"Oo-h, Anne--I lost my handkerchief!" + +"Is that all, darling! Here use mine--It's clean. But don't cry over a +trifle like that. It is sure to be somewhere about the place." + +Before Anne could dry the flooded eyes and hold the bit of white linen +at Eleanor's nose, the girl broke into a merry laugh--so close were +tears and laughter in Eleanor's makeup. + +"Oh, oh--Anne! I didn't mean _that_ that was what made me _cry_! But I +am so disgusted with myself--that is why I am weeping. If some one would +only whip me soundly, I would feel _so_ much better!" + +"Oh, I see! you're crying because you are so selfish, eh?" + +Eleanor looked up astonished. "Selfish--no, I want to be thrashed, you +know." + +"And because you cannot get what you think you want, you sit out here +and weep! Oh come, Nolla! come out on the terrace and let your Dad see +how happy you are!" + +The very illumination that came with Anne's unexpected words choked the +sobs in Eleanor's throat, and she meekly followed Anne to the pump where +cold water was dashed upon her red eye-lids. As she dried her face on a +clean towel that hung back of the door, she thought: "Yes, sir! Even in +howling for a licking I was fooling myself into believing I was doing +the right thing! Oh, Nolla, Nolla! how much you have to change your old +ways of thinking and talking before you can feel as honest and wise as +Anne Stewart or Polly!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +COMINGS AND GOINGS + + +It was very late when the doctor reached the ranch, that night, and +having examined the still unconscious man, pronounced his opinion to the +men who had accompanied him from the house. + +"It's a bad concussion on the brain, I believe, following a slight +fracture of the skull. He has suffered internal injuries, too, from the +slight examination I can make here. But we can do nothing for him under +these conditions. He ought to be in a hospital in Denver where an +operation could take place." + +"Would it be a risk to try and carry him there?" asked John, anxiously. + +"He won't suffer during the trip, if that is what you mean, as he is +unconscious of physical pain. And the sooner he could be operated upon +the better. He will slowly pass away if left like this," returned the +doctor. + +"But to-morrow's Sunday, John, and no trains run to Denver until Monday +noon," said Tom Latimer. + +"There's the morning milk-train, you know," suggested the doctor. "If I +explained the case, they would gladly take these men on and turn them +over to the physicians at Denver." + +"Then we'd have to get them in to Oak Creek to-night," added Mr. +Brewster. + +"You'd have to fix up some sort of hammocks in the wagon to spare the +poor fellows any jolts. If it can be done, I will wait and ride back +with them," said the doctor. + +"We'll turn the ranch inside out and upside down in order to help in any +way," hastily asserted Mr. Brewster. Then turning to Jeb, who stood +watching the scene, commanded him. + +"Jeb, get out the truck wagon--the one with the chestnut posts on either +side--and hook up four of our best horses. While Jeb is doing that, we +will get the two hammocks from the girls and fix up some sort of +mattress in each. These hammocks can swing from the posts. I'll go with +the doctor and see that no little thing is overlooked." + +"John and I thought of going in, Mr. Brewster, and if three are going, +you would not have to take this trip to-night," said Tom. + +"W-ee-ll I would rather not use myself up in riding all night without +being able to do any good to any one, if you young men will go in my +place," Sam Brewster sighed. + +"An' Ah'll drive the four hosses, cuz, yuh know, it's no joke seein' +ahead of th' hosses' noses along that trail in th' dark," announced Jeb, +in a matter-of-course tone. + +"Jeb, if you would! It will be a great relief to know you are +driving--you are such a wizard with a four-in-hand," exclaimed John, +smiling suddenly at Jeb. + +"Wha--Ah hed no idee you-all diden know Ah was goin' t' do th' drivin'," +returned Jeb, surprised at the others for their lack of comprehension. + +It was twelve o'clock that night when all was ready and the great wagon +lumbered past the ranch-house. The women were all grouped on the porch, +silently praying for the safe transportation of the unfortunate schemers +from New York. + +"Ah don't suppose we will really know why these men came West until +Latimer or Evans gets here to explain," said Mr. Brewster, as the +remaining members of the family went indoors. + +"Didn't you look through the papers in that leather bag?" asked Mr. +Maynard of his host. + +"No, not when Ratzger came to and told us who they were. I handed the +bag to him and felt I had no right to pry into his secrets--especially +as he acted so fearful of the contents of the wallet." + +"I suppose they hired those horses from Oak Creek," ventured Mrs. +Brewster. + +"Doubtless; and I told John to make sure and then ask Ratzger what had +best be done to settle for them. If the men have ample means they can +pay the damages, but if they haven't, I will pay for them myself," +explained Mr. Brewster. + +"I don't see why you should! You had nothing to do with their hiring, +nor with anything connected with this accident," said Mr. Maynard. + +"No, but folks here-abouts stick together more or less, and if one has a +loss, the others generally help out. Now I can spare twenty horses from +my corral sooner than have a friend in Oak Creek think I had something +to do with his loss of two good saddle horses." + +"If every one thought and acted like that, Mr. Brewster, we would bring +in the millennium without delay," Mr. Maynard remarked. + +"Ah feel happy to state that Ah will never defer the coming of that +same millennium by any trifle like a few horses given away to a less +fortunate friend." + +All that evening Polly and Eleanor were as cordial and chummy as ever to +observers, but no one knew that the two girls had changed places. Only +Anne knew that Eleanor had been in the kitchen weeping, and even she did +not know the cause of the tears. She fancied there had been a girlish +quarrel between the friends but that would soon be made up again. So she +paid no further attention to the case. + +Eleanor felt humbled by the frank truth spoken by Polly, and realizing +that it was absolutely as her friend had stated, she tried to impress +upon Polly that she was repentant and would never again do or say a +thing that might offend. Hitherto Eleanor had taken for granted that she +was more experienced in every way than her simple little friend of the +ranch; and without meaning to take the upper hand, had actually assumed +that position, until she had reached the point where Polly rebelled +against this friendly leadership. + +But after the fearless speech from Polly that afternoon, Eleanor +comprehended how far behind she really was in this warfare between +egotism and _egoism_. She began to understand that the first expressed +stubbornness and selfishness which eventually would result in +unhappiness for all concerned; while egoism meant exactly what Polly was +trying to demonstrate for herself--that upright fearless stand for +Truth, and the sacrifice of everything that interfered with the perfect +working out of the highest good. + +Hence, without meaning to do so, and in fact, never realizing that it +was so, Polly took the lead in everything after that day. When with her +friend, Eleanor seldom exaggerated and never took the aggressive +attitude again. And with others, she seemed to be developing a quieter +and more lovable disposition. But her family and friends declared it was +due to the fact that she was out-growing her tom-boy habits. + +Sunday morning was far spent before the family met under the oak trees +for their first meal. Seeing how late it was, Mrs. Brewster and Sary +decided to have but two meals that day--a combination breakfast and +lunch and a good dinner and supper about five o'clock. The very unusual +break in the habits of other Sabbaths, and the various causes that led +to such a change, kept every one lounging quietly about the house and +porch. + +Mr. Maynard took advantage of the restful hours, to ask Barbara just how +much money she needed to defray her expenses in camp, with her mother. +And in spite of her mentioning an exorbitant sum, he silently wrote out +the check for her. + +Barbara had expected rebellion and so was prepared to argue that she +needed a new wardrobe for such a select gathering, but finding her +father had offered no resistance, she wished she had demanded much more. +Had she but known that the only reason he gave her what she wanted, was +the qualm of conscience he felt. He was really glad to have his daughter +so eager to join her mother in the East, so that he would be relieved of +the nagging and unhappiness he was always subjected to when his wife and +oldest daughter were with him. + +But there was a sub-conscious reason, too, for his ready writing of the +check. He was as eager to have Eleanor live with Anne and her mother in +New York, as the girl was to go there. And this unexpected plan might +meet with various objections from his wife if she dreamed of the extra +cost it would be. As he seldom came to an open quarrel with Mrs. +Maynard, he considered he was placating both wife and daughter by +extending this generous sum of money for their pleasures. Should they +offer strenuous objections against Eleanor's plan to live in New York, +he would have one cudgel, at least, to use against them. + +The sinking sun was bathing Rainbow Cliffs in a glory of color before +the echo of the lumbering ranch-wagon was heard sounding across the +crater. Then every one ran out upon the terrace to watch the home-coming +of the weary boys. + +"Was everything all right?" anxiously asked Mrs. Brewster, thinking of +the two poor sufferers. + +"Oh yes; the hammocks served splendidly, but poor Ratzger groaned +continually because of the pain in his limbs," sighed John. + +"And we had an awful job carrying them from the wagon to the milk-train. +They both are corpulent men, you know," added Tom. + +"The docter went along widdem, to Denver," observed Jeb. "Gosh! Ah wisht +Ah wuz a doctor, en Ah'd have gone, too. It wuz a free ride fer him, +yuh-know." + +The humor of the remark made every one smile, and Jeb gazed from one to +the other to find out just where he had been witty. + +"Never mind, Jeb; you and Sary are going to Denver, you know, for that +ring," whispered Mrs. Brewster, aside to Jeb. + +"It ain't the same. Sary'll tote me aroun' jest whar she wants to go, en +Ah have t' trot behin' her like a poodle!" grumbled Jeb. + +Mrs. Brewster understood immediately. It was the call of freedom to the +male who is soon to be shackled, to have one last fling. So she +whispered back: "I'll see that you get a few days off for a nice visit +there all by yourself. Perhaps we can arrange to have you go with the +girls and look after their luggage on their way to New York." + +At this unexpected offer of bliss, even if it was lonesome, Jeb grinned +and shuffled away to drive the horses to the barns. + +As Jeb had to make another trip to meet the train on Monday noon at Oak +Creek, he was only too glad when Tom announced that he was going, too, +to meet his father and Dr. Evans. + +John and Anne found so much to say to each other before the separation +came, that they were not to be seen all that day. Polly felt sure she +would find them seated on the Imps at the Cliffs, if she wanted to take +the trouble to walk there. But she didn't. + +Mrs. Brewster and Eleanor were together, talking over many pleasant +secrets, or at least Polly thought they must be pleasant from the +smiling countenance on her friend. Now and then she caught such words as +"you know all about such things, Nolla," or Eleanor might say "she will +be on top of the heap, if I know it, Mrs. Brewster," so it was evident +that she, Polly, was the subject of their conversation. But Polly +herself, felt little concern about it all, as she saw the forlorn +expression on her father's face as he went about his ranch-duties. +Finally she decided upon taking a radical step. + +She went to the room where she found her meager wardrobe displayed in +every country-like detail. So this was what Eleanor was planning--a +conquest made with fine clothes such as she had! + +"Mother," she began; "I have changed my mind about going to school. I +have decided to remain here with father and you." + +"Oh, Poll! You just can't!" cried Eleanor. + +"Why this sad countenance, daughter, if you believe you will be happier +here than away?" countered Mrs. Brewster. + +"Because I am as miserable as Daddy about leaving." + +Mrs. Brewster laughed merrily, albeit she felt no joy in her soul. "Then +the sooner we dispel this gloom by packing you off, the better. I +haven't the slightest doubt but that you will wonder at your present +attitude, the moment John and Tom have gone. Once let every young person +leave us here all alone for the long solitary winter, and you will eat +your heart out to think that you could have been so mistaken as to +refuse this wonderful opportunity to make something of yourself and your +wealth." + +Polly knew in her heart that her mother spoke the truth, but she never +dreamed what it cost that mother to speak cheerily as she did about her +only girl's going--in fact, almost persuading her to go. For that wise +mother had heard the yearnings in Polly's voice the day she spoke so +daringly of all her ambitions and of her future. And she understood that +this transitory spell of regret was merely the contagion of Mr. +Brewster's woe-be-gone thoughts and behavior. + +"I'll get after Sam, and that good and plenty!" thought Mrs. Brewster to +herself, as she watched Polly with keen understanding. + +"Poll, your mother says Anne is to get every last dud you need in the +swellest shops in New York. Because you and I will have plenty of money +for our future, and we must dress up to our station. Your mother said +our success in business would be influenced, to a great extent, by our +careful consideration of apparel. She is right." + +"But, mother, you said to me, one time, that clothes should never occupy +a woman's mind," Polly said, wonderingly. + +"I was right in saying so. I do not believe in having anything so +perishable as dress occupying anybody's mind. But that does not mean +that you should become careless of your appearance nor wear cheap and +vulgar apparel. I always felt that an individual expresses his own +position in life by the clothes he selects and wears. It is generally a +key to one's character. You will find that any one who has slip-shod +apparel, is careless in everything else in life, and one who dons gaudy +attire--cheap and destructible--will soon show you how small a nature he +has. The same with well-selected refined apparel; one garbed in the +best, no matter how many seasons they may have to wear the articles, +will prove reliable and conscientious in other ways. + +"Oh, I never dreamed this would end up in a sermon!" Mrs. Brewster +suddenly laughed, and then she whisked from the room. + +The new arrivals came at sun-down, and every one was eager to welcome +Tom's father, and his friend Dr. Evans. Both men were made to feel at +home, and as the dinner had been kept waiting for the past half-hour, +Sary lost no time in shouting for every one to "setdown." + +Smiles on every face, was the rule at that meal, and no one dreamed that +Mrs. Brewster had given her spouse the worst "Dressing down" he had had +since they were married. He laughingly referred to it later on, and +confessed that now he knew where Polly got her "woman's rights" idea, so +unexpectedly betrayed the day she stood up for herself. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +POLLY AND ELEANOR START OUT + + +"Now let us hear all about those two strangers from New York?" Mr. +Brewster reminded his new guests, as they strolled away from the table. + +"Well, it was as much a shock for us to find that they had been here and +were now at a hospital in Denver, as it was for you to learn who they +were," replied the doctor. + +"I suspected some crooked work last week, but I must say that I never +thought they would come out here on such a meager chance," added Mr. +Latimer. "You see, it was this way: I had a rascal employed in my office +as clerk, but I never knew that he was in constant touch with Riggley & +Ratzger--in fact was their stool-pigeon. He was a clerk in our offices +just to get daily information about patents. And thus the other firm got +hold of many tips. + +"When the Court upheld us in our rights, and this firm of crooks tried +in other ways to get that valuable patent and model, this clerk Brown +made an accurate blue-print of the drawing we always kept locked in our +safe. Then when he heard of our success in cutting the lava-jewels from +the material sent us from Pebbly Pit, he did everything to locate this +ranch. + +"Had we wasted any time in planning to come West and meet you people +here, I doubt not but that Riggley & Ratzger would have had a new scheme +to hold us up. But we moved so swiftly after hearing from Kenneth and +Tom, that they had to catch breath to keep up in the race. + +"I am convinced that they hurried here with no set plans about the +future--they wanted to get a hold on this place so as to try and bar us +from immediate work, or perhaps, to make a fortune out of us by selling +their option to us. They never dreamed that Latimer had a son right +here, and that there was a deeper cause for our meeting you all than +mere business reasons. Had either of these lawyers known about Montresor +and that mine, they would not have spent so much time and money to get +here to outwit us. + +"It is fortunate that the doctor kept those letters at home where Brown +could not read and copy them for his firm of rascals. But, to tell the +truth, that was one reason why Dr. Evans was so anxious to meet +you-all. We want to hear everything about the old man and that claim." + +As Mr. Latimer finished speaking, Dr. Evans said: "If you will pardon +me, a moment, I have here a photograph taken of my brother-in-law just +before he left for the Klondike. Perhaps you will recognize something in +the face to assure us it was your Montresor." + +The doctor took out his large flat pocket-book and removed the +card-photograph wrapped in tissue paper. This was passed to Sam +Brewster, who needed but a glance to tell him that the pictured face was +the same man that he had defended so valiantly to others. + +Polly ran over to her father's side and took the picture. "Oh, you dear +old friend--it is our Old Man Montresor, sure enough, but his hair was +white when we knew him!" she exclaimed. + +She impulsively kissed the senseless card, and every one smiled +sympathetically, even though there was a suspicion of moisture in most +eyes. + +"I am so glad to find that he had good friends, somewhere, even though +he was too proud to let any one know about his relatives. And Ken! I'm +so glad to know that he, and you people, will all come in on Choko's +Find--or to be exact, it is Montresor's Mine," said Polly. + +"That's going to be a fine tangle in law, Polly," remarked Mr. Latimer. +"You see, Montresor made you his sole heiress, so the mine is yours, not +only by inheritance, but also by rediscovery after it was lost in the +first land-slide. + +"We stopped at Simms' office to-day--that is what made us late--and +learned, without a doubt, that the two claims are the same. As it now +stands, Polly and her friends are claim-jumpers on the same claim that +Montresor bequeathed to Polly a few years ago. And should you all go to +law over the tangle, the State of Colorado would benefit, in-as-much as +the costs of an endless suit would fill the State coffers." Mr. Latimer +laughed at the picture of such a thrilling law-tangle for his +unraveling. + +"But we are not going to law, and if that gold is mine so that no one +else has any right to say what I can, or cannot do with it, I shall do +what I always planned to do with it--even before Nolla and I found it +again. I made up my mind that if ever one of dear old Montresor's +relatives appeared I would go halves. And if they wanted the whole +thing--then they could take it, rather than fight for it. So now I am +going to give half to your wife, right off, Doctor, and my other half I +will divide with the girls who were with me when we located it again." +Polly was magnificent in her earnest generosity. + +"Why, Miss Polly, my wife would never accept half of it. Ken wrote +something of what you told him, and Mrs. Evans told me to be sure to +tell you that you _cannot_ give half away. Besides, the fact that I will +have so many friends willing to invest money in this device of mine, is +better than all the gold in the Rockies. The jewel-cutter is now an +assured success, and it will turn out dollars like a sausage grinder +turns out that toothsome breakfast meat." + +Every one laughed at the doctor's funny comparison, and he continued: +"However, let us hear from Tom and the others, how they managed to get +down into the cave if it was buried under such mountains of trash." + +"Oh, yes, John! You promised to tell us the moment Mr. Latimer and the +doctor arrived," cried Eleanor, eagerly. + +So without preamble, John began: "When Mike had made a temporary camp +for us on Top Notch, he tried to show Tom and me just where the cave had +been. But none other than a clever Indian scout could ever have found +one familiar sign anywhere. Even Mike had to hunt and dig and trail +around, again and again, before he gave a war-whoop. + +"To cut it short, I will say, we found that the ravine upon which the +cave opened, was completely filled with trash and, in fact, there were +many feet of earth and timber on top of the ledge so that it would need +a great deal of digging and blasting before we could hope to enter that +cave again. + +"But Tom and I had not been lazy during the time Mike was seeking for +some sign to locate the cave. And after we learned how impossible it was +to enter the mine at that side where the girls had gone in, Tom and I +took scientific observations with our instruments, and finally, after +tiresome days, found a rushing river that gushed from some underground +source. + +"We immediately remembered the pit Polly had told us of, and the rushing +sound of waters she had heard when leaning over the edge of the pit, so +we decided that here we had found the outlet. + +"We could not determine how far the river traveled underground from the +pit, until it came out in the open again, but we got Mike to come with +us, and, daring fellow that he is, he crept into the tunnel that hooded +the stream. We tried to dissuade him from taking such a risk, but he +grinned and said: 'Mike like fun.' + +"When he returned, half an hour later, he made us understand that we +might follow quite safely. My! But that was some thrill, eh, Tom?" +laughed John, shivering delightfully at the reminiscence. + +Tom laughingly admitted that it was a "hair-raiser" and John continued: +"We managed to cling to the narrow ledge of rock that was less than a +foot above the turbulent water, and even that must have been submerged +most of the time, as it was damp and slippery. Mike said the recent +land-slide had had some effect on lowering the water-line of the river +and that was what left the rock exposed. + +"We crept slowly along this foot-hold and soon realized that we were +nearing some suction-hole. Mike explained that it was the very tube that +rose to the rocky floor where Polly knelt that day. I couldn't see where +this journey was going to benefit us, but Mike knew. + +"Reaching the tube that slanted upwards, so that we could see roots and +stubborn vines growing out of its rocky walls, we also discovered that +we had a flat space of more than six feet square on which we were +standing. Now Mike demonstrated what he proposed doing. All our +threats, persuasions, and anger, left no impression. He smiled. + +"He made us understand that he was about to scale the wall by means of +those roots and vines. Should he miss and fall, the rope he tied about +his body would keep him from being swept down into the current. He gave +us the end of the rope to fasten to our waists. When he arrived at the +top, he would draw us up, one after the other. + +"He managed to land on top, but I'll have to tell you-all some other +time, all that happened before we reached the underground cave where the +gold was shining from walls and ceiling. It is exactly as Polly +described it, and we picked up a number of nuggets that were found in +the dust of ages on the stone floor, and then tried to take scientific +observations. Tom took a flash-light of the cave, and we had it +developed, but it was not a howling success. Still, it shows something +of the interior. + +"When we got back to open air again, we noticed the vast mountain-top +that sat down upon that gold-mine. This would have to be removed if we +mined from the top. But I believe we can manage to work in through that +tunnel and secure the gold by means of lifts in that tube. This is a +matter of discussion. The gold is there and it can be gotten out, just +so long as Old Grizzly will behave." + +There was a general chorus of sighs when John had concluded his story, +and as technical matters were taken up by the men, and in this the girls +were not interested, they wandered away to enjoy the twilight. + +During the days that followed, Barbara left Pebbly Pit, with no regrets +on her part, and not very many on the part of her summer companions. She +was not in her rightful place on a ranch, and every one was honest +enough to admit it. But now she was going to join "her own" and she was +happy. + +Tom and John were the next to leave the happy circle at the ranch. But +not until all plans about the incorporating of the two companies were +perfected. Each man present at that meeting, signing up liberally to +supply the money to launch the two big enterprises. + +The evening before John and Tom were to go back to their engineering +work with their old Crew, Polly and Eleanor were out on the terrace with +Tom, talking eagerly of the plans made for mining the ore from Choko's +Find. From this subject it was quite natural for the girls to launch +the subject of their anticipated winter in New York City. + +"I suppose you two girls will see quite a little of Jim and Ken, when +you arrive in New York," ventured Tom, wistfully (or so it seemed to +romantic Eleanor). + +"They said so; Jim says New Haven is not so far from New York but that +the two of them--I mean the boys not the cities," laughed Polly--"may be +able to visit us every week-end. That will be great fun for us, won't +it, Tom?" + +"I suppose so. I wonder if John would care for you to see so much of the +two boys as you plan to," replied Tom, suggestively. + +"Oh, John won't care! Why should he?" retorted Polly. + +"Why _shouldn't_ he? He's your brother and you are growing up to be a +young lady, Polly; you must think of appearances, you know," said Tom. + +Polly laughed merrily. "Why, Tom! One would think you were concerned +about my future, the way you preach. Just like Daddy does." + +Eleanor interpreted the speech to suit herself and watched Tom's +expression closely. Tom frowned at Polly's laugh and bit his lip to +restrain himself from further preachings. + +"Besides," added Polly, in a few moments, "Jim is your own kid brother, +and Ken is his pal. You-all say Ken is a jewel of a boy, so why should I +worry about appearances' sake when I am with them?" + +Tom refused to reply to her question, and Polly quickly forgot his +strange remark. But Eleanor thought over various little incidents of the +past few days, and finally decided to make a radical move for Tom. + +"I'm going indoors, for a minute, children--will you excuse me?" said +she, starting to leave the two alone. + +"With the greatest of pleasure!" declared Tom, laughingly, to Eleanor. + +Eleanor tossed her saucy head and winked at Tom as she ran away. Tom +flushed and wondered just what Eleanor thought or what she had tried to +make him understand by that wink. + +The moment Eleanor had gone Tom turned to Polly and said: "Shall we walk +to the Cliffs and have a last look at the jewels in this glorious +moonlight?" + +"Oh no!" cried Polly, nervously, as she glanced at Tom's facial +expression, and thought of the tremble in his voice as he spoke. + +"All right, then; but I thought you would want to remember just how +they looked, to-night. When you are in that crowded city of rush and +hustle, it would be a pleasant memory." + +"Eleanor and I are going to get a snap-shot of them, to-morrow, after +you boys are gone," explained Polly, in a matter-of-fact tone. + +Tom smothered a sigh and was trying to think of some other excuse to +coax Polly away from the nearness of the house, when Mr. Maynard and Mr. +Latimer strolled over to join the two young people. Polly turned to them +with a smiling welcome but Tom gnashed his teeth in impatience at their +untimely intrusion. + +The two men immediately began speaking of the projects for the +incorporated companies and demanded so much of Tom's attention that +Polly managed to glide away and go back to the house. This ended Tom's +first attempt at romance with Polly, and it was evident that he disliked +the interruption. + +After Mr. Maynard, Mr. Latimer, and Dr. Evans had gone, it was Anne +Stewart's turn to say good-by. She was going to Denver to see that her +mother wound up all their private affairs, and there she would await the +coming of Eleanor and Polly. + +After Anne had gone, Mrs. Brewster took Polly and Eleanor to her room +and sat down to have a confidential talk with the girls. To her surprise +Polly found all her ranch-dresses and other apparel bundled up in a +loose roll with a rope tied about it. + +"Why, mother! How can I take my clothes to New York that way?" asked +she, having studied the bundle wonderingly for a time. + +Mrs. Brewster laughed. "You're not. These are going to some poor +ranchers' children over at Yellow Jacket Pass." + +"But, mother!" gasped Polly. "I haven't anything left to wear in New +York!" + +"That's what I wish to tell you about, Polly. Now listen to what I have +already told Eleanor who knows about these things better than we do." + +Then Mrs. Brewster proceeded to instruct Polly as Eleanor had suggested +previously. + +"I know how foolish it appears to you, Polly, to give much thought to +clothes, because at home on the ranch it matters so little what the +style is. But once you are in New York, or any other large city where +all kinds of people are to be found, your appearance makes a great +difference. You are not to take any of your home-made ranch clothes with +you, Polly--not even on the train after you leave Denver. I am going to +purchase a neat tailor-made suit at Denver for you to wear, and your +old suit I shall bring back home. + +"When you reach New York Anne and Eleanor have my orders to attend to +your shopping the very first thing. I want you to go to the very best +and most exclusive shops on Fifth Avenue above Forty-second street for +all you need--and many accessories that you think you do not need, +Polly. + +"Remember this, dear, the tag of the maker of your apparel is not the +only important mark of an exclusive shop--the principal mark is the cut +and style, and these high-grade shops turn out hats, coats and gowns +which the other shops endeavor in vain to imitate. That is why one can +be recognized in a way by the clothes they wear. And that is why I +insist upon your having the best. + +"Another thing I know to be true, is this: Girls at school (and I feel +sure the girls at your exclusive school in New York City will do so) +judge others by the maker of their clothes. You will have no heart-aches +if your clothes have the best maker's name inside. It sounds small, +Polly, but it really is a serious matter when you come in contact with +small-minded girls or adults. + +"Anne carries the check-book, Polly, and Eleanor carries the social +experience in dressing as becomes a young lady of the best society. You +must remember you are that and so you must never be ashamed of your +apparel. When one is so clothed that one need not think of dress, or any +apology for what they have on, one is at ease and forgets about such +trifles. That is one good argument for having the best, Polly--one +forgets oneself." + +Polly listened to her mother's wise remarks with serious expression, but +Eleanor sat and nodded her head approvingly whenever Mrs. Brewster made +a point that pleased the girl. When Mrs. Brewster paused for a moment, +Eleanor spoke eagerly. + +"My! Won't I just make the gold from Choko's Find mine fly when I select +the wardrobe for our Polly!" + +"You can't spend something you never had," laughed Mrs. Brewster. + +"But we _will_ have it, some day, soon," retorted Eleanor. + +"Well, then, I'll spend it when we get it, not till then!" exclaimed +Polly, practically. + +"There speaks the logical one," laughed Eleanor. + +"Polly will have more than enough in the bank to defray all bills while +in New York, Nolla, without borrowing from the mine." + +At last came the day when Polly had to say good-by to her beloved pets +on the ranch. Dear little Noddy followed her about and would not be +separated from her. It was as if the burro knew her beloved mistress was +leaving home. And so heart-broken was Polly to realize that she would +not see her Noddy again for almost a year, that she took the woolly head +in her arms and kissed the cold nose in a fond farewell. + +Eleanor stood by and dabbed her eyes with her fist at sight of such +affection, but she had to laugh when Noddy tried to return that kiss. +Her red tongue was long and supple and Polly was taken by surprise when +it curled about her ear. + +And then at last! Well, Sary refused absolutely to be left at home when +she found Jeb was going with the family to help Polly carry the bags. +"What," she exclaimed to Mrs. Brewster the night before, "you-all mus' +think Ah'm empty-headed to let Jeb go t' Denver alone. Ah've hearn say +how gals go about them streets lookin' fer a handsome young beau! +No-siree! Ef Jeb goes, Ah goes too!" And she went! + +Sary furnished endless amusement to the Brewster group as the train +sped on its way from Oak Creek to Denver. Polly was the only one in the +circle who paid little attention to the excited woman, for Polly had all +she could do to keep down her own nervous excitement because of the +wonders of the first train-ride she had ever had. + +"Ah d'clar' to goodness, Missus Brewster, is this business runnin' +away?" exclaimed Sary, after the local had started from Oak Creek. + +Mrs. Brewster sat in front of Sary who, with Jeb, occupied the last seat +in the coach. The chosen seat was Jeb's plan; although he did not +explain to any one that he figured out it would be much better to be +near the door in case one had to make a quick exit. Trains _did_ run off +their tracks, and also there might be a collision. He had heard folks +talking of these dreadful accidents. + +When Sary addressed her mistress with a tone of anxiety in her voice, +Mrs. Brewster turned her head and smiled reassuringly as she replied: + +"Oh, no, Sary! The train hasn't really started to go, as yet. Wait until +we get past these little local stations, then you shall see." + +"Wall, Ah don't know ez Ah wants to ride any faster. Ef the driver could +slow up a bit we-all could enjy the country views better," said Sary. + +Eleanor giggled and nudged Polly but Polly turned a serious face to her +friend. "Nolla, I think the same as Sary--I'd rather go slower." + +"Good gracious, Polly, are _you_ frightened, too?" exclaimed Eleanor. + +"No, but I want to remember every inch of this grand country if I am to +stay in New York for many months, you see." + +Eleanor understood, and left Polly to her silent work of impressing her +mind with the views she wished to remember, later; Sary would provide +enough entertainment for Eleanor during the trip to Denver. + +"Jeb, what you-all clutchin' at my arm like-as-how you are?" now asked +Sary, in no weak or tender voice. + +"Ah ain't clutchin' nothin', Sary!" was Jeb's defense of his manhood. + +"Ah don't know what you call it, then. Sit up like a regular traveler, +Jeb, and don't slump in the seat like-as-how your head wants to duck +from some crash," declared Sary, heroically trying to lift Jeb's courage +by gripping his coat collar and hoisting him almost out of his badly +fitting coat. + +Eleanor smothered a laugh but said nothing to disturb the vaudeville she +was enjoying. Mr. and Mrs. Brewster were talking earnestly about the +future of their daughter. + +Suddenly Polly cried thrillingly: "Oh, look, everybody! We're coming to +a torrent, and the train won't slow up!" + +Sary instantly turned to the window and saw what seemed to be an +unavoidable end of all earthly things, so she half rose from the seat +and grabbed Jeb in her ample embrace. "Ef we go, we goes together, Jeb!" + +Her voice, never soft and melodious, now rose above the whistle of the +engine just as it reached the high bridge over the stream. Jeb's small +head was completely hidden by the unexpected protection thrust upon him, +but Eleanor had no idea of thus missing the pleasure of watching Jeb's +face when the train should cross the bridge. + +"Look--look, Jeb and Sary! We're riding over the water!" she cried. + +Thus induced, Sary left Jeb's head to its fate and quickly sought the +cause of Eleanor's excitement. The amazing experience of being on a +vehicle that glided directly over a rushing stream of water while there +was no apparent land to uphold the vehicle, held Sary and Jeb +spell-bound. + +When the train reached land, once more, and was steaming along its way, +Sary sighed audibly and whispered to Jeb: "Did you-all ever know sech +doin's went on when one traveled?" + +But Jeb was too surprised to make a sound. He sat and stared from the +small window of the car without even having heard his fiancée's words. + +The conductor had passed through the car many times since the Brewster +family boarded the train, and when the last local station had been left +behind and he had punched all the tickets of the passengers on that +trip, he entered the car and sat upon the arm of the seat just opposite +Sam Brewster, in order to converse with the man every one about Oak +Creek knew so well. + +Having no stops to make for a long stretch, and the track running on a +level line for many miles, the engineer increased the speed of his +engine with corresponding results in Sary's anxiety. She stepped over +Jeb's obstructing feet and made madly for the conductor, taking that +worthy man quite by surprise. + +"See here, Mr. Boss, Ah ain't going to pay fer no ticket to ride on a +runaway injun! It's your job to get up front and see what's ailin' this +car. Ef it's locooed you'd better cut loose from th' injun--come along!" + +And before the amazed conductor or Mr. Brewster could resist or +explain, Sary had the man by the shoulder and was actually lifting him +along the aisle towards the door. + +"Hi, there, Sary! Stop that!" shouted Sam Brewster, jumping up and +trying to rescue the poor victim from Sary's mighty hold. + +"Ain't it so, Mister Brewster? We-all paid good money fer this joy-ride, +an' we-all ain't got nothin' from it but jumpin' nerves, so far!" + +Every one but the poor conductor laughed heartily at Sary's complaint. +But Mr. Brewster persuaded Sary to loose her prisoner and let him +collect his scattered senses; when the shaken man was able to once more +think reasonably, he gave Sary one look and disappeared from that coach, +nor did he venture his head inside the door again, until he had to take +up all the tickets. + +The eventful trip finally ended when the local pulled into Denver +station; the Brewster party lost no time in leaving the train and +threading a way through the crowds at the waiting-room. They were to go +directly to Anne Stewart's house where luncheon would be waiting for +them. + +"Well, friends! glad to see you!" called Anne, as she welcomed the +travelers. "Come right in and meet mother." + +Introductions over, Mrs. Stewart led the way to the cozy little +dining-room where the table was ready-spread for the luncheon. + +"I didn't pretend to provide much, Mrs. Brewster," explained Mrs. +Stewart, "because, you see, the house is rented furnished for two years +and I could not leave a pan full of soiled dishes and crumbs of food +about for my new tenant to clear away. Of course, the lady is an old +neighbor of mine, and would understand how hurried we are to-day in +order to get off on the afternoon train for New York; still I never like +to do things wrong." + +"Now see here, Miss Stewart," declared Sary who had over-heard the +remark, "you-all jes' go along to the cars an' leave me to do up the +work." + +"No, Sary, this is your great holiday in Denver," contradicted Mrs. +Brewster, "and Jeb wants to fit that engagement ring on your finger, you +know; after lunch, you get away with Jeb and see the city while I do up +the dishes and help Mrs. Stewart dress and get ready to leave." + +That was a merry although hurried luncheon. Immediately after the cake +and tea were finished, Jeb and Sary started away to hunt the ring; but +many were the admonitions sent after them as they left the door, to be +on hand at the railway terminal to see Polly and her friends off for +New York. + +Mrs. Brewster and her husband cleared away the remains of the luncheon +while Mrs. Stewart and Anne completed their packing and dressed for the +long trip to the East. Everything in connection with the lease and the +inventory of furniture had been attended to before this day, so there +were really no errands or work left to be done at the last. + +Finally Mrs. Stewart locked the door and gave the key to a next-door +neighbor who had offered to keep it until the tenant called for it; then +good-bys were said to the congregated friends of Anne and her mother's, +and at last the party started for the station where the New York train +was scheduled to leave at five o'clock. + +"Dear me, I do hope Sary and Jeb will be there on time," sighed Mrs. +Brewster, with a worried frown. + +"Don't worry about them, Mah, because I'll say they have been waiting +for us this last hour," laughed Sam Brewster. + +"Sary wouldn't give Jeb a moment's peace until she got that ring," added +Anne Stewart, laughingly, "and once she had it she would never give him +another moment's peace until she had shown it to every one of us!" + +"Anne's right, mother," giggled Polly, nodding her head wisely. + +And so it turned out. When the Brewster party reached the station in +Denver, and before Sam Brewster could seek for his two servants Sary +shouted so that every one at that end of the building heard her. + +"Here we-all be, Mr. Brewster! Jeb an' me's be'n lookin' out fer you-all +this last hour! Come right on, and see mah ring!" + +Eyes turned in the direction of the voice and there stood Sary, perched +upon one of the benches in order to look over the heads of the people +who stood about in groups or who kept going and coming through the +station. She was waving her hand wildly to attract the attention of her +party. Eleanor laughed so hysterically at the sight that she could +hardly stand, but Polly dragged her along after the others until they +reached Sary and Jeb. + +"Ah d'clar' to goodness, folks! This city is one big camp, all right!" +vouchsafed Jeb, his eyes wide enough to pop at the great adventure. + +"Don't you-all go talkin' of sech things, Jeb, when we-all got more +important things to do," was Sary's scathing criticism, as she gave Jeb +a shove to quiet him. "Here--jest you-all look at this diamond! Three +times bigger'n Anne Stewart's! Pull off that glove, Anne, and le's see +mine and your'n side by side!" exclaimed Sary, eagerly. + +Anne laughed but complied with the challenge. Two hands were compared--a +small white hand with polished nails and with a sparkling diamond +shining upon the third finger of the left hand, and a large-boned red +hand with stubby nails on the fingers, but one finger displaying a great +Rhinestone set so high that it would have been a menace had Sary tried +to use her fist on an enemy. Jeb stood by grinning widely at the praise +bestowed upon him for his choice of the largest stone in the department +store. + +"Cost some cash, that stone, eh Jeb?" chuckled Sam Brewster. + +"Bet chure life, Boss!" was Jeb's snappy reply. + +Eleanor now pulled Sary's head down in order to whisper into her ear. +"Sary, when you get back to Pebbly Pit, Mrs. Brewster will give you a +pile of finery I left for your trousseau. You will be delighted to get +the laces and other trimmings for your hope-box." + +"Ah, Nolla, won't ah, jest! An' when Ah comes to Noo York to see +you-all, you won't know me in my fine togs!" was Sary's eager reply. + +"Oh! were you expecting to come, Sary?" Eleanor asked. + +"Shure thing, Nolla. Onct Ah'm married Ah'm goin' to travel every year!" +exclaimed Sary. + +"New York's a long way off from here, Sary," ventured Eleanor. + +"Oh, Ah don't mean to say Jeb an' me'll go thar fust. Ah'm goin' to +figger on takin' a side trip to Chicargo fust, you know. Mebbe you kin +fix it so's we-all kin visit your maw whiles we-all stop at that town, +Nolla. An' nex' time we-all kin go on to Noo York, like-as-how Ah said." + +Eleanor caught her breath at this astounding news. The picture of +Barbara and her mother receiving Sary and Jeb proved too much for her +risibles and she laughed merrily as she replied to Sary's announcement. + +"Sary, if Jeb and you _would_ honor our house with a visit, I'd tell +Daddy to look after you-all. But you must let me know, first, so my +father can meet you two and see that you are shown about in true style." + +"Nolla, that Ah will, when we-all get time to go thar. Ah says to +mahself, jest the other day, Ah ain't never had no fun or chanct to +better mahself, Ah says: 'Sary Dodd, when you get Jeb you plan to go +about like-as-how Anne Stewart is doin'.' Nolla, thar ain't nuthin' like +a bit of travel to polish folks up, is thar now?" + +"You're right, Sary! Just exactly right," laughed Eleanor. + +But Sam Brewster was now heard calling Eleanor that the train was ready +and the gates were opened, so Sary caught Jeb by his sleeves and +followed after the others when the entire group started for the New York +train. + +One would think, to hear Sary's excited tones, that she was about to +take the long, long journey from which there is no returning; but once +Anne Stewart and her charges were aboard the long Pullman train, the +ones who remained behind stood upon the platform waiting for the girls +to find their compartments and open the windows in order to converse +until the last moment. + +Sam Brewster went over to a guard and asked several questions, then he +hurried back and said to his party: "We can go aboard for a few minutes, +as the train will not pull out for seven or eight minutes. Do you care +to see how Polly will be located for the trip?" + +With motherly concern Mrs. Brewster followed her husband, and in order +to be experienced when that trip east was to be taken, Sary dragged Jeb +after the Brewsters. + +"Wall, suh!" breathed Sary, when Eleanor demonstrated where the beds +were hidden, and what the push buttons were for, and how the window +shades ran up or down on springs! She could hardly believe her eyes when +she was told about the convenience of modern traveling. + +"All out not going East!" came a loud call from the colored porter at +the end of the Pullman, so Sam Brewster turned and hugged Polly until +she almost choked. + +"Come out, Sary--bring your man!" ordered Sam Brewster in a harsh tone, +madly dabbing his eyes with a fist, as he left Polly to her mother. + +"Jeb, Jeb! Come along--er we-all'll get taken along the trip!" cried +Sary, excitedly, trying to force Jeb ahead of her as she stumbled out of +the Pullman after Mr. Brewster. + +The sight of big Sary urging little Jeb out to safety was so funny that +every one had to laugh in spite of tears at the parting, so that Sary +actually accomplished a great thing--she turned the sadness at Polly's +leaving her parents into a merry laughing scene for every one. + +Once the four who were to remain behind were on the platform again, the +four in the Pullman gazed from their windows. Polly suddenly remembered +one last order about her ranch-home. + +"Paw, don't you or Jeb ever forget to do for Noddy just what I would do +if I was home," was her choking command. + +"No danger, Poll! Little Noddy will be my own pet charge, now. It's all +Ah will have at the old crater to tell me about you!" called Sam +Brewster as the conductor signaled the engineer to start the engine. + +At this crucial moment Jeb remembered an important letter with which he +had been intrusted. He made a wild search in his pockets and as the +train slowly pulled away from the Brewster group, he found it. He gazed +distractedly at the car window where Polly's face was flattened against +the wire-netting, then instant action possessed him. His faculties began +to exert themselves. + +"Hey, there! Mister Conductor, stop that car 'cause Ah got a big fat +letter for Polly!" Jeb shouted with all the power his small frame could +produce in such a hurry, but the conductor heard him not. + +"Stop that car! Oh, jumpin' rattle-snakes--won't you-all stop that car?" +His yearning was pitiful but the car cared naught. + +"Here, here, Jeb! what is the matter with you-all?" called Mr. +Brewster, just as Jeb took a long breath and planned to sprint after the +train. + +"It's a good-by letter a friend left with me for Polly, Mr. Brewster, +an' now Ah done gone and clean forgot it!" wailed Jeb. + +"Too late now, Jeb. We'll change the address and send it on to her New +York hotel. It will reach her almost as soon as she gets there," +explained Mrs. Brewster. + +"Yeh! Wall now, Ah wouldn't have believed that." So Jeb placed the +letter that Polly never received in his coat pocket and lost it that +same evening in the excitement of catching the local out of Denver. + +Consequently, when the New York train pulled slowly out of the Denver +Terminal, with Polly and her companions on board trying to get a last +look of dear ones left on the platform of the station, the only glimpse +to be had of Mr. and Mrs. Brewster was their squirming desperately, now +this side, now that, of Sary's ponderous form. And Sary, who had planted +her bulk unexpectedly in front of them, held her arm high above her +head, and slowly waved her hand in farewell back and forth in the rays +of the sun. But her gaze was not following the moving train. Instead it +was riveted, like a bird hypnotized by a serpent, upon a 10 carat +rhinestone engagement ring that sparkled from the _index_ finger of her +red right hand. + +The last coach of the train vanished and the two Brewsters sighed. Then +they saw Sary still waving her hand, oblivious of all else about her. +Jeb stood gaping at her queer actions wondering if she might be "off in +her head." But the smile on his master's face reassured him. As Mrs. +Brewster murmured, "Sary, that's all!" the proud possessor of the ring +came to earth again. + +But it was _not_ all! Because "Polly and Eleanor in New York" had so +many interesting experiences in this great city that it will take +another book to tell about them. + + +THE END + + + + +This Isn't All! + + +Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have made in +this book? + +Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures and +experiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the same author? + +On the _reverse side_ of the wrapper which comes with this book, you +will find a wonderful list of stories which you can buy at the same +store where you got this book. + + +Don't throw away the Wrapper + +_Use it as a handy catalog of the books you want some day to have. But +in case you do mislay it, write to the Publishers for a complete +catalog._ + + + + +THE POLLY BREWSTER SERIES + +By LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY + +Durably Bound. Illustrated. Colored Wrappers. Every Volume Complete in +Itself. + + +A delightful series for girls in which they will follow Polly and +Eleanor through many interesting adventures and enjoyable trips to +various places in the United States, Europe and South America. + + POLLY OF PEBBLY PIT + + POLLY AND ELEANOR + + POLLY IN NEW YORK + + POLLY AND HER FRIENDS ABROAD + + POLLY'S BUSINESS VENTURE + + POLLY'S SOUTHERN CRUISE + + POLLY IN SOUTH AMERICA + + POLLY IN THE SOUTHWEST + + POLLY IN ALASKA + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +GIRL SCOUTS SERIES + +By LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY + +Author of the "Polly Brewster Books" + +Handsomely Bound. Colored Wrappers. Illustrated Each Volume Complete in +Itself. + +Here is a series that holds the same position for girls that the Tom +Slade and Roy Blakeley books hold for boys. They are delightful stories +of Girl Scout camp life amid beautiful surroundings and are filled with +stirring adventures. + + GIRL SCOUTS AT DANDELION CAMP + +This is a story which centers around the making and the enjoying of a +mountain camp, spiced with the fun of a lively troop of Girl Scouts. The +charm of living in the woods, of learning woodcraft of all sorts, of +adventuring into the unknown, combine to make a busy and an exciting +summer for the girls. + + GIRL SCOUTS IN THE ADIRONDACKS + +New scenery, new problems of camping, association with a neighboring +camp of Boy Scouts, and a long canoe trip with them through the Fulton +Chain, all in the setting of the marvelous Adirondacks, bring to the +girls enlargement of horizon, new development, and new joys. + + GIRL SCOUTS IN THE ROCKIES + +On horseback from Denver through Estes Park as far as the Continental +Divide, climbing peaks, riding wild trails, canoeing through canyons, +shooting rapids, encountering a land-slide, a summer blizzard, a sand +storm, wild animals, and forest fires, the girls pack the days full with +unforgettable experiences. + + GIRL SCOUTS IN ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO + +The Girl Scouts visit the mountains and deserts of Arizona and New +Mexico. They travel over the old Sante Fe trail, cross the Painted +Desert, and visit the Grand Canyon. Their exciting adventures form a +most interesting story. + + GIRL SCOUTS IN THE REDWOODS + +The girls spend their summer in the Redwoods of California and +incidentally find a way to induce a famous motion picture director in +Hollywood to offer to produce a film that stars the Girl Scouts of +America. + + * * * * * + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +THE LILIAN GARIS BOOKS + +Attractively Bound. Illustrated. Individual Colored Wrappers. Every +Volume Complete in Itself. + +Lilian Garis is one of the writers who always wrote. She expressed +herself in verse from early school days and it was then predicted that +Lilian Mack would one day become a writer. Justifying this sentiment, +while still at high school, she took charge of the woman's page for a +city paper and her work there attracted such favorable attention that +she left school to take entire charge of the woman's page for the +largest daily in an important Eastern city. + +Mrs. Garis turned to girls' books directly after her marriage, and of +these she has written many. She believes in girls, studies them and +depicts them with pen both skilled and sympathetic. + +BARBARA HALE: A DOCTOR'S DAUGHTER + +BARBARA HALE AND COZETTE + +GLORIA: A GIRL AND HER DAD + +GLORIA AT BOARDING SCHOOL + +JOAN: JUST GIRL + +JOAN'S GARDEN OF ADVENTURE + +CONNIE LORING'S AMBITION + +CONNIE LORING'S DILEMMA + + * * * * * + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK. + + + + +AMY BELL MARLOWE'S BOOKS FOR GIRLS + +Charming, Fresh and Original Stories + +Illustrated. Wrappers printed in colors with individual design for each +story. + +Miss Marlowe's books for girls are somewhat of the type of Miss Alcott +and also Mrs. Meade; but all are thoroughly up-to-date and wholly +American in scene and action. Good, clean absorbing tales that all girls +thoroughly enjoy. + + THE OLDEST OF FOUR; + Or, Natalie's Way Out. + +A sweet story of the struggles of a live girl to keep a family from want. + + THE GIRLS AT HILLCREST FARM; + Or, The Secret of the Rocks. + +Relating the trials of two girls who take boarders on an old farm. + + A LITTLE MISS NOBODY; + Or, With the Girls of Pinewood Hall. + +Tells of a school girl who was literally a nobody until she solved the +mystery of her identity. + + THE GIRL FROM SUNSET RANCH; + Or, Alone in a Great City. + +A ranch girl comes to New York to meet relatives she has never seen. Her +adventures make unusually good reading. + + WYN'S CAMPING DAYS; + Or, The Outing of the GO-AHEAD CLUB. + +A tale of happy days on the water and under canvas, with a touch of +mystery and considerable excitement. + + FRANCES OF THE RANGES; + Or, The Old Ranchman's Treasure. + +A vivid picture of life on the great cattle ranges of the West. + + THE GIRLS OF RIVERCLIFF SCHOOL; + Or, Beth Baldwin's Resolve. + +This is one of the most entertaining stories centering about a girl's +school that has ever been written. + + WHEN ORIOLE CAME TO HARBOR LIGHT. + +The story of a young girl, cast up by the sea, and rescued by an old +lighthouse keeper. + + WHEN ORIOLE TRAVELED WESTWARD. + +Oriole visits the family of a rich ranch-man and enjoys herself immensely. + + * * * * * + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +CAROLYN WELLS BOOKS + +Attractively Bound. Illustrated. Colored Wrappers. + +THE MARJORIE BOOKS + +Marjorie is a happy little girl of twelve, up to mischief, but full of +goodness and sincerity. In her and her friends every girl reader will +see much of her own love of fun, play and adventure. + +MARJORIE'S VACATION + +MARJORIE'S BUSY DAYS + +MARJORIE'S NEW FRIEND + +MARJORIE IN COMMAND + +MARJORIE'S MAYTIME + +MARJORIE AT SEACOTE + + * * * * * + +THE TWO LITTLE WOMEN SERIES + +Introducing Dorinda Fayre--a pretty blonde, sweet, serious, timid and a +little slow, and Dorothy Rose--a sparkling brunette, quick, elf-like, +high tempered, full of mischief and always getting into scrapes. + +TWO LITTLE WOMEN + +TWO LITTLE WOMEN AND TREASURE HOUSE + +TWO LITTLE WOMEN ON A HOLIDAY + + * * * * * + +THE DICK AND DOLLY BOOKS + +Dick and Dolly are brother and sister, and their games, their pranks, +their joys and sorrows, are told in a manner which makes the stories +"really true" to young readers. + +DICK AND DOLLY + +DICK AND DOLLY'S ADVENTURES + + * * * * * + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES + +By LAURA LEE HOPE + +Author of the "Bobbsey Twins," "Bunny Brown" Series, Etc. + +Uniform Style of Binding. Individual Colored Wrappers. Every Volume +Complete in Itself. + +These tales take in the various adventures participated in by several +bright, up-to-date girls who love outdoor life. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALE; + Or, Camping and Tramping for Fun and Health. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKE; + Or, The Stirring Cruise of the Motor Boat Gem. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAR; + Or, The Haunted Mansion of Shadow Valley. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMP; + Or, Glorious Days on Skates and Ice Boats. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA; + Or, Wintering in the Sunny South. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT OCEAN VIEW; + Or, The Box That Was Found in the Sand. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON PINE ISLAND; + Or, A Cave and What it Contained. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN ARMY SERVICE; + Or, Doing Their Bit for Uncle Sam. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT THE HOSTESS HOUSE; + Or, Doing Their Best For the Soldiers. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINT; + Or, A Wreck and A Rescue. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT WILD ROSE LODGE; + Or, The Hermit of Moonlight Falls. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN THE SADDLE; + Or, The Girl Miner of Gold Run. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AROUND THE CAMPFIRE; + Or, The Old Maid of the Mountains. + + THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON CAPE COD; + Or, Sally Ann of Lighthouse Rock. + + * * * * * + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +THE BLYTHE GIRLS BOOKS + +By LAURA LEE HOPE + + Individual Colored Wrappers and Text Illustrations by + THELMA GOOCH + Every Volume Complete in Itself + +The Blythe girls, three in number, were left alone in New York City. +Helen, who went in for art and music, kept the little flat uptown, while +Margy just out of a business school, obtained a position as a private +secretary and Rose, plain-spoken and businesslike, took what she called +a "job" in a department store. + + THE BLYTHE GIRLS: HELEN, MARGY AND ROSE; + Or, Facing the Great World. + +A fascinating tale of real happenings in the great metropolis. + + THE BLYTHE GIRLS: MARGY'S QUEER INHERITANCE; + Or, The Worth of a Name. + +The girls had a peculiar old aunt and when she died she left an unusual +inheritance. This tale continues the struggles of all the girls for +existence. + + THE BLYTHE GIRLS; ROSE'S GREAT PROBLEM; + Or, Face to Face With a Crisis. + +Rose still at work in the big department store, is one day faced with +the greatest problem of her life. A tale of mystery as well as exciting +girlish happenings. + + THE BLYTHE GIRLS: HELEN'S STRANGE BOARDER; + Or, The Girl From Bronx Park. + +Helen, out sketching, goes to the assistance of a strange girl, whose +real identity is a puzzle to all the Blythe girls. Who the girl really +was comes as a tremendous surprise. + + THE BLYTHE GIRLS: THREE ON A VACATION; + Or, The Mystery at Peach Farm. + +The girls close their flat and go to the country for two weeks--and fall +in with all sorts of curious and exciting happenings. How they came to +the assistance of Joe Morris, and solved a queer mystery, is well +related. + + * * * * * + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Polly and Eleanor, by Lillian Elizabeth Roy + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLLY AND ELEANOR *** + +***** This file should be named 25419-8.txt or 25419-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/4/1/25419/ + +Produced by David Garcia, Josephine Paolucci and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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