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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Polly's Business Venture, by Lillian
+Elizabeth Roy, Illustrated by H. S. Barbour
+
+
+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's Business Venture
+
+
+Author: Lillian Elizabeth Roy
+
+
+
+Release Date: June 13, 2008  [eBook #25778]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLLY'S BUSINESS VENTURE***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Project Gutenberg Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
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+      See 25778-h.htm or 25778-h.zip:
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/7/7/25778/25778-h/25778-h.htm)
+      or
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+
+
+
+
+
+POLLY'S BUSINESS VENTURE
+
+by
+
+LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY
+
+Author of
+Polly of Pebbly Pit, Polly and Eleanor,
+Polly in New York, Polly and
+Her Friends Abroad
+
+Illustrated by H. S. Barbour
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THE TWO CARS COLLIDED.
+Polly's Business Venture. Frontispiece--(Page 99)]
+
+
+
+New York
+Grosset & Dunlap
+Publishers
+
+Made in the United States of America
+
+Copyright, 1922, by
+Grosset & Dunlap
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+   CHAPTER                                      PAGE
+         I  POLLY RETURNS TO AMERICA               1
+        II  A DISAPPOINTING EVENING               18
+       III  THE ACCIDENT                          34
+        IV  A REUNION AND A VISITOR               47
+         V  THE RAID ON CHOKO'S FIND MINE         58
+        VI  POLLY AND ELEANOR BEGIN COLLECTING    74
+       VII  A REVOLUTIONARY RELIC HUNT            94
+      VIII  ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT COLLECTING        109
+        IX  POLLY'S HUNT IN 'JERSEY              127
+         X  UNEXPECTED NEWS FROM PEBBLY PIT      151
+        XI  POLLY'S FIRST CONTRACT               167
+       XII  THE PARSIPPANY VENDUE                182
+      XIII  TOM MEANS BUSINESS                   199
+       XIV  NECESSARY EXPLANATIONS               213
+        XV  MUTUAL CONSOLATION                   231
+       XVI  BEAUX OR BUSINESS                    250
+      XVII  BUSINESS                             269
+
+
+
+
+
+
+POLLY'S BUSINESS VENTURE
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+POLLY RETURNS TO AMERICA
+
+
+Five girls were promenading the deck of one of our great Atlantic liners,
+on the last day of the trip. The report had gone out that they might
+expect to reach quarantine before five o'clock, but it would be too late
+to dock that night, therefore the captain had planned an evening's
+entertainment for all on board.
+
+"Miss Brewster! Miss Polly Brewster! Polly Brewster!" came a call from
+one of the young boys of the crew who was acting as messenger for the
+wireless operator.
+
+"Polly, he is calling you! I wonder what it is?" cried Eleanor Maynard,
+Polly's dearest friend.
+
+"Here, boy! I am Polly Brewster," called Polly, waving her hand to call
+his attention to herself.
+
+"Miss Polly Brewster?" asked the uniformed attendant politely, lifting
+his cap.
+
+"Yes."
+
+He handed her an envelope such as the wireless messages are delivered in,
+and bowed to take his leave of the group of girls. Polly gazed at the
+outside of the envelope but did not open it. Her friends laughed and
+Nancy Fabian, the oldest girl of the five, said teasingly:
+
+"Isn't it delicious to worry one's self over who could have sent us a
+welcome, when we _might_ know for certain, if we would but act
+prosaically and open the seal."
+
+The girls laughed, and Eleanor remarked, knowingly: "Oh, _Polly_ knows
+who it is from! She just wants to enjoy a few extra thrills before she
+reads the message."
+
+"Nolla, I do _not_ know, and you know it! You always make 'a mountain
+from a mole-hill.' I declare, you are actually growing to be childish in
+your old age!" retorted Polly, sarcastically.
+
+Her latter remark drew forth a peal of laughter from the girls, Eleanor
+included. But Polly failed to join in the laugh. She cast a withering
+glance at Eleanor, and walked aside to open the envelope. The four
+interested girls watched her eagerly as she read the short message.
+
+Polly would have given half of her mine on Grizzly Slide, to have
+controlled her expression. But the very knowledge that the four friends
+were critically eyeing her, made her flush uncomfortably as she folded up
+the paper again, and slipped it in her pocket.
+
+"Ha! What did I tell you! It is from HIM!" declared Eleanor, laughingly.
+
+Dorothy Alexander was duly impressed, for she had firmly believed,
+hitherto, that Polly was a man-hater. The manner in which she had scorned
+Jimmy Osgood on that tour of England would have led anyone to believe
+that such was the case. Now the tell-tale blush and Eleanor's innuendo,
+caused Dorothy to reconsider her earlier judgment.
+
+Polly curled her full red lip at Eleanor's remark, and was about to speak
+of something of general interest, when Dorothy unexpectedly asked a (to
+her) pertinent question.
+
+"Polly, has anyone ever proposed to you?"
+
+Eleanor laughed softly to herself, and Polly sent poor Dodo a pitying
+glance. "Is that little head of yours entirely void of memory, Dodo?"
+said she.
+
+Then, without waiting for a reply, Polly continued: "Did not Jimmy
+propose to me, as well as to every one of you girls?"
+
+"Oh, but I didn't mean that sort of an affair," explained Dorothy. "I
+mean--were you ever in love with anyone who thought he loved _you_?"
+
+"Oh, isn't this a delightful conversation? I wouldn't have missed it for
+anything in the world!" laughed Eleanor.
+
+"Nolla," rebuked Polly, seriously, "your head has been so turned since
+all those poor fortune-hunters in Europe flattered you, that I fear you
+will never succeed in business with me. I shall have to find someone else
+who will prove trustworthy and work."
+
+Polly's threat did not appear to disturb Eleanor very much, for she
+laughed merrily and retorted: "Dodo, if I answer your question for Polly,
+what will you do for me, some day?"
+
+"Nolla, you mind your own affairs!" exclaimed Polly, flushing again.
+"Dodo is such a tactless child that she never stops to consider whether
+her questions are too personal, or not. But _you_--well, you know better,
+and I forbid you to discuss me any further."
+
+"Come, come, girls! This little joke is really going too far, if Polly
+feels hurt about it. Let us drop the subject and talk about the dance the
+Captain is going to give us tonight," suggested Nancy.
+
+"I'm going to wear the new gown mother got in Paris," announced Dorothy.
+"Ma says we can save duty on it if I wear it before it reaches shore."
+
+The other girls laughed, and Eleanor added: "That's a good plan, Dodo. I
+guess I will follow your example. I've got so many dutiable things in my
+trunks, that I really ought to economise on something."
+
+"Well, I won't wear one of my new dresses tonight for just that reason.
+If I want them badly enough, to bring them all the way from Paris where
+we get them so much cheaper than on this side, then I'm willing to pay
+Uncle Sam his revenue on them," said Polly, loftily.
+
+"Ho! I don't believe it is duty you are saving, as much as indulging in
+perverseness by not donning one of your most fetching gowns," declared
+Eleanor.
+
+"Maybe it is," said Polly, smiling tantalizingly at her chum. "Perhaps I
+want to keep the freshness of them for someone in New York, eh?"
+
+"Certainly! _He_ will be there to meet you, sure thing!" laughed Eleanor.
+
+At that, Dorothy drew Eleanor aside and, when Polly was not looking,
+whispered eagerly: "Do tell me who he is?"
+
+But Eleanor laughingly shook her head and whispered back: "I dare not!
+That is Polly's secret!"
+
+But she did not add for Dorothy's edification, that try as she would, she
+(Eleanor) had never been able to make Polly confess whether she preferred
+one swain to another. As Eleanor considered this a weakness in her own
+powers of persuasion, she never allowed anyone to question her that far.
+
+Had anyone of the four girls dreamed of who the sender of the wireless
+was, what a buzzing there would have been! Eleanor Maynard would have
+been so pleased at the possibility of a romance, that she would have
+acted even more tantalizing, in Polly's opinion, than she had been of
+late months.
+
+Perhaps you are not as well acquainted with Polly and her friends,
+however, as I am, and it would be unkind to continue their experiences
+for your entertainment, until after you are duly informed of how Polly
+happened to leave her home in Oak Creek and also what had passed during
+the Summer in Europe.
+
+Polly Brewster was born and reared on a Rocky Mountain ranch, in
+Colorado, and had until her fourteenth year, never been farther from her
+home than Oak Creek, which was the railroad station and post office of
+the many ranchers of that section.
+
+Eleanor Maynard, the younger daughter of Mr. Maynard who was a prosperous
+banker of Chicago, accompanied her sister Barbara and Anne Stewart, the
+teacher, when they spent a summer on the ranch. Their thrilling
+adventures during the first half of that summer are told in the book
+called "Polly of Pebbly Pit," the first volume of this series.
+
+After the discovery of the gold mine on Grizzly Slide, and the subsequent
+troubles with the claim-jumpers, Polly and her friends sent for John
+Brewster who was engaged to Anne Stewart, and Tom Latimer, John's best
+friend, to leave their engineering work on some mines, for the time
+being, and hasten to Pebbly Pit to advise about the gold mine, and to
+take action to protect the girls. These experiences are told in the
+second volume of this series.
+
+Success being assured in the mining plans of the gold vein on Grizzly
+Slide, and the valuable lava cliffs located on Pebbly Pit ranch also
+finding a market as brilliant gems for use in jewelry, Polly and Eleanor
+decided to accompany Anne Stewart to New York, where she was going to
+teach in an exclusive school for young ladies.
+
+In the third book, Polly and Eleanor's adventures in New York are told.
+Their school experiences; the amateur theatricals at which Polly saved a
+girl from the fire, and thus found some splendid friends; and the new
+acquaintance, Ruth Ashby, who was the only child of the Ashbys. They also
+met Mr. Fabian in a most unusual manner, and through him, they became
+interested in Interior Decorating, to study it as a profession. When the
+school-year ended, all these friends invited the two girls to join their
+party that was planned to tour Europe and visit noted places where
+antiques are exhibited.
+
+The following fourth book describes the amusing incidents of the three
+girls on board the steamer, after they meet the Alexanders. Mrs.
+Alexander, the gorgeously-plumed ranch-woman; Dorothy, always known as
+"Dodo," the restive girl of Polly's own age; and little Ebeneezer
+Alexander, too meek and self-effacing to deny his spouse anything, but
+always providing the funds for her caprices. This present caprice, of
+rushing to Europe to find a "title" for Dodo to marry, was the latest and
+hardest of all for him to agree to.
+
+Because of Mrs. Alexander's whim, the ludicrous experiences that came
+upon the innocent heads of Polly and her friends, in the tour of England
+in two motor cars, decided them to escape from that lady, and run away to
+Paris. Before they could sigh in relief at their freedom, however, the
+Alexanders loomed again on their horizon.
+
+Plan as they would, the badgered tourists found that Mrs. Alexander had
+annexed herself permanently to them. They resigned themselves to the
+inevitable. But that carried with it more ridiculous affairs, when Mrs.
+Alexander plotted for the titles found dangling before her, in various
+places on the Continent.
+
+One good result came from this association with the Alexanders: Dodo
+found how fascinating the work of collecting really was, and decided to
+study decorating as an art. Hence she spurned her mother's ambitions for
+her, and announced her plan of remaining in New York with the girls, upon
+their return to America, to follow in their line of study.
+
+Mrs. Alexander felt quite satisfied to live in New York for a season, as
+she fancied it an easy matter to forge a way into good society there. But
+her spouse detested large cities and longed for his mining life once
+more, but agreed to it because Dodo was delighted with the opportunity
+opened before her, in the profession of decorator.
+
+Polly's party on board the steamer consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Ashby and
+Ruth; Mr. and Mrs. Fabian and Nancy; Mr. and Mrs. Alexander and Dodo; and
+lastly, Polly Brewster and Eleanor Maynard.
+
+Just a word about the last two girls: Polly knew that Eleanor was fond of
+Paul Stewart since she met him a few years before. And Eleanor wondered
+if Polly preferred Tom Latimer to any other young man she knew; but Polly
+always declared that she was married to her profession and had no time to
+spare for beaus. Hence Tom Latimer sighed and hoped that she might change
+her mind some day.
+
+Meantime, Tom lost no good opportunity to show how he appreciated Polly
+and, whenever possible, he managed to perform the little deeds that mean
+so much to a woman--especially if that woman is young and impressionable.
+Thus he actually made better headway in his silent campaign for Polly, by
+never broaching the subject of love--from which she would have fled
+instantly and then barred the doors of her heart.
+
+The wireless received by Polly was from Tom who had been anxiously
+awaiting the time when he could communicate with the vessel. The contents
+of the message could have been read to all the world without exciting
+comment--it was so brotherly. But Polly felt that it was a private
+welcome to her and so it was not to be shared with others.
+
+The wireless said that Tom and Polly's dear friends who were in New York,
+had been invited on board Mr. Dalken's yacht, to visit the quarantined
+steamer that evening. That they would arrive about eight o'clock, having
+secured passes from the Inspector at Quarantine.
+
+Although this explanation about Polly and her associates took time for
+_us_, it did not interrupt the lively banter between the five girls.
+Dorothy was now certain that Polly had a real beau, somewhere, and being
+so very candid and talkative herself, she admired the reticence displayed
+by Polly in keeping the affairs of her heart to herself.
+
+Dodo whispered back to Eleanor: "Dear me! I hope he is worthy of her. She
+ought to have the finest husband in the world."
+
+Eleanor laughed. "Don't worry, Dodo. She will. If he was not meant for
+Polly, I'd try and get him for myself--that is how much I admire him."
+
+"Oh my! Won't you tell me something about him, Nolla?" asked Dorothy,
+eagerly.
+
+"I really don't dare, Dodo," returned Eleanor, assuming a wise
+expression. "Polly would drop me forever, if she thought I confided in
+anyone about her love-affairs. Besides, you can find out everything for
+yourself, now that you are going to remain with us, this winter. Still, I
+would love to know just who that wireless came from." Eleanor added the
+latter remark after a moment's deep consideration.
+
+"I'll tell you what we can do," ventured Dorothy, in a whisper. "We have
+often visited the wireless room; let's you and I go there again, and
+start a friendly chat with the operator. Maybe he will speak of the
+message."
+
+Without stopping to think whether this method would be principled or not,
+Eleanor eagerly agreed to Dorothy's plan. While Polly and Nancy were
+discussing the beautiful hazy picture made by New York's sky-line as seen
+from the Harbor at Quarantine, Dorothy and Eleanor hurried to the
+wireless room.
+
+The young man had often been entertained by the girls during the trip
+from Europe, so this visit was not suspected of having a secret motive
+back of it. He chatted pleasantly with his callers and, after a time,
+spoke of the very topic they wished to hear about.
+
+"I suppose you girls will all be on the _qui vive_ this evening?"
+
+"Yes, it is awfully nice of the captain, isn't it?" said Eleanor,
+referring to the dance and thinking that the operator also meant that
+event.
+
+"Oh, I do not think the captain had as much to do with the invitation as
+had the Inspector General of the Quarantine. Of course we have a clean
+bill for the ship or no one would have been allowed to step on board
+tonight; but at the same time your friends must have had a good hard time
+to get the invitation from the authorities. Only a New Yorker who
+understands the ropes, could have managed the matter so quickly."
+
+Dorothy was about to ask what he was talking about, when Eleanor pinched
+her arm for silence. Then the latter spoke: "Oh yes! He is a wonder--we
+think!"
+
+Dorothy gasped at Eleanor, and the smiling girl winked secretly at her.
+The operator had not seen the pinch nor the wink, but he continued
+guilelessly: "Well, from what I've seen of Miss Polly, only a 'wonder'
+would cause her to notice him at all!"
+
+He laughed at his own words and Eleanor joined him, even though she
+failed to see a joke. Then she said: "Polly could have so _many_
+admirers, but she never looks at a man. Perhaps that is why all you males
+sigh so broken-heartedly at her heels."
+
+The young man laughed softly to himself. "Maybe! But this 'Tom' seems to
+feel assured of a 'look' from her."
+
+Now it was Dorothy's turn to pinch Eleanor, and she did so with great
+gusto. Eleanor winced but dared not express herself in any other manner,
+just then. She was too keen on the trail of learning what she could, to
+signify any sense of having felt that pinch.
+
+"Oh--Tom! He is an old family friend, you know. He was Polly's brother's
+college-chum for four years while both boys studied at the University of
+Chicago. I am from Chicago, and I knew those boys when they used to come
+to my home with my brother, who also attended the engineering classes.
+There was a fourth boy--Paul Stewart, who was from Denver. Anne Stewart
+was his sister and she married John Brewster, this Spring. So you see, we
+are all old friends together. I suppose the whole family crowd will come
+out on the yacht, tonight."
+
+Dorothy listened in sheer amazement, as Eleanor spoke with all the
+assurance possible. But Dorothy was not aware of Eleanor's lifelong
+training in the home of a social leader of Chicago's exclusive set. That
+such a home-training made a girl precocious and subtle, was not strange,
+and Eleanor had had fourteen years of such a life before she went to
+Pebbly Pit and met Polly. Habits so well-engrounded are not easily
+broken, or forgotten.
+
+"Then the sender ought to have sent his message to one of the adults of
+the party. Even _I_ misjudged the matter, because I thought this 'Tom'
+must be a faithful admirer of Miss Polly's to get through to visit the
+steamer tonight," explained the operator.
+
+"But he isn't coming alone--didn't you stop to consider that?" asked
+Eleanor, eagerly. "Seeing that most of the friends are Polly's personal
+ones, the wire was sent to her, you know."
+
+"I see."
+
+"The only thing that hurt me, was that no one sent me a message. Tom is
+as dear to me as to Polly, and I wonder he did not wire me."
+
+"Perhaps this Tom thought you would have scores of eager messages the
+moment your beaus knew you were near enough to get them," laughed the
+young officer.
+
+"Well, they didn't! But I want you to do something for me--will you?"
+asked Eleanor, quite unexpectedly.
+
+"I will if I can," agreed the officer.
+
+"Write off a fake message for me and sign some make-believe name to it,
+so I can hold my head up with Polly. She will never let me rest if she
+thinks she got a line, and I didn't!"
+
+"Oh, that is easy to do. As long as we know it will never come out, and
+that I wrote a line to you, it will be a good joke."
+
+"All right!" laughed Eleanor, delightedly. "Now write:----" She stopped
+suddenly, then thought for a moment before she said: "Why not copy the
+exact words sent to Polly, but sign another name?"
+
+"I'll write one, as much like the original as possible without actually
+duplicating that information," chuckled the officer.
+
+Then he took up a slip of paper and wrote: "Miss Eleanor Maynard. We will
+join you this evening, on steamer. Yacht will arrive about eight." He
+looked up laughingly and asked: "Now what name shall we sign to this?"
+
+"Oh--let me see! Sign 'Paul.' I know he is in New York, now, so I am not
+taking chances of making a mistake," laughed Eleanor.
+
+The name "Paul" was added to the message and the paper placed in an
+envelope. This was addressed to Eleanor Maynard and her stateroom number
+written down upon it. Then it was handed to the gratified girl.
+
+The young man was thanked with unwarranted warmth, and the two girls
+hastened away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+A DISAPPOINTING EVENING
+
+
+Eleanor and Dorothy did not join their friends at once, after leaving the
+wireless room. Eleanor explained wisely: "We must promenade along the
+deck and let them see us reading and talking over the message, you know,
+to make them believe we just got it from the boy."
+
+So this little act was carried out, and when the two girls felt sure that
+Polly and her companions had noticed them reading the wireless message,
+Eleanor whispered: "Now we can stroll over and join them. Leave it to
+me."
+
+Just before she joined her friends, Eleanor thrust the paper into her
+sweater pocket, and seemed not to remember it. But Nancy spoke of it,
+immediately.
+
+"I see you received a _billet-doux_, too. Is there any reason why I
+should not say to you exactly what you said to Polly, when she got hers?"
+laughed the young lady.
+
+"Oh, not at all! I am not so bashful about my affair," retorted Eleanor,
+taking the paper from her pocket and handing it to Nancy. "You may read
+it aloud, if you choose."
+
+So Nancy read, and the fact that the words conveyed the same information
+as Polly's had done, but the sender had signed himself "Paul," made Polly
+feel relieved. Then she said:
+
+"It is evident that someone secured a yacht to carry our friends out to
+see us this evening. My message said about the same thing, so now, you
+see, it was ridiculous in Eleanor to tease about it being a love-note.
+Had she been sensible I would have read it aloud to all, but because of
+her silliness, I made up my mind to keep her guessing."
+
+Nancy and Ruth laughed, but Eleanor and Dorothy exchanged glances with
+each other. Then Nancy said anxiously: "We ought to start and dress most
+fetchingly for tonight, if everyone you know is coming out."
+
+Before anyone could reply to this suggestion, Mr. Fabian was seen
+hurrying across the deck to join them. "Girls, our old friend Dalken has
+a yacht, I hear, and he has invited everyone we know to come out here
+this evening to welcome us home. We are to be ready to return with him,
+as he has secured the necessary bill-of-health for us. Now get down to
+your rooms quickly and pack."
+
+"Oh--aren't we going to remain to the dance?" asked Eleanor, with
+disappointment in her tones.
+
+"You can do as you please about that, but we will go back on the yacht
+when she returns to the city."
+
+In the bustle of packing the stateroom trunks, and then dressing for the
+evening, the girls forgot about the wireless messages. Then during the
+dinner that was like a party affair because of the passengers' exuberant
+spirits at being so near home again, Mr. Fabian smiled approvingly at the
+five young girls in his charge. They looked so charming in their Paris
+gowns, and their youthful forms and faces expressed such joy and pleasure
+in living, that he felt gratified to think the old friends would see them
+as _he_ did that evening.
+
+Shortly after leaving the dining-salon, the attention of the Fabian party
+was drawn to a graceful white yacht that sailed swiftly down the Bay and
+soon came alongside the steamer. The spotless looking sailors instantly
+lowered the boat and a party of young people got in. The Fabian group
+leaned over the rail of the steamer and watched breathlessly as the boat
+was rowed across the intervening space and, finally, was made fast to the
+steamer.
+
+"Poll, did you recognize your future Fate?" giggled Eleanor, nudging her
+companion, knowingly.
+
+"I saw _yours_!" retorted Polly. "And now I comprehend why you can speak
+of nothing else than beaus and Fate! You are so obsessed by your own
+dreams that you think everyone you know must be dreaming the same stuff!"
+
+Polly turned quickly and hurried to the spot where the visitors were
+being greeted by Mr. Fabian, and the other girls, laughing at the
+repartee, followed. In the first group to arrive were Tom Latimer and his
+younger brother Jim; Kenneth Evans, Jim's chum; Paul Stewart; and John
+Brewster with Anne, his bride.
+
+Happy welcomes were exchanged between everyone, but Polly purposely
+avoided any extra favor being shown Tom Latimer, although he looked as if
+he deserved it more than Jim and his friend Kenneth. Eleanor quite openly
+showed her preference for Paul, when they separated from the others for
+the evening.
+
+"Where is Mr. Dalken and the others?" asked Polly, gazing around at the
+small group that had arrived on board.
+
+"The boat is going back for the second installment," explained Anne,
+keeping an arm about Polly's waist. "We-all were too impatient to see you
+to accept the suggestion of waiting for the second trip, so the older
+ones sent us off first."
+
+To Polly's surprise and joy, the second boat-load brought her father and
+mother, Mrs. Stewart, the Latimers, the Evans, and Mr. Dalken, the owner
+of the yacht. When the family circle was complete, on board the steamer,
+they proved to be a happy party, and many of the passengers wished they
+were included in that merry group.
+
+The steamer rolled gently with the swells from the ocean, while the full
+moon shone mistily through a fog that veiled its brightness enough to add
+romance to the meeting of the various young people on deck. Eleanor and
+Paul had been genuinely delighted to see each other again, and neither
+cared _who_ knew just how much they liked each other.
+
+Polly watched them for a time, then smiled as they walked away to
+discover a cozy retreat behind one of the giant smoke-stacks, where they
+could enjoy a tête-à-tête without interruption. When she turned to
+hear what her brother John was saying, she found Tom Latimer just at her
+elbow.
+
+"Suppose we find a nice sheltered spot where you can tell me all about
+your trip abroad?" suggested Tom, his eyes speaking too plainly how
+anxious he was to get Polly away from the others.
+
+"Oh, I'd far rather be with the crowd and hear all that is being said,"
+said Polly, nervously.
+
+"Very well, then," said Tom, moodily. "I only thought you'd like to hear
+all about Grizzly Slide and how it's been cutting up this summer. The
+gold mine has had several adventurers trying to jump the claim, too; and
+Rainbow Cliffs has had an injunction served on it so that we are tied up
+by law, this year."
+
+"So mother wrote to me. But I don't want to hear about troubles and
+business tonight. I just want to enjoy myself after coming home to all
+the dear folks," said Polly.
+
+Tom was too unsophisticated with girls, although he was so popular with
+men, to make allowance for the contrary spirit that often sways a girl
+when she wishes to make a good impression; so he sulked and followed at
+Polly's heels when she hurried after her friends.
+
+Mr. Dalken turned just now, and saw the girl running as if to get away
+from Tom, and he understood, fairly well, just how matters were. So he
+endeavored to calm Polly's perturbed spirit and encourage Tom's "faint
+heart" at the same time.
+
+"Well, Polly dear," said he, placing an arm about her shoulders, "now
+that you have seen many of the wonder-spots of Europe, and know more
+about antiques and art than any of us, I suppose you are quite decided
+that business is not your forte, eh? The next thing I'll hear from you,
+you'll have dropped your ambitions and be sailing down a love-stream to a
+snug harbor."
+
+"Indeed not! You ought to know me better than that, Mr. Dalken," declared
+Polly, vehemently, causing her companions to laugh. "I am more determined
+than ever, since seeing such wonderful things in Europe, to devote my
+life to my chosen profession. Why, the marvellous objects I saw in
+Europe, used in interior decorating in centuries past, enthuse me anew. I
+wonder that anyone can keep from studying this fascinating art where
+there is such a broad field of work and interest."
+
+Polly's mother and father listened to their daughter, with adoration
+plainly expressed on their faces, and Tom had to grit his teeth to keep
+from swearing, because of what he considered their influence over Polly
+in this, her foolish infatuation for a business when she ought to be in
+love with him.
+
+When Mr. Dalken saw that he had launched a dangerous subject for Polly
+and Tom, he had a bright idea. So he acted upon it instantly. He excused
+himself from his friends' circle, and sought the Captain. In a short time
+thereafter, the passengers heard the band playing dance music, and
+immediately, most of the younger set hurried to the Grand Salon.
+
+It was second nature with Polly to dance, and she did so with as much
+grace as she rode her father's thoroughbred horses on the ranch; or hiked
+the Rockies, over boulders and down-timber like a fawn. Kenneth Evans,
+the youngest man in the party from the city, was by far the handsomest
+one in the group; and when he guided Polly through the maze of dancers,
+they both attracted much attention.
+
+Tom stood and sulked while he watched Polly dance, but he refused to
+dance himself, although he was considered a most desirable partner by any
+one who had ever danced with him. Eleanor was having such a thoroughly
+good time while dancing with Paul, that she forgot about the romances and
+lovers' quarrels of others.
+
+The moment Kenneth escorted Polly to a chair and stood fanning her, Tom
+pushed a way over to them and said, quite assuredly: "The next dance is
+mine, Polly."
+
+"Why, I never told you so, at all!" exclaimed Polly, annoyed at Tom's
+tone and manner. "How do you know there will be another one?"
+
+Tom flushed and sent Kenneth an angry glance, although poor Ken was
+innocent of any guile in this case.
+
+"If you do not care to dance with me, Polly, say so, and I'll go to the
+smoking-room and enjoy the companionship of men who appreciate me,"
+retorted Tom, impatiently.
+
+The imp of resistance took instant possession of Polly, and she said:
+"Tom, there's where you belong--with men who want to talk about work and
+money. You are too old to enjoy youthful follies as I do."
+
+Tom had been dreaming of this meeting with Polly again, for so long, that
+now everything seemed shattered for him. He felt so injured at her
+mention of his age in comparison with her own, that he said nothing more,
+but turned on his heel and marched away without a backward glance. His
+very foot-falls spoke of his feelings.
+
+Polly turned to Kenneth and resumed her laughing banter, and he thought
+she was glad to rid herself of Tom's company. He felt puzzled, too,
+because Tom Latimer, in _his_ estimation, was everything noble and manly.
+But Kenneth was inexperienced with girls' subtleties. Had Eleanor been
+present she would have understood perfectly how matters were.
+
+After this incident, Polly danced every dance with a gayety of manner
+that she did not truly feel. Some of the joy of that party was lacking,
+but she would not question the cause of it.
+
+Tom went directly to the smoking-room where he sat down to brood over his
+misery. He never filled his pipe, but sat lost in thought until a
+friendly voice at his elbow said: "Well, old pard! Anne says you are to
+come with me. She has a word to say. She is a wizard, too, so you'd best
+obey without question."
+
+Tom looked up and saw John. "Can Anne help me in the planning of the
+legal defence of those lava-cliffs at Pebbly Pit?" Tom demanded of his
+friend.
+
+John smiled knowingly. "I'll admit you're not smoking, even though you
+rushed to a sanctum protected from girls' invasion; and you are not
+thinking of lava or injunctions, just now. You're pitying yourself for
+what you consider shabby treatment, while all the time Anne can see that
+your evening's disappointment is your own fault."
+
+Tom weakened. "For goodness' sake, tell Anne to advise me what to do, if
+she knows every cure."
+
+"Come on and have a talk with her. She is just outside, waiting for us,"
+coaxed John, placing his arm in that of his friend's, and gently forcing
+him out of the room.
+
+When Tom met Anne's sympathetic eyes, he confessed. "Anne, what's the
+matter with Polly? She doesn't seem to know I am on earth. Did you watch
+her enjoy that dance with a kid like Ken, and then snub _me_ outright
+when I asked her to dance the next one with me?"
+
+"I don't know what she did, Tom, but let me give you a bit of sensible
+advice about Polly. John thinks I am right in this, too, don't you,
+dear?" Wise Anne Brewster turned anxiously to John for his opinion.
+
+"Yes, Tom, Anne is a wonder in such things. You listen to her, old man,"
+agreed John.
+
+Tom sighed heavily and signified his willingness to listen to anything
+that would end his heartache. Both his companions smiled as if they
+deemed this case an everyday matter.
+
+"Tom, you are morbid from over-work at the mines," began Anne. "Remember
+this, Polly has been on the go in Europe all summer, seeing first one
+interesting thing after another, and not giving a single thought to you,
+or anyone, on this side the water. She sneered at anyone who tried to
+flatter her, or pretended to make love to her, while in Europe, and only
+cared for art during that tour which meant so much to her.
+
+"You ought to be thankful that she took this attitude, and returned home
+heart-whole. What would you have done, had she fallen in love with an
+attractive young man with a title? But she was too sensible for that. She
+returns home with her mind still filled with the wonderful things she saw
+abroad, and eager to tell everyone she knows all about her trip.
+Naturally, she never gives a thought to a lover, or a future husband. She
+is too young for that sort of thing, anyway, and her family would
+discourage anyone who suggested such ideas to her. We want her to
+continue her studies and find joy and satisfaction in her work, until she
+is twenty-one, at least, and then she can consider matrimony.
+
+"You know, Tom, that we all favor you immensely, as a future husband for
+Polly, but we certainly would discountenance any advances you might make
+right now, to turn Polly's thoughts from sensible work and endeavor, to a
+state of discontent caused by the dreams of young love. If you are not
+willing to be a good friend to the girl, now, and wait until she is
+older, before you show your intentions, then I will certainly do my
+utmost to keep Polly out of your way. But if, on the other hand, you
+promise to guard your expression and behavior, and only treat Polly as a
+good brother might, then we will do everything in our power to protect
+Polly from any other admirers and to further your interests as best we
+can. Do you understand, now?"
+
+Tom had listened thoughtfully, and when Anne concluded, he said: "If I
+thought I had a chance in the end, I would gladly wait a thousand years
+for Polly!"
+
+"Well, you won't have to do that," laughed Anne. "In a few years, at the
+most, Polly will want to get out of business, and settle down like other
+girls--to a slave of a husband and a lovely home of her own that she can
+decorate and enjoy to her heart's content."
+
+Tom brightened up visibly at such alluring pictures, and promised to do
+exactly as Anne advised him to.
+
+"If Polly pays no attention to you now, remember it is because she is
+different from most girls you have known. She was brought up at Pebbly
+Pit ranch without any young companions, until _we_ went there that
+summer. She had a yearning for the beautiful in art and other things, but
+never had the slightest opportunity in the Rocky Mountains, to further
+her ideals. The only education she had had in the great and beautiful,
+was when she was riding the peaks and could study Nature in her grandest
+works.
+
+"Can you blame her, then, because she revels in her studies and has no
+other desire, at present, than that of reaching a plane where she can
+indulge her talent and ideals? Can't you see that a youthful marriage to
+Polly, now seems like a sacrifice of all she considers worth while in
+life?"
+
+Tom nodded understandingly as he listened to Anne. And John added: "I
+told you Anne had the right idea of this affair! Polly's absolutely safe,
+for a few years, from all love-tangles. And when she begins to weary of
+hard work and disappointments in business, then is your chance to show
+her a different life."
+
+"But, Tom," quickly added Anne, "do not give Polly the opportunity,
+again, to suspect you of lover-like intentions. Be a first-class brother
+to her, and let _her_ wonder if she has any further interest in you.
+Never show your trump card to a girl."
+
+Both men laughed at this sage advice, and John nodded smilingly: "Anne
+ought to know, Tom. That was the way she got me."
+
+Anne was about to answer teasingly, when Mr. Dalken came up and said:
+"I've been hunting you three everywhere. Hurry and get your wraps, as the
+yacht is waiting to return to the City."
+
+The trio then learned that passes had been granted the members in Mr.
+Fabian's party, to leave the steamer that night and go back with their
+friends, on the yacht. So the cabin baggage had been brought up to the
+gang-way, and when Mr. Dalken summoned John and his companions to come
+and help the girls get away, the boats were already on their way to the
+yacht with the luggage.
+
+Many of their fellow-passengers crowded about the party when they were
+ready to go. Good-bys were exchanged and the happy bevy of young folks
+left. Then the boat returned for the older members in the party, and soon
+the yacht was ready to fly back to her dock, up the River, near 72nd
+street. But the thick haze that had made the moon look so romantic,
+developed into an impenetrable fog. And anyone who has ever experienced
+such a fog hanging over New York Harbor, knows what it is to try to go
+through it.
+
+So the vessel had not traveled past the Statue of Liberty, before the
+heavy pall of fog suddenly dropped silently over the Bay, and anything
+farther than a few feet away from the radius of the electric lights on
+the boat, was completely hidden.
+
+The Captain bawled forth orders to the crew and instantly the uniformed
+men were running back and forth to carry out the instructions. Before all
+impetus to the yacht was closed down, however, the engines had driven her
+into the route generally used by the pilots of the boats running to
+Staten Island.
+
+Captain Johnson anxiously studied his chart but could not gauge his
+position exactly, because of the dense fog and the lack of signals. In a
+few minutes more, every fog-horn in the Bay and all the great reflectors
+from guiding lights from bell-buoys would be in full operation. But at
+the time, there was nothing to tell him that he was in a dangerous zone.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE ACCIDENT
+
+
+When the party reached the yacht, Mr. Dalken said that chairs had been
+placed on the forward deck where they could sit and watch the scenes at
+night, as they sailed up to the City. So all but Tom and Polly went
+forward and found comfortable seats. Tom had asked Polly to stroll about
+with him, and she, feeling guilty of neglecting such an old friend when
+on the steamer, consented.
+
+Thus it happened that Tom led her to the side of the craft where they had
+climbed the ladder to the deck, as this side was in shadow and farthest
+from the group of friends who were seated on the forward deck.
+
+But they had not promenaded up and down many times, before the Captain
+gave anxious commands to his crew. Every man jumped to obey, instantly,
+while Tom and Polly halted in their walk just at the gap in the rail,
+where the adjustable ladder had been lowered to the boat when the
+passengers arrived from the steamer. The steps had been hauled in but the
+sailor had forgotten to replace the sliding rail. In the dense fog this
+neglect had been overlooked.
+
+Immediately following the Captain's shouts, a great hulk loomed up right
+beside the yacht, and a fearful blow to the rear end of the pleasure
+craft sent her flying diagonally out of her path, across the water. The
+collision made her nose dip down dangerously while the stern rose up
+clear of the waves.
+
+The group seated forwards slid together, and some were thrown from their
+chairs, but managed to catch hold of the ropes and rail to prevent being
+thrown overboard.
+
+Polly and Tom, standing, unaware, so near the open gap in the rail, still
+arm in arm as they had been walking, were thrown violently side-ways and
+there being nothing at hand to hold to, or to prevent their going over
+the side, they fell into the dark sea.
+
+Feeling as if the earth had dropped from under her, Polly screamed in
+terror before her voice was choked with water. Tom instinctively held on
+to her arm, as he had been doing when the impact of a larger vessel came
+upon the yacht, and he maintained this grip as they both sank.
+
+Polly had always dreaded water, because it seemed so unfamiliar to her.
+After living in the mountains with only narrow roaring streams, or the
+glacial lakes found in the Rockies, she had never tried to swim in the
+ocean, but preferred swimming in a pool. Consequently, this sudden dive
+into the awesome black abyss so frightened her, that she fainted before
+she could fight or struggle.
+
+But Tom Latimer was an expert swimmer, having won several medals while at
+College for his continued swimming under water. At one time during his
+first college days, he had saved the lives of some young folks when their
+canoe capsized a long distance from shore. In this supreme test of
+ability and presence of mind, with the girl he loved in his arms to save,
+Tom was as self-possessed as if on deck with Polly.
+
+In less time than it takes to tell, both victims of the collision sank
+until the natural fight between the weight of the water and the force of
+the air in their lungs, sent them up again to the surface. In that short
+time, Tom used every muscle and physical power to swim far enough _under_
+the water to clear away from the boats which might do them more harm than
+the water.
+
+Fortunately he found the surface free when he rose for breath, and
+finding no resistance from the unconscious form he held, he managed to
+change his grip from her arm to a firm hold under the shoulders. In this
+position he could manage to keep Polly's head above water, and at the
+same time, could swim backwards, by using his feet as propellers.
+
+The only handicap he now had, was his clothing and shoes; these
+interfered with his free action in swimming so he managed to kick off his
+dancing pumps. The greatest danger he feared, was the sudden coming of
+some craft that would compel him to dive again, or might even run them
+down, unseen in the dark.
+
+But the very fog that had caused this accident, also befriended them now,
+as no wary seaman would recklessly go on his way in such a bewildering
+mist, and the majority preferred waiting for a temporary lifting of the
+blanket, before continuing their journeys.
+
+Tom felt no concern over the fact that Polly had fainted or had been in
+the water for a time, for he knew she was so healthy that no ill would
+occur to her from such causes. All he feared now, was his power of
+endurance to keep floating until some craft might pick them up, or he
+could reach a temporary rest.
+
+Suddenly he felt a sweeping current whirl him about and in another
+moment, he was swimming rapidly _with_ instead of _against_ the tide in
+the Bay. He realized that in that short time the tide had turned, either
+about some point of land, or in the River. He began to tread water while
+he tried to lift his head and gaze across the waves. Then a broad shaft
+of dazzling light shot across the Bay from a nearby reflector. At the
+same time Tom heard the tolling of a bell-buoy, not very far distant.
+
+He changed his course that the outgoing tide would assist him in reaching
+this light that might be coming from a ship, or maybe, from an island in
+the Bay. As his powerful strokes carried him along, the sound of the
+bell-buoy seemed to come so plainly that he felt sure it was not far
+away. If he could but hang on to it for a time, in order to gain second
+wind!
+
+Suddenly there was a momentary lift of the heavy fog, and he discovered
+he was quite near Bedloe's Island. The powerful search light had
+reflected from the arc held aloft in the hand of the Goddess of Liberty;
+and the light that danced upon the waves all about him came from the
+smaller arcs which were placed along the sea-wall of the Island.
+
+The current now carried him helplessly past the pier where the boats from
+the Battery land, but just as he tried to lift his head once more and
+yell for help, a motor boat was heard chugging through the fog. His cry
+was heard by those in the boat, and in a few moments the flash-light in
+its prow was blinding Tom because of its proximity.
+
+A chorus of amazed voices now mingled with the noise of the water dashing
+against the wall and the ringing of the buoy, and Tom began to feel faint
+and dazed. But almost before he knew what was happening, a powerful grip
+caught him on his thick hair, and he was dragged partly out of the water.
+
+A commanding voice shouted: "Help grab the girl--we'll take care of the
+man!"
+
+Then Tom heard no more, nor indeed, knew more until he indistinctly heard
+a far-off call of "Guard! Guard!" Then he opened his eyes to find he was
+on the solid earth, once more. Polly was stretched out on the sand. The
+Guards tumbled out of the barracks and rushed for the spot where the
+officer stood calling.
+
+While a few of the boys lifted and half carried Tom to the general
+assembly room, others ran to assist the boatman with the girl. She was
+carefully conveyed to the barracks and the doctor sent for. Meantime the
+men applied the Schaefer Method to both the strangers; Tom instantly
+recovered himself fully but Polly's faint lasted longer.
+
+When the doctor hurried in, his kindly wife followed. Tom was able to sit
+up and tell the story of how the accident happened; then he begged
+someone to notify the Wharf Police to keep a lookout in the Harbor as
+there might be a yacht in distress after that collision. Also, if inquiry
+was made at Police Headquarters, the news was to be given that both Polly
+and he were safe on Liberty Island.
+
+A Corporal of the Guard was sent to attend to these messages, and Tom was
+taken to a cot in the ward of the Barracks. His wet clothing was removed
+and he was rolled in a hot blanket and given hot lemonade. In a few
+moments he was sound asleep.
+
+Polly was taken to the doctor's cottage where his wife attended the
+patient as well as any trained nurse could have done. The girl also was
+rolled in warm blankets with hot-water bottles placed about her cold
+body. Slowly she began to show more animation, and when she could speak,
+she asked if Tom was saved.
+
+[Illustration: TOM AND POLLY ARE RESCUED.
+Polly's Business Venture. Page 39]
+
+"Yes, dear; you both are safe now," replied Mrs. Hall.
+
+"And can we get word----" began she.
+
+"We have taken care of that, too, dear. Now try to drink this nice hot
+lemonade and then go to sleep."
+
+Polly obediently drank the hot drink and sighed in relief. Then she sank
+back and, almost instantly, Nature claimed her rights to make up for the
+unwonted interference with her customary routine.
+
+Mrs. Hall sat beside the cot for some time after Polly was asleep, but
+she finally succumbed to weariness, and finding her patient fully
+recovered and warm, she threw herself upon a nearby cot.
+
+Both young people slept late in the morning, and when Tom finally opened
+his eyes, feeling a bit stiff in his joints, he had to collect his
+thoughts to remember where he was. Like a flash, everything came back,
+and he jumped up to dress and find out how Polly was.
+
+His suit had been dried and pressed and hung over a chair beside the cot.
+His dress-coat seemed ridiculously out of order after that swim and, now,
+for the morning's work. But he smiled as he donned the clothes, and
+started for the door of the long room.
+
+Just as Tom reached the door one of the men entered and greeted him
+warmly. "I see you're all right again!"
+
+"Yes, thank you. I hope the little girl is feeling as well," ventured
+Tom, anxiously.
+
+"Doctor Hall just left her and says she is right as a fiddle. I'm the
+young fellow that telephoned the Police for you. I got back word, early
+this morning, that your folks finally got home, without any harm to
+anyone. And say! Maybe there wasn't some joy when they heard you two were
+safe with us!"
+
+Tom felt a strange gripping at his throat, and his voice quavered as he
+replied: "I _know_ there was!"
+
+The young man glanced at the evening dress and then said, "I'm going to
+loan you one of my long coats to cover those togs."
+
+Tom responded gratefully, and said: "If I can only do as much for you
+boys some time!"
+
+"Say," laughed the soldier, "don't wish such an experience on any of us!"
+
+Then both laughed. As they reached the house where Polly had spent the
+night, the doctor opened the door and smiled. When he saw that Tom was
+feeling as good as ever, he said: "I just hung up the 'phone. A gentleman
+called 'Dalken' told me that they were all coming over to take you away.
+But I warned him that the entire party would be arrested if they landed
+on Government Ground without a permit.
+
+"Then I remembered that he might secure a permit, so I said: 'Anyway,
+before you people can get here, my patients will be on their way to the
+Battery.' I said that, because the young lady ought to be kept perfectly
+quiet all morning, after such a fearful experience, you know."
+
+"Yes, I know," admitted Tom. "And I am glad you said what you did."
+
+"Now we had her dress dried and pressed, and the little miss will be up
+and ready to thank you for your courageous deed, in an hour or so,"
+explained the doctor, significantly.
+
+"Thank you, ever so much!" said Tom, grasping his hand.
+
+"Let Ted, here, show you about the place and entertain you until it's
+time to call again," suggested the doctor.
+
+So Tom went away with his companion, not to explore the Island, but to go
+to the telephone and have a long talk with his friends in the city, who
+were anxious to hear about the accident.
+
+Just before noon, an orderly came to Tom to say that Mrs. Hall said, "Mr.
+Latimer could call, if he liked." Tom laughed at the message--"if he
+liked."
+
+As he entered the little sitting-room of the doctor's house, Tom tiptoed
+as if he felt he had to tread softly. But Polly sat in an arm-chair by
+the window and saw him coming. She jumped up and ran to the door to greet
+him, and Mrs. Hall went out of the room by the kitchen-door.
+
+Tom was unable to speak a word when he finally came into Polly's
+presence. She caught hold of his hands and shook them gladly, as she
+cried: "Oh, Tom! What do I not owe you after last night!"
+
+Tom wanted to demand payment, but he knew that would ruin his chances
+forever, so he held a tight leash on his feelings and smiled wanly. Then
+he said in an unnatural tone: "Lucky for us both that I knew how to swim,
+eh, Polly?"
+
+Polly was relieved to hear him speak in such a way, but her next act was
+the outgrowth of spontaneous gratitude. She flung both arms about his
+neck and being too short to reach his cheek, kissed him on the chin as
+she would have done had he been John. Tom trembled, but realized at the
+same time, that Polly's kiss meant nothing. Still he was humbly grateful
+for even that token of gratitude from the reserved girl.
+
+"Now tell me, Tom dear, what did the folks say about our sudden
+elopement?" Polly laughed as she used the term.
+
+"Oh, Polly! I'd swim from here to China for you if only it could be an
+elopement!"
+
+The girl instantly took alarm, and looked about for Mrs. Hall. But Tom
+forced a laugh and tried to make her believe he was joking. "Do you think
+that any man would do _that_ for a girl?" he added.
+
+Then he hurried on to say that no one on the yacht had been injured by
+the collision, but they were hours in reaching their dock. He said that
+they (Polly and Tom) were not missed at first, and not until conditions
+had calmed down somewhat, did Eleanor call for Polly. Then it was found
+that neither Tom nor Polly were to be found.
+
+"It was Eleanor who remembered seeing us promenade along the side where
+the rail was detachable, and it was Eleanor who said we must have been
+thrown out where the steps came up. So the captain was taken to task for
+having such a careless man on board, and both the man and the captain
+were discharged."
+
+"Poor man--it wasn't his fault!" sighed Polly.
+
+"Well, if you hadn't recovered, I'd have sent him to jail for life,
+because it was criminal negligence to leave that rail open as it was!"
+was Tom's threatening reply.
+
+"I'm glad there is no cause for such harsh treatment," responded Polly.
+
+Tom gazed, with his soul in his eyes, as he breathed fervently: "You're
+not half as glad as I am, darling!"
+
+Polly sprang away at that, and ran to the window, saying: "Don't you
+think we might start for the City? Mrs. Hall went to fetch a hat and wrap
+for me and she ought to be back by this time."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+A REUNION AND A VISITOR
+
+
+Never was maiden welcomed so enthusiastically and so fervently, as Polly
+Brewster, that morning when she stepped from the launch to the sea-wall
+at Battery Park. Her father and mother vied with each other in embracing
+and kissing her, while the tears of happiness streamed from their eyes;
+John and Anne hovered beside them, watching every dear feature of Polly's
+face. Eleanor stood holding fast to her best friend's skirt, as if that
+could keep her forever near her.
+
+The members in the "Delegation of Welcome," acted as if they had been
+imbibing some intoxicating stimulant. Such happy laughter, and vehement
+demonstrations of joy and love because Polly was with them again, spoke
+louder than words that they had all thought she was drowned. Tom found
+that little fuss was made over him in the first exuberant greetings, but
+he came in for his share after the doctor had concluded his story about
+the valiant young rescuer.
+
+"Now, Mr. Brewster, you pay attention to me," remarked the physician,
+when he was ready to depart on the launch: "You take your daughter home,
+at once, and put her to bed for the rest of the day, to spare her any
+nervous reaction. Then, if she is all right tomorrow, you may allow her
+to receive a caller, or two--no more for the time being, or you will have
+her break down."
+
+Mr. Brewster promised to obey the orders faithfully, and soon afterwards,
+Polly's friends followed her and her parents to the automobiles which
+were waiting near the curb of the Park. Tom was surrounded, on both sides
+and fore and aft, by his family and John and Mr. Dalken, all of whom
+wished to hear the thrilling story of the rescue again.
+
+"I'd rather hear how you folks kept afloat after that boat rammed the
+yacht," said he, shunning a subject that still made him shudder.
+
+Mr. Dalken insisted that Tom with his father and mother get into his
+luxurious limousine and let him drive them home. On the way uptown, Mr.
+Dalken told the story of their narrow escape from being lost in the Bay
+after the collision.
+
+"Immediately after the yacht was rammed and we could collect our senses
+to comprehend what had happened, and what to do, the old tub of a
+ferry-boat kept on her course. But there were some worried citizens on
+board, for they shouted and, finally, the captain stopped his engines and
+blew the whistles to see if we needed help.
+
+"Fortunately for us, a river tug was quite close at hand when the
+accident occurred, and its captain called through a megaphone to say that
+he would assist us in any way we commanded.
+
+"Our Captain then ascertained that part of our gear had been shaken out
+of place, and it would be dangerous for him to try to run the vessel
+under her own power, and trust our steering gear. So the good old man on
+the tug took us in tow and landed us, towards dawn, at our dock.
+
+"The moment we were on land, I rushed to the telephone at the Yacht Club
+house, and notified Police Headquarters. Ken Evans was an eye-witness to
+the dive that we feared had cost Polly and you your lives; so we told the
+Sergeant at the Station just about where you went down.
+
+"The Bureau at Battery Park was 'phoned but they said the tide was
+running out at that time, so you both would be carried past Bedloe's
+Island; if you both were good swimmers there was a slight hope of your
+being rescued.
+
+"I tell you, Tom, we were almost frantic with joy and relief when word
+came from Liberty Island that you both were safe in bed, there, without
+injury or other hurt, excepting the shock. Polly's mother swooned and we
+thought she was gone because it was so long before we could revive her."
+
+Tom's mother sat holding her boy's hand within her own, and his father
+smiled at him so often that Tom began to feel fussed. But Mr. Dalken
+laughed at his apparent self-consciousness.
+
+"Tom, my boy, grin and bear this ordeal for the time, as you may never in
+your life, have another experience like it. It shows you what we all
+think of you, to sit and idolize you in this fashion."
+
+They laughed at the banter, but Tom felt more at ease after Mr. Dalken's
+little speech.
+
+Having arrived at his home, Tom rebelled against being kept quiet that
+day. "Goodness' sakes, mother! any one would think I was an invalid. Why,
+I feel better than I have in months!" and his happy gayety attested to
+his spirits. But no one knew that he was joyous because Polly had kissed
+him that morning. And he was sure that that _something_ he had detected
+in her eyes, was the awakening of love, instead of the fervent gratitude
+it really was.
+
+Tom could not settle down to do anything that day, but he called John up
+on the 'phone several times to ask about Polly. John patiently replied
+each time, that Polly was fast asleep and would probably remain so, for
+several hours more, because she required it. When Tom asked if he had
+better come down that evening and call, John was most emphatic in his
+refusal.
+
+But the following day, Tom kept telephoning the Brewsters every little
+while and Anne finally capitulated and invited him to call that evening.
+
+Polly was fully recovered again, with no signs of the shock or soaking
+she had received; so, when Tom was announced by the telephone girl in the
+hotel office, she felt no undue nervousness.
+
+"Anne, you are going to help entertain Tom, aren't you?" said she,
+casually patting her hair down neatly.
+
+Anne looked at her sister-in-law with an amused smile. "If you think you
+will need a chaperone when such an old friend calls. Tom always seems
+more like a brother than a young man who might turn out to be a beau,
+some day."
+
+Polly pondered this sentence for a time, then said: "Well, there's no
+telling what he may think after that ducking, you know, so it will be
+more comfortable to have you about."
+
+Tom fully expected a warm welcome from Polly, and perhaps, another flash
+of something akin to love that he thought he had detected in her deep
+blue eyes, when he met her in the hospital. So he was more than chagrined
+to find Polly smile friendily upon him as she took his hand in the same
+manner that she would have taken Mr. Dalken's.
+
+"I just thought I would bring in a little glow with me, Polly," remarked
+Tom, when he recovered self-possession again. "A few roses, such as I
+know you like."
+
+He handed a long box to Polly and watched eagerly as she cut the string
+and opened the lid of the box.
+
+"Oh, Tom! American Beauties again! How lovely!" and she buried her face
+in the fragrant red petals that filled the one end of the box.
+
+Anne held out her hand for the box when Polly went to place it on a
+chair. "I'll hand them to mother, Polly, for her to arrange in a jar. The
+others that came yesterday, can be placed in another glass."
+
+"Oh, did Polly receive other roses?" asked Tom, trying to appear
+unconcerned, but flushing as he spoke.
+
+"Why, didn't you send them to me? There was no card in the box, but you
+always send American Beauties, Tom," exclaimed Polly, in surprise.
+
+Tom laughed sheepishly. "Well, I did send them, Polly, but I thought I
+would make you guess who it could have been. I never dreamed you would
+give me credit for the roses."
+
+"Why shouldn't I? It would have seemed queer if you hadn't sent flowers,
+when everyone within a thousand miles, sent boxes and bouquets to me, all
+yesterday and all day today."
+
+"They did! What for?" asked Tom, wonderingly.
+
+"What for? Why, goodness me! Don't you suppose my friends were _glad_
+that I wasn't drowned," retorted Polly, in amazement. "Everyone that ever
+knew me, sent love and flowers, so I never thought it strange that you
+sent me some, too."
+
+This was a hard slap for Tom, and he winced under the words which denoted
+that Polly considered him only as one of many friends. Even the roses
+presented that night, with a little heart-shaped card tied in the center
+of the group of stems, now seemed useless in his eyes.
+
+But Polly had not removed the roses from the box so she failed to find
+the heart-shaped card that Tom had spent the whole afternoon in inditing.
+Anne gave the box to Mrs. Brewster, and when that sensible mother took
+the roses out, one by one, and found the card, she put it away with the
+cards that had come with other flowers. She also forgot to mention the
+card to Polly, so the girl never knew that Tom had written her of his
+undying love. As Anne replied, for Polly, to all the cards, Tom received
+the same sort of polite little note as others did, with Polly's name and
+a "per A.B." signed to it.
+
+Finding Polly so self-possessed that evening, Tom pulled himself together
+with an effort, and tried to converse on various topics of general
+interest. Anne eagerly assisted in the conversation, so Polly listened
+without having much to say.
+
+Tom tried to make Polly talk, too, but without success, so he became
+silent and left most of the entertaining for Anne to do. But even she
+found the task of finding subjects to interest two dumb people rather
+irksome, and she decided on a _coup_.
+
+"Excuse me for a moment, please, while I see if John has returned with
+his father." So saying, Anne ran from the room.
+
+Polly sat up and watched her go as if her protector had turned traitor.
+She glanced at Tom in a half doubtful manner as if to ask what he would
+do now with the chaperone out of the way?
+
+But Anne's absence gave Tom's morbid senses an inspiration that he acted
+upon without second thought. It was the best thing he could have done
+with Polly in this baffling mood.
+
+"I'm returning to Pebbly Pit, in a few days, Polly. I am actually
+homesick for a sight of the dear old mountains."
+
+Polly gasped. "Oh, no one told me you were leaving us. Jim told me that
+he thought you might remain here for several months."
+
+"Jim? What does that kid know about my affairs?" said Tom, impatiently.
+"Besides, when did you see Jim?"
+
+"Oh, Jim just dropped in for a minute this afternoon."
+
+Tom felt the pangs of jealousy because his younger brother had been able
+to see Polly before she would allow him to call. Then he remembered his
+rôle to act the part of a platonic brother and friend.
+
+Polly continued: "I think Jim is a dear boy. He is so fond and proud of
+you, too. Why, when he was here he sat and talked of nothing else but you
+and your loyalty to family, friends, and your work."
+
+As Polly spoke, Tom felt ashamed of his momentary jealousy of his
+brother. When she had finished speaking, he laughed and said: "What a
+pity Jim sees me through such fine magnifying glasses. The undesirable
+qualities in my character he never detects."
+
+"I think it is great to have your family think you are all that is
+wonderful! I think my family regard me as a saint, and I like it, too,"
+declared Polly.
+
+"That's because you are one, Polly dear," retorted Tom, and the fervor he
+expressed in his eyes and voice, caused his companion to gasp.
+
+Before Tom could follow up his sudden declaration and make Polly
+understand his sentiments for her, she broached another subject of
+conversation.
+
+"Tom, what has been accomplished at the mine and at Rainbow Cliffs while
+I was in Europe?"
+
+Tom frowned, but he realized that Polly was more sensible than he. He
+remembered, once more, what Anne had advised, so he choked the despondent
+sigh and replied instead, with seeming interest:
+
+"Oh, John and I had another queer bout with some thieves. They were not
+after the land this time, but they planned to get at the ore and carry
+off as much of the gold as they could lay hands on. Our old friend,
+Rattlesnake Mike, caught them red-handed, and now they are serving a term
+in prison at hard labor."
+
+"Oh, Tom! I never heard a word of this!" cried Polly, eagerly. "Do tell
+me about it."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+THE RAID ON CHOKO'S FIND MINE
+
+
+"You remember when we all came East last June to attend John's wedding
+and see you off for Europe?" asked Tom.
+
+Polly nodded eagerly but said nothing to interrupt him.
+
+"Well, we remained longer than we had planned when we left Pebbly Pit.
+The friends in New York were so eager to entertain us before we went back
+home, that the days passed swiftly before we realized we had stayed on
+ten days longer than we should have done at that time.
+
+"Now to go back to the time when those two rascals tried to jump your
+claim, the time your father and Mike guided the party when you-all
+climbed the Indian Trail to Grizzly Slide.
+
+"It seems that crafty clerk who had copied the rough map of the claim you
+staked on Flat Top and filed in Oak Creek, never gave up hope of some day
+getting his hands on enough of that gold to help him get away and live
+comfortably, ever after, on the proceeds.
+
+"When he learned that everyone of the family at Pebbly Pit, would be East
+for a few weeks, and the mine would be left in charge of Mike and the
+other employees, he immediately called a few cut-throats together and
+laid his plans accordingly.
+
+"After the discovery of his perfidy in copying the claim papers and then
+trying to jump the staked claim, he had been discharged from the office
+in Oak Creek and, thereafter, no one respectable would employ him. So he
+hung about the saloon and spent his time in gambling with the miners from
+Up-Crest, back of Oak Creek station. He found willing confederates in
+this group of Slavs who hailed the invitation to steal enough gold to
+enable them to go back to Europe and pose as rich men.
+
+"The whole plot had been kept unusually secret for that species of
+foreigner, so no one at Oak Creek knew of the proposed raid. But Mike
+rode into Oak Creek the morning before the night these rascals planned to
+act, and with his unusual gift of intuition, he felt that something was
+working quietly in the minds of the evil-looking men he found whispering
+over a small table in one corner of the saloon.
+
+"Mike hung around for several hours to try and learn if any plot was
+hatching against Rainbow Cliffs while the owners were absent; or perhaps
+these men planned a rush on the mine while he and but few men were on
+guard. But nothing could be discovered. Feeling assured because of the
+sly and malicious expressions of the men at the table when they glanced
+at Mike, as he sat in another corner and pretended to doze, that Hank had
+some move under way to trouble him and his assistants, made the Indian
+use splendid judgment and action that day.
+
+"He borrowed the Sheriff's thoroughbred bloodhound, and asked for a few
+extra men to accompany him to the cave and stay there until the owners
+returned, promising them better wages than they could earn at any work in
+Oak Creek, or on the ranches nearby. To allay suspicion he rode out of
+town, alone, but he had agreed to wait at Pine Tree Blaze for the extra
+men.
+
+"The men rode away from town each at a different time, to avoid talk or
+notice by the loungers at the saloon, and all met at the rendezvous that
+afternoon. Mike then led the way up the steep trail, and by dark they
+were in camp.
+
+"This was the second day after we left Pebbly Pit. Mike had warned Jeb of
+his suspicions, too, and that wary little man had instantly taken steps
+to protect the Cliffs, by ordering all hands working there to keep away
+from Oak Creek until the Boss got home. He said that unusual care must be
+used for a time, to watch during the nights, and keep trespassers out
+during the day, for fear of raiders.
+
+"The first night in camp on the mountains, Mike never rested a minute,
+but moved silently from one place to another, with senses keyed for some
+sign of the rascals. However, that first night passed quietly away. His
+extra men spent the evening in smoking and playing cards, then they
+rolled up in their blankets and snored peacefully the night through.
+
+"The next day Mike smiled to himself when the men laughed at his
+suspicions. They were so far from any settlement and the mountains were
+so great and silent, that it gave them confidence in the peace and good
+will with all men.
+
+"The second night the men were again playing cards near the camp-fire.
+Mike sat on the ledge in front of the cave with the hound stretched out
+on a slab of rock at his feet. The giant wooden flume could be faintly
+discerned, through the smoke of the fire and from the pipes of the men,
+not twenty feet away from the engines that worked it.
+
+"Suddenly the hound lifted his head and pointed his ears. Mike leaned
+forward with face turned towards the flume, listening. Then he laid his
+pipe down on the rock and crawled away upon his hands and knees, followed
+closely by the hound.
+
+"Do you remember the giant flume we planned to carry off the water of the
+river that flowed underground; the one into which Nolla and you dropped
+the torch the day you found the cave?"
+
+Polly silently signified that she remembered, and Tom continued: "Well,
+we used that flume during the work of mining and washing trash from the
+ore, but at night, when there was no need for the water to pour through
+it, we turned the current down the other way on the opposite side of the
+mountain.
+
+"Mike crept silently across the ledge and peered far down into the black
+chasm below, to ascertain if the suspicious sounds came from that pit.
+But the dog crawled noiselessly across the ledge to the flume and there
+he stood with tense nerves. His ears were erect and his tail was standing
+out straight behind him, as he stood and glared at the wooden flume.
+
+"As the dog was so well-trained, Mike did not doubt his instinct, but
+crept over to his side and there waited and listened.
+
+"Had he not been absolutely quiet, the faint sound of something moving
+inside that flume would have been lost on the outside. But Mike was as
+keen a hunter as his dog, and they both sensed that something very
+foreign to water was passing through that flume.
+
+"Accompanying the strange muffled sound inside the flume every few
+moments, there came a different sound, as if something sharp was being
+driven into the wood for a hold. Mike figured out that the inside of the
+flume had been worn so slippery with the flood of waters and sand or
+pebbles passing through it in torrents, that it was necessary to use
+steel-pointed staffs and creepers to help anyone in the dangerous ascent.
+
+"As soon as Mike felt convinced that someone was trying a new trick to
+gain possession of the mine, he crept back to the camp-fire and told the
+men of the sounds inside the flume. They laughed immoderately at Mike,
+and declared that he was going mad because of his prohibition since his
+employers left him in charge.
+
+"But Mike ordered a few of his most trustworthy miners to guard the cave
+in front, while the others were sent over the top of the range to keep
+watch at the opposite entrance to the mine. You'll remember, Polly, that
+that was the side where the pit cut the cave in half. We bridged that
+chasm, you know, and used the short-cut entrance quite often, although
+the ore was brought out through Choko's Find.
+
+"Mike then selected several of his brawniest fighters and very quietly
+led the way to the opening of the flume where the water-gate was located.
+As they could travel faster on the ground than the men creeping up inside
+the slippery wooden tube, Mike and his companions reached the water-gate
+before they heard the suspicious sounds from within the flume.
+
+"He signalled his men to keep absolutely quiet, and then crept out on the
+lintel of the gate and got a firm purchase on the lever. No one dreamed
+of his purpose at the moment, and he suddenly seemed to reconsider his
+plan, for he crept back again and had just reached the trio of curious
+men, when a sigh of relief was distinctly heard from inside the flume.
+
+"Then a whispering was heard, but not understood. In a few moments a
+grating sound as if some sharp tool was being used. Mike surmised that
+they were trying to break a way through the wooden door by which to get
+out.
+
+"Without further delay, then, Mike threw open the lid in the top of the
+flume and commanded the trespassers to come forth.
+
+"There was no reply from within, and not a sound was heard after Mike
+opened the lid. So he called again: 'Ef yoh no come us wash riber fru dis
+pipe.'
+
+"Still no reply or sound was heard, so Mike winked at his companions, and
+gave a fictitious order: 'Frow water gate open!'
+
+"'Stop! Wait a minute!' shouted a frightened voice from the flume.
+
+"Another voice cursed in the most dreadful way, but soon after Mike's
+order to turn in the water, four men managed to emerge from the tube and
+sit astride it.
+
+"Seeing but four opponents there to fight, the leader of the gang gave a
+sign, and the daring raiders tried to over-power Mike and his three men.
+But they had not seen the wolf-hound in the shadows. As they dropped upon
+the men to fight them, the dog sprang out and drove his fangs deep into
+one rascal's throat. He will carry those marks to his last day. It was a
+wonder he was not killed outright.
+
+"That released Mike and he turned his attention to help his companions
+free themselves. The dog fought mightily, and after a short but fierce
+battle, the trespassers were bound and laid on the ground for the night.
+
+"'What'cha goin' to do wid'dem, Mike?' asked one of his men.
+
+"'Ship 'em down th' flume, Mike, th' way they come up,' laughed another
+of his men.
+
+"'So me say, but Mike go jail fer kill man,' replied the Indian.
+
+"The other men strongly approved of that course of justice, however, and
+Mike had all he could do to keep them from following their inclination to
+wash the guilty men down the flume and out into Bear Forks River at the
+foot of the mountain.
+
+"The next day Mike and his men drove the raiders down the steep trail and
+left them in the hands of the constable of Oak Creek, to await trial in
+the County Court. But the captured rascals had boon companions in Oak
+Creek, and when they learned that four of their group were in prison they
+started a regular riot.
+
+"They tarred and feathered poor little Jeb the next time he drove in to
+Oak Creek for mail and supplies, and a few days before we got back home,
+they made a well-planned raid on the lava mines at Rainbow Cliffs. Not a
+piece of machinery was left intact, and the great bags of jewels we had
+waiting for shipment were scattered far and wide by the vandals.
+
+"But the sheriff heard of the proposed visit to Pebbly Pit, and took a
+possé of men to follow the drunken miners to the Cliffs. Such a battle
+as ensued, beggars my weak description. The sheriff told us about it when
+we got home, but his language is not very graphic, nor is it thrilling,
+so we only heard the bare facts of the fight.
+
+"But, Polly, you must supply with your own vivid imagination, the details
+that may be missing from my account. When I tell you that the vandals
+were slowly backed away from the Cliffs and were, eventually, driven to
+the gully back of the Devil's Causeway where those two men were engulfed
+in the slide, the day they came to cajole your father into signing papers
+for the Cliffs, you can picture their horror when the edge of the great
+cliff began to crumble in. They could not turn to right or left, as they
+were hemmed in by the pursuers, and they dared not remain where they were
+for fear of being swallowed in the quicksand that was already sliding
+downwards. So they gave up to the sheriff and surrendered their guns.
+
+"That was a bad case, as one of the sheriff's men had been dangerously
+wounded and it was feared he would die. All our valuable machinery was
+ruined and all orders for the delivery of the lava jewels had to be
+cancelled, or postponed for a year. So the culprits each got twenty years
+and Oak Creek is quieter, by far, because more than a score of its worst
+citizens are safely housed in jail."
+
+As Tom ended his story, Polly unclasped her hands which she had nervously
+clenched during the recital of the raids on her precious property.
+
+"Oh, Tom! I never dreamed of all the trouble everyone would have because
+of those precious mines, the day Nolla and I filed our papers at Oak
+Creek," gasped Polly.
+
+"No one does dream of these things--they only see the future in rosy
+hues," retorted Tom.
+
+"And to think of the work and worry John and you have had in establishing
+this great undertaking, while I was in Europe taking life easy, and
+spending money without a thought of how it was being produced at home!"
+sighed Polly.
+
+"That is as it should be, Polly. You were not squandering the money, but
+using it in ways to profit yourself for the future. John and I knew, when
+we started in on this mining venture, that the line would not lay in
+flower-strewn paths, but that it might force us over all sorts of snags,
+before we reached success."
+
+"Well, it is fine of you to talk like this, Tom," admitted Polly,
+gratefully. "If it were not for you boys taking an interest in the work,
+I might as well say 'good-by' to the gold."
+
+Tom laughed. "Polly, this is so insignificant a work to do for you--just
+taking an interest in your mine. Some day I hope to prove in some greater
+way, just what I want to, and can, do for you."
+
+Tom's manner and looks again alarmed Polly and she changed the subject
+adroitly. "Tom, do you like the home in Pebbly Pit? Isn't it different
+from living in the city, in these apartments?"
+
+Tom smiled, for he understood. "Yes, it is fine, Polly. It is a real
+home--with your blessed mother at the ranch-house. I have lived in adobe
+huts in Arizona, and out on sand wastes in New Mexico, you know, so that
+Pebbly Pit is great, in comparison."
+
+"Mother told me how good it was to have Anne and you with her all summer,
+while I was abroad," said Polly, after a short interval of silence. "I
+feel that it was not so heartless of me to enjoy myself in Europe as I
+did, so long as mother and father were not lonely and homesick for me."
+
+"But your mother often said to me, that were it not for Anne's being with
+her, she would have cabled you to come home. She had looked forward so
+anxiously to your spending this vacation at Pebbly Pit," remarked Tom.
+
+"My! Then I was more fortunate than I dreamed of," laughed Polly. "I
+should have hated to leave Eleanor in Europe, with such a wonderful tour
+before us, and come back home without having done the whole trip."
+
+Tom had no desire to hear more about that enjoyable tour and the probable
+acquaintance the girls had made with eligible young men with fascinating
+titles. So he spoke of his imminent departure for the West.
+
+"I had a talk with Dad and Mr. Dalken today, and they think it best for
+me to get back at the mines without further delay. The mountain storms
+will soon be sweeping over the peaks, and winter protection must be
+completed at the Cave and Flume before then; so I think I shall be
+leaving in a day, or so."
+
+Polly murmured some friendly regret at his going so soon.
+
+"But the need of my being at the mines to prepare for winter is not the
+main cause of my leaving New York, so soon," began Tom, moodily. "I came
+East with a definite hope in mind, but so many unforeseen events have
+happened since I met you, that I haven't furthered my interests since I
+left Pebbly Pit." Tom waited for encouragement from Polly.
+
+Polly did not pursue the subject, however, but she said: "Well, this
+winter, I have planned to actually _work_!"
+
+"I thought you said you have been working ever since you came to New
+York," laughed Tom.
+
+"Yes, at school and in other ways; but now, I propose going to work in
+Mr. Ashby's shop. You know, he has a wonderful place on Fifth Avenue
+where they have every kind of article one needs in the way of ornament or
+decorating. There is where Eleanor and I managed to get such splendid
+experience in textiles and other objects familiar to interior decorators.
+
+"Now I propose going to work for him at a stated salary, and giving every
+morning to the work, this year. In the afternoons I will be free to visit
+Exhibitions, Museums, hunt up antiques, or just play. Four evenings every
+week we will attend school and lectures, you know, so there will not be
+very much time left in which to write letters."
+
+"You never did work hard at writing letters," said Tom, smilingly.
+
+"No, and this winter there will be even less time for them. My friends will
+have to be satisfied with picture post-cards or telegrams," laughed Polly,
+hoping that would answer all expected requests for a correspondence.
+
+"Well," said Tom, "I only write to people I really want to hear from. And
+I never ask anyone to write to me unless I take a great deal of pleasure
+in reading their letters. I never asked you to correspond with me, have
+I?"
+
+"No-o, I think not," replied Polly, disconcerted at this announcement.
+She had felt sure he was going to beg her to write as often as possible,
+and now this was so different!
+
+"I thought not! You see our likes and pursuits are so different. The very
+difference in our ways of living now--you with luxurious art in New York,
+me in the rugged life of a miner in the Rockies, creates a gulf between
+our ideals. Mine is getting at gold that is the basis of most worldly
+success, and yours is an ideal and aspiration in art that transcends my
+common work and business. So we would not know what to say to each other
+in letters, would we? You would not wish to speak of gold and mining, and
+I haven't any idea of art or its ideals."
+
+What it must have cost Tom to say all this, no one knows, but he was
+piqued, at last, and so acted his part admirably; and he had the
+satisfaction of seeing that Polly felt sorry at his words.
+
+"Tom, I always felt sure you were an idealist at soul. It makes me feel a
+deep regret to learn that you have no such ideals left."
+
+Tom bid Polly good-by without an outward sign of regret, and so she sat
+and pondered over that unusual fact, long after he had gone.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+POLLY AND ELEANOR BEGIN COLLECTING
+
+
+Within a week after the westerners had gone back home, matters with Polly
+and her friends in New York settled down in a smooth current. The Fabians
+found a commodious house in a refined environment quite near the Ashby's
+home, and the two girls, Polly and Eleanor, lived with them.
+
+Mr. Fabian temporarily resumed his lectureship at the Art School of
+Cooper Union, and his two promising pupils, with Dodo Alexander as a new
+beginner, accompanied him every night that the classes met.
+
+The Alexanders had leased an expensive suite at an apartment hotel near
+the Fabians, and much to little Mr. Alexander's joy, although much to
+Mrs. Alexander's disgust, they settled down to a hum-drum life that
+winter. She sighed as she referred to her life.
+
+"Dear sakes! Here I am with all this money to spend on a fine time, and I
+have to waste my days sitting around hearing Dodo rave about Corunthian
+Columns, Ionack Piers, and such foolish stuff. As for Ebeneezer! He is
+just impossible to get along with, since he found what quiet friends he
+had in the Fabians and the Ashbys!"
+
+The result of such complaints from Mrs. Alexander were soon evidenced by
+her spending her evenings at theatres, dances at various clubs and places
+she had forced an entrance to, and in daily shopping trips about the
+city.
+
+The motley collection of antiques the girls had secured while abroad and
+had shipped home, arrived in due season and the cases were sent to Mr.
+Ashby's Shop. The girls were told that the goods had been delivered, and
+the next day they hastened to the establishment to admire their
+purchases.
+
+The articles were arranged in one small room, and when the three girls
+followed Mr. Ashby to the place, they were amazed at the insignificance
+of their exhibition.
+
+"Why! I thought I had a lot of stuff," declared Eleanor.
+
+"You see all that you bought. There is your list," laughed Mr. Ashby,
+sympathizing in her disillusionment.
+
+"And I thought that chest so much more elaborate--when I chose it in
+France," ventured Polly, puckering her forehead.
+
+"I'll tell you why," said Mr. Ashby. "When we see these pieces on the
+other side, the glamour of the places and the stories connected with
+them, actually charm us more than the objects themselves. After we secure
+our desires and find we own them, we ship them home and do not see them
+again until they reach prosaic and business-like New York.
+
+"Meantime, we enhance the beauty and romance of the objects we purchased,
+by thinking of them in connection with the romance of their past; thus
+idealizing them in mental pictures, they appear far finer and more
+alluring than in truth they are.
+
+"When we really view them again, just as you are now doing, the shock of
+finding them just simple antiques, and so inferior to what we dreamed
+them, reverses our sentiments about them.
+
+"Now beware, girls! Don't let this reversal affect you, in the least.
+These objects are just as valuable and desirable, here, as ever they were
+over there. It is only your personal view-point that has changed,
+somewhat. You have not been visiting old collections, or museums abroad,
+for some weeks now; and the radical change from touring ancient Europe,
+to rushing about in New York in quests of homes, school, and clothes for
+the season, has made a corresponding change in your minds.
+
+"In a short time, you will be back in harness and feel the same keen
+delight in these old possessions as aforetime."
+
+Polly appreciated the sense of Mr. Ashby's little lecture, but Eleanor
+still felt disappointed with her purchases. And Dodo laughed outright at
+the old pewter she had gone wild over in England, and now scorned in
+America.
+
+That evening Mr. Fabian explained, carefully, about the times and customs
+of the purchases that represented certain people. He wove a tale of
+romance about each piece of furniture the girls had delighted in, and
+enhanced their interest in the dishes and other small objects they had
+collected that summer, until the three disappointed owners felt a renewed
+attraction in the articles.
+
+Mr. Ashby was present, but he said nothing until Mr. Fabian had ended.
+Then he added in a suggestive manner: "Fabian, what do you say to the
+girls taking short trips to the country, each week, to hunt up such
+antiques as can be found in out-of-the-way nooks all through New
+England?"
+
+The girls perked up their ears at this, and waited to hear Mr. Fabian's
+reply.
+
+"If they had a car and someone to accompany them on such excursions, I
+think they would thoroughly enjoy it."
+
+"Dalken has three cars--two limousines, you know; and he told me that he
+wished he could prevail upon the girls to make use of one, instead of his
+leaving it in a garage to eat up its value in rent. I thought of this way
+to give the girls many interesting quests, and make use of the car at the
+same time, so I mentioned it to him. He was delighted and wants the girls
+to try the plan," explained Mr. Ashby.
+
+"And I will offer myself as chaperone," hastily added Mrs. Fabian.
+
+"If I could only be included in these outings I should love it," laughed
+Nancy Fabian.
+
+"You are! Any one who belongs to us, must consider themselves as
+invited," said Polly, laughingly.
+
+So an outing for Saturday was planned, that night, and Mrs. Fabian and
+Nancy were to manage the details for the girls.
+
+"We will choose a likely country-side for our first trial," remarked Mrs.
+Fabian, looking at her husband for advice.
+
+"That's hard sense," laughed he. "But where is such a spot?"
+
+"Somewhere in New England," ventured Nancy.
+
+"That's as ambiguous as 'Somewhere in France,'" retorted Polly.
+
+"Not when you consider that New England begins just the other side of the
+city-line of Portchester," said Mr. Fabian.
+
+"But there are no antiques to be found in Rye, Portchester or Greenwich,
+in these days of amateur collectors hunting over those sections,"
+remarked Mrs. Fabian.
+
+"You are not limited to those nearby towns; but you can travel fifty
+miles in the inland sections in a short time, and stop at simple little
+farm-houses to inquire, as we did this summer while touring England. I
+wager you'll come home with enough trophies of war to start you off
+again, in a day or two," explained Mr. Fabian.
+
+On Saturday morning, Mrs. Fabian packed an auto-kit with delectable
+sandwiches, cakes and other dainties, and the party of amateur collectors
+started out on their quest. The chauffeur smiled at their eagerness to
+arrive at some place on the Boston Post Road that might suggest that it
+led to their Mecca. He kept on, however, until after passing through
+Stamford, then he turned to the left and followed a road that seemed to
+leave all suburban life behind, in a very short time.
+
+"Where are you taking us, Carl?" asked Polly, curiously.
+
+"On a road that Mr. Ashby told me about. He has never stopped at these
+places, but he thinks you will find something, along here."
+
+After several more miles had been reeled off, the eager and watchful
+passengers in the car glimpsed a low one-story farm-house, with plenty of
+acreage around it. The two-story box-like addition built at the rear and
+hooked up to the tiny dwelling that almost squatted on the road itself,
+seemed to apologise for the insignificance of its mother-house.
+
+"Slow up, Carl. Let's look this place over," called Mrs. Fabian.
+
+The automobile came to a stop and the ladies leaned out to inspect the
+possibilities in such an old place. A girl of ten came around the corner
+of the box-house and stood gazing at the people in the car.
+
+Carl seemed to be no novice in this sort of outing, and he called to the
+girl: "Hey! Is your mudder home?"
+
+The girl nodded without saying a word.
+
+"All right! Tell her to come out, a minute."
+
+Mrs. Fabian hastily interpolated with: "Oh, we'd better go in and ask for
+a drink, Carl."
+
+Carl laughed. "Just as you say, Missus. But dese farmer people don't
+stand on fussin'. You'se can ask her right out if she wants to sell any
+old thing she's got in the attic or cellar."
+
+"How do you know?" asked Polly, smilingly.
+
+"'Cause Mr. Dalken got the fever of collectin' after you folks went to
+Urope. And many a time I've sat and laughed at his way of getting
+things."
+
+"Oh! That's why you knew where to drive us, eh?" said Eleanor.
+
+"No, 'cause he never come this road, yet. He mapped it out, once, and
+said he would try it some day. That's why he told me which road to foller
+today."
+
+The girl had disappeared but was coming back by this time. She climbed
+upon the picket gate and hung over it, as she called out: "My ma's
+kneadin' bread an' can't get out, this minit. She says if you want
+somethun, fer you to come in and see _her_!"
+
+This invitation sufficed for all five to instantly get out of the car and
+lift the latch on the gate. The girl never budged from her perch, but
+permitted the visitors to swing her back as the gate was opened.
+
+"Go right to the side door," advised she, holding on to the pickets.
+
+As invited, the collectors went to the side door and Mrs. Fabian knocked
+timidly. "Come in!" said a shrill voice from within.
+
+The lady of the house had plump arms elbow-deep in dough. She glanced up
+and nodded in a business-like manner. "Did yer come fer fresh aigs?"
+asked she, punching the dough positively.
+
+"If you have any for sale, I should like to take a dozen," returned Mrs.
+Fabian, politely. Polly and Dodo stared in surprise at their chaperone,
+but Eleanor and Nancy comprehended at once, why this reply was made.
+
+"Wait a minute, will yuh, and I'll get this job off my hands afore I go
+fer the aigs."
+
+Eleanor laughed humorously as she remarked: "It looks like dough on your
+hands."
+
+The woman laughed appreciatively, while the others smiled. "That's right!
+It's dough, all right. I s'pose you folks are from nearby, eh?"
+
+"Not very far away," returned Mrs. Fabian. "We are out on a pleasure
+jaunt this morning, but I saw your farm and so we decided to ask your
+little girl if you were in."
+
+"That's right! I tole my man to put a sign out on the letter-box fer
+passers-by to see how I had aigs to sell; but he is that
+procrastinatin'--he puts off anythun' 'til it's too late."
+
+The woman was scraping the bits of dough from her hands as she spoke, and
+this done, she sprinkled flour over the top of the soft lump in the pan
+and covered it with a piece of old linen cloth. As she took it to a warm
+corner behind the stove, she added: "Do you'se know! Abe was late fer our
+weddin'. But I knew him for procrastinatin', even in them days, so I made
+everyone wait. He come in an 'nour behind time, sayin' he had to walk
+from his place 'cause his horse was too lame to ride. That's Abe all
+over, in everythun."
+
+The house-keeper finished her task and turned to her callers. "Now then!
+Do yuh like white er brown aigs?"
+
+"White ones, please," returned Mrs. Fabian.
+
+The woman went to the large storeroom off the kitchen and counted out a
+dozen eggs in a box. When she came back she held them in one hand while
+waiting for payment, with outstretched other hand.
+
+"That's a fine sofa you've got in the next room," remarked Mrs. Fabian,
+pretending not to notice the open palm.
+
+"Yeh, d'ye know, I paid fifteen dollars jus' fer that red plush alone?"
+declared she, going to the door and turning to invite her visitors to
+come in. The box of eggs was forgotten for the time.
+
+The girls followed Mrs. Fabian to the best room that opened from the
+large kitchen, and to their horror they saw that the sofa referred to was
+a hideous Victorian affair of walnut frame upholstered in awful red
+mohair plush.
+
+But Mrs. Fabian made the most of her optics the moment she got inside the
+room. Thus it happened that she spied a few little ornaments on the old
+mantel-shelf.
+
+"What old-fashioned glass candle-sticks," said she, going over to look at
+the white-glass holders with pewter sockets.
+
+"Ain't they awful! I've told Abe, many a time, that I'd throw them out,
+some day, and get a real nice bankit lamp fer the center table," returned
+the hostess.
+
+"And won't he throw them away?" asked Mrs. Fabian, guilelessly.
+
+"He says, why should we waste 'em, when they comes in so handy, in
+winter, to carry down cellar fer apples. He likes 'em cuz he onny paid a
+quarter fer 'em an' a glass pitcher, at an auction, some miles up the
+road. But that wuz so long ago we've got our money's wuth outen them. Now
+I wants a brass lamp an' he says I'm gettin' scandalous in my old
+age--awastin' money on flim-flams fer the settin' room. He says lamps is
+fer parlor use."
+
+Her repressed aspirations in furnishings made the woman pity herself, but
+Mrs. Fabian took advantage of the situation.
+
+"I've needed a pair of candle-sticks for some time, and I'll exchange a
+lamp for your auction bargain which you say has paid for itself, by this
+time."
+
+"What! Don't you want your lamp?" exclaimed the lady, aghast at such a
+statement.
+
+"Well, I have no further use for one, and it would look lovely on your
+marble-top table," returned Mrs. Fabian.
+
+"Well, well! How long will it take you to get it from home?" asked the
+woman, anxiously.
+
+"If you really wish to get rid of the candle-sticks and jug, I'll leave
+the quarter you paid originally for them and go for the lamp at once.
+Maybe I can be back in an hour's time. I'll pay for the eggs, too, and
+leave them until I come back," explained Mrs. Fabian, graciously.
+
+Without wasting an extra word or any precious time, the owner of the rare
+old candle-sticks wrapped them in a bit of newspaper and went for the
+glass pitcher. Mrs. Fabian had no idea of the extra item being worth
+anything, but she included it, more for fun, than anything else. But once
+they saw the tiny glass jug with Sheffield grape-design on its sides,
+they all realized that here was a wonderful "find."
+
+Mrs. Fabian seemed uneasy until she had the paper package in her hand and
+had paid the twenty-five cents for the three pieces of glassware. Then
+Eleanor made a suggestion.
+
+"Why couldn't we wait here, Mrs. Fabian, and look at some of the old
+china the lady has in this cupboard, while you go for the lamp. There's
+no sense in all of us going with you."
+
+"That's a good plan, if Mrs.----" Nancy waited for the lady to mention
+her name.
+
+"I'm Mrs. Tomlinson," said she, politely.
+
+"If Mrs. Tomlinson is not too busy to show us her dear old house," added
+Nancy.
+
+"All right, girls. Is that satisfactory?" asked Mrs. Fabian. "How does it
+appeal to you, Mrs. Tomlinson?"
+
+"Oh, now that that bread is risin', I've got time to burn," declared the
+lady, independently.
+
+"All right. We'll visit here while you get the lamp," agreed the girls,
+deeply concerned to know where their chaperone would find a lamp such as
+Mrs. Tomlinson craved.
+
+Mrs. Fabian left, and invited the child swinging on the gate to drive
+with her as far as Stamford. The little girl, pleased at the opportunity,
+ran for her bonnet and told her ma of the wonderful invitation.
+
+Mrs. Tomlinson signified her consent to Sarah's going, and then gave her
+full attention to showing her company the house. "You musn't look at the
+dirt everywhere, ladies," began she, waving a hand at the immaculate
+corners and primly-ordered furniture.
+
+"Now come and see my parlor, girls. I'm proud of that room, but we onny
+use it Sundays, when Sarah plays the melodian and we sings hymns. Now an'
+then some neighbors come in evenin's, fer a quiltin'-bee in winter; and I
+uses it fer a minister's call, but there ain't no way to het the room an'
+it's all-fired cold fer visitin'."
+
+Polly thought of the ranch-house at Pebbly Pit as Mrs. Tomlinson
+described the cold winter evenings, and she smiled at the remembrance of
+how she used to undress in the kitchen beside the roaring range-fire, and
+then rush breathlessly into her cold little room to jump between the
+blankets and roll up in them to sleep.
+
+Eleanor laughed outright at the picture of a visiting dominie sitting on
+the edge of a chair with his toes slowly freezing, while his parishioners
+tried in quaking tones and with teeth chattering to entertain him.
+
+But Mrs. Tomlinson paid no heed to their laughter, for she was in her
+glory. "Ain't this some room?" demanded she, pulling the shades up to
+give enough light to admire the place.
+
+A stained cherry parlor suite of five pieces upholstered in cheap satin
+damask, with a what-not in one corner, and an easel holding a crayon
+portrait of Abe and his bride at the time of their wedding, in the other
+corner, graced this best room. A few cheap chromos flared against the
+gorgeous-patterned wall-paper, and a mantel-shelf was crowded with all
+sorts of nick-nacks and ornaments. Polly seemed drawn to this shelf, the
+first thing, while the other girls glanced around the parlor and felt
+like laughing.
+
+"Won't you sit down, a minute?" invited the hostess, but her tone
+suggested fear lest they soil the damask with their dust-coats.
+
+Polly had made a discovery in that moment she had to look over the motley
+collection on the shelf.
+
+"This is a nice tray you have standing against the wall," said she, using
+Mrs. Fabian's tactics to interest the hostess.
+
+"Yes, that's another auction bargain. When Abe fust got it, the day I
+went fer that oak side-board, I got mad. But I've used it a lot sence
+then, fer lemonade and cookies, when comp'ny comes to visit all
+afternoon. And I feels made up, _I kin_ tell you, when I brings that tray
+in like all society does." Mrs. Tomlinson chuckled to herself.
+
+Polly examined the tray and believed it a rare one. It was oval in shape,
+and had a stencilled rim in a conventional design. The coloring was
+exquisite, and the central design was a wonderful basket over-flowing
+with gorgeous fruit. The touches of gold on the decorations was the
+beauty-point of the unusual object.
+
+"I've always wanted just such a tray, too. I wonder if you know anyone
+who has one and will sell it to me. I'd drive a long ways to go to an
+auction such as you say you attended, when you bought this tray," said
+Polly, trying to act indifferent.
+
+"Laws-ee, Miss! I see'd trays sold at mos' every country auction I goes
+to. I'd jes' as soon sell that one to you, if you like it, but maybe
+you'd think I was askin' too much if I was to tack on the cost of time I
+lost that day. I never got a chanst to bid on the oak side-board, 'cause
+a city man felt so mad at Abe fer buyin' the tray, that he run up the
+side-board out of spite, when he found we wanted it. Ef he'd onny a said
+he wanted the old tray he'd cud have had it an' welcome. But he never
+told us. The neighbor who finally got the side-board laffed an' told Abe
+why the man did the trick. The man told him he'd double-crossed us that
+way."
+
+Polly would have offered the woman the full value of the fine stencilled
+tray, but Eleanor hurriedly spoke for her.
+
+"How much was the tray with the cost of time tacked on?"
+
+"Well, it won't be fair to charge _all_ afternoon, 'cuz I had a good time
+with my neighbors what met at that vendue. But Abe lost three hours' work
+on the corn that day and that is wuth sixty cents an 'nour, anyway. Tack
+that on to thirty-five cents fer the tray, an' you've got it."
+
+Mrs. Tomlinson started counting laboriously on her fingers and ultimately
+reached the same total as the girls had found five minutes before. So
+Polly paid over the munificent sum to the lady's delight, and took
+possession of the tray.
+
+"Ef I onny had some other old things you'd like to get, I would almost
+have enough money to buy a swell glass lemonade set I saw down to
+Stamford one day. It had a glass tray under it and a dozen painted
+glasses and a fine glass pitcher--all fer two ninety-eight."
+
+Almost before the lady had ended her words of her secret ambition, the
+four girls had pounced upon various things found on the shelf. Eleanor
+had an old glass toddy-mug with a lid, which was used for a match-holder
+in the parlor.
+
+Nancy selected a small oil lamp with a brass base and stem, and a
+lovely-shaped glass shade. Mrs. Tomlinson informed her it was another
+auction bargain that cost fifty cents. Being so expensive they put it on
+the parlor mantel instead of using it.
+
+Dodo yearned to possess an old afghan she saw on the settee of the suite
+of furniture, but she feared to say so. Finally she summoned courage
+enough to offer the lady a price for it that caused Mrs. Tomlinson a
+failure about the heart.
+
+"My goodness' sakes alive! That's ten times more'n the wool ever cost
+when the thing was _new_. Take it! Take it, quick, ef you really mean
+it!"
+
+The girls laughed wildly, for Dodo took it quickly and paid the price
+offered to the consternation of the sales-woman. "Well," gasped she, at
+last, "you must have some family-past what has to do with knitted covers,
+is all I can say to explain you!"
+
+By the time the inspection of the house was over, Mrs. Fabian returned
+with just such a brass pedestal banquet lamp as Mrs. Tomlinson had
+secretly envied and long hoped for. Such joy and pleasure as she took in
+selecting a clean crocheted mat to spread on the cold marble slab of the
+center table, and then place thereon her vision come true, was worth all
+the trouble Mrs. Fabian had had in finding the lamp at a second-hand shop
+at Stamford; but later when that wise collector examined her old
+candle-sticks and pitcher, she felt a hundred times repaid for the
+lamp--as she truly was.
+
+The merry collectors started home that afternoon, after enjoying the
+picnic luncheon beside a brook in the woods back of Stamford, with their
+hopes pitched high for future successes in collecting.
+
+Mr. Dalken heard from Carl about the successful quest that day, and
+telephoned to the Fabians, that evening. The Ashbys had hurried over when
+they heard of the pieces secured at the farm-house, and were present when
+Mr. Dalken questioned the girls all about their "find."
+
+"Now we're dying to start again, Mr. Dalken, and hunt up other trophies,"
+said Polly, in conclusion.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+A REVOLUTIONARY RELIC HUNT
+
+
+So delighted were the amateur collectors with the result of their first
+search for antiques, that they planned another trip a few days later.
+Carl could not drive the car for them, as Mr. Dalken had invited a number
+of business friends who were in New York for a few days to go out on Long
+Island with him, for the day. He took the seven-passenger car and Carl
+for the drive, so the girls had to be contented with the smaller car. But
+neither Mr. Dalken nor Carl knew that the girls proposed going alone.
+They believed Mr. Fabian or Mr. Ashby's chauffeur would drive the car.
+
+Eleanor bragged about her ability to drive an automobile and the girls
+knew from experience how well Dodo could drive, so the outing was planned
+without any grown-up being consulted about the driving or chaperoning.
+
+"Did not Carl have a road-map in the side-pocket of the car, the day he
+drove us to Stamford?" asked Polly.
+
+"Yes, but the car is in the garage, and the map with it," returned
+Eleanor.
+
+"Daddy has a road-map. I'll get his," remarked Ruth Ashby, who had been
+invited to be one of the party this trip.
+
+"Then bring it around tonight, Ruth, when you come to plan about the
+route we ought to choose for this outing," said Polly.
+
+Ruth hurried home and immediately after dinner, that evening, she found
+the map in the library desk-drawer and tucked it in her pocket. As she
+ran through the front hall she called to her mother:
+
+"I'm going over to the Fabians for a little talk, Mummy."
+
+"But, Ruth, you just came from there a few moments before dinner," came
+from Mrs. Ashby.
+
+"Oh, I didn't visit that time! I only stopped in with the girls to wait
+and see if Nancy had a map they all need. Now I'm going to visit,"
+explained Ruth.
+
+Mrs. Ashby laughed at a girl's interpretations of a call and Ruth ran
+out.
+
+Their pretty heads were closely bending over the map, when Mr. Fabian
+passed the living-room door and stopped a moment to consider the picture
+they made under the soft-shaded light. He went on to his private den
+without saying a word to distract their attention from (as he thought)
+their books of learning.
+
+"Now listen here, girls!" exclaimed Nancy, tracing a line on the map.
+"Polly doesn't know much about this end of the United States, and Eleanor
+doesn't know much more than Polly does but I am supposed to be well
+informed about Westchester County, having lived there when I was a little
+girl. So I can tell you something about this road I've traced."
+
+The four girls lifted their heads and listened eagerly.
+
+"You know Dobb's Ferry and its vicinity was there in the days of the
+Revolution, and Washington camped at that town. Even the Headquarters he
+occupied is to be seen as it was at that time. This road, running
+easterly from Dobb's Ferry, is the old turnpike road used by the army as
+it marched towards the Hudson.
+
+"Now this is what I say! Why shouldn't there be lots of old houses along
+that road, or in that locality, that were there during Washington's time?
+And if standing still, why shouldn't there be old furniture, or odd bits,
+to be found in them?"
+
+Eleanor instantly caught Nancy up on one of her phrases. "Naturally the
+houses would be standing still--you wouldn't want them to be dancing a
+tango, would you?"
+
+"Oh, pshaw, Nolla!" scorned Nancy, in disgust at such a poor attempt to
+joke, "you know, well enough, what I mean."
+
+The other girls laughed at Nancy, and Polly added: "Well, what is your
+plan?"
+
+"I say, let's drive along the River Road as far as Dobb's Ferry, and then
+turn off to this road and venture on any country road we find, that has
+old-fashioned houses which look as if they were built in 1776."
+
+"That sounds thrilling!" laughed Eleanor.
+
+Her companions refused to smile this time, so she sat grinning at Nancy,
+as if waiting to attack her again.
+
+"I think that plan will answer as well as anything Nolla has proposed,
+don't you?" asked Nancy.
+
+"Yes, we'll try your scheme out, Nan. But you'll have to be the guide
+through the country, as we haven't the least idea of the lay of the
+land," said Dodo.
+
+"We'll succeed splendidly, as long as we have this map," promised Nancy.
+
+The girls pictured many rare treasures added to their collection after
+this proposed trip, and when it was time for Ruth to go home, each girl
+had chosen rare and wonderful objects to be found in these imaginary
+Colonial home-steads they expected to visit on the morrow.
+
+Classes had to be attended to before excursions could be enjoyed and then
+it was lunch-time; but after that they finally started on this trip.
+
+Mrs. Fabian was out with Mrs. Ashby, so the girls met no one who would
+question them, when they were ready to leave. Ruth and Dodo called at the
+Fabians and they all went to the large garage where Mr. Dalken kept his
+automobiles; and the man, having had instructions to give the car to
+these young friends of the owner, whenever they wanted it, said nothing
+but backed the car out to the street for them.
+
+The five girls drove away in high spirits, for they were eager to harvest
+all the marvelous antiques they had ever read or heard of, that might be
+scattered throughout the country-sides wherever General Washington had
+made a camp for his army.
+
+Dodo was an excellent driver but she had no New York license, and the
+girls had forgotten all about that necessity. So the car was speeding
+along the boulevarde at about twenty-five miles an hour, when a traffic
+policeman in Yonkers held up his hand to stop the northward-bound
+travelers.
+
+Dodo had just turned her head momentarily to send a quizzical look at
+Polly who sat in the back seat, and so failed to see the raised hand. The
+car therefore ran across the street and at the same time, a low-built
+racer shot along the right of way and the two noses rammed each other,
+although both drivers used the emergency brakes.
+
+The girls screamed with fright at the unexpected shock and the dreadful
+jolt they received when the cars collided. And two young college students
+cursed politely and scowled fearfully at the "crazy girl-drivers" who
+never knew which way they were going. But the poor cars suffered the most
+from this conflict. Headlights were smashed, fenders and mud guards were
+so dented in as to look pitiful, while the front wheels of both cars were
+interlocked in such a way that they could not be separated.
+
+This cause held up all traffic on both streets and annoyed the officer so
+that he threatened a wholesale arrest. He asked the names of both
+drivers. The young man gave his as "John Baxter, New York." His license
+number was taken, and he was asked for his permit. He showed it without
+hesitation, and the girls gazed at each other in dismay. They had
+forgotten about such a need!
+
+The officer came over to Dodo's side.
+
+"What's your name?"
+
+"Dodo Alexander," stammered she, forgetting her full name.
+
+"Humph! Baptized that name?"
+
+"Yes--no, oh NO. I never was baptized, I reckon."
+
+"Humph--a heathen, I see!" snarled the policeman. "Well, where do you
+live, or where'd you hail from?"
+
+Eleanor had been grinning at the officer's reply, and now she could not
+withstand the temptation to answer: "From the Cannibal Isles."
+
+The crowd standing about the two cars, laughed--all but the policeman. He
+scowled at Eleanor and said: "Be careful, young lady, or I'll take you
+along for contempt of court."
+
+"But you are not arresting _me_, and this is not Court," argued Eleanor.
+
+"Oh, goodness me! Is he going to arrest me?" cried Dodo.
+
+"If you don't answer my questions promptly, I'll arrest you," returned
+the officer, severely.
+
+"Well, I am from Denver, Colorado, where folks don't fuss like you do in
+the East, just because you cross a street to get to the other side!"
+declared Dodo, in self-justification.
+
+"From Denver! Got a New York license to drive?" said he.
+
+"No, I haven't, but I've driven all over England and the Continent this
+Summer--as these girls will tell you. They were in the party."
+
+"It's nothing to me whether you drove up the Matterhorn and down the
+other side; as long as you can't show me a plain old American license,
+you'll have to pay the costs."
+
+"How much is it?" quickly asked Dodo, taking her purse out to settle the
+bill.
+
+"I don't know. You'd better follow me to the police station and we'll
+see."
+
+Dodo was handed a little paper which she read aloud to her horrified
+companions, and thus, finding themselves arrested, they meekly tried to
+follow the blue-jacket. But the cars had not been disentangled, although
+both boys from the racer were doing their utmost to clear the way.
+
+As the storm raised in the hearts of the two students by the carelessness
+of Dodo abated, both boys realized how pretty and helpless the five girls
+were, so they began to feel sorry for them. Besides this, the front
+wheels were now divorced and the two cars backed away from each other to
+give room for the congested traffic to pass.
+
+"Dear me," wailed Dodo, "what will Mr. Dalken say when he hears about his
+car! I don't mind going to jail or being made to pay a hundred dollars
+fine, but to break up his automobile the first time I drove it, and get
+his license tag into trouble--that is terrible!"
+
+Polly laughed. "Not Dalken's license tag, but his name--in the papers.
+That's what comes of being so well-known in New York."
+
+"And the newspaper men will be sure to say that a party of joy-riders
+stole his car to have a little jaunt in the country, I suppose," added
+Eleanor, teasingly.
+
+One of the good-looking young students now came over to the girls and
+lifted his cap. "Did I understand you to say this is Mr. Dalken's car?"
+
+Five girls glowered at him. Polly snapped out: "Are you a reporter from a
+city paper?"
+
+John Baxter laughed. "No, I am his protegé. Mr. Dalken is the executor
+of my father's estate and I was just on my way to the city, to visit him,
+this evening."
+
+"Oh how nice! We know Mr. Dalken very well, too. He is one of our best
+friends," returned Polly, eagerly.
+
+Nancy Fabian would have been more reticent had she been spokeswoman for
+the girls; but both boys were so pleasant, now, that they were
+introducing themselves to the girls, hence she said nothing.
+
+"We'll go with you to the station house and see that the sergeant behaves
+himself," suggested John.
+
+The girls felt very grateful to this needed friend, and the boys started
+their car after the policeman, the girls following in their damaged car
+that bumped and jolted on one side.
+
+When the inspector learned that not one of the five girls had a license
+to drive a car in New York State, and that the car belonged to someone
+else, he fined Dodo and gave her a good scolding to boot.
+
+"This time I'll let you off easy, as you are green in the East. But don't
+let it happen again, or you'll be sorry. Apply for a permit to drive, as
+soon as you get home, young lady, and then get a book of rules on
+traffic, and learn it by heart."
+
+Dodo meekly paid the fine, and the young people left the room with
+lighter hearts than they had entered it. Both cars had to be taken to a
+garage and put into running shape again. Meantime there would be two
+hours of waiting on their hands, and seven young folks with impatient
+blood in their veins to kill that time.
+
+"I'm sorry you ladies have been deprived of your pleasure drive, but I
+might suggest a little consolation if you ever deign to go to the
+Movies," said John Baxter, politely.
+
+"There's a good show up the street in that large Picture Theatre," added
+his friend Andrews.
+
+"We love movies--when they are good," ventured Eleanor.
+
+"What do you think, Nan? Shall we go?" asked Polly.
+
+"Oh yes! it will be awful--waiting about this place with nowhere to go
+other than the Movies, as you say," returned Nancy.
+
+So the two young men escorted the five girls to the show where they
+forgot their recent troubles in watching Harold Lloyd do his best to
+break his neck.
+
+Dodo paid the bill at the garage for both cars, even though the boys
+insisted that they pay for their own damages. But she replied: "No, the
+insurance company will have to settle eventually."
+
+The good-natured way in which Dodo accepted the situation more than
+convinced the boys that these girls were "bricks" all right! It was now
+past five, and the cars were ready to go again, but the "collectors"
+found they had to go back to the city for that time, without having seen
+as much as a shadow of an antique.
+
+"What will you girls do about getting home?" asked Andrews.
+
+"Why, drive, of course!" returned Dodo.
+
+"But you can't--you haven't a license. Neither has any one of the other
+girls," explained Jack.
+
+"Oh, we never thought of that!" exclaimed Polly, perplexed.
+
+"I have one," suggested Andrews. "I can get in your car, and one of you
+girls can drive with Baxter, if you will. That will solve the problem."
+
+"All right," assented Dodo, getting out of her seat to allow Andrews to
+get in.
+
+"Which one wants to drive with Jack?" asked Andrews.
+
+Neither girl answered, and not as much as by a tremor of the eye-lid did
+either show how delighted she would have been to sit beside the handsome
+young man and skim along the road to New York.
+
+Baxter laughed heartily, and Andrews added: "I never dreamed that _no_
+one would care to drive with him. I'm sorry, Jack, but you'll have to go
+alone."
+
+"Not if I know it!" retorted Baxter, quickly. "I can't choose when all
+are so desirable, but we can cast lots to see who will be my companion."
+
+The girls thought this most exciting, and when Andrews had shown the slip
+of paper that would be the lucky draw, and then had folded and shaken the
+slips well in his cap, the girls drew. As each girl opened her scrap of
+paper to find it was blank, and then watched the others try, there was
+great laughter and anxious waiting. Finally Polly opened her slip and
+found she had drawn the lucky one.
+
+"Ha! Isn't Jack Baxter lucky, though!" laughed Eleanor. "Not only gets
+the cleverest girl in the crowd, but the prettiest one, too!"
+
+"Stop your nonsense, Nolla! How many times do I have to tell you to allow
+me to live in peace, without so much of your chaffing!" exclaimed Polly,
+impatiently.
+
+Everyone laughed merrily at Polly's retort, and Baxter looked admiringly
+at the flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes. He was most gallant in
+assisting Polly into the "boat" as he called it, and then he jumped in
+beside her.
+
+Eleanor sat beside Andrews in the other car, and entertained him with a
+highly colored story of Polly and her home in Pebbly Pit. Before they
+reached the Fabian home in New York, young Andrews pictured the enormous
+wealth of "Choko's Find" gold mine, and the marvellous beauty of the lava
+jewels found in Rainbow Cliffs on the ranch. To think that one girl
+should be lucky enough to own both such money-producers!
+
+Shortly after dinner that evening, Mr. Dalken telephoned the girls and
+told them to come over to his apartment for a party. He explained that he
+had two nice little boys visiting him, and he was at a loss to know how
+to entertain them so that they would care to come again, another day.
+Remembering how well Polly and her friends managed other boys, he felt
+sure that they could help him now.
+
+Polly laughed in reply, and said: "Oh yes! If one of those boys now
+visiting you, is anything like Jack Baxter who drove me home, this
+afternoon, we won't have any trouble in amusing them."
+
+But Polly never told Mr. Dalken that Jack declared himself so deeply in
+love with her, before she had been in his car ten minutes, that she had
+all she could do to keep him at the wheel instead of placing an arm about
+her, and thus stalling the engine in the ditch alongside the main road to
+the city.
+
+That evening, after the girls returned from Mr. Dalken's party, Eleanor
+remarked: "My goodness! Polly has another scalp to hang to her belt of
+trophies. If she keeps on piercing hearts, as she has done this past
+year, she'll have to discard some of her old scalps and loan them to us,
+to make room for her new ones."
+
+But Polly sniffed loftily at such foolishness, and made no reply.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT COLLECTING
+
+
+Although the trip planned for the Dobb's Ferry territory had ended so
+disastrously, the girls were not discouraged. Dodo secured a license
+without any difficulty, and was equipped to drive Mr. Dalken's car
+without being fined a second time. But the wise owner of the car
+considered it wiser to send Carl out on these excursions, instead of
+trusting to Fate to bring the girls back home again without broken bones
+or a damage suit.
+
+Mr. Fabian had had a brilliant idea, too, after he heard his wife's story
+of the country auction where the old antiques had been secured by Mrs.
+Tomlinson. He suggested that they subscribe to several country papers,
+both daily and weekly, and in that way they would learn of any vendue
+advertised in its columns.
+
+Eagerly following his advice, the four girls--Nancy was not interested in
+antiques but was willing to go around with her friends when they hunted
+for them--subscribed for the Yonkers papers, the White Plains papers,
+several weeklies in New Jersey, and others, in order to learn of any
+country auctions advertised for the following week.
+
+Through this medium, they read of a country sale advertised for the
+following Thursday, to take place at an old farm home-stead way back in
+the hills of Westchester. The items mentioned included a mahogany
+four-poster bed, and other old bits.
+
+Polly and Eleanor had not attended an auction since the days in Paris,
+and neither of them had ever heard of, or witnessed a back-farm country
+auction, so they were not prepared for what they really experienced.
+
+Carl was detailed to drive them, that day, and Mrs. Fabian escorted them,
+in the seven-passenger car. They took the turnpike road as far as White
+Plains and then turned to the left to follow a country road that would
+lead past the farm.
+
+The sale was advertised for eleven o'clock, but the girls did not arrive
+on the premises until twelve. Still no auctioneer was to be seen or
+heard. Groups of farmers stood around, gossiping about their crops that
+season, and their wives sat indoors exchanging notes on canning, new
+neighbors, or babies.
+
+Polly gazed curiously at the types assembled for that sale, and whispered
+to Eleanor: "Wouldn't you say these farmers had been picked up from Oak
+Creek ranches and dropped down here in this front door-yard?"
+
+Eleanor smiled and nodded. Then she said in a low voice: "They don't look
+as if they were here to buy. We seem to be the only folks here with a
+pocket-book."
+
+A young farmer who had been leaning against the old well now came forward
+to welcome the strangers who stood looking about.
+
+"I be the clerk fer the auctionair, but he hain't come, yit. His baby
+swallered a shet safety-pin an' they had an orful time wid ippycak tryin'
+to git it that way. Now the doctor's thar sayin' that stuff is all wrong.
+He'll git the pin, all right, 'cause I swallered a quarter, onct, and he
+got it, but it costed me a hull dollar extra to pay him fer his
+docterin'. Ye's kin go in and peer aroun' to see ef you wants anything."
+
+Mrs. Fabian expressed her sympathy for the parents of the baby and said
+she knew just how frightened the mother must be.
+
+"Not much!" was the clerk's astonishing reply. "She's young Kit Morehouse
+what ain't got a grain of sense in her bean. This baby's mother died when
+it was a week old, and Lem had to have someone look affer it. Thar warn't
+no sensible woman about what would hev him, 'cause he don't make salt fer
+a red herrin', seein' his professhun is auctionin' an' folks ain't
+sellin' out like-as-much as they ust to be, years ago. But this crazy Kit
+was onny nineteen, with no fam'ly, er no payin' job, so she hired out to
+take keer of the kid. Don't it allus end like this? The gal marries the
+father an' gets mad cause another woman's kid is cryin' around!"
+
+The girls were intensely interested in this bit of local gossip, but Mrs.
+Fabian thought they had heard enough about "Kit," so she bid the clerk
+good-by and started for the low one-story-and-a-half house.
+
+The interior presented a different appearance from the home of Mrs.
+Tomlinson's. Every conceivable object ever used in the house was brought
+out and placed in the front rooms. Women and children sat about on
+various sorts of seats, waiting for the sale to begin. As most of the
+assembly were neighbors and acquainted with each other, the entrance of
+Mrs. Fabian and her girls caused quite a surprise.
+
+Audible whispers of "Who air they?" and "Where did they come from?" or
+"What d'ye s'pose they come to bid on?" were heard on all sides as the
+strangers passed through the "settin' room."
+
+The moment Mrs. Fabian's party left the clerk, outside, he hurried over
+to the automobile where Carl sat enjoying a quiet smoke.
+
+"Howde," began Abner Clark, the clerk.
+
+Carl removed his pipe and nodded nonchalantly.
+
+"Do you-all hail from about these parts?" asked Abner.
+
+"I should say _not_!" declared Carl, emphatically.
+
+"From whar abouts are you?" continued the clerk.
+
+"New York City--and that's some town, let me tell you."
+
+"Yeh--so I've heran say. How did yeh get to come here to this vendue?"
+persisted Abner.
+
+"_I_ don't know--I'm only the chauffeur. Why don't you ask the ladies if
+you are so anxious to know?" Carl was growing angry.
+
+"All right--no harm meant," replied Abner, soothingly, as he turned away.
+
+Carl resumed his pipe, and Abner strolled over to the group of men
+sitting on wheel-barrows, ploughs, chicken-coops, etc. With a furtive
+look over his shoulder, to make sure the city driver was not listening,
+Abner began to explain to his interested friends who the strangers were.
+
+But he had not quite ended his tale before an old buggy drove up and the
+auctioneer got out. He glanced over the assembled farmers with an
+appraising eye, and then carefully hitched the old nag to a tree. This
+done, he broke off a great chunk of tobacco from a cake kept in a blue
+paper, and popped it into his mouth.
+
+Abner walked over to the white-washed fence to greet his superior. "How's
+the kid?" were his first words.
+
+"All right, now. He diden' swaller the pin, after all. The doctor found
+it down inside his shirt, an' it cost me a dollar besides all that good
+mustard and eppicac, fer nuthin'!"
+
+"Well, well!" sympathized Abner, not knowing what would be best to say in
+such a delicate case.
+
+"Did yuh keep all the folks about when I sent word over?" continued the
+auctioneer.
+
+"Shure! An' we've got some swell city buyers, this time."
+
+"City! You don't mean anyone from the city'd want to buy old Morrisey's
+trash?" exclaimed Lemuel, in disbelief.
+
+"I dunno what they want, but thar's their man what steers the
+autermobile," and Abner directed a thumb over his left shoulder.
+
+"Wall, wall! Come along; we'll hurry up to get some of their coin afore
+they git tired awaitin'!" declared the wise man, as he made haste to
+reach the house.
+
+Mrs. Fabian and the girls had made a cursory visit to the rooms on the
+ground floor, and while they stood in the small kitchen examining various
+old dishes and glassware in the cupboard, Polly spied a very narrow
+staircase leading to the attic.
+
+"I'm going up to see if there's anything up there," said she. So without
+another word, she ran up the creaky steps.
+
+The girls heard her walking overhead, and then heard her pull a heavy
+object across the floor. In another minute she came racing down the steps
+at a break-neck speed, her face all streaked with dirt and her dress
+covered with cob-webs and the dust of ages.
+
+"Oh, folks! Do come up and see what I found in an old box under the
+eaves!"
+
+They needed no second invitation, and soon all were up beside the box.
+There were many other empty boxes standing about and in some way this
+particular box had escaped the attention of Abner, who had taken the
+inventory of the contents of the house and barns.
+
+Polly had removed the first object on top of the box which was an old
+woven coverlet in rare colorings of blue and white. In one corner was the
+name of the weaver and the date it was completed. Polly was not aware
+that old woven coverlets were considered very desirable by collectors,
+but she had read the date which showed the spread was more than a hundred
+years old, so she judged it was worth bidding on at the coming sale.
+
+Directly under this woven coverlet was a white spread. It was very old
+and torn at the corners, but the rest of it was in good condition. Mrs.
+Fabian saw at once that it was a spread of the finest candle-wicking
+style she had ever seen. It must have dated back to the early part of the
+eighteenth century.
+
+Under this white bed-spread were small bundles of hand-spun linen towels,
+yellow with age but in perfect condition as to wear. But the greatest
+find of all, in this box, were the old brasses in the bottom.
+
+Wrapped in papers to keep them clean, Polly found a long-handled
+warming-pan; a set of fire-irons--the tongs, shovel, and andirons of the
+famous "acorn-top" design; and a funny old foot-warmer. A pair of ancient
+bellows was the last article found in the box, but the leather was so dry
+and old that pieces fell out when Polly tried to make the bellows work.
+
+"I must go right down and tell that clerk about these wonderful things.
+They must have overlooked them when they listed all the other articles in
+the house," said Mrs. Fabian.
+
+Eleanor held her back and said: "You'd better not tell him the news in
+that excited manner. He'll understand at once, that these things are
+desirable, and then we'll have to pay well for them."
+
+"You're right, Nolla!" laughed Nancy, and her mother admitted as much.
+
+"Why couldn't we just take them down to the kitchen and pile them on the
+table. No one will know that we want them, and should anyone ask what we
+were doing up here and by what right we carried them down from the attic,
+we can honestly say that Abner said we could go over the house and see if
+there was anything we liked to buy," said Polly, with a collector's
+instinct for not paying extortionate prices for what she wanted.
+
+The girls laughed, but each one caught up some object, and having
+gathered all safely in their arms, they started down. The kitchen, being
+the least desirable room to visit in the farmer's wife's judgment, no one
+was there when Mrs. Fabian and the girls returned to it. Their
+discoveries were piled on the old drop-leaf table, and they grouped
+themselves at the doorways to keep guard over the prizes.
+
+A loud voice was shouting at the open front door, saying: "This are the
+terms of the sale: Everything bid on 's got to be paid fer the same day
+and removed from the premises in twenty-four hours--all but th'
+barn-stock. You'se kin take forty-eight hours fer them. I expecks
+everyone to pay cash fer anything they buy, 'cause I got enough trouble
+at that last sale at Hubbells' when a lot of you folks bid on stuff an'
+then went home an' left it on my hands. Hubbell's son had to give 'em
+away at last, and I lost all that commission. So, none of that, at this
+vendue!"
+
+Some of the assembled people looked guilty, and the auctioneer rode
+rough-shod over their feelings. "Anudder thing: Don't haggle on a cent!
+When I call out a decent bid on a thing, raise it a nickel, at least, if
+you wants it. This cent business--and at Hubbell's vendue, some of you'se
+even bid half a cent at a time--makes me tired! If a thing ain't wuth a
+cent more to yeh, then let it go to the other feller what wants it!"
+
+The girls laughed at this frank statement of _sense_, and Lemuel turned
+to see who had appreciated his speech. When he saw the city people Abner
+had mentioned, he felt warmed all through, for he felt sure he would earn
+some commissions that day.
+
+"Our first number is in th' kitchen. Ab, kin we get in thar, er had we
+better hold the stuff out here?" asked Lemuel.
+
+"I can't hold up the kitchen stove, kin I?" asked Abner, in an injured
+tone.
+
+The people laughed heartily, Mrs. Fabian's party joining more
+appreciatively than anyone.
+
+"All right," answered the auctioneer, in a matter-of-fact voice. "We'll
+try to crowd in. But don't anyone what don't want to bid on kitchen
+stuff, come and use the room from others!"
+
+It seemed that his very warning acted contrariwise for, to the girls, it
+looked as if everyone on the premises tried to crowd into that small
+room. Being first on the ground, they fared best for place. Mrs. Fabian
+mounted the steps leading to the attic and advised the girls to get up on
+the table, chairs, or other solid objects, to be able to look over the
+heads of the crowd.
+
+"Now, Ab, what you got first?" asked the auctioneer.
+
+Abner had his little book of items, and finding the table the first
+number inventoried, he called out: "Deal table and contents!"
+
+Now Polly stood on the table, and all the covers had been thrown upon it,
+also, so when Abner shouted out "table and contents" Lemuel laughed
+loudly.
+
+"Say, one of them contents is a mighty pooty gal, I kin tell yuh! I'll
+begin bidding myself, on such a bargain!"
+
+The country-folks laughed wildly at such a fine joke, and Polly, eager to
+own the other valuable contents, smiled with them and nodded her head at
+the salesman. He was not aware that she meant she would bid, for his
+customers always shouted forth their bids. Then a man asked: "What sort
+of contents is thar?"
+
+Abner pushed his way through the crowd to open the drawer in the table
+and enumerate the small ware mentioned as "contents," when he saw, to his
+surprise, that there was a heap of covers on the table.
+
+He picked them up and stared at them in dumbfounded amazement, then said:
+"Say, Lem, here's them old bed-quilts we had sech a job huntin' up. Whar
+the heck'd they come from, I'm sure I dunno!"
+
+"You got 'em, eh? Well, they ain't listed, so sell 'em fust. I'll mark
+them an 'A' lot. Who wants to bid on a ole bed-spread?" called Lemuel.
+
+Had the women-folk known of bedding to be sold in the kitchen, there
+would have been a mad rush for it. But most of them were waiting for the
+blankets and comfortables found in the two small bed-rooms annexed to the
+parlor. So but few were in the kitchen when the old candle-wicking spread
+was bid on by Polly, and knocked down to her for a dollar-ninety.
+
+Eleanor got the blue and white woven coverlet for a dollar and a half,
+and Mrs. Fabian bought the linen towels "in a lot" for two dollars. The
+old brasses that were also listed as an "A" lot were knocked down as
+follows: Polly bought the ancient foot-warmer for sixty cents; Eleanor
+secured the warming-pan for a dollar, and Dodo, the set of fire-irons
+with acorn tops, for three dollars. These undreamed-of bargains elated
+the girls so that they lost all discretion for a time.
+
+"Now that we've cleared them things out of our way, we'll sell the
+table," said Lemuel, and forthwith he gave the table to a farmer for
+fifty cents.
+
+"What 'che got next, Ab?" asked he.
+
+"Some kitchen dishes," replied Abner, as he opened the cupboard and
+displayed several samples of blue ware.
+
+Eleanor saw the familiar pattern of the pagodas and willows that are
+found on old willow-ware, and instantly decided that these must be rare
+antiques because they were found in the same house as the ancient objects
+just acquired by her and her friends. So she raised the first bid of ten
+cents for eight odd pieces, to a dollar.
+
+The auctioneer gasped. He gazed at Eleanor and said faintly: "Did you bid
+a dollar?"
+
+"Of course!"
+
+"All right, Miss, you kin have them, but pay me now fer them, and don't
+come back naggin' me to say I stuck you wid cracked plates, and nicked
+saucers. You saw'd them afore you bid!"
+
+Eleanor laughed, and handed over a dollar bill, but Mrs. Fabian tried to
+catch her eye to warn her not to bid recklessly on other things. Polly
+stood up on the table wondering why Eleanor got the old kitchen dishes.
+
+The moment Lemuel had the dollar safely in his pocket, he remarked: "Gee!
+I'm goin' out of this second-hand sellin' and lay in a stock of ten-cent
+blue dishes to sell!"
+
+One of the farmers haw-hawed and said: "That's how Coolworth made so much
+money! Gettin' so much cheap stuff and findin' a pack of silly women to
+buy 'em."
+
+Eleanor tossed her head, but had she kept quiet she would not have been
+the object of pity she found herself, afterward. In self-justification of
+her purchase, she called out: "You people don't know genuine old
+Wedgewood when you see it. I've got a big bargain in those eight plates!"
+
+At that statement, a quiet young fellow, who had been standing about
+watching progress and noting the bids on a paper, laughed. "I don't want
+anyone to say they was taken in at my folk's sale; but I got'ta tell that
+young lady that I bought them blue dishes _myself_, last year, at the
+tea-store in White Plains fer ten cents each."
+
+Even Polly had to join in the laugh at Eleanor's expense now, and poor
+Nolla felt like selling herself for a nickel. But the auctioneer had
+scant time for jokes or reckless buyers as he was there for business. So
+he finished the kitchen and called them into the parlor. Here Polly
+secured a china dog such as were common sixty to eighty years ago;
+Eleanor got a real bargain, this time, in buying two century old
+flower-vases for fifty cents. Mrs. Fabian saw an old engraving of
+"Washington Crossing the Delaware," as it was taken from the wall behind
+the door, and offered for a quarter. On the spur of the moment she raised
+the bid five cents and got the picture which later proved to be one of
+the rare old originals, worth several hundred dollars.
+
+Dodo ran up a pair of girandoles that stood on the narrow mantel-shelf in
+the front room, and finally got them for three dollars. Such an
+unheard-of price made the buyers look at her in pity, and Lemuel
+remarked:
+
+"Well, some folks has more money than sense!"
+
+Dodo's friends laughed heartily at this criticism, but she cared little
+for them all, because she knew what she had obtained for her money.
+
+The two bed-rooms were so small that few people could get in, so the
+auctioneer ordered Abner to carry the articles for sale, out on the lawn
+where everyone could see them. Had it not been for this sensible advice,
+Polly would never have seen or secured the fine old set of Staffordshire
+toilet-ware that was knocked down to her for four dollars.
+
+It consisted of ewer in quaint shape, basin deep enough to be a huge
+punch-bowl, a soap-plate, a mug, and a commode. The rich deep coloring of
+the design on the china was lovely, and every piece was in good order.
+
+The young man who had told the truth about the eight dishes from the
+tea-store, congratulated Polly and said: "That set has been in our family
+for more'n a hundred years. My grandmother used to keep it fer show, er
+when we had fine comp'ny comin' to see us. That's how it kept so good."
+
+"Oh, don't you want to keep it, then?" asked Polly, regretfully.
+
+"Nah, I'm goin' west on the money I git outen this sale, an' I'd ruther
+see someone what likes it own it, than any old clod-hopper about these
+parts!"
+
+Polly felt sure the owner had not been lovingly treated by the people he
+glanced at as he spoke. But she learned, just before leaving the place
+that afternoon, that he felt so antagonistic against his neighbors
+because of their frank criticism of his habit of spending his
+inheritance.
+
+Because of this unwise recklessness, he had had to mortgage the old farm,
+and when the proceeds of that had been spent, he had to sell out.
+"Perhaps his going west, where he would have to work hard for his living,
+would be his salvation, after this," thought Polly.
+
+Mrs. Fabian allowed the girls to watch the sale until the contents of the
+house were sold out and then she suggested that they start back home. The
+bargains were carefully placed between the coverlets purchased, and then
+the buyers got in the car.
+
+The country-people were all crowding to the barns to bid on stock and
+farm-utensils when Carl started the engine. With a last look at the
+little house where they had found their interesting antiques, the
+collectors left.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+POLLY'S HUNT IN 'JERSEY
+
+
+The collectors took several long trips, after the vendue in Westchester
+County, but found nothing of value at any place.
+
+Still they lived in hopes, and towards the last of October, Polly
+suggested that they try New Jersey for a change. A girl who attended Art
+Classes told Polly of several very old places within the vicinity of
+Springfield and Morristown--both old Revolutionary towns of historic
+fame.
+
+So Carl drove up to the Fabian home early one Saturday morning, and Mrs.
+Fabian with her party, hurried out with luncheon and wraps, and were soon
+speeding away for the ferry-boat that would take them across the North
+River.
+
+The girls had never been in New Jersey, and found much to admire in the
+picturesque, rolling land of the Jersey Hills. They left Newark behind,
+and drove along the Union Turnpike road until they reached the Forks.
+Here they turned to the left and in a short time, were going through the
+ancient town of Springfield.
+
+They were already past it, before Mrs. Fabian found what place it was.
+Then they laughed, and turned back again to visit a shop on the main
+street. Mrs. Fabian got out of the car and went in to question the
+proprietor.
+
+"Do you know of any old houses, near here, where one can secure old bits
+of furniture, or antique objects?"
+
+The man chuckled. "Say, Madam, if I have one person ask me that same
+question, I have dozens stop to question me. I tells them all, the same
+as I tells you now--the only antique I can send them to anywhere about
+Springfield, is that old church on the corner, where you can see the hole
+blown in the side by a cannon ball, when the British were here. And over
+yonder, you will find a burial ground where many old Indians are buried,
+with their stone arrow-heads and other trophies with them. The crumbling
+grey-stone slabs and the ancient tombs found there, will give you the
+dates. Some go as far back as two hundred, or two hundred and fifty
+years."
+
+Mrs. Fabian thanked him and returned to the girls to repeat the
+conversation she had had with the shop-keeper. They all declared for a
+visit to the old church, and then to the cemetery, so Carl drove back and
+they visited both places.
+
+In the ancient burial ground, they read many queer epitaphs on the head
+stones, and some of these the girls copied down. Then they got back in
+the automobile and Carl was told to drive on to Morristown.
+
+This place was found to be so dreadfully modern, that no hope of
+discovering antiques was left alive in their hearts. But it was noon and
+they were hungry, so they discussed the advisability of going to a
+lunch-room, or driving into the country and having the picnic lunch.
+
+"As long as we brought such a nice luncheon with us, why stop at a hotel
+or restaurant to eat?" asked Polly.
+
+"There really isn't any sense in doing that, but there certainly isn't
+any picnic place in this town," declared Eleanor.
+
+"Well, then let's start out and find one away from here," suggested
+Polly.
+
+"I'll make another proposition, girls," said Mrs. Fabian. "Why not stop
+at that Public Library we just passed, and find out if there are any
+notable spots in the vicinity of this town, where we might find old
+houses or old objects?"
+
+"Well, the idea is good, but really, Mrs. Fabian, this town impresses me
+most emphatically with this fact: that the residents have as much desire
+for antiques as we have; and most likely, they started in years before we
+ever were born, to rake over the country-side, which must have been rich
+with old furniture and other things from Washington's days here, so as to
+collect all those things for themselves," was Dodo's sensible remark.
+
+The others smiled at her practical words, and Mrs. Fabian agreed with
+her. "But it will do no harm to stop just a moment to ask the attendant
+at the Library if she knows of any place in New Jersey where we might
+indulge our craze of collecting."
+
+Carl then turned around and they were soon back at the Library. The girls
+remained in the car while Mrs. Fabian went indoors to ask questions of
+the agreeable lady at the desk.
+
+"I'm sure you will find a few old bits, here and there, about the
+country-side," said the lady, in reply to Mrs. Fabian's questions. "In
+fact, my friend furnished her old-fashioned house that she recently
+bought of an old 1776 family, by driving about through the Mendham
+country, down through New Vernon and Baskingridge--all famous
+Revolutionary places, you know--and by visiting places as far away as
+Bound Brook, Plainfield, and the country about Trenton. I was amazed at
+the number of old things she managed to secure."
+
+Being given a pencil sketch of what roads to follow to reach Mendham, or
+Baskingridge, Mrs. Fabian thanked her informer most graciously. Suddenly
+the lady said:
+
+"Now that you are in town, why not drive down to a little auction room
+I've heard of, just off Washington Street, and see if you can find
+anything in that Paradise for old stuff?"
+
+"We will! Where is it, and how do we get there?"
+
+"The man's name is Van Styne, and he used to be a magnet for attracting
+the oldest pieces to his store-rooms! People used to commission him when
+they wanted anything in particular, and in some super-natural manner, he
+used to have it for them in a few days' time. It would have taken
+ordinary individuals years, with plenty of money and energy, to
+accomplish the same result."
+
+Again Mrs. Fabian thanked her interested informer, and left the library.
+The girls were told of the conversation and they all voted to go to Van
+Styne's old auction rooms first, and then try to locate an old farm-house
+along the road to Mendham, or in the opposite direction, towards
+Baskingridge.
+
+The building where "Van Styne--Auctioneer and Appraiser" had his sign
+displayed, for the public's guidance, was a long low place that had been
+used as the carriage house of "Liberty Stable" years before. The tiny
+windows, high up in a row along the front, were stall-marks that told
+what it had been in the past. Now it was an "Emporium" for all who needed
+second-hand furniture at a bargain; or for those who sought antiques of
+any kind, to add to their amateur collections.
+
+Mr. Van Styne was a white-haired, long-whiskered, thin man who sat tilted
+back in a broken-through rush-bottom chair that had never had a bid at
+his weekly auctions, hence it was put to some use in his office to pay
+for storage. His feet were resting on the flat-table-desk in front of
+him, and he was sweetly snoring when the girls opened the door of the
+room.
+
+Such an unheard of thing as customers in the early part of the afternoon,
+caused him to jump up and remove his aged straw hat that had been tilted
+over his eyes to keep out the sun-light.
+
+"We came to see if we could find anything in your salesroom," began Mrs.
+Fabian, noting the dust that lay thick on everything, and the heaped up
+motley collection of family possessions displayed in the long adjoining
+stable-room.
+
+"What kind of furniture do you need?" asked he, stifling a yawn.
+
+"Why, anything old enough to be interesting. We heard that you were a
+wizard in finding antiques for people."
+
+The proprietor disclaimed such power, and said with a grin that displayed
+several gaps in his yellowed teeth, "You can mosey about, out there, to
+your heart's content. If you find anything likely, call me an' I'll tell
+you what it's wuth."
+
+He waved his arm to the long stacked-up storeroom, and then sat down
+again. In another moment his feet were up on the desk and his hat tipped
+down over his eyes. His hands were calmly folded over his waist-coat and
+he settled down to snooze, once more.
+
+The girls giggled aloud and hurried after Mrs. Fabian to keep from
+laughing outright at the ambitious salesman. They prowled about and
+pulled out lots of things and examined many other old articles, soiling
+their gloves and dresses, without finding a thing that was of any value.
+
+Finally Polly dragged out an old walnut chest of drawers to see what was
+stored back of it, that kept it so far away from the wall. She discovered
+a group of large, framed pictures standing against the wall, evidently
+forgotten by the auctioneer, as they were covered with a thick coating of
+dust.
+
+"Come and help me lift these out, will you, Nolla?" called Polly, as
+Eleanor stood waiting for something new to look at.
+
+In another moment, both girls were hauling out the mass of pictures,
+whose wires and screw-eyes were so entangled that to get at one, you had
+to drag all out at the same time.
+
+"My goodness! Just look at our hands!" exclaimed Eleanor, holding up such
+dirty hands that Polly laughed.
+
+"The result of digging!" said she, managing to separate one smaller frame
+from the others.
+
+As she turned it over to study the picture, she was greatly disappointed
+to find it had an old, cheap, stained frame. The picture seemed
+nondescript to her. It was a scene of an old bridge with fine old trees
+on both banks of the river. Quaintly costumed people strolled along both
+sides of the stream, and a funny tower rose at the further end of the
+bridge. The colors were crude and primary--no fine shading or artistic
+handling to be seen. A title under the picture, and several inscriptions
+in French at the left side of the bottom, were so stained and blurred as
+to be totally unreadable with the naked eye.
+
+Meantime, Eleanor had managed to free the next frame, which was a huge
+affair of old mahogany. The glass was so dreadfully dusty that not a bit
+of the picture underneath could be seen. She looked about for something
+to use as a duster, and saw an old end of chenille curtain on the walnut
+dresser. This she used and wiped away as much of the dirt as would come
+off with hard work--the rest must have hot water and soap.
+
+"Well, I declare! Look at this old engraving!" called she to the others.
+Polly was at hand, and saw that Eleanor had actually found a treasure.
+
+Mrs. Fabian hurried across the room and took her magnifying glass from
+her handbag being always prepared with it in case of need to study
+signatures and other nearly effaced trade-marks.
+
+The large engraving represented the Independence Hall at Philadelphia,
+and under that was the famous Declaration of Independence, with all the
+original signatures following. The picture of the Hall was engraved on a
+smaller bit of paper and had been mounted at the top of the printed
+matter. The engraving was signed by the engraver, and dated. Affidavits
+at the bottom of the parchment paper stated that this was one of the
+original documents made by Order of Congress for use in the Government
+Buildings so that the first original paper and signatures could be
+preserved as a relic, by the United States.
+
+"Why, this wonderful old paper is more than a hundred and thirty years
+old!" exclaimed Mrs. Fabian amazed.
+
+"My goodness me! How much do you suppose I shall have to pay to get it?"
+gasped Eleanor.
+
+"I don't know, but you really ought to shake that dirty rag thoroughly
+over the glass again, to hide what is under it," advised Dodo, with
+astuteness.
+
+The others laughed. But Polly had another suggestion to make. "Let's see
+what else we can find in this stack of pictures. We will choose a number
+of them and then make an offer on the lot, as much as to say we need
+bargain-frames for other uses. This rare find of Nolla's will be hidden
+in with the rest."
+
+"Polly's idea is best. Because the old man will know that we wouldn't buy
+a picture with all the dust covering the glass," said Nancy Fabian.
+
+[Illustration: A CRY FROM POLLY CAUGHT THEIR FULLEST ATTENTION.
+Polly's Business Venture. Page 139]
+
+"What's the little old one you've got in your hands, Polly?" now asked
+Mrs. Fabian.
+
+"Oh, nothing much. It looks like an ugly little chromo printed before
+people knew how to use colors on printing-presses."
+
+Mrs. Fabian leaned over Polly's shoulder to take a look, and puckered her
+forehead when she saw the yellowed paper and old stained edges of the
+picture.
+
+"Polly, I verily believe that here you have something that Mr. Fabian has
+lectured on several times. Let me examine it."
+
+While the girls crowded about her, Mrs. Fabian placed the picture, face
+downwards, on the table near by and tried to draw out the old headless
+tacks driven in to hold the backboard snugly in its place.
+
+"Well, whoever framed this picture did it for all time!" exclaimed she,
+breaking several fingernails and tearing the skin on her hands in the
+attempt to loosen the fine steel nails.
+
+"Here! I've found an old pair of broken scissors in this desk--let's use
+them to clinch the nails and force them out," said Nancy, handing her
+mother the shears.
+
+With this assistance, Mrs. Fabian soon had the nails out and then
+carefully removed the old sections of thin boards. Under the boards was a
+yellowed newspaper, folded neatly, and so wedged in at the edges of the
+frame that no dust could work a way through to the picture. Without a
+thought of the paper, Mrs. Fabian took it out and expected to see the
+back of the picture. Instead, she found a yellow-stained letter written
+to Paul Revere Esq. and signed by one of the famous men of the
+Revolution. It was a personal letter of that time, and had been used to
+paste over a crack in the back of the picture.
+
+"Why--why! How very wonderful!" breathed Mrs. Fabian, as she stared at
+the old letter.
+
+"What is it--anything valuable?" asked the girls.
+
+"A genuine letter written to Paul Revere! Now that I think of it, girls,
+Paul Revere lived in Morristown and his home is still intact on De Hart
+Street, I believe. This old picture must have come from his house; or in
+some way, this letter found its way into someone else's hands and was
+used at that time for scrap paper to mend this picture. Now let's see
+what the picture is."
+
+But a cry from Polly, who had picked up the old newspaper and now had
+opened it wide, caught their fullest attention.
+
+"Oh, oh! Isn't this too funny for anything! Listen and I will read it."
+Then Polly read aloud an advertisement in the tiny old newspaper, of a
+Squire at Baskingridge who wished to sell a healthy, young negro wench of
+unquestionable pedigree. Price and particulars would be given any
+interested buyer.
+
+"Polly!" chorused her audience, in surprise. "That paper must be as old
+as the letter!"
+
+"And see, girls!" added Mrs. Fabian. "It has great heavy black borders on
+the outside. What for, Polly?"
+
+Polly turned over the sheet with utmost care, as it was so dry and
+brittle, and to the speechless astonishment of them all, it showed that
+the mourning bands were used for the death of George Washington. The
+entire front page was devoted to the news of his demise which had
+occurred the day before going to press. His fame, and value to the United
+States, were spoken of, and other features of his life were touched upon.
+His picture, printed from an old wood-cut, headed the page. All the
+spelling was such as was common at that time with the letter "e" tacked
+on when possible and the old English "f's" were used for "s's" and
+long-stemmed "p's," and high-browed "a's" and "i's," were formed to show
+readers that the writer and editor was a well-educated man.
+
+"Oh my! Must we fold it up and put it back of that board again?" sighed
+Polly, finally.
+
+"If you want a bargain, that is what you'd better do," returned Mrs.
+Fabian.
+
+"Maybe the picture is as old as the paper," ventured Polly.
+
+The thought of the picture had completely vanished from the mind of Mrs.
+Fabian when she saw the rare old newspaper; but now she quickly picked up
+the article and turned it over. The magnifying glass was once more
+brought to bear upon the subject, and after several minutes of
+inspection,--minutes of impatient hesitation on the part of the
+girls,--she looked up bewildered with her discovery.
+
+"Polly, this is really the missing picture that will complete the set
+that is on exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum, in New York. It is one
+of the famous color-prints made in France about the sixteenth century,
+and the subject is the famous Bridge at Avignon. This is worth thousands
+of dollars, dear, and I hesitate to tell you what to offer for it."
+
+Polly would have taken the rare picture out to the still sleeping man and
+offered him a sum that would have made him sit up and investigate the
+matter for himself. But clever Dodo advised another method.
+
+"If you offer more than the old frame is actually worth, when you say you
+will pay so much for the frames--he will see right off that there's a
+'nigger in the woodpile.' Let's tangle up a few of these old black-walnut
+frames with the two valuable pictures, and I'll bargain for you."
+
+"Better let Mrs. Fabian bargain--you know how she got the candle-sticks
+in exchange for a two-dollar 'bankit' lamp," Eleanor reminded them.
+
+"I'll do it, while you girls keep on poking about as if to find other
+things," declared Mrs. Fabian. "Here, Polly, let us fix this frame up
+exactly as it was before, and I'll take four out of the pile and place
+them, one on top of the other, upon this dresser, and then call the man
+out to quote me a price on the lot."
+
+This was carefully done, dust being shaken out of the old curtain so that
+the glass was again coated, and then dust was shaken over the back where
+the board had been removed and cleaned.
+
+A dreadful lithograph showing a string of fish, framed in a wide gilt
+affair, was one that was chosen for the group. An oval frame with a
+woman's photograph in it, was another selected. Then the four were
+arranged: The large engraving at the bottom, the fish next, then the
+little old relic, and on top, the oval frame. All four appeared dirty and
+insignificant as they lay on the top of the dresser; and to finish the
+work, Polly used the chenille rag to gather up as much dust as possible
+from the filthy floor, and shook it vigorously over all the frames. Such
+a choking and coughing as ensued made them separate in haste, for fear
+the noise would make the auctioneer come out to enquire.
+
+But he was too deeply concerned with some pleasant dream to awake to
+business, before his usual time for the afternoon siesta had ended, so
+Mrs. Fabian went out to rouse him.
+
+"Eh, what did you say?" exclaimed he, jumping up.
+
+"I want you to tell me how much are a few picture-frames which we found
+in a corner."
+
+"Oh, anything you like. How much do you think they are wuth?" was his
+reply.
+
+Mrs. Fabian smiled pleasantly. "That is not what I said. You are the
+salesman and I the buyer. You should state a price."
+
+"Um--ah!" yawned Mr. Van Styne at this, and stretched his arms out over
+his head. "I s'pose that ends my nap, eh?"
+
+He shuffled out of the office after Mrs. Fabian and went into the
+store-house. When he saw the girls poking about amongst the old chairs,
+bureaus, and motley collection of furniture, he laughed, and said:
+"That's right! Find all the old bargains you can. I'm your man to sell
+them cheap to you."
+
+Had he but known what he was about to do!
+
+Mrs. Fabian led him down to the corner where the pile of four pictures
+were waiting on the dresser, and said: "These are the four I want a price
+on. The frames are all in good order and the glasses are not cracked at
+all."
+
+Mr. Van Styne took a pair of old steel-rimmed specs from the vest-pocket
+over his heart, and pushed them upon his thin nose. He picked up the top
+oval frame, blew off the dust and laughed at the homely face that stared
+out at him. He turned to Mrs. Fabian with a twinkle in his eyes and said,
+jokingly:
+
+"Now, if that gal was your relation and you wanted her ugly photograph
+that bad, I'd say the hull thing was wuth a dollar to you. But seein'
+it's fifty year old, and you ain't near that, yet, I will sell her fer a
+quarter. The glass is wuth that, I reckon."
+
+He placed it face down beside the other three pictures. "Now this one,"
+taking up the rare old print with the newspaper packed in the back,
+"Ain't wuth a darn, so why do you pick it out?"
+
+"But the glass is the right size and will cost me more to order, than I
+can get it for of you," remarked Mrs. Fabian, anxiously, while the girls
+held their breath.
+
+The old auctioneer heard the note of anxiety in her tone and peered over
+his specs to study her guileless expression. She instantly guarded
+herself, when she saw his look, and so he saw only a nice lady who was
+now picking up the fish-picture.
+
+"And this dining-room picture; how much will you take for _it_. Why not
+give me a job-lot price and I'll see. I may as well pack four as two in
+the automobile."
+
+But Mr. Van Styne had not known there was an automobile; and he was
+wondering now, why people with a car should come in and pick out a few
+picture glasses to save money. He glanced over the last picture which was
+the large engraving, and then turned it over to look at its back.
+
+"That's a mighty big sheet of glass in that one. That glass alone, cost
+about a dollar-forty. Then the frame's a good hard-wood frame, too. I'll
+look up my books and see who sent them pictures in for sale. Then I can
+see if they put a figger on them."
+
+He made notes of the chalk numbers marked on the backs of the
+picture-boards and then started for his office. Mrs. Fabian, with sinking
+heart, followed at his heels.
+
+"If he looks up his records and finds they came from the old house of
+Paul Revere and his descendants, he will never sell them at a decent
+price," thought she, impatiently.
+
+She sat opposite the old man while he fumbled the pages of his book and
+slowly glanced down the entries, his bent fore-finger pointing to each
+item carefully as he read.
+
+"Um! Here it is: Number 329, came from Sarah Dolan, who moved to a
+smaller flat last Spring. From this entry I see that all them seven
+pictures came from her. Do you happen to know her?"
+
+Mr. Van Styne glanced up at his companion.
+
+She shook her head, and he said, closing the book, "Why, Sally Dolan was
+cook fer the Revere boys, and when they broke up, she started a bordin'
+house down on Morris Street. Then she took rheumatiz and was that
+crippled, she couldn't get about the kitchen no more, so she gave up. Her
+boys manage to keep her now, and she takes things easy. But she sure was
+a good cook!"
+
+Much as Mrs. Fabian would have liked to question the old man about the
+Revere boys she feared he might remember that the cook was given a lot of
+old pictures when the boys "broke up", so she turned the subject
+adroitly.
+
+"Well, I'll go and see what the girls have found out there, I guess. But
+I wish you'd fix a price on those four frames."
+
+"Lem'me see, now. Sal Dolan didn't set no price, and if I say five
+dollars for the four, would you take 'em?"
+
+"Dear me!" objected Mrs. Fabian, craftily. "The large one you said was
+worth about a dollar-thirty, and the fish-picture a dollar. That leaves
+two dollars and seventy cents for the other two. Isn't that pretty high
+for them?"
+
+"But that fish picture makes a fine dinin' room piece, especially if you
+could get the mate what is a brace of quails."
+
+"Oh well, rather than jew you down, I'll take them, if you will take the
+trouble to make me out a receipt for the four."
+
+"Ain't this a cash sale?" queried the man, wonderingly.
+
+"Of course, but two of them are for friends. I only intend keeping the
+other two. I want them, to have the bill to show, you see."
+
+Thereupon Mr. Van Styne wrote out the bill on a scrap of paper and
+receipted it, and then counted the five one dollar bills Mrs. Fabian had
+paid him. "Ten per cent fer me and the rest for Sally," he added as he
+rolled fifty cents inside four one dollar bills and pocketed the other
+fifty cents.
+
+Mrs. Fabian was about to go for the pictures, when Polly came out. "I
+want to ask the auctioneer how much this little box and mirror are?" and
+she showed a lovely little Empire dressing-mirror to him. It was
+scratched and had been varnished, but its former beauty could be quickly
+restored, for the form and material were good as ever.
+
+"I'm told that is a real antique. That piece come from the old Revere
+place, too. Mrs. Dolan says she heard it was used by the boy's
+grandmother. But I don't know what to charge."
+
+"I'll give you ten dollars for it," eagerly said Polly.
+
+"Ten dollars!" gasped the man, sinking back in his desk-chair.
+
+Mrs. Fabian tried to signal Polly, but the girl was too intent on
+securing the gem. Then Mrs. Fabian said to the man:
+
+"Dear me! The child has more money than brains, eh?" and laughed
+heartily.
+
+"I ain't so sure about that. She certainly knows a good thing," returned
+Mr. Van Styne. Then he said to Polly: "Will you carry it right along with
+you, if I sell it for ten?"
+
+"Of course!" declared she, and the sale was made.
+
+"I guess we'd better be going, Polly," suggested Mrs. Fabian, now. This
+told the girl that the deal over the pictures had been consummated, but
+she did not ask questions then.
+
+Mrs. Fabian went back to gather up her four precious pictures, and had
+the other girls help her carry them away. Then they bid the good old man
+good-by and started off.
+
+"Come again, when you have more time to poke around," said he, as he
+stood on the doorstep watching them walk towards the car which was
+waiting a short distance down the street.
+
+"We certainly will, and if you get anything really antique in the place
+at any time, drop me word, or telephone to the address I left on your
+desk, just now," said Mrs. Fabian.
+
+Once the hunters were safely on the way to New York, the girls importuned
+Mrs. Fabian to tell them the story of the pictures, but she laughingly
+remarked:
+
+"Do you know, we forgot all about our luncheon! Poor Carl must be
+famished!"
+
+"Not much," retorted Carl. "I went to that quick lunch-room across from
+the old junk-shop, and got the best dinner for forty cents that I ever
+tasted. But we will stop for a picnic, when we reach the country, if you
+say so."
+
+"No, indeed! We'll eat as we drive along, Carl," said Mrs. Fabian, then
+turning to the girls, she told the tale[A] of the old pictures and what
+she paid for them.
+
+"Why!" gasped the wondering girls. "It can't be possible!"
+
+At that, Mrs. Fabian produced the bill of sale and said: "I got this in
+case there ever should be any dispute over the legality of this
+negotiation. The two awful pictures we can give to some family along the
+road, but the two precious ones we will cherish as if they were the
+Koh-i-noor Diamond."
+
+When the Ashbys and Mr. Fabian heard the story, and saw the validity of
+the two pictures, they sat astounded. Mr. Fabian then said:
+
+"Polly really ought to immortalize her name by presenting this missing
+scroll to the Metropolitan Museum, but she can keep the letter and
+newspaper. That ought to be worth the price she paid for the 'glass'."
+
+"That's just what I'll do, Mr. Fabian. I would never feel happy if I
+_kept_ a thing that is considered so rare, and has been sought for by the
+Museum's collectors."
+
+So Polly Brewster's name is to be found ticketed as the donor of the
+twelfth valuable picture in that set.
+
+-----
+[Footnote A: True incident in author's experience.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+UNEXPECTED NEWS FROM PEBBLY PIT
+
+
+The young collectors experienced the usual "red-tape" in offering the
+rare picture to the Museum, and after the customary delays, it was
+accepted with letters of thanks. Individual letters from several
+officials were written to Polly and her friends, voicing the appreciation
+of the men at being able to complete the series.
+
+Shortly after this pleasing incident, the girls went out on another
+excursion just across the Hudson, in New Jersey. They took the ferry at
+One Hundred and Thirtieth Street, and after reaching Edgewater, drove
+through the small towns nestling on the Hackensack, until they came to
+the village of Hasbrouck Heights. All about this section are old, old
+houses, and if you hunt keenly enough, you will find delightful odd bits
+from Revolutionary days.
+
+That evening, upon their return, the girls were eager to compare their
+trophies of the day, but the maid came in with a day letter for Polly.
+The others waited for her to read it, and as she read, her expression
+changed perceptibly.
+
+"Oh, oh! It's happened again!" cried she fearfully, as she finished the
+letter.
+
+"What! What has happened?" anxiously asked her companions, crowding about
+her.
+
+"Another slide on Grizzly. This time it has destroyed _everything_ so
+that mining the gold is out of the question," and Polly gave the message
+to Mrs. Fabian to read aloud.
+
+"Bad land-slide on Grizzly. Demolished all machinery and wiped out the
+entire surface of mountain-top. No lives lost, but cave and vein of ore
+lost. Topography completely changed. Wait for summer to start new search
+and locate gold. Letter sent to Latimer and Dalken. Ask them for
+particulars. John Brewster."
+
+"Oh, Polly! That means that our gold mine has vanished, and all our
+income from it will be stopped!" cried Eleanor.
+
+"We haven't had any income to stop," replied Polly, cynically. "About all
+the good we've ever had from Choko's Find Mine has been violent physical
+exercise, expenses and the dreams that buoy hope."
+
+Her friends laughed in spite of the seriousness of the matter, and
+Eleanor added: "It also means that Daddy, and all of our New York
+investors, have lost the money they invested in the project."
+
+"Well, when Tom Latimer called on me the evening after our ducking in the
+Bay, he said he was not in favor of working on the mine so late in the
+season. He thought John was taking dreadful risks to keep the plant open
+when snowstorms and slides were imminent.
+
+"But John told him that plenty of snow was just what was needed on the
+peaks, to cement the chasms and crevices together that had been opened by
+the summer's heat and continued drought all Fall. In case no snow came,
+he said he would agree to abandon work when the cold weather became too
+severe to remain at that altitude."
+
+"This unexpected accident and loss of the mine does not prevent the
+output of the lava jewels, Polly, so there'll be no noticeable difference
+in your income, will there?" asked Mrs. Fabian.
+
+"Well, Tom explained it all to me. He said that mine affairs were so
+involved with the jewel works at Rainbow Cliffs, that one disaster
+affected the other interest. Rainbow Cliffs is part of Pebbly Pit Ranch,
+so the Cliffs were incorporated when work began on the mining of the
+lava. Then when trouble at Choko's Find Mine started, the mines at
+Rainbow Cliffs were mortgaged to secure financial aid for the gold mine
+on the mountains. So that everything is mixed up now in this calamity,"
+explained Polly, tearfully.
+
+Soon after this, the telephone rang. Mr. Latimer said he was coming to
+call, that evening, and Mr. Dalken wished to come in at the same time.
+Would the girls be home?
+
+Polly assured him they would, and also that he would be welcomed as she
+wished to hear about the important matters that he could fully explain to
+her.
+
+Soon after eight o'clock, therefore, Mr. Latimer and Mr. Dalken were
+announced. Polly and Eleanor--the latter had realized that maybe her
+future, because of this disaster to the mine would not be as luxurious as
+she had dreamed of--anxiously welcomed the two men. Polly lost no time in
+polite nothings, but asked, at once, about the conditions at the mines.
+
+"I see you have heard about the trouble?" ventured Mr. Latimer.
+
+"Yes, I received a long night letter from home, this afternoon. But they
+do not say whether there is anything left to pay my way in New York, or
+whether I ought to start for home," said Polly.
+
+Eleanor was shocked at her words. "Why, Polly, surely you have no dread
+of such being the case, just because our old gold mine is choked again?"
+
+"Don't you understand, Nolla, that starting work on the mine, and all the
+machinery for it, costs so much that not only is the lava mine involved,
+but the very ranch is risked. Maybe father will have to sell out his
+beloved farm and go away," explained Polly, with quivering lips.
+
+"Oh no, Polly," hastily came from Mr. Latimer. "We are all stock-holders
+in this venture, you know, and one man alone does not bear the costs of
+the mine and its losses. That is why Mr. Dalken and I came over, tonight,
+when we got word that John had written you. We feared you might not
+understand matters."
+
+"But I understand father, well enough, Mr. Latimer. He will never permit
+anyone to lose a penny because of him or his interests."
+
+"Maybe he won't, Polly, but this mining venture was as much our interest
+as yours, or your father's, remember. It seems gone, this time, but we
+must take our loss as courageously as we would our profits. Tom wired me
+to come and see you and explain that you need make no change in any of
+your plans, as everything would go on as usual at the ranch. He and John
+will devote all of their time to the Cliffs now, instead of dividing
+their attention between the two mines, as they have been doing,
+heretofore," explained Mr. Latimer.
+
+"But your mother wrote me, Polly," now said Mr. Dalken, "that finances
+would be rather strained for the next year, because of this tremendous
+outlay on the mines and no income; and the terrible drought that killed
+off so many head of cattle on the ranch this year, makes things look
+rather unpromising. I know how practical you are, and I thought it best
+to let you hear how matters stand. Your folks asked me not to mention it,
+because they wanted you to finish your studies here, and there are ample
+funds to pay for that. But I took it upon myself to warn you about going
+deeply into any antique purchases, in your auction fever."
+
+"I'm so glad you did, Mr. Dalken. As you say, I am not a silly child, and
+now that I know exactly how matters are at home, I will see if I cannot
+do something while studying in New York, to pay my own way," responded
+Polly, anxiously.
+
+"Oh, it isn't as bad as that, Child!" laughed Mr. Latimer; "but it is
+best for you not to buy in Fifth Avenue shops, or give away rare old
+bargains from the country."
+
+Polly smiled. "Mr. Latimer, this is what I propose doing to earn my
+expenses in New York. Instead of buying old objects for fun, I shall
+secure them to sell again and make money."
+
+"Poll is right! And I propose going with her as the partner in her first
+business venture!" declared Eleanor.
+
+"Where will you two girls find customers?" asked Mr. Dalken, admiring the
+way they accepted the news that their gold mine seemed wiped out for all
+time.
+
+"Oh, Polly'll find a way, never fear!" declared Eleanor with fervent
+faith in her friend's ability to accomplish things.
+
+"Yes, I'll get Mr. Ashby, first of all, to permit us to exhibit our goods
+in his 'odd room' and we'll pay him a commission for sales, just as other
+folks do who wish to exchange, or sell, their antiques," explained Polly.
+
+"Well, if you girls manage to find such valuable things as that famous
+missing picture that the Museum made such a time over, I should say you
+had found a big gold mine in New York instead of losing a little one in
+the Rockies," said Mr. Dalken.
+
+So, shortly after the girls learned that they had to economise on
+expenses that year, Polly carried her old coverlets to Mr. Ashby's shop
+and left them with him to sell. The fine little mirror had been restored
+and was perfectly beautiful. This was placed on exhibition in the Empire
+Room of the Ashby Shop, but scarcely had it had time to be friendly with
+other rare objects in that room, before it was purchased at a high price.
+Thus Polly cleared several hundred dollars on the first sale, and felt
+encouraged to invest that money in new purchases.
+
+Mr. Dalken gladly sent Carl with the car, to drive the girls whenever
+they heard of a place to visit, but Ruth and Nancy seldom accompanied
+them these days. Ruth had school to attend daily, and Nancy was painting
+a portrait for a famous stage beauty who had offered her an attractive
+price for the work.
+
+The girls, with Mrs. Fabian, had gone again to New Jersey, after their
+great investment that day in Van Styne's place; but they drove on to
+Baskingridge that day, and stopped at several ancient farm-houses to
+ferret for old things. At one of the places, they secured some very old
+glassware, also odd pieces of Staffordshire, and a well-nigh complete set
+of old Wedgewood dishes.
+
+At another house they got a set of old brass fire-irons and a crane with
+all the hangers and pots complete, just as it had been removed from the
+brick fire-place and thrown up in the attic.
+
+At the third house, Polly became enamored of a wonderful sampler, and
+several very old silhouettes--the latter, very different from the kind we
+are familiar with. As these old relics were in the attic and were
+considered valueless, she got them for a very small sum.
+
+While Polly was bargaining for these trifles, Eleanor was in the
+grandmother's room looking at several marvelous patch-work quilts. The
+old dame told Eleanor the story connected with each quilt; and one, the
+unusual one of silk pieces, as well as worsteds, patched in with calico,
+velvet and other odd materials, was said to be made of a collection of
+famous bits from gowns worn by the ladies of Revolutionary Days.
+
+How the old grand-dame ever came into possession of such a valuable
+quilt, was beyond Eleanor's comprehension. Then Polly and the house-wife
+joined her, and Polly was shown the quilt.
+
+"How very interesting," remarked she.
+
+"Yes, and I'll tell you how it came about," explained Mrs. Johnson.
+"We've always lived on this place, and when the Army passed this way, our
+folks helped out in all sorts of ways.
+
+"During the winter that General Washington and his Lady were stationed at
+Morristown, there was lots of doings all about the county. You'll read in
+the history of Lady Washington, how she was entertained by the first
+families about here--the Fords, the Footes, and others.
+
+"Our great-grandmother was a fine needlewoman and went about to the
+houses making gowns and cloaks for the ladies. She always saved the
+scraps of silk and stuff that was wasted, and of these she patched
+several quilts. On the back of each bit of these materials, she pasted
+little book-muslin tickets that had the name and date printed on it, of
+the lady and the occasion she wore the gown. So on the back of each of
+these pieces is still to be found the printing of that ancestress of
+mine."
+
+"Oh, isn't this interesting!" exclaimed Polly, eagerly.
+
+And Eleanor asked: "Where are the other quilts?"
+
+"We don't exactly know what happened to the others she made; but this one
+came right down from grandmother's mother to her, then to my mother, and
+now to me."
+
+"Would any price tempt you to sell it?" asked Polly.
+
+"Nothin' on earth, whiles I live. But I haven't any children, and
+goodness only knows what will become of the dear old heirloom. Why did
+you ask?"
+
+"How I would love to own it! Not for its value in money but really to
+hold it as a precious patriotic reminder of those days when the ladies,
+even though they dressed fine and had good times, performed such heroic
+and almost super-human deeds for the Army," explained Polly.
+
+Mrs. Johnson gazed keenly at the girl's face for a few moments, then
+said: "Tell me your name and address: I am going to write it out now,
+that this quilt is to be yours any time I die; and you must be as careful
+of it as we have been. Always keep tar-paper, or tobacco in it, during
+summer when moths fly about."
+
+Polly thanked the lady very seriously and promised to be most careful of
+it in every way, but she said she hoped Mrs. Johnson would live a long
+time to enjoy the quilt as her own family relic.
+
+On the drive back through Morristown that day, Mrs. Fabian had Carl stop
+at Mr. Van Styne's auction rooms, but the old man was not in, and the
+door was locked. A sheet of paper tacked inside the sash of the door,
+announced that the owner was at Parsippany numbering household goods for
+an auction to be held in two weeks' time.
+
+Mrs. Fabian made a note of the name and location of the house where the
+sale was to be held, and came back to the automobile. She showed the
+paper to the girls, and said:
+
+"We'll try to get out here for that sale. But I'll write Mr. Van Styne
+first, and ask him what sort of things the people have."
+
+"Yes, it would be silly to come so far and find the house contained
+nothing but horrid old modern stuff," said Eleanor.
+
+Arriving home, late that afternoon, Mrs. Fabian was given a letter sent
+from the old auctioneer at Morristown. He had kept his word and notified
+the young collectors of the sale about to be held at Parsippany: the sale
+they had heard about that day.
+
+"He says, in this letter," explained Mrs. Fabian after reading it, "the
+old farm-house where the vendue will take place, is filled with real old
+furniture; the family that owned the farm have held it for five
+generations. Mr. Van Styne admits that he is not enough of a connoisseur
+to judge the actual value of the antiques, but there are some mahogany
+pieces, and loads of queer old things that _his_ wife would have kept in
+the attic, or split up for kindlings. As he thinks this is what is now
+called 'Period Furniture,' he would suggest that we run out and have a
+look at it before the day of the sale."
+
+"The letter sounds exactly like him, doesn't it?" laughed Polly.
+
+"Yes, but it is very nice of him to be so honest about it. Most
+auctioneers would tell us the furniture was wonderful," returned Mrs.
+Fabian.
+
+"When do you think we can run out there, Mrs. Fabian?" asked Eleanor,
+eagerly.
+
+"We'll find out what day Carl can best arrange for the trip. We mustn't
+'drive a willing horse to death,' you know."
+
+Later in the evening, the telephone bell rang and Polly was called to the
+'phone. The maid who answered the ring said it was a man's voice but she
+had not been able to understand the name.
+
+Eleanor heard her chum say: "Oh, really! We've been wondering what became
+of you. It was so surprising to find you were an old friend of our Mr.
+Dalken's and then never hear from you again, or have anyone know where
+you had gone."
+
+Mrs. Fabian glanced questioningly at Eleanor, but the girl shook her head
+in token of her ignorance of who the caller could be. Then they heard
+Polly say: "Why, I reckon so. If you'll hold the wire a moment, I'll run
+and ask Mrs. Fabian."
+
+A few moments later, Polly rushed into the room and said eagerly: "Jack
+Baxter is on the 'phone and wants to know if he may come in, tomorrow
+evening, Mrs. Fabian. He says he has a little furniture commission for
+Nolla and me to take care of."
+
+Mrs. Fabian immediately replied that the young man would be welcomed the
+following evening, and Polly hurried back to deliver the invitation.
+Eleanor waited until she heard the conversation over the telephone
+resumed between the two, then she said to Mrs. Fabian:
+
+"I bet anything, that Jack Baxter is really in love with Polly! I watched
+him all that time, after he was formally introduced by Mr. Dalken, and he
+just hung on her every word and act."
+
+Mrs. Fabian smiled. "That is the usual experience the young men have with
+Polly. I think the very fact that she is unmindful of her attractions,
+coupled with her indifference to the attentions of the male sex, acts as
+a spur to them; each tries to see if she will not capitulate to his
+individual charms."
+
+Eleanor laughed. "You speak as if you believed the young men to be
+egotistical enough to _think_ they were charming."
+
+"They do, Nolla!" retorted Mrs. Fabian. "Every Adam's son firmly believes
+he is more alluring and attractive to a girl, than his friends. That is
+why they all follow tamely after a girl who has no time for them: they
+cannot believe it _possible_ that she is not overcome with their
+fascinations."
+
+Eleanor smiled as she listened, then she remarked: "I guess I'll try
+Polly's strategy and see if the beaus line up for me."
+
+"You have no need to experiment with any new tricks," replied Mrs.
+Fabian, warningly. "There are enough sighing young men already, waiting
+to break their hearts and necks, for a mere glance from those impish eyes
+of yours."
+
+Eleanor laughed merrily at her chaperone's words, but Polly's return to
+the room interrupted their little talk.
+
+"What do you think?" demanded Polly, as soon as she was in the room.
+
+Not giving them time to answer, she said: "Jack Baxter is going to
+furnish a bachelor apartment in the city, and says he is going to give
+Nolla and me the contract for doing it. It will be our very first work as
+interior decorators!"
+
+"Oh," gasped Eleanor, "how can we do it?"
+
+Polly looked amazed at such a question, and retorted: "Why, with money
+and brains, to be sure!"
+
+"Is that why he's coming tomorrow evening?" asked Eleanor.
+
+"Yes; he is now staying at Mr. Dalken's apartment, and both of them are
+coming over tomorrow. He says he has been West since we last saw him, and
+he stopped at Pebbly Pit to see the folks, on his way back from the
+Coast. That is why he has not been heard from--he was called away so
+suddenly, and just got back today."
+
+"I wonder why he took all the trouble to go to Pebbly Pit?" said Eleanor.
+"He didn't know a soul there!"
+
+"That's what I asked him, and he says he will tell us all about it
+tomorrow night," explained Polly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+POLLY'S FIRST CONTRACT
+
+
+Promptly at eight, Jack Baxter and Mr. Dalken were announced to Polly and
+Eleanor. The Fabians had gone to the Opera and Mr. Dalken was supposed to
+act as chaperone for the evening.
+
+"This is a new experience for me," laughed he, "but not one that I
+dislike. In fact, I will be glad to offer my services in the same
+capacity, at any time, for you girls."
+
+"Better beware how you offer yourself on such an altar," teased Polly,
+trying to appear calm and composed, whereas she was keyed up to hear
+about the proposed work young Baxter wished them to do for his new
+apartment.
+
+Eleanor deemed it wise to mention another subject first, so she asked:
+"How long were you at Pebbly Pit, Mr. Baxter?"
+
+"That's one of the reasons we came over to see you," interpolated Mr.
+Dalken. "Jack has a lot to tell you about the troubles there."
+
+"What troubles?" wondered Polly. "You don't mean the land-slide, do you?"
+
+"We know about that," added Eleanor.
+
+"You only heard the first news of it. But you never knew what followed
+that first event," returned Mr. Dalken. "I've known how things stood for
+a short time, but I talked it over with the Latimers, and we decided to
+let Jack go West with Mr. Alexander, and investigate matters for
+themselves."
+
+"Dodo's father! What has he to do with it?" asked both girls in surprise.
+
+"More than we can ever appreciate. Because he is such an experienced old
+miner, having spent years in the Klondike, and later, down in the
+Colorado mining districts, his going to Pebbly Pit was the best thing
+that ever happened to our company. Jack had just decided to invest a
+great deal of his capital in the joint companies, so he decided to
+accompany Alexander and see for himself how the land lay."
+
+"And what was Mr. Alexander's verdict?" asked Polly.
+
+"Listen to Jack's story of what happened on the mountain, that early
+morning. It is as thrilling as anything I ever heard," said Mr. Dalken.
+
+"I'd have given anything to have been on the spot when that old peak
+divided her earthly substance," laughed Jack. "But even the telling of it
+by Tom Latimer and John Brewster, was so exciting that I tried every way
+possible to reach the mountain where the awful avalanche took place.
+
+"Tom had felt a tremor run along the side of the peak the night before,
+and had warned John that old Grizzly was ripping mad again. So the two of
+them rode along the Crest where those claim-jumpers were buried the time
+that other avalanche occurred, and they saw that Grizzly Slide had broken
+up great masses of ice-field, and on the far side where it drops suddenly
+to the valley, thousands of feet below, a great block of ice and rock had
+fallen from the top-side and had rolled down, destroying everything in
+its terrific plunge.
+
+"Both boys were satisfied that it was only a matter of time before the
+gaping crevices showing on the side towards the gold mine, would widen
+and the top-mass begin to move. It was impossible to say whether a slide
+would happen on the cave-side or roll down one of the gulleys on either
+side of the mine. But the two of them made up their minds that everyone
+must move from the camp without delay, and seek safety.
+
+"Orders were given to strike camp at once, and the men worked all night,
+packing away outfits and tools, and such machinery as could be moved
+inside the cave. Then the mouth was closed against winter storms, and
+they started, on their horses, to ride along Top Notch Trail, on the down
+trip.
+
+"It was almost noon when they left the mine, and by two o'clock they
+halted on one of the crests to cook dinner. The horses were hobbled where
+a patch of Buffalo grass provided good pastureage, and Rattlesnake Mike
+started a fire to cook the meal. Tom and John got out their tackle to
+catch a few trout, when a fearful roll of thunder sounded along the
+crest.
+
+"'She come down, pooty queeck!' exclaimed Mike, startled out of his usual
+calmness.
+
+"'Do you mean Old Grizzly?' Tom asked him.
+
+"But before he could reply, there was such a crash and roar, and the
+whole ground shook under their feet as if an earthquake had caused it.
+Everyone stood aghast looking at what had been snow-capped Grizzly but a
+moment before. So astonished were the men that they couldn't speak.
+
+"The roar and tumult continued so seemingly close at hand, that the men
+ran for their horses, and would have ridden down the trail had not Mike
+laughed and applied a match to the kindling, just as if nothing was
+happening above them on Grizzly Slide. It instantly quieted the fears of
+the others, and they turned again to wait for further events.
+
+"Tom Latimer says, that what caused such a panicky feeling in them all,
+was the fact that one moment they had seen the glistening cap of Old
+Grizzly, and the next, it was gone, and a great cloud of flying white
+particles hid the scene for a time.
+
+"The terrific detonation they heard immediately after the peak's snow-cap
+rolled down the mountain-side, was caused by the mass of rock, ice, snow
+and general débris, striking the ground below. How far it fell before
+striking, they could not say, but Mike claims it must have been hurtled,
+from the peak of Grizzly, to the great gulch that runs along its lower
+side, about five thousand feet below--all that distance before landing
+and filling the ravines about that section.
+
+"All the way down, from Grizzly Gulches to the bottoms that run along
+Bear Forks branches, the avalanche tore up trees, boulders, moraine, and
+other heavy matter, that generally forms a dam for smaller slides than
+this one was. But this time, entire forests were shoved along, still
+standing, just like a great cake of icing with fancy frosting of colored
+sugar on top of it, is pushed off from a slice of birthday cake, when the
+knife loosens it. The moment any part of this avalanche came up against a
+cliff, or rolled over into vast ravines, that much of the sliding forest
+tumbled up against itself, or fell into the gulch to instantly fill up
+the cleft and cause the remaining slide to roll over it.
+
+"The end of that avalanche did not come until it reached the valley of
+Bear Forks, just below Pebbly Pit ranch. If your home had not been snugly
+located up in that crater, but had been down in the valley by the river,
+it would have been completely covered with the tons of trash that still
+remained after having rolled for miles, and finally worn itself out on
+the banks of the stream.
+
+"All the branches of Bear Forks that start up on the side of the
+mountain, are choked, and the waters rushed in every direction, starting
+smaller slides by up-rooting trees and loose stones and shale.
+
+"The miners followed Mike's example, and ate a hearty dinner, although
+they were all crazy to ride back and ascertain the extent of the damage
+caused. Mike was for their going quietly on home, but not one of the
+others would agree to this. So they turned back and rode as far as the
+trail was passable. But they could not climb over the great mass of
+débris that was piled up, shortly after leaving Four Blaze Tree. And the
+queer sensation of not seeing the old familiar top on Grizzly Peak,
+unnerved them for further adventure that day.
+
+"They got home past midnight, to hear the account of what happened as
+witnessed by Anne, and Mr. and Mrs. Brewster.
+
+"At the first rolling of the slide, Anne ran out of the ranch-house and
+watched anxiously, as she knew the men were up at the mine. She saw such
+a strange sight that she rubbed her eyes to make sure she was not
+dreaming. She says, she saw the top of Old Grizzly break right off as if
+someone had cleft it at a given point down from the peak. And this
+gigantic mass of ice, still glittering in the sun-rays, toppled down
+until she heard the crash and roar and felt the earth shake under her
+feet even at that great distance from the Peak that the ranch was.
+
+"The ranch-house and the out-buildings shook as in a quake, and caused
+everyone to run toward the terrace that runs along the edge of the
+crater. There they stood watching clouds of snow float up over the
+forests that, one moment were to be seen, and the next were moving
+swiftly down the mountain sides.
+
+"The folks feared the men at the mine had been killed, as the avalanche
+was the greatest they had ever heard of in that vicinity, so Mr. Brewster
+rode madly to Oak Creek to get some men to go with him to see if any
+signs of his boys could be found.
+
+"They met them at Lone Pine Blaze, and Tom said that John's father sat
+still and sobbed like a child, with relief at finding everyone in his
+mining-party safe.
+
+"So, Miss Polly, the gold mine is closed by Nature, for untold repairs.
+Whether this generation will ever locate the ore and dig out the tools
+and machinery buried in the cave, remains to be seen. But I was so
+infatuated with life in the Rockies during the short visit I had there,
+that I determined to put in all the cramming at college that was
+possible, and finish my education so I could go out there to join Tom
+Latimer and John Brewster in their exciting engineering work."
+
+When Jack had concluded his story, the girls seemed rather downcast at
+the knowledge that their little mine was gone, but Mr. Dalken said to
+young Baxter:
+
+"You may as well tell them about the Cliffs, and have all the mourning
+over at one time."
+
+Polly glanced anxiously from Mr. Dalken to Jack, and then at Eleanor, but
+the young man explained without waiting longer: "All the miners working
+at Rainbow Cliffs went on a big strike shortly after the calamity on
+Grizzly Slide, and so unreasonable were their demands that Mr. Brewster
+refused to grant them. That stopped work on the lava jewels, too, and
+everything is closed down until next year. Of course, while there is no
+work going on, there are no wages to pay, but there is also no income
+from the vast amount of money invested in machinery."
+
+"Dear me, then really, I am a pauper for the time being," exclaimed
+Polly, but not in a distressed tone as one would expect after such dire
+news.
+
+"Your mother told me most emphatically, that that was _not_ the case.
+Everyone at Pebbly Pit seems to want you to continue with your studies
+until you have finished; and your father said there was a tidy fortune in
+a Denver bank for you, so that no matter what happened to others, you
+were amply provided for. With your business that you wish to take up, you
+will not have to worry over the future," explained Jack Baxter.
+
+Eleanor remembered that Mr. Dalken had invested heavily in these two
+Pebbly Pit ventures, and now she turned to him.
+
+"Will everyone connected with those two mines lose a great deal of
+money?"
+
+"Your father, the Latimers, the Evans', myself and John Brewster hold
+equal shares of stock, but Polly's father holds twice as much as anyone
+else, for he holds Polly's stock as her guardian as well as his own. The
+Montresor Estate, representing the heirs of Kenneth's uncle who first
+discovered the mine on Grizzly, and then willed it to Polly who later
+re-discovered the same vein of ore in the cave, hold the same number of
+shares in the stock-company as either of us, although they did not
+furnish any cash for their stock.
+
+"Now Ebeneezer Alexander told Jack to tell us, that he simply could not
+stand city-life another day. And, after enjoying the freedom and open
+life of the Rockies again, he was determined to stay at Pebbly Pit and
+see the tangle worked out. His experience will be most valuable to Tom
+and John, who are only young engineers, after all. And Mr. Brewster is a
+stock-grower with no knowledge of mining. So we think it is a good plan
+to let Mr. Alexander take up some of our shares, and sell him an interest
+in the future of these mines.
+
+"If anyone can pull Choko's Find Mine out of the grave it is buried in,
+old Ebeneezer can do it. He has such energy and perseverance that nothing
+daunts him--excepting big cities."
+
+"And titles!" added Eleanor, making her friends laugh.
+
+"Oh, I'm glad to hear he will stay there to help. I like him so much!"
+declared Polly.
+
+"Well, now that most of our evening was given to the story about the
+land-slide on Grizzly, how much time am I to be given for the furnishing
+of my apartment?" asked Jack Baxter.
+
+"Just talking about it won't furnish it," retorted Polly, smilingly.
+
+"No, but we can get at first principles, can't we?"
+
+"Yes; if both sides know on what basis each wishes to start!" said
+Eleanor.
+
+"I know my side of it, and I really think you girls know yours. This is
+my basis: I have two large rooms and bath near Fifth Avenue, that I want
+a decorator to do in keeping with the style of the rooms. I don't care
+where or how you get the items for furnishing, but I'd like some of the
+fun of going about with you when you visit odd corners of the country to
+dig up the antiques."
+
+"If you waste your time that way, how do you expect to finish a hurried
+education in engineering?" asked Polly.
+
+"Oh, furnishing won't last long, and studying will."
+
+"If Mr. Dalken is a conscientious executor of your estate I should think
+he'd forbid your wasting any time hunting up furniture and hiring
+decorators to do it for you, at the same time," teased Eleanor.
+
+Mr. Dalken laughed and said: "I always said 'All work and no play makes
+Jack a dull boy.'"
+
+"Well, Jack can work for two whole weeks before he gets any play, as far
+as going to a sale is concerned. There will be no sale, that we know of,
+until the old house at Parsippany is sold in two weeks," explained Polly.
+
+"I won't have to wait as long as that, I hope, for my apartment. I'm
+paying rent on it already, and am stopping with Mr. Dalken as his guest,
+until I get a bed and a chair."
+
+"But I thought you wanted to furnish by going to the sales of antiques,"
+ventured Polly.
+
+"I did, but I want to go to one tomorrow. Can't you girls contract to
+escort me to places in the city where we can get things without waiting?"
+
+"As far as that is concerned, we can take you right over to the Ashby
+Shop and find everything on earth you can use, right in his collections,"
+said Polly.
+
+"I wanted to feel that you two girls were getting this contract and the
+profits, and not a famous establishment," demurred Jack.
+
+"We'll have the contract, all right, but we will only buy what we need
+from Mr. Ashby, at regular discount, you know," explained Eleanor in a
+business-like manner.
+
+Mr. Dalken smiled indulgently on his two young friends who had developed
+such marvelous aptitude for business since their trip abroad that summer.
+And young Baxter concluded with: "All right; tomorrow, you girls get Mrs.
+Fabian, and come over to my rooms to get your 'atmosphere.' Then we'll
+start in and shop."
+
+So the next ten days were filled with a great many visits to the
+apartment to determine certain colors and styles of things, and with a
+great deal of important conferring between the client and the decorators.
+But eventually, the apartment was almost ready for its occupant, and
+three young people declared that the decorating was a work of art--simply
+perfect! And it did not cost so _very_ much, either! Mr. Dalken reserved
+his opinion on costs, however, and laughed in his sleeve at Baxter, for
+the latter had no more need of an apartment than a cat has for two tails.
+It was a whim of his to give the girls a contract, and Jack could afford
+whims, so his guardian said nothing about the bills.
+
+"Well, I must say," said Polly the day after Jack held a "house-warming"
+in his newly furnished domain, "I never saw ten days go by as fast as
+these did. Here we are almost on top of that sale in the country, and it
+seems like yesterday that we got the announcement."
+
+"It shows how much we really love our profession," said Eleanor, "when we
+get so much pleasure out of work."
+
+But Dodo was present at some of the conferences the two amateur
+decorators held with Jack and she now remarked: "Work! did you two think
+that going about in Jack's sporty car and lunching at swell dining-rooms,
+or holding up a strip of gold-gauze to watch the sheen on your hand, was
+hard work?"
+
+Mrs. Fabian laughed to herself at the conversation. But Polly answered
+with an experienced air: "When you have had years of study in decorating,
+like Nolla and I have had, you will find that work is not altogether a
+physical effort. At present, in your apprenticeship, you do more than you
+saw us do in furnishing, but you'll learn, some day!"
+
+Dodo tossed her head confidently, and remarked: "I have nothing more to
+learn--if your knowledge is the acme of the understanding of your trade."
+
+As no reply was given this statement, Mrs. Fabian hurried from the room
+to laugh quietly to herself at the egotism of youth. Later when Mr. Ashby
+was told the story, he said:
+
+"When they have been at the profession for thirty years, and have
+acquired all the knowledge that I have in that time, they will begin to
+learn that we all know very little of harmony and perfect ideals in
+decorating."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+THE PARSIPPANY VENDUE
+
+
+It was a lovely late Fall day when Carl brought Mr. Dalken's car around
+to the Fabian's residence to drive the girls to the Parsippany sale. Jack
+Baxter was seated beside Carl and announced to the girls as they came out
+with Mrs. Fabian: "I'm invited to go with you."
+
+"Who asked you?" was the rejoinder from both girls.
+
+"Carl did. He gets tired of chauffing for hours without rest. So I
+offered to help him out."
+
+Of course, Carl's uncomfortable flush showed that Jack was joking, but he
+was a welcome addition to the small party, so they started off, a merry
+quartette.
+
+As there had been no time to drive out, so far, to inspect the household
+goods for sale, it had been postponed until the day of the sale. Mrs.
+Fabian said that should there be nothing desirable at the old house, they
+could go on and have another hunt about the country.
+
+But the sale promised to be an interesting one, for the moment the girls
+found out that the house they were looking for was an old Colonial
+two-story farm-house, with wings at each side, they felt sure of its
+contents being worth-while.
+
+They parked the car out in a large carriage-house and walked over to the
+front door. It was a true type, with sunburst window over the door, and a
+wonderful old knocker on the front panel of the door. A narrow high
+window at each side had diamond panes in them. There was a dear little
+hood over the doorway that someone called a "rain-shed." And on each side
+of the "stoop" which was reached by three steps, was a high-backed wooden
+seat, with funny low arms at the outer ends.
+
+The windows of the entire house were filled with small-paned sash, the
+glass being green and wavy in some panes, and as cloudy as mist in
+others. Then again other panes were of really clear white glass. The city
+visitors found later, that these old panes were the original old glass
+set in by the first owner.
+
+But they did not come to admire the outside, so they all went indoors to
+look about. They entered upon a tiny entry.
+
+The front parlor was a small band-box-like room with a chimney piece at
+one side, and a stove-pipe hole in it for winter use. Alongside the
+chimney was a narrow cupboard that was meant to hold books, or other
+things, to keep the parlor from being "cluttered up."
+
+Directly opposite the chimney was a long, high-backed settee, with
+haircloth covering. The frame was old mahogany and the shape hinted at
+Chippendale, with its six feet having beautiful lines, and the side arms
+curving graciously out to invite one to be seated.
+
+In this best room were, also, several rush-bottomed stencilled chairs,
+and a Boston Rocker. An inlaid Hepplewhite table stood against the wall
+between the two front windows, with its drop-leaf raised against the
+wall. A number of old pieces of brass and pewter stood on the table. Over
+it hung an early Georgian mirror but the reflection one got when gazing
+into it was terrifying.
+
+From the parlor, the collectors went to the long living-room that
+occupied one wing of the house. Here was a great open fire-place with
+crane, and everything used in olden times for keeping a fire in good
+order. Over the mantel hung a wonderful old mirror with a colored picture
+of Washington crossing the Delaware in its upper panel.
+
+A rare Empire table with both leaves up, stood in the middle of the room,
+and Polly instantly made up her mind to own that table, if nothing more
+that day.
+
+As they went about admiring the antiques, Jack said: "Gee! But I'm sorry
+we furnished the apartment so soon. What a lot of fine things we might
+have had at this sale."
+
+And Eleanor laughingly remarked: "Sell your flat out like so many New
+Yorkers do, and start in again on another."
+
+In the low-ceiled, wide dining-room, they found the typical round
+mahogany table with twelve chairs--two arm and ten side chairs. The seats
+were covered with rep, but must have had haircloth on them at one time.
+The backs were very low and curved away from the small of the back in a
+frightened manner. There was but one cross-piece in the back and that was
+curved also.
+
+The side-board was nearly eight feet long, with six claw feet, and a high
+top. On it stood a tea-caddy of mahogany, a knife-box, and several silver
+boxes. All of them must have been over a hundred years old. Very old
+china and glassware stood on the large table, ready to be sold. The
+collectors saw many desirable pieces there, but they were too anxious to
+visit the upstairs to stop, then, and examine the plates and other
+pieces.
+
+There were four large square rooms on the second floor and in each one,
+stood a wonderful four-poster bed--two with canopy-tops and two without.
+Empire work-tables were in two rooms, and besides the high chests of
+mahogany drawers, and low dressing-tables with tiny front drawers to hold
+the comb and brush, there were also ottomans, foot-stools, and ornamental
+pieces. Mirrors hung over each mantel, and old-fashioned prints and
+paintings were on the walls.
+
+By the time Mrs. Fabian and the girls went downstairs again, they were
+dumbfounded to find that a farm-house so near to Morristown and railroad
+stations, should have preserved such a wonderful lot of old mahogany
+furniture without having been discovered by collectors. But being
+strangers to the other people now gathering for the sale, they did not
+speak of their wonderment.
+
+Mr. Van Styne was late, and as soon as he arrived he began in the
+kitchen, without any greeting to his followers. There seemed to be a far
+different type of buyer at this sale, than the girls had found at any of
+the little sales in Westchester; and once the auctioneer began on the
+antique pieces, the prices ran up alarmingly.
+
+"That man standing over there just paid a hundred and sixty dollars for
+that Colonial secretary," whispered Polly, annoyance expressed in her
+tone for she had been bidding on the same piece.
+
+"He doesn't look as if he had sixty cents in his purse," said Eleanor,
+scornfully.
+
+A lady standing beside her, looked at the buyer and smiled. "That man is
+one of the buyers of one of the largest antique collectors in New York."
+
+"He is!" gasped Eleanor.
+
+"Who is the collector?" asked Polly, but the woman saw a little Toby put
+up for sale, just then, and she wanted to bid on it, so Polly never
+heard.
+
+Anything that could boast of being a hundred years old, or more, brought
+fabulous prices, and the girls were amazed to hear names that they had
+read of in the columns of the New York papers, called out by the cashier,
+but never dreamed they would come face to face with the owners thereof.
+
+Jack Baxter spied a woman he knew, and finally brought her over to meet
+Mrs. Fabian and the girls. This lady was a social leader in the City, and
+furnished much interesting information to her new acquaintances, about
+others present who were buying.
+
+That sale taught Polly that it was not always the farm-houses that
+furnished the rarest bargains at a sale, especially when that farm was in
+proximity to a well-known residential suburb. But she also found that not
+everyone who attends a public sale, and bids anxiously, knows the value
+of what they are bidding on.
+
+Thus it transpired, that she secured several of the finest antiques in
+the house, because others knew nothing of their true records or had
+overlooked the objects because of their unattractive finish or form.
+
+Jack furnished much amusement to his friends by bidding on everything the
+girls did not want. And the most amusing part of it was, he seldom
+secured a thing he bid on. He finally grew so desperate in his bidding,
+because Polly laughed at his luck, that the people frowned upon him as
+being a "professional capper."
+
+Mr. Van Styne overheard that remark and was furious.
+
+"I want you all to know that I am an honest auctioneer! I never had a
+booster in my life, and I've sold for nigh onto fifty years. That
+nice-looking young man you call a 'capper' is a friend of some friends of
+mine from New York, out here to buy antiques. To prove it to you-all,
+that young lady there, next the young man, is the one who gave the
+'Metropolitan' the rare print she found in my shop. So there! I reckon
+that will hold you, for a time!"
+
+The surprise felt by the buyers at this news about Polly, was instantly
+followed by a general laugh at the auctioneer's final remark to them.
+Baxter laughed at the interruption, but Polly felt very uncomfortable
+with so many eyes turned her way. Mr. Van Styne, never dreaming of having
+made personal remarks, now continued his sale.
+
+The antique furniture in the upstairs chambers brought higher prices than
+Polly had seen similar pieces on sale at the antique shops in New York,
+and she wondered still more that a country auction should bring forth
+buyers who were willing to pay such high prices.
+
+Finally, feeling sure that there were no more bargains for them that day,
+Polly led the way downstairs. Young Baxter tried to persuade her to
+remain and try for a high-boy she had admired, but she refused to give
+the high bids demanded. So Jack stayed when the others left the room.
+
+Down on the side-porch, while waiting for Carl to come from the carriage
+sheds, a well-dressed lady accosted Polly.
+
+"I heard the auctioneer say you presented a rare print to the Museum in
+New York City. I should be pleased to hear about it."
+
+She handed Polly a card. Upon reading the name of one of the best known
+amateur collectors in New York, Polly forgot to reply. Mrs. Fabian smiled
+and spoke for her, to give her time to recover from her surprise. After
+introducing the girls, Mrs. Fabian mentioned the fact that Polly and
+Eleanor took advantage of every sale in or about the City, in order to
+familiarize themselves with such articles as they would need in their
+profession.
+
+"Oh, are you studying this line of work?" asked the lady, deeply
+interested at once.
+
+"Yes, we have given several years to the study, already, and last Summer
+we went abroad to visit the best known places where antiques and
+collections were to be seen," replied Polly.
+
+"Well then, my dears, this is my lucky day. I want someone to do this
+sort of work for me, but I want only such interested individuals who love
+the collecting for itself, and not alone for wages. Also, I want someone
+who can tell a Sheraton piece from Empire. If you girls will accept a
+proposition from me, I will be glad to talk it over, some morning, with
+you."
+
+Polly smiled and said: "If your orders do not interfere with our studies
+and other work, we will gladly accept the work."
+
+So, by the time Jack Baxter hurried down the stairs, Polly and Eleanor
+had made a new connection with one of New York's social leaders. Jack
+looked about for his friends, for a moment, and then smiled in surprise
+as he rushed forward.
+
+"Why, Mrs. Courtney! I am delighted to see you here. Did you just
+arrive?"
+
+"Well, if it isn't Jack Baxter! No, my boy, I came out this morning
+thinking this was a _bona fide_ antique sale. To my disgust, I found it
+was 'fixed' by a clever dealer from the city, who chooses just such
+suburban towns as are famous for its millionaire residents, then he plans
+a campaign. He was wise enough, this time, to engage Mr. Van Styne to do
+the selling for him, as the old man is so popular with the people of his
+town, and he is a splendid auctioneer, at the same time."
+
+Polly was dumbfounded. "Do you mean to say that anyone would take the
+trouble to ship out all these antiques, so far from the city, just to
+catch a lot of buyers?"
+
+Mrs. Courtney laughed. "Of course, my dear. People will take any amount
+of trouble to make a few extra dollars. This dealer owns his own trucks,
+and why not let them put in a day's work carting a load of furniture
+here, if he can get twice as much for his goods as in New York? All he
+has to do, is to find the right type of old house conveniently near the
+city for motoring and large enough to show off his wares to the best
+advantage. This man is clever enough, too, to select only such places as
+are rich with Revolutionary lore, and near enough to the estates of the
+rich to be an attraction to owners to come. Then he mails announcements
+to his city clientele, also. That is how I heard of the sale."
+
+Jack frowned angrily. "I suppose that darned old high-boy I just bought
+for a top-notch figure, could have been purchased at this man's city shop
+for half the price! Now I have to pay to have it crated and shipped back
+to New York."
+
+"Oh, this 'fixer' will move it back in his trucks for a neat sum," said
+Eleanor.
+
+Her companions laughed. Polly then reminded him: "I said _not_ to bid on
+it! I knew it would go too high for us to bother with."
+
+Carl now drove up to the house, and Mrs. Courtney bid them good-day,
+having reminded Polly that she and Eleanor were to telephone her at their
+first opportunity.
+
+Polly could not help speaking of the "fixed" sale of antiques, and
+Eleanor said: "That is why everything brought such awfully high prices.
+The articles must have had a set price on them to begin with, and when
+Mr. Van Styne offered a thing, the dealer was there to run it to a figure
+beyond the given price on the books. I am surprised that the old
+auctioneer would do such a thing."
+
+"I don't believe he knew the sale was what we call 'padded'; for he seems
+too conscientious a man to lend himself to such a deception," remarked
+Mrs. Fabian.
+
+"If he was just hired to sell the stuff, regardless of how it got out to
+Parsippany, and told to follow book-orders, he had no choice, had he?"
+asked Polly.
+
+"He looks such an honest old fellow, I don't believe he even knew the
+goods came from a New York dealer. Just because he _is_ so honest, is one
+reason why people who knew him will listen to his advice and for the same
+reason a clever New York dealer would hire him. I wouldn't be surprised,
+if you girls hear from him, some day, to the effect that he is shocked to
+learn that this sale was not on the level as far as the yarn went," said
+Jack.
+
+"Well, I'd feel better if he did. I really feel hurt, now, to think he
+might be as tricky as that other dealer," said Polly.
+
+"But it would not be called 'tricky,' Polly, in clever business circles,"
+said Mrs. Fabian.
+
+"Maybe not, but to me it looks a lot like selling goods under false
+representations. I'd rather not sell anything than have to sell that
+way."
+
+"When you come right down to 'brass tacks' and study out the whole scheme
+of things, Polly, we might be accused of tricky works, too," remarked
+Eleanor.
+
+"What do you mean?" demanded Polly, astonished.
+
+"Well, when you think of how we got that pair of old candle-sticks in
+exchange for a brass lamp! We had no lamp to exchange, but Mrs. Fabian
+rushed off to a store and got one. Then there were those old pictures at
+Van Styne's. We were afraid he'd suspect them of being valuable, so we
+dusted them well again, as they had been originally, and placed them with
+two others to make a 'job lot' of them, to hide the facts about them."
+
+"But," remonstrated Polly, "the lady who had no use for the candle-sticks
+_did_ want a brass lamp the worst way. And Sally Dolan, who never
+appreciated the pictures when she had them, _did_ appreciate the money we
+paid for them--while we appreciated the old things other folks failed to
+value."
+
+"Polly is right, there, Nolla," added Mrs. Fabian. "I do not see a trick
+in giving a person exactly what they ask for a thing--whether they realize
+the true value of it, or not. That is their affair. In Law, the Judge says
+there is no excuse or cause, for mitigating a sentence because the
+prisoner claims he was ignorant of consequences of a deed. So it is in
+other lines: Ignorance can never claim excuse from consequences--whether
+it be a sale of a candle-stick or a piece of old land that turns out to
+have gold on it."
+
+"Then I should say, ignorance on the part of the buyers at this vendue,
+exonerates the dealer from all blame," said Eleanor.
+
+"Legally it does, but we were thinking of the moral," explained Mrs.
+Fabian.
+
+When the collectors reached the Fabian house, Jack seemed loath to go on,
+so Mrs. Fabian invited him in to have a bite with them at an informal
+dinner.
+
+It had been plainly evident for some time, that the only interest Jack
+Baxter had taken in furnishing his apartment, or in going about to hunt
+out old antiques, was because it gave him plenty of opportunities to be
+with Polly. And as is often the case, when one is completely absorbed in
+a pursuit, Polly was the last one to suspect the truth of this.
+
+But he forgot discretion that evening, at dinner, and permitted too much
+of his attention to be directed Polly's way. Even this might have been
+overlooked had not an interruption occurred while at the table.
+
+The telephone bell was heard, and shortly afterward, the maid came around
+to Polly's side and said:
+
+"A Mr. Latimer on the wire, Miss Polly."
+
+Eleanor was all interest at once: "Can it be Jim, or Tom, I wonder?"
+
+Polly was excusing herself at the moment, but turned to add: "You know
+very well that Tom has his hands full at the mines."
+
+Eleanor flushed, for she had almost given away a secret that Paul had
+told her in his last letter. Thus far she had kept quiet about the
+confidence.
+
+Polly ran from the room, and Jack Baxter scowled at his plate. Mr. Fabian
+smiled at his face and tried to engage him in conversation. But Polly's
+continued absence annoyed the youth, so that he lost his appetite, and,
+in fact, all interest in any subject started.
+
+Polly skipped back after a time, her face wreathed in smiles. "You will
+never guess who I was talking to?"
+
+Everyone but Jack pretended not to know, but he blurted out: "When I was
+out at the ranch, that Tom Latimer said something about coming East for
+the Winter months--as long as Alexander proposed to stay out there and
+take a hand in the work."
+
+"Why, this is the first word you've said about it," said Polly, amazed.
+
+"Had I known you were so deeply interested in the plans of young Latimer,
+I would have told you immediately," said Jack, with sarcasm born of
+jealousy in his voice.
+
+Polly refused to answer him, and immediately asked Mrs. Fabian to excuse
+her from dinner as she wished to dress for the evening.
+
+The rest of the family finished the meal with the uncomfortable sense of
+Jack's having lost caste in Polly's estimation. He felt it himself, and
+it certainly did not tend to make him more agreeable that evening.
+
+As soon after dinner as could be politely managed, Jack spoke of a
+theatre engagement and excused himself. His hostesses felt easier when
+the door slammed upon him, for they dreaded having Tom announced while
+his rival was there, and then have the whole evening spoiled by both
+young men glowering at each other.
+
+While Eleanor and Nancy ran upstairs to dress for the evening, the former
+whispered: "If Tom remains in New York all this winter, I bet he'll _get_
+Polly before he goes back to the mines, or else he'll 'cook his goose'
+for all time!"
+
+Nancy laughed merrily, and said: "No goose will be cooked if Polly knows
+it! But I'll wager you a box of candy, Nolla, that Tom will _not_ get his
+girl before he goes back to the mines."
+
+"All right, Nanc! That's a wager; a five-pound box of the best _bon
+bons_, that Tom and Polly will be engaged before the end of this winter
+season!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+TOM MEANS BUSINESS
+
+
+Polly's friends had not completed their dressing when Tom was announced,
+but she was waiting in the cozy library; so Tom crossed the long formal
+parlor in a few strides, when he caught sight of her in the softly shaded
+light of the floor-lamp.
+
+"Polly! Oh, but I'm glad to see you again!" breathed he as he caught both
+hands and devoured her smiles with his eyes.
+
+"I should hope you would be glad! Isn't everyone I know glad to see me
+after they have been absent a long time?" laughed Polly, in a
+matter-of-fact tone.
+
+But Tom glanced hastily about the room. Then he quite unexpectedly leaned
+forward and caught her face between his palms. "Polly Brewster, I'm going
+to salute you with a brotherly kiss!" whispered Tom, and immediately, he
+pressed a kiss upon her red lips--but Polly felt sure it was _not_ like
+John's kisses.
+
+She tried to free her head from his powerful hands, but he laughed
+masterfully and held her under the light while he gazed into her eyes.
+Finally Polly felt herself growing warm and flushed, and to stop his look
+she closed her eyes and began kicking at his shins.
+
+With a happy laugh, Tom freed her face and picked her up in his arms. In
+three long strides he was over at the divan where he placed her, sitting
+upright. Then he sat down beside her.
+
+"Why--Tom Latimer!" gasped Polly, angrily, trying to rearrange her hair
+which had become tumbled in the fray.
+
+"Why--Tom Latimer!" laughed he, mimicking Polly very cleverly. "You don't
+know _this_ Tom, do you, girl! But this is the Tom that you'll know
+hereafter. I'm through acting like a woolly lamb just because Anne says
+that's the only way to get a girl! You're a Rocky Mountain girl and the
+only way to make you notice, is to use ranch methods to lasso you. That's
+why I'm here in New York. Catch me letting a rich society darling like
+that Baxter spend the winter months making love to you, when I'm wasting
+my heart away at Pebbly Pit, hoping against hope for a nice long letter
+from you!"
+
+[Illustration: TOM PICKED POLLY UP IN HIS ARMS.
+Polly's Business Venture. Page 200]
+
+Tom's frown and the tone in which he declared himself, made Polly want to
+laugh albeit she shrunk away, somewhat, for fear of a plot in his mind.
+
+Tom had, in his fervor, lost control once, but he was too wise to indulge
+himself again, in such a manner. Tom had spent a great deal of time in
+studying, during the past year, the psychology of love, and now he was
+going to test his knowledge. He told John, just before he left the ranch,
+that once a girl liked a fellow, it was easy to make her love him, by
+judicious treatment. In explanation, he said:
+
+"When Jeb wants to coax one of the burros to the barn, he doesn't give
+him the measure of oats to eat out on the range--no, he leads the burro
+to the barn by holding the box of feed ahead of his nose!"
+
+The Brewsters laughed at Tom's idea, but he declared that that was the
+way he was going to get Polly. And all their arguments about giving Polly
+a chance to finish her studies and try out her beloved work, fell on dull
+ears. Tom started East!
+
+"Polly, let's all go to a good show, shall we?" was Tom's unexpected
+invitation, just as his companion began to worry because he sat so close
+beside her.
+
+"Oh! Yes--I think that will be lovely!" said Polly.
+
+"All right! Run up and tell the others to get their caps and jackets on.
+I'll telephone an agent and see what's good."
+
+Polly ran out of the room, glad to have the problem of the evening's
+entertainment solved for her, but still she felt a little disappointed
+because Tom could so eagerly suggest taking the family out when she
+wanted to have a tête-à-tête with him to ask about the mines. Tom's
+plan about holding the temptation before a burro instead of surfeiting
+him with goodies, was evidently beginning to work.
+
+The play was one of the most popular ones, and seats were in great
+demand. But money does anything in New York, so Tom secured splendid
+orchestra seats, and they reached the theatre just as the curtain went up
+on the first scene. The interior was darkened when they entered, and
+Polly could not tell who sat in front of her, until the first act ended
+and the lights were turned on.
+
+Tom sat beside her, and began whispering in his free western voice, when
+a young man seated directly in front, turned deliberately around and
+stared at him. Polly gasped, and Eleanor nudged her in the side. It was
+Jack Baxter!
+
+Without taking his eyes from Tom, Jack reached under the chair and got
+his hat. Then he dragged his coat over his arm, and got up. He bowed
+stiffly to the girls in Tom's party, and went out. Tom waited until he
+was gone, then he looked down at Polly.
+
+"Um! It was high time I came East, I see!"
+
+"Why?" was Polly's smiling rejoinder.
+
+"By next Spring it might have been Tom who sat alone and felt like the
+fifth wheel in a wagon instead of Baxter. My, but I'm glad I came!"
+
+Polly frowned, and Eleanor did her best to hear what was said between
+these two _apparently_ phlegmatic companions. But Tom meant his words for
+Polly's ears only.
+
+Once during the evening, when the light was so low that the theatre was
+almost dark, Tom changed his position in such a way that his arm rested
+over the back of Polly's chair. In his interest in the scene on the
+stage, his hand dropped carelessly upon her shoulder. And Polly was too
+engaged with the play to remove it, or even change her position to allow
+it to fall back again.
+
+Then Tom moved, so that his arms touched hers, and his hand that rested
+upon one knee, could cover Polly's hand while the audience was enthralled
+by the burglar's escape, and no one but Eleanor had the slightest idea of
+what was going on in these two orchestra chairs. But Polly grew restive
+and tried to free her hand.
+
+Then the lights went up again, and Tom moved away and said apologetically:
+"These seats are so cramped for such a great fellow as I am!"
+
+And Polly replied tartly: "Yes, they really ought to allow more room for
+people's hands and arms."
+
+Eleanor smiled wisely, and sent Tom a teasing look.
+
+John Baxter did not come back to claim his seat that evening, and the
+play ended without Polly having given him another thought. Poor Jack!
+
+After Tom reached New York, there seemed very little time for Polly in
+which to hunt up antiques in the country, or to attend sales that were
+advertised at various places. Then Winter weather set in, and that gave
+her the necessary excuse that the automobile could not travel in snow or
+mud.
+
+All but Tom and Polly thought that Tom's plot to win Polly from her
+chosen profession seemed to be succeeding. But Tom felt that he had not
+had much encouragement as yet; and Polly was having a very nice time with
+an old friend she liked better than other young men, without feeling
+unduly indebted for the pleasure.
+
+Although the Latimers lived uptown in New York, they saw little of Tom
+during the first weeks of his return to the City. He stopped at a hotel
+not far from the Fabian's place, and made duty-calls on his father and
+mother at regular intervals, but they understood what he came East for,
+and they wished him all success.
+
+Time passed quickly, with a new pastime planned by Tom, for each day. And
+most of these pleasures included the other girls, as well as Polly. So
+the enjoyment was general, and Polly could not say that Tom tried to get
+her company for himself, by leaving her friends out of any fun.
+
+December came in, and the Christmas season advanced, with Tom still
+leading a gay life and escorting the girls to every pleasure or
+entertainment they heard of; and Polly was still the kind little "sister"
+to him in every way, but nothing more.
+
+Tom had selected his Christmas gift for Polly, but no one had been told
+about it. This he had kept absolutely secret. The Christmas Holidays came
+and all schools closed, so that the girls had no studies to attend to,
+and no art work to prepare. Jim Latimer and his chum Kenneth came home
+from Yale for the two weeks' vacation, and they immediately called on
+Polly and Eleanor.
+
+Tom saw how gladly Polly welcomed Jim and Kenneth, and he began to wonder
+if she really preferred a young boy's society to his. Polly and Jim were
+about the same age--not quite eighteen, while he--Tom, was almost
+twenty-four. Such a decrepit old age!
+
+The evening Jim planned to visit Polly and take Kenneth along for
+Eleanor, Tom, to the surprise of his parents, spent the entire evening
+with them; but he was not very attentive to what his mother said, nor did
+he seem over-pleased with being at home.
+
+Jim and Kenneth were noisy, active young college boys, and they furnished
+lots of fun that evening, of the energetic, "center-rush" kind. But Polly
+was relieved when they had said good-night and were gone.
+
+Eleanor laughed at the way Jim "rough-housed" both girls when he tried to
+kiss them good-night, and Polly indignantly told him he would never be
+invited there again! Jim laughed and caught hold of Polly to shake her
+for such a threat, but he smacked her loudly on the lips, instead.
+
+As the two girls went upstairs to retire, Polly said: "I'm sure Jim
+wouldn't have acted so silly if his big brother had been here!"
+
+Eleanor then added: "We have such lovely evenings with Tom, that this
+sort of horse-play gets on my nerves!" Then she slyly watched her
+friend's expression to try and read her mind.
+
+"I wonder why Tom never came in tonight?" said Polly.
+
+"Jack Baxter met me this afternoon, and he says Tom goes uptown
+regularly, to see a girl. Jack shadowed him and knows exactly where the
+girl lives. But he didn't say I must not tell you," said Eleanor,
+confidentially. Neither did she add that she had heard the address of
+this "girl" and knew it to be Tom's home and mother.
+
+Polly flushed, but said nonchalantly: "Poor Tom! He feels awfully bored
+with us girls, at times!"
+
+"I should think so! especially if he came home for a visit with the idea
+of finding a nice girl to propose to. Now Jack thinks that Tom, with his
+good looks, his wonderful intelligence, and his family-tree, to say
+nothing of the Latimer fortune, ought to be able to take his pick of any
+New York girl that is looking for an ideal husband," remarked Eleanor,
+guilelessly.
+
+Polly flashed her a look. "Since when has Jack Baxter dropped his
+maligning of Tom Latimer, and started to admire him?"
+
+Eleanor bit her lips to prevent a smile, but she replied, innocently:
+"Why, Jack always did admire Tom, even when he met him at Pebbly Pit. But
+he is jealous of him, for all the admiration he has for him. But I'll
+tell you, Polly: I wouldn't trust Jack in a case of 'love or war.' He'd
+as soon make Tom believe you were in love with another man, as anything
+else, if he could win a point by it."
+
+But Eleanor over-stepped her ambition this time. Polly quickly replied:
+"Then Jack must be trying to 'win a point' when he got you to tell me
+that Tom was calling on another girl, uptown."
+
+Eleanor realized her error and had common sense enough not to endeavor to
+explain it away. She merely said: "Oh well, Tom is too handsome a fellow
+to be wandering about New York these nights without a guardian. Some wide
+awake girl is going to snap him up the first chance!"
+
+"Seems to me, Nolla, that Tom has been wandering about since he arrived
+in the City, with a whole bevy of guardians to keep him from snares and
+pitfalls. With all of us girls surrounding him, a fine chance any other
+girl could have found to snap him."
+
+Eleanor was evidently getting worsted in her well-meant plan to further
+Tom's case, so she wisely decided to keep still.
+
+Nothing was heard from Tom the next day, although Polly was sure he would
+call, or telephone, before evening. Then the telephone did ring, but it
+was Mr. Dalken, inviting the entire family over to his apartment for a
+party that evening.
+
+"Just an impromptu affair, you know, with some of our old friends coming
+in to spend the evening."
+
+Mrs. Fabian accepted for herself and husband, and said she would see if
+the girls had any engagement. She came back to the living-room where they
+were waiting for dinner to be announced.
+
+"Are you girls going out this evening, or have you any engagement at
+home?" asked she.
+
+Nancy shook her head, and Eleanor replied: "For a great wonder, we
+haven't a blessed thing on for tonight! First evening free in months!"
+
+"Mr. Dalken wants us to come over and join some old friends, just for a
+nice visit," ventured Mrs. Fabian, looking from one girl to the other.
+
+"Fine! Anything but sitting here staring at Polly's concerned face,"
+retorted Eleanor.
+
+Mrs. Fabian smiled and went to answer Mr. Dalken, but Polly sat up and
+asked Eleanor what she meant by that.
+
+"Oh, ask yourself, Polly, you've been mooning around all day looking like
+'Gottschalk's Last Hope.' One speaks to you, and you never hear what's
+said. The very house could burn down but you'd never know it. You'd roast
+without feeling any sensation in it!" declared Eleanor, impatiently.
+Nancy laughed at both girls.
+
+After dinner, while the girls were dressing to go to Mr. Dalken's,
+Eleanor went to Polly's room to be hooked up. When she saw Polly arrayed
+in one of her most fetching Paris dresses she stood and stared.
+
+"Why! we're not going to the Opera!" said she.
+
+"We're going to Mr. Dalken's, aren't we?" asked Polly.
+
+"Yes, but Jack won't be there--nor Tom, either," was Eleanor's smooth
+reply.
+
+"I hadn't thought of who might be there, I dressed for my old friend, Mr.
+Dalken. He is so correct in these matters, so I want to do justice to his
+friendship," Polly scored this time.
+
+Eleanor did not wait to be hooked up but rushed back to her own room, and
+when Polly met her again, down in the hall, she had changed her gown,
+also, and looked very attractive, indeed.
+
+Because of the delay occasioned by Eleanor, the Fabian party was late in
+reaching Mr. Dalken's. The other guests were already there, and to
+Polly's intense gratification, not only was Jack assisting the host for
+the evening, but Tom sat in one corner of the large living room, looking
+at a book of snap-shots taken by Mr. Dalken while out in the Rockies. So
+engrossed was Tom in the pictures, that he did not lift his head when
+new-comers were welcomed.
+
+Polly glanced over at the corner and finding Tom so interested in
+mountain charms, while female charms abounded so near him, she felt
+peeved and smiled radiantly on Jack. Eleanor saw, and determined that she
+would not permit matters to go astray again, as she had taken such
+trouble to get Mr. Dalken to plan this impromptu gathering just to give
+Polly the opportunity to see both suitors together--to the advancement of
+one or the other's interest. Eleanor had no doubt that it would be Tom's
+advancement.
+
+So she flirted outrageously with Jack, to the amusement of Mr. Dalken who
+understood how matters were with all the young people. Thus Eleanor was
+cozily cornered with Jack in the den, doing her utmost to make him forget
+Polly for the time being, when the Jap came to the living-room door and
+announced a new caller.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+NECESSARY EXPLANATIONS
+
+
+Eleanor was not to be seen when a young man came in the room and was
+joyously welcomed by everyone present. Tom Latimer had disappeared also,
+a short time before this, and Polly was sitting in the wide seat built in
+the window, staring out over the roofs of the buildings without seeing a
+thing.
+
+The delighted exclamations from those in the room, however, drew her
+attention, and she was rejoiced to see Paul Stewart shaking hands with
+those crowding about him. So Polly left her shadowy retreat and ran over
+to welcome him, too.
+
+Paul was saying: "Isn't it too jolly of John to send me East for the
+Holidays, by making me power-of-attorney for the Stock-holders meeting
+the first of January. That was the only way I could have come--by having
+my fare paid!" Paul laughed because they all knew of his financial
+problems, and how he was striving to win success that he might propose to
+Eleanor.
+
+Polly felt annoyed because she was sure Eleanor had led Tom to the den
+that she might advise him further in his love-affairs. And it was this
+interference by Eleanor, that roused much of Polly's indifference or
+impatience towards Tom. Now she felt she had been given a good
+opportunity to square accounts with her chum.
+
+Paul and she were standing alone for a moment, when she saw him looking
+about for someone. She gave the desired cue: "You'll find Nolla with Tom,
+enjoying a tête-à-tête in Mr. Dalken's little den across the hallway,
+Paul."
+
+As she watched Paul hurriedly excuse himself, she experienced a new
+sensation--that of gratified revenge on a friend. She walked about the
+room, apparently looking at the pictures, but really to reach the hall
+without attracting attention. Once she got out of the room, she made a
+dash for a shadowy corner made by an old ormolu secretaire between the
+two doors. She could see into the den and watch Paul's next action.
+
+Two huge Turkish chairs were drawn up before the fire-place but the
+electric lights were out and only the candles on the tables near the door
+were lighted. The leaping flames of the logs burning in the fire-place
+threw dancing shadows over the two occupants of the chairs, but anyone
+standing near the door could not see who these occupants were.
+
+Paul crept stealthily over to the chairs, planning to surprise his two
+old friends--believing Tom to be one, and Eleanor the other. He lifted
+his hands with the intention of clapping them over Eleanor's eyes to make
+her guess who was there, when he heard words that rooted him to the spot.
+Polly saw but could not hear, so she lost the best part of her
+retaliation on Eleanor.
+
+Just as Paul was about to bring down his palms over Eleanor's eyes, a
+strange voice murmured intensely: "You know how I feel about it, Nolla.
+This love is so absorbing that I cannot give my attention to studies, or
+to any other important matter. If I am treated to second place, now that
+another lover is at hand, I will clear out of New York and never be heard
+from again. In fact, I am going to purposely throw myself in the way of
+danger and end it all!"
+
+Paul realized that another man had found his treasure and had been
+encouraged, or why should he be saying "given second-place now that
+another lover is at hand?" And it was evident that someone knew of his,
+Paul's, proposed visit, as _this_ young man knew of his coming to see
+Eleanor.
+
+Such is the mortal's egotism! One never thinks of others in connection
+with a selfish hope or idea, but believes that anything seen or heard
+must appertain to that one thing. So Paul thought Eleanor was the love
+this young man referred to, and that she had given him second-place
+because of Paul's coming.
+
+These thoughts flitted through his mind as young Baxter concluded, and
+Eleanor waited a moment before answering. Then she said with a sigh:
+"Dear Jack, a mild little flirtation never hurt any real case of love,
+and I've told you many times, that a game of love like this would improve
+or become fatal, because of such a flirtation. Like anti-toxin--it
+_kills_ the germs or makes them wild so that no further doubt remains
+about the patient. Let's use the hypodermic courageously and watch
+results. If the love-germ dies, then go and throw yourself on the
+railroad track and end your troubles. But should the opposite effect
+result, you can always think of me as the specialist who advised the
+heroic treatment!"
+
+Paul was shocked to hear his "angel-girl" talk of her love in such a
+dreadfully frank way, but the suitor's next sentence left no doubt in
+Paul's mind that Eleanor was a horrid flirt.
+
+"Well, Nolla, you must know best. Paul has been in love with you for a
+long time, now, and you've had many young admirers since you came to New
+York; so you understand and appreciate my present position and my right
+to demand one thing or the other--either _I_ am the accepted one, or the
+other man. Both of us cannot be kept dangling about, nor take turns in
+loving when the other is absent from New York."
+
+Paul was distressed at hearing this--that Eleanor could accept the
+attentions of other men when he, Paul, was so hard at work out West,
+trying to succeed in his profession that he might offer her a suitable
+home! Now she was flirting with others, and this young man was
+heart-broken over her short-comings, even as he, Paul, was.
+
+Polly saw Paul wheel and rush from the room, and immediately after that,
+Eleanor and Jack jumped up from the chairs and gazed at the door where
+the intruder had disappeared. When Polly saw who Eleanor's companion was,
+she gasped in astonishment, for she believed it was Tom sitting before
+the fire.
+
+Had Polly hurried after Paul, to explain matters to him, all would have
+ended well that evening, but she went to the room where her wraps had
+been left and sat down to think out the problem. Meantime, Paul found Mr.
+Dalken and drew him aside to say:
+
+"Don't ask questions, and don't try to stop me, but I am going away as
+quick as I can. I'm through with girls for all time. They're not to be
+trusted when a man's absent. I'm going to live for my mother, hereafter,
+and make her life happy."
+
+Mr. Dalken was taken by surprise, because he had no key to this new
+puzzle, but he said: "Do wait, my boy, and have some refreshments with
+us. I have so much to ask you about the mine."
+
+"No--no! I can't stay. The mine isn't my affair anyway, and I was a fool
+to coax John to give me power-of-attorney to come East for him. Now I'm
+rushing back and he can send Tom Latimer the affidavit necessary for the
+meeting in January."
+
+"Now, now, Paul! You are a hot-headed young fellow and I feel sure
+matters can be explained quickly, if you will but wait!"
+
+Paul scowled and stiffened his spine as he replied: "Mr. Dalken, I heard
+with my own ears, that Nolla is infatuated with another young man. She
+said, _and I_ heard her say it: 'She was not certain which one of us she
+preferred but the test would show if she used a good dose of anti-toxin
+to help the germ! But I'm no 'second fiddle' even if that other fellow
+is! If a girl can't tell whether she loves me without using hypodermics
+to help her find out, then she's no wife for me! Maybe I'm a wild and
+woolly westerner from Denver, but believe me! we westerners never stand
+around waiting for a bit to be forced between our teeth."
+
+Mr. Dalken could hardly restrain his sudden desire to laugh, but he
+averted his head for a moment and covered his face with a handkerchief
+until he composed his risibles, then he said: "Still, I am sure I can
+mediate in this case, Paul. Only stay and let me inquire."
+
+"I guess not! No one can mediate between me and a flirt! I am through, I
+say, and I'm going home!"
+
+So saying Paul thrust out his hand and Mr. Dalken had to take it.
+"Good-by, and say good-by to the others for me. This much I want you to
+do, as I will not see them again!"
+
+Mr. Dalken went to the door with his excited guest and saw him go down on
+the elevator, then he rushed madly back to the telephone and ordered the
+man to detain the departing guest. Back to the den where he had seen
+Eleanor standing with Jack, was his next act, and dragging both out of
+the apartment and along the hall to the elevator, he pushed the button
+furiously.
+
+While the wondering attendant was coming up, Mr. Dalken said: "What in
+the name of conscience did you two crazy creatures do or say to Paul
+Stewart, to drive him frantic?"
+
+Jack stared in ignorance of what his guardian meant, but Eleanor gazed as
+if she thought Mr. Dalken had suddenly gone mad. The elevator stopped at
+their floor, and the man opened the gate. Mr. Dalken pulled his two
+companions on, and the man started down again.
+
+All this time, Eleanor was speechless with doubt of Mr. Dalken's sanity
+but the elevator man turned to him and said: "The young man I just took
+down, refused to remain. He said he would arrest anyone who tried to
+detain him against his will."
+
+Mr. Dalken ran his hands through his hair and rolled his eyes upward.
+Turning to Eleanor he hissed: "What _did_ you say to Paul to make him act
+like a man in torment?"
+
+"Paul! Are you crazy, Mr. Dalken?" asked Eleanor, fearfully.
+
+"No, but _you_ must be to throw over such a sweetheart. You'll wait a
+long time before you get another like him, even though I do like Jack
+immensely, and will further his case when he meets the right girl. I'm
+sure you are not the right one, and you ought to know it, from what you
+told me yourself, yesterday. Can't you see that Jack thinks he loves
+Polly, just because she won't have him?"
+
+"Of course I understand!" retorted Eleanor, but annoyed that her plot to
+bring Polly and Tom together again was exposed.
+
+"Then why in the name of heavens did you send Paul away believing it was
+_you_ that Jack wanted?"
+
+Before an answer could be given, the elevator reached the ground floor
+and the man quickly opened the doors. Out in the vestibule the
+telephone-operator was button-holing a young man and using every
+persuasion to detain him.
+
+Jack Baxter had never seen Paul so he did not recognize him now. But
+Eleanor did, and she stood stock-still in such surprise that Mr. Dalken
+ran ahead without her.
+
+"Paul, Paul! I knew you had made a mistake. Eleanor is here to explain
+everything," said he, taking the place of the amazed servant.
+
+"What can she explain that will change my opinion of her?" scorned Paul,
+sending a cold look at poor Eleanor.
+
+"Nolla, come here, Paul wants you to explain," begged Mr. Dalken, beside
+himself.
+
+Her first surprise at finding Paul Stewart in New York _and in the
+house_, passed over and Eleanor forgot Jack and everything else, as she
+rushed forward to welcome her old sweetheart.
+
+"Paul--Oh Paul! When did _you_ come?" cried she.
+
+But Paul's haughty stare stopped her when she was not ten inches from
+him. He turned to Mr. Dalken and said: "Now that you've broken your word
+with me, you had best explain."
+
+"_I_ broken my word! I never gave my word to anything that is broken.
+Remember, Paul, you may be a hot-headed impulsive youth, but you cannot
+make such sweeping accusations without grounds for them. I am so sorry
+for you in your disappointment that I will excuse you this time, however,
+and explain for your benefit, that I caught hold of Jack and Nolla after
+you left and dragged them down here without 'breaking my word' as you
+claim, or any other unhonorable deed. Unless you consider getting at the
+truth is unprincipled." Mr. Dalken was stern and dignified in his
+self-justification, and Paul had the grace to flush uncomfortably.
+
+Eleanor was standing, uncertain of what was best to do in this strange
+meeting. She had felt over-joyed a moment before, to find Paul there, but
+now she wondered why he was so angry, and why he had not waited to greet
+her, as long as he had been up in the apartment. Baxter, not feeling at
+home in this group, turned and asked the man to take him up again.
+
+Mr. Dalken had not seen Jack leave again, so he turned to call him, but
+found he had disappeared.
+
+"Nolla, what did you say to Paul when he met you?" demanded the older
+man.
+
+"I? Why, Mr. Dalken, I never knew Paul was here. The first hint I had of
+something unusual was when you rushed in to drag us downstairs."
+
+Mr. Dalken was puzzled so he turned to Paul. "Then why did you say Nolla
+was a flirt and had made a fool of you? I thought she met you and began
+to tease, as she does everyone."
+
+"There was no need of her saying anything to me, as I heard her tell,
+when she was not aware of my standing behind her chair, that the young
+man she was with might prove to be the accepted love after all." Then
+Paul repeated the substance of the talk he had overheard between Jack and
+Eleanor.
+
+As he concluded, Eleanor laughed hysterically and held out her hands to
+Mr. Dalken beseechingly. "Oh, dear Dalky! Can't you see how Paul
+misunderstood everything! I was speaking of Jack's case with Polly, and
+advising him in regard to Tom. I know Jack is not seriously in love with
+Polly, but he fancies himself so, because Polly is so attractive and
+indifferent to him. As Jack has always been flattered and made love to by
+society girls, this unexpected attitude of Polly's piqued the boy. I did
+my best tonight, to show all three of these silly young things where they
+stood in this serious matter. And _to think_, I got myself in hot water
+for trying to help my friends!" Eleanor unexpectedly broke out in sobs
+and leaned her head against Mr. Dalken's shoulder.
+
+Paul began to accuse himself for being a brute, and Mr. Dalken patted
+Eleanor's head and said comfortingly: "Never mind, Nolla dear. You'll
+learn by bitter experience that the more one interferes in these love
+tangles for the sake of helping friends out of their troubles, the more
+our friends detest us and we end in falling into snares ourselves."
+
+"Um--don't I know it now!" wept Eleanor, in a muffled voice, because her
+mouth was hard against her comforter's coat.
+
+Paul stood uncertain of what to say or do. He shifted his weight from one
+foot to the other, and glanced around, but always brought his wandering
+eyes back to Eleanor's shaking form.
+
+An interruption, in shape of the entrance of some merry tenants of
+another apartment, suddenly caused Mr. Dalken to lift Eleanor's head and
+hurry her, with Paul, into the reception room at one end of the main
+hall. Here they sat down to have an understanding.
+
+When the facts were fully revealed, Paul was as grateful to Mr. Dalken
+for restraining him in his plans to run away, as Eleanor was for his
+hasty removal of her from upstairs, to the hall downstairs. And poor Mr.
+Dalken was _most_ grateful to find he had made peace between two
+disturbed young hearts. He got up and said: "Let's hope you won't curse
+me in the future, for this reconciliation. And for goodness' sake! Let me
+get upstairs to my guests, and help Taki serve refreshments, or the
+oysters will be ruined with stewing, while the wonderful French patties I
+got from Del's, will be cold and clammy."
+
+Eleanor laughed, and beckoned Paul to come up again. So the grinning
+elevator man carried them up and very considerately accepted the tip Paul
+slipped into his palm as he stepped from the lift.
+
+The Japanese butler had not waited for Mr. Dalken, however, and was
+passing the famous patties and sandwiches when the three absent members
+of the party entered again, and tried to act as if nothing unusual had
+happened.
+
+Polly had witnessed Paul's flying departure, and thereafter saw Jack and
+Eleanor astounded in the darkened library. When Mr. Dalken rushed in and
+dragged them both away, Polly stood open-mouthed and stared after them.
+The Jap wisely hurried forward and carefully closed the front door, then
+went back to his duties without showing that he had seen the queer
+performances of his master, or found Polly standing there, the single
+witness of the scene.
+
+Polly still stood in the hall deeply perplexed, when Tom sauntered from
+Mr. Dalken's bedroom where he had been smoking a cigarette to steady his
+nerves. Now he joined Polly and began a conventional phrase, but was
+suddenly interrupted by her.
+
+"What does all this silly behavior mean?" demanded she.
+
+"Do you refer to my behavior?" asked Tom, blandly.
+
+Polly's eyes snapped. "Of course not! Must you always think yourself
+first and foremost?"
+
+As this was an unexpected and undeserved slap for Tom, he was still
+groping for a clue, when Polly's angry impatience with herself for having
+made such a blunder in her calculations about Eleanor and the others,
+made her exclaim:
+
+"Well, I can plainly see that Nolla will never make any sort of a
+business partner for me! Her foolish head is so turned by beaus, that she
+will never settle down until Paul has either spurned her love, or she is
+married and divorced again. _Then_ there may be hopes of her attending to
+our work."
+
+As Tom was not aware of Paul's sudden appearance and hasty departure, he
+still pondered what was best to say to Polly, in her unusual pettish
+mood. But she paid no heed to his silence and continued, like most women
+will when they have been mistaken, and fear the consequences of an
+ill-advised step.
+
+"I declare! if Paul does come back and makes up with Nolla, I shall move
+heaven and earth to see that they are safely engaged this time! And that
+Jack Baxter, well, I'll make Dalky ship him off to some distant college
+so there'll be no further wasting of valuable time with him!"
+
+This last declaration so over-joyed Tom that he found courage to offer a
+suggestion. But he was too unwise this time. "You're absolutely right,
+Polly dear. That Baxter has nothing better to do than kill time. He never
+did a stroke of work in his life, nor did his father before him. Those
+young 'lady's men' who live on their ancestor's rewards of labor, never
+amount to a row of beans."
+
+Polly stared freezingly at Tom, but he was completely mesmerized with the
+romantic picture he was presenting, and so he continued oblivious of his
+companion's expression.
+
+"We'll send Baxter flying, after this, and help poor Paul to hold his
+place with Nolla. I'll wire Paul to fix it so he can come East for
+Christmas, and surprise Nolla. Then we'll all announce a double
+engagement, eh?" Tom turned to watch Polly's face as she surely must
+second his plan, but he changed his mind when he saw her frown. "As
+usual, Tom, you're much too late in your brilliant ideas. Others are
+ahead of you. Paul has been here tonight and gone again, and Nolla will
+never have any engagement to announce--if she waits for Paul's
+declaration.
+
+"As for _me_! My announcements are being engraved now."
+
+Tom caught his breath in consternation at this news. "Your announcements,
+Polly! _Oh_, and you jilted me, after all!"
+
+Polly enjoyed turning the knife in the wound, because she felt so
+wretched herself for having ruined Eleanor's happiness.
+
+"I could not jilt anyone who never proposed, could I? I have maintained
+for a long time, and everyone who knows me is aware of it, too--that I am
+engaged to my profession and I have ordered my announcements to that
+effect. I propose sending out my business cards the first week of
+January!"
+
+The relief to Tom was so great that he sighed aloud: "Oh, thank heavens
+for that!"
+
+"I knew you would be glad, Tom; so you see you are sensible after all,
+and can thank heaven that you had no cause to be jilted!" laughed Polly,
+maliciously, but she felt no satisfaction in this outcome of her
+understanding with Tom.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+MUTUAL CONSOLATION
+
+
+It was at this point in Polly's independent speech that the door opened
+and Mr. Dalken came in with his two repentant lovers. Tom saw that the
+clouds had been dispersed and now there seemed to be a clear sky for
+Paul. But he was curious to hear what had happened during the short time
+he had been smoking that cigarette.
+
+Polly also saw Paul return with Nolla, and when she saw the happy smiles
+on both faces, she groaned, and turned to go to the library where, so
+little time before, the tragic lover had escaped with a determination to
+never look at another girl as long as he lived--excepting his mother.
+
+Tom followed Mr. Dalken to the dining-room to learn the particulars about
+the two individuals who had meekly followed the host back to the
+apartment; while Polly sank down in one of the Turkish arm-chairs
+recently occupied by the two plotting match-makers.
+
+Mr. Dalken rolled his eyes ceiling-ward and complained: "I can't
+understand why I should be chosen by Providence to act as peace-maker
+between jealous lovers, or quarrelsome husbands and wives. It is one of
+the most thankless jobs a man can have."
+
+Tom laughed in spite of his eagerness to be told the details. "Maybe it
+is because you have so much _feeling_ for heartsick mortals," said he.
+
+Mr. Dalken looked serious. "Yes, Tom my boy, you spoke the truth there.
+If anyone knows the misery caused by fools and faithlessness, I'm that
+one. Perhaps that is the reason I can mediate for my friends."
+
+"I was going to ask you to mediate for me, with Polly, but I haven't the
+heart to ask you, now," ventured Tom.
+
+"Why, you big ninny, I've done nothing else but try to mediate between
+you two for the past two years. If matters haven't reached a crisis by
+this time, I'd better give up the case and let you get a specialist,"
+exclaimed Mr. Dalken.
+
+"Tell me exactly where I stand now, and I'll excuse you from further
+annoyance on my part."
+
+"Great Scott, Man! Can't you tell where you stand? How can _I_ judge. You
+surely don't want me to propose for you, do you?"
+
+Tom couldn't afford to feel indignant, as he had to ask his friend what
+had happened to Paul and Eleanor, during his temporary absence from the
+others. So Mr. Dalken told as much of the story as he had been able to
+understand, concluding with the admonition: "Now that Jack can't wile
+away time with Nolla, he will, doubtless, turn his full attention to
+Polly."
+
+That was the only malicious remark the poor man permitted himself to
+indulge in. But Tom took it seriously and said: "Thanks awfully, for the
+hint. I'll keep after Polly myself, until Baxter gives up the chase." And
+with that he hurried away to find Polly.
+
+He found Paul and Eleanor sitting in the deep window-seat where Polly had
+been the early part of the evening, and as he wandered about for a
+glimpse of his "Heart's Desire," the Jap came over with a tray and said:
+
+"Mis'r Tom look fer supper? Taki keep nice patty for him."
+
+Jack Baxter was near enough to hear Taki, and he laughed jeeringly as he
+said: "Oh, what a fine man you are, Taki! You know exactly what your
+master's guests are wanting--patties or Pollies!"
+
+Taki grinned but failed to grasp the young man's meaning. Tom did,
+however, and leaving the oyster patty on the tray, he stalked across to
+Jack and said, threateningly:
+
+"How dare you speak like that? Mentioning Miss Brewster's name in the
+same breath as an oyster patty or a poll-parrot."
+
+But the truth of the matter was, Jack had never meant to convey the
+meaning, when he said "Pollies," that he spoke of parrots. So he
+instantly took the stand of the offended one.
+
+"How dare you even hint at such an insult to a friend of mine? I consider
+Miss Brewster too far above either you or me to discuss her with you,
+about such matters."
+
+Wise Taki had disappeared quickly and in another moment the harassed host
+came hurrying from the serving board. He glowered upon Tom and Jack, and
+grasping each one by the arm, he hustled them out into the main hall of
+the building and then spoke.
+
+"You two bullies go down in the street and fight it out. I'll do you the
+favor to ring up the police station and call a cop to come around and
+take you both in custody--that's where you belong, until you come to your
+senses. If _I_ were a girl I'd never look at either of you again."
+
+But this advice cooled their anger, and the moment Mr. Dalken turned to
+go back to his apartment both men laughed at the situation. Tom offered
+his hand and Baxter shook it. Then each apologised to the other, and in a
+few minutes they started for the door of the apartment.
+
+But the door was locked, and, in front of it on the mat, were two small
+heaps: one was composed of Tom's coat and hat, with a patty and sandwich
+on a wooden plate, on top of it. The other small heap was Jack's
+dress-cape, with his silk hat topping it, and in the hat, were his gloves
+and the plate with refreshments. His cane hung on the door-knob.
+
+All the bell-ringing Tom indulged in, thereafter, failed to bring any
+answer. So the two young men, highly amused by their host's farewell act,
+ate the scanty refreshments handed out, and then left the two wooden
+plates in front of the door, with a note on each. The pencilled scrawls
+said: "Two hungry beggars thank the rich man who threw them the crumbs
+from his table."
+
+After they had gone down to the ground floor, Jack said: "I'll try to get
+Dalken on the telephone and ask him to send us down enough company to
+keep us from going to sleep in the reception room."
+
+Tom laughed and stood eagerly waiting to hear the reply. But the operator
+smiled and reported: "Mr. Dalken called down a few minutes ago, and said
+that he was not at home to anyone--not even to friends--until tomorrow
+morning."
+
+So the two chagrined young men left, and whatever they did during the
+next few hours, no one ever knew, but from that evening both forgot their
+rivalry and became fast friends. Jack suddenly decided to go West and
+finish his engineering studies in the mountains about Pebbly Pit. And Tom
+decided to make one last stand for Polly, and should she still refuse him
+on the basis that she must finish a business experience first, then he
+would knuckle down to hard work and forget all about her, forever.
+
+It was easier for Jack to carry out his purpose than for Tom to leave New
+York and forget Polly. But Jack managed to do as he had outlined, and
+before Christmas Day he had said good-by and was on his way to Denver.
+
+Tom spent so much time and preparation before the mirror in his room,
+perfecting himself in the art of proposing to Polly, in such a way that
+she would be impressed, that he became quite self-conscious of his pose
+and words. On Christmas Day, he planned to coax her away by herself, and
+then fall upon his knees and tell his story. He had a magnificent
+solitaire in his pocket, waiting to be displayed at the right moment.
+
+No one saw Tom all that Christmas morning, although his friends called on
+the telephone, both at his home and at the hotel. He did not reply to any
+calls. But late in the afternoon he sauntered forth from his room,
+looking more like a silly dandy than a big sensible young man who was one
+of the best engineers in the West.
+
+He got in a taxi and gave directions. In front of Mr. Fabian's house, he
+paid the driver and went up the steps. After he had rung the bell, he
+felt in his pocket to make sure the ring-box was there. This was about
+the twentieth time he had assured himself.
+
+The maid opened the door, and looked sorry for him.
+
+"Miss Polly? Are the ladies in?" stammered Tom.
+
+"No'm--no-sir, I mean," returned the maid, confused at his certainty of
+finding them at home. "They went out an hour ago, after tryin' to get you
+on the 'phone. They says they won't be back till after midnight, sir."
+
+"Did they say where they were going?" asked Tom.
+
+"No'm--No-sir! But I hear'n Miss Polly talk to someone on the 'phone and
+she says: 'Oh how lovely! We'll all go with you. And we'll meet you there
+for dinner,'" repeated the maid. "You see, I was openin' th' door to take
+more presents for the young ladies, so I hear'n that much of the talk
+from the table 'phone in the back hall."
+
+Tom thanked her with a sinking heart, and turned away. Once more his
+fingers mechanically felt for the ring box but he experienced no thrill
+this time, when he found it was safe.
+
+He walked slowly cross-town and recklessly passed over Broadway with its
+traffic in full swing, looking neither to the right nor to the left. The
+officer shouted to rouse him from his apathy, but it failed to work.
+
+He reached the park and found a bench. There he sat down without looking
+at the seat. A frantic boy ran over and yelled: "Get up, mister! Get
+up--you'se sittin' on my Chrismus candy!"
+
+Tom got up as mechanically as an automaton, but a few of the gummy
+candies clung to his coat-tails, while the boy fearful of losing such
+treasure ran after the man to pick off the sticky sweets.
+
+When he found another bench that was clear, and no boys nearby to worry
+his soul, Tom sat down and sulked. Having practised so faithfully all
+that day, in adding the finishing touches of grace to his lesson of
+proposing, it was a bitter dose to find all his work was wasted. Polly
+had joyfully accepted someone else's invitation to go away and have a
+good time, leaving him alone and heart-broken.
+
+Sleet and drizzle began falling, and Tom was soon soaked through, but he
+was heedless of clinging clothes and wet shoes.
+
+After an hour of self-pity, he got up and started down the drive. By this
+time he was almost frozen, but he congratulated himself on the fact that
+he might have pneumonia and die. Then Polly might feel sorry for her
+coldness!
+
+Following the suggestion this idea presented, Tom wilfully waded through
+the slush in the gutters, and thoroughly drenched his patent-leather
+shoes in crossing the streets, until his feet were not only wet but
+freezing inside the shoes.
+
+He found a cheap restaurant where the show-windows displayed baskets of
+artificial fruit; and as a center-piece of this decoration, there was a
+great block of ice holding up a dressed goose, with red holly twined
+about it.
+
+Tom detested quick-lunch places where the steam satisfied a man's hunger,
+the moment he came in contact with its heavy odors, but he reveled in
+this evening's opportunity to be a martyr, so he sat down and ordered
+corn-beef and cabbage because he loathed it.
+
+Although he could not eat much of the delectable dish he had ordered, he
+was determined to finish his day accordingly. So he ordered Neapolitan
+ice-cream and coffee. The ice-cream was served with the tissue paper
+still wrapped about the cake--to prove that no hands had been in contact
+with the dessert before serving it. But the highly colored stripes of the
+soapy cream that refused to melt, even when he dropped a spoonful into
+his oily coffee, cured him of further martyrdom to the cause of love.
+
+He hastily got up from the table, paid his ticket and ran out. By this
+time, he felt so sick and chilled that he gloated in the assurance that
+soon he would be in a raging fever. He pictured Polly's regrets when she
+should return home at midnight and hear that he had been taken to a
+hospital, with a fatal case of double pneumonia. He had decided on having
+it double, after he left the restaurant, as that would kill him sooner.
+In this state of mind he had to dodge a taxi and slipped to fall into a
+mud puddle.
+
+But Tom could not resist the desire to see his mother once more, before
+he died; and after fighting off this inclination for another hour or two,
+he was feeling so perfectly awful, that he knew his last call had come
+for him.
+
+He had been sneezing every few minutes for the past hour, and his eyes
+were running like twin rivers. His nose was so stuffy that he could
+hardly enunciate the words, when he told a cabby to "Ta-ge me to sig
+siggy-sig West End Avenoo."
+
+During the short time he was in the cab, he could not breathe, and he had
+to keep his mouth open to be able to inhale any air at all. He paid off
+the taxi, and went to his mother's apartment. Before he could change his
+mind about calling, he had pushed the bell-button.
+
+He heard someone coming down the hall, and at the same time a door in
+front opened and the laughter and noise of many merry voices reached him
+as he stood waiting on the doormat.
+
+"Good evening, Mr. Tom--a merry Christmas," said the maid, smilingly.
+
+"Goo' ebeneeg, Kadrina," mumbled Tom, scowling as he looked towards the
+front room whence came the merry-making.
+
+"Don' dell anyone I'm here, but dell Modder I'm sig and wand do see her
+ride away," explained Tom, snuffingly.
+
+"You got a bad cold in your nose, ain't chew?" said Katrina,
+sympathetically.
+
+"No!" shouted Tom, furiously. "I god'da case ob double pneumonia!"
+
+Katrina jumped at the unexpected shout, and hurried to the front room to
+call her mistress. Instead of remembering to keep Tom's presence a
+secret, she whispered loud enough for Polly to hear:
+
+"Mr. Tom jus' come in an' his nose is red as a beet. His eyes is runnin',
+too, an' he needs a atmosizer to blow in his head, to clear out the
+snuffles so's he kin open his lungs, widdout keepin' his mouth open all
+th' time."
+
+Instead of fainting with horror as Tom had pictured she might, Polly
+laughed at Katrina's description, and Mrs. Latimer smiled and turned to
+her guests to excuse herself, by saying:
+
+"Tom just came in, poor boy, with a stuffy cold in his head. I'll put his
+feet in mustard and see that he drinks a hot glass of doctored lemonade,
+then I'll be back."
+
+So Tom, instead of bidding his mother an eternal farewell and dying alone
+and abandoned, as he had planned, in a hospital ward, was soon made to
+scald his feet in hot mustard water, while his mother's flannel kimono
+replaced his bedraggled clothing, and a heavy blanket was wrapped about
+him, and he was offered a nasty drink of lemonade, but what else was in
+it other than lemon only his mother knew!
+
+By this time he felt so wretched that he cared nothing for solitaires or
+fiancées; all he wanted was to get one good long breath through his nose
+once more before he choked to death.
+
+His mother had returned to the merry-making in the parlors, and Tom sat
+huddled in his unbecoming bedding in his mother's dressing-room. Every
+few minutes he had to use Katrina's "atmosizer" for his nose, or gasp for
+breath.
+
+Just as the perspiration began to pour out of every pore, and his feet
+felt like scalded lobsters, and the vaseline his mother had smeared in
+his eyes and over his nose, to void any chaffing, had been trickled all
+over his face, Polly tiptoed into the room that opened to the
+dressing-room where he sat.
+
+He held his breath, fearing lest she hear him gasp and find him in this
+awful predicament. He could not see her after she closed the hall-door,
+but he wondered what she was doing. At this moment, a tickling in his
+nose began and he knew it portended a sneeze! He must prevent it, or
+Polly would track him down. If she ever saw him in this condition, after
+all his hard study to propose gracefully, he would take poison!
+
+But the sneeze was imperative, and it burst forth in such an explosion,
+that Polly screamed faintly from just behind the door of the little room.
+
+"Go'way! I won'd see anyone," commanded Tom.
+
+"But you'll let me come and see how you are, won't you, Tom dear?" coaxed
+Polly, appearing at the open door.
+
+"No! You above everyone. I'm goin' to a hozpidal as zoon ads the
+ambulance gomes, and I never wand to zee any ob my frien'z again. I'll
+leave word no one ids to gome to my funeral, eider."
+
+"Tom, dearest, don't talk like that! Where have you been today, to catch
+such an awful cold in your head?" said Polly.
+
+"Id'z my lungz, I dell you! Double pneumonia. Leabe me to my fade, and
+forged me, Polly!" tears rose in his eyes at this pitiful picture of his
+lonely demise.
+
+But Polly was practical, and stubborn to a degree. She refused to go, and
+when Mrs. Latimer came back, she told her that Tom ought to be in bed and
+given a great big dose of quinine--then he'd be all right in the morning.
+
+"That's exactly what we planned to do, Polly," said Mrs. Latimer. "I sent
+Katrina to the drugstore for the pills, just now. But you run back and
+enjoy yourself, dear, as you can do nothing for Tom. He's like all
+men--as grouchy as a bear with a sore head, the minute anything ails
+them."
+
+His mother laughed, and Polly stood smiling. Tom fumed. "Was this all the
+sympathy he was to win for his self-appointed martyrdom?"
+
+Just as he had lost the last vestige of hope in life, Polly said to his
+mother: "I haven't seen Tom before, today, to wish him a merry Christmas
+and to give him my present."
+
+"Oh!" ejaculated Mrs. Latimer, wisely, and slipped from the room, closing
+the hall door very quietly after her.
+
+Tom opened one eye and began to wonder if it was worth while--this living
+business? When Polly smiled so angelically upon him, in spite of his
+ludicrous pose and appearance, he thought he might make one more trial of
+temporal existence.
+
+Then Polly said, "I am sorry I could not reach you by telephone today,
+Tom. I had a little surprise for you, that I'm sure you will like. Shall
+I show you now?"
+
+"Maybe it ids egsadtly wha'd I wads plannig to ags you?" said Tom,
+sitting up with interest, and forgetting the tub of hot water with his
+feet slowly par-boiling in it.
+
+"Here it is. Isn't it neat and business-like?" said Polly, as she handed
+him a small paste-board card.
+
+Tom read:
+
+                            "POLLY BREWSTER
+                               DECORATOR
+                             NEW YORK CITY
+           _Representing Ashby Shops, New York and London_."
+
+Tom's shocked surprise at the unexpected announcement, so different from
+what he had expected, rendered him speechless for a full minute. During
+this pause, Polly patted his damp hair just as she might have patted her
+brother John's head, or a faithful Newfoundland's shaggy dome. This
+latter was Tom's thought.
+
+The gentle touch, combined with his resentful feelings about the business
+announcement, made him lose all self-control. He was so furious that he
+could not find his voice, and if he had, his words would have been
+unintelligible because of the head-cold. He sprang up from the chair,
+forgetful of his blanket swaddlings, and the large basin in which his
+feet were still immersed.
+
+He lifted his hand above his head in a melodramatic way of denunciation,
+but the tragic effect was completely ruined when the porcelain basin
+began slipping across the hard-wood floor. He wildly threw out both hands
+to clutch at something for support, but the low chair he had occupied was
+not near the dressing table nor any other article of furniture in the
+room.
+
+Polly tried to save him from a fall, but he threw off her rescuing hands;
+and thus he was falling to his ungraceful finish, when he managed to free
+one foot and planted it on the rug as a balance. But the basin with its
+wet porcelain bottom kept sliding ever farther away, and Tom still rolled
+in the swaddling robes suddenly sat down unceremoniously upon the floor.
+
+Polly faintly screamed when the basin overturned and the mustard water
+ran in numerous streamlets across the waxed wood and center rug. Just at
+this critical moment, Mrs. Latimer came back to give her son the dose of
+quinine.
+
+"Why, Tom! Why are you sitting on the floor?" asked she, in amazement.
+
+That was the last straw. Polly had to smother a laugh but Tom flared out
+and the thick denunciations of all the female sex, particularly western
+girls, would have driven such a girl mad with anger. But Polly understood
+her friend too well to believe a word he said.
+
+Even while he still hurled every expletive he could remember and try to
+enunciate, Polly sprang over to help Mrs. Latimer raise the beswaddled
+young man back into the chair. He fought off her assistance, but she
+stubbornly held on to his arms until he was seated in a proper position
+once more.
+
+Then she said: "Tom dear, I'm so sorry you have had such a wretched
+Christmas Day. Had we but known you had such a cold we would have called
+and taken you home with us. But now that Christmas is over, and I haven't
+had time to say a word to you, I'll just whisper that, as a sort of late
+greeting: 'If I don't find anyone I like better than you, during the next
+two years, I'll make a partnership proposition to you.'"
+
+"Oh, Bolly! Whad do you mean?" gasped Tom, expectation high once more.
+
+"I like you better than any other friend I ever had, Tom, but I am
+determined to try business first. Then, in two years' time if you are
+still of the same mind as now, I will consider what you have so often
+planned. But not before then. Until that time we will be the best of good
+pals."
+
+"Oh, Bolly! Whad a Gridsmad's gifd you habe giben me!" exclaimed Tom, his
+face shining radiantly with love and vaseline.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+BEAUX OR BUSINESS
+
+
+It was very late when the Fabian party reached home that Christmas night;
+thus there were no confidences given or taken between the girls until the
+following morning. To Eleanor's keen sight Polly appeared ill at ease;
+and in the morning, after breakfast, the cloud seemed heavier than
+before. Then Eleanor decided to find out what unpleasant experience had
+occurred while at Latimers.
+
+"I had a glorious time, last night--didn't you, Poll?" began Eleanor,
+guilelessly.
+
+"Oh, yes! Until poor Tom came in with that nasty cold in his head. His
+condition was enough to ruin any one's enjoyment, once you saw or heard
+him," replied Polly, absentmindedly.
+
+"A mere cold in the head is nothing to worry about. He will probably be
+here, today, as fresh as ever. That is, if the quinine he took last night
+permits him to see straight." Eleanor laughed in order to show her friend
+how unconcerned she was about anything which might have happened at the
+Latimers.
+
+"Had you seen him, with his feet in boiling water and mustard, his face
+coated with vaseline, his eyes like Bear Forks, and his temper like a
+sore hyena's, you wouldn't sit there and say he'd be fresh as ever
+today," Polly retorted with a reminiscent smile.
+
+"It's a wonder to me that he permitted you to visit him after he had been
+doctored by his mother as you say he was," returned Eleanor, musingly.
+
+"He never would have, Nolla, had I not marched right into the room
+without his being aware of my presence. I never even knocked, because his
+mother told me he was in her dressing-room, off the large room. I waited
+in the large room until I heard him speak, then I pretended to be
+surprised and pleased to find him there."
+
+Eleanor laughed. "Yes, I can see you pretend anything, Poll. I just know
+your face was as serious as crêpe, and your pretence a thing any child
+could see through."
+
+"Now, Nolla, you are all wrong! I can prove it. But the great trouble is,
+how shall I get out of what Tom believes to be true? I pretended so well
+that I almost fooled myself into believing that I was doing right. This
+morning I know it is not true," said Polly, impatiently.
+
+Eleanor now felt her curiosity rising for she realized she was on the
+verge of hearing what had caused Polly's concern. But she knew she must
+be circumspect in her replies, or her friend would take alarm and not say
+a word.
+
+"Polly, there speaks the born actress. When on the stage, acting in a
+play, the artiste is carried away by her own depth of feeling and faith
+in the truth of what she is saying or doing. Now, you see, you did the
+same and that proves you should study stage-craft instead of interior
+decorating." Eleanor spoke in a jocular tone.
+
+Polly smiled at her friend, but she was too preoccupied with her problem
+to pay attention to Eleanor--whether she was in earnest or whether she
+was speaking in fun.
+
+Suddenly Polly asked: "Nolla, are you engaged to Paul?"
+
+Eleanor was taken off her feet. She never dreamed of having Polly ask her
+bluntly about her private interests in any one.
+
+"W-h-y, n-o-o--not ex-actly!" stammered she in reply.
+
+Polly sat and stared at her companion as if to search out the truth. Then
+she said: "Have you any idea of being engaged within the next year or
+two?"
+
+"Well, now, Poll," returned Eleanor, finding her depth once more, and
+treading water to get her breath, "you know how I admire Paul, and you
+also know that Paul says he loves me. That was most obvious at Dalky's
+party, the night Paul arrived so unexpectedly. But when you speak of
+engagements, I must remind you of the law you laid down for me--not to
+tie myself to any such entanglement until after we had had our fill of
+business. Am I right?"
+
+"Exactly!" sighed Polly. "But that does not go to say that you obeyed my
+law. There may be a secret understanding between you and Paul, and that
+is what I want to hear about."
+
+"It may be the same sort of a secret understanding as now exists between
+you and Tom Latimer," retorted Eleanor, taking a wild chance that such
+was the fact.
+
+"Then I pity poor Paul from the bottom of my heart," was Polly's
+unexpected reply.
+
+"Paul doesn't seem to think he is in need of any pity," smiled Eleanor,
+as she thought of his joy the preceding evening as he escorted her from
+the Latimer's apartment to the automobile.
+
+"Well, then it is not the same sort of secret understanding. Now come out
+with it, Nolla, and tell me just how far you have complicated yourself
+with Paul in love, and with me in our business venture?"
+
+"Not at all, Poll. That is what I wish to impress upon you--that I am no
+deeper in the love tangle than you are with Tom."
+
+"All right, then, Nolla. Now I'll confess, if you promise me to do
+likewise. Is it a bargain?"
+
+"If you wish. But let me say beforehand, I have no more to confess than
+you know of already."
+
+"It's a pact! Shake, Nolla," exclaimed Polly, holding out her hand.
+
+Of course Eleanor was more than amazed at such a to-do over what she
+considered a natural outcome of human attraction for Polly, and she shook
+the hand extended to seal the compact.
+
+"There now! I'll confess first. Last night, when I found poor Tom in such
+dire condition and wanting to die at once, I told his mother I would
+comfort him, somewhat, by wishing him a merry Christmas and showing him
+my business card. You know, the ones we just got back from the engravers
+late Christmas Eve.
+
+"Well, I found him in such a pitiable way that I was sorry the moment I
+handed him my card. He took it so differently from what I had expected.
+When he raved about dying and nothing to live for, I was at my wit's end.
+Finally, just after the basin in which he was boiling his feet slipped
+from under him, and sat him down unkindly upon the floor, I was moved to
+encourage him if he would but cheer up and think of living a little
+longer.
+
+"Nolla, he took advantage of my weakness and wormed a promise from me to
+consider myself engaged to him, unless I found some one I liked much
+better within the next two years. Now tell me, Nolla, because you are
+educated in affairs like this--where do I stand?"
+
+Polly's anxiety was so amusing to Eleanor and the whole situation so like
+a farce to her maturer love-affair, that she laughed merrily. But Polly
+was too concerned to take offence at the merriment.
+
+"Oh, Polly! What a little lamb you are, to be sure! How lucky for you
+that I am always at hand to keep you from being led to the slaughter--not
+altar!" Eleanor laughed again at her clever play on the hackneyed phrase.
+
+"That doesn't answer my question, Nolla. I am most serious in this matter
+and I do not wish to hear more ridicule from you."
+
+"I'm not ridiculing you or the awful mess you have made of your life,"
+retorted Eleanor with a sly grin, "but I cannot help giving vent to my
+risibles when you take it all so seriously. I wonder how you would take
+the measles, Poll."
+
+"Oh pshaw, Nolla! What has measles to do with me, right now!" was Polly's
+impatient rejoinder.
+
+"I don't know, I'm sure. I was only wondering why you take everything so
+dreadfully in earnest. Now as far as your love tangle appears to be, I
+should prognosticate--hear that word, Polly? I am trying to act the wise
+magistrate for you--that there will be no suit for breach of promise,
+although there may be a case made out against you for alienating Tom's
+affections from Choko's Find Mine. On the other hand, you can serve a
+counter suit on Tom for alienating your affections from your first
+love--your business venture."
+
+While Eleanor had been explaining the law to her friend, the latter grew
+more and more impatient, and when the self-appointed magistrate concluded
+her version of law, Polly sprang up angrily.
+
+"I declare, Nolla, you will never be serious even at death! I'm disgusted
+with you, so there!" and Polly made for the door.
+
+Eleanor made after her, saying as she ran: "I'm sure I'll never want to
+take death seriously, Polly, for that is the time of all times when we
+need to be cheerful and prove to our dear ones that they have nothing to
+weep over--because I am of the firm belief that no one goes into
+oblivion. It is simply progression, you know."
+
+The sudden change from laughter to seriousness halted Polly's exit at the
+door, and she turned to look at her friend with a strange expression in
+her eyes.
+
+"Nolla, you should have been born in April--with the most changeable
+weather of the year. One moment you are too silly for words and the next
+you discourse on the most serious of all subjects."
+
+Again Eleanor laughed, teasingly: "Perhaps I should not have been born at
+all. Then, my family and friends would have been saved many trials. But I
+am here, you see, and they have to make the best of me."
+
+"That is exactly what we want to accomplish, don't you see? We want to
+make the best of you, but you just won't let us do it. You prefer to act
+like a big ninny instead of the cleverest girl in the world."
+
+"Always excepting you, dear!" and Eleanor bowed low.
+
+"There you go again! Now I _am_ mad!" and Polly tried to get through the
+open doorway, but her friend clung to her arm and refused to let her go.
+
+"Wait a moment! I'll let you go as soon as I have a word with you. This
+is going to be a real serious word, too," promised Eleanor.
+
+Polly turned back. Eleanor stood pondering for a moment, then said,
+"About Tom's affair, I would advise this: treat him brotherly--that is be
+sisterly to him; if you are not madly in love with him, so madly that you
+will jump into the Hudson or throw yourself upon the subway track unless
+you know he loves you the same way, then let Cupid manage the whole
+affair. Believe me, child, Cupid can do it far better than you or I!
+
+"Concerning Paul and myself: I told the darling that I had a contract
+with you which had to be fulfilled before I could sign up with another
+one--even though that other one _seemed_ to be offering me easier work
+and better wages. So I'm in for the business venture for all it is worth
+for the next two, perhaps more, years. I refused to place any time limit
+on a promise to sign up with Paul. Satisfied?"
+
+"Most assuredly! That is the first practical speech I've ever heard you
+make, Nolla!" was Polly's emphatic reply.
+
+"I trust you have sense enough to make the same speech to Tom Latimer.
+Then he will follow Paul's example: be filled with ambition to go back to
+Pebbly Pit and straighten out that caved-in mine."
+
+But both the girls were to learn that it is much easier to talk how
+events should follow in sequence, than it is to compel fate to do as she
+is expected to with such events.
+
+That evening, despite his parents' advice to remain in bed, Tom drove up
+in a taxi and stopped before the Fabians' house. He paid the driver,
+rushed up the steps and pulled at the doorbell.
+
+Polly had just finished dinner and was slowly walking out of the
+dining-room when the maid opened the door. Tom fairly leaped in when he
+saw Polly stopping suddenly under the hall-light.
+
+"Oh, my little--" he began, but Polly held up a warning hand and frowned
+him to silence; then she hurried him to the library across the hall from
+the dining-room.
+
+"What's the matter? Didn't you tell them we were engaged?" asked Tom,
+impetuously.
+
+"I didn't know we were what one calls engaged, Tom. You are
+misunderstanding me. Of course, I did not tell them about what never
+happened." Polly was annoyed.
+
+"But," began Tom, arguing for himself, "I felt sure you meant it the way
+I said: that you would wear my ring and consider I had a prior right to
+your love or affections."
+
+"You're all wrong! Because that is exactly what I wish to retain for
+myself--prior right to follow my own life-line. I did say that I liked
+you more than any other friend I know, and that I might consider you as
+my future fiancé if, in two years' time, I came to the conclusion that I
+would give up a business career. That's all; and that holds no ground for
+your giving me an engagement ring, nor for me to take one and wear it. I
+simply refuse to be bound in any way. Better understand this, once for
+all, Tom!"
+
+The other members of the family now came in and welcomed Tom and also
+insisted upon having him tell them how much better he felt. The ring-box
+which Tom had so eagerly pulled from his vest pocket as he sat upon the
+divan with Polly, he now managed to slip back again without having been
+discovered in the act. Even Eleanor failed to see the action.
+
+Before Tom had had time to conclude his polite answers as to the state of
+his health, the bell rang a second time and the maid admitted Paul
+Stewart. Nor did the evening advance far before Jim and Ken dropped in,
+then came Dodo and Mr. Dalken, and last but not least the Ashbys stopped
+in to inquire how everyone was. Such "stoppings" usually ended, as on
+this evening, by their remaining until midnight.
+
+Mr. Ashby had news for his two new assistants in business. "Late in the
+afternoon before Christmas, I had a 'phone call from Mrs. Courtney,
+girls. She asked me to make an appointment with you to meet her at my
+shop, tomorrow morning at eleven. I promised to let you know."
+
+"Oh, that's the lady we met at the Parsippany sale," exclaimed Eleanor.
+"I wondered what had become of her since then."
+
+"Maybe she wants us to find her a few antiques," suggested Polly,
+eagerly.
+
+"I believe she plans to redecorate her boudoir, and wants you two
+beginners to take the commission. She seems to place a great deal of
+confidence in your ability to please her," said Mr. Ashby.
+
+Eleanor smiled at her superior in business. "Feeling any jealousy at our
+popularity?"
+
+"Not a whit!" laughed Mr. Ashby. "It only adds more glory to my brilliant
+fame, because I was astute enough to secure such talent!"
+
+Mrs. Courtney's appointment to meet the two young decorators in a
+business conference came at just the time when both Eleanor and Polly
+were half-persuaded to give up their art and turn aside to marriage,
+although neither girl really wanted to take the husband instead of the
+career, at that time. When Paul and Tom would be out of sight once more,
+and their magnetic presences removed so that calm business atmosphere
+might control again, both girls would see they had been wise in deferring
+their engagements for the present. Hence the visit of Mrs. Courtney came
+at just the critical time.
+
+Polly and Eleanor were at the Ashby Shops a full hour before the lady
+could be expected. But they put in the hour in going over the latest
+samples of boudoir textiles, new ideas in furniture, and fascinating
+designs of cushions, draperies and other accessories for a boudoir.
+
+Mrs. Courtney was very frank and pleasant in her cordial greeting. For
+all her fame as a social leader in New York and the fabulous wealth
+accredited to her, she seemed very plain and friendly. Eleanor could not
+help contrasting her with her mother and Barbara.
+
+"Well, girls, how many millions of dollars have you made in your
+profession since I saw you at that farce of a sale in New Jersey," said
+she smilingly after they had seated themselves in the small reception
+room.
+
+"That _was_ too bad, wasn't it?" said Eleanor.
+
+"We mean, it was too bad for that nice old auctioneer to be used by the
+city man as he certainly was. We met old Mr. Van Styne before that sale,
+you know, and he was so honest!" said Polly.
+
+"So I learned. But I was annoyed at the city man's methods of getting his
+regular customers so far from the city in order to make money out of
+them; I went down to his office and told him very plainly what I thought
+of such trickery as he had played on me. He apologised in every way when
+he learned that I would never buy another thing of him; but I knew his
+apologies were the result of his fear of losing a good customer. I told
+him frankly that I would not accept his regrets. I have heard from him
+several times since then, but I have paid no attention to his requests to
+allow him to explain the circumstance which ended in that sale in the
+country.
+
+"I did take time to write to this Mr. Van Styne, however, and ask for the
+truth, as I did not want to condemn the city man if there might be
+extenuating reasons for the sale. The old man in Morristown answered that
+he had been used as an instrument in the padded sale. He had known
+nothing of the manner in which the antiques had been brought from the
+City and placed in the house, until afterward. He had sent letters to his
+clientele who favored him with confidence, and many were at that sale,
+much to his discomfiture when he learned the truth.
+
+"Mr. Van Styne added that he had taken the trouble to find out from a few
+of his trusting customers that the articles they had purchased at that
+sale, and which were claimed in the catalogues to be genuine antiques,
+were clever imitations. In fact, a refectory table said to be of genuine
+Jacobean period, was manufactured in the man's factory on the East Side.
+Even the worm-holes had been drilled in the wood and the worn slab of
+wood of the top was done by the plane. To keep himself out of Court, the
+clever fellow had to give back the buyer's money and send up to
+Morristown and get the articles of 'newly-made antique' furniture."
+
+"I'm glad of that!" exclaimed Polly.
+
+"But those buyers should have prosecuted the cheat!" declared Eleanor,
+impatiently.
+
+"That's exactly what I said, but one of them wrote me she was going away
+for the winter; she could not postpone her trip to try the case at Court.
+Thus she took the easiest way out." Mrs. Courtney's determined expression
+showed what she would have done had she been the dupe of such a clever
+dealer.
+
+The subject was abruptly changed when Mrs. Courtney added: "Now we must
+talk business, young ladies. I am sure you cannot spare your valuable
+time in gossip."
+
+Polly and Eleanor glanced at each other and smiled at the idea of their
+"valuable time," but Mrs. Courtney launched at once into the cause of her
+call that morning.
+
+"I never felt at peace with the atrocious decorations in my boudoir,
+although one of the highest-priced firms in New York did the room for me.
+I know it was a case of making me take the costliest materials without
+regard to harmony or temperament. Now I wish to have you girls see what
+_you_ would do with the suite. While I am here, I thought you might show
+me several suites exhibited on the floor and tell me which you would
+prefer for a woman of my age."
+
+Polly immediately signified that she was ready to escort Mrs. Courtney to
+the elevator, thence to the exhibition rooms where every conceivable
+period and price of boudoir furnishings were to be seen and examined.
+
+The three stepped from the elevator, and Polly was leading the way to the
+boudoir suites; Mrs. Courtney watched with deep interest as she spoke in
+a low voice, to Eleanor.
+
+"Jack Baxter called on me, one evening before he went West; he told me
+that your remarkable young friend had everything in life to make a young
+girl want to have a good time, yet she chose a profession for herself in
+place of gayety and beaux."
+
+Eleanor smiled and nodded affirmatively but said nothing.
+
+"That is one of the reasons I wanted to meet you young ladies again. It
+is so gratifying to find any young girl, these days, who takes life in
+earnest. Of all the flippant, mothlike creatures I find flapping about at
+receptions or teas, I have yet to find one in every thousand who really
+thinks of anything other than cigarettes, matinees, and dress. It is
+positively revolting to me to have my rooms clouded with cigarette smoke,
+yet what can a hostess do? The women have gone mad over the habit. The
+danger lies in their not being able to break the influence as readily as
+they form it."
+
+Polly overheard the latter part of this speech and smiled admiringly at
+her client. Then they came to the boudoir exhibit.
+
+A very pleasant hour passed while Polly and Eleanor told Mrs. Courtney of
+their visits to galleries in Europe, and in hearing Mrs. Courtney speak
+of her amusing excursions in quest of the antique. Finally the lady
+remembered an appointment, and in amazement found her wrist-watch told
+her it was twelve.
+
+"Oh, oh! I had an imperative engagement at the dentist's at twelve-fifteen.
+How could this hour have passed so rapidly?" said she, hurrying to the
+elevator in advance of the girls.
+
+While waiting for the man to come for them, the two young salesladies
+wondered if their customer would leave without an order, or word of
+encouragement regarding the future of her boudoir.
+
+On the elevator going down, Mrs. Courtney said: "When you have time to
+come to my address and look at the suite, just let me know by telephone
+and I will make it a point to be at home to meet you, to go into the work
+in earnest. I am confident you can give the right atmosphere to my
+boudoir." Just as the elevator reached the ground floor, Mrs. Courtney
+handed Polly and Eleanor each a card upon which she wrote her private
+telephone number.
+
+"Now, good-morning, my friends. Remember what I said to you about having
+chosen the right pathway, for the present. You will make all the better
+wives and mothers for having had a genuine business experience. How
+superior is your ideal to those of empty-headed society misses who live
+but to dance or drink or waste their true substance."
+
+With such praise of their endeavors, the lady left Polly and Eleanor; and
+they stood where she left them, holding her cards in their hands, but
+still gazing at the revolving doors through which she had passed and then
+disappeared.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+BUSINESS
+
+
+Ruth and Dodo had been sadly neglected during the Christmas Season, but
+after Paul returned to Denver and Tom accepted his verdict that Polly
+would give no valuable thought to lovers for the next two years, the two
+young decorators took time to encourage their younger partners in the
+work they had chosen.
+
+Ruth and Dodo were not as deeply in earnest as Polly and Eleanor had been
+in applying themselves to the studies given at Cooper Union; they
+considered themselves martyrs to the cause of womanly work. Mr. Fabian
+often sighed in despair over Dodo's ideals in ancient architecture, or
+Ruth's recitations of applied designs. Polly and Eleanor laughed at these
+trials of teacher and student and kept urging both sides not to lose
+faith but to keep on until they won the prize.
+
+Meanwhile, the two advanced students visited every exhibit or lecture
+given on their beloved work, and thus acquired more of the idealistic
+experiences in art. For business application of their understanding of
+decorating, Mrs. Courtney supplied one channel of such testing; and Mr.
+Dalken offered another outlet for their wisdom, for he had decided to
+erect a magnificent office building on upper Fifth Avenue, and keep the
+entire top floor as a private apartment for himself.
+
+The girls had many interesting mornings in Mrs. Courtney's home,
+listening to her accounts of trips to every country in quest of curios
+and antiques. Her residence was filled with the results of her travels,
+and her memory teemed with thrilling stories of adventure for the rare
+and beautiful trophies she secured.
+
+"There is still one interesting spot on this globe which I am keen to
+visit, but I have never had the opportunity to go as I wish to go," said
+Mrs. Courtney, one day, after she had been showing the two girls the
+collection of Filipino curios she got during a six months' stay at the
+Philippines.
+
+"I should have said there was no spot where you have not been," laughed
+Eleanor.
+
+"But there is, and that is the South Sea Isles. I have----"
+
+"Where?" gasped both the girls, unconsciously interrupting the speaker.
+
+Mrs. Courtney laughed. "Yes, the South Sea Isles. Do not think them so
+cannibalistic as report has it, my dears. I know an American who has
+lived there more than twenty years and he says that for climate and
+interesting life, give him the South Sea Islands. He almost persuaded me
+to take the trip when he was here last."
+
+"Is he an old friend?" asked Polly.
+
+"No; he is a man I used to commission to find certain curios for me. He
+tells me that textiles woven and colored by the natives of those islands
+are the most beautiful things ever seen. The carvings and hammered
+brasses are more gorgeous than those of Benares or of the East. He has
+made quite a fortune out of exporting selected articles from the Isles to
+the United States, but the great difficulty in such trade is the
+uncertain transportation methods. His goods may reach their destination
+and again they may not. It depends on the character of the owner or
+captain of the vessel. He all but persuaded me to buy or lease a
+sea-going yacht and make the trip for a year's outing. He promised me
+that all costs would quickly be defrayed by the valuable cargo which
+could be stored away in very small space on board the yacht."
+
+"If you were so keen about visiting that place why did you renounce it?"
+queried Eleanor, wonderingly.
+
+"Because I could not induce any of my friends to accept my invitation to
+join my party for such an outing." Mrs Courtney laughed as she remembered
+the expressions on the faces of her friends when they heard of the
+proposed voyage.
+
+"Actually, girls, some of my invited guests asked me to go to Monte
+Carlo, or to the Orient, instead. So that broke up the plan."
+
+"Goodness!" sighed Polly, "I only wish I had been invited!"
+
+"Would you have gone willingly?" asked Mrs. Courtney, eagerly.
+
+"Would I? Say, Nolla, would you have gone with me?" was Polly's instant
+retort.
+
+"Try me now and see?" laughed Eleanor to Mrs. Courtney.
+
+"Really, girls, do not joke! I am seriously inclined to take that trip,
+providing I can induce the right group of friends to accompany me. The
+cost of a yacht would be no small matter in these days of high costs, but
+I would have a year's intense satisfaction out of such a trip, and Mr.
+Needham said he felt sure the costs would be met by the cargo I could
+carry out and another I could bring back on the round trip."
+
+"If our gold mine gets to working again, or should the lava cliffs open
+soon, both Polly and I would love to enlist for just such an adventure.
+But there would be no opportunity to add to our knowledge of decorating,
+would there?" suggested Eleanor.
+
+"Not unless you took your lessons with you, and found clients out there
+who wanted you to decorate their grass huts in the good approved American
+way," suggested Mrs. Courtney.
+
+"Nolla, we ought not to dream of such a trip, because we are tied to a
+two-year agreement with each other, you know. Then we've got to give a
+definite answer to those life-partners, you know," was Polly's lugubrious
+reply.
+
+"I don't know, Polly! In such an unexpected matter as our going to the
+South Seas, a mere beau will have to bide his time. We may find a Fiji
+Islander more interesting to us than one of our Yankee beaus," laughed
+Eleanor.
+
+Mrs. Courtney heard and pondered what had just been said; her next words
+did not hint of her having heard the discussion, however.
+
+"If I do take such a trip, it shall not be in the approved line of Cook's
+Tours. I want to adventure in absolute freedom, with no tagging tourists
+or other obstacles to a perfect adventure. I would carefully select a
+party of fifteen or twenty harmonious souls and charter or buy a private
+yacht. Then start and stop as we pleased. No hurry, no lagging, unless we
+chose. It seems to me that such a wonderful outing would bring peace, at
+last, to my restless spirit." Mrs. Courtney sighed.
+
+The girls laughed because they thought she was joking. But Mrs. Courtney
+was in earnest, as they were to find out. However, the topic now being
+discussed was the South Sea Isle trip so she was determined to conclude
+that before she launched another.
+
+"If I invited you two girls to accompany me as private assistants during
+the trip, and should we find a score of kindred spirits willing to take a
+trip such as I plan, why could you not steal six months or a year from
+your profession, in order to see the world? Surely it would do you no
+harm, and you are still young enough to go on with your work when you
+return to New York?"
+
+Polly and Eleanor seemed to have exactly the same idea. But Eleanor spoke
+impetuously of it, while Polly pondered seriously. "Dear me! If only Mr.
+Dalken could spare the time to take _his_ yacht and invite us to
+accompany him on just such a voyage--what a wonderful trip it would be!"
+
+Mrs. Courtney glanced at the girls, then said: "I've heard so much of
+your great Mr. Dalken but I've never seen him. How old a man is he, and
+what does he look like?"
+
+"Oh, Dalky is not as old as he looks, because he has had such an unhappy
+life, you know; that is how we came to love him so! We felt keenly for
+him," exclaimed Eleanor, regardless of the sharp nudge Polly gave her as
+a warning to hold her tongue.
+
+"Yes, I know his silly wife, poor man!" murmured Mrs. Courtney. She
+seemed to be lost in a sad strain of thought for a short time, and the
+girls hesitated to speak, just then.
+
+Soon, however, she heaved a deep sigh and looked up to smile at the
+serious faces opposite her. "Well, perhaps there is a great happiness in
+store for your good friend, to repay him for all he has silently endured
+these past years."
+
+"We sincerely hope so!" affirmed Polly, earnestly. "If anyone deserves
+peace and joy, dear Dalky does."
+
+"How little the world really knows of the sorrows of those who bear their
+cross in silence!" sighed Mrs. Courtney. "Now, I have heard said that Mr.
+Dalken is a very gay personage who knows how to make the most of his
+money and time. But that report came from his wife, so I took it with a
+grain of salt. I know from my own experience just how the sinner tries to
+smear the saint with his own crimes although I do not mean by that that I
+am a saint."
+
+"Surely you had no unhappy experience in your life, Mrs. Courtney!"
+exclaimed Eleanor, not from curiosity but from the desire to hear her
+esteemed friend declare that she had had only joy in her days. Mrs.
+Courtney understood the motive that urged the question.
+
+"My dear children, my married experience was much like that of your
+beloved friend. The difference being that my gay husband used my position
+and wealth to boost himself to the place where he found more agreeable
+companions than I proved to be. Out of sheer self-respect I was forced to
+divorce him. Then I began my wanderings over the globe, and finally
+settled in this city where I was practically unknown. You see, my pride
+could not brook the pity of my friends although they approved the only
+course open for me when my husband eloped with another man's wife."
+
+"Oh, dear Mrs. Courtney!" sighed Eleanor, ready tears springing to her
+eyes. But Polly crept over and placed a sympathetic hand upon that of her
+hostess.
+
+"It seems ages ago, my children," added Mrs. Courtney. "I was only
+eighteen when I married and I was twenty-one when I divorced my husband.
+I never had a child, and I have always felt as though I had been given a
+very wretched deal in life, for I love children. Because of my
+experience, I can advise other young girls--not to marry too young, nor
+to accept a man for his looks or manners. A girl needs to be experienced
+from business, or travel and association with men, before she is capable
+of judging wisely and selecting the proper mate for life."
+
+The bond created that morning between the mature woman and the two young
+girls, proved to be of such quality as would last. And such a friend as
+Mrs. Courtney would be for two young girls, was one of the benefits both
+Polly and Eleanor received by visiting country auctions of a higher
+class. Not that the particular sale at Parsippany was "higher class,"
+because it was proved to have been a fake sale, but the type of buyers it
+attracted were of an advanced type of mentality.
+
+"But, children, you have told me nothing more about your good friend
+Dalken! Tell me more of him. I just heard of his wife's latest project,
+and I wish to be informed first hand."
+
+"What do you mean, Mrs. Courtney? His wife's latest project?" asked
+Polly, fearfully.
+
+"Oh, perhaps you were not aware that she is in Reno? She found an
+affinity, it seems, during her visit abroad, last summer, and it became
+necessary for her to sever her legal ties if she wished to marry this
+other man. I heard of the scandal but not being interested in the woman,
+and not knowing the man, I paid no attention to the suit. Divorce cases
+are so common in these degenerate days." Mrs. Courtney sighed again, and
+showed her disapproval of the modern style of marriages.
+
+"Poor Dalky! I wonder if he knows of this?" cried Polly.
+
+"He would have to, dear, because she would have to serve him with papers,
+you see," explained Mrs. Courtney.
+
+"And he never said a word to any one nor did he let us see he was
+disturbed in any way," added Eleanor.
+
+"Maybe the poor man is relieved to have it so. At least, he will be
+exempt from paying her such an outrageous income, you know. I take for
+granted that he will put in his defence, thus absolving himself from
+alimony," explained Mrs. Courtney.
+
+"It would be exactly like him to keep quiet and let that horrid woman get
+all she can. He is so magnanimous, you know, that he would think to
+himself 'She was the mother of my children, and as such I must not
+deprive her of what she may need'." Polly's voice had a dual tone as she
+spoke: one of sympathy for Mr. Dalken, one of scorn for Mrs. Dalken.
+
+Mrs. Courtney laughed softly. "I am getting my impressions of your friend
+in piece-meal. You have not yet told me about him."
+
+"That is because you've told us such astonishing news. But now I'll tell
+you all about good old Dalky," said Eleanor. "He is a handsome man of
+about forty-two or four, I think. Isn't he, Polly?"
+
+"Yes, about that age," agreed Polly.
+
+"Well, besides his being handsome and middle-aged, he is loving, awfully
+rich, both in money and good friends, and one of the most intelligent
+mortals I ever met!"
+
+Eleanor's description made Mrs. Courtney smile. "One would be led to
+think you had met all kinds and conditions of mortals in your long, long
+life, child," remarked she.
+
+"Sometimes I think I am very much older in life than _seems_ to be,"
+mused Eleanor. "I feel somehow, that I have lived many centuries before
+this queer modern experience."
+
+"You must have been reading theosophical books, my dear," remarked Mrs.
+Courtney, eyeing Eleanor closely.
+
+"No, I never have. I'm not interested in any such form of research--not
+yet," she laughed.
+
+"Nolla, we ought to be going--really! Every time we come here to talk
+boudoir decorating we switch off into some byway of personal interest,
+and that makes us come again to get down to work," said Polly, rising and
+adjusting her hat, preparatory to saying good-by.
+
+"But what about our round-trip to the South Sea Isles?" was Mrs.
+Courtney's query.
+
+"It isn't coming off, at once, is it? You've got to find a group who are
+companionable, and you've got to get the yacht," said Eleanor.
+
+"It may not take me more than a week to do both. When I make up my mind
+to a thing, I generally do it," returned Mrs. Courtney.
+
+"We'd have to gain the consent of our parents before we could even
+_think_ of taking such a marvellous voyage," declared Polly.
+
+"But the main point is this: would you really care to go, or would you
+prefer staying in New York to continue your profession?" asked Mrs.
+Courtney.
+
+"We'd love to go with you, but I'm not sure I'd want to remain away from
+my work for a whole year," was Polly's thoughtful answer.
+
+"If we entertained any ideas of taking the voyage, the best time for us
+to start would be next Fall. Then we could spend our entire winter in the
+tropics and escape the heat in the equator in the summer, or rainy
+season, by sailing home again."
+
+"Oh, it sounds great! It remains to see who would go," said Eleanor. Then
+the girls said good-by, and started away, full of the unusual invitation
+they had heard that afternoon.
+
+"I'm sure mother and father would not wish me to go," said Polly, after
+the subject had been exhausted.
+
+"Of course, you couldn't offer the excuse that you were going for
+advancement in your profession--as we did when we wanted to tour Europe,
+you know."
+
+"Leaving the thrilling trip out of our minds for a time, I want to ask
+you if you suspected anything troubling Dalky, lately?" said Polly,
+seriously.
+
+"Not a thing. He has seemed just the same as ever."
+
+"That's what I should have said. Then he may not know about his wife's
+perfidy, and I think we ought to prepare him for such news, Nolla."
+
+"Polly, we tried to force an adopted son on him, once, and since that
+time I have been wary of trying to interfere in any other of his personal
+affairs."
+
+"Then let us talk it over with Prof. and ask what he thinks about telling
+Mr. Ashby," suggested Polly.
+
+"That's more like sense. We'll tell Mr. Ashby ourselves, when we get back
+to the Shops."
+
+Thus Mr. Ashby was told the story as told by Mrs. Courtney but he seemed
+not surprised as the girls expected him to be. He merely shook his head
+sympathetically and said nothing.
+
+"Did you know it?" asked Polly, amazed.
+
+"We all knew of it a few weeks ago. Poor Dalky refused all our advice to
+fight the divorce and exempt himself from paying alimony--as he will have
+to do for not putting in a defence. He smiled tolerantly and explained:
+'If she wants any of my money she is welcome to it. I have more than I
+can use, you know'."
+
+"There! That is exactly what I said he would do!" declared Polly,
+vehemently.
+
+"Oh, why does he let her have it? There are so many ways he could make
+poor people happy, instead of throwing his wealth away on such a
+mercenary creature!" wailed Eleanor.
+
+"We have no right to question his motives, Nolla," said Mr. Ashby,
+seriously. "I do not wish to speak of this again, unless he himself
+mentions the subject to you girls. He has seemed anxious to keep the news
+from you, for some reason. But I firmly believe the poor man still has a
+shred of love for his wife alive in his bosom, and that is why he will
+not oppose her in any way she wishes to secure happiness."
+
+That night when Polly and Eleanor sat together doing some home-work on
+decorating, Polly suddenly looked up and said: "Nolla, if only our dear
+Dalky could meet our dear Mrs. Courtney--wouldn't they make a fine
+couple?"
+
+"Oh, Poll! There you go again! I have tried to keep from thinking that
+very thing, ever since I heard Mrs. Courtney tell us of that horrid
+woman's being in Reno. Our Dalky will be free, and what so great as to
+have him fall in love with a really appreciative woman." Eleanor clasped
+her hands and expressed ecstatic joy at the very idea of such bliss.
+
+"But the whole plan would be ruined if it turned out that Dalky was still
+in love with his first wife, you know," argued Polly.
+
+"It wouldn't take long to get him out of it," retorted Eleanor. "With
+such a lovely woman as Mrs. Courtney to be had for the loving and asking,
+I'd like to wager all I have that Dalky would walk into the snare."
+
+"What snare? Who'd set it for his faltering steps?" laughed Polly,
+enjoying this romancing to the utmost.
+
+"Why, we would, to be sure. Now look at it in a practical way, Poll.
+There is Mrs. Courtney: very good-looking, rich, refined, lonely, about
+thirty-five or thirty-eight, at most. Here is our Dalky, also handsome,
+rich, refined, lonely (but for us) about forty years old, and just the
+man to have a wonderful wife to make him happy. Is that not an ideal
+match?" Eleanor tossed her head wisely.
+
+"That's what _we_ think! But we are not going to marry Dalky nor Mrs.
+Courtney. They may not agree with us, you know."
+
+"Polly, nothing like trying out a thing to see how it works. Now we must
+scheme to bring those two together and let them find out how desirable
+each is for the other," suggested Eleanor.
+
+"I think that is a good plan--bring them together and see how they seem
+to get along," said Polly, musingly.
+
+"All right, then. How shall we do it?"
+
+"Could we not invite Mrs. Courtney to inspect some of the materials we
+are going to order for Dalky's apartment? We could so plan that Dalky
+would be there at the same time. Then they would meet and hear that each
+one is the great and only friend the other has heard so much about from
+us?"
+
+"Yes, that's a fine way to get them together," said Polly. "Now when
+shall it be?"
+
+"The sooner, the better," retorted Eleanor.
+
+"We are going to get that book of new imported samples of damask, this
+week, Nolla. Why not ask Mrs. Courtney to look at them. As they are
+ordered for Dalky's apartment, what more natural than he should drop in
+to look them over?"
+
+Eleanor clapped Polly on the back with approval, and both girls then put
+their heads together and romanced about the great match they would bring
+about.
+
+A few days after this conversation, the much-desired package came by
+European post. It was the book of imported samples which had been ordered
+for Mr. Dalken's inspection before he would place an order for the
+materials. The work at Mrs. Courtney's residence had been delayed because
+the youthful decorators said they wished to look over the magnificent
+materials from Paris. When they were sure of Mr. Dalken's visit to the
+Shops that morning, they also insisted upon Mrs. Courtney coming in to
+look over the materials.
+
+The two plotters could hardly keep from hugging each other when they knew
+that both friends were coming, and the opportunity of having them meet
+and fall in love with each other was given at last.
+
+But they did not allow for Fate.
+
+There happened to be a socialistic parade of demonstration against work,
+or some such complaint, that noon; and just as the parade reached that
+section of Fifth Avenue where the Ashby Shops were located, the police
+held up all vehicular traffic. All cars were diverted from the Avenue to
+side streets, but those unfortunate cars caught just at the point of
+crossing the street, had to back and wait until those behind had backed
+out of the congestion, before they could slowly make their way out.
+
+Mrs. Courtney's chauffeur had just attempted to cross the Avenue in order
+to turn in front of the Ashby Shops, when the signal came and all
+traffic, up or down or cross-town, was held up until the parade should
+have passed. Mrs. Courtney was furious.
+
+"Back out and we'll go around a side street to get to my destination,"
+spoke she to the chauffeur.
+
+The man glanced in the mirror to see if the way behind was open, and
+finding no car directly in his pathway, he began to quickly back out. In
+the moment he took his eye from the reflector, another car shot up close
+to Mrs. Courtney's automobile; thus her driver backed suddenly into the
+newly arrived car behind.
+
+There was a smash of lamps, a grinding of fenders and the interlocking of
+back and front bumpers. The passengers were rudely thrown from the
+luxurious cushioned seats, and Mrs. Courtney had her new imported hat
+crushed out of shape.
+
+The two chauffeurs jumped down and began to blame each other for the
+accident; Mr. Dalken managed to pick himself up from the floor of his
+limousine and step stiffly out to learn who was to blame. Mrs. Courtney
+was sure she was in the right; and when the handsome gentleman came up to
+her car to tell her she had a stupid chauffeur, for he should have looked
+well before backing so recklessly into the congested tangle of cars
+behind him, she resented his charge.
+
+While Mr. Dalken stood beside Mrs. Courtney's car trying to convince her
+she was in the wrong, the two chauffeurs began to use their fists upon
+each other. Then, in a few minutes' time, the officer stationed at the
+corner to maintain order for the paraders, rushed up and arrested both
+combatants. Naturally, this caused their employers to see that justice
+was done, and thus it happened that all contestants accompanied the
+officer to the police-station.
+
+Meantime Polly and Eleanor waited and waited, but no one came to inspect
+their sample book. They telephoned Mrs. Courtney's house and were told
+she had left, in her car, fully an hour before. Then they telephoned Mr.
+Dalken's office and heard that he had driven away in his car fully an
+hour before.
+
+"The old parade must have held them up," suggested Polly.
+
+"But that's over, now, and they surely could have been here if they were
+detained at one of the nearby cross-streets," said Eleanor.
+
+Another half hour passed and then two cars drove up and stopped before
+the Ashby Shops. Two people stepped from their individual cars and two
+angry people stood and stared at each other. Then Mr. Dalken, recovering
+first, bowed stiffly and walked across the pavement to enter the Shop
+door. Mrs. Courtney had started to cross the sidewalk before she realized
+that her unknown opponent was entering the same Shop she was bound for.
+She passed through the door he held open, and sent him a careless glance
+of thanks, then looked around for the girls whom she had expected to meet
+there.
+
+Neither girl was in sight, and the lady now asked one of the salesmen,
+"Where shall I find Miss Brewster or Miss Maynard?"
+
+"Just step this way, Madam. I'll take you to their private office," was
+the polite reply.
+
+Mrs. Courtney glanced in a large mirror to assure herself that her hat
+was presentable, then followed her escort. As she reached the partly
+closed door of the office used by the young decorators, she heard a man's
+voice. The same voice which had been accusing her chauffeur of bad
+judgment and ignorance of city laws. Before she could change her mind
+about entering the room, however, the escort had knocked and Polly flung
+the door open. She welcomed the new visitor.
+
+Both girls were tickled to pieces to find how their plot was coming on
+apace: both dear friends were now together at the same time, and all that
+was needed was for them to be introduced.
+
+"Oh, isn't this just lovely!" cried Eleanor, acting her part very well.
+"To find both our friends here at the same time!"
+
+"Dear Mrs. Courtney, this is our dear Mr. Dalken," said Polly, politely.
+
+"And _this_ is the dear friend we have told you of so often, Dalky!"
+added Eleanor, effusively.
+
+The lady and gentleman bowed distantly but never smiled; the girls
+wondered at their strange behavior. Then Mr. Dalken said sarcastically:
+
+"We have met before. In fact, the lady is obliged to me for having spared
+her chauffeur a fine."
+
+"What do you mean?" gasped Polly, all at sea.
+
+"He means, my dears, that he took us to the police station a short time
+ago, just because his stupid chauffeur wouldn't back out of the
+congestion. Naturally, when my man tried to back out the car grazed the
+one behind, and that started the fight," explained Mrs. Courtney.
+
+"I beg pardon, Madam. _I_ did not take you to the station house. You took
+yourself in order to save your chauffeur. And I went to see that my poor
+man had simple justice in the case," said Mr. Dalken, bowing low in mock
+humility.
+
+"Oh, oh! Isn't this dreadful after all we hoped for!" cried Polly,
+throwing herself in a chair and burying her face in her arms.
+
+"What is so awful, Polly dear?" asked Mrs. Courtney, springing over to
+the troubled girl and placing an arm about her.
+
+"Oh, oh! I am so heart-broken over this misfortune!" cried Polly.
+
+"What misfortune, Polly dear?" now asked Mr. Dalken, coming close to the
+girl.
+
+"Oh, oh, oh! I can't speak of it!" sobbed Polly.
+
+"Perhaps I can comfort her, Madam, if you will allow me," suggested Mr.
+Dalken, anxious to take Mrs. Courtney's place as comforter.
+
+She sent him a glance that said as plain as could be: "I can comfort her
+myself--you need not mind!"
+
+Meanwhile Eleanor stood and rapidly pondered the situation. She felt like
+laughing outrageously at the prank Cupid had played on them, but she
+dared not utter a sound of mirth because that might spoil everything. And
+there might be a possible chance of saving the day, after all.
+
+Suddenly, without any previous notice, Eleanor fell upon the other chair
+by the table and dropped her head upon her folded arms. Her body shook
+nervously, and Mr. Dalken believed her to be crying, too. He hastened to
+assure her that there was really nothing to cry about, but his assurance
+only caused the girl to quake the more.
+
+Eleanor was not crying, but had felt that she must laugh or leave the
+room. As she had no desire to leave, she tried to hide her laughing in
+her arms upon the table. But when Mr. Dalken began to comfort her, she
+lost all control of herself and had an attack of hysterical laughter.
+
+The two distraught adults were not able to cope with the situation, and
+they looked at each other in mute appeal. Mr. Dalken was the first to
+speak.
+
+"We'd better bury the hatchet and do something for the children," said
+he, anxiously. "Do you know what to do?"
+
+"Had I better get a doctor, or something?" added he.
+
+"Better get _some_thing," replied Mrs. Courtney, without thinking how
+silly it must sound.
+
+This sent Eleanor off into another wild spell of laughter, but Polly
+began to quiet now that she heard her friend making such a disturbance.
+The ungoverned laughter attracted Mr. Ashby who had just entered the
+Shops.
+
+"Well, well! What has happened?" was the natural thing for him to say,
+the moment he entered the room.
+
+Mr. Dalken tried to explain that a slight shock had occasioned the
+hysteria, and then Mr. Ashby ran for the jug of icewater on the small
+stand by the door. Eleanor was liberally soaked with water before she
+could control her nerves, but once she could gasp again, she cried, "Oh,
+Mr. Ashby! make our two dear friends patch up their quarrel! I shall have
+another fit unless they shake hands right before my face and promise
+never again to act like children!"
+
+As the logic of this accusation seemed apparent to all present, Mr.
+Dalken smiled graciously upon Mrs. Courtney and she held out her hand
+without further animosity. Then Mr. Ashby had to hear the story of the
+accident.
+
+As it was concluded he laughed heartily and said, "When I came in, just
+now, I saw two chauffeurs sitting on the running board of Dalky's car,
+smoking cigarettes and laughing together as if they were twin brothers.
+No sign of disagreement _there_."
+
+"Oh the wretches! And in the station house they called each other all
+sorts of bad names and swore to do away with each other the moment they
+found an opportunity," complained Mrs. Courtney.
+
+The others laughed at her pathetic voice, and Mr. Dalken said, "When they
+discovered they were both Swedes they decided they had best combine their
+forces against the common enemy-employer."
+
+Now that reconciliation had been brought about between these two good
+friends, Eleanor wondered what next to do to further the match she had
+determined to bring about. She looked at Polly for inspiration, but Polly
+seemed to lack any initiative.
+
+"Well, girls! Now that you have agreed to remain yet a little longer on
+this earth with us, I shall have to be saying good-by," declared Mr.
+Dalken, bowing before Mrs. Courtney in his most dignified manner.
+
+"Oh, no, Dalky! Wait just a minute!" cried Eleanor. Then turning to Polly
+for help, she added, "We want Mrs. Courtney and you to come and dine with
+us, some evening, this week. Not at Mr. Fabian's, you know, but at a nice
+quaint little place we know of."
+
+This was news to Polly, but she waited to hear more before she spoke. Mr.
+Dalken laughed and waited for Mrs. Courtney to speak.
+
+"What is this? Do you need a chaperone for an evening?" said she, trying
+to fathom Eleanor's thoughts.
+
+"No, no! But you see, Mr. Ashby always takes his important clients to a
+famous restaurant for dinner, so we have to do the same. You two are our
+first big customers, and I want to do the business up as it should be
+done." Every one laughed at Eleanor.
+
+"Under the circumstances, I think I should be the host and you three
+ladies my guests," suggested Mr. Dalken.
+
+"Well--anyway you say, Dalky, just so long as we get together for an
+evening," sighed Eleanor, as if relieved at the change of plans. This
+called forth another, heartier, laugh at her expense.
+
+One evening, therefore, the four, now good friends, met at one of the new
+unique cabarets, and having enjoyed dinner and the dancing, they spoke of
+Mrs. Courtney's idea of taking a trip to the South Sea Isles. Mr. Dalken
+laughed immoderately at the mention of the place selected for a pleasure
+trip.
+
+"Now I am truly sorry you have set your hearts on going to the South
+Seas, for I had been secretly planning a little jaunt on my own account.
+One reason I bought that sea-going yacht was to have my best friends take
+short voyages with me, whenever we could get away from business.
+
+"I find that I must try to break away from New York in early Spring, and
+the doctor says a sea-voyage is the best vacation I can possibly take.
+Hence I wanted to have my two girls with me. If you are planning to go to
+the South Seas I suppose it will be out of the question for you to go to
+the Orient, on _my_ planned trip?"
+
+As Mr. Dalken paused to watch the effect of this speech, both the girls
+"Oh'ed and Ah'ed" and glanced at Mrs. Courtney. She said nothing and her
+face was a blank so no one could read her mind.
+
+"I had jotted down a list of names of sociable spirits, such as the
+Fabians, the Ashbys, the Alexanders, the Brewsters, the Maynards, the
+Latimers, the Evans, the Stewarts, and Mrs. Courtney with Jack Baxter to
+look after her in lieu of other escort. It may be impossible for all
+members in the families I mention to continue with us on the voyage, but
+they can accompany us part way and then come back home. I planned to go
+via the Panama Canal, and thus on to Hawaii, touching there for a short
+visit to the Islands, and those of our party who must return to the
+States, can get back by steamer to California and thence to their
+respective homes. We will sail on to the land of cherry blossoms and
+pigtails. But you girls with one short sentence blast all these cherished
+dreams."
+
+"Oh, no, Dalky! We wouldn't change your plans for the world!" exclaimed
+Polly, anxiously. "You see, the South Sea Isles will wait until we can
+get there, but you and your plans are apt to change--as the railroad
+guides read--without notice at any time!"
+
+A laugh followed Polly's remark, and Mr. Dalken added, "Well just mull
+over this project for a time and give me your individual opinions about
+it. Of course, we would be crowded if everyone in the families mentioned
+were to accept my invitation and take the round trip; but I feel quite
+safe in inviting all because I am sure I can bank on certain ones
+refusing to go."
+
+"I don't believe you could tear father or mother away from Pebbly Pit,"
+remarked Polly, wistfully.
+
+"And I know for certain that mother and Bob wouldn't give up their summer
+season at a fashionable resort, just to join a party of old-fashioned
+sea-farers," laughed Eleanor.
+
+"Do you think you could persuade your father to join us?" asked Mr.
+Dalken.
+
+"I bet he would go as far as Honolulu, anyway!" said Eleanor.
+
+"That's one for certain to start with!" laughed Mr. Dalken.
+
+"Then there is Polly and myself and Mrs. Courtney, for certain--and that
+makes four; with yourself, we are five!" exulted Eleanor, drawing forth
+another laugh.
+
+"Then it is settled, eh? We sail for the Orient without more ado, just as
+soon as your extensive business deals are done and you will need a long
+rest in order to recuperate for next year's work," chuckled Mr. Dalken.
+
+"If our two clients would postpone their decorating for a year, we might
+be able to start tomorrow," remarked Polly, smilingly.
+
+"But the clients are obdurate, especially when the decorators need
+payment and prestige to succeed in their profession. Besides, the owner
+of the yacht is not keen on sailing the seas in the middle of winter and
+then land in China in the wet season."
+
+"Yes, he is right," admitted Polly.
+
+"If we should really take such a trip, Dalky, what is the best time of
+the year to start?" asked Eleanor.
+
+"Well, we could leave New York in May or June, dawdle along the route
+until we reach Southern California. Those who cannot take time to go to
+Hawaii, can railroad themselves back home, and we can sail leisurely
+across the Pacific to visit the Hawaiian Islands. There again, those who
+cannot go on to the Orient with the decorators who need to study customs
+and periods in the Far East, may say good-by to us and watch us go west,
+while they go east back to business.
+
+"If we take our time, stopping at the Philippines on the way, we ought to
+do Japan and China and even the principal parts of India, in a few
+months. We can bid the East good-by about March and escape the unpleasant
+season there. By taking a direct route home we might reach New York in
+June. It all depends."
+
+"Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful! And all our dearest friends with us!"
+cried Polly, clasping her hands in ecstasy.
+
+"Dear, dear! If only Tom will let you go, Polly!" sighed Eleanor,
+mischievously.
+
+"Tom! What has Tom got to do with it?" demanded Polly.
+
+"Well, you know, he says you ought to consider his wishes more, since he
+is sure you are his soul-mate," teased Eleanor.
+
+"The sooner he finds out that I propose keeping my own soul in custody
+the better it will be for Tom!" declared Polly.
+
+"There, now! That doesn't sound much as if our Polly was deeply in love,
+does it, Dalky?" laughed Eleanor, clapping her hands.
+
+"I never thought she was! She was moved by compassion for Tom, to partly
+agree to consider his proposal. I knew she would not forfeit her
+profession for the doubtful result of conjugal bliss," remarked Mr.
+Dalken.
+
+"Hem--she's right!" asserted Mrs. Courtney. "When two people, as you and
+I are, are on hand to prevent our young friends from precipitating
+themselves into double harness before they have thoroughly studied their
+own minds and desires, we ought to succeed in the work because we speak
+from experience."
+
+"Yes," agreed Mr. Dalken, reminiscently; "I would never marry the finest
+woman on earth, after my first venture."
+
+"Nor would I accept a man, even though he presented himself to me in
+guise of a saint! Even saints have their bad days," laughed Mrs.
+Courtney.
+
+Polly and Eleanor exchanged troubled glances for it was evident that
+their match-making was hopeless. But the voyage to the Orient might
+develop many interesting things which were not revealed to the actors
+then. Thus we leave Polly and Eleanor for the time, and return to our own
+affairs until it is time to go on board Mr. Dalken's yacht for the long
+trip half-way around the world.
+
+
+                                THE END
+
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+                        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 ranchman and enjoys herself immensely.
+
+                   Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
+
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+
+                       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.
+
+Polly of Pebbly Pit
+  Tells about a Rocky Mountain ranch girl and her many adventures.
+
+Polly and Eleanor
+  Eleanor Maynard visits Polly at the Ranch and they have lively times.
+
+Polly in New York
+  Polly and Eleanor visit New York and have a number of very
+  interesting experiences.
+
+Polly and Her Friends Abroad
+  The girls go abroad and spend most of their time with other American
+  travelers.
+
+Polly's Business Venture
+  Polly and Eleanor take up interior decorating. They attend sales of
+  antiques and incidentally fall in love.
+
+Polly's Southern Cruise
+  A hurricane and cloud-burst threatens to swamp the vessel in which
+  Polly and her friends take this trip.
+
+Polly in South America
+  Polly and her friends land at many funny old towns and have several
+  exciting adventures not altogether pleasant.
+
+                  Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
+
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+                          CAROLYN WELLS BOOKS
+  May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list.
+                           THE MARJORIE BOOKS
+                      Happy Books For Happy Girls
+
+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.
+
+This series is the American Girl's very own. Each book is attractively
+bound in cloth, and wrapped in a charming colored individual wrapper.
+
+                         Marjorie's Vacation
+                         Marjorie's New Friend
+                         Marjorie's Maytime
+                         Marjorie's Busy Day
+                         Marjorie in Command
+                         Marjorie at Seacote
+
+                      THE TWO LITTLE WOMEN SERIES
+
+Miss Carolyn Wells here introduces 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 on a Holiday
+                  Two Little Women and Treasure House
+
+                        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 BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS
+                        For Little Men and Women
+
+                           By LAURA LEE HOPE
+                Author of "The Bunny Brown Series," Etc.
+
+         Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding.
+                    Every Volume Complete in Itself.
+
+These books for boys and girls between the ages of three and ten stands
+among children and their parents of this generation where the books of
+Louisa May Alcott stood in former days. The haps and mishaps of this
+inimitable pair of twins, their many adventures and experiences are a
+source of keen delight to imaginative children everywhere.
+
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN A GREAT CITY
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON BLUEBERRY ISLAND
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON THE DEEP BLUE SEA
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE GREAT WEST
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT CEDAR CAMP
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE COUNTY FAIR
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS CAMPING OUT
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS AND BABY MAY
+
+                 GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+                         THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES
+                           By LAURA LEE HOPE
+
+           Author of the Popular "Bobbsey Twins" Books, Etc.
+
+         Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding.
+                    Every Volume Complete in Itself.
+
+These stories by the author of the "Bobbsey Twins" Books are eagerly
+welcomed by the little folks from about five to ten years of age. Their
+eyes fairly dance with delight at the lively doings of inquisitive little
+Bunny Brown and his cunning, trustful sister Sue.
+
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON GRANDPA'S FARM
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE PLAYING CIRCUS
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CAMP REST-A-WHILE
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT AUNT LU'S CITY HOME
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE BIG WOODS
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON AN AUTO TOUR
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR SHETLAND PONY
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE GIVING A SHOW
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CHRISTMAS TREE COVE
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE SUNNY SOUTH
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE KEEPING STORE
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR TRICK DOG
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT A SUGAR CAMP
+
+                 GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+                       SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES
+                           By LAURA LEE HOPE
+
+              Author of The Bobbsey Twins Books, The Bunny
+              Brown Series, The Make-Believe Series, Etc.
+
+         Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding.
+                    Every Volume Complete in Itself.
+
+Delightful stories for little boys and girls which sprung into immediate
+popularity. To know the six little Bunkers is to take them at once to
+your heart, they are so intensely human, so full of fun and cute sayings.
+Each story has a little plot of its own--one that can be easily
+followed--and all are written in Miss Hope's most entertaining manner.
+Clean, wholesome volumes which ought to be on the bookshelf of every
+child in the land.
+
+                  SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDMA BELL'S
+                  SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT AUNT JO'S
+                  SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COUSIN TOM'S
+                  SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDPA FORD'S
+                  SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT UNCLE FRED'S
+                  SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT CAPTAIN BEN'S
+                  SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COWBOY JACK'S
+                  SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT MAMMY JUNE'S
+                  SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT FARMER JOEL'S
+                  SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT MILLER NED'S
+
+                 GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLLY'S BUSINESS VENTURE***
+
+
+******* This file should be named 25778-8.txt or 25778-8.zip *******
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+<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" />
+<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Polly's Business Venture, by Lillian Elizabeth Roy</title>
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+<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Polly's Business Venture, by Lillian
+Elizabeth Roy, Illustrated by H. S. Barbour</h1>
+<pre>
+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 <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre>
+<p>Title: Polly's Business Venture</p>
+<p>Author: Lillian Elizabeth Roy</p>
+<p>Release Date: June 13, 2008  [eBook #25778]</p>
+<p>Language: English</p>
+<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p>
+<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLLY'S BUSINESS VENTURE***</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by Roger Frank<br />
+    and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br />
+    (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:2.2em;'>POLLY&#8217;S BUSINESS VENTURE</p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div class='figcenter'>
+<a name='linki_1' id='linki_1'></a>
+<img src='images/illus-fpc.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br />
+<span class='caption'>
+THE TWO CARS COLLIDED.<br />
+<i>Polly&#8217;s Business Venture.</i> <i>Frontispiece</i>&mdash;(<i>Page 99</i>)
+<br />
+</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:2em;'>POLLY&#8217;S</p>
+<p style=' font-size:2em; margin-bottom:1em;'>BUSINESS VENTURE</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1em;'>BY</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.4em; margin-bottom: 2em;'>LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY</p>
+<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'><i>Author of</i></p>
+<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'>POLLY OF PEBBLY PIT, POLLY AND ELEANOR,</p>
+<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'>POLLY IN NEW YORK, POLLY AND</p>
+<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-bottom:2em;'>HER FRIENDS ABROAD</p>
+<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'>ILLUSTRATED BY</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.0em; margin-bottom:2em;'>H. S. BARBOUR</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.0em;'>NEW YORK</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.0em;'>PUBLISHERS</p>
+<div style='margin-top:1em'></div>
+<p>Made in the United States of America</p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:.8em;'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Copyright, 1922, by</span></p>
+<p style=' font-size:.8em;'>GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP</p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>CONTENTS</p>
+</div>
+
+<table border='0' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'>
+<tr>
+  <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small;'>CHAPTER</span></td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small;'>PAGE</span></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>I&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Polly Returns To America</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#I_POLLY_RETURNS_TO_AMERICA'>1</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>II&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Disappointing Evening</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#II_A_DISAPPOINTING_EVENING'>18</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>III&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Accident</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#III_THE_ACCIDENT'>34</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>IV&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Reunion and a Visitor</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IV_A_REUNION_AND_A_VISITOR'>47</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>V&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Raid on Choko&#8217;s Find Mine</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#V_THE_RAID_ON_CHOKO_S_FIND_MINE'>58</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>VI&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Polly and Eleanor Begin Collecting</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VI_POLLY_AND_ELEANOR_BEGIN_COLLECTING'>74</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>VII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Revolutionary Relic Hunt</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VII_A_REVOLUTIONARY_RELIC_HUNT'>94</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>VIII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Another Attempt at Collecting</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VIII_ANOTHER_ATTEMPT_AT_COLLECTING'>109</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>IX&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Polly&#8217;s Hunt in &#8217;Jersey</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IX_POLLY_S_HUNT_IN__JERSEY'>127</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>X&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Unexpected News From Pebbly Pit</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#X_UNEXPECTED_NEWS_FROM_PEBBLY_PIT'>151</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XI&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Polly&#8217;S First Contract</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XI_POLLY_S_FIRST_CONTRACT'>167</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Parsippany Vendue</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XII_THE_PARSIPPANY_VENDUE'>182</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XIII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Tom Means Business</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIII_TOM_MEANS_BUSINESS'>199</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XIV&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Necessary Explanations</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIV_NECESSARY_EXPLANATIONS'>213</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XV&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Mutual Consolation</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XV_MUTUAL_CONSOLATION'>231</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XVI&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Beaux or Business</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVI_BEAUX_OR_BUSINESS'>250</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td valign='top' align='right'>XVII&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Business</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
+  <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVII_BUSINESS'>269</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:1.6em;'>POLLY&#8217;S BUSINESS VENTURE</p>
+</div>
+
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 0em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='I_POLLY_RETURNS_TO_AMERICA' id='I_POLLY_RETURNS_TO_AMERICA'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_1' name='page_1'></a>1</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER I</h2>
+<h3>POLLY RETURNS TO AMERICA</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Five girls were promenading the deck of one
+of our great Atlantic liners, on the last day of the
+trip. The report had gone out that they might
+expect to reach quarantine before five o&#8217;clock, but
+it would be too late to dock that night, therefore
+the captain had planned an evening&#8217;s entertainment
+for all on board.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Miss Brewster! Miss Polly Brewster!
+Polly Brewster!&#8221; came a call from one of the
+young boys of the crew who was acting as messenger
+for the wireless operator.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Polly, he is calling you! I wonder what it
+is?&#8221; cried Eleanor Maynard, Polly&#8217;s dearest
+friend.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Here, boy! I am Polly Brewster,&#8221; called
+Polly, waving her hand to call his attention to
+herself.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_2' name='page_2'></a>2</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Miss Polly Brewster?&#8221; asked the uniformed
+attendant politely, lifting his cap.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He handed her an envelope such as the wireless
+messages are delivered in, and bowed to take his
+leave of the group of girls. Polly gazed at the
+outside of the envelope but did not open it. Her
+friends laughed and Nancy Fabian, the oldest girl
+of the five, said teasingly:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Isn&#8217;t it delicious to worry one&#8217;s self over who
+could have sent us a welcome, when we <i>might</i>
+know for certain, if we would but act prosaically
+and open the seal.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The girls laughed, and Eleanor remarked,
+knowingly: &#8220;Oh, <i>Polly</i> knows who it is from!
+She just wants to enjoy a few extra thrills before
+she reads the message.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nolla, I do <i>not</i> know, and you know it!
+You always make &#8216;a mountain from a mole-hill.&#8217;
+I declare, you are actually growing to be childish
+in your old age!&#8221; retorted Polly, sarcastically.
+</p>
+<p>Her latter remark drew forth a peal of laughter
+from the girls, Eleanor included. But Polly
+failed to join in the laugh. She cast a withering
+glance at Eleanor, and walked aside to open
+the envelope. The four interested girls watched
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_3' name='page_3'></a>3</span>
+her eagerly as she read the short message.
+</p>
+<p>Polly would have given half of her mine on
+Grizzly Slide, to have controlled her expression.
+But the very knowledge that the four friends were
+critically eyeing her, made her flush uncomfortably
+as she folded up the paper again, and slipped
+it in her pocket.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Ha! What did I tell you! It is from
+HIM!&#8221; declared Eleanor, laughingly.
+</p>
+<p>Dorothy Alexander was duly impressed, for she
+had firmly believed, hitherto, that Polly was a
+man-hater. The manner in which she had
+scorned Jimmy Osgood on that tour of England
+would have led anyone to believe that such was the
+case. Now the tell-tale blush and Eleanor&#8217;s
+innuendo, caused Dorothy to reconsider her
+earlier judgment.
+</p>
+<p>Polly curled her full red lip at Eleanor&#8217;s remark,
+and was about to speak of something of
+general interest, when Dorothy unexpectedly
+asked a (to her) pertinent question.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Polly, has anyone ever proposed to you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor laughed softly to herself, and Polly
+sent poor Dodo a pitying glance. &#8220;Is that little
+head of yours entirely void of memory, Dodo?&#8221;
+said she.
+</p>
+<p>Then, without waiting for a reply, Polly continued:
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_4' name='page_4'></a>4</span>
+&#8220;Did not Jimmy propose to me, as well
+as to every one of you girls?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, but I didn&#8217;t mean that sort of an affair,&#8221;
+explained Dorothy. &#8220;I mean&mdash;were you ever in
+love with anyone who thought he loved <i>you</i>?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, isn&#8217;t this a delightful conversation? I
+wouldn&#8217;t have missed it for anything in the
+world!&#8221; laughed Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nolla,&#8221; rebuked Polly, seriously, &#8220;your head
+has been so turned since all those poor fortune-hunters
+in Europe flattered you, that I fear you
+will never succeed in business with me. I shall
+have to find someone else who will prove trustworthy
+and work.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly&#8217;s threat did not appear to disturb Eleanor
+very much, for she laughed merrily and retorted:
+&#8220;Dodo, if I answer your question for Polly, what
+will you do for me, some day?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nolla, you mind your own affairs!&#8221; exclaimed
+Polly, flushing again. &#8220;Dodo is such a tactless
+child that she never stops to consider whether her
+questions are too personal, or not. But <i>you</i>&mdash;well,
+you know better, and I forbid you to discuss
+me any further.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come, come, girls! This little joke is really
+going too far, if Polly feels hurt about it. Let
+us drop the subject and talk about the dance the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_5' name='page_5'></a>5</span>
+Captain is going to give us tonight,&#8221; suggested
+Nancy.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to wear the new gown mother got
+in Paris,&#8221; announced Dorothy. &#8220;Ma says we can
+save duty on it if I wear it before it reaches
+shore.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The other girls laughed, and Eleanor added:
+&#8220;That&#8217;s a good plan, Dodo. I guess I will follow
+your example. I&#8217;ve got so many dutiable things
+in my trunks, that I really ought to economise on
+something.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, I won&#8217;t wear one of my new dresses tonight
+for just that reason. If I want them badly
+enough, to bring them all the way from Paris
+where we get them so much cheaper than on this
+side, then I&#8217;m willing to pay Uncle Sam his revenue
+on them,&#8221; said Polly, loftily.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Ho! I don&#8217;t believe it is duty you are saving,
+as much as indulging in perverseness by not
+donning one of your most fetching gowns,&#8221; declared
+Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Maybe it is,&#8221; said Polly, smiling tantalizingly
+at her chum. &#8220;Perhaps I want to keep the freshness
+of them for someone in New York, eh?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Certainly! <i>He</i> will be there to meet you,
+sure thing!&#8221; laughed Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>At that, Dorothy drew Eleanor aside and, when
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_6' name='page_6'></a>6</span>
+Polly was not looking, whispered eagerly: &#8220;Do
+tell me who he is?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But Eleanor laughingly shook her head and
+whispered back: &#8220;I dare not! That is Polly&#8217;s
+secret!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But she did not add for Dorothy&#8217;s edification,
+that try as she would, she (Eleanor) had never
+been able to make Polly confess whether she preferred
+one swain to another. As Eleanor considered
+this a weakness in her own powers of persuasion,
+she never allowed anyone to question her
+that far.
+</p>
+<p>Had anyone of the four girls dreamed of who
+the sender of the wireless was, what a buzzing
+there would have been! Eleanor Maynard would
+have been so pleased at the possibility of a romance,
+that she would have acted even more tantalizing,
+in Polly&#8217;s opinion, than she had been of
+late months.
+</p>
+<p>Perhaps you are not as well acquainted with
+Polly and her friends, however, as I am, and it
+would be unkind to continue their experiences for
+your entertainment, until after you are duly informed
+of how Polly happened to leave her home
+in Oak Creek and also what had passed during
+the Summer in Europe.
+</p>
+<p>Polly Brewster was born and reared on a
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_7' name='page_7'></a>7</span>
+Rocky Mountain ranch, in Colorado, and had until
+her fourteenth year, never been farther from
+her home than Oak Creek, which was the railroad
+station and post office of the many ranchers of
+that section.
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor Maynard, the younger daughter of
+Mr. Maynard who was a prosperous banker of
+Chicago, accompanied her sister Barbara and
+Anne Stewart, the teacher, when they spent a summer
+on the ranch. Their thrilling adventures during
+the first half of that summer are told in the
+book called &#8220;Polly of Pebbly Pit,&#8221; the first volume
+of this series.
+</p>
+<p>After the discovery of the gold mine on Grizzly
+Slide, and the subsequent troubles with the claim-jumpers,
+Polly and her friends sent for John
+Brewster who was engaged to Anne Stewart, and
+Tom Latimer, John&#8217;s best friend, to leave their
+engineering work on some mines, for the time being,
+and hasten to Pebbly Pit to advise about the
+gold mine, and to take action to protect the girls.
+These experiences are told in the second volume
+of this series.
+</p>
+<p>Success being assured in the mining plans of the
+gold vein on Grizzly Slide, and the valuable lava
+cliffs located on Pebbly Pit ranch also finding a
+market as brilliant gems for use in jewelry, Polly
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_8' name='page_8'></a>8</span>
+and Eleanor decided to accompany Anne Stewart
+to New York, where she was going to teach in an
+exclusive school for young ladies.
+</p>
+<p>In the third book, Polly and Eleanor&#8217;s adventures
+in New York are told. Their school experiences;
+the amateur theatricals at which Polly
+saved a girl from the fire, and thus found some
+splendid friends; and the new acquaintance, Ruth
+Ashby, who was the only child of the Ashbys.
+They also met Mr. Fabian in a most unusual
+manner, and through him, they became interested
+in Interior Decorating, to study it as a profession.
+When the school-year ended, all these
+friends invited the two girls to join their party
+that was planned to tour Europe and visit noted
+places where antiques are exhibited.
+</p>
+<p>The following fourth book describes the amusing
+incidents of the three girls on board the
+steamer, after they meet the Alexanders. Mrs.
+Alexander, the gorgeously-plumed ranch-woman;
+Dorothy, always known as &#8220;Dodo,&#8221; the restive
+girl of Polly&#8217;s own age; and little Ebeneezer Alexander,
+too meek and self-effacing to deny his
+spouse anything, but always providing the funds
+for her caprices. This present caprice, of rushing
+to Europe to find a &#8220;title&#8221; for Dodo to marry,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span>
+was the latest and hardest of all for him to agree
+to.
+</p>
+<p>Because of Mrs. Alexander&#8217;s whim, the
+ludicrous experiences that came upon the innocent
+heads of Polly and her friends, in the tour of
+England in two motor cars, decided them to escape
+from that lady, and run away to Paris. Before
+they could sigh in relief at their freedom,
+however, the Alexanders loomed again on their
+horizon.
+</p>
+<p>Plan as they would, the badgered tourists found
+that Mrs. Alexander had annexed herself permanently
+to them. They resigned themselves to
+the inevitable. But that carried with it more
+ridiculous affairs, when Mrs. Alexander plotted
+for the titles found dangling before her, in various
+places on the Continent.
+</p>
+<p>One good result came from this association
+with the Alexanders: Dodo found how fascinating
+the work of collecting really was, and decided
+to study decorating as an art. Hence she
+spurned her mother&#8217;s ambitions for her, and announced
+her plan of remaining in New York with
+the girls, upon their return to America, to follow
+in their line of study.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Alexander felt quite satisfied to live in
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span>
+New York for a season, as she fancied it an easy
+matter to forge a way into good society there.
+But her spouse detested large cities and longed
+for his mining life once more, but agreed to it
+because Dodo was delighted with the opportunity
+opened before her, in the profession of decorator.
+</p>
+<p>Polly&#8217;s party on board the steamer consisted
+of Mr. and Mrs. Ashby and Ruth; Mr. and
+Mrs. Fabian and Nancy; Mr. and Mrs. Alexander
+and Dodo; and lastly, Polly Brewster and
+Eleanor Maynard.
+</p>
+<p>Just a word about the last two girls: Polly
+knew that Eleanor was fond of Paul Stewart since
+she met him a few years before. And Eleanor
+wondered if Polly preferred Tom Latimer to any
+other young man she knew; but Polly always declared
+that she was married to her profession and
+had no time to spare for beaus. Hence Tom
+Latimer sighed and hoped that she might change
+her mind some day.
+</p>
+<p>Meantime, Tom lost no good opportunity to
+show how he appreciated Polly and, whenever
+possible, he managed to perform the little deeds
+that mean so much to a woman&mdash;especially if that
+woman is young and impressionable. Thus he
+actually made better headway in his silent campaign
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span>
+for Polly, by never broaching the subject of
+love&mdash;from which she would have fled instantly
+and then barred the doors of her heart.
+</p>
+<p>The wireless received by Polly was from Tom
+who had been anxiously awaiting the time when
+he could communicate with the vessel. The contents
+of the message could have been read to all
+the world without exciting comment&mdash;it was so
+brotherly. But Polly felt that it was a private
+welcome to her and so it was not to be shared
+with others.
+</p>
+<p>The wireless said that Tom and Polly&#8217;s dear
+friends who were in New York, had been invited
+on board Mr. Dalken&#8217;s yacht, to visit the quarantined
+steamer that evening. That they would arrive
+about eight o&#8217;clock, having secured passes
+from the Inspector at Quarantine.
+</p>
+<p>Although this explanation about Polly and her
+associates took time for <i>us</i>, it did not interrupt
+the lively banter between the five girls. Dorothy
+was now certain that Polly had a real beau, somewhere,
+and being so very candid and talkative herself,
+she admired the reticence displayed by Polly
+in keeping the affairs of her heart to herself.
+</p>
+<p>Dodo whispered back to Eleanor: &#8220;Dear me!
+I hope he is worthy of her. She ought to have
+the finest husband in the world.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span></p>
+<p>Eleanor laughed. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry, Dodo. She
+will. If he was not meant for Polly, I&#8217;d try and
+get him for myself&mdash;that is how much I admire
+him.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh my! Won&#8217;t you tell me something about
+him, Nolla?&#8221; asked Dorothy, eagerly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I really don&#8217;t dare, Dodo,&#8221; returned Eleanor,
+assuming a wise expression. &#8220;Polly would drop
+me forever, if she thought I confided in anyone
+about her love-affairs. Besides, you can find out
+everything for yourself, now that you are going
+to remain with us, this winter. Still, I would love
+to know just who that wireless came from.&#8221;
+Eleanor added the latter remark after a moment&#8217;s
+deep consideration.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you what we can do,&#8221; ventured
+Dorothy, in a whisper. &#8220;We have often visited
+the wireless room; let&#8217;s you and I go there again,
+and start a friendly chat with the operator.
+Maybe he will speak of the message.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Without stopping to think whether this method
+would be principled or not, Eleanor eagerly
+agreed to Dorothy&#8217;s plan. While Polly and
+Nancy were discussing the beautiful hazy picture
+made by New York&#8217;s sky-line as seen from the
+Harbor at Quarantine, Dorothy and Eleanor
+hurried to the wireless room.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span></p>
+<p>The young man had often been entertained by
+the girls during the trip from Europe, so this
+visit was not suspected of having a secret motive
+back of it. He chatted pleasantly with his callers
+and, after a time, spoke of the very topic they
+wished to hear about.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I suppose you girls will all be on the <i>qui vive</i>
+this evening?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, it is awfully nice of the captain, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;
+said Eleanor, referring to the dance and thinking
+that the operator also meant that event.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I do not think the captain had as much
+to do with the invitation as had the Inspector
+General of the Quarantine. Of course we have
+a clean bill for the ship or no one would have been
+allowed to step on board tonight; but at the same
+time your friends must have had a good hard time
+to get the invitation from the authorities. Only
+a New Yorker who understands the ropes, could
+have managed the matter so quickly.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Dorothy was about to ask what he was talking
+about, when Eleanor pinched her arm for silence.
+Then the latter spoke: &#8220;Oh yes! He is a wonder&mdash;we
+think!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Dorothy gasped at Eleanor, and the smiling
+girl winked secretly at her. The operator had
+not seen the pinch nor the wink, but he continued
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span>
+guilelessly: &#8220;Well, from what I&#8217;ve seen of Miss
+Polly, only a &#8216;wonder&#8217; would cause her to notice
+him at all!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He laughed at his own words and Eleanor
+joined him, even though she failed to see a joke.
+Then she said: &#8220;Polly could have so <i>many</i> admirers,
+but she never looks at a man. Perhaps
+that is why all you males sigh so broken-heartedly
+at her heels.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The young man laughed softly to himself.
+&#8220;Maybe! But this &#8216;Tom&#8217; seems to feel assured
+of a &#8216;look&#8217; from her.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Now it was Dorothy&#8217;s turn to pinch Eleanor,
+and she did so with great gusto. Eleanor winced
+but dared not express herself in any other manner,
+just then. She was too keen on the trail of
+learning what she could, to signify any sense of
+having felt that pinch.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh&mdash;Tom! He is an old family friend, you
+know. He was Polly&#8217;s brother&#8217;s college-chum
+for four years while both boys studied at the University
+of Chicago. I am from Chicago, and I
+knew those boys when they used to come to my
+home with my brother, who also attended the
+engineering classes. There was a fourth boy&mdash;Paul
+Stewart, who was from Denver. Anne
+Stewart was his sister and she married John
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span>
+Brewster, this Spring. So you see, we are all old
+friends together. I suppose the whole family
+crowd will come out on the yacht, tonight.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Dorothy listened in sheer amazement, as
+Eleanor spoke with all the assurance possible.
+But Dorothy was not aware of Eleanor&#8217;s lifelong
+training in the home of a social leader of
+Chicago&#8217;s exclusive set. That such a home-training
+made a girl precocious and subtle, was
+not strange, and Eleanor had had fourteen years
+of such a life before she went to Pebbly Pit and
+met Polly. Habits so well-engrounded are not
+easily broken, or forgotten.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then the sender ought to have sent his message
+to one of the adults of the party. Even <i>I</i>
+misjudged the matter, because I thought this
+&#8216;Tom&#8217; must be a faithful admirer of Miss Polly&#8217;s
+to get through to visit the steamer tonight,&#8221; explained
+the operator.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But he isn&#8217;t coming alone&mdash;didn&#8217;t you stop
+to consider that?&#8221; asked Eleanor, eagerly. &#8220;Seeing
+that most of the friends are Polly&#8217;s personal
+ones, the wire was sent to her, you know.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I see.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The only thing that hurt me, was that no one
+sent me a message. Tom is as dear to me as to
+Polly, and I wonder he did not wire me.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Perhaps this Tom thought you would have
+scores of eager messages the moment your beaus
+knew you were near enough to get them,&#8221; laughed
+the young officer.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, they didn&#8217;t! But I want you to do
+something for me&mdash;will you?&#8221; asked Eleanor,
+quite unexpectedly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I will if I can,&#8221; agreed the officer.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Write off a fake message for me and sign
+some make-believe name to it, so I can hold my
+head up with Polly. She will never let me rest
+if she thinks she got a line, and I didn&#8217;t!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, that is easy to do. As long as we know
+it will never come out, and that I wrote a line to
+you, it will be a good joke.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All right!&#8221; laughed Eleanor, delightedly.
+&#8220;Now write:&mdash;&mdash;&#8221; She stopped suddenly, then
+thought for a moment before she said: &#8220;Why
+not copy the exact words sent to Polly, but sign
+another name?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll write one, as much like the original as
+possible without actually duplicating that information,&#8221;
+chuckled the officer.
+</p>
+<p>Then he took up a slip of paper and wrote:
+&#8220;Miss Eleanor Maynard. We will join you this
+evening, on steamer. Yacht will arrive about
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span>
+eight.&#8221; He looked up laughingly and asked:
+&#8220;Now what name shall we sign to this?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh&mdash;let me see! Sign &#8216;Paul.&#8217; I know he is
+in New York, now, so I am not taking chances of
+making a mistake,&#8221; laughed Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>The name &#8220;Paul&#8221; was added to the message
+and the paper placed in an envelope. This was
+addressed to Eleanor Maynard and her stateroom
+number written down upon it. Then it was
+handed to the gratified girl.
+</p>
+<p>The young man was thanked with unwarranted
+warmth, and the two girls hastened away.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='II_A_DISAPPOINTING_EVENING' id='II_A_DISAPPOINTING_EVENING'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER II</h2>
+<h3>A DISAPPOINTING EVENING</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Eleanor and Dorothy did not join their
+friends at once, after leaving the wireless room.
+Eleanor explained wisely: &#8220;We must promenade
+along the deck and let them see us reading and
+talking over the message, you know, to make them
+believe we just got it from the boy.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>So this little act was carried out, and when
+the two girls felt sure that Polly and her companions
+had noticed them reading the wireless
+message, Eleanor whispered: &#8220;Now we can
+stroll over and join them. Leave it to me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Just before she joined her friends, Eleanor
+thrust the paper into her sweater pocket, and
+seemed not to remember it. But Nancy spoke
+of it, immediately.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I see you received a <i>billet-doux</i>, too. Is there
+any reason why I should not say to you exactly
+what you said to Polly, when she got hers?&#8221;
+laughed the young lady.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, not at all! I am not so bashful about
+my affair,&#8221; retorted Eleanor, taking the paper
+from her pocket and handing it to Nancy. &#8220;You
+may read it aloud, if you choose.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>So Nancy read, and the fact that the words
+conveyed the same information as Polly&#8217;s had
+done, but the sender had signed himself &#8220;Paul,&#8221;
+made Polly feel relieved. Then she said:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It is evident that someone secured a yacht to
+carry our friends out to see us this evening. My
+message said about the same thing, so now, you
+see, it was ridiculous in Eleanor to tease about it
+being a love-note. Had she been sensible I would
+have read it aloud to all, but because of her silliness,
+I made up my mind to keep her guessing.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Nancy and Ruth laughed, but Eleanor and
+Dorothy exchanged glances with each other.
+Then Nancy said anxiously: &#8220;We ought to start
+and dress most fetchingly for tonight, if everyone
+you know is coming out.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Before anyone could reply to this suggestion,
+Mr. Fabian was seen hurrying across the deck
+to join them. &#8220;Girls, our old friend Dalken has
+a yacht, I hear, and he has invited everyone we
+know to come out here this evening to welcome
+us home. We are to be ready to return with him,
+as he has secured the necessary bill-of-health for
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span>
+us. Now get down to your rooms quickly and
+pack.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh&mdash;aren&#8217;t we going to remain to the dance?&#8221;
+asked Eleanor, with disappointment in her tones.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You can do as you please about that, but we
+will go back on the yacht when she returns to
+the city.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>In the bustle of packing the stateroom trunks,
+and then dressing for the evening, the girls forgot
+about the wireless messages. Then during
+the dinner that was like a party affair because of
+the passengers&#8217; exuberant spirits at being so near
+home again, Mr. Fabian smiled approvingly at
+the five young girls in his charge. They looked
+so charming in their Paris gowns, and their youthful
+forms and faces expressed such joy and pleasure
+in living, that he felt gratified to think the
+old friends would see them as <i>he</i> did that evening.
+</p>
+<p>Shortly after leaving the dining-salon, the attention
+of the Fabian party was drawn to a graceful
+white yacht that sailed swiftly down the Bay
+and soon came alongside the steamer. The spotless
+looking sailors instantly lowered the boat and
+a party of young people got in. The Fabian
+group leaned over the rail of the steamer and
+watched breathlessly as the boat was rowed across
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span>
+the intervening space and, finally, was made fast
+to the steamer.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Poll, did you recognize your future Fate?&#8221;
+giggled Eleanor, nudging her companion,
+knowingly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I saw <i>yours</i>!&#8221; retorted Polly. &#8220;And now I
+comprehend why you can speak of nothing else
+than beaus and Fate! You are so obsessed by
+your own dreams that you think everyone you
+know must be dreaming the same stuff!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly turned quickly and hurried to the spot
+where the visitors were being greeted by Mr. Fabian,
+and the other girls, laughing at the repartee,
+followed. In the first group to arrive were Tom
+Latimer and his younger brother Jim; Kenneth
+Evans, Jim&#8217;s chum; Paul Stewart; and John
+Brewster with Anne, his bride.
+</p>
+<p>Happy welcomes were exchanged between
+everyone, but Polly purposely avoided any extra
+favor being shown Tom Latimer, although he
+looked as if he deserved it more than Jim and his
+friend Kenneth. Eleanor quite openly showed
+her preference for Paul, when they separated
+from the others for the evening.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Where is Mr. Dalken and the others?&#8221; asked
+Polly, gazing around at the small group that had
+arrived on board.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;The boat is going back for the second installment,&#8221;
+explained Anne, keeping an arm about
+Polly&#8217;s waist. &#8220;We-all were too impatient to see
+you to accept the suggestion of waiting for the
+second trip, so the older ones sent us off first.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>To Polly&#8217;s surprise and joy, the second boat-load
+brought her father and mother, Mrs.
+Stewart, the Latimers, the Evans, and Mr.
+Dalken, the owner of the yacht. When the family
+circle was complete, on board the steamer,
+they proved to be a happy party, and many of
+the passengers wished they were included in that
+merry group.
+</p>
+<p>The steamer rolled gently with the swells from
+the ocean, while the full moon shone mistily
+through a fog that veiled its brightness enough to
+add romance to the meeting of the various young
+people on deck. Eleanor and Paul had been genuinely
+delighted to see each other again, and
+neither cared <i>who</i> knew just how much they liked
+each other.
+</p>
+<p>Polly watched them for a time, then smiled as
+they walked away to discover a cozy retreat behind
+one of the giant smoke-stacks, where they
+could enjoy a tête-à-tête without interruption.
+When she turned to hear what her brother John
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span>
+was saying, she found Tom Latimer just at her
+elbow.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Suppose we find a nice sheltered spot where
+you can tell me all about your trip abroad?&#8221; suggested
+Tom, his eyes speaking too plainly how
+anxious he was to get Polly away from the others.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;d far rather be with the crowd and hear
+all that is being said,&#8221; said Polly, nervously.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Very well, then,&#8221; said Tom, moodily. &#8220;I only
+thought you&#8217;d like to hear all about Grizzly Slide
+and how it&#8217;s been cutting up this summer. The
+gold mine has had several adventurers trying to
+jump the claim, too; and Rainbow Cliffs has had
+an injunction served on it so that we are tied up
+by law, this year.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;So mother wrote to me. But I don&#8217;t want to
+hear about troubles and business tonight. I just
+want to enjoy myself after coming home to all the
+dear folks,&#8221; said Polly.
+</p>
+<p>Tom was too unsophisticated with girls, although
+he was so popular with men, to make allowance
+for the contrary spirit that often sways
+a girl when she wishes to make a good impression;
+so he sulked and followed at Polly&#8217;s heels
+when she hurried after her friends.
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Dalken turned just now, and saw the girl
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span>
+running as if to get away from Tom, and he understood,
+fairly well, just how matters were. So
+he endeavored to calm Polly&#8217;s perturbed spirit
+and encourage Tom&#8217;s &#8220;faint heart&#8221; at the same
+time.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, Polly dear,&#8221; said he, placing an arm
+about her shoulders, &#8220;now that you have seen
+many of the wonder-spots of Europe, and know
+more about antiques and art than any of us, I
+suppose you are quite decided that business is not
+your forte, eh? The next thing I&#8217;ll hear from
+you, you&#8217;ll have dropped your ambitions and
+be sailing down a love-stream to a snug harbor.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Indeed not! You ought to know me better
+than that, Mr. Dalken,&#8221; declared Polly, vehemently,
+causing her companions to laugh. &#8220;I
+am more determined than ever, since seeing such
+wonderful things in Europe, to devote my life
+to my chosen profession. Why, the marvellous
+objects I saw in Europe, used in interior decorating
+in centuries past, enthuse me anew. I wonder
+that anyone can keep from studying this fascinating
+art where there is such a broad field of work
+and interest.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly&#8217;s mother and father listened to their
+daughter, with adoration plainly expressed on
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span>
+their faces, and Tom had to grit his teeth to keep
+from swearing, because of what he considered
+their influence over Polly in this, her foolish infatuation
+for a business when she ought to be in
+love with him.
+</p>
+<p>When Mr. Dalken saw that he had launched a
+dangerous subject for Polly and Tom, he had a
+bright idea. So he acted upon it instantly. He
+excused himself from his friends&#8217; circle, and
+sought the Captain. In a short time thereafter,
+the passengers heard the band playing dance
+music, and immediately, most of the younger set
+hurried to the Grand Salon.
+</p>
+<p>It was second nature with Polly to dance, and
+she did so with as much grace as she rode her
+father&#8217;s thoroughbred horses on the ranch; or
+hiked the Rockies, over boulders and down-timber
+like a fawn. Kenneth Evans, the youngest
+man in the party from the city, was by far the
+handsomest one in the group; and when he guided
+Polly through the maze of dancers, they both attracted
+much attention.
+</p>
+<p>Tom stood and sulked while he watched Polly
+dance, but he refused to dance himself, although
+he was considered a most desirable partner by
+any one who had ever danced with him. Eleanor
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span>
+was having such a thoroughly good time while
+dancing with Paul, that she forgot about the romances
+and lovers&#8217; quarrels of others.
+</p>
+<p>The moment Kenneth escorted Polly to a chair
+and stood fanning her, Tom pushed a way over
+to them and said, quite assuredly: &#8220;The next
+dance is mine, Polly.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, I never told you so, at all!&#8221; exclaimed
+Polly, annoyed at Tom&#8217;s tone and manner.
+&#8220;How do you know there will be another one?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom flushed and sent Kenneth an angry glance,
+although poor Ken was innocent of any guile in
+this case.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If you do not care to dance with me, Polly,
+say so, and I&#8217;ll go to the smoking-room and enjoy
+the companionship of men who appreciate me,&#8221;
+retorted Tom, impatiently.
+</p>
+<p>The imp of resistance took instant possession
+of Polly, and she said: &#8220;Tom, there&#8217;s where you
+belong&mdash;with men who want to talk about work
+and money. You are too old to enjoy youthful
+follies as I do.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom had been dreaming of this meeting with
+Polly again, for so long, that now everything
+seemed shattered for him. He felt so injured
+at her mention of his age in comparison with her
+own, that he said nothing more, but turned on
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span>
+his heel and marched away without a backward
+glance. His very foot-falls spoke of his feelings.
+</p>
+<p>Polly turned to Kenneth and resumed her
+laughing banter, and he thought she was glad to
+rid herself of Tom&#8217;s company. He felt puzzled,
+too, because Tom Latimer, in <i>his</i> estimation, was
+everything noble and manly. But Kenneth was
+inexperienced with girls&#8217; subtleties. Had Eleanor
+been present she would have understood perfectly
+how matters were.
+</p>
+<p>After this incident, Polly danced every dance
+with a gayety of manner that she did not truly
+feel. Some of the joy of that party was lacking,
+but she would not question the cause of it.
+</p>
+<p>Tom went directly to the smoking-room where
+he sat down to brood over his misery. He never
+filled his pipe, but sat lost in thought until a
+friendly voice at his elbow said: &#8220;Well, old
+pard! Anne says you are to come with me. She
+has a word to say. She is a wizard, too, so you&#8217;d
+best obey without question.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom looked up and saw John. &#8220;Can Anne
+help me in the planning of the legal defence of
+those lava-cliffs at Pebbly Pit?&#8221; Tom demanded
+of his friend.
+</p>
+<p>John smiled knowingly. &#8220;I&#8217;ll admit you&#8217;re not
+smoking, even though you rushed to a sanctum
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span>
+protected from girls&#8217; invasion; and you are not
+thinking of lava or injunctions, just now. You&#8217;re
+pitying yourself for what you consider shabby
+treatment, while all the time Anne can see that
+your evening&#8217;s disappointment is your own
+fault.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom weakened. &#8220;For goodness&#8217; sake, tell
+Anne to advise me what to do, if she knows every
+cure.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come on and have a talk with her. She is just
+outside, waiting for us,&#8221; coaxed John, placing his
+arm in that of his friend&#8217;s, and gently forcing him
+out of the room.
+</p>
+<p>When Tom met Anne&#8217;s sympathetic eyes, he
+confessed. &#8220;Anne, what&#8217;s the matter with Polly?
+She doesn&#8217;t seem to know I am on earth. Did
+you watch her enjoy that dance with a kid like
+Ken, and then snub <i>me</i> outright when I asked her
+to dance the next one with me?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what she did, Tom, but let me
+give you a bit of sensible advice about Polly.
+John thinks I am right in this, too, don&#8217;t you,
+dear?&#8221; Wise Anne Brewster turned anxiously to
+John for his opinion.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, Tom, Anne is a wonder in such things.
+You listen to her, old man,&#8221; agreed John.
+</p>
+<p>Tom sighed heavily and signified his willingness
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span>
+to listen to anything that would end his heartache.
+Both his companions smiled as if they
+deemed this case an everyday matter.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Tom, you are morbid from over-work at the
+mines,&#8221; began Anne. &#8220;Remember this, Polly has
+been on the go in Europe all summer, seeing first
+one interesting thing after another, and not giving
+a single thought to you, or anyone, on this side
+the water. She sneered at anyone who tried to
+flatter her, or pretended to make love to her,
+while in Europe, and only cared for art during
+that tour which meant so much to her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You ought to be thankful that she took this
+attitude, and returned home heart-whole. What
+would you have done, had she fallen in love with
+an attractive young man with a title? But she
+was too sensible for that. She returns home with
+her mind still filled with the wonderful things she
+saw abroad, and eager to tell everyone she knows
+all about her trip. Naturally, she never gives a
+thought to a lover, or a future husband. She is
+too young for that sort of thing, anyway, and her
+family would discourage anyone who suggested
+such ideas to her. We want her to continue her
+studies and find joy and satisfaction in her work,
+until she is twenty-one, at least, and then she can
+consider matrimony.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;You know, Tom, that we all favor you immensely,
+as a future husband for Polly, but we
+certainly would discountenance any advances you
+might make right now, to turn Polly&#8217;s thoughts
+from sensible work and endeavor, to a state of
+discontent caused by the dreams of young love.
+If you are not willing to be a good friend to the
+girl, now, and wait until she is older, before you
+show your intentions, then I will certainly do my
+utmost to keep Polly out of your way. But if,
+on the other hand, you promise to guard your
+expression and behavior, and only treat Polly as
+a good brother might, then we will do everything
+in our power to protect Polly from any other admirers
+and to further your interests as best we
+can. Do you understand, now?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom had listened thoughtfully, and when Anne
+concluded, he said: &#8220;If I thought I had a chance
+in the end, I would gladly wait a thousand years
+for Polly!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, you won&#8217;t have to do that,&#8221; laughed
+Anne. &#8220;In a few years, at the most, Polly will
+want to get out of business, and settle down like
+other girls&mdash;to a slave of a husband and a lovely
+home of her own that she can decorate and enjoy
+to her heart&#8217;s content.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom brightened up visibly at such alluring pictures,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span>
+and promised to do exactly as Anne advised
+him to.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If Polly pays no attention to you now, remember
+it is because she is different from most
+girls you have known. She was brought up at
+Pebbly Pit ranch without any young companions,
+until <i>we</i> went there that summer. She had a
+yearning for the beautiful in art and other things,
+but never had the slightest opportunity in the
+Rocky Mountains, to further her ideals. The
+only education she had had in the great and beautiful,
+was when she was riding the peaks and could
+study Nature in her grandest works.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Can you blame her, then, because she revels
+in her studies and has no other desire, at present,
+than that of reaching a plane where she can indulge
+her talent and ideals? Can&#8217;t you see that
+a youthful marriage to Polly, now seems like a
+sacrifice of all she considers worth while in life?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom nodded understandingly as he listened to
+Anne. And John added: &#8220;I told you Anne had
+the right idea of this affair! Polly&#8217;s absolutely
+safe, for a few years, from all love-tangles. And
+when she begins to weary of hard work and disappointments
+in business, then is your chance to
+show her a different life.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But, Tom,&#8221; quickly added Anne, &#8220;do not give
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span>
+Polly the opportunity, again, to suspect you of
+lover-like intentions. Be a first-class brother to
+her, and let <i>her</i> wonder if she has any further interest
+in you. Never show your trump card to a
+girl.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Both men laughed at this sage advice, and John
+nodded smilingly: &#8220;Anne ought to know, Tom.
+That was the way she got me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Anne was about to answer teasingly, when Mr.
+Dalken came up and said: &#8220;I&#8217;ve been hunting
+you three everywhere. Hurry and get your
+wraps, as the yacht is waiting to return to the
+City.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The trio then learned that passes had been
+granted the members in Mr. Fabian&#8217;s party, to
+leave the steamer that night and go back with
+their friends, on the yacht. So the cabin baggage
+had been brought up to the gang-way, and when
+Mr. Dalken summoned John and his companions
+to come and help the girls get away, the boats
+were already on their way to the yacht with the
+luggage.
+</p>
+<p>Many of their fellow-passengers crowded about
+the party when they were ready to go. Good-bys
+were exchanged and the happy bevy of young
+folks left. Then the boat returned for the older
+members in the party, and soon the yacht was
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span>
+ready to fly back to her dock, up the River, near
+72nd street. But the thick haze that had made
+the moon look so romantic, developed into an impenetrable
+fog. And anyone who has ever experienced
+such a fog hanging over New York Harbor,
+knows what it is to try to go through it.
+</p>
+<p>So the vessel had not traveled past the Statue
+of Liberty, before the heavy pall of fog suddenly
+dropped silently over the Bay, and anything
+farther than a few feet away from the radius of
+the electric lights on the boat, was completely
+hidden.
+</p>
+<p>The Captain bawled forth orders to the crew
+and instantly the uniformed men were running
+back and forth to carry out the instructions. Before
+all impetus to the yacht was closed down,
+however, the engines had driven her into the route
+generally used by the pilots of the boats running
+to Staten Island.
+</p>
+<p>Captain Johnson anxiously studied his chart but
+could not gauge his position exactly, because of
+the dense fog and the lack of signals. In a few
+minutes more, every fog-horn in the Bay and all
+the great reflectors from guiding lights from bell-buoys
+would be in full operation. But at the
+time, there was nothing to tell him that he was
+in a dangerous zone.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='III_THE_ACCIDENT' id='III_THE_ACCIDENT'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER III</h2>
+<h3>THE ACCIDENT</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>When the party reached the yacht, Mr.
+Dalken said that chairs had been placed on the
+forward deck where they could sit and watch the
+scenes at night, as they sailed up to the City. So
+all but Tom and Polly went forward and found
+comfortable seats. Tom had asked Polly to
+stroll about with him, and she, feeling guilty of
+neglecting such an old friend when on the steamer,
+consented.
+</p>
+<p>Thus it happened that Tom led her to the side
+of the craft where they had climbed the ladder
+to the deck, as this side was in shadow and farthest
+from the group of friends who were seated
+on the forward deck.
+</p>
+<p>But they had not promenaded up and down
+many times, before the Captain gave anxious
+commands to his crew. Every man jumped to
+obey, instantly, while Tom and Polly halted in
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span>
+their walk just at the gap in the rail, where the
+adjustable ladder had been lowered to the boat
+when the passengers arrived from the steamer.
+The steps had been hauled in but the sailor had
+forgotten to replace the sliding rail. In the dense
+fog this neglect had been overlooked.
+</p>
+<p>Immediately following the Captain&#8217;s shouts, a
+great hulk loomed up right beside the yacht, and
+a fearful blow to the rear end of the pleasure
+craft sent her flying diagonally out of her path,
+across the water. The collision made her nose
+dip down dangerously while the stern rose up
+clear of the waves.
+</p>
+<p>The group seated forwards slid together, and
+some were thrown from their chairs, but managed
+to catch hold of the ropes and rail to prevent being
+thrown overboard.
+</p>
+<p>Polly and Tom, standing, unaware, so near the
+open gap in the rail, still arm in arm as they had
+been walking, were thrown violently side-ways
+and there being nothing at hand to hold to, or to
+prevent their going over the side, they fell into
+the dark sea.
+</p>
+<p>Feeling as if the earth had dropped from under
+her, Polly screamed in terror before her voice
+was choked with water. Tom instinctively held
+on to her arm, as he had been doing when the impact
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span>
+of a larger vessel came upon the yacht, and
+he maintained this grip as they both sank.
+</p>
+<p>Polly had always dreaded water, because it
+seemed so unfamiliar to her. After living in the
+mountains with only narrow roaring streams, or
+the glacial lakes found in the Rockies, she had
+never tried to swim in the ocean, but preferred
+swimming in a pool. Consequently, this sudden
+dive into the awesome black abyss so frightened
+her, that she fainted before she could fight or
+struggle.
+</p>
+<p>But Tom Latimer was an expert swimmer,
+having won several medals while at College for
+his continued swimming under water. At one
+time during his first college days, he had saved
+the lives of some young folks when their canoe
+capsized a long distance from shore. In this supreme
+test of ability and presence of mind, with
+the girl he loved in his arms to save, Tom was
+as self-possessed as if on deck with Polly.
+</p>
+<p>In less time than it takes to tell, both victims
+of the collision sank until the natural fight between
+the weight of the water and the force of
+the air in their lungs, sent them up again to the
+surface. In that short time, Tom used every
+muscle and physical power to swim far enough
+<i>under</i> the water to clear away from the boats
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span>
+which might do them more harm than the water.
+</p>
+<p>Fortunately he found the surface free when
+he rose for breath, and finding no resistance from
+the unconscious form he held, he managed to
+change his grip from her arm to a firm hold under
+the shoulders. In this position he could manage
+to keep Polly&#8217;s head above water, and at the same
+time, could swim backwards, by using his feet as
+propellers.
+</p>
+<p>The only handicap he now had, was his clothing
+and shoes; these interfered with his free action
+in swimming so he managed to kick off his
+dancing pumps. The greatest danger he feared,
+was the sudden coming of some craft that would
+compel him to dive again, or might even run them
+down, unseen in the dark.
+</p>
+<p>But the very fog that had caused this accident,
+also befriended them now, as no wary seaman
+would recklessly go on his way in such a bewildering
+mist, and the majority preferred waiting for
+a temporary lifting of the blanket, before continuing
+their journeys.
+</p>
+<p>Tom felt no concern over the fact that Polly
+had fainted or had been in the water for a time,
+for he knew she was so healthy that no ill would
+occur to her from such causes. All he feared
+now, was his power of endurance to keep floating
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span>
+until some craft might pick them up, or he could
+reach a temporary rest.
+</p>
+<p>Suddenly he felt a sweeping current whirl him
+about and in another moment, he was swimming
+rapidly <i>with</i> instead of <i>against</i> the tide in the
+Bay. He realized that in that short time the tide
+had turned, either about some point of land, or
+in the River. He began to tread water while he
+tried to lift his head and gaze across the waves.
+Then a broad shaft of dazzling light shot across
+the Bay from a nearby reflector. At the same
+time Tom heard the tolling of a bell-buoy, not
+very far distant.
+</p>
+<p>He changed his course that the outgoing tide
+would assist him in reaching this light that might
+be coming from a ship, or maybe, from an island
+in the Bay. As his powerful strokes carried him
+along, the sound of the bell-buoy seemed to come
+so plainly that he felt sure it was not far away.
+If he could but hang on to it for a time, in order
+to gain second wind!
+</p>
+<p>Suddenly there was a momentary lift of the
+heavy fog, and he discovered he was quite near
+Bedloe&#8217;s Island. The powerful search light had
+reflected from the arc held aloft in the hand of
+the Goddess of Liberty; and the light that danced
+upon the waves all about him came from the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span>
+smaller arcs which were placed along the sea-wall
+of the Island.
+</p>
+<p>The current now carried him helplessly past
+the pier where the boats from the Battery land,
+but just as he tried to lift his head once more and
+yell for help, a motor boat was heard chugging
+through the fog. His cry was heard by those in
+the boat, and in a few moments the flash-light in
+its prow was blinding Tom because of its
+proximity.
+</p>
+<p>A chorus of amazed voices now mingled with
+the noise of the water dashing against the wall
+and the ringing of the buoy, and Tom began to
+feel faint and dazed. But almost before he knew
+what was happening, a powerful grip caught him
+on his thick hair, and he was dragged partly out
+of the water.
+</p>
+<p>A commanding voice shouted: &#8220;Help grab
+the girl&mdash;we&#8217;ll take care of the man!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Then Tom heard no more, nor indeed, knew
+more until he indistinctly heard a far-off call of
+&#8220;Guard! Guard!&#8221; Then he opened his eyes to
+find he was on the solid earth, once more. Polly
+was stretched out on the sand. The Guards
+tumbled out of the barracks and rushed for the
+spot where the officer stood calling.
+</p>
+<p>While a few of the boys lifted and half carried
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span>
+Tom to the general assembly room, others
+ran to assist the boatman with the girl. She was
+carefully conveyed to the barracks and the doctor
+sent for. Meantime the men applied the Schaefer
+Method to both the strangers; Tom instantly recovered
+himself fully but Polly&#8217;s faint lasted
+longer.
+</p>
+<p>When the doctor hurried in, his kindly wife
+followed. Tom was able to sit up and tell the
+story of how the accident happened; then he
+begged someone to notify the Wharf Police to
+keep a lookout in the Harbor as there might be
+a yacht in distress after that collision. Also, if
+inquiry was made at Police Headquarters, the
+news was to be given that both Polly and he were
+safe on Liberty Island.
+</p>
+<p>A Corporal of the Guard was sent to attend
+to these messages, and Tom was taken to a cot
+in the ward of the Barracks. His wet clothing
+was removed and he was rolled in a hot blanket
+and given hot lemonade. In a few moments he
+was sound asleep.
+</p>
+<p>Polly was taken to the doctor&#8217;s cottage where
+his wife attended the patient as well as any trained
+nurse could have done. The girl also was rolled
+in warm blankets with hot-water bottles placed
+about her cold body. Slowly she began to show
+more animation, and when she could speak, she
+asked if Tom was saved.
+</p>
+<div class='figcenter'>
+<a name='linki_2' id='linki_2'></a>
+<img src='images/illus-040.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br />
+<span class='caption'>
+TOM AND POLLY ARE RESCUED.<br />
+<i>Polly&#8217;s Business Venture.</i> <i>Page 39</i>
+<br />
+</span>
+</div>
+
+<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span></div>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, dear; you both are safe now,&#8221; replied
+Mrs. Hall.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And can we get word&mdash;&mdash;&#8221; began she.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We have taken care of that, too, dear. Now
+try to drink this nice hot lemonade and then go
+to sleep.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly obediently drank the hot drink and sighed
+in relief. Then she sank back and, almost instantly,
+Nature claimed her rights to make up
+for the unwonted interference with her customary
+routine.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Hall sat beside the cot for some time
+after Polly was asleep, but she finally succumbed
+to weariness, and finding her patient fully recovered
+and warm, she threw herself upon a nearby
+cot.
+</p>
+<p>Both young people slept late in the morning,
+and when Tom finally opened his eyes, feeling a
+bit stiff in his joints, he had to collect his thoughts
+to remember where he was. Like a flash, everything
+came back, and he jumped up to dress and
+find out how Polly was.
+</p>
+<p>His suit had been dried and pressed and hung
+over a chair beside the cot. His dress-coat
+seemed ridiculously out of order after that swim
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span>
+and, now, for the morning&#8217;s work. But he smiled
+as he donned the clothes, and started for the door
+of the long room.
+</p>
+<p>Just as Tom reached the door one of the men
+entered and greeted him warmly. &#8220;I see you&#8217;re
+all right again!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, thank you. I hope the little girl is feeling
+as well,&#8221; ventured Tom, anxiously.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Doctor Hall just left her and says she is right
+as a fiddle. I&#8217;m the young fellow that telephoned
+the Police for you. I got back word, early this
+morning, that your folks finally got home, without
+any harm to anyone. And say! Maybe there
+wasn&#8217;t some joy when they heard you two were
+safe with us!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom felt a strange gripping at his throat, and
+his voice quavered as he replied: &#8220;I <i>know</i> there
+was!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The young man glanced at the evening dress
+and then said, &#8220;I&#8217;m going to loan you one of my
+long coats to cover those togs.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom responded gratefully, and said: &#8220;If I
+can only do as much for you boys some time!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Say,&#8221; laughed the soldier, &#8220;don&#8217;t wish such an
+experience on any of us!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Then both laughed. As they reached the house
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span>
+where Polly had spent the night, the doctor
+opened the door and smiled. When he saw that
+Tom was feeling as good as ever, he said: &#8220;I
+just hung up the &#8217;phone. A gentleman called
+&#8216;Dalken&#8217; told me that they were all coming over
+to take you away. But I warned him that the
+entire party would be arrested if they landed on
+Government Ground without a permit.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then I remembered that he might secure a
+permit, so I said: &#8216;Anyway, before you people
+can get here, my patients will be on their way to
+the Battery.&#8217; I said that, because the young lady
+ought to be kept perfectly quiet all morning, after
+such a fearful experience, you know.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I know,&#8221; admitted Tom. &#8220;And I am
+glad you said what you did.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now we had her dress dried and pressed, and
+the little miss will be up and ready to thank you
+for your courageous deed, in an hour or so,&#8221; explained
+the doctor, significantly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Thank you, ever so much!&#8221; said Tom, grasping
+his hand.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Let Ted, here, show you about the place and
+entertain you until it&#8217;s time to call again,&#8221; suggested
+the doctor.
+</p>
+<p>So Tom went away with his companion, not to
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span>
+explore the Island, but to go to the telephone and
+have a long talk with his friends in the city, who
+were anxious to hear about the accident.
+</p>
+<p>Just before noon, an orderly came to Tom to
+say that Mrs. Hall said, &#8220;Mr. Latimer could call,
+if he liked.&#8221; Tom laughed at the message&mdash;&#8220;if
+he liked.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>As he entered the little sitting-room of the doctor&#8217;s
+house, Tom tiptoed as if he felt he had
+to tread softly. But Polly sat in an arm-chair
+by the window and saw him coming. She jumped
+up and ran to the door to greet him, and Mrs.
+Hall went out of the room by the kitchen-door.
+</p>
+<p>Tom was unable to speak a word when he
+finally came into Polly&#8217;s presence. She caught
+hold of his hands and shook them gladly, as she
+cried: &#8220;Oh, Tom! What do I not owe you after
+last night!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom wanted to demand payment, but he knew
+that would ruin his chances forever, so he held a
+tight leash on his feelings and smiled wanly.
+Then he said in an unnatural tone: &#8220;Lucky for
+us both that I knew how to swim, eh, Polly?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly was relieved to hear him speak in such a
+way, but her next act was the outgrowth of spontaneous
+gratitude. She flung both arms about his
+neck and being too short to reach his cheek, kissed
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span>
+him on the chin as she would have done had he
+been John. Tom trembled, but realized at the
+same time, that Polly&#8217;s kiss meant nothing. Still
+he was humbly grateful for even that token of
+gratitude from the reserved girl.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now tell me, Tom dear, what did the folks
+say about our sudden elopement?&#8221; Polly laughed
+as she used the term.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Polly! I&#8217;d swim from here to China for
+you if only it could be an elopement!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The girl instantly took alarm, and looked about
+for Mrs. Hall. But Tom forced a laugh and
+tried to make her believe he was joking. &#8220;Do
+you think that any man would do <i>that</i> for a girl?&#8221;
+he added.
+</p>
+<p>Then he hurried on to say that no one on the
+yacht had been injured by the collision, but they
+were hours in reaching their dock. He said that
+they (Polly and Tom) were not missed at first,
+and not until conditions had calmed down somewhat,
+did Eleanor call for Polly. Then it was
+found that neither Tom nor Polly were to be
+found.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It was Eleanor who remembered seeing us
+promenade along the side where the rail was detachable,
+and it was Eleanor who said we must
+have been thrown out where the steps came up.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span>
+So the captain was taken to task for having such
+a careless man on board, and both the man and
+the captain were discharged.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Poor man&mdash;it wasn&#8217;t his fault!&#8221; sighed Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, if you hadn&#8217;t recovered, I&#8217;d have sent
+him to jail for life, because it was criminal negligence
+to leave that rail open as it was!&#8221; was
+Tom&#8217;s threatening reply.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad there is no cause for such harsh
+treatment,&#8221; responded Polly.
+</p>
+<p>Tom gazed, with his soul in his eyes, as he
+breathed fervently: &#8220;You&#8217;re not half as glad as
+I am, darling!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly sprang away at that, and ran to the window,
+saying: &#8220;Don&#8217;t you think we might start
+for the City? Mrs. Hall went to fetch a hat
+and wrap for me and she ought to be back by
+this time.&#8221;
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='IV_A_REUNION_AND_A_VISITOR' id='IV_A_REUNION_AND_A_VISITOR'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2>
+<h3>A REUNION AND A VISITOR</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Never was maiden welcomed so enthusiastically
+and so fervently, as Polly Brewster, that
+morning when she stepped from the launch to the
+sea-wall at Battery Park. Her father and mother
+vied with each other in embracing and kissing
+her, while the tears of happiness streamed from
+their eyes; John and Anne hovered beside them,
+watching every dear feature of Polly&#8217;s face.
+Eleanor stood holding fast to her best friend&#8217;s
+skirt, as if that could keep her forever near her.
+</p>
+<p>The members in the &#8220;Delegation of Welcome,&#8221;
+acted as if they had been imbibing some intoxicating
+stimulant. Such happy laughter, and vehement
+demonstrations of joy and love because
+Polly was with them again, spoke louder than
+words that they had all thought she was drowned.
+Tom found that little fuss was made over him in
+the first exuberant greetings, but he came in for
+his share after the doctor had concluded his story
+about the valiant young rescuer.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, Mr. Brewster, you pay attention to
+me,&#8221; remarked the physician, when he was ready
+to depart on the launch: &#8220;You take your daughter
+home, at once, and put her to bed for the rest
+of the day, to spare her any nervous reaction.
+Then, if she is all right tomorrow, you may allow
+her to receive a caller, or two&mdash;no more for
+the time being, or you will have her break down.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Brewster promised to obey the orders
+faithfully, and soon afterwards, Polly&#8217;s friends
+followed her and her parents to the automobiles
+which were waiting near the curb of the Park.
+Tom was surrounded, on both sides and fore and
+aft, by his family and John and Mr. Dalken, all
+of whom wished to hear the thrilling story of the
+rescue again.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d rather hear how you folks kept afloat after
+that boat rammed the yacht,&#8221; said he, shunning a
+subject that still made him shudder.
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Dalken insisted that Tom with his father
+and mother get into his luxurious limousine and
+let him drive them home. On the way uptown,
+Mr. Dalken told the story of their narrow escape
+from being lost in the Bay after the collision.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Immediately after the yacht was rammed and
+we could collect our senses to comprehend what
+had happened, and what to do, the old tub of a
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span>
+ferry-boat kept on her course. But there were
+some worried citizens on board, for they shouted
+and, finally, the captain stopped his engines and
+blew the whistles to see if we needed help.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Fortunately for us, a river tug was quite close
+at hand when the accident occurred, and its captain
+called through a megaphone to say that he
+would assist us in any way we commanded.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Our Captain then ascertained that part of our
+gear had been shaken out of place, and it would
+be dangerous for him to try to run the vessel under
+her own power, and trust our steering gear.
+So the good old man on the tug took us in tow
+and landed us, towards dawn, at our dock.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The moment we were on land, I rushed to
+the telephone at the Yacht Club house, and notified
+Police Headquarters. Ken Evans was an
+eye-witness to the dive that we feared had cost
+Polly and you your lives; so we told the Sergeant
+at the Station just about where you went down.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The Bureau at Battery Park was &#8217;phoned but
+they said the tide was running out at that time,
+so you both would be carried past Bedloe&#8217;s Island;
+if you both were good swimmers there was
+a slight hope of your being rescued.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I tell you, Tom, we were almost frantic with
+joy and relief when word came from Liberty Island
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span>
+that you both were safe in bed, there, without
+injury or other hurt, excepting the shock.
+Polly&#8217;s mother swooned and we thought she was
+gone because it was so long before we could revive
+her.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom&#8217;s mother sat holding her boy&#8217;s hand within
+her own, and his father smiled at him so often
+that Tom began to feel fussed. But Mr. Dalken
+laughed at his apparent self-consciousness.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Tom, my boy, grin and bear this ordeal for
+the time, as you may never in your life, have another
+experience like it. It shows you what we
+all think of you, to sit and idolize you in this
+fashion.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>They laughed at the banter, but Tom felt more
+at ease after Mr. Dalken&#8217;s little speech.
+</p>
+<p>Having arrived at his home, Tom rebelled
+against being kept quiet that day. &#8220;Goodness&#8217;
+sakes, mother! any one would think I was an invalid.
+Why, I feel better than I have in
+months!&#8221; and his happy gayety attested to his
+spirits. But no one knew that he was joyous because
+Polly had kissed him that morning. And
+he was sure that that <i>something</i> he had detected
+in her eyes, was the awakening of love, instead
+of the fervent gratitude it really was.
+</p>
+<p>Tom could not settle down to do anything that
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span>
+day, but he called John up on the &#8217;phone several
+times to ask about Polly. John patiently replied
+each time, that Polly was fast asleep and would
+probably remain so, for several hours more, because
+she required it. When Tom asked if he
+had better come down that evening and call, John
+was most emphatic in his refusal.
+</p>
+<p>But the following day, Tom kept telephoning
+the Brewsters every little while and Anne finally
+capitulated and invited him to call that evening.
+</p>
+<p>Polly was fully recovered again, with no signs
+of the shock or soaking she had received; so,
+when Tom was announced by the telephone girl
+in the hotel office, she felt no undue nervousness.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Anne, you are going to help entertain Tom,
+aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; said she, casually patting her hair
+down neatly.
+</p>
+<p>Anne looked at her sister-in-law with an amused
+smile. &#8220;If you think you will need a chaperone
+when such an old friend calls. Tom always
+seems more like a brother than a young man who
+might turn out to be a beau, some day.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly pondered this sentence for a time, then
+said: &#8220;Well, there&#8217;s no telling what he may
+think after that ducking, you know, so it will be
+more comfortable to have you about.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom fully expected a warm welcome from
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span>
+Polly, and perhaps, another flash of something
+akin to love that he thought he had detected in
+her deep blue eyes, when he met her in the hospital.
+So he was more than chagrined to find
+Polly smile friendily upon him as she took his hand
+in the same manner that she would have taken
+Mr. Dalken&#8217;s.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I just thought I would bring in a little glow
+with me, Polly,&#8221; remarked Tom, when he recovered
+self-possession again. &#8220;A few roses, such
+as I know you like.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He handed a long box to Polly and watched
+eagerly as she cut the string and opened the lid
+of the box.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Tom! American Beauties again! How
+lovely!&#8221; and she buried her face in the fragrant
+red petals that filled the one end of the box.
+</p>
+<p>Anne held out her hand for the box when Polly
+went to place it on a chair. &#8220;I&#8217;ll hand them to
+mother, Polly, for her to arrange in a jar. The
+others that came yesterday, can be placed in another
+glass.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, did Polly receive other roses?&#8221; asked
+Tom, trying to appear unconcerned, but flushing
+as he spoke.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, didn&#8217;t you send them to me? There
+was no card in the box, but you always send American
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span>
+Beauties, Tom,&#8221; exclaimed Polly, in surprise.
+</p>
+<p>Tom laughed sheepishly. &#8220;Well, I did send
+them, Polly, but I thought I would make you
+guess who it could have been. I never dreamed
+you would give me credit for the roses.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why shouldn&#8217;t I? It would have seemed
+queer if you hadn&#8217;t sent flowers, when everyone
+within a thousand miles, sent boxes and bouquets
+to me, all yesterday and all day today.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They did! What for?&#8221; asked Tom, wonderingly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What for? Why, goodness me! Don&#8217;t you
+suppose my friends were <i>glad</i> that I wasn&#8217;t
+drowned,&#8221; retorted Polly, in amazement.
+&#8220;Everyone that ever knew me, sent love and
+flowers, so I never thought it strange that you sent
+me some, too.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This was a hard slap for Tom, and he winced
+under the words which denoted that Polly considered
+him only as one of many friends. Even the
+roses presented that night, with a little heart-shaped
+card tied in the center of the group of
+stems, now seemed useless in his eyes.
+</p>
+<p>But Polly had not removed the roses from the
+box so she failed to find the heart-shaped card that
+Tom had spent the whole afternoon in inditing.
+Anne gave the box to Mrs. Brewster, and when
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span>
+that sensible mother took the roses out, one by
+one, and found the card, she put it away with the
+cards that had come with other flowers. She
+also forgot to mention the card to Polly, so the
+girl never knew that Tom had written her of his
+undying love. As Anne replied, for Polly, to all
+the cards, Tom received the same sort of polite
+little note as others did, with Polly&#8217;s name and a
+&#8220;per A.B.&#8221; signed to it.
+</p>
+<p>Finding Polly so self-possessed that evening,
+Tom pulled himself together with an effort, and
+tried to converse on various topics of general interest.
+Anne eagerly assisted in the conversation,
+so Polly listened without having much to say.
+</p>
+<p>Tom tried to make Polly talk, too, but without
+success, so he became silent and left most of
+the entertaining for Anne to do. But even she
+found the task of finding subjects to interest two
+dumb people rather irksome, and she decided on
+a <i>coup</i>.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Excuse me for a moment, please, while I see
+if John has returned with his father.&#8221; So saying,
+Anne ran from the room.
+</p>
+<p>Polly sat up and watched her go as if her protector
+had turned traitor. She glanced at Tom
+in a half doubtful manner as if to ask what he
+would do now with the chaperone out of the way?
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span></p>
+<p>But Anne&#8217;s absence gave Tom&#8217;s morbid senses
+an inspiration that he acted upon without second
+thought. It was the best thing he could have
+done with Polly in this baffling mood.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m returning to Pebbly Pit, in a few days,
+Polly. I am actually homesick for a sight of the
+dear old mountains.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly gasped. &#8220;Oh, no one told me you were
+leaving us. Jim told me that he thought you
+might remain here for several months.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Jim? What does that kid know about my
+affairs?&#8221; said Tom, impatiently. &#8220;Besides, when
+did you see Jim?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Jim just dropped in for a minute this
+afternoon.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom felt the pangs of jealousy because his
+younger brother had been able to see Polly before
+she would allow him to call. Then he remembered
+his rôle to act the part of a platonic
+brother and friend.
+</p>
+<p>Polly continued: &#8220;I think Jim is a dear boy.
+He is so fond and proud of you, too. Why, when
+he was here he sat and talked of nothing else but
+you and your loyalty to family, friends, and your
+work.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>As Polly spoke, Tom felt ashamed of his momentary
+jealousy of his brother. When she had
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span>
+finished speaking, he laughed and said: &#8220;What
+a pity Jim sees me through such fine magnifying
+glasses. The undesirable qualities in my character
+he never detects.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I think it is great to have your family think
+you are all that is wonderful! I think my family
+regard me as a saint, and I like it, too,&#8221; declared
+Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s because you are one, Polly dear,&#8221; retorted
+Tom, and the fervor he expressed in his
+eyes and voice, caused his companion to gasp.
+</p>
+<p>Before Tom could follow up his sudden declaration
+and make Polly understand his sentiments
+for her, she broached another subject of conversation.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Tom, what has been accomplished at the mine
+and at Rainbow Cliffs while I was in Europe?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom frowned, but he realized that Polly was
+more sensible than he. He remembered, once
+more, what Anne had advised, so he choked the
+despondent sigh and replied instead, with seeming
+interest:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, John and I had another queer bout with
+some thieves. They were not after the land this
+time, but they planned to get at the ore and carry
+off as much of the gold as they could lay hands
+on. Our old friend, Rattlesnake Mike, caught
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span>
+them red-handed, and now they are serving a term
+in prison at hard labor.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Tom! I never heard a word of this!&#8221;
+cried Polly, eagerly. &#8220;Do tell me about it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='V_THE_RAID_ON_CHOKO_S_FIND_MINE' id='V_THE_RAID_ON_CHOKO_S_FIND_MINE'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER V</h2>
+<h3>THE RAID ON CHOKO&#8217;S FIND MINE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>&#8220;You remember when we all came East last
+June to attend John&#8217;s wedding and see you off for
+Europe?&#8221; asked Tom.
+</p>
+<p>Polly nodded eagerly but said nothing to interrupt
+him.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, we remained longer than we had
+planned when we left Pebbly Pit. The friends in
+New York were so eager to entertain us before
+we went back home, that the days passed swiftly
+before we realized we had stayed on ten days
+longer than we should have done at that time.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now to go back to the time when those two
+rascals tried to jump your claim, the time your
+father and Mike guided the party when you-all
+climbed the Indian Trail to Grizzly Slide.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It seems that crafty clerk who had copied the
+rough map of the claim you staked on Flat Top
+and filed in Oak Creek, never gave up hope of
+some day getting his hands on enough of that gold
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span>
+to help him get away and live comfortably, ever
+after, on the proceeds.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;When he learned that everyone of the family
+at Pebbly Pit, would be East for a few weeks, and
+the mine would be left in charge of Mike and the
+other employees, he immediately called a few cut-throats
+together and laid his plans accordingly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;After the discovery of his perfidy in copying
+the claim papers and then trying to jump the
+staked claim, he had been discharged from the
+office in Oak Creek and, thereafter, no one respectable
+would employ him. So he hung about
+the saloon and spent his time in gambling with
+the miners from Up-Crest, back of Oak Creek
+station. He found willing confederates in this
+group of Slavs who hailed the invitation to steal
+enough gold to enable them to go back to Europe
+and pose as rich men.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The whole plot had been kept unusually secret
+for that species of foreigner, so no one at Oak
+Creek knew of the proposed raid. But Mike
+rode into Oak Creek the morning before the night
+these rascals planned to act, and with his unusual
+gift of intuition, he felt that something was working
+quietly in the minds of the evil-looking men he
+found whispering over a small table in one corner
+of the saloon.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Mike hung around for several hours to try
+and learn if any plot was hatching against Rainbow
+Cliffs while the owners were absent; or perhaps
+these men planned a rush on the mine while
+he and but few men were on guard. But nothing
+could be discovered. Feeling assured because
+of the sly and malicious expressions of the men
+at the table when they glanced at Mike, as he sat
+in another corner and pretended to doze, that
+Hank had some move under way to trouble him
+and his assistants, made the Indian use splendid
+judgment and action that day.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He borrowed the Sheriff&#8217;s thoroughbred bloodhound,
+and asked for a few extra men to accompany
+him to the cave and stay there until the owners
+returned, promising them better wages than
+they could earn at any work in Oak Creek, or on
+the ranches nearby. To allay suspicion he rode
+out of town, alone, but he had agreed to wait at
+Pine Tree Blaze for the extra men.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The men rode away from town each at a
+different time, to avoid talk or notice by the
+loungers at the saloon, and all met at the rendezvous
+that afternoon. Mike then led the way
+up the steep trail, and by dark they were in
+camp.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;This was the second day after we left Pebbly
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span>
+Pit. Mike had warned Jeb of his suspicions, too,
+and that wary little man had instantly taken steps
+to protect the Cliffs, by ordering all hands working
+there to keep away from Oak Creek until the
+Boss got home. He said that unusual care must
+be used for a time, to watch during the nights,
+and keep trespassers out during the day, for fear
+of raiders.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The first night in camp on the mountains,
+Mike never rested a minute, but moved silently
+from one place to another, with senses keyed for
+some sign of the rascals. However, that first
+night passed quietly away. His extra men spent
+the evening in smoking and playing cards, then
+they rolled up in their blankets and snored peacefully
+the night through.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The next day Mike smiled to himself when
+the men laughed at his suspicions. They were so
+far from any settlement and the mountains were
+so great and silent, that it gave them confidence
+in the peace and good will with all men.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The second night the men were again playing
+cards near the camp-fire. Mike sat on the ledge
+in front of the cave with the hound stretched out
+on a slab of rock at his feet. The giant wooden
+flume could be faintly discerned, through the
+smoke of the fire and from the pipes of the men,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span>
+not twenty feet away from the engines that
+worked it.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Suddenly the hound lifted his head and pointed
+his ears. Mike leaned forward with face turned
+towards the flume, listening. Then he laid his
+pipe down on the rock and crawled away upon
+his hands and knees, followed closely by the
+hound.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do you remember the giant flume we planned
+to carry off the water of the river that flowed
+underground; the one into which Nolla and you
+dropped the torch the day you found the cave?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly silently signified that she remembered, and
+Tom continued: &#8220;Well, we used that flume during
+the work of mining and washing trash from
+the ore, but at night, when there was no need for
+the water to pour through it, we turned the current
+down the other way on the opposite side of
+the mountain.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Mike crept silently across the ledge and
+peered far down into the black chasm below, to
+ascertain if the suspicious sounds came from that
+pit. But the dog crawled noiselessly across the
+ledge to the flume and there he stood with tense
+nerves. His ears were erect and his tail was
+standing out straight behind him, as he stood and
+glared at the wooden flume.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;As the dog was so well-trained, Mike did not
+doubt his instinct, but crept over to his side and
+there waited and listened.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Had he not been absolutely quiet, the faint
+sound of something moving inside that flume
+would have been lost on the outside. But Mike
+was as keen a hunter as his dog, and they both
+sensed that something very foreign to water was
+passing through that flume.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Accompanying the strange muffled sound inside
+the flume every few moments, there came a
+different sound, as if something sharp was being
+driven into the wood for a hold. Mike figured
+out that the inside of the flume had been worn so
+slippery with the flood of waters and sand or
+pebbles passing through it in torrents, that
+it was necessary to use steel-pointed staffs and
+creepers to help anyone in the dangerous
+ascent.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;As soon as Mike felt convinced that someone
+was trying a new trick to gain possession of the
+mine, he crept back to the camp-fire and told the
+men of the sounds inside the flume. They
+laughed immoderately at Mike, and declared that
+he was going mad because of his prohibition since
+his employers left him in charge.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But Mike ordered a few of his most trustworthy
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span>
+miners to guard the cave in front, while
+the others were sent over the top of the range to
+keep watch at the opposite entrance to the mine.
+You&#8217;ll remember, Polly, that that was the side
+where the pit cut the cave in half. We bridged
+that chasm, you know, and used the short-cut entrance
+quite often, although the ore was brought
+out through Choko&#8217;s Find.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Mike then selected several of his brawniest
+fighters and very quietly led the way to the opening
+of the flume where the water-gate was located.
+As they could travel faster on the ground than
+the men creeping up inside the slippery wooden
+tube, Mike and his companions reached the water-gate
+before they heard the suspicious sounds
+from within the flume.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He signalled his men to keep absolutely quiet,
+and then crept out on the lintel of the gate and
+got a firm purchase on the lever. No one
+dreamed of his purpose at the moment, and he
+suddenly seemed to reconsider his plan, for he
+crept back again and had just reached the trio of
+curious men, when a sigh of relief was distinctly
+heard from inside the flume.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then a whispering was heard, but not understood.
+In a few moments a grating sound as if
+some sharp tool was being used. Mike surmised
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span>
+that they were trying to break a way through the
+wooden door by which to get out.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Without further delay, then, Mike threw
+open the lid in the top of the flume and commanded
+the trespassers to come forth.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There was no reply from within, and not a
+sound was heard after Mike opened the lid. So
+he called again: &#8216;Ef yoh no come us wash riber
+fru dis pipe.&#8217;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Still no reply or sound was heard, so Mike
+winked at his companions, and gave a fictitious
+order: &#8216;Frow water gate open!&#8217;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Stop! Wait a minute!&#8217; shouted a frightened
+voice from the flume.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Another voice cursed in the most dreadful
+way, but soon after Mike&#8217;s order to turn in the
+water, four men managed to emerge from the tube
+and sit astride it.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Seeing but four opponents there to fight, the
+leader of the gang gave a sign, and the daring
+raiders tried to over-power Mike and his three
+men. But they had not seen the wolf-hound in
+the shadows. As they dropped upon the men to
+fight them, the dog sprang out and drove his
+fangs deep into one rascal&#8217;s throat. He will
+carry those marks to his last day. It was a wonder
+he was not killed outright.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;That released Mike and he turned his attention
+to help his companions free themselves. The
+dog fought mightily, and after a short but fierce
+battle, the trespassers were bound and laid on the
+ground for the night.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;What&#8217;cha goin&#8217; to do wid&#8217;dem, Mike?&#8217; asked
+one of his men.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Ship &#8217;em down th&#8217; flume, Mike, th&#8217; way they
+come up,&#8217; laughed another of his men.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;So me say, but Mike go jail fer kill man,&#8217;
+replied the Indian.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The other men strongly approved of that
+course of justice, however, and Mike had all he
+could do to keep them from following their inclination
+to wash the guilty men down the flume
+and out into Bear Forks River at the foot of the
+mountain.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The next day Mike and his men drove the
+raiders down the steep trail and left them in the
+hands of the constable of Oak Creek, to await
+trial in the County Court. But the captured rascals
+had boon companions in Oak Creek, and
+when they learned that four of their group were
+in prison they started a regular riot.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They tarred and feathered poor little Jeb the
+next time he drove in to Oak Creek for mail and
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span>
+supplies, and a few days before we got back home,
+they made a well-planned raid on the lava mines
+at Rainbow Cliffs. Not a piece of machinery
+was left intact, and the great bags of jewels we
+had waiting for shipment were scattered far and
+wide by the vandals.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But the sheriff heard of the proposed visit to
+Pebbly Pit, and took a possé of men to follow the
+drunken miners to the Cliffs. Such a battle as
+ensued, beggars my weak description. The sheriff
+told us about it when we got home, but his
+language is not very graphic, nor is it thrilling, so
+we only heard the bare facts of the fight.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But, Polly, you must supply with your own
+vivid imagination, the details that may be missing
+from my account. When I tell you that the vandals
+were slowly backed away from the Cliffs
+and were, eventually, driven to the gully back of
+the Devil&#8217;s Causeway where those two men were
+engulfed in the slide, the day they came to cajole
+your father into signing papers for the Cliffs, you
+can picture their horror when the edge of the
+great cliff began to crumble in. They could not
+turn to right or left, as they were hemmed in by
+the pursuers, and they dared not remain where
+they were for fear of being swallowed in the quicksand
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span>
+that was already sliding downwards. So
+they gave up to the sheriff and surrendered their
+guns.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That was a bad case, as one of the sheriff&#8217;s
+men had been dangerously wounded and it was
+feared he would die. All our valuable machinery
+was ruined and all orders for the delivery of
+the lava jewels had to be cancelled, or postponed
+for a year. So the culprits each got twenty years
+and Oak Creek is quieter, by far, because more
+than a score of its worst citizens are safely housed
+in jail.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>As Tom ended his story, Polly unclasped her
+hands which she had nervously clenched during
+the recital of the raids on her precious property.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Tom! I never dreamed of all the trouble
+everyone would have because of those precious
+mines, the day Nolla and I filed our papers at Oak
+Creek,&#8221; gasped Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No one does dream of these things&mdash;they only
+see the future in rosy hues,&#8221; retorted Tom.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And to think of the work and worry John and
+you have had in establishing this great undertaking,
+while I was in Europe taking life easy, and
+spending money without a thought of how it was
+being produced at home!&#8221; sighed Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That is as it should be, Polly. You were not
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span>
+squandering the money, but using it in ways to
+profit yourself for the future. John and I knew,
+when we started in on this mining venture, that
+the line would not lay in flower-strewn paths, but
+that it might force us over all sorts of snags, before
+we reached success.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, it is fine of you to talk like this, Tom,&#8221;
+admitted Polly, gratefully. &#8220;If it were not for
+you boys taking an interest in the work, I might
+as well say &#8216;good-by&#8217; to the gold.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom laughed. &#8220;Polly, this is so insignificant
+a work to do for you&mdash;just taking an interest in
+your mine. Some day I hope to prove in some
+greater way, just what I want to, and can, do
+for you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom&#8217;s manner and looks again alarmed Polly
+and she changed the subject adroitly. &#8220;Tom, do
+you like the home in Pebbly Pit? Isn&#8217;t it different
+from living in the city, in these apartments?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom smiled, for he understood. &#8220;Yes, it is
+fine, Polly. It is a real home&mdash;with your blessed
+mother at the ranch-house. I have lived in adobe
+huts in Arizona, and out on sand wastes in New
+Mexico, you know, so that Pebbly Pit is great,
+in comparison.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Mother told me how good it was to have
+Anne and you with her all summer, while I was
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span>
+abroad,&#8221; said Polly, after a short interval of silence.
+&#8220;I feel that it was not so heartless of me
+to enjoy myself in Europe as I did, so long as
+mother and father were not lonely and homesick
+for me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But your mother often said to me, that were
+it not for Anne&#8217;s being with her, she would have
+cabled you to come home. She had looked forward
+so anxiously to your spending this vacation
+at Pebbly Pit,&#8221; remarked Tom.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;My! Then I was more fortunate than I
+dreamed of,&#8221; laughed Polly. &#8220;I should have
+hated to leave Eleanor in Europe, with such a
+wonderful tour before us, and come back home
+without having done the whole trip.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom had no desire to hear more about that enjoyable
+tour and the probable acquaintance the
+girls had made with eligible young men with fascinating
+titles. So he spoke of his imminent departure
+for the West.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I had a talk with Dad and Mr. Dalken today,
+and they think it best for me to get back at
+the mines without further delay. The mountain
+storms will soon be sweeping over the peaks, and
+winter protection must be completed at the Cave
+and Flume before then; so I think I shall be leaving
+in a day, or so.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span></p>
+<p>Polly murmured some friendly regret at his
+going so soon.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But the need of my being at the mines to prepare
+for winter is not the main cause of my leaving
+New York, so soon,&#8221; began Tom, moodily.
+&#8220;I came East with a definite hope in mind, but so
+many unforeseen events have happened since I met
+you, that I haven&#8217;t furthered my interests since I
+left Pebbly Pit.&#8221; Tom waited for encouragement
+from Polly.
+</p>
+<p>Polly did not pursue the subject, however, but
+she said: &#8220;Well, this winter, I have planned to
+actually <i>work</i>!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I thought you said you have been working
+ever since you came to New York,&#8221; laughed Tom.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, at school and in other ways; but now, I
+propose going to work in Mr. Ashby&#8217;s shop.
+You know, he has a wonderful place on Fifth
+Avenue where they have every kind of article one
+needs in the way of ornament or decorating.
+There is where Eleanor and I managed to get
+such splendid experience in textiles and other objects
+familiar to interior decorators.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now I propose going to work for him at a
+stated salary, and giving every morning to the
+work, this year. In the afternoons I will be free
+to visit Exhibitions, Museums, hunt up antiques,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span>
+or just play. Four evenings every week we will
+attend school and lectures, you know, so there
+will not be very much time left in which to write
+letters.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You never did work hard at writing letters,&#8221;
+said Tom, smilingly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, and this winter there will be even less
+time for them. My friends will have to be satisfied
+with picture post-cards or telegrams,&#8221;
+laughed Polly, hoping that would answer all expected
+requests for a correspondence.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well,&#8221; said Tom, &#8220;I only write to people I
+really want to hear from. And I never ask anyone
+to write to me unless I take a great deal of
+pleasure in reading their letters. I never asked
+you to correspond with me, have I?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No-o, I think not,&#8221; replied Polly, disconcerted
+at this announcement. She had felt sure he was
+going to beg her to write as often as possible, and
+now this was so different!
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I thought not! You see our likes and pursuits
+are so different. The very difference in our
+ways of living now&mdash;you with luxurious art in
+New York, me in the rugged life of a miner in
+the Rockies, creates a gulf between our ideals.
+Mine is getting at gold that is the basis of most
+worldly success, and yours is an ideal and aspiration
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span>
+in art that transcends my common work and
+business. So we would not know what to say to
+each other in letters, would we? You would not
+wish to speak of gold and mining, and I haven&#8217;t
+any idea of art or its ideals.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>What it must have cost Tom to say all this,
+no one knows, but he was piqued, at last, and so
+acted his part admirably; and he had the satisfaction
+of seeing that Polly felt sorry at his words.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Tom, I always felt sure you were an idealist
+at soul. It makes me feel a deep regret to learn
+that you have no such ideals left.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom bid Polly good-by without an outward
+sign of regret, and so she sat and pondered over
+that unusual fact, long after he had gone.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='VI_POLLY_AND_ELEANOR_BEGIN_COLLECTING' id='VI_POLLY_AND_ELEANOR_BEGIN_COLLECTING'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2>
+<h3>POLLY AND ELEANOR BEGIN COLLECTING</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Within a week after the westerners had gone
+back home, matters with Polly and her friends in
+New York settled down in a smooth current.
+The Fabians found a commodious house in a refined
+environment quite near the Ashby&#8217;s home,
+and the two girls, Polly and Eleanor, lived with
+them.
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Fabian temporarily resumed his lectureship
+at the Art School of Cooper Union, and his
+two promising pupils, with Dodo Alexander as
+a new beginner, accompanied him every night that
+the classes met.
+</p>
+<p>The Alexanders had leased an expensive suite
+at an apartment hotel near the Fabians, and much
+to little Mr. Alexander&#8217;s joy, although much to
+Mrs. Alexander&#8217;s disgust, they settled down to
+a hum-drum life that winter. She sighed as she
+referred to her life.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Dear sakes! Here I am with all this money
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span>
+to spend on a fine time, and I have to waste my
+days sitting around hearing Dodo rave about
+Corunthian Columns, Ionack Piers, and such foolish
+stuff. As for Ebeneezer! He is just impossible
+to get along with, since he found what quiet
+friends he had in the Fabians and the Ashbys!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The result of such complaints from Mrs. Alexander
+were soon evidenced by her spending her
+evenings at theatres, dances at various clubs and
+places she had forced an entrance to, and in daily
+shopping trips about the city.
+</p>
+<p>The motley collection of antiques the girls had
+secured while abroad and had shipped home, arrived
+in due season and the cases were sent to Mr.
+Ashby&#8217;s Shop. The girls were told that the
+goods had been delivered, and the next day they
+hastened to the establishment to admire their
+purchases.
+</p>
+<p>The articles were arranged in one small room,
+and when the three girls followed Mr. Ashby to
+the place, they were amazed at the insignificance
+of their exhibition.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why! I thought I had a lot of stuff,&#8221; declared
+Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You see all that you bought. There is your
+list,&#8221; laughed Mr. Ashby, sympathizing in her
+disillusionment.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;And I thought that chest so much more elaborate&mdash;when
+I chose it in France,&#8221; ventured Polly,
+puckering her forehead.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you why,&#8221; said Mr. Ashby. &#8220;When
+we see these pieces on the other side, the glamour
+of the places and the stories connected with them,
+actually charm us more than the objects themselves.
+After we secure our desires and find we
+own them, we ship them home and do not see them
+again until they reach prosaic and business-like
+New York.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Meantime, we enhance the beauty and romance
+of the objects we purchased, by thinking
+of them in connection with the romance of their
+past; thus idealizing them in mental pictures, they
+appear far finer and more alluring than in truth
+they are.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;When we really view them again, just as you
+are now doing, the shock of finding them just
+simple antiques, and so inferior to what we
+dreamed them, reverses our sentiments about
+them.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now beware, girls! Don&#8217;t let this reversal affect
+you, in the least. These objects are just as
+valuable and desirable, here, as ever they were
+over there. It is only your personal view-point
+that has changed, somewhat. You have not been
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span>
+visiting old collections, or museums abroad, for
+some weeks now; and the radical change from
+touring ancient Europe, to rushing about in New
+York in quests of homes, school, and clothes for
+the season, has made a corresponding change in
+your minds.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;In a short time, you will be back in harness
+and feel the same keen delight in these old possessions
+as aforetime.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly appreciated the sense of Mr. Ashby&#8217;s little
+lecture, but Eleanor still felt disappointed with
+her purchases. And Dodo laughed outright at
+the old pewter she had gone wild over in England,
+and now scorned in America.
+</p>
+<p>That evening Mr. Fabian explained, carefully,
+about the times and customs of the purchases that
+represented certain people. He wove a tale of
+romance about each piece of furniture the girls
+had delighted in, and enhanced their interest in
+the dishes and other small objects they had collected
+that summer, until the three disappointed
+owners felt a renewed attraction in the articles.
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Ashby was present, but he said nothing
+until Mr. Fabian had ended. Then he added in
+a suggestive manner: &#8220;Fabian, what do you say
+to the girls taking short trips to the country, each
+week, to hunt up such antiques as can be found
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span>
+in out-of-the-way nooks all through New
+England?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The girls perked up their ears at this, and
+waited to hear Mr. Fabian&#8217;s reply.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If they had a car and someone to accompany
+them on such excursions, I think they would thoroughly
+enjoy it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Dalken has three cars&mdash;two limousines, you
+know; and he told me that he wished he could prevail
+upon the girls to make use of one, instead of
+his leaving it in a garage to eat up its value in rent.
+I thought of this way to give the girls many interesting
+quests, and make use of the car at the
+same time, so I mentioned it to him. He was delighted
+and wants the girls to try the plan,&#8221; explained
+Mr. Ashby.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And I will offer myself as chaperone,&#8221; hastily
+added Mrs. Fabian.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If I could only be included in these outings I
+should love it,&#8221; laughed Nancy Fabian.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You are! Any one who belongs to us, must
+consider themselves as invited,&#8221; said Polly,
+laughingly.
+</p>
+<p>So an outing for Saturday was planned, that
+night, and Mrs. Fabian and Nancy were to manage
+the details for the girls.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We will choose a likely country-side for our
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span>
+first trial,&#8221; remarked Mrs. Fabian, looking at her
+husband for advice.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s hard sense,&#8221; laughed he. &#8220;But where
+is such a spot?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Somewhere in New England,&#8221; ventured
+Nancy.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s as ambiguous as &#8216;Somewhere in
+France,&#8217;&#8221; retorted Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not when you consider that New England
+begins just the other side of the city-line of Portchester,&#8221;
+said Mr. Fabian.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But there are no antiques to be found in Rye,
+Portchester or Greenwich, in these days of amateur
+collectors hunting over those sections,&#8221; remarked
+Mrs. Fabian.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You are not limited to those nearby towns;
+but you can travel fifty miles in the inland sections
+in a short time, and stop at simple little farm-houses
+to inquire, as we did this summer while
+touring England. I wager you&#8217;ll come home with
+enough trophies of war to start you off again, in
+a day or two,&#8221; explained Mr. Fabian.
+</p>
+<p>On Saturday morning, Mrs. Fabian packed an
+auto-kit with delectable sandwiches, cakes and
+other dainties, and the party of amateur collectors
+started out on their quest. The chauffeur
+smiled at their eagerness to arrive at some place
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span>
+on the Boston Post Road that might suggest that
+it led to their Mecca. He kept on, however, until
+after passing through Stamford, then he turned
+to the left and followed a road that seemed to
+leave all suburban life behind, in a very short
+time.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Where are you taking us, Carl?&#8221; asked Polly,
+curiously.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;On a road that Mr. Ashby told me about.
+He has never stopped at these places, but he
+thinks you will find something, along here.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>After several more miles had been reeled off,
+the eager and watchful passengers in the car
+glimpsed a low one-story farm-house, with plenty
+of acreage around it. The two-story box-like addition
+built at the rear and hooked up to the tiny
+dwelling that almost squatted on the road itself,
+seemed to apologise for the insignificance of its
+mother-house.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Slow up, Carl. Let&#8217;s look this place over,&#8221;
+called Mrs. Fabian.
+</p>
+<p>The automobile came to a stop and the ladies
+leaned out to inspect the possibilities in such an
+old place. A girl of ten came around the corner
+of the box-house and stood gazing at the people
+in the car.
+</p>
+<p>Carl seemed to be no novice in this sort of outing,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span>
+and he called to the girl: &#8220;Hey! Is your
+mudder home?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The girl nodded without saying a word.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All right! Tell her to come out, a minute.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian hastily interpolated with: &#8220;Oh,
+we&#8217;d better go in and ask for a drink, Carl.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Carl laughed. &#8220;Just as you say, Missus. But
+dese farmer people don&#8217;t stand on fussin&#8217;.
+You&#8217;se can ask her right out if she wants to sell
+any old thing she&#8217;s got in the attic or cellar.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How do you know?&#8221; asked Polly, smilingly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8217;Cause Mr. Dalken got the fever of collectin&#8217;
+after you folks went to Urope. And many a time
+I&#8217;ve sat and laughed at his way of getting things.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh! That&#8217;s why you knew where to drive
+us, eh?&#8221; said Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, &#8217;cause he never come this road, yet. He
+mapped it out, once, and said he would try it some
+day. That&#8217;s why he told me which road to foller
+today.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The girl had disappeared but was coming back
+by this time. She climbed upon the picket gate
+and hung over it, as she called out: &#8220;My ma&#8217;s
+kneadin&#8217; bread an&#8217; can&#8217;t get out, this minit.
+She says if you want somethun, fer you to come
+in and see <i>her</i>!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This invitation sufficed for all five to instantly
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span>
+get out of the car and lift the latch on the gate.
+The girl never budged from her perch, but permitted
+the visitors to swing her back as the gate
+was opened.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Go right to the side door,&#8221; advised she, holding
+on to the pickets.
+</p>
+<p>As invited, the collectors went to the side door
+and Mrs. Fabian knocked timidly. &#8220;Come in!&#8221;
+said a shrill voice from within.
+</p>
+<p>The lady of the house had plump arms elbow-deep
+in dough. She glanced up and nodded in a
+business-like manner. &#8220;Did yer come fer fresh
+aigs?&#8221; asked she, punching the dough positively.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If you have any for sale, I should like to take
+a dozen,&#8221; returned Mrs. Fabian, politely. Polly
+and Dodo stared in surprise at their chaperone,
+but Eleanor and Nancy comprehended at once,
+why this reply was made.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Wait a minute, will yuh, and I&#8217;ll get this job
+off my hands afore I go fer the aigs.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor laughed humorously as she remarked:
+&#8220;It looks like dough on your hands.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The woman laughed appreciatively, while the
+others smiled. &#8220;That&#8217;s right! It&#8217;s dough, all
+right. I s&#8217;pose you folks are from nearby, eh?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not very far away,&#8221; returned Mrs. Fabian.
+&#8220;We are out on a pleasure jaunt this morning,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span>
+but I saw your farm and so we decided to ask
+your little girl if you were in.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s right! I tole my man to put a sign
+out on the letter-box fer passers-by to see how I
+had aigs to sell; but he is that procrastinatin&#8217;&mdash;he
+puts off anythun&#8217; &#8217;til it&#8217;s too late.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The woman was scraping the bits of dough
+from her hands as she spoke, and this done, she
+sprinkled flour over the top of the soft lump in
+the pan and covered it with a piece of old linen
+cloth. As she took it to a warm corner behind
+the stove, she added: &#8220;Do you&#8217;se know! Abe
+was late fer our weddin&#8217;. But I knew him for
+procrastinatin&#8217;, even in them days, so I made
+everyone wait. He come in an &#8217;nour behind time,
+sayin&#8217; he had to walk from his place &#8217;cause his
+horse was too lame to ride. That&#8217;s Abe all over,
+in everythun.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The house-keeper finished her task and turned
+to her callers. &#8220;Now then! Do yuh like white
+er brown aigs?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;White ones, please,&#8221; returned Mrs. Fabian.
+</p>
+<p>The woman went to the large storeroom off
+the kitchen and counted out a dozen eggs in a
+box. When she came back she held them in one
+hand while waiting for payment, with outstretched
+other hand.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s a fine sofa you&#8217;ve got in the next
+room,&#8221; remarked Mrs. Fabian, pretending not to
+notice the open palm.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yeh, d&#8217;ye know, I paid fifteen dollars jus&#8217; fer
+that red plush alone?&#8221; declared she, going to the
+door and turning to invite her visitors to come
+in. The box of eggs was forgotten for the
+time.
+</p>
+<p>The girls followed Mrs. Fabian to the best
+room that opened from the large kitchen, and
+to their horror they saw that the sofa referred
+to was a hideous Victorian affair of walnut frame
+upholstered in awful red mohair plush.
+</p>
+<p>But Mrs. Fabian made the most of her optics
+the moment she got inside the room. Thus it
+happened that she spied a few little ornaments
+on the old mantel-shelf.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What old-fashioned glass candle-sticks,&#8221; said
+she, going over to look at the white-glass holders
+with pewter sockets.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Ain&#8217;t they awful! I&#8217;ve told Abe, many a
+time, that I&#8217;d throw them out, some day, and get
+a real nice bankit lamp fer the center table,&#8221; returned
+the hostess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And won&#8217;t he throw them away?&#8221; asked Mrs.
+Fabian, guilelessly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He says, why should we waste &#8217;em, when they
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span>
+comes in so handy, in winter, to carry down cellar
+fer apples. He likes &#8217;em cuz he onny paid a
+quarter fer &#8217;em an&#8217; a glass pitcher, at an auction,
+some miles up the road. But that wuz so long
+ago we&#8217;ve got our money&#8217;s wuth outen them.
+Now I wants a brass lamp an&#8217; he says I&#8217;m gettin&#8217;
+scandalous in my old age&mdash;awastin&#8217; money on
+flim-flams fer the settin&#8217; room. He says lamps is
+fer parlor use.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Her repressed aspirations in furnishings made
+the woman pity herself, but Mrs. Fabian took advantage
+of the situation.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve needed a pair of candle-sticks for some
+time, and I&#8217;ll exchange a lamp for your auction
+bargain which you say has paid for itself, by this
+time.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What! Don&#8217;t you want your lamp?&#8221; exclaimed
+the lady, aghast at such a statement.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, I have no further use for one, and it
+would look lovely on your marble-top table,&#8221; returned
+Mrs. Fabian.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, well! How long will it take you to
+get it from home?&#8221; asked the woman, anxiously.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If you really wish to get rid of the candle-sticks
+and jug, I&#8217;ll leave the quarter you paid originally
+for them and go for the lamp at once.
+Maybe I can be back in an hour&#8217;s time. I&#8217;ll pay
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span>
+for the eggs, too, and leave them until I come
+back,&#8221; explained Mrs. Fabian, graciously.
+</p>
+<p>Without wasting an extra word or any precious
+time, the owner of the rare old candle-sticks
+wrapped them in a bit of newspaper and went for
+the glass pitcher. Mrs. Fabian had no idea of
+the extra item being worth anything, but she included
+it, more for fun, than anything else. But
+once they saw the tiny glass jug with Sheffield
+grape-design on its sides, they all realized that
+here was a wonderful &#8220;find.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian seemed uneasy until she had the
+paper package in her hand and had paid the
+twenty-five cents for the three pieces of glassware.
+Then Eleanor made a suggestion.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why couldn&#8217;t we wait here, Mrs. Fabian, and
+look at some of the old china the lady has in this
+cupboard, while you go for the lamp. There&#8217;s
+no sense in all of us going with you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s a good plan, if Mrs.&mdash;&mdash;&#8221; Nancy
+waited for the lady to mention her name.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m Mrs. Tomlinson,&#8221; said she, politely.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If Mrs. Tomlinson is not too busy to show us
+her dear old house,&#8221; added Nancy.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All right, girls. Is that satisfactory?&#8221; asked
+Mrs. Fabian. &#8220;How does it appeal to you, Mrs.
+Tomlinson?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, now that that bread is risin&#8217;, I&#8217;ve got
+time to burn,&#8221; declared the lady, independently.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All right. We&#8217;ll visit here while you get the
+lamp,&#8221; agreed the girls, deeply concerned to know
+where their chaperone would find a lamp such as
+Mrs. Tomlinson craved.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian left, and invited the child swinging
+on the gate to drive with her as far as Stamford.
+The little girl, pleased at the opportunity,
+ran for her bonnet and told her ma of the wonderful
+invitation.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Tomlinson signified her consent to Sarah&#8217;s
+going, and then gave her full attention to showing
+her company the house. &#8220;You musn&#8217;t look at
+the dirt everywhere, ladies,&#8221; began she, waving
+a hand at the immaculate corners and primly-ordered
+furniture.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now come and see my parlor, girls. I&#8217;m
+proud of that room, but we onny use it Sundays,
+when Sarah plays the melodian and we sings
+hymns. Now an&#8217; then some neighbors come in
+evenin&#8217;s, fer a quiltin&#8217;-bee in winter; and I uses it
+fer a minister&#8217;s call, but there ain&#8217;t no way to het
+the room an&#8217; it&#8217;s all-fired cold fer visitin&#8217;.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly thought of the ranch-house at Pebbly Pit
+as Mrs. Tomlinson described the cold winter evenings,
+and she smiled at the remembrance of how
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span>
+she used to undress in the kitchen beside the roaring
+range-fire, and then rush breathlessly into her
+cold little room to jump between the blankets and
+roll up in them to sleep.
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor laughed outright at the picture of a
+visiting dominie sitting on the edge of a chair with
+his toes slowly freezing, while his parishioners
+tried in quaking tones and with teeth chattering
+to entertain him.
+</p>
+<p>But Mrs. Tomlinson paid no heed to their
+laughter, for she was in her glory. &#8220;Ain&#8217;t this
+some room?&#8221; demanded she, pulling the shades
+up to give enough light to admire the place.
+</p>
+<p>A stained cherry parlor suite of five pieces upholstered
+in cheap satin damask, with a what-not
+in one corner, and an easel holding a crayon portrait
+of Abe and his bride at the time of their
+wedding, in the other corner, graced this best
+room. A few cheap chromos flared against the
+gorgeous-patterned wall-paper, and a mantel-shelf
+was crowded with all sorts of nick-nacks and ornaments.
+Polly seemed drawn to this shelf, the
+first thing, while the other girls glanced around
+the parlor and felt like laughing.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Won&#8217;t you sit down, a minute?&#8221; invited the
+hostess, but her tone suggested fear lest they soil
+the damask with their dust-coats.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span></p>
+<p>Polly had made a discovery in that moment she
+had to look over the motley collection on the
+shelf.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;This is a nice tray you have standing against
+the wall,&#8221; said she, using Mrs. Fabian&#8217;s tactics to
+interest the hostess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, that&#8217;s another auction bargain. When
+Abe fust got it, the day I went fer that oak side-board,
+I got mad. But I&#8217;ve used it a lot sence
+then, fer lemonade and cookies, when comp&#8217;ny
+comes to visit all afternoon. And I feels made
+up, <i>I kin</i> tell you, when I brings that tray in like
+all society does.&#8221; Mrs. Tomlinson chuckled to
+herself.
+</p>
+<p>Polly examined the tray and believed it a rare
+one. It was oval in shape, and had a stencilled
+rim in a conventional design. The coloring was
+exquisite, and the central design was a wonderful
+basket over-flowing with gorgeous fruit. The
+touches of gold on the decorations was the beauty-point
+of the unusual object.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve always wanted just such a tray, too. I
+wonder if you know anyone who has one and will
+sell it to me. I&#8217;d drive a long ways to go to an
+auction such as you say you attended, when you
+bought this tray,&#8221; said Polly, trying to act indifferent.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Laws-ee, Miss! I see&#8217;d trays sold at mos&#8217;
+every country auction I goes to. I&#8217;d jes&#8217; as soon
+sell that one to you, if you like it, but maybe you&#8217;d
+think I was askin&#8217; too much if I was to tack on the
+cost of time I lost that day. I never got a chanst
+to bid on the oak side-board, &#8217;cause a city man
+felt so mad at Abe fer buyin&#8217; the tray, that he run
+up the side-board out of spite, when he found we
+wanted it. Ef he&#8217;d onny a said he wanted the
+old tray he&#8217;d cud have had it an&#8217; welcome. But
+he never told us. The neighbor who finally got
+the side-board laffed an&#8217; told Abe why the man
+did the trick. The man told him he&#8217;d double-crossed
+us that way.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly would have offered the woman the full
+value of the fine stencilled tray, but Eleanor hurriedly
+spoke for her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How much was the tray with the cost of time
+tacked on?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, it won&#8217;t be fair to charge <i>all</i> afternoon,
+&#8217;cuz I had a good time with my neighbors what
+met at that vendue. But Abe lost three hours&#8217;
+work on the corn that day and that is wuth sixty
+cents an &#8217;nour, anyway. Tack that on to thirty-five
+cents fer the tray, an&#8217; you&#8217;ve got it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Tomlinson started counting laboriously
+on her fingers and ultimately reached the same
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span>
+total as the girls had found five minutes before.
+So Polly paid over the munificent sum to the lady&#8217;s
+delight, and took possession of the tray.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Ef I onny had some other old things you&#8217;d
+like to get, I would almost have enough money
+to buy a swell glass lemonade set I saw down to
+Stamford one day. It had a glass tray under it
+and a dozen painted glasses and a fine glass pitcher&mdash;all
+fer two ninety-eight.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Almost before the lady had ended her words
+of her secret ambition, the four girls had pounced
+upon various things found on the shelf. Eleanor
+had an old glass toddy-mug with a lid, which was
+used for a match-holder in the parlor.
+</p>
+<p>Nancy selected a small oil lamp with a brass
+base and stem, and a lovely-shaped glass shade.
+Mrs. Tomlinson informed her it was another auction
+bargain that cost fifty cents. Being so expensive
+they put it on the parlor mantel instead
+of using it.
+</p>
+<p>Dodo yearned to possess an old afghan she saw
+on the settee of the suite of furniture, but she
+feared to say so. Finally she summoned courage
+enough to offer the lady a price for it that caused
+Mrs. Tomlinson a failure about the heart.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;My goodness&#8217; sakes alive! That&#8217;s ten times
+more&#8217;n the wool ever cost when the thing was
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span>
+<i>new</i>. Take it! Take it, quick, ef you really
+mean it!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The girls laughed wildly, for Dodo took it
+quickly and paid the price offered to the consternation
+of the sales-woman. &#8220;Well,&#8221; gasped she,
+at last, &#8220;you must have some family-past what
+has to do with knitted covers, is all I can say to
+explain you!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>By the time the inspection of the house was
+over, Mrs. Fabian returned with just such a brass
+pedestal banquet lamp as Mrs. Tomlinson had
+secretly envied and long hoped for. Such joy and
+pleasure as she took in selecting a clean crocheted
+mat to spread on the cold marble slab of the
+center table, and then place thereon her vision
+come true, was worth all the trouble Mrs. Fabian
+had had in finding the lamp at a second-hand shop
+at Stamford; but later when that wise collector examined
+her old candle-sticks and pitcher, she felt
+a hundred times repaid for the lamp&mdash;as she truly
+was.
+</p>
+<p>The merry collectors started home that afternoon,
+after enjoying the picnic luncheon beside a
+brook in the woods back of Stamford, with their
+hopes pitched high for future successes in collecting.
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Dalken heard from Carl about the successful
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span>
+quest that day, and telephoned to the Fabians,
+that evening. The Ashbys had hurried over when
+they heard of the pieces secured at the farm-house,
+and were present when Mr. Dalken questioned
+the girls all about their &#8220;find.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now we&#8217;re dying to start again, Mr. Dalken,
+and hunt up other trophies,&#8221; said Polly, in conclusion.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='VII_A_REVOLUTIONARY_RELIC_HUNT' id='VII_A_REVOLUTIONARY_RELIC_HUNT'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2>
+<h3>A REVOLUTIONARY RELIC HUNT</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>So delighted were the amateur collectors with
+the result of their first search for antiques, that
+they planned another trip a few days later.
+Carl could not drive the car for them, as Mr.
+Dalken had invited a number of business friends
+who were in New York for a few days to go out
+on Long Island with him, for the day. He took
+the seven-passenger car and Carl for the drive,
+so the girls had to be contented with the smaller
+car. But neither Mr. Dalken nor Carl knew
+that the girls proposed going alone. They believed
+Mr. Fabian or Mr. Ashby&#8217;s chauffeur
+would drive the car.
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor bragged about her ability to drive an
+automobile and the girls knew from experience
+how well Dodo could drive, so the outing was
+planned without any grown-up being consulted
+about the driving or chaperoning.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Did not Carl have a road-map in the side-pocket
+of the car, the day he drove us to Stamford?&#8221;
+asked Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, but the car is in the garage, and the map
+with it,&#8221; returned Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Daddy has a road-map. I&#8217;ll get his,&#8221; remarked
+Ruth Ashby, who had been invited to be
+one of the party this trip.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then bring it around tonight, Ruth, when you
+come to plan about the route we ought to choose
+for this outing,&#8221; said Polly.
+</p>
+<p>Ruth hurried home and immediately after dinner,
+that evening, she found the map in the library
+desk-drawer and tucked it in her pocket.
+As she ran through the front hall she called to
+her mother:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going over to the Fabians for a little talk,
+Mummy.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But, Ruth, you just came from there a few
+moments before dinner,&#8221; came from Mrs. Ashby.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I didn&#8217;t visit that time! I only stopped
+in with the girls to wait and see if Nancy had a
+map they all need. Now I&#8217;m going to visit,&#8221; explained
+Ruth.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Ashby laughed at a girl&#8217;s interpretations
+of a call and Ruth ran out.
+</p>
+<p>Their pretty heads were closely bending over
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span>
+the map, when Mr. Fabian passed the living-room
+door and stopped a moment to consider the picture
+they made under the soft-shaded light. He
+went on to his private den without saying a word
+to distract their attention from (as he thought)
+their books of learning.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now listen here, girls!&#8221; exclaimed Nancy,
+tracing a line on the map. &#8220;Polly doesn&#8217;t know
+much about this end of the United States, and
+Eleanor doesn&#8217;t know much more than Polly does
+but I am supposed to be well informed about
+Westchester County, having lived there when I
+was a little girl. So I can tell you something
+about this road I&#8217;ve traced.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The four girls lifted their heads and listened
+eagerly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You know Dobb&#8217;s Ferry and its vicinity was
+there in the days of the Revolution, and Washington
+camped at that town. Even the Headquarters
+he occupied is to be seen as it was at that
+time. This road, running easterly from Dobb&#8217;s
+Ferry, is the old turnpike road used by the army
+as it marched towards the Hudson.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now this is what I say! Why shouldn&#8217;t
+there be lots of old houses along that road, or in
+that locality, that were there during Washington&#8217;s
+time? And if standing still, why shouldn&#8217;t there
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span>
+be old furniture, or odd bits, to be found in
+them?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor instantly caught Nancy up on one of
+her phrases. &#8220;Naturally the houses would be
+standing still&mdash;you wouldn&#8217;t want them to be dancing
+a tango, would you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, pshaw, Nolla!&#8221; scorned Nancy, in disgust
+at such a poor attempt to joke, &#8220;you know,
+well enough, what I mean.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The other girls laughed at Nancy, and Polly
+added: &#8220;Well, what is your plan?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I say, let&#8217;s drive along the River Road as far
+as Dobb&#8217;s Ferry, and then turn off to this road
+and venture on any country road we find, that has
+old-fashioned houses which look as if they were
+built in 1776.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That sounds thrilling!&#8221; laughed Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>Her companions refused to smile this time, so
+she sat grinning at Nancy, as if waiting to attack
+her again.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I think that plan will answer as well as anything
+Nolla has proposed, don&#8217;t you?&#8221; asked
+Nancy.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, we&#8217;ll try your scheme out, Nan. But
+you&#8217;ll have to be the guide through the country,
+as we haven&#8217;t the least idea of the lay of the land,&#8221;
+said Dodo.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll succeed splendidly, as long as we have
+this map,&#8221; promised Nancy.
+</p>
+<p>The girls pictured many rare treasures added
+to their collection after this proposed trip, and
+when it was time for Ruth to go home, each girl
+had chosen rare and wonderful objects to be
+found in these imaginary Colonial home-steads
+they expected to visit on the morrow.
+</p>
+<p>Classes had to be attended to before excursions
+could be enjoyed and then it was lunch-time; but
+after that they finally started on this trip.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian was out with Mrs. Ashby, so the
+girls met no one who would question them, when
+they were ready to leave. Ruth and Dodo called
+at the Fabians and they all went to the large garage
+where Mr. Dalken kept his automobiles;
+and the man, having had instructions to give the
+car to these young friends of the owner, whenever
+they wanted it, said nothing but backed the car
+out to the street for them.
+</p>
+<p>The five girls drove away in high spirits, for
+they were eager to harvest all the marvelous antiques
+they had ever read or heard of, that might
+be scattered throughout the country-sides wherever
+General Washington had made a camp for
+his army.
+</p>
+<p>Dodo was an excellent driver but she had no
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span>
+New York license, and the girls had forgotten all
+about that necessity. So the car was speeding
+along the boulevarde at about twenty-five miles
+an hour, when a traffic policeman in Yonkers held
+up his hand to stop the northward-bound
+travelers.
+</p>
+<p>Dodo had just turned her head momentarily
+to send a quizzical look at Polly who sat in the
+back seat, and so failed to see the raised hand.
+The car therefore ran across the street and at the
+same time, a low-built racer shot along the right
+of way and the two noses rammed each other, although
+both drivers used the emergency brakes.
+</p>
+<p>The girls screamed with fright at the unexpected
+shock and the dreadful jolt they received
+when the cars collided. And two young college
+students cursed politely and scowled fearfully at
+the &#8220;crazy girl-drivers&#8221; who never knew which
+way they were going. But the poor cars suffered
+the most from this conflict. Headlights were
+smashed, fenders and mud guards were so dented
+in as to look pitiful, while the front wheels of
+both cars were interlocked in such a way that
+they could not be separated.
+</p>
+<p>This cause held up all traffic on both streets
+and annoyed the officer so that he threatened a
+wholesale arrest. He asked the names of both
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span>
+drivers. The young man gave his as &#8220;John Baxter,
+New York.&#8221; His license number was taken,
+and he was asked for his permit. He showed it
+without hesitation, and the girls gazed at each
+other in dismay. They had forgotten about such
+a need!
+</p>
+<p>The officer came over to Dodo&#8217;s side.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s your name?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Dodo Alexander,&#8221; stammered she, forgetting
+her full name.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Humph! Baptized that name?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes&mdash;no, oh NO. I never was baptized, I
+reckon.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Humph&mdash;a heathen, I see!&#8221; snarled the policeman.
+&#8220;Well, where do you live, or where&#8217;d
+you hail from?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor had been grinning at the officer&#8217;s reply,
+and now she could not withstand the temptation
+to answer: &#8220;From the Cannibal Isles.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The crowd standing about the two cars,
+laughed&mdash;all but the policeman. He scowled at
+Eleanor and said: &#8220;Be careful, young lady, or
+I&#8217;ll take you along for contempt of court.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But you are not arresting <i>me</i>, and this is not
+Court,&#8221; argued Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, goodness me! Is he going to arrest me?&#8221;
+cried Dodo.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;If you don&#8217;t answer my questions promptly,
+I&#8217;ll arrest you,&#8221; returned the officer, severely.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, I am from Denver, Colorado, where
+folks don&#8217;t fuss like you do in the East, just because
+you cross a street to get to the other side!&#8221;
+declared Dodo, in self-justification.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;From Denver! Got a New York license to
+drive?&#8221; said he.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, I haven&#8217;t, but I&#8217;ve driven all over England
+and the Continent this Summer&mdash;as these
+girls will tell you. They were in the party.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s nothing to me whether you drove up the
+Matterhorn and down the other side; as long as
+you can&#8217;t show me a plain old American license,
+you&#8217;ll have to pay the costs.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How much is it?&#8221; quickly asked Dodo, taking
+her purse out to settle the bill.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know. You&#8217;d better follow me to the
+police station and we&#8217;ll see.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Dodo was handed a little paper which she read
+aloud to her horrified companions, and thus, finding
+themselves arrested, they meekly tried to follow
+the blue-jacket. But the cars had not been
+disentangled, although both boys from the racer
+were doing their utmost to clear the way.
+</p>
+<p>As the storm raised in the hearts of the two
+students by the carelessness of Dodo abated, both
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span>
+boys realized how pretty and helpless the five girls
+were, so they began to feel sorry for them. Besides
+this, the front wheels were now divorced
+and the two cars backed away from each other to
+give room for the congested traffic to pass.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Dear me,&#8221; wailed Dodo, &#8220;what will Mr.
+Dalken say when he hears about his car! I don&#8217;t
+mind going to jail or being made to pay a hundred
+dollars fine, but to break up his automobile the
+first time I drove it, and get his license tag into
+trouble&mdash;that is terrible!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly laughed. &#8220;Not Dalken&#8217;s license tag,
+but his name&mdash;in the papers. That&#8217;s what comes
+of being so well-known in New York.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And the newspaper men will be sure to say
+that a party of joy-riders stole his car to have a
+little jaunt in the country, I suppose,&#8221; added
+Eleanor, teasingly.
+</p>
+<p>One of the good-looking young students now
+came over to the girls and lifted his cap. &#8220;Did
+I understand you to say this is Mr. Dalken&#8217;s
+car?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Five girls glowered at him. Polly snapped
+out: &#8220;Are you a reporter from a city paper?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>John Baxter laughed. &#8220;No, I am his protegé.
+Mr. Dalken is the executor of my father&#8217;s estate
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span>
+and I was just on my way to the city, to visit him,
+this evening.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh how nice! We know Mr. Dalken very
+well, too. He is one of our best friends,&#8221; returned
+Polly, eagerly.
+</p>
+<p>Nancy Fabian would have been more reticent
+had she been spokeswoman for the girls; but both
+boys were so pleasant, now, that they were introducing
+themselves to the girls, hence she said
+nothing.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll go with you to the station house and see
+that the sergeant behaves himself,&#8221; suggested
+John.
+</p>
+<p>The girls felt very grateful to this needed
+friend, and the boys started their car after the
+policeman, the girls following in their damaged
+car that bumped and jolted on one side.
+</p>
+<p>When the inspector learned that not one of the
+five girls had a license to drive a car in New York
+State, and that the car belonged to someone else,
+he fined Dodo and gave her a good scolding to
+boot.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;This time I&#8217;ll let you off easy, as you are
+green in the East. But don&#8217;t let it happen again,
+or you&#8217;ll be sorry. Apply for a permit to drive,
+as soon as you get home, young lady, and then
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span>
+get a book of rules on traffic, and learn it by
+heart.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Dodo meekly paid the fine, and the young people
+left the room with lighter hearts than they
+had entered it. Both cars had to be taken to a
+garage and put into running shape again. Meantime
+there would be two hours of waiting on their
+hands, and seven young folks with impatient blood
+in their veins to kill that time.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry you ladies have been deprived of
+your pleasure drive, but I might suggest a little
+consolation if you ever deign to go to the Movies,&#8221;
+said John Baxter, politely.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s a good show up the street in that
+large Picture Theatre,&#8221; added his friend Andrews.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We love movies&mdash;when they are good,&#8221; ventured
+Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What do you think, Nan? Shall we go?&#8221;
+asked Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh yes! it will be awful&mdash;waiting about this
+place with nowhere to go other than the Movies,
+as you say,&#8221; returned Nancy.
+</p>
+<p>So the two young men escorted the five girls
+to the show where they forgot their recent troubles
+in watching Harold Lloyd do his best to break
+his neck.
+</p>
+<p>Dodo paid the bill at the garage for both cars,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span>
+even though the boys insisted that they pay for
+their own damages. But she replied: &#8220;No, the
+insurance company will have to settle eventually.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The good-natured way in which Dodo accepted
+the situation more than convinced the boys that
+these girls were &#8220;bricks&#8221; all right! It was now
+past five, and the cars were ready to go again, but
+the &#8220;collectors&#8221; found they had to go back to the
+city for that time, without having seen as much
+as a shadow of an antique.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What will you girls do about getting home?&#8221;
+asked Andrews.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, drive, of course!&#8221; returned Dodo.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But you can&#8217;t&mdash;you haven&#8217;t a license. Neither
+has any one of the other girls,&#8221; explained Jack.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, we never thought of that!&#8221; exclaimed
+Polly, perplexed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I have one,&#8221; suggested Andrews. &#8220;I can get
+in your car, and one of you girls can drive with
+Baxter, if you will. That will solve the problem.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; assented Dodo, getting out of her
+seat to allow Andrews to get in.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Which one wants to drive with Jack?&#8221; asked
+Andrews.
+</p>
+<p>Neither girl answered, and not as much as by
+a tremor of the eye-lid did either show how delighted
+she would have been to sit beside the handsome
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span>
+young man and skim along the road to New
+York.
+</p>
+<p>Baxter laughed heartily, and Andrews added:
+&#8220;I never dreamed that <i>no</i> one would care to drive
+with him. I&#8217;m sorry, Jack, but you&#8217;ll have to
+go alone.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not if I know it!&#8221; retorted Baxter, quickly.
+&#8220;I can&#8217;t choose when all are so desirable, but we
+can cast lots to see who will be my companion.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The girls thought this most exciting, and when
+Andrews had shown the slip of paper that would
+be the lucky draw, and then had folded and shaken
+the slips well in his cap, the girls drew. As each
+girl opened her scrap of paper to find it was
+blank, and then watched the others try, there was
+great laughter and anxious waiting. Finally
+Polly opened her slip and found she had drawn
+the lucky one.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Ha! Isn&#8217;t Jack Baxter lucky, though!&#8221;
+laughed Eleanor. &#8220;Not only gets the cleverest
+girl in the crowd, but the prettiest one, too!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Stop your nonsense, Nolla! How many
+times do I have to tell you to allow me to live in
+peace, without so much of your chaffing!&#8221; exclaimed
+Polly, impatiently.
+</p>
+<p>Everyone laughed merrily at Polly&#8217;s retort, and
+Baxter looked admiringly at the flushed cheeks
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span>
+and sparkling eyes. He was most gallant in assisting
+Polly into the &#8220;boat&#8221; as he called it, and
+then he jumped in beside her.
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor sat beside Andrews in the other car,
+and entertained him with a highly colored story
+of Polly and her home in Pebbly Pit. Before
+they reached the Fabian home in New York,
+young Andrews pictured the enormous wealth of
+&#8220;Choko&#8217;s Find&#8221; gold mine, and the marvellous
+beauty of the lava jewels found in Rainbow Cliffs
+on the ranch. To think that one girl should be
+lucky enough to own both such money-producers!
+</p>
+<p>Shortly after dinner that evening, Mr. Dalken
+telephoned the girls and told them to come over
+to his apartment for a party. He explained that
+he had two nice little boys visiting him, and he
+was at a loss to know how to entertain them so
+that they would care to come again, another day.
+Remembering how well Polly and her friends
+managed other boys, he felt sure that they could
+help him now.
+</p>
+<p>Polly laughed in reply, and said: &#8220;Oh yes!
+If one of those boys now visiting you, is anything
+like Jack Baxter who drove me home, this afternoon,
+we won&#8217;t have any trouble in amusing
+them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But Polly never told Mr. Dalken that Jack
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span>
+declared himself so deeply in love with her, before
+she had been in his car ten minutes, that she had
+all she could do to keep him at the wheel instead
+of placing an arm about her, and thus stalling the
+engine in the ditch alongside the main road to the
+city.
+</p>
+<p>That evening, after the girls returned from Mr.
+Dalken&#8217;s party, Eleanor remarked: &#8220;My goodness!
+Polly has another scalp to hang to her belt
+of trophies. If she keeps on piercing hearts, as
+she has done this past year, she&#8217;ll have to discard
+some of her old scalps and loan them to us, to
+make room for her new ones.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But Polly sniffed loftily at such foolishness, and
+made no reply.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='VIII_ANOTHER_ATTEMPT_AT_COLLECTING' id='VIII_ANOTHER_ATTEMPT_AT_COLLECTING'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
+<h3>ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT COLLECTING</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Although the trip planned for the Dobb&#8217;s
+Ferry territory had ended so disastrously, the
+girls were not discouraged. Dodo secured a license
+without any difficulty, and was equipped to
+drive Mr. Dalken&#8217;s car without being fined a second
+time. But the wise owner of the car considered
+it wiser to send Carl out on these excursions,
+instead of trusting to Fate to bring the
+girls back home again without broken bones or a
+damage suit.
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Fabian had had a brilliant idea, too, after
+he heard his wife&#8217;s story of the country auction
+where the old antiques had been secured by Mrs.
+Tomlinson. He suggested that they subscribe to
+several country papers, both daily and weekly,
+and in that way they would learn of any vendue
+advertised in its columns.
+</p>
+<p>Eagerly following his advice, the four girls&mdash;Nancy
+was not interested in antiques but was willing
+to go around with her friends when they hunted
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span>
+for them&mdash;subscribed for the Yonkers papers,
+the White Plains papers, several weeklies in New
+Jersey, and others, in order to learn of any country
+auctions advertised for the following week.
+</p>
+<p>Through this medium, they read of a country
+sale advertised for the following Thursday, to
+take place at an old farm home-stead way back
+in the hills of Westchester. The items mentioned
+included a mahogany four-poster bed, and
+other old bits.
+</p>
+<p>Polly and Eleanor had not attended an auction
+since the days in Paris, and neither of them had
+ever heard of, or witnessed a back-farm country auction,
+so they were not prepared for what they
+really experienced.
+</p>
+<p>Carl was detailed to drive them, that day, and
+Mrs. Fabian escorted them, in the seven-passenger
+car. They took the turnpike road as far as
+White Plains and then turned to the left to follow
+a country road that would lead past the farm.
+</p>
+<p>The sale was advertised for eleven o&#8217;clock, but
+the girls did not arrive on the premises until
+twelve. Still no auctioneer was to be seen or
+heard. Groups of farmers stood around, gossiping
+about their crops that season, and their wives
+sat indoors exchanging notes on canning, new
+neighbors, or babies.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span></p>
+<p>Polly gazed curiously at the types assembled
+for that sale, and whispered to Eleanor:
+&#8220;Wouldn&#8217;t you say these farmers had been picked
+up from Oak Creek ranches and dropped down
+here in this front door-yard?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor smiled and nodded. Then she said
+in a low voice: &#8220;They don&#8217;t look as if they were
+here to buy. We seem to be the only folks here
+with a pocket-book.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>A young farmer who had been leaning against
+the old well now came forward to welcome the
+strangers who stood looking about.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I be the clerk fer the auctionair, but he hain&#8217;t
+come, yit. His baby swallered a shet safety-pin
+an&#8217; they had an orful time wid ippycak tryin&#8217; to
+git it that way. Now the doctor&#8217;s thar sayin&#8217;
+that stuff is all wrong. He&#8217;ll git the pin, all
+right, &#8217;cause I swallered a quarter, onct, and he
+got it, but it costed me a hull dollar extra to pay
+him fer his docterin&#8217;. Ye&#8217;s kin go in and peer
+aroun&#8217; to see ef you wants anything.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian expressed her sympathy for the
+parents of the baby and said she knew just how
+frightened the mother must be.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not much!&#8221; was the clerk&#8217;s astonishing reply.
+&#8220;She&#8217;s young Kit Morehouse what ain&#8217;t got a
+grain of sense in her bean. This baby&#8217;s mother
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span>
+died when it was a week old, and Lem had to have
+someone look affer it. Thar warn&#8217;t no sensible
+woman about what would hev him, &#8217;cause he don&#8217;t
+make salt fer a red herrin&#8217;, seein&#8217; his professhun
+is auctionin&#8217; an&#8217; folks ain&#8217;t sellin&#8217; out like-as-much
+as they ust to be, years ago. But this crazy Kit
+was onny nineteen, with no fam&#8217;ly, er no payin&#8217;
+job, so she hired out to take keer of the kid.
+Don&#8217;t it allus end like this? The gal marries
+the father an&#8217; gets mad cause another woman&#8217;s
+kid is cryin&#8217; around!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The girls were intensely interested in this bit
+of local gossip, but Mrs. Fabian thought they had
+heard enough about &#8220;Kit,&#8221; so she bid the clerk
+good-by and started for the low one-story-and-a-half
+house.
+</p>
+<p>The interior presented a different appearance
+from the home of Mrs. Tomlinson&#8217;s. Every conceivable
+object ever used in the house was brought
+out and placed in the front rooms. Women and
+children sat about on various sorts of seats, waiting
+for the sale to begin. As most of the assembly
+were neighbors and acquainted with each other,
+the entrance of Mrs. Fabian and her girls caused
+quite a surprise.
+</p>
+<p>Audible whispers of &#8220;Who air they?&#8221; and
+&#8220;Where did they come from?&#8221; or &#8220;What d&#8217;ye
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span>
+s&#8217;pose they come to bid on?&#8221; were heard on all
+sides as the strangers passed through the &#8220;settin&#8217;
+room.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The moment Mrs. Fabian&#8217;s party left the clerk,
+outside, he hurried over to the automobile where
+Carl sat enjoying a quiet smoke.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Howde,&#8221; began Abner Clark, the clerk.
+</p>
+<p>Carl removed his pipe and nodded nonchalantly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do you-all hail from about these parts?&#8221; asked
+Abner.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I should say <i>not</i>!&#8221; declared Carl, emphatically.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;From whar abouts are you?&#8221; continued the
+clerk.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;New York City&mdash;and that&#8217;s some town, let
+me tell you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yeh&mdash;so I&#8217;ve heran say. How did yeh get
+to come here to this vendue?&#8221; persisted Abner.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;<i>I</i> don&#8217;t know&mdash;I&#8217;m only the chauffeur. Why
+don&#8217;t you ask the ladies if you are so anxious to
+know?&#8221; Carl was growing angry.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All right&mdash;no harm meant,&#8221; replied Abner,
+soothingly, as he turned away.
+</p>
+<p>Carl resumed his pipe, and Abner strolled over
+to the group of men sitting on wheel-barrows,
+ploughs, chicken-coops, etc. With a furtive look
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span>
+over his shoulder, to make sure the city driver
+was not listening, Abner began to explain to his
+interested friends who the strangers were.
+</p>
+<p>But he had not quite ended his tale before an
+old buggy drove up and the auctioneer got out.
+He glanced over the assembled farmers with an
+appraising eye, and then carefully hitched the old
+nag to a tree. This done, he broke off a great
+chunk of tobacco from a cake kept in a blue paper,
+and popped it into his mouth.
+</p>
+<p>Abner walked over to the white-washed fence
+to greet his superior. &#8220;How&#8217;s the kid?&#8221; were
+his first words.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All right, now. He diden&#8217; swaller the pin,
+after all. The doctor found it down inside his
+shirt, an&#8217; it cost me a dollar besides all that good
+mustard and eppicac, fer nuthin&#8217;!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, well!&#8221; sympathized Abner, not knowing
+what would be best to say in such a delicate
+case.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Did yuh keep all the folks about when I sent
+word over?&#8221; continued the auctioneer.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Shure! An&#8217; we&#8217;ve got some swell city buyers,
+this time.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;City! You don&#8217;t mean anyone from the city&#8217;d
+want to buy old Morrisey&#8217;s trash?&#8221; exclaimed
+Lemuel, in disbelief.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;I dunno what they want, but thar&#8217;s their man
+what steers the autermobile,&#8221; and Abner directed
+a thumb over his left shoulder.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Wall, wall! Come along; we&#8217;ll hurry up to
+get some of their coin afore they git tired
+awaitin&#8217;!&#8221; declared the wise man, as he made
+haste to reach the house.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian and the girls had made a cursory
+visit to the rooms on the ground floor, and while
+they stood in the small kitchen examining various
+old dishes and glassware in the cupboard, Polly
+spied a very narrow staircase leading to the attic.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going up to see if there&#8217;s anything up
+there,&#8221; said she. So without another word, she
+ran up the creaky steps.
+</p>
+<p>The girls heard her walking overhead, and then
+heard her pull a heavy object across the floor.
+In another minute she came racing down the steps
+at a break-neck speed, her face all streaked with
+dirt and her dress covered with cob-webs and the
+dust of ages.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, folks! Do come up and see what I found
+in an old box under the eaves!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>They needed no second invitation, and soon all
+were up beside the box. There were many other
+empty boxes standing about and in some way this
+particular box had escaped the attention of Abner,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span>
+who had taken the inventory of the contents of
+the house and barns.
+</p>
+<p>Polly had removed the first object on top of
+the box which was an old woven coverlet in rare
+colorings of blue and white. In one corner was
+the name of the weaver and the date it was completed.
+Polly was not aware that old woven coverlets
+were considered very desirable by collectors,
+but she had read the date which showed the spread
+was more than a hundred years old, so she judged
+it was worth bidding on at the coming sale.
+</p>
+<p>Directly under this woven coverlet was a white
+spread. It was very old and torn at the corners,
+but the rest of it was in good condition. Mrs.
+Fabian saw at once that it was a spread of the
+finest candle-wicking style she had ever seen. It
+must have dated back to the early part of the
+eighteenth century.
+</p>
+<p>Under this white bed-spread were small bundles
+of hand-spun linen towels, yellow with age but in
+perfect condition as to wear. But the greatest
+find of all, in this box, were the old brasses in
+the bottom.
+</p>
+<p>Wrapped in papers to keep them clean, Polly
+found a long-handled warming-pan; a set of fire-irons&mdash;the
+tongs, shovel, and andirons of the famous
+&#8220;acorn-top&#8221; design; and a funny old foot-warmer.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span>
+A pair of ancient bellows was the last
+article found in the box, but the leather was so
+dry and old that pieces fell out when Polly tried to
+make the bellows work.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I must go right down and tell that clerk about
+these wonderful things. They must have overlooked
+them when they listed all the other articles
+in the house,&#8221; said Mrs. Fabian.
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor held her back and said: &#8220;You&#8217;d better
+not tell him the news in that excited manner.
+He&#8217;ll understand at once, that these things are desirable,
+and then we&#8217;ll have to pay well for them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re right, Nolla!&#8221; laughed Nancy, and
+her mother admitted as much.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why couldn&#8217;t we just take them down to the
+kitchen and pile them on the table. No one will
+know that we want them, and should anyone ask
+what we were doing up here and by what right we
+carried them down from the attic, we can honestly
+say that Abner said we could go over the house
+and see if there was anything we liked to buy,&#8221;
+said Polly, with a collector&#8217;s instinct for not paying
+extortionate prices for what she wanted.
+</p>
+<p>The girls laughed, but each one caught up some
+object, and having gathered all safely in their
+arms, they started down. The kitchen, being the
+least desirable room to visit in the farmer&#8217;s wife&#8217;s
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span>
+judgment, no one was there when Mrs. Fabian
+and the girls returned to it. Their discoveries
+were piled on the old drop-leaf table, and they
+grouped themselves at the doorways to keep
+guard over the prizes.
+</p>
+<p>A loud voice was shouting at the open front
+door, saying: &#8220;This are the terms of the sale:
+Everything bid on &#8217;s got to be paid fer the same
+day and removed from the premises in twenty-four
+hours&mdash;all but th&#8217; barn-stock. You&#8217;se kin
+take forty-eight hours fer them. I expecks everyone
+to pay cash fer anything they buy, &#8217;cause I
+got enough trouble at that last sale at Hubbells&#8217;
+when a lot of you folks bid on stuff an&#8217; then went
+home an&#8217; left it on my hands. Hubbell&#8217;s son had
+to give &#8217;em away at last, and I lost all that commission.
+So, none of that, at this vendue!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Some of the assembled people looked guilty,
+and the auctioneer rode rough-shod over their
+feelings. &#8220;Anudder thing: Don&#8217;t haggle on a
+cent! When I call out a decent bid on a thing,
+raise it a nickel, at least, if you wants it. This
+cent business&mdash;and at Hubbell&#8217;s vendue, some of
+you&#8217;se even bid half a cent at a time&mdash;makes me
+tired! If a thing ain&#8217;t wuth a cent more to yeh,
+then let it go to the other feller what wants it!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The girls laughed at this frank statement of
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span>
+<i>sense</i>, and Lemuel turned to see who had appreciated
+his speech. When he saw the city people
+Abner had mentioned, he felt warmed all through,
+for he felt sure he would earn some commissions
+that day.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Our first number is in th&#8217; kitchen. Ab, kin
+we get in thar, er had we better hold the stuff
+out here?&#8221; asked Lemuel.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t hold up the kitchen stove, kin I?&#8221; asked
+Abner, in an injured tone.
+</p>
+<p>The people laughed heartily, Mrs. Fabian&#8217;s
+party joining more appreciatively than anyone.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All right,&#8221; answered the auctioneer, in a matter-of-fact
+voice. &#8220;We&#8217;ll try to crowd in. But
+don&#8217;t anyone what don&#8217;t want to bid on kitchen
+stuff, come and use the room from others!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>It seemed that his very warning acted contrariwise
+for, to the girls, it looked as if everyone on
+the premises tried to crowd into that small room.
+Being first on the ground, they fared best for
+place. Mrs. Fabian mounted the steps leading to
+the attic and advised the girls to get up on the
+table, chairs, or other solid objects, to be able to
+look over the heads of the crowd.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, Ab, what you got first?&#8221; asked the auctioneer.
+</p>
+<p>Abner had his little book of items, and finding
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span>
+the table the first number inventoried, he called
+out: &#8220;Deal table and contents!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Now Polly stood on the table, and all the covers
+had been thrown upon it, also, so when Abner
+shouted out &#8220;table and contents&#8221; Lemuel laughed
+loudly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Say, one of them contents is a mighty pooty
+gal, I kin tell yuh! I&#8217;ll begin bidding myself, on
+such a bargain!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The country-folks laughed wildly at such a fine
+joke, and Polly, eager to own the other valuable
+contents, smiled with them and nodded her head
+at the salesman. He was not aware that she
+meant she would bid, for his customers always
+shouted forth their bids. Then a man asked:
+&#8220;What sort of contents is thar?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Abner pushed his way through the crowd to
+open the drawer in the table and enumerate the
+small ware mentioned as &#8220;contents,&#8221; when he
+saw, to his surprise, that there was a heap of covers
+on the table.
+</p>
+<p>He picked them up and stared at them in dumbfounded
+amazement, then said: &#8220;Say, Lem,
+here&#8217;s them old bed-quilts we had sech a job
+huntin&#8217; up. Whar the heck&#8217;d they come from,
+I&#8217;m sure I dunno!&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;You got &#8217;em, eh? Well, they ain&#8217;t listed, so
+sell &#8217;em fust. I&#8217;ll mark them an &#8216;A&#8217; lot. Who
+wants to bid on a ole bed-spread?&#8221; called Lemuel.
+</p>
+<p>Had the women-folk known of bedding to be
+sold in the kitchen, there would have been a mad
+rush for it. But most of them were waiting for
+the blankets and comfortables found in the two
+small bed-rooms annexed to the parlor. So but
+few were in the kitchen when the old candle-wicking
+spread was bid on by Polly, and knocked down
+to her for a dollar-ninety.
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor got the blue and white woven coverlet
+for a dollar and a half, and Mrs. Fabian bought
+the linen towels &#8220;in a lot&#8221; for two dollars. The
+old brasses that were also listed as an &#8220;A&#8221; lot
+were knocked down as follows: Polly bought
+the ancient foot-warmer for sixty cents; Eleanor
+secured the warming-pan for a dollar, and Dodo,
+the set of fire-irons with acorn tops, for three
+dollars. These undreamed-of bargains elated the
+girls so that they lost all discretion for a time.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now that we&#8217;ve cleared them things out of
+our way, we&#8217;ll sell the table,&#8221; said Lemuel, and
+forthwith he gave the table to a farmer for fifty
+cents.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What &#8217;che got next, Ab?&#8221; asked he.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Some kitchen dishes,&#8221; replied Abner, as he
+opened the cupboard and displayed several samples
+of blue ware.
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor saw the familiar pattern of the pagodas
+and willows that are found on old willow-ware,
+and instantly decided that these must be
+rare antiques because they were found in the same
+house as the ancient objects just acquired by her
+and her friends. So she raised the first bid of
+ten cents for eight odd pieces, to a dollar.
+</p>
+<p>The auctioneer gasped. He gazed at Eleanor
+and said faintly: &#8220;Did you bid a dollar?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All right, Miss, you kin have them, but pay
+me now fer them, and don&#8217;t come back naggin&#8217;
+me to say I stuck you wid cracked plates, and
+nicked saucers. You saw&#8217;d them afore you bid!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor laughed, and handed over a dollar bill,
+but Mrs. Fabian tried to catch her eye to warn
+her not to bid recklessly on other things. Polly
+stood up on the table wondering why Eleanor got
+the old kitchen dishes.
+</p>
+<p>The moment Lemuel had the dollar safely in
+his pocket, he remarked: &#8220;Gee! I&#8217;m goin&#8217; out
+of this second-hand sellin&#8217; and lay in a stock of
+ten-cent blue dishes to sell!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>One of the farmers haw-hawed and said:
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span>
+&#8220;That&#8217;s how Coolworth made so much money!
+Gettin&#8217; so much cheap stuff and findin&#8217; a pack of
+silly women to buy &#8217;em.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor tossed her head, but had she kept quiet
+she would not have been the object of pity she
+found herself, afterward. In self-justification of
+her purchase, she called out: &#8220;You people don&#8217;t
+know genuine old Wedgewood when you see it.
+I&#8217;ve got a big bargain in those eight plates!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>At that statement, a quiet young fellow, who
+had been standing about watching progress and
+noting the bids on a paper, laughed. &#8220;I don&#8217;t
+want anyone to say they was taken in at my folk&#8217;s
+sale; but I got&#8217;ta tell that young lady that I bought
+them blue dishes <i>myself</i>, last year, at the tea-store
+in White Plains fer ten cents each.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Even Polly had to join in the laugh at Eleanor&#8217;s
+expense now, and poor Nolla felt like selling herself
+for a nickel. But the auctioneer had scant
+time for jokes or reckless buyers as he was there
+for business. So he finished the kitchen and
+called them into the parlor. Here Polly secured
+a china dog such as were common sixty to eighty
+years ago; Eleanor got a real bargain, this time,
+in buying two century old flower-vases for fifty
+cents. Mrs. Fabian saw an old engraving of
+&#8220;Washington Crossing the Delaware,&#8221; as it was
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span>
+taken from the wall behind the door, and offered
+for a quarter. On the spur of the moment she
+raised the bid five cents and got the picture which
+later proved to be one of the rare old originals,
+worth several hundred dollars.
+</p>
+<p>Dodo ran up a pair of girandoles that stood on
+the narrow mantel-shelf in the front room, and
+finally got them for three dollars. Such an unheard-of
+price made the buyers look at her in
+pity, and Lemuel remarked:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, some folks has more money than sense!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Dodo&#8217;s friends laughed heartily at this criticism,
+but she cared little for them all, because
+she knew what she had obtained for her money.
+</p>
+<p>The two bed-rooms were so small that few people
+could get in, so the auctioneer ordered Abner
+to carry the articles for sale, out on the lawn
+where everyone could see them. Had it not been
+for this sensible advice, Polly would never have
+seen or secured the fine old set of Staffordshire
+toilet-ware that was knocked down to her for four
+dollars.
+</p>
+<p>It consisted of ewer in quaint shape, basin deep
+enough to be a huge punch-bowl, a soap-plate, a
+mug, and a commode. The rich deep coloring of
+the design on the china was lovely, and every piece
+was in good order.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span></p>
+<p>The young man who had told the truth about
+the eight dishes from the tea-store, congratulated
+Polly and said: &#8220;That set has been in our family
+for more&#8217;n a hundred years. My grandmother
+used to keep it fer show, er when we had
+fine comp&#8217;ny comin&#8217; to see us. That&#8217;s how it
+kept so good.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, don&#8217;t you want to keep it, then?&#8221; asked
+Polly, regretfully.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nah, I&#8217;m goin&#8217; west on the money I git outen
+this sale, an&#8217; I&#8217;d ruther see someone what likes it
+own it, than any old clod-hopper about these
+parts!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly felt sure the owner had not been lovingly
+treated by the people he glanced at as he spoke.
+But she learned, just before leaving the place that
+afternoon, that he felt so antagonistic against his
+neighbors because of their frank criticism of his
+habit of spending his inheritance.
+</p>
+<p>Because of this unwise recklessness, he had had
+to mortgage the old farm, and when the proceeds
+of that had been spent, he had to sell out. &#8220;Perhaps
+his going west, where he would have to work
+hard for his living, would be his salvation, after
+this,&#8221; thought Polly.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian allowed the girls to watch the sale
+until the contents of the house were sold out and
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span>
+then she suggested that they start back home.
+The bargains were carefully placed between the
+coverlets purchased, and then the buyers got in
+the car.
+</p>
+<p>The country-people were all crowding to the
+barns to bid on stock and farm-utensils when Carl
+started the engine. With a last look at the little
+house where they had found their interesting antiques,
+the collectors left.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='IX_POLLY_S_HUNT_IN__JERSEY' id='IX_POLLY_S_HUNT_IN__JERSEY'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2>
+<h3>POLLY&#8217;S HUNT IN &#8217;JERSEY</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The collectors took several long trips, after
+the vendue in Westchester County, but found
+nothing of value at any place.
+</p>
+<p>Still they lived in hopes, and towards the last
+of October, Polly suggested that they try New
+Jersey for a change. A girl who attended Art
+Classes told Polly of several very old places
+within the vicinity of Springfield and Morristown&mdash;both
+old Revolutionary towns of historic fame.
+</p>
+<p>So Carl drove up to the Fabian home early one
+Saturday morning, and Mrs. Fabian with her
+party, hurried out with luncheon and wraps, and
+were soon speeding away for the ferry-boat that
+would take them across the North River.
+</p>
+<p>The girls had never been in New Jersey, and
+found much to admire in the picturesque, rolling
+land of the Jersey Hills. They left Newark behind,
+and drove along the Union Turnpike road
+until they reached the Forks. Here they turned
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span>
+to the left and in a short time, were going through
+the ancient town of Springfield.
+</p>
+<p>They were already past it, before Mrs. Fabian
+found what place it was. Then they laughed,
+and turned back again to visit a shop on the main
+street. Mrs. Fabian got out of the car and went
+in to question the proprietor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do you know of any old houses, near here,
+where one can secure old bits of furniture, or antique
+objects?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The man chuckled. &#8220;Say, Madam, if I have
+one person ask me that same question, I have
+dozens stop to question me. I tells them all, the
+same as I tells you now&mdash;the only antique I can
+send them to anywhere about Springfield, is that
+old church on the corner, where you can see the
+hole blown in the side by a cannon ball, when the
+British were here. And over yonder, you will
+find a burial ground where many old Indians are
+buried, with their stone arrow-heads and other
+trophies with them. The crumbling grey-stone
+slabs and the ancient tombs found there, will give
+you the dates. Some go as far back as two hundred,
+or two hundred and fifty years.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian thanked him and returned to the
+girls to repeat the conversation she had had with
+the shop-keeper. They all declared for a visit
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span>
+to the old church, and then to the cemetery, so
+Carl drove back and they visited both places.
+</p>
+<p>In the ancient burial ground, they read many
+queer epitaphs on the head stones, and some of
+these the girls copied down. Then they got back
+in the automobile and Carl was told to drive on
+to Morristown.
+</p>
+<p>This place was found to be so dreadfully modern,
+that no hope of discovering antiques was left
+alive in their hearts. But it was noon and they
+were hungry, so they discussed the advisability of
+going to a lunch-room, or driving into the country
+and having the picnic lunch.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;As long as we brought such a nice luncheon
+with us, why stop at a hotel or restaurant to eat?&#8221;
+asked Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There really isn&#8217;t any sense in doing that, but
+there certainly isn&#8217;t any picnic place in this town,&#8221;
+declared Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, then let&#8217;s start out and find one away
+from here,&#8221; suggested Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll make another proposition, girls,&#8221; said
+Mrs. Fabian. &#8220;Why not stop at that Public Library
+we just passed, and find out if there are
+any notable spots in the vicinity of this town,
+where we might find old houses or old objects?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, the idea is good, but really, Mrs. Fabian,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span>
+this town impresses me most emphatically
+with this fact: that the residents have as much
+desire for antiques as we have; and most likely,
+they started in years before we ever were born,
+to rake over the country-side, which must have
+been rich with old furniture and other things
+from Washington&#8217;s days here, so as to collect all
+those things for themselves,&#8221; was Dodo&#8217;s sensible
+remark.
+</p>
+<p>The others smiled at her practical words, and
+Mrs. Fabian agreed with her. &#8220;But it will do
+no harm to stop just a moment to ask the attendant
+at the Library if she knows of any place in
+New Jersey where we might indulge our craze
+of collecting.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Carl then turned around and they were soon
+back at the Library. The girls remained in the
+car while Mrs. Fabian went indoors to ask questions
+of the agreeable lady at the desk.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure you will find a few old bits, here and
+there, about the country-side,&#8221; said the lady, in
+reply to Mrs. Fabian&#8217;s questions. &#8220;In fact, my
+friend furnished her old-fashioned house that she
+recently bought of an old 1776 family, by driving
+about through the Mendham country, down
+through New Vernon and Baskingridge&mdash;all famous
+Revolutionary places, you know&mdash;and by
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span>
+visiting places as far away as Bound Brook, Plainfield,
+and the country about Trenton. I was
+amazed at the number of old things she managed
+to secure.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Being given a pencil sketch of what roads to
+follow to reach Mendham, or Baskingridge, Mrs.
+Fabian thanked her informer most graciously.
+Suddenly the lady said:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now that you are in town, why not drive down
+to a little auction room I&#8217;ve heard of, just off
+Washington Street, and see if you can find anything
+in that Paradise for old stuff?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We will! Where is it, and how do we get
+there?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The man&#8217;s name is Van Styne, and he used to
+be a magnet for attracting the oldest pieces to
+his store-rooms! People used to commission
+him when they wanted anything in particular, and
+in some super-natural manner, he used to have it
+for them in a few days&#8217; time. It would have
+taken ordinary individuals years, with plenty of
+money and energy, to accomplish the same result.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Again Mrs. Fabian thanked her interested informer,
+and left the library. The girls were told
+of the conversation and they all voted to go to
+Van Styne&#8217;s old auction rooms first, and then try
+to locate an old farm-house along the road to
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span>
+Mendham, or in the opposite direction, towards
+Baskingridge.
+</p>
+<p>The building where &#8220;Van Styne&mdash;Auctioneer
+and Appraiser&#8221; had his sign displayed, for the
+public&#8217;s guidance, was a long low place that had
+been used as the carriage house of &#8220;Liberty Stable&#8221;
+years before. The tiny windows, high up
+in a row along the front, were stall-marks that told
+what it had been in the past. Now it was an
+&#8220;Emporium&#8221; for all who needed second-hand furniture
+at a bargain; or for those who sought antiques
+of any kind, to add to their amateur
+collections.
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Van Styne was a white-haired, long-whiskered,
+thin man who sat tilted back in a broken-through
+rush-bottom chair that had never had a
+bid at his weekly auctions, hence it was put to
+some use in his office to pay for storage. His feet
+were resting on the flat-table-desk in front of him,
+and he was sweetly snoring when the girls opened
+the door of the room.
+</p>
+<p>Such an unheard of thing as customers in the
+early part of the afternoon, caused him to jump
+up and remove his aged straw hat that had been
+tilted over his eyes to keep out the sun-light.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We came to see if we could find anything in
+your salesroom,&#8221; began Mrs. Fabian, noting the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span>
+dust that lay thick on everything, and the heaped
+up motley collection of family possessions displayed
+in the long adjoining stable-room.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What kind of furniture do you need?&#8221; asked
+he, stifling a yawn.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, anything old enough to be interesting.
+We heard that you were a wizard in finding antiques
+for people.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The proprietor disclaimed such power, and said
+with a grin that displayed several gaps in his yellowed
+teeth, &#8220;You can mosey about, out there, to
+your heart&#8217;s content. If you find anything likely,
+call me an&#8217; I&#8217;ll tell you what it&#8217;s wuth.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He waved his arm to the long stacked-up storeroom,
+and then sat down again. In another moment
+his feet were up on the desk and his hat
+tipped down over his eyes. His hands were
+calmly folded over his waist-coat and he settled
+down to snooze, once more.
+</p>
+<p>The girls giggled aloud and hurried after Mrs.
+Fabian to keep from laughing outright at the ambitious
+salesman. They prowled about and pulled
+out lots of things and examined many other old
+articles, soiling their gloves and dresses, without
+finding a thing that was of any value.
+</p>
+<p>Finally Polly dragged out an old walnut chest
+of drawers to see what was stored back of it, that
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span>
+kept it so far away from the wall. She discovered
+a group of large, framed pictures standing
+against the wall, evidently forgotten by the auctioneer,
+as they were covered with a thick coating
+of dust.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come and help me lift these out, will you,
+Nolla?&#8221; called Polly, as Eleanor stood waiting
+for something new to look at.
+</p>
+<p>In another moment, both girls were hauling out
+the mass of pictures, whose wires and screw-eyes
+were so entangled that to get at one, you had to
+drag all out at the same time.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;My goodness! Just look at our hands!&#8221; exclaimed
+Eleanor, holding up such dirty hands that
+Polly laughed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The result of digging!&#8221; said she, managing
+to separate one smaller frame from the others.
+</p>
+<p>As she turned it over to study the picture, she
+was greatly disappointed to find it had an old,
+cheap, stained frame. The picture seemed nondescript
+to her. It was a scene of an old bridge
+with fine old trees on both banks of the river.
+Quaintly costumed people strolled along both
+sides of the stream, and a funny tower rose at the
+further end of the bridge. The colors were crude
+and primary&mdash;no fine shading or artistic handling
+to be seen. A title under the picture, and several
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span>
+inscriptions in French at the left side of the bottom,
+were so stained and blurred as to be totally
+unreadable with the naked eye.
+</p>
+<p>Meantime, Eleanor had managed to free the
+next frame, which was a huge affair of old mahogany.
+The glass was so dreadfully dusty that not
+a bit of the picture underneath could be seen.
+She looked about for something to use as a duster,
+and saw an old end of chenille curtain on the walnut
+dresser. This she used and wiped away as
+much of the dirt as would come off with hard
+work&mdash;the rest must have hot water and soap.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, I declare! Look at this old engraving!&#8221;
+called she to the others. Polly was at hand,
+and saw that Eleanor had actually found a
+treasure.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian hurried across the room and took
+her magnifying glass from her handbag being always
+prepared with it in case of need to study
+signatures and other nearly effaced trade-marks.
+</p>
+<p>The large engraving represented the Independence
+Hall at Philadelphia, and under that was the
+famous Declaration of Independence, with all the
+original signatures following. The picture of the
+Hall was engraved on a smaller bit of paper and
+had been mounted at the top of the printed matter.
+The engraving was signed by the engraver, and
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span>
+dated. Affidavits at the bottom of the parchment
+paper stated that this was one of the original
+documents made by Order of Congress for use in the
+Government Buildings so that the first original
+paper and signatures could be preserved as a relic,
+by the United States.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, this wonderful old paper is more than
+a hundred and thirty years old!&#8221; exclaimed Mrs.
+Fabian amazed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;My goodness me! How much do you suppose
+I shall have to pay to get it?&#8221; gasped
+Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know, but you really ought to shake
+that dirty rag thoroughly over the glass again, to
+hide what is under it,&#8221; advised Dodo, with
+astuteness.
+</p>
+<p>The others laughed. But Polly had another
+suggestion to make. &#8220;Let&#8217;s see what else we can
+find in this stack of pictures. We will choose a
+number of them and then make an offer on the
+lot, as much as to say we need bargain-frames for
+other uses. This rare find of Nolla&#8217;s will be
+hidden in with the rest.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Polly&#8217;s idea is best. Because the old man
+will know that we wouldn&#8217;t buy a picture with all
+the dust covering the glass,&#8221; said Nancy Fabian.
+</p>
+<div class='figcenter'>
+<a name='linki_3' id='linki_3'></a>
+<img src='images/illus-136.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br />
+<span class='caption'>
+A CRY FROM POLLY CAUGHT THEIR FULLEST ATTENTION.<br />
+<i>Polly&#8217;s Business Venture.</i> <i>Page 139</i>
+<br />
+</span>
+</div>
+
+<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span></div>
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the little old one you&#8217;ve got in your
+hands, Polly?&#8221; now asked Mrs. Fabian.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, nothing much. It looks like an ugly little
+chromo printed before people knew how to
+use colors on printing-presses.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian leaned over Polly&#8217;s shoulder to
+take a look, and puckered her forehead when she
+saw the yellowed paper and old stained edges of
+the picture.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Polly, I verily believe that here you have
+something that Mr. Fabian has lectured on several
+times. Let me examine it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>While the girls crowded about her, Mrs. Fabian
+placed the picture, face downwards, on the
+table near by and tried to draw out the old headless
+tacks driven in to hold the backboard snugly
+in its place.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, whoever framed this picture did it for
+all time!&#8221; exclaimed she, breaking several fingernails
+and tearing the skin on her hands in the attempt
+to loosen the fine steel nails.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Here! I&#8217;ve found an old pair of broken scissors
+in this desk&mdash;let&#8217;s use them to clinch the nails
+and force them out,&#8221; said Nancy, handing her
+mother the shears.
+</p>
+<p>With this assistance, Mrs. Fabian soon had the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span>
+nails out and then carefully removed the old sections
+of thin boards. Under the boards was a
+yellowed newspaper, folded neatly, and so
+wedged in at the edges of the frame that no dust
+could work a way through to the picture. Without
+a thought of the paper, Mrs. Fabian took it
+out and expected to see the back of the picture.
+Instead, she found a yellow-stained letter written
+to Paul Revere Esq. and signed by one of the famous
+men of the Revolution. It was a personal
+letter of that time, and had been used to paste
+over a crack in the back of the picture.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why&mdash;why! How very wonderful!&#8221;
+breathed Mrs. Fabian, as she stared at the old
+letter.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What is it&mdash;anything valuable?&#8221; asked the
+girls.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;A genuine letter written to Paul Revere!
+Now that I think of it, girls, Paul Revere lived
+in Morristown and his home is still intact on De
+Hart Street, I believe. This old picture must
+have come from his house; or in some way, this
+letter found its way into someone else&#8217;s hands and
+was used at that time for scrap paper to mend
+this picture. Now let&#8217;s see what the picture
+is.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But a cry from Polly, who had picked up the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span>
+old newspaper and now had opened it wide, caught
+their fullest attention.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, oh! Isn&#8217;t this too funny for anything!
+Listen and I will read it.&#8221; Then Polly read aloud
+an advertisement in the tiny old newspaper, of a
+Squire at Baskingridge who wished to sell a
+healthy, young negro wench of unquestionable
+pedigree. Price and particulars would be given
+any interested buyer.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Polly!&#8221; chorused her audience, in surprise.
+&#8220;That paper must be as old as the letter!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And see, girls!&#8221; added Mrs. Fabian. &#8220;It has
+great heavy black borders on the outside. What
+for, Polly?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly turned over the sheet with utmost care,
+as it was so dry and brittle, and to the speechless
+astonishment of them all, it showed that the
+mourning bands were used for the death of George
+Washington. The entire front page was devoted
+to the news of his demise which had occurred the
+day before going to press. His fame, and value
+to the United States, were spoken of, and other
+features of his life were touched upon. His picture,
+printed from an old wood-cut, headed the
+page. All the spelling was such as was common
+at that time with the letter &#8220;e&#8221; tacked on when
+possible and the old English &#8220;f&#8217;s&#8221; were used for
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span>
+&#8220;s&#8217;s&#8221; and long-stemmed &#8220;p&#8217;s,&#8221; and high-browed
+&#8220;a&#8217;s&#8221; and &#8220;i&#8217;s,&#8221; were formed to show readers that
+the writer and editor was a well-educated man.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh my! Must we fold it up and put it back
+of that board again?&#8221; sighed Polly, finally.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If you want a bargain, that is what you&#8217;d better
+do,&#8221; returned Mrs. Fabian.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Maybe the picture is as old as the paper,&#8221;
+ventured Polly.
+</p>
+<p>The thought of the picture had completely vanished
+from the mind of Mrs. Fabian when she saw
+the rare old newspaper; but now she quickly picked
+up the article and turned it over. The magnifying
+glass was once more brought to bear upon the
+subject, and after several minutes of inspection,&mdash;minutes
+of impatient hesitation on the part of the
+girls,&mdash;she looked up bewildered with her discovery.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Polly, this is really the missing picture that
+will complete the set that is on exhibition at the
+Metropolitan Museum, in New York. It is one
+of the famous color-prints made in France about
+the sixteenth century, and the subject is the famous
+Bridge at Avignon. This is worth thousands
+of dollars, dear, and I hesitate to tell you
+what to offer for it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly would have taken the rare picture out
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span>
+to the still sleeping man and offered him a sum
+that would have made him sit up and investigate
+the matter for himself. But clever Dodo advised
+another method.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If you offer more than the old frame is actually
+worth, when you say you will pay so much
+for the frames&mdash;he will see right off that there&#8217;s
+a &#8216;nigger in the woodpile.&#8217; Let&#8217;s tangle up a few
+of these old black-walnut frames with the two
+valuable pictures, and I&#8217;ll bargain for you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Better let Mrs. Fabian bargain&mdash;you know
+how she got the candle-sticks in exchange for a
+two-dollar &#8216;bankit&#8217; lamp,&#8221; Eleanor reminded
+them.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll do it, while you girls keep on poking about
+as if to find other things,&#8221; declared Mrs. Fabian.
+&#8220;Here, Polly, let us fix this frame up exactly as
+it was before, and I&#8217;ll take four out of the pile
+and place them, one on top of the other, upon this
+dresser, and then call the man out to quote me
+a price on the lot.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This was carefully done, dust being shaken out
+of the old curtain so that the glass was again
+coated, and then dust was shaken over the back
+where the board had been removed and cleaned.
+</p>
+<p>A dreadful lithograph showing a string of fish,
+framed in a wide gilt affair, was one that was
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span>
+chosen for the group. An oval frame with a
+woman&#8217;s photograph in it, was another selected.
+Then the four were arranged: The large engraving
+at the bottom, the fish next, then the little
+old relic, and on top, the oval frame. All
+four appeared dirty and insignificant as they lay
+on the top of the dresser; and to finish the work,
+Polly used the chenille rag to gather up as much
+dust as possible from the filthy floor, and shook it
+vigorously over all the frames. Such a choking
+and coughing as ensued made them separate in
+haste, for fear the noise would make the auctioneer
+come out to enquire.
+</p>
+<p>But he was too deeply concerned with some
+pleasant dream to awake to business, before his
+usual time for the afternoon siesta had ended, so
+Mrs. Fabian went out to rouse him.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Eh, what did you say?&#8221; exclaimed he, jumping
+up.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I want you to tell me how much are a few
+picture-frames which we found in a corner.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, anything you like. How much do you
+think they are wuth?&#8221; was his reply.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian smiled pleasantly. &#8220;That is not
+what I said. You are the salesman and I the
+buyer. You should state a price.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Um&mdash;ah!&#8221; yawned Mr. Van Styne at this, and
+stretched his arms out over his head. &#8220;I s&#8217;pose
+that ends my nap, eh?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He shuffled out of the office after Mrs. Fabian
+and went into the store-house. When he saw the
+girls poking about amongst the old chairs, bureaus,
+and motley collection of furniture, he laughed,
+and said: &#8220;That&#8217;s right! Find all the old bargains
+you can. I&#8217;m your man to sell them cheap
+to you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Had he but known what he was about to do!
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian led him down to the corner where
+the pile of four pictures were waiting on the
+dresser, and said: &#8220;These are the four I want a
+price on. The frames are all in good order and
+the glasses are not cracked at all.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Van Styne took a pair of old steel-rimmed
+specs from the vest-pocket over his heart, and
+pushed them upon his thin nose. He picked up
+the top oval frame, blew off the dust and laughed
+at the homely face that stared out at him. He
+turned to Mrs. Fabian with a twinkle in his eyes
+and said, jokingly:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, if that gal was your relation and you
+wanted her ugly photograph that bad, I&#8217;d say the
+hull thing was wuth a dollar to you. But seein&#8217;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span>
+it&#8217;s fifty year old, and you ain&#8217;t near that, yet, I
+will sell her fer a quarter. The glass is wuth
+that, I reckon.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He placed it face down beside the other three
+pictures. &#8220;Now this one,&#8221; taking up the rare
+old print with the newspaper packed in the back,
+&#8220;Ain&#8217;t wuth a darn, so why do you pick it out?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But the glass is the right size and will cost me
+more to order, than I can get it for of you,&#8221; remarked
+Mrs. Fabian, anxiously, while the girls
+held their breath.
+</p>
+<p>The old auctioneer heard the note of anxiety
+in her tone and peered over his specs to study her
+guileless expression. She instantly guarded herself,
+when she saw his look, and so he saw only
+a nice lady who was now picking up the fish-picture.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And this dining-room picture; how much will
+you take for <i>it</i>. Why not give me a job-lot price
+and I&#8217;ll see. I may as well pack four as two in
+the automobile.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But Mr. Van Styne had not known there was
+an automobile; and he was wondering now, why
+people with a car should come in and pick out a
+few picture glasses to save money. He glanced
+over the last picture which was the large engraving,
+and then turned it over to look at its back.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s a mighty big sheet of glass in that one.
+That glass alone, cost about a dollar-forty. Then
+the frame&#8217;s a good hard-wood frame, too. I&#8217;ll
+look up my books and see who sent them pictures
+in for sale. Then I can see if they put a figger
+on them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>He made notes of the chalk numbers marked
+on the backs of the picture-boards and then started
+for his office. Mrs. Fabian, with sinking
+heart, followed at his heels.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If he looks up his records and finds they came
+from the old house of Paul Revere and his descendants,
+he will never sell them at a decent
+price,&#8221; thought she, impatiently.
+</p>
+<p>She sat opposite the old man while he fumbled
+the pages of his book and slowly glanced down
+the entries, his bent fore-finger pointing to each
+item carefully as he read.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Um! Here it is: Number 329, came from
+Sarah Dolan, who moved to a smaller flat last
+Spring. From this entry I see that all them seven
+pictures came from her. Do you happen to know
+her?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Van Styne glanced up at his companion.
+</p>
+<p>She shook her head, and he said, closing the
+book, &#8220;Why, Sally Dolan was cook fer the Revere
+boys, and when they broke up, she started a
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span>
+bordin&#8217; house down on Morris Street. Then she
+took rheumatiz and was that crippled, she couldn&#8217;t
+get about the kitchen no more, so she gave up.
+Her boys manage to keep her now, and she takes
+things easy. But she sure was a good cook!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Much as Mrs. Fabian would have liked to question
+the old man about the Revere boys she feared
+he might remember that the cook was given a lot
+of old pictures when the boys &#8220;broke up&#8221;, so she
+turned the subject adroitly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;ll go and see what the girls have found
+out there, I guess. But I wish you&#8217;d fix a price on
+those four frames.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Lem&#8217;me see, now. Sal Dolan didn&#8217;t set no
+price, and if I say five dollars for the four, would
+you take &#8217;em?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Dear me!&#8221; objected Mrs. Fabian, craftily.
+&#8220;The large one you said was worth about a dollar-thirty,
+and the fish-picture a dollar. That leaves
+two dollars and seventy cents for the other two.
+Isn&#8217;t that pretty high for them?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But that fish picture makes a fine dinin&#8217; room
+piece, especially if you could get the mate what is
+a brace of quails.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh well, rather than jew you down, I&#8217;ll take
+them, if you will take the trouble to make me out
+a receipt for the four.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Ain&#8217;t this a cash sale?&#8221; queried the man, wonderingly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course, but two of them are for friends. I
+only intend keeping the other two. I want them,
+to have the bill to show, you see.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Thereupon Mr. Van Styne wrote out the bill on
+a scrap of paper and receipted it, and then counted
+the five one dollar bills Mrs. Fabian had paid
+him. &#8220;Ten per cent fer me and the rest for
+Sally,&#8221; he added as he rolled fifty cents inside
+four one dollar bills and pocketed the other fifty
+cents.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian was about to go for the pictures,
+when Polly came out. &#8220;I want to ask the auctioneer
+how much this little box and mirror are?&#8221;
+and she showed a lovely little Empire dressing-mirror
+to him. It was scratched and had been
+varnished, but its former beauty could be quickly
+restored, for the form and material were good as
+ever.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m told that is a real antique. That piece
+come from the old Revere place, too. Mrs.
+Dolan says she heard it was used by the boy&#8217;s
+grandmother. But I don&#8217;t know what to
+charge.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ll give you ten dollars for it,&#8221; eagerly said
+Polly.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Ten dollars!&#8221; gasped the man, sinking back
+in his desk-chair.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian tried to signal Polly, but the girl
+was too intent on securing the gem. Then Mrs.
+Fabian said to the man:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Dear me! The child has more money than
+brains, eh?&#8221; and laughed heartily.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I ain&#8217;t so sure about that. She certainly
+knows a good thing,&#8221; returned Mr. Van Styne.
+Then he said to Polly: &#8220;Will you carry it right
+along with you, if I sell it for ten?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course!&#8221; declared she, and the sale was
+made.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I guess we&#8217;d better be going, Polly,&#8221; suggested
+Mrs. Fabian, now. This told the girl that the
+deal over the pictures had been consummated, but
+she did not ask questions then.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian went back to gather up her four
+precious pictures, and had the other girls help her
+carry them away. Then they bid the good old
+man good-by and started off.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Come again, when you have more time to
+poke around,&#8221; said he, as he stood on the doorstep
+watching them walk towards the car which
+was waiting a short distance down the street.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We certainly will, and if you get anything
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span>
+really antique in the place at any time, drop me
+word, or telephone to the address I left on your
+desk, just now,&#8221; said Mrs. Fabian.
+</p>
+<p>Once the hunters were safely on the way to New
+York, the girls importuned Mrs. Fabian to tell
+them the story of the pictures, but she laughingly
+remarked:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do you know, we forgot all about our
+luncheon! Poor Carl must be famished!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not much,&#8221; retorted Carl. &#8220;I went to that
+quick lunch-room across from the old junk-shop,
+and got the best dinner for forty cents that
+I ever tasted. But we will stop for a picnic, when
+we reach the country, if you say so.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, indeed! We&#8217;ll eat as we drive along,
+Carl,&#8221; said Mrs. Fabian, then turning to the girls,
+she told the tale<a name="FNanchor_A" id="FNanchor_A"></a><a href="#Footnote_A" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> of the old pictures and what
+she paid for them.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why!&#8221; gasped the wondering girls. &#8220;It can&#8217;t
+be possible!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>At that, Mrs. Fabian produced the bill of sale
+and said: &#8220;I got this in case there ever should be
+any dispute over the legality of this negotiation.
+The two awful pictures we can give to some
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span>
+family along the road, but the two precious ones
+we will cherish as if they were the Koh-i-noor
+Diamond.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>When the Ashbys and Mr. Fabian heard the
+story, and saw the validity of the two pictures,
+they sat astounded. Mr. Fabian then said:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Polly really ought to immortalize her name by
+presenting this missing scroll to the Metropolitan
+Museum, but she can keep the letter and newspaper.
+That ought to be worth the price she
+paid for the &#8216;glass&#8217;.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s just what I&#8217;ll do, Mr. Fabian. I would
+never feel happy if I <i>kept</i> a thing that is considered
+so rare, and has been sought for by the Museum&#8217;s
+collectors.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>So Polly Brewster&#8217;s name is to be found ticketed
+as the donor of the twelfth valuable picture in that
+set.
+</p>
+<hr style="width: 10%; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; margin: 2em auto 1em 0" />
+
+<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_A" id="Footnote_A"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A"><span class="label">[A]</span></a>
+<p style='font-size:small'>True incident in author&#8217;s experience.</p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='X_UNEXPECTED_NEWS_FROM_PEBBLY_PIT' id='X_UNEXPECTED_NEWS_FROM_PEBBLY_PIT'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER X</h2>
+<h3>UNEXPECTED NEWS FROM PEBBLY PIT</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The young collectors experienced the usual
+&#8220;red-tape&#8221; in offering the rare picture to the Museum,
+and after the customary delays, it was accepted
+with letters of thanks. Individual letters
+from several officials were written to Polly and
+her friends, voicing the appreciation of the men
+at being able to complete the series.
+</p>
+<p>Shortly after this pleasing incident, the girls
+went out on another excursion just across the Hudson,
+in New Jersey. They took the ferry at One
+Hundred and Thirtieth Street, and after reaching
+Edgewater, drove through the small towns nestling
+on the Hackensack, until they came to the
+village of Hasbrouck Heights. All about this
+section are old, old houses, and if you hunt keenly
+enough, you will find delightful odd bits from
+Revolutionary days.
+</p>
+<p>That evening, upon their return, the girls were
+eager to compare their trophies of the day, but the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span>
+maid came in with a day letter for Polly. The
+others waited for her to read it, and as she read,
+her expression changed perceptibly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, oh! It&#8217;s happened again!&#8221; cried she fearfully,
+as she finished the letter.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What! What has happened?&#8221; anxiously
+asked her companions, crowding about her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Another slide on Grizzly. This time it has
+destroyed <i>everything</i> so that mining the gold is
+out of the question,&#8221; and Polly gave the message
+to Mrs. Fabian to read aloud.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Bad land-slide on Grizzly. Demolished all
+machinery and wiped out the entire surface of
+mountain-top. No lives lost, but cave and vein
+of ore lost. Topography completely changed.
+Wait for summer to start new search and locate
+gold. Letter sent to Latimer and Dalken. Ask
+them for particulars. John Brewster.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Polly! That means that our gold mine
+has vanished, and all our income from it will be
+stopped!&#8221; cried Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We haven&#8217;t had any income to stop,&#8221; replied
+Polly, cynically. &#8220;About all the good we&#8217;ve ever
+had from Choko&#8217;s Find Mine has been violent
+physical exercise, expenses and the dreams that
+buoy hope.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Her friends laughed in spite of the seriousness
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span>
+of the matter, and Eleanor added: &#8220;It also means
+that Daddy, and all of our New York investors,
+have lost the money they invested in the project.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, when Tom Latimer called on me the
+evening after our ducking in the Bay, he said
+he was not in favor of working on the mine so late
+in the season. He thought John was taking
+dreadful risks to keep the plant open when snowstorms
+and slides were imminent.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But John told him that plenty of snow was
+just what was needed on the peaks, to cement the
+chasms and crevices together that had been opened
+by the summer&#8217;s heat and continued drought all
+Fall. In case no snow came, he said he would
+agree to abandon work when the cold weather
+became too severe to remain at that altitude.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;This unexpected accident and loss of the mine
+does not prevent the output of the lava jewels,
+Polly, so there&#8217;ll be no noticeable difference in your
+income, will there?&#8221; asked Mrs. Fabian.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, Tom explained it all to me. He said
+that mine affairs were so involved with the jewel
+works at Rainbow Cliffs, that one disaster affected
+the other interest. Rainbow Cliffs is part of
+Pebbly Pit Ranch, so the Cliffs were incorporated
+when work began on the mining of the lava.
+Then when trouble at Choko&#8217;s Find Mine started,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span>
+the mines at Rainbow Cliffs were mortgaged to
+secure financial aid for the gold mine on the mountains.
+So that everything is mixed up now in this
+calamity,&#8221; explained Polly, tearfully.
+</p>
+<p>Soon after this, the telephone rang. Mr.
+Latimer said he was coming to call, that evening,
+and Mr. Dalken wished to come in at the same
+time. Would the girls be home?
+</p>
+<p>Polly assured him they would, and also that
+he would be welcomed as she wished to hear
+about the important matters that he could fully
+explain to her.
+</p>
+<p>Soon after eight o&#8217;clock, therefore, Mr. Latimer
+and Mr. Dalken were announced. Polly and
+Eleanor&mdash;the latter had realized that maybe her
+future, because of this disaster to the mine would
+not be as luxurious as she had dreamed of&mdash;anxiously
+welcomed the two men. Polly lost no time
+in polite nothings, but asked, at once, about the
+conditions at the mines.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I see you have heard about the trouble?&#8221;
+ventured Mr. Latimer.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I received a long night letter from home,
+this afternoon. But they do not say whether
+there is anything left to pay my way in New York,
+or whether I ought to start for home,&#8221; said
+Polly.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span></p>
+<p>Eleanor was shocked at her words. &#8220;Why,
+Polly, surely you have no dread of such being
+the case, just because our old gold mine is choked
+again?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you understand, Nolla, that starting
+work on the mine, and all the machinery for it,
+costs so much that not only is the lava mine involved,
+but the very ranch is risked. Maybe
+father will have to sell out his beloved farm and
+go away,&#8221; explained Polly, with quivering lips.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh no, Polly,&#8221; hastily came from Mr. Latimer.
+&#8220;We are all stock-holders in this venture,
+you know, and one man alone does not bear the
+costs of the mine and its losses. That is why
+Mr. Dalken and I came over, tonight, when we
+got word that John had written you. We feared
+you might not understand matters.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But I understand father, well enough, Mr.
+Latimer. He will never permit anyone to lose
+a penny because of him or his interests.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Maybe he won&#8217;t, Polly, but this mining venture
+was as much our interest as yours, or your
+father&#8217;s, remember. It seems gone, this time, but
+we must take our loss as courageously as we
+would our profits. Tom wired me to come and
+see you and explain that you need make no change
+in any of your plans, as everything would go on
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span>
+as usual at the ranch. He and John will devote
+all of their time to the Cliffs now, instead of
+dividing their attention between the two mines,
+as they have been doing, heretofore,&#8221; explained
+Mr. Latimer.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But your mother wrote me, Polly,&#8221; now said
+Mr. Dalken, &#8220;that finances would be rather
+strained for the next year, because of this tremendous
+outlay on the mines and no income; and the
+terrible drought that killed off so many head of
+cattle on the ranch this year, makes things look
+rather unpromising. I know how practical you
+are, and I thought it best to let you hear how
+matters stand. Your folks asked me not to mention
+it, because they wanted you to finish your
+studies here, and there are ample funds to pay
+for that. But I took it upon myself to warn you
+about going deeply into any antique purchases, in
+your auction fever.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so glad you did, Mr. Dalken. As you
+say, I am not a silly child, and now that I know
+exactly how matters are at home, I will see if I
+cannot do something while studying in New York,
+to pay my own way,&#8221; responded Polly, anxiously.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, it isn&#8217;t as bad as that, Child!&#8221; laughed
+Mr. Latimer; &#8220;but it is best for you not to
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span>
+buy in Fifth Avenue shops, or give away rare old
+bargains from the country.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly smiled. &#8220;Mr. Latimer, this is what I
+propose doing to earn my expenses in New York.
+Instead of buying old objects for fun, I shall
+secure them to sell again and make money.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Poll is right! And I propose going with
+her as the partner in her first business venture!&#8221;
+declared Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Where will you two girls find customers?&#8221;
+asked Mr. Dalken, admiring the way they accepted
+the news that their gold mine seemed wiped out
+for all time.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Polly&#8217;ll find a way, never fear!&#8221; declared
+Eleanor with fervent faith in her friend&#8217;s ability
+to accomplish things.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I&#8217;ll get Mr. Ashby, first of all, to permit
+us to exhibit our goods in his &#8216;odd room&#8217; and we&#8217;ll
+pay him a commission for sales, just as other
+folks do who wish to exchange, or sell, their antiques,&#8221;
+explained Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, if you girls manage to find such valuable
+things as that famous missing picture that the
+Museum made such a time over, I should say
+you had found a big gold mine in New York instead
+of losing a little one in the Rockies,&#8221; said
+Mr. Dalken.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span></p>
+<p>So, shortly after the girls learned that they had
+to economise on expenses that year, Polly carried
+her old coverlets to Mr. Ashby&#8217;s shop and left
+them with him to sell. The fine little mirror had
+been restored and was perfectly beautiful. This
+was placed on exhibition in the Empire Room of
+the Ashby Shop, but scarcely had it had time to
+be friendly with other rare objects in that room,
+before it was purchased at a high price. Thus
+Polly cleared several hundred dollars on the first
+sale, and felt encouraged to invest that money in
+new purchases.
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Dalken gladly sent Carl with the car, to
+drive the girls whenever they heard of a place to
+visit, but Ruth and Nancy seldom accompanied
+them these days. Ruth had school to attend
+daily, and Nancy was painting a portrait for a
+famous stage beauty who had offered her an attractive
+price for the work.
+</p>
+<p>The girls, with Mrs. Fabian, had gone again
+to New Jersey, after their great investment that
+day in Van Styne&#8217;s place; but they drove on to
+Baskingridge that day, and stopped at several
+ancient farm-houses to ferret for old things. At
+one of the places, they secured some very old glassware,
+also odd pieces of Staffordshire, and a well-nigh
+complete set of old Wedgewood dishes.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span></p>
+<p>At another house they got a set of old brass
+fire-irons and a crane with all the hangers and
+pots complete, just as it had been removed from
+the brick fire-place and thrown up in the attic.
+</p>
+<p>At the third house, Polly became enamored
+of a wonderful sampler, and several very old
+silhouettes&mdash;the latter, very different from the
+kind we are familiar with. As these old relics
+were in the attic and were considered valueless,
+she got them for a very small sum.
+</p>
+<p>While Polly was bargaining for these trifles,
+Eleanor was in the grandmother&#8217;s room looking
+at several marvelous patch-work quilts. The old
+dame told Eleanor the story connected with each
+quilt; and one, the unusual one of silk pieces, as
+well as worsteds, patched in with calico, velvet
+and other odd materials, was said to be made of
+a collection of famous bits from gowns worn by
+the ladies of Revolutionary Days.
+</p>
+<p>How the old grand-dame ever came into possession
+of such a valuable quilt, was beyond
+Eleanor&#8217;s comprehension. Then Polly and the
+house-wife joined her, and Polly was shown the
+quilt.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How very interesting,&#8221; remarked she.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, and I&#8217;ll tell you how it came about,&#8221; explained
+Mrs. Johnson. &#8220;We&#8217;ve always lived on
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span>
+this place, and when the Army passed this way,
+our folks helped out in all sorts of ways.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;During the winter that General Washington
+and his Lady were stationed at Morristown, there
+was lots of doings all about the county. You&#8217;ll
+read in the history of Lady Washington, how she
+was entertained by the first families about here&mdash;the
+Fords, the Footes, and others.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Our great-grandmother was a fine needlewoman
+and went about to the houses making
+gowns and cloaks for the ladies. She always
+saved the scraps of silk and stuff that was wasted,
+and of these she patched several quilts. On the
+back of each bit of these materials, she pasted
+little book-muslin tickets that had the name and
+date printed on it, of the lady and the occasion
+she wore the gown. So on the back of each of
+these pieces is still to be found the printing of
+that ancestress of mine.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, isn&#8217;t this interesting!&#8221; exclaimed Polly,
+eagerly.
+</p>
+<p>And Eleanor asked: &#8220;Where are the other
+quilts?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t exactly know what happened to the
+others she made; but this one came right down
+from grandmother&#8217;s mother to her, then to my
+mother, and now to me.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Would any price tempt you to sell it?&#8221; asked
+Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nothin&#8217; on earth, whiles I live. But I haven&#8217;t
+any children, and goodness only knows what will
+become of the dear old heirloom. Why did you
+ask?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How I would love to own it! Not for its
+value in money but really to hold it as a precious
+patriotic reminder of those days when the ladies,
+even though they dressed fine and had good times,
+performed such heroic and almost super-human
+deeds for the Army,&#8221; explained Polly.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Johnson gazed keenly at the girl&#8217;s face
+for a few moments, then said: &#8220;Tell me your
+name and address: I am going to write it out
+now, that this quilt is to be yours any time I die;
+and you must be as careful of it as we have been.
+Always keep tar-paper, or tobacco in it, during
+summer when moths fly about.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly thanked the lady very seriously and promised
+to be most careful of it in every way, but she
+said she hoped Mrs. Johnson would live a long
+time to enjoy the quilt as her own family relic.
+</p>
+<p>On the drive back through Morristown that
+day, Mrs. Fabian had Carl stop at Mr. Van
+Styne&#8217;s auction rooms, but the old man was not in,
+and the door was locked. A sheet of paper
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span>
+tacked inside the sash of the door, announced that
+the owner was at Parsippany numbering household
+goods for an auction to be held in two weeks&#8217;
+time.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian made a note of the name and location
+of the house where the sale was to be held,
+and came back to the automobile. She showed
+the paper to the girls, and said:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll try to get out here for that sale. But
+I&#8217;ll write Mr. Van Styne first, and ask him what
+sort of things the people have.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, it would be silly to come so far and find
+the house contained nothing but horrid old modern
+stuff,&#8221; said Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>Arriving home, late that afternoon, Mrs. Fabian
+was given a letter sent from the old auctioneer
+at Morristown. He had kept his word
+and notified the young collectors of the sale about
+to be held at Parsippany: the sale they had heard
+about that day.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He says, in this letter,&#8221; explained Mrs. Fabian
+after reading it, &#8220;the old farm-house where
+the vendue will take place, is filled with real old
+furniture; the family that owned the farm have
+held it for five generations. Mr. Van Styne admits
+that he is not enough of a connoisseur to
+judge the actual value of the antiques, but there
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span>
+are some mahogany pieces, and loads of queer old
+things that <i>his</i> wife would have kept in the attic,
+or split up for kindlings. As he thinks this is
+what is now called &#8216;Period Furniture,&#8217; he would
+suggest that we run out and have a look at it before
+the day of the sale.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The letter sounds exactly like him, doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221;
+laughed Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, but it is very nice of him to be so honest
+about it. Most auctioneers would tell us the furniture
+was wonderful,&#8221; returned Mrs. Fabian.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;When do you think we can run out there, Mrs.
+Fabian?&#8221; asked Eleanor, eagerly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll find out what day Carl can best arrange
+for the trip. We mustn&#8217;t &#8216;drive a willing horse
+to death,&#8217; you know.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Later in the evening, the telephone bell rang
+and Polly was called to the &#8217;phone. The maid
+who answered the ring said it was a man&#8217;s voice
+but she had not been able to understand the name.
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor heard her chum say: &#8220;Oh, really!
+We&#8217;ve been wondering what became of you. It
+was so surprising to find you were an old friend
+of our Mr. Dalken&#8217;s and then never hear from
+you again, or have anyone know where you had
+gone.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian glanced questioningly at Eleanor,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span>
+but the girl shook her head in token of her ignorance
+of who the caller could be. Then they
+heard Polly say: &#8220;Why, I reckon so. If you&#8217;ll
+hold the wire a moment, I&#8217;ll run and ask Mrs.
+Fabian.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>A few moments later, Polly rushed into the
+room and said eagerly: &#8220;Jack Baxter is on the
+&#8217;phone and wants to know if he may come in, tomorrow
+evening, Mrs. Fabian. He says he has
+a little furniture commission for Nolla and me to
+take care of.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian immediately replied that the young
+man would be welcomed the following evening,
+and Polly hurried back to deliver the invitation.
+Eleanor waited until she heard the conversation
+over the telephone resumed between the two, then
+she said to Mrs. Fabian:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I bet anything, that Jack Baxter is really in
+love with Polly! I watched him all that time,
+after he was formally introduced by Mr. Dalken,
+and he just hung on her every word and act.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian smiled. &#8220;That is the usual experience
+the young men have with Polly. I think
+the very fact that she is unmindful of her attractions,
+coupled with her indifference to the attentions
+of the male sex, acts as a spur to them; each
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span>
+tries to see if she will not capitulate to his individual
+charms.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor laughed. &#8220;You speak as if you believed
+the young men to be egotistical enough to
+<i>think</i> they were charming.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They do, Nolla!&#8221; retorted Mrs. Fabian.
+&#8220;Every Adam&#8217;s son firmly believes he is more alluring
+and attractive to a girl, than his friends.
+That is why they all follow tamely after a girl
+who has no time for them: they cannot believe it
+<i>possible</i> that she is not overcome with their
+fascinations.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor smiled as she listened, then she remarked:
+&#8220;I guess I&#8217;ll try Polly&#8217;s strategy and
+see if the beaus line up for me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You have no need to experiment with any new
+tricks,&#8221; replied Mrs. Fabian, warningly. &#8220;There
+are enough sighing young men already, waiting
+to break their hearts and necks, for a mere glance
+from those impish eyes of yours.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor laughed merrily at her chaperone&#8217;s
+words, but Polly&#8217;s return to the room interrupted
+their little talk.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What do you think?&#8221; demanded Polly, as soon
+as she was in the room.
+</p>
+<p>Not giving them time to answer, she said:
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span>
+&#8220;Jack Baxter is going to furnish a bachelor apartment
+in the city, and says he is going to give Nolla
+and me the contract for doing it. It will be our
+very first work as interior decorators!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh,&#8221; gasped Eleanor, &#8220;how can we do it?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly looked amazed at such a question, and
+retorted: &#8220;Why, with money and brains, to be
+sure!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Is that why he&#8217;s coming tomorrow evening?&#8221;
+asked Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes; he is now staying at Mr. Dalken&#8217;s apartment,
+and both of them are coming over tomorrow.
+He says he has been West since we last
+saw him, and he stopped at Pebbly Pit to see the
+folks, on his way back from the Coast. That is
+why he has not been heard from&mdash;he was called
+away so suddenly, and just got back today.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I wonder why he took all the trouble to go to
+Pebbly Pit?&#8221; said Eleanor. &#8220;He didn&#8217;t know a
+soul there!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what I asked him, and he says he will
+tell us all about it tomorrow night,&#8221; explained
+Polly.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XI_POLLY_S_FIRST_CONTRACT' id='XI_POLLY_S_FIRST_CONTRACT'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2>
+<h3>POLLY&#8217;S FIRST CONTRACT</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Promptly at eight, Jack Baxter and Mr. Dalken
+were announced to Polly and Eleanor. The
+Fabians had gone to the Opera and Mr. Dalken
+was supposed to act as chaperone for the evening.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;This is a new experience for me,&#8221; laughed
+he, &#8220;but not one that I dislike. In fact, I will
+be glad to offer my services in the same capacity,
+at any time, for you girls.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Better beware how you offer yourself on such
+an altar,&#8221; teased Polly, trying to appear calm and
+composed, whereas she was keyed up to hear about
+the proposed work young Baxter wished them to
+do for his new apartment.
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor deemed it wise to mention another subject
+first, so she asked: &#8220;How long were you at
+Pebbly Pit, Mr. Baxter?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s one of the reasons we came over to
+see you,&#8221; interpolated Mr. Dalken. &#8220;Jack has
+a lot to tell you about the troubles there.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;What troubles?&#8221; wondered Polly. &#8220;You
+don&#8217;t mean the land-slide, do you?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We know about that,&#8221; added Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You only heard the first news of it. But you
+never knew what followed that first event,&#8221; returned
+Mr. Dalken. &#8220;I&#8217;ve known how things
+stood for a short time, but I talked it over with
+the Latimers, and we decided to let Jack go West
+with Mr. Alexander, and investigate matters for
+themselves.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Dodo&#8217;s father! What has he to do with
+it?&#8221; asked both girls in surprise.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;More than we can ever appreciate. Because
+he is such an experienced old miner, having spent
+years in the Klondike, and later, down in the Colorado
+mining districts, his going to Pebbly Pit was
+the best thing that ever happened to our company.
+Jack had just decided to invest a great
+deal of his capital in the joint companies, so he
+decided to accompany Alexander and see for himself
+how the land lay.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And what was Mr. Alexander&#8217;s verdict?&#8221;
+asked Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Listen to Jack&#8217;s story of what happened on
+the mountain, that early morning. It is as thrilling
+as anything I ever heard,&#8221; said Mr. Dalken.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;d have given anything to have been on the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span>
+spot when that old peak divided her earthly substance,&#8221;
+laughed Jack. &#8220;But even the telling of
+it by Tom Latimer and John Brewster, was so exciting
+that I tried every way possible to reach the
+mountain where the awful avalanche took place.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Tom had felt a tremor run along the side of
+the peak the night before, and had warned John
+that old Grizzly was ripping mad again. So the
+two of them rode along the Crest where those
+claim-jumpers were buried the time that other
+avalanche occurred, and they saw that Grizzly
+Slide had broken up great masses of ice-field, and
+on the far side where it drops suddenly to the
+valley, thousands of feet below, a great block of
+ice and rock had fallen from the top-side and had
+rolled down, destroying everything in its terrific
+plunge.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Both boys were satisfied that it was only a
+matter of time before the gaping crevices showing
+on the side towards the gold mine, would widen
+and the top-mass begin to move. It was impossible
+to say whether a slide would happen on the
+cave-side or roll down one of the gulleys on either
+side of the mine. But the two of them made up
+their minds that everyone must move from the
+camp without delay, and seek safety.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Orders were given to strike camp at once, and
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span>
+the men worked all night, packing away outfits
+and tools, and such machinery as could be moved
+inside the cave. Then the mouth was closed
+against winter storms, and they started, on their
+horses, to ride along Top Notch Trail, on the
+down trip.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It was almost noon when they left the mine,
+and by two o&#8217;clock they halted on one of the crests
+to cook dinner. The horses were hobbled where
+a patch of Buffalo grass provided good pastureage,
+and Rattlesnake Mike started a fire to cook
+the meal. Tom and John got out their tackle to
+catch a few trout, when a fearful roll of thunder
+sounded along the crest.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;She come down, pooty queeck!&#8217; exclaimed
+Mike, startled out of his usual calmness.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;&#8216;Do you mean Old Grizzly?&#8217; Tom asked him.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But before he could reply, there was such a
+crash and roar, and the whole ground shook under
+their feet as if an earthquake had caused it.
+Everyone stood aghast looking at what had been
+snow-capped Grizzly but a moment before. So
+astonished were the men that they couldn&#8217;t speak.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The roar and tumult continued so seemingly
+close at hand, that the men ran for their horses,
+and would have ridden down the trail had not
+Mike laughed and applied a match to the kindling,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span>
+just as if nothing was happening above them on
+Grizzly Slide. It instantly quieted the fears of
+the others, and they turned again to wait for further
+events.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Tom Latimer says, that what caused such a
+panicky feeling in them all, was the fact that one
+moment they had seen the glistening cap of Old
+Grizzly, and the next, it was gone, and a great
+cloud of flying white particles hid the scene for a
+time.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The terrific detonation they heard immediately
+after the peak&#8217;s snow-cap rolled down the mountain-side,
+was caused by the mass of rock, ice,
+snow and general débris, striking the ground below.
+How far it fell before striking, they could
+not say, but Mike claims it must have been hurtled,
+from the peak of Grizzly, to the great gulch
+that runs along its lower side, about five thousand
+feet below&mdash;all that distance before landing and
+filling the ravines about that section.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All the way down, from Grizzly Gulches to
+the bottoms that run along Bear Forks branches,
+the avalanche tore up trees, boulders, moraine,
+and other heavy matter, that generally forms a
+dam for smaller slides than this one was. But
+this time, entire forests were shoved along, still
+standing, just like a great cake of icing with fancy
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span>
+frosting of colored sugar on top of it, is pushed
+off from a slice of birthday cake, when the knife
+loosens it. The moment any part of this avalanche
+came up against a cliff, or rolled over into
+vast ravines, that much of the sliding forest tumbled
+up against itself, or fell into the gulch to
+instantly fill up the cleft and cause the remaining
+slide to roll over it.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The end of that avalanche did not come until
+it reached the valley of Bear Forks, just below
+Pebbly Pit ranch. If your home had not been
+snugly located up in that crater, but had been
+down in the valley by the river, it would have
+been completely covered with the tons of trash
+that still remained after having rolled for miles,
+and finally worn itself out on the banks of the
+stream.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All the branches of Bear Forks that start up
+on the side of the mountain, are choked, and the
+waters rushed in every direction, starting smaller
+slides by up-rooting trees and loose stones and
+shale.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The miners followed Mike&#8217;s example, and ate
+a hearty dinner, although they were all crazy to
+ride back and ascertain the extent of the damage
+caused. Mike was for their going quietly on
+home, but not one of the others would agree to
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span>
+this. So they turned back and rode as far as the
+trail was passable. But they could not climb over
+the great mass of débris that was piled up, shortly
+after leaving Four Blaze Tree. And the queer
+sensation of not seeing the old familiar top on
+Grizzly Peak, unnerved them for further adventure
+that day.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They got home past midnight, to hear the account
+of what happened as witnessed by Anne,
+and Mr. and Mrs. Brewster.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;At the first rolling of the slide, Anne ran out
+of the ranch-house and watched anxiously, as she
+knew the men were up at the mine. She saw
+such a strange sight that she rubbed her eyes to
+make sure she was not dreaming. She says, she
+saw the top of Old Grizzly break right off as if
+someone had cleft it at a given point down from
+the peak. And this gigantic mass of ice, still
+glittering in the sun-rays, toppled down until she
+heard the crash and roar and felt the earth shake
+under her feet even at that great distance from
+the Peak that the ranch was.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The ranch-house and the out-buildings shook
+as in a quake, and caused everyone to run toward
+the terrace that runs along the edge of the crater.
+There they stood watching clouds of snow float up
+over the forests that, one moment were to be seen,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span>
+and the next were moving swiftly down the mountain
+sides.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The folks feared the men at the mine had been
+killed, as the avalanche was the greatest they had
+ever heard of in that vicinity, so Mr. Brewster
+rode madly to Oak Creek to get some men to go
+with him to see if any signs of his boys could be
+found.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;They met them at Lone Pine Blaze, and Tom
+said that John&#8217;s father sat still and sobbed like a
+child, with relief at finding everyone in his mining-party
+safe.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;So, Miss Polly, the gold mine is closed by Nature,
+for untold repairs. Whether this generation
+will ever locate the ore and dig out the tools
+and machinery buried in the cave, remains to be
+seen. But I was so infatuated with life in the
+Rockies during the short visit I had there, that I
+determined to put in all the cramming at college
+that was possible, and finish my education so I
+could go out there to join Tom Latimer and
+John Brewster in their exciting engineering
+work.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>When Jack had concluded his story, the girls
+seemed rather downcast at the knowledge that
+their little mine was gone, but Mr. Dalken said
+to young Baxter:
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;You may as well tell them about the Cliffs,
+and have all the mourning over at one time.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly glanced anxiously from Mr. Dalken to
+Jack, and then at Eleanor, but the young man explained
+without waiting longer: &#8220;All the miners
+working at Rainbow Cliffs went on a big strike
+shortly after the calamity on Grizzly Slide, and
+so unreasonable were their demands that Mr.
+Brewster refused to grant them. That stopped
+work on the lava jewels, too, and everything is
+closed down until next year. Of course, while
+there is no work going on, there are no wages to
+pay, but there is also no income from the vast
+amount of money invested in machinery.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Dear me, then really, I am a pauper for the
+time being,&#8221; exclaimed Polly, but not in a distressed
+tone as one would expect after such dire
+news.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Your mother told me most emphatically, that
+that was <i>not</i> the case. Everyone at Pebbly Pit
+seems to want you to continue with your studies
+until you have finished; and your father said there
+was a tidy fortune in a Denver bank for you, so
+that no matter what happened to others, you were
+amply provided for. With your business that
+you wish to take up, you will not have to worry
+over the future,&#8221; explained Jack Baxter.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span></p>
+<p>Eleanor remembered that Mr. Dalken had invested
+heavily in these two Pebbly Pit ventures,
+and now she turned to him.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Will everyone connected with those two mines
+lose a great deal of money?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Your father, the Latimers, the Evans&#8217;, myself
+and John Brewster hold equal shares of stock,
+but Polly&#8217;s father holds twice as much as anyone
+else, for he holds Polly&#8217;s stock as her guardian as
+well as his own. The Montresor Estate, representing
+the heirs of Kenneth&#8217;s uncle who first discovered
+the mine on Grizzly, and then willed
+it to Polly who later re-discovered the same
+vein of ore in the cave, hold the same number
+of shares in the stock-company as either of us,
+although they did not furnish any cash for their
+stock.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now Ebeneezer Alexander told Jack to tell
+us, that he simply could not stand city-life another
+day. And, after enjoying the freedom and open
+life of the Rockies again, he was determined to
+stay at Pebbly Pit and see the tangle worked out.
+His experience will be most valuable to Tom and
+John, who are only young engineers, after all.
+And Mr. Brewster is a stock-grower with no
+knowledge of mining. So we think it is a good
+plan to let Mr. Alexander take up some of our
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span>
+shares, and sell him an interest in the future of
+these mines.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If anyone can pull Choko&#8217;s Find Mine out of
+the grave it is buried in, old Ebeneezer can do it.
+He has such energy and perseverance that nothing
+daunts him&mdash;excepting big cities.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And titles!&#8221; added Eleanor, making her
+friends laugh.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m glad to hear he will stay there to help.
+I like him so much!&#8221; declared Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, now that most of our evening was given
+to the story about the land-slide on Grizzly, how
+much time am I to be given for the furnishing of
+my apartment?&#8221; asked Jack Baxter.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Just talking about it won&#8217;t furnish it,&#8221; retorted
+Polly, smilingly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, but we can get at first principles, can&#8217;t
+we?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes; if both sides know on what basis each
+wishes to start!&#8221; said Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I know my side of it, and I really think you
+girls know yours. This is my basis: I have two
+large rooms and bath near Fifth Avenue, that I
+want a decorator to do in keeping with the style
+of the rooms. I don&#8217;t care where or how you
+get the items for furnishing, but I&#8217;d like some of
+the fun of going about with you when you visit
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span>
+odd corners of the country to dig up the antiques.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If you waste your time that way, how do you
+expect to finish a hurried education in engineering?&#8221;
+asked Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, furnishing won&#8217;t last long, and studying
+will.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If Mr. Dalken is a conscientious executor of
+your estate I should think he&#8217;d forbid your wasting
+any time hunting up furniture and hiring decorators
+to do it for you, at the same time,&#8221; teased
+Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Dalken laughed and said: &#8220;I always said
+&#8216;All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.&#8217;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, Jack can work for two whole weeks before
+he gets any play, as far as going to a sale
+is concerned. There will be no sale, that we
+know of, until the old house at Parsippany is sold
+in two weeks,&#8221; explained Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I won&#8217;t have to wait as long as that, I hope,
+for my apartment. I&#8217;m paying rent on it already,
+and am stopping with Mr. Dalken as his guest,
+until I get a bed and a chair.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But I thought you wanted to furnish by going
+to the sales of antiques,&#8221; ventured Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I did, but I want to go to one tomorrow.
+Can&#8217;t you girls contract to escort me to places in
+the city where we can get things without waiting?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;As far as that is concerned, we can take you
+right over to the Ashby Shop and find everything
+on earth you can use, right in his collections,&#8221;
+said Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I wanted to feel that you two girls were getting
+this contract and the profits, and not a famous
+establishment,&#8221; demurred Jack.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll have the contract, all right, but we will
+only buy what we need from Mr. Ashby, at regular
+discount, you know,&#8221; explained Eleanor in a
+business-like manner.
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Dalken smiled indulgently on his two
+young friends who had developed such marvelous
+aptitude for business since their trip abroad that
+summer. And young Baxter concluded with:
+&#8220;All right; tomorrow, you girls get Mrs. Fabian,
+and come over to my rooms to get your &#8216;atmosphere.&#8217;
+Then we&#8217;ll start in and shop.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>So the next ten days were filled with a great
+many visits to the apartment to determine certain
+colors and styles of things, and with a great deal
+of important conferring between the client and
+the decorators. But eventually, the apartment
+was almost ready for its occupant, and three
+young people declared that the decorating was a
+work of art&mdash;simply perfect! And it did not
+cost so <i>very</i> much, either! Mr. Dalken reserved
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span>
+his opinion on costs, however, and laughed in his
+sleeve at Baxter, for the latter had no more need
+of an apartment than a cat has for two tails. It
+was a whim of his to give the girls a contract, and
+Jack could afford whims, so his guardian said
+nothing about the bills.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, I must say,&#8221; said Polly the day after
+Jack held a &#8220;house-warming&#8221; in his newly furnished
+domain, &#8220;I never saw ten days go by as fast
+as these did. Here we are almost on top of that
+sale in the country, and it seems like yesterday
+that we got the announcement.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It shows how much we really love our profession,&#8221;
+said Eleanor, &#8220;when we get so much
+pleasure out of work.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But Dodo was present at some of the conferences
+the two amateur decorators held with Jack
+and she now remarked: &#8220;Work! did you two
+think that going about in Jack&#8217;s sporty car and
+lunching at swell dining-rooms, or holding up a
+strip of gold-gauze to watch the sheen on your
+hand, was hard work?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian laughed to herself at the conversation.
+But Polly answered with an experienced
+air: &#8220;When you have had years of study in decorating,
+like Nolla and I have had, you will find
+that work is not altogether a physical effort. At
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span>
+present, in your apprenticeship, you do more than
+you saw us do in furnishing, but you&#8217;ll learn, some
+day!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Dodo tossed her head confidently, and remarked:
+&#8220;I have nothing more to learn&mdash;if
+your knowledge is the acme of the understanding
+of your trade.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>As no reply was given this statement, Mrs. Fabian
+hurried from the room to laugh quietly to
+herself at the egotism of youth. Later when Mr.
+Ashby was told the story, he said:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;When they have been at the profession for
+thirty years, and have acquired all the knowledge
+that I have in that time, they will begin to learn
+that we all know very little of harmony and perfect
+ideals in decorating.&#8221;
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XII_THE_PARSIPPANY_VENDUE' id='XII_THE_PARSIPPANY_VENDUE'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2>
+<h3>THE PARSIPPANY VENDUE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>It was a lovely late Fall day when Carl
+brought Mr. Dalken&#8217;s car around to the Fabian&#8217;s
+residence to drive the girls to the Parsippany sale.
+Jack Baxter was seated beside Carl and announced
+to the girls as they came out with Mrs. Fabian:
+&#8220;I&#8217;m invited to go with you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Who asked you?&#8221; was the rejoinder from
+both girls.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Carl did. He gets tired of chauffing for
+hours without rest. So I offered to help him
+out.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Of course, Carl&#8217;s uncomfortable flush showed
+that Jack was joking, but he was a welcome addition
+to the small party, so they started off, a
+merry quartette.
+</p>
+<p>As there had been no time to drive out, so far,
+to inspect the household goods for sale, it had
+been postponed until the day of the sale. Mrs.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span>
+Fabian said that should there be nothing desirable
+at the old house, they could go on and have another
+hunt about the country.
+</p>
+<p>But the sale promised to be an interesting one,
+for the moment the girls found out that the house
+they were looking for was an old Colonial two-story
+farm-house, with wings at each side, they
+felt sure of its contents being worth-while.
+</p>
+<p>They parked the car out in a large carriage-house
+and walked over to the front door. It was
+a true type, with sunburst window over the door,
+and a wonderful old knocker on the front panel
+of the door. A narrow high window at each side
+had diamond panes in them. There was a dear
+little hood over the doorway that someone called
+a &#8220;rain-shed.&#8221; And on each side of the &#8220;stoop&#8221;
+which was reached by three steps, was a high-backed
+wooden seat, with funny low arms at the
+outer ends.
+</p>
+<p>The windows of the entire house were filled
+with small-paned sash, the glass being green and
+wavy in some panes, and as cloudy as mist in
+others. Then again other panes were of really
+clear white glass. The city visitors found later,
+that these old panes were the original old glass
+set in by the first owner.
+</p>
+<p>But they did not come to admire the outside,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span>
+so they all went indoors to look about. They entered
+upon a tiny entry.
+</p>
+<p>The front parlor was a small band-box-like
+room with a chimney piece at one side, and a stove-pipe
+hole in it for winter use. Alongside the
+chimney was a narrow cupboard that was meant
+to hold books, or other things, to keep the parlor
+from being &#8220;cluttered up.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Directly opposite the chimney was a long, high-backed
+settee, with haircloth covering. The
+frame was old mahogany and the shape hinted at
+Chippendale, with its six feet having beautiful
+lines, and the side arms curving graciously out to
+invite one to be seated.
+</p>
+<p>In this best room were, also, several rush-bottomed
+stencilled chairs, and a Boston Rocker.
+An inlaid Hepplewhite table stood against the
+wall between the two front windows, with its drop-leaf
+raised against the wall. A number of old
+pieces of brass and pewter stood on the table.
+Over it hung an early Georgian mirror but the
+reflection one got when gazing into it was
+terrifying.
+</p>
+<p>From the parlor, the collectors went to the
+long living-room that occupied one wing of the
+house. Here was a great open fire-place with
+crane, and everything used in olden times for
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span>
+keeping a fire in good order. Over the mantel
+hung a wonderful old mirror with a colored picture
+of Washington crossing the Delaware in its
+upper panel.
+</p>
+<p>A rare Empire table with both leaves up,
+stood in the middle of the room, and Polly instantly
+made up her mind to own that table, if
+nothing more that day.
+</p>
+<p>As they went about admiring the antiques, Jack
+said: &#8220;Gee! But I&#8217;m sorry we furnished the
+apartment so soon. What a lot of fine things
+we might have had at this sale.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>And Eleanor laughingly remarked: &#8220;Sell
+your flat out like so many New Yorkers do, and
+start in again on another.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>In the low-ceiled, wide dining-room, they found
+the typical round mahogany table with twelve
+chairs&mdash;two arm and ten side chairs. The seats
+were covered with rep, but must have had haircloth
+on them at one time. The backs were very
+low and curved away from the small of the back
+in a frightened manner. There was but one
+cross-piece in the back and that was curved also.
+</p>
+<p>The side-board was nearly eight feet long, with
+six claw feet, and a high top. On it stood a tea-caddy
+of mahogany, a knife-box, and several silver
+boxes. All of them must have been over a
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span>
+hundred years old. Very old china and glassware
+stood on the large table, ready to be sold.
+The collectors saw many desirable pieces there,
+but they were too anxious to visit the upstairs to
+stop, then, and examine the plates and other
+pieces.
+</p>
+<p>There were four large square rooms on the
+second floor and in each one, stood a wonderful
+four-poster bed&mdash;two with canopy-tops and two
+without. Empire work-tables were in two rooms,
+and besides the high chests of mahogany drawers,
+and low dressing-tables with tiny front drawers
+to hold the comb and brush, there were also ottomans,
+foot-stools, and ornamental pieces. Mirrors
+hung over each mantel, and old-fashioned
+prints and paintings were on the walls.
+</p>
+<p>By the time Mrs. Fabian and the girls went
+downstairs again, they were dumbfounded to find
+that a farm-house so near to Morristown and
+railroad stations, should have preserved such a
+wonderful lot of old mahogany furniture without
+having been discovered by collectors. But being
+strangers to the other people now gathering for
+the sale, they did not speak of their wonderment.
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Van Styne was late, and as soon as he arrived
+he began in the kitchen, without any greeting
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span>
+to his followers. There seemed to be a far
+different type of buyer at this sale, than the girls
+had found at any of the little sales in Westchester;
+and once the auctioneer began on the antique
+pieces, the prices ran up alarmingly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That man standing over there just paid a hundred
+and sixty dollars for that Colonial secretary,&#8221;
+whispered Polly, annoyance expressed in
+her tone for she had been bidding on the same
+piece.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He doesn&#8217;t look as if he had sixty cents in his
+purse,&#8221; said Eleanor, scornfully.
+</p>
+<p>A lady standing beside her, looked at the buyer
+and smiled. &#8220;That man is one of the buyers of
+one of the largest antique collectors in New
+York.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He is!&#8221; gasped Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Who is the collector?&#8221; asked Polly, but the
+woman saw a little Toby put up for sale, just then,
+and she wanted to bid on it, so Polly never heard.
+</p>
+<p>Anything that could boast of being a hundred
+years old, or more, brought fabulous prices, and
+the girls were amazed to hear names that they
+had read of in the columns of the New York
+papers, called out by the cashier, but never
+dreamed they would come face to face with the
+owners thereof.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span></p>
+<p>Jack Baxter spied a woman he knew, and finally
+brought her over to meet Mrs. Fabian and the
+girls. This lady was a social leader in the City,
+and furnished much interesting information to
+her new acquaintances, about others present who
+were buying.
+</p>
+<p>That sale taught Polly that it was not always
+the farm-houses that furnished the rarest bargains
+at a sale, especially when that farm was in
+proximity to a well-known residential suburb.
+But she also found that not everyone who attends
+a public sale, and bids anxiously, knows the value
+of what they are bidding on.
+</p>
+<p>Thus it transpired, that she secured several of
+the finest antiques in the house, because others
+knew nothing of their true records or had overlooked
+the objects because of their unattractive
+finish or form.
+</p>
+<p>Jack furnished much amusement to his friends
+by bidding on everything the girls did not want.
+And the most amusing part of it was, he seldom
+secured a thing he bid on. He finally grew so
+desperate in his bidding, because Polly laughed at
+his luck, that the people frowned upon him as
+being a &#8220;professional capper.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Van Styne overheard that remark and was
+furious.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;I want you all to know that I am an honest
+auctioneer! I never had a booster in my life,
+and I&#8217;ve sold for nigh onto fifty years. That
+nice-looking young man you call a &#8216;capper&#8217; is a
+friend of some friends of mine from New York,
+out here to buy antiques. To prove it to you-all,
+that young lady there, next the young man, is the
+one who gave the &#8216;Metropolitan&#8217; the rare print
+she found in my shop. So there! I reckon that
+will hold you, for a time!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The surprise felt by the buyers at this news
+about Polly, was instantly followed by a general
+laugh at the auctioneer&#8217;s final remark to them.
+Baxter laughed at the interruption, but Polly felt
+very uncomfortable with so many eyes turned her
+way. Mr. Van Styne, never dreaming of having
+made personal remarks, now continued his sale.
+</p>
+<p>The antique furniture in the upstairs chambers
+brought higher prices than Polly had seen similar
+pieces on sale at the antique shops in New York,
+and she wondered still more that a country auction
+should bring forth buyers who were willing
+to pay such high prices.
+</p>
+<p>Finally, feeling sure that there were no more
+bargains for them that day, Polly led the way
+downstairs. Young Baxter tried to persuade
+her to remain and try for a high-boy she had admired,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span>
+but she refused to give the high bids demanded.
+So Jack stayed when the others left the room.
+</p>
+<p>Down on the side-porch, while waiting for Carl
+to come from the carriage sheds, a well-dressed
+lady accosted Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I heard the auctioneer say you presented a
+rare print to the Museum in New York City. I
+should be pleased to hear about it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>She handed Polly a card. Upon reading the
+name of one of the best known amateur collectors
+in New York, Polly forgot to reply. Mrs. Fabian
+smiled and spoke for her, to give her time to
+recover from her surprise. After introducing
+the girls, Mrs. Fabian mentioned the fact that
+Polly and Eleanor took advantage of every sale
+in or about the City, in order to familiarize themselves
+with such articles as they would need in
+their profession.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, are you studying this line of work?&#8221;
+asked the lady, deeply interested at once.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, we have given several years to the study,
+already, and last Summer we went abroad to visit
+the best known places where antiques and collections
+were to be seen,&#8221; replied Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well then, my dears, this is my lucky day. I
+want someone to do this sort of work for me, but
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span>
+I want only such interested individuals who love
+the collecting for itself, and not alone for wages.
+Also, I want someone who can tell a Sheraton
+piece from Empire. If you girls will accept a
+proposition from me, I will be glad to talk it over,
+some morning, with you.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly smiled and said: &#8220;If your orders do not
+interfere with our studies and other work, we will
+gladly accept the work.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>So, by the time Jack Baxter hurried down the
+stairs, Polly and Eleanor had made a new connection
+with one of New York&#8217;s social leaders.
+Jack looked about for his friends, for a moment,
+and then smiled in surprise as he rushed forward.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, Mrs. Courtney! I am delighted to see
+you here. Did you just arrive?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, if it isn&#8217;t Jack Baxter! No, my boy, I
+came out this morning thinking this was a <i>bona
+fide</i> antique sale. To my disgust, I found it was
+&#8216;fixed&#8217; by a clever dealer from the city, who
+chooses just such suburban towns as are famous
+for its millionaire residents, then he plans a campaign.
+He was wise enough, this time, to engage
+Mr. Van Styne to do the selling for him, as the
+old man is so popular with the people of his town,
+and he is a splendid auctioneer, at the same time.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly was dumbfounded. &#8220;Do you mean to
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span>
+say that anyone would take the trouble to ship
+out all these antiques, so far from the city, just
+to catch a lot of buyers?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Courtney laughed. &#8220;Of course, my dear.
+People will take any amount of trouble to make
+a few extra dollars. This dealer owns his own
+trucks, and why not let them put in a day&#8217;s work
+carting a load of furniture here, if he can get twice
+as much for his goods as in New York? All he
+has to do, is to find the right type of old house
+conveniently near the city for motoring and large
+enough to show off his wares to the best advantage.
+This man is clever enough, too, to select
+only such places as are rich with Revolutionary
+lore, and near enough to the estates of the rich to
+be an attraction to owners to come. Then he
+mails announcements to his city clientele, also.
+That is how I heard of the sale.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Jack frowned angrily. &#8220;I suppose that darned
+old high-boy I just bought for a top-notch figure,
+could have been purchased at this man&#8217;s city shop
+for half the price! Now I have to pay to have
+it crated and shipped back to New York.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, this &#8216;fixer&#8217; will move it back in his trucks
+for a neat sum,&#8221; said Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>Her companions laughed. Polly then reminded
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span>
+him: &#8220;I said <i>not</i> to bid on it! I knew
+it would go too high for us to bother with.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Carl now drove up to the house, and Mrs.
+Courtney bid them good-day, having reminded
+Polly that she and Eleanor were to telephone her
+at their first opportunity.
+</p>
+<p>Polly could not help speaking of the &#8220;fixed&#8221;
+sale of antiques, and Eleanor said: &#8220;That is
+why everything brought such awfully high prices.
+The articles must have had a set price on them
+to begin with, and when Mr. Van Styne offered
+a thing, the dealer was there to run it to a figure
+beyond the given price on the books. I am surprised
+that the old auctioneer would do such a
+thing.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe he knew the sale was what we
+call &#8216;padded&#8217;; for he seems too conscientious a
+man to lend himself to such a deception,&#8221; remarked
+Mrs. Fabian.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If he was just hired to sell the stuff, regardless
+of how it got out to Parsippany, and told to
+follow book-orders, he had no choice, had he?&#8221;
+asked Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He looks such an honest old fellow, I don&#8217;t
+believe he even knew the goods came from a New
+York dealer. Just because he <i>is</i> so honest, is one
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span>
+reason why people who knew him will listen to
+his advice and for the same reason a clever New
+York dealer would hire him. I wouldn&#8217;t be surprised,
+if you girls hear from him, some day, to
+the effect that he is shocked to learn that this sale
+was not on the level as far as the yarn went,&#8221; said
+Jack.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, I&#8217;d feel better if he did. I really feel
+hurt, now, to think he might be as tricky as that
+other dealer,&#8221; said Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But it would not be called &#8216;tricky,&#8217; Polly, in
+clever business circles,&#8221; said Mrs. Fabian.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Maybe not, but to me it looks a lot like selling
+goods under false representations. I&#8217;d rather
+not sell anything than have to sell that way.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;When you come right down to &#8216;brass tacks&#8217;
+and study out the whole scheme of things, Polly,
+we might be accused of tricky works, too,&#8221; remarked
+Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; demanded Polly,
+astonished.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, when you think of how we got that pair
+of old candle-sticks in exchange for a brass lamp!
+We had no lamp to exchange, but Mrs. Fabian
+rushed off to a store and got one. Then there
+were those old pictures at Van Styne&#8217;s. We were
+afraid he&#8217;d suspect them of being valuable, so we
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span>
+dusted them well again, as they had been originally,
+and placed them with two others to make a
+&#8216;job lot&#8217; of them, to hide the facts about them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But,&#8221; remonstrated Polly, &#8220;the lady who
+had no use for the candle-sticks <i>did</i> want a brass
+lamp the worst way. And Sally Dolan, who
+never appreciated the pictures when she had them,
+<i>did</i> appreciate the money we paid for them&mdash;while
+we appreciated the old things other folks
+failed to value.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Polly is right, there, Nolla,&#8221; added Mrs. Fabian.
+&#8220;I do not see a trick in giving a person
+exactly what they ask for a thing&mdash;whether they
+realize the true value of it, or not. That is their
+affair. In Law, the Judge says there is no excuse
+or cause, for mitigating a sentence because the
+prisoner claims he was ignorant of consequences
+of a deed. So it is in other lines: Ignorance
+can never claim excuse from consequences&mdash;whether
+it be a sale of a candle-stick or a piece
+of old land that turns out to have gold on it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then I should say, ignorance on the part of
+the buyers at this vendue, exonerates the dealer
+from all blame,&#8221; said Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Legally it does, but we were thinking of the
+moral,&#8221; explained Mrs. Fabian.
+</p>
+<p>When the collectors reached the Fabian house,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span>
+Jack seemed loath to go on, so Mrs. Fabian invited
+him in to have a bite with them at an informal
+dinner.
+</p>
+<p>It had been plainly evident for some time, that
+the only interest Jack Baxter had taken in furnishing
+his apartment, or in going about to hunt out
+old antiques, was because it gave him plenty of
+opportunities to be with Polly. And as is often
+the case, when one is completely absorbed in a
+pursuit, Polly was the last one to suspect the truth
+of this.
+</p>
+<p>But he forgot discretion that evening, at dinner,
+and permitted too much of his attention to
+be directed Polly&#8217;s way. Even this might have
+been overlooked had not an interruption occurred
+while at the table.
+</p>
+<p>The telephone bell was heard, and shortly afterward,
+the maid came around to Polly&#8217;s side and
+said:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;A Mr. Latimer on the wire, Miss Polly.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor was all interest at once: &#8220;Can it be
+Jim, or Tom, I wonder?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly was excusing herself at the moment, but
+turned to add: &#8220;You know very well that Tom
+has his hands full at the mines.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor flushed, for she had almost given away
+a secret that Paul had told her in his last letter.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span>
+Thus far she had kept quiet about the confidence.
+</p>
+<p>Polly ran from the room, and Jack Baxter
+scowled at his plate. Mr. Fabian smiled at his
+face and tried to engage him in conversation.
+But Polly&#8217;s continued absence annoyed the youth,
+so that he lost his appetite, and, in fact, all interest
+in any subject started.
+</p>
+<p>Polly skipped back after a time, her face
+wreathed in smiles. &#8220;You will never guess who
+I was talking to?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Everyone but Jack pretended not to know, but
+he blurted out: &#8220;When I was out at the ranch,
+that Tom Latimer said something about coming
+East for the Winter months&mdash;as long as Alexander
+proposed to stay out there and take a hand
+in the work.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, this is the first word you&#8217;ve said about
+it,&#8221; said Polly, amazed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Had I known you were so deeply interested in
+the plans of young Latimer, I would have told
+you immediately,&#8221; said Jack, with sarcasm born
+of jealousy in his voice.
+</p>
+<p>Polly refused to answer him, and immediately
+asked Mrs. Fabian to excuse her from dinner as
+she wished to dress for the evening.
+</p>
+<p>The rest of the family finished the meal with
+the uncomfortable sense of Jack&#8217;s having lost
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span>
+caste in Polly&#8217;s estimation. He felt it himself,
+and it certainly did not tend to make him more
+agreeable that evening.
+</p>
+<p>As soon after dinner as could be politely managed,
+Jack spoke of a theatre engagement and
+excused himself. His hostesses felt easier when
+the door slammed upon him, for they dreaded
+having Tom announced while his rival was there,
+and then have the whole evening spoiled by both
+young men glowering at each other.
+</p>
+<p>While Eleanor and Nancy ran upstairs to dress
+for the evening, the former whispered: &#8220;If Tom
+remains in New York all this winter, I bet he&#8217;ll
+<i>get</i> Polly before he goes back to the mines, or else
+he&#8217;ll &#8216;cook his goose&#8217; for all time!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Nancy laughed merrily, and said: &#8220;No goose
+will be cooked if Polly knows it! But I&#8217;ll wager
+you a box of candy, Nolla, that Tom will <i>not</i> get
+his girl before he goes back to the mines.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All right, Nanc! That&#8217;s a wager; a five-pound
+box of the best <i>bon bons</i>, that Tom and
+Polly will be engaged before the end of this winter
+season!&#8221;
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XIII_TOM_MEANS_BUSINESS' id='XIII_TOM_MEANS_BUSINESS'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2>
+<h3>TOM MEANS BUSINESS</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Polly&#8217;s friends had not completed their dressing
+when Tom was announced, but she was waiting
+in the cozy library; so Tom crossed the long
+formal parlor in a few strides, when he caught
+sight of her in the softly shaded light of the floor-lamp.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Polly! Oh, but I&#8217;m glad to see you again!&#8221;
+breathed he as he caught both hands and devoured
+her smiles with his eyes.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I should hope you would be glad! Isn&#8217;t
+everyone I know glad to see me after they have
+been absent a long time?&#8221; laughed Polly, in a
+matter-of-fact tone.
+</p>
+<p>But Tom glanced hastily about the room.
+Then he quite unexpectedly leaned forward and
+caught her face between his palms. &#8220;Polly
+Brewster, I&#8217;m going to salute you with a brotherly
+kiss!&#8221; whispered Tom, and immediately, he
+pressed a kiss upon her red lips&mdash;but Polly felt
+sure it was <i>not</i> like John&#8217;s kisses.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span></p>
+<p>She tried to free her head from his powerful
+hands, but he laughed masterfully and held her
+under the light while he gazed into her eyes.
+Finally Polly felt herself growing warm and
+flushed, and to stop his look she closed her eyes
+and began kicking at his shins.
+</p>
+<p>With a happy laugh, Tom freed her face and
+picked her up in his arms. In three long strides
+he was over at the divan where he placed her,
+sitting upright. Then he sat down beside her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why&mdash;Tom Latimer!&#8221; gasped Polly, angrily,
+trying to rearrange her hair which had become
+tumbled in the fray.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why&mdash;Tom Latimer!&#8221; laughed he, mimicking
+Polly very cleverly. &#8220;You don&#8217;t know <i>this</i> Tom,
+do you, girl! But this is the Tom that you&#8217;ll
+know hereafter. I&#8217;m through acting like a
+woolly lamb just because Anne says that&#8217;s the
+only way to get a girl! You&#8217;re a Rocky Mountain
+girl and the only way to make you notice, is
+to use ranch methods to lasso you. That&#8217;s why
+I&#8217;m here in New York. Catch me letting a rich
+society darling like that Baxter spend the winter
+months making love to you, when I&#8217;m wasting
+my heart away at Pebbly Pit, hoping against hope
+for a nice long letter from you!&#8221;
+</p>
+<div class='figcenter'>
+<a name='linki_4' id='linki_4'></a>
+<img src='images/illus-200.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br />
+<span class='caption'>
+TOM PICKED POLLY UP IN HIS ARMS.<br />
+<i>Polly&#8217;s Business Venture.</i> <i>Page 200</i>
+<br />
+</span>
+</div>
+
+<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span></div>
+<p>Tom&#8217;s frown and the tone in which he declared
+himself, made Polly want to laugh albeit she
+shrunk away, somewhat, for fear of a plot in his
+mind.
+</p>
+<p>Tom had, in his fervor, lost control once, but
+he was too wise to indulge himself again, in such
+a manner. Tom had spent a great deal of time
+in studying, during the past year, the psychology
+of love, and now he was going to test his knowledge.
+He told John, just before he left the
+ranch, that once a girl liked a fellow, it was easy
+to make her love him, by judicious treatment. In
+explanation, he said:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;When Jeb wants to coax one of the burros to
+the barn, he doesn&#8217;t give him the measure of oats
+to eat out on the range&mdash;no, he leads the burro
+to the barn by holding the box of feed ahead of
+his nose!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The Brewsters laughed at Tom&#8217;s idea, but he
+declared that that was the way he was going to
+get Polly. And all their arguments about giving
+Polly a chance to finish her studies and try out
+her beloved work, fell on dull ears. Tom started
+East!
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Polly, let&#8217;s all go to a good show, shall we?&#8221;
+was Tom&#8217;s unexpected invitation, just as his companion
+began to worry because he sat so close
+beside her.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh! Yes&mdash;I think that will be lovely!&#8221; said
+Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All right! Run up and tell the others to get
+their caps and jackets on. I&#8217;ll telephone an agent
+and see what&#8217;s good.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly ran out of the room, glad to have the
+problem of the evening&#8217;s entertainment solved for
+her, but still she felt a little disappointed because
+Tom could so eagerly suggest taking the family
+out when she wanted to have a tête-à-tête with him
+to ask about the mines. Tom&#8217;s plan about holding
+the temptation before a burro instead of surfeiting
+him with goodies, was evidently beginning
+to work.
+</p>
+<p>The play was one of the most popular ones,
+and seats were in great demand. But money does
+anything in New York, so Tom secured splendid
+orchestra seats, and they reached the theatre just
+as the curtain went up on the first scene. The interior
+was darkened when they entered, and Polly
+could not tell who sat in front of her, until the
+first act ended and the lights were turned on.
+</p>
+<p>Tom sat beside her, and began whispering in
+his free western voice, when a young man seated
+directly in front, turned deliberately around and
+stared at him. Polly gasped, and Eleanor
+nudged her in the side. It was Jack Baxter!
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span></p>
+<p>Without taking his eyes from Tom, Jack
+reached under the chair and got his hat. Then
+he dragged his coat over his arm, and got up.
+He bowed stiffly to the girls in Tom&#8217;s party, and
+went out. Tom waited until he was gone, then
+he looked down at Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Um! It was high time I came East, I see!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why?&#8221; was Polly&#8217;s smiling rejoinder.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;By next Spring it might have been Tom who
+sat alone and felt like the fifth wheel in a wagon
+instead of Baxter. My, but I&#8217;m glad I came!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly frowned, and Eleanor did her best to hear
+what was said between these two <i>apparently</i>
+phlegmatic companions. But Tom meant his
+words for Polly&#8217;s ears only.
+</p>
+<p>Once during the evening, when the light was
+so low that the theatre was almost dark, Tom
+changed his position in such a way that his arm
+rested over the back of Polly&#8217;s chair. In his interest
+in the scene on the stage, his hand dropped
+carelessly upon her shoulder. And Polly was too
+engaged with the play to remove it, or even
+change her position to allow it to fall back again.
+</p>
+<p>Then Tom moved, so that his arms touched
+hers, and his hand that rested upon one knee,
+could cover Polly&#8217;s hand while the audience was
+enthralled by the burglar&#8217;s escape, and no one but
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span>
+Eleanor had the slightest idea of what was going
+on in these two orchestra chairs. But Polly grew
+restive and tried to free her hand.
+</p>
+<p>Then the lights went up again, and Tom moved
+away and said apologetically: &#8220;These seats are
+so cramped for such a great fellow as I am!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>And Polly replied tartly: &#8220;Yes, they really
+ought to allow more room for people&#8217;s hands and
+arms.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor smiled wisely, and sent Tom a teasing
+look.
+</p>
+<p>John Baxter did not come back to claim his
+seat that evening, and the play ended without
+Polly having given him another thought. Poor
+Jack!
+</p>
+<p>After Tom reached New York, there seemed
+very little time for Polly in which to hunt up
+antiques in the country, or to attend sales that
+were advertised at various places. Then Winter
+weather set in, and that gave her the necessary
+excuse that the automobile could not travel in
+snow or mud.
+</p>
+<p>All but Tom and Polly thought that Tom&#8217;s
+plot to win Polly from her chosen profession
+seemed to be succeeding. But Tom felt that he
+had not had much encouragement as yet; and
+Polly was having a very nice time with an old
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span>
+friend she liked better than other young men,
+without feeling unduly indebted for the pleasure.
+</p>
+<p>Although the Latimers lived uptown in New
+York, they saw little of Tom during the first
+weeks of his return to the City. He stopped at
+a hotel not far from the Fabian&#8217;s place, and made
+duty-calls on his father and mother at regular
+intervals, but they understood what he came East
+for, and they wished him all success.
+</p>
+<p>Time passed quickly, with a new pastime
+planned by Tom, for each day. And most of
+these pleasures included the other girls, as well
+as Polly. So the enjoyment was general, and
+Polly could not say that Tom tried to get her
+company for himself, by leaving her friends out
+of any fun.
+</p>
+<p>December came in, and the Christmas season
+advanced, with Tom still leading a gay life and
+escorting the girls to every pleasure or entertainment
+they heard of; and Polly was still the kind
+little &#8220;sister&#8221; to him in every way, but nothing
+more.
+</p>
+<p>Tom had selected his Christmas gift for Polly,
+but no one had been told about it. This he had
+kept absolutely secret. The Christmas Holidays
+came and all schools closed, so that the girls had
+no studies to attend to, and no art work to prepare.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span>
+Jim Latimer and his chum Kenneth came
+home from Yale for the two weeks&#8217; vacation, and
+they immediately called on Polly and Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>Tom saw how gladly Polly welcomed Jim and
+Kenneth, and he began to wonder if she really
+preferred a young boy&#8217;s society to his. Polly and
+Jim were about the same age&mdash;not quite eighteen,
+while he&mdash;Tom, was almost twenty-four. Such
+a decrepit old age!
+</p>
+<p>The evening Jim planned to visit Polly and
+take Kenneth along for Eleanor, Tom, to the surprise
+of his parents, spent the entire evening with
+them; but he was not very attentive to what his
+mother said, nor did he seem over-pleased with
+being at home.
+</p>
+<p>Jim and Kenneth were noisy, active young college
+boys, and they furnished lots of fun that evening,
+of the energetic, &#8220;center-rush&#8221; kind. But
+Polly was relieved when they had said good-night
+and were gone.
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor laughed at the way Jim &#8220;rough-housed&#8221;
+both girls when he tried to kiss them
+good-night, and Polly indignantly told him he
+would never be invited there again! Jim laughed
+and caught hold of Polly to shake her for such a
+threat, but he smacked her loudly on the lips,
+instead.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span></p>
+<p>As the two girls went upstairs to retire, Polly
+said: &#8220;I&#8217;m sure Jim wouldn&#8217;t have acted so silly
+if his big brother had been here!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor then added: &#8220;We have such lovely
+evenings with Tom, that this sort of horse-play
+gets on my nerves!&#8221; Then she slyly watched her
+friend&#8217;s expression to try and read her mind.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I wonder why Tom never came in tonight?&#8221;
+said Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Jack Baxter met me this afternoon, and he
+says Tom goes uptown regularly, to see a girl.
+Jack shadowed him and knows exactly where the
+girl lives. But he didn&#8217;t say I must not tell you,&#8221;
+said Eleanor, confidentially. Neither did she add
+that she had heard the address of this &#8220;girl&#8221; and
+knew it to be Tom&#8217;s home and mother.
+</p>
+<p>Polly flushed, but said nonchalantly: &#8220;Poor
+Tom! He feels awfully bored with us girls, at
+times!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I should think so! especially if he came home
+for a visit with the idea of finding a nice girl to
+propose to. Now Jack thinks that Tom, with
+his good looks, his wonderful intelligence, and his
+family-tree, to say nothing of the Latimer fortune,
+ought to be able to take his pick of any New
+York girl that is looking for an ideal husband,&#8221;
+remarked Eleanor, guilelessly.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span></p>
+<p>Polly flashed her a look. &#8220;Since when has
+Jack Baxter dropped his maligning of Tom Latimer,
+and started to admire him?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor bit her lips to prevent a smile, but she
+replied, innocently: &#8220;Why, Jack always did admire
+Tom, even when he met him at Pebbly Pit.
+But he is jealous of him, for all the admiration
+he has for him. But I&#8217;ll tell you, Polly: I
+wouldn&#8217;t trust Jack in a case of &#8216;love or war.&#8217;
+He&#8217;d as soon make Tom believe you were in love
+with another man, as anything else, if he could
+win a point by it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But Eleanor over-stepped her ambition this
+time. Polly quickly replied: &#8220;Then Jack must
+be trying to &#8216;win a point&#8217; when he got you to tell
+me that Tom was calling on another girl,
+uptown.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor realized her error and had common
+sense enough not to endeavor to explain it away.
+She merely said: &#8220;Oh well, Tom is too handsome
+a fellow to be wandering about New York
+these nights without a guardian. Some wide
+awake girl is going to snap him up the first
+chance!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Seems to me, Nolla, that Tom has been wandering
+about since he arrived in the City, with a
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span>
+whole bevy of guardians to keep him from snares
+and pitfalls. With all of us girls surrounding
+him, a fine chance any other girl could have found
+to snap him.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor was evidently getting worsted in her
+well-meant plan to further Tom&#8217;s case, so she
+wisely decided to keep still.
+</p>
+<p>Nothing was heard from Tom the next day,
+although Polly was sure he would call, or telephone,
+before evening. Then the telephone did
+ring, but it was Mr. Dalken, inviting the entire
+family over to his apartment for a party that
+evening.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Just an impromptu affair, you know, with some
+of our old friends coming in to spend the
+evening.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian accepted for herself and husband,
+and said she would see if the girls had any engagement.
+She came back to the living-room
+where they were waiting for dinner to be announced.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Are you girls going out this evening, or have
+you any engagement at home?&#8221; asked she.
+</p>
+<p>Nancy shook her head, and Eleanor replied:
+&#8220;For a great wonder, we haven&#8217;t a blessed thing
+on for tonight! First evening free in months!&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Mr. Dalken wants us to come over and join
+some old friends, just for a nice visit,&#8221; ventured
+Mrs. Fabian, looking from one girl to the other.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Fine! Anything but sitting here staring at
+Polly&#8217;s concerned face,&#8221; retorted Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Fabian smiled and went to answer Mr.
+Dalken, but Polly sat up and asked Eleanor what
+she meant by that.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, ask yourself, Polly, you&#8217;ve been mooning
+around all day looking like &#8216;Gottschalk&#8217;s Last
+Hope.&#8217; One speaks to you, and you never hear
+what&#8217;s said. The very house could burn down
+but you&#8217;d never know it. You&#8217;d roast without
+feeling any sensation in it!&#8221; declared Eleanor,
+impatiently. Nancy laughed at both girls.
+</p>
+<p>After dinner, while the girls were dressing to
+go to Mr. Dalken&#8217;s, Eleanor went to Polly&#8217;s room
+to be hooked up. When she saw Polly arrayed
+in one of her most fetching Paris dresses she stood
+and stared.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why! we&#8217;re not going to the Opera!&#8221; said
+she.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re going to Mr. Dalken&#8217;s, aren&#8217;t we?&#8221;
+asked Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, but Jack won&#8217;t be there&mdash;nor Tom,
+either,&#8221; was Eleanor&#8217;s smooth reply.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;I hadn&#8217;t thought of who might be there, I
+dressed for my old friend, Mr. Dalken. He is
+so correct in these matters, so I want to do justice
+to his friendship,&#8221; Polly scored this time.
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor did not wait to be hooked up but rushed
+back to her own room, and when Polly met her
+again, down in the hall, she had changed her gown,
+also, and looked very attractive, indeed.
+</p>
+<p>Because of the delay occasioned by Eleanor,
+the Fabian party was late in reaching Mr. Dalken&#8217;s.
+The other guests were already there, and
+to Polly&#8217;s intense gratification, not only was Jack
+assisting the host for the evening, but Tom sat
+in one corner of the large living room, looking
+at a book of snap-shots taken by Mr. Dalken
+while out in the Rockies. So engrossed was Tom
+in the pictures, that he did not lift his head when
+new-comers were welcomed.
+</p>
+<p>Polly glanced over at the corner and finding
+Tom so interested in mountain charms, while female
+charms abounded so near him, she felt
+peeved and smiled radiantly on Jack. Eleanor
+saw, and determined that she would not permit
+matters to go astray again, as she had taken such
+trouble to get Mr. Dalken to plan this impromptu
+gathering just to give Polly the opportunity to see
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span>
+both suitors together&mdash;to the advancement of one
+or the other&#8217;s interest. Eleanor had no doubt
+that it would be Tom&#8217;s advancement.
+</p>
+<p>So she flirted outrageously with Jack, to the
+amusement of Mr. Dalken who understood how
+matters were with all the young people. Thus
+Eleanor was cozily cornered with Jack in the den,
+doing her utmost to make him forget Polly for
+the time being, when the Jap came to the living-room
+door and announced a new caller.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XIV_NECESSARY_EXPLANATIONS' id='XIV_NECESSARY_EXPLANATIONS'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2>
+<h3>NECESSARY EXPLANATIONS</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Eleanor was not to be seen when a young man
+came in the room and was joyously welcomed by
+everyone present. Tom Latimer had disappeared
+also, a short time before this, and Polly
+was sitting in the wide seat built in the window,
+staring out over the roofs of the buildings without
+seeing a thing.
+</p>
+<p>The delighted exclamations from those in the
+room, however, drew her attention, and she was
+rejoiced to see Paul Stewart shaking hands with
+those crowding about him. So Polly left her
+shadowy retreat and ran over to welcome him,
+too.
+</p>
+<p>Paul was saying: &#8220;Isn&#8217;t it too jolly of John to
+send me East for the Holidays, by making me
+power-of-attorney for the Stock-holders meeting
+the first of January. That was the only way I
+could have come&mdash;by having my fare paid!&#8221; Paul
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span>
+laughed because they all knew of his financial
+problems, and how he was striving to win success
+that he might propose to Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>Polly felt annoyed because she was sure Eleanor
+had led Tom to the den that she might advise
+him further in his love-affairs. And it was this
+interference by Eleanor, that roused much of
+Polly&#8217;s indifference or impatience towards Tom.
+Now she felt she had been given a good opportunity
+to square accounts with her chum.
+</p>
+<p>Paul and she were standing alone for a moment,
+when she saw him looking about for someone.
+She gave the desired cue: &#8220;You&#8217;ll find Nolla with
+Tom, enjoying a tête-à-tête in Mr. Dalken&#8217;s little
+den across the hallway, Paul.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>As she watched Paul hurriedly excuse himself,
+she experienced a new sensation&mdash;that of gratified
+revenge on a friend. She walked about the
+room, apparently looking at the pictures, but really
+to reach the hall without attracting attention.
+Once she got out of the room, she made a dash for
+a shadowy corner made by an old ormolu secretaire
+between the two doors. She could see into
+the den and watch Paul&#8217;s next action.
+</p>
+<p>Two huge Turkish chairs were drawn up before
+the fire-place but the electric lights were out
+and only the candles on the tables near the door
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span>
+were lighted. The leaping flames of the logs
+burning in the fire-place threw dancing shadows
+over the two occupants of the chairs, but anyone
+standing near the door could not see who these
+occupants were.
+</p>
+<p>Paul crept stealthily over to the chairs, planning
+to surprise his two old friends&mdash;believing Tom to
+be one, and Eleanor the other. He lifted his
+hands with the intention of clapping them over
+Eleanor&#8217;s eyes to make her guess who was there,
+when he heard words that rooted him to the spot.
+Polly saw but could not hear, so she lost the best
+part of her retaliation on Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>Just as Paul was about to bring down his palms
+over Eleanor&#8217;s eyes, a strange voice murmured
+intensely: &#8220;You know how I feel about it, Nolla.
+This love is so absorbing that I cannot give my
+attention to studies, or to any other important
+matter. If I am treated to second place, now
+that another lover is at hand, I will clear out of
+New York and never be heard from again. In
+fact, I am going to purposely throw myself in the
+way of danger and end it all!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Paul realized that another man had found his
+treasure and had been encouraged, or why should
+he be saying &#8220;given second-place now that another
+lover is at hand?&#8221; And it was evident that
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span>
+someone knew of his, Paul&#8217;s, proposed visit, as
+<i>this</i> young man knew of his coming to see Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>Such is the mortal&#8217;s egotism! One never thinks
+of others in connection with a selfish hope or
+idea, but believes that anything seen or heard
+must appertain to that one thing. So Paul
+thought Eleanor was the love this young man referred
+to, and that she had given him second-place
+because of Paul&#8217;s coming.
+</p>
+<p>These thoughts flitted through his mind as
+young Baxter concluded, and Eleanor waited a
+moment before answering. Then she said with
+a sigh: &#8220;Dear Jack, a mild little flirtation never
+hurt any real case of love, and I&#8217;ve told you many
+times, that a game of love like this would improve
+or become fatal, because of such a flirtation.
+Like anti-toxin&mdash;it <i>kills</i> the germs or makes them
+wild so that no further doubt remains about the
+patient. Let&#8217;s use the hypodermic courageously
+and watch results. If the love-germ dies, then go
+and throw yourself on the railroad track and end
+your troubles. But should the opposite effect result,
+you can always think of me as the specialist
+who advised the heroic treatment!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Paul was shocked to hear his &#8220;angel-girl&#8221; talk
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span>
+of her love in such a dreadfully frank way, but the
+suitor&#8217;s next sentence left no doubt in Paul&#8217;s mind
+that Eleanor was a horrid flirt.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, Nolla, you must know best. Paul has
+been in love with you for a long time, now, and
+you&#8217;ve had many young admirers since you came
+to New York; so you understand and appreciate
+my present position and my right to demand one
+thing or the other&mdash;either <i>I</i> am the accepted one,
+or the other man. Both of us cannot be kept
+dangling about, nor take turns in loving when the
+other is absent from New York.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Paul was distressed at hearing this&mdash;that
+Eleanor could accept the attentions of other men
+when he, Paul, was so hard at work out West,
+trying to succeed in his profession that he might
+offer her a suitable home! Now she was flirting
+with others, and this young man was heart-broken
+over her short-comings, even as he, Paul, was.
+</p>
+<p>Polly saw Paul wheel and rush from the room,
+and immediately after that, Eleanor and Jack
+jumped up from the chairs and gazed at the door
+where the intruder had disappeared. When
+Polly saw who Eleanor&#8217;s companion was, she
+gasped in astonishment, for she believed it was
+Tom sitting before the fire.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span></p>
+<p>Had Polly hurried after Paul, to explain matters
+to him, all would have ended well that evening,
+but she went to the room where her wraps
+had been left and sat down to think out the problem.
+Meantime, Paul found Mr. Dalken and
+drew him aside to say:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t ask questions, and don&#8217;t try to stop me,
+but I am going away as quick as I can. I&#8217;m
+through with girls for all time. They&#8217;re not to
+be trusted when a man&#8217;s absent. I&#8217;m going to
+live for my mother, hereafter, and make her life
+happy.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Dalken was taken by surprise, because he
+had no key to this new puzzle, but he said: &#8220;Do
+wait, my boy, and have some refreshments with us.
+I have so much to ask you about the mine.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No&mdash;no! I can&#8217;t stay. The mine isn&#8217;t my
+affair anyway, and I was a fool to coax John to
+give me power-of-attorney to come East for him.
+Now I&#8217;m rushing back and he can send Tom Latimer
+the affidavit necessary for the meeting in
+January.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, now, Paul! You are a hot-headed
+young fellow and I feel sure matters can be explained
+quickly, if you will but wait!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Paul scowled and stiffened his spine as he replied:
+&#8220;Mr. Dalken, I heard with my own ears,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span>
+that Nolla is infatuated with another young man.
+She said, <i>and I</i> heard her say it: &#8216;She was not certain
+which one of us she preferred but the test
+would show if she used a good dose of anti-toxin
+to help the germ! But I&#8217;m no &#8216;second fiddle&#8217; even
+if that other fellow is! If a girl can&#8217;t tell whether
+she loves me without using hypodermics to help
+her find out, then she&#8217;s no wife for me! Maybe
+I&#8217;m a wild and woolly westerner from Denver,
+but believe me! we westerners never stand around
+waiting for a bit to be forced between our
+teeth.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Dalken could hardly restrain his sudden
+desire to laugh, but he averted his head for a
+moment and covered his face with a handkerchief
+until he composed his risibles, then he said: &#8220;Still,
+I am sure I can mediate in this case, Paul. Only
+stay and let me inquire.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I guess not! No one can mediate between
+me and a flirt! I am through, I say, and I&#8217;m
+going home!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>So saying Paul thrust out his hand and Mr.
+Dalken had to take it. &#8220;Good-by, and say good-by
+to the others for me. This much I want you
+to do, as I will not see them again!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Dalken went to the door with his excited
+guest and saw him go down on the elevator, then
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span>
+he rushed madly back to the telephone and ordered
+the man to detain the departing guest. Back to
+the den where he had seen Eleanor standing with
+Jack, was his next act, and dragging both out of
+the apartment and along the hall to the elevator,
+he pushed the button furiously.
+</p>
+<p>While the wondering attendant was coming up,
+Mr. Dalken said: &#8220;What in the name of conscience
+did you two crazy creatures do or say to Paul
+Stewart, to drive him frantic?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Jack stared in ignorance of what his guardian
+meant, but Eleanor gazed as if she thought Mr.
+Dalken had suddenly gone mad. The elevator
+stopped at their floor, and the man opened the
+gate. Mr. Dalken pulled his two companions on,
+and the man started down again.
+</p>
+<p>All this time, Eleanor was speechless with doubt
+of Mr. Dalken&#8217;s sanity but the elevator man
+turned to him and said: &#8220;The young man I just
+took down, refused to remain. He said he would
+arrest anyone who tried to detain him against his
+will.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Dalken ran his hands through his hair and
+rolled his eyes upward. Turning to Eleanor he
+hissed: &#8220;What <i>did</i> you say to Paul to make him
+act like a man in torment?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Paul! Are you crazy, Mr. Dalken?&#8221; asked
+Eleanor, fearfully.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, but <i>you</i> must be to throw over such a
+sweetheart. You&#8217;ll wait a long time before you
+get another like him, even though I do like Jack
+immensely, and will further his case when he meets
+the right girl. I&#8217;m sure you are not the right one,
+and you ought to know it, from what you told me
+yourself, yesterday. Can&#8217;t you see that Jack
+thinks he loves Polly, just because she won&#8217;t have
+him?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course I understand!&#8221; retorted Eleanor,
+but annoyed that her plot to bring Polly and Tom
+together again was exposed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then why in the name of heavens did you send
+Paul away believing it was <i>you</i> that Jack wanted?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Before an answer could be given, the elevator
+reached the ground floor and the man quickly
+opened the doors. Out in the vestibule the telephone-operator
+was button-holing a young man
+and using every persuasion to detain him.
+</p>
+<p>Jack Baxter had never seen Paul so he did not
+recognize him now. But Eleanor did, and she
+stood stock-still in such surprise that Mr. Dalken
+ran ahead without her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Paul, Paul! I knew you had made a mistake.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span>
+Eleanor is here to explain everything,&#8221; said he,
+taking the place of the amazed servant.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What can she explain that will change my
+opinion of her?&#8221; scorned Paul, sending a cold
+look at poor Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nolla, come here, Paul wants you to explain,&#8221;
+begged Mr. Dalken, beside himself.
+</p>
+<p>Her first surprise at finding Paul Stewart in
+New York <i>and in the house</i>, passed over and
+Eleanor forgot Jack and everything else, as she
+rushed forward to welcome her old sweetheart.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Paul&mdash;Oh Paul! When did <i>you</i> come?&#8221;
+cried she.
+</p>
+<p>But Paul&#8217;s haughty stare stopped her when she
+was not ten inches from him. He turned to Mr.
+Dalken and said: &#8220;Now that you&#8217;ve broken your
+word with me, you had best explain.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;<i>I</i> broken my word! I never gave my word
+to anything that is broken. Remember, Paul,
+you may be a hot-headed impulsive youth, but you
+cannot make such sweeping accusations without
+grounds for them. I am so sorry for you in your
+disappointment that I will excuse you this time,
+however, and explain for your benefit, that I
+caught hold of Jack and Nolla after you left and
+dragged them down here without &#8216;breaking my
+word&#8217; as you claim, or any other unhonorable
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span>
+deed. Unless you consider getting at the truth
+is unprincipled.&#8221; Mr. Dalken was stern and dignified
+in his self-justification, and Paul had the
+grace to flush uncomfortably.
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor was standing, uncertain of what was
+best to do in this strange meeting. She had felt
+over-joyed a moment before, to find Paul there,
+but now she wondered why he was so angry, and
+why he had not waited to greet her, as long as
+he had been up in the apartment. Baxter, not
+feeling at home in this group, turned and asked
+the man to take him up again.
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Dalken had not seen Jack leave again, so
+he turned to call him, but found he had disappeared.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nolla, what did you say to Paul when he met
+you?&#8221; demanded the older man.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I? Why, Mr. Dalken, I never knew Paul
+was here. The first hint I had of something unusual
+was when you rushed in to drag us downstairs.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Dalken was puzzled so he turned to Paul.
+&#8220;Then why did you say Nolla was a flirt and had
+made a fool of you? I thought she met you and
+began to tease, as she does everyone.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There was no need of her saying anything to
+me, as I heard her tell, when she was not aware
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span>
+of my standing behind her chair, that the young
+man she was with might prove to be the accepted
+love after all.&#8221; Then Paul repeated the substance
+of the talk he had overheard between Jack
+and Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>As he concluded, Eleanor laughed hysterically
+and held out her hands to Mr. Dalken beseechingly.
+&#8220;Oh, dear Dalky! Can&#8217;t you see how
+Paul misunderstood everything! I was speaking
+of Jack&#8217;s case with Polly, and advising him in regard
+to Tom. I know Jack is not seriously in
+love with Polly, but he fancies himself so, because
+Polly is so attractive and indifferent to him. As
+Jack has always been flattered and made love to
+by society girls, this unexpected attitude of Polly&#8217;s
+piqued the boy. I did my best tonight, to show
+all three of these silly young things where they
+stood in this serious matter. And <i>to think</i>, I got
+myself in hot water for trying to help my
+friends!&#8221; Eleanor unexpectedly broke out in
+sobs and leaned her head against Mr. Dalken&#8217;s
+shoulder.
+</p>
+<p>Paul began to accuse himself for being a brute,
+and Mr. Dalken patted Eleanor&#8217;s head and said
+comfortingly: &#8220;Never mind, Nolla dear. You&#8217;ll
+learn by bitter experience that the more one interferes
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span>
+in these love tangles for the sake of helping
+friends out of their troubles, the more our
+friends detest us and we end in falling into snares
+ourselves.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Um&mdash;don&#8217;t I know it now!&#8221; wept Eleanor,
+in a muffled voice, because her mouth was hard
+against her comforter&#8217;s coat.
+</p>
+<p>Paul stood uncertain of what to say or do. He
+shifted his weight from one foot to the other,
+and glanced around, but always brought his
+wandering eyes back to Eleanor&#8217;s shaking
+form.
+</p>
+<p>An interruption, in shape of the entrance of
+some merry tenants of another apartment, suddenly
+caused Mr. Dalken to lift Eleanor&#8217;s head
+and hurry her, with Paul, into the reception room
+at one end of the main hall. Here they sat down
+to have an understanding.
+</p>
+<p>When the facts were fully revealed, Paul was
+as grateful to Mr. Dalken for restraining him in
+his plans to run away, as Eleanor was for his
+hasty removal of her from upstairs, to the hall
+downstairs. And poor Mr. Dalken was <i>most</i>
+grateful to find he had made peace between two
+disturbed young hearts. He got up and said:
+&#8220;Let&#8217;s hope you won&#8217;t curse me in the future, for
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span>
+this reconciliation. And for goodness&#8217; sake!
+Let me get upstairs to my guests, and help Taki
+serve refreshments, or the oysters will be ruined
+with stewing, while the wonderful French patties
+I got from Del&#8217;s, will be cold and clammy.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor laughed, and beckoned Paul to come
+up again. So the grinning elevator man carried
+them up and very considerately accepted the tip
+Paul slipped into his palm as he stepped from
+the lift.
+</p>
+<p>The Japanese butler had not waited for Mr.
+Dalken, however, and was passing the famous
+patties and sandwiches when the three absent
+members of the party entered again, and tried to
+act as if nothing unusual had happened.
+</p>
+<p>Polly had witnessed Paul&#8217;s flying departure,
+and thereafter saw Jack and Eleanor astounded
+in the darkened library. When Mr. Dalken
+rushed in and dragged them both away, Polly
+stood open-mouthed and stared after them. The
+Jap wisely hurried forward and carefully closed
+the front door, then went back to his duties without
+showing that he had seen the queer performances
+of his master, or found Polly standing
+there, the single witness of the scene.
+</p>
+<p>Polly still stood in the hall deeply perplexed,
+when Tom sauntered from Mr. Dalken&#8217;s bedroom
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span>
+where he had been smoking a cigarette to
+steady his nerves. Now he joined Polly and began
+a conventional phrase, but was suddenly interrupted
+by her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What does all this silly behavior mean?&#8221; demanded
+she.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do you refer to my behavior?&#8221; asked Tom,
+blandly.
+</p>
+<p>Polly&#8217;s eyes snapped. &#8220;Of course not! Must
+you always think yourself first and foremost?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>As this was an unexpected and undeserved slap
+for Tom, he was still groping for a clue, when
+Polly&#8217;s angry impatience with herself for having
+made such a blunder in her calculations about
+Eleanor and the others, made her exclaim:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, I can plainly see that Nolla will never
+make any sort of a business partner for me! Her
+foolish head is so turned by beaus, that she will
+never settle down until Paul has either spurned
+her love, or she is married and divorced again.
+<i>Then</i> there may be hopes of her attending to our
+work.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>As Tom was not aware of Paul&#8217;s sudden appearance
+and hasty departure, he still pondered
+what was best to say to Polly, in her unusual pettish
+mood. But she paid no heed to his silence
+and continued, like most women will when they
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span>
+have been mistaken, and fear the consequences of
+an ill-advised step.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I declare! if Paul does come back and makes
+up with Nolla, I shall move heaven and earth
+to see that they are safely engaged this time!
+And that Jack Baxter, well, I&#8217;ll make Dalky ship
+him off to some distant college so there&#8217;ll be no
+further wasting of valuable time with him!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This last declaration so over-joyed Tom that
+he found courage to offer a suggestion. But he
+was too unwise this time. &#8220;You&#8217;re absolutely
+right, Polly dear. That Baxter has nothing better
+to do than kill time. He never did a stroke
+of work in his life, nor did his father before him.
+Those young &#8216;lady&#8217;s men&#8217; who live on their ancestor&#8217;s
+rewards of labor, never amount to a row
+of beans.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly stared freezingly at Tom, but he was
+completely mesmerized with the romantic picture
+he was presenting, and so he continued oblivious
+of his companion&#8217;s expression.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll send Baxter flying, after this, and help
+poor Paul to hold his place with Nolla. I&#8217;ll wire
+Paul to fix it so he can come East for Christmas,
+and surprise Nolla. Then we&#8217;ll all announce a
+double engagement, eh?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span>
+Tom turned to watch Polly&#8217;s face as she surely
+must second his plan, but he changed his mind
+when he saw her frown. &#8220;As usual, Tom, you&#8217;re
+much too late in your brilliant ideas. Others are
+ahead of you. Paul has been here tonight and
+gone again, and Nolla will never have any engagement
+to announce&mdash;if she waits for Paul&#8217;s
+declaration.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;As for <i>me</i>! My announcements are being
+engraved now.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom caught his breath in consternation at this
+news. &#8220;Your announcements, Polly! <i>Oh</i>, and
+you jilted me, after all!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly enjoyed turning the knife in the wound,
+because she felt so wretched herself for having
+ruined Eleanor&#8217;s happiness.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I could not jilt anyone who never proposed,
+could I? I have maintained for a long time, and
+everyone who knows me is aware of it, too&mdash;that
+I am engaged to my profession and I have ordered
+my announcements to that effect. I propose
+sending out my business cards the first week
+of January!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The relief to Tom was so great that he sighed
+aloud: &#8220;Oh, thank heavens for that!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I knew you would be glad, Tom; so you see
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span>
+you are sensible after all, and can thank heaven
+that you had no cause to be jilted!&#8221; laughed Polly,
+maliciously, but she felt no satisfaction in this outcome
+of her understanding with Tom.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XV_MUTUAL_CONSOLATION' id='XV_MUTUAL_CONSOLATION'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2>
+<h3>MUTUAL CONSOLATION</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>It was at this point in Polly&#8217;s independent
+speech that the door opened and Mr. Dalken
+came in with his two repentant lovers. Tom
+saw that the clouds had been dispersed and now
+there seemed to be a clear sky for Paul. But he
+was curious to hear what had happened during
+the short time he had been smoking that cigarette.
+</p>
+<p>Polly also saw Paul return with Nolla, and
+when she saw the happy smiles on both faces, she
+groaned, and turned to go to the library where,
+so little time before, the tragic lover had escaped
+with a determination to never look at another
+girl as long as he lived&mdash;excepting his mother.
+</p>
+<p>Tom followed Mr. Dalken to the dining-room
+to learn the particulars about the two individuals
+who had meekly followed the host back to the
+apartment; while Polly sank down in one of the
+Turkish arm-chairs recently occupied by the two
+plotting match-makers.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span></p>
+<p>Mr. Dalken rolled his eyes ceiling-ward and
+complained: &#8220;I can&#8217;t understand why I should
+be chosen by Providence to act as peace-maker
+between jealous lovers, or quarrelsome husbands
+and wives. It is one of the most thankless jobs
+a man can have.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom laughed in spite of his eagerness to be
+told the details. &#8220;Maybe it is because you have
+so much <i>feeling</i> for heartsick mortals,&#8221; said he.
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Dalken looked serious. &#8220;Yes, Tom my
+boy, you spoke the truth there. If anyone knows
+the misery caused by fools and faithlessness, I&#8217;m
+that one. Perhaps that is the reason I can mediate
+for my friends.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I was going to ask you to mediate for me, with
+Polly, but I haven&#8217;t the heart to ask you, now,&#8221;
+ventured Tom.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, you big ninny, I&#8217;ve done nothing else
+but try to mediate between you two for the past
+two years. If matters haven&#8217;t reached a crisis
+by this time, I&#8217;d better give up the case and let
+you get a specialist,&#8221; exclaimed Mr. Dalken.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Tell me exactly where I stand now, and I&#8217;ll
+excuse you from further annoyance on my part.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Great Scott, Man! Can&#8217;t you tell where you
+stand? How can <i>I</i> judge. You surely don&#8217;t
+want me to propose for you, do you?&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span></p>
+<p>Tom couldn&#8217;t afford to feel indignant, as he had
+to ask his friend what had happened to Paul and
+Eleanor, during his temporary absence from the
+others. So Mr. Dalken told as much of the story
+as he had been able to understand, concluding
+with the admonition: &#8220;Now that Jack can&#8217;t wile
+away time with Nolla, he will, doubtless, turn his
+full attention to Polly.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>That was the only malicious remark the poor
+man permitted himself to indulge in. But Tom
+took it seriously and said: &#8220;Thanks awfully, for
+the hint. I&#8217;ll keep after Polly myself, until Baxter
+gives up the chase.&#8221; And with that he hurried
+away to find Polly.
+</p>
+<p>He found Paul and Eleanor sitting in the deep
+window-seat where Polly had been the early part
+of the evening, and as he wandered about for a
+glimpse of his &#8220;Heart&#8217;s Desire,&#8221; the Jap came
+over with a tray and said:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Mis&#8217;r Tom look fer supper? Taki keep nice
+patty for him.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Jack Baxter was near enough to hear Taki,
+and he laughed jeeringly as he said: &#8220;Oh, what
+a fine man you are, Taki! You know exactly
+what your master&#8217;s guests are wanting&mdash;patties
+or Pollies!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Taki grinned but failed to grasp the young
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span>
+man&#8217;s meaning. Tom did, however, and leaving
+the oyster patty on the tray, he stalked across to
+Jack and said, threateningly:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How dare you speak like that? Mentioning
+Miss Brewster&#8217;s name in the same breath as an
+oyster patty or a poll-parrot.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But the truth of the matter was, Jack had never
+meant to convey the meaning, when he said &#8220;Pollies,&#8221;
+that he spoke of parrots. So he instantly
+took the stand of the offended one.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How dare you even hint at such an insult to
+a friend of mine? I consider Miss Brewster too
+far above either you or me to discuss her with
+you, about such matters.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Wise Taki had disappeared quickly and in another
+moment the harassed host came hurrying
+from the serving board. He glowered upon
+Tom and Jack, and grasping each one by the arm,
+he hustled them out into the main hall of the
+building and then spoke.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You two bullies go down in the street and
+fight it out. I&#8217;ll do you the favor to ring up the
+police station and call a cop to come around and
+take you both in custody&mdash;that&#8217;s where you belong,
+until you come to your senses. If <i>I</i> were a
+girl I&#8217;d never look at either of you again.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But this advice cooled their anger, and the moment
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span>
+Mr. Dalken turned to go back to his apartment
+both men laughed at the situation. Tom offered
+his hand and Baxter shook it. Then each
+apologised to the other, and in a few minutes
+they started for the door of the apartment.
+</p>
+<p>But the door was locked, and, in front of it on
+the mat, were two small heaps: one was composed
+of Tom&#8217;s coat and hat, with a patty and
+sandwich on a wooden plate, on top of it. The
+other small heap was Jack&#8217;s dress-cape, with his
+silk hat topping it, and in the hat, were his gloves
+and the plate with refreshments. His cane hung
+on the door-knob.
+</p>
+<p>All the bell-ringing Tom indulged in, thereafter,
+failed to bring any answer. So the two
+young men, highly amused by their host&#8217;s farewell
+act, ate the scanty refreshments handed out, and
+then left the two wooden plates in front of the
+door, with a note on each. The pencilled scrawls
+said: &#8220;Two hungry beggars thank the rich man
+who threw them the crumbs from his table.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>After they had gone down to the ground floor,
+Jack said: &#8220;I&#8217;ll try to get Dalken on the telephone
+and ask him to send us down enough company
+to keep us from going to sleep in the reception
+room.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom laughed and stood eagerly waiting to hear
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span>
+the reply. But the operator smiled and reported:
+&#8220;Mr. Dalken called down a few minutes ago, and
+said that he was not at home to anyone&mdash;not even
+to friends&mdash;until tomorrow morning.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>So the two chagrined young men left, and
+whatever they did during the next few hours, no
+one ever knew, but from that evening both forgot
+their rivalry and became fast friends. Jack suddenly
+decided to go West and finish his engineering
+studies in the mountains about Pebbly Pit.
+And Tom decided to make one last stand for
+Polly, and should she still refuse him on the basis
+that she must finish a business experience first,
+then he would knuckle down to hard work and
+forget all about her, forever.
+</p>
+<p>It was easier for Jack to carry out his purpose
+than for Tom to leave New York and forget
+Polly. But Jack managed to do as he had outlined,
+and before Christmas Day he had said
+good-by and was on his way to Denver.
+</p>
+<p>Tom spent so much time and preparation before
+the mirror in his room, perfecting himself
+in the art of proposing to Polly, in such a way
+that she would be impressed, that he became quite
+self-conscious of his pose and words. On Christmas
+Day, he planned to coax her away by herself,
+and then fall upon his knees and tell his story.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span>
+He had a magnificent solitaire in his pocket, waiting
+to be displayed at the right moment.
+</p>
+<p>No one saw Tom all that Christmas morning,
+although his friends called on the telephone, both
+at his home and at the hotel. He did not reply
+to any calls. But late in the afternoon he sauntered
+forth from his room, looking more like a
+silly dandy than a big sensible young man who
+was one of the best engineers in the West.
+</p>
+<p>He got in a taxi and gave directions. In front
+of Mr. Fabian&#8217;s house, he paid the driver and
+went up the steps. After he had rung the bell,
+he felt in his pocket to make sure the ring-box
+was there. This was about the twentieth time he
+had assured himself.
+</p>
+<p>The maid opened the door, and looked sorry
+for him.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Miss Polly? Are the ladies in?&#8221; stammered
+Tom.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No&#8217;m&mdash;no-sir, I mean,&#8221; returned the maid,
+confused at his certainty of finding them at home.
+&#8220;They went out an hour ago, after tryin&#8217; to get
+you on the &#8217;phone. They says they won&#8217;t be back
+till after midnight, sir.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Did they say where they were going?&#8221; asked
+Tom.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No&#8217;m&mdash;No-sir! But I hear&#8217;n Miss Polly
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span>
+talk to someone on the &#8217;phone and she says: &#8216;Oh
+how lovely! We&#8217;ll all go with you. And we&#8217;ll
+meet you there for dinner,&#8217;&#8221; repeated the maid.
+&#8220;You see, I was openin&#8217; th&#8217; door to take more
+presents for the young ladies, so I hear&#8217;n that
+much of the talk from the table &#8217;phone in the back
+hall.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom thanked her with a sinking heart, and
+turned away. Once more his fingers mechanically
+felt for the ring box but he experienced no thrill
+this time, when he found it was safe.
+</p>
+<p>He walked slowly cross-town and recklessly
+passed over Broadway with its traffic in full swing,
+looking neither to the right nor to the left. The
+officer shouted to rouse him from his apathy, but
+it failed to work.
+</p>
+<p>He reached the park and found a bench.
+There he sat down without looking at the seat.
+A frantic boy ran over and yelled: &#8220;Get up,
+mister! Get up&mdash;you&#8217;se sittin&#8217; on my Chrismus
+candy!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Tom got up as mechanically as an automaton,
+but a few of the gummy candies clung to his
+coat-tails, while the boy fearful of losing such
+treasure ran after the man to pick off the sticky
+sweets.
+</p>
+<p>When he found another bench that was clear,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span>
+and no boys nearby to worry his soul, Tom sat
+down and sulked. Having practised so faithfully
+all that day, in adding the finishing touches of
+grace to his lesson of proposing, it was a bitter
+dose to find all his work was wasted. Polly had
+joyfully accepted someone else&#8217;s invitation to go
+away and have a good time, leaving him alone
+and heart-broken.
+</p>
+<p>Sleet and drizzle began falling, and Tom was
+soon soaked through, but he was heedless of clinging
+clothes and wet shoes.
+</p>
+<p>After an hour of self-pity, he got up and started
+down the drive. By this time he was almost
+frozen, but he congratulated himself on the fact
+that he might have pneumonia and die. Then
+Polly might feel sorry for her coldness!
+</p>
+<p>Following the suggestion this idea presented,
+Tom wilfully waded through the slush in the gutters,
+and thoroughly drenched his patent-leather
+shoes in crossing the streets, until his feet were
+not only wet but freezing inside the shoes.
+</p>
+<p>He found a cheap restaurant where the show-windows
+displayed baskets of artificial fruit; and
+as a center-piece of this decoration, there was a
+great block of ice holding up a dressed goose,
+with red holly twined about it.
+</p>
+<p>Tom detested quick-lunch places where the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span>
+steam satisfied a man&#8217;s hunger, the moment he
+came in contact with its heavy odors, but he reveled
+in this evening&#8217;s opportunity to be a martyr,
+so he sat down and ordered corn-beef and cabbage
+because he loathed it.
+</p>
+<p>Although he could not eat much of the delectable
+dish he had ordered, he was determined to
+finish his day accordingly. So he ordered
+Neapolitan ice-cream and coffee. The ice-cream
+was served with the tissue paper still wrapped
+about the cake&mdash;to prove that no hands had been
+in contact with the dessert before serving it. But
+the highly colored stripes of the soapy cream that
+refused to melt, even when he dropped a spoonful
+into his oily coffee, cured him of further martyrdom
+to the cause of love.
+</p>
+<p>He hastily got up from the table, paid his ticket
+and ran out. By this time, he felt so sick and
+chilled that he gloated in the assurance that soon
+he would be in a raging fever. He pictured
+Polly&#8217;s regrets when she should return home at
+midnight and hear that he had been taken to a
+hospital, with a fatal case of double pneumonia.
+He had decided on having it double, after he left
+the restaurant, as that would kill him sooner. In
+this state of mind he had to dodge a taxi and
+slipped to fall into a mud puddle.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span></p>
+<p>But Tom could not resist the desire to see his
+mother once more, before he died; and after
+fighting off this inclination for another hour or
+two, he was feeling so perfectly awful, that he
+knew his last call had come for him.
+</p>
+<p>He had been sneezing every few minutes for
+the past hour, and his eyes were running like twin
+rivers. His nose was so stuffy that he could
+hardly enunciate the words, when he told a
+cabby to &#8220;Ta-ge me to sig siggy-sig West End
+Avenoo.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>During the short time he was in the cab, he
+could not breathe, and he had to keep his mouth
+open to be able to inhale any air at all. He paid
+off the taxi, and went to his mother&#8217;s apartment.
+Before he could change his mind about calling,
+he had pushed the bell-button.
+</p>
+<p>He heard someone coming down the hall, and
+at the same time a door in front opened and the
+laughter and noise of many merry voices reached
+him as he stood waiting on the doormat.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Good evening, Mr. Tom&mdash;a merry Christmas,&#8221;
+said the maid, smilingly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Goo&#8217; ebeneeg, Kadrina,&#8221; mumbled Tom,
+scowling as he looked towards the front room
+whence came the merry-making.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Don&#8217; dell anyone I&#8217;m here, but dell Modder
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span>
+I&#8217;m sig and wand do see her ride away,&#8221; explained
+Tom, snuffingly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You got a bad cold in your nose, ain&#8217;t chew?&#8221;
+said Katrina, sympathetically.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No!&#8221; shouted Tom, furiously. &#8220;I god&#8217;da
+case ob double pneumonia!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Katrina jumped at the unexpected shout, and
+hurried to the front room to call her mistress.
+Instead of remembering to keep Tom&#8217;s presence
+a secret, she whispered loud enough for Polly to
+hear:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Mr. Tom jus&#8217; come in an&#8217; his nose is red as a
+beet. His eyes is runnin&#8217;, too, an&#8217; he needs a atmosizer
+to blow in his head, to clear out the snuffles
+so&#8217;s he kin open his lungs, widdout keepin&#8217;
+his mouth open all th&#8217; time.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Instead of fainting with horror as Tom had
+pictured she might, Polly laughed at Katrina&#8217;s
+description, and Mrs. Latimer smiled and turned
+to her guests to excuse herself, by saying:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Tom just came in, poor boy, with a stuffy cold
+in his head. I&#8217;ll put his feet in mustard and see
+that he drinks a hot glass of doctored lemonade,
+then I&#8217;ll be back.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>So Tom, instead of bidding his mother an eternal
+farewell and dying alone and abandoned, as
+he had planned, in a hospital ward, was soon made
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span>
+to scald his feet in hot mustard water, while his
+mother&#8217;s flannel kimono replaced his bedraggled
+clothing, and a heavy blanket was wrapped about
+him, and he was offered a nasty drink of lemonade,
+but what else was in it other than lemon only
+his mother knew!
+</p>
+<p>By this time he felt so wretched that he cared
+nothing for solitaires or fiancées; all he wanted
+was to get one good long breath through his nose
+once more before he choked to death.
+</p>
+<p>His mother had returned to the merry-making
+in the parlors, and Tom sat huddled in his unbecoming
+bedding in his mother&#8217;s dressing-room.
+Every few minutes he had to use Katrina&#8217;s &#8220;atmosizer&#8221;
+for his nose, or gasp for breath.
+</p>
+<p>Just as the perspiration began to pour out of
+every pore, and his feet felt like scalded lobsters,
+and the vaseline his mother had smeared in his
+eyes and over his nose, to void any chaffing, had
+been trickled all over his face, Polly tiptoed into
+the room that opened to the dressing-room where
+he sat.
+</p>
+<p>He held his breath, fearing lest she hear him
+gasp and find him in this awful predicament. He
+could not see her after she closed the hall-door,
+but he wondered what she was doing. At this
+moment, a tickling in his nose began and he knew
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span>
+it portended a sneeze! He must prevent it, or
+Polly would track him down. If she ever saw
+him in this condition, after all his hard study to
+propose gracefully, he would take poison!
+</p>
+<p>But the sneeze was imperative, and it burst
+forth in such an explosion, that Polly screamed
+faintly from just behind the door of the little
+room.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Go&#8217;way! I won&#8217;d see anyone,&#8221; commanded
+Tom.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But you&#8217;ll let me come and see how you are,
+won&#8217;t you, Tom dear?&#8221; coaxed Polly, appearing
+at the open door.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No! You above everyone. I&#8217;m goin&#8217; to a
+hozpidal as zoon ads the ambulance gomes, and
+I never wand to zee any ob my frien&#8217;z again. I&#8217;ll
+leave word no one ids to gome to my funeral,
+eider.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Tom, dearest, don&#8217;t talk like that! Where
+have you been today, to catch such an awful cold
+in your head?&#8221; said Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Id&#8217;z my lungz, I dell you! Double pneumonia.
+Leabe me to my fade, and forged me,
+Polly!&#8221; tears rose in his eyes at this pitiful picture
+of his lonely demise.
+</p>
+<p>But Polly was practical, and stubborn to a degree.
+She refused to go, and when Mrs. Latimer
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span>
+came back, she told her that Tom ought to be in
+bed and given a great big dose of quinine&mdash;then
+he&#8217;d be all right in the morning.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s exactly what we planned to do, Polly,&#8221;
+said Mrs. Latimer. &#8220;I sent Katrina to the drugstore
+for the pills, just now. But you run back
+and enjoy yourself, dear, as you can do nothing
+for Tom. He&#8217;s like all men&mdash;as grouchy as a
+bear with a sore head, the minute anything ails
+them.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>His mother laughed, and Polly stood smiling.
+Tom fumed. &#8220;Was this all the sympathy he was
+to win for his self-appointed martyrdom?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Just as he had lost the last vestige of hope in
+life, Polly said to his mother: &#8220;I haven&#8217;t seen
+Tom before, today, to wish him a merry Christmas
+and to give him my present.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh!&#8221; ejaculated Mrs. Latimer, wisely, and
+slipped from the room, closing the hall door very
+quietly after her.
+</p>
+<p>Tom opened one eye and began to wonder if it
+was worth while&mdash;this living business? When
+Polly smiled so angelically upon him, in spite of
+his ludicrous pose and appearance, he thought he
+might make one more trial of temporal existence.
+</p>
+<p>Then Polly said, &#8220;I am sorry I could not reach
+you by telephone today, Tom. I had a little
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_246' name='page_246'></a>246</span>
+surprise for you, that I&#8217;m sure you will like. Shall
+I show you now?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Maybe it ids egsadtly wha&#8217;d I wads plannig to
+ags you?&#8221; said Tom, sitting up with interest, and
+forgetting the tub of hot water with his feet
+slowly par-boiling in it.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Here it is. Isn&#8217;t it neat and business-like?&#8221;
+said Polly, as she handed him a small paste-board
+card.
+</p>
+<p>Tom read:
+</p>
+<div class='ce'>
+<p>&#8220;POLLY BREWSTER</p>
+<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Decorator</span></p>
+<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>New York City</span></p>
+<p><i>Representing Ashby Shops, New York and London</i>.&#8221;</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Tom&#8217;s shocked surprise at the unexpected announcement,
+so different from what he had expected,
+rendered him speechless for a full minute.
+During this pause, Polly patted his damp hair just
+as she might have patted her brother John&#8217;s head,
+or a faithful Newfoundland&#8217;s shaggy dome.
+This latter was Tom&#8217;s thought.
+</p>
+<p>The gentle touch, combined with his resentful
+feelings about the business announcement, made
+him lose all self-control. He was so furious that
+he could not find his voice, and if he had, his
+words would have been unintelligible because of
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_247' name='page_247'></a>247</span>
+the head-cold. He sprang up from the chair,
+forgetful of his blanket swaddlings, and the large
+basin in which his feet were still immersed.
+</p>
+<p>He lifted his hand above his head in a melodramatic
+way of denunciation, but the tragic effect
+was completely ruined when the porcelain
+basin began slipping across the hard-wood floor.
+He wildly threw out both hands to clutch at something
+for support, but the low chair he had occupied
+was not near the dressing table nor any
+other article of furniture in the room.
+</p>
+<p>Polly tried to save him from a fall, but he
+threw off her rescuing hands; and thus he was falling
+to his ungraceful finish, when he managed to
+free one foot and planted it on the rug as a balance.
+But the basin with its wet porcelain bottom
+kept sliding ever farther away, and Tom
+still rolled in the swaddling robes suddenly sat
+down unceremoniously upon the floor.
+</p>
+<p>Polly faintly screamed when the basin overturned
+and the mustard water ran in numerous
+streamlets across the waxed wood and center rug.
+Just at this critical moment, Mrs. Latimer came
+back to give her son the dose of quinine.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, Tom! Why are you sitting on the
+floor?&#8221; asked she, in amazement.
+</p>
+<p>That was the last straw. Polly had to smother
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_248' name='page_248'></a>248</span>
+a laugh but Tom flared out and the thick denunciations
+of all the female sex, particularly western
+girls, would have driven such a girl mad with
+anger. But Polly understood her friend too well
+to believe a word he said.
+</p>
+<p>Even while he still hurled every expletive he
+could remember and try to enunciate, Polly sprang
+over to help Mrs. Latimer raise the beswaddled
+young man back into the chair. He fought off
+her assistance, but she stubbornly held on to his
+arms until he was seated in a proper position once
+more.
+</p>
+<p>Then she said: &#8220;Tom dear, I&#8217;m so sorry you
+have had such a wretched Christmas Day. Had
+we but known you had such a cold we would have
+called and taken you home with us. But now that
+Christmas is over, and I haven&#8217;t had time to say
+a word to you, I&#8217;ll just whisper that, as a sort of
+late greeting: &#8216;If I don&#8217;t find anyone I like better
+than you, during the next two years, I&#8217;ll make
+a partnership proposition to you.&#8217;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Bolly! Whad do you mean?&#8221; gasped
+Tom, expectation high once more.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I like you better than any other friend I ever
+had, Tom, but I am determined to try business
+first. Then, in two years&#8217; time if you are still of
+the same mind as now, I will consider what you
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_249' name='page_249'></a>249</span>
+have so often planned. But not before then.
+Until that time we will be the best of good pals.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Bolly! Whad a Gridsmad&#8217;s gifd you
+habe giben me!&#8221; exclaimed Tom, his face shining
+radiantly with love and vaseline.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XVI_BEAUX_OR_BUSINESS' id='XVI_BEAUX_OR_BUSINESS'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_250' name='page_250'></a>250</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2>
+<h3>BEAUX OR BUSINESS</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>It was very late when the Fabian party reached
+home that Christmas night; thus there were no
+confidences given or taken between the girls until
+the following morning. To Eleanor&#8217;s keen sight
+Polly appeared ill at ease; and in the morning,
+after breakfast, the cloud seemed heavier than
+before. Then Eleanor decided to find out what
+unpleasant experience had occurred while at Latimers.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I had a glorious time, last night&mdash;didn&#8217;t you,
+Poll?&#8221; began Eleanor, guilelessly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, yes! Until poor Tom came in with that
+nasty cold in his head. His condition was enough
+to ruin any one&#8217;s enjoyment, once you saw or
+heard him,&#8221; replied Polly, absentmindedly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;A mere cold in the head is nothing to worry
+about. He will probably be here, today, as fresh
+as ever. That is, if the quinine he took last night
+permits him to see straight.&#8221; Eleanor laughed in
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_251' name='page_251'></a>251</span>
+order to show her friend how unconcerned she was
+about anything which might have happened at the
+Latimers.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Had you seen him, with his feet in boiling
+water and mustard, his face coated with vaseline,
+his eyes like Bear Forks, and his temper like a
+sore hyena&#8217;s, you wouldn&#8217;t sit there and say he&#8217;d
+be fresh as ever today,&#8221; Polly retorted with a
+reminiscent smile.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a wonder to me that he permitted you to
+visit him after he had been doctored by his mother
+as you say he was,&#8221; returned Eleanor, musingly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He never would have, Nolla, had I not
+marched right into the room without his being
+aware of my presence. I never even knocked,
+because his mother told me he was in her dressing-room,
+off the large room. I waited in the large
+room until I heard him speak, then I pretended to
+be surprised and pleased to find him there.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor laughed. &#8220;Yes, I can see you pretend
+anything, Poll. I just know your face was as
+serious as crêpe, and your pretence a thing any
+child could see through.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, Nolla, you are all wrong! I can prove
+it. But the great trouble is, how shall I get out of
+what Tom believes to be true? I pretended so
+well that I almost fooled myself into believing that
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_252' name='page_252'></a>252</span>
+I was doing right. This morning I know it is not
+true,&#8221; said Polly, impatiently.
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor now felt her curiosity rising for she
+realized she was on the verge of hearing what had
+caused Polly&#8217;s concern. But she knew she must
+be circumspect in her replies, or her friend would
+take alarm and not say a word.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Polly, there speaks the born actress. When on
+the stage, acting in a play, the artiste is carried
+away by her own depth of feeling and faith in the
+truth of what she is saying or doing. Now, you
+see, you did the same and that proves you should
+study stage-craft instead of interior decorating.&#8221;
+Eleanor spoke in a jocular tone.
+</p>
+<p>Polly smiled at her friend, but she was too
+preoccupied with her problem to pay attention to
+Eleanor&mdash;whether she was in earnest or whether
+she was speaking in fun.
+</p>
+<p>Suddenly Polly asked: &#8220;Nolla, are you engaged
+to Paul?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor was taken off her feet. She never
+dreamed of having Polly ask her bluntly about
+her private interests in any one.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;W-h-y, n-o-o&mdash;not ex-actly!&#8221; stammered she
+in reply.
+</p>
+<p>Polly sat and stared at her companion as if to
+search out the truth. Then she said: &#8220;Have you
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_253' name='page_253'></a>253</span>
+any idea of being engaged within the next year or
+two?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, now, Poll,&#8221; returned Eleanor, finding
+her depth once more, and treading water to get
+her breath, &#8220;you know how I admire Paul, and
+you also know that Paul says he loves me. That
+was most obvious at Dalky&#8217;s party, the night Paul
+arrived so unexpectedly. But when you speak of
+engagements, I must remind you of the law you
+laid down for me&mdash;not to tie myself to any such
+entanglement until after we had had our fill of
+business. Am I right?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Exactly!&#8221; sighed Polly. &#8220;But that does not
+go to say that you obeyed my law. There may be
+a secret understanding between you and Paul, and
+that is what I want to hear about.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It may be the same sort of a secret understanding
+as now exists between you and Tom Latimer,&#8221;
+retorted Eleanor, taking a wild chance that such
+was the fact.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then I pity poor Paul from the bottom of my
+heart,&#8221; was Polly&#8217;s unexpected reply.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Paul doesn&#8217;t seem to think he is in need of
+any pity,&#8221; smiled Eleanor, as she thought of his
+joy the preceding evening as he escorted her from
+the Latimer&#8217;s apartment to the automobile.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, then it is not the same sort of secret
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_254' name='page_254'></a>254</span>
+understanding. Now come out with it, Nolla, and
+tell me just how far you have complicated yourself
+with Paul in love, and with me in our business
+venture?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not at all, Poll. That is what I wish to impress
+upon you&mdash;that I am no deeper in the love
+tangle than you are with Tom.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All right, then, Nolla. Now I&#8217;ll confess, if
+you promise me to do likewise. Is it a bargain?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If you wish. But let me say beforehand, I
+have no more to confess than you know of already.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a pact! Shake, Nolla,&#8221; exclaimed Polly,
+holding out her hand.
+</p>
+<p>Of course Eleanor was more than amazed at
+such a to-do over what she considered a natural
+outcome of human attraction for Polly, and she
+shook the hand extended to seal the compact.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There now! I&#8217;ll confess first. Last night,
+when I found poor Tom in such dire condition and
+wanting to die at once, I told his mother I would
+comfort him, somewhat, by wishing him a merry
+Christmas and showing him my business card.
+You know, the ones we just got back from the
+engravers late Christmas Eve.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, I found him in such a pitiable way that
+I was sorry the moment I handed him my card.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_255' name='page_255'></a>255</span>
+He took it so differently from what I had expected.
+When he raved about dying and nothing
+to live for, I was at my wit&#8217;s end. Finally, just
+after the basin in which he was boiling his feet
+slipped from under him, and sat him down unkindly
+upon the floor, I was moved to encourage
+him if he would but cheer up and think of living
+a little longer.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nolla, he took advantage of my weakness and
+wormed a promise from me to consider myself
+engaged to him, unless I found some one I liked
+much better within the next two years. Now tell
+me, Nolla, because you are educated in affairs like
+this&mdash;where do I stand?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly&#8217;s anxiety was so amusing to Eleanor and
+the whole situation so like a farce to her maturer
+love-affair, that she laughed merrily. But Polly
+was too concerned to take offence at the merriment.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Polly! What a little lamb you are, to be
+sure! How lucky for you that I am always at
+hand to keep you from being led to the slaughter&mdash;not
+altar!&#8221; Eleanor laughed again at her
+clever play on the hackneyed phrase.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That doesn&#8217;t answer my question, Nolla. I
+am most serious in this matter and I do not wish
+to hear more ridicule from you.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_256' name='page_256'></a>256</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not ridiculing you or the awful mess you
+have made of your life,&#8221; retorted Eleanor with
+a sly grin, &#8220;but I cannot help giving vent to my
+risibles when you take it all so seriously. I wonder
+how you would take the measles, Poll.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh pshaw, Nolla! What has measles to do
+with me, right now!&#8221; was Polly&#8217;s impatient rejoinder.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know, I&#8217;m sure. I was only wondering
+why you take everything so dreadfully in earnest.
+Now as far as your love tangle appears to be,
+I should prognosticate&mdash;hear that word, Polly?
+I am trying to act the wise magistrate for you&mdash;that
+there will be no suit for breach of promise,
+although there may be a case made out against
+you for alienating Tom&#8217;s affections from Choko&#8217;s
+Find Mine. On the other hand, you can serve
+a counter suit on Tom for alienating your affections
+from your first love&mdash;your business venture.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>While Eleanor had been explaining the law to
+her friend, the latter grew more and more impatient,
+and when the self-appointed magistrate
+concluded her version of law, Polly sprang up
+angrily.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I declare, Nolla, you will never be serious even
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_257' name='page_257'></a>257</span>
+at death! I&#8217;m disgusted with you, so there!&#8221; and
+Polly made for the door.
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor made after her, saying as she ran: &#8220;I&#8217;m
+sure I&#8217;ll never want to take death seriously, Polly,
+for that is the time of all times when we need to be
+cheerful and prove to our dear ones that they have
+nothing to weep over&mdash;because I am of the firm
+belief that no one goes into oblivion. It is simply
+progression, you know.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The sudden change from laughter to seriousness
+halted Polly&#8217;s exit at the door, and she turned
+to look at her friend with a strange expression in
+her eyes.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nolla, you should have been born in April&mdash;with
+the most changeable weather of the year.
+One moment you are too silly for words and the
+next you discourse on the most serious of all subjects.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Again Eleanor laughed, teasingly: &#8220;Perhaps I
+should not have been born at all. Then, my
+family and friends would have been saved many
+trials. But I am here, you see, and they have to
+make the best of me.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That is exactly what we want to accomplish,
+don&#8217;t you see? We want to make the best of you,
+but you just won&#8217;t let us do it. You prefer to act
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_258' name='page_258'></a>258</span>
+like a big ninny instead of the cleverest girl in the
+world.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Always excepting you, dear!&#8221; and Eleanor
+bowed low.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There you go again! Now I <i>am</i> mad!&#8221; and
+Polly tried to get through the open doorway, but
+her friend clung to her arm and refused to let her
+go.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Wait a moment! I&#8217;ll let you go as soon as I
+have a word with you. This is going to be a real
+serious word, too,&#8221; promised Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>Polly turned back. Eleanor stood pondering
+for a moment, then said, &#8220;About Tom&#8217;s affair, I
+would advise this: treat him brotherly&mdash;that is be
+sisterly to him; if you are not madly in love with
+him, so madly that you will jump into the Hudson
+or throw yourself upon the subway track unless
+you know he loves you the same way, then let
+Cupid manage the whole affair. Believe me,
+child, Cupid can do it far better than you or I!
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Concerning Paul and myself: I told the darling
+that I had a contract with you which had to be
+fulfilled before I could sign up with another one&mdash;even
+though that other one <i>seemed</i> to be offering
+me easier work and better wages. So I&#8217;m in for
+the business venture for all it is worth for the next
+two, perhaps more, years. I refused to place any
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_259' name='page_259'></a>259</span>
+time limit on a promise to sign up with Paul.
+Satisfied?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Most assuredly! That is the first practical
+speech I&#8217;ve ever heard you make, Nolla!&#8221; was
+Polly&#8217;s emphatic reply.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I trust you have sense enough to make the
+same speech to Tom Latimer. Then he will follow
+Paul&#8217;s example: be filled with ambition to go
+back to Pebbly Pit and straighten out that caved-in
+mine.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>But both the girls were to learn that it is much
+easier to talk how events should follow in sequence,
+than it is to compel fate to do as she is expected
+to with such events.
+</p>
+<p>That evening, despite his parents&#8217; advice to remain
+in bed, Tom drove up in a taxi and stopped
+before the Fabians&#8217; house. He paid the driver,
+rushed up the steps and pulled at the doorbell.
+</p>
+<p>Polly had just finished dinner and was slowly
+walking out of the dining-room when the maid
+opened the door. Tom fairly leaped in when he
+saw Polly stopping suddenly under the hall-light.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, my little&mdash;&#8221; he began, but Polly held up a
+warning hand and frowned him to silence; then she
+hurried him to the library across the hall from the
+dining-room.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_260' name='page_260'></a>260</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s the matter? Didn&#8217;t you tell them we
+were engaged?&#8221; asked Tom, impetuously.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t know we were what one calls engaged,
+Tom. You are misunderstanding me. Of course,
+I did not tell them about what never happened.&#8221;
+Polly was annoyed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But,&#8221; began Tom, arguing for himself, &#8220;I felt
+sure you meant it the way I said: that you would
+wear my ring and consider I had a prior right to
+your love or affections.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re all wrong! Because that is exactly
+what I wish to retain for myself&mdash;prior right to
+follow my own life-line. I did say that I liked
+you more than any other friend I know, and that
+I might consider you as my future fiancé if, in two
+years&#8217; time, I came to the conclusion that I would
+give up a business career. That&#8217;s all; and that
+holds no ground for your giving me an engagement
+ring, nor for me to take one and wear it. I
+simply refuse to be bound in any way. Better
+understand this, once for all, Tom!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The other members of the family now came in
+and welcomed Tom and also insisted upon having
+him tell them how much better he felt. The ring-box
+which Tom had so eagerly pulled from his vest
+pocket as he sat upon the divan with Polly, he now
+managed to slip back again without having been
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_261' name='page_261'></a>261</span>
+discovered in the act. Even Eleanor failed to
+see the action.
+</p>
+<p>Before Tom had had time to conclude his polite
+answers as to the state of his health, the bell rang
+a second time and the maid admitted Paul Stewart.
+Nor did the evening advance far before Jim and
+Ken dropped in, then came Dodo and Mr. Dalken,
+and last but not least the Ashbys stopped in to inquire
+how everyone was. Such &#8220;stoppings&#8221;
+usually ended, as on this evening, by their remaining
+until midnight.
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Ashby had news for his two new assistants
+in business. &#8220;Late in the afternoon before
+Christmas, I had a &#8217;phone call from Mrs. Courtney,
+girls. She asked me to make an appointment
+with you to meet her at my shop, tomorrow morning
+at eleven. I promised to let you know.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, that&#8217;s the lady we met at the Parsippany
+sale,&#8221; exclaimed Eleanor. &#8220;I wondered what had
+become of her since then.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Maybe she wants us to find her a few antiques,&#8221;
+suggested Polly, eagerly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I believe she plans to redecorate her boudoir,
+and wants you two beginners to take the commission.
+She seems to place a great deal of confidence
+in your ability to please her,&#8221; said Mr.
+Ashby.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_262' name='page_262'></a>262</span></p>
+<p>Eleanor smiled at her superior in business.
+&#8220;Feeling any jealousy at our popularity?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not a whit!&#8221; laughed Mr. Ashby. &#8220;It only
+adds more glory to my brilliant fame, because I
+was astute enough to secure such talent!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Courtney&#8217;s appointment to meet the two
+young decorators in a business conference came
+at just the time when both Eleanor and Polly were
+half-persuaded to give up their art and turn aside
+to marriage, although neither girl really wanted
+to take the husband instead of the career, at that
+time. When Paul and Tom would be out of sight
+once more, and their magnetic presences removed
+so that calm business atmosphere might control
+again, both girls would see they had been wise in
+deferring their engagements for the present.
+Hence the visit of Mrs. Courtney came at just the
+critical time.
+</p>
+<p>Polly and Eleanor were at the Ashby Shops a
+full hour before the lady could be expected. But
+they put in the hour in going over the latest
+samples of boudoir textiles, new ideas in furniture,
+and fascinating designs of cushions, draperies and
+other accessories for a boudoir.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Courtney was very frank and pleasant
+in her cordial greeting. For all her fame as a
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_263' name='page_263'></a>263</span>
+social leader in New York and the fabulous wealth
+accredited to her, she seemed very plain and
+friendly. Eleanor could not help contrasting her
+with her mother and Barbara.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, girls, how many millions of dollars
+have you made in your profession since I saw you
+at that farce of a sale in New Jersey,&#8221; said she
+smilingly after they had seated themselves in the
+small reception room.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That <i>was</i> too bad, wasn&#8217;t it?&#8221; said Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We mean, it was too bad for that nice old
+auctioneer to be used by the city man as he certainly
+was. We met old Mr. Van Styne before
+that sale, you know, and he was so honest!&#8221; said
+Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;So I learned. But I was annoyed at the city
+man&#8217;s methods of getting his regular customers so
+far from the city in order to make money out of
+them; I went down to his office and told him very
+plainly what I thought of such trickery as he had
+played on me. He apologised in every way when
+he learned that I would never buy another thing of
+him; but I knew his apologies were the result of
+his fear of losing a good customer. I told him
+frankly that I would not accept his regrets. I have
+heard from him several times since then, but I
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_264' name='page_264'></a>264</span>
+have paid no attention to his requests to allow him
+to explain the circumstance which ended in that
+sale in the country.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I did take time to write to this Mr. Van Styne,
+however, and ask for the truth, as I did not want
+to condemn the city man if there might be extenuating
+reasons for the sale. The old man in Morristown
+answered that he had been used as an instrument
+in the padded sale. He had known nothing
+of the manner in which the antiques had been
+brought from the City and placed in the house,
+until afterward. He had sent letters to his
+clientele who favored him with confidence, and
+many were at that sale, much to his discomfiture
+when he learned the truth.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Mr. Van Styne added that he had taken the
+trouble to find out from a few of his trusting
+customers that the articles they had purchased at
+that sale, and which were claimed in the catalogues
+to be genuine antiques, were clever imitations.
+In fact, a refectory table said to be of
+genuine Jacobean period, was manufactured in the
+man&#8217;s factory on the East Side. Even the worm-holes
+had been drilled in the wood and the worn
+slab of wood of the top was done by the plane.
+To keep himself out of Court, the clever fellow
+had to give back the buyer&#8217;s money and send up to
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_265' name='page_265'></a>265</span>
+Morristown and get the articles of &#8216;newly-made
+antique&#8217; furniture.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m glad of that!&#8221; exclaimed Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But those buyers should have prosecuted the
+cheat!&#8221; declared Eleanor, impatiently.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s exactly what I said, but one of them
+wrote me she was going away for the winter; she
+could not postpone her trip to try the case at
+Court. Thus she took the easiest way out.&#8221;
+Mrs. Courtney&#8217;s determined expression showed
+what she would have done had she been the dupe
+of such a clever dealer.
+</p>
+<p>The subject was abruptly changed when Mrs.
+Courtney added: &#8220;Now we must talk business,
+young ladies. I am sure you cannot spare your
+valuable time in gossip.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly and Eleanor glanced at each other and
+smiled at the idea of their &#8220;valuable time,&#8221; but
+Mrs. Courtney launched at once into the cause of
+her call that morning.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I never felt at peace with the atrocious decorations
+in my boudoir, although one of the highest-priced
+firms in New York did the room for me.
+I know it was a case of making me take the costliest
+materials without regard to harmony or temperament.
+Now I wish to have you girls see what
+<i>you</i> would do with the suite. While I am here,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_266' name='page_266'></a>266</span>
+I thought you might show me several suites exhibited
+on the floor and tell me which you would
+prefer for a woman of my age.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly immediately signified that she was ready
+to escort Mrs. Courtney to the elevator, thence to
+the exhibition rooms where every conceivable
+period and price of boudoir furnishings were to be
+seen and examined.
+</p>
+<p>The three stepped from the elevator, and Polly
+was leading the way to the boudoir suites; Mrs.
+Courtney watched with deep interest as she spoke
+in a low voice, to Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Jack Baxter called on me, one evening before
+he went West; he told me that your remarkable
+young friend had everything in life to make a
+young girl want to have a good time, yet she
+chose a profession for herself in place of gayety
+and beaux.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor smiled and nodded affirmatively but
+said nothing.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That is one of the reasons I wanted to meet
+you young ladies again. It is so gratifying to
+find any young girl, these days, who takes life in
+earnest. Of all the flippant, mothlike creatures I
+find flapping about at receptions or teas, I have
+yet to find one in every thousand who really thinks
+of anything other than cigarettes, matinees, and
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_267' name='page_267'></a>267</span>
+dress. It is positively revolting to me to have my
+rooms clouded with cigarette smoke, yet what can
+a hostess do? The women have gone mad over
+the habit. The danger lies in their not being able
+to break the influence as readily as they form
+it.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly overheard the latter part of this speech
+and smiled admiringly at her client. Then they
+came to the boudoir exhibit.
+</p>
+<p>A very pleasant hour passed while Polly and
+Eleanor told Mrs. Courtney of their visits to
+galleries in Europe, and in hearing Mrs. Courtney
+speak of her amusing excursions in quest of the antique.
+Finally the lady remembered an appointment,
+and in amazement found her wrist-watch
+told her it was twelve.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, oh! I had an imperative engagement at
+the dentist&#8217;s at twelve-fifteen. How could this
+hour have passed so rapidly?&#8221; said she, hurrying
+to the elevator in advance of the girls.
+</p>
+<p>While waiting for the man to come for them,
+the two young salesladies wondered if their customer
+would leave without an order, or word of
+encouragement regarding the future of her boudoir.
+</p>
+<p>On the elevator going down, Mrs. Courtney
+said: &#8220;When you have time to come to my address
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_268' name='page_268'></a>268</span>
+and look at the suite, just let me know by telephone
+and I will make it a point to be at home to meet
+you, to go into the work in earnest. I am confident
+you can give the right atmosphere to my
+boudoir.&#8221; Just as the elevator reached the
+ground floor, Mrs. Courtney handed Polly and
+Eleanor each a card upon which she wrote her
+private telephone number.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now, good-morning, my friends. Remember
+what I said to you about having chosen the right
+pathway, for the present. You will make all the
+better wives and mothers for having had a genuine
+business experience. How superior is your ideal
+to those of empty-headed society misses who live
+but to dance or drink or waste their true substance.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>With such praise of their endeavors, the lady
+left Polly and Eleanor; and they stood where she
+left them, holding her cards in their hands, but still
+gazing at the revolving doors through which she
+had passed and then disappeared.
+</p>
+<hr class='major' />
+<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'>
+<a name='XVII_BUSINESS' id='XVII_BUSINESS'></a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_269' name='page_269'></a>269</span>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2>
+<h3>BUSINESS</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Ruth and Dodo had been sadly neglected during
+the Christmas Season, but after Paul returned
+to Denver and Tom accepted his verdict that Polly
+would give no valuable thought to lovers for the
+next two years, the two young decorators took
+time to encourage their younger partners in the
+work they had chosen.
+</p>
+<p>Ruth and Dodo were not as deeply in earnest
+as Polly and Eleanor had been in applying themselves
+to the studies given at Cooper Union; they
+considered themselves martyrs to the cause of
+womanly work. Mr. Fabian often sighed in despair
+over Dodo&#8217;s ideals in ancient architecture, or
+Ruth&#8217;s recitations of applied designs. Polly and
+Eleanor laughed at these trials of teacher and
+student and kept urging both sides not to lose faith
+but to keep on until they won the prize.
+</p>
+<p>Meanwhile, the two advanced students visited
+every exhibit or lecture given on their beloved
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_270' name='page_270'></a>270</span>
+work, and thus acquired more of the idealistic experiences
+in art. For business application of their
+understanding of decorating, Mrs. Courtney supplied
+one channel of such testing; and Mr. Dalken
+offered another outlet for their wisdom, for he
+had decided to erect a magnificent office building
+on upper Fifth Avenue, and keep the entire top
+floor as a private apartment for himself.
+</p>
+<p>The girls had many interesting mornings in
+Mrs. Courtney&#8217;s home, listening to her accounts
+of trips to every country in quest of curios and
+antiques. Her residence was filled with the results
+of her travels, and her memory teemed with
+thrilling stories of adventure for the rare and
+beautiful trophies she secured.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There is still one interesting spot on this globe
+which I am keen to visit, but I have never had the
+opportunity to go as I wish to go,&#8221; said Mrs.
+Courtney, one day, after she had been showing
+the two girls the collection of Filipino curios she
+got during a six months&#8217; stay at the Philippines.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I should have said there was no spot where
+you have not been,&#8221; laughed Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But there is, and that is the South Sea Isles.
+I have&mdash;&mdash;&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Where?&#8221; gasped both the girls, unconsciously
+interrupting the speaker.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_271' name='page_271'></a>271</span></p>
+<p>Mrs. Courtney laughed. &#8220;Yes, the South Sea
+Isles. Do not think them so cannibalistic as report
+has it, my dears. I know an American who
+has lived there more than twenty years and he
+says that for climate and interesting life, give him
+the South Sea Islands. He almost persuaded me
+to take the trip when he was here last.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Is he an old friend?&#8221; asked Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No; he is a man I used to commission to find
+certain curios for me. He tells me that textiles
+woven and colored by the natives of those islands
+are the most beautiful things ever seen. The
+carvings and hammered brasses are more gorgeous
+than those of Benares or of the East. He
+has made quite a fortune out of exporting selected
+articles from the Isles to the United States, but the
+great difficulty in such trade is the uncertain transportation
+methods. His goods may reach their
+destination and again they may not. It depends
+on the character of the owner or captain of the
+vessel. He all but persuaded me to buy or lease a
+sea-going yacht and make the trip for a year&#8217;s outing.
+He promised me that all costs would quickly
+be defrayed by the valuable cargo which could be
+stored away in very small space on board the
+yacht.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If you were so keen about visiting that place
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_272' name='page_272'></a>272</span>
+why did you renounce it?&#8221; queried Eleanor, wonderingly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Because I could not induce any of my friends
+to accept my invitation to join my party for such
+an outing.&#8221; Mrs Courtney laughed as she remembered
+the expressions on the faces of her friends
+when they heard of the proposed voyage.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Actually, girls, some of my invited guests
+asked me to go to Monte Carlo, or to the Orient,
+instead. So that broke up the plan.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Goodness!&#8221; sighed Polly, &#8220;I only wish I had
+been invited!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Would you have gone willingly?&#8221; asked Mrs.
+Courtney, eagerly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Would I? Say, Nolla, would you have gone
+with me?&#8221; was Polly&#8217;s instant retort.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Try me now and see?&#8221; laughed Eleanor to
+Mrs. Courtney.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Really, girls, do not joke! I am seriously inclined
+to take that trip, providing I can induce the
+right group of friends to accompany me. The
+cost of a yacht would be no small matter in these
+days of high costs, but I would have a year&#8217;s intense
+satisfaction out of such a trip, and Mr.
+Needham said he felt sure the costs would be met
+by the cargo I could carry out and another I could
+bring back on the round trip.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_273' name='page_273'></a>273</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;If our gold mine gets to working again, or
+should the lava cliffs open soon, both Polly and I
+would love to enlist for just such an adventure.
+But there would be no opportunity to add to our
+knowledge of decorating, would there?&#8221; suggested
+Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Not unless you took your lessons with you,
+and found clients out there who wanted you to
+decorate their grass huts in the good approved
+American way,&#8221; suggested Mrs. Courtney.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nolla, we ought not to dream of such a trip,
+because we are tied to a two-year agreement with
+each other, you know. Then we&#8217;ve got to give
+a definite answer to those life-partners, you
+know,&#8221; was Polly&#8217;s lugubrious reply.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know, Polly! In such an unexpected
+matter as our going to the South Seas, a mere beau
+will have to bide his time. We may find a Fiji
+Islander more interesting to us than one of our
+Yankee beaus,&#8221; laughed Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Courtney heard and pondered what had
+just been said; her next words did not hint of her
+having heard the discussion, however.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If I do take such a trip, it shall not be in the
+approved line of Cook&#8217;s Tours. I want to adventure
+in absolute freedom, with no tagging tourists
+or other obstacles to a perfect adventure. I
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_274' name='page_274'></a>274</span>
+would carefully select a party of fifteen or twenty
+harmonious souls and charter or buy a private
+yacht. Then start and stop as we pleased. No
+hurry, no lagging, unless we chose. It seems to
+me that such a wonderful outing would bring
+peace, at last, to my restless spirit.&#8221; Mrs. Courtney
+sighed.
+</p>
+<p>The girls laughed because they thought she
+was joking. But Mrs. Courtney was in earnest,
+as they were to find out. However, the topic now
+being discussed was the South Sea Isle trip so she
+was determined to conclude that before she
+launched another.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If I invited you two girls to accompany me as
+private assistants during the trip, and should we
+find a score of kindred spirits willing to take a trip
+such as I plan, why could you not steal six months
+or a year from your profession, in order to see
+the world? Surely it would do you no harm, and
+you are still young enough to go on with your
+work when you return to New York?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Polly and Eleanor seemed to have exactly the
+same idea. But Eleanor spoke impetuously of it,
+while Polly pondered seriously. &#8220;Dear me! If
+only Mr. Dalken could spare the time to take <i>his</i>
+yacht and invite us to accompany him on just such
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_275' name='page_275'></a>275</span>
+a voyage&mdash;what a wonderful trip it would be!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Courtney glanced at the girls, then said:
+&#8220;I&#8217;ve heard so much of your great Mr. Dalken
+but I&#8217;ve never seen him. How old a man is he,
+and what does he look like?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Dalky is not as old as he looks, because
+he has had such an unhappy life, you know; that is
+how we came to love him so! We felt keenly for
+him,&#8221; exclaimed Eleanor, regardless of the sharp
+nudge Polly gave her as a warning to hold her
+tongue.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, I know his silly wife, poor man!&#8221; murmured
+Mrs. Courtney. She seemed to be lost in
+a sad strain of thought for a short time, and the
+girls hesitated to speak, just then.
+</p>
+<p>Soon, however, she heaved a deep sigh and
+looked up to smile at the serious faces opposite
+her. &#8220;Well, perhaps there is a great happiness in
+store for your good friend, to repay him for all
+he has silently endured these past years.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We sincerely hope so!&#8221; affirmed Polly,
+earnestly. &#8220;If anyone deserves peace and joy,
+dear Dalky does.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;How little the world really knows of the
+sorrows of those who bear their cross in silence!&#8221;
+sighed Mrs. Courtney. &#8220;Now, I have heard said
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_276' name='page_276'></a>276</span>
+that Mr. Dalken is a very gay personage who
+knows how to make the most of his money and
+time. But that report came from his wife, so I
+took it with a grain of salt. I know from my own
+experience just how the sinner tries to smear the
+saint with his own crimes although I do not mean
+by that that I am a saint.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Surely you had no unhappy experience in your
+life, Mrs. Courtney!&#8221; exclaimed Eleanor, not from
+curiosity but from the desire to hear her esteemed
+friend declare that she had had only joy in her
+days. Mrs. Courtney understood the motive that
+urged the question.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;My dear children, my married experience was
+much like that of your beloved friend. The difference
+being that my gay husband used my position
+and wealth to boost himself to the place where
+he found more agreeable companions than I
+proved to be. Out of sheer self-respect I was
+forced to divorce him. Then I began my wanderings
+over the globe, and finally settled in this city
+where I was practically unknown. You see, my
+pride could not brook the pity of my friends although
+they approved the only course open for me
+when my husband eloped with another man&#8217;s
+wife.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, dear Mrs. Courtney!&#8221; sighed Eleanor,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_277' name='page_277'></a>277</span>
+ready tears springing to her eyes. But Polly
+crept over and placed a sympathetic hand upon
+that of her hostess.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It seems ages ago, my children,&#8221; added Mrs.
+Courtney. &#8220;I was only eighteen when I married
+and I was twenty-one when I divorced my husband.
+I never had a child, and I have always felt as
+though I had been given a very wretched deal in
+life, for I love children. Because of my experience,
+I can advise other young girls&mdash;not to marry
+too young, nor to accept a man for his looks or
+manners. A girl needs to be experienced from
+business, or travel and association with men, before
+she is capable of judging wisely and selecting the
+proper mate for life.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>The bond created that morning between the
+mature woman and the two young girls, proved
+to be of such quality as would last. And such a
+friend as Mrs. Courtney would be for two young
+girls, was one of the benefits both Polly and Eleanor
+received by visiting country auctions of a
+higher class. Not that the particular sale at
+Parsippany was &#8220;higher class,&#8221; because it was
+proved to have been a fake sale, but the type of
+buyers it attracted were of an advanced type of
+mentality.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But, children, you have told me nothing more
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_278' name='page_278'></a>278</span>
+about your good friend Dalken! Tell me more
+of him. I just heard of his wife&#8217;s latest project,
+and I wish to be informed first hand.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What do you mean, Mrs. Courtney? His
+wife&#8217;s latest project?&#8221; asked Polly, fearfully.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, perhaps you were not aware that she is in
+Reno? She found an affinity, it seems, during her
+visit abroad, last summer, and it became necessary
+for her to sever her legal ties if she wished to
+marry this other man. I heard of the scandal
+but not being interested in the woman, and not
+knowing the man, I paid no attention to the suit.
+Divorce cases are so common in these degenerate
+days.&#8221; Mrs. Courtney sighed again, and showed
+her disapproval of the modern style of marriages.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Poor Dalky! I wonder if he knows of this?&#8221;
+cried Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He would have to, dear, because she would
+have to serve him with papers, you see,&#8221; explained
+Mrs. Courtney.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And he never said a word to any one nor did
+he let us see he was disturbed in any way,&#8221; added
+Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Maybe the poor man is relieved to have it so.
+At least, he will be exempt from paying her such
+an outrageous income, you know. I take for
+granted that he will put in his defence, thus absolving
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_279' name='page_279'></a>279</span>
+himself from alimony,&#8221; explained Mrs. Courtney.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It would be exactly like him to keep quiet and
+let that horrid woman get all she can. He is so
+magnanimous, you know, that he would think to
+himself &#8216;She was the mother of my children, and
+as such I must not deprive her of what she may
+need&#8217;.&#8221; Polly&#8217;s voice had a dual tone as she spoke:
+one of sympathy for Mr. Dalken, one of scorn for
+Mrs. Dalken.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Courtney laughed softly. &#8220;I am getting
+my impressions of your friend in piece-meal. You
+have not yet told me about him.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That is because you&#8217;ve told us such astonishing
+news. But now I&#8217;ll tell you all about good old
+Dalky,&#8221; said Eleanor. &#8220;He is a handsome man
+of about forty-two or four, I think. Isn&#8217;t he,
+Polly?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, about that age,&#8221; agreed Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, besides his being handsome and middle-aged,
+he is loving, awfully rich, both in money and
+good friends, and one of the most intelligent mortals
+I ever met!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor&#8217;s description made Mrs. Courtney
+smile. &#8220;One would be led to think you had met
+all kinds and conditions of mortals in your long,
+long life, child,&#8221; remarked she.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_280' name='page_280'></a>280</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Sometimes I think I am very much older in life
+than <i>seems</i> to be,&#8221; mused Eleanor. &#8220;I feel somehow,
+that I have lived many centuries before this
+queer modern experience.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;You must have been reading theosophical
+books, my dear,&#8221; remarked Mrs. Courtney, eyeing
+Eleanor closely.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, I never have. I&#8217;m not interested in any
+such form of research&mdash;not yet,&#8221; she laughed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nolla, we ought to be going&mdash;really! Every
+time we come here to talk boudoir decorating we
+switch off into some byway of personal interest,
+and that makes us come again to get down to
+work,&#8221; said Polly, rising and adjusting her hat,
+preparatory to saying good-by.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But what about our round-trip to the South
+Sea Isles?&#8221; was Mrs. Courtney&#8217;s query.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It isn&#8217;t coming off, at once, is it? You&#8217;ve
+got to find a group who are companionable, and
+you&#8217;ve got to get the yacht,&#8221; said Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It may not take me more than a week to do
+both. When I make up my mind to a thing, I
+generally do it,&#8221; returned Mrs. Courtney.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;d have to gain the consent of our parents
+before we could even <i>think</i> of taking such a marvellous
+voyage,&#8221; declared Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But the main point is this: would you really
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_281' name='page_281'></a>281</span>
+care to go, or would you prefer staying in New
+York to continue your profession?&#8221; asked Mrs.
+Courtney.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;d love to go with you, but I&#8217;m not sure
+I&#8217;d want to remain away from my work for a
+whole year,&#8221; was Polly&#8217;s thoughtful answer.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If we entertained any ideas of taking the voyage,
+the best time for us to start would be next
+Fall. Then we could spend our entire winter in
+the tropics and escape the heat in the equator in
+the summer, or rainy season, by sailing home
+again.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, it sounds great! It remains to see who
+would go,&#8221; said Eleanor. Then the girls said
+good-by, and started away, full of the unusual invitation
+they had heard that afternoon.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m sure mother and father would not wish me
+to go,&#8221; said Polly, after the subject had been exhausted.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Of course, you couldn&#8217;t offer the excuse that
+you were going for advancement in your profession&mdash;as
+we did when we wanted to tour Europe,
+you know.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Leaving the thrilling trip out of our minds
+for a time, I want to ask you if you suspected anything
+troubling Dalky, lately?&#8221; said Polly, seriously.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_282' name='page_282'></a>282</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Not a thing. He has seemed just the same as
+ever.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what I should have said. Then he
+may not know about his wife&#8217;s perfidy, and I think
+we ought to prepare him for such news, Nolla.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Polly, we tried to force an adopted son on him,
+once, and since that time I have been wary of trying
+to interfere in any other of his personal affairs.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then let us talk it over with Prof. and ask
+what he thinks about telling Mr. Ashby,&#8221; suggested
+Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s more like sense. We&#8217;ll tell Mr. Ashby
+ourselves, when we get back to the Shops.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Thus Mr. Ashby was told the story as told by
+Mrs. Courtney but he seemed not surprised as
+the girls expected him to be. He merely shook
+his head sympathetically and said nothing.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Did you know it?&#8221; asked Polly, amazed.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We all knew of it a few weeks ago. Poor
+Dalky refused all our advice to fight the divorce
+and exempt himself from paying alimony&mdash;as he
+will have to do for not putting in a defence.
+He smiled tolerantly and explained: &#8216;If she wants
+any of my money she is welcome to it. I have
+more than I can use, you know&#8217;.&#8221;
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_283' name='page_283'></a>283</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;There! That is exactly what I said he would
+do!&#8221; declared Polly, vehemently.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, why does he let her have it? There are
+so many ways he could make poor people happy,
+instead of throwing his wealth away on such a mercenary
+creature!&#8221; wailed Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We have no right to question his motives,
+Nolla,&#8221; said Mr. Ashby, seriously. &#8220;I do not
+wish to speak of this again, unless he himself
+mentions the subject to you girls. He has seemed
+anxious to keep the news from you, for some
+reason. But I firmly believe the poor man still
+has a shred of love for his wife alive in his bosom,
+and that is why he will not oppose her in any way
+she wishes to secure happiness.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>That night when Polly and Eleanor sat together
+doing some home-work on decorating, Polly suddenly
+looked up and said: &#8220;Nolla, if only our dear
+Dalky could meet our dear Mrs. Courtney&mdash;wouldn&#8217;t
+they make a fine couple?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, Poll! There you go again! I have
+tried to keep from thinking that very thing, ever
+since I heard Mrs. Courtney tell us of that horrid
+woman&#8217;s being in Reno. Our Dalky will be free,
+and what so great as to have him fall in love with
+a really appreciative woman.&#8221; Eleanor clasped
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_284' name='page_284'></a>284</span>
+her hands and expressed ecstatic joy at the very
+idea of such bliss.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But the whole plan would be ruined if it turned
+out that Dalky was still in love with his first wife,
+you know,&#8221; argued Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;It wouldn&#8217;t take long to get him out of it,&#8221; retorted
+Eleanor. &#8220;With such a lovely woman as
+Mrs. Courtney to be had for the loving and
+asking, I&#8217;d like to wager all I have that Dalky
+would walk into the snare.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What snare? Who&#8217;d set it for his faltering
+steps?&#8221; laughed Polly, enjoying this romancing to
+the utmost.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Why, we would, to be sure. Now look at it in
+a practical way, Poll. There is Mrs. Courtney:
+very good-looking, rich, refined, lonely, about
+thirty-five or thirty-eight, at most. Here is our
+Dalky, also handsome, rich, refined, lonely (but
+for us) about forty years old, and just the man to
+have a wonderful wife to make him happy. Is
+that not an ideal match?&#8221; Eleanor tossed her
+head wisely.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s what <i>we</i> think! But we are not going
+to marry Dalky nor Mrs. Courtney. They may
+not agree with us, you know.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Polly, nothing like trying out a thing to see
+how it works. Now we must scheme to bring
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_285' name='page_285'></a>285</span>
+those two together and let them find out how
+desirable each is for the other,&#8221; suggested Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I think that is a good plan&mdash;bring them together
+and see how they seem to get along,&#8221; said
+Polly, musingly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;All right, then. How shall we do it?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Could we not invite Mrs. Courtney to inspect
+some of the materials we are going to order for
+Dalky&#8217;s apartment? We could so plan that
+Dalky would be there at the same time. Then
+they would meet and hear that each one is the
+great and only friend the other has heard so much
+about from us?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, that&#8217;s a fine way to get them together,&#8221;
+said Polly. &#8220;Now when shall it be?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The sooner, the better,&#8221; retorted Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We are going to get that book of new imported
+samples of damask, this week, Nolla.
+Why not ask Mrs. Courtney to look at them.
+As they are ordered for Dalky&#8217;s apartment, what
+more natural than he should drop in to look them
+over?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor clapped Polly on the back with approval,
+and both girls then put their heads together
+and romanced about the great match they
+would bring about.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_286' name='page_286'></a>286</span></p>
+<p>A few days after this conversation, the much-desired
+package came by European post. It was
+the book of imported samples which had been
+ordered for Mr. Dalken&#8217;s inspection before he
+would place an order for the materials. The
+work at Mrs. Courtney&#8217;s residence had been delayed
+because the youthful decorators said they
+wished to look over the magnificent materials from
+Paris. When they were sure of Mr. Dalken&#8217;s
+visit to the Shops that morning, they also insisted
+upon Mrs. Courtney coming in to look over the
+materials.
+</p>
+<p>The two plotters could hardly keep from hugging
+each other when they knew that both friends
+were coming, and the opportunity of having them
+meet and fall in love with each other was given
+at last.
+</p>
+<p>But they did not allow for Fate.
+</p>
+<p>There happened to be a socialistic parade of
+demonstration against work, or some such complaint,
+that noon; and just as the parade reached
+that section of Fifth Avenue where the Ashby
+Shops were located, the police held up all vehicular
+traffic. All cars were diverted from the
+Avenue to side streets, but those unfortunate
+cars caught just at the point of crossing the street,
+had to back and wait until those behind had
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_287' name='page_287'></a>287</span>
+backed out of the congestion, before they could
+slowly make their way out.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Courtney&#8217;s chauffeur had just attempted
+to cross the Avenue in order to turn in front of
+the Ashby Shops, when the signal came and all
+traffic, up or down or cross-town, was held up until
+the parade should have passed. Mrs. Courtney
+was furious.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Back out and we&#8217;ll go around a side street to
+get to my destination,&#8221; spoke she to the chauffeur.
+</p>
+<p>The man glanced in the mirror to see if the
+way behind was open, and finding no car directly
+in his pathway, he began to quickly back out. In
+the moment he took his eye from the reflector,
+another car shot up close to Mrs. Courtney&#8217;s
+automobile; thus her driver backed suddenly into
+the newly arrived car behind.
+</p>
+<p>There was a smash of lamps, a grinding of
+fenders and the interlocking of back and front
+bumpers. The passengers were rudely thrown
+from the luxurious cushioned seats, and Mrs.
+Courtney had her new imported hat crushed out
+of shape.
+</p>
+<p>The two chauffeurs jumped down and began to
+blame each other for the accident; Mr. Dalken
+managed to pick himself up from the floor of his
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_288' name='page_288'></a>288</span>
+limousine and step stiffly out to learn who was to
+blame. Mrs. Courtney was sure she was in the
+right; and when the handsome gentleman came
+up to her car to tell her she had a stupid chauffeur,
+for he should have looked well before backing
+so recklessly into the congested tangle of cars
+behind him, she resented his charge.
+</p>
+<p>While Mr. Dalken stood beside Mrs. Courtney&#8217;s
+car trying to convince her she was in the
+wrong, the two chauffeurs began to use their fists
+upon each other. Then, in a few minutes&#8217; time,
+the officer stationed at the corner to maintain order
+for the paraders, rushed up and arrested both
+combatants. Naturally, this caused their employers
+to see that justice was done, and thus it
+happened that all contestants accompanied the officer
+to the police-station.
+</p>
+<p>Meantime Polly and Eleanor waited and
+waited, but no one came to inspect their sample
+book. They telephoned Mrs. Courtney&#8217;s house
+and were told she had left, in her car, fully an
+hour before. Then they telephoned Mr. Dalken&#8217;s
+office and heard that he had driven away in
+his car fully an hour before.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The old parade must have held them up,&#8221;
+suggested Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But that&#8217;s over, now, and they surely could
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_289' name='page_289'></a>289</span>
+have been here if they were detained at one of the
+nearby cross-streets,&#8221; said Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>Another half hour passed and then two cars
+drove up and stopped before the Ashby Shops.
+Two people stepped from their individual cars
+and two angry people stood and stared at each
+other. Then Mr. Dalken, recovering first, bowed
+stiffly and walked across the pavement to enter
+the Shop door. Mrs. Courtney had started to
+cross the sidewalk before she realized that her unknown
+opponent was entering the same Shop she
+was bound for. She passed through the door he
+held open, and sent him a careless glance of
+thanks, then looked around for the girls whom she
+had expected to meet there.
+</p>
+<p>Neither girl was in sight, and the lady now
+asked one of the salesmen, &#8220;Where shall I find
+Miss Brewster or Miss Maynard?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Just step this way, Madam. I&#8217;ll take you to
+their private office,&#8221; was the polite reply.
+</p>
+<p>Mrs. Courtney glanced in a large mirror to
+assure herself that her hat was presentable, then
+followed her escort. As she reached the partly
+closed door of the office used by the young decorators,
+she heard a man&#8217;s voice. The same voice
+which had been accusing her chauffeur of bad judgment
+and ignorance of city laws. Before she
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_290' name='page_290'></a>290</span>
+could change her mind about entering the room,
+however, the escort had knocked and Polly flung
+the door open. She welcomed the new visitor.
+</p>
+<p>Both girls were tickled to pieces to find how
+their plot was coming on apace: both dear friends
+were now together at the same time, and all that
+was needed was for them to be introduced.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, isn&#8217;t this just lovely!&#8221; cried Eleanor, acting
+her part very well. &#8220;To find both our friends
+here at the same time!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Dear Mrs. Courtney, this is our dear Mr.
+Dalken,&#8221; said Polly, politely.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;And <i>this</i> is the dear friend we have told you of
+so often, Dalky!&#8221; added Eleanor, effusively.
+</p>
+<p>The lady and gentleman bowed distantly but
+never smiled; the girls wondered at their strange
+behavior. Then Mr. Dalken said sarcastically:
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We have met before. In fact, the lady is
+obliged to me for having spared her chauffeur a
+fine.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What do you mean?&#8221; gasped Polly, all at sea.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;He means, my dears, that he took us to the
+police station a short time ago, just because his
+stupid chauffeur wouldn&#8217;t back out of the congestion.
+Naturally, when my man tried to back out
+the car grazed the one behind, and that started
+the fight,&#8221; explained Mrs. Courtney.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_291' name='page_291'></a>291</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;I beg pardon, Madam. <i>I</i> did not take you to
+the station house. You took yourself in order to
+save your chauffeur. And I went to see that my
+poor man had simple justice in the case,&#8221; said Mr.
+Dalken, bowing low in mock humility.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, oh! Isn&#8217;t this dreadful after all we
+hoped for!&#8221; cried Polly, throwing herself in a
+chair and burying her face in her arms.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What is so awful, Polly dear?&#8221; asked Mrs.
+Courtney, springing over to the troubled girl and
+placing an arm about her.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, oh! I am so heart-broken over this misfortune!&#8221;
+cried Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What misfortune, Polly dear?&#8221; now asked
+Mr. Dalken, coming close to the girl.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, oh, oh! I can&#8217;t speak of it!&#8221; sobbed
+Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Perhaps I can comfort her, Madam, if you will
+allow me,&#8221; suggested Mr. Dalken, anxious to take
+Mrs. Courtney&#8217;s place as comforter.
+</p>
+<p>She sent him a glance that said as plain as
+could be: &#8220;I can comfort her myself&mdash;you need
+not mind!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Meanwhile Eleanor stood and rapidly pondered
+the situation. She felt like laughing outrageously
+at the prank Cupid had played on them, but she
+dared not utter a sound of mirth because that
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_292' name='page_292'></a>292</span>
+might spoil everything. And there might be a
+possible chance of saving the day, after all.
+</p>
+<p>Suddenly, without any previous notice, Eleanor
+fell upon the other chair by the table and dropped
+her head upon her folded arms. Her body shook
+nervously, and Mr. Dalken believed her to be
+crying, too. He hastened to assure her that there
+was really nothing to cry about, but his assurance
+only caused the girl to quake the more.
+</p>
+<p>Eleanor was not crying, but had felt that she
+must laugh or leave the room. As she had no desire
+to leave, she tried to hide her laughing in her
+arms upon the table. But when Mr. Dalken began
+to comfort her, she lost all control of herself
+and had an attack of hysterical laughter.
+</p>
+<p>The two distraught adults were not able to cope
+with the situation, and they looked at each other
+in mute appeal. Mr. Dalken was the first to
+speak.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;We&#8217;d better bury the hatchet and do something
+for the children,&#8221; said he, anxiously. &#8220;Do
+you know what to do?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Had I better get a doctor, or something?&#8221;
+added he.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Better get <i>some</i>thing,&#8221; replied Mrs. Courtney,
+without thinking how silly it must sound.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_293' name='page_293'></a>293</span></p>
+<p>This sent Eleanor off into another wild spell of
+laughter, but Polly began to quiet now that she
+heard her friend making such a disturbance. The
+ungoverned laughter attracted Mr. Ashby who
+had just entered the Shops.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, well! What has happened?&#8221; was the
+natural thing for him to say, the moment he entered
+the room.
+</p>
+<p>Mr. Dalken tried to explain that a slight shock
+had occasioned the hysteria, and then Mr. Ashby
+ran for the jug of icewater on the small stand
+by the door. Eleanor was liberally soaked with
+water before she could control her nerves, but once
+she could gasp again, she cried, &#8220;Oh, Mr. Ashby!
+make our two dear friends patch up their quarrel!
+I shall have another fit unless they shake hands
+right before my face and promise never again to
+act like children!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>As the logic of this accusation seemed apparent
+to all present, Mr. Dalken smiled graciously upon
+Mrs. Courtney and she held out her hand without
+further animosity. Then Mr. Ashby had to hear
+the story of the accident.
+</p>
+<p>As it was concluded he laughed heartily and
+said, &#8220;When I came in, just now, I saw two chauffeurs
+sitting on the running board of Dalky&#8217;s car,
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_294' name='page_294'></a>294</span>
+smoking cigarettes and laughing together as if
+they were twin brothers. No sign of disagreement
+<i>there</i>.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh the wretches! And in the station house
+they called each other all sorts of bad names and
+swore to do away with each other the moment they
+found an opportunity,&#8221; complained Mrs. Courtney.
+</p>
+<p>The others laughed at her pathetic voice, and
+Mr. Dalken said, &#8220;When they discovered they
+were both Swedes they decided they had best combine
+their forces against the common enemy-employer.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>Now that reconciliation had been brought about
+between these two good friends, Eleanor wondered
+what next to do to further the match she had determined
+to bring about. She looked at Polly for inspiration,
+but Polly seemed to lack any initiative.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, girls! Now that you have agreed to remain
+yet a little longer on this earth with us, I
+shall have to be saying good-by,&#8221; declared Mr.
+Dalken, bowing before Mrs. Courtney in his
+most dignified manner.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, no, Dalky! Wait just a minute!&#8221; cried
+Eleanor. Then turning to Polly for help, she
+added, &#8220;We want Mrs. Courtney and you to come
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_295' name='page_295'></a>295</span>
+and dine with us, some evening, this week. Not at
+Mr. Fabian&#8217;s, you know, but at a nice quaint little
+place we know of.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>This was news to Polly, but she waited to hear
+more before she spoke. Mr. Dalken laughed and
+waited for Mrs. Courtney to speak.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;What is this? Do you need a chaperone for
+an evening?&#8221; said she, trying to fathom Eleanor&#8217;s
+thoughts.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;No, no! But you see, Mr. Ashby always takes
+his important clients to a famous restaurant for
+dinner, so we have to do the same. You two are
+our first big customers, and I want to do the business
+up as it should be done.&#8221; Every one laughed
+at Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Under the circumstances, I think I should be
+the host and you three ladies my guests,&#8221; suggested
+Mr. Dalken.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well&mdash;anyway you say, Dalky, just so long as
+we get together for an evening,&#8221; sighed Eleanor,
+as if relieved at the change of plans. This called
+forth another, heartier, laugh at her expense.
+</p>
+<p>One evening, therefore, the four, now good
+friends, met at one of the new unique cabarets, and
+having enjoyed dinner and the dancing, they spoke
+of Mrs. Courtney&#8217;s idea of taking a trip to the
+South Sea Isles. Mr. Dalken laughed immoderately
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_296' name='page_296'></a>296</span>
+at the mention of the place selected for a
+pleasure trip.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Now I am truly sorry you have set your
+hearts on going to the South Seas, for I had been
+secretly planning a little jaunt on my own account.
+One reason I bought that sea-going yacht
+was to have my best friends take short voyages
+with me, whenever we could get away from business.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I find that I must try to break away from New
+York in early Spring, and the doctor says a sea-voyage
+is the best vacation I can possibly take.
+Hence I wanted to have my two girls with me. If
+you are planning to go to the South Seas I suppose
+it will be out of the question for you to go to the
+Orient, on <i>my</i> planned trip?&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>As Mr. Dalken paused to watch the effect of
+this speech, both the girls &#8220;Oh&#8217;ed and Ah&#8217;ed&#8221; and
+glanced at Mrs. Courtney. She said nothing and
+her face was a blank so no one could read her
+mind.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I had jotted down a list of names of sociable
+spirits, such as the Fabians, the Ashbys, the Alexanders,
+the Brewsters, the Maynards, the Latimers,
+the Evans, the Stewarts, and Mrs. Courtney
+with Jack Baxter to look after her in lieu of
+other escort. It may be impossible for all members
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_297' name='page_297'></a>297</span>
+in the families I mention to continue with us
+on the voyage, but they can accompany us part
+way and then come back home. I planned to go
+via the Panama Canal, and thus on to Hawaii,
+touching there for a short visit to the Islands, and
+those of our party who must return to the States,
+can get back by steamer to California and thence
+to their respective homes. We will sail on to the
+land of cherry blossoms and pigtails. But you
+girls with one short sentence blast all these cherished
+dreams.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, no, Dalky! We wouldn&#8217;t change your
+plans for the world!&#8221; exclaimed Polly, anxiously.
+&#8220;You see, the South Sea Isles will wait until we
+can get there, but you and your plans are apt to
+change&mdash;as the railroad guides read&mdash;without
+notice at any time!&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>A laugh followed Polly&#8217;s remark, and Mr.
+Dalken added, &#8220;Well just mull over this project
+for a time and give me your individual opinions
+about it. Of course, we would be crowded if
+everyone in the families mentioned were to accept
+my invitation and take the round trip; but I feel
+quite safe in inviting all because I am sure I can
+bank on certain ones refusing to go.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe you could tear father or mother
+away from Pebbly Pit,&#8221; remarked Polly, wistfully.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_298' name='page_298'></a>298</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;And I know for certain that mother and Bob
+wouldn&#8217;t give up their summer season at a fashionable
+resort, just to join a party of old-fashioned
+sea-farers,&#8221; laughed Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Do you think you could persuade your father
+to join us?&#8221; asked Mr. Dalken.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I bet he would go as far as Honolulu, anyway!&#8221;
+said Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s one for certain to start with!&#8221; laughed
+Mr. Dalken.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then there is Polly and myself and Mrs.
+Courtney, for certain&mdash;and that makes four; with
+yourself, we are five!&#8221; exulted Eleanor, drawing
+forth another laugh.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Then it is settled, eh? We sail for the Orient
+without more ado, just as soon as your extensive
+business deals are done and you will need a long
+rest in order to recuperate for next year&#8217;s work,&#8221;
+chuckled Mr. Dalken.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If our two clients would postpone their decorating
+for a year, we might be able to start tomorrow,&#8221;
+remarked Polly, smilingly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;But the clients are obdurate, especially when
+the decorators need payment and prestige to succeed
+in their profession. Besides, the owner of
+the yacht is not keen on sailing the seas in the
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_299' name='page_299'></a>299</span>
+middle of winter and then land in China in the wet
+season.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes, he is right,&#8221; admitted Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If we should really take such a trip, Dalky,
+what is the best time of the year to start?&#8221; asked
+Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, we could leave New York in May or
+June, dawdle along the route until we reach Southern
+California. Those who cannot take time to
+go to Hawaii, can railroad themselves back home,
+and we can sail leisurely across the Pacific to visit
+the Hawaiian Islands. There again, those who
+cannot go on to the Orient with the decorators who
+need to study customs and periods in the Far East,
+may say good-by to us and watch us go west, while
+they go east back to business.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;If we take our time, stopping at the Philippines
+on the way, we ought to do Japan and China and
+even the principal parts of India, in a few months.
+We can bid the East good-by about March and
+escape the unpleasant season there. By taking a
+direct route home we might reach New York in
+June. It all depends.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Oh, wouldn&#8217;t it be wonderful! And all our
+dearest friends with us!&#8221; cried Polly, clasping her
+hands in ecstasy.
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_300' name='page_300'></a>300</span></p>
+<p>&#8220;Dear, dear! If only Tom will let you go,
+Polly!&#8221; sighed Eleanor, mischievously.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Tom! What has Tom got to do with it?&#8221;
+demanded Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Well, you know, he says you ought to consider
+his wishes more, since he is sure you are his soul-mate,&#8221;
+teased Eleanor.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;The sooner he finds out that I propose keeping
+my own soul in custody the better it will be for
+Tom!&#8221; declared Polly.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;There, now! That doesn&#8217;t sound much as if
+our Polly was deeply in love, does it, Dalky?&#8221;
+laughed Eleanor, clapping her hands.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;I never thought she was! She was moved by
+compassion for Tom, to partly agree to consider
+his proposal. I knew she would not forfeit her
+profession for the doubtful result of conjugal
+bliss,&#8221; remarked Mr. Dalken.
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Hem&mdash;she&#8217;s right!&#8221; asserted Mrs. Courtney.
+&#8220;When two people, as you and I are, are on hand
+to prevent our young friends from precipitating
+themselves into double harness before they have
+thoroughly studied their own minds and desires,
+we ought to succeed in the work because we speak
+from experience.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; agreed Mr. Dalken, reminiscently; &#8220;I
+<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_301' name='page_301'></a>301</span>
+would never marry the finest woman on earth,
+after my first venture.&#8221;
+</p>
+<p>&#8220;Nor would I accept a man, even though he
+presented himself to me in guise of a saint! Even
+saints have their bad days,&#8221; laughed Mrs. Courtney.
+</p>
+<p>Polly and Eleanor exchanged troubled glances
+for it was evident that their match-making was
+hopeless. But the voyage to the Orient might develop
+many interesting things which were not revealed
+to the actors then. Thus we leave Polly
+and Eleanor for the time, and return to our own
+affairs until it is time to go on board Mr. Dalken&#8217;s
+yacht for the long trip half-way around the world.
+</p>
+<div class='ce'>
+<p>THE END</p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:1.4em;'>AMY BELL MARLOWE&#8217;S BOOKS</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.4em; margin-bottom:1em;'>FOR GIRLS</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.0em;'>Charming, Fresh and Original Stories</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.0em; margin-bottom:1em;'>Illustrated. Wrappers printed in colors with individual design for each story</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Miss Marlowe&#8217;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.
+</p>
+<div class='la'>
+<p style=' margin-top:1em;'>THE OLDEST OF FOUR;</p>
+<p style=' margin-left: 2%;'>Or, Natalie&#8217;s Way Out.</p>
+<p style=' font-size: smaller; margin-left: 2%;'>A sweet story of the struggles of a live girl to keep a family from want.</p>
+<div style='margin-top:1em'></div>
+<p>THE GIRLS AT HILLCREST FARM;</p>
+<p style=' margin-left: 2%;'>Or, The Secret of the Rocks.</p>
+<p style=' font-size: smaller; margin-left: 2%;'>Relating the trials of two girls who take boarders on an old farm.</p>
+<div style='margin-top:1em'></div>
+<p>A LITTLE MISS NOBODY;</p>
+<p style=' margin-left: 2%;'>Or, With the Girls of Pinewood Hall.</p>
+<p style=' font-size: smaller; margin-left: 2%;'>Tells of a school girl who was literally a nobody until she solved the mystery of her identity.</p>
+<div style='margin-top:1em'></div>
+<p>THE GIRL FROM SUNSET RANCH;</p>
+<p style=' margin-left: 2%;'>Or, Alone in a Great City.</p>
+<p style=' font-size: smaller; margin-left: 2%;'>A ranch girl comes to New York to meet relatives she has never seen. Her adventures make unusually good reading.</p>
+<div style='margin-top:1em'></div>
+<p>WYN&#8217;S CAMPING DAYS;</p>
+<p style=' margin-left: 2%;'>Or, The Outing of the GO-AHEAD CLUB.</p>
+<p style=' font-size: smaller; margin-left: 2%;'>A tale of happy days on the water and under canvas, with a touch of mystery and considerable excitement.</p>
+<div style='margin-top:1em'></div>
+<p>FRANCES OF THE RANGES:</p>
+<p style=' margin-left: 2%;'>Or, The Old Ranchman&#8217;s Treasure.</p>
+<p style=' font-size: smaller; margin-left: 2%;'>A vivid picture of life on the great cattle ranges of the West.</p>
+<div style='margin-top:1em'></div>
+<p>THE GIRLS OF RIVERCLIFF SCHOOL;</p>
+<p style=' margin-left: 2%;'>Or, Beth Baldwin&#8217;s Resolve.</p>
+<p style=' font-size: smaller; margin-left: 2%;'>This is one of the most entertaining stories centering about a girl&#8217;s school that has ever been written.</p>
+<div style='margin-top:1em'></div>
+<p>WHEN ORIOLE CAME TO HARBOR LIGHT.</p>
+<p style=' font-size: smaller; margin-left: 2%;'>The story of a young girl, cast up by the sea, and rescued by an old lighthouse keeper.</p>
+<div style='margin-top:1em'></div>
+<p>WHEN ORIOLE TRAVELED WESTWARD.</p>
+<p style=' font-size: smaller; margin-left: 2%;'>Oriole visits the family of a rich ranchman and enjoys herself immensely.</p>
+</div>
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Grosset &amp; Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<p style='line-height: 1'>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:1.4em; margin-bottom:0.2em;'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Polly Brewster Series</span></p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.1em; margin-bottom:1em;'>By LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY</p>
+<div style='margin-top:1em'></div>
+<p>Durably Bound. Illustrated. Colored Wrappers.</p>
+<p style=' margin-bottom:2em;'>Every Volume Complete in Itself.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>A delightful series for girls in which they
+will follow Polly and Eleanor through many
+interesting adventures and enjoyable trips.
+</p>
+<div class='la'>
+<p style=' margin-top: 1em;'><b>Polly of Pebbly Pit</b></p>
+<p>Tells about a Rocky Mountain ranch girl and her many adventures.</p>
+<p><b>Polly and Eleanor</b></p>
+<p>Eleanor Maynard visits Polly at the Ranch and they have lively times.</p>
+<p><b>Polly in New York</b></p>
+<p>Polly and Eleanor visit New York and have a number of very interesting experiences.</p>
+<p><b>Polly and Her Friends Abroad</b></p>
+<p>The girls go abroad and spend most of their time with other American travelers.</p>
+<p><b>Polly&#8217;s Business Venture</b></p>
+<p>Polly and Eleanor take up interior decorating. They attend sales of antiques and incidentally fall in love.</p>
+<p><b>Polly&#8217;s Southern Cruise</b></p>
+<p>A hurricane and cloud-burst threatens to swamp the vessel in which Polly and her friends take this trip.</p>
+<p><b>Polly in South America</b></p>
+<p>Polly and her friends land at many funny old towns and have several exciting adventures not altogether pleasant.</p>
+</div>
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Grosset &amp; Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:1.4em;'>CAROLYN WELLS BOOKS</p>
+<p>May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset &amp; Dunlap&#8217;s list.</p>
+</div>
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-top:1em;'>THE MARJORIE BOOKS</p>
+<p>Happy Books For Happy Girls</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>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.
+</p>
+<p>This series is the American Girl&#8217;s very own. Each book is
+attractively bound in cloth, and wrapped in a charming colored
+individual wrapper.
+</p>
+<table summary='poetry' style='margin: 0 auto 0 ; '><tr><td>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Marjorie&#8217;s Vacation</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Marjorie&#8217;s New Friend</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Marjorie&#8217;s Maytime</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Marjorie&#8217;s Busy Day</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Marjorie in Command</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Marjorie at Seacote</p>
+</td></tr></table>
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>THE TWO LITTLE WOMEN SERIES</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Miss Carolyn Wells here introduces Dorinda Fayre&mdash;a pretty
+blonde, sweet, serious, timid and a little slow, and Dorothy
+Rose&mdash;a sparkling brunette, quick, elf-like, high tempered, full
+of mischief and always getting into scrapes.
+</p>
+<table summary='poetry' style='margin: 0 auto 0 ; '><tr><td>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Two Little Women</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Two Little Women on a Holiday</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Two Little Women and Treasure House</p>
+</td></tr></table>
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>THE DICK AND DOLLY BOOKS</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>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 &#8220;really true&#8221; to young readers.
+</p>
+<table summary='poetry' style='margin: 0 auto 0 ; '><tr><td>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Dick and Dolly</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Dick and Dolly&#8217;s Adventures</p>
+</td></tr></table>
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Grosset &amp; Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS</p>
+<p>For Little Men and Women</p>
+<div style='margin-top:1em'></div>
+<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>By LAURA LEE HOPE</p>
+<p>Author of &#8220;The Bunny Brown Series,&#8221; Etc.</p>
+<div style='margin-top:1em'></div>
+<p>Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding.</p>
+<p>Every Volume Complete in Itself.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>These books for boys and girls between the ages of three
+and ten stands among children and their parents of this
+generation where the books of Louisa May Alcott stood in
+former days. The haps and mishaps of this inimitable pair
+of twins, their many adventures and experiences are a
+source of keen delight to imaginative children everywhere.
+</p>
+<table summary='poetry' style='margin: 0 auto 0 ; '><tr><td>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN A GREAT CITY</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON BLUEBERRY ISLAND</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON THE DEEP BLUE SEA</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE GREAT WEST</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT CEDAR CAMP</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE COUNTY FAIR</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS CAMPING OUT</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS AND BABY MAY</p>
+</td></tr></table>
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Grosset &amp; Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.0em;'>By LAURA LEE HOPE</p>
+<div style='margin-top:1em'></div>
+<p>Author of the Popular &#8220;Bobbsey Twins&#8221; Books, Etc.</p>
+<div style='margin-top:1em'></div>
+<p>Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding.</p>
+<p>Every Volume Complete in Itself.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>These stories by the author of the &#8220;Bobbsey Twins&#8221;
+Books are eagerly welcomed by the little folks from about
+five to ten years of age. Their eyes fairly dance with delight
+at the lively doings of inquisitive little Bunny Brown
+and his cunning, trustful sister Sue.
+</p>
+<table summary='poetry' style='margin: 0 auto 0 ; '><tr><td>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON GRANDPA&#8217;S FARM</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE PLAYING CIRCUS</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CAMP REST-A-WHILE</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT AUNT LU&#8217;S CITY HOME</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE BIG WOODS</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON AN AUTO TOUR</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR SHETLAND PONY</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE GIVING A SHOW</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CHRISTMAS TREE COVE</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE SUNNY SOUTH</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE KEEPING STORE</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR TRICK DOG</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT A SUGAR CAMP</p>
+</td></tr></table>
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Grosset &amp; Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='silver' />
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES</p>
+<p style=' font-size:1.0em;'>By LAURA LEE HOPE</p>
+<div style='margin-top:1em'></div>
+<p>Author of The Bobbsey Twins Books, The Bunny</p>
+<p>Brown Series, The Make-Believe Series, Etc.</p>
+<div style='margin-top:1em'></div>
+<p>Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding.</p>
+<p>Every Volume Complete in Itself.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Delightful stories for little boys and girls which sprung
+into immediate popularity. To know the six little Bunkers
+is to take them at once to your heart, they are so intensely
+human, so full of fun and cute sayings. Each story has a
+little plot of its own&mdash;one that can be easily followed&mdash;and
+all are written in Miss Hope&#8217;s most entertaining manner.
+Clean, wholesome volumes which ought to be on the bookshelf
+of every child in the land.
+</p>
+<table summary='poetry' style='margin: 0 auto 0 ; '><tr><td>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDMA BELL&#8217;S</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT AUNT JO&#8217;S</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COUSIN TOM&#8217;S</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDPA FORD&#8217;S</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT UNCLE FRED&#8217;S</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT CAPTAIN BEN&#8217;S</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COWBOY JACK&#8217;S</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT MAMMY JUNE&#8217;S</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT FARMER JOEL&#8217;S</p>
+<p  style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT MILLER NED&#8217;S</p>
+</td></tr></table>
+
+<div class='ce'>
+<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Grosset &amp; Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLLY'S BUSINESS VENTURE***</p>
+<p>******* This file should be named 25778-h.txt or 25778-h.zip *******</p>
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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Polly's Business Venture, by Lillian
+Elizabeth Roy, Illustrated by H. S. Barbour
+
+
+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's Business Venture
+
+
+Author: Lillian Elizabeth Roy
+
+
+
+Release Date: June 13, 2008  [eBook #25778]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLLY'S BUSINESS VENTURE***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Project Gutenberg Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustrations.
+      See 25778-h.htm or 25778-h.zip:
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/7/7/25778/25778-h/25778-h.htm)
+      or
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/7/7/25778/25778-h.zip)
+
+
+
+
+
+POLLY'S BUSINESS VENTURE
+
+by
+
+LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY
+
+Author of
+Polly of Pebbly Pit, Polly and Eleanor,
+Polly in New York, Polly and
+Her Friends Abroad
+
+Illustrated by H. S. Barbour
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THE TWO CARS COLLIDED.
+Polly's Business Venture. Frontispiece--(Page 99)]
+
+
+
+New York
+Grosset & Dunlap
+Publishers
+
+Made in the United States of America
+
+Copyright, 1922, by
+Grosset & Dunlap
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+   CHAPTER                                      PAGE
+         I  POLLY RETURNS TO AMERICA               1
+        II  A DISAPPOINTING EVENING               18
+       III  THE ACCIDENT                          34
+        IV  A REUNION AND A VISITOR               47
+         V  THE RAID ON CHOKO'S FIND MINE         58
+        VI  POLLY AND ELEANOR BEGIN COLLECTING    74
+       VII  A REVOLUTIONARY RELIC HUNT            94
+      VIII  ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT COLLECTING        109
+        IX  POLLY'S HUNT IN 'JERSEY              127
+         X  UNEXPECTED NEWS FROM PEBBLY PIT      151
+        XI  POLLY'S FIRST CONTRACT               167
+       XII  THE PARSIPPANY VENDUE                182
+      XIII  TOM MEANS BUSINESS                   199
+       XIV  NECESSARY EXPLANATIONS               213
+        XV  MUTUAL CONSOLATION                   231
+       XVI  BEAUX OR BUSINESS                    250
+      XVII  BUSINESS                             269
+
+
+
+
+
+
+POLLY'S BUSINESS VENTURE
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+POLLY RETURNS TO AMERICA
+
+
+Five girls were promenading the deck of one of our great Atlantic liners,
+on the last day of the trip. The report had gone out that they might
+expect to reach quarantine before five o'clock, but it would be too late
+to dock that night, therefore the captain had planned an evening's
+entertainment for all on board.
+
+"Miss Brewster! Miss Polly Brewster! Polly Brewster!" came a call from
+one of the young boys of the crew who was acting as messenger for the
+wireless operator.
+
+"Polly, he is calling you! I wonder what it is?" cried Eleanor Maynard,
+Polly's dearest friend.
+
+"Here, boy! I am Polly Brewster," called Polly, waving her hand to call
+his attention to herself.
+
+"Miss Polly Brewster?" asked the uniformed attendant politely, lifting
+his cap.
+
+"Yes."
+
+He handed her an envelope such as the wireless messages are delivered in,
+and bowed to take his leave of the group of girls. Polly gazed at the
+outside of the envelope but did not open it. Her friends laughed and
+Nancy Fabian, the oldest girl of the five, said teasingly:
+
+"Isn't it delicious to worry one's self over who could have sent us a
+welcome, when we _might_ know for certain, if we would but act
+prosaically and open the seal."
+
+The girls laughed, and Eleanor remarked, knowingly: "Oh, _Polly_ knows
+who it is from! She just wants to enjoy a few extra thrills before she
+reads the message."
+
+"Nolla, I do _not_ know, and you know it! You always make 'a mountain
+from a mole-hill.' I declare, you are actually growing to be childish in
+your old age!" retorted Polly, sarcastically.
+
+Her latter remark drew forth a peal of laughter from the girls, Eleanor
+included. But Polly failed to join in the laugh. She cast a withering
+glance at Eleanor, and walked aside to open the envelope. The four
+interested girls watched her eagerly as she read the short message.
+
+Polly would have given half of her mine on Grizzly Slide, to have
+controlled her expression. But the very knowledge that the four friends
+were critically eyeing her, made her flush uncomfortably as she folded up
+the paper again, and slipped it in her pocket.
+
+"Ha! What did I tell you! It is from HIM!" declared Eleanor, laughingly.
+
+Dorothy Alexander was duly impressed, for she had firmly believed,
+hitherto, that Polly was a man-hater. The manner in which she had scorned
+Jimmy Osgood on that tour of England would have led anyone to believe
+that such was the case. Now the tell-tale blush and Eleanor's innuendo,
+caused Dorothy to reconsider her earlier judgment.
+
+Polly curled her full red lip at Eleanor's remark, and was about to speak
+of something of general interest, when Dorothy unexpectedly asked a (to
+her) pertinent question.
+
+"Polly, has anyone ever proposed to you?"
+
+Eleanor laughed softly to herself, and Polly sent poor Dodo a pitying
+glance. "Is that little head of yours entirely void of memory, Dodo?"
+said she.
+
+Then, without waiting for a reply, Polly continued: "Did not Jimmy
+propose to me, as well as to every one of you girls?"
+
+"Oh, but I didn't mean that sort of an affair," explained Dorothy. "I
+mean--were you ever in love with anyone who thought he loved _you_?"
+
+"Oh, isn't this a delightful conversation? I wouldn't have missed it for
+anything in the world!" laughed Eleanor.
+
+"Nolla," rebuked Polly, seriously, "your head has been so turned since
+all those poor fortune-hunters in Europe flattered you, that I fear you
+will never succeed in business with me. I shall have to find someone else
+who will prove trustworthy and work."
+
+Polly's threat did not appear to disturb Eleanor very much, for she
+laughed merrily and retorted: "Dodo, if I answer your question for Polly,
+what will you do for me, some day?"
+
+"Nolla, you mind your own affairs!" exclaimed Polly, flushing again.
+"Dodo is such a tactless child that she never stops to consider whether
+her questions are too personal, or not. But _you_--well, you know better,
+and I forbid you to discuss me any further."
+
+"Come, come, girls! This little joke is really going too far, if Polly
+feels hurt about it. Let us drop the subject and talk about the dance the
+Captain is going to give us tonight," suggested Nancy.
+
+"I'm going to wear the new gown mother got in Paris," announced Dorothy.
+"Ma says we can save duty on it if I wear it before it reaches shore."
+
+The other girls laughed, and Eleanor added: "That's a good plan, Dodo. I
+guess I will follow your example. I've got so many dutiable things in my
+trunks, that I really ought to economise on something."
+
+"Well, I won't wear one of my new dresses tonight for just that reason.
+If I want them badly enough, to bring them all the way from Paris where
+we get them so much cheaper than on this side, then I'm willing to pay
+Uncle Sam his revenue on them," said Polly, loftily.
+
+"Ho! I don't believe it is duty you are saving, as much as indulging in
+perverseness by not donning one of your most fetching gowns," declared
+Eleanor.
+
+"Maybe it is," said Polly, smiling tantalizingly at her chum. "Perhaps I
+want to keep the freshness of them for someone in New York, eh?"
+
+"Certainly! _He_ will be there to meet you, sure thing!" laughed Eleanor.
+
+At that, Dorothy drew Eleanor aside and, when Polly was not looking,
+whispered eagerly: "Do tell me who he is?"
+
+But Eleanor laughingly shook her head and whispered back: "I dare not!
+That is Polly's secret!"
+
+But she did not add for Dorothy's edification, that try as she would, she
+(Eleanor) had never been able to make Polly confess whether she preferred
+one swain to another. As Eleanor considered this a weakness in her own
+powers of persuasion, she never allowed anyone to question her that far.
+
+Had anyone of the four girls dreamed of who the sender of the wireless
+was, what a buzzing there would have been! Eleanor Maynard would have
+been so pleased at the possibility of a romance, that she would have
+acted even more tantalizing, in Polly's opinion, than she had been of
+late months.
+
+Perhaps you are not as well acquainted with Polly and her friends,
+however, as I am, and it would be unkind to continue their experiences
+for your entertainment, until after you are duly informed of how Polly
+happened to leave her home in Oak Creek and also what had passed during
+the Summer in Europe.
+
+Polly Brewster was born and reared on a Rocky Mountain ranch, in
+Colorado, and had until her fourteenth year, never been farther from her
+home than Oak Creek, which was the railroad station and post office of
+the many ranchers of that section.
+
+Eleanor Maynard, the younger daughter of Mr. Maynard who was a prosperous
+banker of Chicago, accompanied her sister Barbara and Anne Stewart, the
+teacher, when they spent a summer on the ranch. Their thrilling
+adventures during the first half of that summer are told in the book
+called "Polly of Pebbly Pit," the first volume of this series.
+
+After the discovery of the gold mine on Grizzly Slide, and the subsequent
+troubles with the claim-jumpers, Polly and her friends sent for John
+Brewster who was engaged to Anne Stewart, and Tom Latimer, John's best
+friend, to leave their engineering work on some mines, for the time
+being, and hasten to Pebbly Pit to advise about the gold mine, and to
+take action to protect the girls. These experiences are told in the
+second volume of this series.
+
+Success being assured in the mining plans of the gold vein on Grizzly
+Slide, and the valuable lava cliffs located on Pebbly Pit ranch also
+finding a market as brilliant gems for use in jewelry, Polly and Eleanor
+decided to accompany Anne Stewart to New York, where she was going to
+teach in an exclusive school for young ladies.
+
+In the third book, Polly and Eleanor's adventures in New York are told.
+Their school experiences; the amateur theatricals at which Polly saved a
+girl from the fire, and thus found some splendid friends; and the new
+acquaintance, Ruth Ashby, who was the only child of the Ashbys. They also
+met Mr. Fabian in a most unusual manner, and through him, they became
+interested in Interior Decorating, to study it as a profession. When the
+school-year ended, all these friends invited the two girls to join their
+party that was planned to tour Europe and visit noted places where
+antiques are exhibited.
+
+The following fourth book describes the amusing incidents of the three
+girls on board the steamer, after they meet the Alexanders. Mrs.
+Alexander, the gorgeously-plumed ranch-woman; Dorothy, always known as
+"Dodo," the restive girl of Polly's own age; and little Ebeneezer
+Alexander, too meek and self-effacing to deny his spouse anything, but
+always providing the funds for her caprices. This present caprice, of
+rushing to Europe to find a "title" for Dodo to marry, was the latest and
+hardest of all for him to agree to.
+
+Because of Mrs. Alexander's whim, the ludicrous experiences that came
+upon the innocent heads of Polly and her friends, in the tour of England
+in two motor cars, decided them to escape from that lady, and run away to
+Paris. Before they could sigh in relief at their freedom, however, the
+Alexanders loomed again on their horizon.
+
+Plan as they would, the badgered tourists found that Mrs. Alexander had
+annexed herself permanently to them. They resigned themselves to the
+inevitable. But that carried with it more ridiculous affairs, when Mrs.
+Alexander plotted for the titles found dangling before her, in various
+places on the Continent.
+
+One good result came from this association with the Alexanders: Dodo
+found how fascinating the work of collecting really was, and decided to
+study decorating as an art. Hence she spurned her mother's ambitions for
+her, and announced her plan of remaining in New York with the girls, upon
+their return to America, to follow in their line of study.
+
+Mrs. Alexander felt quite satisfied to live in New York for a season, as
+she fancied it an easy matter to forge a way into good society there. But
+her spouse detested large cities and longed for his mining life once
+more, but agreed to it because Dodo was delighted with the opportunity
+opened before her, in the profession of decorator.
+
+Polly's party on board the steamer consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Ashby and
+Ruth; Mr. and Mrs. Fabian and Nancy; Mr. and Mrs. Alexander and Dodo; and
+lastly, Polly Brewster and Eleanor Maynard.
+
+Just a word about the last two girls: Polly knew that Eleanor was fond of
+Paul Stewart since she met him a few years before. And Eleanor wondered
+if Polly preferred Tom Latimer to any other young man she knew; but Polly
+always declared that she was married to her profession and had no time to
+spare for beaus. Hence Tom Latimer sighed and hoped that she might change
+her mind some day.
+
+Meantime, Tom lost no good opportunity to show how he appreciated Polly
+and, whenever possible, he managed to perform the little deeds that mean
+so much to a woman--especially if that woman is young and impressionable.
+Thus he actually made better headway in his silent campaign for Polly, by
+never broaching the subject of love--from which she would have fled
+instantly and then barred the doors of her heart.
+
+The wireless received by Polly was from Tom who had been anxiously
+awaiting the time when he could communicate with the vessel. The contents
+of the message could have been read to all the world without exciting
+comment--it was so brotherly. But Polly felt that it was a private
+welcome to her and so it was not to be shared with others.
+
+The wireless said that Tom and Polly's dear friends who were in New York,
+had been invited on board Mr. Dalken's yacht, to visit the quarantined
+steamer that evening. That they would arrive about eight o'clock, having
+secured passes from the Inspector at Quarantine.
+
+Although this explanation about Polly and her associates took time for
+_us_, it did not interrupt the lively banter between the five girls.
+Dorothy was now certain that Polly had a real beau, somewhere, and being
+so very candid and talkative herself, she admired the reticence displayed
+by Polly in keeping the affairs of her heart to herself.
+
+Dodo whispered back to Eleanor: "Dear me! I hope he is worthy of her. She
+ought to have the finest husband in the world."
+
+Eleanor laughed. "Don't worry, Dodo. She will. If he was not meant for
+Polly, I'd try and get him for myself--that is how much I admire him."
+
+"Oh my! Won't you tell me something about him, Nolla?" asked Dorothy,
+eagerly.
+
+"I really don't dare, Dodo," returned Eleanor, assuming a wise
+expression. "Polly would drop me forever, if she thought I confided in
+anyone about her love-affairs. Besides, you can find out everything for
+yourself, now that you are going to remain with us, this winter. Still, I
+would love to know just who that wireless came from." Eleanor added the
+latter remark after a moment's deep consideration.
+
+"I'll tell you what we can do," ventured Dorothy, in a whisper. "We have
+often visited the wireless room; let's you and I go there again, and
+start a friendly chat with the operator. Maybe he will speak of the
+message."
+
+Without stopping to think whether this method would be principled or not,
+Eleanor eagerly agreed to Dorothy's plan. While Polly and Nancy were
+discussing the beautiful hazy picture made by New York's sky-line as seen
+from the Harbor at Quarantine, Dorothy and Eleanor hurried to the
+wireless room.
+
+The young man had often been entertained by the girls during the trip
+from Europe, so this visit was not suspected of having a secret motive
+back of it. He chatted pleasantly with his callers and, after a time,
+spoke of the very topic they wished to hear about.
+
+"I suppose you girls will all be on the _qui vive_ this evening?"
+
+"Yes, it is awfully nice of the captain, isn't it?" said Eleanor,
+referring to the dance and thinking that the operator also meant that
+event.
+
+"Oh, I do not think the captain had as much to do with the invitation as
+had the Inspector General of the Quarantine. Of course we have a clean
+bill for the ship or no one would have been allowed to step on board
+tonight; but at the same time your friends must have had a good hard time
+to get the invitation from the authorities. Only a New Yorker who
+understands the ropes, could have managed the matter so quickly."
+
+Dorothy was about to ask what he was talking about, when Eleanor pinched
+her arm for silence. Then the latter spoke: "Oh yes! He is a wonder--we
+think!"
+
+Dorothy gasped at Eleanor, and the smiling girl winked secretly at her.
+The operator had not seen the pinch nor the wink, but he continued
+guilelessly: "Well, from what I've seen of Miss Polly, only a 'wonder'
+would cause her to notice him at all!"
+
+He laughed at his own words and Eleanor joined him, even though she
+failed to see a joke. Then she said: "Polly could have so _many_
+admirers, but she never looks at a man. Perhaps that is why all you males
+sigh so broken-heartedly at her heels."
+
+The young man laughed softly to himself. "Maybe! But this 'Tom' seems to
+feel assured of a 'look' from her."
+
+Now it was Dorothy's turn to pinch Eleanor, and she did so with great
+gusto. Eleanor winced but dared not express herself in any other manner,
+just then. She was too keen on the trail of learning what she could, to
+signify any sense of having felt that pinch.
+
+"Oh--Tom! He is an old family friend, you know. He was Polly's brother's
+college-chum for four years while both boys studied at the University of
+Chicago. I am from Chicago, and I knew those boys when they used to come
+to my home with my brother, who also attended the engineering classes.
+There was a fourth boy--Paul Stewart, who was from Denver. Anne Stewart
+was his sister and she married John Brewster, this Spring. So you see, we
+are all old friends together. I suppose the whole family crowd will come
+out on the yacht, tonight."
+
+Dorothy listened in sheer amazement, as Eleanor spoke with all the
+assurance possible. But Dorothy was not aware of Eleanor's lifelong
+training in the home of a social leader of Chicago's exclusive set. That
+such a home-training made a girl precocious and subtle, was not strange,
+and Eleanor had had fourteen years of such a life before she went to
+Pebbly Pit and met Polly. Habits so well-engrounded are not easily
+broken, or forgotten.
+
+"Then the sender ought to have sent his message to one of the adults of
+the party. Even _I_ misjudged the matter, because I thought this 'Tom'
+must be a faithful admirer of Miss Polly's to get through to visit the
+steamer tonight," explained the operator.
+
+"But he isn't coming alone--didn't you stop to consider that?" asked
+Eleanor, eagerly. "Seeing that most of the friends are Polly's personal
+ones, the wire was sent to her, you know."
+
+"I see."
+
+"The only thing that hurt me, was that no one sent me a message. Tom is
+as dear to me as to Polly, and I wonder he did not wire me."
+
+"Perhaps this Tom thought you would have scores of eager messages the
+moment your beaus knew you were near enough to get them," laughed the
+young officer.
+
+"Well, they didn't! But I want you to do something for me--will you?"
+asked Eleanor, quite unexpectedly.
+
+"I will if I can," agreed the officer.
+
+"Write off a fake message for me and sign some make-believe name to it,
+so I can hold my head up with Polly. She will never let me rest if she
+thinks she got a line, and I didn't!"
+
+"Oh, that is easy to do. As long as we know it will never come out, and
+that I wrote a line to you, it will be a good joke."
+
+"All right!" laughed Eleanor, delightedly. "Now write:----" She stopped
+suddenly, then thought for a moment before she said: "Why not copy the
+exact words sent to Polly, but sign another name?"
+
+"I'll write one, as much like the original as possible without actually
+duplicating that information," chuckled the officer.
+
+Then he took up a slip of paper and wrote: "Miss Eleanor Maynard. We will
+join you this evening, on steamer. Yacht will arrive about eight." He
+looked up laughingly and asked: "Now what name shall we sign to this?"
+
+"Oh--let me see! Sign 'Paul.' I know he is in New York, now, so I am not
+taking chances of making a mistake," laughed Eleanor.
+
+The name "Paul" was added to the message and the paper placed in an
+envelope. This was addressed to Eleanor Maynard and her stateroom number
+written down upon it. Then it was handed to the gratified girl.
+
+The young man was thanked with unwarranted warmth, and the two girls
+hastened away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+A DISAPPOINTING EVENING
+
+
+Eleanor and Dorothy did not join their friends at once, after leaving the
+wireless room. Eleanor explained wisely: "We must promenade along the
+deck and let them see us reading and talking over the message, you know,
+to make them believe we just got it from the boy."
+
+So this little act was carried out, and when the two girls felt sure that
+Polly and her companions had noticed them reading the wireless message,
+Eleanor whispered: "Now we can stroll over and join them. Leave it to
+me."
+
+Just before she joined her friends, Eleanor thrust the paper into her
+sweater pocket, and seemed not to remember it. But Nancy spoke of it,
+immediately.
+
+"I see you received a _billet-doux_, too. Is there any reason why I
+should not say to you exactly what you said to Polly, when she got hers?"
+laughed the young lady.
+
+"Oh, not at all! I am not so bashful about my affair," retorted Eleanor,
+taking the paper from her pocket and handing it to Nancy. "You may read
+it aloud, if you choose."
+
+So Nancy read, and the fact that the words conveyed the same information
+as Polly's had done, but the sender had signed himself "Paul," made Polly
+feel relieved. Then she said:
+
+"It is evident that someone secured a yacht to carry our friends out to
+see us this evening. My message said about the same thing, so now, you
+see, it was ridiculous in Eleanor to tease about it being a love-note.
+Had she been sensible I would have read it aloud to all, but because of
+her silliness, I made up my mind to keep her guessing."
+
+Nancy and Ruth laughed, but Eleanor and Dorothy exchanged glances with
+each other. Then Nancy said anxiously: "We ought to start and dress most
+fetchingly for tonight, if everyone you know is coming out."
+
+Before anyone could reply to this suggestion, Mr. Fabian was seen
+hurrying across the deck to join them. "Girls, our old friend Dalken has
+a yacht, I hear, and he has invited everyone we know to come out here
+this evening to welcome us home. We are to be ready to return with him,
+as he has secured the necessary bill-of-health for us. Now get down to
+your rooms quickly and pack."
+
+"Oh--aren't we going to remain to the dance?" asked Eleanor, with
+disappointment in her tones.
+
+"You can do as you please about that, but we will go back on the yacht
+when she returns to the city."
+
+In the bustle of packing the stateroom trunks, and then dressing for the
+evening, the girls forgot about the wireless messages. Then during the
+dinner that was like a party affair because of the passengers' exuberant
+spirits at being so near home again, Mr. Fabian smiled approvingly at the
+five young girls in his charge. They looked so charming in their Paris
+gowns, and their youthful forms and faces expressed such joy and pleasure
+in living, that he felt gratified to think the old friends would see them
+as _he_ did that evening.
+
+Shortly after leaving the dining-salon, the attention of the Fabian party
+was drawn to a graceful white yacht that sailed swiftly down the Bay and
+soon came alongside the steamer. The spotless looking sailors instantly
+lowered the boat and a party of young people got in. The Fabian group
+leaned over the rail of the steamer and watched breathlessly as the boat
+was rowed across the intervening space and, finally, was made fast to the
+steamer.
+
+"Poll, did you recognize your future Fate?" giggled Eleanor, nudging her
+companion, knowingly.
+
+"I saw _yours_!" retorted Polly. "And now I comprehend why you can speak
+of nothing else than beaus and Fate! You are so obsessed by your own
+dreams that you think everyone you know must be dreaming the same stuff!"
+
+Polly turned quickly and hurried to the spot where the visitors were
+being greeted by Mr. Fabian, and the other girls, laughing at the
+repartee, followed. In the first group to arrive were Tom Latimer and his
+younger brother Jim; Kenneth Evans, Jim's chum; Paul Stewart; and John
+Brewster with Anne, his bride.
+
+Happy welcomes were exchanged between everyone, but Polly purposely
+avoided any extra favor being shown Tom Latimer, although he looked as if
+he deserved it more than Jim and his friend Kenneth. Eleanor quite openly
+showed her preference for Paul, when they separated from the others for
+the evening.
+
+"Where is Mr. Dalken and the others?" asked Polly, gazing around at the
+small group that had arrived on board.
+
+"The boat is going back for the second installment," explained Anne,
+keeping an arm about Polly's waist. "We-all were too impatient to see you
+to accept the suggestion of waiting for the second trip, so the older
+ones sent us off first."
+
+To Polly's surprise and joy, the second boat-load brought her father and
+mother, Mrs. Stewart, the Latimers, the Evans, and Mr. Dalken, the owner
+of the yacht. When the family circle was complete, on board the steamer,
+they proved to be a happy party, and many of the passengers wished they
+were included in that merry group.
+
+The steamer rolled gently with the swells from the ocean, while the full
+moon shone mistily through a fog that veiled its brightness enough to add
+romance to the meeting of the various young people on deck. Eleanor and
+Paul had been genuinely delighted to see each other again, and neither
+cared _who_ knew just how much they liked each other.
+
+Polly watched them for a time, then smiled as they walked away to
+discover a cozy retreat behind one of the giant smoke-stacks, where they
+could enjoy a tete-a-tete without interruption. When she turned to
+hear what her brother John was saying, she found Tom Latimer just at her
+elbow.
+
+"Suppose we find a nice sheltered spot where you can tell me all about
+your trip abroad?" suggested Tom, his eyes speaking too plainly how
+anxious he was to get Polly away from the others.
+
+"Oh, I'd far rather be with the crowd and hear all that is being said,"
+said Polly, nervously.
+
+"Very well, then," said Tom, moodily. "I only thought you'd like to hear
+all about Grizzly Slide and how it's been cutting up this summer. The
+gold mine has had several adventurers trying to jump the claim, too; and
+Rainbow Cliffs has had an injunction served on it so that we are tied up
+by law, this year."
+
+"So mother wrote to me. But I don't want to hear about troubles and
+business tonight. I just want to enjoy myself after coming home to all
+the dear folks," said Polly.
+
+Tom was too unsophisticated with girls, although he was so popular with
+men, to make allowance for the contrary spirit that often sways a girl
+when she wishes to make a good impression; so he sulked and followed at
+Polly's heels when she hurried after her friends.
+
+Mr. Dalken turned just now, and saw the girl running as if to get away
+from Tom, and he understood, fairly well, just how matters were. So he
+endeavored to calm Polly's perturbed spirit and encourage Tom's "faint
+heart" at the same time.
+
+"Well, Polly dear," said he, placing an arm about her shoulders, "now
+that you have seen many of the wonder-spots of Europe, and know more
+about antiques and art than any of us, I suppose you are quite decided
+that business is not your forte, eh? The next thing I'll hear from you,
+you'll have dropped your ambitions and be sailing down a love-stream to a
+snug harbor."
+
+"Indeed not! You ought to know me better than that, Mr. Dalken," declared
+Polly, vehemently, causing her companions to laugh. "I am more determined
+than ever, since seeing such wonderful things in Europe, to devote my
+life to my chosen profession. Why, the marvellous objects I saw in
+Europe, used in interior decorating in centuries past, enthuse me anew. I
+wonder that anyone can keep from studying this fascinating art where
+there is such a broad field of work and interest."
+
+Polly's mother and father listened to their daughter, with adoration
+plainly expressed on their faces, and Tom had to grit his teeth to keep
+from swearing, because of what he considered their influence over Polly
+in this, her foolish infatuation for a business when she ought to be in
+love with him.
+
+When Mr. Dalken saw that he had launched a dangerous subject for Polly
+and Tom, he had a bright idea. So he acted upon it instantly. He excused
+himself from his friends' circle, and sought the Captain. In a short time
+thereafter, the passengers heard the band playing dance music, and
+immediately, most of the younger set hurried to the Grand Salon.
+
+It was second nature with Polly to dance, and she did so with as much
+grace as she rode her father's thoroughbred horses on the ranch; or hiked
+the Rockies, over boulders and down-timber like a fawn. Kenneth Evans,
+the youngest man in the party from the city, was by far the handsomest
+one in the group; and when he guided Polly through the maze of dancers,
+they both attracted much attention.
+
+Tom stood and sulked while he watched Polly dance, but he refused to
+dance himself, although he was considered a most desirable partner by any
+one who had ever danced with him. Eleanor was having such a thoroughly
+good time while dancing with Paul, that she forgot about the romances and
+lovers' quarrels of others.
+
+The moment Kenneth escorted Polly to a chair and stood fanning her, Tom
+pushed a way over to them and said, quite assuredly: "The next dance is
+mine, Polly."
+
+"Why, I never told you so, at all!" exclaimed Polly, annoyed at Tom's
+tone and manner. "How do you know there will be another one?"
+
+Tom flushed and sent Kenneth an angry glance, although poor Ken was
+innocent of any guile in this case.
+
+"If you do not care to dance with me, Polly, say so, and I'll go to the
+smoking-room and enjoy the companionship of men who appreciate me,"
+retorted Tom, impatiently.
+
+The imp of resistance took instant possession of Polly, and she said:
+"Tom, there's where you belong--with men who want to talk about work and
+money. You are too old to enjoy youthful follies as I do."
+
+Tom had been dreaming of this meeting with Polly again, for so long, that
+now everything seemed shattered for him. He felt so injured at her
+mention of his age in comparison with her own, that he said nothing more,
+but turned on his heel and marched away without a backward glance. His
+very foot-falls spoke of his feelings.
+
+Polly turned to Kenneth and resumed her laughing banter, and he thought
+she was glad to rid herself of Tom's company. He felt puzzled, too,
+because Tom Latimer, in _his_ estimation, was everything noble and manly.
+But Kenneth was inexperienced with girls' subtleties. Had Eleanor been
+present she would have understood perfectly how matters were.
+
+After this incident, Polly danced every dance with a gayety of manner
+that she did not truly feel. Some of the joy of that party was lacking,
+but she would not question the cause of it.
+
+Tom went directly to the smoking-room where he sat down to brood over his
+misery. He never filled his pipe, but sat lost in thought until a
+friendly voice at his elbow said: "Well, old pard! Anne says you are to
+come with me. She has a word to say. She is a wizard, too, so you'd best
+obey without question."
+
+Tom looked up and saw John. "Can Anne help me in the planning of the
+legal defence of those lava-cliffs at Pebbly Pit?" Tom demanded of his
+friend.
+
+John smiled knowingly. "I'll admit you're not smoking, even though you
+rushed to a sanctum protected from girls' invasion; and you are not
+thinking of lava or injunctions, just now. You're pitying yourself for
+what you consider shabby treatment, while all the time Anne can see that
+your evening's disappointment is your own fault."
+
+Tom weakened. "For goodness' sake, tell Anne to advise me what to do, if
+she knows every cure."
+
+"Come on and have a talk with her. She is just outside, waiting for us,"
+coaxed John, placing his arm in that of his friend's, and gently forcing
+him out of the room.
+
+When Tom met Anne's sympathetic eyes, he confessed. "Anne, what's the
+matter with Polly? She doesn't seem to know I am on earth. Did you watch
+her enjoy that dance with a kid like Ken, and then snub _me_ outright
+when I asked her to dance the next one with me?"
+
+"I don't know what she did, Tom, but let me give you a bit of sensible
+advice about Polly. John thinks I am right in this, too, don't you,
+dear?" Wise Anne Brewster turned anxiously to John for his opinion.
+
+"Yes, Tom, Anne is a wonder in such things. You listen to her, old man,"
+agreed John.
+
+Tom sighed heavily and signified his willingness to listen to anything
+that would end his heartache. Both his companions smiled as if they
+deemed this case an everyday matter.
+
+"Tom, you are morbid from over-work at the mines," began Anne. "Remember
+this, Polly has been on the go in Europe all summer, seeing first one
+interesting thing after another, and not giving a single thought to you,
+or anyone, on this side the water. She sneered at anyone who tried to
+flatter her, or pretended to make love to her, while in Europe, and only
+cared for art during that tour which meant so much to her.
+
+"You ought to be thankful that she took this attitude, and returned home
+heart-whole. What would you have done, had she fallen in love with an
+attractive young man with a title? But she was too sensible for that. She
+returns home with her mind still filled with the wonderful things she saw
+abroad, and eager to tell everyone she knows all about her trip.
+Naturally, she never gives a thought to a lover, or a future husband. She
+is too young for that sort of thing, anyway, and her family would
+discourage anyone who suggested such ideas to her. We want her to
+continue her studies and find joy and satisfaction in her work, until she
+is twenty-one, at least, and then she can consider matrimony.
+
+"You know, Tom, that we all favor you immensely, as a future husband for
+Polly, but we certainly would discountenance any advances you might make
+right now, to turn Polly's thoughts from sensible work and endeavor, to a
+state of discontent caused by the dreams of young love. If you are not
+willing to be a good friend to the girl, now, and wait until she is
+older, before you show your intentions, then I will certainly do my
+utmost to keep Polly out of your way. But if, on the other hand, you
+promise to guard your expression and behavior, and only treat Polly as a
+good brother might, then we will do everything in our power to protect
+Polly from any other admirers and to further your interests as best we
+can. Do you understand, now?"
+
+Tom had listened thoughtfully, and when Anne concluded, he said: "If I
+thought I had a chance in the end, I would gladly wait a thousand years
+for Polly!"
+
+"Well, you won't have to do that," laughed Anne. "In a few years, at the
+most, Polly will want to get out of business, and settle down like other
+girls--to a slave of a husband and a lovely home of her own that she can
+decorate and enjoy to her heart's content."
+
+Tom brightened up visibly at such alluring pictures, and promised to do
+exactly as Anne advised him to.
+
+"If Polly pays no attention to you now, remember it is because she is
+different from most girls you have known. She was brought up at Pebbly
+Pit ranch without any young companions, until _we_ went there that
+summer. She had a yearning for the beautiful in art and other things, but
+never had the slightest opportunity in the Rocky Mountains, to further
+her ideals. The only education she had had in the great and beautiful,
+was when she was riding the peaks and could study Nature in her grandest
+works.
+
+"Can you blame her, then, because she revels in her studies and has no
+other desire, at present, than that of reaching a plane where she can
+indulge her talent and ideals? Can't you see that a youthful marriage to
+Polly, now seems like a sacrifice of all she considers worth while in
+life?"
+
+Tom nodded understandingly as he listened to Anne. And John added: "I
+told you Anne had the right idea of this affair! Polly's absolutely safe,
+for a few years, from all love-tangles. And when she begins to weary of
+hard work and disappointments in business, then is your chance to show
+her a different life."
+
+"But, Tom," quickly added Anne, "do not give Polly the opportunity,
+again, to suspect you of lover-like intentions. Be a first-class brother
+to her, and let _her_ wonder if she has any further interest in you.
+Never show your trump card to a girl."
+
+Both men laughed at this sage advice, and John nodded smilingly: "Anne
+ought to know, Tom. That was the way she got me."
+
+Anne was about to answer teasingly, when Mr. Dalken came up and said:
+"I've been hunting you three everywhere. Hurry and get your wraps, as the
+yacht is waiting to return to the City."
+
+The trio then learned that passes had been granted the members in Mr.
+Fabian's party, to leave the steamer that night and go back with their
+friends, on the yacht. So the cabin baggage had been brought up to the
+gang-way, and when Mr. Dalken summoned John and his companions to come
+and help the girls get away, the boats were already on their way to the
+yacht with the luggage.
+
+Many of their fellow-passengers crowded about the party when they were
+ready to go. Good-bys were exchanged and the happy bevy of young folks
+left. Then the boat returned for the older members in the party, and soon
+the yacht was ready to fly back to her dock, up the River, near 72nd
+street. But the thick haze that had made the moon look so romantic,
+developed into an impenetrable fog. And anyone who has ever experienced
+such a fog hanging over New York Harbor, knows what it is to try to go
+through it.
+
+So the vessel had not traveled past the Statue of Liberty, before the
+heavy pall of fog suddenly dropped silently over the Bay, and anything
+farther than a few feet away from the radius of the electric lights on
+the boat, was completely hidden.
+
+The Captain bawled forth orders to the crew and instantly the uniformed
+men were running back and forth to carry out the instructions. Before all
+impetus to the yacht was closed down, however, the engines had driven her
+into the route generally used by the pilots of the boats running to
+Staten Island.
+
+Captain Johnson anxiously studied his chart but could not gauge his
+position exactly, because of the dense fog and the lack of signals. In a
+few minutes more, every fog-horn in the Bay and all the great reflectors
+from guiding lights from bell-buoys would be in full operation. But at
+the time, there was nothing to tell him that he was in a dangerous zone.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE ACCIDENT
+
+
+When the party reached the yacht, Mr. Dalken said that chairs had been
+placed on the forward deck where they could sit and watch the scenes at
+night, as they sailed up to the City. So all but Tom and Polly went
+forward and found comfortable seats. Tom had asked Polly to stroll about
+with him, and she, feeling guilty of neglecting such an old friend when
+on the steamer, consented.
+
+Thus it happened that Tom led her to the side of the craft where they had
+climbed the ladder to the deck, as this side was in shadow and farthest
+from the group of friends who were seated on the forward deck.
+
+But they had not promenaded up and down many times, before the Captain
+gave anxious commands to his crew. Every man jumped to obey, instantly,
+while Tom and Polly halted in their walk just at the gap in the rail,
+where the adjustable ladder had been lowered to the boat when the
+passengers arrived from the steamer. The steps had been hauled in but the
+sailor had forgotten to replace the sliding rail. In the dense fog this
+neglect had been overlooked.
+
+Immediately following the Captain's shouts, a great hulk loomed up right
+beside the yacht, and a fearful blow to the rear end of the pleasure
+craft sent her flying diagonally out of her path, across the water. The
+collision made her nose dip down dangerously while the stern rose up
+clear of the waves.
+
+The group seated forwards slid together, and some were thrown from their
+chairs, but managed to catch hold of the ropes and rail to prevent being
+thrown overboard.
+
+Polly and Tom, standing, unaware, so near the open gap in the rail, still
+arm in arm as they had been walking, were thrown violently side-ways and
+there being nothing at hand to hold to, or to prevent their going over
+the side, they fell into the dark sea.
+
+Feeling as if the earth had dropped from under her, Polly screamed in
+terror before her voice was choked with water. Tom instinctively held on
+to her arm, as he had been doing when the impact of a larger vessel came
+upon the yacht, and he maintained this grip as they both sank.
+
+Polly had always dreaded water, because it seemed so unfamiliar to her.
+After living in the mountains with only narrow roaring streams, or the
+glacial lakes found in the Rockies, she had never tried to swim in the
+ocean, but preferred swimming in a pool. Consequently, this sudden dive
+into the awesome black abyss so frightened her, that she fainted before
+she could fight or struggle.
+
+But Tom Latimer was an expert swimmer, having won several medals while at
+College for his continued swimming under water. At one time during his
+first college days, he had saved the lives of some young folks when their
+canoe capsized a long distance from shore. In this supreme test of
+ability and presence of mind, with the girl he loved in his arms to save,
+Tom was as self-possessed as if on deck with Polly.
+
+In less time than it takes to tell, both victims of the collision sank
+until the natural fight between the weight of the water and the force of
+the air in their lungs, sent them up again to the surface. In that short
+time, Tom used every muscle and physical power to swim far enough _under_
+the water to clear away from the boats which might do them more harm than
+the water.
+
+Fortunately he found the surface free when he rose for breath, and
+finding no resistance from the unconscious form he held, he managed to
+change his grip from her arm to a firm hold under the shoulders. In this
+position he could manage to keep Polly's head above water, and at the
+same time, could swim backwards, by using his feet as propellers.
+
+The only handicap he now had, was his clothing and shoes; these
+interfered with his free action in swimming so he managed to kick off his
+dancing pumps. The greatest danger he feared, was the sudden coming of
+some craft that would compel him to dive again, or might even run them
+down, unseen in the dark.
+
+But the very fog that had caused this accident, also befriended them now,
+as no wary seaman would recklessly go on his way in such a bewildering
+mist, and the majority preferred waiting for a temporary lifting of the
+blanket, before continuing their journeys.
+
+Tom felt no concern over the fact that Polly had fainted or had been in
+the water for a time, for he knew she was so healthy that no ill would
+occur to her from such causes. All he feared now, was his power of
+endurance to keep floating until some craft might pick them up, or he
+could reach a temporary rest.
+
+Suddenly he felt a sweeping current whirl him about and in another
+moment, he was swimming rapidly _with_ instead of _against_ the tide in
+the Bay. He realized that in that short time the tide had turned, either
+about some point of land, or in the River. He began to tread water while
+he tried to lift his head and gaze across the waves. Then a broad shaft
+of dazzling light shot across the Bay from a nearby reflector. At the
+same time Tom heard the tolling of a bell-buoy, not very far distant.
+
+He changed his course that the outgoing tide would assist him in reaching
+this light that might be coming from a ship, or maybe, from an island in
+the Bay. As his powerful strokes carried him along, the sound of the
+bell-buoy seemed to come so plainly that he felt sure it was not far
+away. If he could but hang on to it for a time, in order to gain second
+wind!
+
+Suddenly there was a momentary lift of the heavy fog, and he discovered
+he was quite near Bedloe's Island. The powerful search light had
+reflected from the arc held aloft in the hand of the Goddess of Liberty;
+and the light that danced upon the waves all about him came from the
+smaller arcs which were placed along the sea-wall of the Island.
+
+The current now carried him helplessly past the pier where the boats from
+the Battery land, but just as he tried to lift his head once more and
+yell for help, a motor boat was heard chugging through the fog. His cry
+was heard by those in the boat, and in a few moments the flash-light in
+its prow was blinding Tom because of its proximity.
+
+A chorus of amazed voices now mingled with the noise of the water dashing
+against the wall and the ringing of the buoy, and Tom began to feel faint
+and dazed. But almost before he knew what was happening, a powerful grip
+caught him on his thick hair, and he was dragged partly out of the water.
+
+A commanding voice shouted: "Help grab the girl--we'll take care of the
+man!"
+
+Then Tom heard no more, nor indeed, knew more until he indistinctly heard
+a far-off call of "Guard! Guard!" Then he opened his eyes to find he was
+on the solid earth, once more. Polly was stretched out on the sand. The
+Guards tumbled out of the barracks and rushed for the spot where the
+officer stood calling.
+
+While a few of the boys lifted and half carried Tom to the general
+assembly room, others ran to assist the boatman with the girl. She was
+carefully conveyed to the barracks and the doctor sent for. Meantime the
+men applied the Schaefer Method to both the strangers; Tom instantly
+recovered himself fully but Polly's faint lasted longer.
+
+When the doctor hurried in, his kindly wife followed. Tom was able to sit
+up and tell the story of how the accident happened; then he begged
+someone to notify the Wharf Police to keep a lookout in the Harbor as
+there might be a yacht in distress after that collision. Also, if inquiry
+was made at Police Headquarters, the news was to be given that both Polly
+and he were safe on Liberty Island.
+
+A Corporal of the Guard was sent to attend to these messages, and Tom was
+taken to a cot in the ward of the Barracks. His wet clothing was removed
+and he was rolled in a hot blanket and given hot lemonade. In a few
+moments he was sound asleep.
+
+Polly was taken to the doctor's cottage where his wife attended the
+patient as well as any trained nurse could have done. The girl also was
+rolled in warm blankets with hot-water bottles placed about her cold
+body. Slowly she began to show more animation, and when she could speak,
+she asked if Tom was saved.
+
+[Illustration: TOM AND POLLY ARE RESCUED.
+Polly's Business Venture. Page 39]
+
+"Yes, dear; you both are safe now," replied Mrs. Hall.
+
+"And can we get word----" began she.
+
+"We have taken care of that, too, dear. Now try to drink this nice hot
+lemonade and then go to sleep."
+
+Polly obediently drank the hot drink and sighed in relief. Then she sank
+back and, almost instantly, Nature claimed her rights to make up for the
+unwonted interference with her customary routine.
+
+Mrs. Hall sat beside the cot for some time after Polly was asleep, but
+she finally succumbed to weariness, and finding her patient fully
+recovered and warm, she threw herself upon a nearby cot.
+
+Both young people slept late in the morning, and when Tom finally opened
+his eyes, feeling a bit stiff in his joints, he had to collect his
+thoughts to remember where he was. Like a flash, everything came back,
+and he jumped up to dress and find out how Polly was.
+
+His suit had been dried and pressed and hung over a chair beside the cot.
+His dress-coat seemed ridiculously out of order after that swim and, now,
+for the morning's work. But he smiled as he donned the clothes, and
+started for the door of the long room.
+
+Just as Tom reached the door one of the men entered and greeted him
+warmly. "I see you're all right again!"
+
+"Yes, thank you. I hope the little girl is feeling as well," ventured
+Tom, anxiously.
+
+"Doctor Hall just left her and says she is right as a fiddle. I'm the
+young fellow that telephoned the Police for you. I got back word, early
+this morning, that your folks finally got home, without any harm to
+anyone. And say! Maybe there wasn't some joy when they heard you two were
+safe with us!"
+
+Tom felt a strange gripping at his throat, and his voice quavered as he
+replied: "I _know_ there was!"
+
+The young man glanced at the evening dress and then said, "I'm going to
+loan you one of my long coats to cover those togs."
+
+Tom responded gratefully, and said: "If I can only do as much for you
+boys some time!"
+
+"Say," laughed the soldier, "don't wish such an experience on any of us!"
+
+Then both laughed. As they reached the house where Polly had spent the
+night, the doctor opened the door and smiled. When he saw that Tom was
+feeling as good as ever, he said: "I just hung up the 'phone. A gentleman
+called 'Dalken' told me that they were all coming over to take you away.
+But I warned him that the entire party would be arrested if they landed
+on Government Ground without a permit.
+
+"Then I remembered that he might secure a permit, so I said: 'Anyway,
+before you people can get here, my patients will be on their way to the
+Battery.' I said that, because the young lady ought to be kept perfectly
+quiet all morning, after such a fearful experience, you know."
+
+"Yes, I know," admitted Tom. "And I am glad you said what you did."
+
+"Now we had her dress dried and pressed, and the little miss will be up
+and ready to thank you for your courageous deed, in an hour or so,"
+explained the doctor, significantly.
+
+"Thank you, ever so much!" said Tom, grasping his hand.
+
+"Let Ted, here, show you about the place and entertain you until it's
+time to call again," suggested the doctor.
+
+So Tom went away with his companion, not to explore the Island, but to go
+to the telephone and have a long talk with his friends in the city, who
+were anxious to hear about the accident.
+
+Just before noon, an orderly came to Tom to say that Mrs. Hall said, "Mr.
+Latimer could call, if he liked." Tom laughed at the message--"if he
+liked."
+
+As he entered the little sitting-room of the doctor's house, Tom tiptoed
+as if he felt he had to tread softly. But Polly sat in an arm-chair by
+the window and saw him coming. She jumped up and ran to the door to greet
+him, and Mrs. Hall went out of the room by the kitchen-door.
+
+Tom was unable to speak a word when he finally came into Polly's
+presence. She caught hold of his hands and shook them gladly, as she
+cried: "Oh, Tom! What do I not owe you after last night!"
+
+Tom wanted to demand payment, but he knew that would ruin his chances
+forever, so he held a tight leash on his feelings and smiled wanly. Then
+he said in an unnatural tone: "Lucky for us both that I knew how to swim,
+eh, Polly?"
+
+Polly was relieved to hear him speak in such a way, but her next act was
+the outgrowth of spontaneous gratitude. She flung both arms about his
+neck and being too short to reach his cheek, kissed him on the chin as
+she would have done had he been John. Tom trembled, but realized at the
+same time, that Polly's kiss meant nothing. Still he was humbly grateful
+for even that token of gratitude from the reserved girl.
+
+"Now tell me, Tom dear, what did the folks say about our sudden
+elopement?" Polly laughed as she used the term.
+
+"Oh, Polly! I'd swim from here to China for you if only it could be an
+elopement!"
+
+The girl instantly took alarm, and looked about for Mrs. Hall. But Tom
+forced a laugh and tried to make her believe he was joking. "Do you think
+that any man would do _that_ for a girl?" he added.
+
+Then he hurried on to say that no one on the yacht had been injured by
+the collision, but they were hours in reaching their dock. He said that
+they (Polly and Tom) were not missed at first, and not until conditions
+had calmed down somewhat, did Eleanor call for Polly. Then it was found
+that neither Tom nor Polly were to be found.
+
+"It was Eleanor who remembered seeing us promenade along the side where
+the rail was detachable, and it was Eleanor who said we must have been
+thrown out where the steps came up. So the captain was taken to task for
+having such a careless man on board, and both the man and the captain
+were discharged."
+
+"Poor man--it wasn't his fault!" sighed Polly.
+
+"Well, if you hadn't recovered, I'd have sent him to jail for life,
+because it was criminal negligence to leave that rail open as it was!"
+was Tom's threatening reply.
+
+"I'm glad there is no cause for such harsh treatment," responded Polly.
+
+Tom gazed, with his soul in his eyes, as he breathed fervently: "You're
+not half as glad as I am, darling!"
+
+Polly sprang away at that, and ran to the window, saying: "Don't you
+think we might start for the City? Mrs. Hall went to fetch a hat and wrap
+for me and she ought to be back by this time."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+A REUNION AND A VISITOR
+
+
+Never was maiden welcomed so enthusiastically and so fervently, as Polly
+Brewster, that morning when she stepped from the launch to the sea-wall
+at Battery Park. Her father and mother vied with each other in embracing
+and kissing her, while the tears of happiness streamed from their eyes;
+John and Anne hovered beside them, watching every dear feature of Polly's
+face. Eleanor stood holding fast to her best friend's skirt, as if that
+could keep her forever near her.
+
+The members in the "Delegation of Welcome," acted as if they had been
+imbibing some intoxicating stimulant. Such happy laughter, and vehement
+demonstrations of joy and love because Polly was with them again, spoke
+louder than words that they had all thought she was drowned. Tom found
+that little fuss was made over him in the first exuberant greetings, but
+he came in for his share after the doctor had concluded his story about
+the valiant young rescuer.
+
+"Now, Mr. Brewster, you pay attention to me," remarked the physician,
+when he was ready to depart on the launch: "You take your daughter home,
+at once, and put her to bed for the rest of the day, to spare her any
+nervous reaction. Then, if she is all right tomorrow, you may allow her
+to receive a caller, or two--no more for the time being, or you will have
+her break down."
+
+Mr. Brewster promised to obey the orders faithfully, and soon afterwards,
+Polly's friends followed her and her parents to the automobiles which
+were waiting near the curb of the Park. Tom was surrounded, on both sides
+and fore and aft, by his family and John and Mr. Dalken, all of whom
+wished to hear the thrilling story of the rescue again.
+
+"I'd rather hear how you folks kept afloat after that boat rammed the
+yacht," said he, shunning a subject that still made him shudder.
+
+Mr. Dalken insisted that Tom with his father and mother get into his
+luxurious limousine and let him drive them home. On the way uptown, Mr.
+Dalken told the story of their narrow escape from being lost in the Bay
+after the collision.
+
+"Immediately after the yacht was rammed and we could collect our senses
+to comprehend what had happened, and what to do, the old tub of a
+ferry-boat kept on her course. But there were some worried citizens on
+board, for they shouted and, finally, the captain stopped his engines and
+blew the whistles to see if we needed help.
+
+"Fortunately for us, a river tug was quite close at hand when the
+accident occurred, and its captain called through a megaphone to say that
+he would assist us in any way we commanded.
+
+"Our Captain then ascertained that part of our gear had been shaken out
+of place, and it would be dangerous for him to try to run the vessel
+under her own power, and trust our steering gear. So the good old man on
+the tug took us in tow and landed us, towards dawn, at our dock.
+
+"The moment we were on land, I rushed to the telephone at the Yacht Club
+house, and notified Police Headquarters. Ken Evans was an eye-witness to
+the dive that we feared had cost Polly and you your lives; so we told the
+Sergeant at the Station just about where you went down.
+
+"The Bureau at Battery Park was 'phoned but they said the tide was
+running out at that time, so you both would be carried past Bedloe's
+Island; if you both were good swimmers there was a slight hope of your
+being rescued.
+
+"I tell you, Tom, we were almost frantic with joy and relief when word
+came from Liberty Island that you both were safe in bed, there, without
+injury or other hurt, excepting the shock. Polly's mother swooned and we
+thought she was gone because it was so long before we could revive her."
+
+Tom's mother sat holding her boy's hand within her own, and his father
+smiled at him so often that Tom began to feel fussed. But Mr. Dalken
+laughed at his apparent self-consciousness.
+
+"Tom, my boy, grin and bear this ordeal for the time, as you may never in
+your life, have another experience like it. It shows you what we all
+think of you, to sit and idolize you in this fashion."
+
+They laughed at the banter, but Tom felt more at ease after Mr. Dalken's
+little speech.
+
+Having arrived at his home, Tom rebelled against being kept quiet that
+day. "Goodness' sakes, mother! any one would think I was an invalid. Why,
+I feel better than I have in months!" and his happy gayety attested to
+his spirits. But no one knew that he was joyous because Polly had kissed
+him that morning. And he was sure that that _something_ he had detected
+in her eyes, was the awakening of love, instead of the fervent gratitude
+it really was.
+
+Tom could not settle down to do anything that day, but he called John up
+on the 'phone several times to ask about Polly. John patiently replied
+each time, that Polly was fast asleep and would probably remain so, for
+several hours more, because she required it. When Tom asked if he had
+better come down that evening and call, John was most emphatic in his
+refusal.
+
+But the following day, Tom kept telephoning the Brewsters every little
+while and Anne finally capitulated and invited him to call that evening.
+
+Polly was fully recovered again, with no signs of the shock or soaking
+she had received; so, when Tom was announced by the telephone girl in the
+hotel office, she felt no undue nervousness.
+
+"Anne, you are going to help entertain Tom, aren't you?" said she,
+casually patting her hair down neatly.
+
+Anne looked at her sister-in-law with an amused smile. "If you think you
+will need a chaperone when such an old friend calls. Tom always seems
+more like a brother than a young man who might turn out to be a beau,
+some day."
+
+Polly pondered this sentence for a time, then said: "Well, there's no
+telling what he may think after that ducking, you know, so it will be
+more comfortable to have you about."
+
+Tom fully expected a warm welcome from Polly, and perhaps, another flash
+of something akin to love that he thought he had detected in her deep
+blue eyes, when he met her in the hospital. So he was more than chagrined
+to find Polly smile friendily upon him as she took his hand in the same
+manner that she would have taken Mr. Dalken's.
+
+"I just thought I would bring in a little glow with me, Polly," remarked
+Tom, when he recovered self-possession again. "A few roses, such as I
+know you like."
+
+He handed a long box to Polly and watched eagerly as she cut the string
+and opened the lid of the box.
+
+"Oh, Tom! American Beauties again! How lovely!" and she buried her face
+in the fragrant red petals that filled the one end of the box.
+
+Anne held out her hand for the box when Polly went to place it on a
+chair. "I'll hand them to mother, Polly, for her to arrange in a jar. The
+others that came yesterday, can be placed in another glass."
+
+"Oh, did Polly receive other roses?" asked Tom, trying to appear
+unconcerned, but flushing as he spoke.
+
+"Why, didn't you send them to me? There was no card in the box, but you
+always send American Beauties, Tom," exclaimed Polly, in surprise.
+
+Tom laughed sheepishly. "Well, I did send them, Polly, but I thought I
+would make you guess who it could have been. I never dreamed you would
+give me credit for the roses."
+
+"Why shouldn't I? It would have seemed queer if you hadn't sent flowers,
+when everyone within a thousand miles, sent boxes and bouquets to me, all
+yesterday and all day today."
+
+"They did! What for?" asked Tom, wonderingly.
+
+"What for? Why, goodness me! Don't you suppose my friends were _glad_
+that I wasn't drowned," retorted Polly, in amazement. "Everyone that ever
+knew me, sent love and flowers, so I never thought it strange that you
+sent me some, too."
+
+This was a hard slap for Tom, and he winced under the words which denoted
+that Polly considered him only as one of many friends. Even the roses
+presented that night, with a little heart-shaped card tied in the center
+of the group of stems, now seemed useless in his eyes.
+
+But Polly had not removed the roses from the box so she failed to find
+the heart-shaped card that Tom had spent the whole afternoon in inditing.
+Anne gave the box to Mrs. Brewster, and when that sensible mother took
+the roses out, one by one, and found the card, she put it away with the
+cards that had come with other flowers. She also forgot to mention the
+card to Polly, so the girl never knew that Tom had written her of his
+undying love. As Anne replied, for Polly, to all the cards, Tom received
+the same sort of polite little note as others did, with Polly's name and
+a "per A.B." signed to it.
+
+Finding Polly so self-possessed that evening, Tom pulled himself together
+with an effort, and tried to converse on various topics of general
+interest. Anne eagerly assisted in the conversation, so Polly listened
+without having much to say.
+
+Tom tried to make Polly talk, too, but without success, so he became
+silent and left most of the entertaining for Anne to do. But even she
+found the task of finding subjects to interest two dumb people rather
+irksome, and she decided on a _coup_.
+
+"Excuse me for a moment, please, while I see if John has returned with
+his father." So saying, Anne ran from the room.
+
+Polly sat up and watched her go as if her protector had turned traitor.
+She glanced at Tom in a half doubtful manner as if to ask what he would
+do now with the chaperone out of the way?
+
+But Anne's absence gave Tom's morbid senses an inspiration that he acted
+upon without second thought. It was the best thing he could have done
+with Polly in this baffling mood.
+
+"I'm returning to Pebbly Pit, in a few days, Polly. I am actually
+homesick for a sight of the dear old mountains."
+
+Polly gasped. "Oh, no one told me you were leaving us. Jim told me that
+he thought you might remain here for several months."
+
+"Jim? What does that kid know about my affairs?" said Tom, impatiently.
+"Besides, when did you see Jim?"
+
+"Oh, Jim just dropped in for a minute this afternoon."
+
+Tom felt the pangs of jealousy because his younger brother had been able
+to see Polly before she would allow him to call. Then he remembered his
+role to act the part of a platonic brother and friend.
+
+Polly continued: "I think Jim is a dear boy. He is so fond and proud of
+you, too. Why, when he was here he sat and talked of nothing else but you
+and your loyalty to family, friends, and your work."
+
+As Polly spoke, Tom felt ashamed of his momentary jealousy of his
+brother. When she had finished speaking, he laughed and said: "What a
+pity Jim sees me through such fine magnifying glasses. The undesirable
+qualities in my character he never detects."
+
+"I think it is great to have your family think you are all that is
+wonderful! I think my family regard me as a saint, and I like it, too,"
+declared Polly.
+
+"That's because you are one, Polly dear," retorted Tom, and the fervor he
+expressed in his eyes and voice, caused his companion to gasp.
+
+Before Tom could follow up his sudden declaration and make Polly
+understand his sentiments for her, she broached another subject of
+conversation.
+
+"Tom, what has been accomplished at the mine and at Rainbow Cliffs while
+I was in Europe?"
+
+Tom frowned, but he realized that Polly was more sensible than he. He
+remembered, once more, what Anne had advised, so he choked the despondent
+sigh and replied instead, with seeming interest:
+
+"Oh, John and I had another queer bout with some thieves. They were not
+after the land this time, but they planned to get at the ore and carry
+off as much of the gold as they could lay hands on. Our old friend,
+Rattlesnake Mike, caught them red-handed, and now they are serving a term
+in prison at hard labor."
+
+"Oh, Tom! I never heard a word of this!" cried Polly, eagerly. "Do tell
+me about it."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+THE RAID ON CHOKO'S FIND MINE
+
+
+"You remember when we all came East last June to attend John's wedding
+and see you off for Europe?" asked Tom.
+
+Polly nodded eagerly but said nothing to interrupt him.
+
+"Well, we remained longer than we had planned when we left Pebbly Pit.
+The friends in New York were so eager to entertain us before we went back
+home, that the days passed swiftly before we realized we had stayed on
+ten days longer than we should have done at that time.
+
+"Now to go back to the time when those two rascals tried to jump your
+claim, the time your father and Mike guided the party when you-all
+climbed the Indian Trail to Grizzly Slide.
+
+"It seems that crafty clerk who had copied the rough map of the claim you
+staked on Flat Top and filed in Oak Creek, never gave up hope of some day
+getting his hands on enough of that gold to help him get away and live
+comfortably, ever after, on the proceeds.
+
+"When he learned that everyone of the family at Pebbly Pit, would be East
+for a few weeks, and the mine would be left in charge of Mike and the
+other employees, he immediately called a few cut-throats together and
+laid his plans accordingly.
+
+"After the discovery of his perfidy in copying the claim papers and then
+trying to jump the staked claim, he had been discharged from the office
+in Oak Creek and, thereafter, no one respectable would employ him. So he
+hung about the saloon and spent his time in gambling with the miners from
+Up-Crest, back of Oak Creek station. He found willing confederates in
+this group of Slavs who hailed the invitation to steal enough gold to
+enable them to go back to Europe and pose as rich men.
+
+"The whole plot had been kept unusually secret for that species of
+foreigner, so no one at Oak Creek knew of the proposed raid. But Mike
+rode into Oak Creek the morning before the night these rascals planned to
+act, and with his unusual gift of intuition, he felt that something was
+working quietly in the minds of the evil-looking men he found whispering
+over a small table in one corner of the saloon.
+
+"Mike hung around for several hours to try and learn if any plot was
+hatching against Rainbow Cliffs while the owners were absent; or perhaps
+these men planned a rush on the mine while he and but few men were on
+guard. But nothing could be discovered. Feeling assured because of the
+sly and malicious expressions of the men at the table when they glanced
+at Mike, as he sat in another corner and pretended to doze, that Hank had
+some move under way to trouble him and his assistants, made the Indian
+use splendid judgment and action that day.
+
+"He borrowed the Sheriff's thoroughbred bloodhound, and asked for a few
+extra men to accompany him to the cave and stay there until the owners
+returned, promising them better wages than they could earn at any work in
+Oak Creek, or on the ranches nearby. To allay suspicion he rode out of
+town, alone, but he had agreed to wait at Pine Tree Blaze for the extra
+men.
+
+"The men rode away from town each at a different time, to avoid talk or
+notice by the loungers at the saloon, and all met at the rendezvous that
+afternoon. Mike then led the way up the steep trail, and by dark they
+were in camp.
+
+"This was the second day after we left Pebbly Pit. Mike had warned Jeb of
+his suspicions, too, and that wary little man had instantly taken steps
+to protect the Cliffs, by ordering all hands working there to keep away
+from Oak Creek until the Boss got home. He said that unusual care must be
+used for a time, to watch during the nights, and keep trespassers out
+during the day, for fear of raiders.
+
+"The first night in camp on the mountains, Mike never rested a minute,
+but moved silently from one place to another, with senses keyed for some
+sign of the rascals. However, that first night passed quietly away. His
+extra men spent the evening in smoking and playing cards, then they
+rolled up in their blankets and snored peacefully the night through.
+
+"The next day Mike smiled to himself when the men laughed at his
+suspicions. They were so far from any settlement and the mountains were
+so great and silent, that it gave them confidence in the peace and good
+will with all men.
+
+"The second night the men were again playing cards near the camp-fire.
+Mike sat on the ledge in front of the cave with the hound stretched out
+on a slab of rock at his feet. The giant wooden flume could be faintly
+discerned, through the smoke of the fire and from the pipes of the men,
+not twenty feet away from the engines that worked it.
+
+"Suddenly the hound lifted his head and pointed his ears. Mike leaned
+forward with face turned towards the flume, listening. Then he laid his
+pipe down on the rock and crawled away upon his hands and knees, followed
+closely by the hound.
+
+"Do you remember the giant flume we planned to carry off the water of the
+river that flowed underground; the one into which Nolla and you dropped
+the torch the day you found the cave?"
+
+Polly silently signified that she remembered, and Tom continued: "Well,
+we used that flume during the work of mining and washing trash from the
+ore, but at night, when there was no need for the water to pour through
+it, we turned the current down the other way on the opposite side of the
+mountain.
+
+"Mike crept silently across the ledge and peered far down into the black
+chasm below, to ascertain if the suspicious sounds came from that pit.
+But the dog crawled noiselessly across the ledge to the flume and there
+he stood with tense nerves. His ears were erect and his tail was standing
+out straight behind him, as he stood and glared at the wooden flume.
+
+"As the dog was so well-trained, Mike did not doubt his instinct, but
+crept over to his side and there waited and listened.
+
+"Had he not been absolutely quiet, the faint sound of something moving
+inside that flume would have been lost on the outside. But Mike was as
+keen a hunter as his dog, and they both sensed that something very
+foreign to water was passing through that flume.
+
+"Accompanying the strange muffled sound inside the flume every few
+moments, there came a different sound, as if something sharp was being
+driven into the wood for a hold. Mike figured out that the inside of the
+flume had been worn so slippery with the flood of waters and sand or
+pebbles passing through it in torrents, that it was necessary to use
+steel-pointed staffs and creepers to help anyone in the dangerous ascent.
+
+"As soon as Mike felt convinced that someone was trying a new trick to
+gain possession of the mine, he crept back to the camp-fire and told the
+men of the sounds inside the flume. They laughed immoderately at Mike,
+and declared that he was going mad because of his prohibition since his
+employers left him in charge.
+
+"But Mike ordered a few of his most trustworthy miners to guard the cave
+in front, while the others were sent over the top of the range to keep
+watch at the opposite entrance to the mine. You'll remember, Polly, that
+that was the side where the pit cut the cave in half. We bridged that
+chasm, you know, and used the short-cut entrance quite often, although
+the ore was brought out through Choko's Find.
+
+"Mike then selected several of his brawniest fighters and very quietly
+led the way to the opening of the flume where the water-gate was located.
+As they could travel faster on the ground than the men creeping up inside
+the slippery wooden tube, Mike and his companions reached the water-gate
+before they heard the suspicious sounds from within the flume.
+
+"He signalled his men to keep absolutely quiet, and then crept out on the
+lintel of the gate and got a firm purchase on the lever. No one dreamed
+of his purpose at the moment, and he suddenly seemed to reconsider his
+plan, for he crept back again and had just reached the trio of curious
+men, when a sigh of relief was distinctly heard from inside the flume.
+
+"Then a whispering was heard, but not understood. In a few moments a
+grating sound as if some sharp tool was being used. Mike surmised that
+they were trying to break a way through the wooden door by which to get
+out.
+
+"Without further delay, then, Mike threw open the lid in the top of the
+flume and commanded the trespassers to come forth.
+
+"There was no reply from within, and not a sound was heard after Mike
+opened the lid. So he called again: 'Ef yoh no come us wash riber fru dis
+pipe.'
+
+"Still no reply or sound was heard, so Mike winked at his companions, and
+gave a fictitious order: 'Frow water gate open!'
+
+"'Stop! Wait a minute!' shouted a frightened voice from the flume.
+
+"Another voice cursed in the most dreadful way, but soon after Mike's
+order to turn in the water, four men managed to emerge from the tube and
+sit astride it.
+
+"Seeing but four opponents there to fight, the leader of the gang gave a
+sign, and the daring raiders tried to over-power Mike and his three men.
+But they had not seen the wolf-hound in the shadows. As they dropped upon
+the men to fight them, the dog sprang out and drove his fangs deep into
+one rascal's throat. He will carry those marks to his last day. It was a
+wonder he was not killed outright.
+
+"That released Mike and he turned his attention to help his companions
+free themselves. The dog fought mightily, and after a short but fierce
+battle, the trespassers were bound and laid on the ground for the night.
+
+"'What'cha goin' to do wid'dem, Mike?' asked one of his men.
+
+"'Ship 'em down th' flume, Mike, th' way they come up,' laughed another
+of his men.
+
+"'So me say, but Mike go jail fer kill man,' replied the Indian.
+
+"The other men strongly approved of that course of justice, however, and
+Mike had all he could do to keep them from following their inclination to
+wash the guilty men down the flume and out into Bear Forks River at the
+foot of the mountain.
+
+"The next day Mike and his men drove the raiders down the steep trail and
+left them in the hands of the constable of Oak Creek, to await trial in
+the County Court. But the captured rascals had boon companions in Oak
+Creek, and when they learned that four of their group were in prison they
+started a regular riot.
+
+"They tarred and feathered poor little Jeb the next time he drove in to
+Oak Creek for mail and supplies, and a few days before we got back home,
+they made a well-planned raid on the lava mines at Rainbow Cliffs. Not a
+piece of machinery was left intact, and the great bags of jewels we had
+waiting for shipment were scattered far and wide by the vandals.
+
+"But the sheriff heard of the proposed visit to Pebbly Pit, and took a
+posse of men to follow the drunken miners to the Cliffs. Such a battle
+as ensued, beggars my weak description. The sheriff told us about it when
+we got home, but his language is not very graphic, nor is it thrilling,
+so we only heard the bare facts of the fight.
+
+"But, Polly, you must supply with your own vivid imagination, the details
+that may be missing from my account. When I tell you that the vandals
+were slowly backed away from the Cliffs and were, eventually, driven to
+the gully back of the Devil's Causeway where those two men were engulfed
+in the slide, the day they came to cajole your father into signing papers
+for the Cliffs, you can picture their horror when the edge of the great
+cliff began to crumble in. They could not turn to right or left, as they
+were hemmed in by the pursuers, and they dared not remain where they were
+for fear of being swallowed in the quicksand that was already sliding
+downwards. So they gave up to the sheriff and surrendered their guns.
+
+"That was a bad case, as one of the sheriff's men had been dangerously
+wounded and it was feared he would die. All our valuable machinery was
+ruined and all orders for the delivery of the lava jewels had to be
+cancelled, or postponed for a year. So the culprits each got twenty years
+and Oak Creek is quieter, by far, because more than a score of its worst
+citizens are safely housed in jail."
+
+As Tom ended his story, Polly unclasped her hands which she had nervously
+clenched during the recital of the raids on her precious property.
+
+"Oh, Tom! I never dreamed of all the trouble everyone would have because
+of those precious mines, the day Nolla and I filed our papers at Oak
+Creek," gasped Polly.
+
+"No one does dream of these things--they only see the future in rosy
+hues," retorted Tom.
+
+"And to think of the work and worry John and you have had in establishing
+this great undertaking, while I was in Europe taking life easy, and
+spending money without a thought of how it was being produced at home!"
+sighed Polly.
+
+"That is as it should be, Polly. You were not squandering the money, but
+using it in ways to profit yourself for the future. John and I knew, when
+we started in on this mining venture, that the line would not lay in
+flower-strewn paths, but that it might force us over all sorts of snags,
+before we reached success."
+
+"Well, it is fine of you to talk like this, Tom," admitted Polly,
+gratefully. "If it were not for you boys taking an interest in the work,
+I might as well say 'good-by' to the gold."
+
+Tom laughed. "Polly, this is so insignificant a work to do for you--just
+taking an interest in your mine. Some day I hope to prove in some greater
+way, just what I want to, and can, do for you."
+
+Tom's manner and looks again alarmed Polly and she changed the subject
+adroitly. "Tom, do you like the home in Pebbly Pit? Isn't it different
+from living in the city, in these apartments?"
+
+Tom smiled, for he understood. "Yes, it is fine, Polly. It is a real
+home--with your blessed mother at the ranch-house. I have lived in adobe
+huts in Arizona, and out on sand wastes in New Mexico, you know, so that
+Pebbly Pit is great, in comparison."
+
+"Mother told me how good it was to have Anne and you with her all summer,
+while I was abroad," said Polly, after a short interval of silence. "I
+feel that it was not so heartless of me to enjoy myself in Europe as I
+did, so long as mother and father were not lonely and homesick for me."
+
+"But your mother often said to me, that were it not for Anne's being with
+her, she would have cabled you to come home. She had looked forward so
+anxiously to your spending this vacation at Pebbly Pit," remarked Tom.
+
+"My! Then I was more fortunate than I dreamed of," laughed Polly. "I
+should have hated to leave Eleanor in Europe, with such a wonderful tour
+before us, and come back home without having done the whole trip."
+
+Tom had no desire to hear more about that enjoyable tour and the probable
+acquaintance the girls had made with eligible young men with fascinating
+titles. So he spoke of his imminent departure for the West.
+
+"I had a talk with Dad and Mr. Dalken today, and they think it best for
+me to get back at the mines without further delay. The mountain storms
+will soon be sweeping over the peaks, and winter protection must be
+completed at the Cave and Flume before then; so I think I shall be
+leaving in a day, or so."
+
+Polly murmured some friendly regret at his going so soon.
+
+"But the need of my being at the mines to prepare for winter is not the
+main cause of my leaving New York, so soon," began Tom, moodily. "I came
+East with a definite hope in mind, but so many unforeseen events have
+happened since I met you, that I haven't furthered my interests since I
+left Pebbly Pit." Tom waited for encouragement from Polly.
+
+Polly did not pursue the subject, however, but she said: "Well, this
+winter, I have planned to actually _work_!"
+
+"I thought you said you have been working ever since you came to New
+York," laughed Tom.
+
+"Yes, at school and in other ways; but now, I propose going to work in
+Mr. Ashby's shop. You know, he has a wonderful place on Fifth Avenue
+where they have every kind of article one needs in the way of ornament or
+decorating. There is where Eleanor and I managed to get such splendid
+experience in textiles and other objects familiar to interior decorators.
+
+"Now I propose going to work for him at a stated salary, and giving every
+morning to the work, this year. In the afternoons I will be free to visit
+Exhibitions, Museums, hunt up antiques, or just play. Four evenings every
+week we will attend school and lectures, you know, so there will not be
+very much time left in which to write letters."
+
+"You never did work hard at writing letters," said Tom, smilingly.
+
+"No, and this winter there will be even less time for them. My friends will
+have to be satisfied with picture post-cards or telegrams," laughed Polly,
+hoping that would answer all expected requests for a correspondence.
+
+"Well," said Tom, "I only write to people I really want to hear from. And
+I never ask anyone to write to me unless I take a great deal of pleasure
+in reading their letters. I never asked you to correspond with me, have
+I?"
+
+"No-o, I think not," replied Polly, disconcerted at this announcement.
+She had felt sure he was going to beg her to write as often as possible,
+and now this was so different!
+
+"I thought not! You see our likes and pursuits are so different. The very
+difference in our ways of living now--you with luxurious art in New York,
+me in the rugged life of a miner in the Rockies, creates a gulf between
+our ideals. Mine is getting at gold that is the basis of most worldly
+success, and yours is an ideal and aspiration in art that transcends my
+common work and business. So we would not know what to say to each other
+in letters, would we? You would not wish to speak of gold and mining, and
+I haven't any idea of art or its ideals."
+
+What it must have cost Tom to say all this, no one knows, but he was
+piqued, at last, and so acted his part admirably; and he had the
+satisfaction of seeing that Polly felt sorry at his words.
+
+"Tom, I always felt sure you were an idealist at soul. It makes me feel a
+deep regret to learn that you have no such ideals left."
+
+Tom bid Polly good-by without an outward sign of regret, and so she sat
+and pondered over that unusual fact, long after he had gone.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+POLLY AND ELEANOR BEGIN COLLECTING
+
+
+Within a week after the westerners had gone back home, matters with Polly
+and her friends in New York settled down in a smooth current. The Fabians
+found a commodious house in a refined environment quite near the Ashby's
+home, and the two girls, Polly and Eleanor, lived with them.
+
+Mr. Fabian temporarily resumed his lectureship at the Art School of
+Cooper Union, and his two promising pupils, with Dodo Alexander as a new
+beginner, accompanied him every night that the classes met.
+
+The Alexanders had leased an expensive suite at an apartment hotel near
+the Fabians, and much to little Mr. Alexander's joy, although much to
+Mrs. Alexander's disgust, they settled down to a hum-drum life that
+winter. She sighed as she referred to her life.
+
+"Dear sakes! Here I am with all this money to spend on a fine time, and I
+have to waste my days sitting around hearing Dodo rave about Corunthian
+Columns, Ionack Piers, and such foolish stuff. As for Ebeneezer! He is
+just impossible to get along with, since he found what quiet friends he
+had in the Fabians and the Ashbys!"
+
+The result of such complaints from Mrs. Alexander were soon evidenced by
+her spending her evenings at theatres, dances at various clubs and places
+she had forced an entrance to, and in daily shopping trips about the
+city.
+
+The motley collection of antiques the girls had secured while abroad and
+had shipped home, arrived in due season and the cases were sent to Mr.
+Ashby's Shop. The girls were told that the goods had been delivered, and
+the next day they hastened to the establishment to admire their
+purchases.
+
+The articles were arranged in one small room, and when the three girls
+followed Mr. Ashby to the place, they were amazed at the insignificance
+of their exhibition.
+
+"Why! I thought I had a lot of stuff," declared Eleanor.
+
+"You see all that you bought. There is your list," laughed Mr. Ashby,
+sympathizing in her disillusionment.
+
+"And I thought that chest so much more elaborate--when I chose it in
+France," ventured Polly, puckering her forehead.
+
+"I'll tell you why," said Mr. Ashby. "When we see these pieces on the
+other side, the glamour of the places and the stories connected with
+them, actually charm us more than the objects themselves. After we secure
+our desires and find we own them, we ship them home and do not see them
+again until they reach prosaic and business-like New York.
+
+"Meantime, we enhance the beauty and romance of the objects we purchased,
+by thinking of them in connection with the romance of their past; thus
+idealizing them in mental pictures, they appear far finer and more
+alluring than in truth they are.
+
+"When we really view them again, just as you are now doing, the shock of
+finding them just simple antiques, and so inferior to what we dreamed
+them, reverses our sentiments about them.
+
+"Now beware, girls! Don't let this reversal affect you, in the least.
+These objects are just as valuable and desirable, here, as ever they were
+over there. It is only your personal view-point that has changed,
+somewhat. You have not been visiting old collections, or museums abroad,
+for some weeks now; and the radical change from touring ancient Europe,
+to rushing about in New York in quests of homes, school, and clothes for
+the season, has made a corresponding change in your minds.
+
+"In a short time, you will be back in harness and feel the same keen
+delight in these old possessions as aforetime."
+
+Polly appreciated the sense of Mr. Ashby's little lecture, but Eleanor
+still felt disappointed with her purchases. And Dodo laughed outright at
+the old pewter she had gone wild over in England, and now scorned in
+America.
+
+That evening Mr. Fabian explained, carefully, about the times and customs
+of the purchases that represented certain people. He wove a tale of
+romance about each piece of furniture the girls had delighted in, and
+enhanced their interest in the dishes and other small objects they had
+collected that summer, until the three disappointed owners felt a renewed
+attraction in the articles.
+
+Mr. Ashby was present, but he said nothing until Mr. Fabian had ended.
+Then he added in a suggestive manner: "Fabian, what do you say to the
+girls taking short trips to the country, each week, to hunt up such
+antiques as can be found in out-of-the-way nooks all through New
+England?"
+
+The girls perked up their ears at this, and waited to hear Mr. Fabian's
+reply.
+
+"If they had a car and someone to accompany them on such excursions, I
+think they would thoroughly enjoy it."
+
+"Dalken has three cars--two limousines, you know; and he told me that he
+wished he could prevail upon the girls to make use of one, instead of his
+leaving it in a garage to eat up its value in rent. I thought of this way
+to give the girls many interesting quests, and make use of the car at the
+same time, so I mentioned it to him. He was delighted and wants the girls
+to try the plan," explained Mr. Ashby.
+
+"And I will offer myself as chaperone," hastily added Mrs. Fabian.
+
+"If I could only be included in these outings I should love it," laughed
+Nancy Fabian.
+
+"You are! Any one who belongs to us, must consider themselves as
+invited," said Polly, laughingly.
+
+So an outing for Saturday was planned, that night, and Mrs. Fabian and
+Nancy were to manage the details for the girls.
+
+"We will choose a likely country-side for our first trial," remarked Mrs.
+Fabian, looking at her husband for advice.
+
+"That's hard sense," laughed he. "But where is such a spot?"
+
+"Somewhere in New England," ventured Nancy.
+
+"That's as ambiguous as 'Somewhere in France,'" retorted Polly.
+
+"Not when you consider that New England begins just the other side of the
+city-line of Portchester," said Mr. Fabian.
+
+"But there are no antiques to be found in Rye, Portchester or Greenwich,
+in these days of amateur collectors hunting over those sections,"
+remarked Mrs. Fabian.
+
+"You are not limited to those nearby towns; but you can travel fifty
+miles in the inland sections in a short time, and stop at simple little
+farm-houses to inquire, as we did this summer while touring England. I
+wager you'll come home with enough trophies of war to start you off
+again, in a day or two," explained Mr. Fabian.
+
+On Saturday morning, Mrs. Fabian packed an auto-kit with delectable
+sandwiches, cakes and other dainties, and the party of amateur collectors
+started out on their quest. The chauffeur smiled at their eagerness to
+arrive at some place on the Boston Post Road that might suggest that it
+led to their Mecca. He kept on, however, until after passing through
+Stamford, then he turned to the left and followed a road that seemed to
+leave all suburban life behind, in a very short time.
+
+"Where are you taking us, Carl?" asked Polly, curiously.
+
+"On a road that Mr. Ashby told me about. He has never stopped at these
+places, but he thinks you will find something, along here."
+
+After several more miles had been reeled off, the eager and watchful
+passengers in the car glimpsed a low one-story farm-house, with plenty of
+acreage around it. The two-story box-like addition built at the rear and
+hooked up to the tiny dwelling that almost squatted on the road itself,
+seemed to apologise for the insignificance of its mother-house.
+
+"Slow up, Carl. Let's look this place over," called Mrs. Fabian.
+
+The automobile came to a stop and the ladies leaned out to inspect the
+possibilities in such an old place. A girl of ten came around the corner
+of the box-house and stood gazing at the people in the car.
+
+Carl seemed to be no novice in this sort of outing, and he called to the
+girl: "Hey! Is your mudder home?"
+
+The girl nodded without saying a word.
+
+"All right! Tell her to come out, a minute."
+
+Mrs. Fabian hastily interpolated with: "Oh, we'd better go in and ask for
+a drink, Carl."
+
+Carl laughed. "Just as you say, Missus. But dese farmer people don't
+stand on fussin'. You'se can ask her right out if she wants to sell any
+old thing she's got in the attic or cellar."
+
+"How do you know?" asked Polly, smilingly.
+
+"'Cause Mr. Dalken got the fever of collectin' after you folks went to
+Urope. And many a time I've sat and laughed at his way of getting
+things."
+
+"Oh! That's why you knew where to drive us, eh?" said Eleanor.
+
+"No, 'cause he never come this road, yet. He mapped it out, once, and
+said he would try it some day. That's why he told me which road to foller
+today."
+
+The girl had disappeared but was coming back by this time. She climbed
+upon the picket gate and hung over it, as she called out: "My ma's
+kneadin' bread an' can't get out, this minit. She says if you want
+somethun, fer you to come in and see _her_!"
+
+This invitation sufficed for all five to instantly get out of the car and
+lift the latch on the gate. The girl never budged from her perch, but
+permitted the visitors to swing her back as the gate was opened.
+
+"Go right to the side door," advised she, holding on to the pickets.
+
+As invited, the collectors went to the side door and Mrs. Fabian knocked
+timidly. "Come in!" said a shrill voice from within.
+
+The lady of the house had plump arms elbow-deep in dough. She glanced up
+and nodded in a business-like manner. "Did yer come fer fresh aigs?"
+asked she, punching the dough positively.
+
+"If you have any for sale, I should like to take a dozen," returned Mrs.
+Fabian, politely. Polly and Dodo stared in surprise at their chaperone,
+but Eleanor and Nancy comprehended at once, why this reply was made.
+
+"Wait a minute, will yuh, and I'll get this job off my hands afore I go
+fer the aigs."
+
+Eleanor laughed humorously as she remarked: "It looks like dough on your
+hands."
+
+The woman laughed appreciatively, while the others smiled. "That's right!
+It's dough, all right. I s'pose you folks are from nearby, eh?"
+
+"Not very far away," returned Mrs. Fabian. "We are out on a pleasure
+jaunt this morning, but I saw your farm and so we decided to ask your
+little girl if you were in."
+
+"That's right! I tole my man to put a sign out on the letter-box fer
+passers-by to see how I had aigs to sell; but he is that
+procrastinatin'--he puts off anythun' 'til it's too late."
+
+The woman was scraping the bits of dough from her hands as she spoke, and
+this done, she sprinkled flour over the top of the soft lump in the pan
+and covered it with a piece of old linen cloth. As she took it to a warm
+corner behind the stove, she added: "Do you'se know! Abe was late fer our
+weddin'. But I knew him for procrastinatin', even in them days, so I made
+everyone wait. He come in an 'nour behind time, sayin' he had to walk
+from his place 'cause his horse was too lame to ride. That's Abe all
+over, in everythun."
+
+The house-keeper finished her task and turned to her callers. "Now then!
+Do yuh like white er brown aigs?"
+
+"White ones, please," returned Mrs. Fabian.
+
+The woman went to the large storeroom off the kitchen and counted out a
+dozen eggs in a box. When she came back she held them in one hand while
+waiting for payment, with outstretched other hand.
+
+"That's a fine sofa you've got in the next room," remarked Mrs. Fabian,
+pretending not to notice the open palm.
+
+"Yeh, d'ye know, I paid fifteen dollars jus' fer that red plush alone?"
+declared she, going to the door and turning to invite her visitors to
+come in. The box of eggs was forgotten for the time.
+
+The girls followed Mrs. Fabian to the best room that opened from the
+large kitchen, and to their horror they saw that the sofa referred to was
+a hideous Victorian affair of walnut frame upholstered in awful red
+mohair plush.
+
+But Mrs. Fabian made the most of her optics the moment she got inside the
+room. Thus it happened that she spied a few little ornaments on the old
+mantel-shelf.
+
+"What old-fashioned glass candle-sticks," said she, going over to look at
+the white-glass holders with pewter sockets.
+
+"Ain't they awful! I've told Abe, many a time, that I'd throw them out,
+some day, and get a real nice bankit lamp fer the center table," returned
+the hostess.
+
+"And won't he throw them away?" asked Mrs. Fabian, guilelessly.
+
+"He says, why should we waste 'em, when they comes in so handy, in
+winter, to carry down cellar fer apples. He likes 'em cuz he onny paid a
+quarter fer 'em an' a glass pitcher, at an auction, some miles up the
+road. But that wuz so long ago we've got our money's wuth outen them. Now
+I wants a brass lamp an' he says I'm gettin' scandalous in my old
+age--awastin' money on flim-flams fer the settin' room. He says lamps is
+fer parlor use."
+
+Her repressed aspirations in furnishings made the woman pity herself, but
+Mrs. Fabian took advantage of the situation.
+
+"I've needed a pair of candle-sticks for some time, and I'll exchange a
+lamp for your auction bargain which you say has paid for itself, by this
+time."
+
+"What! Don't you want your lamp?" exclaimed the lady, aghast at such a
+statement.
+
+"Well, I have no further use for one, and it would look lovely on your
+marble-top table," returned Mrs. Fabian.
+
+"Well, well! How long will it take you to get it from home?" asked the
+woman, anxiously.
+
+"If you really wish to get rid of the candle-sticks and jug, I'll leave
+the quarter you paid originally for them and go for the lamp at once.
+Maybe I can be back in an hour's time. I'll pay for the eggs, too, and
+leave them until I come back," explained Mrs. Fabian, graciously.
+
+Without wasting an extra word or any precious time, the owner of the rare
+old candle-sticks wrapped them in a bit of newspaper and went for the
+glass pitcher. Mrs. Fabian had no idea of the extra item being worth
+anything, but she included it, more for fun, than anything else. But once
+they saw the tiny glass jug with Sheffield grape-design on its sides,
+they all realized that here was a wonderful "find."
+
+Mrs. Fabian seemed uneasy until she had the paper package in her hand and
+had paid the twenty-five cents for the three pieces of glassware. Then
+Eleanor made a suggestion.
+
+"Why couldn't we wait here, Mrs. Fabian, and look at some of the old
+china the lady has in this cupboard, while you go for the lamp. There's
+no sense in all of us going with you."
+
+"That's a good plan, if Mrs.----" Nancy waited for the lady to mention
+her name.
+
+"I'm Mrs. Tomlinson," said she, politely.
+
+"If Mrs. Tomlinson is not too busy to show us her dear old house," added
+Nancy.
+
+"All right, girls. Is that satisfactory?" asked Mrs. Fabian. "How does it
+appeal to you, Mrs. Tomlinson?"
+
+"Oh, now that that bread is risin', I've got time to burn," declared the
+lady, independently.
+
+"All right. We'll visit here while you get the lamp," agreed the girls,
+deeply concerned to know where their chaperone would find a lamp such as
+Mrs. Tomlinson craved.
+
+Mrs. Fabian left, and invited the child swinging on the gate to drive
+with her as far as Stamford. The little girl, pleased at the opportunity,
+ran for her bonnet and told her ma of the wonderful invitation.
+
+Mrs. Tomlinson signified her consent to Sarah's going, and then gave her
+full attention to showing her company the house. "You musn't look at the
+dirt everywhere, ladies," began she, waving a hand at the immaculate
+corners and primly-ordered furniture.
+
+"Now come and see my parlor, girls. I'm proud of that room, but we onny
+use it Sundays, when Sarah plays the melodian and we sings hymns. Now an'
+then some neighbors come in evenin's, fer a quiltin'-bee in winter; and I
+uses it fer a minister's call, but there ain't no way to het the room an'
+it's all-fired cold fer visitin'."
+
+Polly thought of the ranch-house at Pebbly Pit as Mrs. Tomlinson
+described the cold winter evenings, and she smiled at the remembrance of
+how she used to undress in the kitchen beside the roaring range-fire, and
+then rush breathlessly into her cold little room to jump between the
+blankets and roll up in them to sleep.
+
+Eleanor laughed outright at the picture of a visiting dominie sitting on
+the edge of a chair with his toes slowly freezing, while his parishioners
+tried in quaking tones and with teeth chattering to entertain him.
+
+But Mrs. Tomlinson paid no heed to their laughter, for she was in her
+glory. "Ain't this some room?" demanded she, pulling the shades up to
+give enough light to admire the place.
+
+A stained cherry parlor suite of five pieces upholstered in cheap satin
+damask, with a what-not in one corner, and an easel holding a crayon
+portrait of Abe and his bride at the time of their wedding, in the other
+corner, graced this best room. A few cheap chromos flared against the
+gorgeous-patterned wall-paper, and a mantel-shelf was crowded with all
+sorts of nick-nacks and ornaments. Polly seemed drawn to this shelf, the
+first thing, while the other girls glanced around the parlor and felt
+like laughing.
+
+"Won't you sit down, a minute?" invited the hostess, but her tone
+suggested fear lest they soil the damask with their dust-coats.
+
+Polly had made a discovery in that moment she had to look over the motley
+collection on the shelf.
+
+"This is a nice tray you have standing against the wall," said she, using
+Mrs. Fabian's tactics to interest the hostess.
+
+"Yes, that's another auction bargain. When Abe fust got it, the day I
+went fer that oak side-board, I got mad. But I've used it a lot sence
+then, fer lemonade and cookies, when comp'ny comes to visit all
+afternoon. And I feels made up, _I kin_ tell you, when I brings that tray
+in like all society does." Mrs. Tomlinson chuckled to herself.
+
+Polly examined the tray and believed it a rare one. It was oval in shape,
+and had a stencilled rim in a conventional design. The coloring was
+exquisite, and the central design was a wonderful basket over-flowing
+with gorgeous fruit. The touches of gold on the decorations was the
+beauty-point of the unusual object.
+
+"I've always wanted just such a tray, too. I wonder if you know anyone
+who has one and will sell it to me. I'd drive a long ways to go to an
+auction such as you say you attended, when you bought this tray," said
+Polly, trying to act indifferent.
+
+"Laws-ee, Miss! I see'd trays sold at mos' every country auction I goes
+to. I'd jes' as soon sell that one to you, if you like it, but maybe
+you'd think I was askin' too much if I was to tack on the cost of time I
+lost that day. I never got a chanst to bid on the oak side-board, 'cause
+a city man felt so mad at Abe fer buyin' the tray, that he run up the
+side-board out of spite, when he found we wanted it. Ef he'd onny a said
+he wanted the old tray he'd cud have had it an' welcome. But he never
+told us. The neighbor who finally got the side-board laffed an' told Abe
+why the man did the trick. The man told him he'd double-crossed us that
+way."
+
+Polly would have offered the woman the full value of the fine stencilled
+tray, but Eleanor hurriedly spoke for her.
+
+"How much was the tray with the cost of time tacked on?"
+
+"Well, it won't be fair to charge _all_ afternoon, 'cuz I had a good time
+with my neighbors what met at that vendue. But Abe lost three hours' work
+on the corn that day and that is wuth sixty cents an 'nour, anyway. Tack
+that on to thirty-five cents fer the tray, an' you've got it."
+
+Mrs. Tomlinson started counting laboriously on her fingers and ultimately
+reached the same total as the girls had found five minutes before. So
+Polly paid over the munificent sum to the lady's delight, and took
+possession of the tray.
+
+"Ef I onny had some other old things you'd like to get, I would almost
+have enough money to buy a swell glass lemonade set I saw down to
+Stamford one day. It had a glass tray under it and a dozen painted
+glasses and a fine glass pitcher--all fer two ninety-eight."
+
+Almost before the lady had ended her words of her secret ambition, the
+four girls had pounced upon various things found on the shelf. Eleanor
+had an old glass toddy-mug with a lid, which was used for a match-holder
+in the parlor.
+
+Nancy selected a small oil lamp with a brass base and stem, and a
+lovely-shaped glass shade. Mrs. Tomlinson informed her it was another
+auction bargain that cost fifty cents. Being so expensive they put it on
+the parlor mantel instead of using it.
+
+Dodo yearned to possess an old afghan she saw on the settee of the suite
+of furniture, but she feared to say so. Finally she summoned courage
+enough to offer the lady a price for it that caused Mrs. Tomlinson a
+failure about the heart.
+
+"My goodness' sakes alive! That's ten times more'n the wool ever cost
+when the thing was _new_. Take it! Take it, quick, ef you really mean
+it!"
+
+The girls laughed wildly, for Dodo took it quickly and paid the price
+offered to the consternation of the sales-woman. "Well," gasped she, at
+last, "you must have some family-past what has to do with knitted covers,
+is all I can say to explain you!"
+
+By the time the inspection of the house was over, Mrs. Fabian returned
+with just such a brass pedestal banquet lamp as Mrs. Tomlinson had
+secretly envied and long hoped for. Such joy and pleasure as she took in
+selecting a clean crocheted mat to spread on the cold marble slab of the
+center table, and then place thereon her vision come true, was worth all
+the trouble Mrs. Fabian had had in finding the lamp at a second-hand shop
+at Stamford; but later when that wise collector examined her old
+candle-sticks and pitcher, she felt a hundred times repaid for the
+lamp--as she truly was.
+
+The merry collectors started home that afternoon, after enjoying the
+picnic luncheon beside a brook in the woods back of Stamford, with their
+hopes pitched high for future successes in collecting.
+
+Mr. Dalken heard from Carl about the successful quest that day, and
+telephoned to the Fabians, that evening. The Ashbys had hurried over when
+they heard of the pieces secured at the farm-house, and were present when
+Mr. Dalken questioned the girls all about their "find."
+
+"Now we're dying to start again, Mr. Dalken, and hunt up other trophies,"
+said Polly, in conclusion.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+A REVOLUTIONARY RELIC HUNT
+
+
+So delighted were the amateur collectors with the result of their first
+search for antiques, that they planned another trip a few days later.
+Carl could not drive the car for them, as Mr. Dalken had invited a number
+of business friends who were in New York for a few days to go out on Long
+Island with him, for the day. He took the seven-passenger car and Carl
+for the drive, so the girls had to be contented with the smaller car. But
+neither Mr. Dalken nor Carl knew that the girls proposed going alone.
+They believed Mr. Fabian or Mr. Ashby's chauffeur would drive the car.
+
+Eleanor bragged about her ability to drive an automobile and the girls
+knew from experience how well Dodo could drive, so the outing was planned
+without any grown-up being consulted about the driving or chaperoning.
+
+"Did not Carl have a road-map in the side-pocket of the car, the day he
+drove us to Stamford?" asked Polly.
+
+"Yes, but the car is in the garage, and the map with it," returned
+Eleanor.
+
+"Daddy has a road-map. I'll get his," remarked Ruth Ashby, who had been
+invited to be one of the party this trip.
+
+"Then bring it around tonight, Ruth, when you come to plan about the
+route we ought to choose for this outing," said Polly.
+
+Ruth hurried home and immediately after dinner, that evening, she found
+the map in the library desk-drawer and tucked it in her pocket. As she
+ran through the front hall she called to her mother:
+
+"I'm going over to the Fabians for a little talk, Mummy."
+
+"But, Ruth, you just came from there a few moments before dinner," came
+from Mrs. Ashby.
+
+"Oh, I didn't visit that time! I only stopped in with the girls to wait
+and see if Nancy had a map they all need. Now I'm going to visit,"
+explained Ruth.
+
+Mrs. Ashby laughed at a girl's interpretations of a call and Ruth ran
+out.
+
+Their pretty heads were closely bending over the map, when Mr. Fabian
+passed the living-room door and stopped a moment to consider the picture
+they made under the soft-shaded light. He went on to his private den
+without saying a word to distract their attention from (as he thought)
+their books of learning.
+
+"Now listen here, girls!" exclaimed Nancy, tracing a line on the map.
+"Polly doesn't know much about this end of the United States, and Eleanor
+doesn't know much more than Polly does but I am supposed to be well
+informed about Westchester County, having lived there when I was a little
+girl. So I can tell you something about this road I've traced."
+
+The four girls lifted their heads and listened eagerly.
+
+"You know Dobb's Ferry and its vicinity was there in the days of the
+Revolution, and Washington camped at that town. Even the Headquarters he
+occupied is to be seen as it was at that time. This road, running
+easterly from Dobb's Ferry, is the old turnpike road used by the army as
+it marched towards the Hudson.
+
+"Now this is what I say! Why shouldn't there be lots of old houses along
+that road, or in that locality, that were there during Washington's time?
+And if standing still, why shouldn't there be old furniture, or odd bits,
+to be found in them?"
+
+Eleanor instantly caught Nancy up on one of her phrases. "Naturally the
+houses would be standing still--you wouldn't want them to be dancing a
+tango, would you?"
+
+"Oh, pshaw, Nolla!" scorned Nancy, in disgust at such a poor attempt to
+joke, "you know, well enough, what I mean."
+
+The other girls laughed at Nancy, and Polly added: "Well, what is your
+plan?"
+
+"I say, let's drive along the River Road as far as Dobb's Ferry, and then
+turn off to this road and venture on any country road we find, that has
+old-fashioned houses which look as if they were built in 1776."
+
+"That sounds thrilling!" laughed Eleanor.
+
+Her companions refused to smile this time, so she sat grinning at Nancy,
+as if waiting to attack her again.
+
+"I think that plan will answer as well as anything Nolla has proposed,
+don't you?" asked Nancy.
+
+"Yes, we'll try your scheme out, Nan. But you'll have to be the guide
+through the country, as we haven't the least idea of the lay of the
+land," said Dodo.
+
+"We'll succeed splendidly, as long as we have this map," promised Nancy.
+
+The girls pictured many rare treasures added to their collection after
+this proposed trip, and when it was time for Ruth to go home, each girl
+had chosen rare and wonderful objects to be found in these imaginary
+Colonial home-steads they expected to visit on the morrow.
+
+Classes had to be attended to before excursions could be enjoyed and then
+it was lunch-time; but after that they finally started on this trip.
+
+Mrs. Fabian was out with Mrs. Ashby, so the girls met no one who would
+question them, when they were ready to leave. Ruth and Dodo called at the
+Fabians and they all went to the large garage where Mr. Dalken kept his
+automobiles; and the man, having had instructions to give the car to
+these young friends of the owner, whenever they wanted it, said nothing
+but backed the car out to the street for them.
+
+The five girls drove away in high spirits, for they were eager to harvest
+all the marvelous antiques they had ever read or heard of, that might be
+scattered throughout the country-sides wherever General Washington had
+made a camp for his army.
+
+Dodo was an excellent driver but she had no New York license, and the
+girls had forgotten all about that necessity. So the car was speeding
+along the boulevarde at about twenty-five miles an hour, when a traffic
+policeman in Yonkers held up his hand to stop the northward-bound
+travelers.
+
+Dodo had just turned her head momentarily to send a quizzical look at
+Polly who sat in the back seat, and so failed to see the raised hand. The
+car therefore ran across the street and at the same time, a low-built
+racer shot along the right of way and the two noses rammed each other,
+although both drivers used the emergency brakes.
+
+The girls screamed with fright at the unexpected shock and the dreadful
+jolt they received when the cars collided. And two young college students
+cursed politely and scowled fearfully at the "crazy girl-drivers" who
+never knew which way they were going. But the poor cars suffered the most
+from this conflict. Headlights were smashed, fenders and mud guards were
+so dented in as to look pitiful, while the front wheels of both cars were
+interlocked in such a way that they could not be separated.
+
+This cause held up all traffic on both streets and annoyed the officer so
+that he threatened a wholesale arrest. He asked the names of both
+drivers. The young man gave his as "John Baxter, New York." His license
+number was taken, and he was asked for his permit. He showed it without
+hesitation, and the girls gazed at each other in dismay. They had
+forgotten about such a need!
+
+The officer came over to Dodo's side.
+
+"What's your name?"
+
+"Dodo Alexander," stammered she, forgetting her full name.
+
+"Humph! Baptized that name?"
+
+"Yes--no, oh NO. I never was baptized, I reckon."
+
+"Humph--a heathen, I see!" snarled the policeman. "Well, where do you
+live, or where'd you hail from?"
+
+Eleanor had been grinning at the officer's reply, and now she could not
+withstand the temptation to answer: "From the Cannibal Isles."
+
+The crowd standing about the two cars, laughed--all but the policeman. He
+scowled at Eleanor and said: "Be careful, young lady, or I'll take you
+along for contempt of court."
+
+"But you are not arresting _me_, and this is not Court," argued Eleanor.
+
+"Oh, goodness me! Is he going to arrest me?" cried Dodo.
+
+"If you don't answer my questions promptly, I'll arrest you," returned
+the officer, severely.
+
+"Well, I am from Denver, Colorado, where folks don't fuss like you do in
+the East, just because you cross a street to get to the other side!"
+declared Dodo, in self-justification.
+
+"From Denver! Got a New York license to drive?" said he.
+
+"No, I haven't, but I've driven all over England and the Continent this
+Summer--as these girls will tell you. They were in the party."
+
+"It's nothing to me whether you drove up the Matterhorn and down the
+other side; as long as you can't show me a plain old American license,
+you'll have to pay the costs."
+
+"How much is it?" quickly asked Dodo, taking her purse out to settle the
+bill.
+
+"I don't know. You'd better follow me to the police station and we'll
+see."
+
+Dodo was handed a little paper which she read aloud to her horrified
+companions, and thus, finding themselves arrested, they meekly tried to
+follow the blue-jacket. But the cars had not been disentangled, although
+both boys from the racer were doing their utmost to clear the way.
+
+As the storm raised in the hearts of the two students by the carelessness
+of Dodo abated, both boys realized how pretty and helpless the five girls
+were, so they began to feel sorry for them. Besides this, the front
+wheels were now divorced and the two cars backed away from each other to
+give room for the congested traffic to pass.
+
+"Dear me," wailed Dodo, "what will Mr. Dalken say when he hears about his
+car! I don't mind going to jail or being made to pay a hundred dollars
+fine, but to break up his automobile the first time I drove it, and get
+his license tag into trouble--that is terrible!"
+
+Polly laughed. "Not Dalken's license tag, but his name--in the papers.
+That's what comes of being so well-known in New York."
+
+"And the newspaper men will be sure to say that a party of joy-riders
+stole his car to have a little jaunt in the country, I suppose," added
+Eleanor, teasingly.
+
+One of the good-looking young students now came over to the girls and
+lifted his cap. "Did I understand you to say this is Mr. Dalken's car?"
+
+Five girls glowered at him. Polly snapped out: "Are you a reporter from a
+city paper?"
+
+John Baxter laughed. "No, I am his protege. Mr. Dalken is the executor
+of my father's estate and I was just on my way to the city, to visit him,
+this evening."
+
+"Oh how nice! We know Mr. Dalken very well, too. He is one of our best
+friends," returned Polly, eagerly.
+
+Nancy Fabian would have been more reticent had she been spokeswoman for
+the girls; but both boys were so pleasant, now, that they were
+introducing themselves to the girls, hence she said nothing.
+
+"We'll go with you to the station house and see that the sergeant behaves
+himself," suggested John.
+
+The girls felt very grateful to this needed friend, and the boys started
+their car after the policeman, the girls following in their damaged car
+that bumped and jolted on one side.
+
+When the inspector learned that not one of the five girls had a license
+to drive a car in New York State, and that the car belonged to someone
+else, he fined Dodo and gave her a good scolding to boot.
+
+"This time I'll let you off easy, as you are green in the East. But don't
+let it happen again, or you'll be sorry. Apply for a permit to drive, as
+soon as you get home, young lady, and then get a book of rules on
+traffic, and learn it by heart."
+
+Dodo meekly paid the fine, and the young people left the room with
+lighter hearts than they had entered it. Both cars had to be taken to a
+garage and put into running shape again. Meantime there would be two
+hours of waiting on their hands, and seven young folks with impatient
+blood in their veins to kill that time.
+
+"I'm sorry you ladies have been deprived of your pleasure drive, but I
+might suggest a little consolation if you ever deign to go to the
+Movies," said John Baxter, politely.
+
+"There's a good show up the street in that large Picture Theatre," added
+his friend Andrews.
+
+"We love movies--when they are good," ventured Eleanor.
+
+"What do you think, Nan? Shall we go?" asked Polly.
+
+"Oh yes! it will be awful--waiting about this place with nowhere to go
+other than the Movies, as you say," returned Nancy.
+
+So the two young men escorted the five girls to the show where they
+forgot their recent troubles in watching Harold Lloyd do his best to
+break his neck.
+
+Dodo paid the bill at the garage for both cars, even though the boys
+insisted that they pay for their own damages. But she replied: "No, the
+insurance company will have to settle eventually."
+
+The good-natured way in which Dodo accepted the situation more than
+convinced the boys that these girls were "bricks" all right! It was now
+past five, and the cars were ready to go again, but the "collectors"
+found they had to go back to the city for that time, without having seen
+as much as a shadow of an antique.
+
+"What will you girls do about getting home?" asked Andrews.
+
+"Why, drive, of course!" returned Dodo.
+
+"But you can't--you haven't a license. Neither has any one of the other
+girls," explained Jack.
+
+"Oh, we never thought of that!" exclaimed Polly, perplexed.
+
+"I have one," suggested Andrews. "I can get in your car, and one of you
+girls can drive with Baxter, if you will. That will solve the problem."
+
+"All right," assented Dodo, getting out of her seat to allow Andrews to
+get in.
+
+"Which one wants to drive with Jack?" asked Andrews.
+
+Neither girl answered, and not as much as by a tremor of the eye-lid did
+either show how delighted she would have been to sit beside the handsome
+young man and skim along the road to New York.
+
+Baxter laughed heartily, and Andrews added: "I never dreamed that _no_
+one would care to drive with him. I'm sorry, Jack, but you'll have to go
+alone."
+
+"Not if I know it!" retorted Baxter, quickly. "I can't choose when all
+are so desirable, but we can cast lots to see who will be my companion."
+
+The girls thought this most exciting, and when Andrews had shown the slip
+of paper that would be the lucky draw, and then had folded and shaken the
+slips well in his cap, the girls drew. As each girl opened her scrap of
+paper to find it was blank, and then watched the others try, there was
+great laughter and anxious waiting. Finally Polly opened her slip and
+found she had drawn the lucky one.
+
+"Ha! Isn't Jack Baxter lucky, though!" laughed Eleanor. "Not only gets
+the cleverest girl in the crowd, but the prettiest one, too!"
+
+"Stop your nonsense, Nolla! How many times do I have to tell you to allow
+me to live in peace, without so much of your chaffing!" exclaimed Polly,
+impatiently.
+
+Everyone laughed merrily at Polly's retort, and Baxter looked admiringly
+at the flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes. He was most gallant in
+assisting Polly into the "boat" as he called it, and then he jumped in
+beside her.
+
+Eleanor sat beside Andrews in the other car, and entertained him with a
+highly colored story of Polly and her home in Pebbly Pit. Before they
+reached the Fabian home in New York, young Andrews pictured the enormous
+wealth of "Choko's Find" gold mine, and the marvellous beauty of the lava
+jewels found in Rainbow Cliffs on the ranch. To think that one girl
+should be lucky enough to own both such money-producers!
+
+Shortly after dinner that evening, Mr. Dalken telephoned the girls and
+told them to come over to his apartment for a party. He explained that he
+had two nice little boys visiting him, and he was at a loss to know how
+to entertain them so that they would care to come again, another day.
+Remembering how well Polly and her friends managed other boys, he felt
+sure that they could help him now.
+
+Polly laughed in reply, and said: "Oh yes! If one of those boys now
+visiting you, is anything like Jack Baxter who drove me home, this
+afternoon, we won't have any trouble in amusing them."
+
+But Polly never told Mr. Dalken that Jack declared himself so deeply in
+love with her, before she had been in his car ten minutes, that she had
+all she could do to keep him at the wheel instead of placing an arm about
+her, and thus stalling the engine in the ditch alongside the main road to
+the city.
+
+That evening, after the girls returned from Mr. Dalken's party, Eleanor
+remarked: "My goodness! Polly has another scalp to hang to her belt of
+trophies. If she keeps on piercing hearts, as she has done this past
+year, she'll have to discard some of her old scalps and loan them to us,
+to make room for her new ones."
+
+But Polly sniffed loftily at such foolishness, and made no reply.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT COLLECTING
+
+
+Although the trip planned for the Dobb's Ferry territory had ended so
+disastrously, the girls were not discouraged. Dodo secured a license
+without any difficulty, and was equipped to drive Mr. Dalken's car
+without being fined a second time. But the wise owner of the car
+considered it wiser to send Carl out on these excursions, instead of
+trusting to Fate to bring the girls back home again without broken bones
+or a damage suit.
+
+Mr. Fabian had had a brilliant idea, too, after he heard his wife's story
+of the country auction where the old antiques had been secured by Mrs.
+Tomlinson. He suggested that they subscribe to several country papers,
+both daily and weekly, and in that way they would learn of any vendue
+advertised in its columns.
+
+Eagerly following his advice, the four girls--Nancy was not interested in
+antiques but was willing to go around with her friends when they hunted
+for them--subscribed for the Yonkers papers, the White Plains papers,
+several weeklies in New Jersey, and others, in order to learn of any
+country auctions advertised for the following week.
+
+Through this medium, they read of a country sale advertised for the
+following Thursday, to take place at an old farm home-stead way back in
+the hills of Westchester. The items mentioned included a mahogany
+four-poster bed, and other old bits.
+
+Polly and Eleanor had not attended an auction since the days in Paris,
+and neither of them had ever heard of, or witnessed a back-farm country
+auction, so they were not prepared for what they really experienced.
+
+Carl was detailed to drive them, that day, and Mrs. Fabian escorted them,
+in the seven-passenger car. They took the turnpike road as far as White
+Plains and then turned to the left to follow a country road that would
+lead past the farm.
+
+The sale was advertised for eleven o'clock, but the girls did not arrive
+on the premises until twelve. Still no auctioneer was to be seen or
+heard. Groups of farmers stood around, gossiping about their crops that
+season, and their wives sat indoors exchanging notes on canning, new
+neighbors, or babies.
+
+Polly gazed curiously at the types assembled for that sale, and whispered
+to Eleanor: "Wouldn't you say these farmers had been picked up from Oak
+Creek ranches and dropped down here in this front door-yard?"
+
+Eleanor smiled and nodded. Then she said in a low voice: "They don't look
+as if they were here to buy. We seem to be the only folks here with a
+pocket-book."
+
+A young farmer who had been leaning against the old well now came forward
+to welcome the strangers who stood looking about.
+
+"I be the clerk fer the auctionair, but he hain't come, yit. His baby
+swallered a shet safety-pin an' they had an orful time wid ippycak tryin'
+to git it that way. Now the doctor's thar sayin' that stuff is all wrong.
+He'll git the pin, all right, 'cause I swallered a quarter, onct, and he
+got it, but it costed me a hull dollar extra to pay him fer his
+docterin'. Ye's kin go in and peer aroun' to see ef you wants anything."
+
+Mrs. Fabian expressed her sympathy for the parents of the baby and said
+she knew just how frightened the mother must be.
+
+"Not much!" was the clerk's astonishing reply. "She's young Kit Morehouse
+what ain't got a grain of sense in her bean. This baby's mother died when
+it was a week old, and Lem had to have someone look affer it. Thar warn't
+no sensible woman about what would hev him, 'cause he don't make salt fer
+a red herrin', seein' his professhun is auctionin' an' folks ain't
+sellin' out like-as-much as they ust to be, years ago. But this crazy Kit
+was onny nineteen, with no fam'ly, er no payin' job, so she hired out to
+take keer of the kid. Don't it allus end like this? The gal marries the
+father an' gets mad cause another woman's kid is cryin' around!"
+
+The girls were intensely interested in this bit of local gossip, but Mrs.
+Fabian thought they had heard enough about "Kit," so she bid the clerk
+good-by and started for the low one-story-and-a-half house.
+
+The interior presented a different appearance from the home of Mrs.
+Tomlinson's. Every conceivable object ever used in the house was brought
+out and placed in the front rooms. Women and children sat about on
+various sorts of seats, waiting for the sale to begin. As most of the
+assembly were neighbors and acquainted with each other, the entrance of
+Mrs. Fabian and her girls caused quite a surprise.
+
+Audible whispers of "Who air they?" and "Where did they come from?" or
+"What d'ye s'pose they come to bid on?" were heard on all sides as the
+strangers passed through the "settin' room."
+
+The moment Mrs. Fabian's party left the clerk, outside, he hurried over
+to the automobile where Carl sat enjoying a quiet smoke.
+
+"Howde," began Abner Clark, the clerk.
+
+Carl removed his pipe and nodded nonchalantly.
+
+"Do you-all hail from about these parts?" asked Abner.
+
+"I should say _not_!" declared Carl, emphatically.
+
+"From whar abouts are you?" continued the clerk.
+
+"New York City--and that's some town, let me tell you."
+
+"Yeh--so I've heran say. How did yeh get to come here to this vendue?"
+persisted Abner.
+
+"_I_ don't know--I'm only the chauffeur. Why don't you ask the ladies if
+you are so anxious to know?" Carl was growing angry.
+
+"All right--no harm meant," replied Abner, soothingly, as he turned away.
+
+Carl resumed his pipe, and Abner strolled over to the group of men
+sitting on wheel-barrows, ploughs, chicken-coops, etc. With a furtive
+look over his shoulder, to make sure the city driver was not listening,
+Abner began to explain to his interested friends who the strangers were.
+
+But he had not quite ended his tale before an old buggy drove up and the
+auctioneer got out. He glanced over the assembled farmers with an
+appraising eye, and then carefully hitched the old nag to a tree. This
+done, he broke off a great chunk of tobacco from a cake kept in a blue
+paper, and popped it into his mouth.
+
+Abner walked over to the white-washed fence to greet his superior. "How's
+the kid?" were his first words.
+
+"All right, now. He diden' swaller the pin, after all. The doctor found
+it down inside his shirt, an' it cost me a dollar besides all that good
+mustard and eppicac, fer nuthin'!"
+
+"Well, well!" sympathized Abner, not knowing what would be best to say in
+such a delicate case.
+
+"Did yuh keep all the folks about when I sent word over?" continued the
+auctioneer.
+
+"Shure! An' we've got some swell city buyers, this time."
+
+"City! You don't mean anyone from the city'd want to buy old Morrisey's
+trash?" exclaimed Lemuel, in disbelief.
+
+"I dunno what they want, but thar's their man what steers the
+autermobile," and Abner directed a thumb over his left shoulder.
+
+"Wall, wall! Come along; we'll hurry up to get some of their coin afore
+they git tired awaitin'!" declared the wise man, as he made haste to
+reach the house.
+
+Mrs. Fabian and the girls had made a cursory visit to the rooms on the
+ground floor, and while they stood in the small kitchen examining various
+old dishes and glassware in the cupboard, Polly spied a very narrow
+staircase leading to the attic.
+
+"I'm going up to see if there's anything up there," said she. So without
+another word, she ran up the creaky steps.
+
+The girls heard her walking overhead, and then heard her pull a heavy
+object across the floor. In another minute she came racing down the steps
+at a break-neck speed, her face all streaked with dirt and her dress
+covered with cob-webs and the dust of ages.
+
+"Oh, folks! Do come up and see what I found in an old box under the
+eaves!"
+
+They needed no second invitation, and soon all were up beside the box.
+There were many other empty boxes standing about and in some way this
+particular box had escaped the attention of Abner, who had taken the
+inventory of the contents of the house and barns.
+
+Polly had removed the first object on top of the box which was an old
+woven coverlet in rare colorings of blue and white. In one corner was the
+name of the weaver and the date it was completed. Polly was not aware
+that old woven coverlets were considered very desirable by collectors,
+but she had read the date which showed the spread was more than a hundred
+years old, so she judged it was worth bidding on at the coming sale.
+
+Directly under this woven coverlet was a white spread. It was very old
+and torn at the corners, but the rest of it was in good condition. Mrs.
+Fabian saw at once that it was a spread of the finest candle-wicking
+style she had ever seen. It must have dated back to the early part of the
+eighteenth century.
+
+Under this white bed-spread were small bundles of hand-spun linen towels,
+yellow with age but in perfect condition as to wear. But the greatest
+find of all, in this box, were the old brasses in the bottom.
+
+Wrapped in papers to keep them clean, Polly found a long-handled
+warming-pan; a set of fire-irons--the tongs, shovel, and andirons of the
+famous "acorn-top" design; and a funny old foot-warmer. A pair of ancient
+bellows was the last article found in the box, but the leather was so dry
+and old that pieces fell out when Polly tried to make the bellows work.
+
+"I must go right down and tell that clerk about these wonderful things.
+They must have overlooked them when they listed all the other articles in
+the house," said Mrs. Fabian.
+
+Eleanor held her back and said: "You'd better not tell him the news in
+that excited manner. He'll understand at once, that these things are
+desirable, and then we'll have to pay well for them."
+
+"You're right, Nolla!" laughed Nancy, and her mother admitted as much.
+
+"Why couldn't we just take them down to the kitchen and pile them on the
+table. No one will know that we want them, and should anyone ask what we
+were doing up here and by what right we carried them down from the attic,
+we can honestly say that Abner said we could go over the house and see if
+there was anything we liked to buy," said Polly, with a collector's
+instinct for not paying extortionate prices for what she wanted.
+
+The girls laughed, but each one caught up some object, and having
+gathered all safely in their arms, they started down. The kitchen, being
+the least desirable room to visit in the farmer's wife's judgment, no one
+was there when Mrs. Fabian and the girls returned to it. Their
+discoveries were piled on the old drop-leaf table, and they grouped
+themselves at the doorways to keep guard over the prizes.
+
+A loud voice was shouting at the open front door, saying: "This are the
+terms of the sale: Everything bid on 's got to be paid fer the same day
+and removed from the premises in twenty-four hours--all but th'
+barn-stock. You'se kin take forty-eight hours fer them. I expecks
+everyone to pay cash fer anything they buy, 'cause I got enough trouble
+at that last sale at Hubbells' when a lot of you folks bid on stuff an'
+then went home an' left it on my hands. Hubbell's son had to give 'em
+away at last, and I lost all that commission. So, none of that, at this
+vendue!"
+
+Some of the assembled people looked guilty, and the auctioneer rode
+rough-shod over their feelings. "Anudder thing: Don't haggle on a cent!
+When I call out a decent bid on a thing, raise it a nickel, at least, if
+you wants it. This cent business--and at Hubbell's vendue, some of you'se
+even bid half a cent at a time--makes me tired! If a thing ain't wuth a
+cent more to yeh, then let it go to the other feller what wants it!"
+
+The girls laughed at this frank statement of _sense_, and Lemuel turned
+to see who had appreciated his speech. When he saw the city people Abner
+had mentioned, he felt warmed all through, for he felt sure he would earn
+some commissions that day.
+
+"Our first number is in th' kitchen. Ab, kin we get in thar, er had we
+better hold the stuff out here?" asked Lemuel.
+
+"I can't hold up the kitchen stove, kin I?" asked Abner, in an injured
+tone.
+
+The people laughed heartily, Mrs. Fabian's party joining more
+appreciatively than anyone.
+
+"All right," answered the auctioneer, in a matter-of-fact voice. "We'll
+try to crowd in. But don't anyone what don't want to bid on kitchen
+stuff, come and use the room from others!"
+
+It seemed that his very warning acted contrariwise for, to the girls, it
+looked as if everyone on the premises tried to crowd into that small
+room. Being first on the ground, they fared best for place. Mrs. Fabian
+mounted the steps leading to the attic and advised the girls to get up on
+the table, chairs, or other solid objects, to be able to look over the
+heads of the crowd.
+
+"Now, Ab, what you got first?" asked the auctioneer.
+
+Abner had his little book of items, and finding the table the first
+number inventoried, he called out: "Deal table and contents!"
+
+Now Polly stood on the table, and all the covers had been thrown upon it,
+also, so when Abner shouted out "table and contents" Lemuel laughed
+loudly.
+
+"Say, one of them contents is a mighty pooty gal, I kin tell yuh! I'll
+begin bidding myself, on such a bargain!"
+
+The country-folks laughed wildly at such a fine joke, and Polly, eager to
+own the other valuable contents, smiled with them and nodded her head at
+the salesman. He was not aware that she meant she would bid, for his
+customers always shouted forth their bids. Then a man asked: "What sort
+of contents is thar?"
+
+Abner pushed his way through the crowd to open the drawer in the table
+and enumerate the small ware mentioned as "contents," when he saw, to his
+surprise, that there was a heap of covers on the table.
+
+He picked them up and stared at them in dumbfounded amazement, then said:
+"Say, Lem, here's them old bed-quilts we had sech a job huntin' up. Whar
+the heck'd they come from, I'm sure I dunno!"
+
+"You got 'em, eh? Well, they ain't listed, so sell 'em fust. I'll mark
+them an 'A' lot. Who wants to bid on a ole bed-spread?" called Lemuel.
+
+Had the women-folk known of bedding to be sold in the kitchen, there
+would have been a mad rush for it. But most of them were waiting for the
+blankets and comfortables found in the two small bed-rooms annexed to the
+parlor. So but few were in the kitchen when the old candle-wicking spread
+was bid on by Polly, and knocked down to her for a dollar-ninety.
+
+Eleanor got the blue and white woven coverlet for a dollar and a half,
+and Mrs. Fabian bought the linen towels "in a lot" for two dollars. The
+old brasses that were also listed as an "A" lot were knocked down as
+follows: Polly bought the ancient foot-warmer for sixty cents; Eleanor
+secured the warming-pan for a dollar, and Dodo, the set of fire-irons
+with acorn tops, for three dollars. These undreamed-of bargains elated
+the girls so that they lost all discretion for a time.
+
+"Now that we've cleared them things out of our way, we'll sell the
+table," said Lemuel, and forthwith he gave the table to a farmer for
+fifty cents.
+
+"What 'che got next, Ab?" asked he.
+
+"Some kitchen dishes," replied Abner, as he opened the cupboard and
+displayed several samples of blue ware.
+
+Eleanor saw the familiar pattern of the pagodas and willows that are
+found on old willow-ware, and instantly decided that these must be rare
+antiques because they were found in the same house as the ancient objects
+just acquired by her and her friends. So she raised the first bid of ten
+cents for eight odd pieces, to a dollar.
+
+The auctioneer gasped. He gazed at Eleanor and said faintly: "Did you bid
+a dollar?"
+
+"Of course!"
+
+"All right, Miss, you kin have them, but pay me now fer them, and don't
+come back naggin' me to say I stuck you wid cracked plates, and nicked
+saucers. You saw'd them afore you bid!"
+
+Eleanor laughed, and handed over a dollar bill, but Mrs. Fabian tried to
+catch her eye to warn her not to bid recklessly on other things. Polly
+stood up on the table wondering why Eleanor got the old kitchen dishes.
+
+The moment Lemuel had the dollar safely in his pocket, he remarked: "Gee!
+I'm goin' out of this second-hand sellin' and lay in a stock of ten-cent
+blue dishes to sell!"
+
+One of the farmers haw-hawed and said: "That's how Coolworth made so much
+money! Gettin' so much cheap stuff and findin' a pack of silly women to
+buy 'em."
+
+Eleanor tossed her head, but had she kept quiet she would not have been
+the object of pity she found herself, afterward. In self-justification of
+her purchase, she called out: "You people don't know genuine old
+Wedgewood when you see it. I've got a big bargain in those eight plates!"
+
+At that statement, a quiet young fellow, who had been standing about
+watching progress and noting the bids on a paper, laughed. "I don't want
+anyone to say they was taken in at my folk's sale; but I got'ta tell that
+young lady that I bought them blue dishes _myself_, last year, at the
+tea-store in White Plains fer ten cents each."
+
+Even Polly had to join in the laugh at Eleanor's expense now, and poor
+Nolla felt like selling herself for a nickel. But the auctioneer had
+scant time for jokes or reckless buyers as he was there for business. So
+he finished the kitchen and called them into the parlor. Here Polly
+secured a china dog such as were common sixty to eighty years ago;
+Eleanor got a real bargain, this time, in buying two century old
+flower-vases for fifty cents. Mrs. Fabian saw an old engraving of
+"Washington Crossing the Delaware," as it was taken from the wall behind
+the door, and offered for a quarter. On the spur of the moment she raised
+the bid five cents and got the picture which later proved to be one of
+the rare old originals, worth several hundred dollars.
+
+Dodo ran up a pair of girandoles that stood on the narrow mantel-shelf in
+the front room, and finally got them for three dollars. Such an
+unheard-of price made the buyers look at her in pity, and Lemuel
+remarked:
+
+"Well, some folks has more money than sense!"
+
+Dodo's friends laughed heartily at this criticism, but she cared little
+for them all, because she knew what she had obtained for her money.
+
+The two bed-rooms were so small that few people could get in, so the
+auctioneer ordered Abner to carry the articles for sale, out on the lawn
+where everyone could see them. Had it not been for this sensible advice,
+Polly would never have seen or secured the fine old set of Staffordshire
+toilet-ware that was knocked down to her for four dollars.
+
+It consisted of ewer in quaint shape, basin deep enough to be a huge
+punch-bowl, a soap-plate, a mug, and a commode. The rich deep coloring of
+the design on the china was lovely, and every piece was in good order.
+
+The young man who had told the truth about the eight dishes from the
+tea-store, congratulated Polly and said: "That set has been in our family
+for more'n a hundred years. My grandmother used to keep it fer show, er
+when we had fine comp'ny comin' to see us. That's how it kept so good."
+
+"Oh, don't you want to keep it, then?" asked Polly, regretfully.
+
+"Nah, I'm goin' west on the money I git outen this sale, an' I'd ruther
+see someone what likes it own it, than any old clod-hopper about these
+parts!"
+
+Polly felt sure the owner had not been lovingly treated by the people he
+glanced at as he spoke. But she learned, just before leaving the place
+that afternoon, that he felt so antagonistic against his neighbors
+because of their frank criticism of his habit of spending his
+inheritance.
+
+Because of this unwise recklessness, he had had to mortgage the old farm,
+and when the proceeds of that had been spent, he had to sell out.
+"Perhaps his going west, where he would have to work hard for his living,
+would be his salvation, after this," thought Polly.
+
+Mrs. Fabian allowed the girls to watch the sale until the contents of the
+house were sold out and then she suggested that they start back home. The
+bargains were carefully placed between the coverlets purchased, and then
+the buyers got in the car.
+
+The country-people were all crowding to the barns to bid on stock and
+farm-utensils when Carl started the engine. With a last look at the
+little house where they had found their interesting antiques, the
+collectors left.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+POLLY'S HUNT IN 'JERSEY
+
+
+The collectors took several long trips, after the vendue in Westchester
+County, but found nothing of value at any place.
+
+Still they lived in hopes, and towards the last of October, Polly
+suggested that they try New Jersey for a change. A girl who attended Art
+Classes told Polly of several very old places within the vicinity of
+Springfield and Morristown--both old Revolutionary towns of historic
+fame.
+
+So Carl drove up to the Fabian home early one Saturday morning, and Mrs.
+Fabian with her party, hurried out with luncheon and wraps, and were soon
+speeding away for the ferry-boat that would take them across the North
+River.
+
+The girls had never been in New Jersey, and found much to admire in the
+picturesque, rolling land of the Jersey Hills. They left Newark behind,
+and drove along the Union Turnpike road until they reached the Forks.
+Here they turned to the left and in a short time, were going through the
+ancient town of Springfield.
+
+They were already past it, before Mrs. Fabian found what place it was.
+Then they laughed, and turned back again to visit a shop on the main
+street. Mrs. Fabian got out of the car and went in to question the
+proprietor.
+
+"Do you know of any old houses, near here, where one can secure old bits
+of furniture, or antique objects?"
+
+The man chuckled. "Say, Madam, if I have one person ask me that same
+question, I have dozens stop to question me. I tells them all, the same
+as I tells you now--the only antique I can send them to anywhere about
+Springfield, is that old church on the corner, where you can see the hole
+blown in the side by a cannon ball, when the British were here. And over
+yonder, you will find a burial ground where many old Indians are buried,
+with their stone arrow-heads and other trophies with them. The crumbling
+grey-stone slabs and the ancient tombs found there, will give you the
+dates. Some go as far back as two hundred, or two hundred and fifty
+years."
+
+Mrs. Fabian thanked him and returned to the girls to repeat the
+conversation she had had with the shop-keeper. They all declared for a
+visit to the old church, and then to the cemetery, so Carl drove back and
+they visited both places.
+
+In the ancient burial ground, they read many queer epitaphs on the head
+stones, and some of these the girls copied down. Then they got back in
+the automobile and Carl was told to drive on to Morristown.
+
+This place was found to be so dreadfully modern, that no hope of
+discovering antiques was left alive in their hearts. But it was noon and
+they were hungry, so they discussed the advisability of going to a
+lunch-room, or driving into the country and having the picnic lunch.
+
+"As long as we brought such a nice luncheon with us, why stop at a hotel
+or restaurant to eat?" asked Polly.
+
+"There really isn't any sense in doing that, but there certainly isn't
+any picnic place in this town," declared Eleanor.
+
+"Well, then let's start out and find one away from here," suggested
+Polly.
+
+"I'll make another proposition, girls," said Mrs. Fabian. "Why not stop
+at that Public Library we just passed, and find out if there are any
+notable spots in the vicinity of this town, where we might find old
+houses or old objects?"
+
+"Well, the idea is good, but really, Mrs. Fabian, this town impresses me
+most emphatically with this fact: that the residents have as much desire
+for antiques as we have; and most likely, they started in years before we
+ever were born, to rake over the country-side, which must have been rich
+with old furniture and other things from Washington's days here, so as to
+collect all those things for themselves," was Dodo's sensible remark.
+
+The others smiled at her practical words, and Mrs. Fabian agreed with
+her. "But it will do no harm to stop just a moment to ask the attendant
+at the Library if she knows of any place in New Jersey where we might
+indulge our craze of collecting."
+
+Carl then turned around and they were soon back at the Library. The girls
+remained in the car while Mrs. Fabian went indoors to ask questions of
+the agreeable lady at the desk.
+
+"I'm sure you will find a few old bits, here and there, about the
+country-side," said the lady, in reply to Mrs. Fabian's questions. "In
+fact, my friend furnished her old-fashioned house that she recently
+bought of an old 1776 family, by driving about through the Mendham
+country, down through New Vernon and Baskingridge--all famous
+Revolutionary places, you know--and by visiting places as far away as
+Bound Brook, Plainfield, and the country about Trenton. I was amazed at
+the number of old things she managed to secure."
+
+Being given a pencil sketch of what roads to follow to reach Mendham, or
+Baskingridge, Mrs. Fabian thanked her informer most graciously. Suddenly
+the lady said:
+
+"Now that you are in town, why not drive down to a little auction room
+I've heard of, just off Washington Street, and see if you can find
+anything in that Paradise for old stuff?"
+
+"We will! Where is it, and how do we get there?"
+
+"The man's name is Van Styne, and he used to be a magnet for attracting
+the oldest pieces to his store-rooms! People used to commission him when
+they wanted anything in particular, and in some super-natural manner, he
+used to have it for them in a few days' time. It would have taken
+ordinary individuals years, with plenty of money and energy, to
+accomplish the same result."
+
+Again Mrs. Fabian thanked her interested informer, and left the library.
+The girls were told of the conversation and they all voted to go to Van
+Styne's old auction rooms first, and then try to locate an old farm-house
+along the road to Mendham, or in the opposite direction, towards
+Baskingridge.
+
+The building where "Van Styne--Auctioneer and Appraiser" had his sign
+displayed, for the public's guidance, was a long low place that had been
+used as the carriage house of "Liberty Stable" years before. The tiny
+windows, high up in a row along the front, were stall-marks that told
+what it had been in the past. Now it was an "Emporium" for all who needed
+second-hand furniture at a bargain; or for those who sought antiques of
+any kind, to add to their amateur collections.
+
+Mr. Van Styne was a white-haired, long-whiskered, thin man who sat tilted
+back in a broken-through rush-bottom chair that had never had a bid at
+his weekly auctions, hence it was put to some use in his office to pay
+for storage. His feet were resting on the flat-table-desk in front of
+him, and he was sweetly snoring when the girls opened the door of the
+room.
+
+Such an unheard of thing as customers in the early part of the afternoon,
+caused him to jump up and remove his aged straw hat that had been tilted
+over his eyes to keep out the sun-light.
+
+"We came to see if we could find anything in your salesroom," began Mrs.
+Fabian, noting the dust that lay thick on everything, and the heaped up
+motley collection of family possessions displayed in the long adjoining
+stable-room.
+
+"What kind of furniture do you need?" asked he, stifling a yawn.
+
+"Why, anything old enough to be interesting. We heard that you were a
+wizard in finding antiques for people."
+
+The proprietor disclaimed such power, and said with a grin that displayed
+several gaps in his yellowed teeth, "You can mosey about, out there, to
+your heart's content. If you find anything likely, call me an' I'll tell
+you what it's wuth."
+
+He waved his arm to the long stacked-up storeroom, and then sat down
+again. In another moment his feet were up on the desk and his hat tipped
+down over his eyes. His hands were calmly folded over his waist-coat and
+he settled down to snooze, once more.
+
+The girls giggled aloud and hurried after Mrs. Fabian to keep from
+laughing outright at the ambitious salesman. They prowled about and
+pulled out lots of things and examined many other old articles, soiling
+their gloves and dresses, without finding a thing that was of any value.
+
+Finally Polly dragged out an old walnut chest of drawers to see what was
+stored back of it, that kept it so far away from the wall. She discovered
+a group of large, framed pictures standing against the wall, evidently
+forgotten by the auctioneer, as they were covered with a thick coating of
+dust.
+
+"Come and help me lift these out, will you, Nolla?" called Polly, as
+Eleanor stood waiting for something new to look at.
+
+In another moment, both girls were hauling out the mass of pictures,
+whose wires and screw-eyes were so entangled that to get at one, you had
+to drag all out at the same time.
+
+"My goodness! Just look at our hands!" exclaimed Eleanor, holding up such
+dirty hands that Polly laughed.
+
+"The result of digging!" said she, managing to separate one smaller frame
+from the others.
+
+As she turned it over to study the picture, she was greatly disappointed
+to find it had an old, cheap, stained frame. The picture seemed
+nondescript to her. It was a scene of an old bridge with fine old trees
+on both banks of the river. Quaintly costumed people strolled along both
+sides of the stream, and a funny tower rose at the further end of the
+bridge. The colors were crude and primary--no fine shading or artistic
+handling to be seen. A title under the picture, and several inscriptions
+in French at the left side of the bottom, were so stained and blurred as
+to be totally unreadable with the naked eye.
+
+Meantime, Eleanor had managed to free the next frame, which was a huge
+affair of old mahogany. The glass was so dreadfully dusty that not a bit
+of the picture underneath could be seen. She looked about for something
+to use as a duster, and saw an old end of chenille curtain on the walnut
+dresser. This she used and wiped away as much of the dirt as would come
+off with hard work--the rest must have hot water and soap.
+
+"Well, I declare! Look at this old engraving!" called she to the others.
+Polly was at hand, and saw that Eleanor had actually found a treasure.
+
+Mrs. Fabian hurried across the room and took her magnifying glass from
+her handbag being always prepared with it in case of need to study
+signatures and other nearly effaced trade-marks.
+
+The large engraving represented the Independence Hall at Philadelphia,
+and under that was the famous Declaration of Independence, with all the
+original signatures following. The picture of the Hall was engraved on a
+smaller bit of paper and had been mounted at the top of the printed
+matter. The engraving was signed by the engraver, and dated. Affidavits
+at the bottom of the parchment paper stated that this was one of the
+original documents made by Order of Congress for use in the Government
+Buildings so that the first original paper and signatures could be
+preserved as a relic, by the United States.
+
+"Why, this wonderful old paper is more than a hundred and thirty years
+old!" exclaimed Mrs. Fabian amazed.
+
+"My goodness me! How much do you suppose I shall have to pay to get it?"
+gasped Eleanor.
+
+"I don't know, but you really ought to shake that dirty rag thoroughly
+over the glass again, to hide what is under it," advised Dodo, with
+astuteness.
+
+The others laughed. But Polly had another suggestion to make. "Let's see
+what else we can find in this stack of pictures. We will choose a number
+of them and then make an offer on the lot, as much as to say we need
+bargain-frames for other uses. This rare find of Nolla's will be hidden
+in with the rest."
+
+"Polly's idea is best. Because the old man will know that we wouldn't buy
+a picture with all the dust covering the glass," said Nancy Fabian.
+
+[Illustration: A CRY FROM POLLY CAUGHT THEIR FULLEST ATTENTION.
+Polly's Business Venture. Page 139]
+
+"What's the little old one you've got in your hands, Polly?" now asked
+Mrs. Fabian.
+
+"Oh, nothing much. It looks like an ugly little chromo printed before
+people knew how to use colors on printing-presses."
+
+Mrs. Fabian leaned over Polly's shoulder to take a look, and puckered her
+forehead when she saw the yellowed paper and old stained edges of the
+picture.
+
+"Polly, I verily believe that here you have something that Mr. Fabian has
+lectured on several times. Let me examine it."
+
+While the girls crowded about her, Mrs. Fabian placed the picture, face
+downwards, on the table near by and tried to draw out the old headless
+tacks driven in to hold the backboard snugly in its place.
+
+"Well, whoever framed this picture did it for all time!" exclaimed she,
+breaking several fingernails and tearing the skin on her hands in the
+attempt to loosen the fine steel nails.
+
+"Here! I've found an old pair of broken scissors in this desk--let's use
+them to clinch the nails and force them out," said Nancy, handing her
+mother the shears.
+
+With this assistance, Mrs. Fabian soon had the nails out and then
+carefully removed the old sections of thin boards. Under the boards was a
+yellowed newspaper, folded neatly, and so wedged in at the edges of the
+frame that no dust could work a way through to the picture. Without a
+thought of the paper, Mrs. Fabian took it out and expected to see the
+back of the picture. Instead, she found a yellow-stained letter written
+to Paul Revere Esq. and signed by one of the famous men of the
+Revolution. It was a personal letter of that time, and had been used to
+paste over a crack in the back of the picture.
+
+"Why--why! How very wonderful!" breathed Mrs. Fabian, as she stared at
+the old letter.
+
+"What is it--anything valuable?" asked the girls.
+
+"A genuine letter written to Paul Revere! Now that I think of it, girls,
+Paul Revere lived in Morristown and his home is still intact on De Hart
+Street, I believe. This old picture must have come from his house; or in
+some way, this letter found its way into someone else's hands and was
+used at that time for scrap paper to mend this picture. Now let's see
+what the picture is."
+
+But a cry from Polly, who had picked up the old newspaper and now had
+opened it wide, caught their fullest attention.
+
+"Oh, oh! Isn't this too funny for anything! Listen and I will read it."
+Then Polly read aloud an advertisement in the tiny old newspaper, of a
+Squire at Baskingridge who wished to sell a healthy, young negro wench of
+unquestionable pedigree. Price and particulars would be given any
+interested buyer.
+
+"Polly!" chorused her audience, in surprise. "That paper must be as old
+as the letter!"
+
+"And see, girls!" added Mrs. Fabian. "It has great heavy black borders on
+the outside. What for, Polly?"
+
+Polly turned over the sheet with utmost care, as it was so dry and
+brittle, and to the speechless astonishment of them all, it showed that
+the mourning bands were used for the death of George Washington. The
+entire front page was devoted to the news of his demise which had
+occurred the day before going to press. His fame, and value to the United
+States, were spoken of, and other features of his life were touched upon.
+His picture, printed from an old wood-cut, headed the page. All the
+spelling was such as was common at that time with the letter "e" tacked
+on when possible and the old English "f's" were used for "s's" and
+long-stemmed "p's," and high-browed "a's" and "i's," were formed to show
+readers that the writer and editor was a well-educated man.
+
+"Oh my! Must we fold it up and put it back of that board again?" sighed
+Polly, finally.
+
+"If you want a bargain, that is what you'd better do," returned Mrs.
+Fabian.
+
+"Maybe the picture is as old as the paper," ventured Polly.
+
+The thought of the picture had completely vanished from the mind of Mrs.
+Fabian when she saw the rare old newspaper; but now she quickly picked up
+the article and turned it over. The magnifying glass was once more
+brought to bear upon the subject, and after several minutes of
+inspection,--minutes of impatient hesitation on the part of the
+girls,--she looked up bewildered with her discovery.
+
+"Polly, this is really the missing picture that will complete the set
+that is on exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum, in New York. It is one
+of the famous color-prints made in France about the sixteenth century,
+and the subject is the famous Bridge at Avignon. This is worth thousands
+of dollars, dear, and I hesitate to tell you what to offer for it."
+
+Polly would have taken the rare picture out to the still sleeping man and
+offered him a sum that would have made him sit up and investigate the
+matter for himself. But clever Dodo advised another method.
+
+"If you offer more than the old frame is actually worth, when you say you
+will pay so much for the frames--he will see right off that there's a
+'nigger in the woodpile.' Let's tangle up a few of these old black-walnut
+frames with the two valuable pictures, and I'll bargain for you."
+
+"Better let Mrs. Fabian bargain--you know how she got the candle-sticks
+in exchange for a two-dollar 'bankit' lamp," Eleanor reminded them.
+
+"I'll do it, while you girls keep on poking about as if to find other
+things," declared Mrs. Fabian. "Here, Polly, let us fix this frame up
+exactly as it was before, and I'll take four out of the pile and place
+them, one on top of the other, upon this dresser, and then call the man
+out to quote me a price on the lot."
+
+This was carefully done, dust being shaken out of the old curtain so that
+the glass was again coated, and then dust was shaken over the back where
+the board had been removed and cleaned.
+
+A dreadful lithograph showing a string of fish, framed in a wide gilt
+affair, was one that was chosen for the group. An oval frame with a
+woman's photograph in it, was another selected. Then the four were
+arranged: The large engraving at the bottom, the fish next, then the
+little old relic, and on top, the oval frame. All four appeared dirty and
+insignificant as they lay on the top of the dresser; and to finish the
+work, Polly used the chenille rag to gather up as much dust as possible
+from the filthy floor, and shook it vigorously over all the frames. Such
+a choking and coughing as ensued made them separate in haste, for fear
+the noise would make the auctioneer come out to enquire.
+
+But he was too deeply concerned with some pleasant dream to awake to
+business, before his usual time for the afternoon siesta had ended, so
+Mrs. Fabian went out to rouse him.
+
+"Eh, what did you say?" exclaimed he, jumping up.
+
+"I want you to tell me how much are a few picture-frames which we found
+in a corner."
+
+"Oh, anything you like. How much do you think they are wuth?" was his
+reply.
+
+Mrs. Fabian smiled pleasantly. "That is not what I said. You are the
+salesman and I the buyer. You should state a price."
+
+"Um--ah!" yawned Mr. Van Styne at this, and stretched his arms out over
+his head. "I s'pose that ends my nap, eh?"
+
+He shuffled out of the office after Mrs. Fabian and went into the
+store-house. When he saw the girls poking about amongst the old chairs,
+bureaus, and motley collection of furniture, he laughed, and said:
+"That's right! Find all the old bargains you can. I'm your man to sell
+them cheap to you."
+
+Had he but known what he was about to do!
+
+Mrs. Fabian led him down to the corner where the pile of four pictures
+were waiting on the dresser, and said: "These are the four I want a price
+on. The frames are all in good order and the glasses are not cracked at
+all."
+
+Mr. Van Styne took a pair of old steel-rimmed specs from the vest-pocket
+over his heart, and pushed them upon his thin nose. He picked up the top
+oval frame, blew off the dust and laughed at the homely face that stared
+out at him. He turned to Mrs. Fabian with a twinkle in his eyes and said,
+jokingly:
+
+"Now, if that gal was your relation and you wanted her ugly photograph
+that bad, I'd say the hull thing was wuth a dollar to you. But seein'
+it's fifty year old, and you ain't near that, yet, I will sell her fer a
+quarter. The glass is wuth that, I reckon."
+
+He placed it face down beside the other three pictures. "Now this one,"
+taking up the rare old print with the newspaper packed in the back,
+"Ain't wuth a darn, so why do you pick it out?"
+
+"But the glass is the right size and will cost me more to order, than I
+can get it for of you," remarked Mrs. Fabian, anxiously, while the girls
+held their breath.
+
+The old auctioneer heard the note of anxiety in her tone and peered over
+his specs to study her guileless expression. She instantly guarded
+herself, when she saw his look, and so he saw only a nice lady who was
+now picking up the fish-picture.
+
+"And this dining-room picture; how much will you take for _it_. Why not
+give me a job-lot price and I'll see. I may as well pack four as two in
+the automobile."
+
+But Mr. Van Styne had not known there was an automobile; and he was
+wondering now, why people with a car should come in and pick out a few
+picture glasses to save money. He glanced over the last picture which was
+the large engraving, and then turned it over to look at its back.
+
+"That's a mighty big sheet of glass in that one. That glass alone, cost
+about a dollar-forty. Then the frame's a good hard-wood frame, too. I'll
+look up my books and see who sent them pictures in for sale. Then I can
+see if they put a figger on them."
+
+He made notes of the chalk numbers marked on the backs of the
+picture-boards and then started for his office. Mrs. Fabian, with sinking
+heart, followed at his heels.
+
+"If he looks up his records and finds they came from the old house of
+Paul Revere and his descendants, he will never sell them at a decent
+price," thought she, impatiently.
+
+She sat opposite the old man while he fumbled the pages of his book and
+slowly glanced down the entries, his bent fore-finger pointing to each
+item carefully as he read.
+
+"Um! Here it is: Number 329, came from Sarah Dolan, who moved to a
+smaller flat last Spring. From this entry I see that all them seven
+pictures came from her. Do you happen to know her?"
+
+Mr. Van Styne glanced up at his companion.
+
+She shook her head, and he said, closing the book, "Why, Sally Dolan was
+cook fer the Revere boys, and when they broke up, she started a bordin'
+house down on Morris Street. Then she took rheumatiz and was that
+crippled, she couldn't get about the kitchen no more, so she gave up. Her
+boys manage to keep her now, and she takes things easy. But she sure was
+a good cook!"
+
+Much as Mrs. Fabian would have liked to question the old man about the
+Revere boys she feared he might remember that the cook was given a lot of
+old pictures when the boys "broke up", so she turned the subject
+adroitly.
+
+"Well, I'll go and see what the girls have found out there, I guess. But
+I wish you'd fix a price on those four frames."
+
+"Lem'me see, now. Sal Dolan didn't set no price, and if I say five
+dollars for the four, would you take 'em?"
+
+"Dear me!" objected Mrs. Fabian, craftily. "The large one you said was
+worth about a dollar-thirty, and the fish-picture a dollar. That leaves
+two dollars and seventy cents for the other two. Isn't that pretty high
+for them?"
+
+"But that fish picture makes a fine dinin' room piece, especially if you
+could get the mate what is a brace of quails."
+
+"Oh well, rather than jew you down, I'll take them, if you will take the
+trouble to make me out a receipt for the four."
+
+"Ain't this a cash sale?" queried the man, wonderingly.
+
+"Of course, but two of them are for friends. I only intend keeping the
+other two. I want them, to have the bill to show, you see."
+
+Thereupon Mr. Van Styne wrote out the bill on a scrap of paper and
+receipted it, and then counted the five one dollar bills Mrs. Fabian had
+paid him. "Ten per cent fer me and the rest for Sally," he added as he
+rolled fifty cents inside four one dollar bills and pocketed the other
+fifty cents.
+
+Mrs. Fabian was about to go for the pictures, when Polly came out. "I
+want to ask the auctioneer how much this little box and mirror are?" and
+she showed a lovely little Empire dressing-mirror to him. It was
+scratched and had been varnished, but its former beauty could be quickly
+restored, for the form and material were good as ever.
+
+"I'm told that is a real antique. That piece come from the old Revere
+place, too. Mrs. Dolan says she heard it was used by the boy's
+grandmother. But I don't know what to charge."
+
+"I'll give you ten dollars for it," eagerly said Polly.
+
+"Ten dollars!" gasped the man, sinking back in his desk-chair.
+
+Mrs. Fabian tried to signal Polly, but the girl was too intent on
+securing the gem. Then Mrs. Fabian said to the man:
+
+"Dear me! The child has more money than brains, eh?" and laughed
+heartily.
+
+"I ain't so sure about that. She certainly knows a good thing," returned
+Mr. Van Styne. Then he said to Polly: "Will you carry it right along with
+you, if I sell it for ten?"
+
+"Of course!" declared she, and the sale was made.
+
+"I guess we'd better be going, Polly," suggested Mrs. Fabian, now. This
+told the girl that the deal over the pictures had been consummated, but
+she did not ask questions then.
+
+Mrs. Fabian went back to gather up her four precious pictures, and had
+the other girls help her carry them away. Then they bid the good old man
+good-by and started off.
+
+"Come again, when you have more time to poke around," said he, as he
+stood on the doorstep watching them walk towards the car which was
+waiting a short distance down the street.
+
+"We certainly will, and if you get anything really antique in the place
+at any time, drop me word, or telephone to the address I left on your
+desk, just now," said Mrs. Fabian.
+
+Once the hunters were safely on the way to New York, the girls importuned
+Mrs. Fabian to tell them the story of the pictures, but she laughingly
+remarked:
+
+"Do you know, we forgot all about our luncheon! Poor Carl must be
+famished!"
+
+"Not much," retorted Carl. "I went to that quick lunch-room across from
+the old junk-shop, and got the best dinner for forty cents that I ever
+tasted. But we will stop for a picnic, when we reach the country, if you
+say so."
+
+"No, indeed! We'll eat as we drive along, Carl," said Mrs. Fabian, then
+turning to the girls, she told the tale[A] of the old pictures and what
+she paid for them.
+
+"Why!" gasped the wondering girls. "It can't be possible!"
+
+At that, Mrs. Fabian produced the bill of sale and said: "I got this in
+case there ever should be any dispute over the legality of this
+negotiation. The two awful pictures we can give to some family along the
+road, but the two precious ones we will cherish as if they were the
+Koh-i-noor Diamond."
+
+When the Ashbys and Mr. Fabian heard the story, and saw the validity of
+the two pictures, they sat astounded. Mr. Fabian then said:
+
+"Polly really ought to immortalize her name by presenting this missing
+scroll to the Metropolitan Museum, but she can keep the letter and
+newspaper. That ought to be worth the price she paid for the 'glass'."
+
+"That's just what I'll do, Mr. Fabian. I would never feel happy if I
+_kept_ a thing that is considered so rare, and has been sought for by the
+Museum's collectors."
+
+So Polly Brewster's name is to be found ticketed as the donor of the
+twelfth valuable picture in that set.
+
+-----
+[Footnote A: True incident in author's experience.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+UNEXPECTED NEWS FROM PEBBLY PIT
+
+
+The young collectors experienced the usual "red-tape" in offering the
+rare picture to the Museum, and after the customary delays, it was
+accepted with letters of thanks. Individual letters from several
+officials were written to Polly and her friends, voicing the appreciation
+of the men at being able to complete the series.
+
+Shortly after this pleasing incident, the girls went out on another
+excursion just across the Hudson, in New Jersey. They took the ferry at
+One Hundred and Thirtieth Street, and after reaching Edgewater, drove
+through the small towns nestling on the Hackensack, until they came to
+the village of Hasbrouck Heights. All about this section are old, old
+houses, and if you hunt keenly enough, you will find delightful odd bits
+from Revolutionary days.
+
+That evening, upon their return, the girls were eager to compare their
+trophies of the day, but the maid came in with a day letter for Polly.
+The others waited for her to read it, and as she read, her expression
+changed perceptibly.
+
+"Oh, oh! It's happened again!" cried she fearfully, as she finished the
+letter.
+
+"What! What has happened?" anxiously asked her companions, crowding about
+her.
+
+"Another slide on Grizzly. This time it has destroyed _everything_ so
+that mining the gold is out of the question," and Polly gave the message
+to Mrs. Fabian to read aloud.
+
+"Bad land-slide on Grizzly. Demolished all machinery and wiped out the
+entire surface of mountain-top. No lives lost, but cave and vein of ore
+lost. Topography completely changed. Wait for summer to start new search
+and locate gold. Letter sent to Latimer and Dalken. Ask them for
+particulars. John Brewster."
+
+"Oh, Polly! That means that our gold mine has vanished, and all our
+income from it will be stopped!" cried Eleanor.
+
+"We haven't had any income to stop," replied Polly, cynically. "About all
+the good we've ever had from Choko's Find Mine has been violent physical
+exercise, expenses and the dreams that buoy hope."
+
+Her friends laughed in spite of the seriousness of the matter, and
+Eleanor added: "It also means that Daddy, and all of our New York
+investors, have lost the money they invested in the project."
+
+"Well, when Tom Latimer called on me the evening after our ducking in the
+Bay, he said he was not in favor of working on the mine so late in the
+season. He thought John was taking dreadful risks to keep the plant open
+when snowstorms and slides were imminent.
+
+"But John told him that plenty of snow was just what was needed on the
+peaks, to cement the chasms and crevices together that had been opened by
+the summer's heat and continued drought all Fall. In case no snow came,
+he said he would agree to abandon work when the cold weather became too
+severe to remain at that altitude."
+
+"This unexpected accident and loss of the mine does not prevent the
+output of the lava jewels, Polly, so there'll be no noticeable difference
+in your income, will there?" asked Mrs. Fabian.
+
+"Well, Tom explained it all to me. He said that mine affairs were so
+involved with the jewel works at Rainbow Cliffs, that one disaster
+affected the other interest. Rainbow Cliffs is part of Pebbly Pit Ranch,
+so the Cliffs were incorporated when work began on the mining of the
+lava. Then when trouble at Choko's Find Mine started, the mines at
+Rainbow Cliffs were mortgaged to secure financial aid for the gold mine
+on the mountains. So that everything is mixed up now in this calamity,"
+explained Polly, tearfully.
+
+Soon after this, the telephone rang. Mr. Latimer said he was coming to
+call, that evening, and Mr. Dalken wished to come in at the same time.
+Would the girls be home?
+
+Polly assured him they would, and also that he would be welcomed as she
+wished to hear about the important matters that he could fully explain to
+her.
+
+Soon after eight o'clock, therefore, Mr. Latimer and Mr. Dalken were
+announced. Polly and Eleanor--the latter had realized that maybe her
+future, because of this disaster to the mine would not be as luxurious as
+she had dreamed of--anxiously welcomed the two men. Polly lost no time in
+polite nothings, but asked, at once, about the conditions at the mines.
+
+"I see you have heard about the trouble?" ventured Mr. Latimer.
+
+"Yes, I received a long night letter from home, this afternoon. But they
+do not say whether there is anything left to pay my way in New York, or
+whether I ought to start for home," said Polly.
+
+Eleanor was shocked at her words. "Why, Polly, surely you have no dread
+of such being the case, just because our old gold mine is choked again?"
+
+"Don't you understand, Nolla, that starting work on the mine, and all the
+machinery for it, costs so much that not only is the lava mine involved,
+but the very ranch is risked. Maybe father will have to sell out his
+beloved farm and go away," explained Polly, with quivering lips.
+
+"Oh no, Polly," hastily came from Mr. Latimer. "We are all stock-holders
+in this venture, you know, and one man alone does not bear the costs of
+the mine and its losses. That is why Mr. Dalken and I came over, tonight,
+when we got word that John had written you. We feared you might not
+understand matters."
+
+"But I understand father, well enough, Mr. Latimer. He will never permit
+anyone to lose a penny because of him or his interests."
+
+"Maybe he won't, Polly, but this mining venture was as much our interest
+as yours, or your father's, remember. It seems gone, this time, but we
+must take our loss as courageously as we would our profits. Tom wired me
+to come and see you and explain that you need make no change in any of
+your plans, as everything would go on as usual at the ranch. He and John
+will devote all of their time to the Cliffs now, instead of dividing
+their attention between the two mines, as they have been doing,
+heretofore," explained Mr. Latimer.
+
+"But your mother wrote me, Polly," now said Mr. Dalken, "that finances
+would be rather strained for the next year, because of this tremendous
+outlay on the mines and no income; and the terrible drought that killed
+off so many head of cattle on the ranch this year, makes things look
+rather unpromising. I know how practical you are, and I thought it best
+to let you hear how matters stand. Your folks asked me not to mention it,
+because they wanted you to finish your studies here, and there are ample
+funds to pay for that. But I took it upon myself to warn you about going
+deeply into any antique purchases, in your auction fever."
+
+"I'm so glad you did, Mr. Dalken. As you say, I am not a silly child, and
+now that I know exactly how matters are at home, I will see if I cannot
+do something while studying in New York, to pay my own way," responded
+Polly, anxiously.
+
+"Oh, it isn't as bad as that, Child!" laughed Mr. Latimer; "but it is
+best for you not to buy in Fifth Avenue shops, or give away rare old
+bargains from the country."
+
+Polly smiled. "Mr. Latimer, this is what I propose doing to earn my
+expenses in New York. Instead of buying old objects for fun, I shall
+secure them to sell again and make money."
+
+"Poll is right! And I propose going with her as the partner in her first
+business venture!" declared Eleanor.
+
+"Where will you two girls find customers?" asked Mr. Dalken, admiring the
+way they accepted the news that their gold mine seemed wiped out for all
+time.
+
+"Oh, Polly'll find a way, never fear!" declared Eleanor with fervent
+faith in her friend's ability to accomplish things.
+
+"Yes, I'll get Mr. Ashby, first of all, to permit us to exhibit our goods
+in his 'odd room' and we'll pay him a commission for sales, just as other
+folks do who wish to exchange, or sell, their antiques," explained Polly.
+
+"Well, if you girls manage to find such valuable things as that famous
+missing picture that the Museum made such a time over, I should say you
+had found a big gold mine in New York instead of losing a little one in
+the Rockies," said Mr. Dalken.
+
+So, shortly after the girls learned that they had to economise on
+expenses that year, Polly carried her old coverlets to Mr. Ashby's shop
+and left them with him to sell. The fine little mirror had been restored
+and was perfectly beautiful. This was placed on exhibition in the Empire
+Room of the Ashby Shop, but scarcely had it had time to be friendly with
+other rare objects in that room, before it was purchased at a high price.
+Thus Polly cleared several hundred dollars on the first sale, and felt
+encouraged to invest that money in new purchases.
+
+Mr. Dalken gladly sent Carl with the car, to drive the girls whenever
+they heard of a place to visit, but Ruth and Nancy seldom accompanied
+them these days. Ruth had school to attend daily, and Nancy was painting
+a portrait for a famous stage beauty who had offered her an attractive
+price for the work.
+
+The girls, with Mrs. Fabian, had gone again to New Jersey, after their
+great investment that day in Van Styne's place; but they drove on to
+Baskingridge that day, and stopped at several ancient farm-houses to
+ferret for old things. At one of the places, they secured some very old
+glassware, also odd pieces of Staffordshire, and a well-nigh complete set
+of old Wedgewood dishes.
+
+At another house they got a set of old brass fire-irons and a crane with
+all the hangers and pots complete, just as it had been removed from the
+brick fire-place and thrown up in the attic.
+
+At the third house, Polly became enamored of a wonderful sampler, and
+several very old silhouettes--the latter, very different from the kind we
+are familiar with. As these old relics were in the attic and were
+considered valueless, she got them for a very small sum.
+
+While Polly was bargaining for these trifles, Eleanor was in the
+grandmother's room looking at several marvelous patch-work quilts. The
+old dame told Eleanor the story connected with each quilt; and one, the
+unusual one of silk pieces, as well as worsteds, patched in with calico,
+velvet and other odd materials, was said to be made of a collection of
+famous bits from gowns worn by the ladies of Revolutionary Days.
+
+How the old grand-dame ever came into possession of such a valuable
+quilt, was beyond Eleanor's comprehension. Then Polly and the house-wife
+joined her, and Polly was shown the quilt.
+
+"How very interesting," remarked she.
+
+"Yes, and I'll tell you how it came about," explained Mrs. Johnson.
+"We've always lived on this place, and when the Army passed this way, our
+folks helped out in all sorts of ways.
+
+"During the winter that General Washington and his Lady were stationed at
+Morristown, there was lots of doings all about the county. You'll read in
+the history of Lady Washington, how she was entertained by the first
+families about here--the Fords, the Footes, and others.
+
+"Our great-grandmother was a fine needlewoman and went about to the
+houses making gowns and cloaks for the ladies. She always saved the
+scraps of silk and stuff that was wasted, and of these she patched
+several quilts. On the back of each bit of these materials, she pasted
+little book-muslin tickets that had the name and date printed on it, of
+the lady and the occasion she wore the gown. So on the back of each of
+these pieces is still to be found the printing of that ancestress of
+mine."
+
+"Oh, isn't this interesting!" exclaimed Polly, eagerly.
+
+And Eleanor asked: "Where are the other quilts?"
+
+"We don't exactly know what happened to the others she made; but this one
+came right down from grandmother's mother to her, then to my mother, and
+now to me."
+
+"Would any price tempt you to sell it?" asked Polly.
+
+"Nothin' on earth, whiles I live. But I haven't any children, and
+goodness only knows what will become of the dear old heirloom. Why did
+you ask?"
+
+"How I would love to own it! Not for its value in money but really to
+hold it as a precious patriotic reminder of those days when the ladies,
+even though they dressed fine and had good times, performed such heroic
+and almost super-human deeds for the Army," explained Polly.
+
+Mrs. Johnson gazed keenly at the girl's face for a few moments, then
+said: "Tell me your name and address: I am going to write it out now,
+that this quilt is to be yours any time I die; and you must be as careful
+of it as we have been. Always keep tar-paper, or tobacco in it, during
+summer when moths fly about."
+
+Polly thanked the lady very seriously and promised to be most careful of
+it in every way, but she said she hoped Mrs. Johnson would live a long
+time to enjoy the quilt as her own family relic.
+
+On the drive back through Morristown that day, Mrs. Fabian had Carl stop
+at Mr. Van Styne's auction rooms, but the old man was not in, and the
+door was locked. A sheet of paper tacked inside the sash of the door,
+announced that the owner was at Parsippany numbering household goods for
+an auction to be held in two weeks' time.
+
+Mrs. Fabian made a note of the name and location of the house where the
+sale was to be held, and came back to the automobile. She showed the
+paper to the girls, and said:
+
+"We'll try to get out here for that sale. But I'll write Mr. Van Styne
+first, and ask him what sort of things the people have."
+
+"Yes, it would be silly to come so far and find the house contained
+nothing but horrid old modern stuff," said Eleanor.
+
+Arriving home, late that afternoon, Mrs. Fabian was given a letter sent
+from the old auctioneer at Morristown. He had kept his word and notified
+the young collectors of the sale about to be held at Parsippany: the sale
+they had heard about that day.
+
+"He says, in this letter," explained Mrs. Fabian after reading it, "the
+old farm-house where the vendue will take place, is filled with real old
+furniture; the family that owned the farm have held it for five
+generations. Mr. Van Styne admits that he is not enough of a connoisseur
+to judge the actual value of the antiques, but there are some mahogany
+pieces, and loads of queer old things that _his_ wife would have kept in
+the attic, or split up for kindlings. As he thinks this is what is now
+called 'Period Furniture,' he would suggest that we run out and have a
+look at it before the day of the sale."
+
+"The letter sounds exactly like him, doesn't it?" laughed Polly.
+
+"Yes, but it is very nice of him to be so honest about it. Most
+auctioneers would tell us the furniture was wonderful," returned Mrs.
+Fabian.
+
+"When do you think we can run out there, Mrs. Fabian?" asked Eleanor,
+eagerly.
+
+"We'll find out what day Carl can best arrange for the trip. We mustn't
+'drive a willing horse to death,' you know."
+
+Later in the evening, the telephone bell rang and Polly was called to the
+'phone. The maid who answered the ring said it was a man's voice but she
+had not been able to understand the name.
+
+Eleanor heard her chum say: "Oh, really! We've been wondering what became
+of you. It was so surprising to find you were an old friend of our Mr.
+Dalken's and then never hear from you again, or have anyone know where
+you had gone."
+
+Mrs. Fabian glanced questioningly at Eleanor, but the girl shook her head
+in token of her ignorance of who the caller could be. Then they heard
+Polly say: "Why, I reckon so. If you'll hold the wire a moment, I'll run
+and ask Mrs. Fabian."
+
+A few moments later, Polly rushed into the room and said eagerly: "Jack
+Baxter is on the 'phone and wants to know if he may come in, tomorrow
+evening, Mrs. Fabian. He says he has a little furniture commission for
+Nolla and me to take care of."
+
+Mrs. Fabian immediately replied that the young man would be welcomed the
+following evening, and Polly hurried back to deliver the invitation.
+Eleanor waited until she heard the conversation over the telephone
+resumed between the two, then she said to Mrs. Fabian:
+
+"I bet anything, that Jack Baxter is really in love with Polly! I watched
+him all that time, after he was formally introduced by Mr. Dalken, and he
+just hung on her every word and act."
+
+Mrs. Fabian smiled. "That is the usual experience the young men have with
+Polly. I think the very fact that she is unmindful of her attractions,
+coupled with her indifference to the attentions of the male sex, acts as
+a spur to them; each tries to see if she will not capitulate to his
+individual charms."
+
+Eleanor laughed. "You speak as if you believed the young men to be
+egotistical enough to _think_ they were charming."
+
+"They do, Nolla!" retorted Mrs. Fabian. "Every Adam's son firmly believes
+he is more alluring and attractive to a girl, than his friends. That is
+why they all follow tamely after a girl who has no time for them: they
+cannot believe it _possible_ that she is not overcome with their
+fascinations."
+
+Eleanor smiled as she listened, then she remarked: "I guess I'll try
+Polly's strategy and see if the beaus line up for me."
+
+"You have no need to experiment with any new tricks," replied Mrs.
+Fabian, warningly. "There are enough sighing young men already, waiting
+to break their hearts and necks, for a mere glance from those impish eyes
+of yours."
+
+Eleanor laughed merrily at her chaperone's words, but Polly's return to
+the room interrupted their little talk.
+
+"What do you think?" demanded Polly, as soon as she was in the room.
+
+Not giving them time to answer, she said: "Jack Baxter is going to
+furnish a bachelor apartment in the city, and says he is going to give
+Nolla and me the contract for doing it. It will be our very first work as
+interior decorators!"
+
+"Oh," gasped Eleanor, "how can we do it?"
+
+Polly looked amazed at such a question, and retorted: "Why, with money
+and brains, to be sure!"
+
+"Is that why he's coming tomorrow evening?" asked Eleanor.
+
+"Yes; he is now staying at Mr. Dalken's apartment, and both of them are
+coming over tomorrow. He says he has been West since we last saw him, and
+he stopped at Pebbly Pit to see the folks, on his way back from the
+Coast. That is why he has not been heard from--he was called away so
+suddenly, and just got back today."
+
+"I wonder why he took all the trouble to go to Pebbly Pit?" said Eleanor.
+"He didn't know a soul there!"
+
+"That's what I asked him, and he says he will tell us all about it
+tomorrow night," explained Polly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+POLLY'S FIRST CONTRACT
+
+
+Promptly at eight, Jack Baxter and Mr. Dalken were announced to Polly and
+Eleanor. The Fabians had gone to the Opera and Mr. Dalken was supposed to
+act as chaperone for the evening.
+
+"This is a new experience for me," laughed he, "but not one that I
+dislike. In fact, I will be glad to offer my services in the same
+capacity, at any time, for you girls."
+
+"Better beware how you offer yourself on such an altar," teased Polly,
+trying to appear calm and composed, whereas she was keyed up to hear
+about the proposed work young Baxter wished them to do for his new
+apartment.
+
+Eleanor deemed it wise to mention another subject first, so she asked:
+"How long were you at Pebbly Pit, Mr. Baxter?"
+
+"That's one of the reasons we came over to see you," interpolated Mr.
+Dalken. "Jack has a lot to tell you about the troubles there."
+
+"What troubles?" wondered Polly. "You don't mean the land-slide, do you?"
+
+"We know about that," added Eleanor.
+
+"You only heard the first news of it. But you never knew what followed
+that first event," returned Mr. Dalken. "I've known how things stood for
+a short time, but I talked it over with the Latimers, and we decided to
+let Jack go West with Mr. Alexander, and investigate matters for
+themselves."
+
+"Dodo's father! What has he to do with it?" asked both girls in surprise.
+
+"More than we can ever appreciate. Because he is such an experienced old
+miner, having spent years in the Klondike, and later, down in the
+Colorado mining districts, his going to Pebbly Pit was the best thing
+that ever happened to our company. Jack had just decided to invest a
+great deal of his capital in the joint companies, so he decided to
+accompany Alexander and see for himself how the land lay."
+
+"And what was Mr. Alexander's verdict?" asked Polly.
+
+"Listen to Jack's story of what happened on the mountain, that early
+morning. It is as thrilling as anything I ever heard," said Mr. Dalken.
+
+"I'd have given anything to have been on the spot when that old peak
+divided her earthly substance," laughed Jack. "But even the telling of it
+by Tom Latimer and John Brewster, was so exciting that I tried every way
+possible to reach the mountain where the awful avalanche took place.
+
+"Tom had felt a tremor run along the side of the peak the night before,
+and had warned John that old Grizzly was ripping mad again. So the two of
+them rode along the Crest where those claim-jumpers were buried the time
+that other avalanche occurred, and they saw that Grizzly Slide had broken
+up great masses of ice-field, and on the far side where it drops suddenly
+to the valley, thousands of feet below, a great block of ice and rock had
+fallen from the top-side and had rolled down, destroying everything in
+its terrific plunge.
+
+"Both boys were satisfied that it was only a matter of time before the
+gaping crevices showing on the side towards the gold mine, would widen
+and the top-mass begin to move. It was impossible to say whether a slide
+would happen on the cave-side or roll down one of the gulleys on either
+side of the mine. But the two of them made up their minds that everyone
+must move from the camp without delay, and seek safety.
+
+"Orders were given to strike camp at once, and the men worked all night,
+packing away outfits and tools, and such machinery as could be moved
+inside the cave. Then the mouth was closed against winter storms, and
+they started, on their horses, to ride along Top Notch Trail, on the down
+trip.
+
+"It was almost noon when they left the mine, and by two o'clock they
+halted on one of the crests to cook dinner. The horses were hobbled where
+a patch of Buffalo grass provided good pastureage, and Rattlesnake Mike
+started a fire to cook the meal. Tom and John got out their tackle to
+catch a few trout, when a fearful roll of thunder sounded along the
+crest.
+
+"'She come down, pooty queeck!' exclaimed Mike, startled out of his usual
+calmness.
+
+"'Do you mean Old Grizzly?' Tom asked him.
+
+"But before he could reply, there was such a crash and roar, and the
+whole ground shook under their feet as if an earthquake had caused it.
+Everyone stood aghast looking at what had been snow-capped Grizzly but a
+moment before. So astonished were the men that they couldn't speak.
+
+"The roar and tumult continued so seemingly close at hand, that the men
+ran for their horses, and would have ridden down the trail had not Mike
+laughed and applied a match to the kindling, just as if nothing was
+happening above them on Grizzly Slide. It instantly quieted the fears of
+the others, and they turned again to wait for further events.
+
+"Tom Latimer says, that what caused such a panicky feeling in them all,
+was the fact that one moment they had seen the glistening cap of Old
+Grizzly, and the next, it was gone, and a great cloud of flying white
+particles hid the scene for a time.
+
+"The terrific detonation they heard immediately after the peak's snow-cap
+rolled down the mountain-side, was caused by the mass of rock, ice, snow
+and general debris, striking the ground below. How far it fell before
+striking, they could not say, but Mike claims it must have been hurtled,
+from the peak of Grizzly, to the great gulch that runs along its lower
+side, about five thousand feet below--all that distance before landing
+and filling the ravines about that section.
+
+"All the way down, from Grizzly Gulches to the bottoms that run along
+Bear Forks branches, the avalanche tore up trees, boulders, moraine, and
+other heavy matter, that generally forms a dam for smaller slides than
+this one was. But this time, entire forests were shoved along, still
+standing, just like a great cake of icing with fancy frosting of colored
+sugar on top of it, is pushed off from a slice of birthday cake, when the
+knife loosens it. The moment any part of this avalanche came up against a
+cliff, or rolled over into vast ravines, that much of the sliding forest
+tumbled up against itself, or fell into the gulch to instantly fill up
+the cleft and cause the remaining slide to roll over it.
+
+"The end of that avalanche did not come until it reached the valley of
+Bear Forks, just below Pebbly Pit ranch. If your home had not been snugly
+located up in that crater, but had been down in the valley by the river,
+it would have been completely covered with the tons of trash that still
+remained after having rolled for miles, and finally worn itself out on
+the banks of the stream.
+
+"All the branches of Bear Forks that start up on the side of the
+mountain, are choked, and the waters rushed in every direction, starting
+smaller slides by up-rooting trees and loose stones and shale.
+
+"The miners followed Mike's example, and ate a hearty dinner, although
+they were all crazy to ride back and ascertain the extent of the damage
+caused. Mike was for their going quietly on home, but not one of the
+others would agree to this. So they turned back and rode as far as the
+trail was passable. But they could not climb over the great mass of
+debris that was piled up, shortly after leaving Four Blaze Tree. And the
+queer sensation of not seeing the old familiar top on Grizzly Peak,
+unnerved them for further adventure that day.
+
+"They got home past midnight, to hear the account of what happened as
+witnessed by Anne, and Mr. and Mrs. Brewster.
+
+"At the first rolling of the slide, Anne ran out of the ranch-house and
+watched anxiously, as she knew the men were up at the mine. She saw such
+a strange sight that she rubbed her eyes to make sure she was not
+dreaming. She says, she saw the top of Old Grizzly break right off as if
+someone had cleft it at a given point down from the peak. And this
+gigantic mass of ice, still glittering in the sun-rays, toppled down
+until she heard the crash and roar and felt the earth shake under her
+feet even at that great distance from the Peak that the ranch was.
+
+"The ranch-house and the out-buildings shook as in a quake, and caused
+everyone to run toward the terrace that runs along the edge of the
+crater. There they stood watching clouds of snow float up over the
+forests that, one moment were to be seen, and the next were moving
+swiftly down the mountain sides.
+
+"The folks feared the men at the mine had been killed, as the avalanche
+was the greatest they had ever heard of in that vicinity, so Mr. Brewster
+rode madly to Oak Creek to get some men to go with him to see if any
+signs of his boys could be found.
+
+"They met them at Lone Pine Blaze, and Tom said that John's father sat
+still and sobbed like a child, with relief at finding everyone in his
+mining-party safe.
+
+"So, Miss Polly, the gold mine is closed by Nature, for untold repairs.
+Whether this generation will ever locate the ore and dig out the tools
+and machinery buried in the cave, remains to be seen. But I was so
+infatuated with life in the Rockies during the short visit I had there,
+that I determined to put in all the cramming at college that was
+possible, and finish my education so I could go out there to join Tom
+Latimer and John Brewster in their exciting engineering work."
+
+When Jack had concluded his story, the girls seemed rather downcast at
+the knowledge that their little mine was gone, but Mr. Dalken said to
+young Baxter:
+
+"You may as well tell them about the Cliffs, and have all the mourning
+over at one time."
+
+Polly glanced anxiously from Mr. Dalken to Jack, and then at Eleanor, but
+the young man explained without waiting longer: "All the miners working
+at Rainbow Cliffs went on a big strike shortly after the calamity on
+Grizzly Slide, and so unreasonable were their demands that Mr. Brewster
+refused to grant them. That stopped work on the lava jewels, too, and
+everything is closed down until next year. Of course, while there is no
+work going on, there are no wages to pay, but there is also no income
+from the vast amount of money invested in machinery."
+
+"Dear me, then really, I am a pauper for the time being," exclaimed
+Polly, but not in a distressed tone as one would expect after such dire
+news.
+
+"Your mother told me most emphatically, that that was _not_ the case.
+Everyone at Pebbly Pit seems to want you to continue with your studies
+until you have finished; and your father said there was a tidy fortune in
+a Denver bank for you, so that no matter what happened to others, you
+were amply provided for. With your business that you wish to take up, you
+will not have to worry over the future," explained Jack Baxter.
+
+Eleanor remembered that Mr. Dalken had invested heavily in these two
+Pebbly Pit ventures, and now she turned to him.
+
+"Will everyone connected with those two mines lose a great deal of
+money?"
+
+"Your father, the Latimers, the Evans', myself and John Brewster hold
+equal shares of stock, but Polly's father holds twice as much as anyone
+else, for he holds Polly's stock as her guardian as well as his own. The
+Montresor Estate, representing the heirs of Kenneth's uncle who first
+discovered the mine on Grizzly, and then willed it to Polly who later
+re-discovered the same vein of ore in the cave, hold the same number of
+shares in the stock-company as either of us, although they did not
+furnish any cash for their stock.
+
+"Now Ebeneezer Alexander told Jack to tell us, that he simply could not
+stand city-life another day. And, after enjoying the freedom and open
+life of the Rockies again, he was determined to stay at Pebbly Pit and
+see the tangle worked out. His experience will be most valuable to Tom
+and John, who are only young engineers, after all. And Mr. Brewster is a
+stock-grower with no knowledge of mining. So we think it is a good plan
+to let Mr. Alexander take up some of our shares, and sell him an interest
+in the future of these mines.
+
+"If anyone can pull Choko's Find Mine out of the grave it is buried in,
+old Ebeneezer can do it. He has such energy and perseverance that nothing
+daunts him--excepting big cities."
+
+"And titles!" added Eleanor, making her friends laugh.
+
+"Oh, I'm glad to hear he will stay there to help. I like him so much!"
+declared Polly.
+
+"Well, now that most of our evening was given to the story about the
+land-slide on Grizzly, how much time am I to be given for the furnishing
+of my apartment?" asked Jack Baxter.
+
+"Just talking about it won't furnish it," retorted Polly, smilingly.
+
+"No, but we can get at first principles, can't we?"
+
+"Yes; if both sides know on what basis each wishes to start!" said
+Eleanor.
+
+"I know my side of it, and I really think you girls know yours. This is
+my basis: I have two large rooms and bath near Fifth Avenue, that I want
+a decorator to do in keeping with the style of the rooms. I don't care
+where or how you get the items for furnishing, but I'd like some of the
+fun of going about with you when you visit odd corners of the country to
+dig up the antiques."
+
+"If you waste your time that way, how do you expect to finish a hurried
+education in engineering?" asked Polly.
+
+"Oh, furnishing won't last long, and studying will."
+
+"If Mr. Dalken is a conscientious executor of your estate I should think
+he'd forbid your wasting any time hunting up furniture and hiring
+decorators to do it for you, at the same time," teased Eleanor.
+
+Mr. Dalken laughed and said: "I always said 'All work and no play makes
+Jack a dull boy.'"
+
+"Well, Jack can work for two whole weeks before he gets any play, as far
+as going to a sale is concerned. There will be no sale, that we know of,
+until the old house at Parsippany is sold in two weeks," explained Polly.
+
+"I won't have to wait as long as that, I hope, for my apartment. I'm
+paying rent on it already, and am stopping with Mr. Dalken as his guest,
+until I get a bed and a chair."
+
+"But I thought you wanted to furnish by going to the sales of antiques,"
+ventured Polly.
+
+"I did, but I want to go to one tomorrow. Can't you girls contract to
+escort me to places in the city where we can get things without waiting?"
+
+"As far as that is concerned, we can take you right over to the Ashby
+Shop and find everything on earth you can use, right in his collections,"
+said Polly.
+
+"I wanted to feel that you two girls were getting this contract and the
+profits, and not a famous establishment," demurred Jack.
+
+"We'll have the contract, all right, but we will only buy what we need
+from Mr. Ashby, at regular discount, you know," explained Eleanor in a
+business-like manner.
+
+Mr. Dalken smiled indulgently on his two young friends who had developed
+such marvelous aptitude for business since their trip abroad that summer.
+And young Baxter concluded with: "All right; tomorrow, you girls get Mrs.
+Fabian, and come over to my rooms to get your 'atmosphere.' Then we'll
+start in and shop."
+
+So the next ten days were filled with a great many visits to the
+apartment to determine certain colors and styles of things, and with a
+great deal of important conferring between the client and the decorators.
+But eventually, the apartment was almost ready for its occupant, and
+three young people declared that the decorating was a work of art--simply
+perfect! And it did not cost so _very_ much, either! Mr. Dalken reserved
+his opinion on costs, however, and laughed in his sleeve at Baxter, for
+the latter had no more need of an apartment than a cat has for two tails.
+It was a whim of his to give the girls a contract, and Jack could afford
+whims, so his guardian said nothing about the bills.
+
+"Well, I must say," said Polly the day after Jack held a "house-warming"
+in his newly furnished domain, "I never saw ten days go by as fast as
+these did. Here we are almost on top of that sale in the country, and it
+seems like yesterday that we got the announcement."
+
+"It shows how much we really love our profession," said Eleanor, "when we
+get so much pleasure out of work."
+
+But Dodo was present at some of the conferences the two amateur
+decorators held with Jack and she now remarked: "Work! did you two think
+that going about in Jack's sporty car and lunching at swell dining-rooms,
+or holding up a strip of gold-gauze to watch the sheen on your hand, was
+hard work?"
+
+Mrs. Fabian laughed to herself at the conversation. But Polly answered
+with an experienced air: "When you have had years of study in decorating,
+like Nolla and I have had, you will find that work is not altogether a
+physical effort. At present, in your apprenticeship, you do more than you
+saw us do in furnishing, but you'll learn, some day!"
+
+Dodo tossed her head confidently, and remarked: "I have nothing more to
+learn--if your knowledge is the acme of the understanding of your trade."
+
+As no reply was given this statement, Mrs. Fabian hurried from the room
+to laugh quietly to herself at the egotism of youth. Later when Mr. Ashby
+was told the story, he said:
+
+"When they have been at the profession for thirty years, and have
+acquired all the knowledge that I have in that time, they will begin to
+learn that we all know very little of harmony and perfect ideals in
+decorating."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+THE PARSIPPANY VENDUE
+
+
+It was a lovely late Fall day when Carl brought Mr. Dalken's car around
+to the Fabian's residence to drive the girls to the Parsippany sale. Jack
+Baxter was seated beside Carl and announced to the girls as they came out
+with Mrs. Fabian: "I'm invited to go with you."
+
+"Who asked you?" was the rejoinder from both girls.
+
+"Carl did. He gets tired of chauffing for hours without rest. So I
+offered to help him out."
+
+Of course, Carl's uncomfortable flush showed that Jack was joking, but he
+was a welcome addition to the small party, so they started off, a merry
+quartette.
+
+As there had been no time to drive out, so far, to inspect the household
+goods for sale, it had been postponed until the day of the sale. Mrs.
+Fabian said that should there be nothing desirable at the old house, they
+could go on and have another hunt about the country.
+
+But the sale promised to be an interesting one, for the moment the girls
+found out that the house they were looking for was an old Colonial
+two-story farm-house, with wings at each side, they felt sure of its
+contents being worth-while.
+
+They parked the car out in a large carriage-house and walked over to the
+front door. It was a true type, with sunburst window over the door, and a
+wonderful old knocker on the front panel of the door. A narrow high
+window at each side had diamond panes in them. There was a dear little
+hood over the doorway that someone called a "rain-shed." And on each side
+of the "stoop" which was reached by three steps, was a high-backed wooden
+seat, with funny low arms at the outer ends.
+
+The windows of the entire house were filled with small-paned sash, the
+glass being green and wavy in some panes, and as cloudy as mist in
+others. Then again other panes were of really clear white glass. The city
+visitors found later, that these old panes were the original old glass
+set in by the first owner.
+
+But they did not come to admire the outside, so they all went indoors to
+look about. They entered upon a tiny entry.
+
+The front parlor was a small band-box-like room with a chimney piece at
+one side, and a stove-pipe hole in it for winter use. Alongside the
+chimney was a narrow cupboard that was meant to hold books, or other
+things, to keep the parlor from being "cluttered up."
+
+Directly opposite the chimney was a long, high-backed settee, with
+haircloth covering. The frame was old mahogany and the shape hinted at
+Chippendale, with its six feet having beautiful lines, and the side arms
+curving graciously out to invite one to be seated.
+
+In this best room were, also, several rush-bottomed stencilled chairs,
+and a Boston Rocker. An inlaid Hepplewhite table stood against the wall
+between the two front windows, with its drop-leaf raised against the
+wall. A number of old pieces of brass and pewter stood on the table. Over
+it hung an early Georgian mirror but the reflection one got when gazing
+into it was terrifying.
+
+From the parlor, the collectors went to the long living-room that
+occupied one wing of the house. Here was a great open fire-place with
+crane, and everything used in olden times for keeping a fire in good
+order. Over the mantel hung a wonderful old mirror with a colored picture
+of Washington crossing the Delaware in its upper panel.
+
+A rare Empire table with both leaves up, stood in the middle of the room,
+and Polly instantly made up her mind to own that table, if nothing more
+that day.
+
+As they went about admiring the antiques, Jack said: "Gee! But I'm sorry
+we furnished the apartment so soon. What a lot of fine things we might
+have had at this sale."
+
+And Eleanor laughingly remarked: "Sell your flat out like so many New
+Yorkers do, and start in again on another."
+
+In the low-ceiled, wide dining-room, they found the typical round
+mahogany table with twelve chairs--two arm and ten side chairs. The seats
+were covered with rep, but must have had haircloth on them at one time.
+The backs were very low and curved away from the small of the back in a
+frightened manner. There was but one cross-piece in the back and that was
+curved also.
+
+The side-board was nearly eight feet long, with six claw feet, and a high
+top. On it stood a tea-caddy of mahogany, a knife-box, and several silver
+boxes. All of them must have been over a hundred years old. Very old
+china and glassware stood on the large table, ready to be sold. The
+collectors saw many desirable pieces there, but they were too anxious to
+visit the upstairs to stop, then, and examine the plates and other
+pieces.
+
+There were four large square rooms on the second floor and in each one,
+stood a wonderful four-poster bed--two with canopy-tops and two without.
+Empire work-tables were in two rooms, and besides the high chests of
+mahogany drawers, and low dressing-tables with tiny front drawers to hold
+the comb and brush, there were also ottomans, foot-stools, and ornamental
+pieces. Mirrors hung over each mantel, and old-fashioned prints and
+paintings were on the walls.
+
+By the time Mrs. Fabian and the girls went downstairs again, they were
+dumbfounded to find that a farm-house so near to Morristown and railroad
+stations, should have preserved such a wonderful lot of old mahogany
+furniture without having been discovered by collectors. But being
+strangers to the other people now gathering for the sale, they did not
+speak of their wonderment.
+
+Mr. Van Styne was late, and as soon as he arrived he began in the
+kitchen, without any greeting to his followers. There seemed to be a far
+different type of buyer at this sale, than the girls had found at any of
+the little sales in Westchester; and once the auctioneer began on the
+antique pieces, the prices ran up alarmingly.
+
+"That man standing over there just paid a hundred and sixty dollars for
+that Colonial secretary," whispered Polly, annoyance expressed in her
+tone for she had been bidding on the same piece.
+
+"He doesn't look as if he had sixty cents in his purse," said Eleanor,
+scornfully.
+
+A lady standing beside her, looked at the buyer and smiled. "That man is
+one of the buyers of one of the largest antique collectors in New York."
+
+"He is!" gasped Eleanor.
+
+"Who is the collector?" asked Polly, but the woman saw a little Toby put
+up for sale, just then, and she wanted to bid on it, so Polly never
+heard.
+
+Anything that could boast of being a hundred years old, or more, brought
+fabulous prices, and the girls were amazed to hear names that they had
+read of in the columns of the New York papers, called out by the cashier,
+but never dreamed they would come face to face with the owners thereof.
+
+Jack Baxter spied a woman he knew, and finally brought her over to meet
+Mrs. Fabian and the girls. This lady was a social leader in the City, and
+furnished much interesting information to her new acquaintances, about
+others present who were buying.
+
+That sale taught Polly that it was not always the farm-houses that
+furnished the rarest bargains at a sale, especially when that farm was in
+proximity to a well-known residential suburb. But she also found that not
+everyone who attends a public sale, and bids anxiously, knows the value
+of what they are bidding on.
+
+Thus it transpired, that she secured several of the finest antiques in
+the house, because others knew nothing of their true records or had
+overlooked the objects because of their unattractive finish or form.
+
+Jack furnished much amusement to his friends by bidding on everything the
+girls did not want. And the most amusing part of it was, he seldom
+secured a thing he bid on. He finally grew so desperate in his bidding,
+because Polly laughed at his luck, that the people frowned upon him as
+being a "professional capper."
+
+Mr. Van Styne overheard that remark and was furious.
+
+"I want you all to know that I am an honest auctioneer! I never had a
+booster in my life, and I've sold for nigh onto fifty years. That
+nice-looking young man you call a 'capper' is a friend of some friends of
+mine from New York, out here to buy antiques. To prove it to you-all,
+that young lady there, next the young man, is the one who gave the
+'Metropolitan' the rare print she found in my shop. So there! I reckon
+that will hold you, for a time!"
+
+The surprise felt by the buyers at this news about Polly, was instantly
+followed by a general laugh at the auctioneer's final remark to them.
+Baxter laughed at the interruption, but Polly felt very uncomfortable
+with so many eyes turned her way. Mr. Van Styne, never dreaming of having
+made personal remarks, now continued his sale.
+
+The antique furniture in the upstairs chambers brought higher prices than
+Polly had seen similar pieces on sale at the antique shops in New York,
+and she wondered still more that a country auction should bring forth
+buyers who were willing to pay such high prices.
+
+Finally, feeling sure that there were no more bargains for them that day,
+Polly led the way downstairs. Young Baxter tried to persuade her to
+remain and try for a high-boy she had admired, but she refused to give
+the high bids demanded. So Jack stayed when the others left the room.
+
+Down on the side-porch, while waiting for Carl to come from the carriage
+sheds, a well-dressed lady accosted Polly.
+
+"I heard the auctioneer say you presented a rare print to the Museum in
+New York City. I should be pleased to hear about it."
+
+She handed Polly a card. Upon reading the name of one of the best known
+amateur collectors in New York, Polly forgot to reply. Mrs. Fabian smiled
+and spoke for her, to give her time to recover from her surprise. After
+introducing the girls, Mrs. Fabian mentioned the fact that Polly and
+Eleanor took advantage of every sale in or about the City, in order to
+familiarize themselves with such articles as they would need in their
+profession.
+
+"Oh, are you studying this line of work?" asked the lady, deeply
+interested at once.
+
+"Yes, we have given several years to the study, already, and last Summer
+we went abroad to visit the best known places where antiques and
+collections were to be seen," replied Polly.
+
+"Well then, my dears, this is my lucky day. I want someone to do this
+sort of work for me, but I want only such interested individuals who love
+the collecting for itself, and not alone for wages. Also, I want someone
+who can tell a Sheraton piece from Empire. If you girls will accept a
+proposition from me, I will be glad to talk it over, some morning, with
+you."
+
+Polly smiled and said: "If your orders do not interfere with our studies
+and other work, we will gladly accept the work."
+
+So, by the time Jack Baxter hurried down the stairs, Polly and Eleanor
+had made a new connection with one of New York's social leaders. Jack
+looked about for his friends, for a moment, and then smiled in surprise
+as he rushed forward.
+
+"Why, Mrs. Courtney! I am delighted to see you here. Did you just
+arrive?"
+
+"Well, if it isn't Jack Baxter! No, my boy, I came out this morning
+thinking this was a _bona fide_ antique sale. To my disgust, I found it
+was 'fixed' by a clever dealer from the city, who chooses just such
+suburban towns as are famous for its millionaire residents, then he plans
+a campaign. He was wise enough, this time, to engage Mr. Van Styne to do
+the selling for him, as the old man is so popular with the people of his
+town, and he is a splendid auctioneer, at the same time."
+
+Polly was dumbfounded. "Do you mean to say that anyone would take the
+trouble to ship out all these antiques, so far from the city, just to
+catch a lot of buyers?"
+
+Mrs. Courtney laughed. "Of course, my dear. People will take any amount
+of trouble to make a few extra dollars. This dealer owns his own trucks,
+and why not let them put in a day's work carting a load of furniture
+here, if he can get twice as much for his goods as in New York? All he
+has to do, is to find the right type of old house conveniently near the
+city for motoring and large enough to show off his wares to the best
+advantage. This man is clever enough, too, to select only such places as
+are rich with Revolutionary lore, and near enough to the estates of the
+rich to be an attraction to owners to come. Then he mails announcements
+to his city clientele, also. That is how I heard of the sale."
+
+Jack frowned angrily. "I suppose that darned old high-boy I just bought
+for a top-notch figure, could have been purchased at this man's city shop
+for half the price! Now I have to pay to have it crated and shipped back
+to New York."
+
+"Oh, this 'fixer' will move it back in his trucks for a neat sum," said
+Eleanor.
+
+Her companions laughed. Polly then reminded him: "I said _not_ to bid on
+it! I knew it would go too high for us to bother with."
+
+Carl now drove up to the house, and Mrs. Courtney bid them good-day,
+having reminded Polly that she and Eleanor were to telephone her at their
+first opportunity.
+
+Polly could not help speaking of the "fixed" sale of antiques, and
+Eleanor said: "That is why everything brought such awfully high prices.
+The articles must have had a set price on them to begin with, and when
+Mr. Van Styne offered a thing, the dealer was there to run it to a figure
+beyond the given price on the books. I am surprised that the old
+auctioneer would do such a thing."
+
+"I don't believe he knew the sale was what we call 'padded'; for he seems
+too conscientious a man to lend himself to such a deception," remarked
+Mrs. Fabian.
+
+"If he was just hired to sell the stuff, regardless of how it got out to
+Parsippany, and told to follow book-orders, he had no choice, had he?"
+asked Polly.
+
+"He looks such an honest old fellow, I don't believe he even knew the
+goods came from a New York dealer. Just because he _is_ so honest, is one
+reason why people who knew him will listen to his advice and for the same
+reason a clever New York dealer would hire him. I wouldn't be surprised,
+if you girls hear from him, some day, to the effect that he is shocked to
+learn that this sale was not on the level as far as the yarn went," said
+Jack.
+
+"Well, I'd feel better if he did. I really feel hurt, now, to think he
+might be as tricky as that other dealer," said Polly.
+
+"But it would not be called 'tricky,' Polly, in clever business circles,"
+said Mrs. Fabian.
+
+"Maybe not, but to me it looks a lot like selling goods under false
+representations. I'd rather not sell anything than have to sell that
+way."
+
+"When you come right down to 'brass tacks' and study out the whole scheme
+of things, Polly, we might be accused of tricky works, too," remarked
+Eleanor.
+
+"What do you mean?" demanded Polly, astonished.
+
+"Well, when you think of how we got that pair of old candle-sticks in
+exchange for a brass lamp! We had no lamp to exchange, but Mrs. Fabian
+rushed off to a store and got one. Then there were those old pictures at
+Van Styne's. We were afraid he'd suspect them of being valuable, so we
+dusted them well again, as they had been originally, and placed them with
+two others to make a 'job lot' of them, to hide the facts about them."
+
+"But," remonstrated Polly, "the lady who had no use for the candle-sticks
+_did_ want a brass lamp the worst way. And Sally Dolan, who never
+appreciated the pictures when she had them, _did_ appreciate the money we
+paid for them--while we appreciated the old things other folks failed to
+value."
+
+"Polly is right, there, Nolla," added Mrs. Fabian. "I do not see a trick
+in giving a person exactly what they ask for a thing--whether they realize
+the true value of it, or not. That is their affair. In Law, the Judge says
+there is no excuse or cause, for mitigating a sentence because the
+prisoner claims he was ignorant of consequences of a deed. So it is in
+other lines: Ignorance can never claim excuse from consequences--whether
+it be a sale of a candle-stick or a piece of old land that turns out to
+have gold on it."
+
+"Then I should say, ignorance on the part of the buyers at this vendue,
+exonerates the dealer from all blame," said Eleanor.
+
+"Legally it does, but we were thinking of the moral," explained Mrs.
+Fabian.
+
+When the collectors reached the Fabian house, Jack seemed loath to go on,
+so Mrs. Fabian invited him in to have a bite with them at an informal
+dinner.
+
+It had been plainly evident for some time, that the only interest Jack
+Baxter had taken in furnishing his apartment, or in going about to hunt
+out old antiques, was because it gave him plenty of opportunities to be
+with Polly. And as is often the case, when one is completely absorbed in
+a pursuit, Polly was the last one to suspect the truth of this.
+
+But he forgot discretion that evening, at dinner, and permitted too much
+of his attention to be directed Polly's way. Even this might have been
+overlooked had not an interruption occurred while at the table.
+
+The telephone bell was heard, and shortly afterward, the maid came around
+to Polly's side and said:
+
+"A Mr. Latimer on the wire, Miss Polly."
+
+Eleanor was all interest at once: "Can it be Jim, or Tom, I wonder?"
+
+Polly was excusing herself at the moment, but turned to add: "You know
+very well that Tom has his hands full at the mines."
+
+Eleanor flushed, for she had almost given away a secret that Paul had
+told her in his last letter. Thus far she had kept quiet about the
+confidence.
+
+Polly ran from the room, and Jack Baxter scowled at his plate. Mr. Fabian
+smiled at his face and tried to engage him in conversation. But Polly's
+continued absence annoyed the youth, so that he lost his appetite, and,
+in fact, all interest in any subject started.
+
+Polly skipped back after a time, her face wreathed in smiles. "You will
+never guess who I was talking to?"
+
+Everyone but Jack pretended not to know, but he blurted out: "When I was
+out at the ranch, that Tom Latimer said something about coming East for
+the Winter months--as long as Alexander proposed to stay out there and
+take a hand in the work."
+
+"Why, this is the first word you've said about it," said Polly, amazed.
+
+"Had I known you were so deeply interested in the plans of young Latimer,
+I would have told you immediately," said Jack, with sarcasm born of
+jealousy in his voice.
+
+Polly refused to answer him, and immediately asked Mrs. Fabian to excuse
+her from dinner as she wished to dress for the evening.
+
+The rest of the family finished the meal with the uncomfortable sense of
+Jack's having lost caste in Polly's estimation. He felt it himself, and
+it certainly did not tend to make him more agreeable that evening.
+
+As soon after dinner as could be politely managed, Jack spoke of a
+theatre engagement and excused himself. His hostesses felt easier when
+the door slammed upon him, for they dreaded having Tom announced while
+his rival was there, and then have the whole evening spoiled by both
+young men glowering at each other.
+
+While Eleanor and Nancy ran upstairs to dress for the evening, the former
+whispered: "If Tom remains in New York all this winter, I bet he'll _get_
+Polly before he goes back to the mines, or else he'll 'cook his goose'
+for all time!"
+
+Nancy laughed merrily, and said: "No goose will be cooked if Polly knows
+it! But I'll wager you a box of candy, Nolla, that Tom will _not_ get his
+girl before he goes back to the mines."
+
+"All right, Nanc! That's a wager; a five-pound box of the best _bon
+bons_, that Tom and Polly will be engaged before the end of this winter
+season!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+TOM MEANS BUSINESS
+
+
+Polly's friends had not completed their dressing when Tom was announced,
+but she was waiting in the cozy library; so Tom crossed the long formal
+parlor in a few strides, when he caught sight of her in the softly shaded
+light of the floor-lamp.
+
+"Polly! Oh, but I'm glad to see you again!" breathed he as he caught both
+hands and devoured her smiles with his eyes.
+
+"I should hope you would be glad! Isn't everyone I know glad to see me
+after they have been absent a long time?" laughed Polly, in a
+matter-of-fact tone.
+
+But Tom glanced hastily about the room. Then he quite unexpectedly leaned
+forward and caught her face between his palms. "Polly Brewster, I'm going
+to salute you with a brotherly kiss!" whispered Tom, and immediately, he
+pressed a kiss upon her red lips--but Polly felt sure it was _not_ like
+John's kisses.
+
+She tried to free her head from his powerful hands, but he laughed
+masterfully and held her under the light while he gazed into her eyes.
+Finally Polly felt herself growing warm and flushed, and to stop his look
+she closed her eyes and began kicking at his shins.
+
+With a happy laugh, Tom freed her face and picked her up in his arms. In
+three long strides he was over at the divan where he placed her, sitting
+upright. Then he sat down beside her.
+
+"Why--Tom Latimer!" gasped Polly, angrily, trying to rearrange her hair
+which had become tumbled in the fray.
+
+"Why--Tom Latimer!" laughed he, mimicking Polly very cleverly. "You don't
+know _this_ Tom, do you, girl! But this is the Tom that you'll know
+hereafter. I'm through acting like a woolly lamb just because Anne says
+that's the only way to get a girl! You're a Rocky Mountain girl and the
+only way to make you notice, is to use ranch methods to lasso you. That's
+why I'm here in New York. Catch me letting a rich society darling like
+that Baxter spend the winter months making love to you, when I'm wasting
+my heart away at Pebbly Pit, hoping against hope for a nice long letter
+from you!"
+
+[Illustration: TOM PICKED POLLY UP IN HIS ARMS.
+Polly's Business Venture. Page 200]
+
+Tom's frown and the tone in which he declared himself, made Polly want to
+laugh albeit she shrunk away, somewhat, for fear of a plot in his mind.
+
+Tom had, in his fervor, lost control once, but he was too wise to indulge
+himself again, in such a manner. Tom had spent a great deal of time in
+studying, during the past year, the psychology of love, and now he was
+going to test his knowledge. He told John, just before he left the ranch,
+that once a girl liked a fellow, it was easy to make her love him, by
+judicious treatment. In explanation, he said:
+
+"When Jeb wants to coax one of the burros to the barn, he doesn't give
+him the measure of oats to eat out on the range--no, he leads the burro
+to the barn by holding the box of feed ahead of his nose!"
+
+The Brewsters laughed at Tom's idea, but he declared that that was the
+way he was going to get Polly. And all their arguments about giving Polly
+a chance to finish her studies and try out her beloved work, fell on dull
+ears. Tom started East!
+
+"Polly, let's all go to a good show, shall we?" was Tom's unexpected
+invitation, just as his companion began to worry because he sat so close
+beside her.
+
+"Oh! Yes--I think that will be lovely!" said Polly.
+
+"All right! Run up and tell the others to get their caps and jackets on.
+I'll telephone an agent and see what's good."
+
+Polly ran out of the room, glad to have the problem of the evening's
+entertainment solved for her, but still she felt a little disappointed
+because Tom could so eagerly suggest taking the family out when she
+wanted to have a tete-a-tete with him to ask about the mines. Tom's
+plan about holding the temptation before a burro instead of surfeiting
+him with goodies, was evidently beginning to work.
+
+The play was one of the most popular ones, and seats were in great
+demand. But money does anything in New York, so Tom secured splendid
+orchestra seats, and they reached the theatre just as the curtain went up
+on the first scene. The interior was darkened when they entered, and
+Polly could not tell who sat in front of her, until the first act ended
+and the lights were turned on.
+
+Tom sat beside her, and began whispering in his free western voice, when
+a young man seated directly in front, turned deliberately around and
+stared at him. Polly gasped, and Eleanor nudged her in the side. It was
+Jack Baxter!
+
+Without taking his eyes from Tom, Jack reached under the chair and got
+his hat. Then he dragged his coat over his arm, and got up. He bowed
+stiffly to the girls in Tom's party, and went out. Tom waited until he
+was gone, then he looked down at Polly.
+
+"Um! It was high time I came East, I see!"
+
+"Why?" was Polly's smiling rejoinder.
+
+"By next Spring it might have been Tom who sat alone and felt like the
+fifth wheel in a wagon instead of Baxter. My, but I'm glad I came!"
+
+Polly frowned, and Eleanor did her best to hear what was said between
+these two _apparently_ phlegmatic companions. But Tom meant his words for
+Polly's ears only.
+
+Once during the evening, when the light was so low that the theatre was
+almost dark, Tom changed his position in such a way that his arm rested
+over the back of Polly's chair. In his interest in the scene on the
+stage, his hand dropped carelessly upon her shoulder. And Polly was too
+engaged with the play to remove it, or even change her position to allow
+it to fall back again.
+
+Then Tom moved, so that his arms touched hers, and his hand that rested
+upon one knee, could cover Polly's hand while the audience was enthralled
+by the burglar's escape, and no one but Eleanor had the slightest idea of
+what was going on in these two orchestra chairs. But Polly grew restive
+and tried to free her hand.
+
+Then the lights went up again, and Tom moved away and said apologetically:
+"These seats are so cramped for such a great fellow as I am!"
+
+And Polly replied tartly: "Yes, they really ought to allow more room for
+people's hands and arms."
+
+Eleanor smiled wisely, and sent Tom a teasing look.
+
+John Baxter did not come back to claim his seat that evening, and the
+play ended without Polly having given him another thought. Poor Jack!
+
+After Tom reached New York, there seemed very little time for Polly in
+which to hunt up antiques in the country, or to attend sales that were
+advertised at various places. Then Winter weather set in, and that gave
+her the necessary excuse that the automobile could not travel in snow or
+mud.
+
+All but Tom and Polly thought that Tom's plot to win Polly from her
+chosen profession seemed to be succeeding. But Tom felt that he had not
+had much encouragement as yet; and Polly was having a very nice time with
+an old friend she liked better than other young men, without feeling
+unduly indebted for the pleasure.
+
+Although the Latimers lived uptown in New York, they saw little of Tom
+during the first weeks of his return to the City. He stopped at a hotel
+not far from the Fabian's place, and made duty-calls on his father and
+mother at regular intervals, but they understood what he came East for,
+and they wished him all success.
+
+Time passed quickly, with a new pastime planned by Tom, for each day. And
+most of these pleasures included the other girls, as well as Polly. So
+the enjoyment was general, and Polly could not say that Tom tried to get
+her company for himself, by leaving her friends out of any fun.
+
+December came in, and the Christmas season advanced, with Tom still
+leading a gay life and escorting the girls to every pleasure or
+entertainment they heard of; and Polly was still the kind little "sister"
+to him in every way, but nothing more.
+
+Tom had selected his Christmas gift for Polly, but no one had been told
+about it. This he had kept absolutely secret. The Christmas Holidays came
+and all schools closed, so that the girls had no studies to attend to,
+and no art work to prepare. Jim Latimer and his chum Kenneth came home
+from Yale for the two weeks' vacation, and they immediately called on
+Polly and Eleanor.
+
+Tom saw how gladly Polly welcomed Jim and Kenneth, and he began to wonder
+if she really preferred a young boy's society to his. Polly and Jim were
+about the same age--not quite eighteen, while he--Tom, was almost
+twenty-four. Such a decrepit old age!
+
+The evening Jim planned to visit Polly and take Kenneth along for
+Eleanor, Tom, to the surprise of his parents, spent the entire evening
+with them; but he was not very attentive to what his mother said, nor did
+he seem over-pleased with being at home.
+
+Jim and Kenneth were noisy, active young college boys, and they furnished
+lots of fun that evening, of the energetic, "center-rush" kind. But Polly
+was relieved when they had said good-night and were gone.
+
+Eleanor laughed at the way Jim "rough-housed" both girls when he tried to
+kiss them good-night, and Polly indignantly told him he would never be
+invited there again! Jim laughed and caught hold of Polly to shake her
+for such a threat, but he smacked her loudly on the lips, instead.
+
+As the two girls went upstairs to retire, Polly said: "I'm sure Jim
+wouldn't have acted so silly if his big brother had been here!"
+
+Eleanor then added: "We have such lovely evenings with Tom, that this
+sort of horse-play gets on my nerves!" Then she slyly watched her
+friend's expression to try and read her mind.
+
+"I wonder why Tom never came in tonight?" said Polly.
+
+"Jack Baxter met me this afternoon, and he says Tom goes uptown
+regularly, to see a girl. Jack shadowed him and knows exactly where the
+girl lives. But he didn't say I must not tell you," said Eleanor,
+confidentially. Neither did she add that she had heard the address of
+this "girl" and knew it to be Tom's home and mother.
+
+Polly flushed, but said nonchalantly: "Poor Tom! He feels awfully bored
+with us girls, at times!"
+
+"I should think so! especially if he came home for a visit with the idea
+of finding a nice girl to propose to. Now Jack thinks that Tom, with his
+good looks, his wonderful intelligence, and his family-tree, to say
+nothing of the Latimer fortune, ought to be able to take his pick of any
+New York girl that is looking for an ideal husband," remarked Eleanor,
+guilelessly.
+
+Polly flashed her a look. "Since when has Jack Baxter dropped his
+maligning of Tom Latimer, and started to admire him?"
+
+Eleanor bit her lips to prevent a smile, but she replied, innocently:
+"Why, Jack always did admire Tom, even when he met him at Pebbly Pit. But
+he is jealous of him, for all the admiration he has for him. But I'll
+tell you, Polly: I wouldn't trust Jack in a case of 'love or war.' He'd
+as soon make Tom believe you were in love with another man, as anything
+else, if he could win a point by it."
+
+But Eleanor over-stepped her ambition this time. Polly quickly replied:
+"Then Jack must be trying to 'win a point' when he got you to tell me
+that Tom was calling on another girl, uptown."
+
+Eleanor realized her error and had common sense enough not to endeavor to
+explain it away. She merely said: "Oh well, Tom is too handsome a fellow
+to be wandering about New York these nights without a guardian. Some wide
+awake girl is going to snap him up the first chance!"
+
+"Seems to me, Nolla, that Tom has been wandering about since he arrived
+in the City, with a whole bevy of guardians to keep him from snares and
+pitfalls. With all of us girls surrounding him, a fine chance any other
+girl could have found to snap him."
+
+Eleanor was evidently getting worsted in her well-meant plan to further
+Tom's case, so she wisely decided to keep still.
+
+Nothing was heard from Tom the next day, although Polly was sure he would
+call, or telephone, before evening. Then the telephone did ring, but it
+was Mr. Dalken, inviting the entire family over to his apartment for a
+party that evening.
+
+"Just an impromptu affair, you know, with some of our old friends coming
+in to spend the evening."
+
+Mrs. Fabian accepted for herself and husband, and said she would see if
+the girls had any engagement. She came back to the living-room where they
+were waiting for dinner to be announced.
+
+"Are you girls going out this evening, or have you any engagement at
+home?" asked she.
+
+Nancy shook her head, and Eleanor replied: "For a great wonder, we
+haven't a blessed thing on for tonight! First evening free in months!"
+
+"Mr. Dalken wants us to come over and join some old friends, just for a
+nice visit," ventured Mrs. Fabian, looking from one girl to the other.
+
+"Fine! Anything but sitting here staring at Polly's concerned face,"
+retorted Eleanor.
+
+Mrs. Fabian smiled and went to answer Mr. Dalken, but Polly sat up and
+asked Eleanor what she meant by that.
+
+"Oh, ask yourself, Polly, you've been mooning around all day looking like
+'Gottschalk's Last Hope.' One speaks to you, and you never hear what's
+said. The very house could burn down but you'd never know it. You'd roast
+without feeling any sensation in it!" declared Eleanor, impatiently.
+Nancy laughed at both girls.
+
+After dinner, while the girls were dressing to go to Mr. Dalken's,
+Eleanor went to Polly's room to be hooked up. When she saw Polly arrayed
+in one of her most fetching Paris dresses she stood and stared.
+
+"Why! we're not going to the Opera!" said she.
+
+"We're going to Mr. Dalken's, aren't we?" asked Polly.
+
+"Yes, but Jack won't be there--nor Tom, either," was Eleanor's smooth
+reply.
+
+"I hadn't thought of who might be there, I dressed for my old friend, Mr.
+Dalken. He is so correct in these matters, so I want to do justice to his
+friendship," Polly scored this time.
+
+Eleanor did not wait to be hooked up but rushed back to her own room, and
+when Polly met her again, down in the hall, she had changed her gown,
+also, and looked very attractive, indeed.
+
+Because of the delay occasioned by Eleanor, the Fabian party was late in
+reaching Mr. Dalken's. The other guests were already there, and to
+Polly's intense gratification, not only was Jack assisting the host for
+the evening, but Tom sat in one corner of the large living room, looking
+at a book of snap-shots taken by Mr. Dalken while out in the Rockies. So
+engrossed was Tom in the pictures, that he did not lift his head when
+new-comers were welcomed.
+
+Polly glanced over at the corner and finding Tom so interested in
+mountain charms, while female charms abounded so near him, she felt
+peeved and smiled radiantly on Jack. Eleanor saw, and determined that she
+would not permit matters to go astray again, as she had taken such
+trouble to get Mr. Dalken to plan this impromptu gathering just to give
+Polly the opportunity to see both suitors together--to the advancement of
+one or the other's interest. Eleanor had no doubt that it would be Tom's
+advancement.
+
+So she flirted outrageously with Jack, to the amusement of Mr. Dalken who
+understood how matters were with all the young people. Thus Eleanor was
+cozily cornered with Jack in the den, doing her utmost to make him forget
+Polly for the time being, when the Jap came to the living-room door and
+announced a new caller.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+NECESSARY EXPLANATIONS
+
+
+Eleanor was not to be seen when a young man came in the room and was
+joyously welcomed by everyone present. Tom Latimer had disappeared also,
+a short time before this, and Polly was sitting in the wide seat built in
+the window, staring out over the roofs of the buildings without seeing a
+thing.
+
+The delighted exclamations from those in the room, however, drew her
+attention, and she was rejoiced to see Paul Stewart shaking hands with
+those crowding about him. So Polly left her shadowy retreat and ran over
+to welcome him, too.
+
+Paul was saying: "Isn't it too jolly of John to send me East for the
+Holidays, by making me power-of-attorney for the Stock-holders meeting
+the first of January. That was the only way I could have come--by having
+my fare paid!" Paul laughed because they all knew of his financial
+problems, and how he was striving to win success that he might propose to
+Eleanor.
+
+Polly felt annoyed because she was sure Eleanor had led Tom to the den
+that she might advise him further in his love-affairs. And it was this
+interference by Eleanor, that roused much of Polly's indifference or
+impatience towards Tom. Now she felt she had been given a good
+opportunity to square accounts with her chum.
+
+Paul and she were standing alone for a moment, when she saw him looking
+about for someone. She gave the desired cue: "You'll find Nolla with Tom,
+enjoying a tete-a-tete in Mr. Dalken's little den across the hallway,
+Paul."
+
+As she watched Paul hurriedly excuse himself, she experienced a new
+sensation--that of gratified revenge on a friend. She walked about the
+room, apparently looking at the pictures, but really to reach the hall
+without attracting attention. Once she got out of the room, she made a
+dash for a shadowy corner made by an old ormolu secretaire between the
+two doors. She could see into the den and watch Paul's next action.
+
+Two huge Turkish chairs were drawn up before the fire-place but the
+electric lights were out and only the candles on the tables near the door
+were lighted. The leaping flames of the logs burning in the fire-place
+threw dancing shadows over the two occupants of the chairs, but anyone
+standing near the door could not see who these occupants were.
+
+Paul crept stealthily over to the chairs, planning to surprise his two
+old friends--believing Tom to be one, and Eleanor the other. He lifted
+his hands with the intention of clapping them over Eleanor's eyes to make
+her guess who was there, when he heard words that rooted him to the spot.
+Polly saw but could not hear, so she lost the best part of her
+retaliation on Eleanor.
+
+Just as Paul was about to bring down his palms over Eleanor's eyes, a
+strange voice murmured intensely: "You know how I feel about it, Nolla.
+This love is so absorbing that I cannot give my attention to studies, or
+to any other important matter. If I am treated to second place, now that
+another lover is at hand, I will clear out of New York and never be heard
+from again. In fact, I am going to purposely throw myself in the way of
+danger and end it all!"
+
+Paul realized that another man had found his treasure and had been
+encouraged, or why should he be saying "given second-place now that
+another lover is at hand?" And it was evident that someone knew of his,
+Paul's, proposed visit, as _this_ young man knew of his coming to see
+Eleanor.
+
+Such is the mortal's egotism! One never thinks of others in connection
+with a selfish hope or idea, but believes that anything seen or heard
+must appertain to that one thing. So Paul thought Eleanor was the love
+this young man referred to, and that she had given him second-place
+because of Paul's coming.
+
+These thoughts flitted through his mind as young Baxter concluded, and
+Eleanor waited a moment before answering. Then she said with a sigh:
+"Dear Jack, a mild little flirtation never hurt any real case of love,
+and I've told you many times, that a game of love like this would improve
+or become fatal, because of such a flirtation. Like anti-toxin--it
+_kills_ the germs or makes them wild so that no further doubt remains
+about the patient. Let's use the hypodermic courageously and watch
+results. If the love-germ dies, then go and throw yourself on the
+railroad track and end your troubles. But should the opposite effect
+result, you can always think of me as the specialist who advised the
+heroic treatment!"
+
+Paul was shocked to hear his "angel-girl" talk of her love in such a
+dreadfully frank way, but the suitor's next sentence left no doubt in
+Paul's mind that Eleanor was a horrid flirt.
+
+"Well, Nolla, you must know best. Paul has been in love with you for a
+long time, now, and you've had many young admirers since you came to New
+York; so you understand and appreciate my present position and my right
+to demand one thing or the other--either _I_ am the accepted one, or the
+other man. Both of us cannot be kept dangling about, nor take turns in
+loving when the other is absent from New York."
+
+Paul was distressed at hearing this--that Eleanor could accept the
+attentions of other men when he, Paul, was so hard at work out West,
+trying to succeed in his profession that he might offer her a suitable
+home! Now she was flirting with others, and this young man was
+heart-broken over her short-comings, even as he, Paul, was.
+
+Polly saw Paul wheel and rush from the room, and immediately after that,
+Eleanor and Jack jumped up from the chairs and gazed at the door where
+the intruder had disappeared. When Polly saw who Eleanor's companion was,
+she gasped in astonishment, for she believed it was Tom sitting before
+the fire.
+
+Had Polly hurried after Paul, to explain matters to him, all would have
+ended well that evening, but she went to the room where her wraps had
+been left and sat down to think out the problem. Meantime, Paul found Mr.
+Dalken and drew him aside to say:
+
+"Don't ask questions, and don't try to stop me, but I am going away as
+quick as I can. I'm through with girls for all time. They're not to be
+trusted when a man's absent. I'm going to live for my mother, hereafter,
+and make her life happy."
+
+Mr. Dalken was taken by surprise, because he had no key to this new
+puzzle, but he said: "Do wait, my boy, and have some refreshments with
+us. I have so much to ask you about the mine."
+
+"No--no! I can't stay. The mine isn't my affair anyway, and I was a fool
+to coax John to give me power-of-attorney to come East for him. Now I'm
+rushing back and he can send Tom Latimer the affidavit necessary for the
+meeting in January."
+
+"Now, now, Paul! You are a hot-headed young fellow and I feel sure
+matters can be explained quickly, if you will but wait!"
+
+Paul scowled and stiffened his spine as he replied: "Mr. Dalken, I heard
+with my own ears, that Nolla is infatuated with another young man. She
+said, _and I_ heard her say it: 'She was not certain which one of us she
+preferred but the test would show if she used a good dose of anti-toxin
+to help the germ! But I'm no 'second fiddle' even if that other fellow
+is! If a girl can't tell whether she loves me without using hypodermics
+to help her find out, then she's no wife for me! Maybe I'm a wild and
+woolly westerner from Denver, but believe me! we westerners never stand
+around waiting for a bit to be forced between our teeth."
+
+Mr. Dalken could hardly restrain his sudden desire to laugh, but he
+averted his head for a moment and covered his face with a handkerchief
+until he composed his risibles, then he said: "Still, I am sure I can
+mediate in this case, Paul. Only stay and let me inquire."
+
+"I guess not! No one can mediate between me and a flirt! I am through, I
+say, and I'm going home!"
+
+So saying Paul thrust out his hand and Mr. Dalken had to take it.
+"Good-by, and say good-by to the others for me. This much I want you to
+do, as I will not see them again!"
+
+Mr. Dalken went to the door with his excited guest and saw him go down on
+the elevator, then he rushed madly back to the telephone and ordered the
+man to detain the departing guest. Back to the den where he had seen
+Eleanor standing with Jack, was his next act, and dragging both out of
+the apartment and along the hall to the elevator, he pushed the button
+furiously.
+
+While the wondering attendant was coming up, Mr. Dalken said: "What in
+the name of conscience did you two crazy creatures do or say to Paul
+Stewart, to drive him frantic?"
+
+Jack stared in ignorance of what his guardian meant, but Eleanor gazed as
+if she thought Mr. Dalken had suddenly gone mad. The elevator stopped at
+their floor, and the man opened the gate. Mr. Dalken pulled his two
+companions on, and the man started down again.
+
+All this time, Eleanor was speechless with doubt of Mr. Dalken's sanity
+but the elevator man turned to him and said: "The young man I just took
+down, refused to remain. He said he would arrest anyone who tried to
+detain him against his will."
+
+Mr. Dalken ran his hands through his hair and rolled his eyes upward.
+Turning to Eleanor he hissed: "What _did_ you say to Paul to make him act
+like a man in torment?"
+
+"Paul! Are you crazy, Mr. Dalken?" asked Eleanor, fearfully.
+
+"No, but _you_ must be to throw over such a sweetheart. You'll wait a
+long time before you get another like him, even though I do like Jack
+immensely, and will further his case when he meets the right girl. I'm
+sure you are not the right one, and you ought to know it, from what you
+told me yourself, yesterday. Can't you see that Jack thinks he loves
+Polly, just because she won't have him?"
+
+"Of course I understand!" retorted Eleanor, but annoyed that her plot to
+bring Polly and Tom together again was exposed.
+
+"Then why in the name of heavens did you send Paul away believing it was
+_you_ that Jack wanted?"
+
+Before an answer could be given, the elevator reached the ground floor
+and the man quickly opened the doors. Out in the vestibule the
+telephone-operator was button-holing a young man and using every
+persuasion to detain him.
+
+Jack Baxter had never seen Paul so he did not recognize him now. But
+Eleanor did, and she stood stock-still in such surprise that Mr. Dalken
+ran ahead without her.
+
+"Paul, Paul! I knew you had made a mistake. Eleanor is here to explain
+everything," said he, taking the place of the amazed servant.
+
+"What can she explain that will change my opinion of her?" scorned Paul,
+sending a cold look at poor Eleanor.
+
+"Nolla, come here, Paul wants you to explain," begged Mr. Dalken, beside
+himself.
+
+Her first surprise at finding Paul Stewart in New York _and in the
+house_, passed over and Eleanor forgot Jack and everything else, as she
+rushed forward to welcome her old sweetheart.
+
+"Paul--Oh Paul! When did _you_ come?" cried she.
+
+But Paul's haughty stare stopped her when she was not ten inches from
+him. He turned to Mr. Dalken and said: "Now that you've broken your word
+with me, you had best explain."
+
+"_I_ broken my word! I never gave my word to anything that is broken.
+Remember, Paul, you may be a hot-headed impulsive youth, but you cannot
+make such sweeping accusations without grounds for them. I am so sorry
+for you in your disappointment that I will excuse you this time, however,
+and explain for your benefit, that I caught hold of Jack and Nolla after
+you left and dragged them down here without 'breaking my word' as you
+claim, or any other unhonorable deed. Unless you consider getting at the
+truth is unprincipled." Mr. Dalken was stern and dignified in his
+self-justification, and Paul had the grace to flush uncomfortably.
+
+Eleanor was standing, uncertain of what was best to do in this strange
+meeting. She had felt over-joyed a moment before, to find Paul there, but
+now she wondered why he was so angry, and why he had not waited to greet
+her, as long as he had been up in the apartment. Baxter, not feeling at
+home in this group, turned and asked the man to take him up again.
+
+Mr. Dalken had not seen Jack leave again, so he turned to call him, but
+found he had disappeared.
+
+"Nolla, what did you say to Paul when he met you?" demanded the older
+man.
+
+"I? Why, Mr. Dalken, I never knew Paul was here. The first hint I had of
+something unusual was when you rushed in to drag us downstairs."
+
+Mr. Dalken was puzzled so he turned to Paul. "Then why did you say Nolla
+was a flirt and had made a fool of you? I thought she met you and began
+to tease, as she does everyone."
+
+"There was no need of her saying anything to me, as I heard her tell,
+when she was not aware of my standing behind her chair, that the young
+man she was with might prove to be the accepted love after all." Then
+Paul repeated the substance of the talk he had overheard between Jack and
+Eleanor.
+
+As he concluded, Eleanor laughed hysterically and held out her hands to
+Mr. Dalken beseechingly. "Oh, dear Dalky! Can't you see how Paul
+misunderstood everything! I was speaking of Jack's case with Polly, and
+advising him in regard to Tom. I know Jack is not seriously in love with
+Polly, but he fancies himself so, because Polly is so attractive and
+indifferent to him. As Jack has always been flattered and made love to by
+society girls, this unexpected attitude of Polly's piqued the boy. I did
+my best tonight, to show all three of these silly young things where they
+stood in this serious matter. And _to think_, I got myself in hot water
+for trying to help my friends!" Eleanor unexpectedly broke out in sobs
+and leaned her head against Mr. Dalken's shoulder.
+
+Paul began to accuse himself for being a brute, and Mr. Dalken patted
+Eleanor's head and said comfortingly: "Never mind, Nolla dear. You'll
+learn by bitter experience that the more one interferes in these love
+tangles for the sake of helping friends out of their troubles, the more
+our friends detest us and we end in falling into snares ourselves."
+
+"Um--don't I know it now!" wept Eleanor, in a muffled voice, because her
+mouth was hard against her comforter's coat.
+
+Paul stood uncertain of what to say or do. He shifted his weight from one
+foot to the other, and glanced around, but always brought his wandering
+eyes back to Eleanor's shaking form.
+
+An interruption, in shape of the entrance of some merry tenants of
+another apartment, suddenly caused Mr. Dalken to lift Eleanor's head and
+hurry her, with Paul, into the reception room at one end of the main
+hall. Here they sat down to have an understanding.
+
+When the facts were fully revealed, Paul was as grateful to Mr. Dalken
+for restraining him in his plans to run away, as Eleanor was for his
+hasty removal of her from upstairs, to the hall downstairs. And poor Mr.
+Dalken was _most_ grateful to find he had made peace between two
+disturbed young hearts. He got up and said: "Let's hope you won't curse
+me in the future, for this reconciliation. And for goodness' sake! Let me
+get upstairs to my guests, and help Taki serve refreshments, or the
+oysters will be ruined with stewing, while the wonderful French patties I
+got from Del's, will be cold and clammy."
+
+Eleanor laughed, and beckoned Paul to come up again. So the grinning
+elevator man carried them up and very considerately accepted the tip Paul
+slipped into his palm as he stepped from the lift.
+
+The Japanese butler had not waited for Mr. Dalken, however, and was
+passing the famous patties and sandwiches when the three absent members
+of the party entered again, and tried to act as if nothing unusual had
+happened.
+
+Polly had witnessed Paul's flying departure, and thereafter saw Jack and
+Eleanor astounded in the darkened library. When Mr. Dalken rushed in and
+dragged them both away, Polly stood open-mouthed and stared after them.
+The Jap wisely hurried forward and carefully closed the front door, then
+went back to his duties without showing that he had seen the queer
+performances of his master, or found Polly standing there, the single
+witness of the scene.
+
+Polly still stood in the hall deeply perplexed, when Tom sauntered from
+Mr. Dalken's bedroom where he had been smoking a cigarette to steady his
+nerves. Now he joined Polly and began a conventional phrase, but was
+suddenly interrupted by her.
+
+"What does all this silly behavior mean?" demanded she.
+
+"Do you refer to my behavior?" asked Tom, blandly.
+
+Polly's eyes snapped. "Of course not! Must you always think yourself
+first and foremost?"
+
+As this was an unexpected and undeserved slap for Tom, he was still
+groping for a clue, when Polly's angry impatience with herself for having
+made such a blunder in her calculations about Eleanor and the others,
+made her exclaim:
+
+"Well, I can plainly see that Nolla will never make any sort of a
+business partner for me! Her foolish head is so turned by beaus, that she
+will never settle down until Paul has either spurned her love, or she is
+married and divorced again. _Then_ there may be hopes of her attending to
+our work."
+
+As Tom was not aware of Paul's sudden appearance and hasty departure, he
+still pondered what was best to say to Polly, in her unusual pettish
+mood. But she paid no heed to his silence and continued, like most women
+will when they have been mistaken, and fear the consequences of an
+ill-advised step.
+
+"I declare! if Paul does come back and makes up with Nolla, I shall move
+heaven and earth to see that they are safely engaged this time! And that
+Jack Baxter, well, I'll make Dalky ship him off to some distant college
+so there'll be no further wasting of valuable time with him!"
+
+This last declaration so over-joyed Tom that he found courage to offer a
+suggestion. But he was too unwise this time. "You're absolutely right,
+Polly dear. That Baxter has nothing better to do than kill time. He never
+did a stroke of work in his life, nor did his father before him. Those
+young 'lady's men' who live on their ancestor's rewards of labor, never
+amount to a row of beans."
+
+Polly stared freezingly at Tom, but he was completely mesmerized with the
+romantic picture he was presenting, and so he continued oblivious of his
+companion's expression.
+
+"We'll send Baxter flying, after this, and help poor Paul to hold his
+place with Nolla. I'll wire Paul to fix it so he can come East for
+Christmas, and surprise Nolla. Then we'll all announce a double
+engagement, eh?" Tom turned to watch Polly's face as she surely must
+second his plan, but he changed his mind when he saw her frown. "As
+usual, Tom, you're much too late in your brilliant ideas. Others are
+ahead of you. Paul has been here tonight and gone again, and Nolla will
+never have any engagement to announce--if she waits for Paul's
+declaration.
+
+"As for _me_! My announcements are being engraved now."
+
+Tom caught his breath in consternation at this news. "Your announcements,
+Polly! _Oh_, and you jilted me, after all!"
+
+Polly enjoyed turning the knife in the wound, because she felt so
+wretched herself for having ruined Eleanor's happiness.
+
+"I could not jilt anyone who never proposed, could I? I have maintained
+for a long time, and everyone who knows me is aware of it, too--that I am
+engaged to my profession and I have ordered my announcements to that
+effect. I propose sending out my business cards the first week of
+January!"
+
+The relief to Tom was so great that he sighed aloud: "Oh, thank heavens
+for that!"
+
+"I knew you would be glad, Tom; so you see you are sensible after all,
+and can thank heaven that you had no cause to be jilted!" laughed Polly,
+maliciously, but she felt no satisfaction in this outcome of her
+understanding with Tom.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+MUTUAL CONSOLATION
+
+
+It was at this point in Polly's independent speech that the door opened
+and Mr. Dalken came in with his two repentant lovers. Tom saw that the
+clouds had been dispersed and now there seemed to be a clear sky for
+Paul. But he was curious to hear what had happened during the short time
+he had been smoking that cigarette.
+
+Polly also saw Paul return with Nolla, and when she saw the happy smiles
+on both faces, she groaned, and turned to go to the library where, so
+little time before, the tragic lover had escaped with a determination to
+never look at another girl as long as he lived--excepting his mother.
+
+Tom followed Mr. Dalken to the dining-room to learn the particulars about
+the two individuals who had meekly followed the host back to the
+apartment; while Polly sank down in one of the Turkish arm-chairs
+recently occupied by the two plotting match-makers.
+
+Mr. Dalken rolled his eyes ceiling-ward and complained: "I can't
+understand why I should be chosen by Providence to act as peace-maker
+between jealous lovers, or quarrelsome husbands and wives. It is one of
+the most thankless jobs a man can have."
+
+Tom laughed in spite of his eagerness to be told the details. "Maybe it
+is because you have so much _feeling_ for heartsick mortals," said he.
+
+Mr. Dalken looked serious. "Yes, Tom my boy, you spoke the truth there.
+If anyone knows the misery caused by fools and faithlessness, I'm that
+one. Perhaps that is the reason I can mediate for my friends."
+
+"I was going to ask you to mediate for me, with Polly, but I haven't the
+heart to ask you, now," ventured Tom.
+
+"Why, you big ninny, I've done nothing else but try to mediate between
+you two for the past two years. If matters haven't reached a crisis by
+this time, I'd better give up the case and let you get a specialist,"
+exclaimed Mr. Dalken.
+
+"Tell me exactly where I stand now, and I'll excuse you from further
+annoyance on my part."
+
+"Great Scott, Man! Can't you tell where you stand? How can _I_ judge. You
+surely don't want me to propose for you, do you?"
+
+Tom couldn't afford to feel indignant, as he had to ask his friend what
+had happened to Paul and Eleanor, during his temporary absence from the
+others. So Mr. Dalken told as much of the story as he had been able to
+understand, concluding with the admonition: "Now that Jack can't wile
+away time with Nolla, he will, doubtless, turn his full attention to
+Polly."
+
+That was the only malicious remark the poor man permitted himself to
+indulge in. But Tom took it seriously and said: "Thanks awfully, for the
+hint. I'll keep after Polly myself, until Baxter gives up the chase." And
+with that he hurried away to find Polly.
+
+He found Paul and Eleanor sitting in the deep window-seat where Polly had
+been the early part of the evening, and as he wandered about for a
+glimpse of his "Heart's Desire," the Jap came over with a tray and said:
+
+"Mis'r Tom look fer supper? Taki keep nice patty for him."
+
+Jack Baxter was near enough to hear Taki, and he laughed jeeringly as he
+said: "Oh, what a fine man you are, Taki! You know exactly what your
+master's guests are wanting--patties or Pollies!"
+
+Taki grinned but failed to grasp the young man's meaning. Tom did,
+however, and leaving the oyster patty on the tray, he stalked across to
+Jack and said, threateningly:
+
+"How dare you speak like that? Mentioning Miss Brewster's name in the
+same breath as an oyster patty or a poll-parrot."
+
+But the truth of the matter was, Jack had never meant to convey the
+meaning, when he said "Pollies," that he spoke of parrots. So he
+instantly took the stand of the offended one.
+
+"How dare you even hint at such an insult to a friend of mine? I consider
+Miss Brewster too far above either you or me to discuss her with you,
+about such matters."
+
+Wise Taki had disappeared quickly and in another moment the harassed host
+came hurrying from the serving board. He glowered upon Tom and Jack, and
+grasping each one by the arm, he hustled them out into the main hall of
+the building and then spoke.
+
+"You two bullies go down in the street and fight it out. I'll do you the
+favor to ring up the police station and call a cop to come around and
+take you both in custody--that's where you belong, until you come to your
+senses. If _I_ were a girl I'd never look at either of you again."
+
+But this advice cooled their anger, and the moment Mr. Dalken turned to
+go back to his apartment both men laughed at the situation. Tom offered
+his hand and Baxter shook it. Then each apologised to the other, and in a
+few minutes they started for the door of the apartment.
+
+But the door was locked, and, in front of it on the mat, were two small
+heaps: one was composed of Tom's coat and hat, with a patty and sandwich
+on a wooden plate, on top of it. The other small heap was Jack's
+dress-cape, with his silk hat topping it, and in the hat, were his gloves
+and the plate with refreshments. His cane hung on the door-knob.
+
+All the bell-ringing Tom indulged in, thereafter, failed to bring any
+answer. So the two young men, highly amused by their host's farewell act,
+ate the scanty refreshments handed out, and then left the two wooden
+plates in front of the door, with a note on each. The pencilled scrawls
+said: "Two hungry beggars thank the rich man who threw them the crumbs
+from his table."
+
+After they had gone down to the ground floor, Jack said: "I'll try to get
+Dalken on the telephone and ask him to send us down enough company to
+keep us from going to sleep in the reception room."
+
+Tom laughed and stood eagerly waiting to hear the reply. But the operator
+smiled and reported: "Mr. Dalken called down a few minutes ago, and said
+that he was not at home to anyone--not even to friends--until tomorrow
+morning."
+
+So the two chagrined young men left, and whatever they did during the
+next few hours, no one ever knew, but from that evening both forgot their
+rivalry and became fast friends. Jack suddenly decided to go West and
+finish his engineering studies in the mountains about Pebbly Pit. And Tom
+decided to make one last stand for Polly, and should she still refuse him
+on the basis that she must finish a business experience first, then he
+would knuckle down to hard work and forget all about her, forever.
+
+It was easier for Jack to carry out his purpose than for Tom to leave New
+York and forget Polly. But Jack managed to do as he had outlined, and
+before Christmas Day he had said good-by and was on his way to Denver.
+
+Tom spent so much time and preparation before the mirror in his room,
+perfecting himself in the art of proposing to Polly, in such a way that
+she would be impressed, that he became quite self-conscious of his pose
+and words. On Christmas Day, he planned to coax her away by herself, and
+then fall upon his knees and tell his story. He had a magnificent
+solitaire in his pocket, waiting to be displayed at the right moment.
+
+No one saw Tom all that Christmas morning, although his friends called on
+the telephone, both at his home and at the hotel. He did not reply to any
+calls. But late in the afternoon he sauntered forth from his room,
+looking more like a silly dandy than a big sensible young man who was one
+of the best engineers in the West.
+
+He got in a taxi and gave directions. In front of Mr. Fabian's house, he
+paid the driver and went up the steps. After he had rung the bell, he
+felt in his pocket to make sure the ring-box was there. This was about
+the twentieth time he had assured himself.
+
+The maid opened the door, and looked sorry for him.
+
+"Miss Polly? Are the ladies in?" stammered Tom.
+
+"No'm--no-sir, I mean," returned the maid, confused at his certainty of
+finding them at home. "They went out an hour ago, after tryin' to get you
+on the 'phone. They says they won't be back till after midnight, sir."
+
+"Did they say where they were going?" asked Tom.
+
+"No'm--No-sir! But I hear'n Miss Polly talk to someone on the 'phone and
+she says: 'Oh how lovely! We'll all go with you. And we'll meet you there
+for dinner,'" repeated the maid. "You see, I was openin' th' door to take
+more presents for the young ladies, so I hear'n that much of the talk
+from the table 'phone in the back hall."
+
+Tom thanked her with a sinking heart, and turned away. Once more his
+fingers mechanically felt for the ring box but he experienced no thrill
+this time, when he found it was safe.
+
+He walked slowly cross-town and recklessly passed over Broadway with its
+traffic in full swing, looking neither to the right nor to the left. The
+officer shouted to rouse him from his apathy, but it failed to work.
+
+He reached the park and found a bench. There he sat down without looking
+at the seat. A frantic boy ran over and yelled: "Get up, mister! Get
+up--you'se sittin' on my Chrismus candy!"
+
+Tom got up as mechanically as an automaton, but a few of the gummy
+candies clung to his coat-tails, while the boy fearful of losing such
+treasure ran after the man to pick off the sticky sweets.
+
+When he found another bench that was clear, and no boys nearby to worry
+his soul, Tom sat down and sulked. Having practised so faithfully all
+that day, in adding the finishing touches of grace to his lesson of
+proposing, it was a bitter dose to find all his work was wasted. Polly
+had joyfully accepted someone else's invitation to go away and have a
+good time, leaving him alone and heart-broken.
+
+Sleet and drizzle began falling, and Tom was soon soaked through, but he
+was heedless of clinging clothes and wet shoes.
+
+After an hour of self-pity, he got up and started down the drive. By this
+time he was almost frozen, but he congratulated himself on the fact that
+he might have pneumonia and die. Then Polly might feel sorry for her
+coldness!
+
+Following the suggestion this idea presented, Tom wilfully waded through
+the slush in the gutters, and thoroughly drenched his patent-leather
+shoes in crossing the streets, until his feet were not only wet but
+freezing inside the shoes.
+
+He found a cheap restaurant where the show-windows displayed baskets of
+artificial fruit; and as a center-piece of this decoration, there was a
+great block of ice holding up a dressed goose, with red holly twined
+about it.
+
+Tom detested quick-lunch places where the steam satisfied a man's hunger,
+the moment he came in contact with its heavy odors, but he reveled in
+this evening's opportunity to be a martyr, so he sat down and ordered
+corn-beef and cabbage because he loathed it.
+
+Although he could not eat much of the delectable dish he had ordered, he
+was determined to finish his day accordingly. So he ordered Neapolitan
+ice-cream and coffee. The ice-cream was served with the tissue paper
+still wrapped about the cake--to prove that no hands had been in contact
+with the dessert before serving it. But the highly colored stripes of the
+soapy cream that refused to melt, even when he dropped a spoonful into
+his oily coffee, cured him of further martyrdom to the cause of love.
+
+He hastily got up from the table, paid his ticket and ran out. By this
+time, he felt so sick and chilled that he gloated in the assurance that
+soon he would be in a raging fever. He pictured Polly's regrets when she
+should return home at midnight and hear that he had been taken to a
+hospital, with a fatal case of double pneumonia. He had decided on having
+it double, after he left the restaurant, as that would kill him sooner.
+In this state of mind he had to dodge a taxi and slipped to fall into a
+mud puddle.
+
+But Tom could not resist the desire to see his mother once more, before
+he died; and after fighting off this inclination for another hour or two,
+he was feeling so perfectly awful, that he knew his last call had come
+for him.
+
+He had been sneezing every few minutes for the past hour, and his eyes
+were running like twin rivers. His nose was so stuffy that he could
+hardly enunciate the words, when he told a cabby to "Ta-ge me to sig
+siggy-sig West End Avenoo."
+
+During the short time he was in the cab, he could not breathe, and he had
+to keep his mouth open to be able to inhale any air at all. He paid off
+the taxi, and went to his mother's apartment. Before he could change his
+mind about calling, he had pushed the bell-button.
+
+He heard someone coming down the hall, and at the same time a door in
+front opened and the laughter and noise of many merry voices reached him
+as he stood waiting on the doormat.
+
+"Good evening, Mr. Tom--a merry Christmas," said the maid, smilingly.
+
+"Goo' ebeneeg, Kadrina," mumbled Tom, scowling as he looked towards the
+front room whence came the merry-making.
+
+"Don' dell anyone I'm here, but dell Modder I'm sig and wand do see her
+ride away," explained Tom, snuffingly.
+
+"You got a bad cold in your nose, ain't chew?" said Katrina,
+sympathetically.
+
+"No!" shouted Tom, furiously. "I god'da case ob double pneumonia!"
+
+Katrina jumped at the unexpected shout, and hurried to the front room to
+call her mistress. Instead of remembering to keep Tom's presence a
+secret, she whispered loud enough for Polly to hear:
+
+"Mr. Tom jus' come in an' his nose is red as a beet. His eyes is runnin',
+too, an' he needs a atmosizer to blow in his head, to clear out the
+snuffles so's he kin open his lungs, widdout keepin' his mouth open all
+th' time."
+
+Instead of fainting with horror as Tom had pictured she might, Polly
+laughed at Katrina's description, and Mrs. Latimer smiled and turned to
+her guests to excuse herself, by saying:
+
+"Tom just came in, poor boy, with a stuffy cold in his head. I'll put his
+feet in mustard and see that he drinks a hot glass of doctored lemonade,
+then I'll be back."
+
+So Tom, instead of bidding his mother an eternal farewell and dying alone
+and abandoned, as he had planned, in a hospital ward, was soon made to
+scald his feet in hot mustard water, while his mother's flannel kimono
+replaced his bedraggled clothing, and a heavy blanket was wrapped about
+him, and he was offered a nasty drink of lemonade, but what else was in
+it other than lemon only his mother knew!
+
+By this time he felt so wretched that he cared nothing for solitaires or
+fiancees; all he wanted was to get one good long breath through his nose
+once more before he choked to death.
+
+His mother had returned to the merry-making in the parlors, and Tom sat
+huddled in his unbecoming bedding in his mother's dressing-room. Every
+few minutes he had to use Katrina's "atmosizer" for his nose, or gasp for
+breath.
+
+Just as the perspiration began to pour out of every pore, and his feet
+felt like scalded lobsters, and the vaseline his mother had smeared in
+his eyes and over his nose, to void any chaffing, had been trickled all
+over his face, Polly tiptoed into the room that opened to the
+dressing-room where he sat.
+
+He held his breath, fearing lest she hear him gasp and find him in this
+awful predicament. He could not see her after she closed the hall-door,
+but he wondered what she was doing. At this moment, a tickling in his
+nose began and he knew it portended a sneeze! He must prevent it, or
+Polly would track him down. If she ever saw him in this condition, after
+all his hard study to propose gracefully, he would take poison!
+
+But the sneeze was imperative, and it burst forth in such an explosion,
+that Polly screamed faintly from just behind the door of the little room.
+
+"Go'way! I won'd see anyone," commanded Tom.
+
+"But you'll let me come and see how you are, won't you, Tom dear?" coaxed
+Polly, appearing at the open door.
+
+"No! You above everyone. I'm goin' to a hozpidal as zoon ads the
+ambulance gomes, and I never wand to zee any ob my frien'z again. I'll
+leave word no one ids to gome to my funeral, eider."
+
+"Tom, dearest, don't talk like that! Where have you been today, to catch
+such an awful cold in your head?" said Polly.
+
+"Id'z my lungz, I dell you! Double pneumonia. Leabe me to my fade, and
+forged me, Polly!" tears rose in his eyes at this pitiful picture of his
+lonely demise.
+
+But Polly was practical, and stubborn to a degree. She refused to go, and
+when Mrs. Latimer came back, she told her that Tom ought to be in bed and
+given a great big dose of quinine--then he'd be all right in the morning.
+
+"That's exactly what we planned to do, Polly," said Mrs. Latimer. "I sent
+Katrina to the drugstore for the pills, just now. But you run back and
+enjoy yourself, dear, as you can do nothing for Tom. He's like all
+men--as grouchy as a bear with a sore head, the minute anything ails
+them."
+
+His mother laughed, and Polly stood smiling. Tom fumed. "Was this all the
+sympathy he was to win for his self-appointed martyrdom?"
+
+Just as he had lost the last vestige of hope in life, Polly said to his
+mother: "I haven't seen Tom before, today, to wish him a merry Christmas
+and to give him my present."
+
+"Oh!" ejaculated Mrs. Latimer, wisely, and slipped from the room, closing
+the hall door very quietly after her.
+
+Tom opened one eye and began to wonder if it was worth while--this living
+business? When Polly smiled so angelically upon him, in spite of his
+ludicrous pose and appearance, he thought he might make one more trial of
+temporal existence.
+
+Then Polly said, "I am sorry I could not reach you by telephone today,
+Tom. I had a little surprise for you, that I'm sure you will like. Shall
+I show you now?"
+
+"Maybe it ids egsadtly wha'd I wads plannig to ags you?" said Tom,
+sitting up with interest, and forgetting the tub of hot water with his
+feet slowly par-boiling in it.
+
+"Here it is. Isn't it neat and business-like?" said Polly, as she handed
+him a small paste-board card.
+
+Tom read:
+
+                            "POLLY BREWSTER
+                               DECORATOR
+                             NEW YORK CITY
+           _Representing Ashby Shops, New York and London_."
+
+Tom's shocked surprise at the unexpected announcement, so different from
+what he had expected, rendered him speechless for a full minute. During
+this pause, Polly patted his damp hair just as she might have patted her
+brother John's head, or a faithful Newfoundland's shaggy dome. This
+latter was Tom's thought.
+
+The gentle touch, combined with his resentful feelings about the business
+announcement, made him lose all self-control. He was so furious that he
+could not find his voice, and if he had, his words would have been
+unintelligible because of the head-cold. He sprang up from the chair,
+forgetful of his blanket swaddlings, and the large basin in which his
+feet were still immersed.
+
+He lifted his hand above his head in a melodramatic way of denunciation,
+but the tragic effect was completely ruined when the porcelain basin
+began slipping across the hard-wood floor. He wildly threw out both hands
+to clutch at something for support, but the low chair he had occupied was
+not near the dressing table nor any other article of furniture in the
+room.
+
+Polly tried to save him from a fall, but he threw off her rescuing hands;
+and thus he was falling to his ungraceful finish, when he managed to free
+one foot and planted it on the rug as a balance. But the basin with its
+wet porcelain bottom kept sliding ever farther away, and Tom still rolled
+in the swaddling robes suddenly sat down unceremoniously upon the floor.
+
+Polly faintly screamed when the basin overturned and the mustard water
+ran in numerous streamlets across the waxed wood and center rug. Just at
+this critical moment, Mrs. Latimer came back to give her son the dose of
+quinine.
+
+"Why, Tom! Why are you sitting on the floor?" asked she, in amazement.
+
+That was the last straw. Polly had to smother a laugh but Tom flared out
+and the thick denunciations of all the female sex, particularly western
+girls, would have driven such a girl mad with anger. But Polly understood
+her friend too well to believe a word he said.
+
+Even while he still hurled every expletive he could remember and try to
+enunciate, Polly sprang over to help Mrs. Latimer raise the beswaddled
+young man back into the chair. He fought off her assistance, but she
+stubbornly held on to his arms until he was seated in a proper position
+once more.
+
+Then she said: "Tom dear, I'm so sorry you have had such a wretched
+Christmas Day. Had we but known you had such a cold we would have called
+and taken you home with us. But now that Christmas is over, and I haven't
+had time to say a word to you, I'll just whisper that, as a sort of late
+greeting: 'If I don't find anyone I like better than you, during the next
+two years, I'll make a partnership proposition to you.'"
+
+"Oh, Bolly! Whad do you mean?" gasped Tom, expectation high once more.
+
+"I like you better than any other friend I ever had, Tom, but I am
+determined to try business first. Then, in two years' time if you are
+still of the same mind as now, I will consider what you have so often
+planned. But not before then. Until that time we will be the best of good
+pals."
+
+"Oh, Bolly! Whad a Gridsmad's gifd you habe giben me!" exclaimed Tom, his
+face shining radiantly with love and vaseline.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+BEAUX OR BUSINESS
+
+
+It was very late when the Fabian party reached home that Christmas night;
+thus there were no confidences given or taken between the girls until the
+following morning. To Eleanor's keen sight Polly appeared ill at ease;
+and in the morning, after breakfast, the cloud seemed heavier than
+before. Then Eleanor decided to find out what unpleasant experience had
+occurred while at Latimers.
+
+"I had a glorious time, last night--didn't you, Poll?" began Eleanor,
+guilelessly.
+
+"Oh, yes! Until poor Tom came in with that nasty cold in his head. His
+condition was enough to ruin any one's enjoyment, once you saw or heard
+him," replied Polly, absentmindedly.
+
+"A mere cold in the head is nothing to worry about. He will probably be
+here, today, as fresh as ever. That is, if the quinine he took last night
+permits him to see straight." Eleanor laughed in order to show her friend
+how unconcerned she was about anything which might have happened at the
+Latimers.
+
+"Had you seen him, with his feet in boiling water and mustard, his face
+coated with vaseline, his eyes like Bear Forks, and his temper like a
+sore hyena's, you wouldn't sit there and say he'd be fresh as ever
+today," Polly retorted with a reminiscent smile.
+
+"It's a wonder to me that he permitted you to visit him after he had been
+doctored by his mother as you say he was," returned Eleanor, musingly.
+
+"He never would have, Nolla, had I not marched right into the room
+without his being aware of my presence. I never even knocked, because his
+mother told me he was in her dressing-room, off the large room. I waited
+in the large room until I heard him speak, then I pretended to be
+surprised and pleased to find him there."
+
+Eleanor laughed. "Yes, I can see you pretend anything, Poll. I just know
+your face was as serious as crepe, and your pretence a thing any child
+could see through."
+
+"Now, Nolla, you are all wrong! I can prove it. But the great trouble is,
+how shall I get out of what Tom believes to be true? I pretended so well
+that I almost fooled myself into believing that I was doing right. This
+morning I know it is not true," said Polly, impatiently.
+
+Eleanor now felt her curiosity rising for she realized she was on the
+verge of hearing what had caused Polly's concern. But she knew she must
+be circumspect in her replies, or her friend would take alarm and not say
+a word.
+
+"Polly, there speaks the born actress. When on the stage, acting in a
+play, the artiste is carried away by her own depth of feeling and faith
+in the truth of what she is saying or doing. Now, you see, you did the
+same and that proves you should study stage-craft instead of interior
+decorating." Eleanor spoke in a jocular tone.
+
+Polly smiled at her friend, but she was too preoccupied with her problem
+to pay attention to Eleanor--whether she was in earnest or whether she
+was speaking in fun.
+
+Suddenly Polly asked: "Nolla, are you engaged to Paul?"
+
+Eleanor was taken off her feet. She never dreamed of having Polly ask her
+bluntly about her private interests in any one.
+
+"W-h-y, n-o-o--not ex-actly!" stammered she in reply.
+
+Polly sat and stared at her companion as if to search out the truth. Then
+she said: "Have you any idea of being engaged within the next year or
+two?"
+
+"Well, now, Poll," returned Eleanor, finding her depth once more, and
+treading water to get her breath, "you know how I admire Paul, and you
+also know that Paul says he loves me. That was most obvious at Dalky's
+party, the night Paul arrived so unexpectedly. But when you speak of
+engagements, I must remind you of the law you laid down for me--not to
+tie myself to any such entanglement until after we had had our fill of
+business. Am I right?"
+
+"Exactly!" sighed Polly. "But that does not go to say that you obeyed my
+law. There may be a secret understanding between you and Paul, and that
+is what I want to hear about."
+
+"It may be the same sort of a secret understanding as now exists between
+you and Tom Latimer," retorted Eleanor, taking a wild chance that such
+was the fact.
+
+"Then I pity poor Paul from the bottom of my heart," was Polly's
+unexpected reply.
+
+"Paul doesn't seem to think he is in need of any pity," smiled Eleanor,
+as she thought of his joy the preceding evening as he escorted her from
+the Latimer's apartment to the automobile.
+
+"Well, then it is not the same sort of secret understanding. Now come out
+with it, Nolla, and tell me just how far you have complicated yourself
+with Paul in love, and with me in our business venture?"
+
+"Not at all, Poll. That is what I wish to impress upon you--that I am no
+deeper in the love tangle than you are with Tom."
+
+"All right, then, Nolla. Now I'll confess, if you promise me to do
+likewise. Is it a bargain?"
+
+"If you wish. But let me say beforehand, I have no more to confess than
+you know of already."
+
+"It's a pact! Shake, Nolla," exclaimed Polly, holding out her hand.
+
+Of course Eleanor was more than amazed at such a to-do over what she
+considered a natural outcome of human attraction for Polly, and she shook
+the hand extended to seal the compact.
+
+"There now! I'll confess first. Last night, when I found poor Tom in such
+dire condition and wanting to die at once, I told his mother I would
+comfort him, somewhat, by wishing him a merry Christmas and showing him
+my business card. You know, the ones we just got back from the engravers
+late Christmas Eve.
+
+"Well, I found him in such a pitiable way that I was sorry the moment I
+handed him my card. He took it so differently from what I had expected.
+When he raved about dying and nothing to live for, I was at my wit's end.
+Finally, just after the basin in which he was boiling his feet slipped
+from under him, and sat him down unkindly upon the floor, I was moved to
+encourage him if he would but cheer up and think of living a little
+longer.
+
+"Nolla, he took advantage of my weakness and wormed a promise from me to
+consider myself engaged to him, unless I found some one I liked much
+better within the next two years. Now tell me, Nolla, because you are
+educated in affairs like this--where do I stand?"
+
+Polly's anxiety was so amusing to Eleanor and the whole situation so like
+a farce to her maturer love-affair, that she laughed merrily. But Polly
+was too concerned to take offence at the merriment.
+
+"Oh, Polly! What a little lamb you are, to be sure! How lucky for you
+that I am always at hand to keep you from being led to the slaughter--not
+altar!" Eleanor laughed again at her clever play on the hackneyed phrase.
+
+"That doesn't answer my question, Nolla. I am most serious in this matter
+and I do not wish to hear more ridicule from you."
+
+"I'm not ridiculing you or the awful mess you have made of your life,"
+retorted Eleanor with a sly grin, "but I cannot help giving vent to my
+risibles when you take it all so seriously. I wonder how you would take
+the measles, Poll."
+
+"Oh pshaw, Nolla! What has measles to do with me, right now!" was Polly's
+impatient rejoinder.
+
+"I don't know, I'm sure. I was only wondering why you take everything so
+dreadfully in earnest. Now as far as your love tangle appears to be, I
+should prognosticate--hear that word, Polly? I am trying to act the wise
+magistrate for you--that there will be no suit for breach of promise,
+although there may be a case made out against you for alienating Tom's
+affections from Choko's Find Mine. On the other hand, you can serve a
+counter suit on Tom for alienating your affections from your first
+love--your business venture."
+
+While Eleanor had been explaining the law to her friend, the latter grew
+more and more impatient, and when the self-appointed magistrate concluded
+her version of law, Polly sprang up angrily.
+
+"I declare, Nolla, you will never be serious even at death! I'm disgusted
+with you, so there!" and Polly made for the door.
+
+Eleanor made after her, saying as she ran: "I'm sure I'll never want to
+take death seriously, Polly, for that is the time of all times when we
+need to be cheerful and prove to our dear ones that they have nothing to
+weep over--because I am of the firm belief that no one goes into
+oblivion. It is simply progression, you know."
+
+The sudden change from laughter to seriousness halted Polly's exit at the
+door, and she turned to look at her friend with a strange expression in
+her eyes.
+
+"Nolla, you should have been born in April--with the most changeable
+weather of the year. One moment you are too silly for words and the next
+you discourse on the most serious of all subjects."
+
+Again Eleanor laughed, teasingly: "Perhaps I should not have been born at
+all. Then, my family and friends would have been saved many trials. But I
+am here, you see, and they have to make the best of me."
+
+"That is exactly what we want to accomplish, don't you see? We want to
+make the best of you, but you just won't let us do it. You prefer to act
+like a big ninny instead of the cleverest girl in the world."
+
+"Always excepting you, dear!" and Eleanor bowed low.
+
+"There you go again! Now I _am_ mad!" and Polly tried to get through the
+open doorway, but her friend clung to her arm and refused to let her go.
+
+"Wait a moment! I'll let you go as soon as I have a word with you. This
+is going to be a real serious word, too," promised Eleanor.
+
+Polly turned back. Eleanor stood pondering for a moment, then said,
+"About Tom's affair, I would advise this: treat him brotherly--that is be
+sisterly to him; if you are not madly in love with him, so madly that you
+will jump into the Hudson or throw yourself upon the subway track unless
+you know he loves you the same way, then let Cupid manage the whole
+affair. Believe me, child, Cupid can do it far better than you or I!
+
+"Concerning Paul and myself: I told the darling that I had a contract
+with you which had to be fulfilled before I could sign up with another
+one--even though that other one _seemed_ to be offering me easier work
+and better wages. So I'm in for the business venture for all it is worth
+for the next two, perhaps more, years. I refused to place any time limit
+on a promise to sign up with Paul. Satisfied?"
+
+"Most assuredly! That is the first practical speech I've ever heard you
+make, Nolla!" was Polly's emphatic reply.
+
+"I trust you have sense enough to make the same speech to Tom Latimer.
+Then he will follow Paul's example: be filled with ambition to go back to
+Pebbly Pit and straighten out that caved-in mine."
+
+But both the girls were to learn that it is much easier to talk how
+events should follow in sequence, than it is to compel fate to do as she
+is expected to with such events.
+
+That evening, despite his parents' advice to remain in bed, Tom drove up
+in a taxi and stopped before the Fabians' house. He paid the driver,
+rushed up the steps and pulled at the doorbell.
+
+Polly had just finished dinner and was slowly walking out of the
+dining-room when the maid opened the door. Tom fairly leaped in when he
+saw Polly stopping suddenly under the hall-light.
+
+"Oh, my little--" he began, but Polly held up a warning hand and frowned
+him to silence; then she hurried him to the library across the hall from
+the dining-room.
+
+"What's the matter? Didn't you tell them we were engaged?" asked Tom,
+impetuously.
+
+"I didn't know we were what one calls engaged, Tom. You are
+misunderstanding me. Of course, I did not tell them about what never
+happened." Polly was annoyed.
+
+"But," began Tom, arguing for himself, "I felt sure you meant it the way
+I said: that you would wear my ring and consider I had a prior right to
+your love or affections."
+
+"You're all wrong! Because that is exactly what I wish to retain for
+myself--prior right to follow my own life-line. I did say that I liked
+you more than any other friend I know, and that I might consider you as
+my future fiance if, in two years' time, I came to the conclusion that I
+would give up a business career. That's all; and that holds no ground for
+your giving me an engagement ring, nor for me to take one and wear it. I
+simply refuse to be bound in any way. Better understand this, once for
+all, Tom!"
+
+The other members of the family now came in and welcomed Tom and also
+insisted upon having him tell them how much better he felt. The ring-box
+which Tom had so eagerly pulled from his vest pocket as he sat upon the
+divan with Polly, he now managed to slip back again without having been
+discovered in the act. Even Eleanor failed to see the action.
+
+Before Tom had had time to conclude his polite answers as to the state of
+his health, the bell rang a second time and the maid admitted Paul
+Stewart. Nor did the evening advance far before Jim and Ken dropped in,
+then came Dodo and Mr. Dalken, and last but not least the Ashbys stopped
+in to inquire how everyone was. Such "stoppings" usually ended, as on
+this evening, by their remaining until midnight.
+
+Mr. Ashby had news for his two new assistants in business. "Late in the
+afternoon before Christmas, I had a 'phone call from Mrs. Courtney,
+girls. She asked me to make an appointment with you to meet her at my
+shop, tomorrow morning at eleven. I promised to let you know."
+
+"Oh, that's the lady we met at the Parsippany sale," exclaimed Eleanor.
+"I wondered what had become of her since then."
+
+"Maybe she wants us to find her a few antiques," suggested Polly,
+eagerly.
+
+"I believe she plans to redecorate her boudoir, and wants you two
+beginners to take the commission. She seems to place a great deal of
+confidence in your ability to please her," said Mr. Ashby.
+
+Eleanor smiled at her superior in business. "Feeling any jealousy at our
+popularity?"
+
+"Not a whit!" laughed Mr. Ashby. "It only adds more glory to my brilliant
+fame, because I was astute enough to secure such talent!"
+
+Mrs. Courtney's appointment to meet the two young decorators in a
+business conference came at just the time when both Eleanor and Polly
+were half-persuaded to give up their art and turn aside to marriage,
+although neither girl really wanted to take the husband instead of the
+career, at that time. When Paul and Tom would be out of sight once more,
+and their magnetic presences removed so that calm business atmosphere
+might control again, both girls would see they had been wise in deferring
+their engagements for the present. Hence the visit of Mrs. Courtney came
+at just the critical time.
+
+Polly and Eleanor were at the Ashby Shops a full hour before the lady
+could be expected. But they put in the hour in going over the latest
+samples of boudoir textiles, new ideas in furniture, and fascinating
+designs of cushions, draperies and other accessories for a boudoir.
+
+Mrs. Courtney was very frank and pleasant in her cordial greeting. For
+all her fame as a social leader in New York and the fabulous wealth
+accredited to her, she seemed very plain and friendly. Eleanor could not
+help contrasting her with her mother and Barbara.
+
+"Well, girls, how many millions of dollars have you made in your
+profession since I saw you at that farce of a sale in New Jersey," said
+she smilingly after they had seated themselves in the small reception
+room.
+
+"That _was_ too bad, wasn't it?" said Eleanor.
+
+"We mean, it was too bad for that nice old auctioneer to be used by the
+city man as he certainly was. We met old Mr. Van Styne before that sale,
+you know, and he was so honest!" said Polly.
+
+"So I learned. But I was annoyed at the city man's methods of getting his
+regular customers so far from the city in order to make money out of
+them; I went down to his office and told him very plainly what I thought
+of such trickery as he had played on me. He apologised in every way when
+he learned that I would never buy another thing of him; but I knew his
+apologies were the result of his fear of losing a good customer. I told
+him frankly that I would not accept his regrets. I have heard from him
+several times since then, but I have paid no attention to his requests to
+allow him to explain the circumstance which ended in that sale in the
+country.
+
+"I did take time to write to this Mr. Van Styne, however, and ask for the
+truth, as I did not want to condemn the city man if there might be
+extenuating reasons for the sale. The old man in Morristown answered that
+he had been used as an instrument in the padded sale. He had known
+nothing of the manner in which the antiques had been brought from the
+City and placed in the house, until afterward. He had sent letters to his
+clientele who favored him with confidence, and many were at that sale,
+much to his discomfiture when he learned the truth.
+
+"Mr. Van Styne added that he had taken the trouble to find out from a few
+of his trusting customers that the articles they had purchased at that
+sale, and which were claimed in the catalogues to be genuine antiques,
+were clever imitations. In fact, a refectory table said to be of genuine
+Jacobean period, was manufactured in the man's factory on the East Side.
+Even the worm-holes had been drilled in the wood and the worn slab of
+wood of the top was done by the plane. To keep himself out of Court, the
+clever fellow had to give back the buyer's money and send up to
+Morristown and get the articles of 'newly-made antique' furniture."
+
+"I'm glad of that!" exclaimed Polly.
+
+"But those buyers should have prosecuted the cheat!" declared Eleanor,
+impatiently.
+
+"That's exactly what I said, but one of them wrote me she was going away
+for the winter; she could not postpone her trip to try the case at Court.
+Thus she took the easiest way out." Mrs. Courtney's determined expression
+showed what she would have done had she been the dupe of such a clever
+dealer.
+
+The subject was abruptly changed when Mrs. Courtney added: "Now we must
+talk business, young ladies. I am sure you cannot spare your valuable
+time in gossip."
+
+Polly and Eleanor glanced at each other and smiled at the idea of their
+"valuable time," but Mrs. Courtney launched at once into the cause of her
+call that morning.
+
+"I never felt at peace with the atrocious decorations in my boudoir,
+although one of the highest-priced firms in New York did the room for me.
+I know it was a case of making me take the costliest materials without
+regard to harmony or temperament. Now I wish to have you girls see what
+_you_ would do with the suite. While I am here, I thought you might show
+me several suites exhibited on the floor and tell me which you would
+prefer for a woman of my age."
+
+Polly immediately signified that she was ready to escort Mrs. Courtney to
+the elevator, thence to the exhibition rooms where every conceivable
+period and price of boudoir furnishings were to be seen and examined.
+
+The three stepped from the elevator, and Polly was leading the way to the
+boudoir suites; Mrs. Courtney watched with deep interest as she spoke in
+a low voice, to Eleanor.
+
+"Jack Baxter called on me, one evening before he went West; he told me
+that your remarkable young friend had everything in life to make a young
+girl want to have a good time, yet she chose a profession for herself in
+place of gayety and beaux."
+
+Eleanor smiled and nodded affirmatively but said nothing.
+
+"That is one of the reasons I wanted to meet you young ladies again. It
+is so gratifying to find any young girl, these days, who takes life in
+earnest. Of all the flippant, mothlike creatures I find flapping about at
+receptions or teas, I have yet to find one in every thousand who really
+thinks of anything other than cigarettes, matinees, and dress. It is
+positively revolting to me to have my rooms clouded with cigarette smoke,
+yet what can a hostess do? The women have gone mad over the habit. The
+danger lies in their not being able to break the influence as readily as
+they form it."
+
+Polly overheard the latter part of this speech and smiled admiringly at
+her client. Then they came to the boudoir exhibit.
+
+A very pleasant hour passed while Polly and Eleanor told Mrs. Courtney of
+their visits to galleries in Europe, and in hearing Mrs. Courtney speak
+of her amusing excursions in quest of the antique. Finally the lady
+remembered an appointment, and in amazement found her wrist-watch told
+her it was twelve.
+
+"Oh, oh! I had an imperative engagement at the dentist's at twelve-fifteen.
+How could this hour have passed so rapidly?" said she, hurrying to the
+elevator in advance of the girls.
+
+While waiting for the man to come for them, the two young salesladies
+wondered if their customer would leave without an order, or word of
+encouragement regarding the future of her boudoir.
+
+On the elevator going down, Mrs. Courtney said: "When you have time to
+come to my address and look at the suite, just let me know by telephone
+and I will make it a point to be at home to meet you, to go into the work
+in earnest. I am confident you can give the right atmosphere to my
+boudoir." Just as the elevator reached the ground floor, Mrs. Courtney
+handed Polly and Eleanor each a card upon which she wrote her private
+telephone number.
+
+"Now, good-morning, my friends. Remember what I said to you about having
+chosen the right pathway, for the present. You will make all the better
+wives and mothers for having had a genuine business experience. How
+superior is your ideal to those of empty-headed society misses who live
+but to dance or drink or waste their true substance."
+
+With such praise of their endeavors, the lady left Polly and Eleanor; and
+they stood where she left them, holding her cards in their hands, but
+still gazing at the revolving doors through which she had passed and then
+disappeared.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+BUSINESS
+
+
+Ruth and Dodo had been sadly neglected during the Christmas Season, but
+after Paul returned to Denver and Tom accepted his verdict that Polly
+would give no valuable thought to lovers for the next two years, the two
+young decorators took time to encourage their younger partners in the
+work they had chosen.
+
+Ruth and Dodo were not as deeply in earnest as Polly and Eleanor had been
+in applying themselves to the studies given at Cooper Union; they
+considered themselves martyrs to the cause of womanly work. Mr. Fabian
+often sighed in despair over Dodo's ideals in ancient architecture, or
+Ruth's recitations of applied designs. Polly and Eleanor laughed at these
+trials of teacher and student and kept urging both sides not to lose
+faith but to keep on until they won the prize.
+
+Meanwhile, the two advanced students visited every exhibit or lecture
+given on their beloved work, and thus acquired more of the idealistic
+experiences in art. For business application of their understanding of
+decorating, Mrs. Courtney supplied one channel of such testing; and Mr.
+Dalken offered another outlet for their wisdom, for he had decided to
+erect a magnificent office building on upper Fifth Avenue, and keep the
+entire top floor as a private apartment for himself.
+
+The girls had many interesting mornings in Mrs. Courtney's home,
+listening to her accounts of trips to every country in quest of curios
+and antiques. Her residence was filled with the results of her travels,
+and her memory teemed with thrilling stories of adventure for the rare
+and beautiful trophies she secured.
+
+"There is still one interesting spot on this globe which I am keen to
+visit, but I have never had the opportunity to go as I wish to go," said
+Mrs. Courtney, one day, after she had been showing the two girls the
+collection of Filipino curios she got during a six months' stay at the
+Philippines.
+
+"I should have said there was no spot where you have not been," laughed
+Eleanor.
+
+"But there is, and that is the South Sea Isles. I have----"
+
+"Where?" gasped both the girls, unconsciously interrupting the speaker.
+
+Mrs. Courtney laughed. "Yes, the South Sea Isles. Do not think them so
+cannibalistic as report has it, my dears. I know an American who has
+lived there more than twenty years and he says that for climate and
+interesting life, give him the South Sea Islands. He almost persuaded me
+to take the trip when he was here last."
+
+"Is he an old friend?" asked Polly.
+
+"No; he is a man I used to commission to find certain curios for me. He
+tells me that textiles woven and colored by the natives of those islands
+are the most beautiful things ever seen. The carvings and hammered
+brasses are more gorgeous than those of Benares or of the East. He has
+made quite a fortune out of exporting selected articles from the Isles to
+the United States, but the great difficulty in such trade is the
+uncertain transportation methods. His goods may reach their destination
+and again they may not. It depends on the character of the owner or
+captain of the vessel. He all but persuaded me to buy or lease a
+sea-going yacht and make the trip for a year's outing. He promised me
+that all costs would quickly be defrayed by the valuable cargo which
+could be stored away in very small space on board the yacht."
+
+"If you were so keen about visiting that place why did you renounce it?"
+queried Eleanor, wonderingly.
+
+"Because I could not induce any of my friends to accept my invitation to
+join my party for such an outing." Mrs Courtney laughed as she remembered
+the expressions on the faces of her friends when they heard of the
+proposed voyage.
+
+"Actually, girls, some of my invited guests asked me to go to Monte
+Carlo, or to the Orient, instead. So that broke up the plan."
+
+"Goodness!" sighed Polly, "I only wish I had been invited!"
+
+"Would you have gone willingly?" asked Mrs. Courtney, eagerly.
+
+"Would I? Say, Nolla, would you have gone with me?" was Polly's instant
+retort.
+
+"Try me now and see?" laughed Eleanor to Mrs. Courtney.
+
+"Really, girls, do not joke! I am seriously inclined to take that trip,
+providing I can induce the right group of friends to accompany me. The
+cost of a yacht would be no small matter in these days of high costs, but
+I would have a year's intense satisfaction out of such a trip, and Mr.
+Needham said he felt sure the costs would be met by the cargo I could
+carry out and another I could bring back on the round trip."
+
+"If our gold mine gets to working again, or should the lava cliffs open
+soon, both Polly and I would love to enlist for just such an adventure.
+But there would be no opportunity to add to our knowledge of decorating,
+would there?" suggested Eleanor.
+
+"Not unless you took your lessons with you, and found clients out there
+who wanted you to decorate their grass huts in the good approved American
+way," suggested Mrs. Courtney.
+
+"Nolla, we ought not to dream of such a trip, because we are tied to a
+two-year agreement with each other, you know. Then we've got to give a
+definite answer to those life-partners, you know," was Polly's lugubrious
+reply.
+
+"I don't know, Polly! In such an unexpected matter as our going to the
+South Seas, a mere beau will have to bide his time. We may find a Fiji
+Islander more interesting to us than one of our Yankee beaus," laughed
+Eleanor.
+
+Mrs. Courtney heard and pondered what had just been said; her next words
+did not hint of her having heard the discussion, however.
+
+"If I do take such a trip, it shall not be in the approved line of Cook's
+Tours. I want to adventure in absolute freedom, with no tagging tourists
+or other obstacles to a perfect adventure. I would carefully select a
+party of fifteen or twenty harmonious souls and charter or buy a private
+yacht. Then start and stop as we pleased. No hurry, no lagging, unless we
+chose. It seems to me that such a wonderful outing would bring peace, at
+last, to my restless spirit." Mrs. Courtney sighed.
+
+The girls laughed because they thought she was joking. But Mrs. Courtney
+was in earnest, as they were to find out. However, the topic now being
+discussed was the South Sea Isle trip so she was determined to conclude
+that before she launched another.
+
+"If I invited you two girls to accompany me as private assistants during
+the trip, and should we find a score of kindred spirits willing to take a
+trip such as I plan, why could you not steal six months or a year from
+your profession, in order to see the world? Surely it would do you no
+harm, and you are still young enough to go on with your work when you
+return to New York?"
+
+Polly and Eleanor seemed to have exactly the same idea. But Eleanor spoke
+impetuously of it, while Polly pondered seriously. "Dear me! If only Mr.
+Dalken could spare the time to take _his_ yacht and invite us to
+accompany him on just such a voyage--what a wonderful trip it would be!"
+
+Mrs. Courtney glanced at the girls, then said: "I've heard so much of
+your great Mr. Dalken but I've never seen him. How old a man is he, and
+what does he look like?"
+
+"Oh, Dalky is not as old as he looks, because he has had such an unhappy
+life, you know; that is how we came to love him so! We felt keenly for
+him," exclaimed Eleanor, regardless of the sharp nudge Polly gave her as
+a warning to hold her tongue.
+
+"Yes, I know his silly wife, poor man!" murmured Mrs. Courtney. She
+seemed to be lost in a sad strain of thought for a short time, and the
+girls hesitated to speak, just then.
+
+Soon, however, she heaved a deep sigh and looked up to smile at the
+serious faces opposite her. "Well, perhaps there is a great happiness in
+store for your good friend, to repay him for all he has silently endured
+these past years."
+
+"We sincerely hope so!" affirmed Polly, earnestly. "If anyone deserves
+peace and joy, dear Dalky does."
+
+"How little the world really knows of the sorrows of those who bear their
+cross in silence!" sighed Mrs. Courtney. "Now, I have heard said that Mr.
+Dalken is a very gay personage who knows how to make the most of his
+money and time. But that report came from his wife, so I took it with a
+grain of salt. I know from my own experience just how the sinner tries to
+smear the saint with his own crimes although I do not mean by that that I
+am a saint."
+
+"Surely you had no unhappy experience in your life, Mrs. Courtney!"
+exclaimed Eleanor, not from curiosity but from the desire to hear her
+esteemed friend declare that she had had only joy in her days. Mrs.
+Courtney understood the motive that urged the question.
+
+"My dear children, my married experience was much like that of your
+beloved friend. The difference being that my gay husband used my position
+and wealth to boost himself to the place where he found more agreeable
+companions than I proved to be. Out of sheer self-respect I was forced to
+divorce him. Then I began my wanderings over the globe, and finally
+settled in this city where I was practically unknown. You see, my pride
+could not brook the pity of my friends although they approved the only
+course open for me when my husband eloped with another man's wife."
+
+"Oh, dear Mrs. Courtney!" sighed Eleanor, ready tears springing to her
+eyes. But Polly crept over and placed a sympathetic hand upon that of her
+hostess.
+
+"It seems ages ago, my children," added Mrs. Courtney. "I was only
+eighteen when I married and I was twenty-one when I divorced my husband.
+I never had a child, and I have always felt as though I had been given a
+very wretched deal in life, for I love children. Because of my
+experience, I can advise other young girls--not to marry too young, nor
+to accept a man for his looks or manners. A girl needs to be experienced
+from business, or travel and association with men, before she is capable
+of judging wisely and selecting the proper mate for life."
+
+The bond created that morning between the mature woman and the two young
+girls, proved to be of such quality as would last. And such a friend as
+Mrs. Courtney would be for two young girls, was one of the benefits both
+Polly and Eleanor received by visiting country auctions of a higher
+class. Not that the particular sale at Parsippany was "higher class,"
+because it was proved to have been a fake sale, but the type of buyers it
+attracted were of an advanced type of mentality.
+
+"But, children, you have told me nothing more about your good friend
+Dalken! Tell me more of him. I just heard of his wife's latest project,
+and I wish to be informed first hand."
+
+"What do you mean, Mrs. Courtney? His wife's latest project?" asked
+Polly, fearfully.
+
+"Oh, perhaps you were not aware that she is in Reno? She found an
+affinity, it seems, during her visit abroad, last summer, and it became
+necessary for her to sever her legal ties if she wished to marry this
+other man. I heard of the scandal but not being interested in the woman,
+and not knowing the man, I paid no attention to the suit. Divorce cases
+are so common in these degenerate days." Mrs. Courtney sighed again, and
+showed her disapproval of the modern style of marriages.
+
+"Poor Dalky! I wonder if he knows of this?" cried Polly.
+
+"He would have to, dear, because she would have to serve him with papers,
+you see," explained Mrs. Courtney.
+
+"And he never said a word to any one nor did he let us see he was
+disturbed in any way," added Eleanor.
+
+"Maybe the poor man is relieved to have it so. At least, he will be
+exempt from paying her such an outrageous income, you know. I take for
+granted that he will put in his defence, thus absolving himself from
+alimony," explained Mrs. Courtney.
+
+"It would be exactly like him to keep quiet and let that horrid woman get
+all she can. He is so magnanimous, you know, that he would think to
+himself 'She was the mother of my children, and as such I must not
+deprive her of what she may need'." Polly's voice had a dual tone as she
+spoke: one of sympathy for Mr. Dalken, one of scorn for Mrs. Dalken.
+
+Mrs. Courtney laughed softly. "I am getting my impressions of your friend
+in piece-meal. You have not yet told me about him."
+
+"That is because you've told us such astonishing news. But now I'll tell
+you all about good old Dalky," said Eleanor. "He is a handsome man of
+about forty-two or four, I think. Isn't he, Polly?"
+
+"Yes, about that age," agreed Polly.
+
+"Well, besides his being handsome and middle-aged, he is loving, awfully
+rich, both in money and good friends, and one of the most intelligent
+mortals I ever met!"
+
+Eleanor's description made Mrs. Courtney smile. "One would be led to
+think you had met all kinds and conditions of mortals in your long, long
+life, child," remarked she.
+
+"Sometimes I think I am very much older in life than _seems_ to be,"
+mused Eleanor. "I feel somehow, that I have lived many centuries before
+this queer modern experience."
+
+"You must have been reading theosophical books, my dear," remarked Mrs.
+Courtney, eyeing Eleanor closely.
+
+"No, I never have. I'm not interested in any such form of research--not
+yet," she laughed.
+
+"Nolla, we ought to be going--really! Every time we come here to talk
+boudoir decorating we switch off into some byway of personal interest,
+and that makes us come again to get down to work," said Polly, rising and
+adjusting her hat, preparatory to saying good-by.
+
+"But what about our round-trip to the South Sea Isles?" was Mrs.
+Courtney's query.
+
+"It isn't coming off, at once, is it? You've got to find a group who are
+companionable, and you've got to get the yacht," said Eleanor.
+
+"It may not take me more than a week to do both. When I make up my mind
+to a thing, I generally do it," returned Mrs. Courtney.
+
+"We'd have to gain the consent of our parents before we could even
+_think_ of taking such a marvellous voyage," declared Polly.
+
+"But the main point is this: would you really care to go, or would you
+prefer staying in New York to continue your profession?" asked Mrs.
+Courtney.
+
+"We'd love to go with you, but I'm not sure I'd want to remain away from
+my work for a whole year," was Polly's thoughtful answer.
+
+"If we entertained any ideas of taking the voyage, the best time for us
+to start would be next Fall. Then we could spend our entire winter in the
+tropics and escape the heat in the equator in the summer, or rainy
+season, by sailing home again."
+
+"Oh, it sounds great! It remains to see who would go," said Eleanor. Then
+the girls said good-by, and started away, full of the unusual invitation
+they had heard that afternoon.
+
+"I'm sure mother and father would not wish me to go," said Polly, after
+the subject had been exhausted.
+
+"Of course, you couldn't offer the excuse that you were going for
+advancement in your profession--as we did when we wanted to tour Europe,
+you know."
+
+"Leaving the thrilling trip out of our minds for a time, I want to ask
+you if you suspected anything troubling Dalky, lately?" said Polly,
+seriously.
+
+"Not a thing. He has seemed just the same as ever."
+
+"That's what I should have said. Then he may not know about his wife's
+perfidy, and I think we ought to prepare him for such news, Nolla."
+
+"Polly, we tried to force an adopted son on him, once, and since that
+time I have been wary of trying to interfere in any other of his personal
+affairs."
+
+"Then let us talk it over with Prof. and ask what he thinks about telling
+Mr. Ashby," suggested Polly.
+
+"That's more like sense. We'll tell Mr. Ashby ourselves, when we get back
+to the Shops."
+
+Thus Mr. Ashby was told the story as told by Mrs. Courtney but he seemed
+not surprised as the girls expected him to be. He merely shook his head
+sympathetically and said nothing.
+
+"Did you know it?" asked Polly, amazed.
+
+"We all knew of it a few weeks ago. Poor Dalky refused all our advice to
+fight the divorce and exempt himself from paying alimony--as he will have
+to do for not putting in a defence. He smiled tolerantly and explained:
+'If she wants any of my money she is welcome to it. I have more than I
+can use, you know'."
+
+"There! That is exactly what I said he would do!" declared Polly,
+vehemently.
+
+"Oh, why does he let her have it? There are so many ways he could make
+poor people happy, instead of throwing his wealth away on such a
+mercenary creature!" wailed Eleanor.
+
+"We have no right to question his motives, Nolla," said Mr. Ashby,
+seriously. "I do not wish to speak of this again, unless he himself
+mentions the subject to you girls. He has seemed anxious to keep the news
+from you, for some reason. But I firmly believe the poor man still has a
+shred of love for his wife alive in his bosom, and that is why he will
+not oppose her in any way she wishes to secure happiness."
+
+That night when Polly and Eleanor sat together doing some home-work on
+decorating, Polly suddenly looked up and said: "Nolla, if only our dear
+Dalky could meet our dear Mrs. Courtney--wouldn't they make a fine
+couple?"
+
+"Oh, Poll! There you go again! I have tried to keep from thinking that
+very thing, ever since I heard Mrs. Courtney tell us of that horrid
+woman's being in Reno. Our Dalky will be free, and what so great as to
+have him fall in love with a really appreciative woman." Eleanor clasped
+her hands and expressed ecstatic joy at the very idea of such bliss.
+
+"But the whole plan would be ruined if it turned out that Dalky was still
+in love with his first wife, you know," argued Polly.
+
+"It wouldn't take long to get him out of it," retorted Eleanor. "With
+such a lovely woman as Mrs. Courtney to be had for the loving and asking,
+I'd like to wager all I have that Dalky would walk into the snare."
+
+"What snare? Who'd set it for his faltering steps?" laughed Polly,
+enjoying this romancing to the utmost.
+
+"Why, we would, to be sure. Now look at it in a practical way, Poll.
+There is Mrs. Courtney: very good-looking, rich, refined, lonely, about
+thirty-five or thirty-eight, at most. Here is our Dalky, also handsome,
+rich, refined, lonely (but for us) about forty years old, and just the
+man to have a wonderful wife to make him happy. Is that not an ideal
+match?" Eleanor tossed her head wisely.
+
+"That's what _we_ think! But we are not going to marry Dalky nor Mrs.
+Courtney. They may not agree with us, you know."
+
+"Polly, nothing like trying out a thing to see how it works. Now we must
+scheme to bring those two together and let them find out how desirable
+each is for the other," suggested Eleanor.
+
+"I think that is a good plan--bring them together and see how they seem
+to get along," said Polly, musingly.
+
+"All right, then. How shall we do it?"
+
+"Could we not invite Mrs. Courtney to inspect some of the materials we
+are going to order for Dalky's apartment? We could so plan that Dalky
+would be there at the same time. Then they would meet and hear that each
+one is the great and only friend the other has heard so much about from
+us?"
+
+"Yes, that's a fine way to get them together," said Polly. "Now when
+shall it be?"
+
+"The sooner, the better," retorted Eleanor.
+
+"We are going to get that book of new imported samples of damask, this
+week, Nolla. Why not ask Mrs. Courtney to look at them. As they are
+ordered for Dalky's apartment, what more natural than he should drop in
+to look them over?"
+
+Eleanor clapped Polly on the back with approval, and both girls then put
+their heads together and romanced about the great match they would bring
+about.
+
+A few days after this conversation, the much-desired package came by
+European post. It was the book of imported samples which had been ordered
+for Mr. Dalken's inspection before he would place an order for the
+materials. The work at Mrs. Courtney's residence had been delayed because
+the youthful decorators said they wished to look over the magnificent
+materials from Paris. When they were sure of Mr. Dalken's visit to the
+Shops that morning, they also insisted upon Mrs. Courtney coming in to
+look over the materials.
+
+The two plotters could hardly keep from hugging each other when they knew
+that both friends were coming, and the opportunity of having them meet
+and fall in love with each other was given at last.
+
+But they did not allow for Fate.
+
+There happened to be a socialistic parade of demonstration against work,
+or some such complaint, that noon; and just as the parade reached that
+section of Fifth Avenue where the Ashby Shops were located, the police
+held up all vehicular traffic. All cars were diverted from the Avenue to
+side streets, but those unfortunate cars caught just at the point of
+crossing the street, had to back and wait until those behind had backed
+out of the congestion, before they could slowly make their way out.
+
+Mrs. Courtney's chauffeur had just attempted to cross the Avenue in order
+to turn in front of the Ashby Shops, when the signal came and all
+traffic, up or down or cross-town, was held up until the parade should
+have passed. Mrs. Courtney was furious.
+
+"Back out and we'll go around a side street to get to my destination,"
+spoke she to the chauffeur.
+
+The man glanced in the mirror to see if the way behind was open, and
+finding no car directly in his pathway, he began to quickly back out. In
+the moment he took his eye from the reflector, another car shot up close
+to Mrs. Courtney's automobile; thus her driver backed suddenly into the
+newly arrived car behind.
+
+There was a smash of lamps, a grinding of fenders and the interlocking of
+back and front bumpers. The passengers were rudely thrown from the
+luxurious cushioned seats, and Mrs. Courtney had her new imported hat
+crushed out of shape.
+
+The two chauffeurs jumped down and began to blame each other for the
+accident; Mr. Dalken managed to pick himself up from the floor of his
+limousine and step stiffly out to learn who was to blame. Mrs. Courtney
+was sure she was in the right; and when the handsome gentleman came up to
+her car to tell her she had a stupid chauffeur, for he should have looked
+well before backing so recklessly into the congested tangle of cars
+behind him, she resented his charge.
+
+While Mr. Dalken stood beside Mrs. Courtney's car trying to convince her
+she was in the wrong, the two chauffeurs began to use their fists upon
+each other. Then, in a few minutes' time, the officer stationed at the
+corner to maintain order for the paraders, rushed up and arrested both
+combatants. Naturally, this caused their employers to see that justice
+was done, and thus it happened that all contestants accompanied the
+officer to the police-station.
+
+Meantime Polly and Eleanor waited and waited, but no one came to inspect
+their sample book. They telephoned Mrs. Courtney's house and were told
+she had left, in her car, fully an hour before. Then they telephoned Mr.
+Dalken's office and heard that he had driven away in his car fully an
+hour before.
+
+"The old parade must have held them up," suggested Polly.
+
+"But that's over, now, and they surely could have been here if they were
+detained at one of the nearby cross-streets," said Eleanor.
+
+Another half hour passed and then two cars drove up and stopped before
+the Ashby Shops. Two people stepped from their individual cars and two
+angry people stood and stared at each other. Then Mr. Dalken, recovering
+first, bowed stiffly and walked across the pavement to enter the Shop
+door. Mrs. Courtney had started to cross the sidewalk before she realized
+that her unknown opponent was entering the same Shop she was bound for.
+She passed through the door he held open, and sent him a careless glance
+of thanks, then looked around for the girls whom she had expected to meet
+there.
+
+Neither girl was in sight, and the lady now asked one of the salesmen,
+"Where shall I find Miss Brewster or Miss Maynard?"
+
+"Just step this way, Madam. I'll take you to their private office," was
+the polite reply.
+
+Mrs. Courtney glanced in a large mirror to assure herself that her hat
+was presentable, then followed her escort. As she reached the partly
+closed door of the office used by the young decorators, she heard a man's
+voice. The same voice which had been accusing her chauffeur of bad
+judgment and ignorance of city laws. Before she could change her mind
+about entering the room, however, the escort had knocked and Polly flung
+the door open. She welcomed the new visitor.
+
+Both girls were tickled to pieces to find how their plot was coming on
+apace: both dear friends were now together at the same time, and all that
+was needed was for them to be introduced.
+
+"Oh, isn't this just lovely!" cried Eleanor, acting her part very well.
+"To find both our friends here at the same time!"
+
+"Dear Mrs. Courtney, this is our dear Mr. Dalken," said Polly, politely.
+
+"And _this_ is the dear friend we have told you of so often, Dalky!"
+added Eleanor, effusively.
+
+The lady and gentleman bowed distantly but never smiled; the girls
+wondered at their strange behavior. Then Mr. Dalken said sarcastically:
+
+"We have met before. In fact, the lady is obliged to me for having spared
+her chauffeur a fine."
+
+"What do you mean?" gasped Polly, all at sea.
+
+"He means, my dears, that he took us to the police station a short time
+ago, just because his stupid chauffeur wouldn't back out of the
+congestion. Naturally, when my man tried to back out the car grazed the
+one behind, and that started the fight," explained Mrs. Courtney.
+
+"I beg pardon, Madam. _I_ did not take you to the station house. You took
+yourself in order to save your chauffeur. And I went to see that my poor
+man had simple justice in the case," said Mr. Dalken, bowing low in mock
+humility.
+
+"Oh, oh! Isn't this dreadful after all we hoped for!" cried Polly,
+throwing herself in a chair and burying her face in her arms.
+
+"What is so awful, Polly dear?" asked Mrs. Courtney, springing over to
+the troubled girl and placing an arm about her.
+
+"Oh, oh! I am so heart-broken over this misfortune!" cried Polly.
+
+"What misfortune, Polly dear?" now asked Mr. Dalken, coming close to the
+girl.
+
+"Oh, oh, oh! I can't speak of it!" sobbed Polly.
+
+"Perhaps I can comfort her, Madam, if you will allow me," suggested Mr.
+Dalken, anxious to take Mrs. Courtney's place as comforter.
+
+She sent him a glance that said as plain as could be: "I can comfort her
+myself--you need not mind!"
+
+Meanwhile Eleanor stood and rapidly pondered the situation. She felt like
+laughing outrageously at the prank Cupid had played on them, but she
+dared not utter a sound of mirth because that might spoil everything. And
+there might be a possible chance of saving the day, after all.
+
+Suddenly, without any previous notice, Eleanor fell upon the other chair
+by the table and dropped her head upon her folded arms. Her body shook
+nervously, and Mr. Dalken believed her to be crying, too. He hastened to
+assure her that there was really nothing to cry about, but his assurance
+only caused the girl to quake the more.
+
+Eleanor was not crying, but had felt that she must laugh or leave the
+room. As she had no desire to leave, she tried to hide her laughing in
+her arms upon the table. But when Mr. Dalken began to comfort her, she
+lost all control of herself and had an attack of hysterical laughter.
+
+The two distraught adults were not able to cope with the situation, and
+they looked at each other in mute appeal. Mr. Dalken was the first to
+speak.
+
+"We'd better bury the hatchet and do something for the children," said
+he, anxiously. "Do you know what to do?"
+
+"Had I better get a doctor, or something?" added he.
+
+"Better get _some_thing," replied Mrs. Courtney, without thinking how
+silly it must sound.
+
+This sent Eleanor off into another wild spell of laughter, but Polly
+began to quiet now that she heard her friend making such a disturbance.
+The ungoverned laughter attracted Mr. Ashby who had just entered the
+Shops.
+
+"Well, well! What has happened?" was the natural thing for him to say,
+the moment he entered the room.
+
+Mr. Dalken tried to explain that a slight shock had occasioned the
+hysteria, and then Mr. Ashby ran for the jug of icewater on the small
+stand by the door. Eleanor was liberally soaked with water before she
+could control her nerves, but once she could gasp again, she cried, "Oh,
+Mr. Ashby! make our two dear friends patch up their quarrel! I shall have
+another fit unless they shake hands right before my face and promise
+never again to act like children!"
+
+As the logic of this accusation seemed apparent to all present, Mr.
+Dalken smiled graciously upon Mrs. Courtney and she held out her hand
+without further animosity. Then Mr. Ashby had to hear the story of the
+accident.
+
+As it was concluded he laughed heartily and said, "When I came in, just
+now, I saw two chauffeurs sitting on the running board of Dalky's car,
+smoking cigarettes and laughing together as if they were twin brothers.
+No sign of disagreement _there_."
+
+"Oh the wretches! And in the station house they called each other all
+sorts of bad names and swore to do away with each other the moment they
+found an opportunity," complained Mrs. Courtney.
+
+The others laughed at her pathetic voice, and Mr. Dalken said, "When they
+discovered they were both Swedes they decided they had best combine their
+forces against the common enemy-employer."
+
+Now that reconciliation had been brought about between these two good
+friends, Eleanor wondered what next to do to further the match she had
+determined to bring about. She looked at Polly for inspiration, but Polly
+seemed to lack any initiative.
+
+"Well, girls! Now that you have agreed to remain yet a little longer on
+this earth with us, I shall have to be saying good-by," declared Mr.
+Dalken, bowing before Mrs. Courtney in his most dignified manner.
+
+"Oh, no, Dalky! Wait just a minute!" cried Eleanor. Then turning to Polly
+for help, she added, "We want Mrs. Courtney and you to come and dine with
+us, some evening, this week. Not at Mr. Fabian's, you know, but at a nice
+quaint little place we know of."
+
+This was news to Polly, but she waited to hear more before she spoke. Mr.
+Dalken laughed and waited for Mrs. Courtney to speak.
+
+"What is this? Do you need a chaperone for an evening?" said she, trying
+to fathom Eleanor's thoughts.
+
+"No, no! But you see, Mr. Ashby always takes his important clients to a
+famous restaurant for dinner, so we have to do the same. You two are our
+first big customers, and I want to do the business up as it should be
+done." Every one laughed at Eleanor.
+
+"Under the circumstances, I think I should be the host and you three
+ladies my guests," suggested Mr. Dalken.
+
+"Well--anyway you say, Dalky, just so long as we get together for an
+evening," sighed Eleanor, as if relieved at the change of plans. This
+called forth another, heartier, laugh at her expense.
+
+One evening, therefore, the four, now good friends, met at one of the new
+unique cabarets, and having enjoyed dinner and the dancing, they spoke of
+Mrs. Courtney's idea of taking a trip to the South Sea Isles. Mr. Dalken
+laughed immoderately at the mention of the place selected for a pleasure
+trip.
+
+"Now I am truly sorry you have set your hearts on going to the South
+Seas, for I had been secretly planning a little jaunt on my own account.
+One reason I bought that sea-going yacht was to have my best friends take
+short voyages with me, whenever we could get away from business.
+
+"I find that I must try to break away from New York in early Spring, and
+the doctor says a sea-voyage is the best vacation I can possibly take.
+Hence I wanted to have my two girls with me. If you are planning to go to
+the South Seas I suppose it will be out of the question for you to go to
+the Orient, on _my_ planned trip?"
+
+As Mr. Dalken paused to watch the effect of this speech, both the girls
+"Oh'ed and Ah'ed" and glanced at Mrs. Courtney. She said nothing and her
+face was a blank so no one could read her mind.
+
+"I had jotted down a list of names of sociable spirits, such as the
+Fabians, the Ashbys, the Alexanders, the Brewsters, the Maynards, the
+Latimers, the Evans, the Stewarts, and Mrs. Courtney with Jack Baxter to
+look after her in lieu of other escort. It may be impossible for all
+members in the families I mention to continue with us on the voyage, but
+they can accompany us part way and then come back home. I planned to go
+via the Panama Canal, and thus on to Hawaii, touching there for a short
+visit to the Islands, and those of our party who must return to the
+States, can get back by steamer to California and thence to their
+respective homes. We will sail on to the land of cherry blossoms and
+pigtails. But you girls with one short sentence blast all these cherished
+dreams."
+
+"Oh, no, Dalky! We wouldn't change your plans for the world!" exclaimed
+Polly, anxiously. "You see, the South Sea Isles will wait until we can
+get there, but you and your plans are apt to change--as the railroad
+guides read--without notice at any time!"
+
+A laugh followed Polly's remark, and Mr. Dalken added, "Well just mull
+over this project for a time and give me your individual opinions about
+it. Of course, we would be crowded if everyone in the families mentioned
+were to accept my invitation and take the round trip; but I feel quite
+safe in inviting all because I am sure I can bank on certain ones
+refusing to go."
+
+"I don't believe you could tear father or mother away from Pebbly Pit,"
+remarked Polly, wistfully.
+
+"And I know for certain that mother and Bob wouldn't give up their summer
+season at a fashionable resort, just to join a party of old-fashioned
+sea-farers," laughed Eleanor.
+
+"Do you think you could persuade your father to join us?" asked Mr.
+Dalken.
+
+"I bet he would go as far as Honolulu, anyway!" said Eleanor.
+
+"That's one for certain to start with!" laughed Mr. Dalken.
+
+"Then there is Polly and myself and Mrs. Courtney, for certain--and that
+makes four; with yourself, we are five!" exulted Eleanor, drawing forth
+another laugh.
+
+"Then it is settled, eh? We sail for the Orient without more ado, just as
+soon as your extensive business deals are done and you will need a long
+rest in order to recuperate for next year's work," chuckled Mr. Dalken.
+
+"If our two clients would postpone their decorating for a year, we might
+be able to start tomorrow," remarked Polly, smilingly.
+
+"But the clients are obdurate, especially when the decorators need
+payment and prestige to succeed in their profession. Besides, the owner
+of the yacht is not keen on sailing the seas in the middle of winter and
+then land in China in the wet season."
+
+"Yes, he is right," admitted Polly.
+
+"If we should really take such a trip, Dalky, what is the best time of
+the year to start?" asked Eleanor.
+
+"Well, we could leave New York in May or June, dawdle along the route
+until we reach Southern California. Those who cannot take time to go to
+Hawaii, can railroad themselves back home, and we can sail leisurely
+across the Pacific to visit the Hawaiian Islands. There again, those who
+cannot go on to the Orient with the decorators who need to study customs
+and periods in the Far East, may say good-by to us and watch us go west,
+while they go east back to business.
+
+"If we take our time, stopping at the Philippines on the way, we ought to
+do Japan and China and even the principal parts of India, in a few
+months. We can bid the East good-by about March and escape the unpleasant
+season there. By taking a direct route home we might reach New York in
+June. It all depends."
+
+"Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful! And all our dearest friends with us!"
+cried Polly, clasping her hands in ecstasy.
+
+"Dear, dear! If only Tom will let you go, Polly!" sighed Eleanor,
+mischievously.
+
+"Tom! What has Tom got to do with it?" demanded Polly.
+
+"Well, you know, he says you ought to consider his wishes more, since he
+is sure you are his soul-mate," teased Eleanor.
+
+"The sooner he finds out that I propose keeping my own soul in custody
+the better it will be for Tom!" declared Polly.
+
+"There, now! That doesn't sound much as if our Polly was deeply in love,
+does it, Dalky?" laughed Eleanor, clapping her hands.
+
+"I never thought she was! She was moved by compassion for Tom, to partly
+agree to consider his proposal. I knew she would not forfeit her
+profession for the doubtful result of conjugal bliss," remarked Mr.
+Dalken.
+
+"Hem--she's right!" asserted Mrs. Courtney. "When two people, as you and
+I are, are on hand to prevent our young friends from precipitating
+themselves into double harness before they have thoroughly studied their
+own minds and desires, we ought to succeed in the work because we speak
+from experience."
+
+"Yes," agreed Mr. Dalken, reminiscently; "I would never marry the finest
+woman on earth, after my first venture."
+
+"Nor would I accept a man, even though he presented himself to me in
+guise of a saint! Even saints have their bad days," laughed Mrs.
+Courtney.
+
+Polly and Eleanor exchanged troubled glances for it was evident that
+their match-making was hopeless. But the voyage to the Orient might
+develop many interesting things which were not revealed to the actors
+then. Thus we leave Polly and Eleanor for the time, and return to our own
+affairs until it is time to go on board Mr. Dalken's yacht for the long
+trip half-way around the world.
+
+
+                                THE END
+
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+                        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 ranchman and enjoys herself immensely.
+
+                   Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
+
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+
+                       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.
+
+Polly of Pebbly Pit
+  Tells about a Rocky Mountain ranch girl and her many adventures.
+
+Polly and Eleanor
+  Eleanor Maynard visits Polly at the Ranch and they have lively times.
+
+Polly in New York
+  Polly and Eleanor visit New York and have a number of very
+  interesting experiences.
+
+Polly and Her Friends Abroad
+  The girls go abroad and spend most of their time with other American
+  travelers.
+
+Polly's Business Venture
+  Polly and Eleanor take up interior decorating. They attend sales of
+  antiques and incidentally fall in love.
+
+Polly's Southern Cruise
+  A hurricane and cloud-burst threatens to swamp the vessel in which
+  Polly and her friends take this trip.
+
+Polly in South America
+  Polly and her friends land at many funny old towns and have several
+  exciting adventures not altogether pleasant.
+
+                  Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
+
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+                          CAROLYN WELLS BOOKS
+  May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list.
+                           THE MARJORIE BOOKS
+                      Happy Books For Happy Girls
+
+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.
+
+This series is the American Girl's very own. Each book is attractively
+bound in cloth, and wrapped in a charming colored individual wrapper.
+
+                         Marjorie's Vacation
+                         Marjorie's New Friend
+                         Marjorie's Maytime
+                         Marjorie's Busy Day
+                         Marjorie in Command
+                         Marjorie at Seacote
+
+                      THE TWO LITTLE WOMEN SERIES
+
+Miss Carolyn Wells here introduces 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 on a Holiday
+                  Two Little Women and Treasure House
+
+                        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 BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS
+                        For Little Men and Women
+
+                           By LAURA LEE HOPE
+                Author of "The Bunny Brown Series," Etc.
+
+         Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding.
+                    Every Volume Complete in Itself.
+
+These books for boys and girls between the ages of three and ten stands
+among children and their parents of this generation where the books of
+Louisa May Alcott stood in former days. The haps and mishaps of this
+inimitable pair of twins, their many adventures and experiences are a
+source of keen delight to imaginative children everywhere.
+
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN A GREAT CITY
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON BLUEBERRY ISLAND
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON THE DEEP BLUE SEA
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE GREAT WEST
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT CEDAR CAMP
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE COUNTY FAIR
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS CAMPING OUT
+                 THE BOBBSEY TWINS AND BABY MAY
+
+                 GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+                         THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES
+                           By LAURA LEE HOPE
+
+           Author of the Popular "Bobbsey Twins" Books, Etc.
+
+         Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding.
+                    Every Volume Complete in Itself.
+
+These stories by the author of the "Bobbsey Twins" Books are eagerly
+welcomed by the little folks from about five to ten years of age. Their
+eyes fairly dance with delight at the lively doings of inquisitive little
+Bunny Brown and his cunning, trustful sister Sue.
+
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON GRANDPA'S FARM
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE PLAYING CIRCUS
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CAMP REST-A-WHILE
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT AUNT LU'S CITY HOME
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE BIG WOODS
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON AN AUTO TOUR
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR SHETLAND PONY
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE GIVING A SHOW
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CHRISTMAS TREE COVE
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE SUNNY SOUTH
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE KEEPING STORE
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR TRICK DOG
+         BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT A SUGAR CAMP
+
+                 GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+                       SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES
+                           By LAURA LEE HOPE
+
+              Author of The Bobbsey Twins Books, The Bunny
+              Brown Series, The Make-Believe Series, Etc.
+
+         Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding.
+                    Every Volume Complete in Itself.
+
+Delightful stories for little boys and girls which sprung into immediate
+popularity. To know the six little Bunkers is to take them at once to
+your heart, they are so intensely human, so full of fun and cute sayings.
+Each story has a little plot of its own--one that can be easily
+followed--and all are written in Miss Hope's most entertaining manner.
+Clean, wholesome volumes which ought to be on the bookshelf of every
+child in the land.
+
+                  SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDMA BELL'S
+                  SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT AUNT JO'S
+                  SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COUSIN TOM'S
+                  SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDPA FORD'S
+                  SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT UNCLE FRED'S
+                  SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT CAPTAIN BEN'S
+                  SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COWBOY JACK'S
+                  SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT MAMMY JUNE'S
+                  SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT FARMER JOEL'S
+                  SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT MILLER NED'S
+
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