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diff --git a/25778-8.txt b/25778-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c8516d8 --- /dev/null +++ b/25778-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7702 @@ +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 + 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 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 ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/7/7/25778 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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