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margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } + p, li, dd, dt, div.bcat { max-width:25em; } + blockquote { max-width:23em; } + + div.verse { max-width:25em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } + div.bq { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:23em; } + hr { max-width:20em; } + + h2.pg,h3.pg { max-width: 80%; } + p.pg { max-width: 80%; } + hr.full { max-width: 80%; + width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Meg of Mystery Mountain, by Grace May North</h1> +<p class="pg">This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a +href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></p> +<p class="pg">Title: Meg of Mystery Mountain</p> +<p class="pg">Author: Grace May North</p> +<p class="pg">Release Date: February 4, 2013 [eBook #42014]</p> +<p class="pg">Language: English</p> +<p class="pg">Character set encoding: UTF-8</p> +<p class="pg">***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEG OF MYSTERY MOUNTAIN***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4>E-text prepared by<br /> + Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Dave Morgan,<br /> + and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h4> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div id="cover" class="img"> +<img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Meg of Mystery Mountain" width="500" height="735" /> +</div> +<div class="img" id="front"><img src="images/front.jpg" alt="Down the steps she went, holding out the papers." width="500" height="776" /></div> +<p class="center">Down the steps she went, holding out the papers. (<a href="#Page_173">Page 173</a>)</p> +<div class="box"> +<h1>MEG OF +<br />MYSTERY MOUNTAIN</h1> +<p class="center">By GRACE MAY NORTH</p> +<hr /> +<div class="img" id="logo"><img src="images/logo.jpg" alt="Girl on Horse" width="132" height="198" /></div> +<hr /> +<p class="center">THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY +<br />Akron, Ohio <span class="hst">New York</span></p> +<p class="center"><span class="small">Copyright MCMXXVI</span></p> +<p class="center"><span class="small"><i>Made in the United States of America</i></span></p> +</div> +<div class="pb" id="Page_3">[3]</div> +<h1 title="">MEG OF MYSTERY MOUNTAIN.</h1> +<h2 id="c1"><br />CHAPTER I. +<br />THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL</h2> +<p>Jane Abbott, tall, graceful and languidly beautiful, +passed through the bevy of girls on the wharf +below Highacres Seminary with scarcely a nod for +any of them. Closely following her came three +other girls, each carrying a satchel and wearing a +tailored gown of the latest cut.</p> +<p>Although Esther Ballard and Barbara Morris +called gaily to many of their friends, it was around +Marion Starr that all of the girls crowded until her +passage way to the small boat, even then getting up +steam, was completely blocked.</p> +<p>Jane, when she had crossed the gang plank, +turned to find only Esther and Barbara at her side. +A slight sneer curled her lips as she watched the adulation +which Merry was receiving. Then, with a +shrug of her slender shoulders that was more eloquent +than words, the proud girl seated herself in +one of the reclining deck chairs and imperiously +motioned her friends to do likewise.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_4">[4]</div> +<p>“It’s so silly of Merry to make such a fuss over +all those girls. She’ll miss the boat if she doesn’t +hurry.”</p> +<p>Marion had evidently thought of the same thing, +for she laughingly ran up the gang plank, her arms +filled with candy boxes, boquets and magazines, +gifts of her admiring friends. Depositing these on +a chair, she leaned over the rail to call: “Good-bye, +girls! Of course I’ll write to you, Sally, reams and +reams; a sort of a round-robin letter to be sent to +the whole crowd.</p> +<p>“Sure thing, Betty Ann. I’ll tell my handsome +brother Bob that you don’t want him to ever forget +you.” Then as there was a protest from the wharf, +the girl laughingly added: “But you wished to be +remembered to him. Isn’t that the same thing?”</p> +<p>Noticing a small girl who had put her handkerchief +to her eyes, Merry remonstrated. “Tessie, +don’t cry, child! This isn’t a funeral or a wedding. +Of course you’ll see us again. We four intend to +come back to Highacres to watch you graduate just +as you watched us today. Work hard, Little One, +and carry off the honors. I’ve been your big-sister +coach all this year, and I want you to make the goal. +I know you will! Goodbye!” Marion Starr could +say no more for the small river steamer gave a +warning whistle—the rope was drawn in, and, as +the boat churned the water noisily in starting, the +chorus of goodbyes from the throng of girls on the +wharf could be heard but faintly.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_5">[5]</div> +<p>Marion remained standing at the rail, waving her +handkerchief, smiling and nodding until the small +steamer rounded a jutting-out point of land, then +she turned about and faced the three other girls, +who had made themselves comfortable in the reclining +steamer chairs.</p> +<p>“What a fuss you make over all those undergrads, +Merry,” Jane Abbott remarked languidly. “A +casual observer might suppose that each one of +them was a very best friend, while we three, who +are here present, have that honor. For myself, I +much prefer to conserve my enthusiasm.”</p> +<p>Marion sat down in a vacant steamer chair, and +merely smiled her reply, but the youngest among +them, Esther Ballard, flashed a defense for her +ideal among girls. “That’s the very reason why +Merry was unanimously voted the most popular girl +in Highacres during the entire four years that we +have been at the seminary. Nothing was ever too +much trouble, and no girl was too unimportant for +Merry’s loving consideration.”</p> +<p>“Listen! Listen!” laughed good natured Barbara +Morris. “All salute Saint Marion Starr.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_6">[6]</div> +<p>But Esther, flushed and eager, did not stop. +“While you, Jane Abbott”—she could not keep the +scorn out of her voice—“while you were only voted +the most beautiful.”</p> +<p>“Only?” there was a rising inflection in Barbara’s +voice, and she also lifted her eyebrows questioningly. +“I think our queen is quite satisfied with +her laurels.”</p> +<p>Jane merely shrugged her shoulders, then turning +her dark, shapely head on the small cherry colored +pillow with which she always traveled, she +asked in her usual languid manner, “Marion, let’s +forget the past and plan for the future.”</p> +<p>“You said you had a wonderful vacation trip to +suggest, and that you would reveal it when we +were on the boat. Well, this is the time and the +place.”</p> +<p>“And the girls?” chimed in Barbara. “Do hurry +and tell us, Merry. Your plans are always jolly.”</p> +<p>And so with a smile of pleasurable anticipation, +Merry began to unfold her scheme.</p> +<p>“Aunt Belle is going to one of those adorable cottage +hotels at Newport. She is just past-perfect as +a chaperone and she said that she thought a party +of four girls would be ideal. It will only cost each +of us about $100 a month.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_7">[7]</div> +<p>“A mere mite,” Jane Abbott commented, “and +the plan, as far as I’m concerned, is simply inspirational. +I’ve always had a wild desire to live at one +of those fashionable cottage-hotels, but not having +a mother to take me, I have never been. I know my +father will be glad to have me go, since your Aunt +Belle is to be there, and I shall ask for $150 a +month, so that we may have plenty of ice cream and +not feel stinted.”</p> +<p>The usually indolent Jane was so interested in +Merry’s plan that she was actually sitting erect, the +small cherry-colored pillow in her lap.</p> +<p>“I’m not so sure that I can go,” Esther Ballard +said ruefully. “My father is not a Wall Street magnate +as is your father, Jane, and $100 a month may +seem a good deal to him, following so closely the +vast sum that he has had to spend on my four years’ +tuition at Highacres.”</p> +<p>“Nonsense,” Jane flashed at their youngest. +“You are the idol of your artist-father’s existence. +He’d give you anything you needed to make you +happy.”</p> +<p>Then, before Esther could voice her retort, the +older girl had continued: “As for me, I shall need +an additional $500 for clothes. Since we are going +to so fashionable a place, we ought to have the +smartest and latest summer styles from Paris. Let’s +all make note of the wardrobe we’d like to take.”</p> +<p>Out came four small leather notebooks and with +tiny pencils suspended above them, the girls thought +for a moment.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_8">[8]</div> +<p>Then Merry scribbled something as she remarked, +“My first is a bathing suit. Green, the color mermaids +wear.”</p> +<p>“Mine shall be cherry colored. It best suits my +style of beauty,” Jane said complacently.</p> +<p>“You surely do look peachy in it,” Barbara remarked +admirably. “It doesn’t matter what I put +on, my squint and my freckled pug nose spoil it all.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you’re not so bad!” Esther said generously. +“I heard one of the cadets at our closing dance say +that he thought your squint was adorable.”</p> +<p>“Lead me to him!” Barbara jumped up as +though about to start in search of her unknown admirer, +but sank back again when she recalled that +she was on a steamer which was chugging down the +Hudson at its best speed.</p> +<p>“Do be serious, girls. See, I’ve made out a long +list of things that I shall need.” Jane held up her +notebook for inspection. But Esther closed hers +and replaced it in her natty alligator traveling bag. +“I’ll select my wardrobe after I have had my +father’s consent,” she said. “You might as well stop +planning now, Jane, as we are nearly to the Battery.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_9">[9]</div> +<p>Esther was right and in another five moments all +was confusion on the small steamer. When they +had safely crossed the gang plank, Merry detained +them long enough to say, “Girls, before we part, +let’s plan to meet at my home next Friday. Since +you will all have to travel so far, suppose you come +early and stay to lunch. Then we can make our +final plans. How I do hope that we can all go.”</p> +<p>“I know that I can,” Jane replied confidently. “I +always do as I wish, and nothing could induce me +to spend another summer with my young brother +and sister. They’re so boisterous and bothersome. +As for Dan, he’s so eager to make high grades at +college that he always is deep in a book.”</p> +<p>“Why Jane Abbott,” rebuked Esther. “I think +your little sister is adorable. I’d give anything if I +were not an only child.” Jane merely shrugged. +“Au revoir,” she called over her shoulder. “I’ve got +to catch the ferry.”</p> +<h2 id="c2"><br />CHAPTER II. +<br />THE MOST SELFISH GIRL</h2> +<p>The girls who had been inseparable friends during +the four years at the fashionable Highacres +Seminary parted at the Battery to go in as many +different directions.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_10">[10]</div> +<p>Marion Starr’s home was far up on Riverside +Drive, while Barbara Morris’ millionaire father had +an extensive estate on Long Island. Esther Ballard, +the only daughter of devoted parents, resided in the +house of her grandfather, Colonel Ballard, on Washington +Square, while Jane Abbott’s family of four +lived in the same rambling, picturesque wooden +house that Mr. Abbott’s father had built for his +bride long before his name had become so well +known on Wall Street. Edgemere, a pretty little +town among the Jersey hills, Mr. Abbott deemed a +good place to bring up his younger girl and boy, +and so, although Jane often pleaded that they move +to a more fashionable suburb, in Edgemere they +had remained. Nor would her father tear down the +old home to replace it with one finer, for his beloved +wife, who had died at the birth of little Julie, had +planned it and had chosen all of the furnishings. +“Some day you will have a home of your own, +Jane,” he had told his proud older daughter, “and +then you may have it as fine as you wish.”</p> +<p>But in all other things, Mr. Abbott humored her, +for she was so like her mother in appearance. It +was with sorrow that the father had to confess in +his heart that there the resemblance ceased, for the +mother, who had been equally beautiful, had been +neither proud nor selfish. Little Julie, though not so +beautiful, was far more like the mother in nature, +and so, too, was Daniel, the nineteen-year-old lad +upon whom the father placed so much reliance.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_11">[11]</div> +<p>Regrettable as it may seem, Jane Abbott, as she +stood on the deck of the ferry that was to convey her +to the Jersey shore, was actually dreading the two +weeks that she would have to spend in her own home. +Marion had suggested that they plan going to Newport +by the middle of July and it was now the first.</p> +<p>It was late afternoon, and there were many working +girls on the huge ferry, who were returning to +their Jersey homes after a long hot day in the New +York offices. As they crowded against her, Jane +drew herself away from them haughtily, thankful, +indeed, that her father was so wealthy that she +would never have to earn her own way in the world, +nor wear such unattractive ready-made dresses. Unconsciously +her lips curled scornfully until she +chanced to catch a glimpse of her own trim tailored +figure in one of the panel mirrors; then she smiled +complacently and seated herself somewhat apart +from the working girls, who, from time to time, +glanced at her, as she supposed, with admiration. +But she was disabused of this satisfying thought +when one of them spoke loud enough for her to +hear. “See that stiff-necked snob! She thinks +she’s made of different clay from the rest of us. I +wish her pa’d lose his money, so she’d have to scrub +for a living.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_12">[12]</div> +<p>This remark merely caused Jane to sneer slightly, +but what she heard next filled her heart with terrified +foreboding, for another girl had turned to look at +her and replied:</p> +<p>“Well, if she’s who I think she is, her father’s +already gone bankrupt, and she’s poor enough, all +right.”</p> +<p>The working girls then moved to another part of +the ferry and Jane was left alone. It was ridiculous, +of course. Her father could not lose his vast fortune. +Jane determined to think no more about it. +The ferry had reached its destination, and the proud +girl hurried away. Never before had she so longed +to reach her home.</p> +<p>“Of course it is not true,” her panicky thought +kept repeating. “But what could it mean? What +could it mean?”</p> +<p class="center"><span class="gs">* * * * * * * *</span></p> +<p>Jane vowed to herself that she would not again +think of what the spiteful working girl had said, for +how could she, a mere nobody, have information +concerning the affairs of a man of her father’s +standing, which Jane, his own daughter, did not +have?</p> +<p>But a disquieting thought reminded her that the +working girl’s face had been familiar, and then +memory recalled that she had seen her in the very +building on Wall Street where Mr. Abbott’s offices +were located.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_13">[13]</div> +<p>Jane’s troubled reverie was interrupted by a joyous +exclamation, and her brother, who was three +years her senior and a head taller, leaped from the +crowd and held out both hands. His greeting was +so enthusiastic, his expression so radiant, that the +girl was convinced that all was well with their +father, and so she said nothing of what she had +heard.</p> +<p>It was not until they were seated on the train and +had started for Edgemere that Jane noticed how pale +and thin was her brother’s face, and, when his +eager flow of conversation was interrupted by a +severe coughing spell, the girl exclaimed with real +concern, “Why, Brother Dan, what a terrible cold +you have! You ought to be in bed.”</p> +<p>The boy’s smile was reassuring. “Don’t worry +about that cough, sis,” he said lightly. “Now the +grind is over, it will let up, I’m thinking. But it +surely has stuck closer than a postage stamp. Caught +it weeks ago, but I’ve been so busy, well, doing +things, that I haven’t had time to coddle myself.”</p> +<p>Suddenly the lad’s expression became very serious, +and turning, he placed a thin hand, that was far +too white, lovingly on his sister’s as he said: “Jane, +dear, some changes have taken place in our home +since you went back to Highacres last Christmas. +For Dad’s sake try to bear them bravely.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_14">[14]</div> +<p>Then it was true, true, all that this dreadful +working girl had said. For a moment the girl’s +whole being surged with self-pity, then she felt +cold and hard. What right had their father to lose +his fortune and bring disgrace and privation upon +his family? In a voice that sounded most unfeeling, +she asked, “And just what may those changes be?”</p> +<p>It was hard, so hard for Dan to tell the whole +truth to a girl whom he knew, with sorrow, thought +only of herself. He had believed that trouble might +awaken the true Jane, whom he had always felt +must be somewhere deep under all the adamant of +selfishness, but as yet there was no evidence of it.</p> +<p>He removed his hand, as from something that +hurt him, and folding his arms, he began: “Our +father is in great trouble, Jane, and he needs our aid, +but at present all we can do is to bear cheerfully the +inconveniences that are not nearly as severe as many +others have to endure.”</p> +<p>But the girl was impatient. “For goodness sakes, +Dan, don’t preach! Now is no time to moralize. If +our father has done some idiotic speculating and has +lost his money, tell me so squarely.”</p> +<p>A red spot burned in each pale cheek of the lad +and a light of momentary indignation flashed in his +eyes, but he replied calmly enough: “Remember, +Jane, that you are speaking of our father, one of +the noblest men who ever trod on this earth. You +know as well as I do that Dad never did any wildcat +speculating.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_15">[15]</div> +<p>“Well, then, stop beating around the bush and tell +me just what has happened.”</p> +<h2 id="c3"><br />CHAPTER III. +<br />FACING HARD TRUTHS</h2> +<p>“It is because our father is honest that today we +are poor,” Dan Abbott began, “and I glory in that +fact.”</p> +<p>His sister, sitting beside him in the train that was +nearing Edgemere, curled her lips but did not reply. +“The firm to which Dad belonged made illegal contracts +in western oil fields. The other men will be +many times richer than they were before, but, because +our father scorned to be a party to such dishonesty, +he has failed. Not a one of the men in +whom he trusted made the slightest effort to help +avert the catastrophe.”</p> +<p>“When did this all happen?” Jane’s voice was +still hard, almost bitter, as though she felt hatred +and scorn for her father, rather than loyalty and +admiration.</p> +<p>“Last February,” was the brief reply.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_16">[16]</div> +<p>“Then why was I not informed? Am I a mere +infant to be kept in ignorance of facts like these? +Father has treated me unfairly, letting me boast to +my most intimate friends that I could have an elaborate +Paris wardrobe for the summer. My position +is certainly a most unpleasant one.”</p> +<p>At this the slow temper of the lad at her side +flamed and though he spoke in a low voice that the +other passengers might not hear, he said just what +he thought. “Jane Abbott, you are the most selfish, +heartless girl I have ever known. It is very hard to +believe that you are an own daughter to that most +wonderful woman whom we are permitted to claim +as our mother. In an hour of trouble (and there +were many of them in those long ago days) she was +always brave and cheerful, comforting Dad and urging +him above all to be true to an ideal. But I actually +believe that you, Jane Abbott, would rather our +Dad had entered into dishonest negotiations as did +the other members of his firm.”</p> +<p>The lad glanced hopefully at his sister. Surely +she would indignantly refute this accusation, but +she did nothing of the sort. With a shrug of her +slender shoulders, she sank back against the cherry +colored cushion as she replied, “I have often heard +that an honest man can not be a success in business, +and I do feel that our father should have considered +his family above all else.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_17">[17]</div> +<p>Dan pressed his lips firmly together. He feared +that if his torrent of angry thoughts were expressed +it might form a barrier between himself and his sister +that the future could not tear down, and so, after +taking a deep breath that seemed almost a half sob, +he again placed his hand tenderly on the cold white +one that lay listlessly near him.</p> +<p>“Sis, dear,” he implored, “try to be brave, won’t +you? I’ll do all I can to make things easier for you, +and so will Dad. He’s pretty much stunned, just +now, but, oh, little girl, you can’t guess how he is +dreading your homecoming. That’s why I offered +to meet you at the ferry station. I wanted to tell +you and save Dad that agony of spirit. If you would +only go in brightly and say, what our dear mother +would have said, it will do more to help our father +than anything else in this world.”</p> +<p>Selfish as Jane was, she dearly loved the brother +who had idolized her, and who in moments of great +tenderness had always called her his little girl, remembering +only that she was three years younger +and in need of his protection.</p> +<p>Tears sprang to her eyes, but as the train was +drawing in at the Edgemere station she only had +time to say, “I’ll try. But, oh, it is so hard, so +hard.”</p> +<p>Dan engaged a hack and after assisting his sister +in, he sat beside her. Then, as they drove along the +pleasant streets of the village that were shaded by +wide spreading elms, the lad told her what changes +had occurred in their home.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_18">[18]</div> +<p>“Mrs. Beach, our housekeeper, and Nora, her assistant, +have left, and our dear old grandmother has +closed up her farm in Vermont and is staying with +father. It has been his greatest comfort to have his +mother with him. You always thought her ways +so old-fashioned and farmerish, Jane, but for all +that she is the sweetest kind of a little old lady and +as brisk and capable as she was two years ago when +we visited the farm.”</p> +<p>There was a slight curl to Jane’s lips, but she +merely said: “I suppose I shall be expected to wash +dishes now. We must be terribly poor if we couldn’t +even keep Nora.”</p> +<p>“But we have one big blessing,” Dan said brightly, +“the home, which was mother’s can not be taken +from us, for it belongs to us children.”</p> +<p>Jane was not listening. She was trying to figure +out something in her own mind. “Dan.” She +turned toward him suddenly. “I can’t see why Dad +lost his money, just because he did not want to be a +partner in what he considered a dishonest oil deal. +Explain it to me a little more clearly.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_19">[19]</div> +<p>“I didn’t at first,” her brother confessed, “fearing +that it would not have your sympathy. Many poor +people invested their entire savings in the oil deal, +supposing that father’s firm could be relied upon to +be absolutely honest. It is their money, much of it, +which is making the rich men richer. Our father, +knowing that many had invested their all because +they trusted his personal integrity, has turned over +his entire fortune to make up their losses, as far as +it will go.” Dan was sorry he had to make this explanation, +for he saw at once the hard expression +returning to the eyes of his sister.</p> +<p>“If our father has greater consideration for the +poor of New York than he has for his own children, +you can not expect me to express much sympathy +for him.”</p> +<p>“Dear girl, wouldn’t you rather have our father +honest than rich?” The lad’s clear grey eyes looked +at her searchingly.</p> +<p>Jane put her hand to her forehead as though it +ached. “Oh, Dan,” she said, wearily, “you and +father have different ideals from what I have, I +guess. I never really gave any thought to these +things. I like comfort and nice clothes and I hate, +hate, hate drudgery and work of every kind. I +suppose now I shall have to scrub for a living.” +Jane was recalling what the working girl on the +ferry had said.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_20">[20]</div> +<p>Dan’s amused laughter rang out. “Oh, Jane, +what nonsense. Do you suppose that while I have a +strong right arm I would let my little pal work in +any of those drudgery ways? No, indeed, so forget +that fear, if it’s haunting you.” But the boy could +say no more, for another violent coughing spell +racked his frail body.</p> +<p>Instantly Jane was self-reproachful. “Oh, Dan, +Dan,” she said, “I know you would give your very +life to help me. I’m so selfish, so very selfish! I’m +going to think of only one thing, and that is how I +can help you to get well, for I can see now that you +must have been ill.”</p> +<p>The boy took advantage of this momentary tender +spell to turn and take the girl’s hands in his and say +imploringly: “Dear, we’re almost home. If you +really want to help me to get well, be loving and +brave to Dad. Your unhappiness grieves me more +than our loss, little girl, and I can’t get strong while +I am so worried.”</p> +<p>There were again tears in the beautiful dark eyes +of the girl, and impulsively she kissed the one person +on earth whom she truly loved. “Brother, for +your sake I’ll try to be brave,” she said with a half +sob as the hack stopped in front of their home.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_21">[21]</div> +<h2 id="c4"><br />CHAPTER IV. +<br />A SAD HOMECOMING</h2> +<p>As Jane walked up the circling graveled path +which led to the picturesque, rambling, low-built +brown house that she called home her heart was +filled with conflicting emotions. She bit her trembling +lips and brushed away the tears that quivered +on her eyelashes. She knew, oh, how well she +knew, that they were prompted only by self-pity. +She struggled to awaken the nobler self that her +brother was so confident still slumbered in her soul, +but she could not. She felt cold, hard, indignant +every time she recalled that her father had sacrificed +his children’s comfort for a Quixotic ideal. “It is +no use trying,” she assured herself, noticing vaguely +that they were passing the rose garden, which was +a riot of fragrant, colorful bloom. How tenderly +her father cared for that garden, for every bush in +it had been planted by the loved one who was gone.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_22">[22]</div> +<p>The tall lad carrying her satchels walked silently +at Jane’s side. He well knew the conflict that was +raging in the heart of the girl he had always loved, +in spite of her ever-increasing selfishness, with a +tenderness akin to that which he had given his +mother, but he said no word to try to help. This +was a moment when Jane must stand alone.</p> +<p>They were ascending the wide front steps when +the door of the house was flung open and a little +girl of ten leaped out with a glad cry. “Oh, Janey, +my wonderful big sister Janey.” Two arms were +held out, and in another moment, as the older girl +well knew, she would be in one of those crushing +embraces that the younger children called “bear +hugs.” She frowned slightly. “Don’t, Julie!” she +implored. “My suit has just been pressed. Won’t +you ever grow up, and greet people in a more dignified +way?”</p> +<p>The glad expression on the freckled face of the +little girl, who could not be called really pretty, +changed instantly. Her lips quivered and her eyes +filled with tears. “Don’t be a silly,” Jane said rebukingly, +as she stooped and kissed the child indifferently +on the forehead.</p> +<p>A dear old lady, wearing a pretty lavender gingham +and a white “afternoon apron,” appeared in +the doorway all a-flutter of happy excitement. She +had not seen Jane for two years, and she took the +girl’s hands in her own that trembled.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_23">[23]</div> +<p>“Dear, dear Jenny!” (How the graduate of +fashionable Highacres had always hated the name +her grandmother had given her.) “What a blessing +’tis that you have come home at last. It’ll mean +more to your father to have you here than you can +think.” The old lady evidently did not notice the +scornful curling of the girl’s lips, or, if she did, she +purposely pretended that she did not, and kept on +with her speech. “You know, dearie, you’re the +perfect image of that other Jane my Daniel loved so +dearly, and she was just your age, Jenny, when they +met. It’ll be like meeting her all over again to have +you coming home now, when he’s in such trouble, +you being so like her, and she was most tender and +brave and unselfish.”</p> +<p>Even the grandmother noticed that her well-meant +speech was not acceptable, for the girl’s impatience +was ill concealed.</p> +<p>“Where is my father?” she said in a voice which +gave Dan little hope that the nobler self in the girl +had been awakened.</p> +<p>“He’s working in the garden, dearie; out beyond +the apple orchard,” the old lady said tremulously. +“He told me when you came to send you out. He +wants to be alone with you just at first. And your +little brother, Gerald; I s’pose you’re wondering +where he is. Well, he’s got a place down in the village +as errand boy for Peterson’s grocery. They +give him his pay every night, and he fetches it right +home to his Dad. Of course my Daniel puts the +money in bank for Gerald’s schooling, but the boy +don’t know that. He thinks he’s helping, and bless +him, nobody knows how much he is helping. There’s +ways to bring comfort that no money could buy.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_24">[24]</div> +<p>Dan knew that Jane believed their gentle old +grandmother was preaching at her. He was almost +sorry. He feared that it was antagonizing Jane; nor +was he wrong.</p> +<p>“Well, I think the back orchard was a strange +place for father to have me meet him,” she said, almost +angrily, as she flung herself out of the house. +Dan sighed. Then, stooping, he kissed the little old +lady. “Don’t feel badly, grandmother,” he said, +adding hopefully: “The real Jane must waken +soon.”</p> +<p>The proud, selfish girl, again rebellious, walked +along the narrow path that led under the great, old, +gnarled apple trees which the children had used for +playhouses ever since they could climb. She felt +like one stunned, or as though she were reading a +tragic story and expected at every moment to be +awakened to the joyful realization that it was not +true.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_25">[25]</div> +<p>Her father saw her coming and dropped the hoe +that he had been plying between the long rows of +beans. “How terribly he has changed,” Jane +thought. He had indeed aged and there was on his +sensitive face, which was more that of an idealist +than a business man, the impress of sorrow, but also +there was something else. Jane noticed it at once; +an expression of firm, unwavering determination. +She knew that appealing to his love for his daughter +would be useless, great as that love was. A quotation +she had learned in school flashed into her +mind—“I could not love thee, dear, so much, loved +I not honor more.”</p> +<p>There was, indeed, infinite tenderness in the clear +gray eyes that looked at her, and then, without a +word, he held out his arms, and suddenly Jane felt +as she had when she was a little child, and things +had gone wrong.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_26">[26]</div> +<p>“Father! Father!” she sobbed, and then she +clung to him, while he held her in a yearning, strong +embrace, saying, “It’s hard, my daughter, terribly +hard for all of us, but it was the thing that I had to +do. Dan, I am sure, has told you all that happened. +But it won’t be for long, Janey. What I have done +once, I can do again.” He led her to a rustic bench +under one of the trees, and removing her hat, he +stroked her dark, glossy hair. “Jane, dear,” he implored, +when her sobs grew less, “try to be brave, +just for a time. Promise me!” Then, as the girl +did not speak, the man went on, “We have tried so +hard, all of us together, to make it possible for you +to finish at Highacres. Poor Dan made the biggest +sacrifice. I feared that I would have to send for you +to come home, perhaps only for this term, but Dan +wrote, ‘Father, use my college money for Jane’s tuition. +I’ll work my way through for the rest of this +year.’ And that is what he did. Notwithstanding +the fact that he had to study until long after midnight, +he worked during the day, nor did he stop +when he caught a severe cold. He did not let us +know how ill he was, but struggled on and finished +the year with high honors, but, oh, my daughter, +you can see how worn he is. Dr. Sanders tells me +that Dan must go to the Colorado mountains for the +summer and I have been waiting, dear, to talk it +over with you. You will want to go with Dan to +take care of him, won’t you, Jane?”</p> +<p>Almost before the girl knew that she was going to +say it, she heard her self-pitying voice expostulating, +“Oh, Dad, how cruel fate is! Marion Starr +wanted me to go with her to Newport. They’re going +to one of those adorable cottage-hotels, she and +her Aunt Belle, and we three girls who have been +Merry’s best friends were to go with her. It would +only cost me one hundred dollars a month. That +isn’t so very much, is it, Dad?”</p> +<p>Mr. Abbott sighed. “Jane,” and there was infinite +reproach in his tone, “am I to believe that you +are willing that Dan should go alone to the mountains +to try to find there the health he lost in his +endeavor to help you?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_27">[27]</div> +<p>Again the girl sobbed. “Oh, Dad, how selfish I +am! How terribly selfish! I love Dan, but the +thing I want to do is to go to Newport. Of course +I know I can’t go, but, oh, <i>how</i> I do want to.”</p> +<p>The girl feared that her father would rebuke her +angrily for the frank revelation of her lack of gratitude, +but, instead, he rose, saying kindly as he assisted +her to arise, “Jane, dear, you <i>think</i> that is +what you want to do but I don’t believe it. Dan is +to go West next Friday. My good friend Mr. +Bethel, being president of a railroad, has sent me +the passes. As you know, I still own a little cabin +on Mystery Mountain which I purchased for almost +nothing when I graduated from college and went +West to seek my fortune. There is <i>no</i> mystery, and +there was <i>no</i> wealth, but I have paid the taxes until +last year and those Dan shall pay, as I do not want +to lose the place. It was to that cabin, as you have +often heard us tell, that your mother and I went for +our honeymoon. You need not decide today, daughter. +If you prefer to go with your friends, I will +find a way to send you.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_28">[28]</div> +<h2 id="c5"><br />CHAPTER V. +<br />JANE’S SMALL BROTHER</h2> +<p>There were many conflicting emotions in the +heart of the tall, beautiful girl as she walked slowly +back to the house, her father at her side with one +arm lovingly about her.</p> +<p>“Jane,” he said tenderly, “I wish there were words +in our English language that could adequately express +the joy it is to me because you are so like your +mother, and, strangely perhaps, Dan is as much like +me as I was at his age as you are like that other +Jane. She was tall and willowy, with the same +bright, uplifting of her dark eyes when she was +pleased.”</p> +<p>Then the man sighed, and he said almost pleadingly, +“You do realize, do you not, daughter, that +I would do anything that was right to give you +pleasure?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_29">[29]</div> +<p>Vaguely the girl replied, “Why, I suppose so, +Dad. I don’t quite understand ideals and ethics. +I’ve never given much thought to them.” Jane could +say no more, for, vaulting over the low fence beyond +the orchard, a vigorous boy of twelve appeared, +and, if ten-year-old Julie had made a terrifying +onrush, this boy’s attack resembled that of a +little wild Indian. “Whoopla!” he fairly shouted, +“If here isn’t old Jane! Bully, but that’s great! Did +you bring me anything?”</p> +<p>There was no fending off the boy’s well meant +embraces, and Jane emerged from them with decidedly +ruffled feelings.</p> +<p>“I certainly don’t like to have you call me old +Jane,” she scolded. “I think it is very lacking in +respect. Father, I wish you would tell Gerald to +call me Sister Jane.”</p> +<p>Mr. Abbott reprimanded the crestfallen lad, then +he told the girl that the boy had not meant to be disrespectful. +“You know, Jane, that children use certain +phrases until they are worn ragged, and just +now ‘old’ is applied to everything of which Gerald is +especially fond. It is with him a term of endearment.” +Then, with a smile of loving encouragement +for the boy, their father added: “Why, that +youngster even calls me ‘old Dad’ and I confess I +rather like it.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_30">[30]</div> +<p>The boy did not again address his sister, but going +to the other side of his father, he clung affectionately +to his arm and hopped along on one foot and +then on the other as though he had quite forgotten +the rebuff, but he had not. They entered a side +door and Jane went upstairs to her own pleasant +room with its wide bow windows that opened out +over the tops of the apple trees and toward the sloping +green hills for which New Jersey is famous. +Grandmother was in the kitchen preparing a supper +such as Jane had liked two years before when she +had visited the Vermont farm, and Julie was setting +the table, when Gerald appeared. Straddling a +chair he blurted out, “Say, isn’t Jane a spoil-joy? +I’m awful sorry her school’s let out, and ’tisn’t only +for vacation that she’ll be home. Dan says it’s forever +’n ever ’n ever. She’ll be trying to tell us +where to head in. We’ll have about as much fun +as—as—(the boy was trying hard to think of a +suitable simile)—as—a——” Then as he was still +floundering, Julie, holding a handful of silver knives +and forks, whirled and said brightly, “as a rat in a +dog kennel. You know last week how awful unhappy +that rat was that puppy had in his kennel, till +you held his collar and let the poor thing get away.” +Then as the small girl continued on her way around +the long table placing the silver by each plate, she +said hopefully, “Don’t let’s mope about it yet. Jane +always goes a-visitin’ her school friends every summer +and like’s not she will this.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_31">[31]</div> +<p>“Humph! She must be heaps nicer other places +than she is here, or folks wouldn’t want her.” Their +mutual commiserating came to an abrupt end, for +Grandma appeared from the kitchen with a covered +dish, out of which a delicious aroma was escaping. +Then in from the other door came Dad, one arm +about Jane and the other about Dan. Grandma +glanced anxiously at her big son. His expression +was hard to read, but he seemed happier. How she +hoped Jane had proved herself a worthy daughter of +her mother.</p> +<p>It is well, perhaps, that we cannot read the +thoughts of those nearest us, for all that evening +Jane was wondering how she could make over her +last summer’s wardrobe that it might appear new +even in a fashionable cottage-hotel.</p> +<p>On Thursday, directly after breakfast, Jane went +up to her room without having offered to help with +the morning work. She had never even made her +own bed in all the eighteen years of her life and the +thought did not suggest itself to her that she might +be useful. Or, if it did, she assured herself that +Julie was far more willing and much more capable +as a helper for their grandmother than she, Jane, +could possibly be. The truth was that bright-eyed, +eager, light-footed little Julie was far more welcome +than the older girl, bored, sulky, and selfish, would +have been.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_32">[32]</div> +<p>Dan left early for the city, where he wished to +purchase a few things he would need while “roughing +it” in the Colorado mountains. Gerald went +with him as far as the cross-roads, then the older +boy tramped on to the depot while the younger one, +whistling gaily and even turning a handspring now +and then, proceeded to his place of business, and +was soon nearly hidden in an apron much too big +for him, while he swept out the store.</p> +<p>Mr. Abbott had watched his older daughter closely +during that morning meal. He had said little to +her, but had conversed cheerily with Dan, telling +him just what khaki garments he would need, and, +at Gerald’s urging, he had retold exciting adventures +that he had had in that old log cabin in the +long ago days, when he had first purchased it. How +the boy wished that he, also, could go to that wonderful +Mystery Mountain, but not for one moment +would he let Dad know of this yearning. He was +needed at home to earn what he could by working +at the Peterson grocery. His big brother was not +well, so he, Gerald, must take his place as father’s +helper. He was a little boy, only twelve, and it +took courage to whistle and turn handsprings when +he would far rather have crept away into some hidden +fence corner and sobbed out his longing for +travel and adventure.</p> +<p>All that sunny July morning Mr. Abbott worked +in his garden back of the apple orchard.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_33">[33]</div> +<p>Often as he hoed between the long rows of thrifty +vegetables, the sorrowing man glanced up at the +windows of the room in which he knew his beloved +daughter sat. How he wished she would come out +and talk with him, even if it were to tell him that +she had decided that she wanted to go with her +friends to Newport. He had promised to find a +way to obtain the $300 she would need, if she +wished to go for three months.</p> +<p>He sighed deeply, and, being hidden from the +house by a gnarled old apple tree, he stopped his +work and took from his pocket an often read letter +from an old friend who had offered to loan him +any sum, large or small, at any time that it might be +needed. “If Jane wants to go, I’ll wire for the +money,” he decided. Never before had a morning +dragged so slowly for the man who was used to the +whirl, confusion and excitement of Wall Street.</p> +<p>And yet, though he hardly realized it, the warm, +gentle breeze rustling among the leaves of the trees, +the smell of the freshly turned earth in which he +was working, the cheerful singing of the birds far +and near—brought into his soul a sense of peace. +At the end of one row he stood up, very straight as +he had stood before it had all happened, and looking +up into the radiant blue sky, he seemed to know, +deep in the heart of him, that all would be well. It +was with a brisker step than he had walked in many +a day that he returned to the house, when little +Julie appeared at the back door to ring the luncheon +bell.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_34">[34]</div> +<p>“Surely Jane has decided by now,” he told himself. +“And equally surely she will want to go West +with the brother who has sacrificed himself, his +ease and his health that she might finish her course +at Highacres.” So confident was he of his daughter’s +real nobility of nature that he found himself +planning what he would suggest that she take with +her. She would ask him about that at lunch. There +was not much time to prepare, but she would need +little in that wild mountain country. At last he +heard her slowly descending the stairs. His anxiety +increased. What would Jane’s decision be?</p> +<h2 id="c6"><br />CHAPTER VI. +<br />JANE’S CHOICE</h2> +<p>The father, with his hands clasped behind him, +was pacing up and down the long dining room +when his daughter entered. He saw at once that she +had been crying, although she had endeavored to +erase the traces of the tears which had been shed +almost continuously through the morning.</p> +<p>In a listless voice she said at once, “Father, I have +decided to go with Dan since you feel that it is my +duty, but, oh, how I want to go to Newport with +Merry and the rest: but of course it would cost $300 +and there is no money.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_35">[35]</div> +<p>The father had started eagerly toward his daughter +when she had entered, but, upon hearing the concluding +part of her speech, he drew back, a hurt +expression in his clear gray eyes. He folded his +arms and a more alert observer than Jane would +have noticed an almost hard tone in his voice. +Never before had it been used for the daughter who +was so like the mother in looks only. “The matter +is decided. Jane,” he informed her. “The $300 that +you require will be forthcoming. However, I wish +you would plan to leave tomorrow, the same day +that your brother goes West. I want to be alone, +without worries, that I may decide how best to go +about earning what I shall need to finish paying the +debt that I still owe to the poor people who trusted +me.”</p> +<p>“Oh, father, father!” Jane flung herself into her +chair at the table and put her head down on her +folded arms. “I didn’t know that you felt that you +owe them more than your entire fortune.”</p> +<p>“It was not enough to cover their investments,” +the man said, still coldly, for he believed the girl +was crying because she would have to give up even +more than she had supposed, and be kept in poverty +for a longer period of time. She sat up, however, +when her father said, “Jane, dry your tears. Since +you are to go to Newport, I see nothing for you to +cry about, and I do not wish mother and Julie to +know how I feel about this whole matter.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_36">[36]</div> +<p>Hastily Jane left the table to again remove the +traces of tears, and when she returned, her grandmother +and Julie were in their places. Her father +had remained standing until she also was seated. +Then, bowing his head, he said the simple grace of +gratitude which had never been omitted at that +table.</p> +<p>Jane marveled at the courage of her father, for +he was actually smiling at the little old lady who sat +at his side. “Mother mine,” he said, “if this isn’t +the same kind of a meat pudding that you used to +make for me as a special treat, long ago, when I had +been good. Have I been good today?”</p> +<p>There were sudden tears in the fading blue eyes +and a quiver in the corners of the sweet old mouth +as the grandmother replied, “Yes, Dan, you have +been very good. And all the while I was making it +I was thinking how proud and pleased your father +would be if he only knew, and maybe he does know, +how good you’ve been. When you weren’t more than +knee high to your Dad, he began to teach you that it +was better to have folks know that your word could +be depended on than to be praised for smartness, and +that’s how ’tis, Danny, and I’m happy and proud.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_37">[37]</div> +<p>The dear little old lady wiped her eyes with a corner +of her apron; then she smiled up brightly, and +pretended to eat the meat pie, which was in danger +of being neglected by all except Julie, who prattled, +“We’ve set away two big pieces, one for brother +Dan, when he comes home from the city, and one +for Gerry. Umm, won’t they be glad when they +see them? They’ll be hungry as anything! I like +to be awful hungry when there’s something extra +special to eat, don’t you, Janey?” Almost timorously +this query was ventured. Julie did not like +to have the big sister look so sad. The answer was +not encouraging. “Oh, Julie, I don’t want to talk,” +the other girl said fretfully.</p> +<p>“Nor eat, neither, it looks like,” the old lady had +just said when the front door bell pealed. Julie +leaped up, looking eagerly at her father. “Oh, Dad, +may I go?” But, being nearest the door, he had +risen. “I’ll answer it, Julie,” he replied. “It is +probably some one to see me.” But Mr. Abbott was +mistaken. A messenger boy stood on the porch. +After the yellow envelope had been signed for, it +was taken to Jane, to whom it was addressed.</p> +<p>Eagerly the girl tore it open, the others watching +her with varied emotions, although Julie’s was just +eager curiosity. “Ohee,” she squealed, “telegrams +are such fun and so exciting. What’s in it, Janey, +do tell us!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_38">[38]</div> +<p>Mr. Abbott noted that a red spot was burning in +each cheek of the daughter who had been so pale. +She glanced up at him, her eyes shining. “Dad,” +she cried, “you won’t have to give me $300. Listen +to this. Oh, Merry is certainly wonderful!” Then +she read:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>“Dearest Jane: Aunt Belle has changed her +plans. She has rented a cottage just beyond the +hotel grounds and is going to take her own cook +and I want you to come as our guest, because, darling +girl, I owe you a visit, since you gave me such +a wonderful time in the country with you last year, +and, what is more, we are going Friday, so pack up +your trunk today, and be at the Central Station tomorrow +at 4:00. Lovingly, your intimate friend—Marion +Starr.</p> +<p>“P. S.—Who, more than ever, is living up to her +nickname, Merry.—M. S.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>During the reading of the “night letter” Mr. Abbott +had quickly made up his mind just what his +attitude would be. “That’s splendid, Jane, isn’t it?” +he said, and not even his watchful mother noted a +trace of disappointment in his voice. “If I were +you I would pack at once. You would better go +over to the city in the morning and that will give +you time to buy a new summer dress, for I am sure +that you must need one.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_39">[39]</div> +<p>Jane started to reply, but something in her throat +seemed to make it hard for her to speak, and so she +left the room hurriedly without having more than +touched her plate. Julie followed, as she adored +packing. When they were gone, the man sighed +deeply. “Mother,” he said, “I have decided to send +Julie with Dan. She can cook the simple things he +will need and some one must go with the boy. I +would go myself, but I would be of little use. In a +few days, as soon as I can pull myself together, I +am going back to the city to start in some occupation +far from Wall Street.”</p> +<p>The old lady reached out a comforting hand and +placed it on that of her son nearest her. “Dan,” +she said in a low voice, “Jane doesn’t know a thing +about your long illness, does she? Nobody’s told +her, has there?”</p> +<p>The man shook his head. “Jane has been so interested +in her own problems, and in finding a way +to do as she wished, that she has not even wondered +why I am working about in the garden instead of +going to the city daily, as I always have done. But +don’t tell her, mother. She does not seem to care, +and, moreover, I am now much stronger. My only +real worry is Dan, and I do feel confident that if he +can be well cared for, the mountain air will restore +his health.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_40">[40]</div> +<p>Rising, he stooped to kiss his mother’s forehead, +then left the room, going through the kitchen to the +garden. As he worked he glanced often at the open +windows of the room above the tree tops. He saw +the two girls hurrying about, for Jane had gladly +accepted Julie’s offer of service, and the trunk packing +was evidently progressing merrily. This assurance +was brought to him when he heard Jane singing +a snatch of a school song.</p> +<p>It sounded like a requiem to the man in the garden +below. He leaned on his hoe as he thought, +self-rebukingly, “It is all my fault. I have spoiled +Jane. My love has been misdirected. It is I who +have made her selfish. I wanted to give her everything, +for she had lost so much when she lost her +mother. I have done as much for the other three +children, but somehow they didn’t spoil.”</p> +<p>The comfort of that realization was so great that +the father soon returned to his self-imposed task, +and, an hour later, when Dan appeared, he told the +boy Jane’s decision, saying: “Son of mine, it would +be no comfort to you to have her companionship if +her heart were elsewhere.” The shadow of keen +disappointment in the lad’s eyes was quickly dispelled. +Placing a hand on his father’s shoulder he +said cheerfully, “It’s all right, Dad. Julie is a great +little pal.”</p> +<p>But even yet the matter was not decided.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_41">[41]</div> +<p>That Thursday night, after the younger members +of the household were asleep, Mr. Abbott and his +mother talked together in his den.</p> +<p>“Julie was the happiest child in this world when I +told her she was to go with Dan.” The old lady +smiled as she recalled the hoppings and squealings +with which the small girl had expressed her joy. +“Luckily I’d washed and ironed her summer clothes +on Monday and Tuesday, and this being only Thursday, +she hadn’t soiled any of them.”</p> +<p>Then her tone changed to one of tenderness. +“Dan,” she said, “Julie and Jane aren’t much alike, +are they? That little girl didn’t hop and squeal +long before she thought of something that sobered +her. Then she told me, ‘I don’t like to go, Grandma, +and leave Gerald at home. He’s been wishing +and wishing and wishing he could go, but he +wouldn’t tell Dad ’cause he wants to stay home and +earn money to help.’”</p> +<p>To the little old lady’s surprise, her companion +sprang up as he exclaimed: “Mother, I won’t be +gone long. Wait up for me!” Seizing his hat from +the hall “tree,” he left the house. “Well, now, that’s +certainly a curious caper,” the old lady thought. +“He couldn’t have been listening to a word I was +saying. He must have thought of something he’d +forgotten, probably it’s something for Jane. Well, +there’s nothing for me to do but wait.” She glanced +at the clock on the mantle. Even then it was late. +She was usually asleep at ten. There had been time +for many a little cat-nap before she heard her son +returning. His expression assured the old lady that +he was satisfied with the result of his errand.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_42">[42]</div> +<p>“Why, Dan Abbott,” she exclaimed, “whatever +started you off in that way? ’Twasn’t anything I +said, was it?”</p> +<p>The man sank down in his chair again and took +from his pocket a telegram. “That’s what I went +after, mother,” he told her. “I wired Bethel for +one more pass, as I had a small son who also wished +to go West, and this is his answer:</p> +<p>“‘Glad indeed to accommodate you, Dan, and I’m +sending one more, just for good measure. Happened +to recall that you have four children. Let +me do something else for you, old man, if I can.’”</p> +<p>The grandmother looked up with shining eyes as +she commented: “Bert Bethel’s a true friend, if +there ever was one. Won’t Gerry be wild with +joy?</p> +<p>“But, goodness me, Danny, that means more +packing to do. There’s room enough in Julie’s trunk +for the things Gerald will need, and I do believe I’ll +go right up and put them in while the boy’s asleep.” +Then she paused and looked at her son inquiringly. +“Will it be quite fair to Mr. Peterson to have Gerry +leave his store without giving notice?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_43">[43]</div> +<p>“I’ve attended to that, mother,” the man replied. +“While I was waiting for an answer from Bert, I +walked over to the grocery and told Jock Peterson +all that had happened, and he was as pleased as he +could be. He wants Gerald to come over there first +thing in the morning to get a present to take with +him.</p> +<p>“He didn’t say what it would be. I don’t even +suppose that he had decided when he spoke. I was +indeed happy to have him praise Gerald as he did. +He said that he would trust our boy with any +amount of money. He has watched Gerald, as he +always does every lad who works in the store. He +said that nearly all of them had helped themselves +to a piece of candy from the showcase when they +had wished, but that Gerald had never once touched +a thing that did not belong to him. Mr. Peterson +was so pleased that he asked Gerald about it one +day, saying: ‘Don’t you like candy, lad?’ And +our boy replied: ‘Indeed I do, Mr. Peterson! I +don’t buy it because I want to save all my money to +help Dad.’</p> +<p>“Gerald hadn’t even thought of helping himself as +he worked around the store.”</p> +<p>“Of course, Gerry wouldn’t,” the old lady replied +emphatically, “for isn’t he your son, Daniel?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_44">[44]</div> +<p>“And your grandson, mother?” the man smilingly +returned. “But we must get some sleep,” he added, +as the chimes on the mantle clock told them that it +was eleven. “Tomorrow is to be a busy day.”</p> +<p>It was also to be a day of surprises, although this, +these two did not guess.</p> +<h2 id="c7"><br />CHAPTER VII. +<br />GERRY’S SURPRISE</h2> +<p>Grandmother Abbott had indeed been right +when she prophecied that Gerald’s joy, upon hearing +that he could accompany Dan and his sister Julie, +would be unbounded. She told him before breakfast +while they were waiting for the others to come +down. They had planned telling him later, but when +his father saw how hard the small boy was trying +to be brave; how the tune he was endeavoring to +whistle wavered and broke, he could stand it no +longer, and, putting a hand on each of the boy’s +shoulders, he looked down at him as he asked: +“Son, if you could have your dearest wish fulfilled, +what would it be?”</p> +<p>The lad hesitated, then he said earnestly: “There’s +two things to wish for, Dad, and they’re both awful +big. I want everything to be all right for you, but, +oh, how I do want brother Dan to get well.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_45">[45]</div> +<p>Tears sprang to the eyes of the little old lady, and +placing a hand affectionately on the boy’s head she +asked: “Isn’t there something else, dearie, something +you’d be wishing just for yourself?”</p> +<p>It was quite evident to the two who were watching +that a struggle was going on in the boy’s heart. +He had assured himself, time and again, that his +dad must not know how he wished that he could go +with Dan. He even felt guilty, because he wanted +to go, believing that his dad needed his help at +home, and so he said nothing. His father, surmising +that this might be the case, asked, with one of +his rare smiles: “If you knew, son, that I thought +it best for you to go with Julie, to help her take care +of Dan, would you be pleased?”</p> +<p>Such a light as there was in the freckled face, but, +even then, the boy did not let himself rejoice. +“Dad,” he said, “don’t you need me here?”</p> +<p>“No, son, your grandmother has decided to stay +all summer. She has found a nice family to take +care of her farm. Indeed I shall feel better, knowing +that you are with Julie, if Dan should be +really ill.”</p> +<p>For a moment the good news seemed to stun the +little fellow. But when the full realization of what +it meant surged over him, he leaped into his father’s +arms and hugged him hard, then turning, he bolted +for the stairway, and went up two steps at a time.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_46">[46]</div> +<p>“Hurray!” he fairly shouted. “Dan, Jane, Julie, +I’m going to Mystery Mountain!”</p> +<p>This unexpected news was received joyfully by +Julie and Dan, but Jane, who was putting the last +touches to her traveling costume, merely gave a +shrug, which was reflected back to her in the long +mirror. “Well, thanks be, I’m not going,” she confided +to that reflection. “I’d be worn to rags by the +end of the summer if I had to listen to such shrieking. +I’m thankful Merry’s Aunt Belle has no children. +They may be all very well for people who +like them, but I think they are superlative nuisances.”</p> +<p>The entire family had gathered in the dining +room when Jane descended, and, after the grace had +been said, the two youngest members began to chatter +their excitement like little magpies. Dan, who +sat next to Jane, smiled at her lovingly. “I suppose +you are going to have a wonderful time, little girl,” +he said. “I have heard that Newport is a merry +whirl for society people in the summer time, with +dances, tallyho rides, and picnic suppers.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_47">[47]</div> +<p>Jane’s eyes glowed, and she voiced her agreement. +“I’ve heard so, too, and I’ve always been +just wild to have a wee taste of that gay life, and +now I can hardly believe that I am to be right in the +midst of it for three glorious months.” Then, as +she saw a sudden wearied expression in her brother’s +face, she added: “You’re very tired, Dan, aren’t +you? If only you were rested, I should try to plan +some way to have you go with me. I’m wild to +have you meet Merry. I do believe she is just the +kind of a girl whom you would like. You never +have cared for any girl yet, have you? I mean not +particularly well?”</p> +<p>There was a tender light in the gray eyes that +were so like their father’s. Resting a hand on Jane’s +arm, he said in a low voice, “I care right now very +particularly for a girl, and she is my dear sister-pal.”</p> +<p>Somehow the expression in her brother’s eyes +made Jane unhappy. She did wish he would not +look at her—was it wistfully, yearningly or what? +Rising, their father said, “The taxi is outside, children. +Are you all ready?”</p> +<p>There was much confusion for the next few moments. +The expressman had come for the trunks, +and there were many last things that the father +wished to say to the three who were going to his +cabin on Mystery Mountain.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_48">[48]</div> +<p>“Dan, my boy,” Mr. Abbott held the hand of his +eldest in a firm clasp and looked deep into his eyes, +“let your first thought be how best you can regain +your strength. If you need me, wire and I will +come at once.” Then putting his hand in his pocket, +he drew out an envelope. “The passes are in here. +Put them away carefully.” Then he turned to Jane. +“Goodbye, daughter. You will be nearer. Come +home when you want to. May heaven protect +you all.”</p> +<p>The two younger children gave “bear hugs,” over +and over again, to their dad and grandmother, and +when at last all were seated in the taxi, they waved +to the two who stood on the porch until they had +turned a corner.</p> +<p>Dan smiled at Jane as he said: “This is indeed +an exodus. That little old home of ours never lost +so many of us all at once.”</p> +<p>“Gee, I bet ye the apple orchard’ll wonder where +me and Julie are,” the boy began, but Jane interrupted +fretfully. “Oh, I do wish you would be more +careful of the way you speak, Gerald. You know +as well as any of us that you should say where Julie +and I are.”</p> +<p>The boy’s exuberance for a moment was dampened, +but not for long. He soon burst out with, +“Say, Dan, you know that story Dad tells about a +brown bear that came right up to the cabin door +once. Do you suppose there’s bears in those mountains +now?”</p> +<p>“I’m sure of it, Gerry. Dozens of them, but they +won’t hurt us, unless we get them cornered.”</p> +<p>“Well, you can bet I’m not going to corner any of +them,” Gerry confided. “But I’d like to have a little +cub, wouldn’t you, Julie, to fetch up for a pet?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_49">[49]</div> +<p>The little girl was doubtful. “Maybe, when it +grew up, it would forget it was a pet bear, and +maybe you’d get it cornered, and then what would +you do?”</p> +<p>Dan laughed. “The bear would do the doing,” +he said. He glanced at Jane, who sat looking out of +the small window at her side. He did not believe +that she really saw the objects without. How he +wished he knew what the girl, who had been his pal +all through their childhood, was thinking. As he +watched her, there was again in his eyes that yearning, +wistful expression, but Jane did not know it as +she did not turn.</p> +<p>The little station at Edgemere was soon reached, +the trunks checked for the big city beyond the river, +and, after a short ride on the train and ferry, they +found themselves in the whirling, seething mass of +humanity with which the Grand Central Station +seemed always to be filled.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_50">[50]</div> +<p>The train for the West was to leave at 10, and after +it was gone, Jane planned going uptown to buy a +summer dress. Dad had told her to charge it to +him. His credit was still good. As they stood +waiting for the gates to open, Dan took from his +pocket the envelope containing the passes. For the +first time he glanced them over, then exclaimed: +“Why, how curious! There are four passes! I +thought there were but three. Oh, well, they are +only slips of paper, and do not represent money.” +He replaced them and smiled at Jane. The children +raced to a stand to buy a bag of popcorn and Dan +seized that opportunity to take his sister’s hand, and +say most seriously: “Dear girl, if I never come +back, try to be to our Dad all that I have so wanted +to be.”</p> +<p>There was a startled expression in the girl’s dark +eyes. “Dan, what do you mean?” Her voice +sounded frightened, terrorized. “If you never come +back? Brother, why shouldn’t you come back!” +She clung to his arm. “Tell me, what do you +mean?” But he could not reply for a time, because +of a sudden attack of coughing. Then he said: “I +don’t know, little girl. I’m afraid I’m worse off +than Dad knows. I——”</p> +<p>“All aboard!” The gates were swung open. +Frantically, Jane cried: “Dan, quick, have my +trunk checked on that other pass. I’m going with +you.”</p> +<p class="center"><span class="gs">* * * * * * * *</span></p> +<p>Mr. Abbott smiled through tears as he handed his +mother the telegram he received that afternoon. “I +felt sure our Jane had a soul,” he said. “Her +mother’s daughter couldn’t be entirely without one.”</p> +<p>“And now that it’s awakened maybe it’ll start to +blossoming,” the old lady replied.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_51">[51]</div> +<h2 id="c8"><br />CHAPTER VIII. +<br />ALL ABOARD</h2> +<p>There had been such a whirl at the last moment +that it was not until they were on the train and had +located their seats on the Pullman, that the children +realized what had happened. Luckily Jane was too +much occupied readjusting her own attitude of mind, +and trying to think hastily what she should do before +the train was really on its way, to notice the +disappointment which was plainly depicted on the +faces of Julie and Gerald. They gazed at each other +almost in dismay when they heard that their big +sister was to accompany them, but the joy in their +brother’s face and manner was all that was needed +to reconcile the younger boy.</p> +<p>In the confusion caused by passengers entering +the car with porters carrying their luggage, Gerald +managed to draw Julie aside and whisper to her: +“Don’t let on we didn’t want Jane, not on your +life! Dan wanted her, and this journey’s got just +one object, Dad says, and that’s to help Dan get +well.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_52">[52]</div> +<p>But Julie was too terribly disappointed to pretend +that she was not. “I know all that,” she half sobbed +and turned toward the window across the aisle, “but +I was so happy when I s’posed I was to cook for +Dan, and when you and I were to be the ones to take +care of him. But now Jane will get all the honor +and everything, and we’ll have to be bossed around +worse than if we were at home, for Dad’s there to +take our part.”</p> +<p>Gerald’s clear hazel eyes gazed at his sister rebukingly. +“Julie,” he said, with an earnestness far beyond +his years, “the train hasn’t started yet and if +you’n I are going to think of ourselves we’d better +go back home. Shall we, Julie?”</p> +<p>The little girl shook her head vigorously. “No, +no. I don’t want to go home.” She clung to the +back of a seat as though she feared she were going +to be taken forcibly from the train.</p> +<p>Gerald leaned over to whisper to her, but he first +gave her a little kiss on the ear, then he said: +“Julie, you’n I will have oodles of fun up there in +the mountains. If Jane isn’t too snappish, I’ll be +glad she’s along, because, of course, she’ll be able +to take care of Dan better than we could.” Then +suddenly he laughed gleefully.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_53">[53]</div> +<p>“I’ve got it!” he confided to the girl, who had +looked around curiously. She could not imagine +how Gerald could laugh when such a tragic thing +had happened. “You’re dippy about pretending, +Julie. You once said you could pretend anything +you wanted to, and make it seem real. Well, here’s +your chance. Every time Jane is snappy, pretend +she has said something pleasant. That’ll be a hard +one, but for Dan’s sake, I’m willing to give it a +try.”</p> +<p>Julie’s mania had always been “pretending,” and +she had often wished that Gerald would play it with +her, but he was a matter-of-fact sort of a lad, and +his reply had been that real things were fun enough +for him. The little girl’s face brightened. At last +her brother was willing to play her favorite game.</p> +<p>“That will be a hard one,” she agreed. Then, as +she was lunged against the boy, she also laughed. +“Oh, goodie!” she whispered. “Now the train is +really started—nobody can send us back home. Honest, +I was skeered Jane might want to. She thinks +we’re so terribly in the way.”</p> +<p>Happy as Dan was, because the sister he so loved +was to accompany him to the West, he did not forget +the two who had been willing to go with him +and care for him in the beginning, and, as soon as +the train was well under way, he called to the children. +“Come here, Julie. I’ve saved the window +side of my seat for you, and I’m sure Jane will let +Gerald sit by the window on her seat. Now, isn’t +this jolly?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_54">[54]</div> +<p>The children wedged into the places toward which +he was beckoning them. Julie glanced almost fearfully +up at the older girl she had accidentally jostled +in passing, but Jane was gazing out of the window +deep in dreams. Dan noticed his sister-pal’s expression. +How he hoped she was not regretting her +hasty decision.</p> +<p>His fears were soon dispelled, for Jane turned +toward him with a tender light in her beautiful dark +eyes. “Brother,” she said, “I have just been wondering +how I can communicate with Marion Starr. +She expects to meet me at the Central Station at +four. It is now nearly noon. I should have left +some message for her.”</p> +<p>“We must send a telegram to her home when we +reach Albany, or sooner, if we make a stop. I’ll +ask the conductor. Suppose you write out what you +wish to say.” And so Jane took from her valise the +very same little leather covered notebook in which, +less than a week before, she had written a list of the +things she would need for a wardrobe to be worn +at the fashionable summer resort at Newport.</p> +<p>Of this Jane did not even think as she wrote, after +a thoughtful moment, the ten words that were needed +to tell her best friend that she was on her way +West with her brother Dan, who was ill and who +needed her.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_55">[55]</div> +<p>The conductor took the message and said that he +expected to have an opportunity to send a telegram +in a very short time. The train soon stopped at a +village, where it was evidently flagged, and the +young people saw the station master running +from the depot waving a yellow envelope. The +conductor received it, at the same time giving +him the paper on which Jane’s message was written. +“Please send this at once.” The sound of his voice +came to them through Gerald’s window. Then the +train started again and had acquired its former +speed when the kindly conductor entered their car. +He was reading the telegram he had just received. +Stopping at their seats, he asked: “Are you Daniel +Abbott, accompanied by Jane, Julie and Gerald?”</p> +<p>“We are,” the tall lad replied in his friendly manner. +“Have you a message from our father?”</p> +<p>The conductor shook his head. “No, not that. +This telegram is from the president of the railroad +telling us that four young people named Abbott are +his guests, and he wishes them to receive every courtesy, +and now, as it is noon, if you will come with +me, I will escort you to the diner.”</p> +<p>“Oh, but I’m glad,” Julie, who treated everyone +with frank friendliness, smiled brightly up into the +face of the man whom she just knew must be a +father, he had such kind, understanding eyes. “I’m +awful hungry; aren’t you, Gerry?” she whispered, +a moment later, as they filed down the aisle in procession, +the conductor first, Jane next, with Dan at +the end as rear guard. Julie tittered and Jane +turned to frown at her. Gerry poked his young +sister with the reminder, “Pretend she smiled.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_56">[56]</div> +<p>But frowns could not squelch Julie’s exuberance +when they were seated about a table in the dining +car, which was rapidly filling with their fellow +travelers.</p> +<p>“Ohee, isn’t this the jolliest? I’m going to pretend +I’m a princess and——” But the small girl +paused and listened. The head waiter was addressing +Jane. “As guests of Mr. Bethel’s,” he told them, +“you may select whatever you wish from the menu. +Kindly write out your orders.” He handed them +each an order slip and a pencil and then went on to +another table. Julie gave a little bounce of joy. +The “<i>real</i>” was so wonderful, she would not have to +pretend. She and Gerald bowed their heads over a +typed menu; and then they began to scribble. Dan, +glancing across at them, smiled good naturedly. +“What are you doing, kiddies, copying the entire +menu?” he asked. But Jane remarked rebukingly, +“Julie Abbott, do you wish people to think that you +have been starved at home? Tear those up at once. +Here are two others. If you can’t make them out +properly, I’ll do it for you.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_57">[57]</div> +<p>Dan saw a rebellious expression in Julie’s eyes, +so he suggested, “Let them try once more, Jane. +They can’t learn any younger. Just order a few +things at first, Gerry, and then, if you are still hungry, +you can have more.”</p> +<p>Such a jolly time as the children had! When the +train turned sharply at a curve and the dishes slid +about, Julie laughed outright. She purposely did +not look at Jane. She could pretend her big sister +was smiling easier, if she didn’t see the frown. But +their fun was just beginning.</p> +<h2 id="c9"><br />CHAPTER IX. +<br />TELEGRAMS</h2> +<p>Although the children were greatly interested +in all they saw, nothing of an unusual nature had +occurred, when, early one morning they reached +Chicago.</p> +<p>The kindly conductor directed them to the other +train that would bear them to their destination, +assuring them that on it, also, they would be guests +of Mr. Bethel.</p> +<p>The four young people were standing on the outer +edge of the hurrying throng, gazing about them +with interest (as several hours would elapse before +the departure of the west-bound train), when Jane +was sure that she heard their name being called +through a megaphone.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_58">[58]</div> +<p>“It’s that man in uniform over by the gates. He’s +calling ‘Telegram for Jane Abbott!’” Gerald told +her. “May I go get it, Dan? May I?”</p> +<p>The older boy nodded and the younger pushed +through the crowd, the others following more +slowly. Very quickly Gerald returned, waving two +yellow envelopes. One was a night letter from +Marion Starr. Tearing it open, Jane read:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>“Dearest friend: As soon as I received your +message I telephoned your father, knowing that he +could explain much more than you could in ten +words. What you are doing makes me love you +more than I did before, if that is possible. My one +wish is that I, too, might go West. I like mountains +far better than I do fashionable summer resorts. +Will write. Your +<span class="jr"><span class="sc">Merry</span>.”</span></p> +</blockquote> +<p>The other telegram contained a short message, +but Jane looked up with tears in her eyes as she +said: “It is from father and just for me.”</p> +<p>Dan smiled down at her and asked no questions. +The few words were: “Thank you, daughter, for +your self-sacrifice. Now I know that Dan will get +well.”</p> +<p>But their father did not know how serious Dan +believed his condition to be.</p> +<p>“And he shall not,” the girl decided, “not until I +have good news to send.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_59">[59]</div> +<p>As soon as they were seated in the train that was +to take them the rest of the journey, Jane said anxiously: +“Dan, dear, aren’t you trying too hard to +keep up? You look so very weak and weary. Let’s +have the porter make up the lower berth, even +though it is still daytime. You need a long rest.”</p> +<p>Dan shook his head, though he pressed her arm +tenderly, but a coughing spell racked his body when +he tried to speak. The conductor on the Rock +Island was more practical than their former friend, +but not more kindly. He motioned Jane to one side.</p> +<p>“Miss Abbott,” he said, “there is a drawing-room +vacant. Bride and groom were to have had it, but +the order has been canceled. Since you are friends +of Mr. Bethel, I’m going to put you all in there. It +will be more comfortable, and you can turn in any +time you wish.”</p> +<p>Jane’s gratitude was sincerely expressed. It would +give Dan just the opportunity he needed to rest, and +the lad, nothing loath, permitted Jane to have her +way. How elated the children were when they +found that they were to travel in a room quite by +themselves. That evening they went to the diner +alone, but Gerald was not as pleased as was his +sister.</p> +<p>“I should think you’d be tickled pink,” Julie said, +inelegantly, “to be able to order anything you choose +and not have Jane peering at what you write.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_60">[60]</div> +<p>The boy replied dismally: “I can’t be much +pleased about anything. Don’t you know, Jane’s +staying with Dan ’cause she thinks he’s too weak to +come out here? I heard her ask the porter to have +their dinners brought in there. Julie, you and I’ll +have to keep quieter if we want to help Dan get +well. He’s sicker than he was when we started. I +can see that easy.”</p> +<p>The small girl was at once remorseful.</p> +<p>“I’m so glad you told me,” she said with tears in +her dark violet eyes. “I’ve just been thinking what +a lot of fun we’re having. I’ve been worse selfish +than Jane was.”</p> +<p>Seeing that her lips were quivering, Gerald said +consolingly: “No, you haven’t, either. Anyhow, +I think Dan’s just tired out. He’ll be lots better in +the morning. You see if he isn’t.”</p> +<p>But when Dan awakened in the morning he was +no better.</p> +<p>During the afternoon, that their brother might +try to sleep, the conductor suggested that Julie and +Gerald go out on the observation platform.</p> +<p>“Is it quite safe for them out there alone?” Dan +inquired.</p> +<p>“They will not be alone,” was the reply. “I’ll +put them in the care of Mr. Packard, with whom I +am acquainted, as he frequently travels over this +line.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_61">[61]</div> +<p>Julie had been very eager to ride on the observation +platform, but Jane had not wished to go outside +because of the dust and cinders which she was +sure she would encounter, but now that the small +girl was actually going, she could hardly keep from +skipping down the aisle as she followed the conductor +with Gerald as rear guard.</p> +<p>There was only one occupant of the observation +platform, and to Gerald’s delight, he wore the wide +brimmed Stetson hat which the boy had often seen +on the screen.</p> +<p>“I’ll bet yo’ he’s a cattle-man. I bet yo’ he is!” +Gerry gleefully confided to his small sister while +their guide said a few words to the Westerner. +Then, turning, the conductor beckoned to them.</p> +<p>The stranger arose and held out a strong brown +hand to assist the little girl to a chair at his side.</p> +<p>“How do you do, Julie and Gerald?” he said, including +them both in his friendly smile. Julie +bobbed a little curtsy, but Gerald’s attempt at manners +was rudely interrupted by the necessity of seizing +his cap.</p> +<p>“We have to watch out for our hats,” the stranger +cautioned, “for now and then we are visited by a +miniature whirlwind.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_62">[62]</div> +<p>Gerald was almost bursting with eagerness. “Oh, +I say, Mr. Packard,” he blurted out, “aren’t you a +reg’lar—er—I mean a reg’lar——” The boy grew +red and embarrassed, and so Julie went to his aid +with, “Mr. Packard, Gerry thinks maybe you’re a +cow-man rancher like we’ve seen in the moving +pictures.”</p> +<p>The bronzed face of the middle-aged man +wrinkled in a good-natured smile. “I am the owner +of a cattle-ranch fifteen miles from Redfords,” he +told them.</p> +<p>This information so delighted the boy that Julie +was afraid he would bounce right over the rail.</p> +<p>“Gee-golly! That’s where we’re going—Redfords +is! Our daddy owns a cabin way up high on +Mystery Mountain.”</p> +<p>The man looked puzzled. “Mystery Mountain,” +he repeated thoughtfully. “I don’t seem to recall +having heard of it.”</p> +<p>Then practical little Julie put in: “Oh, Mr. +Packard, that isn’t its really-truly name. Our +daddy called it that ’cause there’s a lost mine on it +and Dad said it was a mystery where it went to.”</p> +<p>The man’s face brightened.</p> +<p>“O-ho! Then you must mean Redfords’ Peak. +That mine was found and lost again before I bought +the Green Hills Ranch. Quite a long while ago that +was.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_63">[63]</div> +<p>Gerry nodded agreement. “Yep. Dan, our big +brother is most twenty-one and he hadn’t been born +yet.” Then the boy’s face saddened as he confided: +“Dan’s sick. He’s got a dreadful cough. +That’s why we’re going to Dad’s cabin in the +Rockies.”</p> +<p>“Our doctor said the al-te-tood would make him +well,” Julie explained, stopping after each syllable +of the long word and saying it very thoughtfully.</p> +<p>Gerald looked up eagerly. “Do you think it +will, Mr. Packard? Do you think Dan will get +well?”</p> +<p>The older man’s reply was reassuring: “Of +course he will. Our Rocky Mountain air is a +tonic that gives new life to everyone. Are you three +traveling alone?”</p> +<p>Julie and Gerald solemnly shook their heads, and +the small girl, in childish fashion, put a finger on +her lips as though to keep from saying something +which she knew she ought not. It was Gerald who +replied: “Our big sister Jane is with us.” The +boy said no more, but Mr. Packard was convinced +that, devoted as the youngsters were to Dan, Jane, +for some reason, was not very popular with them.</p> +<p>Then, as he did not wish to pry into their family +affairs, the genial rancher pointed out and described +to fascinated listeners the many things of interest +which they were passing.</p> +<p>The afternoon sped quickly and even when the +dinner hour approached the children were loath to +leave their new friend.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_64">[64]</div> +<p>“Me and Julie have to eat alone,” the small boy +began, but, feeling a nudge, he looked around to +see his sister’s shocked little mouth forming a rebuking +O! and so, with a shake of his head, he +began again: “I mean Julie and I eat alone, and +gee-golly, don’t I wish we could sit at your table, +Mr. Packard. Don’t I though!”</p> +<p>“The pleasure would be mine,” the man, who was +much amused with the children, replied. Then, after +naming an hour to meet in the diner, the youngsters +darted away and Mr. Packard laughed merrily.</p> +<p>It was quite evident that some one of their elders +had often rebuked them for putting “me” at the +beginning of a sentence, he decided as he also arose +and went within.</p> +<p>Meanwhile Julie and Gerald had quietly opened +the door of the drawing-room, and, finding Dan +alone, they told him with great gusto about their +new friend. “Mr. Packard says he’s a really-truly +neighbor of ours,” Gerry said. “How can he be a +neighbor if he lives fifteen miles away?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know, Gerald, but I suppose that he +does,” Dan replied. “I would like to meet your new +friend. I’ll try to be up tomorrow.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_65">[65]</div> +<h2 id="c10"><br />CHAPTER X. +<br />A CATTLE-MAN FRIEND</h2> +<p>The next day Dan seemed to be much better as +the crisp morning air that swept into their drawing-room +was very invigorating. By noon he declared +that he was quite strong enough to go to the diner +for lunch, and, while there, the excited children +pointed out to him their friend Mr. Packard.</p> +<p>That kindly man bowed and smiled, noting as he +did so that the older girl in their party drew herself +up haughtily. The observer, who was an interested +student of character, did not find it hard, having +seen Jane, to understand the lack of enthusiasm +which the children had shown when speaking of her.</p> +<p>Not wishing to thrust his acquaintance upon the +girl, who so evidently did not desire it, the man +passed their table on his way from the diner without +pausing.</p> +<p>It is true that Julie had made a slight move as +though to call to him, but this Mr. Packard had not +seen, as a cold, rebuking glance from Jane’s dark +eyes had caused the small girl to sit back in her +chair, inwardly rebellious.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_66">[66]</div> +<p>Dan, noting this, said: “I like your friend’s appearance. +I think I shall go with you for a while to +the observation platform. I cannot breathe too +much of this wonderful air.”</p> +<p>Jane reluctantly consented to accompany them +there. “Gee-golly, how I hope Mr. Packard is +there,” Gerald whispered as he led the way.</p> +<p>The Westerner rose when the young people appeared +and Jane quickly realized that he was not as +uncouth as she had supposed all ranchers were.</p> +<p>Dan was made as comfortable as possible and he +at once said: “Mr. Packard, Gerald tells me that +you are our neighbor. That is indeed good news.”</p> +<p>“You have only one nearer neighbor,” the man +replied, “and that is the family of a trapper named +Heger. They have a cabin high on your mountain.”</p> +<p>Then, turning toward Jane, he said: “Their +daughter, whom they call Meg, is just about your +age, I judge. She is considered the most beautiful +girl in the Redfords district. Indeed, for that matter, +she is the most beautiful girl whom I have ever +seen, and I have traveled a good deal. How pleased +Meg will be to have you all for near neighbors.”</p> +<p>Jane’s thoughts were indignant, and her lips +curled scornfully, but as Mr. Packard’s attention +had been drawn to Gerald, he did not know that his +remarks had been received almost wrathfully.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_67">[67]</div> +<p>“Ranchers must have strange ideas of beauty!” +she was assuring herself. “How this crude man +could say that a trapper’s daughter is the most beautiful +girl he has ever met when he was looking +directly at <i>me</i>, is simply incomprehensible. Mr. +Packard is evidently a man without taste or knowledge +of social distinctions.”</p> +<p>Jane soon excused herself, and going to their +drawing-room, she attempted to read, but her hurt +vanity kept recurring to her and she most heartily +wished she was back East, where her type of beauty +was properly appreciated. It was not strange, perhaps, +that Jane thought herself without a peer, for +had she not been voted the most beautiful girl at +Highacres Seminary, and many of the others had +been the attractive daughters of New York’s most +exclusive families.</p> +<p>Dan returned to their drawing-room an hour +later, apparently much stronger, and filled with a +new enthusiasm. “It’s going to be great, these +three months in the West. I’m so glad that we +have made the acquaintance of this most interesting +neighbor. He is a well educated man, Jane.” Then +glancing at his sister anxiously, “You didn’t like +him, did you? I wish you had for my sake and the +children’s.”</p> +<p>Jane shrugged her slender shoulders. “Oh, don’t +mind about me. I can endure him, I suppose.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_68">[68]</div> +<p>Dan sighed and stretched out to rest until the +dinner hour arrived.</p> +<p>Julie and Gerald joined them, jubilantly declaring +that they were to reach their destination the next +morning before sun-up.</p> +<p>“Then we must all retire early,” Dan said. This +plan was carried out, but for hours Jane sobbed +softly into her pillow. It was almost more than she +could bear. She had started this journey just on +an impulse, and she <i>did</i> want to help Dan, who had +broken down trying to work his way through college +that there might be money enough to keep her +at Highacres. It was their father who had been inconsiderate +of them. If he had let the poor people +lose the money they had invested rather than give +up all he had himself, she, Jane, could have remained +at the fashionable seminary and Dan would +have been well and strong.</p> +<p>Indeed everything would have been far better.</p> +<p>But the small voice in the girl’s soul which now +and then succeeded in making itself heard caused +Jane to acknowledge: “Of course Dad is so conscientious, +he would never have been happy if he +believed that his money really belonged to the poor +people who had trusted him.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_69">[69]</div> +<p>It was midnight before Jane fell asleep, and it +seemed almost no time at all before she heard a tapping +on her door. She sat up and looked out of the +window. Although the sky was lightening, the +stars were still shining with a wonderful brilliancy +in the bit of sky that she could see. Then a voice, +which she recognized as that of Mr. Packard, spoke.</p> +<p>“Time to get up, young friends. We’ll be at Redfords +in half an hour.”</p> +<p>Gerald leaped to his feet when he heard the summons. +Then, when he grasped the fact that they +were nearly at their destination, he gave a whoop of +joy.</p> +<p>“Hurry up, Julie,” he shook his still sleeping +young sister. “We are ’most to Mystery Mountain, +and, Oh, boy, what jolly fun we’re going to have.”</p> +<p>Half an hour later, Mr. Packard and the young +Abbotts stood on a platform watching the departing +train. Then they turned to gaze about them. It +surely was a desolate scene. The low log depot was +the only building in sight, and, closing in about +them on every side were silent, dark, fir-clad mountains +that looked bold and stern in the chill gray +light of early dawn. Jane shuddered. How tragically +far away from civilization, from the gay life +she so enjoyed—all this seemed.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_70">[70]</div> +<p>The station master, a native grown too old for +more active duty, shuffled toward them, chewing tobacco +in a manner that made his long gray beard +move sideways. His near-sighted eyes peered +through his brass-rimmed spectacles, but, when he +recognized one of the new arrivals, he grinned +broadly. In a high, cracked voice he exclaimed: +“Wall, if ’tain’t Silas Packard home again from the +East. Glad to git back to God’s country, ain’t you +now, Si? Brought a parcel of young folks along +this trip? Wall, I don’t wonder at it. Your big +place is sort o’ lonesome wi’ no wimmin folks into +it. What? You don’ mean to tell me these here +are Dan Abbott’s kids! Wall, wall. How-de-do? +Did I know yer pa? Did I know Danny Abbott? +I reckon I was the furst man in these here parts +that did know him. He come to my camp, nigh to +the top of Redfords’ Peak, the week he landed here +from college.” The old man took off his bearskin +cap and scratched his head. “Nigh onto twenty-five +year, I make it. Yep, that’s jest what ’twas. +That’s the year we struck the payin’ streak over +t’other side of the mountain, and folks flocked in +here thicker’n buzzards arter a dead sheep. Yep, +that’s the year the Crazy Creek Camp sprung up, +and that’s how yer pa come to buy where he did.”</p> +<p>Then, encouraged by the interest exhibited by at +least three of the young people, the old man continued:</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_71">[71]</div> +<p>“The payin’ streak, where the camp was built, +headed straight that way, and I sez to him, sez I—‘Dan +Abbott,’ sez I, ‘If I was you I’d use the money +I’d fetched to get aholt of that 160 acres afore it’s +nabbed by these rich folks that’s tryin’ to grab all +the mines,’ sez I. ‘That’s what I’d do.’ And so +Dan tuk it, but as luck would have it, that vein +petered out to nothin’ an’ I allays felt mighty mean, +havin’ Dan stuck that way wi’ so much land an’ no +gold on it, but he sez to me, ‘Gabby,’ that’s my +name; ‘Gabby,’ sez he, ‘don’ go to feelin’ bad about +it, not one mite. That place is jest what I’ve allays +wanted. When a fellow’s tired out, there’s nothin’ +so soothin’,’ sez he, ‘as a retreat,’ that’s what he +called it, ‘a retreat in the mountains.’ But he didn’t +need 160 acres to retreat on, so he let go all but ten. +He’d built a log cabin on it that had some style, not +jest a shack like the rest of us miners run up, then +Dan went away for a spell—but by and by he come +back.” The old man’s leathery face wrinkled into +a broad smile. “An’ he didn’t come back alone! I +reckon you young Abbotts know who ’twas he +fetched back with him. It was the purtiest gal +’ceptin’ one that I ever laid eyes on. You’re the +splittin’ image of the bride Danny brought.” The +small blue eyes that were almost hidden under shaggy +gray brows turned toward Jane. “Yep, you +look powerful like your ma.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_72">[72]</div> +<p>But Jane had heard only one thing, which was +that even this garrulous old man knew one other +person whom he considered more beautiful. How +she wanted to ask the question, but there was no +time, for “Gabby” never hesitated except to change +the location of his tobacco quid or to do some long +distance expectorating.</p> +<p>Turning to Mr. Packard, he began again: “Meg +Heger’s took to comin’ down to Redfords school +ag’in. She’s packin’ a gun now. That ol’ sneakin’ +Ute is still trailin’ her. I can’t figger out what he +wants wi’ her. The slinkin’ coyote! She ain’t got +nothin’ but beauty, and Indians ain’t so powerful +set on that. Thar sure sartin is a mystery somewhere.”</p> +<p>The old man stopped talking to peer through +near-sighted eyes at the canon road.</p> +<p>“I reckon here’s the stage coach,” he told them, +“late, like it allays is. If ’tain’t the ho’ses as falls +asleep on the way, then it’s Sourface his self. Si, +do yo’ mind the time when the stage was a-goin’ +down the Toboggan Grade——”</p> +<p>It was quite evident that Gabby was launched on +another long yarn, but Mr. Packard laughingly interrupted, +placing a kindly hand on the old man’s +shoulder.</p> +<p>“Tell us about that at another time, Gab,” he +said. “We’re eager to get to the town and have +some breakfast.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_73">[73]</div> +<p>He picked up Jane’s satchel and Dan’s also, and +led the way to the edge of the platform, where an +old-fashioned stage was waiting. Four white horses +stood with drooping heads and on the high seat another +old man was huddled in a heap as though he +felt the need of seizing a few moments’ rest before +making the return trip to Redfords.</p> +<p>“They have just come up the steep Toboggan +Grade,” Mr. Packard said by way of explanation. +“That’s why the horses look tired.”</p> +<p>Then in his cheerful way he shouted: “Hello, +there, Wallace. How goes it?”</p> +<p>The man on the seat sat up and looked down at +the passengers with an expression so surly on his +leathery countenance that it was not hard for the +young people to know why he had been given his +nickname, but he said nothing, nor was there in his +eyes a light of recognition. With a grunt, which +might have been intended as a greeting, he motioned +them to get into the lower part of the stage, +which they did.</p> +<p>Then he jerked at the reins and the horses came +to life and started back the way they had so recently +come. Gabby had followed them to the edge +of the platform, and as far as the Abbotts could +make out, he was still telling them the story which +Mr. Packard had interrupted.</p> +<p>“How cold it is!” Julie shivered as she spoke +and cuddled close to Dan. He smiled down at her +and then said:</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_74">[74]</div> +<p>“Mr. Packard, this is wonderful air, so crisp and +invigorating. I feel better already. Honestly, I’ll +confess now, the last two days on the train I feared +you would have to carry me off when we got here, +but now”—the lad paused and took a long breath +of the mountain air—“I feel as though I had been +given a new lease on life.”</p> +<p>The older man laid a bronzed hand on the boy’s +sleeve.</p> +<p>“Dan,” he said, “you have. When you leave +here in three months you’ll be as well as I am, and +that’s saying a good deal.”</p> +<p>Then the lad surprised Jane by exclaiming: +“Perhaps I won’t want to leave. There’s a fascination +to me about all this.”</p> +<p>He waved his free arm out toward the mountains. +“And your native characters, Mr. Packard, +interest me exceedingly. You see,” Dan smilingly +confessed, “my ambition is to become a writer. I +would like to put ‘Gabby’ into a story.”</p> +<p>Mr. Packard’s eyes brightened. “Do it, Dan! +Do it!” he said with real enthusiasm. “Personally +I can’t write a line, not easily, but I have real admiration +for men who can, and I am a great reader. +Come over soon and see my library.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_75">[75]</div> +<p>Then he cautioned: “I told you to write, but +don’t begin yet. Not until you are stronger. Stay +outdoors for a time, boy. Climb to the rim rock, +take notes, and then later, when you are strong, you +will find them of value.”</p> +<p>While they had been talking, the stage had started +down a steep, narrow canon. The mountain +walls on both sides were almost perpendicular, and +for a time nothing else was to be seen. It was more +than a mile in length, and they could soon see the +valley opening below them.</p> +<p>“Redfords proper,” Mr. Packard smilingly told +them as he nodded in that direction. “It is not +much of a metropolis.”</p> +<p>The young Abbotts looked curiously ahead, wondering +what the town would be like.</p> +<h2 id="c11"><br />CHAPTER XI. +<br />REDFORDS</h2> +<p>“Is that all there is to the town of Redfords?” +Jane gasped when the stage, leaving Toboggan +Grade, reached a small circular valley which was +apparently surrounded on all sides by towering timber-covered +mountains. A stream of clear, sparkling +water rushed and swirled on its way through +the narrow, barren, rock-strewn lowland. The +rocks, the very dust of the road, were of a reddish +cast.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_76">[76]</div> +<p>“That road yonder climbs your mountain in a +zig-zag fashion, and then circles around it to the +old abandoned mining camp.” Then to Gerald, he +said: “Youngster, if you’re pining for mystery, that’s +where you ought to find one. That deserted mining +camp always looks to me as though it must have a +secret, perhaps more than one, that it could tell and +will not.”</p> +<p>“Ohee!” squealed Julie. “How interesting! +Gerry and I are wild to find a mystery to unravel. +Why do you think that old mining camp has secrets, +Mr. Packard?”</p> +<p>Smiling at the little girl’s eagerness, the rancher +replied: “Because it looks so deserted and haunted.” +Then to Dan, “You heard what Gabby said at +the depot. Well, he did not exaggerate. A rich +vein of gold was found on the other side of your +mountain, and a throng of men came swarming in +from everywhere, and just overnight, or so it +seemed, buildings of every description were erected. +They did not take time to make them of permanent +logs, though there are a few of that description. +For several months they worked untiringly, digging, +blasting, searching everywhere, but the vein which +had promised so much ended abruptly.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_77">[77]</div> +<p>“Of course, when the horde of men found that +there was no gold, they departed as they had come. +For a time after that a wandering tribe of Ute Indians +lived there, but the hunting was poor, and as +they, too, moved on farther into the Rockies, where +there are many fertile valleys. Only one old Indian, +of whom Gabby spoke, has remained. They call +him Slinking Coyote. Why he stayed behind when +his tribe went in search of better hunting grounds +surely is a mystery.”</p> +<p>Julie gave another little bounce of joy. “Oh, +goodie!” she cried. “Gerry, there’s two mysteries +and maybe we’ll find the answers to both of them.”</p> +<p>“I would rather find something to eat,” Jane said +rather peevishly. “I never was obliged to wait so +long for my breakfast in all my life. It’s one whole +hour since we left the train.” She glanced at her +wrist watch as she spoke.</p> +<p>Mr. Packard looked at her meditatively. The +other three Abbotts were as amiable as any young +people he had ever met, but Jane was surely the +most fretful and discontented. Although he knew +nothing of all that had happened, he could easily +see that she, at least, was in the West quite against +her will.</p> +<p>“Well, my dear young lady,” he said as he +reached for her bag, “you won’t have long to wait, +for even now we are in the town, approaching the +inn.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_78">[78]</div> +<p>“What?” Jane’s eyes were wide and unbelieving. +“Is this wretched log cabin place the only hotel?” +She peered out of the stage window and saw two +cowboys lounging on the porch, and each was chewing +a toothpick. They were picturesquely dressed +in fringed buckskin trousers, soft shirts, carelessly +knotted bandannas and wide Stetson hats. Their +ponies were tied in front, as were several other lean, +restless horses.</p> +<p>Mr. Packard nodded. “Yes, this is the inn and +the general store and the postoffice. Across the road +is another building just like it and that has a room +in front which is used as a church on Sunday and a +school on weekdays, while in back there is a billiard +room. There are no saloons now,” this was addressed +to Dan, “which is certainly a good thing +for Redfords.”</p> +<p>“Billiard room, church and a school house all in +one building,” Jane repeated in scornful amazement. +“But where are the houses? Where do the +townspeople live?”</p> +<p>Mr. Packard smiled at her. “There aren’t any,” +he said. “The ranchers, cowboys, mountaineers +and summer tourists are the patrons of the inn and +billiard rooms. But here we are!” The stage had +stopped in front of the rambling log building and +reluctantly Jane followed the others.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_79">[79]</div> +<p>Mr. Packard held the screen door open for the +young people to pass, then, taking Jane’s arm, he +piloted her through the front part of the building, +which was occupied by the postoffice and store, to +the room in the rear, where were half a dozen bare +tables. Each had in the center a vinegar cruet, a +sugar bowl, salt and pepper shakers. At least they +were clean, but the dishes were so coarse that had +not Jane been ravenously hungry, she told herself, +she simply could not have eaten. Mr. Packard led +the way to the largest table, at which there were six +places, and as soon as they were seated a comely +woman entered through a swinging green baize door.</p> +<p>“Howdy, Mr. Packard?” she said in response to +the rancher’s cordial greeting. “Jean Sawyer, your +foreman, was in last night an’ left your hoss for yo’. +He said as how he was expectin’ yo’ in some time +today. You’ve fetched along some visitors, I take +it.” The woman looked at the older girl with unconcealed +admiration. The blood rushed to Jane’s +face. Was this innkeeper’s wife going to tell her +that she had never seen but one other girl who was +more beautiful? But Mrs. Bently made no personal +comment.</p> +<p>When Mr. Packard explained that his companions +were the young Abbotts, and that they were to +spend the summer in a cabin on Redford Mountain, +her only remark was: “Is it the cabin that’s been +standin’ empty so long, the one that’s a short piece +down from where Meg Heger lives?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_80">[80]</div> +<p>“Yes, that’s it, Mrs. Bently.” Then the man implored: +“Please bring us some of your good ham +and eggs and coffee and——”</p> +<p>“There’s plenty of waffle dough left, if the young +people likes ’em.” The woman smiled at Julie, who +beamed back at her.</p> +<p>“Oh, boy!” Gerald chimed in. “Me for the +waffles!”</p> +<p>The cooking was excellent and even the fastidious +Jane thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast.</p> +<p>When they emerged from the inn, Dan said, regretfully: +“The sun is high up. We’ve missed our +first sunrise.”</p> +<p>“We were on the Toboggan Grade when the sun +rose,” Mr. Packard told them. He then shook +hands with Jane and Dan as he said heartily:</p> +<p>“Here is where we part company. That is my +horse over yonder. A beauty, isn’t he? Silver, I +call him. By the way, Dan, I want you to meet +Jean Sawyer. He is just about your age, and a fine +fellow, if I am a judge of character. I would trust +him with anything I have. In fact, I do. I send +him all the way to the city often, to get money from +the bank to pay off the men. I know he isn’t dishonest, +and yet, for some reason, he ran away from +his home. You know, we have a code out here by +which each man is permitted to keep his own +counsel.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_81">[81]</div> +<p>“We ask no one from whence he came or why. +We take people for what they seem to be, with no +knowledge of their past.”</p> +<p>Then, breaking off abruptly, the older man repeated: +“I would, indeed, like you to meet Jean +and tell me what you think of him. Come over to +our place soon, or, better still, since that is a rough +trip until you get hardened to the saddle, I’ll send +him over to call on you next Sunday.”</p> +<p>Dan’s face brightened. “Great, Mr. Packard; do +that! A chap whom you so much admire must be +worth knowing. Have him take dinner with us. +Goodbye, and thank you for being our much-needed +guide.”</p> +<p>When their neighbor and friend had swung into +his saddle and had ridden away, Jane said fretfully: +“I don’t see why you asked that Jean Sawyer, who +may be an outlaw, for all we know, to come over to +our place for dinner.” Then, when she saw the expression +of troubled disappointment in her brother’s +face, again the small voice within rebuked her, and +she implored: “Oh, Dan, don’t mind me! I know +I am horridly selfish, but I am so tired, and these +people are all so queer. What are we to do next?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_82">[82]</div> +<p>The older lad knew what an effort Jane was +making, and he held her arm affectionately close as +he replied: “Mr. Packard said that the stage would +call for us at 8:30. We will have half an hour to +purchase our supplies. Grandmother made out a +list of things we would need. Julie has that. Jane, +here is my wallet. I wish you would take charge of +our funds. You won’t be climbing around as I +will. It will be safer with you.”</p> +<p>Together the girls went into the store and purchased +the supplies they would need. Then they +rejoined the boys, who had waited outside. Gerry +wanted to look in the school house.</p> +<p>The Abbotts found the door of the rambling log +cabin across from the inn standing open, and they +peered in curiously. The room was long and well +lighted by large windows, but it was quite like any +other country school. There were eight rows of +benches, one back of the other, with a shelf-like +desk in front of each. These had many an initial +carved in them. The teacher’s table and chair faced +the others, with a blackboard hanging on the wall at +the back. Near the door was a pail and a dipper. +Dan smiled. “It doesn’t look as though genius could +be awakened here, does it?” he was saying, when a +pleasant voice back of them caused them to turn.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_83">[83]</div> +<p>“You’re wrong there, my friend.” The young +people saw before them a withered-up little old man +with the whitest of hair reaching to his shoulders. +Noting their unconcealed astonishment, he continued, +by way of introduction, “I am Preacher Bellows +on Sunday and Teacher Bellows on weekdays. +Now, as I was saying, having overheard your remark, +this little schoolroom and the teacher who +presides over it are proud to tell you that your statement +is not correct. It may not look as though +genius could be awakened here,” he smiled most +kindly. “I’ll agree that it does not, but that is just +what has happened. Meg Heger, one of my mountain +girls, has written some beautiful things. Her +last composition, ‘Sunrise From the Rim-Rock,’ is +truly poetical.”</p> +<p>Jane turned away impatiently. Was she never to +be through with hearing about Meg Heger? +“Brother,” the manner in which she interrupted +the conversation was almost rude, “isn’t that the +stage returning? I am so tired, I do want to get +up to our cabin.” She started to cross the street. +Dan quickly joined her. He did not rebuke her for +not having said goodbye to the teacher.</p> +<p>“He’s a nice man, isn’t he, Dan?” Gerald skipped +along by his brother’s side as he spoke. “He loves +mountain people, doesn’t he?”</p> +<p>Dan smiled down at the eager questioner. “Why, +of course, he must, if he practices what I suppose +he preaches; the brotherhood of man.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_84">[84]</div> +<p>“Well, I certainly don’t want to claim people like +the ones we have met in Redfords as any kin of +mine,” Jane snapped as they all crossed to the stage +that awaited them. Again the four white horses +drooped their heads and the driver slouched on his +high seat, as though at every opportunity they took +short naps. But the horses came to life when the +driver snapped his long whip and with much jolting +they forded the stream.</p> +<p>“Oh, my; I’m ’cited as anything!” Julie squealed. +“Wish something, Gerald, ’cause this is the first +time we’ve ever been up our very own mountain +road.”</p> +<p>“There’s just one thing to wish for,” the small +boy said with the seriousness which now and then +made him seem older than his years, “and that’s +that Dan will get well. What do you wish, Jane?”</p> +<p>“Why, the same thing, of course,” the girl replied +languidly.</p> +<p>Gerald continued his questioning. “What do you +wish, Dan?”</p> +<p>The boy thought for a moment and then he exclaimed, +“I have a wonderful thing to wish. +Wouldn’t it be great if we could find the lost gold +vein on our very own ten acres? Then Dad could +pay the rest that he owes and be free from all +worry?”</p> +<p>“Me, too,” Julie cried jubilantly. “Now, we’ve +all wished and here we go up the mountain.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_85">[85]</div> +<p>The road was narrow. In some places it was +barely wide enough for the stage to pass, and, as +Jane looked back and down, she shuddered many +times.</p> +<p>At last, when nothing happened and the old stage +did stick to the road, Jane consented to look around +at the majestic scenery, about which the others were +exclaiming. Beyond the gorge-like valley in which +was Redfords, one mountain range towered above +another, while many peaks were crowned with snow, +dazzling in the light of the sun that was now high +above them.</p> +<p>The air was becoming warmer, but it was so wonderfully +clear that even things in the far distance +stood out with remarkable detail.</p> +<p>At a curve, Gerald pointed to the road where it +circled above them. “Gee-whiliker! Look-it!” he +cried excitedly. “How that boy can ride.” The +others, turning, saw a pony which seemed to be +running at breakneck speed, but as the stage appeared +around the bend, the small horse was halted +so suddenly that it reared. When it settled back on +all fours, the watchers saw that, instead of a boy, +the rider was a girl, slender of build, wiry, alert. +She drew to one side close to the mountain, to permit +the stage to pass. She wore a divided skirt of +the coarsest material, a scarlet blouse but no hat. +Her glossy black wind-blown hair fluttered loosely +about her slim shoulders. Her dusky eyes looked +curiously out at them from between long curling +lashes. Dan thought he had never before seen such +wonderful eyes, but it only took a moment for the +stage to pass.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_86">[86]</div> +<p>They all turned to look down the road. The pony +was again leaping ahead as sure-footed, evidently, +as a mountain goat, the girl leaning low in the saddle. +Jane’s lips were curled scornfully. “Well, if +that is their mountain beauty, I think they have +queer taste! She looked to me very much like an +Indian, didn’t she to you, Dan?”</p> +<p>The boy replied frankly: “I should say she might +be Spanish or French, but I do indeed think she is +wonderfully beautiful. I never saw such eyes. +They seem to have slumbering soul-fires just waiting +to be kindled. I should like to hear her talk.”</p> +<p>Jane shrugged her shoulders. “Well, I certainly +should not. I have heard enough of this mountain +dialect, if that’s what you call it, to last me the rest +of my life. I simply will not make the acquaintance +of that—Oh, it doesn’t matter what she is—” +she hurried on to add when she saw that Dan was +about to speak. “I don’t want to know her, and do +please remember that, all of you!”</p> +<p>“Gee, sis,” Gerald blurted out, “you don’t like +the West much, do you? I s’pose you wish you had +stayed at home or gone to that hifalutin watering +place.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_87">[87]</div> +<p>Jane bit her lips to keep from retorting angrily. +Julie was still watching the small horse that now +and then reappeared as the zigzagging mountain +road far below them came in sight.</p> +<p>“That girl’s going to school, I guess. Though I +should think it would be vacation time, now it’s +summer,” she remarked.</p> +<p>“I rather believe that winter is vacation time for +mountain schools. It’s mighty cold here for a good +many months and the roads are probably so deep in +snow that they are not passable.”</p> +<p>Dan had just said this when Gerald, who had +been kneeling on the seat, watching intently ahead, +whirled toward them with a cry of joy. “There’s +our log cabin on that ledge up there! I bet you ’tis! +Gee-whiliker, we’re stopping. Hurray! It’s ours.”</p> +<h2 id="c12"><br />CHAPTER XII. +<br />THE ABBOTT CABIN</h2> +<p>It was quite evident that the picturesque log +cabin which nestled against the side of the mountain +on a wide, overhanging ledge was indeed their own. +The road curved about twenty feet below it, and +crude steps had been hewn out of the rocks. The +small boy tumbled out of the stage almost before +it came to a standstill.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_88">[88]</div> +<p>“Oh, Julie, look-it, will you! We’ve got a real +stairway leading right up to our front door. I’ll +beat you to the cabin.”</p> +<p>Julie, equally excited, scurried up after her brother +and reached the top almost as soon as he did. Then +they turned and shouted joyfully to the two below +them: “Jane! Dan! Look at us! We’re top of +the world.”</p> +<p>“Oh, boy!” Gerald capered about, unable to +stand still. “I’m glad I came. I bet you, Julie, +we’ll have a million adventures, maybe more.” But +Dan was calling and so they scampered back down +the rocky flight of stairs.</p> +<p>The older lad laughed at their enthusiasm. “I +know just how you feel,” he told them. “If I +weren’t afraid of shocking your sedate sister here, +I believe I would—well—I don’t know just what I +would do.”</p> +<p>“Stand on your head,” Gerald prompted. “Do +it, Dan. I’ll dare you.”</p> +<p>But the older boy was needed just then to tell the +surly driver where the trunks were to be put. “Let +me help you, Mr. Wallace.” Dan made an attempt +to take one end of a trunk, but the husky man, with +the unchangeable countenance, merely grunted his +dissent, and swinging a trunk up on his broad shoulders, +he began the ascent of the steep stone stairs +quite as though it were not a herculean task.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_89">[89]</div> +<p>Dan followed. “Just leave them on the porch +until we get our bearings,” he directed. “We can +move them in after we have unpacked.” Then, from +the loose change that he had in his pocket, he paid +the man. A few moments later the stage rumbled +on its way up the road, which circled the mountain +and then descended to a hamlet in the valley on the +other side.</p> +<p>As soon as the four young Abbotts were alone, +Dan, slipping an arm about Jane, exclaimed: +“Think of it, sister! Isn’t it almost beyond comprehension +that we have such magnificence right in +our front door-yard.” He took a long breath. The +pine trees, though not large, were spicily fragrant. +Then, whirling toward her, he caught both of her +hands, and there were actually tears in his eyes as +he said, “Jane, I’m going to live! I know that I +am!”</p> +<p>Selfish as the girl was, she could not but respond +to her brother’s enthusiasm. The younger children +had raced away on a tour of discovery. Their excited +voices were heard exclaiming about something +they had discovered beyond the cabin. Clear and +high Gerry’s voice rang out: “Dan, Jane, come +quick! We’ve found Roaring Creek, and it isn’t +making a terrible lot of noise at all.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_90">[90]</div> +<p>But the older boy had noted the extreme weariness +on his sister’s face. He well knew that she +had sacrificed herself to come to a country which +did not appeal to her; where she had to meet people +whom she considered far beneath her, and she had +done it all to help him get well. Instantly the boy +decided that he would make Jane’s comfort his first +care, that her stay with him might be as pleasant as +possible, and so he called back: “After a time, +Gerald. Come on; I’m going to unlock the door. +Don’t you want to see what’s on the inside of our +cabin?”</p> +<p>“Oh, boy, don’t I, though!” Gerry, closely followed +by Julie, raced back to the wide front porch, +which was made of logs. Dan took from his satchel +a very large key and holding it up, he called merrily, +“The key to health and happiness.”</p> +<p>“You left out something,” Gerry prompted. “It’s +health, wealth and happiness. Maybe we’ll find that +lost mine, who knows?”</p> +<p>Dan merely laughed at that. “Now,” he said, as +he put the key in the lock, “what do you suppose +we’ll find on the other side of this door?”</p> +<p>What they saw delighted the hearts of three of +the young people. A large log cabin room with a +long window on either side of the door. At the +back was a crude fireplace made of rocks. There +was no window on that side of the room, as a wall +of the mountain came so close to the cabin that there +would have been no view.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_91">[91]</div> +<p>The rafters were logs with the bark still on, and +the furniture had been made of saplings. There +were leather cushions in the chairs, but the thing +that made Gerald caper about, mad with joy, was +a bearskin on one of the walls.</p> +<p>“Oh, look-it, will you, Dan? What kind of a +bear is it? Do you think it is a grizzly, and do you +s’pose it’s that one Dad said came right down here +to our ledge? Do you, Dan?”</p> +<p>The older boy looked at the rather small bearskin +and shook his head.</p> +<p>“No, it isn’t a grizzly,” he said. “I think it is +the skin of a black bear. But here is another on the +floor in front of the fireplace. That’s Dad’s bear, I +remember now. This old fellow was the grizzly +who was unfortunate enough to come down here to +try to help himself to Dad’s supplies.”</p> +<p>Jane had dropped wearily into a big chair that +really was comfortable with its leather-covered cushions, +and Dan, noting how tired she was, exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Jane, I’ll unlock the packing trunk and get out +some of the bedding, and if you wish, you may lie +down for a while. Dad said there were two good +beds here and several cots.”</p> +<p>Gerald and Julie had darted through a door at +one side and, reappearing, they beckoned to their big +brother.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_92">[92]</div> +<p>“We’ve found one of ’em,” the younger lad announced. +“It’s in a dandee room! I bet you Jane +will choose it for hers.”</p> +<p>Then Julie chimed in with: “Jane, please come +and see it.”</p> +<p>The older girl, who was feeling terribly sorry for +herself, rose languidly and went with the small sister. +The boys followed.</p> +<p>“Why, what a nice room this is!” Dan, truly +pleased, remarked. Then anxiously, and in his voice +there was a note that was almost imploring, he +asked: “Jane, dear, don’t you think you can be +comfortable in here?”</p> +<p>The girl’s heart was touched by the tone more +than the words, and she turned away that she might +not show how near, how very near, she had been to +crying out her unhappiness. It was hardship to +her to be in a log cabin where there were none of +the luxuries and conveniences to which she had been +used. She smiled at her brother, but he saw her lips +tremble. He was tempted to tell her to go back to +civilization, since it was all going to be so hard for +her, but something prompted him to wait one week. +Inwardly he resolved: “If Jane is not happy here +by one week from today, I am going to insist that +she return to Newport and to the friend Merry for +whom she cares so much.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_93">[93]</div> +<p>But Jane, too, had been making a resolve, and so +when she spoke her voice sounded more cheerful.</p> +<p>“It is a nice room,” she said. “That wide window +has a wonderful view of the mountains and the +valley.” It was hard to keep from adding, “If anyone +cares for such a view, which I do not.”</p> +<p>But instead she looked up at the rafters. “What +are those great bundles that are hanging up there?” +she inquired.</p> +<p>Dan laughed. “Why, those bundles, Dad said, +contain the mattress and bedding which he and +mother stored away. They are wrapped in canvas +and so he expected that we would find them in good +condition.”</p> +<p>“But how are we to get them?” Julie wanted to +know.</p> +<p>Gerald’s quick eyes found the answer to that.</p> +<p>“Look-it!” he cried, pointing. “There’s a ladder +nailed right against the back wall. I’ll skin up +that in two jiffs. Give me your knife, Dan. I’ll +cut the ropes.”</p> +<p>The boy was soon sliding along a rafter. “Out +of the way down below there!” he shouted the warning. +“Here they come!”</p> +<p>There was a soft thud, followed by another as +the two great bundles fell to the floor. An excellent +mattress was in one of them and clean warm blankets +in the other.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_94">[94]</div> +<p>“Now, I’ll get the sheets from the packing trunk +and a pillow case, and in less than no time at all +we’ll have a fine bed in our lady’s chamber.”</p> +<p>Dan led Jane to another large comfortable though +rustic chair as he said:</p> +<p>“The rest of us are going to pretend that you are +a princess today and we are going to wait upon you. +By tomorrow, when you have had a long sleep, perhaps +you will want to be a mountain girl.”</p> +<p>Again there was the yearning note in his voice. +How he hoped that Jane would want to stay, but a +week would tell.</p> +<p>Jane was quite willing to pretend that she was a +princess and be waited upon, and so half an hour +later, when the bed in her room was made, she consented +to lie down and try to make up the many +hours of sleep that she had lost on the train. Hardly +had her head touched the pillow before she was +sound asleep. Two of her windows, that swung inward, +were wide open and a soft mountain breeze +wafted to her the scent of the pines. Even though +she was not conscious of it, the peace of the mountains +was quieting her restless soul. She had supposed +that, as soon as she were alone, she would sob +out her unhappiness, but her weariness had been too +great, and not a tear had been shed.</p> +<p>Julie reported that Jane had gone right to sleep +and Dan’s face brightened. Surely his sister-pal +would feel better when she awakened and how could +she help loving it all, so high up on their wonderful +mountain.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_95">[95]</div> +<p>The younger children had gone on another trip +of exploration, and soon burst back into the big living-room +with the information that on the other side +of the cabin there were two smaller bedrooms and a +real kitchen.</p> +<p>Dan held up a warning hand and framed the word +“quiet” with his lips, and so the excited children took +his hands and dragged him from the deep easy +chair where he had sought to rest for a moment and +showed him what lay behind the two doors on the +other side of the cabin. “Aren’t these little bedrooms +the cunningest?” Julie whispered. “See the +front one has a bed in it like Jane’s and the other +has the cot. But there are three of us, so what shall +we do?” Julie’s brown eyes were suddenly serious +and inquiring.</p> +<p>“That’s easy!” Dan told her. “Dad said there +were several cots. See, there they are, hanging up +on the rafters. I shall take one of those and put it +out on the wide front porch. That’s where I want +to sleep. I don’t want to be shut in by walls. And +Julie may have this pretty front room with the bed +and Gerald the other. Now, let’s get them made up, +just as quietly as we can. Then we will unpack the +supplies that you got from the store, Julie, and prepare +a noon meal.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_96">[96]</div> +<p>The cots were untied from the rafters and one +was placed on the porch in the position chosen by +Dan, then the bedding was put on all of them and +it was 11 o’clock and the sun was riding hot and +high above the mountain when Julie, suddenly becoming +demure, announced that she wanted Dan to +go to sleep also, and that she and Gerald would get +the lunch.</p> +<p>The older boy did not require much urging and +when he saw the eager light in the eyes of the little +girl, who had in the beginning supposed that she +alone was to be the one to take care of him, he decided +to do as she wished. Julie had had six months’ +training with her grandmother, who believed that +a girl could not begin too young to learn how to +cook, and she had often boasted that she had a very +apt pupil.</p> +<p>He soon heard the children whispering and laughing +happily at the back of the cabin, then a door was +closed softly and the lad heard only the soughing in +the pine trees close to the porch and the humming +of the winged insects far and near. Then he, too, +fell into a much needed slumber.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_97">[97]</div> +<h2 id="c13"><br />CHAPTER XIII. +<br />TWO LITTLE COOKS</h2> +<p>The kitchen of the log cabin had one window and +a door which opened out into what Gerry called the +“back-yard part of their ledge.” It was only about +fifty feet to the very edge, and Gerry crept on hands +and knees to look over, that he might see where +their “back-yard went.” He lifted a face filled with +awe and beckoned his sister to advance with caution. +Lying flat, the two children gazed over the rim of +the ledge, straight down a wall of rock, far below +which the road could be seen curving. “Ohee!” +Julie drew back with a shudder. “What if our +cabin should slide right off this shelf that it’s built +on?”</p> +<p>“It can’t, if it wants to,” the boy told her confidently. +“We’re safe here as anything. That’s two +ways a bear can’t come,” he continued; “but on the +other side, where the creek is, and in front, where +the stone steps are, I suppose the bear came in one +of those two ways.”</p> +<p>The small girl looked frightened. “Oh, Gerry,” +she said, “what if a bear should come again? What +would we do?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_98">[98]</div> +<p>“Why, Dan would shoot it, just the way Dad +did,” the boy replied with great assurance. His big +brother was his hero, and that he could not perform +any feat required was not to be thought of for one +moment.</p> +<p>“But Dan hasn’t a gun, has he?” Julie was not +yet convinced.</p> +<p>“Indeed he has, silly. Do you s’pose Dad +would let us come into this wild country without +guns? Dan has two in his trunk. One’s a big +fellow! Dad let me hold it once, and, Oh, boy, I’m +telling you it’s a heavy one. I most had to drop it, +and I’ve got bully muscle. Look at what muscle +I’ve got!”</p> +<p>Gerry crooked his bare arm, but his sister turned +away impatiently, saying: “Oh, I don’t want to! +You make me feel what muscle you’ve got most +every day.”</p> +<p>Julie returned to the kitchen, but Gerry followed, +and, if he were offended by her lack of interest in +his brawniness, he did not show it. He was far too +interested in the subject under discussion. “That +big gun I was telling you about is the very one Dad +used when he shot the grizzly, and if it shot one +bear, then of course it can shoot another bear.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_99">[99]</div> +<p>The little girl was convinced. That seemed clear +reasoning, but she interrupted when the boy began +again, by saying: “Gerald Abbott, do stop telling +bear stories, and help me clean up this kitchen. Jane +won’t be any more use than nothing and we might +as well do things and pretend she isn’t here, the +way I wish she wasn’t.”</p> +<p>“I sort of wish she hadn’t come, myself,” Gerry +confessed. “Now, let’s see. Here’s a cupboard all +nailed up. I guess I can pull out the nails, but first +I’d better make a fire in this old stove. I’ll have to +fetch in some wood.”</p> +<p>“No, you won’t! Not just at first. There’s a +box full behind the stove. Big, knotty pieces; pine, +I suppose; but maybe we do need some kindling. +Then bring me some water from the creek and I’ll +wash up everything. Dad said we’d find some dishes +in the cupboard, if they hadn’t been stolen.”</p> +<p>“Gee, I hope they haven’t!” The boy, who was +as handy about a home as was his small sister, soon +had a fire in the stove, and then, having found a pail, +he went to the creek, stealing around past the front +porch and under his sister’s window as quietly as he +possibly could. Although dry twigs creaked and +snapped, the two sleepers did not waken.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_100">[100]</div> +<p>Such fun as those youngsters had putting the +kitchen in order. In the cupboard they found all of +the dishes which their father had mentioned. Although +the china was coarse, the green fern pattern +was attractive. Gerald, standing on a chair, handed +it out, piece by piece, to the small girl, who put +them in hot, sudsy water and then dried them till +they shone. Gerald, meantime, was washing the +shelves. Then they replaced the dishes and stood +back to admire their handiwork.</p> +<p>“Oh, aren’t we having fun?” Julie chuckled. +“Now, we’re all ready to get the lunch.”</p> +<p>It was one o’clock when Julie went to waken Jane, +and Gerald, at the same time, went out on the porch +where Dan had been sleeping, but the older boy was +sitting up on the edge of his cot drinking in the +beauty of the scene which, to him, was an ever-changing +marvel. He sprang up, wonderfully refreshed, +and going to the packing trunk, he procured +a towel.</p> +<p>“Hello, Jane,” he called brightly to the tall girl, +who appeared in the open door. Then he gave a +long whistle. “Sister,” he exclaimed, love and admiration +ringing in his voice, “I hope that Jean +Sawyer, who is coming to dine with us day after +tomorrow, has a heart of adamant. I pity him if +he hasn’t! I honestly never saw anyone so beautiful +as you are, with the flush of slumber on your +cheeks and your eyes so bright.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_101">[101]</div> +<p>Jane came out smiling. This was the sort of adulation +she desired and required, but her brother felt +a twinge of guilt, for, even as he had been talking, +he had seen in memory a slender, alert little creature +with eyes, star-like in their dusky radiance, gazing +out at him from under dark, curling lashes.</p> +<p>But they were so unlike, these two, he told himself. +The one proud, imperious, ultra-civilized; the +other, a wild thing, untamed, or so she had appeared +to him in that one moment’s glance, a native of the +mountains.</p> +<p>“Where are you going with that towel?” Jane +asked him.</p> +<p>The lad laughingly dived again into the packing +trunk and brought out another. “Let’s go to the +creek to wash,” he suggested. “I haven’t even seen +it yet, and I’m ever so eager to feel that cold mountain +water dash into my face.” Then in a low tone +he whispered close to his sister’s ear, “The children +have a surprise for us, Jane, and so let’s be very +much surprised and not disappoint them.”</p> +<p>Jane shrugged. To her, children and their ways +had to be endured, but she took no interest in what +they did or did not do. However, she accompanied +her brother around the house.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_102">[102]</div> +<p>She glanced at him with a sense of satisfaction, +which was, as usual, prompted by selfishness. If +Dan seemed so much better in one day, he might be +so well by the end of a fortnight that she would not +need to remain with him. If she were sure that all +was to be well with him, she would return to Merry. +The lad, not dreaming what her thoughts were, +caught her hand boyishly. “Oh, Jane,” he cried as +he pointed ahead, “can you believe it, Sister-pal, +that is our very own mountain stream! Isn’t it a +beauty?”</p> +<p>The sunlight, falling between the pines, lighted +the narrow, rushing, whirling little mountain brook, +which sparkled and seemed to sing for the very joy +of being. Standing on its edge, Dan looked up the +mountain along the course the brook had come. +“See,” he cried jubilantly, “wherever the sunlight +filters through, it gleams as though it were laughing. +Dad said that it springs out just below the +rim rock. Oh, I do hope by next week I will be able +to climb up that high.”</p> +<p>Jane’s glance followed her brother’s up the rough, +rocky mountain side and she shook her head. “I’ll +never attempt it,” she decided, but Dan whirled, +laughing defiance. “I’m going to prophesy that +you’ll climb the rim rock before a fortnight is over.”</p> +<p>Then kneeling, he splashed the clear, cold water +in his face and reached for the towel that Jane held. +Then he implored her to do the same. With great +reluctance she complied, and so cool and restful did +she find it, that she actually smiled, almost with +pleasure.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_103">[103]</div> +<p>But Dan had the misfortune to say the wrong +thing just then. “I suppose this brook, or one like +it, is all the mirror that the mountain girl, Meg +Heger, has ever had,” he began, when he sensed a +chill in his sister’s reply.</p> +<p>“I certainly do not know, nor do I care.” Then +she added, as an afterthought, “And I shall never +find out.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_104">[104]</div> +<h2 id="c14"><br />CHAPTER XIV. +<br />FRETFUL JANE</h2> +<p>Luckily Dan had succeeded in changing his sister’s +thought before they returned to the cabin, and +he vowed inwardly that he would never again mention +Meg Heger, since Jane had taken such a +strange dislike to her. How one could dislike a +girl one had barely seen was beyond his comprehension, +but girls were hard to understand, all except +Julie. She was just a wholesome, helpful little maid +with a pug-nose that was always freckled.</p> +<p>“Now for the surprise!” Dan said as they neared +the cabin.</p> +<p>“Well, I certainly hope it is something to eat,” +Jane began, with little interest, but when the two +children threw open the front door and she saw the +table in the living-room close to the wide window +with four places set, she delighted the little workers +by announcing that it was the best sight she had +beheld that day. Then, when Jane and Dan were +seated, Julie and Gerry skipped to the kitchen and +returned with as tempting a lunch as even Jane could +have wished for. There was creamed tuna on toast +and jam and a heaping plate of lettuce sandwiches +and two of the Rockyford melons for which Colorado +is famous. Then there was for each a glass of +creamy milk.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_105">[105]</div> +<p>“Great!” Dan exclaimed. “I didn’t know we +were going to be able to get milk.”</p> +<p>Julie nodded eagerly. “It comes from the Packard +ranch, fresh to the inn every day, and Mrs. +Bently said she would send us two quarts every time +the stage comes up our road, which usually is three +times a week. We can keep it cool as anything in +the creek. Mrs. Bently told us how.”</p> +<p>“After lunch can we get out the guns, Dan?” +Gerald asked when he had hungrily gulped down a +sandwich.</p> +<p>“Why, I guess so,” the older boy laughed good +naturedly. “You aren’t expecting a bear to find out +this soon, are you, that we have some supplies that +he might wish to devour?”</p> +<p>Julie looked anxiously toward the open door of +the cabin. “Don’t you think maybe we’d better +keep that door closed when we’re eating?” she asked +anxiously. “You know Dad said he and mother +were sitting right here where we are, maybe, one +morning at breakfast, when mother looked up and +there was an old grizzly standing in the open door. +He had been around to the kitchen and had eaten +up all the supplies he could find and he was hunting +for more.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_106">[106]</div> +<p>Gerald chimed in with: “It was lucky Dad kept +his big gun always standing in the corner. I suppose +it was right there, near you, Dan, so he could +just grab it and shoot.”</p> +<p>The children were watching the door as though +they expected at any minute that another grizzly +might appear. Dan laughed at them. “We might +as well have stayed at home if we are going to stay +in the cabin and keep the door closed,” he told them. +“I’m going to suggest that we put the table on that +nice porch just outside of the kitchen. That will +make an ideal outdoor dining-room, with a big pine +tree back of it to shelter us from the sun. It will +be handy to the kitchen, and, what is more, a bear +simply could not scale up that wall beyond the +ledge.” Then, very seriously, the older brother addressed +the younger two. “Julie, I don’t want you +or Gerald to go close to that cliff. It’s too dangerous.”</p> +<p>Honest Gerald blurted in with, “We did go once, +Dan. We squirmed out on our tummies till we could +look ’way down, and I tell you it made us dizzy. +We won’t ever want to do it again.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_107">[107]</div> +<p>After lunch the children announced that they +would do up the dishes if Dan would give them a +lesson in shooting the big gun when they were +through. “Well,” the older boy smilingly conceded, +“I’ll try to teach you to handle the smaller gun; yes, +both of you,” he assured Julie, who was making an +effort to attract his attention by motions behind +Jane’s back. “You really ought to both know how +to use it. You might need to know how some time +to protect yourselves.”</p> +<p>“What shall you do, Jane, while we are learning +to shoot?” Julie inquired when the kitchen had again +been tidied and the children were ready for their +very first lesson with the small gun.</p> +<p>“Maybe Jane’ll want to learn too,” Gerald suggested, +but the older girl declared that she simply +could not and would not touch one of the dreadful +things.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_108">[108]</div> +<p>“Won’t you come with us and watch the fun?” +Dan lingered, when the two active youngsters had +bounded out of the cabin. But the girl shook her +head. “It wouldn’t be fun to me,” she said fretfully. +“I’d much rather be left all alone. I want +to write a long letter to Merry. She will be eager +to hear from me, just as I am from her.” There +was a self-pitying tone in the girl’s voice and a +slight quiver to her lips. She turned hastily into +her room and closed the door. She did not want +Dan to see the tears. The lad went out on the wide +front porch and stood for a moment with folded +arms, his gray eyes gazing across the sun-shimmered +valley, but he was not conscious of the grandeur +of the scene. He was regretting, deeply regretting +that he had permitted his sister to come to +a country so distasteful to her. He well knew that +she had shut herself in her room to sob out her +grief and disappointment and then perhaps to write +it all to this friend of whom she so often spoke and +whom she seemed to love so dearly.</p> +<p>Once Dan turned toward the door as though to +return to the cabin. His impulse was to go to Jane +and tell her not to unpack. The stage would be +passing there again on the following day, and, if +she wished she could go back to the East. In fact, +the lad almost believed that if Jane went, it might +hasten his recovery. Her evident unhappiness was +causing him to worry, and that was most detrimental. +With a deep sigh of resignation, he did +turn toward the open door, bent on carrying out his +resolve, but a cry of alarm from Julie sent him running +around the cabin and up toward the brook.</p> +<p>He met the children, white-faced, big-eyed, hurrying +toward him, Gerald carrying the small gun.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_109">[109]</div> +<p>“What is it, Gerry? What have you seen to +frighten you?” He looked about as he spoke, but +saw nothing but the jagged mountain side, the rushing, +whirling brook and the peaceful old pines.</p> +<p>But it was quite evident by the expressions of the +two children that they at least thought they had seen +something of a dangerous nature. Gerald pointed +toward a clump of low-growing pines on the other +side of the brook as he said in a tense, half-whispered +voice: “Whatever ’twas, Dan, it’s hiding in +there.” Then he explained: “Julie and I were +crossing the water on those big stones when, snap, +something went. I whirled to look. Honest, I expected +to see a grizzly, but there wasn’t anything at +all in sight. Julie and I stood just as still as we +could; we didn’t even make a sound! Then we saw +those bushy trees moving, though there wasn’t a +bit of wind, so we know whatever ’tis, it’s in +there.”</p> +<p>While the small boy had been talking, Dan had +been loading the gun. “You’d better let me go +alone,” he said to the children, but their disappointed +expressions caused him to add: “At least let +me go ahead, and if I think best for you to come, +I’ll beckon.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_110">[110]</div> +<p>Dan crossed the brook on the big stones and went +toward the clump of small stubby pines. Then he +stood still, watching the dense low trees intently. +His heart beat rapidly, not from fear, for he almost +hoped that it might be a grizzly, and yet, would it +not be unwise to shoot at it with a small gun? It +might infuriate a huge beast, and so endanger all +of their lives. But, although he waited, watching and +listening for many minutes, no sound was heard. +He began to believe that the children had imagined +the stealthy noise they thought they had heard, for, +after all, they had not really seen anything, and so +he beckoned them to join him. They leaped across +the brook and were quickly at his side.</p> +<p>“Wasn’t it a bear, or a wildcat, or anything?” +Gerald asked eagerly. Dan shook his head, as he +replied with a laugh: “Don’t be too disappointed, +youngsters, even if you don’t see everything on the +first day. This time it was just a false alarm.”</p> +<p>But Dan was mistaken, for, from a safe hiding +place, the old Indian, Slinking Coyote, was watching +their every move.</p> +<p>“Why don’t we shoot into that pine brush anyway?” +Julie suggested. “We might scare out whatever +is hiding there.” But Dan didn’t wish to do +this. He felt that it would be safer to have the +larger gun with him before he started beating up +hidden wild creatures of any kind.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_111">[111]</div> +<p>“Come along, youngsters, let’s get back on the +home-side of our brook and set up a target,” the +older boy suggested as he crossed the brook, followed +by the children.</p> +<p>In their door-yard Dan paused and looked about +meditatively. “I want to set up a target near enough +to be within call, and yet far enough away to keep +from disturbing Jane too much with our racket.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I know!” Gerald cried. “Over there, just +above where the road bends! That’ll be a dandee +place. Won’t it, Dan?”</p> +<p>The older boy smiled his agreement. “I do believe +it will do as well as any place.” They went +toward the spot indicated and Dan continued: “Suppose +we choose a cone on that lowest pine branch. +If a bullet hits it, the cone will surely fall. Now, +Gerald, just to be polite, shall we let Julie try first?”</p> +<p>The boy nodded, his eyes shining with eagerness. +“Sure! How many tries do we each get? Three?”</p> +<p>“Any number you wish is all right with me.” +Then Dan placed the small gun in the position that +Julie was to hold it, showed her how to look along +the barrel, and how to take aim.</p> +<p>“Hold it steady! One, two, three, go!” But no +report was heard.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_112">[112]</div> +<p>“What’s the matter, chick-a-biddie?” Dan was +surprised to see how white the small girl’s face had +become, and to note that her arm was shaking so +that she could hardly hold the gun. “I’m scared,” +she confessed. “I don’t know why, but I am, Dan.” +She dropped the gun and ran to his arms. Then +she smiled up through her tears. “I guess I’m +afraid to hear the noise.”</p> +<p>“Pooh, pooh! That’s just like a girl,” said Gerry +almost scornfully. “Anyhow, you don’t need to +learn to shoot. Dan or I’ll always be around to protect +you’n Jane. Can I have a try now, Dan? +Can I?”</p> +<p>The older lad turned to the small girl. “Suppose +we let Gerald practice today, and later, when you +feel that you would like to try again, you may +do so?”</p> +<p>This plan seemed quite satisfactory to Julie, who +seated herself upon a rock which overhung the curving +mountain road, and was about twenty feet above +it. Gerald, instead of dreading the noise that the +small gun would make, was eager to hear it, and +after repeated trials, he managed to dislodge the +brown cone. “Hurray! I did it! Bully for me! +I’m a marksman now! Isn’t that what I am, Dan? +Now I’ll pick out another one, and I bet you I’ll hit +it first shot.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_113">[113]</div> +<p>Julie, having wearied of the constant report of +the small gun, had wandered away in search of wild +flowers. The boys saw her running toward them, +beckoning excitedly. “Dan,” she said in a low voice, +“Come on over here and look down at the road. +The queerest man seems to be hiding. I was so far +up above him, he didn’t see me. He’s hiding back +of some rocks watching the road. Who do you suppose +he is?”</p> +<p>Dan looked troubled. He thought at once that it +might be the old Ute Indian who had not gone with +his tribe when they went in search of better hunting +grounds, nor was he wrong. Very quietly, the +three went to the rim of their ledge. About twenty +feet below they beheld a most uncouth creature +crouching behind a big boulder. Evidently he was +intently watching the road as it wound up from +Redfords. His cap was of black fur with a bushy +tail hanging down at the back. They could not see +his face as they were above him. Julie clung fearfully +to her brother. “Oh, Dan,” she whispered. +“What do you suppose he’s watching for?”</p> +<p>Before Dan could decide what he ought to do, a +pounding of horse’s feet was heard just below the +bend, and a wiry brown pony leaped into view. The +old Indian sprang from his hiding place so suddenly +that the small horse reared, but the rider, her dark +face flushed, her wonderful eyes flashing angrily, +cried: “What did I tell you last time you stopped +me? Didn’t I say I’d shoot? You know I pack a +gun, and I <i>never</i> miss. I can’t give you any more +money. I’m saving all I can to go away to school. +I’ve told you that before, and if you <i>are</i> my father, +as you’re always telling me that you are, you’d ought +to be glad if I’m going to have a chance.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_114">[114]</div> +<p>The old Indian whined something, which Dan +could not hear. Impatiently the girl took from her +pocket a coin and tossed it to him. “I don’t believe +you’re hungry. You don’t need to be, with squirrels +as thick as they are. You’ll spend all I give you +on fire-water, if you can get it.”</p> +<p>Already the old Indian, evidently satisfied with +what he had received, had started shambling down +the road in the direction of the town, but the girl +turned in the saddle to call after him: “Mind you, +that’s the last time I’ll give you money. I don’t +believe that you are my father, and neither does +Mammy Heger.”</p> +<p>She might have been talking to the wind for all +the attention the old Indian paid. His pace had increased +as the descent became steeper.</p> +<p>Dan felt guilty because he had overheard a conversation +not meant for his ears, and he drew the children +away toward the cabin, and so heard, rather +than saw, the girl’s rapid flight up the road.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_115">[115]</div> +<p>The chivalry of the ages stirred in his heart. +“It’s a wicked shame that she hasn’t a brother to +protect her,” he thought. “A young girl ought not +to be tormented by such a coward. Slinking Coyote, +that’s what he is. Blackmailing, it would be +called in civilized countries.” Dan’s indignation increased +as he recalled how wonderfully beautiful the +girl had looked when her dark eyes had flashed in +anger. “I’d be far more inclined to think her a +daughter of noble birth.”</p> +<p>His thoughts were interrupted by Julie, who, believing +that they were a safe distance from the road, +asked anxiously, “Who was the awful looking man, +Dan? Will he hurt us?”</p> +<p>The same question had presented itself to Dan, +but he made himself say lightly, “Oh, no! That old +Indian isn’t at all interested in us. He evidently is +just a beggar. He was asking the mountain girl +for money and she gave it to him.” Then, as an +afterthought, he cautioned, “Don’t mention having +seen him to Jane, will you, children?”</p> +<p>Willingly they agreed. They were indeed pleased +to share a secret with their big brother.</p> +<p>Julie chattered on, “Dan, I’d like to go up and see +that nice girl. Do you think she’d let me ride on her +pony? May Gerald and I go up there tomorrow?”</p> +<p>Dan forced himself to smile. He did not want +either of his companions to know that he was troubled. +“Yes, we’ll go up there tomorrow. I would +like to meet the trapper who is, I believe, the father +of that little horsewoman.” But even as he spoke +Dan recalled that the slinking Indian had insisted +that he was her father, and that the girl did not +believe it.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_116">[116]</div> +<p>When he reached the cabin, Jane was still shut in +her room. The children declared that they were +hungry as wolves and that they would get the evening +meal, and so the older lad seated himself on +the edge of the front porch to think over all that he +had seen and heard, and decide what it would be +best for him to do. Perhaps, after all, he had been +unwise to bring either of the girls to a place so wild. +Perhaps he ought to send them both home. He and +Gerald could protect themselves if there were to be +trouble of any kind. He decided that the very next +day, as soon as the mountain girl had gone to the +Redfords school, he would climb up the road to the +cabin, which he believed was just about a mile above +them. Then he could discover from the trapper if +any real danger might lurk on the mountain for the +two Eastern girls.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_117">[117]</div> +<h2 id="c15"><br />CHAPTER XV. +<br />MEG HEGER</h2> +<p>To the surprise of the young people, almost as soon +as the sun had set, night descended upon them. Dan +had helped the children clean the lamps and lanterns. +Their grandmother, at their father’s prompting, +had remembered to put kerosene on their list +and also candles.</p> +<p>Jane chose one of the latter to light her to bed. +She simply detested kerosene lamps, she declared +when Dan had asked if she didn’t want to sit up +with them a little while and read some of the books +their father and mother had left in the cabin. “No, +thank you!” had been the emphatic refusal. “The +nights here are bitterly cold. In bed at least I can +keep warm.”</p> +<p>“Gee-whiliker,” Gerald said when the girl to +whom everything seemed distasteful had retired. +“Ain’t she a wet blanket?”</p> +<p>Before Dan could rebuke him for criticizing his +elders, Julie burst in with, “Why, Gerry Abbott, +didn’t you promise Dad you wouldn’t ever say ain’t, +and there you said it.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_118">[118]</div> +<p>The boy squirmed uncomfortably. “It’s an awful +long time since I said it before,” he tried to excuse +himself. “I bet you I won’t do it again. You +see if I do.”</p> +<p>Dan was looking at the empty hearth. “We +should have cut some wood and had a roaring fire +tonight. Let’s do it tomorrow and make it more +cheerful for Jane, if——” He paused as though +he had said more than he had intended, but his alert +companions would not let a sentence go unfinished.</p> +<p>“If what, Dan?” Julie asked curiously.</p> +<p>The boy was not yet ready to tell, even these two, +that he might think it best to start Jane and Julie on +their homeward way the next day. He knew that +the older girl would be overjoyed, but the younger +would be so disappointed that it seemed almost a +cruel thing to contemplate. “I’ll tell you tomorrow +noon,” he compromised, when he saw both pairs of +eyes watching him as though awaiting his answer.</p> +<p>In a very short time the children were nodding +sleepily and Dan was glad when Julie took a candle +and Gerry a lantern and bade him good-night.</p> +<p>“We’re going to get up to see the sunrise,” Julie +said.</p> +<p>“If you wake up,” Dan laughingly told them. +Then, putting out the remaining lights, he, too, retired +to his cot on the porch. He placed his loaded +gun in the corner, back of him, where it could not +be reached by anyone else without awakening him.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_119">[119]</div> +<p>For long hours he lay with wide eyes watching +the sky, which seemed to be a canopy close above +him, brilliant with stars. A slight wind kept the +mosquitos away and, as it rustled through the pine +boughs that were so near, a sense of peace stole into +his heart—his fears were banished and he seemed to +know that all was well.</p> +<p>It was long after sunrise when he wakened and +no one else was astir in the cabin. Very quietly he +arose and dressed. Then he went to the kitchen, +and a fragrance of coffee was what finally awakened +the two children. They bounded from bed, +ashamed of their laziness, and when they joined +their big brother he had a good breakfast spread on +the table in their out-of-door dining-room.</p> +<p>“Julie, will you see if Jane is awake?” the older +lad asked, and the small girl cautiously opened the +door into her sister’s room. Then she entered and +went to the bedside. “You’ve got one of your dreadful +headaches, haven’t you, Janey?” The younger +girl was all compassion. She knew well how Jane +suffered when these infrequent headaches came. +What she did not know was that they always followed +a spell of anger or of worry. “I’ll draw the +curtains over this window so the sun can’t come in +and I’ll fetch you your breakfast.”</p> +<p>Julie liked nothing better than to be mothering +someone, but Jane showed no sign of appreciation. +Her only comment was, “Have the coffee hot.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_120">[120]</div> +<p>Dan was sorry to hear that Jane had neuralgia, +and, from past experience, he knew that she would +be unable to travel that afternoon, and so she would +be obliged to wait until the following Tuesday, +when the stage would again pass that way. He felt +elated at the thought, but first he must find out if it +were safe for the girls to remain. Directly after +breakfast he drew Gerald aside and asked him if he +would stay at the cabin while he (Dan) went up the +mountain road to interview the trapper. Although +the small boy would much rather have accompanied +Dan, he always wanted to do his share, and so he +consented to remain.</p> +<p>Dan waited until he was sure that Meg Heger +had passed on her way to the Redfords school before +he began the ascent of the mountain road. He +could not have explained to himself why he did not +want to meet the girl. It might have been a feeling +that he had lacked in chivalry on the day before, +when he had listened to the conversation in which +she had probably revealed a secret which she would +not wish strangers to share. He sauntered along by +the brook, his gun over his shoulder, stopping every +few feet to examine some rock or growth or just to +gaze out over the valley, seeing new pictures at each +changed position.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_121">[121]</div> +<p>It was a glorious morning, but with the invigorating +chill yet in the air. He breathed deeply and +walked with shoulders thrown back. Birds sang to +him, squirrels in the pine boughs over his head, or +scurrying among the dry soft carpet of needles, chattered +at him; some were curious, many were +scolding, but he laughingly told them that he was a +comrade. He stopped on a level with one protesting +bushy-tailed fellow to say, “Mr. Bright-Eyes, I +wouldn’t harm you, not for anything! This gun is +merely to be used on something that would harm me, +if it got the chance first. I don’t believe in taking +life from a little wild creature that enjoys living +just as much as I do.” Then, as he continued his +walk, he thought, “I must tell Gerry not to kill any +harmless creature unless we need it for food.”</p> +<p>Coming to a sudden sharp descent of about fifteen +feet, he saw that the brook became a waterfall and +just below it was a large pool which would make an +excellent swimming hole. The water was as clear +as crystal and was held in a smooth, red rock basin. +After standing for some time, watching the joyous +waterfall on which broken sunlight flashed, the +lad glanced at his watch. It was after nine and so +he could safely take to the road without fear of encountering +the mountain girl. She was surely, by +now, reciting to that kindly old man, Teacher Bellows. +After another downward scramble, the road +was reached. The ascent was gradual and Dan’s +thoughts wandered on without his conscious direction. +He wondered how that mountain girl had +happened to have a thirst for knowledge. That, in +itself, proved to him that the old Ute was not her +father, but, if he were not, why did he pretend that +he was? What could be his reason? To obtain +what money he could by making her think it her +duty to help care for him. Dan had just decided +this to be the most plausible explanation of the whole +thing, when he was greatly startled by hearing the +sudden report of a gun from the high rocks at his +right. He looked up and beheld the girl about whom +he had been thinking, every muscle tense, a smoking +gun still against her shoulder. It was pointed at the +bushes directly at his left. “Don’t you move!” she +shouted the warning. “Maybe I didn’t kill it.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_122">[122]</div> +<p>Dan whirled toward the rocks and low-growing +bushes at his left and what he saw reassured him. +A mountain lion lay there, evidently dead, its position +showing that it had been just about to spring +upon him. He turned to thank the girl, but she had +disappeared. She, too, had evidently been convinced +that the animal was dead. On examining it closer, +the boy saw that the bullet had entered the creature’s +head at a most vulnerable spot, and being thus assured +that it was not playing possum, he went on +his way.</p> +<p>Already Meg Heger had won a right to his chivalry. +She had saved his life. How he wished that +in turn he might do something to save her from her +tormentor.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_123">[123]</div> +<h2 id="c16"><br />CHAPTER XVI. +<br />THE TRAPPER’S CABIN</h2> +<p>Dan felt a glow of pleasure as he neared the log +cabin which nestled against the mountain, sheltered +by rock walls on the side from which the worst +storms always came.</p> +<p>Eagerly he looked ahead, hoping that he would +see the girl. He wanted to thank her for having +saved his life, but no one was in sight.</p> +<p>It was a pleasant, home-like place, with chickens +clucking cheerfully in a large, wired-in yard. Goats +climbed among the rocks at the back, and a washing +fluttered on a line at one side, while, to the boy’s +delight, masses of wild flowers, showing evidence of +loving care, carpeted the earth-filled stretches between +boulders, and some of them that trailed along +the ground hung over the cliff in vivid bloom. It +was Meg’s garden, he knew, without being told.</p> +<p>He rapped on the closed front door, but a voice +from outside called to him. “Whoever ’tis, come +around here. I’m washin’.”</p> +<p>Dan did as he was told and saw a thin, angular +woman, who stood up very straight and looked at +him out of keen blue eyes, as she wiped her sudsy +hands on her gingham apron. Then she brushed +back her graying locks.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_124">[124]</div> +<p>Her smile was a friendly one. “You’re Dan +Abbott’s son, ain’t you?” she began at once. “Hank +Wallace, him as drives the stage, stopped in for dinner +to our place yesterday and he told us all about +having fetched you up. Pa and I knew your pa, +and your ma, too, years back, afore any of you +children was living, and long afore I had Meg.” +The woman nodded toward the wooded mountain +beyond. “Meg’s out studyin’ some fandangled +thing she calls bot’ny.” Then she waved a bony +hand toward the glowing gardens. “Them’s what +she calls her specimens. Queer things they get to +larnin’ in schools nowadays. I didn’t have much +iddication. None at all is more like the real of it. +But pa, he went summers for a spell, and learned +readin’, writin’ and ’rithmetic. All a person needs +to know in these mountains; but Meg, now, she’s +been goin’ ever since she could talk, seems like. Notion +Pa Heger took. He got talked into doin’ it by +Preacher Bellows.” Then, before saying more, the +woman cautiously scanned the woods and the road. +Feeling sure that there was no one near enough to +hear her, she confided: “You see, we ain’t dead +sure who Meg is. She was about three when one of +the Ute squaw women fetched her, all done up in +one of them bright-colored blankets they make. It +was a terrible stormy night. There’d been a cloudburst, +and the thunder made this old mountain shake +for true. Pa Heger said he heard someone at the +door, and I said ’twas the wind. He said he knew +better, and he went to see. There stood a Ute +squaw, and she grunted something and held out the +blanket bundle. Pa took it, bein’ as he heard a cry +inside of it. That squaw didn’t stop. She shuffled +away and Pa shut the door quick to keep the storm +out.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_125">[125]</div> +<p>“‘Well, Ma,’ he says, turning to me, ‘what d’ +s’pose we’ve got here?’</p> +<p>“‘Some Indian papoose,’ I reckoned ’twas.</p> +<p>“‘Well, if ’tis,’ said he, ‘I can’t throw it out into +this awful storm. We’ll have to keep it till it clears, +an’ then I’ll pack it back to the Utes.’</p> +<p>“They was over at the Crazy Creek camp then, +but when that storm let up, and Pa did go over, +there wa’n’t a hide or hair left of that Ute tribe. +They’d gone to better huntin’ grounds, the way they +allays do, and we’ve never seen ’em since. None of +’em ’cept ol’ Slinkin’ Coyote. It’s queer the way he +sticks to it that he’s Meg’s pa, but my man won’t +listen to it. Gets mad as anythin’ if I as much as say +maybe it’s true. He’ll rave, Pa will, an’ say: ‘Look +at our Meg! Does she look like a young ’un of that +skulkin’ old wildcat?’ Pa says, an’ I have to agree +she don’t. But he pesters her, askin’ for money. +That is, he used to afore Pa Heger set the law on +him. Pa has a paper from the sheriff, givin’ him +the right to arrest that ol’ Ute if he ever sets eyes +on him.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_126">[126]</div> +<p>“But I declare to it! Here comes Pa Heger himself. +He’ll be glad to meet you, bein’ as he knew +your pa so well.”</p> +<p>The lad turned eagerly. He was always glad to +meet someone who had known his father in the long +ago years, when he had come West, just after leaving +college, hoping to win a fortune.</p> +<p>Then, as the boy waited for the man to come up, +he wondered why Meg did not return. Didn’t she +care to make his acquaintance?</p> +<p>“Pa Heger,” as he liked to be called, was a pleasant-faced +man whose deeply wrinkled, leathery countenance +showed at once that he had weathered wind +and storm through many a long year in the +mountains.</p> +<p>As Ma Heger had done, he seemed to know intuitively +who the visitor was. But before he could +speak, his talkative spouse began:</p> +<p>“Pa, ain’t this boy the splittin’ image of Danny +Abbott, him as used to come over to set by our fire +and hear you spin them trappin’ yarns o’ yourn? +That was afore he went away an’ got married. +’Arter that he wa’n’t alone when he come climbin’ +up the mountain, but along of him was the sweetest +purtiest little creature I’d ever sot my eyes on. The +two of ’em were a fine lookin’ pair.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_127">[127]</div> +<p>Dan shook hands with the silent man, who showed +his pleasure more with his smiling eyes than with +words. He was quite willing to let his wife do most +of the talking. The lad was pleased with the praise +given his father and mother, when they were young, +and he at once told Mrs. Heger that his sister Jane, +who was with him, very closely resembled that bride +of long ago.</p> +<p>“Wall, now,” the good woman exclaimed, “how +I’d like to see the gal. She’n my Meg ought to get +on fine, if she’s anyhow as friendly as her ma was. +Mis’ Abbott used to come right out to my kitchen. +She’d been goin’ to some fandangly cookin’ school, +the while she was gettin’ ready to be married, and +she larned me a lot of things to make kitchen work +easier. I’m doin’ some of ’em yet, and thinkin’ of +her often.”</p> +<p>Dan did not comment on the possibility of his +proud sister becoming an intimate friend of the +mountain girl, but, for himself, he found that he +very much wanted to know more about their adopted +daughter.</p> +<p>“Mr. Heger,” he turned to the man, who stood +shyly twirling his fur cap, “your daughter has just +saved my life.”</p> +<p>His listeners both looked very much surprised.</p> +<p>“Why, how come that?” Mrs. Heger inquired. +“You didn’t say as how you’d seen Meg, all the +time I was talkin’ about her.”</p> +<p>Dan might have replied that he had not had an +opportunity to say much of anything. But to an +interested audience he related the recent occurrence.</p> +<p>“Pshaw, that’s queer now!” Pa Heger scratched +his gray head back of one ear, which Dan was to +learn was a habit with him when he was puzzled.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_128">[128]</div> +<p>“You say the mountain lion was crouched to +spring at you? Then it must o’ been that she had +some young near. They’re cowards when it comes +to humans, them lions are. They kill sheep an’ +calves an’ deer, an’ all the little wild critters, but +they don’t often attack a man. They’ll trail ’em +for hours, curious, sort of, I reckon, keepin’ out of +sight. Makes you feel mighty uncomfortable to +know one of them big critters is prowlin’ arter you, +whatever his intentions may be. But that ’un, now, +you was mentionin’, I’ll walk back wi’ you, when you +go, an’ take a look at it. Thar’s a bounty paid for +’em by the ranchers. An’ if young air near by, +there’ll be no time better for puttin’ an end to ’em.”</p> +<p>Ma Heger glanced often toward the wooded +mountain beyond Meg’s “Bot’ny Gardens.” Then +to her husband she said: “I reckon Meg knows +thar’s company, an’ that’s why she’s stayin’ so long. +She said to me, ‘Ma, I ain’t agoin’ to school today,’ +says she. ‘I reckon I’ll get some more specimens.’“</p> +<p>At that the man looked up quickly, evident alarm +in his clear blue eyes.</p> +<p>“Did she say anything about havin’ seen that +skulkin’ Ute? Has he been pesterin’ her? The day +arter she’s given him money, she don’ dare go to +school, fearin’ he’ll be rarin’ drunk wi’ fire-water +an’ waylay her. If ever I come up wi’ that coyote, +I’ll—I’ll——”</p> +<p>The wife tried to quiet the increasing anger of her +spouse.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_129">[129]</div> +<p>“Pa Heger,” she said, “you’re alarmin’ yerself +needless. That Ute knows the sheriff gave you +power to jail him, an’ he’s mos’ likely gone to whar +his tribe is.”</p> +<p>Dan stood silently, wondering what he ought to +say. He knew that Meg had given the old Indian +money, and he realized that was why she had been +at home to save his life.</p> +<p>“I shall be glad to have you walk back with me, +Mr. Heger,” he said.</p> +<p>Dan wanted to be alone with the mountaineer. +When they had started down the mountain road, the +man at Dan’s side was silent, a frown gathering on +his leathery forehead. Suddenly he blurted out: +“This here business has got to stop. That slinkin’ +ol’ Ute’s got to prove that my Meg is his gal. In +the courts, he’s got to prove it, or I’ll have him +strung up. Jail’s too good for him. Pesterin’ a +little gal to get her to give up her savin’s that she’s +been puttin’ by this five year past, meanin’ to go to +school in the big city and larn to be a teacher. +That’s what Meg’s figgerin’ on, and that skulkin’ +Ute drainin’ it away from her little by little. I made +her pack a gun, an’ tol’ her to shoot him on sight, +but I reckon she ain’t got the heart to take a life, +though I’d sooner trap him than I would a—well, a +coyote that he’s named arter.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_130">[130]</div> +<p>Dan could be quiet no longer. “Mr. Heger,” he +said, “it was about that very Indian that I came up +here to talk to you this morning. I saw him in hiding +near our cabin. Yesterday afternoon he frightened +the children, although he did not come out into +the open; then about two hours later we saw him +hiding behind boulders on the road below us. He +waylaid your daughter, just as you fear. Also she +gave him money.” While the boy had been talking, +the man’s great knotted hands had closed and unclosed +and cords swelled out on his reddening face. +“I knew it,” he cried. “Dan Abbott, I want you to +help me catch that Ute. Meg won’t. She ain’t sure +but what he is her pa, an’ it’s agin nature to ask her +to harm him. I won’t let on that you tol’ me, but, +Dan, we’ve got to trap him. You needn’t be afraid +of him. He won’t harm you or your family. He’s +too cowardly for that. What’s more, he’s paralyzed +in one arm; it’s all shriveled up so he can’t hold a +gun.”</p> +<p>Dan felt greatly relieved upon hearing this, and +wishing to change the conversation to something +pleasanter, he inquired how soon Meg expected to +be able to go away to school. But the subject evidently +was not pleasant to the old man. “Next +fall’s the time, an’ me and ma can’t bring ourselves +to think on it. Snowed in all winter without Meg’s +’bout as pleasin’ as bein’ shet in a tomb.” The +anger had all died out of the leathery, wrinkled face +and in the blue eyes there shone that wonderful +love-light that is the most beautiful thing the world +holds. “Queer, now, ain’t it, how a slip of a baby +girl could fill up two lives the way Meg did our’n +from the start. An’ she cares for us jest as much +as we for her, I reckon. ’Pears like she does.” The +old man’s voice had become tender as he spoke.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_131">[131]</div> +<p>“I’m sure of it,” Dan said heartily. Then, after +a pause, Pa Heger continued slowly: “That gal +of our’n has the queerest notions. One’s the way +she takes to flowers.” Then, looking up inquiringly, +“Did Ma tell you how she earned the money +she’s savin’ for her iddication?” Dan shook his +head, and so the old man continued: “Teacher Bellows +’twas got her started on it. He’s what folks +call a naturalist, an’ when he used to stay up to our +cabin for weeks at a time an’ he’d take Meg wi’ +him specimen huntin’. Seems like thar’s museum +places all over this here country that wants specimens +of flowers growin’ high up in the Rockies. +So Teacher Bellows and Meg would hunt for days, +startin’ early every mornin’ and late back in the +arternoon, till they had a set of specimens. They’d +press ’em till they was dry as paper, then mount ’em, +as they call it, an’ send ’em off to a museum, and +along come a check. Arter Teacher Bellows went +back to his school, Meg kept right on doin’ it by +herself, him helpin’ now an’ then, an’ she’s saved +nigh enough for the two years’ schoolin’ she’ll need +to be a low grade schoolmarm. She’s got another +queer notion, Meg has. I wonder if Ma tol’ +you about that?” The old man looked up inquiringly, +and Dan, finding himself very much interested +in the notions of this girl whom he did not +know, said that he would very much like to hear +about it.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_132">[132]</div> +<p>The old man removed his fur cap and scratched +his gray head again. His voice grew even more +tender. “You know what it says in that good book +Preacher Bellows is allays readin’ out of, how a +little child shall lead. Wall, that’s sartin what Meg’s +done for me and Ma Heger. When she was about +six year old, or maybe, now, she was seven, it was +curious how friendly even the skeeriest little wild +critters was toward her. She could feed ’em out of +her hand, arter a little coaxin’, an’ how she loved +’em! You see, they was all the playmates she’s ever +had. Then ’twas she started her horspital for hurt +critters, an’ she’s kept it goin’ ever sence. Got one +now, but, plague it, I can’t remember what kind of +patients she’s got into it. She won’t keep nothin’ +captive arter they’re well enough to fight for themselves +out in the forest. Wall, as I was sayin’ back +a piece, Meg was about seven as I recollect, when +she sort of sudden like seemed to realize how ’twas +I made my livin’, trappin’ wild animals and sellin’ +their skins at the tradin’ post.</p> +<p>“But even then, she didn’t fully sense what it +meant, seemed like, till the day we couldn’t find her +nowhar. She’d never gone far into the mountains +afore that, but when she didn’t come home at noonday, +Ma asked me to go an’ hunt for her. It was +late arternoon afore I come upon her, an’ I’ll never +forget that sight as long as I’m livin’.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_133">[133]</div> +<p>“My habit was to set them powerful steel traps +to catch mountain lions and the fur animals I wanted +for pelts. Then, every few days, I’d go the +round and shoot the critters that had been caught in +’em. Wall, as I was goin’ toward whar one of them +big traps was. I heard sech a pitiful cryin’. Good +God, but I was wild wi’ fear, an’ I ran like wolves +was arter me. I’d a notion our baby gal was catched +in it. An’ thar she was, sure enough, but not hurt. +Instead she was down on the ground wi’ her arms +around a little black bear cub that had been catched +hours before and was all torn and bleedin’.</p> +<p>“The fight was gone out o’ him, but he wa’n’t +dead yet. It was our little Meg who was doin’ the +cryin’. Clingin’ to the little fellow, not heedin’ the +blood, her sobbin’ was pitiful to hear. I picked her +up, an’ I ain’t ’shamed to be tellin’ you that I was +cryin’ myself along about that time.</p> +<p>“‘Take him out, Pa,’ my little gal was beggin’. +‘Maybe he’ll get well, Pa.’</p> +<p>“So I opened the great steel jaws of that trap and +took out the little cub bear. He was too small to be +worth anything for a pelt, an’ we fetched him home, +but he died soon arter, and Meg, she had me bury +him. But she couldn’t get over what she had seen. +She had a ragin’ fever for days. I sot up every +night holdin’ her little quiverin’ body close in my +arms, an’ prayin’ God if he’d let my little gal live, +I’d never set another of them cruel steel traps to +catch any of His critters as long as I’d breath in +my body.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_134">[134]</div> +<p>“Wall, boy, sort of a miracle took place. That +little gal of mine had fallen asleep while I sat holdin’ +her, but jest as I made that promise, silent to God, +she lifted up her little hand and put it soft like on +my face, an’ says, still asleep, seemed like—‘I love +you, Pa Heger.’ An’ when she woke up next mornin’, +the fever was gone, and she was well as ever.</p> +<p>“I kept my promise,” he went on grimly. “I went +all over the mountain an’ I took them steel traps, +one by one, unsprung ’em and dropped ’em down +into that crack some earthquake had split into Bald +Peak. It’s bottomless, seems like, an’ what goes +into that crack never does no more harm. Now, +when I kill a critter that needs killin’, I shoot an’ +they never know what hits ’em. Meg is a sure-shot, +too, though she’d never pack a gun if ’twant that I +make her.”</p> +<p>They had reached the spot where the mountain +lion still lay, and the old man stooped to examine it. +“I reckon that was a sure shot, all right.” Then he +shouldered the limp creature. “Thar’s fifty dollars +bounty, so I might as well have it. I’ll hunt for the +cubs tomorrer. So long. Hit the trail up our way +often.”</p> +<p>As Dan walked slowly down the mountain road +toward his home cabin, he found that he was more +interested in this unknown Meg than he had ever +before been in any girl.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_135">[135]</div> +<p>Jane’s headache was better when Dan returned, +but her disposition was worse, and poor Julie was +about ready to cry. She had been spoken to so +sharply when she had really tried to help. Gerald +was angry and indignant. He had at first urged his +small sister and comrade to pretend that Jane was +being pleasant, but, after a time, even he had decided +that such a feat was too much for anyone to +accomplish. Then he had intentionally slammed a +door and had declared that he hoped it would make +“ol’ Jane’s” head worse.</p> +<p>It was well that Dan returned just when he did. +He entered the cabin living-room calling cheerily, +“Good, Jane, I’m glad to see you are up.” Then he +looked from one to the other. Julie, tearful, rebellious, +stood near the kitchen door, and Gerald, with +clenched fists, had evidently been saying something +of a defiant nature. “Why, what’s the matter? +What has gone wrong?”</p> +<p>Dan was indeed dismayed at the picture before +him. Jane, who had seated herself in the one comfortable +chair in the room, said peevishly: “Everything +is the matter. Dan, you can see for yourself +what a mistake I made in coming to this terrible +place, and trying to live with these two children +who have had no training whatever. They are defiant +and rebellious.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_136">[136]</div> +<p>Even as Jane spoke, a memoried picture presented +itself of Julie’s sweet solicitude for her earlier that +morning, but she would not heed, so she hurried on: +“I have been lying in there with this frightful headache +thinking it all out, and I have decided that +either the children must go back or I will.” A hard +look, unusual in Dan’s face, appeared there and his +voice sounded cold. “Very well, Jane, I will help +you pack. The stage passes soon. If we hurry, we +may be ready.” The children could hardly keep +from shouting for joy. Something which Julie +was cooking, boiled over and so she darted to the +kitchen, followed by Gerald, who stood upon his +head in the middle of the floor. But they had rejoiced +too soon, for Gerry, who a moment later +went to the brook for water, returned with the disheartening +news that the stage was passing down +their part of the road. Julie plumped down on the +floor and her mouth quivered, but before she could +cry, Gerald caught her hands, pulled her up and +said comfortingly: “Never mind, Jule. The stage +will be going past again on Monday. Me and you’ll +stay on the watch and tell Mister Sourface to stop +for Jane when he goes back to Redfords on Tuesday. +That is not so awful long. Oh, boy, then +won’t we have the time of our lives?”</p> +<p>Julie agreed that they would indeed and decided +to be very patient during the remaining two days. +So she went back to her cooking and, with Gerald’s +help, soon had the lunch spread.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_137">[137]</div> +<p>Jane ate but little, and again shut herself up in +her room for all that afternoon. Dan was almost +as glad as were the children that she was to go back +to the East, but Jane, strangely enough, was deeply +hurt because her brother, who had been her playmate +when they were little, and her pal in later +years, had actually chosen the younger children in +preference to herself. That proved how much he +really cared for <i>her</i> and, as for his health, he +seemed to be recovering remarkably. He had +coughed a while the evening before, and for a shorter +time that morning.</p> +<p>Then he had evidently been on a long hike. Of +all that had happened Dan had said nothing, knowing +that Jane would not wish to hear about the +mountain girl, toward whom she felt so unkindly.</p> +<p>That afternoon Dan gave the children another +lesson at shooting cones from an old pine, far enough +from the cabin to keep from disturbing Jane. Julie +grew braver as she watched Gerald’s success, and +at last she too tried, and when, after many failures, +she sent a brown cone spinning, she leaped about +wild with joy.</p> +<p>“Now we are both sharpshooters,” Gerald cried +generously. Then, glancing over at the cabin, he +added: “There’s Jane sitting out on the porch. She +does look sort of sick, doesn’t she?”</p> +<p>Dan’s heart was touched when he saw the forlorn +attitude of the sister he so loved. “You youngsters +amuse yourselves for a while,” he suggested, “I +want to have a quiet talk with Jane.” Dan neglected +to tell the children not to wander away.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_138">[138]</div> +<h2 id="c17"><br />CHAPTER XVII. +<br />QUEER KITTENS</h2> +<p>Left alone, Julie and Gerald scrambled to the +road and looked both up and down. “Which way +will we go?” Julie inquired.</p> +<p>“We’ve been down—or, I mean, we’ve been up +the down road.” Then the boy laughed. “Aw, +gee! You know what I mean. We came up the +road yesterday in the stage; so now, let’s go on +further up.”</p> +<p>Julie hopped about, clapping her hands gleefully. +“Ohee, I know what! Let’s see if we can find that +cabin the innkeeper lady said was about a mile up +the mountain road from our place. Wouldn’t that +be fun? And maybe that nice girl will be at home +from school, and, if she is, I just know she’ll let me +ride her pony.”</p> +<p>Gerald, nothing loath, fell into step by his sister’s +side, the gun over his shoulder. After the fashion +of small brothers, he could not resist teasing. “I +bet you couldn’t stay on that pony, however hard +you tried. It’s a wild Western broncho sort, like +those we saw at Madison Square Garden that time +Dad took us to Buffalo Bill’s big circus.” Then, in +a manner which seemed to imply that he did not +wish to boast, he added: “I sort of think I could +ride it easy. Boys get the knack, seems like, without +half trying.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_139">[139]</div> +<p>They had rounded the bend and were nearing the +very spot where the mountain girl had shot the lion, +when Julie clutched her brother’s arm and drew him +back, whispering excitedly: “Gerry! Hark! +What’s that noise I hear?”</p> +<p>The boy listened and then crept cautiously toward +the bushes. He also heard queer little crying sounds +that were almost plaintive. “Huh!” he said boldly. +“’Tisn’t anything that would hurt us. Sounds to +me like kittens crying for their mother.”</p> +<p>A joyful shout from the girl, closely following +him, turned into “Gerry! That’s just what they +are! Great big kittens! See how comically they +sprawl? They haven’t learned to walk yet. Their +little legs aren’t strong enough to stand on. See, I +can pick one right up. He doesn’t seem to mind a +bit.” The small girl suited the action to the word, +and it was well for her that the mother lion had +been killed, or Julie would soon have been badly +torn, despite the fact that her brother still carried +his small gun.</p> +<p>The boy had lifted the other weak creature, which +had not been alive many days, and, with much curious +questioning as to what kind of “pussy cats” +they might be, they continued their walk and soon +reached the cabin.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_140">[140]</div> +<p>Meg Heger, who had remained long in the forest +that day, having sought a rare lichen high on the +mountain, was just descending from the trail that +led into her “botany gardens” when she saw the two +children entering the front yard of her home cabin. +Unbuckling the basket which she carried much as +an Indian squaw carries a pappoose, the girl leaped +down the rocks and exclaimed: “Oh, children, +where did you find those darling little mountain lion +babies?”</p> +<p>Luckily she took the one Julie was holding in her +own arms as she spoke, for if she had not, that particular +“baby” would have had a hard fall, for when +the small girl from the East heard that she was actually +holding a mountain lion, she uttered a little +frightened scream and let go her hold. But Gerald, +being a boy, realized that even a future fierce wild +animal was harmless when its legs were too weak +for it to stand on, and so he continued to hold his +pet, even venturing to admire it.</p> +<p>“It’s a little beauty, ain’t—I mean, isn’t it?” He +glanced quickly at Julie, but the slip had evidently +not been observed, for she was intently watching +the mountain girl, who was caressing the little creature +she held as though she loved it, as she did +everything that lived in all the wilderness.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_141">[141]</div> +<p>But as Meg Heger held that helpless, hungry baby +her heart was sad, for well she knew that it was +unprotected and perhaps starving because she had +shot and killed its mother. Of course she had to +kill the lion to save the life of the lad who had gone +too close to the place where the mother had her +young; but, nevertheless, she felt that, in a way, +her act had made her responsible for these helpless +little wild creatures, since they had been brought +to her.</p> +<p>Brightly she turned to the children. “Don’t you +want to come with me to the hospital?” she invited. +“We’ll give them some supper.”</p> +<p>She did not ask who the children were, nor from +whence they had come. Perhaps she remembered +having seen them the day before on the stage; or +Sourface Wallace may have told her.</p> +<p>Julie and Gerald followed, wondering what the +“hospital” might be.</p> +<p>Back of the cabin, on a rocky ledge, the children +saw a queer assortment of wooden boxes, small +cages and little runways. “This is the hospital.” +Meg flashed a merry smile at them over her shoulder. +“There aren’t many patients just now. Most +of them have been cured. Here’s one little darling, +and I’m afraid he never will be well. Some prowling +creature caught him and had succeeded in breaking +a wing when it heard me coming. Why it +dropped its prey when it ran, I don’t know, but I +brought the little fellow home and Pap helped me +set its wing. It’s ever so much better, but even yet +can’t fly, but it can scuttle along the ground just +ever so fast.”</p> +<p>Gerald was much interested.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_142">[142]</div> +<p>“What kind of a bird is it, Miss Heger?” he began, +very politely, when the girl’s musical laughter +rippled out. “Don’t call me that!” she pleaded. +“It makes me feel as old as the thousand-year pine +Teacher Bellows told our class about. It’s a little +quail bird, dearie. You’ll see ever so many of them +in flocks. There are sixty different kinds of cousins +in their family. The Bob Whites with their reddish +brown plumage have a black and white speckled +jacket. They live in the grass rather than in trees +and are good friends of the farmer because they +devour so many of the insects that destroy grain +and fruits. This one is a mountain quail; it is one +of the largest cousins. The one that lives in the +South is called a partridge.”</p> +<p>Gerald listened politely to the life history of the +pretty bird, but his attention had been seized and +held by what Meg had said about the very ancient +pine. “Was there ever a tree that lived a thousand +years?” he asked with eager interest. The girl +nodded. “Indeed, there are many that have lived +much longer, but this pine was blown over, and +Teacher Bellows was allowed to cut it up to read its +life history. He found that it had been in two +forest fires, and about five hundred years ago an +Indian battle had been fought near it, for there were +arrow heads imbedded in the rings that indicated +that year of its life.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_143">[143]</div> +<p>Then Meg concluded with her bright smile: +“Some day, when Teacher Bellows is up here, I’ll +have him tell you the names and probable ages of +all our neighbor trees! It’s a fascinating study.”</p> +<p>Julie was not much interested in the length of a +tree’s life and so she began eagerly: “Miss—I +mean—do you want us to call you Meg?” she interrupted +herself to inquire.</p> +<p>The older girl nodded. Every move she made +seemed to express bubbling-over enthusiasm and interest. +“Haven’t you any more patients?”</p> +<p>Gerry was peering into empty boxes in which +there were soft, leaf-like beds.</p> +<p>“Only just Mickey Mouse. He’s a little cripple! +His left foot was cut off in a trap, but he gets +around nicely on one stump. That’s his hole over +there. I put grain and bits of cheese in front of it. +Keep ever so still and I’ll put a kernel of corn right +by his door. Then perhaps you’ll see his bright +eyes.” And that is just what happened. As soon +as the corn kernel rolled in front of the hole, out +darted a sharp brown nose with twitching whiskers +and two beady black eyes appeared just long enough +for their owner to drag his supper into the safe +darkness of his particular box.</p> +<p>Meg laughed happily. “He’s the cunningest, +Mickey is! I sometimes take him with me in my +pocket. He likes to ride there, or so it seems. At +any rate he is just as good as he can be. Often he +goes to sleep, but at other times, he stands right up +and looks out of the pocket, just as though he were +enjoying the scenery.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_144">[144]</div> +<p>At that moment a sharp, almost impatient cry +from the small creature she held recalled to the head +doctor of the hospital the fact that she had started +out to feed the baby lions. She brought milk from +a cave-like room, only the front wall of which was +wood, the rest being in the mountain. “That’s our +cooler,” she told Gerald, whom she could easily observe +was interested in all the strange things he +saw. Dipping one corner of her handkerchief into +the milk, she put it in the mouth of her tiny lion and +the children were delighted to see how readily and +joyfully the creature seemed to feast upon it. Having +gathered courage, Julie wished to feed the other +baby lion and then Meg suggested that they be put +in a soft lined box on the rocks near, since they were +used to being high up. The baby lions, being no +longer hungry, cuddled down and went to sleep. +Gerald’s conscience was troubling him. “We’ll +have to be going,” he said. “Nobody knows where +we are.” Then he hesitated. He knew that it would +be polite to ask the mountain girl to call upon them, +but he was afraid that Jane would not treat her +kindly, so, in his embarrassment, he caught Julie +by the hand and fairly dragged her away as he +called, “Goodbye, Meg, I’m coming up often.” +When they were on the down-road, the boy cautioned +Julie to say nothing whatever of their adventure +to their sister, but just to Dan.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_145">[145]</div> +<h2 id="c18"><br />CHAPTER XVIII. +<br />A YOUNG OVERSEER</h2> +<p>Sunday dawned gloriously, and Dan declared +that he felt better than he had supposed that he ever +would again. Jane, too, though she did not voice +it, was conscious of feeling more invigorated than +she had been in the East, and yet, of course, she was +very glad that she was going back again on the following +Tuesday. She would go directly to Newport +to visit Merry Starr, as had been their original +plan. Her conscience would not trouble her, since +it was Dan’s wish that she be the one to leave.</p> +<p>The two children, on the evening before, had +failed to confide that they had visited the cabin up +the mountain road. They were wild to tell Dan, but +they wished to get him off by himself before they +did so. They dragged him out into the kitchen after +the Sunday morning work was done and asked him +if he would go with them for a hike up along the +brook to a natural bridge that they could see from +their door-yard.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_146">[146]</div> +<p>The older lad hesitated. “I’ll ask Jane if she +would like to go,” he began, but the immediate disappointment +expressed by the two freckled faces +made him turn back to add, “Or, rather, I’ll ask +Jane if she minds our going, just for a little while.” +This suggestion was far more pleasing to the +children.</p> +<p>They all entered the living-room where Jane sat +reading. “My goodness, don’t go far,” she said +petulantly. “Don’t you remember that the terrible +overseer from the Packard ranch is coming to take +dinner with you today? I intend to shut myself in +my room and stay there until he is gone.”</p> +<p>“Hm!” Dan snapped his fingers as he ejaculated. +“Queer I’d forget that visit, since I have +been looking forward to it so eagerly.” Then he +queried: “Why do you say that he is terrible, +Jane? A foreman on a vast cattle ranch is not +necessarily an uncouth specimen of humanity.”</p> +<p>The girl flung herself impatiently in the chair as +she emphatically replied: “Of course he’ll be terrible! +A big, rawboned creature who will speak +with a dreadful dialect, or whatever you call it; and +he will be so embarrassed at meeting people from +the city, that he will stutter more than likely.”</p> +<p>Dan laughed at the description. “Maybe you are +right, sister of mine, but we’ll be home to prepare +the meal for our guest, long before the hour he is +to arrive. Goodbye! Fire off the gun if you are +frightened at anything.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_147">[147]</div> +<p>The girl merely shrugged her shoulders, and when +they were gone she decided, since it really was very +lovely out-of-doors, to take her book to the porch, +and so she dragged thither the comfortable chair +with the leather pillows. She was soon reading the +story, which interested her so greatly that she did +not notice the passing of time until she heard a step +near by. Jane supposed that her family was returning, +and did not glance up until she heard a pleasant, +well-modulated voice saying:</p> +<p>“Pardon me if I intrude, but is this the cabin occupied +by the Abbott family?”</p> +<p>Looking up in astonishment, Jane saw before her +a handsome youth whose wide Stetson hat was held +in one hand. He wore a tan-colored shirt of soft +flannel, and his corduroys, of the same shade, were +tucked into high, laced boots. Even before she +spoke, Jane was conscious that the youth with the +clean-shaven face, strong square chin, pleasant +mouth, blue eyes with clear, direct gaze was not in +the least embarrassed by her presence. He was indeed +the kind of a lad she had always met in the +homes of her best friends, the kind that Dan was. +But that of which she was most conscious was the +fact that he was very good looking, and that in his +eyes there was an expression of sincere admiration +for her.</p> +<p>Graciously Jane rose and held out a slim white +hand. “We are the Abbotts,” she began; then, +laughingly confessed that, unfortunately, she was +the only one at home, as the others had gone on a +hike—she really had not inquired where.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_148">[148]</div> +<p>The lad did not seem to consider it unfortunate. +“Please be seated again, Miss Abbott, and I’ll occupy +the door-step, if you don’t mind. I’d heaps +rather meet strangers one by one. It’s easier to get +acquainted.”</p> +<p>Then, as he thought of something, he exclaimed: +“I hope I have not come over much earlier than I +was expected. I hiked all the way. I thought it +might be easier to come cross-lots, so to speak, than +to ride horseback to Redfords and then up your +mountain road.”</p> +<p>“Was it?” Jane asked, wishing to appear interested.</p> +<p>“It was great! I adore mountain climbing, don’t +you, Miss Abbott?”</p> +<p>Then, not waiting for her reply, he continued with +boyish enthusiasm: “I tell you, it means a lot to +me to have you Abbotts here. I love the West, but +I’ve missed my friends. We’ll have great times! +How long are you going to stay?”</p> +<p>Jane hesitated. She should have replied that she +was leaving on Tuesday, but now she was not sure +that she wished to go.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_149">[149]</div> +<p>For a merry half hour these two chattered. The +lad seemed to be quite willing to talk of everything +but his home, and Jane was too well bred to ask +questions. Jean told of his college life, and when +she asked if he regretted that his days of study were +over, he laughingly declared that they never would +be. “Mr. Packard is a great student,” he looked up +brightly to say, “and our long winter evenings, that +some chaps might call dull, are the most interesting +I have ever spent. We take one subject after another +and go into it thoroughly. We’re most interested +in experimental inventions and we have rigged +up all sorts of labor saving contrivances over on the +ranch.” Recalling something which for the moment +had been forgotten, Jean exclaimed: “Mr. Packard +wished me to invite you all to visit us as soon +as you are quite settled here.”</p> +<p>Then with that unconscious admiration in his +eyes, he concluded: “For myself I most eagerly +second the invitation.” Jane’s vanity was indeed +gratified. She laughed a happy musical laugh which +sounded natural, although it had really been cultivated. +“I am greatly flattered that you should be +so anxious to entertain the Abbotts,” she told him, +“since I am the only one of us whom you have +met.”</p> +<p>“True!” he confessed, merrily, “but you know +we scientists can visualize an entire family from one +specimen. How could the other three be undesirable +when one is so lovely? Maybe it’s because I am +a blonde that I admire the olive type of beauty.”</p> +<p>Just why she said it Jane could not have told, unless +the memory of what that awful Gabby at the +station had said still rankled. Be that as it may, +almost without her conscious direction she heard +herself saying: “I suppose, then, that you must +be a great admirer of Meg Heger?” There was a +note in the girl’s voice which made the lad look up +a bit puzzled. What he said in reply was both pleasing +and displeasing to his companion. With a ring +of sincerity he assured his listener that there were +few girls finer than Meg Heger.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_150">[150]</div> +<p>“I do not know her personally very well,” he told +Jane. “She seems to shun the acquaintance of all +young people. I sometimes think that she may believe +her friendship would not be desired since she +is supposed to be the daughter of that old Ute Indian, +but this is not true. We in the West ask not +the parentage but the sincerity of our friends. It’s +through her foster-father that I know the girl, really. +I often go with him to the timber line and +above it, when I am not needed on the ranch. It’s +a beautiful thing to hear him tell how Meg has enriched +their lives.”</p> +<p>Then, as his direct gaze was again lifted to the +olive-tinted face of the girl near him, he said frankly: +“Many of the cowboys and others of our neighbors +rave about Meg’s beauty. But I do not admire +the Spanish or French type as much as I do our +very own American girl.”</p> +<p>Jean did not say in words which American girl +he thought wonderfully lovely to look upon, but his +eyes were eloquent.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_151">[151]</div> +<p>Jane could have sat there basking in the lad’s evident +admiration for hours, but the position of the +sun, high above them, suggested to her that something +must be amiss. “I wonder why Dan and the +children do not return,” she said, rising to look up +the brook trail. Jean leaped to his feet and together +they went around the cabin and scanned the mountain-side +and the lad yodeled, but there was no response.</p> +<p>“Of course, nothing could have happened to them +all,” Jane assured him. “They have gone farther +than they planned, I suppose.” Then, turning with +a helpless little laugh, she said in her most winning +way (and Jane could be quite irresistible when she +wished), “I have a terrible confession to make. +You will have to starve if they do not return, for I +have never learned to cook.”</p> +<p>“Great! I’m glad you haven’t, because that will +give me an opportunity of shining in an art at which +I excel.” The lad seemed brimming over with enthusiasm. +Jane smiled up at him. He stood a head +taller than she, with wide, square shoulders that +looked so strong and capable of carrying whatever +burden might be placed upon them.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_152">[152]</div> +<p>“How did you happen to learn how to cook?” +the girl inquired, and then wondered at the sudden +change of expression in his handsome face. The +joyful enthusiasm of the moment before was gone +and in its place was an expression both tender and +sad. “The last year of my little mother’s life we +two went alone to our cabin on the Maine coast. +Mums wanted to take our Chinaman, but I begged +her to let me have her all alone by myself, and so +under her direction I learned to cook. Miss Abbott,” +the boy turned toward her, seeming to feel +sure of her understanding sympathy, “that was the +happiest summer of my life, but it had the saddest +ending, for, try as I might to keep her, my little +mother faded away and left us.” Then abruptly he +exclaimed, as though he dared not trust himself to +keep on: “Won’t you lead me to the kitchen, and +when the wanderers return we will have a feast +ready for them.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_153">[153]</div> +<h2 id="c19"><br />CHAPTER XIX. +<br />A NEW COOK</h2> +<p>Such a pleasant half hour was spent by these two +who seemed content just to be together, Jane, with a +twinge of regret, realized that the youth was idealizing +her. He constantly attributed to her qualities +that she well knew that she did not possess. He +told her that he could understand why she had not +learned to cook simply because for years she had +been away at a fashionable seminary. “But now is +your golden opportunity, and I am indeed lucky to +be your first teacher.” That he was pleased was +quite evident. “I am sure you agree with me, Miss +Abbott, that cooking is as essential in a young woman’s +education as painting or singing.” Then he +laughed boyishly. “I’m afraid, when I am hungry +that I would far rather have a beautiful girl cook +for me than sing to me. Now, what is the menu +to be?”</p> +<p>Jane looked about the kitchen helplessly. She did +not wish to confess to Jean Sawyer that she had not +before been in there except to pass through it to +their outdoor dining-room.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_154">[154]</div> +<p>“Julie and Dan were planning the meal. I really +don’t know.” The situation was relieved by Jean’s +asking: “May I prepare anything I can find?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, do please! It really doesn’t matter +which of our supplies are used first.” The girl was +glad to have the problem thus easily solved. After +a few moments of ransacking, the lad looked up +from a box as he asked: “Miss Jane, will you pare +the potatoes?”</p> +<p>She shrank away before she realized what she was +doing. “Oh, wouldn’t they stain my hands terribly?” +Then, with her most winning smile, she held +them both out to him. “You see, they haven’t a +stain on them yet, and I did hope they never would +have.” The boy made a move as though to take the +hands in his. But he stooped quickly over the box +of potatoes and said earnestly: “Right you are, +Miss Abbott. They are far too lovely to mar.”</p> +<p>Perhaps because of associated ideas it was that +he recalled a poem that went somewhat in this way: +“Beautiful hands are those that do work that is +useful, kind and true.” What he said was: “Suppose +you set the table. I’ll make the fire and have a +pot of goulash in no time. That is my favorite +camp menu, perhaps because it is the simplest.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_155">[155]</div> +<p>Everything was in readiness when merry voices +were heard without, and Julie, evidently believing +they were unheard, said in a stage whisper: “Don’t +tell Jane that we’ve been up to see Meg Heger’s +hospital, will you, Dan? She’d be mad as anything.” +The older lad was opening the kitchen door at that +moment, and the two, who had been keeping so still +in the kitchen that the surprise might be complete, +could not but hear. Vaguely Jean Sawyer wondered +why Jane would be “mad” because the rest of +her family had been to call upon a neighbor. Glancing +at her proud, beautiful face, he saw a scornful +curl to the mouth which he had thought so lovely, +and it was not pleasant to behold. But a moment +later he had forgotten it, in the excitement that followed +his discovery. Dan advanced with glowing +eyes and outstretched hand. “Jean Sawyer! How +glad we are to have you with us. These are the +youngsters, Julie and Gerald.” The little girl made +a pretty curtsy and Gerry thrust out a chubby, +freckled hand, smiling his widest as he looked admiringly +at the cowboy’s costume. “Gee!” he confided, +“I’d like awful well to have one of those rigs. +Dan, don’t you s’pose they make ’em small enough +for boys?”</p> +<p>But it was Jean who answered. “They do, indeed, +and what is more, there is one over at the +Packard ranch more typical than mine, which I am +pretty sure will fit you. A grandson of Mr. Packard’s +was with us last summer, but he isn’t coming +this year and he’d be glad to have you wear it.” +Then, smiling at the older girl, he said to Dan: +“Your sister, Miss Jane, has agreed to bring you all +over to our place to spend next Sunday. That is a +week from today.” Julie, upon hearing this, was +about to blurt out her disappointment by saying, +“How can she, if she’s going back East on Tuesday?” +But a cold glance from her sister’s eyes +made the small girl turn away with quivering lips. +After all Jane was going to stay and their summer +would be spoiled. Jean Sawyer had also witnessed +this by-play and he felt a sense of great disappointment.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_156">[156]</div> +<p>It was quite evident that Jane Abbott’s beauty was +only skin deep.</p> +<p>When Jean Sawyer took his departure that afternoon, +Dan accompanied him part way “cross-lots,” +as the former lad had called it.</p> +<p>They crossed the brook and after climbing many +a jagged boulder, began the descent on the side of +the mountain nearest the wide valley in which was +located the fertile Packard ranch.</p> +<p>These two lads, so near of an age, found that they +were most congenial. When Dan confessed that his +dearest desire was to become a writer of purpose fiction, +Jean heartily applauded. “Great! I’d give +anything if I had the ability to do something fine for +this old world of ours, but, just at present, I believe +I will continue being Mr. Packard’s foreman. Really, +Dan, reading and studying with that man is as +good as having a post-graduate course at college.”</p> +<p>Then apropos of nothing (or so it seemed), Jean +said: “What a beautiful girl your sister is. What +a pity that she has not had the love and direction of +a mother. I had such a wonderful mother myself, +Dan, I well know what girls and boys have missed +when they lost their mothers while they were very +young.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_157">[157]</div> +<p>Dan grew serious at once. Then he confessed:</p> +<p>“Jean, I feel as though I had known you for a long +time, and so I am going to tell you my greatest +problem. My sister Jane is beautiful, and before +she went away to that fashionable Highacres Seminary +she was as sweet and lovable a girl as any you +could find, but for some reason she learned there +much that was not in the curriculum. Pride of family, +snobbishness, and because of our father’s position, +many of her companions were so differential +to her that she has come to expect it from everyone. +How I wish I knew how to save Jane from herself.”</p> +<p>It was just as Jean had feared. He surprised +himself by saying: “If she would chum with Meg +Heger a while, I believe it would help her to overcome +those artificially acquired qualities, for Meg +is sincerely natural. But your sister would have to +make the advances. Meg never will. She keeps +apart by herself, and will probably continue doing +so until it is proven that she is not that Ute Indian’s +daughter. I know that you have met Meg, for I +overheard your little sister saying that you had been +there this morning.”</p> +<p>“Yes, we were. The children pleaded so hard +that I go and see their baby lions.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_158">[158]</div> +<p>Then he told the story of the death of the mother +lion to an interested listener. “I wondered why Meg +Heger disappeared directly after having saved my +life. Nor would she come to her home while she +know that I was there. It is too bad that she shuts +herself away from people who would gladly be her +friends.”</p> +<p>Jean nodded. “That is just what she does. Last +year, as I was telling Gerald, Mr. Packard’s daughter, +Mrs. Delbert, and her young son were with us. +When Mrs. Delbert heard the story of Meg’s +devotion to her foster-parents and how she is +trying to become a teacher that she might make +life easier and pleasanter for them, she at once +wished to make Meg’s acquaintance. We hiked up +to the Heger cabin one Saturday morning, and although +Meg willingly showed Mrs. Delbert her botany +gardens, and her hurt animal hospital, she was +so reserved and shut away from us, that we realized +at once that she did not wish our friendship. Mrs. +Delbert invited Meg to spend a day with her at the +ranch, but the girl never came, nor have I seen her +since.”</p> +<p>The other lad understood.</p> +<p>“With me she is also distant and reserved,” he +said, “but when she talks to Julie and Gerald she is +very different.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_159">[159]</div> +<p>Then, returning to a remark made earlier, he concluded: +“My sister Jane would be greatly helped if +she could see how much more naturalness is admired +than cultivated poses, but she will never learn +from Meg Heger, whom she considers greatly beneath +her.” Then, stopping, he held out his hand. +“Jean,” he said seriously, “I hope I have not given +you a wrong opinion of my beautiful sister. I honestly +believe that the girl she used to be still lives +beneath all this artificial veneer that she has acquired +at the fashionable seminary and my most earnest +wish is to find a way by which that other girl, who +was my dearly loved sister-pal, can be returned to +me. I would not have spoken of this were it not +that I am as greatly troubled for Jane’s sake as my +own.”</p> +<p>“I am glad you told me, Dan. I, too, have faith +in her. Goodbye till next Sunday.”</p> +<p>Dan walked slowly back to the cabin, pleased, indeed, +with his new friend.</p> +<p>Dan found his sister Jane alone with her book on +the front porch of their cabin. She looked up with a +smile of welcome. “I was agreeably surprised in +our guest,” she began at once, “and so, before you +tease me for having described him as raw-boned and +illiterate, I will make the confession that I never +met a better looking or nicer mannered youth.”</p> +<p>“Tut! Tut!” her brother, sinking to the doorstep +where earlier in the day Jean had sat, merrily +shook a finger at his sister, “That is extreme praise, +and I may take offense, since I consider myself good +looking and nice mannered.”</p> +<p>The girl laughed happily. Her brother reflected +that, not in many a day, had he seen her brow unclouded +with frown or fretfulness.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_160">[160]</div> +<p>Suddenly he said: “Jane, have you changed your +mind about going East next Tuesday?” He looked +up inquiringly, eagerly.</p> +<p>The girl flushed, then said with an effort at indifference: +“I thought perhaps it is hardly fair to +decide that I do not like the mountain life, after +having been here for such a few days. Shall you +mind if I postpone my departure until a week from +Tuesday?” The lad caught the hand that hung near +him and pressed it with sudden warmth to his cheek. +“Jane,” he said, “I’m desperately lonesome for the +comrade that my sister used to be. Won’t you give +up all thought of going away and try once again to +be that other girl?”</p> +<p>Jane looked puzzled, then she drew her hand +away, saying coldly: “You are evidently not satisfied +with me. I suppose that you also admire a girl +who prefers to pare potatoes and stain her hands, +than you do one who keeps herself attractive.”</p> +<p>Dan was astonished at the outburst, but wisely +made no comment, though his thoughts were busy. +Evidently Jean Sawyer had told his sister that he +admired a girl who could be useful as well as ornamental. +What would the result be, he wondered. +But on the following day Jane permitted the other +three to do all of the work of the cabin while she +idled hours away at letter writing to her many girl +friends in the East; finished her book, and started a +bit of lace making which had been the popular pastime +at the seminary.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_161">[161]</div> +<p>At nine o’clock on Monday the stage drew up in +front of their stone stairway and the discordant +sound from a horn seemed to be calling them, and +so Gerald hopped down to receive from Mr. “Sourface” +Wallace a packet of newspapers and letters. +“Oh, thanks a lot, Mr. Wallace!” the boy shouted, +knowing that the stage driver was deaf, and then +up the stairway he scrambled to distribute the mail. +There was a letter for each of the Abbotts from +their father and a tiny note inclosed from grandmother +with good advice for each, not excluding +Jane, whose lips took their favorite scornful curve +when it was read.</p> +<p>But a glance at her other two letters sent her to +her own room, where she could read them undisturbed. +One was from Merry Starr and, instead of +containing enthusiastic descriptions of the gay life +at Newport, which it was her good fortune to be +living, the epistle was crammed full of longing to +see the wonderful West.</p> +<p>“Tastes are surely different!” Jane thought as she +opened the second epistle, which was from Esther +Ballard. In it she read a news item which pleased +her exceedingly. “Jane, old dear”—was the very +informal beginning.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_162">[162]</div> +<p>“Put on your remembering cap and you will recall +that you told me, if ever I could find another +string of those semi-precious cardinal gems that you +so greatly admired, to buy them at once, notify you +and you would send me the money. Well, the deed +is done. I have found the necklace, and, honestly, +Jane, it holds all of the glory of the sunset and sunrise +melted into one. They will set off your dark +beauty to perfection. But I’ll have to confess that +I haven’t a penny. Always broke, as you know, and +so, if you want them, you’ll have to mail me twenty-five +perfectly good dollars by return post.</p> +<p>“Yours in great haste, +<span class="jr">E. B.”</span></p> +<p>Jane sat looking thoughtfully out of the window. +In about two weeks she would have a birthday, and +on that occasion her aunt, after whom she was +named, always sent her the amount needed for the +gems, but in a postscript Esther had said that she +had asked to have the chain held one week, feeling +sure that by that time Jane would have sent the +money.</p> +<p>Taking from her purse two bills, she put them in +an envelope addressed to Esther, added a hurried +little letter, stamped it and was just wondering how +she would get it to the post when she saw Meg +Heger coming down the road on her pony. Although +she herself would not ask a favor of the +mountain girl, she called Julie and requested that +she hail Meg and ask her to mail the letter. Not +until it was done did Jane face her conscience. Had +she any right to use the tax money for a necklace? +She shrugged her shoulders. What would two weeks +more or less matter?</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_163">[163]</div> +<h2 id="c20"><br />CHAPTER XX. +<br />MEG AS SCHOOL-MISTRESS</h2> +<p>Upon arriving in Redfords, Meg Heger had at +once given the letter which had been marked “Important! +Rush!” to the innkeeper, who was about +to start for the station to meet the eastbound train. +He promised the girl to attend to putting the letter +on the train himself, and thus assured that she had +served her neighbors to the best of her ability, Meg +went across the road to the school, only to find that +her good friend, Teacher Bellows, was not to be +there that day as he had been sent for by a dying +mountaineer in his capacity as preacher, and had +left word that he wished Meg to hear the younger +children recite, and dismiss them at two, which was +an hour earlier than usual.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_164">[164]</div> +<p>Nothing pleased the girl more than to have an +opportunity to practice the art of instruction, since +that was to be her chosen life work, and a very +happy morning she had with the dozen and one +pupils, queer little specimens of childhood, although, +indeed, several of them were beyond that, being +long, lanky boys and girls in their teens. They, one +and all, loved Meg devotedly and considered it a +rare treat to have her in charge of the class. This +happened quite often, as, in his double capacity as +preacher as well as teacher, the kindly old man had +various calls upon his time; some of them taking +him so far into the mountains that he was obliged +to be gone for days at a time.</p> +<p>Meg had a charming way, quite her own, of +teaching, with story and word pictures. Even the +master had to concede that she was more fitted by +nature than he was to instruct the child mind. At +two o’clock, when the young teacher dismissed her +class, they flocked about her as she crossed the road +to the inn.</p> +<p>The tallest among her pupils, a rancher’s daughter, +who was indeed as old as Meg, put an arm lovingly +about her as she said, “When yer through +with yer schoolin’, don’t I hope yo’ll come back to +Redfords an’ be our teacher.”</p> +<p>The mountain girl laughed. “Why, Ann Skittle!” +she teased. “You will be married, with a home +of your own, by the time that I am ready to teach. +You are seventeen, now, aren’t you?”</p> +<p>Ann’s sunburned face flushed suddenly and her +unexpected embarrassment caused Meg to believe +that she had guessed more accurately than she had +supposed. “Yeah, I’m seventeen. But I’ll be eighteen +before snowfall, an’ then Hank Griggs an’ me’s +goin’ to be married. He’s pa’s hired man. A new +one from Arizony.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_165">[165]</div> +<p>“Then why should you care whether or not I +teach the Redford school?” Meg turned at the lowest +step of the inn porch to inquire. Her dark eyes +seemed always to hold a kindly interest in whatever +they looked upon, were it a hurt little animal or, as +at that moment, a girl who had not been endowed +with much natural intelligence.</p> +<p>Ann Skittle, again visibly embarrassed, stood +looking down, twisting one corner of her apron as +she said in a low voice: “Me an’ Hank is like to +have kiddies an’ I’d be wishin’ you could teach ’em.”</p> +<p>Suddenly Meg leaned over and impulsively kissed +the flushed face of her surprised companion. “Of +course you’ll have little ones, dear,” she said, and in +her voice there was a note of tenderness. “No +greater happiness can come to any girl than just +that; to be a mother and to have a mother.” She +turned away to hide the tears that, mist-like, always +rose to her own eyes when she thought of the mother +whom she never knew. Ann, calling goodbye, +walked away toward the corral back of the school +where her pony had been for hours awaiting her.</p> +<p>When Meg entered the front room of the inn, her +smile was as bright as ever. Mrs. Bently often said +that it didn’t matter how gloomy the day might +be, when Meg appeared with “that lighten’ up” +smile of hers, somehow it seemed as though the +sun had burst through, and even if things had been +going wrong, they began to go right then and there. +“Mrs. Bently,” the girl said, “Pa Heger told me not +to come home today without the County Weekly +News. It’s days overdue.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_166">[166]</div> +<p>The comely woman’s face brightened.</p> +<p>“Wall, I’ve found that newspaper at last,” she +announced. “That man of mine didn’t have on his +specks when he was sortin’ the mail, I reckon. Anyhow +he stuck that paper o’ yer pa’s ’way over into +Mr. Peters’ box. ’Twas fetched clear out to his +ranch and fetched back agin.”</p> +<p>“Thanks.” Meg said brightly, as she took the +paper. “It won’t matter any. I don’t suppose there’s +any startling news in it.”</p> +<p>Half way up the mountain road Meg drew rein +and listened. There was not a breath of wind stirring. +The sun beat down relentlessly and heat +shimmered from the red-gold dust of the road ahead. +The only sounds were the humming, buzzing and +wing-whirring of the multitudinous insects all about +her. Then again she heard the sound which had first +attracted her attention. A pitiful little gasping cry. +Leaping from her pony, she commanded: “Pal, +stand still for a moment. One of our little brothers +is calling for help.”</p> +<p>Although the faint cry had instantly ceased, Meg +remembered the direction from which it had come +and climbed agilely down the rocks to find that one, +having been dislodged, had caught a Douglas squirrel’s +tail and had held it captive so long that the +creature was nearly starved.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_167">[167]</div> +<p>“You poor little mite,” Meg said with tender +sympathy as she stooped, and, after removing the +heavy stone, lifted the small creature in her hands. +She held it, unresisting, for a moment against her +cheek, then put it into one of her saddle bags. Peering +in, she said assuringly, “Don’t be frightened. +I’m going to take you to the hospital, but as soon +as you are stronger, you shall have your freedom.” +The bead-like eyes that looked up out of the dark +depths of the bag seemed to be more appreciative +than fearful. There was a quality in Meg’s voice +when she spoke to the sad and wounded that soothed +and comforted even though the words were not understood. +“I’ll take the newspaper out,” she +thought; “then his bed will be more comfortable.” +And, as she did so, she chanced to see a name which +attracted her attention. It was a name which had +come, within the last three days, to mean much of +possible comradeship to her. It was “Daniel Abbott.” +Opening the paper, the girl expected merely +to read an article telling of the arrival of the Abbott +family at their cabin on Redfords Peak, but, +to her dismay, the story that newspaper contained +was of an entirely different nature. It was a list of +the properties in the county that were tax delinquents. +Meg learned from the short paragraph that +the ten acres and “cabin thereon” belonging to one +Daniel Abbott, having been for three weeks advertised +as delinquent, was to be sold for taxes on +August the tenth at five o’clock unless the aforesaid +taxes, amounting to the sum of twenty-five dollars, +should be paid before that hour.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_168">[168]</div> +<p>The girl stared at the printed page, unable at first +to comprehend its meaning. Then she glanced at +the sun. It was at least two-thirty. But what could +it mean? Surely the young man with whom she was +talking but yesterday, when the children had brought +him to see the baby lions, surely he had known of +this and had paid the taxes. Refolding the paper, +Meg started leisurely up the mountain road, but +something seemed to be urging her to at least tell +Dan Abbott what she had seen. Perhaps he had not +paid the back taxes, and, if not, she might be instrumental +in saving his cabin home for him, and yet, +even as she thought of it, she was assailed with +doubt. It would be impossible to reach Scarsburg, +the county seat, before five unless one rode at top +speed, and the Abbotts had neither car nor horse.</p> +<p>Meg had reached the stairway hewn in the rocks, +leading to the cabin, which, for so many minutes +had been uppermost in her thoughts, and she drew +rein, yodeling to a tall, graceful girl whom she saw +standing by a pine gazing out over the valley. Jane +Abbott turned and looked down, amazed that the +mountain girl should have the effrontery to yodel to +<i>her</i>. “Just because she mailed a letter for me does +not entitle her to <i>my</i> friendship as an equal!” Abruptly +Jane turned her back and walked away toward +the cabin. Meg’s face flushed and her inclination +was to ride on to her own home, but she recalled +the clinging of little Julie’s arms and the sweet, +yearning expression in the small girl’s face when she +had said, “Meg, I like you. I wish you were my +sister instead of Jane. You’d love me, wouldn’t +you?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_169">[169]</div> +<p>Leaping from her pony, she bade him wait for +her, and, taking the paper, the girl sprang, nimble +as a mountain goat, up the rocky steps. Jane had +seated herself in the comfortable chair on the porch, +and was reading when she heard hurrying footsteps. +She looked up, an angry color suffusing her cheeks. +This halfbreed was evidently going to force her acquaintance +upon her. Well, she would soon regret +it. But the proud, scornful words were never +spoken.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_170">[170]</div> +<h2 id="c21"><br />CHAPTER XXI. +<br />MEG AS BENEFACTRESS</h2> +<p>Dan and the children had gone on a hike, and +Jane, being quite alone, rose and confronted the +mountain girl with a cold stare that would have +caused Meg at another time to have whirled about +and departed, but for the sake of the other three +she was willing to be treated unkindly.</p> +<p>“Miss Abbott,” she said, holding out the newspaper, +and pretending not to notice the unfriendly +expression, “there is news in here which may be of +great importance to you. May I show it to your +brother?”</p> +<p>Suddenly Jane found herself trembling from some +unnamed fear. Instantly she had thought of the +taxes. Perhaps, without really being conscious of +it, she had read the word somewhere on that outheld +paper.</p> +<p>She sank back into her chair, saying, almost +breathlessly, “Dan isn’t here. What is it, Miss +Heger? Is something wrong?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_171">[171]</div> +<p>The mountain girl pointed to the paragraph and +was amazed at the effect the reading of it had upon +the proud girl. There was an expression of terror +in the dark eyes that were lifted.</p> +<p>“Oh, what shall I do? What shall I do?” she implored +helplessly. “Our father gave us the money. +He told us the taxes must be paid, but I thought another +two weeks would do as well as now. Dan did +not know the need of haste.”</p> +<p>Meg, seeing that the girl, unused to deciding matters +of importance, was more helpless than even +Julie would have been, felt a sudden compassion for +her and so she said: “If you can get the money to +the county seat before five o’clock you will not lose +your property.”</p> +<p>A dull flush suffused the dark face. “I—I haven’t +the money! I—I borrowed it for something I wanted. +It was in that letter that Julie gave you this +morning to mail.”</p> +<p>Then looking up eagerly, hopefully, “Miss Heger, +perhaps you forgot to post it. Oh, how I hope that +you did!”</p> +<p>But the mountain girl shook her head. “I sent it +by Mr. Bently to the eastbound train, which was due +about noon. He said that he himself would put it +in the mail car.”</p> +<p>“Then there is nothing that I can do!” The proud +girl burst into sudden tears. “Father has lost everything +but our home in the East, and now, now I +have been the cause of his losing the cabin he so +loved.” Lifting a tear-stained face to the girl who +was watching her, troubled and thoughtful, she implored: +“Oh, isn’t there something I can do? If +I tell them I will pay it in two weeks, when my +birthday money comes, won’t that do as well as +now?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_172">[172]</div> +<p>Meg shook her head. “No,” she said. “This is +final. They notified your father some time ago.”</p> +<p>Jane nodded hopelessly. “Oh, if only brother +were here! But the worry would start him to coughing.”</p> +<p>Again the girl, who scorned tears in others, began +to sob helplessly. How vain and foolish she had +been to want that necklace, hoping that it would +make her appear more beautiful in the eyes of Jean +Sawyer.</p> +<p>Meg stood for one moment deep in thought. Then +she said: “Miss Abbott, find your papers. Have +them ready for me when I return. I’ll try to save +your place.”</p> +<p>With that she turned and ran back to her pony, +leaped upon it and galloped out of sight up around +the bend.</p> +<p>“What does she mean?” Jane sat, almost as one +stunned, for a moment, then as the command of the +mountain girl recalled itself to her, she arose and +went indoors to locate the papers their father had +given Dan.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_173">[173]</div> +<p>These being fastened with a rubber band into a +neat packet, she held closely while she ran out to the +brook calling Dan’s name frantically, but there was +no response. Soon she heard the musical yodeling +which had so filled her heart with wrath a short half +hour before. Now it was to her a sound sweeter +than any she had ever heard. It brought a faint +hope that her father’s cabin might yet be saved. +Down the stone steps she went, holding out the +papers. Then and for the first time she thought of +something: “But the money—I haven’t any to give +you.”</p> +<p>Meg’s answer was: “I am loaning you twenty-five +dollars from my savings, but don’t hope too +much. It will be very hard for me to make Scarsburg +by five o’clock, but for Julie’s sake I’ll do my +best.”</p> +<p>“For Julie’s sake!” The words drifted back to +Jane as she stood watching the pony hurtling itself +down the mountain road until the cloud of dust hid +it from view. She, Jane, had never done anything +for Julie’s sake, and why, pray, should this mountain +girl loan her own money to strangers who +might never repay her, and risk her life and that of +her pony, as it was evident she was doing?</p> +<p>Jane looked out into the heat-shimmering valley. +Many times the mountain road reappeared to her as +it zigzagged down to Redfords. Again and again +a rushing cloud of dust assured her that Meg was +still racing with time.</p> +<p>Returning to the porch, Jane sank down in the +deep chair, keenly conscious of her own uselessness.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_174">[174]</div> +<p>“Oh, what a vain, worthless creature I am! I +don’t see why Dan cares for me so much; why he +risked his health that I might finish my course in +that seminary where everyone, everything, conspired +to make me more proud and helpless.”</p> +<p>Then before her arose a mental picture. Meg, +clear-eyed, eager to be of service in an hour of need, +and more than that, capable of being, and she, Jane, +had snubbed her, but for Julie’s sake the mountain +girl had persevered in her desire to be neighborly.</p> +<p>Unable to sit still, Jane went again to the brook +to call, but the children, with Dan, had climbed +higher than usual and had found so much to interest +them that they had failed to note the passage of +time.</p> +<p>As there was no answer to her calling, Jane went +back to the house, and, because she had to do something +(she had entirely lost interest in her book), +she wandered out into the kitchen. She saw on +the table a pan of potatoes with the paring knife +near.</p> +<p>Hardly knowing what she was about, Jane took +the pan to the porch, and, seating herself on the +step, she began most awkwardly to pare. She had +heard her grandmother say that the peeling should +be as thin as possible as the goodness was next to +the skin. It took a very long time for Jane to pare +the half dozen potatoes and she had almost resolved +not to tell Dan about the taxes until she knew the +worst or the best, when she heard him hallooing +from the brook. Placing the pan on the step, she +ran to meet him. One glance at her white, startled +face assured him more than words could have done +that something of an unusual nature had occurred +during their absence. Catching her in his arms, he +felt her body tremble. He led her back to the porch +before he asked, “Jane, tell me. What has happened? +Has that Slinking Coyote frightened you?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_175">[175]</div> +<p>Julie and Gerald, wide-eyed and wondering, +crowded near. “Dan,” Jane clung to him as she +had not since the long ago childhood, when she had +so often been frightened and had turned to him for +protection, “please send the children away. I want +to tell you alone.”</p> +<p>Gerald needed no second bidding. “Come on, +Julie,” he called. “Let’s go and practice on our pine +tree rifle range.” He was carrying the small gun, +and so away they raced. Although they were almost +overcome with natural curiosity, they neither +of them desired to stay where they were not wanted.</p> +<p>When they were gone, Jane leaned against her +brother and told the story between sobs that were +almost hysterical. “Oh, brother, brother! If only +this cabin is saved for Dad, I will never, never again +be so vain and selfish. Oh, Dan, tell me, say that +you think Meg will reach the county seat before +five.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_176">[176]</div> +<p>The lad found that his heart was filled with conflicting +emotions. The scorn his sister’s pride and +selfishness would have aroused in him at another +time was crowded out by pity for her. She had +suffered enough without his rebuke. Then there +was the dread that the cabin might not be saved, for +well he knew the sorrow its loss would bring to his +father, but, above all, there was something in his +heart he had never felt before, a warm glow of +admiration for a girl who was not his sister. What +he said was, “Jane, dear, quiet yourself. We can +do nothing but wait.”</p> +<p>And a long, long wait they were destined to have. +The hands of the clock moved slowly to four, then +five and then six. Jane’s poor efforts at paring the +potatoes received much comment from the children +alone in the kitchen.</p> +<p>“Gee,” Gerald confided to his small sister, “something +must have happened if it upset Jane so she +didn’t know what she was doing. She surely didn’t, +or she wouldn’t have tried to pare potatoes and +stain those lily hands of hers.”</p> +<p>Try as the small boy might, he could not keep the +scorn out of his voice. But Julie was more forgiving. +“Gerry, don’t be too hard on Jane. She acts +awfully worried about something. I don’t believe +she saw a bear or anything that scared her. I think +it’s something in her heart that’s troubling her. I +think she’s sorry about something she’s done.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_177">[177]</div> +<p>“Well, she sure ought to be.” The boy was less +sympathetic. “She’s been dirt mean to us ever since +she’s been home from that hifalutin’ seminary, and +what’s more, she’s none too good to Dan. I’d hate +her, that’s what, if she wasn’t my sister, and if she +didn’t look just like our mother. But even for all +of that, I’m going to let myself hate her hard if she +isn’t better to you, Jule. The way she lets you do +the work, and she setting around reading novels to +keep her hands white so’s folks will admire them! +Aren’t you the same family as she is, and shouldn’t +your hands be kept just as white? Tell me that +now!”</p> +<p>The boy, who was holding the bread knife, +whirled with such an indignant expression on his +freckled face that Julie laughed merrily, which broke +the spell.</p> +<p>“Oh, Gerry, you do look so funny! If I had +time, I’d find some riggins to make you into a pirate. +It could be done easy, ’cause your face looks just +like their pictures and that knife would do for a +dagger.”</p> +<p>Meanwhile, on the front porch, the two who had +long watched and waited, were getting momentarily +more anxious, and often Dan walked to the top of +the steep stairway, down which he gazed at the zig-zagging +mountain road. At last he saw a pony +climbing, oh, so slowly, as though it could hardly +take another step; and at its side there walked a +girl. Dan leaped back to the porch and snatched +up his hat. “Jane,” he said, “you and the children +have your supper. I’m going up to the Heger cabin +and get one of their horses. Meg’s pony is worn +out, and I’m not going to have that brave girl walk +all the way up the mountain, just to serve us.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_178">[178]</div> +<p>Jane did not try to detain him, and the lad fairly +leaped up the road to the Heger cabin. He found +the trapper, who had just returned from a ride over +the other side of the mountain. “Take this hoss,” +he said, when he had heard the story which fairly +tumbled from Dan’s mouth. “Ol’ Bag-o’-Bones +ain’t a bit tired, and he’s the best hoss I have on the +place.”</p> +<p>Then the man held out a strong hand as he said: +“Dan, boy, I hope my gal made it! She would if +anyone could.”</p> +<p>Dan silently returned the clasp, then he mounted +the horse, that was not at all what its name might +suggest, but lean and wiry, as were all of the mustangs +of the West, with hard muscles and a loping +step that carried it down the road, sure-footed and +with great rapidity. Jane heard the halloo when he +passed, but she did not stir. She felt that she never +could move again until she had learned the news +that Meg would have for them.</p> +<p>And Meg, far down the mountain, looked up and +saw Bag-o’-Bones, her foster-father’s favorite horse, +descending with speed, and, believing it to be ridden +by Mr. Heger, she wondered why, at that hour, he +was in such haste. But at a lower turn of the road, +she saw that the figure on the horse was that of the +lad from the East, who as yet did not know how to +ride as they did in the West.</p> +<p>Then she knew why he was coming, and for the +first time in her lonely, isolated life, there was a +sudden warmth in her heart. She had a real friend, +she knew that instinctively, and his name was Dan +Abbott.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_179">[179]</div> +<h2 id="c22"><br />CHAPTER XXII. +<br />MEG’S CONFIDENCE</h2> +<p>As soon as Dan was near enough to see Meg’s +face, he knew that all was well. Leaping from the +back of the dusty gray horse, he went forward with +both hands outheld. “Miss Heger,” he cried, and +his voice was tense with emotion, “how can I, how +are we ever going to thank you for what you have +done for us today?”</p> +<p>The girl’s radiant smile flashed up at him. “Be +my friend,” she said simply, and, as the lad stood +there looking deep into those wonderful dark eyes, +he seemed to feel that no greater privilege could be +accorded him than to be permitted to be the friend +of this courageous, rarely beautiful mountain girl.</p> +<p>But she did not give him the opportunity to voice +his feeling, for at once she said in a matter-of-fact +tone: “Wasn’t I lucky to reach the county court-house +at five minutes to five? Pal and I have been +congratulating each other all the way home.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_180">[180]</div> +<p>“Poor Pal!” Dan stroked the drooping head of +the faithful little animal which had raced down the +rough mountain road as he had never raced before. +Then, quite irrelevantly, the youth asked: “Would +you mind if I call you Margaret? It fits you better +than Meg.” Instantly Dan was sorry he had made +the request, for he saw the sudden clouding of the +girl’s brow. The joyousness of the moment before +was gone and when she spoke there was a note of +sorrow in her voice. “Mr. Abbott,” she began with +sweet seriousness, “I forgot when I said that your +friendship would be the reward I would ask, yours +and Julie’s and Gerald’s—I forgot who I am, or +rather that I do not know who my parents were. +My real name is not Meg. Mammy Heger called +me that after a little sister of hers who had died +when a baby. Mammy loved that other Meg and so +it meant a great deal to her to call me by that name.” +Then, sighing wistfully: “I wish I knew my real +name,” she concluded.</p> +<p>Dan took her hand in a firm, friendly clasp as he +said earnestly: “Meg Heger, I don’t care what +your name is, I don’t care who your parents were. +I care only to be your friend, your very best. Of +course I would not wish to call you Margaret since +it would be displeasing to you.”</p> +<p>The girl withdrew her hand, replying: “Call me +Meg. I’m used to that and hearing it won’t make +me think. Oh, I’ve thought about it all so long and +so much!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_181">[181]</div> +<p>Then as they started walking side by side, leading +their horses, the girl confided: “Next month, +when I am eighteen, Teacher Bellows, Pa Heger and +I are going to start on a long, hard trip. We’re going +to find, if we can, the tribe that was living in the +deserted mining town on Crazy Creek the year that +I was brought to the Heger cabin.” How her dark +face brightened, and Dan realized that he had never +dreamed that anyone could be so beautiful. “If we +find them, then I shall know,” she concluded. For +a few moments they walked on in silence. “If they +tell me I am the daughter of——” The girl hesitated +as though dreading to utter the name of Slinking +Coyote, then began again, “If I am a member +of their tribe, I shall live near them and help them. +I shall be a teacher to their children. It will be my +duty. But if, as Pa Heger and Teacher Bellows +think, my parents were of a foreign race, my future +will be different.”</p> +<p>Dan, knowing how deeply humiliating the conversation +must be for the girl and wishing to change +the subject, exclaimed: “How stupid of me! I +brought Bag-o’-Bones down for you to ride. You +must be very tired after your wild race to Scarsburg.”</p> +<p>The girl smiled gratefully. “I believe I am very, +very tired,” she confessed, “which happens but seldom. +I had thought that I was tireless.”</p> +<p>They soon reached the road in front of the Abbotts’ +cabin and Meg bade Dan take from the pony’s +saddle bags the papers and receipts. Although he +pleaded to be permitted to accompany her to her +home, she shook her head. “You haven’t had your +supper and it is very late.” Then impulsively she +reached down her brown hand as she said with an +almost tremulous smile: “Good-night, my friend.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_182">[182]</div> +<p>It was early dusk when Jane, still sitting on the +porch of their cabin intently listening, heard voices +and the clattering of slow-moving horses along the +mountain road below the bend. She leaped to her +feet, her breath came with nervous quickness, she +pressed her hand to her heart. Oh, what if Meg +had been too late. Before she could decide what she +ought to do, she heard Dan’s voice calling to the +mountain girl, who was evidently not stopping. +Jane ran to the top of the stone stairway. How ungrateful +it must have seemed for her not to have +been there to thank Meg for the effort she had made, +whether or not it was successful. But Dan was +leaping up the steps, two at a time, his face radiant.</p> +<p>Jane thought that all of his joyousness was +caused by the message he was shouting to her: +“Sister, that wonderful girl reached there on time! +Our cabin is saved for us! How can we ever thank +her?”</p> +<p>Jane, who had never been so upset by anything +before in her protected life, clung to her brother +almost hysterically. “Oh, Dan, Dan, I am so thankful! +Do you think Meg Heger will ever forgive +me? I was so rude to her when she first came.”</p> +<p>The lad was serious at once. “I do not know that +she will,” he replied as he recalled that the mountain +girl had said the reward she requested was the +friendship of all the Abbotts except Jane.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_183">[183]</div> +<p>It was hard not to rebuke his sister for her foolish +pride, but she was trembling as she clung to him, +and so he encircled her with his arm as he said +hopefully: “Meg is too fine a girl to hold a grudge +when she finds out that your heart has changed.”</p> +<p>Jane said nothing, but she suddenly wondered if, +in reality, her heart had changed. Now that the +taxes were paid and the hours of anxiety were over, +she was not sure that she cared to begin an intimate +friendship with a “halfbreed,” merely to show her +gratitude, but even as she was conscious of this +shrinking, the voice of her soul told her that she was +despicable.</p> +<p>The children, who had been on the kitchen porch, +hearing Dan’s voice, rushed out, but Jane delayed +him long enough to whisper: “They know nothing +of what has happened. Please do not tell them.”</p> +<p>Gerald was the first to reach them, and he cried, +rebukingly: “Dan, why did you go horseback riding +without taking me. I saw you go by an hour +ago. I’m just wild to learn to ride that Bag-o’-Bones. +Do you think Mr. Heger will let me?”</p> +<p>Dan realized that the younger members of their +family thought he had merely been for a horseback +ride, and so he made no further explanation, replying +gayly: “Indeed I do! But I think you would +better take your first lesson on the level. Wait until +we go down to the Packard ranch. You remember +that good friend of ours told us that he had forty +horses and many of them were broken to the +saddle.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_184">[184]</div> +<p>Julie clapped her hands as she hopped up and down +gleefully. “Me, too!” she cried ungrammatically. +“Mr. Packard said he had a little spotted horse, just +the right size for me. When are we going down +there, Dan?”</p> +<p>The older lad glanced at his sister. “Did you say +that we are to go next Sunday?” The girl nodded, +but the boy looked perplexed. “But how?” he +queried. “If we went to Redfords by the stage, +how are we to get to the Packard ranch? And we +couldn’t possibly return on the same day.”</p> +<p>Jane thought for a moment, then she looked up +brightly. “I recall now. Jean Sawyer said that we +would hear from Mr. Packard during the week.” +Then she smilingly confessed: “I was so pleased +to find the foreman different—I mean—one of our +own class—that——”</p> +<p>Gerald, noting the blushes, pointed a chubby +finger at his sister as he sing-songed: “Jane likes +Jean Sawyer extra-special.”</p> +<p>It was Julie, knowing that her sister did not like +to be teased, who came to the rescue by saying emphatically: +“So do I like Jean Sawyer extra-special; +and I know what girl you like best, Gerald Abbott. +It’s Meg Heger; so now.”</p> +<p>The small boy grinned his agreement. “Bet you +I do,” he confessed.</p> +<p>Dan said nothing, but by the warm glow in his +heart at the mention of the mountain girl’s name, +he knew that he also liked Meg Heger extra-special.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_185">[185]</div> +<h2 id="c23"><br />CHAPTER XXIII. +<br />JANE HUMILIATED</h2> +<p>The next morning Jane arose early with the determination +to walk up the mountain road and meet +Meg Heger on her way to the Redfords school. +And so, directly after breakfast, she started away +alone. She asked Dan to detain the children in the +kitchen that they might not see her go and perhaps +wish to accompany her.</p> +<p>The older lad, recalling the incident of the mountain +lion, wondered if he ought to permit her to go +alone, but the trapper had assured him that the occurrence +had been a most unusual one, that the lions, +and other wild creatures usually remained far from +the haunts of man, and that in the ten years that +Meg had ridden up and down that mountain road to +the Redfords school, she had never encountered a +dangerous animal of any kind.</p> +<p>The sun, even at that early hour, was so warm +Jane was glad that most of the mile she was to climb +was in the shadow. She found herself scanning the +roadside with great interest, stopping to watch a +scaly lizard that was lying on a rock gazing at her +intently with small back eyes, believing himself to +be unseen because his coat was the color of his surroundings. +He had not stirred, even when she +started away.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_186">[186]</div> +<p>It was a still morning and out of many a cool +green covert a bird-song pealed. Again and again +Jane paused to listen to some clear rising cadence. +She wondered why she had never before heard the +singing of birds. Of course, she must have heard +them many, many times. They had often awakened +her in her home, and at Highacres, but she had felt +disturbed rather than pleased. She never before had +listened to a single song, like the one which some +hidden bird was singing. It would be interesting to +know what kind of a bird it was. She would ask +Meg Heger. Surely the mountain girl would know. +Jane Abbott had not been in so susceptible a mood, +at least not since her long ago childhood, and it was +with a sense of eager anticipation that she at last +drew to one side of the road to await the coming of +the small horse and rider that she could hear approaching.</p> +<p>Meg Heger was indeed surprised to see the sister +of Dan Abbott in the road so evidently awaiting her, +but she experienced no pleasure from the meeting. +She well knew that the city girl, who had snubbed +her on the day before, would again do so, if it were +not that she considered it her duty to express gratitude +for what Meg had done.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_187">[187]</div> +<p>She drew rein, merely because Jane Abbott had +stepped forward and had held up her hand. The +expression in the dusky eyes of the mountain girl +was at that moment as proud and cold as had been +the expression in the eyes of Jane on the day previous. +Before the girl in the road could speak, Meg +said: “Miss Abbott, I know that you have come to +thank me for having ridden to Scarsburg, but let +me assure you at once that I did not do it for your +sake. I did it for Julie and Gerald, chiefly, because +they are my friends. You owe me nothing. Good +morning!”</p> +<p>The pony, feeling the urging of his mistress’ heel, +started away so suddenly that Jane found herself +standing in a whirl of dust. Her face grew crimson +as her anger rose. She, Jane Abbott, had actually +been snubbed by a halfbreed. It had been only +natural that she, a city girl of family and culture, +should have snubbed Meg Heger. But she had supposed +that the mountain girl would be pleased, indeed, +when she condescended to be friendly. As she +walked slowly back toward their cabin, she did not +hear the song of the birds, nor see the beauty that +lay all about her. She was wrathfully deciding that +she would pack at once and leave a place where it +was possible for her to be snubbed by a halfbreed +Indian.</p> +<p>Then that persistent voice, deep within her, asked: +“Didn’t you deserve it, Jane? Would you admire +a girl who would fall upon your neck after you had +been rude to her?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_188">[188]</div> +<p>And Jane had to acknowledge that the soul-voice +was right.</p> +<p>But, though Jane had seemed to have a change of +heart toward Meg Heger, she still felt most irritable +toward Julie. Nothing that small girl could do +pleased her. She had at once retired to her room, +wishing to be alone. True, she had decided to try +to win the friendship of the mountain girl, but after +the first few hours she found herself questioning if +she really wanted it. Of course she did not. She +wanted only friends of her own kind. She flung +herself down on her bed and in her heart was a +growing anger at herself and at everyone. Dan had +gone for the daily climb which he believed would aid +the recovery of his strength, as indeed everything +seemed to be doing in a most miraculous manner. +Julie and Gerald were cleaning house and were dragging +the heavy pieces of furniture about in the living-room +with shouts and laughter. Jane sprang +up and threw open her door.</p> +<p>“I do wish you children would try to keep quiet,” +she blazed at them. Gerald faced her defiantly. +“Come and do the cleaning yourself if you want it +done different. There’s no reason why we should do +it at all, only Julie said, being as it hadn’t been done +right since we came, we’d ought to get at it.”</p> +<p>“You’re just hateful, both of you! I wish you +would clear out of my sight and never come back!” +With this angry remark, Jane closed her door with +a bang.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_189">[189]</div> +<p>With a dark glance in that direction, Gerald +caught Julie by the hand. “Come on, sis,” he said. +“You’n I’ll clear out and we’ll stay away till that +Jane Abbott goes back East, that’s what we’ll do.” +The boy snatched up his small gun and put the +cartridges in his pocket. He took his cap and handed +Julie her hat and then led her out of the door.</p> +<p>“Why, Gerald Abbott, where are we going?” the +small girl held back, feeling sure that they ought +not to leave their cabin home in this manner.</p> +<p>“First off we’re going to find Dan and tell him +just what happened. Then, second off, I don’t +’zactly know what we will do, but I just won’t stay +here and have that horrid old Jane saying mean +things to you all the time and us waiting on her and +doing the work she ought to be doing. That’s +what.”</p> +<p>The boy led his small sister along so rapidly that +she tripped and would have fallen had he not turned +and caught her. “Gee, I guess we’ll have to go +slower,” he confessed as they started to climb the +steep rocks that formed the outer edge of the mountain +brook which tumbled in a series of little waterfalls, +now and then tossing a mist of spray over +them.</p> +<p>Julie began to glow with the pleasurable sense of +adventure, supposing, of course, that Gerald knew +where Dan had gone. At last she inquired.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_190">[190]</div> +<p>“I sort o’ think we’ll find him up at the rim-rock,” +Gerald said stoutly. “I’m pretty sure we will. He +told me that’s where he goes for his constitootional. +That means a hike to make him get strong, constitootional +does.”</p> +<p>The girl’s freckled face was aglow. “Oh, goodie!” +she cried. “I’d love to climb ’way up there.” Then +she asked, a little anxiously: “Aren’t you skeered +we might meet a wildcat or a lion or a bear?”</p> +<p>Her small brother’s courage was reassuring. “I +hope we will. That’s what! I’m a sharpshooter, I +am, and the wildcat that meets us will wish he +hadn’t.” Julie clung to his hand with a secure feeling +that she was well protected. “Oh, look-it, will +you?”</p> +<p>Gerry pointed ahead and above. “There’s a tree +that has fallen right across our brook. That’s a +nice bridge and if we can get up there we can go +across on it.”</p> +<p>“Is the rim-rock on the other side of our brook?” +Julie inquired. Now Gerald had never climbed that +high on their mountain before, and so he had no +real knowledge of the exact location of the rock +about which Dan had told them, but since it was on +the very top, the small boy knew that if they kept on +climbing, in time they would surely reach it.</p> +<p>The fallen tree was lying across the brook at a +very steep ascent and it was with great difficulty +that Gerald boosted his sister to the narrow ledge +on which it rested. “Don’t be scared,” he said. +“I’ll get you across all right and then we’ll begin +calling for Dan.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_191">[191]</div> +<h2 id="c24"><br />CHAPTER XXIV. +<br />JULIE AND GERALD LOST</h2> +<p>It was nearly noon when Dan returned to the +cabin. He gave a long whistle of astonishment +when he saw the disordered living-room and heard +no one about. Jane at once appeared in her doorway. +Her face still showed evidence of her anger. +“Dan,” she said coldly, “my trunks are all packed. +Please put out a flag or whatever you should do +to stop the stage. It passes about one, does it not, +on the way to Redfords?”</p> +<p>The lad went to the girl with outstretched hands. +“Jane, dear, what has happened? Have you and +the children had more trouble? Is it so hard for +you to love them and be patient with their playfulness? +You know it is nothing more.” The girl’s +lips curled scornfully. “Love them?” she repeated +coldly. “I feel far more as if I hated them. I don’t +believe love is possible to me. I even hate myself! +Dan, there’s something all wrong with me, and I’m +going back East to Merry, who is about the only +person living who can understand me.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_192">[192]</div> +<p>There was an expression of tender rebuke in the +gray eyes that were gazing at her. “You are +wrong,” the lad said seriously. “Father and I love +you dearly, not only because we know that you are +different from what you seem to be, but for +Mother’s sake.” Then, turning and glancing again +at the confusion, the lad said, “Tell me just what +happened.”</p> +<p>Jane did so, adding petulantly: “My head was +beginning to ache. I had had an unpleasant encounter +with your Meg Heger.” Dan felt a sudden +leaping of his heart. How strange, he thought, that +for the first time in his life the name of a girl should +so affect him. He had heard of love at first sight, +but he had never believed in it. With an effort he +again listened to Jane’s indignant outpouring of +words. “Don’t say I deserved just such treatment,” +she protested. “No one knows it better than I do. +I acknowledge that I am despicable and I hate myself. +Honestly, Dan, I do, but I don’t know how +to change. I don’t seem to really want to be different.”</p> +<p>“That’s just it, Jane.” The boy had grown very +serious. “Just as soon as you desire to be different +you will at once begin to change. We are the +sculptors of our own characters. We can set before +ourselves a model of what we would like to be and +carve accordingly.” Then, as the clock was striking +twelve, the lad suddenly inquired, “Jane, when +did all this trouble with the children occur? I left +at nine. You think it was about an hour after that?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_193">[193]</div> +<p>The girl nodded, then, glancing out of the wide +front door, she exclaimed: “I wonder why they +don’t come back. I supposed, of course, that they +had gone to find you. Gerald knew where you were +going, didn’t he?”</p> +<p>Dan shook his head. “He could not have known, +for I did not myself. Yesterday and the day before +I climbed up to the rim-rock and planned doing +it every morning as a strength restorative measure, +but today, after we had been wondering how we +were to get to the Packard ranch, I thought I would +cross the mountain to the other side and look down +into the valley, and see if I could, how much nearer +was the trail which Jean Sawyer took on Sunday. +But I found that it would be much too rough and +hard for you, and so we will wait until we receive +directions from Mr. Packard. If you will prepare +the lunch, I will go out and put up a white flag. +Surely Mr. Wallace will know that I wish to speak +to him. Then I will call the children to come home. +They may be close, but since you told them that you +wished you would never see them again, they are +probably hiding, hoping that you are to go on the +afternoon stage.”</p> +<p>Jane was indeed miserable. Her flaring anger +had often caused her to say things that afterwards +she deeply repented. “Perhaps if I would go with +you and call they would know that I did not mean +all that I said,” she ventured. But Dan was insistent +that she, at least, prepare a lunch for herself.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_194">[194]</div> +<p>“You must not start for the East without having +a good hearty noon meal,” he told her. As he +spoke he was fastening an old pillow case to a pole. +Leaving the house, he placed it at the top of the +stairway.</p> +<p>Then going to the brook, he began a series of +halloos, but a hollow, distant echo was all that +responded.</p> +<p>Dan, after a fruitless effort to call to the children, +returned to the cabin, his face an ashen white. +“Jane,” he said, and his voice was almost harsh, +“you will have to attend to stopping the stage if it +comes soon. Mr. Wallace can carry your baggage +down without my assistance. I am going to hunt +for those poor little youngsters who felt that they +were turned out of their home. Goodbye.”</p> +<p>Jane, with a low cry of agony, leaped forward +with arms outstretched, but Dan had not given her +another look, and by the time she reached the brook +he was out of sight. The girl sank down on a +boulder and sobbed bitterly.</p> +<p>“If they’re lost I shall never forgive myself. Oh, +how selfish, how unkind I have been, thinking only +of Jane Abbott and her comfort. I can’t go away +now, and not know what has become of Julie and +Gerald.”</p> +<p>Then another thought caused her to rise and go +slowly to the cabin. “They want me to go, all of +them, even Dan. Perhaps it would be the best thing +for me to do, and when they come back they will be +glad to find that I have gone.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_195">[195]</div> +<p>Almost unconsciously Jane began to put the living-room +in order. She smoothed rugs and dragged +the heavy furniture into the places it had formerly +occupied. Then she went to the kitchen to prepare +lunch. If Julie and Gerald had been climbing the +mountains all the morning they would be starved, +as she well knew. Again Jane Abbott pared potatoes +and after studying upon the subject for some +moments she made a fire in the stove and put on a +kettle of water. In the midst of these preparations +she was startled by the shrill blast of the horn carried +by the stage driver. Oh, she could not go just +then. She was nowhere near ready. Jane snatched +up a letter that she had that morning written to +Merry and hurried down the stone steps. The surly +driver took it with a grunt which seemed to express +displeasure, although, as Jane knew, taking the mail +to town was one of his duties.</p> +<p>When the big creaking stage had rocked around +the corner, Jane suddenly felt as though a great load +had been lifted from her heart. She had not really +wanted to go at all. She wanted to be sure that all +was well with the children, and more than that, she +did so want to see Jean Sawyer again. But her +pleasure was short lived, for, with a sense of oppression, +she again recalled that they would all be disappointed +to find her there, even Dan.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_196">[196]</div> +<p>As the water in the tea kettle had not yet started +to boil, Jane went to her room to change her dress +to one more suitable for the work she had undertaken. +Upon opening her trunk she saw, lying on +top, a miniature picture delicately colored in a +dainty frame of silver filigree. The girl lifted it +and looked long into the truly beautiful face. Then +with a half-sob she said aloud, “My mother!”</p> +<p>Instantly she recalled what Dan had said: “We +are each of us sculptors of our own characters. We +can choose a model and carve ourselves like it.” +The girl sank on her knees, the picture held close to +her cheek.</p> +<p>“Oh, mother, mother!” she sobbed, “I choose you +for my model. Help me; I am sure you can help +me to be more like you.”</p> +<p>A strange sense of strength came to her as she +arose. She had been struggling without a definite +goal. She had known, the small voice within had +often told her, that she was despicable, but she had +not found a way to change, but surely Dan’s suggestion +would help her. She clearly remembered her +mother, gentle, courageous and always loving.</p> +<p>With infinite tenderness Jane again addressed the +miniature:</p> +<p>“Oh, mother, if you had only lived, you would +have helped me carve a character more lovely, but +alone I have made of it an ugly thing, but now, +dearest one, I’ll begin all over.”</p> +<p>But even as the girl spoke she feared that it might +be too late to ask Julie and Gerald to forgive her and +try to love her.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_197">[197]</div> +<h2 id="c25"><br />CHAPTER XXV. +<br />JANE’S RESOLVE</h2> +<p>The lunch was prepared, the potatoes had cooked +quite to pieces, but still the children did not return. +Jane was becoming terrorized. She was startled +when there came a sharp rapping at the front door. +Running into the living-room, her hand pressed to +her heart, she saw standing there a tall, uncouth-looking +mountaineer. She believed, and rightly, +that it was the trapper who lived near them.</p> +<p>He began at once: “Dan Abbott came to our +place nigh an hour ago sayin’ the young ’uns was +lost. Meg and me wasn’t to home, but my woman +said she’d tell whichever of us come fust and we’d +help hunt. Ben’t they back yet?”</p> +<p>Jane shook her head. “Oh, Mr. Heger,” she +cried, “what do you suppose has happened to them? +Do you suppose they have been harmed?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_198">[198]</div> +<p>It was unusual for the kind face of the man to +look hard, but at that moment it did so. His voice +was stern. “Dan Abbott said ’twas you as let them +young ’uns go to hunt for him, not knowin’ whar +he was. Wall, Miss, I’ll tell ye this: If ’tis they +ever come back alive, yo’d better keep them young +’uns a little closer to home. Thar’s no harm if +they stay on the road. Nothin’s likely to happen +thar, but ’way off in the wilderness places, wall, +thar’s no tellin’ what may have happened. I’ll bid +you good day.”</p> +<p>Here was still another of her fellow men who +scorned her. Of course, Dan had not told him the +whole truth, that she had said she hoped she never +again would see the children. Oh, why had she said +it? She knew, even in her anger, that she had not +meant it.</p> +<p>She sank down on the porch and buried her face +in her hands. Would this torture never end? The +odor of something burning reached her and, leaping +to her feet, she ran to the kitchen and pushed +back the kettle of potatoes that had started to +scorch. There was no one to eat the lunch she had +spread on the table and at two o’clock she began to +mechanically put things back in their places, when +she heard a step on the porch. Running into the +living-room, hardly able to breath in her great anxiety, +she saw her brother stagger in and fall as one +spent from a long race on the cot-bed they were +using as a day lounge. For a moment he lay white +and still, his eyes closed. Jane knelt at his side and +held his limp hand. “Brother. Brother Dan,” she +sobbed, “you are worn out. Oh, won’t you stay +here and let me be the one to hunt? I would give +my life to save the children. Dan, brother, open +your eyes and tell me that you forgive me and believe +me.” A tightening of the clasp of the limp +hand was the only answer she received. Jane, rising, +brought water, cold from the brook, and when +she returned the lad was sitting up, his elbows on +his knees, his face bent on the palms of his hands.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_199">[199]</div> +<p>He looked at her as she handed him the goblet of +water and when he saw the lines of suffering in her +face, his heart, that had been like adamant, softened.</p> +<p>“Sister,” he took her hand as he spoke, “I well +know we none of us mean what we say in anger, +and yet the results are often just as disastrous. I +have sent word to the Packard ranch for them to be +on the lookout for our little ones. Luckily, high on +the mountain, I came upon the cabin of a forest +ranger where there was a telephone to Redfords +and Mrs. Bently said she would relay the message +to Mr. Packard.” Then he rose, coughing in the +same racking way that he had on the train. “Now +I am rested, I must start out again.”</p> +<p>Jane clung to him, trying to detain him. “Oh, +brother, please eat something. I had lunch all +ready. Even yet it is warm.” The lad smiled at +her wanly, but shook his head. “I couldn’t swallow +food, and there are springs wherever I go.”</p> +<p>Then turning back in the doorway and noting +that Jane had flung herself despairingly on the +lounge, he said kindly: “Jane, dear, we often are +taught much-needed lessons through great suffering. +You and I will each have learned one of these if our +little ones are found.” Then, holding to a staff for +support, he again started away.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_200">[200]</div> +<p>For another two long hours Jane sat in the porch +chair as one stunned. She had lost hope. She was +sure Julie and Gerald, of their own free will, would +not stay away so long. They must have been attacked +by wild animals or kidnapped by that Ute +Indian.</p> +<p>When the clock struck four, Jane leaped to her +feet. She could no longer stand the inactivity. She +simply must do something. Going to her room, she +again unpacked her trunk and took from it a riding +habit of dark blue tweed. She donned the neat fitting +trousers that laced to the ankles, her high riding +boots, the long skirted coat and a small visored cap. +None of her costumes was more becoming, but not +once did Jane glance in the mirror. She had but +one desire and that was to help find the children. +She was about to write a note to tell Dan that she +also had gone in search of Julie and Gerald when +she again heard a step on the porch, a light, quick +footfall which she had not heard before. In the +open doorway stood Meg Heger. Without a word +of greeting she said: “The children, have they been +found?”</p> +<p>“No, no!” Jane cried. “Dan was here two hours +ago, and, oh, Miss Heger, he is all worn out. I am +as troubled about him, or nearly, as I am about +Julie and Gerald. He told me to stay here for the +children might return, but it is so long now. They +left at nine this morning. I am sure they will not +come back alone and I, also, must go in search of +them.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_201">[201]</div> +<p>The mountain girl’s dusky eyes had been closely +watching the speaker and she seemed to sense that +the proud girl was in no way considering herself. +“Jane Abbott,” she said seriously, “it would be foolhardy +for you, an Easterner, unused to our wilderness +ways, to start out alone. You would better +heed your brother’s wishes and remain here.”</p> +<p>But the girl to whom she spoke was beyond the +power to reason. “No! No!” she cried. “Oh, +Meg Heger, if you are going, I beg of you let me +go with you.”</p> +<p>The mountain girl thought for a moment, then +she said: “I will leave word for whoever may return.” +Taking from her pocket the notebook and +pencil she always carried, she tore out a page and +wrote upon it:</p> +<p>“Jane Abbott and Meg Heger are going to the +Crazy Creek Camp in search of the children. The +hour is now 4:30. If we think best, we will remain +there all night.”</p> +<p>The Eastern girl shuddered when she read the +note, but made no comment. “Let us tack it on the +door after we have closed it,” she suggested.</p> +<p>This was done, and taking the stout staff Dan +had cut for her, Jane followed her companion, whom +she was glad to see carried a gun.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_202">[202]</div> +<p>Silently they climbed the natural stairway of +rocks that ascended by the brook until they reached +the pine which, having fallen across the stream, +formed a bridge. Meg uttered an exclamation and +turning back she said: “We are on the right trail, +Jane Abbott. There is a torn bit of your sister’s +red gingham dress on the tree. She evidently +feared to walk across and so she jumped over.”</p> +<p>Jane’s eyes glowed with hope. “How happy I +would be if we were the ones to find them, although, +of course, the important thing is that they shall be +found.”</p> +<p>Meg often broke through dense undergrowth, +holding open a place for Jane to pass, then again +she took the lead, beating ahead with her staff to +startle serpent or wild creature that might be in +hiding.</p> +<p>Jane, though greatly frightened, followed quietly, +but now and then, when back of Meg, she pressed +her hand to her heart to still its too rapid beating. +They came to a wall of almost perpendicular rocks +which the mountain girl said would save them many +minutes if they could scale. How Meg climbed them +alone and unaided was indeed a mystery to the +watcher below. The toe of her boot fitted into a +crevice so small that it did not seem possible that it +could be used as a stair, but with little apparent +effort the ascent was made, and then, kneeling on +the top, Meg leaned far down and pulled Jane to a +place at her side.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_203">[203]</div> +<p>At last they came to what appeared to be a grove +of poles so straight and tall were the pines. They +were on a wide, slowly ascending mountainside. The +ground was soft with the drying needles and it was +easier to walk. Jane commented on the grove-like +aspect of the place, and Meg at once told her that +they were called lodge-pole trees because Indians +had used them as the main poles in their wigwams. +“It is the Tamarack Pine,” the mountain girl said, +and then, as the ground was level for a considerable +distance, she walked more rapidly, and neither spoke +for some time. Jane was wretchedly unhappy and +she well knew that she never again would be happy +unless the children were found.</p> +<p>“Redfords Peak is one of the lowest in the range,” +Meg turned to say when they had left the pole-pine +grove and were climbing over rugged bare rocks +which in the distance had looked to Jane unscaleable, +but Meg, in each instance, found a way. At +last they stood on a large flat rock which formed a +small plateau. “This is the left shoulder of the +peak,” Meg paused to say, “and it is here that we +begin the descent to Crazy Creek mine. See, far +down there beyond the foothills is the Packard +ranch. The buildings are large, but they do not +appear so from here.” Jane, sitting on a rock to +rest, at Meg’s suggestion, looked about her, eager +to find some trace of the lost children. From time +to time they had both shouted, but there had been no +answer save the startled cry of birds, or the scolding +of squirrels, who greatly objected to intruders.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_204">[204]</div> +<p>Suddenly the Eastern girl uttered an exclamation +of surprise. “Why, there is the stage road not very +far below us. Wouldn’t it have been easier for us +to follow that?”</p> +<p>Meg nodded. “Much easier, but I had been told +that the children started away along the brook, so +if they were to be found we would have to hunt in +the way they had gone.”</p> +<p>“Of course, and we did find that torn bit of +Julie’s dress.”</p> +<p>Meg looked at her companion eagerly. “Are you +rested enough now to start down? It is an easy +descent to the road and we will follow it directly +into the camp.” As she spoke she glanced anxiously +at the sun. “It is dropping rapidly to the +horizon,” Jane, having followed the glance of the +other, commented.</p> +<p>Silently they began the descent. Jane found it +much easier than she had supposed and before long +they were on the stage road which zigzagged downward. +They had not gone far when Jane said: +“What a queer color the sunlight is becoming.” She +turned to look toward the west and uttered an exclamation. +“Meg!” she cried, unconsciously using +the mountain girl’s Christian name, “the sun +looks like a ball of orange fire and the mountain +range is being hidden by a yellow haze. What can +it mean?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_205">[205]</div> +<p>“It means that a summer storm is brewing. Let +us make haste. We will soon be under the shelter +of the pines and just below them is the Crazy Creek +camp. We will keep dry in one of the old cabins. +These sudden storms, though often cloudbursts, are +of short duration.”</p> +<p>There was a weird light under the great old pines, +but in the spaces between they saw that clouds were +rapidly gathering close above them. Then a vivid +flash of lightning almost blinded them. Instantly it +was followed by a crash of thunder which seemed to +make the very mountain rock. Big drops of rain +could be heard pelting among the trees, though few +of them could be felt because of the densely interwoven +branches. Meg drew her companion close to +one of the great old trunks.</p> +<p>“It isn’t safe under trees, is it?” Jane’s face was +white with fear. Her companion’s matter-of-fact +voice calmed her. “As safe as it is anywhere,” she +commented. “It won’t last five minutes and we +won’t be much wet.”</p> +<p>The flashes of lightning and crashes of thunder +were incessant and the road out of which they had +scrambled became for a moment a raging torrent. +“I’ve been struck,” Jane cried out. “I know I have! +I feel the electricity pulling at my hair.”</p> +<p>Again the calm voice: “You are all right. That +is because we are so near the cloud. The air is +charged with electricity.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_206">[206]</div> +<p>The storm was gone as quickly as it had come, +but there was a roaring, rushing noise near. “That’s +the Crazy Creek. It floods for a few moments after +every cloudburst. Quick now, let’s make for the +shelter of a cabin. The camp is just below here.” +Meg fairly dragged Jane out from under the pines. +The light was brighter and the Eastern girl saw beneath +her a scene of desolation, but before she could +clearly define it, Meg had dragged her into an old +log cabin. There was a joyous cry from within. +It was Gerald shouting, “Meg, you’ve come. I knew +you would.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_207">[207]</div> +<h2 id="c26"><br />CHAPTER XXVI. +<br />A RECONCILIATION</h2> +<p>The small boy, ignoring Jane, sprang toward the +mountain girl and dragged her into the cabin. On +the floor lay Julie, her cheeks wet with tears, her +eyes dulled with suffering.</p> +<p>With a glad cry Jane leaped into the darkened +room and was about to take the small girl in her +arms, but Julie turned away and held her hands out +toward Meg, when to their surprise Jane sank down +in a worn-out heap on the floor and began to sob +bitterly.</p> +<p>“Oh, mother, mother!” she cried, as though addressing +someone she knew must be present, “help +me to take your place with Julie and Gerald. Tell +them to forgive me.”</p> +<p>Meg feared that Jane’s long day of anguish had +temporarily unbalanced her mind, but Julie, hearing +that cry, reached out a comforting hand.</p> +<p>“Jane,” she said weakly, “don’t feel so badly. I +guess we were awfully trying, me and Gerald.”</p> +<p>Passionately Jane caught the child in her arms +and held her close. She kissed her forehead and her +tumbled hair. Then she reached out a hand to the +boy, who had drawn near amazed to see his usually +cold, hard sister so affected.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_208">[208]</div> +<p>“Give me another chance, Gerald!” she cried, +tears streaming unheeded down her cheeks. “Don’t +hate me yet. I’m going to begin all over. I’m going +to try to be like mother.”</p> +<p>A cry of pain from the small girl then caught her +attention.</p> +<p>“Julie, what is it, dear? Are you hurt? What +has happened?”</p> +<p>Gerald spoke up: “That’s why we came in here. +We were headin’ down the mountain for the Packard +ranch when Julie fell. I guess her ankle is hurt.”</p> +<p>Meg at once was on her knees unbuttoning the +high shoe. The ankle was swollen, but there were +no bones broken.</p> +<p>“It is a bad sprain,” she said.</p> +<p>Then, swinging the knapsack which she always +carried when on a mountain hike from her back, she +took out her emergency kit. She washed the angry +looking place with soothing liniment and then +wound tightly about it strips of clean white cloth.</p> +<p>“Now,” she said, “we will have some refreshments.”</p> +<p>This amazed her listeners and greatly pleased at +least one of them.</p> +<p>“Gee-golly!” Gerald cried. “I hadn’t thought of +it before, but I guess I’m starving to death more’n +likely.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_209">[209]</div> +<p>Meg smiled as she produced a box of raisins. +“This may not seem much of a menu, but it is all +one needs for several days to sustain life.”</p> +<p>The small boy took a generous handful and gobbled +it with speed. Then the mountain girl brought +out a canteen.</p> +<p>“Bring us some water from the creek,” she told +him. Jane held out a detaining hand.</p> +<p>“Oh, Meg,” she implored, “don’t send Gerry to +that raging torrent. Don’t you remember how we +heard it roaring?”</p> +<p>“But you don’t hear it now,” was the reply. “The +water from the cloudburst has long since gone to +the valley to be absorbed, much of it, in the coarse +gravel. You’ll find Crazy Creek just as it always +is.”</p> +<p>“That’s where Julie sprained her ankle,” Gerald +said. “We were trying to reach it to get a drink.”</p> +<p>He soon returned with the canteen full of ice-cold +water. His eyes were wide.</p> +<p>“Say, girls,” he began, “we can’t make it home +tonight, can we? The sun’s going down west of +our peak right this minute.”</p> +<p>“We didn’t expect to,” Meg replied. “Gerald, +you come with me and we will bring in pine branches +or kinnikinick, if we can find any, for our beds.”</p> +<p>From her knapsack Meg took a folding knife as +she talked.</p> +<p>“Kinnikinick?” the boy gayly repeated. Everything +that had happened now appeared to him in the +light of a jolly adventure except, of course, Julie’s +ankle, and she no longer seemed to be in pain. +“What sort of a thing is that?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_210">[210]</div> +<p>Meg had led the way out of the cabin.</p> +<p>“Here’s some!” she shouted, and the boy raced +over to find the girl whom he so admired bending +over a dense evergreen vine.</p> +<p>“It’s prettier in winter,” she told him, “for then +it has red berries among the bright green leaves. +It makes a wonderful bed. It is so soft and springy.”</p> +<p>After half an hour of effort branches of pine and +some of the kinnikinick were laid on the floor, +Julie was made comfortable, but Jane would not lie +down. She sat with her back against the wall holding +the small girl’s head on her lap. Dan had been +right. One could carve oneself after a model. +Never, never again would she lose sight, she assured +herself, of her chosen goal, which was to do +in all things as her dear mother would have done.</p> +<p>As soon as the sun sank it began to grow dark. +Meg had at once barred the door, and also she had +examined the floor and walls to be sure that there +was no yawning knothole large enough to admit a +snake.</p> +<p>The children slept from sheer exhaustion, but +Jane and Meg stayed awake through the seemingly +endless hours, while night prowlers howled many +times close to their cabin.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_211">[211]</div> +<p>At the first gray streak of dawn, Julie stirred uneasily +and began to cry softly. Meg begged Jane to +change positions with her, and, completely worn +out, Jane did lie down on the pine boughs which had +been so placed that they were springy and comfortable. +Almost at once she fell asleep.</p> +<p>Meg removed the bandages that were hot from +the little girl’s hurt ankle and again applied the cooling +liniment. Other fresh strips of cloth were used +and then, with the small head pillowed on Meg’s +lap, Julie again fell asleep. Gerald had not wakened +through the night, not even when a curious wolf +had sniffed at their doorsill and had then lifted his +head to wail out his displeasure.</p> +<p>The sun was high above the peak when Jane +leaped up, startled, from her restless slumber. +“What was that? I thought I heard a gun shot.”</p> +<p>“You did.” Nothing seemed to stir Meg from +her undisturbed calm. “Someone is coming. Julie, +will you sit up against the wall, dear, and I will +open the door.”</p> +<p>Gerald, half awake, but sensing some excitement, +leaped out of the cabin, his small gun held in readiness. +“Do you ’spect it’s the Utes?” he asked, almost +hoping that the answer would be in the affirmative. +But Meg laughed. “No,” she said. “It is +probably someone searching for you.” Then she +fired in answer. From not far above them came +two gun shots in rapid succession.</p> +<p>“Oh, boy!” Gerald leaped to a position where he +could see the road as it wound under the pines. +“There are two horsemen. Gee! One of ’em is +Dan.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_212">[212]</div> +<p>“And the other is Jean Sawyer!” his companion +told him.</p> +<p>Julie had wanted to see what was going on, so +hopping on one foot, she appeared in the doorway, +supported by Jane. The two lads uttered whoops +of joy when they saw the group awaiting them. +Dan at once caught Gerald in his arms and then +glanced tenderly toward the two in the doorway. +Little did Jane guess that in that moment, white and +worn as she was, she had never looked so beautiful +to her brother. And as for Jean Sawyer, he saw in +the face which had charmed him, a softer expression, +and he knew that some great transformation +had taken place in the soul of the girl. Leaping +forward, he said with deep solicitude: “Oh, Miss +Jane, how you have suffered!”</p> +<p>Dan lifted Julie most carefully to the back of his +horse as he said: “Meg, can you ride in front of +this little miss and I will walk at your side?” Then +he smiled, and Jane, glancing at him anxiously, +rejoiced to note he was not ill as she had feared he +would be, though he did look very tired. The lad +continued: “You see, Jean and I expected to find +you all here. Intuitive knowledge, if you wish to +call it that, and so we planned what we would do. +Jane is to ride on Silver, which Mr. Packard loaned +us, and Jean will lead the way.”</p> +<p>“But where are we going?” his older sister inquired.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_213">[213]</div> +<p>“Down to the ranch,” Jean replied. “I had strict +orders to bring you back with me, all of you, for +that visit that you were to have paid at the weekend.”</p> +<p>Meg was about to demur, but the lad hastened to +say: “I told your father that I would telephone +the forest ranger as soon as you all were located. +He is waiting there for a message, and I cannot until +I get you to the ranch.”</p> +<p>Still Meg thought she ought to climb back to her +own home, but Jane implored: “Oh, don’t leave me! +I do <i>so</i> want you to go with us.” That settled it +and though the girl from the East little dreamed it, +there was a warm glow of joy in the heart of the +mountain girl who had so wanted a friend of her +own age.</p> +<p>Jane shuddered as they rode down the old trail of +the deserted mining camp. Shacks in all degrees of +ruin stood about, machinery was rusting where it +had been left. The beauty of the mountain had been +marred by dark tunnels, outside of which stood +heaps of orange and blue-gray refuse. Even in the +more substantial log huts, made of aspen poles, windows +were broken and doors hung on one hinge. +“The desolation of the place will haunt my dreams +forever,” the girl from the East said.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_214">[214]</div> +<p>“And all this,” Jean made a wide sweep with his +arm, “because the paying vein they had been so +frantically following was lost. It might have been +found, Mr. Packard told me, but another rich strike +was made on Eagle Head Mountain and the inhabitants +of this camp, to a man, deserted it and flocked +to that new mine, and from there they probably +followed other lures, ending, I suppose, as poor, or +poorer, than when they began.”</p> +<p>Dan was interested. “Then the lost vein may still +be here, who knows?” he commented with a backward +glance at the deserted camp they had left. And +yet, was it deserted? As soon as the young people +were gone a stealthy figure appeared, slinking out of +one of the huts. It was the old Ute Indian and +since he carried a pick and shovel, it was quite evident +that he had started out to dig. Was it the lost +vein or some other treasure that he sought?</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_215">[215]</div> +<h2 id="c27"><br />CHAPTER XXVII. +<br />THE GREEN HILLS RANCH</h2> +<p>Shielded from the fury of the storms by gently +sloping foothills, the rambling Packard ranch house +presented a very inviting appearance to the young +people as the two big horses carefully picked their +way down the last steep trail.</p> +<p>“O, how beautiful!” was Jane’s involuntary exclamation +when the level road, having been reached, +she felt freer to look about and admire the scene.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_216">[216]</div> +<p>“I had no idea that a mere ranch could be so +attractive.” A great change was evident in the Eastern +girl, and Jean Sawyer had been quick to notice +it. Not once that morning had she seemed to be +posing that she might appear more charming to him. +She was just sweetly, sincerely natural. The reason, +perhaps, was that Jane had suffered so much since +his last visit that she had changed her estimate of +real values. She was so happy, so at peace deep in +her heart. She had learned that her mother’s little +ones were dearer to her than all else, and so the impression +she might make had dwindled in importance. +If Jean had thought her beautiful on the day +of their first meeting, he thought her more lovely +now, although her face showed evidence of a great +weariness and the hours of anxiety through which +she had passed. He smiled up at her as he walked +at her side, one hand resting on the horse’s bridle. +“Mr. Packard and I have tried out many schemes to +make our home more beautiful,” he told her. “That +little artificial lake surrounded by cottonwood trees +and willows we made quite by ourselves. A mountain +stream flows into it. Indeed, there are many +springs in these foothills and that is why they have +such a soft, velvety-green appearance when the desert +and mountains are so dry.” They were passing +through a vegetable garden where a beaming Chinaman, +hoe in hand, nodded to them.</p> +<p>Then came the flower gardens and Meg’s enthusiasm, +though expressed in her usual quiet way, +was very evident. “How you do love flowers,” Dan +said, smiling up at her.</p> +<p>“Indeed I do!” Meg replied. “They seem like +live things to me, and so I was not surprised to read +recently that a scientist, with some very delicate instrument, +has learned that many plants are sentient, +though not acutely so. Since then I have never torn +a plant ruthlessly. That scientist advised cutting +flowers rather than breaking them.”</p> +<p>It was indeed Meg’s much-loved subject and her +eyes glowed as she gazed at the banks of scarlet +salvia, at the masses of golden glow, and many-hued +asters.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_217">[217]</div> +<p>“Someone else must love flowers,” she commented, +turning to look back at Jean. He nodded. “It +is my best friend, Mr. Packard. You two ought to +be great cronies. I sometimes tell him that I think +it is the color effect, rather than the individual +flower, that he so greatly admires, but here he comes +now.”</p> +<p>They were riding up to the circling drive which +passed under a vine-covered portico. Mr. Packard +leaped down the steps with an agility which seemed +to dispute the years his graying hair attributed to +him.</p> +<p>“Welcome!” he cried, with a wide sweep of his +sombrero. “This is indeed a pleasant surprise, +although I can hardly call it that as I have been +watching for just such a cavalcade to come riding +down my foothills ever since the dawn broke.” He +held out his strong arms to lift little Julie, whose +face, still tear-stained and white with pain, appealed +to him. He held her close as he listened sympathetically +while Gerald told what had happened to the +poor little foot. Then, after giving a word of greeting +to each of the guests, he bade them follow him +indoors to the breakfast that had long been awaiting +them.</p> +<p>The girls found that a wing, containing two rooms +and a bath, and overlooking the little lake, had been +prepared for their comfort. Gerald, with the two +older boys, sought quarters elsewhere in the rambling +ranch house, which had room for the accommodation +of many guests.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_218">[218]</div> +<p>“When you girls have prinked enough,” Mr. +Packard said merrily, “follow the scent of the coffee +and you will find the rest of us.” When the door +had closed and the three girls were alone, Jane held +out a hand to Meg, saying: “Will you forgive me +for everything, and let me try to be a real friend?” +An expression of gladness in the mountain girl’s +dusky eyes was her most eloquent reply.</p> +<p>Directly after breakfast in the dining-room, which +seemed to be all windows and where they were served +by a silently moving Chinaman, the girls were told +that they were to go to their wing and rest until +noon.</p> +<p>This was in no way a displeasing suggestion and +in a very short while Julie and Jane in one room +and Meg in the other were deep in slumber. Gerald +was also advised to rest, but he declared that he +would rather stay awake and see what was going to +happen. Dan laughed as he said that Gerald seemed +always to believe that an adventure might begin at +any moment.</p> +<p>“What boy does not?” Mr. Packard smiled understandingly +down at the stocky little fellow whose +clear blue eyes and freckled face beamed good nature. +Then, quite as though he could read the small +boy’s thought, the man exclaimed: “Gerald, you +ought to wear my grandson’s cowboy outfit. He’d +be glad to loan it to you.” That this suggestion met +with the youngster’s entire approval was quite evident +by the wild dance which he executed then and +there.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_219">[219]</div> +<p>Jean led the little fellow away and before long +Gerald reappeared, clothed in a costume of the most +approved style, a fringed buckskin suit, a red bandana +handkerchief loosely knotted about his neck, +while in one hand he held a wide felt hat on which +to his great joy a dried rattlesnake skin served as +band. His own small gun was never out of his +possession.</p> +<p>“Great!” Dan said with brotherly pride. “I wish +our dad and dear old grandmother might see you +now, Gerry. You do indeed look ready to start on +an adventure.”</p> +<p>“Where’ll we go to look for it?” The small boy +gazed eagerly, hopefully up at their genial host.</p> +<p>“Well, sonny, what kind of an adventure would +you prefer?” the amused man asked as though he +were willing, at least, to attempt to provide whatever +adventure his small guest might desire.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_220">[220]</div> +<p>“I’d like an Indian raid best, or a hold-up.” The +boy was thinking of the most exciting things he +could recall in his set of Wild-West books, but Mr. +Packard shook his head. “Sorry to disappoint you, +sonny, but the Utes are a friendly tribe: peaceable, +anyway, and they are no longer our near neighbors. +They have moved their camp deeper into the mountains. +And, as for hold-ups, since we are neither on +a stage or a train we cannot provide that, but if +you boys are not too weary I am going to suggest +that you ride with me to the old stage road. I’ve +been losing some calves lately and Jean believes that +they might have been driven into an abandoned corral +over in the foothills at night, and later were +spirited away.” He hesitated. “It’s a hard ride, +though. Perhaps you boys would rather not undertake +it until tomorrow.”</p> +<p>But they were glad to go, and Gerald would not +agree to being left behind. He was given a small +horse that was gentle and used to boys, as the +grandson had claimed it as his own, and so they rode +away, having left word for the girls that they would +return as soon as possible.</p> +<p>In the mid-morning they reached the old abandoned +stage road. “No one uses it now, that is, for +legitimate purposes, as it is very dangerous. There +are washouts and cutways that make it almost impassable +for stage or for auto travel.” Then, pointing +to the place where the road circled a high hill, +Mr. Packard concluded: “Jean, can you see where +yesterday’s cloudburst washed out the road? It +has started a new canon that will have to be bridged, +for now and then a tenderfoot autoist does get +started on that old road, thinking that it leads to +Redfords. Time and again we have put up signs on +the main highway, but they are hurled down in the +storms, I suppose.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_221">[221]</div> +<p>Dan had been intently tracing the old road until it +was lost from sight. Suddenly he urged his horse +forward to Mr. Packard’s side. “May I take the +field glasses? I feel sure that I see a dark object +moving along that old road and coming this way. +You look first, though. Your eyes are better trained +to these distances than mine.” Mr. Packard gazed +long, then he turned to Jean. “Boy,” he said, “it +looks like an auto moving slowly this way. If it +ever starts on that down grade toward the washout +there is going to be a tragedy.”</p> +<p>Jean was eagerly alert. “What shall we do, Mr. +Packard? How can it be averted?”</p> +<p>The automobile had disappeared as the road circled +behind a hill, but the watchers well knew that if it +did not meet with disaster it would soon reappear +above the washout and then be unable to stop because +of the steep descent.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_222">[222]</div> +<p>“Follow me!” Mr. Packard gave the brief order, +and, urging his horse to its utmost speed, he led +the way at what seemed to Gerald a breakneck pace. +The small boy clung to his wiry little pony, which +kept close behind the racing mustangs. It was evident +to the boys that Mr. Packard was hoping to +round the foot of the hill in time to shout a warning +to the autoists before they began the descent which +would prove fatal. It seemed a very long distance +to Dan and he could not see how they possibly could +make it. He kept his eyes constantly on the crest of +the hill road, dreading the moment when the car +would appear, there to plunge down to certain destruction. +Mr. Packard rounded the foot of the hill +first, whirled in his saddle, beckoned the boys to +make haste, then disappeared, leaving his horse +standing riderless. “What can <i>that</i> mean?” Dan +asked, but Jean merely shook his head. In another +moment they would know. When they, also, had +rounded the hill, they saw that “ill fortune,” as +autoists usually consider a blow-out, had befriended +the travelers. The car had been stopped just as it +had begun the ascent of the hill, on the other side of +which sure death had awaited them.</p> +<p>Mr. Packard was seen breaking a trail through +the underbrush. From time to time he hallooed, and +the boys saw that at last he had been heard.</p> +<p>“It will be needless for us to make the climb,” +Jean said, “since Mr. Packard will warn them,” and +so the three boys awaited the man’s return.</p> +<p>“Who were they?” Jean inquired. Mr. Packard, +removing his Stetson to wipe his brow, shook his +head. “I do not know. Some family from the +East trying to cross the Rockies. They could have +done it easily enough if they had not taken the wrong +road. The woman in the party is so utterly exhausted +that I invited them to come to our place to +rest. I showed them the road from the foot of the +hill back of them. It certainly isn’t in good condition, +but, being on the level, it at least will not be +dangerous. The woman fainted when she heard +how near death lurked ahead of them, but they’ll be +all right now. We’ll inspect that old foothill corral +some other day, Jean. These strangers have need of +our friendly services.” Mr. Packard turned his +horse’s head toward the ranch as he spoke and they +all galloped back at a moderate speed.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_223">[223]</div> +<p>“That was sort of an adventure, wasn’t it?” Gerald +inquired hopefully.</p> +<p>Mr. Packard laughed heartily. “I certainly think +it could be so classified,” he agreed. “I shudder to +think what it would have been, however, if that tire +had not halted them. We could not have reached +them in time.”</p> +<p>Although it was not quite noon, the girls were up +and dressed when the equestrians returned and were +greatly interested in all that had happened. Gerald +waxed eloquent as he told Julie the details, and that +little girl, who hungered for adventure quite as much +as her brother, hoped that if anything exciting happened +again, she might be in the thick of it.</p> +<p>Mr. Packard retired to the kitchen to advise Sing +Long, the cook, that four other guests were to arrive +for lunch. Although that Chinaman’s reply was +merely “Ally lite” the American interpretation of +his pleased smile would be, “the more the merrier.” +Guests were his joy that he might display the art at +which he excelled.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_224">[224]</div> +<p>An hour later a big, luxurious closed car limped +into the ranch door-yard. Mr. Packard went out to +greet the strangers in the same hospitable manner +that he had greeted his friends. The girls on the +wide porch saw a fine looking man with a Van Dyke +beard assisting a simply though richly gowned woman +from the car, then the front door was flung open! +There was a joyful cry from a girl who leaped out +and fairly raced up the front steps with arms out-held. +“O Jane, Jane! How wonderful to find you +here! We were looking for your cabin and that’s +how we came to lose our way.”</p> +<p>“Marion Starr, of all things! I thought that you +were in Newport!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_225">[225]</div> +<h2 id="c28"><br />CHAPTER XXVIII. +<br />OLD FRIENDS</h2> +<p>Jean, Dan and Gerald had gone at once to the +corral with the four horses they had ridden and were +still there (for Jean had much to show his guests) +when the car arrived, and so the excitement was +quite over when they at last sauntered around one +corner of the porch.</p> +<p>There were four in the party of autoists, Mr. and +Mrs. Robert Starr, Marion, and Bob, her young +brother.</p> +<p>Jane at once took Merry to her room, while Julie +accepted Meg’s invitation to wander about the gardens +and make the acquaintance of the flowers. Mr. +Packard had just returned from showing Mr. and +Mrs. Starr to the guest room when the boys appeared. +Bob Starr had lingered to look over the car, +which was the pride of his heart, and so it was that +he first met Jean, Dan and Gerald. Jean proved +himself an expert mechanic, as was also Mr. Packard, +and they promised the lad that directly after +lunch they would assist him in putting his car in +the best of shape.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_226">[226]</div> +<p>Meanwhile Jane and Merry were telling each +other all that had happened since last they had met.</p> +<p>“I simply can’t understand it in the least,” Jane +declared for the tenth time. “To think that you +deliberately gave up the opportunity to spend a whole +summer in Newport to undergo the hardships of a +cross-country motor trip.”</p> +<p>Merry dropped down in a deep easy chair and +laughed happily. “Oh, I’ve loved it! Every hour +of the trip has been fascinating. Of course I’m +mighty glad Mr. Packard saved our lives, but even +that was exciting.”</p> +<p>“But wasn’t your Aunt Belle terribly disappointed?”</p> +<p>“Why, no; not at all. There are steens of us in +the Starr family. She just invited some other girl +cousins. Aunt Belle is never so happy as when she +is surrounded with gay young girls. Then, moreover, +Esther Ballard couldn’t go. Her artist father +had planned a tramping trip through Switzerland +as a surprise for her and Barbara Morris decided to +accompany them; so you and I would have been +quite alone at Newport. But do tell me who is the +girl to whom you introduced me when I first arrived? +She is beautiful, isn’t she?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_227">[227]</div> +<p>Jane surely had changed in the past week, for her +reply was sincere and even enthusiastic. “Merry, +that girl is more than beautiful. She is wonderful! +I want you to know her better. She has saved me +from myself.” Then she laughingly arose, holding +out both hands to assist her friend to her feet. “If +you are rested, dear, come out on the porch. I want +you to meet the nicest, well, almost the nicest boy +I have ever known.”</p> +<p>Merry glanced up roguishly. “Are congratulations +in order?”</p> +<p>Jane flushed prettily, though she protested: “You +know they are not, Marion Starr! Romance is as +far from my thoughts today as it ever was, but next +to Dan, I do like Jean best.”</p> +<p>“Well, I certainly am curious to meet this paragon +of a youth.” Merry gave her friend’s waist a little +affectionate hug, then said: “I have a pretty nice +brother of my own. He ought to be ready by now +to be presented to my best friend.” Together they +went toward the front door. “I know Bob must be +nice,” Jane agreed, “since he is your twin.”</p> +<p>The girls appeared on the porch just as the boys +had completed an inspection of the machine and so +Jane’s “paragon,” with a smudge of grease on one +cheek and smeared hands, laughingly begged Merry +to pardon his inability to remove his hat. Before +Marion could reply, her brother led her aside and +talked rapidly and in a low voice, then returning he +said in his pleasing manner: “Miss Abbott, you +will pardon any seeming lack of courtesy on my +part when I tell you there was something very important +which I wished to say to my sister, and +there is no time like the present, you know.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_228">[228]</div> +<p>Merry laughingly interrupted: “And now that +you have made that long speech to Jane, it would be +sort of an anti-climax, would it not, for me to +formally introduce you? However, Jane, this is +my wayward young brother Bob, whom I am endeavoring +to bring up the way that he should go.” +Jane held out a slim white hand, but, although she +said just the right thing, her thoughts were busy. +Something had happened that she did not understand.</p> +<p>Mrs. Starr rested that afternoon in one of the +comfortable reclining chairs on the wide front porch. +Mr. Starr was most interested in all that Mr. Packard +had to show him, while the young people went +for a horseback ride in merry cavalcade. Bob Starr +was eager to see the washout, and decide for himself +what chance of escape they might have had. Julie +was overjoyed that this time she also might accompany +the riders. A small spotted pony was chosen +for her, as it was a most reliable little creature—sure-footed +and gentle.</p> +<p>For a while Jane and Merry rode side by side, +then Bob and Jean Sawyer, who for some time had +ridden far back of the others, galloped up and rode +alongside of the two girls, Bob next to Jane and +Jean close to Merry.</p> +<p>There was a pang in the dark girl’s heart. She +had noticed several times at lunch that Jean had +glanced across at Marion Starr and had smiled at +her when their eyes met. But the trail soon became +too rough to permit four to ride abreast, and so +Jean called: “Miss Starr, suppose you and I ride +ahead and set the pace.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_229">[229]</div> +<p>Marion smiled at her friend. “That will give you +and Bob a chance to become better acquainted,” she +said, then urged her horse to a gallop, and away they +went, Jean and Merry, laughing happily, and yet +when they had quite outdistanced the rest, Jane +noted that they rode more slowly and close together, +as though in serious converse.</p> +<p>“They surely are becoming acquainted very rapidly,” +the girl thought miserably. She had not realized +until now how very much Jean Sawyer’s admiration +had meant to her. Suddenly she felt so alone +and looked back to find the brother who had always +cared so much for her, but he also was completely +engrossed in another girl, for Meg had dismounted +to examine some growth by the trail, and Dan, +standing at her side, was listening, as he gazed into +her dusky eyes, with great evident interest. Jane +sighed.</p> +<p>“I deserve it all,” she thought. “I have not been +lovable, and so why should I expect to be loved?”</p> +<p>“Jean Sawyer seems to be a mighty fine chap,” +her companion was saying. “Is he overseer of this +cattle ranch?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_230">[230]</div> +<p>“Yes, I understand that is the position he fills,” +Jane said, feeling suddenly very weary, and wishing +that she could ride back to the ranch house. A fortnight +before she would have done so, but now a +thought for the happiness of others came to prevent +such a selfish decision, for, of course, if Jane turned +back, some of the others would also, for the lads +were too chivalrous to permit her to ride alone. +Bob, glancing at her, decided that she was not interested +in his companionship, but for Merry’s sake +he made one more effort at friendly conversation.</p> +<p>“I do not suppose, though, that so fine a chap and +one so capable will remain forever in the position of +an employee,” he ventured. “Do you know where +he hails from?”</p> +<p>“No, I do not,” Jane replied. Then wishing to +change the subject, she pointed toward a hill over +which one lone vulture was swinging in wide circles. +“There is the washout!” Merry and Jean +were galloping back toward them.</p> +<p>The girl rode up to Jane as she said with a shudder: +“Oh, I don’t want to go any closer! When I +saw that wicked looking vulture and heard why he +is circling there I could picture all too plainly what +<i>would</i> have happened if we had been killed and——”</p> +<p>It was seldom that Merry was so overcome. +“Jane, do you mind riding back with me?” she +pleaded. “I want to go to my mother.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_231">[231]</div> +<p>And so the two girls turned back toward the ranch +house. They assured the others that they did not +mind going alone. Jane noticed that Merry said +nothing of the conversation that she had had with +Jean Sawyer; in fact, she did not mention his name +and neither did Jane. When they reached the ranch +house Merry ran up the steps, and kneeling, she held +her mother close. That sweet-faced woman +smoothed the sunny hair of the girl she so loved, marveling +at the unusual emotion, but when her daughter +told her how much more vividly she could picture +their escape, after she had seen the washout, +and the vulture, the older woman understood. Jane, +watching her friend, felt that something more than +a view of the road where there might have been a +tragedy was affecting her dearest friend, nor was +she wrong.</p> +<p>Mr. Packard prevailed upon Mrs. and Mr. Starr +to remain as his guests for at least another day, that +the mother of Merry and Bob might become thoroughly +rested before the return journey to the East, +which was to be made by train, the automobile to be +shipped back.</p> +<p>“O, Mrs. Starr, how I do wish you would permit +Merry and Bob to visit us in our cabin on Redfords +Peak,” Jane said when this decision had been +reached. “Couldn’t they stay until we return East +next month?”</p> +<p>Mrs. Starr looked inquiringly at her husband, but +it was Merry who replied. “Not quite that long, +dear,” she said, slipping an arm about her friend. +“I very much want to be in New York on September +the first.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_232">[232]</div> +<p>Just why she glanced quickly up at Jean Sawyer, +a pretty flush tinting her cheeks, Jane could not understand. +There was an actual pain in her heart, +and she caught her breath quickly before she could +reply in a voice that sounded natural: “Well, then, +at least you and Bob can remain with us for two +weeks and that will be better than not at all.”</p> +<p>The selfish side of Jane’s nature was saying to +her: “Why urge Merry to remain, when, if she +were to go, you could have Jean Sawyer’s companionship +all to yourself?” But Jane had indeed +changed, for she put the thought away from her as +unworthy, and gave her friend a little affectionate +hug when Mrs. Starr said that the plan was quite +agreeable to her.</p> +<p>“Good! That’s great!” Dan declared warmly. +Then he excused himself, for he saw Meg Heger +returning with Julie from a “botany expedition” +in the foothills.</p> +<p>The mountain girl smiled up at him in her frank +way when he ran down the garden path toward them. +“Have you news to tell us?” she inquired. “You’re +looking wonderfully well these days, Daniel Abbott. +I do not believe that your lungs were affected, +after all.”</p> +<p>“Indeed, they were not!” The boy whirled to +walk at Meg’s side, and as she smiled up at him in +her good comradeship way, he was almost impelled +to add, “But my heart is.” Instead, he laughed boyishly, +and took the basket of specimens that the girl +carried. Peeping under the cover, he exclaimed: +“Why, if you haven’t taken them up, root and all.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_233">[233]</div> +<p>Meg nodded joyfully. “Wasn’t it nice of Mr. +Packard to tell me that I might transplant them to +my own botany gardens. Aren’t they the most +exquisite star-like flowers and the most delicate +pinks and blues?” Then, when the cover had been +replaced, Meg lifted long-lashed, dusky eyes that +were more serious. “Dan, do you suppose Jane +would mind if I went home this afternoon? Think +of it, in another fortnight I will be going to Scarsburg +to take the entrance examinations for the +normal, and kind old Teacher Bellows is giving me +some special review work which I cannot afford to +miss.”</p> +<p>“If you return, I will also,” the lad said; then, +when he saw that his companion was about to protest, +he hurriedly added: “Not because you need +my protection, but because I <i>wish</i> to be with you.”</p> +<p>Meg gave no outward sign of having understood +the deep underlying meaning of the words that she +had heard, but the warmth in her heart assured her +that she was glad, glad that Dan wanted to accompany +her.</p> +<p>Gerald came bounding toward them, dressed still +in his fringed cowboy suit. “Say, kids,” he shouted +inelegantly, then looked rather sheepishly at Julie, +as though he expected one of her grandmotherly rebukes, +but hearing none, he blurted on: “We’re +going to have a corn and potato roast for supper tonight. +Won’t that be high jinks, though? Mr. +Packard has a barbecue pit on the other side of the +little lake. Oh. boy!” he continued, rubbing the spot +where the feast would eventually be. “You bet you +I’ll be there with bells!” Then, catching Julie by +the hand, he raced with her to the corral, where they +liked to look over the log fence at the horses and +colts in the enclosure.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_234">[234]</div> +<p>Dan smiled down at his companion. “Let us wait +until morning and start at sunrise, shall we?” he +suggested. “If we go this afternoon, our host might +think that we do not appreciate his plans for our +entertainment.”</p> +<p>Meg agreed willingly, little dreaming that so slight +an incident was to make a vital change in her hitherto +uneventful life.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_235">[235]</div> +<h2 id="c29"><br />CHAPTER XXIX. +<br />THE BARBEQUE</h2> +<p>Julie and Gerald were hilariously excited as the +hour of the roast approached. Mr. Packard had +selected them as his aides, had made them a committee +on arrangement. They took wood to the pit and +then went with the ever-beaming Chinese gardener +to the field where the corn grew, and they carried +back between them a heavily laden basket. Then +the long table near the lake that was sheltered by +cottonwood trees was set with the plate and dishes +found on every cattle ranch in reserve for round-ups +and similar occasions when many are to be fed.</p> +<p>In the center Julie placed a huge bouquet of scarlet +salvia and golden glow to make the table “extra-pretty,” +and she put Meg’s name nearest the flowers, +but, with the innocence of childhood, she put Dan’s +name at the place directly opposite. When the guests +were finally summoned, Julie’s big brother protested +that he didn’t want to sit directly behind that huge +bouquet because he couldn’t “see anything.” Julie +looked perplexed. “Why, yes, you can so! You can +see the foothills, and just lots of things.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_236">[236]</div> +<p>Then Gerald blurted out, “Silly, he can’t see Meg +Heger, can he, when you’ve put her right across from +the bouquet?”</p> +<p>How they all laughed, even Meg, and Mrs. Starr, +glancing at the mountain girl, marveled at her +beauty, and thought it quite natural that any lad +would rather look at her than at a scarlet and gold +bouquet.</p> +<p>Mr. Packard settled the matter by removing the +huge centerpiece to a side table. “There, that’s +heaps better!” Jean said as he smiled across at +Marion. “Now I also have a better view of the +foothills,” he added mischievously.</p> +<p>It was hard, cruelly hard for Jane, even though +Bob Starr, who was seated next to her, tried his +utmost to be entertaining. Bob was indeed puzzled. +He was not at all conceited, but, up to the present, +he had found even very attractive girls seeking, +rather than spurning, his companionship.</p> +<p>“Icebergs aren’t in my line,” he decided, and +turned toward little Julie, who was on his other side, +and whose fresh enthusiasm was interesting, even to +a lad several years her senior.</p> +<p>Merry noticed that her best friend did not eat with +the same zest that was very apparent in the appetites +of all the others, and, after a time, she suggested to +Bob that he change seats with her. The table had +just been cleared and Gerald had darted away with +the Chinaman to bring on the generous slices of +watermelon, and so the change was made very easily. +Merry slipped a hand under the table and held Jane’s +in a close, loving clasp. “Dear,” she said very softly, +“you aren’t feeling well, are you? Shall we go +back to the ranch house? I do not mind missing the +watermelon.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_237">[237]</div> +<p>“No, thank you, Marion,” Jane’s voice, try as she +might to make it sound natural, had in it a note of +reserve that was almost cold. For the first time in +the years that they had been so intimate, Jane had +used the formal Marion. The friends who loved her +always called her Merry. Something was wrong, +radically wrong. Merry ate her slice of melon, wondering +what it could possibly be, and finally decided +that if Jane’s manner remained unchanged throughout +the evening, she would accompany her mother +to the East on the following day.</p> +<p>“There is going to be a wonderful moon tonight,” +Mr. Packard said, “Why don’t you young +people climb the foothill trail and watch it rise?”</p> +<p>“That’s a good suggestion!” Jean Sawyer at +once offered to lead the expedition. Then, as everyone +had arisen, he went to the two girls, who were +seated together, and said with a smile which included +them both, “Shall we three go ahead?”</p> +<p>But Jane replied, “You and Merry may go. I +have one of my sick headaches. I shall go to bed at +once.” Jean Sawyer looked at the girl almost sadly. +Then he said quietly, “I am sorry, Jane. May I +walk back to the house with you?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_238">[238]</div> +<p>“I thank you, no!” The girl’s haughty manner +was in evidence. Then going to Mr. Packard, she +asked to be excused and walked quickly around the +little lake. Merry watched her thoughtfully, then +turning to her companion, she said, “Jean, I think +I understand. May I tell her our secret now—tonight?”</p> +<p>The boy assented eagerly. “I shall be glad to +have Jane know,” he said. Then Merry also excused +herself and followed her friend.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_239">[239]</div> +<h2 id="c30"><br />CHAPTER XXX. +<br />JEAN SAWYER’S SECRET</h2> +<p>Jane, going to the deserted ranch house, threw +herself down on her bed and sobbed heart-brokenly. +She did not hear the tap on the door, nor was she +conscious that Merry had entered until she heard her +voice: “Jane, dear, have I done anything to hurt +you, to make you unhappy?” The tenderness in the +tone of her best friend was unmistakable. All at +once Jane felt ashamed of herself. Holding out a +fevered hand, she said: “Indeed not, dear girl. It +isn’t your fault at all. Any boy would like you better +than me. You are so sweet and unselfish and +lovable.” Merry’s eyes widened, for she was indeed +perplexed, “Jane, I don’t understand,” she said. +“What boy likes me better than he does you?” +Then, slowly a light dawned. Taking both hot +hands in her own, she cried, her blue eyes glowing, +“Oh, Jane, dearest Jane, <i>did</i> you think that Jean +Sawyer cared for me? Did you think for one moment +that I, knowing how much you liked him, +would even want him to care for me? Indeed not, +Janey! But now that I think about it, I realize that +you might misunderstand. Dear, it’s a long story. +Let’s go out on the veranda in the moonlight. +There is no one around. They all went up the foothill +trail and will be gone for an hour.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_240">[240]</div> +<p>Jane permitted herself to be led to a vine-sheltered +corner of the veranda, where they sat close together +in a hammock swing. Merry piled the soft cushions +behind her friend, whose flushed face assured her +that the head was really aching. Jane sighed as she +sank back among them, but it was a sigh of relief. +How wrong it had been to doubt for one moment +the loyalty of this, her very best friend. But Merry +was beginning the story. “Dear,” she said, placing +a cool hand on the hot one near her, “when you first +introduced me to Jean Sawyer, did you notice that +my brother Bob drew me away to whisper something +to me before I could acknowledge the introduction?”</p> +<p>Jane nodded, both curious and interested. “Why +did Bob do that? I wondered at the time.” Merry +continued: “I was just about to exclaim, ‘Why, +Jean Sawyer Willoughby, so this is where you disappeared +to when you left home last February!’ but +I did not, for Bob gave me no time. What he whispered +was, ‘Don’t let on you know Jean. He wants +his identity kept in the dark. He is using his +mother’s maiden name. Get the cue?’</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_241">[241]</div> +<p>“Of course I got it, but as soon as I could I asked +Jean to go for a canter with me that I might tell him +how heart-broken his family was because he had +disappeared as he did.” Jane was no longer reclining +among the cushions. She sat up, listening intently.</p> +<p>“You and Bob know Jean’s family?”</p> +<p>“Yes, indeed, both his father and older brother +Ken. We met them every summer on the coast of +Maine, where our parents had cottages next to each +other.”</p> +<p>“Jean told me of that cottage where he went that +summer, alone with his mother,” Jane said. “I +mean the summer she died.”</p> +<p>“Poor boy! He never was happy in his home life +after that,” Merry replied. “Ken, his brother, is a +commissioned officer on one of the war boats. He +had little shore leave and that left Jean and his +father quite alone in their big house in New York. +They never had been congenial in their interests, +but the final break came when the father entered +into some oil deal which Jean considered dishonorable. +He told his father exactly how he felt about +it. He said that he refused to inherit money that +was taken from the poor who had invested their +savings in the wildcat scheme, believing the firm to +be honest. Of course his father was angry, and +Jean, refusing to take one penny of what he called +‘tainted’ money, left home to make his own way in +the world.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_242">[242]</div> +<p>“The father did not seem to care at first, for he +had always loved Ken more than he did Jean, but +when Ken came home on a leave he took Jean’s part, +and also denounced his father’s dishonorable business +methods.”</p> +<p>Jane was sitting very erect and her breath came +hard. At last she interrupted. “Merry,” she said +in a voice she could hardly recognize as her own, +“Jean’s father, Mr. Willoughby, was my father’s +partner.” Then she burst into unexpected tears. +“Jean was nobler than I! Oh, Merry, I never can +be his friend again. I am not worthy of him. I +want you to be his best friend. You are so good. +I am sure that in his heart of hearts he must love +you.” Merry leaned over and kissed her friend +tenderly. “I hope Jean does love me,” she said simply. +“He is to be my brother, for I am engaged to +Ken Willoughby. His three years in the navy are +nearly over. Ken is coming home for good on +September first.”</p> +<p>Jane’s heart was filled with conflicting emotions. +She was indeed happy when she heard the wonderful +secret which Merry assured her she would have told +her at once but Ken had wanted her to wait until he +had given her the ring which he had bought for her +in Paris. “But I just had to tell you, dear girl, +when I realized that my friendship with Jean might +lead you to believe that we cared for each other.” +Then, slipping an arm affectionately about her companion, +Merry continued: “And now there is just +one thing for which I am going to wish until it +comes true, and that is that you and Jean may care +for each other in the way Ken and I care. Then, +Jane, I will be your sister. Think what that would +mean, for we would share all of the joy that the +future holds.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_243">[243]</div> +<p>But Jane, tears brimming her eyes, said sadly: +“That can never be! If Jean knew the truth; if he +knew that I wanted father to cheat those poor people +who had trusted him, he would scorn me, even +as I now scorn myself. I never knew father’s partners +except by name. We lived so very far apart +and Dad always wanted to just rest when he reached +our village home, and so, even when I was with him, +which was seldom, we had no social life.” Then, +turning with a startled expression, Jane inquired, +“Oh, do you suppose that Jean knows? Do you suppose +he recognized our name as being the same as +his father’s partner?”</p> +<p>Merry replied thoughtfully: “There are a good +many Abbotts in the world, dear, and just at first +Jean did not suspect that your father was the one +who had withdrawn from the firm, and who, by so +doing, had incurred the hatred and wrath of Mr. +Willoughby, but, when I happened to mention why +your father had lost everything, as Dan had told +him, Jean’s face brightened. ‘I am glad,’ he said, +’that the father of Jane had the courage to do the +honorable thing.’ I noticed at the time that he +said ‘the father of Jane’ and not of Dan. That +means, dear, that you are often in his thoughts.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_244">[244]</div> +<p>But Jane had again burst into tears, and rising, +she hurried to her own room and begged Merry, who +had followed her with tender solicitude, to leave her +alone. “I never, never can be Jean’s friend again, +but don’t tell him how dishonorable I have been, +Merry. Promise me that you will not tell him.”</p> +<p>“Of course I will not tell, but, oh, Jane, you are +over-imaginative tonight. I am sure that you never +wished your father to rob the poor that you might +have luxury. But there, please don’t answer me, +dear. You are all worn out and your poor head is +throbbing cruelly. Let me help you undress. Tomorrow +morning when you awake you will see +everything in a different light.”</p> +<p>But Merry was wrong. Because of Jane, the +young people did not start at sunrise as they had +planned, but delayed until after Mr. and Mrs. Starr +had been driven away to the Redfords station. Mr. +Packard accompanied them. Bob was pleased indeed +that he and his sister were to remain in the +Rockies for another fortnight, and Merry was glad +to be with Jane, who, more than ever, seemed to +need her friendship.</p> +<p>When the young people were gathered at the corral, +preparing to start, Jean glanced across at Jane +and noting how pale and weary she looked, he +strode over to her, saying: “Aren’t you afraid the +ride will be too hard for you? Suppose we let the +others start now, if Meg feels that she must get +home. You and I could follow them more leisurely, +starting later, when you are rested.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_245">[245]</div> +<p>There was a sad expression in the dark eyes that +were lifted to his, but the girl’s reply was: “Thank +you, Jean, I would rather go now, with the others.” +Merry felt Jane’s clasp tighten about her hand, and +well knew that she was suffering cruelly, and that it +was a mental, not a physical torture.</p> +<p>Jean assisted both of the girls to mount and then +the string of horses started toward the mountain +trail, for Bob was eager to visit the old deserted +Crazy Creek mine. Jean Sawyer glanced often at +the pale, beautiful face of the girl who seemed purposely +to avoid him.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_246">[246]</div> +<h2 id="c31"><br />CHAPTER XXXI. +<br />AN UNCANNY EXPERIENCE</h2> +<p>At the foot of the trail that led up the mountain, +Dan, who had been in the lead with Meg, called: +“Jean, we’re waiting for you to go ahead, since you +have so often ridden this trail.”</p> +<p>The boy, who had been silently riding at Jane’s +side whenever it had been possible, turned to ask: +“Will you ride on ahead with me?”</p> +<p>The girl tried to smile at him, but her lips quivered. +“No, thank you, Jean. I think I will stay +with Merry.”</p> +<p>A boyish voice called, “Ask me and hear what I’ll +say.” It was Bob, and before Jean could express a +desire for his companionship, the black horse which +the younger lad rode was scrambling up the rocky +trail following the leader. Julie and Gerald, on their +agile ponies, were next; Meg and Dan followed, +while Jane and Merry rode more slowly, each putting +her entire trust in the horse on which she was +mounted. “We do not need to try to guide them,” +Merry had said. “Jean told me that the horses +climb best without direction. Just pull up on the +rein if it should happen to stumble.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_247">[247]</div> +<p>Bob’s enthusiasm over all he saw was given such +constant expression that Jane’s silence was not so +noticeable. Dan, now and then, glanced back anxiously. +He also had noted Jean’s apparent devotion +to Merry on the two days previous, and he wondered +if it had saddened Jane, and yet she had never said +that she really cared for Jean.</p> +<p>When they reached a wide rock plateau their guide +whirled in his saddle to ask if any of the riders were +tired and wished to rest for a while, but they all +preferred to keep on. A few moments later they +were passing through the deserted mining camp. +There was not a breath of wind stirring and the +only sounds they heard were the humming of insects +and now and then a bird song.</p> +<p>The cabins, many of them falling into ruins, +looked as though they might be haunted with ghosts +of the men who had given their lives trying to find +gold. “Say, boy!” Bob drew rein to look about +him. “This places gives one the shivers, all right! +At any minute I expect to hear a ghost groan +or——”</p> +<p>“Hark! What was that?” Merry interrupted. “I +<i>did</i> hear a groan! I am positive that I did.” They +all listened and there was no mistaking the fact that +a groaning noise was coming from a cabin that stood +near a deep pit beside which was a pile of red and +yellow ore.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_248">[248]</div> +<p>“What do you suppose it is, since we know there +is no such thing as a ghost?” Dan turned toward +Meg to inquire. Surely the mountain girl would +know.</p> +<p>But it was Jean who replied: “Don’t you believe +that some wounded animal may have dragged itself +into the cabin to die? They always <i>do</i> try to hide +away when they are hurt, don’t they, Meg?”</p> +<p>The girl nodded, her sweet face serious as she +said: “I will ride over and see what it is. A moan +like that always means that some creature needs +help.”</p> +<p>“You must not go alone,” Dan told her. “I will +ride over there with you.”</p> +<p>Meg turned to the others. “Please wait here,” +she said. “If it is a hurt animal, so many of us +would frighten it.”</p> +<p>In silence the group waited, watching the two who +rode toward the yawning pit. When they were near +the place, Meg dismounted and Dan did likewise. +Together they approached the door of the isolated +cabin. Dan swung his gun from his shoulder and +held it in readiness if harm were to threaten them. +Meg glanced at the door, then turning, motioned the +lad to put up his gun. Wondering what the girl had +seen, the boy hastened to her side.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_249">[249]</div> +<p>Meg entered the old cabin and Dan, standing at +the door, saw on the rotting floor the twisted form +of the old Ute Indian.</p> +<p>His wrinkled, leathery face showed how cruelly +he was suffering, but when he saw Meg, who at once +knelt at his side, his expression changed to one of +eagerness, almost of gladness. He tried to reach +out his shriveled arm, but groaned instead.</p> +<p>Dan stepped inside and looked down pityingly. +Meg, glancing up with tears in her wonderful eyes, +said, “Poor old Ute. He has had another stroke, +and this one is his last.” They both knew that the +old Indian was making a great effort to speak, and +the lad bent to whisper, “Perhaps he is trying to tell +you something.”</p> +<p>“Oh, if he only would! If he only could.” Meg +was rubbing the poor limp hand that was crusted +with dirt in her own. Then, close to his ear, she +asked clearly: “Could you tell me about my +father?”</p> +<p>Again there was a lightening of the eyes that were +beginning to dim. “Fadder he die—hid box——. +Dig, dig, no find box. <i>You</i> find box, then you +know——” The old Ute could say no more, for +another contortion had seized him and it was the +last.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_250">[250]</div> +<p>Meg was trembling so that Dan had to assist her +to rise. The others, having been eager to know +what had happened, had approached the cabin and +dismounted. Jane saw that, for the first time in +their acquaintance, the mountain girl was nearly +overcome with emotion, and going to her, she slipped +an arm about her, saying sincerely, “Meg, dear, +what is it? Can we help you?” But almost at once +Meg regained at least outward composure. “It is +the old Ute Indian who has died,” she told them. +“How thankful I am that we came this way, for he +has told me about my father. Perhaps I shall know +more, but that much is enough.”</p> +<p>Turning back, she looked thoughtfully at the +cabin, then said, “Dan, will you help me bar the door +that no wild creature can get in? The windows +were long ago boarded up. The old Ute shall have +it for his tomb.”</p> +<p>When this was done, a solemn group of young +people rode away. Meg said little, and Dan, riding +at her side, understood her thoughtfulness. When +the Abbott cabin was reached, Meg said goodbye to +the friends who were to remain there, but Dan insisted +upon accompanying her to her home.</p> +<p>When they were quite alone the lad rode close to +her, and placed a hand on hers as he said, “Meg, +dear, how much, how very much this means to you.”</p> +<p>Such a wonderful light there was in the dusky +eyes that were lifted to his. “O, Dan, <i>now</i> I can feel +that I have a right to accept your friendship; yours +and Jane’s.” But with sincere feeling the lad replied: +“It is for your sake only that I am glad. +Your parentage mattered not at all to me, nor, of +late, has it to Jane.” Then, although Dan had not +planned on speaking so soon, he heard himself saying: +“Meg, you are all to me that my most idealistic +dreams could picture for the girl I would wish to +marry. Do you think that some day you might care +for me if I regain my health and am able to make +a home for you?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_251">[251]</div> +<p>There was infinite tenderness in the dark eyes, but +the girl shook her head. “Your companionship +means very much to me, Dan, but I must teach. I +want to care for the two old people who took me in +out of the storm and who have given me all that I +have had.”</p> +<p>“You shall, dearest girl. That is, <i>we</i> shall, if you +will let me help you.”</p> +<p>Then before Meg could refuse, Dan implored, +“Don’t answer me yet. I can wait if you will <i>try</i> to +love me.” They had reached the cabin and saw Ma +Heger, wiping sudsy hands on her apron, hurrying +out to greet them. Dan detained the girl. “Promise +me that you will try to care,” he pleaded. “I +won’t have to try,” she said, then turned to greet +the angular woman who had been the only mother +she had ever known.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_252">[252]</div> +<h2 id="c32"><br />CHAPTER XXXII. +<br />HUNTING FOR THE BOX</h2> +<p>Jean Sawyer, troubled indeed, because Jane Abbott +continued to avoid him, changed his plan and +decided not to remain at the cabin until late afternoon; +and so, bidding them goodbye, he went down +the road toward Redfords, leading the string of +horses. The other young people climbed the stone +stairway.</p> +<p>“Oh, Jane, what a perfectly adorable place,” +Merry exclaimed when the door had been unlocked +and the young people had entered the long rustic +living-room. “I like it so much better than those +elaborately furnished cottages at Newport. They +are too much like our own homes, but this cabin +savors of camping out. It’s a wonderful spot for a +real vacation.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_253">[253]</div> +<p>“It surely is different,” Jane agreed as she led her +friend into the comfortable front bedroom which +they were to share. Then she confessed: “I do +like it much more than I had supposed that I would +when I first came. Honestly, Merry, I feel differently +inside. When I believed that those poor little +children had been driven out of their home by my +temper, and might never be found, something inside +of me snapped; something that had been holding +me tense, I can’t explain it, and I felt as though I +had been set free from—well, free from myself. +Self, that is it,” she continued bitterly, “planning +for oneself, living for oneself, living for one’s selfish +pleasure and comfort, slowly but surely deadens +sympathy and love and understanding.” Then taking +from the table near the wide window a delicate +miniature, Jane handed it to her companion. “That +is my mother’s portrait.”</p> +<p>“How beautiful she must have been.” Merry +glanced from the sweet pictured face to that of the +girl at her side. “You are so alike. It is only the +expression that is different. I am sure that anyone +in sorrow would have gone to your mother for comfort.”</p> +<p>Jane nodded. “I am not like that—yet; but Dan +thinks that if we choose a model and keep it ever in +thought, we will grow to be like that person or ideal, +and I have chosen my mother.”</p> +<p>Silently Merry kissed her friend and then replaced +the miniature on the table. Jane had indeed changed +that she could talk, even with her best friend, of +these things of the soul.</p> +<p>A moment later there came a jolly rapping on +their closed door, and Bob called: “Come and see +where I am going to hang out, or hang up rather.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_254">[254]</div> +<p>Merry and Jane went out on the front porch with +the lad, who was brimming with enthusiasm. “Oh, +aren’t you afraid a bear will devour you in the +night?” his sister inquired, when she saw a hammock +hung between two pines.</p> +<p>“Hope one will,” Bob replied jubilantly. “What +a yarn that would be to tell when I get back to +college.”</p> +<p>Practical Julie was wide-eyed. “Why, Bob +Starr,” she exclaimed, “how could you tell about it +after you were all eaten up?”</p> +<p>“Which reminds me,” Bob said irrelevantly, “of +a story about the South Sea Islanders. A missionary +was teaching them that they must take great +care of their bodies, as they were to rise on the last +day, and one native asked what would become of +his poor brother who had been eaten by a tiger.”</p> +<p>“Bob, dear,” Merry rebuked, “you ought not to +joke about such things. It does not matter what we +believe ourselves, or how outlandish we consider the +beliefs of others, we ought to treat them with respect.”</p> +<p>“Yes’m,” Bob pretended to be quite contrite. +“I’m willing to change the subject if the next subject +is something to eat.”</p> +<p>“I’ll get the lunch.” Julie, leaning on the staff +Dan had cut for her, limped toward the kitchen, but +her sister caught her and put her on the porch cot +and piled pillows under her head. “Indeed not, little +lady.” Jane kissed her affectionately. “It’s your +turn now to pretend you are a princess and I will +be your maid of waiting.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_255">[255]</div> +<p>Impulsively Julie threw her arms about her sister’s +neck and clung to her as she whispered: “Oh, +Janey, I love you so!” And Jane, when she arose, +felt in her heart a greater happiness than had ever +been there when she had received the adulation of +the admiring girls at Highacres.</p> +<p>“And I will be your aide!” Merry, who had gone +to the top of the stone stairway to look down at the +road, skipped back to say, and, then, arm in arm, +these two friends went, and from their merry laughter +it was quite evident that Jane’s efforts as head +cook were being mirthfully regarded by both of +them. However, when the others were called to the +back porch, where the table was set, they found as +appetizing a lunch as could be desired. But underneath +all her apparent pleasure Jane was sorrowing. +She never again could be Jean Sawyer’s friend. He +would not want her friendship if he knew how she +had felt about her father’s sacrifice, but he must +never, never know.</p> +<p>Jane glanced often at Dan during the lunch. +Never had she seen him look so wonderfully happy. +He had expressed his regret that Jean had departed +before his return and exclaimed: “But the horse I +rode also belongs to Mr. Packard. I wonder why +he did not wait for it.”</p> +<p>“Mr. Packard told him to leave one horse with +us,” his sister explained, “and more if we wished, +but I thought one would be all you would want to +care for.” Dan was pleased.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_256">[256]</div> +<p>He said: “We have made good friends since we +came here. It is hard to realize that it is not yet a +fortnight ago.” Julie chimed in with: “Yep, +haven’t we?” Then, beginning with one small thumb +to count, “First there’s Meg Heger. Next to Janey, +she’s the nicest girl I guess there is.” Merry pretended +to be quite offended. “Little one, you surely +are honest. You ought always to say present company +excepted.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I do like you, Merry, awful much. You can +be third. Will that be all right?” The golden +haired girl laughed gaily: “Of course, I was only +teasing, dear. Now who comes next?”</p> +<p>“Jean Sawyer and Mr. Packard and then the little +spotted pony, and then my mountain lion baby.” +The small girl put down her hand as she concluded. +“I guess that’s all the new friends I’ve made here +in the mountains.”</p> +<p>Bob suddenly thought of something. “Say, Dan, +there is a sort of mystery about that trapper’s +daughter, isn’t there? I understand that at first the +old Ute Indian pretended he was her father in order +to get the girl to give him money, and that this +morning when he was dying he confessed that he +was not.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_257">[257]</div> +<p>Dan nodded. Then turning to Jane, he said: “I +am sure that Meg would not wish it kept a secret +from any of us and so I will tell you what the old +Indian said. His speech was almost incoherent, but +we understood him to say that Meg’s father had died +long ago. He must have told the squaw in Slinking +Coyote’s hearing that he had hidden a box which he +wished given to his little girl when she was older, +but he must have died before he could tell where +he had placed the box.”</p> +<p>“How I wish it could be found,” Jane said earnestly, +“for without doubt it would contain identification +papers. Although it is a great joy to Meg to +know that she is not that old Ute’s daughter, she +will have to seek out the squaw who took her to the +Heger cabin before she can know who her father +really was.”</p> +<p>“And even then I doubt if she would discover +much,” Dan remarked. “My theory is that Meg’s +father was a miner who had brought the three-year-old +little girl to Crazy Creek Camp and had remained +there for a time, even after the exodus. In +fact, he must have stayed until the Indian tribe took +possession of the otherwise deserted camp. Perhaps +just after they came he was seized with a fatal illness +and left his little one with the kindly old squaw, +probably telling her to give the child to a white family, +since that is what she did.”</p> +<p>“I believe you are right,” Jane agreed. “It all +sounds very reasonable to me. But why do you +suppose Meg’s father remained at the camp after +everyone else had left? Do you think he had some +clue to the whereabouts of the lost vein?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_258">[258]</div> +<p>“That we cannot tell,” Dan said. “He may have +remained to hunt for it.” Then, rising, he smiled +around at the group. “What shall we do this afternoon, +or do you want to just rest?”</p> +<p>“Nary for me!” was energetic Bob’s reply. “I +want to hunt for Meg Heger’s hidden box. Who +will go with me and where shall we begin the +search?”</p> +<p>Bob’s enthusiasm was contagious. “I believe that +I now understand the real reason why the Ute Indian +hung around the Crazy Creek Camp,” Dan told +them. “He knew that the miner had hidden a box, +an iron one, of course it must be, and he has been +searching for it, probably believing it to contain +whatever money Meg’s father had.”</p> +<p>“Of course,” Bob agreed. “That’s as clear as +daylight. We have clues enough, but the thing is +to try to reason out <i>where</i> would be a likely place +for the miner to have hidden it.”</p> +<p>Gerald, not wishing to be left out of so interesting +a discussion, wisely contributed, “Maybe under +the floor-boards in the cabin where he lived, or some +place like that.”</p> +<p>Dan smiled down into the chubby freckled face of +his small brother as he replied: “One naturally +might suppose so, but I do believe, Gerry, that the +old Ute suspected the same thing and has been ransacking +those cabins all these years. I would be +more inclined to look in some of the dug-outs or +tunnels where, if he were a miner, Meg’s father may +have been searching for the lost vein.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_259">[259]</div> +<p>While the boys talked Jane and Merry had been +washing and wiping the lunch dishes. When they +joined the excited group on the front porch, Bob +stood up, saying, “Shall we start now?”</p> +<p>Jane also arose, but, happening to glance down at +Julie, she saw tears brimming the small girl’s eyes +and that her lips were quivering. Instantly the older +girl sat on the cot beside her, and, putting her arms +about her little sister, she said compassionately: “Is +your ankle hurting again, dearie? Since you cannot +go, I will stay here with you and read to you. Don’t +feel badly, Julie. Your foot will soon be well; long +before they find the box, I am sure of that.”</p> +<p>The small girl leaned happily against her sister +and looked up at her with adoration in her dark violet +eyes. Then Merry announced: “This is a boys’ +adventure anyway. We girls will sit on the porch +and have the best kind of a time all together.”</p> +<p>And so the boys departed, armed with stout staffs +and guns and calling that they would surely be back +by supper time.</p> +<p>But when at last they did return, they had discovered +nothing, and Bob was eager to start at dawn +the next day and search everywhere around the +Crazy Creek Camp.</p> +<p>Merry shuddered. “Goodness, don’t!” she ejaculated. +“It was ghostly enough before, but now that +we know that old Ute is entombed in one of those +cabins, you couldn’t get me within a mile of the +place.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_260">[260]</div> +<p>Bob retorted: “Well, we hadn’t invited you girls, +had we? So you need not refuse with such gusto! +We’re going to take the horse, so that Dan can ride +most of the way.” But that lad interrupted: “You +mean that we will take turns riding. Although I +have been in the Rockies so short a time my cold is +entirely cured, and, as my lungs had not really been +affected, I am soon to be as husky as you, Bob.”</p> +<p>“Of course you are, old man,” Bob put a hand +on his friend’s shoulder, “but soon isn’t now. I +won’t go unless you will ride, when I think it is the +best for you to do so.”</p> +<p>“All righto! Anything to be agreeable.” Dan +sank down on the porch step as though he were +rather tired after the climb they had just completed.</p> +<p>Bob then turned to the girls. “You maidens fair +need not awaken. We’ll be as quiet as—as——” +Dan smilingly offered: “How would Santa Claus +do? He steals around very softly, or so tradition +has it.” Bob laughed. “I was going to say as a +thief in the night, but I don’t like to use a simile +which suggests an unpleasant picture, and it’s the +wrong time of the year for Santa Claus.”</p> +<p>“A mouse is awful quiet,” Julie put in.</p> +<p>“Or a cat. They have cushions on their feet,” +Gerald added.</p> +<p>“We’ll be as quiet as all of them,” Bob said, “and +tomorrow, young ladies, we are going to bring home +the box.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_261">[261]</div> +<p>When the boys returned from Crazy Creek Camp +they were weary and disappointed, but not discouraged, +or so Bob assured the girls. It was quite +evident that they were much excited, however, but +what had caused it they would not reveal. When +Merry asked if their search had taken them close to +the tomb of the old Ute Indian, Bob had looked over +at Dan and had asked, “Shall we tell?”</p> +<p>The older boy nodded. “Why, yes, we might as +well. Sooner or later they are likely to find it out.”</p> +<p>The young people were seated about the hearth +in the living-room of the cabin resting and visiting +before they retired for the night. Gerald’s eyes +glowed with excitement. “Julie won’t sleep a wink +if she knows about it. She’ll be skeered as anything, +Julie will.”</p> +<p>The small girl nestled closer to Jane and looked +up at her inquiringly. “What does Gerry mean, +Janey?” she asked. “Are they trying to tease us?”</p> +<p>But Dan replied seriously, “No, it is the truth +that something has occurred since we were last at +the Crazy Creek Camp, and the discovery of it did +startle us. Although we planned to give the tomb-cabin +a wide berth, we at once went to a position +where we could look at it. You girls can imagine +our surprise, and I’ll confess it, horror, when we +saw the front door standing wide open.”</p> +<p>“Oh-oo, how dreadful!” Jane shuddered. “What +did it mean? Had someone opened the door out of +curiosity, do you suppose, and what a shock it must +have been when they found that dead Indian on the +floor.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_262">[262]</div> +<p>Dan and Bob exchanged curious glances. Then +the latter spoke up: “It is just possible that the old +Ute was not really dead and that he revived and left +the cabin.”</p> +<p>“But how could he?” Merry looked thoughtfully +into the fire. “As I remember, the door was barred +on the outside.”</p> +<p>“True!” her brother replied, “but we also found +a loose board on the floor, which had been lifted, +leaving a hole large enough for the Ute to have +crawled through. After that he may have opened +the door to procure his pick-ax and shovel, as both +were gone.”</p> +<p>Julie glanced fearfully at the dark windows of +the room, and Gerald said, almost gloatingly: +“There, I told you so! Julie is skeered. She thinks +the old Ute may be prowling around our cabin this +very minute.”</p> +<p>“Mr. Heger ought to be told about this,” Dan +had started to say, when Gerry grabbed his arm. +“What’s that noise?” he whispered. “Someone is +outside. I hear ’em coming.”</p> +<p>Dan and Bob were on their feet at once. There +was indeed the sound of footsteps outside the cabin, +then there came a rap on the door. Julie implored: +“O Dan, don’t! don’t open it! Get your gun first!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_263">[263]</div> +<p>The older boy hesitated for a moment, but in that +brief time his own fears were set at rest, for a +familiar voice called, “Daniel Abbott, may I speak +with ye?”</p> +<p>The boy’s tenseness relaxed and he threw open +the door with a welcoming smile. “Mr. Heger, +we’re mighty glad to see you! Come in, won’t +you?”</p> +<p>The mountaineer glanced at the group about the +fire, but shook his head. “No, I thank ye. I jest +came down to ask if a big brown mare I found +whinnyin’ around my corral is the one Mr. Packard +loaned ye? I would have asked Meg hed she been +to home, but she went, sudden-like, to Scarsburg, +along of some school-work, and she’ll put up at the +inn there for several days.”</p> +<p>Dan thanked the mountaineer for the trouble he +had taken, adding, “There really is no place here to +keep the horse. I suppose that is why it wandered +up to you. As soon as Jean Sawyer comes again, +I will send it back.”</p> +<p>The mountaineer assured the boy: “No need to +do that, Danny, if you’d like to keep it. I’ll jest let +it into my corral along of Bag-o’-Bones. They +seem to be actin’ friendly enough.” The man was +about to leave, when Dan said, “Mr. Heger, we boys +have been over to Crazy Creek Camp today and we +are rather puzzled about something.”</p> +<p>He then told what they had seen, ending with, +“We’re afraid that old Ute came to life, and that he +will continue to blackmail Meg.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_264">[264]</div> +<p>The mountaineer shook his head, saying: “No, +Danny, Slinkin’ Coyote’ll never more be seen in +these parts, lest be it’s his ghost. Arter Meg tol’ +me what had happened, I went down to put the +sheriff wise. He reckoned ’twouldn’t do, no-how, +to leave the body unburied, and that the county’d +have to tend to it.”</p> +<p>The girls uttered sighs of relief. Jane rose, when +the mountaineer had departed, saying, “Well, now, +I guess we can all sleep without fear of a visit from +Slinking Coyote.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_265">[265]</div> +<h2 id="c33"><br />CHAPTER XXXIII. +<br />JANE’S BIRTHDAY</h2> +<p>For the next two days the boys searched high and +low, far and near, without finding the box. On the +morning of the third, which was Saturday, Jane +announced at breakfast that, as it was her birthday, +she wished to go down to the inn and get the mail. +The stage would not come up that way until the +following Monday. Instantly there was an uproar. +Julie, whose foot was nearly well again, hopped +around the table and threw her arms about her big +sister’s neck without fear of being rebuked because +the fresh muslin collar might be crushed. The older +girl slipped an arm lovingly about the child, who +stood with her cheek pressed against the soft dark +hair.</p> +<p>Dan reached a hand across the table. “Jane, so +it is! This is the wonderful day on which you are +eighteen. I congratulate you!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_266">[266]</div> +<p>Gerry, with a whoop, had pounced upon her, even +as Julie had done, without fear of rebuke. The +older girl had been so consistently loving during the +past few days that, childlike, they had accepted the +change as being natural and permanent. Dan smiled +happily at the group and in his eyes there was a +tenderness that his sister rejoiced to see. But the +lad who had been her chum since little childhood +also knew that Jane’s heart held a sorrow which +she was not sharing with him. That it had something +to do with Jean Sawyer he surmised, but believed +that it was because Jane still thought Mr. +Packard’s overseer liked Merry especially well.</p> +<p>“Let’s have a party!” Gerald shouted as he capered +about the room unable, it would seem, to +otherwise express his enthusiasm. “That would be +sport!” Dan agreed. Julie slipped from Jane’s encircling +arm. Clapping her hands, she sang out: +“Goodie! We’re going to have a party and maybe +there’ll be ice-cream.”</p> +<p>“There probably isn’t any to be had nearer than +Scarsburg,” Dan remarked. Then he grew thoughtful, +wondering how long the girl he loved would be +detained at the county seat, “along of school-work.”</p> +<p>As though voicing his thought, Gerald ceased his +antics to say earnestly: “It won’t be a party unless +Meg is at it.”</p> +<p>“And Jean Sawyer, too!” Julie put in. “Let’s +ask Meg and Jean to our party. You want them, +don’t you, Janey?”</p> +<p>The other girl smiled as she arose to clear the +breakfast table; then turned away, but not quickly +enough to hide the sudden tears from Dan. The +boy’s heart was sad. He also believed that Jean +Sawyer especially liked Merry, and, if this were +true, there was nothing for Jane to do but to try <i>not</i> +to care.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_267">[267]</div> +<p>Bob suggested that he and Dan go up to the Heger +place to get the horse. “Then the girls can take +turns walking and riding,” he ended. Merry seemed +to be very eager to go to the village, far down in +the valley. “I, also, am expecting some mail,” was +all that she would tell the others.</p> +<p>“I’m glad it’s such a shiny day,” Julie chirped. +“Birthdays ought to be all gold and blue, hadn’t +they ought to be, Janey?”</p> +<p>“What a tangled up sentence that is, dearie!” +The older girl tried to hide her own sorrow that she +need not depress the others who were all in a holiday +mood. “But I <i>do</i> believe that birthdays <i>ought</i> +to be sunny, for they are a chance to start life all +over.” Merry looked up brightly. “I love beginnings!” +she said, as she rolled her sleeves preparing +to wash the dishes. “Whatever the mistakes or +faults of the past have been, I feel that on New +Years and birthdays, and even on Mondays, I can +clean off the slate, so to speak, and start all over.” +When the two girls were alone in the kitchen, Merry +slipped an arm about her companion as she said, +“Dear Jane, I wish you would act more friendly +toward poor Jean Willoughby. I know that your +seeming to avoid him the other day, hurt him deeply.” +But Jane shook her head and in her eyes there +was an expression of suffering. “I can’t! Oh, I +can’t!” she said miserably. “Some day he might +find out how I had acted about father’s renouncing +his fortune, and then he would scorn me! I couldn’t +endure it, Merry. Oh, indeed, I couldn’t! I’m going +back East with you next week, and then I shall +never see Jean Sawyer.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_268">[268]</div> +<p>An hour later the young people started down the +mountain road, Julie riding on the horse as the +other two girls, dressed in their natty hiking costumes, +declared that they would rather walk. They +had decided to have lunch at the inn, for Mrs. +Bently was an excellent cook.</p> +<p>Jane covered her aching heart so well that Dan +believed after all he had been mistaken in thinking +that she was sorrowing for Jean. Her loving devotion +to her best friend plainly proved to him that +she was not at all jealous of Merry. Deciding that +he must have been wrong, he entered wholeheartedly +into the joyousness of the occasion and a jolly procession +it was that wended its way down the circling +road toward the hamlet of Redfords. At every turn +Dan glanced down to see if, by any chance, Meg +Heger might be returning to her home cabin. Her +foster-father had not known how long she would +have to stay at the Normal, where Teacher Bellows +had sent her for a time of intensive preparatory +work, but the lad hoped and believed that, even if +Meg would have to return to Scarsburg on the following +Monday, she would visit her home over the +week-end. Nor was he wrong, for, at the bend, +just above the village, Gerald, who had been racing +ahead, turned to shout through hands held trumpet-wise: +“Say kids, Meg Heger’s coming. Gee-golly! +Now she can come to the party!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_269">[269]</div> +<p>Luckily no one glanced at Dan, for his sudden +brightening expression would have revealed the +secret he wished to share with none but Meg. In +another few moments the girl, riding slowly up the +mountain road on her spotted pony, heard a chorus +of shouts, and glancing up, saw the young people on +the bend above waving caps and kerchiefs. What a +warmth there was in the heart of the girl who, +through all the years, had been without a companion +of her own age. And when at last they met, Jane +was the first to hurry forward with outstretched +hands. “We’ve missed our nearest neighbor and +we’re so glad you came home today,” she said in her +friendliest manner.</p> +<p>The beautiful girl looked from one to another of +the group and seeing in each face a joyful expression, +she asked: “What is it? Some special occasion?” +Gerald shouted, “Yo’ bet it is! It’s ol’ +Jane’s birthday!” Instantly he remembered the time +in the orchard at home when he had called his sister +“Ol’ Jane” and how scathingly he had been rebuked, +and he looked quickly, anxiously at the girl, but she +was laughingly saying, “You’re right, Gerald! +Eighteen <i>is</i> old! I feel as ancient as the hills.” +Then taking Meg’s free hand, for Julie was clinging +to the other, Jane said, “Won’t you turn about +and take lunch with us at the inn? It’s the first of +the birthday celebrations.” But the mountain girl +shook her head, smiling happily into her friend’s +eyes as she replied: “Ma Heger is expecting me +this noon and will have the things baked up that I +like best. I couldn’t disappoint her nor dear old Pap, +either.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_270">[270]</div> +<p>“But you’ll come later. We’ll be home by two +o’clock and then the real celebration is to begin,” +Jane begged, while Gerald said informingly, “We’re +going to do stunts. I mean something extra-different. +We don’t know what yet, but it’ll be something +awful jolly.”</p> +<p>Meg beamed down at the eager freckled face. “I +wouldn’t miss it for worlds. Of course I will be +there.” Dan, who had been standing silently at her +side said: “I will come up to your cabin for you. +Then you will know when we are back and ready to +begin the frolic, whatever it is to be.”</p> +<p>“Is Jean Sawyer coming?” Meg glanced at Jane +to inquire. The mountain girl noted the sudden +clouding of her new friend’s eyes and although the +reply was lightly given in the negative, Meg knew +that something was wrong. She had been so sure +that Jane and Jean liked each other especially well.</p> +<p>Glancing at the sun, which was nearing the zenith, +she exclaimed: “I must go now; my pony has had +a long walk today and I do not want him to climb +too rapidly.” Then with a direct glance out of her +dusky, long-lashed eyes at Dan, she said: “I’ll be +ready and waiting for you when you come.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_271">[271]</div> +<p>Mrs. Bently was indeed pleased when she heard +that she was to have so many hungry guests for +lunch and asked if she might have one hour for +preparation.</p> +<p>The young people were disappointed when they +learned that the mail had not arrived, but they had +not long to wait before the stage drew up in front +of the inn. Mr. Bently went out to get the leather +bag which both Jane and Merry hoped might contain +something of especial interest to them.</p> +<p>They all crowded around the tiny window in the +corner which served as postoffice and waited eagerly +while the innkeeper sorted out the papers, letters and +packages.</p> +<p>“Wall, now,” he beamed at them over his spectacles, +“if here ain’t that parcel ol’ Granny Peters +been waitin’ fer so long. Yarn’s in it,” he informed +his amused listeners. “Red, black and yellar. +Granny sends to the city for a fresh batch every +summer and knits things for Christmas presents. +I’ve had one o’ Granny Peters’ mufflers every year +for longer than I kin recollect.” He reached again +into the bag. “An’ here’s magazines enough to +start a shop. Them’s for the Packard ranch. They +must have a powerful lot o’ time for settin’ around +readin’, them two must.” Merry was watching +eagerly, for, on the very next package she was sure +that she saw her name. The postmaster looked at +it closely. Then he held it far off to get a different +angle, evidently hoping for enlightenment. Finally +he shook his head and tossed it to one side. “Reckon +thar’s been a mistake as to that parcel,” he said. +“Thar ain’t no Miss Marion Starr in these here +parts.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_272">[272]</div> +<p>“I’m Marion Starr,” that maiden informed him, +laughingly holding out her hand. But before the +postmaster would give up the parcel he presented +the girl with a paper to sign. “Reckon thar’s suthin’ +powerful valuable in that thar box,” he said, “bein’ +as it’s sent registered.”</p> +<p>Then he leaned on his elbows as though planning +to wait until Merry had opened her package before +he finished distributing the mail, but to his quite evident +disappointment, the girl slipped it into her +sweater coat pocket. “I know what’s in it,” she +said brightly. Jane, noting the radiant happiness +in her friend’s face, believed that she also knew, but +her attention was attracted again to the small window +near which she stood, for the postmaster was +touching her arm with a long letter. “Miss Jane +Abbott,” he said, adding, “Wall, golly be, you’re +sort o’ popular, I reckon. Here are three letters an’ +thar’s another that come in yesterday.”</p> +<p>“It’s Jane’s birthday,” Julie piped up informingly. +A month before the older girl would have rebuked +the younger for having been so familiar with one of +a class far beneath her. As it was, she accepted +smilingly the well meant remark. “Wall, do tell! +How old be yo’, Miss Jane? Not a day over sixteen, +jedgin’ by yer looks.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_273">[273]</div> +<p>As soon as the two girls could slip away from the +others, Jane led Merry into the deserted parlor of +the inn, where hair-cloth chairs and sofa, a marble-topped +table, and bright-colored prints on the wall +were revealed in the subdued light from windows +hung with heavy draperies.</p> +<p>When they were alone, Merry whirled and caught +Jane’s hands as she asked glowingly: “Can you guess +what’s in the box? I told mother to forward it.”</p> +<p>For answer Jane stooped and kissed the flushed +cheek of her friend. “Of course, I can guess,” she +replied. “It’s the ring Jean’s brother was to send +you from Paris.”</p> +<p>Merry soon had the small box unwrapped and a +dew-drop clear diamond was revealed in a setting of +quaint design. “Oh, Merry, how wonderfully beautiful +it is!” Jane said with sincere admiration. Her +shining-eyed friend slipped it on the finger for which +it was intended, then, smiling up at her companion, +she prophesied, “Some day another ring, as lovely +as this one, will make you my sister.”</p> +<p>There was a wistful expression in the dark eyes, +but Jane’s quiet reply was, “You are wrong, Merry. +Even if Jean thinks he cares for me, he would not, +if he knew, and what is more, I have no reason to +believe that he even likes me better than he does his +other girl friends.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_274">[274]</div> +<p>Merry, knowing that time alone could tell whether +or not she was a prophet, changed the subject by +asking: “From whom are your letters, dear? How +selfish I have been, opening my box first when it is +<i>your</i> birthday.” Jane glanced at the top envelope, +then tore it open with breathless eagerness.</p> +<p>Merry surmised, and correctly, that the letter was +from Jean Sawyer. It was the one Mr. Bently had +taken from a pigeon-hole where it had been since the +day before. It did not take long for Jane to read it, +and when she looked up there was an expression of +happiness shining through the tears that had come. +Then suddenly and most unexpectedly, the girl sank +down in the stiff chair by the marble-topped table +and bending her head on her arms, she sobbed bitterly. +Merry went to her and putting an arm about +her, she implored: “Don’t, don’t cry, dearie. It will +make your eyes red and the others will wonder. Tell +me what is in the letter and let us try to think what +it is best to do. Is it from Jean?”</p> +<p>Jane lifted her head and wiped her eyes. Then +she held the letter out for her friend to read. There +were few words in it, but they told how sincerely +unhappy the lad was because Jane seemed not to +wish for his friendship. Jean had written: “All I +can think of is that in some way I have hurt you, +and that I do so want to be forgiven. At least, be +frank and tell me just why you do not wish my +friendship.”</p> +<p>“Why don’t you tell him, dearie? If it would be +hard to talk it over with him, write a little letter now +and leave it until someone comes for the Packard +ranch mail. Will you do that if I get the materials?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_275">[275]</div> +<p>Jane nodded miserably. “Yes, I would rather +write it. Then I will go back with you next week +and I shall never again see Jean Sawyer.”</p> +<p>Merry procured from Mr. Bently the paper and +envelope, while Bob willingly loaned his fountain +pen. A glance at the big, loud-ticking clock on the +wall showed that there was still twenty minutes before +Mrs. Bently would be ready for them.</p> +<p>Merry thoughtfully left Jane alone, nor did she +ask what her friend had written when, at last, she +joined the others, who were seated in the cane-bottomed +chairs on the front veranda of the inn.</p> +<p>The letter Jane had given to Mr. Bently, asking +him to place it with the rest of the mail for the +Packard ranch.</p> +<p>The boys sprang up when Jane appeared, and Bob, +being nearest, offered his chair with a flourish. +Merry glanced anxiously at her friend, but the beautiful +face betrayed nothing. “Thank you,” Jane replied +with a smile at Bob, who had perched upon the +rail near. Then, to Dan, she said: “Brother, I +have such a nice letter from Dad and one from +grandmother, but best of all is the check in Aunt +Jane’s letter, because now I can repay the debt that +I owe our dear, wonderful Meg.”</p> +<p>Before she could say more, Mrs. Bently appeared +in the doorway, her face rosy, her spotless blue apron +wound about her hands. “The birthday lunch is +ready to be dished up,” she announced. Instantly +Bob was on his feet, making a deep bow before Jane +and holding out his arm as he inquired, “May I +have the great pleasure of escorting the guest of +honor?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_276">[276]</div> +<p>Gerald, taking the cue, bowed before Merry and +Julie, laughing up at Dan, said ungrammatically but +happily: “Me’n you are all that’s left.” The tall +boy caught the little girl by one hand as he joyfully +replied: “Mrs. Tom Thumb and The Living Skeleton +will end the procession.”</p> +<p>Jane, smiling over her shoulder, said rebukingly, +“Don’t call yourself that, brother. You’re not nearly +as thin as you were.” When the dining-room +was reached, the young people were surprised and +pleased. “Say, boy!” was Bob’s comment “Mrs. +Bently, you’ve decked it out in grand style.”</p> +<p>The table to which they had been led was indeed +resplendent with the best of everything that the +good woman possessed. On a real damask table-cloth +was glass that sparkled, while a pink rose pattern +wound about plates and cups. “They’re my +wedding presents,” the comely woman told them as +she beamed her pleasure. “I never use them except +for extra occasions like Christmas and——”</p> +<p>“Birthdays,” Gerald put in. Then, after the boys +had moved the chairs out for the girls and all were +seated, they glanced about the room. Two cowboys +were at a table in a corner, and Jane recognized that +one of them was from the Packard ranch. +“He’ll take back their mail,” she thought, “and so +this very day Jean Sawyer will know all. He will +never, never want to see me after he reads what I +have written.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_277">[277]</div> +<p>The menu for that birthday lunch was indeed an +excellent one, but the children, who sat next to each +other, were eagerly anticipating the dessert. “What +do you ’spect it will be?” Gerald inquired softly, +and Julie whispered back: “I know what I wish +it was. It begins with I. C.”</p> +<p>“You might as well wish for something else,” +Dan, who had overheard, replied, but when Mrs. +Bently appeared, on her tray there were six dishes +heaped high with chocolate ice cream.</p> +<p>“Why, Mrs. Bently, are you a miracle worker?” +Jane, pleased for the children’s sake, inquired. +Laughingly the woman confessed that the ice-cream +had been the reason she had asked for one hour in +which to prepare. “So many folks motorin’ past +want ice-cream,” she told them, “and so Pa Bently +fetched a new contraption from Denver last time he +was up there, an’ it’ll freeze ice-cream in one hour +easy.” Then she disappeared to soon return with +a mountain of a chocolate layer cake. “You’ll have +to get along without candles, Miss Jane,” the good +woman said, “an’ the frostin’ ain’t very hard yet, +but I reckon it’ll pass.”</p> +<p>The girl, who had felt scornful of these “natives,” +as she had called them only a short month before, +was deeply touched and she exclaimed with real feeling: +“Mrs. Bently, I do indeed appreciate all the +trouble that you have taken. I have never had a +nicer party.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_278">[278]</div> +<p>A moment later Jane saw the two cowboys +leave the dining-room. Almost unconsciously she +pressed her hand against her heart to still its rapid +beating as her panicky thought was questioning: +“Do you really want to send that letter to Jean +Sawyer? There is yet time to get it. Do you want +him to know just how dishonorable you were about +the money?” She half rose, then sank down again, +for through the swinging door she had seen Mr. +Bently handing the Packard mail pouch to the cowboy. +It was too late. Then, chancing to meet +Merry’s troubled glance, Jane smiled as she said +with an effort at gaiety: “Gerald, if all of your +wishes are to be fulfilled as magically as this one has +been, you are to be a lucky boy.”</p> +<p>“There’s two things we’ve wished for lately that +don’t happen, aren’t there, Danny?” The small boy +looked up at his big brother, who smiled down, as +be replied, “I suppose you mean that we have not +found Meg Heger’s box. What is the other unmaterialized +wish, Gerry?”</p> +<p>The boy’s wide eyes expressed astonishment. +“Why, Dan Abbott, I do believe you’ve forgotten +that we wished we might find the lost gold mine.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_279">[279]</div> +<p>The older boy laughingly confessed that was true. +Dan had found a gold mine that he valued much +more than the one to which Gerald referred. It was +Mrs. Bently who said, “It wasn’t a lost mine, exactly, +dearie. The vein they’d been workin’ petered +out, although there are folks who reckon that vein +branched off somewhars, but the miners went away +hot-foot when the Bald Mountain Strike was made.” +Then she concluded: “There’s not much use huntin’ +for that lost vein, how-some-ever. Time and +again there’s been wanderin’ miners diggin’ around +in them parts, but they allays give up and go away.”</p> +<p>Then, as the young people rose, they each expressed +some characteristic praise for the meal and +indeed Mrs. Bently was almost as pleased about it +as her guests had been. The bill, they found, was +surprisingly small. Then, after bidding the two queer +characters goodbye, the six merrymakers started up +the trail with Julie again on the horse. The other +girls took turns riding with her and so, at about +two, they reached the Abbott cabin. Dan climbed +to the back of the mare. Calling that he would soon +return, he rode up the mountain toward Meg’s home. +How very many things had happened in the few +weeks they had been in the mountains, he thought. +If only Jane could be happy, Dan assured himself, +he would be supremely so. But poor Jane found, as +the moments passed, that she regretted more and +more having sent the letter, but she would not confide +this to Merry, whose suggestion it had been. +Meanwhile the letter had reached its destination and +had been read by Jean Sawyer.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_280">[280]</div> +<h2 id="c34"><br />CHAPTER XXXIV. +<br />SECRETS</h2> +<p>Merry glanced anxiously at Jane when they were +alone, Bob having gone with the children for a hike +along the brook.</p> +<p>“Dear,” she said, slipping an arm about her +friend, “you are regretting having taken my advice, +aren’t you?”</p> +<p>They were in the bedroom which they shared, removing +their tams and sweaters when, to Merry’s +surprise and grief, Jane threw herself down on the +bed and sobbed as though her heart would break. +“Oh, I can’t bear the humiliation of it all! How I +wish we could leave for the East today, this very +minute. While I am here, I may meet Jean +Sawyer, and if he looks at me scornfully, as of +course he will, I would rather be dead, honestly I +would!”</p> +<p>Merry indeed regretted that she had asked Jane +to send the letter which was causing her so much +unhappiness. “Try to forget about it, Janey, just +for today,” she implored, “while we are celebrating +your eighteenth birthday.” Then an inspiration +came to her and she asked: “What would your +mother have done if she had had a sorrow that +would sadden others if they knew about it?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_281">[281]</div> +<p>Jane sat up on the side of the bed, and, after +glancing at the miniature on the table near, she +turned and looked thoughtfully out of the wide window +and into the sun-shimmering valley. Merry +wondered what her reply would be. A moment +later she knew, for Jane sprang up and after kissing +the golden-haired girl impulsively, she caught her +by the hand, saying: “I’m going out to the brook +to wash my face in that clear, cold water, just as +Dan and I did the first day that we came. And I’ll +try to wash away all selfish grievings and to think, +if I can, only of the happiness of the guests at my +birthday party. That’s what my mother would have +done. I am so glad that Dan told me that we can +choose a model or an ideal and carve our own characters +like it and I’m grateful to you for having recalled +it to me, because, for the moment, I had forgotten.” +The girls took their towels and hand in +hand they skipped around to the brook. Jane knelt +by the big boulder and splashed the cold spring water +over her tear-stained eyes. When she looked up her +wet cheeks were rosy. And later, when they had +gone back to the bedroom to complete their preparations +for the party, Merry begged Jane to wear a +wine-colored dress which was especially becoming +to her. It was of soft, clinging crepe de chine and +had a deep collar of Irish crochet. Then they went +into the living-room to await the coming of their +guest. Merry, whose dainty blue summer dress +made her lovely eyes the color of a June sky, sat +smiling admiringly at her friend. “Jane,” she said, +“you are wonderful. But there is just one more +touch needed to make you look a bit more partified. +I will get it.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_282">[282]</div> +<p>Springing up, Merry went into their bedroom, +took from her suitcase a box which contained a +beautiful scarlet rose with satin and velvet petals. +This she pinned into Jane’s soft, dark hair just +above her left ear. Standing off to note the effect, +Merry declared that her friend was certainly the +most beautiful girl she had ever seen. A short +month before Jane would have considered this praise +her just due, but, so greatly had she changed, her +reply was given in entire sincerity: “I may be the +most beautiful to you, because you love me, but Meg +Heger is really the more beautiful.” Before Merry +could reply, there was an excited shouting without. +Both girls leaped to the open door. They saw Meg +Heger riding on her spotted pony, while Dan on the +big brown mare was at her side, but they were conversing +quietly. The halloos came from the brook. +Turning to look in that direction, the girls saw +Julie, Bob and Gerald racing toward them as fast +as they could over the rocky way, and it was quite +evident that they were all very much excited. “I +wonder what they have seen?” Jane said.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_283">[283]</div> +<p>Before the children and Bob could reach the +cabin, Meg and Dan had climbed the stairway and +had been greeted by the two girls.</p> +<p>The trapper’s daughter wore a simply fashioned +Scotch plaid gingham dress in which many colors +were mingled.</p> +<p>They all turned toward the brook when the three, +who were racing toward them, neared.</p> +<p>“What, ho!” Dan called gayly, and Jane noted +that never before had she seen in her brother’s face +an expression of such radiant happiness. “Did you +three see a bear? It never will do for us to go back +East without having at least sighted a grizzly.”</p> +<p>To the surprise of the four who awaited them, +the newcomers became suddenly embarrassed, and +even Bob acted as though he hardly knew what to +say, which was quite unusual in so straightforward +and impulsive a lad.</p> +<p>“Dan,” he said, “may I speak with you a moment?”</p> +<p>The older boy walked away from the curious +group of girls.</p> +<p>“We did not know that Meg Heger had come,” +Bob began, “and we were just going to call out that +we had found another place where we would like to +look for the lost box. It’s such a queer place, Dan, +but it is one that as yet we have not investigated. +Can’t we get away from the girls somehow? Gerald +and Julie and I want to show the spot to <i>you</i> at +least.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_284">[284]</div> +<p>“Why, I presume so,” Dan agreed, and after explaining +to the three older girls that Bob and the +youngsters wished to show him something, he followed +them back along the brook. It was the way +that he had gone on that day when he had first +visited the Heger cabin. When they reached the +waterfall which Dan had thought so pretty, they +climbed down to the red rock basin into which it +fell. Excitedly, Gerald pointed back of the tumbling +water.</p> +<p>“Look-it, Dan!” he fairly shouted. “See that +little cave opening in there! Doesn’t it look to you +as if it had been made with a pickaxe? Bob thinks +it does.”</p> +<p>Dan looked through the transparent sheet of hurrying +water and smilingly shook his head as he replied:</p> +<p>“I don’t suppose that a human being has ever been +through that crevice, and, moreover, I don’t quite +see how we can investigate, do you, Bob?”</p> +<p>Dan, noting the disappointed expression on his +small brother’s face, turned toward the older boy.</p> +<p>“We sort of had it figured out that Gerald could +stand back of the waterfall and then he could see +better whether that is just a crevice in the rocks or +the mouth of a cave.”</p> +<p>The youngest boy looked up eagerly. “You +know, Dan, I fetched along my bathing suit. +Mayn’t I go back to the cabin and put it on? Mayn’t +I, Dan?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_285">[285]</div> +<p>“Why, of course, if you wish, but perhaps you +had better say nothing to the girls about it. I do +not like to have Meg know that we are searching for +that box, since there is no real likelihood of our +finding it.”</p> +<p>Luckily the girls were not in sight, and so no +questions were asked of the small boy, who dived +into his own room, donned his bathing suit and +raced away, without having been seen. Dan held +the younger boy’s hand in a tight clasp as Gerald +went down into the clear, cold pool.</p> +<p>“Now, hold your breath and step up on that ledge +back of the waterfall,” the older brother advised.</p> +<p>Julie watched wide-eyed, almost frightened.</p> +<p>“Oh, Danny,” she suddenly exclaimed, “couldn’t +there be something terrible hiding in that crack?”</p> +<p>But before Dan could assure her that it was not +likely, Gerald had leaped back into the rock basin, +crying: “It’s a cave in there! Oh, boy! Shall +I go in it, Dan; shall I?”</p> +<p>“Not alone!” The older boy was almost sorry +that the crevice had been found. “Bob,” he said, +turning to the lad who stood meditatively looking +at the waterfall, “I don’t believe that it would be +wise to permit Gerald to go into that cave. He +might suddenly drop into a pit filled with water. +Let’s give it up, shall we, and go back to the girls?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_286">[286]</div> +<p>It was plain to see that Bob was disappointed, but +his reply was: “Of course, Gerald ought not to go +into that cave, if it is one. I had no intention of +permitting him to do more than see if it really is an +opening. I also have a bathing suit and a flashlight. +I never will be satisfied unless I investigate, but of +course I will not take a step inside unless it is solid +rock.”</p> +<p>Against his better judgment, Dan said, “Well, go +ahead, Bob, if you want to.”</p> +<p>The girls had evidently sauntered away from the +cabin, for Bob did not see them when he went there +to don his bathing suit. He rejoined the others in +a very short time. Having been an athlete in college, +he swung himself down and back of the waterfall +without aid. Then flashing the light into the +crevice, he sang out: “There’s a solid floor, all +right, Dan, but I think Gerald had better not come.”</p> +<p>For a long five minutes the group on the outside +waited, listening with ever-increasing anxiety. Dan +thought that he would be sincerely glad when this +foolhardy adventure was over. At last he called:</p> +<p>“Bob, haven’t you investigated enough? Come +on out!”</p> +<p>But there was no reply. Another five minutes +elapsed and Dan was just about to have Gerald +again climb back of the waterfall to look through +the crevice, when Bob appeared, carrying a pickaxe +and a shovel, rusted and dirt encrusted.</p> +<p>“What do you say to that?” he exulted, as he +plunged through the fall and waded out of the red +rock pool.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_287">[287]</div> +<p>Dan was amazed. “Bob,” he exclaimed, “you +were right about one thing at least. The cave was +made with a pick. Was it large?”</p> +<p>“No; that is, not wide. It is a narrow tunnel +which stops abruptly. I found these tools at the +very end.”</p> +<p>Dan lifted his shovel and looked at the handle. +Then he examined it more closely. Picking up a +stone, he knocked away the dirt with which it was +crusted. A name was carved in the handle. Letter +by letter was deciphered and Dan wrote each in his +small notebook. When they had reached the last, +Bob asked: “Is it a message telling where the +box is?”</p> +<p>“No,” Dan replied, “merely the name and address +of the owner of the shovel and pick, I judge. A +French name, Giguette. Yes, that is it, Franc +Giguette.”</p> +<p>“But there is more to it, Danny.” Gerald was +trying to see the pad. “What’s the rest?”</p> +<p>“Where the miner lived, I suppose,” Dan told +him. “Cabin 10, I think it is.”</p> +<p>Bob leaped around wild with joy. “Talk about a +clue! Why, that’s the number of the cabin at Crazy +Creek where this miner lived. Can’t we go right +over and hunt for it, Dan? Do you suppose that +the girls would care if Gerald and I go? We aren’t +at all necessary to the birthday party. You and +Julie are.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_288">[288]</div> +<p>“Of course, you may do as you wish,” Dan acquiesced. +“It’s a long way to the camp, though.”</p> +<p>“Not if we can ride,” Gerry put in. “You and +Meg came down on the horses. Where are they?”</p> +<p>“Back at the Heger cabin by this time,” the older +brother replied. “Meg turned her pony’s head up +the mountain road and said, ‘Go home, Pal,’ and the +brown mare seemed to be quite content to follow. +Perhaps you will overtake them.”</p> +<p>Bob caught hold of Gerald’s hand as he said: +“We’ll have to hustle, old man, if we get back before +dark.”</p> +<p>Gerry glanced at Julie to see if she were terribly +disappointed, but the small girl smiled, though a +bit waveringly. Dan, noting this, spoke for her: +“Julie and I will stay at the cabin. It would hardly +do for us all to leave Jane on her birthday.”</p> +<p>These two sauntered slowly along the brook, and +before they reached the cabin they saw Bob and +Gerald, fully clothed, starting to run up the mountain +road.</p> +<p>Dan had little expectation that they would find the +box of which the old Indian had told Meg, but he +knew that Bob would not be able to enjoy the quiet +party when be might be out following a clue.</p> +<p>The girls were seated on the rustic front porch +when Dan and Julie appeared. Jane smiled a greeting +to them, then asked: “Do tell us what has happened +to Bob and Gerry. They dashed in and out +again, nor would they stop when we called to ask +where they were going?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_289">[289]</div> +<p>“Boys will be boys,” was Dan’s evasive answer +as he sank down on the porch step and smiled up at +Meg. Then he heard his questioning thought asking: +“Is it possible that Meg’s real name is +Giguette?”</p> +<p>The five who remained at the cabin that afternoon +found it difficult to converse idly, for the +thoughts of each kept returning to a subject of great +interest to that individual. Meg’s good friend +Teacher Bellows had told her that as soon as her +examinations were completed he would accompany +her and Pa Heger to a distant valley in the mountains +where he had heard that the Ute tribe was +then dwelling. They believed the finding of the box +to be impossible since all through the years the old +Indian had searched for it.</p> +<p>Merry, who had slipped her ring back into its case +before any of her friends, except Jane, had seen it, +was wondering when would be the best time to put +it on her finger and announce to them all that she +was to become the wife of Jean’s brother. She had +wanted to wait until Jean Willoughby should be with +them, but when that would be, she could not conjecture.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_290">[290]</div> +<p>Dan and Julie were very much excited over the +discovery of the pick and shovel, and the lad could +see by the small girl’s manner that she was finding +the secret almost more than she could keep. Every +now and then, in childish fashion, Julie would look +over at her brother, hump her shoulders and put a +finger on her lips. Jane noted this, but was too miserably +unhappy to wonder about little girl secrets. +But she was being true to her resolve. She was ever +keeping the memory of her mother in thought, and +trying to be interested in what her companions +were saying.</p> +<p>It was indeed a long afternoon, tense with suppressed +excitement. At five-thirty, when the boys +had not returned, Dan began to regret that he had +granted the permission, for, of course, Gerry would +not have gone to Crazy Creek Camp if his older +brother had thought it unwise, and Bob, in all probability, +would not have gone alone.</p> +<p>Jane, after glancing at her wrist watch, sprang +up, announcing with evident gaiety: “Merry and +I have a supper planned.”</p> +<p>Then, turning to the younger girl, she invited: +“Julie, dear, wouldn’t you like to set the table and +make it look real partified?”</p> +<p>“Oh, goodie!” The small girl was glad to be +asked to accompany the older two and away she +skipped. Meg and Dan were left alone, for their +offers of assistance had been refused.</p> +<p>“Suppose we climb to Bald Rock and watch the +sunset,” Dan suggested. The girl, smiling up at +him, arose at once. As soon as they had started to +climb along the singing brook, Meg looked at her +companion inquiringly. “Dan,” she said, “won’t +you share your secret with me?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_291">[291]</div> +<p>“Perhaps,” the lad countered, “if you will share +yours with me.” A merry, rippling laugh, as silvery +as the song of the brook they were following, +was the girl’s first response. Then, “We must be +mind readers,” she told him.</p> +<p>Dan glanced down into the dusky uplifted face +and in his eyes there was an expression almost of +adoration. “Meg,” he said, “doesn’t that alone +prove that we are perfect comrades? We can sense +each other’s unspoken thought.” Then, with greater +seriousness: “I have hesitated about telling you, +and moreover you have been in Scarsburg during +the past week, but it is your right to know. Bob +and Gerald and I have been searching for the box +of which the dying Indian told you.”</p> +<p>“Why, Dan,” the girl’s surprise was unmistakable, +“it is but wasting time. If the old Ute could +not find it, surely it is not findable. There is a +simpler way to learn of my parentage, and one +which Pa Heger, Teacher Bellows and I are planning +to undertake.” Then she told of the journey +into the mountains upon which they expected to +start when her examinations were completed. While +Meg talked, she realized that Dan had still more to +tell, and so she asked: “Where did you boys +search, and did you find anything at all?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_292">[292]</div> +<p>“Yes, Meg, we did unearth something and that is +why Bob and Gerry hurried away in so mysterious +a fashion.” Then the lad told about the dirt-crusted +shovel and pick and of the carved name.</p> +<p>“Giguette!” the girl repeated as though she were +searching her memory for something forgotten. +Then lifting a radiant face, she exclaimed: “Dan +Abbott, that is my name. I was only a little thing, +less than three, when someone taught me to lisp that +my name was ‘Lalie Giguette’ when anyone asked. +Until now, I had completely forgotten.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_293">[293]</div> +<h2 id="c35"><br />CHAPTER XXXV. +<br />JANE AND JEAN</h2> +<p>Meanwhile the three girls in the kitchen were +preparing the evening meal with much nonsensical +chatter, but Jane was finding the strain almost more +than she could bear. She felt that she might overcome +her desire to go to her room and sob her heart +out, if only she could get away by herself for a few +moments, and so she suddenly, exclaimed, “The one +thing needed for our table is a bouquet. I saw a +clump of the prettiest wild flowers yesterday, and if +you girls will excuse me I’ll go and get them.” +Merry at once saw through the ruse. Jane’s flushed +cheeks, quivering lips and tear-brimmed eyes told the +story, and so she urged, “Do go, Jane, before it is +dark. The cool mountain air will do you good.” +She did not offer to accompany her friend, realizing +that she wanted to be alone.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_294">[294]</div> +<p>Jane left the cabin, and after crossing the brook, +she hurried toward the cleft in a rock where she had +seen the flowers of which she had spoken, but instead +of gathering them, she threw herself down on +a wide, flat boulder and sobbed bitterly. She did +not hear footsteps hurrying toward her, but suddenly +she was conscious that someone had taken her +hand and was holding it with great tenderness. “Of +course it is Dan,” she thought, without glancing up. +Dear old Dan who always understood. But in another +second, when the someone spoke, Jane knew +that it was Jean Willoughby and not her brother. +Instantly she was on her feet, her cheeks flaming, +her hand pressed over her pounding heart. There +was a wild, frightened expression in her eyes and +she was about to run, but she could not, for two +strong arms caught and held her, as the lad implored, +“Jane, dear, dear Jane, don’t spurn me any +longer. Don’t you understand that I love you? The +very fact that you could write that letter to me reveals +the true nobility of your soul. I don’t blame +you in the least for finding it hard, at first, to adjust +yourself to the changed conditions, but when it +came to the testing, you would have told your +father to do just what he did.” Then, putting a +hand over her quivering lips, he begged, “Don’t +let’s talk about that subject now. There’s something +ever so much more interesting that I want to say. +Jane, can you care enough for me to promise to be +my wife?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_295">[295]</div> +<p>The sudden change from misery to joy had been +so great that the girl could hardly believe that it +was real, and she gazed uncomprehendingly into the +eager, handsome face of the lad. Then slowly she +read in his glowing eyes the truth of all he had said, +and she smiled tremulously. It was enough for +Jean Willoughby. Joyfully he cried, “You <i>do</i> care, +Jane!” Then taking from his pocket a ring, he +added (and there was infinite tenderness in his +voice), “That last summer on the coast of Maine, +when little mother and I were alone together, she +gave me this for <i>you</i>, dearest girl.”</p> +<p>Again there were sudden tears in the dark eyes +that were lifted to his. “Not for <i>me</i>, Jean. Your +mother would have chosen a girl who could do useful +things; pare potatoes, sew and darn.”</p> +<p>The lad laughed happily, and catching the slim +left hand, he slipped the ring on the finger for which +it was intended. Then he kissed each of the five +finger tips as he confessed, “It may seem inconsistent, +but I want these lovely hands kept stainless. +We will have a Chinaman to pare and cook.” Then +slowly they walked toward the cabin.</p> +<p>Meg and Dan had returned and with Merry and +Julie were standing on the rustic front porch wondering +where Jane had wandered, and why she remained +away so long. When they saw the two coming +toward them, hand in hand, their faces, even in +the dusk, that had so quickly fallen, revealing their +secret, there was joy in the hearts of Merry and +Dan. Jane would no longer be unhappy. When +they had entered the lighted living-room of the +cabin, Merry exclaimed as she held out her left +hand, “I also am to be congratulated. I am to be +married to Jean’s brother on the first day of September.” +“Let’s make it a double wedding, Jane, +can’t we?” her fiance implored.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_296">[296]</div> +<p>“I’d like to!” The radiant girl glanced at Dan, +then added, “If my big brother will give his consent.” +“Indeed you have it, Jane,” that lad said +heartily. “I know that I am voicing our father’s +sentiments-to-be, when I say that I am proud to +welcome Jean Willoughby into our family.”</p> +<p>Of their own secret Meg and Dan had decided to +say nothing.</p> +<p>Then remembering the commonplaces, Jane said: +“We’re waiting supper for the boys. Where did +they go and why?” She looked at both Julie and +Dan. “You two surely know, since you were with +them. It is nearly seven and getting dark rapidly. +Aren’t you anxious about them, Dan?”</p> +<p>“I shall be if they do not soon return,” the lad +replied. “Perhaps we had better have the good +supper you have prepared. There is no need to spoil +it for all.”</p> +<p>“I’m not a bit hungry,” Jane said and Merry +teased: “Why, Janey, you must be in love.”</p> +<p>The table had been placed in the middle of the +cabin living-room. Over it hung a drop lamp with +a crimson shade and, as there was a log burning on +the hearth, the room presented a most festive appearance. +It was with sincere regret that the six +young people seated themselves, leaving two chairs +vacant. All during the meal, at intervals, they +paused to listen, hoping that they would hear the +halloos of the returning boys.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_297">[297]</div> +<p>Dan was becoming thoroughly alarmed and, at +last, after a consultation with Meg, he turned to the +others and said: “We have decided to tell you the +mission on which the boys started out so hurriedly.”</p> +<p>Of course Jane and Merry had surmised that they +had gone in quest of the hidden box, but they knew +nothing of the finding of the pick, shovel and carved +name, and they were much interested.</p> +<p>At eight o’clock Jean Willoughby rose. “I had +better be going,” he said. “I have a long hike ahead +of me.” But Dan protested. “Indeed you shall not +go tonight. Mr. Packard will not be worried if you +remain with us, will he? I may need your help to +locate the boys if they do not soon return.”</p> +<p>That settled the matter, for Jean had not wished +to leave. Another hour passed, and Dan, who had +really become very anxious, arose, but before he +could get his coat and cap, the halloos for which +they had long listened were heard.</p> +<p>Leaping to the door, Dan threw it open and a +welcoming light streamed out into the darkness.</p> +<p>Bob and Gerry, looking almost exhausted, staggered +into the room (although Dan well knew that +it was for effect) and sank down on the vacant +chairs. “Say, talk about a climb! We certainly +had a steep one!” Bob gasped.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_298">[298]</div> +<p>The young people at once noted that neither boy +was carrying a box and so they decided that it had +not been found. “It isn’t such a terrible steep climb +to Crazy Creek Camp,” Dan commented. “Half of +the way is down grade.”</p> +<p>The two younger boys exchanged glances that +were hard for the watchers to interpret. Then Bob +sprang up, exclaiming: “Come on, kid. Let’s wash +and have some of the good grub.”</p> +<p>“You must be nearly starved,” Jane said, also +rising and going toward the kitchen. “We are +keeping your share of the party warm.”</p> +<p>When they were gone, Dan said softly: “I’m +inclined to believe that the boys have something of +a surprising nature to tell us, but after Gerry’s usual +fashion he wants to keep us guessing for a time.”</p> +<p>The two mountain climbers were indeed hungry +and they ate heartily, talking aggravatingly of +everything but the matter which they knew was uppermost +in the minds of their companions. When +they declared that another bite could not be taken, +the table was cleared, magazines and books again +spread upon it, and then Dan, feeling it unfair to +Meg to keep her longer in suspense, exclaimed, +“Now, boys, tell us your adventures.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_299">[299]</div> +<h2 id="c36"><br />CHAPTER XXXVI. +<br />MYSTERIES HALF SOLVED</h2> +<p>“It didn’t take us long to get to Crazy Creek +Camp, I can tell you.” Bob, glancing from one +to another of the group about the fireplace, saw +in each face an eager interest in the tale he had to +tell. But in Meg’s face there was more than interest, +and suddenly Bob realized that the finding of +the lost box was of vital importance to the mountain +girl, while, to him, it had been merely an exciting +adventure, the mystery of which had lured +him on.</p> +<p>After a thoughtful moment, he continued: “We +found most of the cabins unnumbered, or, if they +had once been so marked, time and storms had done +away with the numerals. But we did find a tunnel +above which the figures 10 had been chipped out of +solid stone. The opening of the small tunnel was +closed, however, by red rocks that had fallen evidently +in a landslide. I suggested that we lift them +away one by one, but Gerry thought it a waste of +time as the carving on the handle had been ‘Cabin +10’ and not Tunnel 10. But I was not so sure, and +so we went to work and in half an hour we had an +opening large enough to enter one at a time. I had +my flashlight with me, and stooping, I looked in. +Strangely enough, I saw a faint gleam of daylight +at the other end.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_300">[300]</div> +<p>Bob paused and glanced about the group to make +sure that they were all properly curious before he +continued: “The tunnel was not high enough for +even Gerry to stand in erect and so on all fours we +crept through it. Since the opening had been +stopped up I did not fear meeting wild creatures, +but as we neared the other end, the daylight grew +brighter and then to our great surprise we came out +upon a wide ledge which hung there in the most +dizzying manner. On it was a rustic cabin, and +back of that a fenced-in dooryard. Surely, we decided, +this was Cabin 10. There was no way of +reaching it except through the tunnel, as the mountain +wall was almost perpendicular above and below +the ledge.</p> +<p>“We were greatly elated and at once tried the door +and found it unlocked. There was only one room +and it looked like the den of a student. Books and +papers were everywhere in evidence; dust-covered +and yellowed with the years. On the desk a bottle +of dried ink was uncorked and a rusted pen lying +there seemed to indicate that someone had suddenly +stopped writing, and, for some reason, had never +again taken up the pen. As further proof of this +we found a letter which was lying near, with even +the last sentence unfinished. It is addressed to ‘My +dear petite daughter—Eulalie.’ We didn’t stop to +read it because it was getting late and so we started +for home.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_301">[301]</div> +<p>Meg, no longer able to keep silent, leaned forward, +asking eagerly, “Bob, may I see the letter +that my father left for me?”</p> +<p>“<i>Your father?</i>” Jane and Merry exclaimed almost +simultaneously. Even then Meg’s calm was +not outwardly disturbed.</p> +<p>“Yes,” she said, turning her wonderful eyes toward +her friends. In them the girls saw an expression +of radiant happiness which told them more than +words could how great was Meg’s joy that she had +at last learned who her father really was. Jane +and Merry were perplexed. How did Meg know? +Their question was answered before it was asked. +“I should have told you girls this afternoon. When +Dan spoke the name that he had found carved on +the handle of the old shovel, instantly memory recalled +to me that, as a very small child, I had been +taught to lisp that my name was Lalie Giguette.”</p> +<p>“O Meg, what a beautiful name. May we begin +at once to call you Eulalie?” The mountain girl +smiled at Jane. “If you wish, dear friend.” She +then held out her hand for the letter which Bob had +gone to his sweater coat to procure.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_302">[302]</div> +<p>“We found several books with your father’s +name on them as author,” the boy informed her, +and the girl looked up brightly to say, “O, I am so +glad! Did you bring them?”</p> +<p>“No,” Bob replied, “we thought perhaps you +would like to visit the cabin and find everything +there just as he left it.”</p> +<p>“I would indeed!” Meg rose, and going to the +center table, she spread the letter under the hanging +lamp. After a moment’s scrutiny, she turned toward +the silently waiting group. “It is clearly written,” +she said. “I will read it aloud:</p> +<p>“‘To my dear petite daughter Eulalie,’” Meg +read,</p> +<p>“‘Poor little wee lassie! Not yet three and no +one to care for you. I shall try to get back to New +York before the end comes, but there is no one, not +even in France, where I lived as a boy. All—all are +dead.</p> +<p>“‘But you will want to know much and I will be +gone when you are old enough to question. When +I was twenty-one I came to New York and married +a girl who was as all alone as I. We were very +happy, but my loved one, your mother, died when +you were born. For a long year I grieved until my +health was broken. For your sake, Lalie, I followed +my doctor’s advice and came to the Rocky +Mountains. I was about to put you in a convent +school, but you clung to me and would not loosen +your hold. I feared I had not long to live and I did +so want you with me, hence I brought you here. +But if I do not get stronger soon, I will take you +back to the kind sisters, who will make you a home.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_303">[303]</div> +<p>“‘We reached this deserted mining camp after +weeks of wandering and I built for us a cabin where +we could be alone and unmolested. At last my lost +ambition had returned. I wrote the book of my +dreams and sent it to my publisher in New York. I +hope, dear little daughter, that it will be a success +for your sake, but as yet I do not know.’”</p> +<p>Meg looked up and her dusky eyes were filled with +tears. “That is all on the first sheet,” she said. +“The next was written at a later date.” Then again +she read:</p> +<p>“‘A tribe of Ute Indians has taken possession of +the deserted cabins in the camp, but, as there is little +game hereabouts, I doubt if they will long remain.’</p> +<p>“Two weeks later: ‘I have not been as well as I +had hoped to be. I did very wrong to spend so +many hours writing my dream book, but now that +it is completed I will write no more until I am +stronger. Every day with a pick and shovel I dig +in different places for recreation and exercise, endeavoring +to find the fabled gold mine, the vein of +which was lost, or so I have been told by an occasional +miner who has passed this way. Before +starting out I take you each afternoon to the cabin +of a most kindly squaw who understands some English +and since I pay her well, she is willing to care +for you during my absence.’”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_304">[304]</div> +<p>For a long moment Meg ceased reading and Dan, +noting that her hands trembled, went to her side, +saying with tender solicitude: “Dear girl, what +is it? I fear that reading aloud this letter from +your father is very hard for you. Wouldn’t you +rather read it to yourself?” The girl lifted tear-filled +eyes. “It isn’t that, Dan,” she said. “I want +to share it with my friends who are so loving and +loyal, but I cannot decipher the rest.”</p> +<p>There was a faded blur on the paper as though +the pen had fallen. Then it had evidently been +picked up again, but the scrawled letters that followed +were very hard to read. Slowly the girl deciphered: +“Lalie, when you are eighteen, get +box ——” Then there was another blot and the +pen had evidently rolled across the paper.</p> +<p>The girl held the letter up to Dan. “I fear we +will never know where the box is,” she said, “for +that is all.”</p> +<p>But the lad, after scrutinizing the sheet, held it +up to the light.</p> +<p>“There is more written, but evidently a drop of +ink spread over it. Gerry, bring the magnifying +glass.” The small boy, glad to be of assistance, +leaped to get it. Dan gazed through it for a long +five minutes. Then he began to name the letters, +and Bob, who had seized a pencil and paper, wrote +them down. “<i>B-a-n-k.</i>” Dan glanced questioningly +at Meg. “What kind of a bank do you suppose +it means?” Then to Bob: “Were there any banks +of dirt near the cabin?” That lad shook his head.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_305">[305]</div> +<p>Jane suggested: “Would it not be more natural +to suppose it to be a New York bank, since that had +been Mr. Giguette’s home for years?”</p> +<p>They all decided this to be true. Then Merry +asked: “Meg, or may I say Eulalie, are you willing +that I should wire my father all that we know? He +is a lawyer in New York and be will gladly find out +what he can.”</p> +<p>How the dusky face brightened. “Oh, thank you, +Merry. Please do!” Then, rising, the mountain +girl held out both hands to Jane and Merry. “I +must go now,” she said, “to the dear old couple who +have been all the father and mother I have ever +known.”</p> +<p>Dan accompanied Meg up the winding mountain +road.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_306">[306]</div> +<h2 id="c37"><br />CHAPTER XXXVII. +<br />THE MYSTERY SOLVED</h2> +<p>“What a glorious moonlit night it is!” Merry +exclaimed when, Meg and Dan having gone, the +others turned back toward the cabin.</p> +<p>“I say, sis,” Bob exclaimed, “why not get that +telegram written and let me take it down to the village. +You can put heaps more into a night letter.”</p> +<p>“Why, Bobby, it must be after nine. The innkeeper’s +family will be asleep by the time you could +get there.”</p> +<p>Jean Willoughby explained: “They have two +sons, and one of them is always on duty as night +clerk. Strangers motoring through put up there at +all hours.” Then the young overseer added: “I +wish now that I had ridden over and you could have +used my horse.”</p> +<p>“We sent the two we had back to the Heger +cabin,” Bob said, but added, as he took a handspring +to prove to his sister that he was not at all tired, “I’d +just as soon walk.” Then, as another thought occurred +to him, he turned to the younger lad, asking, +“If you’re game, Gerry, come along with me. We’ll +put up at the inn for the night and bring back the +answer from father as soon as it comes.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_307">[307]</div> +<p>Since there was no particular reason why they +should not do this, Merry and Jane made no further +remonstrances. Going indoors, a carefully planned +night letter was prepared and in great glee the two +boys started out, each carrying a gun, as Jean told +them that they <i>might</i> meet a wildcat.</p> +<p>“Huh! I hoped you were going to say a grizzly +bear.”</p> +<p>Gerry’s tone seemed to imply that they were quite +fearless.</p> +<p>Soon after the boys had departed, Dan returned. +Glancing at Jean, he questioned: “Ought we to +follow them?” But the other lad replied:</p> +<p>“They’re safe enough! Moreover, I told Bob to +swing a red lantern three times when they reach the +inn. The night is so clear, we surely can see it.”</p> +<p>And so they waited, and an hour later the expected +signal was plainly seen by all of them.</p> +<p>“Now to bed, everybody!” Dan sprang up and +held both hands toward his sister Jane. Julie had +been prevailed upon to retire soon after the lads +started out and was sound asleep.</p> +<p>The girls had decided to be up at an early hour, +but because they had gone to bed much later than +usual they overslept.</p> +<p>It was after noon before Meg appeared.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_308">[308]</div> +<p>“Ma Heger” had needed her help, was all that she +said. Jane and Merry decided not to tell her about +the night letter, for the suspense would be far harder +for her to bear than it was for them.</p> +<p>But after a time Meg began to wonder why, at +frequent intervals, one or another of the young people +went to the top of the stone stairs, and through +field glasses, gazed down the mountain road. It was +two o’clock when the old stage was seen slowly +ascending.</p> +<p>“I entirely forgot that the stage passes us on +Saturday afternoon,” Dan exclaimed. “Of course, +Bob and Gerry waited to ride up.”</p> +<p>But as the lumbering vehicle neared, the passengers +were seen to be all adults—a west valley rancher, +his wife and grown daughters. Then, just as the +watchers had given up hope, the two laughing boys +dropped from the back of the stage and ran up the +stone stairs.</p> +<p>Paying no heed to the others, Bob leaped over +to where Meg was standing, and making a deep bow, +he handed her a yellow envelope.</p> +<p>“But this is for Merry,” the mountain girl told +him.</p> +<p>“True enough!” and Bob gave the telegram to +his sister. Opening it, she read:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>“Franc Giguette, author of ‘The Star that Set.’ +Book was great success! Publishers holding royalties, +as they were uncalled for. Box in name of +Eulalie Giguette at the First National Bank. Contains +contracts and papers of value, also jewels. +Await further advice.”</p> +</blockquote> +<div class="pb" id="Page_309">[309]</div> +<p>While all of the others congratulated the beautiful +girl, Dan stood aside with sorrow in his heart. +He had asked Meg to marry him when he thought +her poor. Even then they would have had a long +wait, for he had wanted to help his father for a time +before he considered his own happiness.</p> +<p>Meg looked over at the lad whom she so +loved. “Aren’t <i>you</i> also glad for me, Dan?” she +asked.</p> +<p>“Yes, very glad,” he said, but he was more than +ever pleased that he and Meg had not told of their +engagement, which might never be fulfilled.</p> +<p>When the excitement had somewhat subsided, +Bob recalled that he had a letter for Jean Willoughby, +and, bringing it forth, presented it to the +young man, who looked inquiringly at the handwriting; +then with a quick, questioning glance at +Merry, he tore it open and read its message.</p> +<p>“Marion Starr,” he cried, “you wrote my father, +did you not, telling him where you found me?”</p> +<p>It was evident that he was <i>not</i> displeased.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_310">[310]</div> +<p>The golden haired girl nodded, then waited +eagerly to hear what manner of message the letter +contained.</p> +<p>“Dan,” said Bob, “your father and mine are again +partners, for Dad has restored the money that had +been supposedly lost. Since your father had recompensed +the investors, the firm of Abbott & Willoughby, +as re-established, is much richer than it +was, for while holding the money, Dad made investments +that have tripled the capital of the firm. +Nor is that all! Father has set aside money to start +my brother and me in any business we may choose, +and your father is to do the same for each of his +boys as the need arises.”</p> +<p>Before Dan could speak, Jean hurried on with, +“Mr. Packard has offered to divide his ranch in +three parts, and Jane and I are to have one of them. +Dan, you love the West. It agrees with you. Won’t +you take the third?”</p> +<p>“That’s wonderful news!” Dan cried glowingly. +“Indeed I would like to own a third of the Green +Hills ranch.”</p> +<p>Then to the surprise of the others, he went to the +mountain girl with hands outstretched, and said, his +voice tense with feeling: “Meg—Eulalie—may I +set the day for our wedding?”</p> +<p>The dusky eyes of the beautiful girl were more +than ever starlike as she nodded up at him.</p> +<p>“Great!” he cried joyfully. “Then we will <i>all</i> be +married on the first of September.”</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr /> +<h2><br />Transcriber’s Note</h2> + +<ul><li>A few typographical errors were corrected without comment.</li> +<li>Nonstandard spellings and dialect were left as in the original.</li> +<li>Rearranged front matter to a more-logical order.</li></ul> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p class="pg">***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEG OF MYSTERY MOUNTAIN***</p> +<p class="pg">******* This file should be named 42014-h.txt or 42014-h.zip *******</p> +<p class="pg">This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/2/0/1/42014">http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/0/1/42014</a></p> +<p class="pg"> +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p class="pg"> +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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