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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/6001.txt b/6001.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..92cccc2 --- /dev/null +++ b/6001.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8204 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Polly of Pebbly Pit, by Lillian Elizabeth Roy + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Polly of Pebbly Pit + +Author: Lillian Elizabeth Roy + +Posting Date: May 12, 2013 [EBook #6001] +Release Date: July, 2004 +First Posted: October 12, 2002 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLLY OF PEBBLY PIT *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + + + + + +POLLY OF PEBBLY PIT + +BY + +LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY + + Author of + Polly and Eleanor, + Polly in New York, + Polly and Her Friends Abroad, + Polly's Business Venture. + + Illustrated + 1922 + + + + +TO MY DEAR FRIENDS, SARAH J. BATTEY, M.D., AND BRYAN M. BATTEY. + + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + +I THE FARM IN PEBBLY PIT + +II A MOMENTOUS LETTER + +III PREPARING FOR THE UNKNOWN + +IV THE "SERVANT PROBLEM" SOLVED + +V UNPLEASANT SURPRISES + +VI THE HARROWING DETAILS + +VII A LITTLE SCHEME THAT WORKED + +VIII ACCLIMATING THE CITY GIRLS + +IX SEVERAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS + +X THE DANCE AT BEAR FORKS + +XI IN THE WILDERNESS + +XII THE BLIZZARD ON GRIZZLY SLIDE + +XIII A NIGHT IN THE CAVE + +XIV OLD MONTRESOR'S LEGACY + +XV MONTRESOR'S CLAIM is JUSTIFIED + +XVI A YOUNG STRANGER IN OAK CREEK + +XVII SARY'S AMBITIONS + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE FARM IN PEBBLY PIT + + +"Polly! Poll-ee!" sounded musically from the direction of the kitchen +doorway in a ranch-house, and reached Polly Brewster as she knelt +beside her pet in the barn. + +"Run outside and see what Maw wants, Poll," said Mr. Brewster, who was +working faithfully over the object of Polly's solicitous devotion. + +Obediently, Polly ran out and shaded her eyes as she gazed across the +great depression of the volcanic crater which had made such a wonderful +farm for the Brewsters. At the door of the long, squat homestead, stood +Mrs. Brewster, waiting for an answer. + +The moment she saw Polly, she called: "Din-ner-r's ready!" + +"All right!" shouted the girl, waving her sun-bonnet to signify she had +heard the message. + +Mrs. Brewster returned to the kitchen and Polly went back to her +father's side. He glanced up as she entered the barn, and Polly replied +to his questioning look. + +"Maw said dinner's ready." + +"Well, Ah reckon Noddy's all right now, Poll," said the rancher, as he +stood up to stretch his tired muscles. + +"I felt sure she would be, Paw," returned Polly, positively. + +"If only Jeb was about, now, Ah could leave him with Noddy, with +directions about the medicine, till we-all get back from dinner," mused +Mr. Brewster, standing in the doorway to look about for Jeb. + +"Why, Daddy! Do you suppose I'd leave Noddy with Jeb for a single +moment? And just as we saved her life, too! I reckon not! I'll stop +here myself and watch her," declared Polly with finality, as she +assumed the post vacated by her father, and held the little burro's +fuzzy head upon her knees. + +Sam Brewster smiled as he watched Polly bend over her pet and whisper +affectionately in the long, sensitive ear. + +"Poll, Jeb will shore say you used witchcraft on the burro; he said +Noddy was done for--being buried under that slide the way she was." + +"Noddy _would_ have been done for if Jeb had had her in charge; but she +just couldn't refuse to live, with me right here calling her back, you +know. She loves me so, she had to listen to my voice," explained Polly, +with suspicious moisture in her big blue eyes. + +"Ah reckon that's it, Poll! Love works wonders if we'd only _let_ it. +And you love everything in a way that everything loves you back again. +It beats me, how the beavers, and foxes, and even the bears treat you +as if you were one of them, instead of running to cover. As for the +chicks and colts and lambs on the ranch--why, they'd follow you to Oak +Creek, if they could!" + +Polly smiled happily as she looked away over the distant mountain-sides +where Nature's creatures roamed unrestrained. And then her eyes rested +upon the pastures nearer home, where the farm pets grazed. Every one of +them, wild or tame, were her friends. + +"Reckon Ah'll go now, Poll. What shall Maw do about the dinner?" + +"Tell her not to bother about me. I'll wash the dishes' when I get +back, Daddy." + +So Mr. Brewster started for the house and Polly settled herself in a +more comfortable position while crooning to little Noddy. As she sat +holding the little burro's head, her thoughts wandered back to the time +when Noddy was but three days old. The mother had died and left the +tiny bundle of brown wool to be brought up on a nursing bottle. To keep +the baby burro warm it had been wrapped in an old blanket and placed +back of the kitchen stove. Thus Noddy first learned to walk in the +large kitchen of the log ranch-house, and later it felt quite like a +member of the family. + +Being such a sleepy little colt, the name of Noddy was considered very +appropriate but, as the burro grew older, it showed such intelligence +and energy that its name was a dreadful misnomer. + +Noddy considered Polly her particular charge and followed her about the +place like a dog. And when the burro was full-grown, she became the +daily companion that Polly rode to school, over the mountain trails, or +about the farm. + +The wise western burros are not half appreciated by folks who do not +understand their unusual intelligence and their devotion to their +masters. They will seek for water or edible herbs when lost on the +desert or mountain peaks and sacrifice life to save that of the rider's. + +But Noddy's present condition was not due to sacrifice. Most of the +horses and burros at Pebbly Pit showed such an aversion to the Rainbow +Cliffs that they never grazed near there, although the luxuriant grass +made fine pasturage. These cliffs were the local wonder and gave the +farm its name. They were a section of jagged "pudding-stone" wall +composed of large and small fragments of gorgeously hued stones massed +together in loose formation, like shale. Great heaps of these jeweled +fragments, which crumbled easily from the cliff, lay piled up along the +base of the wall and sparkled brilliantly when the sun shone upon them, +or directly after a rain. + +Noddy had been pasturing out the night before her accident, and at +sunrise found herself too near the tabooed cliffs. She lifted her ears +suspiciously, wrinkled her nose fearfully, and wheeled to run away to a +more desirable locality. But in that quick turn she loosened the shale +at the base of a steep descent. The treacherous rock slid and threw her +down. Before she could get up and away the great mass rumbled down and +covered her, but she finally managed to work her head free for breath. + +Jeb, out early to seek for stray cattle, saw the fresh slide and gazed +wonderingly at it. Then he spied the nose and hoof of a burro +protruding from the shale. He rushed to the barn where he had left Mr. +Brewster, and in a short time master and man had the tools and "cradle" +back at the spot, and Noddy was soon unearthed. She was unconscious, +and Jeb declared it was useless to bother with a burro so evidently far +gone. Even Mr. Brewster feared she was past help, but Polly insisted +that Noddy must live. + +All that morning Polly sat holding the limp brown head while whispering +words of affection in the long ears, and who will say that Noddy's +instinct did not respond to love, even though the physical sense of +hearing was deaf to earthly sounds? She slowly revived and was resting +comfortably when the house-call came for dinner. + +Mr. Brewster returned after dinner, bringing a bowl of gruel for the +burro, and Jeb followed his master to inquire about the patient. + +"Jeb, you-all help me feed Noddy while Polly runs to the house for her +dinner," said Mr. Brewster. + +"I'd a heap rather wait here and help with Noddy, Paw!" + +"Oh, Polly! Maw told me to say there was a letter for you. Jim Melvin +stopped off with our mail he got at Oak Creek to-day." + +"A letter! Who can it be from?" asked Polly wonderingly. "That's what +you must find out. It looks like a girl's writing and it is post-marked +Denver. Who do you know there?" replied her father. + +"Denver? Why, nobody! I'll run and see who it's from!" cried she +eagerly, and Mr. Brewster smiled at the success of the ruse to get his +daughter away for a time. + +Polly was a genuine child of Nature. Her life of little more than +fourteen years had been spent in the mountains surrounding her +ranch-home, Pebbly Pit. The farm was oddly located in the crater of an +extinct volcano, known on the maps as "The Devil's Grave." Like many +other peaks scattered about in this region of Colorado, the volcanic +fires had been dead for centuries. + +The outer rim of the crater formed a natural wall about the bowl, and +protected the rich and fertile soil of the farm from the desert winds +that covered other ranches with its fine alkali dust. The snows in +winter, lodging in the crevices of the cliffs, slowly melted during the +progress of summer, thus furnishing sufficient moisture for the +vegetation growing in the "bowl"; and this provided splendid pasturage +for the herds of cattle owned by the rancher. + +When Sam Brewster staked his claim in this crater, his companions +jeered at the choice and called the place "Pebbly Pit." But the young +man had studied agriculture thoroughly and knew what he was doing; then +the test made by the government convinced him of this. + +Besides, his Denver bride preferred the beauty of the spot to the more +sociable but draughty ranches in the valley of Bear Forks River; so +they settled in the crater, and named the farm Rainbow Cliffs, but the +original nick-name clung, and gradually the owners, from habit, also +came to call their place "Pebbly Pit." + +In the mountains where the government gives a settler all the timber he +needs, transportation is so difficult and paid labor almost unknown, so +that the size and quality of a rancher's house and out-buildings +expresses his character. Sam Brewster's buildings and fences were as +solid and comfortable as any in the State. He and his wife (a refined +young woman) were ambitious and energetic, so it was not surprising +that they succeeded in life. + +When John, the first-born, had completed his studies at High School in +Denver, he was sent to a well-known college in Chicago. And now that +Polly, seven years John's junior, had finished her grammar course at +the little Bear Forks log school-house, she, too, was determined to +enter High School at Denver. + +Sam Brewster had stubbornly refused to consent to the plan, taking for +an excuse that no friends or relatives remained in Denver where Polly +might board, and commutation was out of the question. But he knew, and +so did his wife, that the truth of his refusal lay in the fact that he +could not bear to part with his youngest child--even though she visited +at home each week-end. + +Mrs. Brewster sided with Polly's ambition, and planned to visit her old +home in Denver to see if she could find any friends who would prove to +be desirable for Polly to associate with. The matter stood thus this +lovely June day when the unexpected letter arrived. + +The very unusual occurrence created enough interest for Polly to take +her mind from the burro, so she ran swiftly towards the house while +every possible correspondent she could think of passed through her +thoughts. But she was as much at sea as ever, when she danced up the +log steps leading directly to the kitchen. + +"Maw, Maw! Where are you--is there really a letter?" + +"Yes--from Denver! But how is Noddy?" replied Mrs. Brewster, coming to +the kitchen door, holding a square envelope in her hand. + +"Dear little Noddy--she is all right now, Maw, but it looked mighty bad +a bit of time back. I just had to pray and _pray_ with all my might, +Maw--you know how!" sighed Polly, taking the refined-looking letter +from her mother without seeing it. + +"I never knew how I loved that dear little bundle of fuzz and flesh +till I thought she was dead! Oh, I am so glad she will live that I +don't care if I ever eat again or not!" + +Still holding the precious letter, Polly turned back to look at the +barn where the object of her love was lapping up the gruel. Mrs. +Brewster smiled indulgently at her intense young daughter, then +reminded her of the unopened communication. + +"Dear me! So much excitement in one day--I don't see how I can quiet +down again. But _who_ do you suppose would write to _me_?" queried +Polly, holding the envelope at arm's length and studying the +hand-writing. + +"I'm not clairvoyant, Polly, so suppose you open it and see for +yourself," laughed Mrs. Brewster. + +"Well, I hate to spoil this nice stationery but--here it goes!" +murmured Polly, severing an end of the envelope as if she was the +executioner of an innocent victim. + +"See who it's from, Polly, while I dish up your dinner. Of course you +don't care whether you ever eat again, but I would suggest that at +least you strive to ward off starvation," remarked her mother, +teasingly, as she took a well-filled plate from the oven. + +"Wh-h-y--of all things!" gasped Polly, as she read the letter quickly. + +Mrs. Brewster stood waiting to hear more, and Polly gave another +hurried glance at the signature before explaining. + +"It's from Anne Stewart--the girl who used to teach at Bear Forks +school that time the teacher got sick and had to leave for a few +months. You know--the pretty one with the blonde hair that all the big +scholars raved over?" announced Polly. + +"Oh, yes! The one that you said was so happy to be in this wonderful +country?" + +"Yes, that's the girl! Well, guess what she writes me?" And Polly waved +the written sheet above her head. + +"Polly, have you been writing to her about High School?" hurriedly +asked Mrs. Brewster. + +"I never thought of that! Maybe we can plan it with her," returned +Polly, her expression changing instantly to meet the new suggestion of +her mother's. + +"Well, time enough to settle that question. Now tell me what she +wrote," declared Mrs. Brewster, sighing with relief. + +"You'll be taken right off your feet, Maw, so you'd best sit down and +listen," advised Polly, nibbling at a biscuit while she waited for her +mother to be seated. + +"Now, I don't want you to shake your head or say a word, until I'm all +through reading, Maw. It's something terribly surprising and goodness +only knows why she asked _me_. I was so young when she taught school +that she never noticed me much." + +"Yes, you were _so_ much younger two years ago, and you are so very +ancient now!" retorted Mrs. Brewster, trying to appear serious. + +"You know what I mean--but this isn't reading you the letter and I know +just how you'll gasp when you hear her brother--listen and I'll read +it." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A MOMENTOUS LETTER + + +Having seen that her mother was seated and ready for the surprise, +Polly read: + +"Dear Miss Polly: + +"As you are fast reaching the boundary-line where girlhood and +womanhood meet, I feel I must address you with the prefix that +dignifies this stage of your life, although I seem to know you best as +the rosy-cheeked little girl whose name of 'Polly' seemed to fit her +exactly. + +"Perhaps your mother will be surprised that I did not write this letter +to her, as most of it concerns her and her family directly. But I can +best explain why I am writing to you by the following: + +"My brother Paul and your brother John are chums in college, you know, +and I heard quite recently that you wished to prepare for High School +in Denver this fall. When a friend in Chicago wrote me to find a good +home in the mountains near Denver where I can stay with and tutor his +daughters during the summer, I thought of the region about Bear Forks. +Having been there myself, I know how wonderful the country and climate +are. + +"If your mother and yourself think well of my proposition, I know I can +help you a great deal, also, towards preparing you for High School, as +I will have to devote a short time each day this summer in keeping +Eleanor up in her studies. + +"Last year Eleanor and Barbara Maynard, of Chicago, came to board with +us in Denver. These girls are acquainted with Paul and John, through +their brother who is a class-mate of the boys. The younger girl, +Eleanor, who is your age, had been very ill and the doctor ordered her +to Denver because of the wonderful air. Her sister, who is about my +age, accompanied her. The father, Mr. Maynard, engaged me to tutor +Eleanor, or Nolla we call her, during her stay in Denver, as she was +backward in lessons. + +"We three became very good friends and when the girls went back to +Chicago, I missed their companionship very much. I had a letter from +the father last week, asking me to find a mountain resort for this +summer where he could send the girls, as Nolla needs the invigorating +air and simple life of the Rockies. She is organically sound but not +strong enough to stand city air and life. + +"Mr. Maynard has been through the Bear Forks country and when I wrote +suggesting a ranch there, he immediately wired me to settle the matter +at once. To-day I had a letter from the mother who cannot go with her +daughters for the summer, so she asked me to go with them, more as a +friend and adviser than as a tutor. My expenses will be paid, and my +salary for tutoring Nolla will be a blessing to help Paul through his +third year's term of the college course. + +"I know your brother is away with Tom Latimer on some practice work +with a survey crew, so his room is vacant this summer. Then too, I was +told by John that you had a small spare room back of the kitchen, so +that three girls could have comfortable quarters. If, by any chance, +your mother would consent to take us in for the summer, I could help +you with your preparatory lessons for High School next term, at the +same time that I coach Nolla. And I will agree for myself and the two +girls that we will not expect any other than your usual home-life. + +"This unexpected request may meet with disapproval and refusal by your +family, but do not let one of the causes be on the grounds of the extra +work we might create, because we do not want any fussing, whatever, but +we do want to be treated as members of the family--to do our share of +anything that needs to be done. + +"Mr. Maynard wishes his girls to live in the outdoors as much as +possible, so we will not be in your mother's way. I certainly hope your +father and mother will allow us to come, and I can promise you that you +will enjoy these girls very much. The terms are of no consequence, Mr. +Maynard said, as he is ready to pay anything to give Nolla a quiet home +and the life she needs. + +"I trust you can persuade your mother to try us, at any rate, and so, +hoping for a favorable reply to this letter, + +"I am your sincere friend, + ANNE STEWART." + +While Polly read the letter aloud, her mother thought rapidly. She had +the picture of a charming girl who had often met John Brewster at +social gatherings during the term she taught the children at Bear +Forks. Now her brother Paul was one of John's chums at college. Perhaps +this girl had visited at Chicago, and perhaps John had visited her home +at Denver--but he had never said a word about it. It was very evident +that this girl had an intimate acquaintance with the home-life at +Pebbly Pit, and this knowledge must have reached her through John. +Hence John and she must be very well acquainted. John would doubtless +marry some day, but his mother did not care to see him entangled before +he had launched his bark on the waters of his ambition. If he was +touched by one of Cupid's darts to fancy himself in love with his +chum's pretty sister, it was good judgment for his mother to know all +there was to be known about the girl. Not that the letter confessed +this state of affairs, but the mother feared that such must be the +case--for who could resist loving her handsome, clever boy? + +"Maw! I _said_--Anne Stewart is perfectly lovely!" + +"Oh, yes, Polly! So I believe," replied Mrs. Brewster, in an +absent-minded manner. + +"Well! If you'd let them come here I would love it!" + +"You can't judge beforehand, Polly. Having three city strangers come +suddenly to live at a ranch where city manners are unknown, will turn +things upside-down, you know." + +"But you see, Maw, the teacher offers to help me with lessons so I can +pass for High School in the fall," Polly reminded her mother. + +"I can do as much for you, dear, without the care of strangers," +remonstrated Mrs. Brewster, who would not commit herself until she had +had time to weigh all things carefully. + +"Then I s'pose you intend refusing this request!" pouted the +disappointed girl. + +"I wish to think over the situation most wisely before we reply to the +letter. Now finish your dinner and do the dishes. I am going to take my +mending to the side porch." + +Polly did as she was told but her imagination strayed to Denver and +Chicago, as she tried to picture Barbara and Eleanor Maynard with Anne +Stewart, visiting Pebbly Pit that summer. Meantime, Mrs. Brewster +considered the _pros_ and _cons_ of the problem. If this Anne Stewart +proved to be the sort of wife John needed, it would be advisable to +have her know her future family-in-law. If she was not desirable, it +would be discovered during the weeks she lived under the same roof with +John's mother. But should it transpire that there was no cause for +worry about John and this young teacher, she would still prove to be a +good friend for Polly to know in case the child attended school in +Denver the following term. Mrs. Brewster had almost decided to speak +favorably to Polly of the plan, when the girl joined her on the porch. + +"Do you suppose Daddy will mind having so many young folks about the +place--that is, if you will let them come?" + +"I'm sure your Paw will be happy to give you pleasure, and you know how +glad he is to have young people visiting here, rather than having you +leave home to visit others," remarked Mrs. Brewster, slowly drawing the +yarn through a hole in a sock. + +"While I washed the dishes, I wondered if he would say anything to you +about the extra work, the three girls will make?" said Polly, trying to +"feel" her mother out. + +"That will be his main objection, I think. He had planned for me to +visit my old friends in Denver, this summer, but this new departure +will make it impossible for me to be away from here." + +"Oh, Maw, if you want to go away, don't let these girls spoil your +plans!" cried Polly, contritely. + +"I really had not thought of my own pleasure in visiting old friends at +Denver, Polly, but I had planned to see about your residence this +winter should you attend school there. I want you to board with a +family that can offer you the proper atmosphere. If this young teacher +proves to be nice, she will know all I needed to find out about the +school and a boarding house, and I will not have to leave my beloved +home at all." + +"Well, then, it all depends on what Daddy will say!" cried Polly, +joyously. "I do wish he'd hurry in." + +"He must have known your wishes, Polly; I see him coming towards the +house," laughed Mrs. Brewster. + +Polly leaned over the hand-rail of the porch to watch her father coming +nearer and nearer. Then, when she thought he was in hailing distance, +she shouted: + +"Daddy! Do hurry and hear the news--came in my letter!" And the missive +was waved back and forth to urge the rancher to greater speed. + +Mr. Brewster reached the porch and whipped off his wide sombrero to mop +his warm forehead. "Well, Maw, did Poll tell you about Noddy? Ah tell +you! Our Polly is some doctor, all right!" + +As the rancher chuckled over his words, Polly felt she had been guilty +of neglect, for she had quite forgotten to ask how Noddy was. Mrs. +Brewster smiled as she continued her darning. + +"Who's with Noddy now--did you give Jeb careful instructions, Paw?" +anxiously queried Polly. + +"Noddy's sleeping as peacefully as a babe, so you-all needn't worry any +more. Now tell me all about the wonderful letter." + +"Sam, do you remember that golden-haired young lady from Denver, who +took Miss Shalp's place at Bear Forks school for a few months?" quickly +asked Mrs. Brewster. + +The note of anxiety in the query was not overlooked by the rancher, but +he answered indifferently--to all appearances: + +"Shore thing, wife. Could any one forget such a nice girl in a hurry?" + +"Well, Sam, the letter's from her--Anne Stewart is her name." + +"Don't tell him what! Let me read it, Maw!" cried Polly. + +So the letter was read again and the moment it was concluded Polly and +Mrs. Brewster looked fearfully at Mr. Brewster, for they both expected +violent objections from him. + +But the rancher stood boring a hole with the toe of his boot down +through the soft grass sod, while he seemed to study the cobbler's +handiwork. After a few moments of tense silence, he looked up and +laughed heartily. + +"Who'd have thought it, Mary? You, young looking enough to pass for a +blushing bride but having a son old enough to think of a sweet-heart. +And little Poll here, trying to bamboozle us to let her go away to +school. Ah, well!" + +Polly gazed from father to mother and back again. "What has John got to +do with this letter? Gracious, he isn't thinking of a wife, I hope!" + +Her parents laughed at her perplexity, and Mr. Brewster explained +satisfactorily to her question: + +"I was thinking of the four pretty girls we'd have at the ranch all +summer, if John comes home to choose one of them." + +"Oh, Daddy! Then you'll have them come?" cried Polly, at the same time +jumping at her father to throw her arms about his neck. + +"On one condition--yes. That is: a gal to do the chores for Maw, so she +can look after such a handful of trouble as three new ready-made +daughters will make for her." + +"A hired girl! Why, Sam, how you talk. What could I ever do with help +in such a small house? Besides, Anne Stewart says they will help with +the work," objected Mrs. Brewster. + +"That's my only condition! You're not going to slave for a lot of city +girls if I know it. Why, they won't know how to hold a kitchen knife, +let alone cook for the family," replied Mr. Brewster. + +"I'll agree at once, Sam, because I know there isn't a girl or woman to +hire within fifty miles of Oak Creek," laughed Mrs. Brewster. + +"Then Polly can answer the letter as she likes, and I will hunt up a +gal. You said it: you'd agree to hire help if one can be found!" +quickly came from the rancher. + +"Sam, you took this occasion to have your own about hired help," +laughed his wife, shaking her head deprecatingly. + +"You never would listen before, but now you've got to!" said Mr. +Brewster, triumphantly. + +"Polly, you can run in and answer that letter as soon as you like," +hinted Mrs. Brewster, and the girl eagerly obeyed. + +While she wrote the answer over and over till it met with her approval, +her parents exchanged confidences regarding John and this young +teacher, but Polly never dreamed of such fears. + +The letter that left Pebbly Pit the following day was the first thread +woven in the warp and woof of two young lives--Eleanor Maynard in +Chicago and Polly Brewster in the Rockies. Had the reply been other +than it was, would these two girls have met and experienced the +interesting schooldays, college years, and business careers that they +enjoyed through becoming acquainted that summer at Pebbly Pit? + + + + +CHAPTER III + +PREPARING FOR THE UNKNOWN + + +The letter sent from Pebbly Pit to Anne Stewart was forwarded by the +latter to the Maynard girls in Chicago. It was eagerly read aloud to +Mrs. Maynard by Barbara. Reaching the paragraph in the letter where +Mrs. Brewster asked Anne Stewart if she thought five dollars a week for +the board of each would be asking too much, Barbara dropped the sheet +of paper and gasped. An expression of incredulity appeared on the faces +of the mother and daughter, while Eleanor laughed outright. + +"Just fancy! Five dollars a week!" she cried, throwing herself back on +the cushions of the divan. + +"It must be a mistake! I trust it isn't meant for fifty a week! That is +about the price a good hotel would charge, but I had hoped this place +would be more reasonable. However, I am quite sure that figure five is +a mistake; no one can possibly give meals at that rate, no matter how +meager the fare may be!" declared Mrs. Maynard. + +"The writing is plain enough and so is the figure '5,' mother," +returned Barbara, referring again to the letter, then handing it to her +mother. + +Mrs. Maynard adjusted her lorgnette and studied the figure given. "It +_does_ seem to be five, without a doubt!" admitted she. + +"Oh, well! it really doesn't matter much what the price is just as long +as we have a good time this summer!" exclaimed Eleanor. + +"But, Nolla, dear, it does matter! Your father is dreadfully upset +about our plans. He says my Newport season will cost far more than I +fancied it would, and you two girls going to a mountain resort like +this is an extra cost. He will have to be away all summer on important +business connected with the bank, and _that_ will cost extra money. +Altogether, he feels anything but indifferent," sighed Mrs. Maynard, +handing the letter back to Barbara. + +"Well, we are not responsible for father's worries over the bank's +loans, but we _are_ concerned about the style and quality of meals to +be served at this Brewster place for five dollars a week," scorned +Barbara. + +"I don't believe Anne Stewart would take us to a place where anything +was horrid and cheap! She knows what's good as well as we do!" defended +Eleanor, who was eager to go to this mountain ranch. + +"Nolla is quite right, Bob. Anne is too particular to engage board in +an undesirable house or hotel!" added Mrs. Maynard. + +"Besides, these Brewsters have a farm, you know, and I suppose they +raise lots of things that we have to pay such awful prices for--eggs, +chickens, butter and vegetables," added Eleanor. + +Mrs. Maynard and Barbara looked with admiration at the young girl, for +that was an idea they had not thought of! + +"Of course, that's why they can board us so reasonably! Then, too, I +suppose they do their own marketing for other items of food, such as +delicacies and supplies from the baker's! It does make a difference in +the accounts, you see, when one markets!" ventured Barbara, glancing at +her mother who never bothered about anything connected with the +housekeeping--leaving it all for the servants to do. + +"Now, Bob, don't criticize your mother's methods. I can't drudge about +the house and take charge of the Social Clubs and Welfare Work as +well," complained Mrs. Maynard. + +"Of course not, Bob! Besides, mother never did know a good cut of beef +from a poor one--they never taught domestic science in her day, you +see," hurriedly interpolated Eleanor, hoping to waive a scene such as +was a common occurrence between Barbara and her mother. + +"Nolla, are you sarcastic about my education?" queried Mrs. Maynard, +with dignity. + +"Mercy, no! I only tried to show Bob the difference in present day +methods and the past." + +Mr. Maynard entered the room during Eleanor's reply, and smiled as he +heard his youngest daughter's frank words. It was a keen pleasure to +him to have one child fearless in thought and word. His son and elder +daughter had been spoiled by fawning tutors and companions, so they had +acquired the habit of white-washing facts to suit the needs. Eleanor +had been too delicate to attend any expensive and fashionable seminary +and, being taught by Anne Stewart while in Denver, had acquired many of +Anne's splendid ways. + +"Frederick, what do you know about this mountain resort you asked Anne +Stewart to write about?" asked Mrs. Maynard. + +"Well, now that we are all together and have the time to talk this +matter out, I will say my say," replied Mr. Maynard, seating himself +and drawing Eleanor down beside him upon the divan. + +"You remember the first year we were married--I had to visit Bear Forks +to investigate a loan one of our clients at the bank asked us to make +on a tract of timber-land? You wouldn't go with me when you heard we +would have to camp out at night and ride horses over rough +mountain-trails. That is the season you visited your school-friend in +the East." + +Mr. Maynard looked at his wife as he spoke and she nodded her head as +if the memory was not pleasant to recall. Her husband smiled an +enigmatical smile and continued his description. + +"That is when I met Sam Brewster and his wife--they had been married +about as long as we had, and their happy ranch-life struck me as being +the most desirable existence I ever heard of." + +Mrs. Maynard's lips curled in silent derision. She understood her +husband's yearning for a simple life in place of the frivolous and +empty excitement of the social career she had made for herself and +family. + +"The country about the sections I visited is beautiful and healthy, and +as Nolla is ordered to a quiet, mountainous region for a time, I know +of no place so suitable. Besides, Anne Stewart has been there, too, and +she is wild over the place." + +"But you are so old-fashioned in your ideas of living and pleasures, +father, and I want to know if this place will suit me. Are the +Brewsters members of the best set there, or will I be left absolutely +unaided to find a way to meet young people such as we would like to +know?" asked Barbara, anxiously. + +"The Brewsters are by far the wealthiest family in that whole section +of country, and I have heard that the ranch and house are the finest in +the state. You met young John Brewster at the College Prom and you can +tell what you think of _him._" + +"Ye-es, young Brewster is all right. Every one seemed to think he is +exceptionally nice," remarked Barbara. + +Mrs. Maynard sighed with relief as she felt that a weight had been +lifted from her mind. She was anxious to have her two daughters climb +the social ladder to a higher plane than she had been able to reach, so +she knew they must be careful to associate with only those who had +already arrived there through forbears or ambition. + +"Then we can wire Anne at once to complete arrangements, Frederick?" +ventured the lady, watching her husband's expression. + +"I'll attend to that but when can you be ready to go?" asked Mr. +Maynard, glancing from one to the other of the trio. + +"The same day you start, Daddy!" declared Eleanor, giving her father a +hug. + +"Why, we simply can't, Nolla! Father leaves Chicago next week and we +have so much to prepare before going to a place where we are apt to +meet the very elite of society," cried Barbara. + +"It will take fully two weeks to go through the girls' wardrobe, +Frederick, and see that everything is the last word," added Mrs. +Maynard, explanatory of her eldest daughter's dismay. + +"Well, fix things up any way you say, but I'm off for the bank when you +begin talking dress," laughed Mr. Maynard. + +"Now, Frederick, don't leave us like this! You know we will need money +to fit out the girls, and then you _must_ have some idea of when Anne +can expect them in Denver," hurriedly said Mrs. Maynard as her husband +crossed the room to leave. + +"Daddy, I don't want another thing to wear; I've got so many things now +that it makes me tired to keep changing to suit the thousand and one +occasions," declared Eleanor, running after her father to kiss him +good-by. + +"Nolla! I declare you will never grow up! Pray _walk_ like a lady when +you cross a room, won't you?" complained Barbara. + +Eleanor smiled up at her father and he pinched her thin cheek as he +stooped to kiss her. Then, he waved his hand at the others and left the +room. Once outside the door and safely out of hearing he chuckled to +himself. + +"Bob pictures a gay resort with troops of male admirers to play tennis +and dance away the hours with. She is thinking of dress to captivate +her 'moths,' but Nolla is thinking of the rural pleasures she has heard +me describe to her. If Bob knew the truth, she'd never go, and poor +little Nolla would lose the most wonderful opportunity of her young +life. I'd best not prejudice Bob or mother, but just pay the bills for +finery and whims and bide my time." + +Soon after arriving at his bank-office he sent a message to Anne +Stewart at Denver, advising her to engage the rooms at the Brewster +home. As an afterthought, he added that he was anxious to have Eleanor +get away about the time he left home for his trip. + +That afternoon he carried home the reply from Anne Stewart: "Have +engaged rooms and board from next week on. Wire when to expect you at +Denver. Anne." + +Mrs. Maynard had heard from her friends that day that their plans were +changed and now they expected to leave Chicago sooner than she had +thought. This made her agree quickly to having her daughters start the +following week. + +"But, mother, it can't be done. I need a riding habit, and tennis +clothes, and a few new afternoon gowns and evening dresses!" +remonstrated Barbara. + +"You had a new habit last fall, Bob," Eleanor said. + +"But it has a long coat and full bloomers. No one is wearing that +style, now. Everything is mannish coats and tight knickerbockers," +argued Barbara. + +"I will call up the tailor at once, girls, and have him give us the +preference over other work," Mrs. Maynard replied. + +"Not for me! I don't like the tight habits. I shall take my bloomer +one," replied Eleanor, decidedly. + +"Dear me, Nolla! You don't seem to care a fig about your appearance. +What will become of you when it is time for you to make your debut?" +sighed Mrs. Maynard, despondently. + +"I'm not going to do anything so silly--I'm going into business when I +grow up!" + +"Oh!" + +"Nolla!" + +Mother and sister could hardly gasp the words as they turned shocked +eyes in the direction of Mr. Maynard who had been writing out checks +for his family. He leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily at the +independence of his youngest child. + +"Frederick! Now you see what comes of your petting Nolla whenever she +says or does anything dreadful!" exclaimed Mrs. Maynard. + +"Is business so dreadful, then? Anne Stewart seems all right, and she +is earning her living," ventured Eleanor. + +"I wash my hands of you, after this, Eleanor! If you do anything so +unheard of as you threaten, no one will keep up with you," declared +Barbara, sternly. + +"They'll have to travel mighty fast to keep up with me, Bob, once I am +of age and start in business," laughed Eleanor. + +"That will do, young lady! Remember you are only fourteen, and business +is a long time off for you!" Mrs. Maynard remarked. + +Then Eleanor hung over the back of her father's chair twisting the +iron-gray hair into ridiculous points while her mother and Barbara +forgot her presence and planned many fetching gowns for the summer +campaign. Both were fair examples of modern society and its aims, and +they sacrificed many worth-while plans and pleasures upon the altar of +their fickle goddess. So it followed that the fashionable tailors, the +modiste and the lingerie-maker stitched and fitted and clipped, on +beautiful materials and trimmings, until everything was ready for +Barbara's summer victory. Eleanor steadfastly refused to be annoyed by +having new clothes made, so her trunk was packed with the wardrobe she +already had on hand. + +"Of course, Nolla's appearance is not of as much consequence as yours, +Bob, as she still is so young and delicate. It is different with you, +however, and I'm so glad you are sensible to appreciate what a +difference clothes make," said Mrs. Maynard, resignedly, as the seven +trunks were packed and waiting for the expressman. + +"I'm glad your fussing is over at last. If you had much more to sew and +fit we never _would_ get away!" grumbled Eleanor, watching the man +stagger as he carried the heavy trunks downstairs. + +"Well, I'll soon be reaping the benefit of my patience and _you'll_ be +sorry you were so indifferent over your looks," retorted Barbara, +turning away from the window once her five trunks were safely on the +express wagon. + +"Girls, you're sure everything that Celeste wrote down on the list is +packed? Your complexion cream in case of freckles or tan--and the +shampoo mixture for the hair-dresser to use? Tell him I never allow you +to use ready-made preparations on your hair." + +"Yes, mother, all the toilet articles are in the small trunk, and the +few extra things were packed in Eleanor's trunk because she had a +corner with nothing to fill in it," explained Barbara. + +"Thank goodness we can eat dinner and go to bed to-night without being +served styles and fits!" sighed Eleanor, not meaning to be irreverent +at her mother's gospel. + +Anne Stewart had not mentioned the need of mountain-shoes and good +plain clothing in her letters to the Maynards, because Mr. Maynard +particularly requested her to delete such items. Anne was bright at +reading minds and smiled as she surmised the reason for the +restriction. She knew Eleanor would glory in old clothes and a good +time, but would _Barbara_ be so willing to visit Pebbly Pit farm if she +knew the truth about the environment? + +Anne's single steamer trunk was filled with sensible clothes and the +toilet articles she knew she would need for the summer. Then she wired +the Maynards to say all was waiting to hear from them. And Barbara +wired back that they would meet her at the Denver Terminal Station at +the day and time agreed upon. + +Meantime, great preparations were under way at Pebbly Pit. John's room +had to be cleaned and rearranged for the young ladies. While Polly and +her mother planned the work, Mr. Brewster made a thorough search of the +countryside in hopes of finding a suitable maid-servant for his wife +and Polly. + +Most ranchers need their daughters at home, and as there are no really +poor or poverty-stricken families in those farming sections, the task +of finding a servant was not an easy one. And Mr. Brewster realized +what it meant, when he read in the papers how difficult a problem it +was becoming--this servant-girl question! + +At last, as he was about to despair of ever finding any one, he stopped +in at the Oak Creek Post Office to see if there was any mail. Here he +met a rancher-friend from the Yellow Jacket Pass region. + +"How-thar, Sam!" called Jim Sattler, heartily. + +"How-do yourself, Jim!" returned Mr. Brewster, catching hold of Jim's +hardened hand and shaking it back and forth. + +"You-all air a sight for sore eyes, Sam! Hain't seen hide nor hair of +any one of you for nigh onto a year! Be'n keepin' pritty busy, Sam?" +said Jim, in a voice that rolled forth like deep thunder. + +"Mighty busy, Jim! John's away to college, you know, and now my leetle +chick thinks she can scratch for herself, too. She's bound to go to +school, in Denver, this coming fall." + +"Sam, nuthin' like it, these days! A man or woman has to have ddication +to rassle with livin'! Let her go to it, says Ah! It won't be long +afore my boys'll be goin' away, too!" + +"That's what brings me here to-day. Ah have been hunting for some kind +of a gal to help the missus this summer and to have her broken in by +the time Polly leaves home," explained Sam Brewster. + +"Git one?" + +"Not yet! It seems they're as scarce as hen's teeth. Ah never dreamed +it would be such a job to hunt one up, or Ah doubt if Ah'd have +consented to have those girls come and summer with us." + +"See har, Sam! Ah bet Ah knows just the woman for you-all, ef you-all +ain't lookin' for a young gal with a figger like a wisp of hay." + +"Polly's wisp enough for one ranch! So Ah'm not looking for style but +stock. Do you-all know one, Jim?" + +"Ah do that! Sary Dodd's her name. You know Bill Dodd, don't yuh--he +never 'mounted to much as a rancher." + +"Seems to me Ah do! The name's familiar, anyway. Did he come from +Yellow Jacket Pass way?" asked Mr. Brewster, scratching his neck, +thoughtfully. + +"The same! Wall, he died an' left Sary with nothing but funeral costs. +She had to sell that measly ranch that Bill held a quarter interest in +to pay bills, and now she hain't got nawthin' but her health. Better +see Sary, Sam." + +It was the dawn of hope for Mr. Brewster. Since starting on his +self-appointed search, he had been growing more and more despondent of +success. Now he urged his horse towards Yellow Jacket Pass to find Sary +Dodd. + +After seeking at various ranches for the elusive Sary, he located her. +But she was not elusive looking. She was six feet in height and would +tip the scales easily at two hundred pounds. + +"Are you widow Dodd? Jim Sattler sent me to see if you-all would like a +place to live out? We-all have company for the summer and my wife needs +help," explained Sam Brewster. + +Sary beamed and exchanged polite introductions. "You-all tuk me clar +off my feet, Mr. Brewster. Yes, Ah did think some of goin' in a reel +good fam'ly to wuk, but nawthin' come up fer me, so Ah'm visitin' the +neighbors. Do you-all want me immijit?" + +The rancher saw that Sary was over-anxious to accept his offer of a +place, but he was not the man to take advantage of her in financial +matters. So he replied: + +"Ah s'pose we ought to fix the wage, but Mrs. Brewster wants some one +at once, and you-all can settle salary when you-all get there." + +"Ah've heerd tell what a square man you-all was, Mr. Brewster, an' now +Ah knows it!" Suspicious moisture filled Sary's eyes as she spoke. + +"Ah've won a way by being honest in all my dealings, for it pays in the +end. But tell me--can you come along?" + +"Ef you-all kin wait, Ah'll tie up my bundle in a minit!" agreed Sary, +anxiously. + +"All right! But don't waste any time packing your ball-gowns, Sary," +laughed Mr. Brewster, facetiously, as the load of trouble rolled from +his heart. Sary was soon perched beside the rancher on the high spring +seat of the lumbering ranch-wagon, tenderly holding a half-dead rubber +plant. On that drive, her host heard more of every family history of +the ranchers for miles around than he had ever dreamed of knowing even +if he lived to be a hundred. + +Sary Dodd arrived at the ranch-house the day before the visitors were +expected. Mrs. Brewster and Polly were in the midst of a light +house-cleaning as the strangers must not find a speck of dust anywhere! + +"Maw, here's Sary Dodd! Ah got her to help!" shouted Sam Brewster, +pulling up his horse by the side of the porch. + +"Sary Dodd! Oh, Sary, I'm right glad to see you! Come in, won't you?" +greeted Mrs. Brewster, coming to the door. + +"Just in time, Mrs. Dodd, to help me shove this press in to the spare +room," added Polly, arresting her work to smile at the new-comer. + +"Give Sary time to lay off her bonnet, child!" reproved Mrs. Brewster, +pulling out a rocker for the widow. + +"Laws me! What'cher doin'--a-cleanin' house agin!" cried Sary, leaning +against the door-frame panting for breath. + +"Winded, Sary? Ah told you-all Ah'd carry that heavy box from the +wagon. But no!" exclaimed Mr. Brewster. + +Polly was over by the door by this time, and she stooped to carry the +box indoors. + +"Goodness! What's in the box to make it so heavy?" + +"Chil', that box hol's all my treasures on arth! Some few things Bill +lef me, our fam'iy album, an' my gran'mother's pieces of reel +silver--four plated! And mos' of all, the Brittania cake basket Bill +gave me on our annerversary!" explained Sary, pathetically, as she +dabbed a black cotton glove at her dewy eyes. + +"Sam, take the team to the barn and leave Sary with us. We'll soon have +her feeling at home," said Mrs. Brewster, seeing a frown coming over +her lord and master's face, as he wondered if his home-life was to be +shadowed by a sorrowing widow! + +The moment Mr. Brewster left for the barn, his wife returned to the +"help," who had plumped herself down into the wooden Boston rocker and +was fanning herself vigorously with a newspaper. + +"Let me remove your bonnet, Sary," offered Mrs. Brewster kindly, taking +the twisted black strings to undo the knot that was tightly tied under +a heavy double chin. + +"Ah declar t' goodness, Miss Brewster, ef you-all hain't too good! +Ah'll jest set t' git my second wind, an' then Ah'll tek right hol' of +things!" gasped Sary. + +"Don't hurry yourself. Just cool off and then you'll feel better after +such a long ride. Shall I send Polly to the spring-house for some cold +milk?" asked the lady of the house, folding the flimsy crepe token of +Sary's state of widowhood. + +"G'wan now, Miss Brewster--I'm no infant!" scoffed Sary. "Don' cher +know a fat bein' mustn't tech milk 'cause it's more fattenin'?" + +The hostess refrained from giving her opinion, but she busied herself +with unpinning the rusty black plush cape that the widow had donned +when she began her journey to new surroundings. Being quite rested by +this time, Sary gripped a hold on each arm of the rocker and managed to +hoist her bulky form out from the too close embrace of the senseless +wooden arms. + +"Now ef Polly er you-all 'll show me what to bunk, Ah ricken Ah'll +change my Sunday-best an' pitch inter work," said the willing help. + +"Polly, you drag the box in while I show Sary her room," called Mrs. +Brewster, coming to the door that opened from the living-room directly +into John's chamber--now to be a guest room. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE "SERVANT PROBLEM" SOLVED + + +In the wild mountain regions of the Rockies, where maids are unheard +of, and the "hotels" provide the most primitive service, the +house-wives have little concern over the perplexing question of "help" +as experienced in large cities. + +If it is necessary to assist a neighbor who is marrying off a daughter +and wants to provide her with a trousseau, a sewing-bee is arranged and +ranchers' families for miles around drive in and visit. Quilts, sheets, +and other necessities are quickly stitched and neatly folded out of the +way by the women, while the men occupy themselves with work about the +place until it is time for the grand dinner. + +The same neighborly help is offered in other emergencies, so that few +families want servants. At the same time, help has not been looked down +upon as menial work by the ranchers, and so the "help" lives as a +member of the family that happens to secure one. + +In cases such as Sary Dodd's, where a woman is left penniless and +another woman needs her practical aid, the two meet half-way and the +kitchen atmosphere is serene. Quite different is the case in cities, +however. + +Sary felt she was the social equal to any rancher's wife, for had she +not been mistress of a ranch, too--even though it was never paid for. +So she felt she was doing the Brewsters a favor by sharing their home +and work, even while she admitted the obligation she was under of being +provided with bed and board. + +The tiny room allotted to the widow was directly back of the kitchen L. +It had a single window that gave a fine view of Rainbow Cliffs, but the +furniture was of the plainest. Sary took in the simplicity in one +glance and then turned to her mistress. + +"Ah've hear'n tell how Sam Brewster kin buy er sell th' hull township, +ef he likes, Miss Brewster," ventured Sary, slyly. + +But the mistress had heard of Sary's proneness to gossip and so +replied: "We don't consider wealth worth anything unless you know what +to do with it. We live as comfortably as we like, and try to use what +is left in helping others." + +Sary made no reply to this statement, but watched Mrs. Brewster go to +the window and pull on the cord that was stretched at one side of the +window-frame. Instantly, the decorated window-shade pulleyed up to +allow more light to shine into the room. + +"Now Ah see how that wu'ks!" cried Sary, delightedly. + +Mrs. Brewster turned with a questioning look in her eyes. + +Sary explained. "Cal Lorrimer tol' me like-es-how them winder shades +wu'ked but Ah jest coulden' see it." + +Mrs. Brewster laughed and Sary ventured to pulley the shade herself. +She drew it up and down several times and then turned to express her +sentiments to her mistress. + +"My, but yuh're ferchunit t' have all seeh new-fangled idees in the +house! It clean locoes me t' think Ah'm livin' wid sech fine +contraptions." And Sary pressed her large freckled, hands over her +sparse red hair to signify how "locoed" her brain really was. + +Mrs. Brewster laughed merrily. "Why, Sary, since I left Denver, my +friends all have shades in the windows that run up and down on springs +without any other help. They go by themselves." + +"Now, Miss Brewster! Do _you_ believe that fairy-tale?" quizzed Sary, +looking keenly at her mistress to see if she was trying to laugh at her +ignorance of city-life. + +"It is a fact, Sary--not a fairy-tale. My friend has them all through +her house, and I expect to replace these pulleys with spring rollers, +some day." + +Sary passed her hand over the lustra design on the shade and Mrs. +Brewster turned to leave the room. Before she closed the door, she +said: "I'm going to start dinner, Sary. When you are ready you can join +me in the kitchen." + +The moment the mistress was gone, Sary ran to make sure the door was +securely closed. Then she turned to inspect the belongings of the room. +"Huh! the press ain't so much--plain deal painted brown." + +The press was passed by the scornful occupant of the room, and the bed +next came under her appraising eye. + +"Th' bed's soft wood, too, but it feels comfertible." + +Sary sat on the bed and bounced up and down to test the springs and +mattress before she pulled back the covers to examine the quality of +filling in the ticking. + +"Laws! It hain't corn-husks, a-tall! It's soft as down!" + +Inborn curiosity compelled her to take a hairpin and rip open a bit of +the seam. To her amazement she pulled out a tangle of long whitish hair. + +"Of all things! And _this_ is what I hev to sleep on!" ejaculated the +insulted maid. "Wall, we'll see about that!" + +The sheets and newly patched quilt were designated as "ornery" but the +printed spread, patterned to imitate blue torchon lace, drew a murmur +of admiration from the woman. Sary quickly changed her robe of mourning +to a calico house-dress and went out, determined to speak her mind +about that awful mattress! She never thought such a rich man's house +would have so common a thing as "combin's"--even if it was in the +"help's" tick! + +But the wonderful odor of boiling cabbage made her forget her complaint +for the time being. She went to the stove and lifted a lid from the +large kettle. She sniffed audibly. + +"Um! Ah loves cabbige soup, Miss Brewster!" + +"Do you, Sary--so does Mr. Brewster. If you will watch the meat frying, +I will blow the horn to call the men to dinner." + +Mrs. Brewster waited until Sary began thickening the gravy, then she +took the horn and stood upon the door-step, blowing it several times. +It was then hung back of the kitchen door again. + +"Polly! Come now, dear, and wash up for dinner," called Mrs. Brewster, +standing in the doorway that led to the family living-room. + +Presently, the family, augmented by Sary, sat down in the kitchen for +dinner. Jeb, the hired man, had followed in after his master, and had +been introduced to the new help; he now watched her capable hands and +arms as she swung the soup-kettle from the stove. + +"Just a moment, Sary!" whispered Mrs. Brewster, warningly. + +Sary looked around in surprise and saw the others with bowed heads, +waiting for her to get rid of the pot and fold her hands. It took her +but half a second to understand and follow the leading. + +The ranchers of the Rocky Mountains and plains are most orthodox church +folk. They would as soon steal or murder as to miss "meetin'," or work +on a Sunday. And most of them have regular family prayers and long +services at home whenever opportunity offers. + +Sam Brewster was not one of the latter kind but the longer the grace he +said, the better a man he thought he was. In every other way, so +liberal and kind, it was not consistent for him to act so narrow-minded +regarding religion. + +Once the grace was said, the host unfolded his napkin and looked to +Sary for the soup. The soup-pot had been taken up the second time and +was about to be placed in the middle of the table where every one could +serve themselves as they wished, but Mrs. Brewster gave her a look and +sign that was incomprehensible. She was confused for once in her life. + +"I'll serve the soup this noon, Sary, and you can pass the plates," +remarked Mrs. Brewster, seeing her maid did not understand. + +And now Sary beheld a new order of things! Soup that was dipped into +plates and passed until each member at table had a dish before him. +Large white napkins that were not tied about the neck but spread over +the lap! How funny it seemed that the small red-flowered squares Sary +had been accustomed to when company came were nowhere in evidence. + +As the meal progressed, Sary's wonderment increased; she failed to hear +familiar sounds of eating, nor saw the usual form of plying knife and +fork together. + +Immediately after dinner, Polly led her mother to John's room. "Maw, +I'm going to use those new shades I bought for your Christmas gift, and +put them at the windows of the girls' room." + +"Oh, Polly, don't you think plain white ones will look nicer?" quickly +replied Mrs. Brewster, as she beheld the pea-green Holland decorated +with monster bronze roses and huge butterflies. + +Polly felt disconcerted for the moment as she realized that her +mother's tone implied disapproval of the change. But she would not +admit that possibly the white would improve the bed-room. + +"Why, Maw, you know how much I paid for those shades last Christmas. +The man in Oak Creek said they were the grandest ones in Denver!" + +"Maybe _he_ thought so, Polly, but we must remember that his taste in +art has lacked cultivation. Now I prefer pure white shades, or +curtains, for a bed-room window," said wise Mrs. Brewster, leaving her +daughter to wonder whether she liked pure white for the living-room, +also. + +But Polly had enough human will and stubbornness in her make-up to +resist the suggestion offered by her experienced mother. "Well, I'll +tell you what we'll do, Maw: I'll just put these lovely shades up till +after the girls see them, then we'll change to white. I think it will +be best to keep these new and clean for the front room, but I want the +city girls to _know_ we've got such expensive things in the house." + +"Polly dear, that is foolish. I have always tried to teach you +otherwise. What matters it, whether you display gorgeous 'feathers' if +the thing be false? Simplicity and wisdom are the rarest adornments of +a home." + +"There you go again, Maw, lecturing me with your wise old saws," +laughed Polly, jumping upon the chair to fit the shades in place. + +Mrs. Brewster smiled but said nothing. She knew how soon her child +would learn good from bad, once she came in contact with strangers. And +so well had the mother grounded her daughter that she had no qualms +about the result of any contacts. + +Mrs. Brewster watched while Polly finished the placing of the dreadful +shades, then she looked about at the colored prints tacked upon every +available spot of rough plaster-walls. Her brow puckered at the +conglomeration of subjects and sizes of the chromos, but she knew how +carefully Polly had saved every one of them that had arrived with tea +or soap, so she passed no audible judgment. + +"Oh, Maw! I have another great idea!" cried Polly, jumping from the +chair and clapping her hands. + +"Yes?" + +"Let's move Daddy's sofa into the bedroom and place it at the foot of +the bed, just like the pictures in the _Farm Journal_ show us! Then we +won't have to have the single bed brought in from the barn--Anne can +sleep on the bed-lounge." + +"I really think Anne Stewart will prefer a bed, Polly, even if it is +small," gasped Mrs. Brewster hastily. + +"Then we'll change later. It won't take a minute to move the sofa in +and it will look so citified to the girls who most likely have divans +or sofas in their bedrooms at home." + +"I think they will like the difference--not having their country +bedroom look like the city one. A complete change always is better than +a similar environment, especially if the city rooms are more +artistically furnished than the result of _our_ efforts." + +"Now, Maw, don't you want me to surprise them with the sofa John gave +Paw and you, long ago? I'm sure they won't hurt it," coaxed Polly. + +"Oh, I'm not thinking of any damage. I was wondering how Anne would +like to sleep on a folding sofa instead of in a bed." + +"She won't mind; and she'll be glad to see her friends impressed by the +bedroom furniture," quickly explained Polly. + +"Well, then, call Sary to help you shove it in, while I go and find +those braided mats we made last winter," said Mrs. Brewster in a tone +of resignation. + +Polly needed no second consent, but ran out to call Sary. The sofa was +soon wheeled from the chimney-nook into the bedroom which adjoined the +living-room at the back. Once it was placed at the foot of the heavy +walnut bed, Polly whipped off the cretonne covering that always hid the +hideous plush-carpet upholstery. + +As the slip-cover came off and revealed the red and green and purple +design, Polly glanced at Sary to see the effect made. + +"Oh, laws! Ah never see'd sech a sofy! Ain't it grand?" breathed Sary, +lost in admiration. + +"Sary, it opens, too!" announced Polly, condescendingly pulling at the +strap that moved the spring to turn the half into a low bed. + +"Well, suhs! What next? Yoh Paw must be a milyonaire, shore!" + +"No, Sary; John saved his money for selling chickens and a calf, and +got this for Paw and Maw, when he went to high school in Denver. Oh, we +had an awful time carting it from Oak Creek to Pebbly Pit through all +the snow and weather!" explained Polly. + +Mrs. Brewster laughed at the remembrance but told Polly that she hoped +she would keep the cover on the sofa. + +"You don't mean me to cover up the velvet, do you?" asked Polly, aghast +at the suggestion. + +"Perhaps Anne will sleep better if the flowers are out of sight," +remarked Mrs. Brewster, softly, but with amused sarcasm. + +"You-all mought better do that, Miss Pollee, cuz them colors will git +sun-streaked in this bright light," added Sary. + +"I am not worrying about the fade, Sary, but over the fact that the +young teacher and her friends will think we _prefer_ such crude +articles of furniture, instead of tolerating them just because my dear +children denied themselves to give us pleasure. It is their motive and +delight that we all felt in the gifts, more than the objects which +showed immature judgment," explained Mrs. Brewster, slowly and +thoughtfully. + +Polly was silenced and she suddenly realized how far she must climb +before she knew as much as her mother--even though she studied "Art +Notes" in the monthly magazines that reached the ranch. + +"I wonder if the harsh color Maw speaks of is the real cause of that +cretonne cover always being over the sofa?" wondered the girl to +herself. But she said nothing and the sofa was left at the foot of the +great bed. + +Mrs. Brewster knew she had said much, so she left the room and beckoned +Sary to follow her to the kitchen. Polly silently proceeded with the +finishing touches to the room. + +She hung a painted-framed mirror over the wash-stand. The glass was +greenish in hue and wavy in lines, but it looked like a reflector and +so it remained in position. An enameled basin and earthen jug did duty +for toilet purposes. The plain deal chairs were decorated with +crocheted tidies--one tied to the back of each chair. And last, but not +least, came the treasure of the Brewster family. It had been preserved +in paper wrappings and lavender for many years, and now and then the +mistress of the ranch-house removed it and hung it out to keep the +folds from turning yellow. + +"There now! When they see this knitted cotton spread with its raised +roses and lilies, those girls will know that we can have wonderful +things here as well as there." + +So saying, Polly spread out the thick white quilt until the large +double-bed was smoothly covered. Then she stood back and sighed with +gratification at the result of her afternoon's work. + +"There now! I'll just call Maw before I close up the room," murmured +Polly, skipping away to look for Mrs. Brewster. + +Sary followed closely after the mistress, as Polly led the triumphal +march to the guest-chamber. The door was flung open and the ladies +asked to admire. + +"Polly, something told me that you would get the spread out of the +chest," declared Mrs. Brewster, patting her daughter gently. "And your +god-mother would be so pleased if she were here to see how you honored +her work. Some day, these quaint old-fashioned spreads and patch-work +quilts will become quite the rage again, and then you will feel proud +to show yours. I think Anne will appreciate the endless task such a +spread represents." + +And once more Polly felt that she had not expressed her interior +decorating ideals on the same high plane her mother seemed to have +reached, but she would not admit having made a mistake, so the +crocheted spread remained, even as the green shades and the gay sofa +remained, to welcome the city girls to Pebbly Pit. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +UNPLEASANT SURPRISES + + +The time set for the meeting of the Maynard girls and Anne Stewart at +the Denver Terminal Station came and passed with no sign of the Chicago +travelers. Then Mrs. Stewart was seen hurrying down the platform waving +a yellow envelope to attract her daughter's attention. + +Anne was patiently seated on the edge of a truck looking keenly at +every one in sight, so she soon saw her mother. The Oak Creek local, +that left Denver daily at noon, was getting up enough steam to enable +it to make a _regular_ start. Whether it would arrive was a question! + +Anne hastily tore the telegram open and read it aloud. "Missed train. +Don't wait for us. Go on and send machine to meet us to-morrow, same +train, at Oak Creek. Explain to Brewsters. Bob." + +Anne looked at her mother and laughed. "If that isn't Bob all over! +Guess her hair wasn't dressed." + +"Do they think the Brewsters run a limousine, or do they mean a +sewing-machine?" asked Mrs. Stewart, guilelessly. + +Anne laughed again at her mother's innocent expression, but Mrs. +Stewart added: "I told you no good would come of transplanting +hot-house flowers to an old-fashioned roundel." + +"I can picture Bob Maynard hiking from Oak Creek Station to Pebbly +Pit--most likely she will wear French heeled shoes!" said Anne, and she +laughed so merrily that waiting passengers in the dingy cars glanced +from the tiny windows and felt better for the contagious laughter. + +"Oh, my dear! You won't think of making those city girls start training +with such a hard lesson, will you?" cried Mrs. Stewart, who understood +the reason Mr. Maynard had for this outing. + +"Bless your dear heart, no! I'll send the wagon for them, but I +wondered what would happen in case they _had_ to walk!" + +"Well, I'm thankful I'm not in Mr. Maynard's shoes when those girls +find out what they will have to do _without_ all summer." + +"Nolla will be in her glory--" began Anne, when the conductor hurried +over to the two women. + +"Going by this train, ladies?" + +"Good-by, mother. I'll write all about the reception," laughed Anne, +hurriedly kissing her mother and giving her a hug. + +"All aboard!" shouted the brakeman, as the tardy passenger mounted the +steep steps and waved her hand at Mrs. Stewart. + +It was a ride of about seventy miles and Anne thoroughly enjoyed +reviewing every landmark as she passed it by. Jeb stood waiting at the +little station of Oak Creek, his mouth and eyes wide open as he watched +the train pull in--always an exciting time for the farmhand. + +The cumbersome ranch-wagon, with its high spring-seat, was drawn up +beside a telegraph pole to which the skittish young horses had been +securely tied. Anne went over to meet Jeb, and said, with a smile: + +"Were you waiting for some ladies for the Brewsters? I am Anne Stewart, +the teacher who used to be at Bear Forks school." + +"Ya-as'm! How-dee! Hain't you-all got unny more comin'?" + +"Not to-day. They missed their train and expect to be here on +to-morrow's noon-train. What is your name, may I ask?" + +"Jeb," laconically replied the man, looking about as if he still missed +a necessary item for the return trip. + +"Oh! I guess you want my baggage. It's that small trunk over by the +box-car," explained Anne, and Jeb grinned with relief. + +As he carried the trunk lightly as if it were a stick, Anne remarked: +"It's too bad to make you take this trip again to-morrow." + +"Not so-es you-all kin notice it! To-morrer is pay-day fer the miners, +en Oak Crick is a lively town, them times," explained Jeb, winking an +eye to show what fun he expected to have next day. + +"Then it's a lucky thing for you, Jeb, that my friends missed the train +to-day." + +"Jes' so!" chuckled Jeb, as he gathered up the reins and snacked the +whip over his horses' heads. + +Conversation lagged after the start, for the bumping and rumbling of +the heavy wagon as it went over rocks and ruts in the rough trail, +forced all the breath from the passenger's lungs. + +The wagon drew up beside the porch of the ranch-house and Anne found +the family waiting to receive them. She jumped from her perch and +greeted Polly, then smiled at Mr. and Mrs. Brewster as the girl +introduced her. Even Sary felt flattered at the kindly greeting +accorded her by this pretty school-teacher. + +"Wh-hy--you are all alone!" gasped Polly. + +Then Anne explained about the telegram just as her train was about to +leave Denver. The looks of blank surprise changed to relief as the +family heard the cause of the other two girls' non-appearance. They all +entered the house together, delighted with each other. Mrs. Brewster +felt that she was going to like this girl. + +Anne was delighted with the place and everything in connection with it. +Even the intense coloring of the sofa or the pea-green shades failed to +disturb her peace and repose that night. + +After the supper dishes had been cleared away, Mrs. Brewster led the +way to the wide terrace that stretched from the porch to the descent of +the crater. Here the group watched the sunset, and became better +acquainted. By bedtime, Mrs. Brewster was of the opinion that any man +excepting John, who got Anne Stewart for a wife was very fortunate, +indeed! John was still a superior being. + +The next morning, at breakfast, Mr. Brewster said to Jeb: "Ah have to +look after some business in Oak Creek, to-day, Jeb, so you need not +drive over for the girls. Ah will stop at the station and look them up." + +"Mebbe you-all'd better take me to hist the trunks, es Ah am young and +hearty," ventured Jeb, anxiously. + +"You! Why, Jeb, Ah can turn you over with my small finger," laughed Mr. +Brewster, comparing his tall muscular frame with that of small slim +Jeb's. + +So Jeb slouched away to look after his master's farm work as well as +his own, and as he worked he grumbled and thought of the fun and +frolics the "fellers" in Oak Creek were having on their pay-day. + +At the Denver station, two girls dressed in the latest modes, walked +along the platform toward a line of railway coaches. + +"What dirty-looking cars. Can these be right?" said Barbara Maynard. + +And the younger girl, Eleanor, replied: "I suppose they burn soft coal." + +"Well, they shouldn't! Everything we have on will be covered with soot +before we reach the town." + +"That will mean more business for the dry-cleaners at Oak Creek," +laughed Eleanor. Had she known that the place could not boast of any +kind of a cleaning establishment, she would have laughed louder and +longer at the novelty. + +"I suppose this Oak Creek is the shopping center for all the smaller +villages that are within motoring distance of it," surmised Barbara. + +"I suppose so," agreed Eleanor, as she watched a man oil the wheels +under the engine. + +The man finished the work and straightened up. His face and hands were +black from grease and oil and soot, but he smiled a friendly smile at +the young ladies who were obviously waiting to board his train. + +"She's all made up, leddies, ef you-all wants to git in." + +"Mercy! Does he have to grin as if he were an old friend when he +announces the fact?" complained Barbara, daintily picking her way +between boxes and bags of freight. + +"He's a genuine western type," laughed Eleanor, following her sister +into the coach. + +"Goodness gracious! Are we expected to sit on these old dusty plush +seats?" cried Barbara, whipping the upholstery with her tiny +handkerchief before she seated herself. + +Again Eleanor laughed but she was not as merry as when she jumped from +the Pullman that morning. + +Quite different were the sensations of the two city girls, to those of +Anne Stewart, as they passed over the same route and saw the same +country. Perhaps it was the difference in training more than the ideals +of the three girls. + +"Nolla, can all the houses be as horrid as those we have passed by?" +asked Barbara, nodding at a group of log-houses. + +"I don't know, but they certainly are smaller than the homes in +Chicago, aren't they?" rejoined Eleanor, gazing in open curiosity at +the scenery and buildings so different from that of the city. + +"Smaller! Why, they are simply _poverty_-stricken in looks!" exclaimed +Barbara in disgust. + +The nearer the train came to Oak Creek, the smaller and rougher the +houses seemed, until the guard called out: + +"Oak Crick! Here's your station!" + +The girls gazed at each other in consternation, for the place was +little more than a rough mining settlement, or ranch-town. + +The brakeman caught up the leather bags and jumped from the slowing +train. He planked them down regardless of contents, and ran off to the +station. It was an old discarded box-car shoved on a siding to do duty +as ticket-office and freight station. + +The girls hurried out to the car platform and Barbara asked: "Nolla, +why don't you call the porter?" + +"They never had one on this line!" Then stepping down side-ways from +the high narrow steps of the train, Eleanor cried: + +"Gracious! Do catch me if I fall!" + +Barbara stared about as a frozen horror slowly crept into her soul and +was expressed in her eyes. "Was _this_ the lovely mountain resort for +which she had planned such conquests?" + +Eleanor spied the precious bags too close to the tracks to insure their +safety, so she rushed over to save them from disaster--for who could +tell whether that shaky old train would hold together much longer! + +But the Local looked worse than it really was. It was as reliable a set +of old cars as could be found, even if the paint and polish had +vanished with age. Just as the bags were recovered, the whistle tooted, +the wheels grated in turning, and the train that on its return trip to +Denver, might have carried these girls back to _their_ kind of +civilization, slowly pulled out of sight. + +Eleanor struggled with the two well-filled bags of toilet accessories, +and deposited them before her sister. "Bet you everything is broken, +and our house-dresses ruined with perfume!" + +As Barbara made no reply, Eleanor followed the direction of her stare. +A group of dreadful looking miners and a crowd of wild-looking +cow-punchers were using seven expensive wardrobe trunks for their +pleasure. + +Evidently the men had indulged in too many tests of Oak Creek whiskey, +called "Pizen" by the natives. The cow-boys were picturesque enough in +their wide sombreros, woolly chaps, gay shirts, and a swagger that +matched their trick of shooting. The miners were swarthy, bearded +foreigners, who wore long boots, loose shirts, and belts from which +ugly-looking six-shooters protruded. + +As Eleanor decided to go over to the circle surrounding the trunks, and +demand an explanation she heard a hardened miner shout: "It's my deal +next!" + +Then the sisters saw that their largest trunk had been turned over on +its side to make a convenient card-table. The others accommodated the +players and loungers whose spurred heels beat a tattoo upon the +polished grain-leather covers. + +"Humph! At least we can display original etchings on our trunks when we +get them back home," remarked Eleanor, with a gleam of amusement at the +affair. + +"Everything will simply be ruined! Just see that trunk holding my +evening-dresses--right by that horse-trough. Do make those awful +creatures go away, won't you, Nolla?" begged Barbara. + +"With those nasty guns sticking from their belts--not me! But I'll go +to the office and complain to the baggage-master." + +So Eleanor courageously turned her back on the fascinating sight of all +those revolvers, and Barbara followed closely at her sister's heels; +both of them hurried to the old car that displayed a sign saying it was +the baggage-room. No one was there, so the girls stood at the door, +whence the road leading to the railway could be seen. + +"If only we knew when the chauffeur would come!" sighed Barbara, but +now Eleanor had misgivings about an automobile. + +Meantime the men had seen the two strangers hovering about but they +were not aware that the trunks belonged to the new-comers. When the +girls entered the "station" one old rascal leaned over and said: + +"Them are tenderfeet an' we-all oughter welcome 'em in th' good +old-fashioned custom." + +"Sure thing!" cried the others, and they quickly planned. + +Eleanor decided it was time to dispossess these ruffians from her +property, so she assumed an air of courage and started for the group, +while Barbara held firmly to her sister's sleeve. But an unexpected +denouement halted the two girls. + +"Ah say you cheated that deal!" howled a miner, at the same time he +slapped his leather gauntlet across a cow-boy's face. + +Instantly every revolver was whipped forth and a terrible fight ensued, +every man taking part in the general melee. The girls, trembling with +fear as shots and curses rang out profusely, clung to each other +helplessly, but failed to note that the guns were aimed skyward. + +"Hey, boys--what the deuce do you-all mean?" shouted a fine-looking man +coming upon the scene unannounced. + +The crowd of men looked sheepish and hurriedly explained the joke, +looking over in the direction of the two strangers. As their welcome +was considered a huge joke the men laughed loudly. Mr. Brewster (for it +was the rancher) frowned when he saw the pale girls almost fainting +from fear. Then he turned to the ringleader in the plot: + +"Say, Bill! Was that pesky train from Denver on time--or too soon, for +a change?" asked Mr. Brewster, consulting his watch. + +"It war ten minits too airly, 'cause Hank Janssen, th' ingineer, 's got +a christenin' down to his home to-night," explained Bill. + +"Then those two girls are my company," groaned the rancher, causing a +scramble at his words. The cow-punchers whipped off their hats to +salute and the miners shuffled behind the daring cow-boys, the better +to hide their faces from the "Boss." + +Mr. Brewster hurried over to reassure the girls that the whole fight +had been staged to entertain them. He explained the cause of his not +being on hand to meet them, and waving his hand for the cow-boys, he +called: + +"Get busy, boys! Shake those trunks into the wagon." + +While the men eagerly lent shoulders and muscles to the task expected +of them, the three principals in this group made personal notes of each +other, albeit not a word was said. + +"Ah never did see such ridiculous styles as this!" thought Sam +Brewster, looking the girls over from top to toe. + +"This rough man Mr. Brewster! Why, he's a common farmer!" thought +Barbara, disdainfully. + +"I bet Polly's father's a heap of fun!" thought Eleanor. + +When Mr. Brewster realized there were _seven_ great trunks belonging to +two girls, he groaned within himself, wondering what in the world could +be found to fill so many! + +The men were handed cigars, and as they doffed their hats to say "Thank +you-all" they backed away to permit the Boss to help the girls up the +high wagon-side. + +Barbara looked at the rough stained hands and said insultingly: "No, +thank you!" + +"Here--let me jump up and pull you in," laughed Eleanor, uncomfortably, +seeing that her sister had offended their host. + +Sam Brewster turned to give his horses a pail of water while the two +girls attempted to climb up. But the small steel foot-rest was too high +to be reached without a boost from below, so they had to climb, hand +over hand, up the great wheel with its spokes clogged with the heavy +mud from the trails. + +When they were finally seated, both girls looked at each other. Fresh +natty traveling suits were streaked by the mud, and their gloves--soft +chamois-skins--could now be thrown away. Even their faces had been +smeared with mud when they slipped and had to clutch at any possible +rescue. Naturally, they were not in too amiable a frame of mind for +what awaited them at the end of the trip. + +The high spring-seat was the only one, so Barbara had to sit there. "I +simply cannot hold on to this sky-scraper!" complained she testily. + +"It's the only one, Bob, so you will _have_ to!" replied Eleanor. + +In another moment, Mr. Brewster climbed up easily and sat beside the +strangers. He churked to the horses and drove away in a manner that +threatened to hurl the city girls from their earthly perch into kingdom +come. + +"Oh, this is terrible!" groaned Barbara, at an unusually hard bump of +the wagon over a rutty road. + +"Maybe we can sit down on the floor of the wagon where the trunks are?" +ventured Eleanor, looking at Mr. Brewster. + +"Shore--if you-all want to. The senseless trunks make better company +than a rough old farmer," replied Mr. Brewster, without the least +suspicion of malice in the words. + +The exchange was made and the girls felt protected by the trunks, so +they could take a livelier interest in the ride. As they left the road +leading from Oak Creek, the sight of imposing mountains towering in the +distance thrilled them in spite of their determination to dislike +everything they saw. And the gorgeous hues and beauty of the strange +wild-flowers caused exclamations from Eleanor, while Barbara gasped at +the vast herds of cattle, grazing, as they roamed over the plains. + +Finally Mr. Brewster guided the horses away from the wide trail, into +the Bear Forks trail that wound in and out, now on the brink of the +river's chasm, or again between jagged cliffs. Anon the awed girls +gazed down into fearful depths as the wagon skirted the dangerous +brink, or craned their necks to look at the wonderful vines and foliage +hanging from the tops of massive rocks. By the time they reached the +ridge of foot-hills where the trail led off to the cliffs at the +Devil's Grave, both sisters were silenced by the impressive scenery, so +that petty problems of puny mortals faded into a misty back-ground. + +Suddenly the trail turned around a group of great rocks and the first +glimpse of Rainbow Cliffs could be seen. As the wagon drew nigh the +gorge running through the cliffs, Anne Stewart and Polly were found +waiting for the visitors. + +Anne introduced Polly, and Eleanor acknowledged the courtesy, but +Barbara rudely failed to notice it as she was so obsessed with the +desire to complain about the railroad, the natives of Oak Creek, the +trails to Pebbly Pit, and everything connected with the coming. + +Polly felt dreadfully shy with such unusual-looking girls. Not that +their hats had feathers or fine flowers, nor their suits had any +expensive trimmings on them, to suggest wealth, but the way they +_looked_ in their clothes! What made the difference, she wondered. Had +Anne told her the actual cost of those hats and suits, poor Polly would +have fainted from shock. + +Barbara was holding forth on her wrongs. "I can't see for the life of +me, Anne, why you selected such an outlandish spot as this, for us, in +which to waste a precious summer. Why, it is simply +_unbearable_--nothing but mountains and trails in sight! And no one but +just farmers to associate with! Oh, oh!" The accent on "farmers" made +Polly wince and Eleanor frown, at the speaker. Anne hastened to change +the subject for she feared Mr. Brewster might turn his horses and take +them all back to Oak Creek station. + +It was a duel of dialogue between Anne and Barbara after that, each one +trying to keep up a conversation they wished to down the other with. +Thus the wagon reached the porch. + +Polly sprang out and ran indoors unnoticed by any one. Eleanor was +deeply interested in gazing out at the great crater bowl that formed +the pasture and farm-lands of Pebbly Pit. Anne was anxious to have her +charges make a good impression on Mrs. Brewster and so she jumped out +and held a hand to assist Barbara. + +The lady of the house stood waiting to welcome the girls, when Sary ran +out from the kitchen, hurriedly drying her wet hands on an apron. She +fully expected to shake hands with the fine ladies, when her turn came +to be introduced. She stood directly back of her mistress peering +eagerly at the new-comers in their simple straw hats, severe cloth +suits, and shoes, gloves, and veils of the finest. + +Before Anne Stewart could open her lips to introduce the girls, Barbara +sent a scornful glance over the group and then at the ranch-house, and +said: "What a barracks! It's nothing more than a log cabin on a +gigantic scale." + +"Oh, I think it is great! Just like the wonderful cabins we read about +in the Adirondacks, or other large camp-sites," quickly added Eleanor. + +"But this is not a camp, my poor little sister! And we haven't the same +set either, as we would have had at a fashionable camp," sneered +Barbara. + +"You needn't 'poor me,' Bob! I'm just crazy over the farm and--and +everything. Hurry up, Anne, and introduce me so I can get acquainted," +cried Eleanor, nudging the teacher to remind her of her duty. + +Mr. Brewster had driven the team to a post a little farther up the +road, and was not present when the introductions took place. Mrs. +Brewster summoned a pleasant smile for Barbara, and a motherly pat on +the shoulder for Eleanor. Then Sary stepped forward to be introduced, +as it was customary for her to be treated as a member of the family. + +"Glad t' know you-all!" simpered Sary, bowing stiffly and offering her +reddened hand to shake the gloved ones of the girls. + +Barbara completely ignored the par-boiled digits and slightly lifted +one eyebrow at Sary. Eleanor felt so humiliated at her sister's actions +that she came forward to make amends but Sary would have none of it. + +When Barbara gave her a frozen look, Sary examined her hands for a +moment, then humped her shoulders and stamped back to the kitchen-range +where she had been boiling soap-fat and straining out the scum before +the arrival of the city misses. + +"Anne, would your friends like to refresh themselves in the bedroom?" +asked Mrs. Brewster to break the embarrassed silence. + +"Oh, yes, of course!" replied Anne, anxiously turning to Barbara. + +Eleanor took the initiative of going toward the door. "I never saw such +a darling bungalow! I just love everything spread out on the ground +floor. No stairs and no elevators--Oh, how nice!" + +"It is a change from your brown-stone mansions, isn't it?" replied Mrs. +Brewster, smiling at the concerned face. + +"To me it is the most awful place! I don't suppose you have baths, or +electric light, or telephone service?" said Barbara. + +"Now you see here, Barbara Maynard! You've got to stop this whimpering +or I'll wire Daddy to make you go home! I just won't have my whole +summer spoiled by your complaints!" cried Eleanor, angrily, and +stamping her foot to emphasize her words. + +"I hope you didn't expect me to _stay_ here, did you?" demanded Barbara. + +"I hope you won't--that's all I've got to say! Come on, Anne, and show +me the place. Where's Polly gone?" said Eleanor. + +Polly was found in the large living-room, looking the picture of +disappointment. Anne understood how she must have felt, so she diverted +the attention of the newcomers to the great yawning fire-place that +could hold several tree-trunks at one time. + +"And do you know, Nolla, every bit of wood in this house was hewn and +carted here by Mr. Brewster? You see the government allows settlers +just so much timber with which to construct a home and barns. There is +a county sawmill to saw and trim logs and then the owner has to cart +them himself. Naturally, one hasn't time to carve fancy _ideals_ in the +wood one uses for the house. And having it sent from Denver, or other +large cities where labor is to be had, is also out of the question. The +freight costs, and the long haul from Oak Creek to the Pit presents +difficulties not to be overcome. So folks build homes as solid and +strong as they can, and leave the trimmings for a future generation." +Anne explained all this for Barbara's benefit, and Mrs. Brewster smiled +her gratitude to the girl. + +Eleanor seemed more impressed than ever after she heard of the time and +labor it must have taken to construct such a house as the Brewster +ranch boasted; and Barbara was taken back, as she had not thought of +such things, but she pretended not to care. + +[Illustration with caption: Barbara completely ignored Sary.] + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE HARROWING DETAILS + + +"Now, girls, come and see the guest-room Polly prepared for us. You +know she is going to study interior decorating when she grows +up--aren't you, Polly?" said Anne, placing an arm protectingly about +the girl's shoulders and moving towards the chamber. + +Polly brightened up at once, for she remembered the sofa that Anne had +praised as having made a fine bed, and then there were the gorgeous +bronzed shades that darkened the windows! + +Polly stood at the head of the sofa watching eagerly for the effect of +the decorating on the city visitors. Barbara stared at first in utter +unbelief that her room could be so barren of comfort, then she turned +and frowned darkly as the truth impressed her. + +"Why! There's nothing here--only an old bed, and a painted set of +drawers such as our servants would fling out of the room!" Then she +caught a twisted reflection of her face in the green mirror. It was too +much! + +She threw herself upon the sofa and laughed hysterically. Eleanor +wondered at her sister's discordant mirth but when she looked in the +direction Barbara's eyes were turned, she saw the cause. + +"Verily, Anne, 'pride goeth before a fall'--Poor Bob!" said Eleanor, +cynically. + +Anne could not hide a smile at the words but tried to smooth matters +out by going to the window and speaking of the view. + +"I've had landscape enough for one day, Anne, and could recover +somewhat, if I had an opportunity, without having a family party +about," retorted Barbara, meaningly. + +Instantly, Mrs. Brewster turned and beckoned Polly to follow her from +the room. The moment the door closed upon the hostess and her daughter, +Barbara anticipated her friend's reproach. + +"Anne, where were your brains when you recommended this awful place to +father?" + +"I had nothing to do with recommending it, Bob. Your father already +knew of it and merely asked me to write Polly--my little pupil of a few +years ago." + +"But why didn't you tell _me_ what to expect?" demanded the angry girl. + +"Simply because I was asked not to mention any particulars that might +prejudice you; and besides, you never asked me anything!" retorted +Anne, feeling impatient with Barbara. + +"What's more, Bob, I can't see any justice in making the poor Brewsters +suffer for what your own father did! But I'm glad he sent us here--it +is great!" declared Eleanor. + +"Naturally, you find your level in a common country home and family!" +said Barbara in an unpleasant voice. + +"Words never killed any one, Bob, so keep it up if it makes you feel +better. I'm used to your complaints," laughed Eleanor. + +"And allow me to add, Bob, that the Brewsters are _not_ common farmers. +Mrs. Brewster had a better education and has more sense than any +woman--other than my mother--that I know; and Mr. Brewster is a fine +man respected by every one that knows him. Even the government admires +his intelligence and worth, and employs him in cases where they need +expert agricultural advice and reports!" Anne spoke with frankness and +warmth. + +"The government employs all sorts of men in its need, but that doesn't +say the man is a gentleman, nor does it make his wife a lady. _Our_ +mother is a lady and goes in the very best society in Chicago!" said +Barbara. + +"Society does not make the lady, but the lady makes society. Mrs. +Brewster could form the most exclusive set in Chicago if she cared for +that sort of thing!" came from Anne, curtly. + +"But it would take money, my dear--a farmer couldn't afford an +exclusive set!" jeered Barbara. + +"If that is the case, the Brewsters could ride on Chicago society's +very crest! But they never brag about their money!" laughed Anne, +sarcastically. + +Barbara's breath was suddenly taken away by this news but she recovered +enough to say maliciously: "Oh, I see! That is why you take such a deep +interest in John!" + +"Barbara Maynard! you--you--if you dare say another word like that to +Anne, I'll--I'll just pull your hair, so there!" cried Eleanor, running +to Anne and throwing her arms around her neck. + +Barbara felt ashamed of her words but she was too proud to confess it. +So she tried to excuse herself by saying: "Of course, one can't be +expected to fall right in with folks one never heard of before. Anne +and you fancy a rural existence, so you naturally defend everything +that goes with it. But I shall return home to-morrow on the very first +train!" + +"There is only one out a day, and you'll have to ask a favor of the +farmer before you can get to Oak Creek station!" added Anne, with a bit +of triumph in her tone. + +Having relieved her heart of some of its bitterness, Anne felt sorry +for Barbara, so she endeavored to change the current of their thoughts. +She went to the window to raise the shade as far as it would go, and +was struck with the wonderful sunset sky. + +"Oh, girls! Come here and look at that glory!" + +Eleanor rushed over, followed by Barbara who never wanted to miss +anything good. All irritation was forgotten and healed as they stood +gazing raptly at the beautiful view. The cliffs looked as if volcanic +fires were again burning within their hearts, and the mist from the +valley crept up to form an illusion of smoke rising from the sharply +outlined peaks. A purple haze enveloped the mountains and the dusky-red +streaks in the sky perfected the appearance of a vast eternal fire +consuming the earth. + +The sight had a salutary effect on the girls, and when they turned from +the window, it was with the old friendship restored. But Barbara was of +a complaining nature and must have something to find fault with. This +time it found innocent objects to bear the grumbling. + +"Where are we expected to sleep? Both in the same bed?" + +"Of course! Isn't it big enough? Why, I never saw such a wide bed; it's +large enough to hold a dozen of us," said Eleanor. + +"Where is your room, Anne?" Barbara asked, ignoring her sister's remark. + +"I sleep here on the sofa," admitted Anne, fearing another scene. + +"Sofa--impossible!" exclaimed Barbara. + +"It is a bed-lounge, you know. It opens into the nicest bed!" explained +Anne, taking hold of the loop that was partly hidden in the deep crease +formed by the meeting of the seat and back. + +"Watch me! I give a hard tug and presto! the upper half of the seat +swings open and turns over like this. There we have a wide bed with +ready-made mattress and all that goes to form a comfortable resting +place." + +Anne demonstrated her words and the city girls saw a low bed opened +before their wondering eyes. The pillows and bedding were neatly folded +and kept in a long shallow drawer under the sofa. + +"How awful--to sleep on that!" cried Barbara. "It looks like great fun! +May I sleep here, Anne?" said Eleanor. + +"Indeed you shall not! You will sleep with _me!"_ snapped Barbara. Then +turning to Anne again, she added: "Where are the wardrobes?" + +"Those curtains hide the shelves we will use. You will find nails +driven into the board against the wall." + +"What! hang our expensive clothes on these common nails!--With only a +calico drapery to protect them!" gasped Barbara. + +"Leave your expensive clothes in the trunks, then. I am," laughed +Eleanor. + +"Nolla, I will need all of this one for myself; Anne and you will have +to share the other one between you," remarked Barbara. + +"I thought you were leaving on the early train to-morrow?" teased +Eleanor, quickly. + +To avoid another quarrel, Anne hastily said: "Oh, I forgot about the +trunks. What shall I tell Mr. Brewster?" + +"Tell him anything you like about Nolla's, but leave mine where the man +can pick them up readily, to-morrow, when I leave," returned Barbara, +in a nonchalant manner. + +"How about the price of the ticket to Chicago? You know we haven't more +than a dollar between us?" suggested Eleanor, dryly. + +Barbara had evidently forgotten the fact, but she was equal to the +emergency. "I'll telegraph to the bank, the first thing in the morning, +and have them wire me the money." + +During this animated argument in the guest-chamber, a family gathering +formed on the porch of the house. + +"Mary, what shall we do with those seven huge trunks?" asked Mr. +Brewster, quizzically watching Polly. + +"Seven! Why, Paw!" exclaimed Polly, instantly picturing the wonderful +things those trunks held. Creations such as she had pored over in the +"Farm Journal Fashion Notes." + +"I don't know, Sam, unless we leave them in the wagon until the girls +decide what they wish done with them?" replied Mrs. Brewster. + +Sary overheard the conversation and now ran out to see whether there +really could be seven trunks! + +"Laws me! Ah never see'd sech quare-shaped trunks--all bulgy at one +side, and all them brass locks!" + +"They are wardrobe trunks, Sary," remarked Mrs. Brewster. + +Sary deigned no reply to the information but vented a bit of her ire +against the new-comers by shrugging her great shoulders and saying: "Ef +Ah w'ar you-all, Miss Brewster, Ah'd shore pitch them trunks clar over +th' line inta Wyomin' state whar th' Injuns kin scramble fer th' fancy +duds!" + +"Oh, Sary, I smell the cherry-dumplings scorching!" cried Mrs. +Brewster, suddenly, knowing the quickest way to rid herself of Sary. + +Anne Stewart now came out and saw the group looking at the wagon. "The +girls won't bother to unpack to-night, Mr. Brewster, so we may as well +leave the trunks in the wagon and take them to the barn." + +Jeb was sent to the barn with the wagon and contents, and Mr. Brewster +retired to the lean-to back of the kitchen where he washed his face and +hands in a tin basin. He had dried his hair and face, when Sary called +to her mistress that the meal was ready. + +Polly and her mother added the last touches to the table, when Mr. +Brewster came to the door saying: "Well, Ah'm ready, Maw!" + +"Run and call the girls, Polly; I think Anne went to tell them about +the trunks," said Mrs. Brewster. + +Unwillingly, Polly obeyed and rapped on the door. "Supper's waiting." + +While Polly was absent on her errand, Jeb came into the kitchen, took a +home-spun towel from its peg on the back of the door, and his +hair-brush from a small cabinet in the corner. With these toilet +articles he went out again to the lean-to where the crude oak bench +held the basin and soap. The pump was nearby, and Jeb filled the basin +quickly and proceeded to immerse his whole head. Unfortunately, at the +moment the city maidens reached the kitchen door leading from the +living-room, Jeb was guggling loudly. Then he stood up and snorted as +he shook his mane free from the streaming water. + +Eleanor turned toward Anne with a smile of amusement on her face, but +Barbara expressed her disgust with an emphatic "Ugh!" + +Polly saw and heard, but failed to understand, as she had been +gradually accustomed to Jeb and his uncouth ways. But Mrs. Brewster +comprehended the shock it must have been to the city girls and tried to +cover the unfortunate incident. + +"Anne, will you seat your friends at that side of the table? Polly and +I will sit on this side. Mr. Brewster always sits at the head, you +know, and I leave the other end for Sary as it is nearest the stove +where she can reach it without walking so far." + +Jeb came in and immediately pulled out a chair and sat down in his +accustomed place, regardless of the standing ladies. Barbara looked on +in amazement but said nothing. She was past words! + +As they all sat down, Eleanor happened to catch her sister's eye and +expression, and turned suddenly to Anne. Anne, too, had seen the horror +on Barbara's face as Jeb reached over the table for a spoon Sary had +forgotten to place beside his plate. + +Eleanor raised the napkin to hide her laughing face, but Mr. Brewster +construed the act to be one of reverence, and he approved of such +tendencies in the young. Consequently, he hastened to say grace. +Barbara sat stiff-necked throughout the lengthy prayer because she felt +so rebellious at everything and with everything, that she wouldn't pay +heed to the usual courtesy at prayer-time. + +The moment Mr. Brewster said "Amen," Sary carried the large soup-pot +from the stove and was about to ladle the soup into the bowls when +Barbara said icily: "None for me, thank you!" + +Jeb was tying his napkin about his neck, but at such a surprising +refusal he gaped at the stranger. However, the fact that his own +soup-plate was now placed before him ended the speechless shock. + +He began eating at once, and the three boarders watched him scoop up +the liquid as if his life depended upon finishing the work. The amount +of noise he made while accomplishing the feat was a revelation to the +Maynard girls and mortifying to Mrs. Brewster. + +Sary concluded her serving and sat down to enjoy her own meal. She used +the blade of her knife as a shovel and the fork-prongs as a pick. When +she was not spearing or loading food upon either, she was using the +silver as an eloquent means of expressing her conversation--which was +voluble. + +The moment supper ended, Mr. Brewster remarked: "The trunks are safe in +the barn. Whenever you need them you can tell Jeb, and he will see that +they are carried in for you." + +"Thank you, but I shall have them taken back to Oak Creek to-morrow as +I have no idea of remaining to spoil my summer," returned Barbara +haughtily. + +Mr. Brewster made no reply but excused himself and went out to the wide +steps of the front porch where he sat down to watch the peaceful +twilight as it crept slowly over the mountain peaks. + +Here, the rest of the family soon joined him, and the wonderful western +night, as the brilliant stars sparkled seemingly so near to earth, had +its soothing effect on the perturbed hearts and minds of all present. +When Mrs. Brewster finally mentioned that it was bed-time the +individuals in the group felt more amiably disposed towards each other. + +Anne Stewart was awake bright and early in the morning and, finding the +sisters sleeping soundly, crept out to enjoy the invigorating breezes +blowing down from the mountain-peaks. + +Some time later, Eleanor sat up and rubbed her eyes, at a loss to +remember where she was. After a moment, however, she saw the sofa and +laughed merrily. + +"Oh, won't you be quiet! What is the matter with you?" complained +Barbara, sleepily. + +"Nothing--I feel so alive! Get up and hear the birds sing," replied +Eleanor, springing out of bed and running over to the window. + +"Oh, Bob! Look at the dazzling mountain-peaks, over there! I suppose +these cool breezes come straight from those ice-tops," exclaimed +Eleanor. + +"I may as well get up or you'll cause a riot of noise," answered +Barbara, querulously. + +"Of course I will. I slept so well that I could dance on a trapeze just +now. How did you sleep?" + +"Why--what does it matter to you?" countered Barbara peevishly. + +"Matter? Why, that bed removes one of the obstacles to your remaining +here," laughed Eleanor, triumphantly. + +Barbara would not admit that she had never slept better nor would she +prevaricate, so she merely said: "I am going to Oak Creek the moment we +finish breakfast and wire father's bank for money." + +"Might as well find out, first, if you can use the team and wagon. Jeb +only goes to town when anything has to be had here or shipped away by +train. A trip of twelve miles is not a trifle every day in the week," +remarked Eleanor. + +"I'll ride a horse to Oak Creek myself. I'll not stand this awful place +another day!" declared Barbara. + +"You can't ride a horse without its owner's permission." + +"Besides," added Eleanor as an afterthought occurred to her, "you only +have your new traveling suit and the little light summer frock here. +The trunks are going back to Oak Creek to-day, you said, and your +riding habit is in one of them." + +Barbara made no reply to this statement and Eleanor drew on her +stockings and then sought for her shoes which she had playfully aimed +at Anne Stewart the night previous. One was found by the bureau and the +other was seen under the window. She ran over to pick up the one by the +window. + +"Oh, Bob! Come here quick!" + +"What is it?" cried Barbara, hastily running over to join her sister. + +"My! The sun has just touched those snow-covered peaks! I never saw +anything so dazzlingly beautiful!" sighed Eleanor, lost in +contemplation of the sight. + +Barbara also stood watching the sun-beams glancing over the towering +peaks, and then she said apologetically: + +"I never said the _scenery_ wasn't wonderful. It is! But one cannot +thrive on mountains, or associate with views." + +"Still, it goes a long way towards creating environment, while the +atmosphere and friendships are up to the individual," retorted Eleanor. + +"Oh, well, you have the knack of making friends with any one, but I am +more reserved and ideal in nature, so I simply cannot accommodate +myself to such people and places as this!" + +"No, but you can accommodate yourself to some empty-headed society +youth who hangs over your hotel-piazza chair and tells foolish fibs to +feed your vanity!" scorned Eleanor. + +Another sisterly scene might have ensued had not Anne entered the room +at this critical time. + +"Girls, better hurry and finish dressing as breakfast is almost ready +to serve," said she, after a pleasant morning greeting. + +"How long have you been up?" asked Barbara. + +"Oh, an hour or more. I succeeded in working out a scheme I had to make +things pleasanter for every one, and I want you to hurry and approve of +it." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A LITTLE SCHEME THAT WORKED + + +Anne lay with closed eyes for a long time revolving many plans for the +ultimate harmony of that summer, and when she finally allowed herself +to sleep, she had a scheme that she was going to try the next day. + +As she came from her room early in the morning, she spied Polly sitting +disconsolately on the porch-steps. She went over and sat down beside +her. + +"Polly, I cannot blame you for wishing we had never come, but now that +we are here, let us see if we cannot make something out of the tangle +of disappointments. Eleanor will love the place at once, as she is so +much like you in nature, dear, but Bob always grumbles over things at +first. No matter where or what it is, she feels that she is not showing +her superiority if she is not condemning what she comes in contact +with. It really is a disease, Polly, and I have tried to cure her of it +this last year. I am hoping for great things for her during this +season, but I feel that I must confide in you to let you know just what +the trouble is. Bob will make a fine woman if this hateful tendency is +uprooted in time." + +Polly smiled wanly, and Anne, wise young teacher, changed the subject +then. + +"What a pity one has to waste such glorious views and delightful +weather while sitting at breakfast in the kitchen!" + +"Where would you eat it?" laughed Polly, looking with amusement at her +companion. + +"Why, under that lovely group of oaks, to be sure," replied the +teacher, pointing at the trees that shaded the well-kept grass plot and +flower-beds at the side of the house. + +"Under the trees!" + +"Certainly; what do you suppose they were grown for if not for our +uplift and joy?" + +"Why, Miss Stewart, how funny of you! Who ever heard of having meals +out-of-doors--except at picnics," laughed Polly. + +"Every one who can now prefers out-of-doors to a stuffy room on summer +days," replied Anne, calmly, but watching the effect of her words. + +Satisfied with Polly's expression, she added: "Didn't you ever read +about the garden parties of society people, and the present-day trend +to live on wide porches and out-of-doors at every opportunity? Your +magazines ought to be full of such accounts." + +"Oh, yes, in magazines, but I never dreamed it was true. I've studied +every plan and picture I've seen in the magazines, and I loved to +picture the beautiful places and furnishings they speak of." + +Anne had heard from Polly's brother John, how his sister studied every +item on decorating that could be found in papers or periodicals. But +Anne did not know that Polly really had a latent talent in this line +nor how ambitious she was to express art and beauty in the home. + +"That is what I'd like to try here. Have our meals out under those +trees. It won't make much extra work as the spot is very convenient to +the kitchen door, but we will avoid the heat and steam from the stove +and cooking, and have much more room, too." + +"I don't suppose it makes much difference where we eat as long as we +get it over with as soon as possible," returned Polly. + +"That's just the trouble with most people. They merely eat because they +feel they have to, but they never stop to make of the habit an +opportunity to improve themselves and enjoy a social meeting with each +other. We may as well be Zulus and eat with our fingers. Maybe the +Zulus would prove more ideal for their home teachings than we really +are." + +Polly laughed again at Anne's words, but the latter added: + +"It's true, Polly. How many people trouble themselves to eat politely, +and act or talk from the highest motives? The Zulus follow traditional +customs. If we did we would follow the refined court manners of our +English and Dutch ancestors. Instead, we are in such haste to eat and +get back to the business of making money, that we lose all the pleasure +along the way there." + +Polly listened anxiously and understood that Anne was gently +criticizing what she saw and heard in the kitchen the night before. +Anne watched Polly's face and knew she comprehended, then she continued: + +"If we have breakfast in the open air it will be much cooler for every +one, and Sary need not stop her routine work on account of our being in +her way in the kitchen. If we help and wait on ourselves Sary need not +be delayed by our tardiness in appearing at table." + +"Miss Stewart, I think you're right. And one good thing about eating +out here is that we won't feel crowded together with nothing to look at +but each other. At least we have the mountains, if we make the +oak-trees our new dining-room." + +Anne laughed at the manner of Polly's approval and said: "Yes, Polly, +the mountains are great and wonderful and so silent, besides." + +"Let's go now and ask Maw what she thinks of the plan." + +"In a moment, Polly. You know I am anxious to help you in every way, +and to teach you if you express yourself poorly?" + +"Yes; that's the only good thing about this awful visit," admitted the +girl. + +"Then allow me to correct an error in speech. If you wish to go to +Denver High this fall, I want you to use refined expressions." + +Anne looked at her companion and smiled kindly, and Polly said: "Oh, +I'll be so glad to correct any mistakes. Tell me what?" + +"Just now you called your mother 'Maw.' And I have heard you call your +father 'Paw.' They are western terms, but they are not considered +correct or refined, elsewhere. The name of Father or Mother is a term +of respect and loving reverence from the children. I would like to have +you accustom yourself to the use of these titles for your parents and +see how the very sound of it will cause you to _feel_ more affection." + +Polly weighed this news thoughtfully but she was surprised at the +information that her customary "Maw" and "Paw" were not the most +desirable terms to use. She knew that Anne Stewart knew better than she +what was the proper manner of speech and she thanked her for her +interest in helping her. + +"Then another thing I want you to do, Polly, is that you call me +'Anne.' I am to be with you as one of the family all this summer, and +the 'Miss' is too formal for members in the same family. I want to ask +this favor of your mother and father too. If you were to use Eleanor's +and Barbara's first names for them as I do, I think they would feel +more at home." + +"Oh, Miss--I mean Anne, I will love to call you that, but I never +_could_ have courage enough to call that proud girl by the name of +'Bob'!" declared Polly. + +Anne laughed and patted her apt pupil on the head, then she said, +"Shall we go in search of your mother and ask about the breakfast +table?" + +Polly jumped up and led the way to the kitchen door where Sary was hard +at work. + +"Sary, can you tell us where my mother is?" asked Polly. + +"Your maw's just went to th' buttery to skim the milk," said she, +giving Polly an opportunity to compare the two terms. + +As the two girls went toward the buttery, Polly admitted: "Anne, it +does make a difference, I think." + +Anne nodded brightly and opened the creamery-door. Mrs. Brewster stood +with skimmer in hand, taking the rich cream from the pans of milk. She +looked up with a welcoming smile as the two girls came in. + +"Mother, Anne's been giving me 'first aid' in manners," laughed Polly, +watching her mother's expression keenly. + +"In which line, dear; there are several you can improve in," rejoined +Mrs. Brewster, with a loving little laugh. + +"Didn't you hear me? I have improved upon your name." + +"I noticed it, but I wanted to make sure it was intentional and not a +mistake." + +"Tell me--do you like it?" asked Polly, eagerly. + +"Indeed I do, dear; I never could abide that name of 'Maw' and 'Paw' +that is common with the ranchers." + +"Then why didn't you tell me this long ago! Oh, mother!" + +"If I corrected you, and the other children at school heard you use +different terms from those they were accustomed to, they would think +you 'proud' and 'too good for a rancher.' I have heard that criticism +so often, that I have given up trying to better conditions or express +my own desires in anything that an illiterate and inexperienced +neighbor may find fault with. I just accept things as they are, now, +but hope for better things for my children." + +This was a new light on her mother, and Polly felt subdued by it. She +wondered if her mother would have been any different if she had been in +Mrs. Maynard's place. + +"You see," continued Mrs. Brewster, turning to Anne, "one so gets to +dread the free speech and narrow-minded opinions of some ranchers that +one forbears in _everything_, rather than have strife and ill-will from +those one must meet at times." + +Anne nodded. "But sometimes it is better to take the risk of offending +the whole community if one finally wins out." + +Mrs. Brewster looked approvingly at the girl, and Polly changed the +conversation by saying: + +"Mother, Anne and I have a plan that will surprise you." + +Mrs. Brewster smiled encouragingly for the girls to speak. + +"It's just this: we think it will be lovely to move the table out under +the trees. There the air and view can be enjoyed and afford us ample +subjects for conversation," explained Anne. + +"Anne, splendid! After my experience of last night I would hail any +change. But this is really good. I never thought of it myself," replied +Mrs. Brewster, with relief. + +On their walk to the kitchen, they planned to remove the table and +chairs; then Mrs. Brewster added: "My husband breakfasted an hour ago +but said he would be back when we sat down for coffee. He enjoys a +second cup at his leisure. And I'm quite sure Sary gave Jeb his +breakfast after I left the kitchen, so that gives us a clear start for +the first meal to-day." + +Sary was found upon her knees before the kitchen range, polishing the +nickel name-plate on the oven door. A dish-pan of hot water and a +scrubbing brush stood upon the floor beside her. As Mrs. Brewster came +in, Sary glanced up impatiently. + +"Ah de'clar t' goodness! Ah wish you-all'd eat that brekfus an' vamoose +outen my way. Ah hes t' scrub this hull floor soon ez th' stove's +shined!" + +"That's exactly why I came in, Sary--to get breakfast out of your way," +returned Mrs. Brewster, sending a swift glance at Polly and Anne. + +As Sary's words made way for their work, all fell to with a vim. Polly +and Anne carried dishes and chairs out of the room, while Mrs. Brewster +whisked off the cloth and asked the maid to help her carry the table +out under the trees. + +No reply came from Sary, and the mistress turned to see why she did not +come to assist. The ludicrous expression on the widow's face, as she +sat bolt upright with her blackened hands raised heavenward in silent +protest, made Mrs. Brewster laugh. + +"What's the matter, Sary?" + +"Yore a clar case o' bein' locoed!" gasped the help. + +"Not at all, but you want to scrub the floor, don't you?" + +"Ah don't need th' furnishin's taken out fer that!" + +"But we want to eat, you see, and under the trees we'll be quite out of +your way. Here, Anne, help me with the table, will you, please?" said +Mrs. Brewster, with finality. + +The table was firmly placed under the trees and the cloth relaid. Then +the willowware dishes and old Tuttle silver were arranged by Anne, +while Polly watched eagerly. + +"I do believe those old blue dishes look ten times as nice out here as +in the kitchen!" declared Polly, while Anne placed a few wild flowers +on the center of the table. + +"Merely the effect of your mental testimony, Polly. In the kitchen, +with steam, working utensils, and crowed sense of room, everything +takes on a sordid look and feeling. But out in God's sunshine and fresh +air, everything looks and feels better. That is why sun and air are the +best physician for any ill," explained Anne. + +Mrs. Brewster heard, and watched Anne with a bright smile, as the +sentiment of the words were exactly what she ofttimes thought. When the +three returned to the kitchen to take the biscuits and other breakfast +food out, Sary stood with head thrown back and body rocking back and +forth as she laughed immoderately. + +"Do tell, Mis' Brewster! You-all bean't goin' t' _eat_ out thar, now be +yuh?" + +"Why, of course!" retorted Polly. + +"Why shouldn't we?" asked Mrs. Brewster. + +Sary could not explain, so she turned to the stove while mumbling to +herself the doubts she had over the sanity of the women-folks of this +queer family--excepting herself of course! + +Anne had gone to the guest-room to call the girls, and to her relief, +found them both dressed and ready for breakfast. + +"It's a lovely morning," said she, in greeting to them. + +"Yes, I've been sniffing the sweetness at the open window," replied +Eleanor, but Barbara stood unresponsive. + +Anne noticed the simple-looking house-frocks they wore, and felt +relieved at the simplicity of color and lines, although she knew that +the name-tag inside of those dresses spoke silently of their cost. + +"We're going to breakfast out on the lawn--it is perfectly charming +there," explained Anne, leading the way from the living-room by way of +the front door in order to avoid Sary and her scrub-pail. + +But Sary had been anxiously peeping from the crack of the kitchen door, +and felt mortally offended when the company went out by the front way. +"Was it not enough that the folks were too far removed from the kitchen +to permit Sary to overhear what was said at table, but now they have to +walk out at the Sunday door?" + +So thought the widow as she left her peep-hole back of the door and +stood watching from the open window by the cupboard. + +Every one seemed in a pleasanter mood than that of the previous +evening, and as breakfast advanced, Eleanor went so far as to ask her +sister to remain at the ranch a few days, at least. And Barbara, +although she would not admit it, knew the bed was exceptionally good +and the breakfast most enjoyable, while the air and scenery were simply +wonderful! + +When Mr. Brewster came along the path leading from the barn, he stood +near a lilac bush for a few moments watching the pretty group under the +trees. But he couldn't understand having breakfast outside the usual +place--the kitchen! + +"Is this a picnic?" asked he, at length, coming forward. + +"Good morning, Paw--Father! Isn't this fun?" cried Polly. + +Mrs. Brewster and Anne exchanged glances at Polly's error and +correction, but Sam Brewster failed to notice the new term. He bowed to +the three guests and smilingly took the chair his wife placed for him +at the table. + +While Mrs. Brewster poured his coffee, she remarked: "This is Polly's +and Anne's idea. Isn't it sensible--and much pleasanter than in the +stuffy kitchen?" + +He nodded approval and Polly felt satisfied. Then as her father sipped +his fragrant coffee, she said: "Anne was just saying that I ought to +show them the Rainbow Cliffs after breakfast." + +"It's so clear to-day Ah wouldn't be surprised but what you-all will +see Pagoda Peak and Grizzly Slide from the Cliffs, Polly," added Mr. +Brewster. + +"If we can, they'll like it; it's a wonderful sight, Anne, with the sun +shining on the snow-capped crests," explained Polly. + +"And then you can take them over there some day, Polly. A good lunch +can be packed into Choko's panniers, and with sure-footed horses the +ride will be most delightful," added Mrs. Brewster. + +"Maw, you can go, too. You agreed to take things easy, you know," +reminded her husband. + +"Oh, Sam! Riding over the Flat Top Mountains would be the hardest work +for me, these days!" laughed Mrs. Brewster. + +"Pshaw now! You used to ride better than any cow-boy in these parts, +and you can't tell me those days are past," argued Mr. Brewster, +dropping the habit of using western terms in his eagerness. + +"I've heard of Mrs. Brewster's famous riding," now chimed in Anne. + +"She can ride better'n Pa--Father, or any one I ever saw!" Polly +maintained. + +Mrs. Brewster shook her head in a vain effort to discourage such +praise, then she turned to the Maynard girls, saying: "Do you +understand western horses? They are rather difficult at times, you +know." + +"We ride daily when in Chicago," said Barbara, boastfully. + +"But city horses are mere nags, Bob. These half-wild animals accustomed +to roaming the plains, are something worth while, you will find," +laughed Anne. + +"I'd advise your going to the corral and having Jeb try out the horses +for you, before you undertake any long jaunt," suggested Mrs. Brewster. + +"We can visit the Cliffs this morning, and try riding this afternoon," +added Polly eagerly. + +"Then Bob and I will have to get our habits from one of the trunks in +the barn," said Eleanor. + +"Bob and you run along and do that while Polly and I make the beds and +clear away the breakfast," ventured Anne, looking at Mrs. Brewster. +Barbara seemed as interested as any one. + +So Barbara and Eleanor followed Mr. Brewster to the barn to point out +the trunk they wanted to open, while Polly cleared the table and Mrs. +Brewster went with Anne to make the beds. As they worked in the +guest-room, they exchanged confidences about the two visitors. + +"It seems the lovely morning has had a salutary effect on Barbara's +feelings regarding Pebbly Pit," ventured Anne. + +"I hope so," replied Mrs. Brewster, diffidently. + +"You see, Eleanor is broad-minded--more like her father, but Bob takes +too much after her mother to adapt herself readily to such a radical +change as a ranch," continued Anne, apologetically. + +"Eleanor appears to be a nice girl." + +"Bob will shortly be as satisfied as Nolla, but she just can't let go +of herself and her foolish training in a minute. If we have a few +pleasant outings to show her how really wonderful the country is, she +will open out in her natural sweet self." + +"It certainly isn't a pleasant surprise, to expect a modern fashionable +Summer Resort and then find a forgotten nook in the pit of an extinct +volcano," laughed Mrs. Brewster, humorously. + +"Yes, Bob was terribly upset last night. I fancy she was regretting +those seven trunks filled with expensive clothes," added Anne, smiling +at the remembrance. + +"I can't but wonder that such a sensible girl as you seem to be, can be +so fond of a girl so different from you in every way," remarked Mrs. +Brewster, looking Anne in the eyes. + +Anne flushed. "When you know her as I do, you will see that she really +is not snobbish, but only assumes it. As I said, she is the result of +silly training by a society mother. I have seen the genuine nature +buried by habits and I am willing to help her bring it out to establish +it permanently. Nolla will develop herself, if she is allowed to +express herself without constant ridicule or reprimands. This summer +ought to do wonders for both those girls." + +Mrs. Brewster showed her approval by nodding her head affirmatively at +Anne. + +"You had ample time to study the two girls last winter when they were +in Denver, I suppose," suggested Mrs. Brewster. + +"Yes, I was with them most of the time, and the result of the erroneous +influence over Bob was always noticeable after a short visit from Mrs. +Maynard. She only visited her daughters twice in the eight months, but +it was generally so unpleasant a time for every one, that we were +relieved that she had too many social engagements to come oftener." +Anne bent down to tuck in the sheets as she spoke so frankly concerning +her friends' mother. + +"But I must not disparage Mrs. Maynard in your eyes--you may find in +her many fine qualities that have been hidden from me," quickly added +Anne, fearing she had given her hostess a wrong idea. + +"Perhaps they are hidden very deep." + +Anne laughed. "Mr. Maynard is just splendid. He is so _human! He_ must +have found the good qualities in his wife, and she, doubtless, +permitted herself to be misled by vain aspirations to reach a social +height offered by her husband's success in business." + +"Love is blind, Anne. When a man fancies himself in love with a pretty +girl, he seldom seeks for lasting qualities or a strong character. He +accepts the transitory beauty as the real thing and wakes up, too late, +to find he entertained a dream." + +"I think you and I feel alike in this problem; my friends laugh at +my--what they call--unreasonable opinions on marriage," said Anne, +eagerly inviting a discussion with Mrs. Brewster. + +"Some other day, Anne. We still have the task before us of acclimating +the city girls," laughed Mrs. Brewster, taking Anne by the arm and +leading her from the room. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +ACCLIMATING THE CITY GIRLS + + +"Waiting for me, girls?" called Anne, joining her friends. + +"We just got back from the barn," said Eleanor, showing the habits +which she had over her arms. + +"Well, take them to the room and change your shoes. We must wear +flat-heeled boots for walking about this place, you know," returned +Anne, noting that Eleanor carried both habits--doing her sister's work +for her, as usual. + +"Good gracious! I forgot to unpack the walking shoes. Won't these Cuban +heels answer?" cried Barbara, impatiently. + +"They might answer for a twisted ankle," laughed Anne. + +"Then we'll postpone the walk till to-morrow," said Barbara, decisively. + +"Not me! I'm going to the cliffs if I walk bare-footed. In fact, I'm +not so sure but that will be the most delightful thing to do," said +Eleanor, sitting down to unbutton her high-heeled shoes. + +"Nolla! Stop disgracing us so!" cried Barbara, shocked. + +"Well, I want to see those cliffs at close range. If you start for home +to-morrow--or maybe this afternoon, if you find the cliffs +disappointing--I can at least take back the remembrance of the +wonderful spot," pouted Eleanor. + +To avoid the usual argument between the sisters, Anne quickly made a +suggestion. "Bob's feet seem to be about the same size as mine, and she +can have my tennis shoes for this walk." + +"And Polly's feet look about my size! Why can't I borrow a pair of her +country shoes?" added Eleanor, eagerly. + +"Nolla! Your feet are very slim while Polly's are broad as are most +country girls. You would ruin your feet in clumsy shoes," exclaimed +Barbara. + +Polly looked appealingly at her mother, so she came to the rescue. "I +have always been very careful of Polly's feet, as I can see no +advantage in ruining a child's feet, hence you will find Polly's shoes +are made by a first-class shoemaker." + +"Do they have such things in Oak Creek?" came sarcastically from +Barbara. + +"Do they have them in Denver and Chicago?" retorted Anne. + +"Naturally--in Chicago. To meet the need for our class." And Barbara +tossed her head defiantly. + +"Polly, run and find those last shoes we had made on the scientific +last plan," came from Mrs. Brewster. + +Polly vanished and Anne ran to her room for the tennis shoes. Barbara +walked away and stood on the terrace looking at the far-off peaks. +Eleanor and Mrs. Brewster glanced at each other, and finding a similar +expression in each other's eyes, both smiled. Thereafter a better +understanding existed between the two. + +"Staring up at white-topped mountains ought to be good and elevating +for you, Bob," began Eleanor, teasingly, when Anne returned. + +"Here, Bob, try them on," suggested Anne, holding out her brand new +tennis shoes. + +Then Polly returned with a neat pair of boots with good extension +soles. Eleanor took them, turned down the top and looked at the label. +She threw back her head and laughed mockingly. + +"What a blow to Bob's pride in the Maynard feet! Here we have to come +to Pebbly Pit and find our pet label in Polly's shoes. I'm sure the +Maynards will change cobblers hereafter!" + +Every one laughed at Eleanor, but Barbara occupied herself with trying +on Anne's tennis shoes. Eleanor sat down upon the grass and soon had on +Polly's common-sense shoes. + +"They fit to a dot!" exclaimed she, holding out one foot to verify her +statement. + +"Well, then, if you feel you can wear them comfortably, do let's start +before some other delay occurs," said Barbara, petulantly. + +The four young folks started on the trail that wound about the cliffs, +and Mrs. Brewster went indoors to cook some old-fashioned doughnuts--a +large stone crock of which was always kept in the pantry. + +The walk seemed very long to Barbara, who was unaccustomed to much +walking, but the other three girls reveled in the exhilarating air and +bright morning sunshine. Reaching the first cliffs, Polly explained +about the volcanoes of that section of Colorado and showed the visitors +many interesting formations of lava. + +They were about to continue to the Giant Guards, when Barbara +complained of aching feet. She declared it was the rough trail and not +her tender feet that caused the pain and ache. So the girls sat down to +rest, while Polly told of trips to other volcanic craters and peaks. +They were about to start on their way again, when the echoes of a +lively whistle sounded over the lava walls. + +"It's Jeb going to the corral to find our horses for this afternoon," +explained Polly, leaning out over a fragment of lava to see who was +passing by. But Jeb did not pass. He called loudly for his young +mistress. "Miss Pol-lee--Ah got sumthin fer you-all!" + +"Come up here, Jeb! We're resting on the Giant Guards!" shouted Polly. + +Soon Jeb appeared on the edge of the cliffs and held out a huge paper +bag that had great grease-spots here and there on its sides and bottom. + +"Yer Maw hed me bring these dunnits t' you-all, ez Ah come by. She sez +fer you-all t' let me have anudder one, too." + +"Oh, they are still warm!" exclaimed Eleanor, as Polly handed her one +from the bag. + +"Shore! But that makes 'em tas' better!" declared Jeb, anxiously +watching Polly hand one to Anne next, and one to Barbara, before +remembering him. + +"They're horribly greasy things," said Barbara, holding the doughnut +fastidiously with the tip ends of her fingers. + +"Mebbe folks'd call 'em by anudder name ef no grease war used t' cook +'em by. Ah likes 'em, howsomeever, grease an' all!" returned Jeb, +grinning with relief as Polly gave him two large ones. + +"Um! But they're good!" Eleanor smacked her lips at the first bite. + +"I can't eat mine--they look so impossible!" And Barbara raised her +hand and threw her doughnut over the cliff. + +"Oo-ah!" came from Jeb in dismay, but he hurriedly left the girls. + +Polly was surprised, too, but she merely said: "We never waste anything +worth while. The chickens and pigs like doughnuts--if we ever have any +left for them." + +Anne had to turn away to hide a smile, and at that moment she saw Jeb +at the foot of the cliff, glancing up to see if any one saw him pick up +the discarded delicacy from the ground. + +The incident over the doughnut silenced Polly as she led the way +between the two giant peaks of lava. They reared their heads more than +sixty feet high and were so oddly shaped that they derived their names +of "Giant Guards" from the spears seemingly held out from the shoulders +to challenge passersby. + +The trail leading between the Guards was not more than six feet wide +but immediately after passing them, one reached a semi-circle of cliffs +standing about a natural arena. Opposite the trail that opened on this +arena, a narrow canyon descended gradually away out of sight. + +"These cliffs forming the rim of the bowl are called the 'Imps' +Tombstones.' If you examine them closer, you will find they have queer +faces and all sorts of strange patterns traced on their bodies," +explained Polly, breaking the uncomfortable silence. + +"This bowl--as Polly calls it--is as large as Yale Campus, isn't it?" +said Eleanor, hoping to, establish conversation. + +"Everything about Pebbly Pit is on a large scale--even the hearts of +the owners," added Anne, patting Polly on the back. + +"Pardon me for differing, Anne--not the feet of the owners," laughed +Eleanor, sending a teasing look at her sister. + +"Mother says this bowl seems to have been a small crater belonging to +the great pit yonder, when the volcano was active in the centuries long +gone by," explained Polly, as the others ignored Eleanor's remark. + +"These Imps certainly are strange formations! Some with arms flung high +as if in defense, others crouching low as if to launch an arrow at the +enemy. And see those--erect with proud mien, in defiance of all others. +They must have been unvanquished," said Anne, interesting Barbara in +spite of her assumed indifference. + +"I just guess they weren't so cold and rusty-brown when the old demon +spit fire at them from the active volcano," said Eleanor, gazing aloft +at the grotesque heads with facial forms. + +"Nolla! I beg of you to use better English! You know how mother +trembles at your picked-up words from brother!" rebuked Barbara, +seemingly shocked at her sister. + +"What a tale these Imps could tell us of remote ages when they were +flung aside as useless in the evolution of things!" said Anne, +diverting a possible argument. + +"I say, Anne, why wouldn't this place give you 'atmosphere' for that +story you want to write, some day?" exclaimed Eleanor, unexpectedly. + +Anne flushed and Polly looked at her in surprise. Barbara seemed +amazed, too. + +"Is this something I never heard of?" asked the latter. + +"Oh, no; I once said to Nolla that I should love to be able to write a +story, and she assured me I could do it. She is only teasing, as +usual," laughed Anne, and at the first opportunity, she managed to give +Eleanor a smart rap on the shoulder for her breach of confidence. + +Leaving the Imps behind, Polly took the trail that led to the "Devil's +Causeway"--the ravine that cleft two towering peaks of lava. This chasm +descended abruptly to a depth of over five hundred feet and then as +abruptly ascended to the level of the distant end of the trail, where +it brought one to the ridge that over-looked Bear Forks Valley. + +"Do you want to go through the Devil's Causeway?" asked Polly. + +"Oh, by all means!" exclaimed Anne. + +"I wish we had thought of bringing the camera," said Barbara. + +"We will some other day. Now let us see the best views to get," quickly +replied Anne, glad to hear Barbara express herself favorably. + +"You people go down into that yawning grave, while I sit here and plot +out a preface for Anne's book," said exhausted Eleanor, selecting a +bowlder where she could sit and see far and wide. + +"I'd just as soon stay with Eleanor while you two go down and back +again," ventured Polly. + +"All right; Bob and I will see what's to be seen and be back shortly," +agreed Anne, starting down the trail. + +The two young girls sat high upon the lava bowlder while Polly pointed +out different familiar spots and mountain peaks. Then Eleanor turned +and looked curiously at her companion. + +"Does your father own all of this great estate free and clear?" asked +she. + +"Free and clear! What do you mean--that he cleared it of timber and +freed it of sage-brush?" + +Eleanor laughed heartily. "Mercy no! I never thought of that. I meant a +mortgage, you know." + +"I don't know what a mortgage is. But father never had to clear the +place much as it was always rich free soil without brush." + +Eleanor glanced quizzically at Polly. "Humph! My father knows what a +mortgage is, poor man! Mother made him do it to get her a French car +this spring. If your father was my father and owned all this vast place +free and clear, my mother would mortgage it in a jiffy if she married +him!" + +"Well, she didn't!" came decidedly from Polly, with a grateful sigh of +relief. + +Eleanor laughed in appreciation. "Say, Polly, my father would like you +down to the ground!" + +Polly made no reply and Eleanor looked about her again. "Polly, how +does it feel to own such wonderful things as you just showed us? And +such a great farm as you have?" + +"I never thought of it. In fact, I don't believe any of us remember who +owns them. Everybody is welcome to help themselves to these cliffs and +the jewels at Rainbow Cliffs." + +"How much do you s'pose your father is worth?" now asked Eleanor, +showing a trace of Mrs. Maynard's teachings. + +"I never asked him. We never thought of his being worth more than we +might need." + +"Oh, but you never can need all those cattle, and the vast farm, or the +wheat and other products he ships and they bring in money," persisted +the daughter of a banker. + +"He sends it off 'cause we can't let it spoil, you know," replied the +thrifty rancher's daughter. "But I don't know how much money he may be +worth. Maybe a hundred thousand dollars for the land, and maybe another +hundred thousand in cattle. I've heard John and Father talk over an +offer of half a million dollars for part interest in the Rainbow +Cliffs, but Dad wouldn't spoil 'em." + +"What! What did you say he refused?" shrilled Eleanor. + +Polly turned suddenly to look at her companion. She was surprised at +the expression on Eleanor's face. + +"I never lie. Why should I?" she cried in defense. + +"No, but you must have been joking!" + +"I wasn't! Why should I joke?" retorted Polly. + +"But goodness me, girl! If your father was as rich as all that, why +would you care about wasting a doughnut? And look at your mother making +her own butter and helping in housework! Anne says she even spins her +own linen towels and knits your stockings. What under the sun would she +work like that for, if she could afford to live better'n we do?" cried +Eleanor, incredulously. + +"My mother doesn't _have_ to do a thing, unless she wants to. She just +likes to do it for us, and it sure does make a home!" declared Polly, +fondly, as she looked across the Pit to her home. + +"Ye-es--I guess it does; but then some mothers can't sew and spin and +cook, you see, so where would the home be if we didn't have servants +and folks to do for us?" sighed Eleanor, comparing her own home life to +Polly's--to the latter's advantage. + +"What does your mother do, Nolla?" asked Polly, sympathetically. + +"Oh, she is a society leader, you know. She goes calling, and has +bridge parties every week. Then she has her teas and dinners, and the +balls, or theater parties, in season. Other times she has her clubs and +Welfare Work--she is President of a Charity Work, you see, and has to +address her members every once in a while," said Eleanor, warming up to +her description as she visualized her mother's important life-interests. + +"Anne told us about how sick you were two years ago, and how you had to +leave home to live in Denver all last winter," said Polly, a +compassionate note creeping into her voice as she pitied the girl at +her side. + +"Well, I got better, didn't I?" came from Eleanor, shortly; then she +said tenderly: "Anne and her mother were great!" + +"Yes, but I was thinking if it was me--so sick that the doctors feared +I would never be well again--do you s'pose _my_ mother would have +stayed at home when I was with strangers in Denver? I _reckon not!_ All +the butter, or balls, or charities in the world could not have kept her +from my side every minute I was sick!" + +Such emphasis found Eleanor lacking with a reply but her eyes filled up +at the thought of a love that would sacrifice the world for a beloved +child. Would her mother do that if she realized any danger to her +children? Ah, that is what hurt! + +"Polly, my father would do as much for me, too!" said Eleanor, +exultantly, the moment she remembered one parent who loved her +unreservedly. + +"So would mine." + +"Then why should he object to your having a good education in Denver? +And look at the way he dresses you, Polly! I don't want you to think I +am poking fun at you, 'cause I'm not, but the way you slick back your +hair into two long braids and the baggy skirts you wear are simply +outlandish. If I had that wonderful curly chestnut hair I'd make so +much of it that I'd look positively beautiful." + +Polly felt hurt, not only because of her love of the beautiful in +everything, but also because she hoped Eleanor would turn out to be a +staunch friend. Now, of course, she wouldn't make friends with such an +old-fashioned country girl! + +"It's much easier to keep the hair out of my face when it's slicked +back. Besides, there isn't any dress-maker in Oak Creek better'n my +mother. But she doesn't have much time to trim dresses. When I go to +Denver, I'll have as fine a wardrobe as yours." + +"If your father has any money why doesn't he buy an automobile instead +of using that awful ranch-wagon? And why doesn't he hire servants to do +the work your mother now does? She could sew on your clothes, if she +had more time." + +"Mother never liked to have me think much of dress and I have always +been so busy with my pets and trips on the mountains, that I generally +lived in my riding clothes during vacations. But my shoes are as good +as yours--you said so. And my teeth and hands and feet are as carefully +taken care of as yours or any one's!" + +Eleanor admitted that this was so, but Polly still had to prove that +her father had money. And she insisted upon the fact being proven. + +"If you don't believe me, you can write to my brother John," declared +Polly. "His best college friend visited here last vacation-time and +simply went crazy over Rainbow Cliffs. He went so far as to have an +expert mineralogist come over here to examine the stones. This man was +out west on business for Tom Latimer's father, and Tom said it would +cost next to nothing to send for him. The man said the jewels would +create the greatest wild-cat speculations in New York if they were +placed on the market. Those were his very words!" + +"Tom Latimer! Do you know him?" gasped Eleanor. + +"He's John's chum. He visited here for several weeks and we had the +loveliest times! I liked him a lot." + +"I should think you would! But, Polly, Tom is several years older than +you. In fact he is older than Bob, as she found out when she tried to +capture him for herself. His father is one of the richest financiers in +New York." + +"I didn't think of his age, although now you speak of it, I suppose he +must be about John's age. But he acted like a big boy, so we had fine +times," explained Polly, entirely innocent of Eleanor's hints regarding +the young man. + +Eleanor threw back her head and laughed heartily. "Just wait until I +tell Bob this. Oh, how she will envy you your chance. Why, she did +everything on earth but fling herself at his head when mother told her +he was the richest catch of the season." + +"Why, he told me he was never going to marry until he found another +girl like Anne Stewart! He thinks _she_ is splendid. I asked him why he +didn't marry her, and he teased me by saying I wanted to know too much. +But he did tell me that Anne loved some one else who was a thousand +times better than he, so he had no chance with her." + +Eleanor glanced sharply at Polly to see whether she was innocent of +guile or whether she was trying to hide her real meaning. She saw that +her young companion had really no thought of love for herself or for +her brother John. So Eleanor never hinted that she had a suspicion of +the truth about Anne and John. + +"Do you think Anne liked Tom Latimer?" she asked. + +"Oh, yes! But she likes him because he is such a friend of my brother's +and her brother's. You see, Anne's brother Paul is at college with John +and Tom," replied Polly. + +"Yes, I know. My brother is one of their class-mates, too. But I never +met your brother or Paul. Mother said I was too young to appear in the +drawing-room when Pete gave his party to his class-mates this spring." + +"Oh, I've heard about a 'Pete' who is so clever in his engineering +class. Is that your brother?" eagerly asked Polly. + +"Yes, and we're proud of him! At least Dad and I are. I don't suppose +mother will feel proud of him until he marries a rich society girl. And +Bob never bothers about what he does." + +Now all this was new and strange gossip to Polly and she was willing to +hear more along the same lines, but Anne and Barbara returned from the +ravine, and the former called to them: + +"Have you been wondering what kept us so long, girls?" + +"Never thought of you. We've been getting acquainted," replied Eleanor, +with a smile at Polly. + +"That's good. Now let's go and visit Rainbow Cliffs," added Anne. + +"Lead off, Polly and I will follow," said Eleanor, linking her arm +through Polly's. + +Polly was not only surprised but pleased at Eleanor's evident act of +friendship. She had never had a girl-friend of her own age to confide +in, and she had felt very diffident with these city girls after their +arrival. But the short talk while sitting on the bowlder not only +established a firmer foundation for good comradeship between the two +girls, but it gave each a better appreciation of the other's character. + +After a circuitous walk, the four girls reached the cliffs where the +jeweled stones shone resplendent from the side-walls and ground where +tons of them were piled up in abandoned confusion. + +"No wonder they are named Rainbow Cliffs! I never saw such a dazzling +sight as these green, blue, red, and other colored stones!" cried Anne. + +"They are so beautiful that it seems as if they are real jewels!" +sighed Barbara, gazing raptly at the seemingly precious stones. + +"Polly says a man offered a fabulous price for a small interest in this +spot," remarked Eleanor, taking up a handful of the pebbles and letting +them run between her fingers in a speculative manner, while she glanced +covertly at her sister. + +"Not really!" exclaimed Barbara, looking at Polly. + +"Yes, but please let's not talk of it. Father does not like any of us +to speak of it, as he fears John and I will have our heads turned," +returned Polly, sending a reproachful look at Eleanor. + +But Eleanor smiled with satisfaction, for she knew she had boosted +Polly's value a thousand fold in Barbara's estimation. + +"Well, I'd sell out if it was me! My, but the good times I could have +on the money this would bring!" sighed Barbara, glancing up at the +masses of colored stones towering above her in the sunshine. + +"My brother John says he is going to work these cliffs as soon as he +finishes his college course of engineering," said Polly. + +"And Tom Latimer is going to be his partner!" added Eleanor, watching +her sister closely. + +"Nolla, I didn't tell you that, at all!" cried Polly. + +"Tom Latimer! Does _she_ know him?" asked Barbara of Anne. + +"I don't know, Bob; Paul and he are great friends of John Brewster's, +you know." + +Polly would not deign to look at Eleanor again, and took the homeward +trail without another word as she felt pained at her newly found +friend's mis-statement of facts. But Eleanor had done it all for +friendship's sake. She knew what a radical change all this information +would make in Barbara's estimation of the Brewsters and the ranch, so +she said more than she herself really believed true. + +At that moment the dinner-horn sounded and the girls started for the +house, without making further comment on the cliffs. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +SEVERAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS + + +As the four girls came around the corner of the ranch-house Sary banged +a plate of hot biscuits upon the table. Some of the biscuits bounced +off and rolled across the snowy cloth, so Sary made a swift lunge to +catch them before they fell upon the ground. + +Without hesitation, she replaced the biscuits on the plate and glared +at the boarders as she mumbled to herself: "Sech high-filutin' a'rs Ah +never did see afore!" + +The strangers looked at each other, wondering what the maid's perturbed +manner portended. But Sary flounced back to the kitchen sending an +angry glance over her shoulder before she entered that sacred precinct. +She quickly returned with a glass dish of pear preserves and another +dish of home-pickled peaches. These were so placed as to flank the +biscuits when Sary spied an inquisitive hornet about to settle upon the +preserves. + +"Git out o' that!" shrilled she, whacking at the insect with her +kitchen towel. + +The hornet resented the vicious slap and flew straight for Sary's red +head. She unceremoniously ducked and ran. But the insect buzzed after +her with evil intent, so Sary ran for her sanctuary, slamming the +screen door safely between herself and her pursuer. The audience +watching beside the table laughed merrily at the rout. + +At the sudden entrance of the maid into the kitchen, Mrs. Brewster +asked, without looking up: "Did you place the butter and milk on the +table, Sary?" + +"It are!" from Sary, curtly. + +Mrs. Brewster looked up in surprise. She saw Sary on the safe side of +the screen-door glaring at the hornet, which was crawling slowly +towards the crack in the opening, while buzzing threateningly, now and +then. + +"There's a hornet, Sary--better drive it away before you venture out +again." + +"Ah are." + +"Take the kettle and dash some boiling water on it. It sounds angry +enough to sting." + +"It am," flared Sary, as if her anger, too, was vicious enough to do as +the hornet would. But she turned to get the hot water and when she +returned to deluge the plague, lo! it was there no more. + +"Sary, what's wrong with you since this morning? You've not been civil +in any way," said Mrs. Brewster, impatiently. + +"Wrong e'nuff! Jeb an' m'sef havin' t' eat meals all alone in a big +kitchen that's fine e'nuff fer any one. But these fool gals is so high +an' mighty they hez t' nibble at a table under the trees!" Sary's lofty +scorn was only equaled by her majestic pose, as she delivered her +sentence. + +"You're wrong, Sary, we do _not_ nibble at the table--we leave that for +the field-mice," corrected Mrs. Brewster, sweetly. + +Sary vented an explosive "Humph!" and grabbed the meat-platter. As she +left the kitchen, she sent an insulted glance at her mistress, but the +recent correction in speech made her forget the hornet. The watchful +insect had been sitting directly over the door, and now eagerly resumed +its drive on the enemy. + +Despite her resolve to be dignified and scornful, Sary had to take +flight before the group seated about the table. The girls laughed. One +of the maid's loose shoes flew off during the race around the table and +the hornet would have conquered her had not Mr. Brewster risen to the +occasion and downed the insect with his newspaper. His heavy boot +finished the career of the "Hun-net" and Sary went back to the house, +picking up her shoe as she passed its resting place. + +Once more in the kitchen, she returned to the argument. "Ef it warn't +that you-all hed this comp'ny an' would be worn out in no time, alone, +Ah'd pack an' git, this day!" But in her heart the widow knew horses +could not drag her from such luxury as she had only recently enjoyed. +Besides, there was Jeb; he offered future possibilities of curtailing +her widowhood. + +While Sary delivered her opinion, Mrs. Brewster finished creaming the +potatoes and now dished them up. As she started for the screen-door, +she turned to the maid and said: + +"Either you have a severe attack of indigestion coming on, Sary, or you +are falling in love again. Both diseases present similar symptoms in +their first stages." + +"_Mis'_ Brewster!" + +But the mistress refused to look back even though the temptation to see +Sary's face was great! + +"Oh, Mis' Brewster! How kin you-all say that--so soon after Bill's +funeral, an' the expenses not all paid yit!" howled Sary, rushing to +the door that her mistress might hear her lament. + +But the call fell upon deaf ears. Miss Brewster deigned no reply, so +Sary sat down heavily upon a strong kitchen chair and took thought for +herself. How did Miss Brewster guess her half-formed idea? Had she +discovered in some uncanny manner, that Sary had slyly removed Bill's +post-card photograph from her Bible and cremated it that she might feel +freer to accept a second proposal of marriage--if it came? + +"She coulden' hev foun' _that_ out, cuz Ah locked th' box sence then. +She mus' be one of them brain-readers by nature, Ah rickon, an' she +jes' reads me like a book!" + +Never dreaming of the turbulence created in Sary's mind by her casual +remark, about dyspepsia and love, Mrs. Brewster took her chair at the +table. Immediately after giving thanks, the host stood up to carve the +roast. Then, to the surprise of all present, it was seen that the +rancher had donned his second-best black coat and had taken the trouble +to wear cuffs and a starched collar. + +Trying to avoid Polly's eyes, Mrs. Brewster met the gaze of Anne. But +the two understood and exchanged a fleeting glance of satisfaction and +approval. + +"Well, girls, did you visit Rainbow Cliffs--and how did you like them?" +asked Mr. Brewster, having finished the carving. + +"Oh, they are just wonderful!" declared Eleanor. + +"I hear they are very valuable," remarked Barbara. + +Mr. Brewster sent her a sharp glance and then frowned at Polly. "Ah +never give that a thought. There they've stood for ages before Sam +Brewster saw them, and Ah reckon there they'll stand for ages after Sam +Brewster is dead and forgotten!" + +"Not if I can coax Polly to sell enough of the loose stones to buy an +automobile and go off to school!" said Eleanor, emphatically. + +An annoyed look from Mr. Brewster and a surprised one from Mrs. +Brewster made Anne and Polly feel uncomfortable at Eleanor's lack of +tact. But the hostess was equal to the situation. + +"Polly, who do you think came to the kitchen door to ask for you while +you were at the cliffs, this morning?" + +"Here--to ask for me, Mah--mother!" exclaimed Polly, in surprise. + +"Yes, and she felt deeply offended because you had not asked for her +health or even sent word to her by Jeb--and she so lonely after her +accident, too!" Mrs. Brewster managed to express great pathos with her +words. + +"Oh, my darling Noddy! Mother, did she come to the door?" laughed +Polly, sympathetic tears starting in her eyes at the picture called up +by her mother. + +"Yes, and she said it was simply inexcusable in you. She was willing to +carry you anywhere you wished to go, but now she will disown you +forever, unless you make peace with her, this afternoon," said Mrs. +Brewster, smiling as she saw how she had succeeded in her effort to +change the thoughts and conversation of her family. + +"And Jeb said he had the horses ready for you girls as soon as you +wanted to try them out," added Mr. Brewster. + +Dinner was dispatched hastily after this announcement, and the girls +ran to don their habits. All idea of Barbara's wiring for return-ticket +money that day was forgotten as they went gayly towards the corral to +try out different horses. + +The entire afternoon was given over to exciting sport, as the girls, +and even Mrs. Brewster, tried to outride each other about the great +enclosure. Polly made Noddy happy by mounting her silky little back and +whispering fond nothings in the long ears. Anne was pleased to find her +Chicago friends could ride so well on the restive western horses, and +both Chicago girls were surprised to find what a magnificent rider Mrs. +Brewster was. She was slowly rising in their private opinions of her. + +During the following days, the girls took short rides to points of +interest in Bear Forks Valley and nearby mountains. And then came +Sunday. Barbara had not openly declared her satisfaction with the ranch +or time spent with its people, the past week, but neither had any one +heard a hint of her returning to Chicago. In fact, so much had been +crowded in the days just gone by, that no moment had been found in +which to _think_ of returning home. The trunks had not been opened +since the habits had been removed, as there was no need for changes of +costumes, and the traveling bags had contained all the girls needed for +a few days. + +The ranchers of the Rocky Mountains are so strict about observing the +Sabbath Day, that everything pleasurable, or in the form of work, has +to end at twelve o'clock Saturday night. Every one goes to "meetin'" on +Sundays, some driving a distance of twenty miles, or more. Once a +month, an ordained preacher crosses the Flat Top Mountains to hold a +regular service, and on other Sundays the leading ranchers read the +Bible and conduct prayers. + +The weather throughout summer in this section of Colorado is generally +fine and clear. Should a heavy thunder storm arise, it as quickly +passes over again. The nights are cool and dewy and the days glorious +and exhilarating. Hence one has no dread of foggy or prolonged rainy +days as in the East. + +The plan of dining under the trees had proved a good one, and as the +weather remained fair, no meals had to be eaten in the kitchen since +that first day. + +When the family gathered about the table that Sunday morning, they all +seemed cheerful and animated, but Mr. Brewster had not yet made his +appearance. + +"Has Mr. Brewster had breakfast so soon?" asked Anne. + +"No, he has not come out yet; he is reading the Sunday lesson for his +class in School," replied Mrs. Brewster. + +"Sunday School! Do you go? Where is the church?" asked Eleanor, +wonderingly. + +"Down at Bear Forks School-house. We use it for church, as well as for +other important purposes, besides day-school," Mrs. Brewster replied, +smilingly. + +Soon after the girls appeared at table, Mr. Brewster came out. He said +good morning in a very sedate manner that surprised the girls who were +not accustomed to his Sunday manners. + +That morning he gave a lengthy prayer of thanks that was meant to cover +the past week, but once he had concluded grace, he turned to his wife. + +"Mary, I'm sure I smelled the omelette scorching." + +Mrs. Brewster hurried to the kitchen where she found the eggs burning +and the room filled with horrid smoke. Sary was scolding at a great +rate, but she never used a _profane_ word because it was wicked. + +"Why, Sary, how did you happen to let the eggs burn?" + +"How come? Well, I'll tell you-all! Mr. Brewster handed me a printed +prayer to learn, and I was looking for my specs in my box when it +happened! That's all the good that prayer did me!" + +Mrs. Brewster kept a straight face and said: "Well, never mind, Sary. +We'll soon have another omelette ready." + +"Not on Sunday! I made one, and that was a sin, ez you kin see by the +way it burnt. I does no more cookin' or there'll be extra sin to wipe +out. Thar's bread and jam and coffee--enough fer any one to git along +on fer a few hours." + +Mrs. Brewster knew her husband, however, so she said nothing to Sary, +but hurriedly whipped up another omelette and fried it to a delicate +brown. This she carried out to serve. At the kitchen door she turned to +speak to the help. + +"Sary, bring out the bread and jam, will you?" + +Sary had filled a deep dish with dry cereal and held it in one hand. +She took up the coffee-pot with the other and' ran to get out of the +screen-door which had been flung open by her mistress. But the door +slammed to sooner than Sary had calculated and struck the coffee-pot in +its violent closing, throwing it upon the floor. + +"Consarn th' pesky door! Now thar hain't nuthin' on arth fer Mr. +Brewster to give thanks fer but jes' toast and jam. Ah cain't bile +another pot of coffee on Sunday!" Sary stood contemplating the disaster +until Mrs. Brewster called out: + +"Sary, will you bring that bread and jam?" + +The help brought the desired edibles and explained about the coffee. +Eleanor laughed out loud, but Anne kicked her warningly under the table. + +Mr. Brewster turned to explain to his guests. "Ranchers never work on +the Sabbath. The less we cook the better it is, for we do penance to +our material desire for food. I have never been so severe as to forbid +cooked food on my table, but many of the families do. This morning, +however, we are compelled to sacrifice our weaknesses to Sary's ways." + +So the bread and jam was eaten with the omelette, to the accompaniment +of cold water, and then the master prepared to leave the table. + +"Girls, don't waste much time fussing with your toilette; we are behind +time as it is." + +"Did you expect us to go to church?" gasped Barbara. + +"Certainly. Everybody goes," returned Mr. Brewster, equally surprised +at such a question. + +"Why, we haven't unpacked any clothes for church." + +"That doesn't matter. The Lord doesn't judge according to dress. If +your heart is clean it is all He wants," replied Mr. Brewster, walking +away towards the house. + +The girls looked at each other in amazement. + +"What shall we do, Anne? I won't go in this old rag!" declared Barbara. + +"Don't drag me into the argument, Bob. You hate going to church and +there's no use trying to pretend it is your dress that keeps you away." + +"Would Eleanor care to go with us?" asked Mrs. Brewster. + +"Is Polly going?" countered Eleanor. + +"Oh, yes, I always go," said Polly. + +"We-el, I don't know, Poll. I'll go next Sunday but I am taken by +surprise this week. I'll stay home with Bob, I guess." + +"Very well, then, I'll tell Mr. Brewster to omit the extra seat in the +wagon," and Mrs. Brewster hurried away to dress. + +"What shall we do all morning?" asked Eleanor the moment the +ranch-wagon was out of sight. + +"We might unpack a few things we need, and arrange the trunks so mine +can be sent back home without giving you any trouble about yours," +suggested Barbara. + +"That's a good plan. And a good day to do it in, too," laughed Eleanor. + +"I think it is ridiculous--the way they go on about the Sabbath! I +suppose they would be dreadfully shocked if they knew we were about to +unpack our trunks!" said Barbara, sneeringly. + +Time passed quickly in sorting out the numerous items in the seven +trunks, and the girls felt famished before they were done. The articles +they wished to have out for use were piled up on the grass outside the +barn, and it looked a formidable heap when all was ready to leave the +barn. + +"Goodness me! We'll have to make a dozen trips to the house with all +this!" exclaimed Eleanor. + +"We'll carry all we can pile up this first trip, and then have +luncheon. Afterward we will carry the rest over," said Barbara. + +The clothing seemed so light that they kept piling up the articles +until they could hardly see from under the mountain of lingerie and +accessories. But they both found how heavy the light summer clothes +could be, when one's arms were extended unnaturally to hold up so much +finery. + +They finally reached the porch and threw the things into rustic chairs, +while they sat down to cool off in the breeze. + +"Now, you carry the clothes to the bedroom, Bob, while I hunt in the +kitchen for something to eat," remarked Eleanor, after a time. + +These important duties attended to, the girls were about to go to the +barn for a second load of clothing when the ranch-wagon drove up to the +steps. The family got out and Jeb drove on to the barn. + +"What's this on the grass?" asked Mr. Brewster, stooping to pick up a +silk stocking. + +"That's Barbara's, I think," said Anne, instantly divining the cause of +its being there. + +Then Jeb came running back to the house with news. "Ah found th' trunks +is b'en opened by some one, an' all th' finery is piled on the grass +outside th' barn. What hes happened, Ah want to know." + +Luckily Mrs. Brewster heard his remark and Mr. Brewster had no time to +speak before she caught Anne's hand, and led Jeb back to the barn. +Shortly thereafter, the three returned laden with everything ever known +in a lady's wardrobe. + +"Mary, you have broken the commandments to-day!" said Mr. Brewster, +overcoming a keen desire to laugh at his wife. + +"Maybe, Sam, but I strengthened another, called the 'Golden Rule'--I +certainly did unto them what I want some one to do for mine in case of +need. Poor girls!" + +Sary happened to be coming from the kitchen with the early supper +dishes in her hands. She saw Jeb with dainty silk lingerie almost +covering his head, and she heard Mr. and Mrs. Brewster's words. It was +too much! + +She continued on her way, but once she reached the table she thumped +the dishes down to vent her spite. "To think them city gals kin wind +Jeb about their fingers like that! On a Sunday, too! Ah wonder hain't +he got no respeck fer me an' the Brewster women, that he allows them +snippy misses to git him to carry underwear--him what's an unmarried +man, at that!" + +While the family sat at table enjoying the quiet Sunday evening, Sary +took advantage of their interesting discourse to slip away from the +kitchen and examine the beautiful lace-trimmed apparel spread out upon +the great bed in the guest-room. + +"Laws me! Ef it hain't like a bridal outfit. Ef Ah ever hed hed th' +chanst t' put on ennything like-es-that, I'd not have hed t'marry a +poor rancher like Bill. Ah could have hed my pick of the men at Oak +Crick!" + +Sary sighed with pity at her own limitations in life, and she crept +back to her kitchen planning how she could manage to get one of the +girls to present her with some of the bridal finery. Thus pondering the +problem, she sat down opposite Jeb and entertained him, as he ate his +Sunday supper of pork and beans. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE DANCE AT BEAR FORKS + + +The interesting events which crowded each other, day after day, in this +western life, so engrossed the girls that Bob forgot her vow to send a +telegram for return money to Chicago. She even forgot to write to Mrs. +Maynard at Newport, or to any of her society friends, until Anne +reminded her of a duty to her parents. + +Tuesday following their first Sunday at Pebbly Pit, a rancher's wife +called just before noon, to deliver invitations. + +"Ah heer'd tell how you-all had comp'ny this summer?" were the words +with which she greeted Mrs. Brewster. + +"Yes, a few young people. Will you be seated, Mrs. Halsey?" said Mrs. +Brewster, placing a chair on the vine-shaded porch. + +"Ah come t' ast you-all--say, you, Sally, stop pickin' them flowers! +Mis' Brewster'll lick yuh!" The visitor interrupted herself to shout at +her little girl who proved to be a naughty one. + +"Ez Ah was sayin', Ah come t' leave an invite fer th' hop at Bear +Forks. We-all is glad t' see Anne Stewart, which was a school-teacher +some time back, an' it was fit t' celebrate her friendship, in some +way. Don't cha think a dance jes' th' thing?" As the visitor spoke she +rocked violently back and forth. + +"I'm sorry my visitors are not here to thank you themselves, but I feel +sure they will be delighted to attend the dance," replied Mrs. +Brewster, shaking her head rebukingly at the small boy who stood on the +rockers of his mother's chair, and gripped hold of the back, and so was +roughly swayed back and forth with the rocking. + +"See har, yuh Jim Henderson Halsey--git down from thar! Ef Ah ketch +yuh, Ah'll skin yer face fer the hop--that Ah will!" threatened the +mother, trying to reach her young hopeful. + +But Jim Henderson Halsey knew from dire experiences just what to expect +did his mother succeed in catching him, so he dodged and ran away. + +"Did you-all say the gals would be in shortly?" asked the caller. + +"No, I said they were _not_ in. They are at the corral this morning." + +"Laws me! What a place t' spend th' mornin'. Ah reckon they'll be along +any time, then." + +"They left here just before you came and they are practicing on our +western horses before taking any long trips," explained Mrs. Brewster, +looking regretfully at the flower-beds where the two willful children +were destroying the fruits of her planting. + +Mrs. Halsey followed her hostess's glance and jumped up. "Ef yuh two +varmints don't quit that, an' come right t' me, Ah'll--Ah'll shet yuh +up in a boogy-hole!" shrilled the irate mother. + +Sary heard the familiar voice and instantly ran from the kitchen to +assist in entertaining the morning visitor. The two bad youngsters, +left to their own devices, began throwing the whitewashed stones that +encircled Mrs. Brewster's roundels. + +"How-dy, Miss Halsey?" was Sary's greeting, her large hand extended in +cordial comradeship. + +"Oh, it's Sary Dodd! How-dee, Sary? Ah recommember now that you-all +come t' live wid Miss Brewster. How'd you-all like th' place?" + +The visitor's frankness lost none of its curiosity as she eagerly +waited to hear all about the Brewster family with the mistress still +present, but ignored. + +Sary was in her glory and made the most of it. She had just reached the +point where she intended asking the "gossip" to stop to have dinner, +when a crash interrupted the enlivening Yellow Jacket Pass conversation. + +"Sary, run and see what those children have done!" cried Mrs. Brewster, +mentally thanking her stars for the timely intervention. + +Soon the ladies heard Jim Henderson Halsey bawling loudly, and his +sister backing away from the buttery while she continued making faces +at the angry help. The little girl's protruded tongue made Sary rush at +her with uplifted palm, but both youngsters were so accustomed to +dodging these attacks, that they reached the haven of Mrs. Halsey's +presence without a painful encounter. + +"The ol' thing shook me till my teeth rattled!" wailed Jim Henderson, +etc. + +"Sarves yuh right! What cha be'n up t', any way?" retorted Mrs. Halsey, +the hope of dinner still lingering, but growing dim as Sary did not +return. + +Fortunately, for the general peace of all concerned, Mr. Brewster drove +up to the porch, on his way to Oak Creek. His wife's beseeching look +appealed to him understandingly. + +"Good morning, Mrs. Halsey. Ah hear you-all are inviting folks to the +dance at the school house. Want me to give you a lift to Jamison's +ranch--he hasn't been invited yet!" + +"Why, Ah figgered goin' thar after dinner. Be you-all goin' off before +yuh eat?" + +"Ah am not sure when we will have dinner to-day, the young ladies are +so engaged with riding, you see." + +The moment the Halsey scions heard mention of "dinner" they clung to +their mother's skirts and whined: "We-all wanta stay to dinnerr! Don't +cha go widdout dinnerr!" + +"Why not give the children some cake, mother, and then Mrs. Halsey can +have a bite with Jamison. He can lift her on to the next ranch, too," +suggested Mr. Brewster. + +Mrs. Brewster instantly acquiesced and ran to cut three generous +triangles of cake, while her husband came up and lifted Sally up into +the deep wagon. Before any of the Halsey family could protest, he had +turned, lifted Jim Henderson up beside his sister and then asked the +visitor if he could help her up to the seat. + +The cake was distributed, and the vexed but vanquished morning caller +jabbed a hat-pin through her rusty toque and pulled her jet-trimmed +shoulder cape tightly over her back, before bowing haughtily to Mrs. +Brewster. + +Not until the ranch-wagon turned the edge of Rainbow Cliffs did Mrs. +Brewster permit herself to leave the post of watching and slump down +into the porch rocker with a sigh of gratitude. + +Half an hour later the sound of wheels caused her to spring up in +dread, but her husband's cheery laugh relieved her fears. + +"Ah saw your difficulty and did the only sensible thing; but we-all +must keep this trick a secret. If Sary gets hold of it, my reputation +in Bear Forks, or Yellow Jacket Pass, is gone," confided Sam Brewster +to his wife, as he glanced fearfully about for Sary. + +The horn for dinner sounded shortly after the master's return and, at +the table, the girls were told of the visitor and her invitation to the +dance, but no word of her form of departure was mentioned. + +"It's lucky we have evening-dresses," remarked Barbara. + +"Do folks dress up at these parties?" asked Eleanor. + +"I should say we do!" declared Polly. + +Mrs. Brewster and Anne were talking in low tones and did not hear the +question and answer, so they did not explain what Polly meant by +"dressing up." + +The days intervening between the Tuesday and the Friday set down for +the hop passed quickly. Polly and her mother washed and renovated the +dotted swiss dress made for the school-commencement, and to Polly's +delight Anne added a blue sash and hair ribbons. + +Anne had a simple flowered-silk gown she proposed wearing. And the city +girls had elaborate dresses--Barbara's very much in the latest mode and +Eleanor's flounced and furbelowed, but modestly high in the neck as +became a girl not yet "out." + +Sary had bewailed her fate the day preceding the eventful one. Eleanor +pacified her by presenting her with a net-lace collar to enliven her +rusty black alpaca. + +An early supper was planned, as the ride to Bear Forks school would +take more than an hour, and every one wanted to be there for the grand +march. For several hours before supper-time, Barbara locked herself in +the bed-room and began her toilette. She dressed her hair, massaged, +and rouged and penciled her eyebrows, until she quite tired herself out. + +Eleanor and Anne rapped again and again for admission, but Barbara was +obdurate about her right of possession. When she finally opened the +door for her room-mates, they stared at her in amused surprise. + +"Your hair looks all sizzly, Bob," said Eleanor. + +"Oh, Bob, remove some of that carmine from your lips!" advised Anne. + +"Why?" demanded Barbara. + +"Too much of it, that's all!" giggled Eleanor. + +But Anne and Eleanor had their own toilettes to make and paid no +further attention to Barbara. She managed to remove some of the +carmine, and pat down her hair, hot she could not do things as the +French maid generally did them to add to her beauty. Feeling +dissatisfied with her appearance made Barbara irritable, but she +remained in the room criticizing everything the two other girls did or +said. Then just before the horn sounded for supper, a knock came at the +door. + +"Come in!" called Anne, buttoning her white suede boots. + +"'S onny me. Ah jes' wanta ast you-all ef it is right in city sassiety, +fur a widder of six months' standin' t' go t' a party whar onny old +frien's will be. Thar won't be no sky-larkin' er high-jinks, yo' know!" + +Sary's anxious tone expressed her eagerness for a favorable reply to +her query on widowhood. Eleanor looked at Anne to answer, so she took +the initiative. + +"Certainly, Sary--come right along and enjoy yourself." + +Barbara was shocked. "The help's not going--surely!" + +"Humph! Miss Halsey ast me afore she mentioned you-all!" snapped Sary, +quite able to defend herself against Barbara's pride. + +"Oh, Bob doesn't mean it that way, Sary," said Eleanor, giving her +sister a backward kick for silence. + +"Of course not! Bob means that your mourning might prevent your +attending the dance. But seeing we are all old friends from ranches +round about, it will be like meeting your family," added Anne, the +pacifist. + +"Wall, then, Ah'll go," sighed Sary, as if loath to join a merry +throng. "But Ah hez t' have a smitch of somethin' like-ez-how Miss Bob +hez fer her shoulders, cuz my neck's gettin' scrawny now." + +Barbara had draped chiffon over her neck and dress, and at Sary's +request, she turned angrily. "The very idea! This chiffon is two +dollars a yard!" + +"I've got the very thing you need, Sary. You can wear second mourning +now, I suppose!" exclaimed Eleanor, sending a look at her sister. + +She hurried to the closet and took a long flat box from the upper +shelf. As she carried it over to Sary, Barbara stared. + +"Eleanor Maynard! _What_ are you giving her?" + +"Something I never will need this summer, and Sary can use it very +nicely to furbish up that black dress." + +Sary was too excited to wait and open the box in her own room, so she +tore off the paper at once. A lovely rainbow-tinted chiffon scarf lay +revealed, the predominating colors being violet. + +"Ah-h-h! Ah'm clean locoed, Miss Nolla! Not a soul'll ever know that +rusty black alpacky is th' same dress Miss Pearson mourned her husband +in fer five years before Ah got it given me!" + +"What nonsense! As if that dainty scarf will hide your outlandish dress +and mountainous figure!" came insultingly from Barbara. + +But nothing could spoil the joy of possessing such a heavenly wisp of +angel's robe as that scarf seemed to be to Sary. She was deaf to all +else, as she tenderly hugged the box to her ample bosom and backed from +the room. + +When all were seated about the table, which was spread in the living +room for that night, Mr. Brewster smiled at Polly in her gala attire. +Anne looked sweet and lovely in her simple dress, but the host could +not quite make out the style the city girls wore. He was not accustomed +to boudoir gowns of filmy lace and thin silk, and he thought they were +a new style of party dress. Had he known _what_ Barbara proposed +wearing, he would have asked her to remain at home. + +As Sary passed the bread to Eleanor she leaned over and beamed: "Miss +Nolla, Ah tried that on, an' you-all woulden' know me! Ah'm shore he'll +pick me fer a lanciers! Mebbe that scarf'll give him spine enough to +speak!" + +"Sary, I know right well he will!" declared Eleanor, not dreaming the +mischief she wrought in Sary's soul at that. + +Sary pranced back to the kitchen, but her flighty thoughts were +swinging corners in the quadrille with Jeb, and the fried potatoes were +gracefully shot into the coal-scuttle as the pan was waved aloft in +imitation of dancers she had envied in days gone by. + +"Sary, hurry with the coffee-pot, please!" called Polly. + +And Sary grabbed up the stone jug of vinegar from the back of the stove +where she had placed it, and ran in to pour the beverage into cups. The +combined cries of every one at the table failed to bring her to her +senses, so Mrs. Brewster told her to go quickly and dress for the dance. + +Then wagon wheels sounded on the gravel road and Jeb yelled: "Air +you-all ready?" + +Sary gave a last lingering look in the tiny mirror over her combination +wash-stand, and realized what charms she had when rainbow chiffon +adorned her person. She then snuffed out the tiny lamp-wick and hurried +forth to meet her fate. + +Jeb was dressed regardless of all censorship. A great flaming peony in +his coat-lapel reflected its scarlet on his ruddy face. His tie was a +riot of colors and detracted somewhat from his purple socks and tan +shoes. He wore a figured near-silk vest won at an Oak Creek raffle, and +large checked trousers said to be the latest fashion some years back, +when he squandered his money on them. With his face scoured until it +shone, and his hair greased so that it was plastered down neatly, Jeb +felt he could woo and win the prettiest gal in the country-side. He +forgot there was a "female widow" about. + +The Brewster party reached the school-house later than was their wont, +and the cloak-room was well-filled with ranchers' wives and daughters +all waiting to pass judgment on the strangers from Pebbly Pit. + +Mrs. Brewster and Polly entered first, shaking hands with friends and +acquaintances. Anne followed smiling benignly on all. Barbara came +next, casting disdainful looks at the ordinary women she found present. +Eleanor delighted in the novel experience and was anxious to meet them +all. + +Once in the small room, the new-comers began to remove their dust-coats +and wraps. The ranchers' parties then went out to make room. Barbara +turned to Anne and whispered: + +"Where can I find the maid?" + +"Maid! We haven't one here, you know." + +"No maid to help me? Goodness, what shall I do?" + +"You're supposed to dress at home; besides, these people do not powder +or rouge, so they need no mirror or maid, you see," explained Eleanor, +taking delight in shocking Barbara. + +"Then I suppose I will have to go out without a look at myself. Do I +look all right to you, Anne?" + +As she spoke, Barbara dropped her evening cloak from her shoulders and +pivoted for Anne's benefit. Her gown of rose-pink net, trimmed with +elaborate gold embroidery, was extremely decollete, with narrow gold +bands over the shoulders performing the double duty as sleeves and to +hold the lower section of the dress up in place! + +Barbara turned slowly and attracted the attention of Mrs. Brewster, +Polly, and a few strangers lagging behind to watch the visitors. Just +then Sary hurried in from the dance-hall. She gasped at the sight +before her and quickly came to the rescue. + +"Shet yer eyes--every one! The poor dear! Ah'll cover her up whiles +some one finds her basque!" And Sary caught up Mrs. Halsey's +jet-trimmed cape and wound it quickly about Barbara's bare neck and +shoulders. + +"Child, how come yuh t' fergit the basque? Er what hez happened to it?" +cried Sary, sympathetically, while Barbara struggled vainly to wrench +herself free from the ill-smelling wrap that generally hung in Halsey's +kitchen. + +"Ah hev it! Polly, git the box Nolla gave me. Ah'll let Miss Bob wear +my scarf!" + +This meant supreme sacrifice for Sary, but she willingly offered the +one and only treasure to serve a betrayed friend. Still she was at a +loss to understand where that basque could be! + +Finally Barbara squirmed free and Mrs. Brewster managed to say: + +"Sary, Bob has on one of her most modern evening gowns. They are made +without tops, you know!" + +Sary gasped and suddenly collapsed upon the chair. Her strained +expression, as she took a covert look at the dress, spoke volumes. + +"Glory be, Miss Brewster," whispered Sary, hoarsely. "You-all don' mean +it fer trut', do yuh?" + +"Yes, Sary, it is a very expensive and stylish robe." + +"An' kin you-all let her march brazen-like, like that, in front of the +men!" shrilled Sary, holding both wide hands over her heart. + +"I never heard or dreamed there was such ignorance in the world, as I +have found in Colorado!" now flared Barbara, turning and leaving the +cloak-room. + +Sary waited but a second, then she cried, "Ah cain't 'low Jeb t' see +sech sights--an' he a good bachelor-man!" + +Sary rushed out to spare her prey any shocks, and the other members of +the party gazed at each other doubtfully. + +"Oh, well, it's not our funeral, Potty!" said Eleanor. + +"Shall we join the dancers?" asked Anne. + +"Yes, but I fear Bob will be ostracized," said Mrs. Brewster. + +"Serve her right! Anne and I told her not to dress like that, but she +_would_, you know. She wanted to show folks the style," explained +Eleanor, taking silent Polly by the arm and leading her out to the main +hall. + +As they left the cloak-room, the girls heard the fiddler shout: "Git +yer pardners fer the Grand March!" + +And from that time on to midnight, the three girls had the best fun +ever. But poor Barbara stood near the cloak-room as isolated as the +plague, for the ranchers dared not even look at a gown without a top, +let alone dance with the doubtful thing. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +IN THE WILDERNESS + + +Each day the four girls rode along various trails until, in the +judgment of Jeb, they were practiced enough to take a longer ride in +the mountains. + +Polly had been urging Jeb to give a favorable opinion on their ability +to stand a prolonged ride to the Flat Tops, but he was careful and +practical and persisted in making them try a greater distance daily to +finally harden them to a rough trail. + +Then Jeb said he reckoned the girls could start for a real outing. +Immediately, they planned where to go and what to see. + +Polly outlined a trip that might take a whole day, so they would have +to take food and kit for cooking purposes. Each girl would ride her +favorite horse or burro and the extra burro, Choko, could carry the +outfit. + +Of course, Polly decided to ride Noddy, as the burro was well +acquainted with her mistress's ways and the mountains. Eleanor +preferred a burro also, because, as she said comically, "if one falls +from a burro's back it is not far to Mother Earth." The two other girls +selected horses, sure-footed and trained for climbing. + +On the morning chosen for the trip, Mrs. Brewster and Sary were up at +day-break preparing the kit and packing the panniers. At breakfast, +four eager girls, with wide sombreros on their heads, heavy +mountain-shoes and leather puttees covering feet and limbs, talked of +the great adventures they were about to meet with. + +Sam Brewster laughed at their wild imaginings and said: "Ah shouldn't +wonder but what you-all will find a second 'Aladdin's Lamp' hiding +place. Just think of the fun to be had by rubbing the Lamp and wishing +for things!" + +Then Jeb brought the mounts from the barn and Sary helped him strap the +panniers and kit to Choko. Just as they were ready to start, Sary flew +out with a paper package carefully held. + +"Polly, Ah made a s'prise fer you-all, but don't let Choko roll in it +er run away, er my work will go fer nuthin'." + +"Don't worry about Choko, Sary, he's too trustworthy to serve us such a +trick," bragged Polly, petting the burro on the head. + +"Wall, then, see thet it hain't shooken up too much er gittin' mashed +under the ax," were the parting words from Sary, as she shifted the +short ax, which is an important item in every outfit. + +It was a wonderful summer day--the kind that makes one feel happy in +mere living, and the anticipation of wonders to come added a zest to +the outing for the girls. + +They left the trail leading from Pebbly Pit and picked up the rough +mountain trail at the Forks, Barbara and Eleanor exclaiming constantly +at the gorgeous wild flowers growing wherever the roots could find +lodgment. + +"I never saw such columbines! Four times the size of ours in the East," +cried Eleanor. + +"And those marvelous orange-colored blossoms! They look like a rare +exotic, with their huge clusters and flaunting colors!" exclaimed +Barbara. + +"If you girls think these are so beautiful, just wait till we reach the +'bottoms'--there you will see size and color enough to make you wonder +if you accidentally struck Paradise," said Anne. + +"And our ferns and mosses, girls! You never saw such specimen, +elsewhere," added Polly, churking to Choko to hurry on. + +"Polly, why did Jeb over-load that poor little burro?" now asked +Barbara, having lost her momentary interest in flora. + +"Choko isn't over-loaded at all. Of course it looks as if he had a +great load to carry, but pans and woolen blankets look more than they +weigh, you see. The heaviest thing he carries is my ax, I reckon." + +"Ax! What do you want of an ax?" wondered Barbara. + +"Can't tell how cold it may be up on the mountain-top, so I brought the +sheath-knife, ax, rifle, and other things in case we get the tail-end +of a blizzard." + +"And the blankets in case we get lost and need to camp out all night," +added Anne, teasingly, seeing the city girls' fears. + +"You can't really mean it, Anne! Surely we won't lose our way, and as +for a blizzard! Well, it is July," laughed Barbara. + +"It wouldn't be the first time we ran into a blizzard in July," +commented Polly. + +"But how is it possible, girl alive!" cried Barbara. + +"Possible enough on the Flat Tops. The merest rag of a cloud finds an +excuse to carry snow from the peaks. The wonder will be if we come away +without seeing snow fall." + +"Oh, Polly, how thrilling!" exclaimed Eleanor. + +"Once when father and I rode over this same trail to find a trapper who +had pelts for sale, we got caught in a blizzard. We got the pelts but +we also got the storm, and lucky for us that we had the pelts first. + +"I never had experienced a real mountain storm, but father had, so he +showed me what to do. I think I would know now just what to do in case +of another surprise." + +"Bu-r-r-r! Let's hope you won't have to practice on us," laughed +Eleanor, pretending to shiver. + +"Stop your nonsense, Nolla! I don't want to think of such dreadful +things," cried Barbara. + +"And I want to hear about how the pelts saved her life," added Anne. + +"It's real interesting, Bob, so let me tell them," asked Polly, and +receiving no unfavorable word or look, she proceeded: + +"It was the Fourth of July, and of course no one would start on a ride +wearing a fur-lined coat, so father and I had on our summer clothes. + +"After riding along Top Notch Trail for a time, we met the trapper and +bargained for the furs, then started back by a new trail he told us of. +It led past Pagoda Peak, and just as we got to the base of the peak and +discovered the down-trail, the blizzard came swooping upon us without +warning. + +"Father and I tried to keep going, but the gale traveled too fast and +blew in whirling eddies, so we got the pelts out of the bundle, and +wrapped ourselves in the largest ones. The smaller ones we used for our +feet. Father found two great bear-skins and covered the horse--that +acted as a shield on one side from the storm--the other horses stood in +front and back of us, making three sides protected. + +"Father then made me creep with him to the refuge made by the three +horses and there we remained. The horses stood perfectly still +throughout the blizzard, which lasted only an hour at most, and the +steam they exuded from their bodies kept us quite warm as we crouched +under them. + +"When the storm blew over, we dug a way out and removed the horse +blankets and fur pelts from the horses. Then we rolled our own +coverings into the bundle and started on down-trail. But the floods of +melting snow caused wash-outs and it was risky going. When we reached +the first Park never a sign of snow was there, and the only result of +that mountain blizzard was an added flood of water pouring down the +gulleys to the bottoms and valley." + +"Oh, Polly, what an interesting book your adventures would make!" +exclaimed Eleanor. + +"I'd like to write it down as you tell it, Polly, and we can surely +find a publisher for it," added Anne, eagerly. + +"Really! Oh, how I'd love to tell such a story!" said Polly, all +enthusiasm. + +"We'll try it as soon as we get back to-night!" promised Anne. + +The going was easy, so Polly told of other adventures: of the trip to +Buffalo Park when a bear chased them; of her meeting with Old +Montresor, the gold-seeker of Grizzly Slide and his pitiful story; of +the nights spent out on the mountains, watching beside a dying +camp-fire, or listening to the call of the moose to his mate on a +moonlit night; of the wonderful sport fishing in trout-filled streams, +or seeking gorgeous flora and strange fauna on the peaks, and again +photographing wild beasts and birds that never showed a fear of her as +she traversed their domains. The three girls were spell-bound at her +vivid descriptions and Anne sighed with desire to put it all down on +paper for future publication. + +"Montresor's Mine is in this mountain that I want to show you to-day. +He was a dear old man who lived a solitary life in a cabin near Buffalo +Park. Patsy, his dog, was his only companion. But he died and left me +his mine--that we never found again," sighed Polly. + +"Oh, Polly! Tell us the story!" chorused the girls. + +Polly laughed: "It isn't a story, 'cause there never was a climax as +real stories have to have, you know. But I'll tell you how I met Mr. +Montresor. I was out with Noddy, one day, and we traveled farther than +usual. + +"In leaving a bad trail to take a good one, I met the gray-haired man +slowly riding up. An Irish terrier ran back of his horse, sniffing, +sniffing, and whining as if distracted. I was so surprised at the dog's +actions that I stopped to ask the man what ailed him. + +"'Ah, my child, Patsy is seeking for my lost mine!' + +"'Your lost mine!' I gasped, for I had never heard of him or his mine, +although folks said there was a rich vein of gold somewhere in the +mountain.[Footnote: This is a true incident.] "'Yes, child, I am the +unfortunate Montresor. Haven't you heard of my great loss?' + +"I thought the poor man was foolish, so I humored him by saying, 'No, +sir, I never did, Won't you tell me about it?' + +"Then he told me the story. He had been an old prospector in the +Klondike, but not a successful one, as he was too honest. On his +return, from Alaska, he had to stop in Denver and work for his fare +back to the East where he came from. Being a splendid engineer as well +as a mineralogist, he found a place with a crew of mining engineers +about to inspect Pagoda Peak section and Lost Lake district. He came +with them. + +"After he had been in these mountains for a time, he was so certain of +finding gold that he remained when the rest of the crew went back to +Denver. After two years of patient digging and prospecting he took a +new trail that was later found to be Red Man's Trail, seldom traveled, +as it was such dangerous and hard going. + +"He was climbing along an awful place where the ledge hung over a +chasm, when he spied a small yellow nugget on the ground. He examined +it and found it to be fine red-gold. Upon looking about, he found a few +more, but there seemed to be no sign of gold in the ledge or in the +rocks about him. Still he staked out a claim on the spot in hopes of +later finding gold hidden in the ground. + +"He hobbled his horse and made a good circuit of the place and then +discovered that the opposite ledge of the abyss towered up hundreds of +feet higher than the one he was on. That gave him an idea. + +"He rode the horse carefully along his ledge until he reached a slope +where both ledges met an up-grade of mountain-side. Leaving the lower +ledge and back-trailing on the higher one, he stopped opposite the +place where he had found the nuggets. He dismounted, sought carefully +about, and to his joy found more nuggets exactly like the ones picked +up on the opposite lower side. + +"He took the pick from the saddle and worked at the wall facing him, +and discovered a rich lode running straight in through the solid rock. +He was so excited that he started off without staking a claim or +otherwise marking the place. But he soon remembered and went back. He +made out a correct claim and fastened it to a tree, then piled up the +necessary heaps of stone with his stakes in the middle. Doing all he +could think of to legally hold the right to mine the ore, he started +back along the dangerous ledge. It was so dark by this time, that he +could not find the way he came, and knowing it was almost impassable, +he permitted the horse to choose a way out by going up the +mountain-side, and so he finally reached the summit. Here he camped for +the night and early in the morning he kept on till he struck Top Notch +Trail, but so circuitous had been the route that he never could +describe the pathway his horse took. + +"Unfortunately, he had left Patsy home that day to guard supplies in +the cabin, and he did not return there at once, thinking it wiser to +first file his claims in Oak Creek. The clerk asked for section-corners +or distances from the nearest surveyor's blaze, but Montresor had not +found any. + +"It was a question whether the claim would be legal, but the worried +old man refused to give full details of the spot, as he feared the +claim would be jumped, and he purposed going back again to make a +survey for himself. + +"On his way to the cabin for Patsy, a dreadful storm came over the +mountains and lasted for three days. Snow, hail and wind blew down the +sides until it seemed as if winter had come in full blast. Of course, +no one would attempt climbing in that storm and Montresor had to remain +in his cabin for the blizzard to pass. + +"When he was able to travel again, he took Patsy to help find the +place, but the rain had washed away all scent for the dog. After a +tortuous climb on the trail, made ten-fold worse by the down timber and +wash-outs, Montresor discovered land-marks and knew he was on the right +pathway. + +"However, he could see no ravine or ledges, and after hunting day after +day, without locating a spot that resembled his claim, he well-nigh +caved in. There was no gully, no ledge, no wall of rock with +fresh-picked vein of gold showing in its face! In fact, so much rock +and earth and trees had been washed down from Top Notch Trail during +the great storm that the whole area he had previously covered had +changed form and appearances. + +"The poor man then tried to find his claim by following Top Notch Trail +and coming down from the summit, but he was taken ill and laid up in +his cabin for a long time. + +"I rode up to see him whenever I could, and father wanted him to have +some one stay with him, but the old man would not. Patsy was his only +nurse. The ranchers laughed and said he was luny over gold, and that he +never had seen any. Still there was the ore to cause wonderment, until +a miner declared it was some the old man had left in his kit from +Klondike. The report that he was trying to sell a claim that never +existed, made folks shun him even when they heard he was sick. + +"Cold weather was coming on and mother would not let me risk the long +ride to his cabin so often, but one warm Saturday I packed supplies and +rode Noddy up there. I found the poor man unconscious. Patsy stood by +the bunk licking the limp hand. I looked about but no food or drink +could I see. I lifted his gray head and tried to make him sip water +from my bottle, but he merely opened his eyes and smiled. + +"He tried to take something from under his head and I helped him. I +found a scrawl saying, 'Look on Patsy's collar.' + +"He tried to mumble and I stooped low but he relaxed suddenly and +seemed to shrink. I felt his heart but it was still. I tried his eyes +and they were sightless. Patsy sent up a heartrending wail and crawled +over behind his master's gun and knapsack, so I knew my old friend was +dead. + +"I removed the paper from Patsy's collar and saw my name on it. Upon +opening it, I found the dear man had left me all his interests in the +claim filed at Oak Creek offices. I tried to coax Patsy to come with +me, but he would not desert his master. Then I placed water in a dish +and gave the animal my food, but he would not eat or drink. + +"I hurried home to tell father and he rode back that same evening, to +arrange for the old man's burial. Jeb and John went with him, and the +coroner from Oak Creek, who is a friend of ours. + +"When they reached the cabin they found faithful Patsy stretched across +his master's body dead also. So both old comrades were buried together, +although the minister from over the mountain said it was a sin to place +both in one grave. When John told me, I said I was glad the two could +travel the same trail together, for Old Man Montresor had found Patsy +his best friend for ten years. + +"We found no clew to his eastern friends, and when the last will and +testament of Ralph Montresor was filed at Oak Creek, every one laughed +at us for believing the fairy-tale of a crazy man. But I never believed +he was crazy, and I do believe he once discovered that gold-mine!" + +"Oh, Polly!" wept Anne and Eleanor, deeply affected by the tale, but +Barbara plaintively remarked, "Do talk of something cheerful!" + +"All right, Bob, I'll tell you something that will cheer your woeful +heart!" jeered Eleanor, impatiently. "I'm going to take that Red Man's +up-trail, soon, and rediscover the mine, then I'll give it to Polly for +a present for her loyalty to Old Montresor!" + +"Don't be silly! If you ever did find a gold-mine you'd hold on to it, +fast enough!" retorted Barbara. + +Eleanor winked at Polly and Polly smiled gratefully at her, but Anne +broached another subject to spare the sisters an argument. + +The horses had been jogging along a trail that now turned off to what +looked like a wide plain. + +"Here's the bridge I've been heading for," said Polly. "From here on, +it's clear going to Lone Pine Blaze." + +"Bridge! Do you call this a bridge," laughed Eleanor. + +"It's a forest ranger's bridge. They build these over chasms and +streams so horses and men can quickly reach any part of the forest when +there is a fire. If they had to ford swift streams, or go round about, +much time would be lost." + +The bridge in question was made of loose tree-trunks thrown across the +river and pegged down on either side where the ends rested upon the +steep banks. + +After crossing the log-bridge, Polly led the way towards what seemed to +be a veritable wilderness of forest. Giant pines thrust their green +tops far above trees that would have been considered landmarks in the +East, but were deemed quite ordinary in the West. Next in height to the +commonly-sized pines came gigantic oaks and then the still shorter +aspens and lodge-pole pine. + +"You never intend breaking through that tangle of trees, I hope, +Polly!" cried Barbara, who had never seen such a bewildering growth of +forest in her life. + +"No, not this time! I'm making for that pine that you can see way above +all of the others. That is Lone Pine Blaze, because it bears the blaze +that shows the way to the up-trail!" + +Noddy must have been a frequent traveler to this tree for she knew +exactly the way to go and when she came opposite the pine that bore the +blaze, she stopped of her own accord. + +"Now, wasn't that cute?" cried Eleanor, riding her burro directly +behind Noddy. + +Polly jumped from her burro's back and went over to Choko. She removed +the ax from the pack and chopped a way through the slender undergrowth +which had grown up that season. + +"Yes, here's the blaze as plain as day! Any of you girls want to read +it for me?" laughed Polly. + +The three curious girls jumped from their mounts and pushed a way over +to the tree where they saw a queer mark made deep in the tree where the +bark could not over-grow it. + +"What does it say, Poll!" asked Eleanor. + +"It means for us to turn to the left and follow the trail upwards!" +said Polly, pointing to the signs. + +"I should think the ranchers would put up sign-posts to guide +travelers!" said Barbara. + +"How long do you suppose a post would last in a mild little wind-storm +that uproots trees and tosses them about like wisps of hay?" laughed +Polly. + +"Oh, Polly! You surely are making fun of us!" said Eleanor, doubtfully. +"No, indeed, she is not! In the three months' time I was at the Cobb +School, I saw some terrific gales sweep over the country!" added Anne. + +But sign-posts and wind-storms were forgotten for the time when the +horses came out on a strange road they had to travel. The wilderness of +pine forest had been left on the right after leaving Lone Pine, and the +trail led down gradually to a bottomland of brilliant green herbage. +Directly over this emerald valley ran a corduroy roadway. + +"There must have been a brook under this at one time!" stated Eleanor, +finding the logs partly embedded in caked mud. + +"No, this too, is built by our forest-rangers who help the timber jacks +build these roads. You see, while frost holds good the heaviest tree +trunks can be readily moved over icy swamp bottoms, but in the spring, +when thaw and freshets begin, the bottoms are more like a marsh, or +shallow lake, than anything else I know of. Then these corduroy roads +are a make-shift for hard ground," explained Polly, while Noddy started +to clip-clop over the firmly-set logs. + +"Why don't the men wait for the next frost?" asked Barbara. + +"Hoh! Don't you know the trees would be worthless if they were left for +a season? Decay and mold or worms would destroy the finest wood. +Besides, these logs, or poles, laid side by side in the mud, soon get +to be as solid as a rock, for the mud, oozing up between the chinks of +the logs, dries out and leaves them baked tight in the grooves." + +Having heard the way this novel roadway was made, the girls took a +lively interest in crossing it. No more questions were asked until +Polly reached the trail that led up through the forest. Then Eleanor +spoke. + +"Polly, you're sure you know the road?" + +"We can't go very far wrong! If we keep to the trail we are bound to +come out on the top--somewhere!" laughed Polly, giving Noddy her head +in selecting a safe footing on the rough trail. + +Eleanor, eager to show how well she could ride, forced her burro past +Noddy while the latter was making a slight detour about a sage-brush. +She turned partly around to laugh at Polly, when her burro made a +sudden lunge away from the trail, and at the same time, a +diamond-backed rattlesnake struck out from its coil, reaching at least +two-thirds the full length of its body. + +"Help! Save me!" screamed Eleanor, frantically, but the brave little +burro knew how to carry his rider safely out of the way of the reptile. + +Polly saw the snake coil for another strike at Barbara's horse, which +had almost reached the place before Eleanor screamed. The whole +occurrence was so unexpected and sudden that Barbara had not seen the +swift flash of cinnamon-red and dark diamond-patterned rattler. + +With great presence of mind, Polly instantly pulled Noddy up on a mound +of ground just above the reptile, and caught hold of a long supple +branch of wood. In another instant she was whipping the snake until it +could not tell from which direction the blows were descending--right, +left, front or back! In a moment of indecision, the snake remained +quiet and in that second Polly brought down her solid heel upon its +flat head. + +The other girls screamed and turned pale for they thought Polly had +fallen from her burro upon the rattler--so quick had been her action. +But the moment the daring girl looked up and laughed at them, they also +jumped from their saddles and ran up to help. + +Polly made sure the rattler was quite dead, then took a forked stick +and held it up to view. It had beautiful diamond markings of +dark-colors on cinnamon-red ground. The belly was of creamy white, and +the tail had eight rattles attached to it by means of a peculiar +fibrous ribbon. These rattles seemed to be of dry horny skin that made +the buzz-sound when shaken. The head had been so crushed open that +Polly could easily show the curious girls the poison-fangs which were +hinged to the upper jaw. + +"When a rattler intends to bite, its mouth grasps the object and these +fangs drop down into the flesh, puncturing tiny holes into which the +fatal poison flows." + +Polly described the action of the bite minutely, causing her hearers to +shiver with dread. Seeing the effect her words had made, she laughed, +adding, "A snake does not always bite clear! I mean, the least thing +keeps his teeth from driving straight into the flesh, so that the +poison bag cannot empty its fluid under the skin. It is often a loose +or sidewise bite, so that much of the poison never enters the wound. +That is why so many folks survive rattle-snake bites. If it went clean, +and the poison bag was emptied under the skin,--pwhew!" + +Polly whistled to denote her sense of the outcome of such a bite, and +Barbara cried, "Oh, mercy, Polly! I feel so sick after hearing you, +that I want to go back to Chicago!" + +Anne laughed at Barbara's fears, saying, "We may not see another +rattler all summer!" + +"Anyway, Bob, you're perfectly safe while on a horse, for they can +always tell when a rattler is near and they avoid it. A rattler will +never go out of its own course to strike--only biting when one passes +too near it for its safety!" said Polly. + +"Well, that's some consolation, anyway!" sighed Eleanor. + +"What do you want to do with this snake, Poll?" asked Anne, as the +sisters climbed back into their saddles. + +"Goodness me! What would she do with it, except to kick it over into +the bushes!" cried Barbara. + +"Polly is laughing! She thinks you are crazy, Anne!" added Eleanor, +impatiently, for she was eager to proceed on the trail. + +"Well, Polly, I think we will have it skinned and sent to Denver to be +made into an odd handbag for your mother!" suggested Anne. + +"Oh, Anne, how splendid! I wish I could find a snake skin!" cried +Eleanor. + +"Yes, Anne, I think mother will love that!" added Polly, gratefully, so +the rattler was moved carefully over to a large flat rock near the +trail, where they could readily find it on their way back. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE BLIZZARD ON GRIZZLY SLIDE + + +As the adventurers advanced up the mountainside, the pines grew closer +until it was almost impossible to ride between the great trees that +crowded on either side of the faint trail. + +"Polly, I don't see how we can go much farther!" said Anne, who had +never before been as high as this. + +"Oh, we are only one-third of the way up, Anne," smiled Polly, swinging +Noddy suddenly to one side to avoid a bowlder of rock that had rolled +upon the trail. + +After more arduous climbing, the horses unexpectedly came out into a +vast clearing, called a "park" by the natives. It was acres in extent, +fringed about by the heavy close growth of pines. The girls exclaimed +at the beauty of the spot, for wild-mountain flowers grew profusely +among the thick buffalo grass. + +"Now, then, every one of you start at this point and hunt for the +trail. I haven't been here since last summer when we went for that +trapper and his pelts. I didn't look for the blaze then, but it was +here, so we must find it to help us find the way out!" called Polly, as +she guided Noddy slowly past the fringe of forest trees, looking +carefully at each tree. + +"Goodness, Polly! Do you ever expect to find an opening in this tangle +of trees?" asked Barbara. + +"We can if Polly says there's one!" declared Anne, riding her horse +carefully in the opposite direction from Polly. + +Eleanor permitted her burro to follow after Polly, as she hadn't the +slightest idea of what the blaze or trail would look like. +Consequently, she was directly behind Polly when she shouted, "I've +found it!" + +The other girls wheeled their horses and galloped over to the place +where Polly was swinging the ax about her head. + +With several good whacks, she chopped down enough young aspens to clear +a way through the brush, thus exposing to view an old tree bearing a +blaze over twenty years old. + +"I'll show you how to count the age," said Polly, beginning at the +outer bark and counting the rings plainly lined from the new bark into +the tree until she reached the place where the blaze had been made. + +"How interesting! Then that means this trail was made twenty years +ago!" said Barbara. + +"Maybe twenty times twenty years ago, for all we know. Nobody really +knows how old this trail is, for it was used by the Indians as far back +as the oldest trappers and hunters know and have heard tell from their +fathers and grandfathers!" replied Polly, swinging into the saddle and +telling Noddy to proceed. + +The little burro obediently went into the seemingly impassable thicket, +the other horses following. After they had traveled for ten or fifteen +yards, the undergrowth thinned until they were going on +pine-needle-covered ground as soft as moss. The silent forest with its +sentinel pines, spreading a canopy overhead, seemed like another world +from the bright glare of the one left behind that morning. + +The trees were so tall and majestic, with great fragrant green tops +that scarcely allowed a sunbeam to penetrate to the pale green twilight +underneath, that a solemn peace pervaded the minds of the young +adventurers. The singing of birds, or the crackling of dry twigs, as +wild creatures sprang over them, were the only sounds heard. + +No shrubs or vegetation obstructed this impressive place, so the girls +rode on in silence, until the trail ascended again. Near the confines +of this forest, Polly suddenly reined in Noddy and held out a warning +hand. Right across their pathway sped a young deer. It paused by the +side of a sheltering pine-trunk, with head erect and fore-foot poised +gracefully, gazing steadily at the strange creatures who dared intrude +upon those sacred precincts! + +It as suddenly vanished again, and the girls breathed deeply. + +"Oh, for our camera!" cried Eleanor. + +"How stupid of us to leave it home," added Barbara. + +"It's always the way. Who remembers a kodak until it is needed," +laughed Anne. + +"John promised to bring me a fine camera this summer, but he never came +home from college, so I didn't get it," said Polly, wistfully. + +"Haven't you one, Poll?" wondered Eleanor. + +"Not yet." + +"It's a shame--and you with such wonderful ways to use it. The moment +we get home, I shall give you my new one, and you can give me some +prints from it in exchange," said Eleanor, generously. + +"Why, Eleanor Maynard! Yours is brand new and cost forty dollars!" +cried shocked Barbara. + +"Of course it's new! Would I give my best friend a second-hand thing?" +retorted Eleanor. + +"Oh, Nolla, it's awfully good of you but I wouldn't think of taking +it!" exclaimed Polly, gratefully. + +"If you don't I'll give it to Sary, and then you can look for trouble! +She'll snap pictures of Jeb at dinner, of Jeb at the pump, and Jeb +here, there, and everywhere!" + +The girls laughed merrily at the pictures outlined, and the camera was +forgotten. + +After climbing for two hours more, Noddy wrinkled his nose and twitched +his sensitive ears. + +"Noddy scents water. See, Choko is acting the same way," called Polly; +and sure enough both burros were making faces at the sky-line. + +In a short time the riders reached another Park but this one was not +half the size of the first. Instead of encircling forest trees, the +girls saw giant up-thrusts of rock that deft the blue sky. On each side +of the widened trail stood lodge-pole pine that ran up to the summit +and down the other side of the peak. + +"At last--Top Notch Trail!" exclaimed Polly. + +"You seem relieved?" ventured Anne. + +"I am, because I half-doubted whether I would remember the right route +without an older guide." + +"When in doubt don't do anything," suggested Eleanor. + +"If we didn't do anything we wouldn't have been up here," argued Anne. + +"This trail runs straight to Grizzly Slide, a glacial peak I've always +wanted to see. Father never had time to take me and mother wouldn't +allow me to find it alone. Explorers say it is a permanent glacier that +seldom changes its form as most of our other snow-capped peaks do in +summertime." + +"How I'd love to see it!" sighed Eleanor. + +"It sounds as if we were in Switzerland about to visit the Alps," added +Barbara. + +"Have you any plans for to-day, Polly?" asked Anne. + +"Nothing particular. I thought we would try for this trail and have +dinner up here, then do whatever you liked before starting for home." + +"How long might it take to ride along the top and hunt for Grizzly +Slide?" asked Eleanor eagerly. + +"I'm not sure of the distance, although I hear it is four miles from +Four Mile Blaze. From here to the blaze may be one or ten miles, but +the going is fine on this trail," replied Polly, eagerly showing her +inclinations. + +"I simply won't consider going back home yet!" declared Eleanor. + +"We might go on a bit further before eating, and then we can see what +the trail is like. If we decided to try for the Grizzly +Something-or-other Poll mentioned, I'll agree, all right!" ventured +Anne, the gleam of adventure shining in her eyes. + +"I'm the only molly-coddle in the crowd and I'd like to see more of +this mountain, myself," laughed Barbara. + +"'Nuff said,' when Barbara talks like that!" laughed Eleanor. + +So they continued along the crest of the mountain from which grand +views of distant peaks and vast forest-sides could be seen. The +brilliant hues of wild flowers, everywhere, mottled the ground; the +dark-green of towering pines, or again the shorter aspens like pickets +on guard in the foreground; the bleached skeletons of lodge-pole pine +burnt clean in forest fires; and just before the riders, the plunging +water falling from a cliff that shut out any glimpse of the trail +ahead, combined to produce a master-piece of Nature's work. + +"Why not camp at those Falls for dinner?" asked Eleanor. + +"Good idea--I'm half-starved," admitted Anne. + +"And maybe the horses can rest, too," from Barbara. + +"Bob's going to join the S.P.C.A. soon," laughed Eleanor. + +"No, I'm not, but horses will last longer if you feed and rest them, +and I do not care to walk home!" retorted Barbara. + +"I brought my fishing tackle, girls, and while you are unpacking dinner +I may as well cast for a few trout in that stream," suggested Polly. +"Can you fish trout?" exclaimed Barbara, wonderingly. + +"Can a bird fly?" laughed Anne. + +"The idea! A westerner and _not_ know how to fish!" scorned Eleanor. + +But Barbara was not sensitive to-day so did not feel offended at these +remarks; neither did she take pains to disguise her real sentiments +when it would have been kinder to keep silence on a subject. + +Having reached the base of the cliff, the girls found a delightful spot +for the luncheon. The packs were slipped from Choko and he, with the +other mounts, were hobbled and left to graze on the buffalo grass in +the clearing. + +The girls unpacked a pannier while Polly arranged her tackle and +started for the top of the cliff whence fell the water. + +"Let me go with you, Poll, and watch?" asked Eleanor. + +"If you won't speak, and mind you don't slip and fall!" + +"I won't," promised Eleanor, crawling up after the sure-footed Polly +until both reached the top. To their surprise, the girls found a cleft +between two great rocks with a quiet pool resting at the base. The +current passed, rushing onward to the Falls, but the water circulating +in the nook scarcely rippled. Even as the two girls watched, a flash of +a speckled back flounced up in play and splashed their shoes. + +"_What_ a spot for trout!" whispered Polly, crawling out to the rim of +a rock while Eleanor watched breathlessly. + +"Not too far out, Poll!" whispered Eleanor, anxiously, as Polly leaned +over the edge to gaze into the clear depths. + +Without a word, Polly carefully cast her fly far out upon the smooth +surface of the sparkling water. Then flashes deep down, and in +incredibly short time a large speckled trout rose to the bait, and +Polly felt her nerves tauten with the excitement of the sportsman. +Eleanor held her breath for fear the trout would disappear. + +Polly landed that one, weighing at least three pounds, then caught two +more, weighing about two pounds each. + +"Guess these will be enough for this noon. No use catching more than we +need!" remarked Polly, coming back to Eleanor's side. + +The girls hastened down the rocks and brought the fish over to the +place where Polly expected to find a good fire burning. + +"Why, I don't see any fire--didn't you build one for the fish?" cried +Polly. + +"You didn't tell us to! Anyway, what would we make it with--no matches +and no kindlings!" replied Barbara. + +"Can't you girls start fire with flint--or some sticks?" asked Polly, +curiously. + +"The only fire I can light is with a safety match and the valve of a +gas-stove!" replied Barbara, quaintly. + +The others considered her remark very funny and Polly promised to teach +them how to make a fire with two sticks only! + +"Do it now, and fry the fish for us!" said Eleanor. + +"No, it will be too late for us to begin all that now. We had better +wait until supper-time. We really ought to be on the trail by this +time," said Polly. + +"Child alive! You don't intend being out in the woods at supper-time, +do you?" gasped Barbara, fearfully. + +Polly laughed. "Is that so fearful? Why, I think it is piles of fun to +camp out on a fine night!" + +"Maybe you do, but remember the rattle-snake! We may be sleeping on the +ground when one comes along-_Oh,_ OH!" cried Barbara, shivering. + +"Oh, come now, Bob! No use conjuring up such gruesome pictures to +tickle your nerves!" exclaimed Eleanor, impatiently. + +"If you don't want to go on to Grizzly Slide, now's the time to say so! +When we get there it will be too late to complain about the lateness of +the hour in getting home!" said sensible Polly. "Oh, we all want to go +to Grizzly Slide!" asserted Anne, hastily. + +"And we will take everything that comes with it!" declared Eleanor, +eagerly. + +"Well, all right, but for the love of goodness, don't let's camp in the +wilderness all night!" cried Barbara. + +They sat down after that discussion and ate the sandwiches and fruit, +but Polly wanted a piece of the chocolate cake she thought Sary had +packed for them. + +"I couldn't find any! We looked through and found only sandwiches in +the papers," said Anne. + +"Oh, pshaw! I was sure there was cake!" grumbled Polly. + +"It may possibly be in the bottom of the other pannier, as we didn't +unpack everything, you know," suggested Barbara. + +"If it is, we'll eat it to-night for supper. At least we know Sary +packed _something_ good for us," added Anne. + +Once more on the trail, the adventurers rode through forests where the +notes of unseen birds blending with the murmur of pines sounded like +weird music to the city girls. + +"Just like the sea's roar in a conch-shell, isn't it?" whispered Anne, +as she listened rapturously. + +They passed tumbling, hurrying mountain streams where the burnished +trout flashed swiftly back and forth in the clear water. They came to +an upland park where the soft whistle of quail caused Polly to lift her +rifle, but the whir of wings told of a flight. From jagged rents in the +cliffs, through which the horses passed, their hoofs ringing echoes +from the iron-veined rock, they came to sleepy hollows where the Quaker +Aspens stood ghostlike as sentinels on guard before their beautiful +Eden. + +Having climbed one peak and descended it, then the next one, and so on, +and on, following the winding trail that became more difficult to find +and more dangerous to climb, Polly finally drew rein beside a tree +distinctly scarred. + +"Hurrah! The blaze to the Slide," shouted she, scraping away the lichen +that covered the spot. + +Glad of an excuse to jump down and stretch their limbs, the other girls +joined Polly at the tree and saw the blaze, although so old, to be +perfectly plain and easily traced. + +"Four miles to Grizzly Slide!" read Polly, exultantly. + +"But it must be three o'clock or more. When can we hope to get back +home?" murmured Barbara, glancing down the trail they just left. + +"Too late to worry about that now," said Eleanor. + +"I plan to see Grizzly Slide and then camp somewhere," said Polly. + +"That is the best thing, now," added Anne. + +"You don't mean to sleep out in this awful wilderness, do you?" gasped +Barbara. + +"No, we're going to engage a suite of rooms at the 'Queen Victoria' for +to-night!" jeered Eleanor. + +"I hope to reach the Slide and ride back to those Falls for camp. We +have fish and pasture and soft moss there," said Polly. + +"Ideal place, too," approved Anne. + +"But the wild beasts, and, oh, suppose a rattler comes along while we +are asleep?" almost sobbed Barbara. + +"He'll steer clear of you, Bob!" retorted Eleanor. + +"Come on, girls, don't waste time arguing, or we'll camp on top of the +peak, yonder," laughed Polly, jumping back into her saddle and urging +Noddy along the way. + +Although Grizzly Slide was but four miles from the blaze, the trail was +so rough that the horses had to go slowly. Too, the rarefied air +strained the animals' hearts and Polly advised frequent halts to rest +the heavily breathing beasts. + +During those four miles, the trail often opened from the heavy timber +and gave a glimpse of far-off valleys, and dreadfully nearby abysses +that made one feel that one was on top of the world. Even the pines in +the nearer crests and clefts looked like wisps of green--so small they +appeared from the tremendous height. + +The trail finally led through a thick forest of lodge-pole pine that +looked interminable, but suddenly ended at a line as if it had been +purposely cleared away. The riders all sat in silent awe at the sight +before them. They had reached Grizzly Slide! + +The snow-capped peak, reaching an altitude, from the clearing where +they stood, of at least a thousand feet sheer up, dazzled their eyes in +the bright sunshine. To the left of the peak, the sides dropped down +almost perpendicularly to the level floor of a valley many thousand +feet below. To the right, the snow-fields stretched across a vast area +before any timber could be seen on the downward slope. + +The snow of the Slide was continually melting in summer and furnishing +icy streams that cut through in every direction to reach the vales far +down. The temperature was almost at freezing point near the peak, and +the girls quickly donned their sweaters which had been packed in +Choko's panniers. + +In removing the sweaters, Polly accidentally pulled out a heavy coil of +rope, but hung it back on one of the knobs of Choko's harness instead +of buckling it inside the pocket. Well she did, too. + +"Come on, girls, I want to see what that blue line is over on the +ice-field," said Polly, starting up the Slide. + +The horses were sharp-shod and sure-footed, so the girls rode as safely +as if on the mossy trail, but they had not gone far before Polly began +murmuring to herself. + +"What's the matter?" wondered Anne, aloud. + +"That blue line looks to me like a crevice in the ice." + +"What of that?" asked Barbara, stupidly. + +"That shows something queer! This slide seldom cracks into fissures, +but when it does it means trouble. If that crevice goes down very deep +it shows unusual warmth underneath. And that may move this upper +section of ice-field any time, thus creating an awful land-slide, don't +you see?" + +"Oh, mercy! Let's hurry back!" cried Barbara, wheeling her horse +immediately. + +"It isn't likely to occur as quickly as that, Bob," said Anne, +soothingly. Then turning to Polly, said: "But this slide is said to be +stationary." + +"It _has_ moved, but so seldom that folks never fear it. I know +something about land-slides after living in Pebbly Pit for fourteen +years, and even a little slide at the lava cliffs causes an awful +destruction, so I can picture what this gigantic slide would do if it +ever got started down!" + +"You said it happened when Montresor's Mine was buried?" reminded +Eleanor. + +"Yes, a small one then, and it may happen again, so we won't stay +another moment," begged Barbara, from a distance. + +"It's all right at present, Bob, and I'm going to see if the chasm runs +along very far," returned Polly, riding Noddy away from the girls. + +Anne and Eleanor watched the blinding peak where clouds drifted lazily +about so that the top of the crest was visible only now and then. At +such times, the sun flashed upon the ice and reflected myriad colors as +in a rainbow. + +"Isn't it just beautiful!" sighed Anne. + +"As wonderful and beautiful as his Satanic Majesty!" declared Eleanor, +but she anxiously watched Polly ride along the brink of the fissure. + +"Oh, girls! Won't you please come home! I won't be easy till my horse +is traveling that corduroy road again!" wailed Barbara. + +The others laughed. "You complained about _that_ when we crossed it. +The time may come when you'd be glad to be standing on Grizzly +Slide--after it has slid!" teased Eleanor. + +"Now I'm going back! So there!" threatened Barbara, but she remained +exactly where she was, for she feared to go back alone. + +"Well, it looks as if we would have to return unrewarded. I can't find +a place safe enough to cross to the peak, and the crevice seems to run +all the way across and deep down, too," said Polly, coming back to join +Anne and Eleanor. + +"Now will you come back?" nagged Barbara, desperately. + +"In a minute! We want to watch those rainbow-tinted clouds--they are so +beautiful!" sighed Anne. + +But even as she spoke, the fleecy clouds of snowy white changed quickly +to gray. From gray they turned to dark ominous-looking colors, and +Polly hastily glanced at the sun. + +"Let's ride back at once!" said she shortly. + +[Illustration: NODDY LED THE WAY TO TIMBER AS THE BLIZZARD BEGAN ANEW.] + +Noddy was turned and urged to lead off as fast as possible, but Polly +turned every few moments to watch the clouds now gathering in somber +banks and falling down over the Slide. + +"Girls, make more haste!" ordered she. + +"What's the matter, Poll?" called Anne, who was in the rear. + +"I want to get you-all to the timber line just as fast as we can +travel. Don't waste breath talking--just _ride!"_ cried Polly, +fearfully. + +"I told you to come home. I knew something terrible would happen up +here!" wailed Barbara, trying to push her horse, by leaning far over +his neck. + +"Yes, you always were a Calamity Jane. If we'd left you down with the +rattle-snake we wouldn't have been so hoo-dooed!" cried Eleanor, in her +nervousness. + +"Noddy, dear, won't you go faster? We must set a better pace for the +others, you see, pet!" said Polly to her little burro. + +Apparently Noddy understood the need of a brisker step, for she started +so that she soon out-distanced the others and Polly had to wait for +them. As she waited impatiently, she watched the clouds sweeping down +and along over the ice-fields. Then she remembered the rope hung on +Choko's collar. She jumped off, grabbed it, and soon had Choko securely +fastened to the end of the rope. Another loop was fastened to Noddy's +collar. As the others rode up she tied a loop to each mount so that a +chain was made of the five animals. + +"Is it a blizzard or a tornado, Poll?" gasped Anne. + +"Don't know! Just race on as fast as you can!" + +Then as they hurried across the icy slope, the sun seemed suddenly +quenched and the daylight turned to sodden drab. Heavy drifts of snow +could be seen falling headlong from the clouds hanging about the peak, +making a wonderful if awesome sight. + +"Girls, our lives are in jeopardy unless we reach the timber belt!" +shouted Polly, trying to outcry the wind that shrieked down the Slide. + +Noddy, brave little burro, quivered in dread of the elements sweeping +about them, but she responded to Polly's call and fairly dragged the +trembling Choko after her. + +The hurricane was now screaming about the peak and howling horribly +through the fissures in the ice. As the blizzard gathered fury and +strength, the clouds, like rags torn from the sky, raged past the +riders, every now and then sweeping the snow completely over them. +Still the full fury of the gale had not yet appeared. + +Polly stopped momentarily and yelled back her orders: "Every one grab +hold on the tail of the horse in front of you!" + +They comprehended the sense of this advice, but could not manage to act +upon it, as the drifts of snow and ice made it impossible to jump from +the saddle, or lean over to hold to anything. + +By this time, everything was hidden from sight and even the foremost +rider looked ghostlike in the gray light and snow. The trail was +obliterated by the drifts and the going was slippery and slow. + +"We've simply _got_ to make that timber, girls!" shouted Polly, more to +encourage than to urge, as she knew the beasts were doing their utmost. + +The three other girls, too cold and frightened to speak, clung to their +animals hopelessly. Noddy seemed imbued with supernatural powers, for +she never made a miss-step or swerved from the trail, although it was +invisible. This instinct of scent, so marvelous in these little burros, +proved the salvation of the adventurers. + +Then darkness fell completely and the storm broke loose in its fierce +madness, so confusing the chain of horses that they stamped and turned +until the rope was so tangled that the riders were threatened with +being thrown. Even in that awful moment, Polly was glad she tied the +beasts to-gether, for surely one or another of them would have bolted +or strayed to doom with its rider. + +Noddy seemed the only animal to keep her sense. As the other horses +snorted and wheeled, Polly cried desperately: + +"Noddy, Noddy! Can't you help us out?" + +With a tremendous spurt of strength the little burro pulled herself +free from the tangle, dragging Choko along, too. The other horses soon +calmed down again and followed in the wake. + +A glassy surface had formed over everything, so that a slip would prove +extremely dangerous on that steep slide, but Noddy plodded along as if +she knew that the responsibility of all depended upon her accuracy in +trailing. The girls had to trust blindly to the burro's sixth sense, as +no one could see whether a yawning chasm or a rocky projection was +directly before them. + +"Polly, I'm falling! I can't stick on another moment!" cried Anne, her +voice reaching Polly, as the wind blew in that direction. + +"Anne Stewart--you _must!_ We're right at the timber-line now, and I'd +be ashamed to say you gave in before Barbara!" shrilled Polly, to give +her friend new endurance. + +"I'm all in, too!" wailed the plaintive voice of Eleanor. + +"Oh, dear God, tell me what to do?" screamed Polly, as if she must +_make_ the Almighty hear and help. + +Just as all seemed at its worst, the wind suddenly died down, and the +gloomy mantle of darkness lifted perceptibly. Polly felt sure the +cessation of wind and sleet was but a lull before a second and worse +cloud-sweep, but she made the most of the interval. + +"One more step, girls, and we are safe! Keep up courage!" + +To Noddy she crooned anxiously: "Now or never again, little one!" + +Noddy turned momentarily to look into her beloved mistress's eyes as if +to plead for breath and a moment's rest, and then she responded to the +call of necessity and led the staggering line to the timber just as the +gale began anew. + +It was darker in the forest of lodge-pole pine than out on the +ice-field, but the timber offered comparative refuge from the driving +sleet and wind. Another difficulty presented itself, however, in the +close growth of trees. To avoid collision with the crowded trunks, it +became necessary to undo the rope that held the five beasts together. +Each was thus allowed to roam his own way, and this was the more +hazardous, as the hurricane ofttimes tore up a smaller pine and, +twisting it about like a cork-screw, flung it down like a straw. + +Noddy seemed possessed to travel in a certain direction, so Polly, sure +of a burro's instinct for shelter and refuge, gave her her head. +Eleanor's burro also seemed anxious to go in the same direction Noddy +took, and followed in her footsteps. But Choko, freed from the +detaining rope and not so worn by battling the gale with a rider to +carry, made for a spot to the right of Noddy. + +Suddenly Eleanor screamed and pointed at Choko. "Oh, look quick! Choko! +Choko!" + +Even as she cried, Choko was seen frantically scrambling on the verge +of a cliff, and suddenly vanished over its side. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A NIGHT IN THE CAVE + + +"Oh, my little Choko!" sobbed Polly, quickly turning Noddy to go down +to the edge of the precipice where the burro had slipped over and down. + +"Now we haven't a thing to eat, and no blankets for the night! I knew +this was a foolish outing," complained Barbara. + +Eleanor failed to hear her sister's selfish remark, for she was driving +her burro closely upon Noddy's heels. Anne was so impatient at Barbara +that she urged her horse after Eleanor to keep herself busy. + +"Good gracious! Am I to sit here alone and freeze! I'm sure I'm not +such a fool as to have the same thing happen to me as it did to Choko," +cried Barbara, but the wind carried her words back to Grizzly Slide. + +Polly slid from her saddle and stretched out flat upon the brink to +peer over the edge for a possible sight of the burro. As she did so, +she saw a mass of baggage and burro scramble upright and shake itself +violently. Then a plaintive whinny rose up to welcome the fearful girls. + +"Whoa! Whoa, Choko!" shouted Polly, instantly. + +Jumping up, she called to Eleanor: "Choko fell upon a ledge, but +there's a great hole behind him and should he back he will surely fall +in and be lost. I'm going down to lead him out!" + +"Oh, Polly, don't risk your precious life for a burro!" screamed +Barbara, hysterically. + +"If Noddy can creep down, I'll save Choko without risk to myself," +declared Polly, climbing in the saddle. + +"If Polly goes, I go too!" exclaimed Eleanor, turning her burro to +follow Noddy. + +"Don't you dare! Nolla--think of mother grieving for you, and me left +alone in Colorado, helpless!" cried Barbara. + +"Now I'm going, anyway! I'd like mother to appreciate me," was +Eleanor's unexpected reply, but Anne caught an undaunted look in the +girl's eyes. + +The combined persuasions of Barbara and Anne had no effect on Eleanor, +who, truth to tell, exulted in this daring feat and would not have +missed the thrill for anything. But her burro balked at the point where +Noddy began the descent. + +Noddy was making for a place where the ledge met the downward slope of +the mountain-side. The burro felt about for sure footing and then took +a step forward. Prodding carefully again, she took the next step, and +so on. Sometimes, feeling suspiciously, she would essay a step and as +suddenly bring back her hoof before breaking into the pit. Thus taking +one assured step after another, she finally reached the beginning of +the ledge where Choko had landed. + +Upon the mountain-side where the frozen girls and beasts trembled, the +wind howled and the blizzard swept along between the trunk of trees, +but on the ledge Polly found comparative shelter and only now and then +a blast of the gale. + +She stopped to beckon to Eleanor and then urged Noddy along the +foothold cleft from the cliff. Above, the rock-wall rose to the +mountain-top; beneath, Polly could not gauge the depth--it was too +dreadful and was now blurred by fine drifts from the blizzard. + +After what seemed an age, Polly reached Choko, who still stood obedient +to his mistress's command of "Whoa." But he shook and seemed completely +broken up with fear and the shock of the fall. + +"Dear little Choko!" purred Polly, jumping from Noddy's back and softly +patting the burro's woolly face. + +The burro affectionately nosed Polly, who gazed quickly at what she +thought to be a pit back of the little beast. She gasped in wonderment +and went to the dark hole. Then she quickly ran back and took hold of +Noddy's and Choko's bridles. Standing thus, she shouted to the anxious +girls above: + +"Come down as carefully as I did and here you will find a cave." With +that she disappeared into the yawning black hole, leading both burros. +Barbara and Anne stared at each other in amazement, and the latter +said: "Come carefully! Anything is better than freezing here." + +Eleanor had already reached the ledge, when Polly came forth from the +cavern to shout out advices. The two older girls made the perilous +descent safely, and then guided their horses along the ledge until all +stood before the cave where the burros were waiting. + +"Isn't this a miracle?" cried Polly, the moment all were safe and the +poor beasts were being led inside the refuge. + +The girls laughed and cried hysterically when they saw the haven, but +the animals seemed uneasy, and Noddy came up to Polly with fear +apparent in her expressive eyes. + +"Noddy, are you frightened? Surely no wild beast can be in here, at +present?" queried Polly, looking around in the semi-gloom. + +"Polly! What can it be?" shrieked Barbara, clinging to Anne in fear. + +"Better get out again, Polly," suggested Eleanor, seeing the horses paw +the floor, and strain their eyes to see. + +"Are we safe here, Polly dear?" asked Anne. + +"Safer here than up there," returned Polly, and as she spoke a great +tree was flung down over the edge of the gorge just where ledge and +slope met. + +"Now we can't crawl out if we wanted to--the tree obstructs the way," +declared Polly, decidedly. + +"But we must see what it is that disturbs the animals," advised Anne. + +"I'd rather throw myself over the cliff than be clawed to bits by a +panther!" wailed Barbara. + +"The horses are quieting down now, and Noddy seems as much at home as +anywhere, so I reckon it was only strangeness that made them act +queer," said Eleanor. + +"But something may pounce out upon us, and take us unawares!" wailed +Barbara. + +"I propose to smoke them out as soon as I make a fire!" said Polly, +looking about in the darkness of the cave for a possible stick of wood, +but not finding any. + +"I'll have to chop some of that pine! Noddy can carry me safer than I +can walk on this ledge, so I want you girls to promise to keep the +horses close about you and wait right here until I get back!" said +Polly, taking the ax from the pack. + +"Polly, I'm coming too! Two axes are better than one, and I can ride my +burro, too!" declared Eleanor. + +Anne and Polly sent the girl a look of gratitude, while Barbara was +speechless until after Eleanor started to go, then she remonstrated +volubly. + +The two girls crept toward the down-thrown pine, and Eleanor said, +"We'll need wood for a fire, won't we?" + +"Yes, we will have to remain in the cave all night, and it gets so +terribly cold upon these mountain peaks that we will be frozen unless +we warm up the interior of the cavern. Then, too, we may need to keep +fires going at the back end of the cave as well as in front, to ward +off wild beasts!" + +They were slowly advancing when another awful crash came from the slope +above. Both girls ducked instinctively, but the decayed pine that was +broken off above ground fell over the edge of the cliff just in front +of them and obstructed the way so that progress was impossible. + +Eleanor quaked and cried, "Oh, let's go back, Polly!" + +But Polly laughed. "Glory be, our fire-wood came to us halfway." + +At her cheerful words, Eleanor braced up again. + +Polly jumped from Noddy's back and started to hew at the soft decayed +wood. It was easy to chop and would furnish a flaring fire, even though +it would burn rapidly and need constant replenishing. + +"Nolla, this is the second miracle to-day! Had we hunted the mountain +over, no better wood could have been found for just our need. Yonder on +that other pine, when this is out of our way, awaits our bedding." + +"What funny bedding!" + +"Just you wait and see." + +When enough wood was chopped to clear a way on the ledge, Polly showed +Eleanor how to make bundles of it. These were tied by means of the rope +to Noddy's harness and carefully dragged back to the cave. Several +trips had to be made before both burros had brought the firewood to the +growing pile in the cave. + +When Polly spoke of cutting balsam for beds, Anne offered to help, as +she was so cold. + +"And leave me here alone?" cried Barbara. + +"Why don't you come with us?" asked Eleanor. + +"I'm dead! I can't do another thing!" + +"Then stay here and cheer the burros," said Eleanor. + +"I won't let every one of you go and leave me to be killed by a wild +animal," shuddered Barbara, looking over her shoulder. + +"Nothing wild here, but you, Bob. However, you may light a fire for us, +while we are gone," retorted Eleanor, unsympathetically. + +Without further comment, Barbara was left, and soon the girls were +stripping the spruce which had blown over the ledge. Its green branches +would make the softest of wild-wood beds. + +"It really was fortunate that both these trees came down when they did! +We would have to remove them as obstacles to our going out in the +morning, and I would have had to hunt well before I could have found +such fine tinder! So I've really saved myself a double chopping!" said +Polly, as they tied up the last bundle of evergreen branches and +started the burros for the cave. + +"I'm just frozen, and I wish you would hurry and build a fire!" cried +Barbara, petulantly, when the girls came within hearing. + +No one replied, but Eleanor was furious, while the others were +impatient with the girl. + +"I was so hungry that I tried to get a sandwich out of the pannier, but +something made a noise back in the cave, and I'm sure it was a +rattle-snake buzzing!" added Barbara, trying to win sympathy from the +stony-faced companions. + +"Pooh! You've got rattle-snake on the brain! It would have done you +good to get out there with us and do some rattling of the ax on the +wood!" + +"Why, Nolla! How unkind you are since we came to this awful country!" +cried Barbara, not able to find a handkerchief, and sniffing audibly. + +"Here! Use this to amuse yourself with while _we work!"_ said Eleanor, +taking a neatly folded handkerchief from her coat pocket. + +When Eleanor turned again to the others, she found Anne had unharnessed +the burros and piled the saddles upon a stone projection near the +opening of the cave. + +There were numerous little finger-like caves that branched out from the +main cave, but they led nowhere and seemed empty. Polly noticed that +the dry leaves and loose shale scattered about appeared to have been +undisturbed for months. Some of the leaves were from the harvest of the +previous fall, so she felt sure no beast had prowled about the +"fingers." + +Coming to a much larger extension than any of the others had been, +Polly called out: "This must be the thumb of the hand!" + +"Sure it isn't the arm!" laughed Eleanor. + +"Ah, I thought so--now I have it!" murmured Polly, finding a nest of +leaves and soft feathers packed down with bits of fur and dry grass. + +"What have you found?" eagerly asked three voices. + +"The lair of a grizzly. I've got him!" cried Polly, triumphantly. + +Instantly, three girls screamed and turned to run, and Polly laughed. + +"I've got him on the _outside,_ girls! He can't get in with that fire +smoking his front doorway, you see." "Oh, hurry back and pile more wood +on the fire!" cried Eleanor, quaking with fear. + +"Yes, yes, Polly! Come away and let's build more fires!" added Barbara, +not knowing which one of the girls to hide behind, and looking at the +horses as if pondering a refuge with them. + +"What! And use all of our 'safety first' before dawn! If you waste the +wood now, what will you do when old grizzly comes prowling home and +finds your fires dying down?" said Polly. + +"Well, do have one of us go and tend the fire carefully so it can't +possibly die down and let him in!" added Anne. + +"We are almost through exploring, so we may as well finish! Then we +will all go and have supper and feed the animals." + +The remainder of the cave proved to be a rocky wall gradually sloping +down until it reached the entrance again. But, just at one side of the +"thumb" was an aperture from which the wind blew in, as could be seen +when Polly held her torch down to the opening. + +"That leads out somewhere, and that opening is big enough to let a +panther creep through, or a wild-cat! I'd like to crawl through there +and make sure where it comes out and if it is quite safe on the other +side," suggested Polly, looking at the girls. + +"Oh, Polly dear! Don't do it! Suppose something should happen to you!" +cried Anne. + +"Why, I wouldn't let it, Anne! If I creep through that tunnel, I'd +shove the torch in first and keep it moving ahead of me all the way, so +that nothing could grab me, you see!" said Polly, half laughingly. + +"I say, Polly, let well enough alone. Let's go back and get supper and +rest for to-morrow!" advised Barbara. + +"But just s'posing a rattle-snake was coiled up inside that tunnel! A +burro wouldn't smell it, and it could crawl out during the night and +take a good straight bite!" teased Eleanor. + +Polly laughed, but Barbara thought Eleanor meant it, so she replied: +"Then Polly had better go in and see if everything is safe for the +night." + +Anne had been so rudely shocked that day at the selfishness apparent in +Barbara's character, that she did not try to hide her opinion. The +wonder was, that she ever could have been so completely taken in during +the months in Denver, as to declare Barbara to be a splendid girl when +one knew her. She now decided that it took ranch life and mountain +exploits to show up genuine characteristics and thoughts. + +"Polly, I'll go in first!" offered Eleanor, dropping to her knees to +crawl in at the opening. + +"Eleanor Maynard! Come back here!" cried Barbara, taking hold of her +sister's feet. + +"Nolla, you shan't take the glory from me!" laughed Polly. + +Meantime Eleanor was pulled back and rolled over, laughing as heartily +as if she were at a farce-comedy. + +"Now listen to me!" advised Polly, shaking a finger at the three girls. +"First of all, Anne and Bob must go and watch the fires, then unpack +the panniers, and next make beds of the tips--you know how, Anne?" + +"I've watched the school children at Bear Forks weave it, so I'm sure I +can make them, too," replied Anne. + +"Good! You stick the little stem-ends under the soft fuzz of the others +just laid. The principal thing is not to have hard prods hurting the +body, and the tips will take care of the springs and softness, all +right," said Polly. + +"While Anne is making the beds, Bob can fix up odds and ends of spruce +and leaves in the 'fingers' for the horses' beds--a bed in each finger, +Bob. If the animals are comfortably bedded down they will be fresh in +the morning. And if we hide them in those fingers the scent will not be +so apt to reach a grizzly or lion should any prowl about to-night." + +"Where shall I place the spruce beds for us?" asked Anne. + +"Fix up two on each side of the cave as near the entrance as possible, +Anne. We need air and the warmth from the fires. Then, too, we can hear +any wild beast that may prowl around to-night," advised Polly. "If +Nolla wants to go with me she takes _second_ place, see!" + +Eleanor laughed and said, "Anywhere as long as we start!" + +"Polly, first I want you to promise me not to be reckless in going +through that tunnel. If you meet with the slightest danger or hazard, +promise to back right out again," begged Anne. + +"All right, Anne, I promise, but my shoes will mar my follower's beauty +if I back down on her face." + +Thus joking to make little of the danger, Polly started in through the +hole. Eleanor followed and the two older girls stood watching until not +a sound, or ray of the torch, could be seen. Then they went to the +front of the cave to replenish the fires and prepare supper. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +OLD MONTRESOR'S LEGACY + + +"I'm afraid to fix the beds in those finger caves, Anne," whimpered +Barbara, coming over to where the young woman was weaving the beds of +spruce. + +"What is there to be afraid of? The burros and horses won't hurt you, +and they are too weary with this day's troubles to bother about kicking +or trampling you. However, you can do this, if you like, and I will +make up the beds for the beasts." + +The spruce beds were being made--Anne showing Barbara how to lay the +tips in rows as wide as the bed was to be, then folding under the +sticks of the second row to run under the tips of the first row, and so +on, until the length of the bed was made. + +This work finished, and the bedding for the horses arranged in the +"fingers" as Polly had directed, the two girls stood near the entrance +of the cave, wondering what possibly could have happened to keep Polly +and Eleanor so long. + +"I just felt in my bones that it was an awful risk to go into the black +hole of the unknown!" cried Barbara. + +"It isn't that that bothers me at all, Bob. But Polly has no sense of +fear, and I think they may have found an exit at the other end, so +Polly is coming around that way. It is a hazardous thing to do, in this +storm!" said Anne. + +"Anne, can't you try to squeeze in there and see what has happened?" +asked Barbara. + +Anne looked at her without saying a word, so Barbara thought she +hesitated on account of leaving her alone in the cave. + +"I won't mind staying alone for a little time. I'll watch the fires and +see that the horses do not get away!" said Barbara. + +"Really!" was all Anne said, as she turned to place another pine knot +on the fire. + +But the tone silenced Barbara, who had food for thought thereafter. + +Meanwhile Polly and Eleanor had crawled into the aperture, and by dint +of squirming and twisting through the passage, found that only the +section nearest the cave was of soft debris. It gradually widened as +they advanced and Polly distinctly felt a current of cold air blowing +in her face. + +After creeping along for some distance without finding an outlet, +Eleanor pulled on Polly's foot to attract her attention. + +"Let's go back, Poll. No use hunting down in the bowels of Grizzly +Slide." + +"Nolla, the smoke of the torch blows harder than at first, and there is +enough air to waft it backwards, so there will be an opening at the +end, I am sure. That is what I must know for certain." + +"All right, lead on! I'll be with you at the death!" + +Polly chuckled at Eleanor's loyalty and crept on. + +Finally Eleanor rugged again at her feet and shouted: "Hey, Polly! +Aren't we most through to China? Let me know the moment you get the +first peep at a pig-tail, as I have to brush the cobwebs from my +Chinese!" + +Polly laughed at the girl who made merry of a journey that would have +staggered an older person. Finally, however, the tunnel widened so that +both girls could advance comfortably and then, suddenly, the flame of +the torch and the smoke ceased to blow into their faces, for they had +come out into an open space. + +"We're here!" laughed Polly, trying to stand up and giving her head a +smart rap against the overhanging rock. + +"'We're here!' For goodness' sake, tell me where?" cried Eleanor, +thrusting her torch ahead so that it was almost snuffed out against +Polly's shoes. + +"Gracious me, Nolla! Don't burn my soles!" cried Polly, managing to +stand upright and hold aloft her torch. + +"Ha, that's good! Don't burn your soul!" teased Eleanor. + +But the moment the girls saw where they were, not another word was +uttered, for they found themselves in a vault-like cave somewhat +smaller than the entrance cave, but having no "fingers" or outside +opening. The dome and sides were rocky, but everywhere, embedded in the +rock, myriad points of light reflected as the flare of the torch lit up +the place uncertainly. + +Eleanor thrust up her torch also, and both girls pivoted around, +forgetting about wild beasts and the errand they came upon. After +blinking at the bright yellow gleams for a time, Polly turned and +stared at Eleanor. + +"What is it?" + +"I'm sure I don't know, Nolla. It looks like copper." + +"Polly! If it's copper, then we're rich!" + +Both girls rushed over to examine the metallic gleams at close range, +and Polly frowned as a thought entered her mind. Eleanor turned and +looked about to be sure no one could hear, and then whispered: + +"Polly, it looks like gold! Can it be real GOLD!" + +The girls stared at each other and then burst out into a simultaneous +laugh. But it was excitement, not mirth, that occasioned it. Before the +wild echoes had rung through the vault, the hysterical girls were +tearing at the hard walls, trying in vain to dislodge a nugget. + +"Oh, why did I leave that ax in the pannier!" wailed Polly. + +"Isn't it always that way--when you need a thing!" exclaimed Eleanor. + +In her haste to reach a fragment that looked easy to break off, Polly +dropped the torch. She stooped to pick it up again and saw a nugget of +the ore on the ground, half-covered with dirt. + +"I've got a piece! Oh, Nolla, look! LOOK!" shouted Polly, holding aloft +her treasure. + +Eleanor ran over and both girls examined the chunk of yellow streaked +and studded rock. + +"Polly, it really looks like gold," ventured Eleanor, awed. + +"And it's red-gold, too, like Old Man Montresor's nuggets," added Polly. + +At the mention of the gold-seeker, both girls looked at each other and +the same thought flashed to both of them at once. + +"Maybe it is!" breathed Polly. + +"Oh, Poll, hold the torch down near the ground so I can find a chunk, +won't you?" beseeched Eleanor, now anxious to find a nugget for herself. + +"There, Nolla--see over by the hole! A little piece for you." + +Eleanor ran over and found it to be smaller than the one Polly found, +but there was more metal in the nugget. They examined it closely and +decided that the shining metal must be gold. + +"I'm so excited that I feel as if wheels were turning all inside of +me--do you?" laughed Eleanor, hugging her nugget to her heart. + +"It's sort of a dizzy and squeamish feeling, isn't it?" explained +Polly, looking at her companion. Then for the first time since they +emerged from the tunnel, she noticed the face. + +"Oh, Nolla! If you could but see yourself! Just like a negro, but +streaky where you smudged the torch smoke from your eyes." + +"You're no 'bleached blonde' either, Poll!" laughed Eleanor, rubbing +her sleeve across her face and looking at the soot in amusement. + +"But mine can't be as black as yours, 'cause you got all the smoke from +both torches." + +"Never mind now; if this is gold we can afford to have the tunnel and +cave wired with electricity at once," laughed the excited girl. + +"Well, let's finish our hunt in the tunnel and then find some more +nuggets for Anne and Barbara. They'll want a share, you know," +suggested Polly. + +"Good gracious, Poll! You're not going on _now_, are you?" + +"Of course! The gold won't melt away, but we've got to close up any +opening into outdoors, you know." + +"Let's go back and tell the girls and then finish the tunnel work," +pleaded Eleanor. + +"How silly to worm a way back for the sake of showing off the ore. No, +let's do this thing up and then go back to stay for the night. If we +don't close up any aperture, a wild beast may crawl through, then what +good will the gold do us if we are dead?" + +"Sensible as ever! Even gold can't turn your head!" said Eleanor, +starting for the narrow place opposite the tunnel they came from. +"Funny, isn't it, that this cave should be here just as if it was an +inflated bubble in a glass-blower's tube?" said Polly. + +"I'll reserve my opinion till I see the end of the tube!" said Eleanor, +waiting for Polly to creep into the opening. + +After considerable twisting and crawling, Polly first, with her torch, +and Eleanor second, they suddenly felt a current of fresh air. + +"Oh! Oh, thank goodness!" gasped Polly. "I shoved the torch ahead! I'd +have fallen headlong into this abyss." + +"What is it, Poll?" + +"A pit ever so wide, and I can't see how deep it goes down. It's right +in the tunnel ground, cutting off all further investigations." + +"It'll cut off investigations of a wild beast, too, won't it?" asked +Eleanor with relief in her tones. + +"Of course--there isn't a chance of anything coming in this way. I can +hear water rushing, too, way down at the bottom, and the wind blows up +from this pit, so there must be an opening down there where the +subterranean river rushes out." + +"Maybe this tunnel was a river, once, and emptied down into that pit," +ventured Eleanor. + +"I don't care if it was! I'm anxious to go back and eat, now that we +know the worst," replied Polly. + +"We won't need both torches now, Poll, so drop yours in the pit and see +how deep it may be," suggested Eleanor. + +"All right, but for pity's sake don't let yours go out!" + +Polly waited to steady the flame and then dropped the torch. It fell +straight down and flared up showing the rocky sides of the pit, then +suddenly it "sh-isshed" in water and all was dark once more. + +The girls then wormed their way back to the gold cave (as they termed +it) and sought for nuggets in the dust and dirt of ages that covered +the rocky floor. Eleanor found a few pieces the size of walnuts and +Polly secured a handful of small bits. + +"How can we tie them up if we have to crawl back?" asked Eleanor. + +"Got a handkerchief?" + +"No, I gave it to Bob out of meanness," laughed Eleanor. + +"Hum! Well, we might put them in our middy blouses, only we take a +chance of losing them in squirming back through that tunnel," remarked +Polly. + +"I've heard of folks smuggling things in their shoes." + +"I have it! Take off our shoes and put the nuggets in, then tie the +shoe-strings tightly about the top and fasten them about our necks!" +exclaimed Polly. + +This being a good plan, both girls soon had their precious ore +well-tied in their mountain boots, and were ready to proceed. As the +two discoverers neared the cave where the others were, Polly shouted +excitedly, and Eleanor joined in the clamor. + +Anne and Barbara had become so frightened at the prolonged absence of +the two girls that Anne was about to crawl in to find them, while +Barbara realized how much she really loved her younger sister. The +moment they heard the awful sounds issuing from the tunnel, however, +they were certain a wild beast had attacked them and the victims were +fighting a way out. + +Anne grabbed the ax and held it aloft ready to strike, while Barbara +stood wringing her hands in despair. By this time Polly stuck her head +out of the opening, but neither Barbara nor Anne recognized the black +face--her voice alone told them it was Polly. + +"Oh, my dear child! Are you badly hurt?" screamed Anne, dropping the ax +and pulling Polly forth, Eleanor crawling directly after her. + +"Gold! Gold! GOLD! See--lots of it! Mountains of it!" yelled Eleanor, +trying to drag her nuggets from the boot without untying the strings. + +"Oh, Anne, we found a gold mine! A great big cave full of gold!" cried +Polly, managing to untie the strings. + +"Poor children! Are you daffy?" exclaimed Anne, not sure whether to cry +or laugh. + +"You'll go daffy when, you see that cave--all shining gold!" laughed +Eleanor, handing her nugget to the curious sister. + +"See here, Anne, isn't this gold?" asked Polly, working the large chunk +of ore from her shoe. + +"It looks like it, Polly, but I'm no judge." + +"Oh, let's crawl in and see the cave!" now begged Barbara eagerly. + +"You know you'd get stuck in that narrow tunnel, Bob! Besides, I'm +starved," said Eleanor. + +"Moreover, you wouldn't go when there seemed to be danger for the +girls, and I'm sure I'm not going to try it now!" added Anne. + +"Dear me, won't any one go with me?" complained Barbara, who stooped to +gaze in at the tunnel, and seemed too fascinated to leave the spot. + +"Bob, the gold has been there for centuries and it isn't likely to melt +away while we eat supper!" declared practical Eleanor, following Anne +to the opening of the cave. + +As they went to the place where Anne had spread the supper, Polly told +them of the magnificent sight when they crept out of the dark hole and +saw the glimmering of the gold. Over and over, the two girls had to +tell minutest details of the cavern, Barbara sighing, frequently, to +think she was not small enough to crawl in and see for herself. + +While the two adventurers washed their faces and hands with melted +snow, Anne fried the fish over some red-hot embers scraped out of the +fire. This done, they sat down to eat. + +As they ate, they talked continually of their mine not so far from the +festive board. + +"Well, Polly, you surely were born with a silver spoon in your mouth!" +sighed Anne, smilingly. + +"What makes you say that?" + +"You can see for yourself, can't you? First you fall into a family that +owns no end of wealth in jeweled cliffs, and now you fall into a gold +mine," replied Anne. + +"But Nolla owns half of this mine, and I'm not so sure but you and Bob +come in for your share!" + +The other girls stared at Polly's generosity, as they had never thought +of holding any interest in the mine. + +"Anyway, nobody owns it yet! It legally belongs to the first one who +files a claim, so what we must do is to hurry back to Oak Creek and +register the mine," said Barbara, businesslike. + +"My! Gold has brought Bob's brains uppermost!" teased Eleanor. + +"Who knows but this claim has been staked years ago!" said Anne, +meaningly. + +Polly and Eleanor exchanged glances. But Barbara wondered. + +"What do you mean?" asked she. + +"Well, look out in front: there's a ledge cleft in the side of the +mountain wall. Between it and the other lower ledge is a canyon that +might be the one Montresor found on his up-climb. Yonder the slope +meets the chasm and above is the steep sides leading to Top Notch +Trail. Could not the land-slide have buried this wall and then a great +wash-out have cleared it again? If we only had a gushing mountain +stream pouring from the cliff-side the setting would be complete!" + +Barbara gasped, but Polly clapped her hands. "Nolla, that's it! The +subterranean stream we found in there. Some big upheaval changed its +outlet, or maybe this gold vein runs clean through and Montresor's +claim is staked opposite this side--just where the river pours out. We +must look over that side to-morrow." + +The two younger girls then told of the pit and the river and all agreed +that it might be the stream found by the prospector before the +landslide covered his claim. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +MONTRESOR'S CLAIM is JUSTIFIED + + +Polly turned to place the nuggets in the pannier and almost collided +with Noddy. + +"Hello, darling! What do you want--eh?" said she, patting the burro's +head. + +Noddy continued to gaze wistfully at her mistress and Polly said: +"Anne, did you feed the burros and horses?" + +"Yes, just as you told me to." + +"And make the beds?" + +"Yes, everything." + +Then Noddy ambled over to a pan of dirty snow water, in which the +explorers had washed their blackened faces. She would have to drink it, +if her mistress couldn't understand what she needed! + +"Oh, you Noddy! Is _that_ what you want?" laughed Polly, taking the pan +and running out to the ledge to fill it with clean snow. This she +brought back and melted to provide drink for the burro. + +"Did your thoughtless foster-mother forget a drink for her little +Noddy!" crooned Polly, placing the pan for the thirsty burro. "After +all that hard climbing and 'first-aid,' too!" + +The other girls laughed at the wise little burro and her doting +mistress, but Polly turned and said: "It's lucky Noddy reminded me! We +must water the horses well to-night if we want them in good shape for +to-morrow." + +So Eleanor and Polly gave drink to the thirsty animals while Anne took +what was supposed to be a chocolate cake from the bottom of the +pannier. It had been so shaken up during transit that the paper felt +sticky. + +While they all watched her open the bundle, Noddy went back to her +finger-stall to sleep. Several wrappings of paper were unwound and +finally Anne took forth the surprise Sary had mentioned in the morning. + +"Why! It's a lemon custard pie! Of all things!" cried Barbara. + +"In the tin dish just as it came from the oven!" added Eleanor, +laughing. + +"Not quite like it was when it came from the oven, for such a shaken up +mess of meringue and custard we never had at _our_ table!" laughed +Polly, seeing the condition of the pie from the shaking and falling it +had had when Choko went over the cliff. + +"Any one want a slab?" asked Anne, laughing also. + +"No, thanks! Maybe, if I was famished, I'd eat the crust, but it +doesn't appeal to me now!" said Polly. + +"Well, I say, keep it until to-morrow! We may be glad to eat it in the +morning if we are very hungry! It won't hurt to save it, anyway!" said +sensible Eleanor. + +So Anne sat the pie-plate down where she was, intending to put it on +the ledge when she got up from supper. + +"Reckon I'll put some more pine on the fires!" said Polly, seeing the +flames were dying down. + +She had raked up and replenished one fire, and was attending to the +other when a blood-curdling cry came from the edge of the cliff, +causing Polly to jump back and clutch at Anne's arm. + +"Mercy! How that frightened me!" said Polly, trying to laugh her fears +away. + +The other girls were trembling too, and Anne said, "It was a wolf, +wasn't it?" + +"No, it was the cry of a panther! They wait and wait in quiet for a +long time to get a chance at their prey, then if something interferes, +they make that awful cry!" + +"Oh, Polly! Can he get in, do you think?" wailed Barbara. + +"I reckon not! But weren't we lucky to have all that pine for the +fires! It's the best thing to keep him away!" said Polly, creeping out +again to see if both fires were doing their duty. + +Another howl reached the girls, and Eleanor said in a shaky voice, "He +won't jump over the fires, will he, Polly?" + +"No, smoke and sparks frighten wild beasts from the vicinity. They know +from instinct that forest fires kill and they are wary of them. But +they haven't the sense to know that a man-made fire is built on purpose +to keep them away!" + +"It must be awful late, Polly! If you think everything is safe, suppose +we go to bed," Anne suggested after a long interval unbroken by any +howls. + +"All right! Let Bob and Nolla take the last two beds, while you and I +take these in front. I'll use this one where I can watch the ledge +going up to the slope. If I see anything suspicious, I'll shoot!" said +Polly, examining the rifle and standing it by the side of the +green-bough bed. + +"For comfort's sake, girls, unbutton your clothes and remove your +shoes. They can be dried by the fires to-night so they will feel better +in the morning," advised Anne. + +The pine fires were burning beautifully, and Anne, completely tired +out, was soon asleep. Barbara and Eleanor had succumbed to weariness +the moment they rolled over on the beds. But Polly, tired and fatigued, +too, knew that some one must keep the fires going all night, so she +merely reclined on the pine-bough bed and started up at every sound or +crackle of the fires. She piled pine upon them all night through until +the first faint gleams of dawn, and then there was no more wood on hand +to use. + +She worried over the fact that the pine had given out and just as she +turned from the fires, having deposited the last small kindlings she +had found lying about, she heard the yelping of the mountain-lion and +the deep growl of a grizzly bear. + +She ran and caught up the rifle, planning to shoot up at the cliff in a +venture to frighten them away. She aimed, pulled the trigger, and the +rifle-shot rang out making the echoes roar and roll through the chasm +as if an army was shooting. + +The three girls who had been sleeping, jumped out of the spruce beds +and screamed with fright. Barbara ran madly over the ground, back and +forth, not certain where to hide. Eleanor stood shivering and Anne +rushed over to ask Polly what had happened. Polly explained in a +whisper, and Eleanor, as in a trance, watched her sister running about +with something that seemed to cleave to her foot closer than a +porous-plaster. Finally, Eleanor came to her senses and ran over to +keep Barbara from rolling under the burros for hiding. + +"For the love of Mike! What's all over your foot?" cried Eleanor, +dragging Barbara out from the "finger-stall" to exhibit her foot to the +other girls. + +At sound of the unexpected shot, Barbara had jumped up frantically and +darted hither and thither, taking little heed of where she ran. Now, as +her companions gazed at that foot exposed by Eleanor, they all laughed +hysterically while Anne shouted: + +"Oh, our _custard pie!"_ + +And sure enough. Lemon meringue clung tenaciously to as much of a +nicely-formed foot and lower limb as it possibly could. In spite of the +fears over wild animals, the adventurers had to laugh at the sight. + +"_How_ will I ever get it off?" wailed Barbara, when she realized how +sticky the custard was. + +"Rather ask: 'How shall we dispense with our breakfast?'" retorted Anne. + +But another mad howl from without now made the horses cry and quiver +with dread, while the girls blanched in fear. Polly had not told them +that the wood was used up, and now Anne ran to carry an extra armful of +pine to replenish the fires. When she discovered the truth of the +situation, she slowly turned and exchanged a meaning look with Polly. + +But Polly now bent suddenly forward and intently eyed something she saw +on the verge of the ledge above. She kept her eyes focused there, and +carefully felt for and caught up her rifle. She silently lifted it, +took aim, and fired! + +A gleam of red and a spurt of blue came from the mouth of the gun even +as the sharp report cracked the echoes in the gully. Instantly +following the shot, a wild howling as of fifty beasts fighting, made +Polly shoot again. Snarls and yelps followed, until Polly heard the +clamor grow fainter until all was quiet once more. + +"Well, girls! As long as we are fully awake, suppose we forage for +breakfast and make an early start!" said Anne. + +"Can we get away, do you think, Polly?" asked Eleanor. + +"Yes, it's a clear morning and it doesn't take long for the snow to +melt, once it gets started!" replied Polly. + +"Have you enough ammunition to load again in case of need?" questioned +Anne. + +"Yes, I always look after that! But I was wondering what we can have +for breakfast?" + +"Ha! Leave that to the cook!" laughed Anne, going to the ledge and +reaching up behind a crevice in the rocky wall. She brought forth one +of the small fish spared from the night before. + +"Good for you, Anne! If you could only dig up some sandwiches as +readily!" laughed Polly. + +"Maybe I can do that too, if you will look after the horses and +burros!" said Anne, taking a small newspaper bundle from behind her +spruce bed. + +When opened, it showed that Anne had stolen some of the oats from the +feed. This she rolled between two stones until it was crushed. Then she +told Eleanor to pick out as many of the husks as possible. + +"She's going to give us Rolled Oats, as I live!" laughed Eleanor. + +Polly smiled for she was surprised to find Anne could prepare a feast +in the wilderness; and soon the oatmeal was cooking beside the fish-pan. + +"How can you girls enjoy that awful stuff without sugar or cream?" +asked Barbara, plaintively. + +"We're eating ours without a grumble, but I notice, you are also eating +yours and doing all the complaining!" retorted Eleanor. + +"I have to eat it to keep from starving, still I can't enjoy it as you +seem to, Nolla. I declare, you seem to be getting awfully common in +your tastes." + +"Huh! Show me a selection of food for breakfast!" laughed Eleanor, +smacking her lips over the last spoonful of oats. + +"What shall we do about feeding the animals?" asked Eleanor, as they +got up from the ground to pack up the pans and other stuff waiting to +be taken back home. + +"We'll stop at the first good Park and let them graze for an hour or +two. Then a good drink from a stream will fix them all right!" said +Polly, glancing at Noddy, who had come from her stall and stood looking +sleepily at the girls. + +"Doesn't Noddy look for all the world like a sleepy child who has to +get up for school, but who hates to be disturbed!" laughed Anne, as +Noddy's tousled head bobbed up and down while she sniffed the air +redolent with oatmeal. + +Satisfied that something was cooking for her breakfast, Noddy ran over +and nozzled at the girls, who laughed and tried to push her cold nose +away. + +The other burros and horses came out then, and Polly said, "It makes me +feel selfish to eat their oats but then they can eat grass in the park +and we can't!" + +"Girls! Aren't you going to have another look at the gold-mine before +you leave here?" asked Barbara. + +"What for? It won't do us any good and only waste time," replied Polly. + +"Maybe you can find some more nuggets to carry back!" ventured Barbara. + +"We have all we need to claim the rights of the mine, so why lug any +more than we need?" returned Polly. + +"Come on, Poll! Let's pack up and be going!" said Eleanor, decisively. + +So, with the animals saddled and the panniers packed, the cave-dwellers +started carefully along the ledge towards the slope. + +It was an invigorating morning, and the sun with its rays was just +topping the tips of the pines, when the girls rode forth to climb the +slope. + +"Not a sign of that awful storm!" said Anne, amazed. + +"Only in the glades and ravines, where the snow has drifted into heaps! +Even that will melt rapidly, as the warmth of the day is felt," said +Polly, looking eagerly about as she rode. + +"Polly, what do you suppose became of those wild animals?" asked +Eleanor, riding directly behind Polly. + +"That is just what I am looking for. I thought maybe I could see some +tracks, for I was sure I got that panther when I took aim and shot!" + +"Well, I'm going over near that edge of the cliff and see if there is +any sign of blood or tracks!" declared Eleanor. + +"No, no! You stop right here with us, Nolla!" cried Barbara, anxiously. + +"I'm going over myself, Bob, because I am curious to see why both of +them should slink away so quickly. A mountain-lion seldom leaves a +possible victim until he has been gorged, and it was strange that he +should go without having tried to get at us!" said Polly. + +"Oh, Polly! _Please_ don't talk of such gruesome things! I am so glad +we will soon be back in civilization!" said Barbara. + +The horses reached the top of the slope and Polly guided Noddy across +the rough place to the cliff, where the fight had taken place. + +Here she sought for some track or sign of the fight, but saw only a few +small spots of red in the white snow. + +Eleanor tried to make her burro follow after Noddy, but he was +fractious and would not go near the cliff. He made a detour, however, +about a small group of trees and just as he came opposite them, +something upon the snow-drift at the base of the largest tree, caused +him to shy violently. + +"Oh, girls! Run! Come here and see what's here," cried Eleanor, +excitedly, jumping from her burro but remembering to hold the bridle. + +The burro backed and refused to go nearer the thing, but Polly rode +Noddy over and saw that Eleanor had discovered one of the victims of +the fight. + +"Ha! I thought so!" said Polly, with satisfaction. + +Noddy was left to watch from a comfortable vantage point, while her +mistress ran up to the large panther which was stretched out at the +foot of the tree. He had tried to climb it in order to escape the +grizzly's claws. + +"Isn't he a massive beast!" cried Anne, watching from her horse some +distance away. + +"You girls come back! He may not be dead!" shrieked Barbara, the moment +she saw the animal. + +"Say, Bob, if he wasn't dead, he'd have had me down long before you +came along to warn us!" laughed Eleanor. + +"Polly, he's a beauty, even if he is such a terror, isn't he?" said +Eleanor, admiring the satiny coat and beautiful form of the large +mountain-lion, so majestic in death. + +"I never saw a larger one! He must be at least nine feet long from nose +to tip of tail!" said Polly, lifting the tail with her foot, then +letting it drop again. + +She stooped over looking closely at the wounds made by the grizzly, +then she suddenly cried out, "Oh! I thought that shot hit him! It must +have been that first shot from the rifle that sent him back from the +cliff. Then, the bear tracked him and had the fight back here in the +forest. That is when we heard the sounds diminishing. + +"Well, old fellow, I'm sorry it had to be so! But you decreed it! It +was you or one of us, and I preferred to have had it you! Old Grizzly +wouldn't be so cattish about sneaking up and laying low for us until +the fire died down, or till one of us happened to step out of the +circle of light! He would have made a big noise from the beginning and +pounced down upon us willy-nilly. And now he has given you yours!" + +As Polly spoke, she stood looking regretfully at the creature, as if +she wished the world was ordered otherwise than all the killing and +taking, one from another, in the vain belief of living! + +"Polly, how much do you think he weighs?" asked Eleanor eagerly. + +"Too much to drag home--if that is why you asked!" laughed Polly, +looking up at Eleanor, with a wise shake of the head. + +"To tell the truth, that is exactly what I planned to do until I saw +how big he was!" laughed Eleanor. + +"He must weigh at least two hundred pounds, Nolla," said Anne, who had +come nearer during the examination. + +"Yes, nearer two hundred and fifty pounds, I reckon," said Polly. + +"I wanted to ship him to Chicago and show all of my society friends +what _we_ killed during my mountain visit!" explained Eleanor. + +"Your motive killed the project before you saw him," said Anne, wagging +her head at Eleanor as a rebuke. + +Eleanor laughed merrily. "Well, I intend having a regular exhibit when +I get back! All kinds of wild things will be shown my friends. I +propose having Polly and Noddy sitting upon a pedestal in the +drawing-room as a sample of the wildest things on the Rockies!" laughed +Eleanor, giving Polly an affectionate glance. + +"Oh, Nolla, don't talk so foolishly! As if Polly would come to Chicago! +What would she do with herself while we had to entertain?" said +Barbara, pettishly, but no one hearkened. + +"Maybe we can blaze a trail from here to the nearest ranch on our way +home, and send some one from there to come and cart the brute home for +us. I'd pay him well!" said Eleanor, not willing to forego the pleasure +of showing the lion at home. + +"Oh, but then, you will make these ranchers curious. Once this far, +they will look about the place where we spent the night, and that will +lead them to discover the mine!" said Polly. + +"I forgot that! Of course it would be foolish to give any one the +slightest clew to our ever being here, and of what we did while here! I +see I shall have to say good-by to the lion I hoped to be lionized +for!" said Eleanor, laughingly. + +"With a gold mine as rich as yours, you'll be lionized without the +lion!" laughed Anne. + +"By the way, did you bring your nugget, Polly?" asked Eleanor. + +"Reckon I did!" + +"Then before we leave, don't you think we ought to make some sort of a +plan, or mark the spot so we can find it again? We don't want to make +the same mistake old Montresor did, you know!" said Eleanor, anxiously. + +"I have a plan all made. I did it while sitting by the fire this +morning, before you girls were awake," said Polly, taking off her hat +and removing a folded paper. + +The girls were surprised at the accuracy of the sketch, and Anne said, +"Any one can find it from these directions!" + +"Thank you, but you see, it would be hazardous to risk any one else +coming here. The importance of keeping the whole adventure a profound +secret until we have duly filed papers and can claim right of ownership +to the claim, can be seen now. I hardly think it wise to speak of the +crevice or danger of a land-slide until after we get some inside +information about taking hold of the mine," said Polly, seriously. + +An hour more was used by Polly in staking a legal claim and marking the +corners with heaps of stone. She also left a very deep blaze in each of +the four trees that cornered the large square area she thought would +cover the cavern. + +Noddy soon found the Top Notch Trail when they were again on the way +homeward. By riding steadily all morning, they reached the spot where +the rattle-snake was waiting for transportation. Anne and the others +had experienced so many greater shocks since the killing of the reptile +that they felt no qualms about carrying the snake now. + +When the four riders finally turned in on the Pebbly Pit Trail, it was +past four o'clock. They had been going steadily since morning, without +food or rest, excepting the hour they had to stop at the falls to give +the animals grass and water, and the girls were the sorriest-looking +lot as they dragged up the road to the house and stopped at the porch. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A YOUNG STRANGER IN OAK CREEK + + +"Glory be! You-all war givin' Mis' Brewster fits wid no sign of hide +nor hair sence yistermorn!" cried Sary, rushing out of the kitchen +door, the moment she heard the horses' hoof-beats. + +Mrs. Brewster heard Sary and also ran out, crying, "Oh, my dear +children! We've had such a day! Sam just went to the barn to hook up +and start the ranchers on a hunt! A trapper rode in this morning and +spoke of the awful blizzard that hit Top Notch Trail. Of course, we +knew you couldn't find _that_ or we'd have been still more worried!" + +The girls looked at each other and laughed aloud. Mrs. Brewster +shrewdly guessed the truth. + +"_Did_ you find it? And where under the sun did you hide during that +awful storm?" cried she, anxiously. + +Sary paid no attention to a recital of trails and storms, however, for +it was half past four and Jeb would have to take care of the five +mounts before he could hope to come in for supper, and spend a quiet +evening with her. So, to prevent any delay, she turned to Polly. + +"You-all 'pear to be tuckered out! Jest flop inter the cheers an' rest +whiles Ah carry the hosses to th' barn. Ah'll tell Mr. Brewster +like-ez-how you-all come home, an' spared him a trip!" + +Mrs. Brewster objected to the offer for she wanted Sary to finish the +preparations for supper and give her time to talk with the girls. Sary, +however, paid no attention to her mistress's objections but gathered +all the reins together and led the animals to the barn. + +Shortly after the girls had gone indoors to drink some hot milk--for +Mrs. Brewster said hot milk would take most of the fatigue out of their +bodies--Sam Brewster ran down the path from the barn, and burst into +the living-room. + +"Well, say! Ah shore am glad to see you-all back home! Ah just was +preparing to wire some detectives to be on the lookout in the Zoo for +any lions or bears lately come in who looked unusually well-fed!" + +Every one was so delighted at the reunion that Mr. Brewster's +foolishness made them laugh merrily. He hugged Polly until she cried +for breath, then he shook hands over and over again with Anne and the +girls, Mrs. Brewster, remonstrating meantime, that she wanted to hear +of their adventures! + +The girls were so eager to tell about the cavern of gold that they +refused to wash and dress, or remove any stains of the climb, until +after the whole story was told. + +Mr. and Mrs. Brewster thought it was the tale of the trip and the +trials throughout the blizzard, and they cared little for what had +passed as long as all were safe and happy again. But Polly blurted out +the truth to make them listen. + +"I found Montresor's gold mine, Paw!" + +It hit the mark! In the shock the news made upon the Brewsters, no one +noticed Polly's slip on the old pet title. After a long tense period of +silence, however, Sam Brewster said: "Daughter, it can't be true!" + +"'Tis, though, Mr. Brewster! Polly and I crawled through the tunnel +until we came out into that marvelous cavern of gold," and Eleanor +sighed audibly as she thought of that sight. + +"What cavern! You-all must be clean locoed with the blizzard and the +long ride!" cried Mr. Brewster, testily. + +The girls laughed appreciatively, for they understood just how those +who remained at home would feel at such news! + +So Polly sat upon her father's knee and told him the story of the mine, +from the time Choko fell over the cliff until they left the panther at +the foot of the tree. + +"And here's the plan and claim, and there's the gold!" + +Polly drew the nuggets from her dress and took the papers from her +sombrero, and placed them in her father's hands. + +Mrs. Brewster dropped upon her knees to the floor to look at the map +and the ore, while her husband was examining the large nugget. The four +girls had no idea how anxious they were about this ore until they saw +Mr. Brewster carefully looking it over with the eye of an expert miner. + +His first words were a decided shock. + +"Ah wouldn't set much store about this mine, girls! You-all don't see +what Ah see in this discovery. It's gold--yes, it looks to me like +red-gold of good quality, and if it is as you say--a cavern exposed so +any one can value it off-hand, so much the better! But, the end of Top +Notch Trail, where you doubtless spent the night, is a far haul from +Oak Creek, and the chasm in front, and the mountain on top, are +drawbacks to mining. However, we will ride into Oak Creek in the +morning and file this claim of yours and see if it comes anywhere near +to being the one old Montresor left, Polly. It would give me the +keenest joy to be able to say something to a few of the mean old +rascals about Oak Creek, who called me a fool for paying the funeral +costs and filing the claim of that kind old man, Montresor!" + +"But, Dad--father! If this mine happens to cross the claim staked by +Mr. Montresor, will it interfere with our filing a new claim?" asked +Polly, anxiously. + +"It depends on how much ground you covered with your corners!" replied +her father. + +"You can depend upon it, I covered all I could think might come within +a mile of gold!" laughed Polly. + +"Well, girls, listen to some good advice on this! Not a word to be said +about this cave--not even among yourselves until the claim is filed and +investigated! You see, the walls have ears when any one speaks of gold! +Then, having attended to the legal aspects of the mine, we will all +ride over to remain a few days, as visitors to Old Mr. Grizzly! When we +get back we ought to have some information worth while!" + +"And what about sending for John's friend to come and go with us? If he +knew enough to tell you about the lava, he will surely be able to judge +about the gold!" ventured Polly, eagerly. + +"I think that is a splendid idea, Sam! When we go in to Oak Creek +to-morrow, let us send John a day-letter explaining about this cavern," +added Mrs. Brewster. + +"Hain't you-all comin' to supper? Har hev Ah ben and wukked all day +hopin' fer a night off to-night!" said Sary, suddenly appearing at the +doorway between the living-room and the kitchen. + +Every one started for she had not made a sound before speaking, so no +one knew how much she had over-heard. Mrs. Brewster quickly replied, +however. + +"Why, Sary! I didn't know you wished to go out! I could have attended +to supper myself, had you asked me!" + +"Ah hain't planned to go out--Ah said a 'night off,' Mis' Brewster," +said Sary, hardly deigning to wait for an answer, but looking at the +girls with an impatient frown. + +"Mother, we really must wash before supper!" said Polly. + +Sary tossed her head. Mrs. Brewster knew what that meant, so she urged +the girls to forego any lengthy toilets and merely wash away the worst +signs of travel. + +Sary was pacified when Eleanor came out of the room and handed her a +large paper bundle. + +"Sary, I have a little present for you because we made so much trouble +to-night." + +"Oh, Miss Nolla, Ah'm much obleeged t' you-all. Ah don' mind trouble, +onny yoh see Ah expec' comp'ny to-night." + +It took Sary but an instant to open the package and when she beheld a +ruffled organdy dress discarded by Barbara the previous season and +accidentally packed in the trunk with other clothes, she rolled her +eyes heavenward. + +"Miss Nolla! Is this fine gown'd fer me?" + +Eleanor stifled a laugh but Sary made as if she would clasp the girl in +her powerful arms, so discretion was needed. Eleanor backed behind the +kitchen chair. + +"Miss Nolla, Ah wonder ef a widder of seven months' standin' mought +wear little yaller rose-buds on a dress, like-ez-how this is?" + +"Certainly, Sary," came from Mrs. Brewster, who now joined the two. +"It's not the color or quantity of clothes as much as the sincerity of +one's mourning." + +Quite unintentionally, Mrs. Brewster touched upon a tender spot. In +fact, so tender was it, that Sary blamed Bill for having died so +recently instead of two years back. She might have now been ending her +second year of mourning! + +Eleanor being trained to the wiles of polite society, saw and +understood Sary's flash of resentment, so she turned to Mrs. Brewster +with the remark: + +"I've heard said, that the highest regard a widow can pay her departed, +is, to take a second husband. It speaks well for her happiness with the +first one, you see." + +Mrs. Brewster stared at Eleanor but Sary smirked and quickly replied: + +"You-all is right, Miss Nolla! A widder what hez ben _so_ happy that +she gits lonesome whiles thinkin' of her departed, hez a right t' find +a second husban'." + +Mrs. Brewster choked a laugh as she saw the sublime look in the help's +eyes, and hurried out. Eleanor then suggested: + +"Now you run away and beautify yourself, Sary, and I will wash the +dishes to-night." + +Sary needed no second invitation and in another moment she had +disappeared to her "boudoir" back of the buttery. + +Eleanor was as good as her word, for she was soon busy with dish-water +and mop, rattling the china, and banging pans about as if noise and +bustle were sure signs of hard work and energy. Polly laughed as she +cleared away the remains of the meal and then caught up a towel to dry +the dishes. As they worked the two girls talked. + +"Poll, now that you have this gold mine, what will you do with all the +wealth that is yours?" asked Eleanor. + +Polly held a decorated plate in front of her face to hide her smile, +and pretended to be looking for grease on its surface. When she had +straightened her face again, she said: "Oh, I'm going away to school, +first of all. I'm not so sure that I want to stay in Denver, now that +you have told me all about Chicago. I'll write for catalogues of +schools there; and then I can see John quite often during the school +year." + +"Just what I would have suggested, Poll! Then you can live at home with +me. Dad and you and I will have the best times!" + +To accentuate her approval of Polly's premature plans, Eleanor swished +the dish-mop wildly up and down in the soapy water, but the suds flew +up lightly, as soapsuds will, and a bubble burst in Polly's eye. + +"Oo-h! Stop throwing dish water in my face, Nolla!" cried Polly, with +eyes screwed shut and one free hand trying to rub the smarting lye from +her eye. + +"I never did, Polly! It must have splashed accidentally when I was +washing the pan." + +"You have done nothing since you began the dishes, but rattle and swash +that mop about in the pan as if you were mining the ore from the cave," +complained Polly, as she managed to open her eyes again. + +"I suppose it is because we are so excited over the find, and all it +means for you, Polly," explained Eleanor, contritely. + +"It doesn't mean much more, now, than before. The thing I am most happy +over, is that Old Man Montresor will be vindicated, and people will +stop jeering at me, and at what they called his locoed ideas." + +The conversation was interrupted at this moment by the appearance of +Sary. She first poked her head from the partly opened door of her room +and then said: "Is any one about to see me?" + +Polly turned to make sure that they were alone in the kitchen, and +Eleanor replied: "No, what is it, Sary?" + +Then the maid stepped forth and such a vision! She had curled her red +hair on a pair of old-fashioned tongs. The curling irons were but a +quarter of an inch in diameter and they were heated by thrusting them +into the living embers of the kitchen fire. When Sary drew the comb +through her scanty tresses they took on the appearance of +carrot-colored cotton threads which had just been ripped out of an old +garment--so crinkly and frizzed were the strands of hair. The flowered +organdy dress that Eleanor had given Sary to wear for the great +occasion of receiving a caller, was much too small for the buxom widow, +and she was in great distress about it. This brought her out to ask +advice of the girls. + +"Why bother to wear the dress, Sary, until you have had time to alter +it for yourself?" asked Polly. + +"Why, Polly! Ah has to keep up my looks now that comp'ny is lookin' my +way again. Ef you-all hadn't such fine city gals at home, what wears +th' latest fashions so that Jeb can't help but see what's what, Ah +woulden' have to worry so much about looks. But a woman has to keep up +when other women set the pace, 'specially ef she is a widow, +like-as-how Ah am now." + +Eleanor laughed appreciatively and said: "Sary is just like Bob, when +it comes to that! It is the eternal feminine, Poll, that drives both +Bob and Sary to the verge of tears, because they cannot catch their +beaux with their good looks." + +Sary smirked self-consciously at Eleanor's words, for she thought she +was being coupled with Barbara and her attractions. Sary felt quite +sure that she was good-looking and winsome, but she had to hear +Eleanor's words to make her believe she was fascinating. + +"If I was Sary, I'd wear a nice clean blouse and a linen skirt. It +would be far more comfortable than that awfully tight gown," remarked +Polly. + +But the help scorned such simplicity and turned to Eleanor for further +advice about her appearance. The latter, wise in her years, turned her +head on one side and appeared to be debating. + +"Seems to me, Sary, that putting on that organdy just as it is, without +fixing it over a bit, may make Jeb suspicious of its not being made for +you. He may even go so far as to wonder if Bob handed it down to you. +Now you do not want him to dream that you did not have it made to order +for yourself, so why not take it off until you can remodel it to fit +yourself, like new?" + +Sary pondered this suggestion for a few moments, and then said: "Ah +ain't got no fancy dress to wear, onny this, Miss Nolla. Ef Ah puts on +my black alpaky, he'll remember 'bout Bill, and sech memories allus +dampen a man's plans to pop th' question." + +Both girls had to laugh outright at the unexpected confession; but Sary +was in a serious frame of mind and paid no attention to their +merriment. She resumed her interrupted explanation. + +"It's jest this way, in Oak Crick country, you-all see! Single men +ain't growin' on every bush, and a widder has a hard time of it, +anyway, when most ranchers' dawters are waitin' to snap up a likely +catch. Jeb's a catch, Ah says. He ain't a gallavantin' dude, ner he +ain't spendin' all his wages on gamblin' at Red Mike's saloon. Ah've +learned like-as-how being right on th' spot when a man's willin' to be +cotched, is more'n half the fight to hook him. Ah kin afford to snap +mah fingers at all them ranch gals about Oak Crick, tryin' their bestes +to make Jeb wink his eye at 'em, jus' because Ah _am_ whar Ah am +keepin' tabs on him, all his time." + +When the laughter caused by these words had subsided, somewhat, the two +girls replied: Polly to advise and Eleanor to make a giggling +explanation. + +Eleanor said: "You make a wonderfully accurate time-clock on Jeb's +comings and goings, Sary." + +And Polly advised: "You run back to your room, Sary, and put on a +sensible dress to keep Jeb from wondering how much of his earnings it +would take to dress you in fine clothes like that organdy gown cost." + +"Thar's somethin' in that, too, Polly! Ah reckon you're right, so Ah'll +throw on that striped shirt-waist your Maw gave me, and the duck skirt +with the tucks in it." + +Sary vanished as quickly as she had appeared, and the two girls stood +laughing as they saw the bed-room door close. Then they dried the +dish-pan, hung up the towels and mop, and turned to go back to the +living-room where Sam Brewster and his wife were planning for the ride +to Oak Creek on the next day, and the trip up to the cave, on the day +following that. + +But the girls had not reached the living-room door before a "hist" +halted them. They turned in the direction of the sound and saw Jeb's +small head at the kitchen door. When he saw that he had gained their +attention, he beckoned furtively with a horny index finger. + +Both girls tip-toed over to hear what news he had to impart, for his +behavior denoted some dread secret. + +"Is Sary Dodd hangin' 'round?" he whispered, anxiously. + +"She's in her room getting ready for company," was Eleanor's amused +reply. + +"Wall, you-all kin do me a big favor ef you-all explain like-as-how Ah +was too sick to come in, to-night. She tol' me Ah jus' had to call on +her, to-night, but Ah ain't got courage. Ah kin see jus' whar all this +callin' and sittin' alone of evenin's, is goin' to land me. Sary Dodd's +got a powerful way for a woman, and Ah ain't no marryin' man--am Ah, +Polly?" + +Jeb's plaintive tone and his beseeching eyes convulsed Eleanor with the +desire to laugh, but Polly saw how serious he was, in his fear of being +caught by a woman's wiles, and she replied: + +"No, Jeb; you are not a marrying man, I can say that much. And Sary +ought to know better than to lure you on with all her past experiences +of mankind." + +Polly's earnest explanation made Eleanor lose control of herself and +she sat down in a kitchen chair and laughed so heartily that Sary +hurried forth. Jeb instantly ducked and tried to lose himself in the +dense darkness of the out-of-doors, but Sary was too quick for him. + +She darted to the door, called him with an imperative voice, and +brought the recreant back to his duty of calling. Then she turned to +the two girls, and said calmly, but with meaning: + +"Ah'se much obliged fer th' dish-washin'. Ah'll see that the kitchen is +set to rights fer the evenin'." + +With this dismissal, Polly and Eleanor had to go, and laughing still, +they went through the living-room door to join the others who sat about +the round table figuring and planning. + +Sary very quietly closed the door between the two rooms, and Eleanor +whispered to Polly: "Poor Jeb! We had to leave him to his fate, after +all." + +By six o'clock the next morning, the riders were on the way to Oak +Creek. Polly and Eleanor rode side by side and discussed a good name +for the claim. After suggesting and rejecting many fine sounding names, +Polly finally chuckled gleefully. + +"You've thought of one!" declared Eleanor. + +"Yes, just the thing! Won't 'Choko's Find' suit it?" + +"Great! And it was little Choko that found it, too. If he hadn't fallen +over the cliff we never would have discovered the cave and the rest of +it." + +"We'll call it that--'Choko's Find!' Say, everybody! Listen to this: +The mine is going to be called 'Choko's Find'--do you like it?" called +Polly to the other riders. + +"Very appropriate," was the answer, so "Choko's Find" was its name. + +Reaching Oak Creek, the party rode to Mr. Simm's office and Mr. +Brewster told the story in detail. The attorney was completely silenced +at the strangeness of the adventure but demanded proof in seeing the +ore before he would credit the tale. + +"Well, Ah declare! If this isn't the derndest thing Ah ever heard of in +my life!" exclaimed Mr. Simms as he examined the nuggets. + +"Simms, do you remember Montresor's nuggets and legacy?" asked Mr. +Brewster. + +The lawyer looked quickly up at his questioner and a look of +understanding crept into his eyes. "Sam, Ah reckon it is the same!" + +"The ledge, the canyon, the trails _and_ the river!" added Mr. +Brewster, convincingly. + +"You-all just wait here till Ah get my papers from the Bank vault!" +excitedly cried the lawyer, snatching his cap and running out of the +office. + +"Simms keeps his valuable papers in the masoned safe at the bank, you +know. If the town burns down during a miners' celebration some night, +his papers will be safe, anyway," explained Mr. Brewster. + +The lawyer soon returned with a package held closely under his arm. He +sat down and opened the papers before his visitors. + +"Here's th' rough plan of the claim and here's Montresor's letter that +was found after he was buried--you know, Sam." + +"What letter is that, Father?" wondered Polly. + +"We never told you about it, as it wouldn't have helped any one then, +but now you shall read it." + +"Where was it found?" + +"In the pocket of an old hunting coat when we tried to find some clew +to his family and home address. But the top of the letter had been torn +away so we never knew for whom it was meant." + +Polly took the closely written sheet and read the letter penned by her +old friend on the mountains. + +"At last I can say to you all, that my education was not wasted as you +claimed. I have made good! I am a rich, rich man, as I write these +words. I have discovered a gold mine that will prove to be worth +millions. I refrained from writing as you had requested, until I had +_good_ news. Now I can write. + +"In the years I have spent on these mountains, I felt sure I would +strike gold, as every sign in rock and sand formation, of the sides of +the peaks, are favorable to gold deposits. To-day I proved my mining +education to be of some worth, for it helped to guide me to a ledge, +where the red-gold is so rich that it seems to run deep into the rocks, +yet quite easy to mine. + +"I had great difficulty in reaching the place and, afterwards, when +darkness fell over the place, I had to trust to the horse to find a +spot to camp. I left my claims staked out and marked as we used to do +in the Klondike, and to-morrow morning I shall ride directly to Oak +Creek to file the papers and have an assay on the ore. I am now writing +by the light of the camp-fire with grizzlies prowling about and +panthers howling to get at me and the horse. But my ring of fire is +security for us. + +"I haven't the slightest idea of where this camp is but I will scout +around in the morning and then write you again after I return from my +trip to Oak Creek. + +"You must understand how happy I am, to be able to pay off my +obligations and take my rightful place in the world with my family. God +grant that this blessing of wealth bestowed upon me after all these +years of separation and disgrace, charged against me, who am innocent, +will be the last of my sufferings. I have never heard from the +traitorous friend who caused me this ruin, and now it matters little!" + +Polly looked up at this point and said: + +"He must have finished this after the land-slide, Daddy." + +"Yes, daughter: read on and you will see," replied Mr. Brewster, gently. + +"The curse still pursues me. I have not written to conclude this letter +since the night I started it, as hard luck again is my lot. + +"I filed the claim and showed the ore but different laws prevail in +Colorado, and I found I must register the nearest survey corners and +sections to my mine to obtain a legal ownership; however my plans and +specifications were sufficient to protect me from claim-jumpers. + +"That afternoon, a storm came over the mountains and lasted three days. +It blew, and poured, and snowed, until it seemed as if all the furies +in Hades were let loose. Then it cleared again and I started out with +my dog and horse to visit my mine and make satisfactory corners and +plans for filing. + +"A great land-slide had occurred during that storm and the entire +mountain-side was changed. Canyons, cliffs, and mine are gone. Wiped +away as if they had never existed. Of course, I know the gold is still +there but buried under tons of earth and trash. It will take longer and +cost more to unearth, that is all. + +"But I will have to locate the place anew as I have no bearings to work +from, so I propose starting from Top Notch Trail and have Patsy help me +find it on the down-side, as near as I can remember from the +camping-spot of that night where I first wrote this letter: + +"I am reserving this until I find the mine, then I will mail it at +once. Now that I have definite grounds to work on, my enthusiasm is +equal to carry me through any difficulties in my pathway." + +"Oh, father, how sad!" wept Polly, handing the letter to Anne, to read +to the other two girls. + +"We know the rest, Polly. And that is why we never had you read this. +Now that we can prove the poor old man was sane, we will try to +establish his reputation for all concerned," said Mr. Brewster. + +"Why didn't you try to find his family when he died?" asked Polly, +frowning at what she considered an oversight. + +"We did. Every newspaper of reputation carried an advertisement, but Ah +think, now, that the old man assumed another name than his rightful +one. That is why we never had a reply to our ads," replied Mr. Simms. + +Eleanor was elated at the romance of this experience, and turned to +Polly, exclaiming: + +"Oh, Poll! S'posing we meet Montresor's son some day, and you fall in +love with him without knowing who he is! Then it will all come out when +he visits your parents to ask for you, and he will get his share of the +mine, anyway!" + +Anne laughed heartily at such nonsense but Polly rather favored such an +ending, so her mother and father quickly interrupted the romance by +saying: + +"Come, come, sign papers and wind up this affair!" + +Mr. Simms said the assay was more than satisfactory, and "Choko's Find" +was filed as the discovery of "Marybelle Brewster, daughter of Sam and +Mary Brewster of Pebbly Pit." + +"Who's Marybelle Brewster?" wondered Eleanor, surprised. + +"It's me, but no one knows it!" laughed Polly. + +"Sam, when do you reckon you-all ought to go back to the mine and +investigate?" said Mr. Simms. + +"We-all plan to ride there early in the morning. Will you-all try to +come with us?" + +"Ah'd like it first-rate. Ah haven't had my regular fishing trip this +year and this will answer," replied Simms, eagerly. + +"Then be shore to meet us at seven or eight o'clock at the Pine Tree +just by the corduroy roadway," said Mr. Brewster. + +"Sam, better get away before that! We won't be the only riders along +Top Notch trail the moment this 'find' gets wind!" warned Simms. + +"He's right, Sam! Let's start from the farm at day-break and meet Mr. +Simms at five or six," advised Mrs. Brewster. + +"Right! Make it six, Simms, and see if the coroner and sheriff want an +outing." Mr. Brewster's voice sounded interesting. + +Just as the lawyer opened the door for the ladies to leave, a handsome +young man of about eighteen came down the road. It was evident, in +every way, that he was a "tenderfoot" newly arrived. Probably just came +in on the noon local from Denver. + +"I'm looking for Carew's Camp, sir. That cowboy over at the box-car +said you might tell me how to reach it." + +"Oh, that's the surveyin' crew for the government. Ah reckon you'll +have quite a jaunt afore night to reach there. They're working about +twenty mile from here--up on the Yellow Jacket Pass road," replied +Simms, studying the surprised face closely. + +"Ah saw Carew's driver stopping at Jake's when we drove by, Simms," +said Mr. Brewster at this moment. + +"If you-all can find Jake, that will be the way to arrive--take a +reserved seat beside him,"' chuckled Simms. + +The youth was shy before so many pretty girls, so he took off his cap +to acknowledge the obligation, and would have backed away had not Simms +asked a very strange question. + +"Young man, you look exactly like an old friend I knew in these parts, +some years back. So like, that I must ask you your name." + +The stranger flushed and stammered: "I am Kenneth Evans, from New York." + +Simms frowned when he heard the name and turned to Sam Brewster: "Did +you ever see anything to beat that likeness to the man we were just +talking about?" + +Polly had noticed the resemblance as did her father, but nothing more +was said at that time, as so much remained to be attended to before the +ride on the morrow. + +"Well, Boy, be sure to drop in and have a talk with me the next time +you are in town. My friend was from your way, too, and who knows but +we-all can hook up a relationship, eh?" said Simms, holding out his +hand to young Evans. + +"I'll be glad to do that," responded Kenneth, heartily. + +Mrs. Brewster's kindly heart was touched by the utter forlornness +expressed in the youth's face when he heard how far away the surveyor's +camp was located, so she addressed him directly. + +"Did you want to reach Carew to-night, or can you come home with us and +get a fresh start for camp, in the morning?" + +"I was supposed to report to Carew yesterday, but I lost the train at +Chicago, and that made me late all along the line of +train-connections," explained young Evans, smiling more cheerfully. "I +thank you just the same, for inviting me to join your circle, but I +really feel that I must find this man Jake and get away." + +"Well, young man," now abetted Mr. Brewster, "do as you think best, but +that won't prevent you from riding over to Pebbly Pit any day you can +get away from work, and having dinner with us." + +The young man was surprised at such hearty hospitality shown an utter +stranger, but he had heard of western generosity and he now felt that +he had met such types of westerners. Just now, Mr. Simms called out +quickly: "There goes Jake! Hey, _Jake!_ Ah say--J-A-K-E!" + +The man called Jake halted as he was crossing the muddy road, and +looked towards the group which stood in front of Simms' office. Simms +waved his wide-brimmed hat to denote that he was wanted, so the driver +turned and slouched along the side of the road until he was within a +few feet of the lawyer, before the latter explained. + +"We-all got a fine young Tenderfoot here, for you, Jake, and Ah just +wanted to warn you to handle him with care or these pretty gals of +Pebbly Pit will call you to account for him. Boys are scarcer than +hen's teeth, since the war, you know, and our gals are having a hard +time raking the country to find such a swain as young Evans." + +Mr. Simms' frivolous talk made the girls smile, and Kenneth Evans began +to feel more at ease. But Jake was replying to the attorney's +explanation, and he listened to what was said. + +"Ah come all the way from camp, yistiddy, and no kid to be seen. Then +the boss sent me back to-day to meet this local train but he ain't come +yet. _Now_ when he shows up, he can walk to Carew's Camp, fur all I +care! I'm going back, right off." + +"Lookin' for a kid, eh? What sort of one is he?" teased Mr. Simms. + +"Augh, Jim Latimer says he was bigger'n him, but a blondy. And he said +he looked a Tenderfoot all through. I asked Red Mike if a feller +stopped at his eatin' place for a snack, but Mike tole me he ain't seen +no stranger in Oak Crick, this week," Jake grumbled. + +"Did you say Jim Latimer?" exclaimed Eleanor, eagerly. + +Jake turned to stare at the girl, and young Evans brightened visibly, +then he said: "Do you know Jim?" + +"Do you know him?" chorused several voices, Polly and her parents +joining the chorus. + +"Do I know Jim?" repeated Kenneth, laughing like his old merry self. "I +should say I did! Why, Jim and I went through school together, back +East, and it's Jim who got me in this Crew so I can get experience and +money at the same time." + +"Well, this is great!" exclaimed Sam Brewster. "You see my boy John +goes to college with Tom Latimer, at Chicago, and that's how we met +Jim--his brother gave him a letter of introduction to bring us when he +came out here to work with Carew. I knew the Boss of the survey crew, +and Jim has been over to Pebbly Pit on Sundays. So now you must get him +to show you the way." + +This happy discovery, of having a mutual friend, completed Kenneth's +feeling of ease and confidence, and he was soon talking unrestrainedly +about the Latimers--what splendid people they were. How Jim's father +was trying to save his (Ken's) father from having a very valuable +patent stolen by a ring of rascals in New York City. And how Mr. +Latimer's brother who was a large financier on Wall Street, was +financing the lawsuit, and the stock-company that was formed on the +value of the patent. + +During the time it took for Kenneth to enlarge on the merits of the +Latimers, Jake grew restless. He shifted his weight from one cowhide +booted leg to the other, and finally he heaved a doleful sigh. Then he +drew attention to himself. + +"Ef we-all ain't goin' to get started mighty soon, thar's no use in +gettin' off, to-night. Mike gen'ally has a dance to his ristrant at +night, on pay-day, and he can put us up, all right." + +Mr. Brewster hurriedly took his watch from his pocket and Mr. Simms +turned to look at the old banjo clock in his office, and both men +quickly said in one voice: "Oh, no, Jake! You have plenty of time to +get off and make camp before dark." + +But the suggestion made by the driver, to stop over-night in Oak Creek, +was the means of hustling Kenneth Evans along his way. The entire party +walked with him, down the road, towards the shed where Jake had the +lumbering camp-wagon; and there they waited while Jake drove back to +the baggage room to find his passenger's trunk. + +During the driver's absence, Simms explained to the young stranger why +he was so anxious about getting the man from Carew's Camp away from Oak +Creek that afternoon. + +"You see, my boy, these nights about this burg when the miners and +cow-boys have had their pay, are one Bedlam. Decent folks lock their +doors and windows and never show a light that might attract any +insanely drunken miner. That's why I want you far on your road to camp +before these rough foreigners come to town. Jake would revel in a wild +night of it, but he'd get fired when Carew heard of it." + +The young man smiled but the girls were anxious to make the most of the +few minutes left before Jake returned for the Tenderfoot, so Eleanor +began the moment Simms concluded. + +"When do you suppose Jim Latimer and you can come to Pebbly Pit to +call?" + +"Never having met the Boss of the Crew, and not being acquainted with +distances from camp to the ranch, I couldn't say. But Jim ought to be +able to judge, and to decide on a day. We could then write you, +couldn't we?" + +"Don't forget, Nolla, that we have our hands full of important work on +Top Notch Trail, for an indefinite time," was Polly's warning. + +"Oh, I didn't forget that, but it won't keep us busy more than a few +days," returned Eleanor. + +"That reminds me, Simms! Did you say you would take care of that wire +to John?" asked Mr. Brewster, turning to the lawyer. "Yes; I'll send a +trustworthy man down the line when the train comes back for Denver, and +he can send his message couched so that no wise guy will understand +what it means, from some telegraph office a distance from Oak Creek," +said Simms. + +"That's a wise plan. And get him off as soon as possible so John will +get the word and start home without delay," added Mrs. Brewster. + +Jake drove up beside the group at this moment, and sat waiting for +Kenneth to say good-by to his new friends. The girls reminded him again +to be sure and have Jim bring him to the ranch and visit, as soon as it +could be arranged, then the great heavy wagon rolled away with the +first good-looking young man the girls had seen since they left Denver. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SARY'S AMBITIONS + + +"Dear me!" sighed Eleanor. "That boy makes me think of civilization +again." + +Her companions laughed at her expression, and Polly said: "He's awfully +nice, isn't he?" + +"Yes, but not half as nice as Jim Latimer," added Eleanor. "Oh, I think +he is. Jim just takes everything for granted, whether you agree with +him or not," rejoined Polly. + +"Jim Latimer is only a child! Now his brother Tom is what I should call +wonderful! Not only handsome, but desirable, as well," remarked +Barbara, with more spirit than she usually showed in the younger girls' +conversation. + +Eleanor smiled knowingly, and said: "If Tom was poverty stricken, maybe +you wouldn't find him so desirable." + +"Why would any one care for a poverty-stricken friend?" asked Barbara, +wonderingly. But Anne hurriedly changed the subject. + +"How long do you think it might take, before John gets that message, +Mr. Brewster?" + +"Oh, he ought to be within hailing distance of his camp and he'd get +the wire when he went for meals, or to sleep. Allowing until morning +for it to reach him, and another day for him to pack up and travel, he +ought to be in Oak Creek the day after to-morrow." + +Every one but Simms watched Anne's face to see her blush, or smile +joyously, but Simms was not aware of any tender feelings on the part of +the pretty teacher for John Brewster, so he abruptly suggested a plan. + +"Ah wouldn't wait around the ranch for John's coming, Sam. If the women +folks are going up to Top Notch Trail with us, all well and good, but +waiting about until John and the engineer gets home will be risky +business for the claim. Before to-morrow, every thief in Oak Creek, and +for miles around, will be wise to that gold vein, and most of them will +want to sneak up there and try to jump the claim." + +"Oh, no, we won't postpone going up there to guard the spot!" explained +Anne, anxiously. "I was wondering how long it would take that expert +engineer to arrive on the ground and render a reliable verdict about +the mine." + +Eleanor tittered. "Sure! That is all. Anne never dreamed that John +Brewster might accompany the expert!" + +"That will do from you, Nolla!" came reprovingly from Anne. But the +girls all laughed at her annoyance. + +Having concluded all the business necessary in connection with filing +and signing papers, and arranging details about the trip back to the +mine on the following day, the ranch party said good-by to Mr. Simms, +and started on the long ride to Pebbly Pit. + +The sole subject of conversation between the elder Brewsters and +Barbara was the gold mine and the possibilities of it. The engrossing +thought that kept Anne so quiet was the unexpected and imminent visit +of John to Pebbly Pit. But the topic that now enthused Polly and +Eleanor was the arrival of Kenneth Evans, and his acquaintance with Jim +Latimer, the pleasant young man who had spent a Sunday at the ranch +just before the city girls had arrived. + +"I wish those boys could join our party up to the cave," remarked +Eleanor to Polly, as they rode behind the others along the road to +Pebbly Pit. + +"So do I. But they are camping too far from us, for that. We are almost +directly opposite their camp site, using Oak Creek as a central point. +But the Government Survey plans will work them along to Yellow Jacket +Pass, and from that point, along the wilderness, until they reach +Buffalo Park and the Top Notch Trail where we were the other day. But +they won't reach that part of the work until late this season," +explained Polly. + +"Tom Latimer brought his younger brother Jim to see us in Chicago, when +Jim was on his way west, but I never thought he would be so near me, +this summer, as to be able to see him. Had I dreamed of such being the +case, I would have paid more attention to him at the time. I said to +myself, at that visit, 'Oh, we'll never meet again, so why waste time +over him?'" + +Polly laughed at Eleanor's frank confession, and added: "Well, when Tom +wrote mother that his little brother would be near enough to Pebbly Pit +to permit him to ride over now and then for a visit, we sent word, at +once, for Carew to give him Sundays off to come and have dinner with +us. But he has only been over once. Now that this friend is in camp +with him, maybe he'll come oftener." + +"If John would only bring Tom with him, wouldn't it be fine!" planned +Eleanor. "Anne would have her choice, John. Bob would be supremely +happy if she could flirt with Tom for a time, and you and I would have +Jim and Ken Evans." + +Polly glanced at Eleanor in surprise, and said: "Why, Nolla! I wouldn't +like that at all. It will be lots more fun if we all go about together +for a good time. But John is coming to see about the mine--not to enjoy +himself." + +"You don't think, do you, that having Anne Stewart right in reach, that +he's going to spend all his time working that mine? He's going to +divide time so that more than half of it will be given to Anne. Then +he'll work double-quick on the mine business to catch up on his work," +was Eleanor's precocious statement. + +Polly said nothing to this, as she had much food for thought given her +in Eleanor's words. Rather than pursue a subject that roused her +jealousy because of her brother John, she spurred her horse to gallop +forward to join the others of the party. + +"Father, what did you say in your telegram to John?" asked Polly, when +she slowed up beside Sam Brewster. + +"Simms and I had to be careful what we said, so no one on the wire +would get wise as to our real meaning, so I wrote out: 'Fine party on +at the ranch. Big doings that Tom and you must be in on. Also bring +your friend who came with you the time we talked about mining Rainbow +Cliffs. Do not delay but start immediately, as the girls have the time +of their lives set down for day after to-morrow. Don't write or wire, +but come on receiving this message.' You see, that was the only way I +could think of to get John off without letting others in on the secret. +Every one in these parts knows the city girls are with us, and they'll +not wonder at our having the boys come home for a visit." + +When Sam Brewster concluded his explanation, Anne was smiling happily, +and Barbara lifted her head a bit higher as she said: "How nice it will +be to see Tom Latimer again, his company _so_ much!" + +Eleanor could not deny herself the mean little satisfaction in saying: +"Yes, Bob met him once, at our house, and _tried_ to meet him several +times after that, at various social gatherings in Chicago." + +But Polly pinched her friend's arm for silence, as the two horses +crowded close together to pass on a narrow ledge of the trail that ran +up to the Cliffs. + +"If Tom comes with John, and that expert engineer comes, too, mother, I +don't see where we are going to put them up." + +"We were planning that as we rode along, just now," said Mrs. Brewster. +"I think we can put up cot-beds, temporarily, in the loft over the +first barn, where father keeps his account books and other business +papers. Or we can pitch the large tent under the trees over by the +terrace, and they can camp there. It will be far more comfortable, in +either place, than they will have up on Top Notch, or what they have +been having in the movable camp with the engineers, all this summer." + +"Finding sleeping quarters for the boys is the least of our worries +now," laughed Sam Brewster. "Keeping off claim-jumpers and guarding the +cave from miners who would steal the gold as fast as they could pick +it, or blow it out of the rock, is more concern for us than any other +problem, at present." + +"Well, we won't lack for excitement if all you fear is justly founded, +eh?" laughed Eleanor, plainly showing how thoroughly she was enjoying +the experience and its promised thrills. + +"Even a westerner, immune to thrills, would have a few entirely new +ones in this experience," chuckled Mr. Brewster. "But let a few city +gals like you three, and a quiet little mouse like Polly, jump right +into such a game as this promises to be, and there will be nothing left +for you to thrill over, after that, in everyday life." + +"If only Jim Latimer and Ken Evans could be at the ranch to go with us +when we start for the cave," said Eleanor for the second time. This +time her remark caused Mr. Brewster to think. + +Then he said: "It is queer how that boy resembled our old friend +Montresor. If we only knew what part of the East Montresor came from. I +have always said he was not traveling under his own name, but probably +was using a family name to hide behind." + +"Yes, and that may explain the reason we never had any reply to our +widely circulated advertisements for his relatives," added Mrs. +Brewster. + +"If Montresor really was related to this young man, father, he surely +would have said something when Mr. Simms mentioned the resemblance, and +asked the stranger if he knew of a relative being in Colorado," said +Polly. + +"Montresor had white hair, it is true, but that did not say that he was +an old man. He was prematurely wrinkled from worry and hardships, but +he was not much more than forty, I should say," ventured Mr. Brewster. + +"What are you leading up to, Sam?" asked Mrs. Brewster. + +"I was just thinking, aloud, that Montresor could have had a son as +old, or as young, as this Kenneth Evans. If he had gone to the +Klondike, as we believed, the boy would have been too young to remember +his dad very distinctly. Who knows what drove Old Montresor away from +home, to seek adventure or gold so far north as in the Klondike? He and +his wife may have separated through some misunderstanding such as that +letter would lead us to infer, and his eastern relatives may have kept +all facts or news of him from this boy. The poor man's pride and +determination to prove himself innocent of some wrong kept him from +communicating with his people; we know that from his own letter. So I +would not be greatly surprised if we eventually learn that Kenneth +Evans is really a son of Montresor's." + +"Oh, Mr. Brewster! Isn't that exactly what I said to you before, when +you hushed me up!" declared Eleanor, delighted over her romantic vision. + +"I hushed you up because you went on weaving stuff that dreams are made +of--not because you hinted that this youth might be Montresor's son," +corrected Sam Brewster. + +The others laughed at Eleanor, and as they rode past the Cliffs, now +glimmering faintly in the rays of the new moon rising over the edge of +the old crater, Polly said with a sigh: + +"Thank goodness, we are almost home in time for supper." + +The materialistic craving in Polly for a good meal was so different +from Eleanor's dreams of romance for her friend that the two elder +Brewsters felt relieved to hear the exclamation. Soon afterwards, the +riders drew rein at the porch where Jeb was awaiting the return of the +party. + +"Wall, did you-all find out if the mine was the same as Old Man +Montresor's claim?" asked Jeb, eagerly, as they dismounted. + +"What's that, Jeb?" asked Sam Brewster, frowningly. + +"Why, Sary says you-all went to Oak Crick to file papers and make sure +that Montresor's claim is the same mine like Polly discovered up on the +Trail. Ain't it so?" wondered Jeb, curiously. + +The two elder Brewsters exchanged glances, and the girls had to laugh +at having been completely fooled by clever Sary Dodd. Then Mr. Brewster +thought best to make a clean breast of the entire matter. + +"Well, we were not sure when we left Pebbly Pit, this morning, whether +this claim was good or not. So we did not say a word about it to either +Sary or you, but she must have overheard us speaking about it, last +night." + +"Yeh--that's what she said to me. She had to wait so long fer you-all +to come to supper, last night, that she coulden' help hearin' what was +said. She says it will be a grand day fer her and me when you-all get +this mine goin'. Sary figgers that you-all won't stay in Oak Crick, ner +on a ranch, once you have all this money; 'cause Polly'll make you-all +go to some fine city to live," explained Jeb, innocently. + +"Huh! Is that so!" sneered Sam Brewster, angrily. + +Jeb was gathering up the reins of the horses as he spoke, and now he +turned to wonder at his master's tone. Mrs. Brewster was about to say +something conciliatory, when Sary rushed out of the side door. + +"Ah was jus' comin' to see who rode up, when Ah hearn Jeb talk. Now +lissun to me, whiles Ah explains how-come Ah spoke: Me and Jeb was +sittin' over dinner, this noon, when Ah says to him, 'Ef the Brewsters +plan to leave Pebbly Pit, Jeb, will you-all stay on and wuk the ranch +fer 'em, or buy it outright?' Now wasn't that a most natchul thing to +ask?" + +Sary's apparent guilelessness made the girls stare and her mistress +smile understandingly. "Of course, Sary--go on." + +"Wall, then, Jeb diden' know a thing about the gold mine ner what +you-all rode to Oak Crick fer, so Ah hed to explain. He was that +flabbergasted! My, Ah feared he'd keel over right at table. So Ah +hurried to brace him up wid puttin' an ambitious idee in his head. +That's how-come Ah mentioned his takin' over Pebbly Pit." + +Here Jeb interpolated: "But you-all said, Sary, that no self-respecking +woman could remain on the ranch ef all the ladies left. And you told me +a man needed a help-mate on such a big place." + +Sary frowned down on meek little Jeb, but her displeasure was wasted, +for Jeb was too earnestly concerned over his master's future plans to +see the widow's expression. The girls were so intensely amused over +this new development in Sary's affairs that they forgot about their own +ambitions for the time being. + +"Of course, Ah said that!" affirmed Sary, when all other escape by +excuses seemed vain. "Ah also said to Jeb that now he was callin' on me +evenin's, and by such ways showin' the public like-as-how he was +courtin' me, it was the right thing to do to marry afore you-all leave +the ranch. Then we both could pitch in and do fer your interests, as +well as fer our own, what two folks separate can't do as well. See?" + +Every one could see plainly what Sary meant, and no one had the heart +to ruin her romance by trying to show Jeb that he was a doomed Benedict +if he allowed himself to be so beguiled by a scheming widow. + +"Jeb, if there's any one on earth who can make me leave Pebbly Pit, let +me know who it is, and Ah'll mighty soon fight it out with him!" +declared Sam Brewster, fervently. + +Mrs. Brewster and the girls laughed at his intensity, but Jeb's face +lighted up with relief, while Sary's clouded with doubt. Then Jeb led +the horses away, and a happy whistle sounded from his lips as he +marched towards the barn. And Sary stood looking after his receding +form as if she was seeing her future happiness vanish, also. + +The weary riders went indoors, and after Mrs. Brewster had removed her +riding togs, she went to the kitchen to see what was ready for supper. +To her joy, she found Sary had prepared an unusually tempting meal, and +had everything in readiness to serve. The table had been set in the +living-room, as it was too dark to eat under the trees; and soon after +the girls had washed and changed their clothes, all sat down to enjoy +the well-cooked and carefully seasoned viands. + +Sary and Jeb had had supper, _a la tete-a-tete_, more than an hour +before the riders got home, so Sary gave her attention to waiting on +the famished family. As she served and passed dishes, she conversed +volubly about the mine, and the claim, and the trouble so much work +would make for Mr. Brewster, if he kept on with the ranch at the same +time. + +"Not at all, Sary. Ah shall have nothing to do with the work at the +mine. John and his engineers will look after all that. But this does +not mean that Jeb must always remain a hired man. If the time comes +when he wants to settle down at Pebbly Pit and take to himself a +spouse, Ah shall be the first man to reach out a hand to help him on in +life. He shall have certain parts of the ranch to work on shares, if he +prefers that, and he can build a good home for himself down on the road +that runs by the pastures." + +"You-all ain't sayin' this in a joke, be yuh, Sam Brewster?" asked +Sary, breathlessly. + +"No, indeed, Sary. Ah want Jeb to make a good match, that's all. He +seldom goes away from the ranch, other than driving to Oak Creek, and +he does not have opportunity to see or meet girls. So Ah am seriously +thinking of giving him a vacation, very soon, and sending him to Denver +for a week or two, just to give him a chance to get acquainted with +other women; and then he'll be able to judge what sort of a girl will +suit him best for a wife." + +Sary gasped fearfully at this unexpected plan of Sam Brewster's, and +her grasp on the soup ladle relaxed so that it fell to the floor with a +ringing echo. But she paid no attention to it: she stood with mouth +open staring at the master of Pebbly Pit. + +Mrs. Brewster felt sincerely sorry for her, but the four girls had to +smother their laughter behind the dinner napkins. Then Sary found her +power of speech. + +"Why, Sam Brewster! You-all can't mean that! Send dear, innocent Jeb to +such a wicked city as Denver, all alone, to be caught by them ravenin' +wolves? Ain't you hear'n tell of flirty gals what goes about vampin' +nice young men jus' fer a good time? Like as not our Jeb'll get lassoed +by one of 'em, and she'll marry him fer his money, er git it all away +from him afore she lets him go. Ah've seen it all, over and over again, +in the movies at Oak Crick!" Sary almost wept as she described the +lamentable case of Jeb if he was permitted to visit Denver, alone. + +"Don't worry over Jeb, Sary. He hasn't gone yet," said Mrs. Brewster, +sending her husband a signal to keep quiet. + +Sary went out of the room, and when Polly called for a cup, no one +replied. So she had to jump up and go to the kitchen for her own cup, +but the kitchen was empty--no Sary to be seen, anywhere. Polly reported +this discovery when she came back to the table, and Mrs. Brewster spoke +impatiently to her husband. + +"You haven't any judgment about love affairs, Sam! Don't you know that +you are actually throwing Jeb at Sary's head by saying such things, as +you did--about giving Jeb enough vacation to allow him to go to the +city and find a pretty girl for himself?" + +Mr. Brewster sat back in his chair and dropped his fork upon the table +in surprise. He turned wondering eyes at his wife as he said: "Ah only +said that to show Sary that she must bide her time with Jeb, and give +him a chance to make an honest choice for a wife." + +"That's what you _wanted_ to do, Sam, but what you actually +accomplished was to give Sary a fright over having Jeb get out of her +snare, and now she'll move heaven and earth to consummate her own +schemes to get Jeb. I wouldn't be one bit surprised if we should find +out that she is, even now, helping Jeb at the barn and trying to +wheedle him into an out and out proposal. There!" was Mrs. Brewster's +reply. + +At that, Sam Brewster jumped up, and without asking to be excused, +rushed away and down the road that led to the barns. Mrs. Brewster, +with the girls, laughed at his sudden departure, and when supper was +over, with the master of the house still absent, they all cleared away +the meal and piled up the dishes for Sary to wash in the morning. Then +Mr. Brewster came back. + +"Well, Mary! You must have second sight, is all Ah can say. Sary was +out helping Jeb with the horses, sure enough. And Ah overheard her +sayin', when Ah came up to the door: 'Jeb, if you-all ever has time to +go visitin' to Denver, or any such place, it would be a fine honeymoon +for me and you, woulden' it?'" + +As Mr. Brewster repeated Sary's words, he glanced at his wife, but +every one laughed heartily at his expression and Sary's clever +anticipation of Jeb's vacation. Mrs. Brewster wagged her head wisely, +as she said: + +"Didn't I tell you so, Sam? Now Sary will have no rest, nor indeed give +poor Jeb any peace of mind, until she has him firmly attached to her by +vows. Once the bans are announced at church, she knows Jeb will not try +to dodge them and his responsibility." + +"Well, Mary, after this experience Ah swear Ah shall have nothing more +to do in trying to break up any matches. No, not even if my own +children plan to marry without having due time to judge what is best +for them!" His sigh of sacrifice in such a dire case made all eyes turn +to Anne, and her companions laughed teasingly at her blush. + +"Now, girls--all off to bed at once, if you expect to go with us at +daybreak," was Mrs. Brewster's advice that cut the conversation short. + +"I have no objections to tumbling into bed," confessed Polly. + +"Nor I. If it were not for that ride to-morrow, I could sleep all day," +added Eleanor, hiding a yawn. + +"Ah will set the Big Ben to-night, I think," said Mr. Brewster, "so +that we will not miss Simms and his party at Lone Pine Blaze in the +morning." + +"Who besides Simms is going with us, father?" asked Polly. + +"Why, my old pal the Sheriff, and his men; Simms and a few of his best +friends, and Rattle-snake Mike as a guide." + +"Oh, really! Why, it will be a large party, won't it?" cried Polly, +delightedly. + +"We'll need a large party, Ah'm thinking, girls, if our surmises are +right. In fact, the Sheriff plans to send an extra posse up by a +different trail, in order to head off any strange-acting or +unfamiliar-looking men who might happen to meet them on this +unfrequented ride along Top Notch Trail." + +"My! It makes me tingle deliciously at thought of the fun we will have +if we have to fight for the mine," said Eleanor. + +"I don't think we women ought to go if there is the least danger," +whimpered Barbara, glancing from one to the other in the group. + +"You can stay at home and chaperone Sary," said Eleanor. + +"I'll do nothing of the kind, Eleanor Maynard! If you and the others +go, I shall go too!" declared Barbara, jealously. + +"Well, no one in this family will go unless you all get into bed inside +of the next five minutes," said Mr. Brewster. "Don't take time to use +cold cream and wrinkle plasters this night." + +Laughingly, the girls said good-night and left the two adult Brewsters +alone. The moment the door closed upon the last girl, Mrs. Brewster +made sure that Sary was in her room with the door closed, and then she +tiptoed back to join her husband. She spoke in a whisper. + +"Sam, do you really think there will be any danger of claim-jumpers, +to-morrow, on Top Notch?" + +"There's always trouble where gold is to be had," returned Mr. +Brewster, seriously. + +"But I mean, do you apprehend it and thus asked the Sheriff and his men +to ride with us?" + +"Simms and the Sheriff think so. It was his idea to prepare against any +surprises along the road, and after we get there. But it was the +Sheriff's idea to get Rattlesnake Mike to guide us, and hire him to +cook while we are in camp. Mike is an honest Indian, you know, Mary, +and we may need one who is as good a woodsman as he is." + +"Well, Sam, if I thought there was to be the slightest risk to these +girls, in any way whatever, I should refuse to allow them to go +to-morrow," declared Mrs. Brewster. + +"You don't think that I would consent to have Polly go if I thought +there was to be any trouble do you? All the gold in the earth wouldn't +bribe me to do such a foolish thing." + +"I thought you may belittle any risk we might run. You are so +accustomed to these ruffians at Oak Creek, but three city girls are +different from western ranchmen. Even Polly and I are better seasoned +for the adventures we may encounter than Anne and her friends," was +Mrs. Brewster's reply. + +"Well, if you feel the least nervous over this trip you had better +remain at home with the girls. Ah reckon we-all can readily find the +cave by the descriptions Polly gave us, and by the claim she staked. +Then, too, Rattlesnake Mike can guide us to any spot on the +mountaintop." + +"I don't want to deprive the girls of any safe adventure we may +experience, Sam, nor do I want them to run risks. So we had better wait +and leave it entirely to them, if you feel sure nothing would happen +through an encounter with ruffians," said Mrs. Brewster. + +"Oh, if that is what worries you, Mary, rest your mind on that score. +No one will attack such a large party, especially when the Sheriff and +his men are in the party." + +"Well, then, Sam, we'll get out the supplies you need to take for the +excursion, and then you can catch a few hours' sleep." + +But it will take another book to tell what actually did happen there +and on Grizzly Slide; and who Ken proved to be; and whether John +Brewster loved Anne Stewart, or Tom Latimer fell a victim to Barbara's +blandishments. All these queries are answered in the second volume +called: "Polly and Eleanor." + +THE END + + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Polly of Pebbly Pit, by Lillian Elizabeth Roy + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLLY OF PEBBLY PIT *** + +***** This file should be named 6001.txt or 6001.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/0/6001/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Polly of Pebbly Pit + +Author: Lillian Elizabeth Roy + +Release Date: July, 2004 [EBook #6001] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on October 12, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLLY OF PEBBLY PIT *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +POLLY OF PEBBLY PIT + +BY + +LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY + +Author of +Polly and Eleanor, +Polly in New York, +Polly and Her Friends Abroad, +Polly's Business Venture. + +Illustrated +1922 + + + + +TO MY DEAR FRIENDS, SARAH J. BATTEY, M.D., +AND BRYAN M. BATTEY. + + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + +I THE FARM IN PEBBLY PIT + +II A MOMENTOUS LETTER + +III PREPARING FOR THE UNKNOWN + +IV THE "SERVANT PROBLEM" SOLVED + +V UNPLEASANT SURPRISES + +VI THE HARROWING DETAILS + +VII A LITTLE SCHEME THAT WORKED + +VIII ACCLIMATING THE CITY GIRLS + +IX SEVERAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS + +X THE DANCE AT BEAR FORKS + +XI IN THE WILDERNESS + +XII THE BLIZZARD ON GRIZZLY SLIDE + +XIII A NIGHT IN THE CAVE + +XIV OLD MONTRESOR'S LEGACY + +XV MONTRESOR'S CLAIM is JUSTIFIED + +XVI A YOUNG STRANGER IN OAK CREEK + +XVII SARY'S AMBITIONS + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE FARM IN PEBBLY PIT + + +"Polly! Poll-ee!" sounded musically from the direction of the kitchen +doorway in a ranch-house, and reached Polly Brewster as she knelt +beside her pet in the barn. + +"Run outside and see what Maw wants, Poll," said Mr. Brewster, who was +working faithfully over the object of Polly's solicitous devotion. + +Obediently, Polly ran out and shaded her eyes as she gazed across the +great depression of the volcanic crater which had made such a wonderful +farm for the Brewsters. At the door of the long, squat homestead, stood +Mrs. Brewster, waiting for an answer. + +The moment she saw Polly, she called: "Din-ner-r's ready!" + +"All right!" shouted the girl, waving her sun-bonnet to signify she had +heard the message. + +Mrs. Brewster returned to the kitchen and Polly went back to her +father's side. He glanced up as she entered the barn, and Polly replied +to his questioning look. + +"Maw said dinner's ready." + +"Well, Ah reckon Noddy's all right now, Poll," said the rancher, as he +stood up to stretch his tired muscles. + +"I felt sure she would be, Paw," returned Polly, positively. + +"If only Jeb was about, now, Ah could leave him with Noddy, with +directions about the medicine, till we-all get back from dinner," mused +Mr. Brewster, standing in the doorway to look about for Jeb. + +"Why, Daddy! Do you suppose I'd leave Noddy with Jeb for a single +moment? And just as we saved her life, too! I reckon not! I'll stop +here myself and watch her," declared Polly with finality, as she +assumed the post vacated by her father, and held the little burro's +fuzzy head upon her knees. + +Sam Brewster smiled as he watched Polly bend over her pet and whisper +affectionately in the long, sensitive ear. + +"Poll, Jeb will shore say you used witchcraft on the burro; he said +Noddy was done for--being buried under that slide the way she was." + +"Noddy _would_ have been done for if Jeb had had her in charge; but she +just couldn't refuse to live, with me right here calling her back, +you know. She loves me so, she had to listen to my voice," explained +Polly, with suspicious moisture in her big blue eyes. + +"Ah reckon that's it, Poll! Love works wonders if we'd only _let_ it. +And you love everything in a way that everything loves you back again. +It beats me, how the beavers, and foxes, and even the bears treat you +as if you were one of them, instead of running to cover. As for the +chicks and colts and lambs on the ranch--why, they'd follow you to Oak +Creek, if they could!" + +Polly smiled happily as she looked away over the distant mountain-sides +where Nature's creatures roamed unrestrained. And then her eyes rested +upon the pastures nearer home, where the farm pets grazed. Every one of +them, wild or tame, were her friends. + +"Reckon Ah'll go now, Poll. What shall Maw do about the dinner?" + +"Tell her not to bother about me. I'll wash the dishes' when I get +back, Daddy." + +So Mr. Brewster started for the house and Polly settled herself in a +more comfortable position while crooning to little Noddy. As she sat +holding the little burro's head, her thoughts wandered back to the time +when Noddy was but three days old. The mother had died and left the +tiny bundle of brown wool to be brought up on a nursing bottle. To keep +the baby burro warm it had been wrapped in an old blanket and placed +back of the kitchen stove. Thus Noddy first learned to walk in the +large kitchen of the log ranch-house, and later it felt quite like a +member of the family. + +Being such a sleepy little colt, the name of Noddy was considered very +appropriate but, as the burro grew older, it showed such intelligence +and energy that its name was a dreadful misnomer. + +Noddy considered Polly her particular charge and followed her about the +place like a dog. And when the burro was full-grown, she became the +daily companion that Polly rode to school, over the mountain trails, or +about the farm. + +The wise western burros are not half appreciated by folks who do not +understand their unusual intelligence and their devotion to their +masters. They will seek for water or edible herbs when lost on the +desert or mountain peaks and sacrifice life to save that of the +rider's. + +But Noddy's present condition was not due to sacrifice. Most of the +horses and burros at Pebbly Pit showed such an aversion to the Rainbow +Cliffs that they never grazed near there, although the luxuriant grass +made fine pasturage. These cliffs were the local wonder and gave the +farm its name. They were a section of jagged "pudding-stone" wall +composed of large and small fragments of gorgeously hued stones massed +together in loose formation, like shale. Great heaps of these jeweled +fragments, which crumbled easily from the cliff, lay piled up along the +base of the wall and sparkled brilliantly when the sun shone upon them, +or directly after a rain. + +Noddy had been pasturing out the night before her accident, and at +sunrise found herself too near the tabooed cliffs. She lifted her ears +suspiciously, wrinkled her nose fearfully, and wheeled to run away to a +more desirable locality. But in that quick turn she loosened the shale +at the base of a steep descent. The treacherous rock slid and threw her +down. Before she could get up and away the great mass rumbled down and +covered her, but she finally managed to work her head free for breath. + +Jeb, out early to seek for stray cattle, saw the fresh slide and gazed +wonderingly at it. Then he spied the nose and hoof of a burro +protruding from the shale. He rushed to the barn where he had left Mr. +Brewster, and in a short time master and man had the tools and "cradle" +back at the spot, and Noddy was soon unearthed. She was unconscious, and +Jeb declared it was useless to bother with a burro so evidently far +gone. Even Mr. Brewster feared she was past help, but Polly insisted +that Noddy must live. + +All that morning Polly sat holding the limp brown head while whispering +words of affection in the long ears, and who will say that Noddy's +instinct did not respond to love, even though the physical sense of +hearing was deaf to earthly sounds? She slowly revived and was resting +comfortably when the house-call came for dinner. + +Mr. Brewster returned after dinner, bringing a bowl of gruel for the +burro, and Jeb followed his master to inquire about the patient. + +"Jeb, you-all help me feed Noddy while Polly runs to the house for her +dinner," said Mr. Brewster. + +"I'd a heap rather wait here and help with Noddy, Paw!" + +"Oh, Polly! Maw told me to say there was a letter for you. Jim Melvin +stopped off with our mail he got at Oak Creek to-day." + +"A letter! Who can it be from?" asked Polly wonderingly. +"That's what you must find out. It looks like a girl's writing and it +is post-marked Denver. Who do you know there?" replied her father. + +"Denver? Why, nobody! I'll run and see who it's from!" cried she +eagerly, and Mr. Brewster smiled at the success of the ruse to get his +daughter away for a time. + +Polly was a genuine child of Nature. Her life of little more than +fourteen years had been spent in the mountains surrounding her ranch- +home, Pebbly Pit. The farm was oddly located in the crater of an +extinct volcano, known on the maps as "The Devil's Grave." Like many +other peaks scattered about in this region of Colorado, the volcanic +fires had been dead for centuries. + +The outer rim of the crater formed a natural wall about the bowl, and +protected the rich and fertile soil of the farm from the desert winds +that covered other ranches with its fine alkali dust. The snows in +winter, lodging in the crevices of the cliffs, slowly melted during the +progress of summer, thus furnishing sufficient moisture for the +vegetation growing in the "bowl"; and this provided splendid pasturage +for the herds of cattle owned by the rancher. + +When Sam Brewster staked his claim in this crater, his companions +jeered at the choice and called the place "Pebbly Pit." But the young +man had studied agriculture thoroughly and knew what he was doing; then +the test made by the government convinced him of this. + +Besides, his Denver bride preferred the beauty of the spot to the more +sociable but draughty ranches in the valley of Bear Forks River; so +they settled in the crater, and named the farm Rainbow Cliffs, but the +original nick-name clung, and gradually the owners, from habit, also +came to call their place "Pebbly Pit." + +In the mountains where the government gives a settler all the timber he +needs, transportation is so difficult and paid labor almost unknown, so +that the size and quality of a rancher's house and out-buildings +expresses his character. Sam Brewster's buildings and fences were as +solid and comfortable as any in the State. He and his wife (a refined +young woman) were ambitious and energetic, so it was not surprising +that they succeeded in life. + +When John, the first-born, had completed his studies at High School in +Denver, he was sent to a well-known college in Chicago. And now that +Polly, seven years John's junior, had finished her grammar course at +the little Bear Forks log school-house, she, too, was determined to +enter High School at Denver. + +Sam Brewster had stubbornly refused to consent to the plan, taking for +an excuse that no friends or relatives remained in Denver where Polly +might board, and commutation was out of the question. But he knew, and +so did his wife, that the truth of his refusal lay in the fact that he +could not bear to part with his youngest child--even though she visited +at home each week-end. + +Mrs. Brewster sided with Polly's ambition, and planned to visit her old +home in Denver to see if she could find any friends who would prove to +be desirable for Polly to associate with. The matter stood thus this +lovely June day when the unexpected letter arrived. + +The very unusual occurrence created enough interest for Polly to take +her mind from the burro, so she ran swiftly towards the house while +every possible correspondent she could think of passed through her +thoughts. But she was as much at sea as ever, when she danced up the +log steps leading directly to the kitchen. + +"Maw, Maw! Where are you--is there really a letter?" + +"Yes--from Denver! But how is Noddy?" replied Mrs. Brewster, coming to +the kitchen door, holding a square envelope in her hand. + +"Dear little Noddy--she is all right now, Maw, but it looked mighty bad +a bit of time back. I just had to pray and _pray_ with all my might, +Maw--you know how!" sighed Polly, taking the refined-looking letter +from her mother without seeing it. + +"I never knew how I loved that dear little bundle of fuzz and flesh +till I thought she was dead! Oh, I am so glad she will live that I +don't care if I ever eat again or not!" + +Still holding the precious letter, Polly turned back to look at the +barn where the object of her love was lapping up the gruel. Mrs. +Brewster smiled indulgently at her intense young daughter, then +reminded her of the unopened communication. + +"Dear me! So much excitement in one day--I don't see how I can quiet +down again. But _who_ do you suppose would write to _me_?" queried +Polly, holding the envelope at arm's length and studying the hand- +writing. + +"I'm not clairvoyant, Polly, so suppose you open it and see for +yourself," laughed Mrs. Brewster. + +"Well, I hate to spoil this nice stationery but--here it goes!" +murmured Polly, severing an end of the envelope as if she was the +executioner of an innocent victim. + +"See who it's from, Polly, while I dish up your dinner. Of course you +don't care whether you ever eat again, but I would suggest that at +least you strive to ward off starvation," remarked her mother, +teasingly, as she took a well-filled plate from the oven. + +"Wh-h-y--of all things!" gasped Polly, as she read the letter quickly. + +Mrs. Brewster stood waiting to hear more, and Polly gave another +hurried glance at the signature before explaining. + +"It's from Anne Stewart--the girl who used to teach at Bear Forks +school that time the teacher got sick and had to leave for a few +months. You know--the pretty one with the blonde hair that all the big +scholars raved over?" announced Polly. + +"Oh, yes! The one that you said was so happy to be in this wonderful +country?" + +"Yes, that's the girl! Well, guess what she writes me?" And Polly waved +the written sheet above her head. + +"Polly, have you been writing to her about High School?" hurriedly +asked Mrs. Brewster. + +"I never thought of that! Maybe we can plan it with her," returned +Polly, her expression changing instantly to meet the new suggestion of +her mother's. + +"Well, time enough to settle that question. Now tell me what she +wrote," declared Mrs. Brewster, sighing with relief. + +"You'll be taken right off your feet, Maw, so you'd best sit down and +listen," advised Polly, nibbling at a biscuit while she waited for her +mother to be seated. + +"Now, I don't want you to shake your head or say a word, until I'm all +through reading, Maw. It's something terribly surprising and goodness +only knows why she asked _me_. I was so young when she taught school +that she never noticed me much." + +"Yes, you were _so_ much younger two years ago, and you are so very +ancient now!" retorted Mrs. Brewster, trying to appear serious. + +"You know what I mean--but this isn't reading you the letter and I know +just how you'll gasp when you hear her brother--listen and I'll read +it." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A MOMENTOUS LETTER + + +Having seen that her mother was seated and ready for the surprise, +Polly read: + +"Dear Miss Polly: + +"As you are fast reaching the boundary-line where girlhood and +womanhood meet, I feel I must address you with the prefix that +dignifies this stage of your life, although I seem to know you best as +the rosy-cheeked little girl whose name of 'Polly' seemed to fit her +exactly. + +"Perhaps your mother will be surprised that I did not write this letter +to her, as most of it concerns her and her family directly. But I can +best explain why I am writing to you by the following: + +"My brother Paul and your brother John are chums in college, you know, +and I heard quite recently that you wished to prepare for High School +in Denver this fall. When a friend in Chicago wrote me to find a good +home in the mountains near Denver where I can stay with and tutor his +daughters during the summer, I thought of the region about Bear Forks. +Having been there myself, I know how wonderful the country and climate +are. + +"If your mother and yourself think well of my proposition, I know I can +help you a great deal, also, towards preparing you for High School, as +I will have to devote a short time each day this summer in keeping +Eleanor up in her studies. + +"Last year Eleanor and Barbara Maynard, of Chicago, came to board with +us in Denver. These girls are acquainted with Paul and John, through +their brother who is a class-mate of the boys. The younger girl, +Eleanor, who is your age, had been very ill and the doctor ordered her +to Denver because of the wonderful air. Her sister, who is about my +age, accompanied her. The father, Mr. Maynard, engaged me to tutor +Eleanor, or Nolla we call her, during her stay in Denver, as she was +backward in lessons. + +"We three became very good friends and when the girls went back to +Chicago, I missed their companionship very much. I had a letter from +the father last week, asking me to find a mountain resort for this +summer where he could send the girls, as Nolla needs the invigorating +air and simple life of the Rockies. She is organically sound but not +strong enough to stand city air and life. + +"Mr. Maynard has been through the Bear Forks country and when I wrote +suggesting a ranch there, he immediately wired me to settle the matter +at once. To-day I had a letter from the mother who cannot go with her +daughters for the summer, so she asked me to go with them, more as a +friend and adviser than as a tutor. My expenses will be paid, and my +salary for tutoring Nolla will be a blessing to help Paul through his +third year's term of the college course. + +"I know your brother is away with Tom Latimer on some practice work +with a survey crew, so his room is vacant this summer. Then too, I was +told by John that you had a small spare room back of the kitchen, so +that three girls could have comfortable quarters. If, by any chance, +your mother would consent to take us in for the summer, I could help +you with your preparatory lessons for High School next term, at the +same time that I coach Nolla. And I will agree for myself and the two +girls that we will not expect any other than your usual home-life. + +"This unexpected request may meet with disapproval and refusal by your +family, but do not let one of the causes be on the grounds of the extra +work we might create, because we do not want any fussing, whatever, but +we do want to be treated as members of the family--to do our share of +anything that needs to be done. + +"Mr. Maynard wishes his girls to live in the outdoors as much as +possible, so we will not be in your mother's way. I certainly hope your +father and mother will allow us to come, and I can promise you that you +will enjoy these girls very much. The terms are of no consequence, Mr. +Maynard said, as he is ready to pay anything to give Nolla a quiet home +and the life she needs. + +"I trust you can persuade your mother to try us, at any rate, and so, +hoping for a favorable reply to this letter, + +"I am your sincere friend, + ANNE STEWART." + +While Polly read the letter aloud, her mother thought rapidly. She had +the picture of a charming girl who had often met John Brewster at +social gatherings during the term she taught the children at Bear +Forks. Now her brother Paul was one of John's chums at college. Perhaps +this girl had visited at Chicago, and perhaps John had visited her home +at Denver--but he had never said a word about it. It was very evident +that this girl had an intimate acquaintance with the home-life at +Pebbly Pit, and this knowledge must have reached her through John. +Hence John and she must be very well acquainted. John would doubtless +marry some day, but his mother did not care to see him entangled before +he had launched his bark on the waters of his ambition. If he was +touched by one of Cupid's darts to fancy himself in love with his +chum's pretty sister, it was good judgment for his mother to know all +there was to be known about the girl. Not that the letter confessed +this state of affairs, but the mother feared that such must be the +case--for who could resist loving her handsome, clever boy? + +"Maw! I _said--Anne Stewart is perfectly lovely!" + +"Oh, yes, Polly! So I believe," replied Mrs. Brewster, in an absent- +minded manner. + +"Well! If you'd let them come here I would love it!" + +"You can't judge beforehand, Polly. Having three city strangers come +suddenly to live at a ranch where city manners are unknown, will turn +things upside-down, you know." + +"But you see, Maw, the teacher offers to help me with lessons so I can +pass for High School in the fall," Polly reminded her mother. + +"I can do as much for you, dear, without the care of strangers," +remonstrated Mrs. Brewster, who would not commit herself until she had +had time to weigh all things carefully. + +"Then I s'pose you intend refusing this request!" pouted the +disappointed girl. + +"I wish to think over the situation most wisely before we reply to the +letter. Now finish your dinner and do the dishes. I am going to take my +mending to the side porch." + +Polly did as she was told but her imagination strayed to Denver and +Chicago, as she tried to picture Barbara and Eleanor Maynard with Anne +Stewart, visiting Pebbly Pit that summer. Meantime, Mrs. Brewster +considered the _pros_ and _cons_ of the problem. If this Anne Stewart +proved to be the sort of wife John needed, it would be advisable to +have her know her future family-in-law. If she was not desirable, it +would be discovered during the weeks she lived under the same roof with +John's mother. But should it transpire that there was no cause for +worry about John and this young teacher, she would still prove to be a +good friend for Polly to know in case the child attended school in +Denver the following term. Mrs. Brewster had almost decided to speak +favorably to Polly of the plan, when the girl joined her on the porch. + +"Do you suppose Daddy will mind having so many young folks about the +place--that is, if you will let them come?" + +"I'm sure your Paw will be happy to give you pleasure, and you know how +glad he is to have young people visiting here, rather than having you +leave home to visit others," remarked Mrs. Brewster, slowly drawing the +yarn through a hole in a sock. + +"While I washed the dishes, I wondered if he would say anything to you +about the extra work, the three girls will make?" said Polly, trying to +"feel" her mother out. + +"That will be his main objection, I think. He had planned for me to +visit my old friends in Denver, this summer, but this new departure +will make it impossible for me to be away from here." + +"Oh, Maw, if you want to go away, don't let these girls spoil your +plans!" cried Polly, contritely. + +"I really had not thought of my own pleasure in visiting old friends at +Denver, Polly, but I had planned to see about your residence this +winter should you attend school there. I want you to board with a +family that can offer you the proper atmosphere. If this young teacher +proves to be nice, she will know all I needed to find out about the +school and a boarding house, and I will not have to leave my beloved +home at all." + +"Well, then, it all depends on what Daddy will say!" cried Polly, +joyously. "I do wish he'd hurry in." + +"He must have known your wishes, Polly; I see him coming towards the +house," laughed Mrs. Brewster. + +Polly leaned over the hand-rail of the porch to watch her father coming +nearer and nearer. Then, when she thought he was in hailing distance, +she shouted: + +"Daddy! Do hurry and hear the news--came in my letter!" And the missive +was waved back and forth to urge the rancher to greater speed. + +Mr. Brewster reached the porch and whipped off his wide sombrero to mop +his warm forehead. "Well, Maw, did Poll tell you about Noddy? Ah tell +you! Our Polly is some doctor, all right!" + +As the rancher chuckled over his words, Polly felt she had been guilty +of neglect, for she had quite forgotten to ask how Noddy was. Mrs. +Brewster smiled as she continued her darning. + +"Who's with Noddy now--did you give Jeb careful instructions, Paw?" +anxiously queried Polly. + +"Noddy's sleeping as peacefully as a babe, so you-all needn't worry any +more. Now tell me all about the wonderful letter." + +"Sam, do you remember that golden-haired young lady from Denver, who +took Miss Shalp's place at Bear Forks school for a few months?" quickly +asked Mrs. Brewster. + +The note of anxiety in the query was not overlooked by the rancher, but +he answered indifferently--to all appearances: + +"Shore thing, wife. Could any one forget such a nice girl in a hurry?" + +"Well, Sam, the letter's from her--Anne Stewart is her name." + +"Don't tell him what! Let me read it, Maw!" cried Polly. + +So the letter was read again and the moment it was concluded Polly and +Mrs. Brewster looked fearfully at Mr. Brewster, for they both expected +violent objections from him. + +But the rancher stood boring a hole with the toe of his boot down +through the soft grass sod, while he seemed to study the cobbler's +handiwork. After a few moments of tense silence, he looked up and +laughed heartily. + +"Who'd have thought it, Mary? You, young looking enough to pass for a +blushing bride but having a son old enough to think of a sweet-heart. +And little Poll here, trying to bamboozle us to let her go away to +school. Ah, well!" + +Polly gazed from father to mother and back again. "What has John got to +do with this letter? Gracious, he isn't thinking of a wife, I hope!" + +Her parents laughed at her perplexity, and Mr. Brewster explained +satisfactorily to her question: + +"I was thinking of the four pretty girls we'd have at the ranch all +summer, if John comes home to choose one of them." + +"Oh, Daddy! Then you'll have them come?" cried Polly, at the same time +jumping at her father to throw her arms about his neck. + +"On one condition--yes. That is: a gal to do the chores for Maw, so she +can look after such a handful of trouble as three new ready-made +daughters will make for her." + +"A hired girl! Why, Sam, how you talk. What could I ever do with help +in such a small house? Besides, Anne Stewart says they will help with +the work," objected Mrs. Brewster. + +"That's my only condition! You're not going to slave for a lot of city +girls if I know it. Why, they won't know how to hold a kitchen knife, +let alone cook for the family," replied Mr. Brewster. + +"I'll agree at once, Sam, because I know there isn't a girl or woman to +hire within fifty miles of Oak Creek," laughed Mrs. Brewster. + +"Then Polly can answer the letter as she likes, and I will hunt up a +gal. You said it: you'd agree to hire help if one can be found!" +quickly came from the rancher. + +"Sam, you took this occasion to have your own about hired help," +laughed his wife, shaking her head deprecatingly. + +"You never would listen before, but now you've got to!" said Mr. +Brewster, triumphantly. + +"Polly, you can run in and answer that letter as soon as you like," +hinted Mrs. Brewster, and the girl eagerly obeyed. + +While she wrote the answer over and over till it met with her approval, +her parents exchanged confidences regarding John and this young +teacher, but Polly never dreamed of such fears. + +The letter that left Pebbly Pit the following day was the first thread +woven in the warp and woof of two young lives--Eleanor Maynard in +Chicago and Polly Brewster in the Rockies. Had the reply been other +than it was, would these two girls have met and experienced the +interesting schooldays, college years, and business careers that they +enjoyed through becoming acquainted that summer at Pebbly Pit? + + + + +CHAPTER III + +PREPARING FOR THE UNKNOWN + + +The letter sent from Pebbly Pit to Anne Stewart was forwarded by the +latter to the Maynard girls in Chicago. It was eagerly read aloud to +Mrs. Maynard by Barbara. Reaching the paragraph in the letter where +Mrs. Brewster asked Anne Stewart if she thought five dollars a week for +the board of each would be asking too much, Barbara dropped the sheet +of paper and gasped. An expression of incredulity appeared on the faces +of the mother and daughter, while Eleanor laughed outright. + +"Just fancy! Five dollars a week!" she cried, throwing herself back on +the cushions of the divan. + +"It must be a mistake! I trust it isn't meant for fifty a week! That is +about the price a good hotel would charge, but I had hoped this place +would be more reasonable. However, I am quite sure that figure five is +a mistake; no one can possibly give meals at that rate, no matter how +meager the fare may be!" declared Mrs. Maynard. + +"The writing is plain enough and so is the figure '5,' mother," +returned Barbara, referring again to the letter, then handing it to her +mother. + +Mrs. Maynard adjusted her lorgnette and studied the figure given. "It +_does_ seem to be five, without a doubt!" admitted she. + +"Oh, well! it really doesn't matter much what the price is just as long +as we have a good time this summer!" exclaimed Eleanor. + +"But, Nolla, dear, it does matter! Your father is dreadfully upset +about our plans. He says my Newport season will cost far more than I +fancied it would, and you two girls going to a mountain resort like +this is an extra cost. He will have to be away all summer on important +business connected with the bank, and _that_ will cost extra money. +Altogether, he feels anything but indifferent," sighed Mrs. Maynard, +handing the letter back to Barbara. + +"Well, we are not responsible for father's worries over the bank's +loans, but we _are_ concerned about the style and quality of meals to +be served at this Brewster place for five dollars a week," scorned +Barbara. + +"I don't believe Anne Stewart would take us to a place where anything +was horrid and cheap! She knows what's good as well as we do!" defended +Eleanor, who was eager to go to this mountain ranch. + +"Nolla is quite right, Bob. Anne is too particular to engage board in +an undesirable house or hotel!" added Mrs. Maynard. + +"Besides, these Brewsters have a farm, you know, and I suppose they +raise lots of things that we have to pay such awful prices for--eggs, +chickens, butter and vegetables," added Eleanor. + +Mrs. Maynard and Barbara looked with admiration at the young girl, for +that was an idea they had not thought of! + +"Of course, that's why they can board us so reasonably! Then, too, I +suppose they do their own marketing for other items of food, such as +delicacies and supplies from the baker's! It does make a difference in +the accounts, you see, when one markets!" ventured Barbara, glancing at +her mother who never bothered about anything connected with the +housekeeping--leaving it all for the servants to do. + +"Now, Bob, don't criticize your mother's methods. I can't drudge about +the house and take charge of the Social Clubs and Welfare Work as +well," complained Mrs. Maynard. + +"Of course not, Bob! Besides, mother never did know a good cut of beef +from a poor one--they never taught domestic science in her day, you +see," hurriedly interpolated Eleanor, hoping to waive a scene such as +was a common occurrence between Barbara and her mother. + +"Nolla, are you sarcastic about my education?" queried Mrs. Maynard, +with dignity. + +"Mercy, no! I only tried to show Bob the difference in present day +methods and the past." + +Mr. Maynard entered the room during Eleanor's reply, and smiled as he +heard his youngest daughter's frank words. It was a keen pleasure to +him to have one child fearless in thought and word. His son and elder +daughter had been spoiled by fawning tutors and companions, so they had +acquired the habit of white-washing facts to suit the needs. Eleanor +had been too delicate to attend any expensive and fashionable seminary +and, being taught by Anne Stewart while in Denver, had acquired many of +Anne's splendid ways. + +"Frederick, what do you know about this mountain resort you asked Anne +Stewart to write about?" asked Mrs. Maynard. + +"Well, now that we are all together and have the time to talk this +matter out, I will say my say," replied Mr. Maynard, seating himself +and drawing Eleanor down beside him upon the divan. + +"You remember the first year we were married--I had to visit Bear Forks +to investigate a loan one of our clients at the bank asked us to make +on a tract of timber-land? You wouldn't go with me when you heard we +would have to camp out at night and ride horses over rough mountain- +trails. That is the season you visited your school-friend in the East." + +Mr. Maynard looked at his wife as he spoke and she nodded her head as +if the memory was not pleasant to recall. Her husband smiled an +enigmatical smile and continued his description. + +"That is when I met Sam Brewster and his wife--they had been married +about as long as we had, and their happy ranch-life struck me as being +the most desirable existence I ever heard of." + +Mrs. Maynard's lips curled in silent derision. She understood her +husband's yearning for a simple life in place of the frivolous and +empty excitement of the social career she had made for herself and +family. + +"The country about the sections I visited is beautiful and healthy, and +as Nolla is ordered to a quiet, mountainous region for a time, I know +of no place so suitable. Besides, Anne Stewart has been there, too, and +she is wild over the place." + +"But you are so old-fashioned in your ideas of living and pleasures, +father, and I want to know if this place will suit me. Are the +Brewsters members of the best set there, or will I be left absolutely +unaided to find a way to meet young people such as we would like to +know?" asked Barbara, anxiously. + +"The Brewsters are by far the wealthiest family in that whole section +of country, and I have heard that the ranch and house are the finest in +the state. You met young John Brewster at the College Prom and you can +tell what you think of _him._" + +"Ye-es, young Brewster is all right. Every one seemed to think he is +exceptionally nice," remarked Barbara. + +Mrs. Maynard sighed with relief as she felt that a weight had been +lifted from her mind. She was anxious to have her two daughters climb +the social ladder to a higher plane than she had been able to reach, so +she knew they must be careful to associate with only those who had +already arrived there through forbears or ambition. + +"Then we can wire Anne at once to complete arrangements, Frederick?" +ventured the lady, watching her husband's expression. + +"I'll attend to that but when can you be ready to go?" asked Mr. +Maynard, glancing from one to the other of the trio. + +"The same day you start, Daddy!" declared Eleanor, giving her father a +hug. + +"Why, we simply can't, Nolla! Father leaves Chicago next week and we +have so much to prepare before going to a place where we are apt to +meet the very elite of society," cried Barbara. + +"It will take fully two weeks to go through the girls' wardrobe, +Frederick, and see that everything is the last word," added Mrs. +Maynard, explanatory of her eldest daughter's dismay. + +"Well, fix things up any way you say, but I'm off for the bank when you +begin talking dress," laughed Mr. Maynard. + +"Now, Frederick, don't leave us like this! You know we will need money +to fit out the girls, and then you _must_ have some idea of when Anne +can expect them in Denver," hurriedly said Mrs. Maynard as her husband +crossed the room to leave. + +"Daddy, I don't want another thing to wear; I've got so many things now +that it makes me tired to keep changing to suit the thousand and one +occasions," declared Eleanor, running after her father to kiss him +good-by. + +"Nolla! I declare you will never grow up! Pray _walk_ like a lady when +you cross a room, won't you?" complained Barbara. + +Eleanor smiled up at her father and he pinched her thin cheek as he +stooped to kiss her. Then, he waved his hand at the others and left the +room. Once outside the door and safely out of hearing he chuckled to +himself. + +"Bob pictures a gay resort with troops of male admirers to play tennis +and dance away the hours with. She is thinking of dress to captivate +her 'moths,' but Nolla is thinking of the rural pleasures she has heard +me describe to her. If Bob knew the truth, she'd never go, and poor +little Nolla would lose the most wonderful opportunity of her young +life. I'd best not prejudice Bob or mother, but just pay the bills for +finery and whims and bide my time." + +Soon after arriving at his bank-office he sent a message to Anne +Stewart at Denver, advising her to engage the rooms at the Brewster +home. As an afterthought, he added that he was anxious to have Eleanor +get away about the time he left home for his trip. + +That afternoon he carried home the reply from Anne Stewart: "Have +engaged rooms and board from next week on. Wire when to expect you at +Denver. Anne." + +Mrs. Maynard had heard from her friends that day that their plans were +changed and now they expected to leave Chicago sooner than she had +thought. This made her agree quickly to having her daughters start the +following week. + +"But, mother, it can't be done. I need a riding habit, and tennis +clothes, and a few new afternoon gowns and evening dresses!" +remonstrated Barbara. + +"You had a new habit last fall, Bob," Eleanor said. + +"But it has a long coat and full bloomers. No one is wearing that +style, now. Everything is mannish coats and tight knickerbockers," +argued Barbara. + +"I will call up the tailor at once, girls, and have him give us the +preference over other work," Mrs. Maynard replied. + +"Not for me! I don't like the tight habits. I shall take my bloomer +one," replied Eleanor, decidedly. + +"Dear me, Nolla! You don't seem to care a fig about your appearance. +What will become of you when it is time for you to make your debut?" +sighed Mrs. Maynard, despondently. + +"I'm not going to do anything so silly--I'm going into business when I +grow up!" + +"Oh!" + +"Nolla!" + +Mother and sister could hardly gasp the words as they turned shocked +eyes in the direction of Mr. Maynard who had been writing out checks +for his family. He leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily at the +independence of his youngest child. + +"Frederick! Now you see what comes of your petting Nolla whenever she +says or does anything dreadful!" exclaimed Mrs. Maynard. + +"Is business so dreadful, then? Anne Stewart seems all right, and she +is earning her living," ventured Eleanor. + +"I wash my hands of you, after this, Eleanor! If you do anything so +unheard of as you threaten, no one will keep up with you," declared +Barbara, sternly. + +"They'll have to travel mighty fast to keep up with me, Bob, once I am +of age and start in business," laughed Eleanor. + +"That will do, young lady! Remember you are only fourteen, and business +is a long time off for you!" Mrs. Maynard remarked. + +Then Eleanor hung over the back of her father's chair twisting the +iron-gray hair into ridiculous points while her mother and Barbara +forgot her presence and planned many fetching gowns for the summer +campaign. Both were fair examples of modern society and its aims, and +they sacrificed many worth-while plans and pleasures upon the altar of +their fickle goddess. So it followed that the fashionable tailors, the +modiste and the lingerie-maker stitched and fitted and clipped, on +beautiful materials and trimmings, until everything was ready for +Barbara's summer victory. Eleanor steadfastly refused to be annoyed by +having new clothes made, so her trunk was packed with the wardrobe she +already had on hand. + +"Of course, Nolla's appearance is not of as much consequence as yours, +Bob, as she still is so young and delicate. It is different with you, +however, and I'm so glad you are sensible to appreciate what a +difference clothes make," said Mrs. Maynard, resignedly, as the seven +trunks were packed and waiting for the expressman. + +"I'm glad your fussing is over at last. If you had much more to sew and +fit we never _would_ get away!" grumbled Eleanor, watching the man +stagger as he carried the heavy trunks downstairs. + +"Well, I'll soon be reaping the benefit of my patience and _you'll_ +be sorry you were so indifferent over your looks," retorted Barbara, +turning away from the window once her five trunks were safely on the +express wagon. + +"Girls, you're sure everything that Celeste wrote down on the list is +packed? Your complexion cream in case of freckles or tan--and the +shampoo mixture for the hair-dresser to use? Tell him I never allow you +to use ready-made preparations on your hair." + +"Yes, mother, all the toilet articles are in the small trunk, and the +few extra things were packed in Eleanor's trunk because she had a +corner with nothing to fill in it," explained Barbara. + +"Thank goodness we can eat dinner and go to bed to-night without being +served styles and fits!" sighed Eleanor, not meaning to be irreverent +at her mother's gospel. + +Anne Stewart had not mentioned the need of mountain-shoes and good +plain clothing in her letters to the Maynards, because Mr. Maynard +particularly requested her to delete such items. Anne was bright at +reading minds and smiled as she surmised the reason for the +restriction. She knew Eleanor would glory in old clothes and a good +time, but would _Barbara_ be so willing to visit Pebbly Pit farm if she +knew the truth about the environment? + +Anne's single steamer trunk was filled with sensible clothes and the +toilet articles she knew she would need for the summer. Then she wired +the Maynards to say all was waiting to hear from them. And Barbara +wired back that they would meet her at the Denver Terminal Station at +the day and time agreed upon. + +Meantime, great preparations were under way at Pebbly Pit. John's room +had to be cleaned and rearranged for the young ladies. While Polly and +her mother planned the work, Mr. Brewster made a thorough search of the +countryside in hopes of finding a suitable maid-servant for his wife +and Polly. + +Most ranchers need their daughters at home, and as there are no really +poor or poverty-stricken families in those farming sections, the task +of finding a servant was not an easy one. And Mr. Brewster realized +what it meant, when he read in the papers how difficult a problem it +was becoming--this servant-girl question! + +At last, as he was about to despair of ever finding any one, he stopped +in at the Oak Creek Post Office to see if there was any mail. Here he +met a rancher-friend from the Yellow Jacket Pass region. + +"How-thar, Sam!" called Jim Sattler, heartily. + +"How-do yourself, Jim!" returned Mr. Brewster, catching hold of Jim's +hardened hand and shaking it back and forth. + +"You-all air a sight for sore eyes, Sam! Hain't seen hide nor hair of +any one of you for nigh onto a year! Be'n keepin' pritty busy, Sam?" +said Jim, in a voice that rolled forth like deep thunder. + +"Mighty busy, Jim! John's away to college, you know, and now my leetle +chick thinks she can scratch for herself, too. She's bound to go to +school, in Denver, this coming fall." + +"Sam, nuthin' like it, these days! A man or woman has to have ddication +to rassle with livin'! Let her go to it, says Ah! It won't be long +afore my boys'll be goin' away, too!" + +"That's what brings me here to-day. Ah have been hunting for some kind +of a gal to help the missus this summer and to have her broken in by +the time Polly leaves home," explained Sam Brewster. + +"Git one?" + +"Not yet! It seems they're as scarce as hen's teeth. Ah never dreamed +it would be such a job to hunt one up, or Ah doubt if Ah'd have +consented to have those girls come and summer with us." + +"See har, Sam! Ah bet Ah knows just the woman for you-all, ef you-all +ain't lookin' for a young gal with a figger like a wisp of hay." + +"Polly's wisp enough for one ranch! So Ah'm not looking for style but +stock. Do you-all know one, Jim?" + +"Ah do that! Sary Dodd's her name. You know Bill Dodd, don't yuh--he +never 'mounted to much as a rancher." + +"Seems to me Ah do! The name's familiar, anyway. Did he come from +Yellow Jacket Pass way?" asked Mr. Brewster, scratching his neck, +thoughtfully. + +"The same! Wall, he died an' left Sary with nothing but funeral costs. +She had to sell that measly ranch that Bill held a quarter interest in +to pay bills, and now she hain't got nawthin' but her health. Better +see Sary, Sam." + +It was the dawn of hope for Mr. Brewster. Since starting on his self- +appointed search, he had been growing more and more despondent of +success. Now he urged his horse towards Yellow Jacket Pass to find Sary +Dodd. + +After seeking at various ranches for the elusive Sary, he located her. +But she was not elusive looking. She was six feet in height and would +tip the scales easily at two hundred pounds. + +"Are you widow Dodd? Jim Sattler sent me to see if you-all would like a +place to live out? We-all have company for the summer and my wife needs +help," explained Sam Brewster. + +Sary beamed and exchanged polite introductions. "You-all tuk me clar +off my feet, Mr. Brewster. Yes, Ah did think some of goin' in a reel +good fam'ly to wuk, but nawthin' come up fer me, so Ah'm visitin' the +neighbors. Do you-all want me immijit?" + +The rancher saw that Sary was over-anxious to accept his offer of a +place, but he was not the man to take advantage of her in financial +matters. So he replied: + +"Ah s'pose we ought to fix the wage, but Mrs. Brewster wants some one +at once, and you-all can settle salary when you-all get there." + +"Ah've heerd tell what a square man you-all was, Mr. Brewster, an' now +Ah knows it!" Suspicious moisture filled Sary's eyes as she spoke. + +"Ah've won a way by being honest in all my dealings, for it pays in the +end. But tell me--can you come along?" + +"Ef you-all kin wait, Ah'll tie up my bundle in a minit!" agreed Sary, +anxiously. + +"All right! But don't waste any time packing your ball-gowns, Sary," +laughed Mr. Brewster, facetiously, as the load of trouble rolled from +his heart. Sary was soon perched beside the rancher on the high spring +seat of the lumbering ranch-wagon, tenderly holding a half-dead rubber +plant. On that drive, her host heard more of every family history of +the ranchers for miles around than he had ever dreamed of knowing even +if he lived to be a hundred. + +Sary Dodd arrived at the ranch-house the day before the visitors were +expected. Mrs. Brewster and Polly were in the midst of a light house- +cleaning as the strangers must not find a speck of dust anywhere! + +"Maw, here's Sary Dodd! Ah got her to help!" shouted Sam Brewster, +pulling up his horse by the side of the porch. + +"Sary Dodd! Oh, Sary, I'm right glad to see you! Come in, won't you?" +greeted Mrs. Brewster, coming to the door. + +"Just in time, Mrs. Dodd, to help me shove this press in to the spare +room," added Polly, arresting her work to smile at the new-comer. + +"Give Sary time to lay off her bonnet, child!" reproved Mrs. Brewster, +pulling out a rocker for the widow. + +"Laws me! What'cher doin'--a-cleanin' house agin!" cried Sary, leaning +against the door-frame panting for breath. + +"Winded, Sary? Ah told you-all Ah'd carry that heavy box from the +wagon. But no!" exclaimed Mr. Brewster. + +Polly was over by the door by this time, and she stooped to carry the +box indoors. + +"Goodness! What's in the box to make it so heavy?" + +"Chil', that box hol's all my treasures on arth! Some few things Bill +lef me, our fam'iy album, an' my gran'mother's pieces of reel silver-- +four plated! And mos' of all, the Brittania cake basket Bill gave me on +our annerversary!" explained Sary, pathetically, as she dabbed a black +cotton glove at her dewy eyes. + +"Sam, take the team to the barn and leave Sary with us. We'll soon have +her feeling at home," said Mrs. Brewster, seeing a frown coming over +her lord and master's face, as he wondered if his home-life was to be +shadowed by a sorrowing widow! + +The moment Mr. Brewster left for the barn, his wife returned to the +"help," who had plumped herself down into the wooden Boston rocker and +was fanning herself vigorously with a newspaper. + +"Let me remove your bonnet, Sary," offered Mrs. Brewster kindly, taking +the twisted black strings to undo the knot that was tightly tied under +a heavy double chin. + +"Ah declar t' goodness, Miss Brewster, ef you-all hain't too good! +Ah'll jest set t' git my second wind, an' then Ah'll tek right hol' of +things!" gasped Sary. + +"Don't hurry yourself. Just cool off and then you'll feel better after +such a long ride. Shall I send Polly to the spring-house for some cold +milk?" asked the lady of the house, folding the flimsy crepe token of +Sary's state of widowhood. + +"G'wan now, Miss Brewster--I'm no infant!" scoffed Sary. "Don' cher +know a fat bein' mustn't tech milk 'cause it's more fattenin'?" + +The hostess refrained from giving her opinion, but she busied herself +with unpinning the rusty black plush cape that the widow had donned +when she began her journey to new surroundings. Being quite rested by +this time, Sary gripped a hold on each arm of the rocker and managed to +hoist her bulky form out from the too close embrace of the senseless +wooden arms. + +"Now ef Polly er you-all 'll show me what to bunk, Ah ricken Ah'll +change my Sunday-best an' pitch inter work," said the willing help. + +"Polly, you drag the box in while I show Sary her room," called Mrs. +Brewster, coming to the door that opened from the living-room directly +into John's chamber--now to be a guest room. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE "SERVANT PROBLEM" SOLVED + + +In the wild mountain regions of the Rockies, where maids are unheard +of, and the "hotels" provide the most primitive service, the house- +wives have little concern over the perplexing question of "help" as +experienced in large cities. + +If it is necessary to assist a neighbor who is marrying off a daughter +and wants to provide her with a trousseau, a sewing-bee is arranged and +ranchers' families for miles around drive in and visit. Quilts, sheets, +and other necessities are quickly stitched and neatly folded out of the +way by the women, while the men occupy themselves with work about the +place until it is time for the grand dinner. + +The same neighborly help is offered in other emergencies, so that few +families want servants. At the same time, help has not been looked down +upon as menial work by the ranchers, and so the "help" lives as a +member of the family that happens to secure one. + +In cases such as Sary Dodd's, where a woman is left penniless and +another woman needs her practical aid, the two meet half-way and the +kitchen atmosphere is serene. Quite different is the case in cities, +however. + +Sary felt she was the social equal to any rancher's wife, for had she +not been mistress of a ranch, too--even though it was never paid for. +So she felt she was doing the Brewsters a favor by sharing their home +and work, even while she admitted the obligation she was under of being +provided with bed and board. + +The tiny room allotted to the widow was directly back of the kitchen L. +It had a single window that gave a fine view of Rainbow Cliffs, but the +furniture was of the plainest. Sary took in the simplicity in one +glance and then turned to her mistress. + +"Ah've hear'n tell how Sam Brewster kin buy er sell th' hull township, +ef he likes, Miss Brewster," ventured Sary, slyly. + +But the mistress had heard of Sary's proneness to gossip and so +replied: "We don't consider wealth worth anything unless you know what +to do with it. We live as comfortably as we like, and try to use what +is left in helping others." + +Sary made no reply to this statement, but watched Mrs. Brewster go to +the window and pull on the cord that was stretched at one side of the +window-frame. Instantly, the decorated window-shade pulleyed up to +allow more light to shine into the room. + +"Now Ah see how that wu'ks!" cried Sary, delightedly. + +Mrs. Brewster turned with a questioning look in her eyes. + +Sary explained. "Cal Lorrimer tol' me like-es-how them winder shades +wu'ked but Ah jest coulden' see it." + +Mrs. Brewster laughed and Sary ventured to pulley the shade herself. +She drew it up and down several times and then turned to express her +sentiments to her mistress. + +"My, but yuh're ferchunit t' have all seeh new-fangled idees in the +house! It clean locoes me t' think Ah'm livin' wid sech fine +contraptions." And Sary pressed her large freckled, hands over her +sparse red hair to signify how "locoed" her brain really was. + +Mrs. Brewster laughed merrily. "Why, Sary, since I left Denver, my +friends all have shades in the windows that run up and down on springs +without any other help. They go by themselves." + +"Now, Miss Brewster! Do _you_ believe that fairy-tale?" quizzed Sary, +looking keenly at her mistress to see if she was trying to laugh at her +ignorance of city-life. + +"It is a fact, Sary--not a fairy-tale. My friend has them all through +her house, and I expect to replace these pulleys with spring rollers, +some day." + +Sary passed her hand over the lustra design on the shade and Mrs. +Brewster turned to leave the room. Before she closed the door, she +said: "I'm going to start dinner, Sary. When you are ready you can join +me in the kitchen." + +The moment the mistress was gone, Sary ran to make sure the door was +securely closed. Then she turned to inspect the belongings of the room. +"Huh! the press ain't so much--plain deal painted brown." + +The press was passed by the scornful occupant of the room, and the bed +next came under her appraising eye. + +"Th' bed's soft wood, too, but it feels comfertible." + +Sary sat on the bed and bounced up and down to test the springs and +mattress before she pulled back the covers to examine the quality of +filling in the ticking. + +"Laws! It hain't corn-husks, a-tall! It's soft as down!" + +Inborn curiosity compelled her to take a hairpin and rip open a bit of +the seam. To her amazement she pulled out a tangle of long whitish +hair. + +"Of all things! And _this_ is what I hev to sleep on!" ejaculated the +insulted maid. "Wall, we'll see about that!" + +The sheets and newly patched quilt were designated as "ornery" but the +printed spread, patterned to imitate blue torchon lace, drew a murmur +of admiration from the woman. Sary quickly changed her robe of mourning +to a calico house-dress and went out, determined to speak her mind +about that awful mattress! She never thought such a rich man's house +would have so common a thing as "combin's"--even if it was in the +"help's" tick! + +But the wonderful odor of boiling cabbage made her forget her complaint +for the time being. She went to the stove and lifted a lid from the +large kettle. She sniffed audibly. + +"Um! Ah loves cabbige soup, Miss Brewster!" + +"Do you, Sary--so does Mr. Brewster. If you will watch the meat frying, +I will blow the horn to call the men to dinner." + +Mrs. Brewster waited until Sary began thickening the gravy, then she +took the horn and stood upon the door-step, blowing it several times. +It was then hung back of the kitchen door again. + +"Polly! Come now, dear, and wash up for dinner," called Mrs. Brewster, +standing in the doorway that led to the family living-room. + +Presently, the family, augmented by Sary, sat down in the kitchen for +dinner. Jeb, the hired man, had followed in after his master, and had +been introduced to the new help; he now watched her capable hands and +arms as she swung the soup-kettle from the stove. + +"Just a moment, Sary!" whispered Mrs. Brewster, warningly. + +Sary looked around in surprise and saw the others with bowed heads, +waiting for her to get rid of the pot and fold her hands. It took her +but half a second to understand and follow the leading. + +The ranchers of the Rocky Mountains and plains are most orthodox church +folk. They would as soon steal or murder as to miss "meetin'," or work +on a Sunday. And most of them have regular family prayers and long +services at home whenever opportunity offers. + +Sam Brewster was not one of the latter kind but the longer the grace he +said, the better a man he thought he was. In every other way, so +liberal and kind, it was not consistent for him to act so narrow-minded +regarding religion. + +Once the grace was said, the host unfolded his napkin and looked to +Sary for the soup. The soup-pot had been taken up the second time and +was about to be placed in the middle of the table where every one could +serve themselves as they wished, but Mrs. Brewster gave her a look and +sign that was incomprehensible. She was confused for once in her life. + +"I'll serve the soup this noon, Sary, and you can pass the plates," +remarked Mrs. Brewster, seeing her maid did not understand. + +And now Sary beheld a new order of things! Soup that was dipped into +plates and passed until each member at table had a dish before him. +Large white napkins that were not tied about the neck but spread over +the lap! How funny it seemed that the small red-flowered squares Sary +had been accustomed to when company came were nowhere in evidence. + +As the meal progressed, Sary's wonderment increased; she failed to hear +familiar sounds of eating, nor saw the usual form of plying knife and +fork together. + +Immediately after dinner, Polly led her mother to John's room. "Maw, +I'm going to use those new shades I bought for your Christmas gift, and +put them at the windows of the girls' room." + +"Oh, Polly, don't you think plain white ones will look nicer?" quickly +replied Mrs. Brewster, as she beheld the pea-green Holland decorated +with monster bronze roses and huge butterflies. + +Polly felt disconcerted for the moment as she realized that her +mother's tone implied disapproval of the change. But she would not +admit that possibly the white would improve the bed-room. + +"Why, Maw, you know how much I paid for those shades last Christmas. +The man in Oak Creek said they were the grandest ones in Denver!" + +"Maybe _he_ thought so, Polly, but we must remember that his taste in +art has lacked cultivation. Now I prefer pure white shades, or +curtains, for a bed-room window," said wise Mrs. Brewster, leaving her +daughter to wonder whether she liked pure white for the living-room, +also. + +But Polly had enough human will and stubbornness in her make-up to +resist the suggestion offered by her experienced mother. "Well, I'll +tell you what we'll do, Maw: I'll just put these lovely shades up till +after the girls see them, then we'll change to white. I think it will +be best to keep these new and clean for the front room, but I want the +city girls to _know_ we've got such expensive things in the house." + +"Polly dear, that is foolish. I have always tried to teach you +otherwise. What matters it, whether you display gorgeous 'feathers' if +the thing be false? Simplicity and wisdom are the rarest adornments of +a home." + +"There you go again, Maw, lecturing me with your wise old saws," +laughed Polly, jumping upon the chair to fit the shades in place. + +Mrs. Brewster smiled but said nothing. She knew how soon her child +would learn good from bad, once she came in contact with strangers. And +so well had the mother grounded her daughter that she had no qualms +about the result of any contacts. + +Mrs. Brewster watched while Polly finished the placing of the dreadful +shades, then she looked about at the colored prints tacked upon every +available spot of rough plaster-walls. Her brow puckered at the +conglomeration of subjects and sizes of the chromos, but she knew how +carefully Polly had saved every one of them that had arrived with tea +or soap, so she passed no audible judgment. + +"Oh, Maw! I have another great idea!" cried Polly, jumping from the +chair and clapping her hands. + +"Yes?" + +"Let's move Daddy's sofa into the bedroom and place it at the foot of +the bed, just like the pictures in the _Farm Journal_ show us! Then +we won't have to have the single bed brought in from the barn--Anne can +sleep on the bed-lounge." + +"I really think Anne Stewart will prefer a bed, Polly, even if it is +small," gasped Mrs. Brewster hastily. + +"Then we'll change later. It won't take a minute to move the sofa in +and it will look so citified to the girls who most likely have divans +or sofas in their bedrooms at home." + +"I think they will like the difference--not having their country +bedroom look like the city one. A complete change always is better than +a similar environment, especially if the city rooms are more +artistically furnished than the result of _our_ efforts." + +"Now, Maw, don't you want me to surprise them with the sofa John gave +Paw and you, long ago? I'm sure they won't hurt it," coaxed Polly. + +"Oh, I'm not thinking of any damage. I was wondering how Anne would +like to sleep on a folding sofa instead of in a bed." + +"She won't mind; and she'll be glad to see her friends impressed by the +bedroom furniture," quickly explained Polly. + +"Well, then, call Sary to help you shove it in, while I go and find +those braided mats we made last winter," said Mrs. Brewster in a tone +of resignation. + +Polly needed no second consent, but ran out to call Sary. The sofa was +soon wheeled from the chimney-nook into the bedroom which adjoined the +living-room at the back. Once it was placed at the foot of the heavy +walnut bed, Polly whipped off the cretonne covering that always hid the +hideous plush-carpet upholstery. + +As the slip-cover came off and revealed the red and green and purple +design, Polly glanced at Sary to see the effect made. + +"Oh, laws! Ah never see'd sech a sofy! Ain't it grand?" breathed Sary, +lost in admiration. + +"Sary, it opens, too!" announced Polly, condescendingly pulling at the +strap that moved the spring to turn the half into a low bed. + +"Well, suhs! What next? Yoh Paw must be a milyonaire, shore!" + +"No, Sary; John saved his money for selling chickens and a calf, and +got this for Paw and Maw, when he went to high school in Denver. Oh, we +had an awful time carting it from Oak Creek to Pebbly Pit through all +the snow and weather!" explained Polly. + +Mrs. Brewster laughed at the remembrance but told Polly that she hoped +she would keep the cover on the sofa. + +"You don't mean me to cover up the velvet, do you?" asked Polly, aghast +at the suggestion. + +"Perhaps Anne will sleep better if the flowers are out of sight," +remarked Mrs. Brewster, softly, but with amused sarcasm. + +"You-all mought better do that, Miss Pollee, cuz them colors will git +sun-streaked in this bright light," added Sary. + +"I am not worrying about the fade, Sary, but over the fact that the +young teacher and her friends will think we _prefer_ such crude +articles of furniture, instead of tolerating them just because my dear +children denied themselves to give us pleasure. It is their motive and +delight that we all felt in the gifts, more than the objects which +showed immature judgment," explained Mrs. Brewster, slowly and +thoughtfully. + +Polly was silenced and she suddenly realized how far she must climb +before she knew as much as her mother--even though she studied "Art +Notes" in the monthly magazines that reached the ranch. + +"I wonder if the harsh color Maw speaks of is the real cause of that +cretonne cover always being over the sofa?" wondered the girl to +herself. But she said nothing and the sofa was left at the foot of the +great bed. + +Mrs. Brewster knew she had said much, so she left the room and beckoned +Sary to follow her to the kitchen. Polly silently proceeded with the +finishing touches to the room. + +She hung a painted-framed mirror over the wash-stand. The glass was +greenish in hue and wavy in lines, but it looked like a reflector and +so it remained in position. An enameled basin and earthen jug did duty +for toilet purposes. The plain deal chairs were decorated with +crocheted tidies--one tied to the back of each chair. And last, but not +least, came the treasure of the Brewster family. It had been preserved +in paper wrappings and lavender for many years, and now and then the +mistress of the ranch-house removed it and hung it out to keep the +folds from turning yellow. + +"There now! When they see this knitted cotton spread with its raised +roses and lilies, those girls will know that we can have wonderful +things here as well as there." + +So saying, Polly spread out the thick white quilt until the large +double-bed was smoothly covered. Then she stood back and sighed with +gratification at the result of her afternoon's work. + +"There now! I'll just call Maw before I close up the room," murmured +Polly, skipping away to look for Mrs. Brewster. + +Sary followed closely after the mistress, as Polly led the triumphal +march to the guest-chamber. The door was flung open and the ladies +asked to admire. + +"Polly, something told me that you would get the spread out of the +chest," declared Mrs. Brewster, patting her daughter gently. "And your +god-mother would be so pleased if she were here to see how you honored +her work. Some day, these quaint old-fashioned spreads and patch-work +quilts will become quite the rage again, and then you will feel proud +to show yours. I think Anne will appreciate the endless task such a +spread represents." + +And once more Polly felt that she had not expressed her interior +decorating ideals on the same high plane her mother seemed to have +reached, but she would not admit having made a mistake, so the +crocheted spread remained, even as the green shades and the gay sofa +remained, to welcome the city girls to Pebbly Pit. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +UNPLEASANT SURPRISES + + +The time set for the meeting of the Maynard girls and Anne Stewart at +the Denver Terminal Station came and passed with no sign of the Chicago +travelers. Then Mrs. Stewart was seen hurrying down the platform waving +a yellow envelope to attract her daughter's attention. + +Anne was patiently seated on the edge of a truck looking keenly at +every one in sight, so she soon saw her mother. The Oak Creek local, +that left Denver daily at noon, was getting up enough steam to enable +it to make a _regular_ start. Whether it would arrive was a question! + +Anne hastily tore the telegram open and read it aloud. "Missed train. +Don't wait for us. Go on and send machine to meet us to-morrow, same +train, at Oak Creek. Explain to Brewsters. Bob." + +Anne looked at her mother and laughed. "If that isn't Bob all over! +Guess her hair wasn't dressed." + +"Do they think the Brewsters run a limousine, or do they mean a sewing- +machine?" asked Mrs. Stewart, guilelessly. + +Anne laughed again at her mother's innocent expression, but Mrs. +Stewart added: "I told you no good would come of transplanting hot- +house flowers to an old-fashioned roundel." + +"I can picture Bob Maynard hiking from Oak Creek Station to Pebbly +Pit--most likely she will wear French heeled shoes!" said Anne, and she +laughed so merrily that waiting passengers in the dingy cars glanced +from the tiny windows and felt better for the contagious laughter. + +"Oh, my dear! You won't think of making those city girls start training +with such a hard lesson, will you?" cried Mrs. Stewart, who understood +the reason Mr. Maynard had for this outing. + +"Bless your dear heart, no! I'll send the wagon for them, but I +wondered what would happen in case they _had_ to walk!" + +"Well, I'm thankful I'm not in Mr. Maynard's shoes when those girls +find out what they will have to do _without_ all summer." + +"Nolla will be in her glory--" began Anne, when the conductor hurried +over to the two women. + +"Going by this train, ladies?" + +"Good-by, mother. I'll write all about the reception," laughed Anne, +hurriedly kissing her mother and giving her a hug. + +"All aboard!" shouted the brakeman, as the tardy passenger mounted the +steep steps and waved her hand at Mrs. Stewart. + +It was a ride of about seventy miles and Anne thoroughly enjoyed +reviewing every landmark as she passed it by. Jeb stood waiting at the +little station of Oak Creek, his mouth and eyes wide open as he watched +the train pull in--always an exciting time for the farmhand. + +The cumbersome ranch-wagon, with its high spring-seat, was drawn up +beside a telegraph pole to which the skittish young horses had been +securely tied. Anne went over to meet Jeb, and said, with a smile: + +"Were you waiting for some ladies for the Brewsters? I am Anne Stewart, +the teacher who used to be at Bear Forks school." + +"Ya-as'm! How-dee! Hain't you-all got unny more comin'?" + +"Not to-day. They missed their train and expect to be here on to- +morrow's noon-train. What is your name, may I ask?" + +"Jeb," laconically replied the man, looking about as if he still missed +a necessary item for the return trip. + +"Oh! I guess you want my baggage. It's that small trunk over by the +box-car," explained Anne, and Jeb grinned with relief. + +As he carried the trunk lightly as if it were a stick, Anne remarked: +"It's too bad to make you take this trip again to-morrow." + +"Not so-es you-all kin notice it! To-morrer is pay-day fer the miners, +en Oak Crick is a lively town, them times," explained Jeb, winking an +eye to show what fun he expected to have next day. + +"Then it's a lucky thing for you, Jeb, that my friends missed the train +to-day." + +"Jes' so!" chuckled Jeb, as he gathered up the reins and snacked the +whip over his horses' heads. + +Conversation lagged after the start, for the bumping and rumbling of +the heavy wagon as it went over rocks and ruts in the rough trail, +forced all the breath from the passenger's lungs. + +The wagon drew up beside the porch of the ranch-house and Anne found +the family waiting to receive them. She jumped from her perch and +greeted Polly, then smiled at Mr. and Mrs. Brewster as the girl +introduced her. Even Sary felt flattered at the kindly greeting +accorded her by this pretty school-teacher. + +"Wh-hy--you are all alone!" gasped Polly. + +Then Anne explained about the telegram just as her train was about to +leave Denver. The looks of blank surprise changed to relief as the +family heard the cause of the other two girls' non-appearance. They all +entered the house together, delighted with each other. Mrs. Brewster +felt that she was going to like this girl. + +Anne was delighted with the place and everything in connection with it. +Even the intense coloring of the sofa or the pea-green shades failed to +disturb her peace and repose that night. + +After the supper dishes had been cleared away, Mrs. Brewster led the +way to the wide terrace that stretched from the porch to the descent of +the crater. Here the group watched the sunset, and became better +acquainted. By bedtime, Mrs. Brewster was of the opinion that any man +excepting John, who got Anne Stewart for a wife was very fortunate, +indeed! John was still a superior being. + +The next morning, at breakfast, Mr. Brewster said to Jeb: "Ah have to +look after some business in Oak Creek, to-day, Jeb, so you need not +drive over for the girls. Ah will stop at the station and look them +up." + +"Mebbe you-all'd better take me to hist the trunks, es Ah am young and +hearty," ventured Jeb, anxiously. + +"You! Why, Jeb, Ah can turn you over with my small finger," laughed Mr. +Brewster, comparing his tall muscular frame with that of small slim +Jeb's. + +So Jeb slouched away to look after his master's farm work as well as +his own, and as he worked he grumbled and thought of the fun and +frolics the "fellers" in Oak Creek were having on their pay-day. + +At the Denver station, two girls dressed in the latest modes, walked +along the platform toward a line of railway coaches. + +"What dirty-looking cars. Can these be right?" said Barbara Maynard. + +And the younger girl, Eleanor, replied: "I suppose they burn soft +coal." + +"Well, they shouldn't! Everything we have on will be covered with soot +before we reach the town." + +"That will mean more business for the dry-cleaners at Oak Creek," +laughed Eleanor. Had she known that the place could not boast of any +kind of a cleaning establishment, she would have laughed louder and +longer at the novelty. + +"I suppose this Oak Creek is the shopping center for all the smaller +villages that are within motoring distance of it," surmised Barbara. + +"I suppose so," agreed Eleanor, as she watched a man oil the wheels +under the engine. + +The man finished the work and straightened up. His face and hands were +black from grease and oil and soot, but he smiled a friendly smile at +the young ladies who were obviously waiting to board his train. + +"She's all made up, leddies, ef you-all wants to git in." + +"Mercy! Does he have to grin as if he were an old friend when he +announces the fact?" complained Barbara, daintily picking her way +between boxes and bags of freight. + +"He's a genuine western type," laughed Eleanor, following her sister +into the coach. + +"Goodness gracious! Are we expected to sit on these old dusty plush +seats?" cried Barbara, whipping the upholstery with her tiny +handkerchief before she seated herself. + +Again Eleanor laughed but she was not as merry as when she jumped from +the Pullman that morning. + +Quite different were the sensations of the two city girls, to those of +Anne Stewart, as they passed over the same route and saw the same +country. Perhaps it was the difference in training more than the ideals +of the three girls. + +"Nolla, can all the houses be as horrid as those we have passed by?" +asked Barbara, nodding at a group of log-houses. + +"I don't know, but they certainly are smaller than the homes in +Chicago, aren't they?" rejoined Eleanor, gazing in open curiosity at +the scenery and buildings so different from that of the city. + +"Smaller! Why, they are simply _poverty_-stricken in looks!" exclaimed +Barbara in disgust. + +The nearer the train came to Oak Creek, the smaller and rougher the +houses seemed, until the guard called out: + +"Oak Crick! Here's your station!" + +The girls gazed at each other in consternation, for the place was +little more than a rough mining settlement, or ranch-town. + +The brakeman caught up the leather bags and jumped from the slowing +train. He planked them down regardless of contents, and ran off to the +station. It was an old discarded box-car shoved on a siding to do duty +as ticket-office and freight station. + +The girls hurried out to the car platform and Barbara asked: "Nolla, +why don't you call the porter?" + +"They never had one on this line!" Then stepping down side-ways from +the high narrow steps of the train, Eleanor cried: + +"Gracious! Do catch me if I fall!" + +Barbara stared about as a frozen horror slowly crept into her soul and +was expressed in her eyes. "Was _this_ the lovely mountain resort for +which she had planned such conquests?" + +Eleanor spied the precious bags too close to the tracks to insure their +safety, so she rushed over to save them from disaster--for who could +tell whether that shaky old train would hold together much longer! + +But the Local looked worse than it really was. It was as reliable a set +of old cars as could be found, even if the paint and polish had +vanished with age. Just as the bags were recovered, the whistle tooted, +the wheels grated in turning, and the train that on its return trip to +Denver, might have carried these girls back to _their_ kind of +civilization, slowly pulled out of sight. + +Eleanor struggled with the two well-filled bags of toilet accessories, +and deposited them before her sister. "Bet you everything is broken, +and our house-dresses ruined with perfume!" + +As Barbara made no reply, Eleanor followed the direction of her stare. +A group of dreadful looking miners and a crowd of wild-looking cow- +punchers were using seven expensive wardrobe trunks for their pleasure. + +Evidently the men had indulged in too many tests of Oak Creek whiskey, +called "Pizen" by the natives. The cow-boys were picturesque enough. in +their wide sombreros, woolly chaps, gay shirts, and a swagger that +matched their trick of shooting. The miners were swarthy, bearded +foreigners, who wore long boots, loose shirts, and belts from which +ugly-looking six-shooters protruded. + +As Eleanor decided to go over to the circle surrounding the trunks, and +demand an explanation she heard a hardened miner shout: "It's my deal +next!" + +Then the sisters saw that their largest trunk had been turned over on +its side to make a convenient card-table. The others accommodated the +players and loungers whose spurred heels beat a tattoo upon the +polished grain-leather covers. + +"Humph! At least we can display original etchings on our trunks when we +get them back home," remarked Eleanor, with a gleam of amusement at the +affair. + +"Everything will simply be ruined! Just see that trunk holding my +evening-dresses--right by that horse-trough. Do make those awful +creatures go away, won't you, Nolla?" begged Barbara. + +"With those nasty guns sticking from their belts--not me! But I'll go +to the office and complain to the baggage-master." + +So Eleanor courageously turned her back on the fascinating sight of all +those revolvers, and Barbara followed closely at her sister's heels; +both of them hurried to the old car that displayed a sign saying it was +the baggage-room. No one was there, so the girls stood at the door, +whence the road leading to the railway could be seen. + +"If only we knew when the chauffeur would come!" sighed Barbara, but +now Eleanor had misgivings about an automobile. + +Meantime the men had seen the two strangers hovering about but they +were not aware that the trunks belonged to the new-comers. When the +girls entered the "station" one old rascal leaned over and said: + +"Them are tenderfeet an' we-all oughter welcome 'em in th' good old- +fashioned custom." + +"Sure thing!" cried the others, and they quickly planned. + +Eleanor decided it was time to dispossess these ruffians from her +property, so she assumed an air of courage and started for the group, +while Barbara held firmly to her sister's sleeve. But an unexpected +denouement halted the two girls. + +"Ah say you cheated that deal!" howled a miner, at the same time he +slapped his leather gauntlet across a cow-boy's face. + +Instantly every revolver was whipped forth and a terrible fight ensued, +every man taking part in the general melee. The girls, trembling with +fear as shots and curses rang out profusely, clung to each other +helplessly, but failed to note that the guns were aimed skyward. + +"Hey, boys--what the deuce do you-all mean?" shouted a fine-looking man +coming upon the scene unannounced. + +The crowd of men looked sheepish and hurriedly explained the joke, +looking over in the direction of the two strangers. As their welcome +was considered a huge joke the men laughed loudly. Mr. Brewster (for it +was the rancher) frowned when he saw the pale girls almost fainting +from fear. Then he turned to the ringleader in the plot: + +"Say, Bill! Was that pesky train from Denver on time--or too soon, for +a change?" asked Mr. Brewster, consulting his watch. + +"It war ten minits too airly, 'cause Hank Janssen, th' ingineer, 's got +a christenin' down to his home to-night," explained Bill. + +"Then those two girls are my company," groaned the rancher, causing a +scramble at his words. The cow-punchers whipped off their hats to +salute and the miners shuffled behind the daring cow-boys, the better +to hide their faces from the "Boss." + +Mr. Brewster hurried over to reassure the girls that the whole fight +had been staged to entertain them. He explained the cause of his not +being on hand to meet them, and waving his hand for the cow-boys, he +called: + +"Get busy, boys! Shake those trunks into the wagon." + +While the men eagerly lent shoulders and muscles to the task expected +of them, the three principals in this group made personal notes of each +other, albeit not a word was said. + +"Ah never did see such ridiculous styles as this!" thought Sam +Brewster, looking the girls over from top to toe. + +"This rough man Mr. Brewster! Why, he's a common farmer!" thought +Barbara, disdainfully. + +"I bet Polly's father's a heap of fun!" thought Eleanor. + +When Mr. Brewster realized there were _seven_ great trunks belonging to +two girls, he groaned within himself, wondering what in the world could +be found to fill so many! + +The men were handed cigars, and as they doffed their hats to say "Thank +you-all" they backed away to permit the Boss to help the girls up the +high wagon-side. + +Barbara looked at the rough stained hands and said insultingly: "No, +thank you!" + +"Here--let me jump up and pull you in," laughed Eleanor, uncomfortably, +seeing that her sister had offended their host. + +Sam Brewster turned to give his horses a pail of water while the two +girls attempted to climb up. But the small steel foot-rest was too high +to be reached without a boost from below, so they had to climb, hand +over hand, up the great wheel with its spokes clogged with the heavy +mud from the trails. + +When they were finally seated, both girls looked at each other. Fresh +natty traveling suits were streaked by the mud, and their gloves--soft +chamois-skins--could now be thrown away. Even their faces had been +smeared with mud when they slipped and had to clutch at any possible +rescue. Naturally, they were not in too amiable a frame of mind for +what awaited them at the end of the trip. + +The high spring-seat was the only one, so Barbara had to sit there. "I +simply cannot hold on to this sky-scraper!" complained she testily. + +"It's the only one, Bob, so you will _have_ to!" replied Eleanor. + +In another moment, Mr. Brewster climbed up easily and sat beside the +strangers. He churked to the horses and drove away in a manner that +threatened to hurl the city girls from their earthly perch into kingdom +come. + +"Oh, this is terrible!" groaned Barbara, at an unusually hard bump of +the wagon over a rutty road. + +"Maybe we can sit down on the floor of the wagon where the trunks are?" +ventured Eleanor, looking at Mr. Brewster. + +"Shore--if you-all want to. The senseless trunks make better company +than a rough old farmer," replied Mr. Brewster, without the least +suspicion of malice in the words. + +The exchange was made and the girls felt protected by the trunks, so +they could take a livelier interest in the ride. As they left the road +leading from Oak Creek, the sight of imposing mountains towering in the +distance thrilled them in spite of their determination to dislike +everything they saw. And the gorgeous hues and beauty of the strange +wild-flowers caused exclamations from Eleanor, while Barbara gasped at +the vast herds of cattle, grazing, as they roamed over the plains. + +Finally Mr. Brewster guided the horses away from the wide trail, into +the Bear Forks trail that wound in and out, now on the brink of the +river's chasm, or again between jagged cliffs. Anon the awed girls +gazed down into fearful depths as the wagon skirted the dangerous +brink, or craned their necks to look at the wonderful vines and foliage +hanging from the tops of massive rocks. By the time they reached the +ridge of foot-hills where the trail led off to the cliffs at the +Devil's Grave, both sisters were silenced by the impressive scenery, so +that petty problems of puny mortals faded into a misty back-ground. + +Suddenly the trail turned around a group of great rocks and the first +glimpse of Rainbow Cliffs could be seen. As the wagon drew nigh the +gorge running through the cliffs, Anne Stewart and Polly were found +waiting for the visitors. + +Anne introduced Polly, and Eleanor acknowledged the courtesy, but +Barbara rudely failed to notice it as she was so obsessed with the +desire to complain about the railroad, the natives of Oak Creek, the +trails to Pebbly Pit, and everything connected with the coming. + +Polly felt dreadfully shy with such unusual-looking girls. Not that +their hats had feathers or fine flowers, nor their suits had any +expensive trimmings on them, to suggest wealth, but the way they +_looked_ in their clothes! What made the difference, she wondered. Had +Anne told her the actual cost of those hats and suits, poor Polly +would have fainted from shock. + +Barbara was holding forth on her wrongs. "I can't see for the life of +me, Anne, why you selected such an outlandish spot as this, for us, in +which to waste a precious summer. Why, it is simply _unbearable_-- +nothing but mountains and trails in sight! And no one but just farmers +to associate with! Oh, oh!" The accent on "farmers" made Polly wince +and Eleanor frown, at the speaker. Anne hastened to change the subject +for she feared Mr. Brewster might turn his horses and take them all +back to Oak Creek station. + +It was a duel of dialogue between Anne and Barbara after that, each one +trying to keep up a conversation they wished to down the other with. +Thus the wagon reached the porch. + +Polly sprang out and ran indoors unnoticed by any one. Eleanor was +deeply interested in gazing out at the great crater bowl that formed +the pasture and farm-lands of Pebbly Pit. Anne was anxious to have her +charges make a good impression on Mrs. Brewster and so she jumped out +and held a hand to assist Barbara. + +The lady of the house stood waiting to welcome the girls, when Sary ran +out from the kitchen, hurriedly drying her wet hands on an apron. She +fully expected to shake hands with the fine ladies, when her turn came +to be introduced. She stood directly back of her mistress peering +eagerly at the new-comers in their simple straw hats, severe cloth +suits, and shoes, gloves, and veils of the finest. + +Before Anne Stewart could open her lips to introduce the girls, Barbara +sent a scornful glance over the group and then at the ranch-house, and +said: "What a barracks! It's nothing more than a log cabin on a +gigantic scale." + +"Oh, I think it is great! Just like the wonderful cabins we read about +in the Adirondacks, or other large camp-sites," quickly added Eleanor. + +"But this is not a camp, my poor little sister! And we haven't the same +set either, as we would have had at a fashionable camp," sneered +Barbara. + +"You needn't 'poor me,' Bob! I'm just crazy over the farm and--and +everything. Hurry up, Anne, and introduce me so I can get acquainted," +cried Eleanor, nudging the teacher to remind her of her duty. + +Mr. Brewster had driven the team to a post a little farther up the +road, and was not present when the introductions took place. Mrs. +Brewster summoned a pleasant smile for Barbara, and a motherly pat on +the shoulder for Eleanor. Then Sary stepped forward to be introduced, +as it was customary for her to be treated as a member of the family. + +"Glad t' know you-all!" simpered Sary, bowing stiffly and offering her +reddened hand to shake the gloved ones of the girls. + +Barbara completely ignored the par-boiled digits and slightly lifted +one eyebrow at Sary. Eleanor felt so humiliated at her sister's actions +that she came forward to make amends but Sary would have none of it. + +When Barbara gave her a frozen look, Sary examined her hands for a +moment, then humped her shoulders and stamped back to the kitchen-range +where she had been boiling soap-fat and straining out the scum before +the arrival of the city misses. + +"Anne, would your friends like to refresh themselves in the bedroom?" +asked Mrs. Brewster to break the embarrassed silence. + +"Oh, yes, of course!" replied Anne, anxiously turning to Barbara. + +Eleanor took the initiative of going toward the door. "I never saw such +a darling bungalow! I just love everything spread out on the ground +floor. No stairs and no elevators--Oh, how nice!" + +"It is a change from your brown-stone mansions, isn't it?" replied Mrs. +Brewster, smiling at the concerned face. + +"To me it is the most awful place! I don't suppose you have baths, or +electric light, or telephone service?" said Barbara. + +"Now you see here, Barbara Maynard! You've got to stop this whimpering +or I'll wire Daddy to make you go home! I just won't have my whole +summer spoiled by your complaints!" cried Eleanor, angrily, and +stamping her foot to emphasize her words. + +"I hope you didn't expect me to _stay_ here, did you?" demanded +Barbara. + +"I hope you won't--that's all I've got to say! Come on, Anne, and show +me the place. Where's Polly gone?" said Eleanor. + +Polly was found in the large living-room, looking the picture of +disappointment. Anne understood how she must have felt, so she diverted +the attention of the newcomers to the great yawning fire-place that +could hold several tree-trunks at one time. + +"And do you know, Nolla, every bit of wood in this house was hewn and +carted here by Mr. Brewster? You see the government allows settlers +just so much timber with which to construct a home and barns. There is +a county sawmill to saw and trim logs and then the owner has to cart +them himself. Naturally, one hasn't time to carve fancy _ideals_ in the +wood one uses for the house. And having it sent from Denver, or other +large cities where labor is to be had, is also out of the question. The +freight costs, and the long haul from Oak Creek to the Pit presents +difficulties not to be overcome. So folks build homes as solid and +strong as they can, and leave the trimmings for a future generation." +Anne explained all this for Barbara's benefit, and Mrs. Brewster smiled +her gratitude to the girl. + +Eleanor seemed more impressed than ever after she heard of the time and +labor it must have taken to construct such a house as the Brewster +ranch boasted; and Barbara was taken back, as she had not thought of +such things, but she pretended not to care. + +[Illustration with caption: Barbara completely ignored Sary.] + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE HARROWING DETAILS + + +"Now, girls, come and see the guest-room Polly prepared for us. You +know she is going to study interior decorating when she grows up-- +aren't you, Polly?" said Anne, placing an arm protectingly about the +girl's shoulders and moving towards the chamber. + +Polly brightened up at once, for she remembered the sofa that Anne had +praised as having made a fine bed, and then there were the gorgeous +bronzed shades that darkened the windows! + +Polly stood at the head of the sofa watching eagerly for the effect of +the decorating on the city visitors. Barbara stared at first in utter +unbelief that her room could be so barren of comfort, then she turned +and frowned darkly as the truth impressed her. + +"Why! There's nothing here--only an old bed, and a painted set of +drawers such as our servants would fling out of the room!" Then she +caught a twisted reflection of her face in the green mirror. It was too +much! + +She threw herself upon the sofa and laughed hysterically. Eleanor +wondered at her sister's discordant mirth but when she looked in the +direction Barbara's eyes were turned, she saw the cause. + +"Verily, Anne, 'pride goeth before a fall'--Poor Bob!" said Eleanor, +cynically. + +Anne could not hide a smile at the words but tried to smooth matters +out by going to the window and speaking of the view. + +"I've had landscape enough for one day, Anne, and could recover +somewhat, if I had an opportunity, without having a family party +about," retorted Barbara, meaningly. + +Instantly, Mrs. Brewster turned and beckoned Polly to follow her from +the room. The moment the door closed upon the hostess and her daughter, +Barbara anticipated her friend's reproach. + +"Anne, where were your brains when you recommended this awful place to +father?" + +"I had nothing to do with recommending it, Bob. Your father already +knew of it and merely asked me to write Polly--my little pupil of a few +years ago." + +"But why didn't you tell _me_ what to expect?" demanded the angry girl. + +"Simply because I was asked not to mention any particulars that might +prejudice you; and besides, you never asked me anything!" retorted +Anne, feeling impatient with Barbara. + +"What's more, Bob, I can't see any justice in making the poor Brewsters +suffer for what your own father did! But I'm glad he sent us here--it +is great!" declared Eleanor. + +"Naturally, you find your level in a common country home and family!" +said Barbara in an unpleasant voice. + +"Words never killed any one, Bob, so keep it up if it makes you feel +better. I'm used to your complaints," laughed Eleanor. + +"And allow me to add, Bob, that the Brewsters are _not_ common +farmers. Mrs. Brewster had a better education and has more sense than +any woman--other than my mother--that I know; and Mr. Brewster is a +fine man respected by every one that knows him. Even the government +admires his intelligence and worth, and employs him in cases where they +need expert agricultural advice and reports!" Anne spoke with frankness +and warmth. + +"The government employs all sorts of men in its need, but that doesn't +say the man is a gentleman, nor does it make his wife a lady. _Our_ +mother is a lady and goes in the very best society in Chicago!" said +Barbara. + +"Society does not make the lady, but the lady makes society. Mrs. +Brewster could form the most exclusive set in Chicago if she cared for +that sort of thing!" came from Anne, curtly. + +"But it would take money, my dear--a farmer couldn't afford an +exclusive set!" jeered Barbara. + +"If that is the case, the Brewsters could ride on Chicago society's +very crest! But they never brag about their money!" laughed Anne, +sarcastically. + +Barbara's breath was suddenly taken away by this news but she recovered +enough to say maliciously: "Oh, I see! That is why you take such a deep +interest in John!" + +"Barbara Maynard! you--you--if you dare say another word like that to +Anne, I'll--I'll just pull your hair, so there!" cried Eleanor, running +to Anne and throwing her arms around her neck. + +Barbara felt ashamed of her words but she was too proud to confess it. +So she tried to excuse herself by saying: "Of course, one can't be +expected to fall right in with folks one never heard of before. Anne +and you fancy a rural existence, so you naturally defend everything +that goes with it. But I shall return home to-morrow on the very first +train!" + +"There is only one out a day, and you'll have to ask a favor of the +farmer before you can get to Oak Creek station!" added Anne, with a bit +of triumph in her tone. + +Having relieved her heart of some of its bitterness, Anne felt sorry +for Barbara, so she endeavored to change the current of their thoughts. +She went to the window to raise the shade as far as it would go, and +was struck with the wonderful sunset sky. + +"Oh, girls! Come here and look at that glory!" + +Eleanor rushed over, followed by Barbara who never wanted to miss +anything good. All irritation was forgotten and healed as they stood +gazing raptly at the beautiful view. The cliffs looked as if volcanic +fires were again burning within their hearts, and the mist from the +valley crept up to form an illusion of smoke rising from the sharply +outlined peaks. A purple haze enveloped the mountains and the dusky-red +streaks in the sky perfected the appearance of a vast eternal fire +consuming the earth. + +The sight had a salutary effect on the girls, and when they turned from +the window, it was with the old friendship restored. But Barbara was of +a complaining nature and must have something to find fault with. This +time it found innocent objects to bear the grumbling. + +"Where are we expected to sleep? Both in the same bed?" + +"Of course! Isn't it big enough? Why, I never saw such a wide bed; it's +large enough to hold a dozen of us," said Eleanor. + +"Where is your room, Anne?" Barbara asked, ignoring her sister's +remark. + +"I sleep here on the sofa," admitted Anne, fearing another scene. + +"Sofa--impossible!" exclaimed Barbara. + +"It is a bed-lounge, you know. It opens into the nicest bed!" explained +Anne, taking hold of the loop that was partly hidden in the deep crease +formed by the meeting of the seat and back. + +"Watch me! I give a hard tug and presto! the upper half of the seat +swings open and turns over like this. There we have a wide bed with +ready-made mattress and all that goes to form a comfortable resting +place." + +Anne demonstrated her words and the city girls saw a low bed opened +before their wondering eyes. The pillows and bedding were neatly folded +and kept in a long shallow drawer under the sofa. + +"How awful--to sleep on that!" cried Barbara. "It looks like great fun! +May I sleep here, Anne?" said Eleanor. + +"Indeed you shall not! You will sleep with _me!"_ snapped Barbara. +Then turning to Anne again, she added: "Where are the wardrobes?" + +"Those curtains hide the shelves we will use. You will find nails +driven into the board against the wall." + +"What! hang our expensive clothes on these common nails!--With only a +calico drapery to protect them!" gasped Barbara. + +"Leave your expensive clothes in the trunks, then. I am," laughed +Eleanor. + +"Nolla, I will need all of this one for myself; Anne and you will have +to share the other one between you," remarked Barbara. + +"I thought you were leaving on the early train to-morrow?" teased +Eleanor, quickly. + +To avoid another quarrel, Anne hastily said: "Oh, I forgot about the +trunks. What shall I tell Mr. Brewster?" + +"Tell him anything you like about Nolla's, but leave mine where the man +can pick them up readily, to-morrow, when I leave," returned Barbara, +in a nonchalant manner. + +"How about the price of the ticket to Chicago? You know we haven't more +than a dollar between us?" suggested Eleanor, dryly. + +Barbara had evidently forgotten the fact, but she was equal to the +emergency. "I'll telegraph to the bank, the first thing in the morning, +and have them wire me the money." + +During this animated argument in the guest-chamber, a family gathering +formed on the porch of the house. + +"Mary, what shall we do with those seven huge trunks?" asked Mr. +Brewster, quizzically watching Polly. + +"Seven! Why, Paw!" exclaimed Polly, instantly picturing the wonderful +things those trunks held. Creations such as she had pored over in the +"Farm Journal Fashion Notes." + +"I don't know, Sam, unless we leave them in the wagon until the girls +decide what they wish done with them?" replied Mrs. Brewster. + +Sary overheard the conversation and now ran out to see whether there +really could be seven trunks! + +"Laws me! Ah never see'd sech quare-shaped trunks--all bulgy at one +side, and all them brass locks!" + +"They are wardrobe trunks, Sary," remarked Mrs. Brewster. + +Sary deigned no reply to the information but vented a bit of her ire +against the new-comers by shrugging her great shoulders and saying: "Ef +Ah w'ar you-all, Miss Brewster, Ah'd shore pitch them trunks clar over +th' line inta Wyomin' state whar th' Injuns kin scramble fer th' fancy +duds!" + +"Oh, Sary, I smell the cherry-dumplings scorching!" cried Mrs. +Brewster, suddenly, knowing the quickest way to rid herself of Sary. + +Anne Stewart now came out and saw the group looking at the wagon. "The +girls won't bother to unpack to-night, Mr. Brewster, so we may as well +leave the trunks in the wagon and take them to the barn." + +Jeb was sent to the barn with the wagon and contents, and Mr. Brewster +retired to the lean-to back of the kitchen where he washed his face and +hands in a tin basin. He had dried his hair and face, when Sary called +to her mistress that the meal was ready. + +Polly and her mother added the last touches to the table, when Mr. +Brewster came to the door saying: "Well, Ah'm ready, Maw!" + +"Run and call the girls, Polly; I think Anne went to tell them about +the trunks," said Mrs. Brewster. + +Unwillingly, Polly obeyed and rapped on the door. "Supper's waiting." + +While Polly was absent on her errand, Jeb came into the kitchen, took a +home-spun towel from its peg on the back of the door, and his hair- +brush from a small cabinet in the corner. With these toilet articles he +went out again to the lean-to where the crude oak bench held the basin +and soap. The pump was nearby, and Jeb filled the basin quickly and +proceeded to immerse his whole head. Unfortunately, at the moment the +city maidens reached the kitchen door leading from the living-room, Jeb +was guggling loudly. Then he stood up and snorted as he shook his mane +free from the streaming water. + +Eleanor turned toward Anne with a smile of amusement on her face, but +Barbara expressed her disgust with an emphatic "Ugh!" + +Polly saw and heard, but failed to understand, as she had been +gradually accustomed to Jeb and his uncouth ways. But Mrs. Brewster +comprehended the shock it must have been to the city girls and tried to +cover the unfortunate incident. + +"Anne, will you seat your friends at that side of the table? Polly and +I will sit on this side. Mr. Brewster always sits at the head, you +know, and I leave the other end for Sary as it is nearest the stove +where she can reach it without walking so far." + +Jeb came in and immediately pulled out a chair and sat down in his +accustomed place, regardless of the standing ladies. Barbara looked on +in amazement but said nothing. She was past words! + +As they all sat down, Eleanor happened to catch her sister's eye and +expression, and turned suddenly to Anne. Anne, too, had seen the horror +on Barbara's face as Jeb reached over the table for a spoon Sary had +forgotten to place beside his plate. + +Eleanor raised the napkin to hide her laughing face, but Mr. Brewster +construed the act to be one of reverence, and he approved of such +tendencies in the young. Consequently, he hastened to say grace. +Barbara sat stiff-necked throughout the lengthy prayer because she felt +so rebellious at everything and with everything, that she wouldn't pay +heed to the usual courtesy at prayer-time. + +The moment Mr. Brewster said "Amen," Sary carried the large soup-pot +from the stove and was about to ladle the soup into the bowls when +Barbara said icily: "None for me, thank you!" + +Jeb was tying his napkin about his neck, but at such a surprising +refusal he gaped at the stranger. However, the fact that his own soup- +plate was now placed before him ended the speechless shock. + +He began eating at once, and the three boarders watched him scoop up +the liquid as if his life depended upon finishing the work. The amount +of noise he made while accomplishing the feat was a revelation to the +Maynard girls and mortifying to Mrs. Brewster. + +Sary concluded her serving and sat down to enjoy her own meal. She used +the blade of her knife as a shovel and the fork-prongs as a pick. When +she was not spearing or loading food upon either, she was using the +silver as an eloquent means of expressing her conversation--which was +voluble. + +The moment supper ended, Mr. Brewster remarked: "The trunks are safe in +the barn. Whenever you need them you can tell Jeb, and he will see that +they are carried in for you." + +"Thank you, but I shall have them taken back to Oak Creek to-morrow as +I have no idea of remaining to spoil my summer," returned Barbara +haughtily. + +Mr. Brewster made no reply but excused himself and went out to the wide +steps of the front porch where he sat down to watch the peaceful +twilight as it crept slowly over the mountain peaks. + +Here, the rest of the family soon joined him, and the wonderful western +night, as the brilliant stars sparkled seemingly so near to earth, had +its soothing effect on the perturbed hearts and minds of all present. +When Mrs. Brewster finally mentioned that it was bed-time the +individuals in the group felt more amiably disposed towards each other. + +Anne Stewart was awake bright and early in the morning and, finding the +sisters sleeping soundly, crept out to enjoy the invigorating breezes +blowing down from the mountain-peaks. + +Some time later, Eleanor sat up and rubbed her eyes, at a loss to +remember where she was. After a moment, however, she saw the sofa and +laughed merrily. + +"Oh, won't you be quiet! What is the matter with you?" complained +Barbara, sleepily. + +"Nothing--I feel so alive! Get up and hear the birds sing," replied +Eleanor, springing out of bed and running over to the window. + +"Oh, Bob! Look at the dazzling mountain-peaks, over there! I suppose +these cool breezes come straight from those ice-tops," exclaimed +Eleanor. + +"I may as well get up or you'll cause a riot of noise," answered +Barbara, querulously. + +"Of course I will. I slept so well that I could dance on a trapeze just +now. How did you sleep?" + +"Why--what does it matter to you?" countered Barbara peevishly. + +"Matter? Why, that bed removes one of the obstacles to your remaining +here," laughed Eleanor, triumphantly. + +Barbara would not admit that she had never slept better nor would she +prevaricate, so she merely said: "I am going to Oak Creek the moment we +finish breakfast and wire father's bank for money." + +"Might as well find out, first, if you can use the team and wagon. Jeb +only goes to town when anything has to be had here or shipped away by +train. A trip of twelve miles is not a trifle every day in the week," +remarked Eleanor. + +"I'll ride a horse to Oak Creek myself. I'll not stand this awful place +another day!" declared Barbara. + +"You can't ride a horse without its owner's permission." + +"Besides," added Eleanor as an afterthought occurred to her, "you only +have your new traveling suit and the little light summer frock here. +The trunks are going back to Oak Creek to-day, you said, and your +riding habit is in one of them." + +Barbara made no reply to this statement and Eleanor drew on her +stockings and then sought for her shoes which she had playfully aimed +at Anne Stewart the night previous. One was found by the bureau and the +other was seen under the window. She ran over to pick up the one by the +window. + +"Oh, Bob! Come here quick!" + +"What is it?" cried Barbara, hastily running over to join her sister. + +"My! The sun has just touched those snow-covered peaks! I never saw +anything so dazzlingly beautiful!" sighed Eleanor, lost in +contemplation of the sight. + +Barbara also stood watching the sun-beams glancing over the towering +peaks, and then she said apologetically: + +"I never said the _scenery_ wasn't wonderful. It is! But one cannot +thrive on mountains, or associate with views." + +"Still, it goes a long way towards creating environment, while the +atmosphere and friendships are up to the individual," retorted Eleanor. + +"Oh, well, you have the knack of making friends with any one, but I am +more reserved and ideal in nature, so I simply cannot accommodate +myself to such people and places as this!" + +"No, but you can accommodate yourself to some empty-headed society +youth who hangs over your hotel-piazza chair and tells foolish fibs to +feed your vanity!" scorned Eleanor. + +Another sisterly scene might have ensued had not Anne entered the room +at this critical time. + +"Girls, better hurry and finish dressing as breakfast is almost ready +to serve," said she, after a pleasant morning greeting. + +"How long have you been up?" asked Barbara. + +"Oh, an hour or more. I succeeded in working out a scheme I had to make +things pleasanter for every one, and I want you to hurry and approve of +it." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A LITTLE SCHEME THAT WORKED + + +Anne lay with closed eyes for a long time revolving many plans for the +ultimate harmony of that summer, and when she finally allowed herself +to sleep, she had a scheme that she was going to try the next day. + +As she came from her room early in the morning, she spied Polly sitting +disconsolately on the porch-steps. She went over and sat down beside +her. + +"Polly, I cannot blame you for wishing we had never come, but now that +we are here, let us see if we cannot make something out of the tangle +of disappointments. Eleanor will love the place at once, as she is so +much like you in nature, dear, but Bob always grumbles over things at +first. No matter where or what it is, she feels that she is not showing +her superiority if she is not condemning what she comes in contact +with. It really is a disease, Polly, and I have tried to cure her of it +this last year. I am hoping for great things for her during this +season, but I feel that I must confide in you to let you know just what +the trouble is. Bob will make a fine woman if this hateful tendency is +uprooted in time." + +Polly smiled wanly, and Anne, wise young teacher, changed the subject +then. + +"What a pity one has to waste such glorious views and delightful +weather while sitting at breakfast in the kitchen!" + +"Where would you eat it?" laughed Polly, looking with amusement at her +companion. + +"Why, under that lovely group of oaks, to be sure," replied the +teacher, pointing at the trees that shaded the well-kept grass plot and +flower-beds at the side of the house. + +"Under the trees!" + +"Certainly; what do you suppose they were grown for if not for our +uplift and joy?" + +"Why, Miss Stewart, how funny of you! Who ever heard of having meals +out-of-doors--except at picnics," laughed Polly. + +"Every one who can now prefers out-of-doors to a stuffy room on summer +days," replied Anne, calmly, but watching the effect of her words. + +Satisfied with Polly's expression, she added: "Didn't you ever read +about the garden parties of society people, and the present-day trend +to live on wide porches and out-of-doors at every opportunity? Your +magazines ought to be full of such accounts." + +"Oh, yes, in magazines, but I never dreamed it was true. I've studied +every plan and picture I've seen in the magazines, and I loved to +picture the beautiful places and furnishings they speak of." + +Anne had heard from Polly's brother John, how his sister studied every +item on decorating that could be found in papers or periodicals. But +Anne did not know that Polly really had a latent talent in this line +nor how ambitious she was to express art and beauty in the home. + +"That is what I'd like to try here. Have our meals out under those +trees. It won't make much extra work as the spot is very convenient to +the kitchen door, but we will avoid the heat and steam from the stove +and cooking, and have much more room, too." + +"I don't suppose it makes much difference where we eat as long as we +get it over with as soon as possible," returned Polly. + +"That's just the trouble with most people. They merely eat because they +feel they have to, but they never stop to make of the habit an +opportunity to improve themselves and enjoy a social meeting with each +other. We may as well be Zulus and eat with our fingers. Maybe the +Zulus would prove more ideal for their home teachings than we really +are." + +Polly laughed again at Anne's words, but the latter added: + +"It's true, Polly. How many people trouble themselves to eat politely, +and act or talk from the highest motives? The Zulus follow traditional +customs. If we did we would follow the refined court manners of our +English and Dutch ancestors. Instead, we are in such haste to eat and +get back to the business of making money, that we lose all the pleasure +along the way there." + +Polly listened anxiously and understood that Anne was gently +criticizing what she saw and heard in the kitchen the night before. +Anne watched Polly's face and knew she comprehended, then she +continued: + +"If we have breakfast in the open air it will be much cooler for every +one, and Sary need not stop her routine work on account of our being in +her way in the kitchen. If we help and wait on ourselves Sary need not +be delayed by our tardiness in appearing at table." + +"Miss Stewart, I think you're right. And one good thing about eating +out here is that we won't feel crowded together with nothing to look at +but each other. At least we have the mountains, if we make the oak- +trees our new dining-room." + +Anne laughed at the manner of Polly's approval and said: "Yes, Polly, +the mountains are great and wonderful and so silent, besides." + +"Let's go now and ask Maw what she thinks of the plan." + +"In a moment, Polly. You know I am anxious to help you in every way, +and to teach you if you express yourself poorly?" + +"Yes; that's the only good thing about this awful visit," admitted the +girl. + +"Then allow me to correct an error in speech. If you wish to go to +Denver High this fall, I want you to use refined expressions." + +Anne looked at her companion and smiled kindly, and Polly said: "Oh, +I'll be so glad to correct any mistakes. Tell me what?" + +"Just now you called your mother 'Maw.' And I have heard you call your +father 'Paw.' They are western terms, but they are not considered +correct or refined, elsewhere. The name of Father or Mother is a term +of respect and loving reverence from the children. I would like to have +you accustom yourself to the use of these titles for your parents and +see how the very sound of it will cause you to _feel_ more affection." + +Polly weighed this news thoughtfully but she was surprised at the +information that her customary "Maw" and "Paw" were not the most +desirable terms to use. She knew that Anne Stewart knew better than she +what was the proper manner of speech and she thanked her for her +interest in helping her. + +"Then another thing I want you to do, Polly, is that you call me +'Anne.' I am to be with you as one of the family all this summer, and +the 'Miss' is too formal for members in the same family. I want to ask +this favor of your mother and father too. If you were to use Eleanor's +and Barbara's first names for them as I do, I think they would feel +more at home." + +"Oh, Miss--I mean Anne, I will love to call you that, but I never +_could_ have courage enough to call that proud girl by the name of +'Bob'!" declared Polly. + +Anne laughed and patted her apt pupil on the head, then she said, +"Shall we go in search of your mother and ask about the breakfast +table?" + +Polly jumped up and led the way to the kitchen door where Sary was hard +at work. + +"Sary, can you tell us where my mother is?" asked Polly. + +"Your maw's just went to th' buttery to skim the milk," said she, +giving Polly an opportunity to compare the two terms. + +As the two girls went toward the buttery, Polly admitted: "Anne, it +does make a difference, I think." + +Anne nodded brightly and opened the creamery-door. Mrs. Brewster stood +with skimmer in hand, taking the rich cream from the pans of milk. She +looked up with a welcoming smile as the two girls came in. + +"Mother, Anne's been giving me 'first aid' in manners," laughed Polly, +watching her mother's expression keenly. + +"In which line, dear; there are several you can improve in," rejoined +Mrs. Brewster, with a loving little laugh. + +"Didn't you hear me? I have improved upon your name." + +"I noticed it, but I wanted to make sure it was intentional and not a +mistake." + +"Tell me--do you like it?" asked Polly, eagerly. + +"Indeed I do, dear; I never could abide that name of 'Maw' and 'Paw' +that is common with the ranchers." + +"Then why didn't you tell me this long ago! Oh, mother!" + +"If I corrected you, and the other children at school heard you use +different terms from those they were accustomed to, they would think +you 'proud' and 'too good for a rancher.' I have heard that criticism +so often, that I have given up trying to better conditions or express +my own desires in anything that an illiterate and inexperienced +neighbor may find fault with. I just accept things as they are, now, +but hope for better things for my children." + +This was a new light on her mother, and Polly felt subdued by it. She +wondered if her mother would have been any different if she had been in +Mrs. Maynard's place. + +"You see," continued Mrs. Brewster, turning to Anne, "one so gets to +dread the free speech and narrow-minded opinions of some ranchers that +one forbears in _everything_, rather than have strife and ill-will +from those one must meet at times." + +Anne nodded. "But sometimes it is better to take the risk of offending +the whole community if one finally wins out." + +Mrs. Brewster looked approvingly at the girl, and Polly changed the +conversation by saying: + +"Mother, Anne and I have a plan that will surprise you." + +Mrs. Brewster smiled encouragingly for the girls to speak. + +"It's just this: we think it will be lovely to move the table out under +the trees. There the air and view can be enjoyed and afford us ample +subjects for conversation," explained Anne. + +"Anne, splendid! After my experience of last night I would hail any +change. But this is really good. I never thought of it myself," replied +Mrs. Brewster, with relief. + +On their walk to the kitchen, they planned to remove the table and +chairs; then Mrs. Brewster added: "My husband breakfasted an hour ago +but said he would be back when we sat down for coffee. He enjoys a +second cup at his leisure. And I'm quite sure Sary gave Jeb his +breakfast after I left the kitchen, so that gives us a clear start for +the first meal to-day." + +Sary was found upon her knees before the kitchen range, polishing the +nickel name-plate on the oven door. A dish-pan of hot water and a +scrubbing brush stood upon the floor beside her. As Mrs. Brewster came +in, Sary glanced up impatiently. + +"Ah de'clar t' goodness! Ah wish you-all'd eat that brekfus an' vamoose +outen my way. Ah hes t' scrub this hull floor soon ez th' stove's +shined!" + +"That's exactly why I came in, Sary--to get breakfast out of your way," +returned Mrs. Brewster, sending a swift glance at Polly and Anne. + +As Sary's words made way for their work, all fell to with a vim. Polly +and Anne carried dishes and chairs out of the room, while Mrs. Brewster +whisked off the cloth and asked the maid to help her carry the table +out under the trees. + +No reply came from Sary, and the mistress turned to see why she did not +come to assist. The ludicrous expression on the widow's face, as she +sat bolt upright with her blackened hands raised heavenward in silent +protest, made Mrs. Brewster laugh. + +"What's the matter, Sary?" + +"Yore a clar case o' bein' locoed!" gasped the help. + +"Not at all, but you want to scrub the floor, don't you?" + +"Ah don't need th' furnishin's taken out fer that!" + +"But we want to eat, you see, and under the trees we'll be quite out of +your way. Here, Anne, help me with the table, will you, please?" said +Mrs. Brewster, with finality. + +The table was firmly placed under the trees and the cloth relaid. Then +the willowware dishes and old Tuttle silver were arranged by Anne, +while Polly watched eagerly. + +"I do believe those old blue dishes look ten times as nice out here as +in the kitchen!" declared Polly, while Anne placed a few wild flowers +on the center of the table. + +"Merely the effect of your mental testimony, Polly. In the kitchen, +with steam, working utensils, and crowed sense of room, everything +takes on a sordid look and feeling. But out in God's sunshine and fresh +air, everything looks and feels better. That is why sun and air are the +best physician for any ill," explained Anne. + +Mrs. Brewster heard, and watched Anne with a bright smile, as the +sentiment of the words were exactly what she ofttimes thought. When the +three returned to the kitchen to take the biscuits and other breakfast +food out, Sary stood with head thrown back and body rocking back and +forth as she laughed immoderately. + +"Do tell, Mis' Brewster! You-all bean't goin' t' _eat_ out thar, now be +yuh?" + +"Why, of course!" retorted Polly. + +"Why shouldn't we?" asked Mrs. Brewster. + +Sary could not explain, so she turned to the stove while mumbling to +herself the doubts she had over the sanity of the women-folks of this +queer family--excepting herself of course! + +Anne had gone to the guest-room to call the girls, and to her relief, +found them both dressed and ready for breakfast. + +"It's a lovely morning," said she, in greeting to them. + +"Yes, I've been sniffing the sweetness at the open window," replied +Eleanor, but Barbara stood unresponsive. + +Anne noticed the simple-looking house-frocks they wore, and felt +relieved at the simplicity of color and lines, although she knew that +the name-tag inside of those dresses spoke silently of their cost. + +"We're going to breakfast out on the lawn--it is perfectly charming +there," explained Anne, leading the way from the living-room by way of +the front door in order to avoid Sary and her scrub-pail. + +But Sary had been anxiously peeping from the crack of the kitchen door, +and felt mortally offended when the company went out by the front way. +"Was it not enough that the folks were too far removed from the kitchen +to permit Sary to overhear what was said at table, but now they have to +walk out at the Sunday door?" + +So thought the widow as she left her peep-hole back of the door and +stood watching from the open window by the cupboard. + +Every one seemed in a pleasanter mood than that of the previous +evening, and as breakfast advanced, Eleanor went so far as to ask her +sister to remain at the ranch a few days, at least. And Barbara, +although she would not admit it, knew the bed was exceptionally good +and the breakfast most enjoyable, while the air and scenery were simply +wonderful! + +When Mr. Brewster came along the path leading from the barn, he stood +near a lilac bush for a few moments watching the pretty group under the +trees. But he couldn't understand having breakfast outside the usual +place--the kitchen! + +"Is this a picnic?" asked he, at length, coming forward. + +"Good morning, Paw--Father! Isn't this fun?" cried Polly. + +Mrs. Brewster and Anne exchanged glances at Polly's error and +correction, but Sam Brewster failed to notice the new term. He bowed to +the three guests and smilingly took the chair his wife placed for him +at the table. + +While Mrs. Brewster poured his coffee, she remarked: "This is Polly's +and Anne's idea. Isn't it sensible--and much pleasanter than in the +stuffy kitchen?" + +He nodded approval and Polly felt satisfied. Then as her father sipped +his fragrant coffee, she said: "Anne was just saying that I ought to +show them the Rainbow Cliffs after breakfast." + +"It's so clear to-day Ah wouldn't be surprised but what you-all will +see Pagoda Peak and Grizzly Slide from the Cliffs, Polly," added Mr. +Brewster. + +"If we can, they'll like it; it's a wonderful sight, Anne, with the sun +shining on the snow-capped crests," explained Polly. + +"And then you can take them over there some day, Polly. A good lunch +can be packed into Choko's panniers, and with sure-footed horses the +ride will be most delightful," added Mrs. Brewster. + +"Maw, you can go, too. You agreed to take things easy, you know," +reminded her husband. + +"Oh, Sam! Riding over the Flat Top Mountains would be the hardest work +for me, these days!" laughed Mrs. Brewster. + +"Pshaw now! You used to ride better than any cow-boy in these parts, +and you can't tell me those days are past," argued Mr. Brewster, +dropping the habit of using western terms in his eagerness. + +"I've heard of Mrs. Brewster's famous riding," now chimed in Anne. + +"She can ride better'n Pa--Father, or any one I ever saw!" Polly +maintained. + +Mrs. Brewster shook her head in a vain effort to discourage such +praise, then she turned to the Maynard girls, saying: "Do you +understand western horses? They are rather difficult at times, you +know." + +"We ride daily when in Chicago," said Barbara, boastfully. + +"But city horses are mere nags, Bob. These half-wild animals accustomed +to roaming the plains, are something worth while, you will find," +laughed Anne. + +"I'd advise your going to the corral and having Jeb try out the horses +for you, before you undertake any long jaunt," suggested Mrs. Brewster. + +"We can visit the Cliffs this morning, and try riding this afternoon," +added Polly eagerly. + +"Then Bob and I will have to get our habits from one of the trunks in +the barn," said Eleanor. + +"Bob and you run along and do that while Polly and I make the beds and +clear away the breakfast," ventured Anne, looking at Mrs. Brewster. +Barbara seemed as interested as any one. + +So Barbara and Eleanor followed Mr. Brewster to the barn to point out +the trunk they wanted to open, while Polly cleared the table and Mrs. +Brewster went with Anne to make the beds. As they worked in the guest- +room, they exchanged confidences about the two visitors. + +"It seems the lovely morning has had a salutary effect on Barbara's +feelings regarding Pebbly Pit," ventured Anne. + +"I hope so," replied Mrs. Brewster, diffidently. + +"You see, Eleanor is broad-minded--more like her father, but Bob takes +too much after her mother to adapt herself readily to such a radical +change as a ranch," continued Anne, apologetically. + +"Eleanor appears to be a nice girl." + +"Bob will shortly be as satisfied as Nolla, but she just can't let go +of herself and her foolish training in a minute. If we have a few +pleasant outings to show her how really wonderful the country is, she +will open out in her natural sweet self." + +"It certainly isn't a pleasant surprise, to expect a modern fashionable +Summer Resort and then find a forgotten nook in the pit of an extinct +volcano," laughed Mrs. Brewster, humorously. + +"Yes, Bob was terribly upset last night. I fancy she was regretting +those seven trunks filled with expensive clothes," added Anne, smiling +at the remembrance. + +"I can't but wonder that such a sensible girl as you seem to be, can be +so fond of a girl so different from you in every way," remarked Mrs. +Brewster, looking Anne in the eyes. + +Anne flushed. "When you know her as I do, you will see that she really +is not snobbish, but only assumes it. As I said, she is the result of +silly training by a society mother. I have seen the genuine nature +buried by habits and I am willing to help her bring it out to establish +it permanently. Nolla will develop herself, if she is allowed to +express herself without constant ridicule or reprimands. This summer +ought to do wonders for both those girls." + +Mrs. Brewster showed her approval by nodding her head affirmatively at +Anne. + +"You had ample time to study the two girls last winter when they were +in Denver, I suppose," suggested Mrs. Brewster. + +"Yes, I was with them most of the time, and the result of the erroneous +influence over Bob was always noticeable after a short visit from Mrs. +Maynard. She only visited her daughters twice in the eight months, but +it was generally so unpleasant a time for every one, that we were +relieved that she had too many social engagements to come oftener." +Anne bent down to tuck in the sheets as she spoke so frankly concerning +her friends' mother. + +"But I must not disparage Mrs. Maynard in your eyes--you may find in +her many fine qualities that have been hidden from me," quickly added +Anne, fearing she had given her hostess a wrong idea. + +"Perhaps they are hidden very deep." + +Anne laughed. "Mr. Maynard is just splendid. He is so _human! He_ must +have found the good qualities in his wife, and she, doubtless, +permitted herself to be misled by vain aspirations to reach a social +height offered by her husband's success in business." + +"Love is blind, Anne. When a man fancies himself in love with a pretty +girl, he seldom seeks for lasting qualities or a strong character. He +accepts the transitory beauty as the real thing and wakes up, too late, +to find he entertained a dream." + +"I think you and I feel alike in this problem; my friends laugh at my-- +what they call--unreasonable opinions on marriage," said Anne, eagerly +inviting a discussion with Mrs. Brewster. + +"Some other day, Anne. We still have the task before us of acclimating +the city girls," laughed Mrs. Brewster, taking Anne by the arm and +leading her from the room. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +ACCLIMATING THE CITY GIRLS + + +"Waiting for me, girls?" called Anne, joining her friends. + +"We just got back from the barn," said Eleanor, showing the habits +which she had over her arms. + +"Well, take them to the room and change your shoes. We must wear flat- +heeled boots for walking about this place, you know," returned Anne, +noting that Eleanor carried both habits--doing her sister's work for +her, as usual. + +"Good gracious! I forgot to unpack the walking shoes. Won't these Cuban +heels answer?" cried Barbara, impatiently. + +"They might answer for a twisted ankle," laughed Anne. + +"Then we'll postpone the walk till to-morrow," said Barbara, +decisively. + +"Not me! I'm going to the cliffs if I walk bare-footed. In fact, I'm +not so sure but that will be the most delightful thing to do," said +Eleanor, sitting down to unbutton her high-heeled shoes. + +"Nolla! Stop disgracing us so!" cried Barbara, shocked. + +"Well, I want to see those cliffs at close range. If you start for home +to-morrow--or maybe this afternoon, if you find the cliffs +disappointing--I can at least take back the remembrance of the +wonderful spot," pouted Eleanor. + +To avoid the usual argument between the sisters, Anne quickly made a +suggestion. "Bob's feet seem to be about the same size as mine, and she +can have my tennis shoes for this walk." + +"And Polly's feet look about my size! Why can't I borrow a pair of her +country shoes?" added Eleanor, eagerly. + +"Nolla! Your feet are very slim while Polly's are broad as are most +country girls. You would ruin your feet in clumsy shoes," exclaimed +Barbara. + +Polly looked appealingly at her mother, so she came to the rescue. "I +have always been very careful of Polly's feet, as I can see no +advantage in ruining a child's feet, hence you will find Polly's shoes +are made by a first-class shoemaker." + +"Do they have such things in Oak Creek?" came sarcastically from +Barbara. + +"Do they have them in Denver and Chicago?" retorted Anne. + +"Naturally--in Chicago. To meet the need for our class." And Barbara +tossed her head defiantly. + +"Polly, run and find those last shoes we had made on the scientific +last plan," came from Mrs. Brewster. + +Polly vanished and Anne ran to her room for the tennis shoes. Barbara +walked away and stood on the terrace looking at the far-off peaks. +Eleanor and Mrs. Brewster glanced at each other, and finding a similar +expression in each other's eyes, both smiled. Thereafter a better +understanding existed between the two. + +"Staring up at white-topped mountains ought to be good and elevating +for you, Bob," began Eleanor, teasingly, when Anne returned. + +"Here, Bob, try them on," suggested Anne, holding out her brand new +tennis shoes. + +Then Polly returned with a neat pair of boots with good extension +soles. Eleanor took them, turned down the top and looked at the label. +She threw back her head and laughed mockingly. + +"What a blow to Bob's pride in the Maynard feet! Here we have to come +to Pebbly Pit and find our pet label in Polly's shoes. I'm sure the +Maynards will change cobblers hereafter!" + +Every one laughed at Eleanor, but Barbara occupied herself with trying +on Anne's tennis shoes. Eleanor sat down upon the grass and soon had on +Polly's common-sense shoes. + +"They fit to a dot!" exclaimed she, holding out one foot to verify her +statement. + +"Well, then, if you feel you can wear them comfortably, do let's start +before some other delay occurs," said Barbara, petulantly. + +The four young folks started on the trail that wound about the cliffs, +and Mrs. Brewster went indoors to cook some old-fashioned doughnuts--a +large stone crock of which was always kept in the pantry. + +The walk seemed very long to Barbara, who was unaccustomed to much +walking, but the other three girls reveled in the exhilarating air and +bright morning sunshine. Reaching the first cliffs, Polly explained +about the volcanoes of that section of Colorado and showed the visitors +many interesting formations of lava. + +They were about to continue to the Giant Guards, when Barbara +complained of aching feet. She declared it was the rough trail and not +her tender feet that caused the pain and ache. So the girls sat down to +rest, while Polly told of trips to other volcanic craters and peaks. +They were about to start on their way again, when the echoes of a +lively whistle sounded over the lava walls. + +"It's Jeb going to the corral to find our horses for this afternoon," +explained Polly, leaning out over a fragment of lava to see who was +passing by. But Jeb did not pass. He called loudly for his young +mistress. "Miss Pol-lee--Ah got sumthin fer you-all!" + +"Come up here, Jeb! We're resting on the Giant Guards!" shouted Polly. + +Soon Jeb appeared on the edge of the cliffs and held out a huge paper +bag that had great grease-spots here and there on its sides and bottom. + +"Yer Maw hed me bring these dunnits t' you-all, ez Ah come by. She sez +fer you-all t' let me have anudder one, too." + +"Oh, they are still warm!" exclaimed Eleanor, as Polly handed her one +from the bag. + +"Shore! But that makes 'em tas' better!" declared Jeb, anxiously +watching Polly hand one to Anne next, and one to Barbara, before +remembering him. + +"They're horribly greasy things," said Barbara, holding the doughnut +fastidiously with the tip ends of her fingers. + +"Mebbe folks'd call 'em by anudder name ef no grease war used t' cook +'em by. Ah likes 'em, howsomeever, grease an' all!" returned Jeb, +grinning with relief as Polly gave him two large ones. + +"Um! But they're good!" Eleanor smacked her lips at the first bite. + +"I can't eat mine--they look so impossible!" And Barbara raised her +hand and threw her doughnut over the cliff. + +"Oo-ah!" came from Jeb in dismay, but he hurriedly left the girls. + +Polly was surprised, too, but she merely said: "We never waste anything +worth while. The chickens and pigs like doughnuts--if we ever have any +left for them." + +Anne had to turn away to hide a smile, and at that moment she saw Jeb +at the foot of the cliff, glancing up to see if any one saw him pick up +the discarded delicacy from the ground. + +The incident over the doughnut silenced Polly as she led the way +between the two giant peaks of lava. They reared their heads more than +sixty feet high and were so oddly shaped that they derived their names +of "Giant Guards" from the spears seemingly held out from the shoulders +to challenge passersby. + +The trail leading between the Guards was not more than six feet wide +but immediately after passing them, one reached a semi-circle of cliffs +standing about a natural arena. Opposite the trail that opened on this +arena, a narrow canyon descended gradually away out of sight. + +"These cliffs forming the rim of the bowl are called the 'Imps' +Tombstones.' If you examine them closer, you will find they have queer +faces and all sorts of strange patterns traced on their bodies," +explained Polly, breaking the uncomfortable silence. + +"This bowl--as Polly calls it--is as large as Yale Campus, isn't it?" +said Eleanor, hoping to, establish conversation. + +"Everything about Pebbly Pit is on a large scale--even the hearts of +the owners," added Anne, patting Polly on the back. + +"Pardon me for differing, Anne--not the feet of the owners," laughed +Eleanor, sending a teasing look at her sister. + +"Mother says this bowl seems to have been a small crater belonging to +the great pit yonder, when the volcano was active in the centuries long +gone by," explained Polly, as the others ignored Eleanor's remark. + +"These Imps certainly are strange formations! Some with arms flung high +as if in defense, others crouching low as if to launch an arrow at the +enemy. And see those--erect with proud mien, in defiance of all others. +They must have been unvanquished," said Anne, interesting Barbara in +spite of her assumed indifference. + +"I just guess they weren't so cold and rusty-brown when the old demon +spit fire at them from the active volcano," said Eleanor, gazing aloft +at the grotesque heads with facial forms. + +"Nolla! I beg of you to use better English! You know how mother +trembles at your picked-up words from brother!" rebuked Barbara, +seemingly shocked at her sister. + +"What a tale these Imps could tell us of remote ages when they were +flung aside as useless in the evolution of things!" said Anne, +diverting a possible argument. + +"I say, Anne, why wouldn't this place give you 'atmosphere' for that +story you want to write, some day?" exclaimed Eleanor, unexpectedly. + +Anne flushed and Polly looked at her in surprise. Barbara seemed +amazed, too. + +"Is this something I never heard of?" asked the latter. + +"Oh, no; I once said to Nolla that I should love to be able to write a +story, and she assured me I could do it. She is only teasing, as +usual," laughed Anne, and at the first opportunity, she managed to give +Eleanor a smart rap on the shoulder for her breach of confidence. + +Leaving the Imps behind, Polly took the trail that led to the "Devil's +Causeway"--the ravine that cleft two towering peaks of lava. This chasm +descended abruptly to a depth of over five hundred feet and then as +abruptly ascended to the level of the distant end of the trail, where +it brought one to the ridge that over-looked Bear Forks Valley. + +"Do you want to go through the Devil's Causeway?" asked Polly. + +"Oh, by all means!" exclaimed Anne. + +"I wish we had thought of bringing the camera," said Barbara. + +"We will some other day. Now let us see the best views to get," quickly +replied Anne, glad to hear Barbara express herself favorably. + +"You people go down into that yawning grave, while I sit here and plot +out a preface for Anne's book," said exhausted Eleanor, selecting a +bowlder where she could sit and see far and wide. + +"I'd just as soon stay with Eleanor while you two go down and back +again," ventured Polly. + +"All right; Bob and I will see what's to be seen and be back shortly," +agreed Anne, starting down the trail. + +The two young girls sat high upon the lava bowlder while Polly pointed +out different familiar spots and mountain peaks. Then Eleanor turned +and looked curiously at her companion. + +"Does your father own all of this great estate free and clear?" asked +she. + +"Free and clear! What do you mean--that he cleared it of timber and +freed it of sage-brush?" + +Eleanor laughed heartily. "Mercy no! I never thought of that. I meant a +mortgage, you know." + +"I don't know what a mortgage is. But father never had to clear the +place much as it was always rich free soil without brush." + +Eleanor glanced quizzically at Polly. "Humph! My father knows what a +mortgage is, poor man! Mother made him do it to get her a French car +this spring. If your father was my father and owned all this vast place +free and clear, my mother would mortgage it in a jiffy if she married +him!" + +"Well, she didn't!" came decidedly from Polly, with a grateful sigh of +relief. + +Eleanor laughed in appreciation. "Say, Polly, my father would like you +down to the ground!" + +Polly made no reply and Eleanor looked about her again. "Polly, how +does it feel to own such wonderful things as you just showed us? And +such a great farm as you have?" + +"I never thought of it. In fact, I don't believe any of us remember who +owns them. Everybody is welcome to help themselves to these cliffs and +the jewels at Rainbow Cliffs." + +"How much do you s'pose your father is worth?" now asked Eleanor, +showing a trace of Mrs. Maynard's teachings. + +"I never asked him. We never thought of his being worth more than we +might need." + +"Oh, but you never can need all those cattle, and the vast farm, or the +wheat and other products he ships and they bring in money," persisted +the daughter of a banker. + +"He sends it off 'cause we can't let it spoil, you know," replied the +thrifty rancher's daughter. "But I don't know how much money he may be +worth. Maybe a hundred thousand dollars for the land, and maybe another +hundred thousand in cattle. I've heard John and Father talk over an +offer of half a million dollars for part interest in the Rainbow +Cliffs, but Dad wouldn't spoil 'em." + +"What! What did you say he refused?" shrilled Eleanor. + +Polly turned suddenly to look at her companion. She was surprised at +the expression on Eleanor's face. + +"I never lie. Why should I?" she cried in defense. + +"No, but you must have been joking!" + +"I wasn't! Why should I joke?" retorted Polly. + +"But goodness me, girl! If your father was as rich as all that, why +would you care about wasting a doughnut? And look at your mother making +her own butter and helping in housework! Anne says she even spins her +own linen towels and knits your stockings. What under the sun would she +work like that for, if she could afford to live better'n we do?" cried +Eleanor, incredulously. + +"My mother doesn't _have_ to do a thing, unless she wants to. She +just likes to do it for us, and it sure does make a home!" declared +Polly, fondly, as she looked across the Pit to her home. + +"Ye-es--I guess it does; but then some mothers can't sew and spin and +cook, you see, so where would the home be if we didn't have servants +and folks to do for us?" sighed Eleanor, comparing her own home life to +Polly's--to the latter's advantage. + +"What does your mother do, Nolla?" asked Polly, sympathetically. + +"Oh, she is a society leader, you know. She goes calling, and has +bridge parties every week. Then she has her teas and dinners, and the +balls, or theater parties, in season. Other times she has her clubs and +Welfare Work--she is President of a Charity Work, you see, and has to +address her members every once in a while," said Eleanor, warming up to +her description as she visualized her mother's important life- +interests. + +"Anne told us about how sick you were two years ago, and how you had to +leave home to live in Denver all last winter," said Polly, a +compassionate note creeping into her voice as she pitied the girl at +her side. + +"Well, I got better, didn't I?" came from Eleanor, shortly; then she +said tenderly: "Anne and her mother were great!" + +"Yes, but I was thinking if it was me--so sick that the doctors feared +I would never be well again--do you s'pose _my_ mother would have +stayed at home when I was with strangers in Denver? I _reckon not!_ +All the butter, or balls, or charities in the world could not have kept +her from my side every minute I was sick!" + +Such emphasis found Eleanor lacking with a reply but her eyes filled up +at the thought of a love that would sacrifice the world for a beloved +child. Would her mother do that if she realized any danger to her +children? Ah, that is what hurt! + +"Polly, my father would do as much for me, too!" said Eleanor, +exultantly, the moment she remembered one parent who loved her +unreservedly. + +"So would mine." + +"Then why should he object to your having a good education in Denver? +And look at the way he dresses you, Polly! I don't want you to think I +am poking fun at you, 'cause I'm not, but the way you slick back your +hair into two long braids and the baggy skirts you wear are simply +outlandish. If I had that wonderful curly chestnut hair I'd make so +much of it that I'd look positively beautiful." + +Polly felt hurt, not only because of her love of the beautiful in +everything, but also because she hoped Eleanor would turn out to be a +staunch friend. Now, of course, she wouldn't make friends with such an +old-fashioned country girl! + +"It's much easier to keep the hair out of my face when it's slicked +back. Besides, there isn't any dress-maker in Oak Creek better'n my +mother. But she doesn't have much time to trim dresses. When I go to +Denver, I'll have as fine a wardrobe as yours." + +"If your father has any money why doesn't he buy an automobile instead +of using that awful ranch-wagon? And why doesn't he hire servants to do +the work your mother now does? She could sew on your clothes, if she +had more time." + +"Mother never liked to have me think much of dress and I have always +been so busy with my pets and trips on the mountains, that I generally +lived in my riding clothes during vacations. But my shoes are as good +as yours--you said so. And my teeth and hands and feet are as carefully +taken care of as yours or any one's!" + +Eleanor admitted that this was so, but Polly still had to prove that +her father had money. And she insisted upon the fact being proven. + +"If you don't believe me, you can write to my brother John," declared +Polly. "His best college friend visited here last vacation-time and +simply went crazy over Rainbow Cliffs. He went so far as to have an +expert mineralogist come over here to examine the stones. This man was +out west on business for Tom Latimer's father, and Tom said it would +cost next to nothing to send for him. The man said the jewels would +create the greatest wild-cat speculations in New York if they were +placed on the market. Those were his very words!" + +"Tom Latimer! Do you know him?" gasped Eleanor. + +"He's John's chum. He visited here for several weeks and we had the +loveliest times! I liked him a lot." + +"I should think you would! But, Polly, Tom is several years older than +you. In fact he is older than Bob, as she found out when she tried to +capture him for herself. His father is one of the richest financiers in +New York." + +"I didn't think of his age, although now you speak of it, I suppose he +must be about John's age. But he acted like a big boy, so we had fine +times," explained Polly, entirely innocent of Eleanor's hints regarding +the young man. + +Eleanor threw back her head and laughed heartily. "Just wait until I +tell Bob this. Oh, how she will envy you your chance. Why, she did +everything on earth but fling herself at his head when mother told her +he was the richest catch of the season." + +"Why, he told me he was never going to marry until he found another +girl like Anne Stewart! He thinks _she_ is splendid. I asked him why he +didn't marry her, and he teased me by saying I wanted to know too much. +But he did tell me that Anne loved some one else who was a thousand +times better than he, so he had no chance with her." + +Eleanor glanced sharply at Polly to see whether she was innocent of +guile or whether she was trying to hide her real meaning. She saw that +her young companion had really no thought of love for herself or for +her brother John. So Eleanor never hinted that she had a suspicion of +the truth about Anne and John. + +"Do you think Anne liked Tom Latimer?" she asked. + +"Oh, yes! But she likes him because he is such a friend of my brother's +and her brother's. You see, Anne's brother Paul is at college with John +and Tom," replied Polly. + +"Yes, I know. My brother is one of their class-mates, too. But I never +met your brother or Paul. Mother said I was too young to appear in the +drawing-room when Pete gave his party to his class-mates this spring." + +"Oh, I've heard about a 'Pete' who is so clever in his engineering +class. Is that your brother?" eagerly asked Polly. + +"Yes, and we're proud of him! At least Dad and I are. I don't suppose +mother will feel proud of him until he marries a rich society girl. And +Bob never bothers about what he does." + +Now all this was new and strange gossip to Polly and she was willing to +hear more along the same lines, but Anne and Barbara returned from the +ravine, and the former called to them: + +"Have you been wondering what kept us so long, girls?" + +"Never thought of you. We've been getting acquainted," replied Eleanor, +with a smile at Polly. + +"That's good. Now let's go and visit Rainbow Cliffs," added Anne. + +"Lead off, Polly and I will follow," said Eleanor, linking her arm +through Polly's. + +Polly was not only surprised but pleased at Eleanor's evident act of +friendship. She had never had a girl-friend of her own age to confide +in, and she had felt very diffident with these city girls after their +arrival. But the short talk while sitting on the bowlder not only +established a firmer foundation for good comradeship between the two +girls, but it gave each a better appreciation of the other's character. + +After a circuitous walk, the four girls reached the cliffs where the +jeweled stones shone resplendent from the side-walls and ground where +tons of them were piled up in abandoned confusion. + +"No wonder they are named Rainbow Cliffs! I never saw such a dazzling +sight as these green, blue, red, and other colored stones!" cried Anne. + +"They are so beautiful that it seems as if they are real jewels!" +sighed Barbara, gazing raptly at the seemingly precious stones. + +"Polly says a man offered a fabulous price for a small interest in this +spot," remarked Eleanor, taking up a handful of the pebbles and letting +them run between her fingers in a speculative manner, while she glanced +covertly at her sister. + +"Not really!" exclaimed Barbara, looking at Polly. + +"Yes, but please let's not talk of it. Father does not like any of us +to speak of it, as he fears John and I will have our heads turned," +returned Polly, sending a reproachful look at Eleanor. + +But Eleanor smiled with satisfaction, for she knew she had boosted +Polly's value a thousand fold in Barbara's estimation. + +"Well, I'd sell out if it was me! My, but the good times I could have +on the money this would bring!" sighed Barbara, glancing up at the +masses of colored stones towering above her in the sunshine. + +"My brother John says he is going to work these cliffs as soon as he +finishes his college course of engineering," said Polly. + +"And Tom Latimer is going to be his partner!" added Eleanor, watching +her sister closely. + +"Nolla, I didn't tell you that, at all!" cried Polly. + +"Tom Latimer! Does _she_ know him?" asked Barbara of Anne. + +"I don't know, Bob; Paul and he are great friends of John Brewster's, +you know." + +Polly would not deign to look at Eleanor again, and took the homeward +trail without another word as she felt pained at her newly found +friend's mis-statement of facts. But Eleanor had done it all for +friendship's sake. She knew what a radical change all this information +would make in Barbara's estimation of the Brewsters and the ranch, so +she said more than she herself really believed true. + +At that moment the dinner-horn sounded and the girls started for the +house, without making further comment on the cliffs. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +SEVERAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS + + +As the four girls came around the corner of the ranch-house Sary banged +a plate of hot biscuits upon the table. Some of the biscuits bounced +off and rolled across the snowy cloth, so Sary made a swift lunge to +catch them before they fell upon the ground. + +Without hesitation, she replaced the biscuits on the plate and glared +at the boarders as she mumbled to herself: "Sech high-filutin' a'rs Ah +never did see afore!" + +The strangers looked at each other, wondering what the maid's perturbed +manner portended. But Sary flounced back to the kitchen sending an +angry glance over her shoulder before she entered that sacred precinct. +She quickly returned with a glass dish of pear preserves and another +dish of home-pickled peaches. These were so placed as to flank the +biscuits when Sary spied an inquisitive hornet about to settle upon the +preserves. + +"Git out o' that!" shrilled she, whacking at the insect with her +kitchen towel. + +The hornet resented the vicious slap and flew straight for Sary's red +head. She unceremoniously ducked and ran. But the insect buzzed after +her with evil intent, so Sary ran for her sanctuary, slamming the +screen door safely between herself and her pursuer. The audience +watching beside the table laughed merrily at the rout. + +At the sudden entrance of the maid into the kitchen, Mrs. Brewster +asked, without looking up: "Did you place the butter and milk on the +table, Sary?" + +"It are!" from Sary, curtly. + +Mrs. Brewster looked up in surprise. She saw Sary on the safe side of +the screen-door glaring at the hornet, which was crawling slowly +towards the crack in the opening, while buzzing threateningly, now and +then. + +"There's a hornet, Sary--better drive it away before you venture out +again." + +"Ah are." + +"Take the kettle and dash some boiling water on it. It sounds angry +enough to sting." + +"It am," flared Sary, as if her anger, too, was vicious enough to do as +the hornet would. But she turned to get the hot water and when she +returned to deluge the plague, lo! it was there no more. + +"Sary, what's wrong with you since this morning? You've not been civil +in any way," said Mrs. Brewster, impatiently. + +"Wrong e'nuff! Jeb an' m'sef havin' t' eat meals all alone in a big +kitchen that's fine e'nuff fer any one. But these fool gals is so high +an' mighty they hez t' nibble at a table under the trees!" Sary's lofty +scorn was only equaled by her majestic pose, as she delivered her +sentence. + +"You're wrong, Sary, we do _not_ nibble at the table--we leave that +for the field-mice," corrected Mrs. Brewster, sweetly. + +Sary vented an explosive "Humph!" and grabbed the meat-platter. As she +left the kitchen, she sent an insulted glance at her mistress, but the +recent correction in speech made her forget the hornet. The watchful +insect had been sitting directly over the door, and now eagerly resumed +its drive on the enemy. + +Despite her resolve to be dignified and scornful, Sary had to take +flight before the group seated about the table. The girls laughed. One +of the maid's loose shoes flew off during the race around the table and +the hornet would have conquered her had not Mr. Brewster risen to the +occasion and downed the insect with his newspaper. His heavy boot +finished the career of the "Hun-net" and Sary went back to the house, +picking up her shoe as she passed its resting place. + +Once more in the kitchen, she returned to the argument. "Ef it warn't +that you-all hed this comp'ny an' would be worn out in no time, alone, +Ah'd pack an' git, this day!" But in her heart the widow knew horses +could not drag her from such luxury as she had only recently enjoyed. +Besides, there was Jeb; he offered future possibilities of curtailing +her widowhood. + +While Sary delivered her opinion, Mrs. Brewster finished creaming the +potatoes and now dished them up. As she started for the screen-door, +she turned to the maid and said: + +"Either you have a severe attack of indigestion coming on, Sary, or you +are falling in love again. Both diseases present similar symptoms in +their first stages." + +"_Mis'_ Brewster!" + +But the mistress refused to look back even though the temptation to see +Sary's face was great! + +"Oh, Mis' Brewster! How kin you-all say that--so soon after Bill's +funeral, an' the expenses not all paid yit!" howled Sary, rushing to +the door that her mistress might hear her lament. + +But the call fell upon deaf ears. Miss Brewster deigned no reply, so +Sary sat down heavily upon a strong kitchen chair and took thought for +herself. How did Miss Brewster guess her half-formed idea? Had she +discovered in some uncanny manner, that Sary had slyly removed Bill's +post-card photograph from her Bible and cremated it that she might feel +freer to accept a second proposal of marriage--if it came? + +"She coulden' hev foun' _that_ out, cuz Ah locked th' box sence then. +She mus' be one of them brain-readers by nature, Ah rickon, an' she +jes' reads me like a book!" + +Never dreaming of the turbulence created in Sary's mind by her casual +remark, about dyspepsia and love, Mrs. Brewster took her chair at the +table. Immediately after giving thanks, the host stood up to carve the +roast. Then, to the surprise of all present, it was seen that the +rancher had donned his second-best black coat and had taken the trouble +to wear cuffs and a starched collar. + +Trying to avoid Polly's eyes, Mrs. Brewster met the gaze of Anne. But +the two understood and exchanged a fleeting glance of satisfaction and +approval. + +"Well, girls, did you visit Rainbow Cliffs--and how did you like them?" +asked Mr. Brewster, having finished the carving. + +"Oh, they are just wonderful!" declared Eleanor. + +"I hear they are very valuable," remarked Barbara. + +Mr. Brewster sent her a sharp glance and then frowned at Polly. "Ah +never give that a thought. There they've stood for ages before Sam +Brewster saw them, and Ah reckon there they'll stand for ages after Sam +Brewster is dead and forgotten!" + +"Not if I can coax Polly to sell enough of the loose stones to buy an +automobile and go off to school!" said Eleanor, emphatically. + +An annoyed look from Mr. Brewster and a surprised one from Mrs. +Brewster made Anne and Polly feel uncomfortable at Eleanor's lack of +tact. But the hostess was equal to the situation. + +"Polly, who do you think came to the kitchen door to ask for you while +you were at the cliffs, this morning?" + +"Here--to ask for me, Mah--mother!" exclaimed Polly, in surprise. + +"Yes, and she felt deeply offended because you had not asked for her +health or even sent word to her by Jeb--and she so lonely after her +accident, too!" Mrs. Brewster managed to express great pathos with her +words. + +"Oh, my darling Noddy! Mother, did she come to the door?" laughed +Polly, sympathetic tears starting in her eyes at the picture called up +by her mother. + +"Yes, and she said it was simply inexcusable in you. She was willing to +carry you anywhere you wished to go, but now she will disown you +forever, unless you make peace with her, this afternoon," said Mrs. +Brewster, smiling as she saw how she had succeeded in her effort to +change the thoughts and conversation of her family. + +"And Jeb said he had the horses ready for you girls as soon as you +wanted to try them out," added Mr. Brewster. + +Dinner was dispatched hastily after this announcement, and the girls +ran to don their habits. All idea of Barbara's wiring for return-ticket +money that day was forgotten as they went gayly towards the corral to +try out different horses. + +The entire afternoon was given over to exciting sport, as the girls, +and even Mrs. Brewster, tried to outride each other about the great +enclosure. Polly made Noddy happy by mounting her silky little back and +whispering fond nothings in the long ears. Anne was pleased to find her +Chicago friends could ride so well on the restive western horses, and +both Chicago girls were surprised to find what a magnificent rider Mrs. +Brewster was. She was slowly rising in their private opinions of her. + +During the following days, the girls took short rides to points of +interest in Bear Forks Valley and nearby mountains. And then came +Sunday. Barbara had not openly declared her satisfaction with the ranch +or time spent with its people, the past week, but neither had any one +heard a hint of her returning to Chicago. In fact, so much had been +crowded in the days just gone by, that no moment had been found in +which to _think_ of returning home. The trunks had not been opened +since the habits had been removed, as there was no need for changes of +costumes, and the traveling bags had contained all the girls needed for +a few days. + +The ranchers of the Rocky Mountains are so strict about observing the +Sabbath Day, that everything pleasurable, or in the form of work, has +to end at twelve o'clock Saturday night. Every one goes to "meetin'" on +Sundays, some driving a distance of twenty miles, or more. Once a +month, an ordained preacher crosses the Flat Top Mountains to hold a +regular service, and on other Sundays the leading ranchers read the +Bible and conduct prayers. + +The weather throughout summer in this section of Colorado is generally +fine and clear. Should a heavy thunder storm arise, it as quickly +passes over again. The nights are cool and dewy and the days glorious +and exhilarating. Hence one has no dread of foggy or prolonged rainy +days as in the East. + +The plan of dining under the trees had proved a good one, and as the +weather remained fair, no meals had to be eaten in the kitchen since +that first day. + +When the family gathered about the table that Sunday morning, they all +seemed cheerful and animated, but Mr. Brewster had not yet made his +appearance. + +"Has Mr. Brewster had breakfast so soon?" asked Anne. + +"No, he has not come out yet; he is reading the Sunday lesson for his +class in School," replied Mrs. Brewster. + +"Sunday School! Do you go? Where is the church?" asked Eleanor, +wonderingly. + +"Down at Bear Forks School-house. We use it for church, as well as for +other important purposes, besides day-school," Mrs. Brewster replied, +smilingly. + +Soon after the girls appeared at table, Mr. Brewster came out. He said +good morning in a very sedate manner that surprised the girls who were +not accustomed to his Sunday manners. + +That morning he gave a lengthy prayer of thanks that was meant to cover +the past week, but once he had concluded grace, he turned to his wife. + +"Mary, I'm sure I smelled the omelette scorching." + +Mrs. Brewster hurried to the kitchen where she found the eggs burning +and the room filled with horrid smoke. Sary was scolding at a great +rate, but she never used a _profane_ word because it was wicked. + +"Why, Sary, how did you happen to let the eggs burn?" + +"How come? Well, I'll tell you-all! Mr. Brewster handed me a printed +prayer to learn, and I was looking for my specs in my box when it +happened! That's all the good that prayer did me!" + +Mrs. Brewster kept a straight face and said: "Well, never mind, Sary. +We'll soon have another omelette ready." + +"Not on Sunday! I made one, and that was a sin, ez you kin see by the +way it burnt. I does no more cookin' or there'll be extra sin to wipe +out. Thar's bread and jam and coffee--enough fer any one to git along +on fer a few hours." + +Mrs. Brewster knew her husband, however, so she said nothing to Sary, +but hurriedly whipped up another omelette and fried it to a delicate +brown. This she carried out to serve. At the kitchen door she turned to +speak to the help. + +"Sary, bring out the bread and jam, will you?" + +Sary had filled a deep dish with dry cereal and held it in one hand. +She took up the coffee-pot with the other and' ran to get out of the +screen-door which had been flung open by her mistress. But the door +slammed to sooner than Sary had calculated and struck the coffee-pot in +its violent closing, throwing it upon the floor. + +"Consarn th' pesky door! Now thar hain't nuthin' on arth fer Mr. +Brewster to give thanks fer but jes' toast and jam. Ah cain't bile +another pot of coffee on Sunday!" Sary stood contemplating the disaster +until Mrs. Brewster called out: + +"Sary, will you bring that bread and jam?" + +The help brought the desired edibles and explained about the coffee. +Eleanor laughed out loud, but Anne kicked her warningly under the +table. + +Mr. Brewster turned to explain to his guests. "Ranchers never work on +the Sabbath. The less we cook the better it is, for we do penance to +our material desire for food. I have never been so severe as to forbid +cooked food on my table, but many of the families do. This morning, +however, we are compelled to sacrifice our weaknesses to Sary's ways." + +So the bread and jam was eaten with the omelette, to the accompaniment +of cold water, and then the master prepared to leave the table. + +"Girls, don't waste much time fussing with your toilette; we are behind +time as it is." + +"Did you expect us to go to church?" gasped Barbara. + +"Certainly. Everybody goes," returned Mr. Brewster, equally surprised +at such a question. + +"Why, we haven't unpacked any clothes for church." + +"That doesn't matter. The Lord doesn't judge according to dress. If +your heart is clean it is all He wants," replied Mr. Brewster, walking +away towards the house. + +The girls looked at each other in amazement. + +"What shall we do, Anne? I won't go in this old rag!" declared Barbara. + +"Don't drag me into the argument, Bob. You hate going to church and +there's no use trying to pretend it is your dress that keeps you away." + +"Would Eleanor care to go with us?" asked Mrs. Brewster. + +"Is Polly going?" countered Eleanor. + +"Oh, yes, I always go," said Polly. + +"We-el, I don't know, Poll. I'll go next Sunday but I am taken by +surprise this week. I'll stay home with Bob, I guess." + +"Very well, then, I'll tell Mr. Brewster to omit the extra seat in the +wagon," and Mrs. Brewster hurried away to dress. + +"What shall we do all morning?" asked Eleanor the moment the ranch- +wagon was out of sight. + +"We might unpack a few things we need, and arrange the trunks so mine +can be sent back home without giving you any trouble about yours," +suggested Barbara. + +"That's a good plan. And a good day to do it in, too," laughed Eleanor. + +"I think it is ridiculous--the way they go on about the Sabbath! I +suppose they would be dreadfully shocked if they knew we were about to +unpack our trunks!" said Barbara, sneeringly. + +Time passed quickly in sorting out the numerous items in the seven +trunks, and the girls felt famished before they were done. The articles +they wished to have out for use were piled up on the grass outside the +barn, and it looked a formidable heap when all was ready to leave the +barn. + +"Goodness me! We'll have to make a dozen trips to the house with all +this!" exclaimed Eleanor. + +"We'll carry all we can pile up this first trip, and then have +luncheon. Afterward we will carry the rest over," said Barbara. + +The clothing seemed so light that they kept piling up the articles +until they could hardly see from under the mountain of lingerie and +accessories. But they both found how heavy the light summer clothes +could be, when one's arms were extended unnaturally to hold up so much +finery. + +They finally reached the porch and threw the things into rustic chairs, +while they sat down to cool off in the breeze. + +"Now, you carry the clothes to the bedroom, Bob, while I hunt in the +kitchen for something to eat," remarked Eleanor, after a time. + +These important duties attended to, the girls were about to go to the +barn for a second load of clothing when the ranch-wagon drove up to the +steps. The family got out and Jeb drove on to the barn. + +"What's this on the grass?" asked Mr. Brewster, stooping to pick up a +silk stocking. + +"That's Barbara's, I think," said Anne, instantly divining the cause of +its being there. + +Then Jeb came running back to the house with news. "Ah found th' trunks +is b'en opened by some one, an' all th' finery is piled on the grass +outside th' barn. What hes happened, Ah want to know." + +Luckily Mrs. Brewster heard his remark and Mr. Brewster had no time to +speak before she caught Anne's hand, and led Jeb back to the barn. +Shortly thereafter, the three returned laden with everything ever known +in a lady's wardrobe. + +"Mary, you have broken the commandments to-day!" said Mr. Brewster, +overcoming a keen desire to laugh at his wife. + +"Maybe, Sam, but I strengthened another, called the 'Golden Rule'--I +certainly did unto them what I want some one to do for mine in case of +need. Poor girls!" + +Sary happened to be coming from the kitchen with the early supper +dishes in her hands. She saw Jeb with dainty silk lingerie almost +covering his head, and she heard Mr. and Mrs. Brewster's words. It was +too much! + +She continued on her way, but once she reached the table she thumped +the dishes down to vent her spite. "To think them city gals kin wind +Jeb about their fingers like that! On a Sunday, too! Ah wonder hain't +he got no respeck fer me an' the Brewster women, that he allows them +snippy misses to git him to carry underwear--him what's an unmarried +man, at that!" + +While the family sat at table enjoying the quiet Sunday evening, Sary +took advantage of their interesting discourse to slip away from the +kitchen and examine the beautiful lace-trimmed apparel spread out upon +the great bed in the guest-room. + +"Laws me! Ef it hain't like a bridal outfit. Ef Ah ever hed hed th' +chanst t' put on ennything like-es-that, I'd not have hed t'marry a +poor rancher like Bill. Ah could have hed my pick of the men at Oak +Crick!" + +Sary sighed with pity at her own limitations in life, and she crept +back to her kitchen planning how she could manage to get one of the +girls to present her with some of the bridal finery. Thus pondering the +problem, she sat down opposite Jeb and entertained him, as he ate his +Sunday supper of pork and beans. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE DANCE AT BEAR FORKS + + +The interesting events which crowded each other, day after day, in this +western life, so engrossed the girls that Bob forgot her vow to send a +telegram for return money to Chicago. She even forgot to write to Mrs. +Maynard at Newport, or to any of her society friends, until Anne +reminded her of a duty to her parents. + +Tuesday following their first Sunday at Pebbly Pit, a rancher's wife +called just before noon, to deliver invitations. + +"Ah heer'd tell how you-all had comp'ny this summer?" were the words +with which she greeted Mrs. Brewster. + +"Yes, a few young people. Will you be seated, Mrs. Halsey?" said Mrs. +Brewster, placing a chair on the vine-shaded porch. + +"Ah come t' ast you-all--say, you, Sally, stop pickin' them flowers! +Mis' Brewster'll lick yuh!" The visitor interrupted herself to shout at +her little girl who proved to be a naughty one. + +"Ez Ah was sayin', Ah come t' leave an invite fer th' hop at Bear +Forks. We-all is glad t' see Anne Stewart, which was a school-teacher +some time back, an' it was fit t' celebrate her friendship, in some +way. Don't cha think a dance jes' th' thing?" As the visitor spoke she +rocked violently back and forth. + +"I'm sorry my visitors are not here to thank you themselves, but I feel +sure they will be delighted to attend the dance," replied Mrs. +Brewster, shaking her head rebukingly at the small boy who stood on the +rockers of his mother's chair, and gripped hold of the back, and so was +roughly swayed back and forth with the rocking. + +"See har, yuh Jim Henderson Halsey--git down from thar! Ef Ah ketch +yuh, Ah'll skin yer face fer the hop--that Ah will!" threatened the +mother, trying to reach her young hopeful. + +But Jim Henderson Halsey knew from dire experiences just what to expect +did his mother succeed in catching him, so he dodged and ran away. + +"Did you-all say the gals would be in shortly?" asked the caller. + +"No, I said they were _not_ in. They are at the corral this morning." + +"Laws me! What a place t' spend th' mornin'. Ah reckon they'll be along +any time, then." + +"They left here just before you came and they are practicing on our +western horses before taking any long trips," explained Mrs. Brewster, +looking regretfully at the flower-beds where the two willful children +were destroying the fruits of her planting. + +Mrs. Halsey followed her hostess's glance and jumped up. "Ef yuh two +varmints don't quit that, an' come right t' me, Ah'll--Ah'll shet yuh +up in a boogy-hole!" shrilled the irate mother. + +Sary heard the familiar voice and instantly ran from the kitchen to +assist in entertaining the morning visitor. The two bad youngsters, +left to their own devices, began throwing the whitewashed stones that +encircled Mrs. Brewster's roundels. + +"How-dy, Miss Halsey?" was Sary's greeting, her large hand extended in +cordial comradeship. + +"Oh, it's Sary Dodd! How-dee, Sary? Ah recommember now that you-all +come t' live wid Miss Brewster. How'd you-all like th' place?" + +The visitor's frankness lost none of its curiosity as she eagerly +waited to hear all about the Brewster family with the mistress still +present, but ignored. + +Sary was in her glory and made the most of it. She had just reached the +point where she intended asking the "gossip" to stop to have dinner, +when a crash interrupted the enlivening Yellow Jacket Pass +conversation. + +"Sary, run and see what those children have done!" cried Mrs. Brewster, +mentally thanking her stars for the timely intervention. + +Soon the ladies heard Jim Henderson Halsey bawling loudly, and his +sister backing away from the buttery while she continued making faces +at the angry help. The little girl's protruded tongue made Sary rush at +her with uplifted palm, but both youngsters were so accustomed to +dodging these attacks, that they reached the haven of Mrs. Halsey's +presence without a painful encounter. + +"The ol' thing shook me till my teeth rattled!" wailed Jim Henderson, +etc. + +"Sarves yuh right! What cha be'n up t', any way?" retorted Mrs. Halsey, +the hope of dinner still lingering, but growing dim as Sary did not +return. + +Fortunately, for the general peace of all concerned, Mr. Brewster drove +up to the porch, on his way to Oak Creek. His wife's beseeching look +appealed to him understandingly. + +"Good morning, Mrs. Halsey. Ah hear you-all are inviting folks to the +dance at the school house. Want me to give you a lift to Jamison's +ranch--he hasn't been invited yet!" + +"Why, Ah figgered goin' thar after dinner. Be you-all goin' off before +yuh eat?" + +"Ah am not sure when we will have dinner to-day, the young ladies are +so engaged with riding, you see." + +The moment the Halsey scions heard mention of "dinner" they clung to +their mother's skirts and whined: "We-all wanta stay to dinnerr! Don't +cha go widdout dinnerr!" + +"Why not give the children some cake, mother, and then Mrs. Halsey can +have a bite with Jamison. He can lift her on to the next ranch, too," +suggested Mr. Brewster. + +Mrs. Brewster instantly acquiesced and ran to cut three generous +triangles of cake, while her husband came up and lifted Sally up into +the deep wagon. Before any of the Halsey family could protest, he had +turned, lifted Jim Henderson up beside his sister and then asked the +visitor if he could help her up to the seat. + +The cake was distributed, and the vexed but vanquished morning caller +jabbed a hat-pin through her rusty toque and pulled her jet-trimmed +shoulder cape tightly over her back, before bowing haughtily to Mrs. +Brewster. + +Not until the ranch-wagon turned the edge of Rainbow Cliffs did Mrs. +Brewster permit herself to leave the post of watching and slump down +into the porch rocker with a sigh of gratitude. + +Half an hour later the sound of wheels caused her to spring up in +dread, but her husband's cheery laugh relieved her fears. + +"Ah saw your difficulty and did the only sensible thing; but we-all +must keep this trick a secret. If Sary gets hold of it, my reputation +in Bear Forks, or Yellow Jacket Pass, is gone," confided Sam Brewster +to his wife, as he glanced fearfully about for Sary. + +The horn for dinner sounded shortly after the master's return and, at +the table, the girls were told of the visitor and her invitation to the +dance, but no word of her form of departure was mentioned. + +"It's lucky we have evening-dresses," remarked Barbara. + +"Do folks dress up at these parties?" asked Eleanor. + +"I should say we do!" declared Polly. + +Mrs. Brewster and Anne were talking in low tones and did not hear the +question and answer, so they did not explain what Polly meant by +"dressing up." + +The days intervening between the Tuesday and the Friday set down for +the hop passed quickly. Polly and her mother washed and renovated the +dotted swiss dress made for the school-commencement, and to Polly's +delight Anne added a blue sash and hair ribbons. + +Anne had a simple flowered-silk gown she proposed wearing. And the city +girls had elaborate dresses--Barbara's very much in the latest mode and +Eleanor's flounced and furbelowed, but modestly high in the neck as +became a girl not yet "out." + +Sary had bewailed her fate the day preceding the eventful one. Eleanor +pacified her by presenting her with a net-lace collar to enliven her +rusty black alpaca. + +An early supper was planned, as the ride to Bear Forks school would +take more than an hour, and every one wanted to be there for the grand +march. For several hours before supper-time, Barbara locked herself in +the bed-room and began her toilette. She dressed her hair, massaged, +and rouged and penciled her eyebrows, until she quite tired herself +out. + +Eleanor and Anne rapped again and again for admission, but Barbara was +obdurate about her right of possession. When she finally opened the +door for her room-mates, they stared at her in amused surprise. + +"Your hair looks all sizzly, Bob," said Eleanor. + +"Oh, Bob, remove some of that carmine from your lips!" advised Anne. + +"Why?" demanded Barbara. + +"Too much of it, that's all!" giggled Eleanor. + +But Anne and Eleanor had their own toilettes to make and paid no +further attention to Barbara. She managed to remove some of the +carmine, and pat down her hair, hot she could not do things as the +French maid generally did them to add to her beauty. Feeling +dissatisfied with her appearance made Barbara irritable, but she +remained in the room criticizing everything the two other girls did or +said. Then just before the horn sounded for supper, a knock came at the +door. + +"Come in!" called Anne, buttoning her white suede boots. + +"'S onny me. Ah jes' wanta ast you-all ef it is right in city sassiety, +fur a widder of six months' standin' t' go t' a party whar onny old +frien's will be. Thar won't be no sky-larkin' er high-jinks, yo' know!" + +Sary's anxious tone expressed her eagerness for a favorable reply to +her query on widowhood. Eleanor looked at Anne to answer, so she took +the initiative. + +"Certainly, Sary--come right along and enjoy yourself." + +Barbara was shocked. "The help's not going--surely!" + +"Humph! Miss Halsey ast me afore she mentioned you-all!" snapped Sary, +quite able to defend herself against Barbara's pride. + +"Oh, Bob doesn't mean it that way, Sary," said Eleanor, giving her +sister a backward kick for silence. + +"Of course not! Bob means that your mourning might prevent your +attending the dance. But seeing we are all old friends from ranches +round about, it will be like meeting your family," added Anne, the +pacifist. + +"Wall, then, Ah'll go," sighed Sary, as if loath to join a merry +throng. "But Ah hez t' have a smitch of somethin' like-ez-how Miss Bob +hez fer her shoulders, cuz my neck's gettin' scrawny now." + +Barbara had draped chiffon over her neck and dress, and at Sary's +request, she turned angrily. "The very idea! This chiffon is two +dollars a yard!" + +"I've got the very thing you need, Sary. You can wear second mourning +now, I suppose!" exclaimed Eleanor, sending a look at her sister. + +She hurried to the closet and took a long flat box from the upper +shelf. As she carried it over to Sary, Barbara stared. + +"Eleanor Maynard! _What_ are you giving her?" + +"Something I never will need this summer, and Sary can use it very +nicely to furbish up that black dress." + +Sary was too excited to wait and open the box in her own room, so she +tore off the paper at once. A lovely rainbow-tinted chiffon scarf lay +revealed, the predominating colors being violet. + +"Ah-h-h! Ah'm clean locoed, Miss Nolla! Not a soul'll ever know that +rusty black alpacky is th' same dress Miss Pearson mourned her husband +in fer five years before Ah got it given me!" + +"What nonsense! As if that dainty scarf will hide your outlandish dress +and mountainous figure!" came insultingly from Barbara. + +But nothing could spoil the joy of possessing such a heavenly wisp of +angel's robe as that scarf seemed to be to Sary. She was deaf to all +else, as she tenderly hugged the box to her ample bosom and backed from +the room. + +When all were seated about the table, which was spread in the living +room for that night, Mr. Brewster smiled at Polly in her gala attire. +Anne looked sweet and lovely in her simple dress, but the host could +not quite make out the style the city girls wore. He was not accustomed +to boudoir gowns of filmy lace and thin silk, and he thought they were +a new style of party dress. Had he known _what_ Barbara proposed +wearing, he would have asked her to remain at home. + +As Sary passed the bread to Eleanor she leaned over and beamed: "Miss +Nolla, Ah tried that on, an' you-all woulden' know me! Ah'm shore he'll +pick me fer a lanciers! Mebbe that scarf'll give him spine enough to +speak!" + +"Sary, I know right well he will!" declared Eleanor, not dreaming the +mischief she wrought in Sary's soul at that. + +Sary pranced back to the kitchen, but her flighty thoughts were +swinging corners in the quadrille with Jeb, and the fried potatoes were +gracefully shot into the coal-scuttle as the pan was waved aloft in +imitation of dancers she had envied in days gone by. + +"Sary, hurry with the coffee-pot, please!" called Polly. + +And Sary grabbed up the stone jug of vinegar from the back of the stove +where she had placed it, and ran in to pour the beverage into cups. The +combined cries of every one at the table failed to bring her to her +senses, so Mrs. Brewster told her to go quickly and dress for the +dance. + +Then wagon wheels sounded on the gravel road and Jeb yelled: "Air you- +all ready?" + +Sary gave a last lingering look in the tiny mirror over her combination +wash-stand, and realized what charms she had when rainbow chiffon +adorned her person. She then snuffed out the tiny lamp-wick and hurried +forth to meet her fate. + +Jeb was dressed regardless of all censorship. A great flaming peony in +his coat-lapel reflected its scarlet on his ruddy face. His tie was a +riot of colors and detracted somewhat from his purple socks and tan +shoes. He wore a figured near-silk vest won at an Oak Creek raffle, and +large checked trousers said to be the latest fashion some years back, +when he squandered his money on them. With his face scoured until it +shone, and his hair greased so that it was plastered down neatly, Jeb +felt he could woo and win the prettiest gal in the country-side. He +forgot there was a "female widow" about. + +The Brewster party reached the school-house later than was their wont, +and the cloak-room was well-filled with ranchers' wives and daughters +all waiting to pass judgment on the strangers from Pebbly Pit. + +Mrs. Brewster and Polly entered first, shaking hands with friends and +acquaintances. Anne followed smiling benignly on all. Barbara came +next, casting disdainful looks at the ordinary women she found present. +Eleanor delighted in the novel experience and was anxious to meet them +all. + +Once in the small room, the new-comers began to remove their dust-coats +and wraps. The ranchers' parties then went out to make room. Barbara +turned to Anne and whispered: + +"Where can I find the maid?" + +"Maid! We haven't one here, you know." + +"No maid to help me? Goodness, what shall I do?" + +"You're supposed to dress at home; besides, these people do not powder +or rouge, so they need no mirror or maid, you see," explained Eleanor, +taking delight in shocking Barbara. + +"Then I suppose I will have to go out without a look at myself. Do I +look all right to you, Anne?" + +As she spoke, Barbara dropped her evening cloak from her shoulders and +pivoted for Anne's benefit. Her gown of rose-pink net, trimmed with +elaborate gold embroidery, was extremely decollete, with narrow gold +bands over the shoulders performing the double duty as sleeves and to +hold the lower section of the dress up in place! + +Barbara turned slowly and attracted the attention of Mrs. Brewster, +Polly, and a few strangers lagging behind to watch the visitors. Just +then Sary hurried in from the dance-hall. She gasped at the sight +before her and quickly came to the rescue. + +"Shet yer eyes--every one! The poor dear! Ah'll cover her up whiles +some one finds her basque!" And Sary caught up Mrs. Halsey's jet- +trimmed cape and wound it quickly about Barbara's bare neck and +shoulders. + +"Child, how come yuh t' fergit the basque? Er what hez happened to it?" +cried Sary, sympathetically, while Barbara struggled vainly to wrench +herself free from the ill-smelling wrap that generally hung in Halsey's +kitchen. + +"Ah hev it! Polly, git the box Nolla gave me. Ah'll let Miss Bob wear +my scarf!" + +This meant supreme sacrifice for Sary, but she willingly offered the +one and only treasure to serve a betrayed friend. Still she was at a +loss to understand where that basque could be! + +Finally Barbara squirmed free and Mrs. Brewster managed to say: + +"Sary, Bob has on one of her most modern evening gowns. They are made +without tops, you know!" + +Sary gasped and suddenly collapsed upon the chair. Her strained +expression, as she took a covert look at the dress, spoke volumes. + +"Glory be, Miss Brewster," whispered Sary, hoarsely. "You-all don' mean +it fer trut', do yuh?" + +"Yes, Sary, it is a very expensive and stylish robe." + +"An' kin you-all let her march brazen-like, like that, in front of the +men!" shrilled Sary, holding both wide hands over her heart. + +"I never heard or dreamed there was such ignorance in the world, as I +have found in Colorado!" now flared Barbara, turning and leaving the +cloak-room. + +Sary waited but a second, then she cried, "Ah cain't 'low Jeb t' see +sech sights--an' he a good bachelor-man!" + +Sary rushed out to spare her prey any shocks, and the other members of +the party gazed at each other doubtfully. + +"Oh, well, it's not our funeral, Potty!" said Eleanor. + +"Shall we join the dancers?" asked Anne. + +"Yes, but I fear Bob will be ostracized," said Mrs. Brewster. + +"Serve her right! Anne and I told her not to dress like that, but she +_would_, you know. She wanted to show folks the style," explained +Eleanor, taking silent Polly by the arm and leading her out to the main +hall. + +As they left the cloak-room, the girls heard the fiddler shout: "Git +yer pardners fer the Grand March!" + +And from that time on to midnight, the three girls had the best fun +ever. But poor Barbara stood near the cloak-room as isolated as the +plague, for the ranchers dared not even look at a gown without a top, +let alone dance with the doubtful thing. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +IN THE WILDERNESS + + +Each day the four girls rode along various trails until, in the +judgment of Jeb, they were practiced enough to take a longer ride in +the mountains. + +Polly had been urging Jeb to give a favorable opinion on their ability +to stand a prolonged ride to the Flat Tops, but he was careful and +practical and persisted in making them try a greater distance daily to +finally harden them to a rough trail. + +Then Jeb said he reckoned the girls could start for a real outing. +Immediately, they planned where to go and what to see. + +Polly outlined a trip that might take a whole day, so they would have +to take food and kit for cooking purposes. Each girl would ride her +favorite horse or burro and the extra burro, Choko, could carry the +outfit. + +Of course, Polly decided to ride Noddy, as the burro was well +acquainted with her mistress's ways and the mountains. Eleanor +preferred a burro also, because, as she said comically, "if one falls +from a burro's back it is not far to Mother Earth." The two other girls +selected horses, sure-footed and trained for climbing. + +On the morning chosen for the trip, Mrs. Brewster and Sary were up at +day-break preparing the kit and packing the panniers. At breakfast, +four eager girls, with wide sombreros on their heads, heavy mountain- +shoes and leather puttees covering feet and limbs, talked of the great +adventures they were about to meet with. + +Sam Brewster laughed at their wild imaginings and said: "Ah shouldn't +wonder but what you-all will find a second 'Aladdin's Lamp' hiding +place. Just think of the fun to be had by rubbing the Lamp and wishing +for things!" + +Then Jeb brought the mounts from the barn and Sary helped him strap the +panniers and kit to Choko. Just as they were ready to start, Sary flew +out with a paper package carefully held. + +"Polly, Ah made a s'prise fer you-all, but don't let Choko roll in it +er run away, er my work will go fer nuthin'." + +"Don't worry about Choko, Sary, he's too trustworthy to serve us such a +trick," bragged Polly, petting the burro on the head. + +"Wall, then, see thet it hain't shooken up too much er gittin' mashed +under the ax," were the parting words from Sary, as she shifted the +short ax, which is an important item in every outfit. + +It was a wonderful summer day--the kind that makes one feel happy in +mere living, and the anticipation of wonders to come added a zest to +the outing for the girls. + +They left the trail leading from Pebbly Pit and picked up the rough +mountain trail at the Forks, Barbara and Eleanor exclaiming constantly +at the gorgeous wild flowers growing wherever the roots could find +lodgment. + +"I never saw such columbines! Four times the size of ours in the East," +cried Eleanor. + +"And those marvelous orange-colored blossoms! They look like a rare +exotic, with their huge clusters and flaunting colors!" exclaimed +Barbara. + +"If you girls think these are so beautiful, just wait till we reach the +'bottoms'--there you will see size and color enough to make you wonder +if you accidentally struck Paradise," said Anne. + +"And our ferns and mosses, girls! You never saw such specimen, +elsewhere," added Polly, churking to Choko to hurry on. + +"Polly, why did Jeb over-load that poor little burro?" now asked +Barbara, having lost her momentary interest in flora. + +"Choko isn't over-loaded at all. Of course it looks as if he had a +great load to carry, but pans and woolen blankets look more than they +weigh, you see. The heaviest thing he carries is my ax, I reckon." + +"Ax! What do you want of an ax?" wondered Barbara. + +"Can't tell how cold it may be up on the mountain-top, so I brought the +sheath-knife, ax, rifle, and other things in case we get the tail-end +of a blizzard." + +"And the blankets in case we get lost and need to camp out all night," +added Anne, teasingly, seeing the city girls' fears. + +"You can't really mean it, Anne! Surely we won't lose our way, and as +for a blizzard! Well, it is July," laughed Barbara. + +"It wouldn't be the first time we ran into a blizzard in July," +commented Polly. + +"But how is it possible, girl alive!" cried Barbara. + +"Possible enough on the Flat Tops. The merest rag of a cloud finds an +excuse to carry snow from the peaks. The wonder will be if we come away +without seeing snow fall." + +"Oh, Polly, how thrilling!" exclaimed Eleanor. + +"Once when father and I rode over this same trail to find a trapper who +had pelts for sale, we got caught in a blizzard. We got the pelts but +we also got the storm, and lucky for us that we had the pelts first. + +"I never had experienced a real mountain storm, but father had, so he +showed me what to do. I think I would know now just what to do in case +of another surprise." + +"Bu-r-r-r! Let's hope you won't have to practice on us," laughed +Eleanor, pretending to shiver. + +"Stop your nonsense, Nolla! I don't want to think of such dreadful +things," cried Barbara. + +"And I want to hear about how the pelts saved her life," added Anne. + +"It's real interesting, Bob, so let me tell them," asked Polly, and +receiving no unfavorable word or look, she proceeded: + +"It was the Fourth of July, and of course no one would start on a ride +wearing a fur-lined coat, so father and I had on our summer clothes. + +"After riding along Top Notch Trail for a time, we met the trapper and +bargained for the furs, then started back by a new trail he told us of. +It led past Pagoda Peak, and just as we got to the base of the peak and +discovered the down-trail, the blizzard came swooping upon us without +warning. + +"Father and I tried to keep going, but the gale traveled too fast and +blew in whirling eddies, so we got the pelts out of the bundle, and +wrapped ourselves in the largest ones. The smaller ones we used for our +feet. Father found two great bear-skins and covered the horse--that +acted as a shield on one side from the storm--the other horses stood in +front and back of us, making three sides protected. + +"Father then made me creep with him to the refuge made by the three +horses and there we remained. The horses stood perfectly still +throughout the blizzard, which lasted only an hour at most, and the +steam they exuded from their bodies kept us quite warm as we crouched +under them. + +"When the storm blew over, we dug a way out and removed the horse +blankets and fur pelts from the horses. Then we rolled our own +coverings into the bundle and started on down-trail. But the floods of +melting snow caused wash-outs and it was risky going. When we reached +the first Park never a sign of snow was there, and the only result of +that mountain blizzard was an added flood of water pouring down the +gulleys to the bottoms and valley." + +"Oh, Polly, what an interesting book your adventures would make!" +exclaimed Eleanor. + +"I'd like to write it down as you tell it, Polly, and we can surely +find a publisher for it," added Anne, eagerly. + +"Really! Oh, how I'd love to tell such a story!" said Polly, all +enthusiasm. + +"We'll try it as soon as we get back to-night!" promised Anne. + +The going was easy, so Polly told of other adventures: of the trip to +Buffalo Park when a bear chased them; of her meeting with Old +Montresor, the gold-seeker of Grizzly Slide and his pitiful story; of +the nights spent out on the mountains, watching beside a dying camp- +fire, or listening to the call of the moose to his mate on a moonlit +night; of the wonderful sport fishing in trout-filled streams, or +seeking gorgeous flora and strange fauna on the peaks, and again +photographing wild beasts and birds that never showed a fear of her as +she traversed their domains. The three girls were spell-bound at her +vivid descriptions and Anne sighed with desire to put it all down on +paper for future publication. + +"Montresor's Mine is in this mountain that I want to show you to-day. +He was a dear old man who lived a solitary life in a cabin near Buffalo +Park. Patsy, his dog, was his only companion. But he died and left me +his mine--that we never found again," sighed Polly. + +"Oh, Polly! Tell us the story!" chorused the girls. + +Polly laughed: "It isn't a story, 'cause there never was a climax as +real stories have to have, you know. But I'll tell you how I met Mr. +Montresor. I was out with Noddy, one day, and we traveled farther than +usual. + +"In leaving a bad trail to take a good one, I met the gray-haired man +slowly riding up. An Irish terrier ran back of his horse, sniffing, +sniffing, and whining as if distracted. I was so surprised at the dog's +actions that I stopped to ask the man what ailed him. + +"'Ah, my child, Patsy is seeking for my lost mine!' + +"'Your lost mine!' I gasped, for I had never heard of him or his mine, +although folks said there was a rich vein of gold somewhere in the +mountain.[Footnote: This is a true incident.] "'Yes, child, I am the +unfortunate Montresor. Haven't you heard of my great loss?' + +"I thought the poor man was foolish, so I humored him by saying, 'No, +sir, I never did, Won't you tell me about it?' + +"Then he told me the story. He had been an old prospector in the +Klondike, but not a successful one, as he was too honest. On his +return, from Alaska, he had to stop in Denver and work for his fare +back to the East where he came from. Being a splendid engineer as well +as a mineralogist, he found a place with a crew of mining engineers +about to inspect Pagoda Peak section and Lost Lake district. He came +with them. + +"After he had been in these mountains for a time, he was so certain of +finding gold that he remained when the rest of the crew went back to +Denver. After two years of patient digging and prospecting he took a +new trail that was later found to be Red Man's Trail, seldom traveled, +as it was such dangerous and hard going. + +"He was climbing along an awful place where the ledge hung over a +chasm, when he spied a small yellow nugget on the ground. He examined +it and found it to be fine red-gold. Upon looking about, he found a few +more, but there seemed to be no sign of gold in the ledge or in the +rocks about him. Still he staked out a claim on the spot in hopes of +later finding gold hidden in the ground. + +"He hobbled his horse and made a good circuit of the place and then +discovered that the opposite ledge of the abyss towered up hundreds of +feet higher than the one he was on. That gave him an idea. + +"He rode the horse carefully along his ledge until he reached a slope +where both ledges met an up-grade of mountain-side. Leaving the lower +ledge and back-trailing on the higher one, he stopped opposite the +place where he had found the nuggets. He dismounted, sought carefully +about, and to his joy found more nuggets exactly like the ones picked +up on the opposite lower side. + +"He took the pick from the saddle and worked at the wall facing him, +and discovered a rich lode running straight in through the solid rock. +He was so excited that he started off without staking a claim or +otherwise marking the place. But he soon remembered and went back. He +made out a correct claim and fastened it to a tree, then piled up the +necessary heaps of stone with his stakes in the middle. Doing all he +could think of to legally hold the right to mine the ore, he started +back along the dangerous ledge. It was so dark by this time, that he +could not find the way he came, and knowing it was almost impassable, +he permitted the horse to choose a way out by going up the mountain- +side, and so he finally reached the summit. Here he camped for the +night and early in the morning he kept on till he struck Top Notch +Trail, but so circuitous had been the route that he never could +describe the pathway his horse took. + +"Unfortunately, he had left Patsy home that day to guard supplies in +the cabin, and he did not return there at once, thinking it wiser to +first file his claims in Oak Creek. The clerk asked for section-corners +or distances from the nearest surveyor's blaze, but Montresor had not +found any. + +"It was a question whether the claim would be legal, but the worried +old man refused to give full details of the spot, as he feared the +claim would be jumped, and he purposed going back again to make a +survey for himself. + +"On his way to the cabin for Patsy, a dreadful storm came over the +mountains and lasted for three days. Snow, hail and wind blew down the +sides until it seemed as if winter had come in full blast. Of course, +no one would attempt climbing in that storm and Montresor had to remain +in his cabin for the blizzard to pass. + +"When he was able to travel again, he took Patsy to help find the +place, but the rain had washed away all scent for the dog. After a +tortuous climb on the trail, made ten-fold worse by the down timber and +wash-outs, Montresor discovered land-marks and knew he was on the right +pathway. + +"However, he could see no ravine or ledges, and after hunting day after +day, without locating a spot that resembled his claim, he well-nigh +caved in. There was no gully, no ledge, no wall of rock with fresh- +picked vein of gold showing in its face! In fact, so much rock and +earth and trees had been washed down from Top Notch Trail during the +great storm that the whole area he had previously covered had changed +form and appearances. + +"The poor man then tried to find his claim by following Top Notch Trail +and coming down from the summit, but he was taken ill and laid up in +his cabin for a long time. + +"I rode up to see him whenever I could, and father wanted him to have +some one stay with him, but the old man would not. Patsy was his only +nurse. The ranchers laughed and said he was luny over gold, and that he +never had seen any. Still there was the ore to cause wonderment, until +a miner declared it was some the old man had left in his kit from +Klondike. The report that he was trying to sell a claim that never +existed, made folks shun him even when they heard he was sick. + +"Cold weather was coming on and mother would not let me risk the long +ride to his cabin so often, but one warm Saturday I packed supplies and +rode Noddy up there. I found the poor man unconscious. Patsy stood by +the bunk licking the limp hand. I looked about but no food or drink +could I see. I lifted his gray head and tried to make him sip water +from my bottle, but he merely opened his eyes and smiled. + +"He tried to take something from under his head and I helped him. I +found a scrawl saying, 'Look on Patsy's collar.' + +"He tried to mumble and I stooped low but he relaxed suddenly and +seemed to shrink. I felt his heart but it was still. I tried his eyes +and they were sightless. Patsy sent up a heartrending wail and crawled +over behind his master's gun and knapsack, so I knew my old friend was +dead. + +"I removed the paper from Patsy's collar and saw my name on it. Upon +opening it, I found the dear man had left me all his interests in the +claim filed at Oak Creek offices. I tried to coax Patsy to come with +me, but he would not desert his master. Then I placed water in a dish +and gave the animal my food, but he would not eat or drink. + +"I hurried home to tell father and he rode back that same evening, to +arrange for the old man's burial. Jeb and John went with him, and the +coroner from Oak Creek, who is a friend of ours. + +"When they reached the cabin they found faithful Patsy stretched across +his master's body dead also. So both old comrades were buried together, +although the minister from over the mountain said it was a sin to place +both in one grave. When John told me, I said I was glad the two could +travel the same trail together, for Old Man Montresor had found Patsy +his best friend for ten years. + +"We found no clew to his eastern friends, and when the last will and +testament of Ralph Montresor was filed at Oak Creek, every one laughed +at us for believing the fairy-tale of a crazy man. But I never believed +he was crazy, and I do believe he once discovered that gold-mine!" + +"Oh, Polly!" wept Anne and Eleanor, deeply affected by the tale, but +Barbara plaintively remarked, "Do talk of something cheerful!" + +"All right, Bob, I'll tell you something that will cheer your woeful +heart!" jeered Eleanor, impatiently. "I'm going to take that Red Man's +up-trail, soon, and rediscover the mine, then I'll give it to Polly for +a present for her loyalty to Old Montresor!" + +"Don't be silly! If you ever did find a gold-mine you'd hold on to it, +fast enough!" retorted Barbara. + +Eleanor winked at Polly and Polly smiled gratefully at her, but Anne +broached another subject to spare the sisters an argument. + +The horses had been jogging along a trail that now turned off to what +looked like a wide plain. + +"Here's the bridge I've been heading for," said Polly. "From here on, +it's clear going to Lone Pine Blaze." + +"Bridge! Do you call this a bridge," laughed Eleanor. + +"It's a forest ranger's bridge. They build these over chasms and +streams so horses and men can quickly reach any part of the forest when +there is a fire. If they had to ford swift streams, or go round about, +much time would be lost." + +The bridge in question was made of loose tree-trunks thrown across the +river and pegged down on either side where the ends rested upon the +steep banks. + +After crossing the log-bridge, Polly led the way towards what seemed to +be a veritable wilderness of forest. Giant pines thrust their green +tops far above trees that would have been considered landmarks in the +East, but were deemed quite ordinary in the West. Next in height to the +commonly-sized pines came gigantic oaks and then the still shorter +aspens and lodge-pole pine. + +"You never intend breaking through that tangle of trees, I hope, +Polly!" cried Barbara, who had never seen such a bewildering growth of +forest in her life. + +"No, not this time! I'm making for that pine that you can see way above +all of the others. That is Lone Pine Blaze, because it bears the blaze +that shows the way to the up-trail!" + +Noddy must have been a frequent traveler to this tree for she knew +exactly the way to go and when she came opposite the pine that bore the +blaze, she stopped of her own accord. + +"Now, wasn't that cute?" cried Eleanor, riding her burro directly +behind Noddy. + +Polly jumped from her burro's back and went over to Choko. She removed +the ax from the pack and chopped a way through the slender undergrowth +which had grown up that season. + +"Yes, here's the blaze as plain as day! Any of you girls want to read +it for me?" laughed Polly. + +The three curious girls jumped from their mounts and pushed a way over +to the tree where they saw a queer mark made deep in the tree where the +bark could not over-grow it. + +"What does it say, Poll!" asked Eleanor. + +"It means for us to turn to the left and follow the trail upwards!" +said Polly, pointing to the signs. + +"I should think the ranchers would put up sign-posts to guide +travelers!" said Barbara. + +"How long do you suppose a post would last in a mild little wind-storm +that uproots trees and tosses them about like wisps of hay?" laughed +Polly. + +"Oh, Polly! You surely are making fun of us!" said Eleanor, doubtfully. +"No, indeed, she is not! In the three months' time I was at the Cobb +School, I saw some terrific gales sweep over the country!" added Anne. + +But sign-posts and wind-storms were forgotten for the time when the +horses came out on a strange road they had to travel. The wilderness of +pine forest had been left on the right after leaving Lone Pine, and the +trail led down gradually to a bottomland of brilliant green herbage. +Directly over this emerald valley ran a corduroy roadway. + +"There must have been a brook under this at one time!" stated Eleanor, +finding the logs partly embedded in caked mud. + +"No, this too, is built by our forest-rangers who help the timber jacks +build these roads. You see, while frost holds good the heaviest tree +trunks can be readily moved over icy swamp bottoms, but in the spring, +when thaw and freshets begin, the bottoms are more like a marsh, or +shallow lake, than anything else I know of. Then these corduroy roads +are a make-shift for hard ground," explained Polly, while Noddy started +to clip-clop over the firmly-set logs. + +"Why don't the men wait for the next frost?" asked Barbara. + +"Hoh! Don't you know the trees would be worthless if they were left for +a season? Decay and mold or worms would destroy the finest wood. +Besides, these logs, or poles, laid side by side in the mud, soon get +to be as solid as a rock, for the mud, oozing up between the chinks of +the logs, dries out and leaves them baked tight in the grooves." + +Having heard the way this novel roadway was made, the girls took a +lively interest in crossing it. No more questions were asked until +Polly reached the trail that led up through the forest. Then Eleanor +spoke. + +"Polly, you're sure you know the road?" + +"We can't go very far wrong! If we keep to the trail we are bound to +come out on the top--somewhere!" laughed Polly, giving Noddy her head +in selecting a safe footing on the rough trail. + +Eleanor, eager to show how well she could ride, forced her burro past +Noddy while the latter was making a slight detour about a sage-brush. +She turned partly around to laugh at Polly, when her burro made a +sudden lunge away from the trail, and at the same time, a diamond- +backed rattlesnake struck out from its coil, reaching at least two- +thirds the full length of its body. + +"Help! Save me!" screamed Eleanor, frantically, but the brave little +burro knew how to carry his rider safely out of the way of the reptile. + +Polly saw the snake coil for another strike at Barbara's horse, which +had almost reached the place before Eleanor screamed. The whole +occurrence was so unexpected and sudden that Barbara had not seen the +swift flash of cinnamon-red and dark diamond-patterned rattler. + +With great presence of mind, Polly instantly pulled Noddy up on a mound +of ground just above the reptile, and caught hold of a long supple +branch of wood. In another instant she was whipping the snake until it +could not tell from which direction the blows were descending--right, +left, front or back! In a moment of indecision, the snake remained +quiet and in that second Polly brought down her solid heel upon its +flat head. + +The other girls screamed and turned pale for they thought Polly had +fallen from her burro upon the rattler--so quick had been her action. +But the moment the daring girl looked up and laughed at them, they also +jumped from their saddles and ran up to help. + +Polly made sure the rattler was quite dead, then took a forked stick +and held it up to view. It had beautiful diamond markings of dark- +colors on cinnamon-red ground. The belly was of creamy white, and the +tail had eight rattles attached to it by means of a peculiar fibrous +ribbon. These rattles seemed to be of dry horny skin that made the +buzz-sound when shaken. The head had been so crushed open that Polly +could easily show the curious girls the poison-fangs which were hinged +to the upper jaw. + +"When a rattler intends to bite, its mouth grasps the object and these +fangs drop down into the flesh, puncturing tiny holes into which the +fatal poison flows." + +Polly described the action of the bite minutely, causing her hearers to +shiver with dread. Seeing the effect her words had made, she laughed, +adding, "A snake does not always bite clear! I mean, the least thing +keeps his teeth from driving straight into the flesh, so that the +poison bag cannot empty its fluid under the skin. It is often a loose +or sidewise bite, so that much of the poison never enters the wound. +That is why so many folks survive rattle-snake bites. If it went clean, +and the poison bag was emptied under the skin,--pwhew!" + +Polly whistled to denote her sense of the outcome of such a bite, and +Barbara cried, "Oh, mercy, Polly! I feel so sick after hearing you, +that I want to go back to Chicago!" + +Anne laughed at Barbara's fears, saying, "We may not see another +rattler all summer!" + +"Anyway, Bob, you're perfectly safe while on a horse, for they can +always tell when a rattler is near and they avoid it. A rattler will +never go out of its own course to strike--only biting when one passes +too near it for its safety!" said Polly. + +"Well, that's some consolation, anyway!" sighed Eleanor. + +"What do you want to do with this snake, Poll?" asked Anne, as the +sisters climbed back into their saddles. + +"Goodness me! What would she do with it, except to kick it over into +the bushes!" cried Barbara. + +"Polly is laughing! She thinks you are crazy, Anne!" added Eleanor, +impatiently, for she was eager to proceed on the trail. + +"Well, Polly, I think we will have it skinned and sent to Denver to be +made into an odd handbag for your mother!" suggested Anne. + +"Oh, Anne, how splendid! I wish I could find a snake skin!" cried +Eleanor. + +"Yes, Anne, I think mother will love that!" added Polly, gratefully, so +the rattler was moved carefully over to a large flat rock near the +trail, where they could readily find it on their way back. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE BLIZZARD ON GRIZZLY SLIDE + + +As the adventurers advanced up the mountainside, the pines grew closer +until it was almost impossible to ride between the great trees that +crowded on either side of the faint trail. + +"Polly, I don't see how we can go much farther!" said Anne, who had +never before been as high as this. + +"Oh, we are only one-third of the way up, Anne," smiled Polly, swinging +Noddy suddenly to one side to avoid a bowlder of rock that had rolled +upon the trail. + +After more arduous climbing, the horses unexpectedly came out into a +vast clearing, called a "park" by the natives. It was acres in extent, +fringed about by the heavy close growth of pines. The girls exclaimed +at the beauty of the spot, for wild-mountain flowers grew profusely +among the thick buffalo grass. + +"Now, then, every one of you start at this point and hunt for the +trail. I haven't been here since last summer when we went for that +trapper and his pelts. I didn't look for the blaze then, but it was +here, so we must find it to help us find the way out!" called Polly, as +she guided Noddy slowly past the fringe of forest trees, looking +carefully at each tree. + +"Goodness, Polly! Do you ever expect to find an opening in this tangle +of trees?" asked Barbara. + +"We can if Polly says there's one!" declared Anne, riding her horse +carefully in the opposite direction from Polly. + +Eleanor permitted her burro to follow after Polly, as she hadn't the +slightest idea of what the blaze or trail would look like. +Consequently, she was directly behind Polly when she shouted, "I've +found it!" + +The other girls wheeled their horses and galloped over to the place +where Polly was swinging the ax about her head. + +With several good whacks, she chopped down enough young aspens to clear +a way through the brush, thus exposing to view an old tree bearing a +blaze over twenty years old. + +"I'll show you how to count the age," said Polly, beginning at the +outer bark and counting the rings plainly lined from the new bark into +the tree until she reached the place where the blaze had been made. + +"How interesting! Then that means this trail was made twenty years +ago!" said Barbara. + +"Maybe twenty times twenty years ago, for all we know. Nobody really +knows how old this trail is, for it was used by the Indians as far back +as the oldest trappers and hunters know and have heard tell from their +fathers and grandfathers!" replied Polly, swinging into the saddle and +telling Noddy to proceed. + +The little burro obediently went into the seemingly impassable thicket, +the other horses following. After they had traveled for ten or fifteen +yards, the undergrowth thinned until they were going on pine-needle- +covered ground as soft as moss. The silent forest with its sentinel +pines, spreading a canopy overhead, seemed like another world from the +bright glare of the one left behind that morning. + +The trees were so tall and majestic, with great fragrant green tops +that scarcely allowed a sunbeam to penetrate to the pale green twilight +underneath, that a solemn peace pervaded the minds of the young +adventurers. The singing of birds, or the crackling of dry twigs, as +wild creatures sprang over them, were the only sounds heard. + +No shrubs or vegetation obstructed this impressive place, so the girls +rode on in silence, until the trail ascended again. Near the confines +of this forest, Polly suddenly reined in Noddy and held out a warning +hand. Right across their pathway sped a young deer. It paused by the +side of a sheltering pine-trunk, with head erect and fore-foot poised +gracefully, gazing steadily at the strange creatures who dared intrude +upon those sacred precincts! + +It as suddenly vanished again, and the girls breathed deeply. + +"Oh, for our camera!" cried Eleanor. + +"How stupid of us to leave it home," added Barbara. + +"It's always the way. Who remembers a kodak until it is needed," +laughed Anne. + +"John promised to bring me a fine camera this summer, but he never came +home from college, so I didn't get it," said Polly, wistfully. + +"Haven't you one, Poll?" wondered Eleanor. + +"Not yet." + +"It's a shame--and you with such wonderful ways to use it. The moment +we get home, I shall give you my new one, and you can give me some +prints from it in exchange," said Eleanor, generously. + +"Why, Eleanor Maynard! Yours is brand new and cost forty dollars!" +cried shocked Barbara. + +"Of course it's new! Would I give my best friend a second-hand thing?" +retorted Eleanor. + +"Oh, Nolla, it's awfully good of you but I wouldn't think of taking +it!" exclaimed Polly, gratefully. + +"If you don't I'll give it to Sary, and then you can look for trouble! +She'll snap pictures of Jeb at dinner, of Jeb at the pump, and Jeb +here, there, and everywhere!" + +The girls laughed merrily at the pictures outlined, and the camera was +forgotten. + +After climbing for two hours more, Noddy wrinkled his nose and twitched +his sensitive ears. + +"Noddy scents water. See, Choko is acting the same way," called Polly; +and sure enough both burros were making faces at the sky-line. + +In a short time the riders reached another Park but this one was not +half the size of the first. Instead of encircling forest trees, the +girls saw giant up-thrusts of rock that deft the blue sky. On each side +of the widened trail stood lodge-pole pine that ran up to the summit +and down the other side of the peak. + +"At last--Top Notch Trail!" exclaimed Polly. + +"You seem relieved?" ventured Anne. + +"I am, because I half-doubted whether I would remember the right route +without an older guide." + +"When in doubt don't do anything," suggested Eleanor. + +"If we didn't do anything we wouldn't have been up here," argued Anne. + +"This trail runs straight to Grizzly Slide, a glacial peak I've always +wanted to see. Father never had time to take me and mother wouldn't +allow me to find it alone. Explorers say it is a permanent glacier that +seldom changes its form as most of our other snow-capped peaks do in +summertime." + +"How I'd love to see it!" sighed Eleanor. + +"It sounds as if we were in Switzerland about to visit the Alps," added +Barbara. + +"Have you any plans for to-day, Polly?" asked Anne. + +"Nothing particular. I thought we would try for this trail and have +dinner up here, then do whatever you liked before starting for home." + +"How long might it take to ride along the top and hunt for Grizzly +Slide?" asked Eleanor eagerly. + +"I'm not sure of the distance, although I hear it is four miles from +Four Mile Blaze. From here to the blaze may be one or ten miles, but +the going is fine on this trail," replied Polly, eagerly showing her +inclinations. + +"I simply won't consider going back home yet!" declared Eleanor. + +"We might go on a bit further before eating, and then we can see what +the trail is like. If we decided to try for the Grizzly Something-or- +other Poll mentioned, I'll agree, all right!" ventured Anne, the gleam +of adventure shining in her eyes. + +"I'm the only molly-coddle in the crowd and I'd like to see more of +this mountain, myself," laughed Barbara. + +"'Nuff said,' when Barbara talks like that!" laughed Eleanor. + +So they continued along the crest of the mountain from which grand +views of distant peaks and vast forest-sides could be seen. The +brilliant hues of wild flowers, everywhere, mottled the ground; the +dark-green of towering pines, or again the shorter aspens like pickets +on guard in the foreground; the bleached skeletons of lodge-pole pine +burnt clean in forest fires; and just before the riders, the plunging +water falling from a cliff that shut out any glimpse of the trail +ahead, combined to produce a master-piece of Nature's work. + +"Why not camp at those Falls for dinner?" asked Eleanor. + +"Good idea--I'm half-starved," admitted Anne. + +"And maybe the horses can rest, too," from Barbara. + +"Bob's going to join the S.P.C.A. soon," laughed Eleanor. + +"No, I'm not, but horses will last longer if you feed and rest them, +and I do not care to walk home!" retorted Barbara. + +"I brought my fishing tackle, girls, and while you are unpacking dinner +I may as well cast for a few trout in that stream," suggested Polly. +"Can you fish trout?" exclaimed Barbara, wonderingly. + +"Can a bird fly?" laughed Anne. + +"The idea! A westerner and _not_ know how to fish!" scorned Eleanor. + +But Barbara was not sensitive to-day so did not feel offended at these +remarks; neither did she take pains to disguise her real sentiments +when it would have been kinder to keep silence on a subject. + +Having reached the base of the cliff, the girls found a delightful spot +for the luncheon. The packs were slipped from Choko and he, with the +other mounts, were hobbled and left to graze on the buffalo grass in +the clearing. + +The girls unpacked a pannier while Polly arranged her tackle and +started for the top of the cliff whence fell the water. + +"Let me go with you, Poll, and watch?" asked Eleanor. + +"If you won't speak, and mind you don't slip and fall!" + +"I won't," promised Eleanor, crawling up after the sure-footed Polly +until both reached the top. To their surprise, the girls found a cleft +between two great rocks with a quiet pool resting at the base. The +current passed, rushing onward to the Falls, but the water circulating +in the nook scarcely rippled. Even as the two girls watched, a flash of +a speckled back flounced up in play and splashed their shoes. + +"_What_ a spot for trout!" whispered Polly, crawling out to the rim of +a rock while Eleanor watched breathlessly. + +"Not too far out, Poll!" whispered Eleanor, anxiously, as Polly leaned +over the edge to gaze into the clear depths. + +Without a word, Polly carefully cast her fly far out upon the smooth +surface of the sparkling water. Then flashes deep down, and in +incredibly short time a large speckled trout rose to the bait, and +Polly felt her nerves tauten with the excitement of the sportsman. +Eleanor held her breath for fear the trout would disappear. + +Polly landed that one, weighing at least three pounds, then caught two +more, weighing about two pounds each. + +"Guess these will be enough for this noon. No use catching more than we +need!" remarked Polly, coming back to Eleanor's side. + +The girls hastened down the rocks and brought the fish over to the +place where Polly expected to find a good fire burning. + +"Why, I don't see any fire--didn't you build one for the fish?" cried +Polly. + +"You didn't tell us to! Anyway, what would we make it with--no matches +and no kindlings!" replied Barbara. + +"Can't you girls start fire with flint--or some sticks?" asked Polly, +curiously. + +"The only fire I can light is with a safety match and the valve of a +gas-stove!" replied Barbara, quaintly. + +The others considered her remark very funny and Polly promised to teach +them how to make a fire with two sticks only! + +"Do it now, and fry the fish for us!" said Eleanor. + +"No, it will be too late for us to begin all that now. We had better +wait until supper-time. We really ought to be on the trail by this +time," said Polly. + +"Child alive! You don't intend being out in the woods at supper-time, +do you?" gasped Barbara, fearfully. + +Polly laughed. "Is that so fearful? Why, I think it is piles of fun to +camp out on a fine night!" + +"Maybe you do, but remember the rattle-snake! We may be sleeping on the +ground when one comes along-_Oh,_ OH!" cried Barbara, shivering. + +"Oh, come now, Bob! No use conjuring up such gruesome pictures to +tickle your nerves!" exclaimed Eleanor, impatiently. + +"If you don't want to go on to Grizzly Slide, now's the time to say so! +When we get there it will be too late to complain about the lateness of +the hour in getting home!" said sensible Polly. "Oh, we all want to go +to Grizzly Slide!" asserted Anne, hastily. + +"And we will take everything that comes with it!" declared Eleanor, +eagerly. + +"Well, all right, but for the love of goodness, don't let's camp in the +wilderness all night!" cried Barbara. + +They sat down after that discussion and ate the sandwiches and fruit, +but Polly wanted a piece of the chocolate cake she thought Sary had +packed for them. + +"I couldn't find any! We looked through and found only sandwiches in +the papers," said Anne. + +"Oh, pshaw! I was sure there was cake!" grumbled Polly. + +"It may possibly be in the bottom of the other pannier, as we didn't +unpack everything, you know," suggested Barbara. + +"If it is, we'll eat it to-night for supper. At least we know Sary +packed _something_ good for us," added Anne. + +Once more on the trail, the adventurers rode through forests where the +notes of unseen birds blending with the murmur of pines sounded like +weird music to the city girls. + +"Just like the sea's roar in a conch-shell, isn't it?" whispered Anne, +as she listened rapturously. + +They passed tumbling, hurrying mountain streams where the burnished +trout flashed swiftly back and forth in the clear water. They came to +an upland park where the soft whistle of quail caused Polly to lift her +rifle, but the whir of wings told of a flight. From jagged rents in the +cliffs, through which the horses passed, their hoofs ringing echoes +from the iron-veined rock, they came to sleepy hollows where the Quaker +Aspens stood ghostlike as sentinels on guard before their beautiful +Eden. + +Having climbed one peak and descended it, then the next one, and so on, +and on, following the winding trail that became more difficult to find +and more dangerous to climb, Polly finally drew rein beside a tree +distinctly scarred. + +"Hurrah! The blaze to the Slide," shouted she, scraping away the lichen +that covered the spot. + +Glad of an excuse to jump down and stretch their limbs, the other girls +joined Polly at the tree and saw the blaze, although so old, to be +perfectly plain and easily traced. + +"Four miles to Grizzly Slide!" read Polly, exultantly. + +"But it must be three o'clock or more. When can we hope to get back +home?" murmured Barbara, glancing down the trail they just left. + +"Too late to worry about that now," said Eleanor. + +"I plan to see Grizzly Slide and then camp somewhere," said Polly. + +"That is the best thing, now," added Anne. + +"You don't mean to sleep out in this awful wilderness, do you?" gasped +Barbara. + +"No, we're going to engage a suite of rooms at the 'Queen Victoria' for +to-night!" jeered Eleanor. + +"I hope to reach the Slide and ride back to those Falls for camp. We +have fish and pasture and soft moss there," said Polly. + +"Ideal place, too," approved Anne. + +"But the wild beasts, and, oh, suppose a rattler comes along while we +are asleep?" almost sobbed Barbara. + +"He'll steer clear of you, Bob!" retorted Eleanor. + +"Come on, girls, don't waste time arguing, or we'll camp on top of the +peak, yonder," laughed Polly, jumping back into her saddle and urging +Noddy along the way. + +Although Grizzly Slide was but four miles from the blaze, the trail was +so rough that the horses had to go slowly. Too, the rarefied air +strained the animals' hearts and Polly advised frequent halts to rest +the heavily breathing beasts. + +During those four miles, the trail often opened from the heavy timber +and gave a glimpse of far-off valleys, and dreadfully nearby abysses +that made one feel that one was on top of the world. Even the pines in +the nearer crests and clefts looked like wisps of green--so small they +appeared from the tremendous height. + +The trail finally led through a thick forest of lodge-pole pine that +looked interminable, but suddenly ended at a line as if it had been +purposely cleared away. The riders all sat in silent awe at the sight +before them. They had reached Grizzly Slide! + +The snow-capped peak, reaching an altitude, from the clearing where +they stood, of at least a thousand feet sheer up, dazzled their eyes in +the bright sunshine. To the left of the peak, the sides dropped down +almost perpendicularly to the level floor of a valley many thousand +feet below. To the right, the snow-fields stretched across a vast area +before any timber could be seen on the downward slope. + +The snow of the Slide was continually melting in summer and furnishing +icy streams that cut through in every direction to reach the vales far +down. The temperature was almost at freezing point near the peak, and +the girls quickly donned their sweaters which had been packed in +Choko's panniers. + +In removing the sweaters, Polly accidentally pulled out a heavy coil of +rope, but hung it back on one of the knobs of Choko's harness instead +of buckling it inside the pocket. Well she did, too. + +"Come on, girls, I want to see what that blue line is over on the ice- +field," said Polly, starting up the Slide. + +The horses were sharp-shod and sure-footed, so the girls rode as safely +as if on the mossy trail, but they had not gone far before Polly began +murmuring to herself. + +"What's the matter?" wondered Anne, aloud. + +"That blue line looks to me like a crevice in the ice." + +"What of that?" asked Barbara, stupidly. + +"That shows something queer! This slide seldom cracks into fissures, +but when it does it means trouble. If that crevice goes down very deep +it shows unusual warmth underneath. And that may move this upper +section of ice-field any time, thus creating an awful land-slide, don't +you see?" + +"Oh, mercy! Let's hurry back!" cried Barbara, wheeling her horse +immediately. + +"It isn't likely to occur as quickly as that, Bob," said Anne, +soothingly. Then turning to Polly, said: "But this slide is said to be +stationary." + +"It _has_ moved, but so seldom that folks never fear it. I know +something about land-slides after living in Pebbly Pit for fourteen +years, and even a little slide at the lava cliffs causes an awful +destruction, so I can picture what this gigantic slide would do if it +ever got started down!" + +"You said it happened when Montresor's Mine was buried?" reminded +Eleanor. + +"Yes, a small one then, and it may happen again, so we won't stay +another moment," begged Barbara, from a distance. + +"It's all right at present, Bob, and I'm going to see if the chasm runs +along very far," returned Polly, riding Noddy away from the girls. + +Anne and Eleanor watched the blinding peak where clouds drifted lazily +about so that the top of the crest was visible only now and then. At +such times, the sun flashed upon the ice and reflected myriad colors as +in a rainbow. + +"Isn't it just beautiful!" sighed Anne. + +"As wonderful and beautiful as his Satanic Majesty!" declared Eleanor, +but she anxiously watched Polly ride along the brink of the fissure. + +"Oh, girls! Won't you please come home! I won't be easy till my horse +is traveling that corduroy road again!" wailed Barbara. + +The others laughed. "You complained about _that_ when we crossed it. +The time may come when you'd be glad to be standing on Grizzly Slide-- +after it has slid!" teased Eleanor. + +"Now I'm going back! So there!" threatened Barbara, but she remained +exactly where she was, for she feared to go back alone. + +"Well, it looks as if we would have to return unrewarded. I can't find +a place safe enough to cross to the peak, and the crevice seems to run +all the way across and deep down, too," said Polly, coming back to join +Anne and Eleanor. + +"Now will you come back?" nagged Barbara, desperately. + +"In a minute! We want to watch those rainbow-tinted clouds--they are so +beautiful!" sighed Anne. + +But even as she spoke, the fleecy clouds of snowy white changed quickly +to gray. From gray they turned to dark ominous-looking colors, and +Polly hastily glanced at the sun. + +"Let's ride back at once!" said she shortly. + +[Illustration: NODDY LED THE WAY TO TIMBER AS THE BLIZZARD BEGAN ANEW.] + +Noddy was turned and urged to lead off as fast as possible, but Polly +turned every few moments to watch the clouds now gathering in somber +banks and falling down over the Slide. + +"Girls, make more haste!" ordered she. + +"What's the matter, Poll?" called Anne, who was in the rear. + +"I want to get you-all to the timber line just as fast as we can +travel. Don't waste breath talking--just _ride!"_ cried Polly, +fearfully. + +"I told you to come home. I knew something terrible would happen up +here!" wailed Barbara, trying to push her horse, by leaning far over +his neck. + +"Yes, you always were a Calamity Jane. If we'd left you down with the +rattle-snake we wouldn't have been so hoo-dooed!" cried Eleanor, in her +nervousness. + +"Noddy, dear, won't you go faster? We must set a better pace for the +others, you see, pet!" said Polly to her little burro. + +Apparently Noddy understood the need of a brisker step, for she started +so that she soon out-distanced the others and Polly had to wait for +them. As she waited impatiently, she watched the clouds sweeping down +and along over the ice-fields. Then she remembered the rope hung on +Choko's collar. She jumped off, grabbed it, and soon had Choko securely +fastened to the end of the rope. Another loop was fastened to Noddy's +collar. As the others rode up she tied a loop to each mount so that a +chain was made of the five animals. + +"Is it a blizzard or a tornado, Poll?" gasped Anne. + +"Don't know! Just race on as fast as you can!" + +Then as they hurried across the icy slope, the sun seemed suddenly +quenched and the daylight turned to sodden drab. Heavy drifts of snow +could be seen falling headlong from the clouds hanging about the peak, +making a wonderful if awesome sight. + +"Girls, our lives are in jeopardy unless we reach the timber belt!" +shouted Polly, trying to outcry the wind that shrieked down the Slide. + +Noddy, brave little burro, quivered in dread of the elements sweeping +about them, but she responded to Polly's call and fairly dragged the +trembling Choko after her. + +The hurricane was now screaming about the peak and howling horribly +through the fissures in the ice. As the blizzard gathered fury and +strength, the clouds, like rags torn from the sky, raged past the +riders, every now and then sweeping the snow completely over them. +Still the full fury of the gale had not yet appeared. + +Polly stopped momentarily and yelled back her orders: "Every one grab +hold on the tail of the horse in front of you!" + +They comprehended the sense of this advice, but could not manage to act +upon it, as the drifts of snow and ice made it impossible to jump from +the saddle, or lean over to hold to anything. + +By this time, everything was hidden from sight and even the foremost +rider looked ghostlike in the gray light and snow. The trail was +obliterated by the drifts and the going was slippery and slow. + +"We've simply _got_ to make that timber, girls!" shouted Polly, more to +encourage than to urge, as she knew the beasts were doing their utmost. + +The three other girls, too cold and frightened to speak, clung to their +animals hopelessly. Noddy seemed imbued with supernatural powers, for +she never made a miss-step or swerved from the trail, although it was +invisible. This instinct of scent, so marvelous in these little burros, +proved the salvation of the adventurers. + +Then darkness fell completely and the storm broke loose in its fierce +madness, so confusing the chain of horses that they stamped and turned +until the rope was so tangled that the riders were threatened with +being thrown. Even in that awful moment, Polly was glad she tied the +beasts to-gether, for surely one or another of them would have bolted +or strayed to doom with its rider. + +Noddy seemed the only animal to keep her sense. As the other horses +snorted and wheeled, Polly cried desperately: + +"Noddy, Noddy! Can't you help us out?" + +With a tremendous spurt of strength the little burro pulled herself +free from the tangle, dragging Choko along, too. The other horses soon +calmed down again and followed in the wake. + +A glassy surface had formed over everything, so that a slip would prove +extremely dangerous on that steep slide, but Noddy plodded along as if +she knew that the responsibility of all depended upon her accuracy in +trailing. The girls had to trust blindly to the burro's sixth sense, as +no one could see whether a yawning chasm or a rocky projection was +directly before them. + +"Polly, I'm falling! I can't stick on another moment!" cried Anne, her +voice reaching Polly, as the wind blew in that direction. + +"Anne Stewart--you _must!_ We're right at the timber-line now, and +I'd be ashamed to say you gave in before Barbara!" shrilled Polly, to +give her friend new endurance. + +"I'm all in, too!" wailed the plaintive voice of Eleanor. + +"Oh, dear God, tell me what to do?" screamed Polly, as if she must +_make_ the Almighty hear and help. + +Just as all seemed at its worst, the wind suddenly died down, and the +gloomy mantle of darkness lifted perceptibly. Polly felt sure the +cessation of wind and sleet was but a lull before a second and worse +cloud-sweep, but she made the most of the interval. + +"One more step, girls, and we are safe! Keep up courage!" + +To Noddy she crooned anxiously: "Now or never again, little one!" + +Noddy turned momentarily to look into her beloved mistress's eyes as if +to plead for breath and a moment's rest, and then she responded to the +call of necessity and led the staggering line to the timber just as the +gale began anew. + +It was darker in the forest of lodge-pole pine than out on the ice- +field, but the timber offered comparative refuge from the driving sleet +and wind. Another difficulty presented itself, however, in the close +growth of trees. To avoid collision with the crowded trunks, it became +necessary to undo the rope that held the five beasts together. Each was +thus allowed to roam his own way, and this was the more hazardous, as +the hurricane ofttimes tore up a smaller pine and, twisting it about +like a cork-screw, flung it down like a straw. + +Noddy seemed possessed to travel in a certain direction, so Polly, sure +of a burro's instinct for shelter and refuge, gave her her head. +Eleanor's burro also seemed anxious to go in the same direction Noddy +took, and followed in her footsteps. But Choko, freed from the +detaining rope and not so worn by battling the gale with a rider to +carry, made for a spot to the right of Noddy. + +Suddenly Eleanor screamed and pointed at Choko. "Oh, look quick! Choko! +Choko!" + +Even as she cried, Choko was seen frantically scrambling on the verge +of a cliff, and suddenly vanished over its side. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A NIGHT IN THE CAVE + + +"Oh, my little Choko!" sobbed Polly, quickly turning Noddy to go down +to the edge of the precipice where the burro had slipped over and down. + +"Now we haven't a thing to eat, and no blankets for the night! I knew +this was a foolish outing," complained Barbara. + +Eleanor failed to hear her sister's selfish remark, for she was driving +her burro closely upon Noddy's heels. Anne was so impatient at Barbara +that she urged her horse after Eleanor to keep herself busy. + +"Good gracious! Am I to sit here alone and freeze! I'm sure I'm not +such a fool as to have the same thing happen to me as it did to Choko," +cried Barbara, but the wind carried her words back to Grizzly Slide. + +Polly slid from her saddle and stretched out flat upon the brink to +peer over the edge for a possible sight of the burro. As she did so, +she saw a mass of baggage and burro scramble upright and shake itself +violently. Then a plaintive whinny rose up to welcome the fearful +girls. + +"Whoa! Whoa, Choko!" shouted Polly, instantly. + +Jumping up, she called to Eleanor: "Choko fell upon a ledge, but +there's a great hole behind him and should he back he will surely fall +in and be lost. I'm going down to lead him out!" + +"Oh, Polly, don't risk your precious life for a burro!" screamed +Barbara, hysterically. + +"If Noddy can creep down, I'll save Choko without risk to myself," +declared Polly, climbing in the saddle. + +"If Polly goes, I go too!" exclaimed Eleanor, turning her burro to +follow Noddy. + +"Don't you dare! Nolla--think of mother grieving for you, and me left +alone in Colorado, helpless!" cried Barbara. + +"Now I'm going, anyway! I'd like mother to appreciate me," was +Eleanor's unexpected reply, but Anne caught an undaunted look in the +girl's eyes. + +The combined persuasions of Barbara and Anne had no effect on Eleanor, +who, truth to tell, exulted in this daring feat and would not have +missed the thrill for anything. But her burro balked at the point where +Noddy began the descent. + +Noddy was making for a place where the ledge met the downward slope of +the mountain-side. The burro felt about for sure footing and then took +a step forward. Prodding carefully again, she took the next step, and +so on. Sometimes, feeling suspiciously, she would essay a step and as +suddenly bring back her hoof before breaking into the pit. Thus taking +one assured step after another, she finally reached the beginning of +the ledge where Choko had landed. + +Upon the mountain-side where the frozen girls and beasts trembled, the +wind howled and the blizzard swept along between the trunk of trees, +but on the ledge Polly found comparative shelter and only now and then +a blast of the gale. + +She stopped to beckon to Eleanor and then urged Noddy along the +foothold cleft from the cliff. Above, the rock-wall rose to the +mountain-top; beneath, Polly could not gauge the depth--it was too +dreadful and was now blurred by fine drifts from the blizzard. + +After what seemed an age, Polly reached Choko, who still stood obedient +to his mistress's command of "Whoa." But he shook and seemed completely +broken up with fear and the shock of the fall. + +"Dear little Choko!" purred Polly, jumping from Noddy's back and softly +patting the burro's woolly face. + +The burro affectionately nosed Polly, who gazed quickly at what she +thought to be a pit back of the little beast. She gasped in wonderment +and went to the dark hole. Then she quickly ran back and took hold of +Noddy's and Choko's bridles. Standing thus, she shouted to the anxious +girls above: + +"Come down as carefully as I did and here you will find a cave." With +that she disappeared into the yawning black hole, leading both burros. +Barbara and Anne stared at each other in amazement, and the latter +said: "Come carefully! Anything is better than freezing here." + +Eleanor had already reached the ledge, when Polly came forth from the +cavern to shout out advices. The two older girls made the perilous +descent safely, and then guided their horses along the ledge until all +stood before the cave where the burros were waiting. + +"Isn't this a miracle?" cried Polly, the moment all were safe and the +poor beasts were being led inside the refuge. + +The girls laughed and cried hysterically when they saw the haven, but +the animals seemed uneasy, and Noddy came up to Polly with fear +apparent in her expressive eyes. + +"Noddy, are you frightened? Surely no wild beast can be in here, at +present?" queried Polly, looking around in the semi-gloom. + +"Polly! What can it be?" shrieked Barbara, clinging to Anne in fear. + +"Better get out again, Polly," suggested Eleanor, seeing the horses paw +the floor, and strain their eyes to see. + +"Are we safe here, Polly dear?" asked Anne. + +"Safer here than up there," returned Polly, and as she spoke a great +tree was flung down over the edge of the gorge just where ledge and +slope met. + +"Now we can't crawl out if we wanted to--the tree obstructs the way," +declared Polly, decidedly. + +"But we must see what it is that disturbs the animals," advised Anne. + +"I'd rather throw myself over the cliff than be clawed to bits by a +panther!" wailed Barbara. + +"The horses are quieting down now, and Noddy seems as much at home as +anywhere, so I reckon it was only strangeness that made them act +queer," said Eleanor. + +"But something may pounce out upon us, and take us unawares!" wailed +Barbara. + +"I propose to smoke them out as soon as I make a fire!" said Polly, +looking about in the darkness of the cave for a possible stick of wood, +but not finding any. + +"I'll have to chop some of that pine! Noddy can carry me safer than I +can walk on this ledge, so I want you girls to promise to keep the +horses close about you and wait right here until I get back!" said +Polly, taking the ax from the pack. + +"Polly, I'm coming too! Two axes are better than one, and I can ride my +burro, too!" declared Eleanor. + +Anne and Polly sent the girl a look of gratitude, while Barbara was +speechless until after Eleanor started to go, then she remonstrated +volubly. + +The two girls crept toward the down-thrown pine, and Eleanor said, +"We'll need wood for a fire, won't we?" + +"Yes, we will have to remain in the cave all night, and it gets so +terribly cold upon these mountain peaks that we will be frozen unless +we warm up the interior of the cavern. Then, too, we may need to keep +fires going at the back end of the cave as well as in front, to ward +off wild beasts!" + +They were slowly advancing when another awful crash came from the slope +above. Both girls ducked instinctively, but the decayed pine that was +broken off above ground fell over the edge of the cliff just in front +of them and obstructed the way so that progress was impossible. + +Eleanor quaked and cried, "Oh, let's go back, Polly!" + +But Polly laughed. "Glory be, our fire-wood came to us halfway." + +At her cheerful words, Eleanor braced up again. + +Polly jumped from Noddy's back and started to hew at the soft decayed +wood. It was easy to chop and would furnish a flaring fire, even though +it would burn rapidly and need constant replenishing. + +"Nolla, this is the second miracle to-day! Had we hunted the mountain +over, no better wood could have been found for just our need. Yonder on +that other pine, when this is out of our way, awaits our bedding." + +"What funny bedding!" + +"Just you wait and see." + +When enough wood was chopped to clear a way on the ledge, Polly showed +Eleanor how to make bundles of it. These were tied by means of the rope +to Noddy's harness and carefully dragged back to the cave. Several +trips had to be made before both burros had brought the firewood to the +growing pile in the cave. + +When Polly spoke of cutting balsam for beds, Anne offered to help, as +she was so cold. + +"And leave me here alone?" cried Barbara. + +"Why don't you come with us?" asked Eleanor. + +"I'm dead! I can't do another thing!" + +"Then stay here and cheer the burros," said Eleanor. + +"I won't let every one of you go and leave me to be killed by a wild +animal," shuddered Barbara, looking over her shoulder. + +"Nothing wild here, but you, Bob. However, you may light a fire for us, +while we are gone," retorted Eleanor, unsympathetically. + +Without further comment, Barbara was left, and soon the girls were +stripping the spruce which had blown over the ledge. Its green branches +would make the softest of wild-wood beds. + +"It really was fortunate that both these trees came down when they did! +We would have to remove them as obstacles to our going out in the +morning, and I would have had to hunt well before I could have found +such fine tinder! So I've really saved myself a double chopping!" said +Polly, as they tied up the last bundle of evergreen branches and +started the burros for the cave. + +"I'm just frozen, and I wish you would hurry and build a fire!" cried +Barbara, petulantly, when the girls came within hearing. + +No one replied, but Eleanor was furious, while the others were +impatient with the girl. + +"I was so hungry that I tried to get a sandwich out of the pannier, but +something made a noise back in the cave, and I'm sure it was a rattle- +snake buzzing!" added Barbara, trying to win sympathy from the stony- +faced companions. + +"Pooh! You've got rattle-snake on the brain! It would have done you +good to get out there with us and do some rattling of the ax on the +wood!" + +"Why, Nolla! How unkind you are since we came to this awful country!" +cried Barbara, not able to find a handkerchief, and sniffing audibly. + +"Here! Use this to amuse yourself with while _we work!"_ said +Eleanor, taking a neatly folded handkerchief from her coat pocket. + +When Eleanor turned again to the others, she found Anne had unharnessed +the burros and piled the saddles upon a stone projection near the +opening of the cave. + +There were numerous little finger-like caves that branched out from the +main cave, but they led nowhere and seemed empty. Polly noticed that +the dry leaves and loose shale scattered about appeared to have been +undisturbed for months. Some of the leaves were from the harvest of the +previous fall, so she felt sure no beast had prowled about the +"fingers." + +Coming to a much larger extension than any of the others had been, +Polly called out: "This must be the thumb of the hand!" + +"Sure it isn't the arm!" laughed Eleanor. + +"Ah, I thought so--now I have it!" murmured Polly, finding a nest of +leaves and soft feathers packed down with bits of fur and dry grass. + +"What have you found?" eagerly asked three voices. + +"The lair of a grizzly. I've got him!" cried Polly, triumphantly. + +Instantly, three girls screamed and turned to run, and Polly laughed. + +"I've got him on the _outside,_ girls! He can't get in with that +fire smoking his front doorway, you see." "Oh, hurry back and pile more +wood on the fire!" cried Eleanor, quaking with fear. + +"Yes, yes, Polly! Come away and let's build more fires!" added Barbara, +not knowing which one of the girls to hide behind, and looking at the +horses as if pondering a refuge with them. + +"What! And use all of our 'safety first' before dawn! If you waste the +wood now, what will you do when old grizzly comes prowling home and +finds your fires dying down?" said Polly. + +"Well, do have one of us go and tend the fire carefully so it can't +possibly die down and let him in!" added Anne. + +"We are almost through exploring, so we may as well finish! Then we +will all go and have supper and feed the animals." + +The remainder of the cave proved to be a rocky wall gradually sloping +down until it reached the entrance again. But, just at one side of the +"thumb" was an aperture from which the wind blew in, as could be seen +when Polly held her torch down to the opening. + +"That leads out somewhere, and that opening is big enough to let a +panther creep through, or a wild-cat! I'd like to crawl through there +and make sure where it comes out and if it is quite safe on the other +side," suggested Polly, looking at the girls. + +"Oh, Polly dear! Don't do it! Suppose something should happen to you!" +cried Anne. + +"Why, I wouldn't let it, Anne! If I creep through that tunnel, I'd +shove the torch in first and keep it moving ahead of me all the way, so +that nothing could grab me, you see!" said Polly, half laughingly. + +"I say, Polly, let well enough alone. Let's go back and get supper and +rest for to-morrow!" advised Barbara. + +"But just s'posing a rattle-snake was coiled up inside that tunnel! A +burro wouldn't smell it, and it could crawl out during the night and +take a good straight bite!" teased Eleanor. + +Polly laughed, but Barbara thought Eleanor meant it, so she replied: +"Then Polly had better go in and see if everything is safe for the +night." + +Anne had been so rudely shocked that day at the selfishness apparent in +Barbara's character, that she did not try to hide her opinion. The +wonder was, that she ever could have been so completely taken in during +the months in Denver, as to declare Barbara to be a splendid girl when +one knew her. She now decided that it took ranch life and mountain +exploits to show up genuine characteristics and thoughts. + +"Polly, I'll go in first!" offered Eleanor, dropping to her knees to +crawl in at the opening. + +"Eleanor Maynard! Come back here!" cried Barbara, taking hold of her +sister's feet. + +"Nolla, you shan't take the glory from me!" laughed Polly. + +Meantime Eleanor was pulled back and rolled over, laughing as heartily +as if she were at a farce-comedy. + +"Now listen to me!" advised Polly, shaking a finger at the three girls. +"First of all, Anne and Bob must go and watch the fires, then unpack +the panniers, and next make beds of the tips--you know how, Anne?" + +"I've watched the school children at Bear Forks weave it, so I'm sure I +can make them, too," replied Anne. + +"Good! You stick the little stem-ends under the soft fuzz of the others +just laid. The principal thing is not to have hard prods hurting the +body, and the tips will take care of the springs and softness, all +right," said Polly. + +"While Anne is making the beds, Bob can fix up odds and ends of spruce +and leaves in the 'fingers' for the horses' beds--a bed in each finger, +Bob. If the animals are comfortably bedded down they will be fresh in +the morning. And if we hide them in those fingers the scent will not be +so apt to reach a grizzly or lion should any prowl about to-night." + +"Where shall I place the spruce beds for us?" asked Anne. + +"Fix up two on each side of the cave as near the entrance as possible, +Anne. We need air and the warmth from the fires. Then, too, we can hear +any wild beast that may prowl around to-night," advised Polly. "If +Nolla wants to go with me she takes _second_ place, see!" + +Eleanor laughed and said, "Anywhere as long as we start!" + +"Polly, first I want you to promise me not to be reckless in going +through that tunnel. If you meet with the slightest danger or hazard, +promise to back right out again," begged Anne. + +"All right, Anne, I promise, but my shoes will mar my follower's beauty +if I back down on her face." + +Thus joking to make little of the danger, Polly started in through the +hole. Eleanor followed and the two older girls stood watching until not +a sound, or ray of the torch, could be seen. Then they went to the +front of the cave to replenish the fires and prepare supper. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +OLD MONTRESOR'S LEGACY + + +"I'm afraid to fix the beds in those finger caves, Anne," whimpered +Barbara, coming over to where the young woman was weaving the beds of +spruce. + +"What is there to be afraid of? The burros and horses won't hurt you, +and they are too weary with this day's troubles to bother about kicking +or trampling you. However, you can do this, if you like, and I will +make up the beds for the beasts." + +The spruce beds were being made--Anne showing Barbara how to lay the +tips in rows as wide as the bed was to be, then folding under the +sticks of the second row to run under the tips of the first row, and so +on, until the length of the bed was made. + +This work finished, and the bedding for the horses arranged in the +"fingers" as Polly had directed, the two girls stood near the entrance +of the cave, wondering what possibly could have happened to keep Polly +and Eleanor so long. + +"I just felt in my bones that it was an awful risk to go into the black +hole of the unknown!" cried Barbara. + +"It isn't that that bothers me at all, Bob. But Polly has no sense of +fear, and I think they may have found an exit at the other end, so +Polly is coming around that way. It is a hazardous thing to do, in this +storm!" said Anne. + +"Anne, can't you try to squeeze in there and see what has happened?" +asked Barbara. + +Anne looked at her without saying a word, so Barbara thought she +hesitated on account of leaving her alone in the cave. + +"I won't mind staying alone for a little time. I'll watch the fires and +see that the horses do not get away!" said Barbara. + +"Really!" was all Anne said, as she turned to place another pine knot +on the fire. + +But the tone silenced Barbara, who had food for thought thereafter. + +Meanwhile Polly and Eleanor had crawled into the aperture, and by dint +of squirming and twisting through the passage, found that only the +section nearest the cave was of soft debris. It gradually widened as +they advanced and Polly distinctly felt a current of cold air blowing +in her face. + +After creeping along for some distance without finding an outlet, +Eleanor pulled on Polly's foot to attract her attention. + +"Let's go back, Poll. No use hunting down in the bowels of Grizzly +Slide." + +"Nolla, the smoke of the torch blows harder than at first, and there is +enough air to waft it backwards, so there will be an opening at the +end, I am sure. That is what I must know for certain." + +"All right, lead on! I'll be with you at the death!" + +Polly chuckled at Eleanor's loyalty and crept on. + +Finally Eleanor rugged again at her feet and shouted: "Hey, Polly! +Aren't we most through to China? Let me know the moment you get the +first peep at a pig-tail, as I have to brush the cobwebs from my +Chinese!" + +Polly laughed at the girl who made merry of a journey that would have +staggered an older person. Finally, however, the tunnel widened so that +both girls could advance comfortably and then, suddenly, the flame of +the torch and the smoke ceased to blow into their faces, for they had +come out into an open space. + +"We're here!" laughed Polly, trying to stand up and giving her head a +smart rap against the overhanging rock. + +"'We're here!' For goodness' sake, tell me where?" cried Eleanor, +thrusting her torch ahead so that it was almost snuffed out against +Polly's shoes. + +"Gracious me, Nolla! Don't burn my soles!" cried Polly, managing to +stand upright and hold aloft her torch. + +"Ha, that's good! Don't burn your soul!" teased Eleanor. + +But the moment the girls saw where they were, not another word was +uttered, for they found themselves in a vault-like cave somewhat +smaller than the entrance cave, but having no "fingers" or outside +opening. The dome and sides were rocky, but everywhere, embedded in the +rock, myriad points of light reflected as the flare of the torch lit up +the place uncertainly. + +Eleanor thrust up her torch also, and both girls pivoted around, +forgetting about wild beasts and the errand they came upon. After +blinking at the bright yellow gleams for a time, Polly turned and +stared at Eleanor. + +"What is it?" + +"I'm sure I don't know, Nolla. It looks like copper." + +"Polly! If it's copper, then we're rich!" + +Both girls rushed over to examine the metallic gleams at close range, +and Polly frowned as a thought entered her mind. Eleanor turned and +looked about to be sure no one could hear, and then whispered: + +"Polly, it looks like gold! Can it be real GOLD!" + +The girls stared at each other and then burst out into a simultaneous +laugh. But it was excitement, not mirth, that occasioned it. Before the +wild echoes had rung through the vault, the hysterical girls were +tearing at the hard walls, trying in vain to dislodge a nugget. + +"Oh, why did I leave that ax in the pannier!" wailed Polly. + +"Isn't it always that way--when you need a thing!" exclaimed Eleanor. + +In her haste to reach a fragment that looked easy to break off, Polly +dropped the torch. She stooped to pick it up again and saw a nugget of +the ore on the ground, half-covered with dirt. + +"I've got a piece! Oh, Nolla, look! LOOK!" shouted Polly, holding aloft +her treasure. + +Eleanor ran over and both girls examined the chunk of yellow streaked +and studded rock. + +"Polly, it really looks like gold," ventured Eleanor, awed. + +"And it's red-gold, too, like Old Man Montresor's nuggets," added +Polly. + +At the mention of the gold-seeker, both girls looked at each other and +the same thought flashed to both of them at once. + +"Maybe it is!" breathed Polly. + +"Oh, Poll, hold the torch down near the ground so I can find a chunk, +won't you?" beseeched Eleanor, now anxious to find a nugget for +herself. + +"There, Nolla--see over by the hole! A little piece for you." + +Eleanor ran over and found it to be smaller than the one Polly found, +but there was more metal in the nugget. They examined it closely and +decided that the shining metal must be gold. + +"I'm so excited that I feel as if wheels were turning all inside of +me--do you?" laughed Eleanor, hugging her nugget to her heart. + +"It's sort of a dizzy and squeamish feeling, isn't it?" explained +Polly, looking at her companion. Then for the first time since they +emerged from the tunnel, she noticed the face. + +"Oh, Nolla! If you could but see yourself! Just like a negro, but +streaky where you smudged the torch smoke from your eyes." + +"You're no 'bleached blonde' either, Poll!" laughed Eleanor, rubbing +her sleeve across her face and looking at the soot in amusement. + +"But mine can't be as black as yours, 'cause you got all the smoke from +both torches." + +"Never mind now; if this is gold we can afford to have the tunnel and +cave wired with electricity at once," laughed the excited girl. + +"Well, let's finish our hunt in the tunnel and then find some more +nuggets for Anne and Barbara. They'll want a share, you know," +suggested Polly. + +"Good gracious, Poll! You're not going on _now_, are you?" + +"Of course! The gold won't melt away, but we've got to close up any +opening into outdoors, you know." + +"Let's go back and tell the girls and then finish the tunnel work," +pleaded Eleanor. + +"How silly to worm a way back for the sake of showing off the ore. No, +let's do this thing up and then go back to stay for the night. If we +don't close up any aperture, a wild beast may crawl through, then what +good will the gold do us if we are dead?" + +"Sensible as ever! Even gold can't turn your head!" said Eleanor, +starting for the narrow place opposite the tunnel they came from. +"Funny, isn't it, that this cave should be here just as if it was an +inflated bubble in a glass-blower's tube?" said Polly. + +"I'll reserve my opinion till I see the end of the tube!" said Eleanor, +waiting for Polly to creep into the opening. + +After considerable twisting and crawling, Polly first, with her torch, +and Eleanor second, they suddenly felt a current of fresh air. + +"Oh! Oh, thank goodness!" gasped Polly. "I shoved the torch ahead! I'd +have fallen headlong into this abyss." + +"What is it, Poll?" + +"A pit ever so wide, and I can't see how deep it goes down. It's right +in the tunnel ground, cutting off all further investigations." + +"It'll cut off investigations of a wild beast, too, won't it?" asked +Eleanor with relief in her tones. + +"Of course--there isn't a chance of anything coming in this way. I can +hear water rushing, too, way down at the bottom, and the wind blows up +from this pit, so there must be an opening down there where the +subterranean river rushes out." + +"Maybe this tunnel was a river, once, and emptied down into that pit," +ventured Eleanor. + +"I don't care if it was! I'm anxious to go back and eat, now that we +know the worst," replied Polly. + +"We won't need both torches now, Poll, so drop yours in the pit and see +how deep it may be," suggested Eleanor. + +"All right, but for pity's sake don't let yours go out!" + +Polly waited to steady the flame and then dropped the torch. It fell +straight down and flared up showing the rocky sides of the pit, then +suddenly it "sh-isshed" in water and all was dark once more. + +The girls then wormed their way back to the gold cave (as they termed +it) and sought for nuggets in the dust and dirt of ages that covered +the rocky floor. Eleanor found a few pieces the size of walnuts and +Polly secured a handful of small bits. + +"How can we tie them up if we have to crawl back?" asked Eleanor. + +"Got a handkerchief?" + +"No, I gave it to Bob out of meanness," laughed Eleanor. + +"Hum! Well, we might put them in our middy blouses, only we take a +chance of losing them in squirming back through that tunnel," remarked +Polly. + +"I've heard of folks smuggling things in their shoes." + +"I have it! Take off our shoes and put the nuggets in, then tie the +shoe-strings tightly about the top and fasten them about our necks!" +exclaimed Polly. + +This being a good plan, both girls soon had their precious ore well- +tied in their mountain boots, and were ready to proceed. As the two +discoverers neared the cave where the others were, Polly shouted +excitedly, and Eleanor joined in the clamor. + +Anne and Barbara had become so frightened at the prolonged absence of +the two girls that Anne was about to crawl in to find them, while +Barbara realized how much she really loved her younger sister. The +moment they heard the awful sounds issuing from the tunnel, however, +they were certain a wild beast had attacked them and the victims were +fighting a way out. + +Anne grabbed the ax and held it aloft ready to strike, while Barbara +stood wringing her hands in despair. By this time Polly stuck her head +out of the opening, but neither Barbara nor Anne recognized the black +face--her voice alone told them it was Polly. + +"Oh, my dear child! Are you badly hurt?" screamed Anne, dropping the ax +and pulling Polly forth, Eleanor crawling directly after her. + +"Gold! Gold! GOLD! See--lots of it! Mountains of it!" yelled Eleanor, +trying to drag her nuggets from the boot without untying the strings. + +"Oh, Anne, we found a gold mine! A great big cave full of gold!" cried +Polly, managing to untie the strings. + +"Poor children! Are you daffy?" exclaimed Anne, not sure whether to cry +or laugh. + +"You'll go daffy when, you see that cave--all shining gold!" laughed +Eleanor, handing her nugget to the curious sister. + +"See here, Anne, isn't this gold?" asked Polly, working the large chunk +of ore from her shoe. + +"It looks like it, Polly, but I'm no judge." + +"Oh, let's crawl in and see the cave!" now begged Barbara eagerly. + +"You know you'd get stuck in that narrow tunnel, Bob! Besides, I'm +starved," said Eleanor. + +"Moreover, you wouldn't go when there seemed to be danger for the +girls, and I'm sure I'm not going to try it now!" added Anne. + +"Dear me, won't any one go with me?" complained Barbara, who stooped to +gaze in at the tunnel, and seemed too fascinated to leave the spot. + +"Bob, the gold has been there for centuries and it isn't likely to melt +away while we eat supper!" declared practical Eleanor, following Anne +to the opening of the cave. + +As they went to the place where Anne had spread the supper, Polly told +them of the magnificent sight when they crept out of the dark hole and +saw the glimmering of the gold. Over and over, the two girls had to +tell minutest details of the cavern, Barbara sighing, frequently, to +think she was not small enough to crawl in and see for herself. + +While the two adventurers washed their faces and hands with melted +snow, Anne fried the fish over some red-hot embers scraped out of the +fire. This done, they sat down to eat. + +As they ate, they talked continually of their mine not so far from the +festive board. + +"Well, Polly, you surely were born with a silver spoon in your mouth!" +sighed Anne, smilingly. + +"What makes you say that?" + +"You can see for yourself, can't you? First you fall into a family that +owns no end of wealth in jeweled cliffs, and now you fall into a gold +mine," replied Anne. + +"But Nolla owns half of this mine, and I'm not so sure but you and Bob +come in for your share!" + +The other girls stared at Polly's generosity, as they had never thought +of holding any interest in the mine. + +"Anyway, nobody owns it yet! It legally belongs to the first one who +files a claim, so what we must do is to hurry back to Oak Creek and +register the mine," said Barbara, businesslike. + +"My! Gold has brought Bob's brains uppermost!" teased Eleanor. + +"Who knows but this claim has been staked years ago!" said Anne, +meaningly. + +Polly and Eleanor exchanged glances. But Barbara wondered. + +"What do you mean?" asked she. + +"Well, look out in front: there's a ledge cleft in the side of the +mountain wall. Between it and the other lower ledge is a canyon that +might be the one Montresor found on his up-climb. Yonder the slope +meets the chasm and above is the steep sides leading to Top Notch +Trail. Could not the land-slide have buried this wall and then a great +wash-out have cleared it again? If we only had a gushing mountain +stream pouring from the cliff-side the setting would be complete!" + +Barbara gasped, but Polly clapped her hands. "Nolla, that's it! The +subterranean stream we found in there. Some big upheaval changed its +outlet, or maybe this gold vein runs clean through and Montresor's +claim is staked opposite this side--just where the river pours out. We +must look over that side to-morrow." + +The two younger girls then told of the pit and the river and all agreed +that it might be the stream found by the prospector before the +landslide covered his claim. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +MONTRESOR'S CLAIM is JUSTIFIED + + +Polly turned to place the nuggets in the pannier and almost collided +with Noddy. + +"Hello, darling! What do you want--eh?" said she, patting the burro's +head. + +Noddy continued to gaze wistfully at her mistress and Polly said: +"Anne, did you feed the burros and horses?" + +"Yes, just as you told me to." + +"And make the beds?" + +"Yes, everything." + +Then Noddy ambled over to a pan of dirty snow water, in which the +explorers had washed their blackened faces. She would have to drink it, +if her mistress couldn't understand what she needed! + +"Oh, you Noddy! Is _that_ what you want?" laughed Polly, taking the +pan and running out to the ledge to fill it with clean snow. This she +brought back and melted to provide drink for the burro. + +"Did your thoughtless foster-mother forget a drink for her little +Noddy!" crooned Polly, placing the pan for the thirsty burro. "After +all that hard climbing and 'first-aid,' too!" + +The other girls laughed at the wise little burro and her doting +mistress, but Polly turned and said: "It's lucky Noddy reminded me! We +must water the horses well to-night if we want them in good shape for +to-morrow." + +So Eleanor and Polly gave drink to the thirsty animals while Anne took +what was supposed to be a chocolate cake from the bottom of the +pannier. It had been so shaken up during transit that the paper felt +sticky. + +While they all watched her open the bundle, Noddy went back to her +finger-stall to sleep. Several wrappings of paper were unwound and +finally Anne took forth the surprise Sary had mentioned in the morning. + +"Why! It's a lemon custard pie! Of all things!" cried Barbara. + +"In the tin dish just as it came from the oven!" added Eleanor, +laughing. + +"Not quite like it was when it came from the oven, for such a shaken up +mess of meringue and custard we never had at _our_ table!" laughed +Polly, seeing the condition of the pie from the shaking and falling it +had had when Choko went over the cliff. + +"Any one want a slab?" asked Anne, laughing also. + +"No, thanks! Maybe, if I was famished, I'd eat the crust, but it +doesn't appeal to me now!" said Polly. + +"Well, I say, keep it until to-morrow! We may be glad to eat it in the +morning if we are very hungry! It won't hurt to save it, anyway!" said +sensible Eleanor. + +So Anne sat the pie-plate down where she was, intending to put it on +the ledge when she got up from supper. + +"Reckon I'll put some more pine on the fires!" said Polly, seeing the +flames were dying down. + +She had raked up and replenished one fire, and was attending to the +other when a blood-curdling cry came from the edge of the cliff, +causing Polly to jump back and clutch at Anne's arm. + +"Mercy! How that frightened me!" said Polly, trying to laugh her fears +away. + +The other girls were trembling too, and Anne said, "It was a wolf, +wasn't it?" + +"No, it was the cry of a panther! They wait and wait in quiet for a +long time to get a chance at their prey, then if something interferes, +they make that awful cry!" + +"Oh, Polly! Can he get in, do you think?" wailed Barbara. + +"I reckon not! But weren't we lucky to have all that pine for the +fires! It's the best thing to keep him away!" said Polly, creeping out +again to see if both fires were doing their duty. + +Another howl reached the girls, and Eleanor said in a shaky voice, "He +won't jump over the fires, will he, Polly?" + +"No, smoke and sparks frighten wild beasts from the vicinity. They know +from instinct that forest fires kill and they are wary of them. But +they haven't the sense to know that a man-made fire is built on purpose +to keep them away!" + +"It must be awful late, Polly! If you think everything is safe, suppose +we go to bed," Anne suggested after a long interval unbroken by any +howls. + +"All right! Let Bob and Nolla take the last two beds, while you and I +take these in front. I'll use this one where I can watch the ledge +going up to the slope. If I see anything suspicious, I'll shoot!" said +Polly, examining the rifle and standing it by the side of the green- +bough bed. + +"For comfort's sake, girls, unbutton your clothes and remove your +shoes. They can be dried by the fires to-night so they will feel better +in the morning," advised Anne. + +The pine fires were burning beautifully, and Anne, completely tired +out, was soon asleep. Barbara and Eleanor had succumbed to weariness +the moment they rolled over on the beds. But Polly, tired and fatigued, +too, knew that some one must keep the fires going all night, so she +merely reclined on the pine-bough bed and started up at every sound or +crackle of the fires. She piled pine upon them all night through until +the first faint gleams of dawn, and then there was no more wood on hand +to use. + +She worried over the fact that the pine had given out and just as she +turned from the fires, having deposited the last small kindlings she +had found lying about, she heard the yelping of the mountain-lion and +the deep growl of a grizzly bear. + +She ran and caught up the rifle, planning to shoot up at the cliff in a +venture to frighten them away. She aimed, pulled the trigger, and the +rifle-shot rang out making the echoes roar and roll through the chasm +as if an army was shooting. + +The three girls who had been sleeping, jumped out of the spruce beds +and screamed with fright. Barbara ran madly over the ground, back and +forth, not certain where to hide. Eleanor stood shivering and Anne +rushed over to ask Polly what had happened. Polly explained in a +whisper, and Eleanor, as in a trance, watched her sister running about +with something that seemed to cleave to her foot closer than a porous- +plaster. Finally, Eleanor came to her senses and ran over to keep +Barbara from rolling under the burros for hiding. + +"For the love of Mike! What's all over your foot?" cried Eleanor, +dragging Barbara out from the "finger-stall" to exhibit her foot to the +other girls. + +At sound of the unexpected shot, Barbara had jumped up frantically and +darted hither and thither, taking little heed of where she ran. Now, as +her companions gazed at that foot exposed by Eleanor, they all laughed +hysterically while Anne shouted: + +"Oh, our _custard pie!"_ + +And sure enough. Lemon meringue clung tenaciously to as much of a +nicely-formed foot and lower limb as it possibly could. In spite of the +fears over wild animals, the adventurers had to laugh at the sight. + +"_How_ will I ever get it off?" wailed Barbara, when she realized how +sticky the custard was. + +"Rather ask: 'How shall we dispense with our breakfast?'" retorted +Anne. + +But another mad howl from without now made the horses cry and quiver +with dread, while the girls blanched in fear. Polly had not told them +that the wood was used up, and now Anne ran to carry an extra armful of +pine to replenish the fires. When she discovered the truth of the +situation, she slowly turned and exchanged a meaning look with Polly. + +But Polly now bent suddenly forward and intently eyed something she saw +on the verge of the ledge above. She kept her eyes focused there, and +carefully felt for and caught up her rifle. She silently lifted it, +took aim, and fired! + +A gleam of red and a spurt of blue came from the mouth of the gun even +as the sharp report cracked the echoes in the gully. Instantly +following the shot, a wild howling as of fifty beasts fighting, made +Polly shoot again. Snarls and yelps followed, until Polly heard the +clamor grow fainter until all was quiet once more. + +"Well, girls! As long as we are fully awake, suppose we forage for +breakfast and make an early start!" said Anne. + +"Can we get away, do you think, Polly?" asked Eleanor. + +"Yes, it's a clear morning and it doesn't take long for the snow to +melt, once it gets started!" replied Polly. + +"Have you enough ammunition to load again in case of need?" questioned +Anne. + +"Yes, I always look after that! But I was wondering what we can have +for breakfast?" + +"Ha! Leave that to the cook!" laughed Anne, going to the ledge and +reaching up behind a crevice in the rocky wall. She brought forth one +of the small fish spared from the night before. + +"Good for you, Anne! If you could only dig up some sandwiches as +readily!" laughed Polly. + +"Maybe I can do that too, if you will look after the horses and +burros!" said Anne, taking a small newspaper bundle from behind her +spruce bed. + +When opened, it showed that Anne had stolen some of the oats from the +feed. This she rolled between two stones until it was crushed. Then she +told Eleanor to pick out as many of the husks as possible. + +"She's going to give us Rolled Oats, as I live!" laughed Eleanor. + +Polly smiled for she was surprised to find Anne could prepare a feast +in the wilderness; and soon the oatmeal was cooking beside the fish- +pan. + +"How can you girls enjoy that awful stuff without sugar or cream?" +asked Barbara, plaintively. + +"We're eating ours without a grumble, but I notice, you are also eating +yours and doing all the complaining!" retorted Eleanor. + +"I have to eat it to keep from starving, still I can't enjoy it as you +seem to, Nolla. I declare, you seem to be getting awfully common in +your tastes." + +"Huh! Show me a selection of food for breakfast!" laughed Eleanor, +smacking her lips over the last spoonful of oats. + +"What shall we do about feeding the animals?" asked Eleanor, as they +got up from the ground to pack up the pans and other stuff waiting to +be taken back home. + +"We'll stop at the first good Park and let them graze for an hour or +two. Then a good drink from a stream will fix them all right!" said +Polly, glancing at Noddy, who had come from her stall and stood looking +sleepily at the girls. + +"Doesn't Noddy look for all the world like a sleepy child who has to +get up for school, but who hates to be disturbed!" laughed Anne, as +Noddy's tousled head bobbed up and down while she sniffed the air +redolent with oatmeal. + +Satisfied that something was cooking for her breakfast, Noddy ran over +and nozzled at the girls, who laughed and tried to push her cold nose +away. + +The other burros and horses came out then, and Polly said, "It makes me +feel selfish to eat their oats but then they can eat grass in the park +and we can't!" + +"Girls! Aren't you going to have another look at the gold-mine before +you leave here?" asked Barbara. + +"What for? It won't do us any good and only waste time," replied Polly. + +"Maybe you can find some more nuggets to carry back!" ventured Barbara. + +"We have all we need to claim the rights of the mine, so why lug any +more than we need?" returned Polly. + +"Come on, Poll! Let's pack up and be going!" said Eleanor, decisively. + +So, with the animals saddled and the panniers packed, the cave-dwellers +started carefully along the ledge towards the slope. + +It was an invigorating morning, and the sun with its rays was just +topping the tips of the pines, when the girls rode forth to climb the +slope. + +"Not a sign of that awful storm!" said Anne, amazed. + +"Only in the glades and ravines, where the snow has drifted into heaps! +Even that will melt rapidly, as the warmth of the day is felt," said +Polly, looking eagerly about as she rode. + +"Polly, what do you suppose became of those wild animals?" asked +Eleanor, riding directly behind Polly. + +"That is just what I am looking for. I thought maybe I could see some +tracks, for I was sure I got that panther when I took aim and shot!" + +"Well, I'm going over near that edge of the cliff and see if there is +any sign of blood or tracks!" declared Eleanor. + +"No, no! You stop right here with us, Nolla!" cried Barbara, anxiously. + +"I'm going over myself, Bob, because I am curious to see why both of +them should slink away so quickly. A mountain-lion seldom leaves a +possible victim until he has been gorged, and it was strange that he +should go without having tried to get at us!" said Polly. + +"Oh, Polly! _Please_ don't talk of such gruesome things! I am so glad +we will soon be back in civilization!" said Barbara. + +The horses reached the top of the slope and Polly guided Noddy across +the rough place to the cliff, where the fight had taken place. + +Here she sought for some track or sign of the fight, but saw only a few +small spots of red in the white snow. + +Eleanor tried to make her burro follow after Noddy, but he was +fractious and would not go near the cliff. He made a detour, however, +about a small group of trees and just as he came opposite them, +something upon the snow-drift at the base of the largest tree, caused +him to shy violently. + +"Oh, girls! Run! Come here and see what's here," cried Eleanor, +excitedly, jumping from her burro but remembering to hold the bridle. + +The burro backed and refused to go nearer the thing, but Polly rode +Noddy over and saw that Eleanor had discovered one of the victims of +the fight. + +"Ha! I thought so!" said Polly, with satisfaction. + +Noddy was left to watch from a comfortable vantage point, while her +mistress ran up to the large panther which was stretched out at the +foot of the tree. He had tried to climb it in order to escape the +grizzly's claws. + +"Isn't he a massive beast!" cried Anne, watching from her horse some +distance away. + +"You girls come back! He may not be dead!" shrieked Barbara, the moment +she saw the animal. + +"Say, Bob, if he wasn't dead, he'd have had me down long before you +came along to warn us!" laughed Eleanor. + +"Polly, he's a beauty, even if he is such a terror, isn't he?" said +Eleanor, admiring the satiny coat and beautiful form of the large +mountain-lion, so majestic in death. + +"I never saw a larger one! He must be at least nine feet long from nose +to tip of tail!" said Polly, lifting the tail with her foot, then +letting it drop again. + +She stooped over looking closely at the wounds made by the grizzly, +then she suddenly cried out, "Oh! I thought that shot hit him! It must +have been that first shot from the rifle that sent him back from the +cliff. Then, the bear tracked him and had the fight back here in the +forest. That is when we heard the sounds diminishing. + +"Well, old fellow, I'm sorry it had to be so! But you decreed it! It +was you or one of us, and I preferred to have had it you! Old Grizzly +wouldn't be so cattish about sneaking up and laying low for us until +the fire died down, or till one of us happened to step out of the +circle of light! He would have made a big noise from the beginning and +pounced down upon us willy-nilly. And now he has given you yours!" + +As Polly spoke, she stood looking regretfully at the creature, as if +she wished the world was ordered otherwise than all the killing and +taking, one from another, in the vain belief of living! + +"Polly, how much do you think he weighs?" asked Eleanor eagerly. + +"Too much to drag home--if that is why you asked!" laughed Polly, +looking up at Eleanor, with a wise shake of the head. + +"To tell the truth, that is exactly what I planned to do until I saw +how big he was!" laughed Eleanor. + +"He must weigh at least two hundred pounds, Nolla," said Anne, who had +come nearer during the examination. + +"Yes, nearer two hundred and fifty pounds, I reckon," said Polly. + +"I wanted to ship him to Chicago and show all of my society friends +what _we_ killed during my mountain visit!" explained Eleanor. + +"Your motive killed the project before you saw him," said Anne, wagging +her head at Eleanor as a rebuke. + +Eleanor laughed merrily. "Well, I intend having a regular exhibit when +I get back! All kinds of wild things will be shown my friends. I +propose having Polly and Noddy sitting upon a pedestal in the drawing- +room as a sample of the wildest things on the Rockies!" laughed +Eleanor, giving Polly an affectionate glance. + +"Oh, Nolla, don't talk so foolishly! As if Polly would come to Chicago! +What would she do with herself while we had to entertain?" said +Barbara, pettishly, but no one hearkened. + +"Maybe we can blaze a trail from here to the nearest ranch on our way +home, and send some one from there to come and cart the brute home for +us. I'd pay him well!" said Eleanor, not willing to forego the pleasure +of showing the lion at home. + +"Oh, but then, you will make these ranchers curious. Once this far, +they will look about the place where we spent the night, and that will +lead them to discover the mine!" said Polly. + +"I forgot that! Of course it would be foolish to give any one the +slightest clew to our ever being here, and of what we did while here! I +see I shall have to say good-by to the lion I hoped to be lionized +for!" said Eleanor, laughingly. + +"With a gold mine as rich as yours, you'll be lionized without the +lion!" laughed Anne. + +"By the way, did you bring your nugget, Polly?" asked Eleanor. + +"Reckon I did!" + +"Then before we leave, don't you think we ought to make some sort of a +plan, or mark the spot so we can find it again? We don't want to make +the same mistake old Montresor did, you know!" said Eleanor, anxiously. + +"I have a plan all made. I did it while sitting by the fire this +morning, before you girls were awake," said Polly, taking off her hat +and removing a folded paper. + +The girls were surprised at the accuracy of the sketch, and Anne said, +"Any one can find it from these directions!" + +"Thank you, but you see, it would be hazardous to risk any one else +coming here. The importance of keeping the whole adventure a profound +secret until we have duly filed papers and can claim right of ownership +to the claim, can be seen now. I hardly think it wise to speak of the +crevice or danger of a land-slide until after we get some inside +information about taking hold of the mine," said Polly, seriously. + +An hour more was used by Polly in staking a legal claim and marking the +corners with heaps of stone. She also left a very deep blaze in each of +the four trees that cornered the large square area she thought would +cover the cavern. + +Noddy soon found the Top Notch Trail when they were again on the way +homeward. By riding steadily all morning, they reached the spot where +the rattle-snake was waiting for transportation. Anne and the others +had experienced so many greater shocks since the killing of the reptile +that they felt no qualms about carrying the snake now. + +When the four riders finally turned in on the Pebbly Pit Trail, it was +past four o'clock. They had been going steadily since morning, without +food or rest, excepting the hour they had to stop at the falls to give +the animals grass and water, and the girls were the sorriest-looking +lot as they dragged up the road to the house and stopped at the porch. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A YOUNG STRANGER IN OAK CREEK + + +"Glory be! You-all war givin' Mis' Brewster fits wid no sign of hide +nor hair sence yistermorn!" cried Sary, rushing out of the kitchen +door, the moment she heard the horses' hoof-beats. + +Mrs. Brewster heard Sary and also ran out, crying, "Oh, my dear +children! We've had such a day! Sam just went to the barn to hook up +and start the ranchers on a hunt! A trapper rode in this morning and +spoke of the awful blizzard that hit Top Notch Trail. Of course, we +knew you couldn't find _that_ or we'd have been still more worried!" + +The girls looked at each other and laughed aloud. Mrs. Brewster +shrewdly guessed the truth. + +"_Did_ you find it? And where under the sun did you hide during that +awful storm?" cried she, anxiously. + +Sary paid no attention to a recital of trails and storms, however, for +it was half past four and Jeb would have to take care of the five +mounts before he could hope to come in for supper, and spend a quiet +evening with her. So, to prevent any delay, she turned to Polly. + +"You-all 'pear to be tuckered out! Jest flop inter the cheers an' rest +whiles Ah carry the hosses to th' barn. Ah'll tell Mr. Brewster like- +ez-how you-all come home, an' spared him a trip!" + +Mrs. Brewster objected to the offer for she wanted Sary to finish the +preparations for supper and give her time to talk with the girls. Sary, +however, paid no attention to her mistress's objections but gathered +all the reins together and led the animals to the barn. + +Shortly after the girls had gone indoors to drink some hot milk--for +Mrs. Brewster said hot milk would take most of the fatigue out of their +bodies--Sam Brewster ran down the path from the barn, and burst into +the living-room. + +"Well, say! Ah shore am glad to see you-all back home! Ah just was +preparing to wire some detectives to be on the lookout in the Zoo for +any lions or bears lately come in who looked unusually well-fed!" + +Every one was so delighted at the reunion that Mr. Brewster's +foolishness made them laugh merrily. He hugged Polly until she cried +for breath, then he shook hands over and over again with Anne and the +girls, Mrs. Brewster, remonstrating meantime, that she wanted to hear +of their adventures! + +The girls were so eager to tell about the cavern of gold that they +refused to wash and dress, or remove any stains of the climb, until +after the whole story was told. + +Mr. and Mrs. Brewster thought it was the tale of the trip and the +trials throughout the blizzard, and they cared little for what had +passed as long as all were safe and happy again. But Polly blurted out +the truth to make them listen. + +"I found Montresor's gold mine, Paw!" + +It hit the mark! In the shock the news made upon the Brewsters, no one +noticed Polly's slip on the old pet title. After a long tense period of +silence, however, Sam Brewster said: "Daughter, it can't be true!" + +"'Tis, though, Mr. Brewster! Polly and I crawled through the tunnel +until we came out into that marvelous cavern of gold," and Eleanor +sighed audibly as she thought of that sight. + +"What cavern! You-all must be clean locoed with the blizzard and the +long ride!" cried Mr. Brewster, testily. + +The girls laughed appreciatively, for they understood just how those +who remained at home would feel at such news! + +So Polly sat upon her father's knee and told him the story of the mine, +from the time Choko fell over the cliff until they left the panther at +the foot of the tree. + +"And here's the plan and claim, and there's the gold!" + +Polly drew the nuggets from her dress and took the papers from her +sombrero, and placed them in her father's hands. + +Mrs. Brewster dropped upon her knees to the floor to look at the map +and the ore, while her husband was examining the large nugget. The four +girls had no idea how anxious they were about this ore until they saw +Mr. Brewster carefully looking it over with the eye of an expert miner. + +His first words were a decided shock. + +"Ah wouldn't set much store about this mine, girls! You-all don't see +what Ah see in this discovery. It's gold--yes, it looks to me like red- +gold of good quality, and if it is as you say--a cavern exposed so any +one can value it off-hand, so much the better! But, the end of Top +Notch Trail, where you doubtless spent the night, is a far haul from +Oak Creek, and the chasm in front, and the mountain on top, are +drawbacks to mining. However, we will ride into Oak Creek in the +morning and file this claim of yours and see if it comes anywhere near +to being the one old Montresor left, Polly. It would give me the +keenest joy to be able to say something to a few of the mean old +rascals about Oak Creek, who called me a fool for paying the funeral +costs and filing the claim of that kind old man, Montresor!" + +"But, Dad--father! If this mine happens to cross the claim staked by +Mr. Montresor, will it interfere with our filing a new claim?" asked +Polly, anxiously. + +"It depends on how much ground you covered with your corners!" replied +her father. + +"You can depend upon it, I covered all I could think might come within +a mile of gold!" laughed Polly. + +"Well, girls, listen to some good advice on this! Not a word to be said +about this cave--not even among yourselves until the claim is filed and +investigated! You see, the walls have ears when any one speaks of gold! +Then, having attended to the legal aspects of the mine, we will all +ride over to remain a few days, as visitors to Old Mr. Grizzly! When we +get back we ought to have some information worth while!" + +"And what about sending for John's friend to come and go with us? If he +knew enough to tell you about the lava, he will surely be able to judge +about the gold!" ventured Polly, eagerly. + +"I think that is a splendid idea, Sam! When we go in to Oak Creek to- +morrow, let us send John a day-letter explaining about this cavern," +added Mrs. Brewster. + +"Hain't you-all comin' to supper? Har hev Ah ben and wukked all day +hopin' fer a night off to-night!" said Sary, suddenly appearing at the +doorway between the living-room and the kitchen. + +Every one started for she had not made a sound before speaking, so no +one knew how much she had over-heard. Mrs. Brewster quickly replied, +however. + +"Why, Sary! I didn't know you wished to go out! I could have attended +to supper myself, had you asked me!" + +"Ah hain't planned to go out--Ah said a 'night off,' Mis' Brewster," +said Sary, hardly deigning to wait for an answer, but looking at the +girls with an impatient frown. + +"Mother, we really must wash before supper!" said Polly. + +Sary tossed her head. Mrs. Brewster knew what that meant, so she urged +the girls to forego any lengthy toilets and merely wash away the worst +signs of travel. + +Sary was pacified when Eleanor came out of the room and handed her a +large paper bundle. + +"Sary, I have a little present for you because we made so much trouble +to-night." + +"Oh, Miss Nolla, Ah'm much obleeged t' you-all. Ah don' mind trouble, +onny yoh see Ah expec' comp'ny to-night." + +It took Sary but an instant to open the package and when she beheld a +ruffled organdy dress discarded by Barbara the previous season and +accidentally packed in the trunk with other clothes, she rolled her +eyes heavenward. + +"Miss Nolla! Is this fine gown'd fer me?" + +Eleanor stifled a laugh but Sary made as if she would clasp the girl in +her powerful arms, so discretion was needed. Eleanor backed behind the +kitchen chair. + +"Miss Nolla, Ah wonder ef a widder of seven months' standin' mought +wear little yaller rose-buds on a dress, like-ez-how this is?" + +"Certainly, Sary," came from Mrs. Brewster, who now joined the two. +"It's not the color or quantity of clothes as much as the sincerity of +one's mourning." + +Quite unintentionally, Mrs. Brewster touched upon a tender spot. In +fact, so tender was it, that Sary blamed Bill for having died so +recently instead of two years back. She might have now been ending her +second year of mourning! + +Eleanor being trained to the wiles of polite society, saw and +understood Sary's flash of resentment, so she turned to Mrs. Brewster +with the remark: + +"I've heard said, that the highest regard a widow can pay her departed, +is, to take a second husband. It speaks well for her happiness with the +first one, you see." + +Mrs. Brewster stared at Eleanor but Sary smirked and quickly replied: + +"You-all is right, Miss Nolla! A widder what hez ben _so_ happy that +she gits lonesome whiles thinkin' of her departed, hez a right t' find +a second husban'." + +Mrs. Brewster choked a laugh as she saw the sublime look in the help's" +eyes, and hurried out. Eleanor then suggested: + +"Now you run away and beautify yourself, Sary, and I will wash the +dishes to-night." + +Sary needed no second invitation and in another moment she had +disappeared to her "boudoir" back of the buttery. + +Eleanor was as good as her word, for she was soon busy with dish-water +and mop, rattling the china, and banging pans about as if noise and +bustle were sure signs of hard work and energy. Polly laughed as she +cleared away the remains of the meal and then caught up a towel to dry +the dishes. As they worked the two girls talked. + +"Poll, now that you have this gold mine, what will you do with all the +wealth that is yours?" asked Eleanor. + +Polly held a decorated plate in front of her face to hide her smile, +and pretended to be looking for grease on its surface. When she had +straightened her face again, she said: "Oh, I'm going away to school, +first of all. I'm not so sure that I want to stay in Denver, now that +you have told me all about Chicago. I'll write for catalogues of +schools there; and then I can see John quite often during the school +year." + +"Just what I would have suggested, Poll! Then you can live at home with +me. Dad and you and I will have the best times!" + +To accentuate her approval of Polly's premature plans, Eleanor swished +the dish-mop wildly up and down in the soapy water, but the suds flew +up lightly, as soapsuds will, and a bubble burst in Polly's eye. + +"Oo-h! Stop throwing dish water in my face, Nolla!" cried Polly, with +eyes screwed shut and one free hand trying to rub the smarting lye from +her eye. + +"I never did, Polly! It must have splashed accidentally when I was +washing the pan." + +"You have done nothing since you began the dishes, but rattle and swash +that mop about in the pan as if you were mining the ore from the cave," +complained Polly, as she managed to open her eyes again. + +"I suppose it is because we are so excited over the find, and all it +means for you, Polly," explained Eleanor, contritely. + +"It doesn't mean much more, now, than before. The thing I am most happy +over, is that Old Man Montresor will be vindicated, and people will +stop jeering at me, and at what they called his locoed ideas." + +The conversation was interrupted at this moment by the appearance of +Sary. She first poked her head from the partly opened door of her room +and then said: "Is any one about to see me?" + +Polly turned to make sure that they were alone in the kitchen, and +Eleanor replied: "No, what is it, Sary?" + +Then the maid stepped forth and such a vision! She had curled her red +hair on a pair of old-fashioned tongs. The curling irons were but a +quarter of an inch in diameter and they were heated by thrusting them +into the living embers of the kitchen fire. When Sary drew the comb +through her scanty tresses they took on the appearance of carrot- +colored cotton threads which had just been ripped out of an old +garment--so crinkly and frizzed were the strands of hair. The flowered +organdy dress that Eleanor had given Sary to wear for the great +occasion of receiving a caller, was much too small for the buxom widow, +and she was in great distress about it. This brought her out to ask +advice of the girls. + +"Why bother to wear the dress, Sary, until you have had time to alter +it for yourself?" asked Polly. + +"Why, Polly! Ah has to keep up my looks now that comp'ny is lookin' my +way again. Ef you-all hadn't such fine city gals at home, what wears +th' latest fashions so that Jeb can't help but see what's what, Ah +woulden' have to worry so much about looks. But a woman has to keep up +when other women set the pace, 'specially ef she is a widow, like-as- +how Ah am now." + +Eleanor laughed appreciatively and said: "Sary is just like Bob, when +it comes to that! It is the eternal feminine, Poll, that drives both +Bob and Sary to the verge of tears, because they cannot catch their +beaux with their good looks." + +Sary smirked self-consciously at Eleanor's words, for she thought she +was being coupled with Barbara and her attractions. Sary felt quite +sure that she was good-looking and winsome, but she had to hear +Eleanor's words to make her believe she was fascinating. + +"If I was Sary, I'd wear a nice clean blouse and a linen skirt. It +would be far more comfortable than that awfully tight gown," remarked +Polly. + +But the help scorned such simplicity and turned to Eleanor for further +advice about her appearance. The latter, wise in her years, turned her +head on one side and appeared to be debating. + +"Seems to me, Sary, that putting on that organdy just as it is, without +fixing it over a bit, may make Jeb suspicious of its not being made for +you. He may even go so far as to wonder if Bob handed it down to you. +Now you do not want him to dream that you did not have it made to order +for yourself, so why not take it off until you can remodel it to fit +yourself, like new?" + +Sary pondered this suggestion for a few moments, and then said: "Ah +ain't got no fancy dress to wear, onny this, Miss Nolla. Ef Ah puts on +my black alpaky, he'll remember 'bout Bill, and sech memories allus +dampen a man's plans to pop th' question." + +Both girls had to laugh outright at the unexpected confession; but Sary +was in a serious frame of mind and paid no attention to their +merriment. She resumed her interrupted explanation. + +"It's jest this way, in Oak Crick country, you-all see! Single men +ain't growin' on every bush, and a widder has a hard time of it, +anyway, when most ranchers' dawters are waitin' to snap up a likely +catch. Jeb's a catch, Ah says. He ain't a gallavantin' dude, ner he +ain't spendin' all his wages on gamblin' at Red Mike's saloon. Ah've +learned like-as-how being right on th' spot when a man's willin' to be +cotched, is more'n half the fight to hook him. Ah kin afford to snap +mah fingers at all them ranch gals about Oak Crick, tryin' their bestes +to make Jeb wink his eye at 'em, jus' because Ah _am_ whar Ah am +keepin' tabs on him, all his time." + +When the laughter caused by these words had subsided, somewhat, the two +girls replied: Polly to advise and Eleanor to make a giggling +explanation. + +Eleanor said: "You make a wonderfully accurate time-clock on Jeb's +comings and goings, Sary." + +And Polly advised: "You run back to your room, Sary, and put on a +sensible dress to keep Jeb from wondering how much of his earnings it +would take to dress you in fine clothes like that organdy gown cost." + +"Thar's somethin' in that, too, Polly! Ah reckon you're right, so Ah'll +throw on that striped shirt-waist your Maw gave me, and the duck skirt +with the tucks in it." + +Sary vanished as quickly as she had appeared, and the two girls stood +laughing as they saw the bed-room door close. Then they dried the dish- +pan, hung up the towels and mop, and turned to go back to the living- +room where Sam Brewster and his wife were planning for the ride to Oak +Creek on the next day, and the trip up to the cave, on the day +following that. + +But the girls had not reached the living-room door before a "hist" +halted them. They turned in the direction of the sound and saw Jeb's +small head at the kitchen door. When he saw that he had gained their +attention, he beckoned furtively with a horny index finger. + +Both girls tip-toed over to hear what news he had to impart, for his +behavior denoted some dread secret. + +"Is Sary Dodd hangin' 'round?" he whispered, anxiously. + +"She's in her room getting ready for company," was Eleanor's amused +reply. + +"Wall, you-all kin do me a big favor ef you-all explain like-as-how Ah +was too sick to come in, to-night. She tol' me Ah jus' had to call on +her, to-night, but Ah ain't got courage. Ah kin see jus' whar all this +callin' and sittin' alone of evenin's, is goin' to land me. Sary Dodd's +got a powerful way for a woman, and Ah ain't no marryin' man--am Ah, +Polly?" + +Jeb's plaintive tone and his beseeching eyes convulsed Eleanor with the +desire to laugh, but Polly saw how serious he was, in his fear of being +caught by a woman's wiles, and she replied: + +"No, Jeb; you are not a marrying man, I can say that much. And Sary +ought to know better than to lure you on with all her past experiences +of mankind." + +Polly's earnest explanation made Eleanor lose control of herself and +she sat down in a kitchen chair and laughed so heartily that Sary +hurried forth. Jeb instantly ducked and tried to lose himself in the +dense darkness of the out-of-doors, but Sary was too quick for him. + +She darted to the door, called him with an imperative voice, and +brought the recreant back to his duty of calling. Then she turned to +the two girls, and said calmly, but with meaning: + +"Ah'se much obliged fer th' dish-washin'. Ah'll see that the kitchen is +set to rights fer the evenin'." + +With this dismissal, Polly and Eleanor had to go, and laughing still, +they went through the living-room door to join the others who sat about +the round table figuring and planning. + +Sary very quietly closed the door between the two rooms, and Eleanor +whispered to Polly: "Poor Jeb! We had to leave him to his fate, after +all." + +By six o'clock the next morning, the riders were on the way to Oak +Creek. Polly and Eleanor rode side by side and discussed a good name +for the claim. After suggesting and rejecting many fine sounding names, +Polly finally chuckled gleefully. + +"You've thought of one!" declared Eleanor. + +"Yes, just the thing! Won't 'Choko's Find' suit it?" + +"Great! And it was little Choko that found it, too. If he hadn't fallen +over the cliff we never would have discovered the cave and the rest of +it." + +"We'll call it that--'Choko's Find!' Say, everybody! Listen to this: +The mine is going to be called 'Choko's Find'--do you like it?" called +Polly to the other riders. + +"Very appropriate," was the answer, so "Choko's Find" was its name. + +Reaching Oak Creek, the party rode to Mr. Simm's office and Mr. +Brewster told the story in detail. The attorney was completely silenced +at the strangeness of the adventure but demanded proof in seeing the +ore before he would credit the tale. + +"Well, Ah declare! If this isn't the derndest thing Ah ever heard of in +my life!" exclaimed Mr. Simms as he examined the nuggets. + +"Simms, do you remember Montresor's nuggets and legacy?" asked Mr. +Brewster. + +The lawyer looked quickly up at his questioner and a look of +understanding crept into his eyes. "Sam, Ah reckon it is the same!" + +"The ledge, the canyon, the trails _and_ the river!" added Mr. +Brewster, convincingly. + +"You-all just wait here till Ah get my papers from the Bank vault!" +excitedly cried the lawyer, snatching his cap and running out of the +office. + +"Simms keeps his valuable papers in the masoned safe at the bank, you +know. If the town burns down during a miners' celebration some night, +his papers will be safe, anyway," explained Mr. Brewster. + +The lawyer soon returned with a package held closely under his arm. He +sat down and opened the papers before his visitors. + +"Here's th' rough plan of the claim and here's Montresor's letter that +was found after he was buried--you know, Sam." + +"What letter is that, Father?" wondered Polly. + +"We never told you about it, as it wouldn't have helped any one then, +but now you shall read it." + +"Where was it found?" + +"In the pocket of an old hunting coat when we tried to find some clew +to his family and home address. But the top of the letter had been torn +away so we never knew for whom it was meant." + +Polly took the closely written sheet and read the letter penned by her +old friend on the mountains. + +"At last I can say to you all, that my education was not wasted as you +claimed. I have made good! I am a rich, rich man, as I write these +words. I have discovered a gold mine that will prove to be worth +millions. I refrained from writing as you had requested, until I had +_good_ news. Now I can write. + +"In the years I have spent on these mountains, I felt sure I would +strike gold, as every sign in rock and sand formation, of the sides of +the peaks, are favorable to gold deposits. To-day I proved my mining +education to be of some worth, for it helped to guide me to a ledge, +where the red-gold is so rich that it seems to run deep into the rocks, +yet quite easy to mine. + +"I had great difficulty in reaching the place and, afterwards, when +darkness fell over the place, I had to trust to the horse to find a +spot to camp. I left my claims staked out and marked as we used to do +in the Klondike, and to-morrow morning I shall ride directly to Oak +Creek to file the papers and have an assay on the ore. I am now writing +by the light of the camp-fire with grizzlies prowling about and +panthers howling to get at me and the horse. But my ring of fire is +security for us. + +"I haven't the slightest idea of where this camp is but I will scout +around in the morning and then write you again after I return from my +trip to Oak Creek. + +"You must understand how happy I am, to be able to pay off my +obligations and take my rightful place in the world with my family. God +grant that this blessing of wealth bestowed upon me after all these +years of separation and disgrace, charged against me, who am innocent, +will be the last of my sufferings. I have never heard from the +traitorous friend who caused me this ruin, and now it matters little!" + +Polly looked up at this point and said: + +"He must have finished this after the land-slide, Daddy." + +"Yes, daughter: read on and you will see," replied Mr. Brewster, +gently. + +"The curse still pursues me. I have not written to conclude this letter +since the night I started it, as hard luck again is my lot. + +"I filed the claim and showed the ore but different laws prevail in +Colorado, and I found I must register the nearest survey corners and +sections to my mine to obtain a legal ownership; however my plans and +specifications were sufficient to protect me from claim-jumpers. + +"That afternoon, a storm came over the mountains and lasted three days. +It blew, and poured, and snowed, until it seemed as if all the furies +in Hades were let loose. Then it cleared again and I started out with +my dog and horse to visit my mine and make satisfactory corners and +plans for filing. + +"A great land-slide had occurred during that storm and the entire +mountain-side was changed. Canyons, cliffs, and mine are gone. Wiped +away as if they had never existed. Of course, I know the gold is still +there but buried under tons of earth and trash. It will take longer and +cost more to unearth, that is all. + +"But I will have to locate the place anew as I have no bearings to work +from, so I propose starting from Top Notch Trail and have Patsy help me +find it on the down-side, as near as I can remember from the camping- +spot of that night where I first wrote this letter: + +"I am reserving this until I find the mine, then I will mail it at +once. Now that I have definite grounds to work on, my enthusiasm is +equal to carry me through any difficulties in my pathway." + +"Oh, father, how sad!" wept Polly, handing the letter to Anne, to read +to the other two girls. + +"We know the rest, Polly. And that is why we never had you read this. +Now that we can prove the poor old man was sane, we will try to +establish his reputation for all concerned," said Mr. Brewster. + +"Why didn't you try to find his family when he died?" asked Polly, +frowning at what she considered an oversight. + +"We did. Every newspaper of reputation carried an advertisement, but Ah +think, now, that the old man assumed another name than his rightful +one. That is why we never had a reply to our ads," replied Mr. Simms. + +Eleanor was elated at the romance of this experience, and turned to +Polly, exclaiming: + +"Oh, Poll! S'posing we meet Montresor's son some day, and you fall in +love with him without knowing who he is! Then it will all come out when +he visits your parents to ask for you, and he will get his share of the +mine, anyway!" + +Anne laughed heartily at such nonsense but Polly rather favored such an +ending, so her mother and father quickly interrupted the romance by +saying: + +"Come, come, sign papers and wind up this affair!" + +Mr. Simms said the assay was more than satisfactory, and "Choko's Find" +was filed as the discovery of "Marybelle Brewster, daughter of Sam and +Mary Brewster of Pebbly Pit." + +"Who's Marybelle Brewster?" wondered Eleanor, surprised. + +"It's me, but no one knows it!" laughed Polly. + +"Sam, when do you reckon you-all ought to go back to the mine and +investigate?" said Mr. Simms. + +"We-all plan to ride there early in the morning. Will you-all try to +come with us?" + +"Ah'd like it first-rate. Ah haven't had my regular fishing trip this +year and this will answer," replied Simms, eagerly. + +"Then be shore to meet us at seven or eight o'clock at the Pine Tree +just by the corduroy roadway," said Mr. Brewster. + +"Sam, better get away before that! We won't be the only riders along +Top Notch trail the moment this 'find' gets wind!" warned Simms. + +"He's right, Sam! Let's start from the farm at day-break and meet Mr. +Simms at five or six," advised Mrs. Brewster. + +"Right! Make it six, Simms, and see if the coroner and sheriff want an +outing." Mr. Brewster's voice sounded interesting. + +Just as the lawyer opened the door for the ladies to leave, a handsome +young man of about eighteen came down the road. It was evident, in +every way, that he was a "tenderfoot" newly arrived. Probably just came +in on the noon local from Denver. + +"I'm looking for Carew's Camp, sir. That cowboy over at the box-car +said you might tell me how to reach it." + +"Oh, that's the surveyin' crew for the government. Ah reckon you'll +have quite a jaunt afore night to reach there. They're working about +twenty mile from here--up on the Yellow Jacket Pass road," replied +Simms, studying the surprised face closely. + +"Ah saw Carew's driver stopping at Jake's when we drove by, Simms," +said Mr. Brewster at this moment. + +"If you-all can find Jake, that will be the way to arrive--take a +reserved seat beside him,"' chuckled Simms. + +The youth was shy before so many pretty girls, so he took off his cap +to acknowledge the obligation, and would have backed away had not Simms +asked a very strange question. + +"Young man, you look exactly like an old friend I knew in these parts, +some years back. So like, that I must ask you your name." + +The stranger flushed and stammered: "I am Kenneth Evans, from New +York." + +Simms frowned when he heard the name and turned to Sam Brewster: "Did +you ever see anything to beat that likeness to the man we were just +talking about?" + +Polly had noticed the resemblance as did her father, but nothing more +was said at that time, as so much remained to be attended to before the +ride on the morrow. + +"Well, Boy, be sure to drop in and have a talk with me the next time +you are in town. My friend was from your way, too, and who knows but +we-all can hook up a relationship, eh?" said Simms, holding out his +hand to young Evans. + +"I'll be glad to do that," responded Kenneth, heartily. + +Mrs. Brewster's kindly heart was touched by the utter forlornness +expressed in the youth's face when he heard how far away the surveyor's +camp was located, so she addressed him directly. + +"Did you want to reach Carew to-night, or can you come home with us and +get a fresh start for camp, in the morning?" + +"I was supposed to report to Carew yesterday, but I lost the train at +Chicago, and that made me late all along the line of train- +connections," explained young Evans, smiling more cheerfully. "I thank +you just the same, for inviting me to join your circle, but I really +feel that I must find this man Jake and get away." + +"Well, young man," now abetted Mr. Brewster, "do as you think best, but +that won't prevent you from riding over to Pebbly Pit any day you can +get away from work, and having dinner with us." + +The young man was surprised at such hearty hospitality shown an utter +stranger, but he had heard of western generosity and he now felt that +he had met such types of westerners. Just now, Mr. Simms called out +quickly: "There goes Jake! Hey, _Jake!_ Ah say--J-A-K-E!" + +The man called Jake halted as he was crossing the muddy road, and +looked towards the group which stood in front of Simms' office. Simms +waved his wide-brimmed hat to denote that he was wanted, so the driver +turned and slouched along the side of the road until he was within a +few feet of the lawyer, before the latter explained. + +"We-all got a fine young Tenderfoot here, for you, Jake, and Ah just +wanted to warn you to handle him with care or these pretty gals of +Pebbly Pit will call you to account for him. Boys are scarcer than +hen's teeth, since the war, you know, and our gals are having a hard +time raking the country to find such a swain as young Evans." + +Mr. Simms' frivolous talk made the girls smile, and Kenneth Evans began +to feel more at ease. But Jake was replying to the attorney's +explanation, and he listened to what was said. + +"Ah come all the way from camp, yistiddy, and no kid to be seen. Then +the boss sent me back to-day to meet this local train but he ain't come +yet. _Now_ when he shows up, he can walk to Carew's Camp, fur all I +care! I'm going back, right off." + +"Lookin' for a kid, eh? What sort of one is he?" teased Mr. Simms. + +"Augh, Jim Latimer says he was bigger'n him, but a blondy. And he said +he looked a Tenderfoot all through. I asked Red Mike if a feller +stopped at his eatin' place for a snack, but Mike tole me he ain't seen +no stranger in Oak Crick, this week," Jake grumbled. + +"Did you say Jim Latimer?" exclaimed Eleanor, eagerly. + +Jake turned to stare at the girl, and young Evans brightened visibly, +then he said: "Do you know Jim?" + +"Do you know him?" chorused several voices, Polly and her parents +joining the chorus. + +"Do I know Jim?" repeated Kenneth, laughing like his old merry self. "I +should say I did! Why, Jim and I went through school together, back +East, and it's Jim who got me in this Crew so I can get experience and +money at the same time." + +"Well, this is great!" exclaimed Sam Brewster. "You see my boy John +goes to college with Tom Latimer, at Chicago, and that's how we met +Jim--his brother gave him a letter of introduction to bring us when he +came out here to work with Carew. I knew the Boss of the survey crew, +and Jim has been over to Pebbly Pit on Sundays. So now you must get him +to show you the way." + +This happy discovery, of having a mutual friend, completed Kenneth's +feeling of ease and confidence, and he was soon talking unrestrainedly +about the Latimers--what splendid people they were. How Jim's father +was trying to save his (Ken's) father from having a very valuable +patent stolen by a ring of rascals in New York City. And how Mr. +Latimer's brother who was a large financier on Wall Street, was +financing the lawsuit, and the stock-company that was formed on the +value of the patent. + +During the time it took for Kenneth to enlarge on the merits of the +Latimers, Jake grew restless. He shifted his weight from one cowhide +booted leg to the other, and finally he heaved a doleful sigh. Then he +drew attention to himself. + +"Ef we-all ain't goin' to get started mighty soon, thar's no use in +gettin' off, to-night. Mike gen'ally has a dance to his ristrant at +night, on pay-day, and he can put us up, all right." + +Mr. Brewster hurriedly took his watch from his pocket and Mr. Simms +turned to look at the old banjo clock in his office, and both men +quickly said in one voice: "Oh, no, Jake! You have plenty of time to +get off and make camp before dark." + +But the suggestion made by the driver, to stop over-night in Oak Creek, +was the means of hustling Kenneth Evans along his way. The entire party +walked with him, down the road, towards the shed where Jake had the +lumbering camp-wagon; and there they waited while Jake drove back to +the baggage room to find his passenger's trunk. + +During the driver's absence, Simms explained to the young stranger why +he was so anxious about getting the man from Carew's Camp away from Oak +Creek that afternoon. + +"You see, my boy, these nights about this burg when the miners and cow- +boys have had their pay, are one Bedlam. Decent folks lock their doors +and windows and never show a light that might attract any insanely +drunken miner. That's why I want you far on your road to camp before +these rough foreigners come to town. Jake would revel in a wild night +of it, but he'd get fired when Carew heard of it." + +The young man smiled but the girls were anxious to make the most of the +few minutes left before Jake returned for the Tenderfoot, so Eleanor +began the moment Simms concluded. + +"When do you suppose Jim Latimer and you can come to Pebbly Pit to +call?" + +"Never having met the Boss of the Crew, and not being acquainted with +distances from camp to the ranch, I couldn't say. But Jim ought to be +able to judge, and to decide on a day. We could then write you, +couldn't we?" + +"Don't forget, Nolla, that we have our hands full of important work on +Top Notch Trail, for an indefinite time," was Polly's warning. + +"Oh, I didn't forget that, but it won't keep us busy more than a few +days," returned Eleanor. + +"That reminds me, Simms! Did you say you would take care of that wire +to John?" asked Mr. Brewster, turning to the lawyer. "Yes; I'll send a +trustworthy man down the line when the train comes back for Denver, and +he can send his message couched so that no wise guy will understand +what it means, from some telegraph office a distance from Oak Creek," +said Simms. + +"That's a wise plan. And get him off as soon as possible so John will +get the word and start home without delay," added Mrs. Brewster. + +Jake drove up beside the group at this moment, and sat waiting for +Kenneth to say good-by to his new friends. The girls reminded him again +to be sure and have Jim bring him to the ranch and visit, as soon as it +could be arranged, then the great heavy wagon rolled away with the +first good-looking young man the girls had seen since they left Denver. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SARY'S AMBITIONS + + +"Dear me!" sighed Eleanor. "That boy makes me think of civilization +again." + +Her companions laughed at her expression, and Polly said: "He's awfully +nice, isn't he?" + +"Yes, but not half as nice as Jim Latimer," added Eleanor. "Oh, I think +he is. Jim just takes everything for granted, whether you agree with +him or not," rejoined Polly. + +"Jim Latimer is only a child! Now his brother Tom is what I should call +wonderful! Not only handsome, but desirable, as well," remarked +Barbara, with more spirit than she usually showed in the younger girls' +conversation. + +Eleanor smiled knowingly, and said: "If Tom was poverty stricken, maybe +you wouldn't find him so desirable." + +"Why would any one care for a poverty-stricken friend?" asked Barbara, +wonderingly. But Anne hurriedly changed the subject. + +"How long do you think it might take, before John gets that message, +Mr. Brewster?" + +"Oh, he ought to be within hailing distance of his camp and he'd get +the wire when he went for meals, or to sleep. Allowing until morning +for it to reach him, and another day for him to pack up and travel, he +ought to be in Oak Creek the day after to-morrow." + +Every one but Simms watched Anne's face to see her blush, or smile +joyously, but Simms was not aware of any tender feelings on the part of +the pretty teacher for John Brewster, so he abruptly suggested a plan. + +"Ah wouldn't wait around the ranch for John's coming, Sam. If the women +folks are going up to Top Notch Trail with us, all well and good, but +waiting about until John and the engineer gets home will be risky +business for the claim. Before to-morrow, every thief in Oak Creek, and +for miles around, will be wise to that gold vein, and most of them will +want to sneak up there and try to jump the claim." + +"Oh, no, we won't postpone going up there to guard the spot!" explained +Anne, anxiously. "I was wondering how long it would take that expert +engineer to arrive on the ground and render a reliable verdict about +the mine." + +Eleanor tittered. "Sure! That is all. Anne never dreamed that John +Brewster might accompany the expert!" + +"That will do from you, Nolla!" came reprovingly from Anne. But the +girls all laughed at her annoyance. + +Having concluded all the business necessary in connection with filing +and signing papers, and arranging details about the trip back to the +mine on the following day, the ranch party said good-by to Mr. Simms, +and started on the long ride to Pebbly Pit. + +The sole subject of conversation between the elder Brewsters and +Barbara was the gold mine and the possibilities of it. The engrossing +thought that kept Anne so quiet was the unexpected and imminent visit +of John to Pebbly Pit. But the topic that now enthused Polly and +Eleanor was the arrival of Kenneth Evans, and his acquaintance with Jim +Latimer, the pleasant young man who had spent a Sunday at the ranch +just before the city girls had arrived. + +"I wish those boys could join our party up to the cave," remarked +Eleanor to Polly, as they rode behind the others along the road to +Pebbly Pit. + +"So do I. But they are camping too far from us, for that. We are almost +directly opposite their camp site, using Oak Creek as a central point. +But the Government Survey plans will work them along to Yellow Jacket +Pass, and from that point, along the wilderness, until they reach +Buffalo Park and the Top Notch Trail where we were the other day. But +they won't reach that part of the work until late this season," +explained Polly. + +"Tom Latimer brought his younger brother Jim to see us in Chicago, when +Jim was on his way west, but I never thought he would be so near me, +this summer, as to be able to see him. Had I dreamed of such being the +case, I would have paid more attention to him at the time. I said to +myself, at that visit, 'Oh, we'll never meet again, so why waste time +over him?'" + +Polly laughed at Eleanor's frank confession, and added: "Well, when Tom +wrote mother that his little brother would be near enough to Pebbly Pit +to permit him to ride over now and then for a visit, we sent word, at +once, for Carew to give him Sundays off to come and have dinner with +us. But he has only been over once. Now that this friend is in camp +with him, maybe he'll come oftener." + +"If John would only bring Tom with him, wouldn't it be fine!" planned +Eleanor. "Anne would have her choice, John. Bob would be supremely +happy if she could flirt with Tom for a time, and you and I would have +Jim and Ken Evans." + +Polly glanced at Eleanor in surprise, and said: "Why, Nolla! I wouldn't +like that at all. It will be lots more fun if we all go about together +for a good time. But John is coming to see about the mine--not to enjoy +himself." + +"You don't think, do you, that having Anne Stewart right in reach, that +he's going to spend all his time working that mine? He's going to +divide time so that more than half of it will be given to Anne. Then +he'll work double-quick on the mine business to catch up on his work," +was Eleanor's precocious statement. + +Polly said nothing to this, as she had much food for thought given her +in Eleanor's words. Rather than pursue a subject that roused her +jealousy because of her brother John, she spurred her horse to gallop +forward to join the others of the party. + +"Father, what did you say in your telegram to John?" asked Polly, when +she slowed up beside Sam Brewster. + +"Simms and I had to be careful what we said, so no one on the wire +would get wise as to our real meaning, so I wrote out: 'Fine party on +at the ranch. Big doings that Tom and you must be in on. Also bring +your friend who came with you the time we talked about mining Rainbow +Cliffs. Do not delay but start immediately, as the girls have the time +of their lives set down for day after to-morrow. Don't write or wire, +but come on receiving this message.' You see, that was the only way I +could think of to get John off without letting others in on the secret. +Every one in these parts knows the city girls are with us, and they'll +not wonder at our having the boys come home for a visit." + +When Sam Brewster concluded his explanation, Anne was smiling happily, +and Barbara lifted her head a bit higher as she said: "How nice it will +be to see Tom Latimer again, his company _so_ much!" + +Eleanor could not deny herself the mean little satisfaction in saying: +"Yes, Bob met him once, at our house, and _tried_ to meet him +several times after that, at various social gatherings in Chicago." + +But Polly pinched her friend's arm for silence, as the two horses +crowded close together to pass on a narrow ledge of the trail that ran +up to the Cliffs. + +"If Tom comes with John, and that expert engineer comes, too, mother, I +don't see where we are going to put them up." + +"We were planning that as we rode along, just now," said Mrs. Brewster. +"I think we can put up cot-beds, temporarily, in the loft over the +first barn, where father keeps his account books and other business +papers. Or we can pitch the large tent under the trees over by the +terrace, and they can camp there. It will be far more comfortable, in +either place, than they will have up on Top Notch, or what they have +been having in the movable camp with the engineers, all this summer." + +"Finding sleeping quarters for the boys is the least of our worries +now," laughed Sam Brewster. "Keeping off claim-jumpers and guarding the +cave from miners who would steal the gold as fast as they could pick +it, or blow it out of the rock, is more concern for us than any other +problem, at present." + +"Well, we won't lack for excitement if all you fear is justly founded, +eh?" laughed Eleanor, plainly showing how thoroughly she was enjoying +the experience and its promised thrills. + +"Even a westerner, immune to thrills, would have a few entirely new +ones in this experience," chuckled Mr. Brewster. "But let a few city +gals like you three, and a quiet little mouse like Polly, jump right +into such a game as this promises to be, and there will be nothing left +for you to thrill over, after that, in everyday life." + +"If only Jim Latimer and Ken Evans could be at the ranch to go with us +when we start for the cave," said Eleanor for the second time. This +time her remark caused Mr. Brewster to think. + +Then he said: "It is queer how that boy resembled our old friend +Montresor. If we only knew what part of the East Montresor came from. I +have always said he was not traveling under his own name, but probably +was using a family name to hide behind." + +"Yes, and that may explain the reason we never had any reply to our +widely circulated advertisements for his relatives," added Mrs. +Brewster. + +"If Montresor really was related to this young man, father, he surely +would have said something when Mr. Simms mentioned the resemblance, and +asked the stranger if he knew of a relative being in Colorado," said +Polly. + +"Montresor had white hair, it is true, but that did not say that he was +an old man. He was prematurely wrinkled from worry and hardships, but +he was not much more than forty, I should say," ventured Mr. Brewster. + +"What are you leading up to, Sam?" asked Mrs. Brewster. + +"I was just thinking, aloud, that Montresor could have had a son as +old, or as young, as this Kenneth Evans. If he had gone to the +Klondike, as we believed, the boy would have been too young to remember +his dad very distinctly. Who knows what drove Old Montresor away from +home, to seek adventure or gold so far north as in the Klondike? He and +his wife may have separated through some misunderstanding such as that +letter would lead us to infer, and his eastern relatives may have kept +all facts or news of him from this boy. The poor man's pride and +determination to prove himself innocent of some wrong kept him from +communicating with his people; we know that from his own letter. So I +would not be greatly surprised if we eventually learn that Kenneth +Evans is really a son of Montresor's." + +"Oh, Mr. Brewster! Isn't that exactly what I said to you before, when +you hushed me up!" declared Eleanor, delighted over her romantic +vision. + +"I hushed you up because you went on weaving stuff that dreams are made +of--not because you hinted that this youth might be Montresor's son," +corrected Sam Brewster. + +The others laughed at Eleanor, and as they rode past the Cliffs, now +glimmering faintly in the rays of the new moon rising over the edge of +the old crater, Polly said with a sigh: + +"Thank goodness, we are almost home in time for supper." + +The materialistic craving in Polly for a good meal was so different +from Eleanor's dreams of romance for her friend that the two elder +Brewsters felt relieved to hear the exclamation. Soon afterwards, the +riders drew rein at the porch where Jeb was awaiting the return of the +party. + +"Wall, did you-all find out if the mine was the same as Old Man +Montresor's claim?" asked Jeb, eagerly, as they dismounted. + +"What's that, Jeb?" asked Sam Brewster, frowningly. + +"Why, Sary says you-all went to Oak Crick to file papers and make sure +that Montresor's claim is the same mine like Polly discovered up on the +Trail. Ain't it so?" wondered Jeb, curiously. + +The two elder Brewsters exchanged glances, and the girls had to laugh +at having been completely fooled by clever Sary Dodd. Then Mr. Brewster +thought best to make a clean breast of the entire matter. + +"Well, we were not sure when we left Pebbly Pit, this morning, whether +this claim was good or not. So we did not say a word about it to either +Sary or you, but she must have overheard us speaking about it, last +night." + +"Yeh--that's what she said to me. She had to wait so long fer you-all +to come to supper, last night, that she coulden' help hearin' what was +said. She says it will be a grand day fer her and me when you-all get +this mine goin'. Sary figgers that you-all won't stay in Oak Crick, ner +on a ranch, once you have all this money; 'cause Polly'll make you-all +go to some fine city to live," explained Jeb, innocently. + +"Huh! Is that so!" sneered Sam Brewster, angrily. + +Jeb was gathering up the reins of the horses as he spoke, and now he +turned to wonder at his master's tone. Mrs. Brewster was about to say +something conciliatory, when Sary rushed out of the side door. + +"Ah was jus' comin' to see who rode up, when Ah hearn Jeb talk. Now +lissun to me, whiles Ah explains how-come Ah spoke: Me and Jeb was +sittin' over dinner, this noon, when Ah says to him, 'Ef the Brewsters +plan to leave Pebbly Pit, Jeb, will you-all stay on and wuk the ranch +fer 'em, or buy it outright?' Now wasn't that a most natchul thing to +ask?" + +Sary's apparent guilelessness made the girls stare and her mistress +smile understandingly. "Of course, Sary--go on." + +"Wall, then, Jeb diden' know a thing about the gold mine ner what you- +all rode to Oak Crick fer, so Ah hed to explain. He was that +flabbergasted! My, Ah feared he'd keel over right at table. So Ah +hurried to brace him up wid puttin' an ambitious idee in his head. +That's how-come Ah mentioned his takin' over Pebbly Pit." + +Here Jeb interpolated: "But you-all said, Sary, that no self-respecking +woman could remain on the ranch ef all the ladies left. And you told me +a man needed a help-mate on such a big place." + +Sary frowned down on meek little Jeb, but her displeasure was wasted, +for Jeb was too earnestly concerned over his master's future plans to +see the widow's expression. The girls were so intensely amused over +this new development in Sary's affairs that they forgot about their own +ambitions for the time being. + +"Of course, Ah said that!" affirmed Sary, when all other escape by +excuses seemed vain. "Ah also said to Jeb that now he was callin' on me +evenin's, and by such ways showin' the public like-as-how he was +courtin' me, it was the right thing to do to marry afore you-all leave +the ranch. Then we both could pitch in and do fer your interests, as +well as fer our own, what two folks separate can't do as well. See?" + +Every one could see plainly what Sary meant, and no one had the heart +to ruin her romance by trying to show Jeb that he was a doomed Benedict +if he allowed himself to be so beguiled by a scheming widow. + +"Jeb, if there's any one on earth who can make me leave Pebbly Pit, let +me know who it is, and Ah'll mighty soon fight it out with him!" +declared Sam Brewster, fervently. + +Mrs. Brewster and the girls laughed at his intensity, but Jeb's face +lighted up with relief, while Sary's clouded with doubt. Then Jeb led +the horses away, and a happy whistle sounded from his lips as he +marched towards the barn. And Sary stood looking after his receding +form as if she was seeing her future happiness vanish, also. + +The weary riders went indoors, and after Mrs. Brewster had removed her +riding togs, she went to the kitchen to see what was ready for supper. +To her joy, she found Sary had prepared an unusually tempting meal, and +had everything in readiness to serve. The table had been set in the +living-room, as it was too dark to eat under the trees; and soon after +the girls had washed and changed their clothes, all sat down to enjoy +the well-cooked and carefully seasoned viands. + +Sary and Jeb had had supper, _a la tete-a-tete_, more than an hour +before the riders got home, so Sary gave her attention to waiting on +the famished family. As she served and passed dishes, she conversed +volubly about the mine, and the claim, and the trouble so much work +would make for Mr. Brewster, if he kept on with the ranch at the same +time. + +"Not at all, Sary. Ah shall have nothing to do with the work at the +mine. John and his engineers will look after all that. But this does +not mean that Jeb must always remain a hired man. If the time comes +when he wants to settle down at Pebbly Pit and take to himself a +spouse, Ah shall be the first man to reach out a hand to help him on in +life. He shall have certain parts of the ranch to work on shares, if he +prefers that, and he can build a good home for himself down on the road +that runs by the pastures." + +"You-all ain't sayin' this in a joke, be yuh, Sam Brewster?" asked +Sary, breathlessly. + +"No, indeed, Sary. Ah want Jeb to make a good match, that's all. He +seldom goes away from the ranch, other than driving to Oak Creek, and +he does not have opportunity to see or meet girls. So Ah am seriously +thinking of giving him a vacation, very soon, and sending him to Denver +for a week or two, just to give him a chance to get acquainted with +other women; and then he'll be able to judge what sort of a girl will +suit him best for a wife." + +Sary gasped fearfully at this unexpected plan of Sam Brewster's, and +her grasp on the soup ladle relaxed so that it fell to the floor with a +ringing echo. But she paid no attention to it: she stood with mouth +open staring at the master of Pebbly Pit. + +Mrs. Brewster felt sincerely sorry for her, but the four girls had to +smother their laughter behind the dinner napkins. Then Sary found her +power of speech. + +"Why, Sam Brewster! You-all can't mean that! Send dear, innocent Jeb to +such a wicked city as Denver, all alone, to be caught by them ravenin' +wolves? Ain't you hear'n tell of flirty gals what goes about vampin' +nice young men jus' fer a good time? Like as not our Jeb'll get lassoed +by one of 'em, and she'll marry him fer his money, er git it all away +from him afore she lets him go. Ah've seen it all, over and over again, +in the movies at Oak Crick!" Sary almost wept as she described the +lamentable case of Jeb if he was permitted to visit Denver, alone. + +"Don't worry over Jeb, Sary. He hasn't gone yet," said Mrs. Brewster, +sending her husband a signal to keep quiet. + +Sary went out of the room, and when Polly called for a cup, no one +replied. So she had to jump up and go to the kitchen for her own cup, +but the kitchen was empty--no Sary to be seen, anywhere. Polly reported +this discovery when she came back to the table, and Mrs. Brewster spoke +impatiently to her husband. + +"You haven't any judgment about love affairs, Sam! Don't you know that +you are actually throwing Jeb at Sary's head by saying such things, as +you did--about giving Jeb enough vacation to allow him to go to the +city and find a pretty girl for himself?" + +Mr. Brewster sat back in his chair and dropped his fork upon the table +in surprise. He turned wondering eyes at his wife as he said: "Ah only +said that to show Sary that she must bide her time with Jeb, and give +him a chance to make an honest choice for a wife." + +"That's what you _wanted_ to do, Sam, but what you actually +accomplished was to give Sary a fright over having Jeb get out of her +snare, and now she'll move heaven and earth to consummate her own +schemes to get Jeb. I wouldn't be one bit surprised if we should find +out that she is, even now, helping Jeb at the barn and trying to +wheedle him into an out and out proposal. There!" was Mrs. Brewster's +reply. + +At that, Sam Brewster jumped up, and without asking to be excused, +rushed away and down the road that led to the barns. Mrs. Brewster, +with the girls, laughed at his sudden departure, and when supper was +over, with the master of the house still absent, they all cleared away +the meal and piled up the dishes for Sary to wash in the morning. Then +Mr. Brewster came back. + +"Well, Mary! You must have second sight, is all Ah can say. Sary was +out helping Jeb with the horses, sure enough. And Ah overheard her +sayin', when Ah came up to the door: 'Jeb, if you-all ever has time to +go visitin' to Denver, or any such place, it would be a fine honeymoon +for me and you, woulden' it?'" + +As Mr. Brewster repeated Sary's words, he glanced at his wife, but +every one laughed heartily at his expression and Sary's clever +anticipation of Jeb's vacation. Mrs. Brewster wagged her head wisely, +as she said: + +"Didn't I tell you so, Sam? Now Sary will have no rest, nor indeed give +poor Jeb any peace of mind, until she has him firmly attached to her by +vows. Once the bans are announced at church, she knows Jeb will not try +to dodge them and his responsibility." + +"Well, Mary, after this experience Ah swear Ah shall have nothing more +to do in trying to break up any matches. No, not even if my own +children plan to marry without having due time to judge what is best +for them!" His sigh of sacrifice in such a dire case made all eyes turn +to Anne, and her companions laughed teasingly at her blush. + +"Now, girls--all off to bed at once, if you expect to go with us at +daybreak," was Mrs. Brewster's advice that cut the conversation short. + +"I have no objections to tumbling into bed," confessed Polly. + +"Nor I. If it were not for that ride to-morrow, I could sleep all day," +added Eleanor, hiding a yawn. + +"Ah will set the Big Ben to-night, I think," said Mr. Brewster, "so +that we will not miss Simms and his party at Lone Pine Blaze in the +morning." + +"Who besides Simms is going with us, father?" asked Polly. + +"Why, my old pal the Sheriff, and his men; Simms and a few of his best +friends, and Rattle-snake Mike as a guide." + +"Oh, really! Why, it will be a large party, won't it?" cried Polly, +delightedly. + +"We'll need a large party, Ah'm thinking, girls, if our surmises are +right. In fact, the Sheriff plans to send an extra posse up by a +different trail, in order to head off any strange-acting or unfamiliar- +looking men who might happen to meet them on this unfrequented ride +along Top Notch Trail." + +"My! It makes me tingle deliciously at thought of the fun we will have +if we have to fight for the mine," said Eleanor. + +"I don't think we women ought to go if there is the least danger," +whimpered Barbara, glancing from one to the other in the group. + +"You can stay at home and chaperone Sary," said Eleanor. + +"I'll do nothing of the kind, Eleanor Maynard! If you and the others +go, I shall go too!" declared Barbara, jealously. + +"Well, no one in this family will go unless you all get into bed inside +of the next five minutes," said Mr. Brewster. "Don't take time to use +cold cream and wrinkle plasters this night." + +Laughingly, the girls said good-night and left the two adult Brewsters +alone. The moment the door closed upon the last girl, Mrs. Brewster +made sure that Sary was in her room with the door closed, and then she +tiptoed back to join her husband. She spoke in a whisper. + +"Sam, do you really think there will be any danger of claim-jumpers, +to-morrow, on Top Notch?" + +"There's always trouble where gold is to be had," returned Mr. +Brewster, seriously. + +"But I mean, do you apprehend it and thus asked the Sheriff and his men +to ride with us?" + +"Simms and the Sheriff think so. It was his idea to prepare against any +surprises along the road, and after we get there. But it was the +Sheriff's idea to get Rattlesnake Mike to guide us, and hire him to +cook while we are in camp. Mike is an honest Indian, you know, Mary, +and we may need one who is as good a woodsman as he is." + +"Well, Sam, if I thought there was to be the slightest risk to these +girls, in any way whatever, I should refuse to allow them to go to- +morrow," declared Mrs. Brewster. + +You don't think that I would consent to have Polly go if I thought +there was to be any trouble do you? All the gold in the earth wouldn't +bribe me to do such a foolish thing." + +"I thought you may belittle any risk we might run. You are so +accustomed to these ruffians at Oak Creek, but three city girls are +different from western ranchmen. Even Polly and I are better seasoned +for the adventures we may encounter than Anne and her friends," was +Mrs. Brewster's reply. + +"Well, if you feel the least nervous over this trip you had better +remain at home with the girls. Ah reckon we-all can readily find the +cave by the descriptions Polly gave us, and by the claim she staked. +Then, too, Rattlesnake Mike can guide us to any spot on the +mountaintop." + +"I don't want to deprive the girls of any safe adventure we may +experience, Sam, nor do I want them to run risks. So we had better wait +and leave it entirely to them, if you feel sure nothing would happen +through an encounter with ruffians," said Mrs. Brewster. + +"Oh, if that is what worries you, Mary, rest your mind on that score. +No one will attack such a large party, especially when the Sheriff and +his men are in the party." + +"Well, then, Sam, we'll get out the supplies you need to take for the +excursion, and then you can catch a few hours' sleep." + +But it will take another book to tell what actually did happen there +and on Grizzly Slide; and who Ken proved to be; and whether John +Brewster loved Anne Stewart, or Tom Latimer fell a victim to Barbara's +blandishments. All these queries are answered in the second volume +called: "Polly and Eleanor." + +THE END + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Polly of Pebbly Pit, by Lillian Elizabeth Roy + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLLY OF PEBBLY PIT *** + +This file should be named pllpp10.txt or pllpp10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, pllpp11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, pllpp10a.txt + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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