[Illustration: POLLY AND ANNE FOLLOWED THE GUIDE. 

_Polly and Eleanor. _ _Frontispiece--(Page 21)_]

POLLY AND ELEANOR

BY

LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY

_Author of_

POLLY OF PEBBLY PIT, POLLY IN NEW YORK, POLLY AND HER FRIENDS ABROAD, POLLY'S BUSINESS VENTURE. 

ILLUSTRATED BYH. S. BARBOUR

 NEW YORK GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS

Made in the United States of America

 COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY GROSSET & DUNLAP

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I ANOTHER TRIP TO TOP NOTCH 1

II THE CLAIM-JUMPERS 22

III AT CHOKO'S FIND 38

IV JOHN AND HIS FRIEND ARRIVE 55

V POLLY AND ELEANOR VISIT THE BEAVERS 81

VI THE GIRLS ENTERTAIN GUESTS 99

VII SEVERAL MOMENTOUS LETTERS 122

VIII POLLY-ELEANOR COMPANY, INC. 143

IX JEB'S SUNDAY NIGHT OFF 162

X A TRIP TO BUFFALO PARK 181

XI A WILD-WEST COUNTY FAIR 195

XII NOLLA'S PLANS DEVELOP 208

XIII RIGGLEY & RATZGER OF NEW YORK 226

XIV THE VICTORY 247

XV COMINGS AND GOINGS 262

XVI POLLY AND ELEANOR START OUT 275

POLLY AND ELEANOR

CHAPTER I

ANOTHER TRIP TO TOP NOTCH

Six intensely interested individuals sat about the supper-table in theliving room at Pebbly Pit Ranch-house, the evening of the day they rodeto Oak Creek to file the claim on the gold mine. Sary, themaid-of-all-work, had the supper ready for the weary riders when theyreturned from their trip. 

Having served the dessert, Sary went out to the barn to help Jeb, theforeman on the ranch, with the horses which had just come in from thelong day's work. So the group about the table felt free to talk as theyliked. But Polly Brewster and her friend Eleanor Maynard were almosttalked out by the time they finished the last bit of Sary's deliciousdessert; and Barbara Maynard tried her best to hide a yawn behind herhand, while Anne Stewart, the pretty teacher who was the fourth memberin the party that spent a night in the cave, was eager to continueplanning for the future of the mine, but Nature demanded rest after thethree days' excitement. 

Finally, Polly turned to her father and said: "I wish we could seeJohn's face when he reads that telegram!"

"If we had only dared word it plainly, there sure would be somethingqueer to laugh at when John read it. But we had to cipher it, you know, "chuckled Sam Brewster. 

"I can't see why such foolish fear of talking about it is entertained byall you folks, " declared Barbara, loftily. 

"Can't you? Well, then, Bob, Ah'll tell you plainly that that messagehad to be camouflaged, as we are not taking any risks on having yourclaim jumped over night. If we sent a wire to John telling him plainlythat you girls discovered a vein of gold on Top Notch Trail, every lastrascal in Oak Creek would hit the trail before that message wasdelivered, " replied Mr. Brewster. 

"Even as it is, I suppose every one who can read the records at OakCreek will start out at once, so as to stake new claims as near toMontresor's Mine as possible; perhaps they'll try to pick up somenuggets from your claim, as well, " added Mrs. Brewster. 

"Then, when word spreads around the country--and such news alwaystravels like lightning--every gambler and bunco man in Wyoming andColorado will be seen camping on Top Notch Trail, each trying in his ownway to wheedle money or gold-dust from the unwary ones, " laughed Mr. Brewster. 

"There now, Daddy! You've laughed, so I know your spell of worry is overwith. Won't you tell us what made you so serious?" exclaimed Polly. 

"Ah was trying to plan for the best way to avoid trouble over thisclaim; and at the same time protect our own rights, and any rights OldMontresor's family might have in this rediscovery. That is why Ahinsisted upon Simms being one of our party, to-morrow; and the sheriffwith his stalwart son, too. They are both strong, trusty men, and withSimms, Jeb and myself, we ought to be able to hold our own in case of anargument up there. "

"Oh, Mr. Brewster! Do you mean there is likely to be a fight, and_shooting_?" cried Barbara, horrified at the very idea. 

"Not so that you-all can notice it--if we get there first. But let thoseclaim-jumpers camp on our grounds first, and we-all may have to usegun-persuasion to move them on to safer ground. "

"Dear me, I think it is going to be more fun than a movie-picture playin the filming!" exclaimed Eleanor, her eyes shining with excitement. 

"I hope we won't have the same kind of gun-play that we see in thewild-west films, " hinted Anne Stewart, hitherto a listener. 

"Would you rather remain here, Anne?" asked Barbara, with an eagerexpression as if to say: "'I hope you do--then I will stay with you. '"

"I should say _no_! I wouldn't miss the picnic we are going to have, to-morrow, for anything in Colorado!" declared Anne, emphatically. 

Mrs. Brewster laughed at the young teacher's vehement tones, and thenturned to her husband with a suggestion. 

"Sam, what do you think of sending Jeb on before, in the morning, totell Rattle-Snake Mike he must act as guide and cook for us while we areon the mountain? He is the cleverest Indian anywhere about, you know. "

"Just the thing, Mary! Ah'm mighty glad you-all thought of it. Jeb canride on whiles we-all branch off at Bear Forks for the Old Indian Trail. Then Mike and Jeb can catch up with us. "

"I don't know about that, Sam, " returned Mrs. Brewster, thoughtfully. "I'd rather see Jeb start from here about four o'clock, so Mike and hecan meet us at five-thirty at the school-house. "

"You must have some good reason for that, " ventured Polly. 

"Yes, Mike may hear about this claim and leave his cabin early, so as toact as guide to strangers who will be glad to pay him any price just toget him and his wonderful scouting experience. "

"Right as usual, Mary! Ah'll run out, right now, and tell Jeb he'dbetter get to bed if he has to be up before four, " exclaimed Mr. Brewster, starting for the bedroom over the barn where he knew Jeb wouldbe. 

"And we had better go to bed, too, so we can be up and have breakfastout of the way before the horses are brought to the door, " suggestedMrs. Brewster, leading the way to the front door to look at the nightsky. 

"Why, it isn't eight o'clock, " complained Barbara. 

"No, but even that leaves us less than eight hours' sleep. After suchexciting days as we have been through, we need a good full night'srest, " replied Anne. 

"Chances are Nolla and I won't close an eye! What, with gold mines, andJohn, and the Latimer boys, and Ken Evans coming to town--andclaim-jumpers, and everything!" laughed Polly. 

"You mean that young stranger we met at Oak Creek?" asked Barbara, frigidly. 

"Yes, --the one who looked so pleasant but forlorn, " said Eleanor, sympathetically. 

"His name was Kenneth Evans, you know, Bob, " explained Polly, innocently. 

Eleanor and Anne exchanged glances and smiled, for they understood thatBarbara meant to be condemnatory in her manner; but Polly, in her veryguilelessness, countered the city girl's disparagement. 

"It's too bad we couldn't have had him come home with us, " addedEleanor, teasingly, to Barbara. 

"Dear me, Nolla! By the time I get you back to Chicago you will need acomplete training in social behavior again!" declared Barbara, frowningat her younger sister. 

But her remark merely called forth a merry laugh from the light-heartedgirl. Mrs. Brewster then started the usual preparations for bed, and thegroup followed her example. 

For the benefit of any one who has not been fortunate enough to becomeacquainted with our western friends, in the first book of this series, we will introduce you while the girls are soundly sleeping. 

Polly Brewster, a girl just past fourteen, was a true type of thehonest, ambitious ranchers of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Her home, the extensive farm in the crater of an extinct volcano, was calledPebbly Pit because of the giant cliffs of colored stones guarding theentrance trail. This ranch was about eleven miles from Oak Creek, themining settlement and railroad station for about a thousand inhabitants, where all shopping had to be done. The town was much like other rough, half-civilized western settlements, consisting of a post office, a bank, the sheriff's office, and several saloons. A general store wasmaintained in connection with the post office, and here one must buyanything needed for house or farm. The Brewsters, being affluentranchers, ordered their clothing, house-furnishings, and many tools orluxuries by mail, from illustrated catalogues. But the rough road fromthe ranch to the town post office, being hard going in a heavyranch-wagon, often caused the Brewsters to forego a mail order oncosmopolitan stores rather than drive in and cart the goods home fromOak Creek. 

Polly had just completed her grammar course at the little Bear Forks'school-house where Anne Stewart had taught two years previous to thissummer. Polly had never been elsewhere than at Oak Creek and now sheyearned to attend High School in Denver. 

Anne Stewart lived in Denver, and for the past year had been tutoringEleanor Maynard, while the girl and her older sister Barbara boardedwith Mrs. Stewart. The Maynard girls were from Chicago, but Eleanor, whowas fourteen, was very delicate, so the doctor had recommended a highaltitude for her. 

Anne Stewart was helping her brother Paul through a college in Chicago, and during her visit to him, at the end of his first year, she met hisfriends--John Brewster who was Polly's older brother; Tom Latimer apromising young engineer from New York; and Pete Maynard who was abrother to Eleanor and Barbara. It was through this means that theMaynards heard of the Stewarts' home in Denver, and anxiously beggedAnne to take the two girls into her home circle. As the salary offeredfor this privilege was so munificent, the young teacher eagerlyaccepted, and then found her youngest charge a lovable and merry girl. 

The two Chicago girls had returned home for a few months, but Eleanorcould not stand the high winds and stubborn climate of Chicago, so thedoctor again ordered her to spend a summer in the mountains of Colorado. In distraction, Mr. Maynard begged Anne Stewart to arrange everything, and thus it was that these two society girls came, with Anne, to boardwith Polly's family at Pebbly Pit ranch. 

The Brewsters were considered very wealthy in land and cattle, to saynothing of the Rainbow Cliffs, for which a New York financier hadoffered them half a million dollars for part interest in mining them. But Sam Brewster could afford to refuse such destruction to hisbeautiful estate. Polly had never had city-made clothing, nor had shethe slightest idea of city-ways, until the Maynard girls' advent toPebbly Pit. But she had had years of thrilling experiences to hercredit--experiences with wild-life of all kinds, of mountain-climbing, of adventures of other sorts, to say nothing about knowledge of farmingand domestic animals. This outdoor life gave her abundant health, strength, and the beauty of a fine complexion, clear eyes, luxuriantglossy hair, and a graceful well-formed figure that was all the moreattractive because of the charms her adolescence promised. 

That very day had been spent in Oak Creek in filing the claim toMontresor's Mine, and just as the party started for home, they had metthe young stranger, Kenneth Evans, who sought Carew's Surveying Camp, which was known to be located near Yellow Jacket Pass. The youth wasdirected how to find Jake, the driver of Carew's wagon, and then he wasinvited to visit Pebbly Pit, on Sunday. 

As Polly and Eleanor had predicted, they were so excited over the eventsthat promised such thrills on the morrow, that they slept little thatnight, but tossed and talked most of the time. However, when the callsounded for them all to awake and dress for the mountain trip, it foundthat these two girls were fast asleep and loath to get up. 

"Good gracious, Anne! My wrist watch says it's four o'clock! You don'tsuppose we have to get up at this awful hour?" complained Barbara, rubbing her eyes. 

Anne was already up and hurriedly dressing. "Any one who is not ready tostart when the man brings the horses around to the door, remainsbehind, you know. "

That brought Polly and Eleanor out of bed with a hop, as there was onlya wooden partition between the two rooms, and Anne's words were plainlyheard by them. 

"If there was the least thing to do if I stayed here, I'd not go againfor anything. But I should die of ennui if I had to be entertained bySary for three whole days, " grumbled Barbara. 

The very idea of Sary, the "house helper, " entertaining Barbara, forwhom she felt such scorn, caused mirth in the adjoining room. 

Eleanor called out: "More than likely Sary feels as glad to know thatyou're going, as we would be to have you stay behind. "

"Come, come, Bob! You _must_ get up and dress!" now urged Anne, as shefinished her dressing and turned to leave the room. 

The purple gleams of the western dawn shot the heavens of blue and gold, as Jeb brought the sturdy horses from the barn. He had given carefulattention to the trappings and shoes of the various mounts, and findingeach one in splendid condition, started for the house. 

An unusual hubbub came from the living-room where baskets of food andoutfits were waiting. The moment Jeb was hailed, however, the noisygirls ran out to look over their horses. 

"Why, Jeb! Isn't Noddy going this time?" asked Polly. 

"Not ef you-all want her to keep any breath in her skin. Ain't sheeena-most done up from that other trip?" retorted Jeb, who was the"general-man" on the ranch. Having been with the Brewsters since he wasa boy of twelve, he felt that he was one of the family and he treatedPolly as if she were a younger sister. 

"Never mind Noddy, this time, Polly, but let Jeb jump into the saddleand start off. He'll never reach Mike's cabin if you keep on arguingabout the burros, " said Mrs. Brewster, coming out to call them tobreakfast. 

Jeb had gone on to secure the company of Rattle-Snake Mike, and Mr. Brewster sat impatiently on his horse, waiting to guide the party ofwomen, when all but Barbara were ready; then she came out while stillmunching her tardy breakfast. 

As the riders passed the Rainbow Cliffs, the rays of the rising sungilded their peaks, and the girls exclaimed at the beauty of the stonesas they reflected the myriad colors of a rainbow. Then on down throughthe Devil's Causeway and out on the Sand Trail, rode the adventurers, until they saw Jeb and Mike riding to meet them. 

"Mike says we-all ain't the fust ones to start up Grizzly Slide, thismornin', " said Jeb, the moment he was within hearing. 

"U-um! Plenty fool go by!" grunted Mike. 

Mike was an entirely new type to the city girls, and they studied himwith interest. He was a swarthy-looking Indian; perhaps, as Mr. Brewstersaid, because he smoked himself brown. He always rode his famous Indianpony and carried an evil-looking gun, besides the revolvers in his belt. Another weapon he had, as evil but not quite so fatal to others as thegun--and that was his old pipe, as black as the Asiatic plague. 

Mike was a descendant of a famous Chieftain, so he seldom noticed theminers or common natives about Oak Creek, but he considered himself anequal of educated people like the Brewsters. Hence his willingness toact as guide for this party, after he had refused tempting offers fromthe "scorned" early that morning. 

"Now we'll turn off at the Forks and ride fast to meet Simms and hisparty, " advised Mr. Brewster, when they reached the place where thetrails forked. 

"Mike says there's the old Indian Trail up the mountain, that cuts offhalf the distance to the Slide, " called Jeb, from the front. 

"Him bad trail--no like Top Notch, " warned the Indian. 

"Whereabouts will we hit it, Mike?" asked Mr. Brewster. 

"Onny Mike say--him secret Indian Trail, " explained the red-man, everfaithful to his ancestors. 

"Well, will we pass Pine Tree where we are to meet Simms and thesheriff?" added Mrs. Brewster. 

"Na! him run away from Pine Tree. But him save half-day riding. "

Mr. Brewster silently considered this possibility for a few moments, then turned to his wife, and said: "Mary, it seems most important justnow for us to get to the cave before others reach it, as we must stakeout additional claims adjoining the mine, in order to protect the rightsof the girls. Of course, we must have Mike show us his secret trail, andI will go to escort the girls, but you and Jeb might ride on to PineTree to meet Simms' party. Then ride with them up along Top Notch Trail. We will all meet at Four Mile Blaze. "

"I was about to suggest the same plan, Sam; but I won't need Jeb withme. I'm so used to this road that I am perfectly safe. It is the Trailthat will be hazardous to a lone rider, when once the outlaws hear ofthis strike. But I will have Mr. Simms and the other men with me, soeverything will be safe and all right, " replied Mrs. Brewster. 

After a hasty good-by, Mrs. Brewster rode away, and the others in theparty followed after Mike who led up a hitherto unknown trail to GrizzlySlide. It was so over-grown that no one but an Indian could ever find away through; however, Mike was an adept in this line. 

"I have been wondering if this could have been the trail Mr. Montresordiscovered the day he approached his gold mine from the valley, " saidPolly, as she followed close at Mike's heels. 

"You may have hit the nail on the head, Poll. It always has been aquestion whether Montresor was quite sane, because he insisted that herode up a strange trail that was over-grown with jungle before he cameupon the ravine that held his gold mine, " added Mr. Brewster. 

"Humph! Him good old scout, " came from Mike. 

"I'm glad to hear you say so, Mike, because I liked him so much!" sighedPolly, and tears filled her eyes at the memory of her old friend. 

"Patsy good scout, too. Solly dem dead, " Mike added. 

Conversation now became impossible, as Mike rode far in advance for somereason best known to himself, and the trail was so steep and rough thatit took each rider all his attention to keep in the saddle. However, theflora and fauna were so interesting that the girls endured many a jarand jolt for the sake of seeing them. 

Reaching Four Mile Blaze they found they had saved over half thedistance it would have been to ride up over Top Notch Trail; and thispleased Mr. Brewster tremendously. He had just turned in his saddle tocall out to the girls behind him when Mike held up a warning hand. 

Every one looked at him to see what he had discovered. He gruntedunpleasantly, and slid from his horse. He sprawled out on the ground andplaced his ear close to the earth. Every one sat still, waiting to hearthe report, or cause, of this unusual behavior. 

The Indian listened attentively for a time, then got up and examined thetrail along Top Notch, as far back as the blazed tree. There he placedhis ear to the ground again, and listened for a longer time than atfirst. Then he got up slowly and crept about examining the bushes, thebroken twigs, rocks, and even the grass. 

The girls watched him with intense interest, as Polly had told them ofthe wonderful scouting instinct Mike possessed, and now they were goingto have it demonstrated to them. Having satisfied himself, Mike cameover to Mr. Brewster and announced, abruptly:

"Tree miner gone aleddy--two tenderfut comin'. "

"Three up there already! By the Great Horned Spoon! how did they do it?"cried Sam Brewster, aghast at the idea that perhaps they would havetrouble when they reached Polly's mine. 

"Maybe the three gone on ahead have no idea that we found gold up there. Maybe they are after pelts, or some other thing, " said Anne Stewart. 

Mike grinned complacently, for he had spoken. 

"How do you know those three are miners, Mike?" asked Polly. 

The Indian pointed to the ground where an imprint of a miner's boot wasplainly seen. Only the miners at Oak Creek wore such spiked heels, theranchers and other citizens being satisfied with heavy leather soles. The foot-print pointed towards the Slide--not away from it. 

"That's only one, Mike, and you said there were three!" exclaimed Anne, triumphantly. 

"Tree hoss go by--see. " Mike pointed out three different kinds ofhorse-shoe imprints. 

"One hoss carry pack an' go lame. Two hoss all light. "

"How do you know he is lame--and maybe he isn't packed, " Eleanor said. 

Mike sniffed derisively, and pointed at the lighter impression of onehind foot. Then he showed his admiring audience how a slight rip in aflour-sack allowed the contents to trickle down upon the ground at eachlimp the lame horse gave. 

Mike now said to Mr. Brewster: "Dem go slow--lame hoss no go fas', mebbejus' ahead. "

"If we ride on we can catch up with them!" eagerly exclaimed Anne. 

Mike shook his head and lifted a finger for silence. Then the girlsheard a faint clip-clop of hoof-beats on the rocky trail leading alongTop Notch. 

"Two tenderfut 'mos' catch up. We-all wait an' talkee, " suggested Mike, settling himself in his saddle to await the riders. 

"Mike's right, because they will only follow us and find out where ourclaim is located, if we start on now, " added Polly. 

Mr. Brewster shook his head. "Ah reckon you-all talk sense but Ah wouldoffer an amendment to your plan: to have Polly and Anne take Jeb for anescort and ride on at once. Let the horses have their head and get tothe cave as soon as you can. Hold the fort until we-all join you. We-allwill see these two men and find out what they are after. "

"Daddy, you must remember a grizzly bear lives in that cave. He may havebeen injured but he may not have died, the other night. I have my smallrifle but Anne hasn't any weapon at all. As for Jeb--he's great on thefarm, but for this work, huh! Then there are those three miners who areup ahead: they wouldn't hesitate to put two mere girls out of their way, if we interfered with their staking our mine or jumping our claims, "said Polly. 

Mike smiled and expressed his opinion. "Miss'r Brooser wait wid twoten'erfut, an' Mike go wid leedle leddies. Ef cabe hab trouble ofgrizzle er miner, Mike shoot. "

"Good! And Ah'll wait for Simms and the others, and then come afteryou-all, " agreed Mr. Brewster. 

"I won't go with Mike if there is any danger at the cave. I didn't cometo the Rockies to be killed!" declared Barbara. 

"Daddy, you must keep Eleanor and Barbara here with you and Jeb, andwait for mother and the sheriff's men. Anne and I will go with Mike andsee that our rights are protected, " now said Polly. 

"I have as much right to go with you, Polly, as Anne has. Why must Iremain here with Bob?" demanded Eleanor. 

"I know that, Nolla, but three of us will be too many--especially asAnne and you have no firearms. I may need Anne to help me load but youcan't even do that. So it will be far better for us all if you remainhere. Mike will not have to bother over so many of us, then, " explainedPolly. 

"But everything may be safe at the cave, and all this worry aboutfighting may be a farce, " argued Eleanor. 

"In that case Mike will leave us safely there and come back to guideyou-all to us. Once we are safe on that ledge with a pile of dry wood infront of the entrance to the cave, we can defy the whole country. "

"All right! Hurry away and get on to that ledge before any more rascalssteal a march on you. But be sure to send Mike back for us, the momentAnne and you arrive there and find everything is all right, " repliedEleanor. 

So Mike spurred his broncho along the trail, while Polly and Anne rodeafter him. Soon they disappeared around the bend where giant pinesformed a wall on either side of the narrow going. 

CHAPTER II

THE CLAIM-JUMPERS

The moment the three had passed out of sight, Sam Brewster jumped fromhis horse and led him over to the great tree that caused the trail toturn aside and run around it. He looped the reins over his arm andplaced his hands in his coat pockets. As he leaned against thetree-trunk nibbling nonchalantly at a sprig of grass, a tenderfoot wouldnever have dreamed that his fingers were tensely held against thetriggers of the revolvers hidden in his pockets. 

Soon after Mr. Brewster had taken his stand where he could see the firstappearance of any one coming up the trail, two riders approached eagerlyscanning the large trees, in evident search of something. As they cameto the giant tree where the rancher waited, both men started insurprise. 

"How-dy, friends? Out early this morning, eh?" was the greeting the twoamazed men received from the alert man at the tree. 

"Oh--oh, yes!" stammered one, plainly uneasy. 

"Hoh, it's Sam Brewster of Pebbly Pit, ain't it?" said the other, alsoconfused in his manner. 

"Right you are, Hank. You see, when a man has to attend to the girls'gold mine, he has to be up right early to forestall the plans of anyclaim-jumpers who read the records at Oak Creek, yesterday, after weleft there. That's why I got a possé to guard the place. I reckon, now, Hank, that your boss sent you-all on to help we-all up yonder, eh?"laughed Mr. Brewster, tantalizingly, as he recognized Hank to be theclerk at the filing office in Oak Creek. 

The man Hank laughed also, but a discordant note rang through his forcedmerriment. "We-all ain't claim-jumpers, Mr. Brewster, but it seemed soquare to find Old Montresor's Mine hed ben found again, that Ah sez tomy pal, here, 'How'd you-all like to run up to the Slide and have asquint at that cave?' An' havin' a day off, he reckoned he'd enjy thetrip. So here we-all are. "

"Yes--so Ah see! Here you-all are. And Ah says to my girls and thepossé, says Ah: 'There'll be a lot of fools start off at night-fall, tohit this trail to the Slide just out of dern-fool curiosity to have asquint at Old Montresor's Mine. But human nature is human nature, girls, ' says Ah, so when they get that squint, they may forget one ofthe Ten Commandments and want to covet their neighbor's property. Andseeing how they have lost a good night's sleep through climbing the TopNotch Trail just to arrive early to have that squint, they will sort offeel justified in stealing an acre, or so, of gold-land. That would makethem break another Commandment; so Ah felt it a duty, Hank, to send on aregiment in advance, to save the souls of such curious sightseers. " SamBrewster never changed a muscle of his serious face nor did his voicehave the slightest sign of any other feeling than a reverent desire tohelp his fellow-man. But the two men knew Sam Brewster by experience aswell as from hearsay. 

"Right-o! Hank told me what a good man you war, " said the miner whoaccompanied Hank. But his shifty eyes belied the tone. 

Mr. Brewster smiled. "Yes. Ah did hate to see any one lose a goodnight's sleep and then get thus far only to be mistaken forclaim-jumpers by the Sheriff's men up yonder. Of course, Hank andyou-all aren't going to take such chances with the law. "

The miner glanced about uneasily but only saw two girls sitting on theirhorses a short distance away. Hank's face lowered, however, and hegrowled forth: "Ah don't see whose business it is whether we break theSheriff's law or not. "

"Perhaps _you_ don't see--but Ah do, Hank. And when the Sheriff says, 'Keep the trail free from all trespassers till my possé can takecharge, ' you know me--Ah'll see that his orders are carried out, "returned Mr. Brewster sternly, his pockets moving suspiciously. 

"You-all hain't got no orders, and thar hain't no possé up yander, neither, 'cause they hain't a-comin' till after Simms leaves, " exclaimedHank, unguardedly. 

"Ah! So you and your man thought you'd get a lead on the Sheriff, eh?"laughed Mr. Brewster. "Oh, but you are an easy tenderfoot to stuff, Hank! Did you-all really believe such a story would have been told atOak Creek if the possé planned to wait for morning? Why, man, that isjust what they wanted to do--to catch a lot of rascals red-handed andclean Oak Creek out, once for all! How do you know that there is a realclaim staked out up there--or whether it is the Sheriff's joke to landa ring of crooks?"

Eleanor and Barbara were so interested in the way Mr. Brewster handledthe two rascals without telling a direct falsehood that they sighed whenthe claim-jumpers backed their horses and withdrew to confer anxiouslyon what they had heard. But Sam Brewster interpolated with:

"If it is curiosity that brought you-all to lose a night's rest, passright along and tell the Sheriff and Bill your yarn. They will not onlylet you take a squint at what you think is a mine, but they will pay youto remain and help arrest all the claim-jumpers who are already on theway. "

Even as he spoke, Mr. Brewster saw the sly move of Hank as he tried topull his gun from the holster; instantly a hand came from the rancher'spocket and brought to light a cocked revolver. The other man suddenlychanged his mind when the bore of Brewster's gun was leveled so that theclerk could look right down into his grave if he made the slightestmistake in this outing of his. 

But the miner became ugly; then he saw the other hand of Sam Brewstercome from his pocket and he knew that he was a dead rascal too, if hemade one false step. So his expression changed to a wily smile, and hesaid:

"What you-all ha'r fur ef th' Sheriff's up thar guardin' th' preciousmine?"

"Told to warn away any foolish town-clerks who might be heading straightto Kingdom Come! You know Bill likes to give every chump a loop-hole tosave himself, if possible, " retorted Mr. Brewster. 

"We ain't lookin' fer no argyment with Bill ner the Shuriff, sowe-all'll mosey back an' tell others we meet. Howsomever, you-all won'tfind it so easy to git rid of curious folks when that miner-gang gitsha'r. Ah happen to know who and how many are plannin' to come. "

With that farewell, Hank turned his horse's head and led the way downthe trail, slowly followed by the unwilling miner. 

"Oh, Mr. Brewster! hadn't we better ride after Mike and the girls beforethe miners' gang gets here?" cried Barbara, fearfully. 

Mr. Brewster laughed. "That was only a bluff of Hank's to make me ridealong so he and his pal might follow us. I haven't the least doubt butthat both of those cowardly rascals are hiding just out of sight wherethey can watch my every movement. Should we start to ride along towardsthe cave, they would follow and shoot us from the rear as sure asanything. "

In spite of his making light of Hank, however, Mr. Brewster kept a waryeye open for an ambuscade. Nothing of moment happened, however, and Jebwas just saying: "Maybe we-all had best ride for the cave, " when a shotrang out. 

"Well!" gasped he, while the two girls trembled with fear. 

"That sounded from Top Notch. It's either Simms and his party, or thoserascals. In either case, it won't be cowardly in us to hide behind aclump of pines and await developments, " suggested the rancher. 

Mr. Brewster stationed Eleanor behind a close growth of young pine andhanded her a small rifle. Barbara was hidden deeper in the forest, andthen he and Jeb took their places behind a bowlder whence they couldwatch the up-trail. With a revolver ready in each hand, they waitedanxiously. 

But his wise precautions were unnecessary this time, for Bill soon rodeup, calling loudly as he came. Sam Brewster sighed with relief to find agroup of Oak Creek's leading citizens with the Sheriff. 

"Bill, did you-all shoot, a time back?" queried Mr. Brewster the momentthe possé came up. 

Bill laughed. "Ah'll explain in a minute. You-all see it wa'r this way:After you-all left for home, yesterday, it wa'r found how some low-downsneaks got wind of this claim and planned to ride up at once. It lookeda lot like claim-jumpin', so we-all got together mighty quick and rodeafter them to spare the Lord any trouble in judgin' 'em. Also, we-allreckoned to save your party any nonsense over the gold, 'specially asthar wa'r four gals in it. "

"But three rascals got a lead on you, " interrupted Sam. 

"Yeh, three are at large somewhere, Ah reckon; but two of the worst onesout of that five are back yonder. Hank Johnson and his jail-bird pal aredown on Four Mile Blaze. When we get the other three, we'll rid OakCrick of five of its worst citizens. "

"Rattle-Snake Mike came up with us, Bill. We rode up the IndianTrail--that's how we got here so soon. But Mike went on to the cave withPolly and her friend. They'll guard their claim, all right, unless thosethree interfere, " said Mr. Brewster, with an anxious note in his voice. 

"Ah reckon we'd better make for that cave, then! Thar may be some workcut out fer us thar, " whispered Bill, seeing the two city girls nowride out from cover and come over to join the group. 

"Where's Mrs. Brewster?" asked Eleanor, anxiously. 

"This is Bill's party--they left Oak Creek last night, " explained Mr. Brewster. 

"Then where is Simms and your wife?" asked Barbara. 

"You see it will take the others much longer to ride up from Lone Pinethan it took us to climb the trappers' trail, so they can't possiblyarrive for some time yet. We-all just got here, and we left Oak Creek atmidnight, " explained one of the men, encouraging the two girls. 

"But we-all stopped on the way and cooked breakfast and fed our hosses. Simms and his party will ride right up and ought to be ha'r pritty soon, now, " said Bill. 

"How about leavin' some one here at Four Mile Blaze to direct the Simms'party, while we-all ride on with Sam to hunt those three claim-jumpers, "suggested one of the possé. 

"Barbara and I will wait here with Jeb if you leave us each with a gun, "offered Eleanor, eagerly. 

Barbara gasped at the very idea, but Eleanor added:

"We don't want to be mixed up in a fight with rascals, and we are saferhere than up there. "

"The gal's right, Sam. They'd onny be in the road if we-all have tochase them men, " said Bill. 

"But they can't shoot! Why give them any guns?" asked Mr. Brewster, anxiously. 

"I just bet I could kill you at forty paces, if you were a claim-jumperand looked at me the way Hank looked at you!" declared Eleanor, emphatically. 

The men laughed, and Bill wagged his head approvingly. "Ah say, Sam, letthe gals take a crack at the Four Mile tree--and see. "

"Well, even the sight of guns will make the villains respect us, even ifwe can't shoot!" added Barbara, who felt that the lesser of the twodangers would be to remain with Eleanor and Jeb where they now were. 

After many instructions and warnings had been given to Jeb and the twocity girls, Mr. Brewster spurred his horse on to ride after hiscompanions who were already up the trail. But he had not far to go. 

At the bend of the trail, where there was a small clearing, he saw themen standing up in their stirrups, intent on something ahead. He urgedhis horse up to join them, and just before reaching the group, hecalled out: "What's wrong?"

The horses were tossing their heads, pawing the ground, and actingrestive. Bill turned half-way around in the saddle and replied:"D'you-all smell anything, Sam?"

Mr. Brewster noticed then, that the men held faces up and were sniffingin different directions. He then sniffed carefully himself andexclaimed: "Smells like smoke. "

But even as he spoke, the thought reached him: "A forest fire!" His facewent white and he murmured a prayer to himself for Polly and Anne. 

"Yeh, Sam. Comin' down from the Slide, " was all Bill said. 

"My Gawd, men! what shall we do?" cried one of the possé. 

"We-all must ship them two gals an' Jeb down trail, right away, and thenthe rest of us'll ride up to see if anything kin be done to stop it. Mebbe it hain't got a headway yet, " replied Bill. 

But the two girls were now seen riding up the trail as fast as theirhorses could travel. Barbara rode first and Eleanor after her, shoutingaloud in a frantic voice. The men waited fearfully to hear what newtrouble assailed them. 

Barbara almost ran down Mr. Brewster's horse in her blind fear, andwhen questioned, could not speak. Eleanor then rode up and looked soangry that she could scarcely explain. 

"Bob declared she heard noises behind us and on one side, and then, without giving me or Jeb any warning, she started her horse at a run, tocome and meet you men. She cried that it would be safer with a crowdthan alone with only Jeb and me and the rifles we knew nothing about. Ihad to ride after her to see that she reached you safely. Now I'll goback and keep guard again. "

"Stop, Nolla! Although you are a brave little girl, it will be of no useto keep guard now. Jeb and you will have to ride down Top Notch Trail asfast as you can, and meet Simms who is coming up with Mrs. Brewster. Send Simms and the men on to help us, but you three women take Jeb andgo right on down. There's a forest fire. " Mr. Brewster added the lastportentous words in an awed voice. 

"Oh, my goodness! Will we be hurt?" cried Barbara. 

But Eleanor thought not of herself. She immediately cried: "Are Pollyand Anne safe?"

"Polly--whar's she?" demanded Bill, suddenly realizing that the girl wasnot one of the party. 

"She went to the cave with Mike to watch there, in case anyclaim-jumpers tried to stake their ground, " groaned Sam Brewster. 

"Is the cave far from here?" added Bill, quickly. 

"Not as far as Top Notch Trail, " replied Eleanor, seeing a possible wayfor her to get to Polly and Anne. 

"But some one ought to send Simms on to us and then ride on down trailto signal the forest-rangers' lookout so's they could come and helpfight the fire, " said another man. 

"Can't Bob and I join Polly and Anne in the cave where we will be safefrom any fire, and you send Jeb down to signal Simms and theforest-rangers?" asked Eleanor excitedly, seeing how urgent was the needfor instant action. 

"All right; take this young man for protection, and get to the cave asquick as you can. You gals wait in the cave till you-all hear from usagain. Send Mike down trail to Jeb to hurry Simms and then escort Mrs. Brewster home. We're ridin' up yander to work, " ordered Bill, authoritatively. 

Eleanor turned her horse's head to a faint trail that she was sure wouldbring them to the cave. Barbara and the cow-boy followed, while Billand his men urged the horses to their utmost up the steep Slide. 

"Thar's one good thing about this fire--it seems to be comin' down, andit don't travel near so quick that way, like-as-how it do when it goesupward. Mebbe we-all kin choke it in its first stages, " explained Bill. 

Eleanor and her two followers now reached the end of the little erosionmade by a storm. Then the city girl found it really was no trail at all. They sat their horses looking helplessly about while Barbara began towhimper with fear. 

Even courageous Eleanor began to quail at what would befall them if theywere lost, when Mike suddenly appeared in the distance, climbing thesteep slope before them. His broncho came on recklessly through thebushes and wild undergrowth until he was within speaking distance thenhe shouted:

"Mike hear shoots! Gals in cabe alle-right. Mike smell fire. He go seewho burn. Fin' tree bad miner--One gone happy hunting-groun', --two sleepf'm much fire-water. Tree hosses hobble on down trail. " As he spoke heacted his words so that it was plain that he had found the threeclaim-jumpers who were dead drunk, and their mounts which were tryingto break away in sheer fear of the fire. 

"Mike, Bill and Mr. Brewster said you were to leave us in the cave, ifit is safe there, and then ride down trail to meet Jeb and go on to stopSimms' party. Warn the lookout on the forest-ranger's post and then comeback to us, but Jeb is to ride home with the Missus!" exclaimed Eleanor, excitedly. 

Mike frowned. "Indian no like squaw job!"

"That's just what I was going to say, Mike. Now if you will put us onthe right trail, we three can find the way to the cave. We will staythere with the other girls, and let you do as you think best, _after_you send Jeb away to meet Simms, " said Eleanor. 

"Mike mus' tell Boss and Bill 'bout fire. Him eat down-hill, udder sideSlide. No burn dis side. "

Meantime, the Indian was leading the way to the trail that would bringthe girls out at the ravine where the cave was. Once on the right trail, the youth whom Bill had sent with the girls, said he could keep to itwithout going astray. 

Mike waited but a moment to assure himself that they would be safe alongthe trail, then he started his horse up the steep side. His keen Indianscout habits now stood him in good stead. He soon had the Sheriff'sparty tracked and was riding after them. His young broncho gallopedalong until the group of men bound for the Slide, were hailed by awar-whoop. 

Bill turned and saw the Indian close behind. He called a halt, and whenthe party stopped, the messenger was already in their midst. 

"Fire up lodge-pole pine side. Eatin' down--dat way!" cried Mike, wavinga hand at the side of the mountain away from them and the cave. 

"Mike go see an' fin' tree miner. Dey hab big fight--two shoot one. Himdead. Udders drunk--gone 'sleep. Hosses tie up. "

"Mike, you lead! Men fall in--we-all fight the fire first, then find thedrunken miners and arrest them for manslaughter, " ordered Bill, and thusthe possé rode away. 

CHAPTER III

AT CHOKO'S FIND

After losing the trail many times only to stumble into it again andagain, and then slipping, sliding, or jolting down the steep side of themountain where the timber-line ended near the cliff, Eleanor finallyrecognized the ravine where the cave was located. 

"Oh, thank heavens! We're almost there, " she cried, trying to find theeasiest way down to the ledge. 

Polly and Anne were sitting before the entrance to the cave, when theyheard shouts and saw three weary riders coming along the rocky ledgethat led to their refuge. 

"Why--it's Nolla and Bob and a man!" exclaimed Polly, jumping up to runand meet the girls. 

"What's wrong--any one hurt?" cried Anne, the moment she saw the facesof the girls. 

Eleanor then told about the forest-fire, and where the men were. Themore recent excitement had quite driven the story of Hank and hisclaim-jumpers from her mind. But Polly anxiously asked for her mother. 

"Oh, yes--Simms and the party hadn't arrived when we left Four MileBlaze. But they will be all right, as Mike is gone to meet them. Thenyour mother and Jeb will ride back to warn the forest-rangers about thefire, " explained Barbara. 

"Why, no, Bob. Don't you remember, Mike said he would have to tellPolly's father about the drunken men and the fire, first, " Eleanorcorrected her sister. 

"Well, I'm not worrying about mother because she knows too much to runinto unnecessary danger; but father always wants to save everybody andeverything from disaster, and so takes his life in his hands, over andover again, " Polly worried. 

"Mr. Brewster'll be all right with Bill around, Miss Polly, " said theyoung man who had accompanied the city girls. "No one is allowed to runany risks for nuthin', when the Sheriff is there to stop 'em. "

"I just hope Bill _will_ keep father in bounds!" declared Polly. 

Very little smoke reached the ravine, which was on the opposite side ofthe mountain from that where the fire raged, so the girls knew not howmatters fared until late in the afternoon. Then, to their great relief, Mr. Brewster shouted a signal from the lodge-pole pine forest. 

Polly gave an answering call, and then ran along the dangerous ledgeuntil she reached the place where the pine trees had been blown down theday of the blizzard. Here she could see the dim outlines of severalriders as they waited for some evidence that they were on the righttrail. 

Before Polly could climb the slope to wave her hat, she saw Mike ridingup behind the party and then go on before them down the trail leading tothe cave. 

Polly was kept busy with answering the girls who stood at the caveentrance, and in calling to her parents and friends who were approachingas fast as the down-trail would permit. When they rode near enough forPolly to see their faces, she recognized her mother and Jeb in theparty; she thought they expressed great concern over something that musthave happened to the party--or perhaps something that might happen. 

"Well, Polly, you've had all day to dig the gold out of your mine; gotit tied in bags for us to lug home?" called Mr. Simms, jocularly. 

"Mr. Simms, you needn't worry over that gold as long as there issomething worse to trouble you. What is it?" answered Polly. 

"Ha, ha, ha! Poll must be feeling lonesome; when she talks like this, it's a sure sign she needs jolly company, " replied the lawyer. 

"Maybe she thought we were chewed up by the grizzlies, " added Mr. Brewster, forcing a gayety similar to that of Mr. Simms. 

"What's the matter with you men? Is there any danger from the fire?"demanded Polly. 

"No, the fire's burning over the down-slope on the other side. You knowit won't come this way, " returned Mrs. Brewster. 

"Well, then--where are the other men? Did those drunken miners shoot anyone?" persisted the girl. 

"Don't bother with questions, Polly. Let us get some supper before wethink of anything else, " advised her mother. 

Mike was soon busy unpacking the outfit for cooking, and Mrs. Brewsterjoined him to give any assistance he might need. Polly went over to herfather to try and get more satisfactory information from him, regardingthat day's experiences. 

"Did you say the miners who came up ahead of us to-day were in Bill'scustody, Daddy?"

"Ah didn't say anything; but now Ah'll _tell_ you-all that they areshipped safely to a place where they can do no harm. "

"Oh! Did Bill go down the Trail with them?" continued Polly. 

"No, Bill's man went down-trail to watch in case of any new trouble. "

"See here, father! Out with your secret! What are you-all keeping fromme?" asked Polly, anxiously. 

"Good gracious, Poll! Can't a man feel riled after such a wearing dayand with nothing to eat, without his women-folks asking plagueyquestions?" cried Mr. Brewster, testily. 

Polly was silenced for the moment, but she went out to the ledge whereher mother was helping Mike, and there she began again. 

"Mother, I know something unusual concerns you-all, so you may as wellconfide in me. "

"I reckon the men are vexed because we lost all this day hunting upthose wretched miners who must have accidentally set the fire going onthe other side, " was all the reply Polly received. 

Mike glanced up to look covertly at Mrs. Brewster and the inquisitivegirl caught his expression. 

"Even Mike is laughing at the poor way in which you are fencing with me. Now treat me as if I were sensible--not like a baby, or like Bob!"demanded Polly. 

"Well, to tell the truth, Polly, I'm afraid to tell you everything. Ifthose girls know they will go clean daffy, " sighed Mrs. Brewster, passing her hand over a troubled brow. 

"Mother! Did I go daffy when that blizzard carried Choko over theledge--and what did I do up on Grizzly when the snow and ice covered thetrail? Did I lose my nerve?"

At that moment Mr. Simms called out to Mike: "'Most done cookin', Mike?Ah want you-all to go with me to ketch a grizzly afore it is too dark tosee him. Ah promised mah wife she should have a bear-skin rug thistrip. "

Mike looked at Mrs. Brewster who nodded for him to go. She calmly tookthe ladle and continued stirring the soup that the Indian had beenattending to, then Mike hurried after Simms. 

"There now--I know it is something serious and it is much better for meto _know_ what may happen than to have it come upon me like athunder-bolt, " said Polly. 

"Well, then, keep on stirring this broth while I busy myself over therest of the supper, and I'll tell you. Don't exclaim, or show any shock. It is important for us to keep cool, " advised Mrs. Brewster, as shetoasted some dry bread over the embers. 

"I wasn't present when this occurred but father told me. The men foundthe miner who had been shot, and down the slope further on, they saw theforms of the other two. But the panic-stricken horses that had beenhobbled and left to graze, were so frightened at the clouds of smoke andcrackling fire, that a few of the men had to lead them back to a clearplace. There they were tied securely to some trees. 

"Your father, Bill, and one of his men, jumped down the steep sideswhere the fire was raging, and began to beat out the flames. They couldsee the two drunken miners just beyond the fire-line down the trail, butthey seemed so overcome with whisky and smoke that they failed torespond to any shouts from the men, or to the fear of the on-drivingfire. 

"Our men had beaten out the ground-fire half-way to the miners, when aterrific rumbling sounded, as from a distance behind them. Bill's manwas far in advance of the other two rescuers, and perhaps, thecrackling on the ground and the raging fire in the trees overhead, deafened him to this other portentous sound. 

"Father, however, felt that it meant something more terrible than afire, so he shouted to Bill and tried to warn the man. But a fit ofcoughing from inhaling the smoke, cut his call short. Bill then cried, 'Go on back, Sam--I'll get my man!'

"So your father managed to force his way back towards the Top Trail. There he saw a great white cloud swooping down from the peak of GrizzlySlide. He turned, screamed at Bill and waved his arms to warn them outof the track of the avalanche, if possible. Bill and his man saw thisnew danger and turned to climb back to safety. 

"Father was leading, Bill a short distance behind him, and the man notfar in the rear, when the first two heard a scream. They turned and sawthe horse had stumbled and fallen. He tried to scramble to his feetbefore the onrush of the half-frozen earth and rock and snow could reachhim, but it caught and whirled him away on its crest. 

"Father and Bill were thrown down with the shaking of the ground causedby the terrific slide, and several times they were almost sucked intothe vortex caused by the overwhelming ever-growing stream. Had it notbeen for Mike who had heard the rumble and knew what it meant, both Billand father would have been lost. But Mike threw out a rope that fathercaught and quickly wound about himself, while Bill clutched on tofather's legs. Thus Mike dragged them up to the tree where he had boundhimself. The horses are gone!"

Mrs. Brewster seemed overcome at the recital of the awful ordeal the menhad passed through, but Polly said encouragingly:

"Don't take on so, mother! 'All's well that ends well' and father andBill are safe, you know. "

"Oh, but this isn't all, Polly! Mike says when Grizzly starts anavalanche like that first one, the very force of its tearing away keepson breaking away the ice-fields all around the peak. Another slide maycome at any moment and pour down this side, you see. The men who hadtaken care of the horses when the others were fighting the fire wereleft stationed at the timber-line to watch. If they notice the faintestsign of another serious break on the peak, they are to signal a lookoutleft on the crest of this slope. And they in turn must warn Bill's sonwho was left sitting on top of this ledge. That is where Simms and Mikehave gone now. There must have been a signal from Bill's boy to Simms. "

Mrs. Brewster looked at her daughter to see if she could bear the restof the story. Finding Polly as calm as she herself was, she continued:

"Father said the experience Simms and he went through was mere child'splay to what it might be should Grizzly loosen up and send down a slideon this side of the peak. Of course, the fire and smoke added to thehorror on the other side, but the actual avalanche was not as tremendousbecause the slope was partly protected by the abrupt drop of thousandsof feet from the peak to the valley, down which the greater flood musthave rushed. 

"This side is on the direct down-slope from the peak, with nothing tobreak a snow-slide, or to carry off the bulk of the débris. 

"This morning, when I rode up with Simms' party, we met two old trapperswho were coming down. They had passed Old Grizzly Slide yesterday, andthey said there must have been an awful thaw going on under thesurface-ice of the Slide, as the yawning chasm where you discovered thecrevice the other day was frightful. It made even their courageousspirits tremble at sight of it. But they turned again and rode up withus, as they said they could be useful to Bill. They are up on Top Notchnow, scouting for the first symptoms of a slide. "

Polly turned white as she heard the story, but she still had control ofher voice, so she whispered: "Why don't we-all start down-trailto-night? Why lose time cooking supper, and have the men up therewatching for the trouble?"

"Mike says we are safer in this cave than on the trail. It is impossibleto go down the Indian trail at night, and Top Notch Trail is bad enoughin the daytime, so that in the dark it is forbidding. He says this caveis high enough up on the ledge and near enough to the crest to escapemost of the drift. The trash will be swept clear over the entrance anddown into the ravine, while any snow or ice that might lodge up on theledge before the cave will soon melt again. Then we can get away, whenall is over. "

Polly said nothing, but she was thinking seriously. Mrs. Brewster wasgrateful that her daughter could bear such awesome news without atremor. So the two completed the supper, and were ready to serve it, when Sam Brewster rode down the ledge. 

"Come on, Daddy! Just in time for a bowl of hot soup!" called Polly, gayly waving a ladle. 

Her mother admired the self-control the girl showed over any fear ordanger, and followed the brave example set her. "Yes, Sam, if Simmswants to chase a bear in the twilight, let him! You will do far betterto enjoy the supper. "

So they sat down to eat toasted bread and soup, while Polly talkedvivaciously and caused many a laugh from the unsuspecting girls. As themeager supper was almost finished, however, Mr. Brewster mentioned in acasual tone: "Girls, Ah expect John and his friends early to-morrow, youknow. Mike is going down to meet them. "

"Oh, yes! And won't we have exciting adventures to tell him!" exclaimedAnne, thinking only of John and his coming. 

"Mrs. Brewster is going down with Mike, to meet the boys. So we-allthought you gals would like to ride down, too, instead of sitting up infront of this cave all day and night, " continued Mr. Brewster. 

"Why, how foolish! to kill the horses with all that climbing! Up to-day, down to-morrow, and up again the next day! No horse could stand that!"declared Anne, amazed at her host's suggestion. 

"Well, Ah've been thinking you-all had best stay down, once you getthere. This is no sort of life for women-folk, anyway. When John and TomLatimer get here they can look after your mining interests better thanyou can yourselves. "

"But, Mr. Brewster, you haven't even seen the hole inside of that cave, where I followed after Polly the day we discovered the gold!" exclaimedEleanor, greatly disappointed in Polly's father. 

"Ah haven't had time, Nolla. What with the doings of the claim-jumpersand everything, Ah've had a full day. Besides, it looks as if we-all aregoing to have _some_ time up here, and Ah'd feel a heap easier if youwomen were safe at home. "

"Are there signs of other claim-jumpers coming up, Mr. Brewster?" askedEleanor, anxiously. 

"From what our scouts report, up on the Trail, we're going to have sucha time, if we remain here, that we may not have another good opportunityto escape with our lives, " returned the distracted man. 

"Oh dear me! Can't we start now? I never want to see any claim-jumpersagain!" cried Barbara, wringing her hands. 

"Keep quiet, Bob! We'll do just as Mr. Brewster says, but yourwhimpering won't help any, " said Anne. 

"Well, girls, I'm so eager to see John again, that I'm willing to ridedown with Mike and mother, " said Polly, acting her part perfectly. 

"Oh, Polly! I don't want to go and leave the gold mine, but I want youto stay with me, " cried Eleanor. 

"Goodness me, Nolla! Don't you s'pose we can ride up again when thedanger blows over? A lot of good the mine would do either one of us if adozen claim-jumpers put lead through us all at one time!" laughed Polly, but feeling far from humorous. 

"I suppose I'll just _have_ to go, if all the rest of you do!" criedEleanor, stamping her foot angrily. 

So, after much arguing and explaining, it was decided that every oneshould be ready to start down-trail at the earliest streak of daylight. 

That night the girls and Mrs. Brewster slept on the pine-beds--or atleast the city girls slept, while Polly and her mother rested even asthey waited for the first warning call from the guard, who sat by thefire that was started to keep away the wild beasts. 

The hours passed without any new signals, and at three o'clock Mikecalled out that he was ready to start. The girls demurred about gettingup at that hour, but Polly was too energetic to give them any peace. So, shortly after three, the entire party started down Indian Trail, traveling as swiftly as possible. 

"Now see here! why do all you men come down, too? I thought it was onlythe womenfolk who had to get out of the way!" exclaimed Eleanor, wonderingly. 

"If, any claim-jumpers are about to stake out our land up there who isthere left to stop them?" added Anne, suspiciously, when she saw thedeep concern on every man's face as he rode single file down the path. 

"Wall, now, seem' as we-all are well along the way down, Ah may as welltell you-all: thar hain't goin' to be no danger of any claim-jumpersstaking your land if Old Grizzly knows anything about it. Thar war aturrible avalanche yesterday and a leetle one at suppertime; it lookslike-es-how anuther powerful one will hit the trail any moment. That'swhy we-all air runnin' away as fast as our hosses kin go, " explainedBill. 

"Oh! Tell Mike to hurry!" cried Barbara. 

"No fear but what we-all are as crazy to git down as you kin be, youngleddy, " said Bill, soothingly. 

After four hours' hard traveling, the riders came to a small park whereMike said they could rest and cook their breakfast, and feed the horses. From a certain spot on the clearing on this mountain-side, the peak ofOld Grizzly Slide could be seen opposite them, dazzling in the sunshine. 

"Well, the old rascal is still up there, " declared Anne. 

"But you-all can't say how soon its skirts will whisk and send down thetrash that always ruins a forest, " added Bill. 

Even as he spoke, a strange sight was presented to the group who wereadmiring the sparkling peak. A great mist seemed to rise suddenly fromits pinnacle, spreading out and obscuring the sun for a time. Then anominous rumble echoed along the crest, and rolled down the slopes. Themist was suddenly sucked down by some tremendous force, and then amighty tremor shook the ground where the escaped riders stood. 

The horses seemed to know instinctively that there was some upheaval ofnature taking place, for they quivered along their sensitive nerves andnosed the air questioningly. Several of the highbred animals pulled attheir halters and, with drawn-back lips, snapped viciously at the airas if to warn away the destruction. 

"Oh, oh! Will it hit us?" wailed Barbara. 

"No, we are safe on this opposite up-trail now. But a few hours delay ingetting away this morning and we would have been caught in the drift, "said Sam Brewster, wiping beads of cold perspiration from his brow. 

"Daddy, you don't think that avalanche was on the side of our gold mine, do you?" asked Polly, plaintively. 

"Pretty close to Choko's Find, Polly dear, " said her father. 

"Humph! Gol' all gone dis time!" added Mike, dramatically. 

"Oh no! don't say that, Mike!" wailed Polly. 

"Not _our gold mine_!" added Eleanor, with gasping breath. 

"Mebbe no! Mike t'ink yes. "

There fell a silence at that, and each one looked at the other, whilethe same thought passed through their minds: "If that slide buriedChoko's Find again, where would they all have been had they remained inthe cave?"

CHAPTER IV

JOHN AND HIS FRIEND ARRIVE

Nothing could have been done to avert the catastrophe on Grizzly Slide, so the adventurers finished their breakfast in silence. Mrs. Brewsterseemed the only one who appeared grateful for their safety. Doubtless, the others felt a certain _sense_ of thanks but they were so disturbedover the evident loss of the mine again, that it was paramount withthem. 

Having packed the camp dishes, Mike started on the trail again, silentlyfollowed by the rest. Not until they reached Bear Forks where the roadsseparated, was anything more said about the mine. 

"Jeb can accompany the ladies to Pebbly Pit, while Ah ride on to OakCreek to meet the train that will bring John and his friends. It doesn'tlook as if we-all can use their knowledge now, but we may as well talkthings over seeing that like-as-how they will have had the long triphere, " ventured Mr. Brewster, thoughtfully. 

"We-all ought to make up a crowd to go up and try to find Haywuth'sbody. Mebbe it will show when the snow's melted from the slope, " addedBill. 

"Sam, why don't you-all plan while on your ride to Oak Creek, to takeTop Notch Trail the same time John and Tom take the expert up? Thelarger the party the less danger of accident, you know, " suggested Mrs. Brewster. 

"Are we going with them, mother?" Polly said, in a pleading tone. 

"No, indeed, child! Aren't you cured with what happened this time?"

"'Lightning never strikes in the same place twice, ' Mrs. Brewster, " saidEleanor, hopefully. 

"And you know, Maw, such a terrible slide has not occurred here-aboutsin twenty years, " quickly added Polly, dropping back into her ranchvernacular in her anxiety. "It may be another twenty years before suchanother slide happens. "

"And we can get all the gold out of the cave that we need in a shorttime, " Barbara reminded them. 

This made the men laugh, as the girl's words showed how little shereally understood the situation up on the peak. 

"Well, we can talk things over better when the boys are present toadvise us. Meantime, you-all ride home and rest up. Ah'll bring the boysalong about night-fall, " said Mr. Brewster. 

The inhabitants of Oak Creek had felt the trembling of the ground causedby the huge land-slide on Grizzly, and knowing that so many of theirprominent citizens were there at the time, they were grouped about thepublic house anxiously talking over the chances for escape that might behad on the mountain-top. 

At first sight of the returned men, a wild welcome rang out, not onlyfrom the families who feared their men-folks might never return, butalso from the citizens who were genuinely glad to see Bill and hispossé, and Simms and his boy, safely back. 

After having had his hand shaken as if it were a pump-handle, SamBrewster continued on to the station to await the train from Denver. Ashe sat on the edge of the horse-trough thinking over the recentthrilling experiences, he suddenly realized that if Polly had lost hermine again, she might also lose her desire to go away to school in theFall. This seemed a happy thought, for he sat beaming at the old box-caruntil the whistle announced the over-due local. 

Two handsome young men jumped from the rear platform the moment thetrain slowed down, and soon Mr. Brewster had one of them by both handsgiving him a hearty welcome. 

"Now, Dad, try your muscle on Tom's arm. Mine has had enough for oneday, " laughed John, placing an arm affectionately over his father'sshoulder. 

With a young man on either side explaining why the expert was not withthem, Sam Brewster walked down the street towards Simms' office. Bothyoung men were eagerly talking so the older man had not told them aboutthe avalanche. 

"I was saying to John, what a different town this will be the moment webegin operations on Polly's claim, " said Tom Latimer. 

"As the train pulled in I tried to look at the station and streetsthrough future glasses--seeing the rows of fine store-buildings and thethrift that always follows on the heels of a rich find, " added John. 

"We'll drop in Simms' office, boys, as I have to borrow his horses. Icame on to meet you without bringing any mounts, " said Mr. Brewster. 

Both young men laughed heartily at this admission, and Tom saidteasingly: "I suppose you were so excited over Polly's discovery of goldthat you clean forgot we were city chaps who are not overfond of hikingover these trails. "

Simms was talking to the coroner about the witnesses to the death ofBill's man, and the newly arrived young engineers heard him say: "SamBrewster was the other one who escaped that death. "

"What's he talking about, Dad?" whispered John, anxiously, as he watchedthe officer take notes. 

Then in as few words as possible, the boys were told all about theland-slide on Grizzly that had, most likely, buried Choko's Find undertons and tons of débris--maybe, hid it completely again for all time. 

They sat in Simms' office talking over the plans for the morrow when alarge party was to go up Top Notch. As they sat arranging who would bethe best men to take, John interrupted the conversation:

"Isn't that Jeb riding along the road with two led horses?"

"Sure enough! Your mother must have remembered I had but one mount, andso Jeb was hurried here with extra horses for you, " replied Mr. Brewster, running to the door and hailing his man. 

On the way to Pebbly Pit, Tom rode alongside Mr. Brewster while Johnrode beside Jeb. The two latter riders had much to say to each other, for John had been Jeb's particular charge when the hired man first wentto work at Pebbly Pit. Now John was a head taller than his erstwhileguardian, even if he was much the younger. 

Jeb acted very morose and absentminded; instead of giving sensiblereplies to John's questions about the avalanche, he would mutter and sayinconsequent things. Finally John said:

"Well, it must have been a narrow escape, anyway. "

"That's just it, John. Ef Ah don't run away from Pebbly Pit she'll gitme!" returned Jeb, greatly troubled. 

"I'm talking about that land-slide--what do _you_ mean?" laughed John, beginning to understand that Jeb was worried over something other thanthe Grizzly experience. 

"Wh--y--Ah'm meanin' that widder! It's leap-year, you know. "

John had never heard about Sary, so he was unprepared to offer anyadvice, but he thought best to agree in everything with Jeb, concerningthis particular one, and all "widders" in general. 

"Ye-es--siree! That Sary kin ketch any man she starts out to trap. Efshe laid eyes on enny of them farm-hands at Pebbly Pit, like-as-how shehas on _me_, they'd roll right over and eat from her han's. But, yousee, John, Ah ain't a marryin' man, so Ah wants to escape. "

"Jeb, I have a plan! Suppose we get Tom to flirt with Sary and then lether understand she is fickle, so that you won't consider her for amate, " whispered John, thinking of the fun he could have by playing thisjoke on his friend. 

Jeb gave John a scornful look that meant volumes. "D'ye think Sary wouldfall fer it? Ah tells you-all she ain't no fule. She kin see straight, an' she knows Tom Latimer ain't in her class. "

Thus trying to plan for Jeb's peace and happiness, the two found theyhad reached the Rainbow Cliffs. Tom and Mr. Brewster were looking overthe beautiful shining walls, and Tom sighed:

"You wouldn't have to waste one regret on Polly's loss of the gold mine, if you would but consent to let us sell a bit of these walls. "

"_Ah'm_ not worryin' over her loss of gold, Tom; it's glad Ah am that itturned out so. Now she won't coax to go away to some big school where Ahcan't see her for six months. "

Tom Latimer turned about in the saddle and sent Sam Brewster a keenlook and thought: "_So that_ is why he won't consent to these stonesbeing mined and sold!"

Then the four men rode up the wide trail that ran from the Cliffs to thehouse where they found a group of girls and women eagerly awaiting them. Polly ran down the road and caught hold of her brother's stirrup in herimpatience to welcome him. John laughed and jumped from his horse, thengave his sister the kiss and hug she expected. 

Anne Stewart stood on the porch watching this little by-play, and whenthe brother and sister slowly walked along, arm linked in arm, shesmiled and sighed, then turned to greet Tom Latimer. But she did not seeMrs. Brewster's watchful eye quickly turn away from her when _she_turned from watching John. 

As Tom Latimer was known to the Maynard girls and Anne, having met themat the College Prom the past year, he was warmly welcomed by them aswell as by the Brewsters. Barbara felt an especial interest in him, ashe was "one of her set" in society, and he had been invited to her homewhen her brother entertained a few of his college friends. 

Polly now brought her brother up and introduced him to Eleanor andBarbara, but Anne was not there. 

"Wh-y--where did Anne go? She was here this minute?" cried Polly, looking around in amazement. 

Mrs. Brewster had seen Anne steal away and she understood the reason. Now she quickly diverted attention by saying: "Of course you boys haveheard about the awful land-slide?"

As it was so recent an event, it instantly absorbed all. Then Mr. Brewster told about the plans to ride up the Trail on the morrow andascertain just how much damage had been done. John seemed to be asexcited a talker as any one, but his mother saw him send many asearching glance around for some one he had not found. 

She managed to reach his side without attracting the attention of theothers, and slyly whispered: "Anne Stewart went out towards the Cliffs amoment ago. I saw her leave by the back pathway. "

Then while every one was trying to make out the cloud-draped peak ofGrizzly Slide, having had their attention directed to it by anexclamation from Mrs. Brewster, John backed away and ran behind thekitchen to the path that led to the Cliffs and Anne. 

Jeb found it necessary to fill the wood-box in the kitchen, and it wasjust after John had passed there that he stumbled up the stone walk. Sary stood in the doorway grinning sympathetically as she watched Johndash away after Anne Stewart, when Jeb said:

"Lem'me get by wid this load of wood. "

She smirked and said: "Ah, Jeb! Thar's nuthin' in the wurruld like younglove, ain't it?"

Now Sary's would-be bewitching leer and her dangerous proximity to him, frightened Jeb worse than any Rocky Mountain avalanche ever, so that heforgot he held an armful of wood. He suddenly went lax in the muscles, dropped the wood, and turned to flee to his hay-loft where no Sary daredfollow without a chaperone. 

One stick of the wood fell upon Sary's toe, and not having "feet ofbrass or clay, " she uttered a yelp of pain. Jeb never stopped to inquirewhat had caused that cry--whether of baffled love or shooting pains in atoe. 

Sary limped over to a wooden chair and sitting there with her foot heldtenderly in both hands, she rocked back and forth, threatening, in anundertone, all males but Jeb in particular. 

"You-all jes' wait! Don't think Sary Dodd's a fule--cuz she hain't!Ah'll git you yit, so run away an' make-out like-es-how you are freeand not lookin' to any female in pertickler!"

Having thus unburdened her soul of its wrath against Jeb, the cooklimped over to the stove to hang the kettle over the fire. 

Supper was late that night, but no one noticed it. Sary had perfected ascheme she was going to try on Jeb, some day, soon, so she was allsmiles and patience when the family gathered about the table. 

"I see you set the table in the living-room, mother, " remarked John, approvingly. 

"Oh, we have wrought many changes this summer, John, but the best of allis the one whereby we eat out-of-doors when it is good weather. To-nightwe will eat here as it is too dark under the old oak, " explained Mrs. Brewster, smiling. 

Plans were now discussed for the trip to Top Notch the followingmorning, and it was decided that Jeb should go for Mike early, andsecure his services as before. 

"If such a crowd of men are going, I don't see why the owners of themine can't go, too. We are as safe there, as here, " grumbled Polly. 

"Because we are going to make a three days' trip of this, Poll, andwomen-folk would not feel comfortable with such a lot of mixed men, "explained John, pulling his sister's hair, lovingly. 

"Well, Polly and I are as good riders as any one of you, and seeing itis _our_ mine, we ought to have _some_thing to say about it, " addedEleanor, poutingly. 

"I suppose you-all have forgotten that we invited that nice youngstranger and his friend, Jim Latimer, over to spend this Sunday withus, " now ventured Mrs. Brewster. 

"Oh, that's so! The boy Kenneth who looks like Montresor!" Anne nowadded, understanding Mrs. Brewster's idea and abetting it. 

"Kenneth Evans! Is it _this_ Sunday he is coming?" asked Eleanoreagerly. 

"We might be back on time for that; this is only Friday night, youknow, " persisted Polly, clinging to the hope of riding to Top Notch. 

"No girl or woman is going--let that end the argument!" now said Mr. Brewster, with finality. 

There was silence for a moment, then Polly laughingly said to Eleanor:"Nolla, you and I will ride over to visit some old friends of mineto-morrow. We will take our lunch and spend the day with them. As it ishalf-way on the Bear Forks road we might as well ride with our boys whenthey go. "

"Polly, we plan to leave here before dawn so we can be on the climbwhen day breaks. Nolla and you will please remember to be fast asleep atthat time. Good-night!"

With these words, Sam Brewster got up and started to go to his room, butPolly would not allow her daddy to leave her in that frame of mind. Soshe ran over and jumped up to throw her arms about his neck in her usualfashion. What she whispered in his ear no one knew but he smiled andnodded his head in meek acquiescence. 

"Poll--did he say we might go?" whispered Eleanor. 

"No--he won't give in that far, but he said we could ride with them asfar as Bear Forks, if we were up in time. I'm bound to wake up, so nowI'm going right to bed, " said Polly. 

But Polly and Eleanor did not wake up in the morning until seveno'clock. The riders were far up along the trail by that time, so thegirls had to make the best of the day. 

When the men riders were well along the trail, Jeb motioned to Mr. Brewster that he wished to speak with him, so they permitted theirhorses to slow up and drop behind for a time. 

"Ah'm thinkin', Mis'r Brewster, thet Ah'll have to give notice that Ah'mquittin' your ranch. Not what Ah've got any kick comin' about thefam'ly--thar never w'ar a nicer one. But Ah've got ta save mahself. "

"Jeb!" gasped Sam Brewster in unbelief. "You _couldn't_ leave us! Why, man, you're one of the family. "

"Yeh, Ah knows all that, Mis'r Brewster, but Ah jus' dasent stay where afemale badgers my peace o' mind. "

"Tell me what is wrong, Jeb, and Ah'll fix it if Ah can, " anxiouslypromised Sam Brewster. 

Jeb gazed wildly about for some one to explain for him, and in gazing, his eye rested on John. Big splendid John who had only been a littleshaver when he went to Pebbly Pit to work. 

"Oh John! Cain't you-all drop back and tell your Paw what ails me?"shouted Jeb, certain that John, who had been to college, could doanything. 

John dropped behind his companions, and Sam Brewster hurriedly explainedthat Jeb seemed to have a queer belief that he would be done for if heremained at Pebbly Pit. 

"Oh, did Jeb bother you about that story, Dad? Here, you ride on in myplace, and let me get this thing straightened out. "

Alone with Jeb, John said persuasively: "Now tell me all about it, Jeb--begin from the beginning. "

"Wall, seein' es how you-all is in love, mebbe you-all kin understandabout this love-stuff. 

"Now, yuh see, John, when that Sary Dodd come to Pebbly Pit es a widder, to help housework, she never cast an eye around fer a likely 'second'until that derned old dance at the school-house. It wuz that time whenshe perked up in all that borrered finery that she landed a rich olebachelor-rancher on her ticket to dinner. But he gave one look and run. He never showed up again that night. 

"Seein' like-es-how her partner vamoosed, she grabbed me to do the GrandMarch with her. Mebbe it w'ar the way Ah danced, that took her fancy. But whatever it w'ar, she's ben locooed after me sence that night. 

"Now, John, yuh know Sary ain't no prize-winner fer looks, en Ah knows agood looker when Ah seez one, cuz Ah hev sat and seen lots of prittygals on the movie sheet in Oak Crick. Gosh! Some of them peaches Ahsee'd would make yuh leave a stiddy job like Pebbly Pit. So Ah saved and_saved_ till now Ah've got a tidy bit laid by fer some pritty gal, likethem in the Movies. 

"Ef Sary Dodd knew Ah had money saved! Phew! She'd get at it whar Ah hidit in a hole under the barn-rafters, then she'd hold it out to tempt me, like-es-how yuh lead a balky cow to be milked. But that is one thingSary _don't_ know!"

John laughed loud and long at the picture Jeb graphically sketched ofSary and himself, but the orator cared nothing for John's laughing. Hewas too concerned over his freedom. 

"Sary's got some good points--yuh've got to hand it to her, even ef shehain't got a figger like Miss Anne's, and hair like Miss Polly's. Butshe can cook! Gosh, _cain't_ she cook and clean. So ef it w'ar ahousekeeper er a business partner Ah wanted, Ah coulden pick a betterone than Sary Dodd. 

"But yuh unnerstand me, John, don't yuh, when Ah says Ah wants somethingpritty sittin' afore the pianner to sing to me, or dressin' up in finerylike Miss Bob's and playin' a lady? Ah've ben a hired man and worked ona ranch all mah life, but now Ah've got a bit saved up Ah kin go to thecity and pick th' gal Ah wants. 

"And lem'me tell yuh, John! In the Movies them gals what looks so prittymake _fine_ farm-wives. Gosh, but one city gal with yaller curls hadn'ta cent to live on when she met a feller what owned a little ranch inArizony. They hooked up and she was that happy on the farm! She churnedthe butter and fed chickens and did all the chores. And he looked afterthe stock. Evenin's she played and sang fer him and he sat in a bigarm-chair and smiled at her. 

"That's the kind of wife Ah wants, John--and how kin Ah sit and listento Sary sing? Mebbe she kin _churn_ better'n that one I saw in theMovies, but Ah bet a plugged penny that she cain't play a pianner!"

Jeb's tone was so emphatic at the last accusation of Sary'sshort-comings, that John almost rolled from his horse with laughter. 

Now Jeb had said all that he had to say, so he waited patiently for Johnto get over his spasm of laughter. Then he looked at him as if to askwhat had he to say about such positive evidence as he had brought forth, regarding the Movie girl making the best kind of a rancher's wife?

"Oh, Jeb! How I love your innocence!" gasped John, wiping his eyes onthe back of his hand. "I shall certainly sue the Movies for betrayingyour trust and faith in womankind. For they sure did more than amuse youfor your dime. You took for a solid fact, all the silly mush you saw onthe screen as real life. But, it was _reel_ life, Jeb, spelled with two'e's' instead of the genuine r-e-a-l way. 

"Jeb, how'd you like to spend every nickel you've saved, on a girl withdyed hair, belladonna eyes, painted lips you could never kiss, blackenedeye-lashes and eye-brows, and goodness only knows what else she puts onand takes off to look pretty in the pictures?"

Jeb listened with loose jaw and wide-opened eyes to this strangedescription of all the lady-loves he knew on the screen. 

"Why, Jeb, these blonde Movie beauties have a different husband everyfew months. The ones who play star-leads make the biggest splash in thepuddles, but the little ones try to mimic the big stars and get into allsorts of trouble. I haven't heard of but two or three who could treat agood husband decently. As for sitting at home playing and singing foryou--ha, ha, ha! It costs about five hundred dollars each evening toentertain one of them. 

"Churn? Did you say she looked so cute in a big bungalow apron churningthe butter on a vine-clad porch? Didn't the porch open right out on alittle pasture and tidy barnyard, where her devoted husband could standadmiring her? Was it a dear little one-and-a-half story vine-clad housepainted white, with green wooden shutters?"

"Uh, huh! Just so! Did you see that gal, John?" eagerly asked Jeb. 

"Jeb, the Movies use that same little house and painted scenery forevery farm-picture they make. Sometimes a deserted wife hangs to thepost of the porch and plans to kill herself. Or sometimes it is thehusband who hears how his head man ran away with his foolish littlewife. But, Jeb, never believe anything you see in the Movies, for theyhave turned more heads than you can count, by their subtle ways. Everything always ends right in the Movies, but it is seldom so in reallife. 

"Now do you want my best advice, Jeb?"

"Ah shore do, John, cuz you-all knows what's what!"

"Then listen, Jeb, and think things over well before you leave PebblyPit and take your money away to spend on a pretty Movie gal. 

"You say that Sary is a right smart cook and houseworker. You admit thatshe is thrifty, and will save that money you've got hidden away in thebarn. 

"Now look at that good-fer-nothing Bill Dodd she married! In less thana year she had him working on a ranch that she saved up for. Didn't shekeep him at it until it was most paid up? If he hadn't gone with theflu, that ranch'd been paid for in another year. 

"Sary isn't so feeble, neither. She can save twenty more ranches beforeshe cripples up. Any man who has ambition would make no mistake inchoosing Sary. Now I believe Sary would make a big man of you, Jeb. 

"She may not dye her hair or paint her face, but she's got a squarelook, and we-all know what sound stock she comes of. There isn't abetter family in all Colorado than the Morson's. And Sary Morson is allthere! She has sterling qualities that will last after beauty andsinging is worn thread-bare. 

"Of course she isn't anything like Anne Stewart--there never was anygirl like her! But you make a big mistake if you go away to find apretty girl, all dolled up like the Movie Queens, for your wife. She'dtake all your money and laugh at you the next moment. 

"I've lived in big cities, Jeb, and seen a lot of the ways of prettygirls who dress up and pose for the boys, but not one of that kind isworth a shake. Take it from me, Jeb, you'd be happy and contented ifyou had a ranch of your own, and a sensible wife to make you toe themark. You're too easy for any other sort, Jeb, although you figure thatyou need an ideal. Not so, my man!"

Jeb heaved a mighty sigh as if he was passing on his rainbow dreamsforever. Then he turned sorrowful eyes on John. 

"Wall, Ah cain't fergit that pooty gal in a hurry, even when Sary heavesin sight wid a heaped plate of puddin' fer me. Ah s'pose Ah'll hev tolet _her_ marry me, er git out to onct. Sence yuh've ben talkin', Ahhave a sort of weakenin' fer her capable ways, and shore ez shootin', she'll grab the first chanst Ah gives her to know the wust, because thisis leap-year. "

John shouted with laughter again, and Tom Latimer turned back his horseto ask what the joke was about. 

"Nothing that concerns little boys like you, Tom, " laughed John, as hewinked at his friend. 

"But I feel sure I can be of help to Jeb as well as to you, John, "insisted Tom. 

"No, Mis'r Tom. It's all over, " sighed Jeb, in a funereal tone. "Ah'vemade up mah mind to take the med'cine, er beat it!"

With that, Jeb spurred his horse on and joined his master, leaving Johnto merely hint at the great trouble that almost disrupted the householdat Pebbly Pit. "Now, thank Heavens, I have saved the ranch from ruin, and united two hearts that ought to beat as one, hereafter!"

Tom laughed. "I'm glad you confessed to your profession. I'll be wary ofyour match-making, in the future. "

"But you have to find matches before you can make them, " laughed John. 

"You are so blind that you only see one pretty girl at Pebbly Pit, whereas there are four!" exclaimed Tom, smilingly. 

"Four! Anne Stewart is one, and Miss Maynard may _consider_ herselflovely enough for a match--I don't. But mother and Sary will neverconsent to your including them in your match-making. "

"Hah! I thought so! You are so blind over Anne Stewart, that you fail tosee how your own little sister is growing up to be a stunning miss. Why, she will be a beauty at twenty, for she is on the high-way therealready. "

"Tom!" gasped John. "Wh-y--Polly is only a child!"

"That's what all brothers think of their pretty sisters. Some day, afine young fellow will think differently, and you'll want to club him. But the trouble is, that Polly will think exactly as the handsome manthinks, and she will not listen to her big brother's advice to remain alittle girl. 

"Besides Polly, there is Eleanor Maynard. She, too, is a fine girl andwill grow to wonderful womanhood. Now, John, take more notice of your'little' sister, for she is what we boys call a 'peach. '"

"Ha, ha, ha! I've never heard you say so much about a girl in my life!If I didn't _know_ better, I'd say you were half-way in love with Polly, yourself. But I know what a quitter you are whenever there is a girl inthe party, " laughed John. 

Tom flushed slightly but made no reply. Before John could tease him anyfurther, the party reached Four Mile Blaze. Mike tolled off the riders, and warned each one to give strictest attention to the going as onemisstep meant a crippled horse or a serious accident. 

From there on, the men rode through the lodge-pole forest to avoid thegreat mass of débris formed of rocks, earth, and torn-up trees thatobstructed the old trail. Simms felt sure his man had escaped in somemiraculous manner, after the avalanche swept him from his feet. Butseeing the mountains of wood-trash that were washed down from the peakand piled up everywhere, he lost faith. 

Still he and his men were bound to make the most of the least hope, sothey sought thoroughly over the side where the two miners had beendiscovered, that day. Nothing but trees, rocks, and earth piled intoppling heaps on the steep slope of the mountain were seen, however. 

While Simms and Bill sought over every foot of ground for their missingfriend, Mike led Sam Brewster and his two engineers, down the oppositeslope, to a blaze that told them they were going towards the cave. Butthe nearer they came to the claim, the greater was the destruction ofthe forest. Finally they could see where the ledge had been, but somassed up was the trash that had been swept down and over the side, thatit was impossible to reach the ravine. 

Mike chuckled: "Him unner alla trees on Grizzly Sly--him yaller insidessafe nuff!"

"You're right, Mike, " laughed John. "If the gold is in that spot it issafe enough for a long time to come. "

"I think this slide was the luckiest thing that ever happened to thegirls, " ventured Tom Latimer, thoughtfully. 

"Why?" anxiously demanded Mr. Brewster, visions of his darling beingcarried away to school uppermost in his mind. 

"When we are ready to bore for the gold, this trash will be an easything to burn and clear away. Meantime, it keeps off all claim-jumpersor thieves who need a little hard yellow metal. "

"But you must admit that it is a tough proposition to mine here, " saidMr. Brewster. "A land-slide is apt to happen any moment and bury all theapparatus. All previous efforts will be wiped out and you must begin allover again. Then consider the difficulty of transportation, from thispeak down the long trail, and over miles of rough country to the OakCreek railway. "

"Hoh! a mere bagatelle, Mr. Brewster, when gold weighs in the otherscale. Why, men will dig through the earth for gold! See what happenedin Alaska. Once men found gold to be had for the pain and privation theywould be forced to endure, they gladly gave up home, lovedones, --all--for the lust of gold. 

"And see what that drive did for Alaska. Railroads opened, citiesfounded, people settled there, and all because men fought with oddsagainst finding buried gold!"

"We wouldn't have to worry over this out-of-the-way mine if fatherwould consent to have his cliffs utilized, " hinted John. 

"Not with my consent!" retorted Sam Brewster. 

"Well, come on, Mike. Let's pitch camp and get something to eat, " saidJohn, resignedly. 

"It's not that I have any silly sentiment over the cliffs, myboys--don't mistake me there. But I have a serious reason for refusingto coin money out of that beauty--at least for a few years to come. "

"If I guess the truth about it, will you admit it to me some day?"quizzed Tom Latimer, his eyes twinkling. 

"No, sir! Not even to my wife--it's _my_ secret!"

CHAPTER V

POLLY AND ELEANOR VISIT THE BEAVERS

After breakfast the four girls asked each other what there was to do. They had had so much excitement all week, that the simple life palled onthem. 

"It's exactly like drinking milk after you have been kept on spice-beerfor a long time, " laughed Eleanor. 

"Well, Nolla and I have an invitation to spend the day with friends ofmine. We can ride over there any time, " said Polly. 

"Then for goodness' sake, come on! I'll be asleep again if we don't dosomething, " exclaimed Eleanor. 

"All right, I'll saddle Noddy and you can have Choko. We will have toharness them ourselves now that Jeb is away, and the other hands areworking on the ranch. "

"You're not going far, are you?" asked Anne, suspiciously. 

Polly laughed. "Not as far as we went yesterday. "

Mrs. Brewster had been told where Polly planned to take Eleanor, and shesmiled approvingly. A nice luncheon was packed up and placed in thepanniers of the burros, and the three grownups stood and watched the twogirls ride down the trail to Rainbow Cliff. 

As they went, Eleanor said: "Did you mention the name of your friends? Iforgot, if you have. "

Polly laughed. "Maybe I told you, but I don't remember now. Anyway, youwouldn't know them if I did tell you their names. "

"But what do you call them when you address them?"

"I always call the old one 'Grandfather, ' but he has a large family thatI never bother with. _He_ is our friend. 

"This family lives and does queer things that no city folks ever dreamof, " added Polly. 

"Something like that Halsey woman, eh?" laughed Eleanor, who had heardfrom Sary about the disobedient children. 

"The Beavers are too polite to force their company on us. And as we maynot care to eat as they do, I decided to bring lunch, which we canenjoy by ourselves, " explained Polly. 

Noddy and Choko now reached the trail leading up the pine-tipped crestof the mountain back of Pebbly Pit, and were soon climbing through averitable wilderness of sage-brush and aspens. 

"My, what a place to live in!" said Eleanor, surprised. 

"It's not far, now, " returned Polly. 

Shortly after this, Polly turned Noddy from the old trail and plungedinto a thicket of aspens. 

"Good gracious! How can they ever find their own home?" wonderedEleanor, gazing at the closely growing aspen trees. 

"They know everything! And Noddy knows the way by this time, too, as Ilike to come here and spend the day. Besides there are blazes on thelarge trees to guide one. "

Noddy came out of the aspen grove after a time and then followed amountain-stream up-trail for half a mile or so, before turning to lookat her rider. 

"Oh, you wise little Noddy. How did you know I wanted to stop here?"laughed Polly, patting the burro affectionately. 

Noddy flicked back her long ears in approval of such words and petting, but Eleanor's cry made the burro listen intently. 

"Polly! What a dreadful place to live in! Surely no one exists in thislonesome wilderness, do they?"

"Mr. Beaver is clearing away the aspens just as fast as he can, but assoon as they are all cut down, he will move the whole family to someother dense grove, as they live on aspens, you know. "

"What--what! I didn't understand you!" cried Eleanor. 

Polly laughed as she pointed to a pond made by a dam crudely builtacross the stream. It was rough and queer looking, but it answered itspurpose very well. 

Eleanor saw half a dozen conical shaped huts built of mud in a rowacross the dam, then she stared at both sides of the stream, up anddown, but no other habitation could she see. On the opposite bankseveral large trees had been felled and a quantity of aspens had beencut down and piled in confusion on the edge of the water. 

"Do your ranchers live near here?" asked she. 

"I didn't say they were ranchers, Nolla. "

"Well, woodcutters, or what you call them!"

"Yes, " laughed Polly, "they are woodcutters and live in those mud huts. "

"What?" cried Eleanor again. 

"S-sh! Not so loud or you will frighten them away!"

"Polly--impossible! What _do_ you mean anyway?"

"The beavers live there until the family grows too large, then theyeither build another story to the house, or start a new colony whereaspens can be had in plenty. As there are so many young aspens here inperfect security, for the beavers, Grandfather Beaver remains here. "

"Oh, Polly! You mean they are _real beavers_!" gasped Eleanor. 

"Yes, and I knew you would love to see them at work, but we have to keepvery quiet if we want them to come out. "

"Tell me about them--quick--before we have to go away, " begged Eleanor, eagerly. 

"We won't have to go, but we have to keep quiet. You see they must havebeen cutting aspens over there, when they heard us coming and so theymade a dive for safety. They are now hiding in the huts. "

"What can we do to coax them out again?"

"We'll lead the burros to the park to graze, and we'll come back andsit quietly on this rock to watch for them. "

So the two burros were taken to a small nearby clearing where buffalograss offered a juicy repast for them. Having hobbled them to keep themfrom straying, Polly led the way back to the beaver-dam. 

"If you were over there to examine those cut aspens you would find eachone about eighteen inches long and about one and a half inches thick. The beavers always build near an aspen grove, as it is their food, butnot finding a grove near the water, they have to swim up or down untilthey reach what they need. That is why you find their huts on water, "explained Polly. 

"But I've heard they are water animals. "

Before Polly could reply, a sleek head bobbed up from the water near oneof the huts and Eleanor gasped with surprise. The beaver swam to theopposite bank where the trees had been cut down. He climbed quickly outof the stream and started to roll a heavy log over the ground until itsplashed down into the pond. He then jumped after it and continuedrolling and pushing it along till he reached the dam. Instantly, morebeavers came out from the huts and assisted in towing the log to theirdam of aspens. 

"Oh, oh, Polly!" whispered Eleanor in excited astonishment, but Pollyheld her finger over her lips in warning. 

"I do believe they plan to build a new dam further up-stream, Nolla. Ifthat is so, we will have something worth while to watch for during thenext few days. Just now they are repairing the old houses for theWinter, and that log is to be a bulwark about which green cuttings ofwillow and young aspens can be woven as a partial strainer for thewater. The débris that thus collects in the chinks between the cuttings, makes the dam firmer and yet more flexible than a solid structurewould. "

Just then, the sound of a falling tree made Eleanor jump and look acrossthe stream. 

"Other industrious beavers cutting down another tree, " explained Polly. 

"How do they ever do it, Poll?"

"If you watch, you will see that beaver go to work. "

Not one beaver appeared, but four that hurried to the bank and moved thenewly cut tree into the water. One of the four dragged the tree with itsbranches still on, into the mid-stream where, catching a heavy branchbetween his teeth, he steered it to the row of huts. 

Directly back of the first one, swam the other three, each dragging asection of tree to deposit on the dam, where an old beaver was hard atwork. As soon as the first beaver reached the huts, the old fellow gavea peculiar call that brought out a score or more of workers. They allwent to their tasks as if drilled by a master. 

"My old Grandfather is not there this morning, or that other boss wouldnot be taking his place, " whispered Polly. 

Eleanor had been using her eyes to good advantage and now called toPolly anxiously. "Look a'there, Polly! Those beavers are eating thetree!"

"They're not eating it but are cutting it down. Now you watch and youwill see how they do it. "

The tree in question, stood on the shore and was about six inches indiameter and about sixteen feet in height. The boss of another group ofbeavers tested the tree by placing his fore-paws against the trunk andspreading out his hind legs as a bracer. He sat upon his tail and took adeliberate bite from the bark. No wonder Eleanor thought he was eatingthe tree!

After gnawing at one side, he thumped the ground with his extended tailand ran away. Other beavers took his place and began cutting in muchthe same manner. Then the boss beaver, who was superintending the work, pushed the workers away and showed them how to work in a better way. This done, the boss thumped the ground with his tail--just as apoliceman strikes the walk with his night-club--and the cutters wentback to work. 

Suddenly the boss thumped the ground repeatedly and the cutters ran to asafe distance. A moment later, the tree began swaying and crashed downinto the pond. It had been so cut and planned that labor and time wouldbe saved by throwing it directly into the stream. 

It was towed down into the general harvest-pile and left for othercolonists to saw into required shape and length for the additions totheir huts. 

Soon after this, a number of beavers came forth and swam to the extremeupper end of the pond. Here they climbed up on the bank and disappearedfrom sight in the aspen-covered forest. 

"Where are they going?" asked Eleanor, anxiously. 

"We'll soon find out!" declared Polly. 

As Polly spoke, a beaver swam along the bank and scrambled out quitenear the spot where the two girls sat quietly watching. He sniffed andthen plunged back to hurry to the huts where he must have reported theresult of his trip. Immediately after, the boss commanded him to leadthe way, and both returned to the place for a thorough investigation. 

The scout brought his boss up the bank and sniffed. Polly and Eleanorwere quivering with excitement, as they saw the beavers making for thetrail. 

"Let's see what is wrong?" whispered Polly, cocking her rifle in case ofemergency. 

"Oh, don't do that!" cried Eleanor, catching hold of Polly's arm. 

"Stop! Let go--that is how accidents happen. You drag on one's arm andthe trigger, all ready to fire, is pulled accidentally. I know what I amabout, so you need have no concern. "

Eleanor felt chagrined and meekly followed Polly after this. They creptthrough the woods without making a sound. 

The two beavers reached the clearing where Noddy and Choko were grazing, and the moment the boss saw the burros, he turned and snapped at thefoolish scout that had brought him this journey for naught! But thesubdued laughter from the girls made the beavers rush pell-mell intothe pond to wonder whether burros could laugh like that!

On the way back to their rock of observation, Polly said, "Beavers areslow and awkward on land so that the agile panther, the alert wildcat, or wolves and bears, form a constant menace to them. Because of theirunwieldy and short legs, they cannot escape quickly, but in water theyare wonderful swimmers, so, water being necessary to their safety, theybuild their huts on the dams that will not bear up other wild animals. If their dams were constructed solidly, the beavers would soon beextinct, as forest savages would crawl over and glut on the helplessprey. "

"Didn't you say we could follow those other ones that went up-stream?"asked Eleanor. 

"Yes, come on, " replied Polly, leading the way for some distance beforeseeing a sign of a beaver again. Then suddenly, she clutched hold ofEleanor's arm. 

"Ah, there's Grandfather, hard at work!"

"Where--which?" cried Eleanor, eagerly. 

"The one with a limp and a twisted back!"

The girls had reached a place where the stream widened and here theyfound a great number of beavers at work. Some cutting, some dragging, others swimming with aspens, willows and alders, and all ordered aboutby an old crippled beaver. 

But despite his twisted back and decided halt in gait, he moved aboutquicker than the others, showing them where to place, how to saw, whento cut the aspens, and other important details of construction. 

"There are a lot of pines, Polly--why doesn't he use them?"

"A beaver doesn't like the smelly, pitchy wood, so they never cut themunless they have to clear a roadway from an aspen grove to the stream ofwater. "

"Then they ought to use all those trees already down. There are lotsthat have been felled by forest fires, I guess. "

"There again they show their wisdom, " explained Polly. "A beaver nevercuts dead wood as it dulls and injures his teeth. And dead wood does notlast like live trees, either. "

At this moment, Grandfather Beaver seemed to sniff a familiar as well asa doubtful presence. He lifted his nose high and thumped his tail for anassistant. Leaving commands with this beaver, the Grandfather went intothe stream and swam away. 

Eleanor was sorry to lose sight of him, but almost before she couldspeak, the old fellow rose laboriously from the water just in front ofher. He waited, sniffing anxiously, but found a stranger with hisfriend, so he half-slid back into the stream. 

Polly made strange sounds and ran down towards him. To Eleanor'samazement the old fellow actually expressed joy at seeing a friend. Heemitted peculiar sounds and Polly stood a few feet away uttering queersounds, too. Then he sent her a look of love--if there ever was one--andafter this welcome he slid back into the water to continue the work asoverseer. 

"Polly Brewster--I never in all my life!" gasped Eleanor. 

Polly laughed as she watched her beaver join the workers and scold themfor laziness while he was absent visiting a friend. 

"Let's get the burros, now, and I'll show you a place where we can lunchwhile I tell you how Grandfather and I got to know each other so well, "suggested Polly. 

As the girls rode along the up-trail, Polly told the story. 

[A]"A few years ago, while out adventuring, I found this colony ofbeavers. I wanted father to come with me and see them, but he was toobusy that year. 

[Footnote A: A true story. ]

"The following Summer, however, he came and we sat on the same rockwhere you and I sat to-day. 

"We had to wait for ten minutes or more, before a beaver came out of hishut in the dam. It was not as large or strong a dam, then, as now. Thebeaver was anxious to reach a spot in the aspen grove where we couldhear the other beavers at work. 

"To reach the grove, he had to come up out of the stream and cross someland to the other pond. Just as he climbed up from the water, he sniffeddanger. He was directly opposite us and we could see everything veryplainly. 

"Father lifted his rifle slowly and very carefully, and I lookedintently to see what it was that he saw. 

"On a bough of a tree almost directly over the beaver, I saw a litheserpentine thing twitching as if a snake was trying to curl up. But Iknew it wasn't a snake. It must be the long tail of a panther who wascrouching for a leap, but I could not distinguish a body back of thefoliage of the tree. 

"The beaver stood uncertain of action for a moment, and as he turned todive again to safety, the mountain-lion sprang. At the same instant, father pulled the trigger. But the panther landed almost on top of thebeaver's back, while the shot must have grazed his head, making him ragefuriously. 

"The beaver, who was on the verge of the stream, fought valiantly withteeth and his powerful strength, but the lion had the upper hold on him. Slowly the two squirmed and rolled, the beaver trying to drag his enemyinto the stream, and the panther fighting to keep his prey on land. 

"'Father--shoot--shoot! Even if you kill the beaver!' I yelled, as Iclosed my eyes from the awful sight. 

"But daddy already had taken aim and even as I spoke, he pulled thetrigger. This time his shot took effect for we saw the beast loose hishold on the beaver and roll over writhing in agony. 

"Father rushed along the bank and crept over the beaver-dam to the otherside. Then he put the lion out of pain with a third shot, and stooped toexamine the beaver. 

"We always take a doctor's pocket-case when going on a trip, and fathernow took it out, so I knew the beaver was not dead. 

"'Poll, try to come over here and bring a pan, sheath-knife, and somehartshorn from the pack. '

"I did as I was told, and stood helping father when the beaver cametoo--after getting a big whiff of hartshorn. We washed the torn fleshwith water, and father poured on something from a bottle that made theold fellow squirm, but he sensed that we were helping him and he offeredno resistance. 

"Well, Nolla, when we were done with our surgical work, you just oughtto have seen that beaver's gratitude shining from his round eyes. 

"When he had recovered sufficiently to start for home, father swambeside him. And it was well he did for the poor fellow could not havemade it alone. Father towed him across the pond and left him on the dam. There, the boss (for he was the boss of the colony) made a strange soundand instantly, a score of beavers came out. 

"Meantime, father had left him alone while I stood a distance away andwatched the scene eagerly. As many beavers as could get near him, managed to roll and push him up on the dam where he lay stretched out. 

"Father did not think the poor thing would recover, but I thought hewould, so we went back the next day, but he had disappeared. 

"We wished we could find out in some way, whether our friend wasrecovering or whether he had died and was buried by his family. Sofather decided to creep out on the dam and investigate. I went, too, andno sooner had we tried to make the same queer sound the Grandfather hadmade that day, than a beaver poked his nose out of a hut and sniffed. Quickly he disappeared again, but in a few moments, he came out andstood quite close to us making queer sounds at us. He was not afraid, sowe took it that he was reporting on the health of our friend. 

"We did not see Grandfather again that Summer, so early last Spring Iwent to visit my colony, and there was my friend, bossing things asusual. But his back was crooked and he had to walk with a lame twist, soI suppose that lion injured his backbone. 

"I made a queer sound and he listened. He recognized me and swam over tothump his tail on the ground in front of my rock. I was so delightedthat I rushed home and brought father over. Then you should have seenthat beaver! He squirmed, and barked, and thumped his tail. It was likethe meeting of a long-lost friend. Father was so impressed by theincident that he went to Denver and secured permission from theGovernment Land Survey Office to establish a permanent reserve here forthe beavers. Now they have law protection and may rest unmolested byhunters or trappers. "

"Oh, Polly! It's just like a fairy tale, but much more interesting. Whatbecame of the nasty panther?" cried Eleanor. 

"He's stretched on our living-room floor--that skin by the fire-place. We had an awful time lugging the beast home, but I was determined towalk on his head every chance I got, so we swung him on a pole andmanaged to induce the horses to be reasonable about the dead creature. "

By the time Polly had concluded her story, the burros reached the bluffwhere the girls camped and prepared luncheon. This day of closerintimacy for the two girls, sealed a life-long friendship between them. Neither girl had ever had a chum of her own age, and now they found somuch to admire and respect in each other that their companionshipcontinued without the usual envy, quarrels or jealousies so common inschool life between school-mates. 

[Illustration: THE PANTHER WAS ABOUT TO LEAP UPON THE BEAVER. 

_Polly and Eleanor. _ _Page 94. _]

CHAPTER VI

THE GIRLS ENTERTAIN GUESTS

During the absence of Polly and Eleanor from Pebbly Pit, that Saturday, Mrs. Brewster made preparations for the entertainment of the youngvisitors who were expected on the morrow. So many days that week hadbeen wasted in riding about the country that the pantry was almost bare. Chickens were killed and dressed, pies baked, and other delectableviands made ready for Sunday's dinner and tea. 

No word had come from the scouting party on Grizzly Slide, but Mrs. Brewster said she had no idea of hearing from them until they hadcompleted their investigations and returned home. Polly and Eleanor werewell tired out when they reached the house, after their visit to thebeavers, and made no demur when early bed was suggested to them. 

Sunday was a glorious day and the girls bustled around rearranging theliving-room, and seeing that the hammock with its cushions and thewicker porch chairs, were invitingly placed. Their own appearance hadbeen seriously discussed so that both girls felt suitably dressed whenthe time came for the young surveyors to arrive. 

Eleanor had loaned Polly one of her prettiest organdies, and hadarranged her really beautiful hair becomingly. Silk stockings nowencased Polly's shapely limbs, and her new low shoes looked twice aswell with the sheen of silk above them. 

Eleanor wore a dress similar to the one Polly had on, and tried toappear as like her as possible, so that no unfair advantage should arisefrom appearances. Barbara smiled scornfully at what she considered"childishness" in Eleanor. "Why should she want to have Polly look aswell as she could? And why bother, anyway, to dress up for a nobody likeKenneth Evans? Of course, it would be all right for Jim Latimer--if hewere at home--but not in the wilderness. Chances were that the boyswould wear everyday working clothes. " But all her "cold water" failed todampen the spirits of the girls. 

The hour for the boys' expected appearance came and went but no soundof horse-hoof was heard echoing from the rocky trail that led past theCliffs. 

"Why! It is now eleven, and they were to be here at ten-thirty, "remarked Eleanor, hearing the old clock strike the hour. 

"Are you sure that that foolish-looking boy understood he was to tellJim about coming here Sunday?" asked Barbara, feeling rather pleasedthat the girls felt fidgety over the nonappearance of their company. 

"He wasn't foolish-looking at all! In fact I never saw such a fine headwith such intelligence as he had, " retorted Eleanor. 

"Come on, Nolla, let's walk down to the Cliffs and sit up on the'Guards' where we can see the trail all the way to Bear Forks, "suggested Polly, jumping up from the chair. 

"All right! we may meet them before we get there, " added Eleanor. 

"You two certainly are acting silly over a mere boy you know nothingabout!" snapped Barbara, who felt peeved at losing the targets for hersarcasm. 

The only reply given this parting shot was a merry laugh. Both girlsskipped blithely along the path and were soon out of sight where theroadway ran behind the steep banks of the terrace. 

"Now that we are out of the way of Bob's eyes and tongue, let's goslower or we'll spoil our shoes, " said Eleanor, stopping to see if anydust showed on her shiny toes. 

"And we won't climb the high Guards, but just sit on the ledge nearestthe trail, " added Polly. 

The Sunday dinner hour at Pebbly Pit was usually at one o'clock, soeverything was ready and waiting just before that time. But no visitorsappeared, and Mrs. Brewster sent Anne down the road to see if the girlsand boys were visiting the Causeway and other unusual features ofRainbow Cliffs. 

"Oh, Anne! Are you alone?" called Eleanor, when she saw the messengercoming from the house. 

"Yes--are you?" returned Anne, shading her eyes from the sun, as shelooked up at the ledge. 

"Come on up, " Polly called, leaning over the rocks. 

Anne soon joined them and looked around. "Where do you suppose thoseboys can be?"

"That's just what we want to know. I'm sure we were plain enough intelling that boy that he was to come over with Jim Latimer forSunday--weren't we?" demanded Eleanor. 

"I thought it was plain enough, but Bob declares that the boy was toostupid to understand a simple invitation. She is in her glory becauseevery one is disappointed, " said Anne. 

"I wouldn't let her see me feeling bad for anything!" exclaimed Polly, stiffly. "But I do wish they would come, because I wanted to find out ifhe ever knew _any one_ like our Old Man Montresor. "

"Look! See way over there--out on the Bear Forks road?" now exclaimedEleanor, pointing away towards the distant trail. 

"Sure enough!" breathed Anne, with relief. 

"But there are three, and we only expected two. Who can the other onebe?" added Polly. 

"Maybe they are not our company, at all, but some ranchers riding thatway, " suggested Eleanor, fearfully. 

"Ranchers seldom ride that trail, and never on Sundays. Now look!" saidPolly. 

The three horses had stopped and soon, one rider was seen going alongthe trail to Oak Creek, while the other two turned in at the gulch trailand disappeared under the giant over-hanging rocks. 

"Hurrah!" shouted Eleanor, waving her sun-hat wildly about her head. 

"I reckon our company is coming, after all, " said Polly, smiling withsatisfaction. 

"I'll run back and tell your mother, Polly, as it will be at least halfan hour before they can reach the house, " said Anne, happy also thatBarbara was to be silently contradicted. 

"Don't dally around here, girls, when your company joins you, " advisedAnne, turning around, after she had started down the cliff-side. 

"I reckon we'd better go back with you--mother can be the first to sayhow-dy to them, " ventured Polly, looking like a stage-struck amateur ather first appearance before the public. 

"See here, Polly Brewster! Don't you go back on _me_! I wouldn't haveBob watching us meet those boys and then laughing at us afterwards, foranything in the world! We'll stay right _here_ and get acquainted beforewe go to the house to be teased and made to feel uncomfortable, "declared Eleanor, who knew her sister only too well. 

"I guess Eleanor's right, Polly; it struck me that that nice young boywas rather shy with strangers, so you will be doing him a great favor ifyou get acquainted here and then bring him to the house to meet therest of us, " admitted Anne, then she ran down the steep sides of therocks. 

Now and then the waiting girls had glimpses of the two riders as theyrode along the winding trail past the Cliffs. And Jim Latimer alsocaught a glimpse of the girls as he happened to pause, to point out theRainbow rocks to his friend. Instantly he pulled off his wide sombreroand waved it gayly at his young hostesses. Then both boys spurred theirhorses eagerly onward. 

Eleanor and Jim felt perfectly at ease as they met and shook hands, butit was evident that Polly and Kenneth Evans were not accustomed tosocial ways or behavior, for both acted rather awkward at this meeting. However, Eleanor generally fitted into any breach, and now sheunconsciously steered the would-be friendly craft of the four past thereefs of self-consciousness into the haven of youthful reciprocity. 

"We thought you were _never_ coming--it's past one o'clock you know, andwe looked for you at eleven, " said she, catching Jim by the sleeve andleading the way to the road where the two horses were waiting. 

"We expected to be here at half-past ten, or eleven at the latest, butit is a long story to tell, and we ought to explain to your mother atthe same time, " replied Jim, throwing the bridle over his arm andstarting to walk beside Eleanor. 

Naturally, Kenneth and Polly followed, but Eleanor turned around everyother moment to include them in her vivacious conversation about theland-slide and the fears that Choko's Find was lost. 

"Oh, but say! What a ripping chance we missed, Ken, by not being one ofthe party on the Slide, eh?" cried Jim, enviously. 

"I'd like to be one of the party up there now. Just fancy theopportunities one would have for seeing how much he knows aboutengineering, " replied Kenneth. 

"Maybe we can fix it so mother'll allow us to show you the way up. I'dlove to go again, " ventured Polly, enthusiastically, as she forgotherself in the absorbing subject of the gold mine. 

"Ken and I have to be back at camp to-night! That's the worst of beinghired!" grumbled Jim. 

"It's that, or being fired!" retorted Kenneth, laughingly. 

Youth needs little to laugh at, so the four took this little speech as acue to laugh loud and long. It attracted Barbara's attention. She hadbeen trying to read, but now she got up to frown at the gay young peopleshe saw climbing the road to the house. Anne also heard the laughterand hurriedly called to Mrs. Brewster: "They're almost here--come rightout. "

So the visitors found a pleasant welcome awaiting them as they reachedthe porch. Immediately after greeting the ladies, the boys apologizedfor their lateness. Jim then acted as spokesman. 

"We feared we would not be able to be here, at all, as the Boss of ourCrew forbid any one taking out a horse to-day. Jake has charge of thehorses, you know, and he was instructed not to pass one mount. 

"Maybe the boys weren't furious! as we always take Sundays to ride toOak Creek. It's the only off day we get. But Carew said we had a longmove to make to-morrow, and his horses had to be fresh for the trip. 

"Gee! I felt like thundering about camp, as I had looked forward to thisvisit ever since Ken told me about how he met you folks, and all. Now weboth were all fixed ready to make an early start in the morning, andthere would be no horses!

"Ken and I stole out late last night and tried to bribe Jake withgoodies, then with money, and lastly I remembered tobacco! I agreed tohand over a big bag of Cut Plug and a tin box of cigarettes if he wouldloan us his two wagon-horses. These he could use as they were notincluded in the ban on the crew horses. 

"But Jake is a wily fellow and wanted to see our tobacco first. He knewthat neither of us used it and he doubted our having any!"

Jim chuckled at this, and Ken smiled sympathetically. The ladies alsosmiled as an interested audience will. Then the narrator continued:

"Ken and I knew where Jake kept the store of tobacco that he always soldto the other surveyors, so we fixed up a little scheme. We left morethan enough money to pay for what we took and then hurried back to Jakewith the gift of tobacco. 

"I wish you could have seen him scratch his head in bewilderment when hesaw us hand over the star brand of tobacco he kept in stock! Still herefused to say whether we could start early in the morning, and then Igot good and mad. If it wasn't for Ken, here, kicking me in the ribs, I'd have spilled the beans!"

Every one laughed at Jim's slangy way of describing his interview withJake, but he was full of his subject and would not be laughed out ofcountenance. 

"Ken and I were getting ready to go to sleep, when Jake crept under ourtent flap and pulled my foot to attract attention. 

"There were three other surveyors in our tent, and Jake did not wishthem to hear what was going on. The lights were out, so we were not seenas we slid under the canvas and joined the driver over by the treeswhere no one could hear us whisper. 

"'You fresh boys!' was the first thing Jake said. 

"Then he laughed deep down in his throat, and said; 'Ah kin bet on youboys, ef Ah lets you-all have mah team to-morrer, --you-all shore willcome back in time?'

"I eagerly promised everything, and he added: 'Ah sold a lot of tobakkerto some one Ah don't know, but it doesn't matter who the smoker is, 'cuznow Ah got mah money and tobakker, too! It's 'cuz that feller is sosmart that Ah feels shore the Boss won't get wind of mah hosses bein'lent. 'Course Ah hez a right to use mah waggin-team ef Ah likes, butCarew is strick and might get on his high-boss ef he learned Ah sent twoof his men on an errent. '

"I was so sure no one would ever know we rode the horses if he would_only_ loan them to us, that I agreed to anything. 

"Then he said: 'Wall, now, Ah left one of the crew's tripods over atBear Forks line to-day when Ford took an observation. Ah've got'ta gofer it to-morrer--er find some good-natured feller who will go fer me. Ah've got'ta get a heap of work done, to-morrer, and it looks well-nighimpossible fer me to get that tripod!'

"I caught on at once, and turned to Ken and said: 'Why, Jake, I will getthat tripod for you. But I'd hate to walk so far as Bear Forks line, allalone, you know. '

"That made Jake laugh softly and he said: 'Ef you-all will find thattripod fer me, Ah'll lend you-all the hosses fer the day. '

"So that is how we got away from camp, but we have been huntingeverywhere for that old tripod and haven't seen a shadow of it. Whilelooking for it along the line that Ford surveyed this week, we lost ourway and had to have that rancher show us the way back to Bear Forkstrail. That's why we are so late. "

"Well, now that you are here, suppose you brush up and get ready fordinner. I've had it waiting this hour and a half, " said Mrs. Brewster, leading the way over to the pump. 

"And maybe we aren't ready to do justice to your cooking! We haven't hada crumb since supper last night, because we dared not ask the cook forsandwiches, and we left camp before breakfast-time. Jake said we mightnot be permitted to hunt up his tripod for him if any one learned he wasgiving us his horses for the trip, " explained Kenneth. 

"Oh, you poor boys! Do hurry, then, and join us at table over under theoak, yonder!" exclaimed Mrs. Brewster, hasting to bring out towels andbrushes for her young visitors. 

The dinner was a great success, both from a culinary and also from thesocial points of view. While thoroughly enjoying the home-cooking, theboys talked of their work and adventures in the mountains. Jim had beenwith the survey crew all summer, but Kenneth had but just arrived. SoJim had a store-house filled with recent thrilling experiences andescapes. 

Close-up encounters with bears, rattle-snakes, and land-slides, werepassed off as mere trifles by him. But the problems of getting enoughgood things to eat, now and then a dance at some school-house, orfinding a pretty girl one could talk to--these were awful!

When dinner was out of the way, the four young people started to walk toRainbow Cliffs, as that was the show-spot of all the countryside. Havingso many unique features and winding walks made it a delightful placefor quiet little chats or tête-à-têtes. 

"I never saw anything like those great masses of color, " said Kenneth, as they drew near the sparkling walls. 

"I told Ken when we rode past here to-day, that Tom wanted your fatherto sell out the cliffs on a royalty basis, but he refused to. Now thatTom is here again with John, and the gold mine is caved in with thatland-slide, maybe he will listen, eh?" asked Jim, eagerly. 

Polly shook her head. "I don't believe he will, but we can't find outwhy he is so stubborn about it. "

"Jim, I don't believe our gold mine has caved in, at all. It's onlytemporarily buried, up there. If there is any way it can be locatedagain, I'm going to insist upon having it worked!" declared Eleanor. 

"Why? You don't need the money, " laughed Jim. 

"How do you know what I need!" retorted Eleanor. "Polly and I need moneythis Fall, as we are going to go away to school together--somewhere. Andshe can't go unless she has her own money, 'cause her father won'tconsent to her leaving home, but her mother will--so she will have tohave her own money to get away with, see?"

"No, I don't see that that will work, " Kenneth interpolated. 

"Why not? If Mr. Brewster finds Polly is going, anyway, he will soonenough give his consent, " argued Eleanor. 

"I never said I would go away to school with you, Nolla, although Ishould like it better than going alone. And I'm sure I couldn't _think_of leaving home if Daddy objected to it, " said Polly seriously. 

"Oh, well, I know you won't, but a lot of money of your very own willhelp coax him to our way of thinking, " explained Eleanor. 

"You seem to think your mine will turn out money in time for you tospend it this Fall, " ventured Kenneth, amusedly. 

"Why, of course it will, if we can get at it through that land-slide, "returned she. 

"Other mines take from one to ten years to prepare for and operate. Ifyou do the thing right, and have engineers plan for the apparatus towork the ore, you won't be spending that gold this year, " added Jim. 

"No! Then what good will it do Polly or me? I have a fine idea that Iwant to perfect right away, and it needs money. I haven't even toldPolly a word of it, as I must see how much money we get from the minebefore I mention it. "

"But once your mine begins to pay it will keep on paying for ever solong. You can plan to spend all the money you can possibly use, if themine has any kind of vein in it, " said Kenneth, soothingly. 

"I believe in taking a 'bird in the hand instead of the one in thebush, ' and here is a fortune right on this wall!" said Jim, pointing atthe jeweled cliffs. 

He picked up a handful of the colored lava-stones and showed them toKenneth. "Do you know, Ken, that I wouldn't be one bit surprised butwhat that new patent your father got out for cutting rare gems wouldwork on these to some good. "

"I never thought of that! Maybe it would. If only he could come here toinvestigate and try his machine on the jewels. "

"Why not send him a small box-full of the stones and let him experimenton them with the model he has in father's office?" asked Jim, eagerly. 

"If Polly will give us some--I will send them on with a letter ofexplanation, " returned Kenneth. 

"Of course! Take all you want. Every one is welcome to them, " saidPolly, breaking off a cluster of fresh stones from the wall. 

"What are you talking about, Jim? I heard Bob say something about a newpatented machine that would make millions out of these Cliffs, but whatdo _you_ mean?" asked Eleanor. 

"I guess we were both speaking of the same idea, " replied Jim. "You see, my father is financing the wonderful patent Ken's father invented. Dr. Evans is a great inventor, and every once in a while he has a big idea. That was how he planned the vacuum sweepers, and the self-stop on thevictrolas. He has lots of unusual patents granted him, and now he hasthis idea patented. 

"He can cut a stone so that it surpasses any hand-cut jewel for facetsand beauty, by merely dropping the material into the feeder on themachine and letting it cut out the jewel in a few moments. The size ofstone wanted can be regulated by a screw. And the small bits of refuseleft after making large jewels, can be cut into sparkling chips. 

"My father and Uncle George incorporated the company that is financingthis cutting machine. Now they can try out this lava and see if it ishard enough to cut brilliantly. "

"Wouldn't it be lovely to have Ken's father use these lava jewels in hiscompany, and let Nolla and me have the royalty to send us to school?"ventured Polly, wistfully, looking at the distant peak where her goldmine seemed lost for the present. 

Jim and his friend were selecting the finest specimen of the lava asPolly spoke, so they made no reply. Her eyes traveled along the TopNotch Trail and finally came back to the Cliffs at home. She watched theboys gather the stones and suddenly remembered Kenneth's likeness toMontresor. 

"Oh, Kenneth! I 'most forgot to ask you something!" cried she. 

Ken stood up and looked at her with a broad smile. As he waited thus, she was struck by the singular look that was so like her old friend's. 

"That gold mine we told you boys about, was first found and staked by awhite-haired man who called himself Montresor. He lost it again in justthe same way as we did--a land-slide buried it and his stakes, and noone could locate it again. 

"Then he died and left his claim to me. I always believed he had one, but every one else laughed at him and said he was crazy. Father wasgood to him after the mine was lost, and took his part when folksjeered. When he died, Daddy paid for the funeral and has the certificatewhere he is buried. But we never learned who he was, except the factthat he came from the East, although we advertised a lot. 

"Just the day you arrived in Oak Creek, Mr. Simms, our lawyer, read aletter which Old Man Montresor left. It was written to a wife and child, but there was no name or address on it. Then I heard how father spentlots of money trying to identify the dear old man and trace hisrelatives but to no account. 

"When we first saw you, we-all were impressed with your resemblance toour old friend. So now I want to ask you if there ever was any one inyour family who went to the Klondike and was reported lost there?"

"Wh-y, ye-es, there is some such story in our family, but I do not knowthe exact truth about it. And we seldom discussed it as mother alwaysfelt badly afterwards. 

"As far as I can understand it, my mother's only brother Peter was aclever mining engineer in the East, but he was too ambitious to becontented with his income. Mother says it was his wife who wanted tospend money like water, who finally urged him to try his luck inAlaska--and he left home to seek wealth in the Klondike. 

"He placed all the money he had in the bank for his family, and leftAunt Ada and my Cousin Gail with sufficient to live on if they wereeconomical. But my Aunt was not content with a simple home and a meagerincome, and thought to add to her comfort and wealth by starting a fineboarding-house. 

"She knew nothing about the business, however, and soon lost all themoney she had been left with and then she ran in debt. When herinvestment was sold out, she came to us for help. She and Cousin Gaillived with us for two years; then Aunt Ada had pneumonia and died. Shebegged us to adopt Gail as she had never heard from Uncle after he wroteto her to send him money to get out of Nome. But she had none, so shenever told mother about this letter; we would have helped poor Uncle. 

"As it was a year since he wrote that letter, and he was in wretchedhealth while in the far North, mother felt sure that he had succumbed tothe cold and his discouragement. Aunt Ada left a note in which she saidthat Gail and I were to share like brother and sister in anything UnclePeter left us. 

"But mother always laughed at the idea that there would be any wealthcoming to us from the Klondike. She said the only precious legacy wecould claim in the gold-fields of Alaska was the untiring energy andearnestness Uncle was sure to use wherever he went or whatever he did. But she wrote to the postmaster at Nome and received word that herbrother was dead. 

"Gail was always delicate, and a year after her mother died, she, too, took sick and was gone in a week's time. So mother tried to forget herdear brother after these sad experiences, and it is only at rareintervals that any one mentions his name to her. "

When Kenneth finished telling his story, Polly asked eagerly: "But youhaven't told us your uncle's name--nor your mother's maiden name. Was itMontresor?"

"Oh no! Just a plain New England name--mother is called PriscillaAmesbury, and my uncle was Peter Amesbury. I never heard of a Montresorin our family, either. But that doesn't say the old gentleman couldn'thave chosen an assumed name, you know. "

Eleanor and Polly were plainly disappointed that the names of theKlondike uncle and the hero of Polly's life, were not the same. Jimlaughed when he saw the girls' evident regret. 

"Any one would think you two girls were anxious to share your gold-minewith the heir of old Montresor. Now what is there to hinder me fromclaiming the old man as _my_ uncle and telling you he is a twin-brotherof my father's? That will make me the heir to that mine. "

"We wouldn't believe you, because you haven't one bit of resemblance tothis friend Polly knew, but Kenneth has. That is why it may turn outthat Montresor really was his uncle, " said Eleanor. 

As the sun went down back of Rainbow Cliffs, the two boys regretfullysaid good-by. Mrs. Brewster planned for them to come and spend thefollowing Sunday at Pebbly Pit with John and Tom there, provided thecrew was not too far removed for the trip. 

The boys promised to send word by mail, as Jake rode to Oak Creek two orthree times a week, and could mail a note from them if they were to bewithin riding distance. 

"We might even find a way to lose the valuable transit and then have tocome and hunt for it, " laughed Kenneth, as they got into their saddlesfor the return ride. 

"But you didn't find the tripod! What will Jake say?" asked Polly, anxiously. 

"We'll let you know next Sunday, " laughed both the boys. 

That night when Jake smuggled his two horses back to the corral with thecrew's mounts, he turned to the boys and said:

"Whar did you-all leave it?"

"Leave what?" asked Jim, wonderingly. 

"Why, mah tripod, yuh coyote!" grinned Jake, winking at Kenneth. 

"Oh, yes! Well, Jake, I had to leave it at Pebbly Pit because it was soheavy, but I'll go back for it next Sunday!"

"Nah, yuh won't, eider--some one else brought in th' tripod and ha'r it'tis!" With that Jake displayed the article wanted. 

"Who found it? No one could take a horse, " exclaimed Jim, perplexed. 

Then Jake leaned over and whispered in his ear: "The Boss hisself! Herode to Yaller Jacket to spend Sunda' with his wife, yuh know, an' whatshoul' he do but come acrost the tripod whar Ah left it fer you boys topick up! Mebbe Ah didn't get hail on Pagoda!"

CHAPTER VII

SEVERAL MOMENTOUS LETTERS

Monday and Tuesday passed very slowly to the anxious girls, and onWednesday they began looking for the return of their scouting party. Polly figured that three days would prove ample time in which toinvestigate the conditions and determine whether or not the mine couldbe worked--providing it was found again. But in such a dreadfulwilderness of torn-up trees, and washed out earth, where mile after mileof mountain-land had changed its appearance, who could hope to locate atiny square of ground that had been staked as the wonderful mine? Andwith giant trees uprooted and tossed along the current of theland-slide, how could any one expect the insignificant wooden stakes toremain to mark the place?

Then Wednesday also passed without a sign of the returning engineers; soon Thursday, Mrs. Brewster told the girls they would have to drive intoOak Creek for supplies and the weekly mail. 

This would be a break in the dull routine of waiting impatiently fornews from the Peak, and all four of the girls willingly complied withthe order. Two strong horses were hitched to the ranch-wagon, and thegay party drove away, leaving Mrs. Brewster waving her hand as theyrumbled down the road past the Cliffs. 

The colored stones reminded Polly of Kenneth's story, and she turned toEleanor and said: "I wonder if he wrote home to ask his mother about herbrother?"

"Even if he did it will be fully a fortnight before he can have ananswer. But we ought to get a letter to-day, telling us whether the boysare coming over Sunday, or not, " replied Eleanor. 

"Yes, I know; I thought we'd stop at the post office first of all, "answered Polly. 

The girls enjoyed the wonderful drive along the trail that ran to OakCreek, and having reached their destination, left the team tied to thepost in front of Mr. Simms' office, for they purposed having a goodtime. 

Anne and Barbara went to the store where they could buy candy, whilePolly and Eleanor ran to the post office. To their surprised delight, they found Kenneth Evans there. He was reading a telegram and did notsee the girls until he had finished. 

"Oh--hullo! I never expected to see you here, " exclaimed he, seeminglytoo excited to remember that he had not met them since Sunday. 

"I wired mother last Monday--sent it in by Jake, you know. And told herto reply so I could get her answer to-day. The Boss let me off because Ifinished my work on the old line yesterday. So I came to town myself forthe message. "

Kenneth acted so elated that Polly and Eleanor wondered what news he hadreceived to make his eyes sparkle like stars and his face to flush in away that made him positively handsome. 

"Isn't it great, though? And just think, if it hadn't been for yougirls, I never would have known it!"

"Known what? What have we done that is so great?" asked Eleanor, laughingly. 

"Why, the mine, don't you know!"

"What about it?" cried both girls at once, thinking that news of somemoment from the engineers had reached Oak Creek before they arrivedthere. 

"Why, the mine--you know, my uncle's mine!"

"Your uncle's!" again the girls gasped in astonishment. 

"Of course--didn't Polly tell me all about her old friend Montresor?Here, read my mother's night letter to me. " And Kenneth placed theyellow sheet in Eleanor's hand. 

She read aloud to anxious Polly: "One branch of family has aMontresor--two generations back the name was used as surname. Brotherwas christened Peter Miles Montresor Amesbury. Disliked name Montresor, dropped it when young. Every one forgot about it. Am sending letter withphotograph of Peter. Show Polly. Wire results. Father may come west. Love, Mother. "

"Oh, oh! how wonderful!" cried Polly, catching Kenneth's handsdelightedly. 

"I'm glad, too, Ken, but I shall have to contest any of your claims tomy mine, " laughed Eleanor. 

"Your father ought to be told about the land-slide. Maybe he is comingwest to look over the claim, but he won't be able to see anything, "remarked Polly. 

"No, I think Dad plans to come west to look at your Cliffs. I told himin my telegram just what they were, and sent on the box of jewels. Whenhe gets them he will try out his invention and if it cuts them properly, then he may come here to see your family. "

"Oh! You didn't waste any time attending to things, did you?" saidEleanor, with keen amusement at Kenneth's business methods. 

"No, I never waste time on _anything_ that's worth while. And, by theway, Jim and I are coming over to Pebbly Pit again on Sunday--yourmother invited us, you know. "

Both girls laughed, and they caught the youth up. "Ah, you must thinkPebbly Pit is worth while, then?"

"Why, I do! You don't suppose I'd ride 'way over there if I was bored, do you?" replied Kenneth, earnestly. 

Eleanor laughed this time, but Polly felt he was in too serious a moodfor laughter. So she said: "I'm glad you liked us. We'll tell mother youare coming again. That is one reason we drove to Oak Creek--to get theletter. "

"I'm afraid it will be our only chance to see you-all again, as our crewmoves from Brushy Creek to Silver Creek, and after that we go to BuffaloPark. The Boss says we will have about three weeks' work there, and thengo across the desert to work along the Lincoln Highway, until we reachthe other lines, completed last year by Carew's men. 

"He doesn't know whether we shall be dismissed then, or sent on to tieup a few other little jobs before the summer ends. However, it looks asif Jim and I will be too far away to ride over for the day then. It willtake us a day and night to cross the desert and over several mountainpeaks to reach you. "

Eleanor listened delightedly to this innocent youth, and as he concludedshe squealed with amusement: "Oh, don't you love it!"

"Love what?" asked Kenneth, never having heard this extravagantexpression so favored by city misses. 

"Love _you_, of course!" retorted Eleanor, laughing. 

Polly frowned at this admission, and Kenneth blushed, for he had neverbefore been told so publicly that a pretty girl loved him! Eleanordoubled over laughing, and gasped: "Oh, you two adorable babes!"

Further conversation was made impossible now, by Barbara and Anne comingin. They immediately joined the three young people, and Anne asked: "Didyou get the mail, Nolla?"

"No, we never thought of it. Ken has such an exciting telegram that weforgot everything else. "

Anne waited to hear no more, but went to the window and inquired for hermail and for that of the family at Pebbly Pit. A bulky package washanded out, and caused Polly to exclaim at its size. 

"Why, I never knew so many letters to come at one time. "

"That's because no one's been here to get it for more than a week, "returned Anne. 

Barbara had not forgotten the yellow sheet in Kenneth's hand, however, and now asked what the news was that had so thrilled the girls. 

She was given the telegram to read, and having mastered the contents shelooked daggers at poor Kenneth; "I suppose you will expect my sister toshare her mine with you, now. "

Eleanor instantly interpolated: "Your sister wouldn't think of keeping amine that belongs to some one else. I'm thankful we had the use of itthat night when the panther and bear wanted to get at us. And again theday of the avalanche! I'm much obliged to Ken for his cave hotel!"

Barbara sneered unpleasantly and walked away. Kenneth said nothing, butwhen she had gone he turned to the girls and said: "We were thinkingmore of knowing for a certainty whether Uncle Peter was still alive, orwhether your Montresor is my mother's brother. I almost forgot there wasgold in that mine. "

The girls assured him that that was exactly what they believed he wasanxious to know, and that the gold was the least of all things to beconsidered. 

Having spent two hours in the Moving Picture Hall, and completing allthe shopping, the girls started back to Pebbly Pit. Kenneth Evans hadsaid good-by and gone on his way, so there was now no side interest forPolly and Eleanor as they drove the obedient horses homeward. 

Barbara and Anne were reading their letters, and the two younger girlson the front seat whispered confidences to each other. Anne suddenlyexclaimed, as she finished reading a type-written letter:

"Well, of all things! How did they hear of _me_?"

Eleanor half turned around and asked: "What's the matter?"

"Mother inclosed a letter that came from New York. She thought it mightbe important, so she slipped it inside the one she was just going tomail to me, " murmured Anne, vaguely, studying the dense forest as theydrove past. 

"Well, that's nothing to wonder about, " said Eleanor. 

Anne glanced at the letter again: "No, but the contents is. "

"Maybe it's one of those proposals of marriage--you know; the kind wherea lonely bachelor, rich, well-bred, perfect in every respect (except hisbald head, glass eye, toothless gums, and palsy) wishes acquaintancewith sweet young miss--object matrimony!" Eleanor said, jokingly. 

"Eleanor Maynard! How very unladylike of you!" cried her sister, shockedat her levity. 

"I'm only saying what you can read in the paper any day, " arguedEleanor, still laughing at her joke. 

"This _is_ a proposal, but not that kind. It comes from a well-knowngentleman in New York City, " said Anne. 

Polly was so astonished that she pulled in the horses and suddenlyhalted them without being aware of it. Eleanor and she turned squareabout and gazed at Anne questioningly. Barbara couldn't say anything asshe was at sea for words. 

"For goodness' sake!" exclaimed Eleanor, at last. 

"Wh-y--I wanted to live with you in Denver this winter!" complainedPolly. Then remembering John and his evident preference for Anne, sheadded severely: "Does John know about this man?"

Anne laughed gayly. "No, and that is the only thing that makes me feelunhappy. I'd accept at once, if New York wasn't so far away, or if I hadnever met John. "

Although Anne spoke in a jocular tone when mentioning John, she blushedmost bewitchingly at her acknowledgment. 

Eleanor had been keenly studying Anne's face, and now she exclaimed:"Ha! you didn't tell us what _sort_ of a proposal! It may be a mason whowants to hire you to carry a hod up the ladders. "

As the very idea was so ridiculous, every one laughed, and that brokethe tension. Then Anne admitted: "I felt like squaring myself with you, Nolla, for your hint that I was answering ads. In the _MatrimonialMirror_. "

"Well, then, is it for a hod-carrier?" insisted the irrepressibleEleanor. 

"Almost as good; it is for a teacher to carry learning up into youngladies' brains at a fashionable seminary in New York. "

"What? never!" declared Barbara. 

"Of course--why not?" replied Anne. 

Eleanor and Polly were silent, but they thought a lot. But Barbara said:"Because you can never fill a position in a fashionable young ladies'school in New York. You know nothing of social life. "

"Bob, I'll have Polly dump you from the wagon if you can't be half-waydecent to us. Ever since Polly and I discovered Old Man Montresor's goldmine, you've been as mean as a bear with a sore head. Now stop it, orI'll--I'll do something _awful_ to you!"

Eleanor was angry! And she looked daggers at her sister as she spoke, but she knew there was nothing she could do but patiently allow Barbarato say unkind words to others, as was her habit. 

Polly now spoke. "Anne, is there anything that you'd _rather_ do than goEast to teach school?"

Anne caught her meaning and mentally thanked her, but audibly she said:"Not just yet, Polly. You see, my brother Paul has two years still toput in at college, and little mother has to be cared for, as well. Thisoffer is so tempting that I could not refuse it without consideringeverything that concerns me. In two years' time, I could not onlyrejoice that Paul is through, but that because of my increased income, mother will have something laid by for her use in the future. "

"Well, then, " sighed Polly, resignedly, "I'll give up my hopes ofparadise! I did so want to go to school in a big city this year. " As sheurged the horses on their way, the young driver felt the tears well upin her eyes, but she refused to brush them away. 

Eleanor saw and understood. She quietly took her own handkerchief anddabbed her friend's wet eyes. Then placed her hand on her shoulder. Nota word was spoken. 

"Polly, dear, I'm not going to do a thing until after I have ponderedthis step well. I shall have to write the principal for addedinformation, and before I hear again, I will know whether it is wise forme to accept the offer or not, " exclaimed Anne. 

The rest of the drive was concluded in silence, each girl having much tothink over. When the horses were turned over to the man who took Jeb'splace in his absence, and the girls were on the porch, Mrs. Brewsternoticed their unusual quiet. 

"Anything wrong, girls?" asked she. 

"No--only Kenneth's uncle is our Montresor, he thinks, " said Eleanor, rocking violently back and forth in the wicker chair. 

This so surprised Mrs. Brewster that she began a rapid cross-examinationuntil she had all the facts. However the very telling about Kenneth'sstory enabled Polly to change her thoughts of future trouble, so thatshe felt much better over the school question before very long. 

Anne's momentous letter was the next important topic of conversation, and Mrs. Brewster listened to the news with an enigmatical expression onher face. When Anne finished telling about it, the elder woman spoke. 

"I thought perhaps you would be planning to take a course in DomesticScience. But going to New York to continue your school teaching wouldlead me to believe that you propose making that the principal object ofyour life. "

"But you must remember, Mrs. Brewster, I am not alone in the world. Ihave my mother and younger brother to consider. If I fail Paul now, hewill have to stop his college education half-way. I simply _have_ tokeep on supplying him and mother with means, until he is through. Thenhe can help me in caring for mother, " explained Anne, diffidently. 

"You might marry a young man who had ample means to take care of bothyour mother and brother, " suggested Barbara. 

"Oh, Bob! you know Paul would never take money that way, when I had sucha dreadful time in even persuading him to let me loan him hiseducational expenses from my own salary!" exclaimed Anne, flushinguncomfortably when the subject of her marrying a wealthy man wasmentioned. 

"If your brother knows you plan to go to New York just to earn moremoney for him, he may refuse to take any aid from you, " ventured Mrs. Brewster. 

"That is my only concern just now. Of course, I shall take mother withme to keep house for us both, but Paul must complete his studies inChicago, so he must believe there was another reason for my choosing NewYork other than the mere increased salary offered me. "

"It seems a difficult thing for you to do--to find a plausible reasonfor going so far East, " added Mrs. Brewster. 

"Now _I_ know a good one;" spoke up Eleanor, suddenly. "I am crazy tospend a winter in New York, but Bob won't give up her social season athome, and mother wouldn't think of spending the time in New York just tooblige me. As Anne has always been found to be so helpful to me, ineveryway, I shall insist upon going to New York this Fall and choosingher as my companion while there. Naturally her mother wants to go, too, and so we will decide to keep house in one of those cute littlethree-room-and-kitchenette apartments. Then Anne has so much time on herhands that she decides to fill in by going to this seminary for certainhours. How's that for a plot!"

"Oh, it's lovely--all but your being able to go East, " replied Barbara, sarcastically. 

The others laughed at both plotter and objector, for it sounded sovisionary. But once Eleanor had the idea in her mind she mulled it overand over until it really appeared feasible to her. 

The others talked of the mine, of Kenneth's father and the invention forcutting jewels, of everything that concerned any interest in theirlives, while Eleanor sat and planned her new idea. 

"Now listen to me, folks--I've got everything ironed out smooth forAnne's going. I am expected to remain in Denver all this winter andattend school there. Live with Anne and her mother. These are Mother'sorders to the doctor--and he ordered them on to Daddy. I know all aboutit, because Barbara and Mother planned a big campaign to try and marryBob off sure pop this year!--"

"Nolla! I _will_ not sit here quietly and listen to you tell suchdreadful stories. You know very well that you are too delicate to livein Chicago where the climate does not agree with you, " Barbara cried. 

"Tut, tut! We are all old friends here, Bob, and no one will squeal onyou about family skeletons. Anne knows as much about this arrangement asyou or I do; and Polly, or her mother, are not interested enough torepeat what I say, " giggled Eleanor; then she continued her outlines:"Hence, it matters little whether the eager student (that's me) lives inDenver, New York, or Timbuctoo, as long as she is in 'safe hands' andout of society's way. 

"Now Anne Stewart and her mother have absolutely 'safe hands' for suchas me; so there will be little argument and no difficulties inconvincing mother or Bob to have the doctor say that I must go East withAnne. Convincing Dad of this need, will be the only obstacle. But Ishall play upon the fact that he can visit me quite often in New York, whereas he never comes West on business. He can fly across country fromChicago on the Twentieth Century and be in New York in the morning. 

"Yes, Anne, considering all things, I believe it will be New York for myschooling this Winter, instead of Denver. "

Eleanor wagged her head wisely as she finished speaking, and her hearersbegan to wonder if she really meant what she said. Anne rather liked thesuggestion of having Eleanor go East with her, and Polly sat mute, wishing some one would persuade her mother that it was the only thing todo for her, too. 

Sary came in at this point to say that supper had been waiting so long, that it was all sizzled up in the pan. 

"My goodness! I forgot we hadn't had supper!" laughed Eleanor, jumpingup and catching Polly by the arm to whirl her away. 

Once out of hearing, she whispered quickly: "Don't say a word to any oneabout this New York plan of mine--if I go, you go, too; for we are asecond 'Ruth and Naomi' you know!"

Polly smiled, but she knew her friend's suggestion for her going, too, would have no backing from any one at _her_ home. 

Saturday dawned and every one at Pebbly Pit was on the lookout for theadventurers, as they surely would not remain on the mountain overanother Sunday! But it was late in the afternoon when the clip-clop ofhorses' hoofs rang out over the crater of the ranch. Then the riderswere seen passing the Cliffs, and soon they were at the door. 

Such a babble of voices and questions asked, would have deafened any onenot concerned in the meeting. But every one, even Sary, had a heartinterest in the returned scouts, and no one took the trouble to bottleup their rejoicing. 

Several farm-hands were present, so the horses were sent off to the barnand Jeb was allowed a rest period. Of course, the men were hungry, andevery one turned to the well-laden table. 

While eating an early supper, John and Tom were called upon to giveexpert opinions about "Choko's Find" Mine. 

"As you must know, Tom and I did the job up well while we were up there. That is why we remained so long. We've got the plan worked out and wealso took photographs of the entire surroundings so that investors cansee exactly what the difficulties will be, " explained John. 

"Oh, then we haven't lost it!" cried Polly and Eleanor together. 

"You couldn't lose it unless Old Grizzly split the whole side of themountain open and washed the gold down into the bottom. But theland-slide makes the mining more difficult in the beginning; oncethings are going, it will make no difference, excepting that there isalways the danger of fresh avalanches wreaking the same havoc this onehas done, " said Tom Latimer. 

"Well, I always had a theory that I believe will prove to divert a greatdeal of slide that does the damage, in a case like this one. And sincelooking around up on Top Notch, I'm sure my idea will work, " venturedJohn. 

"All I can say to that is, if you have such a theory it will prove morevaluable than Kenneth Evans' father's patent device for cutting lavajewels from Rainbow Cliffs!" laughed Eleanor. 

"What's that?" demanded John, while Tom Latimer wondered how thisChicago girl ever had heard of Dr. Evans' machine that his father wasfinancially interested in. 

Then Polly and Eleanor had the "speaker's chair" and they told all aboutKenneth, his father's patents, and Old Man Montresor's relationship tohim. 

"Why then, if this lad is the direct heir to Montresor, he must inheritthe mine!" declared John. 

"Not according to law, because Polly was left the claim, but we had todiscover it all over again under a new claim, you see, " explainedEleanor, anxiously. 

"That will make a fine little problem in law, I'm thinking, " laughedTom, shaking his head. 

"It would if all concerned could not agree, but _we_ all intend toagree--Ken said so!" exclaimed Polly, emphatically. 

"Oh--you-all know this 'Ken' so well, eh?" teased John. 

"Of course! And he is the nicest boy--as nice as Jim Latimer, anyway, "retorted Eleanor. 

Every one laughed, and Tom said: "Well, after paying my kid brother sucha left-handed compliment, I feel I must continue my work on that mineproblem. "

"Give us a chance to finish our reports, won't you, before you tell usyou gave away your interests, or launched us all in a will-contest, "added John, laughingly. Then he continued:

"Now this is what we have to say about Choko's Find: The pyramids oftrash now covering that area of Top Notch can be readily cleared away. We set fire to certain parts and opened a way to the ravine. There wefound the old gulch literally filled in with rocks, earth and roots, sothat we could not get through to find the cave. But we brought home bitsof gold ore, just the same. "

John rolled the nuggets across the table, and the girls gazed with batedbreath at what they believed had been buried forever under theland-slide. 

"We have much to tell you about this, so let's go to the living-room totalk, " suggested Mr. Brewster, rising. 

CHAPTER VIII

"POLLY-ELEANOR COMPANY, INC. "

The girls were impatient to hear about the plans Mr. Brewster and thetwo engineers had decided upon, but Mrs. Brewster smiled knowingly, asif she had already been told the secret. Mr. Brewster was morose andsilent, looking more as if he was compelled to consent to something as ajust and fair man, rather than from preference and desire. 

"Now don't you girls ask too many questions if you are displeased ordelighted at what we tell you, " began John, nodding to Tom to proceedwith his story. 

Having promised not to interrupt the important conference, the girls satexpectantly smiling at the chair-man of the meeting. 

"I have to preface our report on Choko's Find, by telling you-all abouta little company that was incorporated in New York several months ago. Father wrote me all about it. 

"Dr. Evans is a very clever inventor, as you now know, and having thisunusual device for cutting stones by machine, he called on father's lawfirm to secure a patent on it for him. Latimer Brothers make a specialtyof patents, you know. 

"Well, the doctor had but little money for the costs, and father saw agreat fortune in the invention if it was properly financed. So articlesof agreement were drawn up, that Latimer Brothers were to pay all costsof getting the machine on the market, and for this they were to share inthe stock of the company. 

"This was done and when the papers were ready and the shares of stockdivided between the principals, an injunction was served on Dad by atricky company in New York which claimed prior rights to the patent. This has held up everything so that Dr. Evans is not sure whether hewill ever realize anything out of his invention or not. Of course, weare fighting the legality of Ratzger & Wriggley's injunction and claims. 

"Having risked all his little bank account on the outcome of this ideaof his, the doctor now hasn't a cent to bless himself with. That is whyKenneth Evans was sent to work this summer, to earn his own keep. 

"Fortunately, Dad had a letter from Jim, who was out in the mountainswith a government survey crew, in which it said that they were short afew good men and two young apprentices such as he himself was. Kennethand Jim attended the same school at home, so Dad telephoned Dr. Evansabout the opening. That is how Ken happened to come West. 

"Now I hear that the Courts uphold Dr. Evans in his right to the patent, and the company can go on with their plans. If they can find suitablematerial to mine and without too much expense for apparatus, they willstart in at once with a close corporation. But should they find it willtake great capital to mine the right kind of stones, the originalmembers of the company may have to sell half of their rights, to getsufficient money to launch the work. Do you girls follow me as far as Ihave explained?"

"Oh, yes, it's clear as day, " replied Eleanor, impatiently. 

"Do you grasp the thing, Polly?" asked John. 

"I don't understand anything about stocks and corporations but I dounderstand what Tom has said, so far, " returned Polly. 

"Well, then, all right; I'll proceed, " said Tom. 

"When I first visited at Pebbly Pit with John, I saw the wonderfulcolored stones of Rainbow Cliffs and begged Mr. Brewster to allow me tosend on samples of them to father, as I was sure they were just what Dr. Evans sought for his machine to cut. But I could not make my friend, here, see any advantage in adding more money to his bank account. So Ihad to leave without having won my plea. 

"But I wrote father and told him all about the great store of unminedstones located in plain view at the Cliffs. Later, when the injunctionstopped all progress in the work, I almost forgot Rainbow Cliffs again. 

"But now that the 'Evans Jewel Cutter' is protected, and the owners arelooking for material to manufacture, the Rainbow Cliffs are in theforeground again for negotiation. 

"Then came the surprising telegram from Oak Creek, informing John aboutthe gold mine claimed by Polly. As we were told to reach Oak Creekwithout delay, we started without sending word to the folks at homeabout our leaving our summer work. And now this is what we have plannedregarding Choko's Find. 

"If father's firm, Mr. Brewster, and all the friends everywhere, couldscrape together all the money they had, it would not be sufficient tocarry out the work at Choko's Find. The conditions are such that everyprecaution must be taken to avoid, in the future, any danger from newland-slides. The lay of the land where the gold is hidden, is such thatthe vein may not run deep into the mountain--it may be merely a surfacedeposit in the cave. In this case, the real vein may be hidden so deepthat it would need the boring down into great depths to find the metal. All this will take time and money. 

"That means that Polly and Eleanor will have to sacrifice the greaterinterest in their mine to secure capital with which to work it. Or theycan sell the claim for cash--or they can arrange to be paid a royalty onall the ore metal mined. Where it is possible, it is always best toretain a controlling share of stock in the company formed. 

"John and I have pictures on hand and plans and engineering reports ofTop Notch and the claim. We also secured the specimen of gold that youhave there. I will tell you the thrilling experiences we had in gettingat the deposit, when I finish this plan. 

"To transport the ore from the mine to some station on the railroad, will necessitate a spur being built from Oak Creek, or a new line beingrun from the mainline at Denver over to Bear Forks. In either case, itwill cost a mint to build and run such a railway because of the longtunnels that will have to be cut through the mountains, and the lack ofother traffic over a new road. 

"Even a sort of switch-back railway running from the mine to the valleywill cost us more money than we can get together. So we would have totake in outside capital to supply the needs. OR----"

Here Tom Latimer paused to impress his hearers with what he was about tosay. Mr. Brewster moved uneasily in his arm-chair, but every one elsewas intensely interested. 

"The Polly-Eleanor Company can sell certain stock in their miningcompany to Sam Brewster. He, or his company that owns and works RainbowCliffs, can furnish capital to build and work things in connection withthe mines. 

"The Evans' Jewel Cutting Company will be harvesting such rich returnsfrom Rainbow Cliffs, that it will be able to supply all the capitalneeded to carry out the vast projects on Top Notch. And the voting stockin _both_ companies will be held by interested parties who canappreciate the fact that neither company can take advantage of the otherwithout both failing. It will be to the good of all concerned to seethat everything connected with both mines, is done on the level and tothe best of every one's ability. 

"Of course it will take a year or two before we can be ready to drilldown through that cave for the ore, but we can start in on RainbowCliffs without any delay and begin to reap the rewards of investment atonce. In the case of Mr. Brewster agreeing to have his Cliffs mined forthe stones, and the Polly-Eleanor Company agreeing to combine withEvans' Jewel Company for mining their gold, both can erect plants on thesame land, and use the same railroad for carrying their products to theoutside world. That will save a great expense because the cost ofbuilding and maintaining railroads and buildings, will be divided bytwo. "

Tom finished and John eagerly asked: "What do you-all think of our greatidea? Of course, Montresor's heirs ought to hold an interest, but shouldthey be Kenneth and his mother, it will simplify matters for all. "

That started such a babel of voices that Sam Brewster got up and leftthe room. But no one noticed his absence, as all were too interested inplanning for the fabulous wealth they conjured up in their thoughts. 

After more than an hour of animated discussion and explanation, it wasdecided to await the decision of the mechanics in the East who wouldexperiment on the stones from Rainbow Cliffs. A box of the stones wouldbe expressed at once, and a letter from John to Mr. Latimer wouldexplain everything. 

"What does father say to this, mother?" asked Polly. 

"He says that, as the ranch is legally mine, he has no vote in thematter. "

"Oh nonsense! Even if he did deed Pebbly Pit to you for a wedding gift, you always do everything to please him, " declared John. 

"Yes, but he refuses to say what he thinks is best in this matter, "added Mrs. Brewster. 

"Well, seeing that so much hinges on his willingness to coöperate withus, " announced John, impatiently, "I am going to say exactly what I havefelt to be the real cause of his disapproval of turning the Cliffs intomoney. "

Mrs. Brewster glanced anxiously from the window to see if her husbandcould hear what was said, but Sam Brewster had evidently wandered awayfrom the porch as he was not to be seen. 

"Father told Tom and me, while on Top Notch, that he really had nopersonal objections to having the stones mined from Rainbow Cliffs, butall unsightly machinery and the riff-raff of miners that would benecessary in such work, must be kept out of sight of the house. Heexplained that most of the working ends of the project could bestationed back of the cliffs down in the Devil's Causeway, and the roadthat would have to run to Bear Forks trail for the conveyance of thestone, could be cut through in back of the 'Guards' and 'The Imps' ofthe cliffs. 

"He then said that there was but one condition he exacted from any onewho was interested in the plan, and that was that no undue influencewould be brought to bear upon Polly to increase her desire to leave homefor a higher education. His consent will be willingly given, and he willaid us in every way to a successful issue if Polly agrees to remain athome and give up her plan to go away to school. "

As this unexpected ultimatum was given, every one gasped, and Pollycried: "Oh, no! Father didn't say that, did he?"

John remained silent, and Polly began to cry pathetically, as her chiefdelight in having found Choko's Find, was the fact that she would haveenough money of her own to not only go to High School, but also to gothrough one of the large women's colleges. Even if her father refusedto finance such an educational ideal, she would have had her own incometo draw upon. 

"Now wait a moment, Poll, before you lose all hope!" exclaimed John, quickly glancing from Anne to his mother, and then back to his sister. 

"I asked father if he would agree to your having a private teacher liveat Pebbly Pit to educate you, as you craved to be. He is more thanwilling to consent to this, as it is not the education or money hebegrudges you, but the need of your going away from home to get it. Nowisn't that fine?"

"Where can we find a teacher who will bury herself in this crater justto teach one girl?" demanded Polly, wiping her eyes. 

"W-h-y--I thought perhaps----" John stammered uncomfortably, thengathered courage to add: "Miss Stewart liked it at Bear Forks one year, and she has been teaching Eleanor for two years. She may agree to teach_you_ this year for a tempting salary. "

"Anne has had an unusual offer to teach a seminary class in New York, "said Mrs. Brewster, without any sign of partiality for any one or anyplan. 

"Oh!" remarked John. 

But Tom Latimer eagerly added: "We can offer Miss Stewart a bettersalary for her time than any New York school can, if she will agree tostay here and help us win our way to Rainbow Cliffs. "

Before Anne could reply, Polly cried: "But I don't _want_ any teacher tolive here and educate me! Can't you see that I want to go out, OUT--somewhere, anywhere, away from this volcanic pit where I have beenburied for fourteen years!"

Once Polly freed herself of the reticence of speaking of her own idealsand longings for experience, she almost volleyed forth her words, sothat every one sat astonished at her eloquence. 

"When John went away to school I was awfully lonesome for he used totake me everywhere he went, and we had good times. 

"Father and mother were good--but they don't know what the girl ofto-day craves! It isn't that we girls are brought up so differently fromour parents, or that they get modern ideas into their heads from mixingwith society girls or from reading of them. _It is in the air webreathe_--the desire to come out of swaddling clothes and take a standfor our individual rights! Every girl has the germ of self-expression inher somewhere, and if it is starved and choked by conventionalities andparental bonds, she is bound to find an outlet for her energy in someunprofitable way. If folks would only SEE that girls, to-day, arecapable of accomplishing what the _boys_ of to-day are doing, and thengive us a chance, there won't be so many slatterns and silly women-folkin the future. 

"I learned all I could get out of Bear Forks' school-books, but itwasn't half enough for me. Now I am going to go to High, or leave hometo work somewhere. I will not stay here to eat my heart out over theoutside world and what it is doing. I may be awfully disappointed when Iget acquainted with folks, outside, but at least I want the opportunityNOW, just as my brother John has it. 

"Mother and father took it as a matter of course, that their boy must goto college and carve a career for himself. But their girl ought never todream of such foibles--she must remain at home and learn to sew and cookand do all the household chores! If any sort of a decent rancher comesalong who wants to marry, then I must thank him and tie myself down totake care of his socks and buttons, and rear a fine family!

"No, _no_, NO! I tell you I just won't _do it_!" Polly fairly screamedout the last words and stamped her foot vehemently, as she stooddeclaring what she thought of such a life. 

Mrs. Brewster hid her face in a handkerchief--whether she was weeping ortrying to hide her gratification at hearing her daughter assert herrights in such a positive manner, no one knew. 

"W-h-y--Polly Brewster! You are positively unladylike in your manner ofspeaking of marriage and a future husband!" objected Barbara, shocked. 

Polly turned on her, as the proverbial worm turned:

"Pooh! What do _you_ know about real life! You--a silly selfish moth!All you can think of is money, clothes, beaus!

"You can't see a spider without fainting, and you mince about the momentyou hear John or Tom are near. You're not a woman of _to-day_! You're amanufactured specimen of the past generation. Thank goodness, such as_you_ are on the wane; and even modern men who are looking formates--not helpless weights upon their backs--select them from thebusiness world where girls are climbing to the top of the ladder as fastas conditions will permit them to. 

"Don't _you_ sit there with your powdered face and crimped-up hair andtell me I am unladylike! You never thought of being the lady yoursister is, and certainly I wouldn't say that you can hold a candle to_me_! I was brought up by a lady, and I call myself as thorough a one asany of your society friends!"

"Oh, Polly--dearest!" Eleanor squealed, running over and squeezing herfriend in her arms so that she gasped. Then releasing her, said: "Inever heard anything so glorious in my life! Not even the suffrageleader in Chicago, when she was stumping for 'Votes for Women, ' was everas thrilling as you!"

"Polly, you are right! A girl has as good a right to her individualexpression in life as any man has. I will champion your cause, henceforth, and even try to convince your father that he isnarrow-minded in his selfishness about tying you to his heels, " declaredAnne Stewart, bravely throwing down the "glove" to every one. 

Eleanor now transferred her hugs and admiration to Anne, and Mrs. Brewster lifted her face from the screen of a handkerchief to look atJohn. 

Tom Latimer and John exchanged looks, then turned to Mrs. Brewster. Johnwas the first to speak. 

"Mother, it looks as if 'Polly-Eleanor Company' are going to incorporatethemselves in spite of all we can do to claim their shares of stock. "

"I haven't a doubt but that the 'Polly-Eleanor Company, ' is bound tosucceed in any venture of life, " replied Mrs. Brewster. 

"Mother, you don't blame me for wanting to get away from you?" criedPolly, running over to her mother. 

"Dearest, I would be a poor mother if I expected to have my childrenhang about my neck to remind me that I ought to be petted and workedfor, just because I claimed the right of being their parent! Every nobleparent is only too willing to judiciously assist a child in finding hisor her own niche in life. 

"I have known for a long time that you would realize how stunting thisranch-life is to your unfolding aspirations. For me, it embraces allthat I love and have, but for you two ambitious children of my youngerdays, it would be a veritable grave. 

"I feel exactly as Anne does about this step--try your own wings, dearchild, and wisely select your own walk in life. No father or mother canlive your life for you, but they can guide and warn you away from snaresand pitfalls. When a child has cast aside its 'swaddling clothes, ' asyou said, it must stand alone. 

"I have argued this out with your father, many times this past year, buthe clings fondly to the belief that you are too young to leave home; andhe has persisted in holding you in the material concept, instead ofrealizing that you are purely mental and must feed your mental hungerwith proper nourishment. 

"I had another argument with him this evening, after his return from theSlide. He expected to convince me that everything would go to ruin ifthe Cliffs were worked and you were allowed to go away to school. But Iturned the tables: I convinced _him_ that he was standing in your lightof a future glory by keeping you limited in your realization of anideal. That only a family disaster and your unhappiness, must resultfrom such old-fashioned views. 

"He finally agreed that if you and the others, here, said that a highereducation was what his girl craved and needed, he would withdraw allobjections--once for all. That is why he left us--to discuss and settlethis momentous question. Polly, you have won!"

Polly flung her arms about her mother's neck and wept softly: "But poorfather! At what costs have I won?"

"S-sh! Don't let any one hear you weaken now. This is the moment ofyour triumph, and you must not look back lest you be turned to a 'pillarof salt, '" whispered her mother. 

"Then father _did_ agree to have Polly go to school?" asked John, curiously. 

"Yes, if you-all agreed that it was for the best. "

"And are we to have the Cliffs if the stone proves valuable?" eagerlyadded Tom Latimer. 

"Having waived his right to keep Polly at home, he says we can turn thewhole crater upside-down if we like, " said Mrs. Brewster, smilingly. "But I wouldn't goad him, too far, just now. We have won such a mightyvictory, that you haven't the faintest idea of what it means to thevanquished. It is doubtful if we can know anything definite about theCliffs for the next two or three weeks, so let us not speak of it untilthen. "

"But, Mrs. Brewster, if Anne goes to New York to teach, and takes hermother, where will Polly stay? I've been thinking how fine it will be tohave her live with me in Chicago, " said Eleanor, eagerly. 

"Why--Eleanor Maynard! You can't invite strangers to your mother's home!It may not be convenient to have any one there this winter, " objectedBarbara. 

"Well, don't borrow trouble, Bob! It's father's home as well asmother's, and I can ask a friend to stay with me if I like. "

"I wouldn't think of ever going to your home, Nolla dear. I'd love toknow your father from all you tell me, but I never would stay in thathouse, " declared Polly, quickly. 

"We have several weeks to discuss a school for Polly, " remarked Mrs. Brewster, rising to go out and seek her husband. 

"I'd love to be with Anne, " ventured Polly, wistfully. 

"Maybe you will, dear. Don't say any more about it, now, but trust toyour dear mother's wisdom and ways. Whatever is best for you, she willsee that it is brought about, " replied Anne, thus winning a gratefulsmile from John. 

Barbara now went to her room, as she felt the company was notappreciative of her presence, and was too attentive on Polly. Polly andEleanor went over to incidentally ask Tom Latimer about certain detailsin Evans' patent, and more especially what did he know about KennethEvans. As both girls were acquainted with Jim Latimer, they had not thesame curiosity to hear any one talk about him. 

But John took advantage of this trio tête-à-tête to hurry Anne out ofthe room. Quite naturally, they took the path that ran about the side ofthe house, where the rose-climbers cast heavy shadows in the moonlight. Thence they walked, arm in arm, along the crater-trail where it led tothe Cliffs. 

CHAPTER IX

JEB'S SUNDAY NIGHT OFF

Jim Latimer and Kenneth Evans made their appearance much earlier onSunday morning, than they had on the previous one. When greetings withhis brother, and the family at Pebbly Pit were over, Jim explained: "TheBoss lifted his ban on using the horses, when he found his men grumblingall week over their wretched Sunday. "

Of course, the two new arrivals were interested in hearing all about thegold mine and its present condition, not only because there might be apossibility that Kenneth's uncle was the Montresor who first discoveredthe vein of ore, but also because Polly and Eleanor were such good pals, and they deserved something big like a gold mine! Which goes to showthat youth needs no time or preparation to discover and appreciate anydesirable qualities of mind and soul. 

Barbara was in her element that Sunday, as John escorted Anne whereverthey went, and the two younger girls had Jim and Kenneth forcompanions. So, quite naturally, Tom Latimer fell to her lot. As she hadbeen carefully trained to make the most of any opportunity offered, especially with a rich and desirable young man for the prize, she usedevery art to captivate Tom. But the young man was sensibly educated andwondered why really good-looking girls should act as silly as Barbaradid on this occasion. 

He felt embarrassed at having to look at her from time to time, as shewas powdered and rouged as she would have been for a ballroom in thecity, and poor Tom thought that, perhaps, she had some loathsomeirruption on her face that necessitated this covering of the naturalskin. Consequently he managed to keep his eyes turned away that the girlmight not feel too unhappy over her trouble. 

But Barbara thought her cavalier was so effected that he could not lookat her without feeling her powers of beauty and attraction; so she posedand minced her way as she fondly believed into Tom's plastic heart. Hadshe but known the truth!

A merry family group sat down, at noon, to the delicious dinner servedunder the giant oak-tree. And Mr. Brewster, as affable as if he had notbeen tried by a family-court the night previous, asked the younger boyshow their survey-work was progressing. 

"Oh fine! We have lots of fun in camp, and when we go out on a sectionthe work is so interesting!" exclaimed Kenneth. 

"With such a large crowd of men, I suppose you two boys are consideredmore as kids who are to be teased and imposed upon, eh?" asked TomLatimer, having read his brother's letters about the crew. 

"That's the best part of the crowd--they seem to forget that we both aretenderfeet and years younger than they are. Ken and I are treatedexactly like any of the older men in the crew, " replied Jim. 

"Yes, we are paired off with certain groups to rain-proof the canvastents, to act as commissary agents, and to share in all the chores theothers do. Just because Jim has a rich father and because I have to workfor a living, makes no difference to them. Caste and wealth counts asnothing out in these wilds. It is what a fellow stands for and can provethat is his introduction and guarantee of manliness, " added Kenneth. 

"Did your crew move to a new line, as you thought they would?" askedEleanor. 

"Yes, we are now at Silver Creek, but we only have another week's workto do there. Then we move on to the next section which will be nearBuffalo Park. Isn't that the place where you said Old Montresor had acabin?" said Jim. 

"Yes, and it is a lovely spot. I've been there, and I promised Nolla I'dride there with her some day, " returned Polly. 

"Oh, I say, girls! Wouldn't it be great to have you-all ride up while wecamped there? You could make up a party of it, couldn't you?" askedKenneth, eagerly. 

"And we'd get Old Carew to give you a _regular_ party! The men in ourcrowd are gentlemen from different parts of the States, and they wouldhelp us entertain, " added Jim. 

"I think it would be a treat, Mrs. Brewster, for all of us. John and Iwould join the picnickers, " now said Tom Latimer. 

"Say, would you really, Tom?" cried Jim, delightedly. 

"Sure thing. If Mr. And Mrs. Brewster approve. "

John looked at his mother. "It will be dandy, Mother, if you and Dadwill go, too. "

"Father and I wouldn't go, John, if Tom and you will escort the girls, "returned Mrs. Brewster. 

"Oh, but we couldn't think of going, Mrs. Brewster, unless youchaperoned us among so many men!" exclaimed Barbara. Then when she sawTom Latimer looking at her she modestly drooped her head. 

Tom was thinking: "Of all the empty-headed vain creatures it ever was mymisfortune to meet, she takes the cake!"

"That needn't trouble you, girls. If you will come on a Saturday andspend Sunday at camp with us, we will have the Boss's wife there to actas hostess. Mrs. Carew always spends Sundays at camp--unless the Bossrides down to town to visit her. Sometimes she brings the school teacherfrom Oak Creek, or other ladies who enjoy the novel life in a surveycamp, " explained Jim, enthusiastically. 

"Do let's go, Anne! Can't we say yes?" said Eleanor, eagerly. 

"How long will both of you boys be here?" Anne asked of John. 

"We planned to wait until we hear, one way or the other, regarding thestones we sent to New York, and about the financing of Choko's Find. Perhaps Dad and Dr. Evans might even come out and look the ground overfor themselves, before answering my letter, " said John. 

"Then we could safely arrange to go next Sunday, or the Sunday after?"

"Oh, yes, we will be home for a month, most likely. "

John's voice betrayed his satisfaction that such was to be the case, andAnne smiled faintly, because she could not control her own pleasure inhearing him say so. Mrs. Brewster and Tom Latimer exchanged glances ofunderstanding but no one else saw them. 

So it was decided that if Mrs. Carew was to visit her husband over thefollowing week-end, and the weather permitted, the young folks wouldform a party to ride up to Buffalo Park on Saturday. With this pleasurein view, the two boys went back to camp in the early afternoon, thedistance being so far from Pebbly Pit, that it would be quite darkbefore they reached camp. 

After they had gone, Polly and Eleanor wandered around at a loss forsomething to do. Being Sunday, their sports were limited to a quiettime. So they decided to visit the corrals and see Noddy and Choko, asthe burros had been neglected by their riders during the past few daysof the excitement over gold. 

They were passing the wagon-house, when Polly caught hold of Eleanor'sarm for silence. Both girls listened and distinctly heard a manspeaking in dramatic tones. The voice was not recognizable, althoughPolly had not heard of any new hand having been hired. 

"Ef Ah wasn't shore we-all'd be happy, Ah never would be h'ar askin' furyor hand an' heart. " Then there was a pause. 

A low mumbling followed, and then the voice again cried:

"Ef you-all w'arn't my match, Ah'd go away and nary trouble this ranchagin. But folkses kin see we-all w'ar made fer each other. Even Johnsays so!" Then sounded another jumble of incoherent words. 

"Who under the sun is it? A couple who are in love with each other?"wondered Eleanor, aloud, as she turned to Polly. 

"Whoever it is, they are behind the wagon-shed. Let's creep up to theharness loft and see who it is. There isn't another woman on the farmbeside Sary, and I'm sure I saw her in the house, when we left there. "

Polly led the way up the ladder to the loft, and then they creptcarefully across the floor until she reached the wide loft-window. Thisshe opened quietly and tilted the slats so they could look down in theyard behind the barn. 

There sat Jeb with a few loose pages from a pamphlet in his hands. Hewas memorizing the words, and as he did so he mumbled them. 

Every time he had mastered a certain paragraph, he would stand up, strike a pose, and declaim in an unnatural voice, to the pig-sty thatwas not more than twenty feet away from the sheds. 

Suddenly Polly clapped a hand over her mouth and rocked back and forth. Instantly Eleanor wanted to know what the joke was. 

"Oh, oh! I know now where Jeb got that paper book. It was advertised inour Farm Journal as being the most complete education on how to proposegracefully to a woman that man ever could find. I just bet Jeb sent forit, one day, when he asked me to address an envelope for him. He must bepracticing to ask some Oak Creek girl to marry him. "

Both girls now smothered their laughter, for the idea of simple littleJeb in love with some one was too funny for words. He seemed terribly inearnest, however, as he stood up again and declared his love, and beathis breast and pretended to tear at his hair:

"'Ef you-all refuse me Ah shall end mah wretched existence! What is lifewiddout love? Oh, beuchus maiden--' no, no, Ah musen't call her'_maiden_' er she'll knock me down, " murmured Jeb, scratching his headin perplexity. 

His audience almost choked with laughter, but he suddenly brightened upagain and said to himself: "Yeh, that's it! She'll like thet. " Then hebegan again with one hand over his heart and the other tearing at thethin covering of hair on his head, "'Ef you-all refuse me Ah shall endthis wretched life--' no, _no_! Ah shall end this wretched EXISTENCE!What is life widdout love? Oh, beau-chus _widder_, will you-all bemine?"

As Jeb spoke his last lines, he smirked to himself and said: "Thar now, Jeb! That'll fetch her, er John's all wrong. "

Polly and Eleanor looked at each other in consternation. Who was thewidow--and what had John to do with this proposal?

Jeb was placing the little paper book in his breast pocket when thegirls looked out again. Then he picked up the bucket of swill and ranover to feed the pigs. His audience, up in the loft, heard him stillreciting various love-thrilling lines to himself, as the pigs gruntedand snorted and ate their supper. But Eleanor said they'd better getaway before Jeb found them. 

[Illustration: JEB WAS PRACTICING LOVE-MAKING FROM A BOOK. 

_Polly and Eleanor. _ _Page 169_]

Polly studied her brother's face keenly, during supper, but John seemedas free from guile as any babe. So after the table was cleared, she wentup to him and whispered: "Did you tell Jeb to propose to any widow youknow?"

"Why?" John's eyes twinkled with fun. 

"Because he was behind the shed all afternoon, reciting impassionedlines he had learned in a paper book. We heard him say that that wouldfetch the widow or you wasn't as wise as you seemed to be. "

John laughed loudly, and merely murmured: "We ought to be on guardto-night, lest Jeb commit some folly. Better watch him, Polly, and seewhere he goes, eh?"

"He never goes anywhere on Sunday nights. He sits on the terrace by thecrater and smokes his pipe. "

"Well, he is safe there, but if you see him come by, all togged out inhis church clothes, let me know and I'll see that he comes to no harm. He may be a bit off, you know, " John lightly tapped his head as hespoke. 

"Oh, I hope not. Jeb is such a _good_ hand. Father would never know whatto do without him. Perhaps we'd best tell father of your suspicions, "cried Polly, deeply concerned. 

"No, no! Don't bother father. I'll take care of Jeb. You just see thathe keeps quiet, to-night, wherever he goes to smoke his pipe. "

Innocent Polly then sought for Eleanor, who had been called to thekitchen by Sary. Polly found her giving a plaid ribbon and a corsagenosegay to Sary. But it developed that the maid had higher aspirationsthan ribbon and flowers. 

"Miss Nolla, Ah see'd a figgered dress a-hangin' from the hook in yurroom, one day. No one never wears it, an' Ah wuz wonderin' ef it wasyur's, er Miss Bob's, er Miss Anne's?"

"Oh, that is a striped dimity that mother must have packed by mistake. It happens to be one of _hers_, so we hung it back in the corner till wego home again. "

"Ah s'pose yur Maw woulden mind much ef she lent it to me ferto-night--eh?" hinted Sary. 

"I don't suppose mother will ever think of it again, as it is lastyear's style, anyway. I'll take the risk of _giving_ it to you, Sary, ifyou promise never to let Bob know where it went. "

"Oh, Ah shore will promise, Miss Nolla! And Ah kin tell you-all Ah'll bethe happiest gal in the West, to-night!" Sary said, giggling like averitable school-girl. 

Polly watched her depart with the coveted dress over her arm, then sheturned to Eleanor. "All the help are going crazy, it seems to me!"

About half an hour later, Sary was seen stealing from the kitchen door, and tip-toeing over the brick pathway towards the "Second-best" hammockthat always swung behind the lilac bushes. It was a nice little retreatfor any one wishing to take a nap on a sultry afternoon, but Polly hadnever known Sary to have a weakness for swinging. 

"Do you know, Nolla, if I didn't have to watch for Jeb, I'd just love tofollow after Sary and see what she is up to, " said Polly to Eleanor, asboth girls sat alone on the porch steps. 

"Jeb! Why, I saw him come from the barn all dressed up in his churchclothes. He turned down the Shrubbery Walk, " replied Eleanor. 

"Did he have his pipe?" asked Polly, anxiously. 

"No, he looked around at every step as if to make sure no one wasfollowing him. "

"Dear me! I promised John I'd keep my eye on him!" cried Polly, distressed beyond words. 

"What's the matter? I can show you where he went, " said Eleanor, comfortingly. 

So she led Polly to the place where Jeb had left the road and turneddown to the shrubbery walk. The two girls walked over the soft sod thatgave forth no sound, and quite suddenly came upon a scene that causedEleanor to crush her handkerchief into her mouth to choke her laughter, while Polly stood speechless. 

Sary sat in the hammock, one foot used to propel herself gently back andforth. The newly-acquired striped dress was such a tight fit for herrubicund form, that it cracked ominously every time the wearer took adeep breath. But the short-coming of the two fronts over her ample bosomwas camouflaged with the plaid ribbon and many pins. The corsage bouquetwas tucked high under her chin where it would show most. 

It was not very dark as yet, so the girls could see how dreadfully whiteSary seemed to be, and her lips were startlingly crimson. SuddenlyEleanor guessed the truth. 

"She's gone and used Bob's powder and rouge! Oh, how funny!"

Then, before either one of the accidental eaves-droppers could sayanother word, Sary perked her head sideways, like a hen does when ithears a strange sound. She quickly frizzed up her hair by ruffing itbackwards, and patted the ribbon on her waist-front, then gently usedher foot again to propel the hammock back and forth. 

Gradually it dawned upon Polly and Eleanor what all this meant! Theycould see Jeb coming from behind the lilac bushes, some ten feet awayfrom the swinger. He seemed ill at ease, and loosened his stiff collar, pulled down his vest, and cleared his throat several times. 

"Oh, Poll! He's going to propose to the 'widder'!" whispered Eleanor, burying her face in Polly's back to stop the spasm of laughter. 

Polly was too hypnotized to reply, or move, and Jeb soon was heard tosay: "Sary, Ah cum 'cuz you-all invited me to be compny t'night. "

"So Ah did, Jeb. Won't you-all sit in th' hammick beside me?" came fromSary, coyly. 

"It broke thru, last season, Sary, an Ah mended it. But Ah ain't shoreit'll hol' enny more'n you. " However, Jeb moved two or three feet nearerthe hammock. 

"It's a fine evenin', Jeb, " suggested Sary, as seriously as if theweather was the subject uppermost in her mind, just then. 

Jeb gazed up and around as if to verify Sary's statement, then admitted, slowly: "Yeh, it 'pears to be fine. "

Silence reigned for several moments, then Sary said very sweetly(Eleanor whispered to Polly that she must have had a mouthful ofhoney), "Ah shore am glad to see you, Jeb. Won't you-all sit down onthis stool?"

The girls then saw that Sary had provided the three-legged milk-stoolfor her visitor. But it was too close to Sary for Jeb's peace of mind. He reached out very warily and caught hold of one leg of the stool, andpulled it towards him. Then he sat gingerly on the edge of it. 

But Sary was determined to carry off a captive that night, or waste allof her ammunition in the attempt. 

"Ah jes' loves to swing, but Ah cain't tech the ground easy when Ah'msittin' back. Would you-all mind swingin' me, Jeb?"

Jeb got up slowly from his stool and took hold of the upper end strandsof the hammock. He pulled it back and forth a few times, while Sarysmiled alluringly up at him. Then he cleared his throat and began tospeak. 

"This world was made fur love. Oh, what woul' arth be widdout de flowersof love to parfume our way?" Jeb coughed. 

Now this was just the sort of romance Sary had always _dreamed_ of butnever heard before, and she sighed heavily as her visitor coughed. IfJeb needed encouragement, she was not the one to disappoint him!

He gave the hammock a strong tug as he began another line. Sary had tocatch hold of the edges to prevent herself from being thrown backward. 

"Man wuz not made to live alone. Th' Good Book says so. What so gloriousez a sweet bride waitin' t' welcome a man after a hard day's labor? Whatman is thar what woulden give his wealth of all Crows-see-us fer love?"

Jeb pronounced the unfamiliar word very carefully, but Sary had neverheard of Croesus, so it mattered not how Jeb said it. But Polly andEleanor were clasping each other tightly now, to keep from making asound that would ruin the entertainment. 

Again Jeb cleared his throat with difficulty and pulled at the hammockas if he was trying to drag a whale from the deep sea. Sary uttered nocomplaint, however, even though her neck almost snapped at each suddenjerk. She was wise enough to realize that the momentous time had comefor Jeb. He might never again summon courage, if he failed to-night!

Without further warning, then, Jeb began his memorized lines, and as heprogressed with the "love sonnet" he unconsciously swung the hammockhigher and higher. 

"Ef Ah wuzn't shore we-all w'ar made fur each other Ah wooden be ha'rbeggin' fur yur heart an' hand. "

A long and mighty pull on the hammock almost landed Sary out in thegrass, but she clung like a vise to the hempen ropes. 

"Enny one kin see we-all w'ar made fur each other, oh darlin' of mahheart! Soul of mah soul!" Jeb coughed violently as he remembered he wastwo paragraphs ahead in his speech. Now he couldn't remember what wentjust before that "soul of my soul!" but he knew the tragic part toperfection, so he skipped all that went before and ended with:

"Ef you-all refuse me, Ah shall end this wretched existence in lifewiddout love! Oh, beauchus maiden" (strangling as he realized he shouldhave said "widder" and now utterly confounded, he said): "Oh, Sary! bemah widder widdout mah love--NO, Sary, be mah wife widdout my widder. Oh, Sary, Ah don't know what Ah----"

In his frenzy, Jeb yanked on the hammock so manfully that the mendedstrands suddenly sundered and Sary was unexpectedly thrown into hersuitor's arms. 

Such an unforeseen accident, however, found Sary ready with presence ofmind to meet the emergency. She flung her powerful arms about Jeb'sslender form and smacked him heartily on the lips. The dramatic loverthen trembled and gasped for breath. How to get away safely was all hecould think of. But Sary, as tenacious in her hold as "ivy on the sturdyoak, " managed to calm her lover's fears. 

"Oh, Jeb! _What_ a wooer you-all do make! Ah never dreamed a man couldtalk so wonderful!" Sary sighed and placed her head down upon Jeb'sshoulder. 

Now had Jeb accepted this sweet praise and been satisfied therewith, hiswooing need not have ended so abruptly, but manlike, he wanted to hearadded words of flattery about himself, so he sat down on thethree-legged stool, and drew the over-willing Sary upon his knee. 

"Ah forgot to say half what is in mah soul, Sary, " he began, as hislines came back to him. "Oh, Ah must tell you-all what joy you fill mewid, when you consent to listen to mah cause----"

In leaning back to emphasize his speech with an out-flung arm, Jeb losthis balance, and the stool being treacherous on its three legs, promptlyturned over and sent both lovers from ecstasy down to earth. As Sary andJeb managed to get upon their feet, they thought they heard sounds ofsmothered laughter and scampering feet over the brick walk, but whenthey got from behind the lilac bushes to reconnoiter, everything betweenthe kitchen and the Shrubbery Walk was silent as the tomb. 

CHAPTER X

A TRIP TO BUFFALO PARK

Word was received through Jeb, who met Jake at Oak Creek, that Mrs. Carew would spend the week-end at Camp to welcome the party from theranch; so the young folks at Pebbly Pit eagerly prepared for the trip toBuffalo Park. The panniers were packed with luncheon for the riders, besides the cakes and home-made pies which Mrs. Brewster sent to theboys in camp. 

At dawn on Saturday morning, the party started, Mrs. Brewster watchingthem ride down the trail until they disappeared back of Rainbow Cliffs. Then she went back to attend to her household duties. 

Polly rode Noddy as usual, and Eleanor had Choko. The other four membersof the party rode horses, but one extra burro, Nigger, was taken tocarry the luggage. The trail from Bear Forks across the mountain-sidewas very rough, being seldom used; most riders, going to Buffalo Park, took the old worn trail that ran from Silver Creek. 

Finally, the going was found to be so steep that it was deemed best toattach the pack-burro to John's horse, by means of a rope. This wouldnecessitate the burro following after John's horse instead of wanderingaway in the maze of forest trees. 

But sometimes, these little burros get stubborn when they are made tofollow in the rear of a horse, and it was so with Nigger. He acted likea sulky child, and made the girls laugh at his contrary behavior. Heseemed to have lost all individual ambition, and made John's horse draghim at the unusually hard places in the trail. 

They had been climbing steadily for two hours and hoped soon to reachthe clearer trail that ran direct to Buffalo Park. But the trees grew soclosely together, now, that they offered obstructions in every directionthe horses went. Sometimes it was even necessary for the riders todismount and follow after the horses to eliminate the extra width causedby stirrups and legs. 

Nigger's panniers were packed with food, cooking utensils to use whileon the trail, and rifles. This bulky roll projected over a foot oneither side of him, often creating a "blockade" in the narrow goingbetween trees. 

John's horse, being unable to read blazes as easily as his rider could, would choose the wrong turn now and then, sulkily followed by Nigger. Then the horse would come to a spot impossible to pass through and woulddecide to back out. Nigger, with his clumsy pack and grouchy manner, stood and fairly laughed at such times. Polly and Eleanor enjoyed thesefunny experiences thoroughly; but John felt annoyed, as he wished toappear his best before Anne, and how can a young gallant impress hislady-love favorably when his horse is making a fool of itself?

While Nigger and Snowball (John's horse was white) were engaged indisentangling themselves from one of these snarls, the other riders wentahead. Finding John was not immediately behind, they halted and turnedto watch him get his two steeds straightened out and going again. 

All was serene once more and Snowball started briskly up the trail, butunfortunately, she went about a tree on one side of the trail whileNigger insisted upon choosing the other side. Both were suddenly yankedup when the tie-rope tautened about the tree, so that John was almostthrown out of the saddle. Neither beast would give in but tuggedstubbornly to make the other waive his right of way, until finally, Johnhad to jump down again, and compel Snowball to walk back and around thetree on the right side, where the burro waited. 

Nigger stood with neck stretched and his mouth half-open, while his eyesgleamed impishly. John roared at the expression on the burro's face, astrue to a malicious grin as ever a human could produce it. Then theyresumed the climb. 

But Nigger had found a new way to tantalize Snowball. He would step upona stone and allow it to trip him. This would make his pack strike thetree on the side he rolled. Then the tree, resisting the impact, wouldslew him back again. Naturally, every time he performed this way, Snowball was unceremoniously yanked up too, and this sudden stoppinginterfered with John's conversation with Anne. 

After Polly had laughed herself weak over Nigger's clever performances, she called to John. "No use! You'll have to give Nig his freedom! He'llland Snowball in kingdom come if you keep him tied. "

So wise little Nigger was freed once more, and thereafter he walked ascircumspectly as any good burro should. But the going was better, too, with the trail running through miles and miles of dark green forests, patterned here and there with golden stretches of mesa and parks. 

"Are you sure you know the trail, Polly?" asked John, as he gazed aboutat the unfamiliar path. 

"Oh, yes, I've gone this way lots of times when Mr. Montresor lived inthe cabin where Carew's men are now camping. "

"Well, if it is much farther, then I say we'd best halt for something toeat. "

"I will second that motion whether it is far or near. We had best have abite, as we will have to wait for the crew's dinner-time when we arrivein camp, " added Tom Latimer. 

So the riders dismounted and hastily prepared a luncheon. When they wereready to proceed on the way, Nigger found his pack much lighter thanbefore, so he, too, was delighted to have had the humans stop for lunch. 

It was past noon before the visitors reached Carew's Camp, but oncethere, they were given a hearty welcome by every one. Cookee had beenmixing and stirring viands ever since the breakfast had been clearedaway, and now he was ready to smile satisfactorily at results, for hewas going to give these guests a rare meal that day. 

Mrs. Carew was a Chicago lady and, for once, Barbara was happy, as shefound her hostess knew several people that the Maynards felt wereexalted enough to be classed "in their set. "

As soon as their section master gave them the afternoon's vacation, JimLatimer and Kenneth appropriated Polly and Eleanor, and the four startedoff on fresh horses from the corral, for an excursion. 

Jim wanted to ride to one of the peaks where they had surveyed thatweek, and show the girls the far-off desert that stretched for miles andmiles between Buffalo Park and the Lincoln Memorial Highway. 

The trail was well defined, as the crew had traveled it twice a day thatweek, and had worn down cactus and sage-brush. 

The four finally reached the pinnacle where the gray expanse of sandcould be seen stretching out to meet the blue sky on the horizon, andJim laughingly remarked: "Ken and I came near finding a sandy gravethere the other day. "

"How?" eagerly asked the girls. 

"Why, we were sent with our superior, to tie up a line at the edge ofthe desert down there, and having done so, one of the crew saw a finelittle bit of water and a few trees growing about it, not more thanhalf-a-mile from where we were working. 

"We concluded it would make an admirable place to rest and have lunch, and give the horses a good drink, too, at the same time. So we allstarted over the sand to enjoy the unusual oasis. 

"Well, we kept on going and going, but the darn old oasis seemed as faraway as ever. Suddenly, I thought I was going queer in my head, becauseit slowly vanished like mist. I rubbed my eyes and called on Ken toverify the fact. Then you should have heard the men swear! Phew!"

Both boys laughed as they recalled the irritation of the men who foundthey had been riding for a mirage--And lunch farther off than ever. 

"However, we saw a gigantic bowlder of lava and sand rear its head fromthe desert a short distance off, so we decided to make for that and seeif there was a crevice in its side where we might find shelter from thebaking sun. 

"We left the horses hobbled while we scrambled up its sides to look forany projection that would cast a shadow for us. 

"The men separated when we started to climb, but we all met at the topwithout having found any shade. The wind that blew across the desert, was comparatively cool, however, so we sat on the uncomfortable spikesof lava and planned where we might have something to eat. 

"Ken turned to speak to me, and a great mass of shale broke away fromhis feet and rolled down the steep sides of the crag. But he managed tocatch himself from slipping. Then we began breaking off fragments ofshale and tried to see who could throw it the farthest out on thedesert. We laid wagers, and one of the party said he would go down, after a bit, and mark the ones that were prize-winners. That made uslaugh as no one would ever be able to find any individual chunk of shaleout on that wild place. 

"The breeze that had been blowing rather too strong, now becamestronger, and then Prang, who was in charge of us, that day, shaded hiseyes with a hand and stared off at the horizon. We all gazed in the samedirection, but we were not experienced enough to know what it was hesaw. 

"'My God, boys! slide down this crag as fast as you can--that's a stormblowing across the sands. It will hit us in a few moments. Grab thehorses or they'll bolt and we'll all be lost on the desert!'"

"Gee! didn't we get down those awful sides. Ken slid more than half-waydown, then he lost his grasp on the side. His back and arms are allscraped now, from the way he rolled the rest of the way. "

The girls sympathized with Ken, but he laughed away the thought that hehad been too tender to stand such a test. 

"Well, most of us got down and had caught our horses before thesand-storm struck us, but two of our crowd had to stumble through theterrific storm that blinded them. Had we not kept on calling andshouting to direct them, they would have wandered away and been buried. 

"It was an awful experience, but now that it is over, I'm glad we hadit. I will have _something_ to brag about when I'm at college, thisFall. "

Ken laughed. "I'd rather not brag than to go through such a hair-raisingtime again. "

"Do both of you boys intend going to college?" asked Eleanor. 

"Yes; we've gone through school together since we were little shavers. And that's quite a record for boys in New York, where folks are alwaysmoving from one district to another, " replied Jim. 

"I believe your brother Tom said you were going to Yale?" continuedEleanor. 

"We will, if we pass the tests. I'm sure Ken will, but I'm not so sureof myself. "

"Now--don't belittle yourself. You know you will pass, " added Kenneth. 

"I'm sorry you both will be away from home, because Polly and I expectto attend school in New York this Winter, " remarked Eleanor. 

"Me? School in New York?" cried Polly, astonished. 

"Why, yes, of course! Didn't you know what was in my mind when I decidedI would like to go to New York with Anne Stewart?"

"But that doesn't mean _I'm_ going there!" exclaimed Polly. 

"Of course you are. I don't want to go without you, so I shall scheme towin your folks over to my way of thinking. "

"Well, all I can say, is this: If you win them over to see how importantit is for me to go to school in New York, you are a wizard--that's all!"declared Polly, laughingly. 

"Your laugh sounds dubious, but I'll show you, pretty soon. "

"Now, if you two girls should find yourselves in New York, we will haveour folks meet you and pilot you through the wilderness. It's worsethan out here on the mountains, you know, " laughed Jim. 

"In case I don't pass for college, I won't mind so much, as long as yougirls will be in the city to console me, " added Kenneth, gallantly. 

They laughed. "We won't waste much time consoling any one, I can tellyou, " added Polly. 

"No; Polly and I are going to study some profession, you know, and beginbusiness as soon as we complete our education. "

"What?" exclaimed Jim, surprised to hear such young girls plan for abusiness life. 

"Yep! Polly is just daffy over interior decorating, and since she showedme all her magazines and other books on it, I am crazy about it, too. "

"But you don't have to study _that_!" declared Kenneth. 

"That shows how little a man knows about it. Why, not only must adecorator--a real one, we mean--know all about periods in architectureand furnishings of all kinds, but she must know at a glance, whether anobject is genuine antique or a counterfeit, " explained Eleanor, glad toimpress her male friends with her understanding of what is essentially awoman's profession. 

"Besides that, " added Polly, "a good interior decorator must know thename of a painter of pictures, --whether an old master or a modernartist. Not an engraving or etching shown but the good decorator oughtto be able to say who did it, and name its date. 

"There are lots of counterfeit antique china sold to-day, but a gooddecorator can tell instantly whether it is real antique or not. 

"Besides china and pictures, one must be able to name a rug--itsqualities and value, at a glance. As for draperies and wall-hangings, well! It all has to be thoroughly learned, " said Polly. 

"I always thought a man took up interior decorating just because hehappened to have been an upholsterer or fresco painter. I never knewthere was any studying to be done, first, " said Jim. 

"You didn't, eh! Well then, let me tell you this much; Polly and Iintend to use our money from the mine, to put us both through school inNew York. Any other city would do, I suppose, only Anne Stewart will bethere, and I never can study under any one else! So I have to attendclass in New York, " Eleanor spoke with the greatest assurance that allshe said had already been agreed to by Polly's family. 

"Then when Polly and I have had a year or two with Anne, we will take aspecial course in some one of the best schools on the subject. Thiscourse finished, we propose going to Europe to study Italian, French, Spanish, and English periods and styles. If we have an extra year or so, to spare, we might go to Japan and Egypt, as I just adore those twolands. "

"W-h-y! Eleanor! You never mentioned a word of this to me before! Whotold you we could go?" gasped Polly. 

Eleanor laughed merrily. "You big innocent! Why, _I_ just told you_myself_--that we were going abroad. "

"If I ever manage to break away from Pebbly Pit after the awful speech Imade recently, I'll be lucky, and let New York or Europe alone!" laughedPolly. 

"You never would have had gumption to speak as you did, Polly, if ithadn't been for my training you. This is what I have done to you--youare growing to be more independent of others. "

Eleanor smiled self-complacently at Polly, but the latter retorted: "Iowe you nothing on an exchange, Nolla, because you must admit that Ihave filled you up with ideas you never dreamed of before you came tothe ranch!"

"Shake, old girl!" laughed Eleanor, holding out her hand. 

"But about New York--girls. It would be great if you can fix it. Ken andI will be home every holiday, and perhaps we can run down from NewHaven, now and then, over Sundays, " remarked Jim, eagerly. 

Eleanor held up an assuring hand, as she nodded her wise little headknowingly and said: "Leave it to Nolla, boys!"

They laughed and agreed that there was no one else that could arrangeaffairs any better!

Polly sat mute, for she wondered if it ever would come true--whatEleanor had planned about Europe. In her wildest fancies she had neverdared allow her thought to outline _such_ possibilities. But here was aharum-scarum friend who seemed to get everything she wanted by merelysaying, "We must have it, you know!"

"I guess we'd better be starting back to camp, " suggested Kenneth, looking up at the sun. 

"Yes, it will take us fully an hour, riding down, " agreed Jim. 

So they helped the girls into their saddles, and soon all four werehaving a good time going back to Buffalo Park. 

CHAPTER XI

A WILD-WEST COUNTY FAIR

That same night while at supper, Mrs. Carew asked her guests if they hadever visited one of the western celebrations. 

"Polly says she has, but we have never seen one, " replied Anne, eagerly. 

"Well, Oak Creek is going to have its annual fair, or celebration, twoweeks from Monday. It generally lasts for three days, and they have allsorts of stunts there. You-all must be _sure_ to go. "

"The Boss says we can have a day off and go, too!" declared Jim. 

"I wish it would happen to come on the day you girls go, " added Kenneth, anxiously. 

"We'll try and plan it that way. Maybe we will go to each day's show, "quickly said Eleanor. 

"Maybe you can find out from Mrs. Carew what day her husband thinks wecan have, " ventured Jim, in a whisper. 

Eleanor nodded; then she turned to John and told him what they wantedto know from Mrs. Carew. 

Thus it was learned that the survey Crew was to be given Tuesday _and_Wednesday--as it would take almost half a day to travel to Oak Creek, and another half day to get back to camp. The boys gave a wild hurrahwhen they heard this good news, and immediately planned to start fromcamp directly after midnight Monday so as to enjoy a full day at thefair. 

After good-bys were said, and the Pebbly Pit party were ready to starton the homeward trail, Jim whispered to Polly and Eleanor, "Now don'tforget! Ken and I have a date with you two at the Fair, Tuesday andWednesday. "

And the girls laughingly promised to make a note in their socialcalendar book. 

The two weeks intervening between the visit to Buffalo Park, and thecelebration at Oak Creek, passed rapidly, for John and Tom had a newexcursion planned for each day. Of course, Polly and Eleanor weremembers of these picnics, so they almost forgot about the fair until aday, or so, before the time. 

"We-all attend the fair, you know, and take our camp outfit with us, "said Mr. Brewster, at supper on Sunday evening. 

"Aren't there any restaurants where we can dine?" asked Barbara. 

"Well, there is Snake-Bill's place where you get hash piled up with yourpie and odds or ends, all on an inch-thick dish. Then there is the RockyMountain Cafie--as every one calls it, --but ladies are not welcome, there. Neither of these places will appeal to you girls, Ah'm sure, "explained Sam Brewster. 

"Oh, no! They have no idea of what it is like, Sam, " declared Mrs. Brewster, holding up both hands in horror at the very idea. 

"Will we start early in the morning?" now asked Eleanor, wondering ifthey would be on time to keep their engagements. 

"Oh, we will leave here about one or two o'clock, " replied Mr. Brewster, nonchalantly. 

"One or two!" cried Barbara, aghast, thinking he meant A. M. 

"Yes, then we will arrive about four or five. By the time we have thetents pitched and everything in tip-top working order, it will besuppertime. There won't be so much going on the first night, you know, but we will be there for Tuesday's early games. "

"Oh, my goodness! You don't mean we shall camp over night?" exclaimedBarbara. 

"Of course! We could never travel back and forth each day, as it is along ride and tough roads for the horses to pull a heavy ranch-wagon, "returned Mr. Brewster. 

"I don't see why you won't have automobiles out here! It would not costmuch to have a Ford, or some other cheap affair, but the convenience andtime you'd save--my!" said Barbara. 

"An auto! Can you see us driving a car over such awful roads as thereare for miles around Oak Creek? To say nothing of the wild trails thatgo to Pebbly Pit and other far-off ranches, " said John. 

"Whenever there is a rain, or in winter, the roads are impassable, youknow, Bob, " added Mrs. Brewster. "I'd love to have a car just for fun, but there is no pleasure in riding it around the farm where I know everyfoot of ground. And excepting on our own land, there are no decentroads. "

"I never thought of that!" admitted Barbara. 

"So we make the best of things, and ride to the fair in a wagon thatwill hold a village of people, " concluded Polly. 

"I think it will be heaps of fun to camp right in town where crowds ofother folks are camping, " said Eleanor, giggling. 

"It is. You never know who your next-door neighbor is going to be, "laughed Polly. "Once, we camped right next to a horse-thief who waswanted by the sheriff. My, but we had an exciting time when he crawledinto mother's bed and hid!"

"Polly! You forgot to say that this happened while we were at the fairand he was driven from his own tent, " hastily added Mrs. Brewster, whilethe others laughed heartily at Polly's omission. 

At these yearly events, every workhand on a ranch went to the fair, whether the cattle starved or not. But with Mr. Brewster's help, it wasso planned that half of them went from Monday morning until Tuesdaynoon, and then the other half went from Tuesday noon until Wednesdaynight. In this way each side had plenty of time to spend theirhoardings, and to drink all the "Sure Death" whisky that could be had inOak Creek. 

The great ranch-wagon rumbled away Monday noon, and a gay party itcarried, too. The tents were tightly rolled and tied to the sides, whilerolls of bedding and hampers of food were stacked under the high frontseat. Hard wooden seats were clamped to each side for the travelers tosit upon. 

Tom Latimer and John kept every one laughing, so that no one complainedof the uncomfortable seats that seemed to grow harder the nearer thetravelers came to Oak Creek. 

Then the party drew near their objective. But such a different Oak Creekfrom its usual sleepy appearance! The entire countryside, outside of thesettlement proper, was dotted with canvas tents, and campers wererunning back and forth. Just to the right of the town stood a vast tent, like a circus canvas; and in line with it were several smaller ones. 

"That larger one is where all the exhibits are shown and where thecontests take place, such as eating pan-cakes, shoveling coal, testingmining tools, and other tame games, " explained John. 

"Do they bust the bronchos there, too?" asked Eleanor. 

"No, that, and the trick riding, is done out in the ring, " replied Mr. Brewster. 

While the men pitched the tents and carried the folding cots from thewagon, Sary unpacked her meager cooking outfit, and Mrs. Brewsterarranged the hampers in a safe place in her tent. Eleanor and Pollystood watching the crowds of incoming ranchers drive by, all on thelookout for a good camping-site. 

"I do hope the boys from Buffalo Park will be in time to find a placenear us, " whispered Polly. 

"Yes, but it looks now, as if there wouldn't be an inch of room leftafter to-night, " returned Eleanor. 

Mr. Brewster then joined them. "Well, girls, want to go with me to havea look over the fair-grounds? To-morrow you will be escorted by youngerchaps, I suppose; but they won't be able to explain things any betterthan I can. "

"Oh yes, Daddy! Let's go, " cried Polly, eagerly. 

As it was all new to Eleanor, she also wanted to go, so the three founda way between the tents that had sprung up, since they drove in from thetrail and had selected their own site. 

Every one was merry and good-natured, and many a joke was exchangedbetween people who might be master and servant at home, but at theCelebration, they all were equals. 

Mr. Brewster pointed out where the races would take place, and where thewild horse-breaking generally was held. He told Eleanor that a purse offive hundred dollars was always made up by collections, and given to theman who was able to tame the worst outlaw horse of the year. 

Then the girls were taken to the booths where refreshments were served. Sam Brewster ordered three ice-cream cones and three sodas. He alsobought two boxes of candy for the girls. 

"Let's have ice-cream sodas instead of soda and cones, " suggestedEleanor. 

"They can't mix ice-cream sodas, out here, " explained Polly. "So we buycones and mix our own when we want a New York drink. "

Eleanor laughed. "Isn't that funny! It's just as easy!"

So they emptied their cones into their soda water and stirred the drinkwith a spoon. But Eleanor learned that the western people would docertain things their way, and no one could convince them that it wasmuch easier to accomplish the task a different way. 

The cots were hard as rocks but every one fell asleep without complaintsthat night, and in the morning the mad babel of sounds roused thecampers without alarm clocks. As Tuesday was a great day at the fair, notime was lost by stealing an extra wink. Breakfast out of the way, theentire party started for the Fair Grounds. 

"I wonder where the boys are?" whispered Polly. 

"We'll never find them in this mob, " returned Eleanor. 

"They said we were to meet at the Bridal Contest--but where is that?"wondered Polly. 

"Let's ask Tom Latimer; we'll tell him Jim is going to be there at teno'clock. "

Tom heard the girls and laughed: "But why at the Bridal Contest tent?Why not at the coal-heaving contest?"

"Perhaps the boys thought there wouldn't be such a crowd at the Bridal, "ventured Polly, guilelessly. 

Tom and Eleanor laughed, and the former said: "Well, I'll see that youtwo get there in ample time for the Bridal. "

Long before ten o'clock, John and Anne had disappeared, and that leftTom to the sweet mercy of Barbara. He clung desperately to Polly andEleanor until it was time to take them to the Bridal Contest, and thenhe begged Mrs. Brewster to take care of Barbara while he was absent withthe girls. 

Mrs. Brewster understood that Tom did not care for the young lady'scompany, and she said in a low tone: "I would feel easier if I thoughtthose four young people had a sensible head to look after them in thisgreat multitude, Tom. "

Tom looked at her, but she seemed innocent of any hidden meaning; so hereplied fervently: "If you will tell Polly this, I will be only toohappy to be the 'head' they need. "

So Tom really acted as "Official Guide" that day and, incidentally, paidall the bills for the young celebrators. This suited Jim and Kenneth, all right, as they were puzzling how to make a big splash in the puddlebefore these two girls, and yet escape bankruptcy. 

The Bridal Contest was a strange sight. Any couple who wanted to marryin haste, could secure a special license at this booth and be marriedforthwith. And to every pair so married, the managers of the fairpresented a twenty-dollar gold piece, that more than defrayed the costsof the ceremony. To say the Bridal Booth was a failure, would be rankenvy and jealousy on the part of any single cow-boy or woman thatattended the fair--and failed in securing a mate. 

The girls watched while three pairs were married, and in each case, thebride was a stranger in Oak Creek, while the groom was a newly-fledgedrancher who needed a housekeeper worse than he needed his freedom. 

As the other contests were scheduled for eleven, the four young people, following after their Official Guide, went the rounds. Not one sightmissed them that day, and they turned weary bodies towards the camp thatnight, thinking of but one thing--the cot-beds that awaited them. 

Wednesday was the day when the races took place. Not only the bronchobusting, but horse-racing and other events of the kind. A novelty wasoffered this year, by having several Nebraska cow-boys race on steers. The people for twenty miles around Oak Creek, had seen bull fights, wildsteer breaking, and all sorts of horse-racing, but never had theywitnessed a steer race. 

It proved very exciting, as the men who rode the animals were gaylytrapped out and made a great noise when the race started. Their shoutingand wildly waving hats, added no little to the frenzy of the steers. Oneanimal tripped and threw his rider, and another balked outright andbegan to stampede. Finding he could not dislodge the encumbrance thatclung to his back, he suddenly threw himself and rolled. 

Every one screamed, but the rider was alert and the moment the steertouched the earth, he was up on his feet, bowing and smiling. A wildcheering greeted him, but he had no claim to the prize, as that went tothe rider who won the race. 

Polly and Eleanor became well-acquainted with Jim and Kenneth duringthose two days at the fair, and when it was time to say good-by, theboys felt as if they were losing two old chums. 

"We have to ride across the desert to-morrow, you know, " explained Jim, regretfully. 

"That's so! where will you work next?" asked Tom. 

"From Rabbitt's Ear Inn to the Highway, " said Kenneth. 

"And when will you be back again? When can you come to Pebbly Pit againto visit us?" asked Eleanor. 

"We may not be there again this summer, as our work now leads away fromthis section. In fact, the Boss says, if the cold does not come tooearly to interfere, he wants to finish his survey all along the otherside of the desert, this year, " explained Kenneth. 

"Oh pshaw! then we won't have any more good times, " said Eleanor, poutingly. 

"But we will when we all meet in New York, " reminded Jim. 

Tom looked from one to the other, for here was news!

"Never mind that, Tom--it's a secret with us!" laughed Eleanor. 

"I'm sure it must be, for John never said a word about it to me. And ifyou girls were going with Anne Stewart, he would have told me, " repliedTom. 

"You know the old adage, 'Plans of mice and men go astray, ' but it didnot say 'Plans of girls and mice. ' So my plan will come out fine, you-all wait and see!"

"Yes, I reckon we _will_ wait!" laughed Polly, incredulously. 

CHAPTER XII

NOLLA'S PLANS DEVELOP

The days passed joyously at Pebbly Pit, until John and Tom declared theymust return to their work beyond Denver. They had been postponing theirdeparture, because John had confided to his chum, that Anne was waitingto hear definitely about the school in New York City, and upon her goingthere depended many other important things. 

Tom smiled knowingly to himself, as he was sure one of the "many things"to John was his proposal to Anne. Every one felt more or less interestedin the expectant letter, and when it finally arrived, Anne had a circleof anxious friends waiting to hear the verdict. 

"Well, I've been accepted and I am to report at the address in New Yorkon September twenty-fifth, " said Anne, hastily scanning the short note. 

"Hurrah! That means we go with you!" shouted Eleanor, catching hold ofAnne and dancing her about. 

Polly looked very glum. "Anne, how does your going effect my schoolplans?"

"You can talk about school some other time, Poll, but Tom and I have tostart back to camp to-morrow, and _I_ want to know from Anne just howher going effects _me_?" demanded John, looking her in the eyes. 

Anne smiled bravely back at him and said: "Just what I told you. I musthelp Paul complete his college course, then I will be free to sign otheragreements. "

"Meanwhile, I am to go on plodding through classes and camp withoutknowing whether or not I am ever going to be rewarded!" grumbled John, so discouraged that every one felt sorry for him. 

"One doesn't plod through studies or work, for mere reward. Polly saysshe wants to study for the love of it, and Eleanor wants to go intobusiness for the love of _that_! It is the only way one can succeed, "ventured Mrs. Brewster, more to fill up an embarrassing gap in theconversation than for anything else. 

John turned sullenly and stamped away. He continued down the trail tothe Cliffs and was soon lost to sight. The girls then coaxed Anne tocome away with them as they had a plan to ask her about. 

Mrs. Brewster waited until every one was gone his or her way, then sheran after her son. No one knows what was said or done, then or duringthe day but that night, as they all sat at supper, John stood up andsmiled. 

Jeb was just passing with a basket of newly laid eggs, and Sary wasleaning over Mr. Brewster's back with a deep dish of milk-toast that sheexpected to place before him. John coughed significantly, and Sarystopped to listen. 

"I'm going to announce good news to you-all, to-night. I finallypersuaded Anne to promise to be my wife, someday. So she goes to NewYork City as my fiancée, and I will study hard and do everythingpossible to be worthy of her, for she is a brave girl!"

Sam Brewster half arose to congratulate the two young people, but Sary'sdish was in the way. He bumped his head and the dish slid from herhands. 

Sary threw up both hands in dismay--there was the milk-toast spatteredall over the ground! But a laugh from her mistress caused her to look inthe direction the family-group were gazing. She saw Jeb standing as ifrooted to the grass, his lower jaw sagging as he frowned at a basket ofbroken eggs upon the ground. 

Sary threw her inspiration into the double breach caused by maid andman. "Thar goes th' supper an' them eggs, but tush! Trifles don't countnone when a man hez sech fine news ez John an' Jeb hes. Come right overhere, Jeb, an' spring _yur_ secret now that John hes split his'n to thefam'ly!"

Jeb scuffled his feet and sheepishly hung his head. One footunconsciously stirred the yolks of the broken eggs. But Sary was not awoman to stand for such shyness when it cast reflections on her ardentmanner in which she described how Jeb rose to the bait temptingly hungbefore his very nose. 

She forgot milk-toast and all else in this final bout with her unwillinglover. She hurried over and nudged him sharply in the ribs, thenwhispered in a stage tone:

"G'wan now, Jeb! Spruce up an' tell 'em like-ez-how this air goin' to bea double trick! John an' Miss Anne, me an' you--see!"

Polly and Eleanor laughed appreciatively, and Mrs. Brewster smiled forshe had had suspicions. But Sam Brewster was so amazed, that he leanedback in his chair and puffed for breath. To think that Jeb could everhave summoned enough courage to propose to a woman--but let that womanbe an Amazon like Sary, was past his comprehension!

He could not get over it, and later, his wife confided: "I actuallybelieve that Sary made this match for herself. Jeb could never havestood the strain of making love, had not Sary met him _more_ thanhalf-way. "

That evening when John and Anne were talking confidentially about thefuture, John said: "Mother, I haven't a ring for Anne and I want her tohave it before she goes to New York, so I propose going to Denver andbuy it for her before I go back to work. "

"And I thought, Mrs. Brewster, that it would be a good plan to see anagent about renting our house for a year or two. If mother and I live inNew York, there is no sense in closing the place when we can rent it forenough to pay taxes and upkeep. "

"I think you are perfectly right there, Anne, and the sooner you placeit in good hands, the better. When did you think of running up to town?"said Mrs. Brewster. 

"Well, you see, mother, Tom and I should have joined our men long ago, but one thing or another kept us on here. Now that all is settled fortwo years at least, I want to get away and plunge into work so I willbe ready for Anne when she comes back, " said John. 

Mrs. Brewster smiled. "Will you go to Denver to-day?"

"To-night! Why, it is eight o'clock! But I could take the noon trainwhen it goes back from Oak Creek, and Anne might go with me. "

"That's what I thought you could do, but your evident impatience made mewonder if you had an air-route you could travel by. "

John laughed, and Anne placed her arm about her future mother-in-law. Then the talk veered to Polly and her future education. John and hisfiancée had a hard task in convincing Mrs. Brewster that it was best forPolly to accompany the Stewarts to New York, to school; but finally, when all three returned to the house, a resigned look was upon Mrs. Brewster's face. But not a word was said at that time. 

The next morning, every member of the family accompanied John and Anneto Oak Creek, and gave them a merry send-off to Denver. 

"It's only for a few days, you big sillies!" laughed Anne, as she leanedfrom the little car-window to answer many questions from her friends onthe platform. 

"True, but think of all that can happen in a few days! Jeb may jiltSary and elope with Barbara--I've seen her casting jealous eyes at Sary, lately! Then Tom Latimer may suddenly find he is in love with----" butBarbara choked further words from Eleanor at this point, by shaking herviciously from the rear. 

The others had to laugh at Eleanor's teasing, but her sister wasfurious. "I simply will not stand this treatment, so now! You can actlike fools and farmers, but I am a _lady_!"

So saying, Barbara wheeled and marched defiantly over to the box-carstation. She entered and remained there until the train had disappearedaround the bend. Then she came forth with a victorious look upon herface. No one asked her what caused the change of expression, and soonthe incident was forgotten for the day. 

Tom Latimer was unusually quiet on the homeward drive, and when he hadassisted Eleanor to alight from the great wagon, he whispered for herears alone: "Who were you going to have me propose to, Nolla?"

She sent him a mischievous look and whispered back "Polly. "

He laughed softly and pinched her arm, but she noted that the rich redcolor flushed his face suddenly, and she wondered, precociously, whether she had accidentally touched upon a secret spot hidden in hisheart? The very fact of such a discovery made her defy, silently, thepossibility of any one ever daring to confess love to _her_ Polly. "Noindeed! Polly and she were cut out for business only. "

But the disquieting thought that a fine chap like Tom Latimer might bein love with simple wonderful little Polly, made Eleanor zealous in herplans for carrying her friend off to a New York school. No one knew thatshe had already started the machinery going for her own benefit, butthey were soon to find out that this fun-loving girl was as persistentand persevering as one could find anywhere, when she had a pet problemto work out. 

The evening after John and Anne had gone to Mrs. Stewarts, in Denver, Barbara asked a favor of her host. The very manner in which she askedit, surprised every one at table. "Mr. Brewster, I have an importanterrand to do at Oak Creek, to-morrow, and I want you to allow Jeb todrive me in. "

"To-morrow! Why, we just got back from there. "

"Yes, I know, but it could not have been done to-day, so I have to go into-morrow. "

"Jeb has to superintend the mowing of our first crops to-morrow, if itis clear. Maybe Tom will drive you in if it is so urgent. "

Barbara turned imploring eyes on Tom Latimer. Then Eleanor spoke up: "I, too, must go in as I expect a telegram from Chicago. "

Her sister scowled at her, but she seemed surprised as well. Shestammered: "What have _you_ to wire for?"

"Ah! Is that what you did? Let's see--you managed it this noon, while wewere watching the train depart, didn't you? You were in that stationjust long enough!" exulted Eleanor, grinning at Barbara daringly. 

But her sister would not be drawn into an argument this time, andEleanor decided that it must be something important, indeed, when Bobwould not snap back at her. There _had_ been times at home when Barbarahad secrets that she feared others to share, then she would keep herpeace with Eleanor. 

"Unless it is a personal matter that needs your presence in Oak Creek, Alec Hewitt will look after it. He goes to and from the post officeevery day, and often brings our mail or messages for us, " said Mrs. Brewster, hoping to spare the horses another hard day's work. 

"I have to be there myself, as I may have to decide on a very importantpersonal matter, " returned Barbara, slightly embarrassed. 

So it was settled that Tom Latimer would ride with the three girls toOak Creek on the following morning. This would spare the wagon team thetrip and at the same time take the place of any other pleasure ride thatmight have been planned. 

Polly was at a loss to understand why such secrecy should exist betweenthese two sisters--Bob refusing to confide in Eleanor, and Nollasmilingly keeping her own counsel, about the important errands. 

As Eleanor had suspected, Barbara went directly to the box-car where thetelegrams were received. But to the latter's disappointment, there wasone only--and that one was for Eleanor Maynard!

"Are you sure you did not get the name wrong--I am to hear surely, to-day, about something very urgent!" complained Barbara. 

"This is mine, all right, Bob, for I expected it. If you like, you canread it now that I know what it says, " and Eleanor tendered the yellowsheet to her sister. 

Barbara snatched it and read in angry surprise:

 "Your wire received. Expect me Saturday. Will visit there for a week. 

 Love to you both, FATHER"

"How dare you ask father to come here? How do you know the Brewsterswant him? And besides, there is no place for him to use as asleeping-room!" she managed to say in her fury. 

Polly and Tom had been sitting outside on a truck but they could nothelp hearing Barbara's words. Polly smiled up at her companion. ThenEleanor was heard saying:

"No need to rear up like a mad rattler, Bob. I have a nice little planunder way, but it now needs Daddy's persuasive powers to perfect it. Iwired him twice this past week, but no one knew of it. If you wired formoney or something else, he likely will bring it with him on Saturday. "

The very coolness of Eleanor's reply caused Barbara to lose herself-control and she retorted: "Pooh! I wouldn't think of asking fatherfor anything. You can't patronize me this time, Eleanor Maynard. _I_ amwaiting for word from mother! There!"

"From mother! why she is in Newport for the Season. "

"You mean she _was_ there. _Now_ she is one of a very select party ofthe best New York society that is camping at Mrs. Van Alstynes'wonderful bungalow in the Muskoka Woods. And I trust _I_, too, will soonbe a member of that circle!"

"Oh, ho! So that is your little game, eh! Well, Bob, I heartily wish youluck. You haven't any idea how quiet and enjoyable Pebbly Pit will bewith you away from it!" retorted Eleanor. 

With this parting shaft, the younger sister walked out, and found Tomwith Polly over by the watering trough where the seven wardrobe trunkshad offered such a fine table surface for the gamblers on the day theChicago girls came to Oak Creek. As she felt sure these two friends hadnot over-heard the conversation between Barbara and herself, there wasno need in explaining, as yet. 

Barbara failed to appear, however, and finally Eleanor went to the doorto call her. Her impatient words were arrested by hearing the operatorat the telegraph instrument, read a message aloud. 

 "Wire with news received. Have arranged for you. Plenty of marriageable men in party. Do not oppose anything father wants. Win his consent and money for visit. Nolla will be all right there with Anne. Father now back at bank. Write him immediately. Do not waive your rights on mine. We will fight if necessary. It means a fortune for you. Wire me minute you have news. Big affair on next week. MOTHER. "

Eleanor managed to slip away without Barbara's seeing her. And so elatedwas the elder sister over her mother's message, that she failed to findany omission in the telegram. But Eleanor realized that her mother didnot mention her love for her daughter--it was all about society, money, and graft!

But her mother's message could not throw cold water over Eleanor;because of the fact that her father would be with her the end of thatvery week! This was good news enough for any one, so she ran over toPolly, waving her message. 

"Just think! Daddy is coming to visit us at Pebbly Pit. Won't it be funfor him to sleep in the barn with John and Tom?"

"Oh, he never could, Nolla!" gasped Polly. 

"Why not? He is no better than the boys, here!"

"But--well, I'm sure father won't like him to. We must plan somewhereelse for him, " replied Polly. 

"I'll tell you-all a secret, if you won't tell any one. I got Daddy tohurry here on purpose to _meet_ John and Tom. I believe he will dosomething about the mine and the Cliffs if he hears the plans from theboys. You know, his bank makes big investments at times. But don't letBob know this, for anything in the world!"

Tom looked pleasantly surprised at the suggestion. He had forgotten allabout Mr. Maynard's connection with a flourishing bank. 

"Won't it be nice to have your father meet my father, " remarked Polly, thinking not so much of finances as of hospitality. 

"Yes, and I hope he won't interfere with Bob's plans to join mother inthe North Woods. If only we could get _rid_ of her right off, what afine time we could have with Dad here!" Eleanor sighed. 

Polly never could understand the lack of love and family pride betweenthese two sisters, but then she had never seen how many families thereare, where husband and wife have opposite tendencies and ideals; itinevitably followed that the children showed these antagonisticqualities in their behavior to each other. 

Having replied to their telegrams, both sisters were ready to ride backto the ranch. But Tom suggested that they visit the Movies where a greatsociety drama was being shown. This pleased the girls, and soon theywere following the hair-breadth escapes of an unscrupulous societyimpostor, and the wreck he had made of a young damsel's faith. 

As they filed from the low-ceiled, ill-smelling theater, Eleanor laughedand said: "That's the kind of life Bob wants! If she ever had a fortuneof her own, she would have to fend off just such rascals. Watch mewasting my life trying to catch a husband--Pouf!"

Tom laughed merrily for he liked the bluntness of this girl, but he wassurprised at the flush Barbara manifested as she wondered if this astutesister of hers could have heard that message read: "Mother mentioned 'afortune' and 'marriageable men. '" But Eleanor's expression was asinnocent as a babe's just then. 

That evening after supper, Eleanor drew Polly out to the terrace, whichwas isolated at that time, and shared her plans with her. 

"I was afraid to let you, or any one, know what I was doing, so I justwent ahead and did it!"

Polly manifested no surprise at these words, as she expected to hearmuch more, so she patiently waited. Eleanor seemed at a loss, for oncein her lifetime, to know how to tell her story without having itcondemned by this upright conscientious friend. 

"I wrote mother just after we discovered the mine, and told her howunhappy Barbara was in this forgotten corner of the earth. You see, Iwanted mother to send for her at once, and I was anxious to help Bobrelieve us of her company. But I never dreamed that Bob was as anxiousto get away, as we were to have her go!"

"Oh, Nolla! we are not anxious to have her go--don't say that!"remonstrated Polly. 

"Well, you know what I mean--everything will be so nice with no one tobe forever finding fault and nagging at one!"

"Maybe she wouldn't nag so much if you did not tease her so! Nolla, you_know_ you are so clever that you have no patience with Bob's slownessin getting things, " replied Polly, unconscious of the fact that she hadfound the very root of the trouble between the sisters. 

"Anyway, Bob is on the high road to a society camp in the East, and wewill be able to go our own sweet way without her. But I brought you outhere to confess what I did! I wired father all about the mine, and theCliffs, and the Latimers and all--and also told him that the doctorthinks a winter in New York will harden me splendidly. I wired thedoctor to tell him that this was true, and he _must_ tell father so. 

"Well, I heard from Daddy; he balked at first--said it was rankfoolishness for any doctor to recommend the beastly climate of New YorkCity in preference to the West with its dryness. I had to calm him onthat point, and then I told him that Anne and her mother were going toNew York and I wanted to go with them. He knows how I hate the teas, andbridge, and parties mother is always giving Bob, so I told him howwretched I always was in winter, without friends or any one to talkto--as mother and Bob were always too busy with social duties. 

"Father hates these duties as much as I do, and he says mother has noright to give all her time to Bob and never see me from one week's endto another. So he was vulnerable in that spot. When I told him how hecould visit me in New York once a month, and spend several days goingaround with me, he just caved in. And, Polly, I am sure he will agree tomy going with Anne. 

"To-day, after I got his wire, I waited till Bob was out of the way, then I sent a message to Anne, to tell her to be on the lookout for Dadwho was coming here on Saturday. I said it would be so nice for him toride down from Denver with John and her. And maybe John could explainthe financing of the two companies to him. 

"I sent the second wire to Dad telling him to be sure and meet Anne atthe Denver Terminal at noon, on Saturday, as she would be expecting him. So now I have all my irons in the fire and they're getting red-hot, too!"

As Eleanor concluded, Polly laughed at her funny expression butremarked, "It would be terrible if your irons got so hot that theymelted before you could use any one of them, wouldn't it?"

CHAPTER XIII

RIGGLEY & RATZGER OF NEW YORK

Every day that week was crowded with events for the people at PebblyPit, and never had so many telegrams passed through the hands of theamazed agent at Oak Creek. First there were those sent by Barbara andEleanor, and the replies to them. Next day the two girls telegraphedanew from Oak Creek, and these had replies which were forwarded by AlecHewitt who passed Brewster's ranch. Following these, came a telegramfrom Anne, saying she had heard from Mr. Maynard and would meet him asplanned. Then there came one from Mr. Latimer's office in New York toTom, saying that Dr. Evans and Mr. Latimer had started for the West onThursday, on the Limited. Probably they would reach Pebbly Pit on Sundayor Monday. Closely following that message, came one to Mr. Brewster fromNew York, signed Riggley & Ratzger, Lawyers, to the effect that "theyhad been appointed the representatives for the company that was formedto make jewels from lava-stone, and they would take great pleasure invisiting Pebbly Pit on Saturday or Sunday, in order to inspect theRainbow Cliffs. They might be induced to make an offer for the ranch. "

The latter suggestion caused Sam Brewster to laugh as he had not donesince he heard his Polly was determined to go to school. "What do youthink of such sublime fools, Maw?" chuckled he, handing the telegramacross the table as they sat on the porch. 

"Why, I don't understand. If Evans and Latimer are on their way here, why do they need representatives? Isn't Tom's father a real good lawyerin New York?" said she. 

"Sure, but the names alone give me an idea that they are crooks--listen:Riggley and Ratzger. Doesn't it make you think of all queer kinds offish that one finds in big cities?" laughed her husband. 

Tom came from the barns about this time, and Mrs. Brewster turned totell him the latest news about the seekers of lava-stones. Incorroboration of his wife's words, Sam Brewster held out the telegram. 

Tom took it in trembling hands, for he had heard of the men whose nameswere signed to the message. Then he glanced at the signatures and thatbroke his amazed spell of silence. 

"Why! Mr. Brewster, how dare they plan to visit here?" he shouted, hisface as red as a poppy. 

"Oh, do you know them?" wondered Mr. Brewster. 

"Know them? Why, man alive, _they_ are the same two rascals who servedthe injunction on father and Dr. Evans, and then they tried to steal thepatent. They fought in Court, but lost their case. When they appealed, the Court sustained the first verdict, so they had no choice but to giveup. I wonder what game they are coming here for?"

Mr. Brewster considered. "Tom, I wouldn't be surprised if they camehere, not knowing your folks are, also, coming. Maybe they hope to getfirst shot at this proposition of Rainbow Cliffs and in this way, makeyour father pay a fabulous price for the stone. "

"Some crooked deal like that, you may be assured. But I can't understandhow they ever heard of Rainbow Cliffs and this ranch? There has been aleak, somewhere, in Dad's organization, " said Tom, emphatically. 

"Well, let's decide now, before they come, what is best for us to do. Ifthey get here before your father and Evans, we must not give them anyidea that we expect other guests, nor must we say that we suspect themof foul play. We must give them rope enough with which to hangthemselves. "

Here Mrs. Brewster interpolated: "We may serve all of our friends a goodturn by receiving these strangers with the same western welcome that weextend to every one. But let us not give any one else here a hint ofwhat we now know. "

Tom agreed that this was a wise plan, so no one suspected there was anunder-current of excitement running in the elder Brewsters' and Tom'sthoughts, during the time that must elapse before the New York"representatives" could arrive at Pebbly Pit. 

Meanwhile, Mr. Maynard met Anne and John in Denver, and the three tookthe noon local for Oak Creek. Polly and Eleanor were busy helpingBarbara pack her five trunks to have them ready for the ranch-wagon totake to the station on Saturday, when Tom offered to drive in and meetthe train from Denver. This done, and Tom on his way, the two girlswondered what next they could do until the return of the party from OakCreek. 

"I say! Let's run to the Cliffs and watch for the first glimpse ofDaddy, " suggested Eleanor. 

"And I'll take some doughnuts to eat in case we get hungry, " addedPolly. 

Fortified with a bag of these delectable balls, the two girls hastenedaway. Barbara was all sweetness and generosity, now that she was sure ofgoing to join her mother in a fashionable camp. And many fine bits ofunderwear, or dresses fell Sary's way, when Barbara went through herwardrobe, and discarded the things she felt would be tooordinary-looking in such an exclusive "set" as she was about to join. 

Sary refused nothing, carrying everything thrown to her, in her arms ascarefully as if she were holding a new-born babe. On the first trip shemade through the kitchen in order to reach her private domain, shestopped before Mrs. Brewster and held out the lace-trimmed underwear. 

"Mis Brewster, Ah never did think Ah would have sech fine troosos fer mymarritch. When Ah married Bill Ah diden have nawthin' but a new cambricdress and a sun-bunnet. But this marritch will be the reel thing, whatwith all the stuff I'm k'lectin, already. "

"You are fortunate, Sary, to be on hand just as Miss Bob's trunks arecleared out, " remarked her mistress. 

"Yeh, and d'ye know what?" Sary leaned over to whisper confidentially. "Yeh see Ah'm not lettin' anythin' she gives me lay around one minute, 'cause she may change her mind. And ef she once saw _what_ a heap she isthrowin' away, she might think Ah was gettin' too much!"

Mrs. Brewster laughed at Sary's wily ways, and replied: "Well, I'llspare you from all the work as long as you are gathering plums fromBob's orchard. I hope you can fill a whole trunk, Sary. "

But an unforeseen outgrowth of all these donations was sure to happen. Once Sary had watched the trunks hoisted up in the ranch wagon, andrealized that there would be no more "pickin's" for her, she ran to herroom and began sorting and gloating over the mass of cast-off clothing. And so mesmerized was she with pictures of herself adorned in thedresses that were made for the form half her girth that Mrs. Brewsterfound it impossible to coax her back to the kitchen. 

Having the Saturday's baking to do, as well as to prepare the dinner forextra ones that night, she went to the door to ask Polly and Eleanor tocome in and help her. But the two girls were not in sight. 

There was but one hope left! She must do as clever generals did inbattle, when the fight seems to go against them--strategy. 

She hurried to Sary's door which was closed and locked. 

"Oh Sary! I remembered something that I wished to ask you about severaltimes this past week. Did Jeb give you the engagement ring yet?"

Not a sound came from within for a few moments, then the key turned andSary's amazed face appeared in the doorway. The floor and bed werecovered with finery, each piece spread out full length. 

"Ah clean fergot all about it. Is Miss Anne got her'n?"

"Oh, yes! John went to Denver with her to choose the stone. "

"Kin Jeb git a ring in Oak Crick, d'ye s'pose?"

"Mercy no! Oak Creek hasn't any jewelry shop, you know. "

Sary was lost in thought for a time, and this was Mrs. Brewster'sopportunity. "I've been wondering how it would do to hint to Jeb that itwould make a lovely trip if he were to accompany you to Denver for aday, and let you select your own ring. "

"Oh!"

The one word breathed in a scarcely audible sound plainly expressedSary's ecstasy. Her great hands were loosely clasped before her as hereyes turned ceiling-ward. 

"Of course with the house full of company for a few days it will beimpossible to think of such a thing, but Bob is going away the first ofthe week, and then John and Tom leave; next Miss Anne goes back toDenver to see about sending her stuff to New York, or selling what shereally won't need, and then you will have time to take such a trip. Iwill see that Jeb realizes that it is his privilege to do this for you. "

"Oh, Mis Brewster, what kin Ah ever do fer you?"

"Well, you can begin to repay me for my kindness by coming out to helpme with Saturday's work. And while we are doing that I will plan withyou what had best be said and done. "

Sary felt that there was a cunning here that she was not able to copewith, but she could not resist the temptation to talk and plan about anengagement ring for herself, so she bravely turned her back on the arrayof finery, and stoically followed her mistress. 

Meantime Polly and Eleanor climbed the cliffs and sat where they couldsee the Bear Fork's trail in the distance. Polly was sure they wouldsee the great ranch-wagon the moment it came around the bend. 

They had not been seated there more than twenty minutes before Eleanorcraned her neck and gazed earnestly at two dots that seemed to becrawling along the trail. Polly turned and gazed also. 

"Why, it's two horsemen! I wonder if Jim and Ken can be thinking ofvisiting us over Sunday, --because Mr. Latimer is coming, you know, "exclaimed Eleanor, joyfully surprised. 

"They wouldn't be arriving Saturday afternoon, as they wouldn't be ableto leave camp until Sunday, " added Polly. 

Both girls shaded their eyes with their hands but neither could make outthe forms of the riders. They were mere specks on the white trail. Butthe girls held their breath when the horsemen turned from Bear Forkstrail and rode in under the precipice that overhung the entrance toPebbly Pit. 

"Whoever it is, they are coming here, " said Polly. 

"I wonder if it could be Mr. Latimer and Dr. Evans--they may havearrived in Oak Creek sooner than they expected, " ventured Eleanor. 

"We can watch better from this point than anywhere else, and when theypass the Rainbow Cliffs, we can see who they are, " now said Polly. 

So they watched impatiently until the riders came from under the hangingwalls of rock, and rode again along the top of the shale that covered awide area between the ravines and the Cliffs. 

This great stretch of shale was very treacherous going, as on the bothsides were deep gulches, or erosions, made by floods from thaws andstorms. An abandoned trail ran quite close to one of these ravines butthe land-slides of shale had compelled the people at Pebbly Pit to breakout a new and safer trail through the middle of the field. To strangeeyes, the old trail on the edge of the gulch, was the harder and easiergoing, but every one coming to the ranch knew the center-trail to be theone always used. Strangers seldom visited Pebbly Pit, and never withouta member of the ranch family, or a neighbor to escort them. 

When the two horsemen reached the branching of the trails, they halted, and the girls saw them ponder. One man motioned with a hand at the roughtrail running over the top of the shale in the middle of the area, butthe other seemed to argue that the edge-trail was the best one to take. 

"Oh dear! I hope they won't take that slippery one!" cried Polly, intense nervousness. 

"I wish we could yell and warn them!" exclaimed Eleanor, half-risingfrom her seat. 

"They'll never hear us at this distance, but we might run along thetop-trail and beckon them to climb up there. "

"But, Polly, by the time we reach the shale they will be almost at theRainbow Cliffs, " objected Eleanor. 

"Yes, I know, but it seems awful to sit here and watch them ride overthat dangerous road. "

"To relieve our minds, we can go down as far as possible and meet themwhen they ride out at Rainbow Cliffs, " suggested Eleanor. 

So the two girls scrambled down from their high point of observation, and started along the rock-ribbed road that led past the Cliffs. Theyhad not gone far along this trail, however, before Polly saw Jeb ridingdown from the corrals. 

"If I could only get Jeb's attention, he could ride fast and warn thosemen of their danger, " Polly said, thinking aloud. 

"Let's both scream at the top of our lungs and see if he can hear us. "

So the two girls stood out on the edge of a huge bowlder and, makingmegaphones of their hands, shouted again and again. The depression madeby the crater that lay between the Cliffs and the corral, acted as ahollow tube, so Jeb finally wheeled around and tried to locate the call. When he saw the girls, he immediately started to meet them as no one onthe ranch would shout that way for fun. 

It took ten minutes for Jeb to cover the circuitous path and join thegirls, and when they had hastily explained the cause of their concern, he replied: "Gosh! Ah was told to hang a sign on that flat cliff to warnfolks offen the bad trail!"

"Well, you didn't, so now race down the good trail and try to make themen hear you, " demanded Polly. 

Jeb spurred his horse at that, and was soon out of sight, but Polly andEleanor continued in the same direction, to see if all turned out wellfor the riders. 

Having reached and passed the last spur of the Rainbow Cliffs, and thenclimbing the steep ascent to the top-trail, they finally came to a risewhence the whole shale-field could be seen. But not a sign of horsemencould be seen. Jeb, riding like mad, right across the loose shale inreckless risk of breaking his broncho's legs, was the only man visible. 

Eleanor turned and looked in wonderment at Polly, but when she saw thelook of horror on her friend's face, she caught at her arm. 

"Polly! What do you think has happened?"

"Oh, Nolla! I fear they are down in that gulch! Most likely the shalestarted sliding under their horses' hoofs, and before they realizedtheir danger, they were swept along over the top!"

"Oh, mercy! Polly--never that! Why they will be killed!"

Polly never said a word but watched Jeb as he reined in his horse. Jumping from the saddle and hobbling the animal, he very carefullycrawled over the apparently safe surface between himself and the ravine. 

"Now I'm sure that's what happened, Nolla, or Jeb wouldn't try to getover there. He's going to see just how bad things are. "

"Poll, we'd better run as fast as we can, and get things ready at theranch. Your father ought to know this, so he can hitch a cart to twostrong horses and drive there to help carry the men to the house. "

"Nolla, I fear there will be nothing left to carry away. Once the shalestarts to slide down that gulch, it goes like the wind and burieseverything under its weight and bulk. "

"All the same, I will feel that I am doing something to help--let's go!"

So Polly and her companion turned and ran back along the Rainbow Cliffstrail, until they reached the spot whence they had called to Jeb. Theystopped for a moment to catch their breath, and while straining theireyes towards the house, saw Mr. Brewster just leaving it. 

His horse was waiting at the block, so both girls instantly beganshouting to attract his attention. He had keen hearing, and turned tosee what might be wrong in the direction of the Cliffs. When he saw thetwo girls wildly beckoning him to come, he sprang into the saddle andgalloped the horse over the intervening space to meet them. 

Their story was told in a few words, and Sam Brewster immediatelysurmised who the riders were. He told the girls to go on to the houseand tell Mrs. Brewster to be ready with emergencies, in case either ofthe travelers were found. Then he turned his horse and galloped to thebarns where he called several of the men to help in the rescue work. 

Polly and Eleanor would have preferred to go back to the shale-fieldsand watch the men, but they had to go where they could be of mostservice in the case. 

"Where shall we put them, mother, if father brings both back to thehouse?" asked Polly. 

"There is only one thing we can do, and that is to prepare the cots inthe harness-room for them. It is in times of need, like this, that Iwish we had a large house. "

Down on the shale-fields, Jeb had crept to the edge of the gully andpeered over. Far, far below, where the stream roared over the rocks anddown waterfalls like a miniature Niagara, he saw one horse doubled up inan unnatural heap. He surmised at once, that it was dead. But half-wayup he spied hoofs protruding from the shale, and to this spot he triedto make his way. 

As he thought, the rider was still entangled with the stirrups of thehorse and could not jump free when the accident had occurred. 

By dint of working down, clinging like lichen to the shale surface, Jebreached the animal whose hoofs stuck pathetically upward. He carefullyscraped away the shale and exposed the head of a man. He could not saywhether the victim was alive or dead, and he dared not dig away moreshale, just then, or the whole side would begin to move again. Havingcleared the head so the man could breathe, if possible, he lookedanxiously around for the second rider. Not a sign of him was seen fromthe place where Jeb clung. 

Believing that one live man was worth two dead ones, Jeb returned to thetask of unearthing the one he had found. Every slab of shale was slowlyremoved, meanwhile Jeb watched the loose sides above him for the leastintimation that it might slide again. But so careful was he, that thebody was uncovered without the surrounding shale being disturbed. Jebfelt of the man's heart and found a very slight pulsation there. He wasalive!

But how to get his feet free from the leather on the horse, and how tocarry the big heavy fellow up that treacherous side? Jeb never lost hispresence of mind, nor did he ever feel unduly excited over what hethought could not be helped; had he known what a fatalist was, he wouldhave told you that that is what _he_ was. 

He sat perfectly still, because the unwary movement of a single musclemight move that mountain-side down upon him, but he could _think_ andwhat could hinder him from doing it? As if the very discovery that hewas superior in that way, to the senseless shale all about him, made himmaster of the situation, so he smiled and patiently waited. 

"'Cuz Ah knows Polly and Miss Nolla'll get word to Mis'r Brews'er an'he'll know what to do fer us. " So he sat and waited. 

It's all well enough to say, "Oh, he wouldn't do anything else. Any onecould have waited!" But how many would have waited in that samesituation, without a qualm of fear, or without doubting the simpleassurance that the master of the ranch would know best what to do tohelp?

As if to reward this faith, Jeb soon heard voices shouting back andforth above his head, and after a time, he saw the noose of a stout ropefalling down in his direction. 

He grinned. "Ah never thought of _that_!" murmured he. 

"Jeb, " came the deep tones of Mr. Brewster from above, "try to fix thissafely around you, and then see if there is anything down there that youcan do. Shout up if you want help, and we will try to let another mandown to work with you. "

Jeb soon had the rope about his body, and feeling free to dig, went towork to pull the unconscious man out of the saddle. The side that thedead horse had fallen upon pinned the man's one leg down so securelythat Jeb could not manage to extricate it without help. So he held onto the body he had thus far brought out from the shale, and then calledup to his master. 

"Ah cain't git his left laig out from the sturrup! This dead hoss is tooheavy fer me to shove over. Ef some one'll come down an' use a crow-barAh reckon we-all kin manage it all right. "

With all the tension and doubt of being of any use in this accident, Mr. Brewster could not help thinking of Jeb's way of asking assistance--asif he was in the kitchen of the house and told Sary to come downstairsto entertain him. 

Another man was lowered by means of a second rope, and as he cameopposite the dead horse, he called a halt on the pulley above. With hiscrow-bar, he worked just as carefully as Jeb had done in loosening theshale about the body. But the moment Jeb found he could extract thecrushed foot from the side that had been buried in the stone, the otherman ceased prodding, as one little prod too many might turn the wholeloose lava upon them again. 

"Lower another rope fer the stranger!" shouted the hired man. And soonthe limp body was drawn slowly up to safety. 

"What about the other one, Jeb?" shouted Mr. Brewster. 

"Reckon he went on down, 'cuz his hoss is down thar. Shall Ah go on downand see?"

"No! we-all can get down from the Devil's Causeway, without taking anyrisks on this loose wall. Better see if you-all can find any papers orwallet in the panniers of that horse. "

Jeb then felt and brought forth a fine leather bag shaped like aknap-sack. But he was not aware that most lawyers and professional menin cities use similar bags. Then the word was given to hoist, and bothmen were soon up beside the unconscious stranger. 

While Mr. Brewster used first-aid on the stranger, several men of theparty started for the cleft back of the Cliffs from which one could getdown in to the gulch. In fact, it was the great flood of water that ranfrom the back of the Cliffs that caused this deep washout, or gully. 

Having taken hold of the unknown man and suddenly turned him so that hehung limply over the back and shoulders of his carrier, Mr. Brewsterstarted his horse across the shale, and then turned in on the Clifftrail. The sooner the unconscious man was treated the better, thoughtthe ranch-man. 

Jeb and his men were left to help the others who, after having carefullypicked a way over the shale, would search in the gulch for any signs ofthe second man. 

By the time the would-be rescuers reached the place where the dead horsewas seen doubled up, moans attracted their attention to a clump ofbuffalo grass that had forced its way up beside the stream. 

There, almost hidden by great bowlders that had caught the drift ofshale as it swept down from the top of the ravine, they found the secondrider. As the horse was more than forty feet above this spot, theyfigured that the man must have shot from the saddle when all wereprecipitated over the top, and landed as if by a miracle in thiscomparatively safe niche made by the rocks. 

The moment the man heard human voices he tried to attract theirattention, but they had already heard and planned how best to reach him. He could not move, as those limbs which had not suffered fractures, wererendered helpless by the weight of shale pinning them down. His chestwas free, however, and in spite of the gashes and bruises all over hisface and neck, he could breathe easily. 

"Ah reckon we-all had better carry him up the gulch to the Devil'sCauseway, and git out by that route, " suggested one of the men. 

"Yeh! Let's call to Jeb to go back and meet we-all at the Cliffs so's wekin put him acrost one of the hosses. "

In half an hour, therefore, Mr. Ratzger, the senior member of the lawfirm of Riggley and Ratzger, of New York, was carried in front of theRainbow Cliffs and placed in Jeb's arms, while another man led Jeb'shorse carefully towards the ranch-house. 

"Ah, so these are Rainbow Cliffs, are they! Shall I ever forget them?Had Riggley listened to my advice we both would now be sitting in ourcomfortable office-chairs in New York. But no! he must needs try toforce gold from a stone-wall!" As Ratzger sighed, Jeb remarkedphilosophically: "Ef _you_-all'd rather be sittin' at home than agalavantin' round places where money kin be found, Ah b'lieves it's theonny reason you-all is spared whiles your friend is locooed. "

Ratzger had never heard the term "locooed" so he was not quite sure whatJeb meant. But he was thankful that he had life enough left even tosuffer with the broken arms and legs; for a trifle like that was not tobe scorned when he might have been done for completely even as he fearedold Riggley was. 

CHAPTER XIV

THE VICTORY

Serenely oblivious of all the excitement that had been caused at PebblyPit by the accident, Tom Latimer drove Mr. Maynard and the happybetrothed pair back to the ranch. John and Anne sat on the back seatwhile Mr. Maynard sat beside Tom. Finding that John and his fiancéeneeded no assistance from him in entertaining themselves, Tom gave hisfull attention to the banker from Chicago. 

Hence, by the time they reached Rainbow Cliffs, Mr. Maynard was like theblood-hound when he scents a new trail--he was more than anxious to jointhese energetic men in financing the vast projects so well described byyoung Latimer. 

At the Cliffs Mr. Maynard placed a hand on the lines in order to stopthe horses. He gazed and gazed, as if he saw the great walls coveredwith gold dollars instead of colored stones. Then he sighed and smiledat Tom. 

"This promises to be the luckiest thing I ever did--sending Nolla toPebbly Pit for her health!"

"And wait until you see Nolla! My, but she is rosy and roly now. Andbesides, Mr. Maynard, she is a born financier. I _love_ to listen to herplan and then see her work out her own schemes. She has one on thecarpet at present, and I verily believe she will pull it off!" exclaimedTom, very much interested in his subject. 

"Yes, that girl of mine is worth more to me than any gold-mine or othertreasure in the world. "

"Oh, really! Well, this time 'listening fools heard some good ofthemselves', " laughed a merry voice from a crevice in the wall, andimmediately afterwards, Eleanor sprang out, with Polly close upon herheels. 

The horses were stopped until Eleanor and her father had done with theirhugging, and then she remembered to introduce him to Polly. 

"The very best chum in the world, Daddy, and so we have sworn never tobe separated--not even for money, business, or love!" cried the happygirl, maternally patting Polly on the head as she spoke. 

Eleanor sat upon her father's knee and Polly sat upon the floor of thewagon, as they proceeded on their way, but when John called to hissister and asked what had been doing in his absence, she jumped upsuddenly and exclaimed. 

"Oh! we forgot all about the two men who came this morning and fell overthe edge of the gulch!"

Then followed an excited and graphic description of the two New Yorklawyers who came to Pebbly Pit to buy the Cliffs. When John heard thenames, he whistled and looked at Tom. 

"Well, even providence is on your side, Polly, for those two men are therascals who tried to steal Evans' patent rights in the little machinethat cuts the jewels. So this is the way they were received at PebblyPit, eh?" Tom mused silently after that, but John and Mr. Maynard askedall sorts of questions until they reached the house. 

In these isolated mountain ranches, almost every intelligent man can setbroken bones, and take care of minor troubles; a doctor living in a townten to twenty miles away, needs plenty of time to reach a ranch, incases of illness, and during that time a patient must suffer agonies orbe helped by home-aid. Thus, Mr. Ratzger had his bones set by Mr. Brewster and his assistants, and was left neatly bandaged upon a cot inthe harness-room. But the other patient seemed past the simple aid fromthe ranchers, so Jeb had to ride to Oak Creek for a doctor to come andtry to save this life. 

With all the sudden advent of excitement and work, the thought of Anne'sengagement ring had not entered into any one's mind, but once thehousehold had quieted down again, and Mr. Brewster could sit on theporch and mop his weary brow, John smiled knowingly at his fiancée. 

Mrs. Brewster caught the look and interpreted it instantly: "Oh, Anne, dear! We never asked you to show us the symbol!"

"Yes, yes, Anne! Let me look!" cried Eleanor, jumping up from the grasswhere Polly and she had thrown themselves. 

Anne, with an embarrassed laugh, held forth her left hand and displayeda beautiful solitaire. "Ahhs!" and "Ohs" and other exclamations ofadmiration pleased John and Anne mightly, and both felt that thismundane life was really a Paradise. 

With one accord it had been agreed to postpone the talk of RainbowCliffs and Choko's Find until after supper that evening. By that timethe doctor would have arrived and expressed an opinion about the injuredRiggley, and see if Ratzger was doing nicely under the home-treatmentgiven him. 

"Because it makes me feel rather guilty to talk over our future plansabout this big combination, when we know that not far off are two men sofearfully injured on account of this very fortune, " added Mrs. Brewster, when she heard the business talk would not take place at once. 

"As long as I am here and having such a wonderful rest, I would just assoon wait for Latimer and Evans to put in an appearance, before wediscuss finances, " said Mr. Maynard. 

"We'll have enough talk left over to warm up for them, " remarked Tom, whimsically. 

"And we want to get you first, Dad, and see how much money you will putin. When there are too many men about to talk to at once, the force ofour arguments will be scattered, " declared Eleanor, nodding her headwisely. 

Every one laughed--the first hearty laugh since the accident on theshale-fields. And every one felt much better for that laugh. 

"I tell you what, boys, isn't this girl of mine a born business-brain?"added Mr. Maynard fondly patting Eleanor on the head. 

"Sure! That's why I am going to run the business end of Polly's and mycompany, while she supplies all the ideals and plans for the work, "asserted Eleanor. 

"What's this? Something new on your old Dad?" asked her father. 

"Not _very_ new; only since I came here and met Polly. " Eleanorsquirmed away from Polly's warning nip on the arm, and added: "You see, Dad, I am bound to go with Anne when she starts for New York toschool--that has all been settled between us, hasn't it?"

Mr. Maynard smiled indulgently as if to concede any proposition to thischild, and Eleanor continued with more assurance:

"And Polly, having all her hopes of attending school in Denver blastedby Anne and her mother going on to New York, now has decided that theonly thing for her to do is to go with us to New York. It is a wonderfulopportunity for her, too, as she is as determined to take up InteriorDecorating for a profession, as I am. And where on earth can one findsuch store-houses of valuable lore on the subject, as right in NewYork!"

Mr. Brewster cleared his throat preparatory to an objection but Eleanorkept right on talking fast and loud in order to down him. 

"After figuring the whole plan out, Polly and I find that we need a fewyears more of regular school under Anne's tuition; then a few years of aspecial course of decorating in a first-rate school in New York--then, if we are not _too_ old, we will go abroad for a visit to the artgalleries in Europe. But we may have to give that delightful trip upand turn right into work, as we must not wait until old age cripples ourabilities. So you see----"

"Nolla, let me say a word, won't you?" began Polly, seeing her father'sexpression. 

"No, Poll, not now! I have said all I want to tell Dad about our futurebusiness connections, and it may influence him somewhat in going intoour mine company. But now that he knows just what I shall do from nowon, we can leave them to discuss matters while we go in and look overyour wardrobe and see what you will need before going to New York. "

So saying, Eleanor dragged Polly up from her seat on the grass and, bydint of winks and tugs, made her understand that it was best for allconcerned if they were well out of hearing. 

Tom, John, and Mr. Maynard laughed heartily at Eleanor's speech andmanner of getting Polly away from an evident discussion. Mrs. Brewsterand Anne exchanged concerned glances, but Sam Brewster moodily staredfor a few minutes away at Rainbow Cliffs. Then quite suddenly, and tothe great amazement of every one present, he laughed and said, "To thinkthe new woman has acquired such power that centuries of accepted habitis set aside and the male has to fall in line _in the rear_. Look at me!I have been the Great Mogul in this family and in all Oak Creek, too, until my baby girl begins to talk plainly and then she quietly pushes meout of my place and steps into it. 

"And look at Eleanor Maynard! Talks like an experienced businesspotentate of forty--yet she is only fourteen. Oh, I tell you what, friends, we are living in a strange time!" And Sam Brewster laughedagain, a queer-sounding laugh this. Every one sat still and dreaded tosay a word. In a few moments, he continued:

"Here's a wonderful freak of nature, been standing over there for agesuntold; and I settle down beside those Cliffs because I can see therewill be something in them for my children in days to come. But then, without warning, my baby grows suddenly up and rears her head, anddeclares 'Those Cliffs must furnish me with money to go away from here. I am of the new order of things, and I must be well prepared to meet myfate!' So she packs her kit and scampers off to New York to imbibe thehigher education for women. 

"Meantime, her poor lonesome father remains behind in Pebbly Pit andtakes charge of the complete blasting of his precious Rainbow Hopes. Ahwell! Ah trust Polly will never regret going to New York with you-all!"

As Sam Brewster sighed and got up to walk away, his wife remarkedquietly: "Any one would think, Sam, that Polly was your very ownpersonal property. If you could but remember that she has a mother wholoves her devotedly and is silently breaking her heart right now, sothat the child may follow her own life-line without foolish barriersplaced in her pathway!"

Mr. Brewster sent a startled glance at his wife and then hurried away tothe barns. But Mr. Maynard said fervently: "There spoke the true mother, Mrs. Brewster. That is what we are parents for, I firmly believe--thatwe may help the next generation to a higher and firmer foot-hold onprogress. If only there were more mothers like you!"

Then John crept over and flung his arm over his mother's shoulders. "Yes, Mr. Maynard--she is great. And we shall live to call her'blessed, ' for this temporary parting from Polly will soon be a dream ofthe past, and both father and mother will laugh at this talk!"

Drawing Polly into the house, Eleanor whispered: "I know just what youare going to say, Goody-good! You were ready to explode because you hadnot told me any such things as I pretended you had. But, don't you see, I had to take lots of things for granted to put the plan over in a fewseconds? Suppose I had started out with turning to you every few momentsfor approval, where would we have ended. "

"That's what _you_ think, Nolla, but let me tell you this much righthere"--and Polly planted her feet firmly and lifted her head upon herproud neck, until Eleanor stood admiring her independence--"I can talkfor myself, every time! Don't ever quote me again in any thing that Iever said or did. You may think it is all right because you win out onthose grounds, and simply because you never have been taught properly byyour mother. But _I_ know better and I won't accept any victory won onany other basis than a clear conscience. Ask Anne Stewart whether shedoes not agree with me on this point. Now let me tell you, that much asI had yearned to go to New York with you-all I cannot go because youtook my personal rights from me. I love you and I was crazy to leavehome to go to school, but I will never consent to have any one say oract for me, in any way, when I am perfectly able to do so for myself. "

"Oh, Poll! I don't mean it that way--don't you know I only did it tohelp you out?" cried Eleanor aghast at the turn in events. 

"Who asked you to help me out?" demanded Polly, her blue eyes emittingsparks of fire. 

"Why--wh--y--you see I had to win your father over!"

"But _who_ told you so? You know very well that it was your own pride inyour ability to _talk_ that made you take the bit between your teeth. But you will learn now, that I intend driving my own steed, and will notallow others to whip my mount!"

Eleanor was silenced as she began to review the very recent talk she hadgiven out on the terrace. Polly was right!

"It hurts me to tell you this, Nolla, but it is best that we have aclean slate from this night on. You are awfully clever and witty, too, but you do exaggerate something terrible! I cannot sit tamely by andaccept all the things you say of me and our plans. Why, we scarcely saida dozen words about college and Europe!"

"But I did it all for your sake, " was all Eleanor could offer inself-defense. 

"That's just it! I _will not_ have any one say they had to tell lies tohelp me along. If I can't paddle my own canoe through the rapids, I cango ashore. But I will balk every time another tries to turn me from thecourse I know to be my true one. So there!"

"Polly dearest! Do you mean that after all I have done to get Dad hereand win your father's consent to your going, that you refuse to leavehome--just because I colored my words a bit too vividly?"

"You can color your words as rashly and with as vivid colors as youchoose, Nolla, but I say that when you begin to infer that the coloringis of _my_ choosing and that I am in hearty sympathy with the way youwin out in matters, then I will balk and if necessary, deny it in thefuture. I _hate_ color when it is daubed on falsely!"

Eleanor stood self-conscious of her mistakes, and Polly sent her onesorry look and then walked into her room. Eleanor did not dare follow asshe was too awed by her friend's honest speech. And she admired Pollyall the more for daring to tell her the unvarnished truth about herproclivity to prevaricate. 

"It always was my weak spot, " grumbled Eleanor to herself, as she walkedslowly to the kitchen to see if Sary was there to keep her company. Butthe big cool kitchen was empty, so the girl sat down in the wooden chairand thought. 

[Illustration: "WHO ASKED YOU TO HELP ME OUT?" DEMANDED POLLY. 

_Polly and Eleanor_ _Page 257_]

"If I had had a different training maybe I wouldn't be so ready to lie, "murmured Eleanor. Then, suddenly sneering at herself she added: "Poorfish! Can't even accept what you know is a fact without trying to blameit on some one else. You've scorned Bob for being such a fool, but hereyou are, ten times worse, because you have wits enough yet you pervertthe use of them. Eleanor Maynard, I just feel as if I wanted to give youthe biggest hiding you ever heard of!"

As she knew of no way in which to inflict this punishment upon herself, she cried instead. From a prolonged sniffle that caused her to wipe hereyes on her dimity sleeves, she began to weep freely. And finally, heart-broken sobs shook her slender frame. By this time her eyes andnose were rivers of salt-water and the poor girl had no handkerchief. Just when she felt compelled to turn up her skirt to use the ruffle ofher white petticoat, Anne came in. 

"Why, Nolla! What has happened?"

"Oo-h, Anne--I lost my handkerchief!"

"Is that all, darling! Here use mine--It's clean. But don't cry over atrifle like that. It is sure to be somewhere about the place. "

Before Anne could dry the flooded eyes and hold the bit of white linenat Eleanor's nose, the girl broke into a merry laugh--so close weretears and laughter in Eleanor's makeup. 

"Oh, oh--Anne! I didn't mean _that_ that was what made me _cry_! But Iam so disgusted with myself--that is why I am weeping. If some one wouldonly whip me soundly, I would feel _so_ much better!"

"Oh, I see! you're crying because you are so selfish, eh?"

Eleanor looked up astonished. "Selfish--no, I want to be thrashed, youknow. "

"And because you cannot get what you think you want, you sit out hereand weep! Oh come, Nolla! come out on the terrace and let your Dad seehow happy you are!"

The very illumination that came with Anne's unexpected words choked thesobs in Eleanor's throat, and she meekly followed Anne to the pump wherecold water was dashed upon her red eye-lids. As she dried her face on aclean towel that hung back of the door, she thought: "Yes, sir! Even inhowling for a licking I was fooling myself into believing I was doingthe right thing! Oh, Nolla, Nolla! how much you have to change your oldways of thinking and talking before you can feel as honest and wise asAnne Stewart or Polly!"

CHAPTER XV

COMINGS AND GOINGS

It was very late when the doctor reached the ranch, that night, andhaving examined the still unconscious man, pronounced his opinion to themen who had accompanied him from the house. 

"It's a bad concussion on the brain, I believe, following a slightfracture of the skull. He has suffered internal injuries, too, from theslight examination I can make here. But we can do nothing for him underthese conditions. He ought to be in a hospital in Denver where anoperation could take place. "

"Would it be a risk to try and carry him there?" asked John, anxiously. 

"He won't suffer during the trip, if that is what you mean, as he isunconscious of physical pain. And the sooner he could be operated uponthe better. He will slowly pass away if left like this, " returned thedoctor. 

"But to-morrow's Sunday, John, and no trains run to Denver until Mondaynoon, " said Tom Latimer. 

"There's the morning milk-train, you know, " suggested the doctor. "If Iexplained the case, they would gladly take these men on and turn themover to the physicians at Denver. "

"Then we'd have to get them in to Oak Creek to-night, " added Mr. Brewster. 

"You'd have to fix up some sort of hammocks in the wagon to spare thepoor fellows any jolts. If it can be done, I will wait and ride backwith them, " said the doctor. 

"We'll turn the ranch inside out and upside down in order to help in anyway, " hastily asserted Mr. Brewster. Then turning to Jeb, who stoodwatching the scene, commanded him. 

"Jeb, get out the truck wagon--the one with the chestnut posts on eitherside--and hook up four of our best horses. While Jeb is doing that, wewill get the two hammocks from the girls and fix up some sort ofmattress in each. These hammocks can swing from the posts. I'll go withthe doctor and see that no little thing is overlooked. "

"John and I thought of going in, Mr. Brewster, and if three are going, you would not have to take this trip to-night, " said Tom. 

"W-ee-ll I would rather not use myself up in riding all night withoutbeing able to do any good to any one, if you young men will go in myplace, " Sam Brewster sighed. 

"An' Ah'll drive the four hosses, cuz, yuh know, it's no joke seein'ahead of th' hosses' noses along that trail in th' dark, " announced Jeb, in a matter-of-course tone. 

"Jeb, if you would! It will be a great relief to know you aredriving--you are such a wizard with a four-in-hand, " exclaimed John, smiling suddenly at Jeb. 

"Wha--Ah hed no idee you-all diden know Ah was goin' t' do th' drivin', "returned Jeb, surprised at the others for their lack of comprehension. 

It was twelve o'clock that night when all was ready and the great wagonlumbered past the ranch-house. The women were all grouped on the porch, silently praying for the safe transportation of the unfortunate schemersfrom New York. 

"Ah don't suppose we will really know why these men came West untilLatimer or Evans gets here to explain, " said Mr. Brewster, as theremaining members of the family went indoors. 

"Didn't you look through the papers in that leather bag?" asked Mr. Maynard of his host. 

"No, not when Ratzger came to and told us who they were. I handed thebag to him and felt I had no right to pry into his secrets--especiallyas he acted so fearful of the contents of the wallet. "

"I suppose they hired those horses from Oak Creek, " ventured Mrs. Brewster. 

"Doubtless; and I told John to make sure and then ask Ratzger what hadbest be done to settle for them. If the men have ample means they canpay the damages, but if they haven't, I will pay for them myself, "explained Mr. Brewster. 

"I don't see why you should! You had nothing to do with their hiring, nor with anything connected with this accident, " said Mr. Maynard. 

"No, but folks here-abouts stick together more or less, and if one has aloss, the others generally help out. Now I can spare twenty horses frommy corral sooner than have a friend in Oak Creek think I had somethingto do with his loss of two good saddle horses. "

"If every one thought and acted like that, Mr. Brewster, we would bringin the millennium without delay, " Mr. Maynard remarked. 

"Ah feel happy to state that Ah will never defer the coming of thatsame millennium by any trifle like a few horses given away to a lessfortunate friend. "

All that evening Polly and Eleanor were as cordial and chummy as ever toobservers, but no one knew that the two girls had changed places. OnlyAnne knew that Eleanor had been in the kitchen weeping, and even she didnot know the cause of the tears. She fancied there had been a girlishquarrel between the friends but that would soon be made up again. So shepaid no further attention to the case. 

Eleanor felt humbled by the frank truth spoken by Polly, and realizingthat it was absolutely as her friend had stated, she tried to impressupon Polly that she was repentant and would never again do or say athing that might offend. Hitherto Eleanor had taken for granted that shewas more experienced in every way than her simple little friend of theranch; and without meaning to take the upper hand, had actually assumedthat position, until she had reached the point where Polly rebelledagainst this friendly leadership. 

But after the fearless speech from Polly that afternoon, Eleanorcomprehended how far behind she really was in this warfare betweenegotism and _egoism_. She began to understand that the first expressedstubbornness and selfishness which eventually would result inunhappiness for all concerned; while egoism meant exactly what Polly wastrying to demonstrate for herself--that upright fearless stand forTruth, and the sacrifice of everything that interfered with the perfectworking out of the highest good. 

Hence, without meaning to do so, and in fact, never realizing that itwas so, Polly took the lead in everything after that day. When with herfriend, Eleanor seldom exaggerated and never took the aggressiveattitude again. And with others, she seemed to be developing a quieterand more lovable disposition. But her family and friends declared it wasdue to the fact that she was out-growing her tom-boy habits. 

Sunday morning was far spent before the family met under the oak treesfor their first meal. Seeing how late it was, Mrs. Brewster and Sarydecided to have but two meals that day--a combination breakfast andlunch and a good dinner and supper about five o'clock. The very unusualbreak in the habits of other Sabbaths, and the various causes that ledto such a change, kept every one lounging quietly about the house andporch. 

Mr. Maynard took advantage of the restful hours, to ask Barbara just howmuch money she needed to defray her expenses in camp, with her mother. And in spite of her mentioning an exorbitant sum, he silently wrote outthe check for her. 

Barbara had expected rebellion and so was prepared to argue that sheneeded a new wardrobe for such a select gathering, but finding herfather had offered no resistance, she wished she had demanded much more. Had she but known that the only reason he gave her what she wanted, wasthe qualm of conscience he felt. He was really glad to have his daughterso eager to join her mother in the East, so that he would be relieved ofthe nagging and unhappiness he was always subjected to when his wife andoldest daughter were with him. 

But there was a sub-conscious reason, too, for his ready writing of thecheck. He was as eager to have Eleanor live with Anne and her mother inNew York, as the girl was to go there. And this unexpected plan mightmeet with various objections from his wife if she dreamed of the extracost it would be. As he seldom came to an open quarrel with Mrs. Maynard, he considered he was placating both wife and daughter byextending this generous sum of money for their pleasures. Should theyoffer strenuous objections against Eleanor's plan to live in New York, he would have one cudgel, at least, to use against them. 

The sinking sun was bathing Rainbow Cliffs in a glory of color beforethe echo of the lumbering ranch-wagon was heard sounding across thecrater. Then every one ran out upon the terrace to watch the home-comingof the weary boys. 

"Was everything all right?" anxiously asked Mrs. Brewster, thinking ofthe two poor sufferers. 

"Oh yes; the hammocks served splendidly, but poor Ratzger groanedcontinually because of the pain in his limbs, " sighed John. 

"And we had an awful job carrying them from the wagon to the milk-train. They both are corpulent men, you know, " added Tom. 

"The docter went along widdem, to Denver, " observed Jeb. "Gosh! Ah wishtAh wuz a doctor, en Ah'd have gone, too. It wuz a free ride fer him, yuh-know. "

The humor of the remark made every one smile, and Jeb gazed from one tothe other to find out just where he had been witty. 

"Never mind, Jeb; you and Sary are going to Denver, you know, for thatring, " whispered Mrs. Brewster, aside to Jeb. 

"It ain't the same. Sary'll tote me aroun' jest whar she wants to go, enAh have t' trot behin' her like a poodle!" grumbled Jeb. 

Mrs. Brewster understood immediately. It was the call of freedom to themale who is soon to be shackled, to have one last fling. So shewhispered back: "I'll see that you get a few days off for a nice visitthere all by yourself. Perhaps we can arrange to have you go with thegirls and look after their luggage on their way to New York. "

At this unexpected offer of bliss, even if it was lonesome, Jeb grinnedand shuffled away to drive the horses to the barns. 

As Jeb had to make another trip to meet the train on Monday noon at OakCreek, he was only too glad when Tom announced that he was going, too, to meet his father and Dr. Evans. 

John and Anne found so much to say to each other before the separationcame, that they were not to be seen all that day. Polly felt sure shewould find them seated on the Imps at the Cliffs, if she wanted to takethe trouble to walk there. But she didn't. 

Mrs. Brewster and Eleanor were together, talking over many pleasantsecrets, or at least Polly thought they must be pleasant from thesmiling countenance on her friend. Now and then she caught such words as"you know all about such things, Nolla, " or Eleanor might say "she willbe on top of the heap, if I know it, Mrs. Brewster, " so it was evidentthat she, Polly, was the subject of their conversation. But Pollyherself, felt little concern about it all, as she saw the forlornexpression on her father's face as he went about his ranch-duties. Finally she decided upon taking a radical step. 

She went to the room where she found her meager wardrobe displayed inevery country-like detail. So this was what Eleanor was planning--aconquest made with fine clothes such as she had!

"Mother, " she began; "I have changed my mind about going to school. Ihave decided to remain here with father and you. "

"Oh, Poll! You just can't!" cried Eleanor. 

"Why this sad countenance, daughter, if you believe you will be happierhere than away?" countered Mrs. Brewster. 

"Because I am as miserable as Daddy about leaving. "

Mrs. Brewster laughed merrily, albeit she felt no joy in her soul. "Thenthe sooner we dispel this gloom by packing you off, the better. Ihaven't the slightest doubt but that you will wonder at your presentattitude, the moment John and Tom have gone. Once let every young personleave us here all alone for the long solitary winter, and you will eatyour heart out to think that you could have been so mistaken as torefuse this wonderful opportunity to make something of yourself and yourwealth. "

Polly knew in her heart that her mother spoke the truth, but she neverdreamed what it cost that mother to speak cheerily as she did about heronly girl's going--in fact, almost persuading her to go. For that wisemother had heard the yearnings in Polly's voice the day she spoke sodaringly of all her ambitions and of her future. And she understood thatthis transitory spell of regret was merely the contagion of Mr. Brewster's woe-be-gone thoughts and behavior. 

"I'll get after Sam, and that good and plenty!" thought Mrs. Brewster toherself, as she watched Polly with keen understanding. 

"Poll, your mother says Anne is to get every last dud you need in theswellest shops in New York. Because you and I will have plenty of moneyfor our future, and we must dress up to our station. Your mother saidour success in business would be influenced, to a great extent, by ourcareful consideration of apparel. She is right. "

"But, mother, you said to me, one time, that clothes should never occupya woman's mind, " Polly said, wonderingly. 

"I was right in saying so. I do not believe in having anything soperishable as dress occupying anybody's mind. But that does not meanthat you should become careless of your appearance nor wear cheap andvulgar apparel. I always felt that an individual expresses his ownposition in life by the clothes he selects and wears. It is generally akey to one's character. You will find that any one who has slip-shodapparel, is careless in everything else in life, and one who dons gaudyattire--cheap and destructible--will soon show you how small a nature hehas. The same with well-selected refined apparel; one garbed in thebest, no matter how many seasons they may have to wear the articles, will prove reliable and conscientious in other ways. 

"Oh, I never dreamed this would end up in a sermon!" Mrs. Brewstersuddenly laughed, and then she whisked from the room. 

The new arrivals came at sun-down, and every one was eager to welcomeTom's father, and his friend Dr. Evans. Both men were made to feel athome, and as the dinner had been kept waiting for the past half-hour, Sary lost no time in shouting for every one to "setdown. "

Smiles on every face, was the rule at that meal, and no one dreamed thatMrs. Brewster had given her spouse the worst "Dressing down" he had hadsince they were married. He laughingly referred to it later on, andconfessed that now he knew where Polly got her "woman's rights" idea, sounexpectedly betrayed the day she stood up for herself. 

CHAPTER XVI

POLLY AND ELEANOR START OUT

"Now let us hear all about those two strangers from New York?" Mr. Brewster reminded his new guests, as they strolled away from the table. 

"Well, it was as much a shock for us to find that they had been here andwere now at a hospital in Denver, as it was for you to learn who theywere, " replied the doctor. 

"I suspected some crooked work last week, but I must say that I neverthought they would come out here on such a meager chance, " added Mr. Latimer. "You see, it was this way: I had a rascal employed in my officeas clerk, but I never knew that he was in constant touch with Riggley &Ratzger--in fact was their stool-pigeon. He was a clerk in our officesjust to get daily information about patents. And thus the other firm gothold of many tips. 

"When the Court upheld us in our rights, and this firm of crooks triedin other ways to get that valuable patent and model, this clerk Brownmade an accurate blue-print of the drawing we always kept locked in oursafe. Then when he heard of our success in cutting the lava-jewels fromthe material sent us from Pebbly Pit, he did everything to locate thisranch. 

"Had we wasted any time in planning to come West and meet you peoplehere, I doubt not but that Riggley & Ratzger would have had a new schemeto hold us up. But we moved so swiftly after hearing from Kenneth andTom, that they had to catch breath to keep up in the race. 

"I am convinced that they hurried here with no set plans about thefuture--they wanted to get a hold on this place so as to try and bar usfrom immediate work, or perhaps, to make a fortune out of us by sellingtheir option to us. They never dreamed that Latimer had a son righthere, and that there was a deeper cause for our meeting you all thanmere business reasons. Had either of these lawyers known about Montresorand that mine, they would not have spent so much time and money to gethere to outwit us. 

"It is fortunate that the doctor kept those letters at home where Browncould not read and copy them for his firm of rascals. But, to tell thetruth, that was one reason why Dr. Evans was so anxious to meetyou-all. We want to hear everything about the old man and that claim. "

As Mr. Latimer finished speaking, Dr. Evans said: "If you will pardonme, a moment, I have here a photograph taken of my brother-in-law justbefore he left for the Klondike. Perhaps you will recognize something inthe face to assure us it was your Montresor. "

The doctor took out his large flat pocket-book and removed thecard-photograph wrapped in tissue paper. This was passed to SamBrewster, who needed but a glance to tell him that the pictured face wasthe same man that he had defended so valiantly to others. 

Polly ran over to her father's side and took the picture. "Oh, you dearold friend--it is our Old Man Montresor, sure enough, but his hair waswhite when we knew him!" she exclaimed. 

She impulsively kissed the senseless card, and every one smiledsympathetically, even though there was a suspicion of moisture in mosteyes. 

"I am so glad to find that he had good friends, somewhere, even thoughhe was too proud to let any one know about his relatives. And Ken! I'mso glad to know that he, and you people, will all come in on Choko'sFind--or to be exact, it is Montresor's Mine, " said Polly. 

"That's going to be a fine tangle in law, Polly, " remarked Mr. Latimer. "You see, Montresor made you his sole heiress, so the mine is yours, notonly by inheritance, but also by rediscovery after it was lost in thefirst land-slide. 

"We stopped at Simms' office to-day--that is what made us late--andlearned, without a doubt, that the two claims are the same. As it nowstands, Polly and her friends are claim-jumpers on the same claim thatMontresor bequeathed to Polly a few years ago. And should you all go tolaw over the tangle, the State of Colorado would benefit, in-as-much asthe costs of an endless suit would fill the State coffers. " Mr. Latimerlaughed at the picture of such a thrilling law-tangle for hisunraveling. 

"But we are not going to law, and if that gold is mine so that no oneelse has any right to say what I can, or cannot do with it, I shall dowhat I always planned to do with it--even before Nolla and I found itagain. I made up my mind that if ever one of dear old Montresor'srelatives appeared I would go halves. And if they wanted the wholething--then they could take it, rather than fight for it. So now I amgoing to give half to your wife, right off, Doctor, and my other half Iwill divide with the girls who were with me when we located it again. "Polly was magnificent in her earnest generosity. 

"Why, Miss Polly, my wife would never accept half of it. Ken wrotesomething of what you told him, and Mrs. Evans told me to be sure totell you that you _cannot_ give half away. Besides, the fact that I willhave so many friends willing to invest money in this device of mine, isbetter than all the gold in the Rockies. The jewel-cutter is now anassured success, and it will turn out dollars like a sausage grinderturns out that toothsome breakfast meat. "

Every one laughed at the doctor's funny comparison, and he continued:"However, let us hear from Tom and the others, how they managed to getdown into the cave if it was buried under such mountains of trash. "

"Oh, yes, John! You promised to tell us the moment Mr. Latimer and thedoctor arrived, " cried Eleanor, eagerly. 

So without preamble, John began: "When Mike had made a temporary campfor us on Top Notch, he tried to show Tom and me just where the cave hadbeen. But none other than a clever Indian scout could ever have foundone familiar sign anywhere. Even Mike had to hunt and dig and trailaround, again and again, before he gave a war-whoop. 

"To cut it short, I will say, we found that the ravine upon which thecave opened, was completely filled with trash and, in fact, there weremany feet of earth and timber on top of the ledge so that it would needa great deal of digging and blasting before we could hope to enter thatcave again. 

"But Tom and I had not been lazy during the time Mike was seeking forsome sign to locate the cave. And after we learned how impossible it wasto enter the mine at that side where the girls had gone in, Tom and Itook scientific observations with our instruments, and finally, aftertiresome days, found a rushing river that gushed from some undergroundsource. 

"We immediately remembered the pit Polly had told us of, and the rushingsound of waters she had heard when leaning over the edge of the pit, sowe decided that here we had found the outlet. 

"We could not determine how far the river traveled underground from thepit, until it came out in the open again, but we got Mike to come withus, and, daring fellow that he is, he crept into the tunnel that hoodedthe stream. We tried to dissuade him from taking such a risk, but hegrinned and said: 'Mike like fun. '

"When he returned, half an hour later, he made us understand that wemight follow quite safely. My! But that was some thrill, eh, Tom?"laughed John, shivering delightfully at the reminiscence. 

Tom laughingly admitted that it was a "hair-raiser" and John continued:"We managed to cling to the narrow ledge of rock that was less than afoot above the turbulent water, and even that must have been submergedmost of the time, as it was damp and slippery. Mike said the recentland-slide had had some effect on lowering the water-line of the riverand that was what left the rock exposed. 

"We crept slowly along this foot-hold and soon realized that we werenearing some suction-hole. Mike explained that it was the very tube thatrose to the rocky floor where Polly knelt that day. I couldn't see wherethis journey was going to benefit us, but Mike knew. 

"Reaching the tube that slanted upwards, so that we could see roots andstubborn vines growing out of its rocky walls, we also discovered thatwe had a flat space of more than six feet square on which we werestanding. Now Mike demonstrated what he proposed doing. All ourthreats, persuasions, and anger, left no impression. He smiled. 

"He made us understand that he was about to scale the wall by means ofthose roots and vines. Should he miss and fall, the rope he tied abouthis body would keep him from being swept down into the current. He gaveus the end of the rope to fasten to our waists. When he arrived at thetop, he would draw us up, one after the other. 

"He managed to land on top, but I'll have to tell you-all some othertime, all that happened before we reached the underground cave where thegold was shining from walls and ceiling. It is exactly as Pollydescribed it, and we picked up a number of nuggets that were found inthe dust of ages on the stone floor, and then tried to take scientificobservations. Tom took a flash-light of the cave, and we had itdeveloped, but it was not a howling success. Still, it shows somethingof the interior. 

"When we got back to open air again, we noticed the vast mountain-topthat sat down upon that gold-mine. This would have to be removed if wemined from the top. But I believe we can manage to work in through thattunnel and secure the gold by means of lifts in that tube. This is amatter of discussion. The gold is there and it can be gotten out, justso long as Old Grizzly will behave. "

There was a general chorus of sighs when John had concluded his story, and as technical matters were taken up by the men, and in this the girlswere not interested, they wandered away to enjoy the twilight. 

During the days that followed, Barbara left Pebbly Pit, with no regretson her part, and not very many on the part of her summer companions. Shewas not in her rightful place on a ranch, and every one was honestenough to admit it. But now she was going to join "her own" and she washappy. 

Tom and John were the next to leave the happy circle at the ranch. Butnot until all plans about the incorporating of the two companies wereperfected. Each man present at that meeting, signing up liberally tosupply the money to launch the two big enterprises. 

The evening before John and Tom were to go back to their engineeringwork with their old Crew, Polly and Eleanor were out on the terrace withTom, talking eagerly of the plans made for mining the ore from Choko'sFind. From this subject it was quite natural for the girls to launchthe subject of their anticipated winter in New York City. 

"I suppose you two girls will see quite a little of Jim and Ken, whenyou arrive in New York, " ventured Tom, wistfully (or so it seemed toromantic Eleanor). 

"They said so; Jim says New Haven is not so far from New York but thatthe two of them--I mean the boys not the cities, " laughed Polly--"may beable to visit us every week-end. That will be great fun for us, won'tit, Tom?"

"I suppose so. I wonder if John would care for you to see so much of thetwo boys as you plan to, " replied Tom, suggestively. 

"Oh, John won't care! Why should he?" retorted Polly. 

"Why _shouldn't_ he? He's your brother and you are growing up to be ayoung lady, Polly; you must think of appearances, you know, " said Tom. 

Polly laughed merrily. "Why, Tom! One would think you were concernedabout my future, the way you preach. Just like Daddy does. "

Eleanor interpreted the speech to suit herself and watched Tom'sexpression closely. Tom frowned at Polly's laugh and bit his lip torestrain himself from further preachings. 

"Besides, " added Polly, in a few moments, "Jim is your own kid brother, and Ken is his pal. You-all say Ken is a jewel of a boy, so why should Iworry about appearances' sake when I am with them?"

Tom refused to reply to her question, and Polly quickly forgot hisstrange remark. But Eleanor thought over various little incidents of thepast few days, and finally decided to make a radical move for Tom. 

"I'm going indoors, for a minute, children--will you excuse me?" saidshe, starting to leave the two alone. 

"With the greatest of pleasure!" declared Tom, laughingly, to Eleanor. 

Eleanor tossed her saucy head and winked at Tom as she ran away. Tomflushed and wondered just what Eleanor thought or what she had tried tomake him understand by that wink. 

The moment Eleanor had gone Tom turned to Polly and said: "Shall we walkto the Cliffs and have a last look at the jewels in this gloriousmoonlight?"

"Oh no!" cried Polly, nervously, as she glanced at Tom's facialexpression, and thought of the tremble in his voice as he spoke. 

"All right, then; but I thought you would want to remember just howthey looked, to-night. When you are in that crowded city of rush andhustle, it would be a pleasant memory. "

"Eleanor and I are going to get a snap-shot of them, to-morrow, afteryou boys are gone, " explained Polly, in a matter-of-fact tone. 

Tom smothered a sigh and was trying to think of some other excuse tocoax Polly away from the nearness of the house, when Mr. Maynard and Mr. Latimer strolled over to join the two young people. Polly turned to themwith a smiling welcome but Tom gnashed his teeth in impatience at theiruntimely intrusion. 

The two men immediately began speaking of the projects for theincorporated companies and demanded so much of Tom's attention thatPolly managed to glide away and go back to the house. This ended Tom'sfirst attempt at romance with Polly, and it was evident that he dislikedthe interruption. 

After Mr. Maynard, Mr. Latimer, and Dr. Evans had gone, it was AnneStewart's turn to say good-by. She was going to Denver to see that hermother wound up all their private affairs, and there she would await thecoming of Eleanor and Polly. 

After Anne had gone, Mrs. Brewster took Polly and Eleanor to her roomand sat down to have a confidential talk with the girls. To her surprisePolly found all her ranch-dresses and other apparel bundled up in aloose roll with a rope tied about it. 

"Why, mother! How can I take my clothes to New York that way?" askedshe, having studied the bundle wonderingly for a time. 

Mrs. Brewster laughed. "You're not. These are going to some poorranchers' children over at Yellow Jacket Pass. "

"But, mother!" gasped Polly. "I haven't anything left to wear in NewYork!"

"That's what I wish to tell you about, Polly. Now listen to what I havealready told Eleanor who knows about these things better than we do. "

Then Mrs. Brewster proceeded to instruct Polly as Eleanor had suggestedpreviously. 

"I know how foolish it appears to you, Polly, to give much thought toclothes, because at home on the ranch it matters so little what thestyle is. But once you are in New York, or any other large city whereall kinds of people are to be found, your appearance makes a greatdifference. You are not to take any of your home-made ranch clothes withyou, Polly--not even on the train after you leave Denver. I am going topurchase a neat tailor-made suit at Denver for you to wear, and yourold suit I shall bring back home. 

"When you reach New York Anne and Eleanor have my orders to attend toyour shopping the very first thing. I want you to go to the very bestand most exclusive shops on Fifth Avenue above Forty-second street forall you need--and many accessories that you think you do not need, Polly. 

"Remember this, dear, the tag of the maker of your apparel is not theonly important mark of an exclusive shop--the principal mark is the cutand style, and these high-grade shops turn out hats, coats and gownswhich the other shops endeavor in vain to imitate. That is why one canbe recognized in a way by the clothes they wear. And that is why Iinsist upon your having the best. 

"Another thing I know to be true, is this: Girls at school (and I feelsure the girls at your exclusive school in New York City will do so)judge others by the maker of their clothes. You will have no heart-achesif your clothes have the best maker's name inside. It sounds small, Polly, but it really is a serious matter when you come in contact withsmall-minded girls or adults. 

"Anne carries the check-book, Polly, and Eleanor carries the socialexperience in dressing as becomes a young lady of the best society. Youmust remember you are that and so you must never be ashamed of yourapparel. When one is so clothed that one need not think of dress, or anyapology for what they have on, one is at ease and forgets about suchtrifles. That is one good argument for having the best, Polly--oneforgets oneself. "

Polly listened to her mother's wise remarks with serious expression, butEleanor sat and nodded her head approvingly whenever Mrs. Brewster madea point that pleased the girl. When Mrs. Brewster paused for a moment, Eleanor spoke eagerly. 

"My! Won't I just make the gold from Choko's Find mine fly when I selectthe wardrobe for our Polly!"

"You can't spend something you never had, " laughed Mrs. Brewster. 

"But we _will_ have it, some day, soon, " retorted Eleanor. 

"Well, then, I'll spend it when we get it, not till then!" exclaimedPolly, practically. 

"There speaks the logical one, " laughed Eleanor. 

"Polly will have more than enough in the bank to defray all bills whilein New York, Nolla, without borrowing from the mine. "

At last came the day when Polly had to say good-by to her beloved petson the ranch. Dear little Noddy followed her about and would not beseparated from her. It was as if the burro knew her beloved mistress wasleaving home. And so heart-broken was Polly to realize that she wouldnot see her Noddy again for almost a year, that she took the woolly headin her arms and kissed the cold nose in a fond farewell. 

Eleanor stood by and dabbed her eyes with her fist at sight of suchaffection, but she had to laugh when Noddy tried to return that kiss. Her red tongue was long and supple and Polly was taken by surprise whenit curled about her ear. 

And then at last! Well, Sary refused absolutely to be left at home whenshe found Jeb was going with the family to help Polly carry the bags. "What, " she exclaimed to Mrs. Brewster the night before, "you-all mus'think Ah'm empty-headed to let Jeb go t' Denver alone. Ah've hearn sayhow gals go about them streets lookin' fer a handsome young beau!No-siree! Ef Jeb goes, Ah goes too!" And she went!

Sary furnished endless amusement to the Brewster group as the trainsped on its way from Oak Creek to Denver. Polly was the only one in thecircle who paid little attention to the excited woman, for Polly had allshe could do to keep down her own nervous excitement because of thewonders of the first train-ride she had ever had. 

"Ah d'clar' to goodness, Missus Brewster, is this business runnin'away?" exclaimed Sary, after the local had started from Oak Creek. 

Mrs. Brewster sat in front of Sary who, with Jeb, occupied the last seatin the coach. The chosen seat was Jeb's plan; although he did notexplain to any one that he figured out it would be much better to benear the door in case one had to make a quick exit. Trains _did_ run offtheir tracks, and also there might be a collision. He had heard folkstalking of these dreadful accidents. 

When Sary addressed her mistress with a tone of anxiety in her voice, Mrs. Brewster turned her head and smiled reassuringly as she replied:

"Oh, no, Sary! The train hasn't really started to go, as yet. Wait untilwe get past these little local stations, then you shall see. "

"Wall, Ah don't know ez Ah wants to ride any faster. Ef the driver couldslow up a bit we-all could enjy the country views better, " said Sary. 

Eleanor giggled and nudged Polly but Polly turned a serious face to herfriend. "Nolla, I think the same as Sary--I'd rather go slower. "

"Good gracious, Polly, are _you_ frightened, too?" exclaimed Eleanor. 

"No, but I want to remember every inch of this grand country if I am tostay in New York for many months, you see. "

Eleanor understood, and left Polly to her silent work of impressing hermind with the views she wished to remember, later; Sary would provideenough entertainment for Eleanor during the trip to Denver. 

"Jeb, what you-all clutchin' at my arm like-as-how you are?" now askedSary, in no weak or tender voice. 

"Ah ain't clutchin' nothin', Sary!" was Jeb's defense of his manhood. 

"Ah don't know what you call it, then. Sit up like a regular traveler, Jeb, and don't slump in the seat like-as-how your head wants to duckfrom some crash, " declared Sary, heroically trying to lift Jeb's courageby gripping his coat collar and hoisting him almost out of his badlyfitting coat. 

Eleanor smothered a laugh but said nothing to disturb the vaudeville shewas enjoying. Mr. And Mrs. Brewster were talking earnestly about thefuture of their daughter. 

Suddenly Polly cried thrillingly: "Oh, look, everybody! We're coming toa torrent, and the train won't slow up!"

Sary instantly turned to the window and saw what seemed to be anunavoidable end of all earthly things, so she half rose from the seatand grabbed Jeb in her ample embrace. "Ef we go, we goes together, Jeb!"

Her voice, never soft and melodious, now rose above the whistle of theengine just as it reached the high bridge over the stream. Jeb's smallhead was completely hidden by the unexpected protection thrust upon him, but Eleanor had no idea of thus missing the pleasure of watching Jeb'sface when the train should cross the bridge. 

"Look--look, Jeb and Sary! We're riding over the water!" she cried. 

Thus induced, Sary left Jeb's head to its fate and quickly sought thecause of Eleanor's excitement. The amazing experience of being on avehicle that glided directly over a rushing stream of water while therewas no apparent land to uphold the vehicle, held Sary and Jebspell-bound. 

When the train reached land, once more, and was steaming along its way, Sary sighed audibly and whispered to Jeb: "Did you-all ever know sechdoin's went on when one traveled?"

But Jeb was too surprised to make a sound. He sat and stared from thesmall window of the car without even having heard his fiancée's words. 

The conductor had passed through the car many times since the Brewsterfamily boarded the train, and when the last local station had been leftbehind and he had punched all the tickets of the passengers on thattrip, he entered the car and sat upon the arm of the seat just oppositeSam Brewster, in order to converse with the man every one about OakCreek knew so well. 

Having no stops to make for a long stretch, and the track running on alevel line for many miles, the engineer increased the speed of hisengine with corresponding results in Sary's anxiety. She stepped overJeb's obstructing feet and made madly for the conductor, taking thatworthy man quite by surprise. 

"See here, Mr. Boss, Ah ain't going to pay fer no ticket to ride on arunaway injun! It's your job to get up front and see what's ailin' thiscar. Ef it's locooed you'd better cut loose from th' injun--come along!"

And before the amazed conductor or Mr. Brewster could resist orexplain, Sary had the man by the shoulder and was actually lifting himalong the aisle towards the door. 

"Hi, there, Sary! Stop that!" shouted Sam Brewster, jumping up andtrying to rescue the poor victim from Sary's mighty hold. 

"Ain't it so, Mister Brewster? We-all paid good money fer this joy-ride, an' we-all ain't got nothin' from it but jumpin' nerves, so far!"

Every one but the poor conductor laughed heartily at Sary's complaint. But Mr. Brewster persuaded Sary to loose her prisoner and let himcollect his scattered senses; when the shaken man was able to once morethink reasonably, he gave Sary one look and disappeared from that coach, nor did he venture his head inside the door again, until he had to takeup all the tickets. 

The eventful trip finally ended when the local pulled into Denverstation; the Brewster party lost no time in leaving the train andthreading a way through the crowds at the waiting-room. They were to godirectly to Anne Stewart's house where luncheon would be waiting forthem. 

"Well, friends! glad to see you!" called Anne, as she welcomed thetravelers. "Come right in and meet mother. "

Introductions over, Mrs. Stewart led the way to the cozy littledining-room where the table was ready-spread for the luncheon. 

"I didn't pretend to provide much, Mrs. Brewster, " explained Mrs. Stewart, "because, you see, the house is rented furnished for two yearsand I could not leave a pan full of soiled dishes and crumbs of foodabout for my new tenant to clear away. Of course, the lady is an oldneighbor of mine, and would understand how hurried we are to-day inorder to get off on the afternoon train for New York; still I never liketo do things wrong. "

"Now see here, Miss Stewart, " declared Sary who had over-heard theremark, "you-all jes' go along to the cars an' leave me to do up thework. "

"No, Sary, this is your great holiday in Denver, " contradicted Mrs. Brewster, "and Jeb wants to fit that engagement ring on your finger, youknow; after lunch, you get away with Jeb and see the city while I do upthe dishes and help Mrs. Stewart dress and get ready to leave. "

That was a merry although hurried luncheon. Immediately after the cakeand tea were finished, Jeb and Sary started away to hunt the ring; butmany were the admonitions sent after them as they left the door, to beon hand at the railway terminal to see Polly and her friends off forNew York. 

Mrs. Brewster and her husband cleared away the remains of the luncheonwhile Mrs. Stewart and Anne completed their packing and dressed for thelong trip to the East. Everything in connection with the lease and theinventory of furniture had been attended to before this day, so therewere really no errands or work left to be done at the last. 

Finally Mrs. Stewart locked the door and gave the key to a next-doorneighbor who had offered to keep it until the tenant called for it; thengood-bys were said to the congregated friends of Anne and her mother's, and at last the party started for the station where the New York trainwas scheduled to leave at five o'clock. 

"Dear me, I do hope Sary and Jeb will be there on time, " sighed Mrs. Brewster, with a worried frown. 

"Don't worry about them, Mah, because I'll say they have been waitingfor us this last hour, " laughed Sam Brewster. 

"Sary wouldn't give Jeb a moment's peace until she got that ring, " addedAnne Stewart, laughingly, "and once she had it she would never give himanother moment's peace until she had shown it to every one of us!"

"Anne's right, mother, " giggled Polly, nodding her head wisely. 

And so it turned out. When the Brewster party reached the station inDenver, and before Sam Brewster could seek for his two servants Saryshouted so that every one at that end of the building heard her. 

"Here we-all be, Mr. Brewster! Jeb an' me's be'n lookin' out fer you-allthis last hour! Come right on, and see mah ring!"

Eyes turned in the direction of the voice and there stood Sary, perchedupon one of the benches in order to look over the heads of the peoplewho stood about in groups or who kept going and coming through thestation. She was waving her hand wildly to attract the attention of herparty. Eleanor laughed so hysterically at the sight that she couldhardly stand, but Polly dragged her along after the others until theyreached Sary and Jeb. 

"Ah d'clar' to goodness, folks! This city is one big camp, all right!"vouchsafed Jeb, his eyes wide enough to pop at the great adventure. 

"Don't you-all go talkin' of sech things, Jeb, when we-all got moreimportant things to do, " was Sary's scathing criticism, as she gave Jeba shove to quiet him. "Here--jest you-all look at this diamond! Threetimes bigger'n Anne Stewart's! Pull off that glove, Anne, and le's seemine and your'n side by side!" exclaimed Sary, eagerly. 

Anne laughed but complied with the challenge. Two hands were compared--asmall white hand with polished nails and with a sparkling diamondshining upon the third finger of the left hand, and a large-boned redhand with stubby nails on the fingers, but one finger displaying a greatRhinestone set so high that it would have been a menace had Sary triedto use her fist on an enemy. Jeb stood by grinning widely at the praisebestowed upon him for his choice of the largest stone in the departmentstore. 

"Cost some cash, that stone, eh Jeb?" chuckled Sam Brewster. 

"Bet chure life, Boss!" was Jeb's snappy reply. 

Eleanor now pulled Sary's head down in order to whisper into her ear. "Sary, when you get back to Pebbly Pit, Mrs. Brewster will give you apile of finery I left for your trousseau. You will be delighted to getthe laces and other trimmings for your hope-box. "

"Ah, Nolla, won't ah, jest! An' when Ah comes to Noo York to seeyou-all, you won't know me in my fine togs!" was Sary's eager reply. 

"Oh! were you expecting to come, Sary?" Eleanor asked. 

"Shure thing, Nolla. Onct Ah'm married Ah'm goin' to travel every year!"exclaimed Sary. 

"New York's a long way off from here, Sary, " ventured Eleanor. 

"Oh, Ah don't mean to say Jeb an' me'll go thar fust. Ah'm goin' tofigger on takin' a side trip to Chicargo fust, you know. Mebbe you kinfix it so's we-all kin visit your maw whiles we-all stop at that town, Nolla. An' nex' time we-all kin go on to Noo York, like-as-how Ah said. "

Eleanor caught her breath at this astounding news. The picture ofBarbara and her mother receiving Sary and Jeb proved too much for herrisibles and she laughed merrily as she replied to Sary's announcement. 

"Sary, if Jeb and you _would_ honor our house with a visit, I'd tellDaddy to look after you-all. But you must let me know, first, so myfather can meet you two and see that you are shown about in true style. "

"Nolla, that Ah will, when we-all get time to go thar. Ah says tomahself, jest the other day, Ah ain't never had no fun or chanct tobetter mahself, Ah says: 'Sary Dodd, when you get Jeb you plan to goabout like-as-how Anne Stewart is doin'. ' Nolla, thar ain't nuthin' likea bit of travel to polish folks up, is thar now?"

"You're right, Sary! Just exactly right, " laughed Eleanor. 

But Sam Brewster was now heard calling Eleanor that the train was readyand the gates were opened, so Sary caught Jeb by his sleeves andfollowed after the others when the entire group started for the New Yorktrain. 

One would think, to hear Sary's excited tones, that she was about totake the long, long journey from which there is no returning; but onceAnne Stewart and her charges were aboard the long Pullman train, theones who remained behind stood upon the platform waiting for the girlsto find their compartments and open the windows in order to converseuntil the last moment. 

Sam Brewster went over to a guard and asked several questions, then hehurried back and said to his party: "We can go aboard for a few minutes, as the train will not pull out for seven or eight minutes. Do you careto see how Polly will be located for the trip?"

With motherly concern Mrs. Brewster followed her husband, and in orderto be experienced when that trip east was to be taken, Sary dragged Jebafter the Brewsters. 

"Wall, suh!" breathed Sary, when Eleanor demonstrated where the bedswere hidden, and what the push buttons were for, and how the windowshades ran up or down on springs! She could hardly believe her eyes whenshe was told about the convenience of modern traveling. 

"All out not going East!" came a loud call from the colored porter atthe end of the Pullman, so Sam Brewster turned and hugged Polly untilshe almost choked. 

"Come out, Sary--bring your man!" ordered Sam Brewster in a harsh tone, madly dabbing his eyes with a fist, as he left Polly to her mother. 

"Jeb, Jeb! Come along--er we-all'll get taken along the trip!" criedSary, excitedly, trying to force Jeb ahead of her as she stumbled out ofthe Pullman after Mr. Brewster. 

The sight of big Sary urging little Jeb out to safety was so funny thatevery one had to laugh in spite of tears at the parting, so that Saryactually accomplished a great thing--she turned the sadness at Polly'sleaving her parents into a merry laughing scene for every one. 

Once the four who were to remain behind were on the platform again, thefour in the Pullman gazed from their windows. Polly suddenly rememberedone last order about her ranch-home. 

"Paw, don't you or Jeb ever forget to do for Noddy just what I would doif I was home, " was her choking command. 

"No danger, Poll! Little Noddy will be my own pet charge, now. It's allAh will have at the old crater to tell me about you!" called SamBrewster as the conductor signaled the engineer to start the engine. 

At this crucial moment Jeb remembered an important letter with which hehad been intrusted. He made a wild search in his pockets and as thetrain slowly pulled away from the Brewster group, he found it. He gazeddistractedly at the car window where Polly's face was flattened againstthe wire-netting, then instant action possessed him. His faculties beganto exert themselves. 

"Hey, there! Mister Conductor, stop that car 'cause Ah got a big fatletter for Polly!" Jeb shouted with all the power his small frame couldproduce in such a hurry, but the conductor heard him not. 

"Stop that car! Oh, jumpin' rattle-snakes--won't you-all stop that car?"His yearning was pitiful but the car cared naught. 

"Here, here, Jeb! what is the matter with you-all?" called Mr. Brewster, just as Jeb took a long breath and planned to sprint after thetrain. 

"It's a good-by letter a friend left with me for Polly, Mr. Brewster, an' now Ah done gone and clean forgot it!" wailed Jeb. 

"Too late now, Jeb. We'll change the address and send it on to her NewYork hotel. It will reach her almost as soon as she gets there, "explained Mrs. Brewster. 

"Yeh! Wall now, Ah wouldn't have believed that. " So Jeb placed theletter that Polly never received in his coat pocket and lost it thatsame evening in the excitement of catching the local out of Denver. 

Consequently, when the New York train pulled slowly out of the DenverTerminal, with Polly and her companions on board trying to get a lastlook of dear ones left on the platform of the station, the only glimpseto be had of Mr. And Mrs. Brewster was their squirming desperately, nowthis side, now that, of Sary's ponderous form. And Sary, who had plantedher bulk unexpectedly in front of them, held her arm high above herhead, and slowly waved her hand in farewell back and forth in the raysof the sun. But her gaze was not following the moving train. Instead itwas riveted, like a bird hypnotized by a serpent, upon a 10 caratrhinestone engagement ring that sparkled from the _index_ finger of herred right hand. 

The last coach of the train vanished and the two Brewsters sighed. Thenthey saw Sary still waving her hand, oblivious of all else about her. Jeb stood gaping at her queer actions wondering if she might be "off inher head. " But the smile on his master's face reassured him. As Mrs. Brewster murmured, "Sary, that's all!" the proud possessor of the ringcame to earth again. 

But it was _not_ all! Because "Polly and Eleanor in New York" had somany interesting experiences in this great city that it will takeanother book to tell about them. 

THE END

This Isn't All!

Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have made inthis book?

Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures andexperiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the same author?

On the _reverse side_ of the wrapper which comes with this book, youwill find a wonderful list of stories which you can buy at the samestore where you got this book. 

Don't throw away the Wrapper

_Use it as a handy catalog of the books you want some day to have. Butin case you do mislay it, write to the Publishers for a completecatalog. _

THE POLLY BREWSTER SERIES

By LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY

Durably Bound. Illustrated. Colored Wrappers. Every Volume Complete inItself. 

A delightful series for girls in which they will follow Polly andEleanor through many interesting adventures and enjoyable trips tovarious places in the United States, Europe and South America. 

 POLLY OF PEBBLY PIT

 POLLY AND ELEANOR

 POLLY IN NEW YORK

 POLLY AND HER FRIENDS ABROAD

 POLLY'S BUSINESS VENTURE

 POLLY'S SOUTHERN CRUISE

 POLLY IN SOUTH AMERICA

 POLLY IN THE SOUTHWEST

 POLLY IN ALASKA

GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK

GIRL SCOUTS SERIES

By LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY

Author of the "Polly Brewster Books"

Handsomely Bound. Colored Wrappers. Illustrated Each Volume Complete inItself. 

Here is a series that holds the same position for girls that the TomSlade and Roy Blakeley books hold for boys. They are delightful storiesof Girl Scout camp life amid beautiful surroundings and are filled withstirring adventures. 

 GIRL SCOUTS AT DANDELION CAMP

This is a story which centers around the making and the enjoying of amountain camp, spiced with the fun of a lively troop of Girl Scouts. Thecharm of living in the woods, of learning woodcraft of all sorts, ofadventuring into the unknown, combine to make a busy and an excitingsummer for the girls. 

 GIRL SCOUTS IN THE ADIRONDACKS

New scenery, new problems of camping, association with a neighboringcamp of Boy Scouts, and a long canoe trip with them through the FultonChain, all in the setting of the marvelous Adirondacks, bring to thegirls enlargement of horizon, new development, and new joys. 

 GIRL SCOUTS IN THE ROCKIES

On horseback from Denver through Estes Park as far as the ContinentalDivide, climbing peaks, riding wild trails, canoeing through canyons, shooting rapids, encountering a land-slide, a summer blizzard, a sandstorm, wild animals, and forest fires, the girls pack the days full withunforgettable experiences. 

 GIRL SCOUTS IN ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO

The Girl Scouts visit the mountains and deserts of Arizona and NewMexico. They travel over the old Sante Fe trail, cross the PaintedDesert, and visit the Grand Canyon. Their exciting adventures form amost interesting story. 

 GIRL SCOUTS IN THE REDWOODS

The girls spend their summer in the Redwoods of California andincidentally find a way to induce a famous motion picture director inHollywood to offer to produce a film that stars the Girl Scouts ofAmerica. 

 * * * * *

GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK

THE LILIAN GARIS BOOKS

Attractively Bound. Illustrated. Individual Colored Wrappers. EveryVolume Complete in Itself. 

Lilian Garis is one of the writers who always wrote. She expressedherself in verse from early school days and it was then predicted thatLilian Mack would one day become a writer. Justifying this sentiment, while still at high school, she took charge of the woman's page for acity paper and her work there attracted such favorable attention thatshe left school to take entire charge of the woman's page for thelargest daily in an important Eastern city. 

Mrs. Garis turned to girls' books directly after her marriage, and ofthese she has written many. She believes in girls, studies them anddepicts them with pen both skilled and sympathetic. 

BARBARA HALE: A DOCTOR'S DAUGHTER

BARBARA HALE AND COZETTE

GLORIA: A GIRL AND HER DAD

GLORIA AT BOARDING SCHOOL

JOAN: JUST GIRL

JOAN'S GARDEN OF ADVENTURE

CONNIE LORING'S AMBITION

CONNIE LORING'S DILEMMA

 * * * * *

GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK. 

AMY BELL MARLOWE'S BOOKS FOR GIRLS

Charming, Fresh and Original Stories

Illustrated. Wrappers printed in colors with individual design for eachstory. 

Miss Marlowe's books for girls are somewhat of the type of Miss Alcottand also Mrs. Meade; but all are thoroughly up-to-date and whollyAmerican in scene and action. Good, clean absorbing tales that all girlsthoroughly enjoy. 

 THE OLDEST OF FOUR; Or, Natalie's Way Out. 

A sweet story of the struggles of a live girl to keep a family from want. 

 THE GIRLS AT HILLCREST FARM; Or, The Secret of the Rocks. 

Relating the trials of two girls who take boarders on an old farm. 

 A LITTLE MISS NOBODY; Or, With the Girls of Pinewood Hall. 

Tells of a school girl who was literally a nobody until she solved themystery of her identity. 

 THE GIRL FROM SUNSET RANCH; Or, Alone in a Great City. 

A ranch girl comes to New York to meet relatives she has never seen. Heradventures make unusually good reading. 

 WYN'S CAMPING DAYS; Or, The Outing of the GO-AHEAD CLUB. 

A tale of happy days on the water and under canvas, with a touch ofmystery and considerable excitement. 

 FRANCES OF THE RANGES; Or, The Old Ranchman's Treasure. 

A vivid picture of life on the great cattle ranges of the West. 

 THE GIRLS OF RIVERCLIFF SCHOOL; Or, Beth Baldwin's Resolve. 

This is one of the most entertaining stories centering about a girl'sschool that has ever been written. 

 WHEN ORIOLE CAME TO HARBOR LIGHT. 

The story of a young girl, cast up by the sea, and rescued by an oldlighthouse keeper. 

 WHEN ORIOLE TRAVELED WESTWARD. 

Oriole visits the family of a rich ranch-man and enjoys herself immensely. 

 * * * * *

GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK

CAROLYN WELLS BOOKS

Attractively Bound. Illustrated. Colored Wrappers. 

THE MARJORIE BOOKS

Marjorie is a happy little girl of twelve, up to mischief, but full ofgoodness and sincerity. In her and her friends every girl reader willsee much of her own love of fun, play and adventure. 

MARJORIE'S VACATION

MARJORIE'S BUSY DAYS

MARJORIE'S NEW FRIEND

MARJORIE IN COMMAND

MARJORIE'S MAYTIME

MARJORIE AT SEACOTE

 * * * * *

THE TWO LITTLE WOMEN SERIES

Introducing Dorinda Fayre--a pretty blonde, sweet, serious, timid and alittle slow, and Dorothy Rose--a sparkling brunette, quick, elf-like, high tempered, full of mischief and always getting into scrapes. 

TWO LITTLE WOMEN

TWO LITTLE WOMEN AND TREASURE HOUSE

TWO LITTLE WOMEN ON A HOLIDAY

 * * * * *

THE DICK AND DOLLY BOOKS

Dick and Dolly are brother and sister, and their games, their pranks, their joys and sorrows, are told in a manner which makes the stories"really true" to young readers. 

DICK AND DOLLY

DICK AND DOLLY'S ADVENTURES

 * * * * *

GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK

THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES

By LAURA LEE HOPE

Author of the "Bobbsey Twins, " "Bunny Brown" Series, Etc. 

Uniform Style of Binding. Individual Colored Wrappers. Every VolumeComplete in Itself. 

These tales take in the various adventures participated in by severalbright, up-to-date girls who love outdoor life. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALE; Or, Camping and Tramping for Fun and Health. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKE; Or, The Stirring Cruise of the Motor Boat Gem. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAR; Or, The Haunted Mansion of Shadow Valley. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMP; Or, Glorious Days on Skates and Ice Boats. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA; Or, Wintering in the Sunny South. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT OCEAN VIEW; Or, The Box That Was Found in the Sand. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON PINE ISLAND; Or, A Cave and What it Contained. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN ARMY SERVICE; Or, Doing Their Bit for Uncle Sam. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT THE HOSTESS HOUSE; Or, Doing Their Best For the Soldiers. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINT; Or, A Wreck and A Rescue. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT WILD ROSE LODGE; Or, The Hermit of Moonlight Falls. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN THE SADDLE; Or, The Girl Miner of Gold Run. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AROUND THE CAMPFIRE; Or, The Old Maid of the Mountains. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON CAPE COD; Or, Sally Ann of Lighthouse Rock. 

 * * * * *

GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK

THE BLYTHE GIRLS BOOKS

By LAURA LEE HOPE

 Individual Colored Wrappers and Text Illustrations by THELMA GOOCH Every Volume Complete in Itself

The Blythe girls, three in number, were left alone in New York City. Helen, who went in for art and music, kept the little flat uptown, whileMargy just out of a business school, obtained a position as a privatesecretary and Rose, plain-spoken and businesslike, took what she calleda "job" in a department store. 

 THE BLYTHE GIRLS: HELEN, MARGY AND ROSE; Or, Facing the Great World. 

A fascinating tale of real happenings in the great metropolis. 

 THE BLYTHE GIRLS: MARGY'S QUEER INHERITANCE; Or, The Worth of a Name. 

The girls had a peculiar old aunt and when she died she left an unusualinheritance. This tale continues the struggles of all the girls forexistence. 

 THE BLYTHE GIRLS; ROSE'S GREAT PROBLEM; Or, Face to Face With a Crisis. 

Rose still at work in the big department store, is one day faced withthe greatest problem of her life. A tale of mystery as well as excitinggirlish happenings. 

 THE BLYTHE GIRLS: HELEN'S STRANGE BOARDER; Or, The Girl From Bronx Park. 

Helen, out sketching, goes to the assistance of a strange girl, whosereal identity is a puzzle to all the Blythe girls. Who the girl reallywas comes as a tremendous surprise. 

 THE BLYTHE GIRLS: THREE ON A VACATION; Or, The Mystery at Peach Farm. 

The girls close their flat and go to the country for two weeks--and fallin with all sorts of curious and exciting happenings. How they came tothe assistance of Joe Morris, and solved a queer mystery, is wellrelated. 

 * * * * *

GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK