SEVERAL MOMENTOUS LETTERS
Monday and Tuesday passed very slowly to the anxious girls, and on
Wednesday they began looking for the return of their scouting party.
Polly figured that three days would prove ample time in which to
investigate the conditions and determine whether or not the mine could
be worked--providing it was found again. But in such a dreadful
wilderness of torn-up trees, and washed out earth, where mile after mile
of mountain-land had changed its appearance, who could hope to locate a
tiny square of ground that had been staked as the wonderful mine? And
with giant trees uprooted and tossed along the current of the
land-slide, how could any one expect the insignificant wooden stakes to
remain to mark the place?
Then Wednesday also passed without a sign of the returning engineers; so
on Thursday, Mrs. Brewster told the girls they would have to drive into
Oak Creek for supplies and the weekly mail.
This would be a break in the dull routine of waiting impatiently for
news from the Peak, and all four of the girls willingly complied with
the order. Two strong horses were hitched to the ranch-wagon, and the
gay party drove away, leaving Mrs. Brewster waving her hand as they
rumbled down the road past the Cliffs.
The colored stones reminded Polly of Kenneth's story, and she turned to
Eleanor and said: "I wonder if he wrote home to ask his mother about her
brother?"
"Even if he did it will be fully a fortnight before he can have an
answer. But we ought to get a letter to-day, telling us whether the boys
are 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 Oak
Creek, and having reached their destination, left the team tied to the
post in front of Mr. Simms' office, for they purposed having a good
time.
Anne and Barbara went to the store where they could buy candy, while
Polly and Eleanor ran to the post office. To their surprised delight,
they found Kenneth Evans there. He was reading a telegram and did not
see the girls until he had finished.
"Oh--hullo! I never expected to see you here," exclaimed he, seemingly
too 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 her
to reply so I could get her answer to-day. The Boss let me off because I
finished my work on the old line yesterday. So I came to town myself for
the message."
Kenneth acted so elated that Polly and Eleanor wondered what news he had
received to make his eyes sparkle like stars and his face to flush in a
way that made him positively handsome.
"Isn't it great, though? And just think, if it hadn't been for you
girls, 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 some
moment from the engineers had reached Oak Creek before they arrived
there.
"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 the
yellow sheet in Eleanor's hand.
She read aloud to anxious Polly: "One branch of family has a
Montresor--two generations back the name was used as surname. Brother
was christened Peter Miles Montresor Amesbury. Disliked name Montresor,
dropped it when young. Every one forgot about it. Am sending letter with
photograph of Peter. Show Polly. Wire results. Father may come west.
Love, Mother."
"Oh, oh! how wonderful!" cried Polly, catching Kenneth's hands
delightedly.
"I'm glad, too, Ken, but I shall have to contest any of your claims to
my mine," laughed Eleanor.
"Your father ought to be told about the land-slide. Maybe he is coming
west 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 him
in my telegram just what they were, and sent on the box of jewels. When
he 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?" said
Eleanor, with keen amusement at Kenneth's business methods.
"No, I never waste time on _anything_ that's worth while. And, by the
way, Jim and I are coming over to Pebbly Pit again on Sunday--your
mother invited us, you know."
Both girls laughed, and they caught the youth up. "Ah, you must think
Pebbly 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 mood
for laughter. So she said: "I'm glad you liked us. We'll tell mother you
are coming again. That is one reason we drove to Oak Creek--to get the
letter."
"I'm afraid it will be our only chance to see you-all again, as our crew
moves from Brushy Creek to Silver Creek, and after that we go to Buffalo
Park. The Boss says we will have about three weeks' work there, and then
go across the desert to work along the Lincoln Highway, until we reach
the other lines, completed last year by Carew's men.
"He doesn't know whether we shall be dismissed then, or sent on to tie
up a few other little jobs before the summer ends. However, it looks as
if Jim and I will be too far away to ride over for the day then. It will
take us a day and night to cross the desert and over several mountain
peaks to reach you."
Eleanor listened delightedly to this innocent youth, and as he concluded
she squealed with amusement: "Oh, don't you love it!"
"Love what?" asked Kenneth, never having heard this extravagant
expression so favored by city misses.
"Love _you_, of course!" retorted Eleanor, laughing.
Polly frowned at this admission, and Kenneth blushed, for he had never
before been told so publicly that a pretty girl loved him! Eleanor
doubled over laughing, and gasped: "Oh, you two adorable babes!"
Further conversation was made impossible now, by Barbara and Anne coming
in. They immediately joined the three young people, and Anne asked: "Did
you get the mail, Nolla?"
"No, we never thought of it. Ken has such an exciting telegram that we
forgot everything else."
Anne waited to hear no more, but went to the window and inquired for her
mail and for that of the family at Pebbly Pit. A bulky package was
handed 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 she
looked daggers at poor Kenneth; "I suppose you will expect my sister to
share her mine with you, now."
Eleanor instantly interpolated: "Your sister wouldn't think of keeping a
mine that belongs to some one else. I'm thankful we had the use of it
that night when the panther and bear wanted to get at us. And again the
day of the avalanche! I'm much obliged to Ken for his cave hotel!"
Barbara sneered unpleasantly and walked away. Kenneth said nothing, but
when she had gone he turned to the girls and said: "We were thinking
more of knowing for a certainty whether Uncle Peter was still alive, or
whether your Montresor is my mother's brother. I almost forgot there was
gold in that mine."
The girls assured him that that was exactly what they believed he was
anxious to know, and that the gold was the least of all things to be
considered.
Having spent two hours in the Moving Picture Hall, and completing all
the shopping, the girls started back to Pebbly Pit. Kenneth Evans had
said good-by and gone on his way, so there was now no side interest for
Polly and Eleanor as they drove the obedient horses homeward.
Barbara and Anne were reading their letters, and the two younger girls
on the front seat whispered confidences to each other. Anne suddenly
exclaimed, 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 might
be important, so she slipped it inside the one she was just going to
mail to me," murmured Anne, vaguely, studying the dense forest as they
drove 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 where
a lonely bachelor, rich, well-bred, perfect in every respect (except his
bald head, glass eye, toothless gums, and palsy) wishes acquaintance
with sweet young miss--object matrimony!" Eleanor said, jokingly.
"Eleanor Maynard! How very unladylike of you!" cried her sister, shocked
at her levity.
"I'm only saying what you can read in the paper any day," argued
Eleanor, still laughing at her joke.
"This _is_ a proposal, but not that kind. It comes from a well-known
gentleman in New York City," said Anne.
Polly was so astonished that she pulled in the horses and suddenly
halted them without being aware of it. Eleanor and she turned square
about and gazed at Anne questioningly. Barbara couldn't say anything as
she was at sea for words.
"For goodness' sake!" exclaimed Eleanor, at last.
"Wh-y--I wanted to live with you in Denver this winter!" complained
Polly. Then remembering John and his evident preference for Anne, she
added severely: "Does John know about this man?"
Anne laughed gayly. "No, and that is the only thing that makes me feel
unhappy. I'd accept at once, if New York wasn't so far away, or if I had
never met John."
Although Anne spoke in a jocular tone when mentioning John, she blushed
most 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 who
wants to hire you to carry a hod up the ladders."
As the very idea was so ridiculous, every one laughed, and that broke
the tension. Then Anne admitted: "I felt like squaring myself with you,
Nolla, for your hint that I was answering ads. in the _Matrimonial
Mirror_."
"Well, then, is it for a hod-carrier?" insisted the irrepressible
Eleanor.
"Almost as good; it is for a teacher to carry learning up into young
ladies' 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-way
decent to us. Ever since Polly and I discovered Old Man Montresor's gold
mine, you've been as mean as a bear with a sore head. Now stop it, or
I'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 Barbara
to say unkind words to others, as was her habit.
Polly now spoke. "Anne, is there anything that you'd _rather_ do than go
East 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 to
put in at college, and little mother has to be cared for, as well. This
offer is so tempting that I could not refuse it without considering
everything that concerns me. In two years' time, I could not only
rejoice 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 of
paradise! I did so want to go to school in a big city this year." As she
urged the horses on their way, the young driver felt the tears well up
in her eyes, but she refused to brush them away.
Eleanor saw and understood. She quietly took her own handkerchief and
dabbed her friend's wet eyes. Then placed her hand on her shoulder. Not
a word was spoken.
"Polly, dear, I'm not going to do a thing until after I have pondered
this step well. I shall have to write the principal for added
information, and before I hear again, I will know whether it is wise for
me to accept the offer or not," exclaimed Anne.
The rest of the drive was concluded in silence, each girl having much to
think over. When the horses were turned over to the man who took Jeb's
place in his absence, and the girls were on the porch, Mrs. Brewster
noticed 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-examination
until she had all the facts. However the very telling about Kenneth's
story enabled Polly to change her thoughts of future trouble, so that
she 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 on
her face. When Anne finished telling about it, the elder woman spoke.
"I thought perhaps you would be planning to take a course in Domestic
Science. But going to New York to continue your school teaching would
lead me to believe that you propose making that the principal object of
your life."
"But you must remember, Mrs. Brewster, I am not alone in the world. I
have my mother and younger brother to consider. If I fail Paul now, he
will have to stop his college education half-way. I simply _have_ to
keep on supplying him and mother with means, until he is through. Then
he can help me in caring for mother," explained Anne, diffidently.
"You might marry a young man who had ample means to take care of both
your mother and brother," suggested Barbara.
"Oh, Bob! you know Paul would never take money that way, when I had such
a dreadful time in even persuading him to let me loan him his
educational expenses from my own salary!" exclaimed Anne, flushing
uncomfortably when the subject of her marrying a wealthy man was
mentioned.
"If your brother knows you plan to go to New York just to earn more
money 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 with
me to keep house for us both, but Paul must complete his studies in
Chicago, so he must believe there was another reason for my choosing New
York other than the mere increased salary offered me."
"It seems a difficult thing for you to do--to find a plausible reason
for going so far East," added Mrs. Brewster.
"Now _I_ know a good one;" spoke up Eleanor, suddenly. "I am crazy to
spend a winter in New York, but Bob won't give up her social season at
home, and mother wouldn't think of spending the time in New York just to
oblige me. As Anne has always been found to be so helpful to me, in
everyway, I shall insist upon going to New York this Fall and choosing
her 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 little
three-room-and-kitchenette apartments. Then Anne has so much time on her
hands that she decides to fill in by going to this seminary for certain
hours. 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 so
visionary. But once Eleanor had the idea in her mind she mulled it over
and over until it really appeared feasible to her.
The others talked of the mine, of Kenneth's father and the invention for
cutting jewels, of everything that concerned any interest in their
lives, while Eleanor sat and planned her new idea.
"Now listen to me, folks--I've got everything ironed out smooth for
Anne's going. I am expected to remain in Denver all this winter and
attend school there. Live with Anne and her mother. These are Mother's
orders to the doctor--and he ordered them on to Daddy. I know all about
it, because Barbara and Mother planned a big campaign to try and marry
Bob off sure pop this year!--"
"Nolla! I _will_ not sit here quietly and listen to you tell such
dreadful stories. You know very well that you are too delicate to live
in 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 on
you about family skeletons. Anne knows as much about this arrangement as
you or I do; and Polly, or her mother, are not interested enough to
repeat what I say," giggled Eleanor; then she continued her outlines:
"Hence, it matters little whether the eager student (that's me) lives in
Denver, New York, or Timbuctoo, as long as she is in 'safe hands' and
out of society's way.
"Now Anne Stewart and her mother have absolutely 'safe hands' for such
as me; so there will be little argument and no difficulties in
convincing mother or Bob to have the doctor say that I must go East with
Anne. Convincing Dad of this need, will be the only obstacle. But I
shall 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 from
Chicago 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 my
schooling this Winter, instead of Denver."
Eleanor wagged her head wisely as she finished speaking, and her hearers
began to wonder if she really meant what she said. Anne rather liked the
suggestion of having Eleanor go East with her, and Polly sat mute,
wishing some one would persuade her mother that it was the only thing to
do 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, jumping
up and catching Polly by the arm to whirl her away.
Once out of hearing, she whispered quickly: "Don't say a word to any one
about this New York plan of mine--if I go, you go, too; for we are a
second '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 the
adventurers, as they surely would not remain on the mountain over
another Sunday! But it was late in the afternoon when the clip-clop of
horses' hoofs rang out over the crater of the ranch. Then the riders
were seen passing the Cliffs, and soon they were at the door.
Such a babble of voices and questions asked, would have deafened any one
not concerned in the meeting. But every one, even Sary, had a heart
interest in the returned scouts, and no one took the trouble to bottle
up their rejoicing.
Several farm-hands were present, so the horses were sent off to the barn
and Jeb was allowed a rest period. Of course, the men were hungry, and
every one turned to the well-laden table.
While eating an early supper, John and Tom were called upon to give
expert 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 we
also took photographs of the entire surroundings so that investors can
see 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 the
mountain open and washed the gold down into the bottom. But the
land-slide makes the mining more difficult in the beginning; once
things are going, it will make no difference, excepting that there is
always the danger of fresh avalanches wreaking the same havoc this one
has done," said Tom Latimer.
"Well, I always had a theory that I believe will prove to divert a great
deal of slide that does the damage, in a case like this one. And since
looking around up on Top Notch, I'm sure my idea will work," ventured
John.
"All I can say to that is, if you have such a theory it will prove more
valuable than Kenneth Evans' father's patent device for cutting lava
jewels from Rainbow Cliffs!" laughed Eleanor.
"What's that?" demanded John, while Tom Latimer wondered how this
Chicago girl ever had heard of Dr. Evans' machine that his father was
financially interested in.
Then Polly and Eleanor had the "speaker's chair" and they told all about
Kenneth, his father's patents, and Old Man Montresor's relationship to
him.
"Why then, if this lad is the direct heir to Montresor, he must inherit
the mine!" declared John.
"Not according to law, because Polly was left the claim, but we had to
discover it all over again under a new claim, you see," explained
Eleanor, anxiously.
"That will make a fine little problem in law, I'm thinking," laughed
Tom, shaking his head.
"It would if all concerned could not agree, but _we_ all intend to
agree--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 such
a left-handed compliment, I feel I must continue my work on that mine
problem."
"Give us a chance to finish our reports, won't you, before you tell us
you 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 of
trash 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 we
found the old gulch literally filled in with rocks, earth and roots, so
that we could not get through to find the cave. But we brought home bits
of gold ore, just the same."
John rolled the nuggets across the table, and the girls gazed with bated
breath at what they believed had been buried forever under the
land-slide.
"We have much to tell you about this, so let's go to the living-room to
talk," suggested Mr. Brewster, rising.