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 and
were now at a hospital in Denver, as it was for you to learn who they
were," replied the doctor.
"I suspected some crooked work last week, but I must say that I never
thought 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 office
as 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 offices
just to get daily information about patents. And thus the other firm got
hold of many tips.
"When the Court upheld us in our rights, and this firm of crooks tried
in other ways to get that valuable patent and model, this clerk Brown
made an accurate blue-print of the drawing we always kept locked in our
safe. Then when he heard of our success in cutting the lava-jewels from
the material sent us from Pebbly Pit, he did everything to locate this
ranch.
"Had we wasted any time in planning to come West and meet you people
here, I doubt not but that Riggley & Ratzger would have had a new scheme
to hold us up. But we moved so swiftly after hearing from Kenneth and
Tom, that they had to catch breath to keep up in the race.
"I am convinced that they hurried here with no set plans about the
future--they wanted to get a hold on this place so as to try and bar us
from immediate work, or perhaps, to make a fortune out of us by selling
their option to us. They never dreamed that Latimer had a son right
here, and that there was a deeper cause for our meeting you all than
mere business reasons. Had either of these lawyers known about Montresor
and that mine, they would not have spent so much time and money to get
here to outwit us.
"It is fortunate that the doctor kept those letters at home where Brown
could not read and copy them for his firm of rascals. But, to tell the
truth, that was one reason why Dr. Evans was so anxious to meet
you-all. We want to hear everything about the old man and that claim."
As Mr. Latimer finished speaking, Dr. Evans said: "If you will pardon
me, a moment, I have here a photograph taken of my brother-in-law just
before he left for the Klondike. Perhaps you will recognize something in
the face to assure us it was your Montresor."
The doctor took out his large flat pocket-book and removed the
card-photograph wrapped in tissue paper. This was passed to Sam
Brewster, who needed but a glance to tell him that the pictured face was
the same man that he had defended so valiantly to others.
Polly ran over to her father's side and took the picture. "Oh, you dear
old friend--it is our Old Man Montresor, sure enough, but his hair was
white when we knew him!" she exclaimed.
She impulsively kissed the senseless card, and every one smiled
sympathetically, even though there was a suspicion of moisture in most
eyes.
"I am so glad to find that he had good friends, somewhere, even though
he was too proud to let any one know about his relatives. And Ken! I'm
so glad to know that he, and you people, will all come in on Choko's
Find--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, not
only by inheritance, but also by rediscovery after it was lost in the
first land-slide.
"We stopped at Simms' office to-day--that is what made us late--and
learned, without a doubt, that the two claims are the same. As it now
stands, Polly and her friends are claim-jumpers on the same claim that
Montresor bequeathed to Polly a few years ago. And should you all go to
law over the tangle, the State of Colorado would benefit, in-as-much as
the costs of an endless suit would fill the State coffers." Mr. Latimer
laughed at the picture of such a thrilling law-tangle for his
unraveling.
"But we are not going to law, and if that gold is mine so that no one
else has any right to say what I can, or cannot do with it, I shall do
what I always planned to do with it--even before Nolla and I found it
again. I made up my mind that if ever one of dear old Montresor's
relatives appeared I would go halves. And if they wanted the whole
thing--then they could take it, rather than fight for it. So now I am
going to give half to your wife, right off, Doctor, and my other half I
will 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 wrote
something of what you told him, and Mrs. Evans told me to be sure to
tell you that you _cannot_ give half away. Besides, the fact that I will
have so many friends willing to invest money in this device of mine, is
better than all the gold in the Rockies. The jewel-cutter is now an
assured success, and it will turn out dollars like a sausage grinder
turns 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 get
down 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 the
doctor arrived," cried Eleanor, eagerly.
So without preamble, John began: "When Mike had made a temporary camp
for us on Top Notch, he tried to show Tom and me just where the cave had
been. But none other than a clever Indian scout could ever have found
one familiar sign anywhere. Even Mike had to hunt and dig and trail
around, again and again, before he gave a war-whoop.
"To cut it short, I will say, we found that the ravine upon which the
cave opened, was completely filled with trash and, in fact, there were
many feet of earth and timber on top of the ledge so that it would need
a great deal of digging and blasting before we could hope to enter that
cave again.
"But Tom and I had not been lazy during the time Mike was seeking for
some sign to locate the cave. And after we learned how impossible it was
to enter the mine at that side where the girls had gone in, Tom and I
took scientific observations with our instruments, and finally, after
tiresome days, found a rushing river that gushed from some underground
source.
"We immediately remembered the pit Polly had told us of, and the rushing
sound of waters she had heard when leaning over the edge of the pit, so
we decided that here we had found the outlet.
"We could not determine how far the river traveled underground from the
pit, until it came out in the open again, but we got Mike to come with
us, and, daring fellow that he is, he crept into the tunnel that hooded
the stream. We tried to dissuade him from taking such a risk, but he
grinned and said: 'Mike like fun.'
"When he returned, half an hour later, he made us understand that we
might 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 a
foot above the turbulent water, and even that must have been submerged
most of the time, as it was damp and slippery. Mike said the recent
land-slide had had some effect on lowering the water-line of the river
and that was what left the rock exposed.
"We crept slowly along this foot-hold and soon realized that we were
nearing some suction-hole. Mike explained that it was the very tube that
rose to the rocky floor where Polly knelt that day. I couldn't see where
this journey was going to benefit us, but Mike knew.
"Reaching the tube that slanted upwards, so that we could see roots and
stubborn vines growing out of its rocky walls, we also discovered that
we had a flat space of more than six feet square on which we were
standing. Now Mike demonstrated what he proposed doing. All our
threats, persuasions, and anger, left no impression. He smiled.
"He made us understand that he was about to scale the wall by means of
those roots and vines. Should he miss and fall, the rope he tied about
his body would keep him from being swept down into the current. He gave
us the end of the rope to fasten to our waists. When he arrived at the
top, he would draw us up, one after the other.
"He managed to land on top, but I'll have to tell you-all some other
time, all that happened before we reached the underground cave where the
gold was shining from walls and ceiling. It is exactly as Polly
described it, and we picked up a number of nuggets that were found in
the dust of ages on the stone floor, and then tried to take scientific
observations. Tom took a flash-light of the cave, and we had it
developed, but it was not a howling success. Still, it shows something
of the interior.
"When we got back to open air again, we noticed the vast mountain-top
that sat down upon that gold-mine. This would have to be removed if we
mined from the top. But I believe we can manage to work in through that
tunnel and secure the gold by means of lifts in that tube. This is a
matter of discussion. The gold is there and it can be gotten out, just
so 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 girls
were not interested, they wandered away to enjoy the twilight.
During the days that followed, Barbara left Pebbly Pit, with no regrets
on her part, and not very many on the part of her summer companions. She
was not in her rightful place on a ranch, and every one was honest
enough to admit it. But now she was going to join "her own" and she was
happy.
Tom and John were the next to leave the happy circle at the ranch. But
not until all plans about the incorporating of the two companies were
perfected. Each man present at that meeting, signing up liberally to
supply the money to launch the two big enterprises.
The evening before John and Tom were to go back to their engineering
work with their old Crew, Polly and Eleanor were out on the terrace with
Tom, talking eagerly of the plans made for mining the ore from Choko's
Find. From this subject it was quite natural for the girls to launch
the subject of their anticipated winter in New York City.
"I suppose you two girls will see quite a little of Jim and Ken, when
you arrive in New York," ventured Tom, wistfully (or so it seemed to
romantic Eleanor).
"They said so; Jim says New Haven is not so far from New York but that
the two of them--I mean the boys not the cities," laughed Polly--"may be
able to visit us every week-end. That will be great fun for us, won't
it, Tom?"
"I suppose so. I wonder if John would care for you to see so much of the
two 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 a
young lady, Polly; you must think of appearances, you know," said Tom.
Polly laughed merrily. "Why, Tom! One would think you were concerned
about my future, the way you preach. Just like Daddy does."
Eleanor interpreted the speech to suit herself and watched Tom's
expression closely. Tom frowned at Polly's laugh and bit his lip to
restrain 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 I
worry about appearances' sake when I am with them?"
Tom refused to reply to her question, and Polly quickly forgot his
strange remark. But Eleanor thought over various little incidents of the
past few days, and finally decided to make a radical move for Tom.
"I'm going indoors, for a minute, children--will you excuse me?" said
she, 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. Tom
flushed and wondered just what Eleanor thought or what she had tried to
make him understand by that wink.
The moment Eleanor had gone Tom turned to Polly and said: "Shall we walk
to the Cliffs and have a last look at the jewels in this glorious
moonlight?"
"Oh no!" cried Polly, nervously, as she glanced at Tom's facial
expression, and thought of the tremble in his voice as he spoke.
"All right, then; but I thought you would want to remember just how
they looked, to-night. When you are in that crowded city of rush and
hustle, it would be a pleasant memory."
"Eleanor and I are going to get a snap-shot of them, to-morrow, after
you boys are gone," explained Polly, in a matter-of-fact tone.
Tom smothered a sigh and was trying to think of some other excuse to
coax 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 them
with a smiling welcome but Tom gnashed his teeth in impatience at their
untimely intrusion.
The two men immediately began speaking of the projects for the
incorporated companies and demanded so much of Tom's attention that
Polly managed to glide away and go back to the house. This ended Tom's
first attempt at romance with Polly, and it was evident that he disliked
the interruption.
After Mr. Maynard, Mr. Latimer, and Dr. Evans had gone, it was Anne
Stewart's turn to say good-by. She was going to Denver to see that her
mother wound up all their private affairs, and there she would await the
coming of Eleanor and Polly.
After Anne had gone, Mrs. Brewster took Polly and Eleanor to her room
and sat down to have a confidential talk with the girls. To her surprise
Polly found all her ranch-dresses and other apparel bundled up in a
loose roll with a rope tied about it.
"Why, mother! How can I take my clothes to New York that way?" asked
she, having studied the bundle wonderingly for a time.
Mrs. Brewster laughed. "You're not. These are going to some poor
ranchers' children over at Yellow Jacket Pass."
"But, mother!" gasped Polly. "I haven't anything left to wear in New
York!"
"That's what I wish to tell you about, Polly. Now listen to what I have
already told Eleanor who knows about these things better than we do."
Then Mrs. Brewster proceeded to instruct Polly as Eleanor had suggested
previously.
"I know how foolish it appears to you, Polly, to give much thought to
clothes, because at home on the ranch it matters so little what the
style is. But once you are in New York, or any other large city where
all kinds of people are to be found, your appearance makes a great
difference. You are not to take any of your home-made ranch clothes with
you, Polly--not even on the train after you leave Denver. I am going to
purchase a neat tailor-made suit at Denver for you to wear, and your
old suit I shall bring back home.
"When you reach New York Anne and Eleanor have my orders to attend to
your shopping the very first thing. I want you to go to the very best
and most exclusive shops on Fifth Avenue above Forty-second street for
all 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 the
only important mark of an exclusive shop--the principal mark is the cut
and style, and these high-grade shops turn out hats, coats and gowns
which the other shops endeavor in vain to imitate. That is why one can
be recognized in a way by the clothes they wear. And that is why I
insist upon your having the best.
"Another thing I know to be true, is this: Girls at school (and I feel
sure 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-aches
if 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 with
small-minded girls or adults.
"Anne carries the check-book, Polly, and Eleanor carries the social
experience in dressing as becomes a young lady of the best society. You
must remember you are that and so you must never be ashamed of your
apparel. When one is so clothed that one need not think of dress, or any
apology for what they have on, one is at ease and forgets about such
trifles. That is one good argument for having the best, Polly--one
forgets oneself."
Polly listened to her mother's wise remarks with serious expression, but
Eleanor sat and nodded her head approvingly whenever Mrs. Brewster made
a 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 select
the 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!" exclaimed
Polly, practically.
"There speaks the logical one," laughed Eleanor.
"Polly will have more than enough in the bank to defray all bills while
in New York, Nolla, without borrowing from the mine."
At last came the day when Polly had to say good-by to her beloved pets
on the ranch. Dear little Noddy followed her about and would not be
separated from her. It was as if the burro knew her beloved mistress was
leaving home. And so heart-broken was Polly to realize that she would
not see her Noddy again for almost a year, that she took the woolly head
in her arms and kissed the cold nose in a fond farewell.
Eleanor stood by and dabbed her eyes with her fist at sight of such
affection, 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 when
it curled about her ear.
And then at last! Well, Sary refused absolutely to be left at home when
she 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 say
how 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 train
sped on its way from Oak Creek to Denver. Polly was the only one in the
circle who paid little attention to the excited woman, for Polly had all
she could do to keep down her own nervous excitement because of the
wonders 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 seat
in the coach. The chosen seat was Jeb's plan; although he did not
explain to any one that he figured out it would be much better to be
near the door in case one had to make a quick exit. Trains _did_ run off
their tracks, and also there might be a collision. He had heard folks
talking 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 until
we 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 could
slow 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 her
friend. "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 to
stay in New York for many months, you see."
Eleanor understood, and left Polly to her silent work of impressing her
mind with the views she wished to remember, later; Sary would provide
enough entertainment for Eleanor during the trip to Denver.
"Jeb, what you-all clutchin' at my arm like-as-how you are?" now asked
Sary, 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 duck
from some crash," declared Sary, heroically trying to lift Jeb's courage
by gripping his coat collar and hoisting him almost out of his badly
fitting coat.
Eleanor smothered a laugh but said nothing to disturb the vaudeville she
was enjoying. Mr. and Mrs. Brewster were talking earnestly about the
future of their daughter.
Suddenly Polly cried thrillingly: "Oh, look, everybody! We're coming to
a torrent, and the train won't slow up!"
Sary instantly turned to the window and saw what seemed to be an
unavoidable end of all earthly things, so she half rose from the seat
and 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 the
engine just as it reached the high bridge over the stream. Jeb's small
head was completely hidden by the unexpected protection thrust upon him,
but Eleanor had no idea of thus missing the pleasure of watching Jeb's
face 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 the
cause of Eleanor's excitement. The amazing experience of being on a
vehicle that glided directly over a rushing stream of water while there
was no apparent land to uphold the vehicle, held Sary and Jeb
spell-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 sech
doin's went on when one traveled?"
But Jeb was too surprised to make a sound. He sat and stared from the
small window of the car without even having heard his fiancee's words.
The conductor had passed through the car many times since the Brewster
family boarded the train, and when the last local station had been left
behind and he had punched all the tickets of the passengers on that
trip, he entered the car and sat upon the arm of the seat just opposite
Sam Brewster, in order to converse with the man every one about Oak
Creek knew so well.
Having no stops to make for a long stretch, and the track running on a
level line for many miles, the engineer increased the speed of his
engine with corresponding results in Sary's anxiety. She stepped over
Jeb's obstructing feet and made madly for the conductor, taking that
worthy man quite by surprise.
"See here, Mr. Boss, Ah ain't going to pay fer no ticket to ride on a
runaway injun! It's your job to get up front and see what's ailin' this
car. Ef it's locooed you'd better cut loose from th' injun--come along!"
And before the amazed conductor or Mr. Brewster could resist or
explain, Sary had the man by the shoulder and was actually lifting him
along the aisle towards the door.
"Hi, there, Sary! Stop that!" shouted Sam Brewster, jumping up and
trying 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 him
collect his scattered senses; when the shaken man was able to once more
think 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 take
up all the tickets.
The eventful trip finally ended when the local pulled into Denver
station; the Brewster party lost no time in leaving the train and
threading a way through the crowds at the waiting-room. They were to go
directly to Anne Stewart's house where luncheon would be waiting for
them.
"Well, friends! glad to see you!" called Anne, as she welcomed the
travelers. "Come right in and meet mother."
Introductions over, Mrs. Stewart led the way to the cozy little
dining-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 years
and I could not leave a pan full of soiled dishes and crumbs of food
about for my new tenant to clear away. Of course, the lady is an old
neighbor of mine, and would understand how hurried we are to-day in
order to get off on the afternoon train for New York; still I never like
to do things wrong."
"Now see here, Miss Stewart," declared Sary who had over-heard the
remark, "you-all jes' go along to the cars an' leave me to do up the
work."
"No, Sary, this is your great holiday in Denver," contradicted Mrs.
Brewster, "and Jeb wants to fit that engagement ring on your finger, you
know; after lunch, you get away with Jeb and see the city while I do up
the dishes and help Mrs. Stewart dress and get ready to leave."
That was a merry although hurried luncheon. Immediately after the cake
and tea were finished, Jeb and Sary started away to hunt the ring; but
many were the admonitions sent after them as they left the door, to be
on hand at the railway terminal to see Polly and her friends off for
New York.
Mrs. Brewster and her husband cleared away the remains of the luncheon
while Mrs. Stewart and Anne completed their packing and dressed for the
long trip to the East. Everything in connection with the lease and the
inventory of furniture had been attended to before this day, so there
were 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-door
neighbor who had offered to keep it until the tenant called for it; then
good-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 train
was 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 waiting
for us this last hour," laughed Sam Brewster.
"Sary wouldn't give Jeb a moment's peace until she got that ring," added
Anne Stewart, laughingly, "and once she had it she would never give him
another 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 in
Denver, and before Sam Brewster could seek for his two servants Sary
shouted 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-all
this last hour! Come right on, and see mah ring!"
Eyes turned in the direction of the voice and there stood Sary, perched
upon one of the benches in order to look over the heads of the people
who stood about in groups or who kept going and coming through the
station. She was waving her hand wildly to attract the attention of her
party. Eleanor laughed so hysterically at the sight that she could
hardly stand, but Polly dragged her along after the others until they
reached 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 more
important things to do," was Sary's scathing criticism, as she gave Jeb
a shove to quiet him. "Here--jest you-all look at this diamond! Three
times bigger'n Anne Stewart's! Pull off that glove, Anne, and le's see
mine and your'n side by side!" exclaimed Sary, eagerly.
Anne laughed but complied with the challenge. Two hands were compared--a
small white hand with polished nails and with a sparkling diamond
shining upon the third finger of the left hand, and a large-boned red
hand with stubby nails on the fingers, but one finger displaying a great
Rhinestone set so high that it would have been a menace had Sary tried
to use her fist on an enemy. Jeb stood by grinning widely at the praise
bestowed upon him for his choice of the largest stone in the department
store.
"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 a
pile of finery I left for your trousseau. You will be delighted to get
the laces and other trimmings for your hope-box."
"Ah, Nolla, won't ah, jest! An' when Ah comes to Noo York to see
you-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' to
figger on takin' a side trip to Chicargo fust, you know. Mebbe you kin
fix 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 of
Barbara and her mother receiving Sary and Jeb proved too much for her
risibles 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 tell
Daddy to look after you-all. But you must let me know, first, so my
father 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 to
mahself, jest the other day, Ah ain't never had no fun or chanct to
better mahself, Ah says: 'Sary Dodd, when you get Jeb you plan to go
about like-as-how Anne Stewart is doin'.' Nolla, thar ain't nuthin' like
a 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 ready
and the gates were opened, so Sary caught Jeb by his sleeves and
followed after the others when the entire group started for the New York
train.
One would think, to hear Sary's excited tones, that she was about to
take the long, long journey from which there is no returning; but once
Anne Stewart and her charges were aboard the long Pullman train, the
ones who remained behind stood upon the platform waiting for the girls
to find their compartments and open the windows in order to converse
until the last moment.
Sam Brewster went over to a guard and asked several questions, then he
hurried 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 care
to see how Polly will be located for the trip?"
With motherly concern Mrs. Brewster followed her husband, and in order
to be experienced when that trip east was to be taken, Sary dragged Jeb
after the Brewsters.
"Wall, suh!" breathed Sary, when Eleanor demonstrated where the beds
were hidden, and what the push buttons were for, and how the window
shades ran up or down on springs! She could hardly believe her eyes when
she was told about the convenience of modern traveling.
"All out not going East!" came a loud call from the colored porter at
the end of the Pullman, so Sam Brewster turned and hugged Polly until
she 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!" cried
Sary, excitedly, trying to force Jeb ahead of her as she stumbled out of
the Pullman after Mr. Brewster.
The sight of big Sary urging little Jeb out to safety was so funny that
every one had to laugh in spite of tears at the parting, so that Sary
actually accomplished a great thing--she turned the sadness at Polly's
leaving her parents into a merry laughing scene for every one.
Once the four who were to remain behind were on the platform again, the
four in the Pullman gazed from their windows. Polly suddenly remembered
one last order about her ranch-home.
"Paw, don't you or Jeb ever forget to do for Noddy just what I would do
if I was home," was her choking command.
"No danger, Poll! Little Noddy will be my own pet charge, now. It's all
Ah will have at the old crater to tell me about you!" called Sam
Brewster as the conductor signaled the engineer to start the engine.
At this crucial moment Jeb remembered an important letter with which he
had been intrusted. He made a wild search in his pockets and as the
train slowly pulled away from the Brewster group, he found it. He gazed
distractedly at the car window where Polly's face was flattened against
the wire-netting, then instant action possessed him. His faculties began
to exert themselves.
"Hey, there! Mister Conductor, stop that car 'cause Ah got a big fat
letter for Polly!" Jeb shouted with all the power his small frame could
produce 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 the
train.
"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 New
York 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 the
letter that Polly never received in his coat pocket and lost it that
same evening in the excitement of catching the local out of Denver.
Consequently, when the New York train pulled slowly out of the Denver
Terminal, with Polly and her companions on board trying to get a last
look of dear ones left on the platform of the station, the only glimpse
to be had of Mr. and Mrs. Brewster was their squirming desperately, now
this side, now that, of Sary's ponderous form. And Sary, who had planted
her bulk unexpectedly in front of them, held her arm high above her
head, and slowly waved her hand in farewell back and forth in the rays
of the sun. But her gaze was not following the moving train. Instead it
was riveted, like a bird hypnotized by a serpent, upon a 10 carat
rhinestone engagement ring that sparkled from the _index_ finger of her
red right hand.
The last coach of the train vanished and the two Brewsters sighed. Then
they 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 in
her head." But the smile on his master's face reassured him. As Mrs.
Brewster murmured, "Sary, that's all!" the proud possessor of the ring
came to earth again.
But it was _not_ all! Because "Polly and Eleanor in New York" had so
many interesting experiences in this great city that it will take
another 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 in
this book?
Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures and
experiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the same author?
On the _reverse side_ of the wrapper which comes with this book, you
will find a wonderful list of stories which you can buy at the same
store 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. But
in case you do mislay it, write to the Publishers for a complete
catalog._
THE POLLY BREWSTER SERIES
By LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY
Durably Bound. Illustrated. Colored Wrappers. Every Volume Complete in
Itself.
A delightful series for girls in which they will follow Polly and
Eleanor through many interesting adventures and enjoyable trips to
various 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 in
Itself.
Here is a series that holds the same position for girls that the Tom
Slade and Roy Blakeley books hold for boys. They are delightful stories
of Girl Scout camp life amid beautiful surroundings and are filled with
stirring adventures.
GIRL SCOUTS AT DANDELION CAMP
This is a story which centers around the making and the enjoying of a
mountain camp, spiced with the fun of a lively troop of Girl Scouts. The
charm of living in the woods, of learning woodcraft of all sorts, of
adventuring into the unknown, combine to make a busy and an exciting
summer for the girls.
GIRL SCOUTS IN THE ADIRONDACKS
New scenery, new problems of camping, association with a neighboring
camp of Boy Scouts, and a long canoe trip with them through the Fulton
Chain, all in the setting of the marvelous Adirondacks, bring to the
girls enlargement of horizon, new development, and new joys.
GIRL SCOUTS IN THE ROCKIES
On horseback from Denver through Estes Park as far as the Continental
Divide, climbing peaks, riding wild trails, canoeing through canyons,
shooting rapids, encountering a land-slide, a summer blizzard, a sand
storm, wild animals, and forest fires, the girls pack the days full with
unforgettable experiences.
GIRL SCOUTS IN ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO
The Girl Scouts visit the mountains and deserts of Arizona and New
Mexico. They travel over the old Sante Fe trail, cross the Painted
Desert, and visit the Grand Canyon. Their exciting adventures form a
most interesting story.
GIRL SCOUTS IN THE REDWOODS
The girls spend their summer in the Redwoods of California and
incidentally find a way to induce a famous motion picture director in
Hollywood to offer to produce a film that stars the Girl Scouts of
America.
* * * * *
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
THE LILIAN GARIS BOOKS
Attractively Bound. Illustrated. Individual Colored Wrappers. Every
Volume Complete in Itself.
Lilian Garis is one of the writers who always wrote. She expressed
herself in verse from early school days and it was then predicted that
Lilian Mack would one day become a writer. Justifying this sentiment,
while still at high school, she took charge of the woman's page for a
city paper and her work there attracted such favorable attention that
she left school to take entire charge of the woman's page for the
largest daily in an important Eastern city.
Mrs. Garis turned to girls' books directly after her marriage, and of
these she has written many. She believes in girls, studies them and
depicts 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 each
story.
Miss Marlowe's books for girls are somewhat of the type of Miss Alcott
and also Mrs. Meade; but all are thoroughly up-to-date and wholly
American in scene and action. Good, clean absorbing tales that all girls
thoroughly enjoy.
THE OLDEST OF FOUR;
Or, Natalie's Way Out.
A sweet story of the struggles of a live girl to keep a family from want.
THE GIRLS AT HILLCREST FARM;
Or, The Secret of the Rocks.
Relating the trials of two girls who take boarders on an old farm.
A LITTLE MISS NOBODY;
Or, With the Girls of Pinewood Hall.
Tells of a school girl who was literally a nobody until she solved the
mystery of her identity.
THE GIRL FROM SUNSET RANCH;
Or, Alone in a Great City.
A ranch girl comes to New York to meet relatives she has never seen. Her
adventures make unusually good reading.
WYN'S CAMPING DAYS;
Or, The Outing of the GO-AHEAD CLUB.
A tale of happy days on the water and under canvas, with a touch of
mystery and considerable excitement.
FRANCES OF THE RANGES;
Or, The Old Ranchman's Treasure.
A vivid picture of life on the great cattle ranges of the West.
THE GIRLS OF RIVERCLIFF SCHOOL;
Or, Beth Baldwin's Resolve.
This is one of the most entertaining stories centering about a girl's
school that has ever been written.
WHEN ORIOLE CAME TO HARBOR LIGHT.
The story of a young girl, cast up by the sea, and rescued by an old
lighthouse keeper.
WHEN ORIOLE TRAVELED WESTWARD.
Oriole visits the family of a rich 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 of
goodness and sincerity. In her and her friends every girl reader will
see 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 a
little slow, and Dorothy Rose--a sparkling brunette, quick, elf-like,
high tempered, full of mischief and always getting into scrapes.
TWO LITTLE WOMEN
TWO LITTLE WOMEN 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 Volume
Complete in Itself.
These tales take in the various adventures participated in by several
bright, 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, while
Margy just out of a business school, obtained a position as a private
secretary and Rose, plain-spoken and businesslike, took what she called
a "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 unusual
inheritance. This tale continues the struggles of all the girls for
existence.
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 with
the greatest problem of her life. A tale of mystery as well as exciting
girlish 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, whose
real identity is a puzzle to all the Blythe girls. Who the girl really
was 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 fall
in with all sorts of curious and exciting happenings. How they came to
the assistance of Joe Morris, and solved a queer mystery, is well
related.
* * * * *
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
End of Project Gutenberg's Polly and Eleanor, by Lillian Elizabeth Roy