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POLLY'S BUSINESS VENTURE
by
LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY
Author of
Polly of Pebbly Pit, Polly and Eleanor,
Polly in New York, Polly and
Her Friends Abroad
Illustrated by H. S. Barbour
[Illustration: THE TWO CARS COLLIDED.
Polly's Business Venture. Frontispiece--(Page 99)]
New York
Grosset & Dunlap
Publishers
Made in the United States of America
Copyright, 1922, by
Grosset & Dunlap
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I POLLY RETURNS TO AMERICA 1
II A DISAPPOINTING EVENING 18
III THE ACCIDENT 34
IV A REUNION AND A VISITOR 47
V THE RAID ON CHOKO'S FIND MINE 58
VI POLLY AND ELEANOR BEGIN COLLECTING 74
VII A REVOLUTIONARY RELIC HUNT 94
VIII ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT COLLECTING 109
IX POLLY'S HUNT IN 'JERSEY 127
X UNEXPECTED NEWS FROM PEBBLY PIT 151
XI POLLY'S FIRST CONTRACT 167
XII THE PARSIPPANY VENDUE 182
XIII TOM MEANS BUSINESS 199
XIV NECESSARY EXPLANATIONS 213
XV MUTUAL CONSOLATION 231
XVI BEAUX OR BUSINESS 250
XVII BUSINESS 269
POLLY'S BUSINESS VENTURE
CHAPTER I
POLLY RETURNS TO AMERICA
Five girls were promenading the deck of one of our great Atlantic liners,
on the last day of the trip. The report had gone out that they might
expect to reach quarantine before five o'clock, but it would be too late
to dock that night, therefore the captain had planned an evening's
entertainment for all on board.
"Miss Brewster! Miss Polly Brewster! Polly Brewster!" came a call from
one of the young boys of the crew who was acting as messenger for the
wireless operator.
"Polly, he is calling you! I wonder what it is?" cried Eleanor Maynard,
Polly's dearest friend.
"Here, boy! I am Polly Brewster," called Polly, waving her hand to call
his attention to herself.
"Miss Polly Brewster?" asked the uniformed attendant politely, lifting
his cap.
"Yes."
He handed her an envelope such as the wireless messages are delivered in,
and bowed to take his leave of the group of girls. Polly gazed at the
outside of the envelope but did not open it. Her friends laughed and
Nancy Fabian, the oldest girl of the five, said teasingly:
"Isn't it delicious to worry one's self over who could have sent us a
welcome, when we _might_ know for certain, if we would but act
prosaically and open the seal."
The girls laughed, and Eleanor remarked, knowingly: "Oh, _Polly_ knows
who it is from! She just wants to enjoy a few extra thrills before she
reads the message."
"Nolla, I do _not_ know, and you know it! You always make 'a mountain
from a mole-hill.' I declare, you are actually growing to be childish in
your old age!" retorted Polly, sarcastically.
Her latter remark drew forth a peal of laughter from the girls, Eleanor
included. But Polly failed to join in the laugh. She cast a withering
glance at Eleanor, and walked aside to open the envelope. The four
interested girls watched her eagerly as she read the short message.
Polly would have given half of her mine on Grizzly Slide, to have
controlled her expression. But the very knowledge that the four friends
were critically eyeing her, made her flush uncomfortably as she folded up
the paper again, and slipped it in her pocket.
"Ha! What did I tell you! It is from HIM!" declared Eleanor, laughingly.
Dorothy Alexander was duly impressed, for she had firmly believed,
hitherto, that Polly was a man-hater. The manner in which she had scorned
Jimmy Osgood on that tour of England would have led anyone to believe
that such was the case. Now the tell-tale blush and Eleanor's innuendo,
caused Dorothy to reconsider her earlier judgment.
Polly curled her full red lip at Eleanor's remark, and was about to speak
of something of general interest, when Dorothy unexpectedly asked a (to
her) pertinent question.
"Polly, has anyone ever proposed to you?"
Eleanor laughed softly to herself, and Polly sent poor Dodo a pitying
glance. "Is that little head of yours entirely void of memory, Dodo?"
said she.
Then, without waiting for a reply, Polly continued: "Did not Jimmy
propose to me, as well as to every one of you girls?"
"Oh, but I didn't mean that sort of an affair," explained Dorothy. "I
mean--were you ever in love with anyone who thought he loved _you_?"
"Oh, isn't this a delightful conversation? I wouldn't have missed it for
anything in the world!" laughed Eleanor.
"Nolla," rebuked Polly, seriously, "your head has been so turned since
all those poor fortune-hunters in Europe flattered you, that I fear you
will never succeed in business with me. I shall have to find someone else
who will prove trustworthy and work."
Polly's threat did not appear to disturb Eleanor very much, for she
laughed merrily and retorted: "Dodo, if I answer your question for Polly,
what will you do for me, some day?"
"Nolla, you mind your own affairs!" exclaimed Polly, flushing again.
"Dodo is such a tactless child that she never stops to consider whether
her questions are too personal, or not. But _you_--well, you know better,
and I forbid you to discuss me any further."
"Come, come, girls! This little joke is really going too far, if Polly
feels hurt about it. Let us drop the subject and talk about the dance the
Captain is going to give us tonight," suggested Nancy.
"I'm going to wear the new gown mother got in Paris," announced Dorothy.
"Ma says we can save duty on it if I wear it before it reaches shore."
The other girls laughed, and Eleanor added: "That's a good plan, Dodo. I
guess I will follow your example. I've got so many dutiable things in my
trunks, that I really ought to economise on something."
"Well, I won't wear one of my new dresses tonight for just that reason.
If I want them badly enough, to bring them all the way from Paris where
we get them so much cheaper than on this side, then I'm willing to pay
Uncle Sam his revenue on them," said Polly, loftily.
"Ho! I don't believe it is duty you are saving, as much as indulging in
perverseness by not donning one of your most fetching gowns," declared
Eleanor.
"Maybe it is," said Polly, smiling tantalizingly at her chum. "Perhaps I
want to keep the freshness of them for someone in New York, eh?"
"Certainly! _He_ will be there to meet you, sure thing!" laughed Eleanor.
At that, Dorothy drew Eleanor aside and, when Polly was not looking,
whispered eagerly: "Do tell me who he is?"
But Eleanor laughingly shook her head and whispered back: "I dare not!
That is Polly's secret!"
But she did not add for Dorothy's edification, that try as she would, she
(Eleanor) had never been able to make Polly confess whether she preferred
one swain to another. As Eleanor considered this a weakness in her own
powers of persuasion, she never allowed anyone to question her that far.
Had anyone of the four girls dreamed of who the sender of the wireless
was, what a buzzing there would have been! Eleanor Maynard would have
been so pleased at the possibility of a romance, that she would have
acted even more tantalizing, in Polly's opinion, than she had been of
late months.
Perhaps you are not as well acquainted with Polly and her friends,
however, as I am, and it would be unkind to continue their experiences
for your entertainment, until after you are duly informed of how Polly
happened to leave her home in Oak Creek and also what had passed during
the Summer in Europe.
Polly Brewster was born and reared on a Rocky Mountain ranch, in
Colorado, and had until her fourteenth year, never been farther from her
home than Oak Creek, which was the railroad station and post office of
the many ranchers of that section.
Eleanor Maynard, the younger daughter of Mr. Maynard who was a prosperous
banker of Chicago, accompanied her sister Barbara and Anne Stewart, the
teacher, when they spent a summer on the ranch. Their thrilling
adventures during the first half of that summer are told in the book
called "Polly of Pebbly Pit," the first volume of this series.
After the discovery of the gold mine on Grizzly Slide, and the subsequent
troubles with the claim-jumpers, Polly and her friends sent for John
Brewster who was engaged to Anne Stewart, and Tom Latimer, John's best
friend, to leave their engineering work on some mines, for the time
being, and hasten to Pebbly Pit to advise about the gold mine, and to
take action to protect the girls. These experiences are told in the
second volume of this series.
Success being assured in the mining plans of the gold vein on Grizzly
Slide, and the valuable lava cliffs located on Pebbly Pit ranch also
finding a market as brilliant gems for use in jewelry, Polly and Eleanor
decided to accompany Anne Stewart to New York, where she was going to
teach in an exclusive school for young ladies.
In the third book, Polly and Eleanor's adventures in New York are told.
Their school experiences; the amateur theatricals at which Polly saved a
girl from the fire, and thus found some splendid friends; and the new
acquaintance, Ruth Ashby, who was the only child of the Ashbys. They also
met Mr. Fabian in a most unusual manner, and through him, they became
interested in Interior Decorating, to study it as a profession. When the
school-year ended, all these friends invited the two girls to join their
party that was planned to tour Europe and visit noted places where
antiques are exhibited.
The following fourth book describes the amusing incidents of the three
girls on board the steamer, after they meet the Alexanders. Mrs.
Alexander, the gorgeously-plumed ranch-woman; Dorothy, always known as
"Dodo," the restive girl of Polly's own age; and little Ebeneezer
Alexander, too meek and self-effacing to deny his spouse anything, but
always providing the funds for her caprices. This present caprice, of
rushing to Europe to find a "title" for Dodo to marry, was the latest and
hardest of all for him to agree to.
Because of Mrs. Alexander's whim, the ludicrous experiences that came
upon the innocent heads of Polly and her friends, in the tour of England
in two motor cars, decided them to escape from that lady, and run away to
Paris. Before they could sigh in relief at their freedom, however, the
Alexanders loomed again on their horizon.
Plan as they would, the badgered tourists found that Mrs. Alexander had
annexed herself permanently to them. They resigned themselves to the
inevitable. But that carried with it more ridiculous affairs, when Mrs.
Alexander plotted for the titles found dangling before her, in various
places on the Continent.
One good result came from this association with the Alexanders: Dodo
found how fascinating the work of collecting really was, and decided to
study decorating as an art. Hence she spurned her mother's ambitions for
her, and announced her plan of remaining in New York with the girls, upon
their return to America, to follow in their line of study.
Mrs. Alexander felt quite satisfied to live in New York for a season, as
she fancied it an easy matter to forge a way into good society there. But
her spouse detested large cities and longed for his mining life once
more, but agreed to it because Dodo was delighted with the opportunity
opened before her, in the profession of decorator.
Polly's party on board the steamer consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Ashby and
Ruth; Mr. and Mrs. Fabian and Nancy; Mr. and Mrs. Alexander and Dodo; and
lastly, Polly Brewster and Eleanor Maynard.
Just a word about the last two girls: Polly knew that Eleanor was fond of
Paul Stewart since she met him a few years before. And Eleanor wondered
if Polly preferred Tom Latimer to any other young man she knew; but Polly
always declared that she was married to her profession and had no time to
spare for beaus. Hence Tom Latimer sighed and hoped that she might change
her mind some day.
Meantime, Tom lost no good opportunity to show how he appreciated Polly
and, whenever possible, he managed to perform the little deeds that mean
so much to a woman--especially if that woman is young and impressionable.
Thus he actually made better headway in his silent campaign for Polly, by
never broaching the subject of love--from which she would have fled
instantly and then barred the doors of her heart.
The wireless received by Polly was from Tom who had been anxiously
awaiting the time when he could communicate with the vessel. The contents
of the message could have been read to all the world without exciting
comment--it was so brotherly. But Polly felt that it was a private
welcome to her and so it was not to be shared with others.
The wireless said that Tom and Polly's dear friends who were in New York,
had been invited on board Mr. Dalken's yacht, to visit the quarantined
steamer that evening. That they would arrive about eight o'clock, having
secured passes from the Inspector at Quarantine.
Although this explanation about Polly and her associates took time for
_us_, it did not interrupt the lively banter between the five girls.
Dorothy was now certain that Polly had a real beau, somewhere, and being
so very candid and talkative herself, she admired the reticence displayed
by Polly in keeping the affairs of her heart to herself.
Dodo whispered back to Eleanor: "Dear me! I hope he is worthy of her. She
ought to have the finest husband in the world."
Eleanor laughed. "Don't worry, Dodo. She will. If he was not meant for
Polly, I'd try and get him for myself--that is how much I admire him."
"Oh my! Won't you tell me something about him, Nolla?" asked Dorothy,
eagerly.
"I really don't dare, Dodo," returned Eleanor, assuming a wise
expression. "Polly would drop me forever, if she thought I confided in
anyone about her love-affairs. Besides, you can find out everything for
yourself, now that you are going to remain with us, this winter. Still, I
would love to know just who that wireless came from." Eleanor added the
latter remark after a moment's deep consideration.
"I'll tell you what we can do," ventured Dorothy, in a whisper. "We have
often visited the wireless room; let's you and I go there again, and
start a friendly chat with the operator. Maybe he will speak of the
message."
Without stopping to think whether this method would be principled or not,
Eleanor eagerly agreed to Dorothy's plan. While Polly and Nancy were
discussing the beautiful hazy picture made by New York's sky-line as seen
from the Harbor at Quarantine, Dorothy and Eleanor hurried to the
wireless room.
The young man had often been entertained by the girls during the trip
from Europe, so this visit was not suspected of having a secret motive
back of it. He chatted pleasantly with his callers and, after a time,
spoke of the very topic they wished to hear about.
"I suppose you girls will all be on the _qui vive_ this evening?"
"Yes, it is awfully nice of the captain, isn't it?" said Eleanor,
referring to the dance and thinking that the operator also meant that
event.
"Oh, I do not think the captain had as much to do with the invitation as
had the Inspector General of the Quarantine. Of course we have a clean
bill for the ship or no one would have been allowed to step on board
tonight; but at the same time your friends must have had a good hard time
to get the invitation from the authorities. Only a New Yorker who
understands the ropes, could have managed the matter so quickly."
Dorothy was about to ask what he was talking about, when Eleanor pinched
her arm for silence. Then the latter spoke: "Oh yes! He is a wonder--we
think!"
Dorothy gasped at Eleanor, and the smiling girl winked secretly at her.
The operator had not seen the pinch nor the wink, but he continued
guilelessly: "Well, from what I've seen of Miss Polly, only a 'wonder'
would cause her to notice him at all!"
He laughed at his own words and Eleanor joined him, even though she
failed to see a joke. Then she said: "Polly could have so _many_
admirers, but she never looks at a man. Perhaps that is why all you males
sigh so broken-heartedly at her heels."
The young man laughed softly to himself. "Maybe! But this 'Tom' seems to
feel assured of a 'look' from her."
Now it was Dorothy's turn to pinch Eleanor, and she did so with great
gusto. Eleanor winced but dared not express herself in any other manner,
just then. She was too keen on the trail of learning what she could, to
signify any sense of having felt that pinch.
"Oh--Tom! He is an old family friend, you know. He was Polly's brother's
college-chum for four years while both boys studied at the University of
Chicago. I am from Chicago, and I knew those boys when they used to come
to my home with my brother, who also attended the engineering classes.
There was a fourth boy--Paul Stewart, who was from Denver. Anne Stewart
was his sister and she married John Brewster, this Spring. So you see, we
are all old friends together. I suppose the whole family crowd will come
out on the yacht, tonight."
Dorothy listened in sheer amazement, as Eleanor spoke with all the
assurance possible. But Dorothy was not aware of Eleanor's lifelong
training in the home of a social leader of Chicago's exclusive set. That
such a home-training made a girl precocious and subtle, was not strange,
and Eleanor had had fourteen years of such a life before she went to
Pebbly Pit and met Polly. Habits so well-engrounded are not easily
broken, or forgotten.
"Then the sender ought to have sent his message to one of the adults of
the party. Even _I_ misjudged the matter, because I thought this 'Tom'
must be a faithful admirer of Miss Polly's to get through to visit the
steamer tonight," explained the operator.
"But he isn't coming alone--didn't you stop to consider that?" asked
Eleanor, eagerly. "Seeing that most of the friends are Polly's personal
ones, the wire was sent to her, you know."
"I see."
"The only thing that hurt me, was that no one sent me a message. Tom is
as dear to me as to Polly, and I wonder he did not wire me."
"Perhaps this Tom thought you would have scores of eager messages the
moment your beaus knew you were near enough to get them," laughed the
young officer.
"Well, they didn't! But I want you to do something for me--will you?"
asked Eleanor, quite unexpectedly.
"I will if I can," agreed the officer.
"Write off a fake message for me and sign some make-believe name to it,
so I can hold my head up with Polly. She will never let me rest if she
thinks she got a line, and I didn't!"
"Oh, that is easy to do. As long as we know it will never come out, and
that I wrote a line to you, it will be a good joke."
"All right!" laughed Eleanor, delightedly. "Now write:----" She stopped
suddenly, then thought for a moment before she said: "Why not copy the
exact words sent to Polly, but sign another name?"
"I'll write one, as much like the original as possible without actually
duplicating that information," chuckled the officer.
Then he took up a slip of paper and wrote: "Miss Eleanor Maynard. We will
join you this evening, on steamer. Yacht will arrive about eight." He
looked up laughingly and asked: "Now what name shall we sign to this?"
"Oh--let me see! Sign 'Paul.' I know he is in New York, now, so I am not
taking chances of making a mistake," laughed Eleanor.
The name "Paul" was added to the message and the paper placed in an
envelope. This was addressed to Eleanor Maynard and her stateroom number
written down upon it. Then it was handed to the gratified girl.
The young man was thanked with unwarranted warmth, and the two girls
hastened away.