A YOUNG STRANGER IN OAK CREEK
"Glory be! You-all war givin' Mis' Brewster fits wid no sign of hide
nor hair sence yistermorn!" cried Sary, rushing out of the kitchen
door, the moment she heard the horses' hoof-beats.
Mrs. Brewster heard Sary and also ran out, crying, "Oh, my dear
children! We've had such a day! Sam just went to the barn to hook up
and start the ranchers on a hunt! A trapper rode in this morning and
spoke of the awful blizzard that hit Top Notch Trail. Of course, we
knew you couldn't find _that_ or we'd have been still more worried!"
The girls looked at each other and laughed aloud. Mrs. Brewster
shrewdly guessed the truth.
"_Did_ you find it? And where under the sun did you hide during that
awful storm?" cried she, anxiously.
Sary paid no attention to a recital of trails and storms, however, for
it was half past four and Jeb would have to take care of the five
mounts before he could hope to come in for supper, and spend a quiet
evening with her. So, to prevent any delay, she turned to Polly.
"You-all 'pear to be tuckered out! Jest flop inter the cheers an' rest
whiles Ah carry the hosses to th' barn. Ah'll tell Mr. Brewster
like-ez-how you-all come home, an' spared him a trip!"
Mrs. Brewster objected to the offer for she wanted Sary to finish the
preparations for supper and give her time to talk with the girls. Sary,
however, paid no attention to her mistress's objections but gathered
all the reins together and led the animals to the barn.
Shortly after the girls had gone indoors to drink some hot milk--for
Mrs. Brewster said hot milk would take most of the fatigue out of their
bodies--Sam Brewster ran down the path from the barn, and burst into
the living-room.
"Well, say! Ah shore am glad to see you-all back home! Ah just was
preparing to wire some detectives to be on the lookout in the Zoo for
any lions or bears lately come in who looked unusually well-fed!"
Every one was so delighted at the reunion that Mr. Brewster's
foolishness made them laugh merrily. He hugged Polly until she cried
for breath, then he shook hands over and over again with Anne and the
girls, Mrs. Brewster, remonstrating meantime, that she wanted to hear
of their adventures!
The girls were so eager to tell about the cavern of gold that they
refused to wash and dress, or remove any stains of the climb, until
after the whole story was told.
Mr. and Mrs. Brewster thought it was the tale of the trip and the
trials throughout the blizzard, and they cared little for what had
passed as long as all were safe and happy again. But Polly blurted out
the truth to make them listen.
"I found Montresor's gold mine, Paw!"
It hit the mark! In the shock the news made upon the Brewsters, no one
noticed Polly's slip on the old pet title. After a long tense period of
silence, however, Sam Brewster said: "Daughter, it can't be true!"
"'Tis, though, Mr. Brewster! Polly and I crawled through the tunnel
until we came out into that marvelous cavern of gold," and Eleanor
sighed audibly as she thought of that sight.
"What cavern! You-all must be clean locoed with the blizzard and the
long ride!" cried Mr. Brewster, testily.
The girls laughed appreciatively, for they understood just how those
who remained at home would feel at such news!
So Polly sat upon her father's knee and told him the story of the mine,
from the time Choko fell over the cliff until they left the panther at
the foot of the tree.
"And here's the plan and claim, and there's the gold!"
Polly drew the nuggets from her dress and took the papers from her
sombrero, and placed them in her father's hands.
Mrs. Brewster dropped upon her knees to the floor to look at the map
and the ore, while her husband was examining the large nugget. The four
girls had no idea how anxious they were about this ore until they saw
Mr. Brewster carefully looking it over with the eye of an expert miner.
His first words were a decided shock.
"Ah wouldn't set much store about this mine, girls! You-all don't see
what Ah see in this discovery. It's gold--yes, it looks to me like
red-gold of good quality, and if it is as you say--a cavern exposed so
any one can value it off-hand, so much the better! But, the end of Top
Notch Trail, where you doubtless spent the night, is a far haul from
Oak Creek, and the chasm in front, and the mountain on top, are
drawbacks to mining. However, we will ride into Oak Creek in the
morning and file this claim of yours and see if it comes anywhere near
to being the one old Montresor left, Polly. It would give me the
keenest joy to be able to say something to a few of the mean old
rascals about Oak Creek, who called me a fool for paying the funeral
costs and filing the claim of that kind old man, Montresor!"
"But, Dad--father! If this mine happens to cross the claim staked by
Mr. Montresor, will it interfere with our filing a new claim?" asked
Polly, anxiously.
"It depends on how much ground you covered with your corners!" replied
her father.
"You can depend upon it, I covered all I could think might come within
a mile of gold!" laughed Polly.
"Well, girls, listen to some good advice on this! Not a word to be said
about this cave--not even among yourselves until the claim is filed and
investigated! You see, the walls have ears when any one speaks of gold!
Then, having attended to the legal aspects of the mine, we will all
ride over to remain a few days, as visitors to Old Mr. Grizzly! When we
get back we ought to have some information worth while!"
"And what about sending for John's friend to come and go with us? If he
knew enough to tell you about the lava, he will surely be able to judge
about the gold!" ventured Polly, eagerly.
"I think that is a splendid idea, Sam! When we go in to Oak Creek
to-morrow, let us send John a day-letter explaining about this cavern,"
added Mrs. Brewster.
"Hain't you-all comin' to supper? Har hev Ah ben and wukked all day
hopin' fer a night off to-night!" said Sary, suddenly appearing at the
doorway between the living-room and the kitchen.
Every one started for she had not made a sound before speaking, so no
one knew how much she had over-heard. Mrs. Brewster quickly replied,
however.
"Why, Sary! I didn't know you wished to go out! I could have attended
to supper myself, had you asked me!"
"Ah hain't planned to go out--Ah said a 'night off,' Mis' Brewster,"
said Sary, hardly deigning to wait for an answer, but looking at the
girls with an impatient frown.
"Mother, we really must wash before supper!" said Polly.
Sary tossed her head. Mrs. Brewster knew what that meant, so she urged
the girls to forego any lengthy toilets and merely wash away the worst
signs of travel.
Sary was pacified when Eleanor came out of the room and handed her a
large paper bundle.
"Sary, I have a little present for you because we made so much trouble
to-night."
"Oh, Miss Nolla, Ah'm much obleeged t' you-all. Ah don' mind trouble,
onny yoh see Ah expec' comp'ny to-night."
It took Sary but an instant to open the package and when she beheld a
ruffled organdy dress discarded by Barbara the previous season and
accidentally packed in the trunk with other clothes, she rolled her
eyes heavenward.
"Miss Nolla! Is this fine gown'd fer me?"
Eleanor stifled a laugh but Sary made as if she would clasp the girl in
her powerful arms, so discretion was needed. Eleanor backed behind the
kitchen chair.
"Miss Nolla, Ah wonder ef a widder of seven months' standin' mought
wear little yaller rose-buds on a dress, like-ez-how this is?"
"Certainly, Sary," came from Mrs. Brewster, who now joined the two.
"It's not the color or quantity of clothes as much as the sincerity of
one's mourning."
Quite unintentionally, Mrs. Brewster touched upon a tender spot. In
fact, so tender was it, that Sary blamed Bill for having died so
recently instead of two years back. She might have now been ending her
second year of mourning!
Eleanor being trained to the wiles of polite society, saw and
understood Sary's flash of resentment, so she turned to Mrs. Brewster
with the remark:
"I've heard said, that the highest regard a widow can pay her departed,
is, to take a second husband. It speaks well for her happiness with the
first one, you see."
Mrs. Brewster stared at Eleanor but Sary smirked and quickly replied:
"You-all is right, Miss Nolla! A widder what hez ben _so_ happy that
she gits lonesome whiles thinkin' of her departed, hez a right t' find
a second husban'."
Mrs. Brewster choked a laugh as she saw the sublime look in the help's
eyes, and hurried out. Eleanor then suggested:
"Now you run away and beautify yourself, Sary, and I will wash the
dishes to-night."
Sary needed no second invitation and in another moment she had
disappeared to her "boudoir" back of the buttery.
Eleanor was as good as her word, for she was soon busy with dish-water
and mop, rattling the china, and banging pans about as if noise and
bustle were sure signs of hard work and energy. Polly laughed as she
cleared away the remains of the meal and then caught up a towel to dry
the dishes. As they worked the two girls talked.
"Poll, now that you have this gold mine, what will you do with all the
wealth that is yours?" asked Eleanor.
Polly held a decorated plate in front of her face to hide her smile,
and pretended to be looking for grease on its surface. When she had
straightened her face again, she said: "Oh, I'm going away to school,
first of all. I'm not so sure that I want to stay in Denver, now that
you have told me all about Chicago. I'll write for catalogues of
schools there; and then I can see John quite often during the school
year."
"Just what I would have suggested, Poll! Then you can live at home with
me. Dad and you and I will have the best times!"
To accentuate her approval of Polly's premature plans, Eleanor swished
the dish-mop wildly up and down in the soapy water, but the suds flew
up lightly, as soapsuds will, and a bubble burst in Polly's eye.
"Oo-h! Stop throwing dish water in my face, Nolla!" cried Polly, with
eyes screwed shut and one free hand trying to rub the smarting lye from
her eye.
"I never did, Polly! It must have splashed accidentally when I was
washing the pan."
"You have done nothing since you began the dishes, but rattle and swash
that mop about in the pan as if you were mining the ore from the cave,"
complained Polly, as she managed to open her eyes again.
"I suppose it is because we are so excited over the find, and all it
means for you, Polly," explained Eleanor, contritely.
"It doesn't mean much more, now, than before. The thing I am most happy
over, is that Old Man Montresor will be vindicated, and people will
stop jeering at me, and at what they called his locoed ideas."
The conversation was interrupted at this moment by the appearance of
Sary. She first poked her head from the partly opened door of her room
and then said: "Is any one about to see me?"
Polly turned to make sure that they were alone in the kitchen, and
Eleanor replied: "No, what is it, Sary?"
Then the maid stepped forth and such a vision! She had curled her red
hair on a pair of old-fashioned tongs. The curling irons were but a
quarter of an inch in diameter and they were heated by thrusting them
into the living embers of the kitchen fire. When Sary drew the comb
through her scanty tresses they took on the appearance of
carrot-colored cotton threads which had just been ripped out of an old
garment--so crinkly and frizzed were the strands of hair. The flowered
organdy dress that Eleanor had given Sary to wear for the great
occasion of receiving a caller, was much too small for the buxom widow,
and she was in great distress about it. This brought her out to ask
advice of the girls.
"Why bother to wear the dress, Sary, until you have had time to alter
it for yourself?" asked Polly.
"Why, Polly! Ah has to keep up my looks now that comp'ny is lookin' my
way again. Ef you-all hadn't such fine city gals at home, what wears
th' latest fashions so that Jeb can't help but see what's what, Ah
woulden' have to worry so much about looks. But a woman has to keep up
when other women set the pace, 'specially ef she is a widow,
like-as-how Ah am now."
Eleanor laughed appreciatively and said: "Sary is just like Bob, when
it comes to that! It is the eternal feminine, Poll, that drives both
Bob and Sary to the verge of tears, because they cannot catch their
beaux with their good looks."
Sary smirked self-consciously at Eleanor's words, for she thought she
was being coupled with Barbara and her attractions. Sary felt quite
sure that she was good-looking and winsome, but she had to hear
Eleanor's words to make her believe she was fascinating.
"If I was Sary, I'd wear a nice clean blouse and a linen skirt. It
would be far more comfortable than that awfully tight gown," remarked
Polly.
But the help scorned such simplicity and turned to Eleanor for further
advice about her appearance. The latter, wise in her years, turned her
head on one side and appeared to be debating.
"Seems to me, Sary, that putting on that organdy just as it is, without
fixing it over a bit, may make Jeb suspicious of its not being made for
you. He may even go so far as to wonder if Bob handed it down to you.
Now you do not want him to dream that you did not have it made to order
for yourself, so why not take it off until you can remodel it to fit
yourself, like new?"
Sary pondered this suggestion for a few moments, and then said: "Ah
ain't got no fancy dress to wear, onny this, Miss Nolla. Ef Ah puts on
my black alpaky, he'll remember 'bout Bill, and sech memories allus
dampen a man's plans to pop th' question."
Both girls had to laugh outright at the unexpected confession; but Sary
was in a serious frame of mind and paid no attention to their
merriment. She resumed her interrupted explanation.
"It's jest this way, in Oak Crick country, you-all see! Single men
ain't growin' on every bush, and a widder has a hard time of it,
anyway, when most ranchers' dawters are waitin' to snap up a likely
catch. Jeb's a catch, Ah says. He ain't a gallavantin' dude, ner he
ain't spendin' all his wages on gamblin' at Red Mike's saloon. Ah've
learned like-as-how being right on th' spot when a man's willin' to be
cotched, is more'n half the fight to hook him. Ah kin afford to snap
mah fingers at all them ranch gals about Oak Crick, tryin' their bestes
to make Jeb wink his eye at 'em, jus' because Ah _am_ whar Ah am
keepin' tabs on him, all his time."
When the laughter caused by these words had subsided, somewhat, the two
girls replied: Polly to advise and Eleanor to make a giggling
explanation.
Eleanor said: "You make a wonderfully accurate time-clock on Jeb's
comings and goings, Sary."
And Polly advised: "You run back to your room, Sary, and put on a
sensible dress to keep Jeb from wondering how much of his earnings it
would take to dress you in fine clothes like that organdy gown cost."
"Thar's somethin' in that, too, Polly! Ah reckon you're right, so Ah'll
throw on that striped shirt-waist your Maw gave me, and the duck skirt
with the tucks in it."
Sary vanished as quickly as she had appeared, and the two girls stood
laughing as they saw the bed-room door close. Then they dried the
dish-pan, hung up the towels and mop, and turned to go back to the
living-room where Sam Brewster and his wife were planning for the ride
to Oak Creek on the next day, and the trip up to the cave, on the day
following that.
But the girls had not reached the living-room door before a "hist"
halted them. They turned in the direction of the sound and saw Jeb's
small head at the kitchen door. When he saw that he had gained their
attention, he beckoned furtively with a horny index finger.
Both girls tip-toed over to hear what news he had to impart, for his
behavior denoted some dread secret.
"Is Sary Dodd hangin' 'round?" he whispered, anxiously.
"She's in her room getting ready for company," was Eleanor's amused
reply.
"Wall, you-all kin do me a big favor ef you-all explain like-as-how Ah
was too sick to come in, to-night. She tol' me Ah jus' had to call on
her, to-night, but Ah ain't got courage. Ah kin see jus' whar all this
callin' and sittin' alone of evenin's, is goin' to land me. Sary Dodd's
got a powerful way for a woman, and Ah ain't no marryin' man--am Ah,
Polly?"
Jeb's plaintive tone and his beseeching eyes convulsed Eleanor with the
desire to laugh, but Polly saw how serious he was, in his fear of being
caught by a woman's wiles, and she replied:
"No, Jeb; you are not a marrying man, I can say that much. And Sary
ought to know better than to lure you on with all her past experiences
of mankind."
Polly's earnest explanation made Eleanor lose control of herself and
she sat down in a kitchen chair and laughed so heartily that Sary
hurried forth. Jeb instantly ducked and tried to lose himself in the
dense darkness of the out-of-doors, but Sary was too quick for him.
She darted to the door, called him with an imperative voice, and
brought the recreant back to his duty of calling. Then she turned to
the two girls, and said calmly, but with meaning:
"Ah'se much obliged fer th' dish-washin'. Ah'll see that the kitchen is
set to rights fer the evenin'."
With this dismissal, Polly and Eleanor had to go, and laughing still,
they went through the living-room door to join the others who sat about
the round table figuring and planning.
Sary very quietly closed the door between the two rooms, and Eleanor
whispered to Polly: "Poor Jeb! We had to leave him to his fate, after
all."
By six o'clock the next morning, the riders were on the way to Oak
Creek. Polly and Eleanor rode side by side and discussed a good name
for the claim. After suggesting and rejecting many fine sounding names,
Polly finally chuckled gleefully.
"You've thought of one!" declared Eleanor.
"Yes, just the thing! Won't 'Choko's Find' suit it?"
"Great! And it was little Choko that found it, too. If he hadn't fallen
over the cliff we never would have discovered the cave and the rest of
it."
"We'll call it that--'Choko's Find!' Say, everybody! Listen to this:
The mine is going to be called 'Choko's Find'--do you like it?" called
Polly to the other riders.
"Very appropriate," was the answer, so "Choko's Find" was its name.
Reaching Oak Creek, the party rode to Mr. Simm's office and Mr.
Brewster told the story in detail. The attorney was completely silenced
at the strangeness of the adventure but demanded proof in seeing the
ore before he would credit the tale.
"Well, Ah declare! If this isn't the derndest thing Ah ever heard of in
my life!" exclaimed Mr. Simms as he examined the nuggets.
"Simms, do you remember Montresor's nuggets and legacy?" asked Mr.
Brewster.
The lawyer looked quickly up at his questioner and a look of
understanding crept into his eyes. "Sam, Ah reckon it is the same!"
"The ledge, the canyon, the trails _and_ the river!" added Mr.
Brewster, convincingly.
"You-all just wait here till Ah get my papers from the Bank vault!"
excitedly cried the lawyer, snatching his cap and running out of the
office.
"Simms keeps his valuable papers in the masoned safe at the bank, you
know. If the town burns down during a miners' celebration some night,
his papers will be safe, anyway," explained Mr. Brewster.
The lawyer soon returned with a package held closely under his arm. He
sat down and opened the papers before his visitors.
"Here's th' rough plan of the claim and here's Montresor's letter that
was found after he was buried--you know, Sam."
"What letter is that, Father?" wondered Polly.
"We never told you about it, as it wouldn't have helped any one then,
but now you shall read it."
"Where was it found?"
"In the pocket of an old hunting coat when we tried to find some clew
to his family and home address. But the top of the letter had been torn
away so we never knew for whom it was meant."
Polly took the closely written sheet and read the letter penned by her
old friend on the mountains.
"At last I can say to you all, that my education was not wasted as you
claimed. I have made good! I am a rich, rich man, as I write these
words. I have discovered a gold mine that will prove to be worth
millions. I refrained from writing as you had requested, until I had
_good_ news. Now I can write.
"In the years I have spent on these mountains, I felt sure I would
strike gold, as every sign in rock and sand formation, of the sides of
the peaks, are favorable to gold deposits. To-day I proved my mining
education to be of some worth, for it helped to guide me to a ledge,
where the red-gold is so rich that it seems to run deep into the rocks,
yet quite easy to mine.
"I had great difficulty in reaching the place and, afterwards, when
darkness fell over the place, I had to trust to the horse to find a
spot to camp. I left my claims staked out and marked as we used to do
in the Klondike, and to-morrow morning I shall ride directly to Oak
Creek to file the papers and have an assay on the ore. I am now writing
by the light of the camp-fire with grizzlies prowling about and
panthers howling to get at me and the horse. But my ring of fire is
security for us.
"I haven't the slightest idea of where this camp is but I will scout
around in the morning and then write you again after I return from my
trip to Oak Creek.
"You must understand how happy I am, to be able to pay off my
obligations and take my rightful place in the world with my family. God
grant that this blessing of wealth bestowed upon me after all these
years of separation and disgrace, charged against me, who am innocent,
will be the last of my sufferings. I have never heard from the
traitorous friend who caused me this ruin, and now it matters little!"
Polly looked up at this point and said:
"He must have finished this after the land-slide, Daddy."
"Yes, daughter: read on and you will see," replied Mr. Brewster, gently.
"The curse still pursues me. I have not written to conclude this letter
since the night I started it, as hard luck again is my lot.
"I filed the claim and showed the ore but different laws prevail in
Colorado, and I found I must register the nearest survey corners and
sections to my mine to obtain a legal ownership; however my plans and
specifications were sufficient to protect me from claim-jumpers.
"That afternoon, a storm came over the mountains and lasted three days.
It blew, and poured, and snowed, until it seemed as if all the furies
in Hades were let loose. Then it cleared again and I started out with
my dog and horse to visit my mine and make satisfactory corners and
plans for filing.
"A great land-slide had occurred during that storm and the entire
mountain-side was changed. Canyons, cliffs, and mine are gone. Wiped
away as if they had never existed. Of course, I know the gold is still
there but buried under tons of earth and trash. It will take longer and
cost more to unearth, that is all.
"But I will have to locate the place anew as I have no bearings to work
from, so I propose starting from Top Notch Trail and have Patsy help me
find it on the down-side, as near as I can remember from the
camping-spot of that night where I first wrote this letter:
"I am reserving this until I find the mine, then I will mail it at
once. Now that I have definite grounds to work on, my enthusiasm is
equal to carry me through any difficulties in my pathway."
"Oh, father, how sad!" wept Polly, handing the letter to Anne, to read
to the other two girls.
"We know the rest, Polly. And that is why we never had you read this.
Now that we can prove the poor old man was sane, we will try to
establish his reputation for all concerned," said Mr. Brewster.
"Why didn't you try to find his family when he died?" asked Polly,
frowning at what she considered an oversight.
"We did. Every newspaper of reputation carried an advertisement, but Ah
think, now, that the old man assumed another name than his rightful
one. That is why we never had a reply to our ads," replied Mr. Simms.
Eleanor was elated at the romance of this experience, and turned to
Polly, exclaiming:
"Oh, Poll! S'posing we meet Montresor's son some day, and you fall in
love with him without knowing who he is! Then it will all come out when
he visits your parents to ask for you, and he will get his share of the
mine, anyway!"
Anne laughed heartily at such nonsense but Polly rather favored such an
ending, so her mother and father quickly interrupted the romance by
saying:
"Come, come, sign papers and wind up this affair!"
Mr. Simms said the assay was more than satisfactory, and "Choko's Find"
was filed as the discovery of "Marybelle Brewster, daughter of Sam and
Mary Brewster of Pebbly Pit."
"Who's Marybelle Brewster?" wondered Eleanor, surprised.
"It's me, but no one knows it!" laughed Polly.
"Sam, when do you reckon you-all ought to go back to the mine and
investigate?" said Mr. Simms.
"We-all plan to ride there early in the morning. Will you-all try to
come with us?"
"Ah'd like it first-rate. Ah haven't had my regular fishing trip this
year and this will answer," replied Simms, eagerly.
"Then be shore to meet us at seven or eight o'clock at the Pine Tree
just by the corduroy roadway," said Mr. Brewster.
"Sam, better get away before that! We won't be the only riders along
Top Notch trail the moment this 'find' gets wind!" warned Simms.
"He's right, Sam! Let's start from the farm at day-break and meet Mr.
Simms at five or six," advised Mrs. Brewster.
"Right! Make it six, Simms, and see if the coroner and sheriff want an
outing." Mr. Brewster's voice sounded interesting.
Just as the lawyer opened the door for the ladies to leave, a handsome
young man of about eighteen came down the road. It was evident, in
every way, that he was a "tenderfoot" newly arrived. Probably just came
in on the noon local from Denver.
"I'm looking for Carew's Camp, sir. That cowboy over at the box-car
said you might tell me how to reach it."
"Oh, that's the surveyin' crew for the government. Ah reckon you'll
have quite a jaunt afore night to reach there. They're working about
twenty mile from here--up on the Yellow Jacket Pass road," replied
Simms, studying the surprised face closely.
"Ah saw Carew's driver stopping at Jake's when we drove by, Simms,"
said Mr. Brewster at this moment.
"If you-all can find Jake, that will be the way to arrive--take a
reserved seat beside him,"' chuckled Simms.
The youth was shy before so many pretty girls, so he took off his cap
to acknowledge the obligation, and would have backed away had not Simms
asked a very strange question.
"Young man, you look exactly like an old friend I knew in these parts,
some years back. So like, that I must ask you your name."
The stranger flushed and stammered: "I am Kenneth Evans, from New York."
Simms frowned when he heard the name and turned to Sam Brewster: "Did
you ever see anything to beat that likeness to the man we were just
talking about?"
Polly had noticed the resemblance as did her father, but nothing more
was said at that time, as so much remained to be attended to before the
ride on the morrow.
"Well, Boy, be sure to drop in and have a talk with me the next time
you are in town. My friend was from your way, too, and who knows but
we-all can hook up a relationship, eh?" said Simms, holding out his
hand to young Evans.
"I'll be glad to do that," responded Kenneth, heartily.
Mrs. Brewster's kindly heart was touched by the utter forlornness
expressed in the youth's face when he heard how far away the surveyor's
camp was located, so she addressed him directly.
"Did you want to reach Carew to-night, or can you come home with us and
get a fresh start for camp, in the morning?"
"I was supposed to report to Carew yesterday, but I lost the train at
Chicago, and that made me late all along the line of
train-connections," explained young Evans, smiling more cheerfully. "I
thank you just the same, for inviting me to join your circle, but I
really feel that I must find this man Jake and get away."
"Well, young man," now abetted Mr. Brewster, "do as you think best, but
that won't prevent you from riding over to Pebbly Pit any day you can
get away from work, and having dinner with us."
The young man was surprised at such hearty hospitality shown an utter
stranger, but he had heard of western generosity and he now felt that
he had met such types of westerners. Just now, Mr. Simms called out
quickly: "There goes Jake! Hey, _Jake!_ Ah say--J-A-K-E!"
The man called Jake halted as he was crossing the muddy road, and
looked towards the group which stood in front of Simms' office. Simms
waved his wide-brimmed hat to denote that he was wanted, so the driver
turned and slouched along the side of the road until he was within a
few feet of the lawyer, before the latter explained.
"We-all got a fine young Tenderfoot here, for you, Jake, and Ah just
wanted to warn you to handle him with care or these pretty gals of
Pebbly Pit will call you to account for him. Boys are scarcer than
hen's teeth, since the war, you know, and our gals are having a hard
time raking the country to find such a swain as young Evans."
Mr. Simms' frivolous talk made the girls smile, and Kenneth Evans began
to feel more at ease. But Jake was replying to the attorney's
explanation, and he listened to what was said.
"Ah come all the way from camp, yistiddy, and no kid to be seen. Then
the boss sent me back to-day to meet this local train but he ain't come
yet. _Now_ when he shows up, he can walk to Carew's Camp, fur all I
care! I'm going back, right off."
"Lookin' for a kid, eh? What sort of one is he?" teased Mr. Simms.
"Augh, Jim Latimer says he was bigger'n him, but a blondy. And he said
he looked a Tenderfoot all through. I asked Red Mike if a feller
stopped at his eatin' place for a snack, but Mike tole me he ain't seen
no stranger in Oak Crick, this week," Jake grumbled.
"Did you say Jim Latimer?" exclaimed Eleanor, eagerly.
Jake turned to stare at the girl, and young Evans brightened visibly,
then he said: "Do you know Jim?"
"Do you know him?" chorused several voices, Polly and her parents
joining the chorus.
"Do I know Jim?" repeated Kenneth, laughing like his old merry self. "I
should say I did! Why, Jim and I went through school together, back
East, and it's Jim who got me in this Crew so I can get experience and
money at the same time."
"Well, this is great!" exclaimed Sam Brewster. "You see my boy John
goes to college with Tom Latimer, at Chicago, and that's how we met
Jim--his brother gave him a letter of introduction to bring us when he
came out here to work with Carew. I knew the Boss of the survey crew,
and Jim has been over to Pebbly Pit on Sundays. So now you must get him
to show you the way."
This happy discovery, of having a mutual friend, completed Kenneth's
feeling of ease and confidence, and he was soon talking unrestrainedly
about the Latimers--what splendid people they were. How Jim's father
was trying to save his (Ken's) father from having a very valuable
patent stolen by a ring of rascals in New York City. And how Mr.
Latimer's brother who was a large financier on Wall Street, was
financing the lawsuit, and the stock-company that was formed on the
value of the patent.
During the time it took for Kenneth to enlarge on the merits of the
Latimers, Jake grew restless. He shifted his weight from one cowhide
booted leg to the other, and finally he heaved a doleful sigh. Then he
drew attention to himself.
"Ef we-all ain't goin' to get started mighty soon, thar's no use in
gettin' off, to-night. Mike gen'ally has a dance to his ristrant at
night, on pay-day, and he can put us up, all right."
Mr. Brewster hurriedly took his watch from his pocket and Mr. Simms
turned to look at the old banjo clock in his office, and both men
quickly said in one voice: "Oh, no, Jake! You have plenty of time to
get off and make camp before dark."
But the suggestion made by the driver, to stop over-night in Oak Creek,
was the means of hustling Kenneth Evans along his way. The entire party
walked with him, down the road, towards the shed where Jake had the
lumbering camp-wagon; and there they waited while Jake drove back to
the baggage room to find his passenger's trunk.
During the driver's absence, Simms explained to the young stranger why
he was so anxious about getting the man from Carew's Camp away from Oak
Creek that afternoon.
"You see, my boy, these nights about this burg when the miners and
cow-boys have had their pay, are one Bedlam. Decent folks lock their
doors and windows and never show a light that might attract any
insanely drunken miner. That's why I want you far on your road to camp
before these rough foreigners come to town. Jake would revel in a wild
night of it, but he'd get fired when Carew heard of it."
The young man smiled but the girls were anxious to make the most of the
few minutes left before Jake returned for the Tenderfoot, so Eleanor
began the moment Simms concluded.
"When do you suppose Jim Latimer and you can come to Pebbly Pit to
call?"
"Never having met the Boss of the Crew, and not being acquainted with
distances from camp to the ranch, I couldn't say. But Jim ought to be
able to judge, and to decide on a day. We could then write you,
couldn't we?"
"Don't forget, Nolla, that we have our hands full of important work on
Top Notch Trail, for an indefinite time," was Polly's warning.
"Oh, I didn't forget that, but it won't keep us busy more than a few
days," returned Eleanor.
"That reminds me, Simms! Did you say you would take care of that wire
to John?" asked Mr. Brewster, turning to the lawyer. "Yes; I'll send a
trustworthy man down the line when the train comes back for Denver, and
he can send his message couched so that no wise guy will understand
what it means, from some telegraph office a distance from Oak Creek,"
said Simms.
"That's a wise plan. And get him off as soon as possible so John will
get the word and start home without delay," added Mrs. Brewster.
Jake drove up beside the group at this moment, and sat waiting for
Kenneth to say good-by to his new friends. The girls reminded him again
to be sure and have Jim bring him to the ranch and visit, as soon as it
could be arranged, then the great heavy wagon rolled away with the
first good-looking young man the girls had seen since they left Denver.