CHAPTER XIII--BACK AGAIN AT PEBBLY PIT
"Oh, Nolla! Isn't this great after old New York?" cried Polly, as theywere all jostled in the big ranch-wagon driven by Mr. Brewster, as itrumbled over the trail to Pebbly Pit.
"We-all think it's great, Poll; but wait till you see what your going toNew York did to the old Pit! No one to blame for it but yourself,"laughed her father.
"We heard there was a row of buildings down behind the Imps, and that afine roadway was constructed through the Devil's Causeway," said Polly,eagerly.
"But no one told you how John and Tom came here as soon as collegeclosed, and brought a railroad man with them to see about building aspur from Bear Forks to the valley at the foot of Grizzly Slide. It'stwenty miles nearer Denver than Oak Creek, so the company agreed to riskthe work if Pebbly Pit would guarantee a certain amount of travel andfreight over the road."
"Well--did you, Daddy?" asked Polly, eagerly.
"Tom Latimer did. Agreed to put up bonds for same."
"Tom? Why Tom Latimer?" asked Eleanor.
"Oh, Tom is mighty ambitious, you know, and seems as if he liked thissection better than the East. However, it is Tom we-all can thank forthat new railroad. When you-all come home next year, you-all will beriding over your own tracks." Mr. Brewster chuckled.
"Is Tom going to join that crew of engineers that John and he were withlast year?" now asked Eleanor.
"No, indeed! Tom and John will be right here with us this summer. We-allneed their help in working out the problems of the mine and RainbowCliffs," responded Sam Brewster.
"I don't suppose we'll see a bit of John as long as Anne and her motherremain in Denver, visiting their old friends," pouted Polly, jealously.
Her father glanced slyly at her, and smiled. He felt sorry for hislittle girl who had always felt that her brother John was her ownpersonal property. Now that someone claimed first love and attentionfrom him it was mighty hard for her, as well as for Mrs. Brewster.
"Ah should wonder at John if he failed in gallantry to his sweetheart,"was all Sam Brewster said aloud.
"Oh! Everyone makes me tired! Anyone'd think Anne Stewart was a saint.She's only a girl the same as Nolla, or me. And no one is found goingmad over either one of _us_!" cried Polly, pettishly.
Eleanor laughed. "Give us a few years and then see!"
Polly curled her lip impatiently. "A few years from now and I'll be inEurope with dear old Fabian, studying art. I won't want attention fromanyone, then."
"Seems to me," ventured Mr. Brewster, gently, "my little girl ishankering for homage or a beau--which is it?"
Polly stared aghast. "Neither one! How dare you say so."
"You-all were speaking of attention."
"But I was only thinking of _John_. He'll have Anne for a wife all hislife long--after next year. But he won't have _me_ after I finishschool."
In spite of the tearful tone, Mr. Brewster had to laugh. "Don't wasteyour time on John, Polly girl. Let me make up for him and be yourdevoted attendant. Ah'll always be at your beck and call!"
"Oh, Dad! That reminds me!" exclaimed Polly, turning square around toface her father, and forgetting her recent misery over John. "_How_ didyou ever manage about that rose valentine you sent me?"
Sam Brewster let the reins dangle recklessly as he, in turn, stared athis daughter. "What valentine?"
Polly winked roguishly and laughed. "You can't pull the wool over myeyes, Daddy. I've spent a whole year in New York to some advantage, yousee. I have seen lots of such feigned innocence as yours."
"But honest, Poll, Ah don't even know what you-all are talking about; Ahgot your sweet valentine, and so did maw."
Polly frowned at her father. "Didn't you wire to a florist in New Yorkand order a dozen great roses for my valentine? And tie the two heartspierced by a golden arrow, about the center of the flower-stems?"
"Positively, this is the first word Ah've heard of it!" declared SamBrewster so emphatically, that the girls believed him.
"Now, Polly, the hunt is narrowing down," laughed Eleanor. "We know itwas no one in New York, and it wasn't Jim or Ken. Your father says hedidn't do it, so it leaves only a few more to ask."
Suddenly Polly clasped her hands. Her face was radiant. "Why, of course!How could I forget? It was dear old John! He, too, always remembered meon Valentine Day." Then turning to her father, and shaking a finger athim, she added: "But you didn't remember me, this year, bad man."
"Tell truth, Polly, there was so much to think about and so much to do,over the buildings and mines, that Ah clean forgot there ever was such aday, until I got your card. Then I felt sorry."
"Well, thank goodness, John remembered!" sighed Polly. And Eleanornoticed that she smiled again in forgiveness of her brother'sshortcomings.
When the wagon stopped at the porch of the ranch-house, Eleanor laughed:"Just as we drove up last year--but oh, how different this year!"
Mrs. Brewster hurried out to welcome her dear girls, and laughed atEleanor's remark. "Still making Irish bulls, Nolla!"
They all laughed merrily, and then Sary rushed from her kitchen, andclasped Polly to her ample bosom. Eleanor came in for her share of themaid's embrace before she had to hurry back to the dinner.
"Ah'se cookin' cabbige soup, Miss Nolla," she explained.
"Why, Sary, that first night we were here last summer, you had'cabbidge' soup, too!"
"We-all has to hev it once a week reg'ler now, 'cause Jeb loves it, an'he is a foreman, you know." Sary's pride in her spouse's promotion wasmost evident.
While Polly and her mother cozily sat together on the porch and smiledhappily to be in each other's company, once more, Eleanor walked to thebarns with Mr. Brewster. She had an object in view, and she neverdelayed in finding out what she wanted to know, should the opportunitycome and offer itself to her.
"Mr. Brewster, do tell me honestly--_did_ you send the roses, or do youknow who did send them to Polly?"
"Nolla, Ah never heard of them until to-day. Ah'm as curious as you, toknow who sent them. What were they like, anyway?"
"Well, you must know, Mr. Brewster, that American Beauty roses like theywere, cost a small fortune in New York, at that time of the year. Eachone of those roses cost not less than five or six dollars. And thetrinket that was bound to the stems was not a cheap thing, either. Infact, the chain was of fine, gold-plated links, and the arrows weregold-plated, too. It was an imported curio."
"By the Great Horned Spoon! Roses that cost like that! Why, they wilted,didn't they?" gasped Sam Brewster.
Eleanor laughed merrily. "Sure thing! But we kept them as long aspossible. That is just where the joy comes in of getting costlyroses--they wilt. And anyone, who will spend that much money on one,must think a heap of her first--see?"
Mr. Brewster stood stock-still. He caught at Eleanor's arm. "Ah've gotit!"
"What--who?" Eleanor was breathless in her eagerness.
"Find the silly swain that's making eyes at my Polly, and you've caughtthe rascal who sent the roses."
Eleanor screamed with laughter. "Oh, you're funny! But isn't thatexactly what everyone's been doing?"
"Oh--have they?"
"Sure! I learned that Mr. Fabian tried to find out who the fellow was.And then Mr. Dalken wanted to know. The Latimers and Evans put Jim andKen through the third degree, but no one confessed to it. Now do _you_believe John sent them?"
"I do not!" was the positive reply.
"Neither do I! Because John sent Anne a bunch of roses for _her_valentine but they were only seven dollars. She got a dozen, the usualshort-stemmed Bride Roses. He wouldn't dare send his sister suchgorgeous ones and only give his fiancee cheaper ones."
Sam Brewster smiled at his companion. "Nolla, you're a wise little owl."
"Anyone would be, after having had the social training that was fed tome from the bottle up!"
Mr. Brewster laughed at this, and Eleanor then said: "Guess I'll begoing back, now, Mr. Brewster. I wanted to know your opinion about Joh
nand the roses."
"Wait, Nolla. Have you any answer to it yourself?"
"U--m, yes--I have a sort of a suspicion. But it isn't fair to anyone toeven hint at it. So don't ask me."
"This much you might answer, however, seeing that Ah'm Polly's fatherand the most concerned in the beaux she has. Do you fancy it might havebeen your brother Pete?"
"_Pete!_" The very tone made Mr. Brewster smile as he saw that Eleanorhad never thought of him. "Anyway, Pete and Poll hardly know eachother."
"Ah wonder if it could have been Paul Stewart--he seemed dreadfullyattentive to her that time when we-all were visiting you-all in NewYork." Mr. Brewster watched Eleanor shrewdly.
"I just guess it _wasn't_ Paul! He sent me a lovely card for avalentine; and while we were home in Chicago, I asked him about flowers.He never thought to wire a florist about sending me any flowers, hesaid. So I know Paul hadn't anything to do with it."
"Ah! Well, Nolla, now we know who he was, eh?" laughed Sam Brewster,tweaking Eleanor's ear and hastening away to the barns.
Eleanor stood watching him. Then she laughed softly: "He sure did putone over on me, that time!"
As she walked slowly back to the ranch-house she soliloquized toherself. "That's just who it was. Gee! It's almost as fine as having aromance of my very own. But Polly doesn't want it so.
"All the same, when John and Tom come down here, I'm going to tease Tomabout the wonderful roses Polly's brother sent her. Then we'll see whatwe'll see!"
Eleanor could keep her own counsel as well as Sam Brewster, but the twoexchanged wise looks, now and then, when no one was watching. Still,never a word was said again on the rose subject.
A week after the two girls got home, the others in the party came downfrom Denver. Mrs. Stewart was to be Mrs. Brewster's guest that Summer,Eleanor was Polly's, and Anne said she was John's visitor. Then TomLatimer laughed and said: "I'll have to be Mr. Brewster's pal."
"I can promise you that you won't have your head turned by any prettyschool-girl, Tom, if you are _my_ guest," chuckled Sam Brewster.
Eleanor tittered, Tom flushed, but the others laughed at such a speech.
Plans had been made to take a three-day trip up over Top Notch Trail,and inspect the progress on the mine, but Mrs. Brewster and her guestwould remain at home, by preference.
The merry cavalcade started out, Polly on her beloved Noddy as usual,and Eleanor on Choko. The others rode their horses, and Jeb led an extrahorse with the packs.
There was no planned order in riding; first one girl would have one ofthe escort, and then another would ride up and "cut in" to urge theother onward. Thus everyone was laughing and teasing and talking merrilyuntil they reached the falls on top of the mountains. Here, where Pollyhad caught the trout, the year before, they all had dinner.
"My goodness! Folks in New York never know what they miss by nevercoming to the Rockies," declared Polly, her eyes wandering to thefar-off line of mountain-ranges.
"And folks who live near these mountains are never happy until they getto New York," remarked Mr. Brewster.
Polly laughed. "Oh, that is when one needs education. I have always hadtoo _much_ mountain and not enough of other good things. But now that Iam tasting a little of everything, I like my mountains as well asanything I've seen."
"D'ye think you-all will stay at home after this?" eagerly asked herfather.
"Double no!" affirmed Polly, emphatically.
Everyone laughed at the expressive slang, and Polly added: "At least,not until I have seen Europe, year after next, and tried a hand in myprofession. Maybe--if I fall in love, some day--I'll come back to PebblyPit to raise my family."
John Brewster thought this so funny that he ha-ha-haed loudly, but theothers smiled doubtfully. Eleanor could not help sending a swift look atTom Latimer to see how he received the information. But Tom wasscrambling to his feet, so his face could not be observed. Eleanorglanced away from him to Sam Brewster, and saw the latter with a twinklecornering his eyes as he noticed Tom's awkward movement.
"U--m!" muttered Eleanor. "I've got your number, Tom Latimer!" But noone overheard her whispered thought.
As the riders proceeded on their way, Paul Stewart said: "I don't seewhy you folks should think this such a tough trail. I consider it ratherbroad and good."
"Humph! It's a highway these days, what with all the riding up and down.But last year you wouldn't have been able to see any thing but trees androcks," Polly returned.
It was as Polly said: almost as clear a trail as any woodland road. AtFour-Mile-Blaze where the girls were well-nigh lost on their first rideover the trail, there now was a good but narrow bridle-path. Thence itwas easy going up the steep side to Grizzly Slide.
"W-ell! See the crowd of men working up there? And hear the sound oftools and machinery!" exclaimed Polly, as she rode out of the screeningforest, and came to a man-made clearing.
"Of all things! Trees chopped down and turned into huts; an army ofworkmen living here as if they belonged," added Eleanor.
"We are blasting and clearing away the rubble that hides your mine. Wehad both ends working a few weeks ago, but now we are trying to drop ashaft from the top," said Mr. Brewster.
The visitors camped at the miners' settlement, that night, and the nextday the girls were taken about to see the great progress made accordingto the plans to mine the ore.
A cable-road was being built from Choko's Cave down the steepmountain-side, to the valley, and this was to be used to carry theore-cars up and down. As the girls stood on top of the ledge thatoverhung the cave, they could look straight down the awesomemountain-side, where the forest had been cleared for the cable-line.
"It looks as if it all cost a heap of money," said Polly.
She had been so engaged in looking at the change wrought in her belovedmountain, that she failed to see that the others had wandered away. Butsomeone stood behind her. She felt it. As no reply came to herstatement, she turned and found Tom Latimer waiting for her.
"Oh, where are the others?"
"Gone over to the other side where the underground river comes out, youknow."
"I was saying, Tom, that this must have taken a lot of money."
"More than we figured on, but once we begin to get out the ore, it willroll back four-fold."
Polly was impressed, but still wondered "Where did all the money comefrom, Tom?"
"Stocks. We wanted to keep most of the Capital for you and the firstowners, you know; but investors wouldn't put up so much money without avote. So we had to sell out some of the voting shares. That's where Mr.Dalken came in--he bought a big block of your stock, and it is his moneythat's doing this."
"I think he is the nicest man! I used to think he sent me a wonderfulbunch of American Beauty roses for a valentine, but I only learned theother day that it was John! Wasn't it funny?"
Tom laughed with Polly, and said: "What made you think Mr. Dalken sentthem?"
"Oh, something happened once to Nolla and me, in New York that nobodyknows--so don't you go and tell on us, Tom!" Polly waited anxiously toget Tom's promise, then she proceeded.
"And Mr. Dalken happened along in time to save us from the beasts. Afterthat he made us use his small automobile when we went to night-school.We were awfully grateful to him for it.
"Then when Valentine Day came along, I suggested to Nolla that we sendhim a lovely card telling him how good he was to us. I sent it, and latethat night the roses came. I felt sure, all the time, that he sent them;I thought he had forgotten it was Valentine Day until after my cardreached him. I always wondered why he didn't put Nolla's name on thecard, too, as well as mine. But now I know he never sent them."
"Does John know you've found him out?" asked Tom.
"No, not yet; but some day I'll tease him about it."
"Don't! let him think you are still trying to guess who sent the roses.It will tickle him to pieces to believe you think it is an ardentadmirer of yours." Tom laughed merrily with Polly at the very idea.
"That's just what I will! And you and I will sometimes pretend _you_sent the roses to me, and then we will watch John's face. Maybe he willup and tell the truth!" added Polly.
"No, I doubt it. You see, Polly, John is a wonderful actor, and onenever knows just what he thinks. If he managed to keep a close mouth tome, his best friend, all this time, it must be because he didn't wantAnne to find out he sent you such roses."
Then the two conspirators walked back to join the others, but Polly andTom felt that they had a good joke between them, thereafter.