e young visitors who were expected on the morrow. So many days that week had been wasted in riding about the country that the pantr

them until they had completed their investigations and returned home. Polly and Eleanor were well tired out when

ck with its cushions and the wicker porch chairs, were invitingly placed. Their own appearance had been serio

eally beautiful hair becomingly. Silk stockings now encased Polly's shapely lim

onsidered "childishness" in Eleanor. "Why should she want to have Polly look as well as she could? And why bother, anyway, to dress up for a nobody like Kenneth Evans? Of course, it would be all ri

nd went but no sound of horse-hoof was heard echo

be here at ten-thirty," remarked Eleano

Jim about coming here Sunday?" asked Barbara, feeling rather pleased

t I never saw such a fine head with such

on the 'Guards' where we can see the trail all the way t

et them before we get

oy you know nothing about!" snapped Barbara, who

girls skipped blithely along the path and were soon out of si

, let's go slower or we'll spoil our shoes," said Eleano

ards, but just sit on the ledge

ing just before that time. But no visitors appeared, and Mrs. Brewster sent Anne down the road to

led Eleanor, when she saw the

shading her eyes from the sun,

ly called, leanin

ooked around. "Where do you

n enough in telling that boy that he was to come over wi

oy was too stupid to understand a simple invitation. She is

Polly, stiffly. "But I do wish they would come, because I wanted

ar Forks road?" now exclaimed Eleanor,

breathed Anne

only expected two. Who can th

all, but some ranchers riding that

trail, and never on Sunda

along the trail to Oak Creek, while the other two turned in at t

nor, waving her sun-ha

ming, after all," said Poll

least half an hour before they can reach the house," said A

mpany joins you," advised Anne, turning aroun

st to say how-dy to them," ventured Polly, looking like a st

laughing at us afterwards, for anything in the world! We'll stay right here and get acquainted before we go t

ngers, so you will be doing him a great favor if you get acquainted here and then bring him to

Latimer also caught a glimpse of the girls as he happened to pause, to point out the Rainbow rocks to his friend. Instantly

o social ways or behavior, for both acted rather awkward at this meeting. However, Eleanor generally fitted into any breach, and now she

nd we looked for you at eleven," said she, catching Jim by the slee

long story to tell, and we ought to explain to your mother at the same time," r

every other moment to include them in her vivacious conversatio

issed, Ken, by not being one of the part

fancy the opportunities one would have for seeing ho

up. I'd love to go again," ventured Polly, enthusiastically,

camp to-night! That's the wors

g fired!" retorted

a's attention. She had been trying to read, but now she got up to frown at the gay young people she saw climbing the roa

reached the porch. Immediately after greeting the ladies, the b

our Crew forbid any one taking out a horse to-day. Jake has charge

Oak Creek. It's the only off day we get. But Carew said we had a lon

ver since Ken told me about how he met you folks, and all. Now we both were all

remembered tobacco! I agreed to hand over a big bag of Cut Plug and a tin box of cigarettes if he would

e our tobacco first. He knew that neither o

tically. The ladies also smiled as an interes

other surveyors, so we fixed up a little scheme. We left more than enough mone

of tobacco he kept in stock! Still he refused to say whether we could start early in the morning, and t

g his interview with Jake, but he was full of his

leep, when Jake crept under our tent fla

what was going on. The lights were out, so we were not seen as we slid under the

!' was the first

Ah kin bet on you boys, ef Ah lets you-all have mah t

Ah got mah money and tobakker, too! It's 'cuz that feller is so smart that Ah feels shore the Boss won't get wind of mah hosses bein' lent. 'Course Ah

e rode the horses if he would only loan

an observation. Ah've got'ta go fer it to-morrer-er find some good-natured feller who will go fer me. Ah'

, Jake, I will get that tripod for you. But I'd hate t

'Ef you-all will find that tripod fer me,

en't seen a shadow of it. While looking for it along the line that Ford surveyed this week, we lost ou

t ready for dinner. I've had it waiting this hour and a h

we dared not ask the cook for sandwiches, and we left camp before breakfast-time. Jake said we might not be permit

ver under the oak, yonder!" exclaimed Mrs. Brewster, hasti

the home-cooking, the boys talked of their work and adventures in the mountains. Jim had been with the survey crew all

trifles by him. But the problems of getting enough good things to eat, now and then a

ffs, as that was the show-spot of all the countryside. Having so many unique feature

at masses of color," said Kenneth, a

iffs on a royalty basis, but he refused to. Now that Tom is here again with John, and the

ieve he will, but we can't find ou

temporarily buried, up there. If there is any way it can be located

need the money

way to school together-somewhere. And she can't go unless she has her own money, 'cause her father won't co

t that will work," K

y is going, anyway, he will soon eno

should like it better than going alone. And I'm sure I couldn't th

money of your very own will help coax him

out money in time for you to spend it

we can get at it through tha

f you do the thing right, and have engineers plan for the apparatus t

o perfect right away, and it needs money. I haven't even told Polly a word o

so long. You can plan to spend all the money you can possibly use,

the one in the bush,' and here is a fortune right on

"Do you know, Ken, that I wouldn't be one bit surprised but what that new pate

d. If only he could come here to invest

s and let him experiment on them with the model

ll send them on with a letter of

s welcome to them," said Polly, breaking o

ng about a new patented machine that would make millions

ther invented. Dr. Evans is a great inventor, and every once in a while he has a big idea. That was how he planned the vacuum

into the feeder on the machine and letting it cut out the jewel in a few moments. The size of stone wanted can be

is financing this cutting machine. Now they can try out

and let Nolla and me have the royalty to send us to school?" ventured Polly, wistf

o reply. Her eyes traveled along the Top Notch Trail and finally came back to the Cliffs at home

t forgot to ask you

ile. As he waited thus, she was struck by the

aired man who called himself Montresor. He lost it again in just the same way a

was good to him after the mine was lost, and took his part when folks jeered. When he died, Daddy paid for the funeral and has the cer

left. It was written to a wife and child, but there was no name or address on it. Then I heard how fa

o our old friend. So now I want to ask you if there ever was any one

but I do not know the exact truth about it. And we sel

he was too ambitious to be contented with his income. Mother says it was his wife who wanted to spend money

ith sufficient to live on if they were economical. But my Aunt was not content with a simple home

came to us for help. She and Cousin Gail lived with us for two years; then Aunt Ada had pneumonia and died. She begged us to adopt Gail as she had never heard fro

mother felt sure that he had succumbed to the cold and his discouragement. Aunt Ada left a note in w

recious legacy we could claim in the gold-fields of Alaska was the untiring energy and earnestness Uncle was sure to use

was gone in a week's time. So mother tried to forget her dear brother after these sad

d eagerly: "But you haven't told us your uncle's na

uncle was Peter Amesbury. I never heard of a Montresor in our family, either. But

f the Klondike uncle and the hero of Polly's life, were not

old Montresor. Now what is there to hinder me from claiming the old man as my uncle and t

ance to this friend Polly knew, but Kenneth has. That is why it

. Mrs. Brewster planned for them to come and spend the following Sunday at Pebbly

Oak Creek two or three times a week, and could mail a

and then have to come and hunt for it," laughed Kenne

tripod! What will Jake sa

w next Sunday," la

orses back to the corral with the crew'

you-all

" asked Jim,

coyote!" grinned Jak

t at Pebbly Pit because it was so heav

ught in th' tripod and ha'r it 'tis!" Wi

could take a horse," e

acket to spend Sunda' with his wife, yuh know, an' what shoul' he do but come acrost t