return of their scouting party. Polly figured that three days would prove ample time in which to investi

earance, who could hope to locate a tiny square of ground that had been staked as the wonderful mine? And with giant trees uprooted

ineers; so on Thursday, Mrs. Brewster told the girls they woul

the girls willingly complied with the order. Two strong horses were hitched to the ranch-wagon, and the g

y, and she turned to Eleanor and said: "I wonder if

an answer. But we ought to get a letter to-day, telling us whe

d stop at the post office f

reek, and having reached their destination, left the team tied to the p

eanor ran to the post office. To their surprised delight, they found Kenneth Evan

" exclaimed he, seemingly too excited to rem

ply so I could get her answer to-day. The Boss let me off because I finished

news he had received to make his eyes sparkle like stars and

think, if it hadn't been for you g

done that is so great?"

mine, don'

ing that news of some moment from the engineers

-you know, my

ain the girls gasp

d Montresor? Here, read my mother's night letter to me.

e. Brother was christened Peter Miles Montresor Amesbury. Disliked name Montresor, dropped it when young. Every one for

cried Polly, catching Ken

have to contest any of your cla

Maybe he is coming west to look over the claim, bu

just what they were, and sent on the box of jewels. When he gets them he will try out

o things, did you?" said Eleanor, with kee

. And, by the way, Jim and I are coming over to Pebbly

t the youth up. "Ah, you must thin

ide 'way over there if I was bored,

laughter. So she said: "I'm glad you liked us. We'll tell mother you are

and after that we go to Buffalo Park. The Boss says we will have about three weeks' work there, and then go across

re the summer ends. However, it looks as if Jim and I will be too far away to ride over for the day th

ent youth, and as he concluded she squeale

having heard this extravagant ex

urse!" retorted

ver before been told so publicly that a pretty girl loved him! Elea

and Anne coming in. They immediately joined the three you

n has such an exciting telegram

for her mail and for that of the family at Pebbly Pit. A bulky

so many letters t

en here to get it for more

n Kenneth's hand, however, and now asked wha

e contents she looked daggers at poor Kenneth; "I suppose

some one else. I'm thankful we had the use of it that night when the panther and bear wanted

o the girls and said: "We were thinking more of knowing for a certainty whether Uncle Peter was still

hey believed he was anxious to know, and that the

ls started back to Pebbly Pit. Kenneth Evans had said good-by and gone on his way, so there

girls on the front seat whispered confidences to each other. Anne

hings! How did

around and asked:

important, so she slipped it inside the one she was just going to mail to

hing to wonder ab

letter again: "No, b

ich, well-bred, perfect in every respect (except his bald head, glass eye, toothless gums, a

ladylike of you!" cried her s

d in the paper any day," argued E

ind. It comes from a well-known gen

m without being aware of it. Eleanor and she turned square about and gazed at

ake!" exclaimed

ained Polly. Then remembering John and his evident preference

hat makes me feel unhappy. I'd accept at once, if New

when mentioning John, she blushed mo

imed: "Ha! you didn't tell us what sort of a proposal! It may b

e tension. Then Anne admitted: "I felt like squaring myself with you, No

hod-carrier?" insisted

arry learning up into young ladies' brain

er!" decla

why not?" r

a said: "Because you can never fill a position in a fashionable y

. Ever since Polly and I discovered Old Man Montresor's gold mine, you've been as m

spoke, but she knew there was nothing she could do but patientl

e anything that you'd rather do

and little mother has to be cared for, as well. This offer is so tempting that I could not refuse it without considering everything that concerns me. In two ye

ant to go to school in a big city this year." As she urged the horses on their way, th

handkerchief and dabbed her friend's wet eyes. Then p

. I shall have to write the principal for added information, and before I hear again

ver. When the horses were turned over to the man who took Jeb's place in his abs

rong, girls

r, he thinks," said Eleanor, rocking vio

he facts. However the very telling about Kenneth's story enabled Polly to change her thought

and Mrs. Brewster listened to the news with an enigmatical expression

nce. But going to New York to continue your school teaching would lead me

r. If I fail Paul now, he will have to stop his college education half-way. I simply have to keep on supplying him

mple means to take care of both your m

even persuading him to let me loan him his educational expenses from my own salary!" exclaim

just to earn more money for him, he may refuse t

for us both, but Paul must complete his studies in Chicago, so he must believe there was

o do-to find a plausible reason for g

e. As Anne has always been found to be so helpful to me, in everyway, I shall insist upon going to New York this Fall and choosing her as my companion while there. Naturally her mother wants to go, too, and so we will de

r being able to go East," re

so visionary. But once Eleanor had the idea in her mind she mu

ntion for cutting jewels, of everything that concerned any inte

inter and attend school there. Live with Anne and her mother. These are Mother's orders to the doctor-and he ordered them on

dful stories. You know very well that you are too delicate to live i

or I do; and Polly, or her mother, are not interested enough to repeat what I say," giggled Eleanor; then she continued her outlines: "Hence, it mat

have the doctor say that I must go East with Anne. Convincing Dad of this need, will be the only obstacle. But I shall play upon the fact that he can visit me q

believe it will be New York for my sch

ly meant what she said. Anne rather liked the suggestion of having Eleanor go East with her, and Pol

at supper had been waiting so long,

per!" laughed Eleanor, jumping up and ca

ord to any one about this New York plan of mine-if I go, y

suggestion for her going, too, would h

ain on the mountain over another Sunday! But it was late in the afternoon when the clip-clop of horses' hoofs ra

concerned in the meeting. But every one, even Sary, had a heart interest in t

to the barn and Jeb was allowed a rest period. Of course, the

nd Tom were called upon to give expe

ained so long. We've got the plan worked out and we also took photographs of the entire sur

lost it!" cried Polly

m. But the land-slide makes the mining more difficult in the beginning; once things are going, it will make no difference,

deal of slide that does the damage, in a case like this one. And since lo

rove more valuable than Kenneth Evans' father's patent device

ed how this Chicago girl ever had heard of Dr. Evans'

and they told all about Kenneth, his father's pat

rect heir to Montresor, he must

aim, but we had to discover it all over again under

problem in law, I'm thinking,"

gree, but we all intend to agree-Ken s

his 'Ken' so well,

est boy-as nice as Jim Latime

ng my kid brother such a left-handed compliment, I

ou tell us you gave away your interests, or launched us all

leared away. We set fire to certain parts and opened a way to the ravine. There we found the old gulch literally filled in with

girls gazed with bated breath at what they belie

, so let's go to the living-room to