"So do I. But they are camping too far from us, for that. We are almost
directly opposite their camp site, using Oak Creek as a central point.
But the Government Survey plans will work them along to Yellow Jacket
Pass, and from that point, along the wilderness, until they reach
Buffalo Park and the Top Notch Trail where we were the other day. But
they won't reach that part of the work until late this season,"
explained Polly.
"Tom Latimer brought his younger brother Jim to see us in Chicago, when
Jim was on his way west, but I never thought he would be so near me,
this summer, as to be able to see him. Had I dreamed of such being the
case, I would have paid more attention to him at the time. I said to
myself, at that visit, 'Oh, we'll never meet again, so why waste time
over him?'"
Polly laughed at Eleanor's frank confession, and added: "Well, when Tom
wrote mother that his little brother would be near enough to Pebbly Pit
to permit him to ride over now and then for a visit, we sent word, at
once, for Carew to give him Sundays off to come and have dinner with
us. But he has only been over once. Now that this friend is in camp
with him, maybe he'll come oftener."
"If John would only bring Tom with him, wouldn't it be fine!" planned
Eleanor. "Anne would have her choice, John. Bob would be supremely
happy if she could flirt with Tom for a time, and you and I would have
Jim and Ken Evans."
Polly glanced at Eleanor in surprise, and said: "Why, Nolla! I wouldn't
like that at all. It will be lots more fun if we all go about together
for a good time. But John is coming to see about the mine--not to enjoy
himself."
"You don't think, do you, that having Anne Stewart right in reach, that
he's going to spend all his time working that mine? He's going to
divide time so that more than half of it will be given to Anne. Then
he'll work double-quick on the mine business to catch up on his work,"
was Eleanor's precocious statement.
Polly said nothing to this, as she had much food for thought given her
in Eleanor's words. Rather than pursue a subject that roused her
jealousy because of her brother John, she spurred her horse to gallop
forward to join the others of the party.
"Father, what did you say in your telegram to John?" asked Polly, when
she slowed up beside Sam Brewster.
"Simms and I had to be careful what we said, so no one on the wire
would get wise as to our real meaning, so I wrote out: 'Fine party on
at the ranch. Big doings that Tom and you must be in on. Also bring
your friend who came with you the time we talked about mining Rainbow
Cliffs. Do not delay but start immediately, as the girls have the time
of their lives set down for day after to-morrow. Don't write or wire,
but come on receiving this message.' You see, that was the only way I
could think of to get John off without letting others in on the secret.
Every one in these parts knows the city girls are with us, and they'll
not wonder at our having the boys come home for a visit."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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