"Why--Tom Latimer!" laughed he, mimicking Polly very cleverly. "You don't know _this_ Tom, do you, girl! But this is the Tom that you'll know hereafter. I'm through acting like a woolly lamb just because Anne says that's the only way to get a girl! You're a Rocky Mountain girl and the only way to make you notice, is to use ranch methods to lasso you. That's why I'm here in New York. Catch me letting a rich society darling like that Baxter spend the winter months making love to you, when I'm wasting my heart away at Pebbly Pit, hoping against hope for a nice long letter from you!" [Illustration: TOM PICKED POLLY UP IN HIS ARMS. Polly's Business Venture. Page 200] Tom's frown and the tone in which he declared himself, made Polly want to laugh albeit she shrunk away, somewhat, for fear of a plot in his mind. Tom had, in his fervor, lost control once, but he was too wise to indulge himself again, in such a manner. Tom had spent a great deal of time in studying, during the past year, the psychology of love, and now he was going to test his knowledge. He told John, just before he left the ranch, that once a girl liked a fellow, it was easy to make her love him, by judicious treatment. In explanation, he said: "When Jeb wants to coax one of the burros to the barn, he doesn't give him the measure of oats to eat out on the range--no, he leads the burro to the barn by holding the box of feed ahead of his nose!" The Brewsters laughed at Tom's idea, but he declared that that was the way he was going to get Polly. And all their arguments about giving Polly a chance to finish her studies and try out her beloved work, fell on dull ears. Tom started East! "Polly, let's all go to a good show, shall we?" was Tom's unexpected invitation, just as his companion began to worry because he sat so close beside her. "Oh! Yes--I think that will be lovely!" said Polly. "All right! Run up and tell the others to get their caps and jackets on. I'll telephone an agent and see what's good." Polly ran out of the room, glad to have the problem of the evening's entertainment solved for her, but still she felt a little disappointed because Tom could so eagerly suggest taking the family out when she wanted to have a tete-a-tete with him to ask about the mines. Tom's plan about holding the temptation before a burro instead of surfeiting him with goodies, was evidently beginning to work. The play was one of the most popular ones, and seats were in great demand. But money does anything in New York, so Tom secured splendid orchestra seats, and they reached the theatre just as the curtain went up on the first scene. The interior was darkened when they entered, and Polly could not tell who sat in front of her, until the first act ended and the lights were turned on.