“Well, that’s polite, I’m sure,” laughed Miles, “Can’t you imagine that Batemans may be our objective point?” “No, because I’m certain you can’t be interested in saw mills, and that’s the only thing that brings people here.” “But I can be interested in you, can’t I, Rex? I’ve missed you terribly. That great house seems so lonely with only three of us in it.” “But you needn’t have stayed there in the summer. There’s the White Mountains or the sea coast—lots of places you could have gone to.” “If we choose to come here instead, it’s all right, isn’t it, Rex?” “Of course it is, old fellow, and now I see that the best way in which I can entertain you is to tell you right off how I came by this black eye,” which Rex proceeded at once to do. “Good for you, my little game cock!” exclaimed Miles, when he had heard the story. “Speaking of Stout, your friend Harrington has tried to scrape acquaintance with me, but he hasn’t got beyond the scraping stage yet. I wonder what Stout was doing out here.” “His father’s in the lumber business, I believe. But I’m afraid you’ll find it pretty hot, Miles.” “Well, I’ve had so many cold days in my time I guess I can stand a little heat.” Rex was not the only one of the Pells who was astonished by the advent of the Darleys. Their coming was a complete surprise to the entire family. And a still greater cause of astonishment was the prolongation of their stay. They rented two of the best rooms in the house, had awnings put up at the windows and wicker furniture sent on from Denver. Mr. Darley took frequent trips to neighboring towns. It was understood by the gossips at Batemans that he was a large Eastern capitalist, looking about for profitable mining investments. July, August and half of September passed, and still the Darleys remained. Miles was supremely content, for he was with Rex, for whom his admiration appeared to increase with each day’s added intimacy. Miles had brought his books, and they studied together some. And in spite of the forlornness of the place, the five young people managed to have a pretty good time. One afternoon Roy and Rex were washing the omnibus out at the stable. The driver, hearing of a big strike that had been made at a mine some sixty miles away, threw up his position at once and started off to try to get rich at a hand stroke. And the boys were forced to throw themselves into the breach until another man could be obtained in his place. This is the sort of thing they had trained themselves to expect since coming to Batemans. “Where’s Miles?” asked Roy, as he brought a fresh pail of water and set it down beside his brother. “He was coming out but his father called him into his room.” “We’ll miss them when they go, won’t we, Reggie? It has been jolly good fun to have Miles with us all summer. You ought to feel quite proud to think you are a strong enough magnet to keep him here.” “I can’t understand it at all, why they should have stayed,” returned Rex.