"Glory be! You-all war givin' Mis' Brewster fits wid no sign of hide nor hair sence yistermorn!" cried Sary, rushing out of the kitchen door, the moment she heard the horses' hoof-beats.  
Mrs. Brewster heard Sary and also ran out, crying, "Oh, my dear children! We've had such a day! Sam just went to the barn to hook up and start the ranchers on a hunt! A trapper rode in this morning and spoke² of the awful blizzard³ that hit Top Notch⁴ Trail. Of course, we knew you couldn't find that or we'd have been still more worried!"
 
The girls looked at each other and laughed aloud. Mrs. Brewster shrewdly guessed the truth.
 
"Did you find it? And where under the sun did you hide during that awful storm?" cried she, anxiously.
 
Sary paid no attention to a recital⁵ of trails and storms, however, for it was half past four and Jeb would have to take care of the five mounts before he could hope to come in for supper, and spend a quiet evening with her. So, to prevent any delay, she turned to Polly.
 
"You-all 'pear to be tuckered out! Jest flop⁶ inter⁷ the cheers an' rest whiles Ah carry the hosses to th' barn. Ah'll tell Mr. Brewster like-ez-how you-all come home, an' spared him a trip!"
 
Mrs. Brewster objected to the offer for she wanted Sary to finish the preparations for supper and give her time to talk with the girls. Sary, however, paid no attention to her mistress's objections but gathered all the reins⁸ together and led the animals to the barn.
 
Shortly after the girls had gone indoors to drink some hot milk—for Mrs. Brewster said hot milk would take most of the fatigue⁹ out of their bodies—Sam Brewster ran down the path from the barn, and burst into the living-room.
 
"Well, say! Ah shore am glad to see you-all back home! Ah just was preparing to wire some detectives to be on the lookout¹⁰ in the Zoo for any lions or bears lately come in who looked unusually well-fed!"
 
Every one was so delighted at the reunion that Mr. Brewster's foolishness made them laugh merrily. He hugged Polly until she cried for breath, then he shook hands over and over again with Anne and the girls, Mrs. Brewster, remonstrating¹¹ meantime, that she wanted to hear of their adventures!
 
The girls were so eager to tell about the cavern¹³ of gold that they refused to wash and dress, or remove any stains of the climb, until after the whole story was told.
 
Mr. and Mrs. Brewster thought it was the tale of the trip and the trials throughout the blizzard, and they cared little for what had passed as long as all were safe and happy again. But Polly blurted¹⁴ out the truth to make them listen.
 
"I found Montresor's gold mine, Paw!"
 
It hit the mark! In the shock the news made upon the Brewsters, no one noticed Polly's slip on the old pet title. After a long tense period of silence, however, Sam Brewster said: "Daughter, it can't be true!"
 
"'Tis, though, Mr. Brewster! Polly and I crawled through the tunnel until we came out into that marvelous cavern of gold," and Eleanor sighed audibly as she thought of that sight.
 
"What cavern! You-all must be clean locoed with the blizzard and the long ride!" cried Mr. Brewster, testily¹⁵.
 
The girls laughed appreciatively, for they understood just how those who remained at home would feel at such news!
 
So Polly sat upon her father's knee and told him the story of the mine, from the time Choko fell over the cliff until they left the panther at the foot of the tree.
 
"And here's the plan and claim, and there's the gold!"
 
Polly drew the nuggets from her dress and took the papers from her sombrero, and placed them in her father's hands.
 
Mrs. Brewster dropped upon her knees to the floor to look at the map and the ore, while her husband was examining the large nugget. The four girls had no idea how anxious they were about this ore until they saw Mr. Brewster carefully looking it over with the eye of an expert miner.
 
His first words were a decided¹⁷ shock.
 
"Ah wouldn't set much store about this mine, girls! You-all don't see what Ah see in this discovery. It's gold—yes, it looks to me like red-gold of good quality, and if it is as you say—a cavern exposed so any one can value it off-hand, so much the better! But, the end of Top Notch Trail, where you doubtless spent the night, is a far haul from Oak Creek¹⁸, and the chasm¹⁹ in front, and the mountain on top, are drawbacks to mining. However, we will ride into Oak Creek in the morning and file this claim of yours and see if it comes anywhere near to being the one old Montresor left, Polly. It would give me the keenest joy to be able to say something to a few of the mean old rascals²⁰ about Oak Creek, who called me a fool for paying the funeral costs and filing the claim of that kind old man, Montresor!"
 
"But, Dad—father! If this mine happens to cross the claim staked by
Mr. Montresor, will it interfere²¹ with our filing a new claim?" asked
Polly, anxiously.
"It depends on how much ground you covered with your corners!" replied her father.
 
"You can depend upon it, I covered all I could think might come within a mile of gold!" laughed Polly.
 
"Well, girls, listen to some good advice on this! Not a word to be said about this cave—not even among yourselves until the claim is filed and investigated! You see, the walls have ears when any one speaks of gold! Then, having attended to the legal aspects of the mine, we will all ride over to remain a few days, as visitors to Old Mr. Grizzly²²! When we get back we ought to have some information worth while!"
 
"And what about sending for John's friend to come and go with us? If he knew enough to tell you about the lava²³, he will surely be able to judge about the gold!" ventured Polly, eagerly.
 
"I think that is a splendid idea, Sam! When we go in to Oak Creek to-morrow, let us send John a day-letter explaining about this cavern," added Mrs. Brewster.
 
"Hain't you-all comin' to supper? Har hev Ah ben and wukked all day hopin' fer a night off to-night!" said Sary, suddenly appearing at the doorway²⁴ between the living-room and the kitchen.
 
Every one started for she had not made a sound before speaking, so no one knew how much she had over-heard. Mrs. Brewster quickly replied, however.
 
"Why, Sary! I didn't know you wished to go out! I could have attended to supper myself, had you asked me!"
 
"Ah hain't planned to go out—Ah said a 'night off,' Mis' Brewster," said Sary, hardly deigning²⁵ to wait for an answer, but looking at the girls with an impatient frown.
 
"Mother, we really must wash before supper!" said Polly.
 
Sary tossed her head. Mrs. Brewster knew what that meant, so she urged the girls to forego any lengthy²⁶ toilets and merely wash away the worst signs of travel.
 
Sary was pacified²⁷ when Eleanor came out of the room and handed her a large paper bundle.
 
"Sary, I have a little present for you because we made so much trouble to-night."
 
"Oh, Miss Nolla, Ah'm much obleeged t' you-all. Ah don' mind trouble, onny yoh see Ah expec' comp'ny to-night."
 
It took Sary but an instant to open the package and when she beheld²⁸ a ruffled²⁹ organdy dress discarded by Barbara the previous season and accidentally packed in the trunk with other clothes, she rolled her eyes heavenward.
 
"Miss Nolla! Is this fine gown'd fer me?"
 
Eleanor stifled³⁰ a laugh but Sary made as if she would clasp the girl in her powerful arms, so discretion³¹ was needed. Eleanor backed behind the kitchen chair.
 
"Miss Nolla, Ah wonder ef a widder of seven months' standin' mought wear little yaller rose-buds on a dress, like-ez-how this is?"
 
"Certainly, Sary," came from Mrs. Brewster, who now joined the two. "It's not the color or quantity of clothes as much as the sincerity³² of one's mourning."
 
Quite unintentionally, Mrs. Brewster touched upon a tender spot. In fact, so tender was it, that Sary blamed Bill for having died so recently instead of two years back. She might have now been ending her second year of mourning!
 
Eleanor being trained to the wiles³³ of polite society, saw and understood Sary's flash of resentment³⁴, so she turned to Mrs. Brewster with the remark:
 
"I've heard said, that the highest regard a widow can pay her departed, is, to take a second husband. It speaks well for her happiness with the first one, you see."
 
Mrs. Brewster stared at Eleanor but Sary smirked³⁵ and quickly replied:
 
"You-all is right, Miss Nolla! A widder what hez ben so happy that she gits lonesome whiles thinkin' of her departed, hez a right t' find a second husban'."
 
Mrs. Brewster choked a laugh as she saw the sublime³⁶ look in the help's eyes, and hurried out. Eleanor then suggested:
 
"Now you run away and beautify yourself, Sary, and I will wash the dishes to-night."
 
Sary needed no second invitation and in another moment she had disappeared to her "boudoir" back of the buttery.
 
Eleanor was as good as her word, for she was soon busy with dish-water and mop, rattling³⁷ the china, and banging pans about as if noise and bustle³⁸ were sure signs of hard work and energy. Polly laughed as she cleared away the remains³⁹ of the meal and then caught up a towel to dry the dishes. As they worked the two girls talked.
 
"Poll, now that you have this gold mine, what will you do with all the wealth that is yours?" asked Eleanor.
 
Polly held a decorated plate in front of her face to hide her smile, and pretended to be looking for grease on its surface. When she had straightened her face again, she said: "Oh, I'm going away to school, first of all. I'm not so sure that I want to stay in Denver, now that you have told me all about Chicago. I'll write for catalogues of schools there; and then I can see John quite often during the school year."
 
"Just what I would have suggested, Poll! Then you can live at home with me. Dad and you and I will have the best times!"
 
To accentuate⁴⁰ her approval of Polly's premature⁴¹ plans, Eleanor swished the dish-mop wildly up and down in the soapy water, but the suds flew up lightly, as soapsuds will, and a bubble burst in Polly's eye.
 
"Oo-h! Stop throwing dish water in my face, Nolla!" cried Polly, with eyes screwed shut and one free hand trying to rub the smarting lye from her eye.
 
"I never did, Polly! It must have splashed accidentally when I was washing the pan."
 
"You have done nothing since you began the dishes, but rattle⁴² and swash that mop about in the pan as if you were mining the ore from the cave," complained Polly, as she managed to open her eyes again.
 
"I suppose it is because we are so excited over the find, and all it means for you, Polly," explained Eleanor, contritely⁴³.
 
"It doesn't mean much more, now, than before. The thing I am most happy over, is that Old Man Montresor will be vindicated⁴⁴, and people will stop jeering⁴⁵ at me, and at what they called his locoed ideas."
 
The conversation was interrupted at this moment by the appearance of Sary. She first poked⁴⁶ her head from the partly opened door of her room and then said: "Is any one about to see me?"
 
Polly turned to make sure that they were alone in the kitchen, and
Eleanor replied: "No, what is it, Sary?"
Then the maid stepped forth⁴⁷ and such a vision! She had curled her red hair on a pair of old-fashioned tongs⁴⁸. The curling irons were but a quarter of an inch in diameter and they were heated by thrusting them into the living embers of the kitchen fire. When Sary drew the comb through her scanty⁴⁹ tresses they took on the appearance of carrot-colored cotton threads which had just been ripped out of an old garment—so crinkly and frizzed were the strands⁵⁰ of hair. The flowered organdy dress that Eleanor had given Sary to wear for the great occasion of receiving a caller, was much too small for the buxom⁵¹ widow, and she was in great distress⁵² about it. This brought her out to ask advice of the girls.
 
"Why bother to wear the dress, Sary, until you have had time to alter it for yourself?" asked Polly.
 
"Why, Polly! Ah has to keep up my looks now that comp'ny is lookin' my way again. Ef you-all hadn't such fine city gals⁵³ at home, what wears th' latest fashions so that Jeb can't help but see what's what, Ah woulden' have to worry so much about looks. But a woman has to keep up when other women set the pace, 'specially⁵⁴ ef she is a widow, like-as-how Ah am now."
 
Eleanor laughed appreciatively and said: "Sary is just like Bob, when it comes to that! It is the eternal feminine, Poll, that drives both Bob and Sary to the verge⁵⁵ of tears, because they cannot catch their beaux with their good looks."
 
Sary smirked self-consciously at Eleanor's words, for she thought she was being coupled with Barbara and her attractions. Sary felt quite sure that she was good-looking and winsome⁵⁶, but she had to hear Eleanor's words to make her believe she was fascinating.
 
"If I was Sary, I'd wear a nice clean blouse and a linen⁵⁷ skirt. It would be far more comfortable than that awfully⁵⁸ tight gown," remarked Polly.
 
But the help scorned such simplicity⁵⁹ and turned to Eleanor for further advice about her appearance. The latter, wise in her years, turned her head on one side and appeared to be debating.
 
"Seems to me, Sary, that putting on that organdy just as it is, without fixing it over a bit, may make Jeb suspicious of its not being made for you. He may even go so far as to wonder if Bob handed it down to you. Now you do not want him to dream that you did not have it made to order for yourself, so why not take it off until you can remodel⁶⁰ it to fit yourself, like new?"
 
Sary pondered this suggestion for a few moments, and then said: "Ah ain't got no fancy dress to wear, onny this, Miss Nolla. Ef Ah puts on my black alpaky, he'll remember 'bout¹² Bill, and sech memories allus dampen a man's plans to pop th' question."
 
Both girls had to laugh outright⁶¹ at the unexpected confession⁶²; but Sary was in a serious frame of mind and paid no attention to their merriment. She resumed her interrupted explanation.
 
"It's jest this way, in Oak Crick country, you-all see! Single men ain't growin' on every bush, and a widder has a hard time of it, anyway, when most ranchers' dawters are waitin' to snap up a likely catch. Jeb's a catch, Ah says. He ain't a gallavantin' dude, ner he ain't spendin' all his wages on gamblin' at Red Mike's saloon. Ah've learned like-as-how being right on th' spot when a man's willin' to be cotched, is more'n half the fight to hook him. Ah kin¹⁶ afford to snap mah fingers at all them ranch¹ gals about Oak Crick, tryin' their bestes to make Jeb wink⁶³ his eye at 'em, jus' because Ah am whar Ah am keepin' tabs on him, all his time."
 
When the laughter caused by these words had subsided⁶⁴, somewhat, the two girls replied: Polly to advise and Eleanor to make a giggling⁶⁵ explanation.
 
Eleanor said: "You make a wonderfully accurate time-clock on Jeb's comings and goings, Sary."
 
And Polly advised: "You run back to your room, Sary, and put on a sensible dress to keep Jeb from wondering how much of his earnings⁶⁶ it would take to dress you in fine clothes like that organdy gown cost."
 
"Thar's somethin' in that, too, Polly! Ah reckon you're right, so Ah'll throw on that striped shirt-waist your Maw gave me, and the duck skirt with the tucks in it."
 
Sary vanished as quickly as she had appeared, and the two girls stood laughing as they saw the bed-room door close. Then they dried the dish-pan, hung up the towels and mop, and turned to go back to the living-room where Sam Brewster and his wife were planning for the ride to Oak Creek on the next day, and the trip up to the cave, on the day following that.
 
But the girls had not reached the living-room door before a "hist" halted them. They turned in the direction of the sound and saw Jeb's small head at the kitchen door. When he saw that he had gained their attention, he beckoned⁶⁷ furtively⁶⁸ with a horny index finger.
 
Both girls tip-toed over to hear what news he had to impart, for his behavior denoted some dread<............