diff options
Diffstat (limited to '34928-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 34928-h/34928-h.htm | 8257 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 34928-h/images/coverpage.jpg | bin | 0 -> 56877 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 34928-h/images/illus01.jpg | bin | 0 -> 42866 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 34928-h/images/illus02.jpg | bin | 0 -> 39861 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 34928-h/images/illus03.jpg | bin | 0 -> 38314 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 34928-h/images/illus04.jpg | bin | 0 -> 35993 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 34928-h/images/spine.jpg | bin | 0 -> 16169 bytes |
7 files changed, 8257 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/34928-h/34928-h.htm b/34928-h/34928-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f276a22 --- /dev/null +++ b/34928-h/34928-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8257 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Ranch Girls at Home Again, by Margaret Vandercook. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + .copyright {text-align: center; font-size: 70%;} + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + .small {font-size: 70%;} + .big {font-size: 110%;} + .author {font-size: 120%; text-align: center;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .chaptertitle {text-align: center; font-size: 110%; font-weight: bold;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold; font-size: 90%; font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .right {text-align: right;} + .poem {margin-left: 30%; text-align: left;} + .poem2 {margin-left: 15%; text-align: left;} + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + .cap:first-letter {float: left; clear: left; margin: -0.2em 0.1em 0; margin-top: 0%; + padding: 0; line-height: .75em; font-size: 300%; text-align: justify;} + .cap {text-align: justify;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Ranch Girls at Home Again, by Margaret Vandercook + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Ranch Girls at Home Again + +Author: Margaret Vandercook + +Release Date: January 12, 2011 [EBook #34928] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RANCH GIRLS AT HOME AGAIN *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 334px;"> +<img src="images/coverpage.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Cover" title="" /> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3>THE RANCH GIRLS SERIES</h3> + +<h1>The Ranch Girls at Home Again</h1> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class='bbox'> +<h2>BOOKS BY MARGARET VANDERCOOK</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Vandercook books"> +<tr><td align='center'>THE RANCH GIRLS SERIES</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Ranch Girls at Rainbow Lodge</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Ranch Girls' Pot of Gold</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Ranch Girls at Boarding School</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Ranch Girls in Europe</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Ranch Girls at Home Again</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Ranch Girls and their Great Adventure</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Ranch Girls and their Heart's Desire</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Ranch Girls and the Silver Arrow</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Ranch Girls and the Mystery of the Three Roads</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />STORIES ABOUT CAMP FIRE GIRLS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Camp Fire Girls at Sunrise Hill</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Camp Fire Girls Amid the Snows</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Camp Fire Girls in the Outside World</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Camp Fire Girls Across the Sea</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Camp Fire Girls' Careers</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Camp Fire Girls in After Years</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Camp Fire Girls on the Edge of the Desert</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Camp Fire Girls at the End of the Trail</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Camp Fire Girls Behind the Lines</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Camp Fire Girls on the Field of Honor</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Camp Fire Girls in Glorious France</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Camp Fire Girls in Merrie England</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Camp Fire Girls at Half Moon Lake</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Camp Fire Girls by the Blue Lagoon</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />THE GIRL SCOUTS SERIES</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Girl Scouts of the Eagle's Wing</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Girl Scouts in Beechwood Forest</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Girl Scouts of the Round Table</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Girl Scouts in Mystery Valley</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Girl Scouts and the Open Road</td></tr> +</table></div> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 312px;"><a name="frontis" id="frontis"></a> +<img src="images/illus01.jpg" width="312" height="500" alt=""What Are You Talking About, Ralph Merritt?" She Demanded" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"What Are You Talking About, Ralph Merritt?" She Demanded</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> +<div class='bbox'> +<h3>THE RANCH GIRLS SERIES</h3></div> +<div class='bbox'> + +<h1>The Ranch Girls<br /> +at Home Again</h1> + +<div class='center'>—BY—<br /> + +<span class='author'>MARGARET VANDERCOOK</span><br /> +<br /><br /><br /> + +ILLUSTRATED BY<br /> + +RALPH P. COLEMAN<br /><br /><br /> +</div></div> +<div class='bbox'><div class='center'> +THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY<br /> +<span class='small'>PHILADELPHIA</span><br /></div> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class='copyright'> +Copyright, 1915, by<br /> +<span class="smcap">The John C. Winston Co.</span><br /> +<br /> +PRINTED IN U. S. A.<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Book spine and contents"> +<tr><td align='left'><img src="images/spine.jpg" width="104" height="500" alt="Book Spine" title="" /> +</td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><span class='small'>CHAPTER</span></td><td align='right'><span class='small'>PAGE</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>I. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Race</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>II. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">An Unanswered Question</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_21">21</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>III. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Engineer of the Rainbow Mine</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_30">30</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>IV. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Olive Comes Home</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_40">40</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>V. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Their Ride Together</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_51">51</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>VI. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">That Same Afternoon</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_66">66</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>VII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">"Courage Makes the Man"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_79">79</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>VIII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Midnight Conference</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_91">91</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>IX. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Dilemma and a Visitor</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_100">100</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>X. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Cross Purposes</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_110">110</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XI. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Dinner Party</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_121">121</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Two Conversations</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_134">134</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XIII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Visit to Rainbow Mine</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_146">146</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XIV. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Explosion</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_155">155</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XV. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">An Unfortunate Discussion</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_165">165</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XVI. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Desert Storm</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XVII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Olive's Remorse</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_200">200</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XVIII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Jack Surrenders at Last</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_210">210</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XIX. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Rainbow Castle</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_221">221</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XX. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Party at the New House</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_230">230</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XXI. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Maids and Men</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_240">240</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>XXII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Old Friends and Something More</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_254">254</a></td></tr> +</table></div> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations"> +<tr><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">What Are You Talking About, Ralph Merritt?" She Demanded</span></td><td align='right'><i><a href="#frontis">Frontispiece</a></i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='right'><span class='small'>PAGE</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">She Had Heard That Masterful Tone Before</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">The Stars Had Disappeared and Beyond the Universal Grayness There Was Now a Faint Rose Light</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_211">211</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">You Would Have Married Me Anyhow</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_241">241</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> +<h2>The Ranch Girls at Home Again</h2> + + + +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE RACE<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>AN hour before sunset a number of +persons were standing in a small +group facing the western horizon. But +although the prairie was covered with a crop +of young grass, a pale green mirror to reflect +the colors of the sun, they were not looking +at the landscape but toward two figures on +horseback, a girl and a boy who were riding +across country as rapidly as their horses +could carry them.</div> + +<p>"Will Jack Ralston ever learn to be less +reckless about her riding, Jim?" Ruth Colter +inquired. "Since we returned from Europe +it seems to me that she has grown more +attached to the Rainbow ranch than ever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +before. Yet at about the time we were married, +dear, do you know I had a fancy that +Jack and Frank Kent were going to care for +each other seriously. Of course, I was mistaken +since he has never been to see her in +almost a year."</p> + +<p>Then with both hands held out invitingly, +Ruth received a small pink and white bundle +which Jim deposited in them with infinite +care. For the bundle consisted of an absurdly +tiny person measuring its early existence +by weeks instead of months or years. +And its face, though as delicately shell pink +as the blanket enveloping it, yet bore a +ridiculous resemblance to the tall man's in +whose arms it had lately been borne.</p> + +<p>A moment later and Jim Colter strode +forward with a blond girl at his side. For +by this time the two riders were almost within +hailing distance, the girl's horse scarcely a +neck in advance of her companion's.</p> + +<p>"Carlos don't like Jack," Frieda Ralston +remarked unexpectedly to her guardian, "so +I do wish that she would not keep on doing +things to irritate him. He perfectly hates +to think that a girl can beat him at any outdoor +sport and yet he rarely gets ahead of +Jack. Indians are so strange and silent that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +sometimes I feel afraid he may try and revenge +himself upon her for some fancied wrong. +See, he is furious now at her having won their +race!"</p> + +<p>"Well, I expect Miss Ralston will be able +to manage him;" Jim returned. "Nevertheless, +the boy has not turned out as I had +hoped; he is lazy and proud and extremely +ungrateful. Sometimes I have half an idea +of turning him off the ranch, and I came +very near doing it the other day, only Jack +pleaded for him. Because he is Olive's friend +she seems sentimental about keeping him +on here, at least, until Olive joins us. Bravo, +Jack! Be careful, you hoyden, don't you +know you are a grown woman!" he cried.</p> + +<p>And with his tone divided between admiration +and anger, Jim caught at the flying +figure of a girl as she landed lightly on the +ground at his feet. She had jumped from +her pony while it was still going at full speed +and then run along beside it until she was +able to stop without losing her balance.</p> + +<p>"I wish you would not behave like a +circus rider, Jack," Frieda scolded. For at +eighteen Frieda Ralston had become a far +more dignified and reposeful character than +her older sister, who was now past twenty.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + +<p>Nevertheless Jack only made a slight +grimace, calling back over her shoulder carelessly, +"Carlos, see to my horse, will you, +when it gets to the stable?" And then in +a kinder tone, "Oh, never mind, I had forgotten; +some one else can look after him. +Of course you will be interested to hear the +news from Olive—Miss Van Mater," she +corrected herself. "I am going to tell the +family at once." Then she walked on between +Jim and Frieda, with an arm laid +lightly across her sister's shoulder. And +without replying Carlos followed the little +party.</p> + +<p>He was a beautiful slender Indian boy +of about fifteen or sixteen, with skin the +color of bronze, with straight dark hair and +moody, unsatisfied black eyes—the same +Indian boy who had formerly helped Olive +to return to the ranch after her enforced capture +by old Laska, and had afterwards sought +refuge there himself. As a small lad, in +spite of his pride and difficult disposition, +the Ranch girls and Ruth had been fond of +him, but since their return from Europe they +had found Carlos a problem. He was unwilling +to work like the other men, either on the +ranch or at the mine, and was equally determined<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +not to go to school except when forced +into it. Indeed, so far as possible, the boy +had insisted upon living in the midst of civilization +like one of his chieftain ancestors. +Oftentimes he chose to sit idly in the sun +doing nothing, save perhaps to clean his +gun or else gaze for hours at the sky overhead. +Then again he might without warning +disappear on a hunting expedition, taking +any horse from the stables that he wished +for his purpose, and usually returning with +game or furs, which he sometimes bestowed +on Jean or Frieda or Ruth, but never on +Jack.</p> + +<p>At the present moment his manner was +absurdly dignified and haughty, since he +particularly objected to being treated at any +time as though he were a servant, and considered +Jack's request in that light. However, +as no one was paying the slightest +attention to him, it was self-evident that he +was longing to hear Jacqueline Ralston's +news.</p> + +<p>"Have you heaps of letters, Jack? Do +please hurry and give them to us." Jean +Bruce called out, walking away from the +two young men with whom she had been +recently talking. One of them was Ralph<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +Merritt, the engineer in charge of the Rainbow +mine, and the other a visitor from one +of the neighboring ranches. For as Jack +had always insisted, wherever Jean was to +be found there also was a masculine admirer, +even in a wilderness.</p> + +<p>Over her shoulder Jack carried a small +leather mail bag, which she now opened; but +before drawing forth her letters she leaned +over and glanced anxiously into the face +of the small baby snuggled in Ruth's arms.</p> + +<p>"Nothing has happened to Jimmikins since +I have been away? He has not cut a tooth +or anything, has he, Ruth?" she queried. +And as the others laughed, the baby being +at the present hour only about seven weeks +old, Jack drew forth more than a dozen +letters and began passing them around to the +different members of her family.</p> + +<p>"Here, Jean, of course there are more for +you than for any of the rest of us, and in so +many handwritings that it looks as if you +kept a correspondence school for young men. +And, Frieda, I am sorry I had to discover +this was from Tom. But the youth does +send you so many boxes of candy, I can't +help recognizing the address. Ruth, won't +you ask everybody please to wait here a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +moment for I have something really important +to tell you." Then Jack's radiant face +grew graver.</p> + +<p>"I have at last had a long letter from +Olive," she explained. "And a week after +her grandmother's death the will was read." +The girl glanced about her. Ralph Merrit +and their visitor had walked off several +yards, so that only the few persons interested +were standing near.</p> + +<p>"Of course old Madame Van Mater has +made the curious will that we might have +expected. For it seems that she has given +Olive one more year to make up her mind +whether or not she will marry Donald Harmon. +If she does, of course they will then +inherit the greater portion of the estate with +only a few legacies to be paid outside. But +if she does not decide to marry him—and +here is the strange thing—at the end of the +year another will is to be read, which will +divide the property differently. And no one +knows just how, for this second will is sealed +and in the possession of her executors. So +Olive may finally be left penniless or she may +receive everything, or else Donald may suffer +the same fate. It is a queer and interesting +state of things, isn't it?" Jack concluded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, and pretty well calculated to make +everybody that had anything to do with +the old lady uncomfortable for another twelve +months longer anyhow," Jim Colter replied +frowning. "Funny how the old woman arranged +to make her relatives and friends as +miserable after her death as she had before +it. It is pretty hard on both Olive and +Donald. In the end I have an idea that +the money will go to some charity."</p> + +<p>In reply Jean slowly shook her head, turning +over the envelopes in her hand with pretended +interest, but with her thoughts plainly +not centered upon them.</p> + +<p>"Olive is very foolish," she remarked at +length. "Really I can't see why she does +not make up her mind to do as her grandmother +wished. Don is a charming fellow +and it is ridiculous not to appreciate the +value of so much money. Why the longer +I live the more important it seems to me!"</p> + +<p>Too displeased with Jean's unexpected +burst of worldliness to discuss the question +with her, Jim marched a few steps away. +Ruth was distressed, but being a woman +she was not so unmindful of what lay behind +the girl's apparently careless speech, while +Frieda became immediately influenced by her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +cousin's point of view, just as she always +had been since they were small girls. So it +was Jack who was the one person in the +group to take Jean's statement lightly, for +she merely laughed, saying:</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course we know that Jean is the +really worldly person in our family, so we +must watch and see how she lives up to her +sentiments! Still you have not yet heard +my most important piece of news. Olive +has also written that she is completely worn +out with all the business and worry of these +last weeks and so she is coming to us at +once. She asks if she may bring Miss Winthrop +along with her for a visit?" Jack +paused for a moment, looking inquiringly +about at the faces of the others. "Of course +she may," she ended. "It will be a pleasure +to have Miss Winthrop, and besides I don't +see how we possibly could refuse."</p> + +<p>Frieda held up two white hands protestingly. +She was not an industrious person +and so devoted a great deal of her valuable +time to her toilet instead of to more serious +labors. "Oh, dear," she began, "it will be +just like going back to Primrose Hall again +to have Miss Winthrop staying in our house. +Goodness, how she will disapprove of me for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +having no ambition to improve myself as +Olive does. I shall have to lead a changed +life!"</p> + +<p>"Thank Providence, then. Do ask Miss +Winthrop to come on the next train," Jim +chuckled, returning at this instant, while +Ruth shook her head thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Naturally it will be an opportunity for all +of us to have a woman like Miss Winthrop +for our guest," she declared, in a slightly +worried tone. "But has it ever occurred +to any one of you where we are to put her? +The poor old Lodge is so crowded now with +babies and girls and Jim Colter that we +have not a single spare room. Oh, of course +Olive can be tucked in anywhere, but——"</p> + +<p>"Jim, do take your son and let us walk +over and look at our new house," Jack at +once suggested. "Surely there will be enough +bedrooms finished by the time Olive and +Miss Winthrop arrive, for some of the family, +so that we may give ours to our guests. +Funny how we cling to the dear old Rainbow +Lodge in spite of our new grandeur."</p> + +<p>Then Jack moved on ahead, leading the +way through the grove of cottonwood trees +almost up to the old house. She turned to +the left and about an eighth of a mile farther<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +along came to a slight elevation, recently +planted with shrubs and evergreens. There, +facing the little party, was a splendid pile +of stone and wood that was evidently growing +into an old-time colonial house.</p> + +<p>For of course now that the girls were older +and wealthier, and Jim and Ruth married, +Rainbow Lodge was no longer suited to their +needs. And as the Rainbow Mine still continued +to yield a handsome income, the new +house had occupied a great deal of the +family's time and attention since their return +from Europe. For it had been both Jim's +and Jack's desire to build a wonderful colonial +mansion here in their own beautiful Western +country, where in times past men and women +had been content with rude cabins. Since +a colonial house meant to Jim Colter the +beauty and dignity of the old Virginia homes +that he remembered in his boyhood and +since Jacqueline had long cherished a photograph +of the place owned by her Southern +grandfather who had been killed in the Confederate +army, the new house was to be as +nearly as possible a replica of the latter.</p> + +<p>In the interest of discussing what the +workmen had accomplished since their last +visit to the new building, no one noticed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +that the Indian boy, Carlos, who had followed +the others up to this time, listening +intently to every word of their conversation, +had stalked silently away as soon as Olive's +name ceased to be mentioned. His face +wore a more pleasing expression, and unlike +his usual habit he afterwards joined old +Aunt Ellen in the kitchen, who was still +the ranch girls' cook and devoted friend. +To her he at once imparted the information +concerning the expected visitors; then he +retired to his own tent in the yard. For +Carlos had absolutely refused to live in the +ranch house with the other employees about +the estate and had erected for himself an +Indian tepee at some distance.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>AN UNANSWERED QUESTION<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>ON a pile of boards in a great unfinished +room Frieda Ralston stood facing—the +unknown future.</div> + +<p>In the family it was sometimes said that +though on occasions the younger Miss Ralston +could assume the airs of a social queen, at +very many other times she was more of a +baby than ever. For of course Frieda had +not yet been touched by any of life's hard +realities, and since her sister's recovery from +her accident her way had been fairly plain +sailing. For did she not have health, youth, +plenty of money and an adoring family? +What else was there to wish for? Thus far +she had never taken any of her mild love +affairs with the least seriousness and had no +idea of "settling down," as she expressed it, +for at least ten years to come. So what was +there for Frieda to do but each day to grow +fairer and more charming, like a lovely wax +doll that had come to life and taken upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +itself the airs and graces of a really grown-up +person. Because Jack objected, Frieda some +time ago had given up her former fashion of +wearing her heavy yellow hair in a Psyche +knot, and in these months at the ranch when +no strangers were about had returned to her +old childish custom of two long braids. On +dress occasions, however, her coiffure, copied +after a Paris model, could again be made +bewilderingly lovely.</p> + +<p>On this particular occasion Frieda had +unfortunately neglected to attire herself for +the rôle which she was about to play, as she +happened to be wearing an old blue and white +middy blouse and a short duck skirt with one +long plait hanging over each shoulder.</p> + +<p>"I wonder," she began at this moment, +though no one chanced to be looking toward +her, "which one of us will finally fall heir to +this grand new house we are building? I +have just been thinking, houses are not like +clothes, meant for one person and to last +through one or two seasons: they may last +through many generations and no telling what +changes in a family."</p> + +<p>"Hear! Hear!" cried Jean, straightway +whirling around to regard her cousin with +astonishment and then striking an attitude<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +of mock admiration. "Listen, everybody, +please, Frieda is making a speech! She +wants to know which of us shall become the +royal family of Rainbow Castle. It is an +interesting question, dear; I never should +have thought it of you!"</p> + +<p>Frieda hesitated, but the next instant went +on quite seriously. "Of course it won't be +you though, Jean, because of all of us, Ruth, +Olive, Jim, and Jack and me, why I think +you love the Rainbow ranch the least. You +will never want to stay on in the West once +you are married; that visit you made the +Princess Colonna in Rome has completely +spoiled you."</p> + +<p>And now it was Jean's turn to endure the +family laughter, and though she made no +reply, she showed more annoyance than the +accusation merited.</p> + +<p>Still surprisingly thoughtful, Frieda continued: +"I suppose that either Jim or Jack +and their children ought to inherit the new +house, for of course I am the youngest and +have done nothing toward making the ranch +a success as Jim and Jack have. Ruth, you +and Jim would want Jack to have the place +after she marries and has children, wouldn't +you? And yet not long ago, do you know, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +believed that in spite of loving the ranch best, +Jack would be the first one of us to leave it +for good. I don't think so now," she added +hastily, catching an expression on her sister's +face that she could not altogether understand.</p> + +<p>But by this time Jack had marched across +the room and was gently but firmly pulling +Frieda down from her exalted position.</p> + +<p>"I suppose hearing the news of old +Madame Van Mater's will has gone to your +head, Frieda darling," Jack protested. "But +really no one of us wants to hear you arranging +our futures and talking about our descendants, +as if fifty years might suddenly pass +away before tea time. Of course 'Rainbow +Castle,' as Jean calls our new home, shall +belong to the one of us who wishes it and +needs it the most. But which of us that may +be—well, in the words of Mr. William Shakespeare, +'that is the question.'"</p> + +<p>Jack now turned to her cousin, Jean, who +was standing before one of the unfinished +windows looking out at the beautiful view. +For the prospect from the new house was +far lovelier than any outlook from Rainbow +Lodge, since it stood on a higher incline and +showed a wider sweep of the prairies.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Jean," Jack asked, "I wonder if you +happen to know where Ralph Merrit is? +There is something Jim and I want particularly +to talk over with him. I happened to +notice he was with you last. Did he say +whether he was going to have dinner with us +tonight or with the men at the Ranch +House?"</p> + +<p>The other girl shrugged her shoulders +impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Really, Jack, I don't see why I should be +expected to know Ralph Merrit's plans +because I was talking to him for ten minutes. +But what is all this mystery about anyway? +What is going on down at the mine? Ralph +looks either as if he were working himself +to death or as if he had the weight of the +world on his shoulders. To tell you the +truth, I believe he did ask me to tell you +that he was going away for several days +perhaps. He preferred to talk over matters +with you on his return. But do come on +home, Ruth," Jean finished crossly, "it is +much too cold for the baby to be outdoors +now the sun is down. And Jim and Jack +always prefer to have their business secrets +alone. I suppose we have no right to be +interested. But of course there can't be any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +serious trouble at the Rainbow Mine while +Ralph is managing things." Then Ruth, +Jean, the baby and Frieda walked on ahead, +leaving Jim and Jack to follow slowly behind. +For in spite of the accusation in Jean's +speech, her cousin had made no denial.</p> + +<p>With her hand inside his, after the fashion +she had as a little girl when anything about +the big ranch troubled her, Jack gazed earnestly +up into her old friend and guardian's +strong and gentle <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'contenance'">countenance</ins>.</p> + +<p>"I am right not to speak of this trouble +Ralph Merrit is having with the men at +Rainbow Mine, don't you think so, Jim?" +she queried. "You see I don't understand +the situation anyhow, and it all may come to +nothing in the end. So any discussion does +not seem to me fair to Ralph. Surely the +men are only grumbling! Why next to you +I feel that we owe our fortune to the splendid +way Ralph Merrit has managed the mine. +And you know you have always liked him +better than any other young man we have +ever known, better even than Frank Kent."</p> + +<p>Jim cleared his throat. "Have I said +that I had changed my mind about Merrit?" +he demanded. "You are right, Jack; you +just lie low and say nothing even to the men<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +who may come to you with their complaints. +In my opinion the trouble is this: The fellows +at work on Rainbow Mine are most of them +middle-aged men, kind of down-and-out +miners and a hard lot, who have either given +up the hope of discovering gold for themselves +or postponed searching for it for a while so +as to first make a good living out of us. +Well, you see, compared to them Ralph Merrit +is a kid. And of course his being a real +mining engineer graduated out of a college +and placed as the boss over them makes the +older men kind of sore. Then, besides paying +our miners their regular wages we have +been giving them a percentage also of the +amount of gold that is taken out of the mine +each month. There is still enough pay dirt +for us to live pretty comfortable, but the men +say we ought to be getting a whole lot more. +Merrit isn't certain yet, he wants to make +some more investigations. The gold that is +a whole lot deeper down under the earth +may prove either too dangerous or too expensive +to get out. So at bottom I believe that +is what the real grievance is, they want Ralph +to hurry up. It is nothing to them to have us +sink, say a hundred thousand dollars, in new +mining machinery and maybe get nothing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +back. So they have been spreading ugly +stories, say Merrit does not know his job and +that he is too busy speculating and trying +to earn a fortune that way for himself to care +what becomes of the mine."</p> + +<p>After this speech Jack kept silent for several +moments and they were almost at the +Lodge before she replied:</p> + +<p>"Look here, Jim, don't be angry with me +if I say something. Of course I know Ralph +is doing the best he can for us at the mine. +But about that other story—really you ought +to try and find out if it is true. John Raines, +one of the miners, said he wanted to tell me +something; do let him tell you instead. Because, +Jim dear, if once you believe in a person +you know you believe in him forever, +and yet maybe Ralph may have gotten into +mischief. You see I should not wish to be +prying into his private affairs, but it is as +plain as the nose on your face to everybody +but you that Ralph is in love with Jean and +always has been for that matter, though I +must confess he has been paying her a good +deal less attention lately. And as for Jean, +well I don't believe she will marry any one +who cannot give her wealth and position; +yet just the same it would be wiser to know<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +the truth about Ralph. Couldn't you ask +him to tell you? I believe he would. Oh +dear me, I do hope we won't have a strike +at the mine or any other kind of trouble."</p> + +<p>"You sound pretty sensible, partner," Jim +agreed, "maybe I had better look into things +a little more. It never hurts any fellow to +keep his eyes open. But let me tell you that +I have never heard of a gold mine yet, whether +it was a good one or a poor one, that did not +keep on piling up trouble."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE ENGINEER OF THE RAINBOW MINE<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>READERS of the Ranch Girls' Series +probably remember that the first meeting +between the members of the Rainbow +Ranch family and Ralph Merrit occurred +several years before, while they were making +a caravan journey to the Yellowstone Park.</div> + +<p>And Jean Bruce had been Ralph's original +acquaintance. How many times since had +they not laughed at the vision of the girl +idly washing her hair in an outdoor stream +with no thought of a stranger in many miles. +Then there was the story of their first luncheon +together with only Frieda as chaperon and +Ruth and Olive's return, the storm, and Jim +and Jack's disaster by the deserted mine. +Within less than a week Ralph Merrit had +appeared like an old and tried friend. And +from the hour of his arrival to advise and +assist Jim Colter in regard to the Rainbow +Mine he had seemed almost like one of the +family. Only twice had he left his work for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +any length of time—once to visit his mother +and sister in Chicago, and the second time to +say farewell to the Ranch girls when they +sailed for Europe. His friends understood +that a large part of his generous salary went +each month to the support of his people, and +that in his present position Ralph was not +making his fortune so quickly in the West +as he had hoped. But was that the reason +why he had been taking so many short trips +away from the ranch in the past few months +and why <ins title="Transcriber's Note: this word not present in original text">he</ins> had recently changed so decidedly +in his appearance and manner?</p> + +<p>Though Jean may have had her own special +reasons for observing these changes most, +no <ins title="Transcriber's Note: this word added to text">one</ins> else was wholly blind. Could it be possible +that Ralph Merrit's difficulties were graver +than they suspected?</p> + +<p>There is a possibility that Jack Ralston's +and even Jim's faith might have been shaken +had they been able to follow the young man's +proceedings on the afternoon of their conversation +about him.</p> + +<p>He and the neighbor, who had simply been +a visitor at the ranch for afternoon tea, walked +along without much conversation until they +came to within the neighborhood of Rainbow +Creek—that portion of the creek where important<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +mining machinery had been set up and +near which a shaft had been sunk, forming a +narrow entrance into the Rainbow Mine.</p> + +<p>As the hour for work had passed some time +before, the place was now deserted and Ralph +Merrit showed no interest in lingering in its +vicinity. Yet the discovery of the surprising +wealth contained in the Rainbow Mine had +never ceased being a subject of interest, of +speculation and oftentimes of acute envy to +many of the ranch owners in that end of +Wyoming, and the young man, Hugo Manning, +who was Ralph's present companion, +had only recently purchased a cattle ranch +about ten miles away. He had come from the +western part of New York State and this was +his first sight of a gold mine.</p> + +<p>Plainly Ralph was at first simply bored +by the stupid questions that his neighbor +asked of him. Then unexpectedly the young +engineer's expression changed and his face +flushed angrily.</p> + +<p>"I hear that your famous Rainbow gold +mine is panning out," the young man had +remarked carelessly. "They tell me around +here that you have already taken out all +the gold that lies near enough to the surface +to be of value. They insist that it is going<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +to cost you more to buy new machinery +and try out new methods of mining than +the gold is worth. Better advise your friends +to sell out while selling is good and before +their mine loses its reputation."</p> + +<p>Ralph made a queer noise in his throat +that was half anger, and yet he did not +positively deny the suggestion. "Oh, they +say that, do they?" he exclaimed. "It's +funny how much sooner strangers find out +about your affairs than you do yourself! +I don't believe Mr. Colter or Miss Ralston +have yet had to complain of any lack of +money. When that time comes then we +shall decide what is best to do."</p> + +<p>And Ralph started to move along, but +his companion waited, hesitating for half a +moment. "I say, Merrit," he continued, +"if the Rainbow Mine owners should make +up their minds that they want to get out, +I wish you would let me hear the news first. +Isn't it possible that they might be willing +to take a lump sum down and not run the +risk of losing what they have already got +by investing in new machinery? I believe +it mostly belongs just to the two Ralston +girls. But a company of men, say in New +York City, might look at the proposition differently.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +They could afford to sink a few +hundred thousands easier."</p> + +<p>Ralph nodded dryly and this time walked +on so resolutely that his companion was +obliged to hurry in order to keep alongside +and to hear the answer to his request.</p> + +<p>All the reply he received was: "Thank you; +it is kind of surprising to meet a fellow who +knows people who are willing to lose money."</p> + +<p>But when at the edge of the ranch the two +men finally separated, Ralph Merrit went +on alone to the nearest railroad station. It +was several miles away and few persons +from the Rainbow Ranch ever attempted +walking so great a distance. But Ralph +had not ordered a horse for one reason because +he did not wish to have a boy accompany +him to bring the animal home again +and also because he preferred not having +any one know just where he was going. +That there was discussion and ill feeling +concerning him among the men at work on +the Rainbow Mine he understood, although +Ralph was not yet aware how unkind the +criticism was, nor just what was being said.</p> + +<p>By midnight he had finally arrived at his +destination, Laramie, the largest city in +Wyoming. He had then gone directly to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +a small, out-of-the-way hotel. But after his +arrival, instead of getting immediately into +bed as any tired, healthy fellow should, the +young man dropped into a chair before his +open window, sitting there most of the night. +Now and then he dozed a few moments +from sheer exhaustion, but the greater part +of the time he stared out into the lighted +streets below him, moody and restless and +totally unlike the Ralph Merrit of former +days.</p> + +<p>If one trait of character had previously +distinguished Ralph from the Ranch girls' +other young men friends, it had been his +practical common sense. Unlike Frank Kent +and Donald Harmon, Ralph Merrit was a +self-made boy, who had earned his own +way through college and had afterwards +suffered many disappointments and disillusions +on coming West to seek his fortune. +Upon taking charge of the Rainbow Mine +and making the success of it, which he certainly +had, for a time Ralph felt happy and +satisfied. He was doing work which many +an older man might have envied him. Then +why had he recently become so disheartened +and dissatisfied? It was true that the Rainbow +Mine was not yielding so much gold as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +it formerly had and that he was beginning +to feel fearful that the veins near the surface, +which had held valuable ore, were now +nearly worked out. Yet Ralph did not even +try to pretend to himself that his nervousness +and discontent were due to conditions +at Rainbow Mine. No, his anxiety and +despondency were entirely personal.</p> + +<p>For in the past six months Ralph had +been overtaken by an ambition that makes +for more unhappiness and destroys the careers +of more young men than almost any other +vice. He had developed an overpowering +desire to make a large fortune quickly, not +by hard work or economy or any of the +ordinary, slow methods for gaining wealth, +but by some single, brilliant stroke of good +luck that should make him a rich man at +once.</p> + +<p>Yet this represented such a curious change +in Ralph Merrit's former nature, in his +good sense and sound judgment, that surely +some outside influence must have been at +work to render him so unlike himself. What +that influence really was Ralph Merrit alone +knew perfectly well.</p> + +<p>Now it is idle to deny that while under +most circumstances a refined girl is an ennobling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +influence in a young fellow's life, +now and then there may be exceptions to +this fact as to all others. At the very beginning +of their acquaintance Ralph Merrit +had understood that he was falling hopelessly +in love with Jean Bruce. But in the +two years of her absence at school and in +Europe he had fought the matter out with +himself and decided that he had mastered +his impossible fancy. During her short +visits at the ranch they had remained especial +friends as at the start, but nothing more. +Now, however, since Jean's return to live at +the Rainbow Lodge, Ralph had not only +felt a return of his first affection, but an +emotion that was very much stronger and +more serious.</p> + +<p>And he felt this in spite of recognizing +that Jean herself had greatly changed. No +longer was she the fascinating unspoiled +girl of his early acquaintance; she was a far +more worldly-minded and ambitious Jean +than he could have imagined. She was +also far prettier and more alluring from her +experiences and opportunities, and there was +no doubt but that she was constantly yearning +for the companionship of distinguished +people, for more society, broader social opportunities<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +of every kind. During the past +year at the ranch she had not been altogether +contented. Their former life now seemed +too simple and uneventful to her, she no +longer had Jack's intense interest in outdoor +amusements. Yet to Ruth's and her cousin's +suggestions that she make a visit in the +east to her friends, Margaret and Cecil +Belknap, Jean would not listen. Of course +she was happy at home, and whatever her +family might say to the contrary they would +be absurdly lonely without her. Moreover, +did they believe that she would miss Olive's +home-coming? But any other influence that +may have been at work in the back of the +girl's heart or mind she did not mention. +And assuredly Ralph Merrit did not dream +that his presence on the ranch could be in +any possible sense an added influence.</p> + +<p>For whatever Ralph's present weaknesses, +he did not put the blame upon a woman. +Jean had given him no false encouragement, +had shown him no special favor. The fault +was his, that moved by what he believed her +attitude toward wealth, he had used the +wrong method for obtaining it. He had +not even given Jean the chance to say that +his struggle was unwise or unnecessary, since<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +he had been paying her far less attention +recently.</p> + +<p>At ten o'clock the next morning Ralph +learned from his stock broker that instead +of being nearer the fortune he so much +desired, he was several thousand dollars +farther away. And this loss represented +almost the last dollar he had in the world.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>OLIVE COMES HOME<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>SOON after dinner Ruth and Jim Colter +and of course the small son had retired +to their rooms in Rainbow Lodge, +leaving Jack, Jean and Frieda to amuse +themselves in the living room until bedtime. +A week had passed since their visit to their +new house and tonight Frieda and Jack were +busily studying over their original plans +and discussing various alterations which they +felt were absolutely necessary, while Jean, +without seeming to regard them, was playing +idly upon the piano.</div> + +<p>It was not cold, and one of the front windows +was partly raised with the blind drawn +down; but a small fire was burning in the +old fireplace, since the Rainbow Lodge living +room was never exactly the same delightful +abode without it.</p> + +<p>Except for a few handsome, additional +pieces of furniture and some odd pictures +and china which the girls had brought home<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +from abroad, there was no material change +in the beloved room. For Ruth and the +girls had the good taste to know that its +primitive character with its decorations of +bright Indian rugs and simple furnishings +was far more suitable and beautiful than +any alteration their money could bring. So +the newer and more splendid furnishings +which they had purchased in New York +and in Europe had been safely stored away +for the finishing of their new house. And this +evening in their former familiar surroundings +Jack, Jean and Frieda looked not unlike they +had on that first evening years ago when Jack +had returned from her original meeting with +Frank Kent and before either Ruth or Olive +had ever been seen at the Rainbow Lodge.</p> + +<p>"But, Frieda dear, it will be far too expensive +to make such a change as you suggest," +Jack protested. "You know that we agreed +to have the four big bedrooms and two +baths on one side of the house and just one +upstairs sitting room. Now if we try to +arrange a private sitting room off from your +room, it will either make your bedroom too +small or else rob the rest of us. And another +big bay window would cost hundreds of +dollars more."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, why not?" Frieda returned petulantly. +"Here we have all been living quietly +at the ranch for nearly a year and spending +no outside money except on the house. It +is only because you are suddenly growing +stingy, Jack. I heard you tell Ruth that +we had better not order as many new oriental +rugs as we planned to have. Mr. Parker +says that he can add the extra space to my +apartment without spoiling the effect of the +house in the least. Do let me have him +do it, Jack darling, please? You know you +and Jean and Olive will often be talking +about things in our big sitting room that +you won't wish me to hear and I do want +a tiny den all to myself."</p> + +<p>Because Jack did not agree at once to +her sister's pleading the girl at the piano +ceased playing for an instant to glance at +her cousin, and, surprised by her expression, +did not look immediately away.</p> + +<p>Jack was frowning and was a little pale. +But she had been out all day riding over +the ranch and talking to the men at the +mine, and naturally might be expected to +be tired. She had gone to her own room +and undressed almost immediately after dinner, +and as there was no possibility of any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +visitors arriving unexpectedly at the ranch, +she was now wearing a lovely old Chinese +blue silk kimono and had her gold brown +hair in a loose knot on top of her head. +Leaning over she suddenly kissed Frieda, +who sat on the other side of their small +table puzzling over the drawings for their +new place.</p> + +<p>"It isn't fair to say that I am stingy, +baby," Jack declared, "when you know +that our house is costing thousands of dollars +more than we first expected. People +say that is just what all houses do, yet just +the same we have to set a limit somewhere. +And of course I don't want you or Jean to +worry, but there is a possibility that we +may not get as much money out of Rainbow +Mine in the future as we have for the +past few years. And you know we have +not a large fortune stowed away in bank. +Besides, we have gotten into the habit of +living pretty expensively and spending an +awful lot of money thinking that our mine +would hold out forever. Today Jim told +me that frequently there were gold mines +that ceased to yield almost altogether when +certain veins had been worked out. I don't +think he meant that this was going to happen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +to ours—only that our income might +be cut down."</p> + +<p>As Jack finished speaking Jean Bruce got +up from her piano stool and came across +the room to face her cousin.</p> + +<p>"It's funny, Jack, that you let Jim give +you all this information about affairs at the +mine, instead of Ralph Merrit. It seems +to me that Ralph must know more than +Jim. And as he is head engineer you know +you ought to get your information from +him," she protested.</p> + +<p>Rather wearily Jack leaned back in her +chair; yet she answered without any show +of temper. "I thought you knew, Jean, +that Ralph has not yet come back to the +ranch. Five or six days ago he wrote Jim +not to expect him for some little time as +he had important business to look after. +So you see I could not very well discuss +business with him while he is away."</p> + +<p>With a little shrug Jean turned to stare into +the fire.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but you could have waited until +Ralph's return and then have had the conversation +with him. Besides, it isn't only Jim +who has been telling you that the gold in our +mine will give out unless some new method for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +mining it is employed. No, it is the other +miners who have been grumbling to both of +you. I wonder if they can be dissatisfied +with Ralph's management? But, Frieda, for +goodness sake don't be a baby and don't +worry Jack about spending more money on +our new house than we can afford. Dear me, +I wonder how we shall behave if suddenly +we should become poor as church mice again. +It would be my duty then, I suppose, Jack, to +let you get rid of supporting such an expensive +cousin by some means or other."</p> + +<p>Already won over by her sister's argument, +since Jack's judgment was almost always hers +in the end, Frieda had left her chair and was +sitting on the arm of her sister's, pulling +softly at the loose coils of her hair and trying +to rearrange them.</p> + +<p>She and Jack both stared at Jean in surprise +and consternation. What was the matter +with her? Why should she talk in this +absurd fashion? Had they ever felt or shown +any difference between her and themselves +in the right to everything they possessed? +Something was making Jean unlike herself +tonight.</p> + +<p>Seeing the hurt and surprise in the other +two faces Jean at once changed the subject.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Jack, have you heard anything more +about when Miss Winthrop and Olive are +planning to come for their visit to us?" she +demanded. "Just think, we have not seen +Olive since our return from England! Won't +it be splendid for you to have her with you +again, Jack dear? Frieda and I are so dreadfully +spoiled and lazy, we never do anything +to help you about the ranch and only complain +if things go wrong and we haven't more money +to spend. I do wish somebody would show +me how to be useful. I haven't even the beds +to make now we have another girl to help +Aunt Ellen."</p> + +<p>Jack shook her head. "I am sorry you are +bored. I wish I could think of something +to interest you. You seemed to like the ranch +when we first came back and the work at +the mine. The only word I have heard from +Olive since her other letter was a short note +in answer to my telegram that begged her to +come at once. She said that she and Miss +Winthrop had a lot of business matters to +look after, but meant to run away as soon as +possible. What in the world was that?" +And Jack, who seemed unusually tired and +nervous tonight, startled the other two girls +by jumping up unexpectedly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jean had also heard the noise and turned +in the direction from which it came.</p> + +<p>"It is only that tiresome boy, Carlos," +she explained. "I mean to tell Jim that I +don't like his sneaking up here and peering into +our window in that spooky fashion. Carlos +can move more like a spirit than a human +being anyway! But what has become of him +recently, for now I think of it I have not seen +him before for several days?"</p> + +<p>"He has been away from the ranch most +of the time," Frieda answered sleepily, "for +I wanted him to do an errand for me the other +day and could not find him. But Aunt Ellen +says he has come to her for food several times +and then has gone off with as much as she +would give him. Somehow I'm fond of +Carlos—he was such a queer, handsome little +boy when he first came to us. I hope Olive +will understand him better than the rest of +us do. But dear me, what does he mean by +coming in at the front door without knocking?" +And Frieda also jumped up hurriedly. +"I hope he is not bringing us bad news!"</p> + +<p>Not only had the front door opened, which +had not yet been locked for the night, but +the door of the living room was mysteriously +unclosing just half an inch at a time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> + +<p>The three girls were seriously annoyed +and Jack spoke sharply:</p> + +<p>"Carlos, what do you mean by entering +our room without asking permission? Unless +you have something important to say I should +prefer your waiting to speak to us until +tomorrow."</p> + +<p>A soft voice, which was not that of the +Indian boy, replied: "But I can't wait till +morning or not another moment, Jack dearest, +when I have traveled across a whole continent +to see you. And please forgive Carlos for +my sake, because he and I have been planning +this surprise together ever since I left Primrose +Hall."</p> + +<p>Afterwards Olive Van Mater could only get +a few steps further inside the old Lodge +living room, because Frieda, Jean and Jack +at once flung themselves upon her. And the +tears were gathering fast in the girl's big +star-like black eyes as she tried her best to +explain the mystery of her arrival and to +embrace her three friends at the same instant.</p> + +<p>"You see, Miss Winthrop found that she +could not leave home for some time yet and +I was so tired and so nearly dead to see you +that she would not let me wait until she could +come. So I thought that I would rather<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +surprise you than anything else I could +imagine. I wrote Carlos when to expect me +and to have a horse and carriage at the train. +But the poor lad has been at the station +apparently for several days, fearing he might +make some mistake and that I should arrive +without his knowing. But you brought me +home safely after all, didn't you, Carlos?" +And Olive disengaged her hand for a moment +from the girls' hold to extend it to the Indian +boy.</p> + +<p>"Goodness, how you have grown, I haven't +had a good look at you until this moment," +she ended admiringly.</p> + +<p>And surely Carlos made a handsome picture. +In honor of Olive's home-coming he wore a +soft shirt of some yellow material and a pair +of clean khaki trousers with a bright sash +knotted about his waist and a crimson tie +at his throat. All the surliness had disappeared +from his expression, his skin was like +polished bronze and his eyes like shining coals, +as he took his old friend's hand and for a +moment pressed it reverently to his lips.</p> + +<p>Then Jack removed Olive's traveling hat +and long broadcloth coat, with every movement +of her hands a caress.</p> + +<p>"But please, Carlos and Olive," she demanded,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +"I don't pretend to be able to +hear outdoor sounds as you can; yet I have +fairly well trained ears of my own. Would +you mind telling me how you managed to +drive a rickety old hired carriage up to the +very door of Rainbow Lodge with us in the +living room and yet never a sound heard we?"</p> + +<p>Olive laughed. "That is our secret, but +if you must know, we did no such thing. +Half a mile away I sent the driver back to the +station and Carlos and I ran on tiptoes under +the stars all the way home." The girl ended +her sentence with a slight catch in her breath. +"Then please to remember that we are both +Indians, or at least I am almost one. And +now won't somebody go and find Ruth and +Jim, for I just must see the baby this minute +even if he cries his eyes out the rest of the +night."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THEIR RIDE TOGETHER<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>OLIVE and Jack had scarcely been +alone for more than a half hour at +a time since Olive's arrival almost a +week before. But before ten o'clock this +morning they had both started off on horseback +with their lunch boxes packed, leaving +word at home that they were not to be +expected back until sundown.</div> + +<p>First of all they yearned for a long, uninterrupted +gallop together over the sweet-smelling, +wild, rose-strewn prairies. For not since the +very first year of Olive's life at Rainbow +Ranch had they enjoyed this formerly well-loved +entertainment. Soon after then had +come Jack's accident, and until this year she +had not been in entirely good health during +any of their days at the ranch.</p> + +<p>And the beauty of this special windswept, +sunlit day was nature's gift to the two friends' +reunion.</p> + +<p>Jack rode a little ahead on her own horse,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +Romeo, which she had bought immediately +after their return from abroad and christened +"Romeo" in a kind of joking recollection +of their visit in Rome. Of course, he was +the fastest riding horse on Rainbow Ranch, +but not a beautiful animal, since he had been +chosen for speed and endurance rather than +appearance. And in truth he was only a +rough Western pony with sagacity and knowledge +of the country, dignified by the name of +horse simply because of his slightly greater +size and length of limb.</p> + +<p>Following close behind, her pretty nose +almost able to touch the other animal's +rough coat, came Olive's smaller mare, which +Jean had named "Juliet" by reason of following +Jack's horse about whenever they +were permitted to graze in the open fields.</p> + +<p>Juliet had been no one's special property, +since she had been born on the place and no +one had chosen her for personal use. So +shortly after Olive's return the other three +girls had escorted her to the stables and +there solemnly presented her with "Juliet," +avowing that no one else should have the +privilege of using the mare except with +Olive's consent.</p> + +<p>The two friends rode for more than an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +hour after leaving the neighborhood of the +Lodge without speaking, except now and +then to call attention to some particularly +beautiful effect in the landscape. First they +galloped to the farthest outskirts of the great +thousand-acre ranch, which was still as carefully +and scientifically managed as during the +time when the Rainbow Mine was an undiscovered +quantity and when the girls and +Jim's living depended entirely upon its success. +There were groups of cattle scattered +here and there wherever the alfalfa grass +was ripe for eating, and mares with young +colts were allowed free pasture. But by and +by when a far-off rim of hills could be seen, +with their summits glistening with caps of +snow and the sky above them so scattered +with fleece-like clouds that snow and cloud +seemed to touch and melt into each other, +Jack slowed down for a moment, waiting for +her friend to come up alongside her.</p> + +<p>"Is it because I am a Western girl and all +this means childhood and home to me that +the country seems more beautiful and inspiring +than anything we saw in Europe, Olive +dear?" Jack asked.</p> + +<p>And Olive looked into the other girl's face +searchingly for an instant before replying.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +She had been wondering for a good many +months why Frank Kent had never come to +America to see Jack when on leaving England +she had believed that he and Jacqueline were +almost on the point of being engaged. Several +times recently she had actually written +and asked Jack why on earth Frank had +not made his promised visit to Rainbow +Lodge. Without really answering, Jack had +always arranged to evade her questioning. +"Frank was too busy, he was thinking of +running for Parliament, he preferred waiting +until Olive was also able to be at home, so +that they might be there together once +again." None of these replies had made a +very profound impression upon the questioner. +So today Olive had planned in her own mind +to get at the real truth. Jack would not +dare to refuse to answer her direct inquiry +if once she had the courage to demand it of +her. Positively she must know whether +Frank's apparent indifference was due to a +change in his own feeling or to an unreasonable +request on Jack's part for postponing +her decision.</p> + +<p>Now at Jack's question, studying her +friend's face, Olive feared that this last idea +must be the true one. Love of her old home,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +the grip which the western country and +atmosphere always had on the girl's character +and affections—these must have been +waging a winning battle against her former +affection for Frank Kent.</p> + +<p>Must she ask Jack if this were true? No, +Olive decided that she had best refrain until +later in the day. For Jack was not at the +present moment in the mood for confidences. +She was just gloriously alive and filled with +the physical beauty and splendor of the +morning. Later on, when there had been +opportunity for more conversation, Olive +would make her query. For there were +dozens of intimate personal things which +she and her best beloved friend must get at +the heart of before this ride of theirs together +was over. So now Olive only laughed, +and leaning over lightly stroked the neck of +the other horse.</p> + +<p>"It is only because you are such a pagan, +Jack, that Europe seems too crowded for +you," she answered. "Besides you know +how dearly you finally learned to love the +English country, although it was the direct +opposite of all this! Doesn't its wonderful +greenness, the splendid old trees and the +flowers and cultivated beauty of the fields<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +make up to you for the great wide spaces and +the colors in your prairies?"</p> + +<p>Slowly Jack shook her head, in reply, at +the same instant taking off her soft brown +felt hat and hanging it on the pommel of her +saddle. "I don't know," she answered, drawing +in a deep, quiet breath.</p> + +<p>The past year of outdoor work and amusement +on the ranch had brought back to +Jacqueline Ralston the glow and brilliant, +healthy color of her childhood. Her complexion +was several shades darker than it had +been the summer before, her cheeks more +vividly rose and her hair lighter from exposure +to the sun. Then Jack had again grown +dreadfully indifferent to clothes since their +return home, much to Jean's and Frieda's +disgust and to Jim Colter's secret amusement. +For quite forgetting their fortune and the +fact that she was now almost ready to cast +her first vote in Wyoming, Jack had returned +to wearing the old brown corduroys or faded +khakis of her youth, together with almost any +soft hat which she happened to find convenient +for her outdoor jaunts. And only when +the other girls insisted, or Ruth pleaded, or +guests were expected to dinner at the Lodge, +would Jack return to wearing the pretty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +toilets which she had brought home from +Europe. For not one single dress had she +given time or thought to purchasing since then, +although Jean and Frieda frequently amused +themselves by sending east for hats and gowns.</p> + +<p>So today, although Jack was actually the +older and in times past had looked it, Olive +would have been considered her senior. For +one reason she was still weary from the +shock and strain of her grandmother's death +and from the business difficulties resulting +from her strange will. Then there was a +last and final interview with Donald Harmon +which even yet the girl did not like to recall. +She was sorry not to be able to return his +affection. Moreover, Olive's new riding-habit +was of black cloth, which Miss Winthrop had +ordered from a well-known New York tailor, +adding to her appearance of age and dignity. +Yet in spite of the elegance and decorum of +her own riding attire, Olive did not feel the +objection to her friend's as Jean and Frieda +undoubtedly would have. For Jack's costume +was eminently characteristic. Moreover, +the old corduroy skirt and leather +leggings and slouch hat were not unbecoming +now that her coat was open showing the +curve of her strong white throat.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was equally characteristic of Jack when +they finally reached the clump of trees where +they were to have luncheon to jump first +from her horse and then lift Olive as carefully +down as though she had been her masculine +escort. Afterwards it was she who led the +horses to water, fed them and then tied them.</p> + +<p>Coming back, she flung herself down on the +ground by her friend and taking one of the +girl's hands in hers kissed it, saying carelessly:</p> + +<p>"Olive, child, did you hear any one or anything +while I was away? I thought we were +going to have a perfectly peaceful and +uninterrupted day, but I have an idea that +while I was looking after the horses I heard +some one stirring about not so very far off. +Still I may have been mistaken or it may +have been a deer or a wildcat. This woods +gets so much denser as one goes further into +it. This is near the same place where I +managed to break my poor little pony's legs +several years ago. It was when we were +making that horrid visit at the Norton's +before it was finally decided that you were to +come and live with us. I never have been +able to think of having to shoot 'Hotspur' +without its giving me the shivers." And<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +Jack now took a small pistol out of a leather +holster fastened about her waist. "I never +go on a long ride with either of the girls without +carrying this," she remarked carelessly, +"but I don't believe I am ever going to like +hunting again as I did when I was younger. +That was one of the lessons I learned when +I was ill so long—a greater respect for life, +anybody's or anything's." Then the girl's +voice grew suddenly hushed.</p> + +<p>"Didn't you hear a slight noise then?" she +whispered.</p> + +<p>After a moment of enforced silence Olive +shook her head. "No, or at least nothing of +importance," she replied. "Of course these +woods must have wild game in them, since it +is the only place with running water nearer +than Rainbow Creek. But it is odd your +having this impression now. Several times +I meant to tell you and forgot—that while we +were riding I kept having the idea that some +one was following after us. Half a dozen +times I looked around thinking that it might +possibly be either Jean or Frieda. But I +saw no one, so of course it must have been +only a fancy."</p> + +<p>"Well it certainly was neither Jean nor +Frieda," Jack replied laughingly. "They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +have both grown too lazy for such a journey +as we are taking. But come along, because +if we are ever to get to your old Indian village +and back again this afternoon, we must +hurry."</p> + +<p>For this had been the supposed object of +Jack's and Olive's free day together. Soon +after her arrival at the Lodge Olive had suggested +that she would very much like to go +back to the little Indian village where she +had lived as a child with old Laska, and see +if the woman and her son were yet alive. +She desired also to pay a visit to her former +teacher and first friend, who was still at work +among the Indian children at the little +Indian reservation school.</p> + +<p>Before the two girls had finally arrived at +their destination, it was Olive who discovered +the ghost stealthily pursuing them. And it +was he whom Jack must have heard in the +woods.</p> + +<p>Olive at once turned apologetically to her +friend. "Don't be cross, Jack, and don't +scold if I tell you something," she began +unexpectedly. "But just now I saw at some +distance behind us a brown shadow on a +brown horse. So I'm afraid it is Carlos who +has been trailing after us. But really it is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +my fault for having told him where we +intended going. Probably he won't trouble +us if we don't wish to notice him."</p> + +<p>Frowning, Jacqueline returned: "I'm sorry +to confess it to you, Olive dear, but really, +Carlos is getting to be rather a nuisance to +Jim and me. I do hope you may be able to +influence him to settle down to some kind +of work or study—to anything he likes. +Neither Jim nor I care so much what except +that his idleness is a bad influence among the +men on the place. There is no use in my +trying to do anything with him, for he has +taken such a violent dislike to me. Frieda +says that I am too much of a boss and it +has offended the boy's dignity. But I shan't +scold today since Carlos is only following us +because he does not entirely trust me to look +after you and adores you so that he does not +wish you out of his sight."</p> + +<p>Just as though four or five years had not +passed with its crowded and ever changing +experiences, walking up to old Indian Laska's +dirty hut alone Olive Van Mater found the +Indian woman still sitting in her same open +doorway, smoking the apparently identical +pipe and clothed in the same old nondescript +rags of former days with a brilliant Indian<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +blanket across her shoulders. But at the +sight of her beautifully dressed visitor the +Indian woman showed not the slightest sign +of recognition. Nor did she do anything +further than nod and grunt several times in +succession when Olive assured her that she +had once been the girl "Olilie," who had lived +with her from the time she was a baby.</p> + +<p>Possibly Laska could neither understand +nor believe what this charming American +girl was trying to explain to her, but certain +it was that she never once invited Olive inside +her former home, nor showed the slightest +interest in her, except to smile at the handful +of small change that was bestowed upon her +in parting. For of course Olive had long +since ceased to feel any bitterness against +the old woman, whose ignorance and greed +had not been nearly so responsible for her +past unhappiness as her own grandmother's +careless neglect of her.</p> + +<p>Olive's interview with her first teacher was +such a great pleasure and satisfaction to them +both, that except for Jack's insistence that +it was already past time to go back to the +ranch and that Olive and her old friend could +now meet each other frequently, the two girls +would never have started for home until<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +nearly sundown. And as it was they were an +hour later than they should have been in +leaving.</p> + +<p>They were not able to ride as rapidly as in +the morning because neither of the horses +was so fresh. So that by and by, just as +both girls had wished, they fell into the first +long, confidential talk they had enjoyed in +nearly a year.</p> + +<p>And there was so much to say! Olive had +to repeat the strange terms of her grandmother's +will and her own positive intention +not to marry Donald Harmon, no matter +what the second will might insist upon—even +if it left her penniless.</p> + +<p>Then Jack confided the present trouble +at the Rainbow Mine. For during Ralph's +continued and unexplained absence the miners +had grown uglier, threatening that unless +a new engineer was secured at once they +would go upon a strike. Moreover, they +would see that no other men be allowed to +take their places. Already they insisted that +there was not enough gold in the former +veins to make Rainbow Mine worth working. +A new manager and new machinery must be +procured at once.</p> + +<p>Just how to quell the disturbance and set<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +things right neither Jim Colter nor Jacqueline +could decide at present. Of course they were +awaiting with impatience Ralph Merrit's +return in order to have a talk with him. +But afterwards what should they do? Would +Ralph be forced by the miners into advising +them to buy more machinery before he knew +just what should be done? This might sink +all their capital and make them poor +again.</p> + +<p>"Really it is Jean and Frieda about whom +I am worrying the most if we do lose our +money," Jack frankly acknowledged. "For +Ruth and Jim and I can be happy living as we +used to do. But then of course the building +of our new house must be completed, since +the contract is already given for finishing +it."</p> + +<p>So the two friends talked on, and it was +small wonder that the sun was sinking as, +followed by the ever watchful Carlos, they +finally rode up to the Lodge. But Olive +had not yet satisfied herself in regard to the +state of affairs now existing between Jack and +Frank Kent.</p> + +<p>In answer to a point-blank question Jack +had simply replied that she and Frank had +not been engaged to be married. Also that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +she had too much upon her mind at present +to ask him to make them a visit. However, +now that Olive had arrived, perhaps Frank +would wish to come in a short time.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THAT SAME AFTERNOON<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>SINCE a short time after lunch Jean +Bruce had been alone at the Rainbow +Lodge, except for the presence of Aunt +Ellen and the housemaid. For at about two +o'clock Jim and Ruth, Frieda and the baby +had driven off to pay a long visit to some old-time +friends. For Ruth had not entirely +recovered her strength since the baby's birth +and therefore Jim was unwilling to have her +far away from him.</div> + +<p>But Jean was not lonely, or at least not for +the first few hours. She had letters to write—one +to her New York friend, Margaret Belknap, +and another to her adored Princess, +who had never wavered in her interest and +affection for the American girl since Jean's +visit to her in Rome.</p> + +<p>Then, at about four o'clock, Jean strolled +over to look at their new house, which seemed +to have been making tremendous strides in +the last few days, now that the outside had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +been entirely completed. She had one or +two suggestions that she wished to make to +the architect about her own room and this +was the best hour for having a talk with him, +as she happened to know that he had been +spending most of the day with his men. +The architect did not superintend their house +building more than two or three times a week. +Determined to have their new home as beautiful +and as harmonious as possible, the girls, +Jim and Ruth had decided upon employing the +most distinguished architect in that part of +the country. Theodore Parker was a Wyoming +man with his central office in Laramie, +and yet his work on public buildings and his +creation of certain types of houses for western +millionaires had given him a reputation +throughout the country. So it was scarcely +possible to expect him to devote a large +portion of his valuable time even to the +construction of "Rainbow Castle." For +Jean's laughing title for their new home had +somehow clung to it.</p> + +<p>The place would probably be almost, if +not quite, as beautiful as many a palace, +Jean thought, as she slowly approached the +front entrance. This was to have a flight +of broad, low stone steps leading up to it,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +while the base of the house would be banked +with low, close-growing evergreen shrubs.</p> + +<p>For the outdoor work on their estate the +girls had not consulted a landscape gardener, +but they had studied many books and pictures +of beautiful gardens and had then developed +certain ideas of their own. In order to keep +the view of the rolling prairies to the distant +line of hills several miles beyond, the slope +before the house was to be left unchanged. +Here and there were flower beds in the carefully +planted and tended blue grass lawn, +which with constant watering and top soil +might be persuaded to grow. But on either +side and toward the back of the modified +colonial mansion were to be the real gardens. +Although the flowers had not yet been planted, +bushes had been set out that were later to +form green and blossoming aisles. In the +preceding autumn a dozen or more large +evergreen trees had been transplanted from +the nearby forests, and zealously tended all +through the winter, so that already they +showed signs of growth.</p> + +<p>Jean's interview with Mr. Parker was +entirely satisfactory and the girl would have +liked to linger and talk at greater length with +the big, purposeful man, who seemed to bring<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +to one of the noblest of all the professions the +spirit of the artist, and the executive ability +of the business man. But Mr. Parker was +plainly too busy to give her more than a few +minutes of his attention, although in their +conversation they did wander from her errand +far enough to permit their discussing a few +of their impressions of Europe. And, oddly +enough, the architect who had studied in +Paris and traveled a great deal, had never been +to Italy, the mother of much that is most +beautiful in modern architecture.</p> + +<p>A man of about thirty-five or six, Jean +imagined he must be as she returned to the +Lodge, and assuredly extremely good-looking, +with his iron-gray hair, dark eyes and smooth +face. One could hardly help wondering why +he had never married.</p> + +<p>At home once more, Jean suddenly had a +sensation of feeling deserted and forlorn. +What could she do to amuse herself? +Although she insisted upon denying it to her +family, certainly there were occasions lately +when their former life did seem dull and +uninteresting to her. Yet perhaps Jack was +right in thinking that this was due to her +paying no special regard to the things that +were happening on the ranch itself. Should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +she take a walk now, or go down to Rainbow +Mine to see if anything was going on? Ralph +Merrit was still away, certainly for an unaccountably +great length of time! And undoubtedly +there was some kind of trouble brewing +among the workers in the mine, though what +it was Jean had not the remotest idea. Yet +Jack and Jim had been plainly annoyed and +concerned over some disturbance, otherwise +so many consultations between them and their +workmen would have been unnecessary.</p> + +<p>But at the present moment Jean did not +find the subject of the mine of sufficient +interest to persuade her to walk down to it +in an effort to make her own investigations. +Things would clear up soon enough without +her troubling. For there had to be friction +every once and a while where so many people +were employed.</p> + +<p>Yawning several times, Jean finally dropped +into a hammock that had been swung for +Ruth on the porch at Rainbow Lodge. She +was holding a magazine in her hand and reading +it fitfully.</p> + +<p>Probably Jean would have assured you that +she was wearing the oldest and simplest dress +in her entire wardrobe and that she really +had not made any kind of toilet for the afternoon.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +Yet with Jean Bruce pretty clothes +and a graceful and pleasing fashion of wearing +them were second nature. It is true her pale +pink cashmere frock was not new and was +made in a straight piece with no trimming +save a round lace collar and a girdle of broad +pink silk ribbon. Yet Jean had wound a +ribbon of the same color about her dark brown +hair, until her usual pallor seemed to be +warmed by its glow.</p> + +<p>For a half moment she must have fallen +asleep, for she was awakened by thinking she +heard some one coming toward the Lodge. +The next moment Ralph Merrit stood beside +her.</p> + +<p>He looked entirely unlike himself; his +clothes were untidy; he seemed not to have +slept for a number of nights; his face was +worn and drawn. Jean was startled into +sudden pity and interest. For Ralph had +always seemed so capable and so efficient and +if things worried him, he had always kept +them to himself.</p> + +<p>Now as Jean struggled to her feet he only +said: "How do you do, Jean. Will you tell +me, please, whether Mr. Colter is at home or +whether I may be apt to find him anywhere +about the ranch?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Jean's eyes questioned, although her +lips as yet said nothing, and the young man +flushed.</p> + +<p>"I must beg your pardon for my appearance," +he began awkwardly, "but I have been +doing some rather hard traveling and I have +not yet been to my own quarters to fix up. +I had no idea of running across you." Ralph +stared hard for a moment at the dainty girl +slowly rising out of the hammock and then +at himself. She was like the inside of a sea +shell in her pink costume with her white skin +and the pretty detached air she so often +wore.</p> + +<p>Ralph laughed uncomfortably and not very +mirthfully.</p> + +<p>"Won't you wait a minute, please?" Jean +asked quietly. "Jim is not here and won't +be for some little time perhaps. But I have +an idea that you are hungry as well as tired +and I have been longing for some one to +drink afternoon tea with me." And before +her companion could reply the girl disappeared.</p> + +<p>Ralph Merrit fingered his hat uncertainly. +He did not wish to remain and yet it would +seem singularly ungracious to have Jean return +and find him vanished. And since he had a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +confession to make, why not begin with her +to whom it would be hardest to say it?</p> + +<p>Ralph dropped into a chair on one side of +a small rustic table and Jean and the tea +party had both arrived before he lifted his +eyes again. Under the influence of the tea, +strawberries and cream and Aunt Ellen's +hot scones, with Jean making herself as +charming as she knew how to be, Ralph could +not help forgetting for a few moments the +things that were weighing upon him, while +he enjoyed the gifts that the fates provided.</p> + +<p>And Jean was truly kind, for she was +shocked as well as a little bit frightened by +Ralph's appearance. Naturally she was not +unaware that he had once cared for her, even +though he had not recently revealed it in +any open fashion. And of course Jean felt +that she had always regarded Ralph with the +sincerest friendship.</p> + +<p>She was hoping now that he would tell her +what was worrying him as a sign that their +old <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'frienship'">friendship</ins> was yet alive, when Ralph spoke.</p> + +<p>"Jean, I might as well tell you now as a +little later," he began, "it can't be delayed for +any length of time at best. I am going to +have to say good-bye to you all pretty soon."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jean's hand shook a little, so that she +first set down her teacup.</p> + +<p>"You mean that you are having to go +home for a visit. I hope nothing has happened +to your mother or sister; I was afraid +you were feeling troubled," the girl answered.</p> + +<p>With the old decision that she remembered +the young man shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No, it is not that," he returned, "but +simply that I am going to resign my position +as engineer of Rainbow Mine. Fact +of the matter is, I am not making good. +The men don't like me, don't want to work +under me, and things are in a muddle anyhow. +My staying on would only embarrass +Jim and Miss Ralston." (Ralph only called +Jack by her grown-up title when he was +considering her as his employer.)</p> + +<p>"So you are going to quit just because +things at the mine are no longer plain sailing. +Is it because you have had a better position +offered you? Then of course I am sure, even +though it makes everything much harder +for them, Jack and Jim would neither of +them wish to stand in your way," Jean answered +with intentional cruelty.</p> + +<p>And the young man understood her. "That +is not fair, Jean; you know those are not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +my reasons," he declared. "I am leaving +to <i>save</i> Jim and Jack the trouble, not to +make things more difficult. If I clear out +the men will quiet down and perhaps they +will get hold of some other engineer who +will understand the present situation better. +The truth is our old gold supply is giving out +and we have got to find a different method +of getting at the gold deeper down. I have +been away studying how this might be done +for the past ten days, but I have not yet +made up my mind."</p> + +<p>"Then stay on until you can decide, +Ralph," Jean replied quietly, "or at least +until you are certain that you don't know +what to do. Surely you must know the +situation at the Rainbow Mine better than +any one else. I have been guessing that +both Jim and Jack were worried, but you +know they won't go back on you until the +very last minute and not then unless you say +the word. So I don't think I would let the +other miners frighten me away. It seems +to me that a man will never be able to +manage other men if he turns and runs +at the first approach of a storm. I should +never have believed this of you, Ralph, +of all people!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> + +<p>With a little, quickly suppressed sound that +was almost a groan Ralph suddenly dropped +his head. "But a man isn't fit to govern +other men if he can't govern himself, Jean," +he answered.</p> + +<p>Even the color of her pink gown did not +now hide the pallor of the girl's cheeks.</p> + +<p>"What are you talking about, Ralph Merrit?" +she demanded a little unsteadily. "You +behave as though you had robbed a bank +or taken more than your share of gold out of +the mine. I wish you would not be so absurd—I +do hate uncomfortable people."</p> + +<p>The man got up. "I am sorry, Jean, +and I did not mean to trouble you with my +personal confession," he went on, "though +I thought it only fair that I should tell Jim +Colter. No, I have not been robbing anyone +except myself and my own family, though +the men may be saying even that of me soon," +he added bitterly. "But the truth is that I +have been speculating until I have lost every +red cent that I have earned and I don't think +a man who has been as big a fool as I have has +the right to try and hold down a job the +size of mine."</p> + +<p>"You have been speculating!" The girl +repeated the words almost foolishly, as though<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +not understanding at first what they meant. +Then she flushed angrily. "Ralph, what a +perfect goose you have been! For goodness +sake tell me what ever induced a sensible, +level-headed fellow like we all believed you +were to do such a stupid thing?" Jean demanded.</p> + +<p>But this was the one question which of all +the questions in the world Ralph Merrit +could never answer Jean truthfully.</p> + +<p>"Hush, never mind!" Jean interrupted +hurriedly, for she could see what her companion +had evidently not yet observed and +that was that another man was at this moment +approaching the house. His face had looked +ugly and forbidding, but at the sight of Jean +he raised his hat.</p> + +<p>The girl recognized him as John Raines, +a man of about fifty years of age and a kind +of leader and spokesman among the other +miners.</p> + +<p>"Beg your pardon, Miss," he began stiffly, +"but having just heard that Mr. Merrit has +returned to the ranch, I want to ask him if +he will come and have a little talk with some +of us men. We've been waiting for this talk +for a considerable time."</p> + +<p>Ralph stepped down from the porch at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +once. "Certainly, I will come along with +you now," he answered quietly. And then +turning to Jean and with a gesture asking +that she excuse him, the young man followed +the older one. And Jean could not but +notice how slender and boyish and, yes, how +spent he looked as he walked behind the big, +heavy miner, with arms and chest so powerful +that he seemed able actually to have +crushed the slighter man like a great bear, had +he so desired.</p> + +<p>What could the miners be wishing with +Ralph that they must see him at once, now +when they knew that Jim Colter was not on +the ranch?</p> + +<p>Without trying to answer the question +herself and only lingering long enough to +fasten a dark coat over her light frock Jean +hurried after the two figures, taking care, +however, that neither of them became conscious +of her presence.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>"COURAGE MAKES THE MAN"<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>THERE were as many as twenty men +waiting to talk to Ralph Merrit +within the vicinity of the Rainbow +Mine. And they chanced to be standing +close together near one of the big rocks that +rose like a miniature fortress beside Rainbow +Creek. After Ralph had entered the group, +Jean managed without being observed to +slip behind this rock where she was in safe +hiding.</div> + +<p>But just why she had followed the two +men and what her motive was for concealing +herself she did not try to explain to herself. +Simply she had yielded to an impulse of +fear, of curiosity and perhaps to some other +instinct that was partly protective. One +young fellow among so many older, rougher +and more lawless characters! What might +not happen to him?</p> + +<p>And yet Jean Bruce had not her cousin +Jacqueline's physical bravery nor determination<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +of purpose, and moreover she had an +openly expressed dislike of mixing herself +up in the things which she did not consider +essentially feminine. However, she had no +idea now of letting anyone guess her nearness, +not even Ralph Merrit himself.</p> + +<p>Sitting down on the ground in a kind of +scooped-out cave in a rock she could occasionally +manage to get a glimpse of the miners, +although at present while they were talking +quietly she could only rarely catch a word +or so of what they were saying, and not a +sound from Ralph, who seemed the calmest +and most self-controlled of them all. After +a while she realized that John Raines, the +man who had been sent to summon her companion, +must now have been chosen as spokesman +for the lot and was evidently making +his voice sufficiently loud for them all to +hear distinctly. And this of course included +the unknown listener.</p> + +<p>"See here, Mr. Merrit," John Raines +began quietly, "us men have been talking +things over among ourselves for some time +past and we have done come to the pretty +positive conclusion that we don't like the +way <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'you'r'">you're</ins> running things at Rainbow Mine. +And we thought it might be fairer to you,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +all told, just to mention this little fact and +to let you quit without any kind of rumpus +or trouble for nobody."</p> + +<p>Jean could not see Ralph Merrit's face or +even his figure, he was so closely surrounded, +but because he too was speaking so that his +entire audience might hear, Jean understood +every word.</p> + +<p>"What's the trouble with me, Raines, as a +boss?" he asked with such self-control and +apparent lack of anger that Jean was both +amazed and pleased.</p> + +<p>Then there was a kind of low muttering +among the other men and finally their spokesman +went on:</p> + +<p>"I guess you know most of our complaints +pretty well by this time—we've been tellin' +'em to you long enough and hard enough. If +this is a profit-sharing business, as you and +Jim Colter and Miss Ralston said it was +goin' to be, then you ain't gettin' gold enough +out of the Rainbow Mine to suit us."</p> + +<p>"But we are getting all we can, aren't +we? You men aren't loafing with the work?" +Ralph interrupted.</p> + +<p>John Raines scowled. "That's senseless +talk! You know what the trouble is; we +have already gotten out most all the gold<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +there is near the surface of the earth around +here. Now what we have got to do to make +it pay big again is to get more machinery and +try different ways of working. And we want +a boss to tell Miss Ralston and Jim Colter +to get busy buying the new machinery and +then to show us how to run it. We are not +going to waste any more time around here +on a few dollars pay a day."</p> + +<p>From her hiding place Jean did her best +to hear Ralph. Here of course was the time +and place for him to make the same confession +to the miners that he had recently made +to her. For he did intend to do just what +the men had demanded of him, resign his +work and give way for a better man. Nevertheless, +he evidently intended delaying a +bit longer before making the confession.</p> + +<p>"But I have explained to you men before +this why I have not done what you ask," +he went on, still in a reasonable tone of voice. +"I told you that I did not feel certain that it +was the <i>best</i> thing to do. We are by no +means sure that there is enough gold below the +present mine to make it worth while to go +deeper. You men know what a lot of money +the machinery for certain kinds of gold digging +takes. It would probably eat up pretty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +much all the capital that the owners of the +Rainbow Mine have. And I don't want to +tell them to buy this machinery until I am +a lot surer that the gold is down there waiting +to be hauled out."</p> + +<p>John Raines glanced about at the faces +surrounding him. It was easy enough to +take his tone from their expressions.</p> + +<p>"Then there is no use wasting any more +of our time and yours in talk, Merrit," the +older man announced in a rougher manner +than he had before employed. "Your sentiments +was pretty well known to us before +you spouted them forth. And that's just +the point! You don't know what ought to +be done about things and we do. And we +want a man to boss us that knows same as +we. Now, young man, you just get out +pleasant and the quicker the better."</p> + +<p>All over her body, to the very tips of her +ears, Jean felt herself tingling with sudden, +overpowering anger. Why had Ralph Merrit +not said what he intended saying before now? +To resign at this moment in the face of this +other man's insolence, which represented +the same feeling in his companions, was to +behave like a small boy at school who had +been stood up in a corner and soundly thrashed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +by his schoolmaster and then made to apologize +for his pains. Jean felt that she would +never care to look Ralph in the face again. +But he was speaking now for the third time.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 315px;"> +<img src="images/illus02.jpg" width="315" height="500" alt=""She Had Heard That Masterful Tone Before"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"She Had Heard That Masterful Tone Before"</span> +</div> + +<p>"Have Miss Ralston and Mr. Colter told +you that they wanted me to quit?" he inquired. +"It seems like they would have +mentioned the matter to me first. I have +usually taken my orders from them and not +from the men <i>under</i> me."</p> + +<p>There was quite a different ring in Ralph +Merrit's voice during this speech that made +the girl behind the rock unexpectedly put +up her cold hands to cool her hot cheeks. +She had heard that masterful tone before, +but not in some time.</p> + +<p>"No, they ain't said nothing yet," Raines +admitted. "But it don't matter; you got +to quit just the same. You can't run a +gold mine by yourself with all your 'book +larnin,' and it's either you or us that gets +out."</p> + +<p>"Then it'll be you," Ralph replied in such +a matter-of-fact and undisturbed fashion +that Jean could hardly believe she had heard +him aright, or else she must have been dreaming +less than an hour before.</p> + +<p>"Look here, fellows, don't be fools," Ralph<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +went on, still showing no loss of temper. +"The hour Mr. Colter and Miss Ralston +tell me they want me to give up my job at +the Rainbow Mine, that hour I go. And +the minute I am really convinced that another +man is able to do my work better than I can, +that man gets my position, if I can persuade +the Rainbow Mine owners to try him. But +I've got to study things out here a little +longer, I've got to make some new experiments +and maybe kind of feel my way slowly +toward deciding what had best be done. I +have been away for the past ten days studying +conditions at other mines and trying +to find out some of the latest ideas in mining +machinery."</p> + +<p>But the other men were making no pretense +of listening and were muttering and +talking among themselves as a direct and +intentional insult to the speaker. Ralph +waited in silence, and Jean had an intuition +that the end of the discussion was about to +take place. The noises that the miners +were making were ugly, vicious sounds entirely +unfamiliar to the girl's ears and she had no +conception of what they might portend. She +had a sudden fear that they might mean some +bodily injury to the younger man. Then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +would she have the courage to rush out to +his defense as Jack undoubtedly would have, +no matter what overtook her?</p> + +<p>But she was mistaken in the form of her +present uneasiness.</p> + +<p>"You can talk that way here, if it makes +you feel better, young fellow," one of the +other miners announced contemptuously, "but +it ain't goin' to make a mite of difference in +the way things has to go. We give you thirty-six +hours' notice to get clear of Rainbow Mine, +and if you don't, why you can stay around +here and play by yourself as long as you like +provided your bosses are willing to give up +the gold-mining business. Because if you +stay, we git out and that means there is not +another miner going to be allowed down a +shaft in this here mine."</p> + +<p>"You mean," said Ralph, "that you are +going to strike and make the other men +boycott us. I don't believe your union will +stand for it. You haven't got a kick coming +to you about your hours of work, or your +pay, or any of the conditions about the +mine. And just because you don't think I've +got brains enough for my job is no reason why +you should strike. I want you to know, +you fellows," and here Ralph's voice was no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +longer in the least conciliatory, but as firm +and decisive as a judge's sentence, "I am +a union man myself, but you must understand +once and for all that if the Rainbow +Mine owners agree to stand by me I am going +to keep on with the job of bossing this mine. +And I am going to keep on digging out the +gold we can get with our old tools until there's +a way of knowing what ought to be done next. +But I think in the future it is going to suit +me better to have another lot of men to work +with me and I think I'll be able to get hold +of them. You may go to your quarters now. +I'll let you hear in the morning what Miss +Ralston and Mr. Colter want to do."</p> + +<p>And to Jean Bruce's immense amazement, +though some of the men laughed rudely and +others muttered threats and curses, the entire +number after some delay and further discussion +among themselves, walked off, leaving +Ralph Merrit entirely alone. Notwithstanding, +the miners were evidently unanimous +in their intention.</p> + +<p>Jean snuggled closer than before in her +rocky alcove, scarcely daring to breathe for +fear of their discovering her and so creating +further ill feeling. Then after they had +gone, and the last man of them was entirely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +out of sight, she still did not move. For +Ralph Merrit had never stirred from his +position and she did not know whether she +even wished him to learn of her eavesdropping.</p> + +<p>Ralph did not move and Jean was growing +bored with her cramped position, now that +events were no longer sufficiently exciting +to make her forget herself. Besides, did +she not really wish to let Ralph know just +how she felt about him?</p> + +<p>Curiously he did not turn around until she +was within a few feet of him. Yet when he +did, Jean laughed and clapped her hands +childishly at the change in his expression since +their interview on the veranda.</p> + +<p>"Why, Jean, where have you come from? +You did not see anybody, did you, on your +way from the house? This is not a place +where you should be."</p> + +<p>Jean nodded. "Yes, I did see everybody +and heard everything. Please forgive me for +being a horrid spy," she confessed, "but I +was hiding behind that rock the whole blessed +time. And oh, Ralph, I am so pleased and +proud of you! Of course Jack and Jim will +stand by you to the bitter end—I should dare +them not to; but then nobody need ever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +accuse Jim and Jack of not enjoying a good, +clean fight."</p> + +<p>Jean put her hand through the young man's +arm. "Do come on back to the Lodge with +me. It is almost time for the others to be +coming home. You must rest a while first +and have dinner and then tell them what you +intend to do."</p> + +<p>A little dazed by the girl's unexpected +appearance and by her sudden flow of words, +and still deeply engrossed on what had just +taken place, Ralph Merrit allowed himself to +be led along for a few steps in silence.</p> + +<p>"You must think I am a good deal of a +turncoat, Jean, and don't know my own +mind for half an hour," he said finally. +"Maybe I haven't the right after all to get +you people into trouble."</p> + +<p>Jean gave the young man's arm a vehement +shake. "You haven't got the right to be +anything but—a man, Ralph Merrit!" she +announced. "Goodness, you don't know how +ashamed I was of you and for you a while +ago! I suppose it is because I am such a +coward myself, because I am so afraid of +rough things and rough places, that I love +courage more than anything else in the +world."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you, Jean?" Ralph murmured almost +to himself. "Well, I have been a coward in +more ways than one in these past six +months."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE MIDNIGHT CONFERENCE<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>FOR hours after dinner the family at the +Rainbow Lodge sat in their big living +room talking over matters with Ralph +Merrit. Better than he had been able to +explain to Jean he now made the present +situation clear to his listeners. And by his +frankness in acknowledging that he had not +yet been able to make up his mind as to what +was best to be done for the future of Rainbow +Mine he restored Jim's and Jack's full +confidence.</div> + +<p>The discussion was absorbing; only Frieda, +after an hour or so of what seemed to her a +repetition of the same conversation, grew +sleepy and now and then dozed for a few +moments with her yellow head nodding uncomfortably.</p> + +<p>Why stay awake longer when she understood +the state of things perfectly? Ralph +had said that they would probably have much +less money out of the Rainbow Mine for a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +time. Later, if he saw his way clear by +spending their capital and buying new +machinery, they might become a great deal +wealthier. And while naturally the first of +this information was discouraging, the second +idea had kept Frieda quite wide awake until +ten o'clock. Earlier in the evening she had +felt frightened at the thought of the miners +striking and the trouble that they might be +going to have on the ranch for the next few +days; but Jim and Jack did not appear +alarmed, so after a time her nervousness was +partly allayed.</p> + +<p>They both had declared that Ralph must +not for a moment consider surrendering to +the men; for apparently they intended not +only to dismiss him but thereafter to run the +Rainbow Mine with no consideration for its +owners. It might take a few days for Ralph +to get together another group of capable +miners, but the delay was the only annoyance. +For no one appeared to believe that the old +men would make trouble. They were merely +trying to bluff and threaten Ralph.</p> + +<p>Jean, having seen with her own eyes the +bitterness and dissatisfaction among the workers, +was not so completely convinced. Nevertheless +she said nothing of her own doubt, not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +regarding her opinion in the matter as of +special value. Moreover, she enjoyed seeing +Ralph Merrit so sure of himself once more +and so determined to swing things to a successful +issue. It recalled the days when he had +first been summoned to help them with his +judgment as to whether or not Rainbow +Mine contained sufficient gold to make it +of importance. And what a change in their +lives their wealth had created for them! At +least Jean had previously believed this to be +true, but studying the faces in the little group +about her tonight she was not so sure of the +others. Assuredly Ruth and Jim, who were +sitting on a sofa with Ruth's hand slipped +quietly and quite unconsciously inside Jim's, +were not dependent for their happiness on the +possession of a great deal of money. And +there was Jack leaning both elbows on a +small table nearby with her face in her +hands, listening intently to every word Ralph +was saying. Had she ever seen her cousin +more animated or more interested? Well, she +had always known that the mere spending of +money had never given Jack the same degree +of pleasure that it had her. It was "making +things happen" that Jack cared most for, +and now that difficulties were presenting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +themselves in regard to the Rainbow Mine, +actually Jack seemed almost to be enjoying +the prospect. Frieda was nodding, so that +even she could not be very deeply concerned +at the prospect of poverty, and Olive could +certainly not be accused of being mercenary, +since she was calmly turning her back on a +large fortune rather than fulfil the conditions +of her grandmother's will.</p> + +<p>Jean smiled and sighed almost in the same +breath. She could not pretend to any such +highmindedness, she was afraid that she was +the kind of girl whom she had heard people +describe as "loving luxury like a cat." Certainly +she did care more than she should for +beautiful clothes, handsome houses, travel, +society and everything that money alone +could buy. And yet, after all, the wealth of +Rainbow Mine was not hers: it belonged to +Jack and Frieda, though they had always +shared their income with her as though she +had been their sister instead of their cousin. +Whether their gold mine had now ceased to +be of value or whether deeper down under +the earth it should hold a larger fortune, was +it not still her place to make her own future? +With a start Jean came to herself. The clock +had just struck midnight and Ralph had risen.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> + +<p>"As soon as things straighten out, Mr. +Colter, I am going to ask you to let me send +for two or three of the big mining experts. +For of course you would want their opinion +as well as mine. I will tell the men your +decision in the morning. Thank all of you +for your faith in me and good-night."</p> + +<p>But Ralph's movement must have awakened +Frieda, for she sat up suddenly and +yawned. "Who is it you are going to send +for to come to the ranch?" she demanded +unexpectedly. "Oh, I do hope some one who +isn't a hundred years old. Why can't you +ever ask a young man's advice, Ralph Merrit—you +are young yourself?"</p> + +<p>And then as everybody laughed, Jack +pinched her sister's inviting pink cheek.</p> + +<p>"What a foolish baby you are, Frieda +Ralston," she declared, "I hardly think that +Ralph's mining experts will be of the slightest +interest to you."</p> + +<p>After Jim and Ralph had gone out in the +hall together and were talking quietly Jean +slipped out after them.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think, Jim," she asked, "that +Ralph had better not go down to his old +quarters to sleep tonight? You know his +room is in the same house with half a dozen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +of the miners and of course nothing will +happen, but I don't believe the men are +exactly devoted to him and—" Jean put her +hand coaxingly on the young man's coat +sleeve. "Sleep on the divan in the living +room tonight, won't you? We haven't a +spare room, but I assure you it is most +comfortable."</p> + +<p>Jim nodded. "That isn't a bad idea, +Ralph."</p> + +<p>But the younger man shook his head, +although his eyes thanked the girl for her +interest.</p> + +<p>"No, Jim," he said, "you and Jean are +both awfully kind, but the one thing that the +fellows I disagreed with today must not +think is that I am in the least afraid of them. +Oh, I realize I am up against a pretty tough +proposition—they are not the kind to back +down easily and are accustomed to getting +their own way, but your faith and belief in +me——"</p> + +<p>Ralph stopped, his voice a little husky. +"Good-night, Jean, and thank you." Then +he turned to Jim Colter. "I wonder if you +would mind walking a short distance with me. +There is something else I must tell you that +I could not mention in there tonight."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> + +<p>And as the two men disappeared Jean had +a sudden feeling of thankfulness. How +curiously things turned out. If she had not +chanced to be on the porch at Rainbow +Lodge that afternoon she might never have +heard Ralph Merrit's confession. If the men +had not summoned him for their talk just +when they did, Ralph would have gone away +from Rainbow Mine feeling that he had made +a failure of his life and of his work.</p> + +<p>And Jean's pretty brown eyes filled with +tears. They had all been fond of Ralph for +several years and would have been sorry to +have him vanish out of their lives. She was +glad too that he had recovered from the idea +that he once had of caring for her more than +the other girls. Or at least Jean believed +that she was glad, for it is a very rare woman +who can honestly rejoice at the loss of a +lover, even though he continues to be her +friend.</p> + +<p>Out in the dark together Jim Colter put +his great arm across the younger man's +shoulder. "Yes, I know it is more serious, +boy, than we pretended in there, but I'm +with you to the uttermost and things will +turn out all right. It may not hurt my girls +to have less money for a while, though of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +course it would come pretty hard on them +now to be poor, after we have taught them +such extravagant tastes. But in any case, +old fellow, the fault will not be yours and you +must not take the result too seriously."</p> + +<p>Ralph had not spoken, but he now braced +himself and drew a slow breath.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Jim, I didn't say all I ought to +have said in there with your wife and the +girls—somehow I couldn't. For I let you say +you would stand by me and have faith in +me when all the time I knew I wasn't worth +it."</p> + +<p>Then Ralph made the same confession to +his man friend and employer as he had to +Jean earlier in the day. He told him that he +had been speculating steadily for the past +six months. To Jim's question as to why he +felt he had to grow rich in such a hurry, +again Ralph made no reply. When the +older man put out his hand to say good-night, +Ralph Merrit held it for a moment +longer than usual.</p> + +<p>"Jim," he asked, "may I make a promise +to you? This has been one of the biggest +days in my life. I came home this afternoon +pretty well down-and-out, intending to give +up my work and pretty much everything I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +want to attain in the world. Then—well, +wonderful, unexpected things began to happen. +Now I hope I am a man again. So I +want to promise, not so much you as myself, +that I am going to cut this speculating +business out absolutely and that I am going +to keep on being a man if I can manage it, +no matter what happens."</p> + +<p>There was something in Ralph's words and +in his manner that made Jim's blue eyes +shine and gave the extra warmth and heartiness +to the farewell clasp of his hand. Moreover, +he had suddenly recalled a confidence +that Jack had made to him in regard to +Ralph Merrit's feeling for Jean. And if ever +there was a man who knew how to offer +sympathy and understanding to a discouraged +lover, that man was Jim Colter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>A DILEMMA AND A VISITOR<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>"GREAT SCOTT," muttered Jim +Colter at the breakfast table some +days later, "if there was only another +man around this place to take care of you +women, I would not let Ralph Merrit carry +so much of this burden alone. It's getting +past a one-man's game to manage our present +affairs."</div> + +<p>In return Jack shook her fist at him with +what was not all a pretense of indignation. +"Ruth, you may not object to hearing your +husband speak of you as a burden," she +protested, "but I can't say I ever like hearing +that I am not able to look after myself. Oh, +yes, I know what the family thinks of my +vanity! But seriously, Jim, there isn't any +danger, no matter what goes on down at the +mine, of anybody's annoying us. You need +not worry over leaving us alone. I am quite +sure we don't need 'another man.' The +ranch is too full of them already!" And<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +Jack shrugged her shoulders in the face of +her guardian.</p> + +<p>But from her place at the head of the table +behind a big silver coffee urn, Ruth looked at +the girl in the seat next her who had just +finished speaking.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to hear you say that, Jack," +she began quietly, "because pretty soon we +are going to have what you and Jim are +pleased to call 'another man' as our guest +at the Rainbow Lodge and one whom of all +others I most wish to see."</p> + +<p>Jack was puzzled, but Olive Van Mater, +with a swift glance at the older woman, +felt the blood leaving her face and her hands +turning cold. Her lids drooped swiftly over +her dark eyes and immediately she devoted +herself to eating her breakfast, though all +the while she was studying Jack's expression.</p> + +<p>At this moment a diversion was created +by the entrance of a very fluffy, blue-eyed +person in a pale blue breakfast toilet, who +after kissing Ruth slipped into a place next +her sister.</p> + +<p>"Sorry I'm late," she said, without any +suggestion of real contrition, "but since Jim +makes us stay in the house so much lately +there isn't any reason for getting up."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Thank you, Frieda darling, for the pleasure +you take in our society," Jean murmured, +setting down her coffee cup in mock indignation. +"I am sure that each and every +member of your family feels grateful to you +for your flattering suggestion. But since +we are of no interest to you, perhaps you +would like to hear that Ruth has just said +we are to have an unexpected visitor—a +man!"</p> + +<p>Frieda first helped herself to the entire +pile of griddle cakes. "I suppose everyone +else has nearly finished," she remarked by +way of explanation. And then: "Oh, I +suppose the visitor is one of those tiresome +men who is coming to help Ralph about the +mine. I do wish things would quiet down, +because as soon as our new house is finished +Jean and I are dying to have a houseparty. +Ralph said himself that his mining engineers +were too old to be any fun—the youngest +one is past thirty!"</p> + +<p>"Yet I am still able to get about at that +age, Frieda Ralston," Jim Colter protested.</p> + +<p>At this instant Jack shook her head. +"We are being very impolite to Ruth by +talking so much," she declared. "Ruth +was going to tell us about a new visitor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +and of course we are desperately anxious to +hear. Who is he, Ruth, a stranger or an +old friend? And where are you going to +find a place for any one else at Rainbow +Lodge?"</p> + +<p>Purposely Ruth waited a moment in the +silence that followed.</p> + +<p>"I'll give you three guesses," she said +finally.</p> + +<p>"Peter Drummond and Jessica! Wouldn't +it be splendid if they came to us on their +wedding trip?" Jack answered immediately.</p> + +<p>"No," Ruth answered.</p> + +<p>"Tom, the chocolate-drop boy!" Jean exclaimed, +laughing at Frieda's sudden blush.</p> + +<p>But Olive Van Mater had put down her +knife and fork and was looking quietly at +Ruth. "May I have a turn at guessing, +please?" she asked in her usual gentle fashion. +"Isn't our visitor to be Frank Kent?"</p> + +<p>And then as Ruth nodded with a smile +of pleasure every pair of eyes at the table +immediately turned upon Jacqueline Ralston.</p> + +<p>And Jack's cheeks grew suddenly a deeper +pink, like the heart of a pink rose, for she +was too surprised for the present to be self-conscious.</p> + +<p>"You must be mistaken, Ruth dear," she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +insisted. "Frank hasn't written me; I +haven't said that he could come." And +then seeing what her words suggested, she +went on in greater confusion, "I thought he +was to wait until our house was finished +or until later in the summer or until some +time," she ended lamely. "I don't understand."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps Frank will explain to you, dear," +Ruth replied carelessly. And then turning +toward the other girls:</p> + +<p>"You see Frank has been writing me +about his visit for several weeks. But he +and I both wanted his coming to be a surprise. +He has said that he could not endure +waiting longer to see his dearest friends. +So a week ago when he arrived in New York +he telegraphed me to know when he could +come to the Rainbow Ranch and of course +I said 'at once.' I rather think he may +be here some time this afternoon. You +won't have to worry now, Jim, about taking +care of your wife and family, for Frank +will——"</p> + +<p>But Frieda was clapping her hands together +with much more pleasure than that +slightly selfish young person usually showed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am so glad, Jack. We do like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +Frank better than any one we know, don't +we? And if you don't, I am sure Olive +does," she persisted.</p> + +<p>Jim got up from his place. "I don't like +this fashion you have, Mrs. Colter, of corresponding +with gentlemen and not informing +your husband, but just the same I am delighted +that Kent is coming to us. It's +amazing what a fine fellow he is for an +Englishman, and certainly we owe him a lot. +When a man marries at another's house—and +such a wedding—it's hard work getting +even with him!"</p> + +<p>Out to the door Ruth followed her husband.</p> + +<p>"I am dreadfully uneasy about this trouble +at the mine. I did not dare show how much +I am worried before the girls. But you +must tell me just what the conditions are, +Jim. You know we don't believe in marriages +where the woman is shut out from facts," +Ruth insisted.</p> + +<p>For half a moment the man hesitated. +Then he kissed the little woman who had +to stand on her tip-toes to be on a level +with his chin.</p> + +<p>"I don't tell you the facts, Ruthie dear, +because I don't know them," he answered. +"How can I tell what a lot of crazy, obstinate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +men are going to do? But evidently +the miners who deserted us have managed +to intimidate the other mine workers in +this neighborhood. Ralph has not been able +to get hold of any men who want to work +for us, and things at the mine have been +idle for some time, as you know. So far, +all we have been able to do is to have the +cowboys do picket duty down at the mine +so as to keep the other fellows from wrecking +our machinery or blowing us up. There, +don't turn white as a sheet, Ruth! I don't +believe that the old miners are that anxious +to injure us; yet we have to be on the +look-out. Merrit has got to be away all +day <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'to day'">today</ins> hunting for men, so I must be +on the job. Sorry I can't meet Kent, but +you'll see that he is looked after all right +and I'll be with you at dinner tonight. I'll +bring Merrit with me if I can persuade +him—he is apt to be pretty well fagged."</p> + +<p>The greater part of the day the four girls +spent together in the garden near the Lodge. +It was a lovely June day, with the air full +of the scents of innumerable wild flowers. +And everything within the immediate neighborhood +of the Lodge was as peaceful and +undisturbed as though the mine were a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +hundred miles away. Jean and Jack at +least half a dozen times confessed to the +desire to walk over to the mine and see what +was taking place; but since Jim had given strict +orders against it they did not quite dare.</p> + +<p>A part of the time they spent helping +Frieda gather great bunches of violets from +her old violet beds, which had never been +allowed to die out, until the Lodge was +finally filled with them and the big living room +was fair and fragrant enough for any festival.</p> + +<p>Then, when other amusements failed, there +was always the new house to be investigated. +It was now so nearly completed that when +things quieted down at the mine again, if +they were still to have a sufficient income to +meet expenses, the moving into the new +home was to take place.</p> + +<p>While the other three girls were rummaging +about making suggestions Jack managed +to slip quietly away. She went directly +to Ruth, who was in the nursery with her +little son. And as Jack was never used +to evasions or to trying to get her own way +by indirect methods, she asked immediately:</p> + +<p>"Ruth dear, may Olive and I drive to the +station and meet Frank Kent this afternoon? +I have a special reason for wishing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +to be there. You see, dear, I don't want +Frank to think that I am not delighted to +see him or that I have put off his coming +to us because I had forgotten him. You +knew he had been wanting to come for a +long time, didn't you?"</p> + +<p>Ruth nodded. "I had guessed it, Jack, +though I did not know positively until Frank's +letter to me. Nor do I know now why you +put off his visit. I am not asking you to +tell me," she added quickly. For, observing +the sudden look of reserve on the girl's face, +she appreciated that it must be respected. +"Frank merely said that he wanted to see +us so much, and I did not see how his coming +could fail to give pleasure. You don't mind, +do you, dear?" Ruth concluded, wondering +if this might be the moment for confidence.</p> + +<p>Although still keeping her clear, almost +transparently honest gray eyes on her friend, +Jack flushed.</p> + +<p>"Yes dear, I do want Frank, now that +Olive is here," she replied. "I meant to +write him and ask him just as soon as things +were quiet at the mine again. Now may +we go to meet him?"</p> + +<p>Ruth looked worried. "I have been wondering +what we ought to do about going to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +the station all morning," she returned. "Of +course some of the family must meet Frank +or he will feel deeply wounded, but I can't +leave the baby and yet there seems no man +about the place to go with you girls. Jim +has taken possession of everybody."</p> + +<p>Jack kissed Ruth on the hair and then +bent over and looked at the baby with a +new expression of wonder and reverence. +She had always been much more afraid of +the "little Jimmikins" than the other girls.</p> + +<p>"Don't trouble over things a minute, +Ruth. You know the danger that Jim is +fearful of for us is what may happen here +on the ranch. But we shall be leaving the +ranch as soon as we drive through the gate. +Moreover, we can take Carlos with us for +an escort; he is only a boy, but he will do +perfectly well. And if we don't take him, +it won't make much difference since he +would be more than likely to follow us. +As far as I can see he trails constantly after +Olive like a faithful dog. It would annoy +me, but I don't believe she has even noticed +how much he does it. I wonder what +the boy's exact reason is? Nevertheless, as +it gives Carlos a regular occupation, I suppose +we should be grateful."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>CROSS PURPOSES<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>OLIVE was not so unconscious of the +Indian boy's attitude toward her as +Jack believed. Indeed she could +not well be. And now as the three of them +drove together to the station she was pondering +on whether or not she should confide +her experience to Jack. But Jack was not +sympathetic toward Carlos, for with her +intense and forceful nature it was hard for +her to understand the boy's idleness and +dreaming. Therefore to tell her what had +recently occurred would doubtless make her +prejudice the deeper. For she was almost +sure to regard the boy's behavior as impertinence +and to wish to send him at once +away from the ranch.</div> + +<p>Yet though Olive herself was annoyed, +she did not wish matters to go so far as +that. For she had a peculiar appreciation +and pity for the Indian boy's difficulties +which no one else could so readily have.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +Had she not been raised among the Indian +people and did she not comprehend their +shy, proud natures? For white people to +realize that the Indian, even in the midst +of his overthrow and degradation, still considers +himself their superior is an almost +impossible conception. Nevertheless Olive +knew this to be true. The white man's +religion is to the Indian less full of visions +and of dreams. An educated Indian writes:</p> + +<p>"When we plant our plumes where the +shrines are, our first prayer is for good +thoughts—that our children may be wise +and strong, and that the God of the sky +may be glad of us. I have listened to the +mission talk many days, and nothing in +the words of the missionary is more white +than the thought which we plant with the +prayer plumes on our shrines."</p> + +<p>Neither does the Indian, though of course +there are exceptions in his race as in all +other things, have the respect that we feel +he should have for the advantages of our +education. What more does it teach him +of the woods and the fields, of the beauty +and imagery of nature, of all that he cares +to know? Of a boy who had been to a +government school an Indian says:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He comes back to his people and knows +that if he lives there it must be as his father +lived—except that now he has more cultivated +tastes to satisfy, and no further means +or methods of earning the price of them. To +plant the corn, herd the sheep, hunt the +rabbits, take care of his share of his own +village—these are the life-work of the Indian. +The schools teach him to do that no better +than his fathers did it before him. He is +taught to read and write, and he asks 'for what?'</p> + +<p>"The cities of the mesa have no books, +and have never felt the need of them. Why +should he read of the American life he lives +apart from?"</p> + +<p>Therefore Olive understood that though +the boy Carlos might not be able to express +himself in this fashion, in his heart of hearts +this was exactly the way that he felt. Why +should he study what Jim Colter and the +girls wished him to learn? Books and figures +had no possible interest for him or +relation to the life which he meant to lead. +His world was the outdoor one, among the +animals and birds, under the new moons +of each succeeding month, and lifting up +his eyes and his heart to the sun when he +wished to be glad.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> + +<p>To work like the other men did about the +ranch, digging under the earth or plowing +in the fields! This was not for the son and +the grandson of many chieftains! It was +not merely laziness on Carlos' part that +kept him from making himself useful, but +the feeling that any such labor as he might +be expected to do was beneath his dignity. +Therefore the boy could never really get +into his mind the idea that the white people +were his masters, although in a vague way +he knew that they felt themselves to be. +It was this thought that was always the foundation +of Carlos' sullenness and lack of gratitude.</p> + +<p>So Olive realized that the Indian boy's +letter to her, which she had found at her +door one day hidden among a bunch of +prairie roses, had not been written in any +spirit of presumption or audacity. Had she +not at one time seemed to be an Indian like +himself? Had she not lived among them, +eaten their food and spoken their speech? +And was it not for her sake that Carlos +had left his own tribe and taken upon himself +many of the ways of the white man? +The boy had cared for his "Princess Olilie" +always, but in years past he had been a +boy and felt as one. Now he was a man!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> + +<p>All this and more Carlos had put into his +note. Olive remembered it at the present +moment almost word for word, for it had +touched and hurt her at the same time. +Although Carlos was too young to mean all +that he had said, she knew that with his +queer nature he must suffer from her reply.</p> + +<p>For he had written:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><span class="smcap">My Lady of the Lone Trail</span>: + +<p>Are you not weary of the life and the ways of the +white women and men? Are you not tired of having +your soul shut up between four walls of wood with +no vision for your eyes by day and no night wind to +touch your cheek as you lay asleep? You and I have +grown older now; there is no one in any Indian tribe +to hurt us. Have I not stayed quietly here waiting +and watching for you, learning many things which I +have hated, that we might not fail to understand +each other? For my love for you is as the Tu-wa-ni-ne-ma, +the sand of the desert.</p> + +<p>Therefore will you not come away with me back +to the wonderful, free outdoor world, where we lived +together for a little while when both of us were children. +Under a tree in a dim forest I shall build for +you such a nest as only a man shall build for his mate. +Then in the day time I shall plant corn while you weave +the beautiful Indian blanket, which the Indian Laska +taught you to make. And in the night we shall listen +to the little night bird of the desert, the Hoetska. +But both day and night we shall be alone and away<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +from these people who do not understand me as you +do and who will never love you as I do.</p> + +<p>Whenever you will come with me, I shall have two +horses waiting.</p></div> + +<p>Olive stole a glimpse at Jacqueline's face. +For a quarter of an hour they had been sitting +beside each other, and yet neither one +of them had uttered a word. But certainly +she should not tell Jack of Carlos' unhappy +and impossible letter. For Jack might be +amused, she might be angry, and certainly +she would be resentful.</p> + +<p>No, Olive decided that she must keep the +boy's secret inviolate. Some day she would +have a chance to see him alone. Then she +might be able to explain how far she herself +had traveled from the old Indian days—how +she could never again love the things +that the boy did, nor endure the life which +he wished to lead. Besides, Carlos was only +a boy, while she was almost a woman—at +least a good many years his senior! Perhaps +she might even tell Carlos that it would be +best for him to go away from Rainbow +Ranch, back to his own people where he +could live with Indian boys and girls of +his own age. There was the Indian village<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +not far off to which she herself might return +after a few years. For one of these days +the Indians were to have a teacher who +<i>could</i> understand their point of view as +well as that of the white people. Perhaps +Carlos might by that time be married to +a girl of his own race and be able to help +her with her chosen work.</p> + +<p>But she must not speak of this idea to +Jacqueline either, for the suggestion always +made her friend unhappy. It was odd how +utterly devoted she and Jack were and how +intimate; yet they did not often speak of +the deepest desires of their hearts to each +other. Not once had Jack voluntarily mentioned +Frank Kent's name since their return +from the visit to Lord and Lady Kent the +year before.</p> + +<p>Was Jack in love with Frank? Olive +could not make up her mind. Because if +she were, what was standing in the way +of their engagement? Of course Jack could +never have dreamed of her foolish, impossible +affection for Frank, who had never +been anything except her good friend. Olive +was quite certain that she had never by any +sign betrayed herself. She believed that she +had entirely recovered from her former feeling,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +and was hoping with all her heart that +Jack and Frank would now find out that +they truly loved each other.</p> + +<p>But what was making Jacqueline so unusually +quiet? Olive's slender hand slipped +into her friend's larger and firmer one, and +Jack's fingers closed over it lovingly.</p> + +<p>They were now almost at the depot and +Frank Kent's train would be due in another +quarter of an hour. If only Jack would +not look so pale and reserved—she was not +nearly so pretty as usual! Her face was +white and her eyes had dark shadows under +them. Jean and Frieda had insisted that +Jack wear a new silk suit that had recently +been made for her, but it was not half so +becoming as her old brown corduroys or +faded khaki; neither was her cream-colored +straw hat with its single brown rose so +picturesque as the ranch hat in which Frank +had first seen her.</p> + +<p>Olive sighed, and the sigh attracted the +other girl's attention.</p> + +<p>"I have been a dreadfully stupid companion, +Olive dear. Forgive me," Jack +murmured penitently. And then: "How +pretty you are looking! Frank will be so +glad to see you, I know!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> + +<p>At this moment Carlos stopped the carriage +and pair of horses before the station platform, +where both girls got out without time for +further speech. Yet all this while Jacqueline +had been thinking: "If Olive still cares for +Frank after this year of absence I am sure +that her feeling will never change. So if +this be true I shall tell Frank that I do not +care for him enough to marry him. Olive +has had too unhappy a life for me to add to her +unhappiness. Surely when Frank believes +that I do not love him, he will find out what +Olive means to him and how immeasurably +she is my superior, in beauty, brains, sweetness +and everything that counts. Then he will +know that he has liked her best all along!"</p> + +<p>Nevertheless and in spite of all her excellent +reasoning as the whistle blew announcing the +approaching train, Jack caught her breath. +She hoped that Frank would not be angry +with her for having refused to let him come +to Rainbow Ranch for almost a year. Could +she dare to pretend that she had forgotten +the conversation which they had had in that +last ride together between the hawthorn hedges +of an English lane?</p> + +<p>When Frank Kent came down the steps +of the train with his grave, handsome face<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +flushed with eagerness—and something else—it +was Olive Van Mater whom he found waiting +for him alone on the platform. With all +his old delightful friendliness and charm of +manner he greeted her, dropping his luggage +to hold both her hands close for a moment.</p> + +<p>Yet Olive to save her life could not at once +be equally friendly and natural. For what +in heaven's name had become of Jacqueline +Ralston at this critical moment? As the +train drew in, she had been standing close by +her side. Here she was approaching them +at last, holding out her hand stiffly, with a +frozen smile on her face.</p> + +<p>"Awfully glad to see you, Frank; you are +looking very fit after a trip across the continent. +Sorry not to be here when your train +got in, but I had to attend to something +about the horses. Give me your check and let +me see after your trunk. Everybody at the +ranch is well and tremendously anxious to +see you."</p> + +<p>Frank smiled. Holding on to his trunk +check he followed the girl a few yards to the +spot where his trunk had been thrown out. +Olive waited alone to watch his bags.</p> + +<p>"Hope you will be more enthusiastic over +seeing me yourself, dear, when I have a chance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +to talk to you," Frank remarked in the quiet +fashion that always had its effect on the girl's +ardent nature. "You are glad, aren't you?"</p> + +<p>And while Jack nodded, not entirely trusting +herself to speak, Frank laughed, saying: +"Here comes a porter. I'll have him carry +my stuff to the carriage. It is like you, Miss +America, to wish to start out by taking care +of me. But if I am an Englishman and too +much accustomed to being waited upon, +at least I won't endure that!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>A DINNER PARTY<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>DINNER at Rainbow Lodge on the +evening of Frank Kent's arrival was +sufficiently gay and delightful to +make up for many preceding weeks of +quietness.</div> + +<p>For not only was Frank's appearance an +unexpected pleasure to the entire family, +but a few hours before sundown Ralph +Merrit had returned home with an old friend +of his, whom quite by accident he had met +in a nearby town and persuaded to come with +him for a short visit at the ranch. Henry +Tilford Russell was to be a new experience +to the four girls, since never in their wandering +either at home or abroad had they met any +other young man in the least like him.</p> + +<p>Before bringing his guest up to the Lodge +for dinner Ralph had managed to escape from +him for a few moments in order to see Ruth +privately and to explain to her a few of his +friend's peculiarities, so that no member of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +the family need be unnecessarily surprised. +For one thing, the stranger was inordinately +shy, disliking girls more than anything in +the whole world. In fact Ralph was at last +obliged to confess that had his friend guessed +how many maidens he would be obliged +to face at dinner, gladly would he have +preferred starvation to joining them. But +since Russell had asked no uncomfortable +questions, Ralph had not felt in duty bound +to forewarn him. Then, as his guest was about +thirty years old, according to Frieda Ralston's +calculations he was much too elderly anyhow +for the Ranch girls' consideration.</p> + +<p>Yet notwithstanding all these drawbacks +Ralph Merrit had been exceedingly anxious +to bring his friend to the Rainbow Ranch. +For in spite of the young man's shyness and +social awkwardness, he was exceptionally +brilliant, and was regarded almost a genius +in his chosen line of work. Henry Tilford +Russell was the assistant professor of ancient +languages in the University of Chicago and +Ralph had known him there in his own +student days. However, he had recently +suffered a breakdown from overwork and was +now in the West on a trip for his health. +But the fact about his former friend over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +which Ralph Merrit was particularly enthusiastic +and desired to have Ruth impart to +the girls, was that of his own free will Professor +Russell had chosen the life of a student. +His father was a wealthy and prominent +Chicago lawyer, at one time the American +Ambassador to Greece, so had the son desired +he might have followed the idle existence of +most other rich young men.</p> + +<p>In the midst of seeing that the baby was +safely stored away in his silk-lined crib and +that the table was set for extra guests, and +that Aunt Ellen prepare a specially good +dinner, Ruth had no time for extended conversation +with the girls. She did manage to +mention to Jean and Frieda that Ralph had +brought home a stranger to whom they were +to try to be agreeable. But this bit of information +was almost swallowed up in the more +important news that Ralph had at last succeeded +in getting hold of a new set of men and +that work on Rainbow Mine was to begin +again within the next day or so.</p> + +<p>Then, soon after, Frank appeared, and +everything else was forgotten in the welcome +to him.</p> + +<p>Just as though he had been her older brother +and Frieda a little girl, Frank kissed her,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +insisting that she had grown, although at +eighteen Frieda certainly considered herself +quite past the growing stage.</p> + +<p>Introduced to the new baby, Frank did not +seem in the least nervous or abashed as most +men are by such very tiny persons. Indeed, +he apparently had overcome all his old reserve +and shyness and without this was simple +and charming, as persons of high birth and +breeding are most apt to be.</p> + +<p>Fifteen minutes before dinner Ruth had +positively to force the four girls to dress. +Then, as Jim was getting ready at the same +time, she had a few moments alone with +Frank Kent.</p> + +<p>"You know what I have come for, don't +you, Mrs. Colter—Ruth?" Frank began with +the directness that the woman had always +admired in him.</p> + +<p>Ruth made no pretense of not understanding. +"It would be hard for all of us, and I +don't see how Jim would be able to get along +on the ranch without Jack," she replied. +"For you see he and Jack really are like +'partners,' their old name for each other. +But if it is for Jack's happiness you know +how we should all feel. But, Frank, I feel +I must warn you that Jack won't be easy to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +win, and it is because I care for you so much +that I hope you will not be discouraged. +She is not just like most girls, and——"</p> + +<p>Frank nodded. "I have understood that +all along," he interrupted. "Still there is one +thing, Ruth, that you do not know. Last +summer I persuaded Jack to confess that she +did care for me. Yet she insisted that there +was something, she could not explain to me +what it was, that stood in our way—some +barrier that had to be broken down before +she could consent to marry me. What it +was I don't know and that is one of the things +I have come half way across the world to find +out. Can you guess of any possible obstacle +to Jack's feeling for me?"</p> + +<p>In a puzzled fashion Ruth Colter drew her +delicate brows together. Frank's remark +had startled and surprised her. "No, not +unless it is her affection for us and the ranch," +she replied.</p> + +<p>Before another confidence could be exchanged, +Jim had stamped into the living +room, looking bigger and more splendid than +ever, suggesting the strong wind from his +own beloved prairies. A few moments later +Ralph Merrit and his guest followed, and +afterwards Olive, Jean and Jack.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> + +<p>Perhaps because she remembered that +Frank had always liked her best in white, +Jack wore a plain white silk dress cut square +in the neck and with no trimming but the +girdle and little ruffle of lace. It was a dress +which she had owned for over a year, and +Frieda was annoyed with her for wearing it +on the evening of Frank's arrival. Notwithstanding, +as there was no time to change +after her sister's protest, Frieda finally conceded +as Jack left the room that she did look +fairly well. For the truth was that no one +of the older girl's more elaborate toilets +could have suited her half so well.</p> + +<p>Jack was pale and not altogether sure +whether she was the more happy or unhappy +over Frank's presence, yet somehow her +unusual pallor was not unattractive, with +her burnished brown and gold hair and the +healthy scarlet of her lips. Then in some +indefinable fashion Jack's expression had +recently grown gentler, indeed tonight her +manner held a certain timidity, giving her +one of the charms that she sometimes +lacked.</p> + +<p>Both Olive and Jean were also simply +dressed, since their dinner party was an +impromptu one and entirely informal. Olive<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +had on a lavender muslin with a bunch of +Frieda's violets at her waist, while Jean was +dressed in a pale yellow voile frock with +primroses embroidered upon it.</p> + +<p>Ralph Merrit frowned and then tried to +smile as Jean came forward to shake hands, +congratulate him and meet his guest, "What +right had a poor fellow even to dream of a +girl so fitted by beauty and grace to every +high position? Suppose by some miracle +Jean should in time learn to care for him, +what would he have to offer her? Here was +Frank Kent (and Ralph was perfectly aware +of Frank's intention), and if Jack cared for +him she would have all the things of this +world that Jean so frankly loved, wealth, +a high social position and one day an old +English title."</p> + +<p>But while Ralph Merrit was continuing to +pursue this wholly futile train of thought, +Jean was every now and then glancing +toward him demurely from under her heavy +shaded brown eyes with a look which he +perfectly understood.</p> + +<p>"What in the world is the matter with your +friend, Mr. Russell?" the look said plain +as any words. For Jean was doing her level +best to talk to the stranger and in return<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +for her efforts he would not even turn towards +her.</p> + +<p>On first being introduced to Jacqueline +the Professor had turned crimson to the +tips of his large ears, though in a measure he +had been prepared for one girl, since Ralph +had mentioned a "Miss Ralston" in connection +with the ownership of the Rainbow +Mine. Later the meeting with Olive had +added resentment to his confusion. Why had +Merrit not warned him of what he would +have to endure? Jean was an impossible +third. Why, no such misfortune as meeting +with three girls had overtaken him since he +reached the great womanless West! For +though the West did have its tiresome quota +of females, so far he had managed to escape +speaking to any of them except on strictly +business matters.</p> + +<p>Well, he was in for it now, and would have +to endure the evening as best he could; +yet already he had made up his mind to escape +as soon as daylight came in the morning.</p> + +<p>Jean's well-meant efforts to make herself +agreeable to Ralph's friend were entirely +wasted; yet after dinner was announced +the young Professor found himself more at +ease. For fortunately he had been placed on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +Mrs. Colter's left and next him was an empty +chair—evidently for some member of the +family not at home he thought with a suppressed +sigh of relief.</p> + +<p>Overhearing Frank Kent ask some question +of interest in regard to the mine, Professor +Russell forgot his embarrassment sufficiently +to add several questions and comments of his +own. And it happened to be during one of +his own speeches that an unexpected movement +near him made him glance toward the +empty chair.</p> + +<p>"Great Scott! Was this a big wax doll +about to take her place next him?"</p> + +<p>Yet, though the doll was struggling with +the chair and evidently trying to draw it +out from under the table, it never occurred +to Henry Tilford Russell to render her the +slightest assistance, in spite of the fact that +she was smiling at him appealingly out of the +very largest and bluest eyes he had ever seen.</p> + +<p>The lateness of Frieda Ralston's entrance +did not appear to have surprised her family, +who were entirely accustomed to it; however, +the magnificence of her dinner toilet plainly +did. For whatever had inspired Frieda to +dress up as she had? It was small wonder +that she was late.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> + +<p>Even in the midst of her duties as hostess +Ruth Colter's gray eyes widened and it was +on the tip of her tongue to scold Frieda for +her foolishness. Yet, recovering herself in +time and recalling the presence of their guests, +she said nothing.</p> + +<p>With a faint suggestion of reproach Jack +shook her head at her sister, while Jean +and Olive openly smiled at each other. So +the situation would have passed off without +any unpleasantness if it had not been for +Jim Colter. When would Ruth teach Jim +that he was not to tease the Ranch girls +before strangers just as if they were tiny +children?</p> + +<p>With real astonishment and some mock +admiration Jim stared at the latest comer, +at the same time giving a characteristic +chuckle and low whistle. Then, in spite of +the fact that Jack, who was sitting near, +gave his foot a warning pressure, he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"What in heaven's name, Baby, does all +that finery mean? You aren't going to a +ball later on this evening, are you, and forgotten +to mention it?"</p> + +<p>Then, with everybody at the table staring +at her, Frieda felt her lips beginning to +tremble and her eyes fill with tears, as at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +last she slipped into her place. Why should +her appearance create so much comment? +She had dressed up because she wished to and +for no other special reason.</p> + +<p>Often in the past year when things at the +Lodge had been dull for a long time she had +amused herself in trying on her pretty clothes. +No one had ever objected before, but now, +just because there were strangers, or at least +one stranger, present, she had to be made the +object of family criticism and ridicule. If +only they were alone Frieda felt that she +would like to tell Jim and everybody just how +hateful they were. For of course there had +been no thought in her mind of Ralph's +guest when she had put on her blue <i>crêpe +de chîne</i> dress with its low neck and elbow +sleeves and floating chiffon draperies. The +costume had been a present from her sister, +Jack, who always could save more of her +income than she or Jean. She had only +wished to find out whether it was becoming +to her and that was why she had also taken +so much time and care in fixing her hair. +Certainly she knew that Ralph's guest would +be as old as the hills—Ralph had plainly +stated that he would be.</p> + +<p>Frieda gave a little start, which she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +promptly repressed so that no one should +notice it, when she heard a pleasant voice +whispering unexpectedly close to her ear:</p> + +<p>"Don't mind their teasing you; I think +you look—just jolly."</p> + +<p>And in reply Frieda smiled tremulously +upon the newcomer.</p> + +<p>He was old, just as she had expected—his +hair was already beginning to grow thin upon +the top of his head. He was slender and +delicate looking and of only medium height, +yet his eyes were certainly the brownest and +almost the kindest that she had ever seen, +in spite of the fact that they had a kind of +absent, far-away expression even while they +seemed to be fastened upon her.</p> + +<p>"Thank you," Frieda returned a second +later, having by this time regained both her +lost dignity and self-possession. But this +time the younger Miss Ralston found their +latest visitor displaying a curious eccentricity. +Now he was plainly laughing at her. Naturally +Frieda could not have dreamed that +Professor Russell, whom Ruth had finally +concluded to introduce to her, considered her +a little girl of about fourteen. Otherwise, not +for anything in the world, would he have made +the speech which he first addressed to her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + +<p>The truth was that this old-young Professor +was extremely fond of children and only +objected to girls after they had grown up. +Then because he was so shy himself he had a +keen sympathy for embarrassment in other +people. So it was to these two causes that +Frieda owed his friendliness.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, as she was entirely unconscious +of this fact, Frieda continued to talk +to him very calmly and comfortably during +the entire meal. He did appear surprised +over an occasional remark of hers, but as he +hardly ever answered, Frieda guessed that this +might be his method of revealing his appreciation +of her attentions. Actually the two of +them were out on the porch with every one +else vanished from sight for the moment +before Professor Russell entirely awoke to the +fact that, though his companion was still +extremely young, she could not exactly be +regarded as a baby.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>TWO CONVERSATIONS<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>"JACK, you have not played fair with +me; what is it that has happened?" +Frank Kent asked quietly.</div> + +<p>It was an hour since dinner time at the +Lodge and Frank had so insisted upon Jack's +taking a walk with him that without rudeness +she had not been able to refuse. It was an +enchanting June night, warmer than usual +in that part of the western country, and with +a moon that shines perhaps nowhere on this +earth with exactly the same wide radiance.</p> + +<p>Jack and Frank had walked down the tall +aisles of cottonwood trees near the house and +were now standing a few yards on the farther +side of them in a clear and revealing light. +At Frank's words the girl flinched as he had +known that she would. For just that reason +he had chosen them, since nothing could hurt +Jacqueline so much or make her come so +immediately to her own defence as any +suggestion that she had not played fair.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +Other girls might not suffer so greatly from +this accusation; but honesty, candor and a +kind of straightforwardness, which some persons +are pleased to think as masculine traits, +had always been Jack's leading characteristics. +Now, however, though her companion waited +impatiently for her reproach or her denial, +for a moment he heard neither.</p> + +<p>"I am so sorry, Frank, that you feel in that +way about me," Jack began finally. Then, +almost in a whisper: "I have not intended +to be unfair to you. I—I had not promised +you anything."</p> + +<p>Jack was not looking into Frank's face +as she spoke, but at the silvery whiteness of +the ground beneath her feet.</p> + +<p>"But nothing has happened, if you mean +that I have become either angry or disappointed +in you," she added timidly.</p> + +<p>Difficult as the girl had anticipated this +conversation might be, it was more trying +than she had expected.</p> + +<p>What could she say? How could she +truthfully present the situation to Frank, +as it appeared to her, without putting Olive +in an impossible position? Because in spite +of Olive's denial through the message to Jean +at the close of the last Ranch Girls' book,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +Jacqueline was still firmly convinced that her +friend felt so great an affection for Frank +Kent that it was influencing her whole life. +Did it not explain why she absolutely refused +to consider Donald Harmon's proposal of +marriage, in spite of Don's devotion and her +grandmother's expressed desire? Moreover, +even if Olive did not like Donald sufficiently +well to consider marrying him, why should +she insist that she intended devoting her +future to teaching the Indian children?</p> + +<p>To Jack Ralston such a career suggested +pure martyrdom. Olive might do anything +else in the world that she liked, even if her +grandmother left her no inheritance. For +there was Miss Winthrop, who regarded Olive +almost as a daughter and who would do everything +possible for her. She might have +almost any happiness and yet Olive actually +talked as if she meant to do what she had so +long said she intended as soon as she was a +few years older and the proper arrangements +could be made.</p> + +<p>Jack bit her lips until they positively hurt. +Actually she felt a shiver of repugnance at +the idea of going away with Frank to every +happiness if her going involved leaving her +dearest friend to such a fate. Could she ever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +really be happy with this thought in the back +of her mind?</p> + +<p>No, Jack decided once again that she was +far stronger than Olive and better able to look +after herself and to bear, if need be, both loss +and loneliness. Besides, had she not had +many joys in the past and Olive for many +years so few? Surely if Olive still cared for +Frank, as she believed, in a little while there +need be no further doubt of it. In that event +it must be her duty to tell Frank that she did +not love him and would never consent to +leave the ranch for his sake. After that +Frank would undoubtedly turn at once to +Olive, who had always been his friend and +upon whose sympathy he could surely count. +Olive, too, was so much prettier, her nature +so much gentler and sweeter, she would make +a far better wife. Frank might be angry with +her at first, Jack acknowledged to herself +at this moment, but he would be more than +grateful in the end.</p> + +<p>Jack laid her hand pleadingly on the young +man's coat sleeve.</p> + +<p>"Frank," she asked more wistfully than she +herself realized, "won't you promise not to +talk about your feeling for me for a time? +Won't you just stay on here with us at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +Rainbow Ranch as you used to do and let us +have a happy time together? I am worried +about such a number of things. Perhaps +the money in Rainbow Mine is going to give +out and we may have no further income from +it. Then there is this strike of our miners. +Jim and I don't say a great deal about it to +the others, but we are so afraid the old men +may resort to violence when we try to get +things to running smoothly again and that +Ralph or some one else may be seriously hurt. +Don't you see that I just can't think about +anything else now?"</p> + +<p>"No, Jack dear, I can't honestly see why +your having all these worries and annoyances +can affect your knowing whether or not you +return my love. It is not as though I had +never spoken of it—you have had a whole +year to decide. But if you wish me to wait +longer, of course I shall do as you ask. Only +please don't let it be too long."</p> + +<p>Then before the girl could reply she and her +companion had both started, and instinctively +Jack clutched at the young man's arm.</p> + +<p>The next moment she gave a relieved laugh.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why I should jump in that +fashion just because we heard a slight noise +behind us," she apologized. "I suppose other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +people have just the same right that we have +to be outdoors enjoying the moonlight."</p> + +<p>Jack then turned around, looking back into +the grove of cottonwood trees. "Jean, Olive, +Frieda," she called lightly, but when no one +responded, thinking no more of the incident +she moved on a few steps.</p> + +<p>"Come on, Frank, let us have a real walk, +it is too lovely to go back to the Lodge so +soon. I want to ask you such a lot of questions +and about your mother and father and Kent +Place," she pleaded.</p> + +<p>Frank's attention was not to be so easily +diverted. For several moments he continued +staring at the spot where undoubtedly he had +heard the noise of light footsteps only a few +seconds before. The sound had come from +the neighborhood of the trees nearest them; +but why did no figure emerge into the light +or move off again in the opposite direction? +The night was so bright and the air so clear +that no one could have escaped without being +either seen or heard. But Frank was too +interested in the prospect of a longer time +in the moonlight alone with Jacqueline to +waste a great deal more thought upon a +possible intruder. Once again he glanced +back, but as no one was in sight, he and Jack<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +were soon deep in an intimate and happy +conversation.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding, neither the girl nor the +man were mistaken in their original impression +that some one had been in their neighborhood +during at least a part of their conversation. +For when they were both safely out of sight +a slender figure stole from behind one of the +largest cottonwood trees and ran off with the +fleetness and noiselessness of a wild creature. +There was an ugly expression on the face—one +of resentment and suspicion and yet of so +great unhappiness that the other emotions +might have been forgiven.</p> + +<p>For the Indian boy, Carlos, fifteen minutes +before had just concluded a conversation with +the only person in the world for whom he felt +any real affection. And foolish and mistaken +as his dream had been, it hurt no less to find +it shattered.</p> + +<p>A few minutes after dinner, when all the +family were together on the veranda at Rainbow +Lodge, Olive had several times noticed +Carlos hovering about in their vicinity, now +on a pretence of bringing a message to Jim +Colter which might as easily have waited until +morning, then asking some perfectly unnecessary +question of her. And finally with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +persistence and stoicism of his race he had +planted himself like a slender and upright +column against a side of the house, deliberately +to wait until he could have his way.</p> + +<p>There was not the slightest use of pretending +that Olive did not understand what his +intention was. Carlos wished to talk with +her, wished to have an immediate answer to +the letter which he had lately written her. +Moreover, she feared that unless she gave in +to him he might show some trace of his feeling +before the assembled company.</p> + +<p>Quietly Olive slipped over to Ruth Colter.</p> + +<p>"Ruth," she whispered, when no one was +paying any especial attention to either of +them, "I have something rather important +that I must say to Carlos. He is here now +waiting. Do you think it would make any +difference if I go and talk to him for a few +moments? We won't go any distance from +the house, just to some place where no one +may be disturbed by us."</p> + +<p>And Ruth agreed to the girl's request +without considering it seriously. To the older +woman Carlos was only a child, sometimes +rather a difficult one it was true, but at any +rate only an idle, mischievous boy, whom the +Ranch girls in their usual impulsive generosity<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +had befriended and in a measure adopted. +But that Carlos should think of himself as a +man and actually have the impertinence to +consider himself in love with Olive, Ruth +simply could not have believed had she been +told the truth at this moment.</p> + +<p>So Olive, pretending to go to her own room +for a scarf, had afterwards stolen out of a +side door and come close up to where the +Indian boy was standing.</p> + +<p>"Carlos," she said kindly, "I would rather +you did not linger about the veranda because +you wish to speak to me. If you will come +away with me for a little distance we can talk. +I received your letter and you want to know +what I think of it?"</p> + +<p>Without a word the boy nodded, but he +followed the girl for a few yards until they +were standing ankle deep in the shimmering +green foliage of Frieda's violet beds which +were not far from the Lodge. And although +in the path a few feet away there was a small +bench where the girls often rested after their +work among the flowers, Olive would not +consent to sitting down.</p> + +<p>Slowly and patiently as she could, she +explained to Carlos the utter impossibility +of his feeling for her. In the first place, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +was a boy while she was a number of years +his senior. Then he was completely mistaken +in his idea that because she had been raised +among Indian people she cared for their life +or habits. Not for anything on earth would +she return to their simple and primitive +existence. Because Olive was essentially +gentle and because her sympathy and understanding +of the Indian boy's nature was a +matter of experience as well as kindness of +heart, she did try to take the sting away from +the present situation so far as she could; +yet she felt obliged to be firm, for there must +be no repetition of Carlos' foolish letter to +her. He must appreciate that she was fond +of him because he had once befriended her +in a difficulty, and that she was grateful and +would always be interested in his welfare. +But to care for him in any other fashion was +absolutely out of the question. Never again +must he even dare to refer to the subject.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding her resolute attitude and +the arguments which she had used so forcibly, +at the end of their conversation Olive did not +feel sure that Carlos was as entirely convinced +of the absurdity of his desire as he should have +been. For she had spared him the one course +open to her that might have brought him to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +his senses—sheer ridicule. Therefore when +Olive was back in her own room alone and +undressing for the night, since she had not +felt in the mood for rejoining her friends, she +wondered if she had been altogether wise. +Certainly she had not liked Carlos' manner, +and two remarks of his near the conclusion +of their talk had left her very angry.</p> + +<p>"It is Miss Ralston who has turned you +against me," he had muttered sullenly. "She +don't like me, she don't understand. She +thinks I am no more than a servant about her +place. If it had not been for her you might +have stayed always in the wilderness with me +when both of us were children. Then you +would never have known of your people nor +learned to love the stupid white man's world. +Miss Ralston is my enemy; therefore I hate +her." And with these words Carlos had +drawn up his lean, boyish frame with the +majesty of a deposed king.</p> + +<p>Olive's sudden wrath had humbled him for +the moment at least; yet just before she +turned to go he had said again with equal +passion, although his manner was quieter +and more subdued.</p> + +<p>"Then if it is not Miss Ralston who has +come between us, there is some one you care<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +for. I wonder if it can be the far-away guest +and friend, who arrived this afternoon by the +iron trail of the prairies?"</p> + +<p>When Olive did not answer but walked +quietly back to the Lodge, Carlos stood for a +time like a bronze statue, silent and unmoving; +then swift as a shadow he threaded his way +between the cottonwood trees, actually observing +Jack and Frank from the beginning to +the end of their conversation, although hearing +little of what they said.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>A VISIT TO RAINBOW MINE<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>TWO days later, as things were once +more in working order at the Rainbow +Mine, Ralph Merrit suggested that +Jim Colter bring Ruth and the girls and +Frank Kent down to see how things were +going. And soon after luncheon the little +party started.</div> + +<p>A trip to the mine was actually like an +expedition to a foreign place, so long a time +had passed since the family had been allowed +in its vicinity, and so of course everybody was +in especially fine spirits. It was well to have +Rainbow Mine running again and a relief to +find that the striking miners had yielded to +circumstances so much more readily and +peaceably than their first threats suggested. +They had influenced the mine workers near at +home to have nothing to do with Ralph +Merrit's management; nevertheless since the +arrival of his new force the atmosphere about +Rainbow Ranch had remained serene and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +untroubled, so that evidently the strikers were +not to be heard from.</p> + +<p>True, a single ugly letter had mysteriously +appeared at daylight this morning left before +the door of the new foreman, but except for +mentioning it to Ralph, the man had paid +no further attention to it. And Ralph, in the +interest and excitement of getting things into +working order at the mine, had given it less +consideration than it deserved. For the +annoyance was not so much in the threat of +trouble that the letter contained, as in the +puzzle of its being found at the quarters +built for the Rainbow Mine workers, which +were not far from the old Ranch house. No +outsider had been seen anywhere about the +great ranch either on the preceding day or +night.</p> + +<p>Jim and Frank and Jack walked on ahead +in order that they might have a few moments' +conversation with the new miners; for no +one had yet gone down the shaft into the mine. +Before lunch they had been going over the +machinery and seeing that the elevators for +the men and for the ore were in good working +order.</p> + +<p>Now Ralph Merrit was insisting that he +be lowered first into the mining pit and that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +his new men with their hammers and chisels +and other mining paraphernalia follow after +him. However, observing that Ruth and the +other girls were coming nearer he went forward +to speak to them. Not since the evening +when he and his friend had taken dinner at +the Rainbow Lodge had he seen any one of +them.</p> + +<p>"We are awfully pleased, Ralph, that +affairs are straightening out so comfortably," +Ruth began. "I think we owe you a vote of +thanks." She had not known what had been +making Ralph Merrit so unlike himself for the +past few months, since neither Jim nor Jean +had seen fit to confide Ralph's weakness to +any one else; but she did recognize the change +for the better in him today. She had never +before thought of Ralph as specially handsome, +yet he looked so fine and capable; his +expression was so full of energy and ability +that instinctively Ruth held out her hand.</p> + +<p>"Go in and win, Ralph," she added, half +laughing and half serious. "I don't just know +what it is that you are fighting for, except +to make more money for the girls who don't +deserve it. But whatever it is I am going to +put my money on you, even though betting +is against my Puritan traditions; for you'll<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +win in the end. Why, Ralph, you look like +the famous statue of 'The Minute Man' +near Boston, except that you have not his +gun or knapsack. You're just as typical an +American fighter and just as ready for action."</p> + +<p>Crimsoning like a small boy at unexpected +praise, Ralph crushed Ruth's hand in reply +until she had to repress a cry of pain.</p> + +<p>"I'm not worth the powder to blow me up +if you really knew the truth about me, Mrs. +Colter; but just the same any kind of fellow +likes a compliment now and then, and I don't +remember when I have had one," he returned.</p> + +<p>A movement of Jean's graceful shoulders +and a single glance from her demure dark eyes +made the young man swing half-way around +to face her.</p> + +<p>"You are not disputing that statement, +are you?" he demanded. "Why shouldn't +a fellow like a compliment as well as a girl?"</p> + +<p>Jean slipped off the big pink straw hat she +had been wearing and with the velvet ribbon +about it, swung it on her arm like a basket.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am not disputing <i>that</i> part of your +statement if you please, sir," she answered. +"I am only regretting that you have forgotten +all the other compliments which you have +received in the past. For when I remember<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +how many I have bestowed upon you lately, +it is discouraging to think what a failure I have +been in trying to make myself agreeable."</p> + +<p>Just why recently, indeed ever since their +conversation together that afternoon on the +veranda at the Lodge and later here in the +shadow of one of the great rocks, Jean Bruce +had been trying to make herself particularly +agreeable to Ralph Merrit and to win back +his former attention and friendship, the girl +herself did not know. On her return from +Europe, after a few months at home, she had +certainly discouraged Ralph's devotion, feeling +instinctively that his affection for her had now +become more serious than in the past when he +had looked upon her as only a half-grown +girl. For Jean did not wish to be unkind or +unfair, and assuredly Ralph had none of the +things to offer her which she desired. Perhaps +because of this she had talked more of wealth +and of worldly ambitions than she might +otherwise have done. And Ralph had either +understood her intention or else had recovered +from his former affection, for in the past few +months, during his foolish and futile struggle +for money through speculations, he had +entirely ceased making love to her or treating +her in any way differently from the other girls.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> + +<p>At heart Jean was essentially a coquette, +one of those girls and women who, having +once gained a man's admiration, cannot bear +to find themselves losing it. And surely Jack +and Frieda and Olive had often accused her +of this vice.</p> + +<p>Now, knowing that Ralph cared at present +more for the successful working of the Rainbow +Mine than for anything else, Jean pointed +with apparently the deepest concern toward +the group of new men.</p> + +<p>"Tell us about the new miners, won't you +please, Ralph," she asked, "their names and +where some of them came from—anything +you know? They are a splendid-looking lot +of fellows!"</p> + +<p>But at this moment Frieda interrupted the +conversation to ask a question. "Who is +that thin man over there all by himself in the +blue overalls and old hat? Why isn't he +with the others who are being introduced to +Jim and Frank and Jack? I wonder if Jim +knows him?"</p> + +<p>Then, quite unaccountably, Ralph Merrit +appeared extremely uncomfortable.</p> + +<p>"See here, Frieda, I might as well tell you, +for you would be sure to find out anyhow if I +didn't. That fellow isn't one of the new<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +miners. He is Russell, the friend I brought +up to the Lodge with me to dinner the other +night. You see——"</p> + +<p>But Frieda's eyes were widening and in +truth the other three women seemed almost +equally surprised.</p> + +<p>"But I thought Professor Russell had gone +away from Rainbow Ranch," Frieda protested, +"why he told us good-by the night he left +and said that he would have to be off so early +the next morning that he could not see any +of us again."</p> + +<p>Ralph nodded. "I know," he conceded +in some embarrassment. "And you're still +to think he has gone if you please. Don't +any one of you go near enough to Russell +to speak to him or he will probably die of +confusion before your eyes. I am afraid I +forgot he was around and he is under the +impression that he is safely disguised. You +see the truth of the matter is this. When +Russell got me away from the Lodge the other +night there is nothing he did not say to me +for having taken him unprepared to a place +where he had to meet four girls. He declared +it nearly killed him and he had every intention +of sneaking away from the Ranch house the +next morning on foot rather than suffer the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +chance of meeting any one of you again. He +is an awful ass, but just the same he is a +tremendously clever fellow and I was awfully +anxious to show him the mine and he wanted +to see it almost as much. So I persuaded him +that he could just stay on at the Ranch house +with me for a few days, letting you believe +he had disappeared until he saw how things +down here looked and worked. I assured him +no one of you ever came near the men's +quarters, but now he is hanging around the +mine waiting for me as I promised to take him +down into the pit as soon as we start work. +Don't scare him to death beforehand."</p> + +<p>Ruth and Jean and Olive laughed, and +Olive said sympathetically:</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow, I can feel for him. I used +to feel so shy that nearly all strangers made +me wretched. But I don't see just why he +should be so specially severe upon girls?"</p> + +<p>"Because he is a goose," Frieda returned +so sententiously that every one else laughed. +So plainly was she offended at her own failure +to charm their strange guest a night or +so before.</p> + +<p>It was time for Ralph to say good-by. +Arrangements at the pit shaft had been made +so that the first elevator could be lowered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +into it. He then waved his hand in farewell +to his friends, as he and the new foreman of +the mine and the odd-looking figure of Henry +Russell climbed on to the elevator.</p> + +<p>"I shall go away before they come up +again, so that foolish fellow won't even have +to look at me," Frieda remarked scornfully, +as without any hitch or delay the car slowly +disappeared into the bowels of the earth.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE EXPLOSION<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>THE new crowd of miners were anxiously +waiting about the mouth of the +pit shaft, which led down into the +deepest excavation that had yet been dug +in the neighborhood of the Rainbow Creek.</div> + +<p>There were other openings, but because +this was the largest, Ralph Merrit had desired +that his workmen begin their labor +here. For by extending and deepening the +passages in the lower part of this shaft he +hoped to make important discoveries of +new veins of ore. And once convinced that +a quantity of new gold was actually to be +found under this ground the young engineer +had no idea of giving up before he had devised +some intelligent and not too expensive method +of bringing more wealth to the surface of the +earth.</p> + +<p>Not many feet from the company of men +Jack Ralston and Frank Kent were standing +together talking of some detail in connection<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +with the work, while Jim Colter was +hanging over the pit opening in company +with the men who had charge of the lowering +and raising of the mine elevator.</p> + +<p>Evidently Ralph Merrit and his two companions +had made a safe landing below, for +shortly after their disappearance there was a +signal, and slowly the lift traveled up into +the daylight again, now ready to take on +another lot of passengers.</p> + +<p>"Steady, no crowding," Jim Colter called +out as the next relay stepped hastily forward. +"Merrit will want to start things going in +the tunnel before you descend."</p> + +<p>One man had already gotten aboard, while +another had one foot extended toward the +platform, when suddenly from underneath +them there came a tearing, splitting noise +and then a muffled roar like the instantaneous +explosion of a thousand guns.</p> + +<p>The passengers in the elevator fell on their +knees and all around the opening of the pit +there was powder and blackness and a fall +of stones like a swift rain of meteors.</p> + +<p>By accident Ruth Colter's back happened +to be turned away from the scene at the +mine, so that the first sound she remembered +hearing was her husband's hoarse shout of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +horror and then as she turned the sight of +his great form lying prostrate on the ground +with Jack and Frank trying to drag him +away from danger.</p> + +<p>But when Ruth would have rushed toward +him, Olive and Frieda held her fast, and +the next instant a wave of weakness and +darkness so overwhelmed her that she had +no strength to move.</p> + +<p>When she opened her eyes she could see +Jean's face, white as a sheet, dancing before +her and hear her saying:</p> + +<p>"Jim isn't hurt, dear; only stunned by +his fall. See, he is on his feet again giving +orders. And Jack and Frank must be all +right, they were not so near. But what +could have happened, what caused the explosion? +It's the men down inside the mine +who must be horribly hurt. Ralph——"</p> + +<p>But Jean shook with such nervous terror +that Frieda's arm encircled her, and the next +moment the four women moved nearer the +place of the disaster.</p> + +<p>They were just in time, for at the moment +of their approach, although Jim Colter's +face was so black that you could hardly +distinguish him, with his forehead bleeding +from an ugly wound and his clothes torn and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +burnt, he was giving orders like the general +of an army and like trained soldiers the +miners were obeying him.</p> + +<p>"I'll take four of you men who will volunteer +to go down inside the mine with me. +I don't know what has happened, but we are +pretty apt to find things serious. It sounded +like a dynamite explosion and there may be +another. Fortunately for us the elevator is +above ground and we can lower it. Some of +you see that stretchers are brought here. Jack, +keep your head and get hold of a doctor at +once. I hope we may need him," the man +added grimly, as he swung his great length +aboard the small car, his companions crowding +close against him.</p> + +<p>Unmindful of the awed silence that had +followed the noise of the explosion, unmindful +of the two score of rough strange men, +Ruth breaking away from the girls now ran +forward crying:</p> + +<p>"Jim, you can't go down into the mine first. +I can't let you. There is the baby and me, +you must think of us and of the girls. You +may be horribly hurt."</p> + +<p>She was near enough now so that she could +look straight into her husband's blue eyes +and something in Jim's expression calmed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +her instantly. Then for the time he too +seemed conscious of the presence of no one +else.</p> + +<p>"Don't be frightened, Ruth, I shall be all +right, dear, and back again with you in ten +minutes perhaps. But in any case, girl, +don't you see I have got to go down before +the others? This is our mine and two of the +men down there are almost boys."</p> + +<p>Some quiet order Jim then gave and +slowly for the second time the lift sank down +toward the dark abyss under the earth. +For Ruth had made no other sound or protest, +only keeping tight hold on Frieda's +and Jean's hands. Olive had gone with +Jack and Frank Kent in the direction of +the Rainbow Lodge.</p> + +<p>To the watchers at the pit opening after +the elevator had landed the second time +there was a moment when they believed that +they could hear voices below. Then the +waiting seemed interminable. In point of +fact only a few moments more had passed +before the signal indicated that the car must +be drawn up again.</p> + +<p>And this time it was Jean Bruce who covered +her eyes with her hands.</p> + +<p>There was a grinding of the cables and then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +an unmistakable groan, so it was not only the +faces of the women that blanched whiter. +Many of these miners were middle-aged +men who had been in mining disasters where +many hundreds of lives were at stake. Now, +since no further disturbance had followed +the first brief explosion, they realized that +only the three men who had first gone down +into the pit had been injured. Yet it was +nerve-racking not to be able to foretell +whether these three men would be brought +up alive or dead.</p> + +<p>Jim Colter and one of his helpers were +standing upright in the car and Jim held in +his arms a limp, crumpled figure, unconscious, +his blue overalls charred and blackened, +his absurd old hat quite gone. Indeed, the +grave and learned professor of ancient languages +looked like a broken slip of a boy +in the big man's keeping.</p> + +<p>There on the floor of the car another figure +was resting. The face was upturned to the +light and though the eyes were closed the +expression of the mouth showed that the man +had not fainted but was suffering great pain.</p> + +<p>Frieda touched Jean Bruce on the arm.</p> + +<p>"It is not Ralph, but the new foreman who +seems to be very badly hurt," she whispered.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +"Look, the other men are carrying him off. +I can't tell about Ralph's friend, Mr. Russell. +But where is Ralph? Why hasn't he come +up with the others?"</p> + +<p>And this last question of Frieda's was +being echoed in the minds of the waiting +woman and girl.</p> + +<p>Why had Jim brought up two of the +wounded men and left the third, their oldest +friend, still in the depth of Rainbow Mine? +It was impossible not to believe that Jim had +done this because these men were not too +badly injured to be helped.</p> + +<p>For he had now placed his burden on the +ground and was examining the young man +with the skill and care of a surgeon, while +some one else bathed the face. A stretcher +had been secured for the foreman who was +now being taken to his own quarters to +await the coming of a surgeon.</p> + +<p>"Jim," Ruth Colter put her hand on her +husband's shoulder and her face was almost +as white and strained as it had been during +her last speech with him, "the elevator is +going down again and you are not going +with it. Tell us, please, what has happened +to Ralph?"</p> + +<p>Without waiting to hear her guardian's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +answer Frieda suddenly burst into tears. +Of course she had been dreadfully unnerved +by the recent accident and now this uncertainty +about their friend, besides the sight +of their new acquaintance stretched out there +at her feet as though he were dead when the +last time she had seen him he had been eating +his dinner, was more than she could bear.</p> + +<p>"Ralph? Great Scott, I am a brute, +Ruth, Jean, Frieda!" Jim Colter exclaimed. +"Why didn't I tell you at once? Ralph isn't +badly hurt at all; he is bruised and burnt and +shaken up, but nothing more, so far as I could +tell. So of course he insisted that we bring +up the two other fellows first. It's a plain +miracle that there's anything left of the +three of them. So far as I could understand +somebody had fixed a bomb down at the +end of the pit shaft, but the thing was clumsily +made and only half went off. Ralph +said they were blown about a good deal and +the atmosphere was pretty thick, but unless +the new foreman has been injured internally +there was no great harm done. I think this +young man has nothing more serious the +matter with him than a broken leg. And I +expect we shall be able to mend that for him +at Rainbow Lodge."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>At these words Henry Russell opened his +eyes, but whether because of Jim's suggestion +or the pain he was enduring, or whether because +the sight of the girls, he groaned aloud +and then closed his lips again.</p> + +<p>"I don't think he wants to be taken to +the Lodge," Frieda suggested mournfully. +"You see he wants us to think he has gone +away."</p> + +<p>Then possibly because Ruth's and Jim's +nerves had both been strained almost past +endurance for the past half hour they laughed +aloud at Frieda's speech.</p> + +<p>Jean had slipped away and it was her +white and yet happy face that Ralph Merrit +saw first as he came back into the world of +daylight again. There, though he was staggering +and nearly blind and covered with +blood and grime from the shock he had just +received, he found Jean's hands before any +others and held them close for a moment +while she murmured:</p> + +<p>"I am so glad, so glad; it is because you +have some big work to do in the world that +you have been saved, I am sure, Ralph."</p> + +<p>A moment later Ralph was quietly accepting +the congratulations of his workmen, while +he tried to explain to them just how the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +explosion had taken place. That the bomb +had been placed down the shaft by one of +the former miners there could be no shadow +of doubt.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>AN UNFORTUNATE DISCUSSION<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>"BUT why won't either Jean or Frieda +come with us?" Olive asked a week +after the unfortunate accident at +the Rainbow Mine. With a surprise that she +did not pretend to hide Jack Ralston turned +to look at her friend.</div> + +<p>"I thought I had explained to you, dear," +she protested, "that Jean said she felt it +her duty to write a long letter of sympathy +to the Princess Colonna. You see she only +heard yesterday of the death of the old +Prince and though she does not feel that the +Princess will be exactly inconsolable (he was +so much older and they thought so differently +about many things), yet of course +Jean has to say that she is dreadfully sorry +and is there anything she can do and all that. +It would not surprise me in the least if the +Princess came west and made us a visit. I +told Jean to invite her. She was born in +this part of the country and I rather think<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +she will be glad to get away from Rome while +she is in heavy mourning. It is a pity she +did not have a son, isn't it? The title will +have to go to her husband's nephew, Giovanni +Colonna. You remember he and Jean were +such good friends."</p> + +<p>But although the two girls were walking +along side by side toward the stables back of +the Rainbow Lodge, it was plain that Olive +Van Mater was not listening with any real +interest to what her companion was saying.</p> + +<p>"Then why won't Frieda ride with us?" +she expostulated. "I am sure it has been +ages since we four girls had a long ride together +and it is a wonderfully beautiful morning. +What has become of Frieda lately anyhow—I +almost never see her except at meal +times?"</p> + +<p>With a laugh Jack Ralston laid her arm +lightly across her friend's shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Poor Olive, to have only my poor society! +But, dear, we have not had but one other +ride together, the one that we took to the +Indian village soon after your arrival. Does +it bore you so <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'dreadully'">dreadfully</ins> to have only me as +a companion? You must not come with me +then, simply because I asked you. I can +get one of the boys to ride over the ranch<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +with me; perhaps Carlos would be willing to +do that much! I don't know what has +happened to Frieda, but the child is making +a perfect martyr of herself. That poor young +Professor seems not to wish anyone to do +things for him except Frieda or Ruth. You +know he perfectly hates the sight of the rest +of us. And as Ruth is so busy with Jimmikins +and the house she can't nurse him a +great deal. So he just lies in his room, which +is Frieda's by the way, and moans and groans +until Frieda comes to amuse him. What do +you think I beheld our baby doing the other +day? Reading him some dreadful article +on Egyptian Hieroglyphics from a learned +magazine. She hadn't the faintest idea what +it was all about and she looked like a big +yellow butterfly imprisoned in a dark place. +I am sure I am awfully sorry the erudite +young professor had to break his right leg +in the depth of Rainbow Mine and that we +have him on our hands for six weeks or more—almost +as sorry as he is I expect. Still I +am not going to have Frieda sacrificing herself +to him much longer. I mean to tell her +tomorrow that it is quite unnecessary. He +is a dreadfully spoiled person."</p> + +<p>"But wouldn't Frank have enjoyed this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +long ride with you this morning, Jack?" +Olive repeated, still refusing to take any +interest in what Jack was saying, but instead +clinging obstinately to her own train of +thought. "I am sure Jim would have let +Frank off from the trip with him if he had +known that you had to take this long ride to +hunt up the lost mares and colts."</p> + +<p>Jack nodded, but her expression was hurt +and puzzled. "Of course Jim would have +let Frank come with me or would have come +himself if he had known of the trouble. But +both Jim and Frank were away before I +heard of the loss. Besides, it does not make +any difference, for I am sure I have ridden +over Rainbow Ranch looking up our lost +horses and cattle ever since I was fourteen or +fifteen years old. But if you think the ride +may be too long for you, please don't come, +Olive. I shan't be in the least hurt if you +don't feel like it. Kiss me good-by and go +back to the Lodge. Ruth will be overjoyed +at your return and I'll be perfectly all right +with Carlos."</p> + +<p>But although Jack Ralston spoke so cheerfully +and in such good temper she was not +truthful in pretending that Olive's present +attitude was not hurting her feelings. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +truth is that she felt that Olive had not been +exactly the same toward her since Frank +Kent's arrival. And if Jack had needed any +further proof to add to her past conviction +this was sufficient. Always before, Olive had +loved her better than any one else, even more +than she did her friend, Miss Winthrop. +And Jack was certain that she had done +nothing to make Olive angry or to wound her—she +herself was so utterly unchanged in her +own affection.</p> + +<p>What a hopeless, horrid puzzle it all was +and of all persons was not Jacqueline Ralston +the most inadequate for straightening it out? +She had no methods but those of frankness. +If only she dared ask Olive how she actually +felt.</p> + +<p>But Olive would hardly have been able to +explain to her, because in these last few +weeks the girl had not understood herself. +Before Frank Kent's coming to the Rainbow +Lodge she had been sure of having entirely +recovered from her past fancy for him. Had +she not fought it all out in those final weeks +in England when she had realized the extent +of Frank's devotion to Jack and the impossibility +of her own position? And now—well, +whatever turn events might take, Olive felt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +the fault would be largely Jacqueline's. For +why did Jack fail to return Frank's affection? +Why did she continue to treat him with such +disregard and yet keep him lingering on at +the ranch? Really Olive wondered if her own +emotion was not now one more of sympathy +for Frank and impatience with Jack. Surely +Frank was too fine a fellow from every point +of view to be trifled with. And no one +would ever have suspected Jack of being a +girl of such a character.</p> + +<p>Olive again looked closely into her friend's +face and what she saw there for the moment +disarmed her. Of course she was more angry +with Jack than she had ever dreamed it +possible that she could be and yet she had +not meant to wound her over this small question +of their having another ride together to +search for lost stock. Perhaps this very +morning Jack might be in a humor to confide +in her the cause of her mysterious conduct. +She must have some vital reason, it was so +unlike her to be cruel or not to know her own +mind.</p> + +<p>"Of course I won't go back to the Lodge," +Olive finally protested. "For I do wish the +ride immensely; it was only that I thought +it might be a pleasure for the others too."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + +<p>And to this half-hearted apology the other +girl made no reply.</p> + +<p>A few moments later, having arrived at the +beautiful new stables built within the past +year at the Rainbow Ranch, Jack and Olive +found their two horses already saddled. And +a little while after, finding the Indian boy, +Carlos, at his own tent door, the three of +them mounted and rode away.</p> + +<p>Now riding with Jacqueline Ralston over +their great thousand-acre Wyoming ranch +to seek for cattle or horses that had gone +astray was apt to be fairly strenuous, and no +one unaccustomed to riding should ever have +thought of attempting it. Yet Olive had +done the same thing dozens of times in the +years when she had first came to live at +Rainbow Ranch, and on starting out this +morning had no idea of growing tired before +her friend did.</p> + +<p>The first part of their trip was easy enough, +for although Jack cantered along fairly rapidly +she made no detours, only keeping a careful +lookout in all possible directions. For she +had no thought of finding the lost mares and +their young colts anywhere within the immediate +neighborhood of that part of the ranch +which was apt to be ridden over oftener than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +the more distant fields. And Carlos had +been asked to make the few necessary excursions +whenever a rise in the landscape or a +group of trees or rocks made a possible hiding +place.</p> + +<p>But a short time before midday the three +riders came to a distant part of Rainbow +Creek, where the character of the ranch land +changed and where there were frequent hummocks +and sand hills and great boulders split +into natural caves and canyons. This part +of the creek had no connection with the +Rainbow Mine but was sometimes used in an +emergency as a drinking place for the stock, +although the stock was not supposed to wander +here without guidance, as there were +many ravines and dangerous places where +especially the young cattle or colts were apt +to be injured.</p> + +<p>Here the riding under Jacqueline's guidance +became more difficult and fatiguing. For +not only did she leave the ordinary beaten +trail, but she made her horse pick his way +along what appeared an utterly impossible +track over rocks, in the deep loose sand, +now following a partly dry creek bed and +occasionally splashing through water so deep +that it reached almost to her riding boots.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +For another hour Olive followed, not realizing +her own exhaustion, but wondering why +her breath should be coming in such short +gasps and why her back should ache in +such an unaccountable fashion.</p> + +<p>Curiously enough it was Carlos who first +discovered Olive's predicament. For the +past ten minutes he had been riding as close +by her side as was possible under the conditions, +not speaking a single word, but +examining her closely with his small, burning +black eyes. And when Olive, without +being conscious of it, turned a shade whiter, +even then he did not speak to her but instead +rode silently forward until he was opposite +Jack.</p> + +<p>"All women have not the strength of +men!" he began sullenly. The girl stared +at him in amazement, not guessing what +he meant.</p> + +<p>Then Carlos grew angry and his words +came faster than usual. "If you think +more of lost animals than of her whom you +call friend, it is well that you should go on +until she falls. Have I not often heard +and now see with my own eyes that there +are squaws who care nothing for their own +sex."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> + +<p>Half rising in her saddle Jacqueline Ralston +lifted her riding whip, and almost before +realizing what she was doing she had struck the +Indian boy sharply across his lean shoulders.</p> + +<p>"You are not to speak of American women +as squaws, Carlos. How often have Mr. +Colter and I told you that you were never +to do it? And, moreover, you are to understand +that I will not endure your impertinence. +What has happened to put you in +so evil a mood?" Jack asked more quietly +now, sorry for her own loss of temper. For +she realized in a small measure just how +keenly an Indian feels the degradation of +a blow from an enemy, unless he is able +to return it with increased vengeance. And +Jack had no illusion about Carlos' attitude +toward her. He had turned a kind of ashy +white under his bronze skin and his body +had quivered once and then become perfectly +tense, not from the force of the blow, which +had not cut deeply, but from his own passion.</p> + +<p>However, before either the boy or Jack +could speak again, Olive had ridden up +between them, grieved and frightened over +her friend's action and wondering what could +have occurred between them in so short a time.</p> + +<p>"Jack dear, what has Carlos done or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +said?" she demanded quickly. "It was not +fair of you to strike him, knowing that he +could make no defense."</p> + +<p>Instantly Jacqueline Ralston felt her face +flushing with a swift rushing of hot blood +to her cheeks until her temples pounded and +her eyes flashed. Never before in their +entire acquaintance had she remembered +being really angry with Olive. Yet had she +not borne a good deal already that day and +for several weeks beforehand in Olive's indifference +and critical air toward her? Now +in this trouble she had just had with Carlos, +Olive was immediately taking the Indian +boy's part without even asking her for an +explanation. Nevertheless a second glance +at her friend's face made her instantly control +her own emotion, appreciating at the +same time what Carlos' impertinent speech +to her had meant.</p> + +<p>"You are tired, Olive. I am so sorry," +she replied at once, instead of answering the +other girl's question. "I did not realize +how hard we had been riding, or that you +are out of practice after a year in New York +while the rest of us were here at the ranch. +We'll have luncheon and rest and then maybe +you'll feel better."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jack nodded curtly to Carlos to assist +Olive in dismounting while she slid off her +own horse without help. Then she put her +arm about the other girl, leaving the boy +to lead the three horses. In a little while +she and Olive had found a flat rock shadowed +by a cliff from the sun. Here Olive sat +down while Jack opened up their luncheon +boxes and made the necessary preparations. +But all the time she was reflecting upon +what she had best do or say to the Indian +boy. She was sorry that she had struck +him, although still extremely angry at his +manner and speech to her. If Carlos had +felt worried over Olive's exhaustion it would +have been simple enough to have told her +in a more polite fashion. The truth was +that she and Jim were both getting extremely +tired of the Indian boy's presence on Rainbow +Ranch. She would talk over this incident +today with her guardian and ask him +if he felt that she owed Carlos an apology. +If he did she would make whatever reparation +she could and after that they would +try and find another home for him. But +at present she was still too annoyed to wish +to have the boy near her.</p> + +<p>"You can find water for our horses and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +tie them somewhere not far away, Carlos," +Jack ordered, leaving Olive and walking a +few yards across the sand to where the boy +stood, still sullen and resentful in his manner. +"Then ride on for another half hour and see +if you can find any of the lost mares or +colts. When you return we will have lunch +saved for you."</p> + +<p>And so Jack Ralston temporarily dismissed +the difficulty confronting her. For in any +case it was disagreeable to have Carlos +staring at them while she and Olive ate, +and she did not wish him as a companion +at their luncheon.</p> + +<p>Carlos' society could hardly have increased +the discomfort of their meal. For +Olive was either too weary or too vexed to +wish to talk, and Jack in too strange a +tumult of feeling.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly, as the two girls were sitting +there together in the warm, caressing +sunshine, hardly more than a few feet apart +and yet sundered by leagues of misunderstanding, +it seemed to Jacqueline that she +could no longer endure all that she was +suffering for her friend, unless Olive made +some sign that her sacrifice was worth while. +For Jack made no effort to hide from herself,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +however much she concealed it from +other people, that each day of her life she +was learning to care more and more for +Frank Kent, for his love and his complete +understanding and sympathy with her temperament. +She knew that she had many +faults, but she also knew that Frank was +aware of them and forgave them. However, +there was one fault that she did not +have and it was not fair that she should +bear the ignominy of it. She would no +longer hurt and confuse the man she cared +for by her apparent inability to make up +her mind.</p> + +<p>Jack's full red lips closed more tightly +than was usual to them as she lifted her +head, showing the firm line of her throat +and chin. Then she took a deep breath, +straightening her shoulders and glancing with +her wide open, heavily fringed gray eyes +directly into the eyes of her friend.</p> + +<p>Olive was more rested, was less pale, but +was evidently still as much estranged from +her. And though the conviction had come +upon her suddenly, Jack felt convinced that +this was the appointed moment when she +must wrest the truth from the other girl. +She hated herself for her own stupidity in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +not finding out by more subtle means and +scarcely knew now what she intended to +do or say. It was as if she stood on the +bank of an icy stream with the shore of +truth on the other side, a shore which by +some method she must reach. Therefore, +with Jacqueline Ralston's disposition, there +appeared but one means. Boldly she must +plunge in, no matter what the result.</p> + +<p>"Olive dear," Jack began abruptly, not +looking at her friend, but at a small smoke-colored +cloud over in the western sky, "I +know you are angry with me about Carlos +and I am sorry. He was impertinent, but +I don't suppose you would think that justifies +what I did. But it is not about what +happened just now that I want to talk. +You have not felt like you once did for me +for several weeks—not since Frank Kent +came to the Lodge. Would you mind telling +me why?"</p> + +<p>To Jack's directness of thought and speech +her friend by this time should have grown +accustomed. And indeed until now Olive +had always loved and admired Jack for it. +But today she was tired and her head ached +and this unexpected question had taken her +completely by surprise. The girl's dark<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +cheeks flushed richly and her ordinarily +gentle expression changed.</p> + +<p>"Jack, you are absurd!" she answered +irritably. "What right have you anyhow +to consider that my feeling for you has any +connection with Frank Kent? What does +Frank mean to me?"</p> + +<p>Now if only Jack had been content with +this answer or had possessed some of Jean +Bruce's tact and resourcefulness! She had +neither. So her gray eyes darkened and +her face grew white and unhappy.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me, Olive," she murmured, humbly +enough for proud, high-tempered Jack, +"but that is what I, oh, so much want you +to tell me. For sometimes I have thought +that perhaps you do like Frank just a little +bit more than an ordinary friend. And if +it is true, dear, don't you feel that we have +been close enough to each other to have +you make me your confidant?"</p> + +<p>It was very gently put, after all, and therefore +Olive should not have been so wounded +or so angry. However, and perhaps because +there was so much of truth in the other +girl's suggestion, Olive was both hurt and +embittered.</p> + +<p>"You have not the shadow of a right,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +Jacqueline Ralston, to say a thing like that +to me," she returned with the passion and +protest of a too sensitive nature. "How +dare you sit there and calmly suggest to me +that I am in love with Frank Kent when +you know perfectly well that he cares for +no one in this world but you. Do you suppose +that I have no pride and no self-respect?"</p> + +<p>And then, dropping her head in her hands, +Olive began crying, hardly understanding +her own tears, so much were they a combination +of pain and of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'petulence'">petulance</ins>. For the +questions she had just put to Jack were +the very ones that she had so often asked +herself. And if she had found no answer +to them, how could any one else?</p> + +<p>But Jack did not attempt making a reply. +For a moment she was silent, feeling miserably +conscious of the failure she had just +made. For had she not merely succeeded in +mortifying her friend without arriving one +bit nearer the truth which she sought?</p> + +<p>But by and by Jack laid her hand caressingly +on the other girl's dark hair. "Don't +cry, Olive please," she begged. "You know +what a stupid person I am and how often +Jean and Frieda think I do and say the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +wrong thing. Here comes Carlos and when +he has eaten his lunch you must let him +take you back to the Lodge. You are too +tired to ride any farther and I can manage +very well by myself, or else you can send +one of the stable boys this way to find me."</p> + +<p>Without making a reply Olive continued +to sob, only now a little more quietly, and +in the meanwhile allowing Jack to make all +the arrangements for her return home. It +was unfortunate perhaps that she also paid +so little attention to the Indian boy, who +was sitting within a few yards of her, pretending +to eat. In reality he was either +keeping his eyes fixed moodily upon her, +or else turning them upon Jacqueline Ralston +with such an intensity of dislike that had +she been aware of it, she must have been +vaguely disturbed.</p> + +<p>A little later Olive and Carlos started +home together. In farewell Olive simply +nodded her head to Jack, showing no other +sign of forgiveness or affection; but she had +only ridden for a comparatively short distance +when she was as bitterly sorry and +as ashamed of herself as Jack had previously +been, and at the moment would have +liked to turn back. She realized that she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +had been both unreasonable and unkind. +What could have been the matter with her? +Surely her fatigue must have had something +to do with it, for people were rarely sensible +when over-tired. Jack had not intended +breaking down the barrier of her reserve +for no reason but idle curiosity.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly Olive's hands tightened on +her bridle reins and her black eyes softened. +How unutterably blind she had been for so +long! For was not Jack's recent question +to her the keynote of the whole puzzling +situation? Jack certainly must fear that +she cared more for Frank than she should. +Would this not perfectly explain her attitude +toward him since the beginning of his +love-making? Olive quickly recalled the +final weeks of their visit in England, then +Jack's repeated efforts to thrust her into +Frank's society and so to evade him herself! +Then since Jack Ralston's return to the +ranch had she not resolutely refused to let +Frank Kent come to see her until Olive +was also at the Lodge?</p> + +<p>Sudden and relieving tears rolled down +the girl's hot cheeks, which she did not +for the moment attempt wiping away. How +like her quixotic Jack to refuse to accept<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +her own happiness at the price of her friend's! +And how near she, Olive, had come to permitting +Jack to sacrifice all three of them +to her mistaken sense of loyalty and love!</p> + +<p>Well, tonight Olive intended straightening +everything out by answering the inquiry to +which she had refused to reply to before. +For in the light of her present revelation +had she not at last felt a weight lifting itself +from her own heart and a clear vision +come to her mind? Let her measure her +affection for Frank Kent by that which she +felt for Jacqueline. Why she loved Jack a +hundred times better than she ever could +Frank! Jack had been her first friend: all +that she was she really owed to her. If +only she did not have to wait an hour longer +before making three persons happier than +they had been in many weeks!</p> + +<p>Half-way around Olive turned her pony's +head. But no, she was too tired to go +back to Jack and besides they could have +no intimate conversation under the present +circumstances. Moreover, it had been growing +much warmer in this last half hour, in +spite of the fact that every once and a +while there were unexpected gusts of wind +blowing the sand into her own eyes and her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +mare's. The truth was that she should +never have consented to leaving Jack. She +should have insisted on her going home +at the same time with them. Ruth and +Jim Colter would both be annoyed at the +idea of Jack's riding about the ranch alone, +and any one of the men whom she might +send back to look for her would probably +be several hours in searching and perhaps +never discover her at all.</p> + +<p>For the first time in half an hour Olive +Van Mater glanced across at the boy, Carlos. +He had not spoken a dozen words to her in +the course of their trip, so how could she +dream that all this while he had been turning +over and over in his mind the bitterness of +Jack's insult? Then not only was his animosity +a personal one, but on coming back +from the needless errand upon which he had +been driven away, had he not found his one +time Princess in tears and such sorrow that +she had not yet ceased from grieving? Her +trouble could have but one source. Perhaps +Miss Ralston had even dared wound her in +the same way that she had him! And then +Carlos had clenched his teeth, continuing +more rigid and doggedly quiet than before. +For of course he should soon be revenged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +for both of them! The only thing was to +wait until his opportunity came.</p> + +<p>"Carlos," Olive said unexpectedly. "I +am almost back at the Lodge now and will +have no difficulty in going the rest of the way +alone. But I wish you would go and find +Miss Ralston. Tell her please to come home +at once, that I want to speak to her about +something most important. And I think +you had better hurry, for I am a little bit +afraid that a storm is coming up."</p> + +<p>Possibly Olive had expected a demur. +If so she was mistaken, for without replying +the boy wheeled his horse and started back +in the direction from which they had just come.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>A DESERT STORM<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>PERHAPS no one except an Indian could +have found Jack so swiftly, and yet +Carlos was engaged in the search for +her over an hour. For the girl had gone some +distance beyond the place of their last meeting +and still had found no trace of their lost +stock.</div> + +<p>She was vexed for a moment at Carlos' +reappearance, but gave no sign. Indeed she +managed to say "Thank you" when he +briefly explained that he had taken Olive near +enough home to have her make the rest of the +journey without an escort and then that she +had sent him back to continue the hunt. +Not a suggestion did he give of Olive's real +message for Jack to return home immediately.</p> + +<p>A girl with Jacqueline Ralston's knowledge +and experience of western life should have +required no such message had she taken her +usual normal interest in her surroundings. +For there was a sufficient forewarning of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +what was approaching for her to have understood. +Nevertheless, for once in her life Jack +was almost completely oblivious of the landscape +and of the conditions of the sky and +atmosphere. For her conversation with Olive +had made her more unhappy and puzzled +than she had previously been, since she had +surely succeeded only in making the tangle +harder for any one of them to unravel.</p> + +<p>Now and then, as she continued her ride +beyond the end of the Rainbow Creek and +into the broader sweep of their prairie lands, +the girl almost forgot the original object of +her day's excursion, only feeling that more +than anything she desired to be outdoors and +alone. So that instead of leading the way +as she had done in the morning she now +allowed the boy Carlos to take his own trail, +following without much thought close behind.</p> + +<p>By far the larger portion of the broad area +of the Ralston ranch was cultivated land, +to the extent that the fields beyond the Lodge +were most of them planted with alfalfa grass +and other grains according to their fertility. +Occasionally there were barren spaces of land +where the sands from the desert had settled +too deeply for any growing thing, and as these +were at the outermost edges of the ranch<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +Jim Colter had left them undisturbed, waiting +for a time when there should be less work +nearer home.</p> + +<p>Therefore when Jack suddenly discovered +her horse ploughing heavily through one of +these sandy stretches she realized that they +were farther away from Rainbow Lodge than +she had appreciated. And certainly it was +now time to turn back. She was afraid that +she could hardly manage to arrive at home +before dinner time and that would mean a +scolding from Jim, who would hardly consider +the rescue of a few lost mares and colts a +sufficient excuse for making the rest of them +uncomfortable and uneasy.</p> + +<p>Jack smiled a little ruefully, checking her +horse and allowing him a few moments of +rest. She had not even that good excuse +to take home with her, for she had not seen +a trace of the stray stock and had really +scarcely looked for them since luncheon. +But then Carlos must have been more attentive—she +was really surprised at the boy's +apparent interest since he rejoined her. He +had taken the entire initiative. Even now he +was some distance ahead and going too fast +for his horse's strength in such difficult ground.</p> + +<p>"Carlos, Carlos," the girl called as loudly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +as possible. Then she patted Romeo's neck +with swift penitence. Ordinarily she was +quick to remember the comfort of her own +mount, but today she had been most extraordinarily +selfish. However, it was odd that +in spite of his long day's travel her horse did +not seem to wish to stand still even for a +moment. He kept pawing the earth, sniffing +and turning half way round in his eagerness +to start for home.</p> + +<p>The mystery needed only a little time for +solving. All afternoon in a subconscious +fashion Jack had realized that the air was +unpleasantly hot and stifling and that the +sun had not been shining since luncheon. +The little cloud which she had first noticed +in the west, a queer funnel-shaped cloud, +had been constantly growing larger. Of +course it meant a storm, but it was still far +enough away not to be immediately alarming. +However, they must get home as soon as +possible, and Carlos evidently had not heard +her cry.</p> + +<p>Twice again Jack shouted his name, but +as he did not turn his head she touched her +pony lightly with her riding whip and rode +after him. She regretted now that she had +allowed the boy to get so far ahead of her, for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +her own few minutes' delay had naturally +increased the distance between them. Yet +Jack did not feel that it would be fair for her +to turn back without informing her companion. +It seemed almost cruel to force her +jaded horse at such a pace through the loose +sands; yet how else could she ever hope to +catch up with her escort? Carlos did not usually +show such poor judgment with his own +steed.</p> + +<p>Then finally it occurred to the girl that the +Indian boy was refusing deliberately to answer +her as a punishment for their trouble +earlier in the day. If this were true she was +foolish to waste any more time and energy +in pursuit of him. She could get back home +alone long before bedtime by allowing her +horse to walk for a part of the way. Then +if the storm should overtake her, she would +not be far enough from the Lodge to have it +make any serious difference. As for her +scolding, well, Jack felt that she would have +to accept that as philosophically as possible +under the circumstances. For Jim would +have a double grievance, since he did not like +any one of them to ride for any distance with +only Carlos as a companion.</p> + +<p>Shrugging her shoulders, too tired really<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +to be angry again that day, Jack called once +more. This time, to her surprise, Carlos +actually rose in his saddle, pointing with +evident excitement toward some indeterminate +objects at a little distance off. Jack +could not see what they were, although she +guessed at once. After all, their hard day's +work had not been in vain! Carlos had +assuredly discovered the lost stock. True +they must have wandered beyond the confines +of the Rainbow ranch, since Jack was +familiar enough with their own boundary +line to know that Carlos was even at this +instant passing beyond the wire fence which +circumscribed it.</p> + +<p>Their stock oftentimes got outside the +ranch by mysterious methods of their own. +Therefore if Carlos believed that he saw the +mares they had been searching for the entire +day, it would be foolish to turn back without +them. It was unfortunate that the heavy +cloud in the west seemed to be driving toward +them with so much greater speed in these +last fifteen minutes. Still if it should reach +their vicinity before they could get the lost +mares and colts into some kind of shelter +the animals must perish. For the mares would +never desert their young and the colts could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +never endure the force of the wind and the +great blankets of sand that would probably +sweep over and cover them.</p> + +<p>Jack was not mistaken in one point of view. +She knew, as only a Westerner could, that the +storm approaching was not rain, but wind, +and that it might mean a sand storm in the +desert.</p> + +<p>A saner judgment however would have +suggested that Jacqueline Ralston start back +home at once, leaving Carlos to follow her. +But she appreciated the tremendous difficulty +that the boy would have in rounding +up the frightened animals alone and forcing +them into some place of refuge. Really, it +never occurred to Jack not to help. She had +been so accustomed to just such work on the +ranch from the time she was a small girl.</p> + +<p>So on she rode now, straight after the +Indian boy, perhaps for an eighth of a mile +or more beyond their boundary, yet still +the loose thick sands which were whirling +and eddying in gusts at her horse's feet.</p> + +<p>And always Carlos kept as far as possible +ahead.</p> + +<p>Jack finally came to a position where she +found out the mistake which she believed +both she and the Indian boy had innocently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +made. The dark objects ahead of them had +been only a group of close growing sage +bushes that they had mistaken for the lost +stock. Crying out once more to the boy +to turn back, Jack now made no pretense of +waiting to discover whether or not he heeded +her. For the wind was blowing more fiercely, +bringing with it the heat of a sirocco, and the +sand was pouring into her eyes and ears, +almost blinding and choking her. Beyond +her there were small sand hills and ravines +where a few moments before the earth had +lain smooth as a carpet.</p> + +<p>Jack perfectly understood that the full +fury of the storm had not yet reached her +vicinity. Her effort must be to get beyond +the sand plains, back if possible to the neighborhood +of Rainbow Creek, where behind +one of its great rocks she might find partial +shelter.</p> + +<p>But her heart was pounding uncomfortably +and her fair skin felt as though it were being +pricked by innumerable needles. Moreover, +Jack was frightened. She knew just what a +sandstorm meant on the western prairies. +She was not far from the edge of a portion of +barren lands that formed a kind of miniature +desert, and the worst of the situation was that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +she herself was very tired and that through +her own selfish forgetfulness her horse was +even more so. Every foot of the way the +girl strove to encourage the exhausted animal. +Yet it was impossible to make real headway +in such a soil while buffeted by such a gale.</p> + +<p>Then Jacqueline Ralston heard a strange +noise and, as she had heard it once before +in her life, she must have recognized it had not +her other senses also added their warning.</p> + +<p>The roar and rush behind her were seldom +equalled by any other kind of tempest.</p> + +<p>For half an instant rising in her saddle the +girl glanced back. Carlos was not far off +now and spurring his horse remorselessly.</p> + +<p>For beyond the boy at no great distance +and driving rapidly forward was an immense +dark yellow cloud. The peculiarity of this +cloud was not merely in its color, size and +shape, but that instead of being overhead +it almost touched the surface of the land.</p> + +<p>The girl slid off her horse.</p> + +<p>"Down, down," she said quietly, pulling +hard on her bridle. And then as her horse's +knees touched the ground before him, Jack +flung herself face downward, clutching at the +loose earth for endurance and strength.</p> + +<p>The cloud would be upon them in another<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +moment with terrible destructive force. For +not alone did it represent the fury of the wind, +but was formed of a mountain of sand driven +before it.</p> + +<p>A sound, which the girl guessed must have +come from Carlos, suggested that he was +following her example. Yet she dared not +look back to see. Now the sand storm was +upon them.</p> + +<p>The thunder and terror of it are past +understanding.</p> + +<p>One chance only Jack believed they had +for their lives. If the sand cloud was sufficiently +high above the earth not to touch them +they would be safe. Otherwise they would be +driven before it like chips of straw. But +of any actual, conscious sensation which she +suffered as the cloud passed over her, Jack +was not aware. She knew that she was praying +the instant before, but at the time itself +she only clung the closer and sank deeper +down into the earth, which is the final refuge +of us all.</p> + +<p>The moment following, however, the girl +felt as if she had been bruised and beaten +by a thousand furies. Her body ached with +fatigue, her tongue felt scorched and swollen +and her eyes smarted with intense pain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +There was no further danger; storms of this +character come with one terrible driving +blast of wind and then go straight on in their +course.</p> + +<p>Jack blinked and stirred sufficiently to +turn over and see that her horse was safe. +As well as its master a western broncho understands +how to meet strange weather conditions +that would bring destruction to any other +animal.</p> + +<p>With a sigh of thankfulness the girl then +stretched herself more comfortably along the +ground, resting one elbow in the sand and +leaning her head upon it. For Carlos and +his pony were equally safe and evidently +not so frightened as she was, for the boy was +already staggering toward her dragging his +horse by the bridle.</p> + +<p>The girl was not yet able to speak. Yet +she watched Carlos with indifference and +entirely without suspicion as he came to within +a few feet of her and reaching downward +pulled her horse on to his feet again.</p> + +<p>The horse staggered and Jack had half an +inclination to ask the boy to wait a little +while before forcing him to stand. However +she did not seem to have strength enough even +to make this protest. Nor did she speak<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +at first when she saw Carlos leading the two +horses away from the place where she was +resting.</p> + +<p>What on earth did the boy have in mind +to do? It was useless to try to brush the +sand from the horse's coats and there was no +water near enough to give them each a +drink.</p> + +<p>Jack frowned, then she not only sat up +but rose quickly on her feet. For Carlos +had mounted his own pony and without a +word to her was riding away, taking her +horse with him. The girl called, but again +the Indian boy was afflicted with the curious +deafness that had affected him all afternoon. +Then Jack ran after him, stumbling and crying +as she ran. But she was far too exhausted +to make much headway and still Carlos +would not glance around. He was not even +going in the direction of the Rainbow Ranch.</p> + +<p>Just how long her futile chase actually +continued Jacqueline Ralston did not realize. +So long as she could manage to keep the boy +in sight she followed him, floundering in the +sands and uncertain of her direction. However, +when he was so far away that she could +no longer see him, Jack sat down again. +What annoying freak had possessed Carlos<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +to ride off with her horse without offering +any explanation? Well, he would doubtless +return within a short time, so there was +nothing to do except wait.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>OLIVE'S REMORSE<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>BACK at the Lodge Olive undressed and +lay down upon the bed for a short +rest. Afterwards, when she felt that +Jack must surely have received her message +she rose and put on the lavender frock that +was the other girl's especial favorite.</div> + +<p>Olive was by this time no longer tired, but +in better spirits than she had been for several +weeks. For in less than an hour, perhaps, +things would be entirely cleared up between +herself and her best friend.</p> + +<p>"Dear old Jack, was there ever anyone else +in the world quite so generous or so absurd? +Did Jack really think that she had the +privilege of bestowing her lover upon her +friend, simply because she was under the +impression that the friend desired him? What +would Frank have had to say in the matter?"</p> + +<p>Then Olive blushed. Possibly after all +she had been more absurd in allowing herself +even for an hour or a day to think that she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +cared for a man as far beyond her reach as +the moon. Let her be honest with herself +at least! Had she not actually shed tears in +secret? And this when from the very beginning +of their acquaintance, Frank Kent had +always been her only loyal and devoted +friend and nothing else. Well, matters would +soon be sensibly adjusted.</p> + +<p>In the living room Olive found Ruth and +Jean sewing, but in reality devoting by far +the greater portion of their time to admiring +the baby, who from inside his crib was +placidly surveying the world with the dignity +of a philosopher.</p> + +<p>"Where is Jack, Olive?" Ruth inquired +at once, frowning and glancing toward an +open window. "It is so hot I am afraid we +are going to have a storm and I have been +reproaching myself all day for letting you +girls start out on such a wild goose chase +this morning. Why on earth did Jack not +send the men after the stock?"</p> + +<p>Jean looked up from her work. "Oh, +don't worry about Jack, she has been doing +this kind of thing ever since she could walk +or ride and she began both at about the same +time. I believe Jack did send one of the +cowboys off in one direction while she and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +Olive and Carlos took the other. But you +know most of the men have gone with Jim +and Frank to a round-up a good many miles +off. I wonder if they will be back in time for +dinner?"</p> + +<p>During this speech the door of the living +room had slowly opened and Frieda in a white +muslin frock with a big book under her arm +had quietly entered. Her cheeks were flushed +and her expression so uncommonly serious, +that remembering Jack's story of her younger +sister's devotion to the Professor, Olive +smiled.</p> + +<p>However, Frieda's first remark was an odd +one.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry if you have left Jack and +Carlos together, Olive," she began, puckering +her white brow. "I don't believe any one +in this family realizes how Carlos hates +Jack. I think if he could he would like to +do her an injury. You see she tries to boss +him and he perfectly loathes having any one +dare interfere with him. Then Carlos is +so lazy and Jack has no use for any one who +is lazy, except me. I wish she would come +home. If I had not promised Mr. Russell +to go on reading to him I should go out and +look for her."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p> + +<p>Frieda walked over to the front window and +the next moment Ruth had joined her. +They both stood staring ahead of them hoping +for a sight of the familiar brown figure on +horseback. For Jack usually rode up to the +house with such a splendid rush toward the +end that even under ordinary circumstances +a vision of her was worth while.</p> + +<p>"Don't be tiresome, Baby, and frighten +Ruth," Jean expostulated.</p> + +<p>Olive said nothing, but slipped out of the +room and hall into the garden. It would not +be worth while to trouble the others with the +story of the difficulty between Jack and Carlos +that morning. Nevertheless it was not pleasant +to recall the expression on the Indian +boy's face during their ride home, nor his +long silence. Of course he rarely spoke to +other persons, but ordinarily he engaged in +long confidences with her, talking of the birds, +wild flowers, any outside thing which he saw +and loved.</p> + +<p>Surely in ten or fifteen minutes more the +two wayfarers must return. In the meantime +Olive would not go back to join the others +as it would not be wise to communicate her +own nervousness to them. So for the next +quarter of an hour she walked up and down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +outside the Lodge, making several trips to +the stables to see if the stable men had any +suggestions to make and to inquire what they +thought concerning the possibility of a storm. +For there was little use in trying to argue the +truth away. The atmospheric conditions +were strange and depressing. Unless the +wind changed, driving the single black cloud +in an opposite direction, something out of +the common was sure to occur. If only +Frank Kent or Jim Colter or even the cowboys +belonging to the ranch were at home, in order +that they might go out and look up the +wanderers!</p> + +<p>Finally Olive sent the two men who took +care of the private stables to reconnoiter. +Then on her way back to the Lodge she found +Jean hurrying in the direction of the Ranch +house.</p> + +<p>"I want to find Ralph Merrit and ask his +advice as soon as possible," Jean explained. +"It is so late now he is sure to have quit +work at the mine. Ruth is convinced that +we are going to have a cyclone and is nearly +frantic over Jack and Jim and Frank, all +away from home. Yet I hate having Ralph +start out alone—he does not understand +what the weather out here means so well as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +the rest of us, even if he has been here a good +many years now. But I must confess I wish +that Frieda had not made that uncomfortable +speech about Carlos' disliking Jack so much. +I am afraid it is true. Oh, Olive, what a +pity it is that you happened to leave them!"</p> + +<p>This was the only word of reproach that any +member of the Rainbow ranch family made +to Olive Van Mater during all the excitement +and distress that came afterwards. And +of course Jean did not mean her words to +carry a sting—they were only an obvious +exclamation.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless Olive did not require outside +censure to make her suffer as keen remorse +as was possible to her sensitive and devoted +nature. For she knew herself to be far more +responsible for the day's catastrophe than +any one would ever dream.</p> + +<p>Only the edge of the sand storm swept the +neighborhood of the Rainbow Lodge. Half +a mile from the house it veered in its unaccountable +way, carrying its destructive force +straight across the adjoining ranch, wrecking +half a dozen valuable buildings and killing a +large number of cattle. Yet it came sufficiently +near the Lodge for everybody inside +the house to understand what was happening,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +even if Jim Colter and Frank Kent and a +dozen of the cowboys had not ridden home +furiously only five or ten minutes before, +having raced the wind storm across the prairies +and come off victorious. Both looked fairly +worn out, as they came clanking into the +living room, still in their riding clothes and +boots and covered with a fine coating of +yellow sand.</p> + +<p>"Jehoshaphat, but it is good to be indoors!" +Jim exclaimed at once, putting his arm about +his wife and gazing around him. "It is a good +thing Frank isn't a tenderfoot, even if he is +an Englishman. For if that sand storm had +struck us—well, I am not going to put on +airs. I have been a ranchman now for a +good many years, but I never feel very hopeful +that anybody such a gale hits is going to come +out alive." Then perhaps in answer to the +thought in the mind of every person in the +room Jim ended abruptly: "Where's Jack? +Hasn't she manners enough to say 'howdy' +to two fellows who have nearly ridden themselves +to death?"</p> + +<p>Following his speech, Jim was not immediately +aware of the peculiar strained silence +in the room, although Frank knew instantly +that something had occurred in which Jack<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +had a part. Under the western tan of the +past few weeks his face whitened. But +he set his teeth and straightened his broad +shoulders. For his was a strength of will +and of character worthy to match with Jack +and capable of longer endurance.</p> + +<p>For a moment no one seemed to dare to +answer Jim's question. And then it was not +Ruth or any one of the three Ranch girls who +replied, but Henry Russell, who had hobbled +into the living room on his crutches, forgetting +his terror and dislike of girls in his effort to +offer his friendly sympathy, and incidentally, +though he himself was not aware of it, to +keep the lovely blond doll of his first acquaintance +from making herself more miserable than +necessary.</p> + +<p>"I, I am afraid Mrs. Colter and—and the +others are feeling a little uneasy about Miss +Ralston," he murmured. "She went out this +morning with the Indian boy, Carlos, to ride +over the ranch and she has not come in just +yet. I have told them that she certainly must +have taken refuge with a neighbor or else +that the storm has not come within her +vicinity. They tell me that these western +siroccos are very freakish."</p> + +<p>But neither Jim Colter nor Frank had heard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +anything except the first part of their visitor's +speech.</p> + +<p>Afterwards Jim paid no attention to any +one in the room except to lean over and kiss +Ruth. "We will find her in a little while, +don't worry. Jack is always getting into +scrapes and being grown up seems to make +little difference," he remarked grimly as he +marched off.</p> + +<p>But Olive clung desperately to Frank Kent's +arm as he tried to follow him.</p> + +<p>"Please let me speak to you a minute +alone before you go," she pleaded. Then +when they were out in the yard and away +from the others she put her hand on Frank's +arm and looked at him with an earnestness +which he did not in the least understand.</p> + +<p>"When you find Jack will you please give +her this message from me," she asked. "Tell +her that she has been making a dreadful +mistake all along and that there is nothing +in the world that will make me so happy as +to hear of her engagement to you. Please +tell her this when you first find her, don't +wait until you are at home again."</p> + +<p>With a rather unusual show of emotion +Frank pressed both of Olive's hands in his.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +"You believe that Jack really cares for me?" +he demanded.</p> + +<p>And then as Olive bowed her head without +replying he mounted a fresh horse, riding +away in the direction that Olive had indicated.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>JACK SURRENDERS AT LAST<br /><br /><br /></div> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 316px;"> +<img src="images/illus03.jpg" width="316" height="500" alt=""The Stars Had Disappeared and Beyond the Universal Grayness There Was Now a Faint Rose Light"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"The Stars Had Disappeared and Beyond the Universal Grayness There Was Now a Faint Rose Light"</span> +</div> +<div class='cap'>IT was almost dawn when Frank Kent +believed that he heard a faint answer to +his last shouting. He was several miles +from the outskirts of the Rainbow Ranch and +in a neighborhood where he might least +expect to find the girl he sought. But every +acre of the ranch had been thoroughly gone +over during the night, and still the men under +Jim Colter's leadership were continuing the +search along the track swept by the storm, +but without finding a trace of Jack or the +Indian boy or of the two horses which they +were known to have been riding.</div> + + + +<p>So, independently of the others, Frank had +recently decided to try a new neighborhood, +not because he had any faith in its being the +right one, but because he felt that he must +work alone. It was unendurable to continue +longer hearing the other men declare that +there was little chance of finding Jack or +Carlos alive. For had they not been within<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +the track of the sand storm they must certainly +have returned home before this. Now +Frank plunged on in the direction of the +recent sound, although he had heard nothing a +second time in reply to his continued calling.</p> + +<p>Deep in his heart he was devoutly grateful +that the dawn was finally breaking. The +stars had disappeared, and beyond the universal +grayness there was now a faint rose light. +A moment before a western lark had risen +before his aching eyes, poising, fluttering and +then sailing straight overhead, singing its +song of praise at the approach of the sun.</p> + +<p>So Frank in a measure could behold the +objects ahead of him, though among them he +saw nothing to suggest Jacqueline Ralston. +He was riding over flat country with little +before him but sand and low scrub plants. +And there were no signs of a horse's hoofs +having lately struggled through it. Finally, +however, Frank got down off his own horse +and, stooping low, examined some faint tracings +in the sands. He had not been trained +to making observations of this sort and even +with the best of scouts it is difficult to find +footprints, in so fine and shifting a soil. +Nevertheless when Frank straightened up +again his face was less haggard and discouraged.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +For he had found a suggestion of +a girl's riding boot printed in the sand and +now and then in curious circles there were +other such impressions.</p> + +<p>With her head resting on a sand dune as +though it were nature's pillow Frank at +length came upon the girl. And even when +within a few feet of Jack it was impossible +to tell whether she was asleep or had fainted—or +whether her silence and rigidity meant +something worse. Yet the girl's expression +was too worn and exhausted for the last +great mystery; it had not the ineffable +peace that comes after nature's final surrender. +Even before he could touch her +Frank had recognized this.</p> + +<p>Quietly he began bathing her face with +water poured upon his handkerchief from the +water flask which he had carried all night in +his pocket. Jack's own little water jug told +its own story, since it was lying empty at her +side, drained to the last drop. Then, when +the girl's heavy lids fluttered slightly, Frank +poured water between her scorched lips. Her +first sign of consciousness was when she put +up her hands to try and cling to his flask that +she might have more. Yet the man drew it +away, telling her to keep quiet and close her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +eyes for a few moments longer. Afterwards +he allowed her another drink of water and +then a few drops of beef tea from a smaller +bottle, which Ruth Colter had given him.</p> + +<p>Finally, with Frank's arm about her, Jack +managed to sit up.</p> + +<p>"I am so glad it was you who found me, +Frank," she said a moment later. "All +night I have thought you would come." She +did not even try to walk or to explain what +had happened, but let Frank lift her up on +his horse, where she leaned against him in +utter weakness and dependence, while the +horse started slowly toward home.</p> + +<p>The ride needs must be a long and fatiguing +one even though aid reach them before their +arrival at the Lodge. And Jack's pulse was +still too faint to have her suffer further +exhaustion. But after a while Frank leaned +over, pressing his lips against the girl's heavy +gold brown hair which had become unloosened +from her long wandering and hung in +two curled braids down her back.</p> + +<p>"Are you glad I found you because you +care for me, Jack?" he whispered, feeling that +it was not altogether fair of him to ask such +a question at such a time, and yet too +impatient to wait.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span></p> + +<p>The girl answered, "Yes" quite simply. A +little later she added like a child: "Besides +I knew you wouldn't scold, Frank. And of +course I have been foolish and headstrong. I +don't seem to know how to grow up. You'll +ask Ruth and Jim not to make me explain to +them until I have rested."</p> + +<p>Frank smiled, but felt a curious lump in +his throat—this new humility and dependence +were so unlike Jack. Unconsciously the +arm that had been holding her up closed more +firmly about the girl's figure.</p> + +<p>"Jack, Jack," he murmured, leaning low +down until his lips were not far from her ear. +"I have waited so long, I can wait no longer. +You have just said that you cared for me, +and for the second time I have believed you. +Then you mean, you must mean that you are +willing to be my wife."</p> + +<p>For just an instant the girl's body quivered +as though with a weakness beyond her power +of control. The next moment she was +shaking her head quietly and firmly, and +although her companion could not see her +face he heard her whisper, "No," with a +measure of her old decision.</p> + +<p>"Very well then," Frank returned just as +firmly, "you shall never be troubled by my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +asking you that question again. As soon as +possible I shall go home to England."</p> + +<p>Once more the girl's shoulders trembled as +if she had been struck an unexpected blow, +but she made no reply. Frank realized that +he was not playing fair and that she should +not be troubled further.</p> + +<p>For five or ten minutes more they rode on +in complete silence, while Jack felt herself +growing weaker and weaker. She was +ashamed to be such a burden and yet only +her own will power and Frank's arm were +sustaining her.</p> + +<p>A little later and Jack had again to be put +down on the ground in a half fainting condition. +By this time they had passed beyond +the stretches of sandy desert and were in one +of the outlying meadows of the Rainbow +Ranch, not far from a branch of their creek. +As Jack was almost unconscious Frank was +able to bathe her face more comfortably, +pushing back the tangled hair out of her eyes, +that she might look more like the girl he +loved. Then he shut his lips close together +and his chin became squarer and his jaw +firmer than ever Jacqueline's had been in her +most obstinate days.</p> + +<p>"I have just told a lie," he said to himself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +and yet rather grimly. "For of course I +shall go on asking Jack to marry me until she +finally consents. If she did not care for me +that would be another matter and I should be +a cad to annoy her. But there can't be any +other barrier real or fancied that is big enough +to come between us permanently."</p> + +<p>Then, as Jack opened her eyes for the +second time, and sat straight up as though +vexed with her own weakness, Frank had a +sudden recollection of Olive's strange message +to him when he had first started on his +search.</p> + +<p>"Tell her it has all been a dreadful mistake +and that there is nothing in the whole world +that will make me so happy as her engagement +to you."</p> + +<p>"What could Olive's words mean? Who +had made a mistake? Had Jack been under +some cruelly false impression?" Frank was +utterly mystified. Yet he held out his hand. +"Come, dear, we will walk for a few minutes," +he said gently, "and I will lead the horse. +You will feel less stiff and tired with a little +exercise. See, the daylight has come. How +beautiful and fragrant the world is!"</p> + +<p>Some change in Frank's voice, or in his +manner—the girl did not know or care to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +think what the change might mean—made +her take the hand held out so quietly toward +her and hold it close in her own cold fingers. +How exquisitely she could always be at peace +with Frank, how perfectly he understood +things without having them explained to him! +After all, he was not going to be angry with +her because of her unreasonable and unkind +behavior. She had felt his anger a little more +than she was willing to endure in her present +state of exhaustion.</p> + +<p>So Jack looked overhead with more of her +accustomed sparkle and animation than she +had yet showed. The sky was a radiant rose +color, so deeply pink that it cast its reflection +on the ground at her feet. They were near +a group of trees and the birds were beginning +to waken one another with mild reproaches +and then sudden bursts of eloquent song.</p> + +<p>"Frank," Jack began pensively enough, "I +never saw a more wonderful dawn. But do +you happen to have anything in your pocket +more substantial than beef tea? I have not +had anything to eat since yesterday at noon +and I think perhaps I am dying of hunger."</p> + +<p>With a laugh her companion let go her +hand, drawing a package from his pocket. +"Ruth gave me this at midnight along with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +the beef tea, but I have not been interested +enough to see what was in it," he explained.</p> + +<p>Greedily Jack tore open the bundle and had +devoured a large chicken sandwich before +good manners even suggested her sharing the +luncheon with its owner. Afterwards Frank +also confessed to being hungry, and so they +walked on toward the Lodge like happy, +runaway children, almost safe at home again.</p> + +<p>Yet while he talked and laughed and ate +Frank Kent was not forgetting Olive's words +nor her final injunction to him. "Please tell +her what I say when you first find her. +Don't wait too long," she had begged.</p> + +<p>"Jack, dear," Frank began casually in the +midst of something else they had been discussing, +"there is something I want to +ask your forgiveness for before another five +minutes have passed. Because I don't +think I can hold out much longer. Back +there on horseback when you were nearly +dead with fatigue I was angry with you and +told you that I never meant to ask you to +marry me again. That was the most untruthful +speech a man ever made! Because +if you are too tired to listen I may have to +wait until you have rested a little while, but +not any longer. You know you care for me,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +dear. You are not the kind of a girl who +would deceive a man by your words or your +manner after all these years of friendship! +There is some mystery that is keeping you +from showing me your real feelings. I can't +guess what it is. Yet Olive must think so +too, for she told me to tell you that you had +been making a dreadful mistake about something +or other, heaven only knows what! +And that our engagement would make her +happier than anything in the world."</p> + +<p>Jacqueline Ralston stood ankle deep in the +rose-touched meadow grass with her straight-forward, +honest gray eyes looking into the +blue eyes of her companion.</p> + +<p>"Did Olive tell you to say that to me? +Did she really and truly seem to mean it?" +she asked wonderingly.</p> + +<p>Frank Kent nodded, not trusting himself to +speak, nor wishing to lose an instant's vision +of the girl's face, or an inflection of her voice.</p> + +<p>Jack had been pale before; but now her +face had flushed with such a look of exquisite +gentleness and surrender, that in spite of all +she had recently endured she had never been +so beautiful.</p> + +<p>Then it was like her to say with self-evident +sincerity: "Of course you are right,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +Frank dear, I could not hide how much I +cared for you even though I have done my +best. It will be hard for me to leave the +ranch and the people I love, but it would be +harder to stay on here—without you!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>RAINBOW CASTLE<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>SOME weeks had passed, and it was now +early fall at the ranch. But another +change had taken place besides that of +the seasons, for Jim and Ruth and the Ranch +girls had moved away from the old Lodge +into their splendid new home.</div> + +<p>To everybody's satisfaction, however, the +Lodge was not deserted; for Ralph Merrit +had changed into it from his old quarters, and +his friend, Henry Tilford Russell, was still +with him—not that the young professor had +become an invalid owing to his accident at +the Rainbow Mine, for his broken leg was +completely healed. But as he had come west +for his general health somehow the Rainbow +Ranch seemed to hold more curative properties +than any other place. And Ralph was +delighted to have his society. The youthful +professor of ancient languages appeared to +have recovered in a measure from his previous +prejudice against girls, or at least he was able<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +to find the companionship of the four Ranch +girls endurable.</p> + +<p>The move to the big house had been somewhat +hastened for several reasons, the most +important being that Jacqueline Ralston and +Frank Kent were to be married during the +first part of October. Frank would not consent +to returning to England without Jack. +He insisted that she was far too uncertain a +quantity to be left alone in her beloved +western lands, since her prairies were his +most dangerous rival. Moreover, as he had +promised his father to stand for a Liberal +seat in Parliament that same winter, Jack +was needed at Kent House to aid him in +winning his election.</p> + +<p>Now it seemed that all of the intimate +friends that the girls had acquired in their +two years away from home, had suddenly +decided to pay visits to the Rainbow Ranch. +Among them were the Princess Colonna and +her nephew, Giovanni, who, because of the +death of her husband without heir, had +inherited the Prince's ancient title.</p> + +<p>Miss Katherine Winthrop had finally arrived, +and her presence seemed to compensate +Olive for the loss of a good deal of Jack's +companionship; yet when the two friends<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +were able to be together without any one +else, they were as intimate and as devoted as +at any time in their lives. And though +Jack never referred to the subject of their +unfortunate conversation, she could find no +trace in Olive of unhappiness or regret.</p> + +<p>It is true that Miss Winthrop and the +girl, who was like a peculiarly devoted and +sympathetic daughter, spent numbers of afternoons +in the nearby Indian village discussing +Olive's desire to become a teacher to the +Indians when she was old enough and sufficiently +well trained for the task. For the +older woman was wise enough not to oppose +the girl's present fancy as Jack had done, +only insisting that she wait until she felt +sure of her own fitness.</p> + +<p>But although Olive had frequent talks +with old Laska, who never could entirely +connect the charming young American lady +with the child she had persecuted, there was +a new member of the village community +with whom Olive would have no conversation. +And this was her once devoted friend +and admirer, the Indian boy, Carlos.</p> + +<p>After Jacqueline Ralston's home-coming, +when she had the opportunity to explain her +unaccountable disappearance, it was Jim<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +Colter who at once armed himself with a +short whip and demanded that the business +of punishing Carlos be left entirely to him. +Yet, notwithstanding her long night of wandering +about in the sand, too weary and too +stupefied to find her way home or to believe +that the boy would not eventually return +with her horse, Jack immediately became +Carlos' defender, finally persuading her guardian +to punish the boy no further than by +not permitting him again to set foot on +Rainbow Ranch. She also confessed her +own share in the day's difficulties, taking a +part of the blame upon herself by insisting +that if she had not struck the boy he would +never have attempted so ugly and dangerous +a revenge.</p> + +<p>Jim and Frank, though at last agreeing to +Jack's wish, did have one interview with +Carlos. But though they came away leaving +the boy frightened and submissive, he never +was brought to confess just what he had intended +in riding off with Jack's horse. Perhaps +during the long afternoon he had vainly +been trying to think of some form of vengeance +and then at the last moment the idea of stealing +Jack's horse and deserting her had come +like a sudden inspiration. Or perhaps the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +boy had meant to return—no one ever knew. +He had gone on with the two horses to the +nearest Indian village and never again left +it for any other home. For the effort to +civilize Carlos had been a vain one and he +cheerfully reverted to the habits and companionship +of his own race.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, he did not go unpunished, +although no one ever knew in what his punishment +consisted. But the refusal of Olive's +further friendship was a sorrow which the +Indian lad endured in silence to the end of +his days. For he never married and was that +very rare figure among his people—an old +bachelor, looked after by old women and the +squaws of other men. And this when half +a dozen Indian maidens would gladly have +mated with Carlos. For he was unusually +handsome and was always admired and reverenced +by his own nation.</p> + +<p>At the time they moved into the new house +Ruth and Jim and the girls were feeling particularly +happy and prosperous, because, not +long after the announcement of Jack's and +Frank's engagement, Ralph Merrit had made +discoveries of fresh supplies of gold in Rainbow +Mine. Also, he had devised the long-sought-for +method by which the gold could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +be extracted without too great danger and +expense. He had not trusted entirely to his +own judgment and experience, for three of the +greatest mining experts in the West had been +sent for, who were open in their praises of +Ralph's idea and plan, predicting a big future +for him and offering him opportunities with +them should he ever care to leave the Rainbow +Mine.</p> + +<p>But this new "pot of gold at the end of +the rainbow," Ralph had straightway announced +was to be his particular wedding +gift to Jack and Frank. Certainly he had +no idea of deserting his old friends, now that +he was again able to prove his usefulness. +So he was working on in apparent contentment +when the Princess and the young Prince +appeared. Then once more his dream faded +and it was hard for Ralph not to think of +his work as mere drudgery in which the labor +was almost all his and the large rewards for +others.</p> + +<p>For like lightning out of a clear sky, soon +after the Princess Colonna's installation in +their new home, even before Ruth or the +girls had become accustomed to her presence, +with entire formality she asked Jim Colter's +consent to Jean Bruce's marriage to her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +nephew, Giovanni, the young Prince Colonna. +When Jim was only barely able to express +his surprise and consternation at such a +suggestion, she explained to him a complete +understanding of his feelings, that this method +of procedure in a question of marriage was +the custom in Italy, her nephew's country. +Therefore the young Prince would never dream +of speaking to Jean without first obtaining +her guardian's approval. Nevertheless, Mr. +Colter must not believe that there was any +lack of affection on the Prince Colonna's part, +for he had never ceased thinking and talking +of Jean from that first hour of their meeting +in the Pincio Gardens in Rome.</p> + +<p>In reply to the Princess, Jim could only +flush and stammer, saying that he would +prefer first talking the matter over with Mrs. +Colter before giving his answer. For the +truth was that Jim really wished to shout +aloud his refusal to consider such a proposition +even for five minutes. Jean to marry a +wretched little Italian youth, no taller than +she was herself, when she might have almost +any clean, hard working American fellow! +It was bad enough for his adored Jack to be +going away with an <i>Englishman</i>, but then +Frank Kent was different!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span></p> + +<p>Nevertheless, Jim understood that the reply +which he really wished to make was not altogether +fair and certainly not courteous to +their guests. Ruth must at once find some +way of clearing up the situation.</p> + +<p>So soon as her husband had explained the +matter to her Ruth was under the impression +that she did see a way. With the Princess' +and the Prince Colonna's consent she herself +would first speak to Jean, letting them hear +later whether Miss Bruce was willing to +listen to the Prince's suit.</p> + +<p>Of course this was the best way out! Jim +sighed with relief at his wife's suggestion, for +neither he nor Ruth had the faintest idea +that Jean would do anything but refuse even +for a moment to consider the Prince or his +offer. Ruth believed that she had always +understood Jean better than any one of the +four Ranch girls.</p> + +<p>Without comment the girl heard of the +young nobleman's proposal, and instead of +declining, she asked to be allowed to consider +it. In the meantime the Prince and his +aunt were to remain at the Rainbow Ranch +in order that Jean and the young man might +learn to know each other better.</p> + +<p>They were frequently together and very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +soon the state of affairs was no secret to any +member of the family, or to their closest +friends. And although a number of persons +were puzzled, no one said a word to Jean. +Could it be possible that she was going to +marry solely for position? No one believed +that she could have come to care so deeply +for the young Italian prince in so brief a +time.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>A PARTY AT THE NEW HOUSE<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>THE society people in that part of +Wyoming within the radius of the +Rainbow Ranch were deeply interested +and some of them a good deal excited +over the fact that an American-Italian Princess +and an Italian Prince were being entertained +in their midst.</div> + +<p>For some time previous to the coming of +their guests Ruth and the girls had planned +giving a large evening party. Originally +the idea had been to make it a kind of house-warming +as well as a formal announcement +of Jack's engagement. But as Jack begged +not to be made specially conspicuous in +regard to the invitations, they were finally +issued by Mr. and Mrs. Colter asking that +their friends do them the honor of meeting +Miss Katherine Winthrop, the Princess Colonna +and her nephew, the Prince Giovanni +Colonna, on a certain September evening. +According to the desires of the Ranch girls<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +the entertainment was to be both a reception +and dance, for the new home was large enough +for both. For while the older guests were +talking to one another in the music room +and library, the big living room could be +used for dancing.</p> + +<p>It was about six o'clock on the afternoon +before the ball when the four girls in dressing +gowns of various shades slipped through the +wide colonial hall and entered the big parlor. +Frieda dropped into a chair set close against +the wall and sighed deeply. Her yellow hair +had been washed only a few hours before +and was now in a big loose knot on top of +her head, though it kept breaking forth into +delicious curls about her white forehead and +neck.</p> + +<p>In answer to the sigh Jack sat down on the +floor at her younger sister's feet. "Isn't +everything all right, Baby? Isn't the room +as lovely as you expected?" she asked anxiously. +For although Jack had always been +unusually tender and devoted to Frieda, she +was even more in these days, with the thought +of leaving her so close at hand.</p> + +<p>Again Frieda sighed, but this time she +explained herself. "It is more than all right. +It is more beautiful than I ever expected<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +any place belonging to us could be. Not that +I did not love the dear old Lodge, but this +house is, well—different. Isn't it dreadful +that you are going away so soon, Jack, +dearest, after all our work and planning? +It will never seem just like home without +you."</p> + +<p>With a sudden movement Jean crossed +the room, placing her fingers lightly upon +Frieda's lips.</p> + +<p>"We have promised Jack not to say anything +like that, Frieda dear," she protested, +"at least not tonight. We must all have +the happiest evening of our lives, one that +none of us shall forget."</p> + +<p>The younger girl glanced up at her cousin +wistfully with a question on her lips, but +instead of asking it she clapped her hands +softly together.</p> + +<p>"See that lovely light coming through our +stained-glass window! Isn't it like a rainbow! +Oh, I hope it means good luck just +as it always has in the past! And somehow +it makes this room more beautiful. I did +not dream anything could!"</p> + +<p>Naturally Frieda was prejudiced and an +enthusiast, and yet she had ample reason +for her point of view. For a moment there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +was an unusual silence as the four girls +looked around them. Consciously or unconsciously +they realized that these next few +weeks were to mark important changes in +their lives. For after they had slipped by +things could never be exactly the same. +Jack would be married and that would +represent the first important break, and after +that—well, they were not little girls any +longer, for even Frieda had lately shown +unmistakable signs of being grown-up.</p> + +<p>The walls of the long room were hung with +western smilax and since the party was to be +a typical American one, the girls had been +wildly extravagant and used American Beauty +roses for the decoration. Now the air was +fragrant with their rich and penetrating +perfume. The old colonial mantel was banked +with them, and garlands of green swinging +from one white column to another had big +baskets filled with roses suspended between +the posts. The room itself was fifty feet long +and three-fourths as broad. All the woodwork +and the walls were a warm gray. The +greater part of the furniture had of course +been removed and a white tarpaulin covered +the hardwood floor, but in the bay window +there were palms and vases of roses and an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +old-fashioned colonial sofa, besides several +chairs. Also there were occasional chairs +along the walls for the older persons who +might care to watch the dancing. The music +was to be concealed in the hall behind a bank +of evergreens just beneath the wide mahogany +stairs.</p> + +<p>"Well, if there is anything more that can be +done to make this place more attractive, +I am sure I don't know what it is," Jean +insisted at last. "And I am especially glad +that we asked Mr. Parker to come tonight. +Because of course he may have built more +expensive houses than ours, yet I am quite +sure he has never made one more attractive. +Besides, he is awfully nice. Gracious, girls, +who is that knocking? Ruth thinks we are +being nice and obedient and lying down +until seven."</p> + +<p>But Olive had walked over to the closed +door and opened it half-way.</p> + +<p>"Don't be alarmed," she laughed back. +"It is only the flowers Frank is sending +us for tonight. Let's open them now and +see what choice he has made. Ruth told +him about our dresses, so that he could not +make any serious mistake."</p> + +<p>Almost concealed by four great boxes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +reaching as high as her head, Olive came +back to where Jack was sitting and placed +them in a great pile before her.</p> + +<p>"You give them to us, Jack dear, since +they are from Frank," she urged.</p> + +<p>The first was marked with Frieda's name, +but as she took the top off the box and lifted +out a card her cheeks turned suddenly crimson.</p> + +<p>"These are not from Frank after all," +Frieda remarked with a pretense of unconcern, +"Mr. Russell says that I was so kind +about reading to him when his leg was broken +that he asked Frank as a special favor to +let him send me my bouquet for tonight." +Her fingers fumbled nervously at the tissue +paper and her eyes were downcast, since she +did not specially care to have any one staring +at her at this moment. She could imagine +Jack's puzzled and slightly worried expression +and Jean's and Olive's teasing looks. +For the absurd friendship that had developed +between the solemn young Professor and +Frieda was one of the ill-concealed jokes +in the family.</p> + +<p>"What do you suppose that a man who +dabbles in Egyptology for an amusement +would send as a bouquet to a baby?" Jean<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +inquired mockingly. "Possibly a lotus flower, +for there are learned persons who declare +that Cleopatra was a bewildering blond +lady," and Jean pulled at Frieda's yellow +curls.</p> + +<p>The next moment along with the other +girls she gave a cry of admiration. Who +would ever have suspected the Professor of +such exquisite taste? For in some way +he had managed to make his bouquet suggest +the girl to whom it was offered. For it was +formed of hundreds of tiny forget-me-nots +set close together and encircled with small +white star-like flowers.</p> + +<p>Jean's roses were the deep pink color that +she always loved and Olive's were a wonderful +golden yellow. But Jack hesitated a +moment before opening her box, which was +the largest of the four and curiously heavy.</p> + +<p>Half guessing how she felt Olive laid her +hand lovingly on her friend's.</p> + +<p>"Take your flowers up to your own room +and look at them first by yourself if you +would rather," she suggested. However, Jean +and Frieda both raised a storm of protest.</p> + +<p>And Jack laughed. "It isn't that I am +such a bashful person that I don't want you +to see even the flowers Frank has given me—I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +would not be so absurd," she confessed. +"But I have an idea that perhaps Frank has +put something more than flowers in my box. +And I don't think I shall ever, ever be able +to wear them. Oh, children, what made me +fall in love with an Englishman and one who +may inherit a title? Certainly I shall never +be able to live up to it!" Doing her best to +hide her nervousness Jack buried her hot +cheeks in a great bunch of white jasmine +flowers; but Frieda's fingers were pointing +inexorably to a white velvet jewel case which +still remained in the flower box half buried +in evergreens.</p> + +<p>With a smile Jack picked it up, touching +the spring. On the satin shone a miniature +crown of diamonds and pearls and an exquisite +necklace of the same jewels.</p> + +<p>"Gracious," Frieda gasped, "I didn't know +Frank Kent was a millionaire! Why he +always has declared that he was a great deal +poorer than lots of American fellows! I +wonder if he has been deceiving you all this +time, Jack, to keep you from marrying him +for his money."</p> + +<p>"Goose!" Jack laughed; but Frieda's +absurdity relieved the situation. "Don't you +know that these jewels are heirlooms in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +Kent family, that they always belong to the +wife of the eldest son? I told Frank to wait +until our wedding day; but he seemed to wish +me to wear them tonight. I don't believe I +possibly can, they are too lovely—and somehow +they don't seem to suit me."</p> + +<p>Olive placed the tiara on Jack's gold-brown +head. The girl's gray eyes were shining +softly, her head was tilted back the least bit +and a rich color flooded her cheeks and lips.</p> + +<p>"I don't think Frank need be exactly +ashamed of you, Lady Kent," Jean murmured +with teasing affectation. And then: "You +funny Jack! Is there any other girl in +America who would not care more than you +do for Frank's splendid position and all the +rest of it? Not for a single instant do I +believe that you gave it a thought! Dear +me, I wish your own sweet cousin were so +high-minded!"</p> + +<p>"Girls," said a reproachful voice suddenly, +"is this the way you keep your sacred promise +to me to rest until dinner time? Go back to +your rooms instantly," Ruth Colter scolded. +Yet she was hardly an impressive figure with +her hair rolled up in a tight knot and a light +shawl thrown over her kimono. "I heard +such a terrible chattering in here that I was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +afraid a collection of magpies had gotten in +an open window and thought they had come +upon an enchanted garden." Here Ruth +ceased talking suddenly, having caught sight +of the beautiful ornament on Jack's hair.</p> + +<p>"Gracious, dear, what a wonderful possession! +Do let me see it more closely," she +asked. "But take it off first and then come +here and kiss me. A diamond tiara is hardly +appropriate with a dressing gown and I can't +bear to see you looking so regal and so far +away from the rest of us."</p> + +<p>And with a break in her voice, Ruth put +her arm around Jack and then led the small +procession forth from the room.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>MAIDS AND MEN<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class="figright" style="width: 313px;"> +<img src="images/illus04.jpg" width="313" height="500" alt=""You Would Have Married Me Anyhow"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"You Would Have Married Me Anyhow"</span> +</div> +<div class='cap'>"I WOULD give a great deal to have +my people see you tonight, Jack," +Frank Kent whispered several hours +later.</div> + + + +<p>True to her promise Jacqueline had dressed +before the others and come down for a few +moments alone with Frank. And it was +small wonder that the young man was proud +of her. She had on a pure white tulle dress +made over silk and no ornament except the +string of pearls and diamonds about her +throat. For she had persuaded Frank to +let her wait until after their marriage before +wearing the more conspicuous jewels. Somehow +she felt that the tiara would look out of +taste and inappropriate among her old friends +and neighbors. The bouquet of jasmine +flowers with their darkly shining green leaves +were resting in her lap.</p> + +<p>"Your people will see enough of me, +Frank, before very long," she answered.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +"How glad I am that they already know me +and that they do not object very seriously to +our marriage! Of course they must have +preferred your caring for one of your own +countrywomen, but——"</p> + +<p>"You would have married me anyhow, +wouldn't you, dear, even if they <i>had</i> objected?" +Frank asked and then laughed at +himself. "That's a dreadfully unfilial speech, +but I expect every man likes to feel that the +girl he cares for would have stuck to him +through every kind of obstacle—poverty, +obscurity, the world's misunderstanding. Not +that I have much doubt of you, Jack. You +are giving up more than most people realize +in turning your back on the dear old ranch +and your beloved family. But we'll come +back as often as possible and have them come +to us, and after a while Ruth must let Frieda +be with you for a year or so. She is my little +sister, and honestly I don't quite like her +intimacy with this fellow, Russell—he is +much too cranky and old." Frank had +taken Jack's hand and was touching it to his +lips when she made a quick though silent +signal. She and Frank were sitting in the +bay window almost hidden by evergreens and +at this moment Ruth and Jim, the other three<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +girls and their guests were entering the ball +room.</p> + +<p>Olive wore a yellow crêpe dress and carried +the yellow roses. Jean was in deep pink, her +costume of shimmering satin and lace, and +had one of Frank's flowers in her dark brown +hair. Her bouquet was not the same that it +had been two hours before, when she had +first removed it from its wrappings; for now +encircled by Frank's roses were a dozen +purple orchids.</p> + +<p>"Do you think, Frank, that Jean intends—" +Jack whispered softly, inclining her head +toward her cousin to indicate what she meant +to say. Then when her companion made no +reply, fearing to be overheard, she continued. +"It is Jean I am most worried about. How +can she make up her mind to marry a +foreigner instead of an American? Just look +at the Prince and then at Jim or Ralph +Merrit. He is so little and so dark and so +kind of different. Even that scar on his +face from a duel he once fought makes me +have almost a dislike for him, though I know +it is foolish of me."</p> + +<p>"But Jean isn't really going to marry him!" +Frank protested.</p> + +<p>This time Jack nodded uneasily. "I am<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +afraid so; indeed she almost told me that she +intended to accept him; and I suppose she +means to do it this evening. I wish I could +have said something to influence her, but I +did not dare. Besides, it would have done +no good. You know Jean might have said +that I too was marrying a foreigner and had +no right to say anything to her. Only the +difference is that Jean does not love Giovanni—and +then an Englishman isn't the same +and—"</p> + +<p>Frank was now smiling over Jack's effort +at an apology and explanation. She had +slipped her hand into his and was holding it +fast. At this moment a splendidly handsome +figure marched across the floor with surprising +swiftness and now stood looking down +upon the girl and man with an expression +that was a combination of wrath, sympathy +and devotion.</p> + +<p>"Jacqueline Ralston," Jim began so unexpectedly +that to save her life Jack could not +restrain a guilty start, "have I not told you +and Frank Kent at least a dozen times that +I would not have any stealing off by yourselves +or any spooning until you were safely away +from the Rainbow Ranch? It is bad enough, +Kent, when I think of your taking my 'partner'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +from me and leaving me to look after +this great place without her. But I tell you +I can't stand <i>looking</i> at you doing it."</p> + +<p>And Jim gave a mournful sigh that was +part pretense and part reality.</p> + +<p>Its effect was to make Jack at once jump +to her feet and throw her arms about him, +regardless of his immaculate shirt. Then she +ran for protection to Ruth.</p> + +<p>Happiness had made Ruth grow a year +younger each month, her husband had stoutly +declared, and though this statement was not +strictly true, she did look very little older +than the four Ranch girls as she stood waiting +to receive their guests tonight. For the girls +and Jim had insisted that she discard her +nun-like fondness for gray and drab colors at +least for this one evening and wear white. +So Ruth's costume of heavy white corded +silk with silver trimming was both youthful +and becoming.</p> + +<p>On one side of the hostess stood Miss +Katherine Winthrop, looking singularly handsome +and imposing in a gray satin evening +gown trimmed with duchess lace and with a +bunch of Frieda's violets at her waist. Olive +was next in line, and then Jean, while on +Ruth's other side the Princess Colonna was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +made more radiantly fair by a wonderful +black gown and a diamond star in her hair. +Jack stood beside her, and then Frieda.</p> + +<p>The Princess seemed far more at ease and +better able to appreciate and make herself +popular with the hundred or more visitors +than Miss Winthrop. For the Princess +appeared almost to have forgotten, for the +time at least, the years spent in the formal +society of Rome and to be remembering only +her own early girlhood in this same western +country. A large number of the guests were +traveled and cultured persons, the owners of +large ranches and estates; but Jim had asked +that all of their old acquaintances be invited +regardless of wealth and position, so that +there were many interesting figures who +appeared as "western types" to Miss Winthrop, +but whom the Princess immediately +understood and enjoyed.</p> + +<p>Indeed during the evening Jim Colter, who +had never liked the Princess Colonna nor felt +entirely comfortable in her presence, confided +to Ralph Merrit that maybe a Princess could +after all be a real live woman, though he +hoped to the Lord that Jean Bruce was not +going to undertake the job. Ralph had little +comfort to offer either to Jim or to himself in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +return for this confidence. For everybody in +the ball room who had heard the gossip concerning +Jean and the young Prince had no +doubt of its ultimate outcome. And naturally +they marveled over two of the Rainbow +Ranch girls making such distinguished +marriages.</p> + +<p>Perhaps Jean was not altogether displeased +with this gossip, for she certainly danced with +the young Prince most of the earlier part of +the evening. The exact number of her +dances Ralph Merrit could have told, although +he was not conscious of having +counted them. For except for dancing once +with each one of the four Ranch girls and +once with Ruth, he had spent the rest of the +evening watching the dancers from a safe +corner. For some reason or other he seemed +not to feel sufficient energy for anything +else.</p> + +<p>It was a few moments after eleven o'clock +that same evening when the Princess Colonna, +feeling a hand laid lightly on her arm and +turning, discovered Jean Bruce alone. The +girl seemed to have grown suddenly tired and +pale.</p> + +<p>Fortunately the older woman's companion +suggested at this moment that she might like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +him to get her an ice, so that she and Jean +were uninterrupted for a moment.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if you could come somewhere +with me for a little while, where we could +talk without any one else seeing us?" Jean +pleaded. "I know you will think it strange +of me, Princess, but all of a sudden it seemed +to me that you were the only person in the +world whom I could ask a certain question. +And I must ask it of you before another hour +has passed."</p> + +<p>Jean spoke quietly and with entire self-possession; +yet there was no doubting the +girl's earnestness or her necessity.</p> + +<p>Instantly the Princess slipped her arm +through Jean's with the affectionate intimacy +which she had always felt for her and the +woman and girl together left the room. Providentially +for their opportunity to be alone, +the greater number of guests were now in the +supper room. So without much effort Jean +found two chairs at the end of a long veranda +which had been enclosed for the evening's use +and made into a kind of conservatory. There +they appeared to be quite free from interruption.</p> + +<p>The older woman sat in the shadow, but +could see the girl's face plainly. And though<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +she could hardly guess what question Jean +might wish to ask her, she was not altogether +uncertain of the subject uppermost in the +girl's thoughts, so thoroughly had her nephew +taken her into his confidence.</p> + +<p>"Princess," Jean began, but she was not +looking at her friend. Her eyes were seeing +nothing, she was so deeply engrossed. "I +wonder if you will tell me if you were happy +in your married life? Oh, yes, I know that +sounds like an impertinence; but I do not +believe that you will think of it in that light. +You understand I would ask you for no such +reason. The Prince was a great deal older +than you, but then you were very good +friends and you had a splendid title and +people everywhere looked up to you and +were proud to meet you. I remember how +dreadfully impressed we girls were when we +first saw you on board the steamship. It +did not seem to us then that a Princess could +be like other people. And none of us ever +dreamed of knowing you as an intimate +friend. Those days when I was visiting you +in Rome it seemed so wonderful to me that +you, an American woman and a western girl +like me, could be a leader in European +society!" Jean drew a long breath. "Of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +course it never occurred to me then that any +such chance could ever come to me. It +sounds like a fairy tale and yet my own +family don't understand how I can care so +much for position and a title and all that it +must mean."</p> + +<p>"I <i>understand</i>," the Princess finally replied +when Jean had given her opportunity to +speak, "but there is one thing or at least one +person whom you have not mentioned, my +nephew, Giovanni. Do you care for him, +Jean?"</p> + +<p>In answer the girl, whose clear pallor was +one of her noticeable characteristics, flushed +hotly. "I like him very much, he is most +kind, he——"</p> + +<p>"You mean that Giovanni is entirely +devoted to you and that you regard him as a +friend. I see," the Princess finished softly. +"And you think that after you marry him +you will learn to care more for him because +you would most enjoy his title and all it +could do for you. I wonder just what Giovanni +would receive in exchange for all he has +to give?"</p> + +<p>For a moment the older woman took the +girl's cold fingers in her own.</p> + +<p>"I don't mean to hurt your feelings, dear,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +or to seem unkind. But you have asked +me to talk to you tonight because you believe +that better than any one else I can understand +and appreciate your ambition and +your emotions. And you are entirely right. +I know just what you are thinking, just what +you have been saying to yourself over and +over ever since I asked your guardian to +permit you to marry my nephew. I know +because I have passed through almost exactly +the same experience. So I am going +to talk frankly about my marriage to you +tonight, Jean, though I never have and probably +never will again to any one else as long +as I live. You see, I, too, was a Western girl, +only I was a great deal poorer in the beginning +of my life than you have ever been. +And then my father and mother were plainer +people. But one day when I was about +twelve years old my father began making +a great fortune, and when I was fourteen, +as is the way in this western country, he +was many times a millionaire. In those days +the West was not what it is now, so as my +mother was ambitious for me and believed +I was going to be a pretty woman I was sent +East to school. Later on I went to Paris +and studied there, and then to Italy, so that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +I might learn several languages. Now and +then I used to see my father and mother, but +not often. They did not enjoy Europe and +I seemed to have so much to learn there was +little time to stay at home. One or two +wonderful summers I spent here in the +West with them, loving this country and its +people almost as your cousin Jack does. +But by and by, when I was traveling in Italy +with some rich American friends, I met the +Prince Colonna. He asked me to marry +him and I—well, I thought about things +pretty much as you are doing, dear. I +wanted to be a Princess; I thought it the +most romantic, wonderful fate possible for +a plain American girl with nothing but some +prettiness and her money to exchange for +fairyland. True, my Prince was old, but I +liked him and I thought we would be better +friends after we married. I believe we were. +But, dear, I was not happy. I have missed +the most wonderful thing that can come into +one's life, for by and by I found that the +people with titles were nothing but ordinary +human beings. The people who count +most, or at least who count most to me, are +the people who do things for themselves, who +have made their own way and their own<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> +positions, like so many of our big American +men. Often I was very lonely and sad and +often sorry for a decision I made years ago +when I was even younger than you are +tonight."</p> + +<p>The Princess let go Jean's hand which she +had been holding.</p> + +<p>"Isn't there any one here in your own +country, Jean, whom you like better than you +do Giovanni, whom you would a great deal +rather marry if he had the same position +to offer?" she inquired.</p> + +<p>For a moment the girl made no answer. +Then she said faintly: "Yes, Princess, there +is, though I have never confessed it to anybody +in the world except you, and scarcely +to myself. For you see it is not only the +other man's lack of money and position +that comes between us, but Ralph does not +even care for me. Some time ago he did, +I think, but I was not very kind to him +then, and now for months and months he has +been nothing more to me than a friend. So +I can see that his feelings have changed +entirely. I thought if I went away with +Giovanni I too would forget. It is hard to +be right here on the ranch and have to pretend +and pretend all the time that I feel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +toward him just as I used to when I was a +little girl."</p> + +<p>"Jean," the older woman's voice had +quite changed and was now both cold and +stern, "I wonder what kind of a partnership +you think marriage is? Do you think that +when men go into business together that one +brings everything to the firm and the other +nothing? For that is what you wish to do +with Giovanni. You must play fair, child. +Why do you consider that an Italian is different +from other men? Giovanni is young; +he is not unattractive. Unless you loved +him, you would soon learn to hate each other. +For his sake if not for yours I could never +approve of your marriage."</p> + +<p>But before Jean could reply the Princess +had laid a restraining touch upon her. "Some +one is coming toward us—a stranger, I think. +We had best talk of this another time."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>OLD FRIENDS AND SOMETHING MORE<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>JEAN did not recognize the newcomer +at once. Then she held out her hand, +trying to speak naturally.</div> + +<p>"Mr. Parker, I am so glad to see you. I +was afraid you were not coming back at all. +Princess, Mr. Parker built our new house. +Mr. Parker, this is our friend and guest, the +Princess Colonna."</p> + +<p>The tall man bowed politely. "I was +told to bring you and the Princess Colonna +back to the ball room if you would consent +to come," he returned.</p> + +<p>From out of the shadow the slender, +blond woman rose quietly, taking a few +steps forward. "I shall be most happy to +go back with you, Mr. Parker," she replied. +And then standing within a few feet of her +new acquaintance she stared at him curiously.</p> + +<p>"Theodore Parker, it isn't fair of you +after all these years to have me recognize +you when you have forgotten me. It makes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> +me think that I must look a great deal the +older!"</p> + +<p>But with a laugh the woman held out +both hands, and now standing in the light +that fell from a yellow shaded lantern the +Princess' face and figure were in plain view.</p> + +<p>"Beatrice, the Princess Colonna! Why +of course I have known your name always. +How stupid of me not to have thought! But +I could never have dreamed of meeting you +out here in Wyoming. The Prince, your +husband?"</p> + +<p>"He is dead," the woman answered. And +then turning to Jean: "It is odd, dear, but +Mr. Parker and I have known each other a +very long time. It gives me great happiness +to see him again and makes me think of that +girl I have been telling you about. Won't +you come back to Mrs. Colter with us?"</p> + +<p>But Jean shook her head and the man and +woman moved away, leaving her alone.</p> + +<p>It was in this same place that Ralph Merrit, +also trying to steal away from the guests, +found her ten minutes later.</p> + +<p>Left to herself, Jean had been crying +softly, although she could not exactly have +explained the cause. Life was such a jumble—one +wanted so much and had so little!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> +Then often the very thing that had seemed +fair and desirable turned to bitterness and +regret! Well, to one thing she had at least +made up her mind—she would not marry +Giovanni. Yet she had promised to give him +an answer within the hour.</p> + +<p>Hearing Ralph's step she started nervously. +And then with the familiarity of old acquaintance +she frowned upon him.</p> + +<p>"I thought you were the Prince Colonna," +she began crossly.</p> + +<p>Ralph stiffened. "I am sorry that I am +not. I had no idea of disturbing you. But +I'll go and find your Prince if you like."</p> + +<p>"He is not my Prince; don't be stupid, +Ralph, and do please sit down. I don't see +why you feel it so necessary to avoid me +recently."</p> + +<p>"Don't you?" Ralph answered. Then +for several moments he said nothing more. +However, though he did not appear to be +looking, he had a clear enough vision of +Jean's face, her dark eyes swimming in unshed +tears, her heavy lids and the pallor of +her cheeks.</p> + +<p>"Jean," Ralph swung himself around +swiftly and Jean saw the firmness of his lips, +the decisive outline of his jaw and his high,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +almost noble forehead, "if there is any one +in this world, I don't care who or what he +is, who has done anything or said anything +to make you unhappy, why if I can, won't +you let me help to straighten things out. +You said just now that the Prince Colonna +was not your Prince. Perhaps you were +only angry at my tactless way of expressing +things, but if there is any trouble between +you—" the young man hesitated.</p> + +<p>"But there isn't—not the slightest," Jean +replied with the familiar shrug of her shoulders +and that demure expression about the +corners of her mouth and in her brown eyes +that her old friend remembered so well. +"The truth is, Ralph, that I am tired of your +and of other people's pretending that you +believe the Prince Colonna and I are engaged +to each other. Because we are not, and +never will be." This was as unreasonable +and inconsistent a speech as any girl could +well manage to make.</p> + +<p>"Thank the Lord!" Ralph replied, so +unconsciously and so sincerely that, as he was +not looking toward her at the moment, the +girl allowed herself to smile.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why you should be so glad, +Ralph?" she murmured.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, don't you?" Ralph answered between +his teeth. "Then to the best of my ability +I'll tell you, Jean Bruce. I love you, I always +have loved you from the hour I saw you +drying your hair by that brook in the wilderness, +say a thousand years ago! So now +if you are not going to marry this Italian +youth, why it gives me a longer chance to +keep on working and working until I have +something to offer you that you wish, money, +position."</p> + +<p>Swiftly the girl rose, laying her fingers +gently against the young man's lips.</p> + +<p>"Don't say those last words to me again, +Ralph. I feel tonight that I never, never +wish to hear them again. You have the thing +already I want most in the world if you are +willing to give it to me. Why haven't you +understood in these last few months? I +couldn't exactly propose to you, could I, +dear?" Jean questioned demurely.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes afterwards Jean, with a rose-colored +shawl wrapped about her shoulders, +arm in arm with Ralph, was walking about +outdoors, forgetful of the autumn coldness, +of the guests who were asking for her, of +everything in the whole world except her +own happiness. Finally she was surprised<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +by seeing two other figures approaching +them who were equally oblivious.</p> + +<p>With a low laugh Jean drew herself and +her companion into the shadow.</p> + +<p>"Jack and Frank!" she whispered. Then, +as the other girl and man were nearly opposite +them, "I thought you both promised +Jim not to do this sort of thing, at least not +tonight, Jack Ralston," Jean began unexpectedly. +"Yet I am glad to have found you +alone, because I want to tell you first that +I am very happy. I don't want other people +to know it just yet, but I too am going to +be married."</p> + +<p>There was a note in Jacqueline Ralston's +voice as she replied that to save her life she +could not conceal.</p> + +<p>"I am very glad for your sake, Jean darling," +Jack answered. "You know how much +I shall hope for your and Giovanni's happiness."</p> + +<p>"Giovanni's?" Jean's manner now suggested +unutterable reproach. Ralph Merrit +stepped forward and stood close beside Jean.</p> + +<p>"Hasn't any member of my beloved family +sense enough to guess that I have always +cared for Ralph, or at least I have always +cared for him in the past six months," Jean<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +protested. "It is only that I have had to +do desperate deeds to make him care for +me."</p> + +<p>But the girl's next words were smothered +in Jack's embrace, while Frank was giving +Ralph's hand such a squeeze that though it +was considerably hardened from labor, it +was difficult for him not to wince.</p> + +<p>Then the four young people were so interested +in one another that they paid no attention +to two other persons who were seen +coming toward them, until they finally discovered +one of them to be Frieda. She +was looking more ethereal than ever in a +long pale blue silk coat with a chiffon scarf +about her blond head, and was accompanied +by the Professor.</p> + +<p>"Whatever are you doing out here? It +seems very rude to our guests," Frieda +murmured reproachfully. "I am sure Jim +and Ruth will think it very rude of you."</p> + +<p>"But, Frieda, baby," Jack protested, +"aren't you and Professor Russell also out +here, as you call it? I can't see that we are +much more to blame than you."</p> + +<p>Frieda gazed upward at the serious young +man, who returned her glance with such +solemn gravity that Jack felt a shiver of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +apprehension, while Jean stared at the new-comers +closely, as if trying to solve a puzzle.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, it is not the same with us," Frieda +answered serenely. "You see Ralph and +Jean are not engaged at all, and you and +Frank have been engaged such a long time, +Jack, so you ought to be used to it by now. +But Henry and I, why we just become engaged +half an hour ago, so of course we like +to be out in the moonlight together," Frieda +ended conclusively.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Five years have passed away and Jacqueline +Ralston is now "Lady Kent" with a +small son of her own to inherit the title, +while Frank is a well-known Liberal member +of Parliament. But they still make frequent +trips back to the old Rainbow Ranch, which +Jack, in spite of her affection for her new +home, has never ceased to love better than +any other place on earth.</p> + +<p>And these home-comings of Lord and Lady +Kent and the small "James Colter Kent" +are usually the signal for a foregathering of +all the four Ranch girls with their husbands +and families under the great sheltering roof +of "Rainbow Castle."</p> + +<p>For no one of the girls now lives continuously<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> +at the Ranch, which is still left +to Jim's devoted management. As much +as possible of their time Jean and Ralph and +their small daughter, Jacqueline, spend with +them—partly in order that Ralph may continue +to supervise the working of the Rainbow +Mine which has not yet failed in its +output of gold. Ralph Merrit has recently +become one of the best known mining experts +in the United States, so that his advice +is constantly being asked both in this country +and abroad. And wherever he travels Jean +and her little girl accompany him, for Jean +has become one of the most devoted and +absorbed of wives.</p> + +<p>After the entirely surprising announcement +of Frieda Ralston's engagement to +Professor Russell on the night of their ball +at the ranch, Jack, Ruth and Jim Colter +seriously opposed her marriage. In the first +place, Frieda was too young to know her own +mind; Professor Russell was more than ten +years her senior and they had not a single +taste in common. So by and by Frieda +was brought to consent to having her engagement +postponed. Afterwards she spent one +whole year in England with Jack, seeing as +much of society and young men as her sister<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> +could arrange for her. Nevertheless, to +everybody's surprise, Frieda stuck to her +original choice and two years after her engagement +became Mrs. Russell. She is exceedingly +happy.</p> + +<p>So far Frieda has no children, but lives +with her husband's parents, and as he is an +only child, they continue to spoil and adore +her. Also the grave young professor, who has +never outgrown his first impression of Frieda +as a glorified doll, still treats her as if the +least harshness would utterly destroy her.</p> + +<p>Olive Van Mater is unmarried and already +insists upon calling herself an old maid. +She is not devoting her life to teaching the +Indians, although she has partly fulfilled +her old dream. At the close of the year, +when her grandmother's final will was read, +to the immense surprise of every one, Olive +inherited one-half her large fortune, the other +half being divided among the Harmon family. +For the will announced that if any girl was +able to show such self-will and such disregard +of wealth as Olive had shown, should she fail +in the interim to marry Donald, that therefore +she alone deserved her grandmother's +inheritance. As this money was far more +than Olive wanted or needed, she was thus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +enabled to found an agricultural school among +the Indians, which was to teach them to +combine their old knowledge with the new +discoveries of science and so to make life +happier, if possible, for a misunderstood +race.</p> + +<p>Yet Olive was to marry in the end an +artist whom she finally met while visiting +Jack and Frank at Kent House. The young +man was poor and unknown then, but his +first success was won with a painting of the +head of his beautiful wife and daughter.</p> + +<p>Possibly Jim and Ruth might have been +lonely now and then at the old ranch, except +for the fact that in the course of time they +had four daughters of their own besides +Jimmikins and each one bore the name of +one of the former Ranch girls.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p></div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ranch Girls at Home Again, by +Margaret Vandercook + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RANCH GIRLS AT HOME AGAIN *** + +***** This file should be named 34928-h.htm or 34928-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/9/2/34928/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/34928-h/images/coverpage.jpg b/34928-h/images/coverpage.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8b3bf11 --- /dev/null +++ b/34928-h/images/coverpage.jpg diff --git a/34928-h/images/illus01.jpg b/34928-h/images/illus01.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..aec5f60 --- /dev/null +++ b/34928-h/images/illus01.jpg diff --git a/34928-h/images/illus02.jpg b/34928-h/images/illus02.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..22fdec0 --- /dev/null +++ b/34928-h/images/illus02.jpg diff --git a/34928-h/images/illus03.jpg b/34928-h/images/illus03.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bfc05e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/34928-h/images/illus03.jpg diff --git a/34928-h/images/illus04.jpg b/34928-h/images/illus04.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0f20a45 --- /dev/null +++ b/34928-h/images/illus04.jpg diff --git a/34928-h/images/spine.jpg b/34928-h/images/spine.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5627da7 --- /dev/null +++ b/34928-h/images/spine.jpg |
