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diff --git a/42206-0.txt b/42206-0.txt index c55a026..6b65d5f 100644 --- a/42206-0.txt +++ b/42206-0.txt @@ -1,39 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Camp Fire Girls at the End of the Trail, 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 Camp Fire Girls at the End of the Trail - -Author: Margaret Vandercook - -Release Date: February 26, 2013 [EBook #42206] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT END OF TRAIL *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was -produced from scanned images of public domain material -from the Google Print project.) - - - - - - - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42206 *** THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS @@ -4918,361 +4883,4 @@ door, called her into their little lodging for the night. 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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 Camp Fire Girls at the End of the Trail - -Author: Margaret Vandercook - -Release Date: February 26, 2013 [EBook #42206] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT END OF TRAIL *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was -produced from scanned images of public domain material -from the Google Print project.) - - - - - - -</pre> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42206 ***</div> <div id="cover" class="img"> <img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="The Camp Fire Girls at the End of the Trail" width="400" height="605" /> @@ -6461,382 +6423,6 @@ night.</p> <li>Relocated illustrations to be near the relevant text.</li> <li>Corrected one inconsistently-cited book title (“... on the Edge of the Desert”) to match the actual book.</li></ul> - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Camp Fire Girls at the End of the -Trail, by Margaret Vandercook - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT END OF TRAIL *** - -***** This file should be named 42206-h.htm or 42206-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/2/0/42206/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was -produced from scanned images of public domain material -from the Google Print project.) - - -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. 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Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For forty 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: - - 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> - +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42206 ***</div> </body> </html> diff --git a/42206.txt b/42206.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c28e918..0000000 --- a/42206.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5279 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Camp Fire Girls at the End of the Trail, 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 Camp Fire Girls at the End of the Trail - -Author: Margaret Vandercook - -Release Date: February 26, 2013 [EBook #42206] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT END OF TRAIL *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was -produced from scanned images of public domain material -from the Google Print project.) - - - - - - - - - - THE - CAMP FIRE GIRLS - AT THE END OF - THE TRAIL - - - BY - MARGARET VANDERCOOK - Author of "The Ranch Girls" Series, - "The Red Cross Girls" Series, etc. - - - ILLUSTRATED - - - PHILADELPHIA - THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO. - PUBLISHERS - - - Copyright, 1917, by - The John C. Winston Company - - - - - CONTENTS - - - PAGE - I. A Strange Background 7 - II. White Robes 22 - III. A New Dawn 32 - IV. A New Girl 46 - V. The Patient 59 - VI. A Wager 67 - VII. A Study in Temperaments 78 - VIII. Possibilities 90 - IX. An Adventure 103 - X. A Good Samaritan 116 - XI. The Canyon 127 - XII. The Man from Above 139 - XIII. Disillusion 151 - XIV. Facing the Music 161 - XV. Expiation 170 - XVI. The Pine, not the Olive 190 - XVII. The Passionate Pilgrim 200 - XVIII. An Appeal 209 - XIX. The Arrest 222 - XX. The Grand Canyon 231 - - - - - ILLUSTRATIONS - - - PAGE - "When He Appeared He was Leading, Half Carrying, a Girl who did - not Look like a Formidable Intruder." _Frontispiece_ - "They Heard the Sound of Low Voices Before Seeing Any One." 111 - "With the Rope now about His Own Waist, Howard Brent Crawled Down - to Her." 143 - "'I Just Wanted to Thank You,' She Said." 229 - - - - - The Camp Fire Girls - at the End of the Trail - - - - - CHAPTER I - A Strange Background - - -The castle had been built before the first known palace in Europe. It was -fashioned centuries ago inside the walls of a stone cliff with two taller -cliffs rising on either side. Beyond was a break between, allowing a -narrow entrance to the cliff dwelling from the outside. In front there -was a small plateau of rock ending in a precipice, which descended with a -drop of a hundred feet to a new ledge, and then came another still deeper -fall. - -That afternoon a group of four persons were inside the ancient cliff -dwelling. One of them--a young girl in an odd costume which was partly -modern and yet suggesting an older race--had climbed to the crest of the -ruins and stood, with her hand above her eyes, gazing about her. - -Another girl, in a chamber below, was sitting upon a comfortable camp -stool which she had undoubtedly brought with her, she was hammering -industriously with a small steel hammer, and now and then stopped to work -with her chisel at a solid stone wall. Evidently she believed some -extraordinary treasure was embedded inside, since she never glanced away -from her labors. - -On the bottom floor historic influences had not kept the two remaining -girls from the cheering occupation of preparing tea. The wood must have -been brought from the country behind the cliffs, for a camp fire was -burning in the old stone chamber, with a large kettle of water simmering -above it. - -One of the two girls--tall and foreign in appearance, with large dark -eyes and thick dark hair parted in the middle over a low brow--left her -task now and then. She would then walk twenty yards or more toward a -figure lying quietly in the sunshine. In spite of the warmth this figure -was wrapped in a great blanket which allowed only a fair head and thin -face to show forth. - -If no attention was vouchsafed her, she would quietly return to her -occupation. But, by and by, without speaking, she came and spread a small -cloth on a flat surface of rock. Then she unpacked an Indian basket -stored with things for making tea. Immediately afterwards, putting her -fingers to her lips, she summoned the other girls to join her. - -In response Alice Ashton rose up at once and carefully stored away her -precious bits of stone and her hammer and chisel into the bag she carried -for the purpose. Then she climbed down the jagged but secure steps cut -into the face of the rock so many years ago. - -But Peggy Webster, at the summit of the cliff dwelling, refused to -descend in any such sensible fashion. - -Instead, she began to slide over the face of the rock, losing and then -regaining her foothold. Below the others watched her half fascinated and -half annoyed. - -"Peggy!" one of the girls called warningly. - -For Vera Lageloff had seen her safely reach a flat surface about ten feet -from the plateau below. She had walked out to the edge of it and there -stood poised for a moment with her back to the sun. Her pose was as -virile and graceful as that of a young boy. - -Then, before the watchers exactly realized her purpose, she had crouched -and sprung from the ledge. For the instant she was in the air she was a -figure of bronze and crimson. The moment had struck the earth, she was -merely Peggy Webster, in a khaki Camp Fire costume with a red band about -her black hair and a little out of breath from her plunge. - -"There I have been wondering if I could accomplish that feat ever since I -arrived in this stone age country," she announced penitently, appearing -more ashamed of her performance than proud. - -"Well, as long as you are gratified and still alive, Peggy, I only -request that you never make the same attempt again," Betty Graham -returned, her color returning swiftly, now that her momentary nervousness -had passed. For she had come away from her task of guarding the fire just -in time to behold the other girl's act. - -"Really, since we came West, Peggy dear, I am becoming more and more -convinced that the Fates never intended you for a feminine person," she -went on. "There is never any guessing what reckless thing you may do -next. I am afraid an accident may happen to you." - -While she was speaking, Bettina Graham had taken her seat on the ground -and had begun pouring the hot water into a tea-kettle of generous size. - -Peggy now dropped down beside her. - -"Don't say I am masculine, please, Bettina; I do so hate a masculine -woman. Your last remark was only a more polite way of expressing the same -unpleasant idea. Why don't you say instead that I am 'Seraphita?' She is -Balzac's charming character--half girl, half boy, neither and both. When -I am in favor with Tante she has a way of declaring me another -Seraphita." - -"Besides your sudden plunge might have frightened Billy," Vera Lageloff -interrupted, not realizing how her speech betrayed the interest usually -uppermost in her mind. - -The figure, still wrapped in the blanket, was at present sitting up, -looking from one girl to the other in a quietly disinterested fashion. - -"Oh, no, I am never worried over Peggy when she is attempting athletic -feats," he announced. "She will never do herself serious harm in that -way. What I fear for her, what I know will hurt her some day, are the -experiences about which she is so scornful at present. You see she is -perfectly convinced that she will never care for any human being outside -her family and a few friends. So nothing and no one can ever harm her." - -Billy Webster accepted the cup of tea and a comfortable number of -sandwiches which Vera now offered him. - -"Don't be absurd, Billy," Peggy challenged, her face reddening in spite -of her effects to appear undisturbed. "As far as you are concerned you -will look ever so much better as soon as you cease behaving like an -invalid. I do believe you are in better health than you wish us to think -you are." - -"Perhaps I am; really I don't exactly know," Billy returned -dispassionately, as if he were speaking of some one else. He was holding -his cup and gazing over its rim. "I do enjoy having so little asked of -me. It has never happened before, as I have always been expected to do -the things I dislike. Now, I would far rather be half ill than to have to -shoot and fish and do the kind of things Dan and the other fellows out -here like to do. Besides, I really tried to make myself ill, so that -father would have to consent to my coming West." - -Billy made this announcement without embarrassment, but not as if he -cared whether or not it were believed. - -It was his sister, Peggy, who flushed uncomfortably as she always did -over her brother's oddities. To her truthful mind and straightforward -nature his peculiarities were impossible to understand. - -But Billy did not look as if his words had been altogether true. In spite -of his sister's speech, he was far more fragile than he had been when she -had said farewell to him at their farm in New Hampshire a few months -before. She had then started west to join her aunt, Mrs. Burton, and -become a member of the Sunrise Hill Camp Fire club in Arizona. - -At this instant and without being observed, Vera shook her head at Peggy. - -If no one else understood Billy Webster's vagaries, the Russian girl with -whom he had so deep a friendship apparently did, or if not she usually -had an excuse for him. - -But Peggy suddenly remembered that her brother was not supposed to know -how ill he had been. - -Then, almost at the same time, an interruption followed in the form of an -extraordinary sound, or combination of sounds. First there was the -long-drawn-out wail of annoyance and protest made by a small western -burro; then an intermingling of faint shrieks of fear with gay laughter. - -Peggy and Bettina both ran forward to the narrow opening between the two -cliff walls. Then they beheld an extremely pretty, rather plump woman, -with rose-colored cheeks and grey in her brown hair, riding astride a -burro. The burro was being lead by another woman of the same age, -extraordinarily like and yet unlike the other one. The woman on foot was -more slender and paler, her hair was darker and not grey, and her eyes a -deeper blue. - -"Peggy, darling, for goodness sake help me get your mother off this -beast," she called out as soon as the two girls were inside the defile, -"I have had to drag both the animal and Mollie Webster every inch of the -way. See, Mollie, I told you that our camp was not far from this old -cliff dwelling which the girls and I discovered and adopted the other -day. You might easily have walked here." - -"So I might and would have, Polly O'Neill Burton, had I dreamed that you -were going to make this wretched animal actually trot with me across a -stone wilderness." - -During her protest, with some difficulty, Mrs. Webster was being -persuaded to dismount from her burro by Peggy and Bettina. But she seemed -not to have acquired the art of making the proper beginning, for her too -long and too full skirt kept getting twisted around her. - -"Better wear a proper Camp Fire costume, especially adapted for a Camp -Fire guardian at the Grand Canyon of Arizona, Mollie," Mrs. Burton -suggested, going forward and leaving the girls to find some place to -fasten the burro, when finally her beloved twin sister had made the -descent to earth in safety. - -Mrs. Burton's costume was in fact charming and so simple that one would -not easily have known how expensive it was. She wore tan-colored, high -kid boots, wrinkling above the foot like mousquetaire gloves, a -khaki-colored broadcloth coat and a short skirt with trousers of the same -material beneath. Her hat was of French felt, a little deeper shade of -brown, and trimmed with a soft red scarf. - -"Billy, you look like an Indian chief with that blanket wrapped about -you, provided one does not look too carefully on the inside," she -announced. "Hope the tea isn't all gone; your mother needs some -refreshment, although I don't care for any." - -Then walking over to the edge of the cliff Mrs. Burton stood looking -down, with a curious sensation of fascination and fear. - -A moment later Mrs. Webster sat down beside her son, giving a suppressed -sigh of relief. Billy seemed so much better, although he had been at the -new Sunrise Camp but little over a week. - -A short time before the Sunrise Hill Camp Fire party, who had been for -several months living in a group of tents on the borders of the Painted -Desert, had moved on to the neighborhood of the Grand Canyon. They were -now in camp not far from the famous Angel Trail. - -But before they were fairly settled a letter had arrived from Mrs. -Webster saying that she would like to join the Camp Fire party and wished -to bring along her two sons, Dan and Billy Webster. - -There was no possibility of declining to welcome the newcomers, for it -was Billy's serious illness which had made a western trip necessary and -forced his father's consent to their joining his aunt's camping party. - -However, the campers were extraordinarily well pleased and particularly -Polly Burton. For if her beloved Mollie were with her, surely her -difficulties as Camp Fire guardian were over. She and Mollie were so -unlike they were complements to each other. - -"Fact is when we are together, Mollie mine, we have all the virtues and -leave none to be desired," Polly O'Neill, who was now Mrs. Richard -Burton, had more than once announced to her twin sister. - -And Mollie had laughed as she always did, accepting the speech as only -one of her gifted sister's absurdities. For, in spite of her Polly's -genius, her opinions never made much impression upon Mrs. Webster. - -Nevertheless, perhaps on this point she was not altogether wrong. -Already, since Mrs. Webster's coming, the group of Camp Fire girls -unconsciously were under the spell of its truth. There were some to whom -Mollie Webster represented the influences which they needed and desired. -She was far more motherly than her sister and loved to fuss and worry -over each girl's health and appetite. Yet, in her gentler fashion, she -was really more exacting than Mrs. Burton, as such apparently yielding -natures often are. - -Already Alice Ashton and Vera Lageloff felt more closely drawn to Mrs. -Webster--Vera, because she was Billy's mother and had been her friend -before she met Mrs. Burton. - -With Alice Ashton the circumstances were different. For one thing, Alice -felt that her Aunt Mollie took her more seriously and had a real respect -for her intellectual interests and abilities. She could not always be -perfectly certain that the other Camp Fire guardian was not sometimes a -little amused by her ambitions. - -Vera and Alice were both engaged in serving Mrs. Webster with tea. A -moment later Bettina and Peggy walked over and stood on either side of -Mrs. Burton. - -"To what on earth, Tante, did you expect us to hitch that wretched -beast?" Bettina demanded. "Peggy did finally manage to tie him to a cliff -but it required an extraordinary amount of talent." - -Laughing, Mrs. Burton slipped one hand inside Peggy's and the other in -Bettina's. - -"Sorry, children, but I could not persuade Mollie to come with me in any -other way and I did want her to see this wonderful view. You know how she -hates walking, but perhaps we may get her into better habits while she is -in the West with us. Look down there. The distance is tremendous, isn't -it? and yet this is only one of the smaller canyons--not the Grand -Canyon. The roaring of the water sounds as far beneath as if it were the -River Styx. But don't get so close to the edge, Bettina. I thought -looking down great heights made you feel uncomfortable." - -"Some one jumped or fell over this cliff the other day," Peggy announced. -"Ralph Marshall told me that the man had been a guest at the hotel where -he is staying." - -Mrs. Burton shivered, drawing back in her usual impressionable fashion. - -"Don't tell us any gruesome details, please, Peggy dear. Remember it is -the wonder and beauty of nature we must think of, and not its -terribleness." - -Afterwards the woman and two girls were silent for a little while, each -pursuing her own train of thought and each admiring in her fashion the -marvelous spectacle before them. - -It was as if a sunset had been inverted and its colors dropped down -inside the cliffs, using the stones for clouds to hold the lights. -Farther down, the walls of earth grew dark and finally a black stream ran -between them. - -A little later Mrs. Webster called to her sister and the two girls to -join her. They then returned at once to the rest of the group and for -half an hour sat there laughing and talking. For their background they -had one of the most ancient dwellings of the human race ever found upon -the earth, and their foreground was a portion of one of the great wonders -of the world. - -Nevertheless the Camp Fire party talked chiefly of their own affairs. -After all, human beings are seldom vitally interested for long in -anything save themselves and their own kind. - -But, by and by, Mrs. Burton arose. - -"Please hurry, everybody, we must get back to camp as soon as possible," -she suggested. "We forget that now September is here the days are getting -shorter. I for one have not the courage to be lost in this part of the -world. Moreover I have something to tell you when we reach camp which may -surprise you." - - - - - CHAPTER II - White Roses - - -The new camping site was by far the most beautiful the Sunrise Camp Fire -club had ever occupied, even bearing in mind all its former history. - -With wagons and their burros the girls, Mrs. Burton, and their guide had -followed a trail leading from the old site near the Painted Desert to the -new. They had preferred the long trek, although the nearby railroad would -have covered the distance in a few hours. - -Yet in this part of the country how easy it is to forget modern -civilization if one will, since half a century ago the Grand Canyon -itself was still unexplored. - -Here their tents were pitched in a portion of the world's garden, while -only a short distance away was the most gigantic wonder in stone. - -In less than three-quarters of an hour the little party of seven, who had -been drinking tea, arrived at their present home, involuntarily stopping -a few yards from the tents for the purpose of enjoying the picture before -them. They had come through half a mile of pine forest after leaving the -neighborhood of the cliffs and now found themselves encircled by pines on -all sides. In only a few places was there a clearing through which one -could get a vista of the far horizon, but in one of these clearings the -new Sunrise camp had pitched their white tents. - -In front of the tents the grass was soft and thick and of a deep bluish -green. To the left a miniature hill was broken by a narrow fissure down -which a tiny, clear stream trickled into a small lake below that was only -a little larger than a big circular mirror. As a matter of course the -pool had been christened the "Wishing Well." The name is indeed time -honored, but then wishing is perhaps the oldest and at the same time the -youngest occupation in the world. - -A few scrub trees and bushes grew along the ground between the pines, yet -the air was altogether filled with the pine tang and fragrance. In many -nearby places there were the brilliant early autumn flowers of the -western plateaus. - -As a beacon light to the home-comers, as well as for domestic reasons, a -large fire was burning at a safe distance from the tents. Through the -trees the sunset colors turned the scene to rose and gold. - -For the moment there chanced to be no one in sight save Marie Papin, Mrs. -Burton's maid, and Mr. Jefferson Simpson, the Camp Fire guide. - -So near the fire were they standing and so absorbed in their conversation -that, although they must have noticed the return of the little party, -neither turned to speak to any one of them. - -In the reflection of the firelight the two figures made an interesting -and not an ordinary picture. The contrast between them was striking. For -once Marie had discarded her conventional maid's costume of black and was -wearing a white muslin dress as only a French woman can wear white, -changing it from simplicity to coquetry. - -Moreover, the rough-and-ready outdoor costume, ordinarily adhered to by -Mr. Simpson, had been set aside for a conventional attire, or possibly -this was his impression. Yet Mr. Simpson did not appear conventional. - -As they reached their own tents Polly Burton nodded significantly to -Peggy and Bettina. Then she waited outside when they disappeared inside. - -"I wonder if Tante's surprise, which we were to hear on our return, had -anything to do with Marie and Mr. Simpson?" Peggy demanded, as she began -changing her costume for the more ceremonial one worn at dinner. She was -looking reflective and at the same time a little annoyed--an expression -characteristic of Peggy Webster under some conditions. She did not enjoy -romantic problems. - -Bettina laughed. She knew that Peggy had an instinctive prejudice against -the romantic in any and all its forms. Not only Bettina, but Peggy's -family and many of her friends often wondered why Peggy should be so -different in this from other girls. Moreover, how would she ever meet her -own romance when her hour came, if she had so intense a shyness at its -very suggestion among other people? - -A number of times Bettina had been aware that their Camp Fire guide felt -more than an ordinary interest in Marie. Yet the thought of an affair -between the young French woman with her ideas of life and the big -uncultured miner had seemed impossible. They were farther apart than the -two poles, since, in the end, the poles being reached bear many -resemblances. If Mr. Simpson had been rich, there might have been another -story. However, some theory had to be worked out to explain Mr. Simpson's -wish to continue as the Sunrise Camp Fire guide. - -True, he was a soldier of fortune who, according to his own story, had -played many parts. However, each member of the Camp Fire club appreciated -his superiority to the task he had undertaken of being their courier, -guide, man of all work, doing a hundred and one tasks for a group of -something less than a dozen women. Even if he had fallen upon evil days -and accepted the work as a temporary occupation or amusement--for he -appeared to consider his tasks more amusing than laborious--there were -many other more dignified and lucrative occupations in which he could -have engaged. - -So Bettina reflected, as she followed Peggy's example in getting dressed. - -They had not finished when a slim figure slipped in to their tent -uninvited. - -Her expression was slightly apologetic as she seated herself upon the -edge of a cot, drawing one foot up under her and flinging her hat aside, -as a girl frequently does when beginning a confidence. - -However, the newcomer was not a girl. Instead she was the Camp Fire -guardian and hostess of the Sunrise club in Arizona at the present time, -and also in their recent camping experience upon the edge of the Painted -Desert, Mrs. Richard Burton, the famous actress, known to the public as -Polly O'Neill Burton. - -"Sorry my surprise for this evening has not developed, or rather that it -has developed in an unexpected fashion," she began, speaking -enigmatically and shrugging her shoulders, half chagrined and half -pleased. - -"Perhaps you girls know from experience that I am more nervous over -playing chaperon than any other Camp Fire guardian duty. But I must -confess I never expected to be troubled by Marie! She and I have traveled -together for years without Marie's having a single love affair so far as -I have been told. And then appears Mr. Simpson, the last person to be -suspected in the light of a lover." - -Mrs. Burton's lips twitched and her eyes shone with an amused light. - -"I like Mr. Simpson very much. Really I am afraid Marie is not good -enough for him as she is behaving so absurdly," she ended inconclusively. - -"Tante, what are you talking about? Certainly you never betray your point -at the beginning of a story as so many people do," Peggy demanded, still -frowning, but approaching nearer the lady on the cot. - -Mrs. Burton laughed. - -"Sorry, Peg, but, perhaps, remembering your prejudice against love -affairs, I forbore to tell you several days ago that Marie and Mr. -Simpson became engaged on the last night of our journey to camp. You may -recall that Mr. Simpson took a number of you girls out for a walk after -we had pitched tents for the night and after Marie had me safely stored -away in bed. I was surprised at the time at her wishing to go with you, -as Marie and outdoor exercise are not enamored of each other. Then Marie -came in late, after you girls had gone to bed, and told me her news. We -were planning to have a party tonight and announce the engagement. I sent -hundreds of miles for a cake and white roses," Mrs. Burton concluded -mournfully. - -Bettina Graham was twisting her yellow-brown hair into a single braid -about her small head--a difficult performance before a six-inch hand -mirror which she held in one hand while twisting with the other. - -Nevertheless she stopped. - -"Well," she inquired, "didn't the roses arrive?" - -Mrs. Burton nodded. "Oh yes, but Marie has broken her engagement. Mr. -Simpson confided to me that he thinks it is on account of his new -clothes. He insists that Marie thought he would look like one of her -Broadway heroes as soon as he discarded his western outfit. Assuredly he -does not. Funny that he gave me this information quite good-naturedly, -with an amused twinkle in his eyes! Of course Marie declared this untrue. -She now announces that she could not make up her mind to leave me; -besides life in the West could never satisfy her. She believes she must -have been unduly influenced by the September moon at the time of her -acceptance of Mr. Simpson." Mrs. Burton shook her head in reflection. -"The laws of attraction between human beings are perhaps the strangest of -all laws. Remember my oracular speech, children; you may find it useful." - -At this moment she got up stiffly, as persons do after sitting in an -awkward position for any length of time. - -Peggy had continued frowning. - -"How silly Marie is! I do think she has behaved abominably. I simply -can't understand how people can be so 'changy' about serious matters," -Peggy concluded, her cheeks again coloring with annoyance. - -Remembering her own uncertainties on this same subject and concerning the -acceptance of the husband whom she now adored, Mrs. Burton suddenly felt -less vexed with Marie than she had a few moments before. - -"All people are not alike, Peggy dear, for which we should be thankful. -Anyhow there are at least two widely different varieties, the -'Sentimental Tommies' and the 'Grizels' of this world. One had a good -many minds inside of one mind and they all have to be pleased. Then there -are fortunate people like you and Grizel dear, who have only one -beautiful clear mind to make up without doubts and backslidings. - -"Now I must depart to get ready for dinner. At least we have the -consolation of the cake and the roses. Mr. Simpson insists that he will -appear at his engagement party, even if there is no engagement and no -bride. But Marie, of course, has retired in tears." - - - - - CHAPTER III - A New Dawn - - -Very rarely did Polly Burton arise early in the morning. This excellent -habit she had never liked as a girl and, of course, later on her stage -life had made the custom well nigh impossible. Now, however, within the -past few months of outdoor camping, she had changed and become that very -doubtful early bird, or early worm, for one never can be sure which one -may be--the winner of the morning prize or the victim. - -However, the coming of daylight in this extraordinary land of hills and -deserts, of giant cliffs and fairy gardens, was worth a serious effort. - -At any rate this was Mrs. Burton's impression. Frequently she used to -slip out of her tent before any one else had awakened and watch the dawn -above the blue San Francisco peaks spread itself slowly over the entire -horizon. Afterwards she sometimes returned to bed and to sleep, or else -read until the Camp Fire girls were in evidence. - -This morning it was a little before six o'clock when, getting into her -clothes, she slipped out of doors. Quiet had to be preserved for, now -that Mrs. Webster had arrived, she was sleeping in her sister's tent, -while another smaller tent had been put up not far off which Dan and -Billy Webster were occupying together. Now, that Billy was so much -better, his brother was able to look after him at night. Moreover their -mother, after her siege of nursing, required the rest. - -For two reasons, therefore, Mrs. Burton departed without making the least -disturbance. First, she wished her sister to continue sleeping, second, -she did not wish her own plan interfered with. One never could be sure -when Mollie would not take a stand against what she might consider an -unnecessary eccentricity. - -Mrs. Burton's desire was to see the sun rise above one of the canyons and -to see it alone. Not the Grand Canyon itself; one still had a day's -journey down a precipitous trail from the Sunrise Hill camp for the best -view of this amazing spectacle. She intended visiting one of the lesser -canyons which was within reasonable walking distance. - -The pine forest was as gloomy and quiet as a dim old cathedral when Polly -Burton started swiftly through it toward the neighborhood of the cliffs -of the day before. - -There was a mist at the top of the trees hiding the first shafts of -daylight. No other living human being was about. Only in one of the trees -a screech owl, still under the impression that it was night, continued -his curious wailing. - -Mrs. Burton was not frightened, but naturally she was a little nervous -and keenly alive to every sight and sound. Always enjoying new emotions -and new impressions; now the early morning walk alone in so strange a -place was unlike any past experience she could recall. - -Not many miles away stood a fashionable hotel filled with tourists, who -had come to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon. Yet here in the forest one -appeared to be in a primeval world. Not so different could these forests -have been in the prehistoric days of the cliff dwellers, whose ancient -homes were in the nearby cliffs. - -Following the trail Polly Burton kept glancing from one side of the path -to the other. Ridiculous, of course, but all through dinner the evening -before Dan Webster had been regaling the girls with stories of the deer -and bear supposed to live in the adjacent woods. - -Yet, in spite of her unfaith, there was always enough of the spirit of -the adventurer in Mrs. Burton, left over from the one-time Polly O'Neill, -to hope for the unexpected. - -Once in a place where the trees grew thicker than elsewhere, she half -believed she saw a big, brown figure go lumbering off on all fours in the -opposite direction. Nevertheless, without being interrupted in any way, -she finally arrived at the ledge of cliffs where she had spent the -afternoon before. - -Now, instead of stopping at the same place, she walked slowly along, -carefully guarding each step. The morning light was a dull grey--the -color of deep shadows. Slowly the sky was growing warmer and breaking -into light, coloring the thick mist in the ravine below until it -resembled a mammoth, iridescent soap bubble. - -Then the mist began to separate and to float upward like an army of -ghostly figures. - -The effect was fascinating--even thrilling--and yet it was eery. To an -imaginative person many fantastic ideas would have presented themselves. -It was as if the spirits of evil persons having been enchained to do -penance for their sins in the world below, and now, having expiated their -misdeeds, were allowed to float upward. Sometimes they moved in pairs, -gradually drifting apart as they reached the higher air. Now and then a -more lonely ghost, appearing as if wrapped about in a cloak of silver -mist, would pursue his upward flight alone. - -Mrs. Burton felt more than repaid for her trip, yet regretted that she -had not brought one of the girls with her. Bettina would perhaps have -enjoyed the spectacle most. The Camp Fire guardian was beginning to -understand Bettina Graham better than she had in their past Camp Fire -experience. But her desire was not purely unselfish, for she was nervous. - -The scene was almost too beautiful and mysterious to be witnessed by -oneself. Besides, in the past few months she had grown so accustomed to -being in the society of the Sunrise Hill Camp Fire girls that she was -almost uncomfortable any great length of time without them. - -Now it would have been pleasant to have heard Bettina's pretty fancies, -or to have had Peggy dispel the mists by a practical suggestion, or to -have listened to Alice's or Ellen's scientific explanation of clouds, or -to have beheld Sally and Gerry giggling irresponsibly over something -which had nothing to do with mists or ghosts or canyons. - -Yet Mrs. Burton lingered until the dawn had fully come and all the sky -was rose crimson. Then, glancing at her watch, she started toward camp. - -In another half hour the girls would be up and preparing breakfast. As no -one knew where she had disappeared it was possible that her Sister Mollie -might become uneasy. - -Once in the woods again she walked more hurriedly, not only because she -feared being late, but for another more absurd reason. Unexpectedly Mrs. -Burton had the sensation of being followed. - -She did not see any one or anything, and was not even sure that she heard -distinctly. Nevertheless her impression was vivid. - -Twice she stopped and waited; once she called aloud; the second time, -very like the one-time Polly O'Neill, she stamped her foot, crying out: - -"If any one is playing a prank on me, please understand that I am weary -of it." - -There was no answer. However, afterwards she had no longer the sensation -of being pursued. - -At camp Sally Ashton and Gerry Williams were busy preparing breakfast. -Camp life was at least eventful when these two girls were at work. - -Really, once stirred out of her slothfulness, Sally Ashton, who was -essentially feminine, was an extraordinarily good cook. However, she -required several persons to wait upon her while she was at work. - -This morning, in honor of Mrs. Webster, she was making a new cornmeal -bread from a recipe which the Indian girl, Dawapa, had taught her. - -She had Dan Webster engaged in assisting her. Dan not only brought fresh -wood for her fire every few moments, but in between his pilgrimages -watched with anxiety the cakes slowly browning in the hot ashes. Sally -was never content unless she had at least one man or boy engaged in her -active service. As a matter of fact if one were about she did not find -this difficult to accomplish. - -She waved a plump little hand toward their guardian when Mrs. Burton -strolled into camp. Over the great pan of bacon she was frying Gerry -Williams threw her a kiss. - -There was no one else about. A little tired from her walk, Mrs. Burton -sat down a short distance from the fire, for the warmth was pleasant, -and, embracing her knees, began rocking slowly back and forward just as -Polly O'Neill had always done when she wished to work out a problem. - -Mrs. Burton was again considering her group of Camp Fire girls. How -pretty Sally looked! Her hair lay in soft brown curls over her white -forehead. She did not tan as the other girls. At the moment her big brown -eyes were shining with an animation she did not always show. She was -wearing a big apron over her Camp Fire dress. - -Deliciously domestic Sally appeared to be working out-of-doors! For, -although Sally did belong to the type of women whom we choose to call -especially feminine, she had gone far beyond the history of the primitive -woman. Sally's idea was to enslave, certainly not to be enslaved. - -In appearance she and Gerry Williams were a complete contrast, although -having many tastes in common. - -Since the trouble between Gerry Williams and Bettina Graham, Gerry and -the Camp Fire guardian had not continued such devoted friends. Until -then, except for her niece, Peggy Webster, Gerry had undoubtedly been -Mrs. Burton's favorite among her group of girls. - -But Gerry's effort to force Bettina to remain behind in the Indian's -house, in order to place her in a false position during their last -camping experience, had appeared not only mischievous but malicious. Mrs. -Burton wondered if she had been right in bringing a girl of Gerry's -training and tastes to live with girls who had been brought up so -differently. She still said nothing to any one of them concerning Gerry's -history, but she had one talk with the girl herself. Afterwards Gerry -apologised, both to Bettina and to her and appeared to repent her -behavior. - -Now, in spite of the fact that Mrs. Burton could not trust her as she had -at the beginning of their friendship, nevertheless Gerry's prettiness and -affectionate manners never failed to appeal to her. She returned the kiss -light-heartedly. - -A few moments later the other Camp Fire girls appeared. - -Peggy took away her aunt's coat and hat, since Marie had not been seen -since the night before. She was no longer sleeping in Mrs. Burton's tent, -but in a tent with several of the girls. - -Alice Ashton reported to Mrs. Burton that Marie had not yet lifted her -head from the pillow, so overcome did she appear to be, either from -relief or regret at the loss of Mr. Simpson. - -Breakfast was about ready to serve before Mrs. Webster and Billy finally -came out to join the others. They were an odd contrast--the mother and -son--suggesting the homely but immortal comparison of the hen with the -ugly duckling. - -Mrs. Webster--who had once been Molly O'Neill--had cheeks round and soft -and rosy as a girl's. Her blue eyes were filled with the sweetness of a -loving and unquestioning nature. She was well past her youth and yet, in -spite of her comfortable plumpness and the few grey hairs among the black -ones, to the persons who loved her she seemed to grow prettier and -sweeter as she grew older. Certainly her own family adored her. - -But Billy Webster, her son, was a delicate boy with fair hair and large -blue eyes. His expression was difficult to understand until one came to -know that Billy questioned everything, but, having decided for himself -acted, whenever it was possible, solely upon his own judgment. - -When Dan Webster started forward to join his mother and offer his morning -greeting, one felt better satisfied. For, except that he was big and -strong and virile, he was exactly like her, both in appearance and -apparently in character. - -The Sunrise Hill Camp Fire girls were in the habit of beginning each day -with some little ceremony appropriate to their outdoor life and the -spirit of their Camp Fire. Each member had her appointed time, for a -morning ceremony. Today chanced to be Mrs. Burton's. - -When everybody had assembled she walked toward a clearing and stood with -her face to the east and her back against a group of pine trees with a -growth of underbrush between. - -"I am sorry all of you were not with me this morning at daylight. To have -recited my verse then would have been more appropriate," she began. - -However, what she recited was not so important, since always Mrs. -Burton's audiences heard her with thrilling interest. For one reason, the -voice of the great actress was so beautiful and appealing. Like the great -Sara Bernhardt she would have been able to stir her hearers both to -laughter and tears by a mere recital of the alphabet, could she have -spoken as Bernhardt did in a language unfamiliar to her listeners. - -"This verse is a part of the Indian New Fire ceremony and seemed to me -appropriate to our morning camp fire," she explained. - -Some vivid, charming quality appeared to be born anew in Polly O'Neill -Burton each time she faced an audience, no matter how small and -unimportant. This love of her work was perhaps the surest expression of -her genius. - -She now lifted her head, the color coming swiftly to her face, and -pointing to the sun and then toward their own fire she spoke in a -beautiful resonant voice: - - "All people awake, open your eyes, arise, - Become children of light, vigorous, active, sprightly; - Hasten clouds from the four world quarters, - Come snow in plenty, that water may abound when summer appears, - Come ice and cover the fields, that after planting they may yield - abundantly, - Let all hearts be glad." - -The last words sounded like an invocation to happiness. However, it was -Mrs. Burton who started forward, saying unexpectedly: - -"Dan, there is some one watching us. I was under the impression I was -being followed in my walk this morning. Why, I cannot understand! Will -you find out who it is?" - -Then, without replying, Dan went quickly forward into the nearby woods. - - - - - CHAPTER IV - A New Girl - - -There was an instant of waiting, then a little cry quickly suppressed. -Soon after Dan could be heard returning. - -But when he appeared he was half leading, half carrying, a girl of about -fifteen or sixteen who did not look like a formidable intruder. She was -small and her face was pale; at the moment her lips were pressed tightly -together. Yet, in spite of her effort at self-control, her eyes were full -of tears, either of anger, embarrassment or pain. - -Yet, although Dan was resolutely holding her to the duty of facing the -Camp Fire party, he was perfectly gentle. It would have been impossible -for him to be otherwise. - -Immediately Mrs. Burton walked forward. There was something about the -girl that attracted her. She was not pretty; her features were too -irregular; she had a long nose a little crooked, a wide mouth, and her -chin was too sharply pointed for the breadth of her brow. But her eyes -were a fascinating grey-green with extremely dark brows and lashes, and -her hair was reddish brown. - -"I am sorry," the Camp Fire guardian began quickly. "Dan and I must both -have been mistaken in thinking you the person we were seeking. But you -must forgive my nephew, the fault was mine. I was under the impression -that some one was spying upon us, and who, for some absurd reason, was -not willing to be discovered." - -The girl shook her head. "You were not mistaken. I have been watching -you--or trying to--since early this morning. And I hate your having -discovered me." - -She spoke quietly in a soft but at the same time throaty voice, as if she -were a little hoarse. - -Polly Burton was puzzled and yet it was stupid of her to have been. It -was true that here in the West in the past few months, living outdoors -with her group of Camp Fire girls, she had honestly forgotten a number of -facts about herself. - -"I don't understand." - -But at this instant, murmuring something or other in apology, Dan Webster -moved a few steps aside. - -The girl turned her head. - -"Don't let go your hold on me," she said almost angrily. - -Again Dan held out his arm and this time the girl clutched it. - -Dan's face was crimson; he felt the whole situation to be extraordinarily -awkward. He was not quick either in thought or action and undoubtedly he -was confused by the words and the behavior of the girl who had been his -prisoner a few moments before. Now she held on to him as if she dared not -let go. He could feel her hand trembling on his arm and indeed her whole -body was shaking. - -Then Dan gave an inward sigh of relief, seeing that his mother was -approaching them. - -"You have hurt yourself, haven't you, child?" she began in a sensible -comfortable fashion. "I presume you were merely curious about my sister -and our Camp Fire proceedings. I know the information has gone out over -the neighborhood that we wished to be left to ourselves. You understand -my sister has to see so many people when she is playing that she has let -it be known she wishes to meet nobody here. If you have been trying to -see her without being observed, she must remember a time, which does not -seem so long ago to me, when she was only a stage-struck girl herself. -There, take my arm and let Dan help you to my tent." - -The girl had looked unhappy at the beginning of Mrs. Webster's speech, -but before the close she laughed a little uncertainly. - -"I am afraid _that is_ true," she returned. "In any case I owe you an -apology, Mrs. Burton." She had dropped the lids over her eyes to hide her -chagrin, but she went on honestly. "I suppose I am a stage-struck girl, -although I do not like hearing myself called one. But I did come over -here this morning at daylight for a look at your camp. Of course I never -dreamed of seeing you. But when you started for your walk I did go along -near you, as I did not suppose you would either see or hear me. But it -was wonderful just to be so near you!" - -In the meantime Peggy Webster had slipped forward and now stood alongside -her aunt. - -"Don't be hateful, Tante," she whispered warningly, knowing from -experience that her aunt's good nature was not always to be relied upon -under trying circumstances. Moreover she had forgotten, as ninety-nine -people out of a hundred do, when they arrive at distinction, how she had -felt toward famous persons in her own youth. - -But on this occasion Peggy need not have been uneasy. - -The new girl was evidently of gentle breeding in spite of the shabbiness -of her attire and the fact that she was rather more plain than good -looking. - -"Nonsense, child, it is oftentimes distinctly disagreeable to be near me, -as my Camp Fire girls may tell you. But come and have breakfast with us, -if you really have been prowling about since daylight as I have. I am -dreadfully hungry." - -She started away with Peggy, expecting the others to follow. Either Mrs. -Burton had not heard her sister's speech, or else believed that her -beloved Mollie was only fussing over the newcomer's health as she did -over everybody's. - -"Thank you, I would rather not be troublesome," the new girl answered. - -At this she let go Dan's arm and took a step forward. But the pain of -walking alone was too great for her self-control. - -As people always did in disaster she turned to Mrs. Webster. - -"I fear I have hurt myself and it is so stupid of me. Really I don't know -what to do. You see I did not want to be discovered and when I heard some -one coming after me I started to run. I must have tripped and fallen over -a stump in the underbrush. As soon as I got up I was a prisoner." - -She flashed a peculiar glance at Dan Webster; but whether she was angry -or amused over his discomfiture it was difficult to decide. Yet Dan -looked wretched enough to satisfy the most teasing desire for revenge. He -had the sweetest and most chivalrous temper in the world. No one ever -remembered Dan's deliberately hurting any one in his life. Now he -undoubtedly felt as if he had caused a perfectly innocent girl to do -herself a painful injury and had afterwards treated her with unpardonable -rudeness. But it was not difficult to make Dan Webster feel himself in -the wrong, both his sister Peggy, and his twin brother, frequently taking -advantage of this trait of his character. - -"You are not a prisoner in any sense," Mrs. Webster replied, speaking -more coldly, and appreciating Dan's embarrassment. "But if you are hurt -we shall be glad to do what we can for you and some one will drive you -back to your home." - -More humbly the girl then took hold of Mrs. Webster's proffered arm, and -still holding on to Dan, started toward Mrs. Webster's tent not many -yards away. - -In a curious fashion Dan felt that, in spite of her pretense of anger, -the girl by his side felt a reliance upon him. And for some reason he -could not explain he was interested in her. She was not half so pretty as -many of the Camp Fire girls--Sally Ashton and Gerry Williams for -instance. Yet there was something fascinating in her grey-green eyes, in -her long nose with that funny twist at the end of it, and in the -uncertainty of her behavior. - -Naturally Dan thought it ridiculous of the strange girl to have been -hiding about in their neighborhood for the very ordinary pleasure of -beholding his famous aunt. - -Dan did not take Mrs. Burton or her fame as an actress seriously. Indeed, -unconsciously he had inherited some of his father's old prejudice against -women in any kind of public life. He was fond of his aunt, but not as -Peggy was, or even his brother, Billy. For, although Billy did not bestow -much affection upon any human being, except his mother and Vera Lageloff, -he admired Mrs. Burton, was proud of her success, and was really more -influenced by her opinion than any one's else. - -The new girl walked with difficulty, but Dan could not help admiring her -pluck. Ordinarily her skin was sallow but it was an odd greenish-white at -present. - -Outside his mother's tent Dan departed to find Ellen Deal. - -Since the arrival of the Sunrise Camp Fire girls in Arizona, Ellen Deal -had had but few opportunities for the display of her usefulness as a -trained nurse. She had not graduated in nursing, since a breakdown in -health had prevented her from finishing the last year of training. But -she was older than the other Camp Fire girls and had come West with them -because of Dr. Sylvia Wharton's request made to her half sister and -always her beloved friend, Polly O'Neill, or Mrs. Richard Burton. - -The call to the sick, however, with Ellen was like the call to arms with -a soldier. - -Fifteen minutes later, when Dan was finishing a belated breakfast, Ellen -reappeared and sat down beside him. The next moment he saw the new girl -come out of his mother's tent with her assistance and drop down on a -cushion outside. - -"Nothing serious the matter, as far as I can tell," Ellen announced in -the business-like manner which seems to be considered professional. -"Nevertheless I would like to have a doctor if one can be found over at -the hotel or anywhere nearby. Our unexpected visitor has bruised and -strained her knee and it may be worse than I think." - -"Dan won't you take your victim, or our victim, her breakfast," Mrs. -Burton suggested, smiling and yet looking sympathetic. Having finished -her own breakfast she and Peggy had arranged a breakfast tray for their -uninvited guest. - -"Sit here, Dan," his mother announced a few moments later on his arrival -before her tent. Then she hurried away to her own meal. - -Dan sat silently watching the new girl. - -She was evidently trying to show self-control. Yet it seemed impossible -for her to choke the breakfast down, in spite of the fact that Sally had -made new corn bread especially for her. Her lips kept twitching and -finally the tears ran unchecked down her face. - -"I am sorry you are in such pain," Dan said gently, and there was -something very attractive in his gentleness, combined as it was with his -beauty and strength. "I'll find a doctor for you in a little while." - -To his surprise his companion again turned upon him angrily. - -"I am not crying because I am in pain. I am not quite so ridiculous." -Then her nose twitched in a funny fashion and she added with the hoarse -note in her voice which was so unusual, "I am crying because I am such -a--such a fool." - -In spite of his wish to be sympathetic, Dan laughed. - -"Oh, that is a common enough experience." - -But the girl shook her head. - -"No," she answered quietly, "there are a good many foolish people in the -world, I know, but there are degrees. It seems to me I am the most -hopeless kind." She turned her eyes full upon Dan and curiously he was -reminded of certain pools in his own New Hampshire woods on a soft grey -day. - -"My name is Marta Clark. I meant to tell you before. My brother and I are -here living in a tent not far away from your camp--a few miles I believe. -My brother broke down in health and we had to come out here because of -him. He is still very ill and I have been taking care of him. If I can't -even hobble about for a few days I don't know what is to become of us. -Besides he has not the faintest idea where I am. I realized he would not -allow me to prowl about trying to see Mrs. Burton if he knew, although he -and I had talked of her being here. We had seen her act once and adored -her." - -"Oh, you'll find some one able to look after him for a few days well -enough," Dan replied, not viewing the matter as seriously as his new -acquaintance did. - -Again the girl flashed what seemed to be an angry glance toward him. - -"I don't enjoy your forcing me to confess the fact," she went on, "but my -brother and I are desperately poor--far too poor to hire any one to take -care of us, even for a few days. He was working and taking care of me, -and when his illness came we had almost nothing. He was only a reporter -on a paper and I was at school." - -"Nevertheless," said Dan firmly, "I am sure we shall manage in some way -to have you cared for until you are all right again." - -The girl's face cleared, and Dan noticed that she had a rather care-worn -look which her words had just explained. - -"I don't know why I should feel it when we are utter strangers, but you -do look as if you could make things happen the way they should. I suppose -it is because you are strong and patient. I am neither of those things." - -But they could not go on talking because, at this moment, the Camp Fire -guardian was coming toward them. - - - - - CHAPTER V - The Patient - - -"But it is awfully kind of you, Ellen." - -Ellen Deal shook her head. - -"No," she answered. "I shall like it. Since I came out West with you and -the Camp Fire girls, Mrs. Burton, I have been feeling that perhaps I was -here under false pretenses. You see I am older than the other girls, and -came partly because Dr. Sylvia told me I might be useful to you. Except -for showing you a few first aid remedies I have not been useful at all. I -don't feel that I am a particularly agreeable companion, so I add nothing -to the pleasure of the Camp Fire in that way." - -"Nonsense," the Camp Fire guardian responded. Nevertheless a slight pang -of self-reproach assailed her. Had she allowed Ellen Deal to feel that -she was of less interest to the Camp Fire group than the other girls? It -was true that Ellen was older, that she was midway between the age of a -Camp Fire girl and a possible guardian. But, more than this, she seemed -to have one of the hard and matter-of-fact natures it is always difficult -to reach. Romance, the dreams and desires that are a part of nearly every -life, hardly appeared to touch Ellen; or if they did at least she gave no -sign. In their months together amid perhaps as beautiful and -extraordinary scenery as there is anywhere in the world, Ellen had showed -no enthusiasm; in her life with the Camp Fire girls, no especial -affection except, perhaps, in friendship with Alice Ashton. - -"However, she was looking in a great deal better health," Mrs. Burton -reflected, and the present moment was scarcely the time for introspection -by either of them. - -"Just the same it is good of you, Ellen, besides not another one of us -would be equal to the task. But if it is too much for you, you must let -us know. Peggy is going with you now and I'll drive over in the morning -to see how you are getting on." - -"Thank you," Ellen replied gratefully. Yet she would like to have said so -much more--to have told Mrs. Burton how greatly she appreciated her -kindness in allowing her, an entire stranger, to be one of her group of -Camp Fire girls and also her guest for the past three months. However, -words never came easily to her, for she was not one of the fortunate -persons who can make themselves charming by the simple gift of -expression, which may or may not be sincere. - -Then she went away to pack her bag with a few necessary articles for the -work ahead of her. - -It was to Ellen Deal that Dan Webster had first confided the difficult -position of their unexpected guest. Immediately Ellen had suggested that -she go with the new girl to her camp and there see what should be done. -Besides the fact of her brother's illness, the girl herself would require -looking after for a few days, if not for a longer time. - -Later Mrs. Webster and Mrs. Burton had given a more or less enforced -consents since, under the circumstances, there seemed nothing else to be -done. - -"Ellen certainly looks competent," Polly decided at this moment, watching -her move away. Her figure was small and neat, suggesting a great deal of -reserve strength; her sandy hair had grown a shade brighter in tone from -her months in the sunshine and her always bright color, brighter. It was -a pity that she appeared so severe and critical. - -This, also, was Marta Clark's impression, riding beside Ellen, Dan and -Peggy occupying the front seat of the wagon which the Camp Fire party -ordinarily used for carrying provisions. - -Naturally Marta felt under deep obligations to the strange young woman -beside her, yet she would like to have been able to prepare her for -certain revelations ahead. - -Ellen looked so scrupulously tidy. Then Marta knew the Camp Fire ideals -and training which Ellen had added to her nursing ones. And her own -housekeeping left so much to be desired. In fact Marta realized that she -was careless, and her brother equally so. How would Miss Deal survive for -even a few days with them, in spite of her spirit of self-sacrifice? -Certainly Marta hated to accept so great a favor as the care of herself -and her brother must represent. Yet, she too appreciated the fact that -there seemed nothing else to be done. - -The ride did not occupy half an hour, Marta naturally directing the way. - -Nevertheless it was nearly ten o'clock in the morning before the little -party reached the new camp. - -Two tents were situated in a small clearing at the foot of a rocky hill. -Near them was the remains of a camp fire and not far away a litter of old -papers and tin cans. In front of one tent there was an invalid's chair -and also a cot. Yet neither of them were occupied. - -"I wonder where Rob can be," Marta said, trying to conceal her evident -nervousness from the three strangers. - -She need scarcely have asked the question. The moment the wagon stopped, -a tall, abnormally thin young fellow came quickly toward them, evidently -having heard their approach from some distance off. He was breathless and -the color was burning crimson on his high cheek bones. He looked like -Marta except that he was handsomer, for his features were more regular, -although the brother and sister had nearly the same coloring. - -He bowed politely enough to the strangers in the little party. But -afterwards, something, perhaps his own illness and weakness, seemed to -destroy his self-control. - -"Where have you been, Marta? What has happened? I have been searching for -you ever since six o'clock. I wakened to find you gone, and after waiting -an hour for you to come back I thought, or rather I could not think, what -had become of you. You are considerate not to have left me a message." - -There was an angry sarcasm in the young man's voice and manner which was -extraordinarily out of place under the circumstances. Dan felt so sorry -for the girl with them, that he would like to have settled with her -brother, except for the apparent fact of his illness. But a high temper -was evidently a family characteristic. Dan recalled Marta's mentioning -that she and her brother were from Kentucky. - -But, even while he was speaking, the young fellow had to grasp hold of -the wagon for support. - -Marta was trying to explain to him, when Ellen Deal climbed quietly out. - -"You are not strong enough to be on your feet any longer; you must have -been walking about for several hours, when you know you are not expected -to take any exercise," she said authoritatively. Then, without the least -hesitation or embarrassment, she took the perfectly strange young man by -the elbow and led him to his chair. He accompanied her without a protest. - -Afterwards, while Dan and Peggy were helping Marta to alight from the -wagon, Ellen tried to make him understand what had occurred. - -Secretly Rob Clark was both ashamed and amused by the situation--ashamed -of his own exhibition of temper, for he was good-natured on most -occasions. But also he was amused by the strange young woman's immediate -command of him. However he really was too weak to protest and, after -discovering his sister's injury, grateful to the newcomer beyond his -present strength to express. - -A short time after Ellen was in complete command, both of the situation -and her two patients. - -Marta was stretched on the cot in front of the tent and her brother had -not been allowed to move from his chair. - -With Peggy's and Dan's aid a fresh fire had been built and beef tea fed -the invalid, who confessed to having had no breakfast because of his -anxiety. Also the confusion inside the tent had been a little -straightened out, although Dan and Peggy were obliged to leave when they -might still have been useful. - -However, they, too, were under Ellen's command. She insisted that they -drive over to the big hotel not far away in order to secure the advice of -a physician. He was to be asked to come at once. - -And seeing them depart, promising to return next day, Marta was not sure -whether she was sorry or glad of the results of her own impertinence and -the accident due to it. These months alone with her brother had been very -depressing. They had no friends in the West and now, perhaps, if she -behaved herself, the Camp Fire girls might be kind to her. - - - - - CHAPTER VI - A Wager - - -Peggy Webster was standing alone, smoothing the shaggy coat of one of the -pair of mules hitched to their wagon. Her brother had gone into the hotel -nearby to find a physician for their new acquaintance. - -Peggy was not wearing her Camp Fire dress. She was under the impression -that it made her more conspicuous in coming to a fashionable hotel, such -as this one. The guests might or might not understand the reason for her -unusual costume. - -However, being Peggy, characteristically her toilet was of the simplest -and most convenient kind. She had on a short, tan-colored corduroy skirt -and jacket, a cream silk blouse and a corduroy hat. She also wore riding -boots of brown leather, finding them more convenient than ordinary shoes. - -Yet, in spite of her simplicity, perhaps because of it, she made a -charming figure. She was of medium height and slender, with broad -shoulders and narrow hips; although Peggy was sixteen, she still -suggested in the carriage of her head and body the vitality and grace of -a boy rather than a girl. It was difficult to analyze this quality of the -girl's which, however, people recognized at once. It may have come from a -certain independence of spirit--a love of outdoor things--a -straightforwardness and an avoidance of the emotions which most girls -enjoy. Yet none of these qualities are essentially boyish, since -ninety-nine boys out of a hundred may not possess them, but the -description is used for want of a better one. - -From the three months of living outdoors Peggy's olive skin was a deeper -tone and her color more brilliant. In her Camp Fire costume she sometimes -wore her hair loose; but on occasions like this, it was braided and -fastened close about her small head. In looking close at Peggy, what one -was forced to admire in her most was the clearness and beauty of her dark -eyes, which stared straight into yours with a perfect faith that the -ideals of every human being were as clear and sincere as her own. Another -charm was the unconsciously proud tilt of her short, straight nose and -chin. - -Glancing up to see if her brother had finished his errand, Peggy saw an -immaculate figure coming toward her over the carefully tended grounds of -the hotel. - -She waved a friendly hand toward him, the young man returning her -greeting more languidly. - -"Gotten up regardless, aren't you Ralph?" Peggy remarked good-naturedly, -as Ralph Marshall joined her. - -She did not dislike him as Bettina Graham did; indeed Peggy rarely -disliked any one. And Ralph had been coming to their place in New -Hampshire for a portion of his holidays for several years. He was -ordinarily sweet-tempered and obliging and his affectations and lack of -interest in serious matters only amused Peggy, if she happened to think -of them at all, while they made Bettina angry. - -"Oh, I am showing the West how the thing ought to be done," he answered -with equal good temper, surveying himself with a not unpleasant vanity. -For Ralph was extraordinarily good looking--rather too much so to be -desirable in a man, according to some ideas. In spite of the fact that it -was morning, Ralph was wearing a tennis costume of such amazing -perfection that he suggested a magazine advertisement. - -"I thought you would soon get tired of roughing it on Mr. Gardener's -ranch," Peggy went on. "After a while, Ralph, you will have surveyed all -human occupations and found none of them worth the effort of pursuing, -won't you?" - -Ralph laughed. "I say, Peggy, that is unworthy of you. Such severity -should have come from Bettina Graham. Why can't you think I left the -Gardener ranch in order to be nearer the Camp Fire girls, even if you are -not enthusiastic over my society? By the way, Terry Benton and Howard -Brent are here with me for a few weeks. They both felt a holiday was due -them, and naturally, as I was so near, I wished to see the Grand Canyon." - -Peggy nodded. "I am glad Howard Brent is with you, I like him." - -This also was characteristic of Peggy Webster. Most girls would not have -been willing to be so straightforward in expressing an interest. But -really it did not occur to Peggy that she should not state her liking for -Howard Brent as freely as if he had been a girl; and, of course, there -was no reason why she should not. - -However, Ralph felt slightly annoyed. He was accustomed to being both -admired and flattered by his girl acquaintances. Even Bettina Graham's -dislike of him was more agreeable than Peggy's good-natured indifference. - -Moreover, Peggy's expression had at this instant changed, as she went -quickly forward to greet the two young men who were advancing toward -them. - -"It is awfully good luck to have you so near our camp again; I hope you -will both come over to see us," Ralph heard her say the moment after she -had shaken hands with the newcomers. She had not suggested a visit to -him. - -Howard Brent and Terry Benton in a lesser degree were types of men whom -Peggy might have been expected to admire. - -Howard Brent was the son of an Arizona ranchman and was himself one. He -was a big, strong, fearless fellow of about twenty; having spent most of -his life outdoors, he was nearly as dark in appearance as Peggy herself -and almost as straightforward. Terry, of course, was an Irishman and, -although he also lived outdoors, he had the Irish subtleties and the -ability to laugh at himself, which Peggy could not at this time of her -life understand. - -A short time after, while the little group of four were continuing to -talk, Dan Webster came out from the hotel. Ralph Marshall introduced him -to his two friends and straightway they fell into a discussion of future -plans. - -Dan was younger than the other men and had never been west before. But he -had spent his life in the New Hampshire woods and was devoted to outdoor -sports. Moreover, he was tremendously grateful and enthusiastic over the -suggestion of his two new acquaintances, that he join them in the hunting -and tramping expeditions which they were then planning. - -He knew Ralph Marshall, of course, and they were friendly enough, but had -no particular liking for each other. - -"You are not going to join in these strenuous enterprises, are you, -Ralph?" Peggy asked as she and Dan were about to climb back into their -wagon to return to their own camp. - -"Why not?" Ralph demanded, flushing a little, not so much from Peggy's -tone, which had been nothing but friendly, but from the attitude which he -suspected in the other three men. - -"Oh, for no reason at all," Peggy returned quickly, "only that I thought -you liked other amusements better. You know I don't think a great deal of -trying to destroy things, although so long as I like to eat what Dan -kills I suppose I can't criticise his hunting." - -In her first speech Peggy had had no idea of hurting Ralph's feelings, or -even his self-esteem, which is what people are apt to hurt in us. -Therefore, appreciating the fact that he seemed a little uncomfortable, -she had attempted to change the subject. Moreover, in saying good-bye she -gave her hand last to Ralph, looking at him with an appeal for -forgiveness for her unconscious awkwardness. Under the circumstances she -found it impossible to apologise openly. - -Ralph Marshall had not Peggy's generosity of nature. He said good-bye -with perfect politeness, but the girl still felt that he was chagrined. - -"Bully girl, isn't she? As good a sport I should think as the best kind -of a fellow!" Howard Brent exclaimed after Dan and Peggy had driven off. - -For a moment Terry Benton whistled softly before replying. Then, being an -Irishman, he was a little enigmatic. - -"They are made differently, aren't they, girls? We men may be cut after -the same pattern, but sometimes I believe no two girls are alike. -Personally I like the old-fashioned types better. Peggy Webster would be -the best kind of a comrade I expect, but somehow I suppose, being Irish, -I could stand for a little more sentiment than she possesses." - -In point of fact Terry was then thinking of Sally Ashton, by whom, since -their first meeting, he had been strongly attracted. But there was no -distinction in this, as Sally attracted most men. She also made most of -them believe that she was filled with exquisite, womanly emotions, when, -in reality she had not half the hidden depth of feeling that Peggy's -finer and more sincere nature concealed. - -Ralph Marshall had been listening to his two friends, without entering -into the conversation, but he now shrugged his shoulders. - -"Oh you and Benton are both wrong, Brent; girls are all alike. It is only -that they are better actresses than men are and can appear to be -different. I'll bet Peggy Webster is as sentimental and as vain as most -of them. I'll wager I can prove it to you. She is an only girl and has -lived surrounded by an adoring family. I don't suppose she has ever had -any man pay her the least attention. If she had she would be like all the -rest." - -Terry Benton laughed. "Friend Ralph is a trifle annoyed, isn't he? Hasn't -Mistress Peggy been sufficiently impressed? Anyhow, Marshall, you can be -pretty sure she will never change her temperament for either of us." - -Ralph shrugged his shoulders. - -"Oh, I don't know. I'll bet you a hundred I could make her like me if I -tried hard enough." - -"Taken," Terry Benton replied quickly. - -Until this moment Howard Brent had been silent during the conversation -which his own words had innocently provoked. However, his face had -crimsoned and he was now looking rather angry. - -"You men are a couple of--oh, you know well enough what I would like to -call you without my saying the word," he added. "But, in any case, kindly -don't consider me a third in this transaction. It is rather hard luck to -have had to stay and hear this much of your conversation." He turned -angrily away. - -Terry Benton followed him. - -"Oh, don't take a joke so seriously, Howard. Marshall is ridiculous about -himself, although he is a fine enough chap in some ways. I only took up -that proposition of his because I thought it would be a good thing for -him to lose. He needs to be taken down by a Peggy or two." - -Although the two men were walking away, it was still possible for Ralph -Marshall to overhear what they were saying. He felt fairly uncomfortable. - -He had spoken at first without any particular realization of the -significance of his words and without any direct intention of involving -himself in a wager, which certainly appeared objectionable upon the face -of it. Then, as often happens, the situation had gotten beyond him. - -He wished now that he had never mentioned Peggy. It was bad form for men -to discuss a girl with other men, and certainly it was a good deal worse -form to have made so absurd a bet concerning one. It was Benton's own -fault. He should not have taken him up so quickly; he should have -understood that he had spoken without thinking. - -Nevertheless Ralph was not sure that he would not still like to prove to -Terry that he could make good. - - - - - CHAPTER VII - A Study in Temperaments - - -"But, Vera, you must not continue waiting on Billy in this fashion; he is -ever so much better and perfectly able to look after himself." - -Mrs. Webster had just walked across from where she had been sitting with -her sister sewing, to a particularly beautiful spot where Vera Lageloff -and Billy Webster had been spending the afternoon together. It had been -cool during the morning but, with the coming of the afternoon, the sun -had shone clearly and warmly. - -Vera and Billy had chosen a place near the foot of the hill, down which -ran the stream of water that supplied the camp, and near the tiny lake -which the Camp Fire girls had conventionally named their wishing well. - -Here, in spite of the warm weather, they had built a small camp fire, for -there was a quantity of wood from the pine trees nearby. - -They had been together for an hour or so, and Mrs. Webster had just -observed Vera make the third trip to their group of tents and then return -to Billy. - -She was standing now with her arms filled with papers and magazines, -which she had just secured. - -Vera laughed. "Oh, Billy hates to move, and I don't," she replied a -little apologetically. - -But Billy, who should have been the apologetic one, did not appear so in -the least. - -He was sitting on an Indian blanket which had been spread by Vera before -their small fire, smiling placidly at his mother and friend. - -"Don't you think people ought to be allowed to do what they like, -Mother?" - -Billy did not ask this question in a humorous fashion, as one might -suppose under the circumstances, but quite seriously. However, Billy -nearly always appeared serious, and yet one never could be sure what -spirit hid itself behind his large, abstracted blue eyes. - -Mrs. Webster sighed as she sat down beside him. Billy was the least -satisfying of her three children and she made no pretense of -understanding him. Yet his illness and his physical need of her brought -him nearer to her than any one in the world. - -"I think people ought to do what they like only when they can be -perfectly fair to others at the same time," she answered gently. - -This time Billy smiled. "If one is wanting a thing very hard for oneself, -it is not always easy to remember other people; although, of course, it -is right," he agreed unexpectedly. "Still I don't believe I am doing Vera -any serious injustice. She does a great deal more of the Camp Fire work -than any of the other girls, and yet none of you realize it. The -difference between us is that I do realize what she does for me." - -Vera had also taken a place on the ground with her two companions and -Billy now reached over and took hold of her hand. - -There was nothing sentimental or emotional in the unusual friendship -between the boy and girl, although their devotion to each other was so -apparent, and neither ever made the least effort at concealing it. But it -was the kind of affection that sometimes exists, even if but rarely, -between a brother and sister, and only when the sister is older and the -brother unusual. - -Vera's hand was the larger of the two, or at least it appeared so, -because the palm was broad and the fingers long and capable. It was the -hand of a person whose ancestors had worked with their hands, while -Billy's hand was extraordinarily thin and delicate, with blue veins and -long tapering fingers. Vera continued to hold it in hers as unconsciously -as a mother might have done. - -"Oh, don't worry about me, please, Mrs. Webster?" she protested smiling. -"What I most want is some day to be able to do some kind of work that is -worth while. Billy is quite right; I do like work, although I don't call -the little things I do for him by any such name." - -Mollie Webster studied the two friends more closely than they -appreciated. Although fond of Vera she could not help, motherlike, being -slightly jealous of the friendship between Vera and her son. She accepted -the fact of Vera's better understanding of him; or if not understanding, -at least her complete sympathy. - -"I don't believe I was worrying about you, Vera; I must be truthful," -Mrs. Webster continued. "You see, mothers are pretty selfish, so it was -Billy I was actually thinking of. I don't feel worried over your future; -you'll be sure to turn out all right, if you have the proper -opportunities. But I don't know what will become of Billy. You see, dear -you are so--so--" - -"Lazy," Billy drawled, good humoredly, finishing his mother's sentence. -"Say the dreadful word; I don't mind." - -Mrs. Webster shook her head. "I know you don't worry over your future, -and that is the worst of it. You don't ever try to think of what you wish -to do. Dan has already decided to be a scientific farmer, as his father -is, and will study agriculture at college. But you, you won't ever talk -of what you would like to do. You know you won't even exert yourself -enough at the present time to get as strong as you should. If you would -only walk about more. You might have ridden this afternoon with the -others. Dan and Sally both said they would come back with you as soon as -you wished, or if Vera had gone with you, she would have seen to you." - -Mrs. Mollie Webster's tone was plaintive. She was apt to be plaintive in -talking to Billy; it was so difficult to make him do what she wished. It -was not that he opposed her, only that he did not seem to be convinced, -or even aroused, by other people's opinions of him. - -He now remained placidly staring up at the sky. - -"Don't you think it foolish to worry over the future when one may not -have any future?" He asked this question in his usual impersonal way, and -then added, as if he were surprised at his own sudden conviction, "Do you -know I believe I might have a good deal of energy if anything ever -strikes me as important enough to make me exert myself." - -Vera laughed. "I wonder what that will ever be? But I wouldn't worry, if -I were you, Mrs. Webster. Billy will be a great writer, some day. He has -such queer ideas and is so original." - -Billy drew away his hand. - -"Don't be tiresome and conventional, Vera, like everybody else," he -remarked pettishly, like the spoiled boy he was. "I have told you a dozen -times, whenever you mention that idea of yours to me, that I don't want -to write. It must require a dreadful lot of work. Predict that future for -Bettina Graham; she yearns after authorship. I would rather talk than -write any day; it is so much easier." - -Mrs. Webster flushed and looked annoyed, but Vera paid no attention to -Billy's protests. She seldom did. - -However, their conversation was interrupted by several Camp Fire members -who rode up and dismounted by the side of Mrs. Burton who had stopped her -reading and gotten up to greet them. - -The girls had been away for the past two hours, leaving no one in camp -save the group of four and Marie, who was busy in one of the tents. - -Mr. Simpson had gone with them more as chaperon than guide. He rode in -first, attired in his rusty outfit, and looking much more himself than on -his first and last essay into the realms of fashion. Not once since the -evening of Marie's refusal of him had he been seen in his "store -clothes." - -He was followed by Bettina Graham and Howard Brent, and behind them came -Sally Ashton and Terry Benton. Later, Alice and Gerry returned leading -their burros and talking to the two young men beside them, who had come -over with the others from the hotel for the ride. They were both -acquaintances of Howard Brent's. - -"Where are Peggy and Ralph Marshall?" Mrs. Burton inquired of Bettina -five minutes later, seeing that they were the only two members of the -riding party who had so far failed to appear. The young men were to stay -for supper and the girls had returned early in order to make the -necessary preparations for them. They had been promised a particularly -superior feast as an evidence of the Camp Fire prowess. - -Bettina frowned. "I don't know why Ralph and Peggy did not keep up with -the rest of us. Mr. Simpson insisted that we should all ride as close -together as we conveniently could. But they kept dropping behind and -getting off their ponies to look at views. I don't understand Peggy's -intimacy with Ralph Marshall for the past few days. I did not think she -liked him much better than I did until just lately. Howard Brent is ten -times nicer and likes her ever so much, but she will have nothing to do -with him. He has to accept my poor society as a substitute and he gets -dreadfully bored with me. I know so little about outdoor things compared -to Peggy." - -Bettina's tones were distinctly aggrieved. She and Peggy were such -devoted friends that she was annoyed at Peggy's sudden friendship with a -person whom she thought so ordinary and uninteresting, as she considered -Ralph. - -"He and Peggy are about as unlike as two people ever were in this world," -she added crossly. - -"Oh, Ralph is nice enough, 'Tall Princess;' you never were altogether -fair in your estimate of him. Some people in this world must be -frivolous, and Ralph has never been up against a difficulty, or in fact -against anything that might develop his character," Mrs. Burton answered. - -Polly Burton put her arm across Bettina's slender shoulders, giving her a -slight squeeze. She was recalling how she used to feel as a girl when -Bettina's mother's--then Betty Ashton--developed an interest in people, -whom she--then Polly O'Neill--never felt worthy of her. - -"Besides Peggy may do Ralph good," she continued. "Peggy is fine, and -Ralph--well, Ralph is not fine, Bettina, although I do not dislike him as -you do. I suppose they will be along in a few minutes. Peggy would not -like to shirk her share of the work tonight. If anything has happened, -however, I think it may be Peggy who will have to look after Ralph." - -Bettina then went away to take off her riding clothes and get into her -ceremonial Camp Fire dress. Mrs. Burton continued watching for Peggy's -return. She carefully avoided coming in contact with her sister, hoping -that Mrs. Webster would not observe Peggy's absence, as the camp was now -more or less in an uproar with the girls' effort to get dinner and their -guests to render assistance, which usually consisted in getting in the -way. - -Polly tried not to be uneasy, as she thoroughly believed in Peggy's -ability to take care of herself and other people as well. However, when -nearly an hour passed and she and Ralph had not appeared, she began to -grow uncomfortable. - -About an eighth of a mile away there was a shelter among the trees where -Mr. Simpson looked after the camp burros and provisions. - -Thinking to ask him what should be done in order to find the wayfarers, -Mrs. Burton slipped apart from the others and started along a narrow path -through the woods. - -But a few yards along the way she heard Peggy's and Ralph's voices and -waited for them to come up to her. - -They were walking in single file and also leading their burros. - -Peggy was in front. When Mrs. Burton caught sight of her, Peggy's eyes -were shining and her cheeks glowing with color after a fashion they had -when she was especially happy or excited. - -She passed the bridle of her burro to Ralph. - -"Take him to Mr. Simpson along with your's, won't you, Ralph, please, and -then come on to camp?" she asked. - -Then she slid her arm into her aunt's. - -"Don't be cross, Tante; you look dreadfully severe," she murmured, -rubbing her cheek against Mrs. Burton's shoulder in a funny, boyish way -she had had ever since she was a tiny girl. "I know we are late, but -Ralph and I have had an adventure since the others left. We did not -intend to be so long in returning." - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - Possibilities - - -"It really was exciting for a few moments, Billy. I do wish you had been -with us; you would have known better what to do and say to the men!" -Peggy Webster exclaimed. - -Sitting bolt upright, Billy Webster was actually looking animated--his -eyes and color bright with a peculiar transparency. - -"It may be exciting for them before the matter is settled," he replied. -"Funny for you and Marshall to have run into a place of that character, -when I thought we were living out in the wilderness. Please tell me -exactly what happened, Peg?" - -Peggy chanced to be sitting alone beside her brother about five minutes -after her return to camp, Ralph Marshall not yet having come back from -his errand. Mrs. Webster and Vera had both departed to help with dinner, -suggesting that Peggy remain and rest after her long ride, as they would -attend to her share of the work. - -Peggy sat with her shoulders hunched up and, leaning forward, talked -quickly. - -"Odd, wasn't it? Ralph and I had dropped behind the others and were -talking. We had ridden away from the neighborhood of the canyons through -the pine woods. Then, quite suddenly, we came upon a group of tents. You -see we had gotten off the road and in some places had gone single file in -between the trees." - -"I don't wonder they were surprised at your turning up," Billy commented. - -"Surprised!" Peggy's tone was reflective. "I think that is putting the -case pretty mildly, Billy. The men were extremely angry at our riding -calmly into what they doubtless believed their secret hiding place. Their -tents were in a little hollow, with hills and trees around them. The men -were sitting before the fire smoking, when I came upon them. As I chanced -to be in front, one of them jumped up, said something ugly, and then -grabbed my bridle." - -Billy Webster frowned. "Were you frightened, Peggy?" - -The girl had dropped back on the ground and was now lying with her hands -clasped under her head. - -"No, I don't think so; I was too amazed. Besides, Ralph Marshall rode up -almost at once and explained that we had lost our way. The trouble now -is, I am so curious. The men were very rough and were undoubtedly in -hiding or they would never have behaved so strangely. Yet surely we are -past the days in the West when stage coaches and trains used to be held -up, aren't we? Besides, these men had women and children with them." - -Some one was at this instant coming toward them and Billy glanced around. -It was odd how much animation, even determination, had lately come into -his ordinarily listless face and manner. - -"I'll ride over tomorrow and find out who the men are and why they are -hiding so near here," he announced as calmly as if such an action had -been a daily proceeding on his part. "Marshall, you'll tell me how to get -there?" he added, for Ralph, during the moment, had joined them. - -He now gazed down with unconscious condescension at the younger boy. - -"Oh, I don't think this group of fellows exactly in your line of -business, Billy. If I had not said I would not, I should like to report -their hiding place to the nearest sheriff. But, as long as your sister -was with me, we simply had to slide out of an uncomfortable situation as -easily as we could. I must say she did not mind so much as I did." - -Ralph now looked upon Peggy with an expression no girl or woman could -fail to enjoy. It was veiled, of course, and only revealed a reasonable -degree of admiration, yet there was nothing excessive and certainly -nothing sentimental in it. For Ralph had the wisdom which belongs to the -people who know how to make themselves agreeable. He understood something -of the temperament of the person he was trying to win. From the first he -had known that he must appear to be simple and genuine with Peggy Webster -in order to cultivate her intimate friendship and affection. - -However, Ralph was sincere. He had admired the calm manner in which Peggy -had accepted a disagreeable situation. The type of girl, with whom he -usually preferred spending his time, would probably have been both -frightened and cross, and would doubtless have blamed him for getting her -into an awkward position. - -But Peggy had been perfectly reasonable. Indeed, it never seemed to have -occurred to her to pretend that she was not equally responsible for their -straying off from the others, because she had wished it as much as he -had. But, then, Peggy Webster apparently never pretended anything! She -was too straightforward to be considered attractive by the men who wish -for greater subtleties in their girl friends, as Ralph believed he did. - -Nevertheless, it was agreeable to ride quietly back to camp, discussing -their recent experience as one would have discussed it with another -fellow, simply from the standpoint of curiosity. - -The men they had come upon so unexpectedly had looked like an ugly group. -However, they had realized that their encounter with them had been an -accident, and they had not been particularly rude to Peggy. It would be -difficult for any one to be, Ralph decided, as he sat down beside her. - -Peggy had gotten halfway up and her dark hair was tumbled about her -flushed face. She had not thought to go away and dress as the other girls -had, although her costume was dusty from her ride. She had not even a -proper share of vanity and self-consciousness. - -Nevertheless, Peggy was genuinely pleased at Ralph's coming directly to -her and Billy and taking his place beside them without stopping to talk -with any one else. - -In the last few days she had found herself liking Ralph very much. In a -way this was odd, for she had known him for some time without caring much -about him in one way or the other. However, then Ralph had never paid her -any particular attention; only recently had he seemed to like being with -her more than with any of the other girls. Peggy honestly thought the -other Camp Fire girls far more attractive than she could ever be. - -Then Ralph did not seem to her nothing but a society fellow, although -this was what Bettina Graham insisted. At least he played a good game of -tennis, for Peggy had been over to his hotel on two mornings to play with -him. - -"If we dance this evening, won't you save most of your dances for me?" -Ralph leaned over to murmur in a low voice, so that their other companion -could not hear. - -And Billy did not overhear, although he arose at this moment and stood -staring with a queer, understanding look in his blue eyes at his sister -and her friend. "I suppose it won't hurt Peg a great deal to wake up," he -whispered to himself. "Anyhow, it would do no good for me to interfere." - -But Ralph this time had made a mistake, for Peggy's dark eyes were gazing -at him humorously. - -"Don't be absurd, Ralph," she returned as good-naturedly and in as -matter-of-fact a tone as if she had been talking to one of her brothers. -"You know perfectly that I don't dance very well; certainly not half so -well as Bettina, and as you never ask me to dance with you more than once -on most evenings, I don't understand your sudden change of heart. Really -you don't have to be good to me on account of our adventure, because I -enjoyed it. Suppose you get Sally or Gerry to amuse you now. I must help -a little with dinner." - -Then Peggy and Billy walked off together leaving Ralph to pull himself up -and, feeling a little aggrieved, to follow Peggy's advice. - -The Camp Fire table was made of long pine planks set on four logs sawed -smooth and to a proper height. - -The somewhat informal table was covered with a beautiful damask cloth -which the Camp Fire guardian had brought West with her for just such -festival occasions. In the center and filled with wild flowers was the -great bowl of Indian pottery which she had purchased from old Nampu in -her hut near the Painted Desert. - -Although it was not yet dark a big camp fire was burning, made bright -with pine cones and branches of pine. In the sombre old trees surrounding -the open space were a dozen or more golden lanterns. Before dinner could -be finished the early darkness would have descended, so the lanterns were -merely a preparation for this event. - -The girls kept rushing from the kitchen tent and the camp fire with great -platters of corn and of freshly baked corn bread and roasted potatoes. At -one end of the table was a baked ham and at the other a big dish of -broiled chicken. The ham had been secured from the hotel, but if Marie -Pepin had not yet learned to enjoy a camping existence, she was true to -her French blood and was a wonderful outdoor cook. Marie alone could -broil chicken in a perfect fashion above an open camp fire. - -Everybody was by this time more than ready for dinner yet they were kept -waiting for Dan Webster's return. - -Shortly after his return from the ride Dan had disappeared, saying that -he would be back in a short time. At least he had made this statement to -Mrs. Burton, for no one else had discussed his intentions with him. And -she it was who kept urging that they wait dinner a moment or so longer. - -This was most unlike the ordinarily impatient Mrs. Burton; moreover it -was a Sunrise Camp Fire rule that meals should wait on no one. However, -this rule was not intended as a disagreeable one to punish the offender, -but only to protect the guiltless. For, if one were unavoidably late, it -was a simple enough matter to find oneself something to eat, and far more -comfortable than the sensation of having kept everyone else waiting. - -However, just as dinner was served without him Dan Webster drove into -camp and the mystery was explained. Seated beside him was the girl who -had been an unexpected visitor a few mornings before. - -She was using a crutch and Dan had to help her across to a seat beside -Mrs. Burton and then took his place on her other side. - -Marta Clark was wearing a little grey-green dress, evidently her best, -although it was both shabby and old-fashioned. In it she looked tiny and -pale; nevertheless, both Mrs. Burton and Dan felt the girl's charm. - -Her eyes seemed to have lights behind them as they shone so oddly, and -her lips were a deep red. - -"It is awfully good of you to have me here," she whispered quietly to -Mrs. Burton. "You see, I have been living in a tent with my brother for a -whole year and this is the first time I have had a meal with any one -else." - -She slipped one hand over and touched Mrs. Burton's. - -"Of course, I know you think it stupid and absurd of me, but you can't -guess what it means to me to be sitting so close beside you. I feel as if -I must be dreaming. I have so wanted to know a great actress." - -Polly Burton gave the girl's hand a little friendly pressure in return. - -"Then you must wake up," she said firmly. "You see the girls in my Camp -Fire group don't think of me as an actress, but only as a more or less -successful Camp Fire guardian. I don't like stage-struck girls, even if I -was one myself once upon a time, as my sister reminded me. Besides, why -should you care, child, anything about me or my work. I really don't see -why it should matter to you whether I am an actress or a--well let us say -a sewing woman. I should probably have been as unsuccessful at that as -any one could be." - -Mrs. Burton laughed and Marta made no reply. Instead she was wise enough -to change the subject immediately. - -"In any case you have been wonderfully kind. I am sure I don't know why, -but sometimes it seems as if the wrong things in this life are rewarded, -such as my coming here uninvited to see you. I wonder if it was selfish -tonight to leave Miss Deal to look after my brother." - -As some one had at that moment distracted Mrs. Burton's attention by -speaking to her from the other end of the table, Marta turned to Dan. - -"You have been kindest of all," she remarked with the sudden gentleness -she used as unexpectedly as her sudden flares of temper. - -Both amused Dan. He had seen the new girl more frequently than any of the -other members of their Camp Fire as, for the past few days he had driven -one or two of them over each day to call upon Marta and her brother, or -more especially upon Ellen Deal. The visits were naturally not always to -the two comparative strangers, but to find out if Ellen were happy and -comfortable in her self-appointed task of caring for two invalids unknown -to her until a short time before. - -After dinner, feeling responsible for their guest, Dan sat beside her -while the others danced. But, by and by, Sally Ashton, who did not enjoy -having Dan completely absorbed by any one else, came and asked him to -dance with her. And Marta insisted that he should. - -She was not alone, however, for in a short time Peggy joined her. For -some reason Peggy had decided not to dance a single time during the -evening. She was not sure of her own reasons, but gave the excuse that -she was tired. - -She was glad now to have the opportunity of remaining with their guest. -For, several times during the evening, Howard Brent had seated himself -beside her as if he had something of importance on his mind which he -wished to confide. And then he had gotten up and gone away without saying -it. Peggy did not wish him to make the attempt again. She was not in a -mood for confidences and really rejoiced when, at ten o'clock, all of -their guests started for home. - - - - - CHAPTER IX - An Adventure - - -"Very well, Vera, if you won't go with me, I will go alone," Billy -Webster announced. "It is not too far for you to go back by yourself." - -The two of them were riding slowly away from the Sunrise camp on the -following day. - -Vera looked distressed. - -"It isn't fair of you, Billy, to put me in this position. You know -someone ought to be with you. Won't you let me at least return and tell -your mother what we intend doing," Vera argued. But she continued riding -even as she protested. She was just a little behind Billy and he now -turned to look at her. - -"Come on then, dear. You are not responsible, and whatever happens the -blame is mine. But nothing is going to happen or I would not have you -with me. So what is the use of worrying mother? What Peggy told me -yesterday interests me and I mean to find out more about what those men -are planning to do. No one thinks it extraordinary or tries to prevent -Dan from going out to hunt any kind of wild beasts he is lucky enough to -discover. But, because I happen to be interested in hunting out human -beings, my family is always interfering. I haven't the least intention of -hunting them with a gun." - -Billy smiled half seriously and half humorously and then turned his face -away. - -But Vera Lageloff and the other people who knew him intimately always -understood what this expression meant. Billy had made up his mind; and -nothing short of physical force would compel him to stop doing what he -had determined upon. - -Moreover, Vera rarely opposed him. However unformed his purposes and -ideals, however he might appear to other people only as an obstinate and -ill-balanced boy, he was Vera's knight. She, at least, believed in him. - -She knew that all his thoughts and all his ideals for the future were -bound up in his desire to make life easier for the people whom he did not -believe were having a fair deal. Of course, Billy was a youthful and -rather ignorant socialist, but for those reasons he was perhaps the more -enthusiastic. - -Certainly his own family did not understand him and knew but little of -what was going on inside his mind; but this was not their fault so much -as Billy's. He was sensitive to ridicule, like many dreamers, and, -moreover, he never felt that he had the strength for argument. It was -easier for him to do the thing he wished and take the consequences, -rather than argue and explain. It was enough if Vera and a few other -friends realized that his laziness was in part physical delicacy, and -that he only acted when he thought the result worth while. - -In a way it was odd that Mr. and Mrs. Webster should have had so queer a -son and not strange that they should not understand him. Billy was one of -the persons whom no one ever fully understands and who never fully -understands himself, because he was intended to travel by a different -route than the most of us. There was a streak of genius in the O'Neill -family. Polly O'Neill, now Mrs. Burton, was never like other people, -besides possessing a great gift as an actress. Perhaps Billy was only odd -without her genius, but the future alone could answer this question. - -To Vera he now appeared a young Sir Galahad riding in front of her. The -boy's hat was off, his fair hair curling over his white forehead, he was -pale and thin from his recent illness. But it was a fact that Billy -usually had strength for the things he wished to do. - -Naturally, Billy Webster had not developed his socialistic ideas alone. -Unknown to his parents there had been a laborer on his father's place, -who had once been a school teacher in Russia and because of his views had -been compelled to leave. He had been accustomed to come often to Vera's -father's house, and when Billy was present to talk for hours on his -revolutionary propaganda. Moreover, Billy also had a teacher at the High -School who, although saner than the Russian, also wished to make the -world over according to his own plan. Besides, as Billy was not strong -enough to be outdoors so much as the rest of his family, he had spent -many quiet hours in reading books on social questions. - -"How do you expect to find your way to the place, Billy?" Vera asked, -after five or ten minutes' more of riding in silence. - -Again the boy turned his head, laughing cheerfully. - -"Sure I don't know, but I pumped Peggy as much as I could this morning -without actually having my plan found out. Besides, I am trusting -somewhat to luck. I meant to get some information out of Marshall when he -reached camp this morning, but he and Peg went off somewhere to talk. -Queer, their being intimate friends all of a sudden, Vera, don't you -think? I agree with Bettina Graham, I never knew two people so unlike. -And I don't know whether I admire Marshall." - -Vera frowned. She cared for Peggy more perhaps than for any of the other -Camp Fire girls and she also had been a little surprised at her recent -behavior. Yet she answered sensibly: - -"It isn't important, you know, Billy, whether you like Ralph Marshall or -not, so long as Peggy does. You know you have said a hundred times you -did not think outsiders had a right to interfere with friendships. And -Peggy's pretty clever! If she likes Ralph there must be more to him than -the rest of us can see. She don't like many people." - -Billy nodded. "Yes, that is why I am puzzled. One does not expect -nonsense from Peg. And Ralph is rather inclined toward it with most -girls. Still you are right, Vera, and I feel a little snubbed--like the -fellow always does who is told to practice what he preaches." - -"I didn't mean to be disagreeable." - -Billy laughed back. "No, you never do and you never are. But, come, let's -cross the road here. We must manage to get lost in the right place--just -as Ralph and Peggy did. But do you know, Vera, something already tells me -that I am not going to be happy this afternoon? Fact is, I am abominably -hungry and we can't have been riding an hour." - -"Let's stop, then, and rest for a little while," the girl suggested. She -had been afraid that her companion might grow overtired, as he had taken -no long ride before. "You see, I had an idea that we might both develop -an appetite, as lunch is so early, so I brought along lots of -sandwiches." - -Billy uttered a boyish whoop of delight which had nothing visionary or -unselfish in it. - -"Trump!" he declared getting off his pony almost at once and then turning -to help Vera. - -They were in the pine woods, so it was easy enough to find an agreeable -resting place under the trees. - -In the most natural fashion, after Vera sat down, Billy stretched himself -out resting his head in her lap. It was the same as if she had been -Peggy, except that he honestly believed she cared for him more than his -sister did. - -Then he deliberately stuffed himself with sandwiches and talked, as Billy -adored doing when he could find a sympathetic audience. - -"I just want to find out what those fellows are in hiding for, Vera--not -for any special reason," he insisted. "You see, it gets a little dull, -just lying around all day in the sun. I like scenery, but I like it as a -background. I am afraid I want a little--a little more--" - -"Excitement," Vera finished the sentence. - -Three-quarters of an hour later Billy Webster had discovered the secret -camp. - -He and Vera were riding quietly when they came to the circle of hills -which Peggy had described. Stopping their ponies they heard the sound of -low voices before seeing any one. - -Dismounting, Billy asked Vera to wait until his return. - -It seemed best that she should allow him to go on his adventure alone, -and yet she watched his slender, boyish figure disappear, feeling -wretchedly uneasy. - -What absurd reason had Billy for wishing to take part in some trouble -which assuredly was no affair of his? If anything happened to him, Vera -knew that she would always blame herself. - -But Billy was entirely unalarmed and, although he was supposed to be -timid, he was not even nervous. - -He walked straight ahead with his hands in his pockets and a friendly, -curious expression in his big, clear eyes. - -Billy could not fully explain the reasons for his interest. The excuses -he had made of being bored, of wishing to help if the men were in -trouble, or if possible to prevent trouble if it were brewing, these were -merely somewhat impudent inventions of his. For, after all, what could he -do in any case? - -The fact of the matter was that Billy simply had been seized by an -overwhelming desire to find out what was taking place, and was more -inclined than he should have been to yield to his own wishes. - -Just as they had been doing the afternoon before, the men were again -sitting about a smouldering camp fire, smoking and talking. - -Without being observed Billy walked quietly up to them. - -The next instant one of the men swung round and cursed him. - -Without the least show of fear or anger the boy waited until the fellow -had tired himself out. Then, instead of running away, as they plainly -wished him to do, he walked a few steps nearer the group. - -"I am tired; would you mind my sitting here with you a while?" he asked -in a matter-of-fact voice. He seemed so friendly and so totally unafraid -that the men must have been favorably impressed. In any case, as no one -answered at once, he dropped to the ground between two of the roughest of -the group. - -Billy had already observed that the men were not of the character Peggy -and Ralph suspected them of being. - -One of the men now laughed and, leaning over, thrust his evil smelling -pipe at the delicate boy. And Billy, who had never smoked a single whiff -of anything in his life, took the pipe gravely, put it to his lips -drawing in the smoke with several hard puffs. It made him feel slightly -ill, yet he never flinched. When he gave it back the man appeared more -friendly. - -A little later Billy asked two or three simple questions and some one -answered him, afterwards they went on talking as if he were not there. - -Certainly the boy had some quality which made certain types of people -trust him. - -Fifteen minutes passed. Resting in a hiding place they had chosen, Vera -grew more and more uneasy. If nothing had happened to prevent, why had -Billy not returned? If he were all right certainly it was selfish of him -not to care for her anxiety and dullness. - -But, then, Billy was selfish about little things and Vera recognized the -fact. One had to accept this fault in him, feeling there were other -characteristics which made one willing to endure it. In big matters the -girl believed he had wonderful stores of unselfishness. - -Half an hour afterwards Billy came strolling toward her as nonchalantly -as he had gone away. Only his eyes were brighter and his expression less -boyish. - -"We must hurry to get back to camp before dark," he said, without -apologizing for the delay. "I'll tell you what I found out while we are -riding home; but, of course, I understand I have your promise, Vera, -never to repeat anything I tell you--no matter what takes place." - -Vera nodded silently. She was accustomed to Billy's confidences and did -not take them all seriously, and this one did not appear as especially -important. - -"The men have been working on the railroad out here and have gone on a -strike. The railroad has refused to come to terms, but they don't seem to -be planning to go away. They are not exactly in hiding, only they want to -be left alone until they decide what they are going to do next." - - - - - CHAPTER X - A Good Samaritan - - -Ellen Deal came out into the September sunshine with a breakfast tray in -her hand. The tray chanced to be a flat pine board, but it was covered -with a neat little paper napkin. And, although the china on it was rough -and failed to match, the aroma of the coffee, the fragrance of the -freshly broiled bacon, made one indifferent to details. - -The tall young man, who had been lying back in a steamer chair mournfully -reading a torn newspaper several days old, suddenly straightened up and -smiled. - -The instant after he had taken the tray from Ellen's hands his face -clouded. - -"Isn't your breakfast all right?" she asked, a little furrow appearing in -her forehead. Ellen's expression was nearly always serious, but it was -even more so now. Although it was so early in the morning and she had -been cooking, she looked exquisitely neat in a fresh white blouse, a dark -khaki skirt and one of her big hospital aprons. Her sandy-colored hair, a -little redder from the past week's outdoors, was drawn English fashion -into a kind of bun at the back of her head. But, although Ellen tried to -be prim, and although she could control her face, she had rebellious -hair. One knows the kind--it would break out into little ripples on her -forehead and at the back of her neck. And her skin, where it was not -exposed, had the peculiar whiteness and beauty that belongs to her type -of coloring. - -The young man in the chair laughed at her question. - -"My breakfast is perhaps the most perfect thing that ever happened, or at -least that has happened to me in many a day," he answered. "You see I -have been living under my Sister Marta's ministrations for a year, and -Marta thinks herself above cooking. She prefers to follow the fine arts. -Truth of the matter is the child has never been taught anything and has -never had the right kind of feminine influence. You see, my mother and -father died when Marta was a little girl and she and I have spent our -lives in boarding houses. I don't mean to criticise her; the child has -made a terrible struggle to take care of me, and it has been awfully hard -on her, staying out here in the wilds with a hopeless stick of a brother. -You can't imagine what it means--her discovery of the Camp Fire girls and -your kindness. As for you, Miss Deal; well, I haven't words to express my -gratitude. It positively takes away my appetite for breakfast because I -feel under such obligation to you." - -Ellen flushed uncomfortably. Her companion was a Southerner and talked -easily and charmingly. He might say he did not know how to express his -gratitude, but this was not true, for few hours passed in the day without -his showing it in one way or another. - -However, Ellen had not the gift of self-expression, and cordiality from -another seemed to freeze her up. It was this trait of her character which -had made Mrs. Burton not care for her much at first, and which kept her -from greater intimacy with the girls, except Alice Ashton, who was not -unlike her. - -Now, instead of appearing gracious, she looked annoyed. - -"I have asked you several times not to mention gratitude," she returned, -staring ahead and turning undeniably red. "If I must tell you the truth, -I like it better here than at our own camp. That is, I like being -useful--not your camp itself--there is no comparison." - -This time her companion showed embarrassment. - -"Naturally there is no comparison. My sister's and my arrangements are of -the simplest and I have no doubt Mrs. Burton's camp leaves nothing to be -desired. That is one of the causes of my gratitude. I am afraid we have -not been able to make you comfortable, though there is little doubt of -what you have done for us." - -Robert Clark glanced around his own quarters. Even outdoors there was a -pleasanter sense of order and comfort. An outdoor camp can be made the -most disorderly place in the world. - -This morning the fire was burning in the right place so that the smoke -blew away from the two tents--not toward them. There was no litter of -paper and of cans; no broken sticks cluttering the ground. The wood was -neatly piled; the very earth itself appeared to have been swept. - -"I wish you would eat your breakfast," Ellen replied curtly. - -Then she watched her companion so carefully there was no mistaking her -interest, even if her manners were somewhat abrupt. - -However, her companion was not in the slightest degree offended. In some -way he seemed to understand Ellen's curtness and her domineering -attitude. Perhaps, if she had cared more for herself she would have tried -to make herself more agreeable. - -"Of course I'll go back as soon as Marta is strong enough to take proper -care of you," she announced a few moments later as she arose to take away -the empty breakfast dishes. "I know my being here makes the place more -crowded, but I really would like to stay a few days longer and let Marta -have a good time. She is better now and can get about after a fashion, -and the Camp Fire girls want her to go on a few of their excursions. Mrs. -Burton has taken a fancy to her, I think." - -"Then Marta will be in a seventh heaven. Only, I hope Mrs. Burton will -get the nonsense out of her head that she wishes to be an actress. I am -afraid, however, just the sight of her may have the opposite effect. You -see, Marta and I used to plan to set the world on fire. Most youthful -persons do, I was to be a great author and she a great actress. You see -what our plans have come to." - -The young man's tone was utterly despondent. - -"I see nothing at all except that you are ill and have come out to -Arizona to get well. You have been here a year and I presume you are -already better." There was not the least trace of sympathy in Ellen's -tone. - -"As for being a great author, you seem to write all day as it is; so I -don't see how your illness interferes. I don't suppose you were becoming -famous as a newspaper reporter." - -Rob Clark sat upright, his whole face changing, both in color and -expression. - -"Miss Ellen Deal, you are the best tonic as well as the best nurse I have -ever run across. I believe I would have a fighting chance in more ways -than one if you were going to stay in my neighborhood until I do get -well." - -He had spoken spontaneously and without thinking beforehand. Of course -there had been no serious meaning in his words. - -But Ellen continued to stand holding the tray and looking at him. - -"I am seriously considering staying with you, if you will allow me," she -answered so unexpectedly, that her companion could only stare at her -incredulously. "In the last few days I have decided that there is no -reason why you should not recover if the right care is taken of you. But -I doubt Marta's ability. She is too untrained and too undisciplined. I am -glad she is to come into our Camp Fire circle, where she ought to learn a -great deal that will be valuable for her. But it will take some time." - -Robert Clark reached up and took the tray away from Ellen. - -"Please sit down again for a moment," he asked, pointing to the camp -chair she had just occupied. - -"What you have just said does me more good than you imagine. My sister -and I haven't many friends; we have always been poor, and an ancestry -that has not made good in the last generation does not count for much -nowaday--not even in the South. Then, you are very kind to try to brace -me up; but a fellow is a quitter who breaks down in his early twenties -and has to live on the money a few friends and relations furnish him and -his sister. So you see, even if I would give my right hand to have you -remain with us until you get really tired, why we just can't afford it. A -nurse like you. Miss Deal, is a luxury no man is rich enough to deserve." - -Although Ellen had sat down as her companion requested, she did not seem -to be paying much attention to his words. But, at the last sentence, she -frowned. - -"Don't be absurd. Of course, I know you can't afford the expense of a -trained nurse or you would have had one. You haven't even a cook, and a -cook may be more important than a nurse in your present condition. But I -know how to cook as well as nurse. I have known ever since I was a little -girl. New England girls are brought up sensibly. And I am not a trained -nurse. At least I am not a graduate. I have simply been staying out here -in the West as a guest of Mrs. Burton until I got over a slight -breakdown. There was nothing the matter with me but being tired, and I -feel splendid now." - -Ellen stopped a moment and seemed to be thinking deeply. - -"I don't see why you can't let me stay here for a while with you and your -sister without paying me. I have accepted Mrs. Burton's hospitality when -I didn't even know her. I thought I might be useful in case any of the -Camp Fire girls were ill, but they keep perfectly well. I think I am -tired being idle, and I have money enough to pay my share of expenses -with you. They cannot be much." - -Ellen was tactless. - -Robert Clark was a Southerner and shrank from a discussion of money -matters at all times. Ellen's speech had touched him where his nerves -were raw. - -"Thank you, very much, but your suggestion is entirely out of the -question," he answered coldly. He had a sensitive, well-bred face, made -more so by illness. Now his manner showed a hauteur of which he was -wholly unconscious. - -Ellen felt strangely ill at ease. She had a sensation of shrinking, of -shriveling up, inside her. Then, to her intense anger, her eyes filled -with tears. She hated herself for having hurt her companion and she hated -him for having hurt her. But, most of all, she was horribly ashamed of -her own tactlessness--her fashion of making people dislike her when she -had intended being kind. - -"I am sorry," she said a little huskily in spite of her efforts to speak -calmly, "I did not mean to force myself upon you and your sister. Of -course you will be happier alone, and I am sure you will soon be -stronger." - -What the young man would have answered could not be known, for just then -Marta came out of her tent. She still limped a little but was not using a -crutch. - -Her eccentric, somewhat irregular face was radiant, and she was wearing -her same best grey-green dress. - -"When do you think the Camp Fire party will come for me, Miss Deal? You -are an angel to stay here and let me go on this expedition with them. I -am so happy I would like to dance with one leg, even if the other is -slightly out of commission. But what is the matter, Rob; why are you -looking so grouchy?" - -Marta had come up close to the older girl and her brother and now -surveyed him severely. - -"Don't mind Rob, if he is having a tantrum, Miss Deal. He does now and -then, though I must say he has a better disposition than I have. If I -were you I would just go away and leave him for a little while. When he -gets lonely he is sure to behave better. Come with me, won't you, and let -us see if the Camp Fire party is nearly here." - -Ellen and Marta moved a few steps away. They had not gone far before they -heard the old Camp Fire call. - -"Wo-he-lo for work, wo-he-lo for health, wo-he-lo for love." - - - - - CHAPTER XI - The Canyon - - - "There is a song in the canyon below me, - And a song in the pines overhead,-- - As the sun creeps down from the snow-line - And startles the deer from its bed; - With mountains of green all around me, - And mountains of white up above, - And mountains of blue in the distance, - I follow the trail that I love." - -When the verse ceased and Peggy had turned around, there was a little -burst of applause. - -The little poem she had just recited was so perfectly descriptive of the -scene surrounding the Camp Fire party at this moment that it was almost -as if it had been created for the place and the occasion. - -They had come part of the way down one of the easier trails leading to -the Grand Canyon and had reached a broad, flat rock like a table-land. On -it there was a growth of scrub pine; way below the deep, subdued roar of -the Colorado River and beyond the blue, snow-topped hills. - -Peggy was standing at the edge of the plateau of rock looking down the -trail which descended lower into the canyon, when the lines of the song -had occurred to her and she had spoken them aloud. - -She was one of a group of half a dozen or more persons near enough to -hear what she was saying while the others were not far away in the -background. - -"That is charming, Peggy," Gerry declared when the applause ended. "I do -envy your being able to remember a thing so delightfully appropriate. I -never can at the right moment. But it isn't like you, Peggy, to be -reciting poetry; one might have expected it of Bettina. I believe you are -in love." - -She spoke good-naturedly but with a little teasing inflection that only -Gerry had at her command among the Camp Fire girls. - -However, Peggy laughed and shrugged her shoulders. - -"Of course I am in love. I am in love with the whole world and I never -have been half so much so before in my life. Who wouldn't be in such a -place on such a day and in such society?" - -Peggy made a slight grimace and bowed to her assembled friends, but by -accident her gaze rested last on Ralph Marshall's eyes and she flushed a -little. - -"Who of you is going a portion of the way down the trail with Ralph and -me before lunch?" she asked. "Mother says she is willing if we don't go -far and are depressingly careful. I have promised not to put one foot -before the other without taking thought." - -"Oh, your mother will trust you to me. I have asked her consent," Ralph -protested. - -Gerry and Sally both giggled. Ralph's speech had been made in good faith -and without the least idea of a double meaning, but they were apt to be -silly and sentimental on subjects they had better not have been -considering while they were Camp Fire girls. - -Fortunately, Peggy did not even see the point in their sudden amusement. -She was waiting to have some one except Ralph Marshall reply to her -question. - -"I do wish you would not go, Peggy. The rest of us are satisfied with -this view of the canyon for today, at least. We did not plan to go -further down," Bettina Graham protested, looking anxious. "I would go -with you if I dared, but you know how I hate looking down great -distances." - -Peggy laughed. "Oh, you are not to come, 'Tall Princess.' We would not -have you along for a great deal. Remember what a time we had with you on -a much less difficult trail. But I thought some one of the others--" She -turned toward Sally and Alice Ashton and their companions, Terry Benton -and Howard Brent. - -Terry shook his head, but for some unknown reason appeared a little -uncomfortable. - -"Not today, Miss Peggy. Under the circumstances I don't feel I ought to -make the third." - -But Peggy paid no attention to Terry Benton's refusal, because almost -immediately Howard Brent interrupted him. - -"I am coming along," he announced brusquely. - -Peggy waved her hand. - -"Good-bye; I ought to be safe with two escorts." - -Then, with Ralph Marshall in front and Howard Brent behind, the three -started down the second trail. - -From the fat plateau of rock a second trail descended to another ledge -below. The first trail had been gentle and the Camp Fire party had come -down to their present resting place without difficulty. But the second -trail was a steeper and more dangerous kind. - -It was cut into the side of the rock and filled with loose stones and -gravel. After the first turn, the rocks on the one side rose up almost -perpendicularly and descended with equal abruptness on the other. - -There were other trails deeper and deeper, down toward the bottom of the -canyon, but these Peggy had promised not to attempt. However, they would -have taken too long a time to follow and would have required the service -of a guide. - -But this particular strata of rocks was still in what is known as the -limestone formation. Now and then blocks of blood red showed through the -scrubby patches of underbrush, and then there would be a line of grey -sandstone, so that the red and grey looked like alternating ribbons. - -Twenty feet below the starting place the little party of three stopped to -wave to the group above them. They had previously come down through the -white wall of stone which now rose like a mountain of snow above them. - -Bettina, from her place up above, could not see Peggy's face, but for two -or three moments after they started down again she could see her figure. - -Peggy moved with swift and certain grace. She seemed as totally unafraid -and as sure of herself as her two companions. Indeed, she appeared rather -more so, for there are persons with whom the art of climbing is a natural -gift, and others who are extraordinarily awkward. - -Ralph Marshall was in front although it was an unfortunate place for him. -The rocky path was deeper than he had expected, and the stones under his -feet slipped more uncertainly. The experience of descending so steep a -precipice was a new and not altogether a pleasant experience. Ralph had -not dreamed that one could be expected to walk down the face of a rock, -but that was apparently what the three of them had set about doing. - -Yet neither Peggy nor Howard Brent made any complaint. - -Now and then Ralph could hear Peggy laugh as she slipped and regained her -balance. - -But he had no disposition to laugh. Once or twice he thought of asking -Howard Brent to exchange places with him and lead the way. They had not -planned to follow this second trail for any great distance, but only to -come down a short way until they discovered a possible resting place -where the view of the lower walls of rock and the river would be finer. - -Yet Ralph hesitated to speak to Howard Brent. They were not friendly. -Indeed, Howard had avoided his society as much as possible ever since the -unfortunate conversation he had held with Terry Benton in reference to -Peggy. Moreover, Ralph knew that Howard was also scornful of him in other -ways. He was so strong and efficient himself in outdoor matters that he -considered the Eastern man almost effeminate. It was true Ralph could -dance and play tennis, but he was not athletic, because he never had been -fond of really strenuous sports. They had always appeared too much like -work. - -Ralph now felt that he would rather come to grief than confess his -nervousness to the other man. Peggy, he would not have minded. She was -never disagreeable when people did not enjoy exactly the same things she -did. - -Indeed, Ralph was becoming convinced that Peggy Webster was one of the -finest girls he had ever known. He had set about trying to be -particularly friendly with her because of his wager. But, if he had not -succeeded in making Peggy like him by his attentions to her, he had -certainly succeeded in making himself fond of Peggy. He had no -sentimental ideas about her, as he had about many girls with whom he -indulged in mild flirtations. For one thing Peggy seemed too young; for -another, she was too boyish and too frank in her acceptance of his -comradeship. - -Personally, Ralph considered that so far he had lost his wager. Peggy -Webster did not care for him in the way he had announced he could -influence her to care. But he had never again mentioned the matter of his -bet with Terry Benton, not feeling proud of it. However, he had still -continued to devote himself to Peggy, and ostensibly for the reason he -had given his two companions about ten days before. - -But, now, sliding down among the rocks, Ralph's thought was undeniably -fixed upon himself. He was hoping to get out of an uncomfortable position -without loss to his own dignity. He would like to have gone back to their -original resting place and rejoined the rest of the Camp Fire party -without descending another yard deeper into the rocky bed of the earth. -But the thing was impossible and he made the best of it. Ralph Marshall -was lazy, but he was not a coward. Moreover, there was no spot where one -could stop and turn back. His hope lay ahead. Once they reached a flat -place, he meant to suggest returning. - -Two or three times Ralph felt dizzy. He had not dreamed of such weakness -in himself and would not give way to it. - -Then he felt the dizziness coming on again. This time he did not care. -There--just a few feet beyond--their trail widened and a ledge of rock -jutted out over the precipice on their left side. - -Here, at least, was a spot large enough to rest upon and to get one's -breath. - -Peggy Webster was perhaps only three feet behind Ralph when he made his -discovery. - -He walked on to the ledge of rock, beckoning her to follow. As the -flattened surface was so small, he was forced to go close to the edge in -order to make room for her. - -And Peggy did follow him. She was standing only a few inches away when -the rock Ralph was on crumbled. - -His reaching out and seizing her as he fell was not cowardly--it was only -instinctive. - -He went over backwards, but she was facing him and was able to keep her -footing an instant longer. - -However, it was only an instant because, as Howard Brent saw them, Ralph -and Peggy appeared to slip over the side of the precipice together. - -Howard was a few yards further back, yet in the briefest possible time he -had dropped flat on his hands and knees and crawled out on the crumbling -ledge. - -There had been no outcry except Ralph's first exclamation of horror. But, -how far down they had fallen, Howard Brent could not discover until he, -too, was able to look over the side of the cliff. - -Then he discovered that Peggy was only a few feet below, and that Ralph -Marshall was just beneath her. But Ralph had released his clutch--it was -Peggy Webster who was clinging tenaciously to him. She had managed to get -one hand inside his coat, so that she was holding Ralph suspended as if -he had been a wooden image. - -This would not have been possible except for the fact that Peggy's other -arm was wound about a small tree, growing upright among the rocks as -serenely as if it had been planted in the earth. - -As the girl slid down, this tree had been directly in her way, so that it -was intuitive to seize hold on it. The strange fact was that Ralph -Marshall had not made the same effort as he went past. But the truth was, -the back of Ralph's head had struck a heavy stone as he went over and he -had almost at once lost consciousness. Yet his weight was not altogether -held up by Peggy. Fortunately, a rock jutting out from below gave a kind -of resting place. But Peggy had to keep his body in position. When she -let go Ralph must fall face forward. - -And Peggy could not hold on much longer. - -Howard Brent realized that he must do something at once. Yet what was he -to do? - - - - - CHAPTER XII - The Man From Above - - -There are times when circumstances act in one's favor with surprising -quickness. - -Howard Brent had scarcely a moment of wondering whether it were humanly -possible that he could trust himself to crawl downward over the crumbling -rock and reach his companions. By this method he might rescue Peggy, but -not Ralph. He could not, of course, pull them both up together, the -moment Peggy released her hold Ralph had no chance. - -Howard simply did not consider the saving of Ralph first. - -But he did turn his head to look up the trail for help, and he did call -out as loudly as possible. They were not so far down, that some one of -the Camp Fire party might not hear him. The chance was a slim one, yet -every desperate chance must be taken. - -Howard was greatly surprised when his call was immediately answered. - -The next instant there appeared above him the wise grey head of a small -burro, with a long-legged man seated on his back. But, best of all, the -burro had a rope thrown carelessly about his neck. - -The man and the burro did look as if they represented a special act of -Providence, but the reason for their sudden appearance was a very simple -one indeed. - -Mrs. Burton had not known of Peggy's and Ralph's intention to go on -farther down the trail, until five or ten minutes after their -disappearance with Howard Brent, when Bettina came to her and mentioned -the fact. Mrs. Burton had been occupied with other things and, after the -safe arrival of the Camp Fire party on this plateau of rock where they -were to spend the day, had gone away from the others and laid down for a -few minutes. - -Indeed, her eyes were closed and she was half asleep when Bettina found -her. But Bettina was too uneasy not to confide in her at once. - -Mrs. Burton immediately shared Bettina's anxiety. If Mrs. Webster had -given her consent, it was because she knew nothing of the dangers of the -rocky trails and Peggy had clouded her judgment. - -But she did not go to her sister. It was Mrs. Burton's idea, as it had -always been Polly O'Neill's, that Mollie should be spared whenever -possible. So she found one of their guides and sent him on down the trail -after the wanderers as quickly as he could be started. - -The burro was to save Peggy the fatigue and danger of the ascent, and the -rope was merely a safeguard in case one of the two young men should slip. - -The guide was down by Howard Brent and had his rope coiled like a lasso -in an incredibly short time. He had been a ranchman and the art was -entirely familiar to him. - -A moment later it was safely around Ralph's body and Peggy was able to -let go, while the two men drew Ralph up to safety. - -It was curious but it seemed more difficult for Peggy to hold on after -her burden had been taken from her, than it had been before. It happens -this way in life with other burdens. She was so stiff and so tired that -her own volition was gone. - -But, something, a something that is oftentimes stronger than one's -will--an inherited instinct--made her continue her clutch on the small -tree. - -It was only a brief time. For with the rope now about his own waist, -Howard Brent soon after crawled down to her. Holding her in one arm he -climbed with the other using his feet as well and assisted by the guide -from above. - -The two men had simply laid Ralph aside in a crevice of rock above the -trail, as soon as his rescue had been effected. - -He was still unconscious when Peggy reached safety. - -She did not feel frightened about herself--only incredibly tired. But -Ralph's face frightened her. - -Peggy had never seen any one unconscious before--the whiteness and the -drawn look of the nose and mouth were startling. - -She went over to him at once. - -"Ralph," she said, shaking him gently. - -Then she turned to Howard Brent. - -"Is Ralph dead?" she asked quietly, yet with a queer note in her voice. - -Howard stared at her. - -"Oh, Lord, no," he returned, not with much show of feeling. "There is -nothing the matter with Ralph except that he bumped his head as he went -over. He will be all right in a little while. He was a good deal of a -chump to have gone so near the edge of the cliff and more of a chump to -have dragged you along with him." - -Peggy did not answer. She knew, of course, that Ralph had not intended -any harm should befall her, but it was not worth while arguing the point -then. - -Instead, she managed to seat herself in a half upright position, but so -she could get Ralph's head in her lap. - -"Ralph," she kept repeating over and over in a gentle, penetrating voice. -She believed her voice would somehow reach her companion's consciousness. -She had the control and the sense of having braced herself to meet an -emergency, which was characteristic of Peggy Webster. But there was no -doubting the depth of her feeling; nor of how much affection she felt for -her friend. - -It was there in her face, as well, and Ralph saw it when he first opened -his eyes. Howard Brent was also a witness. If Ralph had wished proof that -he had won his wager and had made Peggy Webster care for him by a few -weeks of careless attention, his proof was undeniable. - -Yet Ralph had no thought except gratitude and admiration. Peggy Webster -was the clearest-eyed, the bravest, and the truest girl he had ever known -in his life. Ralph remembered his own instinctive clutch after her and -would have given five years of his life to wipe out the memory. - -But Peggy was perfectly sensible and matter of fact by this time. - -In her pocket she had the usual first aid Camp Fire necessities. Ralph's -head was only cut and not deeply, as far as one could see. She merely -bandaged it until they could reach the flat table-land above. There they -would find water and whatever else was required. - -In spite of his protest Ralph was made to ride the burro, with the guide -ahead leading them both, and Howard assisted Peggy. - -It was a sorry little party and not impressive. If Peggy had not been so -tired she would have been amused at the spectacle they presented, after -only about a half an hour's exploration of the Grand Canyon. - -But she really did wish to make as light of the situation as possible. - -"Please don't say a great deal about how stupid Ralph and I were, Mr. -Brent. That is, let us agree not to tell any more than we positively -must. If mother and my aunt learn that I pitched over a cliff they will -be so wretched over what might have happened to me--and did not--that it -will spoil their pleasure, and perhaps everybody's. I am awfully grateful -to you," she ended shyly; "of course, we would both have come to grief -without you." - -"No; the guide would have looked after you, and I was of no value without -him," Howard Brent returned brusquely. He was in a bad temper and, -although he did not wish to vent it upon Peggy, he found it almost -impossible to conceal his anger. - -He never had thought much of Ralph Marshall and he thought considerably -less of him at present. That a girl like Peggy Webster should waste her -affection upon him was annoying under any circumstances. But that she -should do so under the particular conditions which he had heard being -arranged by Ralph and Terry Benton was unendurable. - -Yet Howard had not altogether made up his mind. He thought Peggy should -be told of their wager and yet had not finally decided to tell her -himself. - -It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her at once, but here was of -course neither the time nor the place. She was such a plucky little -person and looked so used up, although insisting that she was perfectly -fit. Howard had suggested that he carry her a part of the way, but Peggy -had only laughed at him. - -Nevertheless, the young man felt perfectly capable of doing it and he -probably was. He was four or five years older than Peggy Webster and -really had believed, ever since their first meeting, that he would like -her for a friend. He had no sister of his own, but if he had had one, -Howard Brent felt that he would have been proud to have her like Peggy. - -In the last ten days he had been made wretchedly uncomfortable by her -innocent straightforwardness in accepting Ralph Marshall's attentions. -Therefore, as he considered the confession must be made, he might as well -meet the situation. Later in the day when Peggy had rested, Howard at -length concluded he must tell her himself. There was no one else for the -unpleasant task. - -But during their walk up the trail Howard did but very little talking and -Peggy was grateful. She did wish to appear as self-controlled and as -indifferent to her experience as she could, before rejoining her mother -and friends. Bettina and her aunt might be angry as well as alarmed, for -she should not have insisted upon going down the second trail against -Bettina's advice and her aunt's knowledge. - -Nevertheless, there was considerable excitement when the three -adventurers returned. And, because of the injury to his head, all day -Howard Brent had to see Ralph being made more or less a hero of by the -Camp Fire girls. - -Peggy was more exhausted from her experience than she had realized and -remained a great part of time quietly seated by her mother. - -Mrs. Webster was not entirely comfortable because she had left Billy at -camp with only Marie for a companion. But he had insisted that he did not -wish to join the Camp Fire expedition and would not allow even Vera to -stay behind with him. - -About four o'clock the entire party started back for camp. They wished to -arrive in time for an early dinner and Marta Clark had first to be taken -home. - -Marta, as well as Peggy Webster, felt that she had not had so -satisfactory a day as she had dreamed of. In the first place, Mrs. Burton -had been so absorbed in the day's arrangements that she had paid but -little attention to her outside guests. - -Then, Dan Webster had not been so agreeable as Marta expected him to be. -Perhaps she had no right to have taken his interest a little for granted. -His past kindness must have been due to sympathy caused by her accident, -for Dan was undeniably one of the physically strong people to whom -weakness made an appeal. Now, as she was a great deal better, she no -longer required his physical assistance. So today he devoted the most of -his time and attention to Sally Ashton. Sally, declaring that the -grandeur and coldness of the great stone cliffs made her lonely and -afraid, had appealed to Dan to be with her whenever he could. So, as -Marta had made no such appeal, she was neglected. - -However it was arranged for them that Dan should drive Marta home in one -of the small carriages and that Peggy was to accompany them. - -By his own request Howard Brent was allowed to make the fourth and to sit -by Peggy. - -"After dinner, tonight, when you have rested I should like to speak to -you alone a few minutes," Howard asked unexpectedly, just before their -arrival at Sunrise camp. "Mrs. Burton said I might stay on until -bedtime." - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - Disillusion - - -For an hour before dinner Peggy remained alone in her tent, Bettina -having seen that she was comfortable, had then gone away. - -She was annoyed at finding herself so stiff and sore and for some reason -so oddly depressed. For Peggy was not as accustomed to depression as most -girls, being too fond of outdoor life and not given to introspection. But -it was natural enough that the nervous shock, as well as the physical -strain of her recent experience, should tell on her more as the hours -passed than at the beginning. - -Ralph and Terry Benton had gone home at once to their hotel on the return -of the Camp Fire party to camp. - -Through dinner Peggy sat quietly between her mother and Dan, not talking -very much. - -From the other end of the table Howard Brent watched her furtively -whenever he had the opportunity. He was not happy over what he was -intending to do, although from his point of view it was the only fair -thing. Peggy ought not to be deceived by a pretense of friendship into -giving her own sincere affection in return. - -Several times the young man had thought of confiding in Bettina Graham -and asking her to undertake the task of enlightening Peggy in his stead. -Bettina, Howard realized, did not like Ralph Marshall any better than he -did. But, afterwards, he had put this thought away from him, feeling -that, as an actual witness to the wager between Ralph and Terry, his -telling of the story would be more convincing. - -As soon as they had gotten up from the table Peggy joined their only -outside guest that evening. Together they walked away from the others. - -But they did not go very far, as it was almost dark and turning a good -deal cooler. - -Peggy had put on a golden yellow sweater and, with her hair so closely -bound about her head and her hands in her pockets, she had again the -slightly boyish appearance characteristic of her. - -But Howard Brent did not see this. To him she looked very young and sweet -and ardent, with a lack both of vanity and self-consciousness which set -her apart from a good many girls, but only made her more attractive to -him. - -"Can't we find a place and sit down? You can't be feeling fit enough for -much of a walk," Howard suggested. - -At first Peggy shook her head, declaring she was all right, but later -they went to a favorite spot near the foot of the hill and not far from -the small lake. This was a favorite Camp Fire place, since it was near -enough to have the rest of the Camp Fire party in sight and yet far -enough away for confidences. - -Peggy was not particularly interested in what Howard Brent had to say to -her. He had seemed to be in the act of confiding something or other -whenever they had met recently. But she had not considered deeply what -the confidence could be, and really since he had asked her to give him a -few minutes alone, she had not thought of the matter at all. She was much -too tired. - -But Peggy was always friendly and willing to listen when her friends -wished to talk to her. - -She sat now on an overturned log with Howard Brent on the ground beside -her and facing her. - -There was not much light except from the big camp fire many yards off. -The pine trees and the hill made a rather gloomy background, and the -stars were just struggling to show through the dusk. - -"That was a pretty close shave you had this afternoon, Miss Peggy," -Howard began. It was awkward--this beginning of an awkward conversation, -but as well one way as another. - -Peggy nodded. "Let's don't talk about it tonight, if you don't mind. It -is silly, I know, but the more I think about the accident the more -nervous I become. Why, I seem to be more afraid now than I actually was -when I was hanging over that wretched precipice. I suppose, I was too -paralyzed with terror then to realize what had happened. I just kept -thinking that I was going to hold on to that tree and to Ralph, and that -even if I died I wouldn't let go. But now I keep having a vision of Ralph -and myself sliding down forever and ever, with nothing to stop us. It -would have been pretty awful, wouldn't it?" - -Peggy tried to laugh but the effort was faint-hearted. - -Howard Brent frowned. - -"It would have been about the most horrible thing I can imagine," he -answered gravely and with just the right amount of steadying sympathy in -his voice. "As far as you are concerned I simply refuse to think of it. -And, even though I don't like Marshall, there isn't any human being I -dislike enough to care to contemplate such a fate overtaking him." - -Peggy's lips parted and she flushed a little. - -"Why don't you like Ralph?" she asked quietly, but without any show of -anger. "I have seen that you did not like him and I have been wondering -about it lately. You see, Bettina Graham feels the same way and usually I -have great respect for Bettina's judgment. But I think she is mistaken -about Ralph. You see, I have known him for several years, but not very -intimately. He has been coming to our place in New Hampshire for a part -of his holidays whenever he has liked, as his father and mine are great -friends. Ralph and I have always been friendly enough, but he has never -paid any particular attention to me until lately. I suppose I always -seemed pretty young to him and a kind of tomboy. I really am one, you -know, even if I am nearly grown. So, now, it seems awfully good of him to -be interested in me, and I like him very much. That is why I think it is -funny you and Bettina don't like him. I know he wasn't a good student at -college and can't make up his mind what kind of work he wishes to -undertake. But there is time enough for him to find out later on." - -"Marshall is a cad," Howard Brent interrupted. He had not intended to -speak so abruptly, nor to show so much anger, but Peggy's defense annoyed -him. - -However, she did not contradict him, nor reveal any of the petulance at -being overruled, which most people would have expressed. - -Instead, she looked at her companion with the clear, level glance he was -beginning to know fairly well. - -"That is a pretty hard thing to say about a human being, Mr. Brent. -Sometimes I think it is perhaps the cruelest thing anybody can ever say -about another," she repeated slowly. "You see it really means everything. -A man or a woman who is a cad is capable of almost any dishonor. And, -worst of all, a cad does not even know when he is dishonorable." - -"Yes," Howard Brent repeated. "I expect that is a pretty good definition -of a cad. You may not think Marshall so bad as all that, but -unfortunately I do." He stopped a moment, his skin tanned from the -Arizona winds and suns reddening faintly. - -No matter how valiantly he had approached the moment of his confidence to -Peggy Webster, the actual telling was to be no more agreeable then he had -conceived it. - -At this instant he hesitated. - -"I think you owe it to Ralph to tell me why you think he is a cad," she -declared. - -Peggy's hands were clasped quietly in her lap and she was leaning -forward, looking with earnestness at her companion. But she did not -appear disturbed. She was sorry that he had so unfortunate a point of -view about Ralph, but she did not feel in the least danger of being -convinced by his opinion. For Peggy's points of view were her own. - -"Oh, it is pretty hard to tell," Howard went on, "and you may not think I -ought to tell you. Somehow it does seem impertinent of me to dare speak -of it. But I just can't stand your being influenced by Ralph Marshall's -attentions to you. The truth is about ten days or two weeks ago I -overheard him making a bet with Terry Benton. He insisted that he could -influence you to care for him as easily and in the same way that other -girls do by paying you attention. He bet Benton a hundred dollars." - -Howard Brent's face stiffened. The thing sounded even uglier in the -telling than when it had occurred, and he had not intended that it -should. - -But Peggy merely stared at him incredulously. - -"It must have been a joke!" she exclaimed. - -Howard Brent shook his head. - -"Well, even if it were a joke, it strikes me as being of a not very -well-bred kind. I didn't know how you might feel concerning it, but I -felt that you ought to know. If you wish to continue friends with -Marshall, now that you know, why of course it is not my affair. Perhaps -girls are all alike!" Howard concluded. - -Peggy was still looking at him, surprised, but not overwhelmed and -apparently not entirely convinced. - -"Somehow making a bet of that kind sounds so stupid," she argued--not so -much with her companion as with the impressions struggling for first -place in her own mind. "It isn't that I doubt what you have told me, Mr. -Brent, only that I think you have made a mistake. Why should Ralph care -enough one way or the other whether I like him? I am not a very important -person." - -Howard Brent got up. "If you would like confirmation of my story you can -speak to Terry Benton," he announced, looking decidedly angry. -"Personally, I am sorry I spoke to you of it." - -But Peggy had also gotten up and now put her hand on her companion's arm. - -"No; you are not sorry," she returned. "Of course, I don't want to speak -of what you have told me to Terry Benton. But I would like to ask Ralph. -Will you tell him to come over to see me in the morning, if he is well -enough." - -And Peggy walked back with Howard Brent to say good night to her mother -and aunt, serenely talking of other things. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - Facing the Music - - -Early the next morning Ralph Marshall walked over to the Sunrise Camp. - -Without any comment or explanation Howard Brent had delivered, at the -breakfast table an hour before, the message entrusted to him. - -Except for a slight headache Ralph had entirely recovered from his -injury, but he was fearful that Peggy had suffered more than she had -confessed and, added to the fact that she had sent for him, was his own -desire to know how she was. - -For the time being the unfortunate conversation he had held with Terry -Benton had entirely passed out of Ralph's mind. He did think of it -occasionally and he was ashamed of it. If Terry had ever reopened the -subject, Ralph intended cutting him short by saying that the discussion -had been a mistake, and that he had made a fool of himself. But, as Terry -did not speak, Ralph had preferred to let the affair drop, not having -sufficient courage to plunge boldly into the revival of what he wished to -forget. - -This morning he was really only interested in finding out that Peggy was -all right, and he was deeply and profoundly grateful to her. It seemed -almost impossible that any girl could have shown so much nerve and -strength. If, in times past, he had liked girls better who were less -athletic, whose muscles were less hard, who were altogether more -"feminine" according to his preconceived ideas, Ralph had humor enough to -realize that his ideal should have changed since the day before. - -Peggy Webster had rested and was busy with her share of the morning Camp -Fire work when Ralph came into camp. Her greeting of him was entirely -cordial and friendly. There was nothing in her manner which might -indicate any difference in her attitude from the evening before. She was -interested to know that he had slept soundly and that his head was not -troubling him. He had seen the hotel doctor who had advised him to pay no -further attention to a slight wound which would quickly heal of itself. - -It was also Peggy who proposed that they take a walk together after she -had finished her tasks. Half an hour later they started off in apparently -perfect accord. - -Peggy had insisted, both to her mother and aunt, as well as to Ralph -Marshall, that she had almost forgotten any discomfort she may have -suffered the previous evening and was certainly not too tired for a walk. -Indeed, she believed that, getting away from camp and so much talk of a -disaster that had almost happened, would be good for her. - -Therefore, Ralph Marshall was naturally unprepared for what inevitably -followed. - -It was not that Peggy was acting to deceive him or any one else. She had -almost tragically little ability for playing any part that was not -essentially straightforward and truthful. But, after she had gone to bed, -in thinking over what Howard Brent had told her, Peggy had become more -convinced than ever that he had in some way made a mistake. She simply -did not believe that Ralph Marshall could have made a wager in regard to -winning her friendship. Whatever weaknesses of character he might -possess, he had always been well bred. - -Perhaps Peggy had old-fashioned ideas. There was a kind of simplicity -about her which made her seem younger than she actually was. But she had -gotten some of these ideas from her father, who had the old-time courtesy -and respect for women, in spite of the fact that he belonged to the new -generation. Peggy knew that he felt a man should never talk of a woman -with other men in any way that would reflect upon her, however little he -might respect or like the woman. - -Just for a moment it flashed through Peggy's mind to reflect how angry -her father would be, if he ever learned that two young men had actually -made a bet concerning her--and one through which her dignity and -self-respect must suffer. Then she put the thought away from her as -unworthy of consideration. - -During the first part of their walk, Peggy made no reference to the -reason she had had for having asked Ralph to come over to see her so soon -after their farewell the evening before. Indeed, she had almost forgotten -the reason herself, although always the consciousness of it was lurking -at the back of her brain. - -But she and Ralph enjoyed walking together. There never was a lovelier -place than among these tall pine forests with the trails cut between the -trees, and leading into unexpected and open vistas. - -Ralph had a charming voice and, when he and Peggy were walking in single -file and not talking, he sang for her amusement. He seemed to have been -to every light opera that had been produced in the last five years, and -knew at least one or two songs from each of them. As Peggy lived in the -country and had heard but few, she was greatly entertained. - -It was Ralph who finally suggested that they rest. - -But it was Peggy who chose the somewhat extraordinary place. - -There was a particularly large pine tree at the edge of an open space. It -had long branches which swung out, like comfortable hammocks, not far -above the ground. - -Peggy climbed into one of them and sat with her feet curled up under her -in an odd fashion, with her back resting against the trunk of the tree. - -Ralph sat nearer the end so that his weight bore the branch down almost -to the ground. - -"Peggy, you look like a tree nymph, or an elf, or whatever wood spirit is -supposed to inhabit a tree. I am not well up on tree-ology, or anything -else," Ralph said good humoredly. "But you are so dark and your eyes and -hair and skin are so brown. Besides somehow you have an altogether, -outdoor look about you." - -Peggy laughed. "Do you mean that for a compliment, Ralph? Because, of -course, I understand that translated your speech simply means I am tanned -until I look like an Indian, or something else not completely civilised." - -Then Peggy's expression changed and she actually flushed scarlet. - -"There is something I want to ask you, Ralph, though now that I have the -chance I had much rather not. You see, I realize that it isn't true, but -I owe it to you to be able to tell Howard Brent so. You didn't make a bet -with Terry Benton about me, did you? You didn't say you would win my -friendship by being attentive to me, just for the sake of a wager? My -friendship really isn't valuable enough, and in any case you could have -had it without taking that much trouble." - -Because Ralph did not answer at once, Peggy bent over toward him from her -higher place. - -"I'm sorry, Ralph; naturally you are angry with me; but I didn't believe -the story for a minute." - -Ralph returned the girl's look steadily. The expression of his face had -never been stronger. His old expression of laughing good nature and -plastic content with himself and circumstances at least temporarily -disappeared. - -"It is true though, Peggy," he answered, "although I would give a good -deal to be able to tell you it was not." - -In spite of his reply, Peggy continued to look puzzled. - -"But I can't understand any reason," she protested. - -Ralph shook his head. "Of course you can't, and there isn't any. In an -idiotic moment I simply said a very stupid thing to Terry Benton without -realizing just how ugly and ill-mannered it was. Ever since I have been -trying my best to forget I ever said it. You are the one person in the -world whom I would rather not have brought into such a discussion, and to -find that out is a part of my punishment. I wonder if you can believe, -Peggy, how sorry and ashamed I am, and have been ever since I made a -foolish wager which I regretted the moment after I had gotten into it. -You are such a clean, straightforward person, Peggy, I don't suppose you -can even imagine how a human being can do an ugly thing and yet not be -altogether horrid." - -Ralph was talking like a boy, forgetting that he was a number of years -older than his companion. - -But Peggy's eyes had changed their expression and were no longer puzzled. - -"I might, be willing to accept your point of view, Ralph, if, after you -had made the wager in which I was to be a victim to your vanity, you had -paid no attention to me. But I can't forget that it was afterwards you -began being agreeable to me, asking me to take walks and to dance with -you. If you did not care about winning your wager, why did you not -continue to politely ignore me, as you had always done? Well you were -successful enough, because I did like you very much until now." - -Peggy's cheeks were scarlet and yet she could be nothing but truthful. - -"I have a dreadful temper and I am so angry with you now, I feel as if I -never wish to see or speak to you again. Please let me go back to camp -alone." - -Ralph shook his head. - -"No, I won't do that," he answered quietly, "but I will not trouble you -along the way--not even by asking your forgiveness. Some day, perhaps, I -may be able to prove to you how truly sorry I am. Now I can't even -pretend that I have any more right to your friendship." - - - - - CHAPTER XV - Expiation - - -A few days later the Camp Fire guardian drove over to the hotel nearby, -accompanied only by Mr. Jefferson Simpson. - -Bettina had offered to go with her, but she had announced that she -preferred going alone. - -This was curious because the one thing Mrs. Burton had made a point of, -ever since the arrival of her Camp Fire party in Arizona, was that she be -allowed to remain as inconspicuous as possible. And, if she wished nobody -to find out who she was, she had certainly to remain in obscurity. - -To appear at a fashionable hotel filled with Eastern tourists was to -proclaim her identity, since the greater number of them would assuredly -be familiar with her appearance, knowing her by reputation if not having -actually seen her act. - -But Mrs. Burton was too worried to consider small, personal annoyances. -Then she had a fashion of acting suddenly, having no very great patience -with the things that displeased her. - -For the last few days the atmosphere of the Sunrise camp had not been an -agreeable one. However, the trouble was not with the Camp Fire girls, -they being only incidental; the difficulty was a family one, which is of -all varieties the most trying. And Mrs. Burton had been away from her own -family so much of the time that she had almost forgotten how wrought up -one can become over comparatively small matters, when they affect one's -own people. - -In the first place, for several days Peggy Webster had been entirely -unlike herself, without giving the least reason for her sudden change -from her natural buoyancy to a condition of gravity and depression. - -More annoying, she insisted that she was not depressed. When Mrs. Burton -and Bettina frankly told her that they did not believe her assertion; -nevertheless she would take neither one of them into her confidence. - -Afterwards when Mrs. Burton insisted that Peggy was not well and must -have suffered from her fall and so should see a doctor, Peggy flatly -declined to see one. However, Peggy's refusal did not affect her aunt. - -One of the errands which brought her to the hotel was to call upon the -hotel physician and make an appointment with him to come over to their -camp. - -Personally, Mrs. Burton was hurt by Peggy's behavior. She cared for Peggy -more than for anybody in the world, except her husband and sister and -perhaps her beloved girlhood friend, Betty Graham. - -If anything troubled Peggy, either mentally or physically, her aunt did -not understand why she would not confide in her. Ordinarily they -understood each other perfectly, so that even when they disagreed and had -small fallings out, their estrangements never lasted more than an hour or -so. - -But the expression in her niece's face had recently troubled Polly -Burton. She could not endure the thought of Peggy being ill or unhappy. -If there was anything in the world that Peggy desired, which she could -possibly obtain for her, she would have traveled to the end of the world -to secure it. And this Peggy knew. Nevertheless she had been going about -camp for the last few days doing her ordinary tasks, walking and driving -with the other girls, but always with an expression that was not Peggy's. - -Instead of her usual, frank, clear look of happiness and good -comradeship, she had a hurt, almost an abashed expression, as if life had -somehow suddenly made her feel less sure of its justice and sincerity. - -Yet, there was no trouble between Peggy and any one of the Camp Fire -girls. Besides being more generally popular than any other member of the -group, Bettina had made every effort to discover if a difficulty had -arisen and could find no trace of one. - -Over the other family matter which was disturbing both her mother and -aunt, Peggy could not be worrying, because she had scolded and laughed at -both of them, insisting that they were making too much of nothing. - -Billy's affairs were always involved in more or less mystery, and Billy -adored mystery. The fact that he was disappearing every day and refusing -to tell any one where he went, or what he was doing, did not make any -particular impression upon his sister. Peggy really believed that Billy -on most occasions behaved in this fashion in order to create an -excitement of which he could be the center. - -However, this time at least, his mother and aunt were under a different -impression. Mrs. Webster was nearly sick with annoyance and anxiety over -Billy's obstinacy and what she considered his reckless behavior. - -After being an invalid for several months and refusing to exert himself -in order to regain his strength, he had suddenly announced that he was -entirely well and able to do whatever he wished. At present this -consisted on going away from Sunrise camp early each morning and often -not returning until bedtime. When he did come in he was usually -exhausted, but he must have recovered during the night, since he was able -to start out again next day. - -Nevertheless, Billy looked very frail and young, and whatever his mother -may have felt, Mrs. Burton had wished a number of times lately that he -was small enough to lock up in a dark bedroom, like a wilful small boy. - -She did not happen to possess a dark bedroom at camp, but then facts -never interfered with the sweep of Mrs. Burton's imagination. - -She had talked to Billy a number of times, begging and commanding him not -to continue to worry his mother and at least to tell her where he was -spending his time. But, although Billy was very sweet and apologetic, -begging them both not to be uncomfortable over him, and saying that he -would certainly tell what he was doing if he could, he did not take -anybody into his confidence, nor did he cease to make daily -disappearances. - -Even Vera Lageloff was not told of his plans, and if she had any -suspicion, she must have been pledged to silence, since she never -mentioned it. - -Today, as Mr. Simpson stopped her carriage in front of the great hotel, -Mrs. Burton had about reached the conclusion that she was not so unhappy -over having no children of her own, as she had always believed herself to -be. However, if she was going to take her nephews and niece so seriously, -after all what was she being spared? - -So far as Peggy was concerned she was unhappy over her, but not angry. No -one could be seriously angry for long with Peggy. But, with Billy, Mrs. -Burton's point of view was a totally different one. He was too young to -be a law unto himself, if there was ever an age when one had the right to -be. Personally she had no idea of enduring his obstinate attitude, or -being responsible for what he might be doing. - -There was one person whose authority Billy would be obliged to respect, -and that was his father's. Mrs. Burton had not mentioned her intention to -her sister, but she was now on her way to telegraph him. Would he come to -them, or was Billy to be sent home? - -In spite of her absorption in family affairs she was annoyed, as she -approached the hotel, to find the front veranda crowded with tourists. - -If only she could make way through them without being observed! - -Certainly Polly Burton appreciated the fact that she was neither a very -beautiful or impressive person to behold, and that, except for her -reputation as a celebrated actress, she would never be annoyed with undue -observation. But one had to take into consideration the fact that one's -face had appeared on billboards in nearly every large city in the country -and that people were not blind and also possessed memories. Moreover, -although Mrs. Burton was not herself aware of it, the power of her -personality and great gift were evident in her appearance. If one looked -at her closely she would hold your interest and attention as no -statuesquely beautiful person ever could. - -Mrs. Burton was dressed quietly in a brown cloth suit, such as any -traveler would have worn. Nevertheless she saw people staring and heard -them whispering to one another as she walked up on the porch. - -The next instant a young man came toward her. It was Ralph Marshall. - -"Is there anything I can do for you, Mrs. Burton?" he inquired. - -Polly nodded emphatically. - -"Yes; do get me out of this crowd and into a quiet place where I can -attend to some things I have come here for, before anybody speaks to me," -she urged. "I have so much on my mind at present that if I am asked to -behave like a distinguished character should, even for an instant, I am -sure to disgrace myself and my profession." - -The next moment she and Ralph had found a small, deserted parlor toward -the back of the hotel. - -"Is there anything more I can do to be of service?" he inquired. - -Mrs. Burton looked relieved. - -"Why, yes, Ralph, there are several things, if you are not too busy to -give me some of your time," she returned. - -Ralph shook his head. "No; I am not busy," he answered, with an -inflection the older woman did not notice. - -"Then will you find the hotel physician for me. Peggy isn't well and I -wish him to come over to see her at the camp." - -For a moment Ralph Marshall hesitated and seemed about to say something, -but instead turned and walked slowly out of the room. At the door, -however, he paused. - -"I'll find out and be back in a few moments," he returned. - -He remained away longer, but Mrs. Burton was hardly aware of it. She was -thinking too deeply. Now, that she had arrived at the door of her -decision and was ready to open it, she had half an idea of turning back. - -To telegraph her brother-in-law that Billy was being difficult to handle -meant the end of Billy's stay in the West. And, like a good many other -persons with tempers, Mrs. Burton was ridiculously tender hearted. - -Billy greatly needed the change of climate and the life outdoors he had -been leading. He was too frail and was lately growing into a tall, -delicate reed of a boy, as unlike the ordinary boy as it was possible for -one of them to be. - -But, with all his obstinacies and peculiarities Polly Burton knew that -she was more interested in him than she was in Dan, who was more -satisfactory in every way and never troublesome. - -Then suddenly, sitting alone here in the small hotel parlor, she recalled -a circumstance of her own life. For an entire year she had made a secret -of her own acts, indeed of her own whereabouts, hiding the knowledge from -her friends and from her family, excepting only her mother, in order that -she might accomplish her desire without criticism. - -She had wanted to learn to act and had felt that she could go through the -discipline she needed with a better courage if she had neither assistance -nor advice. And she had been right. - -Now could it be possible that at the present time Billy was being -obstinate and secretive for some reason which he felt was justifiable? In -all probability he was mistaken; but, even so, had one not better allow -him a little more liberty? Billy had done a number of extraordinary -things in his life and also a number of wrong ones; but to explain them -he always had some queer theory of his own which he had seriously worked -out. He did not act impulsively and he was as clean and as spiritually -gallant as a seraph. - -Nevertheless, Mrs. Burton had not reached a decision when Ralph Marshall -re-entered the room. For there was always her Sister Mollie's peace of -mind to be considered, and the danger that Billy with his absurd ideas -might get himself into real trouble. - -"The doctor will be here to speak to you in about five minutes, Mrs. -Burton, if you can wait so long," Ralph reported, taking a chair near -her. - -He looked so unlike his usual self that, for the first time since their -meeting, his companion's attention was arrested. - -Ordinarily Ralph Marshall had a debonair air of self-satisfaction and -happiness, as if he were pleased with himself and with the world's -pleasure in him--at least his own world, for few of us ever think far -beyond it. He was not disagreeable or half so inane as this idea -suggests. For the facts were that Ralph Marshall was handsome, charming, -and extremely rich. He had always had everything he wished without making -the least effort to obtain it. People had always seemed to like him, and -girls and women had undeniably spoiled him. So it was not extraordinary -that he had a fairly amiable opinion of himself. - -However, today Ralph's face wore another expression; instead of appearing -pleased he looked extremely out of sorts with himself, and with -everything and everybody. - -"Is Peggy very ill?" he asked, endeavoring to speak with careless -politeness, but finding himself coloring as he put the conventional -question. - -Mrs. Burton shook her head. - -"No; Peggy says there is nothing the matter, and perhaps she is right. It -is only that I am absurdly uneasy when there is the least change in her. -Recently she has not looked very well and has not been so agreeable as -she ordinarily is. There does not seem anything else I think of as an -explanation, except that she is ill." - -Ralph did not flush a second time, but instead had an unexpected sense of -well being. At least he had been right in his estimate of Peggy Webster. -Whatever he might be himself she was the real thing. Evidently not a word -of betrayal of him and his treatment of her had passed her lips. Peggy -knew that he valued Mrs. Burton's and her mother's friendship, and that -he would have been placed in an uncomfortable position with his own -family, if they had ceased their friendly attitude toward him. - -"What is the matter with you, Ralph?" Mrs. Burton inquired unexpectedly. - -This was his opportunity, nevertheless Ralph evaded it. - -"Oh, I have had a disagreeable letter from the governor," he answered. -"Every once and a while father gets down on me and writes that he will -cast me off with the proverbial penny, if I don't find out what kind of -work I want to do and start at it. Sometimes it isn't an easy job to be -the only son of a self-made man. When a man thinks he has made himself he -is apt to think he can make everybody else do his way." - -"Do you hate the thought of work so much, Ralph?" Mrs. Burton queried. - -She did not speak in a disagreeable fashion, merely in a questioning one. - -And Ralph Marshall found himself fascinated, watching the color and -warmth in her face. - -"Do you know I am awfully sorry for people who feel in that way. I don't -suppose you can realize this while you are young, but, as one grows -older, doing one's work is half the joy of living. Still, I don't mean to -preach. I believe the girls say, the fact that I don't is my chief value -as a Camp Fire guardian." - -"I wish you would preach to me," Ralph answered, "or at least let me talk -to you. Because a fellow does not say anything, you need not think he -does not realize what a wonderful person you are! It must be great to be -famous and to know you have done it all yourself. As for me, it isn't -that I hate work. I don't know anything about it. The difficulty is -getting down to finding out what I want to do." - -Polly Burton nodded, just as Polly O'Neill would have done, with a quick -look of understanding. - -"Sometimes it is hard luck being born rich, Ralph. But I wouldn't let it -be too much for me, if I were you. Start at anything that comes your way -and afterwards you'll find the right thing. Do you mind my quoting -something to you? You see it is my business to repeat what other people -write." - -Ralph did not seem to think acquiescence on his part necessary. - -This was the first conversation he had ever held alone with Mrs. Burton -and he was entirely under the spell of her personal charm. And yet it -seemed extraordinary to him that so great a personage could be so simple -and unaffected. - -Mrs. Burton also took his agreement for granted, for she went on: - -"I learned the verse for Billy's and Dan's delectation, but I am trying -it first on you. I don't suppose you have read an extraordinary but -uncomfortable book called 'The Spoon River Anthology?'" - -Mrs. Burton naturally made no effort at recitation, which, under the -circumstances, would have been ridiculous. She merely repeated the verse -as any one else would have done, except that it was impossible for her to -change the beautiful quality of her voice. - - "My boy, wherever you are, - Work for your soul's sake, - That all the clay of you, all the dross of you, - May yield to the fire of you, - Till the fire is nothing but light! - Nothing but light!" - -To his amazement Ralph Marshall felt tears in his eyes. - -"Mrs. Burton, I want to tell you something," he announced as unexpectedly -to himself as to her. - -Then, without attempting in any way to exonerate himself, Ralph Marshall -told the story of his wager and the effort he had made to win Peggy's -liking, in order to gratify his own vanity. - -"It is a nice sensation to find you are a cad, Mrs. Burton, and that the -girl you have more respect and more liking for than any other you have -ever known thinks so too. Besides, I have recently been informed of the -fact by Howard Brent and, as I happened to agree with his judgment of me, -I couldn't very well argue the question with him to my own satisfaction." - -"No," Mrs. Burton replied, "you couldn't well argue a fact." - -She was extremely angry with Ralph herself as he told his story. - -She would have been scornful in any case, but that he should have chosen -Peggy as his game was a little more than her spirit could endure. - -But a few moments later she was really sorry for her companion. - -Ralph attempted no apology, or excused himself by extenuating -circumstances. - -"Oh well, Ralph, you need not look as if you had committed all the crimes -in the calendar. All of us fall from grace now and then; only, if I were -you, I wouldn't chose this kind again." - -Mrs. Burton had risen from her chair. - -"I can't wait for that tiresome doctor any longer. I think I want to send -a telegram, although I am actually not yet sure." - -Her lips twitched with a slightly whimsical grimace at herself. But Ralph -Marshall had scarcely noticed her words or her expression. - -"Do you think there is anything I can do to make up in any way, Mrs. -Burton?" he asked. "Of course, I don't expect Peggy to have faith in me -or care for my friendship again. But I would like to be of some service -to one of you, principally for my own self-respect," he added. "But, of -course, there is nothing I can do. I am not much good because Peggy -actually saved me from falling the other day, when it should have been -the other way round." - -Mn. Burton was thinking quickly, as she usually did. - -"There is a favor you can do for me, Ralph; I have just thought of it," -she answered. "I know I can trust you to keep what you find out a secret, -and Peggy will appreciate it as well. Don't allow yourself to think that, -because you were capable of doing one ugly thing, you are capable of -continuing to do them. That impression has ruined many a human being. - -"My extremely trying nephew, Billy Webster, has lately turned himself -into a mystery. I think his mother and I have the right to know where he -goes each day and what he is doing. He refuses to tell us. If you will -find out and not speak of it, except to me, I don't think it will be -playing unfair with Billy, and it may save us all a good deal. But I'll -try to have a talk with the young man tonight, to persuade him to confide -in me. In any case will you come over to camp early in the morning, -Ralph? I won't telegraph--at least I won't telegraph today. I'll leave a -message at the desk for the doctor." - -But, at this instant, the hotel physician entered the room. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - The Pine, Not the Olive - - -Peggy Webster had her arms filled with pine branches when she met Ralph -Marshall coming toward Sunrise camp the following day. - -She had gone a short distance into the woods for some light twigs for the -camp fire, as the supply had gotten low. - -She was walking with her head thrown back to keep the pine needles from -touching her face, although their fragrance always thrilled her. They -were so spicy, so woodsy, so redolent of a fine sweetness that had no -cloying element in it. Surely the pine was a wise choice for the Camp -Fire emblem. If a girl can grow into a woman keeping the same kind of -spiritual fragrance that the pine tree sheds as a physical one, she has -no reason to fear that her value may ever fail. - -Peggy had not seen Ralph since the afternoon of his uncomfortable -confession and she had not made up her mind just how she should meet him. -So now her eyes widened and her lips parted a little; she was already -flushed from the exertion of her work and the weight of the burden she -carried. - -But Peggy spoke naturally enough, as she would have done to any -acquaintance, although the past sensation of pleasure she had felt at any -chance meeting with Ralph had gone. - -Ralph came forward and quietly extended his hands for pine branches and, -in spite of the fact that Peggy hesitated, he took the greater number of -them from her. A few of the twigs broke and fell on the ground. - -"I came over to camp this morning because Mrs. Burton asked me to come, -Peggy; otherwise I would not have intruded upon you," he declared. - -The girl shook her head. - -"I have not the faintest desire to keep you away from Sunrise camp, -Ralph. Indeed, I would be sorry if you let me interfere with your actions -in any way. The other girls like you a great deal and I am sure would -miss seeing you." - -Ralph did not answer. He had noticed that Peggy had said "other girls," -but also that she had spoken without a pretense of wishing to impress him -with the knowledge of her disfavor or her change of attitude toward him. -She had spoken with perfectly unconscious sincerity and Ralph Marshall -appreciated that, for once in his life at least, he had known a girl who -said what she meant. Peggy's expression "other girls" had really been a -slip on her part, as she had not intended bringing herself into the -situation in any way. - -At camp they parted, Peggy going to announce to her aunt that Ralph -wished to see her. And a few moments later Mrs. Burton appeared. - -Ralph had been talking to Gerry and Sally, while he was forced to wait, -and as they were determinedly planning an excursion in which he was to -take part that afternoon, he had to be rescued by Mrs. Burton. - -It was never possible to talk with any privacy in the immediate -neighborhood of the camp. The girls were constantly going in and out of -their tents, rebuilding the camp fire, or doing any one of a hundred -things in connection with their work or entertainment. This morning Mrs. -Webster was also sewing in front of the fire, with Dan coming back and -forth to talk to her. - -Ralph Marshall did not see Billy Webster, but, as he had rather a fashion -of remaining alone, this did not mean that he had actually vanished from -camp. - -"Suppose we walk in the direction of the cliffs, Ralph," Mrs. Burton -suggested and then, almost as soon as they had started, she added: - -"Yes, Billy has gone; he left before breakfast this morning so there -could be no chance of a family argument. Dan says he slipped out of their -tent without his knowing when he departed. And this, after I had expended -an hour of precious eloquence upon the young man last night, sitting up -with him when everybody else had gone to bed, and I was abominably -sleepy." - -Mrs. Burton shrugged her shoulders, expressing amusement and chagrin, as -well as anxiety. - -"I am afraid I haven't the slightest influence with him; but, then, no -one else has--or perhaps I don't know. I asked Vera if she thought she -could influence him and she assured me she could not. She says my sister -is mistaken in thinking that she influences Billy; he has always -influenced her, although she is older and infinitely more sensible. But, -Ralph, I only tell you this about Billy, because I want you to know -something of the character of the boy you may have to deal with, if you -succeed in doing what I ask of you. I know you have never noticed Billy -particularly; few people do at first when Dan is around. Dan is so much -better looking and more agreeable. But Billy is the stronger character of -the two, strange as it seems to all of us. But whether for good or the -other thing," Mrs. Burton smiled a little ruefully, "I suppose if we live -long enough we may find out. No gentleman could have been more courteous -to me than my nephew was last night, or more utterly unmoved by my -efforts at persuasion or command. - -"There is just one thing we have to rely on in order to save Billy from -what may turn into a real difficulty. Vera Lageloff has confided in me -that she and Billy one afternoon discovered a group of objectionable men. -I don't know anything about them, except that they were on a strike or -something of the kind, and that you and Peggy had met them by accident a -short time before. But Billy has a passion for the unfortunate. He had -only to hear that people are up in arms against something or some one and -he is always in the midst of them. - -"It was curious, but whenever the laborers on my brother-in-law's place -had any kind of grievance, they first put the matter up to Billy before -taking it to his father. And you know Mr. Webster well enough to -understand that he is the most just of men." - -Mrs. Burton had been walking slowly along but she now stopped and -frowned, facing her companion. - -"I don't know why but I am frightened. I am afraid Billy is mixing -himself up in some difficulty in which he has not the slightest concern, -or the least reason for taking part in. And Vera is under the same -impression, else she would never have told me what she did. She says -Billy made her promise not to speak of their excursion, and she hated -breaking her word to him. But she, too, is nervous about him and thinks -we ought to find out what he is doing. Of course, we may both be on the -wrong track. The boy may be off amusing himself somewhere in a perfectly -simple fashion. But if you will only find out, Ralph, I shall be -everlastingly grateful. I am pretty fond of Billy, though I don't -understand him and he certainly annoys me." - -Ralph smiled in an entirely efficient and satisfying manner. - -"Oh, I expect you take the young man too seriously, Mrs. Burton. All boys -have cranks of one kind or another, though I must confess Billy's do not -seem to be the ordinary kind. Don't worry any more; I'll find him for you -and bring him home by the ear. Oh, I don't mean literally; only from what -you have told me I expect the youth takes himself too seriously. He has -been ill so much he is probably more or less spoiled. I think the -influence of an older fellow may do him good. I am accustomed to taking -kinks out of the younger boys at college now and then, when they suffer -from swell heads." - -Ralph spoke in a condescending, elderly brother tone which amused Mrs. -Burton, although she showed no sign of it. Instead, she gave a little -sigh of relief. - -"But please be careful, won't you, Ralph," she added. "Billy isn't like -other people and he does have to be treated a little differently. Oh, I -know you men don't think this of each other, and Billy's father will not -consider the idea for a moment. But I think if he had talked to Billy -more frankly, and asked him to wait a while before he decided so many -questions for himself, the boy would not be so difficult. - -"Let's go back now, Ralph, as we have talked over the situation and said -as much as there is to say. I don't suppose you can do anything -immediately; but, if, within the next few days you make any kind of -discovery, suppose you let me know first. I really am worried over -Billy's realizing I have tried to spy upon him. I should have been -dreadfully angry with any one who had done the same thing to me when I -was his unreasonable age." - -"Oh, I don't think Billy will have anything to complain of," Ralph -replied, as if Billy's attitude held not the slightest interest for him. -"And I don't think I need be forever tracing the young person either--not -if he has fallen in with the group Peggy and I met. - -"Fortunately, I know where they can be found if they have not disappeared -from their camping place. But what there can be in those fellows to -interest a youngster, I can't see. - -"I wonder if your man will lend me a burro? I walked over from my hotel, -and I think I'll start out on the trail at once." - -Ralph was really interested in his quest. There was an agreeable element -of mystery in it as well as knight errantry. Besides, an older fellow is -seldom averse to making a younger one feel small, when he happens to -think it good for him. Moreover, Ralph had been considerably out of sorts -with himself for several days and it is always pleasanter to dwell on -another's shortcomings. - -As soon as Mr. Simpson had allowed him the use of one of the camp ponies -for the day, Ralph started off at a leisurely pace. - -After all, it was rather good fun to have something definite to do, -instead of idling all one's time. And if one was accomplishing a favor -for either Mrs. Burton or Peggy Webster, why all the more was the effort -worth while. Billy Webster really played a very small part in Ralph -Marshall's thoughts. - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - The Passionate Pilgrim - - -Ralph Marshall's pilgrimage was in vain. When he reached the place where -the men had been in hiding, every trace of them had disappeared. He might -have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there -were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly -remembered the circle of small hills. - -After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing -no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily -accomplished. But he had no inclination to return and loiter about his -hotel. Even failure was better than boredom, and the last few days had -been intensely dull. Ralph was weary of sightseeing and seldom took an -interest in viewing things alone. He was no longer friendly with Terry -Benton and Howard Brent, whose expressed opinions of him had not been -flattering. And, in spite of Peggy's generosity, he felt himself cut off -from the companionship of the Camp Fire girls. - -Perhaps Ralph did not realize it, but the fact was that he did not care -for the society of the other girls, now that Peggy's was denied him. - -Moreover, even if it were but slight, an ambition had been stirred in him -by Mrs. Burton. Actually he wanted to succeed in what she had asked him -to do. Rarely in his life had he been stirred by this emotion, except -perhaps by the desire to win a game of tennis, or be elected to some -special college fraternity. - -Getting on his burro again, Ralph started off in another direction. He -knew that he was traveling toward the line of railroad and supposed he -would find more signs of life there. Certainly he could not discover -less. It was also possible that he might run across some one who would -have known of the dissatisfied men and might at least offer a suggestion -as to what had become of them. - -Of course, in finding the strikers one would not necessarily obtain -information of Billy Webster's proceedings. But, so long as one was under -the impression that he might be spending his time in their society, they -must first be hunted out. Afterwards, if Billy were not with them, then -one could pursue some other idea. - -After reaching the railroad line, Ralph jogged along on the road that ran -alongside of it. - -The road had been cut through somewhat more open country, nevertheless he -met no one in passing. At present it was past noon, but, although Ralph -was usually fond of his own comfort, it had not yet occurred to him that -his prospect for food was a very poor one. - -Then, half an hour later, when he was not in the least expecting to reach -any such place, Ralph came upon a railroad station. There was a small -frame building beside a platform and near it a typical western grocery -store, which means that it held a great many other things beside -groceries. - -Ralph was feeling tired and a little hungry. If he was to continue riding -about the country all day in this vague fashion, it would be as well to -secure food for himself when he could. There was never yet a country -store without cheese and crackers. - -Ralph tied his pony to the hitching post and strolled up to the door of -the store. The door was partly open and he could see a man inside who was -probably a customer, as he did not appear to be the proprietor, and was -talking with some one. - -Ralph walked in and the man stopped talking. He was smoking a short pipe -and looked curiously at the newcomer. Ralph's appearance was a surprise. -He looked so exactly like the old-fashioned western phrase which -described the Eastern youth as a "tenderfoot." Ralph's riding costume was -too new, too clean and too fashionable ever to have seen real service. -But he knew how to make himself acceptable to most people. - -He bowed a curt but friendly nod to the other man as he moved up toward -the counter. - -"I am a stranger in this part of the country," he announced, "and I have -been riding all morning. I wonder if you can let me eat a little -something here?" - -The grocery keeper was friendly enough and began shoving out the various -supplies that the newcomer had asked for, conscious of the fact that he -was a good customer. - -Then Ralph climbed up on a stool and began eating his lunch and drinking -ginger ale out of the glass bottle. He was enjoying himself a good deal -more than he had at many a fashionable luncheon served at an expensive -hotel. - -By and by he turned to the other man who had not left the store. - -"I wonder if you would have a bite with me?" he suggested. "I never did -like having to eat alone." - -The man hesitated and then came forward. - -"Don't care if I do," he answered in a somewhat surly fashion, but Ralph -observed that he ate hungrily, and they had to have the supplies renewed -a second time. - -When they had finished they both strolled out of the store together and, -without any discussion of the matter, sat down beside each other on the -railroad platform. Each man looked as if he had no other interest or -occupation in life except just to wait until a train passed by. - -"There isn't much excitement in this neighborhood, is there?" Ralph -finally said. - -His companion stared straight ahead of him. - -"Oh, you can't sometimes always tell just by the outside looks of -things." - -Ralph hesitated a moment. - -"Been any fun lately?" he inquired. - -The man shook his head. - -"Not much; nothing except some fellows been trying to blow up the track -out this way. I'm on the lookout for them for the railroad, as I'm one of -the company's men." - -"Who are they and what is the matter?" Ralph asked, trying to show no -especial interest beyond a perfectly natural one. - -But his companion showed no sign of wishing to be secretive. - -"Don't know," he returned. "If I did, I'd have had them out of mischief -before this. There has been a gang of strikers hanging around somewhere -in this neighborhood--no one knows the exact place. But there is no -reason for suspecting them, except that they are down on the company. -Funny, I've been watching around here for several days and haven't even -run across anybody to talk to before! At least no one but a boy who -looked like he ought to be home with his mother." - -Ralph laughed. - -"A kind of a tenderfoot like I am?" - -The other man grinned. - -"Oh, he was a good deal younger than you. We have so many travelers from -the East out in this neighborhood now, that we have forgotten to call 'em -'tenderfeet.' This boy was a kid--a real kid--tall and sick looking, with -light hair and blue eyes and nice manners." - -Ralph nodded. - -"Funny, what was he doing around here? There is no hotel very near, is -there?" - -The older man shook his head. - -"Not for several miles back. The boy said he was out here for his health -and kind of liked to stay by himself. He said he would keep his eyes open -for me. But he was a dreamy kind of kid. I don't believe he would know -trouble if he saw it." - -Ralph whistled. - -"I don't believe he would. Seen him lately?" - -"This morning early." - -"Think he'll come back this way?" - -The man had refilled his pipe and was smoking. - -"How'd I know?" he returned. "I ain't seen him any time, except one or -two mornings." - -The man then got up and stretched himself. - -"Well, so long; I can't waste any more time around here, much as I'd like -to stay and talk. I've got to get up and down the track a piece. I wish -you would keep an eye open on your way back." - -"Certainly," Ralph answered, "only I'm not going back just yet. I am kind -of tired and I thought I'd sit here awhile and rest." - -The two men nodded and the older one walked away. - -Ralph waited for two hours. Then, as the man in the grocery store was -beginning to look suspicious, he got up and strolled about. In the -meantime the station master had reappeared, after having spent some time -at his own midday meal. - -Ralph tried to give him the impression that he was expecting some one on -the next train. - -But between four and five o'clock his patience gave out. It was either -this, or he had lost all hope of Billy Webster's returning the way he had -evidently gone, not only this morning, but on several others. - -Ralph then made up his mind to ask Mrs. Burton to allow him to remain all -night at Sunrise camp. - -The wanderer should not disappear the next day without his seeing him go. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII - An Appeal - - -It was not particularly difficult as Billy had not the faintest suspicion -that he was under surveillance. As he had planned beforehand in his own -mind, Ralph followed him a few moments after his departure from camp a -little after daylight the next day. - -Both rode burros--the small, sure-footed ponies, which are used almost -entirely in the western states where difficult climbing is to be -accomplished. And, except for the pair of mules which were sometimes -hitched to their provision wagon, the Sunrise Camp Fire party had no -other steeds. - -If any were required for their longer excursions they were rented from -the hotel stables. - -This morning Billy got ready his own burro and Mrs. Burton had asked Mr. -Simpson to have Ralph's waiting in case he wished it. - -The order was an extraordinary one, yet Mr. Simpson, being one of the -wisest of men, had asked no questions. - -Naturally he had been aware of Billy's daily disappearances, but as -nothing was told him concerning them, he had appeared comfortably blind. - -Now the morning was slightly misty, as many of the early fall mornings -are apt to be in the neighborhood of the greatest canyon in the world. - -But the mist was colored like an opal as the sun sifted its warm light -slowly through. - -Ralph did not attempt to keep the younger boy in sight. Only now and then -he would send his pony a little more swiftly forward for a fleeting -glimpse of him. He was, of course, afraid that Billy would hear him, or -that he might suddenly turn around and see him. - -It was not necessary that he constantly watch the other rider at the -beginning of their travels, as he had a fairly good impression of the -route the younger boy would take. - -Ralph had been a little bored at getting up so early in the morning, as -his outdoor bed had been extremely comfortable. He had slept not far away -from Billy's and Dan's own tent, declining the offer of Dan's cot which -he had generously insisted upon his taking. Therefore, his bed had been a -mattress of balsam and a pair of heavy Indian blankets. - -As a matter of fact this was the first morning which Ralph Marshall had -honored by arising early since his coming to Arizona. Now, quite apart -from his interest in Billy Webster's mysterious behavior and his own -desire to be of service, Ralph felt repaid for his effort. - -"The great point was to get started at a thing," he argued with himself. -"After that the doing of it wasn't half bad." It occurred to Ralph that -this might be true of more important issues than the present one. - -There was a possibility that Billy had only a desire to spend his days in -freedom and adventure. But, if this were true, no one would have had a -reasonable right to interfere with him. Now, in spite of the fact that -Ralph suggested this idea to himself, he was not convinced by it. - -The tiresome journey of the day before Ralph was not required to repeat. -There was a more direct route to the track and from there to the small -railroad station. - -But, once arriving along the more open road which ran beside it, Ralph -was forced to keep farther behind. - -However, this was unimportant if he could manage to arrange to have Billy -in sight when he reached the station. After that, he did not know what -direction the boy would take, as he might continue down the track or else -strike across the country. - -Half a mile from the little railroad station Ralph Marshall's saddle -girth suddenly broke. As the burro he was riding was so small in -comparison with his own height, Ralph's legs almost reached the ground on -either side of his mount. There was, therefore, no danger in connection -with his mishap, only there was a short delay. However, the time consumed -was not a matter of five minutes, required for pulling the leather straps -together and rebuckling them in a fresh place. - -Ralph was not seriously concerned, although having remounted he did ride -on more rapidly than he had since starting out. But, for some reason he -did not again come in sight of Billy Webster. Arriving at the railroad -station there was still no sign of Billy. - -This was puzzling. The pursuer stopped for reflection. His acquaintance -of the day before was not in evidence, but there was a chance that the -station master, who, at present, was in his small box, or else the keeper -of the shop, would have seen Billy go by and noticed what route he had -followed. - -Both men declared that no boy had been seen by either of them during the -entire morning. - -Ralph Marshall argued the question. One or the other of them must have -seen the boy, since undoubtedly a boy had passed by. But, although -argument did not shake their testimony, it did make the men angry so that -he was finally obliged to desist. - -Then, undoubtedly in his own phraseology, Ralph felt himself up against -it. He simply did not know what to do next. He must follow Billy, but one -cannot well follow without knowing the plan or the direction of one's -leader. - -In this life it is the first failures which are most difficult to endure. -Ralph Marshall had made so few efforts of any kind in his existence, that -he was profoundly disturbed by this small one. - -Moreover, Ralph was at last becoming affected by Mrs. Burton's obvious -nervousness. Perhaps a successful culmination of his quest was not so -unimportant as he had previously conceived it. He had wished to -accomplish what he had set out to do, because Mrs. Burton was uneasy and -because he was anxious to do her a favor. Incidentally he was not averse -to doing one for Peggy, should conditions develop in that way. But the -question of Billy's own welfare he had never taken seriously. Therefore, -it was curious that he should find himself suddenly growing uncomfortable -over the boy. - -Well, as one must inevitably go somewhere in this world--either forward -or backward--Ralph appreciated that he could not remain indefinitely at -an entirely uninteresting and apparently uneventful railroad station. - -So, following an impulse--not a purpose, or even an idea--he rode away -from the station and into the country. - -He continued riding the greater part of the day, feeling as absurd as any -foolish follower of Don Quixote's bent upon an impossible quest. - -Nevertheless, Ralph did not give up. He was tired and bored and hungry, -and frequently had to get off his pony in order to allow it to rest. He -found food for his burro and a little for himself at a small ranch house, -but only now and then did he came in contact with a human being. - -Most of the country through which he traveled was pine forest. It was -ridiculous to imagine that Billy Webster could have any interest or any -purpose in this unfamiliar and comparatively uninhabited region. Yet -Ralph could not make up his mind to return to Sunrise camp bringing back -with him no Billy, no information--nothing but a confession of failure. - -An hour before twilight, however, Ralph was forced to start for camp. - -He carried a compass with him; indeed he had been using one ever since -his arrival in Arizona, and had been wise enough to watch the route he -had followed with great care. For the latter part of the afternoon he had -been traveling in a homeward direction. But now, of course, he must push -straight on without further loitering. - -To spend the night in the woods was entirely feasible, but without -covering it would not be agreeable and nothing would be accomplished by -it. - -Sometimes it appears as if one must give up a desire in this world in -order to accomplish it. - -Certainly Ralph Marshall surrendered all thought of discovering Billy--at -least on this particular day. He would try again, however, on the next -day and on as many days as were necessary. - -The early dusk had fallen. Ralph was walking along, leading his burro and -fearing that he had overtaxed its strength, although these small ponies -are supposed to be able to survive almost any test of endurance. - -Then, quite unexpectedly, he heard noises. They were unmistakably human -noises. Tying his burro to a nearby tree, Ralph walked cautiously toward -them. - -He had not, however, in any way associated the noises with the success of -his own quest. For, temporarily at least, he had forgotten Billy, or -rather he believed that the boy must by this time have returned to -Sunrise camp. - -The fact which made him most curious was, that at the present moment he -was not far away from the spot where he and Peggy Webster had -accidentally discovered the unknown group of men some little time before. -These were the men who were apparently the strikers on the railroad. - -If these were the same men whom he now overheard, Ralph was not anxious -to thrust himself into their society against their wishes. - -Nevertheless he was amazed when he finally saw them. Yet the men were the -ones he had expected them to be. - -The amazement was due to Billy Webster. - -Billy was with them! But not only was he with them. In spite of his long -legs he had been lifted high in the air and was seated on the shoulders -of two of the biggest and strongest of the men. And Billy was making a -speech! - -From his hiding place Ralph could catch a glimpse of the boy's white face -in the half dusk. He could also overhear what Billy was saying. - -"I tell you men it won't do," he argued persuasively. "You know they are -on the look out for you. Haven't I been all up and down the track for -days getting reports for you? You say your strike has failed and other -men are at work at your old jobs, but I can't see how it will help you or -your cause to try wrecking the track, or doing any kind of mischief. -Please don't." His voice had a high sweetness. - -He had leaned over from the men's shoulders and spoke like a child asking -a favor. Yet the older men were listening to him with serious faces. - -Ralph could not believe what he actually saw and heard. - -"You've got to win some day, if you'll only have patience; we have all -agreed on that fact," Billy continued, still in his sweet boy's voice. -"Of course it may take a long time, but it is the biggest fight on earth, -to win justice for the poor; so you know everybody has got to have a lot -of patience. If you are going to do wrong things because you think the -rich have done wrong to you, I can't see how you are any better than they -are. And I wouldn't trust you any more than I do them, once you get the -same power." - -It was occurring to Ralph Marshall, as he stood absorbedly listening to -the youthful speaker, that Billy Webster was discussing in a simple, -school-boy fashion certain of the biggest social problems of the day. - -But what most impressed him was not what Billy said--almost any clever, -visionary boy might have read the views he expressed and repeated them -parrot fashion. The extraordinary thing was the way the men listened. - -Actually, by some strange gift of nature, Billy was a leader among -them--an influence they respected, even if they would not follow it. - -"You made a mistake with that ugly piece of work you did the other -night," he went on pleadingly, "but no one was hurt and you have not been -found out. Promise me you'll never do a job like that again?" - -Then Billy slid down to the ground again. - -Afterwards Ralph Marshall could see that he went about from one of the -men to the other, talking, and that in most cases the men shook their -heads. But he could not hear either what Billy said, or his companion -answered, when they were speaking directly to each other. It was due to -the fact that Billy had been addressing the group and that he had been -lifted up in the air, that had made his words audible to Ralph. - -Whatever conclusion was finally reached Ralph eventually realized that -the younger boy was intending to leave for home. For he solemnly went -about and shook hands with each of the men, as if he were a personal -friend. And, although some of them received the attention awkwardly, none -of them refused it. - -A little later Billy passed Ralph without observing him. He mounted his -pony and began riding slowly toward Sunrise camp. - -In about five minutes Ralph followed, but he allowed about twenty to -elapse before he rode up alongside the younger boy. - -When he did and Billy discovered his identity, he nodded in his -impersonal but friendly fashion. - -"Have you been on the lookout for me?" he inquired. "I had half an idea -Tante would try to discover what I was doing, when I refused to tell her. - -"She isn't accustomed not to having her own way. Well, I am glad you did -not run across me today. After this, perhaps, it won't make much -difference if I do give up my daily disappearances and remain at camp. I -don't think I can have any more influence as I have said all I have to -say." - - - - - CHAPTER XIX - The Arrest - - -Three days later Billy Webster was arrested. - -Ralph Marshall was spending the afternoon at Sunrise camp when the -officers arrived. With them came the man with whom he had once held a -conversation concerning Billy--evidently the man who had thrown suspicion -upon him. - -It was about three o'clock and by chance the entire Camp Fire party was -at home. - -Billy, in his favorite fashion, was lying out in the sunshine on an -Indian blanket, while his mother sat on one side of him, sewing, and Vera -Lageloff on the other, reading to them both. They had built themselves a -second camp fire in order to be a little apart from the rest of the group -and not disturb any one by their reading. - -For Mrs. Burton was half reclining in a big chair outside her tent, -looking over a collection of manuscripts of new plays which had recently -been sent to her by her husband. One of them he had chosen to appear in -the next season, but he wished her opinion before finally deciding upon -it. - -As usual, Peggy Webster was close beside her aunt, but, in order not to -interrupt, Peggy was engaged in weaving an Indian basket of sweet -smelling prairie grasses. Ellen Deal was not far away but, although she -held a book in her hand, she was not reading. - -The day before, she had returned from her voluntary work of caring for -the two invalids. But she did not yet seem to feel entirely at home in -her former surroundings and, although she had endeavored to conceal the -fact, Mrs. Burton and Peggy had both observed it. - -The other girls were engaged in various occupations and Dan was having a -nap. - -Fortunately Ralph Marshall and Sally Ashton had walked a few yards along -the path which led into Sunrise camp. They were first to observe the -police and the man who accompanied them, before any member of the camp -fire realized their errand. - -Ralph had an immediate premonition of their intention, although he failed -to appreciate its full seriousness. - -The man whom he had seen before spoke first. - -"We've come to arrest the kid," he announced. "No wonder you were -interested to hear all I had to say about him. I was green. I didn't get -on to the fact that you knew him. But, then, I was a long way from -guessing he was mixed up with this bunch of railroad strikers." - -Apparently the man did not intend being impertinent, but was merely -stating the case as he recognized it. - -Nevertheless Ralph felt both angry and impotent. - -"How do you know 'the kid,' as you call him, had anything to do with the -strikers," he inquired. "And if he did, what is that to you?" - -The man shook his head. - -"Nothing, maybe, except that we want to find out just how deep he was in -the trouble. There were some rails torn up out of the track last night a -few miles from here and a freight train went over. Lucky it was a -freight, but the engineer was pretty badly hurt. We've got a straight tip -that two or three of the strikers did the work. And we have been hearing -that this boy, who is staying out here in a camp with a lot of relations -and girls, has been loafing around with these same men, getting news for -them and watching what was going on in places they couldn't show -themselves." - -"Nonsense," Ralph returned. He was thinking quickly. - -"Will you give me the chance to go and tell the boy's people what you -have come for?" he asked. "You see his mother is with him now and there -is no telling what effect your appearance on such an errand will have on -her." - -The older of the two police officers nodded, with an expression of -relief. Evidently he had no taste for the task ahead of him. - -This afternoon Sunrise camp looked like an idyl. The tents stood in white -outline against the dark background of pine trees. In the central space -before the tents a big camp fire was burning and seated about it were -three or four girls in their Camp Fire costumes. - -The two other groups were not for away. - -Ralph went directly to Mrs. Burton. He was sorry that Peggy Webster was -so near that she would be obliged to overhear him, but he dared not -delay. - -Under the circumstances it was well that he had given a detailed account -to Mrs. Burton of his discovery of Billy and exactly what he had -overheard him saying. - -Billy was not aware of this fact because his aunt had never mentioned it -to him. Ralph had not had any conversation with him since their return to -camp together a few evenings before. - -Since then, so far as any one knew, Billy had not been away for an hour. - -So, in a measure Mrs. Burton was prepared for the disagreeable news Ralph -brought her. In any case she was usually at her best in real -difficulties; it was the smaller ones that found her unprepared. - -Now she turned at once to Peggy. - -"Come, dear, we must explain to your mother," she remarked quietly, -"don't be frightened. Billy has done nothing wrong, though he may be -compelled to prove the fact." - -Sally had dropped behind before Ralph delivered his message, but he -accompanied the two women across the few yards of ground that separated -them from Mrs. Webster. - -It was curious, but none of them thought of Billy's being particularly -frightened, and yet he was a delicate, high-strung boy, not yet sixteen. - -Billy was not frightened. As soon as he understood what his aunt was -saying to his mother, he got up and came over to her. - -"Don't be worried, dearest," he whispered patting her shoulder softly. "I -haven't done anything wrong--I give you my word of honor--not even -anything wrong as you and father look at it. Of course, you'll think I -have been pretty headstrong and foolish and have gotten myself into a -scrape. But I didn't see it that way. I thought I could persuade the men -to keep out of trouble. Well, I didn't succeed, but I did not know I had -not until now. The men promised me to be sensible." - -He put his arm around her and then turned--not to his aunt or his sister, -but to Vera. - -"You'll make mother understand the way I felt, won't you? I didn't -confide in you because I didn't want to get you into my difficulty." - -Then he saw the two police officers approaching, with the railroad -detective. - -Billy smiled at them, although his face was pretty white. - -"You are making a mistake in this. I had a perfect right to give the -strikers all the information I ever gave them. As for any trouble you -have had along the road I knew nothing about it until this minute. And I -doubt if you can prove the strikers were mixed up in it anyway. Still I -know there is no use in my talking to you. I'll have to tell my story to -persons higher in authority. I'll be ready to go along with you in a few -moments." - -And in ten minutes Billy had gone with them, carrying a little bag packed -with a few of his belongings. - -He looked very slender and young as he walked away beside the heavy, -older men. But his head was up and his shoulders squared. - -If he had a lump in his throat and his body shook with nervousness, he -never confessed the fact. - -Instead, just before he was out of sight, he turned and waved his hand -gallantly to the group of his Camp Fire friends. - -Mrs. Webster had gone to her tent. But the girls and Mrs. Burton received -his farewell in tears. Ralph Marshall felt that he would like to have -relieved himself of his own emotion by using language which was not -permitted at Sunrise camp. - -Before he was to return to his hotel, however, in order to attend to some -business for Mrs. Burton, in connection with Billy's arrest, Peggy -Webster came to him. - -"I just wanted to thank you," she said quietly. - -But she held out her hand and, as Ralph took it, he felt the clasp had -its old, warm friendliness. - - - - - CHAPTER XX - The Grand Canyon - - -"I would give a great deal to be going down into the Grand Canyon with -you today, Miss Ellen." - -Ellen Deal looked closely at her companion. - -"I don't think you ought to wish for anything these days, because so much -that is good has already come to you." - -She spoke seriously and was very much in earnest; nevertheless her -companion laughed. - -The young man and woman were standing together at the summit of a cliff. -Thousands of feet below them lay the bottom of the Grand Canyon, through -which the Colorado River runs for a distance of two hundred and seventeen -miles, with a world of adamant and of radiant color lying between the -surface of the earth and this part of its interior. - -Near them were a dozen or more other persons getting ready for the -descent into the canyon. - -"You are perfectly right, as you are apt to be, Miss Ellen Deal," Robert -Clark returned. "Fate has been kind to me recently--kinder than I -deserve. It is wonderful that Mrs. Burton's husband is to put on my new -play. I sent it to him before Marta and I had met any of her Camp Fire -party. But I suppose she did bring me good luck in this as in another -thing, because it was hearing that the famous Polly O'Neill Burton was in -this neighborhood, which inspired me to offer my play to her husband." - -Ellen Deal nodded vigorously, the already bright color in her face -growing brighter. - -"Mrs. Burton says she likes your play immensely. She read the manuscript -about two weeks ago. And, of course, I am sorry you can't go down into -the canyon with us. It is only my unfortunate way of expressing myself. -What I really meant was that I am glad you are so much better and have -had such good fortune with your writing. I don't feel nearly so worried -about you. We shall be going away from here after a little, but I feel -sure now that you are going to get well." - -"And you won't stay on with Marta and me when I have explained to you -that I can now afford to pay you for the care you will give us? I know it -isn't much to offer, but I told you exactly what Mr. Burton had given me -as an advance royalty on my play. Living simply, as we do out here, it -ought to last some time. Besides, who knows what may happen, now my luck -has turned? Queer, isn't it, how bad fortune often brings good? If I had -kept on at my newspaper job it might have been a good many years before I -had the opportunity to write a play. Besides, through being ill, haven't -I come to knowing you." - -Ellen Deal blushed furiously and unbecomingly, as she already had too -much color to make any more desirable. She was one of the persons who -have not the faintest idea how to receive a compliment gracefully. A -compliment made her even more curt and severe in her manner than usual. -And Robert Clark had a Southerner's graceful fashion of being -complimentary to women in the most charming and apparently sincere way. - -"I told you I would not stay with you at any price when you no longer -need me. You were very much afraid of my offering you charity when I -volunteered to nurse you until you were stronger. Now, that you do not -require the services of a nurse, it seems you are offering charity to me. -It is totally unnecessary. Mrs. Burton has asked me to continue to remain -for a time longer with the Camp Fire party." - -Then, unexpectedly, Ellen Deal's eyes filled with tears. - -How utterly ungracious and unattractive her speech sounded! Nevertheless -she greatly wished Mr. Clark and his sister to remember her with -pleasure, when they were so soon to be separated and probably would not -meet again. - -But Robert Clark did not appear to be either angry or hurt. - -Instead, he continued looking at the young woman beside him with a kind -of grave tenderness. - -"Has it never occurred to you, Ellen, that I may need and want you for -other reasons; that I may wish to care for you more than I wish you to -care for me? But I have no right to speak of this to you now--not until I -am absolutely well." - -He held out his thin, somewhat scholarly hand and Ellen Deal put her own -capable, executive one into it. She did not understand all her -companion's speech implied, and yet she had a flooding sense of -happiness. - -"A happy day to you; I must go now and wish Mrs. Burton good luck. You -are wonderfully kind to have included Marta in your excursion into the -canyon. And I have enjoyed my ride with you this far. Good-bye." - -The Camp Fire party had this morning driven along a wonderful roadway -which is built beside the brink of the canyon for a number of miles. They -had finished an early luncheon at an odd road house imitating the Spanish -style and furnished with Spanish furniture. - -At the present moment Mrs. Burton was standing on the great porch of this -hotel talking to several of the Grand Canyon guides and entirely -surrounded by members of her Camp Fire party. The others were not far -away, but outside in the hotel grounds. - -Billy Webster was standing alongside his aunt looking perfectly well and -cheerful. Two weeks had passed since his arrest, but three days only had -been required for securing his release. - -Mrs. Burton had, of course, immediately obtained the interest and the -services of several influential men, who promised to get her nephew out -of his difficulty as quickly as possible. - -Then Billy's own story had been perfectly straightforward. He did not -deny his acquaintance with the strikers, but he did assert that his -effort with them had been against their employing violence. There was, -also, Ralph Marshall's testimony that his story was true. Also, there was -Billy's youth and his family's prominence to help him. Whatever the -reason or combination of reasons, the boy's case was dismissed after -three days although there was still the possibility that he might be -called as a witness at the trial of the suspected men. - -However, Billy had apparently borne his experience without much suffering -in mind or body. He had not looked so well or animated, as he did today, -since his arrival in Arizona. He had also managed to make peace with his -family for his escapade, which was more important. However, Mrs. Burton -insisted that he never be allowed to get very far out of her own or her -sister's sight while they were in Arizona, so they need have no further -shocks through Billy's proceedings. - -The entire Camp Fire party, excepting Mrs. Webster and Marie, who had -wisely remained at camp, was to descend on mule back down one of the -Grand Canyon trails to a plateau above the Colorado River. The trail was -one of the easiest, nevertheless it required thirty-six hours and they -were therefore to spend the night at a camp midway down the incline. - -Ralph Marshall, Terry Benton and Howard Brent also were members of the -expedition and Robert Clark had taken the drive, but was not strong -enough to go all the way down the trail. - -There is an appalling grandeur and an almost indescribable beauty in a -descent into the Grand Canyon. And the spectacle affects persons very -differently, according to their temperaments. To some the gigantic -awfulness of this huge and mysterious world of stone is more impressive -than its beauty or its majesty. To others it appears as a divine monument -of God, revealing the mystery of creation rather than inspiring terror. - -But whatever the effect on the Camp Fire party of the scene about them, -as they traveled slowly and carefully down the steep path, getting deeper -and deeper into the center of the earth, they were more silent and -self-absorbed than ever before. Even Sally Ashton and Gerry Williams -forgot to chatter, or else were too much occupied with their efforts not -to come to grief, as the riding was extremely difficult. - -About sundown the rude little houses built on a rocky plateau which were -to be their shelter for the night appeared as havens of refuge to each of -the travelers. - -As soon as they could dismount, everybody disappeared inside the houses -to rest, leaving only Peggy Webster and Ralph Marshall outside in company -with the guides who were looking after the mules. Peggy walked over to -the edge of the cliff and stood there looking down, and Ralph waited a -moment in order to be able to speak to her. - -"I have never been able to forgive myself, Peggy, for clutching at you -the afternoon I tumbled over one of these cliffs," a voice said -unexpectedly at the girl's elbow. "I do many things I ought not, but I -hate to think of adding cowardice to my weaknesses." - -Ralph Marshall's face was so troubled that Peggy involuntarily slipped -her arm inside his. Of course, one never forgets an unkindness; it is -hardly possible, but she had in a measure forgiven Ralph for his once -careless attitude toward her. Moreover, at present it made one feel safer -and happier to have the touch of something human near one, while -beholding so much of nature in an unfriendly mood. - -"Don't be absurd, Ralph; your reaching out was involuntary. Besides, you -hardly touched me. Anyone would have done what you did without thinking. -There was no time, and I would not have fallen as you hardly touched me, -except that the ground also gave way under my feet." - -"You are a good sport, Peggy, but it scarcely needs me to tell you so." - -Peppy turned toward her companion with one of her clearest and most -straightforward expressions. - -"I like to hear you say so though, Ralph," she answered. - -Then, in order to change the young man's train of thought, she stared at -the great mountains of color up above them and then at the deeper one at -their feet. - -"Do you suppose life is as wonderful and as beautiful a journey, Ralph, -as the climb through this canyon?" - -Ralph returned her gaze steadily. - -"I think it will be for you, Peggy, I wish I were as certain for myself. -But we shall be reaching the end of the trail into the canyon tomorrow. -May I wish we may be good friends to the end of a longer trail?" - -Peggy had only time to answer, "yes," when Mrs. Burton, coming to the -door, called her into their little lodging for the night. - - - - - BOOKS BY MARGARET VANDERCOOK - - - THE RANCH GIRLS SERIES - - The Ranch Girls at Rainbow Lodge - The Ranch Girls' Pot of Gold - The Ranch Girls at Boarding School - The Ranch Girls in Europe - The Ranch Girls at Home Again - The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure - - - THE RED CROSS GIRLS SERIES - - The Red Cross Girls in the British Trenches - The Red Cross Girls on the French Firing Line - The Red Cross Girls in Belgium - The Red Cross Girls with the Russian Army - The Red Cross Girls with the Italian Army - The Red Cross Girls Under the Stars and Stripes - - - STORIES ABOUT CAMP FIRE GIRLS - - The Camp Fire Girls at Sunrise Hill - The Camp Fire Girls Amid the Snows - The Camp Fire Girls in the Outside World - The Camp Fire Girls Across the Sea - The Camp Fire Girls' Careers - The Camp Fire Girls in After Years - The Camp Fire Girls on the Edge of the Desert - The Camp Fire Girls at the End of the Trail - The Camp Fire Girls Behind the Lines - The Camp Fire Girls on the Field of Honor - - - - - Transcriber's Notes - - ---Copyright notice provided as in the original printed text--this e-text - is public domain in the country of publication. - ---Silently corrected palpable typos. - ---Conjecturally repaired a lacuna on page 73 to "clear". - ---Conjecturally repaired damage across several lines on page 187 between - "himself" and "treatment". - ---Moved promotional material to the end of the text. - ---Relocated illustrations to be near the relevant text. - ---Corrected one inconsistently-cited book title ("... on the Edge of the - Desert") to match the actual book. - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Camp Fire Girls at the End of the -Trail, by Margaret Vandercook - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT END OF TRAIL *** - -***** This file should be named 42206.txt or 42206.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/2/0/42206/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was -produced from scanned images of public domain material -from the Google Print project.) - - -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. 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