Books: Polly of Pebbly Pit
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Lillian Elizabeth Roy >> Polly of Pebbly Pit
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14 Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
POLLY OF PEBBLY PIT
BY
LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY
Author of
Polly and Eleanor,
Polly in New York,
Polly and Her Friends Abroad,
Polly's Business Venture.
Illustrated
1922
TO MY DEAR FRIENDS, SARAH J. BATTEY, M.D.,
AND BRYAN M. BATTEY.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I THE FARM IN PEBBLY PIT
II A MOMENTOUS LETTER
III PREPARING FOR THE UNKNOWN
IV THE "SERVANT PROBLEM" SOLVED
V UNPLEASANT SURPRISES
VI THE HARROWING DETAILS
VII A LITTLE SCHEME THAT WORKED
VIII ACCLIMATING THE CITY GIRLS
IX SEVERAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS
X THE DANCE AT BEAR FORKS
XI IN THE WILDERNESS
XII THE BLIZZARD ON GRIZZLY SLIDE
XIII A NIGHT IN THE CAVE
XIV OLD MONTRESOR'S LEGACY
XV MONTRESOR'S CLAIM is JUSTIFIED
XVI A YOUNG STRANGER IN OAK CREEK
XVII SARY'S AMBITIONS
CHAPTER I
THE FARM IN PEBBLY PIT
"Polly! Poll-ee!" sounded musically from the direction of the kitchen
doorway in a ranch-house, and reached Polly Brewster as she knelt
beside her pet in the barn.
"Run outside and see what Maw wants, Poll," said Mr. Brewster, who was
working faithfully over the object of Polly's solicitous devotion.
Obediently, Polly ran out and shaded her eyes as she gazed across the
great depression of the volcanic crater which had made such a wonderful
farm for the Brewsters. At the door of the long, squat homestead, stood
Mrs. Brewster, waiting for an answer.
The moment she saw Polly, she called: "Din-ner-r's ready!"
"All right!" shouted the girl, waving her sun-bonnet to signify she had
heard the message.
Mrs. Brewster returned to the kitchen and Polly went back to her
father's side. He glanced up as she entered the barn, and Polly replied
to his questioning look.
"Maw said dinner's ready."
"Well, Ah reckon Noddy's all right now, Poll," said the rancher, as he
stood up to stretch his tired muscles.
"I felt sure she would be, Paw," returned Polly, positively.
"If only Jeb was about, now, Ah could leave him with Noddy, with
directions about the medicine, till we-all get back from dinner," mused
Mr. Brewster, standing in the doorway to look about for Jeb.
"Why, Daddy! Do you suppose I'd leave Noddy with Jeb for a single
moment? And just as we saved her life, too! I reckon not! I'll stop
here myself and watch her," declared Polly with finality, as she
assumed the post vacated by her father, and held the little burro's
fuzzy head upon her knees.
Sam Brewster smiled as he watched Polly bend over her pet and whisper
affectionately in the long, sensitive ear.
"Poll, Jeb will shore say you used witchcraft on the burro; he said
Noddy was done for--being buried under that slide the way she was."
"Noddy _would_ have been done for if Jeb had had her in charge; but she
just couldn't refuse to live, with me right here calling her back,
you know. She loves me so, she had to listen to my voice," explained
Polly, with suspicious moisture in her big blue eyes.
"Ah reckon that's it, Poll! Love works wonders if we'd only _let_ it.
And you love everything in a way that everything loves you back again.
It beats me, how the beavers, and foxes, and even the bears treat you
as if you were one of them, instead of running to cover. As for the
chicks and colts and lambs on the ranch--why, they'd follow you to Oak
Creek, if they could!"
Polly smiled happily as she looked away over the distant mountain-sides
where Nature's creatures roamed unrestrained. And then her eyes rested
upon the pastures nearer home, where the farm pets grazed. Every one of
them, wild or tame, were her friends.
"Reckon Ah'll go now, Poll. What shall Maw do about the dinner?"
"Tell her not to bother about me. I'll wash the dishes' when I get
back, Daddy."
So Mr. Brewster started for the house and Polly settled herself in a
more comfortable position while crooning to little Noddy. As she sat
holding the little burro's head, her thoughts wandered back to the time
when Noddy was but three days old. The mother had died and left the
tiny bundle of brown wool to be brought up on a nursing bottle. To keep
the baby burro warm it had been wrapped in an old blanket and placed
back of the kitchen stove. Thus Noddy first learned to walk in the
large kitchen of the log ranch-house, and later it felt quite like a
member of the family.
Being such a sleepy little colt, the name of Noddy was considered very
appropriate but, as the burro grew older, it showed such intelligence
and energy that its name was a dreadful misnomer.
Noddy considered Polly her particular charge and followed her about the
place like a dog. And when the burro was full-grown, she became the
daily companion that Polly rode to school, over the mountain trails, or
about the farm.
The wise western burros are not half appreciated by folks who do not
understand their unusual intelligence and their devotion to their
masters. They will seek for water or edible herbs when lost on the
desert or mountain peaks and sacrifice life to save that of the
rider's.
But Noddy's present condition was not due to sacrifice. Most of the
horses and burros at Pebbly Pit showed such an aversion to the Rainbow
Cliffs that they never grazed near there, although the luxuriant grass
made fine pasturage. These cliffs were the local wonder and gave the
farm its name. They were a section of jagged "pudding-stone" wall
composed of large and small fragments of gorgeously hued stones massed
together in loose formation, like shale. Great heaps of these jeweled
fragments, which crumbled easily from the cliff, lay piled up along the
base of the wall and sparkled brilliantly when the sun shone upon them,
or directly after a rain.
Noddy had been pasturing out the night before her accident, and at
sunrise found herself too near the tabooed cliffs. She lifted her ears
suspiciously, wrinkled her nose fearfully, and wheeled to run away to a
more desirable locality. But in that quick turn she loosened the shale
at the base of a steep descent. The treacherous rock slid and threw her
down. Before she could get up and away the great mass rumbled down and
covered her, but she finally managed to work her head free for breath.
Jeb, out early to seek for stray cattle, saw the fresh slide and gazed
wonderingly at it. Then he spied the nose and hoof of a burro
protruding from the shale. He rushed to the barn where he had left Mr.
Brewster, and in a short time master and man had the tools and "cradle"
back at the spot, and Noddy was soon unearthed. She was unconscious, and
Jeb declared it was useless to bother with a burro so evidently far
gone. Even Mr. Brewster feared she was past help, but Polly insisted
that Noddy must live.
All that morning Polly sat holding the limp brown head while whispering
words of affection in the long ears, and who will say that Noddy's
instinct did not respond to love, even though the physical sense of
hearing was deaf to earthly sounds? She slowly revived and was resting
comfortably when the house-call came for dinner.
Mr. Brewster returned after dinner, bringing a bowl of gruel for the
burro, and Jeb followed his master to inquire about the patient.
"Jeb, you-all help me feed Noddy while Polly runs to the house for her
dinner," said Mr. Brewster.
"I'd a heap rather wait here and help with Noddy, Paw!"
"Oh, Polly! Maw told me to say there was a letter for you. Jim Melvin
stopped off with our mail he got at Oak Creek to-day."
"A letter! Who can it be from?" asked Polly wonderingly.
"That's what you must find out. It looks like a girl's writing and it
is post-marked Denver. Who do you know there?" replied her father.
"Denver? Why, nobody! I'll run and see who it's from!" cried she
eagerly, and Mr. Brewster smiled at the success of the ruse to get his
daughter away for a time.
Polly was a genuine child of Nature. Her life of little more than
fourteen years had been spent in the mountains surrounding her ranch-
home, Pebbly Pit. The farm was oddly located in the crater of an
extinct volcano, known on the maps as "The Devil's Grave." Like many
other peaks scattered about in this region of Colorado, the volcanic
fires had been dead for centuries.
The outer rim of the crater formed a natural wall about the bowl, and
protected the rich and fertile soil of the farm from the desert winds
that covered other ranches with its fine alkali dust. The snows in
winter, lodging in the crevices of the cliffs, slowly melted during the
progress of summer, thus furnishing sufficient moisture for the
vegetation growing in the "bowl"; and this provided splendid pasturage
for the herds of cattle owned by the rancher.
When Sam Brewster staked his claim in this crater, his companions
jeered at the choice and called the place "Pebbly Pit." But the young
man had studied agriculture thoroughly and knew what he was doing; then
the test made by the government convinced him of this.
Besides, his Denver bride preferred the beauty of the spot to the more
sociable but draughty ranches in the valley of Bear Forks River; so
they settled in the crater, and named the farm Rainbow Cliffs, but the
original nick-name clung, and gradually the owners, from habit, also
came to call their place "Pebbly Pit."
In the mountains where the government gives a settler all the timber he
needs, transportation is so difficult and paid labor almost unknown, so
that the size and quality of a rancher's house and out-buildings
expresses his character. Sam Brewster's buildings and fences were as
solid and comfortable as any in the State. He and his wife (a refined
young woman) were ambitious and energetic, so it was not surprising
that they succeeded in life.
When John, the first-born, had completed his studies at High School in
Denver, he was sent to a well-known college in Chicago. And now that
Polly, seven years John's junior, had finished her grammar course at
the little Bear Forks log school-house, she, too, was determined to
enter High School at Denver.
Sam Brewster had stubbornly refused to consent to the plan, taking for
an excuse that no friends or relatives remained in Denver where Polly
might board, and commutation was out of the question. But he knew, and
so did his wife, that the truth of his refusal lay in the fact that he
could not bear to part with his youngest child--even though she visited
at home each week-end.
Mrs. Brewster sided with Polly's ambition, and planned to visit her old
home in Denver to see if she could find any friends who would prove to
be desirable for Polly to associate with. The matter stood thus this
lovely June day when the unexpected letter arrived.
The very unusual occurrence created enough interest for Polly to take
her mind from the burro, so she ran swiftly towards the house while
every possible correspondent she could think of passed through her
thoughts. But she was as much at sea as ever, when she danced up the
log steps leading directly to the kitchen.
"Maw, Maw! Where are you--is there really a letter?"
"Yes--from Denver! But how is Noddy?" replied Mrs. Brewster, coming to
the kitchen door, holding a square envelope in her hand.
"Dear little Noddy--she is all right now, Maw, but it looked mighty bad
a bit of time back. I just had to pray and _pray_ with all my might,
Maw--you know how!" sighed Polly, taking the refined-looking letter
from her mother without seeing it.
"I never knew how I loved that dear little bundle of fuzz and flesh
till I thought she was dead! Oh, I am so glad she will live that I
don't care if I ever eat again or not!"
Still holding the precious letter, Polly turned back to look at the
barn where the object of her love was lapping up the gruel. Mrs.
Brewster smiled indulgently at her intense young daughter, then
reminded her of the unopened communication.
"Dear me! So much excitement in one day--I don't see how I can quiet
down again. But _who_ do you suppose would write to _me_?" queried
Polly, holding the envelope at arm's length and studying the hand-
writing.
"I'm not clairvoyant, Polly, so suppose you open it and see for
yourself," laughed Mrs. Brewster.
"Well, I hate to spoil this nice stationery but--here it goes!"
murmured Polly, severing an end of the envelope as if she was the
executioner of an innocent victim.
"See who it's from, Polly, while I dish up your dinner. Of course you
don't care whether you ever eat again, but I would suggest that at
least you strive to ward off starvation," remarked her mother,
teasingly, as she took a well-filled plate from the oven.
"Wh-h-y--of all things!" gasped Polly, as she read the letter quickly.
Mrs. Brewster stood waiting to hear more, and Polly gave another
hurried glance at the signature before explaining.
"It's from Anne Stewart--the girl who used to teach at Bear Forks
school that time the teacher got sick and had to leave for a few
months. You know--the pretty one with the blonde hair that all the big
scholars raved over?" announced Polly.
"Oh, yes! The one that you said was so happy to be in this wonderful
country?"
"Yes, that's the girl! Well, guess what she writes me?" And Polly waved
the written sheet above her head.
"Polly, have you been writing to her about High School?" hurriedly
asked Mrs. Brewster.
"I never thought of that! Maybe we can plan it with her," returned
Polly, her expression changing instantly to meet the new suggestion of
her mother's.
"Well, time enough to settle that question. Now tell me what she
wrote," declared Mrs. Brewster, sighing with relief.
"You'll be taken right off your feet, Maw, so you'd best sit down and
listen," advised Polly, nibbling at a biscuit while she waited for her
mother to be seated.
"Now, I don't want you to shake your head or say a word, until I'm all
through reading, Maw. It's something terribly surprising and goodness
only knows why she asked _me_. I was so young when she taught school
that she never noticed me much."
"Yes, you were _so_ much younger two years ago, and you are so very
ancient now!" retorted Mrs. Brewster, trying to appear serious.
"You know what I mean--but this isn't reading you the letter and I know
just how you'll gasp when you hear her brother--listen and I'll read
it."
CHAPTER II
A MOMENTOUS LETTER
Having seen that her mother was seated and ready for the surprise,
Polly read:
"Dear Miss Polly:
"As you are fast reaching the boundary-line where girlhood and
womanhood meet, I feel I must address you with the prefix that
dignifies this stage of your life, although I seem to know you best as
the rosy-cheeked little girl whose name of 'Polly' seemed to fit her
exactly.
"Perhaps your mother will be surprised that I did not write this letter
to her, as most of it concerns her and her family directly. But I can
best explain why I am writing to you by the following:
"My brother Paul and your brother John are chums in college, you know,
and I heard quite recently that you wished to prepare for High School
in Denver this fall. When a friend in Chicago wrote me to find a good
home in the mountains near Denver where I can stay with and tutor his
daughters during the summer, I thought of the region about Bear Forks.
Having been there myself, I know how wonderful the country and climate
are.
"If your mother and yourself think well of my proposition, I know I can
help you a great deal, also, towards preparing you for High School, as
I will have to devote a short time each day this summer in keeping
Eleanor up in her studies.
"Last year Eleanor and Barbara Maynard, of Chicago, came to board with
us in Denver. These girls are acquainted with Paul and John, through
their brother who is a class-mate of the boys. The younger girl,
Eleanor, who is your age, had been very ill and the doctor ordered her
to Denver because of the wonderful air. Her sister, who is about my
age, accompanied her. The father, Mr. Maynard, engaged me to tutor
Eleanor, or Nolla we call her, during her stay in Denver, as she was
backward in lessons.
"We three became very good friends and when the girls went back to
Chicago, I missed their companionship very much. I had a letter from
the father last week, asking me to find a mountain resort for this
summer where he could send the girls, as Nolla needs the invigorating
air and simple life of the Rockies. She is organically sound but not
strong enough to stand city air and life.
"Mr. Maynard has been through the Bear Forks country and when I wrote
suggesting a ranch there, he immediately wired me to settle the matter
at once. To-day I had a letter from the mother who cannot go with her
daughters for the summer, so she asked me to go with them, more as a
friend and adviser than as a tutor. My expenses will be paid, and my
salary for tutoring Nolla will be a blessing to help Paul through his
third year's term of the college course.
"I know your brother is away with Tom Latimer on some practice work
with a survey crew, so his room is vacant this summer. Then too, I was
told by John that you had a small spare room back of the kitchen, so
that three girls could have comfortable quarters. If, by any chance,
your mother would consent to take us in for the summer, I could help
you with your preparatory lessons for High School next term, at the
same time that I coach Nolla. And I will agree for myself and the two
girls that we will not expect any other than your usual home-life.
"This unexpected request may meet with disapproval and refusal by your
family, but do not let one of the causes be on the grounds of the extra
work we might create, because we do not want any fussing, whatever, but
we do want to be treated as members of the family--to do our share of
anything that needs to be done.
"Mr. Maynard wishes his girls to live in the outdoors as much as
possible, so we will not be in your mother's way. I certainly hope your
father and mother will allow us to come, and I can promise you that you
will enjoy these girls very much. The terms are of no consequence, Mr.
Maynard said, as he is ready to pay anything to give Nolla a quiet home
and the life she needs.
"I trust you can persuade your mother to try us, at any rate, and so,
hoping for a favorable reply to this letter,
"I am your sincere friend,
ANNE STEWART."
While Polly read the letter aloud, her mother thought rapidly. She had
the picture of a charming girl who had often met John Brewster at
social gatherings during the term she taught the children at Bear
Forks. Now her brother Paul was one of John's chums at college. Perhaps
this girl had visited at Chicago, and perhaps John had visited her home
at Denver--but he had never said a word about it. It was very evident
that this girl had an intimate acquaintance with the home-life at
Pebbly Pit, and this knowledge must have reached her through John.
Hence John and she must be very well acquainted. John would doubtless
marry some day, but his mother did not care to see him entangled before
he had launched his bark on the waters of his ambition. If he was
touched by one of Cupid's darts to fancy himself in love with his
chum's pretty sister, it was good judgment for his mother to know all
there was to be known about the girl. Not that the letter confessed
this state of affairs, but the mother feared that such must be the
case--for who could resist loving her handsome, clever boy?
"Maw! I _said--Anne Stewart is perfectly lovely!"
"Oh, yes, Polly! So I believe," replied Mrs. Brewster, in an absent-
minded manner.
"Well! If you'd let them come here I would love it!"
"You can't judge beforehand, Polly. Having three city strangers come
suddenly to live at a ranch where city manners are unknown, will turn
things upside-down, you know."
"But you see, Maw, the teacher offers to help me with lessons so I can
pass for High School in the fall," Polly reminded her mother.
"I can do as much for you, dear, without the care of strangers,"
remonstrated Mrs. Brewster, who would not commit herself until she had
had time to weigh all things carefully.
"Then I s'pose you intend refusing this request!" pouted the
disappointed girl.
"I wish to think over the situation most wisely before we reply to the
letter. Now finish your dinner and do the dishes. I am going to take my
mending to the side porch."
Polly did as she was told but her imagination strayed to Denver and
Chicago, as she tried to picture Barbara and Eleanor Maynard with Anne
Stewart, visiting Pebbly Pit that summer. Meantime, Mrs. Brewster
considered the _pros_ and _cons_ of the problem. If this Anne Stewart
proved to be the sort of wife John needed, it would be advisable to
have her know her future family-in-law. If she was not desirable, it
would be discovered during the weeks she lived under the same roof with
John's mother. But should it transpire that there was no cause for
worry about John and this young teacher, she would still prove to be a
good friend for Polly to know in case the child attended school in
Denver the following term. Mrs. Brewster had almost decided to speak
favorably to Polly of the plan, when the girl joined her on the porch.
"Do you suppose Daddy will mind having so many young folks about the
place--that is, if you will let them come?"
"I'm sure your Paw will be happy to give you pleasure, and you know how
glad he is to have young people visiting here, rather than having you
leave home to visit others," remarked Mrs. Brewster, slowly drawing the
yarn through a hole in a sock.
"While I washed the dishes, I wondered if he would say anything to you
about the extra work, the three girls will make?" said Polly, trying to
"feel" her mother out.
"That will be his main objection, I think. He had planned for me to
visit my old friends in Denver, this summer, but this new departure
will make it impossible for me to be away from here."
"Oh, Maw, if you want to go away, don't let these girls spoil your
plans!" cried Polly, contritely.
"I really had not thought of my own pleasure in visiting old friends at
Denver, Polly, but I had planned to see about your residence this
winter should you attend school there. I want you to board with a
family that can offer you the proper atmosphere. If this young teacher
proves to be nice, she will know all I needed to find out about the
school and a boarding house, and I will not have to leave my beloved
home at all."
"Well, then, it all depends on what Daddy will say!" cried Polly,
joyously. "I do wish he'd hurry in."
"He must have known your wishes, Polly; I see him coming towards the
house," laughed Mrs. Brewster.
Polly leaned over the hand-rail of the porch to watch her father coming
nearer and nearer. Then, when she thought he was in hailing distance,
she shouted:
"Daddy! Do hurry and hear the news--came in my letter!" And the missive
was waved back and forth to urge the rancher to greater speed.
Mr. Brewster reached the porch and whipped off his wide sombrero to mop
his warm forehead. "Well, Maw, did Poll tell you about Noddy? Ah tell
you! Our Polly is some doctor, all right!"
As the rancher chuckled over his words, Polly felt she had been guilty
of neglect, for she had quite forgotten to ask how Noddy was. Mrs.
Brewster smiled as she continued her darning.
"Who's with Noddy now--did you give Jeb careful instructions, Paw?"
anxiously queried Polly.
"Noddy's sleeping as peacefully as a babe, so you-all needn't worry any
more. Now tell me all about the wonderful letter."
"Sam, do you remember that golden-haired young lady from Denver, who
took Miss Shalp's place at Bear Forks school for a few months?" quickly
asked Mrs. Brewster.
The note of anxiety in the query was not overlooked by the rancher, but
he answered indifferently--to all appearances:
"Shore thing, wife. Could any one forget such a nice girl in a hurry?"
"Well, Sam, the letter's from her--Anne Stewart is her name."
"Don't tell him what! Let me read it, Maw!" cried Polly.
So the letter was read again and the moment it was concluded Polly and
Mrs. Brewster looked fearfully at Mr. Brewster, for they both expected
violent objections from him.
But the rancher stood boring a hole with the toe of his boot down
through the soft grass sod, while he seemed to study the cobbler's
handiwork. After a few moments of tense silence, he looked up and
laughed heartily.
"Who'd have thought it, Mary? You, young looking enough to pass for a
blushing bride but having a son old enough to think of a sweet-heart.
And little Poll here, trying to bamboozle us to let her go away to
school. Ah, well!"
Polly gazed from father to mother and back again. "What has John got to
do with this letter? Gracious, he isn't thinking of a wife, I hope!"
Her parents laughed at her perplexity, and Mr. Brewster explained
satisfactorily to her question:
"I was thinking of the four pretty girls we'd have at the ranch all
summer, if John comes home to choose one of them."
"Oh, Daddy! Then you'll have them come?" cried Polly, at the same time
jumping at her father to throw her arms about his neck.
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