they be Kenneth and his mother, it will simplify matters for all."

That started such a babel of voices that Sam Brewster got up and left
the room. But no one noticed his absence, as all were too interested in
planning for the fabulous wealth they conjured up in their thoughts.

After more than an hour of animated discussion and explanation, it was
decided to await the decision of the mechanics in the East who would
experiment on the stones from Rainbow Cliffs. A box of the stones would
be expressed at once, and a letter from John to Mr. Latimer would
explain everything.

"What does father say to this, mother?" asked Polly.

"He says that, as the ranch is legally mine, he has no vote in the
matter."

"Oh nonsense! Even if he did deed Pebbly Pit to you for a wedding gift,
you always do everything to please him," declared John.

"Yes, but he refuses to say what he thinks is best in this matter,"
added Mrs. Brewster.

"Well, seeing that so much hinges on his willingness to cooeperate with
us," announced John, impatiently, "I am going to say exactly what I have
felt to be the real cause of his disapproval of turning the Cliffs into
money."

Mrs. Brewster glanced anxiously from the window to see if her husband
could hear what was said, but Sam Brewster had evidently wandered away
from the porch as he was not to be seen.

"Father told Tom and me, while on Top Notch, that he really had no
personal objections to having the stones mined from Rainbow Cliffs, but
all unsightly machinery and the riff-raff of miners that would be
necessary in such work, must be kept out of sight of the house. He
explained that most of the working ends of the project could be
stationed back of the cliffs down in the Devil's Causeway, and the road
that would have to run to Bear Forks trail for the conveyance of the
stone, could be cut through in back of the 'Guards' and 'The Imps' of
the cliffs.

"He then said that there was but one condition he exacted from any one
who was interested in the plan, and that was that no undue influence
would be brought to bear upon Polly to increase her desire to leave home
for a higher education. His consent will be willingly given, and he will
aid us in every way to a successful issue if Polly agrees to remain at
home and give up her plan to go away to school."

As this unexpected ultimatum was given, every one gasped, and Polly
cried: "Oh, no! Father didn't say that, did he?"

John remained silent, a