your studies
until you have finished; and your father said there was a tidy fortune in
a Denver bank for you, so that no matter what happened to others, you
were amply provided for. With your business that you wish to take up, you
will not have to worry over the future," explained Jack Baxter.

Eleanor remembered that Mr. Dalken had invested heavily in these two
Pebbly Pit ventures, and now she turned to him.

"Will everyone connected with those two mines lose a great deal of
money?"

"Your father, the Latimers, the Evans', myself and John Brewster hold
equal shares of stock, but Polly's father holds twice as much as anyone
else, for he holds Polly's stock as her guardian as well as his own. The
Montresor Estate, representing the heirs of Kenneth's uncle who first
discovered the mine on Grizzly, and then willed it to Polly who later
re-discovered the same vein of ore in the cave, hold the same number of
shares in the stock-company as either of us, although they did not
furnish any cash for their stock.

"Now Ebeneezer Alexander told Jack to tell us, that he simply could not
stand city-life another day. And, after enjoying the freedom and open
life of the Rockies again, he was determined to stay at Pebbly Pit and
see the tangle worked out. His experience will be most valuable to Tom
and John, who are only young engineers, after all. And Mr. Brewster is a
stock-grower with no knowledge of mining. So we think it is a good plan
to let Mr. Alexander take up some of our shares, and sell him an interest
in the future of these mines.

"If anyone can pull Choko's Find Mine out of the grave it is buried in,
old Ebeneezer can do it. He has such energy and perseverance that nothing
daunts him--excepting big cities."

"And titles!" added Eleanor, making her friends laugh.

"Oh, I'm glad to hear he will stay there to help. I like him so much!"
declared Polly.

"Well, now that most of our evening was given to the story about the
land-slide on Grizzly, how much time am I to be given for the furnishing
of my apartment?" asked Jack Baxter.

"Just talking about it won't furnish it," retorted Polly, smilingly.

"No, but we can get at first principles, can't we?"

"Yes; if both sides know on what basis each wishes to start!" said
Eleanor.

"I know my side of it, and I really think you girls know yours. This is
my basis: I have two large rooms and bath near Fifth Avenue, that I want
a decorator to do in keeping with the style