hire within fifty miles of Oak Creek," laughed Mrs. Brewster.

"Then Polly can answer the letter as she likes, and I will hunt up a
gal. You said it: you'd agree to hire help if one can be found!"
quickly came from the rancher.

"Sam, you took this occasion to have your own about hired help,"
laughed his wife, shaking her head deprecatingly.

"You never would listen before, but now you've got to!" said Mr.
Brewster, triumphantly.

"Polly, you can run in and answer that letter as soon as you like,"
hinted Mrs. Brewster, and the girl eagerly obeyed.

While she wrote the answer over and over till it met with her approval,
her parents exchanged confidences regarding John and this young
teacher, but Polly never dreamed of such fears.

The letter that left Pebbly Pit the following day was the first thread
woven in the warp and woof of two young lives--Eleanor Maynard in
Chicago and Polly Brewster in the Rockies. Had the reply been other
than it was, would these two girls have met and experienced the
interesting schooldays, college years, and business careers that they
enjoyed through becoming acquainted that summer at Pebbly Pit?




CHAPTER III