“It is a very large skeleton, I think,” Polly answered. “And truly, Doctor, we girls have nothing to do with it. Peggie Murray found it long ago. We are only the—the—”
“Promoters of the science,” finished the Doctor. “I see. Dear, dear, what a tanned lot of young Indians you are. Isn’t it a splendid country? I felt several inches taller as soon as I breathed the air of this altitude.”
Jean said the team was ready to start now, so they all climbed in, and drove back to the station.
“This is my first experience with a three-seated surrey behind a pair of bronchos,” exclaimed the Doctor. “They use them on the tourist expeditions through the National Park, though, come to think of it. Have you been over there yet?”
“Not this time,” said Ruth, frankly. “We haven’t money enough. But we’re having a perfectly splendid time at the ranch, and next week we’re going camping.”
“Just for a few days to give them a taste of it,” Jean added over her shoulder. “We start back for Virginia on our fourth week.”
“You, too, Miss Jean?” asked Polly. She had not expected that Miss Murray would go back with them.
“Isn’t this a personally-conducted tour?” asked Jean, smiling. “Of course, I shall see you safe and sound at home.”
When they drove up to the station, there sat Mrs. Sandy and Miss Calvert holding each other’s hands, and talking in low tones, making up for the silence of all the years.
Sandy had a quiet, comprehensive, half-humorous smile on his face, and as he shook hands with the Doctor, he said in an undertone: