"Oh, he never could, Nolla!" gasped Polly.
"Why not? He is no better than the boys, here!"
"But—well, I'm sure father won't like him to. We must plan somewhere else for him," replied Polly.
"I'll tell you-all a secret, if you won't tell any one. I got Daddy to hurry here on purpose to meet John and Tom. I believe he will do something about the mine and the Cliffs if he hears the plans from the boys. You know, his bank makes big investments at times. But don't let Bob know this, for anything in the world!"
Tom looked pleasantly surprised at the suggestion. He had forgotten all about Mr. Maynard's connection with a flourishing bank.
"Won't it be nice to have your father meet my father," remarked Polly, thinking not so much of finances as of hospitality.
"Yes, and I hope he won't interfere with Bob's plans to join mother in the North Woods. If only we could get rid of her right off, what a fine time we could have with Dad here!" Eleanor sighed.
Polly never could understand the lack of love and family pride between these two sisters, but then she had never seen how many families there are, where husband and wife have opposite tendencies and ideals; it inevitably followed that the children showed these antagonistic qualities in their behavior to each other.
Having replied to their telegrams, both sisters were ready to ride back to the ranch. But Tom suggested that they visit the Movies where a great society drama was being shown. This pleased the girls, and soon they were following the hair-breadth escapes of an unscrupulous society impostor, and the wreck he had made of a young damsel's faith.
As they filed from the low-ceiled, ill-smelling theater, Eleanor laughed and said: "That's the kind of life Bob wants! If she ever had a fortune of her own, she would have to fend off just such rascals. Watch me wasting my life trying to catch a husband—Pouf!"