“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 of the rooms. I don’t care where or how you get the items for furnishing, but I’d like some of the fun of going about with you when you visit odd corners of the country to dig up the antiques.”