_, too, will soon
be a member of that circle!"

"Oh, ho! So that is your little game, eh! Well, Bob, I heartily wish you
luck. You haven't any idea how quiet and enjoyable Pebbly Pit will be
with you away from it!" retorted Eleanor.

With this parting shaft, the younger sister walked out, and found Tom
with Polly over by the watering trough where the seven wardrobe trunks
had offered such a fine table surface for the gamblers on the day the
Chicago girls came to Oak Creek. As she felt sure these two friends had
not over-heard the conversation between Barbara and herself, there was
no need in explaining, as yet.

Barbara failed to appear, however, and finally Eleanor went to the door
to call her. Her impatient words were arrested by hearing the operator
at the telegraph instrument, read a message aloud.

"Wire with news received. Have arranged for you. Plenty of
marriageable men in party. Do not oppose anything father wants.
Win his consent and money for visit. Nolla will be all right
there with Anne. Father now back at bank. Write him
immediately. Do not waive your rights on mine. We will fight if
necessary. It means a fortune for you. Wire me minute you have
news. Big affair on next week. MOTHER."

Eleanor managed to slip away without Barbara's seeing her. And so elated
was the elder sister over her mother's message, that she failed to find
any omission in the telegram. But Eleanor realized that her mother did
not mention her love for her daughter--it was all about society, money,
and graft!

But her mother's message could not throw cold water over Eleanor;
because of the fact that her father would be with her the end of that
very week! This was good news enough for any one, so she ran over to
Polly, waving her message.

"Just think! Daddy is coming to visit us at Pebbly Pit. Won't it be fun
for him to sleep in the barn with John and Tom?"

"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 pleasantl