he summer of the third year, Carol wrote to Connie:

"Haven't you been saving up long enough? We do so want to see you, and
Colorado is beautiful. We haven't the long mesa stretching up to the
sunny slopes as it was in New Mexico, but from our tiny cottage we can
look right over the city to the mountains on the other side, and the
sunny slopes are there. So please count your pennies. They give
summer rates you know."

Connie went down to Mount Mark the night she received that letter,
spending half the night in the train, and talked it over with the
family. Without a dissenting voice, they said she ought to go. Ten
days later, Carol and David were exulting over Connie's letter.

"Yes, thank you, I am coming. In fact, I was only waiting for the word
from you. So I shall start on Monday next, C., B. & Q., reaching
Denver Tuesday afternoon at 2:30. Be sure and meet me.

"I nearly lost my job, too. I went to Mr. Carver and said I wanted a
vacation. He said 'All right, when and how long?' I said, 'Beginning
next Monday.' He nodded. 'To continue six weeks.' He nearly died.
He asked what kind of an institution for the feeble-minded I thought
this was. I said I hadn't solved it yet. He reminded me that I have
already had one week's vacation, and three days on two different
occasions. He said he hired people to work, not to visit their
relatives at his expense. He said I had one week of vacation coming.
And I interrupted to say I didn't expect any salary during that time, I
just wanted him to hold my position for me. He said he was astonished
I didn't ask him to discontinue publication during my absence. Finally
he said I might have one week on full pay, and one week without pay,
and that was enough for a senator.

"So I went to my machine and wrote out a very literary resignation
which I handed to him. I know the business now, and I have met a lot
of publishers, so I was safe in resigning. I knew I could get another
position in three days. He tore the resignation up, and said he wished
I could outgrow my childishness.

"Before luncheon, he said he had a good idea. We were away behind in
clippings for filling and he suggested that I take a big bundle of
exchanges with me, and clip while I vacated. Also I could doubtless
find the time to write a thousand or so words a week and send it in,
and then I might go on full pay for six weeks. Figuratively I fell
upon his neck and kissed him,--purely