Eleanor Maynard, of Chicago, now Pollys dearest friend, never had to count the cost of anything, as her father was the best known and richest banker of that great city. But because of her ill health, being a protegée of Anne Stewart for the past two years, this association had taught Eleanor to think twice before she wasted her allowance.
And Anne Stewart, just past twenty-one, was experienced for her age, because of her mothers dependence on her for most things, since the father died many years before this story opens. And Paul, her younger brother now at college in Chicago (where the other boys also studied), was there because his sister earned the money with which to pay his expenses. Now that Anne would participate in the shares of the gold mine that had been discovered the day of the escape on Grizzly Slide, the Stewarts had no need to practise such strict economy as hitherto.
In the morning Polly was awakened by a knock at her door. Poll, someone wants to speak to you over the phone, said Anne.
Me? Why, who can it be? I never talked into one of those funny little black horns in my life, Anne. Wait, and help me.
In another moment Polly, in a pretty negligée one of the purchases of the previous afternoon ran out of her room. Anne sat her upon a stool before the small stand and showed her how to hold the instrument.
Hello! whispered Polly, half afraid that something would pop out at her.
Eleanor had crept out of her room by this time, and stood back of Polly, grinning at her friends nervousness.
Speak louder, admonished Anne in Pollys ear.
Hello! shouted Polly, trying to adjust her senses to the unfamiliar method of conversing with an unseen individual.
Then a merry laugh and a familiar voice sounded in her ear. Her face expressed amazement, then pleased surprise, and then excitement. She glanced up at Eleanor as the voice continued speaking.
Oh, were so glad to hear you are in the city. Now we shall have lovely times! exclaimed Polly, finally.
A joyous boys voice continued talking but suddenly it ceased, and Polly looked at Anne for an explanation. The telephone receiver began clicking strangely in her ear, and she held it at arms length in fear of what might be going to explode inside that queer tube.
Eleanor laughed and said, Let me do the talking it sounds like Jim Latimer is it?
Yes, Ken and he landed from the West at midnight, and they are going to the Mardi Gras with us to-night.
Eleanor now took the telephone, and by the time the operator managed to connect the interrupted wires, she was ready to chat as if she had nothing else to do. After ten minutes of silly boy and girl talk, Anne whispered: Oh, do stop, Nolla! It is eight oclock and we want to fill a good day with work.
Ive got to ring off, now, Jim, but well see you to-night.
of the ocean upon one who had never seen anything like it, and finally Polly heaved a sigh.
Well, this is better than all else. Its worth coming so far east to see. Its the only decent thing of which New York can boast.
Her companions laughed; after digging in the soft sand for a short time, and exchanging youthful view-points about everything in the universe, they all sauntered back to the place where the two cars had been parked.
A shout greeted them. There, I knew you boys had dodged us on purpose. But Miss Stewart thought you were lost in this crowd.
As everyone felt tired before the cars reached New York City again, the conversation was intermittent. But just before Mr. Latimer drove his car up to the hotel, Mrs. Stewart learned how Dr. and Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Latimer, and the two boys, Jim and Ken, had spent that entire day home-hunting for the westerners with no success.
It seems very strange that in such a vast city one is not able to find a decent apartment, complained Mrs. Stewart.
We are told because of the war. The war is blamed for everything these days, but the real excuse for owners not building now is because of the high cost of material and labor. They are all waiting for better times; meantime people must take what can be had, or go without, said Mr. Latimer.
After hunting the way we have for more than a week, and not having found a suitable place, Mrs. Stewart, I would suggest your finding a nice boarding-house for the winter. If you put it off too long, even those places will be filled, advised Mrs. Latimer.
Dear me! sighed Mrs. Stewart. That was suggested this morning, but I said it seemed dreadful, when I came East just to make a home and keep house for the three girls.
Yes, it would be much pleasanter for everyone to have a home, but in cases like this Falls shortage of apartments, one must do what is most expedient, returned Mrs. Latimer.
Mrs. Stewart told the girls, that night, what had been said, but they all felt sure something must turn up in the next day or two. So the next morning before starting out, they laid out a regular plan of work.
Mother and Eleanor will start where we left off, yesterday, and weave a search back and forth downtown until they reach the hotel. I will take Polly and, beginning at Washington Square, work uptown until we finish. If either of us find anything at all decent, and in an agreeable neighborhood, pay down a deposit to hold it and be sure to get a receipt as a binder Mr. Latimer told me that much. Then we will all go for the second inspection and decide. Dr. Evans said wed better pay down several deposits rather than lose a place, as we can quickly sell out any option we have for more than we paid down.