Meg of Mystery Mountain

  CHAPTER IX. TELEGRAMS

  Although the children were greatly interested in all they saw, nothing ofan unusual nature had occurred, when, early one morning they reachedChicago.

  The kindly conductor directed them to the other train that would bearthem to their destination, assuring them that on it, also, they would beguests of Mr. Bethel.

  The four young people were standing on the outer edge of the hurryingthrong, gazing about them with interest (as several hours would elapsebefore the departure of the west-bound train), when Jane was sure thatshe heard their name being called through a megaphone.

  "It's that man in uniform over by the gates. He's calling 'Telegram forJane Abbott!'" Gerald told her. "May I go get it, Dan? May I?"

  The older boy nodded and the younger pushed through the crowd, the othersfollowing more slowly. Very quickly Gerald returned, waving two yellowenvelopes. One was a night letter from Marion Starr. Tearing it open,Jane read:

  "Dearest friend: As soon as I received your message I telephoned your father, knowing that he could explain much more than you could in ten words. What you are doing makes me love you more than I did before, if that is possible. My one wish is that I, too, might go West. I like mountains far better than I do fashionable summer resorts. Will write. Your Merry."

  The other telegram contained a short message, but Jane looked up withtears in her eyes as she said: "It is from father and just for me."

  Dan smiled down at her and asked no questions. The few words were: "Thankyou, daughter, for your self-sacrifice. Now I know that Dan will getwell."

  But their father did not know how serious Dan believed his condition tobe.

  "And he shall not," the girl decided, "not until I have good news tosend."

  As soon as they were seated in the train that was to take them the restof the journey, Jane said anxiously: "Dan, dear, aren't you trying toohard to keep up? You look so very weak and weary. Let's have the portermake up the lower berth, even though it is still daytime. You need a longrest."

  Dan shook his head, though he pressed her arm tenderly, but a coughingspell racked his body when he tried to speak. The conductor on the RockIsland was more practical than their former friend, but not more kindly.He motioned Jane to one side.

  "Miss Abbott," he said, "there is a drawing-room vacant. Bride and groomwere to have had it, but the order has been canceled. Since you arefriends of Mr. Bethel, I'm going to put you all in there. It will be morecomfortable, and you can turn in any time you wish."

  Jane's gratitude was sincerely expressed. It would give Dan just theopportunity he needed to rest, and the lad, nothing loath, permitted Janeto have her way. How elated the children were when they found that theywere to travel in a room quite by themselves. That evening they went tothe diner alone, but Gerald was not as pleased as was his sister.

  "I should think you'd be tickled pink," Julie said, inelegantly, "to beable to order anything you choose and not have Jane peering at what youwrite."

  The boy replied dismally: "I can't be much pleased about anything. Don'tyou know, Jane's staying with Dan 'cause she thinks he's too weak to comeout here? I heard her ask the porter to have their dinners brought inthere. Julie, you and I'll have to keep quieter if we want to help Danget well. He's sicker than he was when we started. I can see that easy."

  The small girl was at once remorseful.

  "I'm so glad you told me," she said with tears in her dark violet eyes."I've just been thinking what a lot of fun we're having. I've been worseselfish than Jane was."

  Seeing that her lips were quivering, Gerald said consolingly: "No, youhaven't, either. Anyhow, I think Dan's just tired out. He'll be lotsbetter in the morning. You see if he isn't."

  But when Dan awakened in the morning he was no better.

  During the afternoon, that their brother might try to sleep, theconductor suggested that Julie and Gerald go out on the observationplatform.

  "Is it quite safe for them out there alone?" Dan inquired.

  "They will not be alone," was the reply. "I'll put them in the care ofMr. Packard, with whom I am acquainted, as he frequently travels overthis line."

  Julie had been very eager to ride on the observation platform, but Janehad not wished to go outside because of the dust and cinders which shewas sure she would encounter, but now that the small girl was actuallygoing, she could hardly keep from skipping down the aisle as she followedthe conductor with Gerald as rear guard.

  There was only one occupant of the observation platform, and to Gerald'sdelight, he wore the wide brimmed Stetson hat which the boy had oftenseen on the screen.

  "I'll bet yo' he's a cattle-man. I bet yo' he is!" Gerry gleefullyconfided to his small sister while their guide said a few words to theWesterner. Then, turning, the conductor beckoned to them.

  The stranger arose and held out a strong brown hand to assist the littlegirl to a chair at his side.

  "How do you do, Julie and Gerald?" he said, including them both in hisfriendly smile. Julie bobbed a little curtsy, but Gerald's attempt atmanners was rudely interrupted by the necessity of seizing his cap.

  "We have to watch out for our hats," the stranger cautioned, "for now andthen we are visited by a miniature whirlwind."

  Gerald was almost bursting with eagerness. "Oh, I say, Mr. Packard," heblurted out, "aren't you a reg'lar--er--I mean a reg'lar----" The boygrew red and embarrassed, and so Julie went to his aid with, "Mr.Packard, Gerry thinks maybe you're a cow-man rancher like we've seen inthe moving pictures."

  The bronzed face of the middle-aged man wrinkled in a good-natured smile."I am the owner of a cattle-ranch fifteen miles from Redfords," he toldthem.

  This information so delighted the boy that Julie was afraid he wouldbounce right over the rail.

  "Gee-golly! That's where we're going--Redfords is! Our daddy owns a cabinway up high on Mystery Mountain."

  The man looked puzzled. "Mystery Mountain," he repeated thoughtfully. "Idon't seem to recall having heard of it."

  Then practical little Julie put in: "Oh, Mr. Packard, that isn't itsreally-truly name. Our daddy called it that 'cause there's a lost mine onit and Dad said it was a mystery where it went to."

  The man's face brightened.

  "O-ho! Then you must mean Redfords' Peak. That mine was found and lostagain before I bought the Green Hills Ranch. Quite a long while ago thatwas."

  Gerry nodded agreement. "Yep. Dan, our big brother is most twenty-one andhe hadn't been born yet." Then the boy's face saddened as he confided:"Dan's sick. He's got a dreadful cough. That's why we're going to Dad'scabin in the Rockies."

  "Our doctor said the al-te-tood would make him well," Julie explained,stopping after each syllable of the long word and saying it verythoughtfully.

  Gerald looked up eagerly. "Do you think it will, Mr. Packard? Do youthink Dan will get well?"

  The older man's reply was reassuring: "Of course he will. Our RockyMountain air is a tonic that gives new life to everyone. Are you threetraveling alone?"

  Julie and Gerald solemnly shook their heads, and the small girl, inchildish fashion, put a finger on her lips as though to keep from sayingsomething which she knew she ought not. It was Gerald who replied: "Ourbig sister Jane is with us." The boy said no more, but Mr. Packard wasconvinced that, devoted as the youngsters were to Dan, Jane, for somereason, was not very popular with them.

  Then, as he did not wish to pry into their family affairs, the genialrancher pointed out and described to fascinated listeners the many thingsof interest which they were passing.

  The afternoon sped quickly and even when the dinner hour approached thechildren were loath to leave their new friend.

  "Me and Julie have to eat alone," the small boy began, but, feeling anudge, he looked around to see his sister's shocked little mouth forminga rebuking O! and so, with a shake of his head, he began again: "I meanJulie and I eat
alone, and gee-golly, don't I wish we could sit at yourtable, Mr. Packard. Don't I though!"

  "The pleasure would be mine," the man, who was much amused with thechildren, replied. Then, after naming an hour to meet in the diner, theyoungsters darted away and Mr. Packard laughed merrily.

  It was quite evident that some one of their elders had often rebuked themfor putting "me" at the beginning of a sentence, he decided as he alsoarose and went within.

  Meanwhile Julie and Gerald had quietly opened the door of thedrawing-room, and, finding Dan alone, they told him with great gustoabout their new friend. "Mr. Packard says he's a really-truly neighbor ofours," Gerry said. "How can he be a neighbor if he lives fifteen milesaway?"

  "I don't know, Gerald, but I suppose that he does," Dan replied. "I wouldlike to meet your new friend. I'll try to be up tomorrow."