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Show . hi I ""' " TT ' '" I " '" "i"""" K,",,ii i .V-- I :!"";: - ...4 drunkenly In the rear. Such con- fusion amused his brother; and a ' quiet In ugh escaped from Nancy. She said: "lie's really bashful, isn't he?" "Burn that way," responded Cousin Cous-in Columbine. "And so guod looklugl" observed Nance. They had stopped at a traffic signal, sig-nal, and their driver turned his head a little to say over his shoulder: shoul-der: "The family beauty." Nance couldn't restrain a giggle, and Jack laughed outright; but Cousin Columbine remarked severely: severe-ly: "If you expect me, or anybody in Pine Ridge to contradict you, young man, you'll be disappointed. In my day it wasn't considered modest to fish for compliments. The green light's on, boy. Why don't you get along?" "Too crushed to move," he told her; and proceeded to start the engine en-gine as quietly as its age allowed. "I'll park somewhere on a side street, Miss Columbine. There's no space In front of the 'Cash and Carry' ; but I'll walk over and get your box. It's only half a block." Eager to stretch his legs, Jack offered assistance; and as the boys strode off the old lady remarked critically: "Jack's thin, isn't he? Grown too fast, most likely, and been cooped up In school. A year in the open will do wonders for him." Nance thought, with sudden consternation: con-sternation: "A year! Does she expect ex-pect us to stay that long?" but nervous going np the pass, riere wo are." They had left the station and were crossing a broad parking "pare. "You're to ride with Mark, Jack. You boys must get acquainted, acquaint-ed, and I want a chance to get acquainted ac-quainted with your sister." Jack grinned ns he helped them to their places. Nancy said, as she sat down beside the eccentric lady whom she was beginning to like immensely: im-mensely: "It's queer, but I feel acquainted ac-quainted with you already; and do you realize we don't even know your name?" The lined face brightened humorously. humor-ously. "The trulh is, I never tell my name if I can avoid it. That's the only grudge I've got against my parents. I've always wondered if their brains weren't affected by the altitude when they Indicted such a misnomer on a helpless infant. in-fant. My name, you nice young things, Is Columbine Nelson 1" If their unconventional relative had set a bomb and blown the old touring car into a million bits, she wouldn't have created more surprise. sur-prise. Jack paused, one foot on the running board, and stared at her ; while Nancy gasped : "But but you can't be! Why Cousin Columbine's Co-lumbine's a feeble old lady over seventy I" "Over seventy, I'll admit," alleged their companion, her eyes twinkling, "but not so feeble as she led you to believe. Stop staring at me, Jack. If It's the middy blouse, you'll just have to get used to it. A middy's a life-saver life-saver in a place like Pine Ridge, where there's no dressmaker. I welcomed them with joy when they came Into fashion years ago ; and I shall continue to wear them, fashion fash-ion or no fashion, as long as they can be bought by maiL The red ones are for gala occasions like the present. Usually I wear blue. Here comes our driver. Will you kindly testify that my name is Nelson, Mark? These young folks seem to be unbelieving." Mark Adam laughed as he swung Into the driver's seat. "It Is unless she got married when I dropped her at the court house two hours back," he stated. "I saw that cop give you an admiring admir-ing glance, Miss Columbine." "Admiring!" Columbine Nelson sniffed contemptuously. "It's more likely he was thinking: 'There's that old freak come down from Pine Ridge again.' Stop at the Cash and Carry for a box of canned stuff, Mark I and then head for home or Matthew will get there first and not know where to put the luggage." lug-gage." "Can't Aurora tell him?" The question was as unique as the woman; but in that momeut her somewhat mannish countenance was lighted by a contagious smile. Jack actually grinned, while Nance responded quickly: "It looks as if you had I Did Cousin Columbine send you to meet us?" A quick nod answered her. "I dare say you're hungry as two bears, and so am I. Come In, and eat. These eastern trains always arrive at meal times." Still talking, she led them toward the station restaurant and motioned to seats at the counter. "No use In paying a dollar for a dinner when you can get a hot roast beef sandwich for fifty cents. Do you like roast beef? In my opinion there's nothing better. Do you want coffee? They say it's bad for people peo-ple but I've drunk It every day for more than fifty years and am still able to get about." Struck dumb by this breezy individual, indi-vidual, Jack stifled a smile and gave his sister a disconcerting nudge. Their escort had hung her cape on a nearby hook, and was a noticeable notice-able figure In her broad felt hat and scarlet middy. People looked at her, mildly amused; but there was nobility in her weather-beaten countenance, and her smile was winning. Lunch was quickly served, and there being no privacy at the counter, coun-ter, was consumed In silence save for a few questions regarding their journey. As the train pulled away from the station, both boy and girl turned to watch it, feeling a subtle, regretful twinge, as if some good friend were deserting them ; and as Nance resumed her meal their companion com-panion asked: "Sorry to see the train depart without you?" "I suppose I am," replied the girl, CHAPTER III Continued ' for the first time since starting this journey, Nancy forgot her ' esickness and was thrilled. She Lw a breath bom of both amazement amaze-ment aDd delight To one whose en-L en-L life nad been spent either in a crowded city or surrounded by the (Altering, green hills of New Eng-,nd, Eng-,nd, such limitless space was al-0t al-0t unbelievable. For a time she etched this unfamiliar world slip too awed for anything save sclamations. It all seemed wonderful; won-derful; a herd of grazing cattle a -clump 'of cottonwoods beside an Irrigating Ir-rigating ditch a school house set V curious Isolation considering its 'purpose; and In the distance patches 'of green about some lone- K ranch. f Even Jack was silent, too interred, inter-red, perhaps, to comment; but ',at last he said: "Let's dress, Nancy, Nan-cy, I want to get out and sniff 'this air at the next station. Break-! Break-! fast's at Syracuse, anyhow, and 'say I I think the sun looks brighter j here than it does at home." , This was no Idle guess. The sun was brighter the air more sparkling. spar-kling. Nancy admitted that she had never breathed such air. They 'i Cut short their breakfast in order to have more moments to pace the .platform. "And in no time now," said Jack as they swung reluctantly reluctant-ly aboard the train again, "we'll be In Colorado. I wonder who Cousin Columbine will send to meet us." Nance smiled. "Do you remember her first letter? let-ter? I was to sit quietly In the station until called for !" "So you were! Do you suppose : they'll keep us waiting long? Gee, .Nance! I just can't realize that this long trip Is nearly over." -u: Br Ji ' : Neither could Nance ; but all too foon they found themselves wait-i wait-i Ini! their turn to leave the train. Nancy, standing behind Jack in the . narrow passage, realized suddenly that the hands clutching her pock- etbook were trembling. Indeed, all Ihe fear that had gripped her on leaving home was back again as she emerged Into tho sunlight and Joined her brother on the platform. , Jack, smiling a negative to an . approaching red cap, rescued their . bags from a pile of luggage, and . moved toward the station a beautiful beau-tiful station that made Nance think . f an English manor house. To the uost, against an unbelievably blue sky, towered snow-capped Pike's I'eak, seeming so near In the clear Atmosphere, that the girl felt she il( reach out and touch It. "This place certainly looks civilized civil-ized enough," she observed breathlessly breath-lessly ns Jack dropped the bags and stood looking about In search of the expected escort. "Civilized !" Her brother laughed. "What did you think you'd see? Wild Indians? Of course It's civilized; civil-ized; but for the love o' Mike, ' -Nance, look there!" "Stop Staring at Ms, Jack." managed to answer: "That's why Mother let him come. The doctor said he needed outdoor life more than a diploma." "Sensible man I All this education educa-tion business is stuff and nonsense unless it fits a boy to earn his living, liv-ing, which nine times out of ten it doesn't do. Look at Matthew Adam. His people scrimped and saved to send him to college. I don't say he got nothing out of It; but here he is back in Pine Rldge running a dairy ranch 1 Tell me, child, has your father really lost his money?" "Most of It, I'm afraid. We're renting the city house and the family fam-ily will live at Edgemere for the present. It's Mother's old home, but Aunt Judy owns It." "Who's Aunt Judy?" "I forgot you didn't know all about us," replied the girl. "Aunt Judy Is mother's younger sister. She's lived with us for years, and took care of us children when we were little." "And Louise, your father's sister, lives with you, too." "Yes. She teaches In a very high- and added at this unexpected insight in-sight of her mood: "You see, It makes me feel as if the last bridge behind us was burning. Everything's Every-thing's so different from Massachusetts Massachu-setts ; and not knowing Cousin Columbine at all I'm silly enough to be a little nervous." The woman smiled one of her nice smiles. "You needn't be. I don't think you'll find Columbine Nelson hard to live with." "Have you known her long?" asked Jack, hoping to secure a bit of light on the character of this unseen relative. "All my life. She was born In Pine Ridge seventy-odd years ago in a covered wagon." "I know," said Nance. "It's one of our family stories, that, and how she happened to be named." "Is it indeed!" The woman tipped their waitress and glanced up quickly. "Oh, there you are, Mark !" The lunch room was almost empty now, and as she slipped from the high stool Nance saw a young fellow fel-low in a sombrero, which he removed re-moved as he caught sight of their companion. They had turned into a street that faced the mountain, from which Nancy could hardly take her eyes. "Not Aurora Tubbs," Cousin Columbine was saying. "She's so flustered at the idea of having company com-pany that like as not she'd have him put those trunks In the bathroom. bath-room. We have a bathroom, Nancy, which no doubt you'll be relieved to hear. I went to the extravagance in 1914, Just before the great war started over in Europe. I remember the date because I was christening the tub when the news came, and Aurora (her sister married a German, Ger-man, Otto Weismuller, up at Cripple Crip-ple Creek and as good a fellow as ever lived), came rushing upstairs with the paper. She actually pounded on the door, and shouted : 'Miss Columbine I Miss Columbine! Don't bother to wash. The Germans have started fighting. Do you suppose sup-pose our Otto will have to go?'" This brought a laugh ; and Mark said dryly: "I didn't know we'd ever had a christening in Pine Ridge, Miss Columbine. Too bad that party was Interrupted by a war I" hat girls' school." "High-hat?" echoed Cousin Columbine, Col-umbine, plainly mystified. Nancy laughed, and explained: "That's only slang. Perhaps it's an eastern variety that hasn't reached Pine Ridge. It means swell, Cousin Cous-in Columbine awfully stylish, you know. Aunt Louise Is clever. She's earned a good salary for years." "Well, we live to learn," admitted admit-ted the old lady briskly. "High-hat! It's really expressive when you come to analyze It. So you're three families under the same roof. I should think you'd Oght like cats and dogs." The girl laughed again. "We don't, honestly; though Aunt Louise thinks Aunt Judy spoils us, and sometimes they scrap about it that is, as much as anyone can scrap with Aunt Judy." "It's plain to see which Is the favorite aunt, my dear!" "But you mustn't think we don't appreciate Aunt Louise," spoke up Nance quickly. "She's a dear, but Aunt Judy understands us better and takes our side. If Auiit Louise had had her way we'd never In this world have seen Pike's Peak !" Her eyes crept upward to the snow-capped mountain, and the old lady asked: "Was it wor;h the Journey Jour-ney ?" "It's wonderful! From the train it was the least bit disappointing, Jack stole an amused glance at Nancy a glance she had no trouble in interpreting. It said as plainly as If he'd spoken: "Enter the forbidden for-bidden boy friend! Take care, Sis!" It was Jack's glance, not the sudden sud-den arrival of this unexpected youth which made her color rise, and, suddenly, the girl was furious with her brother. "This is Mark Adam, who Is to drive us up," explained the lady. "Mark, these young folks are Nancy and Jack Nelson. Where are your trunks, Jack? I presume you've both brought luggage. And Where's Matthew, Mark?" The young man smiled, showing strong, white teeth and a crinkle of humor around the eyes. "Glad to know you." He stretched out a welcoming hand. "Mat's outside out-side on the truck too bashful to come In and meet the er lady. That's It" (as Jack produced tho checks). "You'll find the car parked back of the station. I'll be there as soon as I help Matt with the baggage." "Mark's a good boy," observed their new acquaintance as the driver strode away. "He and his brother came down to the creamery today (they run a dairy ranch), so I roped them in to drive us and get your trunks. There Isn't n better driver In Pine Ridge than Mark Adams, Nancy, so you've no call to fee! "It wasn't," retorted the old lady. "I called back: 'Keep still, Aurora. Au-rora. This is the first tub bath I've had since my mother washed me In a tin dish pan with only a covered wagon for privacy, and I wouldn't cut It short if the whole German army was on the lawn.' Here conies Matthew now. Slow down. I'm going go-ing to stop him." She signaled wildly, and a truck drew up beside them, though It seemed to Nancy that both vehicle and the driver did so with reluctance. reluct-ance. The latter started to remove his hat, found he had none on, and blushed furiously. The truck emitted emit-ted a sort of groan. "If you reach home first, Matthew, Mat-thew, just sit and wait till we get there," ordered Miss Columbine. "You can tell Aurora I said to give you a slice of chocolate cake. And this is as goud a time as any to make you acquainted with my cousins, Nancy and Jack Nelson. Don't drive recklessly up the pass and lose those trunks over the edge, will you? I dare say they're valuable, valu-able, and 1 don't trust your driving as I do Mark's." "Yes'ui," responded Matthew nervously. "Pleased to meet you. I'll be careful, Miss Columbine." Ho reached fur his bat again, found it still missing. Mushed redder, red-der, and started the truck with such a jolt that empty milk cans caruened Nanee looked. An Indian squaw ''ns coming toward them, her shoulders covered by a gay, striped shawl, a wee black-eyed papoose Snipped to her back. Said Jack, ' s she disappeared around a corner: '"f'hnt relic of old times must have ! heen ordered for our especial bene- I didn't suppose they carried their kids like that In these days." "hut she had on silk stockings, T"ek, and high-heeled slippers ! ' IIh'.v looked so incongruous with 1111 the rest of her. Well, that'll be s"iiiel!ilng to write home about. I wonder If wo ought to go Inside. 1)0 .von know, I I feel sort of - nervous. I wish whoever's coining 'or us would come aud get it over ' will,." ; "'et's stay right here, this air's marvelous. Do you supposo they -ften get such days In winter? j "'itch out, Sis!" Jack lowered his jolce. "Catch onto the old dame In "ie fireman's shirt." Nancy smiled, eyes following her ""titer's. A white-haired woman ll'U Just emerged from the station. '" wore a broad-brlmmod black wt much like a man's, while her ng black cape, being unfastened, revealed a middy blouse of flaming . J- Her feet were clad In stout, ! 'Hj'k, laced boots, above which an y ni'h er two of cotton stocking met ' ll:i'li cloth skirt. An eccentric l!g-taken l!g-taken as a whole. "And yet," ' ;'""e nlilsperod as she passed ; hurriedly, "she has an air her. see what I mean, ieah," he admitted, "but I hot ' ll's a crank of some sort, just the -""e. You know, what they call a character. You'd think" ,: 'liKk paused. The eccentric lady t, " tm'd and was approaching ;iPHlly. .Tm loo,;lng for twQ puling people by the name of Nel-l;fs"". Nel-l;fs"". she said crisply. "Have I found them?" i perhaps because we were so far away; but bore it's marvelous and and so near !" "That's the atmns;prr. Everything Every-thing looks nearer than It Is even the stars. But I like the I'eak better bet-ter from our side, n:y dear, find I think you will. Where are those boys? They're certainly taking their time. So your Aunt Louisa opposed your corning? Will you cx-plain cx-plain why?" ' (TO BE CONTINUED ) THE STORY FROM THE BEGINNING P.u'.neit. financially, by tho steel; market crash. Ja-ics Nc'.sm. Doston merchant, breaks the nows to his household. N.xnco, his daughter, nineteen, is on tha verge of her Introduction to society. A short time before, an elderly cousin of Nelson's, Columbine, had written suggesting; that Nance come to her at Pins Rldpe, Colo., lis a paid companion. Tha ol.'cr ha1 bpn retarded hs a Joke. Jack. Nancy s seventeen-year-old brother, urges her to accept Cousin Columbine's proposition, thus relieving their father of a certain financial burden, and offering to go with her so that she will not feel too lonely. The girl docs not tike tho Idea, but agrees that Jack writ to Cousin Columbine, and they will await her answer. Columbine wires welcome to both of them, and despite some mlssivlr.3 it Is arrans'd tr.aj the two shall go. |