Jane Allen, Center

by George Cary Eggleston

  CHAPTER III--OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY

  With that efficiency so marked in large establishments (for El Capitanwas large and really an establishment) the new arrangements of drivingover the hills for Judith Stearns, Jane's college room-mate, and thepreparations Aunt Mary was wont to add to the already splendidlyplanned guest entertainment, were all perfected and carried out withoutso much as exciting Pedro to complain of his delayed supper, and itsconsequent effect on "the game" that was to follow.

  "I am so glad," Aunt Mary murmured. "Now I shall have a chance to seeJane's most intimate companion, and it will afford me such anopportunity of studying the dear girls, and thus being better able tounderstand them. I have always wished that Jane might have had someplaymate of her own kind, and she is so very fond of Judith, I shall bedelighted to know her also."

  It seemed to the busy little woman that Jane and her father werescarcely gone when a shrill blast of the trumpet announced theirreturn.

  With a flourish the coaching party drew up to the porch. The delight ofthe girls was so evident Mr. Allen and his sister hurried through theformalities of welcome to leave the chums alone together.

  "Now, we will just leave you all to yourselves," he concluded, whenAunt Mary had directed the man to carry in the bags, and ordered themaid to announce dinner in twenty minutes, that length of time beingdemanded by Jane as necessary for Judith's freshening up. Arms twinedaround shoulders, eyes reflecting each other's very thoughts, chattingand laughing over happenings absolutely foreign to those outside thecharmed circle of college interests, the chums entered upon theirperiod of pre-school and post-vacation days.

  "And to think I might have missed all this if I had not thought of youand the copper mines," Judith was saying as Jane fastened the snaps onher light silk "freshen up" gown. "You know, Janie, I am just asforgetful as ever, only I have a new system: I don't forget the thingsI love best."

  "I will agree you may indulge that habit to the limit, Judy, if youstick to your professed plan. Then I know I shall never get in thejumble of mixups with things you don't love," Jane affectionatelyassured her.

  "I don't wonder you hated to leave home for school, Jane," said thevisitor, surveying the rustic beauty of the rambling house, builtunlike a California bungalow, and unlike an Eastern mansion, butexactly like what should be the home of Jane Allen. "This is absolutelycharming."

  "What?" asked Jane teasing. "Our Jap boy cook, or our Mexican boyvalet? We have a queer household. Quite cosmopolitan, to put it mildly.Sometimes, when they get excited, I fancy the Tower of Babel has fallenanew. Come on, that means dinner," as the big Indian gong pealed softlyits muffled announcement.

  The tall girl with the blue eyes and glossy brown hair, Judith Stearns,possessed a certain dignity Jane had not yet acquired. Perhaps that wasthe result of her Eastern home life and its culturing influence. AsHenry Allen critically, if surreptitiously, noted Jane was different,but he liked Jane first rate. She might be a little bit of a tom-boyaround the ranch, but she was a great pal to build up a home with. Thetwo girls took their places side by side at the long polished table,Aunt Mary gracing the head and Mr. Allen sitting at the opposite end,from where he not only dispensed the plentiful fare, but irradiated thecharm of the gracious and well seasoned host that he was.

  "Janie, your favorite troubador has a little gift for you," heinterposed. "I could not guess what all his apologies and _con grazias_presaged the other day, but finally he admitted he had made for thesenorita a small music box. It is from the best grade cigar case, andhas the finest antelope string. He drew his fingers across it to assureme, and it really made very sweet music."

  "Oh, a home made ukelele! How splendid!" exclaimed Jane. "I shall takeit to Wellington, and maybe my little Polish artist can sing to itsaccompaniment! I am just wild about those little ukes. Daddy, when willFedario deliver it?"

  "It was not quite finished," replied Mr. Allen. "I fancy he is going todecorate it with perforations to sieve the tones very, very fine. Hewent into the ranch store with me yesterday, and bought a little scrollsaw. Fedario is very musical. The boys complain he sings to the horses,and that the animals expect it from the less accomplished, who are moreapt to growl than warble. At any rate, I notice he gets along with thewildest broncos. But his talent for music is marked. He goes off in thetrees, and is better satisfied with his guitar than another might bewith a whole flock of companions and their unfailing energy at cards."

  "Oh, yes," Jane remembered, "he must be the boy Uncle Todd said kepthim awake nights, singing in the chair tree at his hut. But Judy, canyou imagine my uke sounding weird strains, under windows and behindcloset doors? We will surely be able now to capture Calliope for stuntnights, with my Mexican ukelele."

  "Yes. And I just know you will play wonderful ditties on it. I heardthem in Frisco--the girls from Hawaii gave a concert at a carnival, andthey brought out some splendid music from the little fiddles.Personally, I feel I should have to use a can opener, but you know howpopular the uke is now, Janie. I can just see you carrying it aroundlike Fido, and sleeping with it at the foot of your bed, on yourbaby-blue silk quilt."

  This vision brought a ripple of mirth from the diners. That the ukeshould become as popular as the lap dog was admitted by all who hadobserved the average young girl's growing love for the miniature musicbox.

  "I have to tell you so much more of my new plans, Judy," digressedJane, as Aunt Mary signalled to the Jap dinner was finished. "I haveonly just begun on my new prospectus. I haven't even named my littleartist."

  "I am sure we will have the best year ever," replied the guest. "Wehave had Adrienne, the French girl, and a couple of other high-classEuropeans last year, but we have never before entertained a Polishgirl. I know perfectly well how the Marian Seaton crowd will regardher. With horns, you can be sure."

  "Oh, I have counted on that," Jane admitted. "All the more room forfun. If our new friend is not too sensitive," and the gray eyesexpressed just the least glint of suppressed anxiety.

  "Indeed, we are equal to the opposition now, no matter what attack theytake. It is a wonder to me they don't promptly capitulate."

  "Too much steam in the wrong valve," informed Jane. "It has to be drawnoff in the trouble pipe."

  "Or might result in an explosion," helped out Mr. Allen. "Janie, Isuppose you often get your mining efficiency mixed with yourpsychology." He turned to Judith hospitably. "Miss Stearns, I cannottell you how pleased we are that you have been able to make this visit.Janie and I were just about at the end of our rope on the trail of agood time, when we got your wire. Now we have an incentive, for we bothlove to show off, don't we, Janie?"

  "I'll match you, Dad," she challenged. "I believe I can show off morehigh spots around El Capitan than you can. I even know how to catchcopper in tin cans."

  At this all laughed. Janie had made a reputation early in her ranchlife following the boys who staked claims and attempted to work themines with purloined tin cans.

  "I thought perhaps we would arrange a little party to go into UnionCentre for to-morrow if you care to, girls," Aunt Mary injected. "TheIndians are in, and we may find some trinkets suitable for souvenirs."

  "Splendiforous, Auntie. I want a couple of baskets so much, and somebead bags to take back. I think I'll give the faculty all pretty beadbags, as vacation gifts."

  "Peace offerings," suggested Judith. "I think that a fine idea. Wonderif I couldn't find a bag with an apology beaded on it? I owe one to myLatin teacher."

  "Well, the evening is slipping, or climbing, whichever you choose,young ladies, and I am going to run around the corral to do a littleinspecting to-night. Would you care to go?" asked Mr. Allen.

  "Oh, I should love to!" exclaimed Judith with enthusiasm. "I havealways longed to see a ranch outside the movies. Jane, I had no ideayou owned all Montana."

  "We really do not quite own the entire state," replied Jane, echoingthe facetious tone of her chum. "But dad has quite a corner of it. Yes,we will go with you, Dadykins, an
d maybe Judy will have an opportunityof judging Fedario's talent. He is sure to be in the chair-tree withhis guitar. Dad, why don't you organize a glee club?"

  "No need to organize, daughter, the boys have one in splendid workingorder. Perhaps we will be able to have a concert from them before youleave."

  "Oh, how jolly! Jane, how do you think we will ever be able to tearourselves away from all this? Couldn't we start a home-study course, orsomething outside?" pouted Judith.

  Donning their brilliant sweaters, the girls were soon ready, and takingtheir places in the buck-board set out to assist in the inspection.Within the corrals the shouting of the cowboys, and the antics ofbroncos and ponies, presented a scene quite like the Wild West of thescreen world. Jane and Judith were in their glory. Jane with the joy ofexhibiting the "High Spots of Ranch Life," she had promised, and Judithwith the exhilarating delight of observing such wonders for the firsttime.

  "And to think I might have missed it all," she reflected in Jane's ear,when a dash of the ponies brought them up to the end of the fenced-inpatches of dust, noise and horses. "I had not planned to stop offuntil--Can you guess what made me think you lived somewhere near theMontana trail?"

  "Oh, of course. Butte, pronounced 'beaut'?" ventured Jane, and evenHenry Allen considered the guess worthy of a prize. And he said so.

  This particular evening, the prelude of a series that followed, therewas carried out a program of such enjoyment, that one would easilyagree with Judith, it would be hard indeed for the girls to tearthemselves away from the ranch life to take up the circumspect dutiesof college. The excitement of actually bargaining with the Indians andobtaining the souvenir beaded bags (although none with an abjectapology worked in its intricacies was to be found for Judith), then thedear moccasins, about which Mr. Allen coaxed the squaws to tell suchquaint fables, not to speak of the mysteriously woven baskets, made bigenough and small enough for any imaginable dressing or sewing use, whenall garnered and gathered made up a precious burden for the depot cartin which the El Capitan party rode home that wonderful summerafternoon.

  "Couldn't we stop at Squaw Squatty's, Daddy? I would love to have theold Indian tell Judy's fortune," Jane suggested.

  "Oh, yes, do," pleaded Judy. "I want so much to know about a big secretI have planned for the first half," she volunteered. "Jane, I'll tellyou about it, maybe. But I should like to know how it will all pan out,and I'm sure a squaw would be able to foretell," she ventured, with asly grimace at Aunt Mary.