Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the

Online Distributed Proofreading Team.

POLLY OF PEBBLY PIT

BY

LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY

  Author of
  Polly and Eleanor,
  Polly in New York,
  Polly and Her Friends Abroad,
  Polly's Business Venture.

Illustrated
1922

TO MY DEAR FRIENDS, SARAH J. BATTEY, M.D., AND BRYAN M. BATTEY.

CHAPTER

I THE FARM IN PEBBLY PIT

II A MOMENTOUS LETTER

III PREPARING FOR THE UNKNOWN

IV THE "SERVANT PROBLEM" SOLVED

V UNPLEASANT SURPRISES

VI THE HARROWING DETAILS

VII A LITTLE SCHEME THAT WORKED

VIII ACCLIMATING THE CITY GIRLS

IX SEVERAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS

X THE DANCE AT BEAR FORKS

XI IN THE WILDERNESS

XII THE BLIZZARD ON GRIZZLY SLIDE

XIII A NIGHT IN THE CAVE

XIV OLD MONTRESOR'S LEGACY

XV MONTRESOR'S CLAIM is JUSTIFIED

XVI A YOUNG STRANGER IN OAK CREEK

XVII SARY'S AMBITIONS

CHAPTER I

THE FARM IN PEBBLY PIT

"Polly! Poll-ee!" sounded musically from the direction of the kitchendoorway in a ranch-house, and reached Polly Brewster as she kneltbeside her pet in the barn.

"Run outside and see what Maw wants, Poll," said Mr. Brewster, who wasworking faithfully over the object of Polly's solicitous devotion.

Obediently, Polly ran out and shaded her eyes as she gazed across thegreat depression of the volcanic crater which had made such a wonderfulfarm for the Brewsters. At the door of the long, squat homestead, stoodMrs. Brewster, waiting for an answer.

The moment she saw Polly, she called: "Din-ner-r's ready!"

"All right!" shouted the girl, waving her sun-bonnet to signify she hadheard the message.

Mrs. Brewster returned to the kitchen and Polly went back to herfather's side. He glanced up as she entered the barn, and Polly repliedto his questioning look.

"Maw said dinner's ready."

"Well, Ah reckon Noddy's all right now, Poll," said the rancher, as hestood up to stretch his tired muscles.

"I felt sure she would be, Paw," returned Polly, positively.

"If only Jeb was about, now, Ah could leave him with Noddy, withdirections about the medicine, till we-all get back from dinner," musedMr. Brewster, standing in the doorway to look about for Jeb.

"Why, Daddy! Do you suppose I'd leave Noddy with Jeb for a singlemoment? And just as we saved her life, too! I reckon not! I'll stophere myself and watch her," declared Polly with finality, as sheassumed the post vacated by her father, and held the little burro'sfuzzy head upon her knees.

Sam Brewster smiled as he watched Polly bend over her pet and whisperaffectionately in the long, sensitive ear.

"Poll, Jeb will shore say you used witchcraft on the burro; he said
Noddy was done for—being buried under that slide the way she was."

"Noddy would have been done for if Jeb had had her i

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