human
I see you have heard about the trouble?
gpt
Yes, I received a long night letter from home, this afternoon. But they do not say whether there is anything left to pay my way in New York, or whether I ought to start for home,
human
Why, Polly, surely you have no dread of such being the case, just because our old gold mine is choked again?
gpt
Don't you understand, Nolla, that starting work on the mine, and all the machinery for it, costs so much that not only is the lava mine involved, but the very ranch is risked. Maybe father will have to sell out his beloved farm and go away,
human
Oh no, Polly, hastily came from Mr. Latimer.
gpt
We are all stock-holders in this venture, you know, and one man alone does not bear the costs of the mine and its losses. That is why Mr. Dalken and I came over, tonight, when we got word that John had written you. We feared you might not understand matters.
human
But I understand father, well enough, Mr. Latimer. He will never permit anyone to lose a penny because of him or his interests.
gpt
Maybe he won't, Polly, but this mining venture was as much our interest as yours, or your father's, remember. It seems gone, this time, but we must take our loss as courageously as we would our profits. Tom wired me to come and see you and explain that you need make no change in any of your plans, as everything would go on as usual at the ranch. He and John will devote all of their time to the Cliffs now, instead of dividing their attention between the two mines, as they have been doing, heretofore,
human
But your mother wrote me, Polly, now said Mr. Dalken,
gpt
I'm so glad you did, Mr. Dalken. As you say, I am not a silly child, and now that I know exactly how matters are at home, I will see if I cannot do something while studying in New York, to pay my own way,
human
Oh, it isn't as bad as that, Child! laughed Mr. Latimer;
gpt
Mr. Latimer, this is what I propose doing to earn my expenses in New York. Instead of buying old objects for fun, I shall secure them to sell again and make money.
human
Poll is right! And I propose going with her as the partner in her first business venture!
gpt
Where will you two girls find customers?
human
Oh, Polly'll find a way, never fear!
gpt
Yes, I'll get Mr. Ashby, first of all, to permit us to exhibit our goods in his 'odd room' and we'll pay him a commission for sales, just as other folks do who wish to exchange, or sell, their antiques,
human
Well, if you girls manage to find such valuable things as that famous missing picture that the Museum made such a time over, I should say you had found a big gold mine in New York instead of losing a little one in the Rockies,