CHAPTER XXXVII. THE MYSTERY SOLVED
"What a glorious moonlit night it is!" Merry exclaimed when, Meg and Danhaving gone, the others turned back toward the cabin.
"I say, sis," Bob exclaimed, "why not get that telegram written and letme take it down to the village. You can put heaps more into a nightletter."
"Why, Bobby, it must be after nine. The innkeeper's family will be asleepby the time you could get there."
Jean Willoughby explained: "They have two sons, and one of them is alwayson duty as night clerk. Strangers motoring through put up there at allhours." Then the young overseer added: "I wish now that I had ridden overand you could have used my horse."
"We sent the two we had back to the Heger cabin," Bob said, but added, ashe took a handspring to prove to his sister that he was not at all tired,"I'd just as soon walk." Then, as another thought occurred to him, heturned to the younger lad, asking, "If you're game, Gerry, come alongwith me. We'll put up at the inn for the night and bring back the answerfrom father as soon as it comes."
Since there was no particular reason why they should not do this, Merryand Jane made no further remonstrances. Going indoors, a carefullyplanned night letter was prepared and in great glee the two boys startedout, each carrying a gun, as Jean told them that they _might_ meet awildcat.
"Huh! I hoped you were going to say a grizzly bear."
Gerry's tone seemed to imply that they were quite fearless.
Soon after the boys had departed, Dan returned. Glancing at Jean, hequestioned: "Ought we to follow them?" But the other lad replied:
"They're safe enough! Moreover, I told Bob to swing a red lantern threetimes when they reach the inn. The night is so clear, we surely can seeit."
And so they waited, and an hour later the expected signal was plainlyseen by all of them.
"Now to bed, everybody!" Dan sprang up and held both hands toward hissister Jane. Julie had been prevailed upon to retire soon after the ladsstarted out and was sound asleep.
The girls had decided to be up at an early hour, but because they hadgone to bed much later than usual they overslept.
It was after noon before Meg appeared.
"Ma Heger" had needed her help, was all that she said. Jane and Merrydecided not to tell her about the night letter, for the suspense would befar harder for her to bear than it was for them.
But after a time Meg began to wonder why, at frequent intervals, one oranother of the young people went to the top of the stone stairs, andthrough field glasses, gazed down the mountain road. It was two o'clockwhen the old stage was seen slowly ascending.
"I entirely forgot that the stage passes us on Saturday afternoon," Danexclaimed. "Of course, Bob and Gerry waited to ride up."
But as the lumbering vehicle neared, the passengers were seen to be alladults--a west valley rancher, his wife and grown daughters. Then, justas the watchers had given up hope, the two laughing boys dropped from theback of the stage and ran up the stone stairs.
Paying no heed to the others, Bob leaped over to where Meg was standing,and making a deep bow, he handed her a yellow envelope.
"But this is for Merry," the mountain girl told him.
"True enough!" and Bob gave the telegram to his sister. Opening it, sheread:
"Franc Giguette, author of 'The Star that Set.' Book was great success! Publishers holding royalties, as they were uncalled for. Box in name of Eulalie Giguette at the First National Bank. Contains contracts and papers of value, also jewels. Await further advice."
While all of the others congratulated the beautiful girl, Dan stood asidewith sorrow in his heart. He had asked Meg to marry him when he thoughther poor. Even then they would have had a long wait, for he had wanted tohelp his father for a time before he considered his own happiness.
Meg looked over at the lad whom she so loved. "Aren't _you_ also glad forme, Dan?" she asked.
"Yes, very glad," he said, but he was more than ever pleased that he andMeg had not told of their engagement, which might never be fulfilled.
When the excitement had somewhat subsided, Bob recalled that he had aletter for Jean Willoughby, and, bringing it forth, presented it to theyoung man, who looked inquiringly at the handwriting; then with a quick,questioning glance at Merry, he tore it open and read its message.
"Marion Starr," he cried, "you wrote my father, did you not, telling himwhere you found me?"
It was evident that he was _not_ displeased.
The golden haired girl nodded, then waited eagerly to hear what manner ofmessage the letter contained.
"Dan," said Bob, "your father and mine are again partners, for Dad hasrestored the money that had been supposedly lost. Since your father hadrecompensed the investors, the firm of Abbott & Willoughby, asre-established, is much richer than it was, for while holding the money,Dad made investments that have tripled the capital of the firm. Nor isthat all! Father has set aside money to start my brother and me in anybusiness we may choose, and your father is to do the same for each of hisboys as the need arises."
Before Dan could speak, Jean hurried on with, "Mr. Packard has offered todivide his ranch in three parts, and Jane and I are to have one of them.Dan, you love the West. It agrees with you. Won't you take the third?"
"That's wonderful news!" Dan cried glowingly. "Indeed I would like to owna third of the Green Hills ranch."
Then to the surprise of the others, he went to the mountain girl withhands outstretched, and said, his voice tense with feeling:"Meg--Eulalie--may I set the day for our wedding?"
The dusky eyes of the beautiful girl were more than ever starlike as shenodded up at him.
"Great!" he cried joyfully. "Then we will _all_ be married on the firstof September."
* * * * * * * *
Transcriber's note:
--A few typographical errors were corrected without comment.
--Nonstandard spellings and dialect were left as in the original.
--Rearranged front matter to a more-logical order.
Meg of Mystery Mountain Page 37
