"Yes, nearer two hundred and fifty pounds, I reckon," said Polly.
"I wanted to ship him to Chicago and show all of my society friends
what _we_ killed during my mountain visit!" explained Eleanor.
"Your motive killed the project before you saw him," said Anne, wagging
her head at Eleanor as a rebuke.
Eleanor laughed merrily. "Well, I intend having a regular exhibit when
I get back! All kinds of wild things will be shown my friends. I
propose having Polly and Noddy sitting upon a pedestal in the drawing-
room as a sample of the wildest things on the Rockies!" laughed
Eleanor, giving Polly an affectionate glance.
"Oh, Nolla, don't talk so foolishly! As if Polly would come to Chicago!
What would she do with herself while we had to entertain?" said
Barbara, pettishly, but no one hearkened.
"Maybe we can blaze a trail from here to the nearest ranch on our way
home, and send some one from there to come and cart the brute home for
us. I'd pay him well!" said Eleanor, not willing to forego the pleasure
of showing the lion at home.
"Oh, but then, you will make these ranchers curious. Once this far,
they will look about the place where we spent the night, and that will
lead them to discover the mine!" said Polly.
"I forgot that! Of course it would be foolish to give any one the
slightest clew to our ever being here, and of what we did while here! I
see I shall have to say good-by to the lion I hoped to be lionized
for!" said Eleanor, laughingly.
Pages:
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202