The second step was to go downtown and call upon Mr. Latimer at his office. She was welcomed there and asked what good wind blew her downtown.
Polly laughed. "It's a blizzard from the Rockies--that is why I'm here." Then she told him about her mother's home-sick words. "And this is what we must do, Mr. Latimer, or I'll have to leave school and go back home."
"Dear me, I will do anything rather than lose you from New York, Polly," Mr. Latimer laughingly replied.
"You must find some excuse on the mining or jewel business, that needs Daddy's personal presence here in New York. Make it necessary for him to be here just before, or after Christmas. Then I will write and let them know that you told me about it, and insist upon having mother come East with father, for her Christmas. Why, even John and Paul might join us here without much expense or trouble."
Mr. Latimer smiled. "There is no harm in trying the plan, even if your father _won't_ leave his ranch while it is under six feet of snow."
Polly laughed at that. "Exactly! Dad doesn't have to stick there in winter-time, any more than I do. Especially with Jeb on hand to take care of everything."
Then remembering a warning, she said: "But you've got to find a real worthy reason for his coming East, because I know my Dad!"
"I'll have you approve the reason before I send it West--how will that do?"
"I think you will do well. Because I may be able to make a suggestion--knowing my father as I do."
Mr. Latimer laughed and patted Polly on the head. "Well, now that that is settled, let us talk about Jim and Ken. You know, do you not, that we expect them home in a few days?"
"I didn't know, but I took for granted that they would soon be home for the Holidays. Although it seems like yesterday that they were home for Thanksgiving Week."
"Not to Jim's mother and me. We miss him very much, as he always was such a lively boy at home."
"I'm afraid we won't see much of him this time. He never even called us on the 'phone when he came from New Haven to see Ruth Ashby, two weeks ago Sunday," said Polly, never dreaming that his father was ignorant of the visit.
"He didn't! Then Ken should have called on you. He did not come to see a girl, too, did he?"