The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1899-10-27
system. johnson had become profess


precise location of the sciatic plexus,
for instance, had escaped Geffwelrs
mind, first glance at Johnson and later
Johnson's mental picture would bring
it back to him in flash. One conse-
quence of this was that Geffwell came
out at the head of his class; another
was that his proud uncle sent him a
check and an offer to pay for post
graduate course.
Il owe it to you, old man." said Geff-
well, nodding at johnson affectionate-
ly. IF l thought it would please you
I'd have you gold-plated when l got
prosperous. But don't think you're
the kind of a fellow that would want to
put on dog. You're all right the way
you are. Say, johnson, what kind of an
idea do you think it would be to move
out of this hole?"
He did not move, however, for q
month or two, and during that time he
occupied himself with chemistry to a
great extent. johnson was not of ma
terial assistance to him in this work,
but Geffwell had more opportunity to
prove his regard by reason of his dis
interested situation. He had not only
covered johnson with a speculative
skin, but clothed him, in his minds eve,
in what he conceived to be garments
appropriate to his life and times. By
chronological examination he salts
fed himself that his subject had been
a man of whose friendship he might be
proud-well balanced, except for a
slight excess of benevolence and ideali-
ty and a lack of acquisitiveness. He
outlined a career, more or less check
cred, for his silent companion, and be-
lieFed in it. 1t was such career as
vastly increased his respect for John
son. Then Geffwell and Johnson moved,
and it came to pass that there was girl
over the way from their new abode.
Its too bad you can't see her, John
son." said Geffwell. "She's little bit
of thing. 1t seems as if
Well, don't know how to say it. But
her eyes! Kind
loving *-* and full of the very
devil. Somehow, from the first minute
saw her wanted to pick her up and
pet her. X To hear her laugh!
Oh, Johnson, Johnson!" There was a
lot more of it, but that was fair sam
pie. And then it happened that John
son began to be neglected great deal.
At last the whole thing was settled,
although they had hardly realized it.
Il was talking it over with Johnson
after l left you last night" said Geff-
well. 81 told him what you said"
The girl started up and let go of his
arm and looked at him in amazement.
"You told Johnson!" she said. Harvey
Geffwell, you don't mean to say that
you told anyone what said!"
Geffwell got red in the face and
laughed in an embarrassed way as the
girl continued to look at him with in
dignation sparkling in the eyes he adj
mired. johnson isn't really anybody"
he said, at last, and even as he spoke he
felt that he was guilty of disloyalty to
johnson. ''He's-don't laugh, Bessie
he's my skeleton. You know we have
to have such things-I don't mean our
own skeletons, but this was one my
uncle sent me, and-well, you know
had to grind like the mischief, and I
knew it was up to me And l
didn't dare see much of the fellows, be-
cause I'm naturally sociable, and if 1
started in it would take my time. And
so = = 1t was kind of lonesome
up in that little room, and l kind of got
in the way of talking to johnson. Oh,
1 know it seems foolish to you'll"
''You poor boy" said Bessie, plying
ly. Then she laughed, but stopped sud-
denly and said: Foolish! Why, it's
horrible; it's ghastly! Why didn't you
talk to the bureau or the bedpost or
something's"
81 don't see anything CHASTITY about
it," said Geffwell, which was perfectly
true. "You don't seem to understand"
81 don't want to. A horrible-ugh!
Don't let's talk any more about it. And
that you should talk about me-and
tell things!"
johnson wouldn't breathe a word.
He's the soul of honor"
81 don't care. I don't like it, Har-
vey, if you keep that thing a single day
longer you needn't come and see me
again" p
cit seems to me you are little alb
surd," said Geffwell, coldly. eff you
will think reasonably moment you'll
see
They were standing by her fathers
front gate, and that was the end of that
particular conversation. The girl
turned abruptly and walked, in an ex-
traordinarily dignifed way for such a
small person, into the house. Geff-
well stood and looked at her, but he did
not call her back. She was peeping
at him through the curtains, but she
didn't go out again, although he waited
for a minute or two before he went
away.
But that same evening he packed
johnson tenderly in an old trunk and
drove with him over to Dickinson's
rooms. He told Dickinson that he
would like to have him take care of
Johnson for awhile.
~"Glad to have him." said Dickinson,
Hospitality ''You'I take good care or
him, won't you, old MANI" said Geff-
we'll est NAV want him hack again