The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-03-14
AT NO. 81.
80 q

HC ONE up to No. "a, Ellis street"
James had written to me, ''or
wire us by what train to expect you,
and we will meet YOU"
James and Clara were settled at
last, and 1 was expected to look
them up. So in due time L got out of
the train, and looked round vainly for
James. How like the Indifference of
a brother that was! Trust brother
for failing to meet you. For minute
or two thought of going to an hotel,
and giving him the slip altogether.
1t would serve him right.
I flung my bag into an open cab,
and flung myself after it.
mo. "a Ellis street, 1 said sullily
to the driver. And in moment the
cab was jolting over the wretched
cobble-stones.
The rain was falling hard when
the wheels finally grated against the
curbstone, and the driver opened the
door for me, and announced:
Here you are, sir-No. 54!"
saw the figures painted on the
door, so 1 paid the driver, let him
go, and rang the bell.
After while 1 rang the bell again,
and yet again, with no result. Then
it occurred to me how strange it was
that there was no light in the house,
when they must have been expecting
me, too.
Another turn at the bell. This
time there was some response. A
woman, evidently a servant, came
along the garden at the side of the
adjoining house, and said:
'There amt nobody at home.
They've gone to the opery. And it's
the servants night OUT
Then she went back.
The rain was pouring. Judging
by the distance L had come, 1 must
be miles from an hotel. L must
make a run for some shelter part
of the house, and try to get into a
drier place.
My run brought me to a little We
randa at the side of the house, and
there was another door.
L was seized with an inspiration. I
took my home hatchery out of my
pocket, and tried it in the lock. 1t
fitted!
/ opened the door and walked in,
and sat my bag down with sigh of
relief.
'Aha! James, my boy, you might
have known your brother better than
to try to lock him out!'' 1 said glee-
fully to myself. And then 1 struck
match which the wind blew out.
After 1 had spent several minutes
striking more matches. finally lit
tall lamp, and at the same moment
set fire to the shade. l eXtinguished
the fire by putting the shade on the
floor and stamping on it repeatedly.
Then l left it where it had fallen. 1t
would teach Clara a lesson, for a
great frilled affair on a lamp is al
ways exceedingly dangerous.
The high-pitched barking of a dog
began to annoy me, and [ went in
search of it, lighting another lamp or
two on the way. L passed through
the hall, and into a bedroom on the
other side, and there was the dog,
a wretched little pug.
l have always been a man of ex-
pedients. 1 chased the pug into cup
board, and, after brief, violent gym
nastic exercise, succeeded in turning
4 waste-basket over the little beast,
and then weighted the basket down
with large lump of coal.
1 shut the barking and bowling lit
tie brute in the cupboard.
There was a neat little dressing
room adjoining. peeped into it, and
found several suits of James clothes
hanging along the wall. For the
first time remembered that my own
clothes were damp, and 1 fastened
to do just what James would have
insisted on if he had been there
I put on some dry clothes.
After that L wandered into the din
ing room, and was charmed to OBJ
serve that the materials for a post
opera supper had been thoughtfully
set on the table, and that there were
places for three. Aha! So they were
expecting me, then. But as was
ravenous I decided to eat my share
now, and not wait. Happy thought!
I ate very generous meal.
Then 1 went back to the bedroom,
lighted one of James cigars, stretched
myself out in an easy-chair, with my