The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-07-18

slant attendance, and to Tom fell the
task of managing this almost mex
tricable condition of affairs. Sud-
denly from a quiet office-man he had
assumed an air of general manager
and gave his orders and went about
his work as if it was his own. And
how he strove. Two, three and four
weeks passed and the insurance had
been settled, warehouse hastily
erected, new goods bought, and plans
for much more pretentious store
of brick considered and selected. AS
soon as possible business had been
commenced and everything that
could be done was done, and all this
time Josiah Jameson could not move
hand or foot, but lay in his home
and thanked heaven that such man
as Tom Burrows lived. In the office
new bookkeeper sat diligently faith
oming the mysteries of the files of
statements and sheets of figures, and
when Tom came in after his days
work and examined the efforts of
his junior, and oftentimes with
studied severity corrected this or dis
entangled that, Jean Jameson
blushed and held her face closer to
after night.
Then a letter came to Tom from
home, and it contained news of much
import to him. His father, by some
lucky disposal of property, bad tided
over the depression and was again in
financial position to assist his son,
and even dictated what that son
should at once do. All day he mood
lily pondered over the contents which,
strange to say, had brought no Joy
to him, but in the evening he threw
his whole mind into the Office work
with such fervor that Miss Jean had
to stand idly by in wonder. At last
the task was completed and he turned
about and looked his helper squarely
in the face. With a woman's per-
ception she read trouble in his gaze
and her cheeks blanched to a winter
hue. The deep traces of the unaccus-
toned worry and toll were painfully
apparent.
Miss JEAN" he began, looking
away into space, 81 have news from
home to-day, and perhaps it is bad
news for somebody, too. You can
get Johnson from the store to take
my place as he knows the affairs
more clearly than any of the rest,
and then as spring comes on and your
father gains in strength, you can va
cate this hovel and enjoy we'll
earned vacation"
Burrows could not repress a feeling
of humiliation almost akin to shame,
as he repeated this last sentence, and
also discerned tear slowly gather
ing in those saucy blue eyes out Of
which the fire had well-nigh burnt
itself.
perhaps we can get along without
you, Tom-or Mr.. Burrows 1 should
say" she repeated absently. Then,
with sudden return of her old spir-
it, she stamped her pretty foot. eff
l were only a man-just for one year;
but I can't master those horrid
books and my head aches and I'm
sick, too
A sob had broken in upon her
speech and she laid her golden head
upon her arm.
Tom felt as if he would appreciate
a sound kicking. Instinctively he
placed his hand upon her hair and in
a fatherly way he stroked it sooth-
ingly.
A few minutes of silence passed
and then she was herself again, and
as she regained her composure her
angry eyes shot dangerous glances.
"You may go away if you like, and we
can live without you. We did so be-
fore you came and we will do so
again as long as can see to write"
A smile crept into Toms face at
the defiance and he almost whis-
pered, do you want me to stay,
Jean?"
mo, you horrid beast of man,
thousand times no." The words were
strongly put, but the face belied the
meaning, and Tom caught her in his
strong arms and there after a mo-
mentary struggle, she allowed herself
to stay, while he asked her to re-
peat that again if she dared.
"Then you'll stay, Tom?" she asked
in well-feigned surprise.
eyes," he answered, and she kissed
him then and there and that settled
the bargain.
And so Tom Burrows had found
himself.-Canadian Magazine.
He Reasoned Wrong.