The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-12-27

says he. cat least it's put in an
amazing odd way. But" he cries out.
bursting with his news, "Old Irons is
herei"
What! that old cut purse" said /.
annoyed, for I was no friend of Old
Irons.
eyes," said he, eagerly, you'll sup
along of him."
Cd me, WON'T" said l. 81 want
no cutpurses in my company"
Come, Captain" said he, protesting,
for he had fear of me, and knew Of
my repute of many roads. Fair play
and equality in trade" says he.
l was on the point to give him the
rough edge of my tongue-for it was
like his impudence to try cozening me
when down the stairs into the pas
sage came man, walking very stiff
ly with his head in the air. I stop
ped at once, for l knew not who he
might be, and down he steps into the
light, showing a foppish sort Of a
face, hair very particularly curly, and
a becoming dress. No sooner did 1
clap eyes on him than I knew what
kidney he was, and that he was not
worth two blinks of ogles, as they
say. So I turned my back on him
and was beginning on Costley again,
when / was surprised by the girls
voice crying out from the entrance
behind me.
What the devil?" says I, flying
about, for thought she was insulted
maybe by some of Costley's fellows,
and / ran to the door. But there was
she with her arms about the neck of
this Jack-a-dandy.
Whats this, MISS" said I, begin
ming to think there was some truth
in old Nunkey's words after all; and
at that she stepped into the inn, in
her excitement, and 1 saw her plain
ly for the first time. Lord. Lord!
there was nothing in her face that
would not have convinced any court
at Old Bailey fortnight. She was
prettily handsome, like q doll that
turns eyes up or down and smiles out
Of pink cheeks, in which were two
dimples mighty enticing. Up she
comes In a rush, almost breathless,
and breaks out to me:
"Tis he, it's he, sir!"
"Who the devil is he?" said 1, sharp.
ly.
otis Mr.. Riseley," she says, some
what abashed "He has been sup
ping here, and is setting forth for his
lodging"
II commend his discretion" said
dryly; IAN excellent good place for
supper, so it Is, especially for young
bloods like that. Well" says I,
"since you're content, as it seems,
will leave you and young Cupid and
be about my business.
At this she looked dumbfounded.
But" she begins, stammering, and
paused.
I threw glance at Riseley, who
stood by with an air something 'twixt
arrogance and uneasiness. 1 plumbed
his depths, for I have come across
many such as he in my time - fine
feathers enough and nothing behind
them. But it was true that the cox
combs appearance did not better her
case, beyond that Utilization of mu-
tual affection; so I considered, and
the idea I had taken suddenly bloom
ed forth in my mind. There was Old
Irons, and here were we. I could
have laughed aloud to think how 1
was for binding all the threads in one,
to say nothing of Nunkey's on the
common. So turned about to Cost
ley.
Il was wrong" says 1; Il will do
Capt. Irons the honor to sup with him,
and this young gentleman, make no
doubt, will join me-"
Il beg your pardon-I-I have sup
ped" he stammered.
otis friend" I heard her whis-
per; "if it were not for him 1 know
not what must happen to me-"
WELL" says I, miss here will sup
at any rate" at which I saw his color
move.
II will take the pleasure myself to
keep you company, sir" said he, and
forthwith we marched into the room.
Here was Old Irons. rude, jovial and
blatant as ever, but happily not too
far gone as yet. He stared at my
guests hard enough, but seemed to be
at loss what to make of them or
how to deal by them. So that he was
for time pretty silent, casting glances
of perplexity at me and frowning, as il
he would invite me to say what
was doing. He was drinking, however,
Of humpty-dumpty, which soon loosen
ed his tongue.
What cock and pullet have you
got here, Dick?" says he, in a loud
whisper.
Friends of mine," says I.
"Oh!" says he, and stared; then
passed off into chuckle, and with
his eyes twinkling on miss; at which
my apprentice in the fine clothes, not
knowing, poor fool, what sort of
man he had to deal with, fired up
and demanded haughtily why he laugh
ed at lady. But Irons only roared
the more, paying no more heed to
him than If he were babe in arms.
shut your mouth" says to him,