The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-26
CHAPTER XxXvIII.


 The Girls Complete Letter Writer.
 Vic Morris had shifted his camp from Rio Tinto to Bilbao, and 1t was to that latter place that Janet Fowler wrote to him. His own replies had been of neces- sity short, but as to Janet's letters like Master Oliver Twist, he had always man. ifested desire for more.
 My friend (wrote the minister's daugh- teD, let us first clear our page of the business of <irktown. I will put it in as short sentences as I can because most of it can be read in the Bordershire Ad- vertiser, which is sent you weekly. (Janet sent it herself)
 MT. Romer has retired. He has made all the Incubus businesses into a Linn tied Company. James Kahn is manag- ing director. My father says that the last state of that Incubus is worse than the first! But, about business, you need not mind what father says. He doesn't know past six-times-s -six-and even that he thinks is thirty.
 He Is not so far wrong, though, this time. that father of yours" said Vic Norris who was perusing this letter in a posture of enjoyment with his feet out at the window of his shack on the hill above Bilbao. It continued it's even trail of black and white.
 Your friend, Miss Vida, has got a new father That makes three. The new one
 
 was. really-only forgot about it till now ! But she has taken all their name, which is cumbrous. My father says that if she goes on collecting at that rate she will never be a Limited Company-'The Vida Flnnan Bryan Romer Co.,, Ltd. Will you take shares, mister?
 Your father never said anything of the kind, missy!' growled Vic Morris. knaw- ing at his long moustache and smiling grimly. Curious how l always thought her quiet mouse of a girl with eyes on the ground! She isn't, though! No! Oh, mol"
 And he read on, thrusting his long legs farther through the window, so that the Spaniard and Basque workmen passing underneath stopped and grinned.
 "El Senor Captain of the mine is going to heaven wrong end first!' they said, and passed light-heartedly on. As did he with Janets letter.
 Two of her fathers are building a patent lighthouse on Rough Island Point, and Phil -Calmont is making a deep hole on the top of the Portogarten Heugh above them--I suppose, as a sort of sec ond exit. You had better come home and inspect, if you feel that this is now in your line"
 What wretch of a grill" growled Vic. but all the same he went on reading
 And they are building a house for the manager up on the Heugh, between the new pit and the sea. They are not quite sure who the manager is to be, yet some say Phil Calmont and some say Miss V. B. F. Romer. Knowing both, bet on the lady!''
 "The-little-vixen!" laughed Vic. And he did not refer to Vida. "Who would have thought it?" He meditated awhile, and then said softly, But after all, I like 'em better that way. I'll wager her eyes sparkedf when she wrote that-and she minister's daughter, blaming the worst things she can think of on her in nocent father'
 Again he continued his reading. He was now sitting on his shoulder blades, and part of a damaged flannel collar twisted about his neck, while his legs stuck out like stove-pipes, half way up the mountain.
 MT. Romer so they say, does not rec ognze his new-found daughter publicly. But he owns her through MT. Phil Cal mont, which is the next best thing. He goes up the hill to the pit nearly every day, in a gray suit, gray whiskers, and the repressed affection of a lifetime. Then he falls on Phil's neck and kisses him. Phil does the rest.
 Now, I think this . enough concerning the business f -tisfy even that noble son fcN ST. '- nvic Morris. You ne Flown
 Asn't carry so far, HHt a
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