The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-12
CHAPTER XXXI.


 James Kahn was not long in hearing that Jacob Romer went every day to see Vida Bryan at the little cottage at Glebe End. Considering the exaggera- tion common to all small towns and which increases in inverse ratio as they tend to become villages, this was fairly correct. Jacob Romer did not go there every day. but he had been twice in three weeks Since Vida's illness, after the affair of No. 2 Pit, her friend, Miss Nunsby, had been with her continuously. Rose had left her father and 82 Dudley-gardens to the cares of I,eeby Callum, whom he daily abused continuously in language quite incomprehensiblet to her. This did not hurt Leeby Cullum. She was glad when the "maister relieved himsef It showed he was not "keepin' anything up against her"
 StiIl. even two such visits was too much for James Kahn to consider with impunity To his distorted imagina- tion, it seemed that his master was not so confidential with him as he used to be. He had noticed, also, that Jacob Romer had directly consulted young Calmont-a mere tool of Morris-on more than one occasion
 Doubts harassed James Kahn on ev- cry side. Since it was his nature all ways to play double game Cor, in- deed several at a time). he suspected that others were doing the same thing perhaps a safe belief enough, but not one which makes for personal pop ularity.
 What. for instance, if Johnemann, who had been on the Good Intent With him, recognized Vida? He had certain ly look ed very strangely at him the day of the pit disaster. Might he not fore I,I with Rnmar senting the old dotard with long lost daughter, thus earning his grati- tude2 Certainly Johnemann had better be look ed after.
 Then Serb fell to renecting on the reasons which might prevent the girl from listening to his offers. He even went so far as to suspect dismissed servant at the "Caravanseraf of tell ing tales. This man had been work ing up at Corn Castle for old Abra- ham Fyfe, the gardener, and Abraham Fyfe was a favored guest at Glebe End Cottage.
 Otherwise 1t was simply incompre- hensible that he, a rich man, high In the confidence of the head of the In cubus, Romer 6 Co.,. should be slighted, without reason given, by slip of a girl.
 Ut is the Romer temper" he affirmed |. Jacob' sticks from her eyes like fire from flint. I believe now that If l were a poor man, with my way to make. I might have a better chance" Like most men when baffled, he never suspected that he himself was the cause
 If never struck him that he might sell his house, his horses, his motors, and pretend to be poor. But this was foo Ia mi not give up a farthing he had gained for half a dozen Vidas. Vida and the | farthings-good! Without-many thou | sand times no!
 Rut all the same the distant whirr and nearer grunt of James Kahns mo- | tor became a familiar sound in the It. l tle house at Glebe End, sitting back l from the gate into the wood' Ana Vida. who till now had known no fear, besought little Miss Nunsby to remain l with her. There was something about James Kahn which intimidated her. 1 -"Rut my father will go crazy!' said | Rose Nuuspy, shaking her head If he is left any longer with Leeby Cal lum. and the soapy blocks which are I,eeby's idea of boiling new potatoes, 1 there will be murder done.
 Meonwbile Old Dick had recom- menced his service at the Carron Pit, and was absent most of the day one |
 week and the whole of the night the next. Since the disaster Vida's nerves ware not what they had been. She was afraid, and she knew not or what. | The days were growing shorter. Ihe l tall trees were shaking thehisei f.s l aioar of leaves which it was the girl nleasure to gather and burn in the short windless afternoons, her friend' Rose Nunsby, assisting her. occa- sionally Phil helped too, when he could l snatch time from the duties or ms new l occupation. He went and came at all times making straight up from the ! pits-dropping off his fathers gig, on the pretext of going to consult old Dick Finnan-and ever ready either to make tea for, or to accept tea from, the pair | of girls in the Gate Cottage. Both times it was in the afternoon towards o'clock that MT. Jacob Romer had arrived. He marched down