The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1912-11-18

and crisp.
Ben was pouring coffee. Some girl
has no use for me-" he said drily.
For an instant Ellison's brows drew
together, and then he scanned Ben's
face intently.
"Some girl back in Connecticut, or
did you say it was Massachusetts he
asked, with assumed carelessness.
81 didn't say" retorted Ben.
"Obw Ellison smiled in his beard.
81 don't want to be grouchy." apollo
gized Ben hastily, for Ellison was q
good fellow and. although considerably
older than himself. had proved himself
companionable and thoroughly fast
friend to the young stranger.
"Never mind me-" assured Ellison.
q know what girls are. Why. 1t was
a girl sent me to the arctic circle
twenty years ago. and 1t was a girl
sent me this time. Why. had given
up prospecting for good and was TAX
ing my ease back there in-er-the
state where l came from when l got
my walking papers for the Yukon. and
80 I came. With my customary good
luck l struck pay dirt again"
1.-The same girl didn't send you
twice? asked Ben curious in his turn.
"I,ord. no! The first girl-that was
twenty years ago. and I was young
chap like you then-sent me up here
10 make my fortune: said she'd marry
me when I'd made it. Well, l did
make it, but when 1 got back home I'll
be BANKED, Ben. if she hadn't gone
and married another fellow. measly
little clerk in shoe store without a
penny to his name. after sending me
up here to have my hide frozen stiff.
That girl had some nerve"
II should say So" breathed Ben
hastily. He was looking rather wildly
at his companion. "Do you suppose
any girl would do that? You needn't
answer that question. know she
wouldn't" he added fervently.
"There are girls and girls" observed
Ellison, apparently quite oblivious tc
Ben's agitation. "Now. this second CIR
who sent me is a different sort, but
she's got nerve tool"
"How?"
Instead Of wanting me to stay home
and keep out Of danger she sends me
off up here on a wild goose chase"
Ellison sank into silence while be
smoked his pipe, and Ben. as the Junior
member of the firm. washed up the
dishes and then drew up chair on the
other side Of the table and lighted his
own pipe. There were some months
or so old newspapers on the table, but
they were new to these men, and they
read them eagerly. 50 '~' = '..-.-
Ben finished his first and sank into
distracted silence. Suddenly he look
ed up to meet Ellison's kind eyes bent
upon him.
"Feeling low, Fleming?" asked Tx
other man. 81 don't want to butt in
you know. only If it will relieve your
mind to tell it to any one why fire
away. 1t will go no further"
81 know that. Yes. there is some
thing, and it's a girl too" confessed
Ben.
"Confounded trouble, makers-Goi
bless 'emr commented Ellison.
81 don't suppose I've had your ex
perience. I've only seen one girl l evel
cared much about. - -r,e-e-. a-.. <'-
''That's enough"
'sThere's certainly variety enough II
it." smiled Ben. You see, didn'
have anything and her folks are pref
ty we'll to do, and when her father ask
ed me how was going to support bel
In the manner he had always done
why. I just threw up my hands ant
said couldn't do that. OF eourse-no
Just now-but she was willing to wal
for me-" Ben paused.
"Well?" urged Ellison after awhile.
"Oh. you see her father laughed
and said money wasn't made so rapid
" as all that. He said he supposed
we wanted to be married while W.
were young. l said yes-in year o.
so-and he laughed again and said i
would take some time for a clerk II
the railroad office to work himself W
to be division superintendent or some
thing like that. The second time hi
laughed and made me mad. tolt
him I'd come back in year witt