Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1913-01-14

off up here on wild goose chase"
Ellison sank into silence while he
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.
Ben finished his first and sank into
distracted silence. Suddenly he look
ed up to meet EIlison's kind eyes bent
upon him.
Feeling low, Fleming" asked the
other man. 81 don't want to butt in,
you know. only If II 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.
COMPOUNDED trouble understood
bless emr' commented Ellison.
I'll don't suppose I've had your ex-
perience. I've only seen one girl ever
cared much about"
That's enough"
There's certainly variety enough in
it." smiled Ben. you see, / didn't
have anything and her folks are pref
ty well to do, and when her father ask
ed me how was going to support her
In the manner he had always done,
why, just threw up my hands and
said / couldn't do that, of course-not
just now-but she was willing to wait
for me-" Ben paused.
"Well?" urged Ellison after awhile.
"Oh, you see her father laughed
and said money wasn't made so rapid
ly as all that. He said he supposed
we wanted to be married while we
were young. 1 said yes-in year or
so-and he laughed again and said 1t
would take some time for a clerk in
the railroad Office to work himself up
to be division superintendent or some
thing like that. The second time he
laughed and made me mad. | told
him Id come back In a year with
money enough to marry her, and |
said was so sure of her love and 10y
atty that | wouldn't even see her be-
fore l went away. | knew she'd wait
for me.
81 didn't count on falling sick in
Seattle and breaking so into my money.
That's how you found me down and
out"
Huh, If you hadn't saved my life
down there on the river where would
have been, Ell? If there's balance Of
gratitude it's on the other side of the
ledger. What does the girl say nowT
II haven't heard word from her."
said Ben dejectedly. Il suppose 1
ought not TO have gone off without see
ing her. l couldn't say goodby, and.
besides, l suppose I was ripping mad
at the old man"
1T wasn't being quite square with
her." admitted Ellison soberly. "You
see, If you'd consulted her perhaps she
would have preferred to marry you
poor as you were. You ought to have
given her the chance anyway"
81 realize it. l know it. And the
thought strikes a chill to my heart
that's way below your go degrees. I've
written twice, and I've never had
word in reply"
There was an instant's silence. Then
Ellison spoke across the table, and Ben
looked up quickly to see the bright
blue eyes fixed intently upon him I'M
der the glow of the lamp.
Perhaps she's moved away and
didn't get your letter." he suggested
crisply.
"Why, hardly that. You see, her
home was in Cleveland, and she would
not be likely to-
Perhaps her father died and she
was adopted by an uncle who lived In
California. Perhaps she is there"
The older man spoke forcefully, con-
vincingly.
"Why, 1t might be. She did have an
uncle in California. It's queer you
should have hit upon that, Ellison"
Ben looked at his partner with a puz-
zled expression.
mot so queer, young man. The Gu
rious part of 1t is that / didn't suspect
you before" Ellison's tone was sharp.
Suspect! What do you mean"
Ben paled and arose, leaning across
the table to stare into Ellison's face.
IL told you a girl sent me up here
to the Yukon country 1t was my
niece. Her father has recently died,
and as her mother, who was my only
sister, Is dead, / have adopted her
She makes her home with me in south
ern California. Grace Ellison Gary is
my niecei"
"Grace Ellison Gary is your nlece?"
Ben chartered the words incredulous-
ly. ''She sent you up heref"
after you-what the deuce is your
Lame? She said Benjamin Carwood.
You pose as Ben Fleming"
benjamin Fleming Carwood," said
Ben dizzily 'What-why did she send
you after me-"
Because she wants you to come
back. you young idiotr
"And you knew she wanted me all
these months we have been together,
and because of this wall Of reserve be-
tween us-why, I've been so down and
out sometimes I've felt like throwing
myself down the shaft l wonder II
there will come chance for me to go
home soonf' Ben looked wistfully at
his companion.
II guess there will I've had an
offer for the mine as she stands now,
and we better take it and divide.
Then we can go home next month. In
the meantime. as your heart is down
at 60 degrees below zero, I'll Just de-
liver this letter Grace sent up to you
If should and you. and l trust the
contents viii thaw you out" And Ell
lison smiled as he delivered the pre-
:ious missive into Ben's eager hands.