White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1914-08-23

of idleness. His & might have been
anywhere between 40 and 80. The
shoulders were broad and the hands
which lay clasped upon the table
were slim but muscular. Indeed,
everything about him suggested hid
den strength and vitality. His COM
panion was small. handsome, and
animated. Her frequent gestures
and mutable eyebrows betrayed her
foreign birth. Her age was a matter
of Importance to no II but herself,
They were at coffee when she said
There's a young man coming to-
ward us. He is looking at you"
The man turned. Instantly his
face lighted up with a friendly smile
of recognition.
who is it," she asked.
"A chap worth knowing; a report
er just a little out OF the ordinary.
I'm going to introduce him. You
never car tell. We might need him
some day. All, Norton. how are
you"
Good evening, Mr.. Braine." The
reporter, catching sight of q pair OF
dazzling eyes, hesitated.
The Princess Perigoff. Norton.
You're in no hurry, are your"
Not now" smiled the reporter.
Ali" said the princess, interest
ed. 1t was the old compliment, said
in an unusual way. 1t pleased her.
The reporter sank into a chair.
When inactive he was rather a
dreamy eyed sort of chap. He pos
sessed that are accomplishment of
talking upon one subject and think
ing upon another at the same time.
SO, while he talked gayly with the
young m on varied themes, his
thoughts were busy specializing upon
her companion. He vas quite GER
tain that the lame Braine vas as
sumed, but he was also equally GER
tain that the man carried an extra
ordinary brain under his thatch of
salt and pepper hair. The man had
written three or four brilliant mono
graphs on poisons and the uses of
radium. and it was through and by
these that the reporter had managed
to pick up mis- acquaintance. He lived
we'll, but inconspicuously.
Suddenly the pupils of Braine's
eyes narrowed; the eye became cold.
Over the smoke of his cigaret he was
looking into the wall mirror. A man
lad passed behind him and sat down
at the next table. Still gazing into
the mirror, Braine saw Norton wave
his hand; saw also the open wonder
on the reporters pleasant face.
Who is your friend. Norton?"
Braine asked i~ndiferently, his head
still unturned.
Stanley Hargreave. Met him In
Hongkong when l was sent over to
handle a part of the revolution. VA
correspondence stuff. First time l
ever ran across him on Broadway at
night. We've since had some pow
WOW over some rare boks. Queer
old cock; brave as a lion but as quiet
as a mouse"
~Bookish, eh? My kind. Bring
him over" Underneath the table
Braine Unanswered to touch the foot
CT the princess.
Il don't know said the reporter
obviously. He might say no, and
that would embarrass the WHOLE lot
of us. He's a bit of a hermit. I'm
surprised to see him here
Try" urged the princess. I like
to meet men who are hermits."
Il haven't the least doubt about
that" the reporter laughed. "I1l try;
but don't blame me if I'm rebuffed."
He left the table with evident re-
luctance and approached Hargreave.
The two shook hands cordially, for
the elder man was rather fond of this
medley Of information known as Jim
Norton.
sit down, boy; sit down. You're
just the kind OF a man I've been
wanting TO talk to tonight"
Wouldn't you rather talk TO q
pretty woman"
I'm an old man"
Bah, That's a hypocritical bluff
and you know it. My friends at the
next table have asked me TO bring you
over.
Il do not usually care to meet
strangers
Make an exception this once, ;
said the reporter. who had seen
Braine's eyes change and was curl
Gus to know why the appearance of
Hargreave in the mirror had brought
about that metally CLEAN. Here
were W unique men; he desired to
see them face to face.
This once. Nv fault; | ought not
" NC htits 4 lttl out Oi Dldtt. nat
a life, though, you reporters lead,
To meet kings and presidents and
great financiers, Socialists and an
archists, the whole scale of life, and
to slap these people on the back as If
they were everyday friendsi"
Now you're making fun OF me.
For n king there are always twenty
thick brogans ready to kick me
down the steps; don't forget that"
Hargreave laughed. Come then.
let us get 1t over with"
The introductions were made.
Norton felt rather ehagrined. So far
as he could see. the two men were
total strangers. Well, il was all in
the game. Nine out of ten oppor-
tunities for the big story were fake
alarms; but he was always willing to
risk the labor these nine entailed for
the sake of the tenth.
-