The Ely miner., 1914-02-27

stance-gits real excited an talks
quick, what language does he user"
"Oh, his own first tongue!"
Rosalie mused aloud; and In that
musing she cleared up for US one of
her mysteries of method.
II does look to me-" she said, "as
II I'd wasted lot of time brushin' up
my Spanish with the Martinez Phono-
graph Method. Still, it's bound to help
here and there. Listen," she ad-
dressed Grtmaldi, 81 did turn once
never mind what-on the Mexican
border-El Paso, San Antonio, an
places like that Circumstance was
such that / had to learn as much
Spanish as could-my business
called for It I've been studyin' 1t
again lately. You understand Span
ish, don't your
"As we'll as l do English"
"Then," said Rosalie in Spanish,
"how does this sound? Is 1t good con-
versational Spanish? Tell me what
you think"
WELL" said Grimaldi, "it runs all
right, but any one would know you
weren't Spanish born. Still, it's pref
ty good, and l suppose you could fool
a Spaniard for a few words. What
are you trying to do-with Spanish p
ooh. nothing" replied Rosalie care
lessly. We'll, 1 must 60 on. Keep
him shadowed, an when you git any
thing new, you know where to find me.
Good-by."
At home in her own room again,
Rosalie pondered long, nervous fin.
ger picking at musing lip-pondered
until she stood frozen with a new idea.
Those rings of Miss Estrilla's-she
had long wanted look at them. Es.
pecially that big diamond with a curl
GUS onyx and gold setting which she
wore on her left hand. Rosalie had
noted Miss Estrilla's care of that
ring; noted how she washed her
hands without removing 1t. Chance,
therefore, would never give the oppor.
tunity. She herself must make 1t. She
meditated. Again her finger stopped
It's drumming on Qer I'D.
Molly" she was saying to the maid
half an hour later, 81 guess I'll take
up Miss Estrilla's dinner tonight"
'T've brought your dinner myself
she said to Miss Estrilla. She put
down the tray, adjusted the napkin.
bolstered the invalid with the pillows,
and took up a cup of bouillon.
There now, I'll help-oh, dearie,
I'm so sorry!" For Rosalie had STUN.
bled slightly in approaching the couch,
and the bouillon had splashed over the
napkin, the spread; and Miss Estrilla' 8
hands. Rosalie bubbled apologies as
she hurried about the room, getting
cloth, towels, warm water. Miss Es-
trilla was very gracious, but Rosalie
continued to apologize as she began to
scrub her hands.
Didn't burn you, did it?" asked
Rosalie.
mo; but it's very sticky" replied
Miss Estrilla.
Il can't get under those rings-let
me-there, my DEAR" Rosalie deftly
removed the rings, laid them without
a glance on the edge Of the tray, and
continued to chatter as she scrubbed.
81 brought you up the evening pa
per-" she said. "You can't read it,
but thought you'd like to see the pic
lures Of that new Spanish tenor
they're maxim all the fuss over-you
asked me about him the other day.
Remember" She had finished wiping
Miss Estrilla's hands; and now she
gave her the newspaper, the photo
graph of the tenor folded to the front.
Miss Estrilla took the bait. She
moved the paper close to her eyes.
In that second, the deft Rosalie had
made three motions and used her
quick perceptions. There was a line
inside the big ring:
Miguel + Victoria, 1873"
"Now we're ready for dinner" said
Rosalie. Shall send down for more
soup? No?" Miss Estrilla seemed in
that moment to miss her rings. She
perceived them on the edge of the
tray and slipped them on.
Before she left, Rosalie spun and
tied another thread Of the web she
was weaving so deftly and yet so eau
tiously.
81 hate even to mention It," she
said, "but I've been feelin' them comm
on to-day-my spells. know you said
| could have 'em in here alone with
you, but haven't wanted to bother
you. / sensed the beginnin' Of one
this afternoon. l beat it this time by
workin' hard an shuttin' my teeth. If
1t really gets me-if l can't hold 1t
off any longer-pm likely to be in here
most any time"
Miss Estrilla, her face and her emo
tions hidden from view by the eye
shade, answered in a voice which be-
gan calmly and evenly: