The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1914-04-10


without being expected to pay for any
thing. He was tired and hot, and, ap-
palling fact! hungry; moreover. he
noted with aversion that every lounger
upon every bench bore the same atti-
tude of hopeless detection as himself
which a great many of his impressions
of the corresponding relations of hui
man beings to each other underwent
a radical change. For one thing. he
began to estimate his actual value,
considered merely as two hands and a
brain, If thrown upon the immediate
market, for it looked as If the great
railroad king would have to hunt a
job at unskilled labor.
AS he sat dejectedly bumped over,
his elbows upon his knees and his
hands clasped idly together, he noticed
that brown skirt-with a draggled
bit of braid at the bottom-that twice
had slowly passed him, now stopped
directly In front of him. Naturally he
glanced up and found very good
looking girl gazing fixedly down at
him. The moment she met his eyes
her face lighted with smile of de-
light, and she came toward him.
II just knew it was Mr.. Cash." she
began vivaciously. my! this is long
way from Broadway, isn't it,"
No sound had ever rung more
agreeably In his ears than his own
name pronounced at this moment. For
the last couple of hours that magic
word had completely lost its power,
and he began to realize how few
people knew him after all. 1t was
with sense of positive gratitude that
he answered this girl, whom he could
not place, but whose face seemed
pleasingly familiar.
Indeed 1t is" he assented, rising
and removing his hat. II expect am
stupid, but really I cannot seem to
place you, Miss"
Bessie Williams. but you don't
know the name," she returned. II used
to manicure you in the Hotel Bel
weigh, don't you remember? You've
had your mustache shaved off. but.
goodness! I'd know those hands with
the mole on both little fingers If l
found you down in Africa stained with
walnut juice. guess you'll think
I've got a nerve for wedging in this
way, but honest, anybody that was
ever nice to me in little old New York
looks like long-lost brother!"
He remembered her perfectly now,
and he smiled with amusement as he
recalled her vivid personality. She
was a girl who had struggled up from
the most squalid section Of the East
side, and was noted on Broadway, not
only for her own incorporating rig.
idity of conduct, but for the number
of other girls she had saved from
making fools Of themselves" More
especially, however, she was known
for the picturesque slang which had
chung to her as the only mark of her
origin, and for the originality with
which she used it. In the present juno
ture he was surprised to find her sud-
denly hesitate and show bit of en-
barrassment.
81 feel somewhat in the cold my
What brings you out here so far?"
I'm my own lemon" she replied,
recovering her vivacity at once and
rafting on with the greatest sang
froid, once she had plunged into the
main topic. Say, Mr.. Cash, I'm 60
ing to be real open-faced with you
about my troubles, because know you
don't make any mistakes in the dark
and you don't keep the small change
glued down. Every time I ever saw
you there was a circle of tips rolling
away from, you in every direction, and
once when bell-hop got his leg broke
saw you peel off fifty before any
body could ask if he had a mother
It's this way with me. I'm SO stony
broke that a ten-cent piece would look
the size of the full moon coming up
out of the water at Rockaway beach,
and if you will just ship me back
among the tall buildings I'll manicure
the whole Cash family for a year,"
81 wish I could" he said sincerely,
"but l haven't penny upon which
can lay my hands. I'm as hard up as
any loafer in this park"
Il beg your pardon" said Miss Will
liams with more dignity than he had
expected to find in her. Il am very
sorry that / made such a mistake"
And she turned to go.
He could see that she was both hurt
and mortified; that she had instantly
come to the conclusion that he did
not care to help her.
Wait minute" he called after her,
his sympathies wonderfully quickened
by his own disagreeable experience.
Come back here and sit down. / was
perfectly honest when / said that l
am in as much trouble as you are"
She was still incredulous, but he
was so earnest in his insistence that
she reluctantly came back and allowed
him to seat her upon the bench beside
him. He explained to her in careful
detail precisely what had happened to
him, and his unshaven face and soiled
collar were sufficient confederation.
She laughed at his somberness when
he had finished.
Lovely" she exclaimed with spar.
king eyes. For a minute was afraid
exchange had given me the wrong
number, but l couldn't figure out how
you'd Joined the T Wad family so
quick. But now watch the blue trail
of our gasoline. Come with your
Aunt Bessie!"
She sprang to her feet and he arose
uncertainty