The Ely miner., 1916-02-11

II understand there's been some
complaint about the food" he began,
twinkle in his eye that melted some
of the threatening glances fastened
upon him. II have understood 1t was
bad for some time, but didn't realize
how bad food could be until took
=" He wrinklQd his face wryly and
the ice was broken.
From the back Of the crowd a man
laughed. In second he was Joined
by others and soon Monroe held them
in the palm of his hand.
well, it's going to get better and
get better right away" he declared.
emphatically. "Ill go you one bet
ter than that, men, and tell you its
going to get good. Tonight you can
look forward to real supper-a real
supper. understand"
He turned upon Payne, even as the
men were wildly cheering, knowing
that now was the psychological mo-
ment to make his strongest play.
Get in my car, Lee," he con-
manded, "and don't waste any time
getting back here with load of grub
have it here for supper"
. u.
For once Julia Munroe was ready,
impatiently waiting the arrival Of her
sweetheart. He had told her moth
ing Of the reason for his coming to
town in the middle of the week, told
her nothing of the row. But he had
spoken of something which had made
her Jump from the mass of cushions
against which she spent a goodly por-
tion of her days and hustle into her
most becoming afternoon gown. Just
a week remained before the date of
their wedding aad she had delayed in
characteristic faThion procuring any
Of the clothes she had spent so many
hours planning and dreaming out up
on the divan.
She plunged immediately to the sub
ject, even before Pasne's arms had
relaxed about the waist of her, looking
up into his face in the tantalizingly
irresistible fashion which he, as well
as her father, always found SO ire
sistible.
Now, there's no use telling me why
you came to town; there's no sense
trying to talk to me about iood for
the men. There'll be plenty of time
after you look over few little things
in the shops with me-"
But l must have it there for sup
perl tell you. Julia, the situation
became so serious there was nearly a
murderous row at the fields"
Bother the fields" she exclaimed
petulantly. You're just like father
oil, oil, oil morning, noon and night,
until I've even ordered the cook to
leave any of the hateful stuff out of
the cooking"
Payne laughed, despite himself,
laughed and catching her about the
waist, drew her to him, trying to coax
the pretty, pouting face towards his
own.
"All right he laughingly capitulat-
ed. "But on just one condition-that
we go to the grocery together"
The irresistible music of her
laughter intoxicated him and, as they
swung into the car he wondered how
in the world he had ever for a mo-
ment dreamed of resisting her lure.
In fact, as they wandered from shop
to shop that afternoon, he felt more
and more the hero for the manful
fight he had put up against her
tempestuous assaults.
And once as he looked at his watch,
to his strained, guilty ear came a
sharp report, the report of revolver.
He started and moved swiftly toward
Julia, placing his arm commandingly
upon her wrist. She turned the
witchery Of her glance upon him and,
for just an instant, the suspicion of
frown puckered her brow. It cleared
instantly then, with an exquisite, lit
tie whimper she came very close to
him, looking up into his face with the
perplexed and worried expression of a
child.
I'm simply famished," she ex-
claimed. Surely, you won't permit
me to starve, Lee. Just mouthful
and then we can"
Hungry! He started as she
voiced his thought of the unappeased
hunger of those men he had visualized
throughout the afternoon. mo really,
Julia
She had his arm in her two, tiny
hands. Intellectual hands they seemed,
dainty and blue-veined and almond
tipped at the fingers. And yet, like
bands of steel, they drew him, despite
himself. despite everything within
himself that cried out aloud against
their pressure.
Ira Monroe settled back in his Of
fee chair, idly staring at the hands
Of the big clock. He had gone over
the books for the first time in q week.
had listened to Pat Grady's story of
the fracas that had come so near end
ing fatally. And, as the old mans eyes
closed, slowly. very slowly his mind
travelled from the fields to his home In
Los Angeles.
A faint smile hovered about his lips
as he thought Of his petted daughter,
of the fearful consequences that might
have occurred from her remissness in
writing concerning the food supply out
here. 1t seemed incredible that such
a slight, fragile little thing could be
the storm center about which such
things revolved.
Two-three-four o'clock and still
the hands travelled along their way.
At five o'clock, the old man rose and
stared anxiously out upon the road
that led past the great derricks Of his
oil fields. Here and there he could
catch a g1iu,nSa of fbo mon xra,t