The Ely miner., 1916-01-28

ofdce-and get another one."
Send that girl away! You mean
Miss Foster?'
"Yes."
"But why?-this is absurd! Why
send Myra Foster away?"
Because / wish it."
But you must have some reason.
This can't be mere imperative arbi-
trariness. You are not like that. Can't
you tell me why? Myra Foster is my
most able assistant. To send her away
would be to disable me in my most
important work. Besides, it would be
unjust. She is very worthy girl.
She is the sole support of her aged
father"
He felt the urgent sincerity of her
request, and knew how deeply she was
moved. But her concern was so obvi-
ously unfounded on fact that he could
not help but believe it was an hysteri-
cal outbreak that would be dispelled
when her overwrought nerves were
quieted, and reason returned. 1t would
be ridiculous, wrong, to sacrifice Myra
to this hysteria, so he decided to be
firm, and make no rash promise. He
spoke:
Some old gossip has evidently been
busy. Well talk more of this when
your nerves are quieter."
mo, We will talk of it now. Will
your"
No"
She turned, despairing-eyed and
limp, and walked dazedly from the
room.
The next morning Ethel kept to her
room. Ray left for his Office, the usual
spring gone from his gait, his face
grave with the anxiety of the previous
evening. He arrived in the city, and
proceeded Immediately to his work.
Myra Foster was there, and her ener-
waited movements as she went about
her work showed only too plainly that
her "bothersome cold and slight head
ache" had not improved overnight.
He decided quickly upon his course
with regard to Myra's case, and spoke
to her:
Miss Foster, you are ill. You're in
no condition for work at the present
time in this or any Office, and I'm 60
ing to send you and your father away.
have a place down on the ocean,
where you can get breath of fresh
salt air, and win back some of your
old time strength and snap. So make
ready, please. We can start just as
soon as you can get your things to-
gether."
Very well, Mr.. Norris, and thank
you. I-er-'thank you'-any words
seem so inadequate, so inexpensive,
in acknowledgment of such kindness.
I'm afraid"-her voice grew soft and
tender-"youll have to take my
thanks for granted"
Forget it," he said, inelegantly, and
turned to get his coat.
"Ha, ha!-Oh my!" He looked
quickly over his shoulder at the sound
of her mirth. "Gracious!" she said,
half sadly, half amusedly, "we forgot
the most important thing. 1t can't be
done! How about old man Conven-
ton, his wife Scandal, and their
daughter Gossip? What will people
say?"
"Oh, that's all right-don't let that
concern you. Your father will be
there, and I'll tell my wife tonight"
T0uafhor loff fha
climbed into his machine, picked up
her father, and in less than three
hours were down in his place by the
ocean,
Ethel Norris came down from her
room after her husband left, and her
usually gay face was grave, and her
eyes red and heavy. She ate no break
fast, and the servants had to speak to
her many times over before she could
comprehend their meaning. She
dressed for the street about noon, and
without, as usual, leaving word of her
intended destination, left the house.
She had spent night of very hell, her
spirit tortured almost beyond endur-
ance at the thought of another COM
ing between her and what was dearer
to her than life. She would see. She
would &C. to his office, and let her
quick woman's intuition scent out the
truth for her.
She reached his office and was about
to go in when cunning thought came
to her. Why let them be aware of her
presence? Why give them an oppor-
tunity to be on their guard? She
turned back, her "cleverness" for the
moment obsessing her, and making her
fearless, clean face ugly with the
blight of subtlety. She would go to
Falls office, make some slight pre-
text for her visit, and watch them
from there. She knocked softly, and,
getting no answer, pushed further
open the slightly ajar door, and looked
in. No one there. He must have
stepped out for just moment, or his
door would be locked. So much the
better. A moment would be enough,
would, without her having to conceal
that she was watching, be worth many
minutes with his attention upon her.
The window was open, and she went
to it, keeping always in the shadow of
the wall, so that she could see with
out being seen.
Mrs. Norris saw her husbands Of
flee was empty. What could it mean?
She made bolder, stepped to the CEN
ter of the aperture and bent far ont
to peer into the office opposite. The
sheer depth of the long shaft fascin-
ated her and gave her light hollow
feeling of nausea. She drew in her
head with sharp jerk, and staggered
back, her giddiness overcoming her.
She would have fallen but for a strong
arm around her waist. It was Will.