The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-03-03

there. Just as the time that Irwin
and Clay determined that they would
have to be pleasant to Stone until
Monday morning. and not let him sus-
pect their knowledge, lest he skip
town, Stone had decided that Mrs.
Blake would have to get him an in
vitation to the ball. so that he could
attend and pump Clay.
And thus 1t was that they met in
surroundings so foreign to business
sand intrigue and crime-thus It was
that they met beneath the entwined
flags Of many nations. and mumbled
commonplaces to the tune of modern
dance music.
A partner claimed Irwin and laugh
ingly carried him of. Clay, true to
his arrangement with his senior part
ner, was more than usually cordial to
Stone, was in fact almost feverishly
eloquent in his anxiety to make q
good impression
Lets see If we can find q drink"
he ventured more from force Of habit
than because he cared to join the oily
attorney in the cup that cheers.
A momentary CLEAN Of satisfaction
showed in Stones eyes as he laugh
ingly assented. They found den and
sent servant for wine.
And now perhaps It would be best
to draw the curtain over the scene
that followed; would be best II It
were possible to hide from the reader
the undoing of young Clay-spend-
thrift. bankrupt and disciple Of folly.
Wine was to his Inherited weakness
much as blood to the nostrils of the
hungry tiger. And in Stone he had a
companion who played upon that
weakness.
"Too bad about old West" ven
tured Stone.
'Yesh, he'sh dead, poor fellow" hic-
coughed Clay.
Had some peculiar notions" con-
tinued Stone. "He always thought
was robbing someone"
well and weren't your" Clay re-
turned with all the solemn gravity Of
. man well in his cups
Il never robbed man in my life
This latter from Stone, quick and
sharp. like the crack of whip.
Shorty old man, shorty to doubt
what you shay, but we got you've
got you confession you know"
Stone started as if struck. And as
he gazed at the swaying, pitiful figure
before him, he realized that his worst
fears had been well founded.
He made another effort to question
the drunken man but was only an
swered by foolish laugh. He had
done his work too well. In an effort
to loosen Clay's tongue he had urged
too much wine upon him and the eff
feet was as unsatisfactory as If he
had not had enough. Unable to get
anything further from him he
searched his pockets thinking he
might find the confession.
april fool. 'Fession's home. hid
it in little wife's jewel safe. Clay's no
fool-Clay's no foo" The sentence
died away into deep long ,snore.
Clay was asleep, standing up.
Stone stared searchingly at the va
cant features of the man before him
for a moment and then started to re.
place the papers in his pocket.
"You thief"
He heard the words and felt the
firm grip on his collar before he
realized that Irwin, anxious about his
partner and searching for him, had
come upon them In the lonely den.
"You thief" irwin repeated. First
you fill a man with drink and then
you rob him."
you know better than anybody
that Clay requires no help when it
comes to drinking" sneered the at
torney.
Irwin answered with an oath and
there was struggle as the younger
man broke away from him. Leaping
back with an agility remarkable in
a man who had so little outdoor train
ing, Stone seized one of the empty
bottles and raising it, rushed at irwin
as II to brain him. Quick as his op-
ponent had been, Irwin was quicker
and his silver-plated revolver spoke
before Stone had covered half the dis
lance between them. With crash
the appraised bottle Numbered to the
floor and Stone, smothering an oath,
grasped his wounded right hand with
his left Clay slowly sank, an inert
mass across the table. And then 1t
was that the curtain was violently
pulled aside, and then 1t was that the
Mortified and startled dancers at Mrs.
Van Lind's ball gazed in spellbound
wonder at the unfinished tragedy that
was to mean ruin to so many lives.
It was the beginning of the end.
v.
Twas the day after the Van Linds'
ball
Stone had left this dance immediate
ly after the startling scene In the den,
and had spent the time until daylight
with a party of his gay companions.
And now, looking fit and debonnaire,
despite his revels Of the night before,
he was calling on Mrs. Blake.
She could not hide the infatuation
she felt for him, and solicitously she
examined bis bandaged hand.
TITS . mere scratch" he lightly as
sured her, and adroitly he turned the
conversation to Mrs. Clay and her
losses.
You stin have the L o. q. she gave
you" be asked.
She showed It to him.
you must 90 to her." he said. "and
demand payment"
But this ia Sunday, Horace. And,
besides, she has no money"
Solicitously he leaned towards her.