The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-11-30
CHAPTER xvII-continued.

you had any lunch?"
Long ago." Sophy replied. 81 have
been finishing your accounts"
Louise made q little grimace.
Tell me the worst" she begged.
You are overdrawn at your bank
your bills are heavier than ever this
month, and there are five or six specia
accounts-one for some electric fit
tfngs. another for the hire of motor
ear-which ought to be paid"
Louise was looking up at the ceiling
She sighed.
1T would be NICE" she said, ste
have someone to pay ones bills anC
look after one, and see that one wasn't
too extravagant." "
"Well. you need someone badly" So
ply asserted. 81 suppose You mean
20 make up your mind to it some day.
Il wonderr' Louise murmured. did
you know that that terrible man from
the hills--John Strangewey's brother
has been here this morning? He fright
ened me to DEATH"
"What did he want?" SOphy asked
curiOuSiy.
HE was a trife vague" Louise re-
marked. 81 gathered that if don't
send John back to Cumberland, he's
going to strangle me-"
Sophy leaned across the table.
Are you going to send him back?'
she asked.
Il am In an uncertain frame OF
mind" Louise confessed. II really
can't decide about anything"
Il want to tell you this, Louise"
SOphy said firmly. John is getting to
know great many people. and you
know how men talk at the clubs.
Aren't you sometimes afraid that he
will hear things and misunderstand?'
u am expecting it every day." Lou
Use admitted.
'Then why don't you end it?"
(which way?"
There was silence between the two
women. The muffied street noises
from outside became the background
to stiffness which grew every mo-
lnent more oppressive. Louise returned
to lIer former attitude. She looked
SteadfastIy before her, her face sup
ported by her hands.
Sophy grew paler and paler as the
suinutes passed. There was something
strange and almost beautiful In Lou
ise's face. something which had come
to her. lately, and which shone from
her eyes only at rare intervals.
You care for him, 1 believer" SOphy
cried at last. "You care for him!"
Louise did not move.
why not?" she whispered.
There was ring at the front door.
Louise, from her place, could see the
long, gray bonnet of Johns car. AL
most before she could speak, he was
announced.
ITS an atrocious time to come, I
know" he began alphabetically.
You're in time for some coffee, any
how" Sophy told him cheerfully. "And
] know Louise is glad to see you, be-
cause If you hadn't come, was going
to make her go through some ac-
counts"
"You know am always glad to see
you" Louise murmured, pointing to a
chair. "Sophy and have been having
q most interesting discussion. but we
have come to cul de sac"
III really came" John explained, 'to
ask IL you cared to come and see a
collection of pictures. There's an Ital-
lan--a futurist, of courSe-just I'M
packed his little lot and set them up
over a curiosity shop in Clifford street.
He is sending out cards for next week,
but could take you today-that is,
If you would care about it. We can
60 somewhere for some tea afterward."
Louise made little grimace.
what bad luck |" she exclaimed.
She stopped short. She felt that by
her hesitation she had, in sense, COM
mittcd herself.
II have promised to go and have tea
with the prince at Seyre House," she
said. ut is an engagement we made
last week" au.
John set down his empty coffee cup
with a clatter. An inexplicable but
dominating fury seemed to have sud-
denly assaulted him. He took out a
cigarette and tried to light it. Sophy,
after watching him for moment in
establishment, slipped out of the room.
Louise came over to his side.
Are you really so much disappoint-
edg" she asked. II am so sorry! If
j had known that you were coming for
me. / would have kept myself free"
1T Isn't that exactly" John an
swered. "It's something 1 can't alto
gether explain. If you don't mind, 1
thiak l will be going. There is some
thing | must put right" 49,
lie left without another word. She
watched him step into his new motor
Car and drive away little recklessly,
considering the crowded state of the
streets. He drew up, a few minutes
jntI. outside the club in Pail Mall,
where. as 1t schanced. he had lunched
that day with the prince Of Seyre.
lie found the prince still sitting In
the smoking room, reading a review.
over the top Of which he glanced up
as John approached, and nodded non
chalantly.
"Bac!, again?" he murmured.
=" game back to have a word with
you, prince o
The prince lard down the review,
Weeping his finger in the place.
Delighted"
SNot long ago. John went on, SIN
tfAs room, someone think it was Ma.
JOr Charters-asked you what you
were doing this afternoon. You replied
that you were engaged. There were
.ofh nd fhax