The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-08-24

table, big rancher named Winters,
whom Rodney had met in the town
and had introduced to Colonel Hing
worth. The latter had invited him to
dinner and to stay the night in the
extra sleeper, and Winters, who had
particular reasons for wanting to talk
with Rodney and to meet Miss Hing
worth, had accepted.
"You can count on its stopping" he
said at last. "My ranch is hundred
miles to the north of here. I heard
Rodney was with your party, and as
he was an old classmate Of mine-in
fact, my best friend at Harvard along
with Bert Meade"-and the mention of
the forbidden name caused quick
glances to be passed around the table,
but raised no comment-"the chance of
seeing him brought me down here. I
know the weather along this whole
section of the country; it's the dryest
place on earth, and would almost Of
fer to swallow all the rain that will
fall after this storm spends ITSELF"
swell, that's good" said Curtiss, "be-
cause I've heard that the dam lacks
very little of completion, but that the
spillway has been delayed"
you'll find that the storm has bro
ken in the morning." said Winters con-
fidently.
After dinner Colonel nlingworth, de-
sirous Of talking business, called the
men Of the party, except Rodney and
Winters, back into the observation
room Of the other car, leaving the two
men with Helen.
''Mr. Shurtliff," said Helen, as the
men stepped out on the platform, the
secretary following, since his employer
had intimated his services might be
needed, 'if you can. wish you would
come back here as soon as possible"
Certainly, Miss Illingworth," said
the secretary, Immediately, if your
father finds that he does not need me-"
Rod" said Winters when they were
alone, I'D go long way to see you,
but might as well be frank. I did
not come down these hundred miles,
leaving my ranch in the dead of winter
with all it's possibilities Of mishap to
the cattle, simply to see you, or even
Miss Illingworth here, although she is
worth it," he went ON with the frank
bluntness of a western man.
"Of course you didn't" said Rodney,
smiling. II know I'm not a sufficient
attraction"
II came to talk about Meade"
"Mr. Winters" said Helen, clasping
her hands over her knees and lean
ing forward, elf you know anything
about him, where he is, what he is
doing, how he fares, is he well, does
he think of beg you to tell me-"
Miss Illingworth, there is nothing
I would refuse to tell you if it rested
with me-"
II don't mind confessing to you, you
are such old friends, you and Mr.. Rod
ney, and so devoted to Bert, that am
worrying"
"You need say nothing more, Miss
Illingworth. I know all about the stu
alton. Rodney wrote me and"
"Well, then, you understand my anx-
iety, my reason for asking?"
II do"
Sand you will tell us?"
81 wish to heaven I could"
"Can't you tell us anythingT
swell, yes, I can"
"What?"
cit may be a breach Of confidence"
"Td take the risk" said the girl, her
bosom heaving. Was she at last about
to hear from her lover?
"Know where he is, old manT asked
Rodney.
81 think sO-nOt sure, but"
"Where ?"-from the woman, breath
lessly.
81 didn't agree to tell you THAI.
"What then?"
Gall 1 can say is that after the death
of his father he turned up at my ranch
one day some five months ago and told
me his story"
"What!" exclaimed Rodney. "Did
he tell you he was innocent?"
"Not at first. He told me he was
guilty"
"But you didn't believe him, did
you?" asked the woman impulsively.
81 certainly did not"
"Why not?''
"Well, I don't know why. just
didn't, that's all. I know Meade. I
know him well. l know his makeup.
We get accustomed to sizing up
mans actions out West here, and it
didn't take me longer than 1t took
him to tell the story to know that it
wasn't true"
ooh, thank you for that" said the
woman.
"But our beliefs are not evidence,
Dick" interpOsed Rodney.
1--WE can't prove it and that's the
point. told him." continued Winters,
''that it was a da-darned lie-I beg
your pardon, Miss Illingworth. I mean
told him that it was not true and that
he was fool for sticking to it, and
admitted-I-er," foundered
Winters, suddenly realizing that he
was on the eve Of breach Of conf
dence and checking himself just in
time. "In fact, the subject was painful
to him, and I let him alone, which is
what we generally do to man who
doesn't want his affairs inquired into
too Closely" Winters ended lamely,
realizing how near he had come to
betraying his friends confidence and
telling of Meade's own admission that
he had said what he had to save the
fame and honor of the father.
"Well, what next?" asked Rodney,
understanding as did Helen Hing
worth herself the ranchman's hesita-
ton, and respecting it, although the