The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1919-11-14
CHAPTER XIV.

he went to his. room, threw off his
coat, waistcoat, collar and tie, letting
them lie where they CHANGED to fall
and then, having violently enveloped
himself in q black velvet dressing
gown, continued this action by lying
down with q vehemence that brought
q wheeze of protest from his bed. his
repose was only q momentary sem
blance, however, for it lasted no long
er than the time it took him to groan
"Riffraff" between his teeth. Then he
satSup, swung his feet to the floor, rose
and began to pace up and down the
large room.
He had just been consciously rude
to his mother for the first time in his
life; for, with all his riding down of
populace and riffraff, he had never be-
fore been either deliberately or i'm
pulsively disregardful of her. But
now he had done rough thing to her
and he did not repent; the rather he
was the more irritated with her. And
when he heard her presently go by his
uOOI Will d liShL sup, SihSihS ShSSA
fully to herself as she went to her
room, he perceived that she had mis-
taken his intention altogether, or, in
deed, had failed to perceive that he
had any intention at all.
There came a delicate, eager tap
ping at his door, not done with q
knuckle but with the tip of finger
nail, which was instantly clarified to
Georges minds eye as plainly as if he
saw it: the long and polished white.
Aunt Fanny's right forefinger. But
George was in no mood for human
communications, and even when things
went well he had little pleasure In
Fanny's society. Therefore it is not
surprising that. at the sound of her
tapping, instead of bidding her enter,
he Immediately crossed the room with
the intention of locking the door to
keep her out.
Fanny was too eager and, opening
the door before he reached it, came
quickly in, and closed it behind her.
Her look was that of a person who
had just seen something extraordinary
or heard thrilling news.
i, Now, what on earth do you want?"
' her chilling nephew demanded.
George" she said hurriedly, 81 saw
what you did when you couldn't speak
to them. I was sitting with Mrs. John
son at her front window, across the
street, and saw it ALL"
"Well, what of it?"
"You did right!' Fanny said with q
vehemence not the less spirited be-
cause she suppressed her voice almost
to a whisper. "You did exactly
right! You're behaving splendidly
about the whole thing, and 1 want to
tell you I know your father would
THANH you If he could see what you're
doing"
"My Lord!" George broke out at her.
you make me dizzy! For heavens
sake quit the mysterious detective
business-at least do quit it around
me! Go and try it ON somebody else,
If you like; but don't want to hear
itw
She began to tremble, regarding him
with a fixed gaze. "You don't care to
hear, then" she said huskily, "that !
approve Of what you're doing?"
Certainly not! Since 1 haven't the
faintest idea what you think I'm do
Ing naturally l don't care whether
you approve of it or not. All I'd like,
IF you please, is to be alone. Pm not
giving a tea here, this afternoon, if
you'll permit me to mention it!''
Fanny's gaze wavered; she began
to blink; then suddenly she sank into
a chair and wept silently, but with a
terrible desolatiOn.
"Oh, for the Lords sake! he
moaned. what in the world is wrong
with you?"
you're always picking on me-" she
Quavered wretchedly, her voice indis.
tinct with the wetness that dubbed in.
to it from her tears. "You do-you
always pick on me! You've always
done it-always-ever since you were
q little boy! Whenever anything goes
wrong with you, you take it out on
me! You do! You always"
George flung to heaven gesture OF
despair; it seemed to him the last
straw that Fanny should have chosen
this particular time to come and sol
in his room over his mistreatment OF
her!
"Oh, my Lord" he whispered then
with great effort, addressed her in 8
reasonable tone: Look here, Aunt
Fanny; I don't see what you're making
oil this fuss about. OF course / know
= I've ceased you sometimes. but"
D "'Teased' me?" she walled
Teased ME! Oh, it does seem toe
hard sometimes-thism mean old life OF
mine does seem too hard! l DOM
think can stand it! Honestly, dom
think l can! l came in here Just tC
show you 1 sympathized with you
just to say something pleasant to you