The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-07-02
BY HOLW RTHY HALL


J peaceful hour, by the Doctors trust
in his integrity, and by the sedative of
long and untroubled stroll out over
the hills to eastward, billiard returned
to the hotel, the room clerk greeted
him with faint superciliousness.
Somebody's been keeping after you
on the telephone all morning." he said
loftily. "New York CALL Couldn't To-
cate you. And here's some kilograms
for you. :"
There were three of them; at sight
of the signature of the first, billiards.
eyes narrowed.
! ARRIVING Syracuse 4 rs. Please meet
me at train and stop all work in the
meantime. Imperative. =
HARMON"
billiards eyelids fluttered; this was
evidently the initial result of Rufus
Warnings efforts, and of those many
letters he had written Harmon. He
tore open the second envelope
the message was again from the broker,
sent obviously from the Grand Gen.
trail terminal just before train-time.
"Most important news received. Am
just leaving, having wired you meet
me at station Ais. Find out who Bob
Waring is and what he wants. Do
all you can to stave off further in
curry. Absolutely imperative not talk
to anyone until see you. Have con-
tract and all other data with you.
Shall have to leave on short notice.
HARMON"
And the third was from Albany:
Locate Bob Waring If possible and
arrange meeting seven tonight Ur-
gently imperative. HARMON" Z
Hilliard folded the three sheets
methodically and put them in his
pocket. He glanced at his watch; 1t
showed quarter to four He had no
dependence on Harmon, and no fear of
him; he felt no obligation to Harmon.
no sense of duty. To be sure, he had
a cynic's curiosity to see what was in
the middle of the whirlwind, but that
of itself wasn't strong enough to send
him to a rendezvous with 4 man he
despised and loathed.
IF co." he said to himself, 'Tll be |
sorry; and if 1 don't go why. |
if don't go, I'll always wonder If it
would have done any good!'
For himself, there was nothing prom
Using in the situation. But on the
mil1ionth chance that something of |
benefit to his subscribers might come
out Of ton the millionth chance that |
Harmon might be frightened or per- |
suaded into compromise
So he went
The very first passenger to reach
the platform was Harmon; indeed, he
had been fretting In the vestibule for
half an hour, intent on saving a use
less fraction Of a second when the
train stopped. At sight of billiard, he
beamed beneficently-all his earlier
belligerence forgotten.
Hello" he said. "Glad to see you,
son. Got all my messages, did you"
He shook hands with great urban
fty; billiards grasp was hardly re-
sponsive.
II got three" said Hilliard, dignified
and noncommittal; and he continued
to inspect his employer with ill-con
cealed disfavor and distrust.
swell, that's all sent. Now, where
can we go sit down and talk, for
couple of hours? There's a lot to go
over, but I want to take the 8 40 West.
Not to the Chronological rather go
somewhere quieter. How about the
Kirk?"
"Suits me all right If it does you"
"Any luggage?" They were crossing
the tracks to the 'waiting-room and
billiard, in spite of himself, couldn't
refrain from the solicitude which any
resident of city feels
for the transient just arrived.
"Only this Gladstone. 1 can check
that here, guess. Well, I'm certainly ,
glad to see you. Say, were you able
to make date with this Waring per-
son? 1t was pretty short notice, but
you're such a live wire"
Hilliard, fully comprehending the !,
nature of the compliment, smiled faint
". The person of the broker was ply.
sically repulsive to him; unconscious
" he edged further away. ,,
"Not yet. But I've left word at mis-
house for him to call me at the hotel, .
and I'll telephone to the information
clerk from the Kirk where he can
reach me. He's sure to be in around Q
i've or half past" It
II hope So" Harmon swung his G
heavy bag to the brass-lined counter.
and tossed out dime with a philan- o
thropic gesture which made the at
tendant glare at him. "Who in thun-
der is he, anyhow /!
billiard had reason to be reticent
With his facts, and he preferred not v
o be too specific at the outset.
Hes law student-an old friend v
If the Cullens. He's looking after
ome of their interests, in one way D
md another" 9,
oh! Working up a practicel Well c.
he way he's bombarding me with u
resh letters, you'd think he was on a
congressional investigating committee o.
'ay! There's one thing I'd like to find s,
he know I'm In the thing? "
.ou didn't tell anybody, did you? Our Ii
greement-" Is
billiard was guiding him to the v,
treet. q,
"Why, he probably got hold of your Sc
anne when he wrote to some law cor pl
espondents Of his in Butte about the to
roperty; and they looked 1t ND for
i'm. I'd judge they must have gone O,
Ito it rather thoroughly"
"They did! Humphi" The brokers' iii
)ne held less of rancor and moro a.,