The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-08-05

classify them Tor me IN groups. Grim
inal; sporting; amatory-that means
of or pertaining to love; stupid and
merely boring; and as last resort
miscellaneous" He stirred his coffee
thoughtfully. II feel that as a first
venture in our new career-ours, said
James-love appeals to me irresistibly
Find me damsel in distress; beau
tiful girl, helpless in the clutches OF
knaves. Let me feel that l can fly tC
her succor, clad in my new grey suit
ing"
He finished the last piece Of bacon
and pushed away his plate.
Denny was engrossed in letter he
had just opened. A perplexed look
was spreading over his face, and sud
denly he sucked his teeth loudly. II
was sure sign that James was ex,
cited, and Drummond glanced VI
quickly, and removed the letter from
his hands. "I'm surprised at you
James," he remarked severely. "a sec
rotary should control itself. Don't
forget that the perfect secretary is an
IT.; an automatic machine-a thing in
capable of feeling. :"
He read the letter through rapidly
and then, turning back to the begin
ming. he read it slowly through again.
"My dear Box X1O,-I don't know
whether your advertisement was 9
joke: suppose it must have been
But read it this morning, and it's just
possible, X10, just possible, you mean
it. And if you do, you're the man
want. / can offer you excitement and
probably crime.
"Tm up against it, X10. For a girl
I've bitten off rather more than car
chew. I want help-badly. VIII you
come to the Carlton for tea tomorrow
afternoon? I want to have a look al
you and see if I think you are genu
inc. Wear white flower in your but
tonhole."
Drummond laid the letter down, and
pulled out his cigarette case. "To
morrow, James," he murmured. 'Thai
is today-this very afternoon. Verify
believe that we have impinged upon
the goods" He rose and stood look
ing out of the window thoughtfully.
"You think it's genuine, sir? said
James.
smoke. II know it Isl" he answered
dreamily. 'Iook at that writing; the
decision in 1.-THE character. Shell
be medium height, and dark, with the
sweetest little nose and mouth. Hel
coloring James, viii be"
But James had discreetIy left the
room.
TWO.
At four O'Clock exactly Hugh Drum
mond stepped out Of his two-seater al
the Haymarket entrance to the Carl
ton. For few moments after enter
ing the hotel he stood at the top OF
the stairs outside the dining room
while his eyes Travelled round the ia
bles in the lounge below.
Slowly and thoroughly he continued
his search. 1t was early, Of course
yet, and she might not have arrived
but he was taking no chances.
Suddenly his eyes ceased wandering
and remained fixed ON table at the
far end of the lounge. Half hidden
behind a plant girl was seated alone
and for moment she looked straight
at him. Then with the faintest sus
picion of a smile, she turned away. an6
commenced drumming on the table
with her fingers.
The table next to her was unoccu
pied and Drummond made his way to
ward it and sat down.
He felt not the slightest doubt in
his mind that this was the girl who
had written him, and, having giver
an order to the. waiter, he started tt
study her face as unobtrusively as pos
sible. He could only see the profile
but that was quite sufficient to make
him bless the moment when more as 6
jest than anything else he had sem
his advertisement to the paper.
Her eyes, he could see, were very
blue; and great masses Of COLDER
brown hair coiled over her ears, from
under small black hat. He glanced
at her hands, and noted. with approx
al, the absence Of any ring. Then he
looked once more at her face, anG
found her eyes were fixed on him.
This time she did not look away
She seemed to think that it was hel
turn to conduct the examination an6
Drummond fumbled in his waistcoat
pocket. After moment he found
what he wanted. and taking out caro-
he propped 1t against the teapot sc
that the girl could see what was on it
In large black capitals he had writte1
Box X10.
She spoke almost at once. you'll
do, X10," she said, and he turned tt
her with smile.
"It's very nice of you to say So" he
murmured. IF / may, / will return
the compliment. SO win you"
She frowned slightly. ''This ISM
foolishness, you know. What said in
my letter is literally true. 1 want
you to tell me-" and there was no trace
of testing in her voice, tell me, on
your word of honor, whether that adj
vertisement was bona fide or joke"
He answered her in the same vein
ut started more or less as joke. II
may now be regarded as absolutely
genuine"
She nodded as If satisfied. "Are
you prepared to risk your life?"
Drummond's eyebrows went up and
then he smiled. Granted that the
inducement is sufficient" he returned
slowly, Il think ! may say that 1 am
He saw that she was staring over