The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-08-11

nuts and pies. His talent came in
handy now. for Clay was no house
keeper.
After the breakfast things were
cleared away Johnnie Jared forth TO a
certain house adjoining Riverside
drive, where he earned ten dollars
week as outdoors man. His business
was to do odd jobs about the place.
He cut and watered the lawn. He
made small repairs. Beatrice had a
rose garden, and under her direction
he dug, watered and fortified.
incidentally, the snub-nosed little
puncher with the unfinished features
adored his young mistress in the
dumb, uncritical fashion schoolboy
does Ty Cobb or an Eddie Collins.
In his heart he had hopes that Clay
would fall in love with and marry her.
But her actions worried him. Some
times he wondered If she really under
stood what a catch Clay was.
He tried to tell her his notions on
the subject the morning Clay praised
his ffapjacks.
She was among the rose-bushes,
gloved and hated, clipping American
Beauties for the dining room. dainty
but very self-reliant little personality.
Miss Beatrice, been thinkin' about
you and Clay" he told her, leaning on
his spade.
What have you been thinking about
u.s." the girl asked, shipping of big
rose.
Allow you're the best-lookin' couple
that man would see anywheres."
Into her clear cheeks the color
flowed. IF 1 thought nonsense like
that wouldn't say IT, she said quiet
iy. Were not couple. He's man.
I'm woman. 1 like him and want to
stay friends with him if you'll let me-"
''Sure. l know that, but" Johnnie
CROPPED helplessly to try to explain
what he had meant. ''Clay he likes
you heap" he finished inadequately.
The eyes of the girl began to dance.
There was no use taking offense at
this simple soul. Does he? I'm sure
I'm gratified," she murmured, busy
with her scissors among the roses.
Yep. l 'never knOwed Clay TO look
at a girl before. He sure thinks heap
of you"
She gave queer little bubbling
laugh. You're fiattering me-"
Honest, l amt" Johnnie whispered
secret across the rose bushes. "Say.
If you work 1t right believe you can
get him."
The girl sparkled. Here was new
Clearly the view of the little cow
puncher was that Clay had only to
crook his fingers to summon any girl
in the world that he desired.
"What would you advise me to do?"
she dimpled.
burdened himself of the warning he
had been leading up to. But I'd
tie can to that dude fellow that hangs
around-the BromfeId guy. o. course
/ know he amt one, two, three with
you while CIay's on earth, but / don't
reckon I'd take any chances, as the
old sayin' is. Better get shet of the
dude"
Miss Whitford bit her lip to keep
from exploding I'm sudden gale of
mirth. But the sight of her self-ap-
pointed chaperon set her off into peals
of laughter In spite of herself. Ey-
cry time she looked at Johnnie she
went off into renewed chfrrups He
was so homely and so deadly earnest.
The little waif was staring at her in
perplexed surprise, mouth open and
chin fallen. He could see no occasion
for gayety at his suggestion. There
was nothing subtle about the Runt.
In his social code wealth did not fig
ure. A forty-dollar-a-month bronco
buster was free to offer advice TO the
daughter of a millionaire about her
matrimonial prospects If it seemed
best.
CLAY amt one o. the common run Of
cowpunchers, ma'am. You bet you,
by jollies, he amt. Clay he owns a
half-interest in the B-in-a-Box O.
course it amt what he's got, but what
he is that counts. He's the best darned
pilgrim ever did see."
Hes all right, Johnnie" the girl
admitted with an odd smile. DO you
want me to tell him that I'll be glad
to drop our family friends to meet his
approval? / don't suppose he asked
you to speak to me about 1t, did hep
The little range-rider missed the
irony Of this. mo, ma 'am, jest but
ted In. Mebbe I hadn' ought to of
spoke"
"You needn't feel bad, Johnnie.
There's no harm done-if you don't
say anything about it to Mr.. Lindsay.
But I don't think yon were intended
for a matchmaker. That takes quite
little fnesse, doesn't It'll"
The word ''finesse" was not In john
MES dictionary, but he acquiesced in
her verdict.
II reckon, ma'am, you're right"
Clay was waiting for lunch at rot
isserie on Sixth avenue, and in order
to lose no time-of which he had more
Just now than he knew what TO do
with-was meanwhile reading a news
paper propped against water-bottle
From the personal column there popped
out at him three lines that caught his
attention:
"If this meets the eye of G. L. of
Arizona please write me, Box NIL,
The Herald. Am In trouble.