The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-08-25


Clay and me, the finest little pilgrim
in New York. She's sure there when
the gong strikes. You'd love her. I'll
fix 1t for you-right away. l got to go
to her house this afternoon an do
some chores. I'll bet she comes right
over to see you"
Kitty was doubtful. Maybe we bet
ter walt and speak to Mr.. Lindsay
about it," she said.
mo, ma'am, you don't know Miss
Beatrice She's the best friend. Why,
l shouldn't wonder but that she and
Clay might get married one o these
days. He thinks lot of her"
"Oh!" Kitty knew just little more
of human nature than the puncher.
Then 1 wouldn't tell her about me if
was you. She wouldn't like my bein'
here"
"Sho! You don't know Miss Beatrice.
She grades way up. I'll bet she likes
you fine"
When Johnnie left to go to work
that afternoon he took with him res
olution to lay the whole case before
Beatrice Whitford. She would fix
things all right. If there was one per-
son on earth Johnnie could bank on
without fail it was his little boss.
1t was not until Johnnie had laid the
case before Miss Whitford and restat-
ed it under the impression that she
could not have understood that his con-
fidence ebbed. He had expected an
eager interest, quick enthusiasm.
Instead, he found in his young mis-
tress spirit beyond his understand
ing. Her manner had touch of cool
disdain, almost of contempt, while she
listened TO his tale.
She asked no questions and made
no comments. What he had to tell met
with chill silence. Johnnie's guileless
narrative had made clear to her that
Clay had brought Kitty home about
midnight, had mixed drink for her.
and had given her his own clothes to
replace her wet ones. Somehow the
cattleman's robe, pajamas and bedroom
slippers obtruded unduly from his
this. He began to perceive himself
helpless medium of wrong impressions.
Il suppose you know that when the
manager of your apartment house finds
out she's there he'll send her pack
ing" So Beatrice summed up when
she spoke at last.
NO. ma'am, 1 reckon not. You see
we done told him she is Clay's sister
jes' got in from the West" the punch
er explained.
''Oh, see" The girls lip curled and
her clean-cut chin lifted trifie. you
don't seem to have overlooked any,,
thing. No, don't think l care to have
anything TO do with your arrange
ments"
Beatrice turned and walked swiftly
into the house. A pulse of anger was
beating in her soft throat. She felt a
sense of outrage. To Clay Lindsay she
had given herself generously in spirit.
She had risked something in introduc-
ing him to her friends. They might
have laughed at him for his slight So
cial lapses. They might have rejected
him for his lack of background. They
had done neither. He was so genuine
~ man that he had won his way in
stantly.
Pacing up and down her room, little
fists clenched. her soul in passionate
turmoil. Beatrice went over it all again
as she had done through sleepless
night. She had given him so much,
and he had seemed to give her even
more Hours filled with keen-edged
delight jumped to her memory, hours
that had carried her away from the
falseness of social fribble to clean.
wind-swept, open spaces of the mind.
And after this-after he had tacitly
recognized her claim on him-he had
insulted her before her friends by de-
sorting his guests to go off with this
hussy he had been spending weeks to
search for.
Not for a moment did she admit,
perhaps she did not know, that an in
sane jealousy was flooding her being,
that her indignation was based On per-
sonal as we'll as moral grounds. Some
thing primitive stirred her-a flare of
feminine ferocity. She felt hot to the
touch, an active volcano ready for
eruption. If only she could get
chance to strike back in a way that
would hurt. to wound him as deeply as
he had herl
Pat to her desire came the oppor-
tunity. Clay's card was brought in
to her by jenkins.
ssTell Mr.. Lindsay TIL see him in
few minutes" she told the man.
The few minutes stretched TO long
quarter of an hour before she descend
ed. AS soon as his eyes fell on her,
Clay knew that this pale, slim girl in
the close-fitting gown was stranger
to him. Her eyes, star-bright and burn
ing like live Goals, warned him thar
the friend whose youth had run out so
eagerly to meet his was hidden deep
in her today.
II reckon l owe you and Mr.. Whit
ford an apology" he said. NO need
to tell you how l happened to leave
last night. expect you know"
"Why take the trouble? 1 think l
understand" She spoke in an even.
schooled voice that IT him at a dis
lance. your friend, Mr.. Green. has
carefully brought me the details |
didn't know"
CLAY flushed. Her clear voice carried
an edge of scorn. you mustn't judge
by appearances. know you wouldn't
be unfair. l had to take her home and
look after her"
ST don't quite see why-unless. of
course, you wanted to-" the girl an
swered. tapping the arm of her chair