White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-04


'You lent me these things TO wear last
night. and l.
mo. no." interviewed Fell. II gave
them to you. my denr-in fact, l
gave them to you two years ago, and
kept them until now You have worn
them; they are yours, and you be-
come them better han ever did poor
Queen HIortense, SO say no more"
Lucie leaned forward and imprinted
a kiss upon the cheek of the little
gray man. There. that is all the
thanks I can give you, dear uncle: the
Gift makes me very happy. and I'll
not pretend otherwise. Only, | feel as
they're So wonderful"
"Nonsensel But all this isn't why
you summoned me here. you bundle
OF mystery What bothered you last
night, or, rather, who7"
LUCE laughed. There was a IRAN
ciscan who tried TO be very mysteri-
Gus, and to read my mind. He talked
about oil, about a grasping, hard man,
and mentioned you as my friend.
Then he warned me against q pro.
posal that Bob might make and sure
enough, Bob did propose to buy what
land Is left 10 me on Bayou Terre-
bonnie, saying he'd persuade his oil
company that there was oil on IL, and
that they'd buy or lease 1t. | told him no.
The Franciscan, a%fterward, proved TO
be Henry Gramont l wondered IL YOU
had mentioned
Heaven forbid exclaimed Mr..
Fell. piously. Il never even mel Ora
mont until last night. Do you like
him."
Very much" The girls eyes met
his frankly. do you:"
Very much,' said joachim Fell.
Lucie's gray eyes narrowed. searched
his face. I'm almost able to tell
when you're lying" she observed
calmly. "Yeu said that a trifie too
hastily. Uncle joachim. Why don't you
like HING
Fell laughed, amused. Perhaps /
have "a prejudice against foreign
mobiles, Lucie. Our own aristocracy
Is bad enough, but"
Hes discarded all that. lie was
never French except in name
"You speak as though you'd known
him for some time. Have you had
secrets from meY"
II have" laughter dimpled n the
girls face. For years and years !
When ] was in New York with father.
before the war, we met him he was
visiting In Newport with college
friends. Then, you know that father
and ! were in France when the war
broke out-father was i'll and almost
helpless at the time, you remember.
Gramont came TO Paris to serve with
his regiment, and met us there. lie
helped us get away, procured real
money for rs. got us passage To New
York. lie knows lots of our friends,
and I've always been deeply grateful
TO him for his assistance then.
We've co~rresponded quite frequent
ly during the war;" she pursued. II
mentioned him several times after we
got home from France. but you prob.
ably failed To notice the name. It's
only since he came to New Orleans
that ! really kept any secrets from
YOU; this time | wanted to find out
II you liked him."
.Jachin nodded slowly. His face was
quite innocent of expression.
Yes, yes he said. "Yes-of curse
He's a ~geologist or engineer. | think p
Both, and a good me-. Well. about
last night-he probably guessed al
some of my private affairs; I've writ
ten or spoken rather frankly. perhaps
Also, Bob may have blabbed To him
Bob still drinks-prohibitlon las not
hit him very hard"
mo" agreed Fell. %gravely. "Tnfor-
t%unately, 10. Lueie. I've discovered a
most Important fact. Joseph Maillard
did NOT W any stock in the Bayou
oil company ut the time your land
was sold them by him. and he had NJ
Interest nj all in the real estate con
cern that bought your st. Landry
swamp lands and made Il fortune of
them. VI hive really blamed him
hh'~i hhJuNis. 1 wv ibi btlltNf lffdt
ie has profited I'm the least from you
His Investments In the companies cen
cerned were made afferwnrd. and
ann certain he sold the lands limo.
Gently"
Lucie drew u deep breath.
Il am glad you have said this" she
returned simply. IT'S been hard for
M 10 think lhat Uncle Joseph had
taken advantage of me | think that
he honestly likes me, as far as he
permits himself 10 like anyone"
He'd not loan you money on IT,"
said Fell. Friendship isn't n tangible
security with him"
We'll. who really did profit by my
loss? .Anyoiey"
Feli's pale gray eyes twinkled. then
cleared in their usually wide inno-
cence.
"My dear Lucie. is there one person
In this world 10 whose faults Joseph
Maillard Is deliberately blind - one
person to whom he would refuse Moth
Ing. in whom he would pardon every
thing. Of whom he would never believe