The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-07-07
CHAMPION LIAR
BY MARY LOUISE CORNER

ranged beside the urban, accomplished
Milf, they appear as so many lisping
schoolboys. With Miit. lying is an art,
If not actually profession.
AS a boy Milt would not attend
| school if he could possibly lie his way
out of it. Later, when he came to be
employed in Hinckle's general store,
his ability to evade the truth proved
useful in a number of different ways.
For instance, crate of cold storage
eggs would be purchased. Milf would
promptly advertise them as strictly
fresh" and levy his price accordingly.
He would sell them all.
Milt had sort of quick, crafty in
telligence. He realized that women
trusted him and it was through them
that he must reach the men. When
John Hinckle dismissed him because
of a discrepancy in the cash register,
Milt swore that he would get even If
it took him the rest of his life and he
straightway began to lay his plans.
On a certain May morning he strolled
into the general store. Mrs. Hinckle
thin, dark woman with a jealous
temper, was behind the counter.
Morning" said Milt, in his soft
drawl. where's John?" He knew
well enough that Hinckle had left that
morning for the wholesale house in
Boston where he purchased supplies.
Hes gone to Boston," the woman
replied, CURLY. did you want to see
him about a job? If you did, there's
nothing doing"
A gentle laugh rippled out of Milt's
supple throat.
"a job?" he repeated, with depre-
catory smile. "No thanks. Doing
chores pays me well enough. Some
weeks I make as high as 500" That
was a fallacy, of course. Milt seldom
averaged more than 500 when he
worked-and he did not work very
often.
"What did you want to see John
about, then?' persisted Mrs. Hinckle.
"Oh, it doesn't matter" Milt re-
sponded, evasively. "Come to think,
see him getting on the train this morn
ing. That Blake woman was with
him." Mrs. Hinckle stopped weighing
bag of brown sugar and her little
black eyes sparkled dangerously.
'How do you know she was-with
him?" The question came as a chal-
lenge and 8Iilt answered it with an en-
joyment that was typical Of him.
SWELL" he explained, carefully, 81
20 TN, VIII hea
helping her onto the train, This Is the
first trip we've had together in ten
years, John And she was laughing.
sort of happy-like, when she said it."
'T don't believe you" Mrs. Hinckle
Informed him coldly. Milt smiled and
shrugged his shoulders.
81 didn't expect you would" he
Knocked, ambling off.
After that Merrimac Mills sneered
at Milt's stories" and openly branded
them for what they were.
But Milt was one Of those curious
beings who thrive on opposition.
There was a good deal of specula-
ton concerning Tillie, Milt's young
and still pretty wife. People won
dered why she had not left him long
ago.
"Tillie's gone to spend the week
with my folks in Baltimore" he would
elucidate, as he stood in the bunkroom
of the firehouse on Friday evening
watching q poker game. 81 kinder
thought the change of air might do her
good. She'll have all the comforts of
home, too. My folks-the Baltimore
Joneses, you know-are pretty well
off. Most likely, by now, Title is riding
up from the station in their town
car"
Through the blue haze of cigar
smoke, the men would grin at each
other over their cards as if they were
in secret understanding. They were.
All of them understood tacitly that
Tillie was, at that very moment, sit
ting In her shoddy home across the
river, mending Milt's socks.
One raw night in winter Milt was,
awakened by Titles low moaning. He
found her condition to be dangerous
and hurriedly set out for Merrimac
Mills. Young Doctor Carrot heard
Milt's frantic knocking and flung open
his bedroom window.
"What is it," he calico drowsily to
the restless, dark figure on the snow
covered steps. Milt explained.
"Your wife is in Baltimore" the doc
tor answered coldly. "You told me so
propose to be dragged out of bed on
a night like this for the sake of a
practical joke! ~ The window slammed
down.
Milt stood there in the snow, CULVER
ing with anger and despair.
Desperate and half-crazed Milt bor-
rowed a sleigh and drove to South
Merrimac, some three miles away,
where he secured doctor. But when.
after their mad race against time, they
reached Milt's shack, Tillie was past
the need of medical science.
1t was many months before Merri-
mae Mills saw AIilt again. Once fond of
company, he now sought isolation. 1t
was even whispered about that Milt
was going to reform But alilt was
too human for that. Another year
found him back in the firehouse and
he was as glib and prevaricating of
tongue as ever. Now and then he sits
apart, this champion, and there comes
into his faded eyes an expression of
bafIied wistfulness.
Il could tell the truth" he mutters.
half defensiveIy, "but nobody will be
ieve ME now. Nobody will believe"