The Ely miner., 1923-04-13
CHAPTER Xv-continued.


had sent Eaton to the country club
with Avery; there Avery, plainly, had
forced Eaton into the polo came. by
her fathers Instructions? Clearly
there seemed TO have been purpose IN
what had been done. and purpose
which had not been contided 10 her-
self either by her father or Avery.
For how could they have suspected
Eaton would betray himself in the
game unless they had also suspected
that he had played polo before? To
suspect that, they must at least have
some theory as to who Eaton was.
But her father had no such theory; he
had been eXpending unava.linSly, so
far, every effort to ascertain Eaton's
connections So her thoughts led her
only into deeper and greater perplex-
ity, but with them came sudden-and
maccountable = resentment against
Avery.
At seven Harriet went in TO dinner
with her father. The blind man was
alone; he had been awaiting her, and
they were served at once. All through
the dinner shes was nervous and
moody; for she knew she was going
to do something she had never done
before: she was going 10 conceal
something from her father. She told
of Eaton's reception ar the country
club, and of his taking part in the
polo practice and playing badly: but
of her own impression that Eaton
knew the game and her present con-
viction that Donald Avery hau seen
even more than that, she said MOTH
ing. She watched her fathers face,
but she could see there no conscious
+ ness that she was omitting anything
in her account
IAN hour later, when after reading
aloud TO him for n time, he dismissed
her, she hesitated before going.
you've seen Donald?" she asked.
Eyes"
"What did he tell you?"
"gThe same as yor have told, though
not quite so fully"
She was outside the door and in
the hall before realization came to
her that her fathers reply could mean
only that Donald, like herself had
concealed his discovery of Eaton's
ability to play polo. Why Donald had
not told. she could not imagine; the
only conclusion she could reach was
that Donalds silence in some way
menaced Eaton; fOr-suddenly now
it came to her what this must mean
TO Eaton. All that he had been so
careful to hide regarding himself and
his connections must be obtainable
by Avery now, and Avery for some
purpose of his own, was Withholding
betrayal to make use of ii as he might
see fit.
She moved once more to return to
her father; again she stopped then
swiftly. she turned and went down
stairs.
She looked hurriedly about for
Avery. She did not find him, nor Al
first did she find Eaton either She
discovered him presently in the music
room with BlatchfOrd. Blatchford al
once excused himself, tired evidently
of his task Of watching over Eaton.
Harriet caught herself together and
controlled herself to her usual man
ner.
what shall it be this evening. Mr.
Eaton?" she asked. "Music, billiards 2?
Billiards. il yor like" he respond
ed.
They went up to the billiard room
and for an hour played steadily; but
her mind was not upon the game-nor
she saw, vas his. Finally, as they
ended game. he put his cue back In
the rack and faced her.
"Mlss Santoine," he said, "I wan
- TO ask favor"
"What is it?"
81 want TO go out-unaccompanied
'eWhy?"
81 wish to speak to friend wht
will be waiting for me-
"How do you know?"
'He got word to me at the coun
try club today. Excuse mel did no
mean TO inform on Mr.. Avery: he wa,
really most vigilant l believe he onl,
made one slip"
"He was not the only one observin,
you"
81 suppose not. In fact l was Ger
tain of it. However, / received mes
sage which was undoubtedly authen
tic and had not been overseen."
"But you were not able to max
reply"
81 was able to receive all that wa
necessary"
She considered for moment. "Wha
do you want me to do?"
"I1ither because of my presence o
because of what has happened-o
perhaps nOrmally-you have at leas
four men about the grounds, two O
whom seem to be constant, on dut
to observe anyone who may approach
/ wish you to order them to let m
pass and go to place perhaps te
= minutes walk from here. If you d
so, will return at the latest With
half sn hour" Che glanced at hi
wateh) TO be definite, before aual
ter of eleven"
"Why should l do this?'
He came close to her and faced he
What do you think of me nOw, Mis-
SantOine"
"Why-"
"You are certain now, are you no
that L nad notnlng TO do with the a
tack on your father-that Is, in an
other connection than that the attac
might be meant for me. denied We
terday that the men in the automobi
: meant to run me down; you did not a
cept that denial. l may as well adm
10 you that know perfectly well the