The Ely miner., 1923-03-09

do; for the nights stop at Minneapolis
and Santoine's unexpected taking him
into his own charge must have made
Eaton's disappearance complete; for
the present he was lost to them"
who had been following" him, and to
his friends alike. His task, then. was
to let his friends know where he was
without letting ''them" learn it; and
thinking Of how this was to be done,
he fell asleep again.
AT nine he awoke with start;
then, recollecting everything. he
jumped up and shut his windows.
There was respectful, apologetic
knock at the door; evidently servant
had been waiting in the hall for some
sound within the room.
MAY / come In, sir?"
"Come in.'
The man who had attended him the
evening before entered.
"Your bath, sir; hot or cold in the
morning, sir?''
Hot" Eaton answered.
"Of course, sir; I'd forgotten you'd
just come from the Orient, sir. shall
tell them TO bring breakfast up. sir [;
or will you go DOWN." the man asked.
Eaton considered The manners of
servants are lodeled on the feelings
of their masters, and the mans defer
ence told plainly that, although Eaton
might be a prisoner. he was not TO
be treated openly as such.
81 think | can go down." Eaton re-
piled. He found the hall and the
rooms below bright and open but un-
occupied; a servant showed him to
blue Delft breakfast room TO the
east. He had half finished his bacon
and greens before anyone else APP
peared.
This was a tall. carefully dressed
man of more than fifty, with hand
some, well-bred features-plainly a
man of position and wealth but with
| out experience in affairs, and with
out power. He was dark haired and
wore a mustache which, like his hair,
was beginning to gray. AS he APP
peared in the hall without hat or over
coat. Eaton understood that he lived
| in the house; he came directly into
| the breakfast room and evidently had
not breakfasted.
81 am Wallace Blatchford," the
stranger volunteered as Eaton looked
up. He gave the name in a manner
must be recalled; Eaton therefore
feigned recognition as he gave him
his name in return.
"Basil Santoine is better this morn
! ing" Blatchford announced.
81 understood he was very comfort.
able last evening"" Eaton said. II
have not seen either Miss Santoine
or Mr.. Avery, this morning"
81 saw Basil Santoine the last thing
last night" the other boasted. HE
was very tired; but when he was
home, of course he wished me to be
beside him for time"
"Of course" Eaton replied, as the
other halted. There was humility
in the boast of this mans friendship
for Santoine which stirred sympathy
almost pity.
Eaton finished his breakfast but re
manned at the table while Blatchford
who scarcely touched his food, con
tinued to boast, in his queer humility
of the blind man and of the blint
mans friendship for him. He checked
himself only when Harriet Santoin,
appeared in the doorway. He ant
Eaton at once were on their feet.
MY dear! He wants to see M
now?" the tall man almost pleaded
"He wants me to be with him thi
morning?"
"Of course, Cousin Wallace" tn
girl said gently. almost with com
passion.
"You will excuse me then, sir.
Blatchford said hastily to Eaton an,
hurried off, The girl gazed afte
him. and when she turned the mex
instant TO Eaton her eyes were wet.
"Good morning, Miss Santoine Yo
are coming to breakfast?"
"Oh, no; I've had my breakfast;
was going out to see that things out
side the house have been going o
well since we have been away"
"May l go with you while you
that?" Eaton tried to ask CASUAL!
Important to him as was the plan c
the house, 1t was scarcely less e:
sential for him to know the ground:
She hesitated.
: 81 understand it's my duty at pre-:
ent TO stay wherever / may be put
but I'll hardly run away from yo
4 while inside your own grounds"
4 This did not seem to be the que
4 tion troubling her. "Very WE'LL" sh
9 said at last. She was abstracted q
o they passed through the hall and
a man brought Eaton's overcoat an
f hat and a maid her coat. Harrit
;. led the way out TO the terrace. Th
4 day was crisp, but the breeze ha
o lost the chill it had had earlier in I'll
. morning; the lake was free from ice
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