The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-01-18

L
haven't been putting detectives on
her, if that's what you are getting at.
Only, If you don't want to be walked
on in case like that. It's just as well
to have something to bargain with. !
had Nathan get in touch with a law
yer, perfectly respectable chap, out
In Pasadena, and asked him to look
up the main facts. just so I'd know
where l stood. There is a widower.
all right. a retired Chautauqua lee
turer with a weak throat. He's got a
little lemon grove just outside Pasa-
dena."
He got up with spring, chucked
the butt of his cigar into the fireplace,
and flexed his arms. "Well. he's well
come to Annabel. And she's welcome
to him. as long as she doesn't try to
get rough with me-"
'You mean IL Annabel doesn't try
to gouge you for too much alimonyf''
Jennie asked
NO." he said, 81 wasn't thinking OF
that. was. thinking of the grounds
for divorce she puts in her bill. I'll
look bad enough at the best, but
won't be made to look any worse than
necessary"
Why in the world, Jennie wondered.
should he care how he looked. 1t was
plain that he did care tremendously.
Then came the real idea. the luminous
surmise.
"Joe," she asked him suddenly, "did
Annabel have a baby?"
81 should think you might have seen
that long ago." he grumbled.
"a boy or girl?" she asked, when
her mind had got into its stride again.
Say! If it had been boy" said
Joe, "Pd have gone back. Ia never
have left a son of mine to be brought
up by-Fannings. Being girl, 1t
seemed to belong to them more. But
at that / almost went back, as told
you."
Jennie reused herself at the end of
long reflective silence to remark that
the child must. by now, be pretty near
grown up.
"She's nineteen" he answered. I've
never known her exact birthday. I've
always known about how old she was,
though" he added. "Her names
Beatrice"
| Don't you know at all what she's
like? Haven't you any sort of picture
Of herr"
"Picturel Lord, no! 1 told that
Pasadena lawyer to try to get me one.
But he hasn't succeeded; at least 1t
! hasn't turned up yet. Why, / suppose
she must be good deal like Annabel.
She's sure to have been brought up
like that. Innocent. Well, that's the
| way to bring up girl, all right Do
you know those old-fashioned bouquets
that are coming in style again, with a
| paper frill around them? / expect
she's a good deal like that"
Looking up at him, near to tears
with sudden sympathy, she saw his
| face darken. 1t was so startling a
change that she cried out, "Joel What
| Is it?'
"Can you see," he asked, ''how that
| CIlllu mas UCCl uP "
about me? They will have used me
as the bad man to brighten her with.
Your father will get you, if you're a
naughty girl, Beatrice! - can hear
old Ma Tanning say it. But where
stick Is at that id widower, googling
at the kid, paving her. telling her he's
her daddy now, holding her on his
knee. Not If / know myself
There you are, Jennie! Now we're
down to brass tacks. If anybody's go
| ing to be that child's father, | am.
That's what wanted to put up to you
tonight"
"You mean," she asked, after she
had lighted cigaret to give herself
the appearance, at least, of calm re-
! Election, 'that you want to take her
| away from her mother altogether and
bring her out here to live with your"
you've got it." he said.
"It's crazy idea, Joe," she then
burst out desperately. But 1t can't be
done. Even If you did get her to come
to you, which don't believe you could,
what would you do with her when she
was here2 She couldn't live alone In
this fiat with you away half the time.
And, anyway, the sort of life you
| live"
"D-n the sort of life I livei" he
| interrupted. whats that got t, do
with herr It's never had anything to
| do with you, has 1t? There'll never
be any parties in this fiat, Jennie. Not
as long as she makes her home In it."
"She couldn't live here alone in 1t,
anyhow. Not with you away half the
| time"
Il wouldn't try to keep her here all
the time. I'd send her to school, for
one thing. Williamson's got a daugh-
ter just about her age who's away at
some boarding school or other. I'll
send Beatrice to the same place.
They'll make friends It'll give Bea-
trice the right sort of start"
There won't be any school till next
September" Jennie pointed out. This
years practically over now. And after
the first of July you'll have to be up
North most of the time"
He grappled with this difficulty for
a moment; then faced her triumphant
| ly with solution.
Henry Crayen's persuaded hlsssis-
ter to take cottage somewhere on
Cape Cod this summer. Thinks she
needs a change. And the Aldriches
have offered to loan her their place.
She's agreed to go for couple of
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