The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-01-04

that damnable black dog of fear,
had skunk at his heels since his first
day at the bank.
1t had been natural enough at first,
when he was bruised and bewildered
by sudden tragic change in the
whole prospect of his life. John had
given him this job out of charity, or.
if you preferred putting 1t so, by way
of meeting an obligation he had as
sumed on marrying Into the Craven
family. He'd come into the bank as
a lame duck.
There was, though. no reasonable
doubt that he stayed and advanced on
his merits. All the evidence leaned
that way. But the fear persisted.
Not, of course, as constant compan-
ion. There were days, weeks of them
together sometimes, when he never
thought of it.. But at some trifiing
enigma, fancied very likely, in the
conduct of one of his superiors, some
conversation unavoidably half over
heard. some smile that he felt glanced
his way, the thing would seize him
like spasm Of pain from an injured
nerve.
He knew 1t was weakness. He
made valiant attempts to conquer it.
He grew ashamed of 1t. He devel-
oped the corollary fear that it would
be discovered.
His latest promotion had. he'd sup
posed, worked cure. An assistant
cashier was one of the officers of the
/, bank. IF ever they make me an Off
GER" he'd said to himself a thousand
| times, ''then I'll know I'm safe" And
indeed, during the three months since
it had occurred, he'd been breathing
deeper, luxuriating In a new security.
But now, for no better reason than
that his Cousin John had invited him
TO lunch, he was quaking at the pit of
his stomach like a schoolboy who's
been told to report to the principal.
| 1t was absurd. A desire came flooding
over him as he sat upon that straight
chair jim John Williamson's outer Of
fce-a passionate desire to do some
thing unexpected, wicked quite posi-
bly,, but successful, immense to the
effect that telephone girls should
stand In awe of him and private sec
reta-ies treat him with respect.
|, Through an open transom Henry
could hear loud laughter as a heavy
voice rumbled through story and his
anger, that he should be kept waiting
under such circumstances, rose. He
was about TO have the girl telephone
to John that he was waiting when the
door into Mills office was brusqueIy
opened. Henry heard young Mills
evidently at the other door, say. You
can get out this way, Mr.. Greer"
The man addressed stood t'.ere In
an attitude of arrested motion, grin
ming back into the room. And Henry,
while he stared at the sight of him,
held his breath. ALI his fidgety an
! noyances were forgotten. swallowed
up in the sensation which the mans
appearance produced.
His beard was the first thing You
saw. 1t was cut round and short-not
fashioned at all-and it was black. as
black as if it had been drawn upon
his face with India ink His hair was
just as black and thick. and it was
cut quite short enough to hide a ten
dency to curl. Against this blackness
of jowl and brow the CLEAN of his
teeth and the whites of his eyes MADE
dazzling contrast But indeed, as
you took him in. you saw that he was
a bundle of contrasts; the lightness
of his poise, as he stood there holding
the door, against the blfrly breadth of
those shoulders and the bull-neck: the
look of geniaIity that you got from his
smile, contradicted nv his nose. which