The Ely miner., 1924-02-01

Ing In knowledge of Beatrice's where
abouts. Two days later photograph
/ of his daughter arrived and he was
astounded at the marvellous resem-
blance 1t bore to himself. 1t did not
picture the old-fashioned girl he had
imagined, all, frills and lace. but a
thoroughly sophisticated modern wom-
an-for 1t was woman the picture
revealed.
Jennie's comment on II was straight
out. You'll find she is a duplicate
Of yourself. Probably an explorer,
like you are. Willing to take chance
on almost anything. just for the ex-
citement."
A few days later Joe gave his party
1T turned out to be supper Instead
Of dinner. At it Margaret noticed
the photograph of Beatrice on her IA
ther's dresser-he had given up his
room to his feminine guests-and
learned for the first time that Joe
was married, that his wife was getting
divorce and that he expected his
daughter to come on and live with him.
mo kilograms today?" For more
than a week 1t had been Joe's first
question of the butler as the man
opened the door for him upon his daily
return from the office, despite a stand
ing order that any wire that came to
the apartment during the day should
be telephoned on to wherever he was.
Tonight Anson said, as always, mo
telegram, SIR" but the infection Of the
phrase was different and Joe demand
ed sharply, "Well, what?"
"The young lady herself has arrived.
Miss Greer, sir"
Arrived? In town? Where Is she
now?"
I'm the library, believe, SIR"
Joe found that he was trembling.
The man had taken his hat. There
was no reason why he shouldn't go
straight into the library, but he hesi-
tated. "When did she conner" he
asked.
"Just after noon, sir. Around two
o'clock, think"
1.-Two o'clocki" Joe echoed. "Why
Miss Greer wished me not to dis
turb you, sir She said she wished a
little time to get settled" He paused,
but Joe was speechless, so. after
moment, he went on. Il assisted In
unpacking her trunk. She had 1t sent
down to the storeroom about an hou'
ago." He added, a little anxiously,
"She took the blue room. / trust it's
all right, SIR"
"Of course it's all right" Joe an
swered curtly. "Shes my daughter,
you understand? Going to live with
me, for the present anyhow. That's
ALL" he concluded. "You can CO." He
waited where he was until the man
had gone through the service-door.
Then, after steadying moment, alone,
he made his way to the library.
She must have heard him talking to
Anson, but she gave no overt sign Of
being aware Of his approach. She sat
facing him, one of the evening papers
open in both hands so that it hid her
like a curtain. It occurred to Joe that
one didn't hold paper quite so rig
idly as that when one was reading It,
'1s that you, Beatrice? he asked.
He had halted without coming very
close to her."
At his voice she flung the paper
aside and sprang to her feet. "Hello,
Dad I" she cried. She almost managed
the air of one greeting a familiar at
the end of days separation. Her
voice, like Joe's, had a startling
resonance and a wide infiectional
swing. She added. 81 suppose that is
you." She had tried, as before, to say
it casually, pertly even, but the wire
edge in her voice betrayed that she
was frightened.
He had expected that. What sur
prised him was that he was fright
ened too. Almost for the first time in
his life he felt that he had to lock his
teeth to prevent them from chattering.
He turned his look abruptly away from
her, but still, as he gazed blankly out
the window, he could see the picture
of her. She'd come, incredibly, to live
with him. She'd unpacked her trunk
and sent it down to the storeroom.
She'd dressed as a woman dresses
when she is securely at home, in the
sort of thing they called, he thought,
tea-gown. And white-silk stockings
and black-satin slippers, high-heeled
with straps. He'd find her like that,
every day-unless he frightened her
off.
"Yes," he said, "we're here together
at last" Then, in order not to stop
talking, he went on, you gave me a
great scare. It's two weeks since that
lawyer telegraphed you'd left"
"You got my picture, though" she
reminded him. 81 wrote on it was
coming. 1 had to go to San Francisco
first to get some clothes. Mother never
would let me have a thing was fit to
be seen in. thought I'd better make
good impression, so you wouldn't
send me back on the next train" She
gave nervous laugh. "Have L? Do
you like me?"
Somehow he couldn't look round at
her, but he nodded and said, yes
must wire your mother you've come
She's been in terrible state about
you"
She had begun coming toward him,
but now she stopped. 81 guess you're
still mad at me-" she remarked, ..for
having kept you waiting"
At this he turned to her. 81 kept
you waiting longer than that" he said.
$50 what forgiving there is you'll have
to do"