The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-09-05


they had finished Mrs. Transley drove
up in her motor.
Here we are" she cried, cheerily
Glad to see you, Mr.. Under. Wilson
has his teddy-bear and his knife and
his pajamas, and is little put out,
| think, that wouldn't let him bring
the pig"
Il shall try amt make up the def
ciency," said Grant, smiling broadly,
as the boy climbed to his shoulder.
Won't you come in? Under, among
his other accomplishments learned in
France, Is an excellent chaperon."
THANK you, no; must get along.
| shall call early In the morning, so
that you will not be delayed on VII
sons account"
No need of that; he can ride to the
field with me on Prince. He is great
help with the plowing."
I'm sure" She stepped up to
Grant and drew the boys face down
to hers. "Good-by, dear; be good
boy" she whispered, and Wilson waved
kisses to her as the motor sped down
the road.
Under took his departure soon after,
and Grant was surprised to find HIM
self almost embarrassed in the pres
ence of his little guest.
Where to start on the bedtime prep
arations was puzzle, but Wilson him.
self came to Grants aid with explicit
instructions about buttons and pins.
"You must hear my prayer, Uncle
Man-on-the-Hill," said the boy. You
have to sit down in a chair"
Grant sat down and with strange
mixture of emotions drew the little
chap between his knees as he listened
to the long-forgotten prattle.
AT the third Ene the boy stopped.
you have to tell me now" he
prompted.
"But can't, Willie; / have for
gotten."N
Huh, you don't know much" the
child commented, and glibly quoted
the remaining lines. "And God bless
Daddy and Mamma and teddy-bear
and Uncle Man-Ofl-the-Hill and the pig.
Amen" he concluded, accompanying
the last word with a jump which
landed him fairly in Grants lap. His
little arms went up about his friends
neck, and his little soft cheek rested
against a tanned and weather-beaten
one. Slowly Grants arms closed about
the warm, 1.-THE body and pressed it
to his In new passion, strange and
holy. Then he led him to the whim-
room, turned down the white sheets in
which no form had ever lain and
placed the boy between them, snuggled
his teddy down by his side and set
his knife properly in view upon the
dresser. And then he leaned down
again and kissed the little face. and
whispered, "Good night, little boy I;
God keep you safe tonight, and
always" And suddenly Grant realized
that he had been praying.
He withdrew softly, and only partly
closed the door; then he chose a seat
where he could see the little figure
lying peacefully on the white bed
1.-THE dear little chap" he murmured.
81 must watch by him tonight. 1t would
be unspeakable If anything should
happen to him while he is under my
care"
He felt sense of warmth, almost a
smothering sensation, and raised his
hand to his forehead. 1t came down
coyered'with perspiration.
ITS amazingly close" he said, and
walked to one of the French windows
opening to the west. The sun had
gone down; and brooding darkness
lay over all the valley, but far up in
the sky he could trace the outline of
a cloud.
Looks like storm" he commented,
casually, and suddenly felt something
tighten about his heart
He turned to his chair, but found
himself pacing the living room with an
altogether inexplicable nervousness.
"D-n Under, anyway" he ex-
claimed presently. II believe he shook
me up more than / realized. He
charged me with insincerity; me, who
have always made sincerity my special
virtue. :. Well, there may be
something in it."
A faint, indistinct growing, as of
the grinding of mighty rocks. came
down from the distances,
1.-The storm will be nothing" he as
sured himself. Even as he spoke the
house shivered in every timber as the
gale struck it and went whining by.
He rushed to the whim-room, but
found the boy still sleeping soundly
Il must stay up" he reasoned with
himself; Il must be on hand in case
he should be frightened"
Suddenly it occurred to Grant that
quite apart from his love for Wilson
If anything should happen the child
in his house very difficult situation
would he created. Transley would
demand explanations = explanations
which would be hard to make. Why
was Wilson there at all? Why was he
not at home with Sarah? Sarah away
from home! Why had Zen kept that
Sercet? -.
The gale subsidized as quickly as II
had come, and the sudden silence which
followed was even more awesome. 1t
lasted only for moment; flash of
lightning lit UP every corner of the