The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-08-08
CHAPTER xI-continued.


together they went up the path. A
strange woman, with a baby on her
arm, met them at the door. Grant in
quired for Mrs. Bruce and her daugh-
ter.
ooh, you haven't heard?" said the
woman. Il suppose you are just
back. Well, 1t was a sad thing, but
these have been sad times. 1t was
when Hubert was killed / came here
first. Poor dear, she took that to
heart awful, and couldn't be left alone,
and Phyllis was working in an office,
so 1 came here part time to help out.
Then she was just beginning to brace
up again when we got the word about
Grace. Grace, you know, was lost on
a hospital ship. That was too much
for her."
Grant received this information
with a strange catching about the
heart.
What became of Phyllis3" He tried
70 ask the question In an even voice.
II moved into the house after Mrs.
Bruce died." the woman continued,
''as my man came back discharged
about that time. Phyllis tried to get
on as a nurse, but couldn't manage 1t.
Then her office was moved to another
part of the city and she took rooms
somewhere. AT first she came TO see
us often, but not lately. 1 suppose
she's trying to forget"
Trying to forget" Grant muttered
TO himself. How much Of life Is made
up of trying to forget!"
; Further questions brought no fur
Their information. The woman didn't
know the firm for which Phyllis
worked; she thought 1t had to do with
munitions. Suddenly Grant found him.
self impelled by tremendous desire
TO locate this girl. He would set
about 1t at once; possibly Jones or
Murdoch could give him information.
Strangely enough, he now felt that he
would prefer to be rid of Linder's
company. This was a matter of him
self alone. He took Under to hotel,
where they arranged for lodgings. and
then started on his search.
Guilty. 1t was now late, and the old
clerk came down the stairs with in
offensive imprecatiOns upon the head
Of his untimely caller, but his mutter-
ings soon gave way to cry Of delight.
MY dear boyl" he exclaimed. en-
bracing him. my dear boy-excuse
me, sir, I'm blithering old man, but
oh! sir-my boy, you're home again |"
There was no doubling the depth of
old Murdoch's welcome. He ran be-
fore Grant into the living-room and
switched on the lights. In moment
he was back with his arm about the
young mans shoulder; he was with
difficulty restraining caresses.
"Slt you down, Mr.. Grant; here
this chair-it's easier. must get the
women up. This is no night for sleep
ing. Why didn't you send us word?"
There Is a tradition that official
word is sent in advance" Grant tried
to explain.
AYE, a tradition. There's q tradi-
ton that Scotsman is a dour body
without any sentiment. Well must
call the women"
He hurried up the stairs, and, re-
turning, led in his wife, a motherIy
woman who almost kissed the young
soldier. In the welcome of her greet
ing 1t was a moment before Grant
became aware of the presence of
fourth person In the ROOM
'I am very glad to see you safely
back" said Phyllis Bruce. "We have
all been thinking about you a great
deal"
"Why, Miss-Phyllis! 1t was you /
was looking for!' The frank confes-
sion came before he had time to sup
press 1t, and, having said so much. 1t
seemed better to finish the Job.
Eyes, Phyllis is making her home
with us now" Mrs. Murdoch explained.
'tIt is more convenient to her work"
i Grant wondered how much of this
arrangement was due to Mrs. Muir
doch's sympathy for the bereaved girl,
and how much to the addition which
1t made to the family income. No
doubt both considerations had con-
tributed to 1t.
81 called at your old home" he con-
tinued. II needn't say how distressed
1 was to hear The woman could tell
me nothing of you. so l came to Muir
doch, hoping"
YES" she said simply, as though there
were nothing more to explain Grant
noticed that her eyes were larger and
her cheeks paler than they had been,
but the delight of her presence leapt
about him. Her hurried costume
seemed to accentuate her beauty de-
spite of all that war had done to de
stroy 1t. There was a silence which
heightened out. They were all Crop
ing for footing.
Mrs. Murdoch met the situation by
insisting that she would put on the
kettle, and Mr.. Murdoch, I'm a burst of
almost divine inspiration, insisted that
his wife was quite incompetent to
light the gas alone at that hour of
the night. When the old folks had
shuffied into the kitchen Grant found
himself standing close to Phyllis Bruce.
why didn't you answer my let
tersT" he demanded, plunging TO the
issue with the directness of his nature.
Because 1 had promised TO let YOU
forget" she replied. There was a
softness In her voice which he has. not
noted in those bygone days; she
seemed more resigned and yet more
poised; the strange wizardry of suf-
fering had worked new wonders in her
soul. Suddenly, as be looked upon