The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-12-26
CHAPTER XII-Continued

.nich she had not seen fit to contide
TO him, if she were forced TO make
this tremendous sale, If she were
mad or had at last lost her nerve,
frightened at the thought of the heavy
sums of money TO be raised at the end
Of the winter, well, then it still could
do no harm for him to speak his mind
to her. Hampton had told him the
price which the horses were to bring;
ii was pitifully small and Lee meant
10 tell her so, to tell her further that
he would guarantee an enormous gain
over it if she gave him time. He
would be doing his part though she
called him meddler for his pains.
Marcia Langworthy, hidden in big
chair on the veranda, watched him
approach with interest, though Lee
was unconscious of her presence. He
had lifted a hand to rap at the door
when she called to him, saying:
"Good evening, Mr.. Mysterious
Lee. Have you forgotten me?"
Though he had pretty well forgotten
her. it was not necessary to tell her
that he had. He came toward her,
putting out his hand.
Good evening, Miss Langworthy,"
he said cordially. Il haven't seen
much of you this time, have /? Two
reasons, you know: busy all day and
half the night, for one thing, and for
another, Hampton has monopolized
you, hasn't he?"
Marcia laughed softly.
ITO a man your size the second rea-
son is absurd. VIII you SIT
down? You see, 1 am taking it for
granted that you come here to see
me. Unless" and her eyes twinkled
brightly up at him, you were sur
reptitiously calling on Mrs. Simpson"
I'D love to talk with you" he as
sured her. But, as I've just limited.
my work here has got into the habit
of running away with me into the
night. 1 really came up for word
with Miss Sanford
"Oh, didn't you know" asked Mar
cha. judith isn't here"
Isn't here?" He frowned. mo, l
didn't know | haven't seen much of
her lately and didn't know her plans.
Where is she?"
I'm San Francisco. Her lawyers
sent for her, you know. Something
about a tangle in her fathers bust
ness. Funny you hadn't heard; she
left Saturday night
Saturday? This was Tuesday eve
ming. Judith had been away three
full days. Lee, thinking hurriedly,
thought that he saw now the expla-
nation of Judith's ordering a sale like
this. Her lawyers had found what
Marcia called a "tangle" in Luke San
ford's affairs; there had been an in
sistent call for large sum of money
TO straighten it out, and Judith had
accepted the only solution.
Still, it didn't seem like Judith to
sell like this at figure so ridiculous
Iy low. Doan, Rockwell & Haight
were not the only buyers on the
coast; Lee himself could get more for
the horses if he had two days time to
look around; the cattle were worth a
great deal more than they were being
did she have an idea what the
trouble was before she left?" he asked
finally.
why" said Marcia, 81 don't know.
You see, she slipped out late Saturday
night after we'd all gone to bed.
There was a message for her over the
telephone; she got up, dressed, sad
died her own horse and rode into
Rocky Bend alone, just leaving a note
for me that she might be gone a week
or two"
Just why he experienced a sense of
uneasiness even then, Lee did not
know. 1t was like Judith to act
swiftly when need be; to go alone
and on the spur of the minute TO catch
her train; TO slip out quietly without
disturbing her guest.
you have heard from her SINGER"
he demanded abruptly.
mot word" said Marcia. "She
doesn't like letter writing and so
haven't expected to hear from her.
Lee chatted with her for a moment,
then claiming work still to be done,
turned to go back down the knoll. A
new thought upon him, he once more
came to Marcia's side.
81 expect I'd better see Hampton"
he said. "Do you know where he is?"
where he has been every night
since Judith left" laughed Marcia.
Hes old Mr.. Business Man these
DAYS. In the office"
There Lee found him. Hampton,
his hair rufiied, Judith's table Uttered
with market reports, and many sheets
of paper covered with untidy figures,
looked up at Lees entrance.
Hello, Bud" he said, reaching for
cigarette and match. Got everything
ready for tomorrow
why didn't you tell me Miss San
ford had gone away?" was Lees sharp
reioinder. Hampton flushed.
Devil take those two eyes of yours,
Bud" he said testify. They've got a
way of boring through man until he
feels like they were scorching the fur
niture behind him. Well, I'll tell you.
While Judith is away l am running
coming straight from her with an or
der they obey it. If they get the no
ton she isn't here, they're apt to ask
questions. That's why"
This sale to Doan, Rockwell &
Haight," said Lee quickly. You
didn't cook that up, did you Hamp-
tonr'
Lord. no." cried Hampton. From