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


with you some plans | have for The
future. The fact is. have been In
a dilemma. l find that Murdoch. like
the canny old Scot he Is, has doubled
my fortune during my little engage
ment overseas, and now have to take
up the reins again. But | am filled
with the West. Do you know what ]
mean?"
81 have never lived in the West"
said Phyllis, ''but / think l can guess.
You're homeslck for It,"
That's it-homesick for IT.; for the
smell of a thousand miles of grass,
and sunny hillsides dotted with cattle,
and fellows who take you for what
you are-or don't take you at all.
| brokers life, no matter how success
| full, has nothing to offer which COM
pares with that. 1t wasn't until last
night that saw 1t clearly, and then,
all of sudden. / knew what | was
going to do"
Grant plunged into an explanation
of what Under had called his big
Idea" He was going back to the
ranching country to buy land and start
a farm on a large scale. He believed
he could make money out of 1t, but
more attractive was the prospect OF
outdoor life and an opportunity to
| offer employment to many of the boys
of his battalion who, upon their return
home, had not found their fortunes
doubIed-if they had any fortunes to
double Besides. 1t would give him
chance to take care of Under.
you know, I've got to take care
of Under" he explained, "and It's
business that has to be done tactfully.
In some respects Under Is as ap-
proachable as porcupine. / can buy
him a meal or so and get away with 1t,
but If he thought I were supporting
him out of charity he would start an
lnsurrection. Now, I'm going to make
him manager of the farm the stars In
their courses shaped him for just that
job. AS for me, I'll stay in the back
ground I want time to loaf and In
vite my, SOUL"
They talked over many angles of the
talked himself out, Grant continued to
sit at the little table, reveling In the
happiness of a man who feels that he
has been called to some purpose worth
while. His companion hesitated to in
terrupt his thoughts; her somewhat
drab business experience made her
pessimistic toward all idealism, and
yet she felt that her., surely, was
man who could carry almost any
project through to success. The
unique quality in him, which distin
guished him from any other man she
had ever known, was his complete I'M
selfishness. In all his undertakings he
coveted no reward for himself; he was
seeking only the common good.
at all men were like you there
would be no problems she murmured,
and while he could not accept the
words quite at par they rang very
pleasantly in his ears.
A movement among the diners re-
minded him of the flight of time. and
with a glance at his watch he sprang
up in surprise. 81 had no idea the
evening had gone!' he exclaimed. 81
have just time to see you home and
get back to catch my train"
He called a taxi and accompanied
her into 1t. They seated themselves
together, and the fragrance of her
presence was very sweet about him.
1t would have been so easy to forget
all that he had been trying to forget
In the intoxication of such environ
ment. Surely 1t was not necessary
that he should go West-that he should
see her again-in order to be sure.
Phyllis" he breathed, do you
! imagine I could undertake these things
| If / cared only for myself-if 1t were
not that l longed for someone's ap-
proval-for someone to be proud Of
me? The strongest man is weak
enough for that, and the strongest man
is stronger when he knows that the
woman he loves"
He would have taken her in his
arms. but she resisted, gently, firmly.
you have made me think too much
of you, Dennison," she whispered.
On the way West Grant gradually
unfolded his plan to Under, who &C
copied it with his customary stoicism.
you are to go on with the physical
work at once" he told him. BUY the
horses, tractors, machinery; break up
the land, fence 1t, build the houses and
barns; In short, you are to superintend
everything that is done with muscle or
its substitute. / will bring Murdoch
out shortly to take charge of the cler-
ical details and the general organiza-
ton. AS for myself, after have
bought the land and made the neces-
sary fun-s available, propose to keep
out of the limelight. I will be the
heart of the undertaking; Murdoch
will be the head, and you are to be
the hands, and hope you two con-
| spirators won't give me palpitation"
Under assented. laconically. "What
are you going to do?" he inquired.
! "Tm going to buy half section of
| my own and farm If feel like it,
(To BE CONTTNUED.)