The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-03-28

I'm awake now, all right. There's M
argument on George Burns. He's out !
Dad" she began, but paused 8
moment to search her mind. Shed
never been so deeply serious In hel
life. nor felt so compelling need tc
dig out the truth. Dad, I'm In love
with George. I-want him. I'm not
silly about him any more. was a,
first. like those girls in the papers
| But I've learned a lot in these last
six months-and l always did know
more than you thought l did. / didn',
want to fall in love with him. was
frightened about 1t. But coul1n''
| stop. So don't see what else there
| Is for me to do. If ] married some
! body else, that | wasn't In love with
! don't know what l might do. AND
If don't marry anybody Dad, you
must know. how it isl I'm like you
/ must be, because I'm not like moth
er bit. Dad, he's good! He's kind
and he's-square. He's never tried tc
take any advantage. He's believed In
/ iiAN LII CtCl Aho ~
seen enough, goodness knows! AND
If you'd be-friendly to US and help
him little He isn't chauffeur
now and he isn't ever going to be
again."
She saw she was getting nowhere
| with the plea. Her fathers face was
set. "Good!" she flared out. Hes
too good for me; that's the only trou.
Bile. He's the best MAI know. He's
better than either of u.s."
Like fun he isl" said Joe. Il didn't
mean to spring this on you, but
guess it's time / did I'm going tc
show up this bird. Go to the small
middle drawer in my desk and bring
me plain sealed envelop you'll FIND
there. Bring it in just as it is" he
called after her when without WORD
she had gone on the errand. She
hated herself for being frightened, but
there was ne Disgusting the fact thai
she was. Now, open It," he com
manded when once more she stood be
fore him. Look and see what's in
side"
1t was a Cancelled check for a thou
sand dollars, made out to George
Burns, and bearing her fathers sigma
ture. ''Turn 1t over and look at the
Endorsement" he added. "You know
his handwriting. 1 guess"
She obeyedN him mechanically
"What was this for? she asked. She
managed to make her voice ring cold
and hard enough, but she sat dowI
quickly in the chair she had recently
quilted.
Doesn't the date tell you any
thing?" he asked. 1t was back in Au
gust. "Why, that's the day / fire6
him. The day he. brought you home
drunk. AS you say. he'd seen enough
She repeated, word for word, hel
former question, this time with per
emptory emphasis. "What was this
check for?"
It stung him to an outburst OF an.
ger. ''Why, If you want it straight, II
was the price he got for keeping his
mouth shut and for letting you alone.
"Blackmail?" she asked.
Call it that If you like. That was
the understanding between US. He's
welshed on half of it, it seems
Whether he has on the other or not
don't know. Anyhow, there's your
paragon. And there's how much in
love with you he is. Less than thou
sand dollars WORTH"
She felt herself strangled, drown
ing, and she beat her way frantically
back to breathable air. 81 know
you're a liar" she gasped, "and l be
lieve you're lying about this" Then
more to the purpose, as her intelli.
gence came to the rescue, "If that's
what he is, why did you recommend
him for the air service? And why die
you go down to see him off and wish
him luck the day his mechanic told
you about me?"
The fierceness of her attack had
won her a moments breathing
| She folded the check and tucked Il
| into the bosom Of her dress.
'What are you doing with thatY
1
he demanded.
"I'm going to show 1t to him tomor
row; see what his side of the story Is
Maybe he's what you say he is.
don't know-about anybody, any more
But want his own word for this"
With that she rose to leave him
He struggled to sit erect, but dropped
back with an uncomfortable groan Of
| anguish.
"Never mind about that" he tolt
her. "But listen to this SO there won
be any mistake about it. Back las
April, some time, l asked you to come
and be my daughter. I'd got along
without you all right till then. car
get along without you now. And il
you see that dog again, even If it:
only to match his word against mine
I'm through. Perhaps you'd better
not tell him so till after he's married
you. 1t might make some difference
| to him. / mean it, Trix. That's &
promise / won't break, anyhow"