The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-04-25

| Celebrating something, were your"
she asked, keeping back the tears.
'You might say / was, in a way.
1t wasn't over having sold our flax.
| though, nor borrowed the money to
pay for it. Not pound nor dollar.
But celebration isn't bad word for
| it, at that"
They've really beaten US, then,
have they, joe"
There was long-stretched silence.
ut wasn't they that beat me-" he said
at last. "They couldn't have done 1t.
1t was the other thing guess you
know that, don't your Didn't you see
anything queer when you came up to
Fargo in September? Not about
them; about me?"
She nodded. whisky, you mean"
Then slowly and carefully Joe told
| how things had seemed about to break
right for him in New York, only at
| the last moment he had taken a drink
| and that had led to a big drunk, at
| the end of which he found himself in
| Bellevue.
When he became master of himself
again he had wired Doctor Bennett,
who had gone east and brought him
| back to Chicago. He wound up by
| admitting that he had reached the end
of his physical and mental powers and
| that Jennie would have to take his
power of attorney and endeayor to
save what she could out of the wreck.
He wound up, You'll just have to
do the best you can, Jennie. I'm
through. For this round, at least"
She caught eagerly at the hint in
that last phrase. Doctor Bennett, she
supposed, had the cure in charge.
ooh, yes" he said. Benefits got
place in mind where they've got sys-
tenn for treating my complaint. Going
| down there with me tomorrow Turns
'em out as good as new, they say"
Presently he spoke again. There's
one thing 1 was forgetting. I want
some money. About a hundred and
| fifty dollars in currency. Bring it
around tomorrow morning early, will
you? Bring it yourself and see that
l get it."
| Evidently 1t was a relief to him
that he'd succeeded in remembering
this. This concluded the business,
and now he relaxed. He didn't want
her to go. He wanted to talk. Let
Jennie ring up the dining-room and
order herself some dinner. He had his
own meals at nursery hours. Nursery
meals, too. But these weren't reasons
| for starving her.
She didn't feel mucf3 like eating,
but she did as he askedl and was re-
warded by the pleasure he took in tile
convivial atmosphere which her tray,
when it arrived, created. BE Knocked
himself, but not bitterly. II never
thought I'd be asking a lady to din
ner with me like this" he observed.
She tried desperately to think Of
something light-hearted to say, but
found herself speechless.
II know what you are thinking
about" he went on, in darker tone.
| you're thinking that If I'd taken your
advice, another time we had dinner
| together, about a letter / wanted to
write to Pasadena, / wouldn't have
been wandering around the streets,
seeing red. Well, give 1t to you-
You were right about that, Jennie"
She gathered up her courage and
| plunged. 81 don't think you'd say
that, Joe, if you could see Beatrice as
she is now"
You been seeing her" he asked.
"Once in a while. Not often. She.
came into the Office two or three
weeks ago, on her way through Chi
cago."
Hasn't been coming to you for
| money, has she? Jennie, If you've
gwen her any"
"She's never asked for any. I'm
going to tell you something, Joe. /
guess ought to have done it long ago.
| She sent back that thousand dollars
you gave George when you discharged
| him. He insisted on 1t, she said. She
sent a check for it in that letter you