The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-03-07

! the SemleIllptlcal urlVe, Wnen Jennie
turned in, but neither Beatrice nor the
chauffeur had made any move to
alight. The top was down. and they
could see that he had spoken to her
and was tensely awaiting an answer.
She was slumped low In her seat, moth
ing visible of her but the top of her
small hat
That Joe had instantly perceived
something wrong was evident. lie did
not hail. and it was with the silent
swiftness of big cat that he left Jen-
MES car and made his way to the curb
side of the other. Burns head went
back at the apparltion of him as from
the impact of blow. Then, as II he
had to, overcome a certain rigidity, he
| got down from under the wheel and
faced his employer. So far no one had
said word, but now Beatrice reused
herself.
as that you, Dad. for fact7" she
asked. sitting half erect. II didn't
know you'd come home. Honest,
didn't Thought thoughtful George
here was" "Stringing me" seemed
to be what she was trying to say, but
its linguistic difficulties were too much
for her. II was blazingly clear that
she was drunk.
Joe took Burns by the shoulders and
pulled him round between himself and
| the girl. The two faces, the bearded
one contorted by passion, the young,
clean-shaven one expressionless. were
not six inches apart.
Where have you been with her?
What have you been doing with herr"
Bringing her home, sir. She'd gone
out not knowing you were coming.
When / got word of 1t, followed
where she'd gone and told her. And
she came back with me-"
IF there was any liquor on your
breath I'd kill you where you stand.
That's the truth, is it?'
Yes, sir. And / haven't had drink
in eight weeks. That's true, too"
Jennie interposed with suggestion
that she help Joe get the girl up to
her room.
"She needs no help. Wait minute"
he said, turning to where Beatrice sat,
slumped in her seat. Look at me
now, and listen. Wherever you have
been this afternoon you're sober now.
want you to get up and walk W to
your room and wait for me there"
The girl arose and made her way,
unsteadily, but fairly enough, and .zas
swallowed by the elevator. Then Joe
turned to Jennie and told her TO go
home and get her things and come
back prepared to stay With Beatrice
for some weeks. until he could come
back and look after her himself Joe
turned and followed Beatrice to the
apartment and Jennie got into the big
car, and with George driving, went
back to her place.
On the way to get her things George
told her what had happened. He had
driven madly to dozen different
places where she was in the habit of
going. At last he found hotel serv-
ant who had served party in which
Beatrice was a member. This man
told him of overhearing them invite
the entire crowd out to their house, a
place they had taken for the summer
on the lake just north of Glencoe, Of
| fering them lot of drinks.
George knew the place and he drove
there instantly. He found the party
in bathing. Going directly to Bea-
| trice, he told her Of her fathers mes
sage The rest of the party told her
| they didn't believe her father was COM
ing, but George insisted and finally
managed to get her up to the house
and waited outside while she dressed.
Even then his troubles were not
over, for Beatrice was long time get
ting ready. When she came cut the
men continued to insist that the mes
sage was mistake. One of them in
particular, fellow named Ware, was
the worst. He had tried to put me
In my place"
when we were ready to start /
helped Miss Greer into her place and
this Ware slipped into the drivers
seat Said she had asked him to drive
her home What with the extra drinks
| they had all taken after coming out
of the water, it was dangerous busi-
ness. stepped around to his side of
the car and grabbed bis wrist, giving
| it bad wrench. He squirmed out of
the car and tried to hit me- That was
what had been waiting for for
months.
I'D rather have had him sober, but
1t was good enough. l got in twice on
his right eye, and l think l broke his
nose. Then hit him in the pit of the
stomach to finish him of, IL inside of
half a minute. The rest didn't want
any. Then l jumped in and drove
| home"
Evidently, though, the drive home
wasn't to furnish many details. "She
was pretty excited one way and an
other" he summarized presently, but
when she quieted down she was sort
of dopey. just like you saw her. ]
stopped at a cafeteria on the way
down and tried to get her to come in
and have some black coffee, but she
wouldn't, and | didn't want to start
anything conspicuous. I'd have tried
harder, but l thought there was a
pretty good chance, If Mr.. Greer was
going to have long business talk
with you. that / could get her home
ahead of him. Happening the way II
did was just exactly wrong"
That's what i thought at the time, >
Jennie said. I'm not sure, though,
that it didn't happen just exactly
right"