The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-08-20
THE
Colonies
ERROR
Copyright by w. G. Chapman1
By H. M. EGBERr

~OL. JIM SLEE sat In his swiv-
ell chair and looked at Miss
Elizabeth Ray and pulled his
dropping mustache.
Colonel Slice was the last man In
the world whom one would have asso-
ciated with large city store. A lit
tie over fifty, perhaps, with splendid
figure and military bearing, there was
something chivalrous about the man
In spite of his reputation. II there
can be grades of fast livers, the colo
mel undoubtedly belonged to the high
est grade. In fifty homes he was re-
garded as q man of unblemished rep
utation; and those who knew what his
life was somehow exonerated him.
The colonel had fallen heir to the
store on his brothers death, and he
had not known what to do with 1t.
His first act was TO call all the en-
ployees together and raise their sal
aries. Then he promoted all the pref
ty girl clerks. The coloners old-fash-
Toned idea was that the prettier girl
was-and every girl was pretty If she
had health and q sweet temperate
less right she had to labor for a pit
lance. Miss Ray, being the prettiest
and most innocent of the lot, was ap-
pointed the colonel's private secre-
tary.
That was as far as the colonel got
before the departmental managers in
terfered and told him, with firm polite
ness, that he would have to leave the
charge of affairs to them unless he
wished to drive the store into bank
ruptcy.
The colonel made them agree that
the revised salary schedule should
stand, and after that he came down to
the store for about two hours a day
and pretended to answer letters.
1t is doubtful whether he would
have come more than twice a week
but for Miss Ray. She was about
twenty, and she came from a little
town In New England. She was one
of the prettiest girls the colonel had
ever seen, with her fluffy brown hair,
gray eyes, red lips and unsophisticat-
ed ways. The colonel was q little
afraid of her at first, but after while
to do that; he was always gentle and
always gentleman.
Ee had employed her as his secre-
tary, at thirty dollars, for about q
month when he learned about Tom
Tom was a young farmer in her home
I'd 70
married-perhaps in a years time
when she had saved her trousseau
money and he had begun to make
things go better. He had only lately
taken over the land, and 1t was heav
lily mortgaged.
Miss Elizabeth" said the colonel
and, though it was the first time he
had ever called her by her Christian
name, his tone was so respectful thai
1t was impossible to take exception t.
his words-"Miss Elizabeth, you are
much too charming a girl to take VI
country life. WHY, here you could
have your pick of dozen million
aires"
Miss Elizabeth laughed softly an(
looked ac~the colonel with that limo
cent expression that always puzzled
him.
"Tll prove it." said the colonel. I'm
going to take you out to lunch witt
me, and just you watch the men star
at you"
Miss Elizabeth put on her hat an
accompanied him. She had never bee
in big restaurant before, had neve
eaten cold jellied consomme or taste
punch. She slipped about two tea
spoonfuls of the ice-cold beverage on
of courtesy.
ST have had a most delightful time
you are very good to me-" she sale
when they returned to the Office.
Feel like repeating the exper
ment?" inquired the colonel, and Mis-
Elizabeth nodded gayly.
That was the beginning of man
luncheons. At times the girls hear
misgave her; she felt that she ough
not to accept so much kindness froI
this friend. But he was always S
gentle, so entirely respectful to he
Then one day the colonel invited he
to dine with him and go to the theate
For the first time that night, afte
she had left him at her door, Mis-
Elizabeth began to dread that his IL
terest in her was not wholly platoni
There had been an undertone Of som,
thing that she did not understand
his demeanor that evening. An
what troubled her most, she had SOM
how felt that it was not advisable
make any reference to him In her lie
tiers to Tom.
Tom was looking forward anxiousl
to seeing her when her vacation cam
the following month. Perhaps the
she would tell Tom. Perhaps.
She went to bed with a conscienC
not wholly free from problems.
1t was a day or two later that Mi:
Elizabeth spoke of her vacation to tt
colonel.
''Why, / have been thinking
that" he said. 81 shall want you
least, l should like to have you he