The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-05-18
MARY
AND HER
PAL
&c by ID. j. Walsh.b

~ III ner Cnalr anu Wipeu ueT
V spectacles for the sake of
clearer vision. She had re-
moved her hat and her gray hair iay
close about her thin, plain, gentle
face. Having cleaned her spectacles
she, put them on and rummaged in
her bag for her crochet work. Nothing
like crochet work to steady her nerves
after what had happened.
Mary sighed as she picked out the
clover-lea1 pattern. She had intended
to give the completed strip of edging
to Genevieve, but, land sakes, Gene
We've didn't wear garments that took
kindly to homemade trimming Silk all
the way through. that was Genevieve's
slogan. 1t had made big. though not
the biggest, difference between her and
her mother-in-law.
Four whole days must elapse before
she reached home-the home. Four
lonely uncompanioned days with
memory nagging at her. And some
thing worse than memory-the thing
that Doctor McAtee had told her be-
fore she went out West.
Somebody had paused beside her.
She lifted her eyes from her work and
the man smiled down at her. He was
young, big, full of vigor. Brown of
skin with gray eyes that looked deep
into ones consciousness.
"AlI alone?" he asked, Mary nod
ded. $50 am l. And there isn't a soul
on this train that wants to pal with
me-"
That's queer" Mary said. But /
guess you won't find anything very
entertaining about an old woman like
me-"
Come out on the observation plat
FORM" he said. There's no one out
there now and we can have good
talk"
Mary went, crochet work in hand.
1t was pleasant in the open air.
Thanks to Genevieve she was travel.
ing de luxe. But then, she sighed
again. Genevieve would have done
anything to get rid of her. This man
she turned her attention to him. His
voice had pleasant sound. AT first
she was more interested in his tone
than in what he was saying.
They went In TO lunch together.
Mary had no reservation; he had. he
commanded courtesy without appear
ing to do so. They Dick-Smithed IL
she had learned that word recently.
She paid for her own toast. tea and
egg. 1t tasted better because he sat
opposite.
Next morning they breakfasted to-
gether. Afterward when the train
stopped he made her go out with
him on the platform for a marathon.
She chung to his arm and tried to
step out the way he did The color
came to her face
After lunch when he had gone into
the smoker for a pipeful of tobacco
the older of two youngish women who
had been watching Mary and her pick
up approached her.
Il am Miss Bell" said the woman,
81 advise you to look out for that
bounder. He's the sort that preys on
unsuspecting old ladies'"
Mary scratched her nose with the
crochet hook and looked at Miss Bell.
Guess you're mistaken" she said
quietly. IT'S none of your business
anyway"
Miss Bell flushed angrily.
81 hate to see you oamboozled," she
said. "He tired to scrap acquaintance
with me and my sister and we froze
him. So did everybody else he spoke
to The idea Breezing through a car
that way and talking boldly to folks.
You're the only person who fell for
him"
Mary studied the clover leaf so in
tently that the woman was obliged to
withdraw.
Good Iand" she thought 81 must
look like had valuables about me
somewhere. But wasn't going 70 tell
her that I've got only nineteen dol
lars besides my ticket" She smiled
really amused.
He came back with box of candy.
Such a pretty box. all done up in shiny
stuff. She hated to open 1t as he re-
quested.
''Its good for you," he said "Nib-
BILE away" Then he bent close. ANY.
body warned you against me YETI" he
asked, with vibration of laughter
in his deep voice. Mary looked EN-.
barrassed. "Oh, see what's going on.
And enjoy it. Once in while do
run Up against a bunch like what's
ON this train. Lucky to find sensible
body like you. Pal"
There was something stimulating in
his presence Mary didn't care who or
what he was; she liked hin. His
name was unknown to der; she had
not told him her name. But names
didn't matter. You didn't pick flower
for the name. That was one of the
many things he said which she felt
she must treasure in her heart as long
aS-she lived
The third day she said suddenly:
Theron wasn't a particle like you. :"