The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-09-14

but he cannot fool his dog. II be is
unhappy the dog knows it, and Will
son knew that Stanley was unhappy.
But he did not pursue the point fur
ther, rejecting that II would not be
long before he learned the truth.
"Well, sir" he said, I'm going to
miss you, If you'll allow me to say so.
You're about the only friend have In
the world, you see"
Thanks, Wilson, thanks. l shall
miss you. too. but the knowledge that
you're here on the job will neverthe-
less make me very happy"
81 don't know how to thank you,
sir"
Don't do 1t, don't do 1t. Don't
Ii there is any balance Of gratitude in
the matter it's all on my side. | have
taken you little too much for granted,
| am afraid, but as ] look back upon
the last few years, | suddenly realize
all that your intelligent devotion has
meant to me. I'm not going to thank
you for it, I'm just going to hope that
what am doing now will make you
see once and for all how much ! ap-
preciate it."
The little man rose and turned
away. The truth was that he was
very near to tears. Stanley saw 1t,
and did the tactful thing.
swell, come now, we've got a lot to
do" he said briskly. Lets get at it."
A little before this time Rollin
awOke. The first thing be was con-
! sciOus of was that his head ached
abOminably-the next thing was that
he knew perfectly well why. Con-
scious, as he left the Colby house the
night before, of an overwhelming need
of some sort of refuge from the tor
rent of conflicting thoughts that were
sweeping over his brain, he had found
that refuge In way that of late had
grown increasingly common. In short,
he got drunk.
In spite of his throbbing head, ne
could not suppress telling of salts
faction as he realized that so far his
schemes had succeeded to perfection
he scarcely dared to hope for. Not
only was he engaged to Doris Colby,
with all that meant In the way of
social prestige and pecuniary advance
ment. but most unexpectedly he found
himself, as the result of Stanley's gen.
crosby, the sole pOssessOr of a valu-
able business in which previously his
ownership had been nominal 1t was
too good to be true.
Nevertheless, Self-centered as he was
through the years of growing and
habitual concentration on his ego, he
was even now conscious that for this
success he had paid a heavy price.
Nor was the payment complete. There
would be further installments. There
must come time, he vaguely guessed,
when Doris must acquire some inkling
of his character. There were certain
heavy obligations which he must short
ly meet. Most of these he expected
to be able to discharge through the
profits of the business of which be was
now sole owner. There would be fur
Their instalmentS of the debt that must
be paid to Nina Morgan. If Nina Nor
gan was under few illusions regarding
Waterman's character, Waterman was
under even fewer illusions about hers.
He called her a business woman, and
he knew that she was all of that.
She would demand her pound of flesh.
Well. he would pay it. On the whole.
ha In hole hic hn-
was not ill-pleased with the situation.
For the most part he was not con-
scious rogue. II was vanity and nor
evil purpose that had brought him to
| this pass. He had been born with
ROlls-Royce tastes and a fivver in
come. He was gifted with uncommon
| good looks, great surface charm of
manner, conspicuous position in So
ciety, and he had for years strained
every point to live up to them.
He had always been q frOnt-page
| character and he loved that position.
Wherever the limelight fell there was
Waterman. The sailing of the newest,
| fastest liner on her maiden voyage,
| the debut of the latest operate star,
Duse first night exhibitions of Wis
| iting royalty-no such function passed
| without the decoration of his presence.
If anyone had a social shop window
| to decorate he used Waterman If he
could get him. All this was breath to
| his nOstrils, but he had found no way
! in which to make it remunerative.
His telephone tinkled at his ear.
| Turning on his elbow he took the in
strument from the little maple table
| which stood beside his bed and the
| voice of Doris said:
"Good morning, Rolly, did | wake
your"
NO." he said, "rve been awake
| some time"
| 81 am just leaving the house to go
to church. and | thought perhaps you
| might meet me at the door when the
| service Is over"
Splendid, splendid. I'll be there,
and if you're not doing anything for
lunch, we might lunch together at the
| Ritz"
| "All right" she said, "St Bartholo-
| news you knOw-nOt far from noon
unless the sermons unusually long,"
| "Pll be there" he said, and hung up
tTo BE CoNTINUED.)
1