The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-11-16
CHAPTER XII

Now, under the circumstances Il
might have been expected that din
ner would prove somewhat nervous
function. Yet II was not altogether
failure. Stanley was quick to see
that he had Overplayed his hand a
bit. II was no part of his plan to put
Waterman on his guard. He there
fore exerted all his social tact to dis.
pei any apprehension that might have
taken root In Rollins mind. His talk
was so gracious, so charming, and so
friendly, that before long both Wa
terman and Doris had concluded that
their imaginations had played them
false. In short, Jim became during
the course of the dinner the same old
Jim-warm-hearted. affectionate, sim.
pie minded. 8n
II was In completely restored
atmosphere of comfortable harmony
that Waterman found himself pres
emily sitting with his wife and his
old friend In the library before the
fire.
mice old place, this" he said, set
Ting himself comfortably in his chair.
"Yes," agreed Stanley, tits all of
that; and yet sometimes | think that
I'll get rid of 1t. You see, it's full
of ghosts-haunted by the ghosts of
my dead childhood-and yours, too,
ROllin. We've often shouted through
these halls, and scrambled up these
stairways. yes. and slid down these
banisters And there are the ghosts
Of My fathers hearty voice and my
mothers gentle presence. Oh, II |
were married and had children of my
own to fill the vacant spaces here, 1t
would be different. | should have liv-
ing companions who would soon dis
place my ghostly comrades. Let me
fill your glass again, Doris"
mo, no more, thanks" she said
with little shiver.
''You, Rolling"
Thanks, yes" He refilled Water
mans glass and reseated himself.
"Curious thing-time's changes" he
went on. "Now take yourself, Rollin
i never imagined that you would
turn out like this"
slow so?" inquired Waterman, bis
discomfort beginning to return.
"As boy, you were positively shy
and as for girls, scared to death y
"Yes," interpolated Doris, shes
changed"
"Why, at school," Stanley went on,
81 remember the first time you danced
with girl you were paralyzed with
fright. You perspired like long
shoreman under July sun, your part
ner was persuaded that you were
composed entirely Of feet But 1t
wasn't long before you were quite
the lady's man, and l understand"
A stalwart young Irishman In
chauffeur's livery stood in the door.
way, cap in hand.
"What is it, O'Hara?"
"Did you want me, Mr.. Stanley"
ooh, yes. O'Hara, please don't turn
in just yet. | shall have some letters
for you to take to the village. want
them to catch the early morning
post"
"All right, sir" said the chauffeur,
and departed.
Now although Waterman had for q
time recovered his assurance, Doris
had by no means recovered hers. In
point of fact, she was conscious that
before long her nerves might play her
false. Not In all her life had she felt
so completely on edge as at the pres
ent moment. II was not only that
she was miserably unhappy. She was
in state of intolerable apprehension.
Something was going to happen. She
had no idea what 1t was-she didn't
want to know. She had a ridiculous
idea that at any moment she might
leap to her feet and scream. Sudden
~ she felt that she must get away.
1t was an impulse she could not con-
troll, so as the chauffeur disappeared
she rose abruptly and said:
"And speaking of turning in, think
| shall do just that"
"Oh, not yet, surely?" objected
Stanley, politely.
81 think so. My head is splitting
and ] sleep badly of late-hardly at
all after five O'Clock. So must get
started early, or get no rest"
Stanley offered no further objec.
ton. swell, of course, In that case"
he said solicitously.
Goodnight, my dear Doris, and l
hope your dreams may be agreeable.
shall see you In the morning"
"Of course"
Waterman looked sharply at his
friend, as he stood there holding his
wife's hand in his own. A slight suA
picion crossed his mind that there
might be a double meaning In his
speech, but If so he could not fathom
it. Instead. he filled his glass again
Doris, on her part, was in no wise
treasured by Stanley's gaiety. She
felt that 1t was spurious, assumed for
definite purpose, but what that pur-
pose was she could not tell Again
the impulse for flight overwhelmed
her.
"Well," she said, forcing a smile.
there's only one Jim. All the same
T."
"Yes?" smiled Stanley.
She sighed gently. Nothing" she
said, and went out.
Stanley turned briskly to Water
man.
swell, Rollin, this Is charming
charmingl Next to being happy ones
self, the best thing is to see ones
friends happy. I'm delighted that your
marriage has turned out so awfully
WELL"
WATERWAYS spirits rose. Doris had
not given him away, he thought. Too
proud-that was it. However, he Tad
purpose of his own In view. lie