The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-07-06
CHAPTER XI-Continued

IL
"One minute, please, Miss Grosven-
or" interrupted Mr.. Almy; "ycur
cousin was not in business here. was
he? How would he have had to make
arrangements for short trip?"
HE was studying Spanish; he had
a lesson every day. But he said
readily-too readily that he telt
sure he could go; and he and my
grandfather exchanged such a queer
look; they never knew saw it, they
We're SO absorbed in themselves But
it was plain that they understood
each other about some secret. My
grandfather had shown no special In
terest in the notice about the auc-
ton until Clarihew'S Notes was mem
toned, and then so much, and such
determination to conceal Ii from ME.
that felt there was something
strange involved, something about
me, that the other two didn't want
me TO suspect.
well, | was reused. | wondered If
SAAAco "NiS pOsSlDIf SlIdDluS ~ give
me a chance to find out about the
secret which had always surrounded
my parentage; you know had never
been told anything about my father
and mother"
by your grandfather" asked Mr.
Almy.
"NOr by Charles" answered Julia ::
land | always thought he must have
known something about them. He's
enough older than | am to remember
or to have picked up something about
my mother"
do you know how old you were
when she died?"
-Four months old. | was told the'
by an old colOred nurse of mine
who had been in the family for dec
AIDES, and who had waited on my
mother; she also said my mother
died of tuberculosis. She took care
of me only when | was very tiny, for
she was sent home to Virginia for
telling me as much as that. My sus-
picions about the book were nothing
but suspicious: yet | was so distressed
and veXed that | just made up my
mind TO go to Richmond myself, snd
look at that book, and see what was
so interesting about It'll
$50 | went. | wanted to avoid
Charles. so | decided not to go to the
auction, but to the exhibition room
early in the day. And there, first
thing, | nearly ran straight into hir1
Gracious | was frightened But
there was large showcase not ear
from where he was standing beside
the counter, so / waited behind tEat
until he should leave saw him
looking at book very carefully;
couldn't, of course, see what book
1t was, but watched him closely
and :. saw him trying to pry
the bookplate off with his finger nail !
And then | heard him order the
clerk to take bid from him. for
Clarihew's Notes. up TO five hundred
dollars, for he said he couldn't at
tend the auction"
'"That was curious, after he went
down especially to accommodate youl
grandfather" remarked Mr.. Almy.
mot at all, if you knew him." said
Julia. coolly. "He has many friends in
Richmond, really large social circle.
He didn't want TO go down solely on
account of that book, assure you.
And five hundred dollarsi Judging
from what little | know about some
of the prices my grandfather paid
for similar books, II wasn't worth one
hundredl He might well have been
sure he would get it. Then he went
out, and | went and asked for the
book. to examine IL. And when got 1t,
! almost tainted. 1t didn't have a real
bookplate in it at all p
"No." said l. sit had drawing that
would deceive almost anybody but an
artist"
''It was wonderfully skillfuI piece
of work." said Julia. It seemed very
strange to me that anyone would
make a drawn boOkplate, unless for
some special book, in event, perhaps.
Of accident to the metal plate from
which the regular bookplates were
engraved. wondered what there
was about that very queer bookplate
that made my two relatives so anxious
to conceal IL from me. | was dis
tracted; hadn't an idea what to do,
until | heard voice asking for that
book 1t was Mr.. Burtcn's; | recog-
nized II at the auction. 1t gave me
my idea.
"Charles wasn't going to the sale !;
some one else was interested In the
book. | then and there resolved to
go to the auction in the faint hope
that some one might outbid Charles.
In that event, | resolved to find out
who II was, and keep track of the
book until I could either learn the
truth about it or perhaps even buy
it. If Charles succeeded In getting
the book, l felt sure I'd have little
chance of ever seeing it again.
can't tell you how his attitude and
my grandfather's terrified mel The
rest of the story you know. for Mr..
Burton got the book"
"A very clear. interesting account
of your experiences, Miss GrosvenOr =
said Mr.. Almy 'Tm much obliged to
you, and sha'n't trouble you further
today if can help it. May | just
use your telephone moment. If you
please?"
The door closed on him. My real
chance to speak to Julia GrosvenOr
had come at last.
"Yes," ] said quietly. "Peter Ru.-
ton got that book; and | know why.
and SO do you. It was for your sake.
1t was to help you out of difficulty