The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-12-12
CHAPTER W-Continued

CHAPTER lV-Contlnued
"Quite a watchdog" observed Rob-
erta scornfully, but she swung to her
feet and went to the doorway and
looked out. Yes, it was Jack. What
was he doing here? She had written
him that she could not meet him until
next Monday.
Want to send him a message? 1t
can be done"
NO" said Roberta, feeling instantly
that he thought she was afraid her
father might see her and ask ques-
lions. 81 can manage my own affairs,
thanks"
Absolutely" agreed Sir George and
moved away.
To her establishment he went
through the doorway and toward the
house. Roberta was so amazed that
she could not make even the faintest
move to stop him. She was annoyed.
She was quite unused to such treat
ment. Here was she, the only girl he
knew, apparently, this side of the
Atlantic, any way the only girl he
knew in this place, and instead of i'm
proving the shining hour, he came to
her and delivered his message as
casually as though they were two
schoolboys and then walked off and
left herI
Roberta walked slowly toward the
beach and the bridge. Jack had seen
her now. He moved toward her. He
looked worried. Was he afraid of her
father? Why hadn't he come directly
to the island and asked for her. like
any other boy she knew? The sun
light struck across his face, and showed
her lines she had never seen before.
Why, he was much older than she
had thought. He was not a boy, he
was a man.
Jack stood his ground near q tall
sycamore and a thicket of sumac
which screened him. He beckoned to
her eagerly. Why couldn't he meet
her in the open?
Robert Macbeth was frowning when
Sir George joined him. He looked up
quickly as the younger man came
toward him.
wouldn't you like to try bit Of
exercise?" Sir George asked. Sup
pose you take my arm"
Maybe I'd better" Macbeth agreed
reluctantly, though I'm dashed un-
willing to stir. Well, once around, If
you're bent for exercise"
"Once around ii is" Sir George told
him encouragingly. "We'n have you
dancing in no time"
1t would give the girl a chance, Sir
George thought to himself, his eyes
seeking the path to the bridge. Yes,
there she went 1t might be that the
wisest course would be to warn the
father, but he could not bring himself
to do it. The girl was plucky. She
had not asked him to keep quiet or
ANYTHING of that kind. He could either
keep his mouth shut, or go to blazes
for all of her. Well, he would keep
his mouth shut.
Slowly and painfully, leaning heavily
on the strong young arm that sup
ported him, Robert Macbeth made his
way along the terrace. When they
reached his chaise Tongue again, he
relaxed gratefully as the younger man
helped him to comfortable position,
and arranged his pillows.
There was a short silence. Sir
against the wicker chair he intended
to slide into in a moment. He could
not see the girl now, and the car had
disappeared.
Robert Macbeth had taken up a
letter he had laid down just before
his promenade. He handed it to his
secretary.
'What do you think of that?"
1t was typewriter letter addressed
to "Rob't Macbeth" and said:
"Dear Sir: Do you know the man
your daughter is meeting at different
resorts on the Lincoln highway? Many
facts in your life are known to the
writer of this, which you would not
like to find public property. If you
want to know all the writer knows
send letter to the P. o. Box given be-
low and wait for telegram appointing
meeting place. All will be told you"
1t was unsigned, merely the number
of the post office box, OIL, in small
Pennsylvania city, being given.
Sir George handed it back. "Td
throw it in the fire."
Robert Macbeth grasped the letter
firmly. "Thats where you would be
wrong. Such letters should be kept
and used to trap the writer or writer's.
I'll send it to detective agency. 1t
isn't scandal I'm afraid of. I've never
done anything to be blackmailed for
and neither has Roberta"
"Then why should you botherr
Macbeth turned an honestly worried
face to the younger man. "Pm pretty
sure that the writer of this letter has
some connection with the difficulty
I've been having with my payroll, but
i can't convince the police"
Payroll !" Sir George looked at him
in establishment. do you mean the
payroll for your employees in the city p
Robert Macbeth shook his head
'~Not the office. A much bigger thing
The money for the men on the con.