The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-06-20

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now 1 wouldn't have gone. But she
was neither born, nor did know she
was likely to be born. She came eight
months after I'd left"
"You heard of it, then?" suggested.
"Never knew of it till todayr he
exclaimed.
"Of course, Mrs. Elphinstone-as
she's known here-believes you to be
dead% ] said. "That goes without
saying"
"Oh, to be sure!' he answered.
"She married this Elphinstone few
years back, just before he bought this
Marrasdale Tower estate. Aye, she
believes me dead as Adam-and here
Pm alive!'
"What are you going to do?" 1
asked.
"What would you do, yourself,
Holt?" he replied, anxiously. "TelI
me your plain opinion, man I'll not
be offended at anything you say"
81 think should just go away, say
ing nothing" said L. "After all, you
left her. And-if you reveal yourself,
it'll mean breaking up what's probably
a satisfactory settlement. Mr.. Elphin-
stone and the"
ooh, by all accounts, they suit each
other as well as we suited each other
ill !" he broke in. "Aye, this settlements
all right. 3ut-the girls my daugh-
ter"
"She's never known you, Mr.. Maza-
roff," l remarked.
His bronzed cheeks REDEEMED at that,
and he shook his head.
you're right, Holt, you're right !"
he said, almost humbly. "And it's my
own fault. Well-up to now, nothing's
happened. Nobody knows but your
self"
"After all these years it would be
something of startling revelation
I observed. ut needs some reflection.
And" but then new idea struck
me, and / regarded him doubtfully.
81 suppose, if it came to it, you'd have
to prove that"
"That Salim Mazaroff is Andrew
Merchison," he interrupted. "Oh, that
can be done. There's the cast in my
eye, and birthmark on my right arm,
and there's papers and people-not
just at hand, to be sure, but findable
that can substantiate all that
"How came you to take such an I'M
usual name?" ventured to ask him.
He laughed softly, as if the reminis-
cence pleased MIN.
"I'll tell you," he answered. "When
l first went off, it was to India.
knocked about there a good deal, and
in the Persian gulf, and in adjacent
parts. Then / went further south-to
Durham and thence into the interior
the diamond districts. And in Dur
ban 1 foregathered with an old man of
like tastes to mine-in fact, he and
l lived together and traded together.
His name was MaZaroff, and he left
me all his money-nO little-on cOndi-
ton | took it. So | did-why not?
AT that time I'd no intention of ever
coming back to England again. And
now-theres the situation!'
"What are you going to do about
it?' | asked.
81 don't know" he answered frank
ly. Nothing in a hurry. And as
say, nobody knows but you and me.
There's no fear Of my being recog-
nized. I've talked to a dozen peop.e
today who knew me in the old days,
and in my blue spectacles they hadn't
the least idea as to who really was"
He got up then, and went out, to
stroll about the front of the inn,
alone. That night he said no more on
the subject Of his revelations, nor did
he mention the matter in the morning.
We spent most Of that day in motor
ing to some ruins twenty miles away:
when we returned In the evening there
was a good deal Of business being
done at the inn-men were returning