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

AooIh AkCSkAoSOhIy
Sheila was sitting by one Of the
reed-fringed pools that lay amongst
the heather and the moss. Uncon-
scious of any presence save that of a
solemn-eyed spaniel who sat at her
side, she had drawn off her shoes and
stockings and was dabbling her feet
and ankles in the dark waters.
The spaniel caught sight Of me and
parked. His mistress looked hastily
in my direction, saw me, seemed to
realize that she had seen me before,
and though she blushed at being
caught in somewhat mystifying situa-
ton, accepted it calmly. She gave
me a friendly nOd-and at the same
time began to put on her footgear. 1
purposely remained in the rear until
she jumped to her feet, faced me, and
laughed, pointing to the pool.
"There's a superstition about that
WELL" she said, without preface or
hesitation. "They say that if you dip
your feet in it six times, within an hour
of sunrise, any time between Michael
mas and Martinmas, you'll live happy
ever after. Sol was trying it."
81 hope it'll come true" said. "As
for myself, I'm not al all happy just
now"
A look of concern came into her
eyes.
"No?" she responded. "Why?"
81 believe you saw me, yesterday
no, the day before-near the Wood
cock, with an elderly gentleman" l
said. "You went by. Well, he's miss
ing-lost! He went out from the inn,
last night, after dinner. alone, and he's
never returned. You know these
parts? Are there places"
"There are many dangerous places"
she interrupted hastily. "Have you
searched?"
Several Of us, all night" an
swered. "We've seen nothing, heard
nothing of him.
"Your father?" she asked, cycling
me half alphabetically.
"No-a friend, with whom I'm trav-
cling" replied. 'Im awfully anxious
about him. 1t was unusually dark last
evening, and I'm afraid he's come to
harm-fallen over something or into
something" l then told her Mr.. Maza-
rOff's name and my own.
II wonder if our people-gamekeep
ers, you know-have heard anything?
If you'd walk with me to the house."
She pointed across the moor to where
the gables and chimneys of Marras-
dale tower showed above the trees.
"We might hear something there"
she continued. "We can go there in a
few minutes"
We came before long to Marrasdale
tower. In the courtyard, talking to
man in velveteens, we met Mr.. Elphin-
stone, tall, thin, gray-haired studious
looking man, who glanced at me Won
deringly over the top of an unusually
large pair of spectacles. His STEP
daughter led me up to him.
"This is Mr.. Holt-Mr. Mervyn
Holt" she said. "He and friend of
his, Mr.. Mazaroff, an elderly gentle
man, have motored from London, and
are staying few days at the Wood
cock. Last night Mr.. MaZaroff went
out alone on the moors, and he's never
returned. Mr.. Holt wants to find
him: he's anxious"
Mr.. Elphinstone, who looked to me
to be one of those men who take in
things very leisurely, nodded, and
glanced at the man in velveteens.
"a gentleman lost on the moor, ehY'
he said. "Uh! Parker-go and in
quire amongst the men in the stables
and in the gardens. UNI! Lost all
night, Ell? Dear me! Er-won't you
come in, Mr.-er-"
"My name is Holt, SIR" l said,
prompting his nt-mindedness.
"Holt, eh?" he answered, with q
sudden CLEAN of interest. "Um! !
was at Merton with man of that
name. He and l were great rowing
men. He's vicar of some country
parish in Buckinghamshire now, | be-
lieve-long since we foregathered."
81 think you are speaking of my
father, Mr.. Elphinstone," l remarked.
"He was at Merton, and he: now vicar
of Buckingham, near Aylesbury."
He turned and gave me his han6
shaking mine, in evident high delight,
"Bless mel" he exclaimed. "Now
just imagine It'll This is great pleas
ure. Come Income in this is ex
cellentl"
(TO BE CONTlNUEDl