The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-05-22

it wasn't fire at all. 1t was highly
ingenious electrical counterfeit, and
must have cost lot of money. No
doubt Mr.. Forster was corresponding
ly proud of it, though why, she won
dered, was the chair that was obvi-
ously his placed on the wrong side of
his desk, not where he could watch
the leaping artificial flames, but with
his back to them?
The door opened and Mr.. Forster, sup
ported by one of his canes and on the
arm of the man in the blue serge suit,
came into the room.
He paused just inside the door for
sharp, family puzzled look at her,
as if he'd expected his appearance to
produce some sensation that hadn't
come off. Then he gave way what
had been in his mind by saying,
We've already met today, you see."
"Yes," she answered, little vague
ly. Il know"
The puzzle that had again come up
sharply in her own mind was why he
should have taken her being here for
granted. She couldn't talk to him,
though, during his slow painful prog
ress across the room toward the big
chair she'd assumed was his. After
he was seated he indicated the chair
at the end of the desk, facing the imi-
tation fire, as the one he wanted her
to take. Then he said to his attend
ant, ''That's all; you needn't wait. /
sha'n't want you until l ring"
Was it pure imagination on her
part, or had he given that order as if
he meant something special by it?
The mans going was noiseless, and
since Forster didn't Immediately speak
to her after he'd gone out it seemed
almost as if he were waiting for
something. The intensity of the 81
lence again became noticeable and
frightened her little. He may have
observed this, for what he finally said
was, in a low husky voice, "Tm very
sensitive to sound-don't like sudden
noises or loud voices. I've got this
room practically sound-proof. That's
felt ceiling up there, though you
wouldn't know it. l suppose you've
been wondering why sent for you"
So he'd sent for her, had he? Most
likely he'd left message of some sort
at the paper which she'd have re-
ceived if she'd gone back to work this
afternoon. That pretty well disposed
of her misgiving that she'd been lured
into trap. If he'd contemplated any
thing ugly or dangerous, like OBTAINING
openly have summoned her to his
apartment. He thought she'd come in
answer to his summons. Well, it
wouldn't do any harm for the present
to let him go on thinking so. So her
answer was merely hesitating ad-
mission that she had wondered what
he'd wanted of her.
He seemed little put out by the
way she phrased it. 81 don't want
anything of you at ALL" he assured her
earnestly. "The only thing l want is
to do something for you. This is going
to be the best thing you ever did, COM
ing to see me. Think, now. Didn't
your father ever tell you anything
about me?"
That was the connection, then. A
part, at least, of what Claire had been
telling her at lunch was true. She
answered with cautious vagueness. 81
don't know. He may have"
"Well. of course" he said, you were
pretty small girl when 1 hired him.
1 knew about you, though. l even saw
you few times out walking with him.
I remember your red hair. That's
how I recognized you this morning
And I'm glad l found you at last
There have been times when / was
about ready to give it up"
"Why," she asked. were you so
anxious to find me?"
.'Why?' he echoed. "Of course I
| wanted to ind you. I've never have
lost you if | hadn't been sick myself
when your father died. l was a
mighty good friend to your father
You might say was the only one he