The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-04-08

"But you don't think ii would be q
good moment to call. eh?"
He didn't answer Immediately. He
was busy thinking how truly trying
his cousin could be, and that Lucy
had had about enough to try her that
day. He said suddenly:
Matter OF fact, Jossy, I am going
down home for a bit. How'd you like
to do the truly eousinly and come and
see me Off"
THAT MEANS" said Jocelyn to her
self, that he doesn't want me to see
Lucy. Now. why? And which shall
1 get most out of. Lucy or him?"
She finally decided to go with him.
She could see Lucy any day. and she
might as well get all she could out of
this bright young man before he left
town.
'Right-o, Perry. The calls of cousin
ship are too strong for me- She
stepped into the taxi, he got in beside
her and they moved off.
Now then, dear boy, let's hear all
about it," she said.
"Oh, rather" said st. Abb who had
hurriedly made up the best story he
could muster, during the last few min
utes. "Well, you see, my chief has a
lot of work on hand that / simply
haven't got the er head
for He's got to have one Of those
sharp and brainy fellows, you know.
So l suggested that I'd take a vaca-
ton till his business came down to
my level, don't you know"
$50 yeu are going back, them"
ooh, rather" said ST. Abb. witt
great heartiness. But he didn't know
that that hearty ejaculation of ''Oh,
rather" was something of a trick of
his, when he was trying hard TO tell
convincing story that wasn't strictly
true
Jocelyn recognized the trick. She
had known It so long. Her cousin
Peregrine was not a clever liar.
"A likely story! | believe you've
been so eternally indiscreet as to fall
in love with little Lucy"
The tinge of color that came into his
face at that, made her think that she
was on the right track.
Don't you ever think of anything
but love, Jossy?" he cried disgustedly.
Honestly, you make me rather SICK"
She laughed.
Believe me, Perry, when women
sat at home and thought of nothing
but love, the world was at its very
best-for men,"
Il suppose you think that I've been
unexpectedly speaking-thrown out
on my ear" he growled. "And / sup
pose that's the merry little yarn you'll
spin among our mutual acquaint-
ances?"
ION your ear? By Jim, do you
mean?" she asked.
He nodded.
"Oh, no; I know better than that
Her tone was so full of meaning that
he gave her quick look.
you know what better?" he asked
with a touch Of irritability.
81 know Jim better,' she replied,
and now the meaning literally over.
flowed from her words, and it was by
no means milk and honey.
Look here, Jossy, what are you
getting at? Cut all this innuendo and
let's have It"
Huh" she retorted scornfully.
You're fine one TO talk. Here I've
been with you twenty solid minutes
or more, and not one blessed word Of
truth have you spokeny'
He colored
"And why you should bother to Iie,"
she went on. when know, probably,
a darn sight more Of the situation
than you do yourself, is more than 1
can see"
'DO you, Jossy? How?" he wanted
to know, not quite convinced.
''Oh, Perry, you make me ache with
fatigue! Look at their marriage. my
dear boy. Such a scramble: so sud-
den; weren't people bound to ask
why?"
81 suppose they were. I didn't
thought"
"You wouldn't"
II mean / thought / knew why"
Romance? Love at first sight?"
she suggested scornfully.
"Well. yes" he admitted.
You know. Perry. l have less and
less hope of you as time goes on"
He laughed; her contempt. so far
from hurting him, was a great relief.
He felt that he never knew quite
where he was with Jocelyn.
81 felt sure you were only joking"
he said. Il suppose it's all been
joke about everything. hasn't it,"
Not about the Lees" she answered
bluntly. well. you can see that
there's something there for people to
talk about, can't you? I mean. it's
clear that the marriage isn't a sue
cess?"
ct does rather look like II.
:" he admitted reluctantly. She
went on quickly:
Its clear that there's some mys-
terry there, isn't it? Jim had some
reason for marrying Lucy -. That's
as evident as daylight, isn't it?''
I'D no idea anything had got about"
he said, badly troubled.
"Well, what was his reason?" she
went on
"Blest II I altogether know" he re-
piled. She looked at him, her eyes
narrowing.
1T wasn't love, was IT." she added.
81 don't see, now, how it could have
BEEN" he answered slowly. She drew
a breath. So far, so good. He knew
something, then. Could she get his
4.