The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-03-25
CHAPTER IV-Continued

Everything she said was unexpected,
and the unexpected is nearly always
diScOncerting.
First of all, jim" she said after a
moment, Il want you to tell me all
that you haven't yet told me. You owe
me that, think. and believe you will
have the justice to think so. too. What
was your name when you were at
Greshams? | don't remember ever
hearing father or Oliver speak of
James Lee"
Warrington. James Warrington
he said at once
why did you change your name.
Was il just so that father shouldn't
know you when you. . - She hes
itated.
Game out again." he put in bluntly.
NO. 1t was because the cousin who
left me his money made it a condi-
ton that l took his name and his
name happened to be Lee. And hap
pened TO have plenty of use for sew
eral hundreds of thousands of pounds,
and so l took it,"
Il see And will you tell me just
how the disaster happened?"
Standing there, back against the
door, he told it bitterly, with many
brusque. unkind hit at her father. but
that did not affect her. The main
thing was that she must know every
thing. He told it all with the excep-
ton Of one point. He dOggedly re-
fused to tell her whether he had been
innocent or guilty. But she didn't
need TO be told that. She knew that
he was innocent just how, she couldn't
have told. unless it was that his mad
anger against the people who had
made that three years of purgatory
possible, could not have been so great,
except for injustice.
while 1 stood, threatened by the
disgrace and the torture of prison
your father, d-p him, went cruis-
ing . =" he finished violently. Hes
one of tie careless people; the care
less people who have TO be hurt. :"
His voice fell abruptly to silence,
which remained unbrOken during sew
eral minutes. Then she said:
Thank you for telling me every
thing, Jim. think see things rather
more clearly now. And now, I'll state
my terms"
He looked at her in blank astonish-
ment.
Your terms?" he echoed.
You speak of my going back to nv
father. Now that would be to confess
the ute failure of this marriage |
have made. And. Jim. am not used
10 confessing failure. I'm rather used.
in my very small way. to succeeding
in whatever l undertake. You'll laugh
at this. perhaps but / do. usual
ly, carry things through successfully.
It's dead against something that was
born in my nature, to knuckle down
TO failure"
There was a CLEAN of admiration in
his sullen eyes as he looked at her.
Then he said:
You aren't going to leave me,
then?"
AT least, I am not going to leave
you yet. I may, later | cannot be
sure. But to go now, would be to
go-crawling- And I just
can't" She drew a breath.
"We are at one there" he said
quickly. Failure is word I've no
use for But can't you see that it
suits me best that you should stay?
1t was just the thought that you would
go back TO your father and reveal TO
all the world who | am. that made me
curse myself for telling you the truth
last night. Not that it would alter my
ultimate plans; but it would certainly
make them harder to carry out"
Yes. ] do see that" she answered.
"And il may seem odd that |
should :" She paused.
''Play into the hands of the enemy?''
he suggested with an abrupt laugh.
a shade of pain passed over her
face.
IF you are my enemy, JIM" she
said in a low voice, You have made
yourself so. But perhaps your revenge
full schemes will prove bigger than you
can manage"
They won't" he saiS sharply. I've
thought too carefully"
81 have thought, too There was
a touch of stubbornness in that that
gave him the impulse to sting her.
You can't win," he said bluntly
There is too big a weakness on your
side"
"And that IS 4" she asked, her
eyes meeting his.
Love" His look challenged her.
She drew breath, but met the look
unfiinchingly.