The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-07-08
CHAPTER XIII
Freedom at Last

*oLllihS lLcIS, SlltsluSu anu "dIliiiS.
Size spraLg up as he came in, asking:
"Wen?" on a sharp note of anxiety.
Lucy, dear, he's terribly broken
up. He's a fine boy at heart,
lucy. | could wish that things
were :" He broke off. evidently
tremendously wrung by the emotion
he had seen in Lee and felt himself.
Il must go to him, dad" cried Lucy,
her lips quivering. She started
for the door, but he stopped her.
Lucy, he he asked me not to
let you go TO him. . . He doesn't
want to see you, dear. :"
She turned and faced him, her eyes
wide and full of pain.
He asked you ? Dad, is that
true E. lie really doesn't want
TO see me?" There was cry in those
words that Sir John missed.
"Yes, he said that, and, Lucy, he
meant it. . Come home with me
now, darling. 1t is really
best. :"
The anxiety and Indebtedness of the
next few days were awful. Lucy
couldn't sleep for wondering what Jim
was doing How he was, and
what he was thinking and planning.
And she could not think out
anything clearly, because all this put
her into such a state of confusion.
One thought contradicted another
One emotion was at war with the next
She endured four days of it, and then
went to the fiat in an endeavor to see
him.
There, to her complete amazement,
she found Perry st. Abb. But she
did not find Jim.
He's gone away" st. Abb told her.
Ale went yesterday, and don't know
where. Nor when he'll be back"
Perry" she cried. looking at him
with wide, tragic eyes. HE he
hasn't gone . for for good,
has hep
No, of course not" he soothed her.
THAT isn't like him, is it,"
''Oh, don't know | don't know.
Everythings so 4. confusing. :"
She swallowed back the tears that
what made you come back to him?
Had you heard 2" She broke off.
Not until he told me-" he answered.
Il haC him badly on my conscience.
I'd judged and deserted him. | felt
that I'd rated; and that's fan from
being a jolly feeling. What you said
the day l left, haunted me good
c. 10
He thought I'd heard of his official
eXOneratiOn, but | hadn't heard a
syllable of it; nor of his imprison-
ment or anything. . | just came
back because I'd realized that I'd con-
demned him, knowing nothing.
don't applaud the Linforths business
but | do understand it, :" st.
Abb's young, engaging face was very
serious; his voice intensely earnest.
1t was, perhaps, one of the longest
speeches he'd ever made in all his life
He seemed to become aware Of
that, and smiled 4 touch self-con-
sciously as he added, with hint Of
the old airiness: $50 suggested that
if he wanted Man Friday again, l
was ready to corle and spread my
footprints all over this highly pol
lished fat of his what?"
little laugh Jared from her. It
was great relief to him to hear it.
The sight of her pale. strained face;
the sound of her lifeless voice, cut
him badly.
''As for his being away now he
added cheerfully, Il don't honestly
think it means much. Just that he
wanted to be by himself out of
town. /. Or something. (. Real
ly. you mustn't worry about that. :"
NO." she said. as bravely as she
could. Il suppose | mustn't. It's a
little difficult, sometimes :" She
stopped, and caught a sharp little
breath. Then added. in a new tone:
Ibid he mention Jocelyn?"
mot in detail But enough to make
me think she'd been busy in her own
rather Internal way. saw her yes
terday and had talk with her. It
was heart-to-heart, with masks well
off, ] can tell you. :"
II shall leave it at that then. Good
by, Perry; and 3. and thanks for
coming back to him. :" Her voice
shook badly. and he suddenly couldn't
trust his own. They parted in silence
When she got back to her father.
her white face and unhappy eyes told
him that something had happened
even before she broke out:
Dad, he's gone. He went yes
terday, and Perry doesn't know where
hes gone TO, nor when he'll be back
or anything - Tears threatened
but she forced them back "Oh, knew
/ ought to have stayed with him that
day." she cried out, after a moment.
Sir John was startled. Jim had prom
Used not to go away without letting
him know.
Somehow, he had thought that ne
would keep his word.
''He promised not to hide away.
Not to bolt, as he expressed it.
Lucy, believe him, somehow.
He won't bolt, dear. He's
done lot that I'm furious about, but
he'll keep his word. you'll see."
And he was right. Another two
days went by, and then Lucy had
telephone call from Perry St Abb.
1--WE heard from the boss" he told
ler, evidently very much relieved him.
self Hes gone down into Hartford
1 knew there was some perfectly SIM
pie explanation"