The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-04-01

/ IL medNS IOsi0g some OF the DeSl
timber we've ever had the chance OF
| Oliver imagined that definite ar,
| rangement had been reached before he
left, although the contract hadn't
| actually been signed"
"Whar pity he left before il was
signed" pur in Lucy.
''He was wanted over here, and had
| 10 come back. And now Lin.
forths :" With the name Sir John
| thumped a fist on TIE little ,ea table
with a force to make the tea things
rattle. "Linforths have gone over
our heads and collared the deal"
"Well, they are our traditional enc
mics, dad. Always have been. | sup
pose iinforths made up their mind TO
beat US AT this at any cost. and went
all ouf over IT,"
They must have got hold Of new
capital. divers a good deal troubled.
He says il won't end here"
Il suppose he is" said Lucy. "Oliver
takes his responsibilities so tremen-
dously seriously. doesn't he?" Sir John
agreed with a nod. and they continued
TO talk the matter over for the re-
mainder o. Lucy's visit.
AT dinner that evening. a good deal
TO her surprise. Lee asked her where
she had been during the afternoon.
He did not usually ask questions as
TO her movements. She told him that
she had been with ner father. and
noticed that he gave her a quick little
look, but he didn't say anything fur
Their But later. when she was in her
startled TO hear him knock on the
door that divided her room from his.
Come in"
He opened the door, slowly. and.
slowly, came a pace or two into the
room. Then stopped and stood looking
across at her. Her face showed girIish
and flushed between long swathes of
gold.
What's the matter? D'you think
I'm going TO eat you up?'' he asked
abruptly.
Don't be ridiculous ;" she said,
with an attempt at lightness.
Don't look afraid OF me then" he
countered-
I'm not afraid Only you startled
me- What do you want, Jim?"
How was your father when you
saw him tOday?" he asked.
She was surprised at the question:
utterly unable TO see its drift.
He was very WE'LL she answered.
But a lot worried. Linforths have
beaten Us over Z big deal" She
looked ar MIN TO see how he'd take it.
but his face was expressionless.
1T gives you pleasure TO hear that.
I suppOse?" she added sharply. But
he didn't answer. Instead. he looked
round the room, as if he were noting
everything in il
Your ROOM" he said. only half
aloud. . And I've scarcely seen
it since it has been yours"
His eyes came round TO her face
then, but hers were lowered. She
didn't know how TO meet this mood
in him didn't know what he meant.
gestion hat she was frightened by
him. was absurd. But her heart was
beating holly, all the same.
I've never seen you with your hair
down before" he said, in an odd
voice. She dashed a quick look I'D ar
him. and saw that his hand was half
Outstretched toward the long ripple
Of gold that lay over her shoulder.
She was amazed And. quite suddenly,
angry. all on edge. she stepped back.
shrinking away from the big. shapeIy
hand.
Don't touch me, JIM" she cried
sharply, in low voice. just as she had
cried the same words the morning
after her wedding day. His hand
closed TO a fist upon which knuckles
stood out white She saw his eyes 90
sullen and his lips shut to a line.
Then he drew a breath; dropped mis-
hand TO his side turned and strobe
into his room with out a further word
and shut the door sharply behind him.
Lucy sank down rather shakily into
her chair. If only his nearness didn't
stir her so! If he knew how much
more afraid she was sometimes of her
self, than ever OF him.
Things went quickly after this. for
the very next morning. as she was
crossing the hall. she heard voices
from the study; St Abb's and Jim's
mingled for a moment, then st. Abb's
alone
After this, you can hardly expect
me TO stay I'm going. sir, going
at once. ~
A pause then her husbands deep
voice.
That's exactly as you like. of
course. -. Go when you will,
Perry
Aware. suddenly, that she was
eavesdropping, Lucy went quickly to
her sitting room St Abb was going.
Leaving Jim. Why? Because he had
just discovered that awful business of
three years agof From what she had
heard. that seemed likely. In the
middle Of these thoughts she heard a
step across the hall. and a moment
later saw St Abb pass the door of
her room on the way. apparently. to
his own. On an impulse she
called TO him and he stopped.
Come here a moment. viii your"
she said.
He came in reluctantly. and trying.
rather bOyishly. TO hide the fact that
he was reluctant.
with rather elaborate ease.
She looked AT him a moment. His
young. attractive face was white, and
he looked upset: badly shaken