The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-03-09
But you aren't fat" SAID ne.


magnificently and spontaneously. /
congratulate you"
don't mean you aren't big"
Johnny began 20 explain laboriously,
apparently quite uninterested In hes
view Of the most essential qualifica.
ton for gentleman when I say
fat refer to something soft and
homeless, a shape of blanc mango that
hasn't quite solidified-in fact. Mercy I
You can't be fat, because | like you,
and ! simply hate fat people. l always
have"
Giving this knock-down argument
time to sink in, he went on with his
sandwich. Having finished the first
half, he resumed: "And that isn't the
only reason like you, either. liked
you from the first moment saw you.
You reminded me at once of my great
grandmother"
This compliment was more than
Smif had expected. She broke into a
peal of irrepressible laughter. laugh.
ing until tears stood in her eyes.
Johnny never smiled.
Sniff gurgled: ''I've been compared
to Kwan-Yin, to the Sphinx, to the
Buddha at Kamakura, but never never
before to anybody's great-grand-
mother"
Its great compliment" said John
ny; Il hoped you'd appreciate it."
Il know 1t is. It is unique. In fact
1t has gone to my head" Smif gasped,
keeping right on laughing because she
was unable to stop.
You're very trying girl" the gun
man declared severely.
This was too personal for his
hostess
Il am Madame Saitou," she bristled.
"Pooh!" said Johnny "Thats Just
a business name 1t doesn't mean a
single thing"
You know nothing about it"
"Oh. yes. | do tipped Buttons a
dollar and asked him If you were
married. Thank God, I'm no gentle
mani That's saved you the trouble of
saying it."
well them" said Smif, sits true
enough.-What is lit" Buttons stood
apologetically in the doorway.
"They's lady here, Madame, Mrs.
Stannard. She says she's your sister
and insists she must see you"
Smif was In no mood for argument
with Lucy.
Tell Mrs. Stannard that / have not
moment to give her now but that
l am to meet Mrs. Carter at Pierre's
and shall be very glad If she will have
tea with us there at FIVE"
Buttons saluted and took his depar-
ture.
She turned back to Johnny to find
him pointing a finger at her accusingly.
MRS. Carter-Mrs. Stannard"-he
stammered = they're your sisters.
Then you must be the youngest of the
family. Matilda Lovely"
Correct enough, although | don't
publish my pedigree on my business
card" She was ruffled. as her next
remark betrayed. 81 am curious to
know how you came to ferret 1t out"
II didn't ferret it out!" Natural re-
sentiment colored his voice. 'T didn't
have to. You didn't take the family
Bible with you when you left Lovely
lea. You're all down in 1t. and when
saw marriage in the paper ! filled
the date In after the name. It
seemed to me friendly thing to keep
the record up for your brother in case
he came back Not that want him TO
come back. Now that I've been there
so long | mean to buy Lovelylea-"
A light had broken over Smif's face
only to darken again.
you're tombstone Nesbity' she ex-
claimed
He nodded.
"The tenant of Lovelylea, and as
you must have heard a hundred times.
no gentleman"
Silence fell between them.
Lovelylea! In her mind Sniff had
travelled back many years. She was a
child again. The heavy brown book
Will kOIu 1HCS On It's tCdLnCA SONCA
was on the largest of a nest of lac.
quer tables that stood between two
windows. The Bible, far too large for
her to handle, always lay in its accus-
toned place. She had, from her earli-
est recollection, admired it.
She was reused from her reverie
by Johnny. He leaped to his feet and
began searching about wildly for his
hat and coat.
I'D better CO." he muttered. II
needn't tell you / wouldn't have come
If I'd known who you are. don't
apologize. because I didn't know.
didn't know, tell you. | wasn't try
ing to push myself in under false
pretenses."
Il never thought you were" Smif
managed to interject
'You didp' he accused her stub
bornly. 81 watched you trying to think
how to get rid of me. You don't have
to try. I'll take myself off. But never
think it wasn't true. | did like you.
You are exactly like my great-grand-
mother. And was so lonely"
$50 lonely No more was needed.
Those words were the open sesame to
Smif's sympathy.
eff you'll kindly tell me what you're
making all this fuss about, I'll be a
great grandmother to you" she said
In a tone of evaporation.
tombstone Nesbit, as If unable 70
trust his ears. took one look at her
face then dropped heavily into chair
and. setting his elbows on his knees.
rested his head on his hands and