The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-12-28
Jinrnie's Secret
By HAZEL ARNOLD
g. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
WNII SarNica.

Ing eyes. he WAS uFdWiuR pic
lures to the infinite delight of her lit
tie sister. His boyish interest In his
own pictures was reflected In his face
the face of man to whom life
would always be interesting and lively
though others found 1t just the oppo-
Site
Jimmie, you're nothing but big.
good-natured boy. Do you realize that
you want me to marry you In June.
and that you haven't even a job?" she
asked frankly.
He smiled his friendly smile. Don't
worry, Honey, It will all come out In
the wash. I'll get going one of these
days, and then everything will be fine
and lovely"
She laughed little bitterly. But
do want home, and want you
and don't want to wait too long and
perhaps be unhappy afterwards"
He sprang up. caught her In his
arms, and folded her close. "You
watt" he said with smiling eyes.
'you'll see."
After he had gone, she went into
the living room where her father was
reading.
"Carol, you can do as you wish, but
so far as l can see, Jimmie hasn't q
job, and I can't see that he Is trying to
get one. You like him because he's
good-natured and easy-going. You used
to think lot of Roy Thompson. He
can give you good home. he's a lik-
able fellow" her father said.
She nodded. 81 told Roy he could
take me for a ride this evening. like
him, butt don't know"
When, later in the evening, snuggled
warm and cozy in the front seat Of
Roy's powerful roadster. she began to
wonder more and more.
They swept out to the mountain
road, and slipped over the gorgeous
miles to little inn, perched far above
the valley. He seemed to be a part
of his surroundings, winning from the
waiter attention that Jimmie would
never be given in his boyish, careless
ways.
Under the spell of his attention and
the moonlit evening, slow weaken
ing of her liking for Jimmie began to
appear; and she knew that If on the
way home, Roy should ask her the one
question she wanted him to ask and
yet was fearful he would ask, she
might give him the answer he wanted.
AS the long wide concrete road
opened before them. his right hand
sought hers.
carol, I wish we could have many
rides like this-as man and wife" he
began.
Then fate interviewed. The car be-
gan to jerk and slow down. The en-
CINE choked and died.
He clambered out muttering. He tried
this and tried that. His anger mount
ed in his impotence. 'Tll have to go
back and telephone to city garage
from the farmhouse" he said shortly.
When he returned, he sat in the car
In muttering, disgruntled disgust, after
announcing help was coming.
The minutes passed. Roy grew Inn
patient
"But, Roy, 1t will take time" she
started to say.
"Time? | guess know IT as well
as you dol But they've had time
enough!" he said CURLY. I'm going
back and phone again."
Silence again, and time for thought.
She wondered If he would always be
as impatient and curt at things that
went wrong-at her.
A car came swiftly up the grade.
It stopped "Here 1t Is, fellows. In
trouble all right" a CHEEKY voice
called.
Carol jumped. 1t was Jimmie's gay
voice. A man came up to the car and
questioned her. Carol watched from
the depths of her furs as Jimmie went
at the engine. How did he happen to
be with them? A man got In beside
her to work the starter at Jimmie's
orders.
"Who is hef" she asked, motioning.
can expert" the man said. Hes
been at the day automobile school all
the month and worked nights in our
shop. He's a wonder"
The engine roared. "All o. K" JIM
mic said cheerily. "All aboard. Let's
beat it back"
The car swept away. So that was
what he had been doing-studying dur
ing the day and working nights, and
keeping it from her-planning to sur
prise her in his boyish way.
Roy Thompson came angrily up.
They've come and gone. Roy" she
told him.
He climbed In and started the car
with a rush His irritation hung over
them like a cloud the rest Of the way.
When he stopped at her home, he tried
to detain her.
"Roy, it's useless. know-simply
know we would never be happy to-
gether," she said with finality.
In the house she called the garage
from which aid had come and asked
for Jimmie. He answered her greet
ing:
"Why, honey, I was going to sur
prise you. I wanted to make good at
this first, so kept 1t secret. 60 70
the head of the mechanical department
next month-means the little house,
some cake with frosting on Il, too.
Say. don't you want me to come up
and tell you all about it, now the ~
cret's out? Want me TOT"
She answered happily. "Oh, do
please comet"
Possible
Dealer-Yes. furs have gone up In
price lately.
Customer suppose It costs the