The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-04-12
he had hired the day be

| "Queer fellow, in way. Seems to
be capable of much better job than
| keeping books for the HOOt OWL I've
guessed at booze, disastrous family ex-
perience and any number of things,
but none seems to fit him. At first
was little leary of letting him into
the office and had him in the mill a
couple of days but, gee, you can't let
a man who's certainly a high grade
office hand do work like that!
| II brought him in and told him
needed a bookkeeper but had just had
one experience with man that made
me little jumpy. / had boy out
there who was little light fingered.
He didn't get away with anything, luck
fly.
| "But told Martin-John Martin, his
name is-that was going to put him
on the books If he'd take the job with
the understanding that was going to
suspect him of a lot of things for a
long time. He gave me one of the fun
NEST looks I've ever seen and said he
wasn't afraid to be suspected.
| $50 there he is. We're In the new
office, now. He and each have little
room just big enough for a bed and
like him lot"
| The dance ended and they walked
toward vacant chairs and were so oc-
cupied with one another that they did
not notice the hush that had fallen
over the place, nor the woman who
had entered until she had crossed the
floor and stopped before them.
She stopped just within the thresh-
old and shook the light snow from her
fur coat and that gesture was enough
| to cause words to die in the threats
of those who saw. Lydia, here! Lydia,
from Thirty-Seven, invading this place
where decent people, where good men
and women and little children, were
assembled!
The woman did not hesitate. Head
up, intently, she crossed the floor
straight toward Ben Elliott who, eyes
| fast on Dawn to miss no change in
her mobile face, still talked with ami
nation, unaware of the hush about
| them.
He did not stop talking until the
woman's shadow fell upon him. Then
he looked up, saw her and rose.
He rose because woman was stand
ing there, evidently waiting to speak to
him. He did not know her; had never
seen her before. He had no time to
observe and judge. He would have
risen, anyhow, because he was natural
| ly courteous to women. He did more
than rise. He even bowed just tride
when he saw that her eyes were so
| fast on him. He did not notice that
Dawn started, that one hand lifted
| quickly to her cheek.
Lydia's voice sounded sharp and
| hard and rasping in the silence.
81 should think you'd be ashamed of
yourself!" she said.
Ben had started to smile, but this
| changed to frown of perplexity.
Ashamed, ma'am?" he asked. "Why,
l."
"Yes; ashamed There's that poor
| girl in my house, sick and crying for
| days! You brought her here, didn't
you? You're the one who got her to
come to lineup. And now, when she
needs you, you won't come near her!"
Ben looked at Dawn, who was shrink
ing back in her chair; at other people
whose faces reflected incredulity or
vicarious guilt or fright.
"Ma'am, I That is, I don't un-
derstand you," he stammered.
His eyes were taking her in, now,
from her costly fur coat to the emer-
aid earrings, and the hardness of her
| eyes; and, as in a daze, he classified
| her, put her in the shameful niche
| which was hers. A great flush of be-
| wilderment swept into his face.
Don't understand" Lydia laughed
harshly. 'I'll say you understand! May
be you think you can abuse a girl like
that and get away with it in this town,
but not while she's in my house, you
can't"
A wave of humiliation overwhelmed
Ben. What could a man do in situa-
ton like this? Whit could he say?
He was fouled, outmatched. Nothing
| in his experience stood him In stead
| to meet such an emergency as this one.
"Why -. Why, this is an outrage"
| he began weakly. But his fighting
spirit surged upward, steadied him.
tive never seen you in my life! I
don't even know what you're talking
about! This is either a mistake or"
mistaken" the woman cried shrilly.
"Don't try to get away with that
| suppose it does surprise you to have
me find you here! But you've kept
out of sight, lodged me and"
"Stopr' he Numbered. "Stop 1t, I
say!"
For an instant his conviction checked
her. Movement was going on about
them, people shifting to see and hear
better, one man mounting chair. The
| crowd by the doorway had turned back
| to him after watching Dawn McManus
scurry down the stairs. But Elliott
was unaware of all this.
"There's no stopping me now, ELI
| OFT I've come to show you up"
you've come to make trouble on
foundation of lies!" he said.
His face was drawn and pale, now,
| jaws set, and his eyes flared dangerously.
This is some outrageous plot" he
said evenly, and so low that only those
nearest him could hear. "This is done
| deliberately to give me black eye be-
| fore these people here! You're party
to filthy scheme, whoever you are !"
"Fine words, Elliott Fine words
But this girls tears and misery are on
your head and If you won't help her,
7 will She oops hack whore she came