The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-03-11
WNU Service.

there. We left at about three. I
dropped Doctor Marden at his
home on Second Head; brought Ace
home and then drove home my
self.
81 think had not been at home
more than fifteen minutes when
Doctor Marden called me up on
the telephone. He said that he had
matter of great Importance to
talk over with me and asked if
he might come to the Camp at
once. OF course I said yes. He
arrived as soon as his car could
bring him. And he told me"
Here followed in detail the whole
story that Doctor Marden had told
Patrick and me. This was Bruce
Hexson's comment:
81 have never experienced such
a cataclysm since the day learned
of Sister Dora's death. 1t was as
though tornado had been loosed
inside my head-a tornado with the
extra fury of flame. It swept and
swirled. It burned everywhere it
touched. And yet outwardly, I re-
member, I remained perfectly
calm. I told Doctor Marden that
I had known Sister Dora. I did
not tell him that I loved her. I
told him only that I had admired
and reverenced her. Doctor Mar
den told me that Ace Blaikie was
trying to make Miss Eames elope
with him. There was no time to
be lost. I advised him to go to
Ace Blake and tell him the whole
story. He asked me if I would &C
company him and I agreed to do
so.
ut happened fortunately that Ace
had not left the house. In my
presence, Doctor Marden told Ace
exactly what he had told me. I
think this was the first time in
my life that ever saw Ace Blake
"rocked"-as men put it. Before
Doctor Marden finished the story
his face was CHASTITY. He admitted
that it was all true. He said that
Drina Demoyne had not divorced
her first husband when she went
through the ceremony with him;
that in consequence his marriage
with Sister Dora was legal and that
Caro- was legitimate. respect him
in one thing. He made no at
tempt to vindicate himself. At the
end, he said briefly, What do you
expect me to do, Doctor Marden?'"
doctor Marden said, 4 expect
you to make an announcement that
my step : granddaughter is your
child
"'I will do that Ace agreed.
'When?' Doctor Marden asked
tersely.
"Ace said that he would like to
take little time to think the mat
ter over. you see it involves
changing my WILL he said.
How long do you require to
think it over?' Doctor Marden
asked.
"Ace thought for a moment or
two. Then he said, I'll tell you
what I'll do, Doctor Marden. We're
going to Mrs. Slows party tonight.
I have an appointment to meet my
bootlegger in Mrs. Avery's Spinney
at 1890. I have a little business
with him. That won't take two
minutes. Suppose you stroll over
there at about quarter to eleven
let us say-and We'll talk the
whole thing over. I'm pretty shak-
en- by this and was up most of last
night with patients. I'd like to take
little nap-I want to sleep on it.
doctor Marden agreed. He left
Immediately. But after he had
gone, Ace said suddenly that it was
no use his trying to sleep, that he
was too excited. He offered to
drive me back to the camp. After
he got there, he suddenly made up
his mind to change his will then and
there. I was his lawyer. I drew
up a new will for him. It was
short. typed it myself. He signed
it and Berry and Adah served as
witnesses. You will find that will
clipped to this confession.
"Then Ace went home.
"After he had gone, I began to
feel uneasy. That tornado still
swirled and famed in my mind.
But some things were clear. ]
realized that here was a heaven
sent opportunity to serve Sister
Dora by protecting her child.
Something seemed to tell me that,
content with the will, Ace would
delay the announcement that Miss
Prentiss was his daughter until aft
er he had married Miss Eames.
That story might make a difference
in Miss Eames's feeling for him.
I liked and admired Miss Eames.
I did rot want her to undergo an
experience that would approximate
Sister Dora's. But more and more
oh steadfastly more and more-I
wanted to do this last service for
the dead lady of my heart.
"An this tore and fared inside
me.
"The end of it was that I sug-
gested to the servants that we go
up the river to the island camp
for the weekend. Adah and Berry
always enjoyed the island camp
and they were delighted with the
idea. They rowed up the river to
the camp. I had some port wine
in the camp and I gave them a bot
tie that night. I knew that after
the long day, that would make
them sleep and it did. They went
to bed early.