The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-01-19
CHAPTER vIII-Continued
Q Dornford Votes

VINO was GeOTSe EuOL! asked
the duchess.
''His lordship's pet spaniel, your
Grace" replied Bertram.
$50 he was" mouthed the Count.
''To think I'd forgotten"
$50 what was?" said the Duchess.
Her victim clawed at the cloth.
1.-THE dog, madam. The"
George Eliot was a female"
said the Duchess. And then, "What
became of her Brief? What
became of Rudolf's pet spaniel
that never would let her master out
of her sight?"
I shall always remember that
moment that held so much and shall
always see the three faces of those
concerned. Old Harry's, keen and
relentless, seemed cut out of paint
ed stone: the Counts was a mask of
wet gray, with lines that gave the
impression of having been drawn
with blue chalk: and Bertram's
was tense and bloodless-the face of
a man who is waiting to hear some
monstrous suspicion smothered at
birth.
Twice the Count tried to answer,
and twice he failed.
At the third attempt
Madam" he croaked, "I have
told you that my memory"
''What became of George Eliot,
steward?"
''His lordship shot her, your
Grace, because she was going
blind"
Himself? His favorite dog?"
tHe would let no one else do it,
your Grace. And no one, except his
lordship, knows where she lies"
The Duchess returned to the
Count
"D'you remember it now"
Somehow the man made answer.
ST remember that shot her
e. myself"
Old Harry lunged.-
I'm that case, you can tell me
her color"
The silence which succeeded this
challenge dragged at the nerves,
and was really quite thankful when
Virgil, in desperation, put in his
oar.
Madam, you are dealing with
matters which my uncle has fought
to forget"
Old Harry raised her eyebrows.
''That explanation is one which
am not prepared to accept. I'll
tell you why. It's TOO easy. There's
something very wrong here-and
I'm very glad that came" She
turned to survey the oarsman.
why are you here?"
Madam" said Virgil, "this was
my fathers home"
81 know that better than you. I
ask you why you were here"
ST have no other home, madam"
Indeed" said Old Harry. "Where
is your father now?''
My father" said Virgil, "is
dead"
when did he die?"
cat least ten years ago, madam"
''In that case he's been resurrect-
ed before this time I must get into
touch with him. I know he was Lv-
ing in London year ago."
The Count of Brief leaned for
ward.
Madam" he gasped, "this is
very painful to me-"
"Then it shouldn't be-" said Old
Harry. Mistakes have been made
before now, and I'm not at all GER
tain your brother wasn't an limo
cent man."
Virgil whipped into the breach,
before the Count could reply.
''In that case, madam, there's
only one thing to be done. May I
have my fathers address,"
I'm afraid" said Old Harry,
'fyour filial affection must wait. I'll
deal with this matter myself. And
when I have talked with your IA
Their, I'll let you know. I expect he,
too, has fought to forget the past.
But he may have been-less sue
cessful However, well very
soon know. I'll write to my agent
tonight" She returned to the Count,
whose head was shaking a little, as
that of very old man. "'He will
ask your brother two questions, and
send his answers to me. The first
will be this-What was George FL
lots color?"
The Count half-rose from his
chair.
Madam, I protest"
Protest all you like" said Old
Harry. ''Whelp is not Whelp for
nothing, and I was a friend of your
fathers before you were born"
''But what can that proven" cried
the Count. "If he tells you George
Eliot's color, what can that prove?'
His voice rose into scream, and he
smacked the cloth. THAT can prove
nothing, madam nothing at
au-except that he can remember
what I have contrived to forget"
and with that, he sank back.
breathing hard, with the air of a
man who knows he has made a mis-
take and yet must needs 60 on, be-
cause he cannot retire.
'Quite So" said the Duchess,
"quite so. But the second question
will be much harder than that.
Where is George Eliot buried?" She
set her arm on the table and
dropped her chin to her palm. IF
he answers that, I think that that
viii prove something and prove
it up to the hilt."
I glanced at the Count.
The man was sitting up straight
and was staring directly before him,
but not at me. It was plain that his
eyes saw nothing that eyes can see,
that Apprehension possessed him,
hndv and Sn1,l Ard Al,ic I'LL