The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1940-02-15
CHAPTER Y

the Laird to despatch Autumn to
town on business that he could have
attended to as well himself on his
next visit. He wanted the house to
himself. He would have contrived
some means of getting old Hannah
out of the way as well, but there
were limits, after all, beyond which
a man Of self-respect will refuse to
60. For that matter, he would have
permitted Autumn to remain at
home had II not been that he feared
the hurt to her feelings which the
presence Of ycIng Lander in the
house would occasion.
For the Laird had asked Bruce to
come over and talk to him on mat
tiers that could not be discussed with
any degree of satisfaction over the
telephone. Jarvis, Of course, might
have gone TO the Lander place and
talked with Bruce, but some instinct,
some sentiment, perhaps, forbade
that. Besides, young Lander had
not shown the slightest antipathy to
the suggestion that he should visit
the Laird in his own house.
And now as he sat and waited for
the boy, he was strangely moved.
In a few minutes he would be talk
ing face to face with the son of Geof-
frey Lander, talking as man to man,
though it was difficult to think that
young Bruce had really come to
mans estate. In all these years he
had never talked to Bruce more than
TO exchange greeting when they
met, or to make some polite enquiry
regarding his mothers health. In
Nat, he had often told himself, he
had not been wholly to blame. The
boy had been raised under the in
fuence Of Jane Lander, whose bit
terness had lasted until the day of
her death. Bruce had been quite as
aloof as he had been. At Jane Lam
doris funeral, Jarvis had been deep
ly moved by the boys bereavement,
and had wished with all MS heart
that he might have been able to
summon the courage to take him
aside and speak to him. For In
spite of all that had kept them apart,
he had never been free of desire to
play the part of a father to Bruce
Lander.
The sound of car coming to a
stop before the house brought Jar
Wis TO his window. He saw Bruce
step from his car and approach the
door. He turned from his window
and seated himself in his big chair
before his desk. Presently he heard
old Hannah's voice in the hall be-
low and in a moment Bruce Lander
presented himself In the library
doorway.
Jarvis looked up as his visitor an
nounced himself. It might have been
Godfrey Lander himself, he carried
himself with such ease Of manner
and bearing so erect and challeng-
ing. He was dressed in riding
breeches and a soft gray shirt that
was open at the throat.
Good morning, Landor," Jarvis
greeted him, without getting up.
Come in and sit down"
Bruce entered the room and re-
manned standing before the Laird.
You wanted to talk to me-" he
prompted.
Yes" Jarvis replied. 'Sit down,
sit down"
He waved a hand to q vacant
chair and Bruce seated himself and
glanced quickly about the room.
There followed an awkward pause
which Bruce sought to break at
once
''I hope you are well, Mr.. Dean"
he ventured with determined cordi-
atty.
From beneath his shaggy brows,
the Laird's severe eyes pierced
Bruce with a look that would have
brought discomfort to anyone with
a less easy conscience.
well enough-we1 enough" Jar
Wis replied. "a man of my years
doesn't find fault if he's taken with
an ache or pain now and then"
You're good for long while yet,
Mr.. Dean" Bruce said.
Quite possible, quite possible"
the Laird said, taking a cigar from
the box on his table and nipping the
end with his teeth. Better smoke,
Landor," he said then. We'll both
talk better. I'd offer you cigar,
but you young fellows"
At have some cigarettes with me,
thanks" Bruce told him as he took
a package from his shirt pocket and
selected one. He struck a match
and held it to the Laird's cigar, odd
ly moved by this momentary init
macy with a man who had been a
mysterious and forbidding figure to
him as long as he could remember.
You have lost some Sheep" the
Laird began as soon as Bruce had
seated himself
'Thirty-four," Bruce replied.
Your prize Merinos, they were"
eyes, SIR" Bruce said.
'sToo bad, too bad" Jarvis OBJ
served. "Gilly tells me they were
poisoned-strychnine in the salt
trough. You're sure Of that?"
THE vets report was waiting for
me when ] got home"
'Aye-so I understand. He tells
me, too, that you suspect this man,
Belfort."
We have no proof OF It, Bruce
said. q have my own opinion, and
il amounts to conviction"
You might be wrong, of course"
Bruce smiled. Certainly, sir, but
! don't think am this time
The Laird leaned forward and
tapped the ash from his cigar. ST
admit the man would do it-he's the
kind that would, if he had any rea-
son for it. But even a bad man
doesn't act without a motive"
81 supplied him with a motive,
I'm afraid" Bruce replied directly.
"Aye-I was coming to that. You