The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1940-01-25

ry Creek!"
Hello, everybody" Bruce
grinned.
step up, Lander, and get close to
the source of supply" another in
vited, and Linda drew him beside
her and waited while two glasses
were filed.
A red-faced youth and a corn-col-
ored blonde girl were perched side
by side on the ''bar," swaying to
and fro and singing a hilarious and
not quite proper song that was leg
acy from the war to all such gath
erings.
Let's get out of here" Linda
said as soon as they had received
their glasses.
She drew him away and started
for the porch.
Don't you think we'd better join
the crowd In the billiard room?" he
ventured.
"And lose you for the rest of the
EVENING"" she retorted. ''Not muchI
I'm going to hang on till I'm help
less. Are you going to put up with
US for the night?"
Impossible, I'm afraid" he re-
piled. Mother is much better, and
I have a good nurse for her, any,
way, but I've got to be on the job"
Linda shrugged inpatiently as
they stepped out upon the shadowy
porch. 1.-The gods are a stingy
crew." she said.
They sat together on the porch
swing and slipped their drinks. Bruce
did his utmost to contain his i'm
patience and contribute a civil share
of conversation, but In spite of him.
self he found his eyes rowing anx-
iously toward the lighted hallway.
He paid no heed to the two or three
couples who were near them on the
porch, or to their confused talk and
laughter.
Linda moved close to him and
pressed her shoulder under his arm.
Her naive holiness was familiar to
him now, and he was scarcely aware
of her nearness In his own preoccu-
patton.
Anyhow, it was sweet of you to
come all the way down so that
could have an hour with you," she
murmured.
I'm sorry I didn't get down for
the game" Bruce returned in a mat
ter-of-fact tone. ST hear Florian
gave a good account of himself"
He played the game of his Ife,"
Linda said. ST think it was be-
cause Autumn laid a bet on him
against Timothy. Poor Florian has
taken an awful tumble for Autumn. /"
Bruce smiled to himself. 'tSe-
rious?" he asked.
The most serious thing In his
young life. He's pottyI"
''Florian has been potty BEFORE"
Bruce observed.
IT believe it's the real thing this
time, though. When the PARIS fall,
they fall hard, darling" She paused,
but Bruce did not offer reply. ST
think she likes him, too. They hit
1t off together beautifully"
"I'u never believe Florian is in
love until I see it with my own
eyes," be said. He harbored warm
feeling almost of pity for Florian
as he thought of him.
You'll see it tonight, them" Lin
da assured him, though you won't
believe it, even then. You're blind,
my dear, quite blind"
''I think know the signs" he de-
clared.
Soft dance music began drifting
out to them now from the radio In
the drawing room, and presently the
couples seated about the portico dis
appeared within doors. Linda and
Bruce were left alone.
She turned her face inpulsively
up to him, and he was shaken out
of his abstraction by the imploring
look In her eyes.
You don't know the signs" she
whispered, ''or you couldn't be so
cruel to me-"
"Cruel?" he asked.
"Cruel-because you are so kind"
she said, and her voice seemed to
him to be almost stifed sob.
Bruce flushed. "Good Lord, Linl"
he protested. "You can't blame me
for being kind to you. I'm awfully
fond of you, girl"
Fond" she said wistfulIy.
That's it-damned fondl"
He laughed awkwardly and stood
up, lifting her to her feet. Eyes, I
am-damned fond of you, Lin. Come
on-let's go In and pick up Florian."
I'D rather have another drink"
she told him.
Nothing more for me-" Bruce an
swered as he took her arm and
started into the house.
In the doorway to the billiard
room, Bruce stood for a moment
and looked eagerly over the crowd.
In the middle of the room a roulette
wheel had been set out upon the
billiard table, and Timothy Parr was
acting as croupier for the evening.
The crowd about the table was close
ly knit, their eyes intent upon the
little ivory ball. Above the hum of
voices could be heard the swapping
of chips and the staccato clink of
the ball as It struck the fms. A thin
blue cloud of smoke filed the room.
Autumn, In a diaphanous silver
dress, was perched on the edge of
the table, with Florian standing be-
n
her eyes and looked at Bruce He
waved to her, but her response was
a feeting smile that was bland and
Then she withdrew
her eyes and turned to watch the
game as Timothy set the ball spin
ming once more.
Bruce was suddenly possessed Of
an impulse to lay hold of her and
carry her bodily out of the room
~