The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1940-02-01

their hands, pledging each others
health in stately and ancient fash
ion. The Laird trimmed and lighted
cigar, turning it round and round
In his fingers as he contemplated 1t
pensively. Hector drew cigarette
from his own case and lighting it,
extinguished the match and placed
it carefully on the tray beside him.
''It isn't often" the Laird began,
"that ask a man to help me con-
slider my private affairs"
''It isn't often you have required
the advice of another" Hector en-
couraged.
Jarvis blew thick cloud of smoke
from his lips and sighed heavily.
That's a polite remark, SIR" he
said as if he were talking to HIM
self, "but it's prodigious lie, just
the same"
Hector knew his host. To be
called liar by Jarvis Dean was no
offense, unless the mood itself
were an offensive one.
ST know of no law against man
being polite to his host" Hector
countered.
There ought to be, them" said
the Laird "a man would be bet
ter off if he heard the truth now and
then, even across his own dinner
table"
Hector coughed lightly. ''The av-
erage man is no better off, sir, no
matter where he hears the truth
Jarvis seemed to consider that
matter for a moment, then busted
the gray ash lightly from the end
of his cigar. Have you heard about
this fracas in old Sandy's back room
night or two ago?" he asked
abruptly.
''I was told about it." Hector adj
mitted cautiously.
AYE - and the whole country
knows about it. It's dirty bust
! ness"
'But one over which we have lit
tie control, I'm afraid"
Jarvis look sharpened. eve have
something to say on what brought
it about" he said "In my day
young woman's name-if she was
lady-wasn't mentioned in such a
place"
st have no doubt young Lander
feels much the same about it-even
in these days"
That's not the point, sir. In my
day a young woman gave no rea-
son for having her name banded
about over a poker table"
1.-THE times have changed, it
seems" Hector murmured.
cts our own fault, then. We've
let these youngsters get out of hand
with their racing about the country
in automobiles and their abominable
| cocktails and the like. Where is it
going to stop?"
Hector sighed, half-amused, and
yet thoroughly aware of what was
troubling the Laird's mind.
They'll probably all marry and
settle down and have children of
their own to plague them In their
turn" he said lightly.
Jarvis leaned forward in his chair
and looked fixedly at his guest. 81
want your opinion about that girl of
mine," he said frankly. whats
she hke?"
! Hector smiled. "She's your own
daughter, SIR" he replied. ''You
ought to know her better than l."
Il don't. She was never anything
but child to me-until now. Since
she came back, she's been a stran-
ger in the house. More than half
! the time she's not here at all. She'll
be back here tonight from the Parr
Lodge-not alone, either, I'll war
rant-and the place will be like bed
lam until she goes again"
Hector got up and tossed his Gig
arctic into the empty nav of the
fireplace. He walked to the French
windows and looked out upon the
garden that glowed palely under
summer starlight.
st have been wondering about the
GIRL" he said at last. 81 have talked
with her, too. She is not happy"
Happy" Jarvis grunted. 'sWhat
does she want that she cannot
have?" But his eyes were halt
closed in sef-concealment.
'She hasn't told me that" Hec-
tor replied. 81 can only guess, at
best"
whats your guess, them"
Hector returned to his seat and
selected another cigarette TT is
my opinion, Jarvis, that the girl has
been IN love-ever since she came
back here"
TIE Ord fror-nad T-I.,
escaping the meaning of Hector's
| words. You mean-this young Lam
dor"
Certainly" said Hector.
Jarvis shrugged impatientIy.
"Puppy-love!" he exclaimed. ssShe'u
get over that-if she isn't already
over it."
Hector looked steadily at the Laird
for a moment without speaking.
What you see," he said at last, his
voice very low, els probably the
process by which she hopes to get
over it. And it would not surprise
me to learn that she finds it as
painful as you do"
'Tommyroti" the Laird exploded.
"You have asked my opinion"
Hector said with dignity, "and I
am giving it,
eff thought there was anything
to that" the Laird replied, ''I'd sell
up and get out-and take her with
me-"
ST know you would" Hector OBJ
served, and accomplish moth
ing"
What do you mean by that, sir?"
Hector smiled patiently at the
Laird. 'tYou ought to know the