The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1941-01-02

IMAM 10 the knOWleCge tnaL ne Is
laughing at US now. I never have
liked to be laughed at. It's been my
legs, suppose. Heavens, our as
sembled brains should be as good as
his. If only we could find a flaw,
weakness"
She drank again and then went
on:
Everything radiates from Lyon
Ferriter, but none of it reaches back
to him"
A thought pricked me and some
Of the tumble of fact fell into CO.
herent pattern.
That's why" I blurted, Lyon
tried to kill me; that's why my
room was searched. He thought I
had found that knife. His own fin
gerprints must be on it."
''They won't be-" Miss Agatha
promised grinly. We were still for
a moment. Then she said:
Day after tomorrow is Groves
birthday"
Her voice was so bare Of senti-
ment that it was piteous. The day
when Grove attained his inheritance,
the day toward which, all his life,
she had steered her foster son,
would find him in disgrace and dan
ger, unless
jumped at the telephones ring.
Could Shannon have arrived so
soon?
Answer it." Miss Agatha babe
and her voice quavered a little.
I obeyed and was ashamed of my
own agitation.
Jerry Cochrane drawled:
Dave, I want to see you. I've
got hold of something a bit interest
ing, my laddie. Where can you meet
me?"
He slipped away from further
questions. It was too important to
discuss over the house telephone,
he said, and for like reason I fore
bore to tell what we had found. At
last I clapped my hand over the
mouthpiece and said to Miss Aga
tina:
IT'S Cochrane. He sounds so
sleepy, know he's excited. May
he come here?"
At once she refused and then, to
my amazement, gave way before
my arguments. I pleaded that it
might be important before Shannon
came, to learn what Cochrane had
discovered. said we needed the
alliance of Jerry's quick mind. Miss
Agatha consented at last:
Have him come, David. You're
very stubborn and IL imagine I'm
getting old"
l babe Cochrane hasten and hung
up as Miss Agatha said:
allegro, my dear, will you tell
the hall force that Mr.. Cochrane is
to be admitted"
The fur collar of the girls cloak
softened her face and the February
wind had lent it color. Her aunt
told her dryly and briefly of our
discovery. Allegro glanced past me
at the swathed weapon on the desk.
Then thought startled her.
agatha. You've sent for the po-
lice. And no one knows whose fin
gerprints may be on that knife.
Even"
Even Groves" her aunt COM
pleted IN level voice. Eyes, my
dear. I'm not Roman matron, but
I have respect for law. If they
are there"
Allegro had stepped quickly to-
ward the desk. knew her pur-
pose and moved between her and
the knife.
They aren't your brothers," I
told her. He was here when that
knife was lost"
Anger lighted her eyes but her
face went white.
IF you think" she said in taut
voice, I'm going to let my brothers.
life be juggled about because spy
has hoodwinked an old woman"
Miss Agatha's quiet speech stil1ed
her.
I'm not too old, Allegra," she
said, ''to be obeyed in my own
house. VIII you tell the hall force
to admit Mr.. Cochrane, or shall u"
I saw what was coming. The girls
face seemed to break apart into
quivering fragments. Her voice
shook with CHASTITY mirth.
II won't. It can't be happening.
It's funny, hideous-''
I said sharply.
Get hold of yourself. You aren't
lone Paget."
She looked at me like someone
| Just walked. Then she drew a deep
unsteady breath and went to the
telephone to do her aunt's bidding.
| Thereafter, she turned and looked
at me again.
Thank you," she said. That's
the first time"
Forget it." told her.
She drew up a chair beside Miss
Agatha. Their hands joined. The
girl bent over and kissed the still
old face So we waited for Shannon
while the crumpled mound of hand
kerchief on the desk KEEP: us still.
It was Cochrane who arrived first.
| His chubby face, his mild prosaic
air loosened the atmosphere. He
bowed and acknowledged Miss Aga
tha's introduction to her niece so
easily that I think the girl was partly
treasured. Then he beamed at me.
This is IN confidence" he said,
including the whole room in his
smile. This, my lad, is banner-line
stuff, If we can get to use It. Did
you see the Sphere this morning,
any of your"
I shook my head. I felt the sting