The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-11

to Seattle. The Hawk saw him give 1t to
Danvers. but he did not tell Jack. After
that. when the two went to Ellis claim
In the morning, Bones and the Indian fol-
lowed loisurely and watched. So passed
g year, and stilt-7Iot hiHg had happened.
The friendship between the two men had
become a byword in Dawson. and Ellis
had prospered. One night up at the shack,
when the leaves were stained again with
the frost kings colors, Ellis rose suddenly
dy sat figuring.
It's enough, he said under his breath,
walking with quick, nervous steps to and
fro, while the small, dark eyes OF the,
Hawk watched him from the corner
Hardy, I'm going down. =
Hardy smiled at him thru the torn,
ragged smoke wreaths from his pipe.
Why not?" he asked lightly.
Ellis frowned. He had forgotten all save
the man before him.
''You know what told you one day last
year, he began, about that girl, and the
man I fought fair? Well, they don't ex-
actly take my view Of the matter down
there. They're waiting for me-, do. you
see? It's free up here"
but you want to see what she thinks
| about lt?" said the other, r1usingly.
That's 1t, "scried Ellis earnestly. That's
just: the point. She knows / hadn't any
bad feeling toward him only so far as she
was concerned, and she hadn't promised
either. We just made up our minds to
fight 1t out and let the best man have her.
And we didn't try any dirty. work, either,
knives or guns; just took the weapons God
gave us and went to work one night after
ia dance. We were coming home thru the
woods. lie paused and restetd one boot
ed foot on the chair he had vacated, as he
'lleaned forward toward Hardy. There's
a big jagged bluff this side of town, and
there isn't anything but rocks and river
! below. It was clear of trees on top, tho
and Bob said to end it there. I didn't
know it, Hardy I swear didn't know he
was dead until felt him go all limp from
my arms. Something had snapped.
j didn't know what until tried to wake
4 him up"
4 ''Well?''ss asked Hardy interestedly.
That's all. The neck was broken. =
i What made you throw him over thu
bluff, sthen?''
Ellis shuddered.
4. did / say threw him oyer?n
i Hardy's slim white fingers closed sud
denly, and he bit his under lip.
Yes, you told me before he returned
II didn't remember. Some devil put i
in my head that maybe they'd find hin
down there on the rocks, and think tina
was how it happened So I dropped hin
over easy He looked over Hardy's heat
to where the freight played witch gam
of tag with the. shadows. 1.-THE eye
wouldn't shut he added under hi
breath. ''They looked at me as he wen
over =.
'And of course some one had seen 70,
fight, and told" concluded Hardy lightly
Jack, old man, you're a fool Such
thing isn't a crime. ITS an. episode in :;
mans life. Forget the eyes, and dom
get sentimental. You're a, millionaire. G.
down to Indiana, and get the girl. I'll 60
too
In a week the shack was empty. Tw
men and an Indian and a, yellow dog tool
the south TRAIL :.
TITS too long by the river Ellis ha
said. We'll go to Juneau and take tn
steamer down to Seattle
Hardy had kicked against the compan.
Eof the Hawk and Bones, but it was use
Hess. Ellis had ordered them back, blu
the next day found them keeping steadi
: to the trail, and Ellis laughed and said h
wouldn't GO back -on-=old chums.--Th
J way was long and tedious, and as the
Ineared Juneau his nerve began to 1eav
him. In every possible way Hardy urge
him on. It was nearly five years, he ar
| tgued. He had changed wonderfully. i