The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1906-04-20
HOW 1.-THE KID"
MADE GOOD 3 .
BY JOSEPHINE SPENCER
Copyright, 1906, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

porch and roll down them and the Mill
which served as front yard for Nc
Z Closky's shanty.
Later on, when he came to knowl-
edge of the normal purposes of his legs,
and took to forbidden wanderings in
the Gulch the Kids genius for drop
ping in and out of sensational situa-
tons was attributed sagely by the COM
munity to an occult power usually cred
tied with abetting tendencies of
promising daredevilty.
1t was in the autumn of the Kids
eighth year that his frequent absences
from home began to lengthen from day
into night Following the morning
meal at daylight, he would disappear
from sight with a suddenness sugges-
tive of necromancy-returnin per-
haps, only at dawn of the next day,
aid yielding no account of his absence,
even under the goad of McClosky's will
low whip.
1t was late in the winter that the
possibility of "slide" began to be
mooted in the Gulch. The last one had
occurred previous to the coming of the
McCloskys; but there were neishbors
to whom the horror of that year made
# seem but yesterday-and whose re-
cital of its incidents made vivid its
fame.
No certain danger was apprehended
until February, when the thaw was
due; and before then nearly all of the
families who lived on the steep hill
side-many of them survivors of the
last slide-had moved their belongings
into the tunnels of deserted claims. or
into cellars dug in the abutting hills.
McClosky had decided to move his
family, but a sudden ''snug freezin'
spell" had both hindered and treasured
him, so that the change had been post
pOned.
Leaving the baby with Terence. Mrs.
McClosky, one bright morning. ner
basket Of clothes on her head, and the
Kid in attendance, started briskly down
the Gulch.
1t was good to be outside the stuffy
atmosphere of her home, and Mrs. Nc
Closky drew in the crisp air with CRATE
full inhalations. -
Poor Terence, It's him wish
could be here" she unused, land II jim
my could only be trusted with the baby,
It's him I'd took"
Its no comfort he'll ever be in the
way o. helpin' Terence" she muttered
to herself. dejectedly. Its like the
run o. life-that the good wan should
be crippled an him-whole. There's
nothin' bad in his heart, though. if he
is bit stubborn. There's many wan
that lays low at first. that ends worse
than them t starts wild.
They reached the foot of the Gulch,
and Mrs. McClosiy turned suddenly on
the Kid: Its maxim mince O. my
nerves, yez are, wild yer sRdin' and
jurnpin' and lallygaggin' between
whilst! Just go to Stricllly's store, now,
and be aisy till I've delivered me laun-
dry, if yez can"
Strickly's boy, Miles, an open adj
mirer of the Kid, listened appreciative-
ly to the latters account of his griev-
ances.
His recital of his various persecu-
er appeared, painting from exertion and
some unusual excitement.
Get the things wrapped as soon as
yez kin move, Miles," she ordered the
boy breathlessly; Il want to git home
and fetch the childer down here for the
night. livery wan is sayin' that if the
sun kapes shinin' all day like this,
H. l.y1 81 ~
and whatever McClosky may do I'll
not stay in the shanty another night"
A sudden rush of footsteps and tu-
multi of excited voices sounded outside
The door was thrown open and the
elder Strickly entered, followed by a
dozen persons.
Leave things for me to straighten,
here, Miles, an you go and tell your
mother to get the children in the cellar.
The SHOWS commenced to crack at the
head of the Gulch. No-I don't believe
there's any danger here" he replied to
woman's anxious. question-"but
there's no harm in being on the safe
side. There Amt any more snow on
the slopes now than there was at the
time of the last slide, and then stood
on the platform outside there and
watched it all. Mrs. McClosky. I'm
glad you're here" he said. catching
sight for the first time of her white
face. 81 hope the rest of you's as safe
for if the slide comes, every house in
the Gulchll CO."
She turned with a choking sound
and Strickly suddenly grasped the fran
tic woman as she rushed to the door
and tainted.
They carried her into the cellar at
the rear of the house, where Strickly's
wife and chilGsen had already taken
shelter.
IF it's any use to try for the chill
dren up there, boys" he said, "Ill 60
with any of you that's willin' for the
risk"
On the opposite hillside men and
women were hurrying toward the
mouth of the lower tunnel, their arms
hastily loaded with belongings from
their deserted shanties.