The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1906-03-30

COHlloTldDlN uTeSSeu, anu WOiS hiSu
boots and a SLOUGH hat. His face was
noticeable for large, dark eyes and a
heavy brown mustache. Around his
waist were deposited brace of re-
volvers and knife.
"Wall, fr'en'," he called, guess yer
need hep. Been thar long?"
Nav" answered Hall, mot very;
but l doan guess nobody kin hep me
much. I'll hat ter wade an walk it"
The stranger rode into the stream,
almost touching Jenney as he
halted, and they began discussing
ways and means. They had about
decided to transfer Hall to the other
side on the horse, and then attaching
Jenney's bride to the horses girth,
try pulling; when 10! there was
gentle whinny from Jenney as she
moved up to the strangers saddle-bags
and began shifting.
"By jingo!" cried Hall
"Nothin' better" drawled the
stranger, as he knowingly looked at
Hall and moved on across the stream.
Jenney followed the scent OF corn
and oats, and by the judicious use OF
a few handfuls was coerced on her
way as stolidly and iog-trottingly as
ever.
When they were fairly started Hall
thanked the stranger, who SAID,
hastily:
mot t ALL" and they went on
few PAGES in silence; then the stranger
said, indifferently: Been to Lowell?
"Yaas."
amy news.?"
"Na-aw, nothin particular, 'ceptin'
Ben Reubin's gangs been out ag IN,
and no hope O. catchin' O. en-
What they been at this timer
Got one O. their pards out o Low
ell Jail. | believe, an Helped 'emselfs
to horses"
"Gittin' kinder bad, air they?"
$50 they say, answered Hall, light
ly, "but they doan bother me; seems
how I doan believe nobody'd have
Jenney."
Both men laughed.
NAV" said the stranger, decided
ly, with a peculiar infection, i doan
think We need 10 be a-scar'd. Jenpey'd
be a right dangerous animule fST the
gang"
Again they rode in silence. Tall
was not much of talker, but soon
the stranger spoke with true noun
tain distinctness:
can what may be yer name, fr'en!
an how fur be we goin' this road?"
If this question was unpleasantly
personal and pointed, the honest Hall
did not feel it, but answered, readily:
81 keep the straight road after you
reach the PikeviEe fork, and go on
about four mile. My names Hall
Jenkins, and l call my place Happy
Hollow; but Liza, my wife, lows
Sleepy Hollow ID suit it best" and
Halls pale blue eyes smiled. into the
mustached mans brown ones, that
were filled now with strangely hos
tile CLEAN.
$50! We be married-who'd ye
marry?"
Halls smile widened perceptibly.
''Miss Liza Hutch, up at Lowell--ws
been married now three months"
"Humph!" snorted the stranger,
whose white teeth now pressed deep
into his lips. There was dangerous
CLEAN in his eyes now, and his hand
played nervously about his belt as he
glanced furtively at Hall. Certainly
there was nothing offensive in the
kind-looking little man upon his
dumpy trotter. In fact more humble
and friendly looking pair could hardly
be found, and soon the ugly look faded
from the strangers face, and into it
there crept a panied, weary express
sion.
Then guess yer've got the little
'un, too, eh?" he asked, calmly.
"Oh, yes" said Hall, "an' a jolly
purity little joy she is, too
The stranger said nothing at this,
and once more silence reigned. Hall
was thinking and wondering In a.
vague, underlined way, in which there
was a little curiosity as to how this
stranger came to know Of the little
one, but he never thought to ask.
The stranger was thinking, too, and
evidently his thoughts were not
happy ones, for in the depths of his
brown eyes one could have read long
story of sadness.
Neither spoke until they neared the
Pikeville fork, then the strangers
mind seemed decided on some ques-
ton, and suddenly Strengthening up,
he readjusted his belt, frightened his
reins and drawled out as though there
had never been an emotion in his life.
and certainly was not now:
WAL, fr'en', am glad yer an
Liza's happy, and that you're good to
her an the little 'un. l guess I'd bet
ter tell yer that Liza belongs to me by
right of first possession, an the little
'un is mine because I'm her father:
but seems my names Ben Reubins.
this climate amt healthy fur me, nor
no place ter live steady, so l doan
| min the little 'un bein' called Jenkins.
come this time to fetch 'em both,
| but found in Lowell that Liza wuz
| ,,orr;od Uyaot and thara Woo q from