The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-12-26
Rex Beach
rected to him.

ing shyly up at him. Something grip
ped him chokingly, and he could utter
no sound. There was nothing to say.
She was here, safe, smiling; that was
all. And the girl, beholding the glory
in his eyes, understood.
Gale caught her away from him then
and buried her In his arms.
A woman came running into the
store and, seeing the group, paused at
the door-a shapeless, silent, shawled
figure in silhouette against the day.
The trader brought the girl to her fos-
ter mother, who began to talk in her
own tongue with a rapidity none of
them had ever heard before, her voice
as tender as some wild birds song.
Then the two women went away to-
gether around the store into the house.
Poleon had told Necia all the amazing
story that had conn to him that dire
full night, all that he had overheard,
all that he knew and much that he
guessed.
The priest came into the store short
ly, and the men fell upon him for in
formation, for nothing was to be
gained from Poleon, who seemed
strangely tagged and weary and who
had said but little.
Eyes, yes, yesv' laughed Father Bar
nun. "Tll tell you all l know, Of
course, but first I must meet Lieuten-
ant Burrell and take him by the hand"
The story did not lose in his telling,
particularly when he came to describe
! the fight on the gravel bar which no
man had seen and of which Poleon
had told him little, but the good priest
was of a militant turn, and his blue
eyes glittered and flashed like an old
crusaders.
clared, with all the spirit of a specta-
tor, for Poleon advanced barehanded
and beat him down even as the man
fired into his face"
The Frenchman moved uneasily.
"Waal, I dom know. He ain fight SO
hard"
you couldn't find no trace Of him?"
said Lee.
mo trace whatever" Father Bar
mum replied, "but he will surely reach
some place of refuge where we can
pick him up, for the days are still mild
and the woods full of berries"
"I1l be on the lookout for him." said
the lieutenant grimly.
When the voluble old priest had at
last exhausted his narrative he re-
quested of Burrell the privilege Of a
few words and drew him apart from
the others. His face was warm with
understanding.
II had a long conversation with my
little girl, for she is like a daughter to
me, and I discovered the depth Of her
love for you. Do you love her as much
as you should?"
"As much as I can. They don't make
words or numbers big enough to tell
you how dear she is to me-"
'Then why delay? Tomorrow l leave
again, and one never knows what a
day may bring forth"
But Stark" the young man cried.
"He's her father, you know. He's like
a mailman, and she's still under age"
Il know very little of law outside Of
the church," the father observed; "but,
as l understand it, If she marries be-
fore he forbids her the law will hold
him powerless. Now, he has never
made himself known to her, he has
never forbidden her anything, and, al
though my conclusion may not be cor
rect, l believe it is, and you have a
chance il you make haste. At your
age, my boy, l never needed a spur"
"A spur? Good Lord! I'm from
Kentucky
"Once she is yours before God your
hold will be stronger in the eyes Of
men. If l am wrong and he takes her
from you-well, may some other priest
rewed you two. / shan't."
Don't worry" laughed Burrell,
ablaze at the thought. you're the
only preacher who'll kiss my bride,
for I'm a jealous man. and all the
Starks and all the fathers in the world
won't get her away from me. Do you
think she'll do itT
"A woman in love will do anything"
Burrell seized the little man by the
| uauu. II 1 AdO hOWA A1OAC Jaw yVo
needn't have given me this hint"
Together they went into the traders
house.
Back in the store there was silence
after the priest and the soldier went
out, which Gale broke at last:
This forgiveness talk Is all right, I
suppose, but l want Runnion."
"Wen git him, too" growled Lee, at
which Poleon uttered a curt exclama-
ton:
MOP
"Why not?'' said the miner.
WAL" the Canadian drawled slow
ly, then paused to light the cigarette
he had rolled in a bit of wrapping pa
per, inhaled the smoke deeply to the
bottom of his lungs, held It there a
moment and blew it out through mouth
and nostrils before adding, ''you'Tl JUS
be wastin' tam"
Gale looked up from beneath his
thatch of brow and asked quietly:
"Why?"
"You member story I toll you wan
day two, tree mont ago." Poleon re-
marked, with apparent evasion, bout
Johnny Plat wat I ketch on de Por-