The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-10-27
CHAPTER vi

Bruce entered slowly, and the little
group of loungers gazed at him with
frank curiosity.
Only one of them was of. type
sufficiently distinguished so that
Bruces own curiosity was aroused.
This was huge, dark man who stood
alone almost at the rear of the build
ing-a veritable giant with savage,
bloodhound lips and deep-sunken eyes.
There was quality in his posture
that attracted Bruce's attention at
once No one could look at him and
doubt that he was a power in these
mountain realms.
He was dressed much as the other
mountain men who had assembled in
the store. He wore flannel shirt over
his gorilla chest, and corduroy trou-
sers stuffed into high, many-seamed
riding boots.
The dark eyes were full upon
Bruce's face He felt them-just as
if they had the power of actual physic-
al impact-the instant that he was
inside the door, Nor was it the
ordinary look of careless speculation
or friendly interest. 1t was such that
no man, to whom self-respect is dear,
could possibly disregard. 1t spoke
| clearly as words.
Bruce flushed, and his blood made
curious little leap. He slowly
turned. His gaze moved until it rested
full upon the mans eyes. 1t took all
of Bruce's strength to hold that gaze.
The moment was charged with a nIys-
terious suspense.
The strangers face changed too. He
did not flush, however. His lips curled
ever so slightly, revealing an instant's
glimpse of strong, rather well-kept
teeth. His eyes were narrowing too;
and they seemed to come to life with
singular .sparkles and glowings be-
between the lids.
"Well?" he suddenly demanded.
Every man in the rOOm-except one.
started. The one exception was
Bruce himself. He was holding hard
on his nerve control, and he only con-
tinued 90 stare coldly.
"Are you the merchant" Bruce
asked.
mo, I amt" the other replied. you
usually look for the merchant behind
the counter"
There was no smile on the faces of
the waiting mountain men, usually to
be expected when one of their num-
| Der achieves repartee on a tenderfoot.
Nevertheless, the tension was broken.
Bruce turned to the merchant
81 would like to have you tell me-"
he said quite clearly, "the way to
Mrs. Ross cabin"
The merchant seemed to wait long
| time before replying. His eyes stole
| to the giants face, found the lips
curled in smile; then he flushed.
"Take the left-hand road" he said
with trace of defiance in his tone.
at soon becomes a trail, but keep
right on going up it. At the fork in
the trail you'll find her cabin"
"How far is 1t, please?"
"Two hours walk; you can make
| it easy by four o'clock"
"Thank you" His eyes glanced over
the stock of goods and he selected
| few edibles to give him strength for
the walk. 'I'll leave my suitcase here
If may" he said, "and will call for
| 1t later" He turned to go.
swat just a minute" voice spoke
behind him. 1t was commanding
tone-implying the expectations of
obedience. Bruce half turned. ".Simon
wants to talk to you,' the merchant
explained.
"Fll walk with you way and show
you the road" Simon continued. The
room seemed deathly quiet as the two
men went out together.
They walked side by side until
! turn of the road took them out of eye
range of the store ''This is the road
Simon said. "All you have to do is
| follow it. Cabins are not so many
that you could mistake it. But the
main thing is-whether or not you
want to CO."
Brace had no misunderstanding
about the mans meaning. 1t was sim
ply threat, nothing more nor less.
"Tve come long way to go to that
cabin" he replied. 'Tm not likely to
| turn off now"
There's nothing worth seeing when
you get there. Just an old hag-a
wrinkled old dame that looks like a
| witch"
Bruce felt a deep and little under
stood resentment at the words. Yet
since he had as yet established No
relations with the woman, he had no
grounds for silencing the man. .Tn
| have to decide that" he replied. I'm
going to see some one else. too"
"Some one named-Linda?"
"Yes. You seem quite interested"
They were standing face to face In
the trail. For once Bruce was glad of
his unusual height He did not have
to raise his eyes greatly to look
squarely into Simon's. Both faces
were flushed, both set; and the eyes
of the older man frightened slowly.
at am interested" Simon replied.
you're a tenderfoot. You're fresh
from cities. You're going up there to
learn things that won't be any pleas
ure ito you. You're going into the
real mountains-a mans land such as
never was q place for tenderfeet. A