The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-06-16

Old Burr turned abruptly and studied
Alan with a slow scrutiny which
seemed to look him through and
through; yet while his eyes remained
fixed on Alan suddenly they grew
blank. He was not thinking now of
Alan, but had turned his thoughts
within himself
Il remember her-yes. She was lost
in '95," he said. "In '95," he repeated.
did you know Benjamin COrvet? 2"
Alan asked.
Old Burr stared at him uncertainty.
II know who he is, of course"
"You never met him?"
"No.'
did you receive communication
from him some time this year-a re-
quest to send some things to Miss Con-
stance Sheriff. at Harbor Point?"
II never heard of Miss Constance
Sheriff.. To send what things?"
Several things them a
watch which had belonged to Captain
Stafford Of the A1iwaka."
Old Burr got up suddenly and stood
gazing down at Alan. "a watch of
Captain Stafford's?-no," he said agi-
tatedly. 'No!'
He moved away and left the place |;
and Alan sprang up and followed him.
He was not, it seemed probable to
Alan now, the James Burr of Corvet's
list; at least Alan could not see how
he could be that one. Among the
names of the crew of the Miwaka Alan
his inquiries had informed him that
this man was q nephew of the James
Burr who had lived near Port Corbay
and had disappeared" with all his
family. Old Burr had not lived at Port
Corbay-at least, he claimed not to
have lived there; he gave another adj
dress and assigned to himself quite diff
ferent connections. For every member
of the crew of the Miwaka there had
been a corresponding, but different
name upon Corvets list-the name of
a close relative. If old Burr was not
related to the Burr on Corvet's list,
what connection could he have with
the Miwaka, and why should Alan's
questions have agitated him so? Alan
would not lose sight of old Burr until
he had learned the reason for that.
He followed, as the old man crossed
the bridge and turned to his left
among the buildings on the river front.
Burr's figure, vague in the dusk,
crossed the railroad yards and made
it's way to where huge black bulk,
which Alan recognized as the ferry,
doomed at the waterside. He disap-
peared aboard it. Alan, following him,
gazed about.
A long, broad, black boat the ferry
was, almost four hundred feet to tile
tall, bluff bow.
Alan thrilled little at his inspec-
ton Of the vessel. He had not seen
close at hand before one Of these great
craft which, throughout the winter,
brave ice and storm after all-or near
ly all-other lake boats are tied up.
He had not meant to apply there when
he questioned old Burr about a berth
on the ferry; he had used that merely
as means of getting into conversa-
ton with the old man. But now he
meant to apply; for 1t would enable
him to find out more about old Burr.
No berth on the ferry was vacant
yet but one soon would be, and Alan
was accepted in lieu of the man who
was about to leave; his wages would
not begin until the other man left, but
in the meantime he could remain
aboard.
|. All that was known definitely about
old Burr on the ferry, it appeared. was
that he had Joined the vessel in the
early spring. Before that-they did
not know; he might be an old lakeman
who, after spending years ashore, had
returned to the lakes for livelihood
The next morning, Alan approached
old Burr in the crews quarters and
tried to draw him into conversation
again about himself; but Burr only
stared at him with his intent and odd
ly retrospective eyes and would not
talk upon this subject. A week passed !;
Alan, established as lookout now on
Number % and carrying on his duties,
saw Burr daily and almost every hour |;
his watch conceded with Burr's watch
at the wheel-they went on duty and
were relieved together. Yet better
acquaintance did not make the old
man more communicative; score of
times Alan attempted to get him to
tell more about himself, but he evaded
Alan's questions and, if Alan persisted,
he avoided him.
On deck, one night, listening while
old Burr talked, excitement suddenly
seized Alan. Burr claimed to be an
EngIishman born in Liverpool. He had
been, he said, seaman in the British
navy; he had been present at the
Smelling of Alexandria later, because
of some difficulty, which he CLOSED
over, he had deserted and had come to
1.-THE States" he had been first deck
hand, then the mate of tramp schoon-
err on the lakes. Alan, gazing at the
old man. felt exultation leaping and
throbbing within him. This life which
old Burr was rehearsing to him as his
own, was the actual life of Munro
Burkhalter, one of the men on Cor
vets list regarding whom Alan had
been able to obtain full information!
Alan sped below, when he was re-
lieved from watch. and got out the
clippings left by Corvet and the notes
of what he himself had learned in his
visits 10 the homes of these people.
| His excitement grew greater as he
pored over them; he found that he
could account. with their aid. for all
that old Burr had told him. Old Burr's
stories were not, of course, true; yet
neither were they fictitious. They