The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-01-19
CHAPTER I
A Einancier Dies.


Gabriel Warden-capitalist, railroad
director, owner of mines and timber
lands, at twenty a cow-puncher, at
forty-eight one of the predominant
men of the Northwest coast-paced
with quick, uneven steps the great
wicker-furnished living room of his
home just above Seattle on Puget
sound. Twice within ten minutes he
had used the telephone in the hall to
receive the same reply-that the train
from Vancouver, for which he had in
quired. had come in and that the pas
sengers had left the station.
1t was not like Gabriel Warden to
show nervousness of any sort; kondo,
the japanese doorman, who therefore
had found something strange in his
telephoning. watched him through the
portieres which shut off he living
room from the hall.
Warden turned suddenly and pressed
the bell TO call a servant. kondo
entered the room; he noticed then
that Warden's hand, which was still
holding the watch before him, was
shaking.
"a young man who may, or may
not, give a name, will ask for me in
q few moments He will say he called
by appointment Take him at once
to my smoking room, and l will see
him there. l am going TO Mrs. War
den's room now"
He went up the stairs, Kondo no
ticed, still absently holding his watch
In his hand.
Warden controlled his nervousness
before entering his wife's room. She
talked with him casually for mo-
ment or so before she even sent away
her maid. When they were alone. she
suddenly saw that he had come to her
to discuss some serious subject.
Cora" he said, when he had closed
the door after the maid, 81 want your
advice on business question"
"a business question:" She was
greatly surprised. He was one of
those men who believe all business
matters should be kept from their
wives.
81 mean it came to me through some
business-discoverie
"And you cannot decide it for your
self"
81 had decided it." He looked again
at his watch. IL had quite decided
it; but now 1t may lead to some
result which / have suddenly felt that
/ haven't the right to decide entirely
for myself
warden's wife for the first time felt
alarmed.
"You mean 1t affects me directly?"
He seized both her hands In his
and held her before him.
Cora" he said, what would you
have me do If you knew l had found
out that young mana man who.
four or five years ago, had as much to
live for as any man might-had been
outraged in every right by men who
are my friends? Would you have me
fight the outfit for him? Or would
you have me-lie DOWN"
She stared at him with only pride
then; she was proud of his strength,
of his ability to fight, Of the power
she knew he possessed to force his
way against opposition "Why, you
would fight them!"
"You want me to fight them?"
"Of course"
mo matter what it costs?"
She realized then that what he was
facing was very grave.
Cora" he said, Il didn't come to
ask your advice without putting this
squarely TO you. If / go into this
fight, / shall be not only an opponent
to some of my present friends; shall
be threat to them-something they
may think 1t necessary to remove"
She cried out, you mean someone
might kill your"
SHOULD that keep me from going
imp
She hesitated. He went on: Would
you have me afraid to do thing that
ought to be done, Cora?'
No. she said; II would not"
"All right, then. That's all had
TO know now. The young man is COM
ing to see me tonight. Cora. Probably
he's downstairs. I'll tell you all /
can after I've talked with him."
He went directly downstairs: as he
passed through the hall. the telephone
Tell rang. Warden himself answered