The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-07-11

better forgotten, and 1t was only by
an unwilling effort at such times that
she could bring herself to know that
1t was not unreal 1t was a matter
that concerned her tremendously.
Sooner or later Drazk's disappearance
must be noted-perhaps his body
would be found-and while she had
little fear that anyone would associate
her with the tragedy 1t was a most
unpleasant thing to think about. Some
times she wondered If she should not
tell her father or Transley just what
had happened, but she shrank from
doing so as from the confession of a
crime. Mostly she was able to think
of other matters.
Her father brought 1t up In star
Ting way at breakfast. Absolutely
out Of blue sky he said, did you
know. Zen, that Drazk has disap-
peared? Transley tells me you were
interested bit In him, or perhaps 1
should say he was interested in you."'
Zen was so overcome by this star
Ting change In the conversation that
she was unable to answer. The color
went from her face and she leaned
low over her plate to conceal her
agitation.
YEP" continued Y.D., with no more
concern than IL steer had been lost
from the herd. "Transley said to tell
you Drazk had disappeared an he
reckoned you wouldn't be bothered
any more with him."
"Drazk was nothing to me-" she
managed to say. 'How can you think
he WASP?
"Now who said he WASP" her father
retorted. For young woman with
the price Of herd of steers on her
third finger you're sort O. short this
mornin'. Now I'm JUS wonderin' how
far you can see through a board
fence, Zen Are you surprised that
Drazk has Disappeared"
She was entirely at loss to under
stand the drift of her fathers talk.
He could not connect her with Drazk's
disappearance, or he would not APP
preach the matter with such uncon-
Germ. That was unthinkable. Neither
could Transley, or he would not have
sent so brutal message And yet 1t
was clear that they thought she should
be interested.
Her fathers question demanded an
answer.
what should carer" she ventured
at length.
Il didn't ask you whether you cared.
1 asked you whether you was sur
prised."
"Drazk's movements were = are
nothing to me. don't know that ]
have any occasion to be surprised
about anything he may do
well, I'm rather glad you're not,
because If you don't jump to conclu-
sions, perhaps other people won't Not
that 1t makes any partic'lar diff rence .
Dad" she cried in desperation,
whatever do you mean?"
1T was all plain enough to me, an
plain enough to Transley," her father
continued with remarkable calmness.
1--WE seen 1t right from the first
You're talking in riddles, YD.,"
his wife demonstrated. You're get
ting Zen all worked up"
"Jewelry seems to be mighty up
settin'," YD. commented. There was
nothin' like that In our engagement,
eh, Jessie? Well, to come to the
point. There was a fire which burned
up the valley of the South YD. Fires
don't start themselves-usually. This
one started among the Landson stacks,
so it was natural enough to suspec'
Y.D. or some of his sympathizers.
Well 1t wasn't Y.D., an l reckon 1t
wasn't Zen, an it wasn't Transley nor
Under an every one of the gangs
accounted for excep' Drazk. Drazk
thought he was DOM great piece of
business when he fired the Landson
hay. but when the wind turned ar
burned up the whole valley Drazk sees
where he can't play no hero part
around here so he loses himself for
good. I gathered from Transley that
Drazk had been botherin' you a little.
Zen, which is why told YOU
The girls heart was pounding vio-
lently at this explanation. 1t was
logical. and would be accepted readily
by those who knew Drazk She would
not trust herself In further conversa-
ton, so she slipped away as soon as
she could and spent the day riding
down the river