The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-09-19
CHAPTER XVIII

Transley, returning by an earlier
train than he had expected, found
Sarah at the house and Wilson en-
gagged in dialogue with the family pig.
The lad, on hearing the motor, rushed
to his fathers arms.
"Well, well, what big boy you are p
cried Transley, swinging him up to
his shoulders. "And how is the pig
And how is your friend Grant?"
Mother hasn't let me go to see him
lately. l don't know why. Ever since
the night / slept at his house.
"You slept at his house? When?"
1.-The day you went away. And
wilson, where is your mother?"
81 don't know, daddy"
He strobe sharply into the house.
Sarah, where is Mrs. Transley?"
81 don't know, SIR" said the maid
Then, frightened out of her reticence
think she has gone to the old quarry
sir. She often goes up there of an
afternoon"
"a trysting-place" Transley gasped
inwardly. He dropped the boy and, in
his own room, found a revolver and
cartridges. A moment later he was
swinging in long, angry steps up the
quarry road. Wilson, puzzled by the
sudden interruption of his fathers
greeting, followed at discreet dis
lance.
1--WE suspected-Tve suspected, y
Transley was raging as he walked
"I've suspected-more than I've said.
Give 'em enough rope. That's my plan.
And now they've taken 1t. By God, If
they have!"
With every step the wrath and hor-
ror within him grew. He was at the
quarry before he knew it. He paused
for moment to listen, Yes, there
were people present. There were
.sounds-God, 1t sounded like a fight
Transley rushed in. A man and a
arms. 81 hate youl l hate you'll" the
woman was crying. "You coward
You coward!" The woman was his
wife. The man was-not Dennison
Grant
Although Transley had revolver In
his pocket it was not his customary
weapon, and his thought did not turn
naturally 10 it, In this tremendous
moment he forgot 1t altogether. He
rushed upon his wife's assailant,
clutching him about the throat.
With the strength of a mailman
Drazk flung Zen to the ground. where
she fell unconscious at his feet. Then
he tore himself free from Transley's
grip about his throat. The next mo-
ment the two men were swaying about
in struggle of death.
AS they swung in each others arms,
crushing, choking, clutching at each
others threats, it was slowly forced
home upon Transley that his was a
losing fight. His assailant had the
strength. and, after q hesitating mo-
ment of surprise. the ferocity of a
lion. He had broken Transley's first
grip of advantage about his throat
and seemed in momentary prospect of
reversing the situation. There were
no talk, no cries, no oaths; ii was a
silent fight save the granting and
painting which became more and more
Iabored as the minutes drew on In
their clutches Drazk's stumbled face
rubbed into Transley's well-groomed
cheek; his snarling teeth snapped, but
missed, at Transley's jaw.
Then 1t was that Transley remem-
bered his revolver. Breaking Drazks
grip by superhuman effort, he drew
the weapon and fired. The shot went
wild. and the next instant Drazk was
upon him again. In the struggle the
revolver fell from Transley's hand, and
both men began fighting toward 1t. As
Drazk's fingers clutehed II Transley
kicked his feet from under him. and
the two went down together. Rolling