Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-09-04


Joyce nor Moya missed.
"And he makes his living By itr'
| Above his spectacles the eyes o.
Bieyer cleaned resentfully. "You'i
have to ask Mr.. Kilmeny how hs
makes his living. I don't know"
you're keeping something from rs
believe you do know, Mr.. Bleyer.'
With swift turn OF her supple body
Joyce appealed to verinder. make
him tell Us. please"
Moya did not lift the starlike eyes
that were 30 troubled from the face
Of Bleyer. She knew the man implied
something discreditable 10 Kllmeny.
The look that had flashed between
him and verinder told her so much.
Red signals OF defiance blazed on both
cheeks. Whatever II was, she did not
intend to believe him.
verinder disclosed a proper reIuc-
lance. "Bleyer says he doesn't know"
"Oh. he saysi ! want him to tell
what he thinks"
You won't like IT," the mine owner
warned.
"Til be the best Judge Of that"
Joyce swung upon Bleyer. "You hear.
sir. You're 70 tell me what you
mean"
II don't mean anything" He
paused. then looked straight at Joyce
with q visible harshness "I'll tell you
what the common gossip Is II you
wnnt to know, Miss Seldom. They say
he is highgrader."
"And what Is a highgraderT de-
manded Moya.
"A hlghgrader is one who steals
rich ore from the mine where he
works." answered verinder smugly.
Moya, eyes hot and shining. flashed
her challenge at him. II don't believe
it-not q word Of n. so far. as Mr..
Kilmeny is concerned"
afraid that doesn't change the
facts. Miss Dwight. It's a matter Of
general knowledge" Beneath verin-
der's bland manner there lurked a sub
stratum OF triumph.
General nddlesticksi Don't believe
II. Joyce" cried Moya stormily. "He
doesn't even work as q miner. He
owns his own lease"
"He used to work In the mines, even
n he doesn't now. There are stories"
ridiculous to think II Of Mr.. XIII
meny." exploded Moya. "we've done
nothing but insult him ever since
we've known him. First he was q
highwayman. Now he In thief. Amy.
thing else. Mr.. verinderr'
Everybody knows IT," retorted Yer
inder sulkily.
'yrhen prove II. Put him In prison.
Aren't there any laws In the statei
II everybody knows II. why isn't he
arrestedr the Irish girl famed.
"Moya." chided Lady Farquhar
gently.
Her ward turned upon Lady Jim a
flushed face stirred by anger TO vivid
charm. "Can't you see how absurd II
isf He owns his own lease. Mr..
Bleyer admits II. Is he robbing him
self. thenr
The muscles stood out on the cheeks
OF the superintendent like cords. He
stuck doggedly TO his guns II didn't
say he stole the ore himself. The
charge IL that he buys II from the men
who do take t. His lease II an ex.
cuse. OF course no pretends to get
the ore there"
TITS the common talk Of the camp"
snapped verinder contemptuously.
The man doesn't even keep II under
decent cover"
"Then prove Il prove II
That ought to be easy-since every
body knows H." Moya's voice was low,
but her scornful passion dashed the
Engllshman as with a whip.
by love. that's just what I'm 20.
ting 10 do I'm going to put our friend
behind the bars for few years." the
SNUG little man cried triumphantly.
The red spots on Moya's cheeks
burned. The flashing eyes Of the girl
dcfed her discarded lover.
"If you can" she amended with
quiet anger.
The soft laugh Of Joyce saved for
the moment the situation. 'Dear me.
aren't we getting little excltedf Mr..
Bleyer, tell me more. How does a.
a highsrader. didn't you call himt--
how does he get chance to steal the
orer
"fie picks out the best pieces while
he II working-the nuggets that are
going 70 run high per cent OF gold
and pockets them. At night he carries
them away"
'But--havent you any policemen
heref Why don't you stop them and
search themr-
"rhe miners union is too strong
There would be q strike II We tried H.
But u has got TO come 10 that soon
The companies win have TO Join hands
for q finish nght. They can't have
men holsted up from their work with
a hundred dollars worth Of ore stored
away on them"
lis as bad as that. Mr.. Bleyert"
asked Lady Faruuhar In surnrise.
Sometimes they take two OF three
hundred dollars worth at once
They don't all steal. do theyr de-
manded Moya with an edge OF sar>
easm In her clear voice.
bieyer laughed grimly. .rd Ike 10
know "A n.n...