The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-05-16
ZEN Of the 7. D.
A NoveI Of the FoofbWs

dered how long il would take him TO
bridge that distance. Even as he
looked she leaned her elbows on the
fence and rested one of her feet on the
lower rail. 'Drazk fancied he saw the
muscles about her mouth pulling her
face into little, laughing curves, but
she was gazing soberly into the dis
lance.
Hes some horse, that Pete-horse,"
he said, taking up the subject which
lay most ready to his tongue. Hes
sure some horse"
81 have no doubt"
yep" Drazk continued "Him an
me has seen some times. Whew!
Things 1 couldn't tell you about, at
ALL"
well, aren't you going TOP
Drazk glanced at her curiously.
This girl showed signs of leading him
out of his depth. But 1t was very
delightful sensation to feel ones self
being led out Of his depth by such a
girl. Her face was motionless; her
eyes fixed dreamily upon the brown
prairies that swept up the TANKS of
the foothills to the south. Far and
away on their curving crests the dark
snake-line of Transley's outfit could
be seen apparently motionless on the
rim of the horizon.
Drazk changed his foot on the rail
and the motion brought him six inches
nearer her.
'Well, FIR instance" he said, spur
ring his Imagination into action, there
was the fellow / run down an shot in
the Cypress Hills"
"Shot ~ she exclaimed. and the note
of admiration in her voice stirred him
TO further flights.
yep" he continued, proudly. "Shc
an buried him there, right by the
road where he fell. Only me an that
Pete-horse knows the spot"
George sighed sentimentally. "It's
awful sad, havin' to kill man." he
went on, IAN it makes you feel strange
an creepy, specially at nights. That
is, the first one affects you that way,
but you soon get used to it. You see,
he fnsulted-"
THE first one? Have you killed
more than one?"
'Oh yes, lots of them. A man like
me, what knocks around all over with
all sorts of people, has to do it.
Then there's the police. After you
kill a few men naturally the police be-
gins to worry you. l always hate to
kill a policeman"
1T must be an interesting life"
at is, but it's hard one,'' he said,
after a pause during which he had
changed feet again and taken up an
other six inches of the distance which
separated them. He was almost afraid
to continue the conversation. He was
finding progress so much easier than
he had expected. 1t was evident that
he had made tremendous hit with
Y.D.'S daughter. What a story to tell
Under! What would Transley say?
He was shaking with excitement.
ITS an awful hard Iife," he went
on, IAN there comes a time. miss,
when a man wants to quit it. There
comes a time when every decent man
wants to settle down. / been thinkin'
about that a lot lately. What
do you think about it," Drazk had
gone white. He felt that he actually
had proposed to her.
might be a good idea," she replied,
demurely.
He changed feet again. He had gone
too far to stop. He must strike the
iron when it was hot. OF course he
had no desire to stop, but it was all
so wonderful. He could speak to her
now in a whisper.
How about you, miss? How about
you an me JUS settlin' DOWN."
She did not answer for moment.
Then, in low voice:
ut wouldn't be fair to accept you
like this, Mr.. Drazk. You don't know
anything about me-
AN don't want to-I mean, don't
care what about YOU"
But it wouldn't be fair until YOU
know" she continued There are
things I'd have to tell you, and don't
like to-"
She was looking downward now, and
he fancied he could see the color ris-
ing about her cheeks and her frame
trembling. He turned toward her and
extended his arms. Tell me-tell
your own George" he cooed.
NO. she said, with sudden rigidity.
II can't confess"
Come on" he pleaded. "Tell me.
I've been bad man, too"
She seemed TO be weighing the mat
ter. IF l tell you, you will never,
never mention it to anyone?"
Never. l swear it to you," dra-
matically raising his hand.
Well" she said, looking down BASH
fully and making little marks with her
fnger-nafl in the pole on which they
were leaning, Il never told anyone be-
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