The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-08-29
BY ROBERT STEAD
Author of % TIE Cosv Toe
HomssfeoderJ''-''N sisbbors." sfs.
Copyright By ROBERT STEAD


impossible such thing was. Lose Ted
| dyl No one but a mother could think
of such an absurdity.
But ! got a knife" Wilson ex-
claimed, his mind darling to a happier
subject. Daddy gave II to me. VIII
you sharpen It? 1t Is as dull as a
pig"
Grant was TO learn during the day
that all the boys figures of speech
were now hung in the family pig. The
knife was as dull as pig; the pillow
was as rough as pig; the horses.
when they capered at a corner, were
as wild as a pig; even Grant himself,
while he held the little chap firmly on
his knee, received the doubtful COM
pliment of being as strong as a pig.
He went through the form of sharpen
Ing the knife on the leather lines of the
harness, and was pleased to discover
that Wilson, with childish dexterity
of Imagination, now pronounced 1t as
sharp as pig.
The boy did not return to the field
in the afternoon, and Grant spent the
| time in strange admixture of happi-
ness over the pleasant companionship
he had found in this little son of the
prairies and anticipation of his meet
| ing with Zen that night.
Grant prepared his supper of bacon
and eggs and fried potatoes, bread and
! jam and black tea, and ate 1t from the
kitchen table. Supper ended, he no.
ticed he had just time to walk to
Transley's house before eight o'clock.
Zen received him at the door; the
maid had gone to neighbours, she
said, and Wilson was in bed. She
! lighted the dry wood in the fireplace.
Il have been so anxious TO see you
again. she said, drawing a chair
not far from him. "a chance remark
of yours last night brought to memory
many things-things 1 have been try
ing to forget" Then, abruptly, did
you ever kill man.?
You know / was in the war;" he
returned, evading her question.
| Yes, and you do not care to dwell
on that phase of it. I should not have
asked you, but you will be the better
| able to understand. For years / have
lived under the cloud of having killed
man."
"You!"
Eyes. The day of the fire-you re-
MEMBER
Grant had started from his chair
81 can't believe it!'' he exclaimed
There must have been Justification 7"
You had justification at the front
but 1t doesn't make the memory pleas
ant. / had justification, but 1t has
haunted me night and day. For all
these years have been carrying in my
heart secret until 1t seems to have
grown so big must tell some one, or
burst. And then, last night, his name
was mentioned, which brought it all
back to me as though 1t had been yes
terday. Time doesn't seem to cure
some things, ever, does It? And after
1 had gone to bed, and was thinking 1t
all over, 1 suddenly knew there was
one man I could tell. That is why
sent that note. You weren't an
gry?"
Angry! Dear" He checked his
| lips on forbidden words
"Who?" he managed to say.
'Drazk"
"Drazkr"
"Yes. 1 had killed him that day of
the fire. 1t is rather an unpleasant
story, and you will excuse me repeat
ing the details, know. He attacked
me-we were both on horseback. in
the river-I suppose he was crazed
with his wild deed, and less RESPONSE
bile than usual. He dragged me from
my horse and / fought with him in
the water, but he was much too strong
1 had concluded that TO drown my
self, and perhaps him, was the only
way out, when / saw leather thong
floating in the water from the saddle.
his neck, and the next moment he was
at my mercy. had no mercy then. l
pulled it tight, tight-pulled till saw
his face blacken and his eyes stand
out. He went down. but still | pulled
And then. after little, I found my
self on shore.
81 suppose it was the excitement of
the fire that carried me on through
the day, but at night-you remember?
there came reaction, and / couldn't
keep awake. 1 suddenly seemed to
feel that l was safe, and / could
Sleep"
Grant had resumed his seat He
was deeply moved by this strange con-
fdence; he bent his eyes intently upon
her face, now shining in the rudy
| light from the fireplace. Her frank
reference to the event that night
seemed to create a new bond between
them; he knew now, If ever he had
doubted 1t. that Zen Transley had
treasured that incident in her heart
even as he had treasured 1t.
4