The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-06-27


you. In word, you've been good
bit of bully. Now-let me break 1t
to you gently-those good old days are
over. In future you're going to stay
on your side of the line. If you crowd
over you'll be pushed back. You have
no more right to the hay in this valley
than you have TO the hide on Land
sons steers, and you're not going to
cut it any more, at ALL"
Y.D. exploded in somewhat ineffec-
tive profanity. He had wide vocabu
larry of invective, but most of 1t was of
the stand-and-fight variety. There is
some language which is not to be
used, unless you are willing to have 1t
out on the ground, there and then.
Y.D. had no such desire. Possibly
curious sense of honor entered into
the case. 1t was not fair to call
young man names, and although there
was considerable truth in Grants re-
mark that Y.D. was bully, his bully
Ing did not take that form. Possibly,
also, he recalled at that moment the
obligation under which Zen's accident
had placed him, At any rate he wound
up rather lamely.
Grant" he said, eff want that hay
next year I'll cut it, spite O. hi an
high water"
"All right, Y.D.," said Grant, cheer
fully. "We1l see. Now, if you can
spare me q horse to ride home, I'll
have him sent back Immediately"
Y.D. went to find Transley and ar
range for a horse, and in a moment
Zen appeared from somewhere.
you've been quarreling with Dad"
she said, half reproachfully, and yet in
a tone which suggested that she could
understand.
mot exactly that" he parted. "We
were just having a frank talk with
each other"
81 know something of Dads frank
talks. I'm sorry.
would have liked to ask you to come
and see me-to see us-my mother
would be glad to see you. l can hardly
ask you to come if you are going to be
bad friends with Dad"
"No, 1 suppose not" he admitted.
"You were very good to me; very
decent" she continued.
At that moment Transley, Under
and VI. appeared, with two horses.
"Linder will ride over with you and
bring back the spare beast" said Y.D.
Grant shook hands, rather formal
ly, with Y.D. and Transley, and then
with Zen. She murmured some words
of thanks, and just as he would have
withdrawn his hand he felt her fin
gers tighten very firmly about MIS- He
answered the pressure, and turned
quickly away.
Transley Immediately struck camp,
and Y.D. and his daughter drove
homeward, somewhat painfully, over
the blackened hills.
Transley lost no time in finding
other employment. 1t was late in the
season to look for railway contracts,
and continued dry weather had made
grading, at best, a somewhat difficult
business. Influx Of ready money and
siderable activity in neighboring
center which for twenty years had
been the principal cow-town of the
foothill country. In defiance Of all
tradition, and, most of all, In defiance
of the predictions of the ranchers who
and nothing more, the place began to
grow. No one troubled to inquire ex-
actly why it should grow, or how. AS
for Transley, it was enough for him
that team labor was in demand. He
took a contract, and three days after
waiting for business blocks about to be
built in the new metropolis.
1t was no part of Transley's plan,
however, to quite lose touch with the
people on the Y.D. They were, in fact,
the center about which he had been
doing some very serious thinking. His
outspokenness with Zen and her ia
Their had had in 1t a good deal of
bravado-the bravado of a man VINO
could afford to lose the stake, and
smile over it. In short, he had not
cared whether he offended them or
not Transley was a very self-reliant
contractor; he gave, even to the mil
lionaire rancher, no more homage than
he demanded in return. Still,
Zen was a very desirable girl. AS he
turned the matter over in his mind
Transley became convinced that ne
wanted Zen. With Transley, to want
thing meant to get it. He always
found way. And he was now quite
sure that he wanted Zen. He had not
known that positively until the morn
Ing when he found her in the gray
light of dawn. with Dennison Grant.
There was a suggestion of companion
ship there between the two which had
cut him to the quick. Like most am
bilious men, Transley was intensely
jealous.