The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-04-24

the candle. In a moment Joyce APP
peared, and then Railway behind her,
clinging to, the opening and looking
down with uneasy suspicion.
"Hold tight to the rocks" Lee
called. "Its slippery. and II you lose
your hold there's deadly drop below"
He led the way down, shifting the
candle from hand to hand alternately
as he descended. to illuminate the way
for Joyce. until he reached the bottom
orifice. Then he began slowly to COM
/ plete the descent, instructing Joyce
where to put her hands and feet, guild
ing her, and bracing himself against
the cliff, ready to sustain her weight
in case of Slip However, all three
reached the floor of the gorge without
accident.
Railway muttered, looking about
him. In the moonlight Lee saw that
he was dripping with perspiration. He
WAS trembling with excitement.
Lee said eight fatal words: 1.-The
rock marks the entrance to the tunnel"
Railway looked at 1t and nodded.
| II had some difficulty in finding 1t
before" Lee added. He turned to the
girl. Joyce dear, I'm going to show
Railway something that think 1t
would be better for you not to see.
| Will you wait where you are for a
few minutes? We won't go out of your
sight"
Every well, Lee" the girl answered
| quietly. She had understood what
Lee meant Immediately. Lee took
Railway through the laurel tangles
and showed him Pellys remains. He
showed him the initials on the handle
Of the revolver.
Railway stood dumbly staring at
the skeleton. He was trembling even
more violently than before.
HE must nave fallen from the cliff"
said Lee, indicating the broken bones.
| AYE, but where's your proof that
it's Pelly?" Railway burst out sud-
denly. "Why, man, there isn't court
in the land would admit that skeleton
as proof that Pelly was dead. That's
as like as not the body of his Indian,
carrying Pelly's revolver"
Lee obeyed the instinct not to tell
Railway that Leboeuf was alive.
Besides" Railway went on, "as for
G. P.-Well, that might mean anything,
Charles Patrick, or Clarence Peel.
There used to be a Clarence Peel in
this district who disappeared. l swear
that's the truth, Anderson. Any old
timer will tell you that I'm not lying
to you. N-no, Anderson, you can't
prove that's the body of old Pelly, just
from those initials"
Lee wondered at Railways agita-
4 ton. The man seemed quite beside
himself. He twined his fingers in his
black beard, and shambled away with
his peculiar hunched SLOUGH. Lee led
him to the cross above the little grave.
81 think that's proof" he said
quietly.
But Railway, clenching and I'M
clenching his fists, said nothing. Lee
went back, calling Joyce, and they
proceeded in the direction of the cave.
Lee pointed out the pans and cradle,
and the proofs of dynamiting.
aye, but the gold-where's the
gold?" Railway demanded.
II have seen none" answered Lee,
"and. if you remember, l made no
guarantee as to it,"
"How do l know you haven't taken
1t away?" Railway shouted. AYE,
you may have stolen my gold as you
stole my wife. You may be planning
! to take my wife and my gold away
| together"
Lee looked at him in amazement,
| for Railway was nearly craZed by
some passion, probably. Lee thought,
the anticipation of obtaining the treas
ure of old Pelly.
1--WE taken no gold and I've seen
none,"she answered. 81 must again
remind you of our agreement, Rath-
way"
Railway pulled himself together
with an effort. AYE, that's all right"
he answered "This looks like Pelly's
mine. Let's look inside. Have you
been inside, Anderson"
1--WE only explored the entrance"
Lee answered. Il brought no candle
with me last time / was here"
Relighting the candle, he preceded
Railway within. The sound Of the
distant roaring came Immediately to
their ears. By the candle light Lee
saw fresh footprints on the sands.
They were made by man wearing
moccasins, nc doubt Leboeuf. He did
not call Railways attention to them,
and Railway, absorbed with his eager
ness to find the treasure, noticed moth
| ing. Lee wondered, however, what the
Indian had been doing in the cavern.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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