The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-05-01

Going to the stables, shanty with
two stalls close by, where he kept
two horses and fodder for use in I'M
expected emergency, he saw that one
or the animals was missing. No doubt
Estelle had gone out riding
Estelle's personality was stronger
one than Railways. He could never
COW her by violence, as he cowed his
men; on the contrary, he feared her
flashing tongue when she was aroused.
He had seen Pierre, Shorty. and
Kramer gloating over the gold, and
he knew that he would have short
shrift If once his men suspected that
ne was unable to keep it against
them, or If they trusted each other
sufficiently to combine against him.
| hat was why he had removed it
70 the hut in the swamp, approachable
only by a single narrow track.
There were six other men at the
|
whom Lee had shot through the hand,
being still disabled. Pathway set the
whole lot on various jobs, to keep them
busy during the remainder of the day.
| He knew that they would be talking
about the gold at night, but he was
making his own plans. And, left alone,
he paced the track, now gloating over
the gold, now over Joyce who still
lay silent on the bed, her lips COM
pressed. and that awful look in her
eyes.
He went to her side and cut the
bonds that bound her. There was no
need to guard her; she could not es-
cape him. Joyce sat up slowly. still
looking at him in that terrible way.
He could not face her eyes. He felt
helpless before her. He needed two
allies-night and whisky.
Come, dearie," he began, in a voice
that was meant to be piacabIe, you
know everything I've done has been
out Of love for you"
Murderer" Railway trembIed be-
fore her outstretched finger. He had
thought to have her at his mercy;
she seemed to have him at hers.
Come, now, my dear, if had to
treat you rough"
'Murderer!''
''He was pulling gun on me. He
fell into the stream himself. l didn't
hit him."
"YOu-murderer"
Railway beat retreat. Her eyes
were blazing like a panther's. He
couldn't understand his fear of her.
He crossed the neck, went into his
hut, apd began drinking. His mind
was muddled, and worse, his will was
then there would be Estelle to face.
Curse those women! The mental
picture of Joyce rose up before his
eyes. She had never seemed so de-
sirable. He saw her unconscious in
the mine again, with her short, fair
hair hanging about her neck, her eyes
closed, helpless. Curse her! Why
had he only been thinking of the gold?
He had had her at his mercy then.
He looked cautiously into the hut
again. Joyce was still sitting on the
bed, still as a carven statue. Rath-
way was beginning to be afraid that
she was going mad. If she would
only give him the chance, he wanted
to tell her that he would share the
gold with her. Why couldn't she be
reasonable? 1t was that id Ander-
son! How long would she be thinking
of him? Weeks, perhaps.
His suspicious of Joyce and Ander-
son dashed him, and he ragged all the
afternoon, abusing his men, and Civ
ing them unheard of tasks. He had
the boats cleaned, the engine. over
hauled, a drum of gasoline placed in
the motor boat. He sent some food
to joyce The men grumbled and
went about their work sullenly.
Railway fancied he saw looks pass
ing between them, as if they had
some secret understanding. He be-
lieved they were conspiring against
him. And where the devil was Es-
telle?
In spite of the hate that he now felt
for her, he turned to her in his
thoughts in time of difficulty. Curse
the woman She was getting too
strong hold on him! He must send
her packing.
His desire for Joyce was constant
goad to him. But he was still afraid
of her. He must give her time to
weaken. II was not dark enough.
And he had not drunk enough.
At nightfall the men began a ca
the huts, protected by skin roof and
sides, but open in front. where huge
fire was kindled. Usually Railway
kept liquor from them, except when on
long Journeys and for the weekly de-
bauch which he permitted, but now
they were openly defying his rigid
rule. The possession of the gold had
disintegrated everything.
For Railway, too. He cared no
longer. The drunken his followers
became, the better for the plans that
were condensing in his mind.
AS he passed, one of the men de-
family held up a bottle, an act that
would have brought swift physical re-
tribution under other circumstances.
A man at his side dashed it out of his
hand, whispering in his ear. The bottle
smashed, and the spirit ran out on
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