The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-02-13
THE FREE TRADERS

Il
which, turning away without another
word to Lee, they proceeded to set
up their camp at little distance.
Lee turned to the girl, who had
stood silent spectator of the scene.
II ought to have explained. per-
haps," he said. "You recognized that
man who insuDted you last night. A
little later I happened to oveShear the
pair of them speaking of plan they
had formed for intercepting you to-
night | didn't want to alarm you, In
case they failed to appear, but tf,at is
why proposed to camp beside you.
think they are INSCRIPTIONS custom
ers, and you've probably reached the
same decision after the scene that has
just taken place."
THANK you. but I assure you that
am quite capable of protecting my
SELF" answered the girl, and Lee saw
her fingers stray toward "a service
size revolver holster at her belt.
"Of course don't want to intrude,'
said Lee. ''But as long as these men
are here, 1 think ought to remain"
She took step or two toward him,
looking at him fixedly. "Who and
what are your she demanded with
fquivering lips. How am / to know
that you are not those mems friend,
that this is not all part of an arranged
plan?"
Il am not friend, or associate of
those men," answered Lee Indignantly.
'''I. never saw either of them until one
Of them insulted you in the hotel yes
terday evening. 1 know that they are
planning to do you some HARM"
well, and-you?' she asked, trying
to keep her voice steady.
"You suspect me?"
II don't know. I trust nobody. /
ask youe why you are here"
my object in camping here beside
you tonight Is simply to protect you,"
Lee eQuivocated
| She answered, with an effort at
irony. "And my answer to you is that
do not need protection, but that this
country is free for all-for those men
and for YOU"
She went back into her tent, leav-
ing Lee stupefied. The pair were al
ready seated in front of their fire,
munching slabs OF bread and raw
bacon. They had been watching Lee
and the girl furtively throughout the
interview. Lee wondered whether the
girls demeanor had given them any
/ inkling of its termination. He had
never felt so foolish.
If they persuaded her that they
were more TO be trusted, the situation
would be a serious one for her. Lees
position was certainly far more en-
barrassing than he had anticipated.
1t was almost as If the girl had de
cided to throw in her lot with the pair
Of Free Trader agents He had not
succeeded In convincing her that their
motives were evil, perhaps because he
had not ventured to voice his real sus-
piciOns Of them to her. And he had
only succeeded In arousing her hos
tility.
And, looking at the matter in a
common-sense light, Lee realized that
he had acted wrongly. He should have
warned her on his first arrival He
could not blame her for refusing to
accept his word.
But what was at the bottom of her
evident fear of him?
The only thing left for him to do
was TO try to protect her In spite of
herself.
] The friendly forest had suddenly
grown hateful and allen. And then
Lee knew what the trouble was. 1t
was the submerged memories of Es-
telle. She meant nothing to him now,
less than nothing, and yet-well, that
had been years ago, and he had gone
through all that. Still, the imprint
was there
Suddenly, as on the night before he
was startled by the low sound of
voices. Peering across the grass, he
could just distinguish the shadowy
outlines of two figures against the
mems fire.
Very deliberately Lee drew his auto
matte from his belt. He had no doubt
that Pierre and Shorty were planning
mischief; most probably they meant
to attack him as preliminary to over
towering the girl.
And he lay watching them and
grimly waiting for their stealthy onset
He felt more than match for the pair
of them.
Minutes went by, however. The pair
|
ing their arrangements. and all the
while the discussion, which was just
audible without being ineligible. went
on. Lee wondered how long he had
been lying there. 1t was too dark TO
see his watch. He wondered why they
had not waited till morning, when
there would be a better chance Of
taking him unawares.
At last the black shadows separated.
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