The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-08-28

ably destroyed. 1t was used by one
man to toll another to his DEATH"
Brena leaned forward.
II began to be sure, ,Brena, when
found that expert knowledge pro-
nounced that the writing on a check
made out by the one man who led the
other to his death here was written
by the same hand that. with an at
tempt to disguise. had written the
words, This Sign," on the scrap Of
paper Jim Hennepin left with you and
that you gave me. I'd better tell you
that when / first took that check Ii
was because your Endorsement was on
II. wasn't sure, Brena-of anybody"
Il understand" she said II under
stand. And the scrap of paper was u
part of the bait?"
Peter raised his hand as If to say
that he wished TO go on in his own
way. 1T was chance too that led me
TO the motive for Kidding the world of
Hennepin. That miserable man had
become menace. He knew too much.
he knew of a long series of embezzle-
ments from certain estate in Texas.
A capitalist had bought vast quantities
or something-on speculation-and his
agent after his death deceived the ex-
ecutors as to the extent of his hold
ings. / have had a clew from an old
account book sifted to the bottom"
And Jim Hennepin knew
Knew and began a merciless black
mail, threatening ruin. / can see him
now, Unsuitable. hungry, losing in spec
uiations, asking for more, bounding a
man who was balancing between sue
cess and failure and always limiting at
bankruptcy and the penitentiary."
Peter went on. He told of the prob
ability that Compton Parmalee, the
hounded man. physical coward, but
resourceful and ingenious, had come
upon an old volume describing this lost
city OF the desert. There were tradl-
tions of vast wealth hidden there
Parmalee had pretended to the posses
sion Of knowledge confirming 1t. He
had shown old letters, the scrap Of pa
per with the Kuk-ul-can symbol. He
wanted to take the blackmailer to a
place from which he would never come
back.
To kill him?' asked Brena.
NO., replied Peter He hadn't the
courage. He feared that. He feared
the work. He feared the result. He
had a better way"
And how" she asked.
1T Is, all therefore in the sand
record" he said. "a CHASTITY record.
Seven years have gone, but in this
deep fine dust, Brena, there still re-
mains the story"
he paused; he lit cigarette; went
on. He said, There around the en-
trance are the marks of horses hoof-
prints-almost lOst-but still readable
three horses, two saddled and one
carrying the packs. They came in two
horses abreast, and the pack horse
led behind. Two men in the saddles.
Night came on. One man slept. The
other crept to the animals and he
rode sway"
Rode away? Left Jim Hennepin
here"
Eyes, beyond hope-no horse, no
water"
How do you known"
Because. Brena, when the three
horses went out into the desert their
footprints are In single file-one man
led the other two. will show you. II
is in the sand-a record and good
guess"
He was silent and he broke his 81
lence with cry.
II can see him-Hennepin-
ing. realizing. seeing far away the little
gailoping specks in the pale moonlight
with the treacherous man upon the
leader-a tiny bobbing figure. | can
hear the curses hurled after them.
And he-the one left-alone under the
moon, alone under the sun, alone un
der the moon again-without drop
rushing out into the desert, only to be
driven back to the shade after weary
marches dragging through the sand.
hunting among the rocks, crazed with
thirst, gone mad. cursing, differing
mad-his tongue black-the end-per.
haps a thought of you-the cur!
/ He looked up at Brena he set his
jaw.
I'm sorry" he said. "But can
see it so clearly-the terrible retribu-
tion in this place of silence. His
screams echoing back from the rocks,
his curses rising into this thin pale
blue sky and the vultures swing over
head"
Seven years ago." she whispered.
Eyes, seven years. And four years
of torturing fear-that was the pay of
the one who rode away"
Compton Parmalee"
She said it without any external
sign of emotion.
"Yes." said Peter. HE had succeed
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