The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-10-02

4
n sticky, yellow clay. and the going
was much slower. But by the time
we heard Jacks hoarse voice and his
tired oxen clicking their hoofs up
the trail on the evening of the Sec
ond day I had succeeded In making
n hole which we agreed to call cellar.
Next day we set about our build
ing In earnest. There were no union
hours with u.s. We worked from early
morning until after sunset, and laid
down our tools at last with affection
ate reluctance. We were stiff and
sore in every joint and muscle; our
hands were calloused and our finger
nails were battered with misdirected
energy, but our hearts were with the
gods. l relate only absolute truth
in saying that when our shack was
finished we moved into II with a sense
of accomplishment such as perhaps
no king ever knew amid the luxury of
his palaces.
AS soon as our first building was
finished we started similar one for
Jack and Jean Then we built little
stable down in the gully for the oxen,
the COW. the pig. and the hens; we Inn
proved the crossing of the stream; we
dug WELL we plowed a small area
on each farm and planted 1t to OATS
and then we went on blowing for next
seasons crop; We bought moving
machine and rake-on credit-and cut
an ample supply of wild prairie hay
for our winter needs. We had decided
that. as fall came on, Jack and /, with
the yoke of oxen, should make a pill
grimage into the more settled districts
with view to getting work with some
farmer. and SO replenishing our re-
sources.
1t was a hot day In the middle of
July when, up the trail from the south
speck grew out of the distance.
Traffic did not often come our way,
and Jack and l both stopped work in
the field to study its approach and to
conjecture as to whom or what 1t might
be. As we watched, the figure took the
form of a horse and rider of heroic
size charging down upon us, literally
out of the heavens. AS 1t approached
the mirage lost its illusion and horse
and rider came back to earth. BY this
time we were sure that the CLINT of
color which had seemed to dance
vaguely about the figure had basis in
fact; there was no longer a doubt that
an atom of scarlet was approaching
along the trail.
Leaving the oxen to their midday
meditations we walked over to my
shack, where Jean had already joined
Marjorie 1t could now be seen that
the figure was approaching at rapid
gait, and its outline, no longer blurred
by the shimmering of the mirage,
stood out sharp and clean against the
distance. 1t was mounted policeman.
AS he drew up beside US had
sense of being in the presence of phys
ical perfection. His horse, although
wet over the TANKS, showed little sign
Of fatigue; the dust of travel chung to
the riders sunburned face, but the
smartness Of his bearing and uniform
was unimpaired He saluted as he
brought his horse to standstill; then
sprang lightly to the ground.
81 see am right" he said. address
ing Marjorie and Jean. won't you
introduce me?"
Marjorie was the first to act, al
though suspected, even then, that he
had spoken more particularly to Jean.
MY brother, Frank" she said, "and
jeans brother, Jack. This Is Mr..
Brook"
We shook hands cordially, and Jean
asked our visitor If he had had dinner.
II have not he confessed. "but please
don't go to any trouble" But the
girls were already in the house, max
ing preparations.
There's a stream around here, IL my
| maps are right" the policeman con-
tinued, speaking to US, land both Dick
and / could do with water"
We led him down to the stream,
and to the well, and although / was
disposed to be prejudiced against this
strapping young fellow who seemed
| to take more than q casual interest In
Jean. I lost much Of that prejudice
| through little incident that hap
pened when we reached the water.
| Although Brook was undoubtedly suf-
| fering from thirst he removed his
| horses bit, so that he could drink in
| comfort, before he accepted the
proffered cup of water which Jack
brought him from the well. Jack and
l spoke of 1t afterward and agreed
| that a chap who did that sort Of thing
was good bit of man.
After a hearty drink Brook took off
his hat and tunic, produced towel,
soap, comb and brush, and cleaned up
even more thoroughly than seemed
necessary. AS watched him parting
his hair by the reflection In the water
I realized that Brook had not forgotten
what so many of us pioneers often
did forget-the value of personal APP
pearance. While we walked up the
bank together admitted to myself
that although / was as good man as
he was, didn't look 1t.
The meal which the girls had pre-
pared loosened all our tongues, and be-
fore II was over we were chatting
merrily. Brook had the latest gossip
from Regina, and interesting news
about himself AT last he had es-
capped from barracks, temporarily, at
any rate. He was detailed to two
months relief duty at a point farther
west; he promised himself another
meal at our board on his way back. a
prospect which Jean and Marjorie and
Jack received with much satisfaction,
and | trust / showed no smallness
about it.