The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-04-24
By VICTOR ROUSSEAU
Copyright by w. G. Chapman.J
wNIJ Seryice

bloodthirsty forest beast. But Els
telle's reference to the police touched
his pride.
He let the rifle drop, grounding the
butt.
Listen to what I've got to tell you,
Lee. / love him. Do you understand
that? l suppose you think it's not my
nature to love. But it is! 1t was you
who couldn't hold my love. 1 hated
and despised you. l never knew how
much I loved James Railway till /
found out how much / hated you that
morning when you came to our camp
and struck him down so treacherously.
ooh, yes, / have love and passion,
and constancy in my nature, Lee An
derson. 1t was only you who couldn't
draw them out !"'
Her voice was vibrant, hoarse with
passion.
THAT girl will make a fool of you
too, Lee Anderson, just as / did," she
cried. you'd be made fool of any
where, by any womanw
But her words passed Lee by like
the wind
II could have killed you that morn
ing, as / could kill you now, only
love James Railway And he'll love
me again when you take this new at
traction away out of his sight, where
he can't find her. l thought you'd got
away-but here you are, back again
with her, and all the works got to be
done over again.
Il was crouching near, and over
heard your dialogue, you and she, and
the priest, and James Railway. You
gave her up-the woman you love
because she'd stood up before the altar
with the man she haired and called
herself his wife. I'd hold the woman
l loved, were l man, against God
Himself, and all His cohorts!
"Oh, if only l could find words to
hurt you, Lee Anderson, to pierce that
tough skin of yours But l haven't
time. Listen to me, now! You don't
have to commit murder to get her.
You fool, you blind fool, shall / tell
your"
She laughed with haunting menace.
Shall tell you, Lee Anderson" she
repeated.
And suddenly came the sound of
Joyce, screaming within the house.
There came the noise of struggle.
Even as Lee turned, Joyce was run
ming along the passage toward the
door. Instantly Estelle glided away
into the shadows.
Joyce flung the door open; and then
Railway caught her from behind and
swung her back toward him. His black
beard hung over her face.
Lee! Lee! Come to mel"
Joyce ceased to struggle.
"Here!" answered Lee, and dashed
his fists into Railways face, sending
him staggering.
Railway howled and felt for his
pistol Lee was upon him, pinioning
his arms to his sides, before he could
draw it. But Railways men came
hurrying along the passage. In an in
slant there was a furious melee. Lee
tripped over leg thrust out, fell heav-
lily upon his back, and struggled in
vain under the weight of his four adj
versaries.
Quickly he was reduced to helpless
ness, his limbs held firmly. Momentar-
lily he ceased to struggle, nursing his
strength for a more violent effort.
He looked up into the grinning faces,
at Railway, standing over him, leer-
ing, arms outstretched, gasping for
breath and consciousness.
Railway pulled his pistol and COW
cred Lee. Pierre! Shorty! Kramer!
You're witnesses that you saw this
man spying outside this house."
They assented. Pierre grinned,
Shorty swore, spat, and scowled, and
Lee saw the half-healed scar of his
pistol butt upon his cheek.
"You saw him assault me-" Railway
continued. "Well, Anderson, / guess
if l choose to shoot you like the dog
you are, the law wouldn't have much
to say about it. But I'll be reasonable
Get back to your quarters !" he snarled
to his aides, and the three men in
surprise released Lee and went down
the passage.
Lee leaped to his feet, confronting
Railway resolutely,l but puzzled. Rath-
way held him covered.
you must want my wife mighty
in the hope of picking her up under
my nose, Anderson" said Railway.
"Well, I'm "a business man, and /
guess anyone can get most anything
he wants if he wants 1t bad enough to
be willing to pay the price for it.
Maybe you can get her at the price,
Anderson.
"Pelly's gold mine belongs to me
under the law. She tells me you've
found it and are holding the secret,
of it. All right. The price is Pelly's
gold mine. The woman for the mine.
what d'you say to that, Anderson"
Railway was trembling with eager
ness. 81 was willing to overlook the
past and take her back, but if she
doesn't want me and does want you,
guess can't hold her against her will.
SO I'm ready to take my mine instead
and close the bargain. What d'you say
to- it. Anderson?"
Lee suspected some trick, but the
anxiety on Railways face, the trem-
bling tones of his voice showed that
his avarice was stronger passion
than that for Joyce. And, despite the
vileness Of the proposal, Lee realized
that in no other way could Joyce be
saved