The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-04-17

more ominous, yet very faint, coming
out of the distance.
1t died away. The two men watched
each others faces with a surmise that
did not find vent in utterance Per-
haps il had been-the wind, the waves
tapping the shore-but now it came
again, louder and unmistakable. Lee
dared not raise his eyes TO meet
Joyce's questioning gaze. lest she
should discern the sudden fear.
For it was the put-putting of Rath-
ways motorboat.
The three might have been figures
of stone as they stood there, listening
to the sound of the engine, which
grew rapidly louder. None of the
three uttered word.
Then the boat came into view. near
ing the bank. 1t contained four men.
One of them was Railway. And even
though Joyce was his inseparably. Lee
waited for the sensation of an icy hand
clutching his heart.
Father McGrath spoke s"'Tis Rath-
way, and l doot not but he's some
",
Anderson. He wilma dare-he wilma
dare"
His voice trailed off into silence.
The engine of the motorboat had been
shut off. Railway and his men had
stepped out. They were ashore, they
were coming up from the river toward
the house. Pathway a little in the lead
of the others. With his hunched shout
ders and his great muscular strength.
his look of malignant, hooking fero-
city, he seemed the nearest thing that
Lee had known to incarnate evil.
His face. as he drew near the group,
was twisted in a wry, triumphant
smile. He looked moekingly at Lee. He
looked ironically at Father MctIrath
But there was possession anticipated
in the look he cast at Joyce. and Lee
drew the girl to his side, his arms
about her, standing little in front of
her to protect her from the sight of
PATHWAY.
Father McGrath stepped forward.
"Ye ha' ma business here wi my
friends. James Rathwayl" he cried
'.Ye ken vera weel the agreement
we've entered into. So We caG take
yersel and your de'il's crew awa'"
"Aye?" sneered Railway, regarding
the priest with ironic banter. But j
have followed you and this party here
because you were not at the mission.
It's not my plan to stay"
what do you want?" McGrath de-
manded.
my WIFE" Railway returned.
stretching out his hand to place it on
Joyce's shoulder.
With loud cry Joyce leaped back,
staring about her as If she did not
know where she was. Lee let his
clenched fist fall. The situation was
too big for physical retort,
"Ay, my wife, Father McGrath,"
PATHWAY said again. Married to me
! two years ago in Montreal. And there's
the certificate"
| He held out document.
Father McGrath's first words before
looking at it werN characteristic:
'"Tis the first time I've heard o. the
mon and ma the wumman keepin' the
marriage lines, James Railway"
Lee was holding Joyce, who swayed
in his arms. "What does he mean?'
| he kept repeating. Its some trick
/ Tell them it's trick. Joyce!"
But Joyce seemed neither to hear
nor to understand anything. Mean
while Father McGrathi who had been
examining the paper, handed it back
with an ironical bow.
.'Mees Pelly that was, was united in
the bonds, of holy matrimony wi Mees-
tair Anderson here these three hours
syne," he said. I'D TAX her wuurd
against your own and ca that forrg-
cry"
But the priests face shone deathly
white in the moonlight.
"Aye?r sneered PATHWAY, pointing
a long finger at Joyce. LET her deny
it if she dare !"
Joyce said not word. She lay in
Lees arms as If she had been mortality
stricken. A deadly fear began to creep
over Lee. over McGrath. Behind
Railway Shorty and Pierre and a
third man grinned and shifted I'M
easily.
and that's lee, anyhow" said
Father McGrath scornfully.
Railway bowed. sneerngly. in turn.
Permit me to go on. Father; believe
or disbelieve. it makes no difference.
He sent his girl away to school to
Montreal. Soon after, 1t was discov-
cred that PelIy was wanted for an old
murder"
Lee Number Two" said the priest.
."Twas you betrayed him-I ha' nae
doots o. that"
.He fed the country" pursued
Railway. unruffied "As his only
friend. fearing that his daughter
! might come to harm in Montreal,
went down there, saw her, and offered
to make her my wife. She consented
with alacrity-"
!, 100, aye, and We'll just cut out the
aIacreety," said Father McGrath In
labysmal disgust, because she didna
and if she did. it Ill becomes you te
say so"
.She. married me at the Church Of
: the Virgin. as this certificate proves
!, And it was agreed that she shoule
, continue her mission studies for /
Il certain period before coming TO live