The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-04-09
NAMELESS RIVER
By VINGIE E. ROE
By VINGIE E.. ROE


1T don't need Them" said Nance
| 1--we thought for several years-about
my fathers death-my brothers Grip
| pied body-my missing cattle-my
burned stacks-and many other things
I'm thinking now about Sheriff Sci
| woodland Bossick's latest loss"
The mans face hardened, vet re
| luctant admiration drew q slight smile
across it.
You take liberties, Miss Allison
Are you not-speaking In jest-a lit
tle-ah-afraid to speak so broadlyT
Nance laughed bitterly, shifting her
feet in their worn boots.
Afraid? No-not of you-nor OF
your hired rustlers-nor Cattle Kate
there, with her paint and her tenn,
pers. I'm not afraid Of anything but
the wrath of God"
At that Arnold laughed outright.
"You have something yet to learn,
see. Very well, since you do not
care to think l will outline briefly
your situation. You know, of course
that you are at present In the power
of Sky Line ranch. Reasoning back
ward you will come to the conclusion
that there is a primal cause for this
Reasoning forward you will know that
there is something which you can do
for Sky Line, which 1t wants of you
"Of course" said Nance, ''the whole
country knows that-my fats on the
river"
Arnold frowned.
He did not like that answer.
"And how, may l ask, does the
country know this?"
"It knows what has happened to
me for several years now-and Ii
judges the faces Of your riders and
their boss"
"If you please, we'll leave Miss
Cathrew out Of this" said Arnold
crisply.
"Yes" asked Nance. "She's been
the backbone of my troubles-under
you. no doubt-and it isn't likely I'll
leave her out. If you have anything
to say to me I'd advise you to say II
and get 1t over before Nameless comes
hunting me-"
"All Nameless may come hunting
you, Miss Allison" returned the man,
"but it will not find you. Now put
your wits in order. Sky Line wants
those flats on the rfver-and means
to have them. We don't do things by
halves What we undertake we fin
ish The time has come for decisive
action. You have had many-ah-
hints to vacate and have foolishly dis
regarded them. That is like a WON
an. A man would have gone long
ago."
"Not any man." interrupted Nance,
my pappy didn't"
"No?" said Arnold cruelty. "Is he
here?"
Quick tears misted the girls eyes.
but the slowly throbbing anger burned
them out
"Yes," she said promptly. "and al
ways will beat the foot of our
mountain-and In Bud and me. He
has not yet been conquered"
Arnold dropped his dead cigarette
into a tall brass receptacle. rose and
stepped into the other room. He
picked something from the desk there
and came back.
1--WE come to cases." he said sharply.
81 have here properly-made-out
deed, conveying to Miss Cathrew for
the consideration of one dollar. the
quarter-section Of land herein de-
scribed. lying along Nameless river.
owned by the widow of John Allison.
deceased, who took up said land un-
der the homestead act. This paper
needs only the name of John. Allison's
widow and two witnesses to make 1t a
legal transfer Of property. / am a
notary. We can supply the witnesses
the highly important and necessary
signature of John Allison's widow you
will obligingly furnish-at a price,"
Nance swept off her hat and struck
1t down against her knee. A laugh
broke stiff1y on her tallow-white face.
eff / could swear" she said, "Td
tell you where to go, and what /
thought you were. You may consider
yourself told as 1t is"
Arnold became coldly grave.
You refuse?'
What do you think do? Put your
wits In order r.
The man turned and struck bell
which stood on rosewood pedestal.
Minnie Pine responded with suspicious
promptness.
"Send me Provine and Big Bas-
ford" said Arnold briefly, and the girl
departed.
The man did not speak again, nor
did Nance.
There came a shuttle and rattle of
spur and the two Sky Line riders
stood in the doorway of the room be-
yond. having come through the
kitchen.
"Miss Allison" said Arnold, II own
the men Of Sky Line, how or why is