The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-03-12
CHAPTER XIII-Continued

Lord 1t is soon."
"Why-why, this is a wonder to
mel" said Nance, "a wonder and
light in my darkness! / felt you for
good that first day l set eyes on you
In the canyon. Now | understand
you are the messenger whose feet are
beautiful on the hills, as the Bible
says-who bears good tidings! My
faith has never faltered," she went
on earnestly, 81 knew always that the
hand of God was before me, that my
ways were hot hidden from His sight
and that some way, some time all
would be well with us. But sometimes
1t has been hard"
Fair sat thinking deeply.
"Yes-Cattle Kate would make 1t
hard If she had reason" he said
and there was note of bitterness in
bis low voice, "only God and | know
how hard.
HAS She Nance asked and hest
tated, "has she made it hard for
for your"
Somehow she dreaded his reply.
1t was long in coming, and then it
was cryptic.
"Vicariously. For one other she
made it hard to the last bitter dregs-
to that questionable but sometimes
existent thing, a broken heart, and at
last to death itself. To death in black
disgrace"
Nance caught her breath in dis
mayed sympathy.
"She is cold as stone," went on the
man, brilliant, strong, and ruthless.
She sets herself point and cleaves
straight to it regardless of whom or
what she tramples on the way"
"Yes-like wanting our land. She
means to get it, one way or another"
Exactly. That rope you told me of
was bold stroke for it. Your father
was gone-your brother was the only
male of your family. With him gone,
too, you should have been easy"
at was murder she meant" said
Nance, mo less. We've always known
that"
"And what about your fathers
death? Tell me about that-if it is
not too painful"
1--WE don't know much about It. Our
pappy was mountaineer-born in the
Kentucky hills, lived in Missouri, a
man who loved the outdoors. He was
hunter and a woodsman. He was
| careful, never took chances. That's
| why we've never been reconciled to
the accident that killed him-he was
| found at the foot of Rainbow cliff,
| as If he'd fallen down it. And no one
In. this country has every been known
to reach the top of that spine"
'Have you ever thought that per-
haps he didn't fall. That he might
have been put there as way to cover
| a-crime?"
Nance shook her head.
Every bone in his body was
broken she said sadly, she was as
loose as bag of sand. He fell down
Rainbow cliff all iright-but how 1t
happened, that's what we'd love to
know"
"And probably never will" said Fair.
"No."
They sat for a while In silence.
| The little wind blew in their faces.
sweet with it's fresh and nameless sug-
| gestion of flowing water. Out in the
shadows the big black horse stood per-
fectly still, his peaceful breath scarce
| lifting his sides. The collie was ST.
lent, though his handsome head was
up, his sharp ears lifted above his
ruff. The child in Fairs lap con-
tinued to sleep.
! 1t seemed to Nance Allison that the
night had never been so calm before
| the stars SO bright, the unspeakable
majesty of the heavens so apparent.
| She wondered how it was possible to
feel so safe and at peace in the face
| of this last disaster, to look to the
future once more with hope
The little smile was pulling at her
lips again, her long blue eyes were
soft with hidden light
And then, out of the stiffness and
starlight, from somewhere across the
river, there came the clear crack of
q high-power gun, the thud of a ball
In wood. With one sweep of his RICH;
arm Fair flung Nance back upon the
floor, himself and the child beside her.
He slipped Sonny from his lap with
low word and rolled clear Quick
as a cat he threw his body to the
table, raised an arm above its edge
and swept the lamp to the floor, ex-
| tinguishing it instantly.
Then he crawled back and the hands
he laid upon the girls shoulder were
shaking.
"Tell me-" he gritted "tell me it did
not hit you!"
I-can't," whispered Nance, s'my
left arm-it feels all full of needles. :"
/ Fair slipped his fingers down along
| the firm young arm beneath it's faded
sleeve and found it warm and wet.
| Sonny was awake but still as a little
quail hid in the grass at its mothers
| warning whistle.
| There was the sound of soft op-
ening door beyond, and Mrs. Allison's
voice, low and terror-f1lled, said
| "Nance-girl-"
"Don't fret. Nanny" she whispered
| back. "pm all right-just a scratch