The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-01-15
BY vINcIE E. ROE
Copyright by the Mccall Company
wNU Service.

| two outcasts could have swum 1t, and
yet-where were their tracks If they
had not?
She circled the pool and went on,
trailing carefully, but the bed beyond
! was composed of shale, blue and sharp
hard going for child's bare feet,
she thought compassionately-
gave no sign of crossing. For an
other hour she went on, scanning the
walls, the fallen stones, the stream it
self and every nook or corner where
anything might hide. She was far in
Blue Stone canyon by this time and
wondered at the endurance which
could have brought child so far. Or
mad some one come and taken 1t away?
That was possible, of course, and yet
Ia grownup person would have left
marks In the soft sand assuredly. She
would-Abut at this point in her train
| OF thought, she came around sharp
Jut In the wall-and face to face with
her quarry, or at least with part of 1t.
Startled, the dog she had seen the
day before was crouching in the mar
row way that led around the jut. his
body half turned one foot raised. tail
lowered, and the face he turned back
across his shoulder was the most
vicious thing Nance had ever seen He
! was crouched to spring, and the fury
or his snarls, audible above the sound
OF the stream, made that odd clutch
close her throat which always accom-
panies sudden horror.
/ Nance Allison was a brave woman,
but she was scared then.
She stood rooted to the spot and
/ could not tear her eyes from the dogs
pale flaming orbs to look at the little
creature which she knew was running
with furry of rags and naked arms
up along the canyon wall.
For long moment they eyed each
other, then, without other warning
than flicker of those flaming eyes.
the collie sprang.
| He came high, sailing up and for
ward, his forepaws spread. his head
thrust out and downward, his jaws
gaping.
In the second that followed instinct
acted in Nance, not reason. Instead of
recoiling, she surged forward to NEE:
the onslaught, her right arm raised be-
fore her like a horizontal bar.
The faded denim sleeve was down
and buttoned at the wrist, where the
gauntlet of her cheap leather glove
made cuff.
Into that gaping mouth went the
arm, jamming hard, while she flung
her left arm around the ruffed white
throat like a clamp.
If she was surprised at her own in
| stinctive and prompt action, the collie
was more so. Down on the sand went
girl and dog. a rolling. tumbling
bundle. In the half second which
served to make the dog the victim In
stead of the attacking force, his out
| look on the situation was completely
changed. He had charged in a fury of
rage. Now he fought frantically, but
| 1t was to free his mouth from the
choking bar that filed it, to get his
head out of the wise which held 1t. But
Nance found herself In dilemma, too.
She was afraid to let go. AS she rolled
over in the struggle she cast desperate
eyes. up along the wall where she had
seen the eerie small figure running in
its rags. True enough, 1t was there,
stopped, facing her, bent forward, its
little hands clasped in curiously old
! fashion of distress.
"Little boy!" she called. "come here!
Come and talk to your dog-come
quickl / won't hurt you. Come and
call him-please conner
For moment she lay painting. look
| ing into the dilated eyes so near her
face.
"Old chap" she said softly, whats
all the fuss? I'm your friend If you
only knew it. Nice doggie-"
| She glanced at the child again, who
had not moved.
"Come on, sonny" she called coax
ingly. "come on-please."
Slowly the child came forward, hest
tant, afraid, his small face pale with
| fright.
He sided near and put out a dirty
hand to the dogs right ear The little
Ilduu lNdUce IGlI
the dogs body twitch in an effort to
obey. She knew at once that that was
the way they Travelled together-the
child holding to his ear. Slowly she
relaxed her grip, let go the backward
pressure. The collie jerked free and
backed off shaking his head. and Nance
sat up, folding her feet beneath her.
Then she smiled at the two waits of
Blue Stone canyon.
.'That isn't nice way to treat. folks
who come to see you, Is 1t. sonny?" she
asked, ito set your dog on them?'
II didn't set him on" said the child
in high treble, ''he set himself on
you"
81 guess you're right" answered the
girl, "but don't let go of him again. Go
over there and pick up that package
and bring 1t to me-"
~; s=.:s q 2: