The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-07-08


Charles Guthrie is a member Of
the syndicate which sent me to the
east coast TO examine those iron and
copper deposits. He'll be Interested
to hear from you at first hand"
Again the firm mouth of Guthrie
shaped faint smile.
I'm not so sure of that He's rath-
er given me up as black sheep, you
know"
For staying up here, I presume?"
yes, for not coming heae-this
summer"
"Cmw
Guthrie rose, and lighting a candle,
for the September night had fallen,
carried 1t to the sick room, where old
Anne was on guard. Returning, he
lit the small living-room lamp. And
in the mind Of the woman who
watched, surmise followed surmise
concerning the factor OF Elkwan, for
in the room he had given up to her
were three autographed nkenesses Of
a beautiful girl.
Then Quarter described In detail
the accident to his power schooner or
Cape Jones, the wild night on the bay
with an improvised and useless rud-
der, and the stranding on the beach
of Akimish island.
1T was the next morning that this
red-headed pirate, Mcdonald, discov-
cred us and sent boat ashore"
hn
stuff" asked Guthrie.
Yes, he said he needed -four and
gasoline"
"And he got itY' suggested the 9TH
er, with a laugh.
Eyes, but instead Of paying what
It's worth here, on the bay, he paid
me st. Johns prices"
swell, for a pirate, he was rather
liberal, wasn't he? He halls from st.
Johns, they say. Has been up here
two summers, but always went back
in the autumn. This year he told
some Of the Indians that he would
winter in cove at the south end of
the island. Akimiski is famous for
silver and black fox"
II can't understand Why the COM
pany doesn't run him out of the bay
If he's hurting their business"
Guthrie laughed "Why. man, he
has as much right here as we, or the
Revillon Freres And as to running
him out, I'm inclined to think that
Mcdonald would take a lot OF run
ming. Did you happen to go aboard
his schooner"
Eyes, I went board to get my
money"
You didn't notice a machine gun
or two lying aroundT"
"Nor'
"Well, the Crees say he has them.
Evidently, he has come to stay"
$50 you're going to sit calmly here
and let him get the furY' snorted
Quarter, contemptuously.
That's it." agreed Guthrie. "You
see, we're bit afraid of this wild man
with the SCARED face. The rumor has
drifteG up here that he had an impress
sive war record"
The irony was lost on the geologist.
Afraid to fight for your rights, ehY'
he ridiculed, obliviOus Of the bullet
furrowed cheek Of the man who faced
him.
At the reproach, the face of Guthrie
lit with amusement, but a CLINT in the
half-closed eyes prompted Joan Quar-
rier, mortified by her brothers gau-
cherie, to intervene.
ITO a Canadian veteran, that re-
mark Is positively insulting. + fail
TO recall anything of a warlike ma
ture in your manner with our pirate.
Arch. As matter of fact, you seemed
quite overawed."
"Overawed? Ridiculousw snapped
Quarter. Il was glad to sell flour
and gas we couldn't take with u.s."
Guthrie's twinkling eyes met those
of the girl. 'They say his SCARED
mouth is rather awe-inspiring. Pos
sibly scars are repulsive to your
brother" he suggested "They are
to some people"
The tone Of the last-the sudden
tightening of face muscles-the swift
SOLDERING of the eyes, spurred the quick
intuition of the girl to pierce the
armor of his raillery, to surmise what
the scared cheek of the speaker might
have brought to him of bitterness.
and pain. But why7 she wondered.
The red line from eye to ear only lent
dignity distinction, to the cleanly
modelled features. Why should this
badge of service be the source of Sc
cret humiliation? But she was conf
dent that 1t was.
Quarter changed the subject "By
the way, Mr.. Guthrie, when can you
send for the stuff left on the beach
and take 1t to Albany? I can pick 1t
up next spring when I return to the
bay"
Evidently deeply occupied with his
thought, for a space the man adj
dressed made no answer; then he said,
indifferently: "Some time this win
ter, possibly, when the ice sets hard
In the strait"
"What? Not before then? There
are some valuable ore specimens and
stores-boxes Of them. That pirate
will come back for them"