The Ely miner., 1927-06-10

What was his surprise to find the
door Of his room open and, looking
inside, to see Christie smoothing up
the>counterpane on his bed. He stood
perfectly still, watching her. In a
moment she had finished and, turning
as she Strengthened up, she saw him
in the doorway. She gave startled
little cry, and her face was picture
of crimson confusion. "Oh!" she ex-
claimed, trying to speak and to
laugh at once, "You can come right
In! Pm all through. Margaret has
gone, you know, and Doctor asked me
If / wouldn't tidy up his room and
yours just for this morning-I-so
II made the beds-and I-oh, Mr..
Selwood, were you very much hurt In
that dreadful fght?"
Selwood protested he had received
no serious injury, but seemed unable
to add much to his disclaimer. "And
all this morning" continued Christie,
hardly giving him time to speak, any
way, "Fve been trying to get chance
to thank you over and over again for
all you did for me and for Father last
night don't know what would have
become of us-where should / be
now, if 1t hadn't been for youl You
can come right In" she repeated,
growing a bit hazy herself; II think
things are in some kind of order,"
she faItered. not only out of breath
but out of thoughts, for she had
stood his silent eyes, and something
she saw In them, about as long as she
could stand them and keep her
senses. "And," she said, dropping
her own. eyes before him, "Pm just
going"
Don't be In hurry he suggest
ed, standing exactly In the doorway
through which she was trying to
make her escape.
"Oh!" she exclaimed for the
fourth or fifth time-and her eyes
bulked large with fear and apprehen-
sion. Il must go to the doctors room
now-his bed isn't made yetr'
If Christie's burning cheeks and
distressed manner were to be be-
lieved, this fact pictured a terrible
situation. But it did not impress Sell
wood. AS Christie showed fright, he
showed composure.
"If Doc Carpy ever saw his bed
made, he wouldn't know where to get
into it." he retorted unfeelingly. "He
sleeps in buffalo robe. Christie"
he added. 'Td like a little talk with
you. Do you remember the morning
l met you and your father on the
Crawling Stone trail?"
Christie spoke up promptly. SIN
deed, / do"
Il picked up girls shoe that morn
ing on the trail. / thought ii was
about the prettiest shoe I'd ever seen.
There was a horseshoe lying there on
one side of the trail and this girls
shoe on the other. I'd had nothing
but horseshoe luck all my life out
here, and it had been rotten luck. So
/ thought I'd take a chance on that
girls shoe-and picked it up."
Christie laughed. "What an idea
And what did you do with it?"
"Pve got it. And what I want to
find out from you right now and right
here is, what kind of luck it's brought
me. Sit down a minute, will your
Christie, somewhat fiustered, dill
sit down.
81 said to myself" continued Sell
wood, at must be a nice girl that
owned that shoe. And If I could find
her-and ever get some things in my
own life Strengthened out-Td ask
her whether she'd marry me"
He seemed to be running out Of
words and ideas, and Christie came
to his aid. "Well, Of course, hope"
her eyes fell-"it's my shoe, John.
It's going to be a terrible tempta-
tion toto claim 1t. Couldn't we
make believe it's mine, John, any
wayY
do you really want 1t to be yours?"
Christie looked up very simply.
"How could l want 1t to be any one
else's, John?
I've hnIh0tCS ldtCA 1ONtOA O&A ~ .
loud whistle echoed up the hallway.
Christie Fyler, In Selwood's arms.
started like a frightened fawn. She
tried to break away, and could not.
"John !" she whispered frantically.
"Some ones comingl Let me go!"
With tear-brimmed eyes she looked
pleadingly up. He would not release
her. Hes downstairs" murmured
Selwood reassuringly. There's mo-
body at all up here"
You'll start your arms bleeding
again, John," she whispered In alarm.
81 can't get a BREATH"
Christie Selwood looked down
at her face, her head cushioned in the
hollow Of his arm. I've got to tell
you this, too-Fm dead broke"
She laughed-who as well as lovers
can face the world broker 81 guess
everybody is broke In Sleepy Cat,
John. Then, besides risking your
precious life for me, you've had a
terrible misfortune-they burned your
hall, didn't they, John? And you lost
everything"
He looked down at her. Christie" !"
he said seriously, 81 suppose you'll
be willing to prove property by letting
me try that shoe on you to see If it
fits?"
"Oh, 1t isn't necessary to- bother
you'll can try it on. myself"
'Tf you'll let me try Ii on you, I'll
tell you secret"
go ahead, then"
81 burned the hall, myself. Yes"
he continued, as she looked at him