The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-02-25

ed from the 1raSclDle surgeon,
Christie Fyler, leaving her own tent
to go up street, caught sight for the
first time of new visitor at the sick
mans tent. This was Selwood. No
day passed, indeed, without Selwood's
seeing Tracy; he made his visits
usually In the early evening, before
going to the hall. On this particular
morning his anxiety had got him up
earIy-for him-that Is, before noon,
TO see Carpy and discuss his friends
chances. From the tent Selwood
walked back to the hotel for his own
breakfast and dinner-usually one
meal. On the way he had to pass the
old building made over into a store
by the trader, Fyler-the man Of
whom Carpy had so feelingly COM
planned and passing, Selwood,
moved by an impulse Of curiosity,
looked In.
A midday auction was In progress.
Before a counter, where Selwood en-
tered, was gathered small crowd of
men-emigrants, settlers, transfers,
and loafers while on the counter,
red-faced and In his shirt-sleeves. stood
Big Haynes, running an eloquent auc-
ton. The bidding was good, stuff was
moving briskly. At the rear end of the
counter Fyler, behind a dry-goods box,
was wrapping up purchases and taking
In the money. 1t looked like a queer
combination to Selwood, the new
trader and the two Sleepy Cat
worthless, but he had no comments to
record on that point, either to him
self or to any one elsa.
Selwood, listening to Big Haynes
laundering praises of his wares and
complaints of the astonishing cold
ness Of his buyers, used his eyes
about him. He saw that the stock
was Of sort not infrequently shipped
to the frontier because out-of-date
elsewhere. 1t was desperately ill-as-
sorted for the needs Of western men,
though 1t might have suited western
women, had there been any number
in Sleepy Cat to suit. Selwood edged
gradually over to where Fyler was
at work wrapping goods near the
money till. He remembered then that
he had some business with Fyler.
You seem to have the best part
Of the job" he said presently, and
solely because he wished to talk to
him.
Fyler looked up without recogniz-
ing his benefactor of Crawling Stone
wash.
"How'sy thatT'
"NeXt the money drawer"
Fyler laughed. Mighty little in
it,"
my names Selwood," said the gam
bier, without raising his voice. 81
look after the Russell and Wentworth
freight here. My wagon boss tells me
we're short some goods for you in
the last shipment"
The trader looked at him with a
new interest. "You were; twelve cases
of boots-alI had coming; just about
put me out of business. Where were
they lost?'
"They weren't lost. They were
stolen. 1 came in to get a descrip-
tion-when you're through with the
sale"
As he spoke, man that would In
wife attention entered the front door.
He was short, almost squat in stature,
and quare-built-practica every
thing about the man could have been
measured by a right angle. He was
smooth-faced, his head was square,
his forehead square, his shoulders
square, his feet broad and square,
and his jaw was square. He walked
slowly and planted his hob-nailed
boots squarely before him. His legs
were short, his arms long, and he
would have disputed build with a 60
rilla and strength with a grisly. This
was Abe Cole, the Sleepy Cat black
smith. Other blacksmiths there were
in Sleepy Cat; but Cole was known
as and designated as the Sleepy Cat
blacksmith.
Fortunately he was as peaceable as
powerful when not aroused, but his
disposition was naturally positive, and
he was known as a fighter.
Abe shouldered himself through the
crowd without hesitation or difficulty
his shoulders encountered
an obstacle, the obstacle gave way.
He walked straight to Fyler, holding
out handful of soggy scraps Of black
felt. A bedraggled hatband hung
from his wrist. Look here, Haynesv ~
he Numbered. The auction stopped.
Here's the hat you sold me yester-
day." Cole added, in no uncertain
tones. Haynes gave him prompt at
tention. That's what the rain did
to it." beloved Abe.
Haynes, leaning down. picked up
the shoddy wreck, the hatband last
and very carefully, for fear it should
fall to pieces, and examined the re-
mains with solicitude.
(TO BE CONTINUED.J
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