The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-10-07
CHAPTER XI

She was waiting In the clearing
when Shot Hoped up, smiled, looked
at her curiously, then paved her Joy
fully with fore feet.
"Shot. you know mer And she
rubbed the ears Of the wriggling aire-
dale.
He has q good memory for his
friends" said Garth. as the dog leaped
in the snow around the pleased girl.
81 think 1t quite wonderful, though,
that he should remember me. He
knew me but five days"
Garth's mouth curled. His master
knew you no longer" And the factor
Of Elkwan reveled in the slow color
that touched her temples-the swift
Pickering OF heavy-lashed lids.
His master had reason TO remem-
Der the guests who insulted him In
his own house"
"One Of his guests" countered Guth-
RE, was an angel Of mercy. We sell
dom forget the visitation Of angels,
do we?'
And the other-an unEateful scan
dal-monger"
Il told you last night he was a
blessing in disguise"
She looked squarely in his eyes as
she said: But 1 did not believe you,
Mr.. Exile"
With a gesture Of helplessness, he
insisted, But how am 1 to prove it
TO an unbeliever"
Her eyes clouded. Lets walk
along the shore" she parried. and led
the way, Shot circling her, begging for
a frolic.
You're trying again for the spring
trade from the isIand?" she asked.
''Oh, with SOuci there, and the echo
of his spirit voices In their ears, we
shall hold the hunters who crossed the
strait"
Then Elkwan will have a wonder
full year."
Yes, the best in its history"
Because of its new factor"
Because Of Etienne Savanna and
Saul Souci"
mo" vehemently, because you
went inland and found Souci, and had
the nerve TO cross the channel through
the ice in a York boat, then took a
long chance over the new fee to reach
the island in time; Mr.. Cameron
knows"
He glanced sharply at the clean
profile, crowned by a plume of wind
tossed hair. You're a doughty cham
pion"
NO, I'm only a fair critic
May I never have a fairer-nor
one more unfair"
Unfair? What do you mean, Mr..
Exile?"
She had given him his opening. 81
mean, Joan Quarter, that you have
shut your heart TO the truth" he
plunged in impetuously. 81 mean that
you are coupling me with ghosts
dead memories; that you will not see
understand" In his eagerness TO
clarity her vision Of him-erase the
memory Of Ethel with whom. in spite
Of his denials, he still seemed hope
lessly involved, Garth fioundered-
came to a halt through sheer excess
of emotion.
Cant we continue the good friends
we are, Mr.. Exile? We need friend
ship-understanding, up here on this
lonely coast. Can't we-like two good
comrades-hold TO what we haveT
Dazed, helpless in the face of her
obsession-her evident conviction that
her brother had been the cause Of his
ultimate break with Ethel FaIconer,
Guthrie walked on in silence.
Cant we hold to our friendship"
she repeated, facing him, and slipping
of her mitten, extended her hand.
He took it. At the raw pain in his
eyes Joan Quarters lips opened in an
involuntary catch Of the breath. Her
eyes widened in look Of wonder, as
If startled by what she saw.
You know you always will have
my friendship" he said thIckly. I'm
coming down the coast in February
to see my--friend. May II"
Your friend will be very glad TO
see you"
At the door Of the mission, she met
his reluctant good-by with a smile so
personals like a caress that the
hand he gave her shook like leaf In
the wind
my friend" he repeated under his
breath as he followed Shot back 70
Etienne and the waiting dog team,
my friend-my world"
Hour by hour. over the coast fee.
the light sled reeled off the miles. So
good was the going. so keen the five
great huskies for the trail, that the
men left their robes only TO stretch
their legs. The forty miles to the Big
Willow river slid past by early after
noon, and the hungry men turned In
to the river mouth TO build fire from
driftwood and boil their kettle.
Twenty miles directly across the
strait, the gray Akimiski hills parted
to form Seal cove.
I'D give a good deal to know how
they took the news over there of the
loss of the northern fur, Etienne."
said Guthrie. busy with his plate Of
beans and bacon. Hello. There's a
team coming in over the ice. Wonder
who 1t Is"