The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-10-28

laughed at him and dared him. but he
held to his promise.
And so 1t went on, and the train
pushed into another night and an
other day. and still they besieged and
stormed the fort they found implaca-
Bile. And then at length one afternoon.
as the shadows were beginning TO
gather in the car. the train slowed up
at small. implanted building which
brakeman introduced to the pass
engers as Breshtown.
They helped Poke Off with his bag
gage and piloted him to real auto
mobile which they had telegraphed
ahead to have In readiness. He lived
six miles from the station he had
told them, and had frankly added
that the way led through a wild for
est. They had assured him it would
be unnecessary for him to order a con-
veyance, as theirs would be large
large enough for all three, including
his baggage, and they were going d.
rectly his way to their old home. One
of them would drive, they said.
Poke was hilariously exuberant. He
laughed and sang and cracked jokes,
and they sang and laughed with him
until they came to a lonely place in
the woods, and then the car was
turned into the bushes and Poke felt
the cold muzzle of a revolver against
his head
Now turn over your money" one
of them ordered savagely, "and be
quick about it."
Poke looked at them in dazed won
der to see if they were in earnest. 81
won't" he cried, when he understood.
Its for the Hunter place an to get
married"
"Oh well, just as you like" said
one of the men indifferently. "Well
kill you and then take the money. It's
all the same to us. You can't help
yourself"
Poke turned white and looked ap-
pealingly from one to the other. They
were calm, smiling, but implacable.
Slowly he unbuckled belt from his
waist and offered it.
The man showed his teeth a little,
but, nevertheless, opened it and
counted the contents. Eight hundred
and seventy-fve," he said Then he
rolled the belt and money into a ball
and hurled them contemptuously into
the bushes. "Now we'll get right down
to business. Give US your money!
81 have, walled poor Poke, al
most Historically, "every blamed
cent"
'Once more, give US your money"
the man Kissed. sit is the last time
we ask. Killing comes next. Open
your bundlesr'
"But there's no money In Them"
eagerly. "See." He cut the string
from one of the packages and dis
closed an assortment of bright dress
goods and ribbons and laces. 81
bought 'em for Marigold. An this
cutting more string--"is full o. bead
stuff an Injin' fiixin's. lowed Mari
gold would like 'em. An these other
bundles" cutting strings from one
after another as rapidly as possible
sis full O. pretty rocks an shells an
things. That's why they weigh, so
heavy. Longs l had all the money
wanted lowed Marigold would like
'em better'n more gold"
"And do you mean to say" speak
ing the words slowly and menacingly,
shat you brought all this rubbish
from Alaska when you might have
gold?"
"Why, of co'se," wonderingIy. 81
didn't need any more gold. The old
Hunter place can be had for 5000 an
plain four-room house here In the
woods be raised for $500 more an
kerridge an mule an COW an all the
rest bought for bout $3.50. That would
leave $500 to put aside. Plenty
enough, land knows. More'n any o.
my fambily ever had afore."
The rumble of wagon could be
heard coming through the woods, and
a baffled, vindictive CLEAN came to
the mems eyes. For a moment they
glanced at Poke as though debating
quick and signal revenge. Then the
rumble grew louder and they sudden
ly sprang to the ground and disap-
peared in the woods. When wagon
came noisily round bend in the road
Poke was just emerging from the
bushes with his money belt and money.
The money he slipped into his pocket,
the belt he rebuckled round his waist.
''Howdy, Peke," he called cheerily
as he recognized the driver. Flows
all?"
"Hey! That you, Poke" in mild sur
prise from the wagon. "When'd you
come? Oh, I'm toler'ble, an the
folkses air all WELL"
San Marigold?"
"She's well, too," Peke grinned
"Ast bout you t'other day."
Poke looked obviously at the car,
then shook his head. Couldn't risk.
it now.
"See We ag'in. Peke." he called. mo
time now"
Then he hurried on. half-running,
half-loping. Soon nothing could be
heard but the pattering of his feet in
one direction, and the impatient soft
al-ss 81 In, 4l<