The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-10-21
ia

AS she looked up, aware or MS
presence, he said: at is not February,
but 1 have returned"
Something is the matter?" she said,
apprehensively. what has happened
at Elkwan?"
"Etienne shot himself"
But you, why are you here? Why
did you come|
For you"
For me-to go to Elkwan?" Dazed
at the idea, her hand sought her fore
head, while the chattering children
crowded curiously around them.
HE wants you. There may be in
fection-and you know wounds-have
everything in your kit, bandages,
stimulants, antiseptics"
Let me put on my coat and we'll
talk outside" she said.
So they went to the clearing.
81 know well what I'm asking" he
said. ut means a day on the sled
discomfort, for you. But he is my
friend, and it may mean his life
your coming"
Her troubled eyes turned TO his. 81
want to gO-the trip is nothing. It's
going, alone with yOu-it means
leaving the mission, I suppose"
"Of course, Swan will make a fuss
To him it will look immoral-your
going-tO save a mans life" he said.
savagely, "but for you-an army
nurse, with life at stake" he plead
ed, lis there any choice?"
She smiled wistfully as she gazed
over the frozen river.
I've got TO go. It's in my blood
to help them-the wounded"
His heart leaped at the words. "To
help the strOng-tO help me-is that
in your blood, too, Joan Quarrier?'
he asked passiOnately.
She Shivered and avoided his eyes.
as a wave of color swept up to her
dark hair. THE strong need no help"
she parted.
Again in control of himself, the
elated Guthrie smothered his own
emotion in this thought for the strick-
en- friend at Elkwan, for whom he
had lied to the man he respected and
the girl he loved. And he wondered
what she would say to him when she
learned of the deception. That she
would have come as readily, had he
told the truth, he had no doubt, but
the secret of Galbraith's presence at
Elkwan was trust, sacred, inviO-
late. He had told Cameron that the
crew of the Ghost had died to man.
AT Albany, Laughing Mcdonald was
dead man. On the way up the coast,
Joan Quarter should learn the truth.
"Oh, We of little faithI Guthrie
sadly shook his head. "What must I
do to convince you?"
The girl made no answer.
Looking up, Garth saw, bundled in
fur cap and coat much too large for
him, a short figure blocking their
path.
You are going on this mad jour
ney" the shrill voice of Swan de-
manded. do you hold your reputa-
ton so cheaply?"
You have heard"
yes! Mrs. Cameron has told me
what this man has come for"
You're too late, Swan. she has
promised to CO." said Garth quietly.
Ignoring Guthrie, the little man grave
ly warned:
"You realize, Miss Quarter, if YOU
go, you cannot return to the mission ?"
YES" Mr.. Swan. Before 1 became
a mission teacher, and my moral well
fare the object Of your solicitude, I
lived for three years with wounded
men. A mans life is at stake 1t is
worth more than my reputation"
To Garth she said abruptly: Come
for me when you are ready. I'll go
and pack my kit"
Bravo. Healer of Wounds! That
was spoken like a soldier" and walk
Ing squarely at the mortified mission
airy, dazed at the f1outing Of his au-
thority, who stepped into the soft
snow to avoid the threatened COLI
sion, the elated Guthrie hurried to the
trade-house.
She'll go, she'll go!" he announced
to the waiting factor.
Good! You'll take good care of
her, 1 know. 1 wish you the best of
luck, my boy. She's a rare one-is
JOAN"
Swan told her she couldn't return
to the mission"
"A-ah!" CONTEMPORARY grunted
the other. "We'll send over and get
her belongings. She'll spend the rest
of the winter with us But she's much
too valuable to the Swans for them
TO stick to their high horse. They'll
be over trying to wheedle her into
coming back"
But hope she won't"
Wen see to that. Why, they didn't
know how to feed a husky pup, and
in charge of twenty children Think
of ii J Joan turned to and taught 'em
something, scientific, you know Oh,
they'll be back after her"
Guthrie grinRed broadly as he said:
$50 will To-
We'll, l hope you get her"
Behind the slab counter Garth
curled up on bundle of blankets for
few hours sleep, until his dogs were
fit to take the ninety mile run north
tohElkwan and the sick man who, Of
ficially,s'had died on the Ghost,
At noon he drove his refreshed team
to the mission where Joan, standing
beside her dufie bags, waited in the
snow.