The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-04-01
By
FRANK H. SPEARMAN
Copyright by Charles Scribner's Sons.
WNU Service.

Use of good behavior, Selwood told
him when his goods were sold he
would give him another chance.
Christie, meantime, walked on air.
To herself she scarcely concealed
her interest In Selwood. Indeed, she
found herself sensitive after a few
days because Selwood did not call
oftener. Yet some remembrance of
their last talk was pleasant in her
heart-some thought of a confidence
in her worth expressed by the only
man in her new and strange sur
roundings whom she felt sure she
might trust.
Starbuck came IN one day especial
ly TO tell her that he had learned all
the circumstances OF the row between
her father and his partners, and
thought If her father would figure
out his damages, when he was well
enough TO do so, he, %Starbuck, would
see hat Atkins paid. And, Christie"
he added. in earnest of his intentions,
tell your father not TO be modest
about fixing the amount. Atkins Is a
bad egg-that's the truth OF 1t. /
get along with him. I have to keep
the peace here and I get along with
everybody. But your father ought
never TO have had anything TO do with
a man like that"
He made no reference whatever TO
the unpleasant alternative he had Of
fered before and seemed TO wish 1t
lost sight Of; for he showed now only
an interest in seeing what appeared
clearly a wrong properly righted.
FyIer accepted the olive branch.
Christie received Starbuck's overtures
coldly. A man may be fooled more
than once; but a woman, provided
her affections are not involved, is not
easily deceived the second time by a
man she has onc distrusted. Christie
was Just enough afraid of the man
to treat him civilly; but she threw
into her talk with him little carping
bits that kept Starbuck irritated
though they did not cool his ardor.
Indeed, they rather inflamed II with
a resentful resolve TO bring the girl,
in some wise, to time.
There's a hussy that's got 'em all
beat" declared Doctor Carpy to Sell
wood. "Shy as IN antelope and as
trim on her feet. We never had no
women like that down in my country.
She asked me this morning what had
become of you"
- a-c Thnn ~hnF r01nh pf q Erah-a.l
would have sent Selwood's good reso-
lutions to keep away from Christie
Fyler up in smoke. What he ought
to do. and what he wanted TO do,
were as far apart as the North pole
and the Southland In the clash Of
opinions the South pole won.
Leaving Carpy, SelwoOd walked up
to the hall on the Hill. The only sign
of life about the place was Bull Page,
who was filing and shining up the
lamps. SelwOod spoke kindly TO him
Bull was a devotee. Walking to the
back of the hall. Selwood went be-
hind his desk. He lifted the glass
clock dome, doubled the shoe up, and
put it into one of his ~capacious pock-
cts. He had resolved mentally to ask
Christie today whether this was her
shoe; if she claimed 1t, he meant to
make her prove her claim by trying
ii on for him.
1t was useless to pretend he could
visit her without careful preparation.
The least vain man would have tried
TO look his best for a call on the only
pretty girl in Sleepy Cat-Bill Parda-
loe claimed she was the only pref
ty girl on the Mountain divide.
And Selwood was vain. He prob
ably did not think so, but his careful
dress among careless men condemned
him. This afternoon that he went to
call on Christie he was in that dan
gerous state of preparedness hat had
given him his unwelcome nickname.
Fyler sat in a chair near the door,
summing himself. At the whip rack
Big Haynes was helping a man pick
u a wagon whip. In the darker rear
end of the store Selwood, pausing
at the door TO shake hands with
Fyler and ask after his health, caught
a glimpse of Christie talking to some
man whose back was so turned that
Selwood could not see who ii was.
The quiet gambler, with his left hand
resting easily on the toe of the shoe
in his side coat pocket, chatted for
a moment with the father of the girl
who claimed so much OF his thoughts
talked with him about the news
from the East, the increase in travel,
the growing disorders in the town.
and at length, getting away from him,
walked into the store.
Big Haynes stopped him. "John,"
he said, IT understand Wentworth
will be here tomorrow"
"Yes."
Bringing old General Roper with
him"
$50 I'm told"
Selwood heard Christie's voice Just
then in the back of the store. And
it was raised In indignant protest. 81
don't believe any such thing" she
was saying holly.
Selwood heard a mans laugh. He
recognized 1t as Starbuck's. He heard
also Starbuck's subdued but satisfied
retort: ASK him sometime"
Il WILL" exclaimed Christie vehe-
mently. I'll ask him the very next
time / see him"
The talk between the two had evil
IDENTIFY gone on in ignorance Of Sell
woods presence. To know that Star
buck was In the store-and talking
with Christie-was quite enough TO
stir Selwood into an ugly Woodland