The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-01-14
THE
KILLING OF
BLACK DOE
By TRENTON cLURE
Copyright by w. @. Chapman,

- have Joined the Northwestern
mounted police, for of all types
of men who are out of their ele-
ment there, the moody, introspective,
unaggreSsive man comes easily first.
But Dunn had had a laundering after
the military life when he went out to
Calgary two years before.
Now he was in for several years,
and cursing his luck daily. What he
liked best was the lonely patrols up
In the Big Lake country.
He had met Marie Dufour there
the daughter of an old trapper who
had retired, like his fur-bearing
beasts, before the march of civiliza-
ton. He had seen her three times
during the past two years, and it had
been understood that when he became
corporal he was to speak to her IA
ther.
But the coveted stripes would never
be his so long as Sergeant Mitchell
remained In the squadron. A hard
featured, service-bitten man, Mitchell
made Dunn's life wretched. He in
spected his uniform with an eagle eye
that discovered the smallest speck or
flaw, he hauled him before his officers
on trivial charges; in short, he did
his best to break Dunn or force him
out of the service.
1t was long time before Dunn dis
covered that Mitchell had met Marie
in the Big Lake country the year be-
fore and coveted her beauty. When
Dunn understood this he privately re-
solved that some day he would even
up the score between them. For the
present he remained quietly In bar
racks, doing his duty and suffering
under Mitchell's ill-treatment.
The quiet life was interrupted by
one of those periodical excitements
that descended upon the barracks.
Black Doe had shot a police officer
at Neverport, and was making for the
Big Lake country. Mitchell was or
dered to take two troopers and get
him.
1t was a journey Of two hundred
miles, in the slushy period Of spring.
But the police never postpones its
vengeance when it can avoid it, and
never abandons it.
Dunn could not imagine what it was
that impelled Mitchell to select him
along with Crum. Perhaps Mitchell
wished to see the man he most hated
en- to- 10 No
sure Of his bearings. Whatever the
motive, he selected Dunn, and he
gibed at him all the way.
He found fault with him during the
his equipment, his care of his horse,
his manner of riding. He detailed him
on one-man fatigues in the daytime,
and gave him all the difficult work.
Dunn's rage smoldered, but the idea
in the back of his mind that he would
any tangible form.
In due course they reached the
store at Big Lake. Their visit was
complete surprise, Black Doe had
evidently was off his guard. Mitchell
ascertained that he had made no
purchases, without which it would be
impossible for him to continue on his
way northward into the barrens.
'We'll spend the night at Johnny
Dufour's," he said to Crum, as the
three rode away toward the shack.
Dunn's heart sank when he off
saddled. Marie was directly in the
doorway to greet the visitors, and her
eyes wandered with wonder from
Dunn's face to Mitchell's.
"Take my horse to the stables !"
commanded Mitchell CURLY. "And,
say! Take Crum's, too. And see that
they're well groomed before you
come in to supper"
Dunn went away obediently, riding
his horse and leading the two others.
Now he began to understand, he
thought, the reason why Mitchell had
selected him. He wanted to humiliate
him in the eyes Of the girl.
At supper Mitchell kept up cross
fire of chaff, banter and spitefulness,
directed at Dunn. Dunn's acquies-
cence seemed to enrage him. He
would have welcomed a chance either
for brawl or for punishment for in
discipline; but Dunn only sat silently,
watching Marie fprtively, while the
sergeant's eyes were alight with
triumph. He felt that he had won,
had shown Marie his superiority over
Dunn.
They retired to their hunks. They
were to start up the trail at day.
break, on the quest for Black Doe.
Dunn slept fitfully; he was thinking
of Marie, and his heart was full Of
passionate resentment
He was the first up, and went to
groom the horses. AS he came back
to the shack, he heard MitchelPs voice
and the girls behind the open door.
Mitchell had his arm round her waist