The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-07-22
By George Marsh
Copyright by The Penn Publishing Co.
WNU Service.


through our fingers by hugging the
fire at Elkwan."
We'll, good luck to you" sighed the
old trader. "Since the French COM
pany came to the bay, the Indians
have forgotten the years we kept them
from starving. They're out of hand
now. Do what you can"
For space Cameron seemed to
dream of the past glories of the COM
pany he served, then suddenly asked:
You know what he did In August?'
mo"
"Why, he sailed into Charlton island
and tried to buy gas and flour at the
depot. McMann laughed at him, of
| course; but that red-headed freebooter
coolly announced that when he needed
| IT, he would come and take it-said IL
We wouldn't sell it to him, he had
government authority to seize il"
HE was right there; Ottawa's made
that ruling, you know" suggested
Blaikie, Cameron's clerk.
'Yes, they've made the ruling"
rasped Cameron, "but do you think
he'd get supplies from me when he's
come into the bay to rob us of the
trader" The columns of smoke that
the factor blew from his mouth were
the measure of his irritation.
''Oh, by the way, Guthrie" asked
Blaikie, with seeming innocence, what
was your trouble with this puffy old
boy, Quarter, you brought here to-
day."
Alive to the fact that the story of
Ninda and his summary handling of
the geologist had received due en-
bellishment when Quarter met Came
ron on the arrival of the York boat.
Guthrie suspected the motives of the
clerk, and he had no intention of dis
cussing the Quarter episode or of
subjecting the memory of the dead
girl to the comment of stranger
I've made my report to Mr.. Came
ron," he said with finality. "You heard
Quarter tell his story this afternoon.
What are you after?"
Blake choked with anger, but the
Scared cheek and the war record
which had followed Guthrie to James
bay in a letter from the Montreal
headquarters of the company had
made its marked impression at AL
bany. The clerk reiterated behind
cloud of pipe smoke.
Now, since that's settled" said
Cameron, loudly clearing his throat
and meeting Guthries look with q
wink, lets get back to business.
Where do you suppose this Mcdonald
gets his backing"
There are plenty of people in New
foundland who'd back him after the
haul he made last year on the east
coast"
He's going to be q thorn in our
side, Guthrie. He's no ordinary chap;
he's got nerve and ability. Queer
thing happened when he came into
Charlton. One Of the half-breeds
there stared at that face Of his and
laughed. Mcdonald grabbed the IL
dian by the throat and shook him like
a rabbit; then reared: Laugh, d-n
you! It's funny, is it? A thousand
Canadians died the day 1 got that!'
Profoundly stirred, Guthrie's SYM
pathy went ont to this stranger with
the twisted mouth. What raw tor
ture, what secret agony must have
been his-facing the world with a
grimace! How well he sensed the inn
potent fury-the bitterness of this
man, doomed to the pitiless stares-
the callous curiosity of the rabble.
II wonder what day that was"
queried Guthrie, aloud, unaware that
his fingers touched the cicatrix on his
cheek.
IF he'd only do something Illegal"
Cameron fastened to say, ''the COM
pany could run him out Of the bay"
There was CLINT, frankly COM
bative, in Garth Guthries eyes as he
heard the future of a Canadian vet
eran so cavalierly disposed of.
THAT might not be so easy. From
what the Indians say, he carries Lewis
guns. Do you know any of our people
who would relish meeting Laughing
Mcdonald at the butt end of ma
chine gun"
HE wouldn't dare fight us-shed
blood on this bay!"
Cameron" said Guthrie, and the
glitter returned to his eyes, I'm in
clined to think that the company had
better avoid any attempt at force with
an overseas man with mutilated
mouth. He's apt to run amuck-to
forget the wars over"
AS he studied GuthrIe's brooding
eye Cameron knOtted his thick brOws,
vaguely aware that the scar on the
face Of the speaker had prompted the
remark.
well. however that may be, he's a
dangerous competitor. After dropping
that scared company Indian like a
bag of salt, according to McMann, he
asked if there were any more slack
ers who wanted to laugh at the kiss Of
Hun shell-There weren't any.
Guthrie smiled, his thoughts colored
by memories.
"Yes," continued Cameron with
sigh, aware that the man he ad-
dressed was not listening, lit looks
bad for Kapiskau and Elkwan this
year"
Later, by the light Of candle in
the small room assigned to him by the
factor, Garth re-read two letters he
had found waiting at the post. The
letter Of his brother, dictated to his