The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-03-11

~ 49, OA
Carpy. however, held him. "John,"
he began, without preface or apology,
and catching the lapel of Selwood's
coat to make sure Of his victim, 81
said to you only the other day, IF
there's any human scum in the
whole blamed United States that
hain't landed in Sleepy Cat, it must
be b'cause they amt never heard of
IL yet"
Beyond touching his hat, and hat
almost without looking at her, Sell
wood did not acknowledge Christie's
presence. He held his eyes strictly
on Carpy, and received the doctors
outburst without visible emotion.
"Why don't you say something. you
big ~galoot?' demanded the doctor,
fused, to tell the truth, by the pres
ence Of the slip of a young woman at
his side-so young, indeed, that she
should be called a girl rather than a
woman.
What do you want me to say?"
asked Selwood, without a smile. "You
always ask me that when you get
mad-and you're mad most of the
time. What's bothering you?"
John. here's this nice little girl"
he looked toward her and knit his
brows in perplexity-"dash it," he
continued apologetically, Il never
a remember your name"
The doctor had taken off his hat
and was scratching his ear when he
appealed to his companion for help.
Christie Fyler," interposed Chris
tie. Just the sound of her voice
pulled Selwood's eyes to her eyes.
And he saw she had been crying.
you know this big hulk, don't
you, Christie? ?" asked the doctor with
genial informality. "If you don't" he
continued, meet Gentleman John"
Selwood was impatient. Don't be a
fool, Doctor" he protested, pleased
neither at the mention Of his Sleepy
Cat nickname nor at the situation be-
fore him.
swell, 1t Is Gentleman Johnp You
can't get rid of it." persisted the
doctor. You just tipped up your hat
to her, didn't you? Nobody else with
in a hundred and fifty miles of
Sleepy Cat would do that, would
they?'
Selwood, ~perceiving the source of
the doctors loquacity, ignored the
rest Of it. He turned his eyes on
Christie, whose face showed her dis
tress.
SIS your father sick?" he asked
without much feeling.
HE was robbed and beaten last
night" she replied, looking at him
and speaking quickly. "Two men
came to the tent, called him out,
knocked him senseless, and took all
his money"
"a ~pocketful. too" interjected the
doctor.
And yesterday morning Mr.. Atkins
took possession Of the store and put
father out Of 1t entirely"
Selwoed could no longer pretend In
difference.
"Why?' he asked mildly.
Christie wrung one hand nervously
in the other. ooh, 1 don't know
1 can't understand it, neither can
father. He says father owes him
money-he doesn't-not a penny.
But he's taken all our goods, and
everything! and put US out in the
street,"
Selwood listened without batting
an eye. Christie's restrained grief
was plainly acute.
Carpy thought it should have called
forth some expression Of sympathy
from the gambler. "Why don't Won
say something? demonstrated the
doctor.
Selwood asked a question Of the
doctor. How bad is Fyler hurt?"
"Well, aside from his head being
cut wide open n bein' pounded I'D
generally with a wagon spoke, he amt
really hurt at ALL" replied Carpy
ironically.
Doctor" murmured Christie, nat
urally indignant, and anxious to get
away from an unsympathetic atmos-
phere, fought we not to be hurry
ing to get the medicine back to
fatherT'
Selwood turned to Christie. 81 won
der whether I could see-your father
"a minute" He didn't want TO say
your father" being Just that resent
full; Selwood wanted to say, not
your father" but "FyIer"-so little
was he in love with him; and being
just mean enough TO feel the trader
had something coming to him"
why mott" interposed Carpy.
down there in that tent right
Of Dawes"
I'D better walt TIN you come back"
suggested Selwood, appealing to
Christie.
Come along TO the Office then: I'll
give her the medicine and you two
can go back together"
Until the two left the Office. medi-
cine In hand. Carpy kept the talk
going. But when Selwood found him.
self on the way to the tent In COM
with Christie only, the situation
grew embarrassing. Selwood's hard
ness of heart was fast giving way
before the innocence Of Christie. WIN
properly, chilled as she perceived
Seiwood's attempts to warm. Alto
by the time the tent fly was
reached, Seiwoods fine poise had
about failed him-he was feeling nm
Carpys presence was not needed 70
enable him to pass on FLYERS condi-
tion- Selwood had come In contact
with many injured men. and saw or