The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-09-20
The Trail OF 90

conWeHS. ulurky ana stale as cnar-
uel house. Then came the dreams.
There was always Berna. Through
mass OF ,grinlacing, greed-conforted
faces gradually there formed and lin
gered her sweet and pensive one .
struggled TO go Ia her. She was waiting
for me, breaking her heart AT my delay
Then the fever, the rawlings. the wild
threshing of my pillow. all passed
away, and was left limp. weak. help
less. resigned to my fate.
| was on the sunny slope of con.
valescence. AS turned and twisted
on my narrow cot II seemed as II the
time would never pass. All I wanted
was to get better fast, and to get out
again. Then, thought, l would marry
Berna and go Outside" | was sick
of the country. of everything.
was lying thinking over these
things, when became aware that the
man in the cot TO the right was try
ing to attract my attention. He had
been brought In that very morning.
said to have been kicked by a horse.
He was in great pain. but quite con-
sciOus, and he was making stealthy
motions to me.
SAY. mate" he said. 81 piped you
off soon's | set me lamps on you.
Don't youse know met"
looked at the bandaged face won
deringly. Then. with a great start,
saw il was the Worm.
Taint no horse done me up" he
said In hoarse whisper; "'twas a
man. You know de man, de worst
devil In all Alaska, Black Jack. Bad
luck to him! He knocked me down
and give me de leather. But I'm goin'
to get even some day. I'm just laying
for him."
The mans eyes glittered vengefully
between the white bandages.
"'Twas all on account of de little
girl he done it You know de girl
mean. Black Jacks dead stuck on
her. an de furder she stands him off
de more set he is to get her. Youse
don't know dat man."
''Tell me what's the matter, for
Heavens sake"
"Well, when youse didn't come, de
little girl she got worried. | used to
lie dom chores round de restaurant,
an she asks me to take a note up to
you. So ! said would. But ! got
on drunk dat day, an for a week
after didn't draw sober breath.
I In I FOL
I'd seen you an given you de note an
you was comm in right away"
Heaven forgive you for that"
"Yep, OATS what ] say now. But
it's all too late. Well, week went
on an you never showed up, an
meantime Locasto was pesterin' her
cruel. She got mighty peaked like.
pale as ghost, an | could see she
cried most all her nights. Den she
gives me anudder note. ! said she
could lay on me dis time. | was de
hurry-up kid an l starts off, But
Black Jack must have cottoned on.
for he meets me back of de town an
taxes me wild takin' message. Den
he sets on me like wild beast an
does me up good and proper. But I'll
fix him yet"
"Where are the notes?" cried.
."Tn de pocket of me coat. Tell de
nurse to fetch in me clothes, an III
give dem to youse."
The nurse brought the clothes.
There were the notes, folded very
small. and written in pencil There
was a strange faintness at my heart.
and my fingers trembled as opened
them. Fear, fear was clutching me,
COMPRISING me in an agonizing grip.
Here was the first.
"My Darling Boy: Why didn't you
come? | was all ready for you. Has
anything happened to you. dear? For
Heavens sake write or send q mes.
sage. l can't bear the suspense.
"Your loving
"Berna."
Blankly. duly, almost mechanically,
I read the second.
"Oh. come. my dear, at once. I'm
in serious danger. He's grown des-
perate. Swears if he can't get me by
fair means he'll have me by foul I'm
terribly afraid Why have you failed
me-? Oh, my darling, have pity on
your poor little girl. Come quickly
before it is too late"
Ii was unsigned.
Heavens! | must 60 to her at once.
| was we'll enough. | was all right
again. Why would they not let me
go TO her? ! was strong. so strong
now.
Ha 4! there were the Worms clothes
II was after midnight. The nurse had
just finished her rounds. All was
quiet In the ward.
DiZZily | rose and slipped into the
frayed and greasy garments. There
were the hospital slippers. must
wear them. Never mind a hat.
was out in the street | shuffied
along, and people stared at me, but no
one delayed me. was at the restau-
rant now. She wasn't there. Alb the
cabin on the hill
was weaker than | had thought.
Many times | stumbled, cutting my.
self on the sharp boulders. The way
seemed endless, yet stumbling, stag
gering on. there was the cabin at last
On my hands and knees. crawled
TO the door and hammered with
clenched fists. There was silence
within. then an agitated movement.
| knocked again. Was the door ever
going to be opened? at ',st II swung
inward. with a suddenness that pre-
cipitated me inside the room
The madam was standing over me
where had fallen. AT sight of me
she screamed Surprise. fear. rage.