The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-03-08


Here he Is French, like bis mother,
and here Scandihoovin. and so he gets
all mixed up. | fancy he Is just like
this inside his mind" she crossed her
fingers. But he did love his father
Il think he did. too." Sue answered.
She started up. James Deiong had
entered the door. belongs skin was
colorless. his eyes were disheartened.
| She went to meet him.
"Any luck?" she whispered.
"None," be answered. His voice
quavered. Fritz didn't make it.
You've heard the rest. Sue? Idrowned
Erickson's fatherl"
"No. mol" she protested.
He cried out at her savagely.
Didn't I? Who else did? I'm to
blame for ali thisI Young Erickson
warned mel He told me the dam
would burst -. We're on edge, all
of u.s." he went on quieting. WED
better be getting home. | can drive
you, Erickson"
II have my fathers boat" Norman
answered. 81 don't know about Julie"
Il go her way. Ii you'll take
Sue :" he hesitated. I'D like
to hurry, Erickson. There's just
chance some one may have come
across Fritz"
Norman waited outside the church;
be was unwilling to face more people.
chill air had settled with the dark
ness. He shiyered. Down there at
the edge of the black lake behind a
fish house door lay his father. Gustaf
| was dead. And he had believed bis
son "afeared."
Norman felt relieved when the
others appeared. He did not speak
as Julie left, only held her warm
hands. Sue Stocking drew the as
sistant's arm into her own.
I'm so sorry" she whispered; her
| voice reminded him of his mothers.
| Why had he ever thought her aloof?
hour run"
Together they felt their way down
the embankment, and turned toward
| the fish houses. A kerosene lantern
smoked in the window of the Erickson
| shack. Jim Nelson, drawing on his
pipe, stood stiff1y in the door, feet
wide apart
He pulled shut the door when he
heard footsteps. and snapped a hasp
and paddock. Norman was glad for
| the sound. He had not yet seen his
father, who lay there on the floor. To
/ morrow would be better; his head
might not burn So He turned on the
beam of the flash that belong had
| lent him.
| You" Nelson said. His voice was
low and tired. Il thought I'd help
you off, Norman. ! already run the
boat out there. I'll help you start her.
| The engine. she be kind Of tricky"
He piloted them down the dock 70
the squat gasoline boat with its broad
rooted cabin. The motor turned over,
choked, and began its slow cadence.
| Nelson climbed out YEARLY, with the
air of another duty not neglected. Sue
found place quietly on the stern
deck. Norman searched for the tiller
with his feet, caught it Familiarity be-
tween his shoes.
"rIl cast ye off," Nelson offered.
wiping his mouth on the back of his
hand .Mebbe you'll be comm back
I'D tomorrow, Norman? They's ar
engagements and things
Before noon,' Norman answered.
Thanks, jim"
| you're welcome. He was my friend,
your father. | know him better than
| you do, Norman. He had a hard
| tongue, you think. Yes, that's true.
Folks he liked best, he quarreled with.
You, me, your mother still, he
was a good shipmate, Gustaf was"
Il know it, jim"
"Good night, Norman"
The fish boat pointed her nose to-
| ward the open lake. a fresh wind,
with a keen edge on It's tail, cut out
Of the west.
Norman" Sue whispered softly.
In a dim reflection Of stars and
northern lights, he watched her face.
He watched her lips, trembling ever
so little, and her eyes. which seemed
very large and not so steady as usual.
81 know, Norman. there's nothing
can say. But you know how sorry
| am"
II know"
"For for everything. Norman.
You were fine this morning. You did
a good Job of rescue" Another 81
Ience. $50 that's where you visit in
the hill7"
"Where?"
AT the Riehauds. She's a very
fine girl"
He was peering straight ahead al
the punctual unwavering glow in the
lantern of Blind Mans Eye. he dis
regarded her remark.
wave spIashed along the boat,
struck at their faces and spattered
| their soggy shoes. Another followed
it, and then third.
Il best look for some oilskins," Nor.
man said.
Already his shoulders were drenched
Sue must be soaked through. He re-
membered the yellow slicker she had
worn that morning, and asked her
about it.
''Torn to pieces" she answered.
There must be oilskins. Sue. I'll
look. You steady the tiller !.
that's II. Thanks"
he drew the fiashlight from his
pocket and bent his head TO slip into
the trap to the engine compartment
Fumbling. be directed the flash ahead
| OF him.
With surprised cry. he dropped
the lamp on the wet rolling deck he
had seen a man just inside the cabin
A short fellow with fat face. Wear
ing the blue sweater of the coast