The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-09-13

ing on their hunks. leapt up eagerly.
For two whole months we had not
heard from the outside.
threw myself on my hunk volup
tuously. and began re-reading my let
ters There were some from Garry
and some from mother. While still
unreconciled to the life was leading.
they were greatly interested In my
wildly cheerful accounts of the coun.
try. For my part ] was only too glad
mother was well enough TO write,
even il she did scold me sometimes.
But was still aglow with mem.
cries of the last few hours. Once
more had seen Berna. spent moments
with her of perfect bliss left her with
my mind full of exaltation and he
wildered gratitude. ] saw the love
mists gather in her eyes, ! felt her
sweet lips mold themselves to mine,
thrilled with the sheathing ardor of
her arms. Never in my fondest i'm
| aginings had conceived that such a
wealth of affection would ever be
for me.
| HeU TeIIleIUDeT6U
sob, say, boys, forgot to tell you
| met Mc('rimmon down the creek
You remember him on the trail. the
halfbreed. He said he wanted to see
US on important business. He has
proposal to make, he says, that would
be greatly to our advantage. He's
coming along this evening-What's the
matter. JIM"
Jim was staring blankly at one of
the letters he had received His face
was picture of distress, misery,
despair.
"Had bad news, old man%
"I've had letter that's upset me.
I'm in q terrible position. If ever I
wanted strength and guidance. want
it now"
Heard about that man?"
ayes, it's him, all right; it's Mosher.
l suspicioned II all along. Here's q
letter from my brother. He says
there's no doubt that Mosher is
MOseley."
His eyes were stormy. his face tragic
in Its bitterness.
"Oh, you don't know how I wor.
SHIPPED that woman, trusted her, would
have banked my life on her; and when
| was away making money for her she
ups and goes away with that Shiny
reptile. What am to do? What am
| to do? The Good Book says forgive
your enemies. but how can ! forgive
wrong like that? And my poor girl
he deserted her. drove her to the
streets Oh, my girl, my grill"
Tears overran his cheeks. He sat
down on log, burying his face in his
hands.
was at a loss how to comfort him,
and 1t was while was waiting there
that suddenly we saw the halfbreed
coming up the trail.
Better come in, Jim." | said. "and
hear what he's got to say"
We made McCrimmOn comfortable.
Jim regained his calm. and was quiet.
ly watchful. The Prodigal seemed to
have his ears cooked to listen. There
was feeling amongst US as II we had
reached crisis in our fortunes.
The halfbreed lost no time In com
ing to the point. "Pve got next to
good thing-I don't know how good
vet. but I'll swear to you it's q tidy
bit. It's gambling proposition. and
| want pardners. pardners that'll work
like bazes and keep their faces shut
Are you on?''
THAT'S got Us kodaked," said the
Prodigal. "We're that sort, and If the
proposition looks good to us we're
with you. Anyway, we're clans at
keeping our food-traps tight"
"All right listen. You know the Arc.
Transportation company have claims
on upper BOnanza-well, month
back | was working for them. Well,
one morning ! went down and cleaned
away the ash of my fire. The first
stroke of my pick on the thawed face
made me jump. stare stand stockstill.
thinking hard For there, right in the
hole | had made, was the richest
pocket ! ever seen. Boys. as I'm alive
there was nuggets in II as thick as
raisins in Christmas plum-duff."
Good LOrdl What did you do?"
"What did dol I just stepped
back and picked wherever the dirt
seemed loose all the way down the
drift Great heaps of dirt caved in on
me. was stunned, nearly buried. but
| did the trick. There were tons of
dirt between me and my find"
NVo oocnoA with
"The rest was easy. | went up the
shaft grOaning and cursing. pre-
tended to faint. | told them the roof
of the drift had fallen in on me. It
was rotten stuff, anyway. and they
knew 1t. The manager was disguised,
he went down and took look at
things: declared he would throw up
the work at that place; the ground
was Nd good. He made that report TO
the company"
The halfbreed looked round trium-
phantly.
"Now, here's the point We can get
lay on that ground. One of you
boys must apply for it. They mustn't
know I'm in with you. or they would
suspect right away. Wen make a big
cleanup by spring. I'll take you
right to the gold. There's thousands
and thousands lying snug in the ground
just waiting for us. It's right In our
nit. Oh. it's cinch, cinch If you
boys are willing we'll just draw up
papers and sign an agreement right
away. Is il gO?"
We nodded. so he got ink and paper
and drew up form of partnership.
"Now," said he, his eyes dancing.
now. to secure that lay before any
one else cuts in on us. Gee but it's
getting dark and cold outdoors these