The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-01-18
CHAPTER w
FIRE.!

Fire!
Norman awakened, the morning aft
er Ed Baker was hurt, with sense
that he had drowned in his boots TO
a cold fifty fathoms. Only his head
had been saved. And that ached.
Doctor Mccarthy had come and
gone before one o'clock.
mot a bad cut" he had said, after
examining Bakers head, "only bit
of a clout. How'd you get it?"
Baker growled and no one else an
swered.
You didn't need me, with Erickson
here" Mccarthy said. HE can tie up
a broken head lugged and tOted for
his father long enough TO know how
how long, Erickson?"
mot long enough" Sue Stocking put
in with a sharp voice.
Nor" Doctor Mccarthy looked at
her inquiringly. He shrugged his
shoulders indifferently at whatever he
saw in her expression. you'll be all
right tomorrow" he assured Baker.
Sue Stocking had not slept She
denim when Norman reported in the
lighthouse kitchen for his breakfast.
Norman ate two f1ap-jacks, drank two
cupfuls of coffee.
'MOre?" asked the girl.
"NO more" ..l go
He left her angriy. She was trying
TO humiliate him, Ell? Called him u
coward ar midnight, and next morning
made no amends for it? Well, she
need not. Let her be superior. He
remembered that Julie Richaud had
told him ne was no coward. Evidence
was against him. But he had work to
do. a hard first days work. And
there. still sleeping heavily on the
couch in the parlor was Ed Baker to
be settled!
; Norman had swept down the tower
stairs and was scrubbing the white
stone steps when Sue Stocking sum-
mOned him to the house. He. dropped
his pail and hurried. Captain Stock.
ing and Baker were talking together
earnestly in the parlor. The keepers
red forehead was covered with large
drops of perspiration. He was plainly
uncomfortable.
Bakers ready to start home" he
said testify. ME and you'll have to
get his boat off. If we can float II
into deep water be thinks he can
steer"
Using an old stick of wreckage as
a lever, the keeper and his assistant
pried the heavy tiShbOat off the sand.
while Baker scowled on the beach. At
last, after repeated rollings, the boat
f1Oated into open water Captain
Stocking with Norman and Baker
rowed out in a skiff and caught ii /;
it's owner tumbed aboard. The pro-
peller turned over churning bubbles
away from the fan-tail stern. Baker
climbed to the deck, set his boots
down firmly on the tiller and eased II
to the left. He called good-by to Cap
tain Stocking. The keeper nodded
glOOmly. He rOwed shOreward with
the short nervous stroke of a deep
water sailor aboard a small boat
And II will look fine on the report!
he growled as he wet his feet in the
wash.
This business last night?"
"And nothing else!'
"Why report it,"
"Why? For the reason I've been IN
this service ten year. young man, ten
year ! tell you. and never black
mark ag'in' my name. Ii was to
drown this affair with Baker blabber.
in to headquarters. IL would bring In
SpectOrs like gulls to cleanin' shack.
And | want your statement, wrote
neat and careful and true, If
it's the same To you to pin
to mine. Best go in the house and do
IL now"
Norman paused.
WHATS Baker going to blabberr'
he demanded Those weren't my
tracks in the sand. Whoever hit Ba,
ker came ashore in a skiff"
81 kEOw. Think | didn't look the
ground over myself first thing this
morning? That's why it's best to be
prOvin il to headquarters afore he
starts his private fog signal squealin'"
Sue had finished her mornings work
and was reading In the parlor when
Norman approached. Your father
says give me the pen," be reported
abruptly.
Sue Stocking closed the book, mark
ing the place with piece of net
twine ..... -..
"Wait q minute" she said, 81 want
TO talk to you. ! know what you
want the pen for. You're going to
write your report on what happened
last uight. want to talk to you first
Why'd yOn hit Ed Baker?"
81 didnrl" he cried. II didn't hit
anyone"
She looked at his perspiring face
critically Then with q wry gesture.
she turned back to her book.
''Somebudy bit him." she comment
ed suspiciousIy. &
Norman flushed. r a HHs
81 did not" he insisted.
She made no answer He sat down
wrathfully at the table and labored
over the report. When he had I'm.