The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-02-15

peninsula knew IL couldn't last. Those
dikes the belongs had built :.
more than half sand they'd give
way some hard rain and there'd be q
food wiping out the bottoms.
"Was il you damned the Tama-
raek?' he asked bluntiy.
The otner nodded
.My brother Fritz and I. He came
ND here first Doctors sent him TO the
country. he got the idea for the lake.
It's what makes our place valuable
now"
"It's the lake that's going to bust
through some day and drown a lot
of people"
Break through our damn" De-
longs laugh sounded out of place in
the middle of the night In the light
house parlor.
Norman shocked his head uncer-
tainly.
"If that dam ever gives. there's GO
ing TO be lot Of drowned cows and
hen-coops afloating down the valley.
Everybody knows that back on the
Tamarack. The rivers just a trickIe
now in dry weather, just trickle
coming over your spillway. If IL ever
lets loose all at once. it'll be catas-
trophe. folks say"
They're wrong. It's safe as a mud
puddle! Tn going TO build a house
up there. some day."
Norman listened TO him critically.
The lawyer seemed sure of himself.
81 hope you're right. SIR" he said.
There's fine folks in the valley down
below Coed friends of mine" He
looked at the clock.
Thine for inspection" he exclaimed.
putting on his shoes. He stood up
awkwardly. Thanks. SIR" be said.
thanks for listening to me-"
He slid out into the rain to make
his patrol. This nights business
would start a nice smoke up in the
hills. And In Madrid Bay. His IA
ther was right about his not coming
to Madrid now. But he'd return sorse
time; when be could return un-
ashamed. That might be long time,
but he'd 90, If DeIOng was right he
liked this stranger; something about
the fellow made him feel like man.
He stocked and banked the fire that
still smoldered under the boilers in
the signal house, tested the water and
steam cages, and climbed to the top
of the tower. A new fog was creep
ing down across the water. Thick
weather.
Norman returned to the house. Cap
tain Stocking was waiting in the par
lor, his boots under his arm. his cold
pipe in his teeth, and a scowl on his
fat sleepy face. He looked at his as
sistant suspiciously. His manner fr-
ritated Norman. He guessed that De-
long had told him Of the packet.
''Where You find this mans bun
dle?" Stocking asked abruptly.
up the beach"
THAT'S a wide latitude. Come.
where you find it,"
Hes explained that to me satisfac-
torily," belong interrupted. "It
washed ashore. Erickson found it, and
brought it In Oh, it's mine, all
u
Captain Stocking put on his glasses.
whats that stand fort" he in
quired.
james Delong."
The captain was looking at the pa
pers on the table. Your packet open
when you got it?' he demanded
NO" Delong answered.
Been opened?'
Yes" be admitted.
VAST How you know that?"
i've told you all that's necessary"
Delong said, but if you want to know
more :" he reached to the table
and picked up the document with the
smudgy mark on its corner. There's
proof, sir. See that smudge? Oily.
This paper was handled by some one
who had oil on bis hands recently
papers damp or it would have made
an excellent inger-print
lyon, Erickson? You have oil on
your hands"
Erickson didn't open It"
How you know? Erickson, let's
see your hands ]"
Come, come, Captain Stockingl"
belong chided.
Norman stared at the keeper stub
borniy; then put his hands into his
pockets
They're Clean" be said quietly,
"you couldn't tell anything by my
hands. Might have been oily. Prob
ably were. / washed them just little
while ago :. lots of men here on
this point get oil on their hands ;"
"Who?' tue keeper took off his
glasses excitedly. "Who. ask yer"
"Why, you yourself Captain" De-
long said Here wait min
ute, | wouldn't get so upset. l knew
it wasn't you. judge there are sew
eral other men around here who han
die engines :"
Engines? You say engines?" The
keeper sat down thoughtfully. EN-
gines." be repeated "Well, well -
He turned on Norman: slime for my
watch?' he asked
Yes, sir" Norman answered. but
| can stand it"
go do it." Captain Stocking babe.
-call me afore sunup. And don't come
Dustin back In here, Erickson. want
To talk a few minutes with this fell
low"
Norman retreated. Captain Stock
ing waited by the window until bis as
sistant had run down the walk. He
shook his head once. Then he rubbed
his glasses savagely.
Guess you feel fit to talk sense
now, mister, and expects an answer,
all shipshape and proper. What'd you
have in this bundlew