The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-11-15

ole on the ranch they had known be-
fore they came here this time. h
seemed as II they had come 70 iDtura,
maliciously, one of US. I had never
done either of them mite of harm
in my life. Sam had never done any
thing but good for them. OF course.
Sam nad not been very gentle with
their father. But, as | took pains 10
discover, neither Of them had any
kind feelings for their father Both
of them laid their mothers death at
Canneziano's door. They thought that
his cruelty and mis- neglect had killed
her. Ii was senseless TO suppose that
they were harbOring grudge against
Sam for anything that he had ever
done 70 Canneziano.
The Desert Moon was like a three
ring circus during the months of May
and June. There were the girls, ever
lastingly searching for something:
leaving the house shortly after the
men left ii, each morning; returning,
tired out, just in time for dinner; off
again for the afternoon, and coming
home Just in time to pretty up for sup
per. After a while. | began to lose
interest in that; and, being woman,
| allowed my attention to become dis
tracted by the center ring where all
| the love interest was going on. Most
Of my attention | gave to the clown in
the ring,-to Chad.
cannot explain 1t. now or ever;
INIT a
head over heels in love with Gaby.
He had no more chance of winning
her, penniIess, funny, kind little fellow
thar he was. than an amateur has of
| riding an outlaw pony.
She never gave him two looks. He
| couldn't even make her laugh with his
| jokes and his songs, as be could the
rest of US. But he followed her about,
and waited on her. He brought her
pony up to the house. instead of allow
ing one of the outfit to do 1t. He
brought her desert flowers, which she
tossed away to wither. And Martha
was half mad with jealousy.
Right at first. | think that some of
the others thought that Martha's
| jealousy was something of a joke.
never did think so. Before long we
| all began to feel that il was more
than a little serious. Sam talked to
Chad. and to Gaby about it. Chad
! did the best he could. after that, to
| be as attentive to Martha as he had
been before; but. if be so much as
opened a door for Gaby, Martha would
| go into temper fits, and sulking spells.
AS for Gaby. Sans talk with her
made things worse. She had never
noticed Chad at ALL so she had not
noticed that Martha was Jealous of
| him. She welcomed the news as an
| other tool she could use to tease and
torment the poor girl. All along she
had delighted in teasing and torment
| ing Martha. though she had not dared
do it when Sam was present.
One of Gaby's pleasant little ways
was to refer TO Martha as an idiot.
right before her face.
"La-law Gaby exclaimed one eve
ming, when Martha was wandering
about "The idiot gets on my nerves.
Can't you make her keep still, Mrs
| RickerY'
"She isn't harming anyone" 1 said.
since Mrs. Kicker, as usual, said uoth-
ing. "You leave her alone, and stop
talking ike that. Miss"
I'm not harming anyone, now"
Martha piped up. But some day |
might I'd like to won't though"
| she walked over close to Gaby, IF
| you'll give me the gold monkey. I'll
be good then. for always"
1t was a bracelet charm OF Gaby's, 8
gold monkey, about the size of large
almond, with jade eyes. The minute
Martha had seen ii she had begun to
beg for it. Gaby would not give it
to her; would not so much as allow
her to wear it for a few hours at
time. AS usual. this evening. she re-
fused to let Martha touch 1t.
"Yes, and you'll be sorry Martha
| threatened
Just as she had hated Gaby from
the start. Martha had loved Danny;
but she could not tell chem apart It
| seemed incredible that even Martha
| could be confused about the two girls;
because, If ever girls were opposites,
| those girls were. Their faces, Just
their faces. did look alike. They both
had large brown eyes. straight noses,
small mouths, pointed chins. and COM
| plexions the color of real light cara.
mel frosting. Danny's cheeks showed
a faint pink, coming and going. Gaby
| painted her cheekbones. clear back to
her ears, with deep orange-pink color.
They both had wavy, dark brown hair.
| cut just the same In the back. real
| close fitting and down to point. But
| Gaby brushed her hair straight back
from her forehead. and put varnish
stuff on ii till ii was as sleek and shin
ing as patent leather. Gaby's clothes
were all loud coIored, or seemed TO
be-black turned gaudy when she put
| il on-and they were all insecure ap-
| pearing, too defiant or paper patterns
| to be quite moral. Danny's clothes
were as neat and quiet as pigeons.
Since Hubert Hand was too selfish
ever 10 love anything that his nose
| wasn't attached TO, his carvings on
with Gaby should he classed, think,
not in the center ring. but as the main
| attraction of the third ring. And he
almost old enough To be her father.
with white coming into his hair at
| his templesl
To this day 1 have never under.
stood those two. during those months
| Gaby was in love with John Hubert
Hand was ip love with Hubert Hand
Yet they Rugged and kissed. and
seemed to think that calling it meek.
| ing" made IL resnecfable II WASN'T