The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-01-17
CHAPTER XII
Lynn Macdonald.

Lynn Macdonald.
On Friday afternoon, late, / went
with John and Sam down to Rattail
to meet the train. Just before II
stopped, with its usual roar of protest
against Rattail, Clarence Petite swung
off it.
"aIiss Macdonald is on this train"
he said to Sam and me. lis there
anything else | can do for your"
"Not a thing, If you are positive
that she is Miss Macdonald, except
to take your fifty-here il Island
vamoose."
I'm positive. Thanks. Here she
comes now"
| looked up TO see her coming.
could hardly believe my eyes | don't
know what | had expected; but |
surely had not expected anything to
get off that smoke-dirty train, in the
middle of a Nevada desert. on a swell.
tering hot July evening. that looked
as she did
In the first place, In her pongee
silk dress with coat to match. and
perky little green hat. she looked as
If she had been fresh picked, In the
last nice California garden. and had
been kept under glass, on ice ever
since. She was tall: taller than most
women. and with weight enough to
look durable and useful, but not a
mite fat. She had eyes that were as
gray as pussywillows. and that did no
monkey-fricks of changing to green or
blue; she had wavy carrOt-cOlored
hair. that was so full of life 1t looked
as if It were trying to break the bonds
of its neat, boyish bob and go float
ing off. on its own. to make maybe
tiny sunset cloud. Her nose was
small; her mouth was a mite too
large, showing freely in a smile her
teeth. little and polished white, like
puppy's.
Her voice was low and pleasant, but
there was something brisk and crisp
about 1t, and about all of her. that
seemed to say plenty and plenty of
time for everything, but not one prec.
iOus minute TO waste
In the background, during this
meeting, John and Danny had been
hugging lad kissing. At last, to my
relief. they came over to join us;
Danny, looking paler and more snuffed
out than usual, by contrast, maybe.
with Miss Macdonald; John beaming
with triumph at having her home
again.
"YOu girls get acquainted on the
train?" Sam asked.
"We had breakfast together in the
diner This morning." Miss Macdonald
answered.
did you know who [ wasp Danny
questioned.
at was my business to know that,
wasn't it'll" Miss Macdonald smiled.
We got into the sedan and were
riding along the Victory highway.
Just as was thinking how much
more wholesome everything felt, since
| had shaken hands with Miss Mac
Donald, Danny, who was riding in
the front set beside John, spoiled
it all by emitting shrek: 1t was
not very loud one, but ii was thick
with horror and repulSiOn.
John explained. over his shoulder to
us, that he had told her about "that
man" being on the ranch.
"Uncle SAM" Danny pleaded. do
have to see him?"
well, Danny" Sam apologized.
Pm right down sorry about it; but,
you see, he is staying on the place.
Wen keep him out of your way as
much as we can"
Danny put her head on Johns shout
der and began TO cry; weak, choking
little sObs that hurt like having to
watch a sick baby.
| leaned forward and tried to soothe
her; told her that we would all do
what we could to keep him away
from her. and to make 1t easy for
her.
1T can't be made easy" she an
swered. "You can't keep him away
from me. won't see him, tell
you. I've been so homesick-and now
him. | won't"
Miss Macdonald, who the inmate
before, had seemed ali pity for Dann.,
began, suddenly, to talk right through
and over her sObS, to Sam; to talk
in rather loud voice about stock
raising, paying no more attention to
Danny's troubles than she paid to
the humming of the motor.
| sat and sulked and nursed my
disappointment. If had been man
which praise the Lord ! am not
It would have been case of love at
first sight with me toward Lynn Mac
Donald. But now | told myself bit
terly that | had been a fool to ex-
pect real womanly sympathy and
kindness from person In her pro-
fession. Ferreting out criminals
would make anyone as hard as nails.
Not until Danny had quieted down.
and had turned to US with STAN
mered apologies and attempted ex-
plantations, Gid Miss Macdonald ask.
"Who is this MANI"
dreadful as it must seem to you,"
Danny answered, "he is my father.
But he has brought sorrow. and fear
and trouble to my mother, and to my
sister, and to me, whenever he came
near US. He is wicked man."
But for all the fuss she made about
it, | will say that Danny did very
well when we all went into the house
and she saw CanneZianq standing
over by the east windows. smoking a
cigarette.
"What-ho. Dan." he sa.d smiling