The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-08-26

changed a word with the McCanns.
On an afternoon Julia made sug-
gestion 10 Phil thar flushed his boyish
face with pleasure.
Lets go see the Clifford girls We
ought to show we feel friendly. Don't
you think so? You used 10 know them,
didn't your"
Yes. before-before Nora went
away knew 'em right we'll But
now nobody's welcome there"
'And Jasper knew them, too. I've
heard"
Yep. Quite few Of the boys went
there Tom McArdle did-an' Gitner
AN I've seen Dave Stone there
They don't any of EN- go any more.
Ann won't have EN-. Makes IL mighty
lonesome for Ethel She's a mighty
nice gal julie Ii you could make
friends with her an Ann"
He left his sentence unfinished, bur
il was expressive enough as IL stood
TN try" she promised
They rode up out of the valley
toward Lineup pass From the dis
tance came faint voices The foreman
OF the Circle Cross was making a
gather OF beeves for the trail The
plaintive hIearing OF q calf just reached
them Through the pass they moved
down 70 the desert The girl though.
OF almost the last time she had crossed
it. in the moonlight beside her the
strong sun-browned man who had be
har 20
had talked with Dave Stone. In her
heart she knew that Wilson Mccain
had mol killed her father He had
given her his word thai ne would not
wage any bur fair fight In spite OF
her resentment against him she be-
lieved he would keep his word.
The horses climbed the mesa where
the sheep ranch had its headquarters
A shy-eyed girl came TO the door 10
meet them. AT sight of Phil her
cheeks few a flag of color.
The boy swung from the saddle
Miss Ethel meet my sister. She'll be
right glad 10 know you"
Ethel Gifford's blue eyes filmed with
tears when Julia came forward and
impulsively kissed her. She was
starved for affection There was none
of ii in her life except that which came
from Ann, who jealousy protected her
from any chance of it on the part of
others.
My dear. we're going to be friends"
Julia said.
The other girls lip trembled. "Won'r
you-come in?" she invited obviously.
Ann was away from home. but the
thought of her obtruded She would
not like her asking the Starks into
the house.
The visitors followed her into the
low-ceilinged room. Ii was a homelike
place. Julia saw in the first swift
glance. In the deep windows of the
adobe walls were ported flowers, gera-
NUNS. begonias. and fuchsias They
were curtained with clean muslin. A
piano filed one corner. On the mantel
were photographs and a framed print
Of a Del SartO madonna.
There was a moment Of silence be-
fore Ethel explained that her sister
was out al one Of the camps But |
expect her back any time" she added.
II think she must be a pretty good
manager" Julia said Il hear you are
doing so well am glad"
IF we could only sell out and 90
away" Ethel wistfully replied "Per-
haps we can when folks find out we're
making money here"
You don't like the desert?' the
older girl asked
Il hate it It's horrible.
II takes US and brushes
our lives" She flung out her hands
in a gesture of passionate despair.
Folks that are good and kind-they
change-and awful things happen"
yes" said Julia. struck by a sud-
den depression of sadness.
Ethel's sweet mouth quivered ~Oh,
I'm sorry. | forgot-about you.
was thinking of myself II gets so
terrible sometimes-when | let myself
think
She broke of. In her eyes was an
expression of fear, of some haunting
dread too great for endurance
Pills heart was very tender 10 this
charming creature, so soft and de-
fenseless 1t ached for her now. The
generous youth in him was eager TO de-
fend her.
But defend her against what? Not
grief alone for her sister Nora's death
had brought that stricken look into her
face. There was something else
something sinister and evil that she
felt like a shadow of disaster lowering
over her life What could il bef What
had so moved her to futile and pro-
testant outburst? Was ii possible that
some threat still oyerhung. one of the
nature of which he was in the dark?
Couldn't you and your sister come
and stay with us a few daysT Julia
asked, her fingers caressing the soft
and dimpled cheek. "We'd love to have
your"
-Oh. wish We could. But we can't
There's no use talking" Ethel cried
ITS sweet of you to ask Us. though.
Ann wouldn't want to go. I'm sure
she wouldn't
shadow darkened the doorway.
Where is it Ann wouldn't want
TO go?"
Miss Clifford came into the room,
quirt dangling from her wrist In an
unlovely khaki divided skirt and
spurred boots. a revolver cased In the
belt al her hip. she looked very much
a denizen of the desert But she had
an aspect of efficient competence.
Il was asking your sister If you and
she wouldn't come and stay for few
DAYS at the Circle Cross. We're