The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-12-09


Hes near the trail Well find out"
Taking up their loads the two men
continued over the carry. Shortly they
came up with Smoke. yelping excitedly
a few yards of the trail.
Slipping the tump-line from his head,
Jim dropped his load and turned OF
the path 10 see what the husky had
freed, when an angry voice rose above
the bedlam Of the huskys yelps.
Call off that dogI"
In the thick branches Of a spruce
perched stranger freed by Smoke.
Here, Smekei Stop that noise!"
Secretly amused ar the discontinue Of
the man in the tree, Jim reached his
dog. Hes all right, now; he won't
bother you" he said.
what d'yuh mean-having wolf
like that loose in the bush? II I'd
had my gun, I'd have bored him"
"Oh, no, you wouldn't kill a val
liable dog because he yelped at you. II
you'd spoken TO him, he wouldn't
have hurt you" Jim scrutinized the
stranger, who suspiciously eyed Smoke,
now calmly surveying his former
quarry. Evidently. from his good
clothes and general appearance, he
had come from outside" Who could
he be?
Speak 70 him? I spoke TO him in
four languages, but he wouldn't listen"
laughed the other.
We'll, Smokes satisfied that you're
all right, now" said Jim, impressed
by the good nature of this man in new
whipcords, with the stamp of the city
on face and manner. You left your
outfit at the end of the portage?"
Eyes. You're Hudson's Bay people,
I suppose" The stranger smiled.
I'm McLauren, Of the Northwest
Trading company"
"Oh, yes, Mr.. McLauren. I've heard
OF you" Jim had indeed heard of the
man who had furnished the financial
backing for LeBlond's string of fur
posts; but he was surprised TO find
him so young-hardly forty. from his
looks. ''My name is Stuart. I'm in
charge at Sunset House"
For a space McLauren seemed to
measure the caliber Of the tall fur
trader with the level gray eyes which
coolly looked into his. Then he said:
$50 you're the chap who's bucking Us
at Sunset House?"
Eyes, Mr.. McLauren," said Stuart,
his face hardening, I'm bucking you.
In the last three years you've had the
laugh On me, but I want to tell you
that you'll have TO work for the fur
In the future"
McLauren, with a smile, extended
his hand. "Good day, Stuart" he said.
ignoring Jim's remark, from what /
hear Of you. you're too good man to
be sacrificed at Sunset House The
odds are too heavy against you"
This winter the odds are going to
shift" said Jim, as McLauren's men
came up with the canoe and dunnage,
and the partner of LeBlond left him.
"You max moch talk wild dat Teller"
grumbled Omar, walking to the canoe
He TAX de fur from you an you
shake hand. Bettair let Smoke eat
heem up. eh?"
You're certainly good hater,
Omar" laughed Jim. But the man
was friendly, and 1 was glad to have
look at LeBlonds partner"
"Ah-hahl' grunted the half-breed,
lifting the peterboro to his shoulders.
He steal de fur an he steal de girl"
Across the remaining mile of portage
to the Woman river Omar's gloomy
prophecy dominated Jim's thoughts.
Already he had put the hope of again
seeing Aurore LeBlond, that summer,
behind him, but the thought of Nc
Lauren monopolizing her for days
weeks, possibly-aroused in him a
deep resentment over the duty which
had sent him south to Lake Expanse.
He found himself wondering If this
McLauren were a single man-then
laughed at jealousy based on few
hours with a girl whom, in all nken-
hood, he would never see again.
The peterboro approached the post,
asleep in the soft July sun. For two
hundred years this post had guarded
the frontiers Of Kiwedin.
At the big log trade-house Christie
and his clerk, MeComb, turned from
the slab table where they were bent
over a book of accounts, heads to-
gether, when Jim entered
"Good day, Mr.. Christie ]"
greeted Jim.
The dour face Of Andrew Christie
framed in an iron-gray beard, turned
on the voyageur with the efigy Of
smile on the stiff lips.
$50 ye're hereat last? I've been
expecting yeh.'
Jim's teeth clamped hard at the cool
ness Of his reception from the in
spector Of the district.
ST came by canoe-not airplane," he
countered.
"Well, Mary's waiting to see yeh at
the house and superb soon be ready,
so Wen not talk business now," an
swered the older man, turning to his
figures.
At the factors quarters a woman
watched Jim's approach. He waved
his hat and she lifted hand in reply.
As he reached her the fair skin of the
girls face was touched with color, her
blue eyes. beneath the thatch of gold
knotted ar the back, alight with
pleasure.
"Well, Jim, how are your" said
Mary Christie as he took her hand.
1T seems years since you were here
in January"
Seems longer than that to me,
Mary" he returned How wei you're
looking this spring."
As they entered the house the girl