The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-08-12

LlIu anu tue SCeIie VI tlllS lTdSeuy. Dut
he had something to tell her, as soon
as she was in condition to listen.
| Besides, he could not leave her alone
with her dead while she was still
| hysterical.
A twig snapped. Instantly Mccain
stiffened to alert and crouched wari-
| ness. The weapon in his hand shifted
ever so little, but that scarcely per-
ceptible movement meant that he was
| ready. His eyes searched the chapar-
raj foot by foot.
The sun glistened on a rifle barrel.
| At once Mccain moved swiftly so as
to place the girls horse between him
and that shining tube of steel.
Out of the brush a face peered,
searching the landscape. The shifting
eyes found in the same instant OF time
| both Mccain and the grief-stricken
| girl, and a second later the supine fig
ure over which her grief was spending
| itself.
Julia had looked up when Mccain
ran for the shelter of the horses body
She glanced round quickly, caught
sight of the cleaning gun barrel, and
rose hurriedly.
Look out, Phil He's killed Dad"
| she cried, in panic of terror.
Without a thought for her own
safety she ran straight across the open
| toward the mesquite thicket to protect
her brother.
A shot rang out. Mccain crumpled
| up behind the horse. Julia heard her
self cry out, and even in that moment
of fear felt a sense of puzzled Won
der. For she had been looking at Phil
and she was sure he had not fired.
Phil dragged her down behind him.
Hes layin' trap for me-" he told
her, almost in whisper.
But Julia, looking over his shoulder,
| knew this could not be. For the mans
| head lay in the sand, his rifle six feet
away by the fall.
Again there came the crack of a
! rifle.
Hes dead, but you didn't shoot" she
| murmured. Mortified.
How can he?"
"Some one shetland neither you
nor he did. I'm going to see"
NO" he protested.
But she was gone before he could
stop her. Phil scrambled to his feet
! and followed.
One glance at Mccain was enough
to show that this was no ruse. He lay
still, either dead or unconscious. The
boy stopped and found where a bullet
had gone through the shirt.
"He was shot from behind, looks
like" he said.
'But-who?" Julia asked, white to
the lips.
"Jas maybe" Phil said it reluctant
ly. Il saw some one lodging in the
chaparral. Looked like Jas, but may
be it wasn't. Anyhow, | stopped to
find out an he slipped away. l wish
to God l hadn't. l might a-been on
time"
They had walked over to the place
where their father lay and were kneel-
ing beside him. With her handker-
chief Julia wiped from the forehead
of the cattleman the little stain of
blood showing where the bullet had
entered his head. Her slim body was
shaken with sobs. The face of the boy
was working with emotion. The blow
was staggering. The virile dominant
personality OF their father would never
again rule their activities He had
gone out of life as the flame of q
blown candle vanishes.
"One of US IL have to go get the
wagon" Phil said presently in an I'M
steady voice. dad musta left it some
where near"
"Yes. You go, Phil"
She was clinging to him, quivering
with grief.
They cried in each others arms.
After little, Phil spoke gruffly,
ashamed of his own distress. ''Ill be
moving. Sure you don't mind stayin
alone, Sis?''
mo. / want to stay"
"I'll leave Dads rifle with you. Not
that you'll need it." He tested the
mechanism to make sure it was in
| order. HE hadn't fired a shot. Nc
Cam got him from the chaparral, don't
| you reckon?" Then, with a high Sob
bling note in his voice, "By Cd,
this'll be bad day for the McCanns."
"Yes." In that moncsyllable she
concentrated all the passionate desire
for vengeance in her young heart.
Phil disappeared among the mes
quite bushes, and after a minute Julia
heard the sound of a moving horse
| thrashing about in the brush
The sun was shining on land peace
full as old age. She could hear the
faint twitter of birds. Nothing had
changed. yet everything had changed
| Something had gone out of her life
| that would never come back. An hour
ago she had been girl, gay and care
4, free. singing at her work. That happy
responsibility was gone forever She
was no longer a girl but a sad-eyed
woman.
Julia covered her fathers face with
his own bandanna. She did it to keep
the sun out of his eyes, even though
no light could ever be bright enough
now to trouble them.
A slight stir made her turn Wilson
Mccain had rolled over and was look
ing at her. For a moment the two
gazed at each other, neither speaking.
81 didn't kill him." he said at last,
feebly
You murdered him from ambush
she charged.
mo. l heard a shot. l came an
found him lying there" The weakness