The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-12-23
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Under
frozen
Stars
X By X
George Marsh
Copyright by Penn Pub. Co.
George Marsh
XNLXNUN%
CHAPTER IV-Continued
Copyright by Penn Pub. Co.
(WNU Servicel

right hand touching the handle OF his
knife, with equal indifference.
"Good day, Monsieur Paradis," said
Jim, "Pierre, here, has little story
TO tell your employers" Turning to
the excited Indian, Stuart continued:
"Now tell these gentlemen just what
you told u.s."
"What have i to do wild thes In
dian?" demanded Paradis, assuming
an air of surprise. as he stroked his
small mustache. But Jim noted the
unsteadiness Of his hand.
Keep quieti" rasped the inter-
ested and perplexed MacLauren. Let
him tell his story"
Questioned by Jim when he faltered,
his eyes shifting fearfully from the
black face of LeBlond to the sneering
Paradis, Pierre told, now in English.
now in Ojibwa, how he had been re-
fused supplies for the winter because
OF his old debt, and in despair was
about to leave with his family when
Paradis approached him with the
scheme to ambush Stuart's canoe on
its return up the Woman river from
Lake Expanse.
AS Migwan accused Paradis Of plot
ting the shooting of Omar and Jim, the
sneer faded from the head mans face.
With a snarl he flung at the Indian:
you liel You dirt eateri"
zone minute, Paradis I" rasped Jim.
"Let him fnish!"
LeBlond was studying his assistant
through narrowed eyes.
Fright here, I want to say" said
Jim, shat it was only after a long
grilling, when he feared for his life,
that this man named you, Paradis."
"When you put eet cen hees head.
eh?" sncered the other, palpably I'M
easy under the searching scrutiny of
Louis LeBlond.
mo, didn't put it into his head
l didn't have TO-" drawled Jim, enjoy
ing the batting. "After giving you
that swimming lesson, just naturally
thought you were the skunk behind
this shooting"
Paradis denied having any part In
the ambush. "Eet ees lie-all liew
he protested. 81 refuse dis Pierre -four
an he max up de story"
But why should he take it out on
me and my man here unless he was
paid to do it? He had nothing against
us! He never saw US before" de-
manded Jim. "And how did he know
we were at Lake Expanse You told
him and you learned it from Mac
Lauren"
"He went to rob you of your grub 20
Nonsense He knew we weren't
freighting supplies-our canoe was
empty" Then Jim turned to grave
faced LeBlond and MacLauren who
were exchanging whispers. IF l re-
port this thing to Christie at Lake Ex-
panse, there'll be a police canoe here
in September. You know what that
means?"
LeBlond nodded. "We don't want
the police in this, Mr.. Stuart" he said
quietly. IT'S bad mess, but you've
only got this Indians word against
the word of Paradis. If you report
this thing to the authorities, it will
make no end of trouble. They'll have
all of us down to the railroad and
hold us there as witnesses"
at certainly will be serious not only
for Paradis but for the Northwest
Trading company" agreed Jim with a
stiff smile, while wrinkles OF amused
satisfaction furrowed Omar's square
face as he watched the apprehension
In the eyes of LeBlond. But | don't
intend to have Indians bribed to fire
on me by your people," he went on.
IF he'd hit one Of US, it would have
put you out of business and you'd
stand trial to boot"
"You don't believe l had any knowl-
edge of this?" protested LeBlond.
mo, of course not"
what d'yuh want us to do, Stuart?"
asked MacLauren. I'VE regret this
thing deeply. But there's only this
Indians word against that of Para
dis"
"Paradis had a motive for injuring
me; this Indian had none. I'm salts
fed the story is straight. Now II
you'll get rid of Paradis-send him
out of this country and keep him out.
/ won't report this shooting"
That's bargain" quickly agreed
MacLauren.
The ash-gray face of Paradis
worked convulsiyely as he heard his
sentence of Punishment. Then he
found his voice. You writer of love
lettair," he stormed "You t'ink you
get her now Paul Paradis ees gone,
Ell? Hal hal You are de beeg fool
de beeg-"
From the side, unnoticed by his
head man, the exasperated LeBlond
struck Paradis full In the face with
his open hand-then the trade-room
door swung open wide and Aurore
LeBlond stood in the doorway.
why, what's happening? What's
the matter?" Eyes wide with sur
prise, the girl glanced from the dazed
Paradis and the furious face of Lee
Blond to the men from Sunset House.
"Mr. StuartI" she gasped, her dark
skin deepening with color. You
came here, and they didn't tell me.
Father, what has happenedT
Black brows contracted, she glanced
inquiringly from her fathers annoyed
look to the enchanted eyes Of Stuart.
sSThic is no nlaco for vou wa aro