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

So lA1oS AofC "S AS6--A 49,
in a big blow clinging to canoe drift
ing in the lake"
Mary Christie leaned toward the
speaker, her face eager with curiosity.
you saved her life-pulied her out
OF the lake? What's she nkeT'
The feminine curiosity evidenced in
the question drew a laugh from the
trader. well, she had bobbed hair
and wore knickers. What d'you think
Of that?r
81 don't think much of IT," said
Mary, drily, but you're not telling
me what she's like"
"Are you interested to hear the rest
Of the story?" he demanded.
"What is she like, jim? What hap
pened? Did you take her to Sunset
House?"
'She's dark. Of course-like her IA
ther. A good UNDERSTANDING, in
fact" he stumbled on.
Even with her hair bobbed-and
knickers?"
yes, even with her short hair and
the knickers. In fact the Knockers
were becoming" he laughed.
Mary's regular features stiffened
'They must have been-very-when
you pulled her out of the lake"
Then Jim briefly narrated the events
of the evening following the coming of
Aurore LeBlond to Sunset House.
When he had finished, the girl who
had listened while her eyes furtively
ranged from crisp brown hair, and
bold, weather-burned features, to the
well-set shoulders and capable hands,
said quietly: "And TO think that you'll
never see this-what d'they call 'em,
flappers?-this fapper again, the
daughter Of your bitter rival Poor
JIM"
The sound Of voices checked Jim's
reply as Christie and McComb entered
the house.
That evening the inspector sat late
with Stuart. The spring trade at Sum
set House had been little better than
that Of the year before. 1t was
great disappointment to Christie.
They'll be after me again at Winni-
peg when they see yer returns" he
said, squirting at Jim through his
steel-rimmed glasses. Its three years
now since We set you up at Mita-
wangagama and yeh're making little
Roadway against the Frenchman.
Ye've been a great disappointment to
me, Stuart. Knowing yer father, and
var nxr-- raaord az Cadsz lol-o pinrad
yen as the man TO beat Louis LeBlond
at his own game"
Jim's blood heated at the unfairness
Of the thrust. YES" he said, land
how have you backed me up? You've
held me to Lake Expanse prices and
allowed LeBlond to outbid me for the
fur"
"Well, it's high time the post was
getting its share of that trade. It's
beyond me why we've not done better.
Yer father, If alive, would be sore dis
appointed"
Jim choked down his anger as the
old man went on: "Now they'll not
be thinking Of a change this year,
but"
The gray eyes Of the younger man
glitfered. What you mean he said,
staring through half-shut eyes into the
impassive face Of Andrew Christie
circled by its stubby beard, sis that
you're giving me one more chance-a
year, perhaps"
AYE, that would be fair"
Jim smiled sourly. knowing the
odds against Us, you, nevertheless,
think We ought to be on our feet by
another Year,"
Christie nodded.
well" said Jim, rising, and ex-
polling a deep breath, unfair as it is,
I'll take you If 1 don't double the
trade next year I'll quit
The following morning as he walked
on the shore Of the lake with Mary
Christie he told her of the year of
grace given him by her father.
ooh, Jim,' she protested, s'he doesn't
mean that. They're worrying him at
Winnipeg and he's taking it out on
everybody. He was the same way
with Mccoy. from Jackfsh. last week"
well" Jim turned, to surprise the
yelled look in her eyes-a look now
close to pain, "it's hard to work three
years as we have worked and in the
end get kicked for our pains"
Il appreciate what you've done I'D
there, jim" She gazed at him through
eyes unabashed, empty Of all subter-
fuge, as she said slowly: Doesn't
it mean anything TO you to know that
/ believe in you?"
He saw the girls heart In her stead.
fast gaze and strong impulse to take
what she so freely offered swept him
when a flash of dark eyes framed by
wind-tossed hair crossed his vision
Slowly he nodded. ct does mean a LOT
to have your confdence-your friend.
ship, Mary"
With a sigh she turned from him
and they continued their walk.
That afternoon as the canoe Left
the post bound back to Sunset House
and Jim waved his hat at the lone
ried with him the memory of the tense
face Of Mary Christie. He saw her
again, her heart in her eyes, offering
her love. Her appeal had been pow
erful-the frank revelation by this
proud girl who had held much Of his
thoughts until canoe drifted across
wind-harried Mitawangagama. But
eEen If the black-lashed eyes Of Aurors
LeBlond had never flashed their chal-
lenge, II could not have been other
wise Andrew Christie had. the night
before, cracked the whip Of his au-
thority over Jim's head-given him a
year Of grace In all hnnnr he norId