The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-12-02

The threats OF Paradis fell on deaf
ears Jim was not worrying over Lee
Blond. But he did not relish the
humiliation Of being brought into the
post by the unbalanced Paradis. He
pictured the mirth in the eyes of
Aurore LeBlond. But as for the jeal-
Gus and demented Paradis, he almost
pitied him There would be no mercy
when she learned how he had spied
upon her movements. And LeBlond!
She'd laugh al him, as she did that
night ar Sunset House.
Beyond the island OF the split rock,
across half-mile OF quiet water, lay
another and larger one As Jim pad
died leisurely, ignoring the abuse Of
the man sQuatted In the bow, holding
his rife. he wondered whether this
strait was visible from LeBlond's
place on the mainland
You didn't tell me how far your
place is from here" he said, as the
water began 10 boil behind his paddle.
-Tree-four mile. Not far. Don't
hurry. Louis LeRlond, he weel soon
enough teach you 10 come sneaking
round de south shore for de love let
tair" Paradis laughed uproariously.
Then, as the man in the bow lurched
forward and jerked himself TO an up
right position, Jim suddenly realized
that he was not mad, but drunk
On his knees, Stuart rapidly drove
the light birchbark out into the strait
with his brisk stroke. From Le-
Blends the canoe could not be scent
With lurch Of his heavy body, Jim
rolled the light canoe over as he
plunged into the lake.
AS the speeding canoe capsized. with
a cry the surprised Paradis slid head
long into the water as his rifle ex-
ploded. Rising beyond reach Of the
boat, for an instant he beat the water
desperately; then sank
Holding the struggling Paradis
away with a stiff left arm, Jim sucked
in deep breath and sank beneath
the surface; then. as he rose, struck
the gasping man fercely in the face.
The fingers which clutched Stuart's
shirt relaxed, and he pushed the half
conscious trader TO the boat floating
bottom up.
Now, can you hear that dog-whip
singY' he laughed But the man Jim
held beside the overturned canoe was
too busy coughing up water TO hear
too frightened TO answer.
You're q clever man with the In
dians Paradis, but there're some
tricks you don't know" tainted Jim,
as he swan beside the boat Look
out! You'll roll into the lake If you
mover" he warned, as the dazed pas
senger lifted q lvid face TO the man
in the water.
AT last they reached the shore, and
wading TO the beach with the man who
had ambushed him, Jim dropped him
none too tenderiy.
Now, what are you going TO tell
LeBlond, when you can walk and are
able TO find your boat which you have
hidden somewhere on this shore?" he
asked Of the hiccoughing Paradis
propped on his elbow. his red eyes pic
turing his fear of what awaited him
at the hands of the Hudson's Bay
man
Paradis weakly shook his head
you deserve a good north country
beating, my friend, for throwing that
gun on me- You might have pulled
that trigger. But for spying on Miss
Aurore, you deserveI'n take this
Stuart suddenly bent over the shiver-
ing Paradis, who shrank from the
blow he anticipated, and jerked a
knife from its sheath on the others
belt Yes" Jim went on, you de-
serve getting this between your ribs
for following her out here, and I'm
goin' TO let you have it" With q
black scowl Jim drew back the skin
ming knife and thrust savagely at the
helpless man ar his feet The mottled
face of Paradis went white, as he
shrank from the blow. But the shin
ing blade stopped inches from his
ribs.
How d'yuh Ike that, my brave
beauty? Not so nice when the other
man has the whip hand, eh?"
Don't! don'tI'' whimpered the man
on the beach, too weak TO move. 81
onlee play wild you-I nevaire shootI I"
well, the least I can do is to cut
a birch whip and give you what you
promised I'd get"
But Stuart had had enough of this
head man of LeBlond's. The yellow
ness of spirit Of the one who, an hour
before, had held a rife on his heart,
disguised him And across the lake
Omar was waiting.
Just remember one thing. Paradis,"
he said. when you lie about what
happened this morning. didn't let
you drown when had good reason TO.
From now on, between you and me
there'u be war You've started to put
me out of business-you and LeBlond;
but before you're through you'n know
you've been in a fight Now 60 back
and tell them a cock-end-bun yarn
about what happened to youI"
Turning from the surprised Paradis.
Jim stepped into his boat and started
for Sunset House As he passed the
split rock. he suddenly swung the
canoe with a sweep Of his paddle
and started furiously back up the
shore. Her notef Paradise must have
ii in his pocket 1t could be dried
and read
But when Jim reached the strip of
beach where ne had left his man, II
was empty.
tTo BE CoNTINUEDD
Important Small Things