The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-09-23


ly her slender erecfness.
-You-Miss Ami" he exclaimed.
amazed.
She moved forward, and when she
was close he saw that her face was
working with emotion.
why did you do itg" she cried In
a low voice.
do what?''
You know. You know. Pretend
that You shot Tom McArdle."
-Other folks were being suspected.
| figured I'd better ten the truth"
Its not the truth You know II
isn't. I killed him"
mo. ma'am. You thought so. bur
you didn't"
How can you say thatf l saw him
fall from his horse when / shot"
I'm tell you about that. Miss Ann"
he said. and related to her the same
story he had told the sheriff.
81 don't believe q word of IL" she
replied, and there was a sob in her
voice. You're doing ii because I'm
in trouble about il. and now-they're
going Toto"
Il know" he said gently. Don't
you worry, Miss Ann. Tn q hard citi-
zen. Anyone viii tel you that I'm
only gettin' what's comm to me- An
about McArdle-it's sure enough true.
l killed him. If hadn't of. how would
/ know he'd made his brags thar he
was comm over TO yore place even
when You didn't want himr'
She could not wholly deny that BIT
OF corroborative evidence. But she
saw another possibility, more likely
one Maybe you found him before he
died Maybe he told you"
He shook his head, meeting her eyes
steadily. mo, ma'am I told you the
straight of IL He said something no
decent man would say. I called for
a showdown an beat him to the draw
He had better than an even chance"
She threw out her hands in an i'm
patient little gesture Of abandon Il
don't care what You say. If you did IL
and don't believe II yet-you did II
for me. You're shielding me now.
That's why you gave yourself up. so
that people wouldn't blame me. And
l had treated you mean-wouldn't let
you be my friend. Then you do this
for me. But won't have il. I'm go
ing TO stop it I'll tell them l did il
and they'll let you CO." Ann ended
on rising note close TO hysferia-
The gunman was close TO death.
| The dull roar Of its menace echoed
up 10 him from the street a block
away. He did not think Of that now.
| In his blood there drummed a beat of
| Joy. In that hour be was nearer TO the
woman he loved than ever he had been
| before.
Nothing TO that" he said quietly.
This is q private grudge an those
holding il VIII git me if they can.
| You're not in this What's the sense
of you mixin' in? It won't help me
any, an you'll get in bad yoreself If
/ was you I'd 60 straight home an not
| say word to anybody. Maybe things
! viii work out all right for me. You
never can tell"
His coldness chilled her, but she
would not give up. Go homeI" she
repeated. Leave you here TO die
when-when-" She put her hands
up TO her face and broke into violent
sobbing.
The Texan stepped closer and
touched her arm gently with his hand.
Don't you take on thataway," he
begged. Don't you"
After a time, through the catches
Of her breath he caught the answer.
What kind of a woman do you think
l am-to go home and fold my hands
while-while-"
Il think you're the salt Of the earth,
Miss Ann" he told her simply. You've
risked heap in tryin' TO help me
what folks viii think. an what this
crazy mob would be liable TO do if they
found you here with me- It's the big
gest thing any woman ever did for me
except my mother But there's no
way you can help me more than you've
done already. So / say, don't get yore
name mixed up with me in this III
likely make the grade I've been in
tighter places than this an come
through all right Do i look Ike
was worried about it2"
Before he had finished speaking
! there rose a sound such as Ann had
never heard before. 1t had in it some
thing of the wild beasts triumphant
scream when it has brought its kill 10
bay. AT that yell of hundreds of
voices answering the call of the old
savage blood-lust she shuddered with
terror. The dread of it crashed over
her senses ike a great wave lifting
her from her fe1. The room tilted and
| objects swan together in a haze OF
bubbles.
When her eyes opened she found
herself looking up into the. face Of
Stone. He was supporting her in his
arms.
You tainted" he explained
An appreciation of the situation
flowed back into her mind
Twas frightened. It's dreadful
If someone would talk TO them. would
explain things"
He shook his head mo use. They're
beyond talk" be said quietly.
But there must be some way.
There must be-" she pleaded desper-
ately.
Wen fight EN- of" he promised
Time for You TO 60. Miss Ann II
Nike figures it's safe. have him LET
you out The back way. Then you 20
straight home
She was paIlid beneath the tan.
Her lips trembled- He knew that she
was shaky on her legs