The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-12-30
CHAPTER IV-Continued

Did anyone ever tell YOU" said the
girl, that you have a most dangerous
smileT''
The blood leaped to his bronzed
face. 81 hope-you find 1t So" he
stammered. confused at the sudden
ness of the attack.
II might" she said, with curl Of
a red lip. IF you were more polite.
You haven't asked me to sit down,
and I'm tired from hard padding"
He glanced around the strip Of sand
beach, fringed with alder, then shook
his head ruefully. I'm afraid there's
only the beach"
What's the matter with that?"
And she sat down, took a cigarette
from a small case and started to
smoke, her dark brows contracted, her
eyes turned from him where he sat
At last she spoke.
when a man tells a girl she means
something to him-that he wants to
see her." she began, "and in the same
breath says he's going away so he
can't see her, what is the poor girl to
infer?"
"That the man is a victim of cir
cumstances," Jim answered.
She shook her dark head. mo, that
he can't want to see her very much or
he'd stay"
do you believe that7" he demanded,
leaning impulsively toward her.
She met his look squarely, quiz
zically; then asked: Cant you wait
until September? 1 might not go out
of your life-if you'd wait-Td be sure
then"
Sure Of what?" He was very near
her now. The arm on which he leaned
visibly trembled with his effort at con-
troll. But her dark eyes were now
cryptic and he fought down his emo
ton. Could 1t be that she had come
out here to play with hinl-amuse
herself? At the thought his bronzed
face filed with blood.
"Sure of what?" he repeated roughly.
why, I'd be sure you wanted to
see me, again." she said, and clasping
her knees in her hands, rocked gently
back and forth. as the face of Jim
Stuart darkened with anger.
SO it had been acting, after all, he
thought. her face, her eyes, her voice,
yesterday at the post?
he got to his feet and walked to
the waters edge with his bitterness.
Fool. be had been, to allow this girl
TO draw him on-play with him, TO
tighten the duIlness of her visit to the
forests. But he would play out the
game. He turned to the girl watching
him curiously from the sand.
II wanted to ask you" he began as
she looked up at him, the trace Of
smile at the corners of her mobile
mouth, what Paradis told you about
our meeting at the split rock"
Aurore's laughter echoed from the
forest behind her. "He said that he
had beaten you with a stick and you
had promised never to look at me
again"
"You believed him.?
what, believe Paul Paradise" she
protested. 81 happened to know that
Mr.. Jeem Stuart, having looked at me
once. would desire to look again, and
our Paul would not stop him. Beat
you with a stick-our pretty Paul?
Absurdw
THANK you. l did want to look
again" And he again sat beside her,
now steeled against the wiles of her
sorcery.
"Now will you tell me why you go
awayr she asked quietly. Her dusky
eyes were serious.
Because my duty to my employers
demands it. Have you ever heard Of
that word-duty, Miss Aurore Lee
Blond?"
Yes, have heard of it, Mr.. Jeem
Stuart, but I am wondering IL its de
mands are greater than those Of love-"
He turned on her In amazement to
find her troubled eyes seeking the dis
tant ridges. Here was a new mood.
MY place, as you've doubtless
heard your father say, has not been
successful This is my last year here
unless l can make 1t pay. There's
no room for failures liz the fur trade"
With mouth set stiffly, Jim gazed
away across the rippled surface Of
the lake. Stuart, he unused, the man
who had made two failures at Sunset
House. One, all the trade would
know; the other-only Aurore Lee
Blond and his heart.
He filed his deep chest with the
spruce-sweet air; then expelled 1t as
something warm touched hand. He
looked down. 1t was the hand Of the
girl beside him and the dark eyes
which met his shone, but not with
mockery.
Il understand" she said 1T was
just to pass the time-until your duty
called you away"
Wide eyed with surprise he met her
dark gaze as she withdrew her hand.
But in the depths of her unwavering
eyes lurked no trace Of guile. Con-
fused, electrified by her touch but sus-
picious. he passionately rejoined:
"You accuse me Of that-you, who are
going so soon-wh0 amused yourself
with poor devil Of fur mani"