The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-08-04

why, tnatS lei! ne cnOke4
That's black, infamous ="
"Wait minute =! She had risen
now, and stood before him. what"
she asked, as though her voice would
break, what is your manner"
"Why, that parts all right. I can
explain it. | am John Belknap. I
did"
"And this! Explain thisl 1 remem-
bered. you seel"
She whipped telegram from her
desk. thrusting 1t towards him. 1t was
from the State Bank of Ferryville. the
nearest bank to Witch Hill. 1t read:
switch Hill Lumber Co. owned by
Belknap Lumber Co., Chicago stop s.
McIver is superintendent"
"Why !. =. /. why, yes, Ellen. That's
all true. But, you see. ! couldn't let
you think I'm who | am. |
couldn't come in here and offer to help
you. admitting my own name, could TT
"Why not?" she asked bitingly.
"You wouldn't have believed me,
feeling as you have about my father"
Right How right you are!
wouldn't have believed, mol wouldn't
have let a Belknap set foot on my
property! didn't believe that
anonymous letter when it came In;
didn't want to. My first impulse was
to tear it up, forget 1t. !. +. And
then l remembered that my father al
ways said a man who was right could
stand investigation. looked up
Witch Hill, telegraphed that bank
and you've read the answer. -
She paused, painting.
"But, Ellen"
Never mindI I'm going to talk
nowl It's woman's privilege to
talk, isn't it?"-a bit Historically.
"I've heard it said it's woman's
privilege to have the last word,
too. Well, I'm having 1t, John
Steele Belknap.
"No, you didn't dare reveal yourself.
So you have superintendent write
a lie. You may have worked as camp
foreman for him, but not as John
Steele. He knew you weren't John
Steele. He knew your full name be-
cause it was your fathers money that
paid him, your fathers money that
sent you in here!"
"Ellen, Ellenl Listen to mel He's
a poor. old, ignorant man. Sandy.
He's a man who's never written let
ter of recommendation before. He
simply forgot. Don't you see?'
do you expect me to believe that?'
she asked, suddenly calm.
He drew deep breath.
"No.' he said, and shook his head.
cit sounds 1t won't do, true as
1t isl"
"And will any Of the rest do? Can
you explain all that's happened?
You've done things, yes, but see now
why you did them. You did just
enough to get the job in shape so that
when your father and his partner and
his son"-hissing the word-"ruin this
company, it will still be going con-
Germ. You've made a showing in the
woods; you've done just enough for
the mill to keep the job afioat until
you could close down on us!"
She made a dismissing gesture with
one small fist.
''Pve been such fool! / suppose 1t
was all staged, that first encounter
you had with Paul Gorbel here. Well,
you did it admirably. I'll give you
credit for that You fooled me; you
worked me up emotionally until l was
ready to grasp at anything for help.
And l grasped at Tom Belknap's
son %
"It sounds logical" he said YEARLY.
1T sounds reasonable. 1t looks like a
staged drama, yes. But, Ellen dear,
won't you believe me when say that
came to you that night determined
to fight my fatherl
Wont you believe that / jumped
in, first, to settle a grudge against my
father and that have gone far enough
now to be convinced that he has no
hand in all this trouble that has been
made for"
"Stop! Stop! l beg Of you, stop ~
she broke in. stamping foot. Don't