The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-02-24

his rowing eyes circled the clearing
for the familiar figure he sought.
A gray-faced squaw pointed tn four
men carrying bags Of flour on tump-
lines from a heap Of salvaged pro-
visions to the stockade gate leading
to LeBlond's house.
Following, Stuart overlook the pack
ers as they reached the house and
dropped their loads on the slab porch
"LeBlond!" he called.
AT the name, one of the packers
turned, and from face blackenel
with char, the redeemed eyes of Lee
Blond glared at Jim.
| What d'yuh want here?"
I'VE saw the light in the sky" re-
piled Jim, unruffled, "and I came to
offer you my quarters-if you needed
them. I'm glad that you don't"
| Thars not why you came! You
came for her. Well, y can't have
herr And the smudged face of Lee
Blond frightened with passion as his
red-lfdded eyes glittered.
| Where is she?"
| "In the house! You can't see her 7"
| Then the black brows of LeBlond
slowly contracted. He raised a nit
tened hand to his face, as If dazed-
cropping for something he could not re-
call-and looked blankly at Jim.
you're all in, LeBlond. I'm sorry
this happened-this loss to you. Let
me see her-for minute, and I'll CO."
| AS though he had not heard, Lee
| Blond turned and staggered into the
| house.
| "Aurore! Aurorei" he called, as his
head man, Renault, and the two COM
pany Indians went back to their work.
leaving Omar and Jim at the door.
"Queer!" thought Jim, as the voice
Of LeBlond shouting his daughters
name reached them. "Where can she
be? She must have been at the fire
and left"
"Flore! Are yoL here, Flore?" Jim
heard LcBlond call in French; then,
Mon Dieu! What's this?"
"Come in here! There's something
| wrong"
With bound Jim was in the house.
Omar at his heels. "What can it be?
| What's happenedT he gasped, sud-
| denly cold with great fear.
"Look !" commanded LeBlond.
On the floor of the large living room,
bound and gagged, lay an Indian wOm-
an, unconscious, red welt smearing
her forehead. Overturned chairs bore
| evidence of a struggle.
"I've searched the house" he cried
in his desperation. "She's not here;
she's gone! They took her when they
| bound Flore, here"
The brutal swiftness of the blow
left Jim dazed, incapable Of thought.
| "Aurore! Aurore!" he groaned, "what
| have they done to you?" Then his
| brain cleared There was no time to
losei He must think-act!
you're sure she's not in the house?"
= "Shes not here! She's not here"
| cried the shattered father.
"Omar, circle the house and stock
| ade for tracksl LeBlond, tell your
| people! We must bring this woman
| to, and get her story. Get some
whisky! Quick"
Jim slashed the rawhide thongs
binding the unconscious Ojibwa, re-
moved the gag, and forcing whisky
down her throat, got weak pulse
| from her wrist as Omar burst into the
| room.
"Trail of dog-team from behind
stockade to LAX He got her wen dey
fight de fire at trade-house! Para
| dees!"
Paradis had come for his revenge!
| "Aurore! Aurore!" groaned Jim in
! his agony. Then he Strengthened where
he knelt at the side Of the Indian,
| and the face which met Omar's plying
eyes was flint-hard with savage ruth
lessness.
"We'n trail him, Omar, night and
| day until his dogs die on their feet
If you get him first, he's mine! Bring
him to me alive! He's mine!"
81 breeng heem. He weel die slow.
I breeng heem."
| AS the hurt Ojibwa revived under
the stimulant, the half-crazed LeBlond
appeared with Renault.
| "We've found his trail on the lake
He's headed for the outlet! Jules and
are starting now! No one would be
mad enough for this but Paradise"
"Yes, it's Paradis," said the tortured
| Jim. 'I'm crossing the lake for two
six-dog teams Look here! You can't
hold his tracks in a night like this,
man. You're worn out. Get some rest,
start at daylight and wait for me at
the Nipigon trail. If he hasn't turned
south, there. he'll take the Albany, the
Pipestone, or the Deer Lodge trail
north, and well separate and get him.
Renault nodded. "Dat ees right
ting to do"
Hell have hours the start of US,
LeBlond." Jim rose to his feet and
rested his hand on the shoulder of the
other. "But if he's ahead Of me, I'll
get him. if he goes to the Winisk bar.
ren-grounds!"
LeBlond gripped Jim's hand as he
murmured his gratitude.
Then Flore found her voice and
kneeling beside her, the two drawn.
faced men got her story. When the
cries Of fire. outside, drew LeBlond
from his supper table, Aurore had
watched from window while she
slipped into her heavy moccasins and
fur coat. Suddenly there was noise
in the kitchen, rush Of moccasined
feet, and. as Flore turned to recog
nize Paradis, blow on the head shut
from the Ojibwa all knowledge OF
what followed.
HE set that fire to get me out Of
the house, then gagged and tied bel
| and 90 rriad her to the sled behind thf