The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-08-11
A ROMANCE of the
NORTH WOODS


first night In the recreation hall. A
great. heavy-shpuldered thick bearded
ruffian he was, always seated by the
fireplace, splitting copiously boasting
to the younger and less stable men.
His tongue was vile, tls ego great, and
though his job only that Of helper In
the repair shop, Jofen thought that
the man bore hinseiis with a greater
degree of confidence fhan his mere
physical superiority sad bis station
warranted.
He passed the fellow and his group
one night and heard Eim mutter:
Takes a lick5n' lis@ = yellah dog I"
He knew by the fl4rning of heads
that the words were about him. He
did not like it but gaze no indication
OF having heard. Let that ride! Let
everything ride EXCEPT his sole OBJ
jective!
1t was on Saturday that Nat Brad
shaw drove up besores the Belknap &
Gorbel Office, wen; d.asually up the
steps and into the managers office.
"Howdy, PAUL" ne said eheerily.
~Oh, hullo, Sheriff those eyes
changing ever so slig htly. "Coldr y
Kinda. Time OF year for it, any
how"
"Have chair What can 1 do for
you?"
Gorbel cleared his throat sharply.
"Oh, rye got 5 iettJsr from the wife
of one Of your boys here"--fumbling
in his pocket. "The I'VE had q row
and he's hauled out 81 no left her with
coupla kids and don't send her
money regularly. Sh. wants him ar
rested but | don't fallgor arrestin' any
more n s necessary | wondered If
you'd have a talk Wi III him"
GOrbel leaned acr )ss the desk to
see the letter, perhapa3 a bit over eager
ly, as If in relief
Anything can q ). of course. Who
is he? Oh. =. III look him up and
have talk with hifa myself"
For several minutes they discussed
the case, Gorbel obi Lying. suave, offer
ing to go to any lefsgths to help settle
the matter.
"Fine of you, Nat started to rise.
"Oh. by the wayl Seems that this
Teller who burnt up the Richards
stables got a brother down below. He
had some kind of fraternal insurance
that was void If he met death while
drunk. They've written In about it,
the company. s'pose they've got
right to the facts"
"Why, that's only right. don't like
to beat family out of what might be
due. though"
"But he was drunk Hooking up
keenly.
$50 soaked he couldn't or wouldn't
work"
"And you knew it and gave him
the air?"
"Yes. Just as told you"
"And that was after supper?"
"No. Just before I told him to
get out first thing in the morning, but
I got under his skin, | guess. l didn't
see him afterwards"
THAT'S right. You told me that be-
fore. You don't want to write letter
to the insurance company, then?'
Gorbel cleared his throat.
"No. l don't. But If they'll make
an investigation. I'll tell them what
l know, of course"
"But you didn't see him drinking,
did you?"
"See him! Sure! He was just
emptying bottle out by our gasoline
cache when l caught him"
81 see." The sheriff sighed and
stretched AS he leaned back, quick
alarm rode in Paul GorbePs eyes.
well; get along, guess. I'll tell this
lodge to make their own investigation,
then"
So far Bradshaw, whose wits were
no match for Paul Gorbel's agile mind.
had made no betraying plumbers. He
had led his man on, a step at a time
as John had planned he should do,
and had gained one tiny step this
afternoon. But he did the wrong
thing next. He drove slowly away,
not towards Shoestring, but down
towards the mill. He stopped his team
again and walked across the street and
Gorbel. from his Office window.
watched.
An hour later when McWethy, the
mill foreman, came in with his daily
report, Gorbel met him in the hall
way.
"What was Bradshaw prowling
around the mill for?" he asked.
ooh, nothing, l guess He stopped
in to chin a minute and went on out"
"Didn't talk to anybody else?"
"No. oh, yes. -. He did
go over and visit minute with young
Belknap."
Gorbel turned abruptly into his
office and stood beside his desk. biting
a lip, frowning. The office workers
were going out Then footsteps, and
Marie opened the door.
"Going to dance tonight?" she asked.
He whirled on her, raging.
"Good lord. Marie. do you think all
I've got to do is dance? Mol I've
got the evening full !"
She bridled at his tone.
"Well. you needn't be so rough
about it !"
"And you needn't nag day after
day!"
"Sa-a-ay!" She closed the door.
Needn't nag, need I?"-approaching.
81 suppose you have got full eve
ming. Going to take a little drive,
cutie? Going to drive over to Shoe
string for the EVENING"
81 haven't been in Shoestring for a
month";"
"You lie!"
"Don't you tell"
"You liel" she cried again. cuttino