The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-09-08


which hung a curtain of brilliant red
calico, and while water heated she
made up her bed, as she had made II
many another time when coming here
to spend a night with the old recluse.
Lighting a lantern she went out
to the root cellar, shOveled snow from
tables. Then to the spring for water.
Good camper that she had been
taught to be, accustomed to her un.
cle's comings and goings at any and
all times. she was restless at finding
herself alone in the cabin tonight.
She stopped now and again as she
made her meal to listen, hoping to
hear VOLTS shrill hail come whooping
and ringing through the darkness
when he approached to see a light
shining from the windows of his camp.
But she heard no shout. The night
was very STILL She tried to tell her.
self that she must get hold of her emo
lions and be guided by reason. Out
here, twenty miles from the nearest
habitation. there could be no cause for
this feeling of apprehension which
was rising rising. She was not
of the breed of women that fears iso-
lation and loneliness.
But even as she argued so. tears
welled into her eyes as she fought
against the weight which tugged at
her heart.
Sleepless nights were in her imme-
their toll. This afternoon she had
walked a dozen miles through soft GO
ing and her body was wearied. She
dropped her cheek to the blankets for
just a moment; If Wolf did not come
soon she would undress. bolt the door,
fill the stove with wood, and prepare
to spend the night alone. Just
moment.
And sleep came as Gorbel. two hours
away from that lonely cabin. cursed
at the thinning of the snow. at the
family blurred stars which began to
appear In what had been a void above
him.
Ellen woke with a start. The room
was cold; her body stiff, but 1t was
not the chill nor the aching of her
muscles which startled her from deep
sleep.
Not these. Rather the careful,
slow creaking of door hinge.
Wolf returning? That was the first
possibility which presented itself TO
her clearing consciousness. but imme
diately she reasoned that man does
not enter his own home with stealth
and caution.
A man was there, outside. She
could see his fingers clasping the
doors edge. could make out a seq
ment of his face. probably watching
her.
"Who is it?" she cried sharply. sit
ting up and swinging her feet to the
floor. What do you want?"
The door moved and Paul GorbeI
half reeled into the rom.
"It's |. Ellen. And what do | want?"
with something of sneer. some
thing of bravadO. . what do
want?" = weakening quickly, oddly.
Il came for you for
you! That's whatl"
Over an hour ago he had come to
a halt at the crest of the burned ridge
which swept downward to the swamp
where Wolf had built his cabin. the
first objective in his flight he had
stopped with gasp. Twin rectangles
! OF light showed down there, windows
In a building structure which he
had counted on being unoccupied
He was without food. without more
than pocket-knife as device for pro
curing food and warmth. because he
had dropped his pistol back there In
the office after his finger had pulled
the trigger and drove him away from
men and food and shelter.
man cannot endure the wilderness
| in winter without food or the means
of procuring food. he must have an
ak and blankets: he should have nten-
| sils to make the food he could take
palatable.
His knees shook and his breath