The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-09-22
CHAPTER XIV

John found her covering against the
wall. He lifted her slowly to her feet.
IT'S all right. Ellen p he said gently.
"It's all overl"
He led her out into the wrecked
room, which showed Paul Gorbel,
bound hand and foot in chair, lean
ing forward, sobbing, straining with
futile movements against his bonds.
The man looked up then. He stared
at them with glazed eyes.
That's what you wanted!" he
crOaked. That's what you wanted"-
nodding at them as they stood, John
supporting the girl by an arm about
her shoulders. That's why you
came, eh?'
"No, GorbeL I didn't know. or 1t
would have been why. | came with
warrant that Nat Bradshaw tried to
serve. And there'll be another for
you by now. For murder, maybe,
Gorbel-"
Murder? Murder?' His voice was
shrill and he wrenched his wrists
against the unyielding belt "No, mol
That can't be. 4. -. No murder Mis-
take! Mistake, 1 tell you, Belknap!
On mistake!
''Tell you"-licking his lips. "Tll
tell you. =. I'll trade with you,
Belknap John I'll trade. You
got her now. /. She's yours, when
she knows. I'll trade you what
i know for this warrant you talk
aboutr' He was painting, as If just
in from an exhausting foot race. Tell
you, John I'll trade. Yes. She's
what you want; she's more than any
thing else to you. More n warrant !;
more N anything. Let me loose.
I'll tell you everything"
I'm not going to unite you, Cor
BEL" John said evenly while he
watched as one fascinated the play
of desperation on that wretched coun-
tenance and felt Ellen press closer to
him.
"Oh, yes you will" Tears sprang
to Gorbers eyes. "I'll give you all
you want now, for just a moments
startl I'll go away; I'll stay.
I'll never bother you again. You can
60 to your father then, and tell him
you found out what he couldn't. Great
man, old Tom; smart But you'll be
smarter than he. :"
He licked his lips again.
"See? It'll give you prestige; that's
what you want now ). after Ellen,
there. Prestige with the old man
Yes. That's it You can tell him
how / crossed him up. North Star
Lumber company? Ever hear of It?
That's me; Paul Gorbel. Dummy
company in ST. Paul. got the good
grades of lumber at Gull prices. see?
l paid with notes at the Belknap &
Gorbel bank in Kampfest. took IT
all, every dime of it. !. Papers no
good; worthless. Belknap 4 Gorbel
ID have been insolvent in another year
If it hadn't been for you. !. /. When
old Tom got suspicious we forged in
spector's reports and changed car
numbers on him. He couldn't check
up. North Star looks great on paper |;
st. Paul banks like us But 1t
was me all mel See? Your
finding Quill make hit with hint"
He laughed shrilly.
"And 1t wasn't old Tom who was
after Ellen, there. II got you in Dutch
with her, thinking it was. No. {.
Me. again: Paul Gorbell See?" He
laughed. "Spent years building up
a reputation for fair dealings; going
TO cash on it in hurry. wasl Co
ing to ruin Belknap & Gorbel and get
out. without scratch; going to own
the Richards company, too. =. Yes Il
>. / did it all. and put the bee
on old Toni Understand that? He
never knew Whisper He never
guessed Waited until he was on his
way to Europe and then squeezed
-nodding. "Squeezedl wrecked
trains and burned barns and the poor
devil that
arson? -. Arson, John7 Got
that warrant? Give 1t to ME now
I've come clean; you give me a
break. :"
"Oh. don'tl Don't let him go on ~
Ellen whispered.