The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-10-19

grizzled old frontiersman, brought It
TO a stop with a fine flourish, and
bawled out: Grand Junction. half
hour fer lunch"
There were six passengers, two Of
them feminine. The last to leave the
stage was a tall, yelled young woman,
her 1.-the and erect figure encased In
long linen coat. She carried a small
satchel. Expectantly she looked
around Jim stepped before her, bar
ing his head
Are you Miss Herrick?"
"Oh-Yes," she exclaimed In relief.
'Your brother sent US to meet you,"
went on Jim, indicating Barnes, who
stood TO one side.
He did not comet" The full, rich
voice, with its foreign intonation,
struck pleasantly upon Jim's ear.
mo. There's much work at Star
ranch. But it's perfectly all right
Miss Herrick We will drive you safe
~ over before dark"
Jim could not see clearly through
lA4C NClAs DuE A4SCCAACo WCA
enough that big eyes studied him.
Didn't he send a letter or anything7
How am to know you men are en-
ployed by my brother?"
I'm afraid you'll have to take my
word" replied Jim, gravely. But,
Barnes, here, can prove his identity.
He lives in Grand Junction, and OF
course there are responsible people
who will vouch for him"
Miss, the boss did send word"
spoke up Barnes. touching his hat,
and stepping closer he added in lower
tone: HE told me last night you was
to fetch what come by Wells-Fargo."
''Then Ii Is all right" she replied.
heartily relieved. my luggage is In
side, on top and tied on behind. The
name is on every piece. Helen Her
rick"
"Fn attend to the baggage, Miss Her
Barnes will show you where to eat. It
might rest you to walk little. We
have an eight-hour drive"
Thank you. I've been riding stead
lily for two weeks and I'm stiff"
Whereupon Jim set about collecting
the pieces Of baggage marked Her
rick" 1t appeared that the stage had
been loaded down with them. Nine
teen in all! Manifestly Miss Herrick
had come to stay. To find room for all
Of them in the blackboard was going
TO be task. He set about this method
ically, his mind ar once busy and abb
sent. By packing carefully under the
seats and on them, too, Jim got the
bags all in. He went TO the store and
bought rope to tie some Of them on
securely. wonder what she looks
like" he thought. He had felt vague
" uncomfortable when she looked him
over through that veil. His task COM
pleted, Jim stood beside the restless
horses, waiting. And it seemed he was
waiting for he knew not what.
Presently Barnes returned, wearing
an excited grin. His eyes were i'm
portant.
Jim. 1 fixed it. I shore gave her
an earful." he said.
did you? Much obliged, cowboy"
"She took off thet coat an veil
Lordy! Utah never seen the likes Of
her. Red lips, pink cheeks, hair like
gold, an eyes like violetsi Jim, for
a minnit / went plumb back on my
CURL But shucks, thet's crazy. She
asked me to set at table. / did. She's
just as nice an free as Herrick. II
was while we was eatin' tibet had the
chanst to tell her about the notorious
Jim Wall. Mebbe didn't spread it on.
An she looked-gee, such eyesl She
said, so Bernie Herrick sent a des-
perado to be my escort? How perfect
ly rippin' Honest, Jim, thet's what
she said So shet up pronto. !.
When jest come away she said she'd
walk a little in the orchard an after
goin' into the Wells-Fargo Office she'd
be ready"
Have you double-crossed meT
queried Jim, suspicious Of this boy.
you were to make me out low-down."
Jim, honest to Gawd, If tibet CURL
amt scared TO death of you she's a
new one on me-" declared Barnes. But
there was fun and evasion in his keen,
hazel eyes. Somehow he had failed
to follow instructions
"Pn go in the Chink's here and get
a bite TO eat. You watch the horses
Upon his return Jim espied Miss
Herrick emerging from the yard Of
Mrs. Bowe's lodging house. She car
ried the linen coat on her arm, and
without it did not appear so tall. She
had a wonderful step, free, swinging.
graceful stride, expressive of health
and vitality. She did not look slender,
as in the long ulster, but superb, broad
of shoulder. She wore a half-length
coat over her brown dress. 1t had a
collar of dark fur which presented
vivid contrast TO her exquisite COM
plexion. The veil was tucked back and
now permitted sight of wave Of shin
ing, golden hair. At a little distance
her eyes looked like great, dark holes
set In white. But as she approached
Jim saw that they were violet in hue,
warm, beautiful. fearless.
TO BE CONTINUED