The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-12-26

satisfaction. And then she added
briskly: 'Drat that Jennyi She's gone
and left me to get supper, and me in
my best bombazine!" She found an
apron, tied it on.
AS she began to be busy, she looked
at him refiectively. You amt in any
hurry to get home" she remarked. 1--WE
can put you up If yo're a mind to
stay"
Saladine hesitated. why, much
obliged" he said. He thought the time
to speak had come. Mis- Pierce" he
said, Il dunno as you'll think I did
the right thing; but it looked funny
TO me that Mis- Ferrin would just
fall off that ledge!
Sheriff Sohier is in Liberty today"
Saladine explained. II telephoned him
from Bart's, and told him he'd best
come in here"
Silence was long. Then she asked
us he coming?"
YES"
She nodded. swell, that's a
relief to me-" she decided. "rm an old
woman, but 1 can see a hole in a
doughnut as far as the next" She
spoke TO Bart 'Folks around here
don't bother the sheriff much with
their troubles" she said. as though ap-
pealins 10 him for confirmation But
l say it's the titten thing to do. I
don't see as il can do mite of harm"
She looked at Saladine keenly. "You
figure someone pushed her off of the
ledge, do your" she asked.
Bart said earnestly: "Sure, Granny F!
That ledge is as safe as your floor
here. She couldn't fall off unless she
did it a-purpose; and she wouldn't"
Marin Pierce nodded briskly. That's
the way it looks to me-" she agreed. $50
it comes down to question of some
one did it. Bart who do you reckon
it WASP"
He shook his head. 81 wouldn't say
word" he declared. I've took no.
tice that just keeping your mouth
shut saves a peck of trouble, some
times
She seemed to weigh this. I'm
thinking Zeke might have, Bart. Amt
your"
He might" Bart admitted. But
it's not my business, and I'm not
mixing in" He looked toward Sala-
dine and grinned. "Saladine there, he
told the sheriff to check up on Win,
and rhe steam mill men"
There was mirth in Marin Pierce's
old tones. "It want VIM" she said.
HE might brag and blow, and get big
idees, but it want him"
Bart said: Matter of fact, I don't
think it was Zeke. either. He'd not
hurt Hubby. If it come right down to
someone KILN her. :" He hest
tated. then muttered huskily: well.
if was the sheriff. I'd look for one
that had reason to-"
Marin Pierce watched Bart with
some displeasure in her sharp old eyes.
Presently she asked him:
"You going home to supper, Bartr'
Flowed you might want me here"
he suggested.
She nodded, In a surface hospitality.
Certain. Stay where you be. Right
now, the more folks around, the better
like il" She hustled briskly TO and
fro upon the business of supper,
grumbling about the danger to her
black bombazine.
Then suddenly she stood still. and
he. -h "A
said softly.
Saladine and Bart stepped out on the
porch, and saw the flicker of head
lights through the woods toward the
road. The old woman came to join
them; and they watched together while
light truck with a long body pulled
into the yard. Two men alighted, and
Saladine saw the big form of the
sheriff, and another, who carried a
black bag in his hand.
Saladine and the sheriff nodded to
one another. Joe Matthews spoke TO
Marin Pierce, stripping off his coat.
THE roads real bad, ma'am," he said.
Sheriff Sohier unbuttoned his over
coat, but did not remove it.
BEST to keep Mis- Ferrin here to-
night, If possible" the undertaken
advised. II can take her home in the
morning."
Marin Pierce nodded. "She can
stay" she said. She opened the door
into the dining room. They went in
together, and she closed the door.
The sheriff looked at Saladine, and
at Bart. He said to Saladine: Eve
ming, Jim"
This is Bart Carey" Jim explained
Bart here, he found her. Sheriff"
Sohier looked inquiringly at the
other man; and Bart explained: 81
was fishing down brook. Down back
of Wills barn there's a ledge, and a
steep drop below it. I heard a screech,
and sort Of thump like a partridge
when you nail him. Climbed up there
and found her. Marin Pierce is good
at doctoring. l lowed maybe she
could do something"
want dead?"
"As good as. it turned out" Bart re-
piled. "She never come to at ALL"
Sohier nodded; and Saladine said
slowly: Il see her, this morning,
Sheriff / left my car at Wills. and
she showed me the path down to the
brook. come as far as the ledge with
me. There's nothing slippery there,
no way she could "Trip; and-she want
the kind to kill herself" He added !:
Il was here when Bart brought her"
The sheriff nodded. II telephoned
in to the steam mill, Jim," be reported.
THE crew had been there all day."
He added: And old Win Haven was
in Liberty. at the store. He told me
that when he left Bart's he went up