The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-01-11

les, II 10 uuu lIiShuS al cure IL
that" replied the rancher. kindly.
Then he stepped to the door to call
within. "AIary, this rider was not
alone. 1t was his wife he was car
ryin'. They got lost In the brakes an
she gave out. We must take them In. /"
That night, after the good ranchers
assured Jim that Helen was just worn
out Jim went to sleep under the cot
tonwoods and never moved for seven
teen hours
Helen sat up the second day, white
and shaky indeed but recovering with
promise that augured well. Her eyes
hung upon Jim with mute observ-
ance.
Next morning while the women
were at work in the fields and Tasker
was away somewhere Jim approached
Helen on the porch. Her hair, once
again under care, shone like FURNISHED
gold.
'Well, you look wonderful this morn
Ing" he said. "We must begin to
think of getting away"
vi, III dDle 10 start.
"We mustn't overdo it. Tomorrow,
perhaps. And then If we're lucky. In
three days you'll be back at Star
ranch. And L"
His evident depression, as he broke
off, checked her vivid gladness.
you will never go back toto your
old life?" she questioned quickly.
mo, so help me, God! This I owe
to you alone, Helen. 1t will be pos
sible now for me even to be happy.
But enough Of myself. have traded
two of the horses for Tasker's light
wagon. will take you to the stage
line and soon you will be at Grand
Junction"
Jim ceased. Her hands slipped from
her eyes, to expose them wide, filmed
with tears, through which shone that
which made him flee.
"Wait-please wait !" she called after
him, as he made with giant strides for
the gate But he did not go back.
In a moonlit hour that night, late,
when the good Taskers had gone to
well-earned rest, Jim heard his name
called. He ran with swift, noiseless
feet to Helen's bedside.
'You did not come back" she whis-
pered. II cannot sleep. There Is
something want to say"
He sat down upon the bedside and
clasped her hand in his.
SIS your real name Jim WALTZ" she
asked, with more composure.
"No. l will tell 1t if you wish"
"Are you a free MANI"
"Free. What do you mean? Yes,
free-of course"
"You called me your-your wife to
these kind people"
81 thought that best. They would be
less curious"
II was not offended-and / under
stood +. I want you to go back to
Star ranch with me-"
"You ask me-that!" he exclaimed
incredulously.
"Yes, l do"
''But you will be perfectly safe.
Some one will drive you from Grand
Junction"
Perhaps Only I'll never feel safe
again-unleSs you are near. I've had
too great a shock, Jim. / suppose one
of your western girls could have stood
this adventure. But this was my first
rough experience. 1t was IA little
too much"
70 Sfor ranah "
he replied, gravely.
"Why not? Because you are-you
were a member of a robber gang?
had an ancestor who, was robber
baron"
That's not the reason" he said.
"What is it-then?"
"If leave you now-soon as I've
placed you In good hands, can ride
off in peace-go to Arizona, or some
where and be cowboy-and be happy
in the memory Of having served you
and loved you-and through that hav-
ing turned my back on the old life.
:. But if I went back to Star ranch
to see you every day-to-to-"
"To ride with me-" she interfered,
softly.
"Yes-to ride with you" he went on
hoarsely. "That'd be like what you
called your rough experience-a little
too much. 1t would be terribly too
much. I'm only human"
Faint heart never won fair lady,"
she whispered, averting her face and
withdrawing her hand. Jim, 1 believe
If were you, I'd risk it."
Jim gazed down at the clear-cut
profile, at the Swallowed eyes, hair sill
vered in the moonlight; then, stricken
and mute, he rushed away.
Before dawn Jim had beaten his
vain and exalted consciousness into a
conviction that the heaven Helen hint
ed at for him was the generosity of a
woman's heart. She could not yet be
wholly herself. He must not take ad-
vantage of that. But to reassure her
he decided he would conduct her to
Star ranch, careful never to reopen
that delicate and impossible subject,
and after she was safely there and
all was we'll he would ride away in
the night, letting his silence speak his
farewell.
At sunrise Jim acquainted Tasker
with his desire to leave for Torrey.
At breakfast and in the hustle of
departure he was sure Helen felt
. something aloof and strange in him,
and he dared not meet her thoughtful
eyes.
TO BE CONTINUED.
Lightning
The bureau Of standards says that
it is not scientifically correct to say