The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-05-24


But If he was to come back. Bran
don. and swear to her with his own
lips that he did not kill swear SO
to a girl like that Shed believe
him, wouldn't she? She'd believe him.
wouldn't she. and be at peace. AT
peace. Ay, at peace with her.
self and the one she loves"
ed jaw and flung away the shears. He
stood erect. spreading his hands.
"See!" he cried. "See, Nick Bran.
donT'
The man In the chair made as II to
rise. He could not. He lifted an arm
as though to fend blow.
"Denny!" he choked. Denny Nc
Manus. You're id /.
you're :"
He ended in a wild scream and cow
cred back against the wall, sobbing.
Beside Ben, Dawn was trembling.
He put his arm about her and she
sagged against him.
$50 / wouldn't come back. eh?" the
man they had known as Martin cried
and whirled to face her. 81 came,
Dawn! I've come back TO tell you
that Pm not afraid. That my
hearts clean. :" He gathered her
in his arms. dropped his cheek to her
head and closed his eyes. "rm no
killer. | don't know who killed Faxson
Nick told me did and lost my head
for an hour and then 1t was too late
I've hidden for years because
he's written me things, terrible things
TO read. little Dawn. But / couldn't
stand 1t longer!"
"And a warrant" Brandon croaked.
"A warrants here +. there. in Tin
cup. Murder won't outlaw. 4. You'll
pay :. you'll pay. :"
McManus drew Dawn even closer.
But you'll know. little Dawn! {.
You'll know!" he murmured.
"Wait!" cried Ben. "All of you |!
Listen! This this this
thing, mere, as much as admitted to me
that he killed Faxson himself! He
was here in this cabin the night Fax
son was shot. He was here, I'm tell
ing you! He admitted it to me, not
ten minutes ago!
81 don't know much about the rules
of misunderstanding at the bill-fold
in his pocket-'but I've good guess
about what Don Stuart had to tell the
night he died, now that Brandon has
trapped himself!" He shook the soiled,
folded envelope from the purse. "Tve
had this thing for weeks and like a
fool l didn't read it.
"Listen!"
81 have been a coward" Ben read
aloud. "McManus did nor kill Fax
son. Brandon did. Brandon had Nc
Manus drunk and was getting him to
sign away his share Of the partner
ship when Faxson tried to stop it,
Brandon shot Faxson and when Nc
Manus was sober enough to under.
stand, told him that he-McManus-
had done it. McManus believed him.
l don't know what became of McManus.
Brandon came to me before Sam
died and told me McManus had lit out
and that if did not swear that Fax
son said McManus shot at him he
would send me to the pen for stealing
from the company. This is Gods truth.
/ was afraid to do anything else.
have been a coward. I am sorry I did
not tell this years before"
Brandon's head was twitching.
Lie" he gasped. g. drunken
bum.
mo lie, Brandon. It's truthI' Ben
said without heat, quite soberly.
Tim LETTERS turned to McManus
smiling gently, and as he moved Bran
don sprang forward. With a wild cry
he gained the doorway, snatched 1t
open and plunged outside.
"Get him % Tim cried and McManus
followed, leaping out into the gloom
Of late afternoon.
Don't leave me alonei Not here,
Benz"
1t was this cry of Dawn's which ar
rested Ben on the threshold. He
turned to see her swaying dizzily.
Hold me! Hold me close. All,
Ben, dear!"
Her arms clasped his neck and she
began to cry softly.
"Easy!" he said unsteadily. Easy,
now! It's all over. Everything's
overt"
No sounds of the three who had fed
into the darkness came for many min
utes and then old Tim LETTERS stamped
grimly into the room. He did not
speak as the two looked inquiringly at
him. He waited for the man who had
been known as John Martin. He
came slowly, this man. breathing
heavily.
Compensation" he said in whisper
as he advanced toward Dawn, arms
outstretched hungrily. 1.-THE Mad
Woman has him. Here it start
ed. Into that river l was sup
posed to have gone, in a confession Of
murder. There he went tonight.
-. We saw it, Tim and L We
watched him swept under the ice. :"
1t was after midnight when the group
assembled in the McManus home. Tim
LETTERS, Able. Doctor Sweet, Denny Nc
Manus, Dawn and Ben Elliott sat
rather silently in the long, low living
room while Aunt EN- busted herself in
the kitchen.
The evening had been an ordeal. ex-
planning, recording evidence; talking
with the coroner. the sheriff, the
young prosecutor; and though it had
ended in triumph, when the prosecutor
slowly tore to bits the old warrant
for Denny McManus, the tragic facts
with which they had been concerned