The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-05-14

surface showed the print of heel,
| even to the nails, dark brown against
the buff. Some man had used that
bracket In starting to climb that tree!
On his knees, he searched. The rain
had not struck here with great force.
Small bits of bark and lichens, with a
| fresh look, were there. The protrud-
| ing end of a small limb, long since
dead and all but absorbed by the ex-
panding trunk, bore bits of thread, as
| if a garment had been scrubbed over
it. +. Yes, someone had climbed this
| bee tree.
Honey and money! Money and
| honeyi
Yonder went trail; faint, yet read
able to Young's eye. Not game trail,
either; he found the lily defined out
line of boot sole there. STOPPED over,
he followed. Broken, withered brakes
told that someone had gone this way
weeks before; broken brakes, still
fresh, attested to a more recent pass
ing.
The sign ended before pair of
limestone boulders, tilted together,
forming a small cave
"Oh-ohw Another stone had been
set against this opening once; now
it was gone, rolled yonder.
He lay on his belly and shot his
fiash-light into the small cavern. .
Granules glistened on the stone; he
touched them with his finger and
looked closely. Black, brittle, glitter
ing flakes they were. Lacquer from
japanned box?
His mouth was very dry, now, and
he rolled quickly to his side to stare
at the tree A box the size of the one
he had dug up yesterday never could
have been concealed in the hollow of
the beech; the opening was too small.
But box had been hidden here, and
a man had climbed the tree. And
honey had daubed the man who ham
died both box and crowbar.
"Tm a son-of-a-gun he cried. "rll
be :" And on his feet there his
face showed, for just an instant, a
flash of admiration for the ingenuity
which had laid out this course.
If the course he now suspected actu-
ally had been followed.
He had been right about the cabin
on Townline. 1t was short mile there
and he covered the distance at a jog
trot, Tip close behind. He halted at
the edge of the clearing to look and
listen and then went forward without
hesitation.
From an insect net above one of the
hunks, he cut portion; he found a
pair of old leather gloves; workman's
denim jumper; a hank of stout cord
From the tool cache he took an ak, a
cedar saw, splitter and two wedges
These, with his rifle, made a burden
of consequence and by the time he
reached the tree again sweat bathed
his excited body. ..
From the netting he improvised 9
veil, adjusting it over his hat and
tucking the edges into the neck of the
jumper. He put on the gloves, tied the
jumper sleeves tight about his wrists
and picked up the ak.
Zip. =. Yonder" He gestured In
command. "Away back and lie down
There's going to be a lot of hostility
here in minute"
He waited until the dog had obeyeG
and then sent the bit of the ak deer
into the beech.
He was. right about the hostility
Not half dozen blows had been strucl
before they were upon him in a cloud
buzzing angrily, seeking ways through
his veil and garments for countless
stingers. But Kerry was well protected
and swung his ak steadily, eating {
great cash in the trunk. Oh, one OF
two got to his wrists, and now ant
again he felt burning prick on tn,
shoulders when his jumper stretched
tight. But that was as nothing, ii
this interval of suspense.
The tree sagged and shivered. l
snapped and swayed. He struck thre,
more swift blows and stepped bacl
as it came down with mighty, swish
ing roar and crash.
He had dropped the ak as the beecl
toppled. Now he took up the saw and
standing in a cloud of furious bee
which lowered over the entrance t.
their fallen store-house, he sent tn,
teeth singing through the stout wood
Swiftly, his supple body swung to an,
fro, stoutly his long, strong arms drov
the avid blade. The forest rang wit
the sound. Rang with the SCUM,
which would have covered even tn
noise made by frantic man, crashin
through brush, running intently, breath
lessly, his hat gone and face scratche
and clothing torn; needless, apparent
~, of everything except making spec
and clinging to the rifle he carrie
across his chest.
No, the man was not close enoug
to have the sounds of his progress
reach Young But he was close enOug
to hear the ringing echo of that saw
He drew hand across his face t
wipe away the blood and the swea
and tried to still his breathing to lister
His trembling lips shaped word an
then he went forward cautiously, wall
ing like cat, rifle held at ready. :.
AS he approached the source of thos
other sounds, which had now change
from that of saving to blows of
sledge on metal, he bent forward
trifle and went even more slowly, NOR
quietly. -.
VESTS Landing and its environs ha
, experienced two long evenings and on
! long day of an excitement pitched
point never before attained there
I And now the second day was begil
: ming. Work was forgotten where
, could be and before Mel knights stor
| WAS rafharad uro,1r, ruhioh nrrruo