The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-01-23
Ben Ames Williams
Copyright by Ben Ames Williams.
WNU Service.
CHAPTER XI-Continued


Saladine, watching Bart, saw that
under this accusing fusillade, the
mans face congested with a rising
fury. This old woman with the tongue
of q termagant dashed him raw. What
she said might or might not be true;
yet true or false, he could not retort
with the buffet and the blow her words
deserved. He must stand helpless
while she flayed him; yet his dark
cheek was purple now!
"You fetched me some dry groceries
from Liberty village last night" the
old woman continued bitterly, land
listened outside the door and heard
me telling Jenny to go get me lily
root from the brook today. That's why
you went down brook, Bart. You never
went to fish at all. don't believe you
ever even took your rod. You went to
spy on Jenny!
"And on the way back, l low you
climbed up through the woods to see
If you could get sight of Hubby! Like
as not you'd peeked at her before that,
times when the hussy'd be summing her.
self like a snake there on the ledge. |
wouldn't wonder If that was why Zeke
worked you over, that time. Like as
not he caught you there. Anyway. my
guess is you found her there today,
and she tormented you the way she al
ways did, till you couldn't stand it,
and you grabbed her! And she fit you,
and set her finger nails in your cheek;
and at that, you went crazy mad, and
you hit her so hard 70 broke your
own hand on her face! That's what
happened! I'm as certain of it as if
I'd been there and see!"
The scratches on Bart's cheek were
livid, but his lips twisted in a derisive
grin!
Then she turned to Sohier. There 1t
is, Sheriff." she exclaimed, in a tone
Of finality. There it is, if you've got
enough brains to seer'
But the big man after a moment
wagged his head. "Why, l don't see
as there's anything only your guess,
ma'am," he protested.
And Bart spoke, through stiff lips,
yet easily enough. Its all right, Sher-
iff," he said. "Old women get fool
ideesp'
And he said, calmly: ut couldn't be
the way she says" He appealed to
Huldy's husband. "Will, you know
mighty well that Zeke was always
somewhere around Hubby. If this had
happened the way Granny says, Zeke
he'd have been on my tail in no time
at all. You know that, Will, as well
as mew
viii, thus Intercepted, nodded SLOW
ly. That's so, Bart" he admitted.
But Marin Pierce turned to Bart in
sistently.
Bart" she said, Il dunno as | can
prove what you did to Hubby, but I'll
make you admit yo're a liarl You've
made up this whole tale, since you
killed Hubby. You never went down
brook to fish. You never even had
your rod with you. You picked it up
at your house, on your way to get
Win!"
Bart chuckled patiently. "Ma'am, l
can't help yo're thinking anything
you've got mind, but yo're wrong as
can be-"
She cried triumphantly: "YOur rods
outside, with a worm on the hook, all
dried up and shriveled! You didn't
fish with dead worm, did your Her
tone was hot with scorn.
"Why sho," he protested, "a worm
will dry up mighty fast"
Her eyes narrowed. "You told me
you dug bait yest'd ay?" she challenged.
He nodded. Certain" he said.
"GOt your bait can on, amt your"
she demanded. He touched his belt, in
an asserting gesture.
And she took one step toward him.
"Hand it here" she demanded in
rising triumph. LET me have LOOK
at it! If there's any fresh-dug worms
In your bait can, Bart, I'll take back
every word I've had to say!"
Saladine, turning to look at Bart,
found his eye caught and held by an
object on the table between them.
That heavy gun which Bart had laid
beside the lamp, a while ago.
Ii was still there, black and deadly:
The lamp was between 1t and Saladine;
between it and Marin Pierce. But
where Bart stood, the butt of the gun
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