The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-01-02

OUT OF MS way. S0nler and Saladlne
crossed with him to where his truck
stood, spoke with him there. Then
Bart came out and said to Jenny
casually:
"Hot in there, amt it." And in q
lower tone: "Don't you worry, Jen
Nothing to be afraid Of"
He too had seen her terror then
1t must have been plain, for them all
to see. But even as she thought this,
she realized suddenly that she was no
longer afraid, and wondered why. And
then, without speaking to Bart, she
came quickly back into the kitchen
where were Marin Pierce and WILL Her
hand touched Wills sleeve, and peace
filled her; and deep enlightenment
and certainty, like a revelation.
Then the truck departed, and Bart
and Sohier and Saladine returned in
doors. After a moment the sheriff
appealed to Saladine. "Jim," he said
"'Looks like you could figure some
thing out of this business. I guess you
was the last one to see Mis- Ferrin
alive"
Saladine shook his head. II don't
see into it at ALL" he confessed.
Bart turned to Will. "How about
you, WHIP" he urged. didn't you
hear her screech when she fell? I'd
have said everybody in a mile could
have heard that. 1t sounded mighty
loud TO me"
Will shook his head. "The noise
wouldn't carry up to the farm, with
the hill between, and the trees" He
looked at Saladine. II mind" he said
"when you went off with Hubby, Zeke
he come out of the shed like he'd 20
along after you. stopped him, made
him stay behind" And he continued
after moment: Seems like I KEEP
him there a sight longer'n it'd take
you to get down to the brook. Sup
posing you didn't stop any time on the
ledge"
II didn't" Saladine said.
There was silence for a moment
then Will spoke again, gropingly.
"By the time I figured you'd be
gone," he explained, II left Zeke and
went into the house; but when it come
on to rain, / wondered where Hubby
was. come out on the porch and
yelled for Zeke, but he didn't answer,
so l went hunting them. / started to
go down the path to the brook. But
then decided there want any use in
that" He added with glance at
Saladine: II see tracks where you'd
gone down, where your boots had
slipped. :"
Saladine spoke quickly. "Boorsl
I've got shoes on. 1t was someone
else" he insisted. 1T want me-"
viii said stubbornly: at was boot
tracks that l see. Somebody with
boots on had gone down the trail"
And Bart spoke. "Guess Zeke had
boots on. didn't he?"
Will considered, and he nodded. Like
ly," he agreed. "Yes, he did. I mind,
now. He did,"
The sheriff stirred. "The way 1t
looks to me-" he decided, 'Zeke's the
one to find; and we amt likely to find
him, long as we're setting here!"
"Nor you can't find him outside"
Marin Pierce cried sharply. "Show
some sense, Sheriff! You couldn't see
Zeke ten feet away, night like this,
If he was a mind to hide. Set down.
Use your head, stead of your feeti Use
your eyesw
"What goods my eyes going to do
me here?" he urged.
"There's been enough to see, If you
want blind" she told him; and she
looked briefly at Jenny. Jenny" she
said sharply. "You were almighty
scared a while ago. think you know
something more'n you've told. You was
down brook this morning. Did you see
anything, hear anything at all?" Her
tones were insistent.
Jenny, though her heart was pound
ing, spoke after a moment steadily
enough. The way was clear before
her now, all doubts resolved. But she
only said: 81 told you heard some
one talking, In the woods"
Marin Pierce protested irascibly i:
Nothing in that to scare your She
came closer to the girl. Jenny, l can
see more than most; but l can't see
everything. What was 1t scared you, a
while ago? When the sheriff said that
about wishing Hubby had come to, be-
fore she died? What was it, JennyT'
she demanded.
The girl smiled slowly, as at some
secret thought.
"Go on, Jenny" said old Marin
Pierce. Tell the truth and shame
the devil!"
Jenny look at Wills bowed head.
and her smile suddenly was radiant as
the sun. st don't mean a thing to me
now" she protested softly. Because
I can see it WANT true"
"What was it, Jennyg' the old wom-
an insisted.
"Huldy did come to, for a minute,
before she died." said Jenny then.
Marin Pierce cried In a deep incre-
dulity:
Jenny, she never didw
And Bart exclaimed: "She couldn't,
Jenny! Why, she was as good as dead
before ever I got her herel"
Jenny repeated slowly: "She did,
anyway And for moment she said
no more. She stood near the cabinet
over the sink, where knives and forks
and cooking dishes were slowed away.
Bart was b the door into the shed.
Marin Pierce was between Jenny and
the stove; and Sheriff Sohier sat In
front of the oven with his greatcoar
loose about him.
Will was beyond the stove, near the
other door, impassive, waiting.
Saladine. watching Jenny, thought
she seemed in this moment to wear a