The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-03-19

This must be his childl
Cant tell, Jim,' Kerry replied to
the unspoken question. 1--WE should
have an outside chance. And we
won't quilt"
His shoulders and back ached. The
inside of one knee had rubbed raw
on the log. 1t was nothing, though,
compared to what Jim Hinkle was
feeling.
And then Nan Downer was there,
standing just inside the circle of men.
One hand was at her lips and her eyes
were dark with suspense. He smiled
assurance at her as he worked.
The little girls hair was drying in
the breeze now. Golden, it was, and
in disarray about the small, motion
less head.
A full hour had passed since he
again Jim looked at Young, and his
lips would twitch. Others were talk
ing lowly, moving about, their tensity
gone. Kerry could see shrugs and
heads shaken. They had given up
hope.
Don't you think" Mel Knight, the
storekeeper at the Landing, asked as
he came close, that it'd be as well
You see, they got to realize it
sometime"
mo, we won't quit"
"But man, you can't keep on hangin'
to hope"
Ssh !"
He had just started the pressure,
but relaxed it. He held his hand on
the small back and turned his head,
intently waiting for what he had
thought he felt to come again. Then
leaned low, held so in a strained 81
Then it came again just the
whisper of a cough!
Careful, JimI Steady, noww He
held the trembling father back with
one arm, and began to chafe one of
the little girls wrists rapidly.
He beckoned Nan to him.
"Get after the feet" he said quietly.
Shes on her way.
you, Mel. Rustic up hot blankets
and things"
Ten minutes later Kerry gave the
moaning child into her fathers arms
and stood beside Nan, watching her
carried tenderly away. The look on
the mothers face, the vast relief and
thanksgiving which showed in the very
set of Jim's shoulders. touched things
within Young. Nostrils smarted: his
throat CONSTRUCTED and a mist came
into his eyes.
A breed had turned to join the
ragged procession moving up the bank.
"Whos the Injun" he asked the
girl, eyes following the great frame
of the man, strength of which could
not be concealed by the cotton shirt
and faded overalls and moccasins.
'His name is Bluejay Frank
Bluejay," she answered; and then, as
if pointedly: "Why?"
He shrugged. "He was spying on
me from across the river this morn
ing"
A slight gasp escaped her.
"Bluejay too! He's a bad Citizen -
she whispered. "My father used to
say he believed him the cruelest man
he had ever known. Everyone dis
trusts him except Tod West. He works
for him, when he works"
A hard smile came into Young's eyes
and he nodded.
"When he works, eh?" he asked.
They parted then, Nan going toward
the mill, Young mounting the trestle
abutment slowly.
"Hi, Bluejay!" he hailed.
The breed turned, standing on the
ties.
What you want?" he asked, with
the accent of his race, and his look
was clearly a belligerent one.
Young did not answer until he had
covered the distance between them.
When. at arm's-length. Kerry stopped,
he said quietly:
II want to know this: why were
you watching me from cover this
morning? And when I've found that
out. I'm going to ask you why you
were fighting me under water down
thereT'
A cigarette dangled loosely from the
others lower lip. and now the upper
one curled slightly.
"Who's askin' that" he asked.
"You? Huh! I tell you; I say to
you, it's none of your dam business
what I dol" He nodded slowly, head
thrust forward. ST say something more
to you, Ell? 1 say these; you get to
hell outta here before something very
bad catch up with"
He did not finish the threat. Sure
of himself as bad man well and
long feared will be, he was unprepared
for Kerry's quick move.
He swung sharply and stoutly, put.
ting all his strength into the swing.
His palm caught Bluejay on the ear
with singing smack; the force of
the blow rocked the man. swayed
him off balance. He threw out his
arms, lettering on one foot; he clawed
the air twice, writhed and strained
an instant to get the other foot down
in time, and, failing, flung himself
sidewise for the river In a half fall,
half dive.
The impact of his body on the
stream made a mighty splash. He
came up Immediately, shaking his eyes
clear and treading water.
"Wh-what you t'ink you doin'. eh p
he gasped. "What you"
II think I knocked you loose from
yourself as beginning!" Kerry said
holly. "And I'm standing here to wait
for you to come up again. TIL knock
you in as fast as you come up, Injun.
:. That is, If you come up on this
side. II you want to keep out OF