The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-05-07

WVvyfVVVVtNVVs'WVvs'Wt
than the things he let his lips say. But
he put the impulse back.
They followed into the darkened
kitchen and he searched for what he
needed: a small, fibre cracker box, a
tumbler, a jar of strained honey.
Get nae a quart bottle, please, Nan.
Fill it two thirds of honey and finish
with water; warm, if you've got it.
I'll need a pack sack and some stuff
from the shanty."
He was back in a moment, sack on
his shoulder, rifle in his hand and
quickly slowed away the other articles.
Ezra, we've got to keep Bridger as
far in the dark as we hope we can keep
West. We didn't dare trust Nat with
the bullet identification; no more can
we on the finger prints. You'll find
Jim Hinkle home by the middle of the
forenoon, anyhow. My suggestion is
that you write a telegram and send him
out with it; away out; wouldn't even
trust the Shoestring operator. Get the
state police in here as fast as they can
come and until they are on the job you
sit on the stuff we brought in last eve
ming and don't let a soul near it, much
less touch it. Am 1 right?"
Right as rainI I'd wondered what
to do and this is it,"
He turned to Nan, then, and his
strained excitement subsidized. He looked
down at her, smiling in the faint light.
She was more appealing, more desir-
able than ever ana Holt StuartS
words, with all their incredible impli-
cations, came back to him. He felt
suddenly humble.
There are so many things to say
to you, Man," he said gravely and saw
her eyes drop at the quality of his
tone. Ezra noted it too, likely, and
moved softly away. But Young did not
follow through. Tonight though,
there's only one thing for US to think
about, to work and hope and pray for:
that is to reach the end Of this trail
we're on. After that >. :"
She looked up almost timidly and
gave him her hands. He stopped on
quick impulse, and pressed them to
his lips. Then he went hastily out.
With Tip at his heels he disappeared
in the night, taking the road he had
travelled thrice yesterday, once on foot
and twice in Ezra's car; the road
where he had seen bees working in wild
bloom. -.
An early northern dawn was already
dimming the stars when he reached
the place. He was drenched to the
hips with the dew that chung to the
grasses.
He spread his one blanket and, rife
against his side, Tips warm body for a
pillow, SLOUGH hat over his eyes, snug
gled down for what sleep he might
have. A vireo was already singing but
he dropped off and it was the sun on
his cheek two hours later which wax
ened him.
Fireweed grew all about, rank and
tall, with its light magenta blossoms
dropping and a-glisten with dew; drops
Of dew that cleaned like jewels in the
slanting sunlight. The sky was cloud
AOSS, IAC IlOI fCIs SllA anu 1c IAul-
tered word of thanks for that.
A fire of dry cedar twigs which
threw little smoke made his breakfast
tea and broiled his bacon. As he ate,
he watched the flowers begin to nod
gracefully under the slightest of
breezes, saw the dew disappearing
from them, saw the petals spreading
wide. AS soon as he had eaten he
took the cracker box from his sack
| and cut hole an inch square in the
| cover.
He smoked his pipe thereafter and
waited, listening, looking, the dog sit
| ting before him with a puzzled express
sion, stirring now and again and whin-
ing lowly and licking his chops and
| gaping. After all that had happened
| yesterday and last night, Tip appeared
to be thinking, this was a devil of q
way to start the morningl
"Ha! >. Here we are"
Young was on his feet, then, bending
over a blossom that sagged slightly
under the weight of bee. Busily the
striped insect explored that flower and
| crawled to another and still a third
and finally, locating what he wanted,
squeezed his head and fore parts into
the petal fringed nectar cup.
"Shove 'em, old fellerI' Kerry chuck
led as the hind legs braced and the bee
twisted and strained nightly to get
nearer the precious product of the
bloom. IF bee can grunt, Tip, he's
grunting! Look at him work.
He shook the bottle of diluted honey
and poured some carefully inside his
box. Then, holding the open receptacle
beneath the working bee, he struck the
spike smartly, knocking him free, down
into the box, and clapped the cover
in place.
With his hat, he covered the top and
waited. squatting, while the bee buzzed
within, humping sides and top and bot
tom, angered and frightened at this
strange, dark Imprisonment The
buzzing was constant for an interval
then stopped =. began again; halted
.. hesitated and was still.
Found it," he chuckled. Just like
we found good old Mats car last
night"
ITO BE CONTINUED