The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-04-02

CHAPTER VIII-Continued


Strangled and struggled up TO one ell
bow, staring about in the darkness.
He cOughed again; then the instinc-
tive alarm in human beings for nat
ural elements out of control shocked
him into a state bordering full con-
SciousneSS.
His feet hit the floor He flung the
door wide open and made for the stair
way. He could not breathe, could not
see. He turned about and ran for his
room again, choking and gasping. He
fumbled at the catch of his window,
threw up the sash and his great voice
roared into the black night
Fire! - he yelled. "Fire!" And
again: Fire! Helpl FIRE."
He threw a foot to the wet roof and
scrambled out. slipped, rolled over,
threw his arms wide and brought him
self TO a sliding stop almost at the
caves.
Fire." he yelled again Hi, you!
Turn out! FIRE."
Kerry Young shrank close against
the chimney.
His plan had worked more promptly
than he had dared hope for.
a voice came out of the night:
SWhere? What's afire?"
A light showed in the next house.
A door slammed.
Fire. came a shout from down
the street.
The town was turning out, while
Tod West was making his way down
the birches that had given Kerry easy
access TO the roof.
Footsteps sounded below Young;
voices were raised. Leaning over the
edge of the roof, cupping hand over
his mouth TO make his location more
difficult TO determine should any be
curious. he yelled:
"Get the furniture, boys! Get Tod's
stuff Outr'
He whipped his coat from the fiue,
and put it on, running along the ridge
toward the break of the dormer.
sect TOd's goods OUT" he heard
someone yell Feet drummed on the
wide porch, he heard a heavy object
drawn across the floor below.
In a second he was inside the win
exit. He found the chair, found the
holster with its burden. He slipped
pistol and holster into his pocket.
threw the chair through the window
10 the roof. followed it with the small
table. and scrambled out himself
The gathering crowd was in front
Smokes SC damn thick can't locate
IT." someone complained loudly.
Careful of that clock! !" another
cried. Take it into my house -
Kerry slid down the birches. slipped
into the timber which grew close TO
the rear of the house. Then, circling
10 the street, careful not to reveal
himself in the lights which came from
other houses or the lanterns carried
by a half dozen men, he watched.
Furniture was already scattered
about the dooryard. Two men were
on the roof, shouting puzzled ques-
tons 10 one another.
"HelT' someone said. There amt
no fire. boysI It's that damn Chin
ney,"
Smoke was clearing from the in
terror. Tod West. CARRIED in his under
wear. stood confused and crestfallen
in the center of the group. his hair
in disarray. He had a ludicrous ap-
pearance. Moments before he had been
in panic, had turned out the town . {.
and all for nothing!
Under cover of the excitement Kerry
Young. the pistol in his pocket, made
for the trestle. running when he safely
could TO put distance between himself
and the crowd back yonder. He want
ed to be away where he could laugh
himself sorel The most powerful man
in the community =. smoked out, in
his underwear!
Nan Downer, so Kerry Young dis
covered the next forenoon, was the
most businesslike young woman he
had ever encountered.
He sat on a stool before the draft
ing-board, translating into line and col
ors field notes that had been given
him.
And while Kerry was thus employed,
Nan talked business with two fisher
men. With maps spread before her
and detailed information at command.
the girl made such sales-talk as
Kerry had never before heard She
pictured the selective logging opera
tons which, under her plan, would
continue indefinitely all over the prop
critics; pointed out how streams al
WAYS would have their watersheds
cloaked under such a scheme, how deer
and grouse and all wild things would
forever find food and shelter in for
est so administered.
She had figures in her head and
argument in her wit; and behind all
this. she had conviction: The men
men of affairs, surely-listened intent
", and when they had asked their last
question. cleared up the final detail of
the proposal, one said:
81 rather think. Miss Downer, that
we can deal OF course, Ii depends on
how the rest of our crowd reacts. But
you've got US so well steamed up that
/ wouldn't be surprised If we'd be back
here with money in few days and
ask you TO draw the papers,
That was encouraging, surely, but
when they left she wilted suddenly and
sat down at her desk as if weak.
Young, watching her, said after q
moment:
.what's wrong?'
Nothing" she answered. Every
thing!" She faced him, her eyes dark
with trouble II think they're sold
i think at least two more groups are
ready TO deal. But under the terms
of my contract with the Northern Wood