The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-03-12

wouldn't even take it If I'd owed it to
him after havin' suspicion put on him.
He -.
'If you know what's good for you,"
in his manner, then, was a convincing
quality not present before. you'll haul
out today!'
"And If / shouldn't :. what then"
Hinkle shrugged. "Well, I'd figure
I'd done all that anybody can do for
you by comm here" He advanced
few steps. his voice moderating. "I'm
not handin' you anything, Young, I'm
just doin' you friendly act. This
country thinks a lot of Tod, and
there's men here that won't stand to
see anything done against him."
"Yeah? West, and who elseT"
"Plenty!"
Young let his head drop backward
and laughed.
So that was that!
He had been spied upon since day
break, had been warned to clear out
by an emissary who did not say all
that he thought and felt. Such items
should be pondered over, but first he
had other things to do.
He and Ezra had decided that since
he had an official If secret standing
now, it would scarcely do for him to
remain in the country with no better
excuse than the proclaimed intention
of defying Tod West. So Kerry de-
cided to apply to Nan Downer for
work.
Not long after Jim Hinkle's depar-
ture Kerry set out, Tip following at
his heels
Nan Downer looked up from her
desk and listened to Kerry's brief
speech explaining his presence.
"a job?" she asked, and surprise in
her face.
It was not the surprise which made
the deepest impression on Young. It
was the quick coloring of her cheeks,
the changing light in her eyes which
indicated an interest in him over and
above any amazement or regret or en-
thusiasm which his question might
have provoked.
"Yes, job. You know how it is, 1
guess: I've sort of got to stick around
a while; and when I'm in one place. I
don't just banker to loaf"
She traced epencil-line on a pad
before her, considering.
eff you want to take chance of de-
flying Tod West, it is your affair. What
sort of job are you after?"
Kerry grinned.
Maybe I'll have to ask what kind
of jobs you've got on hand? 1 can
do lot of things in and around the
woods, all the way from cruising, ND
through logging operations to mill
ing"
''Are you a craftsman as well?"
She turned to a series of large maps
hanging from the wall, green's and
reds and blues splashing the surfaces
to indicate the various types of
growth which cloaked the descriptions,
with figures showing the size and den
stiles of stands, with streams and
lakes set down in detail.
you see," she explained, "these
prospects of ours are the sort who
will want to know, down to the last
detail, what we're offering in exchange
for their money. My father found
that the easiest way to interest men
of affairs was to have everything on
paper where they could consider ii
inteIligently and completely. Could
you do just this sort of thing as well
as these jobs have been done?"
No fooling about this girl. Her ques-
ton was blunt and brooked no eva
sion or qualification in answer.
Young stepped closer to the maps,
studying them lengthy interval
81 can," he said finally.
Nan hesitated
"Of course, we can't pay you what
you might get some other place. We're
up against it, as you already know
She was obviously embarrassed, but
Kerry said quickly: Don't worry
about that" He looked at her, his
appreciation of the situation stirring a
profound sympathy. "I'd figure, Miss
DOWner, Cndt ltQ De rare privilege
working for you. When do we startY
81 can't talk that detail with you
now, because Holt is out on the job
We've worked such things out together
since my father died. He'll be back
this evening. Will you come up then?'
He would, he said, and started out
| of the Office. Tip stood outside the
| screen door and now whined.
"Oh, here's the dog" Nan cried, 60
| ing quickly ahead of Young, opening
| the door and kneeling on the step
The retriever inspected her with eyes
and nose, and at first bore himself
with perfect indifference, being, as he
was, one-man beast. But when her
small hand came to rest on the broad
crown of his head, and her gentle
voice told him what a handsome fel
| low he was why, then the tai
commenced to waggle a bit, and his
eyes rolled, and his pink tongue lolled
little, and he painted with that sat
isfaction which comes to any male
with sufficient flatteryl
ITO BE CONTINUED
II