The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-01-09
HOSTILE VALLEY

because i loVeQ MIN anyway.
"And nobody'd blame him for hit
ting Hubby" Bart insisted, quick to
Wills defense. 'She needed it, bad |!
But he never meant to knock her off
the ledge!"
Jenny cried, swift, indignant: "Will
never touched her, Bart!"
II know he didn't" Bart loyalty
agreed. "But I'm just saying, If he
did,"
"He didn't" Jenny repeated crisply.
The sheriff looked up at her. How
come you to be so sure, Jenny" ne
asked in sober tones. "Ourside Of
feeling about him the way you do, how
come you to be so sure?"
"If want sure" Jenny challenged,
"d'you think I'd ever have told you, or
anybody. what she said?"
You wouldn't want to marry a man
that'd kill his wife, would your"
Sohier urged; and Jenny's eyes met
his fairly, and hers were misty with
deep tenderness.
HE didn't" she insisted steadfastly.
But I'd want to marry VIII any way
1t come, and no matter what he donew
well, that amt telling me how
you know he didn't do it?" the sheriff
repeated doggedly. What made you
sure, all of a sudden, now?"
"Just-cOming to my Senses" Jenny
decided. Il was kind of numb for
while; but then after I'd been with
Will for a spell, l was sure!"
The sheriff, surprisingly, chuckled.
I'D admire to hear you testify like
that in court" he declared. I'D like
to see what the judge would say" He
became grave again, and looked at last
at Will How about it, Will?" he
suggested soberly. Anything you've
got to say?"
Will, with all their eyes upon him,
wiped his hand across his mouth. The
man was shaken sore. He stood
fumbling for words. IF it was any
one but Jenny told me, wouldn't be-
lieve Hubby said it," he declared.
faint true, l guess you'll say"
mo. No. it amt true"
The sheriff frowned. How come
Mis- Ferrin to say a thing like that.
them" he protested. Don't seem as
if a woman would tell straight-out
lie, the minute before she died!"
"She was out of her head, l reckon"
VIII offered.
But Jenny said: mo, Will, she was
same as always. She knowed me,
knowed every word she said"
The man insisted, almost pleadingly:
Jenny, she wouldn't tell a thing like
that only if she was crazy, or out of
her head, or something"
Marin Pierce had been silent long;
hnt now she smoke in Sharn and anoru
but now she spoke, in sharp and angry
tones.
''Will Ferrin' yo're a fool!" she ex-
claimed. Il guess most men are, where
woman's concerned; but yo're a
bigger fool than most. You know as
well as anyone that Hubby was no
good!"
His head lifted as though he would
speak, but her voice rose. Now don't
try to shut me up. Will Ferrin" she
cried. For I'm going to have my
say! Land knows why Hubby married
you; but everybody knows she was a
bad wife to you. She was bad from
her toes up. Dead as she is, I'll say
so, if it's the last word l do say. She'd
have drove any man that want saint
or fool to kill her long ago; but you
didn't kill her. You always would
speak soft to Hubby, and stand any
thing from her, and come down hard
on anyone that tried to tell you the
truth about her!"
She turned as though on a sudden
thought to the sheriff. Twill didn't
hit her." she insisted. "He wouldn't
have the spunk to! He always did
treat Hubby like a lady, no matter
how she behaved. Maybe if he'd took
a hoop-pole to her long agu :"
But she checked the word, swung to
Will again.
"Will, you listen to me-" she COM
manded him. "Huldy knowed what
she was saying, all right; and she
knowed she was dying, too. But If she
could make Jenny believe you killed
her, there couldn't ever be any happi-
ness between the two of you; and
that's what Hubby wanted. That's why
she said what she did. Sos to make
it hard for you, and bitter hard for
my Jenny"
And she said with sudden passion
in her tones: Just for that, I'd put
her out of my house this minute, dead
though she be, If it want for you,
viii. AS it is, she can stay; but you
better get some sense into your head!
She was man-chasing, lying, trouble
making woman, and that's the truth
of 1t, and I'm glad she's dead, If you
ask mel"
She finished and stood painting with
her own pent rage, and looked at
VIII as though in challenge; as though
she dared him to deny her words. And
Jenny crossed to Wills side. not touch
ing him, but ready there, and loyal
Then VIII spoke slowly. "Ma'am."
ne told old Marin Pierce, 81 guess If II
comes to that, | knowed Hubby better
than most. But | don't want folks
to talk about her sol" There was
pleading in his tones.
Then don't you play the dumb fool
to me-" said old Marin Pierce angrily
Denying what's as plain as day She
always would make trouble when she
could. She set Zeke on Bart two
years ago; and she'd set Jenny against
you now, If she could $. :"
She looked at Bart as though he
would confirm her word; but Bart was
watching Will
The sheriff leaned forward, his ell
bows on his knees. But just the
same" he urged ''she wouldn't think
that up, about Will hitting her and
knocking her off the ledge, unless