The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-02-27
CHAPTER III-Continued

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Smart" echoed Young, and looked
down at her. Her face was averted
and a flush stained her cheeks.
Whatever a girl says TO a stranger
who has helped her out of situation
that's at once uncomfortable and, per-
haps, dangerous -. whatever is to be
said, l should say TO you" She was
fighting desperately for self-contrOl. Il
E. I'm very grateful. Is there more
70 be said2"
THAT wasn't necessary" ne replied.
Not even that II was quite a
privilege to throw Tod West into the
river"
He reached out to take the line
from Tip. Good dog" he muttered.
Go ashore and shake"
The girl had turned toward him.
You know Tod West?"
"a long time ago / thought did.
And for a good many years I've won
dered how well anyone in that country
knew him. But just on suspicion, il
was good to upset him. l believe" he
added, that he ruined the best friend
shall ever have"
so I'm not the frstI After all that
he's seemed TO be with US, he has a
past, has he? And future too,
perhaps, bitterly.
Il took it, from his parting shot,
that he had some deCiltry afoot"
'.Deyiltry pin an angered whisper.
WAS it just because / happened
along and took a hand that he's 60
ing to make you a pauper?"
She shook her head. mo. That
was settled before you came 1t was
after l wouldn't . wouldn't barter
myself TO save my property that he
seemed TO lose his head; that he be-
came quite something else from what
we've always thought him TO be-"
The boat grated on sand and Kerry
sat down, looking hard at her
II have a particular and peculiar in
terest in this bird. A man doesn't
change, you know; if he's a rascal to-
day, he was yesterday; if he is today,
he will be tomorrow"
DO you mind telling a stranger
what this Vests game is? l don't
want TO pry, but"
You're not prying. It is little
enough for me TO tell you. I'm in your
debt, you know. Yours and Tod
Vests"
She stretched one pac-clad foot so
the warm sun could dry ii better and
appeared to ponder on where TO begin.
Its better to give you the whole
picture, l suppose I'm Nan Downer.
! came into this country four years ago
with my father. Maybe you've heard
of him? Cash Downer? No?' She
sighed.
well. we bought on contract Vests
mill below here and the big tract of
mixed timber to the north of the river.
Ny father had a new idea in the utili-
cation OF forest resources. He had felt
for long time that the things we'd
considered by-product of such prop
critics were, perhaps. almost as big
money makers as the timber itself,
handled rightly. / mean, recreational
facilities.
This is probably the best big tract
of the northern hardwoods that is left.
There's fish and game in abundance.
My father laid a very careful plan
TO interest a group of wealthy men
in buying locations up here for their
hunting and fishing clubs. They were
10 own their various parcels but were
g.. live ~ tho privilaoo Of salao+;ral,-
logging on their descriptions over q
long period
But TO show these prospects what
would be left after we'd done this Sc
lective cutting neceSsitated considera-
BILE of an operation with higher costs,
come. In other words, our project was
a slow starter and we didn't have suf.
ficient capital to be very safe
I'VE kept the mill running, though,
did our cutting in several types OF
stands and last year were just getting
ready TO show some prospects what we
had TO offer.
MY father had sunk all the cash
he had in the down payment. II was
hard work getting the annual payments
together but he had managed ii. Last
November another payment was due
and we were going TO be able TO meet
It Then, one November night, my IA
ther was killed and the money he was
bringing out to pay TO Tod West was
stolen"
Murdered. you mean?"
Murdered" she said lovly and
paused. THAT, of course. put the IN
dertaking in a bad way. Just now
It's very difficult to refinance a tim
Der operation of any sort; also it's
hard TO find men with money TO spend
on their expensive toys, which is what
these camps will amount TO, if and
when the plan develops Tod West
seemed very sympathetic, though. and
told me to take my time and that he
wouldn't see me lose.
But this summer he commenced 10
hint and then 10 ask and then 10
crowd. He has other timber. He has
had TO stop a big pulp operation be
low because OF the market He needs
money. | am doing my best TO in
Ha ash 20