The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-01-16
dom beyond ordinary minds. Old won
en- know so many things.

- idihSos civ Suibs
Plenty" he agreed; and he added (:
when / set out to fetch VIII. after.
went by my house and changed.
Then when | didn't find VIII, come
back past the ledge and picked up my
gear. and come on here"
The old woman looked suddenly at
Jenny. "Jenny, when you went to fetch
Huldy's clothes. how come you didn't
meet Bart? If he come back that
way. you'd ought to have met him."
But Jenny said, her cheek little
pale: Il didn't go through the woods.
| didn't want to go past where she'd
fell. I went around by Bart's, and
up the road. i met VIII in the road"
Marin Pierce nodded; and she shift
ed her position In the chair. There was
something in her movement which sug.
gested that one part of the scene was
finished, that a new episode was about
to begin. She looked at the sheriff.
and at Will; and it was to VIII she
spoke at last.
"Will." she said, 81 never see much
of Hubby; but I've heard folks tell
that she'd wear a rope tied around her
waist the same as today, like a SASH"
Her tone was a question, and he
nodded. shed wear piece of clothes
line like that, right along" he agreed;
and after a moment he said, something
wistful in his tones: Il mind she al
ways tied it in granny knot.
showed her how to tie it right, times
enough. 1 used to joke her about it,
when first we was married, and we'd
laugh; but later. guess she stuck to
her own way just to plague mel"
Saladine remembered that granny
knot so wildly.
"Tie it tight, did she?" Marin Pierce
suggested.
mo-" Will decided. 1T was always
loose, kind Of"
The old woman seemed suddenly
taller. "When Bart got her here to-
day." she said clearly, that rope was
tied In a square knot, and tied tight"
She looked at Bart. And there was
blood smeared on the rope by the knot,
and In the knot! But the only blood
on Hubby was on the back Of her neck,
and down her shoulders. If she was
laying on her back when you found
her, Bart, with the knot in front, how
come the blood to be on that rope? 1t
looked to me like some one with bloody
hands had tied it,"
Bart, quite undisturbed, seemed to
remember. Il mind, now," he said.
"the rope was dragging. Likely it had
come united when she fell. tripped
on it, carrying her over here. Fell
right down and busted my hand on a
rock. SO tied it around her. Chance
is my hands was covered with blood by
then"
She asked implacably: eff you laid
her down, how come the front of your
overalls didn't get wet? Seems like
they would have; but when you got
here, they was all dry across the front
Of you, where you'd held her up
against you"
He said readily: I'D have to lean
down over her to tie that rope. The
rain would hit on my back"
Marin Pierce shifted. Maybe so," she
said, and looked at him steadily. "You
say you see Wins tracks, down brook?
Sure it want just Saladine's tracks
you see?"
He shook his head. "No, there was
two sets. Boots and Shoes"
She nodded as though in assent.
That's right" she agreed, in a con-
hot r
found %
Saladine felt something within him
quicken to attention; then she looked
at him as though for confirmation.
You mind" she said, when 1 went
out to get some air, and left you and
Bart in the kitchen here?" He did re-
member. "Well, l went up the brook
path ways" she explained. There
was two sets of tracks, plain enough"
She looked at Bart harshly. But /
didn't find your tracks, anywhere"
she declared, her voice ringing. "How
come your tracks didn't show, If you
come down the trail?"
Bart chuckled. why, Granny, yo're
a regular bloodhound, amt your" he
drawled, in deep amusement. "Nosing
through the woods in all that rain!
What started you scouting around,
anyhow?
Il begun to figure on things, just as
soon as see you was lying" she as
sured him calmly.
The mans color heightened, as
though he began at last to feel a GER
tain irritation at her insistence. That's
hard word, even from you, Granny!"
he protested. 81 wouldn't take it from
a man."
And suddenly her long composare
vanished. She famed at him, as black
powder flares at the touch of a match.
You'll take it from me, Bart Carey I"
she cried, and rose to her feet. Sala-
dine had not realized before now hcw
tall she was. you'll take it from me-"
she repeated. "You can't scare me,
Bart; nor you can't shut me up.
know too much about your
Her voice rang!
II know a heap about you'll" she
cried. 1--WE watched you grow up!
winch you hlol SOIuc hduSiuS dlOuutt
my Jenny, looked you over to see IL
you'd do for her; but Jenny had sense
enough to see for herself you was no
good.
And then Hubby come along and
you chased after her."
Saladine looked at Bart acutely. Had
this man, too. despite his friendship
for Will, fallen under Huldy's spell?
Certainly his cheek was ruddy now;
and Marin Pierce seemed to come close
to him, although she had in fact not
moved at all.
"Even Hubby wouldn't look at you!"
she cried in furious scorn. "And land
knows she want ever particular