The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-02-20


now.
No light of recognition was in Tod's
face. Too many years had passed. A
lad OF seven Kerry had been on that
day In old Jacks camp, and West In
his early twenties.
Young rallied himself. More i'm
portant things in his own way of reck-
oning values might be close at hand,
but he had run that rapid to render
aid to this girl. That came first and
so he spoke. but with difficulty kept
bitterness from his tone.
"You might" he said pointedly, help
the young lady back into the boat"
Still West did not move; nor did he
respond. The canoe was within a
length Of a paddle from the skiff, now,
and Kerry could hear the light quick
breathing of the girl.
IT said you might, voice rising and
thickening,-"help the young lady back
into the boat
West turned and looked silently to-
ward shore. Young. staring up at him.
felt an Unreasonable loathing for the
man arise. :. Put the blame for old
Jacks ruin on him. had he? And,
perhaps, profted by the tragedy him
self?
He lifted one foot. fiicked it across
the gunwales and with heave of his
agile arms was standing face to face
with the older man.
81 take it the young lady doesn't
relish having you here at all Why
don't you get out?'
The heavy jaw trembled ever so
slightly and a red flood swept into
the cool and calculating gray eyes.
II happened to see from back yon-
der. I happened to see your little
game of of tag. I'd say your
welcome aboard here was at any time
highly questionable I'd say that the
now. You forced her 10 dive once, and
another little swim shouldn't do you
| any :. :"
Let go, you!
Young's quick grip on Vests arm
brought words, heavy with rage.
/
The man was no weakling. Kerry
felt the tremendous strength in those
arm muscles. felt the vast power in the
stalwart legs and broad back as West
swept an arm out to clip him into
|, close embrace But he had the adj
| vantage Of better composure, Of better
stance and, perhaps, of an older, ripper
II
Vests thigh, he half turned, grind
ing a hip smartly into Vests
groin. He showed with both hands
and. giving a strangled roar Of
anger, the man went backward into
the river
A lovely girl was waiting in the
chill waters of the Mad Woman and
quickly Kerry stopped. taking her
hands in his.
She came up, with light kick Of her
small feet. the bunt of trim, breech-
clad knee against the boae, and stood
close to him, draining water For
the space of a slow breath he chung to
her hands and his eyes, smiling now
because of the things which churned
in him, things that, should he let
them, might stir too much rage and
a modicum Of pain, plunged their look
deep into hers.
"Therel" he said and laughed, be-
cause there was nothing else to do,
with confusion and embarrassment
flooding such a lovely face as that
She drew her hands down the sleeves
of the red shirt, stripping water from
the fine flannel Her eyes went past
him to the swimming West, making
suddenly and stoutly for shore. and
in them showed an anger, surprising
in intensity for a face so gently
moulded
The man gained the shadows. wad
ed, dripping. TO beached canoe and
dragged ii afioat with a savage jerk
He stepped in. drove the paddle against
bottom stoutly enough TO spin the
craft about and turned on the girl such
look as Young had never seen on g
mans face.
"All right" he said chokingly and
nodded just once, sharply. "All right
Nan! For this ;. you'll be a pau
PERI
With no more, with only a quick
venomous glance at Kerry, he turnet
downstream. padding briskly.
The girls look forbade speech JUS
then. He was at q loss until his gaze
going past her, saw his own canoe
grounded downstream and on the 9th
er side. Tip, amidships, was Sitting
up, ears at alert, watching his master
and when the girl sat down on the
thwart with suddenness which wa.
almost collapse, Young raised his hand
Hi, Tip" The dog sprang to hi!
feet. rocking the canoe. His tai
J threshed rapidly. FETCH Fetch tn,
canoel"
Frantically, then, the retriever noset
} the packs, showing his muzzle deep int
them. and came up with the track lin,
in his teeth. Over he went into tn.
, shallow water and backing, scroochin,
down. waggling his tail, growing, h,
dragged the canoe afioat Then, Il
deeper water, he swan rapidly ~
! and across the current, head held side
ways by the tug of the line in hi
jaws.
THAT'S smart dog" the girl said
Her voice was even, as though moth
: ing unusual had happened
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