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

-
"Hullo, Jimmy! Evening, Elsie. All
ready TO be measured up for the brace,
Ell? Well, well; we've come along so
far and have got kind of a leg left.
Now we'll start on the job of making
a silk purse out of Z. something"
He began pulling off his coat
where's Jim?" he asked.
The woman's face darkened. "At
the store, 1 guess. Gambling again,
! suppose"
"Well, Wen go ahead, anyhow"
And he went ahead, holding the mis-
shapen leg on his knees, cycling the
long, blue creases of some terrible
hurt and Nan looked on, watching the
play of his deft fingers.
The painstaking chore finally fin
ished and no Jim in sight, the two
walked toward the store, Ezra saying:
''Of course, If Jim hasn't the cash,
I'll have to buy the brace myself. /
told him that last time 1 was out and
he promised. But" -. with a sigh
"times being what they are, I'm scrap
ing the bottom of the till myself"
So they approached the store and
saw what they saw.
AS they left, Tod West was saying
to Jim:
"Hell, No! 1 won't take back that
money! He's a rat and a liar, Jim,
but -, He shrugged and met Jims
eyes squarely, neatly covering the eff
fort required. Lord, boy, I've always
tried to lean backward in my dealin's
with others! No, sir. If any man
says l took money unfairly, I don't
even want to argue. Not on your life.
don't. Money amt worth that, Jim !"
Kerry sat in the darkness on the
river bank, listening to the booing of
the plopping of night feeding trout
He smoked leisurely and Tip, head in
his lap, breathed evenly.
So his childish suspicion had been
right; so the last sane thought-also
a suspicion which Jack Snow had
had, had been justified.
The dog now lifted his head sharply
and Kerry could feel him stiffen. After
a moment, a low vibration ran his
back, which was the beginnings of a
growl.
"Steadyr the man whispered and
reached for his bed, jerking his rifle
from the blanket folds.
Then, aloud, he hailed:
who's there?"
A voice from above answered:
Caller, Young! Still up?" Slow
footsteps came through the poplars.
Young, on his feet, waited with the
dog stiff and suspicious beside him.
Funny business Dustin in on a
man this way. this hour" the voice
went on, nearer now. But 1 got
things to talk over" He could see the
other, now. He was short, squat, and
breathed rapidly. I'm named Adams,
Young; Ezra Adams. I'm the local
pill peddler."
"Oh. hullo, doctorr' The old mans
voice was pleasant "Glad you dropped
in. Here, sit on the bed. Light your
piper"
He could see the other stare across
the river and cock his head as if. to
listen.
mo. guess not, thanks. t.. This
is kind of confidential"
"So?"
He felt the doctors attempt to scru-
tiniZe his own Swallowed face. "Sit
down. Nobody can get within ear shot
with Tip here"
Adams began in a moment. II was
in the store when Tod made his play,
Young. 1 saw and heard and f.
things have happened since that make
me feel maybe I'm going to have to
ask your help, strangers though we
are"
Kerry made no comment. He was
instinctively drawn to this old man.
ALSO, l heard about what happened
this afternoon. / added that to what
/ know about you.
1.-The first thing came to ask is
this: how long are you going to stay
here? l heard you say to West that
you wouldn't be driven off,"
"only until he's sure that I'm not
going because he wants me to-"
"Hum. Pressing business else
where?"
None at all"
Pause. 81 see. Then If you could
be interested in a job here, you'd be
free to take it?'
Job? What kind of job?'
The old man eyed him in the dark
ness. ''Coroner's clerk" he said in a
whisper.
you kidding meT
mot IN the least. I'm -. I'm more
serious aud in greater need than I've
been si,sce ! can recollect"