The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-04-09


When he was gone and Nan had
closed the door, she swung toward the
old man with tears in her eyes. He
opened his arms at her choking sob
and gathered her close.
"Oh, Ezra!" she moaned. "Oh, If
anything should happen to Holt"
Il heard about what went on. Don't
fear. Wen watch to see nothin' does
happen!"
"Tod's so savage, so brutal And I
feel such a responsibility for Holt.
He's such .. such an emotional boy
If Tod harms him, I'll feel I'm to blame
and Don't you see?"-beseeching.
ly. "Oh, why must things like this
come up to be faced just when -.
just when love comes, Ezra?"
Though her words had given him a
sort of shock the old man downed his
curiosity and the questions that they
provoked, and devoted all his resources
to comforting her. He stroked her hair
and patted her shoulders until her
emotions were under control. Then
she asked him to go.
Its my problem" she said. II can
think better alone. I'm so glad You
were here to let me be female and
weak for a moment !'-wiping her eyes
and smiling bravely.
He left her then, with deal to think
about. He carried his news to Kerry
later the same evening.
Looks like Stuart's finally got what
he seems to want most" he said, and
did not notice that his companion ap-
peared to stop even his breathing to
listen. "She's awful upset because
she's afraid something'l happen to
him. And she's in love, too, which
doesn't make for calm thinking. ).
$40 be sure, promised we'd look
after Stuart, but, with a shrug,-'I
wouldn't bet that that can be done.
"Tod1l have him on his list now, and
Tod's got a long memory when he's
been angered. Course, he was drunk"
Young did not hear this last. He
was concerned at the moment only
with one thing which Ezra had had to
tell. Dismay filed him as he realized
the emotion that had been fermenting
in his heart for days, which had al
most crystallized into recognizable
thought this afternoon: that finally his
heart had taken root! He was in love
to his ears with Nan Downer and yet
here was old Ezra, bringing word of
her love for another. His heart had
discovered a home, only to find it al
ready occupied.
He shut his teeth and stirred himself
to follow the doctors grave talk.
"He was drunk" Ezra repeated. And
he may forget when he sobers up; may
forget enough of it to keep his ven-
geance away from Holt; then again,
his bein' drunk when it happened may
make his grudge only that much
worse"
West was sober enough when an
hour later he stood in the shadow of
Bluejay's rattletrap fiivver not far
from Mel Knights store at the Land
ing and talked rapidly, jabbing a fin
ger now and again against the breeds
chest.
Bluejay was in from the BURBERRY
camp he had established to the north
ward few days before, where his wife
and progeny gathered the ripening fruit
which buyer came to truck out to
the railroad each evening. Frank did
not pick much himself and he cursed
his family for not being more adept at
the harvest. And so the proposal which
Tod West made fell on ground doubly
fertile.
-. And he's made you joke, here,
knockin' you into the river that way,
Frank! He'll drive you out of the
country if he stays and and 1
want him gone because he tried to
frame mew
The breeds eyes were fixed on the
white mans face.
"HOw much?" he asked.
well, not much. It's your fight. l
can get along; I'd rather have him
gone. but can get along. You, though
:. And there'd be no chance, you see,
out there on Townline if"
How much?"
Under his insistence West paused.
Zen dollars.
"Huh! You do your own job, Tod
Westr'
He turned to his car.
Hold on - grasping a sleeve.
Moneys scarce"
well, l amt goin' to take no
chances for no ten dollars. For a hun
nerd, no"
"a hundred! You're crazyw
They bartered longer, but without
heat, and finally Bluejay nodded.
"All right. But whenw
"When the jobs DONE"
"Pll see, Ell? And this other
you tell me when you want me to say
l seen Stuart there, Tod In the cor
ner Ell? And burying -
His voice dropped to a cautious
whisper.
Bluejay cranked his car and clat-
tered away and Tod West strolled to-
ward the store.
He did not enter, however; stood
there staring within and felt his
bruised lips carefully.
He had become a changed man In
this span of few short days.
ITO BE CONTINUED)