The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-04-29

family" Kenning explained. "Gooc
to see you after this long trip-we'l
have to spend some time together"
"Just in, eh?"
eyes, with today's bunch. tried
to fight the gold fever. Couldn't
So here I am"
Hammond glanced again at the
money, clutched in Jeanne's white
hands.
"I'l say this for you. You work
fast"
Don't n" His smile was dis
arming. "Queer how it turned out.
I went into Miss Towers store for
some tobacco. Got to talking about
the district, of course. ! asked what
you were doing"
Hammond laughed.
always check up on the fellow
who's made the striker"
"Certainly-first job of good ge-
ologist."
"You know your mining, eh?"
Jack jerked his head. 'My cabin
right here. Walk over?"
"Glad to-" Kenning answered.
Zine. I've a drop or two Of
Scotch left" Impulsively he laid a
hand on the shoulder of Jeanne
Towers, as she took the moose meat
he had brought her. You'd better
sharpen up your pencil and see
what you're going to buy for your
store when breakup comes"
But I wanted to pay you"
"That can wait" He patted her
shoulder again. Still somewhat
dazed by sudden wealth Jeanne
Towers returned to her cabin. Ham
mond caught eagerly at his COM
panion's arm.
Listen" he said. 81 can't wait.
Tell me all about Kay. Is she well?
Is she coming up here? Did she
really mean it-you know-treating
me like she cared something about
me?"
Weeks later, he still was asking
the same questions. He and Ken
ming stood on a side hill, where
forget-me-nots bloomed at the edge
of retreating drifts, and the blue of
lupin contrasted with the first buds
of mountain rhododendron.
Spring had come as if a book had
been opened and a chapter turned.
The streams, only ten days be-
fore CONSTRUCTED by mounds of ice,
now roared to the outpouring of
a thousand mountain sides. Every
gully contributed it's rivulets, every
rock slide sprayed a plumelike wa
terfall. Below in the village, the
sound of hammers echoed endless
ly. With waters at flood stage, halt
ing much Of the gold-seeking, the
thoughts of a new civilization had
turned to building. That is why
Hammond and Kenning had come
up here on the hill. Back of them
stood a new cabin-the one Ham
mond had promised Kay Joyce he
would build for her.
Great view from up here" Ken
ming said at last.
They could look down on the big
lake; a moose feeding in a far
away, shallow bay, a few miners
fishing in the clear water just off
the inlet.
"You can't kick on the one you
get from your place." Hammond
answered. Kenning had built his
cabin on the next hill.
They went there for a drink, the
last of Kenning's supply. Then, with
another prideful survey of Kay's
house, Hammond dropped down the
hill. At last, he walked through
the lush grass along the bubbling
course of Loon creek and toward
Jeanne's tiny store. She was alone
there.
He paused at the door to watch
her, sitting on rough bench. Then
she noaced Hammond's presence,
and with quick smile disentangled
herself.
"Hello!" she said. It was a well
come, a greeting and an obeisance
all in one.
"Hello," he answered casually.
Still got your two hundred dol
lars?"
"Oh, I've hidden it." Then, "You
missed the excitement. Sergeant
Terry just got customer for the
new jail"
"No!" This was news. "Who?"
"Oh, that Jorgeson fellow. He got
in a fight with his wife. He must
have beaten her up terribly"
"Too bad. She complained, eh?"
Jeanne shook her head.
"No-she stood for it. Somebody
else told Terry. Her kind is al
ways afraid to complain. People
say they're not married"
Jack laughed.
"Well, she's lucky at that. Not
icing tied to him."
Jeanne came forward and leaned
against the door. The brightness
was gone temporarily from her fea-
lures, she looked thoughtfully out
toward the new, raw camp.
"Oh, don't know, Jack. Some
times a woman who isn't married
is tied tighter to a man than il
she were his wife. You see, she
hasn't anything else-she lost il
when she went with him. Maybe
that's why she stands for Sc
much" She halted suddenly and
attentively turned her head upward.
whats that?"
Sounds like a motor boat. II
couldn't be"
Then a faint shout came from
far away. 1t was picked up by a
dozen voices. The fishermen, down
at the inlet, cried out-faintly, Jack
caught the words:
"Airplane! Airplane com in G!
There's an airplane!"
Doors were banging as Jeanne
and Hammond ran from the store
Everyone was running, for that
matter, or standing, hands over
eyes. Far down the valley, where