The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-08-12
CHAPTER XII-COntinued

hair seemed to have lost some of
its CLINT. A certain sympathy swept
Hammond for her; he was glad of
it, glad that the bitterness was gone.
''I'm sorry, Kay" he said slow
ly. 81 wouldn't do anything to hurt
you"
The girl had not heard him. She
had turned swiftly hack to the cot,
watching intently.
Get Sergeant Terry!" she COM
manded, in a queer voice.
Sergeant Terry?"
She Strengthened, railing.
Get Sergeant Terry Go get Ser
geant Terry! Can't you see Bruce
is dying?"
A glaze had come into the mans
eyes. Hammond ran from the room,
returning in moment with the SER
geant. Kay stood beside the cot,
straight, strangely wan.
Sergeant" she said in thin
voice, ''you have the right of a
iustice?"
eyes, in some things"
"Marriage?"
eyes"
She spoke slowly.
will you marry Bruce Kenning
and me?"
The sergeant appeared puzzled.
''Does he-that is"
"Ask him. He can answer with
his eyes. He moves them for yes
closes them for mo- Confirm it
and ask him. Only please hurry!"
Eyes, of course" The sergeant
bent close with his queries.
Bruce Kenning slowly moved his
eyes.
Hurry, Sergeant" the girl plead
ed.
A frontier nurse was passing. The
sergeant caught her by the arm.
''Wait a minute, please" he COM
manded, and with gesture indi-
Gated that Jack also was to remain
as witness. Then, brokenly, from
memory, he began to repeat the
passages of the wedding ceremony:
''Do you, Bruce Kenning, take this
woman for your lawful wife,"
The eyes, more CLASSY, rolled
slowly in answer.
"And do you-?"
At last it was over. Jack Ham,
mond walked duly away. A few
months before, he had waded hip
deep in the waters of Lake Sap
phire, to welcome this girl as his
fancee. Now, in gambling house,
he had stood as a witness while she
married another man. His eyes fell
on the roulette wheel. Life and
roulette, a turn of the wheel, bet
placed at random, call of the crou-
pier announcing the loser.
Behind him, Kay Joyce was Sob
bling, the frontier nurse beside her
as she knelt against Bruce Ken
ning's cot. There was little need
for gentleneS; Kenning was all but
beyond pain. Hammond raised a
hand to his throat. He left the
room.
After a time, Around the World
Annie came out into the entrance
where Jack stood talking at ran
dom with the sergeant.
well, the guys kicked over"
she said. Funny she'd want to
marry him, amt it? And him dy-
ing"
That night, Hammond saw Kay
Joyce again, in the hallway of An
MES pavilion. Some of the dull
ness was gone from her features,
giving way to the flare of her al
ways easily aroused anger. Around
the World Annie stood at the WIN
dow, watching the fecking of a
snow furry against the pane.
'tAnd l don't care what you say
e.hn,s, ut. !; Il, - Annie spurted; "the thing
was mine and 1 o Oil what I pleased
with it."
Hammond halted an instant, ther
started on toward the gambling
room in search of Jeanne. Annie
called him back.
you're mixed up in this. What
about them claims you signed over
to Bruce Kenning?"
Hammond looked at her.
''Well, what about them?"
"Were they any good?"
''Why ask?"
Around the World Annie breatheo
deeply, bullying her ponderous hos.
ON.
''Me m Kay Joyce have got an
argument on about them. She says
they're hers"
Hammond pressed his lips.
81 guess they are" came finally
"She married Kenning for Them
Annie stared.
"Did your" she asked the girl
"Why marry a guy for bunch Of
no-good claims?"
Kay Joyce only glared.
Hammond said duly, "But they
were worth millions, Annie"
''Millions?" she put a hand tc
her head. "Did you say millions?'
''That's the indication"
"My Gawd!" the woman gasped
Sand L" she poked a finger al
Hammond-"R Remember me telling
about a check or note or something
he signed over? It was them claims
He must have been willing to hook
anything to get out of here that
night"
Hammond gestured futilely. This
was becoming involved.
"Then you've got a lien against
them for ten thousand dollars. But
Kay inherited them when she mar.
ried Kenning."
That's what I've been trying tc
tell her." the girl snapped. Annie
cut her off.