The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-05-27
CHAPTER V-Continued

''But why bother with him?"
kay! He's my partner"
ooh, didn't mean that. Why not
get your advice and know where
you're going, instead of staggering
around blindly. Doesn't it amount
to just that?"
''In a way"
cit seems guidance would help
both of you. A geologist could fig
ure where that river ran thou
sand years ago."
Hammond spoke slowly. Maybe
that's an idea, Kay"
'And you can trust Bruce to the
limit. Father did. AS for the fee,
I'll see that he doesn't charge you
anything until after everything is
over" She laughed. He'd know
better. I'd STAY him if he put in
a bill"
Mckenzie Joe would have to
stay in the dark. He'd kick over
the traces"
why tell him anything? Look
here, you're digging now at ram
dom, aren't your"
JUST dDOul-
''Then couldn't you just accident
ally dig where Bruce told you to
look?"
That's an idea tool"
''Then why don't you? You owe it
to yourself. And Joe too. He'd
benefit as much as you"
He could think of little except
that she was close to him, vibrant
ly warm, that her hair brushed his
cheek, that soft hand stroked his
throat.
'I'u have to be terribly quiet
about it, he said at last. Maybe
it'd be better if you'd sort of pave
the way to Kenning. Don't tell him
too much-just enough so that he'll
know what I'm talking about when
see him."
''I will, DEAR" said Kay Joyce
softly. For deliciously long time,
she remained close to him. Then
slowly she drew away, at last to
become solitary, somehow lonely, as
she looked out over the valley.
Jack came after long time,
give a disappointment" Then with
jerky abruptness, eve can't be
married"
''But Kay, that's impossible!"
''Please don't ask me a lot Of
silly questions about not loving
you," the girl said crisply. 81 can't
stand it."
Instantly he was beside her.
''What are you trying to say?"
''Nothing-of consequence. I'm
Just terribly unhappy, Jack"
'But why? You say you're crazy
about me. You know I worship
you. What's come over you, Kay?"
he begged. THAT night In Seat
tie"
Cant you understand? Mother
and I are broke, positively fat
broke!"
81 know that. Jimmy had loose
tongue last night"
Father left hardly enough for
the funeral" the girl went on bit
terly. HE even dragged poor
Bruce down in the wreck; almost
ruined him. Bruce has been saint.
He's kept Mother and me alive. But
just the same, the fact remains
we're broke, fiat broke, penniless!"
''Well, what of it," Jack demand
ed impatiently. 1--WE got money"
She whirled, facing him.
"And am I to 60 through life,
calling myself a gold digger"
''But you're not. That's absolute
ly silly"
SIS it?" she asked. 81 was the
snooty bankers daughter. I
wouldn't have anything to do with
you. Then suddenly, haven't any
money and you've got lot. So /
marry you. What's the answer to
that?"
''The answer is that III marry
you any time you say"
THAT'S the wrong answer. We're
both hot and crazy. Just the touch
of your hand makes me want to
drag you away into some Eskimo
igloo and never come out. But that
will have to pass, if we are to be
happy. Well have to go through a
lot; quarrel, adjust ourselves to
each other. Suppose it doesn't work
out?"
why won't it?"
Suppose you get the idea that I
was desperate and grabbed you be-
cause you had money!"
"You know I'd never do that"
ttThat's what they all say, Jack.
That's why we've got to wait"
He caught her eagerly, tight to
him.
''Then this isn't turn-down?"
"Of course not, silly" she an
svered, in a smothered voice.
We've simply got to wait, that's
ALL"
'sEfow long?"
Her lips were close to his.
"U1.tl / make some money out
of tina. placer. Oh, it's subter-
fuge, / know. But at least I'll
bring you something besides myself
some hing I've earned"
"But you can't work that claim
with your own hands"
"You said you'd get me some
men,"
THAT takes money"
''1've got little. A few hum
dred dollars. That will be enough.
Bruce gives Mother little to live
on-because of Father"
'But suppose you don't hit it?''
She raised her head, chin high
in the moonlight.
''I've got to hit it. / can't have
you until do. 1t will be my dow
ny"
Jack Hammond went down the
hill that night with the feeling of
having kissed the lips of nobility. A
modest man, it had been inevitable
that he should have faced moments
of doubt-an thai now was dis