The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-07-08
CHAPTER IX-Continued


the day Joe left. We haven't even
been near it."
That's funny" Jeanne said
again, in a worried tone. You're
sure you haven't worked it at al?"
Sure? Of course I'm sure"
But somebody's worked it."
Jeanne insisted. 81 just came past
there"
"Oh, you're wrong, Jeanne"
but I'm not. Somebody's been
working it,"
What for? There isn't a chance
to get dime out of it. The thing
was only a test development"
Just the same"
eft wasn't even anywhere near
the gravel level when Joe pulled
out"
81 can't help that" the girl in
sisted. Somebody's been working
there. I saw fresh dirt on the
dump. The logs have been moved
and somebody's been down the lad
der"
Impossible"
''The dirt on the dump isn't "a
hours old
Mind going back there?" asked
Hammond abruptly. They talked
but little on the trail; there was
nothing to say, save Jeanne's re-
iterations Of what she had seen.
At last, deep in the bush, they
sighted the mound of earth which
Mckenzie Joe had raised in his
efforts to find the lost river bed.
Hammond began to hurry, the girl
keeping pace with him. Finally
they were at the pit.
Jeanne had reported truthfully.
The dump had grown considerably;
Jack reached forth a hand and
picked up some of the soil, rubbing
it between his fingers.
They've gone down into another
Strata" came at last. This isn't
the soil Mckenzie Joe was work
ing in" He looked about him.
Must work at might've never
seen anyone around here when I
went up the hill trail. Some way,
/ always look over here too. Still,
wouldn't notice unless they came
out into the open-all these trees"
'Oh, they've worked here, all
right. Look at these footprints.
Jack bent and, with great
heave, threw back one of the logs
which covered the mouth of the
pit. He went to his knees, peering
downward. The faint light pene-
trated only a short distance. Ris-
ing, he threw aside the other COW
erings. Then with a glance down.
ward:
81 guess I'd better take a look
at the bottom. They've gone down
long ways"
Yes, see how they've built up
the ladder"
ITS nearly twice as long as it
was"
He swung over the side and clam
bered down the rough ladderway,
fashioned of barked spruce. For
long time there was no sound from
below. Then the ladder bent again
with his weight.
"Jeanne!" he called from some
where in the depths. Take this
be careful with it."
She bent over the edge, both
hands extended for the hat which
he handed up. It was filed with
yellow earth, mixed with gravel.
Then the man climbed out, his fea-
lures a mixture of grimness and be-
wilderment He said, bluntly:
Give that to me. Let's get down
TO the creek where can find a
god pan"
At the stream Hammond worked
wcrdlessIy, Jeanne watching over
his shoulder. Light was fading,
there was barely sufficient to allow
them to finish their experiment;
autumn now had brought days as
short as the nights had been; dark
ness came by 4:30. Time after
time, the refuse content was flowed
away. Then, as both the water
and the residue became lower,
Jeanne reached forward.
Look" She picked something
from the bottom of the pan. 1t
was a gold nugget, twice as large
as a pea. Further work brought
forth a dozen more. At last Ham,
mond stuffed them into a pocket
and, disregarding the flakes and
finer gold at the bottom of the pan,
washed its contents. away In the
stream. He Strengthened.
"Well, jeanne" came slowly, Il
guess you're right. Mckenzie Joe
knew what he was doing, after all"
There was desperate quietness
to his tone; the world was swim
ming. This pulling find could
mean many things.
OF only one was Jack certain
that he had signed away valuable
rights. He hoped that was all
this action was not beyond recall;
it was the pounding of suspicion
that hurt, suspicion which could
point in only one direction.
Before I do or say anything"
he muttered, 'I've got to see Bruce
Kenning'
Jeanne Towers looked up. A
change had come over the girl, a
queer, awakening sort of meta
morphosis. She seemed stalwart,
determined, as though doubts and
fears which long had harassed her
had disappeared. There was crisp
ness in her voice, almost command.
''I'I go with you, Jack" she said.
''I think you should see several
persons. Kay Joyce, for instance. !"
CHAPTER Y