The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-08-04
STRAIT GATE
BY RUTH COMFORT MITCHELL
wNU SERVICE

she said clearly and cheerily, and
told him good-by and ran in the
house.
Well, what of it? Why not? Was
there any reason why he should
linger forever in an alien land?
Filters did not marry.
But fiiers occasionally, it ap-
peared, fell in love, achingly, abb
sorbingly, terribly in love. She
faced it then. "Idiot! You've known
it for weeks months - always!
What's the use of lying to your
self? You may as well admit it;
he'll never know"
The nonagenarian was beside
Lynn Dana when he was driving
out to the field for the parachute
jump. She had guessed or OWNED
what was to happen. "Can't fool
your Gre'grammer!" She sat on
the edge of the seat, the dabs of
color which excitement always
brought on her cheek-bones, her
sunken eyes cleaning.
ST never saw the beat Of that
young one," she said complacently.
"But you keep that ambulance out
of sight, Lynn Dana, or I'll box
your ears till you see stars, old as
you are. Plumb foolishness, any,
way. Sairy Lynn'n come down just
as if she was playing on a feather
bed"
Sam I running true to form?"
Sarah Lynn asked Conrad Jordan as
they fastened her harness about her.
''No; a bit too calm and not pale
enough, I should say" he told her
cheerfully. Then he looked at Gun
mar and away again, grinning, with
out comment. 1t was the hardy
Norseman who was showing the reg
ulation jumpers symptoms.
His ice-blue eyes blazed in face
Of sudden snow; his young mouth
was set in taut line. "Come!" he
called harshly.
All Sarah Lynn's slimness was
overlaid with her equipment. II
feel like Tweedledum and Tweedle-
dee both!" she laughed. She was
comfortably casual in her brief
good-bys, making no ceremony of
farewell.
The Hermod, looking oddly Grip
pied with it's missing door, took off
into a brisk wind. The fiier did not
look at his passenger nor speak.
81 wonder what makes him so
deathly white?" she asked herself.
"Just a detached interest in all
branches of aerial conquest?" She
felt suddenly gay. All her instruc-
tons were etched on her memory;
she was past the additionally bad
moment of leaving the ground; she
knew exactly what to do to get clear
of the ship, and after that, she had
been assured, the adventure would
take on elements Of distinct pleas
ure.
They climbed to a thousand feet,
two thousand. The meadow fell
away beneath them; human beings
took on the value of playthings-
puppet people with toy automobiles.
There was likewise a toy ambu-
lance.
At three thousand feet Gunnar
nodded. Ready? Now you go!"
he shouted hoarsely.
Sarah Lynn stood up and made
her bulky way toward the opening.
She thought he was the palest iv-
ing person she had ever seen.
Filing yourself far from the ship.
Make sure you are clear. Count a
slow ten before you pull the cord!"
His words came jerkily. "Wait! You
are sure? You wish to go? There is
no need, if you"
Suddenly Sarah Lynn laughed
aloud, filed with wild mirth which
was heady and sweet. "StiQ the
fear Of death?" she Knocked him.
Life is one adventure; death is an
other!" She was confident, shining
eyed, radiant, but as. she made a
forward movement his arm shot out
and caught her, pulling her against
him.
(TO BE CONTINUED)