The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-06-22


and toward the rear of the house a
| figure did appear-Mrs. Tame, he
guessed. She walked briskly away.
They saw her figure in silhouette
against the light when she opened
| the kitchen door Of her own home
yonder and went in.
Then Clint started to climb the
ladder again.
Careful" the old man warned
him. Don't show yourself above
the window-sill. She might see you
from over there"
But Clint could not resist looking
once to be sure June was unframed.
He saw her carefully propping a
chair under the door-knob; saw
that the milk stayed untasted. She
secured the door, and then blew
out the candle, and so came to the
window and opened it. She leaned
here above him, and he whispered:
"All right, Junef"
"Yes," she said slowly. "But
Aunt EVE gave me glass Of
warm milk. To make me sleep,
she said. / promised to drink it
when I was in bed"
''She's gone home," Clint told her
| reassuringly.
Homer" the girl exclaimed.
''She said she was going to stay with
him. He's all alone. I'm going in"
"No," Clint insisted. "Rab and
Asa are still in the house. And she's
coming back. Give me that milk,
June. I want Tope to taste it."
She brought the glass and gave it
to him. He said: "I'll be right here.
All night"
Poor darling!" she whispered.
SIN the rain"
"Near you," he told her. 81 shan't
feel it"
He took the milk down to Inspec-
tor Tope. The old man dipped a
finger into it, touched the finger to
his lips. Cant taste anything" he
said. "But I'll send Rand to have
it tested, right now" And he direct
ed: 'You stay here!"
Clint nodded, and Tope started
away. He moved past the corner of
the house; and suddenly, when he
was six PAGES off, he stumbled over
something lying in the uncut grass,
! and fell heavily. Clint heard the
breath go out of him with a grunt.
The young man moved swiftly to-
ward him; but before he could come
to TOPICS side, the Inspector was
on his hands and knees.
Clint whispered: ''Hurt?"
And Tope said gravely: There's
another ladder here. I tripped over
it." He added ruefully: Spilled the
milk. That's badI'
another LADDER" Clint echoed.
There was dreadful clamor in his
ears, his own pulse was pounding
| so.
Then from the window above
them, June called very softly:
''Clint, dear, are you there? Are
you all right?"
eyes, sweet" he whispered.
what happened?" she asked.
''The Inspector fell down." he said
reassuringly. Didn't hurt himl"
He climbed to her window, and her
arms held him fast, her lips trem-
bling against his own. ''You mustn't
be afraid" he urged.
"I'm coming back to you tomor-
row." she declared.
For good and ALL" he agreed.
She said wistfully: "You could
come in here, out of the rain" And
she urged: They've left Grandpa
Hurder all alone. I want to 60 to
him"
But he said sternly: ''No. Maybe
that's what they want you to do.
You stay here. If anyone tries
to open your door" He kissed her
again. Good night, sweet" he
said. Sand sleep sound"
He descended to the ground once
more. 'Mr. Hurder's alone" he re-
ported to Tope. "She wants to go
to him. I wouldn't let her,
Then June spoke, whispering,
above their heads; and Clint was up
the ladder in bound.
"Rab and Asa have gone into
Grandpa's room," she explained.
"Asa wants to stay with Grandpa;
but Rab's arguing about it. I can
hear them talking"
She turned her head at some
sound in the hall, whispered,
Hush" and crossed to listen at
the door. Clint, even from where he
was, could hear the murmur Of
their voices. Then this sound re-
coded, and June returned to him.
They're going" she reported.
"Asa said he had to go to town later
tonight, and he wanted to stand his
turn with Grandpa now, and let Rab
and Aunt EVE sleep. But Rab in
sisted it was all right to leave
Grandpa, insisted that they both go
| home"
I'm tell Tope," Clint assured her,
and looked down. But Tope had
| vanished.
She. urged in shaken tones: 'T
want to see if Grandpa's all right
if they did anything to him.
| Pleased"
Clint hesitated. "I'n come in with
you," he decided then. He climbed
over the sill, and with their hands
entwined, they crossed the room.
Very quietly she removed the chair
braced under the knob and opened
| the door.
Hes sleeping so peacefully, like
child"
When he descended the ladder,
Tope had not reappeared; but Clint
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