The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-12-28

their meeting at Hector Cardigan's,
when she had gone to fetch home the
bell, and of her telling him about
Hector's conceit concerning it.
There was something in the sound of
the bell now that brought the lovely
wrath of her mother before her out
of the nebulous glamor of the past.
This had been Millicent Odell's
world, the world of the pioneers and
the subtle architects of empire, and
now in turn it was her world. Sud-
denly she was glad, glad with all
her heart that she was back home
where life had meaning, where life
was a profound harmony.
She pulled a bit of bloom off
sage bush and began to pick it to
pieces with her fingers. There had
come upon her a revelation that dis
mayed, frightened and exalted her.
She stood for a moment looking
down into the valley where the shad-
ows were beginning to deepen, then,
impetuously flinging away the shrub
which she held, she mounted her
horse again and rode westward to-
ward the Lander ranch.
Bruce Lander sat before the rough
plank table in the herder's cabin in
the ravine. The place was deserted
now, the men having gone to the
hills the previous day. The lamp
stood lighted on the table before
him. He had put the place in or
der and was ready at last to leave
for home. He drew together the pa
pers on which he had been idly spec
ulating, making estimates of his re-
turns from the seasons shearing,
and noting the increase over last
years gains. The season had be-
gun auspiciously. He swung quick
ly about in his chair as a slight
sound came to him from the door.
Autumn Dean stood there in her
black riding habit, a russell scarf at
her throat, the dim light casting lit
tie facets on her brown leather
boots. Her hat was in her hand, and
her hair had blown free. Her face
was a glowing cameo against the
outer darkness.
'tArn I intruding?" she asked, en-
tering almost hesitatingly. Zone Of
your men told me should find you
here"
Bruce got up hurriedly and drew
out the other chair. A flush had
mounted to his brows, and as he
stood for a moment uncertainty be-
fore her. he drew his hand diff
IDENTIFY back across his hair.
"You certainly aren't intruding,"
he said. 81 was just wasting time
with figures. But wherever did you
come from?"
She seated herself and tossed her
hat upon the table.
"Out in the hills" she said. eve
had an early dinner, and I took a
ride out for look at the sheep. The
men left for the range this morn
ing. The evening was so soft and
COOL just couldn't go indoors. I
came deliberately to see you after
I got back. You see-I'm a bold
woman, Bruce!"
''I'm glad you are! I've been as
lonely as hell tonight. With the men
all gone"
Loneliness is in the air, guess.
The sound of that darn bell did for
me-"
"Bell?"
"That bell I got from Hector, you
know. I gave it to young Irish lad
that father hired last week."
"You mean you sent that Basque
bell of Hector's into the hills? You'd
better not tell Hector that"
"Oh, I don't know. I think Hec-
tor would understand. That bell
wasn't meant to hang in a drawing
ROOM"
"But it's such precious thing
out on the range all summer"
cit will come back. It's charmed.
Anyhow like the idea"
Bruce Lit a cigarette and Autumn,
watching him, thought how we'll
shaped and brown his hands were.
MAY I have one?" she asked.
Sorry" he apologized. "You see,
in spite of myself, I still think of
you as the little schoolgirl I used to
know"
"The one you fought for?" she
asked as she accepted a light.
"The same," he replied.
you'll have to get over that,
Bruce" she told him. ''I'm very
much grown up"
Perhaps I'm afraid of getting
over it," he said bluntly.
''Why?"
"Because-as a woman you've
been in my mind constantly ever
since I saw you again that first
night" Bruce leaned forward slight
ly and looked directly into her eyes.
Her glance fell slowly, and line of
quick pain appeared between her
brows.
Sand that frightens you, Bruce?"
ITO BE CONTINUED