The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1940-02-08

fore II gets too warm, she Sug-
gested.
Linda stretched in sinuous luxury
and rose from the couch. (Which
being interpreted-means, for heav-
ems sake, lay off" she said, and
went with Autumn to prepare for
the ride.
On the following morning, Bruce
Landor's foreman drove his car in
at the gates of the Castle. Linda
Parr had departed for home only
an hour before, and Autumn was
cutting roses in the secluded recess
of the garden. It was no usual
thing for Bruce Landor's foreman
to visit the Dean ranch, and a swift
shock of apprehensiveness for Bruce
passed through her. She gathered
her flowers together at once and
went to the house.
In the yard before the door,
Bruce's foreman was talking with
Tom Willmar Autumn hesitated for
a moment, but at an odd glance
from Tom she stepped down and ap-
preached the men.
Andrew Gilly turned his cap awk-
wardly about in his hands as she
came up to him. His expression was
one Of utter distraction.
Good morning, Miss Dean" he
greeted her. In fleeing moment
of intuition, Autumn felt that there
was something vaguely resentful In
his attitude toward her.
Good morning, Mr.. Gilly," she
returned with a smile. HAS Bruce
come back from Vancouver YETI"
The question had slipped from her
tongue before she had time to think
of what she was saying.
NO." Gilly replied, she hasn't.
And I'm In no hurry to see him, Ell
Their. III have very bad news for
him when he comes"
bad news? What has happened?"
Autumn asked.
Tom Willmar cleared his throat.
"Gilly found over thirty of his sheep
dead in the pasture this morning."
he told her.
Autumn clutched her flowers tight
ly in hands that had gone suddenly
cold. Moths prize sheep-the
Merinos he was experimenting
WITH" she asked breathlessly.
''The same" said Tom Willmar.
Poisoned, they were. Poisoned with
strychnine in the salt trough"
It'll come near to breaking the
boys heart" Gilly observed in a
voice that was shaken with agita-
ton.
"Ohi" Autumn felt an abrupt
structure in her throat that made
further speech impossible.
81 come over to see if you folks
had had any trouble" Andrew Gilly
went on, ''but Tom tells me there's
been none of it here"
NO." said Tom quietly. There's
been bit Of vetch about that's"
Mature had no hand in this"
Andrew interrupted. SIT was a
sneak that did it-and he must "a
crawled on his stomach during the
night to get to the trough or the
dogs would've been at him."
Have you any idea who did it?"
Autumn asked family. 1t seemed to
her that her heart had sunk entirely
out of her body.
The man had the sensibility to
avoid her eyes. He looked away,
but the expression that came to his
weathered face was one of bitter
fury.
81 have my own opinion" he said
significantly, land I think I'm not
far wrong. I think the boy will
agree with me, too. Though a lot of
good that will do either of us.
There's no proof-not a whit"
Autumn knew what he was think
ing. ''You suspect Belfort, don't
you, Mr.. Gilly?" she asked bluntly.
He gave her direct look from
eyes that were angrily misty. "You
can make shrewd guess" he said.
There's no doubt in my mind-and
that's something more than a sus-
picion."
Tom shook his head. It'll be a
tough job to get anything on Curly
Belfort's gang" he remarked.
''Gosh, what a shameI"
Autumn stood for moment help
lessly trying to beat back the tears
that sprang to her eyes. Then, her
emotions collapsing within her, she
turned and fed into the house.
AS she did so, Jarvis Dean came
slowly up the path from the cor
rails, Saint Pat at his heels.
ITO BE CONTINUED