The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-01-01
INSTALLMENT ELEVEN

Now continue with the story.
1--WE been perfectly sincere. Dick,
you just have to believe that!"
''I do But Garrett Waterson may
very possibly believe, by this time,
that the Waynes took unfair .advan-
tage of him when they bought Ala
koa."
Karen seemed strangely shaken.
''Then nothing is settled at all, is
it?"
Nothing. They key has passed
into other hands-that's ALL"
''And this fight has to go on, and
on"
"Are you tired of this fight, Kar-
en?"
Something's changed it for me.
] don't know what it is. At first it
seemed such a glorious adventure;
It promised to open up a whole
new werld. But that's all gone.
don't Faow what's the matter. Some
how Pm not sure, any more, that
] want Alakoa."
Neither" said Dick Wayne, edo
]. You know that"
She turned a little to look at him;
and the young stars made her face a
pale oval, mysterious and lovely,
but her expression he could not see.
''YeE don't want your island?"
she asked queerly.
He took her hands, and made her
turn toward him. "You know what
] want. You've known it all the
time"
"But - the island - your broth
ers-''
Haven't your" he asked.
There isn't - there isn't any
way
Haven't your" Dick insisted.
The resistance seemed to go out
of her; she swayed forward, and
rested her cheek against his chest.
eyes," she admitted; 81 know"
There isn't any time to lose,"
Dick said. ''I've had a radio from
Waterson. He'll drop anchor in less
than two hours. By that time it will
be too late"
what are we going to do?"
Were going to run out on this
show. Well be married in Hilo. I
don't care what happens after that.
They can go on with this internal
squabble until they eat each 9TH
er's last shirt"
''It's impossiblel I can't!"
why? If you're still going to let
John Colt"
Don't you see what position I'm
put In? Do you think I've so little
pride that I'd try to seize your is
land, and fail, and then edge in by
marrying the very man tried to
banHrpt-"
ST don't believe you care any
more about the island than do"
'tYou don't now. But some day
you remember, and perhaps begin
to doubt; and nothing could ever
be"
"But you don't know that you've
lost the island. Nobody will know
until Garrett Waterson shows his
hand"
.'Dick-if my grandfather takes
the island, I'll marry you then, if
you want me to-"
Mo- he said. He released his
hold, and she moved few inches
away from him. NO." he repeated.
"I'm net going to marry an island
either, Karen"
Then you see = it's hopeless,
Dick"
Gin another hour or SO it will be-
completely. This is the last time
we'H ever have any choice. Because
now we don't know. Right now
one of US is as good as broke-but
we don't know which. Perhaps nei-
ther enc of us will ever have any,
thing in the world again.
Maybe" Karen said, "that would
be best of all. Only-we can't make
that choice either, Dick. Neither
one of rs has any choice whatever,
IN anything, it seems"
Dick said gravely, "The choice is
yours, Karen; and you have to make
it now, tonight-before leave this
boat"
''What is it you want me to do?"
'I want you to come with me, now,
on the Holokai. I'll throw the Holo-
kai over the bar, and run to sea-"
..If only" Karen said, 81 had a
little time"
thine? Good Lord, Karen!"
Gwen a few hours"
He saw that she was frightened;
and he was pleased, because it told
him that she wanted to come with
him.
ssYeu have a few hours" he said;
.syou have days, if you want. I'll
stay at sea as long as you want me
70. Or, when we've talked it over,
III put back. Or I'll take you any
place yeu want to go. But now we've
got to get out of here-quickly-if
there's ever going to be any hope
at all.
She turned away from him and
her hands gripped the rail hard;
her eyes were on the Holokai, a
dark tall shape, with her trucks
showing against the stars. The mo-
ments licked by, and the outrigger
glided past twice, standing on and
off, and it seemed to Dick that she
was never going to speak.
He picked Karen up lightly and
lowered her over the rail into the
moving outrigger: then himself