The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-11-12
CHAPTER XVIII

CHAPTER XVIII
"Bueno, bueno," Montaya finally
said, more smoothly. There is no
need of this heat. 1t will be only for
day or two. But understand, this
visit must not be used as an open
ing wedge for regular contact with
the Associated people. That I will
not have during our construction pc
Rod"
His dignity recovered, he turned
to Emilio, who had been standing by,
staring incuriously into the distance.
Help to get Sonora Curtis and
the children across to Riverbend."
ISL, Senior"
Curt mounted the steps. At the
dispatcher's office he put in call
for his house at San Alejo.
'Hiya, Lee. Surprise. Pack for
yourself and the kids. You're visit
ing Jerry and Marta for day or
two. They're having an anniversa-
ry dinner tonight
But jeff, what ami"
Pm sorry l can't go. AS I told
you, I'm completely tied up until
the new shovels are in operation.
Anyway, you have a good time for
the both of us. I'm sending the car
for you now. Can you be ready in
forty minutes?"
81 think so, dear, but"
mo butts, I can't go and that's
that. If you wait for me you may
never see them. There's no telling
when I can get day from the job"
He hung up. This last should tell
Lee the urgency of the situation
without giving the operator-un-
doubtedly listening in-anything to
chew on.
But Lee reached Tempujo by
noon. The kids bounced about in
excitement, clutching at Curt. He
turned them over to Emilio, togeth-
er with the three small bags Lee
had brought.
Then he held Lee close, whisper
ing while pretending to kiss her,
Don't look so anxious, sweet. Keep
a clear face. Everything's under
control, and I'll be with you sooner
than you think"
He managed to slip into her palm
a note folded tightly. "For jerry"
The skiff had been held on this
side to take Lee across. Emilio load
ed it with bags and children. Buddy
and Chuck squirmed excitedly, lit
tie Sylvia Mitchell was quiet, rather
frightened at these strange goings-
on.
Curt then handed Lee into the
boat and watched the crossing. He
saw her met on the other bank
that would be Jerry, God bless him!
and they waved across at each
other.
Monahan had been all day at the
tractor shovels. Their progress had
been slowed today by more difficult
terrain. More filling, more mating
had been necessary. He returned to
Tempujo along with Curt and Emil
lilo, and after the three had show
cred and changed clothing, they had
supper together. Collins was finish
ing his at table by himself. He
looked a good bit fresher than he
had this morning. He'd shaved and
it was clear he'd slept all day.
After supper Curt went to his Of
fee, followed as usual by his body
guard.
Emilio lodged himself on the porch
by the table lamp, feet outstretched
onto another chair, pile of maya
zines and fresh pack of the sweet
smelling native cigarettes at his ell
bow.
Eight, nine, ten o'clock came,
and still Curt applied himself. There
was plenty to be done, he might as
well do it. Emilio looked in on him
once, annoyed but making no COM
nent. Curt merely looked up, then
back at his desk again.
Ten-thirty. Curt rolled up what
prints he'd been using, stacked his
papers. He came to the door of
the drafting room, stretching and
yawnmg. In the middle of the
stretch he stiffened. Emilio looked
up, instantly alert-almost suspi-
cious. Curtis eyes, without having
turned his head, seemed to be pierre
ing the darkness beyond the porch.
He banked on Emilio's drowsiness
to keep him from realizing immedi-
stely that no one can see into dark
ness from a lighted space. In a
low voice, keeping his lips stiff, Curt
said, There's somebody out there,
out behind those palms. Size and
shape looks like-Collins, I'd say.
Put cut your light"
AS he spoke he reached behind
him inside the door of the drafting
room and switched off the lights
there. Emilio's reaction was to snap
off the table lamp and move catlike
to the door, reaching for his gun.
Then Curt struck. The butt of his
own gun caught the native behind
the ear. Emilio went down without
q sound.
Curt hauled the unconscious man
into the bedroom and shut the door.
He closed the hinged bamboo shut
ters over his window, then turned
on the light in the adjoining shower
room and left that door open a
crack.
There was no rope available, so
he ripped a sheet into strips to bind
the mans hands behind him, tie his
feet. his legs. He soaked these
strips in water so they couldn't pos
cihIv he worked loose He fashioned