The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-02-22
nd strolled toward the edge of the

| anu StrOlieu toward the eUSe Oh tHt
camp.
'Don't go and get lost, young fel
low" cautioned bud.
Gordon, ON his way back, passed be.
hind the guard, who was sitting tailor
fashion before a smudge with a muley
shotgun across his knees.
"This amt no country for checha
koes to be wandering around without
keeper" the cook continued. 'Looks
like your folks would have better
sense than to let their rah-rah boy
He got no farther. Elliot dropped to
one knee and his strong fingers closed
on the gullet of the man so tightly that
not even grOan could escape him
The old miner, waiting with every
muscle ready and every nerve under
tension. flung aside his blanket and
hurled himself at the guard. 1t took
him less time than 1t takes to tell to
wrest the gun from the cook.
He got to his feet just as Big Bill,
his eyes and brain still logged with
sleep, sat up and began to take notice
VI liz UStuCGs
Don't move" warned Holt sharply.
Better throw your hands up. No
monkey business, do you hear? I'd as
lief blow hole through you as not"
Big Bill turned bitterly to Elliot.
$50 you were taking all the time,
young fellow. We save your life and
you round on us. You're pretty slick
proposition as a double-crosser."
"And that amt ALL" chirped up Holt
blithely. "Let me introduce our friend
to you, Mr.. Big Bill Macy. This is
Gordon Elliot, the land agent ap-
pointed to look over the Kamatlah
claims. Selfridge gave you lads this
penitentiary job so as wouldn't meet
Elliot when he reached the camp. If
he hadn't been so darned anxious
about it, our young friend would have
died here on the divide. But Mr.. Self
ridge kindly QUILTED party and sent
us hundred miles into the hills to
rescue the perishing as the old sayin'
goes. Consequence is, Elliot and me
meet up and have that nice confiden-
tial talk after all. The ways of Prov
idence is strange, as you might say,
Mr.. Macy"
"Your trick" conceded Big Bill sui
lenly "Now what are you going to
do with us?'
"Not a thing-going to leave you
right here to prospect Wild Goose
creek" answered Holt blandly. Dur
den says there's gold up here-heaps
of it,"
Bill Macy condemned burden in lam
guage profane and energetic. He
didn't stop at burden. Holt came in
for share Of it, also Elliot and Self
ridge.
"Cut 1t out, Bill. That line o. talk
don't buy you anything" said Holway
CURLY. whats the use of beefing?"
"Now you're shouting, my friend"
agreed old Gideon. 81 guess, Elliot,
you can loosen up on the chefs throat
awhile. He's had persuading enough
don't you reckon? I'll sit here and
sorter keep the boys company while
you cut the pack-ropes and bring 'em
here. But first I'd step in and unload
all the hardware they're packing. Ii
you don't one Of them is likely to get
anxious. I'd hate to see any of them
commit suicide with none Of their
friends here to say, Don't he look nat
uralY"
Elliot brought back the pack-ropes
and cut them into suitable lengths.
Hollis monologue rambled on. He was
garrulOus and affable. Not for long
time had he enjoyed himself SO much.
Gordon tied the hands of Big Bill
behind him, then roped his feet togeth-
er, after which he did the same for
HOlway. The old miner superintendent
the job and was not satisfied till he
had added a few extra knots on his
own behalf.
"That'n hold them for awhile, ]
shouldn't wonder. Now If you'll just
cover friend chef with this sawed-off
gat, Elliot, I'll throw the diamond
hitch over what supplies we'll need to
get back to Kamatlah. I'll take one