The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-11-05

looked Pennington over with frank ad
miration:- You're certainly on the
job. Colonel. I'll say that much fol
you"
! You've stolen my engine" Penning
ton almost screamed. 'Pll have the
law on you for grand larceny"
"Tut-tut! You don't know who
stole your engine. For all you know
your own engine crew may have run
1t down here"
I'll attend to you, sir" Pennington
replied. and he turned to enter Mayor
"reminiscences little flivver.
mot tonight, at least" Bryce re.
.urted gently. Having gone this far
would be poor general to permit
you to escape now with the news OF
your discovery. You'd be down here
Ia an hour with couple of hundred
members of your mill crew and give
us the rush. You will oblige. me, Colo
mel remington. by remaining exactly
where you are until l give you permits
sion to depart"
And if | refuse" 49,.
Then l shall manhandIe you, truss
you up like fowl in the tonneau of
your car. and gag you."
To Bryce's infinite surprise the Colo
mel smiled. 'Oh, very WE'LL" he re-
Piled. II guess you've got the bulge
CT he, young man. Do you mind if
slt in the warm cab of my own en-
gine! l came away in such a hurry
quite forgot my overcoat."
mot at all. I'll sit up there and
keep you company"
Half an hour passed. An automo-
bile came slowly up Water street and
paused half block away, evidently
accommodating the situation. Instant
~ the Colonel thrust his head out the
Gao window.
"SeXtOn!" he shouted. "Cardican's
cutting in IL crossing. He's holding
ne here against my will. Get the mill
crew together and phone for Rondeau
and his wOods-crew. Send the switch
engine and a couple of flats I'D for
them. Phone Poundstone. Tell him
~ A'''N tiiC SllIesl vi
Bryce Cardigan's great hand closed
over the COlOnel's neck, while down
Water street dark streak that was
Buck Ogilvy sped toward the autOmo-
bile. intending to climb in and make
PenningtOn's manager prisoner also.
He was too late. however. Sexton
swung his car and departed at full
speed down Water street, leaving the
disappointed Buck to return painting
to the scene of operations.
Bryce Cardigan released his hold on
Pennington's neck. "You win, Colo
nell" he announced. mo good can
come of holding you here any longer.
Into your car and on your way"
THANK you, young man." the Colo
mel answered, and there was a metal
lie ring in his voice. He looked at
his watch in the glare of torch.
"Plenty of time" he murmured. Cur
few shall not ring tonight" Quite
deliberately he climbed into the
mayors late source of woe and
breeZed away.
Colonel Pennington did not at once
return to his home, however. Instead
he drove up to the business center of
the town. The streets were deserted,
but one saloOn-the Sawdust Pile
was still open.
Pennington strobe through the bar
and into the back room, where num-
Der of poker games were in progress.
For moment he stood, his cold,
o3hidian glance circling the room un-
til it came TO rest on no less a per-
sCnage than the Black Minorca, an
individual with whom the reader has
already had some slight acquaintance.
1t will be recalled that the Black
Minorca led the futile rush against
Bryce Cardigan that day IN Penning-
toms woods.
The Colonel approached the table
where the Black Minorca sat thumb
ing the edges of his cards, and
touched the cholo on the shoulder
The Black Minorca turned, and Pen
Lington nodded to him to follow;
whereupOn the latter cashed in his
chips and joined his employer on the
sidewalk. Here whispered CONVEX
sation ensued, and at it's conclusion
the Black Minorca nodded vigorously.
"Sure!' he assured the Colonel. I'm
FIX 'em good and plenty"
Together Pennington and the Black
MinOrca entered the automobile and
proceeded swiftly to the Laguna
Grande Lumber company'S mill office.
From a locker the Colonel produced
repeating rifle and three boxes of
cartridges, which he handed to the
cholo, who departed without further
ado into the night.
Twenty minutes later, from the top
of lumber Lille in Cardigan's driving
yard, Bryce Cardigan saw the flash of
rifle and felt a sudden sting Oh his
left forearm. He leaped around in
front of the cowcatcher to gain the
shelter of the engine, and another bull
off into the night. 1t was followed by
fusillade. the bullets kicking up the
freshly disturbed earth among the
workers and sending them scurrying
to various points of safety. In an in
slant the crossing was deserted, and
work had been stopped, while from
the top of the adjacent lumber pile
the Black Minorca poured stream of
lead and filthy invec.ive at every point
which he suspected of harboring
Cardigan follower.
I'D like to plug him." Buck MUIR
INJURED.
"What would be the use? This will
be his last night In Humhnldt conn,