The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-11-17
CHAPTER XIV

definite instructions concerning his
embassy to Hudson. THE first thing
this Bruce will do" Simon had said,
man that witnessed that agreement
between Ross and old Folger. One
reason Is that he'll want to verify
Lindas story. The next is TO per-
suade the old man TO go down to the
courts with him as his witness. And
what you have to do is line him up
for our side first"
you think" Dawes eyes wan
dered about the room, you think
thRt's the best way?"
ST wouldn't be tellin' you TO do It
II didn't think So" Simon laughed
a sudden, grim syllable. Dave, you're
a bloodthlrsty devil. 1 see what you're
thinking Of-of a safer way to keep
him from telling. But you know the
word I sent out. Go easyr That's
the wisest course TO follow at present.
The valley people pay more attention
20 such things than they used to; the
fewer the killings, the wiser we will
dred let him have it in peace"
Dave hadn't forgotten. But his fea-
lures were sharper and more ratlike
than ever when he came in sight of
HudsOn's camp. just after the fall of
darkness Of the second day out. The
trapper was cooking his simple meal
a blue grouse frying in his skillet,
coffee boiling, and fiapjack batter
ready for the moment the grouse was
done. Dawes thoughts returned to
the hundred dollars in his pOcket-a
good sum In the hills. brass rifle
cartridge, such as he could fire in
the thirty-thirty that he carried in the
hollow of his arm, cost only about six
cents. The net gain would be-the
figures flew quickly through his mind
ninety-nine dollars and ninety-four
cents; quite a good piece Of business
for Dave. But the trouble was that
Simon might find out. The word had
gone out, for the present at least, TO
Ego easy" Such little games as oc-
Cured TO Dave now-as he watched
the trapper in the freight with one
hundred dollars of the clans money
in his own pOcket-had been prohibit
ed until further notice.
The thing looked so simple that
Dave squirmed all over with annoy
ance. 1t hurt him to think that the
hundred dollars that he carried was
10 be passed over, without a wink of
an eye, to this bearded trapper; and
the only return for Ii was to be
promise that Hudson would not tes-
tify in Bruce's behalf. And a hundred
dollars was real money! Just a little
matter Of a single glance down his
rife barrel at the figure In the silhou-
cite Of the fire glow-and a half-ounce
of pressure on the hair trigger. Half
testing with himself. he dropped on
one knee and raised the weapon. The
trapper did not guess his presence.
The blood leaped in Dawes veins.
But he caught himself with
wrench. He realized that Simon had
spoken true when he said that the old
days were gone, that the arm of the
law reached farther than formerly,
anu IL even 10 IHlS
place He remembered Simon's in
structions. The quieter we can do
t@ese things, the better" the clan
adler had said. "If we can get
through to October thirtieth with no
killings, the safer il is for us. Go
easy, Dave. Sound this Hudson out.
II he'll keep still for a hundred, let
him have il in peace"
Dave slipped his rife into the hol-
low OF his arm and continued on down
the trail. He didn't try to stalk. In
a moment Hudson heard his step and
looked up. They met in a circle Of
freight.
1t is not the mountain way TO frater-
nize quickly, nor are the mountain
men quick TO show establishment.
Hudson had not seen another human
being since his last visit to the settle
ments. Yet his voice Indicated no
surprise at this visitation.
-Howdy," he grunted
"Ilowdy," Dave replied "How about
gruh?'
Help yourself. Supper just ready"
Dave helped himself 70 the food of
the man that. a moment before he
would have slam: ana il the light of
the high fire thai followed tie meal