The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-10-31

grunted at 1t contepptuousIy. 1t
could do nothing but assure those be-
low that there was still some one up
there.
three of them to our two" he es-
timated, counting the two jaspers on
the cliff. Two of US to their one,
counting what's down here. And
that's all that counts right this
minute"
A shot from Judith; shot from the
cabin; two shots from the cliffs. The
two shots from above brought fresh
news; not only were they closer to-
gether, but they indicated the men
up yonder were coming down. Lee
hurried. -
Then, at last, his narrowed eyes
made out the faint outline of that
which he sought. Close to the cabin,
low down, evidently on his knees was
the most important factor to be con-
sidered now. Still Lee was too far
away to be certain of a hit and he
meant with all of the grim determine
tion in him to hit something at last.
He ran on, drawing the fire away from
Judith. A rifle ball sank close to his
side, another and another. He lost the
dim shape of the kneeling man, who,
he thought, had risen from his knees
and was standing, his body tight
pressed to the cabin.
".Why the devil doesn't he run for
it?" wondered Lee.
But evidently, be the reason what ii
might, the man had no intention of
running. A bullet cut through Lees
sleeve. At last Lee answered. He
ran In closer as he fired and, running,
emptied his revolver, damned 1t into
his waistbapd dubbed his rifle .
and realized with something Of shock
that there were but two rifles on the
cliffs to take into consideration. That
other rifle. at the cabin, was still. Out
of ammunition? Or plugged7 Or play
ing possum? Which?
stop shootingw he shouted to
Judith.
I'm comingI" she cried back to
him.
Almost at the same instant, their
two rifles ready, they came to the
cabin. Between them on the ground
man lay at the corner, moving help
lessly, cropping for his fallen gun, fall
ing back.
open the door," said Bud "I'll get
him inside and we'll see who he is.
Hurry, Judith; those other jaspers are
working down this way as fast as
they know how"
Judith, taking time to snatch up the
fallen rifle, ran around to the door.
Lee slipped his hands under the arm
pits Of the wounded man and dragged
him in Judith's wake. In the cabin,
the door shut, Lee struck a match
and went to little shelf where there
was a candle.
"Bill Crowdy!" gasped Judith.
Almost before Lee saw the mans
face he saw the canvas bag tied to his
belt, a bag identical with the one he
himself had brought from the bank at
Rocky Bend.
1.-The man that stuck up Charlie
Miller" he said slowly. "And there's
your thousand bucks, or I'm liar. I
get something of their play now:
those two fellows up there were wait
ing to meet him and split the swag
three ways. And I've got the guess
they'll be asking look-in yet !"
Lee knelt and with quick fingers
sought the wound. There was hole
in Crowdy's chest, high up near the
throat, that was bleeding profusely.
At first that seemed the only wound
But in second Lee had found an
other. This was in the leg, and this,
like Lees was bound tightly with a
handkerchief.
"Got that, first rattle out of the
boxi" commented Lee. See IT.?
That's why he stuck on the job and
didn't try to run for it. Looks like a
rifle ball had smashed the bone"
He didn't look up. His fingers, busy
with the string at Crowdy's belt,
brought away the canvas bag. There
was blood on it; it was heavy and
gave forth the mellow jangle of gold.
"You win back your thousand on
tonight's play" he said, holding up the
bag to Judith, lifting his eyes to her
face.
But Judith shrank back, her eyes
wide with horror
II don't want it, / can never touch
it p she whispered.
Suddenly she was shaking from
head to foot, her eyes fixed in terrible
fascination upon Crowdys face. Lee
tossed the bag to the bunk across the
room, whence it fell clanking to the
floor.
"Now she's going to faint" was his
thought. well, l won't blame her so
d-n much. Poor little kid!''
But he did not look at her again.
He tore away Crowdy's shirt to dis
cover just how serious the wound in
the chest was. Unless Bill CrOwdy
bled to death, he stood an excellent
chance to doing time in the peniten-
tiary. Lee stanched the flow of blood.
made rude bandage, and then, lift
ing the body gently. carried it to the
bunk
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