The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-11-07

this before. She hdd never guessed
that Pollock Hampton could be so
stern-faced. so purposeful. She whis-
pered an entreaty that he be careful,
then, as he went out, ran back to the
others, her eyes shining
Pollock is going to see what Is the
matter" she announced excitedly.
Hampton passed swiftly through the
courtyard. He saw the light of the
bunk-house cleaning brightly. On his
way down the knoll he came upon
Tommy Burkitt.
us it Mr.. Hampton?" asked Tommy.
coming close in the darkness TO peer
at him.
Eyes. What is it? Who are your
I'm Burkitt, Tommy Burkitt, you
know-Bud Lees helper. II am
afraid something has happened. Lee
hasn't come in yet. They tried to pick
him off once already, you know"
Neither has Miss Sanford come in"
said Hampton quickly, sensing here at
last fear that was fellow to his own.
''They rode toward the Upper End.
You know the way Burkitt?"
He moved on toward the corral;
Burkitt turned and came with him.
Sure | know the TRAIL" muttered
i Tommy. you're goin' to see what's
wrong with 'em? Miss Judy, too! My
| Cd"
Bring out couple of horses"
Hampton commanded crisply. We've
lost time enough already"
I'll 90 tell Carson an the boys"
81 have already told Carson. He
says it's all nonsense. Leave him
alone
Tommy, boy that he was, asked no
further questions, but ran ahead and
| brought out two horses. In a
twinkling he had saddled them and the
two riders, each with a rifle across his
arm, were hurrying over the mountain
| trail.
In the blackness which lay along
the upper river Hampton gave his
! horse a free rein and let it follow at
| Tommy's heels. When, finally, they
drew rein under the cliffs at the lakes
edge all was silent save for the faint
distant booming of the river below
| them.
Now which way?" Whispered
Hampton.
Tommy was shaking his head in I'M
certainty when suddenly from above
there came to them the sharp report Of
rifle. Then, like bundle of fire.
crackers, volley of half dozen STAG.
cato shots.
Listen to that, Burkitt," muttered
Hampton. They're at it nowhere
on time"
Tommy slipped from the saddle
wordlessly, came to Hampton's side
and tugged gently at his leg, whisper
ing for him to get down. Leaving
their horses there, they slipped into
the utter darkness of the narrow
chasm in the rocks which gave access
to the plateau above.
''Now," cautioned Tommy guardedly,
as they came TO the top, keep close to
me if you don't want TO take a header
about a thousan' feet Look :" He
nudged Hampton and pointed. There
are two horses across yonder; Buds
an Miss Judy's, most likely"
Hampton did not see them, did not
seek to see them. Something new, vi
tai, big, had swept suddenly into his
life. He was at grips first-hand with
unmasked, pulSing forces They're at
it nowp' he whispered to Burkitt.
Men-yes, and a girl-were shooting,
not at just wooden and paper targets,
but at other men! At men who shot
back, and shot to kill.
Listen" said Burkitt. Somebody's
in the old cabin; somebody's outside
Which is which? We got to be awful
| careful"
They began a slow, cautious ap-
proach, slipping from bush TO bush,
| from tree TO tree, standing motionless
now and then to frown into the folds
| of the nights curtains. Abruptly the
| firing ceased. They made out vaguely
the two forms of the attackers, having
located them a moment ago by the
| squirting flames from their guns. Then,
Got enough in there?'' came the snarl-
ing voice of Quinnion. "If you haven't,
| I'm going to burn you out an be id
| to your
! He got an answer he little expected.
| For Hampton, running out into the
! open, now that he knew that Bud and
Judith must be in the cabin, was firing
as he came. Burkitt's rifle spoke with
his.
Run for it, Shortly" yelled Quin-
MON. "You know where. We're up
against the Blue Lake boys
BUD" shouted Tommy. "Oh,
Budl"
I'm the cabin" came Buds ringing
answer. Give 'em HI, Tommy.
Coming!'
With his words came the sound of
the door swapping back against the
wall. the reports of Tommy's rifle and
Hampton's pumping hot lead after two
racing forms.
They'll get away!'' shouted Hamp-
ton, sudden red rage upon him.
Curse il I! It's too dark"
Then Tommy gave over shooting
and yelled to Lee to hold his fire. For
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.