The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-11-07
GREGORY
COPYRIGHT Y~
CHARLES ScRIBNERS SONS

Gus, especially at the very place where
the car went overt He wanted me TO
know so that in case he could not get
the work done on it before l came,
would be careful. On top of that would
he 60 and run his car into such dan
ger as that? oh, l know!" she cried
again, her hands hard upon her rifle.
Il know, / tell you! From the first
suspected. l knew that Chris Quin-
MON had threatened a dozen times to
get father. knew that soon or late
he would try. / wrote Emmett Saw
yer, our county sheriff, and told him
what believed, asked him to go TO the
spot and see what the signs told. A
| square man is Emmett Sawyer and as
sharp as tacks."
And he told you that you were mis-
takenY
HE did nothing of the kind! He
| reported that the tracks of the car
| showed that it had kept well away
| from the bank, that evidently it had
stopped there, that again it had gone
on, swerving SO as to run close to the
| edge! | know what happened: Father
got out TO look at the dangerous spot
| and to put up the sign he had brought
with him and that was found in the
road. Chris Quinnion had followed him,
perhaps TO shoot him down from be-
hind, Chris QuinniOn's wayl Then he
saw safer way. He came up behind
poor old dad and struck him on the
head with something, rifle-barrel or re-
volver. He started the car up and let
it run over the bank. He"
She broke off then. Bud Lee felt
that he knew what she would say if
she could bring herself to 90 on; that
she would tell how crooked Chris
Quinnion had thrown the unconscious
man down over the bank TO lie.
bruised and broken, by the wrecked
car.
You've got to be almighty sure be-
fore you make charge like that" he
reminded her. eff Quinnion had done
it, why didn't Emmett Sawyer get the
deadwOod on him?"
Because" she whispered quickly, "a
man fooled Sawyer! Yes, and fooled
me! Quinnion established an alibi. A
man whose word there was no reason
to doubt said that Quinnien was with
him at the time of the murder. And
that man was-Bayne Trevors ="
'Trevors| muttered Lee. He shook
his head. "Trevors is hard man, Ju-
dith. And he's scoundrel, if you
want to know! But frame up a muir
der deal-plan TO murder Luke San
ford-No. 1 don't believe itr
as he the man to miss a chance thai
lay at his hand? The main chance for
him? The chance to hold man like
Chris Quinnion in the hollow of his
hand, to make him do his bidding. TO
set him just such work as he is doing
now? Answer me! Is Bayne Trevors
above deal like that?"
Bud Lees answer was silence.
And there is one ether thing" went
on Judith swiftly, known TO no one
but Emmett Sawyer, whom / told, and
me and Chris Quinnion in fathers let
ter he told me that man had paid
him some money the day before, and
that he was going to drive to. Rocky
Bend TO bank it. That money, several
hundred dollars, was never banked. II
was not found ON his body. Where
did it go2"
Even that doesn't fncriminate
'Quinnion, you know
mo. The rest is pure guesswork Ell
my part. Guesswork based ON what I
know. Not enough TO hang Chris Quin-
MON, Bud Lee. But enough to make
me sure. He's working at Trevors'
game right now. If we can prove that
it is Trevors' game it will go to show
how worthless his alibi was"
''Welt?" called Quinnion, the third
time. What about it? We amt gein'
to wait all night"
Tell him." whispered Judith, her
hand on Lees arm, Ito come and get ii
if he wants il! One of us can hold the
cabin against the two of them while
the other slips out IN the dark and
rides back TO the raneh-house for help.
If were in luck, Bud Lee, well corner
the bunch of them before daylight.
ITS the only way" she insisted. IF
We gave them the money they'd want
Bill Crowdy next. If they got Crowdy
away with them into the mountains l
am not sure they could not hide until
they got him safe in Treyors' hands.
Then we'd have the whole fight still to
make. sooner or later. It's our one
bet, Leei''
And Bud Lee, seeing no better way
ahead for them, blew out the candle.
forced Judith 10 stand close TO the
rock chimney of the fireplace, took his
station near her, and answered Quin-
MON, saying shortly:
Come ahead when you're ready.
We're waiting
Quinnion's curse. the crack of his
rifle. the flying splinters from the cab
in door, came together like one inn
placable menace.
And now, Bud Lee" cried Judith
quickly, Il don't mind telling you, not
seeing the end of the string we are
playing, that you are a man to my lik-
ingi"
My hats off," said Lee. with grave
simplicity. ..And in any old kind of a
fight a man wouldn't want a better
Partner than / can reach now, putting
out my hand He'd want-just thor