The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-01-29
CHAPTER VII
The Shadows Thicker.

Old man Conlan was, as McKane
had said, half crazy with the loss of
his cattle. They were not so many,
only a matter of some twenty-five
head, but they meant a lot to him. He
owned no patented land. He was
merely a squatter in the lower fringes
of the Upper country around at the
western end of Mystery ridge where
Rainbow cliff stopped spectacularly.
He lived with his wife In a disrepu-
table old cabin and worked beyond his
years and strength In the white fire of
an ambition-a laudable ambition, for
he had crippled son back East in col
lege. He ran cattle in the hills and he
knew every head of his brand to the
last wobbly calf, an easy matter, since
they were few.
At the store In Cordova he told his
woes to the countryside, and he had
an attentive audience, for his issue
was theirs, and in broader way.
On a pleasant day in late June, the
old man reiterated his grievance, pull
ing his long gray beard and failing
his gaunt arms In eloquent gesture.
~Whoever they be that lifted my
steers" he said grimly. II d-n their
souls to hill I'd d-n their bodies,
too, believe me, men, IL knowed 'em
an could throw my gun on 'em. Shur-
iff, here. might take me to jail next
minute an I'd go happy"
Selwood. sitting at table desultor-
lily playing cards, pushed back his hat
and smiled.
'Nobody's going to take you to jail
for killing rustler, jake" he said,
give lot to have the chance myself"
why don't We hunt fer it, then?"
demanded Conlan testify, "ef was
shuriff-"
"Yes" said Selwood, laying his
cards fiat on the table for moment
and facing him. what would you do
If you were sheriff"
I'D try, anyway" said the old man.
with touch of scorn, ''to find trace
Of somethin'. I'd not stay ON my ranch
an let tn world go hangI I'd ride tn
hills, 'tenny rate"
A slow paleness crept into Sell
woods face, giving it an ashen hue,
like candle. He laid down his hand
definitely and looked round at the ten
or twelve men lounging in the room.
Among them were Bossick and one
or two others who had suffered at the
hands of the mysterious thieves of
Nameless.
II know that Jake here voices the
feeling which has been growing
against me for some time" he said
evenly. "and this is as good time
as any to speak about It,"
You're our sheriff, Price, an a
id good one" spoke up Bossick low
ally, IAN 1 for one have nothing to
say against you. l know-no one bet
ter-what you're up against. / trailed
my own stuff into that river with Won
an l know that they simply vanished.
I've done my own darndest to onrayel
tn mystery, an can't see what more
any man'd do. sheriff or not I"
Selwood smiled at him.
Thanks, john" he said, srn NOT
forget that. But I hate to have nv
friends think I'm laying down on the
job. haven't said anything about
what I've been doing. preferring TO
wait until l had something to show,
but that time seems far off still. This
is the smoothest work ever saw, baf
fling. 1t don't stand to simple rea-
son. We know beef cattle don't fly
and vet that seems the only way they
could have got out of the country.
They go-and they leave no trail.
know. for I've ridden the hills, Jake.
Notwithstanding. In dragnet fashion.
Ask my wife how many nights I've
slept at home since the last raid. Take
look at my horse out there. He's
hard as iron and lean as a rail. And
there's another at home that looks
just like him. If haven't found any
thing It's not because / haven't
travelled
Several men stirred and one spoke.
II don't think many of us blame
you. Price," he said, but 1t does gall