The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-03-19
NAMELESS RIVER
where could they hide them?

thought but little time to use 1t. He
had only time for decision, and for
the action which was to follow swiftly
on that decision.
AS the cattle came up the slope,
pushed by the many horsemen who
completely encircled them, they left q
broad trail, their tracks all going up
ward-all this passed through his
racing mind.
What was to prevent him or any
one else from riding straight up to
their destination by broad daylight
And then on the heels of this ques-
ton came like a flash Of light on a
dark curtain that old coincidence In
time!
When that 90 head had vanished
Kate Cathrew had been driving down
driving down from Sky Line-3OO
head of her own stock, all open
and above board, properly branded
clear and fairl
Three hundred head of steers whose
moiling hoofs, going down, would
trample out all trace Of 80 going up
The sheriff's eyes were cleaning In
the dark, his lips were tight line
! of determination.
He was beginning to get hold OF the
mystery with a vengeance.
He thought of the windy passage
| that opened into Blue Stone canyon
If he could only find its head he
would, as Smith had said, have solved
the problem. And unless he missed
his guess by a thousand miles, those
steers streaming past him at the mo-
ment were headed for it nowl
Here was the chance to nail her
crimes on Cattle Kate Cathrew, to
make the killing" of his years of fall
ure in office-and Sheriff Price Sell
wood, brave man and honest officer OF
the law, took his life in his hand
again, and fell In beside the herd.
Dark, quiet, shadowy-he was a
rider among the riders, to all intents
and purposes one of Kate Cathrew's
men-and he was helping to drive
Bossick's steers up to the foot Of Rain
bow cliff
From the few low-toned shouts and
oaths he was able to identify the two
men nearest him as Sud Provine and
Caldwell. the foreman.
He thanked his stars for his own
dark horse. his inconspicuous clothing.
The herd was headed straight for
the face of the cliff, and he expected
soon to see the riders swing them east
toward the corrals of Sky Line, but
they did not do so. When the fore
most steers were close under the wall
Caldwell rode near and called to him,
thinking him one of his men:
''Get around to the right" he said,
"and keep close to Sud,-Bill. I'll lead
in myself Take it slow. Don't want
'em to jam in the neck. When the
first ones start behind the Flange let
'em dribble In on their own time. All
ready?"
The last two words were high call
addressed to all the men. From all
sides of the herd, come to full stop
now, came replies and Selwood saw
Caldwell ride away around to the
right.
Turning his horse the sheriff fol-
lowed promptly.
He was tense as a wire, alert, dread
ing discovery every moment, yet filed
with. excitement which sent the blood
pounding in his ears.
AS he neared the face of the preci-
pice on the right, he saw Provine sit
ting on his horse, saw Caldwell circle
in to the wall and cutting In before
the massed cattle, go straight along its
length. The faint starlight was Just
sufficient to show up bulk and move
ment, not detail. He heard the fore
man begin to call "Coee-coo-ee-
coo-ee"-and the next moment he
could not believe his eyes, for horse
and rider melted headfrst into the
face of Rainbow cliff, as knife slices
into surface and disappears Cald.
we'll voice came from the heart of the
wall, far away and muffled, calling
"Coo-e e-coo-e e"-Provine edged In
against the steers, shouting, he fol.
lowed suit, as to movement, though he
did not speak, and the dark blot OF
the mass began to flow into the solid
rock of the spine that crowned Mys-
terry ridgel
Sheriff Selwood had solved the mys-
n terry of the disappearing steers-knew
q TO a certainty who were the rustlers
of Nameless river-and he could not
get away with his knowledge quickly
enough.
Therefore he refined his horse away
to the left, dropped back along the
herd, edged off bit-a bit more
sided into shadow-slipped behind
the pine that made it-and putting the
bay to a sharp walk, went down the
mountain
As the sounds behind him lessened
he drew a good breath and struck q
spur to his horses flank.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)