The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-05-13


tening about him. Where's Bull
Pager" he asked after a moments
thought. "Get him here quick"
Facing Selwood within a moment
and alone with him in the office. the
dilapidated but amiable Bull looked
as surprised in being summoned at
such a moment by the boss as the
other men were.
Selwood spoke to him kindly and
without haste, and asked an odd ques-
ton: "Bull, you haven't done the
world very much good In your
eyentful lifetime. have your"
Poor Bull, greatly taken aback,
countered with sickly smile. "well
-I-hope I amt done nobody a whole
lot O. harm-have l, Johni" he asked
In his quavering. throaty tones.
"Not to anybody except yourself.
Bull, If the truth be told" replied
Selwood evenly. Not half as much
harm as I've done. Bull, by long
shot. But tonight there's chance for
both of US to do something for some
body. You've seen that young girl
whose father kept the mock-auction
store down street. one of the stores
that were burned tonight?"
Bull nodded. II seen her, John"
Somewhere in this row she's got
lost. I'm afraid she's fallen into bad
hands. You never can tell what will
happen, you know, night like this"
wouldn't want no wimmin folks
of mine mixed up in It,"
Then listen" continued Selwood.
"rye seen you many times drunk.
Bull, trying to make me think you
were sober"
Bull nodded as IL confessing to the
indictment.
Tonight I want you sober, trying
to make everybody else think you're
drunk"
Bull saw a flash of humor in the
suggestion. .sThat," he returned, his
chin pushed well down into his throat,
.'ain't goin' to be so awful hard, John,
l don't think"
There's one feature you may not
like But you're entitled, fair and
square, to know it now. We may one
of us or both of US, get killed"
"Willing to go where you go, John,
he replied simply.
Selwood showed his own surprise
at the unassuming assent by a longer
breath than usual "John Barleycorn
spoiled a man when he got you, Bull, y
he observed, regarding him gravely.
Bulls smile had long been in rags
but it shone brave through the tatters
of his seamy face. He said nothing
Selwood believed that IL any man
at the barn could get into Bartoe's
that night alive, 1t would be Bull
Page. Bull, though janitor at Sci.
woods place, left his wages impair.
TALLY at the various dives along the
river front. He thus enjoyed a GER
tain standing In the lower town as
well as the upper. and he moved
without prejudice among the differ.
ent factions of the town.
81 don't want TO ask you to do any
thing I wouldn't do myself-if
could" said Selwood, explaining to
Bull what he meant to attempt. But
you can get through doors barred
against me and against any stranger
and with you to guarantee stranger
!! 1 might make 1t. Anyway, Bull, Il
you're game Wen try; and they won't
get us both without some kind Of q
hearing"
Pardaloe and McAlpin were called
in. "If you'll hold your men together
here a WHILE" said Selwood to LIE
fever, "we'H know exactly what we
are going to do. In, say, ten minutes
John, bring all Of them that want to
fight down to Bartoe's and maybe
they can be accommodated I'm tax
ing Bull Page with me, and suppose
you and Scott come along. Bill" he
added to Pardaloe "If we don't all
of US get back, some of us might"
"What are you going to DOR asked
Lefever
"rm going down to Bartoe's to look
around"
Scott, with the quickest instinct OF
his listeners, looked at the gambler
with skeptical smile. you're not
going inside?"
81 am, if 1 can make It." returned
Selwood He began to unbutton his
coat "And I'll borrow your hat and