The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-05-20

into them, In the accoutrements OF
his victim. Selwood, his face smeared
with ashes, ran up. Not losing mo-
ment, he whistled into the night for
Bull Page, who, across the street,
was awaiting his signal. Now,
Bull" he murmured, as the old man
FASTENED to him, 'for look at the
inside!"
Bull caught hold of the iron latch
handle and pulled at the door. 1t re-
sisted. Either bolted or barred on the
inside, his efforts made no impression
on it.
stand aside, Bull" said Selwood.
He tried the latch, In turn, and. using
more force when less failed, jerked
at the door violently; still unsuccess-
full, he pounded on it with his fist.
A Waterman within unbarred and
opened the door a few cautious
inches. Selwood, under the hat of the
fallen guard, thrust forward his head.
It's Bull Page. Let him inl He's
got a message for Starbuck."
The Waterman took no chances.
Hold on" he exclaimed gruffly, and
at once slammed the door shut and
barred It, While Selwood waited his
return-with perhaps more impatience
than Bull, who must have felt that to
oblige friend he was taking a good
chance Of getting shot-the Waterman
took counsel. He opened the door
again presently and with the same
caution. Come In, Bull"
Selwood In the interval had thrown
away the guards hat and put on the
extra cap pulled from one of his num-
erous pockets; and when the watch
man opened the door wide enough for
Bull to enter, he attempted to walk
in behind him. The vigilant guard
don't"
Bull raised his quavering voice.
"Hits all right-he's my partner"
keep out" exclaimed the watch
man, showing Selwood roughly back
as he tried to edge through the half
open door.
"But he's got news Starbuck wants."
persisted Bull, to whom the thought
of entering the wolves den alone was
much more repugnant than that of
making an appearance under the
wing Of a man who could at least
shoot If shot at.
"No. you DON'T" persisted the door
keeper with a truculent aspect. "You
come In, Bull Page-nobody else"
With that, he jerked Bull In by the
coat collar, and banged the door In
Selwood's face.
The gambler took the rebuff impas-
sively. Bull had his instructions: he
was to tell Starbuck Selwood wanted
to see him at the barnard was
likely to get rough handling for his
pains. Outside the evil joint, Selwood
felt he held at least one portal and
could afford to wait.
But he was beginning to count
Bulls effort failure and was trying
to devise a new scheme when, after
what seemed long interval, the door
was opened again. Selwood, as he
saw Harry Barbanet coming out, fol-
lowed by Bull Page, skunk into the
shadow. Barbanet, sober, alert, sus-
picious, was the one man in the place
that Selwood had most hoped not to
encounter, for none, he felt, of the
wolves within would so quickly pene-
trate his rude disguise. AS the two
men emerged, he retreated
Bull looked vacantly around in the
darkness as If to get his bearings.
He's here" declared Page in his
trembling voice, trying as he spoke
to penetrate the shadows. ST know
that much; or was a minute ago-he'u
help, if en- find him."
you won't need any help" insist
ed the busy bartender, scornfully.
They're all locked up together right
inside here, back of the barber shop
Get old Fyler out the back door, tell
him you'll help 'em get away, him
first. He'll go out with you because
he knows you-all you've got to do is,
throw him into the river Starbuck
wants to get rid Of him-you'll get
paid"
1.-The old mans wiry," objected Bull,
spinning out the talk. 81 want my
partner outside the back door, so the
old man don't throw me in. Of course,
I'll try it alone If you say so, but If
my partner"
An outburst from Barbanet cut
short the talk; Bull had said all he
wanted to say, anyway. But still
Numbering on, he was .unceremon-
iously pushed through the partly open
door back into the room. Selwood
slipped around the corner to where
Pardaloe, close to a window, was
impatiently awaiting action. Selwood
repeated what he had heard, directed
him to watch the back door of the
barber shop, take any necessary meas
ures, and TO detain Fyler till Selwood
could get back to him.
"Say the word" said Pardaloe,
land I'll fire the whole dashed joint.
I've got everything laid right here
and good finder TO do 1T with
Don't set this place on fire till we
get everybody out of It," exclaimed
Selwood. Il must see the inside of
the place. 1 can't plan anything In
the dark"
Here's a sash loose" mumbled
Pardaloe, baked of his prey, fright
here. Why don't you"
Selwood, knowing the general lay
out of the inside of the big room,
jumped at the chance. There's a
curtain in front of it," continued Par
daloe.