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

ner of 1t. But, Bill"-Selwood raised
one hand, simply-'who rides with
me tonight ought not TO care much
about coming back
Pardaloe was chewing slowly, but
with the steadiness OF fate. "Nothin'
particular, as l know of, John, calm
me anywheres back"
Come along. Bill"
A further parley was held; Tracy
at last pleaded to be taken back to
Sleepy Cat, and, as everybody else
was for it, Selwood gave In. 1t was
arranged that Pardaloe should ride
with Selwood and Scott, and that Nc
Alpin should follow in the wagon with
Tracy.
While Tracy's cot was hastily set
back in the wagon and the horses were
being got up, Selwood took the am
munition out from under the seat
a slender store, but, like a shower, a
Jife-sayer in a drought-and appor-
toned it into three parcels among
Pardaloe, Scott, and himself.
II lacked but little of daybreak
when the three men reached the river
again. Fording the stream, the horse
men secreted their horses in the un-
dergrowth below the river bench. aud
climbed up the nearest gully TO the
fats, that were being laid out for a
railroad yard. Spreading out again,
the three men circled this open space
singly and without molestation, and
came together on higher ground,
where they could reconnoiter the
town.
The fires that had lighted the sky
earlier in the night had died down
chiefly for lack OF material for the
flames. An important part of Sleepy
Cat lay in ruins, though the extent
of the destruction was hidden In the
darkness. One quarter of the stray
Cling settlement had escaped the torch
and the Vigilantes and the reprisaIs
of the outlaws-this was the corner
embracing the stage barns, Carpy's
hotel, and the new railroad station.
From the hin where they had
halted, Selwood and his companions.
recovering their horses, made their
way under such cover as they could
singly. TO the stage barns.
Lefever met them. Selwood asked
for the news. Lefever pointed to
pile Of smoking ruins down the hill.
"Some OF them river rats have burned
the bunk-house on US, john" said
Lefeyer. That's the way, they keep
their promises ~
.MeAlpin told me nothing of that"
exclaimed Selwood, looking angrily
down the hill.
Didn't know it was on fire when he
started" returned LefeYer. sBut I'm
telling you the teamsters are rarin'
to 60 They're only waiting for you"
'Just hold 'em till 1 get some
bearings was all Selwood replied.
Bull Page took the steaming horses
back TO their stalls, and Scott was
sent out TO scout. Lefever told Sell
wood and Pardaloe what more he
could of the situation; Starbuek, who
had been missing for a time at the
outset, had taken the gamblers fight
In hand at a moment when the Vigi-
iantes were driving all before them,
turned the tables on the cleanup men,
and now held the survivors Of their
disorganized force at bay in the I'M
finished railroad station. Starbuck
had sent word by messenger that he
would give them an hour to get out
OF the station and out of the town
coupled with the threat that IL they
didn't move they would be burned out
by daylight. Starbuck's men, Lefever
added, held the only building left in
the River Quarter. where most of the
burning had been-Bunty Bartoe's
place down next the river; II had es-
capped the flames. In the upper town
Carpy's hotel, which had been Quilted,
the gamblers had spared. He knew
nothing about Christie.
Pardaloe had been dispatched to
the station with the ammunition. He