The Ely miner., 1927-06-10
Selwood Of Sleepy Cat
CHAPTER XV-Continued

ne leit margaret IN the once ana
took McAlpin well down the dark
gangway, near one of the big oat-bins.
Where have you got HaynesT
asked Selwood.
McAlpin shuffled about and scraped
his feet "John," he said apologeti-
cally, but speaking fast to skate over
very thin ice. Its this way. Haynes
wasn't the worst of them deyils-now,
was he?"
The barn boss looked hopefully for
a sign Of assent from his listener,
but Selwood was silent and emotion
less. 1t made ii little harder TO go
on, but McAlpin pushed ahead "The
teamsters was for stringing up every
body they ketched after this last fight
down at Bartoe's. But / just stood
'em Off on Haynes. He told me how
come the bunk house burned. Star
buck and Bartoe sent him to tell you
that they wouldn't touch company
property If you stayed neutral. But
he couldn't find you and gave the
word TO Lefever, and, Lefever said
the teamsters would stay out of 1t.
But some of the teamsters had griev-
ances agin the gamblers, and went
out with the Vigilantes, so Starbuck
said that released 'em and they fired
the bunk-house."
where is Haynes?"
Fright here In this bin," explained
McAlpin, pointing to the bin at their
hand; hes under the oats-tied up
and all safe till you decide whether
you'll let them dashed vigilantes
hang him-but he wasn't the worst of
them devils, John, not by no manner
o means, at ALL"
sect him out" directed Selwood,
still non-committal.
McAlpin, handing his lantern TO
Selwood, sprang into the bin and
began to paw down into the oats. In
one corner he had left an airhole,
cunningly contrived with empty sacks,
and after digging at this corner, Nc
Alpin uncovered Haynes, cut the
ropes from his arms. and, digging out
his feet, cut the ropes from his ankles.
Ed! began Selwood.
Haynes interrupted him. Don't
say anything, John. I can't help the
way things have gone. But I'll say
this: l don't know no more'n child
unborn who fired the hall. Bull Page
told me the Vigilantes were coming
up the hill after me, so had to light
out"
''Well, whatever's coming TO you,
Ed, there's nothing coming tonight.
You know this country tween here
and Medicine Bend?"
Backwards and forwards, John"
Meg Hyde has begged Starbuck
from me- It's not coming to him, but
I've been fool enough TO give In. If
they can get to Medicine Bend they'll
be safe. If one of the teamsters
catches sight of Starbuck he'll shoot
him. They've got TO get to the Bend.
by keeping off the big trail and sneak
ing through the canyons and behind
the rocks. It's your chance, Ed. I've
got nothing like hanging against you
mot anything like it. McAlpin will
have the horses at the back door, and
you can do your best to make it with
Starbuck and Meg Hyde. Hustle"
Leaving McAlpin to explain, Sell
dingy, smelly Office. Margaret Hyde
was feverishIy waiting. He directed
her to go into the harness-room and
apprise her husband, making only the
request that Starbuck under no cir
cumstances speak to him. After Mar
garet had gone in and come out
again, he told her to go to the gang
way door and wait, took the lantern
from her hand, went into the room
himself, and, bending over Starbuck.
cut the ropes that bound him, steadied
him on his cramped feet, unlocked the
gangway door, threw 1t open, and
pointed to Meg outside.
Starbuck, blear-eyed and blood
crusted, his hair dishevelled and his
trousers and shirt awry, was a desper-
ate sight. He gazed at Selwood stand.
ing with the lantern In one hand and
Barbanet's gun in the other. Selwood
silently handed him the gun.
Starbuck had been forbidden to
speak. His lips were sealed. He
tuChcu Iuc gun lulO LIS lTOuSeTS WHIST
band. and took step toward the door
that meant freedom. Before the thres-
hold he stopped, turned to Selwood
and spoke.
"John," he said In a tone that sur
prised his listener, 'Fve been a ="
He applied to himself the scurrilous
epithet so commonly and freely used
among frontier men. But Selwood
heard it from the lips of one who
meant now to condemn fittingly only
his own shame, not his mother. "Pve
been one-I know IT." he hurried on.
But If / can ever make 1t up to
Meg-and you"
Selwood waved him on. Never
mind me-" he said evenly. "Your
chance lies ahead of you." He pointed
TO the door. Take It."
CuADTED vyyT