The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-05-13
FRANK H. SPEARMAN
Copyright by Charles Scribner's Sons.
WNU Service

the wounded, who lay on the floor In
the freight room. There was only a
pretense of a guard kept about the
building; within it, disgruntled Vigil
lantes nursed their grievances, railing
chiefly at one another; and in one
corner, with nobody 10 command, ow-
ing to lack OF ammunition, Old Gener-
al Roper, though hit, was maintain
ing headquarters, with neither head.
as Pardaloe tartly put 1t, nor quar-
tiers. The only thing that prevented
the refugees from running away was
the fear of getting shot If they put
their noses outside.
Selwood felt he must first of all see
and learn what he could from Carpy.
Directing his few companions to
stick together and telling Lefever to
throw out a stronger guard about the
barn, Selwood started for the station.
BY skirting the river bank and
working from one to another of the
breaks in the beach, he reached the
rear door of the station without draw
ing any fire either from its defenders
or its besiegers. He pushed open the
being opposed or observed. A glance
was enough TO reveal to Selwood's
unsympathetic scrutiny the complete
decentralization of the Vigilante ele-
ment 1t was almost by accident that
Abe Cole, the bandaged but still
fighting blacksmith, saw Selwood and,
running toward him, greeted him with
a shout that drew attention to the
long-hoped-for arrival of the taciturn
gambler. As men, wounded and un-
wounded, crowded about him, he eyed
the scar-faced. hurting blacksmith,
coldly, paying no attention whatever
to his ELUSIVE welcome.
''You running this thing, Abe"
Running it," echoed Abe hoarsely.
Il was running it-nobody's running
ii. They wouldn't do a thing l told
'em to do" declared Cole, with a plen-
tiful sprinkling OF profanity; NOW
they're cornered, JUS as l told 'em
they'd be if they didn't obey orders,
anu dboul 1S An0NA Ashl IA
'em now as there Is in a bunch of
jack-rabbits!"
Selwood, ignoring impatient inter-
pleaders that raised their voices,
some abusing the blacksmith and
some one another, looked about the
two rooms. The figure that instantly
arrested his attention was that OF
Carpy, his head swathed In a wild
looking bandage. moving about among
his wounded, who. filling one corner,
lay on the floor in various attitudes
Of prostration. anger. and disgust.
Selwood, silencng those closest,
spoke to Cole. 81 sent what cartridges
/ could rake up, Abe; it's all I know
of this side of Medicine Bend, outside
what Starbuck's got So I'd advise
you not TO pass any of 'em out to the
jack-rabbits; put 'em in the hands of
men that will use 'em."
1.-THE teamsters, your men, are
standing up" blurted out Abe. "They
stopped 'em from rushing US an hour
ago. But they amt got six rounds
apiece left. Starbuck will come back"
Selwood's glance had wandered.
Hello, Doc" he said as he saw Carpy
elbowing his way toward him.
Carpy, wounded and Infatuated, was
grateful but glum. Selwood reached
for the bloody hand stretched out.
He listened with patient attention TO
the wrought-up surgeon, who tried to
explain the wreck of their plans,
though with an expression in his eyes
that indicated his mind wandered.
Looking over the shoulders of those
around him, Selwood saw the cowed
spirit of the Vigilantes. One excep-
ton attracted his attention: one man
appeared profoundly Indifferent to the
fortunes of the night. In a comfort
able chair in the farthest corner of
the second room, his bald head in a
huge fur cap well pulled down, and
his hands clasped in his lap, sat the
queer pioneer trader of Sleepy Cat
and of the mountain country-old man
Van Tambel. Everything he had In
the world had but just gone up in the
smoke of Fort street, but the tragedy
had apparently failed to shake his
spirit. Composed and collected he
struck Selwood as an odd contrast to
the welter Of wrangling, confusion,
and cowardice about him. The gam
bier silently laughed.
He turned his eyes on Cole. "Well, I"
he said In response to many words
from several mouths, you've made a
mess of 1t. They've got you cornered.
Where are the buns that licked you
hanging out? Does anybody known"
He was assured that Bartoe's place
was the only building that had es-
capped the flames in the River quarter.
That's where they are, then" was
Selwood's comment.
What are you going to do?" sput-
tered Cole.
~Fll take what men I've got with
me at the barn and go after 'em."
Wouldn't it be better to fight 'em
here, John?" asked Cole
You're licked here" retorted
Selwood. 'Tf Starbuck stuck his head
in the door most of these fellows
would jump into the river. Get back
to your woundedn-he took Carpy's
arm-"looks TO me, they're about all
the fighting blood you've got left
here"
As he spoke. he drew the surgeon
apart. "You know the reason I'm in
this mess, Doc" he said sternly AMI
without wasting words. where is
Christie Fyler?"
Carpy, controlling his excitement,
canrhf Salunnd,S orr,, In, his hond