The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-05-06

"You say you're done with me for
good and all. That's pretty hard to
take from you, Dave-it's hard be-
cause ! owe you so much and you
W me just next to nothing. But
whatever you say or whatever You
feel, l can't ever honestly say I'm
done with you; you're the only part
ner I ever had and you can't ever
change my feelings toward you.
You've said a few things tonight /
wish you hadn't said-but most of
what you've said was coming to me,
and l wouldn't ask you to take a thing
back"
Before Tracy could reply, Scott
started to leave the room; Pardaloe
would have pushed his huge bulk
after him, but Selwood stepped be-
tween them and the door. McAlpin
tried to shut Tracy off. Selwood ST.
fenced him. There's nothing to be
said here that you all ought not to
hear" he insisted. ~ want you to
hear it."
4No OuI VnS<Aipll, SlGpDluk
hurriedly over to where Tracy lay,
and talking angrily at him. II won't
hear a word of it-not another word"
he shouted In profane excitement.
I'm here on life and death-away
with your Earring and listen to me.
If the place wasn't burnt by you,
John, it'd been burnt a dozen times
since. The gamblers is after you,
John-after you and after this fool
mar Tracy. And he wants to go back
to Sleepy Cat! They'll burn him with
his bed under him. They don't want
no dead men in Sleepy Gait" he
shouted at Tracy. John" McAlpin.
wild with anxious haste, whirled on
Selwood. "Carpy told me to ride the
desert till I'd find you. Tell him.
he says, they're drivin' us-and
they'll shoot or burn up every man.
jack of US if we don't get help-and
no more said. If you find john says
Carpy. he'll understand"
McAlpin stopped, out Of breath. A
stiffness broken by the wailing
scream of distant coyotes followed
his words.
In the silence sSelwood stood, his
eyes on McAlpin, bordering his words.
Of all men in Sleepy Cat that might
have sent such a message to Selwood.
Carpy was the one whose call he
could not ignore. Who had taken
care of him when he lay sick? When
money could not buy skilled nursing
when the ignorance of even we'll
meaning friends might have been
fatal to him? Who but Carpy? Carpy
was calling him. With the tables
turned on the laundering v~igilantes,
this never-failing friend-always CIV
ing himself unstintingly, recklessly.
to the service of others, the man who
never asked whether one needing help
was worthy or unworthy-who never
said pay, or asked for a fee-the man
who was his own worst enemy-need-
ed help. Selwood to those about him
was grimly silent; but in his heart
he said: HE shall have it,"
And one more question was gnaw-
ing like emorse at his heart. Where
was Christie Fyler in all this deadly
clash?
He shot a question at McAlpin.
where is Fyler? Where Is his daugh.
terT"
81 don't know, John-nobody knows.
Carpy's been tryin' all night to get
track of 'em-if anybody knows
where Christie is, it's Cliff Star
buck"
The name cut Selwood like a
knife. "Starbucki" he echoed, biting
off the word, in rage. "Starbuck !"
he repeated, as If to feed his wrath.
And Cypy gave me his word no
harm should come to her."
McAlpin put up a hand. Don't
blame him-not for what he couldn't
do, tn night. I'm hit myself"-Mc-
Alpin held up his forearm-"but no
body here seems to care a rap about
that-where l got hit or how ! got
hit. But Carpy is a wounded mar and
his backs to the WALL"
Selwood seemed hardly to heed the
interruption. "Starbuck !" he re-
echoed, In lower but not less deadly
tone. The fingers of the hand resting
on his hip insensibly drew together.
He seemed as he stood to shrink
for a moment within himself. Then
he started from his lethargy and,
looking up, turned his eyes slowly
from one to the other of his compan-
ions and back to McAlpin. II can't
pass Up a call from Carpy," he said.
speaking to all. II wouldn't If I
could; and 1 couldn't If 1 would. And
1t looks now" he added, "as If Star
buck and 1 have a score to settle. I
hope not but If It's got to be settled,
the sooner the better"
Selwood made his arrangements
with decision. Taking what ammuni-
ton he could scrape~ together, he
would ride. he said, to Sleepy Cat.
McAlpin was to ride with him to re-
connoiter the situation when they
had reached town. Pardaloe, OPEN
cared and chatting under his mask Of
quiet, listened intently but without
approval. Selwood was talking to
Tracy; when he turned from the cot,
Pardaloe was waiting for him.
John" he said, taking Selwocd
aside and speaking In an undertone,
.if you was askin' me to head for Thief
River same time Y you're headin'
for Sleepy Cat, then don't ask me-"