The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-05-20
Selwood Of Sleepy Cat
By FRANK H. SPEARkAN
WNUsev Cwyrdny ch. aas

an edge Of the curtain In his fingers
and peered inside.
1t looked like fair chance. The
corner was not dark, but 1t was not
brightly lighted. A table stood close
to the side of the window through
which Selwood was looking. On one
side Of the table sat a man leaning
forward, with his head buried In his
arms, as If asleep. His hat lay on
the table. Selwood watched him pref
ty closely for a moment-he was the
nearest element of danger - but
reached the conclusion he was stupid
with drink. The curtain was short.
Hung from hooks at the upper cor
ners, it reached only to the window
apron. Selwood could see men stand
ing in small groups not ten feet away,
but the entire room, probably for rea-
sons of safety, was only meagerly
lighted.
The gambler thought he could make
it. He whispered brief instructions
to Pardaloe.
eff you don't hear any shooting,
Bill. you'll know I'm moving safe. If
you hear one shot, just pay no atten-
ton. Have your shotgun up here on
the sill; the instant you hear two
shots, fire one barrel at that big
lamp" Selwood pointed to the lamp
hanging in the front end of the room.
LET the other barrel go into the mid
die Of the crowd-that will give me
a chance for the front door,"
John, might hit y" objected Par
daloe In a ferocious whisper.
eff I'm in that crowd, Bill, after
two shots are fred, few buckshot
mere or less won't hurt my feelings"
said Selwood reassuringly. Just let
go quick at that lamp-that's the
main thing. I'll make what noise I
can with my gun to help you out.
Now set down your gun and give me
a lift must get In there with my
back to the window and both hands
free"
The mule boss took him under the
armpits, that Selwood's hands might
be free, lifted him, and the next mo-
ment Selwood, watching the nearest
men closely, stood inside the room
with his feet on the floor. Pardaloe
quickly rehung the curtain.
It was the work of the next moment
for Selwood to reel to and sink into
an empty chair opposite the sleepy
man, and, peering from under his cap,
to study the scene.
The interior of the place, Of motor
ious repute even among case-hard-
ened men, was not wholly unfamiliar
to Selwood, nor had 1t changed much
in the long interval since he had seen
it. Neither Bunty nor Atkins was In
sight, and Selwood's nervous glance
searched the room vainly for a sight
Of the one man he had taken a desper-
ate chance to see-Starbuck Men
came at intervals out of the back
room, but each one closed the door
most carefully behind him. 1t was
there, Selwood soon found reason to
believe, that the leaders were closeted.
To attempt the inner room meant,
he knew, showdown. Whatever
eyes might be fooled in the front
room, those In the back room would
not be long In discovering his identity.
But with a fatality either tempera-
mental or due to his chance-t taking
career, Selwood made ready to pene-
trate the second room in a search for
Starbuck.
He pushed guardedly at the head Of
the man opposite him and found after
little fussing that he was fast
asleep. The man wore about his neck
bandanna kerchief, and this, Sell
wood, keeping his eyes well on those
about him, gradually disengaged with
one hand-twisting 1t around to
where he. could loose the knot and
draw it from the mans neck. His
victim having taken this liberty good
naturedly, Selwood DOTTED McAlpin's
queer-looking cap at a moment that
no eyes were turned his way, and
after another moment tried on the
sleeping mans hat. 1t fitted well
enough, and he did not take 1t off !.
but proceedingly slowly, keeping a
clear eye on the men nearest, and
handling his right forearm as If
wounded, Selwood slipped one arm
and then the other out of the coat
he wore, and laid the purloined neck
erchief over the right forearm.
Drawing his revolver from the
scabbard in which he had replaced 1t
when sitting down, Selwood, with the
grip of the gun in his right hand,
wrapped the kerchief loosely over
hand and gun together. When ar
ranged to his liking, he drew his small
hunting-knife, and gradually slit the
bandage on the lower side from end
to end, so that 1t lay hiding his re-
volver, but ready to jerk off with his
free hand. Putting away the knife,
he rose and, facing the room, reached
with his left hand up behind him and
jerked down the window curtain.
Sitting down again, he made a rude
sling of the curtain, hung 1t from
his neck under his right wrist, and
with his left hand slipped his coat
back again over his shoulders. Sit
ting now quite at ease, he lrew leaf
of cigarette paper from a waistcoat
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