The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-09-02
William Macleod Raine
(wNU service)
Copyright by William Macleod Raine

maybe"
Stone was honing a hunting knife
He had acknowledged the arrival of
Jasper by a nod. Now he spoke.
"Wils Mccain didn't kill Matt" He
said ii quietly, without emphasis.
"Hmpi He was caught, you might
say. right in the act" This from Jas
per. with evaporation. What's the
sense in sayin' he didn't do it?"
81 went over the ground soon as l
could an read sign. wills didn't shoot
yore father, any more than | did"
phil tells me you gave him an
julie that line of talk, Dave. Tha's
why she's lettin' this murderer get
away from u.s." He ripped out an
oath Of savage anger. ''Tye a good
mind TO plug him from the chaparral
my own self"
II wouldn't do that, Jas I'd hire
some one. Maybe you could get Carl"
the little Texan murmured.
The words seemed TO fall almost
casually, except for the fact that
Stones eyes were full on those of the
man he addressed. They had a sur
prising effect. The red of Jasper's
skin faded TO a sickly yellow. His
jaw dropped.
Gftner was made of sitter stuff. He
turned snarling on Stone what the
blue blazes you mean by that?" he
demanded with a series of cracking
oaths.
Stones face was hard as jade and
held as much expression. why, what
could I mean, Carl? Only that you're
a better shot than Jas, an if he wanted
any KILN done looks like ii would
be reasonable for him to hire you
to do it"
"Say, what's eatin' you, Dave?" Git
ner's eyes We're closely slitted. He
had dropped the stirrup leather and
his hands hung free for action. Lem
me get you right. What makes you
| figure wills Mccain didn't bushwhack
the old man?"
Several things, Carl. First off, If
wills did it he wouldn't "a been found
lingerin' around. More likely he's "a
been hittin' the high spots for get
away. / cut sign on the ground an
I know Matt was shot by some one
| lying in the irrigation ditch. The fell
| low got scared afterward an turned
water into the ditch to wipe out his
! tracks. We know wills didn't do
that. I'm not satisfied that the same
guy didn't shoot both yore father an
Mccain"
Sounds reasonable" sneered Git
ner. go ahead. Tell US who he is"
Il went up to the head gate an
studied the ground some. McCann's
tracks were there. He'd been fxin'
it. We know that. Covering his
tracks in two places there was the
print of a big boot run over at the
heel with a nail sticking OUT
The eyes of Stone and Gitner were
fastened as though drawn together by
powerful magnets. Jasper felt cold
chill at his heart. He flashed one look
| at Gitner's boots.
"How d'you know which was Wills
McCann's track an which wasn't?'
Gitner asked.
81 took his boots later an fitted
them to the tracks,
There was a moment of chill sin
lister silence.
did you take any boots an fit them
to the other tracks?" Gitner asked, al
most in murmur.
"Why no, Carl. Whose boots would
| take?"
The issue between the men had come
to crisis No words were spoken. For
| that question was low-voiced chal-
lenge. 1t called for an answer
There was silence, heavy and op-
pressive, while one might have counted
twenty. Watching Gitner closely.
Stone could almost read his exact
thoughts. Should he draw now and be
done with it? Or had he better wait?
"Well. you know what you mean. /
don't, an I don't give d." Gitner
turned, bravado in his manner. to Jas
per. ME. I'm headed for the chuck
wagon. Get move on you. JAS"
Stark breathed again. Carl had
chosen to postpone the question of the
| day to more favorable time.
The two men left the clubhouse
together. Through the open door
Stone watched them walk to the eating
room. He had done an unwise thing.
some men would have said. At least
he had done 1t on purpose. He had
| smoked them into the open. Beyond a
| reasonable doubt he was convinced
| that he had found the man who had
| " f.
| Cam. He had made guess that was
center shot
Out of the situation he got one
| flicker of amusement. He would be
willing to give odds that when he saw
| Carl Gitner after his next visit to
wearing a new pair of boots or the
heels of the old ones would be rebuilt.
|
1t was Wilson McCann's first long
ride since his recovery. The weeks
had slipped away and his splendid
| vitality had asserted itself Health
had flowed back into his veins He
and his brother Lyn were jogging
along toward Mesa. The fierce heat of
summer was almost broken. but they
| still looked up into brazen sky and
clouds of alkaline dust choked them.
With an eye carefully measuring
his brothers strength. Lyn suggested
that they throw of and rest at the
| riveI.
I'm kinda off my feed these days."
he added apologetically.
Wilson smiled at this duplicity.
suits me-" he assented I'D hate TO
see you wore TO a FRAGILE an you with