The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-09-02

"It does kinda take the tuck outa
me-" he admitted. Il reckon I'm not
right stout yet"
Purgatory river the Indians called
1t from the Spanish name. or the
River OF Lost Souls. but the unsenti-
mental cowpuncher had corrupted it to
Picket Wire river.
Lying on his back, one leg cooked
over the other, Lyn unused aloud.
Something's changed Dad. He amt
so rambunctious since you an him go1
back from the Circle Cross. All the
boys have strict orders not to get into
trouble with any of the Stark riders.
He acts like he's bumped up against
something that set him thinking"
Wilson thought of his father, big,
strong, slightly bowlegged, hard eyes
set in a leathery face, a dominating
man with many friends and some
bitter enemies. What Ign said was
true. There had come a change in
him. He spoke less. His manner was
gentler at times More than once his
Oldest son had come on him in the
dusk brooding in an armchair. This
was not at all like the Peter Mccain
he had known a score of years.
Figure it out for yourself, Lyn.
Julia Stark an that young brother Of
hers saved my life an kept right on
saving it. They scared off the killer.
They took me home an looked after
me. They sent for Doc Sanders. She
nursed me. that girl did. like | was
her brother, though her father lay
there dead beside me an she thought
I'd killed him. They let Dad come an
live in the house, an every minute of
the time they watched to see we weren't
shot while we were there. Do you
reckon, if they had been given half a
chance Jas Stark an that Gitner would
ever have let US get away from there
alive? Not Oh yore tintype. But the
girl an young Phil an Stone an Raj
ferty rode with US, punched round the
wagon, till we met up with the boys.
That puts it right up to US. don't it?
Dads millin' this over in his head.
He's a white man, Peter Mccain is.
He's figurin' on finding way out that
won't leave him feeling like coyote?"
'How about your
"Ill not crook finger against one
of 'em. How can | now?'
what kind of a girl is she?" Lyn
asked, his curiosity stirred. 'She used
to be a regular iii catamount at
school"
Wilson measured his words carefully
to achieve a dispassionate manner of
casual criticism. II reckon she's got
that temper yet. There's most usually
a breeze around her neighborhood,
notice sure enough LII ginger mill.
She's let loose on me some. O. course
she hates the ground walk on. Nat
urally she would, since she figures
shot her father But she's all right,
Lyn-there every way, high. low, jack
an the game. l don't quite know how
to tell you what she's like You re-
member thar lii palomino racer we
usta have-what fine high-strung,
high-steppin' thoroughbred the FLY
was, game to the marrow an true as
steel. Well, that's Julia Stark"
Lyn rolled and Lit a cigarette. 'T
amt spoke word to her since she was
a long-legged colt with her name all
flying wild an black eyes snappin' at
you like live Goals. But what you say
goes with me. If she hadn't been
would have let you die the day of the
rookus. Funny about women. how
they tangle up the lives of he-men.
When we was out on Tin Cup the
other day Yves Tapscott got to talkin'
about Dad an Matt Stark. We was
breakin' camp an l was loadin' the
crossbuck. He got to joshin' me while
I was fiXin' the lash rope to throw the
diamond hitch an somethin' | said re-
minded him of old days. Seems that
Dad an Matt usta run together when
they were young. They skylarked a
heap in Dodge an Hays City an Den
yer when they were out with trail
herds Seems they both fell in love
with the same girl an that busted
their friendship wide open"
The older brother nodded. Jessie
Farwell her name was. She married
Stark"
''It would be right funny if this Jnlia
Stark was to put an end to this feud
after her mother started it before any
of US were born"
The brooding eyes of Wilson were
not focused on anything within range
of their vision. He made no comment
on what his brother had said, but his
mind was full of it. Why not? Surely
the thing she had done made it i'm
possible for the McCanns to pursue
the feud. to fight for hair-line rights
| bitterly and savagely. She had cut the
ground from under their feet. IF there
was any generosity in them they would
have TO abstain from hostility, even
though friendship was not practicable
do you reckon they're liable TO
push the case against you for KILN
Matt Stark?" asked Ign presently.
Wilson was out on bail furnished by
his father. he had been formally ar
rested by the sheriff. even though it
was understood that no conviction
would be possible in Arizona after
Stark had given public notice that he
meant to kill young Mccain on sight
Il ion't reckon" Wilson replied.
They haven't got leg to stand on
and they know it Even If l had killed
him was justified"
who did kill him? You don't reckon
any of our boys could of done it and
be holdin' out on US"
mo. don't. I'm not guessin', Lyn-
not out loud"
Lyn suddenly sat up and listened.
There had come TO him down the xasn