The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-10-07
Copyright by william Macleod Rains


find out who had done it. Now Wal
tiers was having the riot act read to
him because he had knocked down one
of the Stark vaqueros. Sure enough
times had changed.
II wasn't lookin' for trouble" he
explained again. 'Not none. That
bird was full Of forty rod an ran on
me aplenty. What's fellow to do?'
Weren't hoglied. were you? Moth.
ing kept you from walking out of the
Gilt Edge when he started, was there?
want me to stick my tail between
my laigs an run away every time some
guy gets biggity with meY
you got my orders, Joe. If he be-
longs to the Circle Cross, duck trouble.
I'm putting an end to this feud an
that is the only way to do it. I'd take
the same medicine myself / ask you to
swallow. If it don't suit you, get yore
time. That's short an sweet"
Walters grumbled but surrendered.
He knew when he had good job and
he had no intention Of giving it up.
Peter Mccain wrote note to Phil
Stark and in it asked him to meet him
at Garcia's water hole, halfway
point between the ranches. The an
swer came in feminine hand. It was
signed by Julia. She said that Phil
was away on business connected with
the Cattlemens association but she
would keen the appointment In his
place.
When the cattleman reached the wa
ter hole Julia was waiting for him.
Peter, looking at her, spoke abruptly.
You're very like yore mother"
'Tve been told So" She added,
gently. "You knew her well?"
AT one time, yes" He offered no
further explanation. His eyes were on
the dry stark desert that had min
ute before been a vignette snatched
from fairyland Perhaps he was think
ing that there had been an hour in his
arid life. too, when the glow and color
OF a dream had irradiated 1t.
Julia. through clairvoyant eyes, did
not see hard and fierce enemy
stamped with the brand of the desert
in every line Of the lean and leathery
face: she saw youth. lover and q
friend, good man and true, in that dim
past when the pages of his future had
not been dedicated to an enduring hate
that had poisoned many lives.
about some trouble yesterday at
the Gilt Edge he began, with no
preface. Il want you to understand
my men have strict orders not to get
into any mixup with yore riders. Far
as we're concerned this feud is off.
You ended it when you saved my boys
life"
I'm glad. If only it had never
startedw
He knew by the droop Of her head
that she was thinking of her father.
THAT would have been better" he ad-
mitted. Then, bluntly he asked: do
you think wills shot yore fatherT
mo. Down in the bottom Of my
heart l never did think so-except just
at first. / thought some Of his friends
did"
do you think that still?"
She looked straight at him, but her
lips trembled. II don't know. / don't
want to know"
He knew what she meant, that she
was afraid to learn the truth.
Matt had other enemies besides us, u
he told her gently. 1--WE hadn't a
thing to do with it-not thing. But
l blame myself, just the same. He
an l used to be partners. We played
together when we were young colts,
Matt an ! did. Always had to hook
up with the same outfit. They called
us David and Jonathan. Then trouble
came between US. Both of US were
hot-tempered an bullheaded. We quar-.
relied Our business interests con.
fiicted. This d-n desert wouldn't
hardly feed all our cattle before we
began to irrigate. Bad years we both
lost lot Of stock from drought. So
we drifted from bad to worse. But
I'm clear on this-none of US McCanns
had anything to do with the death of
yore father I thank God for that,
because 1t might have been different
the way things were shaping"
She believed him, with heavy
heart. For If this was true. it drove
her back to horrible dread that for
a week had lain like lead.
He looked into her stricken face and
pitied her. 1t came to him that he
might clear himself with her at too
great cost. If Gitner had killed
Matthew Stark there could be only one
reason, to prevent him from making
a will disinheriting Jasper. She did
not yet believe it of her brother. She
fought against the growing doubt that
kept returning. For the certainty OF
his guilt would poison her life. But
she could not trample down the fear
that flooded her.
Mccain spoke more cheerfully. "Pve
lived long enough to know that the
things we're most afraid of never come
to pass. They just amt true. Anyone
might of shot yore father-some
vaquero he kicked off the place or q
COW thief he had sent to the pen.
Matt was like me one way. He made
enemies by pushing right through to
what he wanted. regardless. I reckon
he was kinda intolerant sometimes"
Eyes, he was high-handed." she ad
mitted. I'm that way. too"
Likely enough he'd trompled on
some ours feelings an the fellow laid
for him in the bushes. II was you
Miss Julia, wouldn't worry about who
did it. This border country is full OF
mad hombres driftin' about"
"Yes."
tTo BE CONTINUED,