The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-10-14

chatted
WED ought to reach Guadaloup by
nine o'clock, wouldn't you sayT Phil
murmured sleepily. his head pillowed
on the most comfortable spot of his
saddle.
II reckon. II we get an early start"
They were up before daybreak The
sun was just peeping over the ridge
when Mccain threw the diamond
hitch with the lash rope. II was pos
sible, though not probable. that at any
time they might jump up the rustlers
driving stolen cattle. Wherefore they
rode warily. following ridges where
they could so that they could sweep
with their eyes as much territory as
was feasible.
Guadaloup canyon opened before
them after an hour or two of travel
Precipitous walls shut them into de-
file. narrow and tortuous, up which
they moved in single file. The soil was
red clay formation. Loose rocks
strewed the doorway of the gorge. flung
down ages ago from the heights above.
The trailers dismounted and studied
the ground. Sure enough there had
been cattle here and recently. Prints
of horses hoofs showed that they had
been driven and had not strayed here
by chance. This they already knew,
by the testimony Of the cowpuncher
Red.
They followed the gulch for several
miles. The walls opened out, so that
the sun beat down upon the riders and
baked them. There was no shade. The
only vegetation showing was the creo-
sote clinging to the rocks. Even this
was scarce and stunted.
A bend in the canyon brought them
to clump of small pines A spring
emerged from a assure in the red
stone strata.
Wilson stopped the other rider.
Hold on! Let's have look before
we mess up any tracks that may be
here"
They swung down and grounded the
reins of the horses. Through the red
sand ran half dozen tracks of side
winders.
The men moved forward slowly to
the damp soil surrounding the spring.
What Wilson was looking for he found.
His finger pointed out a heel mark.
The boot was evidently much run over
on the outside and the heel badly
worn. The print of the same foot was
stamped also in another moist spot
below the spring. 1t had been made
by very large boot.
"Some folks are right careless" Nc
Cam said.
"Sure are. Fellow who stomped that
track is considerable sized guy. He
had ought to be careful where he
writes his signature"
IF he knows what's good for him
he'll write it in Mexico muy pronto."
Looks like mes near the end of his
trail here. Now we're on to him he'll
not last long. I'd say. They must be
holm up near here"
mot so far away" Wilson spoke
apparently without stress. "Gitnsr
knows these mountains pretty wei. l
expect"
You think it's Gitner." Phil waA
startled. though the words voiced a
fear that had been in his own mind.
Looks thataway. You know Git
ner's big feet, an how his boots ara
always run over at the heel"
The boy made no answer. A DIS
turbing thought had found lodgmen,
in his mind, one so full of Ill omen
that the muscles beneath his heart
seemed to have given way. If Gitner
was one of the rustlers-and he no
longer doubted it for a moment, scant
as was the evidence at hand-was
Jasper also one of them? The thought
of it shook his courage. There was
nothing admirable in his brother, moth
ing that as boy he could look up to
as an example. But it was a long
thieving Almost the worst crime Oh
the docket in the border land is rus
Ting. 1t gave him a shock to face the
possibility that his fathers son might
be guilty of it.
1t was precisely because of this that
Wilson had mentioned Gitner's name.
If the boy had to meet such facer it
was better that he should have time
to reflect upon it first.
"This isn't yore job. Phil" the older
man said presently. "You ride home
an tell Jim Yerby an Dave Stone to
meet me at the mouth of the canyon
in two days. I'll stick around an do
some scoutin' till they come"
Phil looked him straight in the eye.
"Its my job much as 1t is yours. II
you thought it was my job yesterday,
what makes you say today it's not?
Nothing has changed. far as l can
see."
They were both thinking Of the same
thing, that one Of the men whose trail
they were following might be Jasper
Stark. But Wilson could not refer to
his fears any more than the boy could.
except indirectly when they mentioned
the name of the big Texan.
He evaded. This is liable to be a
bigger task than | had figured. II we
meet up with Gitner he'll go to shoot
in sure reckon we need more help"
"All right" agreed Phil calmly.
you go get IL an I'll scout around an
wait for you"
Mccain brown white-toOthed smile
flashed. He was not getting very far
| with the boy. "Feelin' real cock-a-
doodle-do, amt you? I'm not claimin' to
| be high. low, jack, and the game, but