The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-09-16
william Macleod Raine
(WNU Service)
Copyright by William Macleod Raine


Maybe just as well. got news for
you. Miss Ann"
bitter smile broke the lines of her
thin sardonic face. "News is always
bad news for u.s." she said. "What
is it?''
Il don't know as you could call this
right bad news That Dave Stone of
the Circle Cross outfit has give him.
self up an confessed that he killed
Tom McArdle."
Ann was literally struck dumb with
establishment. She stared incredulous-
ly at the hester.
Dave Stone says he killed Near
die" she repeated
"Yes. ma'am. Come through clean
as whistle, they say. Sheriff LIE
Page he give it out himself. I didn't
get to talk with him. because Hanks
outa town. Gone to Tucson, l hear.
I'm right sorry about that. too, be
cause he'll be needed in town tonight,
looks like Some of the Circle Cross
outfit are maxim trouble. They're
amin to break into the Jail an lynch
Stone"
Beneath the tan the color faded
from the face of the young woman.
Because he killed Tom McArdle"
she asked in a hoarse whisper
"Tha's why. Jas Stark is stirring
up feeling. Him an that Gitner."
"rm going to town." Ann announced.
"Can you go with me?"
"Why, / reckon So" he replied,
taken aback. But Mesa amt any
place for a young lady like you-all-
not tonight. The lids off an there's
certainly going to be wild times. You
can't do a thing. | know. because /
did my darndest. They're h-lbent on
going through with this"
81 can tell them the truth-that /
killed him myself"
1t was his turn to stare. "McArdle?"
he asked You killed Tom?'
"Yes. I'll tell you all about 1t on
the way. But let's get started-please.
We may be too late already"
Yerby went to the corral He
ropeG and saddled horse while Ann
changed her dress and wrote a hur-
ried note to Ethel.
Miss. Ann. you amt gonna be able
to put it over" the old-timer warned
her. "Tm scared to death you'll git
into trouble yore own self. I hadn't
ought to let you go to Mesa"
"I'm going" she told him with
finality. "When / tell them l did it
and why"
"I've been In mobs," he persisted.
'I've heard 'em roar when the pore
devil they was waitin' to hang was
brought out. It's awful"
"I've got to do what / can" She
swung to the saddle and started down
the road.
There was nothing for him to do but
follow.
When they came to long hill and
were forced for short time to walk
the horses he once more demonstrated
with her.
'If it would do any good wouldn't
say word, Miss Ann. But it won't"
"Do you think can sit still and lei
them kill man know is innocent?"
He knew by the set look in her
young face, the intentness of her gaze.
that she could not be moved from her
purpose. But he could not consent
in silence.
"He claimed ne did 1t, Miss Ann
went in and told LIE Page so. Whyfor
did he do that If it amt so?"
81 don't know" A faint fame of
color beat into the cheeks beneath the
tan. But how could he have done II
when when / shot Tom McArdle
myself?"
"If you'll tell me the story. Miss
Ann"
She told it, almost as she had done
to her sister. just as she had gone
over it in her own mind hundred
dreadful times. There was a relief in
confession.
Yerby's wrinkled leathery hand
reached across to the pommel of the
saddle where hers rested and gave
comforting little pressure "I'm with
you at every turn Of the road, Miss
Ann"
The young woman looked at him and
nodded, lump in her throat. Since
life had wounded her so greatly she
had tried to encase her heart in ice,
resolved to fend off friendship. In the
shame of her hurt she had Rugged her
passionate resentment, cherishing II
as a virtue instead of the evil thing II
was. To look at this brown-faced little
cowman, whom she had helped in his
need, was to know that his loyalty
would never falter.
And there was another who had Of
fered friendship anG been rejected
the man who was lying in the Jail
at Mesa while the town seethed with
propagated hate. Even now the mob
might be storming the prison to blot
out his life. He was dangerous, men
said. of a cold and deadly temper II
was not safe to cross. But the David
Stone beneath this surface armor of
defense was a wholly different one,
Ann was convinced. She knew him
kind and strong and steadfast. To
save her he had taken on himself the
burden of her guilt. He would not
weaken. If he died 1t would be for
her.
They rode fast, for Ann was con-
sumed with anxiety. Just before they
reached the river a rider swung into
the road twenty-five yards ahead of
them. At sight of Ann and her es
cort he refined up.
"Have you heard? he asked.
THAT you folks from the Circle
Cross are workin' up the town to
lynch Dave Stone? Yes. we've heard