The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-07-22

appearance and manner or bully. He
looked dangerous, but not so much SO
as the man on his right. There was
deadly quality about the stiffness of
Stone. Only the chill light-blue eyes
were quick with life. Mccain knew
his reputation and one long steady e.s-
change of looks told him this small
brown Texan would live up to it.
"You didn't shoot at him from the
mesquite, Jas, did your" his sister
asked
Been runnin' to you about II, has
he?" snarled Stark. "Well. there's
nothin' to it. shot to warn him back,
an he's been bellyachin' ever since"
II knew it was something like that"
the girl replied quickly.
Mccain laughed, softly and de-
risively.
Something amusin' your Gitner
wanted to know, heavy lower jaw
thrust forward aggressively.
The Arizonian met him eye to eye.
"Any law against laughing, Mr.. Git
ner?"
Depends how you laugh an
where"
"If / could get Mr.. Gitner to show
me how an where"
Stone interrupted, quietly, each
drawing word spaced evenly. eff my
name was Wills Mccain I'd light out
now muy pronto." His eyes were Sits
of shining menace.
Julia, alarmed, moved her horse a
step or two so that she was between
the Flying Wy rider and his foes.
"Yes," she said, and her voice was not
quite steady, sd go now, Mr.. Nc
Cann-please."
"Tha's good advice, / reckon" he
agreed Cor I might not go at all
Yore friends seem anxious"
He lifted his sombrero in a sweeping
bow, swung .Jim-Dandy, and moved
away at a road gait. The thing was
done raffishly and fiippantly, with OBJ
vious intent to irritate.
Julia was relieved when the dark
ness swallowed him and his horse.
"We'd better go home now," she said
to her brother.
Jasper was annoyed and showed it.
He looked at his companions, doubtful
what to do.
With a dry ironic smile Stone set
tied the matter. They could not go
about their errand now, since the in
formation that they were night riding
had become public property.
"Why yes, Jas. Might as well go
home, l reckon, like Miss Julie tells
u.s." the little Texan said with gentle
sarcasm. "We taken all the ride to-
night we need for our health"
On his way back to the Yerby place
from the Flying Wy next morning
Wilson Mccain passed sheep ranch
on the mesa. The place belonged to
the Clifford sisters. They had inherit
ed it few years before from stiff
necked uncle who had brought sheep
in regardless Of opposition from the
cattle interests. 1t had been an ILL
starred venture, followed by quarrels,
warnings, raids, and bloodshed. Old
Andy Clifford died while the trouble
was at its height and the hostility had
been passed on to his nieces. But it
took the form of sullen aloofness
rather than active warfare. The
neighborhood did not like sheep, was
disturbed at the presence of these
"hoofed locusts" eating up the range,
yet could not bring itself to the point
of driving OUT three defenseless women.
When their uncle died Ann Clifford
had been twenty-five, Nora past nine
teen, and Ethel sixteen. Far from
friends, on the edge of the desert, the
life of the girls was lonely one. The
ranchmen of the district looked upon
them with ill-concealed resentment.
Their wives and daughters paid no
friendly visits.
But in a mans country these three
attractive girls were a magnet not to
be resisted. A few cowpunchers met
them and broke down the barrier. Ru-
mors began to fly, as they must when
presentable young women are visited
only by men. At last the wagging
tongue of gossip found something tam
gible to whisper. Ann and Nora Gift
ford had taken the train for Los An
geles, while the youngest Of the three
was attending school at Tucson. Some
months later the older sister returned
alone, hard-eyed, close-mouthed. No
letters from Nora ever came to the
ranch, it was observed at the post
office. Where was she? What had
become Of her?
nh nf
sheep had been harried and driven over
cliff by night riders. AIMS lips
shut tighter, the lines about them grew
harder. Since her return she and
Ethel lived alone.
Mccain lifted his hat. "Howdy,
Miss Clifford. What's the good word?"
he asked.
Ann Clifford was thin, brown, dry as
a chip. Her eyes blazed burning Bit
terness Resentment at life's injustice
married her dark good looks.
"What can do for your" she said
bluntly.
For me? Nothing, ma'am," he re-
piled, disconnected. II reckoned there
might be somethin' 1 could do for you.
When there's no men folks on place
a husky willing lad comes in handy
sometimes. If you need me-"
"We don't"
snow or any time, why"
"Not now or any time," she snapped.
Mccain was embarrassed but per-
sistent He had met the Clifford girls
only two or three times. and then
casually. But he had thought good
deal about the hard lines into which
their lives had fallen