The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-09-09
CHAPTER VIII
A Quiet Man Talks

A Quiet Man Talks
Stone had killed a white-tailed buck
In the foothills Of the Sierras. Phil
was with him. and Julia All three
of them had left the ranch in the early
morning.
They were homeward bound now,
with night impending. In the valley
darkness was beginning to fall, but
long shafts of golden glow still ran
along the mountain ridges and bathed
their rocky slopes in splendor. To
Julia the desert always symbolized
itself in terms OF life. She saw the
flash OF teeth In its eternal conflict
This little man riding beside her, so
lean and sinewy and dangerous. so
effective in meeting the conditions II
demanded 10 endure. was a reflection
of its gaunt persistence
All day Phil had been preoccupied
with an anxiety that now found words
I'm worried some, Sis. At Mesa
yesterday heard gossip" He stopped
then added: About Ann Clifford"
The Texan riding beside him gave
by no outward action any sign of in
terest, but somehow Phil knew that he
was intent on catching every word
They say she shot Tom McArdle"
Julia flashed an indignant retort-
1'HOw outrageous And senselessi
What object could she possibly have?
"They say-her sister Nora"
what do you mean?"
''Why, that Tom was responsible"
"Oh~ The girl fell silent. her
thoughts busy knitting together loose
ends Of gossip she had heard.
"Who says so?" she demanded.
The boy hesitated. He could talk
freely before Stone, for hard and tough
though the Texan was, an accredited
killer. both these young people sensed
in him the same loyalty that bound
them 10 Dominick Rafferty,.
Jas. for one" Phil guIped out
"Jasl" Julia pulled up her horse alb
ruptly. What does he know about it,"
Claims he practically saw her do
IT. him an Gitner."
Stone spoke for the first time.
nuSIc .Ou ucdE lIlS- 4
in town. Everybody knows It.
They say when Hank lie Page went
out TO her place she wouldn't even
deny titus told him TO prove IT If be
could"
But Jas-I don't understand If
he saw her do 1t, or felt sure she had
done IL, why did he wait nearly three
months to tell it? Why didn't he tell
it then. or not at all?" Julia asked.
Il don't know" Phil answered. But
what worries me is that the story is
liable to be true. She might a-done
#. She's thataway"
Out OF the night came the Texans
low drawl "You needn't to worry
none. boy. She didn't do IT."
You think she didn't?" Phil turned
with relief to Stone.
Il don't think. / know"
Julia turned white. "You don't
mean that-Jas did it?"
sNo."
But you know who did,"
Il sure do"
~And you'll tell?"
"Yes. ma'am | was tryin' TO shield
him, for Tom McArdle certainly need
ed KILN But now that Miss Gifford's
name has been brought into il reckon
he'll have 10 stand the gaff"
Both of the young Starks wanted to
ask him who bad done It More than
once the question almost passed Julia's
lips. But there was something In the
little mans manner that restrained
her. II be wanted her TO know he
would tell her.
"Well. I'm glad Ann Clifford didn't
do it" she said The poor girls had
with me-if she'd only meet me quar-
ter of the way-Id ride over tomorrow
and see her, just 10 show her we be-
lieve in her"
"Td do that anyway" the Texan
said at would be right kind OF you.
She sure needs woman friend Old
Jim Yerby is about the only one she
neighbors with a-tall"
'Win you go with me?" Julia asked
Stone You used to know her."
I'll go with you if I'm footloose,"
he promised, rather eyasively.
She laughed. Il believe you're
afraid to 60"
"Tha's no josh, Miss Julia. Ladies
scare me-"
''Some ladies" she corrected Il no
tice | don't scare you any,"
Snatches of thought began to race
in the girls brain. Usually when a
man was afraid of q woman. unless be
was her husband and had given Of
tense 20 her, ii was because he was