The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-03-31

proNlueu his SHeep may urlnk. ne
will bail himself out of jail-all his
men, too-and trespass again and
again. The season is dry one and
the feed on his own range is depleted.
He must get through the summer
some way and hold his flock in
tact ;. Well. III ride back home
and organize my Defense"
You'll do nothing of the sort, Don
Jaime. l shall. AS assistant general
manager ii is my duty to command.
much too precious to risk II In a
brush with these sheepmen. Arrest
and trials will follow this fight, and IL
you are not alive to protect your men,
who, then, will protect us? Who will
bail us out of jail?'
Don Jaime smiled his lazy smile.
II was easy to see he was very fond
of the ranger. "There is sound rea-
son in your argument" he admitted.
Hobart went on.
"Permit me to return to the hacienda
and organize your forces, Don Jaime.
Meanwhile. you ride on to Los Ago
dones and file my Geographic resigna-
ton to the governor. Here II is.
1t requests immediate acceptance by
wire. Wait for the answer. Meanwhile.
make your arrangements to provide
bail for twelve of your men. What
men do you advise for this expedi-
tion?"
Don Jaime named them promptly.
"NOw, them" Hobart continued,
we're going to lick the Antrim crowd,
and some of them and perhaps some
of US are going to get killed. More
of them, | think. The survivors will
prefer a charge of murder against any
of the men they have recognized dur
ing the fight, and the bail will be
about twenty-five thousand dollats
each in cash or fifty thousand in
bonds. We will assume that four of
our men will be recognized. That
means you must provide one hundred
thousand in cash or two hundred
thousand in bonds"
"Pm good for that in bonds"
swell, then. make your arrange
ments in advance with the district at
torney. You'll be in Los Algodones
this afternoon, all night and tomor-
row forenoon. Tomorrow afternoon
you will ride back, with the sheriff,
who will be on his way out to your
ranch to arrest your men. You will
have a perfect alibi, because this
fight will have been pulled off in your
absence, so you will be quite free to
look after the comforts of your de-
lenders"
Don Jaime pondered. He much pre-
ferred, when his men were in danger
defending the masters interests, to
share that danger with them. On the
other hand he realized that the issue
was not to be fought entirely at the
water-holes; that in the courts he
would be needed much more than in
any other arena of battle. He knew
Ken Hobart was talking sense, and
that the sensible thing to do would
be to heed his advice. So he needed
it. And in needing it he experienced
no qualms of conscience, no feeling
that he was playing safe while others
fought his battles.
Every we'll, Ken" he agreed. EN-
rico Caraveo, my riding boss, knows
every foot of this range; once he To-
Gates the sheep he'll know what water
they will try for this evening. The
rest l leave to you. Perhaps you had
better loan me your rifle, in case
should run into some of Antrim's
herders after leaving you here"
He helped himself to the rangers
rifle and scabbard and fastened 1t
along his saddle. 1t was a Mauser
carbine, and the ammunition was car
ried in clips of five in pockets on a
buckskin vest. Don Jaime donned
the vest and, with nod to the ranger,
headed his horse across country In
the direction of Los Algodones.
II was some months since he had
ridden horse. For many years his
trips around his ranch, between his
ranch and the county seat had been
made by automobile. He paused now,
thinking of the twenty-mile ride back
to the ranch; deciding he would spare
himself that hardship he shouted to
Hobart:
ken, send one of the boys into
Los Algodones with the motor and
the horse trailer attached, to bring
my horse and me home"
SECURE" Hobart shouted back.