The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-04-28

$50 ! thought I'd meet you here,
| miss, and explain to you how come
| 1t won't be possible for me tc meet
| you there" Mr.. Dingle went on, his
| embarrassment increasing at every
| word. Its about twenty mile straight
east from here to your Uncle Toms
| ranch, which is your ranch now.
| reckon, and | figgered maybe it'd be
| better for all hands If you put up
| there instead of at the Higuenes
rancho. | reckon you and this other
| lady'd be as SAT and comfortable
there as anywhere"
THAT is very kind of you Mr.. Din
GLE" Roberta hesitated, then, In her
usual frank manner. plunged "Why
is it impossible for you to meet me
at the Higuenes rancho, Mr.. Dingle?"
Mr. Dingle scuffed foot along the
station platform and his embarrass-
ment increased visibly. "Well, ma am,
in this country, when a feller's enemy
warns him not to set foot on his ranch
again until he's sent for, unless he
wants to be made cOlander out of.
it's reasonable to figger the warnin's
meant"
"Who warned your"
don Jaime Higuenes."
Indeed. Why, had no idea Don
Jaime Higuenes was such blood
thirsty man! Is the trouble between
you something that es1not be recti-
fed? | should be happy to act as
peacemaker. Mr.. Dingle."
Bill Dingle. remembering his Of
lenses, was honest enough to declare
that the trouble could not be rectified
and added something about the easiest
way out of trouble being to go around
it. Then he was silent for quite a
while, meanwhile scuffing his toe and
gazing bit helplessly around the hori-
zon. Finally be said: II reckon you
didn't think as much of your Uncle
Tom as he used to let on you did.
Don't you feel no resentment agin the
man that murdered him?"
"Not the slightest. From all that
we can learn. officially, Uncle Tom
was not murdered. The sheriff of this
county wrote that Uncle Tom made
the mistake of taking in too much ter
tamOunt to suicide. 1t seems he am
pushed Jim Higgins and shot him
three times. Then Higgins got under
cover and stalked Uncle Tom and
killed him. am Informed that he
didn't know the identity of his assail-
ant until he saw the body"
That's the story, but it amt true.
This killer ordered your Uncle Tom
to quit grain his sheep on the free
range or he'd kill him. warnin's a
warnin' in this country, an If Teller
don't choose to obey it he's justified
in arguin' the matter in the smoke the
first time him an the -arnin' person
meet up. Your uncle didn't see no
valid reason why he should have his
liberty restricted by private citizen.
He considered his life in danger, so
when they met up on the range it was
case of who could get into action
quickest. 1t was q case of an old
! man agin young man, an the young
man won as usual. But your Uncle
Tom never tried to kill nobody. He
just naturally defended his own life
an failed to do good job. An. of
course, sheepman amt In good
standin' in cattle country. Personal
ly, I'm only hired man, but | got my
private opinions. an I'm here to say
it just naturally don't look right for
you to be the guest Of"
Mr.. Dingle raised his glance from
the station platform and gazed across
toward the approaching herd of cattle.
He appeared alert, poisec for flight !;
whatever had been in his mind to say
remained unsaid, and he was pro-
foundry interested in a horseman who
was galloping around the flank of the
herd, evidently with the intention of
passing on In front of it.
81 reckon I'll be moseyin' along,
ma 'am," said Mr.. Dingle. "We can
discuss our business when you come
to the Antrim ranch"
The horseman had cleared the herd
and was coming Oh at an easy gallop;
behind him a boy on small pinto
pony labored to keep up.
There's the man that killed your
Uncle Tom," Mr.. Dingle almost Kissed.
81 reckon | don't care to meet that
hombre until can choose the time
and place myself" And without stand
ing upon the order of his going Mr.
Dingle went-in a flying leap off the
station platform. He Lit running and
continued on to a disreputable old
automobile; in an incredibly short
space of time he was on his way
home.
The horseman. observing Mr.. Din
| giles departure, spurred his mount to
furious gallop; apparently It was his
| intention to intercept the latter as he
fed down the dusty road that ran
parallel with the tracks
Hes going to shoot" MignOn
screamed. -Oh, the brute!"
Six pistol shots rang out and RO-
| berta saw little puffs of dust leap up
beside Dingle's right rear tire. A
| pause of about two seconds-then six
| more shots and six more puffs of dust
beside the same tire. Then the horse
man pulled up, turned and logged
quietly up to the station. He dis
| mounted a little stiffly, dropped the
reins over his horses head, and ad
| vanced limping to the station plat.
form. upon which he climbed laborious
| ly and disappeared into the station.
"This is exactly like the movies, :"
| Mignon quavered. Its wonderful
/ So thrilling! Oh. I'm so glad you
brought me with you. Miss Roberta !"
when that man energies you'll ex-
| perience some more thrills" Roberta
L ali