The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-09-21
CHAPTER LContinued

complied he said: Il run true TO form
today when I held up thet stranger.
But il was a blunder, considerin' the
iron have in the fire. Now, listen.
Lately I've got in with a rancher
over here in the Henry mountains.
He's an Englishman with more money
than sense. Bought ten thousand head
of cattle an lot Of bosses. There's
some tough cowboy outfits over there,
an more'n one real rustler outfit
Wal, this Englishman-his name is
Herrick-got the idee of hirin' all the
hands available, cowpunchers, range
riders, gun-toters an plain out-an'-out
bad men. An to throw this select out
ut agin the whole country. What do
you think Of that idee?''
Original, TO say the least. But not
practical, unless he can reform bad
men," replied Wall, much interested.
wal, exactly. But I'm not con-
cerned with the practicability of it
Herrick took a shine TO me. made me
what he calls his superintendent, an
sent me all over lookin' for hard
shootin', hard-ridin' men. An that's
how you happened TO run into me.
call II good luck for US both"
you've taken me for one OF the
hard-shooting, hard-riding kind. eh7'
wal, want you in my outfit" re-
sumed Hays. Brad didn't cotton TO
you, I seen first of. But he's a gun
thrower himself All the same he's in
my outfit an I reckon you might get
along. It's Heeseman who sticks in
my craw."
"Heeseman. Who is he?"
"Heeseman is the rustler OF Dragon
Canyon. None Of the ranchers even
round here know tibet, but 1 know it.
He's got a small outfit, but shore
enough bad. An in some way he got
wind OF Herrick's scheme. Darned II
he didn't pack over to the Henrys
with his outfit an start ridin' for
him"
''Heeseman saw the same opportun-
ity as your queried Wall. quietly.
wal, yes, was comm to thet," re-
sumed Hays, gruffly. 81 got the upper
hand, though, an I'll be the boss
Thet1l lead TO friction. There'n be
two factions sooner or later, an the
sooner tibet fight comes of the better"
81 see. Less Of division of spoils"
& wall, I'm no rustler," snapped
Hays.
Excuse me. II il isn't impertinent,
may 1 ask just what you are?"
Ever hear Of Henry Plummer?'
Cant remember If / did"
wal. Plummer fourished some ten
an more years ago. first in Montana
an later in Idaho. He was the great
est robber the West ever developed.
Educated man of good family, born
in the East. But the gold fever called
an he was not the kind Of a man to
dig. He operated on the placer mines.
Was an officer of the law while he was
head Of the biggest robber gang the
frontier ever knew. From Bannock TO
Lewiston he kept the miners, the
stages, the Wells Fargo in terror for
years Wal, I seen Plummer
hanged. I was one Of his gang, a
young man then in years"
Thanks for the confidence, Hays"
returned Wall. in surprise. you must
have strong interest in me to tell
that"
shore 1 have. But / don't care to
be classed as a rustler."
Too low down, eh?"
1T certainly amt any two-bit cat
tie stealth. However, thet's not
the point between you an me. What
l want 10 know is, will you take a
Job in my OUTFIT"
That depends, Hays" returned
Wall.
ANY scruples about it? Remember.
/ come clean with you"
mo. 1 broke Jail in Cheyenne"
What was you in for?'
'Shot a man. They were goin' to
hang me"
"Ahuh. Was tibet square?'
Il didn't think so. Ed. Had to kill
the jailer to get out"
when was all this, WALTZ"
Some years ago"
"AH since them"
Been shooting my way out, of one
Jam after another"
Much obliged" replied Hays. feel
ingly. wall, you'll a hunted man.
You're broke. It's about where you
cross the divide"
zone more question. What bout
this Herrick's family?"
wal. he amt got any" rejoined
HAYS. "We heard somethin' about a
sister comm out, but she never
turned up"
sister? It'd be HI Of a note If
she did"
wal, this shore amt no country for
women"
1t seemed TO Jim Wall that this sally
completed a definitely conscious feeling
in his mind toward the sef-confessed
robber. II it had not been dislike and
disgust before, it certainly fixed at
that now. Wall sensed a gathering
interest in the situation he had hap
pened upon.
Hays called for drinks and insisted
on a handshake which he executed sol
EMMY, as II 1t were q compact which
implied honor even among thieves.
Shortly afterwards the saloon grad
ually began to i'll with loud-voiced,
heavily booted men.