The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-10-05
CHAPTER III-Continued


most picturesque point In the valley,
If not one that had the most utility
for the conducting of a ranch busi-
ness. Ten miles down from the head
Of the valley a pine-wooded bench,
almost reaching the dignity of a pro-
montory, projected from the great
slope of the mountain. Here where
the pines struggled down stood the
long, low cabin of peeled logs. yellow
in the sunlight. Below, on the fiat,
extended the numerous barns, sheds,
corrals. A stream poured off the
mountain, white in exposed places, and
ran along under the bench and out to
join the main brook of the valley.
Somewhat apart from both the cor
rails and outbuildings on the fiat stood
a new log cabin, hurriedly built, with
chinks still untitled. The roof extend
ed out on three sides over wide
pOrches, where Wall observed three or
four beds, a number of saddles and
other riders paraphernalia. The rear
of the cabin backed against the rocks.
Jim understood that Hays had thrown
up this abode, rather than dwell too
close to the other employees of Her
rick. From the front porch one could
drop a stone into the brook, or fish for
trout. The pines trOoped down to the
edge of the brook.
Naturally no single place In all that
valley could have been utterly devoid
of the charm and beauty nature had
lavished there, but this situation was
ideal for riders Hays even had
private corral. AS Jim rode up to this
habitation his quick eye caught sight
of curious, still-eyed men on the porch.
Also he observed that there was a
store of cut wood slowed away under
the porch.
oval, here we air." announced Hays.
"An' if you don't like 1t you're shore
hard to please. Finest of water, beef,
lamb, venison, bear meat. Butter for
our biscuits. An milk An best of
all-not very much work. Haw!
Haw!"
where do we bunk?" asked Jim,
presently.
"On the porch. 1 took to the attic
myself"
IF you don't mind I'll keep my pack
inside, but sleep out under the pines,"
responded Wall.
When at length Jim carried his effects
up on the porch Hays spoke up: Jim,
here's the rest of my outfit. Fellers,
scrape acquaintance with Jim Wall,
late of Wyoming"
That was all the introduction Hays
volunteered. Jim replied: "Howdy,"
and left a return of their hard scru-
tiny until some other time.
Hays went at once into low-voiced
conference with these four men.
Happy Jack hauled up the supplies.
Brad Lincoln occupied himself with
his pack. Jim brought his own outfit
to a far corner of the porch. Then he
strolled among the pines seeking a
satisfactory nook to unroll his bed.
Jim, from long habit, generated by
decided need of vigilance, preferred to
sleep in coverts like a rabbit, or any
other animal that required protection.
At length he found a niche between
two rocks, one of which was shelving,
where pine needles furnished a soft
mat underneath and the murmur of
the brook just family reached him.
Jim would not throw his bed where
the noise of rushing water, or anything
else, might preclude the service of his
keen ears. There was no step on his
trail now, but he instinctively dis
trusted Lincoln, and would undoubted-
ly distrust one or more of these other
men.
Hays exemplified the fact of honor
among thieves. Jim had come to that
conviction. This robber might turn
out big In some ways. But could even
he be trusted? Jim resolved to take
no chances.
Not until the following morning did
Jim Wall get a satisfactory scrutiny Of
the four members of Hays outfit.
The eldest, who answered to the
name of Mac, was cadaverous-faced
man, with eyes like ghoul.
"Whar you from?" he asked Wall.
wyoming, last" replied Jim,
agreeably.
jeff Bridges, a sturdy, tow-headed
man of forty or Whereabouts, had
bluff, hearty manner and seemed not
to pry under the surface.
"Glad Hank took you on" he said.
eve need one cattleman in this outfit,
an thet's no joke"
Sparrowhawk Latimer, the third of
the four, greatly resembled a horse
thief Wall had once seen hanged.
Hays had said to Slocum, the fourth
member of this quartet: Smoky. you
an Wall shore ought to make pair
to draw to-"
"You mean a pair to draw on" re-
torted the other. He was slight, why.
freckled of face and hands, with a
cast in one Of his light, cold-blue eyes.
"No" snorted the robber. "Not
on! Smoky, do you recollect tibet
gambler Stud Smith, who works the
stage towns, an is somethin' of gun
slinger?"
81 amt forgot him."
wal, we set in a poker game with
him one night. was lucky. Stud
took his losin' to heart, an he shore
tried to pick a fight. First he was
goin' to draw on me, then shifted to
Jim. An Jim bluffed him out Of
THROWN a gum"
"How?"
''Jim just said for Stud not to draw,
as there wasn't man Twin who
could set at table an beat him to a
gun"
~Most obligin' an kind of you, Wal, !,