The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-10-19
CHAPTER IV-Continued

BY Jove! l never saw such marks
manship," he calculated.
THAT was really poor shooting"
Indeed. What would you call good
shooting, may l ask"
well, riding by post and putting
five bullets into it. Or splitting the
edge of card at twenty feet"
Let me see your gunT'
Jim Wall broke his rule when he
handed ii over, butt first.
Herriek looked at it with mingled
feelings. why, there's no trigger !"
he exclaimed. in utter establishment.
Il do not use a trigger"
"Thunderation, mani How do you
make the pistol go OFF,"
Look here. Let me show YOU" said
Jim. taking the gun. Il thumb the
hammer. like that"
BY Joye But please explain"
Mr.. Herrick, the cooking of a gun
and pulling the trigger require twice
as much time as thumbing For ex-
ample, supposing the eyesight and the
draw Of two men are equal, the one
who thumbs his hammer will kill the
other"
"Ah-Er-Yes. I see. Most ex-
traOrdinary. Your American West is
quite bewildering. Is this thumbing
q common practice among you des-
peradoes?'
Very uncommon. So uncommon
that III be obliged if you will keep it
to yourself"
"Oh Yes, by Jovei I see. Ha!
ha! ha! 1 grasp the point =. Wall,
you're a comforting fellow to have
round the place"
Herrick was evidently a free, care
less, impressive man who had been
used TO fulfilling his desires. His &C.
centricity was not apparent, except in
the fact Of his presence there in wild
Utah. He liked horses, dogs, guns, the
outdoors, physical effort But he had
no conception whatever Of his remark
able situation in this unsettled coun-
try.
When they arrived at the barn he
asked Jim TO ride up to the house,
where they would look over some Eng
nsh guns.
The big living room had three win
dOwed sides and was bizarre and
strange to Jim, though attractive. Her
rick had brought with him a quantity
of rugs. skins, pictures, and weapons.
The heavy English guns earned
Jim's solemn shake Of head. mo
good at all here, Mr.. Herrick. Not
even for grizzly. Get a forty-four."
Thank you. / shall do so. I'm
fond of the chase"
Herrick had his desk near a window,
and upon it, standing out in relief
from books, papers, ornaments, was a
framed picture OF a beautiful, fair
haired, young woman. The cast OF her
features resembled Herrick's. That
was a portrait Of his sister.
Jim carried a vision OF Helen Her
rick's picture in his mind as he rode
back down the bench. And he cursed
the predicament into which he had
allowed himself to become inveigled.
I'm have to stick it out" he NUT
tered, that fair face and shining hair
before his inward eye. 81 might have
chucked this outfit"
I'll have TO hoof It up to see the
boss tonight" Hays said, after finish
ing the late supper. Put me wise to
what's come of in my absence"
We've had no sign Of Smoky's out
fit So we don't know where his
camp is"
Il do. Good place an out Of sight.
gave Smoky orders to pack supplies
back from Grand Junction every trip
Hank, reckon you're fggerin' I'D
long hole-up somewheres," said Happy
Jack. with a grin.
Have you run into Heesemanr'
went on Hays. ignoring Jacks hint.
Yes. He called on u.s." replied
Jim. casually.
"Humphi don't savvy that dodge.
It's no good. Heeseman Is the slickest
customer in Utah. Just tryin' TO
scrape acquaintance, eh?"
Il think so. 1t struck me that he
might be wanting TO throw his outfit
with yours"
"Ahuh. l had tibet hunch 1t might
wal be-" replied Hays, meditatively.
"Herrick put Heeseman's outfit TO
cutting and peeling logs. He wants
more horses and barns for them"
~Thet's good. It'll keep that outfit
from ridin' down Limestone way. An
the cowboys-where have they beenT"
Plenty Of work around, but little
riding, except after the hounds. had
a chase after jackrabbits with the
boss
Hounds an jacks next?
However. it's not so bad Anythin' for
Us but regular ranchin'. Haw Hawl"
'Herriek took me up TO see his
guns" went on Jim. easily, with fur