The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-11-16

tidii, dOCsh IL
''IfI So you figger he might not =?
Course he'd come around the noun
tain. or mebbe over another pass. He
shore knows trails tibet we don't"
Jaw. Hank'll show up on time"
wonder II he stayed back to plug
Heeseman? He hates tibet rustler."
In less than an hour the riders were
| on the move down the mountain. Pack
ing on the deer Jim had slain occa-
stoned little delay for all. because
Smoky kept them close together. At
the edge of the timber belt he halted
them again while he peeped out to re-
connoiter. Then he called: "Come
hyar, couple of you long-sighted
fellers."
They all rode out to join him. where
he sat his horse, pointing to a faint
blue on the purple valley floor. as
tibet dust?"
Most of the riders inclined to the
opinion that it was just haze.
"Ten miles or more back and hard to
make out" spoke up Jim. "If this was
my range I'd say 1t wasn't haze or
smoke
wish I had Hanks glasses. My
eyes are no good any more fer long
shots. Wal, let's mosey."
When they reached another turn
from which it was possible to look
back for five miles or more Smoky
halted while the others caught up.
Jeff, you hang right hyar," he said,
'an' keep your eyes peeled on the
back trail. I amt so shore tibet gray
patch back on the valley was haze. It
sort of moved to me. An there wasn't
corner you can easy see the cedar
grove where Wen hang up fer the
boss. An If you ketch sight Of any
more'n a couple riders on the back
stretch you come ridin' HI bent fer
election. Don't stay long after noon"
Perhaps another five miles down the
slope lay their objective to which they
headed. The hour was still some time
before noon. Smoky scanned the slope
to the south and east. 1t would not
have been possible to see riders at any
distance, as the rocks, brush, ridges
and washes interviewed profusely.
"What'll we do, Smoky? Throw the
packs, or notY queried one Of the
riders.
"Dog-gone' If I know" replied Slo-
cum, peevishly. ''It's a rummy deal.
Hot as HI now an gettin' hotter. I
forgot to ask Hank. Reckon you'd
better herd the bosses an we'll wait.
I'll keep a lookout fer the boss"
Jim tied his horse in the shade Of
cedar, and climbed a tumble of rocks
so he could command a better view.
Almost at once he sighted riders COM
Ing down a wash about mile away,
and he had opened his mouth to shout
the good tidings when something
checked him.
He rubbed his eyes and looked again.
Three riders Assuming that two Of
them were Hays and Latimer, who
could the third be? They disappeared
behind a corner of bank. Jim sank
down in a cold sweat. Perhaps these
men were Indians or strangers from
Hankville, or prospectors. But he had
not seen any pack animals.
After long, anxious watch he saw
the three reappear in the wash, con-
sfderably closer. The one in the mid
die rode a gray horse and otherwise
contrasted sharply with the dark
mounts and dark clothes of the other
hn trin dfso n
peared. Smoky was peering about in
a desultory manner, but he was too low
down to sight the riders. Jim was
now shaking. An awful premonition
attacked him. He had met it and al
most overcome 1t as another unac-
countable attack of nerves when the
foremost horseman emerged from be-
hind bank. He recognized the stall
wart figure, the wide, black sombrero,
the poise in the saddle. That was
Hank Hays.
Jim scarcely dared shift his gaze
back to the second rider, but he was
irresistibly forced to. A slight figure
in tan, dropping In the saddle!>
$50 help mel" he whispered, and
sank down on the stone. That center
rider was Helen Herrick. For mo-
ment a hell rioted In Jim Wallis
breast. How he cursed himself for a
vacillating idiot! His intuition had
been right. He had seen through this
robber leaders behavior at Star ranch.
But like fool he had not trusted him.
self. Jim grew cold to his very mar
row. Yet his intelligence did not who'll
Iy succumb to his fury. He strove to
think. This hound had gotten Helen,
just how, it was useless to conjecture.
But to kill him then, right on the
spot? That gave Jim Wall pause.
Hays men would roar at this deal, In
volving them in the abduction of a
woman, still they would hardly go so
far as to resist him with arms. Jim
crushed down his deadly impulse. He
would wait.
Well indeed had it been for Jim to
espy this trio long before they reached
him. He had time to recover, to think
what was best. If Hank Hays had
come upon Jim suddenly it would have
been his doom.
One of the pack animals neighed
shrilly and then all the horses stuck
up their ears.
"Say, l heerd hoss-shoe ring on a
stone," called Mac, who had ears as
keen as a horse.
whats that?" queried Smoky,
sharply. He leaped up.
TO BE CONTINUED.