The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-12-07
ROBBERS ROOST

lookout duty the others spent most
of the daylight hours sitting at Happy
Jacks table of cottonwood poles.
Jim had separated his money into
two parts-one consisting of the bills
Of large denomination, and the otner
of small. The latter he kept out for
gambling, intending to quit when 1t
was lost.
But fortune was tickle. He did not
lose 1t. Instead, he won steadily.
There was no hope of his getting out
of the game so long as he was ahead.
He wanted to watch. think, plan. Luck
changed eventually, and he lost all he
had won. Then he seesawed for day,
before he struck another streak of los
ing, and lost everything.
"I'm cleaned" he said, rising. 'But,
by gosh, | gave you run"
"I'm way ahead. I'll lend you some"
offered Hays.
mo, thanks. I'm glad to get off this
well. I'll go up to the rock and send
Mac down. From now on I'll do most
of the lookout work. like It."
Jim was glad this phase of his con-
nection with the outfit was past. He
had played for days, won and lost,
all In the interest of the scheme fer
menting in his mind. He wanted to
be alone. If nothing else interviewed,
this gambling would lead to the newt
able quarrel. Whether Hays won all
the money or lost what he had, there
would be fight. ..,..
At once a restless, baffled, harried
condition of mind seemed to leave
Jim. To face those men hour after
hour, day after day. hiding his
thoughts, had engendered irritation.
When the split came and the shooting
began Jim wanted to be around. He
would help 1t along considerably.
One day, when he was returning to
camp, somewhat before sunset, he
heard shot. He listened for others.
None came.
The moment he entered the oval, to
see Hays striding for the cabin, his
hair standing up. and his men grouped
outside Of the camp shelter, Jim knew
that there had been trouble.
"What now, Smoky"
"Hank did fer Brad"
"How? Why? -. You don't mean
Hays beat Lincoln to gun?'
''He did, JIM" CALCULATED Slocum.
"He bored Brad. I was the only Teller
who seen it. The rest was duckin'."
what was it about, Smoky?"
"Wal, Brad has been gittin' sorer
every day, an today we cleaned him.
Brad opened up on Hank, no doubt
meanin' to call him fer fair. But Brad
didn't git goin' good before Hank went
fer his gun"
Smoky, he had his mind made up"
declared Jim, tensely.
ashore. Thet's the queer part of 1t.
Hank was not goin' to let Brad spit
out much. . An friend Jim, thet's
a bunch fer u.s."
"Hays can't beat me to a gun" re-
joined Jim, with a cold ring In his
voice.
Nor me either. Thet's a safe bet"
They reached the camp. Lincoln lay
face down over the table, his right
arm hanging low, his gun lying near
his hand.
"Lend hand, some of you," ordered
Slocum, peremptorily.
They carried Lincoln, face down,
across the oval to the lower side of
the cottonwood grove, and in half an
hour he had been consigned to earth,
and his possessions divided among the
men who had buried him.
Grave number two" speculated
Smoky. "Fellers, it runs in my mind
tibet Robbers Roost In these next
twenty years will be sprinkled all over
with graves"
SLOW so, when nobody has any idee
where it ISL"
"Heeseman will find 1t, an Morley.
an after them many MORE" concluded
Slocum, prophetically.
Lets rustic out of the hole" sug-
gested Bridges.