The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-12-14

uiCu.
Hays swore a mighty oath. "An' he
squealed?"
AYes. To Smoky an me. We kept 1t
secret until we had to tell. They knew
somethin' was wrong"
"All the time you knowed!" There
was something pathetic In the fallen
chieftain's shame and amaze. BY this
time he seemed to realize his crime.
'You see, Hank, how your outfit has
stood by you, even in your guilt"
"Ahuh If 1t amt too late-Tll
make amends" he rejoined hoarsely,
and stalked away in the darkness.
Jim lay back on his blankets with a
weight of oppression removed. He had
saved himself for the hour, but what
would the outcome be?
He had breakfast before the other
men were up. With rifle In hand he
headed toward the western exit.
The sun was still beneath the rim Of
the escarpments, in the east, but Its
golden approach was heralded by a
magnificent glory of red and gold.
AOhSAihOoS was AhShS
was no sOund-only an immense
silence. No life at all! Not winged
creature lowering over that CHASTITY
region! But over this scene of desc
lation slowly spread the solemn blight
of heating, blazing sun, soon to man
tie all in Elusive copper haze.
Before that hour arrived, Jim Wall
took up the field glass Below in the
camp the men were lazily stirring to
late breakfast. The door Of the cabin
was open. A CLINT of gold crossed the
dark aperture. Then the tall form of
Hays stalked out He yawned. He
stretched wide his long arms. His
rudy face cleaned in the glass to
that sight. Wallis whole being leaped.
by heaven!" his voice rang out.
Hays, that's your last mornings
stretch. . 20. Before this days done
you'll stretch fOrever!"
Let his men have their hour, thought
Jim darkly, but if they did not mete
out justice to their chief the end was
nevertheless fixed and unalterable.
Jim settled back and raised his
fieldglass more from habit than any
semblance of the old watchfulness.
There was nothing to see but the stark
denudation of the brakes.
Suddenly into Jim's magnified circle
of vision crept dark objects-a long
line Of them.
He was so startled that the glass
wavered out of line. He moved 1t to
and fro, searching. What could that
have been? An error of sight, line
of cedars, a conception of idle mind!
"There!" he breathed. He had
caught it again, Not cedars-not brush,
but moving objects -. "By heaven"
he muttered. Am dotty?"
Horses! A line of dark horses! His
straining eyes blurred. He lowered
the glass with shaking hands. $50
help melt looks like riders! ~
A third time Jim caught the objects.
He froze the glass on them. Horses
and riders-horses with packs A
bursting gush of hot blood ran all
through him. 1t looked like Heese-
mans outfit, at least three miles away,
approaching slowly by a route far to
the south Of that over which Hays had
come
"About three miles," muttered Jim.
Coming slow. They're lost. I.
But that wash they're in heads into
the Hays trail If they strike
that they'll come fast. Not enough
rain yet to wash out our tracks. We've
not time to pack and ride out. =.
By thunder, they've cornered u.s.!
Now, Hank Hays"
Jim took one more straining look.
No hope! 1t was big outfit and not
travelling so slowly, either. The leader
bestrode black horse. Jim remem-
bered that horse. Snatching up his
rifle he slung the field-glass over his
shoulder and ran down off the bluff to
the camp.
To his profound amaze he espied
Hays bound hand and foot, with a
stick behind him and through his ell
bows. The robber sat In an uncom-
Portable posture against the woodpile.
In second Jim saw that Hays had
been gagged and his face was so con-
torted by rage that it appeared scarce
ly human.
whats up!" cried Jim, breaking
out of his bewilderment
Hays gave vent to an inarticulate
sound, but it was expressive. Jim
wheeled to stalk under the shack, his
hand on his gun, as If he half ex-
pected Heeseman to have arrived be-
fore him. TIE his further amaze Miss
Herrick was sitting at the rude table,
eating breakfast. A big gun, that Jim
recognized as Hays property, lay con-
spicuously in front Of her. Happy
Jack, whistling as usual, was serving
her.
what does this mean?" demanded
Jim.
ASK the men," she replied, CURLY.
Outside and below the shack sat
Smoky on rock, with the Others
standing near.
'Mawnin', JIM" drawled Smoky
with grin. "You see we've got q
new chief"
"Who hawg-tied the boss"
Reckon did-with little help"
"What for?"
"D-n' If | know. Our lady pris4
oner made me do It,"
Miss Herrick forced you to tie
Hays up?" queried Jim, trying to con
ceal his exultation.
TO BE CONTINUED.
Some Snakes Are Buffers
Hog-nosed snakes as described BY
the curator at the reptile house In
Central Park New York as clown