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

AACAC . OAC Inns IL SOAA " 0''A'
though"
Jim laughed. He did not need to
ask any more. Suddenly then tiger
ish sensation shot through his vitals.
1t was like an unexpected attack.
I'D like TO own all that stuff" he
said, carelessly.
Three days Of genuine labor around
the ranch followed But on the fourth
day, Herrick approached Jim.
''Wan, want you TO go to Grand
Junction tomorrow after my sister," he
said. Take the cowboy Barnes with
you. His home is in Grand Junction.
Have him hitch the black team to the
blackboard and start early"
Boss, l reckon I'll go along with
WALL" Hays said, coolly.
Hays, did not ask your services"
returned Herrick. "You are needed
here" His tone as much as his words
settled the matter.
Jim purposely delayed his hour Of
quitting, in order to avoid Hays.
After supper Hays lighted his pipe
Then, without facing Jim, he said.
Jim, had the boss mentioned this
here trip before?"
No. was as surprised as you"
"Wal, suppose you make some ex-
cuse an let me go instead?"
But Herrick won't like that, Hays"
protested Jim. HE turned down your
proposal cold"
shore. He did. Din funny, take
thet, too. But IL you wouldn't or
couldn't go. I'd be next choice"
Hays, you surprise me. Here you
are on the eve Of big deal-the big
gest of your life. And you risk anger
ing Herrick at this stage"
Hays pulled his pipe. He was
beaten.
WAL" he said, finally, ST reckon
mebbe you're right, Jim. Only it didn't
seem So"
By sunrise next day Jim Wall was
on his way to Grand Junction. Young
Barnes, the cowboy, had his hands
full with the spirited team.
Presently Jim's ever-watchful eyes
caught dust far ahead. and dots Of rid
ers getting of the road into the cedar
thickets. They would be Smoky's out
fit, Jim calculated, and gave them
credit for seeing the blackboard first
They did not appear again, and Jim
knew they were hiding on their way
back TO Star ranch.
At four o'clock they drove into
Grand Junction, which was consid-
erably larger and buster than Green
River.
Barnes, here we are" said Jim.
This is a metropolis, compared to
Green River"
''Fust I've been home fer long" re-
joined Barnes. 'T'n take care of the
team at my paws"
Barnes drove off down the road and
Jim leisurely entered the lodging
house, which, 1t turned out, was run
by buxom woman, who made herself
agreeable. She was loquacious, and
very shortly Jim gained the surpris-
ing information that no cattle herds
had passed through Grand Junction
this week.
After supper Jim turned in.
Awakening early he got up and
leisurely shaved and dressed, paying
more than usual attention to his ap-
pearance. He was there to escort an
English girl fifty miles across the
wilderness TO Star ranch. One thing
he was sure of, and that was that it
would be vastly better for Miss Her
rick than If Hank Hays had been
sent. Suddenly this fact struck Jim as
singular. Was he any better than
Hank Hays?
After breakfast he went out and
found boy TO shine his high-top boots
and brush his dark, worn suit and his
black sombrero. Presently, then, he
encountered Barnes
"Howdy, boy. Did you have a nice
time homer"
Gee, l did, grinned the cowboy.
'You sure look bright this morning"
wal, you look kinda spick an span
yourself, jim" drawled Barnes. Funny
how the idear Of CURL gets Teller"
Funny? You mean terrible, my
friend. A woman is as terrible as an
army approaching with banners"
"Gosh, who'd ever dreamed you had
seen inside a Bible?" exclaimed the
cowboy.
"It's funny, though, how / happened
to remember that. Now, Barnes. listen.
This Miss Herrick might take me for
an honest, decent fellow like you. But
if l let that pass I'd be sailing under
false colors. I don't do that. And
as can't very well tell her myself you
must"
Tell her what" queried Barnes,
with puzzled grin
"You know. The kind Of
man I am"
Il sort Of like you myself. So II
you want me TO tell her anythin' you
must say what"
We'll then, tell her about Herrick
hiring all the desperadoes in Utah.
/ and that I'm one Of them. Make me
out worse than Hays and Heeseman
thrown together"
@Shore. Thet's easy. But what's
the idear, Jim?"
81 wasn't always an outcast. i.
And I think it'd hurt me less IL this
girl was scared and repealed. II she
took me for a real =esterner, you
know, and talked and laughed-well,
I'd go get powerfully drunk and prob
ably shoot up Star ranch So you FIX
it for me. will you, Barnesf"
Shore. I'll tx it." replied Barnes,
with q sly glance at Jim. you give