The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-11-23


announced. Back about five miles
when left my post"
"Fellers, grab your rifles an take to
cover" yelled Smoky.
Hays made a dive for his horse and,
mounting, leaned over to take up a
rope halter round the neck Of the
horse Miss Herrick was riding.
"You lied-to me-" she cried, angrily,
"You assured me that If I'd come with
out resistance you'd soon arrange for
my freedom. Here we are miles from
Star ranch"
Hays paid not the slightest attention
to her, but started off, leading her
horse.
"Jim Wall, are you going to permit
this outraged"
'T'm powerless, Miss Herrick," he
replied, hurriedly. eff Heeseman
catches us you'll be worse off,"
The leader headed down the slope,
dragging Miss Herrick's horse. Jim
could hear the girls protestations.
The other riders made haste to line
the pack horses. Smoky brought up
the rear.
No doubt about Hays knowing his
way! He rode as one familiar with
this red clay and gray gravel canyon.
The pack horses kicked up dust like
a red cloud.
Jim kept unobtrusively working
ahead until there were only three pack
horses In front Of him, and he could
see Hays and the girl at intervals.
Hays yelled back for his riders to
hurry. He pointed to the left wall as
If any moment their pursuers might
appear there.
The next sign from Smoky was a
rifle shot Jim espied something fash
along the rim, high up and far back,
out Of range, If 1t were pursuer.
"Rustle!" shrilled Smoky. II seen
riders. They ducked back. They'll
aim to head us off,"
Hays bawled back an order and
pointed aloft.
Suddenly riders popped into view
back on the point of an intersecting
canyon. Hays and Latimer opened
fire with their reyolvers. The riders
began to return the fire with rifles.
Jim saw Latimer knocked off his
horse. but he leaped up and mounted
again, apparently not badly injured.
He raced ahead after Hays, who rode
fast, dragging the girls horse, and at
the same time shooting at the riders
until he passed around corner of the
canyon. Latimer soon disappeared
after him. Then the riders above
turned their attention to the rest Of
Hays outfit.
Jim had a quarter Of mile to ride
to pass the corner ahead to safety.
The pack horses were scattered, tear
ing up the canyon. Jim gained on
them. Then he began to shoot.
One Of his first shots hit horse,
and his seventh connected with a
rider, who plunged like crippled rab-
bit back out Of sight. The others Of
Heeseman's outfit took alarm, lodged
here and there to hide, or ran back.
Jim emptied the magazine of his rifle
just before he passed round into the
zone of safety.
Jim hauled Bay to halt, and soon
the pack horses galloped by, every
pack riding well. Lincoln dashed into
sight first. closely followed by Mac,
Happy Jack and JEFF, all with guns
smoking. And lastly came Slocum.
hatless. blood on his face.
"Jest barked," painted Slocum. load
yer guns-an' ride on!'
Around the next turn they came
upon Hays and his two riders. With
another big intersecting canyon on the
right, 1t looked as If their pursuers
were held up.
Deeper and deeper grew the can
yon. Mid-afternoon found the fugi-
tives entering less CONSTRUCTED area,
where sunlight and open ahead at
tested to the vicinity of wider cam
yon. surely the Dirty Devil. And so
1t proved.
Hays waited for his riders and the
pack animals to reach him.
Blank, air you amin for tibet roost
you always give us a bunch about but
never produced?" asked Slocum.
'I've saved it up, Smoky, fer jest
some such deal as this"
Jim, over the back of his horse,
watched Miss Herrick. She was firing
and her head dropped.
The robber took up her halter and
straddling his horse, he spurred into
the muddy stream. He lead into the
middle of the river and then turned
downstream.
An hour later, he turned into q
crack that could not be seen a hun.
dred yards back, and when jim
reached 1t he was amazed to see the
robber leading up another narrow
gorge, down which ran another swift
narrow stream. Jim appreciated that
a man would have had to know where
this entrance was. or he could never
have found it. The opening was hid.
den by point Of wall which curved
out and around.
This cash wound like snake into
the bowels of the colored. overhang
ing earth. Presently they reached q
bottom from which weird, black. bold
walls stood up, ragged Of rim against
the sky.
"Hyar we air." called out Hays
Throw saddles an packs. Let the
bosses go. No fear of bosses ever
leavin' this place" q
Jim's night-owl eyes discerned Hays
lifting Miss Herrick off her horse and
half carrying her of toward the
rustling cottonwoods. Jim, making
nrotanSa Of leading hts borsa followed