The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-08-29


another man. It's the man that's
swamping your range, while you sit by
and watch your riders go out and get
shot,
IF you mean I'm afraid of Bob FL
lot" said Campo, you lie, and 1 put
| it TO your face. And when it comes to
| you-come out with what you've got,
and all you've got! I'd rather be dead
than think you hello back fr'.nl it Cor
the sake of-for the reason you're fry
| ing to make me think"
Put that reason out of your head"
said Kentucky. when this things over
I'm going to turn my back on the batch
of you, and move en-"
"No." said Campo, mis- voice very
deep and strong, but shaken with a
repressed turbulence, you'll never be
moving on" He came into the room
| and stood close in front Of Kentucky.
red-eyed as reused bear. mot any
MORE" he said. You hear me? I've
found out what you supposed nobody
would ever find out. I found out that
you had more reason to kill Mason
than any living man,
And I'll make it easy for you," said
Kentucky. "rll admit it"
Ragland stared at him a moment,
thunder-struck. "You-you-what?"
Suddenly Kentucky laughed in his
face, silently, with an ugly twist of
the mouth. You're a fool, Campo" he
said.
Campo Ragland blew up. i've stood
enough" he shouted, his voice rising in
a shuddering gust He snatched I'D
Kentucky's gun belt and tried to thrust
it into his hands. Take your gun
belt, and I'll give you the break! Take
it and draw!"
"And if I don't?" said Kentucky.
"Then I'll see you crack your neck
at the end of rope!"
There was a small sound behind
| Campo Ragland, voiced inarticulately.
| like a word that had tried to make it
self heard and could not. Looking past
| Campo, Kentucky saw that Jean was
| standing there, in the doorway where
F.! her father had stood.
Her words broke throatily, jerked
and twisted, forcing their way out
| against an all but overmastering emo
| ton.
Yet they carried no infection of ap-
peal, but instead were bitter with an
insupportable conviction.
NO! No, no, no! You'll never do
thatr'
Campo Ragland whirled. "I'Il never
what?" he demanded in a strange taut
voice, like the ring of overdrawn wire
The room in which they stood was
shadowy, and the doorway was bright
with light, so that they saw her in
gray silhouette, with only the red-gold
backlight upon her hair to give her fig
ure color; and the shadows half con-
cealed the culver of her lips, the pal
| lor of her face. But shadow could not
hide the tormented intensity of her
eyes.
"You-youn never deliver up Ken
lucky Jones!"
Campo's voice rose to a thunder.
And why viii 1 notT'
"Because-when you do-TH tell
| them all the-the truth :"
Her fathers face went empty as he
stared at his daughter, as if faced by
an enormity too great for him to COM
| prehend. For moment he wavered as
| If his mind refused comprehension,
like a horse refusing a jump. What
TRUTH" he managed to get out at last.
What are you talking"
Jeans voice broke, all but hysterical,
cut him down. 'You-you know-what
TRUTH If 1 tell what 1 know, it's you
that'n be hooked for the murder Of
Masoni''
Watching Campo, Kentucky saw the
boss of the Bar Hook fold up. All the
strength and aggression went out Of
his wide lean shoulders, and ragged
palsy came into his hands. why, Jean
=" he faltered; ''why-Jean-Jean-"
His daughter stood rigid, shoulders
up, and arms stiff at her sides, her
eyes wide with the glazed brillianee Of
frozen waterholes as she watched her
father. Then her breath caught in her