The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-07-11

to Rise.
rise. Jones, there's somebody COM
ing!"
81 don't care If there's a regiment
coming. You're going to sit quiet and
pretty until we talk this over"
"Then take my gun! Take my gun
yourself" Joe st. Marie urged him.
''YOu want to dieT"
The honest fear in Joe st. Marie was
not for Kentucky, he now recognized :;
undoubtedly it was for the approach
beyond the door. "All right" said Ken
lucky disgustedly. He left the bronze
rider, recovered st. Marie's gun, and
stuck it negligently in his waistband.
There was low tapping at the door.
"COme inr'
The door opened quickly, but not
wide, and Jean Ragland slid in. She
shut the door and leaned against it,
her hands behind her upon the latch.
She wore no coat. whats the matter
here?" she demanded.
"Joe and 1 were wrestling" said
Kentucky. whats broke loose, Miss
Ragland?
"Nothing's broke loose" Her blue
eyes looked almost black, but the yell
low lamp light turned her hair into a
glowing smolder, as if there were fire
In it. "All right, Joel can't stay here
forever; what happened tonight?"
Joe st. Marie dropped his eyes and
swayed from side TO side like a steer
baffled by a fence. SAW, Miss Rag
land"
"Come out with it now!"
Joe st. Marie squirmed. "You
wouldn't believe"
"Never mind that"
81 seen a ghost! Miss Ragland, I
John Mason. as plain as 1 see you
stand there nowi"
The girl was silent moment,
astounded by st. Marie's idiotic answer.
For heavens sake, Joe, pull yourself
together! If some rider has been into
this layout / want to know"
Miss Ragland," ST. Marie insisted,
''I've got good eyes. 1 don't forget.
You think I don't remember how Old
Ironsides used to set, half crooked in
the saddle with his shoulders hunched
you think I wouldn't know him out
of a thousand men"
1t was Jean Ragland that Kentucky
Jones was watching; and now he saw
that comprehension had come to her.
She seemed to stiffen, and her eyes
looked even darker than before.
IL saw it twice." Joe st. Marie was
rushing on now. 'The first time sit
ting out there on the hump; and again
when l went out to feed my horse
farther out, going down the trail. !
fired at it-and it disappeared"
"All right, Joe. Was that all you
saw"
Good Cd, Miss Ragland, wasn't
that enough?"'
Jean Ragland drew a deep unsteady
breath. "Yes-I expect it was. You'd
better keep this to yourself, Joe, If you
know what's good for you" She added
Both of you" She sent Kentucky
Jones a glance that might have been
an appeal; then suddenly turned and
let herself out the door. Kentucky
Jones hesitated and opened his mouth
to ask Joe st. Marie question; then,
changing his mind, he followed her.
At the sound of the door Jean turned
and waited; he fell in beside her and
walked with her to the house.
Miss Ragland," he said, who, be-
sides yourself, knows what Joe St
Marie saw tonight?"
She turned on him quickly. Listen, y
she said. Listen. I've got to tell you
this: When when / gave you that
bullet swear didn't know you had
been here the day-the day Mason was
killed. If I'd thought there was the
least chance of your getting begged
down in this thing"
"Am 1 begged DOWN."
"Can't you see what Floyd Hopper
means to do? Right or wrong-he1
see somebody roped. And that means
more than just the sheriff against
the man he picks. All Wolf Bench will
rise up to back the sheriff's play, with
out justice, without mercy"